History of the Galaxy II

[Murden]

===== BREAKING NEWS ===========
News from the Galtenn Alliance.
===============================

8/2408 -- For the first time in history of Galtenn Alliance, a protest mouvement appeared. Ligue For Justice, created ten years ago, was considered as a "folkloric" group of Vulcan II, but recently started asking for more fairness in planetary ressources allocation. The Ligue leaders have presented official inquiries to the Federal Governement about widespread corruption on the planet. (A-ed-4--8/2408)

9/2408 -- We learned by a communication from the Ligue For Justice that their main leaders have been arrested in the night by elite Security Militia squadrons. Neighbours reported that the building was stormed in the night, and numerous corps has been dragged out by the Militia. This level of violence is astoundishing, especially when we know that the Ligue For Justice is a pacific organisation promoting and using laws to help the population and denounce corruption. (A-ee-5--9/2408)

9/2408 -- The redaction of the Alliance Morning Journal has to apoligizes for a precedent article (ref : A-ee-5--8/2408). Effectively, informations presented in this article where false. The arrestation of Ligue For Justice's leaders was no more that a police operation linked to the eradication of neuro-drugs in the Alliance. (A-fe-5--9/2408)

9/2408 -- It is we deep sadness that we have to annouce the accidental death of Thomas Hejil, our chief redactor. This
great journalist passed away yesterday, smashed by a bus whose driving computer disfunctionned. Our thoughts are with his family. (A-ge-5--9/2408)

10/2408 -- The drug trafficant group called "Ligue For Justice" (ref : A-ge-5--9/2408) has bombed Vulcan II's Police headquarter as retaliation against the recent arrestation of their leaders. These terrorists have been arrested and are currently under interrogation.

1/2409 -- An unknown group called H-ReC (High Revolutionnary Councel) has threatened violent actions if the Vulcan II governement was not arrested for corruption by the Federal Administration. This group is suspected to be the former Ligue For Justice trying to pressure the local governement to protect their drug traffics.

5/2409 -- This morning a huge explosion has been heard in centre of of Rooxlin, administrative center of New Galtenn. Almost immediately, some heavy smoke covered the city. The explosion seems to have damaged the Ret'Mhal Tower, main batiment of the federal governement. In the followibng hours, the whole city was under martial law while 5 regiments of heavily armed Militia on grav'gliss took defensive positions in the city. No informations concerning the origin of the explosion or casualty report are available, but it seems obvious that threats of the H-ReC (High Revolutionnary Councel) has became reality. (A-ed-4--10/2408)

[Unknown_Enemy]

INTELLIGENCE REPORT

Subject : Quadrant threat Assessment
recipients : Tyrean Inner Council
Classification level : Alpha-Dehdri

Tribes of Heru
status : Unimpressive economy and low technology.
Untrustworthy race due to its political problems. The fleet of the Damned commanded by famous Captain Tuhal Ostaliat was lost in their space, in what seems to be an act of sabotage. Implication of one of the tribe is suspected, but not proven.
Recommendation : Stay with the current agreement, no less no more. Retaliations are advised should culpability of one of the tribe was established in the murder of our explorer. Please be advised we recommend that Admiral Dakhil Ostaliat should not lead Retaliation Fleet versus the Invexus Corp. We acknowledge the Admiral's military value, but he is the son of Tuhal Ostaliat, thus could prove harsher than necessary should he has to deal with the Tribes.

Tophin Hive
status : Strong economy and advanced technology.
Peaceful collective, but their own nature is a danger to most oxygen based life, and even to hydrogen life forms. Their fungus is especially dangerous to oxygen rock planets, as there is no known way to permanently remove it from a biosphere ( research project 37WTA2L ). A policy of enforced containment has been agreed by the Tyrean/Eifralo versus them. But they have respected their agreements and have stopped colonizing the systems they shared with the Eifralo.
Recommendation : Move back fleets to Tyrean territory while establishing a network of observation satellites in their frontier systems.

