Year 2718, April the 2nd

Sector Victory-12-33.706, Abraham system

Orbit over Abraham 3, Twin Moon Imperial Super Dreadnought Flagship Dauntless

Commodore Ada Dravograd was sitting in her quarters. Currently she was reading a book about a love story during a fictional war between the Twin Moon Empire and the Terran Mining Consortium. The main characters were a female naval officer of the rank of Lieutenant and a male Master Sergeant in the Space Marine Corps. She was just barely over half the three-hundred page book. She was sitting in her bed, dressed in casual clothes, an ocean blue top and black sweat pants. Her black hair had been let out of her usual ponytail and was hanging roughly behind her and some strains over her shoulders. Her tanned hands held the book gently. The room was lightly lit up but it was enough for her light grey eyes to read the pages in the book.

As the ships commanding officer and a commodore she had larger quarters than others onboard and her bed was soft and larger and not at all military issue. It was one of the perks of commanding the Twin Moon Imperial Navy’s flagship. Of course it also had some trouble coming with it. Such as having a mandatory presence at many political festivities with dignitaries, nobles and military officers plus their families. Also Ada had to look her best when potentially representing the TWE while being forced to play intergalactic politics. But, she did get to see many different parts of the empire. The Imperial flagships presence was requested in many different systems as a show of force. Sense the Dauntless was one of the only Super Dreadnoughts that had ever existed and her presence weighted heavily on any negotiation. So she had to escort a lot of diplomats and show foreign dignitaries around the ship-keeping them out of important areas of course. Anyway, this was a very important commission, especially for a twenty-eight year old woman.

The Dauntless was nine kilometers long, three times longer than any existing Dreadnought. A Dreadnought was usually three miles long and a Heavy Carrier were only one km long. A Supreme Carrier extended to four km but the Dauntless was the largest Dreadnought that had ever been built. No other Super dreadnought had ever been larger than five or six km.

Ada heard a beep that told her someone was by her door. Her tall frame rose and walked over to the door and keyed the panel to open it.

Outside stood a thirty-four year old woman with a blonde ponytail. Her light brown eyes was stoic, having to look slightly up at Ada. She wore a black thick marine armored suit. The suit was very thick and gave her a boost up with ten centimeters. She appeared at least three times her normal size while wearing the armored suit. Her silver visor was retracted. The woman saluted with her right armored hand. Her thick arm rising to her head. The suit gave off mechanical and metallic noises every time the wearer moved a muscle.

“Commodore.”

Ada nodded.

“At ease Lt. Commander,” she said.

The marine lowered her hand and clapped them together behind her back.

“What can I do for you, Morgan?” Ada asked the older woman.

“So sorry to interrupt your personal time Commodore,” Lt. Commander Morgan apologized, keeping her stoic expression. “We have received a distress call from the Petrograd colony in the Petrograd system.”

“About what?”

“Unknown sir,” Morgan explain. “They aren’t responding to our transmissions. Communications think they are being jammed.”

Ada nodded.

“Order the flotilla to jump to hyperspace and set a course for the Petrograd colony,” she ordered. “Have a two Heavy Cruisers, a Light Cruiser and three Destroyers task force remain here until further notice.”

Morgan nodded affirmatively.

“Aye, sir.”

She saluted and Ada responded with a nod.

“Dismissed.”

She closed the door and headed to her locker to undress and put on her uniform again. If the colony’s communication was being jammed it would suggest they were under attack by somebody. Could it be pirates? Possibly. Luckily Petrograd was practically around the corner. It was only fifty minutes or so away from her current position. Whoever was attacking them, they could handle it. The Dauntless was one of the most powerful ships ever build and they had four Light Carriers and fifteen Destroyers as support at all times. Currently they even had-minus the ships she ordered to stay behind-three Light Cruisers and seven Frigates.

She dressed in her black uniform, pinned her medals to her chest and fix her hair into a ponytail. She made sure to put her book on her desk and placed the bookmark on the page she had stopped on. She than left her quarters and made her way to the bridge. She took an elevator in the end of the corridor to the bridge deck.

“Commodore on deck!” An office barked.

A round of salutes flooded across the bridge.

“At ease,” Ada said.

She saw Lt. Commander Morgan standing beside her First Officer. He was somewhat taller than her, but only slightly because the thick marine armor brought Morgan up a tad. Captain Alan Haig was a thirty-six year old man with light brown hair and an Australian accent. He had pale skin. Almost all Ada’s senior staff was older than she was. Haig was one of those people who believed seniority should decide some commission and commands in the Imperial navy. She didn’t know if he supported that military commands should go to rich nobles instead of the most talented military officers just because they was from a lower social class. The nobles had fought for that in politics for ages and always failed. Her Excellency was not stupid and neither was her successors.

“Commodore,” he greeted.

“Captain. Now give me some details about what’s ahead of us,” Ada said.

“I’m afraid we don’t have much, sir. But sense their communications are jammed, we should assume that they are being attacked. We will arrive in forty-five minutes. But, the Petrograd colony isn’t too far off from the border and Unborn Marauder activity has been registered in nearby systems.”

Ada groaned at the mention of the Unborn Marauders. She hated the entire organization. They were nothing but a pirate and mercenary syndicate, filled with criminals.

“I have ordered a Battalion of marines standing by in case the colony is under siege,” Morgan added.

Ada nodded.

“Good. Tell me about Petrograd.”

Haig shifted his feet and cleared his throat.

“It’s a minor colony that was established twelve years ago. Approximately seven-thousand colonists live there now. The wealth comes mostly from agriculture. The planet itself was discovered-”

“-I don’t care about that part,” Ada interrupted.

Haig nodded slowly.

“Very well.”

Forty-five minutes later, Petrograd colony

Ada sat in the command chair, looking out at the view screen as space returned to normal when they reentered normal space. Haig stood on her left and Morgan on her right. She immediately spotted several objects ahead of them.

“Identify them,” she ordered calmly.

There was a moment of silence before a reply came.

“Commodore-” it came from the scanning station. “-Detecting multiple Unborn Marauder starships and five friendlies.”

“Damn pirates,” she heard Haig mutter a curse.

“Give me an id on the friendlies.”

“One large grain freighter plus two Destroyers Escort class and one Frigate and a Destroyer class. The Frigates are out of action and one Destroyer Escort has weapons, shields and engines disabled. There’re dead in space. The Destroyer has taken heavy damage and their engines are disabled. The remaining Destroyer Escort is holding a position between the grain freighter and the Marauder starships, but they are being encircled.”

“The Destroyer. Military grade ship?”

“No ma’am. An outdated Bravado class starship.”

“Probably modified by the colonists for defensive purposes,” Haig said. “Probably bought it off the navy when they were decommissioned or in a scrapyard.”

“How many Marauder starships are there?”

“Thirteen sir. Two Escort Carriers of Defender M12 class and two Destroyers of Killer M1 class. The rest is Hunter M2 class Corvettes…” he paused. “Commodore! We have identified one of the Hunter class starships as the Lewis & Clark!”

Ada stared in surprise and froze for a second.

“Bjorn Dennison’s starship,” Haig stated, also he surprised. “That bastard.”

Ada quickly regain her sense.

“Order our Light Carriers to launch Aerospace fighters. Have them follow us in. I want one Frigate nearby each Carrier. All other ships will defend those colonials and engage the Marauders head on,” she ordered swiftly. “Take us straight at them.”

“Aye, sir.”

She knew the Marauder Hunter M2 class Corvettes could not stand up to a military grade starship over Frigate class. It would not matter how much the Marauders had modified them. Corvettes could not be a threat for any ship larger than a Light Cruiser at best.

“Are the colony in danger?” Morgan asked suddenly.

“No Marauders on ground Lt. Commander.”

Ada breathed a sigh of relief. At least that was some good news. She smiled just thinking about the faces of those Marauders when they saw the Dauntless approaching. Several of the Corvettes set a course for her advancing support ships and one of the Killer class Destroyers maneuvered in to protect the Escort Carriers from enemy fire.

“Our Interceptors have engaged the enemy Interceptors,” a junior officer-standing beside the scanner operator-alerted. “We are outnumbering them five-one, sir.”

As the Interceptors was swirling around the dark and weightless space, two Light Cruisers approached the grain freighter and opened up a barrage on the faster maneuvering Marauder Corvettes.

“We are in range.”

“Fire,” Ada ordered.

A lone Corvette was quickly maneuvering closer to the Dauntless. Bad move. The quick sublight engines was not enough to avoid the massive barrage of death from the Super Dreadnought. Within seconds the engines, shields and all primary systems was disabled and within another few seconds and Hunter M2 was destroyed and turned into a burning wreck of metal plates that swirled in different directions of space. There were no survivors. They didn’t even have time to realize they should abandon ship.

“Commodore. We can identify the wreck of a Corvette. Hunter class, sir,” a junior officer alerted.

“Colonists took one out before we got here,” Haig muttered positively. “Nice.”

“We are also detecting the wrecks of two freighters and a transport. It is a civilian ship.”

“They destroyed a civilian starship!” Haig exclaimed.

“Affirmative, sir.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“Don’t worry Alan,” Ada said, keeping her anger under control. “They’ll pay for it.”

Haig clenched his fist.

“Damn right they will.”

The Hunter M2 Corvettes was 30 percent faster than other classes of Corvettes was. They had clearly been modified by the Marauders to outrun most capital and support class ships in a fight with sublight engines. A Corvette was disabled by the Dauntless’s heavy barrage. They just survived by chance as the batteries changed targets. The second Killer M1 opened up a barrage on Dauntless. The shields held with ease. The Destroyer fired with its plasma batteries, mass driver-rapid firing batteries and missiles. To the huge Super Dreadnought it was-barely-like a tiny mosquito. Two Corvettes attempted to run rings around them and outrun their weaponry while firing. It would turn into a horrible idea. Their combined attack had no effect at all. Heavy Interceptors pursued them.

“Sir. The Carriers is requesting permission to launch Light bombers with Interceptor escort,” a female junior officer said. She stood by the communications console at the moment.

“Granted,” Ada said. “Disable the enemy engines primarily.”

“Transmitting orders.”

She was called over by a console operator nearby.

One of her Frigates that were adding supporting fire to a Light Cruiser was badly damaged and half the primary and some secondary systems was offline. A Destroyer was moving in to add a defensive screen for the ship to retreat to the Dauntless’s position. The grain freighter had managed to retreat beyond range of the Marauders. It took up a position near one of the Light Carriers and its protective Frigate escort. No Marauder would be stupid enough to engage it. Not when it was in range of Dauntless’s firepower. At least Ada and her officers thought so.

“The Lewis & Clark is approaching the freighter with another Corvette. One more is disengaging from us and setting a course,” the female junior officer alerted-now from the scanning console. She stood behind the scanner operator.

“If they want to die,” Haig said with a peaceful shrug.

Ada smiled for a moment.

“Concentrate our firepower to defend that freighter,” she ordered.

“Understood.”

“I want aerospace Starfighters protecting that freighter,” she added.

One squadron of Multirole Starfighters was dispatched from the hangar of the Carrier closest to the freighter. It had been on standby sense the battle started. Two squadrons of Interceptors quickly maneuvered in from behind the Corvettes. One of the Corvettes was being swarmed by dozens of Interceptors and a squadron of bombers. It started slowing down when the engines were too badly damaged.

Bjorn Dennison’s Corvette approached quickly, almost entering firing range. Bjorn was an Unborn Marauder Spector and was assumable to be in charge of the operation. He had committed horrible war crimes four years ago in the 1714 war between the United Colonial Directorate and the Terran Mining Consortium. The Marauders had been hired by the Consortium to fight as mercenaries. Spector Bjorn Dennison had been responsible for slaughtering eight-hundred civilian humans. Even the TMC turned their back on them at that point sense there were no reason for the slaughter rather then that Dennison felt like it. At that point the Marauders-Dennison in particular got upset and attacked a Consortium colony and massacred three-thousand and five-hundred innocent humans in pure rage. At that point all human factions and many none-human civilizations started treating the Marauders as the pirates and criminals they were. Captured Marauders was always executed or spent the rest of their life in prison after being interrogated and sometimes even tortured-depending on who captured them. Being captured by the Klloorr Hierarchy was the best end for a Marauder. The Klloorr had the best and most comfortable prisons in the galaxy.

“Commodore, one of the Marauder Destroyers have been destroyed.”

“Excellent,” Ada said.

“We’re in range of the Escort Carriers, sir.”

“Destroy them.”

Some batteries were diverted and focused on the Escort Carriers. It was the smallest form in the Carrier family with only fifty Starfighter in the hangars. The Dauntless barrage was enough to disable the shields of the first Escort Carrier. It quickly crumbled under the devastating barrage.

The second Escort Carrier suddenly jumped to hyperspace before its shields could fail them. The Destroyer defending the Carriers had lost its shields and some weaponry and also it jumped to hyperspace.

“The cowards are running,” Haig chuckled.

Ada focused her attention on Spector Dennison’s Corvette. Beside her Morgan stood silently.

“Sir, one Corvette is jumping to hyperspace. Only two Corvettes left.”

“One of them are losing shields.”

Suddenly the Lewis & Clark entered hyperspace and escaped from the system. It was badly damaged. Ada cursed over that he got away in the last moment. The last functioning Marauder ship was destroyed. Even if he escaped, the Marauders lost large amount of ships in this battle. An Escort Carrier would not be easy for them to replace. It would take time and resources to construct or countless credits to buy. They without a doubt had the funds but it was a heavy blow on a consortium of pirates and terrorists.

Ada sighed. She cursed that Spector Dennison escaped her grip. The only Corvette still present was one that was disabled earlier.

“You wanna board it?” Haig asked with a smile. “Or just blow them the fuck up.”

The second suggestion was interesting but Ada decided not to give herself the pleasure. No, those Marauder assholes would be arrested, interrogate, tortured and executed.

“Take us into the hangar,” Ada decided. “Morgan.” Their eyes met for a moment. “Gather your marines.”

“Aye commodore,” Morgan confirmed. She lowered the silver visor to completely cover her head and face.

“Contact the colonial governor, Haig. Ask him if he needs anything and tell him that two Frigates and a Light Cruiser will remain here for some time.”

Haig nodded.

“Aye sir. No doubt he’ll appreciate that.”

“I’ll be in my quarters reading if you need me,” she said. “You have the bridge, Haig.”

“Aye commodore.”

Morgan departed the bridge with her. Ada glanced at her.

“You think there’s a chance they’ll surrender?” She asked.

“No sir,” Morgan replied confidently. “They never do, as you know.”

“Yeah,” Ada mumbled. “But please, Lizzy. Take prisoners. We need someone to interrogate.”

Morgan turned to her and the sound echoed with mechanic and metallic noises.

“I’ll do my best, commodore Dravograd,” she assured her.

Ada nodded subtly.

During the whole battle, she had never actually sounded “General quarters.” She hadn’t seen the need. Nothing they faced was a threat to anyone onboard at all.

Morgan walked through the corridor towards the hangar where the Corvette was being brought onboard. Dauntless was equipped with a massive hangar. It didn’t have any aerospace Starfighters equipped but it could have several Corvettes in the hangar under its belly. When she walked into the hangar she saw the Corvette being brought in. Sixty marines in the thick black armored suits had gathered. They wielded large Gail-23 pulsar rifles.

“Commander,” an officer came up to her.

“The men’s ready, sir,” he informed her.

Morgan continued walking.

“Very good. We’re going in. We need prisoners, Sergeant, understood?”

“Copy that, Lt. Commander.”

As the “large” ship sat down gently on the metal deck and the massive retractable doors closed underneath it. With explosives the ramp in the aft was forced open and Morgan ordered her marines to penetrate the defenses. Projectile fire was flying in both directions. Three marines was killed by a portable machinegun that was placed inside in the aft cargo hold.

“Grenadiers up!” Morgan commanded, taking cover by a container.

Marine grenadiers approached the ramp with grenades in hand. They had a NPL-2 semi-automatic rifle at the ready. It was not as large as the Gail-23 pulsar rifle that was fully automatic and it was brown colored instead of black. One of the men went down in a blaze of enemy fire. Four grenades was lobbed inside the cargo hold. They heard shouting from inside before the grenades exploded. The machinegun stopped spewing out projectiles.

Marines swarmed inside. Morgan was right behind them. A few rifles was fired but only a few lone bullets was used. They opened a door and peeked into the corridor. With a gesture, marines continued swiftly down the corridor and deeper inside the ship.

“This bastards wounded,” a female marine alerted.

He reached for his rifle but it was kicked away from him.

“Here’s another. Unconscious by the looks of it.”

“The rests dead, sir.”

“Disarm the wounded and get them medical attention,” Morgan ordered. “Keep them under guard at all times.”

“Aye, sir.”

Morgan stopped and looked down at a dead Marauder. He wore a black uniform with a gasmask with red glass and a helmet covering his head. It was a lot easier to get through the vests they had than the armor suit of the marines. She looked around seven dead marines and two injured against eighteen dead Marauders and two injured. She smiled under her silver colored visor. She heard gunfire inside the Corvette. She turned to a group of five marines that were still inside the cargo hold.

“Get moving!” She snapped, starting to walk towards the corridor. “This ship isn’t securing itself.”

“Yes sir!” The exclaimed in unison.

As she marched down the corridor she stepped over two dead Marauders. A few meters down sat an injured marine grenadier. He had a gap in his armor around his waist. She stopped beside him.

“Are you gonna be alright marine?” She asked in a stoic voice.

“Y-yes s-sir,” he stuttered. “I’ll live.”

She nodded.

“Sit tight. You’ll get a medic soon,” she promised him. “What’s your name?”

He straightened himself.

“Corporal Dick Morris, sir. I have a-an v-ver-very important question.”

She kneeled beside him.

“I-is a h-hot nurse i-included?” He asked, looking up at her.

Morgan smirked under her silver visor.

”I’ll make sure you get two hot nurses, Corporal.”

