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(DS Lore)

    Roesh is hailed by Tim, "Hey Roesh, they're telling me that they're coming over anyway just to make sure everything is okay.  Some sort of safety check whatever the hell that's supposed to mean.  They're also saying they want to talk to all Advent in the area."
    Casey's head pops up from her screen. "Excuse me?"
    Roesh looks down for a second.  "I'm curious, what fleet are our scouts reporting them as?"
    "UE. Database records on their markings show Xenon to be their C.O.  Visuals confirmed 2 Kols, 1 Akkan, 1 Dunov, 20 Hoshikos, 30 Heavy Cruisers, 20 LRM frigates, and 5 Scouts." Tim reports.
    Setsuna states, "I have 2 Halcyons, 2 Raptures, 1 Progenitor, this Radiance, 15 Disciple, 30 Illuminator, 20 Crusader, 15 Guardian and 20 Aeria reporting ready status.  Our scanners are showing you with 3 Kols, 3 Sovas, 2 Dunovs, an Akkan, a Marza, 10 Cobalts, 10 Javalis, 10 Krosov, 10 Garda, a Kodiak, and 4 scouts."
    "That would be correct." Roesh states
    "This could get interesting." Setsuna says.
    "Get Xenon on the screen then, we're on our way back." Roesh says.
    "ETA three minutes, so quadruple time it."
    "See you around, Setsuna." Roesh says as he and Casey run for the door and to their shuttle.

    "I want eyes on them, send the scouts ahead." Halogen Roy barks out on the bridge.  The scouts jump out ahead and arrive near the RFT fleet first.
    "Sir, reporting as requested.  Our scanners are showing activity between several dozen ships.  Crew craft leaving advent ships and headed to TEC ships." one of the scout captains says.
    "I hope they aren't planning on hiding...  We have ways of finding them." the Halogen muses.  "When we reach maximum firing range all ships except for the Hoshikos stop.  The Hoshikos will continue ahead and launch their demo bots."

    Roesh and Casey have just enough time to reach the RFT Foe Hammer before Xenon's fleet carrying out operation 32 arrive.  They fire the demo bots at maximum range.  Most of the demo bots hit their ships, a few fly wide and float off into space.  Roesh and Casey hustle to the bridge and see that Tim already has the battle group's commanding officer on the comms.
    Tim is visibly extremely angry and is yelling at the top of his voice.  "What the fuck is your problem!?!  You never fire on a rescue operation!  What kind of an incompetent ass are you!?!"
    "We are going to board and question all Advent." Halogen Roy states.
    "On who's authority?" Tim screams.
    "Paragon Xenon's of the Unified Explorer's Corporation." Roy replies.
    Seeing Roesh sprint onto the command deck Tim says, "Hey Roesh, did you sell your company to the UE without board approval?"
    "No.  Why?" Roesh asks.
    "Oh, because Roy here says he's going to board us and question all Advent." Tim states as sarcastically as he can.
    Laughter erupts on the bridge after Roesh begins to laugh. "Oh, now that is truly funny.  Who sent you?  Lord Ryat, Admiral Draakjacht, Admiral Benton...  Oh I know... Lady Everette...  Come on...  You can tell me...  She's probably trying to get back at me for paying off her palace gardeners to mow a picture of my face into the courtyard lawn..."
    Roy's eyes narrow clearly demonstrating that he's not used to being openly mocked on the comms.  "I am a Halogen, a battle group commander of Xenon Fleet.  This is UE territory and you will show me respect!"  He looks to his officers, "Order a second volley."
    Casey snickers at the feeble attempt to use rank as leverage.
    "You so much as release trash out of your holds in our direction and I'll take it as a declaration of war!" Tim states.
    Roesh interrupts, "Halogen Roy, battle group commander huh?  I suppose I should be impressed...  Yet...  I'm not.  I've got a TEC Admiral here who's paycheck I sign."
    "It doesn't matter, we're boarding whether you like it or not." the Halogen replies.
    "Please make this ship your first target, I'd love to meet you in person." Roesh states.
    "I'm glad you're submitting to the conditions presented to you." the Halogen states.
    "Conditions!  We are not surrendering..." Tim yells.
    Roesh interrupts him, "Tim!  Relax buddy, I got this..."
    Tim storms off the bridge and kicks in the door plating to an access compartment on his way out.
    "Oh, you really pissed the wrong guy off." Casey says with slight amusement before taking a seat at a information station to check on the status of the returning crews.
    "Yeah, he's probably going to make it a point to have you executed in the near future." Roesh jokes.
    Casey telepathically sends a message to Setsuna since she knows it can't be detected. "I'm seeing all of our crews have reported back, if you're going to run for it, now's your chance."
    Setsuna sends her a message back, "Thanks again for the help on our ships, what we leave behind you can consider yours for salvage.  But if you're going to fight, the least we can do is assist."
    Captain Powley whispers to Roesh, "Sir, scans indicate that their ships are still in battle ready condition.  We're ready to fight as well."
    "Halogen, the only way any boarding party of yours is going to be allowed on my ship is if you lead it yourself." Roesh states.
    "You have got to be kidding me...  Do you really think I'm that foolish?"
    "Actually yes.  You are taking a battle ready posture against my fleet after all.  It's a game you're going to lose."
    "I don't play games.  My first officer is heading to your ship with his team to deal with you personally."
    "So be it." Roesh says as he cuts the comms.  "Robert, notify the fleet, standby for attack."
    "Aye, sir." Captain Powley replies.  "We've also received this message from Setsuna's ships." He continues as he hands him a sheet of paper.

