History of the Galaxy, part 1-Story Thread

[Jmenschenfresser]

2401.5
I am returning from Xiban IV after spending several relaxing but event-filled weeks with Tallik and Pellwain. The new colony is growing. In the year that they have been here, the people of Xiban IV now number 47 million. I met the first Norak born on another planet. I am not sure how this is exactly important, but nonetheless, people love such statistics--the firsts and Lasts of things, it is the nature of those finite. A new class of ship, Maine, is being constucted on Xiban I. Tallik has shown me the diagrams for its design, and I must say, I cannot fathom it. It is just too big. It will supposedly carry several hundred million Norak. Plans are being made for the first run between Xiban I and III. I suppose real estate in the capitol will drop in price from all the vacancies. Just a thought.

The weapons systems of Xiban IV work perfectly. Tallik spent most of his time looking over schematics and drawing up strategies as usual. Our work there is done, and I am returning home to what we now call, to much joy to the Pluralist at heart, Xiban I.

Quite a bit has happened over the Last eight cycles. The Cue Cappa for one. I still have yet to meet a Cue or a Cappa, or their bonded...whatever one might call it. But I have been assured that quite a few live and work on Xiban I. The reason being, after intense negotiations and of course a period in which we got to know one another, our respective races have signed a trade pact. Rakul, the High Priest, and their leader, Gortalooth, signed it aboard one of our Conneticut class star ships. The Cue Cappa asked as well for an adendum to the pact which would bring our races together for research; however, although, the Norak enjoy peace and friendship as much as anyone else, we do not tolerate influences which would be beyond our control. Already the trade pact is a strict one. It exists mainly for the exchange of excess basic necessities and the prevention of war. Still many are skeptical of even this limited treaty. Some spread rumors that the stuffs they trade us are contaminated and impure. We refrain from accepting anything the law mentions requiring special treatment. The Cue Cappa are quite happy buying every excess we have, and seem to respect our wishes. They are not a vile people. They have alters of their own and, though pagan they may be, none of our emissaries have seen anything other than civilized rituals. We don't believe the majority of the population follow the old ways or believe in their deities. We have no equal word for it in Norak, but most CueCappa call the stories concerning their gods, myths. Fictional accounts of some kind. Speaking of which, I am proud to announce, Tallik and I will be traveling to the Cue Cappa home world, Arklite VIII. Since most of the CueCappa place little value on religion, a new foreign missionary office has opened. I have been added to this office as a consultant and will assess avenues of work that could be undertaken. The government of the CueCappa, and indeed!, their leader himself, Gortalooth, have given permission to our religious leaders to open missions on his world. His only concern was that we assure him our ways are not coerced, but rather are based on teachings and personal choices. He welcomes all possibilites for enlightenment. He has even asked that one of our wisemen be appointed to his counsel. We are aghast at such openness to foreign influence, but we know it is a sign...that the Norak have been entrusted, in their new ability to travel between the stars, the holy quest to preach the eternal words, the true path and the pure light to all the galaxy. As we speak, the High Priest and the elders are bestowing new orders to those who go as missionaries.

But on to other news. Our fleet of defense ships have grown, and are presently comprised of two Connecticut I and one Connecticut II class frigates. Since 2401.3, two of the three have been stationed on the Xiban side of the warp point leading into CueCappa territory, in order to regulate trade and monitor against our latest contact...the Amon'krie. We still know little about them. On a scouting mission our third Connecticut frigate traveled beyond the Arklite system and found the Amon'krie homesystem, Hwansul. Their ships avoided ours. They never raised contact. The captain of the Connecticut stayed in Hwansul just long enough to receive new orders before turning around and leaving. One of their warships passed within visual range, and the captain estimated their ships to be as large as ours. Not a good sign when one thinks about safety outside Xiban. The High Counsel decided to send through the CueCappa diplomats on the Amon'krie homeworld a treaty of non-intercourse. A little distrust has sprung up between some of our government and the Cue Cappa, since they failed to make any mention of the Amon'krie. Not only that, but they are allied in a much more lenient trade agreement than us. For now, the Amon'krie are speaking to us through our mutual friend. They seem like a very proud people, the Amon'krie, and we've inquired as to what they believe in. The CueCappa having little understanding of religion give vague and thoughtless answers. However, we've been able to somewhat piece together that it is extremely primitive. Nothing even remotely as formal as the CueCappa's religion. Something called the "Deep Dirt" or so that roughly translated. Weird but interesting.

I am overjoyed to announce that the Norak inhabit yet another planet in the galaxy. The third planet in the Lundra system has been opened to colonists. It is an extremely large planet and full of minerals. The planet is 50% larger than Xiban I. Who knows, one day it may boast a larger population than the homeworld. The planet is being set up as a mining colony. So far a crude space hub is being set up for transport of materials, thus, soon its harvests will be sent back to Xiban. Our rate of construction is depleting what little resources Xiban I has. Lundra is key to the future of Norak space travel. On the other hand, Xiban IV has been designated a science colony. Already, half of Xiban's top scientists have left for it on grants and official projects. On this very voyage home, we've crossed the paths of several ships.

