[Starhawk]

Plan Exodus:
Lord Keagen stood proudly in front of the other Lords, the holomap behind him showing the whole of the Icaran Empire, on it a long line of intermittent dots appeared on the map, each one representing a system connected via warp point to a non Icaran star.
“Lords and Ladies, Plan Exodus is the most large scale operation our grand empire has ever undertaken, it will seal off our borders from the enemy powers that prowl the universe, including the Andorans, who we’ve had several armed skirmishes with, Phase two of this operation is already underway, the house of lords assembled a fleet of 11 construction ships to begin the assembly of our first “Sphereworld”, this massive artificial planet will be used to house all Phong within the empire that will fit on it, these Xeno’s should no longer be allowed to roam our empire, even with the current restrictions placed on travel for them and this construct will ensure that they do now, it will also open land for Icarans to colonize new worlds.” the young Lord smiled confidently as he saw the others in the room nodding or whispering.

“Lord Keagen, what you are not mentioning is that millions of Icaran citizens will be trapped outside of Icaran space when we seal these selected warp points, what are we supposed to say to them, “Oh I’m sorry but your expendable”.” Lord Manshar of Haven shouted over the din of whispers and hushed conversations, the house of lords went silent as all heads began to turn towards Keagen and Manshar.

“Lord Manshar, those “citizens” are merely absorbed Magellan corporate persons, you can not seriously suggest that these millions are worth risking billions of our true citizens over?” Keagen turned red, either with embarrassment at how loud his voice had risen or in anger at lord Menshar, none of the lords present could quite tell.

“Your forgetting the 4,000 Icaran SS troopers that would be left on those worlds Lord, are we supposed to leave them behind? In a galaxy where Andorans are quickly growing in power?” Menshar snapped angrily.

“ENOUGH my lords! This is pointless the systems that Lord Menshar want saved HAVE Andoran or Manti presence, some even have multiple empires present, Operation Bearcat was launched for a reason, this very purpose, to prevent any other empire from opening warp points into our space, that operation alone could have cost us dearly, and now you are suggesting we throw it aside and risk letting worlds belonging to other star nations into our space?” Lady Perci Tori of Brandenburg said coldly. She looked around the huge room, clearing her throat before speaking again “Yes 4,000 Icaran soldiers will be left behind, but they knew that there was a risk of them dying, it is tragic and sad that they may have to pay with their lives for our safety but tens of thousands of our soldiers and millions of our civilians have already died in the past 25 years of endless war and it must stop!”

“Lords, Ladies, this must be put to a vote now, the time for talk is over. VOTE NOW” the Primus Lord said powerfully, the room went silent as the nobles sat down and punched in their votes, the Primus Lord sat in his black robes, watching his “peers” through a black faceplate that none could see his face through, it was his job to keep the other nobles in line, this man who was responsible only to the Praetor himself inspired fear in even the most defiant of lords or ladies.
After the votes came in, 75% of the nobles were in favor of “Plan Exodus”, 10% abstained and only 15% voted against it, that 15% quickly shrank back in fear as they noticed the sheer volume of votes against them, some even cried as they realized they had effectively killed their careers, if not more.

Two and a half years passed as the very fabric of the universe was reshaped, entire worlds wept as they realized they were being cut off from the rest of Icara, and that they would likely never see their loved ones again, only handfuls of blockade runners escaped the sealed off systems, tragically dozens of ships and thousands of scared civilians were lost as their ships were crushed by closing warp points, some ships that had entered the warp before the point was salead appeared light years off course, the lucky ones had simply suffered heavy damage, but others, others emerged with beings on them so mutated and warped they could no longer be called human, several of these ships escaped the navy ships that attempted to destroy them, but what purpose or desire these mutated creatures have is still unknown, and whether they will pose a threat to the future of Icara still lies unknown, fortunately only a dozen vessels that suffered this fate managed to escape, or at least only a dozen that the navy knows about.

The construction began on the sphere world only after the warp points to alien space had been sealed off, it’s construction is presently only half finished, but already it is the largest single object ever constructed by a species in the known universe and is a symbol of pride to Icarans all over the empire, though to the Xeno’ Phong it is a symbol of fear and their future enslavement to the surface of a single massive construct, never more to roam the homeworlds they once loved so much, never more to see the stars, only to live serve and die under Icaran masters for all eternity.

