NationStates Jolt Archive

On the outer rim of the Fomer Kingdom of Tarsonis

Kast banked his valkarye fighter dodging a spray of fire. He could taste the salt of his blood as his body tried to surive the instense G forces. His inertia dampener had been knocked out but then... nothing about this mission had gone right. An unescorted pirate frigate carrying food and medical supplies. Not the thing usually missed by pirates, they only cared about material goods... usually. It should have been an easy in and out mission. Neutralize the ship beam the goods into their cargo shuttle and then high tail it back to Elumarnia. But as a wise man once said "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."

Using his psyonic abilities as best he could to conteract the forces Kast made another bank as fire put a quarter sized hole in is starbord wing. He would have been dead if one of the seven hadnt crossed over him drawing the fire.

"Thank you June... though you would have been in charge" he said knowing his wingmate had long desired his position.

Oh theres still time for that, but i prefer to be givin that honor, not inherit it... after all there would only be 6 of us then

Kast smiled as he flicked the switch morphing his fighter into its soldier mode. His fighter quickly turned into the Mobile Suit version bring its rifle up to bare at teh fighter taht had just peppered him. "Die you son of a bitch" Plasma erupted from the barrel ripping into the blind sighted fighter before it exploded into a ball of fire. A small bit of warmth in the cold vacume of space.

"Form up Horseman defend teh shuttle at all costs. That cruiser is givin her a pounding."
As he spoke more energy crashed over the shuttles shields. His wingmen responded their affirmations as they turned to engage the cruiser and its compliment of fighers. "God damned Sagiterians... How did they find us so fast?"

It seems sir that they were only half a light year away and recieved the freighter's distress call.

"Thank you hunter... now that we know why they're here lets making them leave with the same urgancy."

The seven valkaryie fighters, all that remained of the Tarsonain Military, cut through their enemies like a knife through smoke. Broken debri from destroyed fighters floated through the wake of their destruction. But it was to be expected. They were the best, their training had kept them alive these 10 years on the run, for once they were glad to actually be able to stand and fight.

"Stalion this is Work Horse, we can't take much more of this pounding. See if you can't draw their... OUR SHIELDS OUR COLLAPSING. THE REACTOR IS OVERLOADING!!!.... ADMIRAL!!!!

The Tarsonian Shuttle Avenger shuttered as her Bulkheads were crippled and gave way. Pure Oxygen ignited as fire consumed the lives of the crew and forced the hull outward. The Avenger was done.

"DAMNIT!" Kast yelled as he pounded his Com Display. "Failure was not an OPTION! Blast these spacerats into the abyss!!!"

June's voice crackled across the radio, panic clearly shown. Sir Two more ships coming in! We're cut off from Elumarnia!

Kasts mind raced. They needed an out and they needed it fast. Fighters would be on them any seccond. Quickly he scanned all possible routes of escape. He sighed as only one was feasable. "Horsemen bail out course 153 Alpha 9. Full speed well have to make a run for this. it'll either be safe haven... or scuicide."

The Seven arced away form battle Engines burning hot as they raced for their destination with enemy fighters quick on their heals.

Fighters eight hundred meeters and closing.. their reeling us in Admiral

Sweat poured down his brow, over the eye patch he now wore. "We'll make it."

INCOMING FIRE EVASIVE MANUEVERS!!

The Seven held formation as plasma screamed past their fighters. Dodging fire at this speed was dangerous but they couldnt slow. "Almost there men get across the border I'll hold them off." Kast pulled back on the engines bringing his aft weapons on line. He banked hard to port as he fired missles and plasma at the attackers. He then banked starboard flying through what felt like a cheese grater the fire was so thick.

"We're across admiral get out of there!!!

Kast came about making a bee line for his desination.

"Missle alert!"

Kast's heart pounded as his valkayrie pushed its engines to the limits. The mechanical voice alerted him of the time to impact... he wasn't going to make it. He braced and pulled the ejection handle as the timer reached zero. Explosive bolts fired and the cockpit section of his fighter blasted forward just as the missle impacted with the aft. Kast yelled as the explosion rocketed his pod forward in a blaze of glory as it crossed the border.

"Stalion this is Mustang, state your status.

Kast slumped back into his chair and smiled. "I'm dead in the water but alive."

"Roger that Stalion, enemy forces breaking off. Seems like they don't want to enter here,...where ever here is?

"Horsmen you have just entered the space owned by Z.A.F.T. They haven't had contact with a tarsoniain ship in over a decade. as far as they know.. were dead.... i hope they like ghosts. Send the distress call."

"Roger that sir, distress beacon transmitting now.

"I pray they remember me...."

Sector Alpha two Green six
ZAFT forces outer rim anti-piracy patrol

Another day on the job for the crew of the Lysithea patrolling for pirates in the outer rim territories. She was a small ship part of ZAFT's plan that started five years back to move away from the massive kilometer long ships that were a signature of ZAFT. The Lysithea her self was a standard cruiser, latest weapons and technology with a complement of the newest fighters/MS. Her and a small frigate were more then enough to deal with pirates that had been causing shippers problems.

On the bridge of the Lysithea the crew was calmly going about there business as normal, there had not been a contact in days when they picked up a distress call "Captain!" a officer shouted out.

"What is it Ensign?" the captain replied.

"Were picking up a distress call, it's faint but its coming from the border"

"Whats the transponder code say?"

"It's and old code the computer is analyzing it now...... Phoenix, what is the unknown code?" the ensign asked.

Transponder code is identified to be that of Kingdom of Tarsonis military craft

"Tarsonis? never heard of them before"

"that's because you were still in grade school when they disappeared boy, if it really is a remnant of that kingdom we owe it to them to help, prepare to launch rescue and fire up the FTL" the captain ordered. The crew followed his orders quickly and on the hanger deck one squad of AEMF-002 Akira's were prepped for launch along with to rescue craft. It only took two minutes for them to be ready to go. The captain gave the signal and the two ships jumped with the blink of an eye. Soon after with a flash of light they appeared at the target location. Four Akira's launched from the ship going right at the signals, they looked like normal fighter aircraft but as they approached they turned into mobile suits, ones easily recognizable as ones from ZAFT. The rescue craft soon followed along with a short transmission from the Lysithea

"This is the ZAFT forces cruiser Lysithea, Tarsonian forces are you in need of assistance?"

OOC: for reference this is the Lysithea (http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/ZAFT20/Nation%20States/bladerunnerclass.jpg) as you can see the design is much different from what your forces would of known so they might be a little surprised at first

ZAFT border 1938 hours

Kast shivered has he thrust his hands under his arms, trying to stave in enough warmth to keep him alive. Though it would do little good, he only had 3 minutes of life support left. Enough to keep him concious anyway. It had been two days since the battle with the Sagitarean Pirates. Two days, with engines burnt out, no hope of repair, and now... no hope of rescue. Kast stared down at the dim lights of his Com screen. the only system he could afford to keep running other than the necessary life support...everything else was shut down. he had to keep an eye on his friends. Their health moniters was all the com display showed... they were alive...for now. Unconcious... heart beat at only 40 beats per minute. More in a state of hibernation than actual life.

the only other recognizable screen on his com, was a timer... now it read 1 minute. 1 minute of life support left. Kast smiled as he watched the numbers wind down. Any other man would have panicked, desperately trying to save himself from his impending doom. But not this man. Calmly he sat back welcoming his coming death. Finally he would see his wife and daughter again. Finally he would see his friends again. Maybe there was a Kingdom of Tarsonis in the next life... he would soon find out. Kast sighed as the timer reached zero... soon he would be unconcious and then in 24 hours, he would be dead. At long last....

He could feel his conciousness slipping his vision was getting blurry. As he was about to finally embrace the long sleep the sound of beeping brought him down to reality. The com screen had reilluminated. Displaying...

Hyperspace window opening. One craft approaching....searching types... unknown make...Zodiac Alliance... Repeat in bound ZAFT craft unknown make.

God damnit Kast thought as his eyes finally shut..We're saved... and then he knew no more.

"This is rescue one, life support failing on there craft, rescue two take those ones we will take these ones" came word from the pilot of one of the rescue craft. It broke off and quickly got in range of the craft transporting the pilots aboard to a medical team waiting in the back on the craft. They then headed back to the ship, the Akira's would bring there craft into the hanger. After the two rescue craft recovered the survivors and landed on the ship and every one of the survivors were rushed to the medical division. After everything was recovered the Lysithea and her escort frigate which was hidden in her shadow jumped away again to head to the capital planet. During such time it would take a few hours even with the Lysithea's latest FTL drive. The survivors were given treatment for hypothermia and oxygen deprivation and the captain personally went down to medical to see them. He walked in and saw the survivors lying on beds being treated by the latest medical technology they had "It's been ten years since the last contact, heh who knows maybe some body at command knows one of them" he said.

Oovo

The dark side swirled over the mountains and valleys of the Amazonian Dominion, through sparkling nebulae, pulsating stars, and past glittering planets and rocky asteroids. It was an inherent part of life in a star empire that had been corrupted quite some time ago, a foul odor that inhabited what should have been a place of refuge and ideals thought out in relative safety. Instead, the Dominion, long since allowed to foster its own unique identity mostly shielded from the outside cultures and ideas of the galaxy, had thrown off its reigns of progress and change and now festered in the aftermath of a tyrannical, but brief, supreme dictatorship.

But some who broke the path of society, who dared cross the order of the Dominion which cared for itself and little other, fell to their own growing hatred...and became even more than the very evil that they had escaped from. So lost in their desire to change that they had drooped to new lows, embracing ideals that even the Amazonian government, now in the hands of five secular powerful Sith Lords who preached a cunning and smart civilization over one overtly imposing, would never turn to. They were outcasts from society and humanity...sentient life as a whole.

Elsor Traya had learned the tools of criminal trade under the late Telcho Zann, the former freedom fighter whose crusade of vengeance over the one-time Amazonian Federation hero Rick Winters had led to his ultimate downfall by a combined force of ZAFT, Tarsonis, and Dominion war forces. She had learned how to run an effective organization that did not simply rely on criminal trade and outright hostility, but one that instead manipulated others and utilized existing tools to accomplish ends far greater than her master did. She was not one to settle for what life threw her way, as Zann had, but instead rose to take what was rightfully hers. Now with Zann dead, she was for all intents...the Master.

But she wasn't the master.

Before the great, newly-erected tomb of the most recent Sith Lord to rise in Amazonia - and possibly the most powerful in its history, Lord Droma - Elsor Traya peered around in the dry air. Oovo was a cracked and dead world, caked in eons-old rock and forgotten by time. Massive monuments and mausoleums stood out from the rocky mountains and plains of the planet, dedicated to the holding and celebration of the remains of the greatest Sith who had ever reigned in the Shroud. Many had never been able to make a legitimate impact - the Amazonians and previous to that, the Polusians, had for long been under the unified power of a Federation - but nonetheless the Sith had always been around, Force-wielders who had fallen to their own soul's calling rather than the essences of others. Droma had perhaps done the best - not only had he usurped power (a feat accomplished few times by the others), he had created a line and means of keeping the reigns in the Sith's hands...potentially creating a dynasty.

Traya tossed down a small pyramidal durasteel object, kneeling down as a figure rose from a holomatrix. The image was somewhat grainy, a fluid green-tinted image of a man in his mid-40s and roughly 7'5" or so. He looked unhappy, that was for sure...and Traya felt a slight sense of foreboding as the man began to speak.

"Traya...I am displeased."

The older woman swallowed unpleasantly: "I entrusted Wynn to the assignment Lord Kressh, and it appears he failed to upheld his duty. The Dominion communications center is still intact and functioning."

"That was an assignment that needed carrying out...if you are to take your place at my side when we take the fight against the Dominion, I most be able to trust you on such assignments."

"I can assure you my Lord...it will not happen again."

"I hope not Traya."

Traya moved on to the next article of discussion, a minor point: "One of our frigates was attacked today near the border...the aggressor was unknown."

"Were they eliminated?"

"They crossed the border before they were destroyed and action was called off."

"Ensure they never cross paths again...meddling fools will be destroyed. I will contact you again when I have new assignments, but for now I trust you to use your judgment."

Without a word of goodbye, the apparition dissolved back into the pyramid, leaving Traya with her thoughts.

Zell Forchians was the first to awake and probably would be the only one to awake aboard the ZAFT vessel. He was the youngest of teh seven. only 23 he had been 13 when the Kingdom came crashing down. While getting a crash corse in training from the Admiral himself. Zell was teh only non official mornarian to be one of the seven. though he supposed.. none of them were official anymore.

Before he had opened his eyes he instinctly reached out with his psyonic wavelengths observing the room. Sensing the frail bodies of his companions he sat bolt up in bed opening his eyes only to have his body cry out in pain. A nurse, or a woman he supposed was a nurse forced him back down and injected something into his neck. His body soon went numb but he was still aware, he hured hushed talking but the only words he could make out were.."the captain".

As he looked around the face of a woman filled his view and she spoke with a gentle voice... "dont worry... you and your companions should pull through"

The captain smiled as he saw Zell awaken, he walked into the area where he was and sat by his bed "Hard to believe some of you survived after what we heard happened, you Tarsonians are more stubborn then I thought you were last time I fought with you guys 11 years ago" the captain said as looked upon the young man realizing how young he had to of been when it happened. He then bowed his head "It's a miracle that even any one survived, ten years ago not even our technology could protect use from that virus so we couldn't even attempt rescue, but since then things have changed, well rest at ease young man, we are on route to our home planet" he said with a relatively gentle voice, then over the ship came the computer message "All hands brace for FTL jump" was the computers voice, which was the voice of a young woman with a soft and vary gentle voice. There was a quick pause in time before the ship reappeared again deeper in ZAFT controlled space, they were now in the mid-rim region, the final jump would happen in a few minutes and would get them just outside of the Empiryion system, from there they would have to head to the planet via sub light speeds.

Zell settled back into the bed not saying a word. He had heard of the ZAFT from Kast's stories and from the Computer Databanks on Elumarnia. He knew they were once allies but after many years.. sentiments can change. He hoped kast knew what he was doing and that some how they would pull out of this ahead.
59 minutes later

As the ZAFT vessel made its final approach to Empyion Admiral Kevin Kast of the Former Tarsonian Space FLeet awoke. Glancing around he saw 6 more beds each with one of his companions on it. Some were awake some asleep, all very quiet. After all, only Kast had ever dealt directly with ZAFT before. Hunter had fought along side them once but never had made the aquaintences that Kast had. June noticing he was awake came over to him. "Thank God you made it Admiral. We were worried when you were the last one to awake." Kast nodded, "I may be old but it'll take alot more than oxygen deprevation to kill me. As Wittiker always said, "I've never met a luckier son of a bitch than you Kast." He took hold of June's hand reasurringly. "Don't worry, We'll make it home." Orders chimed over the ships intercoms alerting the ZAFT crew of their location. "Seems like were here, I only wish I had known to bring my old Dress Uniform if I was gonna play politics today."

"Commencing final FTL jump please stand by........" came word from the computer which was called phoenix "........Jump complete we have entered the Empiryion system" it finished. The captain stood up from his seat "Excuse me for a moment son" he said as he turned his head "Bridge" he said. A holographic screen then appeared right in front of him connecting him to the bridge "XO now that we are in the system, make best speed for Arlington base south of the capital, send word to command about our guests, I'm sure some one there knows these people better then I do"

"Aye sir" the XO said.

Empyion- Coordinator home world

"Sir new contact it's the Lysithea, she's home one week and four days earlier then expected, incoming message, reads 'send word to the upper chain rescued people adrift in space, Identities are Tarsonian requesting landing at Arlington base' end transmission, course of action commander?" one of the many officers at the military traffic control center stated as the information came in "Tarsonian, impossible, there all dead, this is big news indeed send word to command, clear a platform at Arlington big enough for the Lysithea, have her escort dock at Apollo, my day just got interesting"

Military command - inside the capital city

A messenger walked through the halls of the building towards the office of the one man that knew the most about the Tarsonians and was still alive. The female NCO knocked on the door "Enter" came a sound from inside. She opened the door and walked in, stopped in the middle of the room and saluted "Grand Admiral Zala, a ship just came in from patrol it picked up a group of people floating in space"

"How is this the concern of me? I thought that was under McKinley's jurisdiction"

"The survivors are Tarsonian sir"

The admiral turned around revealing a scared face from a campaign he was in several years ago, he refused to get rid of the scars because they were reminders of the friends he lost during the battles "Tarsonian? so a group of those hard nosed son of a bitches are still alive, heh why do I get the feeling he is among them? he didn't strike me as one that would set a disease kill him off, where and when are they touching down?" he asked

"In about an hour at Arlington"

"Get me a vehicle to take me to Arlington, I want to be there when the ship arrives"

"Right away sir"

Back on the ship

"Well we will be landing soon every one, brace your self though things might be different from what you expect, ZAFT and everything else around here has changed in the past 10 years" the captain told them.

A short time later the ship made its decent to the planet, this was only capable due to the gravitational propulsion drive invented roughly 6 years ago. It then descended all the way to Arlington military base, at the base a large area had been cleared for the ship to land. The base it self was like one other base near the capital and also had a area for civilian traffic but the military area was much larger. When the ship reached the base it slowed down and when it reached the landing site large holding clamps came up from the ground hold the ship in place as it shut down its engines "And so we've landed, if you all could follow me, I'll lead you outside" the captain said to them.

Kast shielded his good eye as he walked out into the sun. of the other eye all that could be seen was a long scar dissapearing under a black eyepatch and reapearing again. However the one good eye still worked and was very sensative to light. It had been ten years since he had been on a planet with sunlight. Elumarnia was a planet devoid of a star. Empyrion had changed from the last time he had seen it. When he had last been here on a diplomatic mission, the planet had been a battle ground. Now it was a thriving civilization.

He wished he had on better clothes as it seemed the Top Level People had taken interest into 7 people who should have been long dead. Instead he stood as proud as a man could in his pretty shredded up battle gear. His weapons had been removed for "security purposes" but he hadn't argued.. infact he had been unconcious at the time.

His muscles groaned in protest as he began his decent down teh ramp. His men were close behind him June his seccond in command just a step behind him and to the left. Hunter his best friend a step back and to the right. And the other 4 standing shoulder to shoulder a step behind the other 2. He wondered how he was going to explain his existance. When his eyes fell on a highly decorated man standing at the base of the ramp staring up in what first was a expression of suprise, and then mild amusement. Though scars now riddle his face and he was far older. There was no mistaking the man Kast had fought with side by side in many a battle. Stopping 2 paces in front of the man all Kast could think to do was clamp his right fist to his chest and bow... the Tarsonian Salute. A smile came to his lips as he straitened up and offered his hand to shake. "Greetings Athrun... its been a long time. Admiral Kevin Kast former Commander of the Tarsonian Royal Navy at your service."

The air was crisp and clean, and birds flew by the ship as Athrun and a few others watched the captain walk down Kast and his comrades from the ship. When they reached the bottom of the ramp Athrun bowed and saluted Kast, a man he once had great respect for "My god it really is you, I had a feeling it was you when I heard they found Tarsonians" he said to Kast as he shook his hand "And may I welcome you all to our home land, I'm sure we have much to talk about, I've already arranged for accommodations for you and your comrades, it's the least I can do since I owe you my life several times over by now, please this way" he said waving his hand towards a waiting vehicle.

Kast ducked into the vehicle followed closely by his companions. He glanced out the window as their valkaryie fighters were being unloaded. Maybe having allies again isnt all bad. He thought as he looked up to see ZAFT Mobile Suits patroling the skys. After all, those fighters are 10 years old. With supplies from Zaft we could start using Elumarnia to produce weapons again and maybe a hundred years from now, but maybe, Tarsonis can live again.

Thoughts potruded his own as the smell of lilacs filled his nostrils. Tarsonis isnt dead yet Admiral, June sent him telepathically, It is alive in each of us... though the Kingdom rising up again is a nice dream to have...

Kast smiled turning back to look at the fighters as teh vehicle sped off. He spoke alloud. "aye that it is June, aye that it is."

OOC: now i just gotta wait for AB to post his next entry so i can bring up my newest character.

OOC: Alright then I'll just leave it off with this post here

After a short couple minutes in a vary silent car ride through the country side, past farmers fields, rivers and into the outskirts of the capital where they stopped at a small complex on a hill top with a breath taking view of the mountain range, there were multiple houses in the complex each with its own unique look. Athrun looked over at Kast "These are the arrangements we prepared, food, hot showers and changes of clothes, whether or not its in your styles I don't know though, any way you can have a day to settle in and hopefully relax and adjust we can talk tomorrow about every thing that's happened, I'm sure a lot has since 10 years ago"

Kast nodded to the Admiral, "thank you my friend, this is more than we could have ever hoped for. Horsemen fall out and hit the showers, get some chow and hit the racks by 0 hundred hours. at 0600 galactic standard time we head out for PT before morning chow."

The 6 shouted in unison. "Aye aye Sir!""

"Dismissed"

Empyion: Dawn on top of the nearest mountain to the living quarters

The Seven stood at attention as the fire blazed higher. The sun just began to peak over the mountains the skys slowly getting brighter. This was theyre ritual. Those that remained would never forget. Never would they forget what they lost. Across the makeshit fire ring names had been inscribed. Names of people long since dead, of planets long since devoid of life. These happy few, if they could be called so, were all that remianed. Each of the seven remembered the names they had written. Kast's remaining eye filled with his tears as he remember his Wife Sywhen, and their daughter Keslia. June stifled sobs as she recalled her fiance, who died upon the decks of the Incursion as it was destroyed during the battle of Matharon. No one ever expected the pride of the Tarsonian fleet to fall, but it had.

Kast almsot chocked has he said the ritualistic orders. As the sun finally burst into sight he shouted. "HAND SALUTE!" The three leading Horseman clasped their right fists to their breasts and bowed their heads. The other 4 held rifles, not the modern beam rifles but old Projectile firing rifles. Purely used now for ceremony. "Honor Guard Salute" In rhytmic motion the 4 Tarsonians lifted the rifle pointing it up to the air, then pulled the trigger, and finally pulled the rifle back down. They would repeat this process, 20 more times. Finally the last shot was fired. "Honor Gaurd Present ARMS! PRAY!" On this order. Marius, began to sing, his voice carrying on the winds. Deep into the future when such things became legend, it is said that his voice carried not just to those around him, but to an entire nation. His voice stretched across the stars, and for a while the Universe stood still grieving over its fallen children. But we all know how legends can be. The song was sung in an ancient language, spoken on Tarsonis long before the galactic standard language became the norm. But translated it meant this:


"There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Now my friends are dead and gone.

Here they talked of revolution.
Here it was they lit the flame.
Here they sang about `tomorrow'
And tomorrow never came.

From the table in the corner
They could see a world reborn
And they rose with voices ringing
I can hear them now!
The very words that they had sung
Became their last communion
On the lonely barricade at dawn.

Oh my friends, my friends forgive me

That I live and you are gone.
There's a grief that can't be spoken.
There's a pain goes on and on.

Phantom faces at the window.
Phantom shadows on the floor.
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will meet no more.

Oh my friends, my friends, don't ask me
What your sacrifice was for
Empty chairs at empty tables
Where my friends will sing no more."


OOC: i have a mp3 of this song if yall wanna hear it.

OOC: I ended up bein out a little later than i wanted to..."stuff" went down. Good tiiiiiiiiimes tho.

IC:

Pugnor

The Sagittarian shrieked as he was thrown violently to the grown - hurled by a force much more powerful than he was. The Alliance member was a simple Human, nothing at all special despite the genetic modifications that made the Amazonian subspecies blessed with selected genomes. It helped at times - in fighting, in research, in science, in reflexes - Amazonian Humans had improved abilities over normal Humans. Science had come through good on this one, and genetics research (and funding) as a result had seen a huge boost. It was seen that genetics was the future.

But out on the field of combat, it meant nothing.

The sentient beast standing over the Human was a Skrawl, the Dominion's most aggressive and largest race. Though fiercely loyal to the government (allowing to a bit slight dominance over most of the other races, as well as preferred status as heavy infantry), the Skrawl had a severe dislike for the rest of the species of the Dominion outside of Humans...and even took vengeance on the dominant race if given the chance. They were brutish, brash creatures ribbed in brawny muscle and with an attitude as short as a broken twig in a jungle canopy.

The Human reached for his combat knife, quickly met by one of the four frontal shredding claws of the Skrawl. The alien sliced the man's hand clean off at the wrist, leaving a bloody, spouting stump.

"Any last words?" the Skrawl smiled nastily, baring a razor set of over 80 teeth the size of kitchen knives.

The Human, pain wracking his face, spit up at the much larger arachnoreptile, defiant to the end.

"Then you'll go quietly," the Skrawl grinned.

He used one of his four dexterous hand-claws to grip the man by the skull, allowing his eyes to peer into the multispectrum eye clusters of the alien. With a sickening smile, the Skrawl slowly began to clench his mandible, slowly applying more and more pressure as the man's face reddened and his eyes bugged out.

"I won't stop," the Skrawl affirmed, as if it was any question.

The man's too eyes exploded in a mess of goo as the Skrawl effortlessly continued applying further pressure, eliciting an involuntary shrill scream from the man. The alien was clearly enjoying it, laughing in glee as blood ran down from the man's eye sockets, nose, mouth, and ears. For good measure he drew a shredding claw and slowly dug it through the man's abdomen, tearing out liberal amounts of intestine as sinews snapped and organs tore. The pain was likely excruciating, but the Skrawl revelled in it.

The head itself was now getting crushed - likely the man was dead already from blood loss - but the Skrawl made it final, clenching his mandible and crushing the head completely. With blood spewing onto the sienna sand the body slipped from the Skrawl's loosening grasp, toppling into the dust with a soul no longer present. The alien laughed lightly, enjoying himself once more.

Quickly forgetting about the man, the Skrawl turned back towards a Dominion gunship as it was landing...this Alliance outpost was eliminated, and the Dominion warrior had cleaned up the last of the mess.


* * * * *


Traya was still visibly angry at those who had attacked the frigate the previous day - despite inflicting little damage besides a few gunboat and fighter squadron losses, even futile attacks by a foe that had not been finished off was aggravating...a sign that the Alliance was weak enough to accept such attacks. With the Dominion already on somewhat of a crusade hunting them - despite Kressh's promises to ensure that "all would be right" - the Alliance was feeling more and more pressure recently, and the last thing they needed was a rogue band of marauders to step up and tell the local populaces to attack. The fools needed to be wiped out.

The woman knew of several mercenary bands in particular that could do a job in finishing the pests...or at least trying to drive them off from attacking again. All that was needed was repellent, like bugs.

A message was quickly dispatched to a certain lethal mercenary group - its content was fairly dry to the most part but offered quite a sum. Its message was clear, however - eliminate seven Tarsonians involved in a recent skirmish. The Tarsonians had fled to the sovereign territory of ZAFT...however, it was clear that one with the cunning and desire would be rewarded well.

A final ending to the message was even clearer - three other mercenary bands, unnamed, were already taking up the offer and on their way. The winner would be rewarded.

Zaft Outer Rim... Previous location of Tarsonian ships revelation.


The sleek fighter, painted stark black againts the voids of space, blended perfectly. But if need be a simple flick of a switch and active cloaking made the camaflauge even better. Scanning the outer rim was no joke. Tones of space debree messed with readings so that almost anything you found was unreliable at best. But this Mercanary trusted her gut instincts more than logic and reason. Her engines were off, slowly drifiting through space as she scanned the residuals from the battle only a few days before. Debree still littlered the area, Sagitarean pirates, part of the so called Pirate Alliance, that had hired her, had been brutally massacred. And it was up to her and her alone to find out what had happened and where these "mauraders" had gotten to. Her onboard AI was the only company she had.

Shouldnt we be moving on, after all those other Mercanaries have a head start.

The mercenary for all of her didnt care about rival factions. She knew they were the only Mercenary group contacted, the Alliance didnt want people to know they could be challanged, they would want this handled as discretely as possible, and that meant the less people who knew the better. Normally her crew wouldnt work for scum like the alliance, but after reviewing the sheets she commited them to it. She would make these imposters pay.

I dont understand why you took this job Madam, after all these are Tarson...

"THEY ARE NOT tarsonians" the mercenary interupted, "no one is left of that Kingdom, no one... but me. And I will not have a bunch of spacrats fouling that kingdoms great name just to gain assylum. If they had any true honor they would stake their claimes and fight to the death."

What ever you say Madam, any way i have detected an ion trail, I believe it to be the kind left by Zaft hyperspace windows. If we follow it should atleast take us to the platform they were taken to.

"If zaft really believes them to be Tarsonians they wouldnt take them to some back water Platform, they would have taken them, strait to numero Uno, Empyion."

That location is a closely gaurded secret only the Tarsonians knew of its location.

"True but we also have a map guiding us right to it."

And the security?

"The best, but thats why I do what I do, because im better than the rest." The mercanary flicked on her subspace com. " We have a location lets do this."

Almost instantly 3 identical fighters, appeared through a hyperspace window. They had been just a half lightyear away waiting for the signal to move foreward. AS the 4 ships appraoched the ZAFT border they seemmed to ripple as if they were being seeing through water, and then they were gone. A hyperspace window appeared but none were seen entering.

It was 07:30 local time and Athrun had just arrived at work for the day, since the day before things had gotten more lively as talk had already spread about Tarsonians being alive and in the capital. When he left his house a car was already waiting for him. Standing at the car was his personal secretary and body guard. His secretary/body guard was a woman about twenty five years of age with long black hair and stood about 5'7" tall. He got in the car and she then got in as well "It's good to see your well admiral" she said as the car drove away from his house. She then handed him a list of things he had to go through, he looked over it "I'll deal with it later, we're on our way to see some old friends, any way do you have the information I requested yesterday afternoon?" he inquired to her. She opened her briefcase and pulled out a file "DSSD reports sensor contacts from beyond the border indicated a battle with some sort of small frigate, pirate in nature affiliation unknown but there are very few groups who use former Tarsonian space as a passage way, also as you requested we looked into the possibility of attempted reprisal to try and find the Tarsonians, chances are highly likely"

"that will do for now" he said to her lifting his hand up to stop her from continuing. It didn't take to long before they got out to the complex where Kast and the others were staying. When they did arrive Athrun and his secretary got out of the car and waited to be welcomed, they treated the place like it was owned by Kast and his men.

OOC: Welcome back Zaft.

Kast and his men silently decended the mountain. THis was teh norm after the Rememberance. Heavy hearts and empty lungs. None had anything to say. That was till they approached the compound and found they already had guests waiting for them. as the other moved in to the complex Kast went down to meet the man waiting for him. "Welcome Athrun, though I guess this is really your place not mine. Though we appreciate it. We know were a bit of a security liability, and we hope to be moving on as fast as possible. All we need our repairs to our fighters, and we'll be out of your hair."

In route to Empyion

Four fighters exited hyperspace in the wake of a decent sized frigate. THough clearly visible no one would know of their existance. THe Engine Wash of the Frigate would shield them from any sensor readings, and before they could be discovered again the fighters were gone sliped into the hyperspace travel once again.

