History of the Galaxy, part 1-Story Thread - Page 11

geoschmo · #**101** July 18th, 2002, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quikngruvn:

quote:
(The beginning of the end)

It's a shame it has to end... it's been a great read!

Quikngruvn

Heh, I am not saying it's ending for everybody. But depending on what the Norak do over the next few turns I could be in serious trouble. And it is afterall close to turn 200. How many SEIV games go that long? Not very many PBW games for sure.

Geoschmo

Jmenschenfresser · #**102** July 18th, 2002, 04:32 PM

Finally another post.

2417.3 Continued...

Raeghar showed up at the pre-arranged meeting with the Sergetti outlaw. His excuse was weak. He told him that he had talked to his associates about the offer and they had declined. In reality, the opposite was true. He never told them anything and had he, most likely, they would have jumped on it. Their core constituency was growing more restless and exceedingly violent. Raeghar regretted not taking the Sergetti up on the offer for the reason that he wasn't sure how much longer he could hold onto his position.

The logic was simple. If the Sallega Empire fell, the Tribunals would proceed unopposed...perhaps even pounce upon several systems...sharing in the spoils. The Sallega were the only ones in a real position to oppose the Norak Continuum. No, Raeghar had his own plan, and although the math certainly didn't produce the solution he had in mind, somehow he knew it would work.

Raeghar strode into the drab government office, the Last one down a long hall. The man sitting before him had no title. Politicians loved titles. This man loved power and with that said, he had it. He was the Tribunal's insider for this system. Raeghar didn't know exactly what such men did, but he did know that they were the arteries of the Tribunal's system of government. Had he gone to the local police, a local politician, or even the governor of the planet, a cagey maze of red tape would have clamped down upon his plan. No, this took skill and required inside work.

"Sit down." The Tribunal strong man, although common looking was not to be trifled with. "I told you over the net that your coming here was a one way trip...and yet you showed up. That in and of itself speaks....justifies this message you bring. You're a wanted man, Raeghar. Unless this information can be valued over a better post and a bigger house, I will be turning you in."
"It is that important, sir."
"Out with it."
Raeghar told him of the Sergetti/Sallega plot.
"Here's what we are going to do. Two of my men will shadow you back to your house, and they will watch you day and night. For your own protection and to protect my investment in you. You are worth a lot to me. I will play this to my greatest benefit...never forget that. I will contact the Counsel...perhaps even the Speaker. And you will be hearing from me."
"That's it."
"There is one other thing. Why didn't you take the Sergetti's offer. Certainly to a rebellion, a better offer could not be made."
"The rebellion is going no where. I too weigh such situations, and his offer came up lacking. I think I have more to gain in destroying his plot than aiding it."
"If all you say is true, and half of it comes to pass, and your coming forth prevents certain situations, then I agree. You might have much to gain. You know, since you fled our people like a dishonest Farzah dog, upholding ancient ideals, unwilling to see the future, much has changed in the Continuum. The Tribunals have become quite the opportunists. No one talks as I am sure you do. Society has become a machine."
"That says only one thing."
"What would that be, Raeghar?"
"Machines don't operate just to show off how tightly their gears and wheels fit together...they produce...as in a product outside itself."
"Yea...it's called a better society."

Every night Raeghar prayed that Tallik's burden, compared to his, was airy and light. The proof had been sent, and with that, reclined in his chair, his toes curled up against the cold glass of gin. He'd just spent an hour staring at the button to send of the list...the list of names and addresses. He didn't know what to think about it all. His recent actions happened out of a higher order of instinct. Perhaps divine intervention, he thought.

No doubt news of the attack had reached the ears of the Speaker. Raeghar woke up the next day to hear of the battle in Ushpada. Two days he thought. They had waited for him...Raeghar!, to assist them, and when he turned down their help, some 20+ Sallegan warships attacked a Norak world in Ushpada. Luckily for all parties they failed...well, all except the Sergetti and the Sallegan captains. News filtered in later that day that the attack was actually the master plan of a Sallegan plot, a faction of disgruntled leaders. The origin of the Tectonic bombs was solved. Certainly, the Sallegan empire either had them, or had the funds to get them.

