Remnants
<A ship was recently discovered in the Terminus system, seemingly intact, but abandoned. A team was sent inside to investigate, and they located the ship’s bridge. Power was restored to bridge section. The following is a transcript of events in the ship’s log, later identified as Korigul, a Kortul Devastator class Vasari battleship>
<Note: exploratory parties reporting hearing strange noises in walls of ship; accounted to nervousness, but now mounting sound and video recording devices on exploratory party members’ helmets>
<Log entry begun approximately 30 standard minutes prior to first contact with Aluxi dynasty ships; terminated three standard minutes following cessation of conflict>
<Translated post recovery; note: appropriate rank equivalents utilized, known background on individuals attached in separate file>
An alien bridge is displayed on screen, a polished dark floor extending in a semi-circle and is covered by swirling symbols. The walls are lined with monitors and consoles, the screens glowing yellow on deep purple. In the center of the room is a dark colored chair, sitting in which is a dark skinned individual in a red uniform, covered in pins and patches. Directly in front of him, there are no consoles, only blank bulkhead. There is a small display on the left arm of the chair extending up at an angle for easy viewing.
“Captain Kastru, move carrier fleet into the shadow of the asteroids and launch all squadrons.” said a commanding voice.
“Affirmative,” came the reply with some comms distortion.
“Commander Ratingus, bring your Enforcer and Skirmisher detachment to bear on the native forces. Frontal assault formation,” the commanding voice continued.
“Yes, Admiral Katrikkan,” said another voice over the comms.
“Captain Celchu, bring the Assailant group to seventy degrees off of their port bow. Engineering, Conn. Bring the Korigul up fifteen degrees and bring the engines to all ahead full. Take her above the battle.” Admiral Katrikkan commanded.
“Aye, Aye sir.”
“As ordered Admiral.”
Admiral Katrikkan opened his mouth to issue another order when suddenly the ship shuddered and alarms blared.
“Damage report! What hit us?” he snapped.
“Sir, sensors reported multiple high velocity metallic slugs impacted on our shields. Computer reports the slugs’ most likely origin from the native fleet, at the indicated ships.” The battle appeared on the bulkhead in front of Admiral Katrikkan with several capital ships outlined in bright yellow.
“Conn, Damage Control. Shields held through the initial strike, but barely. Another hit like that before they recharge, and we’ll likely be crippled, if not destroyed.” A series of numbers scrolled across the display on the arm of the chair.
“Weapons, Conn. Weapons are free. In-ship Systems, Conn. Distribute power away from engines to weapons and shield regenerators. Draw emergency power from anti-matter reserves. Get those shields back up to full ASAP.” Admiral Katrikkan said with urgency.
“Designate highlighted ships as group [untranslatable][assumed letter in Vasari alphabet; designated “1”] and send data to fleet. Targeting Control, Conn. Focus fire and destroy targets [1]. Commander Ratingus, focus fire on targets [1]. Targeting data sent.”
“Received,” answered Ratingus.
“Sutra, divert power to phase missile launchers and reloaders and fire upon targets [1].”
“Understood,” answered the captain of the Sutra as the Vulkoras Desolator began moving into range.
Three Kol class battleships began turning towards the command capitol ship that sat raining fire from above the fight. A Dunov Battlecruiser opened fire upon the Desolator, but the Sutra’s shields stopped the Dunov’s rounds. The phase missiles launched by the Sutra moved through the Aluxi ships, and impacted the shields of the battlecruiser, and explosions were seen beneath the shielding of the ship. A large explosion filled the screen as the missiles that were bypassing the shields struck the command bridge, severing control of the ship and allowing the engines to overheat and catastrophically fail.
“Sir, sensors detect a strong magnetic field increasing in strength around the natives’ ships. They are firing!” the sensors officer exclaimed.
Admiral Katrikkan quickly ordered, “All power to the lower and forward shields! Do not let that volley through!”
The shields readout for the upper and rear sides of the ship reduced to zero, as the lower shields readout increased. Then the lower shields readout dipped considerably, dropping to zero for a moment with an imperceptible pause before the ship shuddered.
“Status!”
“Three high mass slugs fired at extreme velocity. The first two were entirely blocked by our shields, but the third was only partially blocked. Loss of pressure in outer compartments in section [untranslatable][assumed letter/number combination designated “2”], and outer hull buckling, but that’s all,” reported an officer.
