From the Begining New Chapter Added (9/12/06)

[Starhawk]

Actually the college I'm using is online and is year round the only free time i'll be getting as in no work at all is either if I work my royal butt off and get lucky enough to finish a unit early, or if I manage my time right i'll also get the weekends off.

The only real time off will be the winter holidays where i get ten weeks off.

[Starhawk]

2433.2
There is no price to high for order, no price not worth paying for unity, and no price worth the value of the dominance of mankind.

It had been months since the 3rd fleet began patrolling the Selene system and Admiral Ross was growing anxious, they had spotted an Empire of Man fleet orbiting a Mantisoran world over a month ago, yet the Admiralty had ordered Ross and the 3rd fleet not to engage the EOM unless they left orbit of the Mantisoran world at least for while the Artemis flight was still in the neighboring system nabbing enemy starships for scrapping back in the home system.
The Navy had decided that protecting the stolen enemy ships was the most important task for the 3rd fleet, so for months they had been sitting on a warp point making sure no enemy ships managed to get through to the rally point where the stolen ships were being corralled for the return trip home, and all that while 21 EOM dreadnoughts were sitting behind Ross’ fleet leaving him wide open for attack which the Admiralty chose to ignore for the past several months, but now finally as the convoy of captured ships entered the Norvor Warp point, along with the 6 Artemis heavy raiders Ross felt his spirits rise and a great weight lift from his back, finally he could strike at the EOM and the Mantisorans in this system and then he could return to Icara for a few weeks anyway.

And so twenty-three hours after the convoy left the 3rd fleet closed in on the enemy fleet base like a juggernaught of ancient mythology, the EOM fleet and the Mantisoran base combined were of little threat to the overall victory of the 3rd fleet, the only question in the mind of Ross and his division commanders was how many ships and men Icara would lose before they achieved victory.
“Admiral we are entering EOM weapons range in three seconds, all commands report battle ready, main line of battle is positioned and ready for strike, PD ships also report in position for the assault.” Tactical officer Muller’s teeth were showing in a weird sort of smile as the anxiety of the moment caught up to him and he tried to look as relaxed as the veterans on the deck.
“Thank you Muller, inform all commands to commence assault, and godspeed.” Ross kept his tone level and friendly, though part of him wanted to laugh as the younger officer tried overly hard to look calm, it was his first combat action Ross knew and that gnawed at anyone, but if they survived it the next time and the time after that all became almost routine.
“Incoming! I count 231 birds in the air!” Muller’s voice cracked as the tactical plots showed 231 new crimson red lights blaze into life and race towards the Icaran battle line.
The counter missiles from the Icarans raced to meet their counterparts, the void of space came to life with hundreds of new stars as the two volleys collided upon one another.
But still more missiles came racing forward to engage the Icarans, only to have the thin blue lines of dozens of laser point defense batteries slice them apart as they closed creating an even more spectacular light show. Only eight missiles made it through and they splashed harmlessly against the Icaran shields.
The EOM fleet would never get off a second volley, as the entire 3rd fleet of Icara fired their broadsides off against their smaller, weaker opponents, a dozen EOM dreadnoughts vanished in a ball of fire as Icaran superdreadnoughts unleashed their broadsides against the inferior vessels, along with those ships thousands of lives also vanished in what seemed the blink of an eye.
Ross Frowned at his display as he saw the slaughter that was being inflicted by his fleet, he looked over at his exec and sighed again “This can’t be called war, it feels like murder.”
Commander Donald Sutherman looked at his commander with an equally grave expression on his face “M’ Lord, the Icaran Empire must rule over all mankind for us to have any hope of survival against whatever Xenos we will eventually encounter, not all of them will be as primitive as the Phong or the Xiati, and look at how much trouble they gave us, almost three decades of warfare, imagine a Xeno race as advanced as us…..no sir this isn’t murder, it’s a necessity and if these EOM soldiers were wise they would have surrendered to us months ago instead of fighting like this.”
Ross’ expression became even more grave as the last lights representing the EOM fleet vanished from the display and with them the last line of resistance between his fleet and the Mantisoran world. “Would we do anything less if we were in their place Don?”
The other man shrugged and then looked toward the main display as the 3rd fleet’s vanguard fired their broadsides into the main population centers of the undefended Mantisoran world.
“Sir to be honest with you I think we would have done nothing less than they had done, if we were in their place, but I also think we would not end up I their place as we would never ally ourselves with the likes of the treacherous Mantisorans or Andermanians.” Sutherman shrugged again and turned away from the main display as the last broadside from the 3rd fleet vanguard signaled the deaths of about 16 million people.
Ross couldn’t help but feel pity for those lives, or the soldiers who had died in a vein attempt to protect them, even now as his SAR cutters were launched he suspected they would not find many survivors, EOM ships were to frail and I-lasers too devastating for that to be possible. Of course in the end what were tens of thousands of lives compared to the 6.3 billion Andermanian alliance citizens and soldiers who had already died in what had started as a simple crusade against the Andermanian core worlds? Ross stood and left his command deck to return to his quarters, with the sudden urge to shower, yes Icara must prevail and yes mankind must be united, but at what price?