Raeghar still wondered if the Tribunals would declare war. Several weeks later, several weeks of silence for him, the handing over of a colony in Nizzarum went over quite awfully. Somehow the leaders of the faction who planned the attack in Ushpada had evaded Sallegan authorities and convinced the fleet stationed over Nizzarum VIII to glass the planet...killing several billion Norak and several hundred Sallegan Marines.

About a week after Raeghar had ratted out all of his friends, his comrads in rebellion to the Tribunal strong man, he paid a visit to his office. The list that Raeghar sent was his test to have his crimes pardoned and be reinstated into Norak life...even work as part of the Tribunal organization. No doubt, thought Raeghar, they need people like me...who have some experience. The Tribunal agent seemed almost glad to see him. He talked long and hard about the stir Raeghar had created and how impressed everyone was with his turn around. He even went so far as to claim that the Speaker himself apologized for any past misunderstandings.

Misunderstandings, thought Raeghar, that is quite an obtuse way of putting it.

Much to Raeghar's surprise the agent confided that the Tribunals had special need of him. It was filtering down that the Jraenar and the Praetorians might enter into open warfare, and no one in the Tribunal government had the slightest idea as to how to deal with them.

2419.2
There is a Tribunal saying that goes, "The road to paradise is paved with bodies." Such a horrible thought. How could such a place be paradise? I doubt it is. Such a place is the resting rock for those who dash themselves upon the jagged cliffs of government.

All those I served and served with on the outer rim are dead. I chose in sound mind and body to sacrifice all of them, so that the rebellion might flower and grow fruit. The Speaker himself congratulated me and pardoned my crimes, saying that I saved the galaxy from unwanted war. It had helped them to stay their hand from striking back at the Sallega. I now know why. The Norak did not have a single mine sweeper with which to clear the attack. I realized then that there could be no peace in our corner of the galaxy. Our entire history with the sallega had simply been one long military build up.

I am not sure what has become of the Praetorian conflict with the Jraenar. I haggled with them and the Jraenar. The conflict is light years away, in a part of the galaxy no Norak has seen. The Praetorian seem to be preparing a fleet but taking their time with it. Not long after I'd pricked my thumb several times trying to sort out a conflict the Norak had little to do with and involved complicated feelings of honor and retribution, the Tribunal head of the diplomatic core suddenly pulled the plug on my negotiations.

To this day, I do not know why. Not long after I was taking a stroll down the long corridors of the Xiban space station, when a familiar figure crossed the hall, like a spectre in a children's tale. I ran to catch it, but rounding the corner I found myself standing in simply another part of a giant empty corridor.

What on earth was Tallik doing walking free. I'd tried to find him since I'd returned but no one knew where he was. Most thought he'd left with me. Some said he'd been killed. Perhaps then what I saw was true. The spectre of a living man. A man lost to the world but in some realm still alive.

The old Order refused to reinstate me. The monk orders had grown cold since the Tribunal's coming to power. Their numbers were dwindling, having been the focus of several cleansings. So those holding my keys decided it would be best if I could occupy my time with something fruitful. I was given the task of the warrior priest. The warrior priest accompanies a war host in battle. To heal, to bless, to encourage and to instruct. I was put aboard a dreadnought in orbit in the Arklite system. The tradition of the warrior priest is ancient. It used to be one of the highest positions one could hold as far as prestigious matter are concerned. However, today, the Tribunals and the space navy in general kept the practice only out of tradition, not with any respect to its original reasons.

Most of the ship's crew don't care to show up to my lessons. There is a strange secularism going about the continuum, despite having such a fundamentalist government. It is as if no one cares any longer for the spiritual side of life. Perhaps we all deserve the government we've been given. I've heard it said.