---  Shields are operational, Engines are operational, Weapons remain offline. There are some contaminates found within the life support systems. Our crew is focused on removing the viral contaminant as we speak. We advice extreme caution when boarding our fleets in the future.  ---

    Casey notifies Roesh of Setsuna's intentions. "Hey boss, I'm being told that if we attack, Setsuna will assist."
    Landing craft leave most of the Halogen's battle group, most headed for Advent ships, one headed for the RFT Foe Hammer.  When the one arrives at the Foe Hammer, it begins to forcibly gain access through the hanger bay.  Once they crack the door code, the the bay slides open and the craft lands.  The boarding party is met by marines with weapons drawn.  "Stand down soldiers, we're only here to inspect your ship for Advent presence.  If it's clear we'll leave."
    Roesh walks in the hanger bay with Casey and the drone Thenos had traded them some time ago forcing the boarding party to all take aim at her.  The Drone moves in front of her as Roesh speaks.  "You're boarding my ship without permission.  As you are now legally considered to be an invading force, I must ask you to surrender your weapons and you will be escorted to the brig where you will be treated as prisoners of war in accordance to TEC guidelines."
    The first officer replies, "We can't do that.  Our orders forbid it."
    Roesh continues, "Put down your weapons.  I'd much prefer to have you as prisoners then sending your lifeless bodies home."
    A bead of sweat drips down the officer's face when 4 more drones like the one Casey is controlling enter the hanger, "Advent are confirmed on this ship...  They will come with us."
    "Casey is our only Advent here, and she stays put."
    "We will execute our orders."
    "No you won't." Roesh says.
    The entire hanger bay erupts with gunshots.  The drones advance forward supported by the Marine squads scattered about the bay and as promised by Thenos when he sold them the original one, they tear through the boarding party ending the firefight much too quickly.  The Foe Hammer's battle klaxons all begin to sound, the general quarters call goes out to the fleet as Halogen Roy unleashes his arsenal.  Tim returns to the bridge and begins to coordinate the RFT counter-attack.

(DS Lore)

    "SIR!" an officer reports to the Halogen. "Boarding parties are being met with resistance, most have been eliminated or taken captive, those still able to fight are doing so."
    "Recall those that haven't landed yet!  These dogs will pay with their lives for this!" he says.  "Damn the Advent and their sympathizers..." the Halogen mutters to himself as he slams his fist down onto the console in front of him.  "Order the fleet to attack, we will avenge our fallen."
    "Yes sir!" the officer salutes before returning to his post.

