NationStates Jolt Archive

It was a dark day, the sun failed to penetrate the deep clouds that hung over the Xiscapian capital like a blanket. Near the old Emperor’s Palace a crowd had gathered to watch a grim event.

15 Alversian troops stood two ranks in front of a group of wooden poles dug deep into the ground. Nobody made a sound. Then three Xiscapian men were led out from a nearby tunnel, each with an escort and a bandage wrapped around their eyes.

The crowd applauded politely and shouted words of encouragement as they were tied to the posts. The crowd questioned as a lone Alversian stood up and cleared hiss throat.

“As you know, we have tried to be lenient with you, we’ve tried to hand you as much independence as is possible! We saved you from a fate worse than death when we took control of this planet! And this is how you repay us! These subjects are guilty of crimes against the Alversian Empire and must now face the consequences! They will be shot and their remains buried in unmarked graves outside the city! I hope this will act as a message to the rest of you what happens when you try to betray your Emperor!”

Nobody spoke as he walked away and the Troops took their positions and readied themselves to fire.

“FIRE!!”

Fifteen shots rang out. The crowd gasped and turned away as the three bodies went limp. They were quickly taken and buried only to be exhumed by the people and cremated with a wooden katana at a later date. All weapons were banned in the Alversian Empire.

An old Xiscapian stood on a nearby hill and listened to the executions. She shook her head sadly and her thoughts wandered back to the old days.

Three Years Earlier

“LEGION!! ADVANCE!!”

Roaring, the troops of the Alversian Imperial 9th Legion broke from their cover and charged the waiting Xiscapian ranks. The massive Legion was already responsible for the capture of various other areas and now only the north and the capital remained in Xiscapian hands. That would soon change.

Space Station Protector

“Fire ion cannon!!”

two massive bolts of laser flew through space and connected with a Xiscapian cruiser as it drifted past. The Alversian Fleet and the remnants of the Xiscapian Navy were engaged in a vicious battle for control near the space station Protector. As long as it remained in orbit, the Xiscapian Capital was safe from bombardment. But Xiscapia was fast running out of ships whereas the Alversians seemed to have no shortage of Dreadnoughts.

The Protector was already heavily damaged from battle but it still stood and so, therefore, did Rio Casa…not for long though…

…the Alversian Empire would be victorious

Carth sighed as he went over his daily reports in his shadowy home. There was a power crystal shortage, dispute the nearly infinite amount of crystals on Regalis. Carth's job was dull and meaningless: Tally up the amount of arms produced by automated droid factories and send the report in to his Alversian superior. He could smell his wife nearby, tending to their five year old girl. The dank room was lite only by a failing power crystal in the corner. Carth's pencil scratched over the paper (datapads were another thing banned to Xiscapians) as he calculated another list of figures. Suddenly there was a bang as the wooden door of his home hit the wall and five Alversian Secret Police officers stormed in. "Where is your husband, citizen?" shouted the leader. Carth's wife, Darla, retreated back into a corner at the sight of the humans. "In...in the-" she was cut off as there was the smack of metal of flesh and a wild cry and the sound of singed fox fur. Carth stood suddenly and ran to the door. In the living room his wife was kneeling on the floor, holding her left fox ear in her palm as blood sprouted from her wound. Four policemen stood near the door, wearing not the white armor of soldiers, but the red uniform of the Special Enforcment Police (SEP). In front of Darla stood a huge Alversian male with a sharpened electroclub in his hands, cracking with the frying Xiscapian blood. Carth's child, Elissea, stood in the kitchen alclove, too scared to move. The huge policeman spotted Carth. "You are under arrest!" The other four began to move towards him, taking out clubs, electrostaffs, and tazers. This was the moment Carth had been waiting for for months. Ever since the Resistance movement had accepted him, he had recieved, in return for infromation, one boon: a tiny holdout blaster pistol. These, and indeed any other weapon, were highly illegal. Even the bamboo katana's would soon be banned, as a percise strike could break bones even with the wood. Deprived of their cortosis-weave blades, Xiscapians would use the next best thing. Now, though, in the present, Carth withdrew the tiny, black pistol from his belt and leveled. While he had only fired it a few times, and those times were in secret, shooting at machshift targets, the police were not even 10 feet away. He pulled the trigger and one of the red-uniformed police went down, a smoking hole in his chest. Carth only managed a second shot, which uselessly hit the ceiling, before he was tackled. He was beaten to death in his own home by the police. His wife was sold into slavery to become a sexual slave for an Alversian political man. His daughter was sold into slavery.
Three Years Earlier...
"Get those rapid-fire weapons up here now!" screamed the Corperal. The much feared 9th Imperial Legion was advancing at a terrifying pace towards their position. The few weapons, four turrets manned by inexperienced Grunts, opened fire. Not that experience was even needed. You could just fire randomly into the the near mob of enemy soldiers and be guarenteed to hit one. Soldiers fell by the dozens, but that was the scariest thing about the 9th: They just kept coming.
Space Station Protector...
The space station's heavy guns fired continously. Only AS, light, and heavy guns were there, Ion Cannons, MAC guns, and other weaponry not having been installed. What was left of the battered 5th fleet hung on desperetly to the Space Station. It was pitiful. 2 Cruisers, a Battleship, two Destroyers, a Carrier, a Hospital ship which had been modified to shoot heavy gus, 3 corvettes, and a handful of fighters and patrols. This and the station against the massive Imperial Fleet. The Korr, by this time, had nearly withdrawn entierly from the war, leaning back and letting the Alversians do the fighting. The Korr, freed from fighting the Xiscapians, were taking Sheelspa, all of Jomstar's moons, had partial control over Regalis, and controlled the Cholk system, which would have been an Xiscapian colony.
If things had been different.

Following the death of Carth, a proclaimation was sent out across the country it read the following and was addressed to all Xiscapians

NOTICE FROM HIS MIGHTY EMPEROR MAXIMUS IX

FROM THIS DAY FORTH, ANY AND ALL ALVERSIANS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO ATTACK AND KILL A XISCAPIAN IF HE IS SUSPECTED OF CARRYING A FIREARM. THESE PEOPLE REJECT THE RIGHT TO LIFE BY FIGHTING ALONGSIDE THE TERRORIST APA AND THE XISCAPIAN FREEDOM CORPS. IF THE XISCAPIAN, MALE OR FEMALE, WOMAN OR CHILD, WILL NOT RECIEVE A CREMATION BUT INSTEAD BE THROWN INTO THE LOCAL RIVER OR QUARRY. ANYBODY WHO IS CAUGHT TRYING TO CREMATE A CRIMINAL SHALL BE HUNG BY THE NECK UNTIL THEY ARE DEAD, AT WHICH POINT THEY SHALL BE TAKEN AND PROCESSED INTO PET FOOD FOR THE REST OF THEIR TOWN

THIS NOTICE WAS DECLARED BY THE REPUBLICAN AND FREE LOVING GOVERNOR, LORD ASQUITH.

Cavourna snorted as he read the notice out. It had been put where ever people may have been able to see it and now it was going to make his life much more difficult.

Cavourna was a high-ranking member of the outlawed Alversian People's Army, the defeated side in the Alversian Civil War. Since then, they had been on the run in a desperate attempt to keep Trezan Baxtor's hopes of peace and freedom alive.

It was massively ironic. Alexander Graham Cavourna had been one of the most respected members of the most respected family in the Empire, it had been his great-grandfather who had been in command of the Republican Army during the Civil War. He himself had been a General and commander of the elite 9th Legion, the unit that took the capital. Cavourna's mind was drawn back to that time and he shuddered at the monster he had been...

Rio Casa Suburbs, Xiscapia
Three Years previously...

The first ranks of the 9th Legion were cut down as they charged across the open square towards the Xiscapian Positions. Amongst the black armour of the troops stood a young, dynamic man, ruthless as the Emperor himself but much more ambitious. He had led the 9th Legion across the planet and now he was going to take the Emperor's Palace.

"Fix Bayonets!" the troops attached the long slender bayonets to their rifles and continued to charge, ignoring the fire around them.

"Show them no mercy!" Cavourna bellowed at the top of his voice, "They are soldiers and don't deserve it! Show them what it means to oppose the Empire!"

His Soldiers screamed and continued their advance, unaware of the death and destruction around them. Then a loud rumbling broke over the gunfire and the remains of an old house seemed to be blown away. Standing there was a UAT-44, a massive urban assualt tank designed to level buildings.

It turned it's massive guns on the ruins from which the Xiscapians resisted and fired, throwing a large dustcloud into the air. The troops cheered and continued their charge. It didn't matter if the Xiscapians were master swordsmen, they were about to feel the end of Alversian steel.

Space

The three nearest Dreadnoughts focused their fire on the battleship and cruisers while the rest began to charge ion cannons to attack the station. They could sense it was starting to fail and once it had indeed fallen, nothing would stop the city from an orbital bombardment.

Rio Casa suberbs...
The blast from the UAT-44 hurt them horribly, destroying the already crumbling ruins and throwing soldiers and bits of soldiers high into the air. Of the original 38 troops, a mere dozen survived, three with serious wounds. Two SRS troopers, a engineer, five Grunts, a sniper, a lone Shadow Ops trooper cut off from the rest of his squad, a HAT, and a field medic. The Grunts drew their swords, as did the Shadow Ops trooper. The HAT hefted his missile laucher and fired his last missile from a small hill into the mass of charging Imperial troops. He, too, drew his blade, but his head exploded in a shower of gore as a enemy sniper took him out. The Xiscapian sniper holed up in a hardened building to kill as many soldiers as possible. The SRS troopers cloaked and hid, waiting for an oppertunity to strike. The engineer lifted his shotgun in his aching arms and waited for the troops to struggle over the hill and ruins. The Grunts and Shadow Trooper charged directly at the Alversian forces, katana's held high. The medic hid with the sniper, tending to a leg wound she had recieved from the shrapnel. Joining them from destroyed divisions were two Hellstone tanks, a Supermech, a patrol ship, and three fighters. All these were there for the last stand. The Supermech made straight for the UAT-44, it's crew terribly concious of the fact that they might not make it there before they were struck down. The tanks roared over the hill with the charging troops, discharging their main guns, their turrets firing plasma. The patrol and fighters began to strafe the lines, dodging and weaving to avoid AA fire and SAM missiles.
Protector...
The guns kept firing, concentrating on the enemy ships that were assualting the Xiscapian ships. The Space Station was doomed, and the crew knew it. One of the Cruisers lost shields in a flash and took damage. The other flew away, trying to flank the Dreadnoughts for a shot at their engines. The battleship's shields were strong, and took the pounding. They fired back with every bit of fury and firepower as they could muster. The Carrier sent out it's reserve ships and made to jump away, saving the ship and crew, hopefully. The Destroyers flew as escorts for it, firing at the closest ship. The three corvettes, the patrols, the fighters, and the modified Hospital Ship made for the biggest ship they could see. They were all trying to buy the Carrier enough time to escape with it's precious cargo...
Carrier Destiny...
Four Xiscapians sat in a room, three females, one male. Krystal, Vanadict, Jasonne, and Drell. Krystal stared hopelessly at the bunkhead. "It's all over..." she whispered. Vanadict sobbed quietly in the corner. Jasonne felt rage, grief, helplessness, and fear, all rolled into one. He simply stared straight ahead. Drell, (who in this universe is Vanadict's bodyguard) sat on the floor, speaking to Captain Neefa who was at the helm of the ship, spitting out coordinates.
Rio Casa, Palace...
You could see the smoke from here.
Foxfire gazed out the window. Behind him stood his wife, Jade, and his personal bodyguard of five Black Guards. Out in the courtyard was assembled some 200 soldiers, 20 tanks, a Command Mech, 5 hovercrafts, and hunter-killer robots patrolled the perimiter. The Emperor and his wife had no intention of running. He, her, and their soldiers, their comrades, their brothers, would fight to the death. The palace and it's ground covered hundreds of square feet. Once the enemy got here, they would be in for the fight of their lives, however short they may be.
Jade put her arm around Foxfire. "Take heart. We are nearly down; our time had come and gone. But our legacy lives on. It always will. As long as there is still an Xiscapian left in the galaxy, we will endure."

would the infected be in this time period?

OOC: No. Because of the different way the war went, the Infected were never contacted except briefly at the Sky Kings (remember that?) incident.

The Supermech was instantly targeted by the UAT and about half a dozen fighters dived in from the atmosphere to target the armour that was left.

The Imperial troops clashed with the Xiscapians and it was an instant hand to hand battle in which the Alversians were sure to win. There were just THAT many of them. It didn't matter if the Xiscapians tried to surrender or withdraw, they would be cut down regardless.

Meanwhile a massive artillery bombardment opened up on the Xiscapian Palace, hoping to soften it up before the 9th, 11th and 34th Legions converged to take it.

Space
The Dreadnoughts ignored the Carrier and instead began to fire on the Station and the Battleship. Once they had fallen, the capital would be defenseless. That's what they were aiming for.

Xiscapia hadn't long left

Rio Casa Palace

As the first shells bagan to land on the palace, impacting against it's walls and in it's courtyards, a man appeared behind Foxfire, he was an Alversian but not like those who massed against the palace. It was Trezan Baxtor's great grandson Evan

"I'm sorry for bringing you into this" he said sadly

The Supermech was instantly targeted by the UAT and about half a dozen fighters dived in from the atmosphere to target the armour that was left.

The Imperial troops clashed with the Xiscapians and it was an instant hand to hand battle in which the Alversians were sure to win. There were just THAT many of them. It didn't matter if the Xiscapians tried to surrender or withdraw, they would be cut down regardless.

Meanwhile a massive artillery bombardment opened up on the Xiscapian Palace, hoping to soften it up before the 9th, 11th and 34th Legions converged to take it.

Space
The Dreadnoughts ignored the Carrier and instead began to fire on the Station and the Battleship. Once they had fallen, the capital would be defenseless. That's what they were aiming for.

Xiscapia hadn't long left

Rio Casa Palace

As the first shells bagan to land on the palace, impacting against it's walls and in it's courtyards, a man appeared behind Foxfire, he was an Alversian but not like those who massed against the palace. It was Trezan Baxtor's great grandson Evan

"I'm sorry for bringing you into this" he said sadly
Rio Casa Suberbs...
The Supermech took the hit from the guns but kept going, smashing though Imperial tanks and troops stright for the UAT-44. It grabbed the vehicle and began to rip it apart, having no ammo to spend on it. As the troops clashed bayonets met katana swords. Xiscapians were faster and more percise in their strikes, but the Alversians had more reach with their weapons and had more power behind their strike. Instantly two Grunts went down, skewered on human bayonets. The others slashed and cut and became whirlwinds of destruction, literally tossing men and body parts into the air, but they were still crushed by the shear numbers of the enemy. The sniper opened fire, never failing to make a target out of a trooper in the huge mass. The engineer's shotgun growled and spat sharpened fragments into the ranks of the enemy. The SRS were the worst, invisable and silent, a laser blast blowing a troopers head off here, a knife in the back there, and they weren't killed, partially because of the general chaos of the battle and partially because they were extremely hard to detect, whether with sensors, scanners, or the naked eye. Both tanks were quickly destroyed, flaming balls plowing forward across the ruined streets. The partols and fighters diverted and swooped across the artillery, firing lasers and missiles.
Palace...
The shells impacted against force fields and strong outer walls. The shells, dispite the fact that they flew faster than the speed of sound, were targeted by point-defenses which targeted and fired at the speed of light. Thus the barriage had little effect. Inside the Emperor turned halfway, in shadow now from the contrast of the failing light outside and the cut power inside. "Evan, nothing you could have done could have prevented this. I once more urge you to leave this place. The Resistance will need you, our people will need you. We stay. Our time is up. But yours is just beginning."
Protector...
The Carrier and it's Destroyer escorts made the jump to an unknown location. The Cruiser had made it around, it fired it's guns into the left most Dreadnought's engines, hoping to disable it's rear deflector shields and destroy it's engines. The other Cruiser rolled in space, flames coming out of it, the crew dead. The Battleship kept taking hits, and kept dishing it out. Sor, who was the Captain, grimly stared out from the bridge. The Station fired back with the Battleship, it's guns hitting in the same place on the closest Dreadnought, hoping to overload it's sheilds and destroy it. The corvettes, fighters, and patrols landed in or docked to the rightermost Dreadnought, and Xiscapian pilots, Marines, and SBAU poured in. The Medical Ship was "below" the Dreadnoughts and fired into the middle's exposed belly.
3 Dreadnoughts:
1st (to the right) is being boarded by troops.
2ed (middle) is being attacked from below by the Medical Ship and from behind by the Cruiser.
3rd (to the left) is being pounded by the Station's and Battleship's guns.

The UAT was ripped to shreds and exploded as the Supermech tore it apart, but suddenly, it's place was taken by six more and the 9th Legion cheered. Their armoured backup had arrived at last!

With another great roar and Alexander Cavourna at their head, they swarmed around the remaining Xiscapian troops. They would soon fall and the palace would be open to them.

Palace
Realising the attack was having little effect, the artillery started to target random areas of the city, whether there was fighting troops there or not. Civilians were no better at resisting shells than normal soldiers.

Meanwhile, the sound of marching and the bellowing of military orders could be heard. Then the horizon filled with black armoured troops, illuminated against the setting sun.

"The 11th and 34th Legions" Evan said sadly, he shook his head at Foxfire's request and put his hand on the Xiscapian's shoulder, "I have known you for all these years and you have become like my brother. I could never live with myself if I did that. No," he turned back to the approaching legions, "The Royal Palace is where the Baxtor line shall end. It seems fitting, do you not agree?"

Space
The nearest Dreadnought seemed to be holding out against the combined fire of the Battleship and the Station, but one lucky shot collided with one of it's three engines and destroyed it. The ship rolled over and exploded.
Meanwhile, aboard the Dreadnought being boarded, every member of the 3,500 crew abandoned their posts and grabbed a rifle to repel the invaders. A lone Dreadnought would not be missed. The third one was also destroyed.

Meanwhile the rest focused their cannon fire on the Battleship and the Space Station, hoping to destroy both and begint ehassualt on the planet itself

The UAT was ripped to shreds and exploded as the Supermech tore it apart, but suddenly, it's place was taken by six more and the 9th Legion cheered. Their armoured backup had arrived at last!

With another great roar and Alexander Cavourna at their head, they swarmed around the remaining Xiscapian troops. They would soon fall and the palace would be open to them.

Palace
Realising the attack was having little effect, the artillery started to target random areas of the city, whether there was fighting troops there or not. Civilians were no better at resisting shells than normal soldiers.

Meanwhile, the sound of marching and the bellowing of military orders could be heard. Then the horizon filled with black armoured troops, illuminated against the setting sun.

"The 11th and 34th Legions" Evan said sadly, he shook his head at Foxfire's request and put his hand on the Xiscapian's shoulder, "I have known you for all these years and you have become like my brother. I could never live with myself if I did that. No," he turned back to the approaching legions, "The Royal Palace is where the Baxtor line shall end. It seems fitting, do you not agree?"

Space
The nearest Dreadnought seemed to be holding out against the combined fire of the Battleship and the Station, but one lucky shot collided with one of it's three engines and destroyed it. The ship rolled over and exploded.
Meanwhile, aboard the Dreadnought being boarded, every member of the 3,500 crew abandoned their posts and grabbed a rifle to repel the invaders. A lone Dreadnought would not be missed. The third one was also destroyed.

Meanwhile the rest focused their cannon fire on the Battleship and the Space Station, hoping to destroy both and begint ehassualt on the planet itself
The Mech turned to face it's new opponents. Faster than one would think due to it's size, it lauched itself into the air and landed among the tanks. It raised it's foot to stamp down on the nearest one, smashing it's right hand against another. (ooc: are these the Clone wars tanks? You know, the six legged things?) The engineer was overwhelemed, his shotgun blasting though black-armored troops before he was struck down and trampled. The SRS troopers retreated further back into the ruins, to live and strike again soon. The sniper continued to fire, heads and other limbs exploding in a shower of blood and splinters of bone. The medic sat back, pushing his purple hair out of his face, leaving a bloody streak across it. He had done all he could now. All that remained was to wait for death.
OOC: Are you going to RP your losses, or shall I? It dosen't have to be anything percise, just acknowledge the attack with some death RPing. And don't forget about the fighters and patrol.
Palace...
The area surronding the palace was open, most of the soldiers dead and the civilians having evacuated a long time ago. The few soldiers who were left were killed in the attack, as well as battle droids dispatched to distract the enemy, but all surviving soldiers were being called back to the palace. All the artillery did was destroy more buildings. When the armies of the Imperials rolled though, there would be nothing to stop them. Foxfire stared out at the unstoppable tide of enemy soldiers. "It is fitting, true. Let it be said that you face death like any true Xiscapian, and do not shy away from his gaze." As the troops approached long range weaponry came to life. Sniper rifles cracked, missiles streaked forward, energy beams spat, and shells arched forward.
OOC: BIG BATTLE!
Space...
How many Dreadnoughts are there again?
There were no cheers as the two Dreadnought exploded, only a grim determination. There was only roughly 500 Xiscapian troops on the ship, hopelessly outnumbered and outgunned. Most of them went straight into battle, though the halls, the air conducts, rooms, control area, hangers, docking bays, gun decks, and others. This was roughly 450 troops, spreading themselves out into squads of two-five. The other 50 troops were Shadow Ops. They would get to the Bridge and take control of the ship, hopefully to take it and bring it to the location of the Carrier and Destroyers. The Battleship and Station ignored the remianing Dreadnought which was being fought over and fired on the approaching ships. The Battleship's shields were down to 68%, the Station's at 43%.

OOC: no, http://www.uberreview.com/wp-content/uploads/terminator2tank1.jpg, a peron would be the size on one of the wheels.
BTW: New C-6 Class Dreadnought (I Keep changing the design) (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/mreynolds058/?action=view&current=C-6ClassDreadnoughtpic-1.jpg)

The 9th Legion had taken casualties to the tune of 200 dead and wounded but with may more missing in the action. It didn't matter, beacause more UAT's were pouring into the area while XX-23 fighters engaged the few Xiscapian Fighters able to make it off the ground.

Palace
A few soldiers fell to sniper fire and even more to the rockets and exterior patrols but at the end of the day, it didn't matter. An Alversian Imperial Legion was 12,000 strong and there were two full strength ones advancing towards the Palace.

In the Palace, Evan nodded and grabbed the Katana sword he had been presented as a gift from the Emperor Himself and nodded
"I accept death as I accept the coming of the night. Alversia shall be liberated, just not yet"

Then the legions, with the support of even more UAT's began to charge.