Nearly thirty ships in the fleet. Most of which had been mothballed because the empire couldn't afford to keep all of them in working condition. But recently, I'd noticed more and more of them undocking and glowing with life. The fleet was being overhauled. Mine sweepers arrived with regular intervals from the outer systems. Soon the crew began running tests. All sorts. This meant only one thing...

A call to arms was issused in the middle of the night. I jumped from my bed, donned my robe and ran to the temple hall. Already several dozen of the crew were assembled. I stepped into my office, hoping to grab a quick cup of Praetorian tea, but found the second in command of the dreadnought sitting on my desk.

"What's all this?" I asked.
"Shipping out, priest."
"To where?"
"War. We've gone to war with the Sallega. Let me make this as clear as I can. About an hour ago, intersteller time, our fleet in Cephedri attacked the two Sallega fleets stationed there. We are moving out as well, and this ship has been designated as the command ship. Therefore, you are now responsible for the other warrior priests. Please inform them. This is no excercise, priest. Over the next 24 hours all men and women aboard this ship will come in rotations to you for blessing and confession. An assistant is coming aboard now to help you. He's a young priest from the Olontra system."
He turned to leave.
"Why if I may ask, are we going to war with the Sallega? I thought all was well with them? I mean, surely this is a question upon all the lips of the soldiers, and I will hear it asked a thousand times. What shall I tell them?"
"Tell them this--nothing matters so little as what happens to men, for judgement is based solely upon how they deal with it."
"I am a priest, and even to me, that is a bad answer."
"It is all you will get."
"Then may I ask where we are going."
"Into the belly of the beast."

The rebellion is no more. I see that now. There never was a rebellion. We were deluded by the status quo, we'd once known. What little understanding we have. I closed the door behind the commander and took out, not a bag of tea, but my old flask of gin. I am a fool. Who was I to think I could change the future. A man is taught many lessons in his life, and the Last is the wisdom of silence. The gin slides down cool. I walk out into the crowded temple thinking about the irony that here I am speeding toward the fate I denied, only to be the first to embrace it.

I've done more to help this evil than all those growing fat off its ill-gotten rewards.

geoschmo · #**103** July 18th, 2002, 05:30 PM

"The truth of this has oft been told
and written in the tales of old,
The birth of nations and death of kings
can turn upon the smallest things."

Simeon, from "The Eye of Salleg" chapter 14, (one of the great works of early Sallegan literature)

Year 2419.3

Many times over the decades the Sallegan people had been attacked. Many times they had been bloodied. Never had they been so badly beaten. Sallgan worlds had felt the sting of orbital bombardment, many millions of citizens had lost their lives, and countless ships had given their crews in the defense of the Republic. First in wars against the Xi'Chung, and Sergetti, then in the skirmishes against the Amonkrie, the Sergetti again, and the Norak in the first bloody battle of Cephredi so many years before. But though they had taken losses, the Sallegan soldier had always known that if he were to fall, one of his own would take his place. And if his blood were to wet the field of battle, his brothers feet would be standing on it at the end of the day. Planets could be bombed, but they never fell. Once the Sallegan flag had been raised over a world, it had never come down. Until now.

The attack was swift as it was devastating.The valliant fight put up by the defenders was in the end utter fultilty. And two Sallegan worlds were gone. The remaining planets in Cephredi had only minor defenses, and the people knew it. The rioting began almost as quickly as reports of the attacks came. They people had been on edge already over the uncertainty of the situation. Whoever said no news is better than bad news was right.

The Senate was called into emergency session, and almost immedietly voted overwhelmingly to start an immediate investigation into the policies and procedures that had allowed the fleet to be in such a poor state of preparedness. As if an investigation would do anything, Grandow thought. By the time they even get their pencils sharpened, the Norak could be here. As of yet, there were no Norak ships in the Home system, but he knew they were coming. Already there had been some calls for Grandow to step down. They were few in number still, but they be growing. He could see that clearly enough.