He chuckled.

“S-sounds… f-fan-fantastic.” He coughed with painful breaths.

“Breathe Corporal Morris, breathe.”

She stood up and continued down the corridor. As she turned she saw more bodies. She opened the door and looked inside the crew quarters. Three marines lay dead inside, along with two Marauders. Hearing voices she turned back to the corridor. Two marines were dragging an injured Marauder. He had his gasmask pulled down around his throat and his helmed off. It hung behind his head. He was human, with brown messy hair and orange eyes. He had a killer look in his eyes. Morgan gave him a second look and moved down the corridor. That made three captured Marauders. That would probably make the commodore happy.

“Units, report in,” she ordered in her comm.

“At least three to five holding up in the mess hall Lt. Commander.”

“Lieutenant Veasqeas is down, sir. He’s stabile but injured on the second deck, 5th junction.”

She suddenly heard an explosion nearby.

“What the hell was that?! Report!”

“Rocket launcher!”

She started running and soon came around a corner to see the burning remains of flesh and metal armor. The marine had taken a hit right on by the looks of it. Two marines stood, firing down the corridor. Morgan aimed her Gail-23 pulsar rifle and fired. She heard a woman cry out in the corridors other end.

Year 2718, April the 2nd

Sector Jingo-11-55.310, Greece system

Planet Athena, United Colonial Directorate Fort Morty

Montgomery wore a green dress uniform with six medals on his chest. He fiddled with his white mustache as he looked at the holographic map over the sector Kekk-09-00.498. He scratched his white hair and his grey eyes studied a specific part on the map. It was the Bor’rock system. His eyes darted to the massive reptile across the holographic map table.

His scales were dark brown and his eyes red. The large 8.5 feet Drakken wore a thick red armor. His red eyes looked over at Montgomery. He was a famous Drakken Warmaster. He placed his large hands on the edge of the table.

“I assume the losses at Bor’rock is staggering,” UCD Admiral Jake Hailey voiced.

Warmaster Derkk turned his head to him.

“Seven-hundred fifty-eight-thousand and two-hundred dead in total,” he said in his deep and raspy voice. “Five-hundred ships destroyed in Bor’rock and nearby systems.” He started a grim smile. “But the Alliances have suffered worse. 1.2 million Casualties and five-hundred-and-eighty ships destroyed.”

Montgomery remained quiet. Both the Drakken’s and the Terran Holy Alliance had suffered incredibly high casualties in this system alone. Whoever won that battle, might win the entire war. If they beat them back, the war would turn in their favor.

“The religious bastards don’t know much about fighting Drakken’s,” Derkk grinned. “Even after seven wars of experience.”

“Don’t underestimate them,” General Bailey Horn warned. “What they lack in combat they make up for it fighting spirit and sacrifices for the crusade.”

Derkk snorted.

“What about your front?” He asked, ignoring her point.

She didn’t seem to mind, but she certainly noticed.

“We have halted the fourth fleet,” she said. “The third, fifth and eight fleets are still advancing deeper into our territory. But are troops are slowing them down, making sure they take heavy casualties for every meters advance.”

Derkk laughed.

“That’s the spirit!” He banged his fist into the table, making it shake. “Oh, sorry.”

Montgomery smirked.

Derkk chuckled but quickly returned to the moment at hand.

“Have many dead?”

“This month?” Admiral Hailey asked with a heavy voice. “Twenty-nine-thousand dead or injured halting the fourth Alliance fleet, General Morgan report thirteen-thousand five-hundred dead marines in his failed offensive. Almost forty-thousand dead or injured battling the third, fifth and eighth fleets. Our offensive grounded to a bloody crawl before halting completely. Moral is at an all-time low throughout the UCD armed forces.” He looked over at Montgomery. “We need a victory. A big one, or our troops will desert in ever greater numbers.”

The military leadership knew that small flotillas of Corvettes, Frigates, Destroyer Escorts and Escort Carriers was have a lot of success attacking the Alliance supply lines, but that didn’t do the troops much right now. They needed a grand victory. An obvious one.

Montgomery looked up at Hailey and shifted his gaze to Derkk.

“When is your offensive ready?” He asked.

“Two weeks,” Derkk answered. He glanced at Hailey. “We’re just waiting for the last freighters to join in. We need the supply line to be able to get all supplies we need to the front as soon as possible. When the last two-hundred freighters have joined the supply lines, we’re ready. Don’t want any supply trouble halting our offensive.” He cleared his throat. “When we’re done, millions of alliance troops will be dead or captured.” He started grinning and licked his lips.

“How many ships will participate?” Hailey asked.

“Almost four-thousand. Everything we are able to spare,” Derkk replied casually. “Ten million troops are ready to outflank the Alliance scum.”

Montgomery leaned over the table.

“Where’s Grand Admiral Kitchener anyway?” Derkk asked.

“He’s trying to organize a naval offensive,” Montgomery answered. “The idea is that when you launch your offensive, they might transfer troops to rescue their sieged comrades and when they do, we’ll launch a mayor naval attack at the fifth fleet. Kitchener is gathering every available capital ship for the offensive and veterans to break through on the ground.”

Derkk snorted.

“Figure we’d have to save your asses.”

Hailey and Horn glared at Derkk. He merely chuckled.

Year 2718, April the 2nd

Location: Beyond the Dark Rift, immediate location unknown

The Dark Rift. The end of space. Or at least the known galaxy. Unknown space, unknown species were beyond it. Primitives, yes. Advanced civilizations, unknown? Spacefaring species with vast armadas and strong militaries and a junta or a democratic government, all unknown. What really lies beyond the Dark Rift was mysterious worlds with mysterious faunas and possible inhabitance. The furthest anyone had ever gone beyond the Dark Rift was ten Lightyears. In 2160 the Vaan’jorch Dominion sent an expedition beyond the Dark Rift, fat beyond ten lightyears beyond it. Twenty starships. The largest was a Battleship. Lady Duilir was in command of the expedition. Neither of her ships ever returned to known space and their fate was unknown.

Far and deep into the Dark Rift and in the darkest and coldest of places tens of thousands of dark green ships waited in deep space. The smallest were a few hundred meters from stern to aft. While some of the largest were eight kilometers from stern to aft. As they laid silently they made space somehow feel much colder by their presence. But, the absolute largest vessel was not eight kilometers. From aft till stern, it was twenty-five kilometers. In known space, no such construction project had ever been attempted. It may have been spoken about but no one was foolish enough to but down such a vast sum of resources on a starship. The vast amounts of credits and resources to build it would be too much. The massive ship laid in the middle of the formation of all tens of thousands of vessels. Suddenly a message went out from the massive starship and all ships began jumping to hyperspace and countless windows of blue energy opened. They had set a course for what was-in their perspective-beyond the Dark Rift.

Known space.

2: Chapter 2 Leave

Year: 2718, April the 3rd

Sector Victory-12-33.706

Alexandria system, New England

On the northern continent, in a regular apartment in the city of Talheim Dwayne woke up. He rubbed his tired eyes as the light of day shined in through the window. Dwayne drew his hands over his bold head. The black man placed a muscular arm over the woman sleeping beside him. She was sleeping, snuggled up against him. He moved his hand gently through her auburn hair. Dwayne turned his attention to the window and the cloth covering it, preventing most of the sunlight from entering. As he sat up he rubbed his dark blue eyes again. He forced his athletically built body out of bed, hearing a moan in protest when the woman felt his presence and body heat disappear.

He smiled and walked over to the window. He pulled the cloth away and looked out. He could see the apartment stretching across from this one. It was brown and green metal that stretched. He opened the window and the traffic of the living reached into the apartment. He closed the window, not wanting Katie to wake up. He pulled a pair of light blue pants on and walked to the door for fresh air. He walked outside onto the walkway stretching along the wall.

There was at least twenty meters between this apartment and the one facing it. He was glad that he lived on the two-hundred and ninth floor instead of one of the lower. This was he could see and feel the sun every morning. Dozens of small shuttles, from one to four or five manned tiny speeders, hoover cars, slowly moved through the two way traffic. A hoover bus slowly made its way forward. Dwayne’s eyes saw a pair across-two floors down argue. The man and woman was yelling at each other. On his left a human woman kissed the pale lips of a Vaan’jorch female. The Vaan’jorch pulled the woman into a deeper kiss. The human tugged on her companions left horn. It was two decimeters long and stuck up from the side of her forehead. Her tail wrapped around the woman, holding her tight. After at least forty seconds the Vaan’jorch stopped and allowed the other time to breathe.

The human woman waved as the Vaan’jorch walked away with a briefcase in hand. The Vaan’jorch neighbor always was a shocking case in for him. He Dwayne would describe the Vaan’jorch with one word: Domineering. Although many of their species lived outside the Vaan’jorch Dominion, he was still surprised to see anyone of them live a normal life and not expect servants to follow their every whim. But some of them left the Dominion to live normal lives.

In the horizon and stretching towards the sky, the massive space elevator of Talheim was visible. The massive black metal construction had four tether poles holding it in place.

He turned around when he heard footsteps. Katie stood in the doorway, smiling. And yawned.

“What are you doing out here?” She asked.

Dwayne looked down on her stomach. It wasn’t showing yet, but then again, she was only one month in. she looked down on her stomach and then up at him.

“What? You can’t wait?”

“I’m a patient man,” he said, holding her hands gently. “But come on. Nine months?”

“Eight,” she corrected him.

He smirked.

“I can hardly wait for the little guy. Or girl.”

“Well…” she started with a smirk. “…I can. I can wait eight months for the pain. It’s okay for my part.”

Dwayne leaned in and kissed her cheek. She looked into his dark blue eyes with her aqua blue wonderful eyes. For a moment they stood and silently looked into each other’s eyes.

“You know what? Let’s do it.”

Katie arched her eyebrows with a light blush coming on.

“W-we did it last night? R-remember?” She felt awkward having this conversation out here.

“What?” He frowned. “Oh, oh!” He waved her off. “I mean buying a farm near the city of Baku instead of living here. Let’s do that. Let’s raise her child in open fields and under a warm sun.”

Katie blushed a bright shade of red.

“Oh.” She blinked and rubbed the back on her head. “I-I knew that.”

Dwayne chuckled.

“Of course sweetheart.  Of course you did.”

She frowned and glared softly up at him.

“Anyway…it’s a fantastic idea. I don’t want our child to be raised here,” she gestured around them. “In this hellhole.”

“I agree.”

She leaned her head against his chest-still holding his hands.

“I’ll miss you when you go back,” she whispered, barely over her breath.

“I still got a few days beautiful,” Dwayne reminded her, gently leading her back inside. “And...” he winked. “…I have a great way to pass the time.”

She looked up and smiled.

“Oh?” She asked, teasingly. “Whatever could that be my good sir knight?”

He picked her up in his arms and carried her inside. She giggled.

Dwayne heard someone yell something in an angry tone. Something about flying piglets and hell raining down from the sky. He heard a familiar sound. A skycycle. It was followed by the honking of horns and yelling. He glanced over his shoulder for a moment. The young teenage girl swirled quickly through the traffic, swooping forward in a zigzag motion. He shook his head and kicked the door closed, feeling Katie’s hands around his neck and her head on his shoulder. The outside world would have to wait a few more hours.

Year: 2718, April the 4th/Year: 6272, Vaan’jorch calendar

Sector Vaan’jorch-79-12.991

Quebix system, Quebix Prime surface, Fort Sylvia

The large desert planet was a ball of dust to many people, but for General Alydia it was much more. The ball of dust was a massive industrial block that supplied weapons, vehicles and ships to five different sectors on a permanent basis. It was equipped with shipyards that specifically constructed Dreadnoughts, Carriers and other capital ships. Building a Dreadnought was an amazing piece of engineering normally. But on Quebix it was a form of art. But furthermore, the planet was a military strongpoint. If anyone wanted to annex this sector from the Dominion, they had to take Quebix. Quebix was heavily fortified and always had a large fleet in orbit. It had a permanent defense force of millions of troops, both Jorchae, Colossal and Serphoro.

Alydia stood on an orange stone balcony, looking out over the training ground below. The sand covered training ground was filled with Jorchae and a handful of Colossal’s. The tiny four foot tall insectoid Jorchae was nothing next to the 9 foot bipedal Colossal’s. The larger heavy and hairy Colossal’s were yelling at the Jorchae. Every word frightened the majority of the insects.

Alydia’s eyes caught a Colossal that was one foot larger than the others. The ten foot white haired apelike creature stood on the border of the field. He wore silver colored metal armor, exposing his arms and chest. His black eyes glared at a few Jorchae. He pointed at them and roared. They jumped and found a higher tempo.

There were hundreds of tiny green skinned insectoids running around on the training field. Some of them flew with their four wings of their backs. The Jorchae were skinny creatures, with bony fingers, four yellow eyes and two pair of wings on their backs.

Alydia’s skin was as white and snow pale as any other Vaan’jorch. Her eyes was glowing lilac and she had a pair of four decimeter long horns. Her tail was long and beautiful, as was her long ebony black hair. For a Vaan’jorch she was fairly young. Only two-hundred and seventy-two years into her life. She was the military governor in charge of Quebix Prime and took her command very seriously. She had spent forty years preparing for a possible invasion. Underground compounds had been expanded, underground supply caches extended and increased. The number of fortified bases increased and many industries had been moved further underground. She was even shaping the Jorchae to be in the same fighting shape as the Colossal’s and Serphoro’s, something many laughed at in the beginning. Many still did today, forty years into the training program. Sense a Jorchae lives for fifty years, the first batches of troops was already dead or really old and moved into more comfortable positions. When a Jorchae soldier became old and approached his last years, he was allowed to either return home and spend it all with his family or settle in a comfortable position with a good pay of credits that his family could take great advantage of after he passed.

But she had-or rather Warlord Jael’aar had-established a system of training over the decades that actually worked and created an elite force of Jorchae. They would never be as good as the Colossal’s or the Serphoro, but they were better than regular Jorchae troops.

Jael’aar had been the only Colossal to take it seriously. Two other Warlords had been asked but they declined. Jael’aar accepted the challenge and rose, later, to be the second in command of all forces of Quebix Prime and the entire system. The Warlords that declined was not regretting it.

Alydia raised her arms and stretched them out.

“Get me my cloak,” she said.

In a moment, two Jorchae flew out of the door into the compound and out on the balcony. They had a long red cloak with them. They quickly attached it to her shoulders. About half a meter of it dragged behind her. Alydia nodded and they both disappeared.

“A bottle of Lycyrian brandy.”

A moment went by until a Jorchae flew out with a silver plate, a green glass bottle and a beautiful glass beside it. He placed it on a small table and poured up the Lycyrian brandy in the glass.

“Lady Alydia,” he said in a scrawny voice.

Alydia took the glass gently into her hand and sipped from it. She turned around and threw the glass at him. He covered himself with his bony hands.

“Not that bottle idiot!” She snapped. “Put it away! The 1639 bottle is off limits. I’m saving it for a grand opportunity. Get me a bottle from my 2680s collection.”

The Jorchae bowed his upper body in the air.

“R-right away Lady Alydia. I-I’m sorry!” He hurried off with the tray again.

Alydia shook her head in annoyance.

“Idiotic fool,” she mumbled.

He very quickly returned with another bottle. She reached out and grabbed it. Making sure he did it right this time. He flinched in fear as she glared at him again, but more softly this time.

“This bottle is from 2625, but it is okay. Good enough,” she said. He breathed out. “But next time you fail your goddess, I’ll take off your head.”

He returned to the ground and kneeled.

“My lady is very kind. I do not deserve it.”

She glanced at it. You’re right, she thought.

“Get out.”

He quickly left her alone on the balcony.

Alydia never wanted to command this ball of dust, but she made the best of it. Her Holiness Empress Elina had decorated her for her work to prepare Quebix Prime for war. She heard a beep from inside but ignored it. Her Jorchae aids would deal with whoever the visitor was. Two minutes walked by before a Jorchae female flew out to her.

“Apologize for my intrusion lady Alydia,” she bowed her head. “And, I humbly apologize for the mistake with your brandy.”

Alydia didn’t move. She continued looking out over the training grounds.

“Did you want something?”

“A message has arrived for you. It concerns the diplomatic conference.”

Alydia rolled her eyes in annoyance and groaned. The Jorchae female jumped in the air, frightened to death.

Alydia reached her long white arm out with her palm open.

It took a few seconds before the pad was placed safely and swiftly in her palm. She scrolled through the text from the Diplomatic Bauru. It had her Holy Empresses Elina’s signature. She sighed. It was confirmed than. She would have to leave and be part of some boring conference of diplomats and politicians with important figures from other governments in known space. She was happy to see that her Holiness was thinking highly of her, but this was a very boring task. Of course she would prove that she was overqualified for such a task by azzin’ it.

She glanced over her shoulder. The female Jorchae had left her presence and she didn’t even have to tell her to leave. She felt bad-for a microsecond-that she didn’t know any of her aids names.

“I want to see Warlord Jael’aar,” she said, expecting her aids to be listening.

“Immediately lady Alydia,” another female aid assured her. “But, I b-believe he is training troop-”

“I know what he’s doing!” Alydia snapped fumingly.

She turned around and glared at the aid. She was shivered to her very bones.

“I-I-I-I d-d-did-di-didn’t m-me-m-mean t-to-to-to a-a-a-a-a-nge-r-r-ang-an-a-a- y-yu-you-” she stuttered.

Before she could continue her previous aid-an older female of forty-six-well versed with a lifetime of servitude to Alydia came forth. And yet, Alydia didn’t know her name.

“She apologizes my goddess!” She quickly spat out apologetically with a polite tone. “Forgiver her mistake, oh, glorious goddess!”

Alydia looked at the first aid. She was shaking and was utterly terrified. She was so scared tears had been brought to her eyes.

“Tell Jael’aar I will speak with him. Now,” Alydia said harshly, intentionally ignoring the aid. Subtly telling her it was alright.