Space

The 102 remaining Dreadnoughts of the fllet continued to fire at both the Battleship and the station. On board the Dreadnought Dread the Captain smiled as he listened to the sounds of fighting from within his ship. He knew what to do. He slowly pressed a button hidden under his chair and laughed with his last breath. The Dreadnought disintergrated and killed all aboard. Meanwhile the rest continued to concentrate all Ion and broadside cannon fire at the two Xiscapian ships, They wouldn't last much longer

OOC: no, http://www.uberreview.com/wp-content/uploads/terminator2tank1.jpg, a peron would be the size on one of the wheels.
BTW: New C-6 Class Dreadnought (I Keep changing the design) (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff167/mreynolds058/?action=view&current=C-6ClassDreadnoughtpic-1.jpg)

The 9th Legion had taken casualties to the tune of 200 dead and wounded but with may more missing in the action. It didn't matter, beacause more UAT's were pouring into the area while XX-23 fighters engaged the few Xiscapian Fighters able to make it off the ground.

Palace
A few soldiers fell to sniper fire and even more to the rockets and exterior patrols but at the end of the day, it didn't matter. An Alversian Imperial Legion was 12,000 strong and there were two full strength ones advancing towards the Palace.

In the Palace, Evan nodded and grabbed the Katana sword he had been presented as a gift from the Emperor Himself and nodded
"I accept death as I accept the coming of the night. Alversia shall be liberated, just not yet"

Then the legions, with the support of even more UAT's began to charge.

Space

The 102 remaining Dreadnoughts of the fllet continued to fire at both the Battleship and the station. On board the Dreadnought Dread the Captain smiled as he listened to the sounds of fighting from within his ship. He knew what to do. He slowly pressed a button hidden under his chair and laughed with his last breath. The Dreadnought disintergrated and killed all aboard. Meanwhile the rest continued to concentrate all Ion and broadside cannon fire at the two Xiscapian ships, They wouldn't last much longer
The Supermech finally fell, having destroyed two tanks and crushed another by falling on it. Then it exploded. The fighters and patrol engaged in a vicious dogfight with the Imperial fighters, lasers and missiles flying back and fourth. The sniper finally ran out of bullets and rested, closing her eyes beneath her helmet. The Medic cradeled her head in his lap, softly nuzzling her. The SRS troopers made their way silently away, to dissapear into the countryside.
Palace...
More and more rockets and fire sprayed into the oncoming army. The Emperor, Jade, and his guard all bowed as one to Evan. "Then we shall fight and die together." At the moment they still had not lost a single man, though their enemies were still far from palace grounds.
Space...
The third Dreadnought vaporized in a flash of fire. The Battleship, shields flaring and flickering, moved in, all power to the engines and shields. The crew was floating now, but it wouldn't matter. Not in a few more seconds. Sor glanced at his XO. "Execute Code Dawning Fury, do it now." The XO, a pretty brown-haired female, nodded silently and activated the initiation program as the ship shook and rattled. Sor pushed past the unconcious comm officer and turned on the comm unit, broadcasting on all channels.
To any of you Alversian, Imperial bastards who are listening, pray to whatever heathian gods you worship now, because we're all going to a very hot place.
The Battleship exploded. But not just a regular self-destruct explosion. This ship had a total of twelve nuclear warheads on it, as powerful as the Xiscapians knew how to make them. The Battleship was not in the middle of the enemy fleet, but it was close enough. The program had activated the nukes detonation program, and the Battleship and a huge section of space turned to light and fire around it. The Space Station's shields had regenerated somewhat to 50% during the slight lull.

The 9th Legion's troops led by Cavourna ran into the Medic and the Sniper. At first they just stood and watched them for a few seconds. Then the surrounding buildings echoed with the sound of two laser shots.

Palace
Most of the troops were sheltered behind the UAT's and so many rockets simply bounced off their thick armour. The ground was carpeted with bodies but now, shrapnel carrying fighters decended like a swarm of locusts on the Palace and began to pound the Xiscapian lines with cannister designed to rip even the heaviest infantry armour to pieces. It had been well tested against other, even more advanced species than the Xiscapians and had never been found insuffiecient.

Evan chuckled at the sight, "Even the mighty Rascorian Race could not turn back the Legions" he said, almost to himself, "We must take as many as we can with us"

Space

Likewise, the Alversian fleet had been subjected to more nuclear power than the Xiscapians could even begin to dream of and these latest versions were designed to withstand the nuclear blast. That said, the half-dozen nearest Dreadnoughts were incinerated and the crews of another dozen were given radiation sickness of varying degrees. The rest of the fleet focused all firepower on the battleship while a lone Dreadnought, the Conqueror steered straight for the Protector's bridge, engines to maximum power. Shields or no shields, they were going to destroy that station.

OOC: Teh Battleship has been destroyed.
Palace...
The fighter's sharpnel tore though a dozen troops before they wised up and got behind cover or underground. The palace grounds are dotted with tunnels and tunnel entrances, as most kitsune feel safest underground. Here they retreated, relatively safe from the shrapnel. This caused much of the missile and sniper fire to cease, however. AA and SAMs came to life in and arounf the palace, firing flak and some thirty missiles at the fighters. Foxfire nodded to Evan. "Their wives will cry alone at night because there is no man in bed with them, their Uncles and Brothers will rue the day they attacked, their fathers will sob in helpless sadness, may they burn forever in the Fire hells."
Protector...
The Cruiser and modified Medical Ship fired from the side and below at the Conqueror. The stations guns opened up once again on the lone ship.

"I wish" was all Evan could say as the cloud of fighters, their numbers thinned by the fire but still in enough strength to block out the sun launched what seemed to be a blanket of missiles onto the Palace itself.

Space

the bridge of the Conqueror erupted into flames but still the ship came forward, except now there was no bridge to steer her away from collision, they drew closer and closer until the front of the ship was a burning wreck but the engines continued to push her forward. Then the two collided.

The rest of the Dreadnoughts focused their fire on the Medical ship, unaware and uncaring that it had once been a peaceful ship. If it did not have their symbol on it, it was an enemy.

"I wish" was all Evan could say as the cloud of fighters, their numbers thinned by the fire but still in enough strength to block out the sun launched what seemed to be a blanket of missiles onto the Palace itself.

Space

the bridge of the Conqueror erupted into flames but still the ship came forward, except now there was no bridge to steer her away from collision, they drew closer and closer until the front of the ship was a burning wreck but the engines continued to push her forward. Then the two collided.

The rest of the Dreadnoughts focused their fire on the Medical ship, unaware and uncaring that it had once been a peaceful ship. If it did not have their symbol on it, it was an enemy.
Palace...
The force field covering and overlapping the palace flickered as explosions hit. More AA and missiles flew up to destroy the fighters. The troops below huddled in the tunnels, waiting for the fighters to be destroyed and the enemy troops the charge. Out of nowhere two fighters and a damaged patrol came, flying though enemy fighters, laser blasts and missiles taking down fighters around them. The fighters were destroyed, but the patrol was struck and skidded down a steet, it's flaming hulk slaming though ranks of martching Imperial troops, the Captain and Pilot on the ship were dead, but the Gunner was still alive, he was barely concious.
Protector...
The ship smashed into the Station, wiping out the rest of the shields and sticking out of the station like a sword in a rock. The station fell out of orbit, falling...
It's trajectory took it down to a field where a Alversian army was assembling, Robs, the only one on the station left, smiled in death as he saw what the station was about to fall on and utterly oblitarate. The Medical Ship exploded from the combined fire with no chance to fire back, and Cruiser ran for it, hoping to escape.
OOC: Have the fighters be destroyed and your army advance, I've got a plan, I'd rather they all not go out from being glassed.

OOC: What do you want me to do? And you know thw chances of actually HITTING an army with a falling orbital space station are slim at best?

OOC: Well yeah, I just want to scare the crap out of them. :D Anyway, all I'm saying is that I still want a final ground battle to happen in and around the palace. I'd rather the place not just be glassed from orbit and we're done with it, you know what I mean?

OOC: I can do that

The station had been destroyed and the grid defending the capital was down. Now the ships of the fleet could pound the Palace into submission.

Except...

"What do you mean we can't fire?" Captain Carson spluttered from the bridge of his Dreadnought, "They're waiting for us, by whose authourity was this order given?"

"The Emperor himself" The Admiral replied, instantly silencing the Captain, "He wants his Legions to find the head of Foxfire Rose and they can't do that if he's buried under several thousand tons of rubble, can they?"

"No Sir"

Palace

"Maintain Advance!" The Centurions bellowed as the troops fell around him. The UAT began to pound the walls of the palace and the bunkers of the resistence in order to soften the advance for their troops.

Meanwhile, the fighters were falling from the sky like raindrops but still hundreds of them still circled the palace and pounded the bunkers in which the troops were hiding.

Space...
The Cruiser jumped away, leaving only debries behind.
Palace...
The force field had finally failed and the walls were crumbling into pebbles and dust. The troops in the bunkers were safe, as long as a blast didn't land directly as the mouth of their tunnel or fall on top of them. On an unknown signal some 100 battle droids and 50 hunter-killers came out of nowhere and attacked. The Command Mech also attacked, the main guns firing down on the army while the upper rail guns fired at the fighters. The tanks and hovercraft hovered forward, firing their guns and dodging anti-vehicle missiles and laser fire. Now the troops emerged, attacking as one, coming suddenly out of the ground. Foxfire turned to Evan. "It is time." He, his guard, and Jade ran though the palace and down to the grounf level. Then, suddenly, they all changed. Influenced by the very planet beneath their feet, the five guards, Jade, and Foxfire transformed into roaring, savage machines of destruction. They plunged into enemy ranks, teeth red with blood, ears flattened against their heads, yellow eyes flashing with rage. They, using their minor Force ability, were channeling the planet into and though them, using it's power. But for as terrifying as it was, the humaniod body can take only so much punishment...

Far from being scared by everything the Xiscapian's could throw at them the Legions roared and charged into the middle of the Xiscapian Army, although Alversians weren't as skilled at close quarters as the Xiscapians, their more brutal style made up for the losses and more and more troops were piling into the palace, more than could be repelled by a mere handful of droids, most of whom were destroyed without causing any damage due to the jumpiness of the invading troops.

The UAT's of three different legions engaged the Supermech and the tanks while the masses of fighters started to target the SAM and rapid fire guns.

Meanwhile, Cavourna was bringing another 10,000 men into the battle, they would soon arrive.

Amazingly, the comparitivly tiny force was giving the invaders quite a hard time. While the droids were quickly destroyed, they had only been meant to be a momentary distraction, nothing else. Now one of Foxfire's guards fell as he was struck again and again and again by laser blasts. The tanks fired back and fourth, but the Mech was far too large and powerful to be damaged by a few tank blasts. It sweeped a huge area clean by firing it's guns directly downward, scattering soldiers and tanks alive. The AA and SAM were slowly being destroyed, the fighters were too many. Troops used martial arts, swords, knives, anything they could. The trick was to make multiple enemies fall, and then enegage the fresh ones. If you fell here, you were crushed by the sheer number of troops in the area, or run over by a tank. Jade was unstoppable, slashing though weak points in armor, twisting and kicking. Foxfire slammed his sword into the ground, creating a rift which unbalanced many soldiers. HAT and snipers stayed back, the snipers picking off troopers and HAT firing missiles into tanks and large clumps of enemy troops.

With a roar, Cavourna's 9th Legion sprung into action and joined the fighting. The 9th Legion included the 16th Cohort. An elite unit, which Cavourna himself led. Unlike the other troops, these men were armed with longswords and possessed all the skills of sword fighting. Now, although the Emperor's bodyguards were still better, the 16th Cohort was over a thousand strong.

Meanwhile, the fighters had decided that the SAM's were no longer a threat and they focused exstensively on the Supermech. The first wave fired missiles and blasters while the second carried deep armour penetration bombs, developed during the conquest of Danaversia, these bombs were designed to bore deep into enemy armour before exploding.

Elsewhere, Alversian troops continued to clash with the Xiscapian survivors, although they were not as skilled, the carpet of Alversian dead confirmed that, they were in greater numbers and it was beginning to show.

The only reason the Xiscapian forces had survived until now was the huge amount of enemy troops that were only the battlefield. Many could not move, could not get to the enemy, because of their comrades standing in their way. Also some fighting was happening though the ruins of the city, making it harder for the enemy to get at a single trooper. 100 brave soldiers had fallen, as well as 17 tanks and all five hovercraft. The Mech stumbled as explosions fired about inside of it. Foxfire stood near the Mech, fighting off three 9th Legion troops who had cornered him against the Mech's foot. The Mech fell, Foxfire dodging out of the way, it's leg brutally crushing the three troops, as well as many other troops and creating a huge barrier which had to be gone around or over to get to the enemy. The remaining SAM and AA fired what they had at the fighters. Jade found herself somewhat seperated from the battle, and before her was ten 9th Leigon troops. She screamed and enegaged, insane to take on ten at once, but instead of striking she tossed a grenade their way before flipping upward to land on top of a trooper, who feel with her legs locked around his head. She rose off him and saw a huge trooper with a longsword. As she watched her speared a Grunt and threw him, laughing, to the ground. She charged him. Where's Evan?! she thought wildly.

Cavourna cut throw two Xiscapians with his own sabre before looking around at the battlefield, "I've had enough of this!" he shouted "Legions! Retreat!"

Obediently, the troopers began to withdraw from the courtyard, the commander of the 11th Legion ran to Cavourna

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded furiously. Despite the fact they were of equal rank, Cavourna was accepted as the automatic superior of the three Commanders.

"Simple" he said before turning "Bring up the RFCG's!!" he bellowed

The other Commander smiled in malice as he saw his troops form a ring around the survivors of the Xiscapian Army.

Evan was a part of the group that formed in the centre

"What are they doing?" he asked Foxfire

Cavourna cut throw two Xiscapians with his own sabre before looking around at the battlefield, "I've had enough of this!" he shouted "Legions! Retreat!"

Obediently, the troopers began to withdraw from the courtyard, the commander of the 11th Legion ran to Cavourna

"What the hell are you doing?" he demanded furiously. Despite the fact they were of equal rank, Cavourna was accepted as the automatic superior of the three Commanders.

"Simple" he said before turning "Bring up the RFCG's!!" he bellowed

The other Commander smiled in malice as he saw his troops form a ring around the survivors of the Xiscapian Army.

Evan was a part of the group that formed in the centre

"What are they doing?" he asked Foxfire
There was 16 regular soldiers left, not counting Foxfire, Jade, Evan, and one Black Guard. Back behind them were still another 8 snipers and 3 HATs. "I have no idea." Foxfire whsipered back. One could hardly move about for the piles of bodies, most Imperial soldiers, which were heaped everywhere. All the tanks had been destroyed, the mech was down, they had no air support, only 6 AA guns and 4 SAMs were left, and all the Xiscapians were tired and/or wounded.

Small gaps began to appear in the Alversian lines as troops made way for whatever it was they were bringing up. Then Evan saw them

"Oh, No" he whispered, almost in defeat.

eightteen rapid fire chainguns had been brought up and now these fired several dozen rounds a second at the exposed Xiscapians

Present Day

Cavourna, his thoughts filled with that day, returned to his ship docked in one of Rio Casa's ports and, checking for Imperial Troops, entered via the hatch to see a very familiar, purple-haired Xiscapian.

"They've started the crackdown" was all he said, glumly

The Guard, Jade, and all 16 troops twisted and jerked as the rounds spat though them. Each fell, blood pooling across the already gore soaked ground. Only Foxfire remained, leaking blood from dozens of wounds, but somehow still upright and concious. "Cavourna..." he whispered, blood leaking out of the side of his mouth. "Don't...be...like..." he coughed, throwing up blood, staining his teeth and robes. His katana dropped to the ground, his yellow eyes no longer blazing but filled with sorrow. "Remember..." He fell, like his comrades, to the ground, eyes glazed over, his own blood sticking everywhere to his clothes and skin. Suddenly, from the direction of the palace, there came a savage cry, and a huge missile impacted directly on the Emperor's body, incinerating him and his dead friends, allies, and lover. As the blast extended out towards Imperial troops, 11 energy beam shot could be heard, and 11 Xiscapians keeled over, dead.
Present...
Keela spat in disgust. "It was sure to happen. We must warn the others, and prepare."
OOC; If you meant Krystal, she has pink hair.

Three Years Ago

"It is done" Cavourna said smugly as he stared at the incinerated bodies of the Emperor and his bodyguard, as well as the traitor Baxtor, "Tell the Emperor we have a new dominion for him and the Emperor is dead" A nearby trooper saluted and moved off to make contact with the Alversian Maximus II.

Cavourna eagerly grabbed a microphone and was patched into the entire city via Alversian Comm Systems

SOLDIERS OF RIO CASA, THIS IS THE GENERAL IN CHIEF OF THE IMPERIAL ALVERSIAN 9TH LEGION AND I SPEAK TO YOU OF PEACE. I STAND NOW OVER THE BODY OF YOUR EMPEROR, HIS WIFE AND HIS BODY GUARD, THE SILVER KATANA NO LONGER FLIES OVER THE PALACE AND YOU HAVE NO ROUTE TO TAKE BUT THE PATH OF DEATH. LAY DOWN YOUR WEAPONS AND END THE SUFFERING OF MILLIONS. HOW MANY MORE OF YOUR PEOPLE MUST YOU WATCH DIE BEFORE YOU WILL ACCEPT THE INEVITABLE AND YOUR DEFEAT? SURRENDAR WITHOUT TERMS WILL BE OPEN FOR TWELVE HOURS. IF I HEAR NO WORD FROM THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE XISCAPIAN ARMY THEN I SHALL LEVEL THIS AND EVERY XISCAPIAN CITY TO THE GROUND. THANK YOU

Cavourna was still remembered across the planet for that speech

Present

It had taken time, but Foxfire Rose's final words had finally sunken in. Cavourna grew disgusted at what he was doing and what the Empire was doing. Trezan Baxtor's teachings had never had an Empire in them and this was 'poetic liscence' on the part of the Republic. First opporuntity that had presented itself, Cavoura had deserted and joined the outlawed People's Army.

He helped train and recruit willing Xiscapians into a resistance movement and his tactical knowledge as well as his experience with the Republican Army had resulted in the destruction of two Legions on Sheelspa nearby. Now he was an enemy as much as the rest of the People's Army.

He snapped back to the present and stared at Keela, "We need to find Krystal" he said firmly, "Where has she got to?"

A sniper shot cracked near the Commander. A sniper could barely be seen in the distant ruins of a building. "Long live Xiscapia!" he cried before being annilihilated by return fire. Thoughout the city soldiers were either commiting honorable suicide or grimly preparing for a long stretch of gorrilia warfare. No one can play gorrilia warfare like an Xiscapian, especially on their homeplanet.
Present...
"It's not my day to watch her." Keela said in a rare moment of humor. "She's back home, training new recruits. We need to get bigger and have more firepower before we can hope to challenge the Imperials."

OOC: No surrendar?

"I don't think they going to surrendar sir" Cavourna's second in command called over the comm system, "They're too stubborn"

"If they don't surrender," Cavourna was rapidly getting irritated by this point, "I want every Xiscapian, man, woman or child out in no mans land and I want them shot. Use a UAT if you have to but I want an example for this scum to see what they're dealing with"

Present Day

Cavourna shrugged and sat down inside the ship "It doesn't matter if we rally every Xiscapian in the system, the Imperial fleet will still kick us to bits, we need something other than a few second-hand cruisers to take on the D-Class Dreadnoughts" he commented sadly

"And get Krystal back here now, we need to get out of here before someone recognises this ship" he said in a flat tone

"Stop!"
Out of nowhere emerged a tall, blonde Xiscapian wearing a Major's uniform with a dozen Xiscapian soldiers of simular but lower ranks behind her. "Wait. We surrender. For the love of Qonn don't kill the innocents." Dui panted and raised her hands in the air as she approached. The rest grudgingly did the same. All over the city what had happened was trasmitted. Most surrendered with Dui, but a few commited suicide, and a couple preferred to try and make it out of the city on their own.
Present...
Keela sighed with irritation. "Commander, we've had this conversation before. I'm all for getting out of here, but once again I say we cannot bring Admiral here. It's a hotbed of Imperial activity, and if she is killed, or worst, captured, then all is lost. She is the leader of the Resistance now. Besides, what do you feel is so urgent that she must be brought here?"

Cavourna turned to his second in command and gave a dark smile

"I think we have made our point, Commander. Arrest these people as terrorists and have them put on trial. I want an ALVERSIAN jury. Do you understand?"

"Yes Preator" The Xiscapians were surrounded by the black-clad troops and a few UAT's

Present

"Because the Securia are about to find her and they will come down on her like a ton of bricks. I can understand that she wants to stay but they are litterly an INCH from finding her hiding places" Cavourna admitted, learning the information from a group of Soldiers who were still loyal to him.

Cavourna turned to his second in command and gave a dark smile

"I think we have made our point, Commander. Arrest these people as terrorists and have them put on trial. I want an ALVERSIAN jury. Do you understand?"

"Yes Preator" The Xiscapians were surrounded by the black-clad troops and a few UAT's

Present

"Because the Securia are about to find her and they will come down on her like a ton of bricks. I can understand that she wants to stay but they are litterly an INCH from finding her hiding places" Cavourna admitted, learning the information from a group of Soldiers who were still loyal to him.
The Xiscapians hopelessly waited, hands in the air, weaponless, as they, and their world, were surronded by enemies.
Present...
"Well there are surely better places than here. Korrilia has grown lax since the war, fat off profits from Xiscapian slaves and treasure. Perhaps there. Here we have the loyal group, and it would not be difficult to hid her out in the wilds, but it's just too dangerious. Xiscapia is a possibility, but only one if we can't find another place..."

Cavourna smiled an evil smile as the Xiscapians were led away. The trials would be nothing less than theatrical, they would have no defense and the Prosecution would bring out all the evidence it could find, maybe not all of it in context, to prove that, far from being soldiers, these people were terrorists. The Penalty for that within the Alversian Empire was death.

Present Day

"No, Not Korrilia. That's the first place they would look.Do we have a way to contact her?" Cavourna asked standing up, "I think I may have the perfect place to stay low for a while, but we need to convince her to come"

Cavourna's mind wandered back to the events of three years previously and collapsed back in his seat, exhausted,"Sorry, just memories" he replied to Keela's concerned look.

