NationStates Jolt Archive

Colonel James Cougar strode along the corridors of power, trepidation in every step. His dark blond hair was trimmed short, his skin was a deep tan, and his eyes shone sapphire blue in his face. He looked tired, slightly dishevelled, as if he hadn’t slept well in a long while. This was in fact the case, as he was now a single parent. Almost a year had passed since he and his wife had been forced to separate, and he had come back to live on Snake Eater Prime with his twin children, Akor and Barrus, both of whom were now nearing two years of age. Despite his military background, Cougar had gotten himself taken off as many field operations as possible, to spend more time with his children. In cases where this wasn’t possible, he’d left them with the only Drow member of his unit, Captain Iliyakim, someone he knew he could trust with his life. He wore a casual tee shirt and dark jeans, and his watch glinted slightly in the overhead lighting. His wedding ring, the sapphire into the silver, also glinted on his ring finger, and he rubbed it slightly with his thumb. Underneath the shirt, he carried a Sig Sauer 619 SP, a 9mm pistol developed especially for this sort of thing. Having left the children with the Konig’s, both of whom he served with, he had come straight to the Adminstrium. The summons had come early that morning, via the early morning post. He was, of course, still up at that point, and so had found it instantly. A plain white envelope, no markings except for his name and address. It didn’t mention his rank, or his unit, but only one organization sent post with no stamps or postmarks. The Assembly, and more specifically, Lord President Damien Constantine.

The new Lord President, elected twelve months prior to this call, had proven to be what could best be termed as horrendous. He had come to power offering sweeping changes, and he had wrought many of them. Education was no longer funded by the state, and instead all schools were now fee-paying. Taxes had increased fivefold in six months, a raise unimaginable to most other nations. The military had undergone huge expansion, as if Snake Eaters was about to invade and expand once more. But his single worst trait was his racism. Previously, relations with other races, especially the Immortal Realm of Kaymiril, had been glowing. But now, they were subdued, even on the brink of hostile at times. Almost all trade had been cut, and any that hadn’t was heavily taxed to provide funds for the expansion of the military. Special Forces had been hit hardest though, as the new President did not believe in them. Cougar had fought tooth and nail to keep his unit going. The Cougar family was rich enough, and he didn’t need the money, and so he had begun taking on some of the expenses of the unit, mostly equipment and training.

He came to the door of the office, and placed his palm on the access panel. The scanner tested his fingerprints, received information from his intravenous nanomachines, and checked his DNA pattern. When the three lights turned green, the door slid aside, to reveal the office behind it. It was on the uppermost level of the Adminstrium, looking out over Snake City. To the North, the Cobrian Mountains could be seen. The Cobrian River glittered in the mid-morning sun as it flowed through the city on it’s way down to the ocean, which could be seen as a blue speck further to the west of the building. Silhouetted against the wrap-around windows stood Lord President Damien Constantine. His straight back, and neatly trimmed hair, combined with his black suit, white shirt and blue tie, made him a seemingly imposing figure. He turned his head to look at Cougar as he walked through the door, his cold grey eyes boring into the soldier’s own. These eyes held no compassion, no remorse. The man was a sadist, and it was said he had rigged the election to achieve his aims. No one knew his true motives or plans; he operated largely without the main body of the government, keeping things close to his chest. He stood a good head taller than Cougar, and was already slightly raised above him due to the layout of the room. At the very top, close to the window, was his main desk. It was surrounded by double strength self-darkening glass, a seemingly pointless addition given that the man wore square rimmed glasses that incorporated the same technology. It was raised slightly above the main floor, which had a seating area. A few bookcases, and a number of appliances such as a coffee machine. Off to the left sat his secretary, a young brunette by the name of Amanda George. She had been hired early, the eldest daughter of the current defence minister, Robin George, a way for him to spy on his boss. Robin was the only man on the current Assembly that James actually trusted, for he had protested loudly at the cutbacks in Special Forces, but Constantine had overruled him. Another of his new rules. She looked at Cougar, and smiled at him, nodding her head slightly, as if saying,Go right ahead

“Ah, Colonel, so good of you to join us,” said Constantine, his mouth curling upwards slightly, somewhere between a sneer and a smile, James couldn’t tell, “Please sit down, coffee?”

“Yes please, black with two,” James replied, sitting himself in front of the President’s desk, and taking the cup that was offered to him. Constantine settled into his chair, sipping at his own drink, which held a smattering of bourbon that Cougar could smell on the air. There was a brief moment of silence before Constantine laid his cup back down, and leant backward.

“Why do you think I have called you here, Colonel?”

The question was a surprise, and James didn’t hide it, “I’m not quite sure, sir. I was hoping you could tell me”

Constantine smiled his sneering mask of a smile once more, and then picked up a file from his desk, opening it, “Snake Eaters Special Forces, Colonel James Matthew Cougar… a very bland record, if I’m honest. Lot’s of missing details”

“What’s your point?” said James, his tone instantly hardening.

Constantine raised an eyebrow at James, and then continued, “Jacius (Barbarossa) was very lenient with you… let you live in Kaymiril all those years, never asking questions. You had access to our top secrets… don’t you find it odd that, in the intervening years, Kaymirilian technology has begun to catch up to our own at an alarming pace”

“Natural progression, inherent to the fact that we aided them in reaching out into space”

“As I can see in your reports. But something is still troubling me…”

“With all due respect, sir, get to the point. I have children to look after,” said James, putting deliberate emphasis on the sir to get his point across. He didn’t like the man, or where this conversation was going.

“All in good time, Colonel. Lot’s of things here don’t make sense… Eldrad, for example. It was your word that convinced the troops that he was your squad mate… he turned out to be an Eldar spy. So, who are you really?”

As he was talking, he raised a .45 pistol in his hand, the barrel pointing straight at Cougar’s head. Instantly, the Colonel’s mind went into overdrive, scanning the angles, figuring out how to survive this. Constantine seemed to know this, and sneered, “Don’t even try it, Colonel. We know you’re a Kaymirilian spy. You are a traitor to this nation and to your family name. MP’s (Military Police), take this man into custody”

The MP’s came forward, and one placed his hand on James’ shoulder, “You’ll have to come with us, sir”

Cougar didn’t answer with words. In one smooth motion, he grabbed the man’s wrist, twisting it whilst knocking the chair away. He raised the man using his hips, and threw him to the ground using a judo hip toss. The second was dispatched just as easily, a strike just below the sternum causing him to gasp out for breath before Cougar had also taken him down. The third somehow managed to hit Cougar with his stun baton, and James went down to one knee, enough for the guy to take advantage and press his gun to his head. Constantine stood over the briefly incapacitated solider, “For the sake of your children, I’d recommend you don’t try that again. Or they, and your friend’s homes, may just suffer arson! Enjoy prison, Colonel. You’ll be seeing plenty of it… whilst is lasts that is. Take him away!”
And thus, Colonel James Cougar was handcuffed, and led from the building into the back of a waiting Military Police squad car, and driven to the nearby Murska Airbase, where he would be held until he could be transferred to a more secure location. He was kept under heavy sedation to prevent him escaping, but he wouldn’t have tried anyway, the threat to his children and friends had been enough to quell his rebellious spirit, at least for the moment. As he was dragged from the Adminstrium, another member of his unit was watching across the plaza, on his orders. She shook her long blond hair back, and closed the book she had been pretending to read. She called for the bill, paid, and then walked out of the café. She wasn’t even in the car before the news of Cougar’s arrest was spreading through the military networks. Even though he worked in Black Ops, his name was instantly associated with ruthless efficiency, natural talent and a drive to get the mission done, regardless of the consequences…

**************************************************************

Twelve Hours later

Effective immediately, I, Lord President Damien Constantine, am enforcing Operation: Cleansing Water. All non-human Snake Eater citizens are asked to return to their home nations immediately. All embassies are now shut, both here and in other nations, and these peoples are asked to return home. Anybody refusing to comply with this command will be forcibly ejected. In accordance with this policy of isolationism, all borders will be closed at 0600 SEST (Snake Eater Standard Time). All ships not of Snake Eater origin are requested to leave at once to avoid being trapped when the borders close.

This was broadcast across space, reaching all worlds via the numerous communications networks that existed in the galaxy. Within Snake Eaters, this was the last straw, and small riots began to break out. These were quelled with water cannons and armoured riot troops, and they were few and far between. With no unity, they could only protest until their throats were hoarse. But it wouldn’t make a difference, without some radical action being taken.

The news of Cougar’s arrest, whilst not made public knowledge, had spread throughout the military. It was widely known, thanks to sources that had the required clearance to view the file, that Cougar would face a public mock trial. His sentence was already confirmed, the trial was simply a show of what would happen to those who betrayed their nation. Treason was the only crime that carried this sentence, the only one left on the law books. Death by firing squad. The military was in uproar, and many of the higher ranking officers complaining loudly to the President himself via video calls. But all cries of anger were suppressed when he threatened them also with the penalty of treason, and threatened their families. But anger was seething, merely quelled.

**************************************************************

SHADOW HQ, Undisclosed Location
The letter sat on the table, playing its message over and over again. It was something James had recorded just in case of this sort of thing. The message was simple, “Take my kids to Kaymiril. Get them to Faris, he’ll look after them. Then, and only then, come and get me, if I haven’t got out already”

Major Matthew Konig slammed his hand down onto the table, “God-damn it, we can’t just leave him to rot in there!”

His wife, Meryl Konig (commonly known as Wolf), rubbed his shoulders gently, “Calm down love, no-one is suggesting we do”

“Yeah, then how are we going to do this?”

Lieutenant Colonel Watt Tyler coughed slightly, bringing the attention back to him, “We do as he says. Get his kids out of Snake Eaters, and fast. Charlie, contact Iliyakim. He can pick them up from here, and then take them to Kaymiril.”

The medic nodded, as Matt spoke once more, “Then what do we do when we get him out of there? They’ll hunt us for sure”

“I thought of that. We are going to be hunted regardless. Effective immediately, all Special Operations forces are to proceed to the No.2 War RV, and await further instruction”

There was silence as this news hit the members of SHADOW Team Alpha. As Watt was, by all rights, second in command of SESOU (Snake Eaters Special Operations Unit), he had every authority to carry out this command. It meant leaving everything, and taking their families to a location known only to the members of ‘The Unit’. Set up away from the prying eyes of government for just such an occasion, it was a place where they could hide from their enemies, but it was strictly off-limits unless authorisation was given. Watt looked at his team members, “Go. Now”

OOC: You may post your governments individual responses to the declaration in this post, and also the actions that you take as well etc. This applies if you are univited. That is the only post you may make. Anyone invited... well, we shall see, won't we.

Valsharess Kaymiril VII listened to this news as it came over the message waves.

This man asks for that which he will receive.
**************************************************************
Iliyakim was on base when the order for foreigners to leave had come. He wasn't certain whether or not he should stay or leave. He had essentially made a home on Snake Eaters...but he was not a citizen. Nor did he consider himself a Kaymirilian any longer, not by acceptance, though his loyalties would always lie with her first and foremost.

He had started to pack when he got the message from Charlotte Grey, Alpha's Medic.

Cougar'd been taken...he was to get their children to safety.

He went to see Matt and Wolf (aka Meryl) Konig to get them...a boy and a girl, children of Cougar, and of a mage known as Ayal...but their mother was not able to keep them. Barrus and Akor, with Akor being the elder.

He took what they had, and finished packing his belongings, then headed for the departing ships.

On his way, he saw a familiar face. "Haldros!"

His former brother-in-law turned to face him. "I need you to do a favor for me, brother."

The slightly younger Drow looked at his friend's gaunt face. "What is it, Iliyakim?"

"These children are Cougar's," he replied. "Get them to Faris...ask him to watch them for a time as a favor to myself and to Cougar."

Haldros nodded, taking the children. He'd be fine with them, as he had three children himself...the youngest not much older than these.

"They will be safe with me. What will you do?"

A grim look crossed Iliyakim's face. "Aide my friend in the most able way I can. Take care of these little ones, Haldros. I charge this to you as Iral'anya."

"I accept your charge."

With that, Haldros took the twins and their belongings and boarded the ship, and Iliyakim seemed to simply...vanish.

The ships were escorted to the Snake Eater border by military patrol ships, bearing the new insignia of the fleet, hastily repainted on their hulls. Constantine had changed so much within the nation in such a short space of time... and with the arrest of Cougar, it seemed as if he had crossed a line.

Aboard ships across the densely packed empire, people spoke of open rebellion. On Tiravano, a world of 95% water, with the human population either living in the hive city of Tira, or aboard the boats that crisscrossed the oceans, or the island chains that were dotted around, it spread. It was the empire's main source of anything even vaguley related to the sea, including petroleum, gold, and of course, fish.

On Osea, Yuktobania and Belka, the governors of the three planets furthest from Snake Eater Prime gathered to discuss the current situation.

On Lyn-Da-Vid, a world famed for it's hospitality, they cried in shame at their leader's actions, but were silenced by his loyal troops.

Facets of the military spoke of open revolution against Constantine, but only in hushed voices. To speak louder would have their head on the chopping block.

At Murska Airbase, Col. James Cougar sat in the cell. He knew his fate was sealed if his friends couldn't come, and he knew he was going to die. It was only a matter of time until Constantine decided that the time was right to reveal all. He couldn't escape. The walls were two feet thick, solid concrete reinforced with titanium, lined with traces of uranium, not enough to harm him, but enough to hold his magick at bay. Weaponless, he was still avoided by the guards, who feared what he could do if he got out.

And now... the time has come

***Location Alpha***

Captain Iliyakim strode along the corridors. It had been this unit that had given him his life back...primarily Unit Alpha that had taken enough interest in his case to help him reclaim that life. Everything he had, he had because of them. And now it was time to pay them back. As it was said in Kaymiril...as well as the Underdark...Uss dro whol jalbyr...elgg l' nesst nindel elggen dosst dalninuk, lu' dormagyn l' dro nindel xunus dormagyn dosst ehmtu.

He was looking for Lt. Col. Watt Tyler. He wanted to help with the rescue.
______________________________________________________________________
***Vashano, Kaymiril***

Haldros came to the home of Commander Faris and his family. After this situation was explained, Faris and his wife agreed to care for the twins, along with their two children.
______________________________________________________________________
***The Valshanth, Kaymiril***

Valsharess Kaymiril VII was looking over the reports. Who had gone to Snake Eaters, and who was now returning. Thus far, only six had not returned...five Gray Class Mages that had not wished to leave behind their patients, and Iliyakim, formerly of Sarnor Zotreth. He was understandable. But she wanted her mages to come back safely, and had no idea how to go about doing that. She started thinking about how, and then noticed two names, side by side.

Akor and Barrus Cougar.

Arrangements would have to be made for them, as well. Arrangements easier to make than those for her mages. She contacted a few messengers, sending them to Che'el to begin preparations, and another to Faris, telling him to come to the Valshanth in two days time with the Cougar twins.

Location Alpha. Set up by Alpha Team using their own money, it was a base of operations from which they could work in secret. The government had no idea it existed... just getting to the place was difficult enough. Located in a densley packed asteroid field, inside the battered and broken hull of a Dauntless-class light crusier. Inside, it had been turned into a headquaters for the entirety of SESOU and their familes.

Amouries existed, stocking almost every weapon known to mankind, and some that weren't, along with the ammunition to keep them supplied. Huge quantities of explosives, rockets, grenades, the whole lot was stashed here.

Pantries and sotrage areas for food. This place could support in excess of a thousand people for over six months. With less than five hundred, they could hold out forever.

There were hangers to accomdate small transports. Most of the bays were filled, but there was always room for those that asked it.

And now, it was in full swing. People everywhere made sure they knew where they sleeping, where they could train, where they could eat. The soliders were cleaning weapons and their kit, ready for a fight if push came to shove. Watt Tyler was on what had been the bridge of the ship, pouring over maps of the airbase, trying to find a way to get his friend out. He looked up as Iliyakim came through the door,"Yes, Captain, what is it?"

The Captain's reply was brief.

"I request to be on the rescue team."

His voice was soft, as Drows' voices were wont to be, and carried a hint of danger to it, as his voice often did when he was serious. The Thalack on his shoulder gleamed, and on his belt he carried specialty items normally available only to members of the Kaymirilian army.

"Any particular reason for this?"

**************************************************************

"In other news, fresh riots have started in Tira and Oured. The local police are saying that they are under control, but there can be no doubt that public opnion is turning against the Lord President with regard to this sit..."

Constantine swore as he turned the news report off,"Sod them all!"

"I consider the Colonel my friend. That alone is reason enough, even if there was not the further desire to not see his children orphaned."

_____________________________________________________________________
***Unknown location, Kaymiril***

Shan sat with his friend Tari. Rhenmet had been closed off recently...more so than since she had come back from Snake Eaters, almost a year before.

S -- "What do you think is going on?"

T -- "I dunno. Probably has something to do with Cougar...and I wouldn't doubt that the source of this is that new president."

Shan snorted his disgust. Barbarossa had been popular not only with his own people, but in Kaymiril, too. The entire population of their city had practically volunteered to go assassinate this new Damien Constantine. But for now, orders were to leave it be.

S -- "You think your friend Oreb would know?"

T -- "Raven, Shan. Maybe. I'll give him a call later."

*Fast Forward two hours*

Tari sat in her room. "Keris...contact Garth."

