[Jmenschenfresser]

2403.1
Tallik's work is long finished on Arklite I; however, the Elders have decided, possibly inadvertantly, to leave us here. Neither Tallik, nor I, have the slightest clue as to why. So much has happened these Last 6 months. I pray that good will come out of this somewhere. Sometimes the Almighty uses death and evil to teach or bring about a greater good that could not have come about of it's own. So it is.

Almost as soon as we arrived on Arklite I to begin our work on the satellites, the Connecticut warship sent to explore beyond the Sallega Empire was attacked by a fearless, evil race called the Xi'Chung. We now have no doubt it was the Xi'Chung that the Sallega warned us about. I read what I wrote just 6 short months ago about greed and faithlessness, and as much as I want to deny it in a post script, nothing else can explain the actions of the Elders and the Priests. I wonder if being exposed to the galaxy and its wonders has not reverted us all back to the mongers and killers our ancient ancestors were. I've read several Versions, including the official report and transcript, sent to Tallik. It would seem that just as our ship was about to move from Narcisston and into what is the homesystem of the Xi'Chung, Organtrix, a Xi'Chung war ship exited the warp point directly ahead of it. No doubt this ship was bound for the Sallega colonies or possibly the homeworld, and in stopping it, we no doubt assisted the ransacked Sallega, inadvertantly as it was. Here are bits of the log:

"Captain, something's exiting the warp point...."
"I see it. Looks like a ship. Is it from the Sallega?"
"It bares no markings we've ever seen."
"Prepare to move out of its way."
"Captain!"
LOUD THUNDER CLAP
"Did they just?......."
"Yes, sir"
"Return fire...all cannons and missles! She who bent the first bow, guide our judgement."
"They are turning...direct hits all along their side."
"Captain, they are behind us..."
"Stay the course!"
"But they'll......
"Firing again! Incoming!....."
ANOTHER CRASH
"Captain, we've lost all of our engines and several uranium cannons have been damaged."
"We need those engines Online!"
"We're drifting into the warp point."
"That is the Last place we need to escape to....into the lion's den."
"Can we use our docking thrusters to maneuver?"
"Negative...the gravity of the warp point it too strong."
"Where's the ship?"
"Gone sir"
"Gone!"
"Yes, sir. One of our missles found its mark."
"Thank the Almighty!"

Unfortunately, the Connecticut drifted into the warp point and vanished into Xi-Chung space. There it met a colony ship which was waiting no doubt to infest the Sallega system with its evil offspring. Our ship fired on the colony ship, poking a hole in its bio-sphere. The crew watched as the colony ship turned and fled, far outpacing our limping vessel, venting air and millions of lives like dust, sucked out into space.

At about this time, our Priests for Foreign Affairs sent a message to the Sallega, not necessarily asking for military assistance, but for repairs, if the Connecticut was able to escape from Organtrix. They rerouted the energy to one engine and were thus able to turn and begin the slow approach to the warp point. As it neared the warp point, several sleek new Xi'Chung warships swooped in from above and tore the Connecticut to shreads. The Sallega relayed the Last Messages of the Connecticut to us. I will not relay them further and leave them out of this report. What letters comprise such sounds? Only the Almighty and the beast guarding the underworld know.

The Sallega kindly offered free resupply to our ship were it to return; however, we were not able to provide a means through which they might fullfill their offer of charity. Perhaps in the future. The Sallega are a brave and charitable people. At the first sign of distress, they sent several of their warships to the aid of our vessel; however, it was the Will of She who orders the universe, which brought them to its aid after the fact. They have reported to us that the very same vessels which destroyed our ship, are themselves space dust. The Xi'Chung are an evil race. The High Priest has discussed announcing holy war against them. No doubt, the universe would be a better place without them. We've promised to help the Sallega in their battle against the Xi. We asked our allies to help, but they refuse. I personally must wonder...our allies value peace but do they not know, peace is a fragile thing...it must be protected...with war if needs be.

Maybe once the Xi'Chung plasma bomb the CueCappa homeworld, we'll see more cooperation against such threats.

Now I come full circle and speak again of greed. I want to see the Knowledge spread about the world as much as anyone. I would be on the first ship to the other end of the galaxy. However, it has been said by the prophet, Huyrak, that the servant lowers himself to raise others, and the master lowers others to raise himself. Our ship of the Rhode Island class has moved beyond the Amon'krie system of Hwansul and into Cephedri, where a curious race, the Xintis live. On the way, our ship exited the warp point and found itself in the middle of a battle between the Farzah and the Amon'krie. We have trade treaties with both of these empires, so their anger was not toward us. Our ship skirted the skirmish (I do so love tongue twisters) and saw the Amon'krie loop around the Farzah ship laying missles to her like rain at mid-summer. Our ship escaped unharmed.

It began transmitting to the Xintis. Their system was filled with four large M class planets--the perfect place for the Norak to colonize. We asked for their permission to colonize, but they refused. We asked for a non-aggression pact, but they refused. As their warships closed in on the unarmed Rhode Island, we warned them about attacking the emmissay of the Almighty. Just as our ship was about to return to Amon'krie space, one of their ships closed within attack range and fired. The Rhode Island did not stand a chance.

Since then, it has been decreed that all non-colony ships must have some kind of weapons systems. The High Priest has declared the Xintis to be an enemy of She who walks on stars. Our fleet of Connecticut's has been prepped and readied. Four of them have been sent, along with a support of two colony ships, for a one-way journey to Cephedri. Their orders are to physically subdue the Xintis and establish a base of operations there. Only She who holds the keys to the underworld can judge a being in its entirety. Not I, not Tallik, and not even the High Priest. I think mercy should have first been shown to the Xintis. The Almighty avenges the deaths of her martyrs, sure enough as the Xibanian sun rises. More of an attempt should have been made to win them for Good! But there is little stopping the wheels of the Theocracy once they reach the apex of a hill. We assume the Xintis know we are coming. I think the haste of this decision speaks to the conviction that this decision is not a full measure of justice, but rather a mixed cup...a cheap wine...tainted by greed for distant riches and open fields for our children.

Does not the law speak of protection of the weak? I doubt in the long run, the Xintis have a chance of keeping us from their system. The strong who push the weak are not sent by the Almighty. She will judge the greed of this race.

Because of our numerous trade pacts, the mineral stock piles of the empire are again rising, and even exceeding previous levels. Tallik says we can support a fleet four times its present size. I have no doubt about that. He has shown me the specs for the newest Norak warships, dubbed Utah. Destroyer classes, weighing in at 300k. They boast longer range Uranium cannons, missles and what scientists call "shields." These shields form a barrier of energy around the ship, stopping every weapon known to us from penetrating them. Eventually they fail, but I have been told it would take more than 3 capital missles to make this happen. Perhaps this technology will deter future battles. I sure hope so. Tallik is also experimenting with a new beam weapon, an anti-proton beam. So far they are weaker than our present cannons, but he predicts that in a year's time, they may make the uranium cannon obsolete. Furthermore, our scientists are working on a merge of the latest technology with spiritual powers. I am not sure what the outcome of this research will be. To a common mind such as mine, I cannot imagine the combination. Many think technology and science is an antithesis to religion. If it were, we would not be on space ships preaching to the galaxy, but still there are those who call it blasphemy and all sorts of ugly things.

...

Tallik has just informed me that we are to make ready. We are returning to Xiban to test the newest Utah class ships. Several have recently come Online. I am now reluctant to go...for personal reasons...but that is for another time.

[ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]

[ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]