The Xiscapians were done for, and they knew it. Slowly, with much hesitation, a few citizens began to return to Rio Casa.
Present...
"I can sent a message probe, it's slower but has a less likely chance of being intercepted." At his words about memories she nodded solemly. "I have them too. Nightmares. I was there, you know, when he died." She choked up as she thought back.
Foxfire Rose: KIA
Jade Forworn: KIA
Vist: KIA
Drell: Safe
Vanadict: Safe
Robs: KIA
Kartosh: Safe
Krystal: Safe
Skyler: MIA
Dom: KIA
Skyler's wereabouts were the only uncertainty. Her body has not appeared on the casualty list, and her dogtag marker did not register her as dead, but didn't give her location either. Skyler was the former leader of the Mechanized Division. Foxfire and Jade had been killed at the palace. Robs had gone down with the Space Station. Dom had been killed at the 18th Leigons Last Stand at Tenfour. Carth, the famous fighter pilot, had been captured during the battle for Lune after being struck by an Ion blast. The others were safe...as far as she knew. Vanadict and Krystal were at their planet base. Drell was on Alversia somewhere, in disguise, and Kartosh was here on Xiscapia.
Carth: POW

The people had returned to Rio Casa and now they had accepted Alversian Rule, or so the Emperor thought, there was an extensive network of Resistance movements across the Empire, all wanting the same thing. The irony was that not even combined were they strong enough to take on the Imperial Fleet. The Dreadnoughts had proven themselves against every ship in the sector.

"I know" Cavourna said smoothly and gently to Keela, "We won't let his sacrafice be in vain. We WILL liberate the Empire!" he said savagely, a changed man from the one who had taken Xiscapia in the first place.

"We need to send a message to Krystal, use the probe if you have to. I'll try and pick up a scanner lock from here" he started to sweep the city, using the Imperial's own technology against them to try and track down the only person more valuable than himself

Admiral Krystal.

The probe was sent. It took days to get there, following a route of complicated hyperspace jumps in and out of obscure, wasteland star systems. Finally it arrived at Ilx, which translated into Xiscapian as "The Ruin World." It was the place that, if the Xiscapians had won the war, they would have discovered their origins. Instead it was being used a the base planet for the Xiscapian resistance, close to the boarders of Imperial Xiscapia. Once arrived it found Krystal, aboard the very old now Pride of the Empire. It finally tranferred itself into her hands. Privatly she opened it. Inside was a single, holographic message:
YOU ARE NEEDED ON XISCAPIA
She nodded slowly. The only ship which could take her there without her being caught was here on Xiscapia, commanded by a dashing young rouge and a beautiful rebel.

"If we can get her here" Cavourna explained, "That may throw the Imperials off for a few weeks, then we can get to my latest hiding place"

He sighed

"The Imperials are going all out to try and find the Rebel Fleet, you know that?"

The fleet itself was not brilliant but consisted of ships from all of the Empire's conquered lands.

There Xiscapian Battleships, Danaversian Barracudas, Dragan Warhounds, Skatan Sharpshooters and even a few ancient Dreadnoughts. None of which would be a match for the modern and ruthlessly experience Alversian Imperial Fleet.

Keela rolled her eyes. "They've been searching high and low for the past two years now. The only reason it hasn't been found is because it keeps moving. Krystal will be here in two days, and she's got company. They won't be able to land in the spaceport, do you have a secluded landing area?"

"Yes, but now they're getting close. It won't be able to hid much longer from the Fleet" Cavourna said sombrely before turning on a map in the cockpit "If we travel to here" he indicated a point near the crashed Protector and they don't use too big a ship, I think we could fit quite comfortably in here" he pointed to a canyon created not far away.

Keela nodded. "Then I suggest we get there and start preparing for her arrival, no?"
Two Days Later...
A freighter-sized silver colored ship glided serenely though Xiscapia's atmosphere, cloaked and invisible to sensors, scanners, ping, radar, and the naked eye. On board Skyler concentrated on flying the ship, keeping the speed low so people on the surface didn't wonder why sonic booms were coming out of nowhere. She pushed her short light blue hair back and adjusted the straps on the seat that where cutting into her. After fidgiting with them for several seconds she just sighed and removed them. Beside her sat Kartosh, leaning back, looking at his passangers. His longer, black hair fell down over his eyes and roughened, tanned face as he studied the people he was being paid so much to transport in secret. A tall pale, pink haired kitsune female and a equally tall, red haired kitsune male. The female wore the blue uniform of a kitsune Admiral, or what had been the uniform until the military had been disbanded. A black katana hung at her side. The male wore conservative white and gray robes. He looked identical to Foxfire Rose, but was not. He was, in fact, his brother. A white katana was strapped to his back. The female, whose name was Krystal, sported a fancy looking silver blaster pistol, in sharp contrast to Kartosh's heavy black one. Her companion, who Kartosh had established was a bodyguard, was named James, of all things (bloody Imperial name! he thought), and carried a huge blaster rifle across his back along with his katana, and several shurikens and knives could be seen in the belt of his robe. Kartosh leaned forward casually. "We're almost there, I suggest you gather your luggage." There wasn't much; A duffel bag for James and a suitcase for Krystal. They reached the canyon after passing over the crashed orbital space station Protector, which was rusting and lying in a huge crater from when it crashed. Kartosh thought he caught a glimpse of peral-white bone sticking out of a bunkhead and shuddered slightly. Apparently the Imperial government never bothered to remove the dead. The ship landed inside the deep canyon, settling to the ground with a soft hiss and small cloud of dust. The boarding ramp lowered and the passengers and crew walked out.

Cavourna was waiting with Keela and few other members of the Resistance as Krystal left the ship with her own little group. Cavourna gave a respectful bow to Krystal as she approached

"How is the fleet these days?" he asked concerned. They were protected from scanners by the Protector's enormous bulk and so random patrols wouldn't see them. That was the theory...

Krystal noded, unsmiling. "The Fleet is as outdated as it ever was. A ramshackle of incompatible technology and squabbling crews." She sighed to herself, letting her exhastion show though. She had dark ciricles under her eyes from lack of sleep, her hair was stringy and unkept, and her tail and ears drooped sadly. There was sadness in her eyes and her heart. The capture and oppression of Xiscapia had hit her hard.

"Well," Cavourna took a deep breath knowing the news wasn't going to please her

"It seems the Empire has started to build more Super-Dreadnoughts and is starting to launch these weapons into the fleets now. We have to get the fleet to this moon" he held up a hologram showing a small barren moon "It's so insignificant, the Empire doesn't even bother to scan it. If we could get the fleet to there. It would survive another day"

He finished his news. He knew they would have to go ahead first to see if the way was clear but even so, it was the only logical course of action.

Krystal studied the hologram of the moon, doing some quick calculations. "How much time do I have here, and where is the moon located in relation to our base?" Kartosh and Skyler leaned casually against their ship, waiting to be paid. James stood behind Krystal, silent and loyal, alert and scanning the area for threats.
Unknown Location...
Dui winced as she stood, her tight-fitting orange jumpsuit cutting into her as she surveyed her latest cell. She had almost immediatly been seperated from the other officers and had been beaten and transported numerious times. At one point her uniform had been taken away and she had struggled into this dirty prison uniform they had thrown at her. She had had nothing to eat or drink, and had not bathed, into over 48 hours. Her cell was tiny, barely big enough for her to comfrotably stand in, with only a white metal bed as a fixture. Her blonde hair was matted and grimy and she felt unclean, having been unable to observe the ritual of bathing once daily. She was bruised, cut, exhasted, starving, cold, humiliated, hopeless, dirty, weaponless, and cut off from any kitsune contact. She sat down on the hard bed and stared numbly at the wall. She had no idea of how much time had passed. It could have been a matter of days, or it could have been years. She didn't know.

Cavourna made a few calculations of his own

"The moon is no more than a week's travel away for your slowest vessel and I suspect that as soon as you step foot off this wreck, you will be arrested" he looked at Kartosh and Skyler "Will you pay them or will I?"

Prison Cell, Rio Casa
The door opened and a burly prison guard stood with a dog collar and a long chain lead.
"C'mon doggy!" he smiled menacingly "Walkies"

"You or one of the others should have their pay. As for the fleet, I will command them to move out immediatly. Kartosh and Skyler will be sticking around to extract me when I am finished here." Kartosh stepped forward. "Whose's got our credits? 250,000, this wasn't an easy trip you know."
Cell...
Dui did not even have the strength to growl at him. She just walked slowly over to him, her dull mind trying to bring her damaged body up to speed.

"HOW MUCH?" Cavourna burst out before regaining control. He took Krystal over to one side and stared at her sternly

"We could have hired a Cruiser for that money" he said sadly, "And as for sticking around, I wouldn't"

There was a beeping nearby "I fear the Imperials have found us" he announced

Cell

The Guard grinned and attatched the collar around her neck. He pulled on the lead to drag her from the cell. All along the corridor, the other Xiscapian POW's were recieving the same treatment
"You have an important meeting today" he whispered nastily in her ear

"We could have, yes, but these are the best. They are commited to helping us, for a price, and you know Xiscapia has more credits than it knows what to do with." At the mention of the Imperials have located them she grimiced. "Already? Alright, observe. You will come to see their value, Commander." At the word of the Imperial approach Resistance members were scrambling for their ships, taking weapons and valuable information with them.
Detention Block Hallway...
"I'll bet." Dui muttered. She passed Rurji, a former sniper, who was recieving the same treatment as her. Rurji's silver hair dragged on the floor as she crawled along the floor, her large eyes narrowed in thought even as she showed every sign of submission. Dui smiled to herself. Always searching for a way to use a situation to her advantage, that one.

"Right then" he turned to follow Krystal
"This had better be worth it" he warned Kartosh as he walked past him. The rest of the Resistance had scrambled apart from Kartosh's ship
"Any time you're ready!" Cavoura called as the hum of tank engines drew closer.

Cell Block

One prison Guard kicked the Sniper in the stomach and laughed as she collapsed. Several other Guards nearby laughed as well and rushed to join in. Soon the Xiscapian vanished under a series of kicks from the Guards before a Warden could wade in and split them up.

"Return to your stations!" he commanded as the chuckling guards moved off.

"You will." said Krystal.
The ships, the Star Snake and two drop ships, lifted off and blasted out of the canyon. Down below tanks and troops approached. The Star Snake's bottom turrets sprayed the troops with laser fire while the missile laucher took out tanks in a single shot. The drop ships flew upside down and fired their duel gun turrets.
Hall...
Rurji could barely move. She was bruised all over, with a left black eye. She kneeled on the floor, coughing violently. Dui reached out and touched her, letting some of her Force leave her and slightly heal Rurji. A few of the bruises lightened, and she stopped coughing. She smiled weakly and kept crawling. All around the Xiscapians waited. They would only attack if Dui commanded it.

The tanks burning hulks did nothing for the mood of the accompanying infantry and a wall of small-arms fire streaked up at the ships. An AA Unit targeted one of the dropships and fired an ArmourPiercing guided rocket at it. At the same time, a small section of XX-15 Fighters ducked into the canyon and targeted the other ship with it's cannon.

Cell Block

"C'mon!" The Guard yanked on Dui's chain, forcing her away from her injured comrade and pulling her throught the prison. Here were some of the Empire's worst scum and now they jeered as the Xiscapian group were brought through, several taking the time to drag Rurji along the ground by her chain.

The shields flickerd as the the small arms fire hit it, but it did nothing. Targeting FTL, the targeting computer fired at the AA missile, destroying it well before it could reach it's target. Three missiles spat at the XX-15s, Air-to-Air missiles, and both turrets targeted them, firing with enough power for just a few concentrated seconds of fire to utterly destroy them.
Hall...
Rurji was being dragged across the floor, struggling to crawl but too hurt and exhasted. Dui snarled at the fellow convicts, nipping at groping hands here and there. She tried to crawl to Rurji but was too far away. She caught the eye of a male she didn't know and he moved in to help support her.

Two XX-15's went down in flames but now another group launched a series of missiles at one of the dropships, focusing on it's cockpit. The fighters were ignoring the Star Snake in favour of easier prey.

Cell

Immediately, three Guards moved between the male and Rurji, attacking both with electrified nitesticks as well as kicking and punching them as well. The jeers only got louder and a series of wolf-whistles directed at Dui sounded throughout the prison.

The dropship spun and twisted, most of the missiles missing but a few impacted, making dark spots of the armor. It had three hovermines left, and it deployed these, hovering bombs that would intercept missiles and enemy fighters, destroying whatever they came into contact with. The Star Snake kept up fire on the fighters, and the other dropship moved in closer to the merc ship.
Hall...
The male was badly beaten, but Rurji collapsed, finally knocked out. Dui roared but was helpless to do anything for her friend. The other Xiscapian's looked away, shamed but unable to do anything.

two more XX-15's were destroyed by the mines and now the rest were joined by XH-3 Heavy Fighters, designed to take out large targets like the dropships and Star Snake. They used the familiar tactic of diving down out of the sun, strafing the dropships with heavycannon fire and then darting back up into the sun's cover again.

Prison

"Leave the one unconcious, the Prisoners get out of their cells in a few minutes" A Guard grinned menacingly. The others chuckled and left Rurji to the mercy of the Rapists and Murderers who would soon descend upon her.

The rest were led outside and into a nearby truck.

The dropship shook more and a line of light gray smoke poured out of it. The other fared much better, it's shields online now. As the bombers flew away the turrets fired upward, the sun not blinding the ship's targeting computer at all. The damaged dropship moved directly under the Star Snake for cover, and the Star Snake deployed two drones. These were top-of-the-line combat droids, designed to take down fighters, which in the other Universe would have been used against the North Calaverans. Except these were heavily armed and sheilded, with triple laser cannons and dual missile lauchers with six missiles each. These streaked out to engage and distract and hopefully destroy the enemy fighters, keeping them off the Snake's tail. The ships flew upwards, the dropship protected by the bulk of the other dropship and the Star Snake.
Hall...
At this the Xiscapians raged and stormed. A worse fate was not imaginable. Dui prayed for Rurji to wake up before the prisonars were released.

One of the heavily armed XH-3's was badly damaged and pulled out of formation while the others continued to manourver under the Star Snake and fire at the damaged dropship. The drones were engaged by the faster and more agile XX-15 fighters while a wall of anti-aircraft cannon deployed at the end of the canyon

Prison

Right on cue, the prisoner's cells were opened and they swarmed over to the unconcious Xiscapian. Far from stopping them, the Guards seemed happy just to leave to her fate while the others were piled into a small cramped truck and driven from the prison.

The damaged dropship moved ahead to be covered by the other ship, and the Star Snake fell back into the enemy fighters, clearly presenting itself as a target, the turrets continuing to spray fire. The drones gave only token fire to the XX-15s and concentrated instead on the heavier HX-3s. The dropships moved upward, seperating themselves from the Star Snake, trying to get above the flight ceiling of the AA cannons. The bottom turret diverted from the fighters to shoot down the AA missiles, and the missile laucher on the underside began firing downward to remove the AA vehicles from existance.
Hall...
Rurji was woken only when a male bipedial of some sort got on top of her. Calling on reserves of energy she didn't even know she had she threw him off her and stood, surronded by sneering, jostling, sweaty, dirty males. Mob...mobs can be influenced... She jumped into the air and used on of them as a springboard, propelling herself over the rest and landing next to a guard. She pulled his electricfied nitestick out of his belt and gave him a solid shove to the floor before wacking him across the face with it. She moved quickly back into the mob as the other guards took notice.

Another XH-3 was damaged and pulled out as the trio of spaceship cleared the canyon and headed for orbit. The other fighters pulled back as well and Cavourna leant back, relieved

"We're safe" he sighed

A jolt nearby contradicted his theory, glancing out a window, he swore loudly

"Two S-Class Dreadnoughts closing fast off the port stern!"

Prison

"Security compromise! Security Compromise!" The Alarms went off as two dozen guards armed with rifles lined up on two catwalks above the crowd.

"Attention! If the culprit does not come out from the crowd we will open fire!"

The Guards took the safety catches off their rifles and prepared to fire.

"Fuck!" Kartosh yelled, echoing Cavourna. He turned on the comm while Skyler twisted away from the trajectory of the ships. "Dropship One, pull ahead, Dropship Two cover him. The Drones will cover you until you get safely out, we'll keep them busy here." The dropships pulled ahead, fleeing the scene, while the Star Snake flew suicidely at the Imperial Capital Ships. The comm chattered. "This is Imperial Command, stand down and prepare to be boarded-" "Shut the hell up!" Skyler screamed and shut the comm off. Two proton torpedos, one for each ship's bridge, fired out of the cannon. "We're running low of missiles!" Skyler groaned. "Divert all power to shields. NOW!" Kartosh yelled again, and the ship's light turned entirely off, lit only by the outside flashs of light. The Xiscapian mercs and those Resistance members could see fine, but the Humans were plunged into almost pitch darkness as power was sucked from the lighting. "Better put on your light amplication goggles." muttered Skyler to Cavourna and the three other Humans that were in the ship.
Prison...
Rurji crotched slightly. She didn't care if all the men around her were killed, she had no feelings for them. She had only her height to save her, her hair and fox ears tending to stick out in a crowd. Someone in the crowd yelled a curse and suddenly the mob was raging and shouting. They moved as one, months and years of mistreatment and confinement coming out suddenly. They pounded on the exits and screamed and attacked any guards on their level. Rurji crawled on the floor, looking for some thing to throw.

Cavourna muttered something about 'suicide' and fitted his goggles onto his face. Outside, one of the Dreadnoughts was forced to swerve in order to avoid the Star Snake while the other continued to fire rapidly at the smaller ship.
"Photon torpedoes direct hit!" Cavourna shouted, looking at the monitor, then he groaned
"Shields down to 95%. You're gonna have to pull something out of the bag here to get away, mate"

Prison

There was no hesitation from the Guards safe, high on the catwalks
"Open fire!"

Immediately, laser bolts began to rip through the ranks of the Prisoners, felling dozens of them at once. The Guards were showing no mercy as they calmly focsed on one Prisoner at a time. There would be no surrender and no arrest. Those on the floor were dead.

The Star Snake suddenly twisted and was flying on the underside of the Dreadnought. Guns fired but Skyler avoided the shots, doing a barrel roll on one occasion to avoid being blown apart by a gun turret. The Snake was on the other side, Kartosh activated the hyperdrive and jumped away. The drop ships, already beyond the reach of orbital ships or weapons, did likewise.
Prison...
Rurji was struck in the chest by a blaster bolt. She was knocked to the ground, her clothing and skin blackened by the shot. The nitestick twisted away from her hands and spinned across the floor. She was quickly dying, but it didn't matter. Her honor was saved. The last thing she saw was the hard faces of the guards as they mowed down the helpless prisoners.
Truck...
Dui groaned in pain. Somehow she knew her friend was dead.

"Aye." Skyler leaned back in her seat. "Learned that little trick from an old friend on mine. Go in all guns blazing right at them, and no matter if they're a hundred times bigger, they'll still be shocked for one vital moment. Take that and use it. Simple enough."
Truck...
Dui glared at the guard. "Hopefully by killing you. But it's not a perfect world, is it?"
OOC: EDIT: TIMEWARP!

"That'll do" Cavourna said, stuck to his chair "Where did you learn to do that?" He leant forward a looked at a monitor "We're only an hour from our destination, it shouldn't take long"

Prison

The dust thrown up from the blasters settled on the bodies of the prisoners that now carpeted the ground. They began to lift the bodies and throw them out the back of the prison. Criminals recieved no burial in the Alversian Empire.

Truck

"Well doggy," the Guard from the front turned to talk to them "How are you gonna spend the last few hours of your life?" he grinned menacingly.

"Aye." Skyler leaned back in her seat. "Learned that little trick from an old friend on mine. Go in all guns blazing right at them, and no matter if they're a hundred times bigger, they'll still be shocked for one vital moment. Take that and use it. Simple enough."
Truck...
Dui glared at the guard. "Hopefully by killing you. But it's not a perfect world, is it?"
OOC: EDIT: TIMEWARP!

"Right, as I said, we're only an hour away but I'd be careful anyway" Cavourna leant back thoughtfully in his chair

Truck

"No it is not" The Guard shrugged off the comment "As you're about to find out"

Kartosh stood. "I'd suggest you all make yourselves comfortable. Our ETA is roughly fifty-seven minutes, give or take a minute." He padded away to the refrigerator. "Anybody care for some refreshments?" Krystal just shook her head silently. There was Kartosh, Skyler, Krystal, Cavourna, James, three Humans Resistance members, all male, and two Xiscapians, a male and a female. Skyler was at the controls, leaning back and watching everyone. Kartosh was busily making himself a sandwitch, while Krystal sat in a chair by a table with a digital chessboard on it. James kneeled beside her, and the two Xiscapians sat with him, dozing lightly. The Alversians spoke quietly with each other.
Truck...
"So where the hell are we going, anyway?" loudly demanded Dui. The other prisoners looked nerviously at each other but didn't speak.

Cavourna sat down beside Krystal and the chessboard "Fancy a game?" he asked calmly.
The rest of the Alversians sat about nervously and chatted with each other, they felt guilty about being amongst those they had helped enslave.

Truck

"Rianvanna Court House" the Guard laughed "You're to be tried as Terrorists with crimes against the Empire" he laughed again "And I garuntee they're not going to be pretty"

Krystal smiled wanly at Cavourna. "Sure." The digital pieces appeared. "Black or White?" she asked. The male Xiscapian pulled him out of his restless slumber to stare at the Alversians for a few seconds before going back to sleep. The lights were still off, but the ship was dimly lit by the colors of hyperspace.
Truck...
Dui nearly laughed out loud. "Terrorists with crimes against the Empire?! You guys waited three years for this? Why don't you just elimate the middleman and shoot us now?"

"I'll take white" Cavourna smiled and began to plan his strategy, Chess was one of his favourite games as it tested mental abilities and strategies.

Truck

"It'll be more fun to watch this than just line you all up and shoot you. It's what I would have done mind" he admitted and turned back to face the road.

OOC: Back to the Embassy thread?...

Krystal sat back and waited. The human would be a tough opponent, and Krystal had had little training in the fine game of chess.
Truck...
Dui just shook her head. Their fate was sealed.
OOC: Sure. Also, Jenrak has responded.

"Right, I'll move first" Cavourna made the opening move of the game, moving the digital pieces around. "I'm curious" he asked as he leant back, focused on the game, trying to plot her next move "Where did this game originate?"

Truck

The truck halted and the guard opened the door, escorted by four more guards
"Time to go, Doggies" he grinned as leads were attached to the Xiscapian's collars. There were more guards around the court area, a large jeering crowd of Alversians had assembled as well, pelting the Xiscapians with stones or bottles.

Krystal lost a pawn in a daring move but took out her opponents rook. "I'm not sure. Historical records indicate that we were aware of the game, and played it, for many thousands of years. However, it didn't originate with us. Some species we have yet to discover, I suppose." She watched as he made his move. "They must have been very smart."
Truck...
The five Xiscapians jumped out of the truck. There were three males and two females. One of the males, a short kitsune with green hair and white fur, was hit across the face with a bottle that shattered on impact. He dropped to his knees, blood running down his face. Fortuantly no shards got in his eyes or mouth. The others helped him to his feet, physically shielding him with their bodies to take the rocks and bottles themselves.

"Indeed" Cavourna was able to take one of Krystal's bishops and smiled as he thought about it "It is strange how these sorts of games travel across the universe, isn't it?"

