By General 'Stormin' Mike Mormon SMTADF, TADC, PSC, PH, DSO, GSM, KBE
Background:
I have lived a good life. I was born in the dog days of the year 2183-five years after humans used the technologies we stole from the Arceans and joined what has since been termed the Great Space Race. In my life I have seen the growth of humanity as a star people and presided over the birth of a mighty stellar Navy. Me from my humble beginnings on a lowly council estate in South West London. I who's drive and ambition took me from that grim place in the burnt out inner city to Private School through sheer force of will and then from there to the Royal Stellar Naval College. Quick promotion as an EU Defence Officer in the global war of protection against the Xendar that wracked our planet at the turn of the 23rd Century found me battle-hardened and war-experienced: at it's close in 2215 and with our forces victorious I found myself the youngest Officer to be promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and was sent to the United Earth Seat of power in Tokyo to act as military attache for the Navy to the Office of the President.
I have made many friends in many races from all over our mighty galaxy-and I have made some enemies too. I have sent countless servicemen and women to their deaths in the cold fastnesses of space and I have not flinched-I did what I had to do. I regret none of it. But I am not writing to tell you of all of that-what I want to chronicle is the remarkable friendship that I formed with a remarkable man. He was much more-a titan of his age and many to come. He was the President of the Terran Alliance when we finally made our leap into greatness in 2226 and he is the President now many years later. I have the privilege to have served with one of the finest political and humanitarian minds to have ever graced the Azure House and to have been his Chief of the Star Navy.
His name was Dr Ben Amponsah and this is our story..........
Hey there Chancellor and all those still interested-dont worry I have just been really busy last few weeks and have only just returned from a holiday in the Adriatic so will hopefully get back to writing next week
It continues.....
ohhh cant wait..hope it was a good break for you.
Hello fellas!
Well, it's been long...but I finally managed to find my way back to Gal Civ II, after many many months of RL, a change in jobs and cities, Oblivion & Mass Effect!
Hmmm. What can i say (at a loss for words) - just can't describe how awesome this story is. The battle sequences are just....epic!!
Every time i read the forum, I get inspired by such fantastic stories, to start playing and writing. Let's see how that works out this time.
Waiting with bated breath for the next installments...now that you are all rested and raring to go!!
Warp speed ahead Admiral!!!
Hehehe thanks very very much Namus-high praise indeed.
I have now played the next stage-we are moving to endgame and will post the next installment certainly by this time next week (would have been this week but I forgot to print out the relevant screenshots and bring them with me to my hotel this week )
Mar 22nd 2249
1900hrs Zulu
Geosynchronous Orbit above the Torian world of Lentzlandians I
‘All is ready Sir’ were the terse words from my Chief of Staff, a gruff Arcean called Trat’har Hu. Never normally the cheeriest even for an Arcean, at this moment in time his demeanour was particularly grim.
‘Very good Colonel-very good’
I surveyed the Torian world from the panoramic view port of my Flagship. All around us were TADF ships: the six battleships belonging to General Maida’s now famous M’rak Ho Battlegroup fresh from clearing the defences of this and its sister planet, Lentzlandians V several parsecs away. Amongst them, like lambs being sheparded by their sheepdogs were twelve ungainly but huge marine transports. Each could carry 1000 Marine Battalions, roughly a million men. We reckoned that three or four would pacify a PQ12 world; we were not about to leave anything to chance here, though. All twelve transports were to take part in this first attack on the Torian main worlds.
Much as I hated to admit it, as I prepared to enter the ship’s Ops centre and observe the Marine assault, today had been a momentous day in my life. During the winter of ‘48/9 with the Torian fleets split and seemingly totally incapable of offering any sort of massed resistance we had slowly began to believe, within the TADF Command, that the war would see us prevail. Our sense of impending victory was reinforced by the sustained attacks by General Song’s Chester A Arthur Battlegroup on several Torian fleets-all had been destroyed: some ten battleships, five dreadnoughts, four frigates and a number of fighters and escorts were utterly annihilated by Song’s ultra aggressive force. Every time I had watched Song go into battle I had felt physically sick as I worried for my son but all the signs were that in Song we had a truly exceptional Force Commander, whilst in my son the Fleet had a singular Gunnery Officer-what is more Song knew just how to use him. Right now Song had paused just long enough to pick up a replacement for the TASS Harry S Truman that had been crippled beyond repair in their last action and was now pushing his warp engines to full capacity to intercept another large enemy force moving east to west from the middle of DL4.