“We were lucky. Be more vigilant. Return power to normal distributions, and accelerate to flank speed. Bring the bow down thirty degrees smartly. Let’s take her to the fight,” Admiral Katrikkan said.
“Attention all ships, do not fire upon target [untranslatable][assumed letter/number; designated “3”]. I want that ship alive. Instead focus fire upon each ship from closest to farthest relative to the Sutra’s position. Ravustra, move to support Sutra’s flank,” he continued as the battle progressed on the bulkhead display. The Aluxi fleet was now beginning to stumble as more of its ships were destroyed or crippled. Only a single Kol Battleship remained unscathed, as no Vasari ships had yet fired upon it. The Vasari were not without some casualties, as the Skirmisher detachment was now five less in number, and the Enforcer detachment was short one ship. The Assailant group had not suffered a single casualty, and the three Vasari capital ships that were in the task force had not even lost shields yet, except for when the three Kol battleships had fired their rail guns at the Korigul.
The Aluxi ships began to retreat, making for the edge of the planet’s gravity well. Bomber wings appeared in front of them, boxing the ships in, but they kept moving. Fighter wings began to strafe the fleet, closely followed by the bomber wings. Soon chaos reigned as ships began to falter and die, their inertia carrying their dead hulks forward at the same speed until either an aft explosion accelerated them into the ship ahead, or a bow explosion slowed their progress and faster ships behind the now uncontrolled husks of ships crashed into them.
Admiral Katrikkan ordered, “Engineering, Conn. Raise the bow thirty degrees, continue flank speed. Subverter ships, Korigul actual. Accelerate and disable weapons and engines of target [3].” On screen, a group of small blips broke from the Korigul and raced ahead, halting a Kol Battleship. The rest of the Aluxi fleet continued onward, to the edge of the gravity well, missing two Kol Battleships, four Kodiak heavy cruisers, fifteen carriers, and sixteen cobalt light frigates. In total three fourths of the original fleet had been destroyed, crippled, or otherwise rendered useless. Only five light frigates, one Kol battleship, one Dunov Battlecruiser, two Kodiak heavy cruisers, and one carrier survived to jump away.
Admiral Katrikkan sat back in his chair, pleased with the success of his operation, but apparently unsettled to learn that the natives were more advanced than any other race the Vasari had encountered, beside themselves. Even though they still were millennia behind the Vasari, it was a new prospect for him to lose ships in an operation that was supposed to an easy domination of a planet. “It appears that this race is more advanced than we thought. They are probably multi-planet, if not multi-system. Prepare defenses for a counter attack,” Admiral Katrikkan commanded, “set up repair platforms and phase jump inhibitors. I want fifteen missile batteries in an overlapping pattern on this side of the planet. They are likely to come from the same direction when they attack as when they fled.”
<Log entry terminated>
<Transmission terminated. Will continue as each entry is fully translated>
any new part coming out soon? do u hav a rough estimate?
Orodum, I need more of this story. If you don't start writing again, I will get thirty pages of pointless spam in this. Are you willing to let that atrocity happen? I hope not
I'm writing the next part, but am not very far yet. had a bit of writer's block for a while. it is interesting, though, to know that there are people out there that like my writing so much, lol. never would'a thought
must not let thread die!
you know what funny? I posted a spoiler in the dictionary and no one even noticed. that'll show you not to read the dictionary. rofl (I know it's short, but i'm back to a transition. next time we will be seeing Sgt. Nichols and crew) _____________________________________________________________________
“Heth?” Katrikkan said, recognizing the visitor, a female Commodore.
“Yes, Katrikkan, it’s me. It’s been eleven turns since we met last, I think, but I wanted to come to meet you, before the next engagement. I have command of an Evacuator in your fleet,” Heth said, heading away from the airlock.
“What happened to you?” he asked, walking alongside.
“After we were transferred apart, I was in two invasions. The first was a clean sweep – they had no military strength off-planet, but the second took a bit more time. They had well-established fortresses off-planet. After that, I was sent around the rest of the Dark Armada as they tried to find a place for my ship. The longest we stayed in one place was about three days, for minor repairs and upkeep.”
“That’s it?” Katrikkan asked.
“Well, there were a few small required events that I had to attend, but other than that, not much has happened, although we always seemed to have one dignitary or another either aboard, or planning a visit aboard.