Court

The Guards, far from trying to protect their prisoners, encouraged the crowd to target the Xiscapians even more. However soon the Prisoners were dragged through an open room and into a packed courthouse.

"Silence!" the Judge called, banging his gravel down "The following have been accused of numerous crimes including Terrorism, Crimes against the Empire, Crimes against the Imperial Armed forces and intent to murder Imperial Soldiers. How do you plead?"

OOC: No Embassy thread?...

"Yes. It takes ships and messages and ideas weeks, years, centurys even, but games, it seems, can travel across the universe in the blink of an eye." She formed her pieces into a defense but lost her remaining bishop. "Commander...tell me about the other races. I know much about these Danaversians, and the Alversians, of course. But these "Rascorians". Who are they? I have only heard wild tales, and have never seen one, nor a ship of theirs."
Courthouse...
Dui spoke. "We plead not guilty to all charges."
OOC: Yes Embassy thread! Do I need to bump it for you? It's your turn to respond. You were about to tell us about Ashe, remember?

"Rascorians. Native of Rascoria. They were immensely more advanced than we were and yet we were able to conquer them. Never had any idea how, to be honest. But they now flag of the Empire"

Courthouse

"Really?" The Judge seemed surprised, "Very well, then, who will the defense be bringing as Barristor?"

There was silence

"No One? Maybe the Prosecution will bring forward their Barrister?"

One of the most popular and competant lawyers in the whole empire came forward to rapturous applause from the audience.

OOC: I did, it's about 2 pages back in that thread

Krystal nodded sadly. "Such is life, the turning of the wheel of life and death, progress and destruction."
Courthouse...
A male to Dui's left whispered in her ear. "This isn't a jury, this is an audiance!" Dui merely glared at the "lawyer". "Do your worst." she murmered.

Cavourna took one of Krystal's rooks and smiled "This is the main reason this game was developed I think. To sharpen the mind and prepare it for the real world"

Court

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury, Your Honour. I am here to prove that the invasion of Xiscapia was completely justified in the face of unwarrented and unprovoked Xiscapian aggression against a peaceful empire"

There were loud cheers and applause from the jury and the audience as the Lawyer continued to peform to the crowd

"Before I provide the information would you like to defend yourself?" he asked in a sarcastic tone to Dui and the others.

"True. Certainly seems like it." Krystal moved her other rook. "Check."
Courthouse...
Dui shook her head. "Show the evidence in question and I will be happy to debate it."

"Strike and counter-strike" Cavourna smiled as he moved his king to safety "That is the way of this game. Lure your opponent in close. Then strike yourself. Check" he smiled again.

Court

"First piece of evidence!" The Lawyer shouted to the audience "Is this radio transmission from Xiscapian Naval Headquarters not four years ago! Listen to it and see if you can tell me what I am hearing" he said to Dui

TO: All Xiscapian Military Vessels

From this moment onwards, Emperor Foxfire had decreed war against the Alversian Empire. We shall strike hard and fast and remove this obsticle from our path of conquest

"Tell me, Xiscapian" he said sarcastically "Is that not a XN Frequency that this message was broadcast on?"

The Jury and Audience were murmuring to each other and looking at the Xiscapians in interest.

Krystal blocked the attack with a handy pawn. "You must always watch your back, for someone could be as clever as you."
Courthouse...
Dui cocked her head. "That message is fake. If war was declared, which I can assure you it was not, then the message would have been followed by Executive Order number 0, which is the order to declare war. A message such as this, without the Order, would be ignored by the Fleets and invesigated."

"Indeed" Cavourna took one of Krystal's knights "Or you could always keep your opponent focused on the main threat and chip away with smaller ones until you are victorious" He smiled

Courthouse

Upon Dui's statement there were mutterings of disbelief from the Jury and the Audience. The Lawyer simply smiled and continued

"Very nice, Xiscapian, 'Executive Order 0'. This message was relayed from Foxfire himself! It was found in his databanks and we have substantial evidence that the entire Xiscapian fleet mobilised on this order. What do you say to that?"

"True, but such tactics do not always work." Krystal took Cavourna's other bishop with her queen, cutting off a pawn from getting to the other side.
Courtroom...
"How do you know it was not planted? The Fleet mobilized on defense, not attack. It covered the boarders, but it was your ships which violated the boundries. Year of our Lord Emperor Foxfire Rose 9, Birth of the Fire season, Cholk system. That was the first battle, and it was inside our boarders."

"True, true" Cavourna made another move "Sometimes you must sacrafice your main goal to achieve it"

Courthouse

"Really? Then how do you explain the battle of Nova Prime?" The Lawyer asked, raising his eyebrows, "Three Dreadnoughts destroyed by Xiscapian battleships within our own Borders. And YOU Started it it!"

"In this case, you must always keep your eye on the final goal, even if everything else must be sacrificed to achieve it." Krystal was down to four pawns, a rook, a knight, and her king and queen. She began formulating a defense.
Courthouse...
"Standered counterattack. Can you blame us for wanting to keep warmonger Imperialists out of our space? We offered a treaty, peace. But our offer was ignored and our diplomats taken as POWs. The only evidence you have that we started the war is your own governments twisted propoganda. Any evidence that states that we started the war is either false or planted."

"Naturally, check" Cavourna said as he made another move. Unlike Krystal, he had most of his pieces left.

Courthouse

"As you will naturally say. Over 2,000 Alversians were killed at Nova Prime and a great deal of mourning was caused by it. Maybe you wanted to keep the 'warmonger Imperialists out of our space' what better way to do it than to destroy their fleet from the outset. This we would not allow!"

At this last statement, the jury and audience roared their approval and leapt to their feet, applauding and whistling for the Lawyer. He grinned and bowed to the deafening noise before turning to the Judge "I rest my case, your honour"

"Very well. Is there anybody on the Defense who would like to say something on their behalf?" he asked the Xiscapians. There were mutterings and grumbles as the crowd took their seats again and the Lawyer strutted to his seat.

Krystal frowned at the board. Her king was blocked by the board right side, and a pawn blocked any forward movement. If she moved left, the rook would take her. If she moved back, the bishop would take her. If she stayed where she was and moved another piece, an enemy pawn would continue the check. "Checkmate." She said, and knocked over her digital king with a slight slap of her finger. The board vanished. "Good game. You are a fine player."
Courthouse...
"If I may, I'd like to recieve limited access to Rio Casa holo records for a brief time. This will be my evidence of Alversian war crimes." Dui shifted slightly.

"Thanks, we should be coming up on the moon now" Cavourna leant back and tried to relax. However, a beeping noise sounded from one of the consoles and Cavourna leaned forward, frowning.

"Kartosh?" He asked "What is that ahead?" He pointed to a strange ship floating in space

Courthouse

"Denied. The Prosecution is not allowed to leave the court and so neither is the defence" The Judge said over the sniggering of the Lawyer, "Do you not have a defence prepared? If not then your defense is rested"

Star Snake...
Just as Cavourna spoke the ship was ripped out of hyperspace by the gravity well emitted by the ship. It was huge when compared with the Star Snake, many hundreds of times bigger. It bore a strange flag on it's hull. Nevertheless, it could only mean one of two things: Imperials, or pirates. Neither good. "Evasive!" Skyler shouted, and the ship did a barrel roll to avoid crashing in to the huge ship, throwing everyone except her across the cabin. On the underside of the Capital now, the dwarfed Star Snake made best time for the other side. Krystal got up shackily and staggered over to the table, strapping herself in after helping one of the Alversians up. "What is that thing?"
Courthouse...
"No your Honor." Dui sank back into her seat, defeated. They had had no time to prepare, were not allowed access to anything that might help them, and the whole trial was rigged anyway so it wouldn't make a difference. All they had to go on was what they knew of the war from their perspecitve and eyewitness accounts.

Star Snake

"I have no idea" Cavourna looked at it puzzled, then he looked at his scanners "No life forms aboard at all. The ship's in shut down mode. What is that FLAG?" he said peering at the tail. The flag was a red rose with a silver katana through it.
"Look at the size of those turrets!" He exclaimed pointing to the 'wings' of the ship, each bearing a massive gun bigger than the entire Star Snake itself
"What sort of damage could that thing do?" he said in wonder

Courthouse

"No defense?" The Judge raised his eyebrows as the crowd burst out laughing
"SILENCE IN COURT!" The Judge bellowed, finally losing his temper. He turned to the Jury once he had silence
"You have the evidence, now you have one hour to reach a verdict. One hour interlude"
He banged his hammer on the tall desk.

As the crowd split up and headed for the exits and the Jury headed for their room, the Xiscapians were led in chains to the holding cells and placed under heavy guard.

"Yeah, well, mysterious dead ships floating in space don't bond well for those who try and board them." Kartosh, having taken control, manuvered the ship away from the hulking giant. "Wait!" Krystal put her hand on Kartosh's shoulder, her rust-red tail whipping. "The Resistance could use a ship like that. I'll pay you an extra five thousand if you take us aboard." She stared desperetly at the ship. Kartosh mused to himself. "Five thousand, eh? Make it seven." Krystal glared at him. "6." Kartosh rolled his eyes. "6 and a half, take it or leave it." Mutely Krystal nodded. Kartosh glided the ship closer towards what looked like a hanger.
Courthouse...
Dui glared at her guards. The other Xiscapians either stared hopelessly at the floor or looked furiously at their captors. Dui narrowed her yellow eyes as she stared at one of the guard's rifles. Maybe...if she was fast enough... She glanced up at him from where she sat, back against the wall. He stared into space, not alert at all, bored with his duties. Dui readied herself to spring forward...

"I'm getting more detailed informa...whoa!" Cavourna interupted himself as he looked at the scans "This thing has some serious firepower"
He turned to Krystal, fire burning in his eyes "This could be what the Rebellion needs" He prepared to go aboard once they had docked. Scanners showed no damage whatsoever. It was just...asleep.

Courthouse

"End of interlude!" Someone called down to the Guards and, immediately alert, they began to push and prod the Xiscapians back into the packed courthouse.

There was an air of excitment as the Judge took his seat and the Jury returned to their stations. Once the general muttering had stopped the Judge turned to the Jury

"Jurors of the Court. have you reached a decision?" He asked it as though it were a serious question, when in fact the entire court knew what was going to happen.

The Head Juror nodded "We have, Your Honour. We, the Jurors of this trial find all Defendants guilty of all charges"

The roar that went up from the Audience was deafening and Lawyer couldn't help grinning. Indeed, throughout the court there was only one man not smiling. The Judge.

"Very well, Head Juror, I thank you" the Juror sat down "Xiscapian terrorists, you are guilty of crimes against the Empire and the Army. I have no choice but to inflict upon you the maximum sentence allowed for these offenses. You shall be, at dawn tomorrow, taken from your places of holding and shot by Military Firing Squad. Case Dismissed"

The Crowd applauded an accomplished performance from all actors, even if they had wanted the Xiscapians to put up more of a fight. No matter, tomorrow, they would all be dead.

The Xiscapians were hastily led back to the Prison and thrown in their cells. They passed the dead from earlier, still not cleared away and put under heavy guard, including forcefields and other counter-escape measures.

Star Snake...
Krystal nodded, smiling for the first time in what seemed like years. "It very well could be." The Star Snake entered the hanger and set down. No lights shone down, and no defenses came up. "The lights are on but nobody's home." muttered Skyler as the ramp lowered. The little party walked down it, save for an Alversian Resistance member who they had left behind to guard the ship. The hanger was enormous, and just from what they could see, it was obviously very advanced. They moved quietly across the hanger floor, seeking an exit to the rest of the ship.
Prison...
Dui and the eight other Xiscapians that were with her were hearded into their cells. They huddled together, seemingly for warmth. But really each was sucking the life-Force out of each other, an ability they had learned though studying Imperial Magicians. Slowly they began to die, quietly and peacefully. It was a painless, quiet, dignified alternative to a firing squad. Finally only Dui was left. She had volunteered to be the last one, to stay behind and face Imperial rifles. Even now the others souls would be going upward and onward to the Golden Country, which is the Xiscapian version of Heaven.

"This is incredible" Cavourna said in disbelief, "He walked over to a computer panel and typed a few things in. The screen flashed up

"What did you do?" One of the Resistence Members asked

"Entered my Imperial code" Cavourna replied equally as confused "But it's not an Imperial ship"

He typed a few more things in and, suddenly, an image of the massive ship appeared on screen with various stats

"Name: UFS Calypso Class: C-6 Dreadnought Crew Compliment: 12,010. Part of the Alvo-Xiscapian Federation Fleet"

He turned to Krystal, confused "What's the Alvo-Xiscapian Federation? There are no C-6 Class imperial ships. Do you know something about this?" he asked in sheer puzzlement

"Bridge is this way," he pointed down a corridor "Lets go"

Prison

The Prisoners were dead. All except one. Not that it mattered much, their commander was still alive and she was the key specticle.

Dui was led out to the prison courtyard, surrounded on three sides by a massive audience, chanting and throwing projectiles at the Xiscapian.

Along the forth side was a large post. Opposite it was the nine man firing squad.

"Alvo-Xiscapian Federation?" Krystal was equally as puzzled. "Never heard of them. No records or operations I know of refer to anything of the sort. We must investigate this further." She jogged down the corridor, followed by James and the two Xiscapians.
Courtyard...
Dui winced as a rock whizzed over her head, flattening her ears and hissing softly. She allowed herself to be led forward. The day had not improved. It was raining lightly, and a dark carpet of clouds covered the sky. A bitter winter wind swept though, flattening the grass and making those fortunate enough to have cloaks or jackets clutch them tighter around themselves. The day was grim, the people jeering demons, the guards cold and droid-like. Dui, among the Alversians, felt like she was the last kitsune left in the galaxy.

Soon they had reached the bridge. The door opened easily as soon as Cavourna and the others walked up to it. Confused and curious, Cavourna entered and found what had to be the most advanced ship he had ever seen. Indeed it looked as though the ship could run itself without a crew, such was the level of A.I within it.

"That one's the database" He indicated a console to Krystal "Run through it there and see what this is all about"

Courtyard

The crowd continued to jeer and laugh as Dui was led to and tied against the post. The firing squad at the end of the courtyard were practising military drill as she was secured. Once the Alversians were satisfied, the squad spun on their heels to face Dui. The crowd feel silent as a Captain walked to the centre of the square

"Before you are executed for crimes against the Empire!" He addressed Dui "Do you habe any last words?"

The crowd waited with baited breath

Krystal strode over to the panel, followed by James. The two Xiscapian rebels took up guard at the door, and Skyler and Kartosh began poking around, examining hardware. Krystal typed quickly and easily bypassed the security system demanding a passcode with help from James. A screen appeared in front of her:
Name: UFS Calypso
Class: C-6 Dreadnought
Crew Compliment: 12,010
(Below this was a list of links)
Captains Log
Armament
A.I.
Statistics
Krystal clicked on the link labled "Captains Log."
A male voice speaks, calm and efficient.
Captains Log
Stardate 66092
Year of Our Lord 86 Empress Alya, Death of the Fire Season
Ship Chrono Time 5:22 PM
The UFS Calypso set of from Tenfour today, admist some concearn. While officially scheduled from routine patrol, the Calypso will be entering uncharted space. Darastic gravity signitures in the sector we will primarily be traveling though indicate a disturbance in space, perhaps a black hole or large star. Our crew is slightly apprehensive but calm and effective in their duties. I pray our trip will be a successful one.

Stardate 66092
Year of Our Lord 86 Empress Alya, Death of the Fire Season
Ship Chrono Time 11:57 PM
We have reached our destiantion after approximently six (6) hours of travel. Space is quiet, the nearest danger is a couple of wayward meteors. A small black hole has been detected at coordinates 116476, but we should be fine if we stay away. Not much else to this system aside from a few doomed moons that are being sucked in by the black hole's gravity field. The crew had relaxed fully, and a peaceful, uneventful voyage is likely. I will retire now.

Stardate 66092
Year of Our Lord 86 Empress Alya, Death of the Fire Season
Ship Chrono Time 6:23 AM
The ship has been shuddering uncharactaristically for the past half hour. Engineering reports no problems, but I sense a disturbance. Most of the crew still sleeps, although those awake are nervous and on the move. XO has reported anomilties in the space-time field, and the helms crew are steering the ship to a stand-still. Some of the crew, mainly the Xiscapians, have reported "visions" and such, but this is passed off as stress. I now have-
AUTOMATIC A.I. OVERRIDE
WARNING. WARNING. GRAVITY FLUCTIONATIONS HAVE EXCEEDED DANGER LEVELS. ALL CREW REPORT TO STATIS ROOMS. ATTENTION ALL CREW. PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR ASSINGED STATIS ROOMS. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. ALL CREW, PLEASE REPORT.

Stardate 66092
Year of Our Lord 86 Empress Alya, Death of the Fire Season
Ship Chrono Time 6:34 AM
OFFICAL A.I. STATUS REPORT
THIS SHIP, A C-6 DREADNOUGHT NAMED UFS CALYPSO, WAS CAUGHT IN THE GRAVITY WELL OF A CLASS-D BLACK HOLE. THE CREW HAS BEEN PLACED IN STATIS AND WILL BE REVIVED UPON THE REACTIVATION OF THIS SHIP.
(Here the Log ends)
Krystal turned to Cavourna. "Something must be done. This ship is obviously occupied, though wether they are dead or alive is unknown."
Courtyard...
Dui narrowed her eyes at the Captain. She spoke softly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I am a servant of the People, I am a servant of the Emperor, I am the servant of honor, my life is not my own, when the people have need of it. My life is given for the People, for my Emperor, and for my honor."

"Hold on" Cavourna adjusted a few things on the computer. Then he shook his head "I've got no life signs apart ours. I think we should investigate" he said, looking at Krystal. "It says a crew of over 12,000. They can't all be dead"

Courtyard

The Captain just smiled and shook his head

"You have a great bravery terrorist" he announced "You deserve this quick death"

He turned and walked to the squad. "Ready!" The order rang out across the courtyard.

The troops brought their rifles to their shoulders and peered down the scopes

"Fire!"

Nine shots rang out at once and Dui slumped to the ground. The crowd appluaded the Xiscapian's bravery before moving off to complete the running of the Empire.

"But where do we start?" Krystal asked. "This ship is enormous, it would take days to search it." She stared in dispair at the console. "The Log said Tenfour...I've never heard of any other Tenfour...except ours. The Log mentioned Xiscapians, and used Xiscapian Time Dates. Except..." She shook her head in confusion. "None of this makes any sense!"

"I know" Cavourna agreed shaking his head "Not even the greatest minds in the empire could dream of firepower like this. It just defies belief...wait!"

Cavourna tapped a button and brought up a new screen

"History databanks" he said in amazement, "Let's take a look at them shall we"

So for hours, they did, reading all about the Korr War, the Alversian Civil War, Danaversian Wars, Alvo-Xiscapian first contact, the great war of Choas, the Xiscapian Civil War, the Formation of the Alvo-Xiscapian Federation...

When he was finished, Cavourna looked at Krystal and voiced the only conclusion he could reach

"An alternate universe?" he said uncertainly

"Either that or a very elaborate prank." Krystal shook her head. "So many wars...but so much prosperity too." She thought for a moment. "The black hole must have sucked this ship in and...somehow sent it to here. It seems impossible, and everything I know goes against it, but here it is." She stared around at the interior of the ship. "I'm still not quite certain...go over the Alvo-Xiscapian first contact again, please."

"Let me see" he typed it up and found the file quickly

Alversian Stardate 120137, A beacon was encountered by C-Class Dreadnought APS Catastrophe from a planet known as Xiscapia. They were a race engaged in a fierce battle with a xenophobic enemy known as the Korr. They were in dire straits and needed immediate aid to rescue the situation

"Sounds like the empire" Cavourna said bitterly

Although unknown to the Alversian people what they would be getting involved in, the threat of a free nation falling under such an enemy and pledged immediate support to the Xiscapian People.

Even though, they had never met, first contact was made when the People's Army committed 50,000 troops to Xiscapia's defense. The first Alversian to meet the Xiscapian leaders was Admiral Sean Killock and he symbolised the meeting with the following word

"Today we meet as Allies, tomorrow we fight as brothers"

As the alliance went on the attack, the number of soldiers increased until over 4,000,000 Alversian troops were occupied in the theatre. Casualties for the war eventually reached 1.5 million Alversians killed on all fronts with another 1.2 million wounded.

The bond that was formed between the two warring nations went from strength to strength as the years went on and eventually led to the signing of the Alvo-Xiscapian Alliance in 120301

Cavourna chuckled as he sat back
"Today we meet as allies, tomorrow we die as brothers" How different is that to our world. Alversia sounds like a utopia"

"And Xiscapia sounds peaceful. It sounds like a happier, more idealistic version of what really happened." Krystal said bitterly. "We'll need to find the crew if we want anymore answers. Hmm...Cavourna, try instructing the computer to reveal the location of the statis field room. If my hunch, that there is an alternate Cavourna from the other Universe aboard this ship, that the computer will respond to you, as you and he share the same DNA." She thought for a moment. "I wonder who else is here and also there?"
In the background Kartosh and Skyler had been listening. "Imagine that." Kartosh said quietly to Skyler. "I think we might be able to make more money off of this. Just think about it...technology, decades ahead of ours, being sold by us...after taking some for our own, of course. We'll be fucking rich!" He was getting excited now, but was still careful to keep his voice low. Skyler nodded, but inside she was unsure if the plan would work. Whoever these so called "Alvo-Xiscapians" were may prove to be smarter than they thought.

OOC:im here, bump threads please.

Cavourna shook his head sadly
"It seems that most of the crew have not survived their trip through dimensions. I doubt that Cavourna would have survived. I think this ship will need a crew. According to the manifest it can be controlled by as few as 2,000 people"

Cavourna turned and smiled at Krystal

"Can the fleet spare 2,000 men to crew our new flagship?" he asked, grinning.

Krystal smiled now. "Of course. We have thousands of spacers just sitting around, doing nothing." She looked around in admiration. "And with this to play with, well, they'll be in heaven!" James behind her smiled to himself. "Shouldn't we try and find any crew left alive?" He asked in his deep voice. "Survivors would be a valuable asset in helping our troops train to use the ship, if there are any."