And in the early hours of that morning I had managed a quick holo chat with my son-he seemed tired but was, as ever, in good spirits,
‘Well met Dad!’ he had shouted as the image and the sound crackled and fizzled-this time the interference was caused by the fact his ship was in warp. Song had a heart though and had slowed the fleet down for an hour for all hands with the latest holo-mobiles to contact their loved ones.
‘Or should I say well met Marshall, Sir!’ he added grinning impishly but with unrestrained pride.
I had been notified just after midnight by the Office of The President that, amazingly, I was to be promoted. My new rank: Space Marshall of the TADF. There had never been one before so it was a singular honour. When Dr Amponsah himself had contacted me to congratulate me I had actually choked up in front of all my staff. With the rank was a new medal, the TA Duranthium Cross (TADC), a medal often only awarded posthumously but one which the powers that be now felt that I merited.
‘You are the embodiment of the Terran fighting spirit Marshall’ the President had said warmly ‘and never has our great civilisation owed so much to the unstinting efforts of one man-congratulations.’
The applause within HQ was absolutely deafening-officers and ratings and civilians of all races and hues were on their feet, some on tables, all clapping and cheering and shouting. I was totally overwhelmed, tears streaming down my face. And all I could think was that my husband would have been so proud. After what seemed like an eternity I composed myself and raised my hands for silence.
‘Servicemen and women of the Terran Alliance, Mr President-my friends, Ministers. What can I say? It has been a strange six months-a tiring and tense one for sure. It has been a time of loss and of fear. But we have prevailed and we are WINNING!’
The cheers and noise exploded once more until once more I signalled for quiet, ‘I accept this honour and this medal not for me, but for all of you and for all of those that we have known and loved who are not here to witness the final flowering of our race and our Alliance as we prevail against our last known enemy and bring pace terra-a Terran peace to the whole of the galaxy!’
And so began what was to be probably the proudest day of my life. My son was irreverently reminding me of this as we spoke and chatted. He was a bright one this Starla of mine-we had created someone very special. His name was already down in General Hias Pzientho, my number 2’s in-tray-commended for the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for the devastating control of his ship’s missile spreads and the way that time and again they had got his fleet out of trouble. He was so good that Song had put the Iron Duke on permanent weapons free status-an unheard of development but one that made a lot of sense in the circumstances.
‘You take good care of yourself Captain Starla Mormon’ I had said quietly at the end of our chat.
‘You too Dad-er I mean you as well Marshall Mormon-SIR!’ and with a sharp salute he broke the link.
So here we were-I headed for the Ops room where Marine General Dick Ward had set up shop for the invasion ahead. The room was packed being not half the size of my HQ Ops room or even the bridge of one of our Battleships-it would do though. I smiled as I remembered the last time that I had used the Mayflower’s Situation Room ‘in anger’ was when we attacked the Dread Lords on Almada.
‘I take it that you are set General?’ I had asked.
General Ward had hardly glanced up ‘we are Marshall-now if you’ll excuse me’
I had taken the hint-I was to observe only-best leave the ground soldiering to the grunts. It was another proud moment as we watched the drop ships spinning off from the Transports and spiralling into the atmosphere-there were thousands of them. Almost immediately anti invasion defences opened up from the surface but the drop ships were too small and too fast to accurately target. What’s more Maida’s warships’ Gunnery officers had set their missiles for counter battery fire and the instant guns on the surface opened up they were targeted and soon after a swarm of Locksteed XVs were following the drop ships down to the surface.
