NationStates Jolt Archive

Anik shoed Ari into the V-R room and kept the young ones outside, they would watch and learn. The V-R room came to life as Ari was in an area of a city block of a N-K world, this was used because it was taken from one of the young ones heads. There many people walking around. Anik used his link to inform her " This is a N-K base, no doubt it seems familar, your mission is to kill the colonle by any means neccessary, do to realism your still a Lt. and you carry a side arm" he said, seeing as she did have N-K small arms weapon.

Ari did recognise that part of Kirisubo Primus and Neo-Edo having grown up round there.

She did find the VR room had given her a N-K hand phaser which rested in a holster on her left hip. She nodded hearing the mind link and the mission begun as she appeared to the holographic people to be in fleet uniform again with an honour blade.

So the mission began as she entered the defence forces base. These were scattered all round the major cities and the twin homeworlds.

A N-K Sgt. stoped her in her tracks " Rank and identification." he looked at her, his hand resting on his phaser.


OCC: Im not quite positive on how your culture reacts so i will try my best.

Ari showed the male guard an identification card which was taken of her and inserted into a reader.

She also recited "Lt Ari Susato, Exploration fleet" in her own language adding her serial number.

The picture on the card did match her face and she had gotten all the information on the card right. An eye scan followed and this matched up with her fleet records.

The guard bowed and let Ari through also returning the card. Her firearm wasn't taken of her since it routine for an officer to wear a phaser.

ooc: I've got a fact book now so this will help
http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=13551887#post13551887

N-K military personall were busy about, mostly women were in the base, seeing there was only one male to every nine females, they seemed to be the dominant of the genders. She was left alone, little did the base know, she was a Allianec insurgent.

She already knew the face of the defence force Colonel she'd have to kill but didn't arouse suspicion.

Naturally this Colonel was a woman but she made it look as if she was checking something in the computer archives on this visit. Exploration fleet personnel came and went all the time.

It would take time to find her but she knew from a mind link a lot about her already.

So not finding her in the archives she got some green tea in the canteen and sipped her tea waiting. She couldn't wait too long until her search resumed although.

Defence force people generally wore the same uniform style only in all red for space borne personnel and a dark green for ground based people.

Given the heat of this time of year it was usually a light jacket, knee length skirt and a white blouse for office based officers.

Anik smiled at her attempt to drink green tea " Mam Lt. things are about to get uncomfortable." Alarms could be heard through out the base as two Contact fighters strafed a portion of the base, beams could be heard outside the base Alliance marines were showing up, a group of three hundred Alliance Marines had begun engaging the N-K forces. Anik began to talk again " Lt. Ari we have just landed an attack force, a new mission objective has began, you are to kill the colonle and disrupt the defenders of the base, in the choas it should be easier to fire on them, try not to be seen shooting any N-K.

Ari nodded and acted as if she was reacting to the alert.

Was this the future of her people? If they'd face war on their doorstep some day so be it.

With the distraction of the attack her job would be easier since the defence force people had enough to worry about outside.

Then she spotted the green uniformed officer who had the hand phaser holstered even now as she made her way on her own to a communications room. She would co-ordinate things there as the battle raged outside.

So Ari followed discretely, the chaos being enough cover in itself. Killing the Colonel wouldn't cripple the defence since N-K officers were expected to take command if it filtered down to them or they were cut of from orders.

It would however hinder the efforts a little and sow a bit of suspicion as she set her phaser to stun.

A N-K sqaud was running until a Contact fighter chewed them up with plasma-rays, they ran and the energy weapons passed through and dismemberd exploding flesh and bone over there comrades. Explosions could be heard around the base as Battlecars mortored plasma rockets into the base, sending people flying, phasers could be heard passing through Alliance marines, screams filled the airs, showing the brutality of war. A physco battle tanks ray cannon passed through building, leaving a glowing blue hole, and a body that was cut in half like butter. Leaders on both sides were shouting orders.

OCC: Xscapia this is a virtual reality simulation.

Yet this Colonel was calmly running things from a communications room as a window blew out and showered Ari with glass. She was slightly cut but that wouldn't stop her.

It was so easy to silently move up behind the woman and shoot her at close range on stun. Then she raised the setting and finished her off the kill complete and the noise wasn't even heard over the fighting.

Now she had to pick of individuals and fight on the inside. Officers would be the best targets but even a basic defence force private had some initiative.

The noise was almost deafining, the explosions intense, some soldiers soiled themselves from the shell shock, as was the reality of war. A N-K looked in the sky, and turned her mouth opend wide as she yelled " INCOMING!!!", a solar bomber had began carpet bombing the base with bio-bombs. The N-K's yell was met by a plasma-ray passing through her head, her eyes stayed open as she fell to her kness, then face first into the pavement. A group of marines had enterd the compound but were quickly torn apart by phasers passing across and into there ranks, there screams added to nightmare. More marrines were being beamed down, along with equipment. Even the wild life was being torn apart by thunderstorm of the battle.

Ari kept moving through the base picking of defenders as she went being very careful not to be seen firing at her own people. This took patience but she was calm and she had time.

She also had to dodge a lot of the results of her own sides fire as roofs started to cave in as the battle led her deeper into the base.

Seeing a squad fight Alliance marines she send a mental signal to them before opening up on the five woman squad. They never even seen it coming and she picked up a phaser rifle one had dropped. Not that they were dumb. You just never expected your own side to shoot you.

So she went deeper looking for what used to be her people as the Alliance marines advanced.

Civilians were also being mowed down as more defence force reinforcement shuttles arrived. These carried more combat troops and Ari moved upwards looking for a window to shoot from.

Encircled N-K squads were commiting honorable suicide as they were being cornerd, the imitators had sufferd a casualty rate of one thousands soldiers so far, but the fleet in orbit kept coming. A battlecar rocket impacted a shuttle sending flaming N-K's hitting the ground. More shuttles opend up and more N-K's came out firing and swinging fists. A Alliance marine was opening up on a barricade when a NK snapped his neck from behind, dropping him, twitching.

Ari did find a window to snipe from and picked her targets with care. Mainly N-K officers, the chaos giving her a lot of cover. She also opened up on full auto on a defence force squad that was disembarking before she ducked down and away from her sniping window.

She was sure she'd hit a few of them but the news that there was a sniper on the loose would keep them watching their backs and uncertain. So she moved to a new window after checking she was still clear behind her.

"Name, rank and serial number, quickly."
The scientist cowered at the Imitator's feet. "Please, ah, I'm not a soldier, I'm just a scientist, a non combatant, don't hurt me!" he cringed.
Plains...
Sanderson nodded grimly. "Whatever it is, it seems it can just pick and choose when to possess you or not. When you are taken a voice like that of a god comes from you, and I tried to grab you once, and you took me off my feet." he shook his head.

Ari's efforts were helping the attack force greatly, as opening in the base appeard and Alliance Marines were pouring in by the dozens. The N-K forces were fighting bravely, but they were fighting a losing battle, they were simply being overrun, there honroable skills in battle were not overlooked. The Amazon fighting spirit that had become a part of the Alliance. The base was now surrounded and there were only a few pockets of resistance left. A phaser came out of the sky and impacted the base erasing everything from existance, the V-R room shut off and Anik replyed " You have done well, but that can happen at times, you must be prepared that you can die for the greater good."

Patterson grabbed the scientist by his jacket and looked at his kitsune features " What's your name, I dont think we will ask you again."

The scientist flinched, leaning his head as far away from Patterson as he could. "Names Oan," he mumbled, hand casually drifting to the hilt of his katana.

Ari found her holographic weapons vanish and her own sidearm was still in its holster again.

"A sniper will always cause trouble in urban warfare but they tend to have a short lifespan" she replied knowing her own mortality only to well. Her memories had been returned to her and she knew she'd fought the Alliance the same way in a similar futile but honourable action.

Resistance really was futile in the long run.

Commander Patterson still held him as Anik walked behind Oan " That's a dangerous move your making Oan." Anik, the reptilian Balderian reached out with his muscular chrome-chain mail arm and grabbed Oan's hand with great force, squeezing tightly.

Maker had replaced Anik at the virtual reality room, and he told the young ones that they were going to meet an Xscapian, as was Ari for the second time, Maker talked to Ari " We got another one, as you might have heard, he looks like a scientist, could be very important, lets go."

"I...I what?" Rose looked over Sanderson in disbelief. She doubted she could even bruise him, let alone knock him off his feet,
"I want off this planet," She said looking around, "I want as far away as I can before that thing comes back. We need to get out of here!" She shouted the last words a little louder than she meant to.

---
Orbit

The Armorai approached the Imitator blockade, slowly, carefully. Her shields were raised to full and she was on Red Alert. The crew waited nervously, they knew something was gonna happen and they knew Denison had not liked it.

Indeed, he had not liked it. This gamble was putting his entire crew at risk, but he couldn't just let Rose stay down there and become one of them. No chance of that. The APN had given all Captain's authority to use whatever action they thought necessary to avoid or defeat the Imitators. Denison was reluctantly using that authority now.

As he descended down to the Imitator's orbit, he sent out a hail,

This is the Alversian People's Warship Armorai
calling for a temporary ceasefire with the Imitator Alliance.

The rest of the fleet answerd the hail in unison as Patterson was busy. They hailed back in a peacful tone.

" We agree to the temporary ceasefire of the following factions " Alversians People's Republic" and the said "Alliance of Imitated Worlds". Proceed with caution."

"Then lets meet him. I wonder if he'll know more than the last Kitsune we had up here" Ari replied confidently sensing the ceasefire being agreed as she spoke.

Today certainly was eventful as she wiped a little sweat of her brow despite the chill in the ship.

Maker and Ari walked in to see the Xscapian talking with Patterson, he appearantly was being disarmed by Colonle Anik, he certainly did look like a scientist, with his white suit.

Oan yelped as the thing grabbed him, his hand whipping away from his sword. "Ahh, ahh, okay, okay, point taken," he said though gritted teeth.
Plains...
"Shh!" Sanderson looked around wildly. Dusk was upon them and twilight lit the plains in an orange glow as the sun sank below the horizon. Soon it would be night. "Don't speak so loud! There's still Imitators, and those," he pointed back to the forest, struggling to find the right words for the Hoplites, "things, out there."
Orbit...
The Inescapable approached behind the Armorai , covering her in case things got nasty. Her guns were pointed at the Imitators in a mute but undeniably menacing statement.

UNFORGIVEABLE

Anik let Oan have the blade he possesd, simply proving a point. Patterson walked around Oan in a circle " Do you have any idea who you are dealing with Xscapian, your ship approaches along with your allys, we decided to let them go into orbit, no doubt to save there freinds, I ask you one thing, we can easily convert you right now, without your consent. So I ask you, in the name of science, stay with us for awhile, we will return you to Xscapian lines, if not you can leave right now."

Orbit

The fleet had all of its firepower divided onto the two vessles, they were easily capable of decimating them in a firestorm of fire.

Ari could 'see' what the rest of the fleet could 'see' as the ships approached the blockade under truce.

This certainly was a scientist and he looked nervous. Ari turned her cold look onto him as her dark eyes bored into him as she approached Patterson.

Before Rose could say anything, there was a brief flash and they were both in the transporter room of the Armorai. Standing facing them was the Security Officer and a team of his Marines. They watched the pair cautiously
"Welcome back Commander" He said in a dry tone, "We had been worrying about you y'know?"

"Good to be back Lieutenant" She said in a shakey voice, then looked around at Sanderson, "You okay?" She asked.

---

As soon as they mission was completed the Armorai turned without so much as another word to the Imitator Fleet. The Alversians had conceded the field this day, they would not do so lightly again.

When she was far enough away from the planet, she jumped into warp and she was gone.

"I'm fine," Sanderson grunted, turning to look out the window at the blurring space. "Where are we going, exactly?"
Inescapable...
The Inescapable retreated back, but did not jump, staying in system.
Unforgivable...
Oan looked to Ari, pleading with her with his eyes, before drawing back in horror. "You're one of them..." he murmured, then turned to Patterson. "Fine. Let's go on your little sight seeing show, with your captive audience."
Elsewhere...
With a last horrified look behind him, Katan vanished into the jungle forever, running for his life from all the things that plauged this strange world of the dead.
OOC: TG, Alversia.

"I'm fine," Sanderson grunted, turning to look out the window at the blurring space. "Where are we going, exactly?"
Inescapable...
Katan was beamed aboard, and the Inescapable retreated back, but did not jump, staying in system.
Unforgivable...
Oan looked to Ari, pleading with her with his eyes, before drawing back in horror. "You're one of them..." he murmured, then turned to Patterson. "Fine. Let's go on your little sight seeing show, with your captive audience."
OOC: TG, Alversia.

UNFORGIVEABLE

Commander Patterson smiled at his terror at seeing Ari " She has joined the greater good of the Alliance, if you want you are very welcome, but this is more of an experiment if anything. Over the next few days, weeks, or even years if you would like you will study us, free from harm."

ORBIT

The fleet kept its weapons aimed at the Armorai, they were hailed.

" We ask this planet to be neurtral territory to the Xscapian Empire, Alversians People's Republic, and Alliance of Imitated Worlds, is this acceptable. We wish to unlock this worlds secrets, just as much as you do, although this world technically belong to the AIW, you are allowed entrance."

The Empress Keiko was still a safe distance away from the Alliance fleet and had watched ready to act.

They weren't needed in the end but with the planet having fallen and picking up the friendly beam ups it seemed they'd nothing to stay for. They already knew as much about the Alliance as they needed to.

"What do we do now Captain Winterfire?" Megumi asked over the comm line.

###

Ari simply raised an eyebrow. She didn't know him but he seemed to know her for some reason and picked up his terror.

By now the young ones were fully absorbed but still unseparated from each other even although they all had assigned duties. First they had to learn things before they started their careers as Alliance members.

"She has joined the greater good of the Alliance, if you want you are very welcome, but this is more of an experiment if anything. Over the next few days, weeks, or even years if you would like you will study us, free from harm."
Oan shuddered at the mere mention of "joining the greater good." Everyone, the public, the government and the armed forces knew the Imitator motto: With Unity comes Harmony. And that Unity involved erasing all traces of individuality and coming out with a perfect collective. A almost SASM-like approach. "I will learn all that I can, everything you show me will be noted," he answered in his most professional manner. Despite his fear, he was curious. No kitsune had ever been to the surface of an Imitator world. What was their society like?
Inescapable...
Winterfire shook his head at Megumi's question. "This world is lost to us, for now. All our people here are either dead or with us, with the exception of a scientist who has been captured. There's nothing we can do, but watch, and wait."

OOC: Replied

Armorai

"We are withdrawing a short distance away" The Security Officer replied, "The Captain does not like to be outgunned and is currently sizing his options up in safer surroundings."

Rose nodded in understanding,
"Captain Denison has always been cautious, Commander, I doubt we'll be away for long"

---

Meanwhile, on the bridge, Denison sighed and sent a hail into space. He was trying to locate the Inescapable and soon he had found her,

"Captain" he said sadly to the Kitsune that appeared before him, "We have a dilemma"

Inescapable...
Winterfire shook his head at Megumi's question. "This world is lost to us, for now. All our people here are either dead or with us, with the exception of a scientist who has been captured. There's nothing we can do, but watch, and wait."

One her view screen she heard this and replied back to him "I can hang round for another while as long as the Alliance fleet dosen't try and assimilate my ship again. If I can be of help to get your scientist back I will help."

She'd lost four crew of her own but the scientist wasn't lost yet.

Patterson waved at the scientist as he was beamed to the Nova Class Warship " Medusa", she then hit hyperspace and was headed for AIW space, he was then met by the Calaverian Charley who saluted him " Oan, you are being taken to the Alliance worlds, we have two choices for this little "Adventure" the first is our society and the other is world assimilation, you may decide which you would like to see first."

UNFORGIVEABLE

Ari was met by Zorg again, he had become good freinds with Ari, but then again once there link of the Alliance collective there were freinds. " Mam Lt. We may be leaving this planet soon, we are awaiting a resultion of this situatin."

Seeing Zorg made Ari smile slightly and she replied "nothing would surprise me now. Our team will go where the Alliance needs us."

This was true even in her old life as a Neo Kirisuban engineer but even truer now. She was prepared to go anywhere for the Alliance.

Ayumi had emerged as the groups leader since they had been incorporated into unity. It has been her first time seeing a kitsune of any description in the flesh.

He seems weaker than I imagined him to be she mentally communicated to Ari as she also asked whats going to happen to us now?

You'll have your work for the alliance but not yet. It'll separate you all but you can always contact each other by mind link. You'll be the first generation of Alliance medical care. Something we never had before she mentally replied to comfort them as she guided these young ones into the Alliance.

