History of the Galaxy, part 1-Story Thread

[geoschmo]

2417.5

The "rebellion" was falling apart before it had even started. In fact most Sallegans in the eastern systems were not even aware they were involved in a rebellion. The distances involved nessecitated a lot of compartmentalization. Governor Simpson was the ranking representative of the Rebublic for the Usphada and Narciston systems, and as such his orders were obeyed unless contradicted by direct communication from the Sallegan homeworld.

The Sergetti communication interferance had been quite effective. The few Messages that got through from the Space Service made little sense out of context of the other information on hand. A few officals and Naval officers had suspicions, but nothing that could be confirmed. They chose to wait for this confirmation to disobeying direct orders from the appointed local leadership and risk ending their carrers. If perhaps they had talked amongst themselves more they would have relized they weren't alone in their suspicions and things could have been ended sooner. But this was a war, declared or not, and in war you obeyed you superiors or people got killed.

After the catastrophe in Usphada, Governor Simson had almost a complete mental breakdown. He was sure that any minute the full force of the Sallegan navy would come puring in from Organtrix to crush him. Davisen/Flicken had him isolated and began to issue orders more openly to the eastern colonies.

About this time the message filtered through the Norak representatives on Narcisston VIII that the Sallgan republic had turned control of the colony back over to them and ordered the Sallegan troops and ships to leave the sector immedietly and relocate to Narcisston VI. Flicken refused, and informed the fleet that it was a forged order and told them that the Sallegan Navy had been destroyed in Cephredi and that there was an open state of war between the two empires.

Whether it was their strict code of obedience, or the vision of their fellow officers and crew in Usphada being cut down by the Norak, the Sallgan fleet in Narcisston chose to follow Flicken's instructions and refused to move.

On the surface of the planet things were different. Major General Jackson of the Sallegan Space Marines had been stationed on the planet for several months and had grown to have a deep respect for the Norak people and their religion. He had his doubts about the current Tribunal government, but he strongly believed that war with the Norak was a mistake.

When presented with evidence of the agreement by Kelraeck the Norak formerly the Governor of Narciston VIII, he believed it. He didn't know what was going on, but he thought it was clear that Governor Simpson was not acting in the interests of peace. He ordered his troops to turn over control of the planet to the Norak despite Simpsons orders.

Flicken was furious. He joined the fleet over the planet and informed the officers that the planet had rebeled with the help of disloyal marines and that the planet was to be destroyed immedietly. Having no defenses other than the the ships that had now turned on them, the planet fell quickly. There were no survivors among the Norak or the Sallegan marines defending them.

When Grandow learned of this he was distraught. He had just sent an official offer of a non-aggresion pact to the Norak government, and he had no doubt that the Tribunal had recieved almost simultaneously the treaty offer and the knowledge of the destruction of their colony. He tried to put himself in their position and think what he would do if presented with such treachery. He hoped that they valued peace as much as he did would not allow this additional incident to stop it. He ordered the fleet in Cephredit to their highest level of preparedness in case things fell apart. The next 48 hours would be critical.