(Photo From Terran War Archive: Dropships descending on Lentzlandians I during Terran/Torian war 23rd Century)
‘Hotel two zero-target the Atuan peninsular-one zero is off course’ came the smooth, calm commands from Ward as he orchestrated the attack. We listened, rapt, as the first reports of resistance started filtering in. Generally it was as expected but our Tir-Qu’an trained Marines were more than a match for the Torian ground forces and were soon on the front foot.
After a few hours I had seen enough-there was no doubt that we would prevail but subjugating a whole planet was not a quick job and so I determined to go and get some rest and rejoin the mission in a few hours time.
When I came back, however, there was pandemonium-officers were running here and there and a lot of shouting was going on.
‘What the hell is going on?’ I demanded and noted with concern that there was no sign of Ward or any of the rest of his top brass. ‘Who the hell is in charge here?’
One of my own Aides came running up ‘Sir-disaster planet-side. The apparent weakness of the resistance was a ploy. They had 200 Battalions of Special Forces clustered around their east pole-they have decimated the Marines. Ward and his staff took off by shuttle to take personal control of the battle!’
‘What the frak!’ I cursed ‘Where’s Captain Siriu-la?’ And as I said it the craft banked violently and flashes lit up the darkness outside. I had grabbed the nearest commlink and keyed the button for the Bridge.
‘Siriu-la here-whoever that is alert the Marshall we have three Torian Dreadnoughts amongst us like a cat amongst pigeons and no protection-‘
‘This is Mormon-Captain I am coming to the Bridge-wait out!’ And we had staggered to the nerve centre of our flagship as it lurched from side to side-we felt the crash of at least two direct hits and the awful rending sound of the hull tearing.
(View from the Bridge of TASS Mayflower as Torian Warships assault the TADF Marine Transports taken from onboard Tac cam 2248hrs Zulu Mar 22nd 2249)
On arrival I took in the scene outside with the practised air of the veteran pilot that I was: to our front right were the remaining Transports and they were being attacked by two massive Torian Dreadnoughts. Sirius-la was in her command seat frantically giving orders to the helm as I observed with alarm that there was no sign of the third Dreadnought. I quickly occupied the 1st Officer’s seat ‘Captain where is the third Dreadnought?’
‘It’s below us Sir and bringing guns to bear-helm hard-a port-three degrees up-spin spin or we’re dead!’ The Iconian’s eyes were wild and staring as her mouth tentacles flayed in their universal gesture of fear
‘CAPTAIN! Pull yourself together! Your panic will spell our certain doom! Now tell me where is Maida?’
The Captain paused and momentarily composed herself. ‘Sir they were lured away by a decoy force-we don’t know where they came from-there were a number of medium capitol ships-frigates and Cruisers-it was enough-Maida took the bait. These Dreadnoughts then appeared from nowhere. Their 1st salvo disabled our warp engines-we are on impulse and thruster engines only Sir…’
‘By the Providence!’ This from Trat’har Hu-who was beside me gripping my armrest to stop from being thrown headlong as the ship took more hits.
‘Captain-hull integrity down to 40%-we can’t take many more hits’ this from the Tactical Officer.
I was racking my brains but time was running out then I suddenly worked out the only slim hope we had of survival. I disregarded the Captain and addressed the Midshipman at helm direct-there was simply no time for military etiquette. ‘Helm listen to me if you want to live: set a course and turn into the Dreadnought maximum impulse-get into her-do it now!’
‘What sir?’
‘You heard me sailor! DO IT NOW!’
The frightened helmsman obeyed turning our ship into the gaping maw of the gigantic Torian craft. I turned to the Captain, ‘Listen I know it seems like suicide but it’s our only hope-we have to get under the firing arc of their guns-if we get close enough they wont be able to depress their gun turrets far enough to hit us without hitting themselves-it’s the only chance we have’
Understanding flashed across Sirius-la’s face-maybe it could work ‘Tactical sitrep!’