Grandow knew he had been a fool to not see this attack coming so soon. A fool for believing that the moderate forces within the Continuum would be able to keep the Tribunal in check. Years of sitting behind a desk had dulled his senses to the hard cold facts of life. Many millions of Sallgeans had paid for this with their lives. Many more would before it was over he knew. Perhaps all of them. No, he expected that the Sallegan race would continue in some form or fashion. Whether or not the Republic would continue would be a matter that would be decided very soon he believed.

Grandow considered the old proverb that things were always darkest just before the dawn. But this was based on an assumtion that the sun would always rise the next day, because it always had before. He had no such assurances now.

Things were very bad, very bad indeed.

sachmo · #**104** July 18th, 2002, 08:33 PM

Come on, Sallega!
Hold em off!

geoschmo · #**105** July 18th, 2002, 08:59 PM

We shall try. I shall fight to the Last. I will give no quarter, and ask for none in return. If the lights goes down on the Sallegan Empire, then history will record this as our finest hour.

This actually points up the difference between Role Play and regular games. Had this been a regular game and I had encountered a religious race that I had pretty much bottled up in the corner of the quadrant, I would have done evertying in my power to finish them off before they could develop those accursed tailsmans. But alas I fear that waiting till turn 200 to attempt it has sealed my doom. But I will try my best to entertain you as I go.

That is after all, the purpose of this game to begin with.

Geoschmo

Baron Munchausen · #**106** July 18th, 2002, 10:12 PM

Your mistake is holding too closely to the 'thematic' military tactics of the race. When fighting ships with the Talisman you need to open up the range by using seekers. The Jraenar could give them a fight. Or deny them direct combat altogether by using mines and other sneak tactics. Even fighters would be better than sending ships into range. At least you can split fighters into many small Groups to soak up the fire.

Quikngruvn · #**107** July 19th, 2002, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Heh, I am not saying it's ending for everybody....

Oops, misconception on my part. But it will have to end at some point.

Quikngruvn, feverishly taking notes from the Baron...

Ragnarok · #**108** July 20th, 2002, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Quikngruvn:

quote:
Heh, I am not saying it's ending for everybody....

Oops, misconception on my part. But it will have to end at some point.

Quikngruvn, feverishly taking notes from the Baron...

I dread the day when this story ends. It's been a great read thus far. I'm looking forward to more storys from both of you. Even if it's the beginning of the end for you Geo, I look forward to reading how you write the end of your empire. Sad to see ya dying off though. Hopefully you can pull through.

Dead Meat · #**109** July 20th, 2002, 01:11 AM

...Praetorian Tea is made with only the best herbs and ingredients found on Jetanis 5. Our unique concentration of pyrite globules give Praetorian Tea its rich, fulfilling flavor and aromatic qualities that are enjoyed around the galaxy. Whether you're a Cue or not, I'm sure that you will enjoy Praetorian Tea during any occasion. If you haven't already tried Praetorian Tea, I invite you to try some today so that you too can enjoy this rich delightful drink that so many other begins have found.

Welcome back to Praetorian Prime News. Now a recap the latest developments for 2419.3:

The Praetorian Tea Company released its Fifth Quarter earning today with an almost 20% increase in intragalactic sales. C.F.O. Zek had this to say: "Billions are enjoying Praetorian Tea thanks to our increase in advertising and marketing outside of Praetorian Space. With the addition of our two new factories on Bizzet 1 and Wanduk 2, we have been able to expand our production and shipping routes. We also look to increase our consumer base by adding new flavors such as the new Cadmium Mint and soon to be released Dynamic Organic."

The Minister of Colonization was happy to announce the re-colonization of Last Kithra colony to be destroyed by the Jraenar Imperium. Bizzet 9 makes the 100th colony of the Praetorian Imperium. The Imperium now spans hundreds of light years, with colonies in 12 systems.

