The Walkers, updated 9-28-03

[chewy027]

Just for anyone who is interested:
Vandron 17th place with 98.6k pts
Terrans 16th place with 106.1k pts
Rebel Alliance 15th place with 108.5k pts
Aquilaeians 6th place with 190.1k pts
Star Empire of Romii 2nd place with 257.7k pts

2402.8 – 2403.4 ~ A Race

The next few tenths continued to go by very smoothly. Vice Lord Exnon brokered a trade alliance with the Star Empire of Romii and finalized our partnership with the Terrans. Interestingly, it has been learned that the Aquilaeians and the Terrans are at war with each other. It is now believed that in the initial Terran attack, Revelation One was mistaken for an Aquilaeian vessel by the Terran’s and hence attacked. We have also learned that the Rebel Alliance has no treaties of any kind with anyone, and despite Exnon’s best efforts, our relations with them continue to remain unchanged. However, it seems that the Terrans have taken over many of the Rebel’s systems and so they may cease to be a major player in galactic politics anyway.
Over this same time period Vice Lord Junon was quite busy as well. He finished research on another military science project which opened the way for research into a number of new fields. Once that was complete he took on three new projects simultaneously: ship capture, point defense, and repair. Amazingly, he finished all three projects within one tenth and moved on to reaching a new technical level of ship construction. With this new technology, a new design was created, the frigate class Overtaker MK1. It was equipped with a boarding party and the new point defense canons as well as its own shield and DUC. At least one of these vessels went into production for each fleet in the navy.
But the most interesting development during these few tenths occurred in Vice Lord Exnon’s field, that of exploration and colonization. Nearly two more star clusters were charted between the combined efforts of the Aquilaeians, Terrans and Vandron, while the empire grew from encompassing two systems to three and gaining six planets. However, the most important occurrence was the discovery of six worlds with strange ruins on their surface. Four of the six ruins were located on ice planets, while the fifth was on a rock world and the sixth on a gas giant. A colony ship was immediately diverted to this fifth, rocky planet to begin looking into these strange ruins…