More jolts as the guns continued their relentless barrage.
‘Integrity down to 15% Captain-we are closing on the enemy ship-distance to impact 500 metres and counting’
‘Sir-comms reports Maida’s Battlegroup returning to the fray-ETA 10 mins!’
‘We might not have 10 minutes comms!’ The frightened Iconian shouted above the sudden cheering ‘QUIET EVERYONE!’
And then there was silence around us as the Torian guns fell silent-our ploy was working.
We held our breaths.
‘For Frak’s sake pilot maintain this course-chances are that they can’t even see us-we only need hold long enough for Maida to get here.’ I breathed, not daring to hope.
Minutes seemed like hours as the pilot matched the lumbering Dreadnought’s every move-it soon became obvious that my plan had indeed worked-the enemy ship simply could no longer see us and even if they could there was no way they could engage us.
Then after what seemed like an eternity we were jolted sharply from our thoughts when the guns opened up again filling the Bridge with the loud crumps of their salvos. But it wasn’t us they were engaging-we could see explosions light up the space around us as missile trails flashing past-Maida was here.
The intercom crackled to life: ‘Marshall Mormon I believe? Maida here-better late than never eh Sir-let me help you-it looks like your ship is snuggling closer to that Torian ship than a Terat Whore!’
I allowed myself a wan smile-I could only wonder what the situation down on the planet itself was but the whole experience had been a sobering experience after the triumphalism of the morning. We had all realised that the Torian High Command were not about to give up without a fight……..
Simply...awesome!!
Space combat in true epic style. What between reading this and playing Bridge Commander...im in space heaven!!
Nuke those water monkeys!!! Destroy! Maim! Eat!
Umm..forgot im not a Drengin.
yet...
Hehehe thanks Namus I am really enjoying your new story too
Have added some pics to provide some colour-enjoy!
13 Days Later
Azure House, New Tokyo
1700hrs
We were sharing a rare moment together in these hectic times of war and both contemplating our futures.
‘They want to make me President for Life Mike can you believe?’
I could believe. The war against the Torians was now swinging decisively in our favour and, with the first of the Torian worlds closest to us taken, the grateful peoples of the Terran Alliance had decided that they wanted more of the Politician that had guided our Star Race from inauspicious beginnings to the edge of pan galactic greatness. In fact a recent GNN Poll had found that support for the President to be appointed for life was now at a staggering 89% across the Federation. I regarded my old friend carefully and with mixed emotions for I could sense immediately the battle that was raging in his mind and in his heart.
‘And what do you think Mr President?’ I had asked smoothly.
The President’s eyes betrayed the turmoil that spoke volumes of the man. Power corrupts was an ancient saying that had rung true throughout the ages and ‘absolute power corrupts absolutely’ and who wouldn’t be seduced by the thought of carrying on forever-making sure that at least until you died things would be run just as you would want them to be?
‘By the Providence Mike I am not Caesar!’ Dr Amponsah exclaimed angrily and stood up to start pacing the vast office. Outside a late snow was melting on the elegant boulevard leading to the impressive gates at the end of the Presidential complex that led to Constitutional Way and the Federation Council Buildings. A fiery red sun was setting off to the west of the city and in the distant the snow capped peak of Mount Fuji was standing proudly like a beacon. The President was clearly as taken with the view as I was since for several minutes there was silence. I moved to join him by the massive bay window.
‘Mr President we have been friends for a long long time now and always our relationship has been one of deep respect and utter frankness,’ I said carefully.
‘I can tell there is a “but” coming here Mike,’ the President said turning to face me. I shook my head,
‘No Sir-for once you have read me wrong. What I was going to say was that you should take it. You have set in train a political system that will more and more see you taking a back seat as the individual star systems become more and more independent. Why not take the President’s role for life. It would-it would give the people much comfort.’ I paused, my voice indicating how heartfelt my plea was, ‘it would give me much comfort Sir.’
This last was obviously a shock to the President for I could see confusion and many conflicting emotions flashing across his handsome features. For once this most eloquent of men was utterly at a loss for words.
