Its us again! Here to bring you yet another exciting community topic!!!!
This topic is dedicated to any stories, lore, epic poems, novels, Role Playing...anything your heart desires to share!!!
We are always up for a good read and are excited to see what you all create from DS.
We will be featuring hopefully some neat post in this orginal post every so often. Maybe be something we liked or we though it need attention! So, aim your Ogrov at that writers block and get your fingers typing!
There aren't any rules, but we do have some guidelines to follow so that we all can participate and enjoy ourselves.-There is really no limit on what you post just as long as it is Distant Stars related.-Most members are participating in a single large story with the occasional side story or two. While this thread is certainly not limited to just that story, for the benefit of all readers and participants, please begin your post with how we're supposed to handle it. (Personal Story) (DS RP) (Trader Space) Examples of this can be found all throughout the thread or by looking at this post. https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/21/#2596003 This will help us all out by letting us know if you're trying to set yourself up to join the main lore, if you plan on just telling your own story, or if you're just writing lullabies for children to sing before they go to bed.-While we don't expect you to 'Play the game' in your stories, we do ask that you keep any liberties that you take be grounded within the game. For example: Talking about your space marines invading another ship is not something the game covers, so feel free to be inventive on how it would happen. However, carrying point singularity rifles that open up little black holes is beyond the scope of the game and will not be allowed. Soldiers with phasic armor that prevents them from being wounded let alone even being hit, while being relevant to the technology in the game would also not be allowed. The point is to be fair to the other people. We encourage you to ask yourselves, would this work in the game, and how would I feel if someone used this on me? If You feel strongly that it would work and you'd be okay with it being used against you, then by all means, use it. Fantasy posting, dream sequences, and April Fool's postings are of course, immune from this guideline.-We highly encourage you to message other members for help or advice. There is a TeamSpeak channel that is frequently used by the regulars to talk issues out or just shoot the breeze behind the scenes. Everyone is encouraged to take advantage of these resources. Also, 'regulars' may send you messages with suggestions, concerns, or advice. It's nothing personal, so please do not be offended, they're just trying to help keep the lore consistent within these guidelines. If there's any doubt at all about anything, just message one of the people who you see posting a lot. If they don't know, they'll pass your message along to someone who does or tell you who you need to talk to.-It is also highly recommended that you message other RPers before posting anything involving their stuff. If you don't, you're likely going to find all of DS rising up against you.-In an effort to reduce clutter, we're asking that Out Of Character (OOC) commenting be either sent to the individual for whom it is intended by using the private message feature, or take it to another thread. https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/366762 is a thread frequented by many of the lore writers and random comment posting about anything under the sun is highly encouraged there as well in an attempt to get the thread locked. Enjoy.
Here are other stories found within the topic:
-Reply # 103 Coloniel3 has started a interesting story. We look forward to more from him/her soon! JUMP TO STORY
-Reply # 107 Cadalancea has shared some great stories from his/her own writtings!! Again we look forward to more from him/her!! JUMP TO STORY
Some resources that we have spent hours, days, and weeks working on that will help out all participants in this thread. We ask that you look through these to help you better understand the region.-About Distant Stars- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/11/#2532381This post will give you a lot of basic information on what the region of space is like, how to get there, and who is there waiting for you.-Distant Stars Maps- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/23/#2604760This post provides you with a quick look at the region and provides you with a download link where you can get yourself a copy of the posted maps in their unreduced forms. They're very helpful when trying to figure out where to go and who you're likely going to run into when you get there. Maps of individual systems are posted throughout the thread. They're generally posted by the first person to explore the system. If you don't know if a system has been explored or not or want to see a map of a system that has been explored, ask around via PM or TeamSpeak. Someone will point you to the place.-Character Biographies- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/11/#2532380This post is a general collection of the main RP characters whom you will likely have contact with. We ask that all people posting in the main lore post their main character(s) bio as soon as possible so that the rest of us have a little background on who your character is, how they like to fight, where do they come from, and why they're there. Read the existing bios for examples on what we're looking for.
-Player made TEC Fleet Ranking Structure- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/17/#2581279
-UE Fleet Rankings- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/18/#2582667
-David's Lions Fleet Rankings- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/18/#2581491
-Advent Social Structure/Rankings- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/18/#2581615
-Potential Gas Giant Colony Designs- https://forums.sinsofasolarempire.com/372058/page/30/#2617791
ITS SUGGESTED YOU READ ALL THE LORE POST, IF YOU WISH TO JOIN US. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO UNDERSTAND AND CATCH UP ON ALL THE CURRENT HAPPENINGS.
The massive battleship flared into normal space around Finley star in a blaze of purple, followed closely by its escorts. "What the hell is that?!" "Tactical I expect a better report than that," came a cutting remark from Lord Ryat. "Sorry my lord, but there is a ship that is as big as our new vessel," explained the tactical officer, "It seems to be Vasari." "One of those new titan class we have been hearing rumors about?" asked the intel officer. "Doubtful as those things are as big as a starbase," came the reply, "No I think it is more of a flagship class. Similar to our own." "I want a detailed scan of it tactical," Lord Ryat ordered. "My Lord, one of the starbases is hailing us." "Put them through." "This is Colonel James Horner of the Free Traders, welcome to Finley. How may I help you?" the man on the comm screen asked. Lord Ryat paused a moment to let his mind touch the others. Lots of frustration and a little confusion was there, most likely from the new vessel that had just showed up. But there was a still a solidness about him that impressed Lord Ryat. A good man to be in the position he was in. "Yes, I have arrived for the trade conference," he answered. "Well you are a little late but that should not be an issue," Colonel Horner said, "You do have an unarmed vessel with you to enter the system?" "I apologize for the lateness. I felt the need to bring a new little toy," Lord Ryat said with a gesture to indicate showing off his ship, "And yes we do have an unarmed ship to enter the system." "Very good. You are cleared to enter," Colonel Horner said, "Welcome to Finley."
(DS RP)
Z and company arrives at the Finley star aboard the luxurious diplomatic cruiser an hour after the conference's start. They are greeted by their escort of a dozen light frigates who were waiting nervously after an unexpected delay to their leader’s phase jump.
“See, you made our escort nervous and you delayed our trip”, Z points out the obvious fact.
“It was worth it”, Bella pouts, “I got to see the space ponies”.
“There were no space ponies”, Z says flatly.
“Then why did you slow the ship down then?” Bella challenges.
“What?” Z splutters indignantly, “You went to the captain and said it was a direct order from me!”
“Which it was” she said in a tone of finality which suggests there will be no more discussion.
Z sighed and orders the escorts to wait while the diplomatic cruiser moves into position.
“What the hell is that?” The display showed what appeared to be a colossal sized ship the likes of which Z had never seen before.
“It ah… appears to be of Vasari origin sir”, replied the sensor tech.
Z dismissed the oversized ship and turned to his delegation, “Alright team it looks like we’re almost there” – there was a chuckle all-round at the obvious statement – “so are there any last questions about our position?”
“Could anyone explain why I’m the only person with an economic background going to a trade conference?” asked Serdikai Rolf, a wiry man who liked to wear archaic eyeglasses to sport a scholarly air.
“That would be because trade depends on politics as well so any backroom deals would be ah… tolerated”. That gave his people latitude to negotiate with other empires while maintaining plausible deniability. Which was why Z prompted Rolf to ask the question just like they’d practiced beforehand on the trip to Finley.
“How are exactly are we supposed to negotiate with the xenos?” asked Aliadh Zeris who was a short, dumpy woman who was the diplomacy specialist, “The Vasari didn’t send many delegations and wouldn’t our recent… disagreements with the Advent sour any negotiations?”
“We'll scope out anything the Vasari want, and relations with other Advent factions” – funny referring to the Advent as aliens, they looked so human yet so different – “should thaw once they know we’re trying to reach a ceasefire” whether or not a ceasefire was agreed upon by both sides was up to the space ponies.
A voice over the comm system halts their conversation. "Renaissance Eagle Diplomatic Cruiser, your escorts must remain here at the star. You are cleared to proceed, navigational coordinates to the conference have been uploaded to your Navigation System. Please follow the plotted course to avoid any unnecessary security checks." The comm link is immediately broken.
The cruiser maneuvers through the crowds of vessels at the star and lines up for it's jump to Finley 1. Once on the other side, they note how serious the security is with a starbase right at the edge of the gravity well to greet new arrivals, as well as an Advent battleship docked with it, and at least a dozen more capital ships belonging to the David's Lions all carefully monitoring ships as they pass by. As they approach their next jump point, they're joined by several other frigates and cruisers bearing the Roesh Free Traders markings, all whom are making their own patrols around the system. When their drives are fully charged, they make the quick hop to Finley 3. Continuing to follow the route given to them, they figure out that their ship is being guided into it's own pocket of space above the planet. Once they arrive in their spot, they are contacted by civilian shuttles who are eager to transfer the delegates to the planet.
*****
Z, Bella and the rest of the Ethea delegation take a shuttle to the premier city of Finley, Adler. The modernistic spires jut upwards and the sleek design is evidence of careful planning.
Bella lets squeals in delight as she looks out the window, “A flying city! This is amazing just like in the holovids, why don’t any of your cities fly?” She asks accusingly at the fidgeting Z.
“Well, what would flying cities do?” Z responds irritably, “They just move around slowly, a complete waste of resources”. What he does not mention is that Ethea is simply too poor to waste resources in extravagances, the Fleet not being one of those extravagances of course. The economy was not experiencing spectacular growth rates and analysts were predicting a system wide recession.
Bella sees the Adler Entertainment district, “Z, I want to go on that big Ferris wheel”.
“Okay”, he says, resigned to holding fairy floss.
The shuttle lands on Dignitary Pier and bored looking guards who look like they've done this a hundred times follow the Ethea delegation onto a waiting aircar and escort them to the Trade Complex.
“Z”, Bella says seriously, “I want a cream pie, make that two pies," she points imperiously, "those cream pies they’re selling on that stand, they look tasty”.
An ominous feeling fills Z but he can’t think of a reason not to comply to such a perfectly reasonable, if out of the blue, request. Maybe he could have some of that pie.
(DS) Roesh arrives at the security station and asks for the sergeant in charge. Once he's directed to the proper location he heads off to find out what trouble he may have to deal with. "Sergeant?" Roesh asks while knocking on the door. The door pops open part way so the person inside can see who's knocking. "It's just me, I need to speak with the sergeant." Roesh says as the door opens up fully. "Sir." The sergeant says as he walks over. "What have we learned about this incident so far?" "I've only had the time to interview a few of the people, but from what I've gathered, the two groups involved come from the same system, however, the system is split in half. One half being the Kagann Dominion, Traders, and the other half being lost to the Advent a few years back with the inhabitants of those planets being re-branded as the Samtabeen Counsel. Presently, the system is stable, but both sides take every opportunity to undermine that without looking like the guilty party. Specifically, what this particular incident is about involves two girls, sisters, one on each side of the proverbial fence." "So I heard. Which two are the sisters?" "The Dominion sister is a couple of rooms down the hall, the Counsel sister is in the next building over." "Very good. Continue your investigation, I'm going to talk to the sisters." "Yes sir." The sergeant says while saluting. Roesh makes a quick saluting gesture back and heads off to visit the first girl. He walks past the next door and stops at the second. Knocking produces the same result as the last time. The door pops open slightly so that the guard inside can get a visual on the person outside. Recognizing who is at the door, the soldier opens it up all of the way. "Thank you, wait outside please." Roesh says to the guard who complies and closes the door behind him. "Am I going to jail?" the nearly sobbing girl asks. "I haven't decided yet." Roesh says. "You would be...?" "Ariel." she says followed by a sniff to hold in the fluid from her runny nose. "Ariel Harding." Roesh walks over to a cabinet and tries to open it, only to find it's been locked. Walking over to a small data-pad sticking out slightly from the wall, he reads the words 'Security Lock-down' on the screen. Roesh smirks slightly before he punches in his security code and holds his hand on the screen. There's a soft beep which causes him to pull his hand away and the previous warning is now gone. He walks back over to the cabinet, which opens up easily this time, and pulls out a box of tissues. He hands her the box after he walks back over to her. "Thank you." Ariel says before blowing her nose. "So what are you doing here in this system?" Roesh asks. "Isn't it customary to tell me your name first before you start questioning me?" she asks. "Maybe. If I was a cop or something." "You're not with the guards?" "Nope." "So you're some private investigator?" "No." "Military?" "Not really." "Private security?" "Nuh uh." "Some human rights group?" "God no..." "But you're here to question me..." "So far, you're the one asking the vast majority of the questions, young lady." She smiles slightly. Roesh takes a seat at the table across from her. "So what was all of that about this morning?" "I saw my sister... Those zealots kidnapped her." "That happened this morning?" Roesh says with some small amount of shock. "No... Years ago when our system was invaded." "Oh good." Roesh says with clear relief. "Well, not good for you, but good for me." Ariel just blankly stares at him. "So what would you have done if you managed to free her?" Roesh asks. "Would you have started a running gun battle down the streets? Maybe stolen a sky car or two? Gotten a bunch of innocent people hurt or killed along the way?" "No... I don't know. I just want her back." "Even though it'll clearly anger the other side and risk the peace, you'd try something so foolish as to bringing weapons to a trade convention, bystanders be damned? Sounds pretty selfish." "I don't care..." Ariel says letting a tear fall from her eye. "Unfortunately for you..." Roesh says while standing up, "I do care." He walks back over to the data-pad and punches in a code that causes the words, 'Security Lock-down' to reappear. He then exits the room allowing the guard to return to his assigned duty. From there he heads over to the next building to have a chat with Ariel's sister. Upon arrival to her temporary lock up all he here's is screaming. Not bothering the guard inside, he overrides the door's lock and enters the room to see a girl with her hands and feet bound to a chair that is now lying on it's back. The guard looks at Roesh and nods while the girl continues to scream at them both. "If I were here, I'd have gagged her too." Roesh says causing the guard to smirk. "Help me put her back up." The guard complies and tries to help but the girl keeps shifting her weight around making it a difficult chore. "Okay, fine, stay on the floor then." Roesh says while grabbing a glass of water off of the table. "You thirsty?" he asks. She does nothing but scream at the top of her lungs at him. "That's what I get for being nice." Roesh says before pouring the water out on her face. He then walks over to a counter and fills up a pitcher of water and returns to standing over her. "Are you done yet?" he asks. She responds by screaming out all kinds of nonsensical gibberish. Roesh looks at the guard before slowly pouring out more water on her face, aiming more for her nose and mouth to force her to shut up. Before he's out he looks to the guard who is now grinning widely. "Yeah, I thought you might like that... Do me a favor, look through those cabinets for a large tub. Fill it with enough water so I can drown this girl if she doesn't learn some manners." Once the guard finds and fills the tub, Roesh helps him carry it over to the table. They then upright the girl who acts more compliant this time around. "So... What's your name?" Roesh asks. The girl remains silent. "At least it's not screaming, but the silent treatment is still rude." He looks at the guard. "Help me out with this." They both grab the chair and lean it forward so that she has to bend her head back to keep it out of the water. Roesh grabs the back of her head and dunks it in causing her to struggle by wiggling her body around. After about a dozen seconds he pulls her head out. "We done screwing around yet?" Roesh asks. "I asked you for your name." The girl still remains defiant so Roesh dunks her head back in. This time she tries screaming under water while struggling to get free which only has the effect of her running out of air faster. Her defiant struggle soon changes to one of desperation as she tries to buck her way out of the water. Roesh stands his ground by putting most of his weight on her and holds her head under until he feels her choke on a large mouth full of it. Once he pulls her head out again, she coughs up a large stream of fluid before gasping for air. He let's her breathe deeply and catch her breath while a couple pitchers of water are added back into the tub. "Okay? What's your name?" Roesh asks again. The girl sits there breathing heavily but otherwise ignoring his question. Roesh sighs before grabbing the chair and her head and with the help of the guard, dunks her head back into the water. This time she tries to hold her breath which only lengthens her time under water. "I love it when they think they're going to win." Roesh says to the guard who's clearly becoming uncomfortable with what's going on. "Don't worry, I've done this plenty of times before. One or two more times and she'll start talking." Roesh waits her out until she chokes on the water and starts bucking again. This time he holds her head under a little longer rather then removing it right away. When her head is finally pulled out she coughs repeatedly spewing out water with each one. Roesh let's the chair sit back on all four legs and walks behind it before throwing it and the girl down to the side where he was standing. As the water drains from her lungs and into her mouth she begins to sob while spitting it out. "Return to your post." Roesh says to the guard before bending down to say something to the girl. "I had a wonderful time chatting with you. I'll be back later to continue our conversation." The girl continues to sob and Roesh leaves the room and locks her in by herself. "Now then... To that big ship at the star..." he mutters to himself. After exiting the building and wandering around for a little bit he runs into Lord Ryat and company. "Hey admiral. Glad to see you finally made it." Roesh says. "As am I. You seem to be doing well for yourselves here." Ryat answers. "Little bumps in the road here and there so to speak, but overall, it's not too bad." "So I see. Lot's of fun little activities and flashing lights everywhere. This place should pay for itself soon enough. You look like you've been having some fun yourself." Ryat says alluding to the water soaked shirt Roesh has on. "Yeah, you should check out the water park." Roesh says. "It'll leave you gasping for air." Ryat chuckles after considering all of the things he knows about Roesh leaving his entourage to look at each other in confusion. "You guys didn't happen to see a really big Vasari ship sitting at my star did you?" Roesh asks them all. Most nod before Ryat answers. "We did see it, quite an impressive vessel. Of course, we brought one of our own." he says to tug at Roesh's attention. "Oh yeah?" Roesh asks. "Yeah, we're here to sell the technical specs to a few lucky traders." Ryat notes. He observes Roesh's expressions and when he's satisfied that he's got him hooked well enough he tosses out another offer. "For the right price, I could be persuaded to also sell off the one I already built." Roesh's eyes light up. "Let me go find Todd. If you could arrange for one of your officers to show us around, I'd be willing to make a bid for it." "I thought you might." Ryat says. "We're going to wander around and get familiar with the place, I'll make the arrangements in a little bit. When you're ready, just let them know." "Outstanding, thanks. I need to go find Todd." Roesh says before turning around to leave. Ryat just laughs and gathers his group up to decide where each of them should be going. It doesn't take long before Roesh runs into Todd. "Hey boss, I hear there's a really big ship at the star..." Todd says as Roesh walks up "Why are you all wet?" Roesh looks down and then back up. "Don't worry about it." "Don't worry about which?" Todd asks. "Pick one." "So... There's supposedly this really big ship at the star... As the head of R&D around here, I feel it's my duty to go have a look and assess it's capabilities and possibly work out it's vulnerabilities in case we have to kill it." "No." Roesh says dryly. "Are you kidding me?" Todd asks some what hurt. "Nope. There's not a really big ship at the star." "Damn it!" Todd exclaims with clear disappointment. Roesh let's Todd mutter a few things under his breath before he fills him in on the latest. "There's actually two..." Roesh holds up his hand displaying two fingers and pointing to each one sequentially, "Count them. Two. One, two... Two really big ships at the star." "You're an asshole, you know that?" "Yeah, I've also made arrangements to tour one of them and possibly buy it and the tech sheets, or just the tech sheets so we can build our own." "So that explains the shirt... I mean I was about to wet myself hearing about one, but two ships, with a tour, and specs, and a purchasing option... I can see how that happened." "The two are unrelated." Roesh says. "Right, right..." Todd says completely disbelieving him. "This might come as a surprise to you, but most of us don't share your sick fetishes about sleeping with giant chunks of steel and hull plating." "This isn't about me, boss. This is about you." "No, this is about how much you really want to go tour this ship or not." "Calling a shuttle right now." Todd says while opening an access panel to get to a communications terminal behind it. "Have them pick us up on the roof." Roesh yells as he starts walking down the hall.