They all had loads of questions and she answered them the best she could. All the basic ones like where they'd live, what they'd eat, what they could do in their spare time and where they would end up. For now she was a mother to them although they'd be scattered throughout Alliance forces eventually.

People thought most N-K's looked alike and this gaggle of officer cadets were no exception with their long dark hair and dark eyes. Ayumi's hair went half way down her back but Chise would have her hair shortened so it couldn't catch in an alliance helmet. Already she could sense the amazon spirit the newly imitated N-K's had brought into the Alliance mindset. Something that given time would make the Alliance even tougher foes.

"Captain, we have a dilemma"
"Indeed." Winterfire regarded the Alversian Captain seriously. "The world we were sent to mine has been taken by hostile forces, I have lost fifteen good kitsune to the Imitators, and no reinforcements will be incoming for some time. Is this what you were reffering to, Captain?"
A bit more bitter then he would have liked, but Winterfire was shaken over the suddenly violent situation in what should have been a peaceful, routine mission.
"Captain Denison has always been cautious, Commander, I doubt we'll be away for long"
Sanderson nodded, not speaking.
Where did things go wrong?
"Oan, you are being taken to the Alliance worlds, we have two choices for this little "Adventure" the first is our society and the other is world assimilation, you may decide which you would like to see first."
Oan thought for a moment. "I think," he said finally, "that I would like to see a world assimilation."
"I can hang round for another while as long as the Alliance fleet dosen't try and assimilate my ship again. If I can be of help to get your scientist back I will help."
"That won't be nessicary," said Winterfire, shaking his head, "now that we are out here, I have my duty to stay and report in to me superiors as needed. You do not need to stay, if you don't want to."
Captain Winterfire truely wished the NK would stay, but understood if they chose to leave. It was entirely possible they wanted no part in any of this, having been unexpectedly thrust into a combat situation with little forewarning.

"That is what I am referring to, Captain Winterfire. But we also have a diplomatic message from the Imitators requesting the planet be treated as a neutral zone. What do you think of that?" He sighed. He hated dealing with the Imitators but sometimes, diplomacy could work where action failed.

Sanderson nodded, not speaking.

Rose saw his expression,
"Hey come on," She said gently, "You look like you've been possessed," She made a small joke,
"Come on, you can tell me what's up"

"That won't be nessicary," said Winterfire, shaking his head, "now that we are out here, I have my duty to stay and report in to me superiors as needed. You do not need to stay, if you don't want to."
Captain Winterfire truely wished the NK would stay, but understood if they chose to leave. It was entirely possible they wanted no part in any of this, having been unexpectedly thrust into a combat situation with little forewarning.

"I'll have to send a report home as well as well my letters to the engineers families. So I'll be round while I wait for orders" Megumi replied knowing that could take the best part of full day.

She also had a memorial service to organise so her own crew could celebrate the lives of the friends they had lost.

"Captain Denison I don't know about the planet surface being a neutral zone with an Alliance fleet still over it. As much as I enjoy a good mystery we can't set foot on the surface. As soon as we did we'd be swallowed up just like the Alliance marines were" she added adding him to her view screen.

The Assimilation of the world had already speeded up, it didnt matter if the temple was there, all surrounding life was being brought into unity. It seemed the Imitators would have to co-exist with the undead.

Unforgiveable

Commander Patterson sat with his chin resting on his knuckles, he stared at the other ships, wondering what they were up to. He couldnt help but think something bad was going to happen, especially with that strange temple on the surface of the planet, and its remarkable ability to swallow up soldiers.

Returning to the bridge after leaving the young ones in a dorm and Zorg to answer their questions for a while Ari noticed Commander Patterson in a thoughtful mood.

"Worried?" she asked in a sweet voice. Even as she was now Ari was still a predator when it came to locating a lover male or female.

Patterson had drawn her interest but she was sure he could figure that out for himself given the mind link.

Patterson smiled " Yes, there's two ways I can see this, we can start coming to terms with them with establishing a neutral planet, or we can shooting eachother, I dont know...I just don't know" Patterson could smell her.

Medusa

Charley droped them out of hyperspace as they came onto a green world, a vast supercontinent in the middle, surrounded by ocean, they could make out Terrassimilators in orbit, and they had already began there assimilation. Charley turned to Oan " Beutifal isnt it?"

"I wouldn't suggest starting another shooting match. This mission has been expensive already for us.

My old commander won't start anything, but the Alversian and Xiscapians might.

They're probally discussing this right now and wondering if we're serious about the offer" Ari suggested as she offered what she thought would be the best.

The smile showed he did notice. Once fully in unity Ari learned fast and knew she'd have someone wanting to mate with her sooner or later. Why not turn the tables?

Patterson stood up " Well see Colonle" he said smiling at her.
OCC: sorry was busy.

ooc: thats ok

ic:

Ari raised a slender eyebrow and replied "Colonel?"

Was she really getting a promotion already or was a joke? The smile seemed to show it could be genuine.

Patterson nodded " Yes, Colonel, and this isnt a joke." he knew what she was thinking, you couldnt hide most feelings in the Alliance.

Ari smiled and suggested "In that case I'd suggest Zorg takes over my squad and you could add young Emi Kobayashi to it.

She couldn't learn under anybody better in my view."

She remembered her own training as an officer cadet and although fairly incomplete at 16 years old she could do basic things like repair hulls, replace simpler systems and maintain fusion engines. Emi wouldn't have tackled Matter/Anti-matter drives so she'd have to learn Alliance systems under somebody. Zorg would be perfect.

Patterson orderd her away " Indeed Ari, you are young, but given time, you can learn much. That's why I'm giving you command of a small attack force to take a enemy colony, how does that sound?"

Emi and Zorg received their new orders and the now Colonel Susato replied "whats the intelligence we have on this colony?" with a smile on her face.

I'd like that she mentally communicated back but wasn't going to wasteful with Alliance marines lives. If the VR simulation was anything to go by it seemed to be standard Alliance tactics to throw bodies at a problem and overwhelm the defences.

She'd find a more efficient way of doing it.

Patterson walked around her " We dont have very much at the moment, well see, they know that it is a colony though. We thought it would be a good challenge for you under pressure."

"I'd suggest inserting a black insurgent first so we know what we are dealing with.

Information on the state of their sensors and defences, number of warriors, their combat readiness and their command structure would be essential information before a single marine even sets foot on the colony.

We'll only have the element of surprise once and I'd like to be able to use it as much as possible" she suggested already pondering tactics she could use.

She was seeing this as a special forces operation initially with Alliance Marines beaming in once Black Insurgents had decapitated at least some of the command structure.

Patterson nodded in agreement with Ari " Yes, we need some information first, then we can easily decimate the defenders and bring the colony into unity. But for now you will remain aboard the Unforgiveable."

"Hai Commander" Ari replied her brain still buzzing with ideas. She'd need a VR room once the black insurgent came back with information so she could visualise the report and see for herself what they were up against.

She could also draw on the experiences of the unity up to a point but it was her challenge. She'd consult with Zorg once they knew more.

OCC: waiting for Xscapia now.

ooc: cool

TG coming your way

"That is what I am referring to, Captain Winterfire. But we also have a diplomatic message from the Imitators requesting the planet be treated as a neutral zone. What do you think of that?"
"Captain Denison I don't know about the planet surface being a neutral zone with an Alliance fleet still over it. As much as I enjoy a good mystery we can't set foot on the surface. As soon as we did we'd be swallowed up just like the Alliance marines were."
"I agree with you, Captain Megumi," Winterfire looked back and forth from the Alversian Captain Denison to the Neo Kirisubo Captain Megumi. "The Imitators cannot be trusted. Between the temple and the rapid assimilation the planet is undergoing, anyone who landed would be assimilated or killed, or quite possibly both. The Imitators would try to hoodwink us, to draw us into destruction or assimilation. Whatever treaties they may sign, whatever peace might be made, they will not keep it. The only way to deal with them," he finished solenmly, "is though extermination."
"Come on, you can tell me what's up"
Sanderson allowed himself a small smile. "Life is what's up. It's just so amazing to me how quickly such incidents like this explode, and how many lives they ruin or take along with them."
"Beautiful isnt it?"
"If you mean the planet," Oan nodded, "then yes. What's down there?"
The planet reminded him of the Xiscapian colony Himp, in the Cholk system. One huge continent filled with rugged mountains broken only by long plains of tall grass, and an extensive cave system running over the entire landmass. Oan came from there, born and raised before going to Xiscapia for his schooling and deployment with the military on cultures and ancient civilizations in general. He had spent some time with the famed Ginta, studying the ruins of Xiscapia, ancient stone buildings, towers and bridges located on Xiscapia. Fieldwork was where his passion lied, and he was getting the full extent of it, now.

The Imitators would try to hoodwink us, to draw us into destruction or assimilation. Whatever treaties they may sign, whatever peace might be made, they will not keep it. The only way to deal with them is though extermination.

"I agree and it's a nice theory Captain, but I'm afraid that sometimes force is not the answer. We don't have the strength to retake the planet and even if we did. I am sure as hell not setting foot on that planet again," Denison sighed sadly, "We have to accept the inevitable, the planet is lost."

"Life is what's up. It's just so amazing to me how quickly such incidents like me explode, and how many lives they ruin or take along with them."

"Incidents like me?" Rose asked, confused, "How do you mean, incidents?" She still looked tenderly at him, holding his shoulder.

As much as Megumi agreed with Captain Winterfire she knew her government would try and maintain its neutrality as much as possible.

Another reason why only one Neo Kirisuban ship had been involved on the war in the Londim system. They were unlikely to send reinforcements to her now even although they had been the ones attacked.

"Captain I agree with you but I really doubt more Neo Kirisuban reinforcements will be sent to wipe out their fleet here. I'd also agree this planet is lost. The infection process has begun and will be completed.

If the Alliance is serious about this I'd like to put it to the test. A satellite probe can map the planet and I'll know if they're trying to tamper with it. I'll put my ship in the firing line to see if they mean this or not. We are unlikely to get another chance to see an world assimilation in progress and it might tell us more about the Alliance as well while we can also observe their ships and communicate with them.

Mapping the planet is probally all we can do for now since we can't land on it but a lot of information can still be gathered by sensors. Ours are good and we can scan with shields up if the Alliance keeps their end of the bargain up.

The first shot that hits my shields will end the deal and i'll take another of those frigates with me."

Medusa

Charley smiled at Oan " What's down there, is a marvel of life, come with me, and put this suit on" He said handing a hazard suit with a mask. " You will see why you need the mask once we are beamed down" They were engulfed in blue light as they were beamed down to the surface at the edge of a lake and a clearing with some trees. There were also some animals grazing in the areas, deer.

Unforgiveable

The Alliance stood idly in space, waiting for there adversarys next move, hopefully it would not be hostile.

"Captains, I was not suggesting an attack. Such would be useless suicide. I have already accepted that the planet is no longer, and probably will not be for some time, under our control. I was merely stating that no treaties or bargains can be made with the Imitators that they will keep. Which is why, Captain Megumi, I cannot endorse your proposal to, as you put it, "put you ship on the line." The Imitators will almost undoubtably fire on it or try to assimilate your crew, and I cannot be responsible for the deaths of an entire ship of people who are not my own. At any rate, the only scanning we could do, we can easily do from range. It's not as if they hide the changing of an entire planet." said Winterfire calmly.
"Incidents like me?" "How do you mean, incidents?"
"No, not like you," said Sanderson, chuckling in spite of himself. "I just mean general galactic affairs." He waved his hand in the direction of the planet. "Everyone seems to be willing to go to war over raw resources, and those who don't are either peace loving, like our people, or religiously fanatical. My thinking is merely along the lines of the galaxy being a very messed up place. Too much is destroyed, too many lives lost, over such stupid, trivial matters."

"That is true and we cannot just leave them here to this planet. We should remain in the area just to show them that we are not gonna give up so easily. Besides," Denison reckoned, "Something incredible's happening down on that planet, something to do with Xiscapia's history and I doubt you will want to just walk away from it"

---

"Yeah," Rose looked up, "I'm not a natural soldier," She admitted sadly, "I hate having to shoot people. It drives me mad. I'm an Artist, not a Killer" She looked around at the area,
"Join for an adventure" She said to herself.

Megumi heard both sides of the argument from her allies and smiled.

"We can all scan from range in the meantime and we can learn a lot from our sensors" she said adding "if we're going to conduct a scientific survey I'll launch a probe and tell them its coming.

Then we can do what we originally came here for."

###

On the Unforgiveable Colonel Ari Susato had finished her shift and returned to the place she was calling her quarters for now.

She got a shower and a change but still felt tired and hungry. She wasn't sure how much she'd need to eat, drink and sleep but she still felt the need for it.

Megumi heard both sides of the argument from her allies and smiled.

"We can all scan from range in the meantime and we can learn a lot from our sensors" she said adding "if we're going to conduct a scientific survey I'll launch a probe and tell them its coming.

Then we can do what we originally came here for."

###

On the Unforgiveable Colonel Ari Susato had finished her shift and returned to the place she was calling her quarters for now.

She got a shower and a change but still felt tired and hungry. She wasn't sure how much she'd need to eat, drink and sleep but she still felt the need for it.


Zorg felt her fatigue and linked her " Your expiration date is still ninety years from now Colonel, but to extend it, and make yourself feel better you need Blood Boosters. Get them at the bar, your body uses energy and our cells have a hard time creating that, we need new cells to replace the burnt out ones.

Thanks Zorg Ari mentally replied and linked with the young ones as well so they'd know this.

So leaving her quarters she headed to the bar and sent Zorg another mental message.

If you're not busy do you want to join me?

She still needed to eat but the blood boosters weren't bad as far as rations went.

OOC: Don't forget my scientist, NC!
OOC2: Also, how many ships, and what kinds, do you have in orbit?
IC:
"Something incredible's happening down on that planet, something to do with Xiscapia's history and I doubt you will want to just walk away from it"
"We registered energy blasts coming from the temple, and the ground itself appeared to be swallowing AIW soldiers and equipment. Something, another part of our long voyage across the galaxy, has been discovered here. A project for scientists and historians, undoubtly, but I am curious. Of course, it is my job to, if an oppertunity presents itself, to take back the planet for Xiscapia. That, I'm afraid, will not be happening for some time now."
"If we're going to conduct a scientific survey I'll launch a probe and tell them its coming.
Then we can do what we originally came here for."
"Then do so. We will cover you as best we can, Captain."
"Join for an adventure"
"Go exotic places, meet new people, then kill them," quoted Sanderson. He wasn't entirely sure where that was from, but it seemed to apply. He studied Rose. "You're an Executive Officer, but you're an artist. How does that work?"

Medusa

Charley smiled at Oan " What's down there, is a marvel of life, come with me, and put this suit on" He said handing a hazard suit with a mask. " You will see why you need the mask once we are beamed down" They were engulfed in blue light as they were beamed down to the surface at the edge of a lake and a clearing with some trees. There were also some animals grazing in the areas, deer.

Unforgiveable

The Alliance stood idly in space, waiting for there adversarys next move, hopefully it would not be hostile.

OCC: it was on the other page ^^

So the Empress Keiko launched a probe towards the planet which would settle into a steady orbit.

Firstly they send the following message to the AIW flagship.

"This is Captain Megumi Ito commanding the NKS Empress Keiko. We are launching a probe which will settle into orbit and aid an scientific investigation of this world.

We will also be using our sensors at range and we will not initiate combat against Alliance ships."

With her intentions made clear she then moved closer to the planet with her shields up and on impulse power but still at a safe distance from the Alliance fleet.

It is my job to, if an opportunity presents itself, to take back the planet for Xiscapia. That, I'm afraid, will not be happening for some time now.
"Of course, Captain" Denison reaffirmed, "And I will do all in my power to help." He stated.

"You're an Executive Officer, but you're an artist. How does that work?"

"I was a University Student studying Art" Rose sighed, "I joined the Navy to get some adventure. After the SASM war, there were a lot of Officer Vancanies in the Fleet and I just...found myself as a First Officer," She shrugged, "I'm told I'm good at it so..."

Medusa

Charley smiled at Oan " What's down there, is a marvel of life, come with me, and put this suit on" He said handing a hazard suit with a mask. " You will see why you need the mask once we are beamed down" They were engulfed in blue light as they were beamed down to the surface at the edge of a lake and a clearing with some trees. There were also some animals grazing in the areas, deer.

Unforgiveable

The Alliance stood idly in space, waiting for there adversarys next move, hopefully it would not be hostile.

So the Empress Keiko launched a probe towards the planet which would settle into a steady orbit.

Firstly they send the following message to the AIW flagship.

"This is Captain Megumi Ito commanding the NKS Empress Keiko. We are launching a probe which will settle into orbit and aid an scientific investigation of this world.

We will also be using our sensors at range and we will not initiate combat against Alliance ships."