Watt sighed,"Iliyakim, if I let you go, I'd put this entire organisation at risk. James aside, you have the best operational record of us all. I wouldn't be surprised if it says somewhere that you would assume operational command if something went tits up"

He straightened,"We've been at this twelve hours now. We don't know how to get in. The place is now the most heavily guarded military installation in Snake Eaters, and by far the most dangerous we've ever looked at. A team job is almost impossible. The only way is to send in a single agent, and that means using the Increment"

The Increment. Also known as High Tech Special Forces Unit FOX in official military circles. Only twelve men strong, not including it's support staff, they all had mercenary or SHADOW backgrounds. Cougar, as Snake, was the Increment's lead operative.

**************************************************************

Raven was cleaning his blades and such when Garth started chirping at him,Mail, mother-f**ker

"I wish I hadn't installed that now"

Deal with it.

"Alright, go with viewer. Hello Tari, Shan. What's up?"

"Then I request to be the operative. You yourself said it, Watt...I have the best record of all of you. I can do things you cannot, between my Inthuul and my Velxun'yrr, and my magickal abilities. Why send the second best? Or even further down the line?"

____________________________________________________________________
T -- "That's actually what we were hoping to find out from you."

"Hmm... you do stand a much better chance than most of the Increment in this matter... you're used to operating alone for long periods... I'll put them on standby, and send you in. You must understand, you get caught, we can't come after you"

*************************************************************

"What? The whole isolation thing? Oh god knows, I don't care at the moment. Just sitting, and waiting"

"I understand that perfectly. Now...what do we know?"

_____________________________________________________________________
"Well, that too...but we get the general impression here that something is seriously wrong over there."

"All we know, is that James is here*points to location*It's thanks to his nanites that we know this"

AS Watt was talking, a techie came in with a report,"You might want to see this, hacked it out of S.I.O.N five minutes ago"

Watt took the padd, and read the report, the colour draining from his face. He looked at Iliyakim,"Go. Now. You have twelve hours to complete this mission. Stay in contact... oh, and zero body count, if you can help it. If not... kill anyone who stand in your way"

___________________________________________________________

Raven sighed,"Alright, I'll tell you what I know."

He paused for a moment,"Cougar has been arrested on charge of treason. He's currently being held at Murska Airbase, to be moved to a higher security later. Treason is the only sentence that carries the death penalty here. He's sent his children back to Kaymiril, via Captain Iliyakim, Lieutenant Haldros and Commander Faris... a rescuse mission is about to be attempted. By whom, I don't know. When, very soon. Also... this latest thing, along with the ejection of other people, has caused a lot of grief here. Snake Eaters is heavily divided, civil and military wise. Roughly three quaters of the military and two thirds of the civil population support Constantine, if only through fear. When he came to power, he created the Black Guard, his own personal troops... dangerous people, on the lunatic fringe. You ever heard of the Waffen SS? Imagine them, but more dangerous."

"Then give me the reports. I'll read them on the way. Inthuul, start your preparations...we go to war."
________________________________________________________________________

Shan leaned forward at this point. "Any talk of open rebellion?"

Tari, meanwhile, had something else come to her attention. "Raven, there are still five Gray Class mages there. They won't leave...is there any way to garuntee their safety?"

Watt watched him go,"May Leviathan help you... and all of us. In this, we become felons... wanted by the law... by the country we give so much for"

**************************************************************

Raven thought for a moment,"Yes Shan, plenty. All quelled so far... but eventually, something is going to happen. A single incident could spark a civil war that will tear this country in two."

He looked at Tari,"I can try. I have a friend, Captain Gorbac, of the Hydra. His ship is in orbit around Snake Eater Prime at the moment... I can have the mages and their patients beamed to his sickbay, and then brought here. From here, they can go back to Kaymiril or stay here"

Iliyakim walked to the point on the station closest to Snake Eater Prime, scanning through the data in the mean while. When he got to that point, he disguised himself as a human, hiding his weaponry and Inthuul.

He initiated a teleportation sequence toward Cougar's living room on Snake Eater Prime.

Ancient Gods of Balance...Ancient Gods of War...Forces of Time and Forces of Chance, now join I in this deadly dance.

He teleported from the room to an unoccupied street, and started walking toward the building in question.

_____________________________________________________________________
T -- "Very good. If you're going to have a civil war, keep the mages on, and send their patients to Kaymiril. They'll be safe enough...but the mages can care for your injured and ill."

S -- "We'll speak to Renor. We might be able to help."

Raven mulled it over,"Outside interference... Tari, that's dangerous. Listen, if this does turn into war... Kaymiril will be next on his hit list, if you help us"

**************************************************************

The street was deserted for a reason. Being this close to a military base in this day and age gave plenty of people the jitters. As Iliyakim walked towards the base, the men on guard gripped their weapons a little tighter. In charge was a Black Guard corporal... and that was enough to scare these young men, not much older than eighteen, to do what he said,"Sir, you'll have to stop! This is a restricted area under Paragraph Two, Section Eight of the Snake Eater Constitution"

"Who says we're from Kaymiril?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"My apologies. I'm looking for my sister, at this address." He hands the man an address on a street quite distant from where he was going.

"It's been a while since I've been to Snake City. My residence is in Cinigrad, so I'm afraid I'm a bit lost. If you could direct me, I would be most grateful."

"Not you, the grey class"

**************************************************************

Covered by his friend, the boy took the slip of paper,"Sir, this address is the other side of the city."

He pointed to a nearby grav-station,"That line will take you to the right district, next train is in about three minutes"

"Don't worry about them. They're good healers...which means that reanimation is not beyond their abilities. And don't worry about us. We can handle ourselves. And maybe rid you of a President."
_____________________________________________________________________
"My thanks to you, gentlemen." He walked toward the station, throwing a brief spell into their minds.

Nothing ever happened here. The street is an has been perfectly empty.

With that, to not confuse the spell, he cloaked himself in invisibility, then used a different spell...an uncomfortable spell...to bring the heat his body radiated outward to the ambient temperature of the surrounding air.

"We'll do that ourselves," said Raven, his tone hardening. Being almost thirty, he looked closer to fourty.

**************************************************************

A blank look crossed the faces of the guards, who then resumed their normal duties. The Black Guardsman looked confused, as if he knew something was up, but he shrugged and ignored it. They had been conditioned to be able to feel magick use to a very small degree... but the spell had been too much.

Dalharen.

With that thought, Iliyakim resumed his journey.
_____________________________________________________________________
"Raven, there have been multiple opportunities, and it would have been justified."

"Maybe... but not yet. Not now. Taking him out now... would only make things worse. Imagine a massive political vacuum, which every greedy powermonger would try to fill for their own ends. Like it or not, he has to live for now"

**************************************************************

Being invisible, he wasn't challenged. But then again, he could see how heavily guarded the place was. Guards everywhere, mounted pulse cannons. The entire base was a hive of activity... having Cougar on site made things that little bit more edgy

Tari grins. "Put Barbarossa back. Or Cougar. He'd hate it, but he'd keep everyone else in line."
_____________________________________________________________________
Mesh fencing. No problem.

Stablilizing his invisibility cloak, Iliyakim teleported onto the grounds.

Next step...windows.

Teleportation worked on the basic principle that you could see where you were going.

Iliyakim made his way to a window, then teleported into a room. Going to the door, he put his ear to it, to try and hear any sounds from the hall, or determine if there were any people out there.

"We'll cross those bridges when we come to them. Right now, we wait"

**************************************************************

He couldn't hear much. People moving around, weapons clinking on things. He couldn't hear anyone in the immediate area though. It was deserted.

Tari sighed. Humans will have human timing.
_____________________________________________________________________
It was the type of door he could pull open. Looking around he saw one person in the room. This person was asleep, fortunately.

He put on a glove, and opened the door just enough to see into the hallway, where he then teleported, and pulled the door closed.

He started walking, swiftly, silently, invisibly. He was using infrared vision to see motion detectors with, so that he could ascertain their pattern and avoid detection.

Cameras, motion detectors, automated machine gun turrets... the whole lot was here. They were serious about keeping Cougar under lock and key. To get to the basement, Iliyakim would have to take a ride in the elevator down two levels, and then get through a locked door which was sealed with a biometric lock. Difficult stuff, and impossible to hack.

**************************************************************

Raven shrugged,"Democracy is not as simple as it seems at first, Tari. Don't judge it by your perceptions. As such, don't take actions that are more suited to your style of leadership"

Iliyakim decided to wait by the elevator for the next guard to relieve Cougar's current guard.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Democracy looks complex. Aside from that, isn't there like, a designated guy to take over in case the president gets killed?"

The next guard approached with a meal of some sorts, and entered the elevator,"Second basement!"

**************************************************************

"Yeah... but he's just as bad. Listen, forget the assassination for now"

Iliyakim teleported into the elevator with the guard, still invisible. He made sure to keep his feet above the floor, so the elevator didn't sense him either. Just a bit longer...
____________________________________________________________________

"You guys need to switch to a monarchy. Seriously."

The trip was short, and soon enough they were on the right floor,"Alright Phil?"

"Today's meal?"

"Yeah"

"Go right in"

The guard pressed his eye to the scanner,"You are cleared to enter"

The door slid away to give him access.

**************************************************************

"A sudden change from a democracy to a monarchy? Not going to happen"

Why do I bother?

Iliyakim teleported in as quickly as he could, filling his velxun'yrr with a toxin that would daze the guard, but nothing more. Meanwhile, he cast the illusion of stat on the monitors.
____________________________________________________________________
"Meh. In any event, this wastes both of our time."

The connection cuts out.

The guard struggled against the toxin, but failed and fell to the floor.

Cougar rose from his stupor,"Well, here comes the cavalry"

Iliyakim dismissed the two spells he had on himself, plugging his velxun'yrr into the lock. When it opened after a minute, Iliyakim guestured to Cougar.

"Come on. I can teleport you to base from here."

"At least you can. I don't have the willpower at the moment"

He stepped out the cell, and looked around,"Impressive"

"You wouldn't believe how much if I told you."

He grabbed hold of Cougar's arm and teleported them both to Alpha two.

"Last I saw Watt, he was that way."

"Fair enough... go and get some rest, I'll see you later"

Iliyakim nodded, and left Cougar to his own devices.

"Gentlemen"

"Welcome back, James"

"My kids?"

"Kaymiril"

"I'll see you guys later... I got some stuff to do before we figure out a plan"


He dissapeared to the shuttle bay, taking his own shuttle and slipping past the border patrols with ease. He landed as close to the Valshanth as he dared, and left the craft,"Ah... home. Or as close as I can get"

Faris was within eyesight, on his Thalack. With him were the twins, and he was headed for the Valshanth.

Cougar took off, and caught up to him,"Mind if I join you?"

"Not at all."

Akor and Barrus, seeing their father, both wanted picked up.

He took them both into his arms,"How have they been for you?"

"About as well behaved as can be expected...too much so, I think. Then again, they don't know any of us and they missed you."

"Sorry to have to ask you that much, but you're the only person in Kaymiril I could really trust with my children.... Snake Eaters is not all that welcoming towards them right now"

"Yes...your current dictator is quite racist."

Faris was not calling Barbarossa a previous dictator. He was calling Constantine one.

"You could say that... things are not as they once were. I must talk with the Queen immediatley"

"She summoned me in today about them. Something about working out how to care for them."

"That's what I'm here to do as well, as well as brief her on the current situation"

Faris nodded as the gates to the Valshanth opened for him.

They were ushered into the Queen's presence in short order.

Cougar bowed to the Queen,"Your Highness"

K -- "Grea'as'anto lu' verve dro, Colonel, Commander."

Faris likewise made a bow. "Gre'as'anto lu' verve dro, ussta Valsharess."

Cougar spoke first,"Your Highness, I'm sure you are aware of the current situation in Snake Eaters. As such, I am requesting asylum in your nation for my two children."

"Kaymirilian citizens need not ask for asylum from their own nation, Colonel."

"I'm following the rules I know. Secondly, I come to, and please do not think me bold, but I come to advise you on the current situation and a suitable course of action"

"After a moment, Colonel."

She turns to Faris. "Your willingness to take in Cougar's children on so short a notice is commendable. However, raising children is strenuous, so I have arranged for their care. If you leave them with the servants at the door, the caretaker will arrive shortly."

Faris bowed and left, taking the children.

Kaymiril VII then turned back to Cougar. "Have a seat, Colonel. I am aware that your time is short."

He sat down, and then projected a map of Snake Eater space,"As you are no doubt aware, your Highness, Snake Eaters is divided. Latest figures suggests a quater of the military and a third of the civilian population are opposed to Constantine's continued rule. However, they are outnumbered. I am now a wanted fugitive, as is my unit. For the crime of treason, which has been placed upon us as we are the ones most capable of stopping Constantine"

He paused for a moment, and then displayed the location of Location Alpha,"This is our current hideaway. We're staying here until such time as we can move. But civil war is on the verge of breaking out regardless of our actions. When it does, I will be fighting to topple Constantine. I implore you, your Highness, not to send offical aid to help us. It would only make it worse for you should Constantine be victorious"

"There will be no official aid. The five Grey Class that remain remain of their own will, and are aware of the dangers they have taken upon themselves."

She did not mention other possible aid.

"On that part, I am glad. Your Highness... who is to be the caretaker for my children?"

"They will stay in Che'el with their mother."

His eyes widened,"Surely, she has other duties?"

"Her master takes his orders from me, Colonel, and none other."

A smile spread across his face,"Irregardless of events, I will attempt to see my children as often as possible... if that is acceptable"

"You are free to come and go within this Queendom. You are, after all, a citizen."

He nodded,"You have my thanks, Your Highness... I wish you luck in life, should these events go badly"

"And good luck to you, in your endeavors, Colonel."

He left the chamber, having bowed to the Queen before leaving. He had to say goodbye to his children... it could be sometime before he saw them again. He found them easily enough, and spent the remaining time with them, playing and laughing.

It wasn't even an hour before a dark form appeared inside the room.

"It's been a while, James."

"Far too long, Rhenna"

He stood up, leaving Akor on the ground.

Of her face, only her mouth and eyes are visible. "How have you been?"

By "you" she meant "all three of you."

"As well as can be considering the circumstances. You?"

His voice would have cracked, had he not mastered himself. Here was his wife. He loved her, but he couldn't hold her, touch her, love her like he should be able to.

"The same."

She leaned down to pick up Barrus. "They've grown."

"I suspected as much... and yes, they have"

Akor had crawled towards her mother, tugging at her clothes.

She smiled down at her daughter. "Come on, stand up. I know you can."

Akor pulled herself upwards, still holding on to her mother, before letting go, and looking up,"Ma?"

"Yes?"

"Where ou bin?"

Rhenna leans down and picks up her daughter, too. "Somewhere I had to be. But for now I'm taking you somewhere so that daddy can help his friends, okay?"

"Ou coming home?"

"I'm afraid not, baby."

Akor looked unhappy,"Oh"

C -- "At least I know they are in good hands"

She smiles. "I'll take care of them, James. I'd try and pursuade you to stay, and weather it out...but I know better."

"I don't have a choice in the matter, really."

"I know." She went over and kissed him softly...a forbidden kiss. "Take care of yourself."

Forbidden it may have been, but he kissed her back,"The same to you"

With that, he turned on his heel, and left. He had to walk away from his wife again, and now from his children. To fight a war for his country... against his country. Not many can claim to have been in his position. His mind was filled with conflicting emotions. Anger, sorrow, compassion.

He took off, and slipped through the detection grid, landing back at Location Alpha. He ignored everyone, and crashed out on a bunk, trying to get some sleep before the fight truly started.

Rhenna and the twins vanished...to take the role...for a time...as a single mother and her children, just having moved to a small town.

The next few days were spent getting ready, just in case. The news comign in was not good, and Watt had to debrief Iliyakim,"Alright Captain, tell us what happened exactly"

Iliyakim concisely and breifly delineated everything, from the empty streets to the building security -- exterior and interior, weaving his actions into the fabric of the description.

"Zero body count, but they already know that he's escaped."

"Yes, we figured as much. The outcry is huge... largest manhunt in Snake history"

"More like witch hunt." The Drow's eyebrows drew together in a frown. "We don't even treat what necromancers we find with such hate as the general public now rages against Coguar with."

"They've spun a web of lies against him. A war now would go badly for us... but it looks like we will have no choice"

He motioned to the wall display as James came in, followed by everyone from SESOU. Increment, SHADOW, assasins, physkers. Everyone. They all sat down, except James. He stood at the head, and clicked a button,"At 1500 hours today, we recieved word that Admiral Rommel and the whole Second Fleet is ready to stage open rebellion against Consantine's forces. There is a military trade convoy being escorted through the Belka system. They are going to attack and secure the system. At the same time, army units all over the country are going to begin staging mutinies. It is the first step."

He paused,"We will be there. No more hiding, no more running away from them. Not everyone hates us. Only some. WE must convince them to join us. Constantine has tried to detroy the nation we worked so hard to protect. Now, we are going to take it back. You all have your assignments... now, get to work!"

At the back of the room, two black-clad figures popped into existance.

S -- "So, it is war, then."

They were ignored by the vast majority of the men and women in there. Just two more people in this war... in their minds, everyone was already dead. Cougar approached them,"War driven by need... not by choice"

T -- "We're here to see to its success, as much as we are able."