"We could have a look" Cavourna agreed as he downloaded small maps and gave them to each crew member, "Take a deck each and try to find survivors. If we could turn this ship against the Imperial Fleet, then not even Illesia itself could withstand us. The Empire will fall"

Skyler, Krystal, James, Kartosh, the male kitsune resistance member, and the female all fanned out to search the decks. Silent as a tomb. Kartosh thought to himself as he plodded along the empty, echoing hall. Elsewhere Krystal grew increasingly uneasy, getting the feeling that someone or something was watching her. She turned the corner into a room and gazed in shock. It was a statis room, clear and empty except for several small piles of white bone, human, kitsune or otherwise unknown. "How long has this thing been floating out here?" She whispered. A thick layer of dust coated all the surfaces. There was no noises save for her footfalls and breathing, and the pounding of her heart. The ship was dimly lit by emergency lights, but these, aside from the bridge computers and artificial gravity, seemed to be the only systems online. Then from close by Krystal heard the soft hum of machinery. She ran though three rooms, a hall, and up an elevator before arriving at her destination. A statis room, fully operational and online, was at the end of a short corridor. Glowing red were twenty bodies floating weightless, but hooked by tubes and wires to the walls. As Krystal watched some unidetifiable tan paste was sucked up one of the tubes into a floating human. There was sixteen humans, some female, most male, and four Xiscapians, three males and a female. Krystal just stared before raising her portable comm to her lips. "I've found some. Deck 6, Level 17b, at the end of the hall." Upon hearing her each person responded and made their way to her.

Cavourna was there in moments. He turned the corner and reeled away in shock. "My god" he whispered "What the hell has happened to them?"
They were alive anyway, and somebody had to tell them about this Alternate warship and how to get the bloody thing started again.

He had found a few bodies just a couple of decks below. Two Alversian, three Xiscapian. All with blaster burns. It seemed that somebody else had found the ship first. And he had picked up a very advanced rifle from one of the dead as well as a blaster pistol that far outclassed his own puny one. Even the Xiscapian Katana's seemed to be more advanced than Krystal's.

"Statis." said Krystal softly, still staring at the free floating forms. "It places the mind and body in a coma-like state, being fed and given oxygen though tubes. It is a last resort method to save the crew of a ship which is heavly damaged or breaking up. Our fields hold for about two weeks, but if this is as advanced as everything else on this ship, it would hold for many times longer." The controls were familier, and she deactivated the field. The humans and kitsune inside fell to the floor, the machines automatically unhooking. Some breathed, some didn't. Ten of the sixteen Alversians had survived, and two of the four Xiscapians had survived. Krystal had noticed a two-to-one ratio of Xiscapian dead to Alversians, and either surmised that a) most of the Xiscapians had vanished into the nether realms upon entering the hole b) this was a primarily Xiscapian ship, which she doubted, or c) her alternate versions were weaker physically than the ones in the universe. She guessed a. James walked over to the unconcious kitsune male, looking eerily like Foxfire Rose had when he was alive, kneeling with concearn over him. Gradually the crewpeople began to wake.

Cavourna walked up to the one he presumed to be Captain and introduced himself. Well, that was the theory. In truth, Cavourna stopped dead in his tracks as another, man, looking very familliar stood up and squinted around. He saw Cavourna took a step back

"Flippin' hell!" he cursed and turned to the comrade who was evidently his first officer aboard "Krystal? You won't belive this..."

Krystal raised her eyebrows and her mouth gaped in shock. "John Reynolds?" She too took a step back. She had met John early on the Resistance, but he had abruptly vanished, presumed dead. Her mind whirled. It was impossible. The ship, while strange, she had never seen before. But this...this was a man brought back from the dead. This was someone she knew. "You...you are alive?"

John looked at Krystal and frowned "I wasn't told you were a passenger on this ship, Of course I'm alive, why wouldn't I be?" he looked around quickly "Where the hell are we?" he asked before spotting Cavourna. His mouth dropped open

"Admiral Cavourna!" John saluted

"General, actually" Cavourna responded uncormfortably, "How do you know me?"

"Wait a second" John turned to a Xiscapian who was obviously his First Officer, "Status report please?" he asked

"Um...sir?" The Xiscapian had been lying in the corner while she was in statis, but was only now on her feet. She had short brown hair in a bun, fierce, burning orange eyes, soft white skin, and white fur. "Sir, almost all the systems are offline. The navigation computer in completly screwed up, it's readings are all over the map." She said as she consulted a datapad. The other Xiscapian stood beside her. He had long, messy brown hair, calm yellow eyes, dark skin, and rust-orange fur. His Lieutenant's uniform hung loosely from his wiry, thin frame, and he seemed completly out of place in the military in general. He looked uncertain, staring from Krystal to James to Cavourna. "Admiral Cavourna, Head Admiral Krystal, James Rose..." He pettered out, overawed to be in the presence of two famous, powerful Admirals and the Emperor's brother himself. He bowed low. "Forgive me. I am Lieutenant Grey. I had no idea we had such as you on this ship." Krystal was in shock, still reeling from the sudden presence of John. James seemed to find this all amusing, and gave a little bow back.

Cavourna looked at Krystal, "excuse me...Captain...Reynolds, I need to talk to the Admiral here"

"Of course, Sir" John saluted again and turned to the console on which his first officer and the other Xiscapian were working.

Cavourna led Krystal to a corner of the room, "What the hell's happening?" he asked.

Krystal moved her mouth, but nothing came out. Finally she managed to speak. "Commander...I think...this ship is from another dimension, right? Well...these people, they are too." Her eyes were wide and scared. "They come from another dimension entirely. Hell, think of it...we probably exist, or existed, or will exist, in that universe at some point. But what do we do?" She looked pleadingly at him. "This isn't exactly a textbook situation."

Cavourna walked up to John and nodded. Captain Reynolds saluted again and Cavourna took him to one side to explain the situation.

"So...hold on...We're in another Dimension?" He asked, puzzled, "WE can't be, it's not possible"

Krystal overheard John. "And why not?" she asked. "If not, then where or when are you?" The First Officer and Lt. Grey stood off to the side, whispering to each other.

"Commander Kovnac!" Reynolds addressed the First Officer (Seems decent I give her a name) I want a report on the last 24 hours! Where are we and the rest of the crew! I want it now"

He turned to Lt. Grey, "I want you to get the cloaking system back online, the last thing I want is the Calaveran Alliance finding this ship!"

"Cloaking device?" Cavourna turned to Krystal, "What's a cloaking device?"

Kovnac saluted. "Yes Sir!" She turned back to the terminal and plugged herself in though node attatched to the back of her neck. Grey saluted as well. "Right away Captain!" He strode to the other side of the room and began typing. Krystal smiled at Cavourna's question. "We experimented with such, but they mostly failed. We were on the verge of a breakthough when the War began. Now all data and prototypes are lost. They render a ship invisible, to both sensors and scanners and the naked eye."

Cavourna gave a small smile, "The Empire never had to hide from anything, quite opposite in fact"

"What? Reynolds turned around, "Alversia's part of an Empire in this world? Who conquered her?" He looked from one to the other in surprise and anger.

Cavourna looked uncomfortable, he turned to Krystal "Do you want to tell him?" He asked, knowing what the alternate Captain's response would be...

Krystal bit her lip. "The People's Army lost the First Freedom War. The Republic Army defeated them at the Battle of Illesia and took control of the planet. The Empire remained, and soon spread, conquering all it came in contact with. Danaversians, other humans, aliens of all kinds...us, too, most recently." She shook her head. ""Alversia" no longer exists. Only the Empire."

All the Federation crew members stopped working and looked at each other disbelievingly. It couldn't be true.

"No...wait, We won the Freedom War" Reynolds tried to reason, "Xiscapians and Alversians are like brothers, not subjects. This can't be happening"

"Alternate universe, anything's possible here" Cavourna said, realising this guy's life had been turned upside down, "What type of ship is this?"

"C-6 Class Dreadnought" Reynolds mumbled, "Latest launched from Rio Casa, part of the Federation fleet" he finished sadly.

"What is this Calaveran Alliance?" asked Krystal, unsure of her timing. Perhaps she should have waited. But she was as astonded and bursting with questions as Reynolds. Across the room Grey shouted. "The cloak is back online, we've got 60% power." Kovnac too signaled. "At Stardate 66092, Year of Our Lord 86 Empress Alya, Death of the Fire Season, Ship Chrono Time 6:34 AM we were apparently sucked into a black hole. Since then we've been in statis. I don't think any of us remember it because of the transition. Bio signs indicate that...sir...we're the only ones left alive. Most of the crew is just...gone. Vanished into thin air. The rest all have negative readings, save for those in this room. Our current location has us 22 lightyears from Xiscapia, in Unknown Space, meaning it has not been explored thouroughly in our time."

"The Calaveran Alliance is a bit like the Federation except you don't offer to join, they force you. It's pretty much an Empire and our greatest enemies" Reynolds turned to Grey, "How long will it take to bring the engines online? I want to get this bird back to Rio Casa and find out what's happening here"

"You can't go back!" Cavourna looked at Krystal, shocked.

"Sir, our engines are fried, it will take several hours before we can get enough working to move the Dreadnought." Upon Cavourna's shout Krystal stepped in. "You cannot go back to Rio Casa. It is under Empire control. As much as it may pain you to hear it, this universe is different. Emperor Foxfire and Empress Jade were killed at the last battle of Xiscapia. Dom is dead. The Vanadict is in exile, as am I and Cavourna. Xiscapia is entirely under the Empire, and we have no military or government. Our only hope is the Resistance, which is the Alversian People's Army and The Xiscapian Freedom Corps."

Reynolds shook his head as though Krystal's voice was just a buzzing noise nearby. Then Cavourna stepped up.

"I read your databanks, Alversia is a planet were all are equal and no one is unwanted. That's what we want for this universe too! We need your help to bring Trezan Baxtor's dying wishes to life again. Will you help us?" He paused "What would Admiral Cavourna do? Stick by the book?"

Reynolds smiled as if remembering a friend, "He would throw the book into the incinerator and help those in need" The smile was replaced by determination.

"Lieutenant! Delay the order for the engines, I want weapons and shields back online ASAP! We need to defend ourselves against the Imperial fleet that may come looking for us" He smiled at Cavourna and Krystal "We have a country to liberate"

Krystal gave a sharp grin back. "It is long past time." Grey looked over his shoulder. "Sir, we're going to need a lot of help on this if we want the shields and weapons online again in a reasonable amount of time. The A.I. can only do so much. There's, what, thirty of us? It will take ages. Unless you guys have some magical drones you can pull out from your other pants pocket?" He looked at Krystal and Cavourna.

Cavourna turned to Krystal "What can the fleet spare to fix this ship?" He asked, grinning.

Reynolds was just leaning against a panel, smiling at his remaining crewmembers, they knew the Orders of the UFN still had to be upheld even if it was in another universe with another APN out there

Krystal thought for a moment. "Right now...if we scramble...ten thousand. Will that be enough?" She looked to Grey. He frowned but nodded. "Yes, but it dosen't need to be so exessive. Three thousand will do the job." Kovnac had gone to stand at Reynold's side. "If we can get those troops here whithin eight to ten hours, and start immediatly, we'll be shipshape in two days."
OOC: I gotta go, talk to you later. Cheers.

Krystal thought for a moment. "Right now...if we scramble...ten thousand. Will that be enough?" She looked to Grey. He frowned but nodded. "Yes, but it dosen't need to be so exessive. Three thousand will do the job." Kovnac had gone to stand at Reynold's side. "If we can get those troops here whithin eight to ten hours, and start immediatly, we'll be shipshape in two days."
OOC: I gotta go, talk to you later. Cheers.

"Two days sounds great, I look forward to it" Cavourna said happily as he imagined the faces of the Imperial Admirals when the Calypso walked up to their front door
OOC: No probs, all the best

"I'll start bringing Communications back online." Said Grey, and he began to access the mainframe and activate basic security and the like. Kovnac walked over to the Alversian crewmembers. "Form up!"

The crew did as ordered, looking clean and disciplined, despite their rough journey. Captain Reynolds fiddled with his own console while Cavourna looked around at the strange techology. None of it looked familiar.

He turned to Krystal "Sounds like Alversians and Xiscapians get on well in this other universe"

Then a rumble and one of the Engineers shouted out
"Shields and weapons back online"

"Excellent, we have firepower" Reynolds chirped cheerfully.

"Mmmm." Krystal agreed. "What kind of weapons does this tub have?"
Grey worked for a few more seconds, then turned around. "Communications online." Kovnac was shouting orders. "Engineers, get to the engine room for an early start! Marines, secure the bridge! The rest of you, do a routine check of your stations systems!"

"Firepower...two phase cannons, fourteen turrets of heavy turbo-lasers and sveral dozen heavy weapons for anti-fighter battles" Reynolds pulled out of his head.

"Whoa! This bird has more power than the entire fleet!" Cavourna said to Krystal "What are phase cannons, I wonder?"

Meanwhile, the surviving Federation crewmembers moved to their stations and prepared to bring the ship underway.

Suddenly, space distorted as two ships dropepd out of hyperspace nearby. They were both Dreadnoughts and bore the emblem of the Imperial fleet. A message was sent out

TO: Unidentified vessel

You ave trespassed on Alversian Imperial Ground and we will fire if you
do not agree to a full boarding.

Captain Ian Lavender
APS Skulgotha

"BATTLESTATIONS!" shouted Kavnoc as the crew scrambled for their stations. Grey looked worried. "We don't have near enough people to make the ship effective in combat. The A.I. can do some, but it needs sentiant guidence. The ship is too unstable to fire the phaser cannons, so we'll have to relie on the heavy turbo lasers." Krystal looked to Reynolds. "What can we do to help?" The Xiscapian Resistance members stood behind her, ready for orders. Kartosh grinned. "I think we can help. Skyler, come on. Let's show them what a modified freighter and two clever smugglers can do." He and Skyler ran for the Star Snake.

"BATTLESTATIONS!" shouted Kavnoc as the crew scrambled for their stations. Grey looked worried. "We don't have near enough people to make the ship effective in combat. The A.I. can do some, but it needs sentiant guidence. The ship is too unstable to fire the phaser cannons, so we'll have to relie on the heavy turbo lasers." Krystal looked to Reynolds. "What can we do to help?" The Xiscapian Resistance members stood behind her, ready for orders. Kartosh grinned. "I think we can help. Skyler, come on. Let's show them what a modified freighter and two clever smugglers can do." He and Skyler ran for the Star Snake.

Reynolds rolled his eyes and looked at Grey, "How much firepower have we got?" He demanded.

Grey thought for a moment, "Enough for one burst sir!"

"Target the nearest Dreadnought! Aim and fire on my mark! This ship has the most effective AI in the universe, it only needs a hundred people to man"

"FIRE!!"

The port phase cannon one burst of three shots.

The first collided with the shields, which held.

The second collided with the shields, this time they flickered.

The third and final shot hit the Dreadnought in the stern and it seemed to erupt into a ball of white flame before disolving. only wreckage was left.

"NOW we man the turolasers! Reynolds shouted, "On the double!"

Cavourna turned to Krystal is disbelief

"That's not possible" he said

Krystal was astonded. "Such firepower..." she breathed. Behind her the Alvo crew and Xiscapian Freedom Corps members ran for the heavy turbolaser batteries. James watched impassively, unimpressed. He had seen better elsewhere. Nevertheless, it was a credit to them...able to destroy a ship centuries behind theirs. Hardly. He snorted. The turbolasers opened fire on the Dreadnought, green bolts flashing towards it at an alarming rate. The Star Snake was already out in space, heading past the flaming ball of wreckage that had been the first Dreadnought to engage the second. There was a flicker of light from the Star Snake, and a tiny burst on the enormous hull of the Dreadnought. Then, suddenly, there was a gigantic explosion on the other side, as the shields failed and armor ripped away in huge chunks. The Star Snake wheeled away among the fire from the remaining guns of the Dreadnought to allow the Calipso's turbolasers to finish the job. Onboard Grey sighed in relief. "The ship has remained stable and unaffected. I guess this tub was more sturdy than I thought." He gave the bunkhead an affectonate kick.

"Right! Status report!" Reynolds called

"Ship unaffected, sir. Shall we continue?" One of the Ensigns asked

"Set a course for Alversia, Warp 13. Let's see how the rest of the fleet copes with this"

"Wait!" Krystal cried.
"We must gather the rest of the fleet. As powerful as this ship is, we will still need ground forces to take the cities and clear out the countryside. Also, you said so yourself, Captain, that more people are needed to make this ship as effective as possible. Wait for just a few days, please." Her yellow eyes pleaded with his.

John looked at her, then shrugged.

"Fine, Ensign, cloak ship and await orders"

"Yes Sir"

There was a faint buzzing, then the ship vanished

"We are now invisible to all scanner and eye contact until I decide otherwise, you could take a planet with this one ship easily. However, if you wish to bring a fleet so be it" John shrugged again.

"Captain, I do not doubt this ship, how could I after what I just saw? I stress the points I made before. With the Calypso now on our side, there is no need for a fleet of attacking ships. Rather, the ships going with you will transport troops, armor, supplies and equipment, or be medical ships for after the fighting. From the shattered Imperial Fleet in orbit our kitsune will decend upon the enemy and crush them with rightious fury that has been denied to them for far too long." Krystal looked at Grey. "Open a communications channel." Grey typed a few seconds and stepped aside. "Comm all yours, Admiral." Krystal stepped up and, after some trial-and-error, was able to patch a message though to the base.
ATTENTION
KRYSTAL AT COORDINATES () STOP SEND ALL TROOPS AND SUPPLIES AND MED SHIPS STOP ASSEMBLE AT ABOVE COORDINATES STOP DOUBLE TIME STOP
Krystal turned around. "They'll be here whithin the hour."

"What exactly have you assembled to fight?" John asked curiously, "How many Dreadnoughts?"

"Um, none" Cavourna admitted, looking around, "No Dreadnoughts"

"What!" John looked at Krystal in surprise "What do you have?"

Krystal sighed. "Right now...two dozen Xiscapian or Alversian Cruisers, a few Battleships from various races, eight carriers, an armful of fighters, patrols and corvettes, a handful of frigates, and a couple Danaversian Barracudas. Oh, and about one hundred transports and half a dozen medical ships. That's it. In battle, on the ground, we could probably win against the Imperials. But to do that we would have to breach their orbital defenses, which we have no chance of doing with the ships we have. Meanwhile the Imperial defense fleet is almost entirely Dreadnoughts."

"Dreadnoughts," John smiled "We can handle, once you're on the ground however, then it's up to you. I would recomend liberating Xiscapia first" he turned to Cavourna "The extra manpower would be useful"

Cavourna shrugged and turned to Krystal "What do you think?" he asked.

"That is why I'm calling the fleet, for ground forces. An orbital ship can only do so much, you know."
OOC: I just found out I can take on 23 five-year-old children in a fight.

"Indeed, shall we proceed?" Reynolds asked politely

OOC: Tell me about it :rolleyes:

Outside about a hundred ships appeared, mostly of Xiscapian make. These were the troop transports. Krystal smiled. "Now we are ready. Let's show those Imperial slugs the power of the Dreadnought."
OOC: NC and I are in the Embassy thread, so the whole colony thing can moke forward again.

Outside about a hundred ships appeared, mostly of Xiscapian make. These were the troop transports. Krystal smiled. "Now we are ready. Let's show those Imperial slugs the power of the Dreadnought."
OOC: NC and I are in the Embassy thread, so the whole colony thing can moke forward again.

"Yes, Let's" John smiled "Ensign! Set a course to Xiscapia, Warp 13!" Reynolds looked around "Actually, make that warp 8, that's the fastest ship of this era yes?"

OOC: I'll be there

"Yes, but you'd better lower that to seven, our ships aren't exactally state-of-the-art." Krystal smiled wanly. "After today we won't need to worry about such things. Today Xiscapia...tommorow Alversia!"

"Right then, Warp Seven, We should be there in a few hours. Do we know what the Fleet of Xiscapia consists of?" Reynolds asked as he typed.

"Krystal dealt with intelligence but last I heard it was between 17-20 Dreadnoughts, wasn't it?" He asked curiously.

"Eighteen, I believe." Krystal nodded. "They won't be a problem as long as you don't try to engage them all at once."

"Now why would we try and do something like that?" Reynolds smiled, "The S-Class is outdated by at least 400 hundred years by this vessel. If your fleet stays clear for a few moments, then we should be able to clear you a path"

OOC: Would you like to RP a few of the Alversian Dreadnoughts?

OOC: Sure, why not? Sounds like fun. :p
IC: "Reynolds," began Krystal mockingly, "I knew you in this universe, and if you are anything like the man I knew I would just know you'd plunge your lone ship straight into combat with over a dozen enemy ships. The scary thing is that you'd probably win, too." She grinned and James and the Resistance members laughed loudly.

The Federation sailors laughed as well and, grinning, Reynolds called out
"Watch this"

APS Scargrill
Xiscapian Orbit

High above the planet, the Scargill was orbiting with the 40 strong Alversian Imperial Fleet. Aboard were several turncoast Xiscapians, acting as Officers. No matter how well brought up a race was, there were always traitors and one of them served as the Captain of the Imperial Flagship for the area.

An Ensign approached her and saluted
"Ma'am, we have reports of the Allied fleet assembling near a small asteroid, should we move to intercept?" he asked.

The Captain snorted. "Pathetic. I will destroy them myself. Move in, engines at full power, get the crews to their stations. Call the Razor and the Tora to run cover for us in case any rebel scum try to escape. Also, launch the fighters and bombers. It's about time they had a little fun."
The monsterious Dreadnought's engines flared as it scooted forward, flanked by two other Dreadnoughts, the Razor and the Tora. Out in front several dozen XX-15s and XX-1(what's Imp bomber name?)s flew out to intercept and destroy. The Captain smiled hungerly at the pitiful Xiscapian fleet, noticing strangly that it seemed to be made up of transports, not a warship among them. No matter. "I may get a promotion for this." She nodded. "Batteries 1 and 2, open fire on my mark."

bump

The Captain snorted. "Pathetic. I will destroy them myself. Move in, engines at full power, get the crews to their stations. Call the Razor and the Tora to run cover for us in case any rebel scum try to escape. Also, launch the fighters and bombers. It's about time they had a little fun."
The monsterious Dreadnought's engines flared as it scooted forward, flanked by two other Dreadnoughts, the Razor and the Tora. Out in front several dozen XX-15s and XX-1(what's Imp bomber name?)s flew out to intercept and destroy. The Captain smiled hungerly at the pitiful Xiscapian fleet, noticing strangly that it seemed to be made up of transports, not a warship among them. No matter. "I may get a promotion for this." She nodded. "Batteries 1 and 2, open fire on my mark."

In a small buzz of a light and the massive bulk of the Calypso appeared, concealing the fleet from view. Before the Dreadnoughts had a chance to act, the Calypso had fired four bursts from her cannons. Three Dreadnoughts exploded in balls of flames.
The other ships turned away and began to spread out as the Calypso fired again and again into the Alversian Imperial fleet.

The Dreadnought had no time to react. The sensors blared, and the huge Alversian Dreadnought appeaed. The Captain barely had time to think Hey! That's not fair! before being obliterated in the ball of fire her ship had become. Elsewhere the Rebel fleet hid behind the Calypso's bulk. They would stay safe there until the entire Imperial Fleet was wiped out, then begin landing troops.

OOC: Bump for Alversia.

