Once Upon The Stars (Updated 08-22-04)

[Atrocities]

Once Upon The Stars.
By William Christopher

Original Thread (http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=007740;p=1)

Thanks DS, I got the picture. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I will include it and two others with the set. Although I like yours the best. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Part VIII (Alternate Course)

Green entered his office and it was clear to all that he was not in a good mood. He walked by his aid Lieutenant Elise and slammed his office door closed behind him as he entered his office. Elise felt a shiver run up his spine. He had seen the General angry before, furious on many occasions, and even down right hostile once or twice, but never before had he ever seen him this angry.

Green wasted no time; he pressed his COM send button and ordered it to contact Senator Caparo Kordesh. Within a few seconds the Senator came on the line.
“This is Caparo, what do you want General?”
“It would appear that we have something in common Senator.”
“And what exactly is that General?” Kordesh was a man who feared no one, but commands the fear of many. He is also the Oversight Chairman (OSC) for the Special Investigations Division (S.I.D.) of the UGA, which puts him in direct command over the Director of the S.I.D. He has officers from S.I.D. in every department, division, and administration of the UGA, and they answer solely and directly to him. Even the famed General Green has good reason to fear him, and is wise enough to know it. Green realized that if he could convince Kordesh that he is an ally and someone that he can trust, he would then be in the position of control and would be able to manipulate circumstances and people as unknown unknowns dictated.

“The desire to see Benton removed from office.”
“What makes you think I would want such a thing?”
“Let’s not mince words Senator, you and I want the same thing, so let us meet and discuss how we can work together to obtain it.” There was a brief pause before Kordesh responded.
“Very well General. We can meet at the Aries Club for drinks.”
“Too public Senator, I propose we meet privately.”
“As you wish. I will be attending a conference in Vanalder the day after tomorrow. We can meet in my suite at the Paradise.”
“That will be fine.” Green said and pressed the disconnect button. He immediately pressed the contact button and order the COM to contact Carl Wilhelm.

“This is Carl.”
“Carl, are you aware that Tom Christopher is going to fly up to a science base on the Victorian Glacier?” Green asked.
“Yes, he had mentioned it in a meeting today.”
“I need for you to tag along with him.”
“What makes you think he will want or allow me to go?”
“I don’t care what you have to do Carl, but I want you going with him.” Green commented a bit angrily.
“Relax General, I will think of something.”
This appeased Green.
“Why do you need me to tag alone with him?”
It was a fair question, and Green had expected it.
“He is going to investigate an object discovered by the scientists. I need for you to report back to me what he finds.”
“Consider it a done General.”
“Carl, I have men up there now, but they will be under Christopher’s command, and my not be able to offer you support.”
“Understood.”

Green pressed the disconnect switch again and then paged Elise. “Elise get in here.”
A moment later Elise entered the room.
“Yes General?”
“Elise, I need you to send a message to Commanding Officer of operation Discovery, and advise him that General Tom Christopher will be arriving later today and that he will be assuming command.”
Green was sitting down behind his desk and had not looked up. He was busy thumbing through some paper work.
“Yes sir.” Elise started to leave when Green looked up and said.
“And send in Sergeant Arnold.” Elise’s blood pressure spiked a bit at this, but said nothing and left the Generals office. Elise hated Sergeant Arnold because Arnold was jockeying for the number one spot in General Greens trusted ring of confidants. A position that Elise felt that he, and no one else, should posses.

Twenty minutes later Greens COM chirped. “General Sergeant Arnold is here as ordered.”
“Send him in Elise, and bring us some hot lacto berry juice.”
A moment later Sergeant Ruddy Arnold entered the Generals office followed by Elise caring a couple of steaming cups of lacto berry juice.
“The General sent for me?” Said Arnold as he came to attention.
“At easy Sergeant.” Said Green as he accepted a cup from Elise. “Elise, I want no interruptions for the next twenty minutes.” Elise nodded his acknowledgement and left the office. Arnold was standing at ease holding a cup of hot lacto berry juice.
“Sit down Ruddy.”
“Thank you sir.” Replied Arnold as he sat down in one of the guest chairs facing the Generals desk.
“I have a mission for you.” Green said as he took a sip of his lacto berry juice. “A very important one.”

[ July 04, 2004, 23:11: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part IX (Spies)

The Senate Complex was one of the oldest buildings on Pandora. It was built when the Capitol city was founded nearly a thousand years ago. It had escaped destruction by fire, bombing, terrorism, and even civil war. The building had endured because it was designed too. With each new renovation, something extra was added, and something was taken away. The Complex had been modified so many times that no one could possibly know all of the hidden chambers, corridors, or passageways that have been created, blocked off, or forgotten about over the years.