Another colony ship is being sent to the Lundra system, to the planet of Lundra VI. The colonists on this planet will have to live inside an artifical dome, since it has no atmosphere. A marvel of construction, really. Scanners have revealed that it is high in minerals and certain radioactive materials which go into the production of our engines and weapons.

The scout ship of the Rhode Island class is on its way back from the galactic edge. Just saying that phrase, galactic edge, makes my head spin. Seems that the Last two star systems on the outlying side are devoid of...well, almost everything. In order, beyond Lundra, they are Ephandra and Qornor. In Ephandra, the captain had a difficult time I hear navigating the uncharted asteriods floating about. He called it a death trap, a mouse maze for star ships. The Last system, Qornor, is comprised of the same useless objects, but for some reason, the asteroids orbit the sun in a uniform distance. With that, the ship is on its way home. Perhaps in the future, the Norak will be able to do something with these two systems, but for now, we've simply put our claim to them. It is the Almighty's way of telling us to look inward, toward life and the center of the galaxy. Yes, I am a monk, but our quest is not in some back cave of the galaxy contemplating existance. It is reshaping the face of the known universe. Everything depends upon the message.

Now I come to this entry's final topic, and it is one which I myself am reluctant to discuss with myself. Our ways have had a hard time keeping themselves clean from the impure dabblings of science. Science has been likened unto a blind man walking on an empty flat plain. Every step seems to be progress, even though he knows not where these steps lead. Many scientists have found themselves upon the sharpened poles of the Keepers, our high judges of religious matters, for refusing to lay their scientific ground work upon the structure of our beliefs. They were promising men, and for everyone it is a saddening thing to lose potential, but we must remind ourselves. These men were not lost upon the poles; they were lost somewhere in their own laboratories. One such man I was asked to review while on Xiban III. I'd not spoken of it before because the Keepers code forbids discussing such matters before an end is reached. The Keepers had intrusted me with the task of judging this man. I am no Keeper, mind you. But they are few and have not yet drafted new members for stations on other worlds. The processes of the Keepers are slow and meticulous. So they asked me. A task I was reluctant to perform. Was it necessary? Yes. But such things aren't in my nature. They eat on my mind while I sleep. What did he do, you ask, to deserve the pole? Well, it is part of our belief, that the star at the center of the Xiban system is a portal through which the Almighty and her entourage speak to us. From Xiban I for centuries, the mood of it, perdicted the mood of our world. Time and time again, it proved correct. There was no need to say it didn't. However, this scientist, who had caused trouble before leaving for Xiban III, decided he had a different explination for the star's extreme mood swings. I listened to his theories and read his notes and talked to his collegues. He proposed that the core of our star was unstable, and had been for as long as the Norak existed, and that it was the physical which explained everything. He went on to state, that if something wasn't done about it, it could explode at any moment. I will be truthful here, and say his argument was consistant and convincing. However, he failed to show any reason why the fluctuations in the star could not be caused by the Almighty's keeper of the portal, Hikull, which we all know is the case. I then concluded that his arguments did not pertain to furthering our understanding of Hikull's portal, but rather for the simple, yet dastardly purpose of removing the hands of deity from it's operations. In essence, his work was an attempt to disprove the Almighty, a goal which many have known he sought his life long. For that, he died and his work was burned.

[geoschmo]

Year 2401.8

It was not the kind of war Grandow expected. Of course he had little to go on except for the battles between nation-states on his own planet hundreds of years before. But somehow he expected more to happen. Of course it was probably a good thing that it hadn't.

Almost all of the resources of the Sallegan republic for the Last 14 months had gone towards building up defenses for the next wave of attack ships that would come pouring through the wormhole at any time. Weapons platforms had been built on both the homeworld, and Narcisston IX. And both planets had several sattelites in orbit capable of launching missles at any ship that came within range. There had not even been any effort to this point of rebuilding the research and production facilities destroyed in the original attack.

Grandow estimated that the the homeworld could survive an attack of at most half a dozen bug frigates at once. The colony less than that. Surely the bugs had that many ships, didn't they? They certainly wasted them like they had an endless supply. On two seperate occasions since the initial sneak attack they had sent lone frigates past the homeworld and attacked the smaller colony. In both cases they had been destroyed by the Drakken without getting off a shot. Once before even getting in range of the planets defensive missle batteries.

It didn't make any sense. Could it be that the Xi'Chung were as stupid as they were ruthless? Or were they just not anymore advanced than were are. If that's the case, why would they have attacked in the first place. Surely they would have built up their forces first. Grandow knew they would have to send some ships through that warp point soon. If nothing else, just to see how big the Hive was.

They had sent a ship through the southern warp point a few months before. They found a dead system with a burnt out star and nothing else but asteroids. In a more peacful time they might consider sending a ship to mine the asteroids for minerals. But they had neither the ships nor crews to spare in such mundane tasks now.