With her intentions made clear she then moved closer to the planet with her shields up and on impulse power but still at a safe distance from the Alliance fleet.

The NK ship movement was not halted, but weapons were still targeted upon her, as well as the Xscapian and Alversian vessles.

OOC: TG Xis

Megumi had expected this and stopped at a safe distance away from the Alliance fleet which had a weapons lock on her.

Then as data started coming back from the probe which would map this world the scientists on board started by scanning the area of and round the temple.

The Empress Keiko was taking a risk but this was the job of her crew even if they had been firing at the Alliance ships earlier on.

"I'm told I'm good at it so..."
"You do fine. So what kind of art did you study? I've always been a military man, but it dosen't mean I have to like it, and I know nothing about art. I hear Illesia has some fine art galleries."
"And I will do all in my power to help."
Winterfire smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Captain, your help is greatly apprechiated. You have done much already."
Charley smiled at Oan " What's down there, is a marvel of life, come with me, and put this suit on" He said handing a hazard suit with a mask. " You will see why you need the mask once we are beamed down" They were engulfed in blue light as they were beamed down to the surface at the edge of a lake and a clearing with some trees. There were also some animals grazing in the areas, deer.
Clad in the mask and suit, Oan looked around, bemused. The area seemed perfectly normal. "It seems just like any other planet." he said though the mask.

"You do fine. So what kind of art did you study? I've always been a military man, but it dosen't mean I have to like it, and I know nothing about art. I hear Illesia has some fine art galleries."

"I studied Modern Art," She smiled at the memory, "Expressionism and all that sort of thing. But to be honest, I found the Course a little...dull. So I took five years out to join the Navy. Great decision eh?" She laughed, "Here I am, fighting for my life in the middle of nowhere"


"Thank you, Captain, your help is greatly appreciated. You have done much already."

Denison nodded,
"It's the least we could do. Now, the question is. What do we do next?"

"Here I am, fighting for my life in the middle of nowhere"
Sanderson grinned. "Not anymore, you're not. Modern Art? I don't even know old art, so I'll just act like I know what you're talking about. Artist to military..." he shook his head in amazement. "It's really the last jump you'd expect."
"What do we do next?"
Winterfire shook his head. "There's not much we can do, I'm afraid. Our options are quite limited at this point. I favor staying in-system, watching and waiting. Sooner or later, we'll get reinforcements and be able to take this planet. It is far too valuable, both in resources and culture, for us to lose."
OOC: See ya.

"It's really the last jump you'd expect."

Rose smiled,
"Almost my entire Class joined up at the same time as I did. I've already told you the reason. Adventure. The Navy gives innocent little Girls like me the chance to see the Universe and some real scum in the Universe. Now here I am, a Lieutenant Commander. Not bad for a college student eh?" She gave a cheeky smile.

"I'm told I'm good at it so..."
"You do fine. So what kind of art did you study? I've always been a military man, but it dosen't mean I have to like it, and I know nothing about art. I hear Illesia has some fine art galleries."
"And I will do all in my power to help."
Winterfire smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Captain, your help is greatly apprechiated. You have done much already."
Charley smiled at Oan " What's down there, is a marvel of life, come with me, and put this suit on" He said handing a hazard suit with a mask. " You will see why you need the mask once we are beamed down" They were engulfed in blue light as they were beamed down to the surface at the edge of a lake and a clearing with some trees. There were also some animals grazing in the areas, deer.
Clad in the mask and suit, Oan looked around, bemused. The area seemed perfectly normal. "It seems just like any other planet." he said though the mask.


Charley shook his head " Everything is "normal" well, for us anyways. You got your equipment? good, why dont you shine that scanner in the water, see what's in it."

Images of the temple and the surrounding area as well as the portions of the planetary map that had been assembled were now being transmitted back to their allies.

Captain Ito was doing this strictly to gain experience for her science team but the sensors as they then spread out were picking up wildlife that was altering itself as the assimilation continued.

She hoped the readings would make sense to their allies because they didn't make much sense to her scientists yet. Eventually they would although as their quest for information continued as new sectors of the planet were scanned and the data recorded.

The map was still building as the probe recorded the holographic topology recording these pictures the same way spy planes would have done in the ancient past. From high up.

Patterson fell to his knees as did many of the ships crew and he began to grind his teeth in pain at his people's last words. The colony of Alpha Pegasus had been nuked beyond living. The whole Imitator fleet that was in Orbit began to turn for Aquarius Maximus.

Ari also felt the pain of a world die and the ships pilots turn the fleet quickly.

By the time she had helped Zorg to his feet and gotten to her feet again the last words of the Alpha Pegasus colony had sunk in and the murderers behind the nuking of the colony would pay.

Soon they would be on their way as the unity felt the grief of the colonies loss.

OCC: come over to the "attack on the AIW thread.

ooc: ok

On the Empress Keiko the tactical officer who was keeping a sharp eye on things drew her captains attention to the sudden fleet movement and the lack of the weapons trained on them.

Megumi Ito hailed her allies to say "Gentlemen it looks like the Alliance fleet is about to move out" giving the estimated heading.

Then they warped away leaving the allies on their own..

"Not bad for a college student eh?"
Sanderson laughed. "Not at all. Rising though the ranks so quickly, after this, I'd be surprised if they don't promote you again!"
"Everything is "normal" well, for us anyways. You got your equipment? good, why dont you shine that scanner in the water, see what's in it."
Frowning, Oan turned his scanner to the water. What he saw surprised him, but it was not shocking. Indeed, he should have expected it. In this little lake billions of Imitator cells swam, everywhere. If a single one of those deer came to drink, it would become infected.
Water is their breeding ground, he realized, that's why they can take over most biologicals so quickly! It's not the flesh, it's the water inside!
Aloud,
"Brothers of yours?" he asked, a hint of sarcasm tinging his voice.
Inescapable...
Winterfire stared in delight as the Imitator fleet abruptly jumped away from the planet. "Get in orbit and secure the planet," he ordered, "we may not get another chance like this."
OOC: So is NC and NK abandoning this thread?

OOC: No Idea

The Armorai, baffled by the sudden withdrawal of the Imitators, moved cautiously back into an orbit with the planet. There had to be some reason they had abandoned the planet. It was in their grip, all they were facing were three isolated and minor warships.
"So why withdraw?" Denison asked his bridge crew, who merely shrugged in response.
He sent a message to Winterfire

"I don't like this Captain," He said solemnly, "It smells like a trap to me"

---

Rose shook her head sadly,
"I haven't even taken the exams for Lieutenant Commander yet, this is just a field Promotion. Captain Denison will have to explain why he thinks I deserve the promotion and hope that the APNHQ listens to him. Only then will it be official. I'm still down for the pay of a Lieutenant. Perfect eh?" She gave a small laugh.

"It smells like a trap to me"
Winterfire shook his head excitedly. "No, Captain, you forget! The Empire of Greal is at war with the AIW, and they have probably just attacked an Imitator planet or installation near here. That fleet is probably going to reinforce. My Executive Officer tells me that there is a Xiscapian Fleet not too far from here, orbiting a world known as Nova Maxis. They have the sufficent cargo capacity to drop the biological anti-Imitator agent, and we have enough room to manufacture more of it! In a few days time, this world can be returned to it's proper state and we will have it under our control."
Winterfire was, of course, banking on the hope that the fleet would be in a position to help them.
I'm still down for the pay of a Lieutenant. Perfect eh?"
"Sounds nice and cushy to me," snorted Sanderson. "All the pay without the work and responsibility to go with it. Not, of course," he said hurriedly, "like you don't already have enough of your plate."
What am I doing? Why am I acting like a kit again? What the hell is coming over me?

Denison nodded wisely,
"True, Captain, but we get too far ahead of ourselves. Our first objective should be to see how the planet is shaping up under the Imitators. When we have sorted that out, then we can plan our next step"

---

"I wish," Rose gave a small laugh, "More like all the responsibilities without the pay or the recognition. I'm still waiting for confirmation from HQ to tell me if I can stay here or if I have to go back, sit the test and be reassigned. That's if they accept me as a Lieutenant Commander at all,"

ooc: the Empress Keiko will still be involved. I don't know if the AIW fleet will be back again or not.

ic:

Megumi sent her ship into a standard orbit but with the shields still up in case the temple had a surprise for her.

The comm chatter had reached her but now they really could get to work.

The map would be complete in a few hours but they still couldn't do a full survey.

Since the assimilation of a world was still a new thing to her she was taking no chances. She was reluctant to even use a sealed lab and suits for tests right now unless her allies knew more.

"Commander Abe, you have the conn. I've going over to the Inescapable to see what they know" she said sweeping of the bridge and heading to the shuttlebay.

The comms officer let her opposite number on board know as her commander ascended in the turbolift.

Charley breathed in the fresh air, he didnt need a suit " Oan, its in the air, its in the plants and animals, almost everything is in unity on this world, even the deer over there grazing on the grass."

Terracropolis(temple world)

A black insurgent had been left for security sake. He ran around cloaked, using his advanced equipment to view the temple from afar, he had a plasma-ray pistol, Freeze gun, blade, five bio-nades. and a rocket launcher with two rockets, he was a commando.

bump-

"True, Captain, but we get too far ahead of ourselves. Our first objective should be to see how the planet is shaping up under the Imitators. When we have sorted that out, then we can plan our next step"
Winterfire nodded, slowing down mentally as he thought further. "We need to send down probes to the surface, to detect how far the planet is in it's assimilation."
That's if they accept me as a Lieutenant Commander at all,"
"It must have been scary," said Sanderson, "to be thrust into a position of power so quickly after entering. I mean, one day you're a student, and then you're the one everyone turns to if the Captain of your ship is incapacitated or dies? That must have taken quite a bit of training."
"Oan, its in the air, its in the plants and animals, almost everything is in unity on this world, even the deer over there grazing on the grass."
"So what does that mean for you, the intelligent Imitators? Will the world provide for you, will it protect you? What does terraassimilation do for you?" Oan asked.

"True, Captain, but we get too far ahead of ourselves. Our first objective should be to see how the planet is shaping up under the Imitators. When we have sorted that out, then we can plan our next step"
Winterfire nodded, slowing down mentally as he thought further. "We need to send down probes to the surface, to detect how far the planet is in it's assimilation."
That's if they accept me as a Lieutenant Commander at all,"
"It must have been scary," said Sanderson, "to be thrust into a position of power so quickly after entering. I mean, one day you're a student, and then you're the one everyone turns to if the Captain of your ship is incapacitated or dies? That must have taken quite a bit of training."
"Oan, its in the air, its in the plants and animals, almost everything is in unity on this world, even the deer over there grazing on the grass."
"So what does that mean for you, the intelligent Imitators? Will the world provide for you, will it protect you? What does terraassimilation do for you?" Oan asked.

Charley nodded " A home for one....the most important thing, continued existance, that's really all we want to do Oan, to survive and mulitply, by any means neccesary to ensure our continue survival."

"We need to send down probes to the surface, to detect how far the planet is in it's assimilation."

"Agreed," Denison nodded, "We'll send down a few probes and see if it would be possible to send down a Marine Team. Our Armour can resist the Imitator Disease. It's the Temple, I'm worried about"

"It must have been scary to be thrust into a position of power so quickly after entering. I mean, one day you're a student, and then you're the one everyone turns to if the Captain of your ship is incapacitated or dies? That must have taken quite a bit of training."

"Training?" She gave a small laugh, "I'm trained to man Tactical and Sensory consoles and to command a Destroyer in battle. I haven't received a Lieutenant-Commander's training course yet. That's the thing. I need to go back to Illesia and retake the exams. Then I get reassigned to a new vessel. That's how the Navy works"

Captain Ito was en-route in her shuttlecraft as Commander Abe continued the survey.

Next up was a life form survey as more probes got launched. Firstly they had to determine what life was down there. They couldn't assume it had been assimilated yet but they did know about the undead Hoplites already. What else was down there was anybodies guess.

The Aquarian Insurgent Serk was viewd the temple with his heads up display on his helmet. He was laying on a grassy hill with his freeze gun pointed over, he had his other supplies next to him.

"A home for one....the most important thing, continued existance, that's really all we want to do Oan, to survive and mulitply, by any means neccesary to ensure our continue survival."
Oan nodded silently as he scanned elsewhere. The ground, the deer, the air...all were infected with the Imitator disease. Oan was irritated and a little shaken by how Patterson kept using his name, as if Oan had known him all his life and they were good friends, rather then enemies.
"So this is your latest conquest. I have noticed other species, in you ranks. The wasp things that dragged me to you, and some landsharks...are they the spoils of the worlds you have taken?"
"We'll send down a few probes and see if it would be possible to send down a Marine Team. Our Armour can resist the Imitator Disease. It's the Temple, I'm worried about"
Winterfire shook his head. "I agree that the Temple is a large threat, but I strongly advise against sending down a team. The planet, especially around the Temple, has probably already been partially infected, and all it would take is a hole in the armor or a careless mistake and anyone of your team would be exposed. The worst part is, you'd never know, until he was back on your ship, infecting your crew, and it was too late."
In the communications of the ship, a message was composed and sent to the NK shuttle:
NK shuttle, you have been authorized to land in Hanger One. Please avoid the small craft already parked inside. Officials will be waiting to take you to the Captain.
"I'm trained to man Tactical and Sensory consoles and to command a Destroyer in battle. I haven't received a Lieutenant-Commander's training course yet. That's the thing. I need to go back to Illesia and retake the exams. Then I get reassigned to a new vessel. That's how the Navy works"
Sanderson nodded. Things got a little confusing between the XIN and APN, what with differing ranks and command structures. On an Xiscapian vessel, the Executive Officer's duties were assistant to the Captain, and the next in line if the Captain was incapacitated. Rose would be considered a External Systems Officer, one of the twenty-odd Bridge Officers that worked on the bridge of any Xiscapian Capital.

"Then Captain," Denison raised his eyebrows slightly, "Do you have a better idea?" He asked patiently, racking his own brains for some sort of plan.

---

Rose gave another small smile,
"What about you?" SHe asked, "What privileges does your rank earn you?"

OOC: What ranks does the XIN actually have? Just curious to know

Captain Ito received the message, acknowledged it and then gracefully landed her winged shuttle.

The wings folded up before she entered the bay in the smaller twin of her ship before it touched down.

Departing the shuttle alone she could now be seen in the flesh wearing the dark red jacket and black trousers uniform. She was small and also wore a scabarded long sword and a hand phaser in a gold cloth obi.

"A home for one....the most important thing, continued existance, that's really all we want to do Oan, to survive and mulitply, by any means neccesary to ensure our continue survival."
Oan nodded silently as he scanned elsewhere. The ground, the deer, the air...all were infected with the Imitator disease. Oan was irritated and a little shaken by how Patterson kept using his name, as if Oan had known him all his life and they were good friends, rather then enemies.
"So this is your latest conquest. I have noticed other species, in you ranks. The wasp things that dragged me to you, and some landsharks...are they the spoils of the worlds you have taken?"
"We'll send down a few probes and see if it would be possible to send down a Marine Team. Our Armour can resist the Imitator Disease. It's the Temple, I'm worried about"
Winterfire shook his head. "I agree that the Temple is a large threat, but I strongly advise against sending down a team. The planet, especially around the Temple, has probably already been partially infected, and all it would take is a hole in the armor or a careless mistake and anyone of your team would be exposed. The worst part is, you'd never know, until he was back on your ship, infecting your crew, and it was too late."
In the communications of the ship, a message was composed and sent to the NK shuttle:

"I'm trained to man Tactical and Sensory consoles and to command a Destroyer in battle. I haven't received a Lieutenant-Commander's training course yet. That's the thing. I need to go back to Illesia and retake the exams. Then I get reassigned to a new vessel. That's how the Navy works"
Sanderson nodded. Things got a little confusing between the XIN and APN, what with differing ranks and command structures. On an Xiscapian vessel, the Executive Officer's duties were assistant to the Captain, and the next in line if the Captain was incapacitated. Rose would be considered a External Systems Officer, one of the twenty-odd Bridge Officers that worked on the bridge of any Xiscapian Capital.

Charley nodded " They were brought into unity rather quickly, the Swarmite Empire and its hive like body was easiest to take over. Out of all the races we have brought into unity, the Aquarians were the hardest, they traveld in packs, and were hard to find, but eventually through a metting of the pirates we got them as well." He looked at the horizion " Are you done here?"