    The Hoshiko's in the Xenon Fleet, begin to pull back as fast as they can, but unfortunately for them, it's not fast enough.  The RFT fleet opens fire on eight designated targets and due purely to the volume of firepower brought to bear on them, they explode in little balls of light.

    "Scramble all strike craft!  Form up and gut their mid section!" Tim yells out. Within seconds strike craft from both the RFT fleet and Setsuna's fleet begin to pour out of their ships.  Both Rapture Class Battlecruisers pull in line with the RFT ships and begin to dominate the crews of the fleeing Hoshikos.  Grabbing two immediately, they hold positions while the RFT Foe Hammer, Assailant, and Contender swing into position and lead the charge, followed immediately by the Firebrand, who in turn is immediately followed by mine drones released by the Halcyon Carrier, and immediately by the Dunovs and the Miyuki, a Radiance class Battleship.

    Halogen Roy watches as all of his fleet sensors feed data to his holoprojector. "Launch fighters, form a screen and take out all approaching bombers."  His fighters all take up position between his fleet and the approaching forces with his own bombers sitting right behind them.  When the advancing strike craft enter in range, the LRM Frigates all open fire to scatter the formations and make it easier for his fighters to pick off the stragglers before they can return to the relative safety of their wings.

    When maximum range is achieved, the Firebrand cuts it's engines and begins to launch missile volley after missile volley at the Halogen's fleet.  Their tight formation makes it easier to hit them, however, their better shielding bears the brunt of nearly every single missile.  The mine drones scatter out from behind the Firebrand and race up to to take positions behind the Kols.  The Abettor and Advocate slide around the Marza and the Miyuki flies up and over.  Now having a clear shot from this position Setsuna orders it to detonate the antimatter reserves of the Halogen's Dunov and then fire their Clensing Brilliance weapon.  The Dunov's antimatter reserves begin to overcharge and explode, sending it's crews into damage control mode.  The cleansing Brilliance is absorbed by it's shields and has no effect.

    "Halogen sir, our technology is superior, but we're greatly outnumbered.  Eventually they will overpower us." an officer reports.  Halogen Roy maintains his steely gaze at the holoprojector. "We have our orders." The Akkan moves forward and uses it's ion bolt on the rapidly approaching Kols, sending the Foe Hammer into a momentary drift.  The heavy cruisers advance and begin to open fire supported by barrages from the LRM Frigates.

    The remaining RFT fleet followed by the remaining Advent fleet all head into battle now that the battleships are fully engaged and drawing most of the attention.  The Sovas all keep their distance and start to circle around behind supported by the Akkan to cut off any chance of a retreat.  Setsuna's fleet all charge directly to the fight supported by all of his frigates and cruisers, and the RFT frigates.  The RFT Frigates maintain constant movement drawing fire from the Halogen's frigates and cruisers, effectively keeping them from supporting their capital ships.  Each time a group would head in to support, the RFT frigates would swing into action and gang up on them forcing them to break formation and end their supporting actions.

    It didn't take long for the Halogen's fleet to become completely overwhelmed.  It's two Kols trading fire with the three Kols from the RFT who were supported by their Dunovs keeping their shielding up and active.  The Progenitor utilizing it's Malice ability assists in mitigating the lopsidedness of the technology deployed.  The Sovas continuing to circle around, drop missile battery after missile battery, forcing the Halogen's cruisers to split up and deal with the incoming fire.  The RFT Pioneer, Having a clear shot on the Halogen's Dunov from behind, fire's it's Ion Beam and shuts it down just long enough for the focused fire from the Radiance and all other supporting ships to whittle it's shielding down to nothing.