“Immediately lady Alydia,” the older female bowed her upper body.

She gently pushed the younger with her out of sight. She would scowl her for her mishap later but this was not the time.

Alydia looked back down again. She saw Jael’aar. A Jorchae flew up to him and handed him his communicator. He grabbed it and a red holographic figure appeared. She wasn’t close enough to see who or what species even. He handed it back and spoke shortly with a Colossal beside him. He proceeded to leave the field with swift steps. Alydia liked to see how people would always abide with her wishes and commands as quickly as possible and at that point, nothing else mattered to them.

It took ten minutes for Jael’aar to make his way up to her chambers. There was a beep on the door and one of her aids opened it and led him to the balcony.

He fell to one knee and kneeled before her.

“Goddess,” he said respectfully.

His black eyes were focusing on the floor at the moment. The large hairy mammal was large and strong enough to crush her like a bug it he had been disloyal. Unlike the other species ruled by the Vaan’jorch Dominion, no Colossal had ever-ever-ever been disloyal or lost faith in the Vaan’jorch as gods. It had never happened in the five-thousand sense they were subjugated into the great empire.

No matter what they called it, it was still an empire with one supreme and dictatorial sovereign.

“You summoned me, goddess,” Jael’aar spoke, his dark and vicious voice rumbling out.

“I did,” she said, looking over her shoulder. “I am leaving for a conference with politicians and diplomats from other governments shortly. I want you to govern until my return.”

“Me, goddess?” He asked. “I am no politicians.”

“And I am?”

He had to admit she had a good point.

“You will show strength. You are of the greatest warrior species in the galaxy. Beside, this isn’t a political position. I am a military governor.”

“The Serphoro might disagree of course,” she said, ignoring that it would upset the Colossal. “But that is something for others to decide.” She turned to him. “All I want you to do, is to continue train and build. If an important decision comes up and you don’t know, contact the Golden Concord and any of the Councilors will assist you.”

Jael’aar titled his head down deeper.

“I am honored goddess,” he spoke with humility.

“I will leave in a few days,” she informed him. “That will be all. Leave me.”

“Goddess,” he said, before rising and leaving her chambers.

She looked back down on the Jorchae training. She thought they were very impressive. After five-thousand years of dying as troops for the Vaan’jorch’s bidding, they still had not changed. It was to this day, still an honor to die for the glory of the Vaan’jorch. Just like it was in the beginning.

Although it did not show, the Vaan’jorch was worried about how the next millennia would play out. Almost eight-hundred years ago the Jorchae Duchess was created when a few billion Jorchae wanted to succeed from the Dominion. The Jorchae population still worried the Holy Empress to some extent. But the Magog was a greater concern. Many of their kind had escaped to work for the Jorchae and find “freedom” for their people, as they called it. The Magog was the economical and scientific bone of the empire. During the last three centuries, Vaan’jorch had slowly but surely moved in and taken over some departments and extremely intelligent Jorchae and Serphoro had been placed in position of importance. The Magog would never actually rebel. Alydia snorted at the idea. No, they were a species of cowards that could not fight. They proved that five-thousand years ago when they were annexed into the great Dominion.

Alydia returned inside her chambers. Her guards was closing the doors behind them, as they had shown Warlord Jael’aar out. She had-just like the majority of her people-Serphoro bodyguards. Almost all important Vaan’jorch had them. And of course, it didn’t exist such a thing as an unimportant Vaan’jorch.

The studied the Serphoro for a moment. They had their customary dark blue breathing mask covering their head. Their neck was exposed and their ebony black skin was visible. They wore dark blue titanium armor. On their arms, their skin was visible in two places. They were eight feet, unlike the Colossal’s nine teen. Jael’aar was ten feet, extra-long for a Colossal.

She believed that the Colossal’s was excellent troops and they were good at training their own people for warfare. Unfortunately the Serphoro was excellent warriors too, they were more agile and better tacticians and had a different strategic thinking the Colossal’s did not have.

Alydia walked over to her bed and dropped her cloak on the floor. She wiped her forehead and breathed out. It had to be at least forty-degrees Celsius in here. That was something she hated on this rocky sand planet or orange sand and stone. The blasted heat. A pair of Jorchae flew over. The landed on the floor and carefully grabbed and folded the cloak quickly. They flew away with it to its place when it wasn’t worn.

“Why does this planet have to be so fraggin’ hot?” Alydia asked.

The older Jorchae female flew across the chambers and turned the three ceiling fans on. The balcony door was closed and drew the large black curtains to block the sun through the windows. Her name was Din. The forty-two year old knew that Vaan’jorch’s didn’t like heat very much. They prefer cold or at least cooler environments. Although not too cold. She reminded herself to scowled the other aids for not turning the fans on immediately when the goddess entire her chambers again.

She gestured for a male aid to get a glass of ice filled water. The task was completed quickly and the glass was placed on the cupboard beside the bed. Alydia grabbed the glass and sipped from the cold water. She moaned gratefully for a moment after the first sip as the water touched her mouth and throat.

3: Chapter 3 Preparations

Year: 2718, April the 8th/Year: 6272, Vaan’jorch calendar

Sector Vaan’jorch-79-12.991

Quebix system, Quebix Prime surface, Fort Sylvia

Captain Jin’sun’thar studied a bunch of Colossal’s twenty meters away. The eight foot Serphoro looked as they laughed, yelled and punched each other in a friendly manner. Their lack of discipline annoyed him greatly-when they were off duty. They had perfect discipline when they were on duty and especially with a goddess nearby. In battle they had discipline-sort of. They didn’t have the same kind of discipline as most military factors in the known galaxy saw as discipline but they still had it. That is, their own form of discipline. Actually, the Colossal’s punished a break in discipline hard in combat. Outside of battle, it was seen as less important. But it battle, you could be executed for it, or at best be beaten and whipped.

Captain Jin’sun’thar-or Sun as he was called-turned his head down the corridor to look at the doors up to the tower where the goddess Alydia had her personal chambers. Two Serphoro soldiers stood guarding the doors. It didn’t seem like much but there was another twenty Serphoro’s between Lady Alydia and any intruder that might get past the two first guards at the bottom. There were also countless Jorchae aids that could sound the alarm well inside and it would be only moments before one-hundred Colossal, Serphoro and Jorchae arrived to kill any intruder and defend their goddess.

He had just finished the preparations for the goddess’s departure. She would take a shuttle on the air field inside Fort Sylvia to orbit, where she would board the Heavy Carrier Flower of Peace-an ironic name for a Heavy Carrier built for war, yes indeed. Anyway, she would proceed onboard the Heavy Carrier, surrounded by a defense fleet of ten Destroyers, two Light Carriers and one Battlecruiser. He had wanted further support but it had been refused by Councilor Nibbi. The Vaan’jorch Golden Concord Councilor was of course old and wise and it was not for Sun to question a goddess’s decision.

He had decided to place a Battalion of eight-hundred troops onboard. Warlord Jael’aar had agreed to spare troops for the goddess’s protection. Sense Jael’aar was in command of the planets military-beneath goddess Alydia’s authority of course-he had spoken to the Colossal. Also he had found the support fleet too small for a goddess to be escorted by and immediately agreed to provide three Battalions of troops. A Squadron of elite Serphoro Multirole Starfighter pilots was transferred onto the Flower of Peace. The three Battalions was made up of Jorchae, Colossal’s and Serphoro troops. He would have preferred some Kurhkzan soldiers, but there were none on Quebix Prime. They cannot live on desert planets. The heat would kill them. Flower of Peace’s commanding officer was a Kurhkzan Elder named Ji-lo-fa-el. Ji-lo-fa-el was-to Sun’s knowledge two-thousand years old. The large snaillike being was not even considered “that” old by Kurhkzan standards.

He walked passed two Colossal’s. They wore the regular metal silver armor, covering half their bodies in total. They gave Sun a mock salute. He stopped as they passed him by and turned around, gas-based projectile rifle in hand.

“Hey!” He called in his half mechanical voice-added to him by the breathing masked helmet-as it came through the speakers of the breathing mask.

They stopped and looked back at him.

“What?” One of them sneered.

“I do not tolerate that kind of mockery of the command chain,” he warned them.

They chuckled.

“Stay out of our way Serphoro filth,” one of them said.

Sun clenched his hands around his rifle.

“You will obey your superior officer,” he said harshly with anger.

One of the two Colossal’s stepped closer and readied to grab his own plasma rifle from his back.

“Stand. Down,” Sun threatened. “Or face the consciences.”

The Colossal growled and drew his plasma rifle. Sun drew his own carbine. Aimed. Pulled the trigger. The Colossal dropped and fell to the floor. He was still alive. He squirmed as the poisonous gas inside the projectile had been released into his blood system at impact when it shattered inside him. The other drew his knife and charged Sun with a roar. He stopped and fell to his knees when he was shot in the back. Slowly he looked over his shoulder painfully to see who had dared to help the blasted Serphoro filth.

Three Jorchae levitated in the air, wings buzzing at their backs. They each held a plasma rifle aimed at the Colossal. They were ready to fire again.

“Do not get up,” one of them demanded in a chirpy voice.

The colossal snorted in anger and motioned to rise, grabbing his knife tighter.

“Stay down or die,” Sun declared to him.

He growled.

The first Colossal on the floor had now died of the poisoned projectile.

“What is going on here?!” Jael’aar snapped furiously.

Sun turned slowly as he approached. The others had snapped in his direction immediately. Jael’aar fumed as he marched up to Sun. He looked ready to slay Sun at the spot, but held himself back-kinda. Most Colossal’s on lower rank would already have tried to kill Sun. He grabbed him to push him up against the wall.

“Why did you kill one of my men?!” He demanded fumingly.

Sun grabbed his arms and kicked him in the chest, forcing him to step back.

“I didn’t start this. Your men needs discipline and to show the proper respect,” Sun said.

His rifle was lowered but he was ready to raised it and fire swiftly if need be.

Jael’aar glared a death glare. He turned it to the injured Colossal that kneeled on the floor. He marched towards him.

“You dare undermine goddess Alydia’s work by starting a fight with your fellow soldier! We all serve the goddesses!” He exclaimed, fuming with anger. He punched the Colossal in the face. He fell to the ground with a grunting noise. “I don’t care if you like the Serphoro or not. Captain Jin’sun’thar is your superior officer! You will show respect or I will have you eaten by giant Quebix desert worms!!!”

Slowly the warrior got back to his feet.

“I…understand, Warlord,” he mumbled angrily.

Dozens of people had gathered at the scene, hearing the shooting and Jael’aar’s screaming.

Jael’aar didn’t-apparently-like his tone and punched him hard in the face three times. Blood dripped from his lip and spit some on the floor. Jael’aar despised the Serphoro just as much as the warrior in front of him did. But he knew that the goddess’s wanted cooperation and by the universe and the Paragons of ancient times, he would make every single Serphoro and Colossal cooperate outside the battle just like in battle if he had to kill every third man under his command to make it happen. Unfortunately-to Jael’aar’s great shame, it was his people that had most trouble and not the Serphoro. He would change that if it even killed him.

He turned to two Colossal’s and a Serphoro. He pointed at the warrior in front of him.

“Throw him in the pit!”

The three men obeyed and went over and dragged the unwilling Colossal to the pit. Sun and Jael’aar, along with the men and women around them all followed to the pit.

The pit was massive sixty meter deep hole with metal surrounding it under the ground and the tunnel system it was connected with. Hundreds of people gathered around the pit when they heard someone was going to be thrown down. The man struggled all the way until he was forced onto the metal elevator and lowered down into the pit. Most of the watchers was cheering. Even fellow Colossal’s were cheering their brother-in-arms fate.

The Colossal as given no weapon as he stood on the bottom. He looked around, trying to find an exit. He had seen this from the top more than once.

“Disobedience. Is. Punished!” Jael’aar yelled.

The Colossal was breathing heavily, looking around. Suddenly he heard a new sound. Tunneling below the orange dusty sand he stood on. The sand started moving and the ground he stood on became unstable and he started sinking. He panicked and started trying to run. The ground started quickly to swallow him like a sinkhole. Giant sharp spikey teeth appeared, cutting through the sand in a six meter circle around him. The Colossal was down to the waist in sand. He cried out in panic and waived with his arms, trying-hopelessly-to grab something to pull himself up with. The ten dozen sharp one meter teeth started to enclose around him as he had sunken to his chest. He screamed for help. But cheers was everything he received back. His black eyes were filled with horror, fear and panic. His scream disappeared as he sunk below the sand and the teeth completely engulfed him as he disappeared. An inhumanoid sound echoed from below the bottom of the pit. It was a sound that could not be described. It was like a burp from a monster of enormous proportions. After that, there were only silence in the pit.

“Disobedience will be punished!” Jael’aar yelled to force his message deep into the skull of every Colossal watching. With the less than clear idea of what he had done, the message was received perfectly clear. Disobedience will be punished. No one wanted to end up in the pit.

Serphoro watching were gathered and silent, far more professional than the Jorchae and Colossal’s that were cheering loudly. But they did enjoy the Colossal’s horrible fate.

In her chambers Alydia sat on her bed reading a holographic novel. It was about a fictional character in the real historical war between the Dominion and the Colossal’s, five-thousand years ago. It was written by a Colossal and the main character was a beautiful Vaan’jorch that led a ground force in battle against a numerous Colossal force and came out victorious. The Colossal’s of today believed that their ancestors were foolish to resist the Vaan’jorch in the past.

“Dinner is served goddess,” Din-the older Jorchae aid-told her.

Alydia sighed.

“Very well.”

She put the holo-novel away and stood up and headed to the dining hall in the second room. She didn’t like eating alone all the time. But she could not very well eat with her subordinates and there were no other Vaan’jorch on Quebix Prime.

There were a dozen different plates on the table as she sat down. Her plate was already filled with something from all of the diches. The most grandiose looking was a cooked piece of meat of unknown origins. It looked very inviting. She had a bottle of human wine from 2582 of the Universal calendar. She didn’t usually like Terran wine but this bottle was tasteful. It was from a place called “Germany” on Earth. Earth… what a horrible name for a planet. It would be like calling the Vaan’jorch homeworld water or dirt. Or even grass. Terran’s were foolish sometimes.

A Jorchae flew up to her with a holopad.

“For you, goddess.”

She took it and waved him to leave her.

The first message was a construction report was about the progress of the six Dreadnoughts being constructed on Quebix Prime’s shipyards. The first should be finished in a few weeks and the last in a year. Three Heavy Carriers was planned for construction when the first Dreadnought was ready for action. There was also a message from Councilor Nibbi. She wanted her to start construction of a Supreme Carrier. But on the orders of Holy Empress Elina, production of capital starships would be focused on Dreadnoughts, Battleships and Battlecruisers. Carriers were to be secondary when it came to the largest vessels. This did not include Escort or Light Carriers, but Supreme Carrier and Heavy Carrier types.

The next point on the datapad was a message from Talia. Talia was an old friend and a General in the Dominion military. She led the army on Ytopia. Ytopia was a poisonous planet, just like the Serphoro homeworld, the air was unbreathable. The cities of Ytopia was located in massive underground caves.

Talia was a very young female of only thirty-six. She was although a skilled leader and known as “the Pacifier”. The name came from her success in pacifying six different worlds to a state where they could not or would not rebel against the Dominion. She crushed the uprisings. She led the 404th Occupying Legion of ten-thousand troops. Talia was-in Alydia’s opinion-very eager to please. Perhaps too eager, in her mind.

Reading through the message, Talia was requesting a few extra armored Battalions to defeat the native Zealot rebellion.  She also pleaded for Alydia to keep quiet about how much she needed the Battalions. She didn’t want her reputation to suffer sense she was having trouble with the guerilla forces.

Alydia smiled and chuckled. She sipped from her wine.

“Oh my dear girlie,” she shook her head. “At least you know who to contact.” She smirked amused. “You’re lucky you’re a good military commander, Talia.”

2718, April the 8th

Sector Victory-12-33.706

Alexandria system, New England

Dwayne embraced Katie from behind. He gently pushed some hair out of his way and kissed her soft neck. She giggled.

“I can’t possibly cook dinner with you distracting me,” she gave a half-hearted protest.

“That’s okay,” Dwayne replied. “You’re a horrible chef anyway.”

“Hey. I take offense to that.”

“You do that. When the little boy or girl is born, I’ll cook the food for him or her. Don’t wanna poison our firstborn child.”

She frowned.

“I am not that bad a cook.”

“Whatever you say beautiful.”

“I resent your comments on my cooking.”

“As long as you stick to sandwiches I won’t say anything.”

He chuckled and held her tighter. She leaned against him.

“I’ll burn the steak if you don’t let me go.”

“Perhaps it’s for the best,” he teased.

She giggled. His lips touch her neck gently.

“What would I do without you?” He whispered. “I’d be completely lost.”

She turned around in his grip and faced him. She rested her forehead against his chest. He stroked her hair gently. Katie didn’t want him to leave. Not this time. Sense they were having a child, she didn’t want him to return to duty with the Terran Earth Protectorate Special Forces-or Spec ops- sense they were having a baby, she really hoped he wouldn’t get hurt. His job was very dangerous sometimes. She always worried he would go on a mission and not come back. It always kept her up at night. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the moment.

2718, April the 8th

Sector Krego-91-44.001

Calabria system, Calabria 7 orbit, Twin Moon Imperial Super Dreadnought Flagship Dauntless

Ada was cutting into a hot steak and cutting a piece off. She was wearing her uniform and her hair was fixed into a ponytail. She were in her quarters with Lt. Commander Morgan across the small table. Morgan was not wearing her black armored suit and wore a black dress uniform. Her blonde hair was sitting in a ponytail and her light brown eyes was looking down at the steak she was cutting.

“Wine?” Ada asked. She opened the bottle on the table.

Morgan looked up from her plate.

“I’m on duty in six hours. Not allowed to drink onboard ship commodore,” she said.

