[Jmenschenfresser]

2415.6
IN EXILE

I've considered little the need for friends and community since my feet first left Xiban. Here on the outer worlds, in the empty systems south of Praetorian space, east of the Farzah, north of the Sallega and Sergetti and west of the little known Eee, I have come to feel more at home than I have in these Last 15. There are about two score of us hold up in a run down ghetto in the heart of this worlds only real town. It is truely a frontier atmosphere. From my second story window can just catch a section of a trading alley. Kiosks, shops and dealers limp around looking for a break. I think I could retire here.

I've been given the horrid task of leading our little rebellion; however, I am not sure if you can call yourself a rebellion when you haven't killed anyone. I meet often with the leader of this world, and it's sister colony. Everyone is keeping their quite. Recently a small force of Tribunal officials set up shop on our sister colony. Several of the rebellions members there were caught and questioned. It is just a matter of time. Our only advantage is that they consider us an unimportant threat.

From what I have heard the Tribunal government has gotten itself into hot water as it were. We've attempted to contact the Praetorian, the Sallegan and the Farzah governments, hoping to bring our plea before them. We wish that the Tribunals could be systematically removed, rather than destroying the entire Norak empire in an all out assault. I doubt they will listen to us. Not that all of them aren't trigger happy...they just seem to have their own interests in mind. The Norak empire has near 30 billion citizens. Who is willing to take on the responsibility of deciding their fate in a humane manner? That is if the Tribunals lose. May She who rolls the dice of war not let them win.

Our insiders have relayed to us some news. The Tribunal Government has started an intense war of subVersion within the Farzah empire. We do not know their ultimate intentions. However, in the Last months, the Sallega in a bold move began protesting the Norak military presence in Cephedri, the system boarding the Farzah empire. In a show of force the Sallegan government has sent several fleets of warships to the system. I cannot imagine the carnage were these two forces to butt heads. If the Tribunals sent the Arklite fleet to Cephedri, like I heard they were, near 40 Norak warships must be stationed in that system. More than one billion Norak citizens live in Cephedri on three worlds.

The Sallega need to better understand the mentality of the Tribunals. I am sure they do not seek open conflict. They are back stabbers, cheaters, subverters, etc. They've never had to do battle in the open field before. I doubt they would know how. They like to draw things out in the open. In allowing others to compromise their good intentions with an initial hostile action, they are able to champion themselves as righteous.

2416.0
IN EXILE
The news of the war has come and gone...like a breaking wave to those in too deep of waters. I feel like I just stepped from the icey baths of Xiban's polar regions. My body is numb, and I do not know whether to cry or laugh. I still wear the robe of a monk. I carry the side arm of a warrior. I drink like freighter captains. I am misery embodied.

The list of destroyed ships sits on my desk. We compiled it slowly over the Last week through every means possible. I've refused to put names to ships. I know hundreds of faces are gone...gone to the Underworld.

To us, the Excoms, they calls us, events are only now beginning to explain themselves. The Norak war of subVersion against the Farzah has done great damage to the reliability of their own channels, but it hasn't had accomplished all it set out to do. The souless Tribunals send out hords of subverters, knowing well that less than a tenth will return. The Farzah have killed thousands of Norak agents, caught in the act of sabotage or subVersion.

From our own intel, we've learned that the Farzah fleet once stationed in their homesystem, first entered Cephedri several months ago. Soon as they by passed the outer defenses using the security codes given to all allies, they declared war on the Tribunal government. It was a feeble act. A stupid act. Their resources could have been put to better uses. The 1st Planetary Guards stationed above Cephedri I mobilized and moved out of orbit. My theory is that the War Counsel couldn't determine where the Farzah were headed. But the Tribunals, being their own paranoid selves, must have become convinced that the Farzah fleet was going to link up with the Sallega, stationed over one of their planets. This thought certainly must have frightened the War Counsel. A fleet of 60+ ships! It astounds even me. I figure, the War Counsel did not want a battle happening in orbit over a Norak world, so as a preemtive move, the 1st Guards were ordered to move into an extremely high orbit over Cephedri VI, the station of the Sallega fleet. Perhaps those fools thought this would discourage the Sallega from getting involved. I have to give them this though...for a bunch of back-stabbers, the Tribunals here showed strenght. But they underestimated the resolve of the Sallega.