OOC:
To answer your question:
XIN:
Head Admiral
Admiral
Vice Admiral
Rear Admiral
Captain
Executive Officer
Commander
Lt. Commander
Lieutenant
Sub-Lieutenant
Warrant Officer
Petty Officer
Leading Spacer
Spacer (a rank and a class)
IC:
"Do you have a better idea?"
Winterfire nodded. "A simple, by-the-book insertion. Probes and scout droids on the surface, not only to detect levels of Imitator disease, but to see how hostile the Temple is to machines. It already proved to be quite hostile against biologicals, claiming the lives of one of my Marines and one of yours, as well as swallowing up dozens of Imitators and attempting to kill my Lt. Commander and your Executive Officer. We'll see how they react to droids. In the meantime, I have sent word to the Xiscapian Fleet, and they are sending transports to saturate this world with the chemical, making it safe for us to land on, in a few days."
"What privileges does your rank earn you?"
Sanderson shrugged. "Bigger quarters, better food and more pay then those below me. It's not alot, once I retire I'm ensured to live comfortably, though. At any rate, the pay and general system is a hell of a lot better then it was a decade or two ago."
Departing the shuttle alone she could now be seen in the flesh wearing the dark red jacket and black trousers uniform. She was small and also wore a scabarded long sword and a hand phaser in a gold cloth obi.
Captain Ito was greeted by the Executive Officer, who was flanked by two Marines. She bowed low, as did the Marines, only making eye contact when she'd straightened up. "Greetings, Captain Ito. Please follow me to the bridge. The Captain is waiting," she said politely, and led the Neo Kirisubon Captain into the interior of the ship. In the hanger there hadn't been many around, just a matinence team working on a corvette, scaffalding raised around the large ship to repair the armor. Eight fighters, three squat, gray colored combat shuttles and one gleaming white diplomatic shuttle also graced the hanger, as well as two drop ships. In the halls of the Inescapable Marines patrolled, and bored spacers played cards or watched the holos. It was dinner time on the ship and the hubub of many kitsune eating together could be heard from the ship's cafeteria. Something Captain Ito would notice was the mixed crew, male and female alike. However, something she might not notice was that females were often pilots, technicians and officers, while males were more frequently Marines and Spacers. Such configured for the XIW, those entering undegoing a battery of physical, mental, psychological and situational tests.
"Are you done here?"
Oan nodded. "Yes," he said, still looking around, thinking about the Aquarians. Creatures that traveled in packs were hunters, and quite caring for those inside their pack unit. Undoubtably, what with their look and teeth, the Aquarians were hunters, meat-eaters, of what tech Oan could not say. They had probably swam for some time before being captured and assimilated.
The hunters becoming the hunted.
With Unity comes Harmony.
Such was the way of the Imitators.

Captain Ito was greeted by the Executive Officer, who was flanked by two Marines. She bowed low, as did the Marines, only making eye contact when she'd straightened up. "Greetings, Captain Ito. Please follow me to the bridge. The Captain is waiting," she said politely, and led the Neo Kirisubon Captain into the interior of the ship. In the hanger there hadn't been many around, just a matinence team working on a corvette, scaffalding raised around the large ship to repair the armor. Eight fighters, three squat, gray colored combat shuttles and one gleaming white diplomatic shuttle also graced the hanger, as well as two drop ships. In the halls of the Inescapable Marines patrolled, and bored spacers played cards or watched the holos. It was dinner time on the ship and the hubub of many kitsune eating together could be heard from the ship's cafeteria. Something Captain Ito would notice was the mixed crew, male and female alike. However, something she might not notice was that females were often pilots, technicians and officers, while males were more frequently Marines and Spacers. Such configured for the XIW, those entering undegoing a battery of physical, mental, psychological and situational tests.

Captain Ito had never been on a Xiscapian starship before and had expected the mixed gender crew. It seemed her own people were unique in having all female starship crews.

She returned a low bow to the Xiscapian XO and followed her deeper into the ship having left her usual samurai escort behind. She didn't need them when meeting with an ally.

The journey would lead to to the bridge where she'd be able to meet Captain Winterfire properly. She'd left her hair long and free today and she was all business. Already the mapping of the world was partly complete and she had the first half of the map saved in her tri-corder. The rest would follow in a few hours.

"Sounds better than my plan anyway" Denison gave a smile, "Do you want to deploy the first probe or shall I?" He asked, smiling.
He was trying to think of what probes would be best to deploy to the surface.

"At any rate, the pay and general system is a hell of a lot better then it was a decade or two ago."

"Yeah? How bad was it a decade ago" She asked, curious. She had never studied the XIN before, although she had examined the APN in great detail.

"Do you want to deploy the first probe or shall I?"
"We will take the honor," Captain Winterfire nodded, before his ears perked as he heard something behind him.
Captain Ito followed the Executive Officer to the bridge. Glowing computer, hologram and neural screens and consoles lit the area, attended to by gray uniformed Bridge Officers. The X.O. herself was in a white uniform, and the Captain was wearing a black XIN uniform. He said something and turned as they approached, revealing a life-sized, six-foot-tall Captain Denison on a hologram pad in front of him. Bowing, Captain Winterfire smiled at Captain Ito. "Ah, Captain, even more beautiful in person, I see."
"Yeah? How bad was it a decade ago?"
"Well," said Sanderson, warming to one of his favorite subjects, "ten years ago it was coming out of a slump, any random soldier or spacer was only paid about half what they are now. But twenty years ago, when the Korr wars were still happening, your average grunt or spacer was paid very little. You had to get to at least Lieutenant before you got any serious cash, and most died before then. The mortality rate of your average soldier twenty years ago wasn't real great either, something like a year, and conscripted kitsune were required to serve two. Twenty years ago, the Xiscapian military was powered by patriotism and loyalty, not money. The government had to spent all her war credits on developing and manufacuring weapons, and had little left over to pay her soldiers."

"Twenty years ago, the Xiscapian military was powered by patriotism and loyalty, not money. The government had to spent all her war credits on developing and manufacuring weapons, and had little left over to pay her soldiers."

"My god," Rose shook her head in disbelief, "I had no idea it had ever been that bad before." She shook her head again, "It was really that bad? The worst I can ever think the People's Navy being was in the first Danaversian War. That was a nightmare for us" She said sadly, "Well, the start of it was anyway."

Captain Ito followed the Executive Officer to the bridge. Glowing computer, hologram and neural screens and consoles lit the area, attended to by gray uniformed Bridge Officers. The X.O. herself was in a white uniform, and the Captain was wearing a black XIN uniform. He said something and turned as they approached, revealing a life-sized, six-foot-tall Captain Denison on a hologram pad in front of him. Bowing, Captain Winterfire smiled at Captain Ito. "Ah, Captain, even more beautiful in person, I see."

Megumi returned the bow and gently said with a smile on her face "flattery will get you everywhere Captain.

Then the 5'1" Megumi handed him the tricorder.

"We've already made a start on mapping the planet from orbit and deployed other probes to seek out the life forms on the planet.

We should have both surveys completed in a few hours but we've got half the map starting at the temple completed if you want to see it. Its in the scanner."

The Neo Kirisubans being curious overachievers had already jumped the gun and started their own surveys.

"It was really that bad?"
"I'm afraid so," said Sanderson. "Things have improved, of course, but it was looking rather bad there for a time. What happened in the First Danaversian War?" he asked curiously. Like Rose, he knew a lot about his own military, but little about even their closest allys.
"We've already made a start on mapping the planet from orbit and deployed other probes to seek out the life forms on the planet.

We should have both surveys completed in a few hours but we've got half the map starting at the temple completed if you want to see it. Its in the scanner."
Winterfire directed the scanner so that it brought up the map in clear detail on a screen, spreading out wide. It was detailed down to each tree, incredibly rendered.
OOC: Whatever you want us to see, Alversia.
Hanger 1...
Two technicians kneeled over a robot. (http://preilly.deviantart.com/art/Probe-27801233) The machine was in it's compact form, a backpack sized brown box, arms, legs and head folded inward. The probe was about half the size and height of your average hover craft, moving about on four legs. It was swifter then it looked, fully deployed, and was armed with an array of scanners, sensors, sample takers, cameras and other scientific instruments at it's disposal. Seeing the droid was ready at full operational capacity, it was loaded into a gun and shot out towards the planet. Along with it went four little, flying probes (http://anbuxitachi.deviantart.com/art/probe-001-11511493) to assist the main seeker.

"What happened in the First Danaversian War?"

"It was a disaster," She smiled, "When the Alversians had defeated the SASM, we had done it with a force of Volunteer units, the People's Defence Regiments. The problem was that while they all had the same weapons, they wore different uniforms, had different command structures and no one was paid. The Navy was the same"

---

The temple was not really a fortress at all, but now it appeared like more of a city. All of the gaps that had appeared now sported old houses and massive walls had grown up around the edge of the perimeter.

Denison gasped,
"It's a city" he concluded, "a massive city. A Kitsune City!" he shook his head in wonder.

Megumi hadn't seen the map properly yet and what she seen when it was displayed on the screen certainly caught her interest.

"There must have been a kitsune colony on this world in the distant past. So what happened to end their occupation?" Megumi gently asked as she looked over the city that had arisen from the ground.

"When the Alversians had defeated the SASM, we had done it with a force of Volunteer units, the People's Defence Regiments. The problem was that while they all had the same weapons, they wore different uniforms, had different command structures and no one was paid. The Navy was the same"
Sanderson whistled softly. "I bet they tore into you. Bravery will only get you so far..."
"a massive city. A Kitsune City!"
Winterfire was gripping the edges of the console in shock, staring at it. Thousands of years old, a temple on a planet mysteriously undisturbed by other nations and the one of the only known sources of Guilda crystals, and now an ancient colony. It was incredible. So incredible Winterfire almost missed Ito's question:
"There must have been a kitsune colony on this world in the distant past. So what happened to end their occupation?"
"Good question," he said, shaking his head, then he suddenly looked up, a look of realization dawning on his face. "Has anyone bothered to question the two who were in the tunnels?" he asked incrediously.
Terracropolis...
The five probes burned though the atmosphere, rotating too quickly for the eye to follow, spinning toward towards the Temple and newly erected town.

Denison's face was a picture as he realised what had happened. He turned on the spot,
"Someone please get Lieutenant Commander Rose up here for me" He snapped.

"I bet they tore into you. Bravery will only get you so far..."

"Yeah," She sighed. Then looked up as the Tactical Officer entered,

"Ma'am" He saluted, "You're presence is needed on the bridge, you too, Sir"

Rose sighed and headed for the bridge, "I think we're both needed" She said.

Winterfire shook his head as he waited. Can't even get a simple thing done anymore...damn Imitators!
Sanderson came onto the bridge along with Rose. "Captain!" he saluted Winterfire, then turned to Denison. "Captain," he said, much calmer, and bowed. "Our presence has been requested?" he inquired.

"Yes," Denison turned to face them, "It was the first time he had met Sanderson and he did like what he saw. He looked like a professional soldier.
Denison gave him and Rose a salute,
"We would like to know what you leant from your time below the surface. I hear you went tunneling?" He raised his eyebrows as he said it.

"Ah," Sanderson shifted, "in a manner of speaking, sir." One did not rise in the ranks of the Imperial Navy without being polite to superior officers. "We discovered a pillar, quite old and Xiscapian in origin, and called a team to investigate. I beleive one of the scientist bumped me, and I stumbled against your Executive Officer here, and we, plus on of the Inescapable's scientists, fell though a hole in front of the pillar. We managed to land saftly and discovered ourselves in some sort of vast, underground tunnel. On one wall there was a screen..." he related what he'd seen, the trek though the tunnels, the flashbacks, the book, the poessession of Rose, the attacks by the Hoplites, and everything. By the end Winterfire looked skeptical, but before he could say anything Sanderson asked a question. "Where's that scientist? He could have told you it all. He was with us every step of the way."
Winterfire turned from disbeleiving to grim. "He was captured," he informed Sanderson, "by the Imitators."
Sanderson bowed his head. "Oh..."
Captured by the AIW. That automatically meant that one was subjected to a fate literally worse then death. It wasn't dying, it was total obliteration.
Winterfire continued. "But, really...flashbacks? Reverse foresight? Forgive me, Lieutenant Commander, if I am a little...skeptical."

Denison also looked a little disbelieving,
"Yes, this does seem a little...odd.," He shrugged, "Although a massive fortress appearing in the middle of a planet also seems odd so who am I to judge" he looked at Winterfire,
"Have your Soldiers ever dressed as Hoplites? Ever?" He asked. Deep in thought.

Megumi listened intently this being the first time she'd heard about the little tunneling trip.

She was inclined to take the story at face value and she turned to Rose and Sanderson.

"I am inclined to believe your story. Psychic abilities are known of in the universe and those other creatures were spotted on sensors fighting Alliance troops" she gently said adding the part into the discussion.

"Have your Soldiers ever dressed as Hoplites? Ever?"
Winterfire shook his head. "I'm not historian, but not to my knowledge. But you have to remember, between leaving Old Xiscapia and arriving at the Xiscapia you know now was a three thousand year journey. Anything could have happened in three thousand years."
"I am inclined to believe your story. Psychic abilities are known of in the universe and those other creatures were spotted on sensors fighting Alliance troops"
Sanderson threw up his hands. "So what do we do? We have no experience with this!"
Planetside...
The main robot, named Delta One, hit the ground inside the city, just outside the Temple. The four hovering droids deployed around it, looking in every direction, sending scanner and camera feed up to the Inescapable to be beamed to the other ships so they, too, could see the exploration.

"Anything could have happened in three thousand years."

"Looks like something did happen" Denison stated as he stared across at the screen. He was an explorer, sure and he loved to find new things but this was beyond him entirely, how could there not be a city one moment than a full one the next? It was baffling beyond belief.

Then Denison turned to Sanderson and Rose again,
"You say you managed to open the book with one of the swords?"

"Yes, Sir" Rose nodded.

"Then what happened?"

"I don't know Sir, I'm afraid I wasn't quite myself for the next few moments. You would have to ask Lieutenant Commander Sanderson" She replied, looking shyly over at him.

Denison raised his eyebrows again and turned to Sanderson, "well?" He asked.

--

All the droids would see were dilapidated houses, broken roads and burned out shops, like the place had been in a riot then never returned to. One curious area though was a massive gate that was built into the wall, towering over even it. The gates were long rotted away although the metal bars that would have supported them were broken and twisted an a very strange way, like they had been forced into that position by some sudden force.

--

Denison saw this as well and his eyes widened,
"A battering ram!" he announced triumphantly, "The City was attacked!"

Megumi was seeing the pictures live just like the others and it did look like the city had been destroyed by their attackers.

She hoped the droids wouldn't blasted by the temple since this was the only source they had on the temple site.

Her own probes were mapping and doing a life signs survey which would continue.

"It does look like the city was attacked and burned so the Xiscapians here could have lost the battle judging by the state of the city. We are seeing it as it was left after the battle ended" she suggested adding "I wonder if the droid could gather samples of the stonework so we could date the ruins."

"Well?"
Sanderson cleared his throat. "She unlocked the book and opened it, but at that point her voice became very deep. She asked us why we were here. The scientist tried to ask her what had happened, but she said only death and destruction, and when he persisted, she exclaimed that the dead needed their peace. Cracks appeared in the walls, and I tried to grap her and take her away, but she...ah, she grabbed me by my collar and lifted me into the air..."
Everyone turned and looked at Rose, Winterfire with his eyebrows raised, the beginnings of a smirk forming on his face. "Really-"
"With one arm," interrupted Sanderson.
There was a moment of silence.
"Go on," Winterfire finally said, face unreadable.
"So after this she seemed to come out of it, but there were these statues on the walls, and they came to life and moved to attack. They were kitsune, in strange silver armor. We ran for it, and, as you know, got away. It should be noted that blasters seem to have little to no effect on the statues."
"The City was attacked!"
"It does look like the city was attacked and burned so the Xiscapians here could have lost the battle judging by the state of the city. We are seeing it as it was left after the battle ended" she suggested adding "I wonder if the droid could gather samples of the stonework so we could date the ruins."
"I agree," said Winterfire, "and says, the droid can pick up samples."
Planetside...
Scuttling forward on it's four, crab-like legs, the droid tentatively reached out to one of the metal bars on the gate, grasped it, and began to pull. The little hovering sentinals continued to watch, taking in everything and transmitting it to the ships in orbit.

"Right, so my Lieutenant Commander was possessed?" This time, even Denison looked disbelieving, "How?"

"Maybe cause it was me who opened the book?" Rose suggested timidly, "Whatever happened, all I know it that I blinked and the next moment, I was floating in the air and Sanderson was on the ground."

"Seems logical enough," Denison conceded as he turned to watch the images as they came up. The first thing the droids would see after opening the ruined gates would be an endless field of skeletons. Some with silver armour, others with a gold armour, weapons and flags seemed to stick from the ground at random intervals.
"Looks like we've found our breech" Denison stated grimly.

Megumi nodded when she heard the droid could get a sample for dating.

Normally she'd have sent a xeno-archelogist down to do this job but the planet was not safe for mortals right now even in containment suits.