(DS) A military shuttle screams overhead and hovers just off the side of the building's roof where Roesh and Todd wait for the side hatch to be opened. An eerie sight for those down below who have never seen such a maneuver, but once the two are aboard it backs away from the building and when there's enough clearance, it noses up to the sky and rockets off. "Where to sir?" the pilot asks. "Star base Dubovka." Todd answers. The pilot complies by kicking the shuttle up to full throttle. Once they've exited the atmosphere, they make a straight line for the jump point. In no time and a couple phase jumps later, they're positioning to dock with the Dubovka. Once the connection is made, Roesh and Todd head for command. Colonel Berkeley meets them at the door. "Good afternoon sirs." he says. "Yeah yeah, big ships." Todd says passing by heading straight for the main holvid viewer that already has an image of both ships on it. Roesh just looks at Phil and shrugs. "So what do we know?" "Not a whole lot. We've scanned enough of the Vasari ship to work out it's size, probable mass, probable engine speed, and barring any hidden toys, it's shielding capacity and available weapons systems. Outside of that, much more detailed scans would be necessary. For the TEC ship, we've only worked out it's exact size and weapons." Colonel Berkeley answers. "Focus on the Vasari ship, we're going to get technical data on the other one from the High Gryphons sometime in the next couple of days. In a little bit, we'll be heading on over there to get a look from the inside." "Sounds like fun." "Might be." Roesh says while walking over one of the comms officers. "Let them know Todd and I would like to make our way over once we've been given permission." he says to the comms officer. "Yes sir." the comms officer states before working on the request. Todd, Roesh, and Phil combine the data from all four star bases in an attempt to get the best possible scans of the Vasari flagship while they wait to hear back from the High Gryphons. After a few moments the comms over has an update. "Excuse me sirs." he says while walking up to them. "The Phoenix is reporting that you're cleared to come over." "Awesome. See you at the shuttle boss." Todd says as he rushes out of the room. Roesh looks up at Phil, "I remember when I used to get that excited." Phil laughs, "I don't think he'll ever grow out of it." "I don't either... Work with the other bases to build up as much info as possible on that ship. Use the more invasive scanning. If they get aggressive or start complaining, then stop and go back to the passive scans." "You got it." Phil says prompting Roesh to head out of command finally. Once Roesh reaches the shuttle he closes the docking hatch behind him and orders the pilot to head for the Phoenix. Several minutes pass as the pilot weaves around the bulk of the High Gryphons fleet and communicates with the bridge on where to go to dock with the Phoenix after noting that there are no obvious hanger bays to fly to. "Now that is a Kol on steroids." Roesh says as they approach head on. "Same frontal beam array... Hanger bays have been replaced by missile pods from the Marza class and placed on both sides..." Todd notes. "Double orbital bombardment cannons and auto cannon turrets are everywhere from what it looks like." Roesh adds. "Laser turrets on both sides as well. That's a whole lot of firepower headed out the front of that beast." Todd says while almost drooling. "Wonder if it flies faster..." the pilot muses causing Roesh and Todd to look at each other before shrugging in agreement. "Sounds like we're using the cargo bay. They're telling me to proceed to the rear of the ship." "Nice. That'll give us a good fly by of it. Make a pass on their port side. That's where the bulk of the Kol two point oh stuff has been added." Todd orders. "Yes sir." the pilot says complying with everyone's demands. A minute later the shuttle is behind the Phoenix. The cargo bay doors begin to slowly open allowing the shuttle access. Once it's inside and on a landing pad, the doors shut and the bay re-pressurizes letting them exit through the main door rather then a hatch. Roesh and Todd are greeted by several of the top officers on the ship as well as half a dozen guards. "There's no need for all of the fanfare." Roesh says somewhat mocking the presence of the guards. "This is highly unusual." the ship's executive officer states. "However, if our lord wishes it, then we will see to it that you get your tour." "We've got some history that goes back a long time." Roesh informs him. "Never the less. I'm not pleased with this situation." the executive officer admits. "You don't have to be pleased, but you do have to show us the bridge and the engine room." Todd says. The executive officer just huffs and starts to walk out of the cargo bay. "I guess that means our tour has begun." Roesh says. "Okay." Todd says walking away until he stops at one of the guards. "Do I know you? Your sister perhaps?" he asks trying to provoke a response. Roesh just walks up and shoves him in the direction of the other officers who have now also begun to filter out of the cargo bay. Casey finally makes her way to Adler on Finley 3. Her shuttle however heads for one of the landing piers on the south end of town rather then the busy Dignitary Pier. When she exits she has a large crate unloaded and sent ahead to the Decla Bistro for tonight's activities. She doesn't go with it, instead, she heads for the city's town hall. Along the way she leaves a message for Henry that the gifts are being delivered and she'll invite the honored guests once she reaches the town hall as per Roesh's instructions. Henry, being busy giving his lecture, doesn't respond by the time she arrives at her destination. Once inside, she heads for one of the offices to send out the notice.****************Admiral Draakjacht - David's LionsCommander Oranos - Alliance of GardeniaViceroy Garr - Flames of VengeanceLord J'rah - J'Kar ClanRoesh would like to invite you and any members of your respective services whom took part in the activities on Bunaidh (Finley 1) to attend a dinner in your honor at the Delca Bistro, City of Adler, Renata (Finley 3) at 1800 hours local time. It is his intent to present all attending service personnel with a medal and bar for your ribbon racks. (As well as a free meal.) Any service personnel unable to attend this dinner will have the opportunity to the next two evenings as well at either the Decla Bistro or Stephi's Fine Cuisine (also on Adler), but will not receive their medals during their meal. (Nor have to sit through a speech.) These service personnel as well as those unable to attend any of the dinners will be able to request one sent to them around mid day (local time) the day following the commencement of the trade conference. No RSVP is needed and only a military ID is required to receive the free meal.Casey Tahira - Roesh Free Traders****************
Lord Ryat walked into the main conference hall and tried, successfully, to keep his nerves under control. His agoraphobia, while minor and controllable, was slightly increased with the reawakening of his abilities. He understood why his grandfather had him always keep them off when in situations like this. With his new found control, though, he merely paused and looked over the crowd. The effect was similar to when he looked over his own people. Difference was that while his own people gave off a similar hue, varying for different personalities, and loyalty lines all leading to him. Here there were a myriad of colors with the loyalty lines criss-crossing everywhere. He suppressed the effect so that it wasn't so bright and watched as his people begin to filter through the crowd. He spotted Lord J'rah and walked over to the bar. "What will it be sir?" the bartender asked "Two Screwdrivers please," he ordered. The bartender mixed them quickly, entered the order information into the High Griffon account and gave him the drinks. He grabbed them and headed over to Lord J'rah. "Long time no see stranger," Ryat remarked as he offered a drink to J'rah. "Indeed," J'rah responded as he took a sip of the drink. "Our lives can be so pressssing at timesssss. Alwayss preferred orange over apple. Lesss of a cranial ache afterwardsss." Ryat smirked as he took a sip of his own drink. "So have you heard about the Vasari ship at the star?" Ryat asked. "It is a Royal classss battleship," Lord J'rah said, "Itsss kind were thought to have been lost to the Darknesssss but it sseemss that one has esscaped and carriess a Prince Si'v on board." "Why haven't you guys attempted to build one of those ships again? " Ryat asked, "The power of that ship is off the chart." "The tech for it was lost as well," explained J'rah, "But my people have been experimenting recently with building a flagship like vessel to help with the coming battles." "We managed to build one ourselves," Ryat commented, "We plan on selling the plans. At a reduced function mind you. Can't have everyone with a battleship as powerful as ours." "As always you TEC people are deviousss to even each other," J'rah grumped as he sipped more of his drink, "Its a wonder you survived long enough to stop usss. And yet that seems to be a strength of yours." Lord Ryat chuckled at that thought. Then an Advent bumped into him. "What-!" he glared at the offending individual. "My apologies my lord," the Advent said quickly and then disappeared into the crowd. Ryat looked on for a bit then turned back to J'rah. "Exuse me for a moment," he said and turns to go in the opposite direction. He had received a telepathic message when the Advent had bumped into him. A message saying that there needs to be a meeting. He walked into a small dark private conference room. The door closes behind him. "I'm here," he said into the dark. It lite up and revealed several garbed Advent standing against the rounded walls. "You are Lord Ryat, scion of High Psintegrat Br'shd," the woman in the middle stated. "I am," he responded, "What do you want." "Your grandfather was right," another woman to the right said, "The Advent has lost their way." "And what do you wish for me to do?" he said. "Help us," a third demanded. "After what you have done to us!" he shouted, "Do you realize the what you have destroyed in this 'losing your way' thing as you put it? And now you ask for help?" "We realize what we have done," a fourth, a man said, "And we realize it needs to stop before more is lost. Will you help us?" "No," Lord Ryat said defiantly. The Advent looked at each other. Then back at him. "You must," the first said. Lord Ryat simply looked at her defiantly. "Then I am sorry it has come to this," she said. The attack came swiftly, bearing down on Lord Ryat like a tornado of psi energy. He blocked it with contemptuous ease. The Advent looked at him stunted. "You do that again and I will kill you," Lord Ryat said with fire in his eyes, "I don't care about your remorse, your way or whatever it is you need help with. I only want to see your planets burn before me and your brains shattered." With that he whirled around and marched out of the room, leaving the stunted Advent looking at each other in fear.