    The Halogen's Akkan responds with an Ion Bolt of it's own at the Radiance, only to begin to come under fire from the Progenitor and her supporting cast of Illuminators and Disciples.  The Raptures use their Dominate abilities once again and nab a couple more Hoshikos struggling to keep up with the damage that is mounting against their fleet.  The Firebrand uses it's radiation bomb ability and begins to shell the groups of the Halogen's cruisers and frigates that manage to reform.  The Abettor and Advocate both use their Flux Field Ability on both Rapture battlecruisers, who in turn use their Vengeance abilities immediately following the Radiance's use of it's Animosity ability drawing fire away from it's allies.  The Halcyon pushes up from behind the engagement and uses it's telekinetic push to slow down the enemy strike craft giving the friendly strike craft a fighting chance once again.

    Slowly both sides lose frigates and cruisers.  The RFT is the first to report the total loss of support, but not without taking out several Heavy cruisers and LRM frigates along the way.  The drone anima split from the main strike craft engagement and begin to focus fire on the remaining LRM Frigates.  They're supported by the continued efforts of the RFT's Marza and Sovas circling around the conflict still dropping off scores of missile batteries.  Soon the Halogen loses his frigate support and is informed that his cruisers are now bearing the full force of the bombing and missile attacks.
    "This is all going to end soon." Roesh says to Tim.
    "Yeah, it's like watching those nature videos from the ocean planets where the predator fish ball up their prey so there's no escape and just demolish them." Tim replies.

    Halogen Roy receives a report from his Akkan that it has sustained critical damage.  The report is cut off as a bright ball of light flashes onto his screens.  The Progenitor, supported by it's Illuminators and Disciples turn their attention to the remaining cruisers in support of the Marza, the Akkan, the Sovas, and all of the strike craft.  It doesn't take long for their ranks to be decimated by the amount of fire hitting them from all sides.  The next target all of the ships focus on is the Dunov still doing it's best to hold out against the Radiance and support it's own Kols.  The combined fleet crashed down on it like a tsunami of destruction, dropping it's shields to nothing and tearing massive gaps into it's hull.  It fires off it's Magnetize ability, and the Kols fire their flak cannons, but the strike craft are the least of their worries.  Under the sustained fire and another Cleansing Brilliance shot right down it's nose, the Dunov had no way to survive.  A rippling effect of explosions originating in it's bow and moving to it's stern send out shrapnel and armor plating in all directions.  After a quick moment of silence, the Dunov's core exploded sending out a wave of light that washed over the battlefield.

    Now only having two Kols left to contend with the combined fleets began to circle even closer.  Bombers and fighters alike swarm and peck away at the remaining shields, while every other ship focuses on one Kol at a time.  The Pioneer designates the target, the Progenitor uses it's Malice ability, the Radiance detonates it's remaining antimatter reserves, all five Kols trade Gauss Rail Gun shots, the Akkan uses it's Ion Bolt, and the targeted Kol is reduced to nothing more then debris under the assault.  The remaining Kol suffers the same fate as it can't prevent the combined fleet from repeating this tactic.  With one last bright flash of light, the battle is over.