The Calypso manouvered easily through the Imperial Fleet, each of which was only a quarter of the size of the Federal Vessel. Each continued to pound with it's ion cannons although a flicker of the shields was their only reward.

Reynolds stood on his combat bridge and shook his head,
"Boy, the S-Class doesn't live to it's reputation" He smiled "Ensign. Status. Shields"

The Ensign, an Alumina, typed a few commands into her console then looked at Reynolds in a bored way
"Shields at 98% and holding, Sir"

"Fire a full spread of torpedos on my mark. Fire!"

The two dozen torpedoes left the ship and spread out over distance like a shotgun blast. Three connected with targets, the Dreadnoughts being thrown from their trajectory as the advanced weapons impacted.

Cavourna, watching because the Technological Advanceness of this ship was confusing to him, leant over to Krystal
"Impressive ship" He whispered.

"I'll say," murmered Krystal back. The Calypso was cutting a swath though the Imperial Navy, like a slowly pushed knife into flesh. Burning hulks were all that remained of those who challenged her. The Resistance fleet stayed in close behind, just far away enough so that they wouldn't be hit by the massive ship's engine exhast. They were dependent on the Federation ship for protection.

The rest of the Imperial Fleet, finally snapped as they turned and retreated from the battle with the Federal Vessel. The crew aboard cheered as the Imperial Fleet retreated to warp, leaving only ruined hulks in her wake.

"Report, Casualties" Reynolds ordered.

"Nine enemy vessels destroyed, Captain. No casualties in return"

Reynolds turned to the two Rebel Leaders and smiled
"Enough of a combat demonstration?" He asked politely.

"You could say that" Cavourna laughed, "The Imperial Fleet won't stand a chance!"

"This ship has awesome power. No ships that I know of can stand up to it." said Krystal. "Do you have a shuttle or transport avaliable? I wish to go down to the surface with my troops. We still have to take the Capitol."
Orbit...
The troops carriers, drop ships, and shuttles began to deploy to the surface, about five miles outside Rio Casa.

OOC: I thought they were still around the asteroid? The fleet moved FROM Xiscapia to the asteroid to engage the rebels?, then again I could be wrong...

OOC: Yes, but judging by the fact that the Imperial Dreadnoughts could intercept the Resistance fleet at sublight speeds suggests that they are very close to Xiscapia. Note I only said deploy, I never said that they were actually there. The troop carriers and such came out from behind the Calypso to Xiscapia's orbit, because I assumed we were close enough to move in at sublight speeds, since the Imperials were. Am I incorrect?

OOC: You're right (I guess)

UFS Calypso

"Well," Reynolds relaxed in his chair, "We've done our bit. Now the rest is up to you"

"We're ready, by god, we are ready" Cavourna muttered as he turned to Krystal, "Time to give the Empire a taste of her own medicine"

"True that." said Krystal, nodding. James strode up to her. "Admiral, the troops are ready to go. We have a combat shuttle waiting. Will you be joining us?" Krystal nodded. "Of course, James. Cavourna," she glanced at him, "would you like to come with?"

"Of course" Cavourna grinned, "I would think of nothing else"

Surface

"ATTENTION! THE CITY IS UNDER ATTACK. ANY CIVILIANS WHO DO NOT RETURN TO THEIR HOMES WILL BE SHOT!"

The Imperial troops rushed through the streets, supported by UAT's and other assorted tanks. The troops of the 12th Legion had been tasked with the defence of Rio Casa and now they were going to fufill their oath to the Emperor.

Inside, Praetor Alhansa, commander of the Legion stood with his Commander in charge of all turncoat Xiscapians. Unsurprisingly, she was a turncoat herself

"Why now? Why attack us now?" He asked in wonder.

Krystal grinned back. "Then let's go." They ran for the shuttle.
Xiscapia, five miles out from Rio Casa...
The first troop ships were beginning to land, unloading troops, vehicles, and equipment. Hundreds of soldiers piled out, all Xiscapian. Ragtag though they were, the Resistance ground forces were in considerably better shape and better trained than their space fleet.
Xiscapia, Rio Casa...
Civilians dropped whatever they were doing and ran for it. All felt joy bubbling in their hearts. The Freedom Corps had come to free them at last! They were careful to show nothing more than fear and apprehension on their faces.
Xiscapia, Streets...
The turncoat, a female named Durth, shook her head. "It is completly illogical. Why attack now, when we are strongest? And how did they slip past the Imperial Fleet?"
In the entire Imperial Army, there was about fifty-seventy turncoat Xiscapians. Scum, oppertunists, seeing that all the power lay with the Alversians, changed sides, turning in their own comrades and helping crush resistance. Every one of them, save for those in the Fleet, were in the 12th Leigon, acting as Officers and Commanders. They were the only ones who could meet an Xiscapian Resistance member head-on with a sword and hope to win. Even the Ninth Leigon had to gang up on a single kitsune with a sword to kill him or her.

Five Miles from the City

As soon as the troops hit the ground, they were fiercely attacked by elements of the 12th, 17th and 21st Legions, thousands of troops, reinforced with massive UAT tanks and fighter support advanced towards the Freedom Ground troops. The men of the Imperial Army were fanatical, intensely loyal and viciously ruthless in combat. They would show no mercy to the Freedom troops.

Rio Casa

Alhansa shook his head as he stared towards the battle
"I don't know how they got past our fleet but I do know they won't get into the city. That's your job," He turned to Durth, "I don't care if you have to shovel Civilians onto their swords, just don't let them into the city!"

Five Miles from the City

As soon as the troops hit the ground, they were fiercely attacked by elements of the 12th, 17th and 21st Legions, thousands of troops, reinforced with massive UAT tanks and fighter support advanced towards the Freedom Ground troops. The men of the Imperial Army were fanatical, intensely loyal and viciously ruthless in combat. They would show no mercy to the Freedom troops.

Rio Casa

Alhansa shook his head as he stared towards the battle
"I don't know how they got past our fleet but I do know they won't get into the city. That's your job," He turned to Durth, "I don't care if you have to shovel Civilians onto their swords, just don't let them into the city!"
Five Miles from city...
The Resistance's own armour was small, tanks and light mechs. But even the Imperials had nothing (that they knew of) which could match a Light Assault Mech. Fast, larger than a soldier but smaller than a tank, quad railguns, a beam cannon powerfiul enough to take a UAT tank apart in a few hits, and an energy sword which could be used to ruthlessly cut down even the heavist of soldiers. There was only five of them, and twenty tanks, backed by three hundred infantry units. Tiny. But the Xiscapians, unlike their Imperial overlords, knew their land, and knew it well. Upon landing the soldiers did not charge, but retreated. A forest lay nearby, and they would melt in the bush as their armour kept the enemy busy. Five mechs and twenty tanks didn't sound like alot, but they were devistatingly effective. The mechs charged full in, shields up, to bull though troops to the tanks. The Hellstone tanks stayed back, firing into the throng. Xiscapian soldiers fired in as they fell back, and HAT troopers watched the skies for fighters, missile launchers ready.

Five Miles from the City

The UAT's were twice the size of an ordinary house, with an armament that could pierce battleship armour and armour herself that most designers could only dream of. This was allied to the fact there were 400 of them in the area. The Imperial Troops did not pursue the Freedom Corps but instead prepared artillery battalions to blast them out into killing zones. In the air, wave after wave, after wave, after wave of fighters, bombers, heavy fighters, heavy bombers, and medium bombers flew in formation for the forests and the small pocket of Xiscapian Troops.

It was at this moment that the shuttle carrying Cavourna and the others landed. Cavourna turned to Krystal
"Permission to lead a detatchment for the coming battle, ma'am"

"Permission granted." said Krystal. "We have massive hostile armour incoming, as well as infantry and fighters. I suggest you take cover."
So now the Freedom Corps unveiled their new weapon: The Portable Air Strike. A shoulder-fired missile laucher, it looked nothing special to the eye. However, it loaded missiles that were so large and powerful they really should be classified as high-yeild warheads. The missiles track air or ground targets, and had a devistating blast area of two hundred feet, four times that of an ordinary rocket. The same went for air units. Deployed was about fifty HATs: Thirty targeted the approaching ground forces, twenty the air forces. The shockwave would spread an area of devistation around the impact point, sending even the mighty UAT's to firey destruction and felling bombers and fighters from the sky like raindrops. To counter the massive Imperial numbers, the Xiscapians had developed the ultimite non-nuclear weapon of mass destruction.

The Imperials suffered heavily from the HAT's however, while thousands of troops were killed and dozens of tanks destroyed along with many fighters being lost, the Imperials still had the advantage of numbers.

The wave after wave of aircraft could only be temporarily stopped by the HAT's, same as the ground forces. The IMperials had not sat back and watched the universe advance without them. They had their own weapons. Unlike the Xiscapians, they were not afraid of damaging the landscape.

Bombers dropped down to deliver a carbonic acid compound, able to burn through armour and skin a like. It was designed to be dropped in liquid form, from that it could spread over vast areas. It was now being dropped in droves on the forest, burning it's trees, it's wildlife and it's occupants.

Cavourna nodded and dashed down to one of the units of Freedom Troops
"Follow me" He said simply, "We're going to give Rio Casa a surprise"

The Imperials suffered heavily from the HAT's however, while thousands of troops were killed and dozens of tanks destroyed along with many fighters being lost, the Imperials still had the advantage of numbers.

The wave after wave of aircraft could only be temporarily stopped by the HAT's, same as the ground forces. The IMperials had not sat back and watched the universe advance without them. They had their own weapons. Unlike the Xiscapians, they were not afraid of damaging the landscape.

Bombers dropped down to deliver a carbonic acid compound, able to burn through armour and skin a like. It was designed to be dropped in liquid form, from that it could spread over vast areas. It was now being dropped in droves on the forest, burning it's trees, it's wildlife and it's occupants.

Cavourna nodded and dashed down to one of the units of Freedom Troops
"Follow me" He said simply, "We're going to give Rio Casa a surprise"
The Freedom Corps were well equipped and armed. Personal shields, glimmering red, blue or green force fields which covered ones person and protected from physical (though not laser or psychic/Force/magic) attacks. The acid splashed on them, and they were unharmed. A few tricks up their sleeves indeed. However, the very landscape was in pain. Grass and trees flamed up in great bursts of light, animals withered and died where they stood.
The unit saluted Cavourna and followed quickly, jogging away from the battlefield. Now more carriers and drop ships were landing, and more mecha and tanks and troops were being unloaded. The tanks on the field were retreating, though they were moving directly away in the opposite direction of the enemy, while the infantry were moving east into the forest. The unit following Cavourna comprised of six troopers: Two females (one sniper, one medic) and four males (HAT, 2 Gunts, SRS). Inside the Imperial Army the five LAM were taking advantage of the chaos caused by the huge PAS explosions to continue to batter Imperial tanks and tear apart soldiers. Two lifted off to engage the fighters with their deadly railguns, beam cannons and energy swords.
OOC:
I added music to almost everyones bio in my FB.

The Freedom Corps may have had personal shields, but even these could not withstand one shot from a UAT and more were now coming over the hill, supported by the 99th Legion. With a roar, they chraged into battle, firing their own railguns and heavy blasters.

In the air, the lighter fighters and bombers dropped away and allowed the heavy fighters, designed specifically to counter the LAM's with heavy armour and devastating firepower, to attack in swarms.

The Freedom Corps may have had personal shields, but even these could not withstand one shot from a UAT and more were now coming over the hill, supported by the 99th Legion. With a roar, they chraged into battle, firing their own railguns and heavy blasters.

In the air, the lighter fighters and bombers dropped away and allowed the heavy fighters, designed specifically to counter the LAM's with heavy armour and devastating firepower, to attack in swarms.
The Xiscapians fired out from the protection of the forest, hidden and watchful. There was many more Imperials than there was Freedom Corps, but this just gave the XFC more targets to choose from. The tanks, from their back position, continued to fire, concentrating on the UATs. The mechs had once again been ignored, and continued to swipe enemy soldiers aside and blast tanks.

Speed was essential. That and accuracy. The fighters and bombers may be fast, and powerful, but the LAM were nimble and agile. They moved unpredictably, there one moment and gone the next. The bombers were frequently in danger of crashing into each other as they kept trying to swarm the mechs in their seemingly random dances. As they moved the LAM picked off aircraft with their railguns and beam cannons, and if one came close enough, their energy swords.

Now the might of the UAT's turned to the Mechs and dozens of them fired at the Mechs to catch them in a crossfire, the Imperial Infantry continued to pound forward even when their losses were severe, they started to shred the very trees themselves with the volume of fire.

Meanwhile, the Alversians brought in their own little surprises, a swarm of LAT's indentical to the Xiscapians but with heavier armour and much bigger weapons. They had been designed and produced from captured Xiscapian models and now the first prototypes went into action with their own repeating railguns and double bladed energy swords.

Rio Casa

Cavourna and his small detatchment had made it to the capital and now they were looking for the HQ of the 12th Legion. If they could track down and defeat the HQ, then there would be nothing to prevent an orbital bombardment from just wiping the Alversian Imperial Army from the map.

Now the might of the UAT's turned to the Mechs and dozens of them fired at the Mechs to catch them in a crossfire, the Imperial Infantry continued to pound forward even when their losses were severe, they started to shred the very trees themselves with the volume of fire.

Meanwhile, the Alversians brought in their own little surprises, a swarm of LAT's indentical to the Xiscapians but with heavier armour and much bigger weapons. They had been designed and produced from captured Xiscapian models and now the first prototypes went into action with their own repeating railguns and double bladed energy swords.

Rio Casa

Cavourna and his small detatchment had made it to the capital and now they were looking for the HQ of the 12th Legion. If they could track down and defeat the HQ, then there would be nothing to prevent an orbital bombardment from just wiping the Alversian Imperial Army from the map.
One mech was caught, once, twice, three times by the tank shells, tearing it apart. The peices bounced and sparked to the ground, the pilot alive no more. The other two still on the ground evaded successfully, and continued to wreck destruction on the Imperial Army. They were very effective, the hills of black-armored bodies and twisted, flaming ruins of UATs were testament to that. The forest was being literally torn apart, and it was time for the Freedom Corps to abandon cover. They split into two groups, one heading further south though the forest, the other moving west and taking the Imperials head-on. The tanks, who had been convenietly ignored due to the mechs, roared out to the Armys now exposed right flank, opening fire with cannons and repeating plasma turrets.

The LAM models had shields, but they were only there to protect the mech from small arms fire and grenades, not energy swords or rail guns. Instantly one mech fell, stabbed with a sword, the pilot skewered. The two ton mech fell into the Imperial Army, killing several soldiers as it's last breath. The other LAM turned to engage the LAT's. Now it was down to pure piloting: The mechs were virtually identical, with the same armor, weapons, shields, speed and strength. The difference was a single Xiscapian LAM vs. at least, from his count, half a dozen LATs. His shoulder and knee mounted railguns continued to target the fighters buzzing around the field, while he took potshots at the enemy mecha with his beam cannon. He used his thrusters to move about though the air, seeing if the enemy would match his movements. Blood dripped from his sword to the ground a hundred feet below. It was just him and them now.
Rio Casa...
The streets were virtually deserted. The little strike team moved with caution, not sure if the next corner would bring safe silence or a platoon of Imperial soldiers. One on one the Freedom Corps were far better fighters, but if the alarm was sounded, it was all over. The Alversians would crush them. "The 12th Leigon," one of the kitsune, a Grunt by his armor, whispered, "is commanded by two: Praetor Alhansa, commander of the Legion, and Durth, commander of all the turncoat Xiscapians in the Leigon. Nearly every Xiscapian on the Imperial side is in the 12th. This won't be easy..."

The Mechs were near identical apart from one crucial factor, the Alversian LAT's were more heavily armed and armoured with the resulting small loss in speed and manouverability, they engaged them in vicious combat, the XFC was withdrawing and attacking similtaneously and now the UAT's, free from the Mechs, now turned their formidable weapons on the Xiscapian Tanks.

In Rio Casa, Cavourna nodded,
"I remember Alhansa, he's old school, easy to predict. I know his strategies inside and out. He'll have deployed the bulk of his troops on the west side to counter an attack from the plains. We need to attack the old palace and take their HQ"

The Mechs were near identical apart from one crucial factor, the Alversian LAT's were more heavily armed and armoured with the resulting small loss in speed and manouverability, they engaged them in vicious combat, the XFC was withdrawing and attacking similtaneously and now the UAT's, free from the Mechs, now turned their formidable weapons on the Xiscapian Tanks.

In Rio Casa, Cavourna nodded,
"I remember Alhansa, he's old school, easy to predict. I know his strategies inside and out. He'll have deployed the bulk of his troops on the west side to counter an attack from the plains. We need to attack the old palace and take their HQ"
The Xiscapian mecha were outnumbered and outgunned, three LAM against six LAT. It had been a long time since any of the pilot's had practiced mech-to-mech combat because they didn't know the Imperials had any mecha. Obviously they had learned, for regular ground troops always took massive casualties whenever there was a mech around. One LAM charged straight in, energy sword blazing, one flew upward, blasting away with it's beam cannon, and the other dropped downward, railguns and beam cannons opening up upward.

The XFC took minor casualties in their charge and took the Imperials head-on. Slashing into close quarters combat was what they were best at. Swords came out and cut forward. Back in the forest snipers settled in for a long marathon of headshots. The tanks began to take losses, three of them destroyed in the first five seconds. The Hellstones were anti-infantry, not made for tank-to-tank combat, and particualrly not with the massive powerhouse UATs. They kept moving, blasting away at the UATs while the gunners kept spraying their repeating turrets into the horde of Imps.
Streets...
One of the females, a sniper with her helmet off, frowned. "The Palace? Then where does the Govenor stay? I heard he was here in Rio Casa."

The LAT's were able to dodge some of the shots and others bounced off their armour, they returned fire or clashed swords, depending on their position within the area.

As for the ground battle, the Imperial centre held firm and it's troops started to slowly encircle the XFC on the flanks, protected by the powerhouse UAT's. They continued to pound the tanks and Infantry while Dive-bombers, now free of interference from the LAM's now started their long dives onto the XFC positions.

Rio Casa

"Probably at the palace as well" Cavourna replied after some thought, "chances are are the Praetor chose the area with the most luxuries as his HQ and that will be the Palace. If we can take it out and get a few volunteers from the people, then we may be able to take the centre of Rio Casa before the perimeter defences can react"

The LAT's were able to dodge some of the shots and others bounced off their armour, they returned fire or clashed swords, depending on their position within the area.

As for the ground battle, the Imperial centre held firm and it's troops started to slowly encircle the XFC on the flanks, protected by the powerhouse UAT's. They continued to pound the tanks and Infantry while Dive-bombers, now free of interference from the LAM's now started their long dives onto the XFC positions.

Rio Casa

"Probably at the palace as well" Cavourna replied after some thought, "chances are are the Praetor chose the area with the most luxuries as his HQ and that will be the Palace. If we can take it out and get a few volunteers from the people, then we may be able to take the centre of Rio Casa before the perimeter defences can react"
The LAT were tough opponets. The single LAM dueled with the other two. Just because he was in a suit a hundred feet in the air didn't mean the pilot was any less proficint with his sword. It just had rather nastier consequences if he failed. The mech shot high, blasting away and avoiding the return fire, and hovered far above, continuely firing. The mech below stopped fast, fired off three blasts from his cannon, and slammed upwards, thrusters on max. The railguns spat bullets at the two mechs and he extended his sword outward, passing them and slashing four times, twice in quick succession for each LAT.

Some Xiscapians were killed by the UAT blasts, but they were too close to Imperial soldiers for the huge battletanks to risk firing. When ever a gap tried to close around them the soldiers would be met by dozens of sniper rounds from the forest and grenades from the troops. The Hellstones were being smashed and tossed into the air from the explosions, helpless to do anything more than return fire weakly. They were down to ten tanks, nine Hellstones destroyed and one on it's back, thrusters flaring pitifully.

Streets...
"We could probably," volunteered the HAT soldier slowly, "start a riot. Our civilians are unarmed, but they vastly out number the Imperial forces. Many would die, but they would be willing for the freedom of their home, and it would be a simple matter for us to take advantage of the chaos and get into the Palace."

The LAT's themselves were tough opponents, the design had already been tested in various uprisings in other parts of the Empire and was currantly in it's MKIIP version, still being proto-types. They were able to dart around as nimbly as the normal LAM's despite weighing considerably more. This was thanks to the more powerful thrusters they possessed which permitted for more manourver heavy Mechs.

On the ground, the UAT's shielded the Imperial Troops from the forest as they continued to advanced in two massive pincers to surround the ruined forests and the survivors the XFC.

The LAT's themselves were tough opponents, the design had already been tested in various uprisings in other parts of the Empire and was currantly in it's MKIIP version, still being proto-types. They were able to dart around as nimbly as the normal LAM's despite weighing considerably more. This was thanks to the more powerful thrusters they possessed which permitted for more manourver heavy Mechs.

On the ground, the UAT's shielded the Imperial Troops from the forest as they continued to advanced in two massive pincers to surround the ruined forests and the survivors the XFC.
OOC: What about Rio Casa?
IC:
The mecha still danced their deadly dance though the air, all apparently untouchable.

At that moment things looked hopeless. The XFC army was about to be swallowed by the maw of the Imperial Army, and there was nothing they could do about it. Then, thank the gods, reinforcements arrived. The first was in the form of a huge Command Mech (http://media.xbox.ign.com/media/627/627861/img_2644729.html) coming down right in the middle of the Imperial Army. The UATs may be the size of a house, but the Command Mech was the size of a skyscraper, and considerably better armed. Thirty two missiles streaked out and slammed into the UATs, and chainguns situated all about it's body opened up on the soldiers below. These were not puny LAM or LAT guns. These were heavy-duty guns designed to be on capital ships, and the rounds ripped though even UAT armor. The two most terrifying things were what was on the end of it's arms: One lauched bombs, the other was a massive chaingun. The bomb laucher fired two bombs alternatively: An explosive "Bunker Buster" bomb for tanks, and a white phosperious bomb for infantry. The white phospherious spread flames over an area, and they burned. And burned. And burned. It could not be put out by water, nor smothered, and it scaled anything it touched and turned it into either a blackened sag of charred flesh or a mountain of molten slag, depending on wether it was biological or mechanical. It fired it's chaingun into the masses, then deployed it's bomb laucher on the areas where the Imperials were concentrated and no friendly forces were in the way. Aside from this another force of troop carriers and drop ships landed and unloaded more troops, another thousand to the fray.
OOC: What are your forces? How many foot soldiers and UATs are there, minus the ones you've lost?

OOC: Am I recieving a less than subtle hint that your losses for this are gonna be minimal?

IC:

The Infantry were now in close combat with the Xiscapians and, as the white phosperos hit them, it hit the Xiscapians as well, most of their personel shields deactivated at this point by the fighting, the UAT's engaged the Command Mech and waited for their Fighters to arrive, delivering the devastating armour-piercing weapons that had destroyed Legions of Mechs more powerful than the Command Mech in front of them.