OOC: Good to be back

"Before business let me do a quick introduction, this is my secretary and body guard Amy Karasuma" he said pointing to the woman standing right beside him. She bowed towards them all "It's a pleasure to meet such an honorable man" she said as she brushed her hair aside revealing two small horns coming out of her skull almost like the ears of a animal would. Athrun then went to explain since last time Kast was there only Humans were present "As you can see she is not fully human, her species is called the Elfen, one of three close cousins to humans here, any way as for your craft repairs are already underway as well as some minor upgrades we took the liberty of installing, stronger armor, improved engines and life support systems, things you'll need when you leave, also I will personally escort you to your destination" he then paused trying to remember something he forgot "Ah right, we have to vaccinate you all from the virus that destroyed your people in the first place, it's a long story and I'd be happy to explain"

Kast wasnt the least bit fazed by the womans horns. After all, his best friend had been an angel. Mythical species beeing discovered to be real was nothing knew to him. Kast's eye did widen however at the mention of a vaccine... "Please do explain. IF there are other survivors out there a vaccine would ensure our peoples survival." He anxiously followed the two inside where coffee and breakfast were awaiting them. Care of ZAFT government.

1 million km from Empyion.

The ships entered realspace behind the shadow of a space debree. Quickly they claocked theyre ships hoping the Subspace window would be over looked. Doubtfully but with no apparent ships near it might be over looked as a wormhole. Undetected the ships move towards Empyion.

The bounty hunter could feel her prey was close. Soon these cancereous sores would be purged from the galaxy.

"Dexter start scanning for communications about the arrivals."

Military cahnnels will have severe encryption. they will detect us hacking it.

The mercenary smiled as she realized she overlooked this but her intelect was far from average. "Scan civilian frequencies... if all of a sudden your allies appeared out of no where after 10 years, theres no way they could keep it a secret. Check the rumor board."

Scanning.... its risky but com chatter seems to lead to a small military complex in this mountain range. A display screen illuminating showing what looked like a residential complex but with military markings on the roof tops.It's secluded.. perfect place for R&R after battle and keeping them relively secret.

"Well sometimes gambling is teh way to go." The mercenary chided as she flipped on the com switch. "Transmitting coordinates, we have one shot at this before we are detected. Once we are we won't have much time. Lets make it count."

The cloacked ships peeled to the surface and entered the planets atmosphere.

Orbital control

Empyion orbital control was a agency set up to monitor everything moving through the atmosphere of the planet for the security of the planet as a whole. The mercenary's no matter how good they were could not hide something coming through the atmosphere "Anomaly detected, grid pattern omega delta one, over northern continent" one of the men reported.

"Keep tracking it"


Residential complex

Athrun sat down with his secretary right beside him "After the disaster that befell your people there was a lone rescue attempt, however it was quickly determined that any infected area now human life could enter even with our most advanced suits, so robots were sent to collect samples of the pathogen and it was taken to a remote research station where it was studied from a distance, since by that time our searches found no survivors and only basely rumors of people escaping we concentrated our efforts on find a way to prevent the virus from striking us, it was only a year and a half ago we broke the genetic code of the pathogen and were able to counteract it, while it can't cure a person infected it can prevent the infection of the virus, or even prevent it from becoming active in a person who is a carrier." he then paused to take a sip of water before continuing "Until you showed up we really had not had a use for it yet, fact is we are attempting to find a way to cure it completely so that we could release it into the atmosphere of a infected planet to purify it but such a cure is decades away still"

OOC: just for reference, Empyion is heavily agricultural, and also not heavily populated either it will be easy for you to hide ships as long as you stay away from military facilities and populated areas.

OOC: A lot of backstory to set up other stuff

IC:

Elysium

It had been several years since upheaval last took hold at the small Federation survivor colony that had been established - by then the Dominion had clearly discovered it, but had not made its presence known to the dissidents still living out democratic ideals on the planet surface. Nor did they exactly care too hard - the Federals posed little to no threat, and there were far more dangerous things occurring throughout the Dominion and outside of it to worry about a small band of freethinkers on an isolated Rim world whose largest spacefaring ship was a modified light freighter. As if that was particularly concerning to the expansive fleets of the Amazonians that could without much notice raze all life on the planet and devastate it for millenniums. No, that would be a waste...better to just leave them on their own.

But Ludo Kressh was a bit of a cunning fellow...and he saw potential where others saw a sleepy colony of outcasts.

- - -

Tholme Solusar was a veteran Jedi of the Elysium holdout, one of the dozen or so who had survived the Dominion purges and escaped to the tropical refuge and eeked out a refugee life. One of the top Jedi along with his compatriot Mikal Shen-Jon and the unofficial "leader" of the Jedi on the planet, Tra Odanis, Solusar was well versed with the Jedi way and practiced a life of devotion to others. He didn't want to fall to the way of those such as Athon Onasi - now one of the promising young Sith of the Dominion who had once been a strong child with potential in the last days of the Federation.

Solusar's meditation was slightly interrupted as a light rain fell on the "capital" settlement of Nova Republica in mid-afternoon. A light flitted through the sky - one very unnatural to the dense, almost choking thick atmosphere of the jungle planet. Stars were figments of imagination on the world, and the system star was hard enough to see on the brightest days (not to mention the lone moon that orbited the planet, which was never seen)...to see anything other than cloud cover or thick pale yellow sky was remarkable.

That unnerved Solusar slightly - that was unnatural. Something did not settle in his gut, and despite the Jedi teachings reminding him to use logic in such a case, something was not right with it all. The atmosphere was too concealing for things to stick out - and Solusar hadn't imagined that gleam.

Departing the outer gates of the central citadel, Solusar nearly bumped into a face he was used to seeing over and over again - the colonial defense coordination leader Rick Winters's daughter, Lauren. Years removed from the most recent incursion onto Elysium's grounds by pirate forces under Telcho Zann, Winters was now a bright and level-headed girl of 20. Both that incident and life on the refuge planet had toughened her to most of what the heavens could throw. Despite that her life lacked much excitement - the refuge colony subsided mostly on the knowledge that democracy still was practiced in the Dominion, with little knowledge on the comings and goings of Amazonia proper. They didn't even have the knowledge that the Emperor Droma was dead yet, much less had been dead for over a year and had been replaced by the Sith Council.

"Hi Master Solusar!" Lauren chirped brightly, still somewhat the young girl despite her more mature exterior. Rick Winters's parenting had focused on maintaining his daughter's humanity, if nothing else.

"Hello Lauren," Solusar smiled, thoughts elsewhere.

"How's life?" the younger Winters inquired, her usual greeting.

"Interesting," Solusar commented. He could be truthful with the girl: "Did you by chance happen to see something in the sky about twenty minutes ago?"

"Besides sky?" Lauren asked, semi-honestly. "Not paying attention really Master, sorry!"

"No matter," the Jedi responded, his thoughts still racing. "Good seeing you, tell your father I said hello."

"Sure thing," Lauren smiled, before heading off.

She was a bit of a bright thing around the colony, as Rick Winters was a motivational force and accomplished in the Federation military before the current plight was met. Lauren had inherited all his good genes and his independence and moral strength, combining the best genes into a strong character. However, her relative naivety to the general galactic society as a whole had Solusar today relying more on his wits than anything.

Quickly the Jedi borrowed a speeder, zipping off into the paths through the underbrush, hewn out by giant molting larvae worms. The scene was normal enough for the planet - large fungal growths towering dozens of meters into the sky serving as strange trees complementing large amounts of multicolored underbrush. Smaller creatures were scattered in the plant life but none of the larger animal or plant predators were around to disrupt things. Solusar wasn't seeing anything unnatural...but something caught his eye.

A small plume of white steam came off possibly a few kilometers in the distance...possibly smoke.

Zipping over to the site of question, Solusar found his answer in the form of a small impact crater. He hopped out of the speeder, briefly feeling his lightsaber on his bandoleer as he stepped forward to investigate. It looked like an escape pod of some sort, possibly a one-man pod...small, metallic, technologically up-to-date. Not something that belonged on the backwater refuge planet, but perhaps it was just an accident.

"R3," Solusar said briefly to the scarlet astromech droid that sat in the speeder, "give me a quick visual analysis on the debris."

The droid chirped acknowledgment just as Solusar whipped around to a noise...yet was faced with nothing but the usual vegetation backdrop. Something felt there...yet nothing seemed there. What was going on?

Solusar turned back to the pod as another sound came from behind him - the thud of a pound into the soft dirt along with one he hadn't heard from some time - the ignition of a repulsion staff.

Solusar stepped back just as a metal staff lit up with violet electrical energy sweeped across his former position, the wielder quickly obvious as a Noghri Droid - one utilized often by the Dominion for close-quarters assault, bodyguard, or special forces droid. The automaton was clearly targeting the Jedi, spinning the staff around with finesse as Solusar ignited his sapphire lightsaber to counter the staff. A first lock of the weapons produced nothing but a spar - the staff's electrical output was key in blocking the swipe of the Jedi's weapon.

Solusar rolled to the ground, spinning away from the droid as it continued its assault. The automaton lunged abruptly at the Jedi Master, sweeping with a downward strike from the staff. Solusar sidestepped before plunging his sword into the heart of the infantry unit - his time away from battle showing as the droid quickly shrugged off the stab and swiped again at the Jedi, despite a glowing hole in its torso. That wasn't going to slow it down, not in the least.

Solusar flipped backwards, trying to stay on the defensive with methodical deflections as the droid's aggressive stance continued. Searching around with his eyes while his hands, guided by the Force, controlled his blade, Solusar spotted a large hanging vine dangling from a nearby fungal tree. With a hard jab to the repulsion staff, the Jedi gave himself enough time to reach out with the Force and grab the vine, hurling it at the head of the droid. The automaton swiped its staff to engage the vine at surprise, giving Solusar just enough time to sweep in and decapitate the droid's low-lying head unit. With its main processor deactivated, the droid swung its blade around wildly for a few seconds (nearly hitting Solusar) before collapsing to the ground.

The Jedi deactivated his saber, exhaling and looking down at the droid...and his first sight was not a good one. Straight on the now-still shoulder of the finished Noghri droid was the triangle gear emblem of the Dominion.


* * * * *


Amazonia

Amazonia hadn't changed much in the times between rulers - it was still a bustling world-city of countless trillions, home to every mix and match of species and cultures as one could find across the galaxy. The old Imperial Palace was no longer the residential quarters of the Emperor however...now the five Lords inhabited it, conducting their business and dabbling in the arts of the Dark Side. Personalities were far more conflicting in the new regime however...and despite a five-person Council heading the grand stellar empire, souls were drawn against one another.

Nihilis was perhaps the strangest of the five, a member of an unknown race dated to unknown time. How he even was in the Dominion was unknown - the man was a quandary. He was hardly even flesh anymore, his corporeal body now rotten and disguised beneath flowing black robes and a deaths-head mask that adorned his face in a dying skull of white and red. He was certainly different from the other Sith Lords, and rarely talked - he chimed in (in a voice that was barely distinguishable as Basic) only on the occasion, and when he spoke, the other four listened.

Ludo Kressh, on the other hand, shared a lot of similarities to the other three on the Council yet felt somewhat underappreciated. He was the oldest of those who knew their ages (or revealed it), and considered himself to be the most experienced - yet the younger members, in particular the brash Naga Sadow, threw around power more wildly. Nihilis he did like to a certain extent - the entity was patient, cautious, and less willing to throw resources out the window in the quest for greater yields and profits, much as Sadow and Sion were (and to an extent, Ragnos sometimes). Kressh wanted prosperity and stability, and that was barely possible with Sadow's attitude.

So instead, he would court Nihilis...to bring change.

He found the bizarre Sith Lord meditating in the Council Chambers atop the central spire of the Sith Adjudication Center (formerly the Federation's Jedi Temple), where the Sith Council met for concerns over the Force. Nihilis spent more time there than any other...perhaps since his nature allowed him to connect to the spiritual field better than the rest...or perhaps since he was just Nihilis, the enigmatic stranger who was never really accepted like the others.

"Nihilis..." Kressh mused.

The other Dark Lord did not move, but somehow the feeling of acknowledgment was communicated.

"It is clear that you and I are different."

Nihilis stood up to that. Not because he was offended at all, but because it was...true. Nihilis was different.

"Your point lacks cohesion Kressh."

His strained voice cut through the air like a blunt knife, but Kressh maintained his position.

"You and I are slowly being phased out by the others, it can be seen every day. We are not accepted, we are not heeded...and eventually you know what it will come to."

"I think you underestimate me, Kressh. That is not a good idea."

"On the contrary Lord Nihilis...I consider you the strongest of the order. I see how much you hold, how much it pains you that you do not fit in the same as do Ragnos and Sion. How it feels to be different from your perspective...and how much the others neglect your power, power that could bring about colossal change."

"Such flattery goes nowhere with me...I can see your feelings. I can find your thoughts in there."

"But can you, Nihilis...I am a different breed, much as you are. Admit it or not, but you and I represent the same ideal here - we strive for the best for our Dominion that our late Emperor has granted us, yet we are held back by cumbersome successors."

Nihilis mused over this one for a solid two minutes before replying to Kressh. Though giving off no sign of difference, Nihilis clearly was struggling over it.

"What is your point, Kressh...you run rings about your ideas."

"My point is simple, Nihilis...we can not stand with Sion, Sadow, and Ragnos anymore. They are a cancer upon our Dominion, a blight which holds us back from greater things. We can define ourselves as eternal icons of this empire, rather than collaborators...the choice comes down to you, Nihilis. You are strong, you are focused, and you and I have a chance to rule more than the Dominion...we can possibly take the galaxy. All we need to do is make our moves."

Nihilis stood silent for a good ten minutes on this most recent one. What Kressh had apparently proposed was open rebellion by two of the five Sith Lords against the Dominion as a whole...and yet, the older man made a strange sort of sense to the dark entity. He almost...liked it.

"What is this first move we must take?"

Kressh smiled, and began.

The mercenary sprinted down the mountain side her companions close behind. They had hid their crafts in a cave system a few kilometers from the complex. Initial scans showed very little guards. But one ZAFT admiral was there as well. They needed to be careful. If the Admiral was harmed in anyway it could meen an armed conflict and she knew who would come out ahead in that scenario. As the complex came into view she skidded to a halt as did her companions. She wore a helmet, different than her piloting helmet but one just as necessary. the HUD display scanned the complex showing life signs and Infered outlines of possible targets. targets all appeared normal except for seven oth them. their heart beats were conciderably slower than the others. Obviously the sign of good endurance.

"those must be the targets, ragnark take the east entrence, Josiah the west. Mikhail go south an ill take the roof tops. the leader seems to be in the middle square talking to what i can guess is the admiral, hes mine"

Her companions ever silent simply nodded their assent. From here the pack split up going to their seperate locations. The Mercenary sprinted the remaining 100 meters or so to the complex wall. She leaped at full run using her "ability" to lifter her up over teh wall. She didnt know what it was that gave her this "power" all she knew was that she could extend her scences and have power over objects including lifter herself higher into ther air if she got a moving start. Sprinting over the roof tops the lithe assassin reached her destination. she crouched silently on the roof of the building containing her target. Just as she was about to make her move the shots rang out.
"Christ." She whispered as she tried to discern the direction of the shots. South. "Mikhail report in" No answer. "Mikhail report in now!" she practically scream whispered into her radio." still no answer. "Ragnark check his position." No answer. "Ragnark?"
"Josiah?" Empty silence was all that answered her. "Anyone?" The hardened mercenary forced her emotions back down, trying not to dwell that 3 good friends had seemingly been killed. But this is why you couldn't afford friends as a Merc,.. they die.

However her target had exited the building and was now in the open with his back turned. The Mercenary smiled as she approached the edge of the roof drawing a long silver knife. Atleast her target was out in the open distracted. Pushing off with more than just her legs she flew through the coming down strait for her target. She could almost taste success. She brought the daggar up to strike millisecconds from impact. And then he was gone, and before she could react a heavy force impacted her stomach flipping her over mid flight. The lithe assasin skidded accross the pavement and rolled. Using the momementum she fliped up to her feet drawing her beam saber in one motion.

Turning back to her oponent she finally got a look at him. He was tall, maybe 6' even, his hair once dark now seeded with gray. All that could be seen of his right eye was a long and vicious scar disapearing under a black eye patch. But the right eye struck her to the core. There was something about that eye, calm, piercing, confident. Pushing such thoughts aside she brought her focus to the matter at hand. The ZAFT admiral stepped forward drawing a weapon, but the "target" held him back. "This isnt your fight Athrun" he said. walking forward empty handed. Big mistake the Merc thought as she lunged forward with her beam saber striking for his heart. But all she hit was air. The target dodged left but as she brought the saber over to catch him he was gone again. It was like fighting a ghost. He knew her moves before she made them always one step ahead. Growing frustrated her moves became sloppy as her temper got the best of her, and then she knew she was defeated before it happend. A hand grabbed her wrist twisting it almost to the point of breaking as the beam saber flew from her grip. Then and impact to the back of her leg forced her two her knees. She fought back tears knowing her end to come. She wouldnt give her enemy the satisfaction. "Remove your helmet," she heard the man say. Defiantly she smashed her head back hitting the man in teh stomach. Finally she had caught him off guard, but little good it did.

The Targert spoke softly almost dissapointed as he raised her own beamsaber to her neck. "Your men killed a Zaft Gaurd, as is galactic custom for the underworld, death begets death. But i will see your face before you die." With that the helmet was ripped from her face. Revealing her soft youthful face, she couldnt be more that 20 years old, and was strikingly beautiful, soft brown hair pulled back tight, freckels lightly peppering her subtle cheek bones. She closed her eyes anticipating the blow to come that would send her on to the next world...but it didnt come. She heard the clank of metal on stone and she opened her eyes to see the beam saber on the ground beside her, and she saw the man fall to his knees. Confused she looked up into her would be executioner's face but his confident expression was gone. His eye twitched with not just suprise but... recognition... as if hed seen a ghost. The man raised a shakey hand and placed it on her shoulder and whispered a name barely makign it past his lips. "Keslia?..." She knew that name, and it was then that the recognition struck her, his eye, so piercing, so... FAMILIAR!, She could hardly breath as she whispered "Daddy?"

Athrun was stunned at the situation that just unfolded but as it calmed down he had one enemy before him that had killed one of his men "Amy secure target now!" he ordered her with a snap. With just taking a step forward she used her 'abilities' to restrain the woman. The woman would no longer be able to move, all she would feel is something holding her back with extreme force, this force was Amy's phyco kinetic abilities which all Elfen possessed. This ability was so strong and quick the Elfen have the ability to intercept and curve bullets around them with there abilities, at the conscious or subconscious level. Athrun then stepped forward "She may mean something to you Kast however no one gets past the security net very easily she is skilled, and most likely hired by some one to kill you, now young lady who hired you?" Athrun said with a cold emotionless expression on his face. At the same time he reached into his pocket and pushed a button on his communication device to alert some assistance. Within moments two mobile suits from Arlington were on there way to the location as well a a ground team.

Kast tried to sort through everything that had happened. He didnt know how she could of survived, he didnt care, all he knew was his baby girl, a girl he had long sinced mourned for dead, had been returned to him. "Daddy!" Her voice was panicked now, already he could, hear the hum of Mobile Suits in the distance. "DADDY!" Her face was wrought with fear as she was held in place. Men under her command had killed a gaurd. It was as if she had killed the guard herself. It was military law. But he didnt care. He would not lose her again. Slowly he raised to his feet eyes still on the ground, his face hidden by shaddow. Blue psyonic energy crackled along his arms as her focused his mind for an attack if need be. He would not lose his daughter again even if it meant losing an alliance, but before that happened, he had one card left to play. "Athrun" he raised his head his yes focused and alert almost..frightening. "despite out friendships, don't think for a seccond, think I'll let you take my daughter from me. I dont know how she is here, but she is and I will not lose her again." He moved in close to him whispering only words that Athrun could hear, "And dont forget who it was who let you and your men go, during the Revolution....you owe me this." As Athrun began to protest about the need to interrogate her, Kast cut him off. "Leave that to me."

"I may not be as kind as a used to Kast...." Athrun said with a pause as the two mobile suits arrived on scene "However I still know the importance of family, if you can find out who sent her here and how she found our secret home world then I'll leave her in your hands, however you will not be able to leave this planet until I have at least who sent her, I'm sorry but its for our own security, oh and consider the ships she and her comrades used to get here our property now" Athrun stated as two transports pulled up and a group of soldiers jumped out. Athrun quickly went over to them "Take your troops into the mountains and find the ships used to infiltrate our security, I don't care if you have to bring entire battalions out to find them, I want them found! and want them found now! once you find them bring them back to Arlington and have them find out how they got past our security!" he ordered. The soldiers saluted turned around, got back into the truck and headed into the mountains to complete there mission. Meanwhile the mobile suits stayed at the complex to watch over the admiral "Amy let her go, I don't think she wants to fight any more" he then said. Amy let go with her abilities causing Keslia to drop to the ground.

As soon as keslia was free she ran for her dad. Burrying her face into his chest she wept. Emotions she could no longer control flew freely, sadness from losing her companions, but joy in knowing that she would never be alone again. She wasn't the last, and she wouldn't be again. Strong arms encircled her and she realized, he was crying too. The two of them Father and Daughter Reunited atlast. The hardest man, some say that ever lived, and a rogue mercanary who couldnt affor the luxory of emotion, openly wept infront of hundreds of sodliers, not caring who saw.



OOC: ill post the interogation when i get back from my duties, but im gonna need Keslia's fighter back later on, its special and ill reveal why in the next post.

OOC: fair enough I just need it so I can prevent the same infiltration from happening

A small tear rolled from Athrun eye watching the reunion between father and daughter, however it reminded him ever so slightly about the day he got his scars. He pulled out his communications device and made a call to military command "This is admiral Zala, get me central security staff for me" he ordered. He waited a few seconds before the image being displayed in front of him changed to three officers who were in charge of home system security "this is admiral Zala some time ago a group of mercenaries infiltrated the home system in a attempt to kill the Tarsonians, all but one are dead, I'm ordering you to triple the security for the Empiryion system, and even though it will be a huge strain on resources, use gravity mass sensors until we stand down"

"It will take time to pull them out of storage and bring them online admiral" one advised

"Just do it, last thing we need is a warship or a entire fleet using the same method to get this close!" he said ending the call. He then dialed a different number which was quickly answered "Phycom here" came the voice from the other end "This is admiral Zala, deploy Delta squad under my personal command, under command authority White omega two"

"Roger that admiral, White omega two recieved priority dispatch of Phycom team Delta inprogess ETA to your location is ten minutes by air transport"

"Thank you" he said ending the call and turning to Kast "I'm increasing the security around you with the best we got, Phycom, its a unit made up of those who belong to the three cousin species, you'll see why they have there own command division once they arrive"

OOC: I did a little ad libing with Athrun here nothing major though hope you wont mind ZAFT

14 hours later

Drinks had been poured and shared, food had been prepared in a modest feast. It had been a day of celebration indeed. Even the off duty Zaft Guards had partaken. After all, free ale and a chance to party, what working man would turn that down. The tarsonians, numbering 8 now, seldomly had reason to celebrate but fortune had smiled upon them. One of their lost had been found, another soul that had escaped the fall of a mighty empire. Keslia had been taken in immediately by the other horseman, accepted into their group, swaping stories of old, even a few of the Admiral from before the Catacalysm (sweet thats what im calling it form now on.)

"Thats enough stories " Kast said half laughing as he hug his daughter. "A few more of those and they'll lose respect for me all together." Indeed it was hard for the other Horseman to imagine the Admiral, as well... normal. But today they saw a different side of him. Before they had always saw his rank, a battle hardened veteran. But now for atleast a little while they saw the man.

June cleared her throat and stood, or tried to stand. Slouching agaisnt a wall for support would be a better description. She spoke obviously tipsy if not drunk. She used her hands more to emphasize her thoughts waving them lazely with a bottle in her right hand. "Well...Now that we've been aquainted,...(hic) and it seems the little one has had enough ale to be able to stand reliving her story, i think its time we found out how exactly escaped the Virus and the Crusades, and more importantly,... how you wound up here?."

Kast could feel the man next to him, suddenly shift attentions. Though he looked different than he did a few hours ago, his very image still comanded respect. Kast could Tell Athrun wanted to hear the story to, but for different reasons. Kast smiled, as he flicked on a holorecorder and pointed it at Keslia and turned to Athrun, "I'll be sure to record this, I doubt you'll remember this in the morning." He shared a laugh with the man before Athrun responded, "Drunk enough to kick your ass."

Turning to his daughter, Kast cleared his throat. "So sweetheart, how did you escape the Cataclysm, and how did you get here." Keslia smiled taking a sip of her drink before beginning. "Well the answer to both those questions, is one in the same. My ship" Kast furrowed his brow confused, "your ship?"
Kaslia nodded and smiled, though sadly. "It was Draconis's."

Kast had been drinking as she said this but now was choking and coughing. The other horseman each had similar actions of suprise and some of envy. "The sword?... you pilot "the sword and retribution"? Keslia nodded tears coming to her eyes. It was at the Nayan Massacre, me being your daughter had got me put on the "Revenge" during the Exodus from Korhol... for safety."
Athrun bent in to Kast and whispered, "whats the Nayan massacre."
Kant sighed knowing not much information of their demise had gotten out. "March 8,....what ever the star year was ten years ago. The planet Naya had become the latest victim of the plauge. The Anarion Governent had become now the head of the Kingdom afte the Tarsonian government was killed with the fall of Korhal. They dispatched 3 military ships to over see the evacuation of civilians. The revenge was one of them. However, and entire Otari battle group ambushed the process. Even then the Revenge was no match and every ship was destroyed and the entire planets surface was incinerated. estimated deaths 500 million."

Keslia continued her story. "When the Otari attacked I tried to help out, i was a make shift nurse in sick bay... they kept coming in.. the wounded. And then i was being forced out of the bay, almost dragged by Draconis. He brought me down to the hanger bay. I protested telling him i wasnt a warriar i didnt even know how to fly one, but he was silent, determined. He put me in the cockpit, entered a destination in the hyperdrive, and strapped me in. the only thing he told me were, "if you ever see your father, tell him were even."

Kast smiled, "that crazy son of a bitch."
Keslia nodded," the ship flew itself out of the hanger bay, and then hit hyperdrive just as the Revenge exploded... It was then that I met Dexter, the on board AI. He gave me a crash course in flying but offered to steer until i learned how. I just told him where to go and he went. When i came into real space there was nothing there, we werent even in Tarsonian space anymore we were in the Dominion. I got picked up by a group of Mercenaries,...they... tried to slave me out. " The sound of glass breaking interruppted her as the bottle in Kasts hand ceased to be and freshblood flew from his hand. June quickly rushed forward with a rag. "They weren't successful," Keslia said hurriedly, "it was at this point, that my. "powers" began to show, i dont know what it is but i can use my mind to enhance my combat."
Kast nodded pride filling his voice. "your a psyonic like your father, but we'll discuss this later. for now continue."

Keslia nodded hesitantly obviously confused. "my first "client" i should say, before he could touch me was roasted to a crisp. I didnt know how it had happened at first, i thought grace of God. "but soon i realized that it was me doing it. The mercenaries, realizing id be a better partner than a pet, taught me the trade, taught me how to fight how to fly. Dexter taught me about the valkarye option though. Something i never revealed to them. And that led to me getting the contract. The Pirate Alliance, operating in dominion space, were the owners of that frigate you attacked. Being at war with the dominion and all, they couldnt afford to have simple brigands attacking them, they needed to have power over the smaller pirate factions. Instability would mean their doom, so they hired us to find you. And this is where Draconis comes in again, some time after i had been a successful mercanary Dexter revealed to me, that before he sent me on my way, Draconis had installed a rather large encrypted file on the systems databanks. The password turned out to be Moms name. The file was the entire Tarsonian Navy Databank, even the classified files which happen to include the location of one secret homeworld of ZAFT.. There was a note that Draconis had left, it simply said "so the past can live on." Is used that information to search for survivors...anyone who may have escaped as i did, any world that may have been spared destruction. But i found nothing... every battle station was a mess of rubble, every planet a charred ball devoid of life. Soon i began to except, i was the only one. When the contract came on you saying you were tarsonians, i thought it must be a lie. You used my country's great name as a way of getting assylum. It became, personal. I figured they would bring you here, so we used the location in the databank to get here, though it wasnt easy. At one point we had to descend from hyperspace into the engine wash of a ship to avoid detection. And when we entered the Atmosphere we eluded the patrols ZAFT sent out and hid our ships in a cave system a few miles west of here. And the rest... as they say is history.

The room sat in a deep silence as the girl finished. Kast reached forward and clicked off the Holodisk and handed it to Athrun, "not to be difficult, but we are gonna need her ship back. It's the most powerful valkarye ever created, we cant afford for it to be lost."

Amy used her abilities to grab the device and put it in her pocket "I'll make sure to give it to you in the morning Admiral, and your ship will be returned once we find the right frequency to detect it, which should be by morning" she said to him but Athrun was drunk so it didn't matter to much. Amy had a high tolerance for alcohol combined with being a light drinking made her still very aware of her actions. Athrun being drunk all of a sudden started talking about the past "Man times like this I wish every one didn't die seven years ago, man I miss those guys, but that is what happens, then again about that time was when we found out about the science councils crimes against humanity in the creation of the three cousin species for military purposes" Athrun then passed out right there at the table.

Amy looked over at them all "Allow me to explain, first the death of his friends, seven years ago during the closing months of the liberation of this planet, during a special ops mission to break the stale mate on one part of the front line, Athrun along with our best special ops soldiers were to be air dropped behind enemy lines. However on route to the landing zone they were spotted and shot down killing all except him and one other person, he lost many close friends then, all of there names are enshrined at the national monument in government square and his friends were all promoted several times after there deaths to liberate the capital region" She then paused for a moment to take a sip of her drink and gather her thoughts about the second thing he mentioned.

"This second issue is a much longer tale that started 35 years ago, a group of scientists working directly under the national science council began using genetics research to create super soldiers, something made illegal and labeled as a crime against humanity for playing God. This was bone in secret until about 13 years ago a group of there test subjects who were just in there late teens escaped from the lab, by chance they met a ZAFT infantry platoon on a exercise who took them to safety. When they told there stories to the government they were put into protective custody and the government began investigating. They found the lab but every one was gone already, from data reconstruction they found out the group was code named Project Rose. The government wanted to end the project quickly and so they kept search and then about the same time as Athruns accident, the entire science council was arrested, raids took place on multiple planets and over 300,000 people of our three species were rescued. My species the Elfen have these horns on our heads and our psycho kinetic powers, then there is the other two who our creators called the gods and the demons because of there powers, the gods were identifiable by short pointed ears and had bio-nano machines naturally produced in the bodies, this allowed them to use 'internal' abilities such as healing. there opposite was the demons with long pointed ears and external powers that allowed them to essentially blow things up. Ever since the rescue the people all over have been so kinda many of the people from our species were orphans but were adopted quickly with open arms, in fact the admiral here adopted twin demon children short after his discharge from hospital" she paused yet again since all the talking was getting her throat pretty dry "that is why the admiral added that statement in his sentence, those two girls really brought him back from depression I hear" she then finished and went back to sipping her drink.

OOC: that was a long story >.>

One Day Later
Kast revaled in the adrenaline flowing through his veins as he flew his valkarye over the Empyion country side. Their ships had been repaired, upgraded, restocked with ammo and even some new advanced missle technology, all courtesy of their ever benevolent allies. the other horseman flew with him testing out their upgraded fighters. There were 8 of them now. but the 8 horseman didnt quite have the same ring to it. Kast smiled as he knew his time of fighting was over. He would pass the lead on to June, and Keslia would take his place. It was time for him to call the shots from affar. Glancing out over the country side, the Sword and Retribution was unmistakeable. exactly as he remembered it. Black as night, with blood red angel wings painted along the ships actuall wings. and ablood red sword painted running down teh main body over the cockpit and to the nose. The advanced armor systems would keep his daughter safe, and it would be hers alone to pilot.