Senator Owen Cassady had walked the corridors, hallways, and passages of this building for over a hundred years and in all of that time he had only been able to explored about a third of the entire complex. He speculated to himself, as he walked alone in the silence of the lower levels, that he had only discovered about a tenth of all of the hidden areas of the vast complex.

Owen was one of the oldest and most senior Senators of the Alliance, and had seen many administrations come and go in his one hundred and ten years of public service. In all that time he had seldom if ever entered the great hidden library of the Senator Complex. It was a foreboding place first kept secret from the population of Mecca, and then later the entire population of the world. It was a magnificent great hall filled with antiques and old world sculptures. The books, files, and writings contained within these great walls were as old as the Mecca civilizations itself.

Mecca was one of the first and considered the oldest of all of the great civilization of the planet. Eighty years ago King Chandler Gore the fifth, founded the Global Alliance and began the great holly war to unite the peoples of Pandora under his leadership. Gore was an insane man who believed that his religion and birth right as the crown prince of Mecca, entitled him to the right of rulership over the entire planet. A costly mistake that resulted in billions of deaths, decades of war, and the near destruction of all life on the planet. Eventually he was assonated by his son Devon who nearly succeeded in conquering the planet but was killed at the battle of Camellia thus ending the Global Alliances quest for ultimate power.

Today was the first time in his life that he had ever given any thought to the idea that it was possible for life to exist anywhere other than on Pandora. It had been written in the ancient Salideen text that the great creator created the planet of Pandora for the Pandoran people. It was also written that there was no other life in the entirety of the universe more honorable than the people of Pandora. Owen wanted to consult the great Salideen writings and the ancient Salideen text about this new revelation, for he had dedicated his life to the Salideen Religion and now the validity of that very religion was in question.

About two billion people, nearly third of the planets population also Subscribe to the Salideen Religion. If life were to exist on other planets, it would destroy the very fabric of the Salideen Religion, and thrust the whole of the population into chaos. The followers of Salideen would be humiliated and rebuked. This was something that he himself could not allow to happen. There had to be information about other life somewhere in the ancient text. The thought that life exist on other worlds must be mentioned somewhere within the old writings, and Owen was determined to find it. It was the only way he could save the Salideen religion. If it was mentioned that life did exist elsewhere anywhere within the great text or writings, then salvation was at hand. Owen knew that discovering this information was the only way to save off another devastating world war.

Senator Kordesh was not a man who enjoyed playing second to anyone, especially someone such as Robert Benton. He had just entered his office when General Green COM’ed him, and despite the slight surprise he displayed to Green, he had expected his call.

Kordesh knew that Green was a determined man who sought the Prime Ministership for himself. This clashed with Kordesh’s own ambitions for the office, and could ultimately lead to conflicts of interest. Kordesh was a master political tactician who fully understood the nature of politics and power, and knew that his best weapon against those who would challenge him was information and deception. If General Green wanted his help and wanted him to believe that he was an ally, then by all means that is exactly what the good General would get. Eventually Green’s own greed for power will lead to his own downfall.

“Trax, come out here.” He said to no one. A second later a wall slid to the side and a tall and physically impressive person dressed all in black, with a hood hiding his head and face from view, stepped out from the darkness of a hidden room. “You summoned.” He said in a slow raspy lowered voice. Kordesh looked at him briefly as he spoke.
“I have a new assignment for you.”
“We have not completed our current assignment.”
“Never mind that, I need for you to watch a General Tom Allen Christopher.” He said. “He is the new Director of the Space Exploration Division.”
“We are familiar with him.”
“He will be leaving for the continent of Bastion later today, his destination is a small scientific research site on the Northern Victorian Glacier.”
“Do you wish him eliminated?”
“No, just monitor his activities. Also assign an agent to watch General Green.”
“What of the Prime Minister then?”
“I will assign someone from SID to handle that.”
“As you wish. Will there be anything more?”
“No. However, if General Christopher, discovers any of the artifacts, you know what must be done.” It was statement and not a question.
“He will dealt with as where the others.”
“Very good. That will be all.”
Trax nodded his understanding and then stepped back into the darkness of the hidden room, as the wall door closed.
Kordesh returned his nodded and watched him leave before he leaving himself.