"The situation is largely unknown"

He handed them a padd each,"Potential battlegrounds. Memorise them all. You may need to redeploy rapidly, yourselves and others. I'm going to get ready... I suggest you rest, and start mingling. Trust, is paramount"

They nodded, moving off.

He smiled,"No official help"

He crashed out, ready for battle...

**************************************************************

*The next day, October 22nd*
Alpha XO-1 cruised through the Belkan system. A military transport vessel in the convoy, it led the way. Ahead, a civilian Goliath class escort made sure the way ahead was clean. This convoy, bar the civilian ships and the larger military vessels, was almost all autmated. As such, Alpha XO-1 was controlled by the central A.I, located deep within the vessel, shielded against electromagnetic pulse weaponry and the like, using multi layered forcefields to protect itself. The vessel itself was lightly armed, but the A.I had the tactical knowledge of the greatest strategists in history locked away, just waiting to be used and adapated. But, for all it's sophistication, it could not match the ingenuity of a human brain. Not yet, anyway.

All was quiet, and the ten cargo ships, escorted by four Goliath classes, and a single Defiant class. Captain Erwin Hubbard sat in his command chair on the S.E.N Eastwood's bridge, looking out the viewscreen. He was nervous. Very nervous. Rumours had reached him that something was up, and it had left him on edge. He was a nervous man by nature, hiding it with an addiction to drink that filled him with Dutch courage. His hand shook as he pressed a button on the armrest,"Chief, how we doin'?"

"Very well sir, no problems down here"

"Roger that, keep an eye on it"

He closed the commlink, and resumed to watch the viewscreen.

Hopefully, I'm just paranoid...

**************************************************************

Aboard the Shadow class infiltrator vessel S.E.N Wells, Captain Micheal Krush nodded to his communications officer, who opened the secure commlink to Fleet Admiral Rommel,"What is it, Captain?"

"Sir, the convoy has begun to move through the Belkan system."

"Is it as described?"

"Yes sir. No cloaked ships in the area, except us of course"

"Perfect. I may not like this idea, but it is the only way, you understand?"

"Yessir! I love this country... or rather, I did"

"Good man. They are on their way"

Rommel signed off, and sent the command. A quick attack force, comprised of escorts and light attack ships, to eliminate the enemy quickly. A hit and run attack, different to the orginal plan. Hit and Run was the best they could hope for... and it would also help them diguise their identity, and maintain the deception, just a little longer.

*Two Hours later*
"Sir, sensors are picking up a fleet of ships coming our way... five Akira class, ten Defiant, and two Galaxy."

"Are they hailing?"

"No sir, but their signal is that of the Second Fleet"

"Are their weapons armed?"

"No sir... shields are down, weapons are offline"

"Alright, hail them, ask why they are here"

As he finished speaking, the ship rocked from phaser fire. The Wells came over the top, her rear phaser banks firing again, trying to disable the Eastwood. Hubbard roared over the noise,"SHIELDS UP! RETURN FIRE!"

"SIR, THEY'VE KNOCKED OUT WEAPONS AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFLINE!"

"GOD-DAMN...."

He didn't get to finish. The opening volley had slowed the Eastwood down enough for the attacking ships to get inside the fleet, and open fire. Onboard Alpha XO-1, the A.I went crazy:

Incoming ships deemed hostile
Error: Hostile ships carry Snake markings
Error: Weapons offline - destroyed
Distress Signal Broadcast - Yes/No: Yes... No... Yes...
Outcome uncertain
Assuming default programming
Hostile attack.
Intiate self destruction mechanism
Countdown to Matter-Antimatter explosion: 5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1


It was the first of a series of detonations which ripped through the convoy. The Goliath escorts were pummeled as they tried to fight back, their mayday signals jammed by the vastly superior ships. Onboard the 'rebel' ships, the crews knew they were doing the right thing... in their hearts, at least. Maybe it was a bad way... but currently, it as the only way.

Soon enough, all that remained was debris... floating through space. Hubbard's corpse had somehow survived the explosion of the Eastwood, and now floated through the void, his hand still clutching the armrest of his command chair...

**************************************************************

All over the Empire, fighting broke out. The Green Jackets, the Coldstreams, the Rangers and the Para's all defected to the rebel side immediatley, leaving their world's behind or choosing to stay and fight. The Catachan and Cadian regiements were divided, and brother fought brother. But there was one difference. The rebels helped the civilians to stay safe. The loyalist's tried, but failed. The rebels drew them into firefights that ended up harming casualties, and since each weapon recorded what it hit when it fired and when, there was no escaping the fact.

SESOU was out there, in the thick of the fighting. On Tiravano, Cougar and his team led a charge by the Marines (not to be confused with the Colonial Marines) on a government complex raid, destroying the government from the ground up. On Osea, Gamma Team, led by Captain Iliyakim, started a guerilla war against the nearby forces that occupied the towns and villages. It wasn't just them. Norm Hooten and Delta Team, along with two companies of Colonial Marines from the Second Fleet, who had painted over their markings to hid their identity, joined them, conducting lightning raids and snap ambushes everywhere they could. Snake Eaters burned in war... within it's own borders.

**************************************************************

SNN (Snake News Network) Bulletin
"News just in. All across Snake Eaters, fighting has broken out between rebel forces, said to be led by recently escaped traitor James Cougar, and forces loyal to Lord President Damien Constantine. The fighting is said to be vicious in many places, with many casualties. Current numbers are still unknown, but the death toll is no doubt going to rise on both sides of this hellish equation. Now, we go to Jim Houseman, who is on Lyn-da-Vid at the moment. Jim, what can you see"

*Via Videophone*"Tom, I can see Warrior armoured vehicles of the Lancers advancing steadily, attempting to take the Dentrassi river crossing in Lyn... oh my god, one of them just burst into flames, I didn't see a thing. The noise is deafening... I can hear rifle reports everywhere. Just a moment ago, I swear a snipers bullet brushed past my cheek. This is out and out war, Tom. A hellish scene... Snake Eaters may never be the same again..."

Constantine put his foot though the set,"So, Colonel, you wish to play at war, do you? Well... I can play hardball, Colonel. Oh yes... I can play hardball..."

Lyn-da-Vid. A human planet, within a human empire.

What harm could two little Drow do?

Plenty.

The hellish scene that the reporter had described was merely a diversion for the two mages that had slipped away from the main battle.

S -- "So, any hell beasts of legend on this planet?"

T -- *skimming through a data pad* "No native ones."

S -- "Then we'll bring in one. Which one?"

T -- "The Roc, I think."

From the distance, a great cry lanced out as a gigantic bird swooped down. It fell upon the government building like wrath incarnate, utterly destroying it, and any combatants in it. When its job was finished, it whirled and sped for the battle ground, to pick up SE military and destroy them in its talons.

It was a grand illusion spell, laced with partial reality. A difficult spell for the pair of mages to maintain as they sped back toward the battle to cast other spells.

The screams of the dying filled the air. All over the empire. Cougar walked through the warzone he was in now, and crouched next to a man who was on the verge of death. He knelt there, and cleaned the mud out of the man's eyes. He was the enemy, but at that moment, James saw immense clarity in his eyes. But his cry was still the same,"Mutti!Mutti!"

He wanted his mother. It was the same everywhere. Men and women, on the verge of death, only wanted one thing, their mothers. Their comrades held them until they died, and then left them where they had fallen, after taking their dogtags... the public deserved to know.

James watched as the man died before him. He should have felt something, anything... but he felt nothing. Not because he was suppressing it, but he literally had no emotions. No tears left to shed, no joy left to give. He was simply a vessel. He stood and looked around,"War is hell"

A Marine Sergeant approached him,"Come on, sir. We've got to go, QRF will be here soon"

"Yeah... let's go"

*Osea*

Iliyakim crouched in the trenches, where perpetual battle was happening. His men were weary, and likely many of them had had family killed in the past few days.

All was not well. Why don't we just solve the problem directly?

His heart ached for the men and women who had lost loved ones to this hell. He'd seen minor civil war several times...in Kaymiril, there were often factions that wanted a different Queen, and in the neighboring country of Ina...war was frequent.

That didn't make all well. The only thing they could do for now was to fight out this long, embittered and embittering struggle.

It was almost enough to challenge his faith in humanity.
**************************************************************
Lyn-da-Vid

The Roc spell had dissipated soon enough, and only Shan's quick thinking had caused its dissipation to cost the enemy something.

Why? Under other circumstances, we'd be fighting side by side. I know Cougar doesn't generally go for torture...but I hope that Constantine bastard gets a death worthy of the grief he's caused.

The days turned into weeks. The rebel forces were holding, if only barely. Tiravano, Osea, Lyn-da-Vid... all of them were battlegrounds. In space, Rommel was outwitting his peers, using small units of ships to ambush them in hit and run attacks, never staying long enough to have enough damage dealt to them but dealing massive damage themselves, laying out minefields that could deal serious damage to even the largest of ships.

SESOU forces were at the front of the battle. Whilst other troops tried to establish a rota with regard to their troops. SESOU couldn't afford that. They fought constantly, their lives filled with death. Major Matt Konig had rallied his snipers, and together they had become even more dangerous. Konig had personally crept into no mans land, hiden under the dead bodies and fired from there. It was dangerous work, but someone had to do it.

Cougar was leading from the front. A name from his past had remerged into the mainstream: The White Devil. So called because of his hair and his impressive kill record. Repeatedly, he broadcast the message,"We fight against the facist dictator of Constantine, who has corrupted out great nation"

This war was not just one of fighting, but one of propoganda. Whoever could control the media the most could win the war.

During the nights, the Drow children normally found someplace to rest and regain their magick.

On one night, though, Tari sat up, ramrod straight, murmuring a spell directed at the current Snake Eater president.

It was designed to affect his dreams...make him see first hand the hell he was causing, feel the pain of being shot in the chest...designed to bring out whatever monsters there were from childhood fears that he had not faced and play upon them.

It would likely affect her sleep patterns too. Theory of Magickal Retribution.

But she was willing to risk that.

Constantine started to suffer from these dreams, and found himself unable to sleep. Everyday, the reports came in. Nothing changed. It was a stalemate. Everywhere, people fought. People died. And they simply lay there.

After the first week or so, Cougar finally took a rest. He returned to the rebel HQ, and spent time conferring with the Generals and the Admiral, planning ahead a few days, no more. Supplies were being liberated and moved around. He was grimy from a week of pure combat. Nothing else.

He collapsed into his bunk, and slept. He needed it.

***Osea***

Finally...a chance to drive a wedge into the enemy forces.

Capt. Iliyakim started moving his people. The official forces were everywhere.

In a pattern.

Who needed chess tactics when you played Aklyen?

He sent some troops to certain locations, with the orders to fire at certain times.

It was a tactic that had never failed him. And if it did...that's what plan B was for.

The loyalist forces didn't know what hit them as Iliyakim's plan came into effect. They were thrown into disarray by the pinpoint strikes, combined with orbital bombardment. It lasted only five minutes, but it was enough to pin them down long enough for the Colonial Marines to take advantage.

Cougar had moved to another front, this time in space. He helped lead assualts on transports carrying supplies to the frontline, taking them down with speed and agression. He was wounded a number of times, but kept fighting regardless. His reputation grew by the day, by the hour. And the war was only in it's second week. The stalemate was still there... it was going to be difficult to break.

--- Red Flag Alert
--- Alerting Officer on Duty
--- queuing up recent SE messages

Effective immediately, I, Lord President Damien Constantine, am enforcing Operation: Cleansing Water. All non-human Snake Eater citizens are asked to return to their home nations immediately. All embassies are now shut, both here and in other nations, and these peoples are asked to return home. Anybody refusing to comply with this command will be forcibly ejected. In accordance with this policy of isolationism, all borders will be closed at 0600 SEST (Snake Eater Standard Time). All ships not of Snake Eater origin are requested to leave at once to avoid being trapped when the borders close.
Compilation of recent chaotic transmissions
--- Opening file SRSE 1374-240


"Good Gods!" Called out an aide in the main communications dispatch in the Sanctuary system. "Something is going down in Snake Eaters! Get Minister Talon and Minister Halsey on the line!" He turned back to his terminal. The computer had been slow to register this hot spot; they’d have to get more people in the future.

The line was a marvel of engineering, something never used unless it was an absolute emergency, and this was certainly one. A labyrinth of encoding and shielded communications lines, the line cost several hundred credits a SECOND to run, meaning it was usually off. Anyone with enough security credentials could call a meeting over it, and the aide had just enough.

A male voice cut in over the rasping speakers of the communications office.
"Prime Minister Talon here. Mrs. Halsey is off on military business."

"Mr. Talon," began the aide, his voice faltering slightly from the enormity of talking with the Prime Minister. "We have received a transmission from the Shadowy Realm. Looks like they’re locking down. I’m forwarding a transcription to you. A short time after this message, we got chaos on the incoming lines. Some encrypted, some just gibberish. Sounds like someone is blowing someone else to dust. The computer almost lost it though.”

A pause. “Has this been validated? “ “Yes sir. I sent it to cryptography and the first file was one-hundred percent accurate.”

Talon sighed as he stared down at the microphone in his office. “Okay. I shall send a reply. Who is involved?”

“Well,” gulped the aide, not expecting such questioning, “It looks like civil unrest. Recommend contacting the President, and a certain Admiral Rommel. They will be able to give us a handle on the situation. I believe that covers both sides of it.”


To: President Damien Constantine
Hail Damien Constantine, President of the Shadowy Realm of Snake Eaters.

The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse has been informed of your isolationist intentions, and of possible unrest in your country. We are deeply concerned by this, as you are both an ally in the Galactic Empire and the ITH, even though we as of yet have not had direct diplomatic relations. What has brought about this policy and chaos?

Your staunch friend,
James Talon, Prime Minister of No Endorse


To: Admiral Rommel

The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse, your ally through both the GE and the ITH has noticed some abnormal transmissions being transmitted from the Shadowy Realm an extremely short time after a military lockdown of the country. What can you tell me of the situation, if anything? We have heard rumors of someone or something called the White Devil at large over there.

I was told that you are a very honorable man by my Intelligence department, and that you could defiantly help us out.

James Talon, Prime Minister of No Endorse

Cougar ran his unit the hardest, so one of the Gray Class stayed with them, healing them when it was needed.
_____________________________________________________________________
Shan and Tari, meanwhile, stayed away from most of the major battles. They'd help out, but they mostly targeted government buildings...making it harder for communications.

When they got bold, sometimes, they'd go and knock out an enemy communications tower.
______________________________________________________________________
The interest in this war was keen in Kaymiril.

Rhenna kept as close a watch as she could on her husband, while looking after her children. She worried about him. If he died...and, by circumstance, she died...the twins would be cared for. But she wanted her children to grow up with him...and she feared that he might not come out of this one alive.

The Valsharess likewise kept an eye on this war. Barbarossa had been one of the few humans to win her friendship, and should things tip too far in the "loyalist" favor, she would send in help for the "rebels."

Her consort also was interested in the battle. The timing was perfect for a coup d'etat...she could little defend herself, but her guards were too wary. She would doubtlessly send them should she feel the need to intervene...leaving herself vulnerable.

And then the woman he deemed worthy could take the throne, especially if Aris and Iral were likewise wiped out.

To: Admiral Rommel

The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse, your ally through both the GE and the ITH has noticed some abnormal transmissions being transmitted from the Shadowy Realm an extremely short time after a military lockdown of the country. What can you tell me of the situation, if anything? We have heard rumors of someone or something called the White Devil at large over there.

I was told that you are a very honorable man by my Intelligence department, and that you could defiantly help us out.

James Talon, Prime Minister of No Endorse

Rommel looked at the transmission he held in his hand,"No Endorse... interesting."

He took a padd, and scripted the following response:

To: James Talon, Prime Minister
From: Fleet Admiral Rommel, Second Fleet

Sir, Snake Eaters is currently embroiled in civil war. At present, my fleet, a percentage of the Army and other armed forces are staging an uprising against the facist regieme of Damien Constantine.

The White Devil refers to a man known as Colonel James Cougar, the head of Snake Eaters Special Operations Unit (SESOU), and is derived from his hair colour and his impressive kill record.

**************************************************************

To: Lord President Damien Constantine
Hail Damien Constantine, Lord President of the Shadowy Realm of Snake Eaters.

The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse has been informed of your isolationist intentions, and of possible unrest in your country. We are deeply concerned by this, as you are both an ally in the Galactic Empire and the ITH, even though we as of yet have not had direct diplomatic relations. What has brought about this policy and chaos?

Your staunch friend,
James Talon, Prime Minister of No Endorse

To: James Talon, Prime Minister
From: Lord President Damien Constantine

As the news reports have been stating across the galaxy, we are currently embroiled in civil war. The despicable traitors who follow Colonel James Cougar have attempted to stage a coup against me and my fellows, causing this nation to attack itself.

The borders were closed as Snake Eaters needed to travel in a new direction, one away from the line of peace that ex-Lord President Jacius Barbarossa was advocating. We needed to get back to our roots of war. This appears the way that we must go.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<snip>

James grateful to the medics for what they were doing, he needed it as much as anyone else. Having driven himself past the point of exhaustion and fatigue, he found that he must continue to fight.

Also, in the back of his mind, he knew Rhenna was watching him, maybe even praying for him. He made a promise to keep himself safe, and he intended to keep it as far as possible

**************************************************************

Anyone who met the mages acknowledged who and what they were, but stayed out of their way. They had their way of fighting, the humans had theirs.