Ada smiled.

“That’s the beauty of being an officer, Lizzy. We get to break a few rules some times.” She arched her eyebrows excitedly.

Morgan looked at the bottle for a moment. She than nodded and gently pushed her glass forward. Ada smiled and started filling both their glasses.

“I’m sorry to see Captain Haig was busy,” Morgan tried making conversation. She was not very good at the whole social thing.

“He usually makes up a reason to avoid the dining with us, or me specifically,” Ada said. She started pouring into Morgan’s glass. “This is from Aiur actually. I imported it last time we were home.” She looked at Morgan, almost reading her thoughts. “He doesn’t like me much. His name was on the list for command of Dauntless. And, obviously I got it before him. Grand Admiral Valter preferred him for the command, but her majesty disagreed.”

“What’s the Grand Admirals connection to Haig?”

Ada put the bottle down on the table and smiled.

“Valter is a friend of Haig’s father. Vice Admiral Haig and Valter went to the academy together. When the admiral died to Drakken mercenaries, Valter promised to give Haig’s sons career a boost.”

Morgan greatly disapproved of that. If your skill and intellect wasn’t enough, you should not get help to get to where you want to go. Not in the military where lives would depend on your actions, and if you weren’t up for the job.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Ada continued. “He’s a good officer, he really is. But…a tad much ambition in his head.”

“He is experienced at least. He did command the Destroyer Reave three years ago.”

“And, the crew liked him so he wasn’t all bad. Fought off some pirates in a colonial sector close to Terran Mining Consortium space.”

“But a destroyer is far from a Super Dreadnought.”

Ada sipped from the wine.

“Oh yeah.” She put the glass down. “At least he follows orders without questioning me-mostly.”

Morgan gently cut off a small piece from the steak on her plate.

“I noticed him disagreeing with you on the bridge yesterday.”

Ada nodded.

“That is completely unthinkable-” she continued. “-to question your commanding officer in that situation. Especially if you’re a first officer.” She had an angry spark in her voice. “I senior officer should never question his commanders orders in public. Any disagreement is for private conversations.”

“He thinks I’m holding back his career,” Ada said. “He’s ambitious enough for a politician. Rumors are he wants to be an admiral and get into the Imperial court and even the High Council.”

Morgan looked at her commanding officer.

“That…kind of ambitious is… dangerous.”

“I really love steak,” Ada changed subject. “Love it. My dad make the best steak you’ve ever tasted.”

“That good, sir?”

Ada smiled.

“That good. He know exactly how to spice it up just right. He’s a chef back on Aiur. Owns a restaurant in view of the palace.” She smirked and looked right at Morgan. “Next time we get back to Aiur, I’m taking you to try it.”

“Sounds great, sir,” Morgan accepted with a smile.

“How long until we reach the rendezvous for the meeting?”

“Several more days, commodore.”

“Try calling me, Ada or Dravograd when in private, will you?”

Morgan frowned uncomfortably.

“Ma’am?”

“When not on duty, Lizzy.” Ada arched her eyebrows.

Morgan shifted uncomfortably in her chair.

“Very well… Dravograd.”

Ada snickered.

“Close enough I guess.” She put a small potato in her mouth and chowed. It was silent for a moment. “My dad’s pretty good at the Paragon too.”

“Ma’am-eh, Dravograd?” Morgan corrected herself swiftly.

“You’ve heard of them right?”

“Legends, yes.”

Ada nodded.

“Yeah. My dad is fascinated by them. The legends of the first race to travel amongst the stars. Lizzy, did you know that the Vaan’jorch deeply believe that the Paragon were real…and might still be out there somewhere. Perhaps beyond the Dark Rift, or in another galaxy.” She spoke with a dramatic and mystic tone of voice.

“I don’t know if I believe that ma’am…damn it, sorry. Dravograd.”

Ada smirked.

“We’ll work on that. I’d like to believe that they once existed. Imagine it, Lizzy. An ancient race that spread life across our galaxy hundreds-of-thousands of years ago. Imagine how the galaxy looked than. The first sentient race in the Milky way.”

“So…how do people who believe in them explain why they aren’t around anymore?” Morgan questioned.

Ada arched her eyebrows.

“That’s the big mystery, yeah? How? Did they leave our galaxy? Die from a plague or war? And if war…with whom?”

Morgan could understand why a lot of people wanted to believe in them. Even though she didn’t.

“The crystal city ruins is from them, or so scholars and historians believe. Sense similar ruins have been found-not only on Aiur but New England, Kael 5 and three different Vaan’jorch worlds. Something was found on Ki-le-nu-di-the homeworld of the Kurhkzan, but people aren’t aren’t sure if they are related to the other crystal cities and outposts found in known space. I almost squeak just thinking about it.”

Morgan sipped from the wine glass. She shrugged. “Maybe we’ll find out one day.”

4: Chapter 4 Conference

Year: 2718, April 26th

Sector Newland Territories-32-85.071

Terran Earth Protectorate Light Cruiser Behemoth

Admiral Jim Flannigan saw how the shuttle of the Scavenger delegation approached his Rusher class Light Cruisers hangar bay. He frowned and rubbed his short dark brown hair. A minute ago the Flotilla from the Terran Mining Consortium arrived in system. They had A Dreadnought with two Heavy Cruisers, six Destroyers and ten Frigates as support. Most of the members bought significant warships as a show of force, apart from the Terran Earth Protectorate. Jim had a Light Cruiser and four Corvettes. The Klloorr Hierarchy had brought a smaller force of a Diplomacy class Cruiser and nothing else. As the name suggest, the Diplomacy class Light Cruiser had little to no weaponry and was only used for diplomatic missions.

Jim had no doubt that the Twin Moon Empire would send Dauntless with Commodore Ada Dravograd with whatever dignitary they decided to send. He could imagine that Ambassador Dorian Hale might be the right man to send. Empress Mona usually sent him to important meetings to defuse tensions. He was the ambassador to the Duross Empire for ten years before he was transferred home. Jim would be negotiating for the TEP during the conference.

“Sir, we received a transmission from the Twin Moon Super Dreadnought Dauntless,” a young female officer alerted. “They will soon arrive.”

“Hmm. Speak of the devil,” Jim muttered. “Very well lieutenant. Thank you.” He hoped this meeting would work. It would be the first step towards the Earth Protectorate Presidents plan to unify the major powers in a type of council or conclave. A unit that could bring an everlasting peace to the galaxy. War would bring everyone in on the defenders side. Jim personally didn’t think he would live long enough to see the vision finished. It would surely take decades at best. After all, a conclave would meddle in internal affairs and would prevent the-for example-Vaan’jorch Dominion from expanding and conquering smaller worlds and species whenever they wanted to. They would need the conclaves permission or face war or at least a cut off of trade relations. Depending on how brave the current conclave would be. But that would probably never worry the Vaan’jorch. Their territory was so immense that they would never need trade to survive. They could just shake it off.

Jim shook his thoughts away and started thinking about the conference. One point would be that the Jorchae Duchy had attacked and annexed a nearby inhabited system. The locals-the Haven Clan-had been a friend of the United Colonial Directorate and the Grand Sano Imperium. At the same time the Jorchae had colonized five worlds in other systems so it looked like they needed to expand because of their high population rate. Jorchae breed children faster than most species. Although they won’t live very long-in human terms-they are high in numbers. They could also be seeking new resources to combat a future war with the Vaan’jorch Dominion. Billions of Jorchae live within the empire and serve the Vaan’jorch goddesses. The Jorchae’s high birthrate-for Jim-made all the sense in the universe why the Vaan’jorch needed them to be a part of their empire. They would never allow trillions of Jorchae to leave for a stronger Jorchae Duchy.

Another point was how to deal with the Unborn Marauders. They had attacked Duross, Klloorr and Vaan’jorch colonies, outposts and starship, killing tens of thousands of civilians. A solution had to be reached in deciding on how to deal with them. To defeat them. In the last year, they had massacred almost two-hundred-thousand civilians from the Vaan’jorch Dominion to the Terran Earth Protectorate.

“Admiral, the Vaan’jorch Heavy Carrier Flower of Peace just dropped out of hyperspace,” he was alerted.

Jim looked out the front viewer. The Carrier was surrounded by a Battlecruiser, two Light Carriers and ten Destroyers. They didn’t hold back at all. He wasn’t surprised that the Dominion brought a heavy presence. Jim scratched his clean shaved chin. Given that the Vaan’jorch Dominion had the largest territory in known space, the idea of a unified government of all races meant that they needed the Vaan’jorch support in the end to make it work. If he was a Vaan’jorch Holy Empress, he had trouble convincing himself that it was a good idea.

“Send them a welcome,” Jim ordered. “Tell them Admiral Flannigan of the Terran Earth Protectorate navy welcomes them onboard.”

“Aye, admiral.”

He returned to sit down in the grey metallic chair. He wore a white dress uniform with gold and silver colored medals on his chest. The medal he was most proud of was “the Golden Cross”. A medal given to anyone who would win an important battle without the loss of any life. Seventeen years ago he met when he was a Lt. Commander he faced a Terran Holy Alliance fleet and managed to secure victory without losing any life. He also avoided a war between the two sides and saved tens or hundreds-of-thousands of lives in the process of preventing war. He was more proud of “the Golden Cross” than any of his “Purple Heart” medals.

Year: 2718, April 26th/6272 Vaan’jorch calendar

Sector Newland Territories-32-85.071

Vaan’jorch Heavy Carrier Flower of Peace

Alydia reached out her long white arms to make it easier for her aides to put on her gold plated armored chestplate. She wore a beautiful long skirt that went down to her ankles and the edges sparkled in the light. A dark blue cloak was hung over her shoulders. Her glowing lilac eyes looked into the mirror in front of her on the wall and she put a lock of ebony black hair back behind her right ear. Her tail slapped the floor gently in rhythm with the music playing. Her horns was visible through her black hair and she tugged at her left horn for a moment.

The blue skirt parted way in the front and created a rift from her knees and down. The golden chestplate covered her breast and left her stomach and lower back visible.

She really didn’t want to partake in this negotiation. She didn’t want to play diplomat at all. She rather fought or governed any planet. She dreamed back to her luxurious chambers on Quebix Prime and Fort Sylvia. She lived the dream there. Usually doing very little but get all the attention.

She heard a beep from the door of the white walled chamber.

“Let them in,” she said.

One of her aides flied over and pressed the panel, opening the door. Her loyal bodyguard chief, Captain Jin-sun’thar stepped inside. The tall Serphoro bowed his head. He held his gas-based projectile rifle in hand.

“My goddess, forgive the intrusion,” he apologized-seeing that she was changing.

“Did you want something?” Alydia simply asked.

He straightened his back.

“My goddess. We have arrived in the system and a shuttle is prepared to take us to the Terran Light Cruiser,” he explained.

“How many bodyguards were you planning to send with me?”

“Ten goddess.”

She frowned.

“Four will be enough. Including yourself.”

Sun wanted to protest but held himself high.

“Yes goddess. I will take the best of your bodyguards for this honorable task.”

She merely nodded.

Sun’s eyes stared at the beautiful goddesses curved body for a moment. The dark blue skirt was made out of a silk-like fabric. When the last part of her clothing was finished she turned around. He stood to attention and stepped out of the doorframe he stood in. She walked out with an aide-Din-following her. Her wings flapped in the air as she kept up paces with Alydia. Sun gestured for the two guards outside to follow. Sun followed after them.

As they approached the hangar he spotted three Magog. One was an economy minister. The Magog male had pale-almost white-skin, his large grey eyes had a sparkle in them. He had a lower body with a ball shape and four legs. Every foot had three toes and his two arms had five fingers on each hand. He wore a white and blue formal dress uniform. His mouth opened vertically instead of horizontally like most species.

He bowed his head when Alydia approached. Sun glared at him from behind his mask. He didn’t like the Magog. Although they were the economical backbone of the Dominion, their loyalty was very questionable.

Sun’s glanced at a pair of slow moving Kurhkzan crew members.

The Kurhkzan had dark blue or dark green hardened skin. Their skin were slimy and had a toothless mouth and no eyes. They-unlike most-saw by echo location. Their heads were long and snaillike. They had long legs and long arms and no bones in their bodies. Their hands were tendrils and they wore black armor with orange shoulder pads. The armors were exposed below knees, their whole arms and around their necks.

Unlike the Magog, the Kurhkzan were unquestionably loyal to the Vaan’jorch.

Sun recognized the Kurhkzan Elder Ji-lo-fa-el-the Flower of Peace’s commanding officer. He exchanged a few monotone words with goddess Alydia. He bowed his head and she smiled with a nod. Her smile faded when she was addressed by the Magog’s.

“Goddess,” The Magog male-Taa said politely. He held a holopad in his pale hands.

Alydia nodded.

“I assume you’re ready, minister?”

“Almost excellency. If you would just mind to wait until the last data sent to me arrives, yes?” Taa suggested.

Sun flinched and narrowed his eyes on the Magog minister. He dared to ask that the goddess would wait for him? How dared he insult her in that manner? Sun was insulted by the very idea of it.¨

Alydia stopped and looked at Taa. He was clearly testing his ground. To see what play room he could get. She didn’t like it. No other subjects than the Magog did that. Everyone else was just happy to aide and serve. But not them.

“No,” she said firmly.

Taa smiled.

“But excellency, if you would just-”

“Don’t question me decision,” she sneered.

Taa looked to the bodyguards following her. Three Serphoro, one of them was a captain-probably in charge on her security. He looked back to Alydia. He considered pushing or leaving it. She seemed strong willed. The question was just how strong willed.

“Excellency, I would prefer if you-”

“Captain Sun,” Alydia interrupted him.

“Yes goddess?”

“Kill his assistants.”

Taa gasped.

One step to far indeed.

Within two seconds his two assistants were shot in the head by Alydia’s bodyguards and collapsed to the floor. Taa stared in horror and Alydia stared intimidatingly at him.

“Do. Not. Question. Me. Minister,” she warned harshly. “I will kill you. Understand?”

He nodded tremblingly.

“Clean that up.” Alydia started walking towards the shuttle.

Sun gestured to a Colossal to deal with the two bodies.

Taa clenched his fists and glared daggers after her. He received a punch to the stomach by a Serphoro soldier. It was one of Alydia’s bodyguards that passed him by. He straightened his back with a pained grunt. He stared at Sun. He stood a meter from him.

“Fall in minister,” he warned with a demanding tone. “I will be watching you.”

Taa glared at him as he followed a few paces behind.

With everyone onboard the red shuttle made its way to an airlock of the Light Cruiser.

Sun stood in the doorway as the retractable door started opening. Two more guards were behind him, ready in case something happened or the Terran’s were tricking them. On the other side of the door he spotted two fully armored and armed Terran’s in dark green armor. One of them was a woman while the other were male.

A black haired young man in a white Earth Protectorate officer’s uniform stood between them with his hands behind his back, fiddling with his fingers. He had light grey eyes and tanned skin.

Sun stepped aside and Alydia stepped out. The officer stepped forward and met her.

“I am Lieutenant Miles Kerrigan,” he introduced himself with a Cuban accent. “General Alydia, I presume?”

She nodded and smiled.

“Yes lieutenant. Now, where’s this conference room?”

“This way general,” Kerrigan gestured with his right hand. “We are only waiting for the Twin Moon delegation before we get started.”

She nodded.

“Lead the way.”

He nodded politely and looked at those following her. Four of them were Serphoro with their regular blue armor and the last was a Magog. He looked less than happy presently. It was well known they had questionable loyalty to their Vaan’jorch overlords.

“Follow me.”

He headed down the corridor with Alydia and her people following him with the two marines in the far back of the group.

Alydia looked around her. The human starships inside was just as grey and boring as she had presumed. The metallic grey bulky starships of the humans were far from interesting to look at. Unlike the Vaan’jorch smooth red shells surfaces and white clean interior. A few Terran’s walked from the other direction. The intercommunications was calling for a Lieutenant Jensen to report to engineering. Alydia noticed a Vaan’jorch coming down the corridor. The tall and slender female had her dark brown hair curled into a ball. She stopped in her tracks and stared with her blue glowing eyes at Alydia. Alydia glared at the female, whom turned around and quickly walked in the other direction. Alydia glared at the back of the traitor that had left the Dominion to serve here. It could have been the young female’s parents but it didn’t matter.

Alydia walked into the room used for the conference. She saw representatives of all human factions apart from the Holy Alliance. Representatives from the Jorchae Duchy was present, they stared stoically at her. She ignored them. Beside the three green skinned Jorchae sat a large orange skinned Drakken male.

A representative from the Klloorr Hierarchy sat a few meters from her. The grey skinned 1.9 meter high male looked at her with large blue sparkling eyes. There was hatred in his eyes. The thought of a female wielding such power would be incomprehensible for a Klloorr. Especially a male in the government. For a species that push females to the bottom of the chain, they could handle-although some badly-that other species did not press females down as they did.

The last race present was the representatives from the Sano. Their large pitch black eyes studied the people around the room. Their white wrinkly skinned hands were firmly placed in their knees. They were a meter and a half in height and dressed in grey dress-like clothes.

Alydia sat down with Economy Minister Taa to her left and Sun standing with the three bodyguards behind her. She waited for a few minutes until the doors retracted again and the Twin Moon delegation entered. The male ambassador was followed by Commodore Ada Dravograd and Lt. Commander Lizzy Morgan. Admiral Jim Flannigan came in behind them. Morgan was wearing the black colored armored suit of the Twin Moon Marine Corps.

As Jim had thought earlier, the Twin Moon’s did send Ambassador Dorian Hale.

“We have finally all arrived. Everyone that accepted,” Jim said as he sat down. “The issues before us is important for all of us. All of our governments isn’t the best of friends or even trust each other much in some cases. But we are gathered here for the same reasons.”

“Well said admiral,” one of the Jorchae representatives complimented. The male added a smile.