She watched the new footage come in letting the others speak for now. She guessed a battle had taken place after the breach was made and this was the start of it. The skeletons just confirmed this and the battle site looked undisturbed.

"Looks like we've found our breech"
"I agree," said Winterfire. "There are undoubtly mysterious forces beyond our comprehesion at work on this planet."
Sanderson rolled his eyes at his Captain's flowery speech, careful not to let Winterfire see him do so.
Planetside...
Holding one of the bars up trumphently, the droid entered the battle site. The bar was beamed up to the Inescapable, the re-beamed over to the Empress Keiko for a dating procedure. The droid moved further in, turning it's camera head to focus in on the decaying pennet on a pole. It was blue with a silver boarder, and simply displayed a helmet in the center, identical to the silver helmets of the Xiscapians scattered among the bones, bleached white from the sun. Rusting weapons and armor were scattered around, sometimes swords or knives sticking out of skeletons.

On the Empress Keiko

The bar was put through the decontamination bio filters and the Neo Kirisuban xeno-archelogist and other members of the science team got to work on dating the rusting metal bar.

They were extremely careful lasering of a sample before keeping the rest of the bar in stasis. Then the tests began.

(how old is the bar Alversia?)

on the Inescapable

Megumi wasn't a flowery speaker. She didn't mince words either but continued to watch the live feed from the droid's cameras.

She could identify something like a wakazashi and which looked like the katana's her own samurai wore as well as being worn by the Xiscapians.

"These ancient weapons. The shorter wakazashi looks a bit like the weapons your people use now" she said to Captain Winterfire.

"I don't recognise any of the other weapons although."

OOC: Think a few thousand years

IC:
"I recognise the pikes" Denison was peering at the weapons, "They're for the phalanx formation and these axe things were in the image where they not?"
He turned to Rose who nodded in confirmation,
"So whatever happened down there..." The he stopped, for the video link had disappeared,
"What? It seems our video has been found" He concluded sadly.

On the Empress Keiko the science team soon found an answer.

The xeno-archelogist Ensign Harada tapped her comm badge and her voice could be heard from her Captain's comm badge.

"Captain san, the sample of the bar we tested checks out at least 3000 years old and could be even older. We also lost the video feed but we had recorded it so we could review it later on" the young womans voice said.

Megumi kept the link open in case the other captains wanted to ask questions and said "that was Ensign Harada, my xeno-archelogist. Feel free to ask her any questions while she's on the line."

Winterfire frowned, looking at his Bridge Officer who reported the downed feed. "And it's not working with any of the others? Do your best to get them back online. If we're going to have to send down probes every five minutes, this is going to get very expensive."
Speaking to the scientist, he shook his head. "If they're that old, this was either one of the very first planets my ancestors visited on their voyage, or the bars were constructed by someone else who was there first. We started our journey three thousand years ago, see."
Sanderson spoke, muttering to Rose. "It's a fact, though, those were definitly Xiscapian weapons, even if they were modified."

"Yeah?" Denison was still frowning, "How do we see who attacked the City? It seems that that book may have some vital influence after all. And..." Denison turned to Rose, "...as you opened it, does that mean you have whatever powers it possesses?"

Rose simply looked at Sanderson in fear.

Ensign Harada considered briefly and then spoke again her disembodied voice sounding crisp as the Captains comm badge became a speaker.

"If it is one of the first worlds they visited this world is an important find. However did the Xiscapian's have starships 3000 ago that could make planet fall?

If not this could well be one of the original Kitsune homeworlds."


Megumi heard what Denison said to Rose and could see the young womans fear. A lot of strange things were going on on this world and if Rose had retained these powers there could be reasons to be worried.

"...as you opened it, does that mean you have whatever powers it possesses?"
Sanderson stared back at Rose, chilled. Finally he managed to speak. "Perhaps she should undergo scans to detect anything...unusual?" he asked hesitantly.
"If it is one of the first worlds they visited this world is an important find. However did the Xiscapian's have starships 3000 ago that could make planet fall?

If not this could well be one of the original Kitsune homeworlds."
"Ah, Ensign, I apologize. I have not made clear Xiscapian history. Roughly three thousand, five hundred years ago a ship landed on Old Xiscapia, seeking to destroy them. They managed to defeat the soldiers, despite their superior weaponry, and take the ship. Over a period of four hundred years they jumped from sword and shield technology to starships and lasers, modeling their ships and weapons after their attempted xenociders.

Fifty years later, after many unsuccessful attempts to break the atmosphere of their planet, they changed to the kitsune you see before you and managed to get into orbit. Another fifty years past and, after a message from our god, loaded our entire population onto transports and set off to find a new home among the stars. So, to answer your question, we did have starships that could make planetfall, and this could be a colonized planet, but that is doubtful. To our knowledge, we only ever colonized one planet, and that's Xiscapia. But," he said, shrugging, "we have an enormous gap in our history, and like I said, anything could have happened."

"Perhaps she should undergo scans to detect anything...unusual?"

"Agreed," Denison hit a button on his chair and a team of Marines entered the bridge,
"Sorry, Lieutenant Commander, but I have to take precautions"

Rose just nodded mutely and allowed herself to be surrounded by the Marines who brought her off the bridge,
"You want to go with her?" Denison asked Sanderson.

--

"Anything could have happened."

"It seems something did happen," Denison repeated to Winterfire, "Judging from the city's extensive buildings, I would say it was occupied by some time," he looked thoughtful, "I wonder who attacked it?"

Ensign Harada's voice spoke again sounding curious this time.

"With a race as ancient as yours I wouldn't discount that this world could be a lost colony.

Given the large gap in your history its a strong possibility. It could have been quite easily founded by a colony ship that got lost along the way and then they took over an older civilisation.

Its a theory at the moment but we'll need more evidence to test it."

Captain Ito then spoke suggesting "Captain Winterfire perhaps my Ensign should beam over in person and we could pool our resources to help solve this mystery."

Her ensign was thinking along the same lines as Captain Denison so it was a good posibility they took over from another group. Perhaps even the ones who attacked them all that time ago.

Hopefully the Xscapians knew that once the anti-imitator gas hit the planet, all imitators would die, that would be plants and animals, thus making the world rot. The Black Insurgent Sherk saw the probes and scouts, he began to jog towards there position, his cloak still active, as he hauled his equipment.

"You want to go with her?"
"If I could, please Sir," said Sanderson hurridly, following Rose and the Marines out of the room.
"I wonder who attacked it?"
"With a race as ancient as yours I wouldn't discount that this world could be a lost colony.

Given the large gap in your history its a strong possibility. It could have been quite easily founded by a colony ship that got lost along the way and then they took over an older civilisation.

Its a theory at the moment but we'll need more evidence to test it."
"We may never know who attacked the city," said Winterfire, "but I intend to do my best to find out. It's possible that this was a lost colony. But a big question remains: Why the modified weaponry and strange armor? The tech level we were seeing suggested swords and armor, rather then starships and energy beams. Why would the colonists abandon their old technology?"
The Exeuctive Officer, who had been waiting silently, spoke. "Captain, forgive me if I speak out of line, but it's possible the colonists were stranded here by an unfixable failure on their ship. They didn't use their technology for long because it probably ran out of power, and they were forced to adapt, wether against hostile natives or an invading force I cannot say."
OOC: NC, you're back! ^^ I have to go eat dinner now, but I will return soon.

Rose was brought down the Medical Bay were a teams of Doctors immediately started scanning her,
"Relax," Another said to Sanderson, "She'll be fine. I hope"
Rose just sat and let the people run scanners up and down her body. Sitting and praying that she would be fine.

Hearing a new voice Ensign Harada was working from verbal communications only and couldn't see who was speaking.

"Its possible the Kitsune had to fall back to their ancient technology for that reason but if they landed in a ship we should be able to pick up some sign of it even its only scattered pieces of hull plating or old technology" she replied.

"They most likely would have had to scavenge from their own ship after they landed and this planet became their new home."

"She'll be fine. I hope"
"She'd better be," muttered Sanderson, watching her. Or I'll go down there myself and beat the shit out of whatever's responsible. He added silently.
Winterfire nodded his thanks to his X.O., mentally filing her and Sanderson away for a pay raise, and turned back to the Captain.
"Its possible the Kitsune had to fall back to their ancient technology for that reason but if they landed in a ship we should be able to pick up some sign of it even its only scattered pieces of hull plating or old technology"
"Well, let's consider," said Winterfire, "everything else: The temple, the city, the book, has been buried. It's possible that the ship is also buried. Of course," he added thoughtfully, "it's equally possible that it was taken apart for scrap to make houses and whatnot."

Sherk had finally reach the probes, he slowly brought the rocket launcher to his shoulder, locked on....then gave a deep breath and fired. He quickly re-cloaked and began to run to another group of trees.

The scans continued for another while before the Medical Officer came back to Sanderson, looking rather stunned,
"I...I'm not...not sure how, but...it can't be possible!" He was still shaking his head, "It can't be done, never seen it done, never will. But I have!" He did look rather disturbed by his new discovery and his Medical Team looked equally as shell shocked.

Bridge

"Still, the problem remains. There was a city here. A massive city by the looks of it and it was here for quite a while. Then it was attacked and destroyed" Denison frowned, the same problems running over in his head time and time again, "Who destroyed it? It was one hell of a battle regardless" He sighed.,

"Then he heard the information coming through his communicator from the Medical Bay. His eyes widened in shock and disbelief,
"No. That can't be right. You sure! No...no way!"

"Even if it was canibalised for parts and metal there should be some sign of it and its technology.

Its probally buried but a concentration of starship metals should be picked up by probes and sensors. Its something that dosen't belong here naturally. The ships skeleton might even have partially survived as well" Ensign Harada suggested now in full investigative mode.

OOC: NC, you realize we have mysteriously lost all contact with the probes long before you shot them?
IC:
Medical Bay...
Sanderson seized the Alversian by his collar, shaking the poor man. "What is it? What did they do to her? Tell me!" he shouted.
Bridge...
"The possibilities are exciting. We must mount another expidition, even if we have to send in biologicals this time," Winterfire said to Harada.
"No. That can't be right. You sure! No...no way!"
Winterfire regarded Captain Denison seriously. "What is it?"

OCC: so what if you lost contact, my insurgent sees them, unless you want to have a probe with a different fate, then disregard that post.

MEDUSA

Charley and Oan had been beamed back aboard, hopefully the experience rocked Oan's ideas. They were now headed to the motherworld Cryoartica. " Oan, how do you like this journey so far, after we visit the motherworld, you will be safely returned to Terracropolis, that world with the Xscapian undead."

OOC: Nah, just letting you know.
IC:
Oan bit his lip. "I would like," he said carefully, "to see more of the Alliance, and your operations. What is happening inside your boarders, right now?"

IC:
Medical Bay...
Sanderson seized the Alversian by his collar, shaking the poor man. "What is it? What did they do to her? Tell me!" he shouted.
Bridge...
"The possibilities are exciting. We must mount another expidition, even if we have to send in biologicals this time," Winterfire said to Harada.
"No. That can't be right. You sure! No...no way!"
Winterfire regarded Captain Denison seriously. "What is it?"

Megumi realised something was and gave Captain Denison a look of concern. Starship commanders didn't panic like that normally. That had cut of her objection about sending a team down. She couldn't even be sure if it was safe to send a team in spacesuits and full containment measures in place.

Ensign Harada unware of events on the bridge since she was still talking from her lab replied "We don't know it its safe to send people down there. Containment suits might not be enough to prevent them being affected by the Alliance assimilation methods.

We still need a closer look at the temple and the surrounding areas although."

The man was being thrown about like a rag doll, before three Marines were able to pull him off. The Medical Officer took a few seconds to regain his composure before he shook his head again and beckoned the restrained Sanderson to approach one of the monitors,
"Look at this," he stated, pressing a button and flicking on a screen. On the screen was a version of a Kitsune brain, it looked normal apart from one major item,
All along her brain was a gold writting, like that of the book, it was swirling and forming itself before breaking down and reforming elsewhere. Rose was unconscious, put into a coma by the Medical Staff,
"It's not possible," The Doctor shook his head, "I've never seen a thing like it. I don't understand it"

--

Denison looked Winterfire straight into the eyes of Winterfire and explained the same problem that the Doctor had in the Medical Bay,
"So it seems this writing is now inscribed into her brain, the medical crew have no idea how it got there and no idea how to remove it" His face betrayed his worry.

Charley smiled " Okay, im beginning to like you Oan." he touched the controls of the cruiser. " Well, Oan were currently at war with one of your ally's, the Galactic Empire of Greal." his face became more serious " They have nuked to of our colonys to extinction and a Xscapian scout had taken apart our last colony, we are facing a war of survival Oan, I hope you understand this, maybe you can be a becon of peace to end this struggle between our two peoples." They were still on there way to the motherworld.

Hearing Captain Denison tell Captain Winterfire the problem Megumi thought hard to remember if she had encountered anything like this before.

After only a few seconds she knew she hadn't but now they had a reason to unravel the mystery. An officers life was at risk.

Sanderson stared. "Is that...controlling her?" he whispered, staring as though transfixed at the monitor.
Bridge...
"But that's impossible!" cried Winterfire, the same reaction the doctor had had. "How the h- excuse me," he coughed, "how in the galaxy does that happen? More importantly, what does it say?"
Only now did he remember the words of Ensign Harada. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Harada, we've had a little excitment up here. The probes, before they were cut off, indicated that, while the atmosphere was Imitated, it's not to such a point that a contained team, like that of space suits or Biohazard equipment could not make it though."
"Well, Oan were currently at war with one of your ally's, the Galactic Empire of Greal." his face became more serious " They have nuked to of our colonys to extinction and a Xscapian scout had taken apart our last colony, we are facing a war of survival Oan, I hope you understand this, maybe you can be a becon of peace to end this struggle between our two peoples."
"Maybe I will be," Oan said solemnly. When the Forgotten Realms freeze over. It sounded as though the war was going badly for the Imitators, and that was good news for the Empire.

"I can't tell what it says Sir, but it does not seem to be controlling her at the moment," The Doctor was addressing Sanderson and the two Captain, "But the writing is nothing I've ever seen..."

"...it's like the writing in the book" Rose said sadly from her bed, having woken and frightened the life from the Medics working on her, "Whatever that writing is, I have been infected."

She then said something in a language not unfamiliar to the Xiscapian's old tongue and the Doctor just stared at her in disbelief.

"It's safe to say she is still possessed, Sirs, just not actively at the moment"

--
Bridge

Denison's face was alive with concern and worry,
"There has to be an explanation for this. Anything! A way to reverse it!" he looked at Sanderson, "Did you see what was in the book? Could we possibly have a look at that book?" The last question was to Winterfire.

They exited out of hyperspace, they were in orbit over the motherworld...Cryoartica. Charley smiled to Oan " Hey Oan, were here, this is the homeworld of the Alliance. We will see how our "goverment" works, among other things, dont worry, you wont be touched once you reach the surface." They were beamed down, in an underground city in the ice. Thousands upon thousansa filled the streets, but they all moved as one unit, wearing the same uniforms as well. Completly organized masses were used by the Alliance, so as to stop confusion. A military parade was also in progress, vehicles and aircraft were moving up ahead, many Alliance marines marched in an open area, but no one seemed to watch them, they were to busy with other duty's.

Ensign Harada replied over the comm link "We don't now if even the best containment suits could keep an imitated environment at bay.

Theres also the issue of the team being sucked into a hole in the ground or killed by 8' tall undead hoplites once the spirits on that planet detect them.

If you did pay a visit it would have to be very brief."

"It's safe to say she is still possessed, Sirs, just not actively at the moment"
Sanderson looked at Rose, desperate. "That sounded strangly familiar," he said, indicating what Rose had said in the language. "Quick! Message the Inescapable, see if you can get our Ambassador over here!"
On Xiscapian government starships, Ambassadors also doubled as Priests, and all Priests knew the Old Tounge, could read it, write it, and speak it. Perhaps the resident Priest could speak with whatever had Rose in it's grasp.
"Could we possibly have a look at that book?"
Winterfire considered. "They said Rose dropped the book once she opened it, so it's probably still beneath the temple, in that room."
"We don't now if even the best containment suits could keep an imitated environment at bay.

Theres also the issue of the team being sucked into a hole in the ground or killed by 8' tall undead hoplites once the spirits on that planet detect them.

If you did pay a visit it would have to be very brief."
"But I agree," Winterfire nodded, "with Ensign Harada. If we were to send a team, or multiple teams, down to the planet, it would have to be a quick insertion, go in, retrieve the book, and get out. We have suits that are specifically constructed to protect the wearer from the Imitator disease, but anyone we sent down would have to be fast and quiet, to avoid the statues, undead and any other malicious beings."
Cryoartica...
Oan gaped at the gigantic cavern underground. Hundreds of thousands of Imitators could be seen, but it looked like no normal city. The soldiers marching all had the exact same expression, wearing the exact same uniforms, marching in perfect lockstep governed by far more then mere training and discipline. The city sprawled to the furthest reachs of it's rock interior, and the vast ceiling was so high aircraft, fighters and bombers, could fly freely inside. Oan was speechless, he could say nothing as he watched the bustling Imitator city.