"All fighters form up." He put out on the radio., and the fighter flew into the shape of a giant V 3 planes on each side, but now they had another fighter right behind Kast. the 8th member falling in line almost naturally. "Keslia"

"admiral"

"Send the transmition to your employer. its time to find out who wants us dead. tell them to meet us on the Servati Moon on the Tarsonian Dominion border, it was uninhabited by sentient life so it missed the purgings. They are only allowed to bring one shuttle, containing a pilot, one representative, and 4 gaurds, any more and your mercanary guild will become enemies of their state."

sir?

"political pressure leitennant, always a valuable tool."

yes sir

Kast flicked off the transmitter and typed new numbers in and flicked it on again. Bringing up a picture of a Woman in Zaft Military uniform.

"inform Grand Admiral Zala, that test flights are successful, the transmission has been sent and we are under way. We will report our findings"

Understood Admiral, Good Luck

The 8 fighters arced up heading for the cold vacume of space. Their mission, find out the real reason behind the contract on their heads, and kill the one that knew about it. Purpose, ensure the secrecy of the Tarsonian's existance.

While Athrun did have a hang over from drinking the night before he didn't make it to evident at home, he didn't want to make his daughters worry, the two girls were adopted but considering what was happening before they were Athruns home seemed like paradise, not only that but the two were now in high school. Athrun recieved a call on his home line, one of his daughters picked up "Hello?" she said "Hello there, would Athrun be there at the moment?" the person on the other end inquired "Just a minute..." she said turning her attention away "Hey! dad! get off the couch I know its your day off but you got a phone call and I have to leave for school" she shouted. Athrun got up from his relaxing and came over to the phone "Thanks, and have a good day, wheres your sister any way?"

"Still getting ready"

"Geez, sometimes I wonder if your really sisters........ Hello this is Athrun" he said turning his attention to the phone.

"Admiral this is central command, Admiral Kast just completed his test flights and is heading out"

"Send a message telling his 'good hunting' and also contact fleet Hq and make sure they have three ships within one jump distance of them at all times, make sure its on books as a normal patrol, that is all, its my day off and I'm going golfing"

"right away sir" came the response, there was then a click and the call was over. Athrun walked over to the stairs and shouted up "Rachael! how long do you intend to take! you'll be late!" he shouted up the stairs.

"coming" she replied running down the stairs and grabbing a piece of toast from the kitchen "Later dad" she said as she got her shoes on "Have a good day, better hurry up looks like your sister's already gone ahead" he told her. She then ran out the door and was off for another day. Athrun sighed "Well better get my self ready to, visit some old friends then hit the driving range" what he meant was the graves of his comrades that died seven years ago.

Meanwhile

While security of the home system was being tightened so was the security of all territory protected by ZAFT's influence. More ships were launched on patrols especially along the border regions and the core worlds zone. Three ships sent to tail Kast just to be on the safe side, of course it was meant to look like the increased activity brought about by the situation. One Phoenix class battle star, the Lysithea (blade runner class), as well as another Blade runner class. They were assigned a sector close to where pirate activity in the past had been high but it was all one jump away from Kast's intended target. Athrun didn't want to loose another good friend or watch as a civilization could possibly be wiped out.

OOC: Swear to God i hate Jolt. Post coming when I finish ranting...

OOC: sounds good

OOC: Per Tarsonis's permission...and now thanks to Jolt's complete idiocy I'm gonna cut out a few parts

IC:

Servati Moon

Swirling, twisting kaleidoscopic whirls of color danced through the palate of beauty that made the atmosphere of Servati. The massive gas giant was an artist's dream, a color table of reds and oranges against a star-studded backdrop of midnight black. Turbulent winds broke down clouds and aerial objects into patterns and art worthy of display in the finest museums. Underneath the ornate backdrop remained plenty of danger, however. Those same high winds pulsed at such rates that would put terrestrial cyclones to shame. Electric pulses and a high magnetosphere wreaked havoc with sensors and electrical equipment, and even the gases of the planet were poisonous.

The sole terrestrial moon of Servati's twenty-two orbitals (known merely as Servati 17 by the Dominion) was not paradise by any means, but it was the only orbital object to be sustaining life. The land of the planet was swathed in a tall grassy savanna, a lined canvas of greens and yellows baked under a rising sun and omnipresent behemoth in the form of the gas giant. Desert plains divided hemispheres amongst the equator of the moon, but the world itself was fairly small. Flightless avians had developed into 5m tall alpha predators amidst the planet's grasslands and plains, but most life was small and adapted to the tall grasses and occasional spread tree. Life wasn't exactly flourishing there to begin with.

The balance of nature was disrupted by the impact of repulsor boosts as an originally-Dominion Redoubt-class transport shuttle folded its lower v-shaped wings and settled upon four landing struts in the tall grass. A departure platform dropped from the ship as the vessel's Human pilot looked out from the viewport. The cool air from the interior of the shuttle rushed out and mixed with the warm dry savanna air of Servati 17, just as the polluted presence of the Sagittarian Alliance ushered out from the bowels of the shuttle into the virgin atmosphere of the planet usually not graced by sentient presence.

A figure in a "uniform" consisting of upscale pirate garb slowly walked out from the platform as two flurry droids rolled out, quickly unfurling and revealing double laser clusters. Two acklay droids scuttled around directly behind the first two automaton guards, each one utilizing 6 pounding claw-legs to drive forward into the hard ground and set up a defensive position for the figure who came forth - Cathar Sylas. The sentient was a member of the cetacean Tondani race, peculiar for more reasons than one - the Tondani were generally committed in their ways to passivity and peace, and also rarely ventured anywhere outside of a well-developed Dominion colony, power world, or at least established base camp.

The small oval head of Sylas quickly spotted Keslia waiting for the contingent - arms folded, almost looking slightly impatient, though possibly that was just the Tondani's perception. Either way, the cetacean - one of the ranking members of the Alliance who wished to get things done and away regarding the pesky bugs who had annoyed him and the other commanders earlier - wanted to finish things up here fast and get back to other projects.

"Your report, mercenary," Sylas quickly demanded.

Keslia was quick to report: "They were finished...at the cost of my unit. You said you'd pay, and I expect."

"Oh, indeed," Sylas confirmed, motioning for one of his acklay droids.

The two flurry droids quickly brought up their personal shields as the heavier infantry automatons crouched into attack positions. Sylas activated his own personal shield as he gave a slight smile to Keslia.

"I did say the Alliance would pay," Sylas stated, "but not in money...we will deliver you to a higher place, and pay you in happiness mercenary. I am confident you will find it much better than this world of hate and darkness."

The droids charged weapons as Keslia looked surprised for just a nanosecond - a feigned reaction to give way to several weapons bursts coming from the tall grass. Some immediately hit the flurry droids straight on their shield domes, causing the droids to open fire as Keslia somersaulted backwards into the grass.

"Kill them! The mercenary brought backups!" the Tondani ordered, falling back to the ship.

A rocket grenade struck the vessel as the pilot showed shock, blasting out through the hatch and spraying fire. The vessel's landing struts collapsed as it fell, forcing Sylas to jump out of the way as it came crashing down. Escape was now of a limited option.

Kast and the rest of the Tarsonians now revealed themselves, kneeling in the grass and opening fire directly. One of Keslia's shots impacted the flurry droid straight in its ganglionic sensor cluster, blowing electricity and sparks as the droid erupted in flame. The other scurried forward, smashing its forward digging claws straight into the chest of one Tarsonian. The man cried out as he fell back but fired his weapon straight into the frontal leg of the automaton, forcing the droid to recoil. Kast took things into his own hand with a short hop onto the droid, disorienting the warrior as he pumped fire into the nerve cluster. The droid electronically screamed and collapsed on its six legs, smoke pouring out from the ravaged interior mechanisms.

The pounding rapid fire from the shielded flurry droids forced the Tarsonians to make more of a flanking assault. Three of the warriors stayed in straight drawing the droids's fire as the other five moved around, pumping shots even as the droids continued to rip open a barrage of plasma energy. One of the Tarsonians's fitted rocket slipped past the barrage, slamming into the left droid and knocking the automaton off balance. Falling over, the shield dropped on the droid - leading to a quick death blow by Keslia's gun.

The final droid backpedaled slightly despite slowly being surrounded, shield falling slightly but still maintaining the power levels that the droids had become infamous for in the Dominion. It backed slightly too close to the half-destroyed shuttle, however - giving all the time needed to the Tarsonian heavy-wielding soldier. A final rocket grenade slammed into the burning carcass of a ship, blasting fire and debris from the wreckage and blowing part of the top wing away. The shrapnel rocketed out from the blast, angled straight for the droid and slicing right through the energy shield. The sharpened piece of durable, hot metal dug into the armor and circuitry of the droid, nearly decapitating the framework of the warrior automaton. The flurry droid staggered, spitting laser fire into the air before falling with a defining thud to the savanna floor.

As four of the Tarsonians tended to the one who had been hit straight in the chest by the acklay droid's razor-sharp digging claw, another aimed his weapon straight at the now-unshielded Tondani as Keslia put a foot on his lanky chest. Kast, on the other hand, stared him straight in the eye - all business.

"I swear, we were just protecting our interests!" the Tondani pleaded.

"I am sure," Kast spoke, his gaze unfaltering. "How many of your kind know who we are?"

"Just the top!" Sylas continued to beg for his life. "Maybe ten total."

Kast mused this as Keslia glanced up at her father. She wasn't liking the cowardly scum much, but hadn't been around Kast's sense of sparing unarmed combatants forever.

"What do we do with him?" Keslia inquired, flip-flopping in her head between lighting up the cetacean and simply leaving him to nature.

Kast looked down again at the Alliance commander as the other Tarsonian pressed his weapon to the cetacean's head: "What do you know about us?"

"I don't know, I don-" the cetacean stopped short as the Tarsonian commando fingered his weapon's safety. "Very little."

"Why don'cha tell us then, before I die of letting you live," Keslia mused.

"It's a rumor, ever since your civilization was wiped out," Sylas quickly spat. "We've lost a dozen ships and more transports in a segment of space just off the Verdian Trade Spine from the Dominion Styx border conduit. We'd instruct convoys to flee into the sector that ran adjacent to Tarsonis former space when fleeing Amazonian patrols since they never followed - but we would never hear back from them, except for the occasional psychologically-damaged survivor."

"And what did you hear, by chance?" Kast inquired, an edge to his voice now.

"Just ramblings..." the cetacean repled, nervous. "Dark shapes that attacked from the shadows. Ships, animals, specters, something. One of the survivors even claimed it was the ancient Human ancestors from the Genesis world striking back against the diaspora of the species and galactic relations. We never knew, but some would rant about cerulean firebirds...birds of fire. We never had any idea what they meant."

Keslia gave a look to the red phoenix insignia on her father's uniform for a brief moment - just a flicker of recognition in her eyes.

"Please, I have nothing else," Sylas pleaded.

Kast knelt down as the Tarsonian beside him clicked the weapon back into the safe position: "Look - we will leave you a codeable homing beacon that can be activated on hour from when you power it on. You can then communicate with your pirate scum to come and pick you up - and when they do, you will tell them that your mercenary contacts betrayed you and that the Tarsonians are dead. Tarsonians are a legend, nothing more. Am I clear? If I am not, then you'll be the one to suffer the consequences."

"Crystal," the cetacean blurted bluntly back, eyes of stone.

"I'm glad to see we agree, Kast remarked, flipping the homing beacon to the cetacean. "Let's go."

With that the Tarsonians moved away, two supporting the wounded man as the other five kept a close eye out for anything else. The cetacean was left behind as they moved towards their fighters, landed roughly a mile off - and prepared to move the Tarsonians on th next leg of their journey. Sylas breathed a sigh of relief as he glanced at the beacon, knowing he was safe in an hour when he could communicate back to Traya...but at least his claim that the Tarsonians were dead would convey success as well, if nothing else. Five minutes passed as the Tarsonians were almost back to their ships - and Sylas could have sworn he heard something. He suddenly wanted the Tarsonians back, because at least they could fight off any animals...or whatever was making the noise. Now the grasses were rustling again...and the grass moving...

A figure on tight tan clothing stepped forward from the grasses, female - and roughly 6'8" in height. Given those dimensions...Dominion in origin.

The maroon triangle gear on her shoulder epaulet gave it away even more.

The woman was by the eye between 22 and 26 years old, fantastically attractive. Her dark brown hair fell slightly below her shoulders, half of it tied back while some fell down on either side and split at her forehead. Her eyes were turqoise and gleaming, and would have been quite stunning - if not for the malevolent face she was currently showing directly at the Tondani sitting against a piece of shuttle debris. Sylas didn't need to be told who this one was - despite the fact that she wasn't seen much anywhere outside of the most elite circles of the Dominion, Amazonia's most profiled enemies certainly knew who she was.

"What are-" the cetacean began as his eyes bugged out of his mammalian forehead, but he wasn't able to finish the sentence as she cut him off.

"I didn't come to listen to your side of the story, Alliance scum," the woman said.

"Ms. Droma, I believe you ha-"

"I know exactly what I'm doing."

The woman was Nadié Droma - and she was the only living relative to the former iron-fisted Sith Emperor of the Dominion.

"I plead you to listen! I have no-"

"I listened to the entire conversation," Nadié scoffed.

She opened her right hand and telekinetically pulled her lightsaber to it, igniting the weapon backhanded with a deep violet blade. Her intentions by this point were fairly clear.

"No, please! We mean nothing but goodwill to the Dominion, this is a misunderstanding!"

"Nothing of the sort," the Human replied darkly. "I heard all about the Tarsonians here - and I heard plenty about your pitiful organization too. Now, even more than ending your pathetic life and ridding your sad Alliance of one more useless member, I'm going to ensure your information goes to a correct source."

She closed her left hand, telekinetically hoisting the cetacean up by his long, skinny neck.

"I will give you what you demand! I will testify before the Imperial Senate! Please spare me!" Sylas begged, on his last legs now. He had little time left, and he knew it.

"I don't cooperate with the dead," Nadié replied, before slashing forth with her right hand.

The violet saber impacted instantly with Sylas's neck as the cetacean let out a banshee-like scream that carried for kilometers, energy discharging immediately and ripping apart the very atoms themselves and disintegrating the organic matter in the sentient. The lightsaber was clean in its work, slashing through and leaving orange burning marks on the throat of the head and the larynx of the body. The head smashed into the ground, a look of shock and fear still on the decapitated cetacean's face.

Nadié smiled, disengaging her lightsaber...and for fun, she timed the homing beacon to activate when it was timed to allow. Let the Alliance fools find their commander finished at her work. His scream would no doubt possibly alert the Tarsonians - but her ship had been hidden well and she would be long gone by then.

Quickly, Nadié slinked back into the undercover, trotting back towards her fighter to make a quick and clean exit.

Wind brushed through the tall grass on the Servati plains, adding an almost serene sound to the unplease scene. 5 of the Horseman had crouched silently in a defensive ring, shielding Miserca, the designated coreman of the group as she tried to bandage Zell up. Kast took the point, reaching out with more than just the 5 standard senses a human has, to scan the area around him. Few wild life, and one alpha predator, that was more concerned with a meal than with the 8 tarsonians on the surface. The 2 were do back any seccond. Hunter and Lucien had been sent back to the Allied ship, the scream of a dead man had pierced the otherwise silent air, and gave them pause.

"All clear" Kast whispered as the two entered his sensory range. And quickly the 2 appeared out of the tall grass, into the clearing. With discust Lucian threw his evidence at Kasts' feet, a disembodied head.

"Predator?" he asked hoping it was just a sad case of man vs nature that did this man in.
"Could have been," Lucien replied.. "theres some big animals around here, doubt he could defend himeslf."

"I dont think we're that lucky," the slim form of Misercia stood up from where the head lay. "this wound is cauterized, it was caused by and energy weapon of some sort..."

As this Kast started a bit? "beam saber?"
"Could be"

He stepped away from the group collecting his own thoughts. If the Sith knew they were still alive, the result could be catastrophic. Either they would want them as allies again, to quell the resistance group of the allies, or as they did with all weaker groups, they would conquer them. And the Tarsonians didnt have any prayer of standing against that force.

"What is it?" keslia asked with concern, approaching her father.

"Nothing" Kast said, a tone of finality in his voice that no one dared challenge. "Lets saddle up and head back to the Zaft border, we need to get Zell to their doctors."

Unlike the others however Keslia wasnt used to simply following orders.
"But what about the others?"

Kast shifted his gaze to his daughter whom he loved but still treated as a soldier. "There are no survivors Luitenant, he was just trying to save his own skin, unfortunately for him he didnt know i would have anyway."

"But," she persisted, " with all due respect Admiral, I once thought the same way, and then i found you, if theres a chance any at all shouldnt we take it?"

Kast sighed "he spoke in cryptics, we barely have a location let alone a reason to believe it"

"We have to try."

Kast gazed upon his daughter mith mixed emotions, insubordination was not to be tolerated, but she was knew to the group,... and he had been no different at her age. Sighing he shook his head hiding a small smile. "Alright lets figure this out. What exactly could we be dealing with."

"Well sir," Lucien chimed in "the more I think about it makes sense." "

Kast raised an eye brow, almost provokingly. He leaned back against the struts of his fighter and crossed his arms across his chess. Staring at the man with his one good eye he said "alright captain lets hear it."

Lucien stepped back abit, obviously nervous of the Admiral's gaze. "well, think about the situation in general. If it was a group of survivors, why not go to their allies, for the same reason we didnt. because the Otari are still out there. Hunting them. Hunting us, giving themselves away could mean their death. WHy would they destroy any ship that got near them? Same reason. Survival. Normally we would give quarter to ships, but the situation has changed, we dont have fleets of ships backing us up anymore. And the attacking from the shadows... "he paused almost excited with his logic, but he didnt realize the more he spoke the more Kast believed he might be right. "... think about it our ships were the only ones who could fire while cloaked, a technology closely guarded. I dont know it any one has aquired it since, but Pirates definately wouldnt be able to detect them, they would be attacked from every where and anywhere and not have the faintest idead where it was coming from."

"Alright, that makes sense" Kast confirmed, "but why the location, Elumarnia was classified, why not try to make it there as we did."

At this Lucien looked down searching for answers,"because....because.....because it was the safest place." Kast stared at the man ammused. "Really?" he asked almost rhetorically.

Lucien stepped forward confident now in his talking. "think about it, why did the Otari atack us in the first place. Because of the virus. Our whole central command was obliterated, with out the ability to coordinate with eachother, we couldnt mount a defense, against a foe we could have easily defeated at full strength. The survivors, They had no gaurentee that Elumarnia hadnt been discovered. For all they knew it could have been obliterated. They needed a place that no nation of any sort would fin them. so figure this: The Otari would be easy pickings for our allies, but the Virus kept any prospect of rescuing us trapped behind their borders. So they chose the spine, its almost directly on teh border. A pocket of space with no planet in 4 light years in any direction. Close enough to the border with the Dominion that the Otari wouldnt risk it, and far enough on the Tarsonian side, that Dominion ships would stear clear due to the quarentine. They only had to worry about pirates, escaping Dominion patrols, but that could be dealt with, shoot first, ask questions later, protect your identity. and the birds of fire, do i need to even say it?"

Kast nodded at this, "but the man said Cerullean fire birds, and if i recall the Cerullean myth that closely resembles the pheonix, is Blue not Red as ours the Terran version. This would make it not our insignia."

"Okay okay... but what if... they changed it." Lucien persisted. When kast made no reply he continued, "If you were on the run, from something that wanted to kill you specifically, what would you do, key thing again... hide your identity. But we cant change the Inisgnia's were Tarsonians, the philosophy behind the myth is the very Epitome of our nations creation. But what stuck out more noticably than the shape itself? The color. Deep blood and fire red, almost bone chilling, memorable promised death by combat if you stood against it. If word got out to the Otari about ships still flying under this bannar, they would risk the border to investigate, but a different color and similar symbol? just another damn pirate faction the Dominion must be dealing with."

Kast stared at the ground digesting the information Lucien had unloaded. It made sense, he liked it, but could he risk it? It still seemed far fetched, but if there was a chance that there were more survivors, more ships... they could start something, using Elumarnia as a home world, protected by concealment, they could start building again... Tarsonis could again rise from the ashes and maybe even, reclaim its former glory.

"Load up" he said determination heavy in his voice. "If theres a chance they're out there, i'll take it." With in minutes the sounds of engines screamed through the sky as the fighters headed for orbit.

When they had reached orbit Kast clicked on his comlink "Send a subspace message to the Lysithea, inform them of Zell's condition (massive chest wound losing blood but still concious) tell them we need med evac, we go once he is secure."

Don't worry about me admiral Zell's pained voice came over the comlink. followed by some coughing that almost sounded fluidic in natureill be fine, the lysithea will be here in a matter of minutes once the transmission is sent, they've been tailing us. Go find our breatheren time cannot be waisted.

Kast smiled at the mans bravery as the computer's disembodied voice chimed in informing of the message's departure through subspace. "Very well, Colenal, we will be back for you, stay strong stay alive. and hold on till they get here. when they do inform them the situation was takin care of, and that we had to investigate something, do tell them what, i know Athrun will try to send an entire fleet to escort us. So long friend." He needent have worried though, as the 7 remaining fighters approached their jump point, a sensor flashed on his screan "hyperspace window opening, incoming craft, ZAFT craft Lysithea." Kast smiled as the fighters entered hyperspace, heading for the unknown.

The three ships descended from hyper space on the pretense the detected pirates "Picking up the Tarsonians, wait 7 of them jump away, 1 is on the planet, biometrics show injuries" an officer on the bridge of the Lysithea report to the ships captain "Heh well I guess they left the injured one for us to pick up while they continued on, oh well transport him to medical, I'm on my way down now with the files central intelligence sent to us" the captain said as he walked off the bridge. He then made a light jump off the ground and began to float, he used the ships 'escalator' system to ferry himself around the corridors. The Lysithea it self was a fairly new ship and part of the newest class which went away from the conventional designs of the past. After a rather short period he made it to the medical section and entered "This is the second time you've been in my medical ward, don't tell me you have a thing for the nurses son?" the captain said jokingly before quickly turning his attention "Bridge!..........Launch the rapid response units and have them do a quick sweep, have the Excalibur and the Normandy do the same" the screen he was talking to then cut off.

He then came over to where Zell was being treated he then tossed a bunch of files down on a near by end table "Since Admiral Kast is not here might as well show these to one of the ones who is here" he said with a grin as he started looking over the stuff himself. ZAFT forces central intelligence had sent over all the reports over the past ten years of rumored Tarsonian survivors. The information and everything surrounding it was sent over due to the fact that by Admiral Zala's orders the Lysithea and the other ships were to be a 'home base' for Kast and his men.

Verdian Straits, some 16 hours later...

The Verdian Straits, was a far from interesting as the way of voids in space go. In earlier wars before even the Dominion or Tarsonis existed, armies had used the void as a place for staging guerrilla warfare. All nearby systems at least 4 hours by hyperspace, it was easy for a group of ships to appear out of no where attack a shipping lane and disappear into the voids between the stars. Hower this had been many millenia ago, and now the void was

Devoid of any detectable life.

The screen showed the dissapointing results as Kasts onboard sensors finished its scan. Kast sighed staring out into the vast expanse,... "we could be here for days and never find them." Little did he know another party had already picked up his scans, and had adjusted their course accordingly.

Kast clicked on his comlink "I don't know what luck were gonna have out here, we could search this entire area for months and never find them... if they're out here to begin with."


Should we conact zaft?" Junes voice came over the com maybe they can give us some ships to assists us. and I doub't the survivors would fire on ZAFT ships.

"True but they'ed probably avoid them." Kast replied. "they're trying to stay hidden. We need to...."

Kast was cut off by a sudden beeping on his scanner. Ship Detected, un able to discern model, out of range.

"You all reading this."

"yes sir, its heading our way but it seems pretty slowly. It could be a patrol... or a damaged vessel, they could need help.

"We'll,... all we have to try I guess" He flipped on the long range com switched and cleared his throat. "This is Admiral Kevin Kast of the Tarsoinain Navy, we are ...."
Warning ships are accellerating. The computer inturrupted.
Kast stared confused at his sensor screen as the ship did appear to be moving faster. And then... it split in to 2, then 4, 6, 8, 16... Suddenly his sensor screen flash,

WARNING! WARNING! SHIPS IDENTIFIED OTARI RAZORBACK FIGHTERS! WARNING! WARNING!

"ITS A TRAP! Theyre already on us, prepare for combat"

All 7 tarsonians simultanusly activated weapons.
"Switch to soldier mode."
The valkarye fighters simultaneously, almost as if practiced transformed into Mobile suits. as if they were on ground the fighters lined up shoulder to shoulder, rifles leveled.

Kast tapped his finger on his trigger, though lightly enough not to actually fire.
"Fighters will be in range in, 5, 4, 3, 2," The valkary fighters opend fire a hail of plasma screaming through space at the attackers. Some making purchas shreadding unshielded steel as fighters exploaded. The Otari patrol returned fire, but their own weapons impacted harmlessely on Tarsonian shields, which held...for the moment. The Otari fighters blew past the tarsonian lines. Arm mounted beam sabers of the Tarsonian fighters found purchase in only two more Razor backs. And 2/3 of the Otari remained. Quickly the Tarsonians were on them in persuit.

"Attack pattern epsilon." Kast sent lining a up his guns on a fleeing razorback.
Roger that sir.

Wilco Admiral.

The pilots replied as they broke formation each following their own targets.

Keslias voice chimed in amongst the usual battle chatter. I dont understand what they're doing here. They should be long gone. Its been ten years.

They probably are investigating the rumors as are we.

"Regardless" Kast interrupeted them " we need to dispatch these fighters fast and get out. they are alone out here, their ships will be here any minute."

Uh.. too late for that sir.

The remaining fighters fled from battle in heading for multipule hyperspace windows that were filling the void.

"I count.... 3 cruiser, 5 corvets, 2 carriars and a battle cruiser." luciens voice came of over the com.
"A full Otari, enforcer group. Better than a battle group I suppose."
Warning warning FTLi field detected.

The pilots stared out as there were now hundreds of guns trained on them. Their shields could stand a fiew direct shots from the inferior fighters, but battle ships would make quick work of them.

"A trap.... and we fell right into it." Kast sighed as he prepared to meet his fate. "Stand tall Mornarians, lets atleast take our deaths with dignity."

Fighters flew out of the carriars like hornets to defend their hive. Light filled their view points as the ships opened fire. Plasma streamed forward shrieking toward the Horseman. Kast stared the fire down almost as if he could stop it... and to his suprise...it did. The plasma impacted on an invisible wall, only a few thousand kilometers away. The confused Otari didnt fire again, and a momentary lul settled on teh battle as both sides tried to figure out what happened. But it was only a calm right before the storm.

Without warning a beam of light erupted out of the hull of the Otari capital ship. Its bulkheads collapsing with a single attack.

Phase cloaking deactivating, mutliple ships phasing in.

"Phase cloak...." was all Kast could say, as he watched the slaughter. Rail guns and and laser fire appearing out of nowhere shredded ship and fighter alike. Confused and chaotic the Otari were helpless as they met their ends. After only a few minutes the Enforcer fleet was descimated... but all this escaped Kasts recognition. Even the cheers of his men on the radio escaped him. All he saw was the words STSS Daedelus emblazened on the Monsterous Carriar in front of him. The Daedelus, the prized beacon of freedom, of the Tarsonian 7th Exploration fleet had shielded them from the blast and now was decloaked infront of him. He didnt even act suprised as the his ship began to move toward it as a tractor beam pulled him and his men into the hanger. The last thing he noticed before entering the hanger, was the Pheonix emblazened on the side...a bright electric blue.

On board the Lysithea the captain had left the medical bay and returned to the bridge, he was captain after all so he had to be in his command center "Sit rep XO" the captain ordered as he walked onto the bridge. The XO saluted him as he came in "Patrols just came back from there sweep, looks like who ever Kast was meeting already left the area by the time we got there, debris on the surface shows Dominion manufactured droids" the man reported with a sharp but calm voice.

"Dominion droids? well that doesn't help that much, just about every one in this galaxy has bought droids from the dominion at one point or another, FTL officer any luck tracking Admiral Kast, Zala would have my head if we let him die"

"Rough estimate puts there course somewhere into grid JX-1Y2, rather remote area"

"He is probably doing what his gut is telling him, that area would be a good place to hide, but we might as well follow since it's our job, fire up FTL and put us on combat jump alert until we have re-established contact with the admiral, I'd rather not have any surprised"

"Aye sir" the officer said pushing a button "Attention All hands, set condition black through out the fleet, prepare for combat jump, I repeat prepare for combat jump" the entire ship was already on alert but a combat jump meant all weapons were to be ready to fire as soon as the jump was over, and all craft were to be ready to launch. Down on the hanger deck twelve Akira's were being put into the launch catapults with additional equipment for heavy combat. At the same time more Akiras, the older AEMF-001 Asura's, and Assault gunships were readied for combat to launch ASAP. It took another two minutes for the first wave to be fully ready as the first wave became active the ships reported in as ready "Sir all ships reporting ready for combat jump"


"Whats are status?"

"Last sections reporting in now" after a couple seconds more the last sections of the ship reported in "All sections ready sir"

"Jump the fleet" the captain ordered swiftly. With a flash of light the three ships were gone and before long they reappeared outside the nebula that Kast had gone into "Jump complete nothing on sensors"

"Of course not, if any one is around they are in there, lets not wait for something to come out at us, launch rapid response craft and stand by for now" he ordered. From the bottom of the Lysithea and the Normandy twelve Akira's launched, and another twenty launched from the Excalibur. They began flying in formation around the area in a protective pattern around the ships. To investigate what was inside the nebula a set of nine probes were launched inside to collected data.

Amazonia

"What? What did you say?"

Sunlight streamed in from the waning Amazonian sun through the top windows of the Imperial Spire. The tallest building on the world-city, the spire cut straight through the clear atmosphere of the planet - still remarkably clean despite the immense amount of vehicular traffic and sheer number of denizens of the Dominion capital. The Spire was a landmark unlike the others of Amazonia, a new building retrofitted from a former corporate tower like any other that had been repossessed by the government - and converted into a rising pinnacle that represented one of the symbols of power on the planet - if not also the most heavily-defended point of the capital world, and therefore, potentially of the entire Dominion.

The High Chamber was aptly named, where the Dominion Council ruled the affairs of the sprawling civilization amidst a single circular penthouse, circled by transparisteel that allowed for a sweeping view over the cityscape of the political and social nexus of the capital planet. Five plush seats adorned the room, along with several statues at each durasteel pillar that divided each transparisteel pane. Half monument, half executive quarter - the High Chamber was meant to display the Dominion's opulence while simultaneously provide a luxurious working environment for the high rulers of the domain.

Lord Sion's cracked and scarred gray face, however, showed none of the peace and serenity exemplified by the Chamber.

"Tarsonians," Nadié Droma repeated in a patient tone. "I overheard their entire conversation."