[Atrocities]

Part X (Approach)

In the late autumn months on the Northern plains of the Victorian Glacier, nightfall marks the end of the day without ever really becoming dark. For nearly all of the autumn months the nighttime seldom becomes darker than that of a bright sunset. The days become very short and the night longer as the season migrates toward the winter months. Within a few weeks this will change and the days will become nonexistent as the daytime sky becomes perpetual darkness. As the season changes, the air becomes colder and the jet stream more turbulent as the warmer surface air, heated by the sun, rises from the ground and mixes with the colder upper air. This mixture of warm and cold air causes areas of unstable air, known as warm air pockets, to form thus generating areas of hazard that if flown into can cause an air borne craft to rapidly loose altitude without warning. For an experienced pilot flying in these conditions is a mild challenge, but for an inexperienced pilot, it can rapidly become a life and death situation.

Captain Richard Hess was busy making routine course correction and minor instrument adjustments, it was his first official flight as a certified pilot and he wanted the ride to be smooth for his boss, General Thomas Christopher and the other passengers that he was fairing, when he encountered a warm air pocket. He had never flown in extreme cold weather conditions before, although he did have training for it, he had never really experienced actual winter conditions. The warm air pocket that he had just passed through was his first, and the experience of loosing a thousand feet of altitude in just under two-point-six seconds made a Lasting impression on the young officer. Even with the inertial dampeners set to full, he knew that the time for casual flight was over; as his job as pilot had just became a whole hell of a lot more complicated. He was busy making his course corrections, when he decided that it would be best to let the passengers know that they were about to fly into some very turbulent air. The air is warmer near the surface, thus less turbulent, and he was in the process of descending when he keyed the internal COM.
“Gentlemen, we are entering into an area of turbulence, and I am descending in order to avoid encountering additional warm air pockets. Our expected arrival time at the site is less than ten minute from now.” He keyed off the COM, and went about flying the small six-man Sky Chariot with as much concentration as he could muster when the General entered the cockpit.

“Richard, you sure you know how to pilot one of these things?” Asked Tom as he eased himself down into the Co-Pilot seat looking a bit nervous but obviously joking.
“I am sorry about that General, these warm air pockets are a bit tricky at times.” Replied Richard. His concentration focused upon flying the Sky Chariot.
“You haven’t flown much practice time in severe cold air environments have you?”
“No sir.”
“Well just to be safe, perhaps I should take over, you know, give you a break.”
Richard chanced a quick look at his boss, a look of ‘hell no’ but with a polite ‘I don’t think so’ appeal to it. Tom could not help but smile at this, as being a pilot himself, he understood that for everything there must be a first time. He held his smile for an extra few seconds to avoid showing his young officer how concerned he was. It was Richard’s first official flight, and Tom did not want his nervousness to show as that would more than likely effect Richard’s confidence, and may even offending the younger officer.
“I guess everyone has to learn sometime.”
“Oh I am learning it sir.” Relied Richard as he made another quick course correction this time only loosing about fifty feet of altitude before powering out of the sudden decent.
“You would have figured sir that by now they could come up with a way to prevent that from happening.” Commented Richard as he banked the small craft slightly to the left on a baring that would bring them back on course toward their destination.
“I hear you Richard, and once we get back, I am personally going to look into it.” Replied Tom as he buckled himself in.
“We should reach the Discovery site in about five minutes or so General.”
“Only if our luck holds out.” Whispered Tom to himself.
“Excuse me sir?” Asked Richard.
“Nothing Rich, I was-“
“Say, where are the barf bags?” Interrupted a calm and cocky officer who had poked his head into the cockpit. Tom looked back over his shoulder at the man, and flashed him a dirty look.
“Arnold, get back there and buckle in.”
“Buckle in sir? Oh right, sorry sir, but Mr. Wilhelm and his aid seem to be getting a bit sick, and I am worried that they might not make it sir.” Commented Sergeant Rudy Arnold with a smile.

Sergeant Rudy Arnold was a long time annoyance who’s company Tom had grown to tolerate over time. He had first met him some eight years before when he was selected for a mission that Tom was in command of. It was routine rescue mission to recover a propionate Senator family who had been kidnapped and were being held for ransom. Although Rudy was a cocky bastard, full of himself, and very arrogant, he had proven that he could get the job done. After the successful rescue he was appointed as aid-decamp to then Military Advisor to the Prime Minister, General Lee Westmore Forman. Over the years Arnold had become an aid to many Generals who have long since come and gone. Most recently he had attached himself to one General Philip Albert Green, the current Military Advisor to the Prime Minister, and from what Tom was able to gather, had become a member of General Green’s inner circle of confidants. No doubt about it, Arnold was very good at his job, that job being *** kissing and brown nosing the brass. Arnold was out for Arnold, and throughout the many times that Tom had had the misfortune of having to deal with him, he had learned that Arnold was only to be trusted lightly. Arnold had a cocky sense of humor that often annoyed Tom to no end. He was, and still is, a sly arrogant, and cunning manipulator that knows how to work any situation to his favor. It was no wonder that he had risen in rank to that of Master Staff Sergeant. Tom had figured that by now, he would have conned his way to the rank of Chief Master Sergeant or would have been given a commission but some misfortunes involving the daughter of a well respected Senator had stalled his career.