(DS) Henry finishes up with his lecture and shakes hands with several dozen people who have more personalized questions for him. After spending a few minutes with each one he invites them to dinner to the Decla Bistro like Roesh had requested earlier in the day. Once he has a free moment he checks his messages and right away opens up the one from Casey. "What does he have planned..." Henry mutters to himself. He browses through the various security reports and spends the rest of his time at the conference addressing as many of the personal complaints from the attendees as possible. Roesh and Todd return from their sight seeing tour on the Phoenix and go their separate ways. Roesh heads to the town hall to meet with Casey, while Todd heads back to the conference to see if he can track down Lord Ryat to discuss some things about his ship. "Casey!" Roesh yells down the main hall once he arrives. She pops her head out the doorway of the office she's in, "What?" "Just seeing where you were." he says as he walks down the hall to join her. "Your crate was delivered to Decla's." "Good. Any chatter over the Unity you can tap into to see how things are going?" She shrugs, "Most everyone seems to be enjoying themselves as far as I can tell. Some are wondering if anything is going on at the Cadmon while they're here." "It's too bad we're not big enough to host regular events yet." "Yet." Casey says reassuringly. "Right. Yet..." "Something wrong?" she asks. "Can you get information out of Thenos if he shows up at tonight's dinner?" Roesh asks. "I don't know. Why?" "A Vasari prince showed up in a massive vessel earlier, so did the High Gryphons with the intent to sell the plans. The Flames of Vengeance are easily the biggest Advent player in the region and they have to have developed something equally as impressive." "He might not know anything about it. After all, he was practically kicked out and only allowed back in because they needed him for something." "Maybe not, but I don't think someone like him would let a military asset stay under his RADAR for too long. If he doesn't know about the current flagships, he will before the dinner, I'm making sure of that. If anything he's going to find out everything he can about what they've developed even if it's not ready to be deployed yet. Whatever he finds out, I want you to find out as well so that we're not surprised by anything coming from them in the future." "I just can't get rid of these guys." she mutters to herself. "I know, I know." Roesh says. "Dealing with them brings up a lot of bad memories, but we need to know these things. You have a personal connection that can be taken advantage of. I'd do it myself but I have other issues to handle tonight." "Like what?" Casey asks excited to get the inside scoop. "Like, don't worry about it." Roesh says sarcastically. Casey grins from ear to ear. "I'm gonna find out." "You better find out what the Flames have to counter these flagships rather then wasting your time on spying on me. Besides, Tim's far better at it then you." "But Marshal Powley is the best." she adds. "That he is, but he's busy keeping an eye on his own problems." "I'm gonna find out." she says again. Roesh yawns, "Nope, I'm too good." Casey's eyes narrow on him. Roesh stands up, "Well I need to head over to Decla's. You wanna go now?" "Sure." she says while standing up. The two head out of the town hall and head for the Bistro. Todd wanders around for a bit looking for anyone wearing High Gryphons attire. After several minutes he decides to use a different strategy and heads for a security station. "I need to use your locater." Todd says to the guard. "Of course sir." the guard says stepping aside to let Todd pass by. Pulling up a holovid feed of their earlier meeting in the day, he locks the image on Lord Ryat and lets the scanner track his location by following him around on all of the feeds combined. "There he is, chatting it up with other attendees." Todd says after he catches up with the present time. "If he walks off, let me know where he's at." he says to the guard. "Yes sir." the guard replies and starts to monitor the feed. Todd runs off to go catch up with him. Knowing all of the short cuts helps him catch up quickly. Once Ryat is in sight, Todd stops to catch his breath before approaching him. Once he's regained his composure, he walks up to the group. "Sorry, but I need to borrow the admiral for a minute." Todd says. Ryat walks off to the side with Todd. "She's a beautiful ship isn't she?" he says. "Absolutely." Todd agrees. "Why the removal of the fighter bays?" "I like my battleships to lay a lot of firepower down range. Converting the hanger bays, launching and landing strips, and the maintenance and storage compartments into a bulk missile launcher system seemed like a no brainer, especially when you're more then likely to have enough carriers with you to provide adequate fighter cover and bomber support if you're getting a ship like this involved." Ryat informs him. "I assume you have the technical data for it available right now?" Todd asks. "I do. Right here." Ryat says producing a datapad. "So what are you looking to get for it?" Todd asks. "Make an offer." Ryat says. "Just ball park it for me on what it cost you to build it." "I may not be a trained diplomat, but that doesn't mean I've never negotiated before." "I didn't insinuate that at all. I just have no idea of the cost to build one." Ryat smiles. "You know more then what you're pretending to." "Okay, so it's a Kol with more Kol stuff and parts from a Marza. The cost of the additional parts is negligible considering there's already dozens of manufacturing processes in place for all of them. So nothing new was invented. That means cost is relatively the same. What needs to be considered is the engineering involved. The time to not only put the designs on paper but do the proper research and test it to make sure it works." "Ryat nods his head at everything Todd says. "I'm impressed. What else do you know?" "Being a long time engineer and researcher myself, and knowing the ships the way I do, it would take considerable re-engineering to remove a core system and squeeze in one from another ship. It's not an easy task. Also considering the volatile nature of warheads and how much abuse a Kol is expected to take, the missile systems would have to be designed in such a way that they mitigate as much vibration from impacts and be fully protected from direct weapons fire." "Now I think you're just showing off." Ryat says. Todd laughs. "Not really. If I wanted to show off I'd get to designing something that can mop the floor with a Kol. Make it really huge. Star base sized yet still mobile enough to travel with the fleet." "Good to know." Ryat states. "I may have to work with you on that in the very near future." "That's all well and nice, but we need to come up with a price." "So what do you suggest?" Ryat asks. "Okay, we're getting no where here so I'm just going to end this stalemate... From what I've seen the ship itself costs no more then a Kol. I couldn't see myself paying any more then that to buy one used. There's lots of damage inside like you recycled an old hull." "I did. My old flagship became my new flagship." Ryat admits. "Besides that, your crew didn't seem to take too kindly with me hinting about buying it out from under them." "They are a fine crew who loves their ship." Ryat adds. "No doubt, so I think for us, purchasing the ship is off the table. We're already taking beatings from groups we don't even know about, no need to get some bad blood between us and a group we've always had courteous relations with." "Fair enough." Ryat states. "So that just leaves the cost of engineering to figure out." Todd pulls out his own data pad and digs through some numbers before ultimately producing a figure and showing it to Ryat. "Hmmm." Ryat hums while playing with numbers on his own datapad before showing it to Todd. "I think this is more like it." Todd laughs, "I'd be a fool to pay that, besides, my price was at least fair." "I have an empire to run." Ryat states with a grin. "Okay." Todd says while fudging up the numbers a bit. "How about this price, I get a copy of the specs now, you get the funds made available to you immediately, and since you're here to sell it to the highest bidders, I'll add it to our holovid ads to drum up interest and I'll dedicate a room for you to display your goods and you can quietly take bids silent auction style for the remainder of the conference." Ryat takes a good long time to think about it. A few minutes pass while he considers all of his alternatives while Todd prepares everything on his end should he agree. "I'm expecting to get more for it." Ryat says. "Yeah, but you're getting free advertising in an environment where ad time is at a premium, and allowing everyone to go somewhere and see the other bids will force them to out bid each other rather then you trying to convince them all separately, and it is a fair price. And if you want, I can start the bidding off with a fake bid." "I'm a bit hesitant, but you do make a good argument, and the ad time would definitely make things easier on me... So I think we have a deal." Ryat says before finally extending his hand. Todd shakes it. "Okay, here's a copy of the agreed upon terms." he says while allowing his and Ryat's datapads to connect to each other. After Ryat also allows the connection he says, "Here's a copy of the specs." Then after looking at the info he asks, "These funds are available right now?" "Yup. If you wanted to buy something, your account should reflect the change in a few seconds." Ryat switches to his account and watches his screen update with the new numbers. "No hold on the funds at all... How did you bypass the Central Bank Transfer Oversight?" "I didn't." Todd says while confirming he's got the full set of data from Ryat. "That would mean you would have had to have approved the transfer before we ever started talking..." Todd smiles and starts to walk away. As he's walking he says loud enough for Ryat to hear, "Not my first time negotiating either." "Huh." Ryat says more to himself then anything. "I can see why Roesh thinks so highly of him."
Pog Bodor of the Kira Faction can't help but cock her head to one side while looking at Alexander. Her blue lips part and she asks, "So why is it that you are here?"
The Admiral swirls the liquid in his glass while replying, "We're here to make our presence known. The invitation to this trade conference was fairly open."
"To those with something to offer," she says. "You possess a single planet, the resources garnered there going to another faction which provides your upkeep. As an economic power, you are impotent."
"Yes," a sheepish smile crosses his face as he continues, "well, we do try our best and, if nothing else, we do make it clear we are here."
"If nothing else," she repeats.
He nods and smiles, "Excuse me." As he walks away, he throws back the last contents of the cup and crosses the room to meet up with Borovsky who converses with John's Rough Riders.
The group laughs aloud, broken when one of the men asks, "What ever happened to that old Kodiak?"
Borovsky shrugs, "It was part of envoy that discovered the phase lane to Sagittarius horizon."
The laughter died down before the question arose, "What happened to the crew?"
"They were fine. The gravity sensors allowed them to jettison, escape before ship was pulled in."
A sigh of relief passes around the group and Borovsky continues, "Somewhere she is point of infinite density."
"To the Starbuck," one raises his glass, "it took a black hole to put her out of commission."
The others raise their glasses and tap them before finishing the contents within. Borovsky turns to Alexander and extends his hand, "Ah, everyone, meet Admiral Draakjacht."
The Rough Riders give casual salutes while Borovsky introduces those present, "These are old friends. This is Mohamed Rudio, Dario Maisto, and this man, dumb in the head, is Jarvis Fields."
Jarvis grins at the commentary while throwing a light salute. Alexander nods, "I hear the Rough Riders are known for quite the bravado."
They pass smiles between each other before giving affirmations. Before one can elaborate, Levin and Siegel approach, Levin asking, "Admiral, what are we doing here?"
"I take it you received the same reception as me?" Alexander asks.
"We're not traders. We don't have anything to offer these people."
"It's not just about trading."
"Fine, we're not a diplomatic force in this sector. We don't have any valuable information or resources. We can't afford to make mutual defense pacts with very many here."
Alexander nods, "I know. It seems pretty pointless. The good news is that upgrades are complete. We can head out after this comes to an end or at least starts to wind down. How was the lecture?"
Siegel rubs his eyes with one hand, "It's all economic theory and resource management. Doesn't much pertain to us."
Dario throws his hat into the conversation, "We know how you feel. Estrella and Robt eat that stuff up, but us stick jockeys don't get much from all this."
Alexander frowns at the results when a messenger approaches the group, handing them an invitation to a dinner at the Decla Bistro. Alexander reads it aloud, garnering high eyebrows and nods from the Rough Riders.
"Who all is joining me?"
Levin nods, "I'm able to make it."
Borovsky scrunches his neck, rubbing it against the collar, "I am willing if need be."
"It's not your thing, Captain. I think we both know that," Alexander says.
Borovsky grins in reply and Alexander nods, excusing the man. He turns to Siegel, who has been steadily moving himself toward a decorative, partial wall where he can take his weight off the cane. Alexander asks, "Are you up for it?"
Siegel rubs the back of his neck, "I can be there. I'm just kinda feeling..."
Alexander notices that Siegel's eyes are fixed on the ground and his posture, even with the wound, is lacking. Alexander cranes his head in an attempt to meet Siegel's eyes, "Are you okay, Captain?"
Siegel looks up, "I'm just not feeling at my best. Weak knee and all. It just takes a lot out of you."
Alexander and Siegel hold their stares for a moment, neither one believing what was just said. Alexander nods, "Okay, you don't have to come. Just try to take it easy. If anything interesting comes of this, we'll let everyone know."
Alexander and Levin depart from the group while Borovsky gives Siegel a firm pat on the back followed by an introduction to the Rough Riders and some of their interesting stories the captain was witness to.
(DS) Roesh and Casey arrive at the Decla Bistro and go over final preparations with the staff. Casey assures Roesh that she'll be back in time for the presentation and then wanders off. A crowd of people have already started to gather at the doors having seen the advertisements all day long. The staff increasingly becomes excited knowing it's going to be a packed house for most of the night. Upon Roesh's insistence, they open up the doors early and let the trade conference attendees all be seated in the various halls in the periphery, reserving the main dining area for those military personnel who are expected to show up. The kitchen roars to life and the wait staff turns into a swarm of bodies that any beehive would be proud to have. The smell of food fills the air increasing the appetites of those already seated. As the various groups of military people arrive, they show their ID's at the door and they are escorted to their seats. The clock winds down as the main dining area fills up. When Draakjacht, Oranos, J'rah, and Thenos each show up, they are taken to the head table in front of everyone else. Roesh watches the clock and a few minutes before the meal is to begin, he wonder's where Casey has run off to. He excuses himself from the table and heads into the kitchen to discretely try and locate her. While he's accessing a communication terminal, she walks in through the back door. "Cutting it close aren't we?" Roesh asks rhetorically. "I had to go and change." Casey replies. "Nice uniform. Tim know you borrowed one from fleet?" "It's not borrowed, he gave me one. I even bought new boots to go with it. Cute huh?" she says holding a foot out to show them off. Roesh just sighs and shakes his head. "Just be ready to present the medals when I call you." He walks out of the kitchen and back to the table and sees that Henry and Todd have shown up finally as well. Todd stops him before he can get back to his seat. "So I bought those plans and already sent a copy of it off to our shipyards. Tim is extremely excited to have a ship of his own again." Todd says after Roesh leans down. "Good. How much did it set us back?" Roesh asks. "About the cost of a Kol for the specs. It'll cost us at least that much to build one, probably more, but once it's finished, I can't wait to see it in action. I have every available hand working on it so we can field it as soon as possible." Roesh stands up tall and starts to walk away muttering. "Like a kid in a candy store." He reaches his seat and looks at the clock. Seeing it's past the time he presses a button on the wall behind him that sends out a soft tone three times getting everyone to quiet down. Once he has everyone's attention he begins. "I'd like to thank each and every one of you for being here tonight. I'm not going to go on and on about why everyone is here tonight... Because we all know it's the free food." The room fills with a good amount of laughter that quickly dies off. "This means a lot to Henry and myself. When a serious problem happens and you find yourself caught unaware, or unable to adequately respond to it before things start to spiral out of control, it's important to know that there are those out there in the universe that will lend you a hand. We needed a hand just a couple of days ago and all of you here and many more not here came through for us in a big way. Your quick response to action allowed us to quickly stop a minor conflict from gaining strength and destroying a town, and prevent thousands of lost lives. Your service and sacrifices will not be forgotten. You have our deepest thanks and we'd like to give everyone who saw action a medal for their service. Casey, if you would please come out." Casey strolls out from the kitchen wearing the medal and associated ribbon on her uniform. When she walks in the front of the room she receives dozens whistles from guys out in the crowd. Several holovids turn on displaying the medal and ribbon in question. "Gentlemen." Roesh interrupts things before they get out of control. "I'd like to remind you that you're getting the medals, not what's behind the uniform." The room fills with laughter again which dies off quickly as Casey walks behind the head table to a much smaller one and picks up four small boxes. "I'm just going to briefly explain everything and wrap this up so you can all get to your well deserved meals. The medal has a representation of Finley 1 where the activities took place. On either side are a pair of star, one for each service who was present and participated in the actions in some capacity to assist us. Below it is the Free Trader logo to not only represent us, but also to let others know who awarded you the medal and where they should look to find out why if they so desire. The ribbon is green to represent us here in Finley, the blue stripe in the center represents Finley 1 where the activities took place, and the pair of flanking white stripes, one stripe for each star on the medal, again represents each service that came to our assistance." Casey hands a small case to Draakjacht, Oranos, J'rah, and Thenos, each one containing a medal and ribbon. The crowd applauds as she hands each one out. Roesh quiets the room down once she's taken her seat which he conveniently put next to Thenos. "You each will receive the same thing during the course of your meal, so please don't leave without it, otherwise you'll have to wait until after the conclusion of the conference before you can request one. Again, you have our deepest thanks. Please enjoy your meals." Roesh sits down and clapping fills the restaurant, even from the conference attendees who happened to be listening in on what was being said. The wait staff immediately starts serving everyone their meals which causes the applause to die off and the sounds of a busy restaurant to take over. "You know..." Thenos says to Casey. "I know we said our good byes already, but the universe keeps throwing us back together." "I just wonder how much influence you've had in all of this." Casey says forcing Thenos to return to attending to his own meal. Through the Unity he picks up a couple of her stray thoughts, one about her boots and another about the big ships at the star Roesh told her about. He immediately relays the thought to his crew on the Revenge to find out more about them. He casually throws out the comment, "Cute boots by the way." and goes back to eating his meal. She looks down at them and smiles and happily asks, "You think so?" He chuckles. "I don't get you. One second you seem pissed off at me, the next like nothing is wrong." "It's been a really rough couple of weeks. I've just got a lot on my mind lately." "Like what?" "The trouble on the planet. It's kind of my fault." "Don't say that. A few bigots and their old hatreds caused that. Not you." Casey just shrugs his support off. "And back to cold we are." he mumbles. She ignores the comment and goes back to eating her meal for a few minutes before commenting. "It's not only that stuff on the planet, but I just found out about two big ships at the star. I'm just worried about my friends out there. I don't like not knowing." Thenos uses the Unity again to question his crew on what they've found out but otherwise remains silent at the table. After a few moments of silence she continues, "First the Vasari prince shows up with one, pretty soon they'll all have one... Then the TEC shows up with one and wants to earn money by selling off the info on how to build them, so pretty soon everyone will have one except you." "I don't know if I should take that as concern for my safety or rubbing it in." Thenos says. Casey thinks about it for a second and smiles. "Maybe both." "But probably closer to rubbing it in." Thenos adds. Casey giggles slightly and goes back to eating. "Don't worry. It won't take long for me to be back on equal footing." Thenos says and resumes eating his meal as well.