OOC: Three Legions + Supporting Armour equals about 5,500 Troops engaged with about 850 UATS. That's before losses.

Rio Casa

The first thing Alhansa knew about Cavourna's coup was when his tiny detatchment overwhelmed the Sentries he had left to guard the courtyards and gardens of the palace. More troops rushed out to engage the attackers but they were able to advance regardless
"What's Happening here!?!" Alhansa asked the Xiscapian Turncoat in disbelief

OOC: Am I recieving a less than subtle hint that your losses for this are gonna be minimal?

IC:

The Infantry were now in close combat with the Xiscapians and, as the white phosperos hit them, it hit the Xiscapians as well, most of their personel shields deactivated at this point by the fighting, the UAT's engaged the Command Mech and waited for their Fighters to arrive, delivering the devastating armour-piercing weapons that had destroyed Legions of Mechs more powerful than the Command Mech in front of them.

OOC: Three Legions + Supporting Armour equals about 5,500 Troops engaged with about 850 UATS. That's before losses.

Rio Casa

The first thing Alhansa knew about Cavourna's coup was when his tiny detatchment overwhelmed the Sentries he had left to guard the courtyards and gardens of the palace. More troops rushed out to engage the attackers but they were able to advance regardless
"What's Happening here!?!" Alhansa asked the Xiscapian Turncoat in disbelief
OOC: Are you kidding? Almost all my tanks are gone, and the XFC is being raped by the Imperials. It's three LAM against gods knows how many LAT (was it six?). And my losses are minimal? Okay, I haven't actually RPed them much, but I will.
IC:
If it had looked hopeless before, that was nothing like what it looked like now. Under cover fire from the Command Mech, the XFC fled. They had taken massive casualties, no one had expected the Imperials to respond so quickly. The survivers would regroup with the other half of the XFC to recover and plan their next move.

The LAM broke off, but even as they did a LAM was slammed though the head by a railgun round. The mech fell to the ground far below, the head of the mech and pilot torn apart. The Command Mech lifted off, contiously firing into Imperial forces, and began to fly away. The troops unloading from the carriers reloaded as fast as possible and the ships flew to rejoin the rest of the XFC. The Imperials would be searching for them. They had counted of that damned Dreadnought too much. Now it would take a miracle to liberate Rio Casa...and Xiscapia.
Krystal contacted Cavourna. "It's all over, Cavourna. We've lost nearly half our army and we're on the run. They're too strong...there's too many of them." Krystal's eyes filled with tears and she shook with pain and sorrow and rage. How cruel, to be so close to victory only to have it snatched away from you in a heartbeat.
Palace...
Durth crotched at the window. "XFC soldiers. And..." she stared. "Former Leigon Command Cavourna!"

The Imperial Army had triumphed!

Or so they thought

"Right" Cavourna stated, thinking hard, "We're gonna need more than a liberated Xiscapia to defeat this Empire. We need to strike at her heart. Can you bring a shuttle for us?"

"No need"

It was Reynolds over the intercomm

"Beaming you up now"

A flash of light and they were back on the Calypso with Krystal. Reynolds shook his head
"What happened?" He asked sadly.

Krystal was already there with several XFC members. She just shook her head. "They were too strong. We didn't expect them to attack so quickly, or in such numbers. We were wrong. Our forces have retreated, back to the Alkresh mountains. They will keep hidden until the time is ripe again." Tears were falling, splashing on the deck. One of the XFC officers placed a heavy hand on Krystal's shoulder.
Palace...
The XFC soldiers glanced around in confusion. "Where did he go?" A shadow fell over them. A huge LAT stood over them, weapons powering up. The HAT soldier stared at it. "Oh shit-" A few seconds later the team lay dead on the ground, the mech standing over their bloody, ravanged corpses.
Forest, near the Alkresh mountains...
Troops moved quickly though the woods, jogging. No one seemed to know what happened...except that they had been defeated. James led the force, grim faced but determined. The remaining mechs and ships had reached the mountains and would scout out a place for the XFC to hide. Until they could strike back...if they were not found and all killed at the hands of the Imperials.

"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this" Cavourna sighed, "But it seems we need to revert back to 'Route One', so to speak. We need to blockade the planet and prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching the surface, If we can do that for a few months, we shall see how quickly the Imperials can react"

Reynolds looked reluctant

"We could maintain a blockade for years if we had to, but there is no garuntee that the Imperials will be as badly hit as you suggest..."

"No? Their Fighters and armour rely on a trilicum fuel that is only found on two moons in the Alversian Empire. If we can force them to use up their basic supplies, then we may give the command Mech and the LAM's the advantage again."

Losses for the Battle of Rio Casa
2,102 Imperial Troops Killed
112 UAT's Knocked Out or Disabled
209 Fighters lost

"I had hoped it wouldn't come to this" Cavourna sighed, "But it seems we need to revert back to 'Route One', so to speak. We need to blockade the planet and prevent supplies and reinforcements from reaching the surface, If we can do that for a few months, we shall see how quickly the Imperials can react"

Reynolds looked reluctant

"We could maintain a blockade for years if we had to, but there is no garuntee that the Imperials will be as badly hit as you suggest..."

"No? Their Fighters and armour rely on a trilicum fuel that is only found on two moons in the Alversian Empire. If we can force them to use up their basic supplies, then we may give the command Mech and the LAM's the advantage again."

Losses for the Battle of Rio Casa
2,102 Imperial Troops Killed
112 UAT's Knocked Out or Disabled
209 Fighters lost
"The Dreadnought is certainly powerful enough to blockade indenfinitly," Krystal said, "but if cut off, I can guarentee the Imperials will start killing civilians to make us stop. I can't tolerate any more death or destruction!" She was shaking again, her fists clenched, teeth bared. "Isn't there another world we can take? A colony, or something?"

Losses for the Battle of Rio Casa:
1,638 XFC soldiers killed
20 tanks and three LAM destroyed
Total dead: 1,701
Three LAM escaped
1 Command Mech escaped
2,467 troops escaped
OOC: I have to go eat dinner, I probably won't be back on.

"There is" Cavourna gave an evil smile "Rascorious Prime. One of the moons on which the trilicum fuel crystals are harvested. If it were to fall into our hands, Fuel production for the entire Empire would be cut in half."

Cavourna gave a small laugh, he was reacting to the defeat in the way only a soul blackened to the harshness of death could tolerate,

"If the Imperials were to lose their UAT's and Fighters, there may be a few more Rebellions springing up. We could take the empire apart from the inside out"

"There is" Cavourna gave an evil smile "Rascorious Prime. One of the moons on which the trilicum fuel crystals are harvested. If it were to fall into our hands, Fuel production for the entire Empire would be cut in half."

Cavourna gave a small laugh, he was reacting to the defeat in the way only a soul blackened to the harshness of death could tolerate,

"If the Imperials were to lose their UAT's and Fighters, there may be a few more Rebellions springing up. We could take the empire apart from the inside out"
Krystal grinned. "Sounds good to me. I will need to assemble another army, and that will take some time, but once we are ready, we will begin our assault on Alversian-held worlds."

"Indeed, set a course for Rascorious Prime, Warp 13!" Reynolds ordered, "It would be better if we were to do this without a fleet to hold us back" He grinned.

"Indeed, set a course for Rascorious Prime, Warp 13!" Reynolds ordered, "It would be better if we were to do this without a fleet to hold us back" He grinned.
Krystal looked at him. "You're right. We don't have to worry about capturing the moon, but it would be an asset to secure it for the Resistance. I think it will only take a very small strike force, once we've swept aside their fleet and bombarded them from orbit."

"Very well. If we can assemble a small strike force, then we will begin immediately. The quicker we can move, the less chance the Empire will have to consolidate it's gains" Cavourna stated.

"Very well. If we can assemble a small strike force, then we will begin immediately. The quicker we can move, the less chance the Empire will have to consolidate it's gains" Cavourna stated.
"Would you like to help me pick them out? I'm thinking no more than, say, a hundred soldiers. I left James in command of the reminants of the XFC on Xiscapia, hopefully he won't have to wait long for our return." Krystal grew saddened at the thought. There was a very real possibility that James and the whole XFC army would be hunted down and slaughtered. Or worse, taken prisoner.

"Can we do it en route or will we have to remain in orbit?" It was Reynolds who spoke, "Our scanners have an Imperial Fleet massing nearby, over eighty vessels. We're good, but there's a time to quit and it's now"

Cavourna looked pained
"Krystal, We'll have to take what we've got. There's no time for choices" He concluded.

"Can we do it en route or will we have to remain in orbit?" It was Reynolds who spoke, "Our scanners have an Imperial Fleet massing nearby, over eighty vessels. We're good, but there's a time to quit and it's now"

Cavourna looked pained
"Krystal, We'll have to take what we've got. There's no time for choices" He concluded.
"We can do it "on the run" so to speak. We've already got hundreds of Resistance members on this ship. The rest of the fleet has already covered it's tracks and jumped, I couldn't pick anyone from there even if I wanted to," She stared out the window at Xiscapia below. "I suggest we make haste, Admiral."
May Qonn be with us all.
Good luck...

They travelled at a rapid pace, Cavourna looking over various reports about the members of the resistance. He sighed and shook his head, too much suffering, partly his fault of course.

Then he heard an alarm from the Calypso's bridge and headed up to see what the problem was. He saw a familiar, burning ship.

"An Alumina Warship" He said to no one.

Reynolds nodded in agreement
"Puma-Class Destroyer, crew of 500" The ship was ablaze in most sections and the rest looked badly damaged.

"Any survivors?" Cavourna asked.

"21" Reynolds replied, "Beaming them aboard now"

A small buzz later and 21 Alumina were standing on the bridge of the advanced ship, looking rather surprised.

"Can I have you name?" Reynolds asked.

"Pantheria-Captain Nigripes," One of the females replied, "And you," She whipped out her double bladed sword and held it to Cavourna's throat, "Are an Imperial Scumbag. Why shouldn't I kill you now?"

They travelled at a rapid pace, Cavourna looking over various reports about the members of the resistance. He sighed and shook his head, too much suffering, partly his fault of course.

Then he heard an alarm from the Calypso's bridge and headed up to see what the problem was. He saw a familiar, burning ship.

"An Alumina Warship" He said to no one.

Reynolds nodded in agreement
"Puma-Class Destroyer, crew of 500" The ship was ablaze in most sections and the rest looked badly damaged.

"Any survivors?" Cavourna asked.

"21" Reynolds replied, "Beaming them aboard now"

A small buzz later and 21 Alumina were standing on the bridge of the advanced ship, looking rather surprised.

"Can I have you name?" Reynolds asked.

"Pantheria-Captain Nigripes," One of the females replied, "And you," She whipped out her double bladed sword and held it to Cavourna's throat, "Are an Imperial Scumbag. Why shouldn't I kill you now?"
"Because I would kill you," Krystal had her blade against Nigripe's throat, ready to remove her head from her neck if needed. All the Resistance members were pointing their blasters at the Alumina. "I had the same reaction the first time, too. But he's a traitor, on our side." She stood next to Cavourna with her blade still extended, concentrating on not slipping and cutting the Alumina's throat.
OOC: I'll be back on in a few hours.

It was a stand-off, the lightning fast Xiscapians with their single-bladed Katanas versus the elegant Alumina with their longer double blades. After a few seconds, Nigripes took her sword from Cavourna's throat

"I will trust you for now, Imperial" She spat on the ground. She turned to Krystal
"What is this ship and who are you?"

It was a stand-off, the lightning fast Xiscapians with their single-bladed Katanas versus the elegant Alumina with their longer double blades. After a few seconds, Nigripes took her sword from Cavourna's throat

"I will trust you for now, Imperial" She spat on the ground. She turned to Krystal
"What is this ship and who are you?"
Krystal too lowered her blade. "I am Admiral Krystal, former Admiral of the Xiscapian Navy and now Leader of the Xiscapian Freedom Corps and the general Resistance Navy. This is the," she glanced at Reynolds, "APS Calypso. It is an...advanced Dreadnought. Part of the Resistance."

"Admiral Krystal of the Xiscapian Freedom Corps. Your reputation proceeds you" Nigripes sneered as she looked the Admiral up and down, "And outdoes you, where is the rest of your mighty fleet? The one we have heard so much about?"

Reynolds was staring at the Alumina in disbelief, in his universe, they were strong members of the Federation. In this universe, they seemed to be another region of the Alversian Empire. The Alumina Ensign who was manning tactical was staring at them as though they were an everyday occurance.

"Admiral Krystal of the Xiscapian Freedom Corps. Your reputation proceeds you" Nigripes sneered as she looked the Admiral up and down, "And outdoes you, where is the rest of your mighty fleet? The one we have heard so much about?"

Reynolds was staring at the Alumina in disbelief, in his universe, they were strong members of the Federation. In this universe, they seemed to be another region of the Alversian Empire. The Alumina Ensign who was manning tactical was staring at them as though they were an everyday occurance.
"And your does not," said Krystal coldly, "Where, Alumina, do you think the rest of my fleet is? Hmmm? I'll tell you, since you obviously cannot figure it out for yourself. They are floating in space, dead and burned by Imperial guns. Same as your fleet. Same as all the fleets of the Empire's conquered people."

Nigripes laughed out loud at this statement
"I was referring to the Freedom Fleet. The one that is going to 'liberate us from the Imperial Overlord' of course" She mocked at this point.

'This Nigripes wasn't quite as in control of her emotions as our one' Reynolds thought sombrely. Nevertheless, he stood forward

"Greetings, Pantheria-Captain. I am Captain Reynolds of the Federation Warship Calypso may I..."

"...Federation? What nonsense is this? Is this another attempt to create freedom within an Empire? Pathetic" Nigripes spat these last words. Reynolds looked horrified. It was against the Alumina's highest customs to spit at all.

Nigripes laughed out loud at this statement
"I was referring to the Freedom Fleet. The one that is going to 'liberate us from the Imperial Overlord' of course" She mocked at this point.

'This Nigripes wasn't quite as in control of her emotions as our one' Reynolds thought sombrely. Nevertheless, he stood forward

"Greetings, Pantheria-Captain. I am Captain Reynolds of the Federation Warship Calypso may I..."

"...Federation? What nonsense is this? Is this another attempt to create freedom within an Empire? Pathetic" Nigripes spat these last words. Reynolds looked horrified. It was against the Alumina's highest customs to spit at all.
Krystal mentally decided she did not like this strange being. "There was freedom in our Empire, before. No longer, now we are apart of a larger, more ruthless one," Krystal said for all it was worth. No doubt the cat-thing would have another cynical, arrogant response. "As to the 'liberation from the Imperial Overlords', quite frankly, I haven't seen nor heard of any kind of Alumina resistance. Why, I wonder, may that be?"

She gave a grim smile
"We have better things to do than waste our ships and manpower against an overwhelming enemy. We decided to use our heads rather than our guns. You have yet to learn that lesson" She gave another grim, loud laugh,
"Our fleet waits for the oppurtune moment. Something you have missed."

Cavourna now stood silently behindf Krystal, he decided his link with the Empire would make him a bad choice as negoitator.

She gave a grim smile
"We have better things to do than waste our ships and manpower against an overwhelming enemy. We decided to use our heads rather than our guns. You have yet to learn that lesson" She gave another grim, loud laugh,
"Our fleet waits for the oppurtune moment. Something you have missed."

Cavourna now stood silently behindf Krystal, he decided his link with the Empire would make him a bad choice as negoitator.
Krystal was too angry to speak. Her mouth opened and shut several times but she was speechless. Finally the Xiscapian just shook her head. "What were you doing out there, in that ship? Were you attacked by Imperials?"

Pleased to have silenced her opponent, Nigripes changed the topic
"Yes, we were intercepted by eight Dreadnoughts who then backed off upon seeing your vessel. We suffered heavy damage and most of my crew was killed. However, seeing as you happened to be in the area, you decided to scoop us from our own vessel and bring us to where-ever-the-hell you are going"

Pleased to have silenced her opponent, Nigripes changed the topic
"Yes, we were intercepted by eight Dreadnoughts who then backed off upon seeing your vessel. We suffered heavy damage and most of my crew was killed. However, seeing as you happened to be in the area, you decided to scoop us from our own vessel and bring us to where-ever-the-hell you are going"
Krystal nodded. "If I knew we would get this kind of thanks I may have attempted to contermand the good Admiral Reynolds order to have you beamed aboard." She said it perfectly pleasantly, having regained control of herself once again. The Krystal of this universe had noticibly less patience than the one from which Reynolds and the Calypso had left. At that moment the bridge doors opened and Kartosh and Skyler strode though. "Hey, what's going on-" Kartosh stopped at the sight of Nigripes and the Alumina. "Whoa! New arrivals, I see?"

Nigripes turned to stare at the two new arrivals
"What do you want?" She snapped

Reynolds shook his head in disppear. This universe was so different to his that he was beginning to feel out of place. Maybe it was a similuation? A dream that he stuck in? No. It was real, his shoulders slumped sadly. He hated this world, he despised it. All these people who looked at sounded like the people he had become so close to, but so completely different. Cavourna, the evil general, Krystal, the short tempered admiral and Nigripes, the bitter captain.

Morale amongst the Federation detatchment aboard was at rock bottom, most wanted nothing else to do with this empire and return home. Even the Alumina members of the crew were starting to show signs of depression.

Nigripes turned to stare at the two new arrivals
"What do you want?" She snapped

Reynolds shook his head in disppear. This universe was so different to his that he was beginning to feel out of place. Maybe it was a similuation? A dream that he stuck in? No. It was real, his shoulders slumped sadly. He hated this world, he despised it. All these people who looked at sounded like the people he had become so close to, but so completely different. Cavourna, the evil general, Krystal, the short tempered admiral and Nigripes, the bitter captain.

Morale amongst the Federation detatchment aboard was at rock bottom, most wanted nothing else to do with this empire and return home. Even the Alumina members of the crew were starting to show signs of depression.
Kartosh and Skyler, at least, were exactly the same. Kartosh put his hands up in a defensive gesture, palms out on either side of him. "Hey sister, don't be so ticked-off now. Take a chill pill."
This universe was far different from the one Reynolds and his crew had left, and not for the better. Imperials martching across more planets every month, bitter fighting, a dysfunctional, crumbling Resistance, conqured people being more and more oppressed every day with new laws and harsh taxes. The Korr were stronger than ever and pirates roamed freely without care or consideration for those whom they used to fear. The universe was not a smaller place, it was as big as it ever was...there was just less in it.

"Do NOT tell me to relax" Nigripes responded through gitted teeth, she turned to face Reynolds, towering over him, "You will take us to this sector of space immediately"

"What!?! Hold on one friggin' second," It was Cavourna who protested, "We rescued you from your own destroyed vessel. Since when does that qualify you to mmake decisions?"

"DO not stand in my way, Imperial" She glared at him with her fierce yellow eyes.

"Do NOT tell me to relax" Nigripes responded through gitted teeth, she turned to face Reynolds, towering over him, "You will take us to this sector of space immediately"

"What!?! Hold on one friggin' second," It was Cavourna who protested, "We rescued you from your own destroyed vessel. Since when does that qualify you to mmake decisions?"

"DO not stand in my way, Imperial" She glared at him with her fierce yellow eyes.
Krystal had no idea what sector of space the Alumina was talking about, but it was time for this to stop. "You do not make commands on this ship, Captain," she said softly to Nigripes. "That is Admiral Reynolds job alone, and he make take on advice if he feels it so suits him." Her voice may have been calm and non-threatening, but her stance was anything but. He hand rested comfortably at her side, near the hilt of her katana.

Reynolds looked indecisive

"We have intelligence that will be of great benefit to your 'rebellion' but we must relay it to the Supreme Lioness first" Nigripes explained in her own threatening tone, her own hand was resting on the small of her back, one flick would bring her own weapon into position to battle. Her Crew did the same did Krystal's XFC members.

Reynolds finally snapped

"RIGHT!!! ENOUGH!!! FROM NOW ON, I WANT ALL RESISTANCE MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF POSITION, OF RACE, OF REPUTATION, OFF MY BRIDGE!! NOW!!"

His own crew raised their advanced weaponry and indicated to the door
"Cavourna, Krystal, Nigripes. Remain where you are" He ordered.

Reynolds looked indecisive

"We have intelligence that will be of great benefit to your 'rebellion' but we must relay it to the Supreme Lioness first" Nigripes explained in her own threatening tone, her own hand was resting on the small of her back, one flick would bring her own weapon into position to battle. Her Crew did the same did Krystal's XFC members.

Reynolds finally snapped

"RIGHT!!! ENOUGH!!! FROM NOW ON, I WANT ALL RESISTANCE MEMBERS, REGARDLESS OF POSITION, OF RACE, OF REPUTATION, OFF MY BRIDGE!! NOW!!"

His own crew raised their advanced weaponry and indicated to the door
"Cavourna, Krystal, Nigripes. Remain where you are" He ordered.
The XFC took a glance at Krystal. She nodded and they trooped out, emptying the bridge of Xiscapians. Kartosh leaned against the wall and waved at them as they went past. Krystal remained standing in the same way and place she had before. There was no small amount of grumbling from the XFC members, but they knew better than to mess with either Admiral.
OOC: TG.

Upon seeing the Xiscapians vacate the bridge, the Alumina did the same. Once it was clear, the Federation personnel put away their weapons and returned to their stations.
"Now" Reynolds was calm again, "What is this intel we need to so badly divert for? If you do not tell me, I will not turn around"

Nigripes hesitated for a few moments before sighing, defeated
"We have recieved intel and confirmed through our own reconnissiance that the Empire is building strength on her borders with the Korr Empire. We believe they are about to invade"

Cavourna looked at Nigripes, then Krystal in shock
"What of the Korr Forces on the border?"

"They suspect nothing. The Empire has told them, that they are there for fleet manouvers and the Korr believe them, the fleet is large enough to punch a considerable distance into Korr Space before they can even react"

Upon seeing the Xiscapians vacate the bridge, the Alumina did the same. Once it was clear, the Federation personnel put away their weapons and returned to their stations.
"Now" Reynolds was calm again, "What is this intel we need to so badly divert for? If you do not tell me, I will not turn around"

Nigripes hesitated for a few moments before sighing, defeated
"We have recieved intel and confirmed through our own reconnissiance that the Empire is building strength on her borders with the Korr Empire. We believe they are about to invade"

Cavourna looked at Nigripes, then Krystal in shock
"What of the Korr Forces on the border?"