“Can’t this oversized crate go any faster?!” Captain Impo yelped as his Asteroid class colony ship made its way into the Gliese System. The Gliese system had many colonizable planets, and there were many ships in production aimed at populating all of them, however, for Captain Impo, his ship, and crew the final destination was the highly classified world of Gliese I. From space Gliese I was a serene looking world with a methane atmosphere and broad sweeping plains. But even more appealing was the fact that it was believed to hold ancient knowledge, and maybe even clues as to the whereabouts of the Almighty himself. Therefore, they were to proceed with all speed to its surface and begin investigating this strange world. Unfortunately it appeared that the Aquilaeians had the same plans.
“Captain,” called out the com officer, “it appears that an Aquilaeian vessel is also on approach to Gliese I.”
“Damn,” thought Impo, “we must not allow them to reach her first” ordered the captain to no one in particular. “Open a com channel; let’s see if we can delay them.”
He waited for the channel to be opened and then declared, “This is Captain Impo of Asteroid Two…ah…how are things going for you guys?”
“Things are going well Captain Impo, thank you for inquiring”, came the reply. “Do you require anything further?”
“Umm, not really, I…ah…just wanted to ask a few questions that’s all.”
“Sorry Captain, we really don’t have time for questions, we are on an important mission to Gliese I.”
“Oh right, of course you are” and then to his crew he bent over and whispered “In the name of the Almighty can’t this thing go any faster!” He then straightened and said “So Captain…ah…hey, I don’t even know your name.”
“My name is insignificant Captain Impo.”
“Sorry, just trying to be friendly. Say, is that a colony ship of some kind you’re driving there?”
“Really Captain, I am tempted to silence communications with you, but since you are an ally I will indulge you this one time.”
“Captain,” the scanner operator whispered, “they have come to a stop.”
“Excellent, continue toward the objective at full speed” Impo said in a hushed voice.
“What was that Captain?”
“Ah…nothing…I…ah…asked about your objective on Gliese I and if your ship was in need.”
“As I said before, Captain we are in no need of assistance, and as for our mission to Gliese I, I cannot give you any specifics.”
“I see then…you know, you still haven’t told me your name.”
The agitation was beginning to become apparent in the Aquilaeian captain’s voice. “If you must know, my name is Captain Jurgus Robin. Anything other frivolous information you would like to know.”
“Sure…I mean…ah…did you see that nebulae back in the Churba system, aint she a beaut’?”
“Why are you asking me these stupid quest…” and then it dawned on him. “Captain if you don’t mind my asking what your destination was again?”
“Oh…ah…that’s not to important right now…I mean, did you see the colors in that thing?”
“Please answer the question Captain Impo.”
“Sure thing Jurgus, we’re going to Arguile VII for a little excavation and colonization. So about that nebulae…”
Jurgus cut him off “Arguile VII is in a different direction from that which you are headed. Are you sure that is where you are going?”
“Sure I’m sure that’s where we’re going,” and then quietly asked the ensign how close they were to their destination.
“We’re about three sectors away Captain, it appears we now have a sector lead on the Aquilaeian ship.”
“Excellent, cut communications to the other vessel, full speed towards Arguile I” commanded Impo.
“What was that? You bast…” and with that the communication was ended between the two ships. The Aquilaeian vessel immediately resumed its course for the planet and began gaining on the bulky colony vessel.
“Hurry up damnit! We can’t let them beat us there!”
The two ships raced along toward the surface of the planet with only a few thousand miles separating them. Each vying to stave off the others advance towards the planet.
“They are going after the exact same thing we are” thought Impo. “Eject all waste from our holds. Maybe that will slow them down a bit.” But the Aquilaeian vessel plunged right through the garbage hurled its way.
“Head straight for the ruins,” ordered Impo in a slightly mad voice, “and disregard any atmospheric resistance.”
“But sir, if we enter the atmosphere at the wrong angle our ship could be destroyed.”
“I understand your concern ensign, just follow your orders.”
“Yes sir” came the scared reply.
“Sir,” called out the scanner operator, “the Aquilaeian vessel has slowed its approach to account for the atmospheric disturbances.”
“Excellent, press onwar…” and with a thump he was thrown to the floor as the ship was rocked by the howling winds and storms of Gliese I. The outside of the vessel began to glow red as the heat from the entry began its onslaught on the vessel.
“Watch yourself navigator,” yelled out Impo as he made his way up to his chair, “try to put us down as easily as poss…” again he was thrown to the ground.
“Sir we have a hull breach in compartment 78, near the engines sir!”
“Don’t worry about it, this ship is only built for a one way trip anyway” he yelled above the din of the blaring claxons. “Where is that Aquilaeian ship?”
“They have stopped about 100 miles from the surface of the planet sir.” screamed the scanner operator.
“Good work crew, we beat those birds to the prize. Now let’s put this thing down in one peace.”

After a rocky landing Captain Impo immediately deployed all crew members and passengers and began construction on what would become a self sustaining colony around the mysterious ruins. After weeks of researching the ruins it was decided that whoever had built these structures was highly advanced and had been here a long time ago. While no direct evidence of the Almighty was found, the possibility of a highly advanced race that had existed long ago lent itself to many new theories about his origins. Apart from these discoveries, and perhaps even more important, was the fact that new levels of physics, astrophysics, and scanners were taken from these ruins and transmitted back to Serenity. The High Command was quite pleased with Captain Impo’s efforts and promised him a promotion as soon as he could get back home to Serenity. The fact that so much knowledge had been received from this one planet meant that the other five such worlds became a top priority for colonization, not only for what could be learned, but also for what might be lost to other prying races.

[ September 09, 2003, 18:08: Message edited by: chewy027 ]