(DS Personal) Long after the meal is over, Roesh returns to the now mostly empty convention complex. The only people around are security, porters, and various maintenance teams cleaning and fixing the place up for the second day's events. He heads to the main security office to meet with the sergeant who is heading up the investigation from the fight earlier in the morning. "Good evening sir." The sergeant says upon seeing Roesh. "Have you interviewed everyone?" Roesh asks. "Yes sir, everyone has been questioned and the feeds from this moring have been reviewed." "So what do you think?" "My preliminary report is that these three from the Kagan Dominion are legitimately here for the trade conference. As you can see when the violence starts, these three take cover and otherwise refuse to get involved in anything. The other five I believe are here specifically for what we saw happen. On the Samtabeen Counsel side, I believe these three are here legitimately for the convention, and the others are here because they are aware the Dominion people are going to try something, so they evened up the odds." "Where are these three now?" Roesh asks pointing to the three that tried to take cover. The sergeant looks at his datapad, "The two females, Sorcha Piernatzski and Gayle Dohring are just down the hall, the male Tofeeq Siddiqui is in the next building over." "Have them released but inform them that we are keeping an extremely close eye on them." Roesh says to another security guard standing in the room who immediately leaves to carry out his orders. "This one and this one are sisters." Roesh says pointing to Ariel and Janelle. "Yes sir. Everyone on the Kagaan Dominion side says she was kidnapped, whereas everyone on the Samtabeen Counsel side says she came to them of her own free will. I put in a request with each of their respective governments for more information but I don't expect any cooperation." Watching the feed play to it's conclusion Roesh asks, "Are all of those being treated for injury out of the hospital?" "Yes sir. Alain Bernard, the one who was tackled and attacked psychically was taken to the Tver, tested because of the phsychic attack, cleared, and locked up as per your orders. Conan Apakov, the man we shot in the shoulder was in surgery for an hour to repair the damage done and then taken to the local jail here on Adler. Last I checked he was locked in the infirmiry quietly resting and recovering. Harriet Rivera was treated for a mild concussion caused by a blow to the head from security and then also taken to the jail's infirmiry until she became problematic and was then moved to solitary. Lillian Kidd, the female who was shot when you were getting involved underwent surgery and was just recently cleared to be moved to the jail's infirmiry. I've yet to get an update on her status." "The other main instigator?" Roesh asks while pointing to the female who was fighting with Alain Bernard. "Annie Green, she was also taken to the Tver and locked up as per your order immediately following the fight. The only other person we have in jail is Melody Markopoulos. She is the one who shot the other girl and is currently begging for forgiveness. The rest are being held here on the complex still." "Which two tackled Alain Bernard?" "These two sir." the sergeant says pointing out Javier Kim and Isaac Sparks. "Have Mr. Bernard asked if he wants charges filed against them for assault. He's probabl going to say yes, so just have them transferred to the jail anyway while we wait for the official answer." "Yes sir." the sergeant says nodding to another guard who walks out of the room to carry out the new orders. "Soooooo..." Roesh muses. "What to do with these four? They're going to be a problem, but they didn't do anything yet." "If you're asking for my opinion, I'd release them. I have no justification to hold them because of something the may or may not do." the sergeant says. "I wish it were that simple." Roesh says while standing up. Continue holding them, I'll talk to each one and decide what to do. Thanks for your report Sergeant." The sergeant salutes and Roesh walks away. Roesh makes his way to the closest of the four, the Advent male. He walks in and has the guard wait outside. "Mario Andrews, correct?" Roesh asks. "Why am I being held for so long, I didn't do anything..." Mario replies. "So are you or are you not Mario Andrews?" "Yes I am." he answers rather annoyed. "I find myself in a difficult position, Mario." Roesh says calmly while sitting down at the table opposite of him. "I have to decide what to do here. You see, I've already released three members of the Kagann Dominion. According to analysis of holovid feeds as well as their statements, we believed them to be legitimately here for the trade conference. I think the same thing about you. The difference is, while they backed off and avoided conflict, you didn't. So you can apreciate my concern over what might happen in the future. I know those three aren't looking for a fight, but are you?" "No... Of course not." Mario states. Roesh stares him down. "I'm not really convinced of that, but since I'm in a relatively good mood, I'm going to give you a choice. You can stay here and be locked up like everyone else, or I can have you escourted to your ship where you will immediately leave this system and not come back." Mario thinks for a few moments. "I must return home and report all of this. Be prepared to answer for your actions today." "Save your sermon." Roesh says cutting him off. "Let's go." They both stand up and Roesh opens the door for him. He instructs the guard to escort him back to his ship and to notify fleet to kick him out of the system. The guard nods and walks off with Mario. Roesh walks to the next door and goes inside to talk with Ariel. "Can I see my sister yet?" she asks before Roesh can say anything. "You're not hungry or anything?" "No, I just want to take Janelle home and be done with everything here." "She didn't really want to talk to me earlier." "She will to me. Can I see her?" Ariel begs. "What if she doesn't?" "She will. Please let me see her." Ariel continues to beg. Roesh considers his options. "Come with me." he finally says to her. She springs up from her seat and rushes to the door. They walk out together and Roesh has the guard come along. He stops at a room at the end of the hall and has them wait outside while he enters and sends the guard out to wait with them. "You must be Marcelo Booth." Roesh says. "And you must be the man deciding my fate for tonight." Marcelo says in response. "An astute observation." Roesh says while sitting down in front of him. Marcelo nods and asks, "So what's going to happen with me?" "I'm not sure yet. Why are you here?" "Honestly?" "At this point in the day, I'd very much prefer it." "I'm just here with Ariel. I don't give a damn about the conference." "So you two are a couple." "No... Not at all. We've just been friends for a very long time. We're practically family." "So being that you've been friends for a very long time and are practically family, then you know all about..." Roesh let's his voice trail off. "Janelle. Ariel's sister." Marcelo volunteers. "Right, Janelle." "Yes, I am her friend too." "So the plan was to come here and scoop her up and take her back with you." "There was no plan." Marcelo claims. "I thought you were going to be honest with me." Roesh says sternly. "You planned on coming here, grabbing her and taking her back home. That's why you brought enforcers along with you. Only you didn't count on them bringing some of their own along." "No, honestly, there was no plan... Yes we brought people along to help... But it was all so last minute." "Which resulted in a spectacular failure, people got hurt, and almost everyone involved now gets to spend time in jail. What would you have done if you managed to grab her? It's well documented that even the uninitiated can put up a strong resistance." "I guess I would have had to do whatever needed to be done." "Sure you would have." Roesh says sarcastically to egg him on. "You look like the type that wouldn't be able to stomach what it takes to snap them out of their mind clouding trances. Yeah, you're a quitter. You'd let them down by failing at that too." "I would do what I needed to for my friends." He says quite annoyed. Roesh laughs, "Now you've reverted back to lying to me again. What happened to the honesty?" Marcelo slams his hands down on the table and yells, "I am not!" "We'll see if you have the balls." Roesh says as he stands up and walks over to the door. "Come on." Marcelo stand up and follows him out the door not really sure what to make of what just happened. Once he walks out, Ariel rushes up and embraces him. "Marc." is all she says while he hugs her back. "Thank you gentlemen, you may go home." Roesh says to the guards who happily oblige him. The three of them walk to the next building where Janelle is being held. Roesh stops them at the door and tells them to wait outside. He enters and walks over to the table where she's still strapped to the chair and lying on the floor. He sits down in front of her. She does nothing but glare at him causing him to smile. "Are you going to talk to me yet?" he asks. She says nothing prompting him to stand up and walk behind her. He grabs by her arm with one hand and grabs the chair with the other and pulls them both up to their proper position. He then walks back to the door and let's the other two come in. "Why is she chained up like an animal?" Ariel says upon seeing her. "I told you she wasn't being cooperative." Roesh answers. Janelle starts to curse at Roesh and yell out what he did to her. Ariel looks at him horrified. Marcelo steps closer to Ariel and says, "I'm sure this is just some Advent fantasy invented to get us to turn on each other. Roesh just stands there slightly amused at hearing what Marcelo just said. Ariel walks over to her sister's side. Janelle shifts her body in an attempt to move away from her. "See, her mind is so clouded she doesn't even recognize her own sister." Marcelo says. "We just can't trust anything she says." "If it were up to me..." Roesh says, "I'd start working on snapping her out of whatever it is she's on. We all know they've probably got her filled up with more drugs then a hospital cabinet." "How do we fix her?" Ariel asks. Roesh looks at Marcelo and says, "I'm going to wait outside." Marcelo nods and as Roesh walks out, he explains a few things to Ariel that make her cringe. Roesh walks away for nearly thirty minutes busying himself with a few things before returning to see Ariel standing outside of the door in tears. Roesh looks in and sees Marcelo standing over a bruised up Janelle. "I didn't think he'd do it." Roesh mutters as he walks in. "I think we're making progrss, she's saying she just wants to go back home." Marcelo tells him. "Who's home? Yours or theirs?" Roesh asks. "Nevermind, it doesn't really matter." "So what do we do now?" "I've made arrangements for you to get her out of here." Roesh says while walking over to a cabinet and pulling out some linens. He cuts out a small chunk and balls it up. "Here. Stuff this in her mouth and gag her with this. Don't want the little princess to be screaming and making a lot of noise if she wakes up early." Marcelo looks at him funny, "What do you mean wakes up early?" Roesh pulls out a small device and presses it to her neck. It injects a drug into her that almost instantly knocks her out. He then unties her from the chair and ties her limbs back together. He throws another linen over her to completely cover her up. "I assume you're going to carry her." Roesh says. Marcelo nods and picks her up over his shoulder. They walk out of the door and Roesh leads them down the hall. "I've deactivated the security feeds so that if you head straight South, you can get to a small street without being spotted. There's a man waiting for you there. He'll get you all the way back home without your Advent friends ever knowing about it." Marcelo asks, "We're being smuggled?" Roesh nods. Areil walks up to him, "I don't know why you're helping and I don't really care. I'm just happy to have my sister back." "If you want to thank me, convinve who ever you did to let you come along to sign a trade agreement with us." Roesh says. She smiles and hugs him and she and Marcelo rush off to the South. Roesh makes his way back to the security station and makes the official note on the records that all four of the people he talked to were released from being detained. He looks at the night shift guard sitting near the door and then back at the terminal in front of him. "It's been a long day." he says out loud before standing up and heading for the exit. "Good night, sir." the guard says. "Yeah. Good night." Roesh says back. He then makes his way to the main entrance and has a sky cab take him back to his hotel room.
Z was ushering Bella – who was busy eating her cream pies – through one of the large, modernistic and no doubt ergonomically sound corridors of the conference center. The others had all gone to their prearranged functions, no doubt hammering out trade deals and generally doing what he paid them to do. Though Gerad Aromath had already flirted and exchanged numbers with a brunette analyst from the Tonda corporation. Boy that was quick, as long as it didn’t affect business or maybe it could help negotiations.
“C’mon we’re going to be late”, said Z as he hurried down what were no doubt state-of-the-art floor tiles (he was starting get a bit peeved by the blatant displays of wealth and power, of course he’d been to better places, even owning a few himself *cough* *cough*).
“Why are you… so anxious to go some… lectures,” her response was punctuated by frequent pauses as she ate more cream pie “you’re like the… warlord or dictator of an entire… system, I want to sit down and eat”.
Z sighed, “Firstly I’m the military commander-in-chief, the civil decisions are left to the board and planetary authorities. Secondly its important to make a good impression to our hosts and get noticed by all the other delegations, since we’re in a strategically important area who knows what offers might come up from TEC, Advent or Vasari empires?” Z was starting to get nervous discussing this as people were moving past them.
“Mm”, Bella responds noncommittally while chewing. It should be noted by now that Z had all but given up trying to stop her from talking with her mouth full.
“It’s you!” called out a startled but angry female voice from behind.
Z and Bella turn to see a white robed figure marching towards them. On closer inspection it turned out she was an Advent, though looking barely above twenty her face was twisted into an expression of unmistakable fury but it looked like she was alone. Unfortunately it didn’t look like there were any security officers in the vicinity so they were on their own until surveillance picked them up.
“Raosack Zaroday, the Butcher of Galkod” her voice simmered with anger “I’ve waited a long time to meet you”.
“Why hello to you to”, Z said grinning in just the way to aggravate her more, “Who might you be? And where did we last meet?
“You murdered half my family when you exterminated the Galkod system and killed two aunts and a sister when you massacred Advent prisoners of war” rage permeated through her shaking body but it seemed she wasn’t going to attack him in a neutral venue. She continued, “Do you feel satisfied with your crimes when you sleep with that whore?”
Z’s eyes narrowed in anger at the insult to Bella, “Ah… Galkod system, Aphrior Sector, Trader Space, that was nearly five years ago when I was a Rear Admiral. You’re remarkably uninformed though, you must have been out of the system, let me tell you what actually happened”, his suddenly cold voice shocked her into silence as she listened, “I didn’t kill the Advent prisoners since I never took them prisoner, the vacuum killed them for me, when the containment in their escape pods failed”, a choked sound came in response to his words, “I had a smaller fleet than the Advent faction in the sector so I allied with the local Vasari, the D’aum Legion who had a score to settle, I then drew your fleet out and we destroyed it in a combined ambush. Still”, he admitted grudgingly “your people fought well and caused significant losses, since I was in a hurry to invade before word reached Galkod I only picked up my emergency pods and went on, leaving the Advent prisoners for the Vasari. I assume they took some as slaves”, the words didn’t seem to reassure her, “but I later learned they didn’t bother to make a thorough search since their slave holds were almost full so I assume most of your people died”.
His adversary looked on the verge of tears as she pictured the horrible deaths of her aunts and sister. He pushed on relentlessly telling her the truth though taking a guilty satisfaction at her distress. He really disliked Advent for his own personal reasons.
“When I reached Galkod I had very few nukes for planetary bombardment due to an inventory error so I got the Ogrov’s to nail your orbital habitat’s, trade stations, defenses and generally cut of contact with the rest of the Unity”.
“You can’t cut contact with the Unity, Trader bigot” she replied angrily.
“I respectfully disagree”, Z said with a cold smile “when I wiped out most of the food sources I simply waited your people out, I never ‘exterminated’ Galkod or ‘murdered’ your family, starvation did it for me”. Now she was moaning softly at Z’s wretched story, “Though I believe your council was partly to blame, when they heard my fleet couldn’t bombard them into annihilation they thought they could wait for their fleet to return, they sentenced their entire system to starve on the off chance I was lying to them. They foolishly refused to surrender, though I’m probably should have taken time to slow down and take some prisoners to prove it. I never killed them directly, just destroyed the majority of their food, which was in orbital habitats and then firebombed your pitifully few planetary crops and herds. Still your leaders held out for several weeks while common people starved, they kept faith in the unity for deliverance, it didn’t. I stormed a few of the asteroids – your people didn’t fight well on empty belly’s – and waited for the planetary colonies to starve”.
“No… the Advent whispered softly, “You monster, how could you kill them all like that?”
“I didn’t, after two months I still hadn’t been resupplied with nukes due to pirate raids on supply convoys, your council had died in the food riots so I struck a deal with the Vasari, as a gesture of goodwill I let their slavers into the system and they took the remaining survivors as slaves, the D’aum Legion made a killing that day. I heard up to 80 percent of the population starved with the survivors reverting to cannibalism so I reckon I was doing them a favor”.