Ludo Kressh flipped a quick knowing glance to his compatriot Nihilis, seated near him, as he spoke up: "Perhaps you misheard, Apprentice. The Tarsonians were wiped out some time ago."

Kressh spoke confidently - as if he was dead sure on what he said was true. Perhaps too confidently, though his use of the term "apprentice" in reference to Droma unnerved her to the point that she missed his tone.

"I am fairly certain if I heard or did not," Nadié ground into her teeth. "After all, you weren't there my Lord."

Marka Ragnos - perhaps the most neutral of the Sith Lords and thus able to see various viewpoints - seemed fairly clued into Kressh's knowledge. He mentioned nothing, but made a mental note that the elder Sith Lord seemed to know something the others didn't.

"The Emperor's daughter has a point," Ragnos spoke up, "and if what she said and the Alliance member is true, then perhaps the rebels have already begun drawing them out. We can let the pirates provoke them - but to our own interest, we must draw a line in the sand."

"Or take them both," Sion blasted. "The Tarsonians back during their height were no particular allies of our own. If they are of some weakened state and still coming around, let the Alliance draw them out and we can annihilate two enemies quickly!"

"And potentially alert any reserves they have," Ragnos finished. "A cautious mind will prevail in this sort of circumstance Sion - we are in no rush. After all, our Dominion is at the peak of its power - if these Tarsonians do indeed exist, they are not of yet to any concern."

"I've got a better idea," Nadié brought up, despite that she was far junior to the Sith Lords and in little position to talk. "Finish the Alliance off now with a controlled campaign. If anything proves by what I saw it's that they are only serving to irritate these Tarsonians even more. Better to try and let the Tarsonians deal with themselves while we can take our own enemies while their attention is diverted."

Kressh knew when to spot opportunity - and while he severely disliked Droma's headstrong daughter, she had brought up a potential that he absolutely had to grab hold of.

"The girl is right," Kressh motioned, figuring Nihilis would catch on as well. "The Sagittarians are a threat that needs our attention...I volunteer to lead a fleet to exterminate them. The last thing we need to do is foster rebellion."

"We need collaboration...I will take my combined fleet as well out to finish the Alliance strategically between my own and Ludo's forces," Nihilis chimed in. He had gotten it.

Ragnos lifted an eyebrow - he was the lone Sith Lord in the Council with the ability to see Shatterpoints - breaks in the force that washed like a wave of emotion over him. Not exactly clairvoyence, but seeing into the shatterpoints could give Ragnos a gut feeling, at the least, about the near future...if nothing more. It wasn't sight, it was feeling.

Perhaps in the spirit of such, Ragnos surprisingly agreed with the two's eagerness: "I agree."

A simple response, but it gave what Kressh and Nihilis needed - 3 of 5 agrees amongst the Council to clear a positive. Ragnos was often the tiebreaker amidst Kressh and Nihilis's conservatism and Sion and Naga Sadow's aggressive views. But as Kressh and Nihilis departed the Chamber down the rear tube shaft down the spine of the Spire, Nadié drew on her own courage to call out Ragnos in front of Sadow and Sion.

"You agree with them," she spat, almost as if a statement of acknowledgment. "They're clearly hiding something."

Ragnos smiled. A normal Sith, even her father, the former Emperor Droma, probably would have thrown her body threw the window at such a response, but Ragnos looked positively upon the bold - much as he did with Sion and Sadow's rash motives. She liked the woman's fire...it would serve the dark kernel in her heart ever the more.

"I do," Ragnos replied with upspeak. "I will let them run their course...and here in the Core, we will run ours."

Ragnos's tone was fairly clear as Nihilis and Kressh prepared to depart within 24 hours for the outer regions...the Council was fracturing.


* * * * *


Elysium

"You're telling me this has been here the entire time."

Tholme Solusar's voice was bordering on incredulous at the find...or at Rick Winters's foresight. He, Winters, civil leader and former Federation Senator Tai Adega, and Jedi Master Tra Odanis were gathered around a sinkhole in the fertile ground of tropical Elysium. A bright sun (bright in a relative term...the eternal hazy yellow cloud cover of the jungle world cast a bright pallor on the world at all times) shined enough light down to brighten the shadowy sinkhole enough. This was no sinkhole of normal terms - and while it wasn't on the scale of those of Oduvit, it was a good 600m in diameter and roughly 100m in depth. It was large, dwarfing the four Humans who stood at its lip.

What was truly remarkable about it was not the sinkhole itself...but that an Akira-class destroyer sat within its dirty confines, an inhabitant of the turf.

The around 20,000 refugees that called Elysium home had long believed that their only mode of travel off the world had lay in a few shuttles and fighters that remained functioning and not taken over by the vegetation and natural organic disturbances of the atmosphere and life of the jungle planet. Elysium was seen much as a permanent post - after all, they were still living as the vestiges of the Federation. All that remained off-world, supposedly, was suppression and likely execution by Emperor Droma's forces. Better to live free and live simple than have all the comforts in the technological world but to live in constant check of what was said and what was done.

However, sitting in good condition in front of the four was a ship that could carry potentially thousands of people with a fairly minimal crew of under 500 - and additionally, if it was fully active, had a complete defensive suite and weapons layout.

This was huge. The Federation survivors had been living a simpler life, focusing inwards on ensuring that they never fell to the same influences the Dominion and its leaders had. Spreading the message and bringing the Amazonians as a society back, if slowly, towards the Federation's standard of freedom was a foregone negation. Now, however, with a ship - even just a simple multi-role vessel officially termed a "destroyer" in the Dominion's ship registry - they could get off isolated Elysium, return to society, and begin carrying the word of freedom to a populace that for their best guess, was probably sick of Droma by now. No bets down, if the Emperor had carried his plans across...the Federation refugees could only guess upon what kind of social turmoil he had laid down.

This ship could bring them back...it could return the power of democracy and free will to a civilization likely starved of such ideals.

Aptly enough, the name across the front of the ship's forward body read, in stark black letters, AFW Freedom.

As Kast climbed out of the cockpit of his fighter and moved across the gray permacrete floors of the hanger bay, the silence was deafening. Men all stared at him, as one would stare at painting in an art gallery, some in awe, some in fear, some in utter disbelief. He didn’t need anyone to tell him to where to go, maybe by instinct or by some other force, he was being drawn to the bridge. The familiar halls beckoned as he headed for passageway, looking back over his shoulder briefly his men followed. All except June, who was being taken away on a stretcher, blood soaking her right arm. The remaining horseman 6 now, with a look of determination set off down the hall.

Sailors and marines alike, cleared out of their path, silently they watched them pass, only to excitedly chat as they left. Turning right at an intersection the turbo lift to the bridge came into view. With out a word they passed through doors. “Access bridge” Kast said, informing the computer of his destination. “authorization Kast alpha niner epsilon.”
“Voice recognition confirmed Admiral Kast.” the computer responded and the turbo lift began to rise. The group remained in absolute silence even as the turbo lift slowed to a halt and the doors opened. The 6 stepped through the door.

Every head in the room turned to observe the new arrivals. Every head except one that is, that head had already been looking at them when they arrived. It belonged to a stout well built man who stood with his feet apart and his arms crossed wearing an expression that expressed both amusement and anger. Before Kast could stop himself he utter an involuntary “No……it can’t be…” the other man contorted trying to suppress the laughter rising up in him . Quite joylessly he said “Oh yes Admiral it can, men like us are like cockroaches, you can spray all you want, but well still come back when the lights are out.” The two men hugged each other tight, not the way lovers do, but the way old friends do unaware of any such social taboos.

“I can’t believe your alive Nicoli, and different now, you were a much different man when we parted.” Nicoli Rapier smiled at this, “True, but even I had to adapt to the situation. Being the deposed Secretary of War, and the only remaining member of the government, it fell upon me to lead these men, to keep the fight for survival going.” Kast nodded understanding the chain of command. “How many men do you have?” he asked. “well for starters we have the Daetelus, and the 4 UltimaX carriers.” Kast couldn’t believe his ears. “The Ultimas? Impossible, they were destroyed at the battle of Matharon.” Nicoli’s smiled broadened. “I see our deception worked well. The Ultimas weren’t destroyed by enemy forces, technically neither was the Incursion. The battle was being lost, and the Incursion had lost its hyper drive with no hope of repair, and we couldn’t risk it being captured. So we set engines to over load, beamed as many people we could off of it, and Admiral Merdica steered that ship into the heart of the 3 Otari battle groups. Decimated half the Otari fleet, and in the confusion the Ultima’s slipped away. We didn’t anticipate, the blow to moral, the decision had, but the war had been lost for ages, we were just…delaying the inevitable.

Kast sighed remembering the day he had heard they were lost. The moral of his men had sunk, and at the next battle were easily defeated. He wanted to argue the point but decided to let it go. “what else do you have?” he asked continuing the earlier subject. Nicoli moved to the viewing screen. “25 corvets 15 wave runners, 9 corsairs, 10 BC’s all Alexander class thankfully and 2 scout interceptor frigates, 3 corsair interceptor frigates,… we keep them in a one battle group for search and destroy missions… and 1 hunter killer battle star… its old and out dated, but it keeps it going. We have around 500,000 crewmen 250,000 marines, 150 000 pilots and around 15,000 Mornarians. We’re basically a functioning battle group. However, our shields and weapons are out dated theres, no where to turn for supplies. We can power the energy weapons but we’ve long since run out of torpedoes. It’s been tough. But we have plenty of man power and now the SEVEN HORSEMAN!!” Finally it seemed Nicoli noticed the other survivors standing on the bridge. He went to each in line shaking their hands but paused when he came to the last, and smallest horseman, Keslia. “We’ll I’ll be,…” he looked over at Kast, and back down to her. “I should have known, when I heard about Naya, I knew every one was gone, but for some reason I should have known you were alive, you are after all, the daughter of the Luckiest son of a bitch I have ever met.” At this Keslia blushed and nodded her thanks.

“So Kast,” Nicoli mused, “you know our secret now, where have you been?” Kast turned away from the viewing screen to face his old friend. “Elumarnia,” Nicoli started forward, and stoped “Elumarnia…Survived?” he couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. Kast simply nodded, “its location was very classified, not even kept on but a few records, its location was never discovered. Unlike your present hiding place, you must know they will send others.” The conversation was broken as June burst into the Bridge her right arm in a sling. Seeing Nicoli and recognizing she snapped into attention wincing from moving too quickly. “Secretary.” Nicoli stopped and staired, and with out thinking about it, walked over, and hugged his neice tightly. Tears came to his eyes but the moment was some what inturrepted as June winced and cried out, “my arm uncle,” Nicoli stumbled back “Oh of course.” He stood up strait holding June at arms length, looking her up and down. “I owe you for this Kast,…” he paced over to the command chair and stood there fingering the fabric causing the chair to spin around. “This chair belongs to you, always has, and still does.” This caught Kast off guard. “But it’s yours Nicoli, these men are yours now.” Nicoli laughed heartily, “damnit Kevin, I’m a scientist, not a warriar, my job was to make sure the military was supplied not actually conduct the wars. That was your job. And now, I surrender my tittle, you are the ranking officer. The fleet is yours to command.” He moved face Kast and saluted. And then moved closer whispering… “I have my place, you have yours, you win the battles, and with the base on Elumarnia, ill give you the tools to do it.”

Kast nodded and moved to the chair. Running his hand along the familiar back and fabric, he knew Nicoli was right. All business now he turned to face his Comrads. “Captain June Rapier front and center!” June quickly moved forward, and stood at attention and saluted with her left hand for her right arm was injured. “For ten years, you have been my captain, and second in command.”Kast spoke pride filling his voice “ You are hearby promoted to the rank of Major, and I hear by step down as commander of the Seven Horseman. The honor of commanding them is yours now. May you serve them well.” Tears had come to June’s eyes, this was an honor she had long been awaiting. Proudly she returned the salute Kast gave her. “Dismissed.” Applause filled the bridge.

Kast then moved to the command chair and took his seat. “Open a channel to the whole fleet.” An ensign quickly pushed buttons on his panel “channel open.” Kast nodded and cleared his throat. “This is Admiral Kevin Kast, many of you have heard that name before, whether by serving with me, or by the stories of those who have. Nicoli rapier has stepped down as acting commander, and I am resuming my duties as Commander of the fleet. I am transmitting now on encrypted channels, a world that escaped the purgings of the Otari. It’s not a great home, its not a lovely home, but it’s a safe home, and for now, that is what matters. Be prepared to begin travel on my mark.” He signaled to the ensign to kill the channel. “channel closed sir, the fleet has signaled their loyalties and are standing by.”

“Eng-“ Kast but begin to say. But was interrupted by the Bridges tactician. “Sir I’m picking up around 9 sensory probes entering the void, however scans show all 9 have been incapacitated, apparently the radiation from the surrounding nebula, was not shielded against. “Are we shielded against it?” “Yes sir,… the probes appear to be an old configuration, um the Zodiac Alliance-“ “Ah yes ZAFT” Kast interrupted, “and their not old corporal, they are still around, and helped us find it. Can you track a point of origin?”

”aye sir, they originated from the same trajectory.”

“Very well, send a ship out to collect them and lets bring our fleet out to meet our allies once again, and we need to pick up a friend once we do.

some time later

Kast could only imagine the look on the Zaft commander’s face as the Daedelus was the first exit the nebula cloud. Very few people were alive, that remembered the might ships of the Tarsonian Navy. The Lysithea, was dwarfed by the massive 20 km long carrier of the Daedelus and the 6 Km long battle cruisers. Perhaps it was fate that the Nexus was called the Ashes of Platea, a kalaedescope of reds and grays much like the ashes of battle, for soon a scene unfolded that had not been seen in over 10 years. A Tarsonian Battle group, colors emblazed on the side. 70 ships in all, steaming gracefully through space, their destination amongst the stars. The Proud Kingdom of Tarsonis, had indeed risin from the ashes.

"Ah captain you better take a look at this" a officer on the bridge of the Lysithea said as he saw the sensor contacts appear one by one. The captain brought it up on a screen in front of him, when he saw it the coffee cup dropped from his hand "My god, the rumors were true about survivors in this region, heh if only we had the Dagger here, we would show them up in a heart beat, well this changes the situation for the most part, open a channel to them"

"Open"

"I assume that's you in that old rust bucket Admiral Kast, I'm amazed that so many are organized in such a large group, makes one hope that the other reports we got over the past few years of rumored groups of survivors are true to, in any case it means we are going to need to ship over a large amount of vaccine here for all of you, if I send word now we can have it here tomorrow at best" he then gave a nod of his head to his communications officer. That officer sent a heavily encrypted FTL communication back to ZAFT military high command to update them on the situation.


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

Military command

Because of how close the Lysithea was to the border region still she was able to sent a FTL communication through the massive network set up by DSSD. This network allowed for rapid communication through all territory controlled by ZAFT and the locations of these facilities were highly classified. Once the message came through it was passed on to the proper channels to the top of the command chain. due to the down sizing in the size of fleet ships there were very few modern ships that were battle ready and out of refits to send out and in the quantity needed. The message it self simply said 'found Kast, requesting Hellison Vaccine omega blue tree echo axalon' the entire thing was a code in its self, making it really high secrecy of a message. Once it was determined that the Lysithea had ordered several million viles of the vaccine one ship was chosen in order to safely get it there. The ship was the Hammer of Justice, a recently refitted Dagger with the latest technology and some things even the Lysithea didn't have. A regular channel message was sent back saying 'message received ETA 72 hours'

OOC: looking at old pictures zaft i think your dagger classes hould have like some secret ability where they spin really fast and slice through fleets, it would be an impressive sight...sort of like a last act ability

OOC: that would indeed be interesting, well over the past year I did make it so the larger spikes fired a high powered energy cannon from there tips, plus its got that star camo system which projects a star around it's self, and I got a few extra tricks I've created

OOC: eh that camo is easlily pierced by gravity sensors and such, stars have lots of gravity and are huge, talking thousands of KM in diameter, a star that appears out of no where with no gravity to back it up, would....be conspicuous at best

OOC: or there to fool visual sensors only for the most part, I also have what I call a Trinity drive, which once activated it renders energy based weapons ineffective within the radius of its range including my own, I thought it could be useful with so many people using energy weapons these days, by the way are we wait for AB?

Amazonia

The meetings had long since adjourned within the Imperial Spire; Kressh and Nihilis had already jumped their fleets from the capital worlds to engage the enemy. Sion and Sadow had retired to private quarters and Droma had left the planet to return to her native Talasea...but Ragnos, working on into the dead of the Amazonian night splattered with trillions of lights and neons, had plenty left to do. His slight insight during the meeting had given him an edge...and he wanted to take it now. Kressh and Nihilis hadn't felt right to him, and something about what Droma had said seemed significant. Just possibly...but Ragnos had made himself by following hunches, and more often than not...they had turned out to be right.

Contacting whoever Tarsonians this had been wouldn't exactly be easy, especially if they were some sort of fringe group by now. No one would know exactly where they were, what equipment they used...much of anything by that point. They likely weren't all the same after their diaspora following plague and invasion, and therefore might not harbor the same sort of culture they previously did as well. They, for the matter, possibly did not even still know of the Dominion. Ragnos, however, was daring enough to if nothing else, make an attempt and try.

The Imperial Spire's databases, taken from the former Federation Senate and updated since their fall with the Dominion's complete network of information, were complete with pretty much anything Ragnos needed to know on the spot. He was looking for a particular information segment and based on the Federation's previous contacts, it was a guarantee that it would be inside. Ragnos's information was indeed available and the Sith Lord got to work. The message would have to be carried out in a way that revealed little information - and yet still conveyed the point. It was doubtful that the Tarsonians would recognize Ragnos's face, even besides the fact that he had been the Emperor's favored apprentice during the Federation Wars.

What was available under the archives was an old frequency for communications - outdated, true, but it was Tarsonian underneath it all. It was something not used in the Dominion anymore and possibly interpreted as static if it came from the capital by Dominion relay stations - but it could probably punch through.

Ragnos conducted the set-up himself. Programming the Tarsonian frequency from the archives into a hypercomm message and directing it at the general direction of the planet that Droma had returned from to make her report, Ragnos activated a message drone to record his message and send it along the waves.

"This is Lord Marka Ragnos of the Amazonian Dominion," he stated firmly and without emotion. "I don't know who you are, but chances remain that if you ascertain this message than you are who I think you are - Tarsonians. Your encounter with the Sagittarian Alliance was not kept in secret - and the word is out to our highest level. There is a strong possibility after the fate that came that you do not remember who we are - but we remember you, and for now, that is important."

"The Alliance that you fell across is one that has its problems, and will not entertain your ideals to attain them. The Dominion has its problems of its own, and besides the Alliance their are more sinister motives at play in a grander scheme. I am not asking for help or pleading for aid; rather, i look to form a mercenary contract...as I know the Tarsonians were at least of fair quality when they last retreated from the Dominion eye, and could be of at least some use."

"Therefore, the message is simple - for a simple incentive-based sum of credit, I am willing to trade a large share of wealth directly into likely needy Tarsonian hands in exchange for Tarsonian effort into doing the dirty work of assisting in eliminating these Alliance pests. And if the job is successful, certainly more can come from that...as larger plots have already begun."

Ragnos left it at that and sent the message off deep into space, quickly forgetting about it.

Elumarnia: Grand Conference room

"larger plots have already begun." The holographic head finished. The form of Ragnos was projected in the center of the table, with the silluets of ten humoids seated around it in a dimly lit room. A dull silence remained in the rather spartan looking room. No pictures hung on the walls, no busts of great heros of legend, none of the decorations that had graced the war room on Kohral. No just sime gray walls and dull blue carpets. But this was the least of their concerns. "Lights" A familiar voice said from the head of the table, and the illumination in the room increased. It was the Admiral now promoted to Chancellor Kevin Kast.

A week had transpired since finding the fleet in the Verdian spine. Since then, the group had attempted to start building a nation. A sort of ruling had been formed, the population voting in the members. But their power was more in advising the conselor than actual say so in government affairs. A science division had been developed as well, first order of buisness synthesize more vaccine, for distribution and storage and possibly find a cure. This was just one of 9 seperate divisions each with their own designation. Naturally Nicoli Rapier was the head of this particular one.

Kast pressed a button on the consol ahead of him and Ragnos's head shrank becoming just a little Avatar of its formor glory. "We will deal with this in a moment," kast declared, "First: Status report., Mr. Thyers, how fairs the Engineering department?..." He went around in turn asking the head of each division, Engineering, Science, War, Civilian Affairs, Alliegence Affairs, Health, Security, Espionage, and Survivor Locations."
Each reported is affairs, all making progress in expanding their divisions and getting completely set up, but all had the same problem... Lack of Materials. The kingdom needed supplies, not money, they no longer had an economic system, they had no need for it, all their efforts were put into the greater good of the empire. all their efforts.

"Now" Kast inquired, "returning to the matter at hand. How does this" he beconed back towards Ragnos's head. "affect us..."
"Badly"Jim Steinman the Security Advisor said anxiously. "The lack of knowledge of our existence is a key part of keeping us hidden. Now we have to rely on the hidden status of our base to survive. We dont have the supplies to man the defenses."

"I disagree," replied Hunter, former Seven horseman member now Espionage advisor. "Our dealings with Zaft has informed us of drastic changes within the Dominion Government. Emperor Droma has been dead for some time and a council of 5 now rule from the capital planet. Federation remnants still exist untouched by the Council, they are pretty much viewed as an uninteresting colony on a world not worth trying to take over. But a rebellion has brewed amidst the social turmoil of the 5. The Sagitan Pirate Alliance, a group of coat throats and thieves, barely worth our respect has gained conciderable support from the outlaying colonies, enough to make them bold.

Kast leaned back in his chair, raising his fist to his chin pondering over the imputs. "I've met Ragnos before, in a joint Dominion Zaft and Tarsonian compaign against the Sagitan Pirates where we discovered the remnants of the Federation. I suppose you have to read between the lines a little. The fact that they even proposed to ask for our help, means one thing... their getting desperate."

"Indeed" hunter agreed. "Studying recent events involving the council, we believe, a rift may be growing between the council members. Ragnos, seems to be the only member interested in the prosperity of the nation rather than personal gain. Following this theory to the end we believe will have only one out come.."

"Civil war," Kast said indicating he understood.

"Precisely" Hunter Acknowledged, "and him asking for our help confirms this. We know two of the council members have launched a campaign against the Sagitan alliance, it would be logical to assume that these two, are working together, and the other 3... are working to gether. From an outsiders perspective anyway."

Nicoli interrupted. "But Ragnos said he wanted us to Assist in dealing with the pirates and then later might be involved in the war, if he wanted our help in the war, having us assist the 2 wouldnt make sense."

"It would," Kast mused "If you knew how Ragnos thinks... were Ragnos' Ace in the hole. Help the 2, and when the time comes.. he has a group on the inside ready to jump them from behind. Though if the 2 dont see this coming they are extremely naive. However... we have one thing we can get out of this. What is it everyone has said we need, Raw materials and supplies, hes offering a price, name it. I have i taken your words under advisement and I have decided were going to help. Form a list, of all the supplies and send our response, launch a probe and send the message encrypted and have the probe self destruct. Make sure it makes multiple jumps across shipping lanes so as to not be detectable. Meating ajourned."

The round trip for the Hammer of Justice took three days, one to get there, one to transfer supplies, and another to get back with the rest of the fleet. When they left though they assured the Tarsonians if they needed anything to just drop them a line. In all it had been one week since the nebula incident and security was starting to die down. the R&D division was already working on a way to improve there detection systems to prevent further infiltrations and the Hammer of Justice already had a new mission. It was sent to the Lentaros sector, the sector was ZAFT's military weapons testing grounds. Almost every weapon and ship class had gone through trials here, even the Hammer of Justice had its ship trials here.

Today was different though this was going to be the largest scale weapon test ever in military history. Scientists were preparing to detonate 'Fire bomber' it was a high yield Tri-Thortanum warhead, largest one created, and the warhead was enhanced with special particles created to catalyze and increase the reaction, Tri-Thortanum was actually the stable form of Thortanum, which was highly unstable and could only be stabilized if three atoms were joined. The energy released from the breaking of the inter and intra molecular bonds was originally beyond what scientists had predicted.

From a observation science deck on the Hammer of Justice my high ranking officers, scientists, and political figures stood watch over the test, including admiral Zala. As they looked out into the star system which had probes scattered all around to gather data they watched the many tons of debris float by from years of test. Then over the comm system the count down to the test began starting from thirty "This should be interesting, and its the last Tri-Thortanum weapon to be developed" one general commented.

"Bout time this project ended, we don't need such weapons" Zala commented

"Ah don't be so hasty some times they can be useful" another said. They all watched as monitors showing the inside of the system turned off, the ship was at the edge of the system far away from any blast. As the timer hit the last ten seconds the room went silent as they all focused on the test. Then the timer hit zero and they saw a massive flash of light and a shock wave that was a majestic mix of blues, greens, and reds move outwards in all directions. However the alarms on the ship then went of and crew members were seen scrambling "Bridge!.......whats going on!"

"Unknown, the shock wave is continuing to increase in size and speed and its vaporizing every thing in its path, if it doesn't start loosing energy soon it will be on top of us in a few minutes, also we are detecting an unknown particle being released as well and its passing right through the shields of the probes, we don't know what effect it could have on us"

"Get us the hell out of here! maximum jump range and seal the test site for 24 hours!"

"Aye sir" the ship then jumped away, however the shock wave would never reach that position. As the shock wave reach the 7th planet in the system and began to vaporize one of its moons suddenly the shock wave just slowed instantly and stopped. The danger was not gone however the unknown particles created by the test were moving at high speed through out the galaxy.

Some where in the Former Kingdom of Tarsonisn near the Dominion Border

The probe glided through the unpatrolled space, its automaton brain having only one purpose of existance. It wandered not aimlessly, but with a clear destination that only it knew, its side trips were to keep its tracking down. Finally reaching its goal its AI executed the preloaded scripts. The Message was transmitted on an encrypted channel that only Ragnos himself would possibly remember, it was a code that Kast had givin him, during the Sagitan campaign, to encrypt their radios and coordinate inside the Sagitan base.. but that was long agol. After the message was sent, the Probe exploded its shrapenel sent hurling through the cosmos, bearing no witness to its creators.

The message it had sent said simply.

Dominion leader....we do not know how it has come to pass that our humble existance has been brought to your knowledge but we had decided it does not matter. Your broad length frequencey tells us, you have yet to discover our true location, and it is highly unlikely, for not even our ally has any knowledge of where we are either. That being said we believe an arrangement can be reached. However, your money is no good to us, for in our desperate need for survival our nation has evolved past such things. That being said, our help will not come without a cost,... a rather steep cost at that, but we are sure you would agree, the security and survival of a nation is worth any cost.

From you we require 100 Million tons of a Metal known as Tetrahydrite, the compact composition of this metal is well known to be quite stronger than steel or titanium, we are sure you would recognize it.

We also require, 50 million tons of Durachrystalis, a fairly special ore commonly used as shock absorbing material. Other than that, we need only simple medical supplies, basic medicin and such, perhaps that miracle drug of yours... we believe it is called bacta.

It is no secret here of our intentions, as we are sure you can guess them by the nature of our request. We are rebuilding our fleets, while that may not seem to your best interest, we cannot be involved in your conflict if the replacement of destroyed vessels and the expansion of our fleet is in jeapordy

OOC: Zaft your abbility in creating Galactic Crisis's over and over again, amazes me

Elysium

Winters was mightily surprised at the good condition the vessel was in. He was aware of when it had first arrived, with a band of survivors gathered from Rydoni before the planet was subjugated to military lockdown. The Freedom had been crewed by a skeleton crew of military personnel who weren't going quietly with the Emperor's new government, and had fled like every other refugee. The vessel itself had contained likely only a hundred people total, and looking to forget warfare, they had forgotten about the military destroyer now situated in the overgrown sinkhole. Winters had not forgotten, however, as he had figured the vessel could one day prove to be of some importance...and he had figured right. The colony was getting nowhere by focusing inwards; it was time to start moving back out again.

The halls of the vessel still shined sharp whites and bright blues, the antimatter reactor having also preserved its entire store of fuel from ship shutdown. That was remarkable enough, but the power conduits were still functional and overall, the Freedom was in workable shape. The paint coat perhaps needed some trimming and it was slightly dusty and inhabited with the occasional animal, but besides that...one couldn't complain, especially when they had been living in the heated jungle for the past decade. It was still a starship...a working starship.

Winters, his daughter, and Solusar were mulling about the bridge as the majority of the colony leadership - Odanis, Adega, Jedi Mikal Shen-Jonn, and ex-Federation naval pilot Derrill Onasi had already come on board and were on various parts of the vessel. It lacked the full complement of gunships with only two, and had only 10 starfighters (including Onasi's personal Defiance-class starfighter that had remained on the world since his arrival). This wasn't bad, however - there were likely only fifteen to twenty qualified pilots around anyway, and it was hoped that the fighters and gunships would not be needed. The vessel also had several support craft within its bays: a single Caravan-class cargo gunship, a Redoubt-class shuttle that needed a few repairs but seemed serviceable, an older and outdated Spirit-class dropship, and a few ground craft. That was even more hopefully of no use...the colonials weren't looking to engage in ground fighting.

Winters was technically the commander of the mission, with Adega serving as a representative of the Federation should the need arise. The Jedi were serving their own purposes, as well as general protectors (Odanis was technically a co-commander, but that role was taken lightly), while Onasi was heading up the support personnel. Enough qualified or ex-qualified crew had been assembled - 145 in total - but that was still barely enough even to operate the 450m long vessel which generally operated on a crew of over 300. It would have to suffice, however - Winters didn't want to risk overdue casualties or displacement on a mission looking to see if the Federation refugees could simply escape their planetary prison.

The bridge personnel stood amongst the bridge however, with their assigned parameters set and everything ready. Farewells had been said and wishes given, and Winters was slightly eager to get going. Onasi sat at the piloting chair temporarily - Winters trusted the former starfighter pilot more than any other in getting this ship at least off the ground.

"All systems checkin' out?" Winters called around the bridge.

Several affirmatives met his question, and that was all the former Federation Major needed.

"Let's get a move on. You have the honors, Derrill."

"Yes, sir," Onasi acknowledged, pressing several icons on his control panel.

With a flash, the lights across the bridge went out and panels flickered.

"My bad," Onasi remarked, "that was wrong."

Winters rolled his eyes. Another perfect start.

With several more punches to the board, Onasi reactivated power systems and ignited the twin engine nacelles of the Akira-class destroyer. He flicked a grin to his commander over the shoulder, and hit the primary repulsors - the ship effortlessly lifting off the ground, moving onto a seat of cushioned air as it prepared for full acceleration. Onasi closed his eyes momentarily to feel the ship's life flowing through the control consoles, then - after that moment of reminiscence - hit full power to the engines. The nacelles fired blue for a brief split second before the Freedom blasted out of the soft sinkhole, cutting through the thick air and shooting over the central refugee colony before moving out towards orbit. The Federation was back to the stars.


* * * * *


Amazonia

Ragnos had quickly had his personal AI intercept the message during its transit through the Amazonian networks, picking off the message before even Imperial Spire security AIs could have had a chance at it and siphoning the transmission directly to Ragnos's personal quarters. With a view overlooking the Imperial Senate and the political residential towers, Ragnos felt at ease as he activated coding for the message to pop up. The mid-morning sun of Amazonia was barely beset by cumulus clouds, and traffic stood out as only thin bands of moving ants amidst the sea of tar heel blue that formed a serene backdrop. Amazonia was a crowded, technologically-driven world, but it could have its moments of peace.