James grateful to the medics for what they were doing, he needed it as much as anyone else. Having driven himself past the point of exhaustion and fatigue, he found that he must continue to fight.

Also, in the back of his mind, he knew Rhenna was watching him, maybe even praying for him. He made a promise to keep himself safe, and he intended to keep it as far as possible

**************************************************************

Anyone who met the mages acknowledged who and what they were, but stayed out of their way. They had their way of fighting, the humans had theirs.
Iliyakim and his unit were exhausted. Out gunned, out manned, against an enemy that had better supplied, and a unit that had seen many of their comrades go down fighting. And for what? For this. For this hell that they were living in.

So he called them together.

"These few weeks have been rough. But you may not have seen that the enemy morale is low as well. They fight for Constantine out of fear, or loyalty to a state that if they knew what was really happening in, they would cover their faces in shame to serve it."

He stood there, letting this sink in for a moment.

"And tonight, we go out once more. Osea must be liberated now. Tonight we eliminate them from this place, and our corresponding units will work with us across the planet. Osea will be saved before this world has seen two sunrises."
______________________________________________________________________
"We're doing what, now?" Shan's voice was incredulous.

"Put the Star of Kaelis Ra in Constantine's window. It'll freak him out and make the public think he made some sort of pact with the devil."

The war had been raging for about a month by the time Iliyakim called his plan into action. Supported by Green Jackets, a battalion of Pretorian's and the Lancers, they smashed the lines of the enemy asunder, the 'rebel's armoured vehicles and air support overwhelming the enemy at pace. They advanced quickly, without respite, capturing the enemy troops, killing those who stood in their way.

Out of desperation, the planetary governor called all his men back, and threw up a hasty defensive line around the Oured, the centre of government for the planet. The Lancers smashed into it, but were repelled. The city was bombed from orbit and by Cobra fighters, trying to break the spirit of the troops facing the 'rebels'. All this after only thirty six hours. The advance had been fast paced, and stretched them dangerously thin. They were bolstered by the Colonial Marines, buying them some time. But, if the enemy managed to get behind them, the campaign was screwed.

Cougar and Alpha Team had got word of the situation, and via the Dauntless, rushed to the warzone. They had always been where the fight was thickest. And now, they would do it again. Moving through the makeshift trenches, they found Iliyakim,"Iliyakim!"

**************************************************************

"In breaking news, the star of Kaelis Ra, not seen since his attack over a decade ago, was seen last night shining in the window of Lord President Constantine's apartment. This event, witnessed by many, has turned the entire church of Leviathan against Constantine, who still insists that the war is going in his favour, that the rebels will soon be crushed and this bloody chapter in Snake Eater history can be closed."

Iliyakim was meanwhile coordinating another attack. He was making plans with the other officers, as he prepared to go out and do a strafing run with Inthuul.

He looked up, irritation hidden beneath steel in his eyes. "Colonel?"
______________________________________________________________________
Tari, hearing this transmission, started to laugh.

"Dead on. I wonder if I can get one of his pens to start randomly signing with that symbol?"

To: James Talon, Prime Minister
From: Fleet Admiral Rommel, Second Fleet

Sir, Snake Eaters is currently embroiled in civil war. At present, my fleet, a percentage of the Army and other armed forces are staging an uprising against the facist regieme of Damien Constantine.

The White Devil refers to a man known as Colonel James Cougar, the head of Snake Eaters Special Operations Unit (SESOU), and is derived from his hair colour and his impressive kill record.

To: James Talon, Prime Minister
From: Lord President Damien Constantine

As the news reports have been stating across the galaxy, we are currently embroiled in civil war. The despicable traitors who follow Colonel James Cougar have attempted to stage a coup against me and my fellows, causing this nation to attack itself.

The borders were closed as Snake Eaters needed to travel in a new direction, one away from the line of peace that ex-Lord President Jacius Barbarossa was advocating. We needed to get back to our roots of war. This appears the way that we must go.

The replies popped up on James Talon's terminal almost simultaneously. Talon read them, shut his eyes, and then opening them, read the messages again. Pressing a button on his desk, Talon growled at his secretary. "Cancel all my appointments for today. And notify Mrs. Halsey to get her but back here ASAP. We need to discuss something.


To: Fleet Admiral Rommel, Second Fleet
From: James Talon
We have recieved a reply from the President that appears to support what you are saying. It is unthinkable for your nation to go fascist. If you need anything, we are here. Please notify whoever is the leader of your side that we are willing to take measures to prevent an ally from going expansionist and totalitarian.

-----------

Jennifer Halsey rushed into the room, carrying a stack of papers. "James, you look like hell. I got word to come here ASAP, so here I am."

"We have a problem Jen. Snake Eaters-"
"-Is in a civil war." she interjected, putting down her heavy load. "Yeah I know. Intel has been going insane over it for about two days. For some reason they didn't tell either of us. I just got done purging the deadweight that kept the info from us. Veers is madder than hellfire, but that's buisness as usual."

"Jen, what would you say to sending a strike group over there? Some Hornets and Phoenixes." (ooc:linky (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=449905))

"Hang on. Let's see how these things unfold. They may or may not want any help, and if the rebels loose, we'd be in big trouble if we were associated with them. Think of the GE charter!"

James Talon closed his eyes and leaned back. "I have. And I hate this house of mirrors. After this, I want to resign."

Even thought Iliyakim tried to hide it, Cougar knew what he was thinking, as he was thinking the same thing. A moment wasted was another life lost,"We've come to join you. Keep in touch. Good luck out there"

Nothing more. Nothing less. Just an acknowledgement of his officer and unit member. With that, Alpha Team disapeared into No-Man's Land. They were virtually invisible, moving over the ground on their bellies despite the copious amounts of mud and grit and water in which they got caked in. Their equipment and weapons was filthy, they looked as if they hadn't eaten properly in days, and yet they kept going. Less than three hours later, all but one bridge into the city blew up. Now, with only one way in, the enemy forces pulled back again. And again. Trying to hold that bridge. But soon the rebel forces were over the river, and in the city. Oured was going to fall very soon... and Alpha Team hadn't even done that much. Only one bridge was their work. Delta had taken the others out themselves.

Originally Posted by James Talon
To: Fleet Admiral Rommel, Second Fleet
From: James Talon
We have recieved a reply from the President that appears to support what you are saying. It is unthinkable for your nation to go fascist. If you need anything, we are here. Please notify whoever is the leader of your side that we are willing to take measures to prevent an ally from going expansionist and totalitarian.

To: James Talon
From: Fleet Admiral Rommel

I will inform them immediatley.

Iliyakim tossed his Thalack, jumping into it.

He was able to coordinate attacks via Codec. Inthuul spat out waves of bombardment on the enemy troops, and when the fighting was in Oured itself, changed into a more easily ridable form.

There, Iliyakim let his old friend and companion control his own weapons functions, while he directed him into the thick of it. His twinned blades spun out among the enemy forces, seeking throats, seeking bellies, seeking hands.

For now, he was Elgghin, for now, he was demon...for now, he was warrior.

SNN Broadcast, November 26th
"It is confirmed, the rebels have captured Oured, and with it, the system of Osea. Loyalist forces are pulling out of the region as the rogue Second Fleet moves in with reinforcements. Ship to ship combat is sporadic according to offical military sources, but eye witness reports say that the Leviathan-class crusier Purging Fire of Hell was crippled, and now is undergoing repairs to make her battleworthy again"

"Reports from the Osea system are saying that the rebels are treating the civilian populace with dignity, and are helping to try and repair some of the damage the war has caused to their lives."

*************************************************************

Cougar had left Osea behind, and slipped out to see his wife and children whilst there was brief lull in the fighting. Most planets had settled into a stalemate, neither side able to gain the upper hand. In space, the battles raged all the time, as civil ships joined the rebels.

He walked to the village, having landed some two kilometres to the west.

Iliyakim watched as the world began restoring itself. He left defense there, and took the remainder of his forces to Mamba, where the "rebel" forces needed the most help.
***************************************************************
The twins had settled well enough into Che'el with their mother. They'd picked up more Drow, and gained an appreciation for Kaymirilian food.

The people of Che'el had been sympathetic to her...it was hard raising two children on one's own.

It was true. Mamba was one of the hardest nuts to crack for the rebel forces. It was a heavily-industrailised world. Claustrophobic at best. The loyalist forces here were the Jungle Corps, used to the jungle but able to adapt to the huge complexes that stretched as far as the eye could see.

"Thank god you're here, Captain. It's been hell just holding this position"

The Mamba Refinery had been seized early by the Cadian Guard, but now, they were having trouble holding the vast complex against the vastly superior enemy forces

**************************************************************

Cougar found where his wife was living, and hesitated a moment. Was this right? Coming to see them, and then going back to war? Could he put them through that? He looked at it like a choice, and he had no control. He rapped the door with his knuckles, hoping she was in

Iliyakim was right to business, barely exchanging greetings before looking at the reports.

"This is going to be fun....do we have any other forces on planet?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Yes?" was the hurried answer. Sounded like one of the twins, at least, was driving their mother insane.

The door opened, and there stood...Barrus, having figured out how the opening mechanism worked.

Rn -- "D'anthe, I thought I told you to watch him!"

D -- "Kaw!" was the indignant reply.

"Aside from ourselves, the only forces are three hundred klicks west of here. We're cut off from each other by enemy forces."
**************************************************************

James stepped over the threshold, and picked his son up, closing the door behind him,"Are you driving your mother insane?"

"You've done well to hold out this far. Right, you start attacking them, driving them west. But attack like this."

Iliyakim described a complex attack, writing everything down, and diagramming it.

"We'll take care of the 300 klick block, and we'll start working with coordinated attacks."

He split his unit up into a larger and a smaller one, taking the smaller one to the other rebel encampment.
_______________________________________________________________________
"They both are. I can't count how many times I've told him not to do that...have you been okay?"

The commander of the Cadian Guard looked at the plan. It was ambitious, but it could work. Could work.

At 0750 the next morning, they staged the first in a series of attacks, trying to break out of the ring of enemy forces that had surrounded them since October 30th. In this close quaters, it wasn't so much the gun as your fists or knives or pistols or whatever else you carried. You fought with tooth and nail to win here. Grenades exploded, one landing in the middle of a platoon and decmating it, the Lieutenant in charge thrown skyward. There was a sickening crunch as he landed on the concrete, the lifeblood ebbing out of him. His eyes glazed over, and he died. Right there. No one to hold his hand or to hear his last words. He was just another number, another statistic, another name on tomorrow's casualty lists.

**************************************************************

James sat on the air, and sighed,"Fine for the most part... it's just so tiring. This war... it's killing hundreds of men and women every day. Every day"

Iliyakim had coordinated with the other side, and they started pushing east at the same time as the first started west.

His other troops fought too. Tooth and nail, like it was, and all according to plan.

This is Faris's field, not mine...I can only hope I've made a decent plan.
________________________________________________________________________
***Elsewhere onplanet***

Two mages were scurrying through the city, like rats, trying to wipe out enemy power supplies.
________________________________________________________________________
Rhenna nods. "It's sounded bad."

The Cadian Guards were famed for their tenacity under fire. But even this was challenging to them. Despite heavy losses, they all kept fighting. They had a saying in the Guard,"Keep fighting until you can't fight no more, then fight some more"

**************************************************************

Eldrad appeared next to them,"Turn right at the next intersection, or you'll be ambushed"

**************************************************************

"We took Osea about two weeks ago, and Iliyakim moved straight onto Mamba about a week ago... it's been bad. I've barely slept this month... it's almost a dream"

"Inthuul...do we know where their command center is?"

Yes.

"Then let's go. We wipe that post out."

He left instructions, then went blasting off, strafing enemy strongholds whenever he ran across them.
***************************************************************
S -- "How bad will it be, Eldrad?"

**************************************************************
"It does sound really bad."

The command centre was the most heavily defended position on the planet. It bristled with weapons and men and armour, more than enough to destroy Iliyakim.

**************************************************************

"A full company of men is passing by. In excess of one hundred men. Plus their armoured support"

**************************************************************

"It is really bad... but I've taken the chance to get out, come see the kids"

And you... but I can't admit that. Even touching each other is essentially forbidden

Only if they can hit me.

"Evasive, and keep aware, Inthuul."

He launched his first salvo...enchanted to create explosive damage.
_______________________________________________________________________
S -- "Think we can take 'em?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"They've been missing you." As have I.

The explosions rippled through compound, but still the fire kept coming at him. It seemed to be endless. The only slight lull was when the pulse cannons had to recharge briefly, and even that only took half a second thanks to the cooling systems they'd jerry-rigged to them. The tanks also fired, their slugs sailing past Iliyakim to impact on his forces behind him. HE (High Explosive) shells filled with submuntitions... using tanks as highly mobile artillery.

**************************************************************

"No, you must remain covert. One Drow can be explained, but if you are seen, then questions will be asked"

**************************************************************

"I'm sure they have, I've missed them too"

Not half as much as I've missed you though... all these months, there hasn't been a day when I haven't thought of you

No you don't.

"Inthuul, scatter shot. I want these tanks gone the day before yesterday."

He aimed and fired with one hand, while flew with the other, just enough to keep barely dodging.

He didn't know how much longer he could take this.

It'll have to be long enough.
_____________________________________________________________________
S -- "Damn. So, right at the next corner?"
_____________________________________________________________________
"Why don't you stay with them for the day? How long are you here, anyway?"

The tanks detonated in sequence. Well, most of them. A few remained, but turned their guns on Iliyakim. Using railgun technology, they were able to track and fire rounds much faster than previous models, but used solid shot to deal the damage. If one hit Iliyakim, the energy transfer alone would kill him.

**************************************************************

"Yes. The path is clear to the source from there"

**************************************************************

"Less than twenty four hours," he said sadly, wishing he could spend all of it with her AND the children.

Shu.

"Inthuul, take us south. Let's dump a bomb over them in flyby."

The Thalack wheeled, away from the fight, but also away from his men. As long as they were shooting at him, it was less danger to them. At an exact point, he dropped an explosive over the base. It ought to land near the center.

Inthuul continued to duck and bob.

"We'll go about a hundred clicks south. If we see anyone along the way, we'll bomb 'em...and then we'll come back and try again."

Wael

"I know."
________________________________________________________________________
T -- "Thanks. We'll try and get some structural damage in, too. Hey, where are we needed most, after this?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"Not long, then...but such is your life."

The first bomb landed on a reinforced bunker, detonating on the carapace. The resultant shrapnel tore through men around it, but inside, the commanding officers were still safe and sound. For now at least, they felt secure. But there was something...

"How can one man do so much damage?"

"He's a Drow... using one of those damn gliders!"

Brigidier Mason grinned,"A Drow, eh? Well... my boys can use that. Oh yes, we can use that. Send a message... the Drow are helping the rebels"

"Um, Sir"

"Yes, what is it, Staff (Sergeant)?"

"There is a Drow in the rebel command camp... he's worked for Snake Eaters for about eight years now"

Mason's fist crashed through a computer terminal,"GOD DAMNIT!"

**************************************************************

Eldrad looked lost in thought,"Once Mamba is completed, you would do well to move to Yuktobania. As of yet, it has not been touched by the hand of war. But, an preemtive strike could spread fear and discord among the enemy soliders"

**************************************************************

"I wish I could stay longer... but then, people would start asking questions. Who was that? Why was he here? Where did he come from?"

"How badly did we hit them, Inthuul?"

Not badly enough. That, and they know who you are now.

"And also where I come from. We have to knock out their communications. I'd rather not have Constantine attack Kaymiril because I help here."

This is an industrialized planet, moron. You can't take out all the enemy communications towers.

"Yes..but...oh, how foolish. How long have I been living here? I completely forgot that we could call for the ship to lay down suppressing fire."

He flicked a switch, calling the ship. "Captain, how precisely can your ships hit a target?"
______________________________________________________________________
"Okay, sounds fun. In any event, we'll go that way now."

From the shadows, into the shadows, and through the shadows they went, like shadows.

T -- "We should also try stealing their supplies, too."

S -- "Where would we send them?"

T -- "There are some of our ships in orbit, and at least one has a near-empty cargo hold."

S -- "That's for troops."

T -- "Shan I hate to remind you of this...but not all our troops on this planet will be boarding those ships again."

They went on. They knew there would be danger in stealing enemy supplies (and, if they were lucky, weapons), but they were prepared for it. After all...they were Velkyn.
________________________________________________________________________
Rhenna nods. "I know. And besides...you have a job to do."

She stands up. "But while you are here, you will eat, and you will sleep."

She lets Akor down from the table she'd had her on, and the little girl went running/falling over to her father. "Up!"
_________________________________________________________________________
Valsharess Kaymiril VII looked over the reports. One of her guards and tacticians, Haldosir, was looking over a copy with his friend and companion Rildorath.

H -- "The fighting draws ever nearer our borders. Should it spill into Kaymirilian space, the results could be disastrous."

The Valsharess nodded. "Send the third fleet to guard the border."

R -- "Constantine could view this as an act of aggression."

The Valsharess stood. Unknown to most, she was almost four months pregnant with her third child...hopefully a female. "If Constantine views this as an act of Kaymirilian aggression, he will have to look to his own empire. This is preventive action. If he finds any ships to spare to attack, then we will be justified in retaliation. Now go. Send the fleet."