Crossed Swords
Admiral William Jefferson Ross, buttoned his Dress mess uniform’s tunic he forced himself to choke down the bile that was rising in his throat, he had faced dozens of battles been wounded six times in battle and seen entire worlds burn but not a single situation was as terrifying as this one, he looked in the fine mirror on the wall of his bedroom and made sure all of his ribbons and medals were in the right place, he patted his close cropped hair and grimaced himself as he placed the black cap of the Royal navy upon his head, he looked tired and war weary and today of all days he hated that.
As the door chime brought Ross out of his contemplation; he quickly finished straightening his uniform and had to force himself not to run to the door, as it chimed again.
He quickly took the door handle and opened it, the professional expression on the face that greeted Ross only made him more nervous.
“Admiral it’s time sir.” Commander Jason Styles said, his own voice quirked with anxiety, Ross had chosen him to act as sword bearer for him and though the younger man excepted the position with honor it was still nerve wracking.
‘Thanks Jason, I guess we’d better get down to the launch bay.” Ross said stiffly as he stepped out of his quarters, looking back one Last time at the life that would be coming to an end today.
The two men walked to the lift in silence, out of tradition any on duty crew immediately turned their backs as not to see the two passing by so as not to incur bad luck upon the events that would take place later.
Minutes later Jason Styles and William Ross stepped off the lift on the flight bay’s deck, a line of marines in their black and green dress uniforms stood on either side of the corridor, all of them wore grim professional faces and not a single one watched Ross and Styles go by them.
Ross felt a knot in his throat rising and feared he was going to vomit up his heart any moment but he forced such thoughts out of his mind as the flight bay doors opened, revealing two huge columns of Crew, each column had a line of marines facing towards the center of the bay, just as grim faced and sharp looking as their comrades outside. As Ross saw the ship’s chaplain standing on a temporary dais in the middle of the flight bay his nerves became even more on edge but with Styles at his side he walked proudly by the assembled crew and up to the bottom step of the Dais, lowering his eyes and bowing with respect to the chaplain.
“Lord Star Admiral William Jefferson Ross, do you believe in God, the words of God and his divine intentions for his children?” The chaplain’s voice was soft yet powerful as he asked this all important question.
“Yes, with all my heart and soul.” Ross said nervously praying for the strength not to make a fool of himself on this day.
“Do you believe in the divine creation of man and his sacred duty to God?” the chaplain’s voice echoed.
“Yes, with my life and sword.” Ross spoke the words but barely heard them over his own nervous heartbeat.
“Do you pledge to love God above all others?” The chaplain’s voice grew hard at this question but Ross was already so nervous he barely noticed.
“Yes, God before life, his love before any other.” Ross finished the ceremonial sentence but did not rise from his bowed position.
“Then so be it Lord Star Admiral William Jefferson Ross, you have pledged in the site of God and man these things, may your soul fall should you ever betray this oath.” The chaplain said softly, before turning to the other end of the flight bay and repeating these same sentences to another person that Ross could not see, or hear do to the directional field generated by the Dais-prior to directional sound tech they would have simply plugged his ears so he could not hear the other person.

“William Ross step up upon this dais and begin the journey into your new life.” The chaplain’s voice remained soft but still cold and Ross nervously stepped up upon the dais, Styles at his side.
There was a paper curtain in place, Ross could make out the shadows of two female figures but he couldn’t see any detail as he quickly turned to face the chaplain.
“William Jefferson Ross, do you have pledged your life, your soul and your sword to your God’s service, yet in his mercy God allowed man to share his love with woman, and to pledge his life to hers and be a dutiful to her until death, do you now pledge this to your mortal love?” the chaplain ’s cold voice rang in Ross’ ears.
“I pledge my life to the proper duties required by my love for this woman.” Ross said anxiously.

The chaplain looked at the other screen and pressed the button that triggered the directional sound device making it so that Ross could not hear his question to the woman on the other side of that screen, but allowing the assembled crew to hear it.
“Admiral Ross, your duties as husband are to love, care for, protect, and respect your wife, you shall each have duties in this marriage beyond those stated here, she shall be yours and you hers until death, do you understand this?” the chaplain stared hard at Ross with a hard glint in his eye.
“I understand these duties and I swear to do them to the best of my mortal abilities.” Ross voice was cheerless and his heart was pounding so hard he thought he was going to collapse.

The chaplain turned and again the directional sound device was activated, Ross was forbidden to look at his crew or anywhere but straight ahead, so he could not see their reactions, what if she had changed her mind? What if she was saying no? he kept thinking until the Chaplain turned to him again.
“Admiral William Jefferson Ross, Captain Yu Lin Pe, you have both sworn these things that can not be undone, may the screens that separated your bodies and souls now be removed.” The chaplain smiled and Ross heard as two swords were unsheathed, and turned to face the screen as Styles and another figure cut through the screen’s supports making it fall away noiselessly, and there she was, the most beautiful and amazing woman Ross had ever known, Lin, her almond eyes shining with pride, she was always stunning but in her dress mess uniform she took Ross breath away and he felt his heart jump into his throat. Next to Lin stood Sandra Fowler, her sword drawn and held in salute towards Styles who mirrored her stance.
“William Jefferson Ross, Yu Lin Pe I now pronounce in front of man and God that you are husband and wife, by your vows Yu Lin will keep her heritage name and shall be known from now on as Yu Lin Ross, congratulations and may your love shine through the stars.” The chaplain smiled and an applause erupted throughout the flight bay, Sandra Fowler and Jason Styles both sheathed their swords as Ross stepped to take Lin’s arminto his, their two sword bearers switched places, Fowler stood next to William and Styles next to Lin symbolizing that they were no longer separate, and that what belonged to one belonged to them both, he would place the ring on her finger only during their first night in bed together, unfortunately for them that would not be until the 3rd fleet reached Icara in a month-because of the regulations no two officers of intimate relationship could share quarters or engage in sexual activity aboard one of His Majesty‘s vessels or installations- William and Lin had never made love to one another, and now even in marriage they‘d have to wait another month, but for now neither of them cared about that, they stood proud as the marines all drew their swords and raised them in salute to the married couple, the two of them walked down the line and into the lift followed by Styles and Fowler.
Neither spoke until they reached William’s quarters where-for the sake of tradition- he carried her over the threshold into his quarters as their two friends stood outside, William gently closed the door and put Lin down, kissing her deeply.
“I love you Lin.” he said rather sheepishly
“I love you too William.” her voice shook as tears ran down her face, she kissed him again and they held each other for a long time laughing and crying all at the same time for their joy, before Lin turned to the door to leave.
“I can’t wait till we get home.” She said heavily, William nodded with a wolfish grin and she kissed him once more before turning to leave.
Ross had never wanted to get off ship so fast in his life, and he thought that one month would be an eternity as he waited to finally be able to have the woman he loved so much. Though they were both nearly 50 now thanks to modern medicine they were both considered very young-neither looked older then 18 or 20- and quite capable of having a family, something Ross looked forward too very much.