Going back to his work, Ragnos poured over the message as he played it several times, analyzing the bits and pieces of what the Tarsonians wanted. Fairly simple exchange, really...raw materials and medicinal supplies in exchange for combat ability. Not a bad deal for the rebounding economy of the Dominion, newly rising from a two-year recession that had occurred recently. The bacta request Ragnos was afraid he was going to have to decline...that substance was far too valuable and only processed from alazhi and kavam plant that had specific growing parameters. It was too needed by the fleet and by serious domestic cases...but the standard for civilian usage, kolto, Ragnos had no trouble parting with.

Bacta had long been seen as the ultimate savior of life in the Dominion due to its universal healing ability - a catalyst in rapid cellular regeneration and eradication of scar tissue. The red alazhi bacterial particles directly targeted wound sites using smaller "antibody"-like replenishing organelles, while the kavam particles nurtured the body overall and prevented potential side effects or spreading of damages. It was all-encompassing and so far, fairly invincible. Bacta was also easily blended with other natural products, leading to such mixtures as Rylca, a treatment for the Krytos virus that severely reduced the amount of bacta needed. Bacta was available in many forms as well, such as patches, salves, edible pasts, and the iconic liquid mixture utilized in injections or for severe wounds, tanks.

Kolto, however, was by far the most common treating agent in the widespread and varied Amazonian medicinal arsenal. The liquid was dispersed through the skin of the Kolet fish, a small but numerous creature that had originally developed on the peaceful aquatic world of Qualas. Ever since Amazonian genetics had reached their current pinnacle the Kolet had been transported off-world to other aquatic planets such as the bioengineering and cloning hotbed of Kuram, and genetically altered to survive in numerous conditions while secreting optimum allotments of the kolto liquid. It lacked the sheer effectiveness of bacta in regards to pure healing power, but could prevent most deaths if critical injuries were treated in a tank with sufficient amounts of the liquid (amounts generally determined by severity of the injury) with generally around double to triple the time of healing of bacta - the longest and deadliest cases sometimes taking full immersion up to three weeks. The chemical also was available in standard medpacks for basic military use equipped to each soldier, as well as for lighter wounds in military medbays not requiring the rarer bacta supplies. The chemical was cheap and effective, if albeit slightly longer-acting, and therefore a major plus and success of Amazonian genetic modification.

Ragnos could certainly spare that - he had enough to give, for sure. Especially considering how every attempt to artificially foster the kavam and alahzi plants had gone awry, this was a much better deal. The materials were easy to find - there were more than enough rocky worlds and asteroid fields that contained the requested supplies, and that could be collected in a week maximum. Technological medicinal supplies thrown into the deal, Ragnos figured governmental reserves could cover the entire transaction without too much loss to the economy to refill the reserves to peak levels as they were right now.

Ragnos quickly comprised his message, activating a holoprojection while instructing his AI to load another hyperprobe to send to the same region of space with the same transmission signal...as of yet, unobstructed by Dominion interference.

"Your needs can be met quite simply, and i have formulated a general listing of the items that can be sent pending confirmation. 100 million tons of tetrahydrite and fifty million tons of durachrystalis can be achieved through collection of reserve resources in a week's time, while one billion gallons of the kolto healing agent, fifty tons of vincha anesthetic paste, one hundred tons of medicinal ryll spice, and five thousand adrenal stimulant packs. This should suit your needs as you build your numbers and your population...however, it will be delivered once your entry has begun. The Dominion has not turned that trusting immediately.

We can go as far as offering potential future contracts for these and other supplies and raw materials should your economy so desire; however, such will come not only with first collateral participation in the events ahead, but with renegotiated terms and our comfort in working with your reborn civilization. I await your response."

Droma was concise and to the point, quickly dispatching the message to the AI as it shot out to fire off the hyperlanes.

Elumarnia Battle Room
Kast went over the message tht had just been recieved, like Ragnos working deep into the socalled "night" of Elumarnia. Nights, Days, they were all that same on the miserable planet, the darkness was ever invasive. However, they were alive, having actual living quarters instead of cramped ship quarets, moral had sored, though it would be short lived.

Knocking the sparks from his cigar before taking a puff, Kast clicked on the message recorder and cleared his throat. The message was short and to the point. "What are your orders?" Clicking another button the message was transmitted through a number of relay probes that had been launched a day earlier, setting up a communication network that gaurenteed their secrecy.

Sighing he leaned back in his chair reaching a glass on his desk containing an Amber liquid. He raised the glass in a silent toast and moved the glass to his lips. Before taking a sip he said. "You know, I didn't used to drink alone."

The figure of his daughter stepped out from the shaddows, carrying a bottle of her own. "The warriors creed, do what is necessary and drink to forget about it later." She clanked her own bottle to her fathers glass and sat on his desk. "So to war again is it? Marius isnt back yet from that transmission that i caught on my residual guild frequency."

"I realize that" Kast replied. " the materials we get from that will help us repair most alot of our ships, but this contract, will allow us to build around 1000 ships, and with teh medical supplies they're including, our standard of living will increase. In maybe 2 years we can leave this rock, and maybe settle on one of the Uninhabitated M-class planets that eixisted in tarsonis. The Otari would have passed them up. "

Keslia nodded, "it would be nice, but I like it here. It reminds me of who I am...a warriar...daughter of the greatest warriar Tarsonis has ever known."

Kast laughed to himself...."Just an ordinary man, who managed to survive in extaordinary situations." Kast leaned back further placing his feet up on his desk crossing his legs. "You know this...life living by the sword...its not the life I wanted for you. It's suiting for an soldier like me, it's all I know.... but you...you were supposed to be a teacher, or a scientist or a doctor...something safe... civilian. Not..this."

Keslia leaned back agaisnt the wall Kast's desk was up against. "I suppose no one imgaines this life for their children....I would have loved to have them... but the Cataclysm changed everything, this way of life is no longer an option, but rather a necessity."

"There's still time for you to have children my dear....adn at this point in our existance, reproduction is crucial."

Keslia smiled, "Should our civilization adapt to that too? Make breeding compulsorary, refresh the ranks."

Kast laughed heartily, "Now you sound like the Dominion, I may be Chancelor, but I will not, presume to delve into the personal lives of our citizens. Besides my gut tells me theres more than one group playin int his scharade,... is suspect we will meet the Federation remnants again...and you might find a man there you like."

At this Keslia jumped of the desk and raised her hand, trying to compare how short she would be compared to a Dominion Geneticically modified human. Standing at juts 5'4" she was greately dwarfed. "Um I don't think so." Kast laughed heartily the Alcohol giving him a light buzz. "Im sure theres a party somewhere you should be getting to, get out of here Colonel... have a good time, thats an order."

Keslia Nodded and saluted, "Aye sir"

OOC: Thank you, I think O.o

About ten minutes after the ship escaped things had calmed down a little bit "Bridge, some body up there want to tell me what the hell just happened?" one of the high ranking officers shouted "I'm sorry sir but we just don't know yet, some kind of adverse reaction happened causing the explosion with greater intensity and that massive shock wave" one of the now unlucky bridge crew members reported "Well I can see that much on my own you idiot, I expected answers when I called up, not some officer academy graduate spouting something I already know"

"I'm sorry sir but that is all we know, we're sending probes in right now and should be getting feed shortly, I'll make sure to patch it through down there"

"You damn well better or I'll be having you serve on a waste recycler for the next 20 years" the screen then cut out and the disgruntled man looked out into space visibly annoyed "Can't believe that you scared him with that, any one who has done more then one tour on in ZAFT knows we have no waste recyclers" Athrun commented.

"Just don't tell him that" the man said laughing it off. After a few minutes of waiting information and images began coming in from probes sent in. To the amazement the shock wave stopped shorter then they thought it might in fact they though it stopped to soon and that something it came in contact with nullified it. One of the probes then began a tachyon scan of the area but as it released the tachyons to sweep the area the probe exploded in a large fire ball. Quickly the other probes began to scan the area and the quick conclusion the by mixing high concentrations of the unknown particles with high levels of tachyons which were a accelerator in the weapon cause secondary explosions. The probes then continued using different scanning methods to find what stopped the shock wave, what ever stopped it could potentially be the ultimate limiting agent for/against Tri-Thortanum based weapons.

OOC: basically new weapon bigger boom then normal, unknown particles released which actually don't effect organic life.

Torfor

The dusty planet on the outskirts of the far reaches of Dominion space, outside the Shroud and its semi-protective barrier, was barely more than an afterthought to most sentients. It orbited a cold late-sequence white star, the fourth planet out in a planet of four small terrestrial rocks. The Torfor system in itself was entirely ordinary at best; entirely boring at worst - there was literally nothing naturally distinguishable in the system. Asteroids and comets came and went as with every other system; nothing had ever ruptured or gone nova; no planet had suffered much at all. It was peace taken to such a level that it was almost disgusting to behold for any sentient looking for the slightest bit of action. All in all, Torfor was not likely prime real estate for any sentients seeking exotic locales.

An extensive industrial facility surrounded the station in orbit however; this was controlled by the Sagittarian Alliance after being overrun as it was empty. It had been abandoned years ago by some corporation that had likely flat-lined by now, but the organized pirate band was willing to use what others deemed as scraps for their own purposes. They had designated it a "construction yard" but realistically the station served as a relay station and supply yard for captured materials, as well as a base for repairing damaged warships utilizing the station's still-operating droid construction units. A motley home, but one that was stable, if nothing else.

A light Alliance fleet was docked around the planet, no more than twelve capital ships (with only one cruiser-sized ship amongst that). The station had its own fighter compliment, but it was clearly in an overlooked system - Torfor had never seen excitement and didn't seem to be on the path to interest either.

Ludo Kressh had other ideas for the sleepy pirate repair yard.

With Nihilis's massive assault fleet engaging a pirate stronghold in a nebula cluster to begin the offensive, Kressh's combined attack force struck deep in the heart of Alliance-swayed territory at Torfor. Both battle fleets were large in scope - they were fleets held for various purposes for each Sith Lord, not even counting the forces that patrolled Dominion space every hour of every day. Kressh entered the system with his advance force containing 224 capital-grade vessels, while Nihilis's was slightly larger in the nebula cluster. Other elements of the fleet existed elsewhere, and the two Sith had their plan executed to a tee...the other fleet groups were off drumming up support amidst the Rim worlds, where support for the Dominion government as a whole was weak, at best.

Naturally Ragnos had a clue, but letting things run seemed the best course.

The defenders at Torfor immediately knew things were set. Their fleet alone was outnumbered almost 19:1 by the Sith warships of considerably higher class - essentially fresh from orbital factories or experienced and refitted front-line star cruisers. Granted by the sheer number of fighters pouring from the enormous carriers of the Sith, not to mention Kressh's personal command cruiser - the titan Veracious - it was a foregone conclusion that the pirates had seen the end of days. It would take too long to move the warships out of the gravity well of the planet, and by that time the swarm of support ships, fighters, and starbombers would be all over them.

Better to die fighting.

The roughly one hundred defensive fighters of the station and Alliance fleet bubbled out of the world's high orbit to meet the tidal wave of aggressors head on in a suicidal defensive charge. With the sheer quantity of Sith warships launching a massive jamming screen around the planet through cross-vectoring the signals, the Alliance had little hope here than to possibly kill a few Dominion personnel, maybe take out a ship or two. It was the best-case scenario.

The fighters didn't even get that far. Over a thousand ion rockets streamed out from the concussion of fighters and bombers inbound towards the station and capital ships, smashing into the defensive fighter screen with a kill ratio of 70%. The remaining 30-odd fighters attempted to launch their own warheads in retaliation, but the laser torrent that ensued from the aggressor wave annihilated not only the returning missiles, but the rest of the fighters themselves. A hundred lives had been wiped out in mere seconds by the onrushing river of driven Dominion warriors.

The capital ships moved to engage, the two Otari-class corvettes of the Alliance ripping open fire into the smashing fighter wave. Small explosions lit up the fighter screen, but the rippling torpedo stream from the starbombers blew straight through one of the Otari's shield banks. While shields were attempted to be diverted to reinforce the collapsed area even more warheads streamed in, blasting fire and plasma through bulkheads and reactors. The corvette was finished with simply a single massive volley from an unending wall of support craft, spewing its fiery guts across the station and remaining Alliance ships.

The Dominion cruisers had achieved range by this point, with the Veracious taking the point in utilizing its hi-tech weaponry. Opening up with its dimensional weaponry - classified weapons utilized only by the Virulent-class alpha dreadnoughts - the flagship's spatial charge launchers ripped open with hurtling balls of blue sparkling energy. The weapons penetrated both the shield banks and hull of an engaging Nova-class frigate, blasting straight through and hurtling towards the planet. Kressh was not playing any games here.

The fleet itself now opened fire, with several massive battleships hurtling an overkill of plasma towards the remaining ships. The fighters passed for another round, throwing a thousand torpedoes at the scattered and disoriented Alliance vessels. It was a complete rout; Dominion weaponry sprayed across the enemy warships and cut through them like butcherbugs, and the Veracious took out anger on the station. The Sith had a thing for superweapons and the alpha dreadnoughts were no exceptions - the old hyperlasers had been removed, replaced for the new phase converter warheads. Each missile was the size of a small freighter but had a hyperdrive, powerful shields, quantum-crystalline armor and even twin automated laser turrets adorning the hull. The premise was simple...solid matter was torn apart on its sub-nuclear level, reducing former solids to individual quarks. Based on power settings, the missiles could destroy ships, cities, stations, worlds...

The light power setting adjusted to the fired missile was more than enough for this job. The warhead plowed into the station after a short flight, releasing its contents straight into the station. The particle disintegrator warhead got straight to work, its nuclear chain reaction ripping apart the station explosively as it tore itself apart. The reaction was total - by the end of the run, the station was little more than dust.

The fleet, on the other hand, was little more than floating scrap above the planet. The Dominion had done another solid job.

OOC: i think im gonna change my name, the nation name made sense before hand when it was just 7 people but now that i actually have a government and nation i need to change it.

OOC: New name same sexy mofo

"Alright so let me make sure I get everything, We detonated a weapon, said weapon produced a explosion and shock wave several hundred times then that which we expected, said shock wave then began to expand outward from the now destroyed sixth planet in the system and stopped just short of the seventh planet due to minerals contained inside a moon which it started to destroy, and now you want to use the material in said moon to protect our ships and act as a safety and limiter for the weapons, is that everything General?" Admiral Zala said as he was in a heated conversation with some of the others. The general he was speaking to didn't even flinch when Athrun raised his voice "Yes, as a safety if a weapon was detonated the safety would be destroy nullifying the reaction, said material would also prevent damage to the fleet"

"but we don't need defense against a weapon only we know how to create! we wouldn't need that material if we didn't have these weapons, not only that but we only know that this stops the shock wave not the detonation it self, your a damn fool to think we can act without all the evidence general" Athrun snapped out at the general. Athrun then looked at the time "I don't have time to deal with this shit, If you want to argue about it more we can at the command HQ meeting in a week, until then I have a training operation to watch over in two days on Endymion, so I'm leaving now to return to Empyion and prepare for that operation" Athrun then walked out of the room leaving all the others behind in order to head for one of the ships many hangers to take a transport back to Empyion.

Amazonia

Ragnos took in the fairly simple message reply from the Tarsonians with a grain of salt...so they wanted to play by his rules, after all. That was fair, at the least - Ragnos had a gameplan already in mind to win. A quick communications burst towards the Tarsonian lines was all he needed to convey a concise yet clear message on what he wanted done to draw the battle lines.

"The objective is clear," Ragnos instructed in the message. "Move to the Sentarsus system along the Zaft border - it is populated by a thick asteroid belt and several gas giants, along with one rocky planetoid. Feel free to eliminate the small Alliance mining installation there, but the real truth is that you shall wait. I will send a single special forces capital ship and a Sith operative to your location who will rendezvous with you there. Coordinates are provided and I have already informed my contact, who is finishing a prior assignment. They will arrive within 24 hours of your arrival, where you will be briefed further. That is all."

Ragnos sent that one off...and now contacted his operative.

Elumania hand to hand weapons testing site


Keslia spit as she picked her self up from the sandy ground. The room she was in was essentiallly a gray oval, with sand instead of a solid floor. Before the cataclysm it was a hand to hand weapons testing site, testers would spar with the lastest weapons that were developed before they would be mass produced and sent up into the fleet. Now it was where she trained.

Slowly she whiped the blood from her face as the voice of the man standing over her said. "Again."

With a roar she lept to her feat bringing her right fist up to stike her combatant in the face, but once again the face was gone and pain in her back was her only reward. "You must anticpate your opponents movements, use your experiance."

Leaping on to her hands in a foreward handstand she kicked out backwards hoping to take her opponent by suprise but instead a fist into her stomach was all she gained sending her crumpling and rolling to the floor. She brought her self to one knee rage and frustration pulsing through her veins. "Come on," her father said, "Stop trying to hit me and hit me!" with a grunt and reacting on instinct, she swung with her mind instead of her fist, sand kicked up from an invisible force in strait line twoards Kast. The Admiral stepped asside but the shock wave rattled his body. Before Keslia could smile she was thrown agaisnt teh padded walls spread invisble forces like chains binding her wrists ankles and kneck agaisnt the wall.

Her father was there arm strecthed out using his own psyonic energy to hold her in place. "You must channel your emotions young one, if you dont master your rage your rage will become your master." Keslia smiled, knowing what her father meant, not to stay calm and not anger, but to focus her rage, and use it as strength. She struggled agaisnt her bonds, using her psyonic ability to try and counter her fathers, but it was useless he was much stronger. she looked to her father ready to surrender, but Kasts face was cold and unwavering. "No you dont get to quit, not out there, and the same holds true in here. The weak do not survive." This ignited a fury in Keslia she could barely control. "I....am....not... WEAK!" Upon saying weak blue fire erupted from her body flying at a Kast with such a ferocity that the Admiral was thrown backwards before he could counter.

In a normal battle Keslia would have been proud of herself. Dread struck her and he eyes widened as what just happened sank in, and she ran towards teh fallen form of her father, "DADDY!" however she found the man laughing quite histerically, obviously uninjured. "what..was that?" she asked pulling the man to his feet. "In just a few days, youve already passed June in terms of your power, you managed to focus your emotional power into focused energy." He conjured a ball of blue energy that resembled fire into the palm of his hand. "In time, you will learn to control it. but for now youve made great progress."
He kissed his daughters forehead as Hunter came bursting into the room. "Admiral, we recieved word from Ragnos, we have a destination."

"I understand" Kast responded but Keslia looked at him confuses... "Admiral?"

Kast smiled, and understood. "I defered the Position of Chacellor to Nicoli, I'm a soldier, not a politician. Nicoli will fill the role better. But prepare to head out, we have a job to do."

36 hours later: Sentarsus System.

The Tarsonian Fleet decended from hyperspace a poweful sight to be seen, though miniscule compared to the power they used to be able to conjure. only 54 ships in all 10 had remained to be repaired and 6 were still out on other assignment, the current fleet would have to do.

Kast sat on the Bridge of the Daedalus staring out over the vast expanse of space... "So where is this guy?"

Hyperlane

The Equinox-class assault carrier ADV Specter of Truth blasted on its way to Sentarsus, accompanied by a lone Defender-class superiority fighter. The ship was large - a full 5km long - but was technically an assault ship for planetary missions. It was full now of weapons, craft, and personnel to accomplish any mission which might befell it...and it had a capable commander to lead them in that regard. After all, Marka Ragnos would not just assign any commander to lead the mission to puncture the Alliance and ultimately, greater enemies from the inside...he needed some respectable personnel he trusted. Aboard Specter was only the best...and Ragnos was sure the team he had assembled was of first-tier quality. In fact, he knew so...he saw so.


* * * * *


Sentarsus

AFW Freedom blasted out of the end of a similar hyperlane, coordinates still shaky from the eight year entombment of the Dominion destroyer. The system was pretty much unknown to the Federation crew - the most recent coordinates had been picked more as a test to ensure that everything on the vessel even worked (which fortunately, they did). Winters, however, had no idea where they had ended up.

"Status," Winters commanded.

"Unknown sir," his bridge officer reported. "Not sure where we ended up."

"We have contacts commander," sensors station reported, "fifty-four capital ship-sized objects at a distance."

That sank Winters's gut like a rock: "Droma's forces?"

"Negative, unknown registry."

Winters pondered slightly on that one. It could be worth attempting to get an early ally, but then again...was it worth it to go out of their way if it did turn out to be Dominion?

"Hail them," he quickly made up his mind. "We'll see who's around."

"All yours, sir."

Solusar, on the bridge, stepped forward: "I'll take it Rick...we'll see what they want fast."

Solusar stepped up to the audio communicator - visual hadn't been repaired yet - and quickly spoke up: "This is the exploratory vessel Freedom. We've ended up in an uncharted system, we ask that you - kindly - identify yourselves."

"Sir we are being hailed!"

Kast spun around in his chair listening to the message they had just recieved. Quietly he walked to the tacticians consol where the Corporal had already brought up tactical scans of the ship in question. "coud it be our contact?" he asked the Corporal. "I dont think so sir, its a slightly out dated model, more likely a hijacked Alliance vessel. If were to help in eliminating the Alliance, should we attack it?"

"Negative" Kast replied, "We havent recieved our Employers instructions yet, and besides we dont even know who that ship really belongs to only speculations. Open a com to the ship I shall speak with them."

Com open sir."

"My name is Admiral Kevin Kast, I am the commander of this Fleet, State your guild or faction or we shall take you as hostile. Over"

Sentarsus

Winters's eyes bugged out as the message came in. Kevin Kast of the Tarsonians apparently - that was the only Kast he knew. It sounded like him, and naturally they wouldn't know Solusar - the Jedi having fought on Amazonia during the revolution.

"Quick, compose a-"

"Inbound contact sir! Right behind us!"

Every eye on the bridge flicked to the monitor as the shape of the Specter fired out of hyperspace mere dozens of kilometers behind the Federation destroyer. Not a good sign.

"Droma's troops. Link us up and send a message," Winters quickly blabbed.

"Ready to go sir."

"Kast, Tarsonians, this is Rick Winters formerly of the Amazonian Federation. We've been tracked apparently by the Emperor's forces and are shortly going to be under attack here. Requesting your help!"

Rather than making contact, an alto female voice unknown to Winters responded back.

"The Tarsonians were killed off over a half-decade ago, Alliance scum...we know who you are. And you use my father's name in vain to sully his history...my wrath is going to fall harder. Emperor Droma may be dead, but his legacy carries on...and you will taste it."

Winters blinked blankly as the audio message faded away. First of all, Droma dead was spectacularly good news. The Tarsonians dead was not so much good news...they had been thriving a mere eight years earlier when the Sagitans had raided Elysium. Whoever the Alliance was apparently wasn't in favor of the Dominion...and who was the woman? Father? Since when had the Sith Lord ever fathered a child?

"Evasive manuevers," Winters commanded, "full throttle towards the other ships."

"Droid fighters and gunships launched from the assault carrier, commander...they're inbound fast."

Winters swallowed hard and hoped for the best.

Rocketing beside the hull of the carrier, Nadié Droma quickly tapped in to communicate with the Tarsonians on the far side of the system. Whoever these Alliance scum thought they were, she was not amused...the Federation were even more dead than she had said the Tarsonians were. That comment of theirs Specter had intercepted was a downright insult to anyone loyal to the dead Emperor.

"Karath," Droma keyed into the capital ship, "Have the fighters stay in torpedo range but maneuver out of the quad lasers of that destroyer. I'm going to contact the Tarsonians so they don't panic."

"Understood, Nadié. I'm mobilizing our rocket launchers to target their shield systems."

Droma responded with silence - she and Saul Karath, the respected and experienced Grand Admiral who had been deployed with her had a strong mutual working relationship, despite the fact that they represented two different affiliations - he of the naval class, her of the Sith - and two age generations. Karath had been one of her father's most trusted military commanders, and Nadié carried that over so much that they could address each other on a first-name basis and find it completely normal. Of course, more than Karath was aboard the ship, as her communications quickly blurted out.

"Move the gunships in a flanking beta-tau 2 formation, right split."

Crypt, the Sangheili Cyborg commander and warrior. He was technically a part of the navy as well, but more of a jack-of-all-trades of the Dominion. He was a personnel assignment on this mission by Lord Sion, partially because of his tactical brilliance and partly because he motivated like no other commander in the Dominion did.

"Tarsonian formation," Droma keyed into her communications array, boosting it past the interference cast over the Federation destroyer, "This is the Dominion special operations team assigned to your battle group. We are taking care of this Alliance mess and will be with you shortly."

Not content with leaving it there - Nadié, unlike the other Sith, had a personality to boot - she continued. "They somehow knew of your affiliation as well. We intercepted a communication regarding both the Emperor Droma -" she was careful not yet to reveal her status with him, "- and the Tarsonians in general. You may be less concealed then you think...or these Alliance scum are more stuck in history then we thought."

Kast didn't like what he was hearing, it didn't feel right. But the alliance, had recently learned of their existence. It was definately possible the rumors had spread. But Droma had been dead for some time, why would anyone be mentioning him. "I'm afraid I dont quite understand Commander, please clarify,"

Droma got a little frustrated by this one as she manuevered her starfighter towards the head of the pack of droid interceptors.

"I'll send you a copy of the transmission," Nadié replied, uploading the communication from the Freedom into her starfighter log and then relaying it through the static to the Tarsonian ships.

Meanwhile the droid fighters had closed on the destroyer, unleashing several dozen torpedoes that smashed into the shield bank. Green and yellow energy discharges smattered against the defensive grid but it held as the droids pulled off to stay out of quad laser range. Several ion rockets joined in the fray, launched from the carrier, as the opening salvo rocketed home against light defensive point defensive fire from the Federation vessel.

Kast went over the message, and almost coughed, the Dominon commander was making a horrid mistake. These weren't Alliance members they were simply, Refugee's remnants of a former age trying struggling to survive...much like themselves.

"Sir the ship is almost defeated."

Kast's mind raced, he could contact the commander but he doubted she would listen. The dominion was no friends of the Federation either. He had to act now. "Bring up the Ion cannons, Fire a salvo, at the Federation ship, disable, but do it en route, we need to take this ship alive. Prepare to eat it. "

The daetelus lurched foward closing the distance on the Cruiser. The Massive 20 km frame of the the carriar dwarfed the tiny ship. As the Daedelus approached its Ion cannons powered up and began to bombard the tiny ship. IT wasnt long before it began to list and drift slowing dramatically. But the Daedelus was uppon it tractor beams pulling towards it a massive hanger bay opening in the bowls of the ship. As the ship was fully engulfed the ship was trapped inside.

Kast nodded smiling to himself. "Sir the Commander is sending a hail complaining about our actions." Kast laughed, but soon gained his composure. "open the com."

"sir"

"I was informed, Commander, that on this contract any prizes I wish to take was at my liberty to do so, check with your Boss if you wish. But as such you can concider this my first!"

Snip

"I was informed of no such contract," Crypt's dark, throaty voice boomed over the communications, "but then you go to devour the ship insire your docking bay as it is nearing critical. A complete waste of ammunition on my behalf!"

The cyborg constantly thought of his military wares, not bothering with the fact that the same mission objective had been accomplished...and that if the Alliance was still capable, it would have at least been shooting apart the hull on the inside of the Tarsonian command ship.

"Calm yourself General," Droma reported back. "Board a shuttle and meet me in their hanger bay."

The last part was on secure channels, for decent enough reason - she wanted to at least have a bit of a show when she arrived.

"Tarsonian command ship, we're sending over an escorted shuttle to dock at your vessel," Droma keyed into the Tarsonian cruiser.

Upon an affirmation of the request, Droma hit her thrusters towards the Specter as two Reboubt-class shuttles and three other Defender fighters hurtled out of the hanger bay. No doubt it was one shuttle for each executive heading over - likely Karath had decided to come along too, leaving Commander Bacara in command of the vessel for the time being. It was for safety's purpose - if indeed the Tarsonians opened fire on the shuttles, one could probably stay alive long enough to make it back to the carrier's defensive grid, saving at least one high profile member of the military. One loss was tolerable (especially if it was Crypt, was Droma's thinking...for all his genius, the cyborg had a drastically short temper and eagerness to fight everything).

The flight accelerated the short space in between the vessels, coming to a soft landing inside the hanger bay. Nadié's ship folded in its four maneuvering foils, settling down on three struts as both shuttles touched down. Boarding ramps lowered on each shuttle as the four fighter pilots each departed their craft - Nadié dressed in a similar flight suit like the others, if nothing else than to conceal her identity if need be. Karath was the first one off his shuttle, followed by several Sovereign Guards - the best of the best in regards to the infantry personnel of the Dominion, usually reserved for the Sith. Droma had her own, too, but generally assigned them more as a personal SpecOps unit than anything else.

Crypt bounded off his shuttle in his loping robotic gait, both organic eyes still flitting around in his Sangheili head, covered in various plasteel plates attached to his robotic body protecting what few organs remained intact. His bodyguards weren't Human elite troopers, but rather two Sangheili Elites, a Skrawl wielding a dirty-looking multi-barreled assault cannon in one hand, and two Noghri droids. He had a different class about him than the Human Grand Admiral - Crypt was more visceral, angry, animalistic, despite similarly being a high-ranking naval officer. He also wielded four lightsabers, for dramatic effect...Karath couldn't match that. It wasn't as if Crypt was force-capable, but his robotic apertures had better reflexes in tune with his organic brain than any other organic around.

Nadié concealed her weapon beneath a flap of the pilot jacket - just enough out of sight, but easily within a telekinetic pull if something ugly showed up. Unlike Crypt, she wasn't one to pick a fight wherever she went.

Karath was a veteran - older, experienced, with a face that showed little emotion. He had seen enough war and fighting to know how things worked around the galaxy, and had encountered the Tarsonians before enough times from his days in the Federation to when he joined the Dominion ranks. That had certainly been a positive choice - now he was in control here. Things went his way, and though the Grand Admiral wasn't a controlling Human, he did enjoy the privileges of rank.

"I want to see the Alliance ship," Nadié's first words were. She had no prior contact with the Federation and was thoroughly convinced that this was indeed a vessel of the pirate affiliation...worthy of being knocked out here and now.

Kast sighed as the Commander's request was sent to him. But he knew he couldnt refuse. They would certainly suspect something, it was their nature. Kast nodded to his com officer to grant the request and then turned to his head of security. "Get down to engineering, and bring a secrurity detail... a big one. Hoard the Crew and those on board into cargo bay 5, keep them quiet keep them subdued, put a full gaurd of marines in there, divisions 5,6,7 and 9. Keep the peace. Have the Engineers begin stripping that ship, anything and everything that might be of use, if its out dated we'll melt it down for scrap metal. Go now."

