NationStates Jolt Archive

Commander Charles baker stood on the semi spacious bridge of the UTS Arleigh Burke, he looked around at the glimmering and changing holographic panels that floated over utilitarian yet smooth consoles that graced the insides of the bridge, he had just gotten command of this new class of heavy destroyer.. What a shakedown cruise though he thought to himself, his mission was simple, escort a convoy of colony ships and automated mining ships to several systems in a sector on the other side of sol, towards the center of the galaxy.

The UTF had already built up a considerable sized state rim ward bordering chronosia and many other nations , but it was time to not only explore beyond the other side of sol but to also build up an infrastructure capable of supporting population in the area, as an outpost to the new and fascinating worlds that existed on that side.

Charles looked over to his younger xo who was spending time looking at the tactical map, Resting upon a smooth metal console in the center of the well lit bridge. Charles spoke out in an obviously dull voice, his hands resting on his legs as he sat down on the hovering chair resting back.

“Hey Jim, anything on sensors, any sign of life besides planets, rocks… suns and gas?” The younger Xo responded, standing up sternly from his somewhat crunched up position leaning over the smooth console.

“Nothing Commander, nothing that we can tell is alive any way, just us and the colony ships, and the two other destroyers we have with us. “

The commander sighed resting his hands on the armrests of the chair looking out of the holographic viewer; he saw nothing but endless wafts of space. The Arleigh Burke was a brand new heavy destroyer, its two sister ships, the UTS stern and the UTS John Jones, were also completed at the same time as the Arleigh Burke and launched for this mission.

They slowly moved through the endless void of space, towards a yellow hot burring ball of plasma, with rocky bodies around it, the large convoy contained countless people; automated mining ships followed the large massive colony ships. The destroyers were on either side of the convoy with the Arleigh Burke in front.
Charles sighed waving his hand over to a service bot that had brought him a steaming hot cup of coffee, he said with a gentle nod.

“Thanks put it down on the table … man I wish we had something interesting happen..”
He yawned a bit picking up the steaming metal cup of coffee placing it to his supple lips , his blue eye peering out towards the darkness of space just off to the side of the burning star.. Droplets of coffee entered his mouth as he placed the cup back to the table. He made a semi odd face making an idle comment as he looked to his cup.

“A bit strong… what did you put in this?” he asked the sentient bot who replied in a soft female voice.

“The usually percentage and parts per million of coffee verses water and… “She was cut off by the commander who shook his head and sat back.
“a little … strong… but it’s ok..” he said to the Bot who had just shrugged and walked away.

The commander had failed to read the part where the Kewen would be coming to assist, though thankfully his crew would remind him before he had the audacity to order a ship wide general quarters call for being spooked..


The XO went back to his chair sitting down and folding his legs over one another peering over to the commander then to the Tactical console, he was wondering what would happen if anything came in to the system. He and the crew had a pool, especially with the feisty second officer involved; she was something he thought obviously attracted to her… the pool measured several scenarios, most notably involving the captain shooting at the unknown ships right away. Or trying to make contact, many of the crew thought he would do the former, the XO was in the pool with an advantage, if the commander tried to shoot at the ships. He would step in and stop him, thus winning the bet…

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d110/USFU/HeavyDestoryer.jpg

The kewen had been contacted by the TFU on a colonisation expediation a joint venture, so in natural friendship the kewen agreed a small colony fleet engaged their FTL drives and moved out to meet the TFU fleet at the system in question..

--- hours later ---

The colony fleet emerged from the Hiveverse the rip closing behind them almost instantly closing off the alternate universe the twin massive 20km frieghters purchased from Allenean had gone under modifications the outer hull was barely unrecognisable underneath Bio-armour and large and deadly looking weapon emplacemets.. in truth they were just Colony ships not desgined for fighter but the others were 6 Deliverance class Battlecrusiers emerged from the Hive verse moments after the mammoth colony ships assuming escort position they moved towards the TFU fleet

"greetings TFU allies, we are the kewen Colony fleet here to assist in this joint venture" hailed the lead ship

Charles stood calling the ship to red alert before he heard the rest of the message he chuckled a bit as his XO stood over and said.

“Sir, those are our allies..”

Charles shook his head and coughed a bit saying has he placed his hands to the side of his pants.

“Of course well I’m uhh sorry for that outburst, I’ve been slightly skittish..“
Jim sighed and just shrugged, he had won the bet alright, he proceeded to sit on another chair several meters away from the captains chair manipulating a console floating in front of him.

Charles said with a rather commanding voice as he sat back on his own floating chair, his hands folded over his lap.

“Send a reply”

A blip was heard and he started to speak his voice reverberating through to the other ships.
“This is the UTS Arleigh Burke, we acknowledge your presence, and are prepared to cover your efforts in this system”
This system was quite unique, it was rich in resources, it had oddly enough more than one habitable planet, each with a different specific environment, it seemed like the system had been engineered millions of years ago and just left to grow in to its current state. Planets covered in water, jungle, forests, desert badlands and various other environments dotted most of the inner system.

The Arleigh Burke Lead the Federation colony ships in to the system at full speed, its New RWC-1980 Mark four Gravimetric impulse drives at two percent power pushing the ship already at high fractions of C, the ship glimmered it was only 355 meters long but it looked intimating and powerful , as it lead the charge of grey metal masses towards the habitable systems .