They also met ships from two new species. Obviously the scientists were wrong when they calculated the number of intelligent races out there, Grandow thought. If our little corner was typical, the galaxy must be absolutly teeming with them. Hopefully they all weren't as violent and irrational as the Xi'Chung.

The first of the two, a race calling themselves the Cue Cappa, turned out to be quite pleasant actually, and quite eager to establish trade relations. This was coming in very handy as the increased revenue was put to use rebuilding the damage to the homeworld. So far they had not expressed any interest in taking an active part in the war against the Hive, but at least they weren't attacking us too.

The second race was less open to cooperation. A worm like race, they called themselves the Amon'krie. So far they had rejected all our treaty offers, but they also had not attacked us. However one of their ships had travelled through Narcisston and disappeared through the wormhole into Xi'Chung space. No distress call was receieved, so we can only assume that they are on good terms with the Hive, or their ship was destoyed before they could make a report. Either option is troubling, Grandow thought. We shall have to watch that situation closely.

Obviously the Sallgan Republic was going to have to struggle hard if it was going to survive in this hostile galaxy. And that meant more work for Grandow. After saving the planet, his popularity among the people was so great that the remaining Senate members were forced to turn over unprecedented powers to the Space Service. They were pressing him to accept a promotion all the way to Admiral, and were consulting with him on almost every decision regarding the defense of the planets in the Narcisston system. He didn't like it, but he didn't trust anyone else to do it either, so he had accepted the added responsibilty. Although not the title as of yet.

The decision was made that the planets were safe for the moment. Safe enough at least to dedicate some manpower on building new laboratories. Boxed in as they were, the Sallegans would need better technology if they were going to be able to defend themselves. Especially if the Amon'Krie entered the war on the side of the Hive.

Current situation: 17 empires total

1st place - Fazrah
2nd place - Norak (Good job Mensch)
3rd place - Xiati
4th place - Cluk-Ruk (very good for a neutral, but it's early)
5th place - Cue Cappa

7th place - Amon'Krie
15th place - Sallega (pitiful)
16th place - Xi'Chung

[Jmenschenfresser]

(Again a little out of order, but I didn't want to skip 15 turns just to get to some real action)

2402.3
I find space travel the most condusive atmosphere for writing. Tallik and I have again been transfered to our newest colony, Arklite I. Funny how we always seem to stay one step behind the terra-formers themselves. I've become quite used to eating space rations. The Cue Cappa have given [ ] us this small hot planet near the center of the system to set up a trans-system launching point for our missionaries. They have said they have no use for this planet, that the climate is too hot for their bodies, and their technology is not advanced enough to protect their bodies from the radiation. Several members of their parliament who've professed faith in She who moves all waters, pressed for this colony. Already, it is becoming a place of spiritual journey for the Cue Cappa who've embraced us. Many of our finest teachers have set up a series of temples lying outside the various cities with special shielding and plating for the CueCappa. Tallik and I have been sent to again to assess the needs of defense for this colony. Tallik says, that he is going to propose the testing of new defense satellites, armed with dreaded Capital Missles. The reason being, Arklite I lacks the space for massive weapons platforms, and extra domed facilities to house them would be too costly. The satellites can be produced quickly and a hundred or more can fit in orbit. We shall see.

Travel within the Hwansul and the Arklite systems has become much more relaxed, since the Amon'krie have finally come around and accepted us as fellow space travelers. Several times they refused to welcome our diplomats, who were offering nothing more than a simple non-intercourse treaty. We wanted nothing more at the time than the promise that our ships would leave each other alone...certainly space is large enough for two ships to pass without violence concerning who has the right of passage. Well, who knows why they finally changed their minds. Within the first few weeks of our Last attempt to negotiate, they suddenly offered us a trade treaty. I read the council newswires and wondered at the haste of it as well. What did we have to trade with these people? I do not know, but it was something, we accepted, if for only the time being. Our strategists wonder if they might be having trouble with a third party, if so, many have suggested that this is a perfect time to force our will upon them. This is all speculation, mind you. The CueCappa and the Amon'krie are on wonderful terms as far as our intelligence can tell us. We have only recently sent our scout of the Rhode Island class, back from it's mission to the galactic edge, to inquire as to what lies beyond Hwansul.