Jim gazed around at the different representatives for a moment.

“Lieutenant Kerrigan,” he glanced at the lieutenant sitting beside him. The tanned man turned his head to him. “Let’s get started with the first point of the agreed upon points of interest.”

Kerrigan nodded and brought out a datapad.

“Yes, sir,” he affirmed.

“Admiral,” the representative from the Terran Mining Consortium spoke up. “Sense the Holy Alliances isn’t present, I assume they declined to partake in the conference?”

Jim nodded.

“Yes ambassador. They refused to partake in any negotiation that might end the war or negotiate with…as they said, and I quote-lesser species. I doubt we’ll waist tears on them.”

“Got that right,” the Drakken Warmaster snorted amused. The large reptilian grinned. “The wars gonna be over soon enough.” There was a hint in his voice that it would soon happen something that would break the stalemate and Alliance military advance.

“The first point on the agenda will be the Unborn Marauders,” Kerrigan read from the datapad. “A menace that threatens everyone.”

Alydia was the first to speak up.

“They attacked a colony of Jorchae last month,” she said. She straightened herself in her uncomfortable seat. “They killed twenty-four civilians in a bombardment before our naval forces in the system countered and defeated them.”

Jim leaned over the table.

“Did you destroy any of their ships, general?” He asked pointedly.

Alydia nodded.

“Two Corvettes and a Destroyer Escort class starship. Two Corvettes was damaged.”

Jim leaned back again.

“Hmm,” he scratched his chin. “No grave losses in starships. If the Marauders take too heavy losses they can’t rebuild their ships. Carriers and larger support vessels especially.”

“Excuse me, admiral,” Ambassador Dorian Hale said in a polite voice. “-but Commodore Dravograd fought the Marauders over our Petrograd colony several weeks ago. With great success.”

Jim shifted in his seat and turned to focus on the young woman.

She wore a black dress uniform with medals on her chest. She had her ebony black hair fixed into a ponytail and her light grey eyes kindly looked at Jim.

“The Dauntless and our battlegroup fought a small fleet of a dozen Corvettes, two Destroyers and two Escort Carriers,” she explained. “Only one of the Destroyers and one Escort Carrier plus two Corvettes escaped the system.”

The Drakken Warmaster laughed.

“Excellent! Show the scum!”

Ada smiled at him.

“Don’t get too thrilled over a few victories,” the Klloorr Junior Imperator interjected. “The Marauders can rebuild starships, although barely. And, they buy ships from several governments.” He looked around the conference room. “Our intelligence agency believes that the Terran Holy Alliance is responsible.”

A few representatives mumbled quietly amongst their fellow delegates.

“Shocking,” the Warmaster said sarcastically.

“Our intelligence have suggested it to our government recently,” the United Colonial Directorate representative said.

“We know that the Lycyrian’s has made business with the Marauders,” the Grand Sano Imperium representative said. “They may not have traded in warships but in resources and food supplies. We provided all your governments with this evidence hours before this meeting started.”

“I have read the files,” Jim said. “You can all find them on your desks amongst the flies provided to you. I believe our first action should be to decide a course of action in order to respond to anyone working with the Marauders.”

“If I may speak,” Alydia said. “Diplomatic actions from our respective governing bodies would be enough for the Lycyrian’s and any other smaller species that trade with the terrorist filth.”

“Not the Alliance,” the Warmaster snapped. He growled. “They won’t do anything if we simply demand it. If anyone sells warships, it is them!”

“Cutting trade relations,” the Jorchae representative suggested. “Blockading their trade routes and forcing everyone that trade with them with our combined diplomatic power to cease. With enough pressure, we can isolate the Alliance. Cutting the trade lines of the Marauders will be the first step in defeating them. Next is finding their bases.”

“Most of their bases is in neutral space. At least one is beyond the Dark Rift,” Jim muttered. “Three damn lightyears beyond it at least. Our spy network planted a spy there in January. Unfortunately we lost contact with her a few days ago. She’s probably dead by now.”

“How did they found out she was a spy? Do you have any idea?” Ada asked.

Jim shook his head. “No.”

“Other than sending in a thousand starships, it would be next to impossible to locate them,” the UCD ambassador spoke up. She had been quiet until now. Sitting and listening to what was said and taking in the others positions on the matter.

“Agreed,” Jim said. “Without concrete information, we’d been blind and surely take heavy losses.”

“Not worse than the civilian lives lost,” the Drakken Warmaster sardonically stated. “How many more has to die. My people have enough problems with the damned Alliance burning their homes down.” He snorted. “Now more Terran’s wanna slaughter them!”

“What my rough college is trying to say-” Alydia interjected with a gentle voice. “-is that the Unborn Marauders and Alliance is giving Terran’s everywhere a bad reputation.” She raised a hand defensively before Jim could protest the issue. “We know for a fact that they have slaughtered more Terran’s than alien races, but all the same. You understand my and the Warmaster’s point, yes?”

Ambassador Hale nodded slowly.

“Yes,” Jim replied begrudgingly. “We get where you’re coming from general.” He tilted his head and leaned over the table. “Which is a reason why we won’t stop until the Marauders are dead,” he assured them all. “The terrorists will die. No matter what.” Jim was insulted of the accusation made towards his species, but understood it. There was a lot of bad humans out there slaughtering innocents. The Holy Alliance was a government so their actions was not interpreted as a Terran action. But the Marauders were pirates and mercenaries from all over Terran faction’s space. From the United Colonial Directorate to the Earth Protectorate itself. Unlike the Scavengers, they had no government and was not recognized by anyone. The Scavengers were pirates and mercenaries but they were a legitimate government and recognized by almost all interstellar governments.

Ada whispered something to Morgan and she shifted in her seat before nodding.

“In our engagement with the Marauders at Petrograd-” she started. Everyone turned to listen to the blonde Terran female in the thick black armored suit. “-We captured a total of four of the Marauders when boarding a Corvette-Hunter class-and we have been interrogating them ever sense.”

Jim shined up.

“Have they revealed anything?” he asked immediately with high hopes.

“With the right interrogation technic, we have already confirmed that Ivan Ivanovsky is still the Ultimate Spector and head of the Unborn Marauders,” Morgan continued to explain. No one needed to ask or wanted to ask just what-the right technic-meant. They probably didn’t want to know anyway. “Before three of them were transferred to another starship to take them to a prison facility on a core world, they revealed that the Marauders are indeed being supplies with ships from the Holy Alliance and through the Dini they bought ships from the Jorchae Duchy.” Everyone turned to stare at the Jorchae representatives, but Morgan continued swiftly before anyone could snap at them or they defended themselves. “As I said, the Dini acted as mediators and the Jorchae representatives nor their government would know that they sold to the Marauders. They bought four Corvettes from the Twin Moon Empire with the same technic two years ago. The Dini is the real problem.”

She glanced around, sighing, thankful that she lessened the volatile situation she built at first.

“Why happened to the fourth?” The Warmaster inquired. “You said only three was transferred.”

Morgan hesitated, thinking of a way to put in nicely.

“She…died before that I’m afraid.”

The Warmaster snorted amused and let out a laugh.

“Nicely done,” he complimented them.

It was perfectly clear that the Marauder had died because of a harsh interrogation by the Dauntless crew and whomever led the interrogation. But no one would cry for a Marauder. They weren’t worth it. No one saw them as people worth any rights. They were terrorists and terrorists had no rights.

Alydia personally thought it was appropriate for the Twin Moon’s to torture and execute them all if necessary. Given how many of their civilians that had died. A Hundreds-of-thousand, if not more.

“Hopefully the others will provide more information,” Morgan finished.

“If we could track down even one of their bases, destroy one of their shipyards. We could deal them a heavy blow,” the Klloorr representative-Junior Imperator Naal-raa said.

“I suggest-” the UCD ambassador started. “-that we establish a line of communications and exchange of information with each other to keep track of Marauders and cooperate against them.”

“Cutting off their supply lines is our first step,” Jim said. “Isolating the Alliance and using diplomacy to prevent smaller planets from cooperating and trading with the Marauders.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, let us continue with the next point on our agenda. The Jorchae Duchy’s annexation of a small planet friendly to the UCD and the Sano and colonization of several further systems.”

“Our people need to expand,” the Jorchae representative explained in irritation. “Our growing population needs more colonies. And concerning the planet annexed. It was liberated, not annexed. We freed them from a brutal and dictatorial government.” The male stood up from his seat. “You cannot limit our colonies. We can expand and colonies however many systems we want. You cannot halt our advance while you yourselves build vast empires with countless colonies. The Terran Mining Consortium started colonizing nine planets in the last two months and you dare confront us alone?” He glared at the room of delegates as he sat down slowly again.

The Consortium representative glared daggers at him.

The Jorchae representative glared back at him. How dared these people condemn them while allowing others to perform the same actions? As always Terran’s tried to stick together. The United Colonial Directorate, the Earth Protectorate and the Mining Consortium did tend to have each other’s backs against other species. The Twin Moon Empire would probably be part in that if they weren’t ruled by an Empress that was Vaan’jorch in origins. Although she had no loyalties to the Vaan’jorch Dominion, she ruled with an iron fists and kept a watchful eye on the other Terran factions.

“We aren’t here to discuss that,” The UCD rep. stated.

“And why not?” The Sano representative demanded to know. “Just because you dislike the Jorchae, you point them out while you’re doing the same. Everyone knows the Protectorate, the Consortium and the Directorate hold each other’s backs.”

“The Consortium is simply expanding our reach to find resources for trade and defensive purposes,” the TMC representative assured.

Alydia snorted. She crossed her arms.

“And the Jorchae isn’t?” She glared at the rep. She couldn’t believe she was about to defend the Jorchae Duchy. “The Jorchae is searching for resources in case of a Dominion attack in the future. Just like you want to defend yourself against a Drakken or Holy Alliance assault. Or maybe even us. Not to mention, the Drakken Empire recently expanding and grabbed two new systems to create an extended first line of defense in a possible war against our Dominion.” She leaned over the table. “You are only trying to keep the power balance unchanged in known space. You’re trying to push the Jorchae into the ground.” The leaned back into her seat. “We will stand up for the Jorchae’s independence and to make sure they can do what the major powers is already doing.”

Everyone were surprised that the Dominion was standing by the Jorchae Duchy. They had once been a part of the Dominion but gained freedom-albeit peacefully-and had ever sense tried to free the rest of the Jorchae under Dominion rule in secret and by force-if they wanted freedom was another question entirely.

“The peace has to remain unbroken,” Consortium rep. explained.

Jim remained quiet. He knew that the others were right to condemn the Terran’s actions against the Jorchae. It was wrong to try and limit the Jorchae’s expansions while expanding themselves. He knew this argument would turn into a shit-fest. He had told his superiors that point was a bad idea but they overruled him.

Alydia snorted amused.

“You speak of peace while a war rage between the UCD, Drakken and the Holy Alliance. And you speak of keeping the peace?” She let out a mocking laugh.

“Maybe we should leave this point open and move on to the next?” Jim asked, hoping to avoid a yelling match that would turn the conference upside-down. “Let us move onto the situation of the food crisis in a Drakken colony system.” He turned to Kerrigan to continue.

5: Chapter 5 Special Ops

Year 2718, April 26th

Neutral sector, twenty-six lightyears from Duross space

Neutral system, Hellrain surface, Operation Mistwalk

Dwayne marched through the snow filled valley in his white winter gear armor. The silver visor was protecting his face from the falling snow. He held a Holstein O3 Battle-rifle-assault rifle class-in his arms. His heavy breathing could be heard from outside his helmet. At least by himself. He currently thought of Katie. He wished he could go back soon and hold her again. It hadn’t been that long sense he left New England but it felt like an eternity. Good god, he missed her badly. Her beautiful voice, soft skin, cute and sweet laugher and even her horrible cooking.

He chuckled to himself.

Behind him walked his four team members. A far shorter-then himself-feminine frame came up on his right. She was holding a Holstein O3 Battle-rifle as well. She looked up towards the sky and noted that the snow storm was getting worse. The snow was falling quicker and faster by the minute. Lieutenant Rachel Holt looked over at Dwayne.

“Congratulations by the way, Commander,” she suddenly said.

Dwayne turned his head to her.

“Holt?”

“The kid,” she replied. “You’re soon to be born child.”

“Oh, right. Thanks Rachel.”

“I just realized I didn’t congratulate you earlier and this felt as good a time as any,” she finished with a shrug.

Dwayne smirked under his helmet.

“Always appreciated, Rachel.”

“Could always arrange a playdate with my kitties,” she said. “You know. In a few years when yours is actually born and old enough.”

“Didn’t actually need to explain that part,” Dwayne said, letting out a snicker. “Sounds like a fair idea. Sure Katie’s gonna love meeting ya.”

“Yeah,” she said in a cocky voice. “Doesn’t everybody?”

“Oh Christ,” a male voice mumbled from the back.

It came from Gunnery Sergeant Kaiden Hendricks. He shook his helmet covered head.

“Here we go again.”

1st Sergeant Pedro Milligan laughed. He was the teams marksman.

“Nah. Leave it, Kaiden,” he suggested. “Don’t piss her off. Especially sense she’s a better fighter when you.” He looked over at Rachel and Dwayne. “That’s a policy I like. Always go by it and tend to get out without starting a fight I can’t win.”

“Use that tactic with your boyfriend?” Dwayne asked. “Heard he was, like a mountain or something.”

Pedro laughed.

“You kiddin’, Dwayne? Jonathan’s a computer geek. Work for the Intelligence agency back on Earth.” He shook his head. “Thinkin’ of settlin’ down at some point, ya know right? Back on Earth. Probably close to his parents. They’re not doin’ so hot so we figure’d we’d be close at hand until they go in the ground.”

“Sorry man,” Kaiden said sympathetically. “What’s wrong with them? Old age kicking in?”

Pedro nodded.

“Nah, Nebulosus fever. Jonathan’s handling it great, but he’s sister ain’t. Poor Tabitha. She’s just sixteen ya know. Shouldn’t lose ya parents when ya sixteen.”

Dwayne shook his head. Nebulosus fever. Something that had no cure yet. It would-as far as scientist’s thought-take years to manufacture one.

Trying to get the mood up, Kaiden turned to the fifth team member. Corporal Keith Pyke. He was their Vanguard and carried a heavy machinegun in his armored arms.

“Hey, Keith. You had it good on leave?”

Pyke nodded.

“Sure.”

“What you do?” Kaiden continued, keeping the conversation going.

“My sister’s birthdays. Celebrated with whole goddamn family. Uncles, aunts and cousins and all. Including grandparents and grandkids,” Keith explained in a Greek accent.

“What are the odds of your sisters having the same birthday anyway?” Kaiden asked amused.

Keith smirked.

“Pretty damn small I think. I mean, first Annie is born on April the 10th. Two years later I’m born on December the 28th. Another two years after that Anita’s born on April the 10th. Odds are pretty fucking small of that happening within the same family.”

“Gotta make celebrations easier,” Dwayne theorized. “One less birthday to arrange, I mean.”

“Pretty much. Our parents still laugh it up. It’s a bit of a running joke back home, right.”

As they started reaching the top of the hill, Dwayne waved Pedro forward.

“You’re up next Pedro.”

Pedro jogged up to him and Rachel.

Reaching the top Pedro used his sniper rifle to get a closer look into what was beyond the hill in the valley. It was hard with the snow storm close to max, but he could see structured covered in snow one-hundred meters away. It was almost impossible to see anything of them, and barely the buildings themselves.

“At least four buildings,” Pedro counted. “Probably more. Too much damn snow. Id’ say one-hundred meters straight ahead.”

“Anyone home?” Rachel asked.

Pedro shook his head.

“Too hard to tell.”

“Let’s move out. We’ll sneak closer in cover of the storm,” Dwayne said.

“No way they’ll see us,” Rachel said confidently. “I barely see us.”

They made their way down the hillside towards the buildings, through the storm. Slowly but surely they made way through the thirty centimeter deep and cold snow. Given it was nighttime, it did not make it any better. The wind was cold as ice and would have chilled them if they hadn’t their winter armor on. Their weapons were a color mix of grey and white, a part of their camouflage and winter gear.

As they got closer they saw a guard tower with a light looking around. But with the storm it was pretty much impossible. Dwayne could see the frame of two figures at the top of the tower. Fifteen meters ahead walked a lone figure. He or she was holding a rifle in hand. Five white snow and ice covered buildings stood around the tower. Three of them were smaller whilst one was twenty meters.

Dwayne gestured for Pedro to take up a sniping position and cover them. He nodded and readied himself. He made sure to have both figures in the tower in sight.

Rachel sneaked towards the figure walking alone. She grabbed her knife and waited for the figure-turning out upon a closer look to be a male-to get out of view of the tower. When he finally did, she moved up and cut his throat quickly. He whimpered and flayed his arms for a moment. She gently laid his down. He wore a thick winter military issue coat. It was a standard issue winter coat used by the Terran Earth Protectorate, although it had been slightly modified. The man had a white helmet with wool inside and a pair of glasses covering his eyes. He wore a scarf around his neck. He was clearly human.

“One down,” Rachel said in her comm.

“Copy,” Dwayne said. “Pedro. You’re up.”

Pedro squeezed the trigger and put a bullet through the head of the first man. He turned and fired another slug through the skull and helmet of the second in the tower.

“Two down,” he confirmed after five seconds in total.

“Kaiden with me,” Dwayne ordered.

As the two moved into the camp, Rachel and Keith sneaked in from another direction. Rachel quickly opened the door and Keith rushed in with his heavy machinegun aimed to shoot. The building was empty. Only supply boxes were inside.

“First clear,” he said in his comm.

“Copy, continue search,” Dwayne replied. “Checking second. Move on to third.”

“Copy,” Keith affirmed.

Pedro moved in towards the camp to join the others.

“Clear.” It was Rachel he heard, affirming that they checked the third building.

“Found a staircase in second building,” Dwayne said.