    "Open a comm channel to the Miyuki." Tim requests.
    "Channel open Sir." a comms officer reports as Setsuna appears on screen.
    Roesh starts, "Well...  We're going to start collecting survivors and shuttle them back to our system.  We have some colony frigates already on their way to act as transports."
    Setsuna responds, "Very well, any advice on where we should go from here?"
    "You have three options.  You can return with us to our system, or you can head on over to the Daros System and meet up with Thenos who is heading the Garran Collective, or you can just go your own way and settle in somewhere nice."
    "My priority at the moment is the resupply and repair of my fleet and a place with a high powered transmitter, preferably of Advent origin. So if either your system or Daros System has either, that's where I'm heading." Replied Setsuna.
    "So you'll want to go see our friend Thenos and the Garran Collective, located here in the Daros system." Roesh says as he updates the nav map on the Miyuki for Setsuna.
    "Protev's reporting 7 minute ETA." Captain Powley interrupts.
    "What is the status of your fleet?" Setsuna asks.
    "You're looking at it." Tim replies.
    "Moderate damage across most ships.  We have repair bays back home that can handle the repairs." Roesh says.
    "Okay, I'm just trying to figure out what to do with these four Hoshikos." Setsuna says.
    "Keep 'em.  When you don't need them any more, send them to us and we'll buy them." Roesh replies.
    "And your fleet status?" Tim asks.
    "Moderate to light damage to my capitals.  Thirteen disciples, twenty one illuminators, nine crusaders, fourteen guardians, and twenty Aeria survived thanks to your screening efforts."
    "Yeah...  So many ships gone..." Tim laments.  "Hopefully, it looks like most of the crews survived...  The area is littered with life pods."
    "We shall begin collecting ours immediately." Setsuna states.
    Minutes later the protevs arrive and survivors are collected up and sent aboard.  All of Xenon's surviving crews are transported to an undisclosed planet in the Finley system where they could be housed until negotiations for their return can be completed.  After a couple hours pass, scans indicate no more life pods containing people can be found and Roesh and Tim decide they really need to be getting back home to deal with any potential backlash.  They open a channel to Setsuna one last time.
    "We're heading out. I suggest you should do the same as soon as possible." Roesh says.
    Setsuna replies, "I agree. Perhaps next time when our fleets meet again, it would be on more peaceful grounds and not converting enemy ships into scrap metal."

    Setsuna's ships fall in line behind the remaining ships of the RFT and head to the star.  The Free Traders don't wait for formation once the reach the star and individually make the jump back to Finley.  They disperse and head for repair bays to get fixed up and upgraded with the new equipment in the process.  Henry greets each of the ships on the comm as they return, and sends along Roesh's message to Thenos that he's having guests badly in need of repairs arriving there now.  Once Setsuna's fleet arrive at the Daros star, his ships are hailed by Rebirth.  Already expecting visitors since having just received word from the RFT, Setsuna's ships headed over to the nearest repair station while his capital ship docked at the main port. Heading into the station, Setsuna and his second in command went about to find information on a transmitter.
    In the mean time, the mysterious ship Setsuna had been tracking was located within a asteroid cluster not far from the system. The mysterious ship, The Linux had their engines on silent and cloaking systems active. Their intentions were still not totally clear but it seems they are wait for something or some one.

(NO LONGER NEEDED, SEE EDIT FOR OP)

All right then.  I shall get the old fingers drummed up and let er rip!

Is there a map that I can work off of for keeping the systems straight?  The currently listed maps are a little confusing to decipher.

I would like to start from a remote system farther away from the main action.  I need this to run with the story I've got going... Remoteness is key to the start of my story.  Thanks in advance for the help!

And I would not mind being the main Vasari player, but I'll need to develop some backstory first.  I also have a theory on what is chasing the Vasari, and I would like to incorporate some techs into the story.  Don't worry, they are not combat or game breaking techs, just some things to fill in some of the holes in the ancient races' story from the core.

The angle of the first part of the story would be like a prophetic return to power of a great Vasari prince to unify the Vasari survivors.

Thanks,

SivCorp

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Ok, I will use that chart.  I saw it in the posts and everyone seemed to be using it.  I just wanted to check.

As far as being off the front lines, I think I figured a way to do it (if it is ok with all of you)

The Sivtherium Sect story will develop out in the void, in a small system.  They will expand into the main DS story via a phase node that one of the other Vasari build to contact the Dark Fleet.  The Sivtherium will then set up shop in that system.  I am thinking in the Britonor Asteroid belt and then expanding into Manardana.  Does this sound fine?

The reason for the need to start in a seperate system is the ship that the Sivtherium arrive in...

This is the Homeship.  This is the ship that my story will originate from and for obvious reasons, it cannot enter DS space.  So I will post my Persional backstory soon, and then have an expedition into DS space.

Stay suspenseful....

(NO LONGER NEEDED, SEE EDIT FOR OP)

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Distant Stars wiki page http://sinsdistantstars.wikia.com/wiki/SoaSE_Distant_Stars_Wiki

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