A new settlement has been reached between the Praetorian Imprium and the EEE Consortium, the agreement was reach between the two long time allies earlier this month. The lease on Rissil 6 & 7 has been extended to the EEE for 100 years. The EEE colonist already in Rizzil system are reported as to be "happy".

In other news, negotiations between the Praetorian Imperium and the Jraenar Imperium have ended, regarding the massacre of the Kithra Consortium over nearly two years ago. Admiral of the Fleet Poka'chew, located at the Bizzete Fleet Base, released the following statement: "It is a matter of Honor that we avenge the deaths of the entire Kithra race. With the withdrawal of the Nork mediator, and the Jraenar refusal to accept our fair terms, we are left no chose but to take action against the Jraenar Imperium. It is with a sad and heavy heart that I must order attacks against this otherwise honorable government."

This is the first time sense the Fazrah-Praetorian conflict that the Fleet will be used in more than a peace-keeping roll. Many of the Emperor's critics are not happy about the recent turn of events regarding the upcoming war. After the destruction of the Kithra Last colony, many of the Emperor's most out spoken critics noted that the destruction of the Jraenar fleet in Bizzet should be payment enough for the crimes against the Kithra. Many critics also stress the long traditions of Praetorians isolationism. While this has been true for the majority of Emperor Zarnak rein, the recent settlement with the EEE Consortium and the war with the Jraenar have shown that the Emperor intends to bring the Praetorian Imperium out of its isolationist period.

The Hyper Ball Tournament meet untimely end when an Amon'krie slug was let loose in the dome. Authorities are looking into the matter and have said that such actions are the ac...

geoschmo · #**110** July 22nd, 2002, 06:46 PM

Year 2419.7 The First Battle Of Narcisston

The Sallegan military strategists had analyzed the outcomes of all the previous fleet engagements involving the Norak. Their ships were larger, and more technologically advanced than the Sallgan ships. And the tailsman gave them a decisive advantage in combat. But their strategy had a glaring hole in it. If this could be taken advantage of, it could result in victory for the Republic. Or at least a chance at survival.

This weakness had actually been discovered after the first battle of Cephredi many years ago. While the Sallegans had been victorious in that battle, the Norak ships there were hopelessly outdated. Perhaps if the battle had gone against the Sallegans at that time, they would have taken more seriously the after battle report about the Norak weakness and preparations could have been made sooner to take advantage of it.

It wasn't until the Norak fleet annihilated the Sallegan fleet during the eastern rebellion that the Republic began to realize how deficient their technology was. The line given to the public was that the rebel fleet had been old ships ready for the scrap heap, or the museum. That the Norak ships had been bigger, and more advanced and naturally would have defeated them. There were even rumors spread that the Sallegan rebels had been led by inferior officers, and possibly even deferred to Sergetti masters.

But all this was, though not an out and out lie, certainly a half truth. The ships the rebels had commandeered had been older than the ships in Cephredi, but not that much. And they had a large numerical advantage over the Norak. Tactical reports received of the battle did not show any poor tactics at all. The officers in charge of the Rebels were after all highly trained Republic naval academy graduates, many with actual battle experience against the Xi'Chung and Sergetti. They simply couldn't get within range of their weapons and were blown out of space by the Norak from long range aided by their tailsmans.

Many simulations had been done following that battle, and the results were not much better even with the Sallegans top of the line warships. It was clear that something had to be done to prepare in the event political talks broke down and the Norak started an all out war. It was then that the old report from the first battle of Cephredi had been dug out, and this time it was taken more seriously.

The weakness was simple, and glaring. The Norak did not use point defense cannons. It was known that they did in fact have the technology, it had been seen on their early ship designs. But about the time the first tailsmans started appearing, the Norak ships mysteriously stopped having PDC onboard. It was not known why, perhaps it was some sort of cultural or religious taboo. Perhaps the Norak considered it a lack of faith. If so it was an interesting dichotomy, because they did not have any such aVersion to shield technology, or minesweepers.