Kast made his way down to the Hanger where teh ships would be landing. With him he brought the entire mornarian detachment aswell as 2 more Marine divisions. They wanted to show a little strength... so would he. 1500 Mornarians all clad in their standard battle gear fully equiped, it was an impressive sight. What suprise Kast most of all however, was the younge almost insanely attractive woman walking towards him. Obviously the one who had contacted them being the only female present. but she was...normal. only a good 5'6 she hardly fit in with the motley crew of aliens and geneticaly altered humans. Her request had been expected already, Kast had certainly played his cards right. "Right this way" he said and turned leading the visitors down a narrow hallway into another bay. The Federation craft now, stood with just a frame and its internal components, the armor had been stripped away by the efficient engineers. "as you can see" kast began, " We are already salvaging it for parts and materials, the crew is being held elsewhere, they will transported to other ships for forced labor until we can get back home. Women and children fetch a fair price on the black market. I will take you to them now." He then lead the group to yet another hanger packed full of marines in their exosuits linging the walls. roughly 3OO men women, and children kneeled in the center of the room their foreheads pressed to the ground, hands held behind their heads. "as you can see"

OOC: And then EVERYBODY RUSHES THE COURT. My bad, that was real life...I'm still fuckin EXHILARATED. Wake gets OWNED.

IC:

Droma picked her way across the hanger floor, looking around at the various hostages. Something didn't exactly feel right about the situation here...she wasn't a full-fledged Sith Lord or anything, but women and children would not be accompanying the Alliance in any way. They were organized pirates in the most literal sense; they operated how most efficiently they could. It was also strange the serious lack of other species amongst the group - there was not one member of another species besides Humans there, and while it could always be a coincidance that most of them appeared far shorter and less built than the average enhanced Human (or that they could for the most part be rudimentaries) it was somewhat bizarre.

And the ship for that matter - though the Akira-class were seen plenty in the Sagittarian arsenal, why was this alone? They often operated in either hunter-killer packs or well-sized raiding parties, not as individual destroyers hanging around in unoccupied tertiary systems. Too odd.

Crypt seemed to be enjoying himself but Karath was on to something as well. He pointed to one man in particular, apparently seeing something with a trained eye that had worked decades of experience: "You. Stand up."

The man stood and looked up directly into Karath's eye, and the Grand Admiral had a slight look of recognition before turning towards Kast.

"You don't have a pirate problem at all commander," Karath calmly leveled to Kast, "I know this man."

Nadié eyed him briefly, attempting to figure out what he meant.

"This is Onasi's older son," Karath stated. "His father was killed by one of my compatriots and his...brother...is now a Sith Knight. Yes...you have ex-Federation cast-offs on your vessel, commander...though that puts little hamper on our mission."

Kast stood in the hanger watching the Fledgling Sith and with his arms crossed. As Karath found the jedi and turned to him, Kast let out a sigh. "Im afraid" he began, "you have called my bluff Karath," Kast moved closer knowing this mans ex federation history and whispered something only he could hear, "I should suspect no less from a man who sold his soul for power" Stepping back he shouted out across the hall. "Sargeant! Get these people into sick bay and get them taken care of, food medical screens the works!"

ONe marine stepped forward and snappe into a salute. "AYE AYE SIR! YOU HEARD THE MAN GET THESE PEOPLE OUT!"

As the people started to be hearded out, some showing fear, others who had heard of Tarsonis showing relief knowing they were safe. As the started moving a man caught his eye and Kast stood up strait. Pointing strait at the man, he said, "You...and your daughter...stay!" "Along with you" he added turning back to the jedi.

Karath shrugged off the comment - he was one who preferred the grays of neutrality and being the bigger man in things. Kast may have had a slight point depending on the point of view, but Karath saw it logically - he had picked the winning team, after all, and maintained his rank - even gaining some. Sure, it may have hurt for a few years on the populace as Droma transitioned, but what had he lost? In the end, very little...Karath was allowed to do much as he pleased with the level of trust granted to him from the top leaders of the civilization, and unlike many in the Dominion, Karath was free to do much of what he pleased. It was a decent living.

The man had been Winters, who Kast obviously recognized - and seeing that in such circumstances he kept his only living relative in his daughter close by, she fell in behind him. Adega whispered something to Winters before leaving with the others, with Solusar joining Rick in staying behind. Lauren took a place behind her father, mostly to attempt to avoid staying in the situation with the Dominion contingent.

"Winters," nodded Karath coldly. He knew the Federation Major as well, having seen him in combat while leading Federal task forces.

Winters said nothing back, leading to Nadié speaking: "Federation? Why do you even bother coming out? The scope is different, things changed...its over. Your experiment is over, and a new regime is working things."

Rick recognized the voice from the earlier threats: "You're Droma's child?"

Nadié wasn't liking that tone much, quipping, "That matters to you why? Because you lost? Get over it."

"You share your father's overconfidence, then..." Solusar remarked.

"If only, Jedi," Nadié threw back - he had an aura of the Force about him that she could feel, and it was fairly clear that he wasn't Sith. "I don't live for his ideals, I use them for what good I can make out of it. I'm on a mission, and I don't know why your sorry faces had to show up again."

"Droma," kast laughed slightly saying the name, "I'm glad that tyranical fool finally withered out and died, for the seccond time. Any way, forget about the federationists, I shall find a purpose for them, and it is with in my contract to do so, Knight, Winters, you speak for your people, keep them calm, and reassure them, they will not be harmed. As for you " he added turnign back to the Dominion leaders, "I would prefer it if you gave me my instructions from Ragnos, and left my ship as soon as possible."

"Jealous that your society couldn't keep up?" Droma laughed the question off. "The Federation actually intrigues me. Tarsonians not so much...I learned about them already."

Working the underground societies she was accustomed to hits against those she was closed to. It had become fairly close to daily routine - but all in the name of blending in with the oppositions. It also led to Nadié having considerably more street smarts than the average high-ranking Dominion officer or Sith. She was savvy and ran with a bit more of a freethinking mind than mos of the civilization, mostly because of her time spent working inside of the enemy. Crypt however, wasn't so easygoing.

He drew a saber quickly, igniting it and aiming the emerald blade towards Kast. The cyborg almost seemed defensive.

"Fool," Crypt crowed, "Your petty achievements can not even stand to the progress of the Dominion the past years. Your failed state even fails to exist as a recognizable symbol anymore - quite a drop from a once-powerful nation, I'm afraid. It seems that your pathetic tools couldn't resist ultimate destruction of your stumbling civilization, locked into the backdrop of true power...but you will continue to think as you may as you look to the eyes of the pinnacle of societal evolution."

Kast didnt even bother to glance at the Cyborg, keeping his eyes firmly on Droma's daughter, he knew who was really in command here, but yet, he did take that last comment a little personal. "You're the last one who should be mentioning standing Crpyt".Kast said simultaneously reaching out with his senses. Before any one could react the lightsaber in Crypts hand was ripped from his gap and in a single arch by an unseen weilder cut all the cyborgs limbs from his body. The other 2 Dominion officials stared in ammusement as the Cyborgs torso dropped to the ground with a rather audible thud. "Let me make this clear, I dont like you, any of you," Kast began, "and I want this mission over as soon as its over, I agreed to aid in the Destruction of the Alliance and the to facilitate the death of your renegade leaders. And for this, we expect to be well paid. I expect Ragnos wouldnt be entirely faithful, but we held up our end of the bargain, now its time for yours, We expect payment to be givin in advance, and Were eager to get started, now for the last time, Please leave the instructions, and take this piece of shit off my ship." With the last phrase he spat upon the helpless form of Crypt.

Droma mentally applauded the man in shutting up the cyborg - as critical an asset as he was, Crypt could get a little over the top, especially now in what Nadié had been creating in a war of wits - but she at the same time wasn't dropping from her position. As much as Ragnos wanted to get the Tarsonians involved for "advantageous purposes," as he had said, they more so needed the sheer amount of raw materials possessed by the state - and the potential for future trade contracts coming from the resource-rich and expansive Dominion. As far as she saw, they had the upper hand here.

"Advance?" she feigned irony, "You misheard Lord Ragnos's comm. We're paying you after you assist us in completing your mission - after all, do you think you'll acquire enough materials to reload with the Zaft government? Not only are they too stupid to give you what you requested, they'd probably send you a tenth as much. That's stupid business."

"On the other hand...you can agree to the original terms of the deal and continue to work with us. The mission, in its regards, is to work with us in puncturing the Alliance from the interior while Lords Kressh and Nihilis slowly whittle down its considerable assets. Once that is seen through, supplies will be brought around and you can be on your way, indeed. But not until then...after all, you don't want to disappoint your people with unfulfilled hopes, do you?"

Nadié left that last one hang as she turned to return to her fighter. "You can find me on the Specter when you've decided. And...keep those Federation around a little. They interested me."

She turned back to Karath: "Pick up that trash on the floor, as well."

"I do not appreciate your impetuous statements in this immobile form, Sith!"

"Please," she remarked sarcastically. "Drunken Twi'lek on Abreto put up more of a fight."

"How grounding," Crypt quipped as the Skrawl took up his torso and body. "You will learn your place in this military still, you are not your father yet!"

"You just learned your place on the floor."

Kast nodded to the woman as she left, "Very well,...however, if for one instant, there is a doubt in my mind, and that we are being decieved, your entire fleet wont save you from my wrath." He turned to the Mornarian Captain, head of a group of about 30 Mornarians sitll in the cargo hold. "Escort them to their ships, see them off as quickly as possible."
The Captain nodded, "Aye sir," and silently the group left leaving Kast alone with his thoughts. "I hate these people," he said quietly to him self as he headed for the door, he had a man to see.

A few minutes later Kast could be seen entering the Chow hall kitchen, "Whos in charge here?" he called into the ruckuss of the very noisy kitchen. "I am sir," one rather short man came forward dressed in what can only be described as a typical cheffs outfit. "Very well, prepare enough food for oh 8 people, I plan to dine with the leaders of the Federation Group tonight,"

"But sir" the man replied "were already hard pressed to feed the new arrivals as well as the regular crew. The replicators are working at full capacity." Kast smiled and nodded, "I understand, but I need this done, there will be a reward in your diligance i assure you."

"Very well sir."

Kast then returned to the Bridge, but after he had a messenger sent to infrom winters and the Jedi, of his invite.

The messenger ran by Winters and relayed the information, quickly telling the man of the meal and asked of numbers regarding the Federation contingent to arrive. Winters pondered that over and came around with seven - the three Jedi, him and his daughter, Adega, and Onasi. They were either connected to or considered the best of the Federation that had come on the mission, and hence could provide the best possible sample and representation. The Federation security leader included his daughter in the preparations just to keep her around and enlightened in affairs - if the Federation could actually get something going here now with connections, she could still be something big in the future.

All was said and done, and the Federation personnel waited around on the Tarsonian ship while the Dominion contingent tracked Kressh and Nihilis's incursions and deliberated over the next course of action. While Winters, Adega, and Onasi harbored slight resentments towards the Dominion still, the Jedi were taking a different stance - while they had been there, both Karath and Droma had seemed somewhat different than Crypt, who certainly resembled ages past. The willingness to work with the Tarsonians was a new one as well...and naturally, more information would be needed to make a comprehensive assessment quite yet on the modern Dominion. A Jedi had patience, after all.

Several hours later the Federation contingent arrived slightly early to the officers dining hall, still being finished in preparation for the event.

Kast made his way down the hall heading for the officers dining hall where the meeting and dining would be taking place. He had selected specific officers, all part of his command. June his seccond in command, Hunter his head of intelligence, and of course, his daughter, mainly because like Winters, Kast wanted his daughter to learn the way of things, diplomacy was a new subject for her. He pulled at the collar of his Tarsonian Dress uniform, "too tight," he muttered as he stopped infront of the door. Taking a deep breath he stepped inside his chosen officers in tow. "Ah Winters," he said shaking the mans hand, "I hope you'll forgive me for that display earlier, my goal was to have the Dominion forget about you. But it seems my bluff was shot to pieces." He beckoned to the table, nodding to his officers to take seats. When all were seated stewards came in and poured glasses of rather sweet smelling ail. Zaft ail, part of a care package Athrun Zala had included in the supplies they had recieved. Time to put it to good use.

"So Rick," Kast began, "What brings you off that nice jungle world to this desolate track of space?"

"No worries," Winters checked, "We don't know what they're up to and nothing came from it, so nothing lost."

"As far as leaving...this ship's been here a while on the planet, but I wanted to wait for some time before attempting to leave off-world again just to reduce the knowledge about Federation survivors. A group of the originals who brought the ship are still around and knew of it, but plenty didn't in the colony. It was a good distance from the community after all...but hey, we've been on the world for a decade, it was likely time that people had forgotten us...though unfortunately not, given Saul Karath's response in the hanger a few hours ago."

"But what about you Kast? Why are you out in this desolate spot with a Dominion carrier hanging around to boot?"

Kast smiled, "yeah I wish we weren't, but after the Cataclysm, we don't have much of a choice. He noticed the look of confusion on the others face and beckoned to June, While Kast and the other Tarsonians took a long sip from their ails, June relayed the entire story, all that had happened inthe last 8 years or so. It was a somber tale.

A short and akward silence went around the members of the Federation contingent as they picked over what to say next. Replying directly after the relaying of the ultimate demise of the organized Tarsonian nation was somewhat of a skill not used in the best situations...so given that, Winters deferred to the Jedi on that matter.

"So a virus and invasion wiped you out," Shen-Jonn intervened to halt the silence. "You never went to outside sources to attempt to remedy the problems? I understand possibly not enlisting the Dominion's aid, but there are others as well."

June nodded, "we had called upon both the Dominion and ZAFt for aid, however, the Virus can exist in zero atmosphere, and puncture all known shielding and armor,... there was no way they could send aid without risking infecting their own species as well." Kast nodded to the steward standing by the door who bowed quickly and left. Soon he returned bringing trays of many appetizing foods and dishes. "The Replicators," Kast began, "can almost get the food tasting right, but as we all know, theres no substitute for the real thing."

OOC: sorry for disappearing like that any way

When Athrun returned to the capital he received word that a group of nine ZAFT ships where dispatched to monitor the border near a Dominion military operation and prevent any one from crossing the border. Since no ships did it wasn't of any concern of his, just business as usual. After dropping in to see his daughters for a few hours he had to leave again for another planet in the system. The planet of Endymion was one of three planets total that were inhabited in the system, the third planet was named after the system it self. Endymion was a military hot spot in the system and had many ship yards and installations in orbit above the planet. On the planets surface a entire continent was devoted to training exercises. Because of it's size and location the continent was perfect for testing troops in all sorts of weather conditions. It had been a day and a half since Athrun departed the Hammer of Justice and he was supervising the set up on the ground for the training mission. It was a mock orbital invasion so he was watching over some of the military's top in the exercise set up defenses. There was also a bit of inter unit competition in this type of training. The entire continent was split into sectors and every CO and general staff officer were assigned a sector to design the defenses for. These defenses were then rated on how well the defend there position and how long it takes for them to fall. On the other hand the landing forces were rated on the skill and how long it takes them to over take a position.

Athrun was given a small jungle sector to defend and he was not going to make it easy for the drop forces to take it over during the operation. He would hide all sorts of defensive missile launchers and turrets within the tree's and hide them with camo nets and other small tricks. At the same time any open areas would be mined, pitfall traps and other traps set up to catch infantry and armor.

The actual intention of the training was the preparation for heavy anti-pirate operations. With the situations with the Tarsonians and a merc team infiltrating deep into the heart of ZAFT territory offensive operations needed to be taken. After the training many things would happen, forces would be deployed past the borders of ZAFT into regions not controlled by any one to seek and destroy pirate installations. The Empyion government was also reportedly working on drafts of a letter they plan to send to the dominion later on requesting to enter there territory in order to hunt down the pirates but that would be the final stage of a operation.

It was a hot day in the jungles and to be out in the hot sun was less the pleasant for every one on the ground "Ah man I haven't been in a place this hot in a long time, not since my last vacation to Karlon" he said wiping the sweat from his forehead with his arm "Karlon's defiantly a good vacation spot, I was there just last month" one soldier commented as he was helping the admiral out "It's defiantly a great place, I was thinking of going with my daughters come there summer break in a couple months"

"I think they'll love it admiral"

"I do to, but whats they point in looking that far ahead let us give those landing forces one hell of a hard time!"

"Yes sir!" the soldier said with enthusiasm.

OOC: I'm guessing we are waiting for AB?

OOC: FYI, I am serious sick right now...idk what but my head is trashin me...like if this doesnt clear by the weekend my status of goin out is in jeopardy.

I'll see what I can do sometime when I'm not passed out on the couch like today (5-1130, baby...terrible day), but I might not be the most coherent.

ooc: well hurry back we gotta rap this thread up in a week

OOC: well to pass the time I'll continue with this side story I got going on

Admiral Zala assembled the field commanders that would be running the defensive operation. The rules of a operational training mission such as the one they were doing required that all commanders who plan the operations finer point when it came to the over all objective could not actually take part in the operation. Instead they would give as much information about the mission to there field commanders and leave it all in there hands. The admiral had assembled the commanders in a tent in the forward operations base for that sector. Inside was a total of over a dozen officers from battalion commanders down to the company commanders. They were all seated in front of the admiral, while ground tactics were not his strong point his time with the special forces made him able to preform the task given to him. Athrun brought up a image of the entire sector "Alright, listen up! soon enough we will need to be in position and ready for the operation to start, I will not be there to help you, which means you have to get it right based on the field situation however I will now go over the initial plan, I say initial because you will need to change based on enemy actions"

He paused for a moment before continuing "Now most likely the orbital force will go for a standard D drop or even a less used B drop, this means they'll stay away from the jungles and the ground, instead after drop they'll switch to fighter mode and begin the attack, this means we will force them to the ground. Defensive guns and turrets will open up with heavy anti air to force them down, our ground force will remain deactivated in the jungle as to not be detected, the heat from the reflection off the jungle will blind there IR, our counter attack will begin after we forced them down, that should be about the time the second wave starts"

"Sir whats stopping them from just bombarding the jungles?" one asked

"Nothing except us putting enough fire into the air that they will be to busy dodging to fire back, now then once the counter attack begins the re-dubbed 13th defense battalion will head up and split into two half's, one half will attack the landers the other half will clear the sky. Meanwhile the rest will stay down on the ground and fire on all things coming in, if a near by sector falls, then those ground forces will need to try and hold them off, remember if the forward command center falls, the sector is lost, fall back to the nearest allied sector and help them there until your taken out, remember to tell your men that if your taken out head to sector 0000 that is the rally point for all forces on both sides of the operation if you've been taken out"

"That covers the mobile suit forces admiral, but what about the infantry and Armour landings? I mean if any ones going to kill us over during the operation its the infantry forces moving into the jungle and taking out the counter attack forces" a platoon commander asked.

"We have them too remember? the landing craft will need to come in on a open area which makes it a choke point to take them out, they will need the mobile suit teams to clear the landing zones meaning...."

"keep the mobile suits way, and the sector stays sacure, am I right admiral?"

"Yeah but that's as long as the surrounding sectors hold, or we get attacked from the sides leaving us between a rock and a hard place, remember though you can abandon the sector if need be, but only battalion commanders get to make that call, also if forces come from other sectors to yours cover them and have them set up a secondary line after reorganizing"

Endymion low orbit
Orbital drop fleet
Time until operation: ~21 hours

While admiral Zala and many others were on the ground preparing for the operation, many others were preparing for battle with the drop fleet. The head of the drop operation was Major General Dylandy. He was a skilled man and had to participate in this years training as it was mandatory for general staff to participate every three years, but they could voluntarily participate any time between then as wall. Just like how Zala briefed his men on what to do about the operation, the general was doing the same, only this time around the general was preparing in order to counter Admiral Zala and a few other officers tactics. He was in charge of attacking seven grids in one area, in the briefing room holograms of men on other ships were all around the room as well as those present on his ship "Eyes and ears on me............I said eyes and ears on me maggots! that's better now shut the hell up as I explain, any of you that know me, know that I hate interruptions. Now then our drop location is a seven grid area on the south east coast, it's a lot of ground to cover not only that but word has it one of the grids in our sector is being organized by Admiral Zala so it won't be easy, so to catch them all of guard we are going with drop plan B for grid one, three, and six, plan E for grid two and four, and plan A for grid seven. This will ensure that there counter attack would fail if even one sector falls under out control. This of course also means initial assault teams going directly in will have to cover the transports until they've dropped there people, those of you hitting the beach be careful of being out in the open, those of you hitting the jungle make sure you got some one behind you" He then paused as he changed the image to a zoomed in overlay of his sector.

"The major issue is the jungles, in order to get around that infantry will need to be landed first before anything else, mobile suit commanders make sure you protect them until there down, infantry commanders once down push into the jungles. Now this beings me to the over all plan, instead of going for sectors individually, the majority of our forces will land around the center grid and take it first and push outwards, with out the center sector they have no where to run to escape but further inland and around the center, leaving them completely open to a full assault. In order for this to work we need to make inroads on the 7th grid by the 3rd wave or we risk the entire plan. Questions!"


"General, if by the third wave we haven't pulled it off what should we do?"

"switch to plan B-34, you should all know that plan off by heart, for those of you that are new, B-34 means all forces switch from the target towards the weakest point, they will shift forces away from the target to counter and that's when wave three will take the target"

Endymion low orbit
Orbital drop fleet - Assault ship Iwo Jima
Time until operation: ~18 hours

With the drop operation using large amounts of men and equipment, more then usual for this type of training the crews of various assault ships were busy preparing the drop teams. The scene on board the Iwo Jima was one of crews running every which way, some times not even knowing where they were going "Yeah that's right! you heard me! bring it out! all of it! I don't care what it is if we can strap it onto a mobile suit its good, machine guns, cannons, launchers, and every thing else energy and shell firing pull it all out of storage! load these guys up, General Dylandy wants nothing wasted, full assault packs plus what ever we can get them to carry!" one of the work crew heads shouted out. Assault ships were the military's primary way of orbital invasion, each assault ship carried as few as sixteen suits and the weapons to arm said suits. This meant they had large amounts of ammunition on board to load onto all the suits, there heavy shields would then allow them to get through the atmosphere and drop the suits before flying away.


Assault ship Blaze Sapphire

Not all the assault ships were carrying mobile suits, many more compared to the number carrying suits held infantry divisions, support vehicles, armored units and supplies for the troops. The Blaze Sapphire was a infantry and supply ship. In her holds were hundreds of troops, and even more Heaven class landing craft, and supply containers.

"Alright troops we have our orders, drop in less then 18 hours get your final checks in and get some sleep if you can, but before that.........Lieutenant Dyson! these weapons are no good! all forces switch to type D equipment!"

"Storming a fortress Major?"

"Fool, this may be training but this is no game we land hard and we hit hard, that is the job of the infantry! no pull out those R-151's! If you ain't a sniper or anti-armor then you better have a 151 or a 262 light machine gun! Now go get your weapons, DISMISSED!"

Endymion low orbit
Orbital drop fleet - Flag ship Crimson Snake
Time until operation: ~17 hours

While the operation it self was going according to plan, it was only going according to the plan that everyone except the general staff knew about. months ago the general staff decided that this years training would be different so they plotted a elaborate plan that would bring there troops to the brink of death and insanity. The one in charge of this was Vice Admiral McKinley on board his flag ship the Crimson Snake "Gentlemen is everything in order? I wouldn't want us to show up and end the scenario before it gets going"

"No problem sir, they won't realize it's part of the simulation till they think they died, as far as they know after the landings the fleet will be mysteriously attacked, destroyed, and then Empyion will be in danger with only them in range to defend"

"Excellent, this will give them all the taste of war that they haven't felt, at the same time there will be a invasion of Endymion right after most of our forces have left correct?"

"indeed admiral, it will give all forces involved some hard work to try and stay alive, once there officially quote-unquote dead they will just be brought back to reality"

"excellent" the McKinley commented.

OOC: Getting sick sucks. So do accounting projects.

Assuming your squadron is following mine in here. Given your time allotment, Tarsonis, we're only gonna have time to finish up the most direct part of the thread story here (killing the Alliance) rather than the entire thing. That'd probably take ~month or so or longer...

Therefore, I'm going for the gut of the Alliance now and will end this RP (as Tarsonis real life leaves) with the backstabbing of the Dominion traitors (drop-off for whenever we can get the final RP to go...whenever...plus I can work with that as a running storyline for other RPs)

Feel free to drop in, ZAFT.

IC:

The dinner conversation proceeded on fairly smoothly with both sides amicable towards each other, at the least. The Federation was still, as a splinter government, still cautious towards nearly everything after being uprooted and swiftly forgotten - it seemed a surprise that the Tarsonians still had a place for them in their minds when the hearts of the Amazonian populace as a whole had so easily switched to the allegiance of Droma and his successors. As was the way with power...Droma was able to promise more and backed up his words. Amazonia was in a golden age of power and still expanding more - apparently the Dominion had figured something out in pleasing people, even if it meant total control.

This of course wouldn't pass with the Federation, but what could they do? Facing a civilization controlling thousands of ships and many times that number of people, the tiny fragment refugee colony of the Federation's surviving idealists could probably last several seconds if the Dominion opted to not use any weapon capable of shattering worlds.

The younger Droma was an oddity, however - she had taken a slight affinity for the only Federation member still somewhat well-known for his ex-Jedi exploits with the Federation; Tra Odanis. The Jedi Master had previously been the leader of the Order and the most powerful at that; many had claimed he could have easily bested the old Emperor in open combat had the two actually met in personal fighting rather than Tra's vessel being run out of local space by naval squadrons (of course, these people generally claimed this out on the Rim where such sentiments weren't viewed as near-treachery). Nadié had studied his unique fighting style and methods in channeling the Force throughout her own Force development, choosing to embrace the way he viewed the Force as a "tool" to both be served and to serve. Odanis was close to a Gray Jedi in some of the ways he viewed the "Living Force" rather than the energy field's unifying qualities, but the middle-aged man's consciousness prevented him from ever drawing into the power of the Dark Side.

Nadié had none of that compunction, however, and freely let her mind wander from side to side in whatever she felt best. However, that gave the younger Droma enough of a mixture of ideas and thoughts - a blend surprisingly allowed to promulgate by her father - to view the Force on a number of levels.

In this case, it was enough to offer the Federation members now evicted from their destroyer one of the Specter's corvettes.

Odanis had discussed it at length with the Federation leadership, but in the end they had easily accepted - it was doubtful that it was a trap of any sorts, as the Dominion likely would have needed that for the ship. Plus, they did need some sort of ship to get independent here.

The Dominion was still very much in control, however, and as Kressh and Nihilis pounded away on the ever-closing circle of the Alliance front lines, Droma wanted more of a strike to the heart. Her personal intelligence, along with Karath's scouts, had highlighted two likely worlds for the Alliance HQ - Heralsys and Pryon. Nihilis had taken an advance force to the former to check it out while Droma was to take her team to the second one. If it was indeed the world she was to wait for Kressh's full armada - but Droma knew she (and certainly with Crypt's blessing) was going to go straight in and drop the SpecOps companies directly down for fighting operations on the surface while the carrier and Tarsonians could stave off orbital forces (which would likely be significant...if older).

With a quick hail of notification to the Tarsonians and transmittance of coordinates, Droma pulled the carrier around, followed by the Federation corvette, and blasted the behemoth vessel into hyperspace to trek towards what was possibly the end of the Alliance.

Kast stood on the bridge gazing out at the 6 ships entering from hyperspace. The 3 Corsairs and 2 Scouts were dwarfed by the Massive Battle Cruiser as the ships joinded the fleet, returning from another assignment. That one had been a success and the recourses were already at Elumarnia and Ships were being constructed. "Alright Helmsmen, were all here" he said "lets follow our oders and take us to Pryon. Signal the fleet."

"aye sir" the helmsman responded.

It was an impressive sight, to see all the fleet enter the massive hyperspace window. It was obvious they were heading to war.

OOC: Ok, really, I'm just being me in the first part of this post...um, it's a portrait of urban life in Amazonia. yea.


IC:

Amazonia

Tyrone Carter was a true baller...especially today, with his skills droppin' 30 and 11 on tha poor fool on the other side of tha court sulkin' into his white T. Pathetic.

"Come back when ye' get some game son," Tyrone smirked. Punk a** b*tch thinkin' he could play with tha big boys.

Tyrone did it good and he did it different - but no matter what they said he did it to death.

"Man quit playin'," the hater said. "I'm from the old school, you from the new school. My old school costs more than ya new school."

Tyrone turned around, fuming: "Listen to this track, b*tch. You just do you, umma do me. Aiite? Turn around and take ya'self back."

"The hell ya tryin' to play?"

"Say what again," Tyrone said, visibly angry with two of his cuz'ns comin' to his back. "Say what again. You wanna beef wit tha king? They yellin fo me to bring em out and you just got yo hands down wit tha p."

"The hell you sayin? I'm a blood m*thaf*cka!"

Tyrone lost it - the hater really was talkin trash here. He pulled his gat, unloading a load of hollow tips into the hater.

"Aw sh*t man! Aw hell no!"

The hater didn't last long - Tyrone had ended that punk. What swag.

"That's jus how we do it in tha A."


Real Story - Comedy Hour Over

Pryon

Specter opened up above the taiga world, its cyan engine cluster dropping from the icy realm of hyperspace to the cold blackness of the star-studded backdrop surrounding the yellow orb before it. Pryon was a cold, low-forested world covered in a vast forest of trees growing around an average of 10 to 20 meters in height. It was a planet that few ventured out to for any noticeable reason - not an ideal pleasure world or one that could foster much industry. It was a great world for staying undetected for reasonable amounts of time, however.

The Alliance's time had run out, however.

The Tarsonian forces would likely be out soon, so Droma quickly mobilized her assets. The carrier deployed its other corvette to fend off fighter formations, then quickly deposted gunship squadrons and fighter groups to provide a screening formation. The Alliance fleet in orbit - formidable, at had at least 80 capital ship vessels and a huge fighter contingent along with orbital defenses and a protective grid - a localized shield generator was in place over the ground in about a 50km radius around the main headquarters establishment and defensive ground grid - so Droma figured she'd allow the Tarsonians to engage the space assets of the Alliance while her fighter group and gunship formations hit the picket lines of the defense. That was until Kressh came in...if she asked him to come in.

She'd take care of the ground force...Specter was more than built for that.

Bridge STSS Daedelus

Kast stood to his feet as the fleet decended hyperspace. He could see the Specter heading for the surface and could see the Alliance fleet heading to engage.
He chuckled, "I guess she's leaving the fleet for us. Tactcical analysis Coropral Davis."

"Aye sir, we're reading 80 warships, in all, plus fighter contingent of approxamately 1000. Reading massive defensive grids and mines ta boot. All defense controls are located planet side under a massive shield."

Kast pondered his options. They were out matched, but if there was one thing Tarsonian Ships were famous for, it was range. Having 3 times the noraml range capacity due to advanced focusing technology many times they had destroyed fleets before they ahd even gotten in range. "Scramble all fighters, and prepare for bombardment formation."

The calls were made. A massive wave of wraiths and valkarye fighters stormed out of the carriars like hornets ready to defend the hive. Roughly 4000 in all, They circled the fleet ready to protect. The Tarsonian ships slowed to a halt as they rotated to port. Bringing up their starboard sides they brought the bulk of their guns to bare turrets rotating and fixing on incoming ships. Thousands of torpedos loaded ready for a massive spread.

Kast silently hope the pirate fleet was prepared. A famous battle attack of the tarsonians was the Crippling salvo, heavy initial bombardment and then mop up the pieces. Kast nodded "Engage."

If there was noise in space the sound would have been deafening, energy cannons opened fire, torpedo bays emptyied, thousands of torpedos and arcs of energy hurtled through the cold vacume towards the approaching fleet.

Kast watched through view screen on the bridge. "Since we cant enter their systems, lets let them come to us. Fire salvo 2."