The Alversian Doctor nodded and quickly sent a message to the bridge.

Denison was thinking fast, running through different scenarios in his head, how would he get to that book. It felt like he would need it to save his First Officer. Then the Doctor sent his message through and Denison looked surprised and turned to Winterfire,

"It seems my First Officer is talking in old tongue. Do you have a Diplomat who can speak the language? If so, may he please come aboard to converse with the Lieutenant Commander?" He said the last part with bitterness.

Winterfire nodded and sent word. In minutes the Inescapable's Ambassador in her black and purple robes had been beamed aboard the Armorai. She was led down to the medical bay, where she entered the room Rose was in. The Ambassador was a dark colored kitsune female, with ebony hair and fur, about five foot two, with a snow white katana at her side. She was about Rose's size (OOC: Excuse me if I am taking liberties), and not at all intimidating or threatening. One of the Marines drew up a chair for her and she sat, legs crossed, regarding Rose seriously.
She posed a question:
"Otaku o zen gouken?"
Are you in good health?

Megumi took her chance to add her few space credits to the discussion.

"If we can map the temple then it should be a quick and easy operation to retrieve the book. A beam in can take place with a minimal away team or just one person, the book can be picked up and then they get beamed back.

I don't think it matters who gets sent. The restless spirits would attack us all on sight anyway but a N-K phaser on the maximum kill setting vapourises what it hits. That should include statues or undead" she suggested.

OOC: TG, Xis

OOC: Seeing as I don't know old Tongue :confused:. Rose's speech will be in **

Rose looked at the Ambassador and seemed unimpressed by either her stature or her influence. She instead gave a frustrated sigh,
*You have Trespassed upon our lands. Why?* She gabbled, the Doctor and his men had no idea what was being said but they knew it was not their place to interrupt. Instead, they watched the swirling writing on her brain to try and find a pattern.

Bridge

Denison listened Megumi's suggestion and shook his head sadly,
"We've scanned the chamber, or tried to. We have no idea why but it is impervious to both sensors and beaming technology. And while a team may be able to fight to the book, don't forget it is still an Imitator world." He said the last part with disgust.
He was also watching developments down in the Medical Bay with the help of an auxiliary screen,
"Rose could never speak that language" He said sadly, "She always wanted to, but never could"

Charley and Oan were beamed up to the service again " Speechless huh, well your the first non-imitator to ever walk these streets, consider it a discovery Oan you should definately get rewarded for this back on Xscapia."

OCC:reply Xscapia, and i wont be on for a while today.

*You have Trespassed upon our lands. Why?*
OOC: Because I don't feel like typing "Old Tounge" out, it will be opened and closed by - from now on. :P
IC:
-We have detected large deposits of a valuable mineral here. We wish to mine it for the good of our nation and it's people. Before we were able to, however, we were attacked by those known as the Imitators. They are an evil race that seek out all life and destroy the individual to bring into their unholy collective-
Sanderson watched Rose as she spoke, obviously not herself. He prayed to Qonn for a good outcome.
Bridge...
"Rose could never speak that language" He said sadly, "She always wanted to, but never could"
"Almost ironic," said Winterfire. "I beleive we should still try to land a team. Getting that book may unlock the secrets and past of this world."

"I believe we should still try to land a team. Getting that book may unlock the secrets and past of this world."

"I agree," Denison stated, rather enthusiastically, "That book could hold the key to saving Rose, but we have to be careful," His face dropped slightly, "There is still an Army of the undead down there as well as Imitated Life. We would need to take every precaution."

Medical Bay

Rose looked at the Ambassador,
*We only want to rest. Undisturbed. We died to defend our homes and now we defend them again from you and anyone who comes to claim our lands as they did.*

Now they could all agree that a trip to the surface was necessary Megumi nodded and said "we do have to go but only two people know the temple layout.

They'll have to go regardless. I doubt N-K containment suits will be safe enough so we'll need Xiscapian ones and while we could provide some security its proven in battle that N-K phasers on their highest settings can turn anything into atoms.

Even an undead army."

She looked at both Denison and Winterfire as she spoke knowing Ensign Harada was listening in still. Not being able to beam in directly was a major problem but they'd have to fight this army of the restless dead.

She was a warrior but this was a fight she didn't want.

"All right," said Winterfire, looking around, "we'll provide the hazard suits, you'll," he nodded to Captain Megumi, "provide the weapons, and you," he pointed to Captain Denison, "will provide Rose to help the team along. Sanderson and Rose can provide direction for the team, which I beleive should be comprised of crack Marines from all of our ships, a force of no more then ten, say three soldiers per ship."
Medical Bay...
*We only want to rest. Undisturbed. We died to defend our homes and now we defend them again from you and anyone who comes to claim our lands as they did.*
-We do not come for your land or your people.- said the Ambassador softly, -we only seek to learn more of our past and take the crystals we have found here. We do not want to fight you, we have no quarrel with you-

OOC the whole planet been change in one day ?

OOC: The planet's been partially Imitated, which can be unImitated by a special Xiscapian-produced chemical agent that destroys Imitator cells on contact. Due to three Terraassimilaters all landing on the same planet at once, the infection levels in some areas is severe, but the Allied forces must retrieve the book, even if they have to fight though legions of bewitched statues, hordes of undead, holes in the ground that swallow entire squads, laser beams and Imitated creatures.

OOC: The planet's been partially Imitated, which can be unImitated by a special Xiscapian-produced chemical agent that destroys Imitator cells on contact. Due to three Terraassimilaters all landing on the same planet at once, the infection levels in some areas is severe, but the Allied forces must retrieve the book, even if they have to fight though legions of bewitched statues, hordes of undead, holes in the ground that swallow entire squads, laser beams and Imitated creatures.

OOC thank for clearing that up and like i said need help i can spare same

-we only seek to learn more of our past and take the crystals we have found here. We do not want to fight you, we have no quarrel with you-

*The crystals started the war* Rose uttered softly, *Brought them to us. We were a great power, but they destroyed us to a Kitsune. We died to defend our homes and our people. We do that now*

"You will provide Rose to help the team along. Sanderson and Rose can provide direction for the team, which I beleive should be comprised of crack Marines from all of our ships, a force of no more then ten, say three soldiers per ship."

Denison shrugged,
"I don't know about that. She is still possessed don't forget and I'm not sure they won't take her back again. If they do, she could compromise any mission to take the book" He pointed out.

Megumi could see the posibility of this now Denison had mentioned it but she was happy with the basic plan as it was. Her three best samurai would go and she'd supply phaser rifles for the party.

She may lose more people but it was a chance she'd have to take. Getting the book was vital.

"Ensign Harada relay these orders to Commander Abe. I'll need our best three samurai kitted out ready to go on a combat mission. They'll be beaming over to the Inescapable ASAP along with an extra 9 phaser rifles and extra power packs.

Our allies will supply the containment suits" she ordered and the reply "Hai Captain" came back which terminated the voice link.

*The crystals started the war* Rose uttered softly, *Brought them to us. We were a great power, but they destroyed us to a Kitsune. We died to defend our homes and our people. We do that now*
-Allow us the crystals and your knowledge, and we can protect you from all harm. You can sleep forever in peace if you let us help you.-
The Ambassador's face was unreadable and her voice toneless. Any hint of anger, frusteration, resentment or hostile intent could set the thing inside Rose off.
"I don't know about that. She is still possessed don't forget and I'm not sure they won't take her back again. If they do, she could compromise any mission to take the book"
"Then we will send only Sanderson, and Rose will remain safe, up here," replied Winterfire. "Pick your three finest Marines, Captain. The time is almost upon us."
Already his X.O. had gone scouting for their three best warriors, and Biohazard suits.

With Captain Ito's orders were relayed she knew she didn't have to wait long until her samurai arrived.

Three of the beamed into the Inescapable's hanger bay. They were in their early 20's and wore the standard trouser and jacket uniform with their paired swords in a gold cloth obi. Ensign's Hoshino, Komatsu and Igawa were their names.

N-K samurai still wore the katana and wakizashi together and and usually would have also worn a kevlar helmet and kevlar reinforced flak jacket. This time they were unarmoured since they'd be wearing a bio-hazard suit.

They also had extra phaser rifles slung over their shoulders and also carried phasers as sidearms.

The extra rifles would go out to the rest of the landing party.

Denison nodded and, within moments, three Marines had beamed into the Inescapable Hangar Bay. All were wearing the white Armour of the Alversian Marine Corp and all were carrying their standard ship carbines. They spotted the Kirisubo Samurai and headed over to them.

-Allow us the crystals and your knowledge, and we can protect you from all harm. You can sleep forever in peace if you let us help you.-

*No* Rose shook her head, *We shall not betray our dead to you. We died to a Kitsune to defend our secrets you shall not have them*

Seeing the Alversian marines approach the Ensign's bowed.

They knew this was a joint mission and Ensign Komatsu smiled before she said "I take it you're also going on this away team? I'm Ensign Komatsu and my colleages are Ensign Igawa and Ensign Hoshino."

The Alversians towered over the Kirisubo as they did to most humanoid species but these three had removed their helmets to reveal friendly faces,
"I am Marine Lieutenant Davis and these are Marine Privates Holland and Jenkins. Looks like we'll be hitting the surface together"

"Then it looks like you'll need one of these and a re-load" Ensign Komatsu replied with another smile. She was the tallest of the group at 5'2" tall but although slight and slender they still made mean warriors and knew only too well how to use the swords and phaser.

She handed him a Neo Kirisuban phaser rifle and added "thats what we'll be using for this combat mission. They're already on the maximum setting and they'll turn anything into atoms no matter what they are.

The sights are set for 300 yards but I doubt we'll need them at that range. The shoulder stock is also adjustable and the safety catch is on."

ooc: it looks like this

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a354/nihongaz/maco_rifle.jpg

*No* Rose shook her head, *We shall not betray our dead to you. We died to a Kitsune to defend our secrets you shall not have them*
-Very well. What of the crystals? May we have them?-
Hanger Bay...
The Executive Officer approached from the main door, followed by three kitsune in Biohazard suits. (http://miggs69.deviantart.com/art/Chemical-Warfare-Field-Medic-62450060) She was pulling a cart from which seven more suits were in a locked position, waiting an occupier.
The Biohazard suits were technically Biohazard/Chemical/Extreme conditions suits, withstanding the vaccum of space and proven to be entirely impervious to blunt damage, most bullets and physical attacks, as well as being able to withstand small explosions at close range. These had all been proven at the Battle of Haven against an entire colony of Infected Xiscapian and Alversian soldiers and colonists. The suits allowed the wearer to survive for days unassisted, providing nutriants, water and medical help on the inside via tubes, inchs of cortosis armor protecting he or she inside. Before the armor, however, a bodyglove fitted on to make the suit easier to wear, as well as more responsive to user commands. Technically, the suits were actually exoskeletons, small single-man mecha vehicles, more then armor, but they were reffered to as such.

"Comrades," said the X.O., "meet your kitsune allies, Sergeant Dawnkins, Private Wickershi and Private Alkis." Each raised a gauntleted hand as their name was called. "You will need to change into the bodygloves contained inside the suits, then the suit will be fitted and adjusted to your specific size requirements. I expect Lieutenant Commander Sanderson will be along in a moment."

"Ensign Emi Komatsu. My colleagues are Ensign Igawa and Ensign Hoshino" she replied bowing with her samurai.

"I've also brought our phaser rifles and a reload each as requested by my Commander. They're all set and ready for use" she added politely.

Her team had multiple phaser rifles on their shoulders since this was the easiest way to carry them. Ensign Komatsu had the box of spare clips they might well need.

Now she could see the suits she knew why they were using their allies suits and not their own armour. They certainly looked a lot tougher than anything else on her ship.

"Where can we change?" she asked.

The Biohazard kitsune strode forward and releived the NK of their phasers and several magazines of ammunition, trying the weapons on for size. The Xiscapians were in-between, smaller and shorter than the huge Alversians, but still larger than the tiny NK. The phasers were not as big as they would have liked, but they would do. The Executive Officer pointed to a make-shift screen that had been erected on the other side of the bay. "Change behind there. There's someone behind there, though-" Even as she spoke a fourth suited soldier stepped out from behind the cloth and approached. The hanger lights shone off his armor, and glittering words spelling out "If you keep shooting it and it won't stop moving, call us" were engraved on his shoulder along with a patch. Sanderson would be leading the force, and he was prepared. Nodding to the NK, he pointed. "It's clear."

The Executive Officer detatched three suits and a few bulky Spacers carried them behind the curtain for the NK samurai. They would go, then the Alvo Marines. Behind the sheet a female technician was ready, once the NK had changed into the bodygloves, to help them get into the suits themselves.

The Neo Kirisuban phaser rifles were designed with small light people in mind but they did pack a lot of punch as well as being light and easy to carry around.

So the Samurai got changed firstly out of their red and black uniforms, then into the supplied body glove and finally into the suits.

They retied the gold cloth obi's round the armour so they could keep the paired swords and hand phaser in place and came out ready for the next stage carrying their helmets. Their own phaser rifles were slung over their shoulders and their suits adjusted by the technician they were ready now their comm badges were attached to the armour.

Sherk knew the Xscapians, Alversians, and N-K would be dropping down pretty soon, first his objective would be to follow there forces. After the first step of this little operation was under way, he would kill superior officers, and work her way down the ranks. Thirdly, if there was any way to capture them, he would try, as well as infection and information gathering. Sherk felt no emotion towards the enemy only the mission at hand.

*The land must stay undisturbed. We cannot allow it to be disturbed. The dead cannot be disturbed* Rose replied in a strange haunting chant, the Medics were still looking at her with concern as well as the monitors at the foot of her bed. They made no sense to a humble man of medicine.

Hangar Bay

Davis nodded and took both their Xiscapian suits and NK Rifles. They were stunned by how small and light they were in comparison to even the Marine Carbine, which was much lighter than the Army rifle. But then, both were designed for a larger Race and so that must have been taken into accommodation,

"Hey, what do you lot know about this mission?" Davis asked his two allied Officers, "We heard it was something to do with fetching a book yeah?" Denison had kept the news of Rose's possession quiet to prevent a dip in morale. Rose was well liked by her crew and they would be anxious and stressed about her safety, something Denison did not need.

All the Neo Kirisubans knew was they were going down to the surface on a special mission. Something involving a book they had to recover.

She helping each other with their helmets they listened for more information. Presumably a briefing would follow before they left so they'd know what they were up against.

"We heard that as well" Ensign Komatsu replied just before her own helmet was sealed.

Once the suits were entirely contained and sealed, the communications links in-between suit users would come online. Sanderson nodded. "There's an artifact under guard in the Temple we need to retrieve. It is essential to this entire operation."
The Exeuctive Officer prepared them for beaming, flipping on her own communications link. She would brief them, then send them down, the Inescapable being their eye-in-the-sky for as long as they were above ground. After they entered the Temple communications would be cut off, and the team would be on their own.

"An artifact?" Davis raised his eyebrows but still nodded, "I see, we are going in to nick something from that temple. Who is it for?" He was probing for information.

"If its essential we'll get it" Ensign Komatsu replied being the de-facto leader of her ships team even although they were the same rank.

"What do we know about what we'll face in the temple?" she also asked curiously but with a warriors professionalism and confidence.

"I see, we are going in to nick something from that temple. Who is it for?"
Sanderson was about to answer when the X.O.s voice came over their communications. "It's considered an object of great, perhaps priceless, historical and cultural value to the Xiscapian people. On a more direct relation, the artifact is a book which may be influencing the strange happenings around the Temple. If we can take it, the removal may free us to land in the area and being mining of the crystals we were originally sent here for and excavation of the newly surfaced town and Temple."