It was also entirely possible that they simply felt that PDC were unnecessary as few of the major empires made much use of fighters or missiles, and PDC were of little use against anything else. The Sallegans themselves had many years ago phased missiles out of service, and ceased further research and development on the technology. They did have a sizeable number of fighters for defense in the homesystem, but at the time the Norak could not have known this.

The republic went on a crash program to research more advanced missiles, to build ships employing them, and to retrofit older designs with them. With the armistice signed after the end of the trouble with the eastern rebels, the fleet in Cephredi had been split up over two colonies and work began on retrofitting them as much as possible.

The new top of the line Ahmadabad battle cruiser was designed and as many as could be built, were built. This vessel have seven missile tubes, and with the advanced missiles being designed they could fire from a distance outside of the range of the Norak tailsman controlled Phased Poloran Beams. However, it was a race against the clock, and the clock ran out.

When the Norak moved on the fleets in Cephredi, the fleet being split up and too many being retrofitted at once meant that they could offer little but token resistance to the Norak fleet. As it was a few Norak ships were actually destroyed, better than could be hoped, but not good enough. The Republic could not afford a war of attrition with the Norak. Their empire was too large.

When the picket ship watching the Ashadra system to the south of Narcisston reported the approach of a second fleet of Norak attempting to flank the home system defenses, things looked bleak. The fleet entered the Sallega home system and quickly glassed two planets. It was clear that this was to be a bloody war. The Norak were not even bothering to bring troops with them. It was obvious to the Republic that their very existence was at stake.

There was much discussion as to how best to defend the home system. They senate wanted the fleet kept close to the homeworld. But Grandow knew that was bad policy. He couldn't sit back while the Norak glassed the planets around him and hope for a miracle. He had to do something. And he had his missile ace up his sleeve. He doubted the Norak would take seriously the few that managed to be brought into action in Cephredi. And even if they did, it was estimated this new fleet had departed the Norak space about the same time as the initial suprise attack. They could not have done anything about it that quickly.

The fleet was sent to meet the new Norak fleet. They did battle in sector 6,8. The two fleets engaged each other, and the Sallegan ships let loose their missiles as soon as they were in range. The main force of the Norak dreadnoughts went quickly. They did damage in return, but their phased polaron beams could not pierce the phased shielding of the Republic Battle Cruisers.

The Sallegan fighters moved in next in "large wing" formation. Over five hundred fighters, spilt into two massive Groups. It was a risky strategy. Collected together, the fighters couldn't cover as many targets, and they were easier to hit by the enemy. But the damage they could do grouped together was considered worth the risk. They swooped into action and each destroyed a single Norak warship with their first volley. There was no return fire. The Norak as expected had no PDC, and the few phased polaron beams that survived the initial moments of the firefight were trained on the Sallegan capital ships.

Grandow almost held out hope of total victory after the initial success. But the Norak had a suprise of their own waiting. Included in the fleet were several light cruisers of a new design. The Huron had no standard weaponry, but instead was exclusively armed with ionic beam weapons. These could skip through the Sallegan phased shielding and armor, and immediately burned out the remaining engines. The Sallegan missile ships could still fire, but they were dead in space.

After a few brief and bloody moments, the Norak fleet was reduced to a toothless shell of it's former self. The only weapons it had left were the ionic weapons that were good only against engines. These could not target the fighters at all. While the Sallegan fleet had lost several ships, they still had many more, and most of them still had all their weapons intact. But they could not pursue the Norak fleet. The fighter wings did their best to chase the Hurons down, but they unfortunately did not have any more speed than the Norak ships. They managed two more kills, but the remainder of the Hurons, and all the minesweepers the Norak brought were alive. They moved on past the Republic fleet and resumed course for the Republic homeworld.

Grandow had almost nothing left to stop them. The Norak fleet could not do any damage to the homeworld with only ionic weapons, but they could blockade them. And the Norak still had another fleet in Cephredi waiting to pounce.