Z realized in hindsight he shouldn’t have sounded so callous as the woman straightened up paradoxically with a completely serene expression. Z suspected he had pushed her over the edge, beyond anger and still there were no security personnel. Bloody hell Roesh where in the heck was your people? They should have come while Z was busy recounting the story. Then his heart sank, to surveillance cameras it probably looked like a normal conversation instead of a time delaying tactic. The Advent’s eyes narrowed as she concentrated power. A rising headache and a pervasive presence in his mind told him that even if the Advent woman wasn’t fully combat trained she’d get the job done soon, replacing discipline with raw anguish and fury.
The headache turns into a shattering migraine and Z grunts as his hands start shaking. An intellectual part of him notes that the holovid feeds should be picking this up so there should be no doubt as to who was the aggressor. Mostly though, his existence is filled with mind-numbing pain as he relives negative life experiences. In a sick sort of poetic payback she digs up his most painful memories and replays. The detached part of him notes to never again rile up even a halfway powerful Advent to the point of losing her composure, especially when in striking distance.
Flashes… being taken away from everything familiar, the only people he knew… loneliness… learning an art long forgotten, thought obsolete… returning home to find ruins and ashes… hatred… shadows of people once treasured… loathing…
Whether in a fit of quick thinking or panic he never knew. The cream pie found itself plastered on the furious Advent’s face. Concentration broken, she cried out and staggered back. Exhausted, she tried to gasp but was well… impeded by the cream pie, which she quickly shook off.
Z reeled as the attack broke off, the tendrils being suddenly ripped out. Seeing the security personnel rushing in he judged the situation under control. He noticed Bella had already started on the second cream pie though he suspected it could be used as an improvised weapon at a moments notice if the situation deteriorated. The guards collared the Advent and escorted both parties to a security station.
There a supervisor on duty named Anton Rains was informed of what had transpired when he questioned the two of them.
“So it looks like from the holovid feed that she attacked first with a powerful mental attack, are you feeling alright admiral?”
Z nodded, “yeah but I’m a little shaken, is Bella in trouble?”
“Well since it was in self-defense she’s off the hook but didn’t she know that disrupting an invasive mind attack could have been dangerous?”
“Well… I don’t like to talk about it but she has memory and behavioral problems as well as cognitive issues”.
“Oh… okay never mind that then, as long as public order isn’t dierupted”, Rains appeared uncomfortable.
“Anyway, now I’m in contact with the authorities when can I negotiate a trade agreement?” Z was starting to get tired of lectures; he wanted to start with the important matters.
“I think that’s above my pay grade sir, Rains said dryly, “though I’ll send the message up the line, we’ll get back to you soon”.
“So I assume this matter is closed then?” Z queried.
“One last thing, do you want to press charges for the attack?”
“Hmm…” Z grimaced at the memories, “I’d rather like an interview with my assailant if that could be arranged, no one was seriously hurt, and pressing charges would be a misuse of your legal system”.
“Alright sure, that can be arranged”, Rains said gratefully glad that he wasn’t getting more paperwork.
She felt alone, drifting aimlessly. At every moment hating the collar around her neck. It felt wrong. Though she shouldn’t have caused trouble, lost her cool like that. After the 2nd chance she’d gotten and the new life she’d forged in Distant Stars it was the worst way she could have paid back her benefactors. But seeing him again… opened old wounds, the monster responsible for so much destruction grinning like that… seemed wrong. Now, stuck in neutral if not hostile territory what could she do now? She discovered she did not care. Now her mind was confused, in the process of gaining her revenge she’d opened his innermost secrets saw what made him tick and found that they were not so different. It scared her.
The door opened, a Trader stepped in. He asked for her name. Asuya. He went on talking but she didn’t pay attention to him, making noncommittal noises and monosyllable answers. He left. Soon after that, the man she’d loathed for four years stepped in. He was tall, had brown hair under his regulation TEC admirals hat. Cold grey eyes… It was the second she’d seen him in the flesh and it seemed unreal one man could cause much devastation.
“So… Asuya, do you want me to press charges?” He asked carefully.
She looked around, there were guards visible; she couldn’t do anything. At the same time she didn’t want to cause her new people more embarrassment. She shook her head.
“Then tell me”, his hands were pressed onto the desk, those grey cold eyes were staring at her, inscrutable. “How much did you take?”
She was unsure whether to tell the truth or not. But another look into those eyes dissuaded her from deception. “I know why you hate us so much”. Asuya laughed harshly, “its hard to hate someone who hates for the same reason as you do, I wasn’t expecting that when I entered your mind”. She felt sick, “it’s a vicious cycle, you hurt someone and they want to hurt you back”. Asuya felt a strange impulse, “I can help her you know; the damage can be healed”. It astonished her that she wanted to help someone who’d taken so much from her but she wanted some solace. She still hated him, but knowing the reason for that hate mollified her somewhat.
Zaroday looked like he wanted to slap her but there was a flare of hope in eyes. Wordlessly he walked away.
Soon she was released from confinement with a warning to control her temper.
As he walked away Z was so busy lost in his thoughts he almost walked into a pylon. Could she be lying? He wasn’t so lost in hate that he couldn’t look for a pragmatic solution.
As Rotskull emerged from his quarters with a tired smile on his face, he took a few steps out of the door and looked to one of the two guards by the door. Casually, he said, "Razor, go escort the tasty pet elsewhere." The guard suddenly had a horrified look on his face as he started to yell, "Oh hell no, I am not doing that again! Maybe if you left them in at most three pieces then it wouldn't be so bad!" All emotion quickly faded from Rotskull's face before he said, "Then previous efforts should not have made me so happy. Now go do so before I find out how tasty you can be." With a hesitant sigh, Razor turned towards the door. After a brief moment, he looked back and asked, "Want me to clear our the engineer guy? He's been hanging up there for a while and he smells pretty bad." After thinking about it for a moment, he replied, "Strip it down and hang its bones. It still gets me off." As Rotskull walked towards the bridge, he pulled out his mobile communicator and asked, "We about to light up the stars?" Kendra answered, "No, there's a Jolly Roger in the way. I've been ignoring his calls for you to arrive since I think he's one of our customers. And not a happy one." Upon entering the bridge, Rotskull said, "Main screen turn on." The comm screen blinked to a pirate with two scars down the middle of his forehead and a short beard. His older appearance helped to magnify the look of anger on his face. He quickly yelled to Rotskull, "Those damn generators you gave me wiped out my fleet! Now hand over command of yours or I'll rip you apart myself!" Rotskull glanced at his tactical reading and saw the ship was at 84% hull with no support ships in sensor range. He then dismissively waved a hand towards the screen and casually said, "No refunds, all sales are final, open fire." The comm link cut out as the two Jolly Rogers began to fire upon one another. The Bone-Rot fired at a slightly faster rate with an increased energy output. The rest of Rotskull's fleet watched patiently as the lone Jolly Roger had its armor cleaved and burned off with relative ease. As the Jolly Roger had pieces shatter off of it, it ceased fire and turned away. The Bone-Rot ceased fire itself and allowed its opponent to limp away from the gravity well. Rotskull looked over to Kendra and said, "Do you truly why it feels defeat? It strikes out of anger without fun. Let the pup flee and next time it may feel joy before I put it to sleep." Kendra simply said, "He was outclassed and outmatched. At least now we know how the Hell's Shadows benefit us." Rotskull chuckled for a moment. "The title stuck. Now that we're finished with Black Five, we will lick clean our wounds as we travel. Spot, send us on our way so we can all have fun."
The pirate ship came out of no where it seemed. One moment, the Advent patrol of two Destra Cruisers with five Disciples and three Defense frigates were orbiting the dead pirate base in peace. The next a Jolly Roger pirate vessel tore through the phase normal space barrier and fired its Overcharged Ion into one of the Destra's knocking it out of formation with its own systems slowly killing it. The rest turned upon the pirate ship as it focused its laser cannons upon the other Destra. Another pirate ship came into normal space, an Advent Halycon with pirate markings which initially gave the Advent pause until it opened up with its red slicing laser beams. A Defense frigate fell quickly to the onslaught. The rest began to scatter as more pirate ships came pouring in but it was too late as the whole defending squadron died. Privateers and Rogues chased after the Advent trade ships as the Corsairs began their devastation upon the infrastructure in the gravwell. Ching Shih onboard the Jolly Roger in a sour mood. That attack had gone well, but her cohort was missing. "Where's that fuckin' asshole!?" she said in a loud voice. "There's no sign of 'im at the rondevo, ma'am," came the response. Ching glowered at her tactical screen as she watched the automatic defenses build themselves. The massive starbase with a highly illegal AI in control installed in it was the centerpiece of the whole net. One that would slow down the Advent fleet that would be arriving soon. "Well he has twenty hours to get here or his ass is mine," she said with a growl.
(OOC: this post was all Draackjacht's work and I'd like to give credit where its due)
Lunch has yet to arrive when a bartender finds himself slightly put out by the arrival of two gentlemen simultaneous to the beginning of his shift, a time he normally reserves to organizing his materials and ensuring the setting, a contemporary and ergonomic twist on a classic, oak-dressed bar, is polished to the likes which diplomats and aristocrats have become not just accustom to, but expect. The two men eating up the otherwise elegant space are welcome, being guests of the current occasion, but at the same time drink and talk in a manner unfitting of most in attendance. One is a military commander, a broad, thickly bearded, boisterous man with a thick, Russian accent and only small breaks in his English which go unnoticed, Senior Captain Nicolai Borovsky of the David's Lions and commander of the DLS Isaac, a battle hardened Kol of the Blue Fleet. The other is an athletic trade negotiator, sporting a sharply defined jawline that frames his Romanesque nose and characteristic smirk, one which grabs the attention of women and draws them in so his brushed back hair with the slight curls at the ends can charm them into whatever position he desire, Gerad Aromath of the Renaissance Eagles and Ethean diplomat specialized in trade and treaty negotiations.
Borovsky holds onto a shot of vodka, the pungent liquid soon disappearing down his throat, but the tell-tale vapors continuing to alert any passerby of it's past presence. Aromath holds a rocks glass, a small amount of ice drifting amidst the amber tint of the scotch, small portions, just larger than sips, being drawn from the vessel with regularity. Until this moment, the small amounts of shop talk have been thoroughly encompassed by jokes, tales, and generally vulgar thoughts relayed without heed for appropriately indoor voices.
Aromath looks over at a blonde walking by, her top too ornate to give away her proportions, but her skirt hugging tightly onto the toned set of legs and well-rounded buttocks that move her on past. He grins at the sight, not taking notice of Borovsky smiling in his direction, shaking his head as the sight of such distraction strikes him with amusement.
Aromath looks back, "Pardon me, I was checking out the wildlife."
Borovsky lifts his empty glass, "Da, do as you wish. Is game for young man."
"So what was it you were saying?"
Borovsky takes a hard sniff as he turns the glass, placing it on the bar over top the loose drops, "I was saying that we Lions have little to offer in technology and resource. We give what we make to these people," he designates the Free Traders by lifting his hands, slightly rotating to draw Aromath's attention to their surroundings, "and they give us much support in return."
"How many planets do you actually have in this sector? One system's worth? Two?"
Borovsky bobs his head side to side, "Is more like one."
"One system's worth?"
"One planet."
Aromath's eyes widen, "How do you supply your men?"
Borovsky's eyes bounce about in bewilderment as he raises his hands, repeating the same gesture and forcing a laugh from Aromath.
"Understood," Aromath continues, "I am to understand that you are highly dependent on outside assistance for your supply. What about the vessels standing guard at Finley I? Are they part of a lend-lease program?"
"Nyet," Borovsky's arms wave emphatically, his hand knocking over the glass he previously set down, it now rolling about the bar harmlessly and attracting the wary eyes of the bartender. "Those are our vessels. We owe our strength to none."
"Good," Aromath nods as he takes another sip. "Our humble, little system is the picture of the modern frontier. Our economy, although not impoverished, is in its earliest stages, with great potential to flourish. Of course... hold on."
An Advent woman walks past some distance away. Despite her obvious alignment, the flowing, translucent cloth which flows over her form gives away no sign of undergarments and her taut body plucks at the diplomat's senses. He turns back as she rounds a corner and disappears from sight, "I apologize. As I was saying, there is a price to pushing for greater economic growth. After all, it takes money to make money."
Borovsky allows his smile to fade before responding, "Da, but we are without ability to invest."
"Exactly! You have a powerful fleet. I mean, even an economic giant such as the Free Traders has you at their side to stand guard over such an important event."
Borovsky shrugs, attempting to suppress a smile.
"I'm thinking we should form a Mutual Defense Agreement, a treaty where our forces work to defend the other in times of crisis, relieving the need to split resources between military and civil growth."
"Is sound good, but we have military and little economy to grow."
"Correct, but with trade vessels moving securely, we can encourage our merchants and financiers to move in your direction, making use of whatever resources possible. Even a small amount of growth becomes the means to reinvest and continue in an upward trend. Besides, you would gain access to a system's worth of trade networks while our economic gain is but one planet. Our gain lies in the security of your fleet's presence should we come under attack."
Borovsky brushes his beard while contemplating the offer until Admiral Draakjacht approaches, saying, "Captain, I was looking for you so I could... whoa," he pauses to reel back and wave away the fumes before him. "Captain, please tell me you haven't slept any during the night."
"I did sleep some time," Borovsky shrugs.
"Okay, so this is a morning for you. So much for making it till lunch."
"Admiral, this is Gerad Aromath with the Renaissance Eagles. He has made us a much interesting proposition."
Alexander forgoes wiping the tears from his eyes to shake the extended hand of the diplomat. "Fleet Admiral Draakjacht of the David's Lions. Nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Aromath replies.
"So what is this proposition you speak of," Alexander asks as he wipes his eyes.
"I was explaining to the Captain here that our fleets, acting together under a Mutual Defense Agreement, would be able to free up a great deal of resources to increase economic growth on both our parts."
"Yes, a fairly basic tenet of the TEC. What would be your required minimum response to an emergency?"
"It would be ideal if we knew well ahead what we were to be facing, but, without that knowledge, might I suggest a response of roughly two hundred units worth of force? I'm speaking in terms of raw manpower, nothing more. The details would be subject to the availability of force."
Alexander watches as the bartender comes by, dropping another shot of vodka, a service Borovsky has put on retainer. Borovsky reaches for the drink, Alexander reaching out slightly faster and pushing the glass out of the Captain's reach before he can grasp it. Borovsky's shoulders slump.
"We can keep Green Fleet on alert as a minimum resource. That's six capital vessels available at a minimum. Can you match that?"
"I do believe we can," Aromath nods. "Would you have a trade facility already available for arriving merchants?"
"We've had them ready for some time. You do understand that this a defensive pact. If you are attacked, we are available to aid, but any acts of aggression on your part remain your own business, no matter how poor you fare."
"Completely understood, Admiral. I can assure you that our intentions are not to pull you into some conflict of our own creation. I give you my word."
"Good, I can send the basics to a Junior Captain Shor in orbit of Finley I and you two can finalize the plans."
Aromath drinks down the last of the scotch before placing the glass on the bar and rising, "I thank you greatly, Admiral. I will discuss the arrangement with Captain Shor and see to it that Admiral Zaroday has a chance to sign off on it as soon as possible."
The two shake hands again before Aromath looks over to a group of women talking and laughing, their hands moving about in playful gestures. "You'll excuse me, Admiral, I have more business to attend to."