“Guess we’re going underground next commander,” Rachel said.

“Indeed. Check the last house and join us. Pedro, moving out?”

“Entering camp, commander.”

As he made his way inside the building he breathed out and reached to remove his helmet.

“Keep it on,” Dwayne ordered. “Not till missions complete. Until then, keep the gear on.”

Pedro nodded and added a sigh.

He noted that Kaiden had dragged the body of the man Rachel killed inside. The bloody man lied on the floor. Pedro looked down and kneeled beside the body. He started removing the helmet and covering glasses. The man had tanned skin. His neck and coat around the neck was completely covered in blood.

“Think this guy’s Marauder?” Pedro asked.

“Who else would be on Hellrain?” Dwayne asked.

“Good point.” Pedro shrugged and stood up.

Rachel and Keith stepped inside.

“Area secured, commander,” Rachel said.

Dwayne nodded and gestured towards the door to the staircase. Kaiden was standing there, aiming downward in the lighted staircase.

“Rachel you’re up front with me. I’m on point,” Dwayne decided. “Keith, cover the rear.”

Keith nodded in confirmation over the order. The team moved down the staircase in unison.

“Hey Rachel,” Pedro said in a low voice. “How old’s Lisa now anyways?”

“Two.”

He cracked a smile under his helmet.

“How’d the barbeque you talked so much about go?”

“Great actually. Lisa tried bacon for the first time. She absolutely loved it. Verner got a chance to show his grilling skills, he always talks about. But after he burnt the first batch of burgers and sausages, I took over.”

Kaiden snickered.

“Verner’s great and all but he’s a shitty cook.”

“Katie and he would get along great,” Dwayne joined the conversation.

“Least she’s not burning stuff, right?” Rachel asked.

“No. When she cooks, it’s mostly uneatable. Wouldn’t even let a Drakken try it.”

The group chuckled lightly and very, very quietly.

“Hey, where’s Davis, he in yet?” A male voice asked in a room up ahead.

Dwayne stopped the others and listened.

“Up in the tower, I’d imagine, Rufus,” someone else replied. “Why? You wanna chance shifts?”

God no, Spector,” the first replied with a mix between a snort and a laugh.

Spector, Dwayne thought. A Marauder rank. A quite important officer actually. He gestured for Rachel and Pedro to move up with him. Pedro had switched to a submachinegun and hung the marksman rifle over his back.

With a nod, Rachel skipped around the corner, aiming her Holstein O3 Battle-rifle. Around the corner stood a man with no shirt and a pair of baggy jeans. He-Rufus-looked half awake. He was roughing up his sand colored hair when Rachel came into sight. His eyes widened and he gasped. With a slug and a silencer, his body collapsed into a pile of dead meat.

Rachel quickly moved past him towards the open door a few meters away. Kaiden was right behind with the rest coming up after him.

“Screw you!” A female voice snapped.

A couple of men laughed. It was suddenly cut short.

“Whoa, whoa! Hey!” The Spector cried out. “Put the meat axe down Jane, for fucksake!”

“Fuck off, Vaughn!” The female yelled.

“Put it down or, we’ll put you down!” The Spector exclaimed.

Rachel looked back at Dwayne who just shrugged.

“Hey, you can’t kill me,” the woman replied cockily. “I’m too important, remember? Ultimate Spector Ivanovsky would skin you alive, you know that right?”

“Won’t kill ya. But if you don’t put that axe down the boys and I’ll use you as entertainment,” the Spector said threateningly.

Dwayne turned the corner and pulled the trigger. Splashing the Spector’s brains on the floor as he collapsed. The second man, an Asian with black thick hair pulled a handgun in his pants but Rachel and Kaiden unloaded on him. He dropped down dead.

The woman standing wielding an axe stared at them.

“Drop it,” Dwayne demanded. “Get one warning, Marauder.”

She narrowed her eyes on him, raised the axe and charged one step. Dwayne blew her brains out with a slug through her skull.

Pedro looked at the dead woman.

“Crazy bitch,” he murmured. “Why you gotta force our hand?” he shook his head disapprovingly.

“She’s Marauder,” Keith reminded, nodding to the dead woman’s body. “They all crazy fucks.”

Pedro couldn’t argue with that.

“This is it?” Rachel asked. She turned to Dwayne. “Only five people here?”

“Looks like it. A supply or research outpost maybe. Could been looking for something,” Dwayne mused. “Keith, get me contact with HQ.”

6: Chapter 6 the Swarm

Year: 2718, April 27th

Sector Newland Territories-32-85.071

Terran Earth Protectorate Light Cruiser Behemoth

The second day of the conference had begun and Jim started it out with a cup of coffee, a sandwich with bacon, cheese and Swedish meatballs and sausage plus a datapad with the latest Intel. He sat in the mess hall by an officers table, alone.

He read about Spec ops team Zulu’s mission to Hellrain yesterday. It had been successful with the death of a Spector and a Marauder scientist named Diana Hill. She had been on record with her DNA. She had been discharged from the Earth Protectorate science division six years ago and had been suspected of joining the Marauders. It was now confirmed. Jim thought it was unfortunate that she was killed. She could have provided valuable intelligence on Marauder research, bases and movements. Not to mention the unidentified Spector. He was probably nobody or from one of the other Terran factions. Possibly both. A lot of Marauders had lost everything because of some reasons and need an outlet. Many were ex-convicts.

He heard the chair opposite him being pulled out and Ada Dravograd sat down with Lt. Commander Morgan by her side, still wearing her black armor suit.

“Commodore,” Jim greeted politely.

She smiled back.

“Admiral Flannigan. A please. You mind me asking you something?”

“Go ahead,” he lowered his datapad and put in beside him.

He noticed Morgan glancing at it.

“Do you-personally-believe that the Vaan’jorch will agree on the none-aggression pact with the Jorchae Duchy?”

Jim leaned forward.

“Well commodore. The Vaan’jorch haven’t shown any intentions of an invasion for a long time. They look to give it a wide birth. So, why not?”

“Giving them independence was seen as a great weakness by the Holy Empress at the time,” Ada countered. “Besides, the Jorchae would only accept it to get free reign to continue harassing Vaan’jorch space and steer up trouble in Jorchae colonies and core worlds. They’d try, at least.”

“Probably. But-” Jim raised a finger. “-they have been extremely unsuccessful in that. We’d all like to see the Jorchae rise up and break free completely from under the Vaan’jorch grasp, but they won’t do that. Indoctrination for hundreds, thousands of generations. Six-thousand years of it, actually. But…if they did break, they’d take a large part of the Dominion’s empire with it. Stop their industries and cripple it the military.”

“I’d love to see the greatest power in the galaxy taken down a notch,” Ada added in.

“This Conclave, union idea. It will limit their influence and power-”

“If it works, admiral,” Morgan interjected. “It’ll take decades to work out.”

Jim nodded. He knew the idea was more of a dream, but a UN amongst the stars would potentially save billions of lives from war, starvation, plague and oppression. But if they pressed to quickly, they’d fail immediately. A few were actually open for it. The Grand Sano Imperium was one of them. Sense their once grand empire is a ruin, they fear a Dominion invasion in the future. A Conclave would protect their independence. The Klloorr Hierarchy was also open for it, but hesitant also. They were worried their government would lose some power to the Conclaves authority. The United Earth Directorate thought the idea was interesting, but they didn’t think it could ever work in reality.

“Do you really think that no one will figure out why you do this?” Ada cross her arms over her chest.

Jim looked at her, slightly confused.

“Commodore-” he started.

She smirked smugly.

“This isn’t about creating peace. The Earth Protectorate has trouble with shipyards. You and I both know that you have too few shipyards to rebuild you ships in war. You know that you can’t rebuild your ships quick enough if attacked and lose heavy numbers. That’s why you want this. That’s why you need this ready. To keep everyone off you for a few decades until you have enough shipyards.”

Jim looked at her. A stoic gaze. He knew she might be right. He had thought of the same thing. He suspected that it was very possibly the President tried this to save time until the TEP could expand their shipyards to match their neighbors. Even if they-in war-destroyed Twin Moon-for example-ships with a ratio of 7-1 they would be unable to rebuild their ships fast enough.

“What we want, is peace,” Jim said. He couldn’t say he agreed with her, even if he had considered it himself. That would be selling out his own government.

Ada continued smiling.

“Of course admiral.”

Jim returned the smile.

“I wouldn’t put too much thought into it Commodore Dravograd.” He sipped from his coffee. “What’s your opinion of the Alliance’s war with the Drakken and UCD?”

Ada smiled, obviously noticing he changed subject. He also knew she had noticed that.

“I…think that the Alliance losing ships and manpower is always a good thing. Makes them a lesser threat for the next decade. Least until the next generation grows up and jump into the meat grinder.”

“Lot of people still die,” Jim reminded. He gravely disagreed with her. “Terran lives.”

“And Drakken.”

“And Drakken.”

“I suppose the Protectorate’s little xenophobia makes you forget that.”

“We are not xenophobic,” he countered harshly.

“Of course not. But you still prefer human lives before aliens. The empire doesn’t mind aliens. The Empress isn’t human after all, but billions worship her and her family.”

Jim nodded slowly, but said nothing.

“You have any family, admiral?”

He nodded again.

“I do. They live on Earth. You?”

“Nothing as close as boyfriend or children, but parents and siblings, yes.” She sipped from her glass. “It’s very impressive to be an admiral at thirty-nine,” she complimented.

“Thank you. From what I’ve heard, you’re climbing the ladder pretty fast yourself.”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m just serving my people.”

“Don’t underestimate yourself, sir,” Morgan cut in.

Ada smiled and turned her head to her.

“Thank you,” she said appreciatively. She turned back to Jim. “Tell me admiral, you are trying to make a quite interesting scene with such a small flotilla.”

“We don’t think we need to show such force.”

“Make others underestimate you? Or is it like Hitler?”

Jim didn’t like that comparison but decided to ask what she meant before snapping at her. Giving her the benefit of the doubt.

“Care to explain that?” He asked coolly.

“I meant to disrespect, admiral. I just mean that before the Second World War started, it always worked one way. If you had two-hundred heavy bombers, you would tell the world you had one-hundred and…fifty or seventy instead. Pull the number down a tad. Every politician pretty much did it. It was how it worked and everyone knew it.” She shrugged lightly. “But Hitler didn’t do that. Think what you want of the tyrannical maniac, but he knew how to bluff. Instead of doing what everyone else did, he did the opposite. He claimed that he had more than he had, making everybody think he had even more then he claimed.”

“Hmm. Clever strategy, I admit that.”

Ada smirked.

“One of the only things he did right. He isn’t known as the world’s most evil man of all times for nothing.”

Jim snorted.

“I doubt anyone would believe that we don’t have any large ships than Light Cruisers.”

“No,” she granted him. “But maybe they were unavailable.” She shrugged again. “I don’t know.”

“Tell me Commodore. What did the Marauders want at Petrograd?”

“A few freighters with grain was the target. Destroyed two before we arrived.”

Jim noticed she clenched her fist.

“I have every single one of them. Every single one.”

“You aren’t alone in that.”

Morgan nodded in agreement.

Ada looked down in her knees.

“I’ve never been to Earth. Is it nice?”

Jim smiled slightly.

“Very. Green forests, mountains and long sandy beaches. The factories and planetary shipyards might not do much for the view but I assure you… it is beautiful. I wasn’t born there, but when my wife said she wanted to move there, I couldn’t say no.” He started smiling broader. “I’m going to retire to a villa in Australia one day.”

“I’d love to visit one day. Earth I mean,” she quickly added. “Not your villa.”

“You’d be welcome there to.”

Both smiled warmly.

Year: 2718 April 27th

Sector Fen-june-89-30.931

Blessing system, Rudemir, Hailstorm Command Base

Warlord Eaertal walked into the command center with heavy and strong steps. His feet left a thudding noise against the metallic floor. The large white skinned giant nine feet bipedal had his giant fists clenched on his sides. He looked around the large room. Three dozen Jorchae sat by consoles and keyed them and carried out their daily duties. A few Colossal’s also sat at consoles. Most of them were smaller than regular sized Colossal’s and almost human sized. A Kurhkzan stood on the floor, commanding and keeping order amongst the technicians.

“What is the statues of the Planetary Defense Batteries?” Eaertal asked.

The Kurhkzan turned around slowly and looked at him.

“The maintenance is complete,” he said in a monotone voice.

“I want a test preformed in three hours,” Eaertal ordered.

The Kurhkzan nodded.

“Understood Warlord.”

“Get a Freighter group to tractor in an asteroid. We need something to fire a six-thousand pound slug at.”

“Understood.”

Eaertal turned and studied a female Kurhkzan that just entered the CC.

A Jorchae called the female over. She walked over and the Jorchae chattered in a quick tone. Another nearby spoke up suddenly to. A third and suddenly a fourth. The female turned to Eaertal.

“Warlord Eaertal,” she said her that Kurhkzan monotone voice. “Nine observation posts towards the Dark Rift has stopped transmitting.”

Eaertal looked suspiciously at her.

“What? Are you sure?”

She nodded slowly.

“Affirmative, sir.”

“Three more has stopped transmitting!” A Jorchae exclaimed.

“Warlord!” One cried out. “Twenty-six listening posts along the Dark Rift have stopped transmitting. In our neighboring sector fifty-two stopped transmitting ten minutes ago. We just received the communique.”

“Warlord! Another sector is reporting fourteen…fifteen and rising, numbers of listening posts and outposts has gone dark. Seventeen and rising!”

“Warlord, Governor Rei-Lin on Brodimir is ordering all warships in this sector to report to the planets closest to the border and all military forces prepared for combat,” the male Kurhkzan alerted calmly.

Eaertal was silent for a moment, taking in everything he was just told. He turned around.

“I want this planet battle ready!” He barked. His voice echoing across the room.

The two Kurhkzan officers nodded calmly.

Orders were quickly carried out and transmitted system wide.

“The Planetary Defense Batteries will be ready to fire momentarily,” the male explained. “Do you want the warships in the system to gather at Rudemir, Brodimir or divide between both?”

Eaertal thought for a micro second.

“We have the Planetary Defense Batteries and thousands of Starfighters. I want all warships to Brodimir, defending the goddess.”

“Understood, Warlord.”

They had to make sure the goddess was safe, at all costs. It was the most important task Eaertal could think of right now. Brodimir didn’t have as many PDB as Rudemir had.

“Warlord, ten more listening posts in our sector has gone dark,” he was alerted.

Whoever was attacking them, they had firepower and numbers. They were attacking at least fire sectors at once. Who was it though? It had to be someone, or something…from beyond the Dark Rift. Whoever it was, they had made a big mistake. Taking on the Dominion would be their last act. Soon they would fall and kneel to the Vaan’jorch’s for mercy. They would beg to the Holy Empress to spare them. Soon.

But this might open up the gates for an invasion by the Drakken, UCD or the Twin Moon Empire. The Jorchae Duchy and Grand Sano Imperium was also likely, but they were simply minor powers.

Eaertal rubbed his temple. He could barely wait to show these enemies who they had taken on. What kind of mistake they had made. But soon they’d found out. No one defeated the Vaan’jorch Dominion.

“Send word to Haitrochk Command! Alert the Holy Empress and the Golden Concord immediately!” Eaertal demanded.

“The orders will be carried out,” the female Kurhkzan responded.

Eaertal didn’t know if informing the Councilors in the Golden Concord at this time was necessary and what they could do, but he still thought it important. Informing Haitrochk Command was of the most importance. They were the military head of the Dominion Armed Forces and could quickly organize a defense and a counter offensive. He had full trust in the Vaan’jorch goddesses he was giving the empires defense to. They could not fail. They were master strategists and military tactical geniuses.

“Warlord! Unidentified ships are exiting hyperspace and entering the system!” A Jorchae cried out.

Eaertal and a Kurhkzan officer walked over.

“Do we have them on screen?”

The Jorchae nodded back.

“I want them on the main screen,” Eaertal commanded.

After a few seconds an image appeared on the large ten meter screen.

The ships were dark green in coloring. They had smooth outer hulls and were long and many of them were pointy in the aft. They were strange to look at. Some of them were simply a hundred meters long, while the largest were at least two kilometers. Those were assumed to be  Battlecruiser class. There were hundreds of warships and the mass of them approached Rudemir and Brodimir quickly. Others seemed to try and cut off escape routes. Almost two-hundred Dominion warships was in system. But they were spread out still. Most were in orbit over Brodimir but some were on their way there and would be distributed piecemeal into battle.

“Who are you?” Eaertal growled at the screen.

“Warlord. They will be in range of our Planetary Defense Batteries in two minutes.”

Eaertal grinned grimly.

“Good. We will show them a real Colossal welcome.”

“Scan them. Any identification?”

There were relative silence for a moment.

“Negative sir. There are nothing similar to them in our database.”

“Warlord, three-hundred Starfighters and bombers are gathering in orbit, with more on the way. It will take time until all of our Starfighters are standing by in planetary orbit,” a Kurhkzan said calmly in a monotone voice.

The unidentified alien fleet was approaching Rudemir and Brodimir. Splitting up in two fleets to secure both planets at once, assuming their numbers would win the day. They finally entered range of Rudemir.

“The first warships are in range.”

“Fire!” Eaertal roared.

Eight six-thousand pound slugs swooped up and into orbit and right at the unidentified starships. One hit a two-hundred meter Destroyer class starship and wrecked it, leaving nothing but debris behind. Another hit a Corvette. Not even any debris survived the impact. Two slugs smashed into a Battlecruiser and tore it in two. Internal explosions rocked it and a sent out a shockwave the damaged two dozen smaller starships. The other slugs smashed into other targets with equal success. Ten seconds later two more slugs were fired into space. They hit a Light Carrier and a Heavy Cruiser. Both were utterly destroyed.