At the edge of ZAFT space signs of the battle on going with the alliance were already showing up on deep space sensors. With a good portion of ZAFT forces currently on Endymion for training and little time to make a move a task force not participating in the exercise was called up. The 49th Independent task force based out of the Carver system in the mid-rim. The task force which was up to date when it came to the equipment was a task force of eleven capital ships and thirty one smaller ships and support craft. It was quickly dispatched to the outer rim and joined by the nine ships on the board watching over the situation. A official request from the government on Empyion was transmitted to the Dominion fleet. This request was for the ZAFT task force to cross the border, engage and destroy the pirate alliance in Dominion territory including helping the dominion/Tarsonian battle group out. This would accelerate ZAFT's plans to wipe out pirate operations in the space surrounding them which was the first step towards expansion of ZAFT territory outwards where it can, which was outwards from the Dominion and Tarsonian regions.

The pirate fleet almost decided to engage the Dominion carrier as it closed towards the planet, encircled by a mop of gunships and fighters, but figured the pirate fighters could deal with the Amazonian menace. The pirate capital fleet decided to instead threat prioritize and deal with the Tarsonians, who opened things up.

Rather than simply absorb the heavy brunt of the blow from the initial weapons salvo, the orbiting stations threw out a cloud of unstable ion charges, clustered together in an energy blanket to dampen the effects of the energy weapons as they seared through the clouds towards the fleet. They were simple dampers, at the core of it, but were meant to at least give the Alliance fleet a fighting chance to launch their own salvo. To engage the missiles was considerably easier - huge clumps of space junk and slag, an analogy to the more advanced energized chaff used as countermeasures by the Dominion, were dumped off the front of the Alliance fleets to intercept the blow of the torpedo weapons, while PD cannons also tagged in to engage any missiles that got past the obstructing field of static debris (or hit the tracking mines that were, for the time being, stationary and waiting). Still, torpedoes managed to get in with some of the dampened energy weapons that also didn't hit space junk, inflicting damage and taking one or two smaller capital ships.

The Alliance warships responded, using different weaponry tactics to engage at longer distances rather than attempt to close. Straying just outside the top and bottom perimiters of the debris field now clumping, the capital ships of the Alliance opened up with a barrage of ion rockets and positron torpedoes dummy-fired to nullify the effect of any jamming screen, as well as fired without booster rockets. The forward momentum propelled each torpedo and rocket forward without losing much acceleration to the gravity of the planet, with the engines kicking in slightly over halfway to the Tarsonian fleet along with the targeting computer to take each warhead far greater distance before using available resources. Hundreds of warheads launched out as the Alliance fleet retreated behind its junk and energy cloud screen, staying locked in a defensive form to lock all weapons on anything attempting to make it through an established defense against long-range and loosely tactical attack.

(OOC: I got this idea from watching Troy)

The Tarsonis Fleet ignored the Zaft ships for now, they would be there if needed but until then, it was a face to face battle and Kast wouldn't have it any other way.

"Evasive manuevers, reinforce starboard shields!" he orderd from the bridge of the Daetelus, the battle com system echoing his voice to every ship in the fleet. The Tarsonian fleet had its own version of slag shields as the smaller ships ducked behind the carriars. the 20 Km hulls of each of the 5 carriars easily covvered the rest of the ships in the fleet. Point defense lasers on the hulls of the carriers opened up turning rockets and torpedos into harmless slag. The torpedos that did get through smashed upon the now reinforced shields or passed harmlessly through the gaps. A trio of well placed torpedos managed to cliip a leviathan cruiser blasting its starbaord engine into pieces. It was dead in the water but life support was holding. The captain of that ship in turn hailed the idle Zaft fleet hoping for a tractor beam to pull it out of combat.

Meanwhile on the bridge of the Daedelus Kast was assesing the situation. "Status report ensign." he said to the Tactical commander.

"sir the responding salvo had minimal impact on our shields, they are holding at 97 percent capability and regenerating. The Starfire has been disabled though life support is intact. Shes dead in the watter. Meanwhile the Alliance ships are using an ion dampening field, emitted from the support defense stations dotting the space around the planet. its effictevly reducing our energy cannons by 75% and they are using placed debri as a screen for our torpedos."

Kast smiled. It was an ingenius technique, a sort of guerilla warfare tactic meant for an open battle field, however Kast was a student of history, and had even read some history of Earth their orginal home that the UED fleet had brought with them. He particularily liked Greek and Roman history. "Execute battle plan Phalanx. And switch to projectiles enough of the energy cannons. Let slag hit their debri fields and blast it appart. and ensign...fire at will"

Gravitic drives engaged in the ultra large carriars, as they slowly started to push forward moving sideways through space. As the wall of shields and steel moved forward the Carriars torpedo bays opened fire repeatedly opening up an continueous barage of quantum torpedos. The other ships in the fleeet popped over, under and on the sides from behind the carriars launching a salvo of slag and torpedos before ducking in behind. "Battle crusiers activate Yomatto Cannons, target those orbital stations!" The battle cruisers, bulky and less meneuverable ducked out from behind the carriers bearing the brunt of incoming fire and powered up their yomata cannons. Each of the 10 BC's picking a different platform, launched their ultimate weapon the force of 200 nukes concentrated into a single pillar of energy blasting through space. "Now," kast said, "break." Now as the ships were only a 1000 kilometers from the alliance fleet, the Carriar wall broke away and the other faster manueverable ships blasted through the breach preparing for side by side engagement.

The ZAFT fleet staying on there side of the border used a long range tractor beam to bring in the tarsonian ship, by the time the tractor reached the ship it was weak, but strong enough to get the ship to move and as it was pulled closer it was pulled in faster as the beam got stronger. Until the Dominion forces granted there request it was all they could do. The fleet it self was already in a battle formation, with weapons ready to fire, although this was just a show of force until they could use force. The formation it self was a standard capital ship formation, all the capital ships were in rows and columns equally spaced from each other, with the support ships in front, and behind the capital ships.

"I am going to be pissed if we were sent out here for nothing" commented the captain of the lead ship. The lead ship in the formation was a Jager class battleship one of the most powerful capital ships currently used by ZAFT. Like all modern ZAFT ships it's weapon systems could not be seen, only once they were fired would some one see relatively where on the hull they were. Even then if you took the time to look it would be to late for a ship against a Jager that was not a Heavy cruiser or above.

The stations rippled plasma fire from their turbolaser batteries towards the encroaching Tarsonian fleet, hues of red and blue lancing across space. The heavy cannons of the Tarsonians blasted through the debris field, losing some power as they shredded apart space junk and hulks in angling towards the stations. Each weapon burst, despite coming through the fields to arrive, did hit however, with varying degrees of success - some left scarred shields with generators struggling to divert core power with weapons at full, while one burst hit the lead station at the battle point and shredded a sensor and targeting module, leaving the station to fire blindly at the ships now passing into the crossfire of the fleet and the still-enabled minefield.

The antimatter mines picked up the sensor silhouettes of the inbound Tarsonian ships as the static cannons and stations pulsed fire at the breaking carriers. The Alliance formation that had previously been sitting tight now opened up a gap in the middle of their formation to allow the minefield to home in on the incoming vessels. The antimatter mines zipped through the gap in no particular fashion, each 5m radius explosive picking a target and then deactivating targeting computers to allow for an unabated line to cut through jamming means. When each would close to about a kilometer the swarm would start its explosion process, detonating with a heavy force of antimatter reaction.

The torpedo wave by the Tarsonian force rippled past and around the streaking mines, angling in towards the wall of plasma from laser weaponry fired by the regrouping Alliance fleet. The PD and anti-fighter weapons cut through the warheads like a hot knife, ripping apart the weapons in a shower of red bolts and pulsed orange beams with deadly accuracy. The warheads managed to get through but with less effectiveness than the first wave, impacting against shields and rippling green and yellow waves of energy across shielding banks of the Alliance fleet.

Just as the mines moved in, the ground energy shield opened up for a fraction of a second as a ground-based massive turbolaser cannon ripped forth a giant salvo of turbolaser bolts into orbit. The weapon had aimed beneath the cover of the shield and now fired with deadly precision from its massive barrel right at the heart of the charging Tarsonian fleets and through the gap made by the Alliance formation. As soon as it had finished firing to cool down and re-target the shield redeployed, providing cover for the ground base once more.

"The fools are hiding behind their energy screen," Karath transmitted to the Tarsonian fleet. "I recommend you pull your forces back out of its range and draw the Alliance forces towards you. We are beginning to deploy ground forces to puncture the shield dome from a land attack."

The Dominion assault carrier began spitting up landers as the Alliance fighter wave angled in for attack. The Federation corvette had been hanging around the carrier for the time, attempting to avoid direct combat, but now Winters got his ship into the fray as it opened fire on the enemy fighters. Torpedo and laser fire smashed into the offloading landers, but the Dominion counterwave of fighters and gunships soon locked the battle into a series of dogfights.

Kast gripped the railing on the bridge of the Daetelus as it was rocked hard by a series of antimatter mines. "Execute attack pattern macedonian!" he yelled above the clammer of the bridge. "Aye SIR!" a crewman shouted back through the chaos of communicatiosn and plottings. The fleet spread outeffectively lining up with the 4 ultimaX carriars and the Daedeuls directly at the center. The carriars turn completely to port now and started to head back out into open space. Aft cannons blazed as the Daedelus plowed forward. Almost like a ripple the ships began to follow down the line almost creating a Falus in space. Aft cannons and Torpedos lit up into the fleet as fighters hovered around the edges of the formation efectively stopping the larger Alliance lines from turning the flanks.

As the Daedalus moved forward the Alliance ships, clustered to maximize the use of their numbers, swarmed towards the vessel rather than pursuing the fleeting carriers. It was one of the stronger vessels on the battlefield and the Alliance commanders figured it was a good time as ever to attempt to strike at the command ship. A wall of plasma from numerous turbolaser batteries struck out in waves towards the Daedalus as the Alliance fleet moved out in a protective unit, still under the covering fire of the damaged stations and with the forwards Tarsonian units still in range of the ground turbolaser that was in the process of recharging for another shot.

A torpedo wave came out from the Alliance fleet to compliment the turbolaser and static cannon attack, as well as plasma drivers throwing forth magnetically accelerated plasma-encased explosive projectiles to inflict physical damage upon the Tarsonian shield banks.

The Dominion landing ships closed in through the atmosphere as the Alliance fighters continued to strafe, covering fire from the gunships and Dominion fighters providing cover against the swarming pirate ships. Lasers and ion rockets flashed as the landers began deploying mere meters outside the shield dome, infantry and light armor quickly disembarking to begin organizing. The fighters quickly begin keeping distance to avoid the shield dome - while slow-moving things suck as infantry could pass through, a fast-moving fighter would be vaporized.

Kast smiled as the torpedos swarmed the aft shield banks of the Daedelus. He was a sea of calm admist a turmoil of panic. His men had never faced this position before...where victory wasnt assured...but Kast knew, and countles times had he snatched victory out of the Jaws defeat, and he planned on it now. "Relax men...." he declared loudly, before finishing in a normal tone. "this is our hour." He watched the battle display as more torpedo's and fire crashed upon the banks.

"Sir" the ship tactitian said. "Shield banks are at 30 percent! Damage on decks 16 throu-"

"I'm well aware ensign" Kast interrupted. "We shall be fine, trust me..." The tension on the bridge was thick but Kast continued to keep a cool head... he just had to wait for the right moment....right till "NOW!" He shouted over the Battle com.

The small contingent of 300 fighters following the carriars doubled back racing down the hulls of the carriars back towards the Alliance ships, as teh Carriars began to come about. In concentrating on the Daedelus the Alliance forces had ignorde the other ships and now were gonna pay for it. The shipson the ends of the Tarsonian lines began to turn in. Quickly fighters and cruisers pushed back agaisnt ships on the Alliance flank who quickly found that their battle line had abandoned them and were being forced inward. The Tarsonian ships came around pushing the lines back and quickly had the Alliance surrounded....and now the Alliance ships were at shooting gallery, and they were the targets. The Tarsonian ships opened up with no mercy, torpedos, slag and energy cannons blasted away as fighers and valkaryes swooped in running along the length of ships targeting outboard engine lines and turret power supplies. It seemed the tide had turned.

The Alliance vessels quickly realized that time was of the essence here. Rather than clumping tightly to form a defensive grid as the stations began pumping concentrated fire on the ball the Tarsonians were quickly making around the fleet, the Alliance ships began breaking into 2-3 ship packs and sliding in close to individual Tarsonian ships to begin close-combat action. It was a move to allow the full range of weapons to be utilized against the Tarsonian vessels by Alliance commanders who were running out of options. The static defense cannons and stations were still in full assault raining weapons fire down, but the ships had to act independently now with their fighters tied up against the Dominion fighters on the surface.

The ground turbolaser completed its charge, the shield dropping for a split moment to allow the pulsed cannon to fire again against several Tarsonian ship before the shield raised once more.

On the ground, the Dominion forces began moving through the shield barrier, though the Alliance ground forces hadn't begun to intervene against them. Dominion artillery hadn't even begin to move out yet and with heavy armor already moving through, a direct assault wasn't yet the smartest move.

The tarsonian ships began to move closer in collapsing their little bubble and forcing the Alliance ships closer together. As teh turbo laser arced up, one ship was caught unware and disolved into atoms but the Turbolaser struck Alliance ships as well. June banked her valkarye hard to starboard dodging the turbolaser along with fire from a Reliant class alliance ship that put a few holes in her wing.

You alright major? her wingman Hunter chimed in over the BattleCom.

"Ay I am Hunter, and I have somethign for them." she said coyley.

She banked hard flipping her valkayre into soldier mode and unleashed a heavey barage of missles on the reletivelly small ship. As the shields of it finally buckled she landed her valkarye on it like a commando jumping onto a ship. Smiling as she did so the arm mounted beamsaber on her Valkarye ignited, and she pulledo on the controls causing the fighter to fall to one knee as it burried its beam saber into the bridge of the ship silencing its command. As she brought her valkarye up to stand she looked out suveying the battle, it was a bloodbath...

The damaged patrol vessel wasn't expecting the fighter to turn into a transformer and simply land on its hull abruptly. The valkyrie's energy beam attack caught the ship off guard and the weakened shield array didn't hold up particularly long to the concentrated energy loop slamming into its central bridge unit. The bridge erupted in fire, and the patrol vessel drifted aimlessly into space as it vented plasma and fire. Without control or command, it was simply a drifting hulk slowly losing life support that would become a cold, airless tomb for its crew.

The fleet continued its quick and concentrated attacks on singular ships in packs of three, working to stay close enough to threaten collateral damage by Tarsonian fire but at the same time staying close enough to screen fire into the targeted vessels from all possible angles to work their shield banks both heavily and from numerous areas to prevent readjusting of the banks. The turbolaser, so far the greatest battlefield asset, continued recharging for another attack as the fleet - now trapped within the ball of Tarsonian vessels - remained close to the planet and easily within the high orbital range of the cannon.

The stations and static defenses, now largely being ignored, stepped up their attacks with every weapon they had, unleashing turbolaser, static pulse, and plasma driver fire along with multiple waves of torpedoes and rockets. With the current reduced size of the Alliance fleet trying to prevent excess losses by staying to the inside of the ball, the exterior defenses had free reign to fire indiscriminately into the mass and have a high chance of hitting anything Tarsonian.

"Sir, message just came through over the line from fleet HQ" the communications officer said running up and handing a note to the captain. It was standard to only print messages from HQ, it was like a computers printer sent once, with a confirm signal from the receiver and that was it, the message was never stored. The captain opened the folded piece of paper "hmm lets see 'Remain at border region for forty eight hours, then rendezvous with main fleet at Talon two - seven -nine for operation Lucky Rabbit, operation will commence after the main force finishes training on Endymion. Use your best judgment with your situation' well it's that saying do what ever the hell I see fit till then? geez there is nothing to do those damn pirates are across the line, if they were to cross the line however things would get interesting" the captain muttered to him self ready the order before having it vaporized into dust.

The captain watched from a holographic screen the current ongoing battle, they just saved a Tarsonian ship and were transferring power to it, in order to keep it's systems online, and he watched as the pirates fought tooth and nail. He smirked a little and grinned "Heh if we could get in there We'd blow them to hell in no time, gotta hand it to the Tarsonians for ten year plus old equipment there fighting well, then again we did give them new armor materials, wonder how many ships they got it onto? oh well it's new for them but still out of date for us, not to mention these are pirates, and soon all those pirates will be gone and our territory will be expanded by over ten percent, and the Dominion is bound to fall into civil war again because of the Sith council, what a glorious age to live in, all this instability is giving us prime opportunity"

"Isn't that a little optimistic cap? while the Empiryion government lead by the supreme chairman and the council on Empyion want to drive the pirates out, the territory gain is just a bonus to it all, I don't think we should be talking like we are some all powerful force that no one will be able to mess with"

"Maybe so XO, but it still makes us strong, and that is what will keep us safe"

The turbolaser rocked again as the first landing wave finished its depositing of forces on the ground, lifting landing gear and proceeding back towards the Specter. Several red bolts blasted from the cannon in the distance, the shield momentarily breaking to allow the weapon discharges to pass before coordinating to raise just as the last one passed. The shield raised around the Dominion ground forces that now began their march towards the opposing encampment, light armor and heavy walkers patrolling around a central core of infantry and commanding units to coordinate the action. The ground army remained in a tightened formation, protecting from all angles from an Alliance counterattack that was bound to come.

Roughly five kilometers in, such attack did come. As the army group crossed into a small valley, ground rockets began screaming down from the encroaching hillside to the fore. Several immediately blew into a troop crawler, blowing out the frontal cockpit and spewing fire into the under-oxygenated atmosphere. Krayt tanks and Armored Tactical Defender walkers leading the column immediately returned fire in kind; plasma driver fire from the Dominion heavy armored units smashed into the hillside and blew apart rock outcroppings. Several Alliance units blew apart; audible screams echoed through the heavy air.

A fresh arrival of the main Alliance attacking force crossed over the hilltop, however, pinning the Dominion army into the valley. Bunkering down into a defensive position, the infantry of the Amazonian column began dispatching from troop crawlers and movers. Tank Droids immediately began surging up the hillside as ion rockets came down to stymie their advance, the automatons pulsing energy fire as well as plasma drivers up towards the Alliance insurgents attempting to hold the ridge. The Dominion infantry used the time bought by the speeding droid armor to establish a position inside the manned armor, responding to the initial attacks with a wave of infantry rockets and energy weapons blasting up the cliff as the armor of the Dominion group began organizing for a concentrated attack up the hillside.

OOC: wow jolt just ate my post...son of a bitch

The tarsonian fleet was fairing well. They had only “lost” 3 ships, however a dozen more were wounded while at least 14 were disabled. While the Turbolaser continued to be a threat they had gotten good at detecting it, sensors detecting the power build up just before the blast.

Kast was knocked to the floor as the Daedelus was rocked by a glancing blast from the turbolaser. The old ship faired well, as it groaned under the stress from the massive impact on its shields. However… it survived. Kast pushed himself up his vision pained and cloudy. Whipping the warm blood from his good eye he looked across the bridge. If he had thought it was in chaos before this was absolute bedlam. Stations had been ripped from their floor moorings and thrown across the room. Sparks arched through the air and steam vented up from the floor. “Status report!” Kast cried out, “Anybody!” He added when he received no answer. Seeing a foot sticking out from under a rather large pile rubble he quickly ran and began lifting pieces of wreckage. Finally he uncovered the man’s head and from the look in his eye he could tell he was dead, the lifeless eyes staring out endlessly as if across time.

Kast sighed hanging his head but was distracted as coughing sounded and he could see some men pulling them selves up from the rubble. Quickly rushing to their aid he managed to pull 3 out before the others had been dug out. “Alright, the bridge is scrapped, so were moving down to the secondary command center.” He sprinted to the center of the room and lifted up the engineering hatch. Turning first to assist his crew, Kast waited till the others had descended before climbing in himself and closed the hatch above his head.
“I hope that bitch has that cannon knocked out soon!” Kast muttered to himself as the group crawled through the labyrinth of unmarked tunnels. As part of the defense against boarding parties, the tunnels where impossible to navigate. But Kast new every screw of the mighty ship as if it were his own body. Quickly he had led the group to an unmarked hatch. As he opened the hatch he was blinded as light flooded in through the opening, and then surprised as a hand reached in . Taking the hand he was hoisted out into the command room.

The Seccondary Control room, nicknamed the “Battle Bridge” was a circular room, all the same stations as on the Bridge but laid out along the walls facing in to the center. In the center several holemiters displayed a massive 3d display of the battle. Kast moved to the command consol before spotting his second in command. “Commander Reynolds! Whats our situation?”

A rather short man for a soldier, but defiantly a capable warrior, the commander approached from a different station. “The Deadelus is holding, though we’ve taken rather extensive outer hull damage the inner hulls are holding just fine. The fleet is at about 75 percent and we’ve lost about 300 wraiths and around 200 valkarye’s. The enemy however we estimate is at about 40 percent capacity, all fighters are either planet side or destroyed. But the turbolaser and the platforms are still a threat. Those platforms are hitting at our asses.”

Kast ran over the data and observed the hologram, planning his next move. “We’ve tightened the noose long enough commander. Now it’s time to break the neck. Order the fighters to disengage from the main battle and to engage the platforms, maybe they can draw some fire and take out the gun at our backs. We have to hope Droma is being successful on the surface at taking out that base…. It’s imperative…. What ground troops do we have?” he asked.
“5 legions of marines… 2 Acrilite Siege tank divisions. 1 Goliath legion plus the 1 mornarian “Calvary Division,” Commander Reynolds replied.

Kast mused over the numbers in his head. “Send them, now as for the fleet. Order the Battle Cruisers to use their Yomata Cannons. I know that this close could be collateral to us, but we need to have them crushed and whipping up the pieces by the time that sith arrives... we need to be ready.”

The orders were given. Wraiths and Valkaryes disengaged from the battle and began to engage the orbital platforms. Blaster fire, missles, and beam sabers ripped into the platform workings, fighters ducked between antifighter fire. Getting close enough to do some damage. Dropships flooded out of the carriers launch bay heading for the planets surface. While a transmission was sent to Droma, issuing the rights of command. Back at the battle, a momentary lull centered on the battle as the Tarsonian Ships stopped firing. On the BC’s however, energy cores built up. Charged ions flooded directing channels, and from the Bows of the 10 Battle Cruisers, pillars of destruction criss crossed through the remainder of the Alliance fleet.”

The rippling effect from the heavy weapons of the Tarsonian fleet slashed apart over half the remaining Alliance combat worthy vessels quickly, tearing the formation into ribbons. Hulks littered with freezing corpses and spewing electrical leads already were strewn about the battlefield; the latest conquest simply helped lay out even more dead for the line. The remaining ships began concentrating fire one ship at a time with a barrage of every weapon remaining; torpedoes and rockets fired en masse as bolts from turbolasers and plasma driver projectiles blasted out with renewed determination. As the fighters turned attention towards the defense platforms and static defense guns, those installations began arcing shields to defend against vulnerable zones and pinpointed the fighters with deadly accuracy of PD plasma weaponry from their laser cannons. Turbolasers and missile weaponry from the installations still rained towards the Tarsonian fleet, now with even less chance to hit their own.

The Alliance fighters now made a coordinated run at the Specter, running smack into the redeploying Dominion fighters. What had been a mess of dogfights now turned into a barrage of Dominion missiles blasting into the fighter swarm of the Alliance formation. The fighters broke off quickly, with the Dominion fighters in chase. They weren't going to kill them all in one run, but at least they had hurt their psyche to the point where it was useless for them to make another coordinated run on the carrier, now preparing to launch a second wave of dropships to the planet below to supplement the current forces engaging.

With that, the fighters angled towards the Tarsonian dropships with the Dominion fighters in pursuit right behind, straying enough from the Amazonian fire to launch a wave of lasers at the dropships before jinking and weaving out of the way of return fire. The craft were older and not quite up to par with the modernized Dominion fighters, but they were fast and nimble and quite able to avoid much of the fire from both the battle overhead and the Dominion pursuit fighters. As they did, the Federation corvette knifed past the fore of the Tarsonian ships, spraying return fire at the Alliance fighters to ward them off.

"We'll guide you in," commed the corvette to the dropships, "We're headed planetside as well."

As this was being said, however, a massive dip in hyperspace opened up in local space. The demonic prow of a Virulent-class Alpha Dreadnought burrowed into realspace, its black exterior crawling out from the transit dimension into a stark reality. The huge command vessel was quickly joined by a denizen of other craft - from a massive biological Worldship to legions of corvettes and frigates and cruisers ripping out of hyperspace. A quick scan and sensor sweep of the command craft would identify it as the ADV Viscount - Ludo Kressh's personal command vessel, as well as the leader of his massive battlefleet. And where he had ended up, Nihilis clearly was not far behind.

The Dominion assets already planetside were not late in picking up the most recent arrivals - and Droma wanted to get things moving as quickly as possible to avoid potential (and destined to occur) interference from the crafty Sith Lord.

"Tarsonian landing forces," Crypt's cyborg voice boomed over the Tarsonian comms, "A marker has been designated for your ships to land three kilometers from our own landing spots. Your are to pass through the shield barrier with your ground craft as your dropships will not make it...alive...through the shield dome. Your objective will be to drive towards the mountain command base of the Alliance in order to spread their line as far as possible and weaken it to allow both forces to punch through and engage whatever backup forces they have in reserve."

As the dropships landed at the designated zone the mobalization was quickly under way. Marines in their exosuits were quickly unloaded, Goliaths marched defiantly out of their moorings ready to take on any threat. Seige tanks rumbled forward ready for combat. In a matter of minutes the Dropships had been there and gone quickly and expertly unloading. The Tarsonian Ground forces under the command of Lt Commander Deaverux began their assault and passed through the shields. Lines of marines marched forward their heavy foot steps echoing. Seige tanks took up positions and switched into their longrange artillery Seige modes. Goliath mecha walkers. followed the Marines chain guns aimed on teh ground while Hellfire missle packs prepared to pluck fighters from the sky. The mornarain division on their vulture hover cycles hung back and prepared for strategic flanking. Soon the echoing reports of artillery filled the air.

In orbit
Kast was glancing at a possible new battle plan when klaxons on board began to go off.
"Warning! Warning! Incoming Vessels, Dominion Make! Warnign"
Normally Kast would have been very relived to hear of reinforcements, but not in this case...first he would need reinforcements that werent just as likely to kill him aswell. "Send word to Kressh's command ship, were pulling out of combat, the rest he can clean up." As the message was transmitted the Tarsonian ships broke formation and began to head out of the combat zone some activatiing tractor beams dragging disabled ships to safety. Fighters abanndoned teh platforms and headed back to the fleet. As they left the combat zone they didnt lower shields or deactivate weapons...preparing for anything.

"Sir looks like elements of the Tarsonian fleet are falling back" one of the officers reported. The captain sighed as he walked around the bridge with coffee cup in hand "Oh well no action for us until we meet the main fleet, oh well we get our chance to hit the Pirate Alliance soon enough, some of the area's we will be taking over from the pirates are controlled by backers of the PA, should be a fun battle, more fun then watching this one on a screen from a distance"

"I'll agree with you there" said the XO

"I bet you would, Weapons control do another full systems check on the Blazers, and the anti-matter missile launchers"

"Aye sir" came the response. Blazers were the latest and according to scientists probably the final evolution of ZAFT energy weapon technology. There ability far surpassed the older weapons used before. Checking the systems of the Blazers to make sure they were all working was a easy task thanks to the ships AI. While it was called Phoenix, some ship captains and crews renamed theirs to reflect the 'charm' of the ship.

Orbit

Viscount drove the massive war fleet directly at the defensive stations and limping Alliance fleet remains and proceeded to launch a horrible-looking missile from its main warhead launcher at the flagship's prow. The warhead streaked past heavy PD fire from the fleet and static defenses, deploying its own shielding as it pummeled straight into the superstructure of the largest defensive station. The particle disintegration warhead immediately got to work, its energy core fueling an atomic chain reaction which proceeded to rip apart the station on the nuclear level, atom by atom. With the missile calibrated to a low-level setting, it was more than enough power to completely engulf the station in a cloud of destruction as it tore itself to ribbons. When the missile had completed its work, a cloud of fine particulates from where atoms had linked up following the devastating blast remained behind.

With that, the Worldship began assaulting the Alliance fleet, releasing a hailstorm of large molten slag and electromagnetic beams at the ships that struggled to maneuver away from the rain of fire coming from the 28km diameter super bioship. In Kressh's sick way of fun, Viscount and the carriers of the fleet began emptying their hanger bays, releasing thousands of fighters and gunships that swarmed like flies as they stayed out of PD range of the starships. Instead, they released a billowing mass of torpedoes and rockets that streaked towards the limping enemy formation, a mess so dense and numerous that it was no use to even bother attempting to shoot them all down. Kressh was utilizing his numerical advantage to a sense of overkill to completely mop up anything and everything hostile in the area.

The capital ships of the fleet focused on the static defenses, despite a ridiculous numerical advantage and the fact that Viscout probably could have rammed the static turrets and absorbed the blows into its shield banks. Turbolasers flew like glowing gnats as they slashed into the shields and hulls of the stations and turrets, molten cannons and singularity gravitic weapons of bioships ripping apart hardpoints. It was epic slaughter on a massive scale, to the extent that Kressh felt nothing as he watched from the bridge of his command ship as the Alliance space survivors were rendered extinct.


Planetside

The Federation corvette landed simultaneously with the Tarsonians, the vessel coming to a stop on landing struts as Winters, Adonis, Onasi, and others disembarked to engage in the fight themselves and contribute. Why was not the reason - it was getting the Federation's face out in the world again, despite the fact that the Dominion was the primary protagonist in the fight...

"The enemy are bulking forces to engage the Tarsonians," Crypt commed over a Dominion-allied specific channel. "Engage the enemy at range with ground forces as we attempt to punch a hole in their lines and round them with our heavy assets from the rear to pin them."

The second wave of Dominion craft was landing now as HACP artillery ripped open with heavy turbolaser combines, shredding apart mountain outcroppings and pinned locations. Alliance ground forces had meanwhile began massing roughly 5km in from the Federation-Tarsonian landing site, hunkering in artillery and armor along with a mass of pirate infantry to combat the encroaching combined force.

Orbit

Kast didnt even bother to watch the slaughter. He had seen all to well the Dominions capabilities. Instead he had already begun working on restoring the fleet. repairs had already been commenced. Resources from salvaged debri being melted down and reformed into spare parts. The Tarsonians had gotten pretty efficient as they tirelessly to get as many ships as they could back in order. Half teh ships were already repaired and recharching but there were a dozen more to go. Kast urged them on knowing full well what was to occur soon they needed to be fully charged by that time.

Planetside

The Tarsonian forces met the advancing pirates with ease. Their exosuits protecting them from the seccond rate fire of the outdated alliance weapons. They moved in several phalanxes always pushing forward. Blaster rifle fire shreaded the distance between the two sides charing what ever surfaced it landed. Seigtanks had begun "leep froging" as the began to move the lines forward. one line of tanks would keep firing as another would move infront and set up. The heavy artillery bombardments were raining plasma hell upopn the lines. But that wasnt all they had. The subtle "whirr" of hover moters could be heard on the winds as the Mornarians revealed themselves along the pirate flanks. on board blaster cannons rained slag upon the suprised alliance while with beam sabers in hand the mornarians hacked through the lines. Attempts for air support met bitter defeat as goliaths flooded the skies with SAM missles, and anti aircraft fire.