‘Yes I would be comforted Mr President-you are my friend and mentor but above all you are the most able Politician that I have ever known-possibly that this old world of ours has ever known-it would be only fitting that you remain to act as a guide and brake to those that would follow.’
Amponsah puffed his cheeks out ‘well General I wasn’t expecting that-not at all. You the hero of Almada and the Xendar wars-our first Space Marshall and very much the person who I couldn’t have been President without.’ We were both smiling now-it was like old times again.
‘Well I will make you a deal General-I will indeed stay on if asked but on one condition’
‘Anything Sir’ I knew what he would ask though, of course: sometimes our understanding was virtually telepathic
‘You will remain as Chief of the Star Navy whilst I am President-we are too much of a team you and I and I will not be parted from you. My wife often jokes that it’s you that I should be married to-not her.’ The President’s eyes were twinkling.
‘Oh I think not’ I riposted ‘I wouldn’t have you Mr President ‘Martha tells me that you have some very bad habits!’
‘Ouch-careful General or I might change my mind about your permanent position.’ We were both laughing freely now-a moment of levity that we hadn’t enjoyed for what seemed like an eternity. We had been the twin pillars of the foundation of what had become one of the most enduring civilisations in the galaxy and it had taken its toll of our friendship but we had never lost sight of what had brought us together.
‘And now Sir I think I will take my leave-I have to get back to the Mayflower and set course for our Korath systems-we are planning the assault on their Homeworlds from there and my presence will be needed.’
‘Of course General-you have much to organise. Please assure me that you will try and avoid another situation like you encountered at Lentzlandians eh?’
I grinned sheepishly and was quietly amused that he still insisted on calling me General (not entirely incorrect as the rank of Marshall was effectively that of a 5 Star General).
‘I will be careful-I am going to see Professor Sharp too-he has perfected an ultra fast new propulsion system by all accounts.’ And with a warm smile to my friend and a sharp salute I had taken my leave of him.
It would be some time before I saw him again and our meeting would be in very different circumstances……..
Hey!
Great to see things still coming along here. I love this story. Sorry I've been gone a long time. Faded out, had a baby, all kinds of fun stuff. Been thinking it might be time to start up a new game and maybe even do a write-up. I never did get around to playing a decent game with my converted minor races.
Keep it up!
Fantastic..keep it going.
hiya mambaman.
Wicked story, sorry i've been away for a while and i finally just managed to catch up. The war goes well! kutgw my friend.
Tolmekian, Chancellor and Admiral.....welcome back!
Story is finally approaching endgame-will keep you all posted
Excellent... another one is being updated!
Your AARs are an excellent excuse to stop studying for ten minutes... Screw Maths, Astronomy and Latin!
Fantastic story!!
Your battle scenes are unmatched (great use of Starship Troopers screen shots, BTW), and your character development is great.
Bring the axe down on the water monkeys; I want some sushi!
Oh, and Mormon deserves pizza for such brilliant generalship.
Hahaha thanks General and Eidolon-havent forgotten this story-one or 2 posts to go...I just havent had time recently to advance the game itself in order to carry on
I will expect to finish by Christmas though so keep reading
On with the War!
Excellent AAR, has me totatlly hooked and I really hope you finish the story out.
Awww thanks Droid-I am just trying to find the time to finish my game and definitely intend to do that before year end-then I will be able to finally conclude this epic of mine
Hello! I'm a relative newcomer to the forums, and the game, I've owned it for a while, but I haven't had much time to play it, unfortunately.
All I have to say is, this is an awesome read! I've considered trying to write an AAR, but haven't really had it transform into something solid. There is one thing I've noticed too, about playing this game, some the decisions you have to make to win certainly make you feel a bit dirty ...
Anyway, keep it up!
Pretty Awesome. I am a writer myself, I did not read it all yet, because now that I have read a few post, I want to get back to playing. But so far so AWESOME, to bad my game looks so bad : ( and I want TA to, anyway nice story I'll read more later.