Jim looked at sensors, he saw nothing but Kewen ships and their own, no one else nothing out there besides planets, allies and them.. This indeed might have been the start of a long boring trip. Charles was getting cabin fever already; he was twiddling his thumbs and fingers waiting for something to happen.

[[OOC: If this wasn't the sort of thing you were looking for let me know and I'll delete the post.]]

Port Verdant, Frost’s System, Galactic West of main Ventish Empire

The fleet had appeared in a system found some few years ago by Sir Jacob Frost, an explorer acting under charter from His Majesty, King Victor IV of Ventuus. Its arrival had sparked not a little bit of surprise amongst the soldiers in the sprawling town upon the forested example of the immediately habitable worlds. A man in a red and white uniform saluted to a gentleman who looked as if he had strolled out of a Regency portrait.

‘Governor. Fleet inbound on our position, a significant number of vessels but still far out in the system. Orders?’

The governor carefully placed his gold-rimmed spectacles on his nose and inspected the dataslate handed to him by the young officer and passed his cane to the waiting “gentleman’s gentleman” behind him. His voice was perfectly level and calm.

‘Young man, do stop hopping about. You are an officer of His Majesty’s army, not some Ophelian conscript. Stand up straight boy; don’t let the common men see any fear. Hmm. Send this by ethergram to Raithwaite, call up the guard and make certain that the defence satellites are functioning.’

The subaltern saluted smartly, straightening himself up. ‘Yes Your Excellency, at once!’

A drum roll echoed throughout the military compound on the world, the civilian town around it as yet being blissfully unaware of the arrival of a potentially hostile fleet. Soldiers ran through the white stone buildings, underground corridors and into the command posts that controlled the ring of defensive satellites.

Unidentified fleet, greetings and salutations in the name of His Imperial Majesty, Victor IV, lord of Ventuus, its dominions, dependencies and territories, and of all who dwell therein. You have entered space claimed by the United Worlds of Ventuus and communicate with Governor the Hon. Sir William Waverley. We would be most honoured by a visit of a delegation of your peoples to discuss your presence and purpose, and request that your fleet remain in the extremities of the system.

The message sent, Sir William tapped his chin with the silver fish that adorned the top of his black walking cane.

‘How are we doing Major?’

‘Your Excellency, Captain Fellbrook of His Majesty’s Frigate Polshire reports that he is at readiness and is on the opposite side of the planet to the approaching fleet to avoid sensors, satellites are also ready if necessary. Sir, I am certain I do not need to tell you that we cannot poss-‘

‘Then do not tell me so, Sir! I know full well that we “cannot possibly”. We also “cannot possibly” evacuate the civilian population in time if they are hostile.’

He glares down at the shorter man, fairly bristling with gentlemanly indignation.

‘Do you propose we try to save ourselves and leave the women and children to burn? No Major, if we want salvation we must look to common decency, ourselves and to Raithwaite.’

(OOC: its fine :P)
Charles stood up he raised an eyebrow as he heard the message through the comns. Jim looked up at with the message played back louder as jim manipulated the floating holographic panel. Charles said to his XO as he folded his arms around him.
“Engage communications, let’s send them a message”

Jim did just that, with the assistance of the AI, they triangulated origin of the message and opened a channel, the commander began to speak.

“This is Commander Charles baker of the UTS, Arleigh Burke we did not detect any life in this system before we entered, and we apologize for any in convenience we have caused you, I represent the United Terran Federation”

Of course the ships had come to a stop at that point; they stood in the center of the system, dwarfing several asteroids passing by. Their bodies glimmered gently in the light of the star.

Mean while the colony ships were getting ready to jump out again it looked like this system was inhabited so they would have to find yet another system to scout out to land colonist in to. The Destroyers had grouped up in a defensive line around the civilian vessels; they did hope these new people were somewhat reasonable and not war like. Jim continued to look at sensor readings and star maps trying to find a place for them to scout out next, because it was obvious this system was inhabited and they would not be able to colonize it. That and the UTF was not in the business of blatant imperialism.

Once sensors focussed upon the forested world was not surprisingly that life had not been detected. The colony at Port Verdant was certainly not large by interstellar standards with a population of around twenty thousand Ventish civilians and a small garrison. There was some mining and resource collection going on but nothing to the scale that would indicate a large colony fleet had been through. The entire affair had much more the air of a settlement that had been there for a few decades but with a very relaxed attitude toward further colonisation. Either that or the Ventish forces had been occupied elsewhere.

In space around this world there was a ring of satellites obviously intended for communication, resource mapping and defence. There are not many of them, perhaps enough to take down a small squadron before being destroyed but certainly unable to stand up to large fleets. The frigate Polshire was still hidden behind the world, its crew hoping for the best, but readying themselves for the worst.

There are no signs of attempted colonisation on any of the other worlds, although there is evidence of early mining efforts.

‘Governor, Sir, the approaching fleet appears to have come to a halt.

‘Hmm. At least these people seem civilised.’

The governor tapped his spectacles against his chin as he thought.

‘Send an ethergram to Raithwaite, ask to have something ready if they can but not to send anything in unless we ask for it. Let us invite our guests down.’

Commander Baker, there is no inconvenience when it may lead to encountering civilised unknown nations. I would be delighted to invite yourself and some of your senior officers to converse in a proper fashion in Port Verdant.