Since our single scout is now occupied on a deep space mission, the High Priest and his advisors have sent one our three warships to scout the other warp point in the CueCappa system. Our warship soon discovered a system called Ashandra, like those near the galactic edge, full of drifting dead asteroids. Tallik personally knows the Priest in charge of Resources and Economics, and thus through Tallik, I've learned what every metal worker on Xiban knows--our resource stocks are shrinking fast. Tallik didn't give me exact figures, but he did say that at this rate, all production would be forced to cease in four short months. New colonization ships are being produced which are draining the stockpiles. The Priest in charge of Defense requested that the warship sent to scout Ashandra return to Xiban. If attacked, our two remaining Connecticut class ships would be completely on their own, and as I have just mentioned, the ship yards are in no position to produce more of these costly things. However, our resource problem will not solve itself, and we will never feel safe restricted to limited defenses. In light of this undeniable fact, the High Priest himself resolved the dispute by pulling back the request of one and extending the request of another. The warship was sent into the next system, into Narcisston hoping to find several empty worlds; however we found the Sallega. With them we are still in the stages of first contact, so I can report very little. They have however warned us of some hostile force which could endanger our ships. Their message was criptic. Could this be the work of some angry god? Or simply a war between two races. We do not know. Coming this far, it has been decided that the Connecticut will proceed through one more system. In this I sense greed and faithlessness. The Almighty will show us the way...of that I have no doubt. We must be patient and allowing situations open. What She opens cannot be closed. God willing, we will convert the entire galaxy.

[geoschmo]

[Ok, for those of you that have been keeping up with this thread, this isn't a new post. I combined a couple of my Posts, and moved this one up to get all our entires in the right order. Sorry for the inconvienence]

Year 2403.0

Admiral Grandow read the battle reports. The Norak distress call had come too late. The Sallegan ships could not get there in time to save their new allies ship, but they had destroyed the bug ship that had attacked it. As a result of the incident, the Norak had declared war on the Hive promised military aid in the fight with the bugs.

This was the first glimpse of hope in the long war, and Grandow hoped it wouldn’t be the Last. He knew there would be much pain before it was over, but the combined force of the Continuum and the Republic had to be too much for the Hive eventually. As long as no one else got involved on the other side, that is.

Since Grandow had accepted the Admiralty, he had been chained to a desk. He didn’t like not being on his ship in the think of things, but he had to acknowledge that he could do more for the defense of his people from here. His new perspective caused him to reevaluate some things and a question had started forming in the back of his mind.

How could there be so many races in such a relatively small area of space? Surely the entire universe wasn’t this heavily populated? And if so, why did it seem that all the races had achieved space flight so close together. Grandow was not a scientist, but he was well educated, and had a good grasp of the principles for a layman. It didn’t make sense.

Six races now, in this little corner of the galaxy. All with roughly the same level of technological advancement, all in systems connected together by these wormholes. The probabilities against it were staggering. Grandow was starting to take more serious consideration to the wild theories that had been thrown around since the detection of the “Alien Cities” on the two gas giants in Narcisston.

None of the races the Sallegans had met yet had the technology to build habitations on those types of worlds. Or if they did they had not told us. We on the other hand had not told them of the artifacts buried in the deep layers of those planets. Some things you didn’t talk about, even with your allies.

He had sent out scouts to the system to the west of Narcisston. A system called Cephredi. The Sallegans were very surprised to discover the system to be the home system of yet another race, the Zynarra Holdings. After discussions with them, and with the Cue Cappa, it became apparent that the Zynarra simply did not have any interest in exploring beyond the warp points. That is why the Sallegans had not known of their existence till now.

They were apparently just as advanced as the rest of the races. Possibly more so in some areas, as the initial scans showed ships in the 300Kt range, fully half again as large as the Aleppa class frigate the Sallegans relied on so heavily for defense.

The Cephredi system had four rock planets with oxygen atmospheres. Four of them! Two were larger than the Sallegan homeworld. The Republic began intensive negotiations with the Zynarra to obtain colonization rights to these worlds. Grandow was not interested in having another enemy, but his people needed those worlds if they were going to win the battle against the Hive. And the Zynarra had no use for them as they evolved on a harsh ice planet. These planets were much too warm for them to live on, even with protective domes.

Scans had detected similar structures to the mysterious “Alien Cities” on one of the planets in Cephredi. This was of particular interest to the Admiral. Even though it was buried under centuries of sediment, the planet itself was hospitable enough to get a team of scientists and archeologists down there, if the Zynarra would permit it. Perhaps this would be the key that would unlock this mystery for Grandow. The possibility was almost enough to take his mind off the war. Almost.

[ 18 March 2002: Message edited by: geoschmo ]

[geoschmo]

Year 2403.4

From the personal Journal of Admiral Grandow.

We have met six other races now, and have achieved peaceful relations with all but the Xi'Chung. Perhaps it is the proximity of our homeworlds that has caused them to distrust us so? Or perhaps it is that there are two methane worlds in the Narsiccton system. I have to admit to fighting back a longing for the oxygen planets in the system controlled by the Zynarra Holdings. What we could do with four new worlds the size of our home! The bugs would have to cease their attacks if they wished to survive.

But we can't afford to anger the Zynarra. Can't risk drawing them into the conflict on the worng side. The situation is too precarious. Most likely the bugs are just mindless drones doing the bidding of an insane despot. There is no sense trying to understand them.

The Zynarra have agreed to a non-aggression pact, and have tentativly given permission for a joint research project on the Cephredi VIII to discover the nature of the ancient remains there. Perhaps this cooperation will convice them we are trustworthy and they will allow us to colonize the other worlds there.