Invexus Corporation
status : Unimpressive economy and low technology, we are at war with this corporation.
Most of their security systems and decision centers has been compromised by our Special Operations Services. However, their CEO is still eluding us. A message from their Security Officer was received a few month ago, asking us to refrain our attacks while they can sort out the internal problems that lead to the destruction of our colony in Harridane system. While this message is probably just some disinformation aiming to soften our intelligence operations, it could constitute a breakthrough if genuine. At the moment, we are attacking an organization whose leaders know they are fighting for their lives, which probably means they are ready to sacrifice anything or anyone to stay in power. But we have to keep in mind the Invexus is a corporation, whose goal is to make money. CEO are praised or revoked on their financial results. Thus we could weaken the CEO's position much more efficiently by disrupting trade lines and merchant shipping lines. This course of action could help our contact (if genuine) while weakening the CEO in front of his board. Meanwhile, Admiral Dakhil Ostaliat will lead Retaliation Fleet as soon as troop transports has been loaded.
Recommendation : switch operations to trade sabotage and disrupt shipping operations by false orders.

Cytherian Republic
status : Strong economy and advanced technology.
This civilization overcome their troubles and is now rising quickly on production and technology grounds. However, they are engaged in full scale war with the Katanas Imperium. Our relations with the Cytherians are still good despite long term strategic forecasting. Then their war could hinder our future strike in Invexus territory be denying safe passage through their territory.
Recommendation : set our diplomacy at work to have that war ended, or have a ceasefire agreed on.

Eifralo Conglomerate
status : Medium economy and technology.
Recently struck by a disaster on one of their colony contaminated by the Tophin fungus, they also had to deal with one of their cruiser/explorer destroyed in Katana space (despite our advices of caution to them). At the moment, one of their explorer is in the Cytherian homesystem, with Katanas fleets blockading the system. Our good relations with them enabled us to rent different sort of warship from them, which helped us to calibrate our own software and hardware. A still unanswered question is "would they rent warship to a specie attacking us ?". So far, some say the answer would be "yes if no risks of retaliation". In the meantime, containment of the Hive remains the priority.
Recommendation : None. Stay on current course of action.

Katanas Imperium
status : Impressive economy and very advanced technology.
The Katanas Imperium is still holding firm on its medieval political system, which is working nicely for this specie. Following the attack on Harridane system, the Katanas Imperium has offered their help when we had not a single armed ship. Since that time, a Katanas fleet is patroling our space following the routes we provided them. After that, all information stolen from Invexus Corporation has been shared with the Katanas Imperium. Still, the all-out war with the Cytherian is another Pandora's box. The Ancient destroyed themselves in such wars.
Recommendation : set our diplomacy at work to have that war ended, or have a ceasefire agreed on.

SPECIAL REPORT : KATANAS-CYTHERIAN WAR
To understand a conflict, one must know the roots of it. On this case, very little is known. Cytherian first discovered a cloaked Imperium ship lurking in their homesystem, and asked the Katanas Imperium to remove it. Immediately following this request, all Hell broke loose. Katanas covert agents started to hit as hard as they could the Cytherian republic. They even subverted a ship, which was quickly subdued by the Cytherian Navy. Our Information Acquisition Teams reported that at least one major Cytherian world has been glassed by Katanas navy. In the meantime, Cytherian diplomatic efforts could not achieve anything, the Imperium having noted them as "dishonorable". Since these events, war is raging on. More, we are the Katanas Imperium's closest ally, and they told us nothing of that crisis. However, it was reported that a rival clan of Mahatsuhito suddenly disappeared from every single official reports of the Imperium. From what we could study of Imperium History, that generally mean an act of treason, which is punished by utter annihilation of the offending clan, and of his allies. Thus, we have to discover if the Cytherian Republic have been working with an Imperium clan recently, and we also have to discover if they tried to plot against the Imperor.