Haldosir bowed and left.
_______________________________________________________________________
*Two days later, the Kaymiril/Snake Eaters Border*

Several ships of various size and class dropped out of their version of faster-than-light travel. They remained on their side of the border, sentinels.

The response was immediate,"This is the Typhoon, lead ship for this task force. Depends on the target. What do you need attacking"

**************************************************************

Just as Eldrad had said, the way was basically clear. A few guards dotted around, but most of them looked too exhausted to even lift their pulse rifles to aim at a target, let alone try and take out two Drow mages.

The depot itself was fairly imposing, but it was known to contain food, medical supplies, weapons, ammunition... almost everything an army would need to keep fighting.


**************************************************************

"Who am I to argue with the mistress of the house?"

He smiled as his daughter came running over to him, and he lifted her off her feet,"Hows my little girl?"

**************************************************************

Adminstrium War Room, Snake City
"Lord President, word from the borders!"

The young intel officer rushed through the gleaming double doors, a padd in his hand. He was only about twenty years old, and he looked apprehensive. If anyone brought Constantine bad news these days, things didn't go well for them. The man was a well-known sadist and torture advocate. He trembled slightly... the President was an imposing figure.

Constantine took the padd from the junior officer, who stood stiffly at attention, waiting for his orders. His eyes flicked over the information, and he swore,"That stupid bitch! Doesn't she realise, even with her entire naval force, they could not stop the advance if we moved now? And she baits me with this? High Admiral!"

"Yes, Sir?"

"Redeploy part of the Fourth Fleet to the Kaymirilian border. Order them not to open fire until I give the word, or the Kaymirilian's advance over the border. Is that understood?"

"Yessir!"

"Get to work"

As the High Admiral hurried out to make the call, Constantine turned to look out over Snake City, still untouched by war,"Ah, Anna.... you are a fool, but a daring one"

**************************************************************

Several Hours Later, Kaymirilian/Snake Eaters border
50 ships. Spread out across the border. A single light year seperated them from the Kaymirilian force. All types were present, from the Hunter gunboats to the Akira warships, all commanded by a Warfare class frigate, the Dawn Treader.

It was a Mexican Standoff of epic proportions. If this situation got out of hand, then the war would take a turn for the rebels... but for now, they just sat, and waited.

Iliyakim turned Inthuul around, taking another swing at the enemy base.

"Enemy base of ops about thirteen klicks to my north. Fighting only a coupla klicks north of that."
______________________________________________________________________
Tari signaled to Shan in a form of Sign Language. It would be easy to cast a simple sleep spell on them.

Yeah. The sleep spell crafted itself out of Shan's will and attacked the guards.

Once they succumbed, Tari unleashed a destructive spell on the active enemy surveillence.

They then began teleporting everything they could lay their hands on into the ships.

Their side really needed it.

After that....

S -- "Anything else?"

T -- "Yeah. Powersource."

S -- "Right...the reason we came here in the first place. I think it's this way."
______________________________________________________________________
"You generally don't find it a good idea."

Meanwhile, Akor was talking to him in a half-intelligible mix of Common and Drow, telling about how she had spent the past month.
_______________________________________________________________________
A Silver class mage watched as the Snake Eater fleet gathered at their side of the border.

The Kaymirilian orders were not to fire until the Snake Eaters made their move.

Poor fools. If you're here long enough, you might just be lucky enough to survive this mess.
_________________________________________________________________________
As the report came back to Kaymiril VII, she smiled. "Now send in the Fourth. If they want to posture...well, I can do that, too."
_________________________________________________________________________
*Hours later, Kaymiril/Snake Eater border*

Forty more ships appeared, reinforcing their Kaymirilian counterparts.

Aboard the Typhoon, Commander Mays looked at his tactical officer, who nodded in confirmation,"Roger that, Captain. We can attack the enemy base... the fighting, however, is more difficult. We could hit our own troops. Commencing orbital bombardment of the enemy strongpoint"

Thirty seconds passed, and then the first phaser blast impacted the enemy stronghold. It was followed by many more, pulse blasts hitting the reinforced concrete, turning it into molten slag. Quantum torpedoes as well. A hail of fire from the heavens... and there was nothing scarier than an orbital barrage.

Men ran screaming, trying to escape the firey hell that was behind them.

"Typhoon here, enemy base confirmed destroyed. I say again, enemy base neutralised."

**************************************************************

There was the gentle hum of the matter-antimatter power source. Almost of Snake Eaters large machinery used this as the primary power source. Up above, the Orca ships started to distribute the new supplies for shipping to other fronts... it was the only way.

**************************************************************

"For the most part"

He smiled, listening to his daughter speak her hybrid language, interpretating the Drow in his mind and simply listening to the Basic.

**************************************************************
Aboard the Dawn Treader, Fleet Captain Simon Ambrose sighed as he saw the new Kaymirilian ships appear on the sensor net,"WHy do they do this?Why not just back down... then we can leave too"

"You don't want to fight them?"

"No, I don't. It is, in fact, the last thing I want right now"

"Many thanks, Commander."

Iliyakim swooped back into the fighting, almost swimming through the blood and bodies to engage in the sword-dance he favored.
_____________________________________________________________________
T -- "Okay...you remember where we're going, right?"

S -- "Yes...ready?"

She nodded. If she didn't do this fast enough and they didn't get out in time...they'd be paste on the walls.

She cast a spell, one of her own design, to breach the containment field. They then had to wait to see if it took...and then Shan would teleport them out.
_______________________________________________________________________
Barrus grumbled at his twin, who kept on talking to her daddy, ignoring her grumpy brother.
______________________________________________________________________
The Kaymirilian border patrol didn't do anything. They stayed there, on alert.

They had the feeling that they were exasperating the Snake Eaters.

That was the point.

They didn't want to fight. But this was a good thing on two counts.

1) These Snake Eaters, if they insisted on staying there, would be spared battle if they didn't initiate it.

2) They wouldn't be fighting against their own, which would spare more "rebel" lives and end the war more quickly.

People tried to fight Iliyakim, but it was hopeless. Although they were leaderless, they could fight. But they were demoralised, and fighting against an enemy who was far older, wiser and more expierenced then they were.

***************************************************************

"Warning, containment field compromised. Detonation in five, four, three..."

***************************************************************

"Still grumpy as ever, hey Barrus?"

Iliyakim granted them the favor of a quick death.

After several hours, he stood atop a mound of corpses.

"Enemy forces, surrender now and your lives will be spared."
______________________________________________________________________
Barrus made what sounded like a complaint, and Rhenna laughed, serving four bowls of something..

"Come on...eat. And they're still as messy as they ever were, so be prepared, James."
________________________________________________________________________
Shan teleported them away, to a place they could see the explosion from, but be safe from it.
_________________________________________________________________________
**Where Eldrad had told Shan and Tari NOT to go*

A lone figure, cloaked in black, tood in the middle of the street. He could see the oncoming convoy.

Child's play.

"We will never give up! This world is belongs to Lord President Constantine"

The shout was that of a Black Guardsman. Changing his mind would not happen, he'd been altered to make it almost impossible. His zeal was that of a man whose belief was unwavering.

***************************************************************

*Some distance away*
The sniper's hand trembled. He had the rebel in his sights... his kill tally had skyrocketed today. But now, he could take down this one man, this seemingly invincible form of destruction.

He loaded another round into his L96 sniper rifle, steadied his vision and his breathing, and stared down the scope. The 7.62 round sat, waiting to be fired. He stopped moving, and squeezed the trigger.

The report of the shot echoed around him, and he stared down his scope, trying to see the damage...

***************************************************************

The detonation was spectacular, the reaction tearing the depot apart. It lit up the evening sky as brilliantly as the twin suns under which Mamba resided.

***************************************************************

"Oh, I know that much"

He set the two children at the table, and then sat down himself,"Ah, real food... first for a while"

***************************************************************

"What the hell...?"

"Stay where you are, put your hands on your head!"

Weapons were cocked, and the foremost armour unit aimed it's main gun at Vedt, along with all it's sub-weapons.

Iliyakim's voice darkened. "Have it your way, the --"

He heard the shot go off, and turned to see where it came from. The round struck him in the shoulder, ripping through and knocking him to the ground. If he hadn't moved, it would have been lethal.

"Inthuul..."

The glider sped away, spitting fire at the sniper that had struck his master.

Bleeding and in pain, Iliyakim stood up, and drew his left hand sword...his right arm was no good. He moved back toward the front, stopping only momentarily to let a medic bind his shoulder.

Even then, he kept shouting orders, rallying troops there, directing troops here, taking in the scene of the damage.
_______________________________________________________________________
T -- "Awesome. Where's our next target?"

S -- "Other side of the planet."

T -- "Then let's go."
_______________________________________________________________________
"I think not."

The wind began to blow, making the mage's cloaks whip and snap in the wind.

A vortex dropped down in front of him and made its way toward the transport and its escort. It glowed with an eerie bluish energy.

"Shit... better move"

The sniper wriggled out his shooting cell and moved away as Inthuul pummeled where he had been moments before. He breathed a sigh of relief, crossing himself in the manner of the Catholic faith. He tumbled back into his own lines, where another solider was kneeling on the ground, reciting his prayers of Islam. All faiths were represented here... all over this terrible war.

***************************************************************

"OPEN FIRE!"

The line opened up, pulse fire cracking from the ends of their rifles, the solid slugs of the tanks coming in as well, combined with heavy machine gun fire.

His shoulder had a makeshift bandage, and as Inthuul returned, cursing his inability to hit the sniper, Iliyakim ordered him into his flight form, taking him for a strafing run of the enemy lines.

He was in pain, but he could fight past it. Pain was only illusion.
_________________________________________________________________________
*Kaymiril*

"I figured it would have been about that long." Rhenna took Barrus from his father (getting a sharp protest), and set him in a chair to feed him.
_________________________________________________________________________
The bullets merely ricocheted off a barrier Vedt had set, and the vortex moved to and through the enemy forces...a spell designed to disentigrate whatever organic matter it came in contact with.

*Mamba*
Death and pain reigned supreme on Mamba. Vedt's spell eliminated the troops, but left the vehicles untouched. It was a scary sight for the sniper who was moving back towards his lines, seeing a single man take out an entire company of men and armour right before his eyes. He crossed himself again, and cowered in the trench, not willing to risk his luck, and in turn his life, trying to shoot this man.

The strafing run elicited some return fire, but it fell short. They weren't taking the fact he was moving into account... but a moving target is known to be the hardest thing to hit. Ever.

_________________________________________________________________

*Kaymiril*
"Well... rations are still good, but nothing compared to home cooking"

He started to eat,"How have you been?"

Vedt opened the door into the armored transport and took a breif moment to figure out how it worked, then continued moving it toward the enemy forces...at which point he started shooting them.

He knew he only had a limited amount of time before he would have to teleport back to Rendelmar as the machine exploded...but, hey...this was working.

Iliyakim noticed this from his vantage point. That makes no sense...but I'll work with it...

He started layering his fire toward the center, so that the enemy had to chose between rushing towards his ready troops and traps, or the deadly monstrosity that was firing at them.
_________________________________________________________________________
"I've been pretty good...It's good to have them back, if only for a while."

The enemy was torn between Iliyakim's troops, who would overwhelm them if they did not fire back, or towards the tank, which now slowly moved towards them, it's weapons firing at the targets. The main gun was firing as well, the neural A.I having taken control. It was an older model, and as such still used the old shells as opposed to solid slug railrounds.

Eventually, they had no choice but to divide their fire. The heavier weapons turned on the tank, whilst the medium to light weapons fired on Iliyakim's troops. They had the defensive height... hopefully, they could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

_________________________________________________________________

"I thought it might... I was hoping that the Queen would choose you..."

The sad thing...once we finish here...there are still so many more.

Agony ripped through Iliyakim's arm with every heartbeat, and he was glad he'd opted to get the nanites. Combined with his healing spell, those should have him back to normal in two or three days.
_________________________________________________________________________
"To take care of them? What a Maril does, she does for a reason."

The loyalists fought to the bitter end, but eventually, this bastion of strength was crushed by the 'rebel' forces. It took over ten hours, and hundreds of lives, but it was over for now A Sergeant with the 101st Green's was the first to raise the true flag of Snake Eaters above the parapat. The battle was over... for now.

Vedt's tank had, by some small miracle, come out still alive, if only barely. Smoking heavily, one tread blown off, almost all the weapons disabled. People in the rebel ranks wanted to know who had taken control of the tank. A section moved slowly towards it, weapons raised... could it be a mercenary? Who was it?

______________________________________________________________________

"Yes, they do... what is this? It tastes familiar"

The tank powered down...and when it was opened...there was no one there.
________________________________________________________________________
"Kreren, lightly seasoned. I tend to eat what they eat...easier, that way."

The general consensus throughout the lines was,"What the fuck?"

That night, with the enemy forced back for a time onto the plains away from the city, susceptible to bombing and field artillery, which the rebel forces were happy to adminsinister. But it wasn't all death and corruption. Some had given themselves up, and had been taken prisoner by the rebels. They were treated fairly well, not beaten. Some of them even started to strike up friendships with the forces that had bested them. It turned out that, for the most part, Constantine's forces either believed in his words utterly, or they were too afraid to rebel, officers and soliders all. Morale was falling, and it made them suffer. Osea had been a prime example. Mamba was an unkown... Tiravano, a stalemate. Indeed, they said, this war would be won on the ground by the rebels, but it seemed as if the war in space, the real war, the one for supplies and troop movements, would be won by Constantine's forces, who outnumbered the Second Fleet three to one.

A Cadian private sat with his back to the wall, near where Iliyakim would be resting ((run with it, it makes it more interesting)). He stuck his hand into his webbing, pulling out a bottle of scotch, and taking a belt from the bottle. He looked over at the SHADOW Captain, and gestured,"Drink?"

He dropped the 'Sir'.. right now, rank wasn't an issue. They were all on the same side, getting dirty, no matter what the rank.

_____________________________________________________________________

"I had to do that at home... although, it has to be said, Snake Eaters baby food leaves little to be desired"

Iliyakim looked at the private and grinned. "Thank you." He took a drink of the scotch, then handed the bottle back.

"What did you think of today?"
____________________________________________________________________________
"It saves time, anyway." Barrus had finished eating, while Akor had been playing with her food.

"You are such a..."

"Mess!" interjected Barrus happily.

Rhenna took the remainder of Akor's food (which should be enough to feed her) and started coaxing her to eat.

"What's the point in thinking about it? We went, we killed, we won by the skin of our teeth. And we'll try to do the same again tomorrow"

______________________________________________________________________

"He still loves that word..." said James, picking up his son,"Come on you, stop annoying your mother and sister and come with me"

"True enough...but it's still progress. In any event, I ought to go make report."

He stood, walking to the communications tent and opening a channel to Location Alpha. It was encoded on at least three different levels, with a fourth if you didn't have a specific type of unit.

He waited for someone to accept his call. He didn't think that he looked battered and bloody...it was war.
_______________________________________________________________________
"Where go?"

"Gd'night, Captain"

The call was answered quickly, by a man Iliyakim would recognise as Phil Turner, the unit's technical genius. In fact, he was the one responsible for the Codec, the nanite, basically everything the unit used was his design. Looked like he was sitting reserve,"What's up?"

____________________________________________________________________

"Why don't you show me around?"

"Just calling to make report, Phil. Mamba went well today...in relative terms."
_____________________________________________________________________
"Jugare." He points at stuff and says a word, sometimes in Common, sometimes in Drow.

Unlike his sister, who would have told him everything about everything ("and I bumped my head on that thing, and it hurt, but it was funny when Barrus bumped his head, but he said it hurt, so it probably did..."), he just named things.

Rhenna finished feeding Akor, then ate a little herself before going to clean her daughter off.

"Alright Iliyakim, I'll pass it on. Any ideas of how long you'll be there? I mean, you've been going over a month, with no break. Even James has been back, you haven't"

_____________________________________________________________________

James let his son name everything he could, smiling and acknowledging each thing. He saw as Rhenna went to clean Akor, and smiled slightly. It was a home for them... they might get used to it.

"I'll be here until we've taken the planet...probably another week or two...or until we've been utterly beaten. Then I'll return for a day or so to rest."

James has reason to go back...I have responsibilities here.
________________________________________________________________________
"So, is he talking your ear off?"

"You don't watch it, Watt'll confine you to quaters. Take care of yourself, man. Emily is doing her nut thinking about you out there"

Emily Christian. A SHADOW operative on the naval team (Romeo), currently on Tiravano. She'd become quite smitten with Iliyakim over the months and years she'd known him.

______________________________________________________________________

"You could say that... he's developed quite a large vocabulary since I left him here"

"And here I would have thought that she'd be busy enough with Tiravino." Iliyakim flashed his friend a tight grin. "I'll be fine. And Watt...knows how I work. In any event, I'm sending over the numbers now. It's not looking incredibly pretty. So much blood covers a few hundred kilometers."
______________________________________________________________________
"He doesn't have much choice, if he wants to keep up with his sister."

"You'd be surprised how people like her think. Anyway, I've got these figures... not a pretty list. The other officers have listed their casualties from across the war... it's still about even. Keep safe"

He shut the line, and sent the data over to the computer core that handled their data. Surrounding it, slicers and hackers worked feverishly to crack S.I.O.N's encryption codes. A 512-bit encryption, with a rotating cleartext... it was the hardest thing they'd ever seen... but they would get the job done.