Tom really did not like or dislike him, he merely tolerated him. Arnold was an annoying man, but he was also clever and was cool under fire. These were his only two redeeming qualities as far as Tom was concerned. Although Tom was not happy about being ordered to take him on this mission, he did so. He wanted to try and find out what General Green was up to, and Arnold, although he was a master manipulator, could be easily manipulated himself.

“Have you checked in the overhead compartment?” Asked Richard sarcastically.
“I didn’t need to, this little joy ride you are piloting caused the crap in those compartments to come tumbling out all over us back here.” Responded Arnold in a mocking tone.
“Then look in the base cabinets!” Tom said with authority. “Then buckle yourself in.”
“I doubt buckling in will save us given the way that this kids flies.” Commented Arnold with a wicked smile before ducking back out of the cockpit.
“Sir, we should have left that guy in the flight hanger.”
“Green wanted him to come along, and the Prime Minister agreed.” Tom looked over at Richard who was in the process of activating the landing gear. “But I agree with you Captain, we should have left his *** back in the Capital.”
“I wonder why the General insisted on sending him?”
“To annoy me.”
Richard looked briefly over at Tom and smiled.
“I could always blow the hatch and bank sharply to the right.”
Tom smirked at the thought of seeing Arnold flaying his arms and legs around as he screamed his lungs out on his uncontrolled decent to oblivion.
“Better call us in for landing approval Rich.”
“Right Sir.” Replied Richard as he switches on the COM. “Discovery Base, this is Sky Chariot Pegasus Two-Nine-Zero-Three requesting landing clearance.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three please transmit authorization code now.”
“Authorization Code?” Richard flashed Tom a confused look before transmitting.
“Discovery Base, this is General Tom Christopher transport requesting landing coordinates over.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, please transmit authorization code.”
Tom could hear what was being said over the cockpit COM, and he was not pleased. No one had mentioned that he would require a code to land. Tom keyed the COM and spoke in an angry voice.
“Discovery Base, this is General Thomas Christopher requesting authorization to land.”
“Please transmit authorization code prior to entering the no fly zone.”
“You require a code, then here it is. Eco-Alpha-Tango-Star-Hector-Ira-Tango, over.”
Richard started to laugh, but noticed that Tom was far from amused and was not in a joking mood.
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, that code is not valid. Please transmit the correct code or alter your course away from this area.”
“Sir.” Said Richard a bit alarmed. “We have company.” He was pointing to his scanner at two large blips that had just entered the scanning range of the Sky Chariot and were on an intercept course.
“They don’t look friendly to me sir.”
“God damn him!” Tom said as he clicked the transmit button once again. “Discovery Base, you will clear us for landing immediately, that is a direct order.”
“Sky Chariot Two-Nine-Zero-Three, if you fail to transmit the proper authorization code within thirty seconds, you and your vehicle will be escorted by two Prowler’s to Andover Base and detained. Any attempt to deviate or land will result in hostile action.”
“Arnold get your *** up here!” Yelled Tom over his shoulder as he fumed.
A few seconds later Rudy entered the Cockpit smiling like usual.
“You yelled sir?” He commented smugly.
“Cut the charm, and tell me what our landing authorization code is.”
“Authorization code?”
“Yes, we have about fifteen seconds to transmit one or we’re going to be shot down.”
“Condor One-Five-Zero.” He said without further prompting.
“Discovery Base, authorization code Condor One-Five-Seven over”
“Authorization is valid, landing coordinates have been uploaded to your navigational computer. Welcome to Discovery Base General.”
“Somehow I don’t think we are.” Commented Richard as he validated the landing coordinates and began the landing process.
“Discovery Base inform Captain O’Connor of our arrival and have him meet us at the landing site.”
“Understood. Discovery Base out.”
“Looks like it was a good thing you brought me along after all General.” Commented Arnold politely as he smiled on.

[Atrocities]

Part XI (Origins)

It was getting late and Senator Owen Cassady was growing tired and fatigue after hours of searching and reading through many manuscripts, historical documents, religious writings, and old text. He was the only person in the Great Library of the Senate Complex and therefore could work undestrubed for hours. He could, if he so chose to, even catch a few hours of sleep in one of the private reading rooms. Something he had done many times before while on overnight information hunts. But today he could not for he was expected by his wife to attend a Senatorial Dinner. So with a great sigh he streached out slowly and stood while closing the large old looking book that he was reading. He would leave the old book on the table for tomorrow as it was doubtful that any one would venture into the Library, let alone this section of the Library, this late and disturb it.