Meanwhile the “price” of unity was becoming even more clear as the entire former Corian Commonwealth erupted into a firestorm of riots, protests and full out rebellions, they felt as if their leaders had sold out to the Icarans and on top of that felt the Icarans had betrayed their oath to protect the worlds of the former commonwealth as there were no military or fleet units present in the Coria systems.
Thousands of people across dozens of worlds were dying as the rioters burned entire city blocks to the ground and fought against the local constabularies who tried to regain some semblance of order on their worlds.
When no Icaran military response appeared forthcoming the riots spread as rumors that Icara was losing the war against the Andermanian alliance spread through the Corian worlds like a wildfire, and the fact that Andermanian “liberation forces” had already taken over three former Corian worlds from Icara only helped the rumors of freedom from the Empire and the reformation of the Commonwealth spread.
What these people could not know was that the Icaran empire was not sitting still while over three billion humans rioted and rebelled, they were in fact mobilizing tens of thousands of State Security troopers in the Lacerta system aboard a massive cloaked starbase that belonged entirely to the State Security branch of the department of Justice. And that soon the steel fist of Icaran law and order would come crashing into the Corian Commonwealth like a giant smashing a toy.

[El_Phil]

It is tricky the massed slaughter of people you outclass. Still does make for spectacular battle scenes ala Gladiator.
Hmmm sweet sweet Blam!

Good chapter matey, keep up the good work

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

SH, just asking but, what are I-Lasers? Mounted APBs? Modded weapons? Just asking, as they seem to be your SDs main weapon.

[El_Phil]

As I recall 13th Generation APBs, a modded weapon for the game.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Ah. One more question tho, do you have more shipsets from this universe? Besides the Icarans?

[El_Phil]

Check the first post, first page.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Ah, I see.

The reason I asked this was because SH announced he was working on other shipsets (among which the Leon shipset) for this universe, and I wondered if he was using them.

[Starhawk]

Yes the I-Laser is a 13 generation APB weapon with a green beam replacing the purple one, it is far deadlier then the 12th gen and has a longer range.

As far as shipsets goes the Andermanian shipset is completed yes and I actually posted up here, the Empire of the Shining star set is proving a pain in the butt as it's hard to get an "asian" looking design that hasn't been ripped off already.

The Leon are also a bit of a pain but they are coming along.

[Starhawk]

2433.6 Cataclysm in Sadalmelek
A tearful face appeared on the vid screens as Janet Cranston put the flexi down on her desk.
“Citizens of the Empire, ladies and gentlemen it is my terrible news to report to you that this day is one of the darkest in Icaran history, the Sadalmelek system suffered a Catastrophe the increasing solar flare activity that has had Icaran State scientists worried for the last few months took a sudden turn for the worst last month as the flare activity spiked, evacuation ships were sent to retrieve the former Earth Corps citizens but it was too late…..” she paused and wiped her eyes as she cleared her throat “The Sadalmelek system went nova at 06:30 AM Imperial Standard, on the 3rd of March, estimated casualties are currently at one point six billion, and rising, but worse then these deaths….if there can be such is that the Praetor himself was on an inspection tour of the newest provinces of the Empire……” Cranston’s voice went cold and tears began flowing again “I’m sorry it’s just…..” she broke down into tears and someone came from behind the camera and ran over to embrace the young woman.
An older man with gray hair stepped in front of the camera, his face set in stone yet his eyes also smoldering with tears “Ladies and gentlemen, citizens of the Empire it is my terrible duty this day to tell you that Praetor Leonidas the sixteenth chosen by God, was killed in Sadalmelek along with his senior aid and Duke Cromwell….by noon today Crown Prince Rodrick will become Rodrick the 2nd Praetor chosen by God…..please bow your heads and pray for the sake of our Empire in the coming days……” the screen went blank for a moment as the sound of many sobbing people could be heard over the holocam’s audio pickup.

The loss of Sadalmelek would have been but a small tragedy within the Empire had it not been for the fact that Praetor Leonidas had insisted on touring the newest provinces of the Empire, to establish the true power and glory of the Empire to it’s newest citizens, instead now he was dead and his eldest son whom was presently only seventeen was now taking his place as the Praetor of the entire Icaran Empire.

Crowning a Praetor:
The Praetor’s Own regiment was turned out in full on the 3rd day of Solaris in the year, 6433 IY (Imperial Year, 2433.10 AD) in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace on Icara. Millions of Icarans were also present forming a seemingly endless sea of people around the Palace perimeter, banners waved and flapped in the wind as well as people showed their support for their new Praetor.
Inside the perimeter of the Palace a thousand nobles formed two great columns on either side of a long scarlet carpet which ran the length of the courtyard, from the outer gates of the palace to the traditional throne of the Praetor. Each column of nobles had a line of the Praetor’s Own in front of it, the soldiers wore the formal scarlet and gold armor their kind had for centuries whenever carrying out the formal responsibilities their duties required.