______________________________________________________________________

"I'm not surprised"

Iliyakim shut the transmission, and then grabbed a bottle of water, draining it in under a minute.

He then splashed water over his face and hands, cleaning off some little bit. He longed to sleep, but instead he went to the men still firing at the enemy, having Inthuul carry water and food to them.

"How goes it?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"She still talks more and better than he does...but he moves around better."

"Better,"shouted one of them, almost deaf from the constant shooting going on around them,"It's quietened down since earlier"

His Sergeant tapped him on the shoulder, and jerked his thumb towards the lines,"Get back to work, John"

He looked at Iliyakim,"We got word from the Typhoon. They're sending us some supplies"

_______________________________________________________________________

"I can see she's a natural born public speaker"

"I thought that what we had was what we got?"
_______________________________________________________________________
"Maybe. Or maybe he'll be the public speaker."

"No, they recieved some supplies from two people who refused to identify themselves. It's being distributed, and we got some. Food, water, ammunition... that sort of thing"

_______________________________________________________________________

"Maybe... we shall see"

"Interesting."
_______________________________________________________________________
"I suppose we have to."

"We're not complaining though. We need it, especially the ammo. Sure, we've been taking theres, but nine times out of ten, their power packs are exhausted as well. We can't recharge them all that often"

_______________________________________________________________________

He let Barrus go on his merry way,"I'll sleep on the couch tonight"

It wasn't a slur. He desperatley wanted to sleep with her ((in the innocent sense, for those of you watching and thinking,'Dirty boy!')), but he feared that to do so would make it even harder to go back and do what he must. In his heart, he wanted her to insist he slept in the bed.

Iliyakim nodded. "Carry on. I'll send another team in an hour or so to relieve you."
______________________________________________________________________
"Such things don't exist in Che'el. Get a decent night's sleep. The bed isn't anywhere near as comfortable as the one you have back at home...but it works."

The Sergeant nodded,"Alright Captain"

He turned, and went back to guard duty. Tonight, they held.

________________________________________________________________________

He smiled, a weary smile,"Thanks. Much obligied"

He went back, assigning the team for the next turn.
_______________________________________________________________________
"What did you think I would tell you? Sleep on the floor?" She shakes her head.

And so on it went for the whole night. Stag duty. Two hours on at a time, simply watching for the enemy. This war was a hybrid of attrition (trench) and Blitzkreig (Lightning War).

All across the Empire, war raged. People fought, people died... it was the way things had gone. Shit happens.

On the Snake Eater/Kaymirilian border, things looked the same as they had twelve hours before. The crews were bored, but alert, on the Snake Eater side.

_______________________________________________________________________


"No, I didn't think so"

Things appeared to be getting incredibly bloody on all fronts, especially from what garbled messages the No Endorse Cryptography division could contort out of the signals flying all over the place. Almost nothing could be deciphered, be it encoding or sheer signal distortion, but the message was clear. Things were escalating.

James Talon had held three meetings today on this situation alone, and was tiring of the endless waltz of politics. If only they could at least try NOT to make a committee for overseeing the committee of oversight of the committee of who knows what... Things had gotten so bad that Talon had 'diplomatically' forced the dissolution of over two dozen fluff committees.

Rubbing his eyes, the Prime Minister decided that something had to be done. The Snake Eaters situation would continue to cause a political ruckus until No Endorse committed to something, either non involvement or helping one of the sides. And he sure as hell wouldn't help a fascist regime.

Yet the political game was a delicate one. Even as destroyed as it was, the Shadowy Realm could still cause great damage if the current government won and found out No Endorse had been helping the rebels. There must be a way...

"Secretary. Get Jennifer Halsey in here on the double."

The Ministress of the Military rushed in, carrying a thick stack of papers as usual, her long brown hair flowing behind her. Talon didn't even glance up before beginning. "Jennie, we're going to help out in Snake Eaters. Not publicly, since that'd be disastrous if the current government wins. But I want to make that eventuality a lot less likely. Send them a message, and send over a squad of Phoenixes to meet with them. If they don't want help, pull back. If they do, then we'll send in a few more phoenixes and run some supplies in. Nothing more unless the rebels are about to loose. Understood?"

"Yes James, I'll send it myself."


To: Admiral Rommel
From: Jennifer Halsey,
Subject: Civil War
Admiral Rommel, recently your nation has been embroiled in a civil war over whether a fascist regime should be its government or not. The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse recently sent you a transmission swearing that we are willing to aide you in fighting this foe. I am sending you this message to act on that oath. We are mobilizing a Phoenix Gunship squadron, (linky (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=449905)) medium fleet raiders, to go meet up with your side. Please send us coordinates for where to send these twelve ships, if you wish this help at all. They will be unmarked and lack transponder formatting, so you'll need to program them to friendly codes.

This squad is only the beginning. We are currently examining the possibility of running supplies, but we need to know if you even want any of this help. If you think it would be too dangerous for use to affiliate ourselves with your movement, please alert us. Unless replied, this will be our last communication with anyone in the Shadowy Realm until this altercation clears.

To: Admiral Rommel
From: Jennifer Halsey,
Subject: Civil War
Admiral Rommel, recently your nation has been embroiled in a civil war over whether a fascist regime should be its government or not. The Galactic Inferno of No Endorse recently sent you a transmission swearing that we are willing to aide you in fighting this foe. I am sending you this message to act on that oath. We are mobilizing a Phoenix Gunship squadron, medium fleet raiders, to go meet up with your side. Please send us coordinates for where to send these twelve ships, if you wish this help at all. They will be unmarked and lack transponder formatting, so you'll need to program them to friendly codes.

This squad is only the beginning. We are currently examining the possibility of running supplies, but we need to know if you even want any of this help. If you think it would be too dangerous for use to affiliate ourselves with your movement, please alert us. Unless replied, this will be our last communication with anyone in the Shadowy Realm until this altercation clears.

Encrypted
To: Jennifer Halsey,
From: Admiral Rommel
Re: Civil War

Your aid is most welcome. The battle for control of space is one which my side will suffer the most in, outnumbered as we are. However, a single squadron will suffice for now.

In order to slip past the detection net, deploy them to Spatial Grid 145, near the Belkan system which is currently contested between the two sides in this conflict. They will be met by three ships, two Galaxy classes, and a single Intrepid class. As they will be unmarked and without transponder settings, we request that they be broadcasting the Universal Distress Signal for some form of identification.

With regard to supplying us in this fight against our country's facist regieme, this will be discussed at a later date. Be warned, should this squadron fire upon us, they will be destroyed. Our ships are not to be underestimated, and we are trusting you in this endevour. This is merely caution on our part

To: Admiral Rommel
From: Jennifer Halsey
Re: Re: Civil War
We will have them go in with their weapons offline and their distress beacons active. We understand your caution in this matter. I apologize for the small size of our aide. These ships are extremely new, and we haven't produced many yet. Also, most of the fleet is undergoing a large scale revamping, severely restricting our offensive capabilities. Hopefully we will be able to dispatch some additional ships soon if the need arises.

However, these ships are extremely efficient for what they do

Keep us posted on the progress of the war, and call for aide if you need it.

Twelve points of light emerged in Spatial Grid 145. They dissapeared almost instantaneously, but a quick observer would have seen that. No matter... that was a truth of FTL, and nothing could change that. Maybe no one would notice...

Gunship Squadron 003, the "Rapid Raiders" for their almost buccaneer approach to fleet raiding, was the finest gunship squadron in the Inferno. Well, it was only one of eight current squadrons, but the crews were all veterans of the navy.

The head craft activated a micro-distress beacon, encoded to the specific galactic frequency. They sat tight and waited, hyperdrives warm, waiting for any sign of friend or foe.

And so on it went for the whole night. Stag duty. Two hours on at a time, simply watching for the enemy. This war was a hybrid of attrition (trench) and Blitzkreig (Lightning War).

All across the Empire, war raged. People fought, people died... it was the way things had gone. Shit happens.

On the Snake Eater/Kaymirilian border, things looked the same as they had twelve hours before. The crews were bored, but alert, on the Snake Eater side.

_______________________________________________________________________

"No, I didn't think so"
Iliyakim took his turn watching...but he also slept, six hours in total. It was less than enough to make up for what he'd lost...but for now, it would suffice.

During four hours during the night (the time Shan and Tari took to sleep), the enemy power sources and supplies were safe. Any other time...they were fair game, as far as the little mages were concerned.

Vedt got a good chuckle out of the rebel forces' reactions to his antics. However, he knew he would do it again at least once more...any able Velkyn would go, if they could.

Cougar was, after all, one of their own.
_________________________________________________________________________
*Border*

"Are we going to move at all?"

The Silver Class on deck at that time whirled around and struck the communications officer.

"Not until and unless they do or we are ordered. Neither is likely to happen."
__________________________________________________________________________
"When you leave, check the point in the forest that is just above my room." It sounds so hollow...I'm never there...and I really still think of it as ours.
"There are useful items there...not much...not even as much as the Dauntless can carry. But useful, still."

Twelve points of light emerged in Spatial Grid 145. They dissapeared almost instantaneously, but a quick observer would have seen that. No matter... that was a truth of FTL, and nothing could change that. Maybe no one would notice...

Gunship Squadron 003, the "Rapid Raiders" for their almost buccaneer approach to fleet raiding, was the finest gunship squadron in the Inferno. Well, it was only one of eight current squadrons, but the crews were all veterans of the navy.

The head craft activated a micro-distress beacon, encoded to the specific galactic frequency. They sat tight and waited, hyperdrives warm, waiting for any sign of friend or foe.

S.E.N Danthe, Intrepid class
"Sir, the ships No endorse said they would send appear to have arrived"

Captain Farac sat in his command chair,"Are they in visual range?"

"Aye sir"

"Show me"

The viewscreen flicked into life, and showed the leader of the three ships that Rommel had spared to come out here and find these guys. He studied the designs... interesting, but they lacked the sleek elegence and finesse of Snake Eater ships.

"Signal the Hydra and the Basilisk, tell them to come up along side. Ensign, bring us in closer, one half impulse. Mr. Telic, keep our weapons at the ready, but offline for the moment"

"Aye sir," was the reply from all stations. The three Snakle Eater ships glided through the void to meet these people, who were their targets, identified by the distress signal.

"Open channel"

"Channel open"

"This is Captain Farac of the rebel ship, the S.E.N Danthe. Identify yourselves"

Iliyakim took his turn watching...but he also slept, six hours in total. It was less than enough to make up for what he'd lost...but for now, it would suffice.

During four hours during the night (the time Shan and Tari took to sleep), the enemy power sources and supplies were safe. Any other time...they were fair game, as far as the little mages were concerned.

Vedt got a good chuckle out of the rebel forces' reactions to his antics. However, he knew he would do it again at least once more...any able Velkyn would go, if they could.

Cougar was, after all, one of their own.
_________________________________________________________________________
*Border*

"Are we going to move at all?"

The Silver Class on deck at that time whirled around and struck the communications officer.

"Not until and unless they do or we are ordered. Neither is likely to happen."
__________________________________________________________________________
"When you leave, check the point in the forest that is just above my room." It sounds so hollow...I'm never there...and I really still think of it as ours.
"There are useful items there...not much...not even as much as the Dauntless can carry. But useful, still."

Every man got his head down for a time, trying to catch up on the sleep they had lost. AS morning approached, Lieutenat Elliot, the heavy weapons man from Gamma Team, came up to Iliyakim, his meal in a mess tin,"Breakfast of champions, Iliyakim"

In classic SHADOW style, rank was ignored. No one pulled rank if they could help it, but SHADOW were able to commendere just about anything for their purposes, which explained how Iliyakim, a Captain, was ordering around Majors and Lieutenant Colonels in these battles.

***************************************************************

I haven't been here six hours... and already we're talking of me leaving again

"Anything is useful these days... you never know when the smallest thing might save your life"

Iliyakim was already going over the enemy formations. His little pair of velxun'yrr had been heavily worked that night, monitoring enemy locations and manuvers.

"Thank you, Elliot."

His eyes narrowed slightly as he regarded the grid. "I don't like the looks of this."
_______________________________________________________________________
She nods.

Meanwhile, Barrus was leaning dangerously far out of his father's arms to reach for a stuffed toy over on a counter.

"What's up?"

_______________________________________________________________________

James laughed, and gave the toy to his son,"There you go"

Iliyakim pointed out how the enemy could move NOW to crush them, even though yesterday had been theirs.

"We'd better go and rearrange this if we don't want them to see it first."
_______________________________________________________________________
It was a spider...much like a human child might have a bear. Barrus proceeded to bother his father with it.

Elliot looked at the strategy before him, blinked once, twice, and then looked at it again, before looking at Iliyakim,"Are. You. Insane?"

__________________________________________________________________________

James played with his son, enjoying the time he could spend with him.

"Likely. Why?" The Drow half-turned to Lt. Elliot Hanson. Since the previous night, his arm had been put in a sling, at the insistance of some of the field medics.

But though his arm was useless, for now, his mind was still sharp.
_______________________________________________________________________
Rhenna smiled, and set Akor down so she could get in on the fun.

They'd missed their father over this past month.

Elliot looked at his commander with his eyebrow raised,"Where did this plan come from? It's... insane"

________________________________________________________________________


James enjoyed playing with his children, whilst he had the chance. He looked up at Rhenna,"Come on, join in"

"It's the next logical step. Ah...you've never played Aklyen. This position is known as Haldosir's gambit...a battle he lost, if I remember. However, it can be turned into another position...one much harder to overcome. But we have to move quickly."
______________________________________________________________________
She shook her head. "This is your time with them."

"You know, it's times like this I hate having a Drow commander. You guys are good, sometimes too good. You mkae us look inferior. But whatever, you're the boss"

________________________________________________________________________

He looked at her, a slight tinge of sorrow in his eyes, before turning back to his children and continuing to play.

"Aie, don't hate having a Drow commander, Elliot. If anything...this will keep you alive longer."
_______________________________________________________________________
She sat, watching them.

"Phssh. I'm already dead anyway."

He reached down, and picked up his weapon, a light machine gun, which operated in the support weapon role. He checked the box containing the ammunition was secure, and then slipped over the custom fitting, collapsed the buttstock, and cocked it, just to make sure. He looked back at Iliyakim, his teeth shining through his muddy, bloodied face,"Well, let's get going"

____________________________________________________________________________

After a while, the twins started to play with each other, and he stood up, putting his hands in the square of his back, and stretching,"It feels odd to relax so much."

"There is no room for zombies in my unit, Elliot. You may not value your own life...but the rest of us do."

Iliyakim nodded, moving out. He gave orders to different units as he and Hanson passed them.

"Now...we just need them to start moving, and the trap will be sprung."
________________________________________________________________________
She nods. "That's what I always think after I get back from a mission."

*Some distance away*
"Are you seeing this, Captain?"

"Yes, Colonel... they appear to be opening a gap in their defensive lines"

"Doesn't that seem odd to you?"

"Maybe it was an oversight"

"Or maybe it's a trap"

"Can we take that risk?"

"With the situation as it is? No, we can't. Order the 1st Jungle to move forward, and exploit that hole. Support them with the remainder of the 5th and 6th"

"Yessir"

**Three hours later**
The 1st Jungle Company advanced slowly over the ground, picking their way through the detritus the previous day had left. Shell holes, burnt out tanks and transports, fighters that had been shot down. The smell of pulverised burnt flesh was still hanging in the air.

I don't like this... it doesn't fit

______________________________________________________________________


"Wish I could do it more often... but such is life"

Iliyakim guestured toward the cannons. The plan was for them to commence by firing at the back of their troops. The bombardment would make retreat impossible.

It would also force them onto mine-laced ground. Those that made it through would then be at the mercy of the snipers before they made it to any real combat.
_______________________________________________________________________
"I know the feeling."

"Foxtrot Sierra Two Zero, this is Zero, commence fire for effect, over"

"Foxtrot Sierra Two Zero, roger that. Out"

There was brief pause, and then the whistling of artillery shells, sailing from their dug in positions to land at the rear of the enemy troops, cutting off their lines of retreat, just as ordered. They were using HE rounds for maximum effect and to cause even more fear among the enemy

((When using radio calls, it goes like this: Your call sign, followed by message, and then the appropiate ending. NEVER use 'Over and Out'))

As the enemy tried desperatley to avoid them, they were forced into the prelaid mines, which they themselves had laid. Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony. They were sensor-equipped Claymore mines, and they each contained over six hundred steel ball bearings, capable of tearing through the armour of the line troops at close range, a feat which was by no means easy.

Behind the lines, snipers lined up their sights, firing indiscriminatley. Privates, NCO's, Officers... they were all targets. No tactical shooting here. Just aim, fire, reload, repeat.

________________________________________________________________________

He looked at her, finding it hard to smile. He hadn't seen her in over a year... and now that he was here, it was torture to know he couldn't hold her in his arms, kiss her like he used to, and everything else besides.

Iliyakim watched the destruction wrought by his plan...from Haldosir's Gambit to Rildorath's Revenge...with a new, more modernized twist.

Perfect...and when we finish this, I will teach my unit how to play Aklyen.
_______________________________________________________________________
She could feel his pain...she knew it was hard, but what had been done was done for a reason...and there had been no way around it.