In the CC they cheered. Dominion Planetary Defense Batteries was one of the most powerful artillery pieces in existence. The original had been created by the Colossal’s and they only fired two-thousand pound slugs instead of six-thousand pound slugs. The Vaan’jorch modified them after the war with the Colossal’s and increased their range and firepower with over 6,000 %. It originally only fired in atmospheres. It was a weapon that terrified everyone outside the Dominion. It made the cost of any invasion costly. Especially in lives.

“Reload the PDBs,” Eaertal ordered.

But he knew it was a waste of time, sense they were already being reloaded. He said this about the Jorchae: They worked quickly and were very effective. A Jorchae flew over and handed him a holopad. It confirmed that three million troops were already battle ready and ten million more were being prepared. The majority of them were Kurhkzan, Colossal and Serphoro. Sense Jorchae weren’t the most effective soldiers, they were often committed to other tasks. Technicians, medical staff, mechanics, pilots and artillery operators to name a few. On planets that had been declared fortified or fortress planets, there were always millions of soldiers in defense of it at any time.

“The first two batteries are ready.”

“Fire at will.”

Two more slugs were swirled away. They crippled a Heavy Battlecruiser and destroyed a troop transport. In one shot, ten-thousand invading troops had been killed. The Heavy Battlecruiser had been hit right in the bridge, but the slug had left the starships relatively unharmed. Internal explosions was tearing through it and ensuring it was no threat to anyone.

Eaertal noted that Dominion and enemy ships had engaged in orbit over Brodimir. Hundreds of Starfighters from the planet were aiding the defending fleet. Hundreds of alien Starfighters left Carriers to engage in a massive dogfight.

Starfighters from Rudemir had engaged hundreds of alien Starfighters. The aliens proved to be skilled pilots. But the Serphoro and Jorchae pilots proved more skilled for the most part.

Another slug swirled out into orbit and smashed a Heavy Battlecruiser.

Unfortunately, at the precise time, nineteen other Vaan’jorch planets were being invaded with must more success for the most part.

As some alien bombers managed to enter the atmosphere, they were taken out by anti-air artillery pieces planetside and Starfighters. The dogfight were fears, with heavy casualties on both sides. The enemy Starfighters were incredibly fast and maneuverable. The Dominion navy at Brodimir had retreated to orbit after suffering heavy initial losses. With aid from PDB they held for now.

Another pair of slugs hit their targets nicely. A Heavy Carrier and a Light Battlecruiser destroyed. As the fleet started spreading out, they entered range of further PDBs. They opened a devastating barrage. In ten seconds four starships were smashed to rubble. Two Light Carrier class, one Destroyer and one Heavy Cruiser.

“Target the capital starships first!” Eaertal decided. “They can’t win or hold Rudemir without capital ships. Troop transports are secondary.”

“Understood.”

With the next salvo two troop transports was destroyed along with two Light Battlecruiser, one Heavy and five Heavy and Light Cruisers. Three Heavy and two Light. Yet, the enemy were pushing forward. Eaertal was impressed with how the enemy continued pushing forward. But he was also worried because Brodimir was less fortified than Rudemir. He hoped that goddess Rei-Lin would managed to get to safety if the enemy invaded Brodimir. His Starfighters could help escort her out of the system or to Rudemir.

A slug tore a Heavy Carrier apart. Two supporting Corvettes were hit by debris and greatly damaged. One of them lost shields and all primary systems failed.

Three troop transport vessels were destroyed after the Destroyer covering them were crushed. Adding up the three troop transports, that was another thirty-thousand casualties. At least one-hundred and fifty-thousand enemies were estimated to be casualties this far. Possibly more. The enemy were unrelenting.

“Warlord, another enemy Battlecruiser have been destroyed.”

“Excellent. Ground them down!” Eaertal growled victoriously.

As the slugs continued smashing through the enemy ships as they started turning and finally retreating towards the first moon in orbit.

“Warlord Eaertal,” a Kurhkzan said. “Half the ships are breaking off towards Brodimir.”

“Damn it,” Eaertal grumbled in frustration. “Order our Starfighters to intercept and assist in defending Brodimir. And, get me a link to Brodimir Command. I want to know if goddess Rei-Lin is evacuating.”

 

Year: 2718 April 27th

Sector Fen-june-89-30.931

Blessing system, Brodimir, Governors palace

Rei-Lin sat curled into a ball in the corner of her chambers. She hugged her knees tightly and trembled in fear. Her black waist long hair was hanging in all direction from her head. The six feet female was horrified as she could hear bombs in the distance. It sounded like the explosions came closer. She had just heard a massive explosion. Unknown to her, a large enemy Light Cruiser had committed to a suicide run straight into a PDB six kilometers away.

Rei-Lin’s long sharp tail tugged at her right 1.5 decimeter horn. The young female sobbed loudly. Suddenly she looked up when she heard someone outside the door. The steps were heavy but firm. Her lilac eyes stared in fear. The white double doors opened with a bang as they smashed open against the walls. One of her Serphoro guards stood outside. It was the Lieutenant in charge of the night shift.

“My goddess!” He said swiftly. Rei-Lin saw at least six guards outside. Two of them were Colossal’s. “We need to evacuate you immediately. The enemy is focusing down our Planetary Defense Batteries.”

Slowly Rei-Lin wiped her tears from her eyes and started to stand up on trembling legs. She slowly walked towards them and the captain stepped aside and let her pass. In the corridor she saw five Serphoro guards, three Colossal and ten Jorchae. The corridor was almost filled as she walked with them surrounding her as a protective-living-shield.

“My goddess, Brodimir Command says that Warlord Eaertal on Rudemir has sent Starfighters to assist in your evacuating,” the lieutenant informed her.

Rei-Lin didn’t say or did anything to acknowledge his presence or that she even heard him. She was still terrified and held her arms close to her chest.

She spotted her bodyguard commander.

The captain saluted her and then bowed his upper body.

“The bombings are being fought off by our aero forces,” he told her. “Airspace around the palace is being cleared and a ship is being prepared for evacuating you goddess.”

She looked at him and nodded slowly as she continued to walk at a quick pace. The young twenty-two year old didn’t pay any attention to if her bodyguard’s image of her could change in her present terrified state. Seeing your god cry and cower might change most people’s image of them. But the main fact about that was, that the Vaan’jorch indoctrination on the school level had worked so well, it had no effect on hurting her or any goddess’s image. Their subjects had such respect of their goddesses that nothing could tear it down.

When they finally arrived outside she saw a red smooth armored transport awaiting her. Four Colossal’s stood guard on the ramp. In the air above her head, Starfighters-both friendly and hostile-fought a bloody battle. They kept the bombers and enemy interceptors from reaching Rei-Lin and her shuttle. She saw two Corvettes in position above the palace, firing on enemy Starfighters.

“Hurry goddess!” The captain exclaimed. He heard a voice in his helmet comm.

“Enemy troop transports landing in capital city. Brodimir Command barricading themselves to keep the fight alive as long as possible. The 503rd Armored Division is defending the HQ with anti-air batteries-” it was a quick status report. It was the voice of a Colossal male. “-and two Battalions of Colossal infantry is in the main square, engaging the enemies first ground troops. The ‘Brute’ and ‘Bloodbath’ Battalions. Civilian population has started being evacuated planet wide, but only some tens-of-thousands is predicted to survive.” The captain kept running as the transmission continued. “Colossal 4002nd Division is planning an offensive from the southern plains outside the capital. Enemy Starfighters seem to be endless-”

Rei-Lin ran inside the transport and her escort followed suit, the captain was the last inside.

“Takeoff immediately!” He ordered.

“Understood,” the Jorchae pilot affirmed.

Three squadrons of Multi-role Starfighters created a protective screen around the transport and both Corvettes maneuvered to follow them. When they reached orbit three Destroyers and four Squadrons of Interceptors joined them. All ready to die in protecting Rei-Lin. She was still mortified and had to qualms about letting countless lives be lost in her protection. It was as things should be in her mind. In the minds of most Vaan’jorch.

Year: 2718, April 27th

Sector Newland Territories-32-85.071

Terran Earth Protectorate Light Cruiser Behemoth

Ada and Morgan strolled through the ship corridors with a Protectorate soldier behind them, following their every step. He held a Holstein O3 Battle-rifle in his hands. Morgan looked back at the light armored Terran marine. The armor was tiny compared to the black armored suit of the Twin Moon marines. She was curious what the outcome would be if a Company of Twin Moon marines fought a Company of Earth Protectorate marines. They would probably beat them easily. She started smiling to herself. The Protectorate wouldn’t stand a chance if their two governments ever went to war.

She cursed the Protectorates cowardice. This whole idea of a conference was just to protect the TEP from a future war as tensions were rising amongst the Terran factions. This way, they might protect their cowardly asses and work on their ancient plans to unify all of humanity worked in the background. They somehow refused to accept that humanity was shattered and would never unify peacefully. War was the only solution to that question, and they were too weak for it. At least their navy was. A long war would destroy them.

“Commodore Ada Dravograd’s presence is requested on the bridge,” a woman said over the intercom. “Commodore Ada Dravograd’s presence is requested on the bridge.”

“Could be a transmission from Dauntless,” Morgan mused.

“Let’s find out I guess,” Ada said.

As they walked to an elevator and made their way up to the bridge. The green armored marine guard followed them. Ada was slightly annoyed by the armored soldier but she would have done the same thing if they were onboard the Dauntless. She thought about getting back to reading her fictional novel about a romance when she got back to Dauntless and her quarters.

Arriving on the bridge she saw Lieutenant Kerrigan. He smiled and walked to her.

“Commodore,” he said curtly. “You are being contacted by your vessel, Captain Haig.”

“Thank you, Lieutenant,” Ada nodded. “May I take it in private?”

Kerrigan nodded.

“Of course.” He handed her an earpiece. She took in and placed it in her ear.

“Captain Haig?”

“Sir,” Haig responded. “We have received an emergency transmission from Aiur.”

Ada was silent for a minute. That was bad. Whatever the transmission was about, emergency channels was only used in, well…emergencies.

“What’s going on, Haig?”

“Sir…twenty-seven listening posts have gone dark and we have lost contact with two colonies near the borders to neutral space in sector Bravo-88-12.392.”

Ada recognized that it was the same sector that the Petrograd colony was located in. normally she might think that Marauders was responsible but too many listening posts had fallen silent. This sounded far too much like an invasion.

“What’s the High Council’s response?” Ada asked firmly. She glanced at Morgan. She stood beside her, concerned about what little she was hearing.

“They are mobilizing the colonial military,” Haig explained. “The Imperial military isn’t being fully mobilized until they know what’s exactly going on. The colonies in that and neighboring sectors is being alerted and they mobilize their colonial marine garrisons and naval forces. Admiral Taylor’s 301st Scout Fleet is traveling to sector Bravo-88-12.392. They are waiting for the admiral’s report.”

“Damn it,” Ada cursed under her breath. “Captain, what’s our orders, we leaving the conference?”

“Yes, sir. High Council want Dauntless in the border sectors, showing the flag.”

“Copy that. We’ll depart immediately when I return.”

“Understood, Haig out.”

Ada turned to Morgan.

“Get the ambassador, we’re leaving.”

“What’s going on, sir?” Morgan inquired.

“I’ll tell you on the shuttle back to Dauntless,” she said, taking out the earpiece and putting it on a nearby console.

“Is everything alright, commodore?” Kerrigan asked politely.

“I’m afraid I have to depart, lieutenant. An internal matter to the empire.”

Kerrigan nodded.

“I’ll inform Admiral Flannigan.” He saluted her lightly. “I do wish you well, commodore.”

Ada nodded and left with Morgan.

Year 2718, April the 27th

Sector Jingo-11-55.310, Greece system

Planet Athena, United Colonial Directorate Fort Morty

Field Marshal Montgomery looked at the holographic map. The Drakken offensive had begun. The Holy Alliance forces in sector Kekk-09-00-498 was suffering heavy casualties trying to hold under the Drakken assault. The army at Bor’rock was had been encircled. Four million Terran soldiers, with supplies and vehicles was trapped and the Drakken forces were slowly squeezing them harder. In the past seven days, seven-hundred warships had been destroyed and two-hundred and sixty-five had been captured. Three-hundred and forty-thousand troops had been taken as POWs. The Alliance lines were crumbling beneath the force of the Drakken Empire. Right now four-thousand starships and ten million troops were participating in the Drakken offensive.

Meanwhile UCD squadrons of small starships were attacking Alliance supply liens in their territory and wreaking havoc behind enemy lines. Grand Admiral Kitchener had managed to gather two-hundred and eighteen capital starships plus four-hundred and seventy-four to a UCD offensive in the future. Right now they waited for the Drakken to succeed in annihilating further Alliance forces. The United Colonial Directorate had already suffered major losses in the war. Their manpower was recovering and ships were still being rebuilt. Their shipyards were working overtime to rebuild the UCD navy.

General Bailey Horn and Admiral Jake Hailey believed that this was the wars turning point. The Alliance wouldn’t win any longer. Not with the Drakken offensive. The Alliance was losing too many of their precious capital ships to turn the tide of war. Montgomery rubbed his forehead. This war was tiring business. The aging Field Marshal remembered he had to contact the Conclave and Chancellor Dan Borne about filling recruitment quotas. He was going to suggest introducing conscription to force young men and women into the military. Although UCD citizens enjoyed their freedom and would gravely protest the idea of forced conscription.

Until the Twin Moon Empire, the UCD citizens was in general less willing to die for the state. Same thing could be said for the Earth Protectorate, the Scavengers and the Terran Mining Consortium. The TME had manage to indoctrinate its people into a militaristic society where they gave their lives for the empire without question.

7: Chapter 7 Experiment

Year: 2718, April 27th

Sector Kelvin-91-40.001

Imperial system, Aiur, Pyramid Palace

Her heavy and quick steps left a thud lightly echoing through the corridor. Her high heeled boots marched forward through the corridor. Her purple cloak dragged after her on the marvel floor and four soldiers in purple armor walked behind her. They had tall point helmets, black visors, and a purple short cloak that reached just to the floor. They held Triple barreled pulsar rifles.

The young Vaan’jorch female had a beautiful purple skirt reaching past her knees and a red chest armor plate. Her ebony black hair came down, past her three decimeter horns and down her back. Her white skinned left hand pushed a curl of hair from her face and back behind her ear. Her lilac eyes was firmly on the door as the double door opened ahead of her. Her tail was visible under her cloak and half a meter behind it.

She entered the chamber and walked up to the table where the High Council were waiting. Four humans sat around the table. The rose and bowed to her.

“Excellency Mona,” a young thirty-five year old woman bowed deeply. Her skin was pale, her hair black and stretched down her back. Her emerald green eyes looked at her. Lt. General Erika Arch was the youngest of the council members, but without a doubt the most loyal. She was the head of the Pyramid Guard and responsible for Mona’s safety.

“Let us begin,” Mona said.

Everyone sat down.

Intelligence Director Gregory Vladimir cleared his throat. The forty-nine year old had been the head of the Intelligence Bauru for ten years. Mona didn’t trust him very much. She found him arrogant and disloyal. She always suspected that he might keep a too close eye on her, although it was just a suspicion.

“Excellency,” he started. “Our intelligence is very light on who is attacking us. But what’s even more interesting is that…” he paused. “…the Vaan’jorch, the Klloorr and Duross are all under attack from an unknown enemy coming from the Dark Rift. Any intelligence is shifty and low but we’re piecing it together.”

“Could it really be the same enemy?” Grand Admiral Tabitha Jordan asked dubiously.

“Seemed unlikely that four different forces from beyond the Dark Rift would attack at the same time.” Vladimir leaned back. “Quite a coincidence, indeed.”

“Could be a coordinated attack by barbarian factions,” Tabitha Jordan in putted.

Grand Admiral Hadrian huffed. He fiddled with his fingers on the table.

“Director Vladimir. Sense that is highly unlikely we all know the threat we face. Our Empire is facing one of the greatest threats of our lifetime,” Hadrian said.

“Aren’t you exaggerating, Grand Admiral?” Mona asked worriedly.

He looked at her.

“No at all empress. Any species that can assault four different factions must have massive forces at their disposal. We have no idea what lies beyond the Dark Rift.” He sipped from his cup of coffee. “We should mobilizes our entire military for war.”

“We need to be ready to counter any invasion,” Jordan stated in agreement.

“What about Admiral Taylor?” Mona asked. “When will he rapport back with a situation report?”

“I’ll take days until he arrives in the sector I’m afraid,” Jordan said. “The 301st Scout Fleet’s flagship is the Heavy Cruiser Fist of Aiur, under Captain Jayla Spencer. Taylor’s using it as his command ship for the mission. With six Light Cruisers, one Capital-Killer and two Escort Class Carriers, with eight Corvettes as support. He’s smart enough to gather intelligence and retreat if it turns to deadly. He knows the importance of this intelligence.” She looked at Hadrian for a moment. “He’s a veteran of the Imperial navy.” Jordan looked back to Mona.

The Capital-Killer class, was a smaller support ship built, about the size of a Destroyer but with heavy armaments. It was powerful enough to deal heavy damage to capital class starships such as Heavy Carriers and Cruisers and Battlecruisers and Battleships, especially in great numbers.

Hadrian spoke up. “I suggest we make the Caligula system, the planet Epirus into a gathering point for the fleet in this sector. We cannot be caught with our pants down. We need a fleet ready to go as soon as possible.”

Jordan nodded in agreement.

Lt. General Arch also added a subtle nod.

“Very well. Do it,” Mona decided.

Hadrian leaned over the table. “Marine General Blackwall is there with the 725th Division, establishing a command post for marine operations in this and nearby sectors. It should prove highly valuable and is already usable.”

“Contact the general with instructions then,” her Excellency decided. “Tell him to prepare for the arrival of vast amounts of starships.”

Hadrian nodded. “First thing after this meeting, Excellency.”

“I think we should consider a general mobilization and call in all reservists for duty,” Jordan said.