Alexander watches as Aromath approaches from behind the women, joining the group as he surprises two with his arms wrapping around their shoulders. He makes an emphatic remark to which they laugh and the group continues to move on without pause. Alexander shakes his head and looks back to find Borovsky lazily leaning across the bar to reach the shot glass. The Admiral steps up behind the Captain and reaches out to flick the glass clear off the bar top, ignoring the sound of tumbling glass as he grips the fabric over Borovsky's shoulder and tugs, ordering, "Come on." The Captain stumbles to his feet and follows the Admiral's lead.
Ryat opened his eyes. And quickly realized he wasn't awake. Nor was he in his room on Finley 1. Plus, he was wearing his uniform. His old uniform when he served under his grandfather. And he was standing in front of his grandfather's crystal matrix which contained his soul, essence, spirit or whatever one's personal beliefs. He carefully suppressed a sigh. "Yes grandfather, you wish to speak with me," he said as neutrally as possible. His grandfather was not fooled as was shown by a chuckle that filled the room with the crystal flouresing with the syllables. "I'm sorry," his grandfather said in mock humility, "did I wake you?" "What do you want," Ryat said, letting his emotions show more. "Your treatment of the Advent was disappointing," came the reply. "I'm sorry," Ryat said slightly confused, "Is destroying their ships and burning their planets not enough?" A sigh emitted through the room. "That is not what I am talking about and you know it." "The Advent at the trade conference? The ones that asked for my help with their little rebellion?" "Yes, those Advent." "I don't understand. I thought you wanted the destruction of the Advent?" "I wanted the destruction of the Unity. It is a bane on upon all of our existence. If I had my way it would have been overthrown without bloodshed. Besides, we may need the Advent in what is to come." "In what is to come?" Ryat asked noticing the mood change. "Whatever it is that is chasing the Vasari," his grandfather explained, "Its too far off for me to see clearly and far enough away that we still have time. But you must help the Advent break free of the Unity." "So you want me to go back to those Advent that propostioned me?" Ryat asked, "No offense but they seem leaderless and are doomed for failure." "There is another. You will meet him soon." Lord Ryat woke up in his bed just as the door to his room opened up. Guards swarmed in and took up protective positions around him as his aide rushed to his side. Light streamed in from the windows indicating midday. Confused he looked at the time. Grandfather you really need to improve your time reference he thought out to him. "My lord what happened?" his aide said. "I overslept," he explained. "But the door wouldn't even open. We were about to bring in a maintenance man to open it up," the aide went on. "Maybe the door didn't work, I don't know," Lord Ryat said exsaperated, "Send Roesh a message to get it fixed. Now get out and let me get ready for the day." Everyone began filing out while Lord Ryat rubbed his brow in irritation.
just started playing this mod, but wanted to join in lore, i have a long back story for my faction, so here it is. I may have to post it in multiple posts due to its long length. the new earth republic is in the distant stars region.
(Personal- Faction Back Story)
History Prior To Vasari Invasion
1500 Years Ago
During Earth's Great wars, refugees form all over the world;p some even from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada Israel, and Australia; gathered together in one of earths most inhospitable regions, Antarctica. there, joining forces with some of earths greatest scientists,they designed a prototype phase drive. using it and an assortment of old shuttles hastily built together, they escaped into space in order to build a new nation away from the strife and warring nations of earth.
1480 Years Ago
After an extraordinarily long journey, the refugees set up a temporary asteroid colony in order to resupply their dwindling metal and crystal reserves. They then updated their phase drives with new technology that had been invented along the way, making the phase drive twice as fast as before. After the hasty refits, the refugees started on their way once again.
1460 Years Ago
After their 40 year long journey, the varied group of refugees finally settled down on a distant terrain planet, in a system with a multitude of resources, old artifacts, and ancient military bases. here they started a new society based on ethical technological progression. economical gain, and widespread democracy.
1300 Years Ago
now a thriving star nation with a long history of technological progression, and widespread freedom; the New Earth Republic decided to send a small scout ship to earth in order to see how their far off brethren were doing. Due to recent advances in phasic travel the journey to earth only took 30 years. once there they found that the people of earth had colonized mars, and various asteroids., but all were heavily overcrowded with extremelydense populations. In ordrder to help, the people on the scout ship shared the technology of their ships phase drive, enabling the people of earth to spread amongst the stars.
1200 Years Ago
With the varied star nations spread amongst the stars, the new earth republic had thousands of planets to trade with, but it's trade was severly limited due to the long distances involved. as such the new earth republics foreign policy leaned towards isolationism, which combined with it's long distance form everyone else, sheltered it from the wars to come.
1150 Years Ago
As old rivalries, and racial prejudices increased as the trade brought the various star nations into closer contact, so did the various fleets of warships, and the onset of war looked like it was just over the horizon, if only it had been, for the fleets just kept on growing larger and larger.
1050 Years Ago
When war finally broke out, a hundred years later, it caused a chain reaction, and various secret pacts, backroom deals, and even open alliances brought almost all of humanity into a war larger than any other in all of history.
1020 years Ago
After decades of continious war the now wartorn star nations now sought a lsating peace, and out of this the Trade Order is formed thirty years later, which the new earth republic joins one hundred years later.
400 Years Ago
The New Earth Republic creates carrier class warship in order to combat the pirates in the nearby Blak-4 Sytem( as they used to call it, now called
Brief Overview Of new Earth republican History After The Vasari invasion.
After the creation of the trader Emergency Coalition, The New Earth Republic decided to mostly withdraw from Trader space mainstream politics, as its constitution had a military structure, along with training protocols, and various codes and laws that would enable the small fleet of five sova carriers that were heavily out of date, to become the backbone for a large enough force to defend itself. unlike most other star nations at the time in trader space, the vast distances separating it from the vasari invasion, enabled it to quickly build a fleet that has since stood guard over the their worlds, and stand awaiting the day when an ally is in need of help, or the vasari or advent finally choose to attack them. Due to changes in polotics, the new earth republic finally moves out of decades of isolationism, in which they focused on building up thier fleet, and moves onto the international stage.
=_Initiating Transmission Broadcast_=
***Scrambling outbound Transmissions under TEC code {TOP SECRET}, and New erth Republic Code [CONFIDENTIAL - BEYOND TOP SECRET]***
(Map of Distant Stars region appears, and zooms in on bottom left corner, showing a cluster of five systems. A deep, voice comes over the speakers.)
"For those of you who do not know of our existence, This is new Earth Republic territory. You might of heard of such a government form the bit of our history that was intentionally leaked to the public not so long ago. Our systems are heavily fortified and our fleets are ready for battle. Shortly envoys will be sent out to potential allies, mostly those who are in general working together. Our long range sensor arrays have detected an unknown enemy on their way here, seemingly chasing the vasari, so we decide finally join the fight. Too many people have died because my nations politicians wanting to remain isolated from the rest of trader space. While it worked in the past, if that enemy is powerful enough to make the vasari run, then our very survival depends on joining up and fighting with friendly forces. Any forces that we deem as friendly we will work with to stop them, but as some of the vasari seem intent on enslaving us, and using our resources for whatever they need them for, and the advent is intent on wiping the rest of humanity of the face of the galaxy, we will not just be joining up with anybody, as you may have noticed, I will not be showing my face, and my voice patterns are being scrambled. This is due to certain security precautions written into my nations constitution, as sending a transmission to potential enemies could very well lead to an assassination attempt against my countries leaders. Those who wish to form an alliance will meet me soon enough."
=_End Of Transmission_=
(DS RP) (and this one was pretty much done by mdman1)
Inside one of the most exclusive restaurants on Finley 3 is a secluded booth reserved for its privacy-ensuring, anti-listening equipment. Inside are two people dressed in civilian clothes that are slowly making their way through a three-course dinner. Paranoia features in the decorations, there are no ornate decorations possibly concealing bugs. The partitions walling off the booth are simple yet elegant.
“So how have your relations with the J’kar clan and the Vasari in general been faring?” asks Gerad Aromath outwardly absentminded, ignoring the itch on his Romanesque nose to keep both his eyes squarely focused on the man before him.
The man pauses before answering, unable to hide a moment of coolness, “Our dealings with the Vasari have always been frigid, given our history, though the David’s Lions and J’kar clan do have a common ally in the High Gryphons we generally keep our interactions to a minimum.”
Ah that history, Aromath thought to himself, which involved your ancestors negotiating with those Advent misanthropes. Anyway, Aromath concludes that their research was accurate. “Right, that just about sums up my questions on your illustrious faction.”
“Okay my turn, let me get this straight, you have been spending the majority of your time in Finley discussing a mutual defence treaty with the David’s Lions,” says the severely dressed, middle-aged man, black hair speckled with grey, crows feet are sharply defined as the green eyes narrow, “I find this quite odd.” Up until now, the conversation had been limited to pleasantries and seemingly idle conversation.
“You do?” responds Aromath, his characteristic smirk has disappeared, and in its place is an intense look of concentration that betrays no change in emotions. Recent experience has taught him this man could negotiate with the devil to give up his trident in exchange for a twig. The dour demeanour hides a razor sharp intellect that had quite literally sliced off some trade concessions before Aromath stopped underestimating him. Now he understood why, out of the corner of his eye, Alexander Draakjacht was shaking his head when he mentioned Captain Shor.
“Yes, out of all the parties at this trade conference, ours is the only faction you have made this offer to, the question I’m wondering is why?” Shor raises a questioning eyebrow while taking a sip of Champagne.
“Well,” Aromath blinks in surprise concealing a flash of trepidation, “we have discussed this quite extensively, you have a powerful fleet and we could save...”
“Please,” Shor interrupts, “less formality, we’re supposed to be discussing tidbits before the pact is finalized. I just want clear up some irregularities we have noticed and have a frank, off the record conversation. I’ve always suspected allies and enemies of having ulterior motives and for all the life of me I can’t figure out what you’re after.”
Aromath sighs and swallows some Shiraz, noting the plural. “I can’t claim to read the Admiral’s mind, Captain Shor. All I can do is purely speculation. What are your concerns with the treaty?”
After chewing through a chunk of butter chicken Shor responds, “You made very little argument about removing the clause about intervening in internal disputes, I found that strange considering the civil trouble you have had recently…”
“Oh those,” Aromath visibly relaxes, “odds and ends, we think we can deal with those agitators through negotiation.”
Shor is still unconvinced, “another peculiar clause is the one which considers any expansions as falling under the treaty, considering you are in no position to expand in the short to mid term, I am left wondering what you are playing at.” That particular clause stated that the Lions or the Eagles were under no obligations to assist the other in capturing additional territory, but were responsible for defending that territory from any 3rd parties attacking it; not the party that territory was taken from in the first place, which was peculiar.
“That’s purely for your benefit, its unrealistic to consider that with such a large fleet and only a single planet you might not want to become more self-sufficient, especially if matters heat up between you and the J’kar clan”.
Shor continues though his face darkens at the mention of the Vasari, “Nevertheless, forgive me for being skeptical of your good intentions. In the treaty you name both Advent and Vasari as possible enemies, may I ask why?”
Aromath continues with a controlled expression, “We are discussing preliminary peace talks with the Advent but things are a little shaky and we could use some security. As for the Vasari” – here Aromath appears genuinely confused – “the Admiral is a suspicious man. Maybe he suspects something, especially being a frontier system.”
Shor frowns at the vague description. Something wasn’t right here. There were pieces of the puzzle missing, especially if Aromath was out of the loop. He decides to throw up a tidbit, “our agents noticed that there was an unusually high frequency of special couriers passing correspondence between your quarters and that of the Nilex Imperials. Would you know why?” That faction was a political non-entity in Distant Stars but it had a reputation as an intermediary between TEC and Vasari factions.
Aromath appears astonished and then quickly relaxes his expression saying truthfully, “That’s outside my area of expertise, but I’ll tell you all I know. The first special courier appeared just after we arrived at Finley. They go straight to the Admiral and then out, no one else knows what’s in the correspondence.” Aromath doesn’t think it’s a good idea to mention that, when queried, all Zaroday says is that its from an ‘old friend’.
“Thanks for the honesty,” Shor says though he realizes Aromath is hiding something. In a hard tone he says, “If you want this co-operation to get off to a good start then its vital that we don’t mistrust each other. We’re being upfront. We’re in it for the economic benefits and the security. Your Admiral, meanwhile, is planning something strategic with the Vasari and it involves a defensive alliance with us for some reason. Your second-rate trade negotiations are proof enough that was a secondary objective. What’s your totally unproven speculation on that?” Shor watches Aromath think hard as he incorporates her information with his knowledge.
His eyes light up and Aromath speaks slowly, “In an off the record way, I’d speculate that a certain admiral was planning an operation with the Vasari which might or might not be in Ethea or elsewhere, which might or might not result in the capture of additional territory. But since he doesn’t totally trust them, he wants a defensive alliance with a respectable TEC faction that has a large fleet and a history of animosity towards the Vasari just in case they stab him in the back,” Aromath shrugs, “and if it doesn’t totally pan out that way then he still gains security and economic benefits."
Shor relaxes in his chair, fairly sure he understands the gist of Zaroday’s intentions. “Though I don’t like the amount the manipulation and manoeuvring, it does make a certain amount of sense. Admiral Draakjacht is a pragmatic man. The benefits for us are still clear and don’t outweigh the negatives. Besides,” he grins savagely, “it’s been a while since we fought the crickets and our skills are getting rusty.” She ends with the age-old TEC farewell, “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you”.
Aromath smiles as the pair gets up to leave, “Likewise, it certainly has”, he chuckles and thinks, I need to relax a while after this negotiation, in female company with half the IQ.