The newest race, the Fazrah caused something of a stir. The first ship of theirs we encountered was twice as large as the Aleppo class frigate. We were quite relieved when they agreed to a non-aggresion pact. I need to speak with the research minister about how our ship technology is coming. If the bugs develop this before we do, it could be very bad for us indeed.

Already they have developed some type of mysterious technolgy we have been unable to even classify. They have a type of weapon that behaves like our capital ship missles, yet appears to be a living creature of some kind. Our scientists are baffled. We are putting all our research into methods of destroying these creatures before they impact on our ships and planets, because they do considerable damage.

Our combination of sattelites, ships and ground based defenses have so far managed to fight off every attack, but not without loses. No more ships have been destroyed, but several bug ships have managed to get close enough to fire on the colonies before being destroyed. This is a morale problem, as well as a legitimate difficulty. Twice now we have had to spend valuable resources rebuiilding destroyed research facilites. And the people don't work as well when they fear for their lives and their families all the time.

I have made the decision to move the entire fleet to the warp point to stop the attackers before they can get within range. This is a risky proposition, as if they do manage to break through, there will be little to stop them. The space yard on Narcisston VIII is working hard to produce more Aleppo class ships to assist. We have also constucted a ship capable of launching sattelites at the mouth of the wormhole. Hopefully, in conjunction with the fleet, they can deal a devastating blow to any hostile force coming through.

[TerranC]

Wow. Very Very Epic.

Keep up the good work eh?

[Jmenschenfresser]

2403.1
Tallik's work is long finished on Arklite I; however, the Elders have decided, possibly inadvertantly, to leave us here. Neither Tallik, nor I, have the slightest clue as to why. So much has happened these Last 6 months. I pray that good will come out of this somewhere. Sometimes the Almighty uses death and evil to teach or bring about a greater good that could not have come about of it's own. So it is.

Almost as soon as we arrived on Arklite I to begin our work on the satellites, the Connecticut warship sent to explore beyond the Sallega Empire was attacked by a fearless, evil race called the Xi'Chung. We now have no doubt it was the Xi'Chung that the Sallega warned us about. I read what I wrote just 6 short months ago about greed and faithlessness, and as much as I want to deny it in a post script, nothing else can explain the actions of the Elders and the Priests. I wonder if being exposed to the galaxy and its wonders has not reverted us all back to the mongers and killers our ancient ancestors were. I've read several Versions, including the official report and transcript, sent to Tallik. It would seem that just as our ship was about to move from Narcisston and into what is the homesystem of the Xi'Chung, Organtrix, a Xi'Chung war ship exited the warp point directly ahead of it. No doubt this ship was bound for the Sallega colonies or possibly the homeworld, and in stopping it, we no doubt assisted the ransacked Sallega, inadvertantly as it was. Here are bits of the log:

"Captain, something's exiting the warp point...."
"I see it. Looks like a ship. Is it from the Sallega?"
"It bares no markings we've ever seen."
"Prepare to move out of its way."
"Captain!"
LOUD THUNDER CLAP
"Did they just?......."
"Yes, sir"
"Return fire...all cannons and missles! She who bent the first bow, guide our judgement."
"They are turning...direct hits all along their side."
"Captain, they are behind us..."
"Stay the course!"
"But they'll......
"Firing again! Incoming!....."
ANOTHER CRASH
"Captain, we've lost all of our engines and several uranium cannons have been damaged."
"We need those engines Online!"
"We're drifting into the warp point."
"That is the Last place we need to escape to....into the lion's den."
"Can we use our docking thrusters to maneuver?"
"Negative...the gravity of the warp point it too strong."
"Where's the ship?"
"Gone sir"
"Gone!"
"Yes, sir. One of our missles found its mark."
"Thank the Almighty!"

Unfortunately, the Connecticut drifted into the warp point and vanished into Xi-Chung space. There it met a colony ship which was waiting no doubt to infest the Sallega system with its evil offspring. Our ship fired on the colony ship, poking a hole in its bio-sphere. The crew watched as the colony ship turned and fled, far outpacing our limping vessel, venting air and millions of lives like dust, sucked out into space.

At about this time, our Priests for Foreign Affairs sent a message to the Sallega, not necessarily asking for military assistance, but for repairs, if the Connecticut was able to escape from Organtrix. They rerouted the energy to one engine and were thus able to turn and begin the slow approach to the warp point. As it neared the warp point, several sleek new Xi'Chung warships swooped in from above and tore the Connecticut to shreads. The Sallega relayed the Last Messages of the Connecticut to us. I will not relay them further and leave them out of this report. What letters comprise such sounds? Only the Almighty and the beast guarding the underworld know.