He was slipping on his jacket and happened to turn, the evening light coming in through one of the distant windows was just right and he cought the glimps of something on the bookshelf beside him. He could see it through the opening that the book he was reading had left between the books on the shelf. It appeared to be another book that was sitting sideways in the back. “This is Odd,” Owen thought to himself as that would obsure it from view so he reached up and removed a few more books to gain access to the misplaced book when he noticed something even more odd; the book felt and appeared to be very very old.

He had seldom, if ever, read a book from this bookshelf for it was the bookshelf that contained the works of Borgan Rice, a scribe of Malcolm Cox the twelfth High Priest of the Salideen Religious Order. Borgan was put to death by order of Malcolm Cox in the year twenty-one fifty-eight for publishing his views on the origins of the Pandoran people. He had spent most of his life here in the Great Library recording history and other important facts of the time.

This bookshelf, tucked away in a secluded section of the Great Library, contained hundreds of Borgans books, most were historical books of little to no importance and some were books of astronomy that in Borgans day were considered masterpieces. However, his writings on the origins of the Pandoran people were considered the work of a mad man at the time, and were Banned from reading. Of his many published writings only about a hundred or so manuscripts still remained. Most of them right here on this bookshelf. Of those, only one, a book titled ‘Discovery’, was of any importance to Owen this day. This bookshelf contained the original book Discovery by Borgan, the one Owen was reading at the table, and many copies that had been preserved here in the Great Library for some untold reason for a couple of thousand of years.

It was ironic that it was Borgans writings on the origin of Pandora that had brought Owen to this shelf today. He was determined to find any reference, no matter how obscure, regarding the possibility that life existed on other worlds.

Borgan had been put to death for his ideals, and his writing outlawed because he had dared to say that life on Pandora had come from the stars. Many of his writings, and those who had read and believed in them, had disappeared into the vials of history not to be heard from or seen since.

The fact that the Great Library still had most of his published writings was an amazing discovery for a young Senator doing research for his first Senate bill. A bill that would eventually help clear the way for the people of Pandora to launch satellites into space. Odd how that seemed so blasphemous at the time, launching something as simple as a satellite into space and how the people feared that by doing so would invite Gods wrath back down upon them. As a supporter of the space program at that time, Owen was tasked with finding any written language forbidding the Pandoran people from sending anything into orbit around Pandora. He had discovered nothing in any of the ancient text, thus clearing the path for those who wanted to put the satellites into space. He was a cautious man and had even consulted Borgans writings, mainly his book titled Discovery, as a precaution. Having found nothing, he pressed his bill forward with the cautioned warning that even though there was nothing written in the ancient texts prohibiting the launches, one could never truly know whether or not it would offend God.

Owen looked down at the very old book he was now holding in his hand and could not help but shiver as he realized what it was he had just discovered.

“How could something like this have survived this long?” He asked himself in whisper. “How could this book possibly be here?” He looked back up at the spot at which it had been. According to the official record, the Last person to read from Borgans book Discovery was himself some hundred and four years ago. Since that time, the book had remained on the shelf undisturbed for centuries.

That could only mean one thing, that the book that Owen was now holding could quite possibly be more than two thousand years old. Owen began to sweet as he realized that this section had been sealed for nearly twelve hundred years following Borgans death as a precaution to the spread of his blasphemy. That when the section was reopened just over a thousand years ago, only a few high ranking members of the Salideen Religion had ventured in and read his works. Those members later stated publicly that Borgans writings were the confused works of a sickened mind. That Borgans book Discovery, held no revelations regarding the origins of the Pandoran people. The book was then submitted for printing and was moderately distributed. Most people agreed that it was a flight of fancy and disregarded it as a true historical source of information. The printed Version was a light Version of the actual book and many chapters had not been published. Owen knew this and that was why he chose to read the original book and not one of the copies or printed Version that he had at home.

From that time, no one had officially been in this section, or read a book from this shelf until Owen just over a hundred years ago. As the shivers subsided Owen turned the book over in his hands and glanced down. The cover was in poor condition, but the words were still visible and legible, although covered in dust. Owen brushed the years of silt from its surface and raised it up to his mouth and blew as much of the dust away as he could. Once most of the dust was cleared from the cover of the book, the title began to reveal itself. The lettering was in the standard tongue of the time and was gold embroidered and slightly raised out from the surface of the cover.

All of the color drained from Owens face as he read the title. He looked up and stared blankly at the wall of books before him, many of them copies of the book Discovery, the book he had been reading just moments before. Owen stood there, mesmerized by the shier weight of his discovery. All of these book, he thought to himself, all of them, were nothing more than fakes. For in his hands, he held the proof of this lie.