"This is Captain Farac of the rebel ship, the S.E.N Danthe. Identify yourselves"

Squadron Leader Kelly started at the incoming message. "Okay, which one of you jokers set the volume that high?" She quickly fiddled with a few switches and brought the connection down to a reasonable volume.

"This is Squadron Leader Kelly of Gunship Squadron Zero-Zero-Three. I was ordered to bring my squadron out here to meet with an Admiral Rommel or any other representative of the Snake Eaters rebel faction. We were given no sign or countersign other than the universal distress signal we have let loose here."

She leaned back in her seat, brushing a strand of short hair out of her face while waiting for an answer.

Iliyakim watched the destruction wrought by his plan...from Haldosir's Gambit to Rildorath's Revenge...with a new, more modernized twist.

Perfect...and when we finish this, I will teach my unit how to play Aklyen.
_______________________________________________________________________
She could feel his pain...she knew it was hard, but what had been done was done for a reason...and there had been no way around it.

Along the lines, the 'rebel' troops whooped in relief, for they too had believed the move to be a fatal one. Instead, it had proved to decimate the enemy troops before they reached the lines. They hadn't just got up and walked in a straight line like in World War One, but even tactical movement didn't help them.

________________________________________________________________________

He smiled slightly, Akor coming up to tug on his trousers,"Da! Up!"

"Oh, alright"

He picked his daughter up, and held her higher than himself,"Happy up there?"

"Yeah!"

Squadron Leader Kelly started at the incoming message. "Okay, which one of you jokers set the volume that high?" She quickly fiddled with a few switches and brought the connection down to a reasonable volume.

"This is Squadron Leader Kelly of Gunship Squadron Zero-Zero-Three. I was ordered to bring my squadron out here to meet with an Admiral Rommel or any other representative of the Snake Eaters rebel faction. We were given no sign or countersign other than the universal distress signal we have let loose here."

She leaned back in her seat, brushing a strand of short hair out of her face while waiting for an answer.

Farac listened carefully, as the viewscreen wasn't on,"You've come to the right place. We will escort you back to the other side of the border. How far past lightspeed can you travel?"

OOC: Do you mind if I don't do the whole Govermentary response but instead just send over some elite troops to help one of the sides? Either the rebel or Constantine?

OOC: Do you mind if I don't do the whole Govermentary response but instead just send over some elite troops to help one of the sides? Either the rebel or Constantine?
OOC: Would a government really do that? I don't think so. Anyway, you help Constantine, and you'll earn my wrath.

EDIT: Something that will come out the war, thanks to technological development: http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=450980

OOC: Fair enough. Is it ok if I post under the fiefdom of The Zombies, but really post as fattie, because it won't let me post as the Zombies??

OOC: Fair enough. Is it ok if I post under the fiefdom of The Zombies, but really post as fattie, because it won't let me post as the Zombies??
OOC: You are the same person either way, I know that, as does Kay.

Along the lines, the 'rebel' troops whooped in relief, for they too had believed the move to be a fatal one. Instead, it had proved to decimate the enemy troops before they reached the lines. They hadn't just got up and walked in a straight line like in World War One, but even tactical movement didn't help them.

________________________________________________________________________

He smiled slightly, Akor coming up to tug on his trousers,"Da! Up!"

"Oh, alright"

He picked his daughter up, and held her higher than himself,"Happy up there?"

"Yeah!"
Perhaps this will allow us to take this planet that much sooner. Or it might prompt them to call for reinforcements, which would be bad.
________________________________________________________________________
Barrus went to his mother to be picked up. Sometimes he just wanted to get away from the bubbly personality that was his twin sister.

It wouldn't matter either way. The Black Guard would force them to fight to the end. They refused to accept failure.

________________________________________________________________________

"He's very sullen today... what's up with him?"

Farac listened carefully, as the viewscreen wasn't on,"You've come to the right place. We will escort you back to the other side of the border. How far past lightspeed can you travel?"

"We can make it pretty fast. Officially these drives max out at one EX, but we can make point-five EX without breaking a sweat. The computers can't handle navigation any faster though, so it'd be a reeeealy bad idea to try to stretch that. I don't know the official figures or the conversions, but I do know an Inferno one-EX is faster than a traditional EX."

It wouldn't matter either way. The Black Guard would force them to fight to the end. They refused to accept failure.

________________________________________________________________________

"He's very sullen today... what's up with him?"
Iliyakim knew this.

So did Shan and Tari. Black Guard members would start finding themselves...poisoned...by no later than noon that day.
______________________________________________________________________
"He's coming down with the rough equivalent of a cold. Nothing to worry about...but he's not feeling good. He caught it from her...she just got over it."

"We can make it pretty fast. Officially these drives max out at one EX, but we can make point-five EX without breaking a sweat. The computers can't handle navigation any faster though, so it'd be a reeeealy bad idea to try to stretch that. I don't know the official figures or the conversions, but I do know an Inferno one-EX is faster than a traditional EX."

There was a quick burst of calculation on the Snake Eater ships, as the computers took this information and processed it, before feeding the information back to the crew,"Alright, our computers say you can make warp one, at the very least. It's a slow journey at that speed, about twelve hours. But we'll deal. We're sending you the coordinates where you have to translate back to real space. See you there"

There was a brief flurry of data transfer, as all avliable data on the gunships was uploaded into the database's of the Snake Eater ships, and the coordinates were passed back to the gunships. The three Snake Eater ships turned about, and moved towards the border, moving swiftly into the warp at lightspeed.

Iliyakim knew this.

So did Shan and Tari. Black Guard members would start finding themselves...poisoned...by no later than noon that day.
______________________________________________________________________
"He's coming down with the rough equivalent of a cold. Nothing to worry about...but he's not feeling good. He caught it from her...she just got over it."

The Black Guard. When Constantine had come to power, he had hand-picked his most fanatical followers, had them trained in elite training centres outside of offical military channels, physcologically altered, and placed into their own unit, which they dubbed the Black Guard. They were fanatics, with zeal similar in strength to that of the Church of Leviathan, but they followed Constantine. They idolised him. Above all else.

They had repainted their combat armour jet-black, and replaced the visors. On the shoulder pad was their unit insignia. Nothing else, no other markings. Unlike the Colonial Marines, who had blue and white markings.

_______________________________________________________________________

"Ah, that would explain her happy mood, as she's just got over it, and he's just come down with it... how ironic"

Which was probably exactly why no one liked them except them.

Two black-clad forces watched them from over a distant hill.

T -- "They're right in our sights."

S -- "That's more lives than you want to take before you're a century."

T -- "What part of 'it's war' don't you understand?"

S -- "Probably the 'civil' part of it."

T -- "True...it really isn't civil. But come on."

S -- "I'm not going to directly kill that many men."

T -- "It's not like you're stabbing them."

S -- "It's almost as bad."

T -- "Fine, then."

In the distance, something seemed to writhe up from the nearest city street...and speed at the enemy. Coal black in color, it reared up its head and hissed.

*Rebel encampment*
What the HELL?

*Back to scene*
The snake...a rendition of a Black Mamba, tore through the remaining enemy forces. It was really shaped destructive energy combined with a toxin spell that activated when the teeth struck.
________________________________________________________________________
Rhenna nods, patting her son's back to let him get to sleep.

Kelly raised her eyebrows apon hearing the figure, but was not put out, programming the nav computer for the warp factor, allowing it to do the converting.

"Confirmed sir. That's slow, but we confirm that speed, coordinates, and heading. See you on the other end!"

Eleven of the gunships followed, surpassing the lightspeed barrier almost instantaneously. The lead ship hung back, corkscrewing to make sure that no one noticed the exits and that everyone made it. Heeling about, it started screaming in Hyper, its drive roaring full-out.

No one would see that, or even know though. It would just seem that they were a few seconds slower at initiating the jump.

ooc: In SW, the hyperdrive ratings are measured wierd. 1X is the ammount of time it takes a fast military-class jump drive to get from point A to point B. .5X takes 1/2 the time to go the same distance, and 2X takes twice the time to go the same distance.

People ran to get out it's way, not wanting to die. None of them wanted to die... it was all so needless, in the end. Except in the eyes of SHADOW, the Black Guard, and a few fanatics who had to be silenced at some stage or another.

On the one hand, you had those who fought for what they saw as liberty and justice. Constantine had altered the nation in the wrong direction, and they thought it needed to be straightened out, put back on the knife edge that a nation walked in politics, balancing war and peace.

On the other, you had people who thought that what Constantine was doing was right. It was the way that Snake Eaters had to go in order to survive in the cut and thrust galaxy. Talk about clash of the titans.

The snake would find very few victims in it's path... it would have to really go looking for them.

_______________________________________________________________________

He glanced at his watch, and then out the window,"That time already... god. I lost track of time"

Is that a good or a bad thing? I'm not sure...

The snake was huge...a good hundred meters long.

And seek it would, for the little conciousness Tari had allowed it told it to feed.
______________________________________________________________________
"Nights come quickly here."

Kelly raised her eyebrows apon hearing the figure, but was not put out, programming the nav computer for the warp factor, allowing it to do the converting.

"Confirmed sir. That's slow, but we confirm that speed, coordinates, and heading. See you on the other end!"

Eleven of the gunships followed, surpassing the lightspeed barrier almost instantaneously. The lead ship hung back, corkscrewing to make sure that no one noticed the exits and that everyone made it. Heeling about, it started screaming in Hyper, its drive roaring full-out.

No one would see that, or even know though. It would just seem that they were a few seconds slower at initiating the jump.

ooc: In SW, the hyperdrive ratings are measured wierd. 1X is the ammount of time it takes a fast military-class jump drive to get from point A to point B. .5X takes 1/2 the time to go the same distance, and 2X takes twice the time to go the same distance.
OOC: That's because SW system sucks. It makes no sense. Ever. That's why I use the ST Warp Curve, putting 10 at the top.

IC: The Snake ships tunneled through the warp effortlessly, arriving at their destination in eleven and a half hours. They could wait an hour at maximum, then they would have no choice but to leave.

The snake was huge...a good hundred meters long.

And seek it would, for the little conciousness Tari had allowed it told it to feed.
______________________________________________________________________
"Nights come quickly here."

"What is that thing!"

"I don't know... just kill it!"

"How?!"

"Shoot the bugger, stab it, I don't know!"

They opened fire on the snake, trying desperatley to kill it. A Black Guardsman looked on, his eyes narrowed behind the reflective visor,"Magick..."

His head turned, and looked straight at where Tari and Shan were,"I know you're out there"

________________________________________________________________________

"Yes... I'd almost fogotten"

The bullets passed through the snake. It would only dissipate as its time wore off.

S -- "I think that guy's looking at us."

T -- "Busy..."

Shan sighed. "Fine." His eyes glowed red, and he looked back at the guardsman...through the armor, towards his heart.

Stop. It was a command.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Hard to remember when you live below ground."

OOC: Good, it's just that The Zombies is much more established than Fattie Slug.

IC: The Zombies only had two different planets, with completely different types of inhabitants living on them. On Zombies Prime, the people are small, squat, tough people, eeking out an existence in subteranean caverns. The world has a high-gravity level, and the people have evolved over the years to the underground life.

On Zombies Secundus, the world is coveredin land. Lush green meadows are everywhere, with mountains. One side of the planet is vitually water, providing food from sub-marine life and plants. The people here were tall, almost seven feet, and compared to many races were primitive. Before contact with Zombies Prime, they had formed ten tribes which had moved about the land following the herds of elephant sized buffalo, their food and life. When the first ship from Zombies Prime had landed, the people of Zombies Secundus had immediately attacked them.

That had been 3,000 years before, and now the people of Zombies Prime and Secundus alike lived in peace. The army and fleet was formed of units mainly formed of one of the planets inhabitents solely, however scouts were always Secundus people, and sappers were always Prime inhabitents.

Head Chief Alhuma watched the intelligence reports from the Zombies people, coming back from Snake Eaters space, having been ousted by a 'Presdent Constantine'. Alhuma was angry, and because he was a "barbarian" from Zombies Secundus, that was not good.

He sent out a message to the only spy he had left in Snake Eaters, and knew that this man would be able to get it to the right people, before he was killed.


To: The Leader, or closest person thereof, of the 'Rebel' Forces
From: Alhuma Peacemaker, Head Chief of the people of The Zombies.
Regarding: The current Civil War in Snake Eaters.
Message: This is Alhuma, Head Chief of The Zombies. You seem to be the rational side to deal with. Recently, I had a few residents return to me from Snake Eaters, with reports the Nation has gone downhill since the election of Constantine. I would like to have your side of this story. If you satisfy me, and need help, then I shall send my best unit out to aide you in your war.

**Message ended**

The seven foot, muscular man sighed, then opened a secure intercom

* Wulf, this is Alhuma, tell the Tribe of the Bear to organise, and prep. for possible covert war. *

*Yessir Alhuma, I shall send a summons to Zombies Prime an Secundus for the unit. Out*

Tearing out of hyper on the heels of the Snake Eaters ships, the No Endorse ships quickly reorganized into a defensive formation, watching for any newcomers. It was a several second difference between the time the first gunship and the lead craft exited. Maneuvering alongside her comrades, Kelly opened up a comm channel.

"We're here. What's our next destination? Unless this is your headquarters..."

ooc: yeah, it's annoying. Unfortionatly, there's really nothing to base jump drive travel speeds/times off of besides the X system.

"What is this thing?"

"Who gives a fuck!? Just run!"

The guardsman found an overwhelming to look away from the place he was looking. He struggled against it for a moment, then thought better of it. He turned his head to look down again. As he did there, a shot rang out, and his helmet seemed to explode. The .50 bullet had hit him in the side of the head, piercing the reinforced armour, and torn through him with such force that it had continued out the other side. A bullet hole had appeared on the wall behind him. His now limp body collapsed to the floor, blood pouring from the wound in his head. Against the ferrocrete wall, his brains and blood lay splatted. It was a truly gruesome sight to look at, but they seemed undisturbed. His body was dragged out of the way, his weapon taken, and he was propped against a wall, his arms crossed over his chest. He was gone, but they carried on.

Some distance away, Mantis drew the bolt back, the spent cartridge landing softly on the dirt next to him. He counted silently to sixty, and then slithered out of his shooting cell, pausing only to pick up the spent brass. He tucked it into his pocket, and crouched next to his partner,"Did you get that?"

Raven looked up. His face was smeared with dirt and grime, but there was no doubt it was him,"Yeah. Black Guard, six hundred metres, headshot"

"Good, now let's get out of here"

Together, the two assassins, Raven and Mantis, Eversor and Vindicare, moved back through the rebel lines, back to the command centre. They reported in. Together, these two had become well known for their daring in the field. Raven seemed to have found a kindred spirit in Mantis, and they got on like a storm.

_________________________________________________________________________

"I know... I was just thinking that"

S -- ooooooooooooooooookay.

At about that moment, the snake dissipated, exploding violently enough that it should do more damage.

S -- *to his friend as she sat down* "Energy wasted for so little gain. Not even a hundred, for all that effort."

T -- "Shut up. If you'd helped, it would have been more."

S -- "So angry...come on, this is not the best place to be."
________________________________________________________________________
"What all have I missed thus far?"

Tearing out of hyper on the heels of the Snake Eaters ships, the No Endorse ships quickly reorganized into a defensive formation, watching for any newcomers. It was a several second difference between the time the first gunship and the lead craft exited. Maneuvering alongside her comrades, Kelly opened up a comm channel.

"We're here. What's our next destination? Unless this is your headquarters..."

The Danthe didn't respond, but fired a phaser beam into the nearby asteroid field. There was a pause, then an answering shot was fired across her bows. They seemed unphased, and a series of beacons flickered into life,"Follow the beacons, and you'll come to a derelict ship. Keep following the beacons, they'll lead you right into the hangers. Our ships are too big to enter, besides, we've got to get back to the front"

With that, they wheeled about, and dissapeared once more, heading back to war. They vanished into tiny pinpricks of light, pushing their warp engines as hard as they would go to get back as fast as they could.

S -- ooooooooooooooooookay.

At about that moment, the snake dissipated, exploding violently enough that it should do more damage.

S -- *to his friend as she sat down* "Energy wasted for so little gain. Not even a hundred, for all that effort."

T -- "Shut up. If you'd helped, it would have been more."

S -- "So angry...come on, this is not the best place to be."
________________________________________________________________________
"What all have I missed thus far?"

They weren't missed

_________________________
"Very little all told. Just them getting bigger, louder, more boistrious in her case... you know, the things kids will do"

To: The Leader, or closest person thereof, of the 'Rebel' Forces
From: Alhuma Peacemaker, Head Chief of the people of The Zombies.
Regarding: The current Civil War in Snake Eaters.
Message: This is Alhuma, Head Chief of The Zombies. You seem to be the rational side to deal with. Recently, I had a few residents return to me from Snake Eaters, with reports the Nation has gone downhill since the election of Constantine. I would like to have your side of this story. If you satisfy me, and need help, then I shall send my best unit out to aide you in your war.

To: Alhuma Peacemaker
From: Colonel James Cougar
Re: Civil War

At this moment in time, we are fighting to rid Snake Eaters of the corrupt facist and downright racist regieme of Damien Constantine. He has forced my children to leave Snake Eaters due to the fact that they are not pure human. Not only that, but he has falsely accused me of treason to my country... I cannot let that stand. As such, we are fighting him to restore our country as it once was. I will not stand for this corruption.