She had told them the truth, only leaving out that getting it might be vital to the survival of Rose. It Denison felt, they needed to keep the morale of the soldiers up and confident. If they thought their second-in-command was being controlled by an otherworldly force, then who knows how they might view the planet, or even this entire mission?
"What do we know about what we'll face in the temple?"
"From what we have seen," the X.O. replied in a crisp voice, "there are two kinds of guards: Eight foot tall statues, which are immune to normal blaster fire, hence the new weapons, and equally strong undead. Aside from these there seems to be a energy weapon of some kind located at the top of the temple, although this only seems to be used against air attacks, and of course the holes that dragged down a number of Imitator soldier and vehicles. Inside the temple itself it is unlikely you will need to worry about holes or energy beams, but Hoplite warriors, both stone and dead flesh, probably still patrol the temple and the surronding area. Your objective is to infiltrate the temple, find the book in the center room, and escape with it to the outside where you can be beamed up. We cannot insert you by beaming directly due to interference, so you will be beamed just outside the temple. A map of the temple, or at least what has been seen, has been uploaded into your HUDs. Your entry point will be the same that the three took earlier. Any questions before the operation commences?"
"Speechless huh, well your the first non-imitator to ever walk these streets, consider it a discovery Oan you should definately get rewarded for this back on Xscapia."
"Indeed," said Oan blandly, recovering his ability to speak. The scientist was careful not to show any fear, only a scientific professional curiosity.
*The land must stay undisturbed. We cannot allow it to be disturbed. The dead cannot be disturbed*
-As you wish- said the Ambassador passively. -Your possession of this kitsune disturbs us. Why must you use her as a meduim to communicate though?-

Davis listened to the whole briefing and gave a nod at the end of it,
"None" He shouldered his new rifle, "When do we hit the surface?" Was all he asked.

-Your possession of this kitsune disturbs us. Why must you use her as a meduim to communicate though?-

Rose looked at her with dead eyes,
*She opened our Book of the Dead. The soul of our people survive in that book. You need to leave. She will make you leave*

*She opened our Book of the Dead. The soul of our people survive in that book. You need to leave. She will make you leave*
-And why must we leave? We are not disturbing you now-
"When do we hit the surface?"
"T-minus thirty seconds," came her reply.
OOC: Wait for NK.

Emi looked over at her team and said "We're ready. We also know about the undead.

We were children when the dead rose and our world died. I'd like to send some more into oblivion."

The story of how New Kirisubo died was not widely known but these samurai had lived through it as children and seen the dead walk because of a bio weapon.

They could deal with these ancient undead as a result.

The Alversians just nodded and laughed,
"Let's go treasure hunting" Davis stated in the most mockingly macho voice he could, then he looked about for his two comrades who were shaking their heads,
"What? Can't a guy make a joke every now and then?"

-And why must we leave? We are not disturbing you now-

*You will not leave* Her voice remained calm and her eyes dead, *You want what they wanted. You cannot have them. You will not have them!* Her voice rose in volume until it was as loud as thunder, it shattered pipes and threw equipment across the room and plunged it into semi-darkness. The Medics took a step back in fright and one of them wasted no time in tapping his earpiece,
"Security Team to the Medical Bay"

"Three...two...one...mark!"
The team of ten vanished with a bright flash and reappeared on the surface, inside the town next to a depleted one-story house. Sanderson, Sergeant Dawnkins, Private Wickershi and Private Alkis fanned out, heads swiviling, phaser rifles up, ready in case of an attack.
*You want what they wanted. You cannot have them. You will not have them!*
-Now, now,- murmured the Ambassador softly, -no need for violence.-

Davis, Atkins and Jenkins hit the ground at the same time as the other seven members and immediately, they too fanned out, looking for some evidence of an attack or an ambush. But there was nothing and that surprised them.
"I thought this was supposed to be dangerous" Jenkins said as he lifted his rifle over his shoulder

Armorai

*We died by violence,* Rose thundered, *We live by violence. Leave this planet alone or you will all perish*

The three samurai fanned out one taking point and the others the flanks.

After flicking the safeties of their rifles Ensign Komatsu was on point and consulted her HUD. So far they hadn't attracted attention but this luck couldn't hold for long. So she scampered ahead a few feet checking her suits tracking device and keeping a sharp eye open.

"I thought this was supposed to be dangerous"
Just wait, thought Sanderson darkly. Aloud, he scythed his hand forward. "Forward," he barked over the communicators, unheard by anything outside. The enterence to the temple lay ahead, a great yawning stairway into blackness.
*We live by violence. Leave this planet alone or you will all perish*
Live by the sword, die by the sword. Thought the Ambassador. She continued to sit in the same fashion as before, apparently unconcerned and undisturbed.
-Can you not see we are your own brothers and sisters?- she asked.

The three Marines moved forward in the centre of the group. They held their rifles tensely and peered ahead for any sign of danger in the inky blackness of the temple. All around them were the bodies of Imitators cut clean in two or still lying with vast spears hanging from their bodies.

-Can you not see we are your own brothers and sisters?-

*We have no brothers and sisters!* Rose cried again, *Leave. Or we will kill her*

They may have been entering the inky blackness but these samurai were alert and fearless.

Emi passed point onto one of her sisters in battle as their HUD's would keep them right. They were showing up on the map as would any attackers as they ventured deeper into the temple.

Wickershi bent down on one knee, feeling one of the spears impaling the body of a wasp-like Imitator, having burst the strange, bumpy sack at the bottom of the insect, spraying goo everywhere. Fluids were leaking from the bodies, probably as a last-ditch Imitator attempt to infect attackers with cells. Unfortunatly for them, undead and stone cannot be infected by mere cells. Standing, he shook his head and the team continued down into darkness, the kitsune seeing naturally in the dark, the others aided by their night-vision built-in to the suits.
*Leave. Or we will kill her*
Where in all the Forgotten Realms is security?
-If you kill her,- said the Ambassador calmly, -there is nothing stopping us from taking your planet apart. You lose your only advantage. All we want is an orbit over here. Is that so bad?-
A dangerious move, one that could backfire incredibly easily with fatal results. The Ambassador hoped the spirit could see reason and logic, rather than the almost mindless continutation on the theme of "leave or die."

The three Alversian Marines were just ahead of the main group, flashing the torches from their rifles on the walls and roof. They were nervously and sweat ran down their faces under the suits as they moved forward.

Ship

At that point, an Alversian Security team of a half-dozen Men appeared in the doorway to the Medical Bay. However, Rose snarled and hovered in the air, throwing her bed towards the Marines. It connected with them and knocked them to the ground,
Rose turned and looked at the Ambassador,
*You have chosen death*
She flew from the Medical Bay zooming about four feet from the floor. One of the Marines, winded, struggled to his feet and muttered something into his helmet com.

The Neo Kirisuban's covered the Alversians as the undead had still to show themselves.

They were making good time and Emi was directing her team with commands in clipped Kirisuban.

They had trained for missions like this back home and they could deal with anything the temple could throw at them. Their weapons could atomise anything that got in the way of a phaser blast.

"I see, we are going in to nick something from that temple. Who is it for?"
Sanderson was about to answer when the X.O.s voice came over their communications. "It's considered an object of great, perhaps priceless, historical and cultural value to the Xiscapian people. On a more direct relation, the artifact is a book which may be influencing the strange happenings around the Temple. If we can take it, the removal may free us to land in the area and being mining of the crystals we were originally sent here for and excavation of the newly surfaced town and Temple."

She had told them the truth, only leaving out that getting it might be vital to the survival of Rose. It Denison felt, they needed to keep the morale of the soldiers up and confident. If they thought their second-in-command was being controlled by an otherworldly force, then who knows how they might view the planet, or even this entire mission?
"What do we know about what we'll face in the temple?"
"From what we have seen," the X.O. replied in a crisp voice, "there are two kinds of guards: Eight foot tall statues, which are immune to normal blaster fire, hence the new weapons, and equally strong undead. Aside from these there seems to be a energy weapon of some kind located at the top of the temple, although this only seems to be used against air attacks, and of course the holes that dragged down a number of Imitator soldier and vehicles. Inside the temple itself it is unlikely you will need to worry about holes or energy beams, but Hoplite warriors, both stone and dead flesh, probably still patrol the temple and the surronding area. Your objective is to infiltrate the temple, find the book in the center room, and escape with it to the outside where you can be beamed up. We cannot insert you by beaming directly due to interference, so you will be beamed just outside the temple. A map of the temple, or at least what has been seen, has been uploaded into your HUDs. Your entry point will be the same that the three took earlier. Any questions before the operation commences?"
"Speechless huh, well your the first non-imitator to ever walk these streets, consider it a discovery Oan you should definately get rewarded for this back on Xscapia."
"Indeed," said Oan blandly, recovering his ability to speak. The scientist was careful not to show any fear, only a scientific professional curiosity.
*The land must stay undisturbed. We cannot allow it to be disturbed. The dead cannot be disturbed*
-As you wish- said the Ambassador passively. -Your possession of this kitsune disturbs us. Why must you use her as a meduim to communicate though?-

Charley hit the hyperdrive of the Nova class "MEDUSA" and they were on there way back to Terracropolis, that same city that had decimated Imitator forces. Charley turned to Oan again " We have decided you have seen enough my freind, we are taking you back to Xscapian forces, and as a suvinear I give you this." he said holding out a chrome Orb device, slits were carved all around it and it glowed with a light blue. " This can be used to communicate with the Alliance from long ranges, maybe you might have other quesitons in the future."

Planet

Sherk easily smelt the re-invading Xscapian,Alversian,NK forces. His infered HUD picked them up easily, although his goggled would need to change function to learn how to spot the undead warriors. He wondered why they needed to enter the temple, hadnt they seen what those undead Kitsune had done?

The Alversian's were on point, the NK rearguard, the Xiscapians in the middle. Nothing amiss, aside from Imitator corpses, could be seen. But by the map they were still some time from the center. Hurrying along at a jogging pace, Sanderson kept his eye on the goal.
The book.
And with it, hopefully, Rose's salvation.
Ship...
The Ambassador sighed to herself, standing and brushing away tiny singed spots and flecks of dust from her robes. That went well. "You must capture and restrain her by any means nessicary." she said quietly, though she knew full well that it was not her place to order any Alversian anything.
MEDUSA
"Many thanks," said Oan, slipping the device into his pocket. The thing would undoubtably prove useful, and now he had information about the Imitators from seeing the assimilation first hand and an Imitator city.

The MEDUSA exited hyperspace in Orbit over the world of the undead. Charley hailed the Xscapian vessle in orbit. " Request returning Kitsune Scientist, how do you comply?"

Planet

Sherk was now on the hunt, he began to run at almost sprinting speed towards them, still engaged with his cloak, he needed to gain ground fast, it seemed they were 300 yards away. If he lost them, it could mean the end of intelligent imitator presence upon this world.

They went deeper into the temple, into the tunnels, passing skeletons of Kitsune, invaders and Imitators alike. It seemed they had found the Imitators snatched from the surface after all,
"This is creepy" Jenkins sighed from the front of the group. After another few moments, they were back in the central room with the book,
"That was easy" Jenkins sighed, looking around the room. The book was still on the stone altar in the centre of the room.

Ship

"How can she have taken a shuttle?" Denison barked at his bridge crew in fury. All he got was a confused shrug and a sigh as he turned to watch Rose's shuttle dart down to the surface.

"There it is but we still need to get out of here afterwards" the careful Emi replied on her head set.

If there was going to be opposition it would most likely be on the way out.

Meanwhile Captain Megumi Ito had a bad feeling when she seen the shuttle leave. She didn't know about rose being possessed and it nearly too late to stop her.

Her own ship was engaged on a planetary survey and had other things to worry about. By now most of the wildlife had been catalogued as the scans continued to come in.

Sherk seemed to slide into the tunnel that was the entrance, it was rather dark, but he had his inferred HUD on, and he could see fine. A light sensor on his helmet could pick up enemys from thirty feet away.

"Request returning Kitsune Scientist, how do you comply?"
Beam him aboard the Inescapable. Anything unathorized comes with him, and it will be regarded as hostile intent and result in your being fired upon.
Temple...
Sanderson stepped forward to take the book but Sergeant Dawnkins beat him to it, snatching the book off the alter. "Got it!" he said trumphently, wondering why his Captain would send him on such a milk-run mission so heavily armed and supported. Alkis stood by the door, and Private Wickershi was standing next to Sanderson.
Inescapable...
"We could probably down the shuttle with a fighter after it gets into atmosphere but before it reaches the surface," suggested Winterfire.

Emi was carefully watching her HUD but still very alert.

"We're not out of the jungle yet" she advised knowing the undead could well be waiting for them outside the temple.

She was also watching carefully for any other sign of movement. The easiest way to pick up the expected enemy.

Jenkins looked at the book and laughed,
"That was too eas..." He suddenly choked as a massive javelin flew from the shadows and ran straight threw his body, not even slowing down. He simply gasped and dropped to the floor.
"What was that?" Davis panicked, looking around in horror.

Ship

"Don't shoot that shuttle!" Denison called over the hologram to both ships, "Rose is on it! Don't shoot that shuttle down!"
He watched as the shuttle flew down to the surface.

"We're not out of the jungle yet"
Nah, really?
Sanderson and the others watched in horror as the Alversian Marine died. The spear hadn't even been stopped by the incredibly thick Biohazard armor, going though like a knife though paper, although with rather more blood. Sanderson grabbed the book, turned, and sprinted for the exit.
"Run for it!"
The other three Xiscapians followed, looking over their shoulders.

The two surviving Marines were running for their lives through the tunnels, they were now behind the Xiscapians and ahead of the NK Forces. However, they were stunned as an undead Hoplite, appeared from nowhere and swung his katana at the lead Kitsune.

With Emi and her team following they located the source of the javelin attack with their night vision.

They all fired at the same target although it was hard to make it out. It would only take one hit to atomise or destroy it although.

They kept an eye on the rear as they fought their way out along with their allies.

Anything that wasn't wearing a hard suit would get turned into atoms.

They covered the rear but an undead hoplite was in the way of their allies in the front of the fighting formation.

The blade connected with Private Wickershi's armored chest. It wasn't enough to kill or even bruise him, but there was enough force behind the blow to put him on his butt. The other three Xiscapians fired over the head of their downed comrade at the Hoplite, deadly energy screaming toward's the undead.

The Hoplite screamed a loud piercing scream as he vapourised into dust. However, another javelin swung into the Xiscapian part of the formation with deadly accuracy.

Commander Abe on the Empress Keiko hear the transmission but couldn't do anything about the shuttle if she wanted to.

It streaked past her weapons range as well as past her tractor beam range.

###

Emi turned and added her firepower to the attack on the new hoplite while the other samurai held the rear. Two shots flew from her rifle at it.

Sergeant Dawnkins was hit though the stomach, dropping the book. He sank to his knees, gasps and groans sounding over their communicatons. Sanderson grabbed the book from the floor, blasting into the darkness with his rifle. Private Alkis knelt over her fallen Sergeant, firing in all directions with her gun to protect him. Private Wickershi sprinted after Sanderson, looking in all direction for more enemies.

More javelins started to fire out from all directions, they were aimed at all the troops and they flew at incredible speeds.

"Request returning Kitsune Scientist, how do you comply?"

Temple...
Sanderson stepped forward to take the book but Sergeant Dawnkins beat him to it, snatching the book off the alter. "Got it!" he said trumphently, wondering why his Captain would send him on such a milk-run mission so heavily armed and supported. Alkis stood by the door, and Private Wickershi was standing next to Sanderson.
Inescapable...
"We could probably down the shuttle with a fighter after it gets into atmosphere but before it reaches the surface," suggested Winterfire.


Charley turned to Oan and put his hand out to shake " Our people may see eye to eye Oan....one day Oan...one day.." The beam began charging to beam him away.

Planet

Sherk stopped at the entrance, hearing the screams, he decided he would wait for any of them to exit, he stayed in cloak and pulled out his blade.

Emi was hit in her left leg and even in pain kept fighting. Her leg had given out for now. So kneeling she blazed away.

This might be her last battle but she'd die with honour. Her other samurai hadn't been hit yet but they blazed away at the targets they could see, the range of the phaser rifles helpful as the undead came into sight.

The battle was frenzied and one these mortals may not win. That wouldn't stop the samurai from battling although.

Sergeant Dawnkins, a static target, made easy prey for the javelins, two sticking into his chest, killing him. Standing, Private Alkis tried to make it back to the NK, but she was impaled though her right arm, forcing her to drop her rifle and fall to the ground. Private Wickershi dodged a javelin, only to have it fly at Sanderson, who turned in time to see it on a direct path with his chest. He lifted the book and, to his amazement, the weapon bounced off when it should have gone though. Dawning light was visible at the enterance, and Sanderson sped for it, with Private Wickershi running back to assist Private Alkis and the NK samurai and Alversian Marines.
"Our people may see eye to eye Oan....one day Oan...one day.."
Oan bowed to Charley instead of shaking. "Perhaps..." he murmured, clutching the orb in his pocket.

Oan was beamed away, the blue light engulfing him.

PLANET

The "MEDUSA" began beaming down a small task force to the entrance of the cave, this included twelve Alliance marines(6 Calaverians, 3 Swarmites, and three Balderians). A battlecar was also put in front of the Cave, but not directly in front.

Davis was almost outside the temple when he was struck with a javelin in the lower back. He gasped and collapsed into a heap while the third and final Marine also collapsed with a javelin sticking out of his neck.