The Sallega kindly offered free resupply to our ship were it to return; however, we were not able to provide a means through which they might fullfill their offer of charity. Perhaps in the future. The Sallega are a brave and charitable people. At the first sign of distress, they sent several of their warships to the aid of our vessel; however, it was the Will of She who orders the universe, which brought them to its aid after the fact. They have reported to us that the very same vessels which destroyed our ship, are themselves space dust. The Xi'Chung are an evil race. The High Priest has discussed announcing holy war against them. No doubt, the universe would be a better place without them. We've promised to help the Sallega in their battle against the Xi. We asked our allies to help, but they refuse. I personally must wonder...our allies value peace but do they not know, peace is a fragile thing...it must be protected...with war if needs be.

Maybe once the Xi'Chung plasma bomb the CueCappa homeworld, we'll see more cooperation against such threats.

Now I come full circle and speak again of greed. I want to see the Knowledge spread about the world as much as anyone. I would be on the first ship to the other end of the galaxy. However, it has been said by the prophet, Huyrak, that the servant lowers himself to raise others, and the master lowers others to raise himself. Our ship of the Rhode Island class has moved beyond the Amon'krie system of Hwansul and into Cephedri, where a curious race, the Xintis live. On the way, our ship exited the warp point and found itself in the middle of a battle between the Farzah and the Amon'krie. We have trade treaties with both of these empires, so their anger was not toward us. Our ship skirted the skirmish (I do so love tongue twisters) and saw the Amon'krie loop around the Farzah ship laying missles to her like rain at mid-summer. Our ship escaped unharmed.

It began transmitting to the Xintis. Their system was filled with four large M class planets--the perfect place for the Norak to colonize. We asked for their permission to colonize, but they refused. We asked for a non-aggression pact, but they refused. As their warships closed in on the unarmed Rhode Island, we warned them about attacking the emmissay of the Almighty. Just as our ship was about to return to Amon'krie space, one of their ships closed within attack range and fired. The Rhode Island did not stand a chance.

Since then, it has been decreed that all non-colony ships must have some kind of weapons systems. The High Priest has declared the Xintis to be an enemy of She who walks on stars. Our fleet of Connecticut's has been prepped and readied. Four of them have been sent, along with a support of two colony ships, for a one-way journey to Cephedri. Their orders are to physically subdue the Xintis and establish a base of operations there. Only She who holds the keys to the underworld can judge a being in its entirety. Not I, not Tallik, and not even the High Priest. I think mercy should have first been shown to the Xintis. The Almighty avenges the deaths of her martyrs, sure enough as the Xibanian sun rises. More of an attempt should have been made to win them for Good! But there is little stopping the wheels of the Theocracy once they reach the apex of a hill. We assume the Xintis know we are coming. I think the haste of this decision speaks to the conviction that this decision is not a full measure of justice, but rather a mixed cup...a cheap wine...tainted by greed for distant riches and open fields for our children.

Does not the law speak of protection of the weak? I doubt in the long run, the Xintis have a chance of keeping us from their system. The strong who push the weak are not sent by the Almighty. She will judge the greed of this race.

Because of our numerous trade pacts, the mineral stock piles of the empire are again rising, and even exceeding previous levels. Tallik says we can support a fleet four times its present size. I have no doubt about that. He has shown me the specs for the newest Norak warships, dubbed Utah. Destroyer classes, weighing in at 300k. They boast longer range Uranium cannons, missles and what scientists call "shields." These shields form a barrier of energy around the ship, stopping every weapon known to us from penetrating them. Eventually they fail, but I have been told it would take more than 3 capital missles to make this happen. Perhaps this technology will deter future battles. I sure hope so. Tallik is also experimenting with a new beam weapon, an anti-proton beam. So far they are weaker than our present cannons, but he predicts that in a year's time, they may make the uranium cannon obsolete. Furthermore, our scientists are working on a merge of the latest technology with spiritual powers. I am not sure what the outcome of this research will be. To a common mind such as mine, I cannot imagine the combination. Many think technology and science is an antithesis to religion. If it were, we would not be on space ships preaching to the galaxy, but still there are those who call it blasphemy and all sorts of ugly things.

...

Tallik has just informed me that we are to make ready. We are returning to Xiban to test the newest Utah class ships. Several have recently come Online. I am now reluctant to go...for personal reasons...but that is for another time.

[ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]

[ 20 March 2002: Message edited by: Jmenschenfresser ]

[geoschmo]

Year 2404.5

Mr and Mrs Reabarts
Lundara City, Vinton Province

Dear Mom and Dad,

How are things going at home? Things here are fine. I don't want you all to worry about me. With the ships we have now stationed at the wormhole we can handle anything the bugs throw at us. And more ships arrive every month.

Admiral Grandow's plan to stop the Xi raiders before they reach the colonies is a good one. We feel like we are doing something, rather than just scramblling around the system chasing the enemy ships. Our own captain Davic was the one who spotted the one flaw in the strategy. That was blockading the wormhole with missle ships. He realized that we could get more of a jump on the enemy ships coming through if we retrofitted the ships with particle cannons instead. Almost the entire fleet has been retrofitted now.