“So it seems to be with ships anywhere but on the frontline. I even had a minor official insist on boarding during a refit only two jumps away from a battle. ‘For inspection of crew and ship discipline’ he said. He didn’t like what he saw, to put it one way,” Katrikkan ended with a chuckle, remembering an image of the official walking down a corridor strewn with cables and open panels, losing his head on the sheer lack of order.
“Ah, bureaucracy. They always want everything to look nice and shiny, and in triplicate. They’re always complaining about something.” Katrikkan gave a small chuckle, and continued walking.
“Where are we headed?” he asked.
“Somewhere I can get quarters. I don’t feel like heading back to the ship to sleep.”
“Ah. I’ve got a place that’d you’d like, I think.”
“Thank you. Mind if we take faster transportation?” she replied.
“Not at all, not at all.”
Heth strode purposefully onward, followed by C squad. The other three squads were forward, securing the path ahead for the two sthil. Heth snagged a mobile holodisplay as she walked by and called for a vrask to take her to the nearest quarters. A moment later, one arrived. Katrikkan climbed into the right-hand side and brought up the controls. He punched in a location, and they took off.
i always thought the phrase "no rest for the wicked" meanthat they had to keep working, not wonder what people's opinions on their work was.
loljk
It's very good. I've never been following a thing like this for so long before.
Awesome
Sin On!
keep it coming
Great. Don't stop writing.
(occ: finally got finished, lol)
Korigul, abandoned Terminus System "Keep firing! Keep firing! Don’t stop for anything!" Nichols shouted over the staccato riiiiiiiiiiip of the rifles and single machine gun. "How much longer, shuttle?" "Twenty seconds!" answered the shuttle pilot. Dagger squad had crossed the empty hangar to enter the adjoining one, housing the rescue shuttle. As they waited for the shuttle to finish warming up, they had been attacked by the things again. The shuttle was armed with a large caliber machine gun, which they were now using to the fullest extent, along with the guarding squad that had been sent as well. They were behind knocked down crates, using them for cover as they blasted away hostile after hostile. The machine gun opened up again. Braaaaaap! Braaaaaaaap! Braaaaaa-click-click. "Damn! New belt! New belt!" shouted the gunner. The man next to him dropped his rifle on the crate he was leaning against and helped him reload frantically. The chamber opened, the empty belt was ripped out, the new one picked up and shoved into place, and the chamber was closed again. "Last belt!" the helping soldier shouted. The gunner nodded, then cocked the gun and pulled the trigger. Clunk! The gun had jammed. Nichols turned to cover their zone while they worked, and fired as fast as he could. They kept coming, despite the fact that the bodies were beginning to pile up and hinder their advance. But the bodies were also starting to act as cover for the current waves. And the defenders were running out of ammunition. "Five seconds! Get aboard NOW!" the pilot called. Both the guard squad and Dagger squad turned around and ran toward the shuttle. As they ran, a steel grate fell, several of the things on top. The two squads quickly eliminated the threat and kept running forward. More of the steel grates fell, with the hostiles riding them down. A horde behind them, and safety in front of them, the humans ran like madmen, firing their guns backward without looking, but almost sure to hit something at this point. As they sprinted up the boarding ramp, the last man was tackled. He fell, but the rest of humans kept running to safety. The next to last man started running up the ramp just as it started rising. The humans turned and fired on the advancing horde, their ceramic bullets tearing through flesh and bone. Suddenly, a grenade went off in the center of the advancing horde, blasting two of the monsters into the shuttle. The rest halted, disoriented and on the ground, letting the ramp close completely. Cole calmly walked toward the two bodies and put a bullet in each head. The shuttle lifted off and turned toward the outer door, where it warmed up its weapons and fired a railgun round into them. The door buckled, but didn’t break. The shuttle fired a second round, this time at the joint between the door and the wall, and the door let go completely, flying into the vacuum, taking shuttle and horde with it. The shuttle maxed the throttle and shot away from the Korigul, turning toward the Normandy. It maneuvered into a small hangar, where it promptly landed. Dagger squad gladly left the rescue shuttle and stumbled onto the deck as a Major walked forward to lead them to a debriefing room. "Daggers, you’re going to have to come with me," the Major said. "There’re two bodies in the shuttle. Have them examined," Nichols said. "We will. Now, I need you and your team to come with me. We need to debrief you." "Yes, sir," Nichols replied as he followed the Major. The other two living members of Dagger fell into