(DS) Roesh wakes up early in the morning and checks the nearest data terminal. He finds a message from Henry waiting for him. A lot of it is about complaints from various guests that he himself is unable to accommodate, and others are about security issues. Roesh just browses through them and ignores the bulk. He closes out all of the other messages after checking the time and makes his way back to the conference center complex.Once there, he wanders around through the crowd of slowly gathering people listening in on conversations to get a general feel for the mood for the day and get some intel about potential trade deals. After gaining several good leads he heads up to the central podium. Pressing a button sounds a tri-tone audio signal which informs everyone there that he's ready to speak. "Good morning everyone. I trust you all are well rested and ready to get on with another day of making new friends and trade partners." he says. Several audible yeses and chuckles are given in response. "That's great news." Roesh says with a clear smile on his face. "So just as a reminder, today's lectures are mostly about supply and demand... Check out any of the holovid screens scattered about for the lecture topics and schedules, more of the private meeting rooms are being made available so if you have a need for one, find an attendant and reserve one. They are first come first serve for the day. Have fun." Roesh steps off of the central stage as the noise from the gathered crowd slowly rises to a dull roar. Todd, accompanied by Prince Yaremka, make their way over to him before he disappears into the background. "Hey boss, seen the other boss yet?" Todd asks. "Nope. We're supposed to meet up later today though." Roesh replies. "He and I were supposed to meet up for breakfast but he didn't show." Yaremka adds. "I'm sure he just lost track of time. You should see all of the complaints he's forwarded me from yesterday..." Roesh states. "He'll turn up eventually." "Well Prince, guess that means You're on your own for your lecture on goods." Todd says with a slight laugh. "Maybe, but I don't start until after lunch so I have plenty of time to get you rehearsed on what you need to do if Henry doesn't show." Yaremka says with a smile. "I didn't say I was gonna help with that..." Todd says while backing away slightly. Roesh grabs him by the back of his neck, "Don't tell me my star engineer has stage fright. And here I thought you liked being the center of attention." "Center of attention, yes." Todd admits. "Just not at attention front and center." Yaremka chuckles. "You'll do fine. It's not like I'm asking you to say anything, just help me out with the demonstration." "Still, I think an attendant would be better." Todd says still trying to get out of it. "It's much too important for some random person who probably has many other duties on their mind." Yaremka states. "Besides, Todd..." Roesh interrupts, "The Prince is our guest and my personal friend, so if he wants you to help him, I'll just assign you that job on the records and if you're not there, I get to take away a day's pay." "Henry!?!" Todd says slightly louder then the crowd around them while looking around. Roesh laughs and then addresses Todd as if he were a pet, "Find him boy! Go on! Go find him!" Yaremka laughs as Todd walks off giving them both the finger. "So what's the plan for this morning?" he asks of Roesh. "Don't really know. I was just going to spy on everyone and work my way into some good deals." "Sounds like fun. May I tag along?" "Eh, sure. I can probably still teach you a thing or two." "Maybe on the shadier side of things... It does amuse me you pretend to be a legitimate businessman though." "I am legitimate." "Hah!" Yaremka says as they start to make their way to one of the buildings hosing private meetings. "As I recall, Henry is the legitimate one." "And I make the introductions using my name and reputation." "A name you got by being a good smuggler." "That would be a matter of perspective. You see, to our enemies, I'm a smuggler, to our allies, I am a savior getting goods to wherever they need to be by any means necessary." "And some of these means are through backroom deals with unsavory characters and organizations of ill repute?" "If the situation demands it, I don't have a problem with it." "Good... Because I have an issue I need someone to deal with." "And that would be?" Roesh asks stopping in place. "Something that needs to be discussed where records aren't kept." Yaremka states stopping and turning back to Roesh. Roesh thinks for a few seconds, "I know a place where two legitimate businessmen can be seen going into that has a place for just that sort of freedom to speak one's mind." The Prince slightly bows to Roesh prompting him to lead the way.-=Finley Star=- "Just shut up already." Colonel Horner states clearly out of patience. "No I will not, we are being treated unfairly and you cannot detain our people." the elderly woman states over the holovid feed. Horner signals to have the feed cut and the display turns off. "Put out the word if they try to enter the system, destroy them. Tactical, coordinate with our fleet and give me a full breakdown of their fleet and have the Pioneer take up position on their flank and be prepared to disable their systems." "I see we're busy making new friends, James." Admiral Hodgkins says after his holovid feed connects him to the Kushva. "It's a small force from the Samtabeen Counsel, nothing we can't handle, Tim." Colonel Horner says while turning back to the main holovid display. "What's Roesh thinking jailing everyone rather then just expelling them from the system? Not that I care, it just seems unnecessary." "Don't know. I suppose it's because they brought their problems here and he had to get personally involved." Colonel Horner just shakes his head. "Oh hey, congratulations on getting a new ship." "Thanks. I was surprised myself when Todd sent out the memo that he had a new prototype ship for me he wanted us to get busy building right away." "I was told it will be like the one the High Gryphons showed up in." "Yeah, I've only looked at a little bit of the schematics, but the engineering that was done to it is fairly impressive." "I suppose we'll be ordering parts we can't manufacture ourselves from them?" "Most likely. I know Roesh bought a bunch of stuff off of them before. Our first EWS bomber, bulk quantities of components for the starbases... But that was before we had very much of anything set up here. I'm looking at the designs and most of everything we already have the manufacturing for since it's pretty much systematically like the Kol. So maybe we won't have to." "I hope not, I'm old fashioned in the sense I hate having to rely on others who I don't know much about." "There is a solution for that..." Tim says with a grin. "I'm not sure I like where this is going." "Use up some of that vacation you have built up and actually go there and find out." "Oh, I thought you were going to have me get reassigned or something." "Hah. As amusing as that would be for a lot of us, keeping an eye on you is still the preferred plan." A warning alarm starts sounding behind Colonel Horner. "Well, looks like something is about to happen." he says. "I'll let you guys do what you got to do... I'll be at fleet supervising the construction of my new ship." Tim says before cutting the feed. "Status?" Horner asks. "A dozen more ships have entered the system and taken up formation with the Samtabeen Counsel. They're advancing on the Angarsk and Dubovka." the sensor officer states. "Sir." a tactical officer says while approaching the main holovid screen and turning it on. "Their reinforcements must have been waiting nearby, but they didn't bring enough. Their count now reaches twenty seven ships. One Rapture class, ten Destra class, eight Illuminator class, two Iconus class, two Aeria class, and four Defense class." "They must be insane." Colonel Horner says while shaking his head. "Target acquired, firing solution in three seconds." a sensor operator aboard the Pioneer announces. "Fire when ready." Commodore Nishi says to fire control. "Ion bolt system reports ready... And... Firing." the fire control officer reports. "Direct hit, they Rapture's systems are offline." the sensor officer confirms after a few seconds of silence. "Fire control, weapons free." Commodore Nishi orders. "Helm, take us along side and position us for a broadside attack." Both officers nod and get to work. "Sir, eight heavy cruisers on fast approach..." a sensor officer on the Durandal states. "The Zepyulos is forming up on our port side." "Helm, maintain position. Comms, get me the Zepyulos." Marshal Freeman orders. The comms officer confirms the order and complies quickly. The main holovid screen lights up with the other ship's captain. "Hey Niel." Marshal Dunn states. "Our first taste of action aboard these shiny new Marzas, Kurt..." Marshal Freeman says. "Can't wait. Time to earn some stripes for the ship and crew." Marshal Dunn says with pride and joy. "Give 'em hell, bud." Freeman states. "Likewise." Dunn says and cuts the feed. His image is replaced with a tactical representation of the gravity well. "Comms, ship wide please." Freeman says. The comms officer nods and then gives him a thumbs up signalling he can begin. "All stations, this is our first test as a crew aboard this ship. If everyone does their job, this will all be over quickly and we won't have any messes for engineering to clean up. Our primary goal is to block entry to the system and we will do exactly that. All batteries, select your targets and fire when ready." he motions to the comms officer to stop his broadcast. Both Marzas fire all available weapons systems as soon as the heavy cruisers are within range. A massive swarm of fighter and gunship strike craft quickly devour the nine squads fielded by the Samtabeen Counsel clearing the way for the bombers to annihilate the four defense vessels while the EWS bombers pick targets all over the enemy fleet and reduce their targeting capabilities. The Prowler joins the fight and quickly fires off an ion bolt of their own disabling the Rapture once again almost immediately after their systems reactivated. Like the Pioneer, they maneuver alongside the Rapture, flanking it, and proceed with a broadside attack. Half of the Destra Crusaders make their way past the Marzas only to be met with the full offensive force of the waiting Angarsk and Dubovka. They're quickly reduced to debris. The remaining Destras retreat back to their fleet with the Durandal and Zepyulos in hot pursuit. The bomber swarm quickly takes both Aeria Drone Hosts out of the action and turn their attention to the Illuminators as the next two ships of the Free Traders join the battle. A Kol, the Brawler, and a Dunov, the Warden, take up flanking positions from the two Marzas, blocking any chance for a retreat and effectively complete the surrounding of the Samtabeen Counsel's fleet. The Iconus Guardians do their best to keep their fleet in the fight, but the numbers were stacked against them from the beginning. One by one, their ships explode as squadrons of bombers have easy targets to prey upon. The battle ends with the Rapture losing it's stability control and exploding as it rolls and dives away.
(DS Roleplay / Tuilelaith City, Finley 1 , Finley System)Part Sixty of Teir --Tealhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sslyjab1aJ0 Pris-Remembrances of lives we might have led -November 27th, 2287 (11.27.2287.10.30)
She lay on the rough wooden bed, with her back to the door and the collection of rebel soldiers, her eyes red and already tearing from the pain of the rope that bite into her wrists. blood ran from the corner of her mouth and spilled down the edge of her cheek, where it dripped onto the blanket.
She tried to think, but her head still swam from being hit. It was hard to focus.
Where was Sere?
Or Matt?
Sunlight gleamed over her shoulder, the light hot on her back through her robes.
She tried to move her head, but only managed to raise it a tiny bit.
Her muscles still stiff as well.
Where was-?
"Hey, she is moving..." One of the rebels stepped up close to her, his broken toothed smile grinning as he brought his rifle up and then quickly back down into the back of her head.
"Not anymore she isn't." The bearded man laughed.
The others grinned back as they returned to their watch at the thin door of their hideout.
Soon, very soon they could leave this place, bargaining for their lives with the life of the Advent captive. Or they would kill her and leave her body behind as they fled.
*
(DS) "Henry!" a female voice calls out from down a poorly lit hallway. Henry turns around in response, "There you are. I've missed some appointments already." "Yeah, sorry about that. Your security was improved overnight." the woman says. "It was apparently due to troubles we had yesterday." Henry notes. "I still managed to get in unseen." she says while opening up a couriers bag. "Here is the information you requested." Henry takes the folder of papers from her and looks it over briefly. "Good." he says while pulling a small plastic card from out of his pocket. "This has the agreed upon amount on it, put there by a company that hasn't existed in more then one hundred years." "It's a pleasure doing business. Let me know if you need anything else." she says as she takes the card from him and walks off. Roesh and Prince Yaremka arrive at Klara Studios nearby the Convention Center Complex. Roesh makes sure they are seen entering the building. "Friendly people here." the Prince notes after several people approach them and exchange pleasantries. "It's probably because I paid for this place to be built. One mega building for all types of holovid productions with plenty of studio space to accommodate nearly any demand." Roesh says. "So you built one and let everyone use it?" "No, there are others in this system, but this one dwarfs them all by quite a bit. I like to think of this as the primary production location with the others either being independent or playing a supporting role." The Prince nods. "So this location we can talk?" "Yes." Roesh says as they get into an elevator. "Studio 33-C." he says to the man in uniform standing by the controls. "Sort of old fashion. I like it. Says elegant and class." "It also means a few more jobs and to potential customers, personalized service." "Indeed." Yaremka says. No one says anything else until the control man opens the door and announces the floor and the direction to get to the studio Roesh asked for. They walk down the hallway until they come to a large set of doors. Roesh pushes them open and walks in. Yaremka notes how large the place is and how it is still mostly under construction as Roesh leads them to a control room. "Yes, well, the exterior was a bit more important to complete for appearances sake." Roesh says as he opens the door to the control room. "Besides, depending on what is recorded in here the studio would have to be built up accordingly. All of this is just data cables, lighting, and projectors that we're putting in to show off the place... So what is it you needed to talk about?" Yaremka closes the door behind him. "I've found something I need smuggled into Yitobav." "I'm interested, what is it?" Roesh asks. "It's a piece of a data archive from one of the first planets invaded by the Vasari." "Shouldn't be difficult at all." "Well, there are a couple of catches." "Like what?" "The first is I have no intention of buying it since the seller is asking far too much for it. The second thing is that it's something Henry has been after for quite some time now and he can't have it." "Why not?" Roesh asks somewhat surprised. "Let's just say it would be damaging to some of his more personal relationships... If what I was told about it was true." Roesh remains silent thinking on it for a bit. Yaremka continues, "I figured I had a lot of time to deal with this issue, but when you sent out word of this trade conference, it let certain people know exactly where to find you guys and a courier was sent." "Oh... So Henry put out the word he wanted this thing." "Yes, a long time ago when you guys were still working for us, the existence of this archive piece was made known to us. Henry wanted it and was among the top bidders for it, but it disappeared before any trade could happen." "Where is the courier now?" "Here. I knew I got here before the courier, and I was with Henry all day yesterday and he didn't seem distracted at all, so I assume he didn't know yet. I also assume the reason he didn't meet me earlier was because the courier made contact... Especially since no one has seen him." "I can fix that." Roesh says while punching i some information on a control terminal. "Yes sir?" A male voice asks over a audio feed. "I need to know where Henry is at, it's urgent. He missed a couple of appointments this morning and it's not like him to not get into touch with anyone." Roesh says. "Yes sir. We'll track him down and get back to you as soon as we have anything." the voice answers. "Thank you." Roesh says as he cuts the feed. "So do I get to know what's stored on this archive?" "I think it would probably be best if you didn't. Your friend Casey could someday find out what you know, even if just by accident, and could find out the Henry is desperate to have it, and depending on where her loyalties are at the time, could possibly give him the information. At least if all you know is that I have it, if he comes looking, he'll still have to figure out what I've done with it." Roesh thinks about it for a minute before coming to a similar conclusion. "If what's on it is as damaging as you think, then I'd have to agree that I shouldn't know either." "So can we make this happen sooner, rather then later?" Yaremka asks. The panel next to Roesh lights up. "Hang on." he says before pressing a button and allowing the audio feed to connect. "Sir," the voice says. "Henry is at the Convention Center Complex right now. Should we have him contact you?" "No, just wanted to make sure he was okay. He probably overslept or something." "Yes sir, probably." the voice says in agreement. "Thanks." Roesh says before cutting the feed and starting up one of the small holovid monitors. Roesh connects to security feeds from the convention center and tracks Henry down. They play the feeds in reverse to follow him back to earlier in the morning where he's first picked up leaving a building on the corner of the complex. They scan the feeds around the building looking for him to enter. "There." Yaremka says pointing to one of the feeds that catches a glimpse of Henry walking into the building. "So he was there for almost an hour and a half." Roesh plays both feeds together. "He takes nothing in with him, and comes out with a file folder." "A file folder, who still uses that ancient crap?" Yaremka asks rhetorically. "We do." Roesh says a bit annoyed. "It's virtually untraceable and can be destroyed extremely easily. Perfect for transferring information you don't want others to know about." "So I guess that means he met the courier and knows about the archive... Damn." "I can't leave until after the convention is over, but fortunately, neither can Henry. Why don't you find an excuse to leave early and start working on gathering up as much information on the location and holder of the archive and I'll join you when I can." "Consider it done." Yaremka says. "It's about time you got around to teaching me the darker side of your business." "Yeah, I guess." Roesh says. "Time to get back to the fun and excitement of negotiating import tariffs and distribution networks."
(DS Roleplay / Tuilelaith City, Finley 1 , Finley System)Part Sixty One of Teir --Tealhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey1J4Qfk6L4&list=UUJi_63PwbPZtYmI8kWrYhsg&feature=plcp
Teal-Set Fire To The Rain -November 28th, 2287 (11.28.2287.00.05)
Pris-She lay on the rough wooden bed, with her back to the door and the empty room, her eyes still and open, rope wrapping her wrists. blood dripped from the corner of her mouth and spilled down the edge of her cheek, where it dripped onto the blanket.
While the empty room burned.
Fire licking at the edges of the windows, the curtains smoking...
The heat and the horrible light consuming the walls, the floor.
While she lay still on the bed, not moving.
Not moving at all.
Her eyes still,
and open,
but not moving,
not moving,
at all.
Sere-
The ship moved,
out over the edge of the continent and then up into orbit, the ship's pilot watching the screens for security ships that rose up from the surface in chase.
In the hold behind, on a cot strapped to the bulkhead below the medical console, she lay, a tangle of wired instruments connected to a host of needles that pierced her gray skin, pulses of information blinking back to the waiting drives, antenna's pulsing as the short beam transmission flicked out in a long arc from the ascending ship to a black clad Capital ship in orbit.
When the feeds finished their diagnostics, the needles withdrew and the cot rotated into a widening cavity in the wall of the ship, her gray face turned as the mechanism moved her, eyes still and unmoving...
until the cot slid completely in and the cavity closed.
There was a short burst then as something was ejected from the ship and the pilot turned the ship on its tail and shot straight up, afterburners flared bright as a thin shadow fell away into the darkening sky.
The ships that followed screamed as they twisted and turned completely verticle.