With the time delay from the position the confirmation message took longer then usual to reach back the military HQ. By the time it did the training operation was well under way on Endymion. Already at the second stage of the landing assault ships and landing craft continued to come down from the fleet dropping mobile suits from high altitude, troops, and vehicles on the ground. As mobile suits fell to the ground simulated weapons fire flew every direction. The training event was also on tv for others to watch from there homes or on the internet. Via a powerful quantum computer the battle looked much more real for people watching it on tv. To people at home it was like watching a good movie, but this one would have a twist.

The troops on the ground didn't know about the surprise waiting. After the final wave had landed some time later and the battle was on going the general staff activated there plan. Shortly after the transports were out of site a giant explosion flew across the sky. The combat on the ground suddenly stopped as people wondered what was going on "To all voices, this is the orbital fleet, discontinue training we are under...............attack........repea.........un.........tack......." came over the comm line. All forces on the planet stopped the exercise and all aircraft began to make for orbit, it was there duty to defend the home system. Meanwhile more forces, including ships were preparing to launch from the surface.

When the first platoons began to make it into orbit now switched to what they thought was combat mode all they could do is look around in horror and disbelief "My god, can any one see any ships around I see nothing but debris" one Pilot called out.

"Nothing sir, oh my god sir look at nine o'clock, they blew up the Apollo fleet yards"

"What the hell is going on?"

"Sir detecting a IDC from the admirals command ship, lets see its........holy frack the admirals ship is gone, nothing left"

"What do you mean gone! you said there was a IDC"

"Thats all that is left sir, Admiral McKinley is dead"

"What are we going to do, were doomed if the main fleet was taken out!"

Confusion and panic continued to flood over the communication channels from the pilots not believing what they were looking at. One of ZAFT's greatest admirals, and a large fleet, including one of there ship yards gone. However everything they thought was gone was still there, they just couldn't see it. After only a couple short minutes a voice came over the comm channels "This is General Dylandy at Empyion orbital command, shut the hell up the lot of ya! I know the main fleet is gone, but pull your selves together god damnit, you call your selves soldiers of ZAFT! the enemy fleet is on route here, your the closest ones now get your asses over here and defend your homeland! reinforcements are on there way from else were but unless you hold them off we won't survive long enough!"

"Lets show those bastards"

"But if they took out our fleet what chance do we have"

"That was a surprise attack, we know they are there this time" The mood had already quickly shift of the pilots. No one questioned how the General was alive he would of been with the fleet. It didn't cross there mind, and while they headed at full speed for a enemy fleet that wasn't actually there to fight a non existent ground attack was beginning on Endymion. Mean while the command staff was observing the battle including the alive and kicking Admiral McKinley on his flag ship "Looks like they bought it, hook line and sinker, should be interesting to see how they deal with our plan"


OOC: To prepare troops for war, make them think there already in one!

Ground

As the Mornarians charged the lines and began to assault the frontal aspects, a swinging door of the first lines came crashing around on the now-deployed Mornarian force. It swept around, locking the Tarsonians into a pincer movement as the frontal line and door line crashed together. Despite the Mornarians being on their attack speeders, heavy explosive plasma-coated shells blasted in from the shielded armored hovertank units of the Alliance, raining weaponry in the form of massive quantity. With the swinging door of infantry and light armor coming in, the armored units had a channel to fire through as the Mornarians attempted their push. The Alliance was more than willing to accept light casualties from the initial surge of the Mornarians in exchange for the favorable position they began to set up, even with Alliance soldiers being cut down by the elite Tarsonians. Armor-piercing shells from the hunkered-down infantry sizzled through the air in the pocket that was slowly closing.

The artillery was posing a nuisance, but the Alliance units had been honing positions for some time and were ready to hunker down. Not that they came without their losses, naturally - the armored units consistently changed position to avoid the plasma, but some were naturally hit. In retaliation to counter the artillery, retrofitted Wraith mortar tanks began rippling fire against the slowly advancing Tarsonians as the Alliance lines slowly pulled back, arcing tactical nuclear-tipped shells at the advancing lines to try and stymie the advance. In case of a charge, Scorpian tanks redirected from Dominion facilities thanks to the Underground loaded in fresh plasma driver ammunition to rip apart quick-advancing lines.

On the Dominion lines, the comparable structure of each side's equipment was beginning to lead to a rock-paper-scissors model of interception and destruction. Alliance HE droid walkers pulsed away as the Dominion lines scaled the hills, plasma drivers slamming into waves of Amazonian assault infantry. In retaliation, Crypt had deployed a Scarab mobile battle gun to begin tearing apart the opposition. The goliath assault mech was making headway as the Alliance made tactical retreats, blasting apart enemy positions utilizing its primary wave-stream turbolaser cannon to focus concentrated beams of energy to shred the natural outcroppings. It was already being targeted, however, as enemy medium warhead infantry began pulsing wave after wave of ion rockets into the vessel's thick armor and tough shielding.

It was buying enough time for Dominion warrior droids and shock troopers to take up positions on the hilltops. Specialized units deployed MIBA beam cannons to at least force the enemy back; the concentrated infantry turbolaser beams were more than a threat to light armor. Repeater emplacements also began to throw laser fire down at the Alliance line beginning to move into the adjacent valley, pinning the force down as armor units begin to move up. Alliance rocket fire - though slightly primitive - was a considerable threat, however, and tactical nuclear mortar fire had wiped away an entire force of clone soldiers and assault infantry. Crypt pressed on with his forces, however - losses were barely an issue at this point. As he...and Karath, and Droma...knew, the real bait had been achieved - Kressh's fleet was in-system, and they were prepared to do something to provoke it once these pirates were dealt with.

The mornrians circled up trying to counter act the two advancing lines. Vultures exploded left and right, while others deflected shots back at their attackers with teh beam sabers. Coordinating with the the other tarsonian forces the Mornrians charged the front line forces of the Alliance while 3 Marien divisions pressed in cutting down alliance men and armor with blaster fire and rockets. THe seige tanks were suffering a pounding but were heavily armored and most survived. ever they marched forward a pocket of plasma that rained down from the heavens. most of the tank diviions conctratedo n the senter but a full company diverted its fire upon the reserve division of troops that had tried to pincer the mornarians. They increased the rate of fire as well in order to try and push them back, using artillery as a screen.

The Mornarian beam sabers were having a tough time deflecting the projectile plasma drivers of the Alliance, which simply vaporized on contact with the energy blades. The sheer quantity of shells flying through the air made it a veritable hailstorm of explosive plasma-encased bullets. As the Mornarians charged, the Alliance line slowly pulled back. Infantry laid down jury-rigged plasma and shaped promixity charges into the dirt under cover fire from tactically falling soldiers and light armored hovercraft. The artillery was pounding up areas, but it wasn't going to get everything. Deploying traps and mines allowed for the Alliance to fall back at their pace - if the Tarsonians wanted to push the tempo, they'd run straight through the growing field on their hoverbikes or armored untis, which was certain with high blast yields to knock out significant numbers. If they allowed their artillery to simply pound at the now-deploying trap field, it'd buy plenty of time for the Alliance to regroup and concentrate fire. They could potentially go around it as well, as it was concentrated towards the center of the mass - but that would spread the Tarsonian lines, allowing the spread Alliance forces to engage at their style.

The artillery was now becoming more of a constant thunder taken into account by the Alliance forces. As the side force of Tarsonians came around to try and push back the Alliance reserve unit, the pirates gladly pulled back - launching a tide of missile and projectile weaponry to stymie the advance and allow the pirates to fall back on their schedule. With the Mornarians already charging into a veritable solid wall of bullets and shells, the Alliance was utilizing all their assets in order to continuously beat on the opposing force while slowly falling back. They had plenty of space, after all - and while some men and armor was falling, it wasn't catastrophic by any means. They knew the terrain and knew how to exploit it.

The same tactic was working on the Dominion lines, as well. Crypt had a slightly different attack tactic - utilizing massive instruments of war to guide in the infantry and lighter armor behind the titanic armored and biological units moving forward. Flight-capable biological Reavers, crewed by assault teams, sprayed repeater laser fire at the slowly retreating pirates. However, while these were giving slight cover to the advancing infantry, they were getting sliced up by missile weapons and hovertank shots. The Scarab had fallen to concentrated fire already, its strewn hulk littering the battlefield - though providing improvisational cover to quick-thinking Dominion infantry.

Waves of missile artillery from the primary force that was opposing the Dominion continued to beat upon the armored units and droid armor moving forward, but speed negated at least some of the effects of the barrage. As the rockets were simply dummy-fired to avoid the effects of jammer screens, constantly-redeploying Dominion armor prevented massings of one area, or for one force to remain in a single location for long enough for a concentrated attack to be made. It made advances slow for the armor and infantry of the Dominion, even as HACP artillery pieces continued long-distance direct-fire attacks via their heavy turbolaser wave cannons.

"Enemy located, seven one three mark eight dead on course for Empyion" came over the radio quickly as the growing force of mobile suits, assault gunships and ships coming from Endymion changed course. There mission was simple protect the homeland "All right listen up, This is 1st battalion leader to every one, switch to Hatsune" in situations like this the leader of the 1st battalion in a force was in charge to give orders of things such as communications. Hatsune was ZAFT's highest level military code system that is said to be the lone unbreakable code in the galaxy by the people who created it. Hatsune was also the name of the Cryptographer who developed and named it which was made use of in most situations by making it sound like they were talking about a person not something else.

"Alright check in, Hawk group give me how many bastards we got to shoot down"

"Hawk three here, sensor count is just over two hundred large ships, computer is printing out small ships now.....around fifteen thousand small craft, however judging from the size of those ships I'd say they have more"

"Roger that, Alright listen up all forces, weapons hot, pick your targets and prepare to fire on my command" The leader of first battalion then himself began tracking targets, his Akira had a full weapons load out and was carrying at least fifty micro missiles, two large energy cannons, extra armor, and two twin machine guns to augment the built in weapon systems. His screen became covered with red triangles from missile locks and the spread of his cannons. As the force closed range he opened up his communications "This is 1st battalion commander, I know a lot of you are probably scared, frankly I am a little too, however we can't let our fear get the best of us, if we fail here our loved ones, our people, and our way of life will be wiped out, Fight will all your might, and fight for True Freedom & Justice. All forces commence attack!" As soon as he gave that order he gripped his trigger and from the entire force a massive wave of missiles launched at the unknown force. The battle had begun as the explosions began going off from the missiles energy weapon and shell weapons fire began ripping through the dust going both ways. Craft dodged to either side to avoid fire and the mobile suits closed in to do there job, as did the gunships but there primary role was suppression of enemy aircraft.

The head of first battalion took in his team right into the frey of the battle and got above the enemy fleet " Team, link up!" he ordered them as he stopped and hatches opened on the back of his Akira as he transformed into mobile suit mode. From the under arm of the other three suits a thick cable came out and went right into the back of the battalion commanders suit. On the commanders screen he watched as a gauge kept going up showing the power charge. As it climbed he kept saying to him self what it was at " 250%, 260, 270, 280....." at the same time the three linked to him were keeping him covered while he charged up. After a short time it reached the number he wanted to see, three hundred twenty one percent "Charge complete, target locked, large enemy ship" he watched as two as the two triangles finished lining up and turned red. He squeezed the trigger for the cannons, a massive blast of energy bigger then the mobile suit was released right at the target lasting for ten seconds. The ships of the large ship fell from the massive blast by the time it was over "Peirce formation!" he then shouted. The suits then formed up tightly and accelerated towards the ship "Activating cutting shield"

"Sir will there be enough power?"

"By the time we get to that ship there will be" he replied as the four suits began accelerating to higher and higher speeds. As they got closer a green glow started coming of them and then only a few hundred meters from the hull of the ship a diamond shaped shield formed around them. They then impacted the ship, and seconds later a explosion on the other side of the hull revealed them again. Seconds later the massive ship then exploded and the team moved on.

The Mornarians Pressed forward through the breach, dodging mines and fire as best they could. Even more voltures explodes as the legion had lost almost a quarter of its men. AS they reached the Tarsonian Lines, the tactics of the Tarsonain changed. one of the Seige Tank divisions had already transformed back into tank mode, and rumbled forward into the breach. Marines and goliaths alike used the tanks like a screen. Goliaths ripped into Alliance establishments chain gun and Projectile Cannosn ablaze. Some even fired their helfire missles like artillery. One squad pushed up attop a strategic hill, steppin on mofo's if they had to. After they had cleared it a squad of tanks rolled up and switched into artillery mode again establishing a forward post, now in range of the shield generator. Quickly they opened fire raiing molten plasma on the shell shaped ridges of the generator.

Many Mornarians now fought on foot, using their sniper shots to pick off Alliance members, and hold key postitions. Slowly but surely the tarsonian forces were pushing forward.

Missile weaponry pounded at the Tarsonians as they moved through the breach, grenades falling everywhere and shots blazing through the column. AT weapons pulsed through the gap into the line, going straight for the tanks as repeater emplacements in solidified positions fired rapidly at the following infantry. The Alliance just simply didn't have the fortified armor to match up - most was covering against the Dominion attack, and that which was over here was artillery or mortar tanks. The infantry tactically fell back, sustaining substantial losses while doing so - it was the best they could do at this point. Artillery and mortar tanks were staying out of the direct line of fire, preparing for any artillery duel that they could at least have a chance in.

As soon as the tanks had converted to artillery mode, the HAPP missile pieces and mortar tanks opened fire. Nuclear-tipped explosives hurtled and arced towards the hill as the opening shots against the armored shield generator began, a massive swarm of nuclear-tipped homing rockets following up. Infantry explosive mortars began assaulting the now slow-moving Tarsonian infantry lines as they began holding position, bombarding them and forcing a toll for every yard taken as much in the power of the Alliance forces possible.

The shield generator took substantial hits, but held - its armor plate was thick enough, and shield matrices embedded enough in surrounding cast to allow for some damage to be taken. It was clear that the generator would not last forever, though, and the artillery stepped up their barrage on the Tarsonian artillery position.

The tarsonians were taking a pouding but wouldnt be denied their victory. Marines now disperserd no longer moving in a collum formation. They began using the Alliance tactics against them. Using reckage for cover they still surged forward. Several platoons began pushing up forward over terrain.

Sgt sanders rolled narrowly dodging several shot before returning fire expertly pluggin some poor souls face. He than lept to his exo suits feet and rushed up a hill the men in his platoon close behind him. He stopped to throw a grenade into the makeshift bunker on top the hill and then as it exploded he jumped in Arm blades igniting. Alliance men shrieked as he cut through them. He then leveled his arm mounted flame thrower torching mofo's as they they fired on other marines. when he was satisfied he radio'd to the tank platoon so more tanks could be brought up. The tarsonian had continued to imploment a new strategy of taking high ground and using it for artillery positions. As him in his men continued on a squad of tanks rolled up switching to the Seige mode and began unloading on the Shield generator. Similar seens were taking place across the tomoltuous landscape.

The infantry was in a full tactical retreat now, yet remaining organized. It was just too much too quickly, and there was little else for the Alliance soldiers to do now but to begin falling back to the mountain bases. While the mortar tanks continued to fire on the advancing Tarsonian infantry - covering everywhere they made an advance with arcing projectiles and mortars - the missile artillery focused not on the artillery but on the landscape itself. Nuke missiles hurtled from the multi-launcher barrels of the artillery pieces into the hillsides, blasting out terrain and making the sitting points for the Tarsonian artillery erode down into the plain and valley leading to the main mountain housing the base.

The shield generator began failing, several of its nodes going down under the attack. It redirected emergency power to cover for faults, though this wouldn't last forever - it was a temporary measure intended to keep shield power running as long as possible, to keep the defensive dome up and protect the forces beneath from potential orbital bombardment from the Dominion armada above that had cleaned house on the space defenders.

The Tarsonians continued forward, Pressing their advantage. As teh alliance infantry began falling back the Tarsonian Marines began contentrating on the Artillery. Making the Wraiths the primary, Marines used slide rockets and arm cannons to engage. Super charged plasma and delpleted thurantium shells shreaded armor and flesh alike.

The tarsonian armor were taking heavy losses. Allready husks of Disable tanks littered the battle field. though some crews were still alive. Outside teh sheild, Dropships began unloading SCV's through teh shields. Quickly they went to work repairing the Tanks and Goliaths. The rest of the forces continued to push forward. The Shield generator became the primary target as the Tarsonian Tanks became in normal range. The adavance halted as the tanks set up. Marines dug in using rubble and terrain as makeshift forts. Goliaths hunkered down getting prepared to blast away any incoming fire. SCV's rushed up behind the tanks prepaired to begin repairing any damage.

"Commander we just lost 9th platoon, the 13th platoon says there under heavy fire and need assistance" the wing man of the first battalion commander reported over the radio as he shot down another two enemy craft "Damnit, I know that, I'm on the comm channel as well" he said as he transformed into mobile suit mode and fired off his weapon at multiple targets. He then transformed back and took off with his team, if they stayed in one spot to long they would be targeted easily.

"Sir look, ten O'clock low, it's the thirteenth platoon, they got a lot on them"

"Lets give them a hand, follow me in" the commander ordered hitting the accelerator. His craft moved from side to side dodging weapons fire moving towards the besieged platoon taking cover in the wreckage of a destroyed enemy ship. As they moved in they watched as suddenly a large wall of energy slammed into the enemy formation they were heading for. The commander looked up, it came from a ZAFT Blade Runner class cruiser "The fleet's in weapons range! thank god for that" one of the men in his team commented. The odds were just a little better for the front line forces now that what ships were being launched were coming into range to provide fire support. All around ZAFT craft were dropping left and right from intense fire but they were still keeping up a 7:1 kill ratio or high from unit to unit.

The barrage finally took its toll on the shield generator - too much flying plasma and weapons had struck and blown apart the armor plate, and with circuitry and other core components revealed, further barrage ended the shield generator's operations. With a snap, the shield slowly fell from the inside out, opening a hole at the apex and flowing down the sides of the shield barrier until the entire shield dome had collapsed. With that, the Dominion forces began to rally, a renewed vigor hitting them as the Alliance forces now began moving back with renewed intensity.

"Stay away from pursuing them as they fall back," Winters commed to the Tarsonians, "I have a bad feeling this isn't going to end well."

Winters's gut feeling was correct in the scenario. Kressh's fleet began to pour fire down from the sky at the Alliance positions, turbolaser blasts smashing apart terrain and blowing dust into the air. The Alliance forces made a quick dash the final few kilometers back towards the central mountain where the entrance to the main base was...however, Kressh was ruthless enough to have them even there.

The Worldship in orbit centered its largest meteor cannon directly on the tall hill's center. Rather than continue to pound the base with turbolasers, Kressh opted for a different option. A massive hunk of flaming plasma, rock, and metal hurtled forth from the aperture in the gargantuan bioship, plummeting towards the planet below. There was little to stop it as the Dominion land forces pulled back as fast as possible, the 35m rock slamming directly on the hill at terminal velocity. The effect was devastating, and Kressh's choice of ending the battle quickly had certainly worked out well. Thousands of tons of dirt and earth were displaced instantly as the intense kinetic enregy of the slag transmitted into the ground. The hill exploded, blowing massive clouds of dust into the atmosphere that obscured vision and temporarily hid the sun behind a veil of brown and gray.

From what could be discerned of the mountainous hill was not pretty. The meteor had completely uprooted the terrain, blasting a giant crater into the ground. A chain reaction had further spread through the base with numerous systems critically damaged, leading to secondary explosions that had rippled throughout the base. The entire area was on fire, the forces that had retreated were strewn about, having been shredded by the force of the blast, and few living things were to be seen in the local area around the impact zone.

After the initial shock was starting to wear down, Solusar commed the Tarsonians: "I think we may want to make a hasty retreat...I don't have a good feeling."

Lt. Deveraux, watched the slaughter of th Alliance with a cold heart. When one sees his entire homeworld torched, theres little else that makes him feel again. "Roger that Solusar," he commed in and the Dropships began pouring in from the sky. Quickly, the tarsonian forces began to pack up. Survivors were quickly scanned for and boddies were collected. At the end of the day not a single tarsonian body was left upon the field of battle. With them everything secured the Dropships headed for the stars.

Meanwhile back at the fleet. Repairs had been hastily completed. Cargo bays on ships were being prepared to recieve payment, but Kast knew...this wasnt over yet.

A Dominion fleet - Karath, aboard the Specter as dropships began returning, recognized it as one under Sadow's overall command, with thirty capital ships ranging from size of corvettes to light battleships - hypered into the system. It was rangy and meant mostly for forward intel and light engagement - not for full-on battles with enemy armadas. Sadow had sent the fleet loaded with the raw materials and supplies - including the medical goods and kolto - requested as payment by the Tarsonians aboard seven transport vessels accompanying the fleet.

"Attention Tarsonian vessels," the lead ship, a Challenger-class light dreadnought, came in. "We are arriving with specified payment and are ready to transmit."

It was at that time, as the Federation corvette was taking off from the planet surface and the last dropships were boarding the Specter, that a large missile hurtled out of Viscount's main weapons shaft. Not picked up on sensors due to absorbent wands across the projectile's surface, the warhead hurtled in on one of the heavy cruisers of the fleet, angling towards the centerpoint of the craft. It closed until roughly a hundred kilometers away, then locking in and showing itself for all to be seen. PD was too late in covering for this and the warhead slammed directly amidships - a death blow, given the missile's overkill load of antimatter.

The payload of the warhead emptied into the vessel, blasting apart matter in explosive force as the large military ship split right down the middle. Both parts were eaten by even more of the antimatter that had not been consumed yet, ripping out the guts of the vessel and ensuring that survivors were an afterthought.

"Get us out of here!" Nadié Droma ordered as she got to the bridge of the Specter. "Kressh is playing his hand!"

With that, the Federation envoy also immediately began to bolt. Winters contacted the Tarsonians as the small attack ship engaged full thrust: "We're making a jump towards a local system some distance from the area that's been uninhabited for as long as I can remember, and still likely is. Contact us on a secure frequency we're transmitting now when you can...things are getting hot."

With that, the Federation corvette plowed into hyperspace, escaping as fast as possible.

Kast's anger peaked as he saw the resources blasted across half the quadrant. Every fiber in his being wanted to fight, every isntinct told him to start blasting, but they were hopelessly out matched. They had to run. "Transimitting jump coordinates. Lets get out of here." He sent out over the battle coms. dropships were secured, the fleet quickly began to scramble for hyperspace.

"Sir were taking fire!" the call came out as teh Daedelus was rocked hard. "Enemy ships inbound!" Kast ran to his console the ship was rocked hard. "SIR we've lost engines. Were sitting ducks!" Quickly his mind raced. Sadley he knew the only possible outcome... "Abandon ship." He set out over the comm. "ABANDON SHIP!"

The orders out marines and crew scrambled to transporter bays. As teh crew was being beamed to other ships Kast sat at his comsole plugging away numbers. " A little something for you Kressh....You havent seen the last of me.." And with that little monologue he pressed the send key and made his way to the Transporter bay. Last off the ship he was suddenly upon the Battle Cruiser, the Tiger Claw. As the last of the fleet jumped, the Daedelus the only ship remianing, engines went critical, and went super nova.

The smaller, faster bioships had raced in while the heavier capital ships had volleyed intense waves of fire in very little time at the Tarsonian capital craft. When it exploded in self-destruct, the entire swarm of organic cruisers that had moved in were caught - and most didn't escape the blast. It wouldn't be a major blow to the revolting Sith plans - it was just a small portion of their current fleet numbers, and they intended to begin moving in to secure more. Agents were already looking to begin subverting worlds, and support for Kressh - viewed somewhat as a hearkening to Droma - was high in the Rim and Warden regions. Oduvit and Pugnor were likely to fall to him quickly, and that would give Kressh and Nihilis a massive political and social power base and industrial hub to quickly begin countering what threats the Dominion could churn out.

Nihilis's fleet came in later, and the mysterious Sith Lord boarded Viscount to talk things over. Kressh's personal quarters were spartan, but the old-core Sith preferred it that way - it focused and sharpened his mind.

"Things are put into play, Nihilis," Kressh commented. "We will have to act fast to solidify our base."

<You will need to secure our loyalties,> Nihilis replied, adding, <I can handle the offensive against Ragnos's forces. I will ravage their worlds and force the Dominion to its knees.>

"We still need a civilization once we emerge victorious. Take caution when you do utilize your great power, my friend...we will need to play this game as if we were walking on coals."

<Then I will run while Ragnos watches...and tear down their establishments. Our dear late Emperor's vision for the Sith no longer exists with their passive thoughts and neutral actions. The time for true strength has re-emerged. And we shall bring it.>

"Indeed," Droma said, gazing out over the meditation chamber towards the ravaged planet below. "We shall bring...peace."


* * * * *


The Federation corvette blasted into the uninhabited system - simply recorded as C6X-8TY5T, as it had a mere two gas giants and a main-sequence star to boast of. Not even ordinary, it was just plain...and a perfect hiding spot for now.

"Elysium could very well be in danger," Adega motioned in a conference room meeting that had been going for some time aboard the vessel. "We must move our people away!"

"And to where?" scoffed Onasi. "There's nowhere to go. The Dominion controls most everywhere, and they probably want no part of us right now. The places where they aren't are either run by the Underground - not a good choice, seeing how much they hated democracy - or by Kressh and his forces! We're pinned - Elysium's the one place we can probably stay out of the fight."

"He's right," moved Adonis. "But we cannot remain idle in this time. If we want to ever see the Federation return, we must be making our move. We may be a handful of people, but we must do something."

"Then it's settled," Winters closed. "We must judge the situation first, however. We still don't even know Kressh's intentions, or how the Dominion will react now. We may be facing a new dawn, but this morning's sky is red...and we must take caution as we sail into it."


* * * * *


Ragnos, Sadow, and Sion sat in the Imperial Spire as a garbled report came in, clarifying it via built-in adjusters into the meeting room of the Sith leaders. Ragnos’s shatterpoint had come to pass finally – and it seemed one group of Sith was not going to be around by the time things eventually settled down. The three men were fairly quiet, though all were focused...a job needed to be done. However, there was one in this room who clearly had a better grasp of the situation than the other two...and he had been looking ahead and seeing things into motion far ahead of time in case Kressh and Nihilis's dislike for some of the more liberal policies of the Dominion boiled over.

Marka Ragnos was the one to get the Dominion out of the mess.

He spoke up, somewhat quietly - yet confidently. It was at times hard to believe the man was of the Dark Side.

"We need to mobilize everything we have, lockdown the Core, hold our positions in the Expanse," he stated firmly. "The Rim is quickly going to become a hotbed of support for a new regime."

"Why not just drive in our battlefleets?" Sion inquired. "We outnumber Kressh badly."

"And yet Nihilis still is his wild card," Ragnos countered. "Do you think the two are equal? He is playing Nihilis and using him...and the being is too consumed by his hunger and hate to realize it. This is Kressh's war against the Dominion. His vendetta. And we need to stymie it before it grows worse."

"He's going to strike fast," Sadow exclaimed. "We need to move as quickly as possible."

"Indeed," Ragnos agreed. "But we must watch our every step. Our entire civilization is facing a divide. Kressh has support everywhere, and even Nihilis generates awe. We must tread with a soft foot, and plant the knife between Kressh's shoulders when he is least noticing. We can not barge in with the power and notice of a Reek - but instead nip and prod at Kressh's every move until we find his weak spot - and then devour him alive. We can, we should..and will...win this fight. We are smarter, stronger, and will persevere...we must not lose ourselves to what they hold, however. The Dominion does not fall to those so blinded by their emotion that they fail to see every angle. The Emperor would not have liked their style. And we shall not fall to it...not in this fight, not ever."

The moral of the Tarsonians had taken a mighty blow. The loss of the Daedelus, the ship that carried them to freedom and more, was officially gone. It had been the Icon of Tarsonian Strength, flagship of the fleet, and now no more. It also didnt help, that before they entered the system, they had conducted funeral services. 7500 dead and 3 ships destroyed. As the planet of Elumarnia Came into view solumn faces gazed upon it, finally glad that they were done limping home.

Kast stood in the Conference room of the Tiger Claw, gazing upon the planet as it became larger and larger. His most trusted men, the seven, sat around the table behind him. "So... all that work and our payment vaporized in an instant." Kast said.

"Do you think we'll get reimberced from the Dominion Admiral?" Keslia asked. "Im sure we will," kast replied, "but we could have used it now, we need to rebuild repair, and upgrade....With the Daedelus gone,.... our most powerful ship has been destroyed."

"So where are we gonna be put?" June asked. "Our command ship is destroyed which ship shall we replace it." Kast turned away from the window, "I suppose the Tiger Claw will have to do for now..." As he sat down at the head of the table, his men were no longer looking at him but out the windows, looks of shock and awe littered their faces. Confused Kast looked over out the window, and what he saw took his beath away. As the Tiger claw passed by the ship construction yards, a monsterous ship almost completed stared back at him. As they passed by the ship just didnt end. Kast estimated it must be 40 Km long. And as they finally passed the bridge the name was emblazoned on the side. TSS Pheonix. Kast smiled at this...the might of Tarsonis had indeed rose again.


OCC: Good thread yall see yall after basic

OOC: Good luck with basic, time to wrap this up

The battle was not going as smoothly as one could hope. The combined defense forces of Empyion, Endymion's remnants, and Empiryion were taking heavy causalities. The enemy formation was also taking losses but not as many as ZAFT any more. The leader of first battalion returned to a ship to resupply and rearm his machine for the third time in the battle, already he had lost half his team, and 35% of his battalion "Beginning re-arming, would you like to change any thing sir?" came a voice over the communications "Heaven, Load me up with Kamikaze package zero two" Heaven was a nick name given to the part of the ship that handled resupply operations since they were some times the saving grace of a pilot out of bullets.

"Sir do you have authorization for zero two?"

"To hell with authorization, give it to me or were all dead!"

"Very well, loading Zero Two package" after that sounds of machinery moving in the walls of the launch tube could be heard. The walls then opened up revealing robotic arms which attached two large missiles to his under side. It then finished the rest of the resupply based on the package he requested. After that he launched with only one goal in mind "All remaining forces in first, second, and third platoons, on me we're going for the enemy flag ship!" he ordered. Soon what remained of those platoons formed up on him, his wing man looked over "Holy shit, he's packing Trit's" Trit's was a slang for Tri-Thortanum weapons. They rushed right through the enemy lines diving at the enemy flag ship shooting enemies in there path. The commander then ordered them all to fire every weapon they had at the enemy flag ship. Massive amounts of fire came from the formation which pounded into the shields of the ship. All the platoons broke off and the commander activated his cutting shield. He charged at the command ship and slammed right into the shield. The clash between the two shields caused a rift to open and the commanders fight cut right into the ship. Seconds later from a distance a large explosion from the enemy command could be seen. All of a sudden a high pitched alarm went off across the battle field and the entire enemy fleet disappeared, and all there fallen comrades appeared "Congratulations to every one on passing the exercise we gave you, hope we didn't give you to much of a heart attack, McKinley out"

"Well frack me with a stick, it was all a drill" the commander said sitting back in his cockpit as the recovering of all forces began. On the ground on Endymion the ground forces who were just moments ago fighting were now cheering a victory, simulation or not, they just won.