The Sallega then canceled their treaty. I am not sure how the actual fighting started. I have heard the Sallega attacked first, but I suppose that by that late hour, he who shot first certainly was not the more guilty party. The battle no doubt filled the night sky of Cephedri VI with enough signs of wonder and explosions to herald in a dozen messiahs, inspire a legion of painters, and celebrate every Last hero the galaxy could dig up. By the end of the battle, the entire Norak fleet had been destroyed. In the process they had taken out half of the Sallegan fleet and severely crippled another quarter. The "official" Tribunal line calls the battle indecisive. How can they say such a thing? The deaths of some 25,000 Norak is indecisive. It's like two brick walls falling into one another...whatever is left is rubble. I refuse to bestow any blessings of bravery on either side. Sure, the Tribunals have mobilized a second fleet, and another such battle may take place, but it won't end anything either.

The Sallega in a secondary move sent an invasion fleet upon Nizzarum VIII, and subsequently captured it. I know there was a small colony of Excoms on the planet, and in addition to that a billion or so inhabitants. They have the right idea. Until the feet are cut from under this iron fisted authority, it will assert itself over all the weak, all the poor and anyone who disagrees.

However, I am truely angry at the foolish Farzah. I hesitate to give them the blame for everything, even though my hatred burns so strong my eyes cook in rage. Did they need to destroy Cephedri II? Was it necessary to burn every Last walking talking lifeform from its face? The Tribunals had miscalculated. The Farzah got lucky, in picking the only Cephedri world devoid of a mine field. The only thing between them and Cephedri II was a fighter squadron...five fighters. Of course, they couldn't stop twenty or so Farzah ships. Perhaps I am getting twisted and that which is comically dark has nested a warm place in my heart, but I did laugh when I heard that those five fighters came out alive...even though some billion Norak citizens died when the Farzah glassed Cephedri II. Farzah ships are not equipped with anything that can target fighters. So the fighters were able to skirt around the larger cruisers, picking several apart.

The remaining Farzah fleet then laid in a course to attack Cephedri I. The fighter squadron chased the fleet picking off a few stragglers, but the Farzah reached Cephedri I, homeworld of the Zynarr, ahead of them. Three Farzah warships remained, and host of other support vessels. The Last design Tallik made before he was arrested was for a lt Crusizer called the Huron. It was to be equipped with the latest in engine destroying weapons. He figured that a small fleet of these ships could stop almost any invasion. Sure enough, as our Zynarr insiders have shown us through relayed video transmissions. The single Huron stopped the attacking fleet before it was vaporized. Several days later some reinforcements arrived from Olontra cleaning the sector of the remaining Farzah ships.

Where does all this madness go from here? I don't know. Everyday I get disheartened at the weakness of our rebellion and the completeness of our exile.

Two other notes remain to be added. We intercept what little we can. The planet elder meets with me once a week. This is what he gave me yesterday. I am writing them from memory. He allows me to see the transmisson records for half an hour, then we burn them.

PRIORITY 3

FROM: PELLWAIN - ELDER OF THE KNOGLAM SYSTEM
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High Counsel. We need defense urgently. The entire northern Farzah fleet is gone. Dead on our mine field. Small fighter defense force growing slowly. Cannot repel another large attack.
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End of Transmission

PRIORITY 1

FROM: WAR COUNSEL SECRETARY
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Praetorian fleet on the move. Ultimate destination unknown. All ships be advised. Assist with all they demand or ask. Farzah are without a significant force. All ships everywhere ready themselves for another Sallegan attack.
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End of Transmission