As trumpets blared the lines of soldiers drew their long sabers and held them high in salute, the massive palace doors opened loudly as their armored locks unsealed and their mechanisms hummed. The sound of drums beating turned the heads of the nobles toward the doors, it had been seven Praetors since anyone had heard those drums beat, seven Praetors since anyone had seen the regalia of the two drummers who marched in step through the armored doors, followed closely by the Praetor, Rodrick the 2nd himself, he was wearing the golden and engraved armor of an ancient Lord Marshall except in that the Praetor’s helmet bore the crown of his office. The Praetor was flanked by eight guards all dressed in the crimson and gold of the Praetor’s own, and all marching in a smart lockstep.
As the Praetor passed nobles dropped down upon one knee and bowed their heads in salute, the soldiers flanking the carpet all held their sabers high with pride as the new ruler of the Empire passed by them.

Rodrick though only seventeen was already the height of his father, he was well muscled and toned with years of physical exercise in the training yards of the Praetor’s Regiment, he kept his hair close cut much like the male soldiers he enjoyed training with so much, and his right cheek bore a deep scar from where a saber had cut into his face when he was twelve, despite the requests of his father he had refused to have the scar removed and said he would wear it with pride as the soldier who had given him the scar was one of the best commanders and swordsmen in the Praetorian Regiment before his unfortunate death in the latter stages of the Phong crusades.
Rodrick was almost the antithesis of his father and brothers where they were so concerned with politics and statecraft Rodrick was concerned with practicalities and martial training, where his father had been an excellent “tap dancer” of politics, Rodrick was a blunt straight forward young man who would take no disrespect from his peers. But perhaps more importantly Rodrick was unlike his father in that he was a man who would not settle for anything less then absolute victory, though it had never been publicly discussed Praetor Leonidas had actually considered pulling the Icaran military forces out of the new provinces and ordering them sealed off from the Empire for all time.
Rodrick was ambitious yet also cool headed, he knew it may take a century or more but he would not rest until Icara ruled the galaxy, there would be no giving their enemies the chance to eventually build warp point starships and invade Icara it’s self, for if the peace movement had their way Icara would seal it’s self off from the universe and dismantle it’s military.

The trumpets stopped blaring and the drums fell silent as the Praetor and his guards reached the dais that held the thrown of the Praetor, Rodrick swallowed hard as he stepped between the two drummers and took the short walk up the three steps that would forever change his life.
A man wearing white and gold robes stood next to the thrown, Rodrick recognized him as the highest priest of the Church of the Path on Icara and stared for a moment at the short old man who somehow held a calm sort of dignity that required no trumpets, no thunderous roar to be powerful. The young soon to be Praetor Rodrick the 2nd felt as if he should smile or bow to show the old man respect but he forced himself to keep the stone face and rigid back this specific duty required of him. The priest stepped forward and lifted the coronation crown high in the air as he said something in the ancient language that Rodrick couldn’t quite understand.
Then the old priest cleared his throat and looked Rodrick straight in the eyes “Lord Rodrick the second, son of Leonidas the sixteenth, Praetor chosen by God and ruler of the most holy empire of Icara, you stand now before the nobility and people of your Empire, you stand before the eyes of your God and you stand before the eyes of his church, your duty is clear by your blood, you are to be ruler of these people and of your Empire in the service of the almighty.” the Priest lowered the crown and Rodrick removed his helmet with respect.
“Do you swear to fulfill this duty with all your heart and soul, may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?” the Priest’s voice had taken on the tone of a challenge as he stared into the eyes of the future Praetor as if he were trying to tear Rodrick’s soul out and examine it.
“I do so swear it before the church and Empire.” Rodrick said, managing to keep his voice calm.
The priests voice rose again “Do you swear to protect and rule your people with mercy and justice, to lead them against their enemies and guard them against treason may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?”
“I do so sweat it before the church and empire” Rodrick replied
“And do you swear in turn to answer to the justice of the empire and people should you lead them astray, may you be damned if you lie before the eyes of church and empire?”
Rodrick swallowed hard again, that last sentence had resulted in the execution of three Praetors throughout history and he knew all too well that when they said “may you be damned” they meant it.
“I do so swear it before church and empire.” he managed to keep his voice strong, though his heart raced slightly as the priests gaze once again returned to the coronation crown.
“Then I say to the people of Icara as leader of the most holy church of the path on this world that you are fit to rule, all hail Praetor Rodrick the second, may he rule with wisdom and may his reign be long and glorious!” the Priest’s face wrinkled with a brilliant smile as he placed the coronation crown on the bowed head of Rodrick the second, and ushered in a new era for the Empire of Icara…..