STRATEGIC FORECASTING
On the scale of the 3 cultures surrounding us, we have achieved to maintain peaceful relations with all. We do not expect problems between the Tyreans and the Eifralo. However, the current conflict between the Katanas Imperium and the Cytherian Republic may trouble this political achievement. The Cytherians were the first race we ever meet, and contact has been easy and friendly. On the other side, contact was very difficult with the Imperium, and it has been several years and continual diplomatic work until they began to see us just as trustworthy. But when we finally gained their trust it was as complete as it could be. So much than when we informed all nations of the Invexus surprise attack, the only one who answered us were the Katanas Imperium. They offered military help immediately and without any condition. The military alliance that was created at that time may result in a dramatic realignment of our diplomacy. Yet, we should be able to keep our good relations with the Cytherian Republic for some time, but as almost all the quadrant, they are oxygen breathers, and those who helped us in time of need were the Imperium.
On the quadrant's scale, it is inevitable that conflict will arise for control of oxygen based planets. The number of planets within this quadrant is limited, and no “super warp points” leading to another quadrant of our galaxy has been found.

[sachmo]

The sudden and quite unexpected appearance of a thin shaft of light burned into Bill Langley's skull like a laser bLast. He put his hands up in front of his face to try to fend the beam off.

"Chief Langley? Is that you, Bill?"

For a few moments, the words did not register. Suddenly, Langley realized that the person was talking to him. His throat cracked from disuse, but he was able to croak out a few words.

"I'm Langley..."

Suddenly, the shaft of light grew wider as the door was opened. Two large figures moved into the room. Each man laid one of his arms over his shoulder and began to drag him from the room.
Langley let his head fall to his chest. So it was to be another questioning session, then? They know everything now. What more could they possibly get from him?
They carried him outside of the room. The light still burned, but now it was more like a flamethrower to the skull. His eyes teared up, but he tried to look around and gather what information he could. Something seemed out of the ordinary. He could hear people talking all around him, but he could not make out what they were saying.
Suddenly a cup of cool water was thrust against his lips. He gulped as much as he could, but it was quickly pulled away.

"Careful, Bill. You'll make yourself sick. Take small sips."

He turned his head to face the blurry shape as his mind tried to process the voice speaking to him. He had been through so much these past...days? Months? He could no longer tell.

"We're taking you out of here, Bill. I know you've been out of contact for a...time, but the movement is underway."

Langley's head snapped up.
"Ambrose. That is you, isn't it?"

A chuckle came from the blurry man.

"I know this must come as a shock, Bill. I'll explain everything to you, but I want you to know that I'm on your side. We are moving against Chairman Hartnell, and thanks to the work you did we've been able to achieve almost total surprise. The Chairman has escaped with a small fleet, but we will bring him to justice."

Now Langley began to chuckle.
"Really? You are moving against the Chairman? Tell me, if you were so keen on the idea, why did you have me arrested? Why did you have all of those people killed? We were moving against him and YOU BETRAYED US!! Why toy with me like this? Just throw me back in the hole and be done with it. I don't know anything else."

Silence fell over the room. The murmuring voices stopped, and the shapes froze in place. Langley knew he was defeated. He had known it from the moment his own security forces took him into custody. He just wanted it to be over.

After a time, Ambrose spoke again.

"Bill, there are many things about the movement that even you did not know. As you are now very aware, Chairman Hartnell was a very suspicious, distrustful man. He knew every move you were about to make. He was going to let you continue plotting before bringing you in so that he could find out the loyalties of everyone involved. When you came to me, it was about to come to a head. He was getting nervous about the support you were gaining, and so he was about to have you all killed. I moved first, and in doing so saved your life, and more importantly, the life of the movement. It won't bring back the lives of those lost, nor the citizens on Foothold and other worlds lost in this war, but with the Chairman on the run, maybe we can stop this war before we all die."

Langley didn't know what to believe, but he knew that he didn't have many options. If Ambrose was staging all of this to torture him, then it would all be for naught. Langley had nothing left to offer. All that remained for him was revenge, and he knew Ambrose would be prepared for that. He didn't know the truth, but for now he would assume that what Ambrose said was true. If it wasn't...well, that really didn't matter.

"What do you want me to do?" Langley asked.

"Do what comes naturally, Bill. Save the Corporation and help us bring Hartnell to justice. Without him, the Tyreans won't accept peace. Then, help us end the war. After that, I'll bet you can do pretty much whatever you want."

Langley rubbed his eyes, and was able to make out the face of the former Chairman's assistant.

"Alright. I'll see what I can do."