The Last few months since I visted you have been very routine. Almost every month the bugs send through a ship or two, testing our defenses. We scramble, and blow them out of space. Every once in a while one of their new bio-seekers gets through and hits one of our ships. But since we established the perimeter, we haven't lost any more vessels. I didn't tell you at the time because I didn't want to worry you, but that was the reason for the suprise visit a while back. The Crimsala had taken minor damage and we were in for repairs.

We've even destroyed two Sergetti ships. From what I hear they haven't formally declared war yet, but I don't think it will be long. The politicians back home probably think there is still hope for a treaty with them, but they don't see the way they come at us. Besides, if they aren't allied with the bugs, what are they doing coming at us through bug space, I say.

We heard that the Amonkrie finally agreed to join us and the Norak against the Xi. That's all well and good, but I'm still waiting to see the first one of either of their ships at the wormhole. Our captain says they are fighting them in other systems, but I don't know anything about that. Maybe you have heard something from cousin Lewis? I heard that he was part of the research team in Cephredi. If the bugs come at us from another direction, it'll have to be through there.

I don't know anything for certain, but I'd say that inside of the year we will be going on the offensive. I don't see how we can just keep waiting for the bugs here. We are going to have to take the fight to them and put an end to this thing one way or the other. Whenever it happens, I'll be ready.

Stay safe. Don't worry about me. I'll be home to see you when I can.

All my Love.

Ensign Nathaniel Reabarts
Weapons technician, third class
S. S. S. Crimsala (Bintulu class attack frigate, 0006)

[Jmenschenfresser]

2404.3
I do hate it when I am right. I hate it when I am right about the actions of our blessed state. Tallik and I are again on the homeworld. We have been for sometime. I sit in my study, listening to the bustle of the street below, and I cannot imagine silence. The silence of Cephedri II must freeze one's ears. Greed is utter faithlessness. You see, all real depravity and waste finds its first fruits in faithlessness. Still the head's of state sit in the squares and temple yards, beating themselves, asking for forgiveness. Rightfully so. Millions are dead because of their greed. Greed even for a nation as a whole is evil; the difference being, a nation pays.

On my Last post, a fleet had been sent to Cephedri. One fleet to colonize and one fleet to enforce the colonization. The Zynarra Holding to whom Cephedri rightfully belongs had rejected all of our deals and proposals. Simply put, they wanted nothing to do with us. Perhaps some false reputation preceeded us? Perhaps another nation, wanting Cephedri all for itself placed lies in their heads? Or perhaps they hate the Almighty? In anycase, we asked again and again, to be allowed to colonize one of the Cephedri worlds.

After being refused, the elders and the ministers and the priests hardened their minds and their souls became like daggers in their own breasts. The Almighty had shown us this salvation from our trapped status. Surely the Texts must find their ways beyond the bounds of this small corner of the galaxy. Surely the Almighty would deliver a colony for us to use as a staging point. Not to the disobedient!

After reaching Cephedri, and being greeted by 4 Zynarran warships of the destroyer class, some began to wonder if we could pull this off. By this time several Utahs were on their way to reinforce the initial fleet. First the fleet of colony ships returned to Amon'krie space expecting war. After a month and the Zynarra backing down, the colony fleet returned and both made their way to Cephedri II. As our ships passed the largest planet in the system, our scanners noticed a Sallega outpost on the planet. I personally doubt that the Sallega have turned the Zynarra against us; however, many think just that. They aided us when our ship fell victim to the XiChung. And on that note, our repeated requests for fellow empires to assist against the Xi'Chung have for the most part, fell on deaf ears.

The fleet reached the planet and one of the colonizers set up a temporary colony on the surface of Cephedri II. 34 million terra-formers began the long chore of building the facilities to resupply our warships. The vice-roy of the colony began sending pictures and stories about the beauty of the flora and fauna on the planet. He called it "promised." I don't remember being promised anything. The greatest teachers, at best, have only been promised misery and death...never beauty and wild streams and tasty nature.

The story goes, that only a few days prior, the colonists were able to get the makeshift sensor array up and running. The guarding fleet was on the other side of the planet, when a Zynarra fleet of four destroyers were picked up flying toward the colony. Fleet Admiral Bullar was quick to act. The four Connecticuts accelerated and rounded the planet quickly. By that time the four Zynarra ships had closed half the distance to the planet. Bullar ordered all missles into open space; however, he made the bad move in not staying out of range of the Zynarras short ranged anti-proton beams. Several of their ships opened fire. Bullar couldn't keep track of the number of beams hitting his ships. The beams of the Zynarra weren't very powerful, but the sheer amount was enough to immediately convince that no one was getting out without a limp. Bullar ordered his fleet to move across, in front of Cephedri II and draw their fire. For several volleys this worked until one of Bullar's ships had to retreat having lost all capability to fight. This left a gap in the crossing fleet. Only two Zynarra ships remained in fighting condition. One was already space dust. But a third distracted the fleet while his sister ran Bullar's defenses and opened fire on Cephedri II. His proton beams struck the colony and triggered an atomic bLast. The 34 million colonists were instantly vaporized. Bullar's ship was limping from three proton bLasts to his engines. He ordered his ships to close the gap, and in doing so they trapped the ship right above the atmosphere. As the other Zynarra ship turned to help, Bullar crushed the trapped ship. Bullar was now down to two ships. His was nearly done for and the other had lost several cannons. Bullar decided to use his own ship as a decoy and lead the attack, hoping the final Zynarra ship would fire at him leaving the other ship free to strike unmolested. The plan worked perfectly...well, all but for Bullar himself. His ship took four direct hits sending it spiralling down on the z-axis (go figure). Bullar was killed when the deck of the bridge collapsed down into the body of the ship. The Last ship seeing the flag ship out of commission returned fire. The Zynarra trying to run was struck several times, but eventually out ran the Last armed Connecticut.

