A War for the Stars

[Erax]

Admiral Wiers' private log, SGY 2405.1:

Nova IX has reached Klozar VI, our future system capital. Our colonists have already begun work on the system's port and trade facilities; there are sizable metal stockpiles from the mines on Klozar VII waiting for ships to deliver them to our factories on Syned. Meanwhile, starport construction is eroding our dwindling metal stockpiles.

Nova X has been launched from Virgillia Prime. She will resupply in the Gandle Ott system, then proceed to Aram II, a radioactive-rich, partially colonizable world.

Sixty million colonists have boarded Fyrine IV. They will be taken to Berlin III, where they will be re-assigned to locally built colonizers.

Black Sword III has joined Line Captain Veren's Fleet. Like her sister ships, she will have her laser cannon upgraded to the new model while the other ships recover and refuel their fighters.

Commodore Haase has produced an intel report which points to a Yakrin presence in an unexplored system adjacent to Aram. I will order the Fleet to investigate the hyperconduit to that system as soon as their new lasers are installed.

[Raging Deadstar]

Another nice update, it seems that the Imperials are getting set to unleash the dogs of war and i look forward to it! I'm curious to know if the rebel alliance is in this game, but i half don't want you to answer so i get a suprise when first contact comes if they are

[clark]

Well done!

I am putting another quarter in the jukebox, please, one more song!

[Erax]

Screenplay from a Stormtrooper recruiting vid, aired throughout the Virgillia Sector on SGY 2405.1:

External. Stormtrooper Recruiting Center. Day.

Two young men walk up the broad staircase and enter the building.

Interior. The Lobby. Day.

The Fleet Sergeant sits at a desk, in dress uniform. His chest is full of ribbons. His right arm is entirely missing; his tunic has been tailored without any sleeve at all.

First Young Man : Good morning. I want to join up.

Second Young Man : Me too.

Sergeant : For what ? Labor battalions ?

Second Young Man : Oh, no ! I'm going to be a Stormtrooper.

Sergeant, turning to the first young man : You ?

First Young Man : I'm interested in Research and Development, especially electronics. I understand the chances are pretty good.

Sergeant : They are if you can cut it, and not if you don't have what it takes. Look boys, have you any idea why they have me out here in front ?

First Young Man : Why ?

Sergeant : Because you can't all be Stormtroopers ! We don't need that many and most of the volunteers aren't Stormtrooper material anyhow. Got any idea what it takes to make a Stormtrooper ?

Second Young Man : No.

Sergeant : Most people think that all it takes is two hands and two feet and a stupid mind. Possibly that was all they required ten thousand years ago. But an Imperial Stormtrooper is a specialist so highly skilled that he would rate 'master' in any other trade. So they put me out here to discourage you boys. Look at me.

The Sergeant shoves his chair away from the desk. Both young men see that he has no legs.

Sergeant : Let's assume that you don't wind up digging tunnels on Virgillia IVB or playing human guinea pig for new diseases; suppose we do make a Stormtrooper out of you. Take a look at me - this is what you may buy... If you don't buy the whole farm. Which is more likely, because these days, there aren't many wounded. I'm the rare exception. I was lucky down on Aram I... though maybe you wouldn't call it luck. So why don't you boys go home, go find other ways to serve the Empire ? Stormtrooper service is rough and dangerous even in peacetime, which this isn't. It is not an adventure. Well ?

First Young Man : I'm here to join up.

The Second Young Man hesitates, looks down, then looks straight at the Sergeant with fiery determination in his eyes.

Second Young Man : Me too.

The scene freezes on a close-up of the Second Young Man. The Imperial symbol and the words "Stormtrooper Service : We Need the Very Best" come onscreeen. The Imperial March plays softly in the background.

Fade out.

Note : Today's post is a tribute to Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers". If you haven't read it, do yourself a favor : get off your computer and go buy the book right now, you won't regret it.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

a mouse walks in and says "i wanna be a rebel fighter!"

[dogscoff]

*dogscoff walks in and salutes: I wanna be a tree! Sir!

[Erax]

The Sergeant rolls his eyes.
"They send a worse bunch of recruits every year."

[Raging Deadstar]

*Raging Deadstar walks in*

I wanna be a Stormtrooper, Mam...ooops sorry SIR!
Or I want to be a sith!

*Pulls out a metre long bagguette and starts swishing it round making lightsabre noises before bopping the sergeant on the head, and promptly being escorted out, bagguette swinging and lightsabre noises continuing!*

Hehe, but anyway...

Nice idea Erax, very good concept for an update. Should have your people playing putty right into your hands. You know what they say about men with Automatic weapons, or in a star wars universe jawa with droids

[ June 20, 2003, 19:24: Message edited by: Senator Raging Deadstar ]

[Erax]

Admiral Wiers' private log, SGY 2405.2:

Our first genuine Hoersch-Kessel ion drives rolled off the production lines today. They are cheaper and smaller than the previous atomic drives; in time, we will have Versions that are also more efficient. The Nova colonizer design has already been upgraded to include these new drives. Our research teams are now testing an anti-fighter laser prototype; after that their next priority will be to develop ray and particle shields. There are many who are optimistic with our recent victories over the Yakrin, but the way ahead is still long.

Seeker II entered a new system, which we named New Mantooine; it contains only a small and a tiny partially colonizable worlds, plus an airless moon. She will move through this system to HolLastin, then on to our colony on Klozar VI.

Our metal stockpiles continue to dwindle. I must find new ways to motivate the population of our mining colonies.

Seeker I, Captain's log, SGY 2405.2:

Our carriers have recovered all of their TIE fighters. The rebuilt spaceport down on Aram I has fuelled the Fleet's reactors, and our new laser cannon have been tested. Colonel Haakar and his Assault Regiment are back aboard Fyrine I, minus a token force which will hold Aram I until the Army brings in a proper security battalion from one of the colonies.

Our orders are to leave orbit and make for one of the unexplored wormholes, from which an Alliance destroyer has just emerged. From this distance we can't be too sure, but it looks like it's heavily damaged. Whatever the Yakrin still have out there, it's certainly nasty, and we're headed straight into it.

Fyrine III is on her way to join us, with half a Stormtrooper Brigade aboard. She'll join the Fleet in the unexplored system, if the Fleet is still in one piece by then.

[ June 20, 2003, 21:01: Message edited by: Chief Engineer Erax ]

[Krsqk]

Nice update, as always. Keep up the good work! I'm into my first Sci-Fi Xover game, and I can appreciate the interesting contortions of the research path.

after that their next priority will be to develop ray and particle shields

I did not enjoy the shock of finding out those shields were not phased.