Dawn

[attack_condor]

2408.5

Nekkar III
Corporate headquarters...

The Chairman blinked a couple of times. He hated the lights, but they had to be there. People had to see their leader. Chairman Lomax was to deliver another speech on the state of the empire, and the state of the war. Upon cue from the floor director, Lomax began his prepared speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to take part of your day to speak with you. As you know, we are at war with the empires of Sergetti and Phong in the Zezzis system. Our forces and brave colonists need our support and material in order to bring this conflict to a safe resolution – not only for our empire, but all of the peace-loving peoples of the world. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I offer a ray of hope in ending this unproductive venture.

Yesterday, we received a message from the Sergetti. One of their colony ships was drifting in space. Our repair ship there, Alice Springs, docked and restored their engines and life support.”

Lomax conveniently didn’t mention how the ship got that way, but continued.

“I am happy to report that the Sergetti have reclaimed their ship, and – more importantly – their colonists as well. While we wish we could have done more for the repair of the ship, we hope this provides a demonstration of our benevolence.

As a further demonstration, I am announcing now that all offensive operations against the Sergetti have been terminated. Our forces will still defend themselves, but we do not consider the Sergetti an ‘enemy’.”

He paused for effect. The pause was for the audience watching on monitors around the systems, as no one but the technicians and Lomax himself were in the room.

“I invite any empire that wishes to do so, simply send a message that they wish to live in peace with us. We never wanted war. We will not shrink from our responsibility to defend our military forces, our colonists, or our friends. Having said that, I must also announce that the Abbidon empire, for no reason known to us other than the fact we have established colonies in the Mentocka system, has declared war on us.

We strongly urge the leaders of the Abbidon empire to consider their actions carefully. Do not make the mistake that we will not defend our colonies.

But even with the unwarranted actions of the Abbidon empire, we will not make the first overt act of war with them. We, in fact, reject their declaration and do not recognize that a state of war exists between our empires. Should the Abbidon choose to reinforce their declaration with an overt act of their own, we will have no choice but to respond in kind.

Ladies and gentlemen, we will not start wars. We will not visit atrocities on innocent life forms. We will recognize the right of all life to exist in peace – and we require that right be accorded to us.

Ladies and gentlemen, this war will end, as all wars do. The time and the fashion of the ending is left to our opponents. But peacefully, of through conquest, make no mistake.

We will end this war.

We will.”

Less than twenty-four hours after that transmission, the mood of the empire surged, and the cry 'We will!' had been taken up by the masses. Enterprising marketing designs of the slogan, some with Captain O’Rourke’s image looking toward the future were now appearing on buildings everywhere. Cadets in training were greeted and treated like heroes themselves, even though all they had done to this point was sign a piece of paper. Production was just a bit higher, and the people seemed to work just a little bit better with each other. The population was galvanizing around the slogan, 'We will'.

Zezzis system
Zezzis V war operations center...

With the arrival of Chaney and Freightliner at Zezzis V, the Phong colony at Zezzis VII was ready to be assaulted. The Anous class point defense ship was still in orbit, but the Phong destroyer had left the colony for the Fezzran warp point. Manchester and Chaney would overwhelm the ship, and Freightliner would drop the troops onto the surface of the planet. Nothing more than militia was expected to be in opposition to the assault.

The forces were arrayed, and the order was given. Manchester led the assault, and she fired one salvo of missiles. It was enough to destroy the Phong ship weapons, and Chaney closed in behind her. After two toxic weapon hits, there were only six of the original crew still functional. The ship surrendered in due time, and the three of them returned to Zezzis V. Freightliner, meanwhile launched her troops and followed the ships back to the Dawn base. The battle for Zezzis VII was now in the hands of the ground forces...

Fezzran system
...onboard CDS Beagle...

Under her cloak, Beagle slid into the warp point under the cover of a Sergetti colony ship. She arrived in Fezzran and found two Phong planets. Just before they warped in, a message from Alice Springs reported that Montreal and Toronto had captured the Phong destroyer that was guarding Zezzis VII two months ago. Now in the Fezzran system, Cabrerra and his crew had to attend to the task at hand. The Phong would certainly not like the fact that ships they build are beginning to show up in Dawn fleets. Should they find out there was an unarmed ship filled with the latest Dawn technology, right in their own backyard, there would be no mistaking that reaction.

Cabrerra was there to make sure they didn’t find out. They headed three sectors away from the warp point and into a plasma storm, where they uncloaked. The system had two stars, which made solar collectors a good option for the spy ship that has everything. Perhaps if the Dawn could nab that space yard the Phong built back in Zezzis, Cabrerra could wrangle out a deal for collectors for his, um, “freighter”.

In the meantime, there were ships to track. The first Norak ship was another frigate – codenamed “Steelghost” – and was only one sector from warping into Zezzis. A new kind of frigate was 9 sectors away from the warp point.

With their report coded and transmitted, Beagle slipped quietly back into the storm and kept her vigil...