step behind Nichols. They left the hangar and walked to an elevator, which took them up to the tactical operations level of the battleship – their normal home when it came to briefings and lectures. They walked down the hall, the bulkheads a bare military grey. They stopped at a hatch bearing the Trader Emergency Coalition Seal. The Major palmed a handprint scanner, and then typed a password into a keypad. The door slid open and they walked into the room. Inside the room, the walls were also a dull military grey and there was a large conference table centered on the deck. Sitting at the table was Admiral Kol. The three Dagger squad members immediately saluted and Kol returned the salute. "Sit down, please," the aging admiral said, and the soldiers complied. "Now, what happened in there?" "When we boarded, we were met with an empty ship. We only found one survivor who, however, was part of the marine guard and was insane and could not be dealt with at the time. In the same room, there were several bodies. We continued, but found no research team survivors. "What did happen was that we were ambushed by a grayish humanoid alien, with extreme mobility. They appeared to have overwhelmed the research team and done away with the bodies." Nichols continued to give the report of his and the teams actions, Cole and Doyle giving their separate, uneventful accounts of in the comms room. Nichols paused, then said with conviction, "Sir, we have a new problem. We aren’t just fighting the Advent and Vasari anymore. I think whatever was chasing the Vasari has caught up with them, and is now set to attack us. I don’t know what the hell they are, or where they come from, but they’re here. And they sure as hell don’t want to leave." "I agree. This new threat could ruin us, though. We need to find their weak point. Their Achilles heel," Kol said. "Their what, sir?" Doyle asked "Nevermind. But we absolutely need to make sure that they never get far enough into our territory to-" "Sir, the results of the tests are coming in. You may want to see this," the intercom announced. "We’re on our way," Kol replied. Both the admiral and Dagger got up from the table and headed for the medical labs. There, they were met by the sight of two bodies, lying on operating tables and surrounded by testing equipment. Kol, nodding toward one of the bodies, asked, "What is this thing?" A scientist manning the testing equipment walked over and stuttered, "Sir, they’re… they’re…" "Spit it out already!" Kol exclaimed. "They’re human."
Korigul, abandoned
Terminus System
"Keep firing! Keep firing! Don’t stop for anything!" Nichols shouted over the staccato riiiiiiiiiiip of the rifles and single machine gun. "How much longer, shuttle?"
"Twenty seconds!" answered the shuttle pilot.
Dagger squad had crossed the empty hangar to enter the adjoining one, housing the rescue shuttle. As they waited for the shuttle to finish warming up, they had been attacked by the things again. The shuttle was armed with a large caliber machine gun, which they were now using to the fullest extent, along with the guarding squad that had been sent as well. They were behind knocked down crates, using them for cover as they blasted away hostile after hostile.
The machine gun opened up again. Braaaaaap!
Braaaaaaaap!
Braaaaaa-click-click.
"Damn! New belt! New belt!" shouted the gunner. The man next to him dropped his rifle on the crate he was leaning against and helped him reload frantically. The chamber opened, the empty belt was ripped out, the new one picked up and shoved into place, and the chamber was closed again.
"Last belt!" the helping soldier shouted. The gunner nodded, then cocked the gun and pulled the trigger.
Clunk! The gun had jammed. Nichols turned to cover their zone while they worked, and fired as fast as he could. They kept coming, despite the fact that the bodies were beginning to pile up and hinder their advance. But the bodies were also starting to act as cover for the current waves. And the defenders were running out of ammunition.
"Five seconds! Get aboard NOW!" the pilot called. Both the guard squad and Dagger squad turned around and ran toward the shuttle.
As they ran, a steel grate fell, several of the things on top. The two squads quickly eliminated the threat and kept running forward. More of the steel grates fell, with the hostiles riding them down. A horde behind them, and safety in front of them, the humans ran like madmen, firing their guns backward without looking, but almost sure to hit something at this point.
As they sprinted up the boarding ramp, the last man was tackled. He fell, but the rest of humans kept running to safety. The next to last man started running up the ramp just as it started rising. The humans turned and fired on the advancing horde, their ceramic bullets tearing through flesh and bone. Suddenly, a grenade went off in the center of the advancing horde, blasting two of the monsters into the shuttle. The rest halted, disoriented and on the ground, letting the ramp close completely.
Cole calmly walked toward the two bodies and put a bullet in each head.