Alhuma received the transmission. After reading it, he upped and left, heading for the "Tribe of the Bear"s secure HQ. He sent one message to his spy in Snake Eaters, an inhabitent of Zombies Prime, commonly known as a dwarve, even thougjh they were all simply small humans. the message was simply:

Help the rebels however you can!

***

Spodor crashed down into the nearest rebel trench, and sat there, his small beard waggling beneath his happy smile. That smile belayed his deadliness, coupled with the twin pistols in his belt, and the large hammer strapped to his back.

They weren't missed

_________________________
"Very little all told. Just them getting bigger, louder, more boistrious in her case... you know, the things kids will do"

Tari and Shan actually slipped into the rebel camp for once. They weren't medics, but they could help out well enough.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Yes...I remember that."

Tari and Shan actually slipped into the rebel camp for once. They weren't medics, but they could help out well enough.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Yes...I remember that."

Raven spied them coming in,"Hey, Tari!"

M -- "Who?"

R -- "Drow friend of mine. I'll introduce you"

M -- "Is she hot?"

R -- "She's over fourty."

M -- "And? They look our age. Fair game, mate"

R -- *punches him lightly*"Don't try it"

M -- "Ohhh, I see"*grins from ear to ear*"You like her"

R -- ...

________________________________________________________________________

He nodded... he didn't know what else to say.

<snip>

Instantly, even though they were exhausted, they pointed their weapons at the newcomer. He could be anyone, including one of the enemy. And the White Devil? He was so well known by that name, that everyone in the empire had heard of him now.

"Identify yourself."

The young Drow's head turned as she finished up the latest injured rebel.

"Hey, Raven! Oh, you have a new friend. Raven's new friend, I'm Tari. That one over there is Shan."
______________________________________________________________________
Rhenna takes Barrus and sets him down so he can sleep.

The young Drow's head turned as she finished up the latest injured rebel.

"Hey, Raven! Oh, you have a new friend. Raven's new friend, I'm Tari. That one over there is Shan."
______________________________________________________________________
Rhenna takes Barrus and sets him down so he can sleep.

Mantis looked Tari up and down, and was obviously about to make a comment of some sort, no doubt twisting something somewhere into a double entedre before Raven stepped in,"Tari, this is Mantis. Mantis, this is Tari"

______________________________________________________________________
Barrus fell asleep quickly, and James laid Akor in her crib. She had fallen asleep on his shoulder.

OOC: I changed my previous post




IC: "Oh right, forgot about that, right, my name is Spodor, Spodor Gunbad, at this moment the only surviving resident of The Fiefdom of the Zombies in Snake Eaters. Pleased to meet you all. I've been ordered to help you out, lend you myself, my pistols, my expertise,if you need it, and my thunder hammer."

He grinned again, calmly opening his pack and taking a bite of jerky, before offering some to the nearest soldier.

OOC: I changed my previous post

IC: "Oh right, forgot about that, right, my name is Spodor, Spodor Gunbad, at this moment the only surviving resident of The Fiefdom of the Zombies in Snake Eaters. Pleased to meet you all. I've been ordered to help you out, lend you myself, my pistols, my expertise,if you need it, and my thunder hammer."

He grinned again, calmly opening his pack and taking a bite of jerky, before offering some to the nearest soldier.

"Got any ID with you?"

Mantis looked Tari up and down, and was obviously about to make a comment of some sort, no doubt twisting something somewhere into a double entedre before Raven stepped in,"Tari, this is Mantis. Mantis, this is Tari"

______________________________________________________________________
Barrus fell asleep quickly, and James laid Akor in her crib. She had fallen asleep on his shoulder.
S -- "Raven, Mantis...what are the other two? Cat and Mouse?"
_________________________________________________________________________
"They'll wake up soon enough...they still haven't mastered the art of sleeping the night through."

And I've left it behind.

S -- "Raven, Mantis...what are the other two? Cat and Mouse?"
_________________________________________________________________________
"They'll wake up soon enough...they still haven't mastered the art of sleeping the night through."

And I've left it behind.

M -- "Looks like you've got the Mouse part covered. Size is about right"

________________________________________________________________________

"They do sometimes... must be the new enviroment"

Shan looked at Mantis, slightly irritated. "Was I talking to you, dalhar?"

T -- "For your own sake...it's probably wiser to keep your mouth shut."
_______________________________________________________________________
"Probably."

Shan looked at Mantis, slightly irritated. "Was I talking to you, dalhar?"

T -- "For your own sake...it's probably wiser to keep your mouth shut."
_______________________________________________________________________
"Probably."

Mantis shrugged, but didn't say another word. He knew when to stay quiet... it was his job, after all.

______________________________________________________________________

He looked at her,"They do it fairly often..."

He trailed off, thinking to himself,What about you? Do YOU remember what sleep is?

T -- "Shan, calm down. You don't find incredibly many humans that are as smart as Cougar. And this one...come on, he can't be more than two decades. Just a baby, really."

S -- "True enough."
______________________________________________________________________
"It's only expected."

She looked back over at him. "No...I've gone back to the routine I had before we married. Little reason to sleep."

"'Course I do, I may be a spy, but I have to carry some."

He reached down and tpped his boot heel in a 5 bar rhythm. It flipped open and he grabbed a small ID card out of the hollow heel.

"Run that through any official, or unofficial Identification machine, and it'll show you me."

********

Alhuma walked through the plascrete doors. They ground shut again behind him. There, the other 19 members of his "Tribe" waited for him. Ten were 'barbarians', ten were 'dwarves'. He was already dressed in his covert ops unifoorm. There was a complete bodysuit of advanced bullet-proof clothing, as well as a small amulet around his neck. This had been enchanted to produce a small field, to absorb most forms of weapon energy. All of his men were equipped in the same way. they could all survive a hit from any small arm energy, or powder based weapon. They even had a bit of damage reduction from heavy weapons, but only to a limit.

Each of the men were armed in a different way, though all had a combat weapon on their back, and most had a small arm hanging off them. Acouple had heavy weapons, and some were armed with demolitions.

Alhuma looked at them and said

" We go to fight a fascist dictator. Lets go"

It was simple, and the men were ready in a matter of seconds.

"Oh yes, send a message to Spodor, for James Cougar

** I am coming to help**

Mantis made a move as if to say something, but Raven cut him off, shaking his head,"Not worth it, mate. Go and get some tuck, I'll be there in a minute"

Mantis nodded mutely, and left, the rifle slung over his shoulder. As soon as he was out of earshot, Raven turned on Tari and Shan,"Now, who's being immature here?! I mean, c'mon, you may not have liked the way he looked at you, but hell, there was no need for that!"

His voice was laced with anger. Anger with Raven was something they had never seen. Anger with Raven was something to fear.

________________________________________________________________________

"What are you, a mind reader now?"

"'Course I do, I may be a spy, but I have to carry some."

He reached down and tpped his boot heel in a 5 bar rhythm. It flipped open and he grabbed a small ID card out of the hollow heel.

"Run that through any official, or unofficial Identification machine, and it'll show you me."

********

Alhuma walked through the plascrete doors. They ground shut again behind him. There, the other 19 members of his "Tribe" waited for him. Ten were 'barbarians', ten were 'dwarves'. He was already dressed in his covert ops unifoorm. There was a complete bodysuit of advanced bullet-proof clothing, as well as a small amulet around his neck. This had been enchanted to produce a small field, to absorb most forms of weapon energy. All of his men were equipped in the same way. they could all survive a hit from any small arm energy, or powder based weapon. They even had a bit of damage reduction from heavy weapons, but only to a limit.

Each of the men were armed in a different way, though all had a combat weapon on their back, and most had a small arm hanging off them. Acouple had heavy weapons, and some were armed with demolitions.

Alhuma looked at them and said

" We go to fight a fascist dictator. Lets go"

It was simple, and the men were ready in a matter of seconds.

"Oh yes, send a message to Spodor, for James Cougar

** I am coming to help**

"You do realise spying is a shootable offence in Snake Eaters, right?"

Mantis made a move as if to say something, but Raven cut him off, shaking his head,"Not worth it, mate. Go and get some tuck, I'll be there in a minute"

Mantis nodded mutely, and left, the rifle slung over his shoulder. As soon as he was out of earshot, Raven turned on Tari and Shan,"Now, who's being immature here?! I mean, c'mon, you may not have liked the way he looked at you, but hell, there was no need for that!"

His voice was laced with anger. Anger with Raven was something they had never seen. Anger with Raven was something to fear.

________________________________________________________________________

"What are you, a mind reader now?"
"Cool off, Raven." Tari's tone was ice.

Raven angry might frighten others. But not her.

"By our standards, he IS a baby. You've met Monian. He's eighteen. By your standards, he might be a man...but by ours, he is not a man until he acts like one."
______________________________________________________________________
"I thought I'd always been."

"Well let's not dwell on that right at this moment eh?, I'm here to help!

You could call me more....a discreet resident"

"Fine, so he's just a kid by your standards. In case you haven't noticed, so am I! You could have just let it slide, just that once. I'd have sorted him myself, and everything would have been cool. But no, now you've gone and put me between a rock and a hard place"

Raven knew he was being dangerous here, but for once, it didn't matter. What she had done, whilst justified in some way, was still way too harsh. And he knew that. He would sort Mantis out... but now, he had a nuclear war on his hands.

________________________________________________________________________
"Not always"

"Well let's not dwell on that right at this moment eh?, I'm here to help!

You could call me more....a discreet resident"

The Sergeant spat onto the ground,"Whatever. Spying is still spying. Anyway, I don't know where the White Devil is. No one ever does when he's fighting."

"Fine, so he's just a kid by your standards. In case you haven't noticed, so am I! You could have just let it slide, just that once. I'd have sorted him myself, and everything would have been cool. But no, now you've gone and put me between a rock and a hard place"

Raven knew he was being dangerous here, but for once, it didn't matter. What she had done, whilst justified in some way, was still way too harsh. And he knew that. He would sort Mantis out... but now, he had a nuclear war on his hands.

________________________________________________________________________
"Not always"
"Not really. Seriously, it's been a month, and we haven't been within a kilometer of each other until now. Shan and I are snobby Drow. End of story."

S -- "Snobby Drow that have supplies to steal and power generators to explode."

They vanish.
________________________________________________________________________
"But often enough...especially with you."

Raven stared at where they had been, and spat on the ground,"Ah, for fucks sake..."

He turned on his heel, and went to eat with Mantis. He found him already having both meals ready,"Stuck up bitch"

R -- "She was just pissed"

M -- "Sounded like quite the row... how'd it end?"

R -- "She left... guess I need time to cool down. Gain some perspective"

M -- "Fair deal. Well, I ain't no kid."

R -- "Chill out, and don't dwell on words so much. C'mon, eat up, and then we'll go get us some generals"

M -- "Sounds like my kind of night"

Raven banged his mug against his friend's and drained it in one

________________________________________________________________________
"That's true... if slightly surreal and scary at times"

This is something I've missed

"OK then, oh, I've just got another message for him, from my boss, Alhuma, it says,

I am coming to help

so i guess a few more of my people are coming to aide you. How about telling me where baouts your nearest forward HQ is, I'm sure I can get a message off from there.

*****

The Eagle class, cloaked heavy fighter arrived on the border of Snake Eaters. Inside were 20 men, they were heading for a planet called Mamba (ooc: right?), but they knew they were in currently rebel held space. Alhuma uncloaked the fighter, it's five forward facing heavy weapons ready, but offline. The class 8 turret swiveled, the man in control watching for any ships, all were potential enemies. The Eagle went into cruise mode, relatively slow, and would be picked yup by mostly any slong range scanners. Luckily, with it's armament and manouverability, as well as it's defenses, meant it could outfight any 1 man fighter, and most 10 man ships. It would depend on the enemy crew.

Tari and Shan were studying the layout of the last or second-to-last base they knew of on the planet.

T -- "This is going to be hard."

S -- "...Yeah...."

Two more figures appeared.

Jovin raised an eyebrow at his friend. "Not when you have us."

Tari laughed. "Double Trouble Squared is back in action."
_______________________________________________________________________
She shrugs. "Surreal...perhaps...but you almost always seemed to know what I thought, too."

Raven and Mantis went back out later that night, to go do what they did. Kill, kill, and kill some more. Raven was teaching Mantis close techniques, whilst Mantis was teaching Raven the finer points of long range target shooting.

________________________________________________________________________

I used to, at least

"I guess so"

He yawned suddenly,"Sorry, must be more tired than I thought"

The Danthe didn't respond, but fired a phaser beam into the nearby asteroid field. There was a pause, then an answering shot was fired across her bows. They seemed unphased, and a series of beacons flickered into life,"Follow the beacons, and you'll come to a derelict ship. Keep following the beacons, they'll lead you right into the hangers. Our ships are too big to enter, besides, we've got to get back to the front"

With that, they wheeled about, and dissapeared once more, heading back to war. They vanished into tiny pinpricks of light, pushing their warp engines as hard as they would go to get back as fast as they could.
Pilots in No Endorse are usually very cautious. However, that's not a requirement for those in the Gunship corps. The only real requirement is almost clinical insanity and a willingness to go the distance.

The lead trio of gunships slid through the field at a sane pace, but two of the trailing party began playing a game of leapfrog, roaring and then stopping on a dime. At a terse order though, called out shortly after they began, yjr offenders immediately moved back into formation.

Swerving along the beacon's illuminated path and dodging around the derelict spacecraft, they found the rebel hangars, and stopped a fair distance outside.

"No Endorse Gunships Zero-Zero-Three requesting landing clearance."

Pilots in No Endorse are usually very cautious. However, that's not a requirement for those in the Gunship corps. The only real requirement is almost clinical insanity and a willingness to go the distance.

The lead trio of gunships slid through the field at a sane pace, but two of the trailing party began playing a game of leapfrog, roaring and then stopping on a dime. At a terse order though, called out shortly after they began, yjr offenders immediately moved back into formation.

Swerving along the beacon's illuminated path and dodging around the derelict spacecraft, they found the rebel hangars, and stopped a fair distance outside.

"No Endorse Gunships Zero-Zero-Three requesting landing clearance."

"Zero-Zero-Three, you are cleared to Bay 7. Welcome to Paradise"

Raven and Mantis went back out later that night, to go do what they did. Kill, kill, and kill some more. Raven was teaching Mantis close techniques, whilst Mantis was teaching Raven the finer points of long range target shooting.

________________________________________________________________________

I used to, at least

"I guess so"

He yawned suddenly,"Sorry, must be more tired than I thought"
The boys went to destroy the generator, while the girls went to steal the supplies.
_____________________________________________________________________
"Then go on and get some sleep."

The boys went to destroy the generator, while the girls went to steal the supplies.
_____________________________________________________________________
"Then go on and get some sleep."

The generator was lightly guarded, a few guards posted around with nightscopes clipped to the tops of their weapons. You would have thought something like this would be more heavily guarded, especially in light of the recent attacks.

The same was true of the supplies. Few guards, all armed... it was all quiet.

_______________________________________________________________________

"I..."

Come on. Just say it

I... I can't

She's your wife for gods sake

I'm... nervous

Think she'll say no? C'mon

"I..."

The generator was lightly guarded, a few guards posted around with nightscopes clipped to the tops of their weapons. You would have thought something like this would be more heavily guarded, especially in light of the recent attacks.

The same was true of the supplies. Few guards, all armed... it was all quiet.

_______________________________________________________________________

"I..."

Come on. Just say it

I... I can't

She's your wife for gods sake

I'm... nervous

Think she'll say no? C'mon

"I..."
T, signing to Ashra I don't like this.

A -- Nor I...but we've got to do this.

Shan and Jovin merely waited for the appointed time.

The girls started destroying security devices, before sending out death spells at the guards.
__________________________________________________________________________
"Something wrong, James?"

The death spells found their marks, and the guards crumpled with no resistance.

________________________________________________________________________

"I... I don't know"

He hadn't done anything like this for a long time. The last time she had heard him speak like this was when they had gone to Ephesus for that brief time, just after they met.

Still cautious, the girls began teleporting objects to the rebel ships in orbit as quickly as they could.

At about half a minute till deadline, Shan and Jovin killed the guards similarily to how the girls had killed their marks. They then started casting. Well, one cast, one kept watch.
_________________________________________________________________________
She guestures, and a chair brings itself up behind him.

"What's on your mind, then?"

OOC: Don't think anyone got it before

IC"OK then, oh, I've just got another message for him, from my boss, Alhuma, it says,

I am coming to help

so i guess a few more of my people are coming to aide you. How about telling me where baouts your nearest forward HQ is, I'm sure I can get a message off from there.

*****

The Eagle class, cloaked heavy fighter arrived on the border of Snake Eaters. Inside were 20 men, they were heading for a planet called Mamba (ooc: right?), but they knew they were in currently rebel held space. Alhuma uncloaked the fighter, it's five forward facing heavy weapons ready, but offline. The class 8 turret swiveled, the man in control watching for any ships, all were potential enemies. The Eagle went into cruise mode, relatively slow, and would be picked yup by mostly any slong range scanners. Luckily, with it's armament and manouverability, as well as it's defenses, meant it could outfight any 1 man fighter, and most 10 man ships. It would depend on the enemy crew.