Hey thanks Isimov and Scorpion-always good to have new fans to this story which I know I really must finish
For all those wondering I have now almost finisged the actual game which means that the final chapters will soon be written
watch this space....
1st May 2249
Forward Naval Command Centre
Kora-hu, Kora
Amidst the bustle of the FNCC, all I could hear ringing in my ears were the words of the Ship’s Captain repeating over and over in that cheery and over-confident way:
‘Six Frigates, a Dreadnought and a Battleship-this should be a piece of cake!’
My mind replaying the holo image as our Tac computers displayed the unfolding disaster as if stuck on repeat.
‘General, this is the Teddy Roosevelt going weapons free and disengaging from Fleet-we got their measure!’
The reckless move by the newest ship in the fleet: a new crew with a brash new commander-it was taught at the most basic levels of Starfleet: never, never disengage from the fleet formation without due reason or unless ordered to pursue. We watched in trepidation as the holo-projector simulated the move and heard the sharp counter order issued by Song. Newly appointed Colonel Dudek-hu, doubtless dreaming of the glory of his Arcean Clan back home, ignored it.
‘Sir I’ll watch his back!’ This from Colonel Nigel Tranter, my son’s Ship Captain-the Iron Duke also splitting off to protect their errant colleague.
Then from the Iron Duke SSO: ‘All Callsigns-Alert! Those aren’t Frigates-they are Dreadnoughts-they must have been disguised! Teddy Roosevelt you are under direct orders to disengage! I say again disengage!’
All we could do in my Forward HQ, on the distant world of Kora, was watch and hope that General Song’s famed tactics and Colonel Tranter’s inventive use of the best SGO in the Star Navy would prevail. Already the TAS Teddy Roosevelt had been decimated by the enemy formation's opening salvo -this Torian Battlefleet was packing four or five times the firepower of our own.
The Iron Duke opened up as the rest of the Fleet raced to join the battle, sending a multi-directional spread of missiles arcing out towards every one of the enemy ships. The kind of plotting that must have gone into calculating such a firing solution was indescribable but my son had done it. The Iron Duke was now also taking a battering-the Roosevelt had, as yet, not fired a single missile in anger.
I was transfixed, gripping the rests of my Command chair with such force that I found out, only afterwards, that I had burst some of the blood vessels on my arms.
By the time the rest of the Fleet arrived launching their own missiles and manoeuvring to protect both of their stricken sister ships, The TAS Iron Duke was critically damaged-the Torians had quickly realised where the greater threat lay and had concentrated their considerable firepower on Tranter’s vessel. By now the Teddy Roosevelt was within the protective shield of the other ships and just as Song’s own Chester A Arthur closed off the angles a final devastating broadside impacted the Iron Duke...
Tac Holo projectors are designed to try and convey as accurately as possible the effects of whatever is happening in space-it does this by reading light and sound telemetry from millions of parsecs away and reassembling that as images-the results can be eerily accurate.
The bright explosion that took the place of the Iron Duke in the Command Room left no room for doubts....
I sat rigidly-it was suddenly hard to breath-the battle raged on but I was suddenly only aware of my laboured breathing. My eyes were taking in what was happening but my brain seemed unable to process it. I became aware of anxious faces looking in my direction and then my ADC was at my side.
‘Sir shall we go to your Quarters?’ and though posed as a question it was, in reality, no such thing. I allowed myself to be meekly brought to my feet, stumbled as I stood up and then there were others besides Captain Patel, helping me out of the Command Centre and to my quarters
And once in my rooms all was a blur in my mind as I gave in to sweet oblivion.......
great stuff!
Poor guy, he's having a bit of a hard life. Great writing, it's sucked me in.
Mormon really deserves a break... Excellent addition, as always. Describing ongoing action is something I'll never be able to master at your levels, Mambaman
I know re Mormon's luck but believe me I was as shocked as anyone when the Iron Duke went down in a routine enemy action
More this weekend guys
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