How many years had he believed that all of these books were the true works of Borgan, how many years had others thought this to? Chance had delivered onto him the truth. It was rumored that the Priests had rewritten the original book as a precaution to the truth. Owen never believed this, but now, as he stood there in silence, he could not help but believe. The rumor stated that Borgans original book had a different name and as Owen looked back down at the book that he held in his hands, he read that simple title of Borgans original book out loud; “Origins.”

[mlmbd]

Atrocities; Just awesome. All 4 additions are excellent!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Atrocities]

Thanks buddy. Only Part XI is new, the others I have posted before, but I cleaned them up a bit so I figured it best to repost em. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Oh ya, there is a link to the rest of the story in the bottom post. Enjoy.

[mlmbd]

Atrocities, Thanks buddy. Only Part XI is new, the others I have posted before, but I cleaned them up a bit so I figured it best to repost em. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You are most Welcome! You cleaned them up well enough so they seemed new!

Oh ya, there is a link to the rest of the story in the bottom post. Enjoy. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No more storytelling??

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Atrocities]

? I had intended there to be more. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I just wanted to point out that there was more to the story than these postings in another thread. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Bump

[dogscoff]

Well I'm enjoying it. You take your time rolling out the story Atrocities, I'm enjoying the pace.

I'm not sure about anyone else but I think I could probably use a short "who's who" sheet on the characters to keep to one side as I read the story.

[Ruatha]

Origins (A bit of Darwinism here ?).

I was a bit confused at first due to the repost of three parts but the fourth part introduced yet another thrilling substory.
What more to come? And what happens at the camp at right this moment?

Keep writing.

(How old do these poeple become?)

[Atrocities]

It all fits together. One peace at a time. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Here is the current list as of Part X. I do have more detailed character descriptions, but I will post them after I have finished the chapter. I actually give away some new information here but not to much. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Characters:
General Thomas Allen Christopher – Lead Character - Hero of the battle of Camellia (Capital of the Praetorian Republic) now Director of the Space Exploration Division.

Melissa Ruby Harpenger - Former girl friend of Thomas Christopher, now married to Bob Benton.
Captain Richard Hess – General Thomas Christophers aid.

Joe Kelly – Pilot

Dr. Brook Mentor – Top scientist in Gravametric Technology.
Dr. Bill Ramzies – Scientist working under Dr. Mentor.
Nina Smith - Student & Assistant to Dr. Mentor
Mike Roberts - Student
Melissa Anne - Student

Admiral Robert ‘Bob’ Benton III -Prime Minister
Melissa Ruby Benton – Wife of Robert ‘Bob’ Benton III
Cheryl Clinton - Spy who watches Benton / reports to General Green.

John Lesser (Deceased Director of SED)

General Philip Albert Green - Military Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Sergeant Ruddy Arnold - General Green Staff
Lieutenant Jasper Elise - General Green Staff

Colonel Carl Wilhelm’s - Leader of the Pennington massacre & SEPC Dir.
Captain Victor Nezbit (Dead communications office from Pennington masscre)
Brigadier General Lamar Strider (Committed suicide after Pennington masscre)

General Ritta Alice Wilson - Commander Andovor Base
Captain Macmillan O’Connor – Officer in control of Camp Discovery
Lieutenant Michael Winston - Capt. O’Connor’s Aid
Major Jellico Mantel - Lead Pilot Guardian One
Captain Chad Jeffery’s - Co-Pilot of Guardian One
Sergeant Paul Harris - Hard nosed Tactical Trooper assigned to Guardian One
PFC Kord Anuran - Tactical Trooper assigned to Guardian One
Ron Lindley - Chief Engineer GEC
Calvin Kurd - Assistant Engineer GEC

King Chandler Gore the Fifth (Founder the Global Alliance – assinated by his son Devon Gore.)
Devon Gore (Dead Chairman of the Global Alliance – Killed by Thomas Christopher at the battle of Camellia.)

Senator Owen Cassady - One of the oldest Senators of the UGA & A member of the Salideen religious order.
Senator Caparo Kordesh - Alorian - Member of the Illuminati

Trax Jafi - Hybrid Alorian - Member of the Illuminati

General Lee Westmore Forman – Former Military Advisor to the Priminister

[ March 19, 2003, 17:16: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

I hate to give up this information, but it won't be used the story for a while so here it goes.

The average lifespan for a pure breed human is about 145 years. A pure bred Alorians life span is about 205 years of age. A half-breed can live to around 170 years of age.