"They suspect nothing. The Empire has told them, that they are there for fleet manouvers and the Korr believe them, the fleet is large enough to punch a considerable distance into Korr Space before they can even react"
"And why," said Krystal coldly, "should we care about what happens to the Korr? We were at war with them before, and they assisted Alversia in crushing us. So what? Let the Empire add another species to it's collection."
Privately Krystal wondered why the Empire would attack the Korr. The Korr were powerful allies, and even more powerful enemies. While their technology was on par with the Alversians, and they had about the same sized military, they had little to offer for conquerers, and the Korr would likely never dream of trying to destroy those who had helped them in the downfall of the Xiscapian Empire. If would be an extremely hard fight for the Alversians to win, like the Xiscapian war all over again.

Nigripes smiled
"You may not be aware of an event that happened centuries ago, it is one that I think parellels this nicely. It was on a planet known as earth and the event I am referring to is called 'World War 2'. It was a war between all the tribes on the planet. Have you heard of it?"

Cavourna frowned "I've heard of Earth but never, this war"

Nigripes smiled
"You may not be aware of an event that happened centuries ago, it is one that I think parellels this nicely. It was on a planet known as earth and the event I am referring to is called 'World War 2'. It was a war between all the tribes on the planet. Have you heard of it?"

Cavourna frowned "I've heard of Earth but never, this war"
Krystal shook her head. "I have never heard of the war or the planet. Do tell."

"Basically, it was an event known as 'Operation Barbarossa'. An attack by one clan called Germany against another known as the Soviet Union. They started out as equals in terms of technology. But the Soviet Union grew complacient. Behind their backs, the Germans built superior weapons and tactics. When they invaded, they were almost completely conquered, despite having superior numbers. Only the extreme bravery of the Soviet Union prevented their defeat"

She smiled at this knowledge she had picked up

"The Korr and the Alversian Empires may have started out equal in terms of technology, but the Korr have grown lazy. While they maintain their old frontiers and run constant fighter patrols, their weapons are no different than those used ten years ago. In comparison, the Alversians have taken the best from each race and incorporated it into their own armed forces. LAM's from Xiscapia, Phaser weapons from Alumina and counter-plexus aldacore shielding from the Rascorians.

Add this to the fact that the Korr have put pretty much every major capital ship on the surface of this one planet, just inside the frontier. Shields are never raised, weapons are not trained with regularly and the crews have become lazy. The Alversians plan to launch a massive fighter strike against this base. If it succeeds, and it will because the Korr will have no way to resist it, there will be no effective Korr resistance within a space of 200 square lightyears."

Nigripes looked at the others for a reaction
Cavourna just shook his head in disbelief, while Reynolds simply muttered, "Shock and Awe"

"Basically, it was an event known as 'Operation Barbarossa'. An attack by one clan called Germany against another known as the Soviet Union. They started out as equals in terms of technology. But the Soviet Union grew complacient. Behind their backs, the Germans built superior weapons and tactics. When they invaded, they were almost completely conquered, despite having superior numbers. Only the extreme bravery of the Soviet Union prevented their defeat"

She smiled at this knowledge she had picked up

"The Korr and the Alversian Empires may have started out equal in terms of technology, but the Korr have grown lazy. While they maintain their old frontiers and run constant fighter patrols, their weapons are no different than those used ten years ago. In comparison, the Alversians have taken the best from each race and incorporated it into their own armed forces. LAM's from Xiscapia, Phaser weapons from Alumina and counter-plexus aldacore shielding from the Rascorians.

Add this to the fact that the Korr have put pretty much every major capital ship on the surface of this one planet, just inside the frontier. Shields are never raised, weapons are not trained with regularly and the crews have become lazy. The Alversians plan to launch a massive fighter strike against this base. If it succeeds, and it will because the Korr will have no way to resist it, there will be no effective Korr resistance within a space of 200 square lightyears."

Nigripes looked at the others for a reaction
Cavourna just shook his head in disbelief, while Reynolds simply muttered, "Shock and Awe"
"The tactics are sound, but you still have not told us why we should care if the Korr fall. It may even be good for us, one less enemy to fight when we rise again." Krystal was unimpressed.

"Simple" Nigripes replied viciously, "Because when the Imperials have conquered the Korr Empire, where are they going to the put the millions of troops and terns of thousands of ships that are no longer needed? In their colonies, Xiscapia and Alumina amongst others. When the garrison of Xiscapia triples in size, how are you going to free it, mmm?" She asked in a mocking tone, she made it sound like she was lecturing a five year old.

"Simple" Nigripes replied viciously, "Because when the Imperials have conquered the Korr Empire, where are they going to the put the millions of troops and terns of thousands of ships that are no longer needed? In their colonies, Xiscapia and Alumina amongst others. When the garrison of Xiscapia triples in size, how are you going to free it, mmm?" She asked in a mocking tone, she made it sound like she was lecturing a five year old.
Krystal snorted. "The Korr would not join the Imperial side as soldiers, and the Korr ships are outdated compared to the Imperial ships, only a Korr Supercapital can match them. But your point is taken. Korrilia has a vast amount of resources at it's disposal. The question is, how do we go about making sure these do not fall into Imperial hands? The Korr will never knowingly cooperate with us, at least not most of them. And, despite this Dreadnought's power, it is only one ship. It can't stand up to a truly massive fleet. We must make for our destination, as quickly as possible. Starved for resources, and fighting the Korr, the Imperials will weaken. A swift, hard blow to the Xiscapian garrison will secure the planet."

Nigripes sighed in frustration
"Narrow minded fools" She muttered, "You think only of yourselves. The Empire needs to weaken no garrisons for this mission. You have been defeated by them once before and I can assure you, they will do it again."

Nigripes started to pace up and down

"We need to return to the Supreme Lioness. We have assembled a small fleet of our own Warships along with several others from the various conquered peoples. We can open a second front against the Empire and divide it's forces. ONLY at the oppurtune moment" She snapped.

"And when I said soldiers, I meant the millions of ALVERSIAN troops they have assembled along the border to take the empire. Once the Korr have been conquered, there will be no need for them to remain on the frontier. They will start to reinforce garrisons under threat. Such as Xiscapia"

Nigripes sighed in frustration
"Narrow minded fools" She muttered, "You think only of yourselves. The Empire needs to weaken no garrisons for this mission. You have been defeated by them once before and I can assure you, they will do it again."

Nigripes started to pace up and down

"We need to return to the Supreme Lioness. We have assembled a small fleet of our own Warships along with several others from the various conquered peoples. We can open a second front against the Empire and divide it's forces. ONLY at the oppurtune moment" She snapped.

"And when I said soldiers, I meant the millions of ALVERSIAN troops they have assembled along the border to take the empire. Once the Korr have been conquered, there will be no need for them to remain on the frontier. They will start to reinforce garrisons under threat. Such as Xiscapia"
Krystal opened her mouth but it was Kartosh who spoke this time.
"Surely you don't think you can succeed when the Resistance has failed? What, pray tell, do you feel is stopping the Empire from doing to your assembled fleet exactly what it has done to every other fleet in the galaxy? Rebellions gain nothing by dividing their forces, only defeat. The Imperials will need no division of ships or soldiers to destroy what you have. This war cannot be won by attacking the enemy directly. Secrecy is needed. Assassinations, destroying or taking supply areas, sabotage...even if all of the conquered peoples combined as a whole to challenge the Empire, they would still lose. The fleets and armies of the Alversians are simply too large and well trained to be brought down by force. So we need to take them apart from the inside-out," He nodded. "And besides, if the destruction of resources and raw materials vital to the Empire does not constitute a oppurtune moment to you, what does?"

Nigripes seemed to be fiddling with her claws during this speech but at the end of the speech she looked up
"What strike is this?"

"You mean no one told you?" Cavourna asked in mock sympathy, "We were planning to strike at one of the key mines of Alversian fuel..."

Immediately, Nigripes expression turned to one of anger

"...and you thought this unimportant until now! Why did you try and keep us in the dark? Not trust us? Fine. Give us an escape pod and we'll get back to the Supreme Lioness ourselves!"

"Wait," Reynolds felt as though his head was about to explode, "You are technical masters are you not?" Nigripes had no arguement to that, "Then stay with us. We can send a scrambled transmission to your fleet that won't be detected or traced by the Empire. What do you say?"

"I suppose there needs to be some common sense around here" She grunted.

Nigripes seemed to be fiddling with her claws during this speech but at the end of the speech she looked up
"What strike is this?"

"You mean no one told you?" Cavourna asked in mock sympathy, "We were planning to strike at one of the key mines of Alversian fuel..."

Immediately, Nigripes expression turned to one of anger

"...and you thought this unimportant until now! Why did you try and keep us in the dark? Not trust us? Fine. Give us an escape pod and we'll get back to the Supreme Lioness ourselves!"

"Wait," Reynolds felt as though his head was about to explode, "You are technical masters are you not?" Nigripes had no arguement to that, "Then stay with us. We can send a scrambled transmission to your fleet that won't be detected or traced by the Empire. What do you say?"

"I suppose there needs to be some common sense around here" She grunted.
Krystal sighed warily. She knew leading the Resistance would take a lot of sweat, blood and tears, but she'd never expect any of this...
"Okay...okay. Let's just go do what we came here to do. No more arguments, please. Lest someone kill someone else."
Kartosh sighed. Once again, he'd managed to set off an uproar. He seemed to be doing that a lot lately...

Nigripes left the bridge immediately to rejoin her crew. Cavourna did the same, leaving only Krystal and Reynolds as leaders on the bridge.
"Admiral Krystal? May I speak to in the Ready Room?" He indicated to the office next to the bridge. When he entered, His First Officer, an Alumina did the same.

"Admiral," Reynolds looked like he was trying to find the right words to explain his emotions, "We will go with you as far as the facility. We will help you destroy it. Then we will rendezvous with one of your vessels and you can get off there."

He realised he hadn't actually said what he was doing
"We're leaving. I've had enough of this universe. The crew has had enough of this universe. I can't stay here any longer"

Nigripes left the bridge immediately to rejoin her crew. Cavourna did the same, leaving only Krystal and Reynolds as leaders on the bridge.
"Admiral Krystal? May I speak to in the Ready Room?" He indicated to the office next to the bridge. When he entered, His First Officer, an Alumina did the same.

"Admiral," Reynolds looked like he was trying to find the right words to explain his emotions, "We will go with you as far as the facility. We will help you destroy it. Then we will rendezvous with one of your vessels and you can get off there."

He realised he hadn't actually said what he was doing
"We're leaving. I've had enough of this universe. The crew has had enough of this universe. I can't stay here any longer"
"Admiral...I don't know how to tell you this..." Krystal bit her lip. "It may not even be possible for you to go back. What happened was a fluke of nature. If you tried again you'd probably just end up killing yourself and destroying your ship. And even if you did manage to get to another universe, it would be nearly impossible to get back to the one you started from."

"My crew would be willing to die in the attempt" Reynolds muttered from his desk. Compared to what he had looked like when he first come out of stasis, Reynolds was a mess. He looked as though he hadn't slept in months, and he hadn't.
"Lieutenant Commander Caracal here believes that if we return to the same spot we entered and if we match our engines to the same power output from when they entered, we have 39% chance of returning"

He held his head in his hands on the desk

"This world is too much, Krystal. Too much is different. I am looking at three of my closest friends ruin my memories of them by their actions. Cavourna would never be so calmly dismissive about a defeat, Nigripes would never have raised a weapon against an Alversian. And you," He looked at her, "You would never have raised your weapon against Nigripes. Then there's all these stories of slaughters and massacres carried out by Alversian troops in the name of Trezan Baxtor! I can't live with this. The crew can't live with this"

"My crew would be willing to die in the attempt" Reynolds muttered from his desk. Compared to what he had looked like when he first come out of stasis, Reynolds was a mess. He looked as though he hadn't slept in months, and he hadn't.
"Lieutenant Commander Caracal here believes that if we return to the same spot we entered and if we match our engines to the same power output from when they entered, we have 39% chance of returning"

He held his head in his hands on the desk

"This world is too much, Krystal. Too much is different. I am looking at three of my closest friends ruin my memories of them by their actions. Cavourna would never be so calmly dismissive about a defeat, Nigripes would never have raised a weapon against an Alversian. And you," He looked at her, "You would never have raised your weapon against Nigripes. Then there's all these stories of slaughters and massacres carried out by Alversian troops in the name of Trezan Baxtor! I can't live with this. The crew can't live with this"
"You'd better hope your Lieutenant Commander knows what he's talking about," said Krystal with a quick glance at the Alumina. "As to my actions, I did what I had to. We are not the same people you left, whoever they are. The Alversians of this universe are obviously not the Alversians of yours. Nothing is the same."

"That's my point exactly! Try to imagine it from my perspective" He sighed

"I'm 98 years old, alright? Middle-aged Alversian. For those 98 years, I have walked though the same streets, talked to the same people and fought with the same allies. Now here I am, I've known Admiral Krystal for most of my professional life. You are standing there. You look like her, you sound like her. You even hum in the same way! Yet I have to keep telling myself you are not my Krystal! Same with Cavourna, one of my closest collegues and Nigripes, one of the key senators in the Federation. Everyone and everything I look at is the same but different. It's tearing me apart"

He let out a sob

"It's tearing us apart. I've had three suicide attempts amongst my crew already and I don't know to stop it! When everything was fine it was great. You acted the same way that my Krystal would. But now, when the cracks appear..."

He shuddered,

"...what am I to do? In my world, I would look to one my friends for support but..."

He looked her desperately, "...I don't know my friends. They are not my friends even when my mind screams that they are identical"

"That's my point exactly! Try to imagine it from my perspective" He sighed

"I'm 98 years old, alright? Middle-aged Alversian. For those 98 years, I have walked though the same streets, talked to the same people and fought with the same allies. Now here I am, I've known Admiral Krystal for most of my professional life. You are standing there. You look like her, you sound like her. You even hum in the same way! Yet I have to keep telling myself you are not my Krystal! Same with Cavourna, one of my closest collegues and Nigripes, one of the key senators in the Federation. Everyone and everything I look at is the same but different. It's tearing me apart"

He let out a sob

"It's tearing us apart. I've had three suicide attempts amongst my crew already and I don't know to stop it! When everything was fine it was great. You acted the same way that my Krystal would. But now, when the cracks appear..."

He shuddered,

"...what am I to do? In my world, I would look to one my friends for support but..."

He looked her desperately, "...I don't know my friends. They are not my friends even when my mind screams that they are identical"
"John, John..." said Krystal soothingly. The man in front of her was nothing like she had known, but that didn't matter. The John in this universe was dead. She sat him down and slung an arm over him. "You need to calm down," she said softly, seriously. "You are facing something no other Alversian in history has faced before. Your crew needs you. The last thing they need is for you to go to peices. Concentrate on the moment, John. Not the past or the future. There is only now. Your goal, nay, your mission is to get home. Look only to that. Stop noticing. You are too observant. Forget what you see, remember what you knew. It's all right." It's wasn't, but he had to believe it was, or he would destroy himself with worry, guilt, confusion and fear. "You don't have to stay, you know. You can go know, you we'll find some other way..."

Reynolds managed to get a grip of himself
"No," He stood up from his desk, "No, Alversia has been corrupted in this universe and her existance is an insult to the billions of Alversians who have died for freedom. We stay and we fight" He said this with steely determination, the memories of his friends were replaced with the memories of sacrafices made by Alversians many times over for freedom. By looking solely on this, he was able to see clearly
"Our own needs can wait until the Empire has been destroyed and the Republic given a chance"

Reynolds managed to get a grip of himself
"No," He stood up from his desk, "No, Alversia has been corrupted in this universe and her existance is an insult to the billions of Alversians who have died for freedom. We stay and we fight" He said this with steely determination, the memories of his friends were replaced with the memories of sacrafices made by Alversians many times over for freedom. By looking solely on this, he was able to see clearly
"Our own needs can wait until the Empire has been destroyed and the Republic given a chance"
Krystal nodded silently. This was the John she knew. "I'm glad you could come to your senses. At the moment we need to continue our mission. It is far too late to end the war or occupation quickly, right now we're just trying to end it. And the first step is those fuel mines."

"Indeed, how far are we from the Mines, Caracal?" He asked his First Officer.

The Alumina replied instantly
"Four hours and thirty-eight minutes, Captain" He replied in his deep voice. His fur was a dark grey and his eyes a bright green. Like Nigripe he had a double sword across his back but unlike Nigripes he did not seem arrogant or detrimental

"Excuse me, I will retire to my cabin and try to get some sleep. Lieutenant Commander, you have the Bridge"

"Sir", Caracal saluted as Reynolds left the bridge. He then turned to face out the bridge's forward window. He said nothing for a few moments, then,

"I must apologise for Pantheria-Captain Nigripes comments and actions earlier. She does not represent my people" He stated, still looking straight ahead.

"Indeed, how far are we from the Mines, Caracal?" He asked his First Officer.

The Alumina replied instantly
"Four hours and thirty-eight minutes, Captain" He replied in his deep voice. His fur was a dark grey and his eyes a bright green. Like Nigripe he had a double sword across his back but unlike Nigripes he did not seem arrogant or detrimental

"Excuse me, I will retire to my cabin and try to get some sleep. Lieutenant Commander, you have the Bridge"

"Sir", Caracal saluted as Reynolds left the bridge. He then turned to face out the bridge's forward window. He said nothing for a few moments, then,

"I must apologise for Pantheria-Captain Nigripes comments and actions earlier. She does not represent my people" He stated, still looking straight ahead.
"She represents the Alumina of this universe, not yours. Should she wish to apologise, she may do so. She is not associated with you, nor you her, except by species. Do not apologise for her please, Lieutenant Commander." Krystal nodded. She had found Nigripes attitude and actions disgusting, but she would not voice such in front of Caracal.

"I am aware that she did behave towards you and the Admiral...General" Caracal corrected himself, "rather disgusting, it was a very dominant thought at the time, but I decided not to intervene." He still did not look at her
"It is disconcerting to know that if our planet were ever to fall, this is how we would react" He mentioned this in the same way that one might talk about the weather, "This is a fascinating universe"

"I am aware that she did behave towards you and the Admiral...General" Caracal corrected himself, "rather disgusting, it was a very dominant thought at the time, but I decided not to intervene." He still did not look at her
"It is disconcerting to know that if our planet were ever to fall, this is how we would react" He mentioned this in the same way that one might talk about the weather, "This is a fascinating universe"
"No one takes the defeat of ones military and oppression of ones people well. But..." She stared at him. "Did you say dominant thought? What do you mean by this comment?"

Caracal sighed and shook his head at Krystal's ignorance. For all their differences, there were some traits the Alumina would never shake off. But while Nigripes had lashed out sarcastically at the group, Caracal made it sound more like a teacher advising a student
"My people are telepaths. We have the ability to read the minds of those around us. When you and Patheria-Captain Nigripes were conversing, the distinct impression I got from your thoughts was disgust. The Patheria-Captain's most dominant thought was one of desperation. She wanted to get the information back to the Supreme-Lioness. She was afraid of failing her people. As are you. It is your dominant thought at this moment, is it not?"
Still he stared straight ahead.
"It is," Krystal said slowly. "Is it a passive ability, or can you control it? What is the extent of your abilities?" She was getting excited. The possibilites were endless! Spying, sabotage, information gathering, all easily obtained without needing to intterogate anyone or hack any files.

Caracal sighed and shook his head at Krystal's ignorance. For all their differences, there were some traits the Alumina would never shake off. But while Nigripes had lashed out sarcastically at the group, Caracal made it sound more like a teacher advising a student
"My people are telepaths. We have the ability to read the minds of those around us. When you and Patheria-Captain Nigripes were conversing, the distinct impression I got from your thoughts was disgust. The Patheria-Captain's most dominant thought was one of desperation. She wanted to get the information back to the Supreme-Lioness. She was afraid of failing her people. As are you. It is your dominant thought at this moment, is it not?"
Still he stared straight ahead.

"I can control it but you overestimate the abilities of my mind," He replied, "I can only see currant thoughts. Memories and emotions are outside of my cranial capacity in this stage of evolution" Caracal was still not looking at Krystal and seemed to be getting bored with the conversation, another shared trait with his alternate counter-parts.
Krystal frowned. "So are there mental defenses one can construct to defend against such? It is...kind of disturbing."

"It is," Krystal said slowly. "Is it a passive ability, or can you control it? What is the extent of your abilities?" She was getting excited. The possibilites were endless! Spying, sabotage, information gathering, all easily obtained without needing to intterogate anyone or hack any files.

"I can control it but you overestimate the abilities of my mind," He replied, "I can only see currant thoughts. Memories and emotions are outside of my cranial capacity in this stage of evolution" Caracal was still not looking at Krystal and seemed to be getting bored with the conversation, another shared trait with his alternate counter-parts.

Krystal frowned. "So are there mental defenses one can construct to defend against such? It is...kind of disturbing."

"There are defences against our abilities but they require months of intensive mediation and physical punishment to instill the correct amount of discipline. In my experience most just try to think of more mundane or less-savory images"

He gave a small smile,

"There is no need to panic Admiral, I cannot see your most cherished memories unless they are in your currant thoughts. Doctor Landsey of the Federal Academy was one of the few who mastered the mental discpline needed. He was of your people"

"There are defences against our abilities but they require months of intensive mediation and physical punishment to instill the correct amount of discipline. In my experience most just try to think of more mundane or less-savory images"

He gave a small smile,

"There is no need to panic Admiral, I cannot see your most cherished memories unless they are in your currant thoughts. Doctor Landsey of the Federal Academy was one of the few who mastered the mental discpline needed. He was of your people"
"Tell me," her eyes teared slightly, "what is it like? Life in this Federation? What are the Alversians really like? The Alumina? The Xiscapians?" It was almost cruel to tell her, a universe she would never see, never know, a perfect place as it sounded. But she had to know. If it happened there, peace could be possible here, too.

Caracal hesitated slightly, he knew the mental repercussions of telling her what a perfect universe would be like for her. But she had a right to know. If she wanted to risk it, then he could not stop her knowing.

He sighed

"The Alversians are far from the Imperial warhounds they appear to be in this system. Quite the opposite, in fact, they have fought hundreds of wars to protect the freedom of smaller, less capable races. Over 1 million of them sacraficed themselves to protect Alversian from a Korr invasion that would have heppened three years ago in your timeline. They are a noble race who only want what's best for their own people and those around them.

The Xiscapians are equally and noble and a strong people, filled with strong headed people. As part of the Federation, they contribute ships, crew and expertise to the Federation and maintain it from day to day. The Xiscapian people are loyal, extremely courageous under fire and ready to die for their beliefs.

The Alumina were a...difficult member to recruit into the Federation. It took some persuading before the Supreme Lioness acknowledged that it would be best for her people. Since those days, our own security situation, which has always been precarious, has been solved by the help from the Federation. We like to think of ourselves as objective, detatched from emotion and fiercly loyal to our friends. We would hold the Xiscapian amongst our highest friends"

He broke off at this point, talking about home was starting to depress him and he needed to remain objective during these next few hours.