Outside, there was an Army of Hoplites, some dead, some made of stone, some with sword wounds some without heads All were carrying swords or pikes. In the centre was Rose, she was floating so she was level with the Hoplites,
*You have something of mine* She muttered in old tongue.
They lashed out into the Imitator force, cutting and hacking with their weapons. Some even started to lift the battlecar into the air, tipping it onto it's side.

Rushing out into the sunlight, Sanderson hugged the book close. "C'mon, c'mon..." he muttered, staring at the Imitators fighting the Hoplites.
Tunnel...
Private Wickershi, running back, was speared though the neck, nearly seperating his head from his shoulders. He collapsed and died almost instantly, leaving Alkis the only survivor inside the tunnel aside from the still fighting NK behind her. Her rifle out of reach, she staggered along the wall towards daylight.

Emi and her samurai had killed the last of the enemy they could see in the rear and with her face screwed up in pain she drew her hand phaser. She could still shoot this right handed although there was a javelin through her left arm.

Dragging herself she ordered her team to keep moving with the aid of her allies. Feeling herself dragged by another samurai as well she could see the army of the dead waiting for her and a floating living kitsune.

"Emergency transport now. We have the book but blocked by enemy" she requested into her comm link hoping they were in beaming range by now. If not they just might see the next world fairly soon.

Still there was one ironic thing. Alliance marines could well distract the undead long enough for them to get away.

Rushing out into the sunlight, Sanderson hugged the book close. "C'mon, c'mon..." he muttered, staring at the Imitators fighting the Hoplites.
Tunnel...
Private Wickershi, running back, was speared though the neck, nearly seperating his head from his shoulders. He collapsed and died almost instantly, leaving Alkis the only survivor inside the tunnel aside from the still fighting NK behind her. Her rifle out of reach, she staggered along the wall towards daylight.

The Imitators opend fire with semi-auto blasting, the shots vaporized the undead in one shot, the battlecar refused to open fire so that it wouldnt take out its own men.

The Undead may have been vapourised but there were a lot more of them and javelins rained down on the Alliance troops. They managed to tip the Battlecar over and those Hoplites moved off to do their own slaughter.

Rose was in front of Sanderson now, smiling a dead smile
*You have my book*

The marines began to fall back and fired stun shots towards the Xscapians and Alversians. The blue blasts streaked out across the grass. The battlecar was thrashed by the undead.

The stun shots just bounced off Sanderson's armor, reflecting back to the undead, which did nothing to them. He stuck out his middle finger and vanished, along with the wounded Private Alkis and the NK team. A beam also hit and took up Rose, against her will.
Inescapable...
The party landed in the hanger bay, where they were surronded by Marines. Protected by their suits from stun blasts, the Marines liberally opened fire on the team, trying to hit and knock out Rose.

Emi now lying on her side and in extreme pain was firing at the Alliance troops who where trying to take them alive.

Her phaser was still on kill and she'd send as many of them as she could to the next world. She remembered the engineers they'd lost earlier.

Then she felt the comforting effect of the transporter beam blacking out when her team arrived back on board.

That left Ensign Hoshino as the next in line as she toggled her kill setting to heavy stun, the colleague having to do the same.

Rose was hit and fell to the ground, stunned again. None of the Alversian Marines had survived.

OOC: NK, your whole team has been beamed up.
IC:
The Marines dragged Rose away to the brig, where she would be confined, possessed or not, until they could figure out the secrets of the book. Apart from Sanderson, only Alkis had managed to escape the world, and she was wounded, hit though her right arm. The javilin still stuck into her flesh though the armor, and she was immediatly rushed to the medical bay, along with Emi. This left Sanderson with the book and the remaining two NK standing in the hanger as the Exeuctive Officer approached.

Ensign Hoshino bowed seeing the XO but still terribly concerned for Emi.

"We got the book but only five of us made it back. There was also Alliance marines in the fight as well" she reported.

Rose was unconscious in the brig while scientists were reading and studying the book.
It was a history of the settlement, from the moment a ship first crashed on the planet, to the first house being built, to the mighty city, it's greatest hour as the centre of a city-state empire to it's fall in one last war. It also mentioned a curse to anyone who disturbed the book and the dead themselves. The occupier of Rose was non other than the High-Priest of the Temple who trapped his own body in the book to return if the city's ruins were threatened.

The Ambassador and Oan poured over the book, translating, copying and storing the information. Sanderson, out of his armor and in his off-duty uniform, strode in. The two told him what they had found, and he waved these away like they were worthless details. "Does it say anything about lifting the possession curse?" he asked, partially in fear for Rose and partially in irritation that this was taking so long.
Hanger...
The Executive Officer nodded. "We saw, the bodies will need to be collected later. As for the Imitators," she smiled predatorily, "I think they're in trouble."

The Hanger

"Well that makes a change and we'll have to go back to get our fallen comrades in arms at some point" Ensign Hoshino replied taking of her helmet. She also set the safety catch on her phaser rifle.

The engineers bodies hadn't been recovered either but that was another matter for the Empress Keiko.

"How much trouble if you don't mind me asking?" she added.

"How much trouble if you don't mind me asking?"
"See for yourself," said the Executive Officer simply. She extracted a tiny bronze colored disk from her belt and clicked a button, opening it. Underneth was a screen, feed from the Inescapable's scanner cameras magnified to show the ground battle. A Legion of undead were swarming over the Temple and town, the destroyed battlecar tipped onto it's side, crew slaughtered. A few dead Imitator Marines could be seen on the ground and the rest were trying to make a retreat away from the Temple. However, they were surronded by the zombie kitsune with little hope of escape.

The book gave only one cure to the Possession. The book had to be restored to it's resting place and the blood of the one who opened it spilled on it's golden pages as well as a sample of pure Kitsune blood to show that no harm was meant and that the Invader was willing to spill their own blood to defend the City's ruins.

"That could just have easily have been us" Ensign Hoshino replied in a quiet voice looking over to her colleague as she watched the trouble the Alliance marines were in.

Luck had favoured them in the mission, the Alliance forces giving the undead somebody else to fight.

"Please would there any chance of seeing Emi? I'm sure she was badly injured with two javelins sticking out of her and she's my room mate" she also asked sounding concerned. Not only were they samurai on the same ship. They were also room mates and lovers.

Oan, the Ambassador and Sanderson considered this. Who exactly had been the first to open the book? Rose. This would kill two birds with one stone, Rose being the one to open the book and also pure kitsune, so spilling her blood should fit the requirements of repressing the possession. But first they actually had to transport Rose to the surface and get back into the Temple, keeping her sedated the whole time in case the High Priest came back whilst avoiding the Hoplite guards.
"Please would there any chance of seeing Emi? I'm sure she was badly injured with two javelins sticking out of her and she's my room mate"
The Executive Officer shook her head. "Maybe, but don't get your hopes up. Your friend is in very critical condition. She might not even be concious," The X.O. said as she messaged the medical bay. A few seconds later she turned back and nodded. "Emi is stable, and has requested to see you immediatly."

a massive energy spike would be picked up by the three Race's that where in the area as a large worm hole open as Imperial Isan Navy Imperium (http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t69/zxc_047/Imperial%20MT%20rifle/FT%20Imperial%20ships/HeavyCapitalBattleshipImperiumClass.jpg)Heavy Capital Battleship drops into the same galaxy as them from another galaxy not from the Void as Xiscapian or the Alversian would think it had came from

ooc
Length: 9654 meters long
Beam: 684 meters
Height: 954 meters

The Neo Kirusuban's bowed after being given leave by the female XO and headed up to the medical bay.

Emi was stable but not fully awake having been heavily dosed up with pain killers.

She did get a kiss from her roommate although and they were able to talk for a little while before Ensign Hoshino and the other samurai were chased out. Emi did still need to rest after all.

###

On the Empress Keiko Commander Abe looked at the massive starship which dwarfed any of the ships present. Even the Alliance ship still in the general area whose forces were being turned into mince meat.

"Have we seen anything like this before?" she asked the tactical officer. She certainly hadn't but a check of the computer records might be able to identify who owned this ship.

Scans showed it to be heavily armed and almost like a city in space. As of yet its intentions were still unknown.

Empress Keiko Scans would all so pick the Warp Cannon that was mounted in the ship was on line along with the Lance's and other weapons ,as well the ships shields where up for battle

"We've a match Commander. Its an Imperial Isa starship running with weapons hot.

We do have diplomatic relations with them but this is the first recorded starship contact we know about."

Commander Abe paused for thought and said "open a visual channel."

"This is Commander Abe of the Neo Kirisuban Starship 'Empress Keiko'. We recognise you as a friendly nation and how can we help you today?" she asked.

If the visual link was picked up they'd see a small oriental woman with long black hair which went all the way down her back. She wore the knee length black skirt, thigh high black boots along with a red wrap over jacket (think the early ST films). A crossed katana comm badge could be seen over her right breast and she was in her late 20's.

"We've a match Commander. Its an Imperial Isa starship running with weapons hot.

We do have diplomatic relations with them but this is the first recorded starship contact we know about."

Commander Abe paused for thought and said "open a visual channel."

"This is Commander Abe of the Neo Kirisuban Starship 'Empress Keiko'. We recognise you as a friendly nation and how can we help you today?" she asked.

If the visual link was picked up they'd see a small oriental woman with long black hair which went all the way down her back. She wore the knee length black skirt, thigh high black boots along with a red wrap over jacket (think the early ST films). A crossed katana comm badge could be seen over her right breast and she was in her late 20's.

Soulstorm

"we have a AI Ball at there home don't we"asked Clone to another

"ship main say we do" said the other back to the first as a Clone who was the Captain enter

"voice message back"said Captain as he sit down



Commander Abe ,iam 321 Captain of INS Soulstorm you can tell us,before ths mess you now have,if someone found a cave and enter it to find a unkown language and odd drawings on the walls

"I'm sure you've scanned the surface already Captain Iam. Our allies discovered a temple on this world and it has caused a lot of trouble already.

The undead army that inhabits this world has already resisted an attempt by the AIW to take this world.

The Xiscapian's and Alversion's would know more details although. So far we're doing a full planetary and life sign survey" she replied still in voice because 2 way visual contact hadn't been established.

"I'm sure you've scanned the surface already Captain Iam. Our allies discovered a temple on this world and it has caused a lot of trouble already.

The undead army that inhabits this world has already resisted an attempt by the AIW to take this world.

The Xiscapian's and Alversion's would know more details although. So far we're doing a full planetary and life sign survey" she replied still in voice because 2 way visual contact hadn't been established.

"oh boy, Abe the captain did not ask you what going on ,as that got nothing to do with us, and yes we have scan the planet and find shit lots of caves, we thought we ask you first to see if you may of find it an save time in sending a lot of recon drones down " said a new voice

Hearing a new voice Commander Abe replied "the survey is almost complete and we will freely share what we find out.

The planetary map is ready if you want it transmitted to yourself and yes we did find the network of caves but haven't been able to explore them.

I wouldn't recommend setting foot on the surface although as interesting as this planet is. The inhabitants know when a mortal sets foot on it and they don't stay alive for very long.

The Alliance marines found that out to their cost."

Hearing a new voice Commander Abe replied "the survey is almost complete and we will freely share what we find out.

The planetary map is ready if you want it transmitted to yourself and yes we did find the network of caves but haven't been able to explore them.

I wouldn't recommend setting foot on the surface although as interesting as this planet is. The inhabitants know when a mortal sets foot on it and they don't stay alive for very long.

The Alliance marines found that out to their cost."

"pfft chaos warp planet are far worst then things you can drop with a bullet to the head, oh we clearing a LZ" said the same voice that taken over the talking


hour later the Soulstorm open fire on a area the size of new york city

The kitsune nurse present had blushed a deep red when the two shipmates kissed and she now bent over her patient, peeling the sheets off her. Underneath the oriental women wore a short green paper hospital dress to conserve her modesty, and the nurse hiked one sleeve up to expose the bandaged arm and shoulder. They'd managed to stop the bleeding and disinfect the wound, but it was likely the NK women would never have full use of her arm again.

Alkis was lying in a bed next to Emi, in far better condition. She was, however, unconscious and heavily sedated.
Bridge...
Captain Winterfire brought up a visual link between the NK and Alversian Captains. "I beleive we have found a way to reverse the possession of you First Officer," he told Denison. "Rose, escorted by Sanderson, will be taken down to the surface. The requirements state that the book must be restored to it's resting place and the blood of the one who opened it spilled across it's pages. A sample of pure kitsune blood must also be planted there. However, it did not say a fatal wound must be inflicted, and because Rose is a Xiscapian, it will fullfill both requirements."

At that moment the Executive Officer looked up.
"Captain! The Isan ship has opened fire on the planet!"
Winterfire looked striken. "Power up weapons and shields and contact them immediatly!"
As the Inescapable brought it's shields up and weapons online a message was sent to the Soulstorm:
Attention Isan ship: Cease fire on the planet immediatly or face the consequences of your actions. If you do not stand down at once it will be considered an act of war.

Emi was drowsy and her eyes felt heavy as her lover left the sickbay. She wasn't to know yet she'd lose the use the use of that arm but she looked over at the nurse all the same.

"How bad is it nurse?" she asked in a weak voice needing to know. A warrior who couldn't fight had a limited future.

###

Bridge...
Captain Winterfire brought up a visual link between the NK and Alversian Captains. "I beleive we have found a way to reverse the possession of you First Officer," he told Denison. "Rose, escorted by Sanderson, will be taken down to the surface. The requirements state that the book must be restored to it's resting place and the blood of the one who opened it spilled across it's pages. A sample of pure kitsune blood must also be planted there. However, it did not say a fatal wound must be inflicted, and because Rose is a Xiscapian, it will fullfill both requirements."

At that moment the Executive Officer looked up.
"Captain! The Isan ship has opened fire on the planet!"
Winterfire looked striken. "Power up weapons and shields and contact them immediatly!"
As the Inescapable brought it's shields up and weapons online a message was sent to the Soulstorm:
Quote:
Attention Isan ship: Cease fire on the planet immediatly or face the consequences of your actions. If you do not stand down at once it will be considered an act of war.

Captain Ito listened and replied "if we do return the book will that mean we can come to some kind of arrangement with the restless dead? It seems they'll get what they want but what about the crystals on the planet?"

Trapped on the Inescapable Megumi contacted her first officer and ordered in Kirisuban "watch and observe for now. Scan the area after it gets blasted for imitated cells."

This was all they could do but if the blast did kill the cells it might be the beginning of an idea.

Attention Isan ship: Cease fire on the planet immediatly or face the consequences of your actions. If you do not stand down at once it will be considered an act of war.

#yur good for you now go play with the undead and (NC race whos name i forget) as we go down and play with the things of darkness,as we find the cave we looking for#


from Soulstorm bays pelican dropship head to the cleared area where the cave was

OOC: TG, Xis

The Armorai came down in front of the Isan ship and broadcast her own message,
"The lives of one of my crew rests on that planet. Do NOT destroy it or you will be at war with the Alversian Republic". They need to get to the planet and no damn Empire was getting in their way.

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

Other than that, Denison gave his permission to land on the surface and try to get Rose back to the Temple. If it succeeded then they could leave and forget this whole thing. If not, she was as good as dead.

"How bad is it nurse?"
The nurse bit her lip. "We haven't run any tests, but you might not ever have full use of your arm. As it is the wound will take weeks to heal fully, rendering you incapacitated as a soldier."
"if we do return the book will that mean we can come to some kind of arrangement with the restless dead? It seems they'll get what they want but what about the crystals on the planet?"
"So far," said Winterfire gravely, "all attempts at diplomacy have failed. Returning the book only, as far as we know, releases the curse. We might be able to come to an arrangement with the undead, but in any event, the Empire needs those crystals."
OOC@ISA:
Okay, dude, I said you could do a flyby, not mount a full-scale operation. People generally take offense when you shoot the crap out of the planet they're studying, and it was completely ineffective, if your aim was to get rid of Imitator cells. The entire planet's been infected. If your aim was to destroy the undead, you've just blown up the Temple and surrounding city, which kills the entire plot for the RPG. I gave you authorization to drop in, say hi, and leave, not shoot the planet and start landing troops. Do you understand me?

OOC: TG, Xis

The Armorai came down in front of the Isan ship and broadcast her own message,
"The lives of one of my crew rests on that planet. Do NOT destroy it or you will be at war with the Alversian Republic". They need to get to the planet and no damn Empire was getting in their way.

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

Other than that, Denison gave his permission to land on the surface and try to get Rose back to the Temple. If it succeeded then they could leave and forget this whole thing. If not, she was as good as dead.

#slow are you not you can see we claerd a LZ for our troops or you lot still pissed off by the ? #

OOC ok what is NC race this time ?