[Atrocities]

Just posting to keep it on the top burner for a while. If you like it, please let me know. If you don't email Fyron about it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif J/k

[Atrocities]

Pandoran Ship set (http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1048826908.zip)

To view the race click => HERE (http://galileo.spaceports.com/~william/pan/Pan.htm)

[ March 28, 2003, 04:55: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[sachmo]

Oh, I like it. I like it a lot! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif Sorry for the interruption...please continue, my good man.

[TerranC]

Best. Shipset. Ever.

Atrocities, if I could give you another 5 stars, I would http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

You guys make it all worth the effort. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Thank you. I hope they look ok in game. The top down images are long and skinny. Not a good combination for SE IV.

[dogscoff]

Great stuff Atrocities, however I'd like to issue a warning to everyone else here:

DO NOT READ THE SHIPSET'S RACE HISTORY! Major spolier for the story http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Oh, and atrocities, when you did a search/replace capitalise all instances of "pandora", you also capitalised every P in the file, for example sPace, PeoPle...

[Raging Deadstar]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

Why didn't i read this thread before reading the pandoran history, *Beeeeep* *beeep* *beep* http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Sounds interesting though, makes me wonder whats going to happen later on in the story, Great Plot idea Atrocities

[Atrocities]

Ya I noticed the P problem. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif

The spoiler is acceptable as it is going to be semi explained in the next installment of the story. I only gave minor info, not good info, just minor info. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Suicide Junkie]

It'll be like a shakespearean play, then.

Besides, the journey is more important than the destination.

[Atrocities]

The one thing to understand is that this has always been a part of the story line that was intended to be written in at the beginning, but I opted to keep it until after the "Origins" segment was published. Now I get to explain in greater detail the story line and how it all relates to the rest of the story. I am very excited about this, and hope that what I have written will show that.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[mlmbd]

Originally posted by Suicide Junkie:
It'll be like a shakespearean play, then.

Besides, the journey is more important than the destination.<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Definitely! By all means let the journey, continue! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Ruatha]

I'll avoid reading the shipset text files.
The story is great! Nuff said.

[Atrocities]

Part XII Writing

Richard wanted to make up for the bumpy ride in by landed the Sky Chariot with as much finesse as he could. As he set the craft down on the deck there was a soft rising surge that confirmed that the Sky Chariot had successfully and quite gently landed and was now firmly on the ground. Richard looked up at his console and began powering down the craft. Tom was already unbuckled and out of his seat heading for the cockpit door when he paused and looked back at Richard. He smiled slightly, a signal that Richard took to mean that he was sincerely happy to be on the ground in one peace.
“Nice landing Richard.” He said politely then exited the cockpit. Richard smiled to himself and thought privately. “Sir you have no idea how lucky you really are.”

A few moments later, on the out side standing next to the Sky Chariot, Tom could see, and feel, that a storm was beginning to form in the area and that the winds had picked up dramatically in the Last few minutes as large ominous grey black clouds began to blown in darkening the evening sky even darker than it already appeared to be. The area was a white blanket with a few habitats and tents set up in close proximity to each other. There were several land craft moving about and even a couple of Prowlers sitting near buy.
“God I would love to fly one of those.” Comment Richard as he coupled his hands near his face and blew into them to warm them.
“They are nice birds to say the least.” Commented Rudy as he stepped up next to Tom and Richard.
“Didn’t you fly one of those sir?” Asked Hess. Tom thought for a second, remembering a time long since passed.
“A long time ago.” He replied somberly.
The three men stood there silently taking in the rare beauty that was the Northern Victorian Glacier. Tom could feel the temperature dropping as they stood there. He was now facing away from the tents looking out over the great expanse that they had just crossed over and was pondering what the next few days would bring.

Carl Wilhelm and his assistant came up behind Tom and the others as they stepped down from the boarding ramp of the Sky Chariot.
“It would appear that winter is coming early this year.” Commented Carl as he took a deep breath and looked about.
Tom looked on without replying but sensed a new presence and turned to face the two men that had just walked up from the Command and Operations Tent. Tom had noticed the two men approaching the second he had stepped down from the Sky Chariot but elected to remain by the Chairiot to take in the area.

“It seems up here gentleman that winter comes earlier each year.” Said a middle aged man with streaks of gray running through his otherwise jet black hair as he and another man wearing a white military parka with Captains bars on its collar walked up.
“General Christopher, I am Captain Macmillan O’Connor, General Operations Director for this site and this gentleman is Dr. Brook Mentor of the Victorian Glacier Scientific Team. Welcome to the Discovery Site.”