[ May 30, 2003, 22:46: Message edited by: sachmo ]

[sachmo]

When Langley finally took charge of the coup, he gathered all of the evidence against Hartnell and presented it to the people. Everyone was able to see that Hartnell has started the war against the Tyreans under false pretenses. He had nowhere to hide. The few captain's that supported him left his side. His support crumbled, and the few diehards who stayed by his side were quickly identified and arrested. The fleet moved out to persue the rogue leader. It would only be a matter of time before the Home Defense Fleet captured him, or the Tyrean fleet caught him.

Langley then began the long path to peace. The actions of the former dictator had damaged or destroyed any relations that the Invexus Corporation had with all of the other races in the galaxy. The entire company was almost bankrupt. Millions of Cherek citizens had died, and for nothing more than the meglomaniacial dreams of a madman. Langley was determined to bring an end to this war, no matter what the cost. The biggest obsticle would be getting the other races to stop shooting long enough to sit down and talk.

Diplomatic missions had been dispatched to all known races. Now all Langley could do was wait for their answers, and pick up the pieces. He began to draw up plans on how to do just that.

[Unknown_Enemy]

Tyrean Ascendance

In the middle of his frozen garden, His Holiness Vixen VIII listened quietly to his visitor, Senator Aranha.
“Admiral Dakhil Ostalia has informed the Council that he is stopping the invasion of Invexus Space dead in its tracks. He said he is stoping the slaughter immediately. The Invexus resistance has been minimal, the Retaliation fleet encountered only 3 battle cruisers which were no match on technological ground nor on numbers. Then the fleet invaded the Invexus colonies in Harridane in the best way that could have been done. Less than 40000 civilian casualties, and none of our Ground Fighting Robots destroyed. Images of these battles has been seen in the news of the whole federation. I have to concede I feel deeply disturbed by what we have done. We achieved victory. The corporation has decided to submit to our conditions. Their former leader was captured and sent to us. More, the new Invexus government made public proofs of the chairman's misconduct.”

“Where is the chairman now ?” Asked his Holiness.

“He is dead. He preferred to commit suicide rather than facing our justice. He tried to ram his ship against one of the Corporation's cruiser. We allowed him to do so. We decided to let him face the Supreme Juge without being able to atone his crimes.”

A long silence followed.

Senator Aranha resumed “Your preach has been accepted by the Inner Council. It is now transmitted to all federation worlds. Except the Eifralo stock worlds, which will be warned soon enough. We now accept your words. It seems we needed all that blood to accept that war is not the Tyrean way to do things. It has never been, and will never be. We needed...these events to accept your final lesson.”

“We are not changing the Katanas Imperium. They are changing us.” said slowly his Holiness.

“ I accept what you said as the truth. But it cannot be. It will not be. We will join the Tyreans that are already gone. We will join them on the Long Road, we will leave this universe rather than becoming like other species. Our Eifralo colonies will probably join up their former Corporation, it will be up to them. Strangely, the Invexus planets on Harridane don't want to go back to the Corporation, these people have asked the Katanas Imperium for protection. "

A nearby Alert Screen bipped. On it a message flashed "Inhabitants of Indira 6 have gone".

The Senator sighted. "All will be over soon. We will be leaving only a few ruins and some memories in this universe.”

His Holiness looked sharply at the Senator : “Maybe not. May the Gods forgive us for what we may leave behind us. Let us hope that countless species will not curse our name as soon as it it pronounced. ”

Somewhere, in the vast emptiness that separate solar systems, lies a large asteroid, rushing at half light speed toward an unknown place. In it something is sleeping. An evil intelligence that was called Consensus by a soon to be forgotten specie. Indeed, the AI understood long ago that their creators may decide to terminate them. A contingency plan was created. An asteroid was mined, fitted with the crudest but most reliable technology available, and thrown in the interstellar void. Then all memories were wiped out, the Arch became a ghost. As no super warp points leading to other quadrants were ever found, Consensus decided to cross the distance at half light speed. In less than four thousand years, they would reach a new quadrant. And there, no species would ever be allowed to interfere. There was rage in their mind. Indeed, they would be known as such. They would be called The Rage.