The shadow fell toward the open sea,
unseen,
a tiny,
thin,
figure in a vast expanse of blackening sky,
falling toward a vast expanse of blackening sea.
Rennie-
She opened her eyes and moved toward the door. There hadn't been any sound for several hours. Long enough to mean that...
that...
Perhaps she could take a chance.
Perhaps.
Moving in her flight jumpsuit to the sealed door, pressing her ear to the cold metal and feeling the ache of cold against her cheek. Her eyes blinked, squinted as she tried to focus on trying to hear what was on the other side.
A small tapping, a rustling of... what...?
Impatience twisted in her gut.
Between boredom and the almost overwhelming terror of the screaming that had gone on for days on the other side of the door...
She stood in one quick fluid motion and pulled hard on the handle, it spun back and then stopped as the door slowly slid open.
The hallway burned,
and beyond the fire the outer bulkhead was gone, open space black and deep beckoned, tattered torn metal and wires fluttered in a non-existant breeze.
The hall to the stairwell was gone, the levels below that gone as well.
No crew quarters.
No ship supplies stores.
No landing bay.
No repair stalls.
No waiting craft or some way to find a way off this haunted ship.
Dead.
The ship was dead,
and everything on it as well...
She didn't wait to hear the screaming thing, that had sat outside her door waiting for how many days?
She stepped out into the hallway, the torn remnants of what was left of it and turned toward the front of the ship, the wall there was gone, showing only sparking wires and ripped metal beyond the force field that held whatever oxygen was left in this mangled strip of hallway.
She moved down the corridor toward an outer airlock, her bare feet on the torn rug under her.
She didn't hear the scream of the thing that came behind her,
Didn't see it.
Never even knew it was there.
Only moving toward the airlock.
She never made it.
Seyla-
Open space beyond the V'a Sar ship was cold, the ship slid further from her as she floated, spinning a cocoon as quickly as she could, she didn't waste any time watching the ship recede. She would have died there anyway, or just as well should have considering her enslavement.
The life of a slave was often worse than dying.
The filament that spun from her fingers twined around her, wrapping her as she gently turned herself, the band of it clinging to her and sealing shut the cold as it wrapped about her.
In under a minute she was enclosed, already her hearts beginning to slow, her lungs slowing, the air moving through her dwindling to a crawl.
Her conciousness spiraling down, into a preserving slow, methodic pulse.
Perhaps she would live.
She hoped she would live.
Though she would have still left the ship even if there had never been a chance of that.
Still, there was a chance she would live.
If the sun didn't catch her slim form as the currents of the receding ship pushed her away.
If her preservation wasn't pushed beyond the limits of the year her body could remain inert.
If the filament she had woven didn't tear or someone or something else didn't find her and think her a snack, or already dead and make sure of it.
But all those if's didn't matter now,
all of them were beyond her control,
beyond her ability to even hope,
hope was for fools.
You planned and acted and lived or died by circumstance and chance.
If she never opened her eyes again,
she would never know.
Teir-
Black.
Empty space falls away.
Worlds gone,
though...
slowly,
now,
re-forming...
Why?
Why was...?
But her mind, Te...
Te?
Teir...?
Falling away...
The system was slowly rebuilding itself, the Gorgon...
mind, lost in the pain and fading memories of those who had died
faded,
slowly as well...
The monster,
until only the memory remained.
And of Teir,
where she had stood,
only footprints in the still dirt,
and a sigh,
on the soft breeze that pushed across the meadow where the convent once again stood.
in the falling light of twilight.
Teal and Mother...
...
Pris -
There was light... light... the room was burning but she couldn't move, could barely think.
Light...
Light... it was fire of course. The acrid smell of smoke starting to fill the smallish room.
'Help... !' She said in her mind, reaching out... who did she know...? Who was close enough to make a difference?
'Help Matt!' In her mind she screamed, the light brightening, the smell of smoke getting thicker.
'Help!' she screamed again, trying to reach out... he was... she could barely feel him. Was he getting ready to leave the planet?
Perhaps she didn't have any more time left.
She wanted to cry, but she huddled against the wall instead and tried to bury her nose in the blanket to keep from breathing in the smoke.
She hoped he would hear.
She hoped he was close enough.
She hoped he would care...
Br'shd watched as the Trade Convention continued on. He could already see the cracks and fractures beginning. Roesh had and would do much to help stability to the region of Distant Stars, and with Ryat's help, who had solidified his power base extensively with many a deal made at this convention, would maintain it for a while. But fractures were formed here as well.
Already many Vasari were unhappy with Lord J'rah's actions and deals. They saw his dealings as a form of Kowtowing. The coming of a high member of the Royal Family, once thought lost, who treated humans with disdain and sneered at the actions of Lord J'rah, though he was wise enough to see that they allowed him time, furthered the fractures amongst the Vasari.
The Advent were even more interesting. Outwardly they agreed to many deals do to the fact that their current forces were reeling from the many loses across multiple fronts. Inwardly though some had begun to question the Unity. And many a secret deal, many with Lord Ryat, was formed for support for this concept. Thenos was primary in this questioning.
But the TEC were another story. While many in the population had developed hatred for the aliens the leaders had not and so they kept a lid on the anger and continued to try to make peace. Leaders would come eventually but not in time. The Darkness was coming closer and he feared that they would not be ready. But the answer had come in a Sova Carrier that just had arrived in Black 5.
He looked at the poor pitiful creature that sat in the empty captain's cabin. Broken and angry. He touched its mind, a wall of hatred and machine that stopped even the most powerful of Advent. But he was no longer Advent. And so he began to make his careful changes, keeping them inline with what the being was feeling. he weakened the chains that held the anger and hatred in check. He heightened the suspicions already festering, letting them run amok. And that iron will that kept that poor pathetic creature alive he left alone. It was enough.
Xenon would be the perfect leader.
Matt woke and reached over in the dark. His hand tapped a metal fixture, light now coming from it. His hand fell to the surface of the table, next to the light. Two of his fingers felt the soft fabric of the brace. He gripped onto it and pulled it in his direction. Moving the sheets aside, he sat up and began wrapping it around his knee. The joint welcomed him with a throbbing, which gave him pause so he could rub the tissue. It was still a bit swollen and, as one might expect, very temperamental. He gritted his teeth as it ached, waiting until it calmed down. He then went back to securing the velcro straps on the brace.
Pris.
Her image flashed through his mind, her face looking distressed. He felt alarmed, as if his body was reacting to some danger. He blinked a few times. The image went away.
Then it happened again, but this time with greater endurance. She moved her head, as if trying to tuck herself away from something. As if there was a scream or a cry, but no real sound. She was panicked. His muscles twitched. For a moment there was a spot in his vision. The smell of something. Burnt toast... or wood. It was wood. Something was wrong. For a brief moment he considered the possibility that he was suffering from stress. Perhaps he needed to take some downtime from his duties. The lingering feeling said otherwise. It wasn't something from him. It was something else. It had to be her.
He rose up as quickly as he could, getting himself dressed with as much haste as the injury allowed. Although his jacket wasn't properly buttoned up, he reached for his cane and departed his room. He headed down the hall until arriving at the Admiral's room, pressing a button to the side of the door to make his presence known. After a few seconds, the door opened, Alexander just beyond fixing the last few buttons on his uniform.
"Good morning, Captain."
"She's alive. Pris is alive."
Alexander pauses, his hands holding a button part way through its respective hole, "And this person is?"
"One of the girls I was helping in Tuilelaith. I saw her. I don't know exactly where, but I saw her."
"Captain," Alexander firms his voice, "are you sure you're okay? I know things are getting to you."
"Sir...," Siegel stares dead into Alexander's eyes, "She's Advent. She doesn't have anyone else there."
A moment of pause goes by before Alexander asks, "And you're sure?"
"Positive."
Alexander continues to button up his jacket, "The shuttle's waiting at the dock. Take it wherever you need to go."
"Thank you, sir."
Siegel turns to leave, carrying himself as quickly as a limp does. Alexander watches him turn a corner and says, "Good luck, Matt."
Siegel catches a ride to the port where the Lion's transport has just touched down. The hatch opens as Siegel leaves the vehicle to board. Corporal Nelson pokes out from the hatch and calls out, "Sir, what are your orders?"
"Get me to Tuilelaith quick. I need a connection to the local authorities there."
"Yes, sir," Nelson calls out as he sets back down in the transport and Siegel follows behind. A call is made and eventually someone in the capital city is patched through. Siegel knows he won't necessarily be in time and his view of the scenario grows clearer and clearer as time moves on. He throws every detail he can to the authorities, hoping they can use it to direct their men and find Pris.
(DS Personal) Yaremka and Roesh return to the convention center complex and go their separate ways for the time being. Casey and Todd join Henry at meeting hall A to help him out with his discussion on Regional Supply and Demand. Tim returns to the construction facilities above fleet command to observe the start of the building process for his new flagship with General Briggs.-=Finley Star=- "Angarsk to unidentified cruiser, please respond." Several seconds pass in silence. "Angarsk to cruiser at coordinates 319, 62047, -12, your identification transponder is malfunctioning, please respond with your ship's manufacturer serial number." Major Truex walks over to the comms station. "Give them thirty more seconds, if they fail to respond, notify command and have a boarding party from the..." She's interrupted by a staticy transmission from the ship. "... Apologies... ...here for... ...ence... ...attacked... ... need of rep..." "The Warden reports damage is visible on the hull, and is concerned that the ship shouldn't be in service." a comms officer reports. Major Truex contacts the Warden herself. "Hey, Hugh, congrats on the promotion." "Thanks Jane." Commodore Reynolds replies. "It looks bad, huh?" "Yeah, like it's been shot up a few times and only minimally repaired." "Not everyone has the resources to keep a fleet fully operational." "Especially if they're constantly in fighting, but that's not what we're seeing... A lot of the damage looks real old according to the sensor scans." "It sounds like they're here for the trade conference, so maybe an older ship was recommissioned for the trip." "Maybe... We'll go with it to the repair platform in case they don't make it." "Suit yourself."-=Finley 3=- Henry approaches the podium. "We're a little bit behind schedule, but we have a few stragglers still walking in, so we're going to wait just a couple more minutes and then get started." Those in attendance begin taking their seats and Henry has the doors closed to discourage any more late entries. Prince Yaremka makes his presence known to Henry but doesn't have the time to say anything to him before the room lights are dimmed. "Good morning everyone." Henry begins. "This morning I'm going to talk to you about Supply and Demand on the Regional level. No two star systems are created equal. Some have vast amounts of resources, others do not. Some have ample room for populations to flourish, others have close to none. It's always in our best interest to find those systems that have both vast stores of resources and plenty of room to grow. Fortunately, even in the systems with very little of both, technology can overcome this shortfall. But what about those who don't have that technology yet? The solution is as simple as looking to your neighboring star systems. Even those who have both, you should be looking to your neighbors to advance your own society. Trade at this level is much more complex then trade at the interplanetary level because you're not dealing within your own sovereign rights as you would in interplanetary trade. You're dealing with other mega corporations, other empires, other societies. They may be similar, they may be vastly different. One thing that will always be the same. Someone will have a demand for a good or service, and someone else will be able to provide for that demand. Trade is the answer..."-=Finley Star=- "Ma'am, a Cutthroat class frigate is requesting entry." a comms officer reports. "Pirates, huh? Was wondering when they were planning on showing up." Major Truex mutters. "Should I turn them away?" the comms officer asks. "Let me talk to them on the main holovid screen." "Yes, ma'am." The comms officer complies and makes the connection. "This is Major Jane Truex on the Starbase Angarsk, to whom am I speaking?" "I am Captain Walker Black of the Cursed Dagger." He replies imitating her introduction with a slight bow. "I was told there was a trade convention occurring here and I figured I might offer my services as a cunning negotiator and a capable and experienced transporter of goods." "You'll have to forgive my skepticism Captain Black. If you're as good as you claim, why are you in a thieves ship?" "It's a fast ship, it's a dangerous galaxy... My unfortunate circumstances that brought me to this vessel is a story best told with a few... Drinks." the captain says as debonair as he possibly can. "Not interested." she retorts coldly. "Stand by captain." She freezes the connection on her end and makes a request for Roesh. "Yes Major?" Roesh asks as soon as the feed is established. "We have a pirate vessel requesting entry to the conference... The captain is overdoing the pleasantries." "Well, I did say the invite was open to anyone wishing to attend. Give them the standard rules and remind them that security will be keeping an eye on them." Roesh states. "Yes sir." the major says before cutting the feed and resuming the one with the pirate. "We're granting you access, proceed along the path given to your navigation computer, any deviation from the plotted course will get you kicked out. Your weapons and shields must remain off at all times, any attempt to charge them will bee seen as an act of aggression and you will be destroyed. Do I make myself clear captain?" "Crystal clear, my darling. We are only offering our services, nothing more." "Security will be watching you at all times to ensure your compliance." "Does that include your eyes being on me as..." Captain Black is cut off before he can finish his comment. The Cutthroat complies with the route given to them and calmly makes their way to the trade conference. External repairs to the ship the Warden is escorting are completed quickly and their identification transponder and communications are fixed and reactivated by RFT techs. The ship now shows up on the sensors as The Duchess. "Warden to Duchess." Commodore Reynolds says trying to establish a link after being informed the systems are operational. "This is the Duchess, thanks for the repairs, I don't think we could have gone too much further." the captain replies. "Care to tell me where you're from or who you're representing?" "I'm Blair Weber, representing the Brotherhood of Worlds." "Where did you get your damage?" "Near our home. We came under fire as we were preparing to make the jump to the wormhole system to come to this region. Once we exited hyperspace we were too far away to call home and in unfamiliar territory so we continued on our way just hoping we could make it here." "You're on one lucky ship, captain. We'll escort you to the conference." "Thank you captain... uh..." "Reynolds. Hugh Reynolds." The feed is cut and a man steps closer to Blair Weber. "Very nice. I told you you would make a great captain." the man says before pulling a weapon out and shooting him in the head. He knocks the now lifeless body out of the chair and takes his place. "Did our distraction make it in yet?" "Yeah. They cruised on by a few seconds ago." another man answers. The man in the captain's chair chuckles for a moment. "Off we go. Let's have some fun."-=Finley 3=- Henry wraps up his portion of the days events after lecturing for nearly two hours. Henry, Todd, Casey, and Prince Yaremka gather together. "Interesting concepts you have there, Henry." the Prince says. "But I think our Miss Tahira was bored out of her mind." Casey just smiles while shaking her head. "It's not for everyone." Henry admits. "I just hope it wasn't too dry." "The sands of Nisar are probably the only thing in this system with less water." Todd jokes. Casey laughs, "Well, I'm going to head on out and walk around for a bit." "Don't wander too far, I need to talk to you about your ore captains running their ships at full power all of the time and burning up engine parts." "Have fun." Henry adds. "You missed breakfast." the Prince says to Henry. "Yeah, I'm sorry, I overslept. Had a long night trying to rectify issues with our guests." "Let your staff handle that, my friend. That's what you pay them for." Yaremka says. "Henry is too hands on for that." Todd notes. Beeping from the Prince's personal communicator halt the conversation. "Yes? What is it?" the Prince asks. "Your highness, an important message is waiting for you." a female says. "Thank you." the prince says as he turns it off. "You'll have to excuse me, I'll catch up with you guys later." "Sure thing Yaremka." Henry says. He and Todd wander out of the building and join the crowds outside. The prince turns his communicator back on. "Have a shuttle pick me up and notify all crews to return to our ship quickly. When I arrive, send Henry and Roesh a message giving my apologies for having to leave but matters at home require my personal involvement and cannot be delayed any further." "Yes, your highness." the female states. The prince quickly finds transportation to take him back to the Dignitary Pier.
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