The shuttle lifted off and turned toward the outer door, where it warmed up its weapons and fired a railgun round into them. The door buckled, but didn’t break. The shuttle fired a second round, this time at the joint between the door and the wall, and the door let go completely, flying into the vacuum, taking shuttle and horde with it.
The shuttle maxed the throttle and shot away from the Korigul, turning toward the Normandy. It maneuvered into a small hangar, where it promptly landed. Dagger squad gladly left the rescue shuttle and stumbled onto the deck as a Major walked forward to lead them to a debriefing room.
"Daggers, you’re going to have to come with me," the Major said.
"There’re two bodies in the shuttle. Have them examined," Nichols said.
"We will. Now, I need you and your team to come with me. We need to debrief you."
"Yes, sir," Nichols replied as he followed the Major. The other two living members of Dagger fell into step behind Nichols.
They left the hangar and walked to an elevator, which took them up to the tactical operations level of the battleship – their normal home when it came to briefings and lectures.
They walked down the hall, the bulkheads a bare military grey. They stopped at a hatch bearing the Trader Emergency Coalition Seal. The Major palmed a handprint scanner, and then typed a password into a keypad. The door slid open and they walked into the room. Inside the room, the walls were also a dull military grey and there was a large conference table centered on the deck.
Sitting at the table was Admiral Kol.
The three Dagger squad members immediately saluted and Kol returned the salute.
"Sit down, please," the aging admiral said, and the soldiers complied.
"Now, what happened in there?"
"When we boarded, we were met with an empty ship. We only found one survivor who, however, was part of the marine guard and was insane and could not be dealt with at the time. In the same room, there were several bodies. We continued, but found no research team survivors.
"What did happen was that we were ambushed by a grayish humanoid alien, with extreme mobility. They appeared to have overwhelmed the research team and done away with the bodies." Nichols continued to give the report of his and the teams actions, Cole and Doyle giving their separate, uneventful accounts of in the comms room.
Nichols paused, then said with conviction, "Sir, we have a new problem. We aren’t just fighting the Advent and Vasari anymore. I think whatever was chasing the Vasari has caught up with them, and is now set to attack us. I don’t know what the hell they are, or where they come from, but they’re here. And they sure as hell don’t want to leave."
"I agree. This new threat could ruin us, though. We need to find their weak point. Their Achilles heel," Kol said.
"Their what, sir?" Doyle asked
"Nevermind. But we absolutely need to make sure that they never get far enough into our territory to-"
"Sir, the results of the tests are coming in. You may want to see this," the intercom announced.
"We’re on our way," Kol replied.
Both the admiral and Dagger got up from the table and headed for the medical labs.
There, they were met by the sight of two bodies, lying on operating tables and surrounded by testing equipment. Kol, nodding toward one of the bodies, asked, "What is this thing?"
A scientist manning the testing equipment walked over and stuttered, "Sir, they’re… they’re…"
"Spit it out already!" Kol exclaimed.
"They’re human."
nice! great ending.
cant wait for the next one.
This is awesome wow theyre Human..... wasnt expecting that
keep up the brilliant work!
im thinking something along the lines of the flood from halo?
I don'thave words for how magnificent this story is. The closest is briliance
I like to steal a lot from other sources. kudos to anyone who can guess where I got the names for the four TEC Dagger squad members
ive never played Halo or read any of the books, but i do know the basic storyline, about Humans finding Niven Ring-like structures called Halo arrays that wipe out all life in the local sector of the galaxy to starve a parasitic lifeform called the flood
other than that dont know much
^^^go to halopedia and you can get the entire series plot
He's one o' dem deceptivinators! Get 'im!
*Evil death squad spontaneously appears*
No, I wouldn't really, rather point out this deceptive mistake.
The Undying.
Oops, i was typing fast and didnt notice, thanks lol
Hmm... Grammar Police...
Oops, I was typing too fast and didn't notice. Thanks LOL.
(The text colour is #00CCFF, located 6-across and 4-down in the Stardock color picker.)
I'll start off the Grammar Police officer core with Orodum, if he wants to join.
What now there is Evil Death Squads Of Grammatical Doom??
if i join will i be exempt from being killed for Grammar mistakes?
by the way is there any way i can change my Name on the Forumn?
https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/account/login
Most are decommissioned since the Grammar Police was deactivated. It's not shut down completely however.
No, but you will be immune to our scrutiny.
Works for me.. where do I sign up?!?!
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