“Before we overreact, we need information on our enemy,” Director Vladimir stated bluntly.

“And sense we don’t have any-” Jordan reiterated. “-we need to mobilize and assume the worst.” She looked to Mona for a decision.

“I won’t risk my loyal subject’s lives,” Mona stated. “Do it.”

Jordan nodded appreciatively.

“Something else we need to discuss is the new commander of the 4th Fleet,” Hadrian said.

Year: 2718, April 27th/ Year: 6272, Vaan’jorch calendar

Sector Vaan’jorch-79-12.991

System Dorn, Haitrochk, Vaan’jorch laboratory

Mae-Sae looked at the screen in front of her and keyed the holographic keyboard in front of her. She wore a purple long skirt and a white open coat. Her dark brown braided hair hung down her back and her dark blue glowing eyes focused on the screen in front of her.

In the chamber she was in where hundreds of pods filled with a liquid, reminding of water but filled with nutrients. Every white pod had a humanoid figure inside it, floating in the liquid in a hypersleep state.

Mae-Sae keyed a final command and smiled.

The Ravager project was going perfectly. The project had been a complete success. Granted it had taken her ten years go get it working and fifteen years to get the right facilities rebuild to house it on the Vaan’jorch homeworld and several other planets within the Dominion. Her name would go down in history and become immortal. Her name would be immortalized forever and ever.

She grabbed her wine bottle and gulped it down.

Behind her, three Jorchae were arguing about something. A Jorchae discussed with a Magog a few meters to Mae-Sae’s right.

Mae-Sae thought about how the future of the whole galaxy was changing. How she would change the face of the galaxy. Turn it into something better. Expand the Vaan’jorch Dominion to engulf thousands of new star systems.

An alarm started beeping on a screen. She turned to the screen and the Magog standing there.

“What is it?” She quickly asked.

“A malfunction in one of the pods, goddess,” he replied. “Pod number 12,508 to be precise.”

“What kind of malfunction?” She inquired.

The Magog keyed his holographic keyboard.

“Seems the occupant is awakening…why?” He keyed in commands. “Wait, goddess. We have a problem in the pods core matrix. Trying to correct it.”

Mae-Sae decided to make her way to the pod itself. It was only a minute or two’s walk. It was pretty close.

She looked in at the occupant. A girl. A young one. She hadn’t grown for very long yet. She would need a month at least before she would be fully grown into an adult. She had the appearance of being around ten years old. Mae-Sae almost jumped when her eyes snapped open. She looked around her in a state of panic. Her dark green eyes stared in horror. She wailed her arms and legs around in the liquid, trying to get out. She banged on the glass, but to no avail. It was too strong. Her dark green tendril hair reached just past her ears and floated around in the liquid in the pod. The girl had a dark green-mixed with black-exoskeleton covering her body. Her sharp talons clawed at the glass.

Her wide eyes stopped and stared directly at Mae-Sae. Her own eyes widened when the little girls terrified eyes caught her own.

As Jorchae and two Magog appeared with a Colossal security officer.

“We can’t repair the malfunction, goddess,” a Jorchae informed her. “We have to shut it down first.”

Mae-Sae nodded, but hesitantly. That meant killing her-it. She wasn’t a girl, she was an experimental soldiers, not a real person. Although her panic seemed real enough. But there were so many more like her in other pods. The loss of one was nothing. She had ordered pods shut down because of malfunction before. Why was it so different now? Because she was seeing the girl-it this time? She closed her eyes and turned around and walked off.

“Do it,” she ordered.

After taking a few steps she stopped. Slowly she turned around. The girl was screaming in the pod, drawing large amounts of liquid into her lungs. Mae-Sae clenched her fists. She was practically drowning.

“Open the pod,” she commanded.

“What?” The Jorchae questioned.

“Do it!” Mae-Sae yelled.

She jogged back to the pod and a Magog deactivated it. The glass pulled up and the girl fell to the ground. The liquid splashed over the floor and poured down a drain. She coughed up masses of liquid as she laid on the cold white floor. Mae-Sae jogged over and kneeled in front of her. She put a hand gently on her tendril hair. At that moment the girl twitched and quickly grabbed her. She put her wet arms tightly around her waist and clang to her body hard.

Mae-Sae was surprised but gently rubbed her back.

“It’s okay honey, it’s okay,” she told her soothingly. “Don’t be scared.”

She heard the girl was sobbing.

The Colossal security officer looked on and smiled at the goddess’s tender and caring side. Although this girl was just a soldier grown in a pod, she cared for her. Just like she probably cared for all of them. In a few days the first batch of Ravagers would be realized from their pods, ready to fight, die and obey the goddesses. Goddess Mae-Sae had said that one thousand a day would be finished in this facility alone. This new species, this new army was growing quickly and it would change the galaxy forever. He was yet, blissfully unaware what was happening in the outline sectors towards the Dark Rift. On another point, how could they create a new species if they weren’t a race of almighty gods?

“Can you speak?” Mae-Sae asked.

The girl didn’t respond and just kept hugging her and crying. Mae-Sae felt heavy tears against her skirt. As if it wasn’t wet enough from the liquid she was covered it when she hugged her.

She turned to the Magog’s instead.

“I want you to fix this damned malfunction. I’m tired of seeing it,” she almost growled.

“Yes goddess. We’ll do our best,” he promised.

“Get this girl a towel,” Mae-Sae ordered her Jorchae aides.

They immediately flew off to carry out the task.

Mae-Sae hushed the crying girl.

“M-mama,” the girl cried between her sobs.

Mae-Sae’s eyes widened. Did she just call her mama? While she tried to justify why the girl called her mom, she said it again and squeezed her tighter. She didn’t know what to say. She had never even thought of the idea of getting emotionally attached to one of the Ravagers. She never thought of the Ravagers was to be her children. But…in a way there would be. She did create them after all.

“It’s okay child. Don’t be scared.”

It seemed the girl started relaxing.

“Can you stand up?”

The girl slowly started standing up, but refusing to let go of Mae-Sae. She stood up with her and let her continue hugging her waist. She rubbed the back of her tendril haired head. She looked to see the Jorchae aides returning with towel. She grabbed it and gently let go of the girl and placed put the towel around her. The girl was extremely unwilling to let go and started crying harder.

Mae-Sae’s hand touched her cheek smoothly.

“Don’t cry. You aren’t in danger, I promise.”

She took her hand, which the girl squeezed tightly with both her own tiny hands.

Year: 2718, April 29th/ Year: 6272, Vaan’jorch calendar

Sector Vaan’jorch-79-12.991

System Dorn, Haitrochk, Vaan’jorch laboratory

Mae-Sae watched the girl sleep soundly in the bed. The red silk cover was held up to her chin. Her breathing was shallow and calm breathing. She couldn’t help but to smile when she looked at her. She looked so cute and adorable. Her tendrils were spear out on the pillow.

By now, Mae-Sae had been hearing about a full military mobilization across Dominion space. There had been some kind of invasion from the Dark Rift. But she didn’t know who or where or how many starships and soldiers. Although she was one of the lead scientists in the Dominion information was scarce. The Golden Concord was probably restricting information to a need-to-know basis for internal security. This could be it though. Her Ravagers could get a chance to soon prove themselves in battle. Yesterday the first reports had arrived from other laboratories and breeding facilities. Three-thousand Ravagers had been grown and with all possible training programmed into their DNA, they were ready for combat.

Many would refer to them as great warriors, she was sure. Although that would be wrong. They were great soldiers. There was an important difference between a warrior and a soldier. Soldiers worked and cooperated with each other in a cohesive unit. Warriors went about it on their own accord, fighting by themselves. The Ravagers would fight as a cohesive unit.

Looking down at the girl, she’d named Kai. She wasn’t sure why, or she was and refused to admit it to herself, she thought of her going out to fight. No, no way. She wouldn’t let her go out and die on a battlefield somewhere. She felt responsible for her. A Magog scientist had argued to put her back in a pod and let her continue grow into adulthood. But she couldn’t do it. She utterly refused to sacrifice Kai’s life like that. She’d race her as her own daughter from this point forward.

The door panel chimed and she rose and strolled over. A Jorchae male aide was outside.

“Apologize goddess,” he said apologetically. “Councilor Nibbi had tried to contact you.”

Mae-Sae nodded understandingly.

“I’ll take her in my chambers.”

The aide nodded.

“I’ll make sure it is patched through, goddess.”

She closed the door and walked over and sat down by her desk. On the holographic display the tiny red hologram of a Vaan’jorch appeared. The four-hundred and eighty-one female sat by a desk of her own.

“Lady Mae-Sae,” she said pleasantly.

“Councilor, pleased to speak with you again,” Mae-Sae said with a smile. “What can I do for you?”

Nibbi smiled warmly.

“I’d like to speak to you about the Ravager project. I read your report.”

Mae-Sae arched her eyebrows. “That was quick.”

“I have been waiting eagerly for a long time, doctor. I’ve been supporting the project sense the beginning. Many in the Golden Concord didn’t agree you could or should waste any resources on the project.”

“Oh. Then I thank you. Thousands will be ready for combat every single day forward. In a month or so, I expect ten-thousand a day. This enemy…they’ll regret their trespassing.”

She noted Nibbi’s somber expression.

“Councilor?”

“There is…you should know it isn’t going well, Mae-Sae,” she confessed. “Over two-hundred planets is currently being invaded or besieged by this enemy. I don’t know who they are, but they have hundreds-of-thousands of starships and billions of soldiers. Spies report that the Twin Moon Empire, the Klloorr Hierarchy and the Duross Empire has encountered the same enemy. They are being overrun by the sounds of it.” She leaned forward. “You understand information is sketchy, giving it has been three days sense the first contact.”

Mae-Sae wasn’t sure what to say. She was shocked that anyone could wield such waste military forces. Haitrochk was far from the Dark Rift sectors. In the middle of the huge Vaan’jorch Empire. It would take ten-of-thousands of lost starships and billions of dead soldiers before they could invade Haitrochk itself. It was the very heartland of the Dominion. It’s very soul. If it ever tell, the Dominion would probably fall with it.

“Haitrochk Command is worried. The Holy Empress is very worried too. Long term, this doesn’t look good right now. This new strange enemy came from beyond the Dark Rift in unending numbers it seems. How else can they attacked so many planets at once?”

Mae-Sae sighed deeply. She was getting concerned herself.

“It’s only a matter of times before news gets out.”

Nibbi nodded.

“Soon the whole Dominion will know what’s going on. We can’t possible hide a full scale mobilization. Tens-of-thousands of starships regrouping and redistributed and hundreds of millions of soldiers, both Serphoro, Kurhkzan, Colossal’s and even Jorchae are being called in. All reservists and militia forces. It haven’t happened for two-thousand years. I doubt anyone less than her holiness could prevent the panic from striking the citizenry.”

“Hopefully our fortress worlds will halt their advance,” Mae-Sae said hopefully.

“Mae-Sae…” Nibbi started but hesitated. “Rudemir and Brodimir in the Fen-june sector, 89-30.931 are holding them. Brodimir is currently being invaded. The first wave is estimated around two-hundred-thousand. Yesterday approximately another sixty-thousand landed. The Planetary Defense Batteries have been pretty much disabled.” She suddenly started smiling. “But, allow me to finish with good news, yes? Rudemir are holding and Governor Rei-Lin was successfully evacuated to Rudemir in time. Her subordinates report-as does other planets attacked-that the Planetary Defense Batteries eliminate many enemy capital starships. Hundreds-of-thousands of enemy casualties in space alone in the Blessing system.” She stopped and took a deep breath. “The Rudemir PDB destroyed dozens of troop transports within the first hour alone.” She clenched her fist. “We’ll bleed these bastards dry.”

Mae-Sae nodded firmly in agreement. “Damn right we will.”

Year 2718, April the 2nd

Sector Bravo-88-12.392

Petrograd colony

Elias sat in the back of the armored ground transport with the rest of his platoon. He wore the yellow armored combat suit of the Twin Moon “Colonial” Marine Corps and held his Gail-23 pulsar rifle in his arms. The visor was closed, hiding his face away behind it.

“We’re approaching the market sector,” a voice said in the intercoms.

“Ready for combat,” the captain ordered.

Elias looked around. Several of the marines looked frightened. Including the woman next to him. Hell he couldn’t blame any of them. He was pretty scared himself. But he tried to ignore it. Lives were at stake. With a Battalion of eight-hundred men protecting the colony, they were badly outnumbered by the enemy. Thousands of troops had already landed in the city and villages around it. No one in the platoon had seen the enemy yet. No one knew who they were fighting. Getting your ass kicked by an unknown enemy was bad for moral.

“Ready weapons!” The sergeant barked.

For a moment clicking filled the inside of the vehicle. Elias switched his safety off and made sure his magazine was fixed in right. He didn’t want to risk a gun failure on the battlefield.

The sergeant stood up.

“6th Platoon, ready.”

Everyone started standing up. They heard explosions outside. The moment of truth. In a few minutes several of the men around him would probably be dead, Elias thought. He knew many of them-maybe even himself, wouldn’t survive the oncoming onslaught of advancing alien troops.

The rear hatch lowered and the marines started swarming out onto the open street. There were ruined buildings around them. Elias saw a skyscraper collapse and fell. It collapsed onto other buildings and onto the street two-hundred meters ahead. He heard screaming from civilians and the occasional high pitched screeching. It was everything less then human. The sound itself scared the marines. And they hadn’t even seen the enemy yet.

Elias leaned against a stone wall and looked up. The cloudy sky was grey. He looked ahead and saw a destroyed truck. It had what had once been an anti-air artillery piece, literally in pieces around it. It had been hit straight on by something. Three other ground transports had stopped on the street, marines swarming from all of them.

“Move it, Kowalski!” the sergeant yelled.

Elias returning his mind to reality and looked up at him.

“Sir!”

He jogged after him and followed his brothers and sisters.

A plasma bolt hit a marine in the head and he collapsed. The visor had melted and his head were splattered into goo inside his helmet. Another purple bolt smacked into a marines arm, burning the armor. the marines thick armor protected him from imminent injury. Two more bolts hit the armor, staggering him. another bolt hit his chest, melting through instantly. The marine screamed and fell to the ground. Another fell beside him.

Elias took cover behind a half destroyed truck. Beside him hid the woman that sat beside him on the transport. Elise Wagner. She was utterly terrified. He looked at her for a moment.

“Defensive formation!” An officer for another platoon yelled.

“Can’t even see the xeno fucks!” Someone yelled in aggravated frustration.

Elias glanced out of his cover. Smoke from burning and collapsed buildings covered the area, but he could see shapes. They were about two meters in height. For two seconds Elias saw something large and purple glowing. It was two meters all around. Before he could see what it was, it impacted a low one and a half meter stone wall. It melted it and without stopping continued through and melted two marines, armor and all. There wasn’t even time for them to cry out.

“Fuck,” Elias mumbled under his breath in horror. “Who the fuck are these guys?”

“A bunch of assholes!” A comrade responded. He leaned over the truck wreck and fired his Gail-23 Pulsar rifle. “Go home fuck-faced assholes!”

“Christ Roland;” Elias mumbled.

He leaned over and fired. He was pretty sure he didn’t hit anyone.

Another large plasma blast came. It hit an armored ground vehicle and made a whole straight through. It didn’t kill anyone this time. Another hit a building and brought it down on top of a few marines. Two jumped aside but two were killed. One was lucky enough to only be injured. She was dragged to relative safety.

A machinegun opened up a barrage at the aliens. It spewed slugs over them. Elias saw several go down. At least seven went down in three seconds. It another five seconds four more went down. But a well-placed two meter plasma shot destroyed the machinegun and eliminated the gunner in the next moment.

Elias heard someone yell in pain. He heard a woman’s voice cry out for her dad. It was a voice mixed with utter fear and immense pain. She cried out over and over at the top of her lungs.

“Use the damned gun!” Roland screamed at Elise Wagner. She still sat curled up without moving. “Least defend yourself!”

Elias was about to say something what he spotted a captain booking it. He ran as quickly as he could. He shook his head. He couldn’t blame him. Not one bit. But it still wasn’t an excuse for deserting your brothers and sisters at this moment in time. Wagner fired a few slugs in quick succession at random without looking. Elias put his gantlet hand on her armored yellow shoulder.

“Get control of your fear,” he told her kindly over the battle noises.

She looked at him. Her eyes were filled with fear and a few tears dripping down her cheeks.

“Aim and shoot. Stay by my side.”

She slowly nodded hesitantly. She swallowed and gripped her pulsar rifle tighter. She raised herself and fired from their cover, joining the other marines around them.

A large plasma blast came and turned a wall and five marines into melted goo.

“What’s shooting that?!” A woman yelled in frustration.

“Some kind of short range battery probably!” A sergeant responded over the gunfire.

A rocket launcher fired a rocket that striked a building with xenos firing down on them from the third floor. Screeches echoed as they cried out with the explosion.

The enemy response was a plasma blast from the right flank. Six marines cried out for a second before they were melted. A man screamed as his hand was melted away.

“Cover the flank!” The sergeant of the 6th Platoon yelled. “Their outflanking us!”

Elias turned and looked right. He saw something giant and purple lumbering forward along the debris filled street. He stared at it. It was at least five meters tall and six meters long with purple carapace covering it. Four short legs forced the large fat body to move forward-slowly. It had no eyes to speak of in its facial features. The large mouth hung open. It looked to convulse and suddenly a purple plasma blast was fired from the mouth.

“Look out!”

Elias stared in horror. It was both terrifying and didn’t even seem physically possible. He throw himself to the ground, along with Wagner and Roland.

“Shit!” Roland cried out. He sounded more angry then scared.

Wagner was utterly terrified.

“Use the rocket launcher!” The sergeant screamed. He fired his Gail-23 at the monstrosity.

The monstrous alien beast puked out another plasma blast. It flew straight forward and landed between a squad of colonial marines. Three of them lost either a foot or a let while one were melted with no traces left behind.