With Bullar dead and the colony destroyed the fleet, still comprised of four ships, had no way to make repairs. So the second colony ship was unwisely sent to recolonize the planet. All four ships had suffered more than 75% damage. Some were left without bridges, some without engines, some without weapons, and overall were left without an Admiral. The first Battle of Cephedri II cost the Norak 34 million colonists and 2139 crew, of which 274 were officers. May the Almightly not judge the puppets as harshly as the masters.

Three days later, the second Battle of Cephedri II took place. Apparently, Bullar had managed the destruction of most of the Zynarra fleet...the better part at least. Our frigates had defeated their destroyers 1 to 1. They returned with two frigates and another destroyer. From this, and Tallik agrees, there isn't much to tell. The colonists were again destroyed and the four strewn, defenseless Connecticuts were dispatched quite easily. We lost 68 million colonists! 68 Million! And four brave crews! Tallik says it was a failed mission from the beginning. Without a treaty from the Zynarra, they did not stand a chance.

With fire and brimstone and photon beams the Almighty will bring us again to the soft underbelly of the Zynarra. They must be judged! and they will. But the senseless deaths of so many, just to come to such a conclusion cannot be easily forgiven. Who do we help but ourselves when we iinfringe upon the Zynarra? The life of the Norak is the life a servant. Many have lost their jobs. Tallik has been asked to take part in the assessment of a return to Cephedri. The Templars, our defense fleet, has been moved up to a forward position. I've argued, that a better road to the rest of the galaxy might lie through Sallegaian space. However, Tallik is pressing for immediate response. Either way is war. Neither the Xi'Chung nor the Zynarra will let us pass through their territories freely. He doesn't suggest this out of foolish anger, but he estimates since our attack on the Zynarra weakened their fleet, a return now, would find them in no state to resist. But it is well known, and known to Tallik, that a return with warships must be accompanied or followed by terra-formers. The High Priest has called for a crusade. All who go have the blessing of She whose incense burns forever. A minimal consort of colonists will depart for Cephedri, if the Templars do indeed reign in the Zynarra.

As over some areas of government, the people lament signs of foolishness, others areas show wisdom and progress. In a joint project the Amon'krie and ourselves have instructed one another on the process of colonization. Now our exploration minister is in possession of ships which can terra-form ice planets. We've learned to melt the icelayers into seas and oceans. Already several planets have been so colonized.

Our brothers, the CueCappa, have joined with us in a military pact. We see no reason why we should not rely on one another for defense. Our worlds pass near each other. We have colonies in their homesystem, so an attack on one is an attack on two. This marriage will prove wise in the long run. For the Norak, it gives us a buffer zone and a pact of free movement within the CueCappa sectors. We've even instituted an agreement of mutual supply. Surely, this helps to extend the reach of the Almighty's servants. At the Last census, it has been estimated that a full 15% of the CueCappa population follow our religion. It is easily the largest religion they have...seeing that everyone else believes in nothing but the hard work of their own hands.

On one of the ice planets in Lundra, we've located and analysed what seems to be a civilization frozen in the lower layers of the surface. Quite a lot of information has been gained--we've learned how to further maximize the extraction of radioactive material from the planets we inhabit and we've found ways to strengthen our uranium cannons. What gifts!

Perhaps the foolishness is over. Perhaps, but I doubt it. I long to return to Arklite I. I personally established a small school there for all who wish to attend. I am quite fond of my pupils there, and wish to return. Perhaps, once the fleet is ready to move, Tallik and I will be transfered back to Arklite. Pellwain is eager to move on to new tasks. She is a traveller at heart, a sojourner, and she has been on Xiban IV for 3 years. Perhaps. I do so hope she refrains from signing up for the next one-way trip to Cephedri. "One-way trip." Is that negative talk? Faithless? We shall see. The great road to the galactic center runs right through Zynarra space. Unlucky them.

[Story Junkie]

Links/Bump!
[EDIT: By SJ, not me, but Suicide]

[ 23 March 2002: Message edited by: Story Junkie ]