“Captain, Doctor, this is Sergeant Rudy Arnold from General Greens Staff, my aid and pilot Captain Richard Hess, Carl Wilhelm the SEPC Director, and his aid.” Tom paused as he looked over at Carl’s aid and realized that he did not know her name.
“Erin Rogers.” Replied Carl smoothly.
“Formerly Cornel Erin Rogers of the United Global Alliance Air Force.” Comment Rogers as she offered her hand to Captain O’Connor. “Is it Macmillan or just Mac?” She asked with sincerity as she gave him a gracious smile. Captain O’Connor returned her smile and took her hand.
“My officers and men call me Captain, but you my dear my call me Mac.” He then looked over at Carl with what appeared to Tom to be none other than the cold dispassionate look of hatred.
“You will excuse me sir if I do not wish to shake your hand.” He said to Carl in a cold yet polite tone.
Carl just looked at him for a moment then smiled. “As you wish Captain.”
This intrigued Tom, as it would appear that the good Captain held Carl in much the same regard as he did, a peg or two above absolute contempt.

Tom looked over at Dr. Mentor to shake his hand when he noticed him staring at Carl with an open expression of shock clearly painted upon his face.
“Dr Mentor, are you all right?” Asked Tom in a concerned tone. Mentor looked on for a millisecond before catching himself and looked over at Tom a tenth of a second before Carl’s attention switched from the Captain to him.
“What?” He said in a momentary sense of confusion. “Oh, forgive me, I am fine.”
Tom was no fool, he knew the look he had just seen on the doctors face, it was one of fear. Wilhelm scared the hell out of Doctor Mentor, and Tom had no idea as to why. When the time was right, he would have to ask the doctor about it, however right now, he was becoming very cold.
“Captain, if you please.” He gestured toward what appeared to be the Command & Control tent. “The weather is becoming a tad unfriendly.”
“Yes Sir.” Replied O’Connor. “If you will all please follow me.”

Inside the Operations Tent, next to the Command and Control Tent, Captain O’Connor began to explain the operation bring Tom and his men up to speed.
“We have successfully excavated a path down to what we had believed to have been an entrance, however it has turned out to be a huge rocket thruster assembly of some kind.”
“I see.” Comment Tom as he looked at the images before him. “It was this information that lead you,” Tom looked up at Mentor, “Doctor to conclude that this was a space ship?”
Mentor displayed a confused expression before answering.
“I have made no such determination as of yet. These images are less than an hour old.”
It was Tom’s turn to look confused now. He looked in Rudy’s direction briefly and gave him an angry look. Rudy looked shocked and flashed him a ‘What did I do?’ expression in response.
“Forgive me Doctor, I had been informed earlier today, as was the Prime Minister, that you, and you specifically, had determined this object to be a space craft of unknown origins.” Mentor looked even more confused now then he did before as he looked slowly from Tom to Captain O’Connor’s then back.
“I assure you General, that I have made no such determination.”
“What about now?” Asked Carl politely. “What about now Doctor? Is it a space ship or not?”
Mentor seemed to swallow something as he took a deep breath and looked down for a second then back up at Carl. “Yes, it is a space ship.” He said with conviction. “And yes, the evidence would indicate that it is of unknown origins.”

“Have you identified an entrance yet?” Rudy asked after a few seconds of silence.
“Our investigation teams have located a hatch near this thruster assembly.” Replied Captain O’Connor as he pointed to a spot on a sectional image of the object.
“That is a very detailed image. My I?” Asked Erin Rogers politely as she picked up the image and began to examine it. “How did you obtain it?”
“We used Doctors Mentors Gravimetric Core Sampling device.” Answered Ron Lindley as he entered the tent.
Captain O’Connor looked over at Ron and nodded.
“This is Ronald Lindley, Chief Engineer from the Global Engineering Corp.” O’Connor introduced. “He has been down at the excavation site under the ice.”

“Just call me Ron.” He said nicely as he shook Tom’s hand. As the introductions were made Ron removed his parka and poured himself a cup of hot lacto berry juice.

“Chief, has your team excavated a path to this entrance yet?” Asked Tom as he studied the image and pointed to the location of the hatch.
“My assistant Calvin Kurd and Dr. Ramzies team have nearly completed the excavation. We should have full access within a couple of hours.” Replied Ron as he pointed to a spot on the image. “They are here, and should be in contact with the objects hull very soon. Once that is accomplished, they will excavate the area in order to give us a area to work in.”

“Have you figured out a way to open it yet?” Rudy asked as he stepped up and looked at the image. “I assume that it is more than likely sealed and will need to be opened.” He commented.

The men in the room paused and looked at one another. It was clear to Rudy by this time and to Tom as well that none of them had anticipated this.
“Oh come on now?” Commented Rudy loudly. “Tell me that one of you had figured for this?”
“Sergeant.” Commented Tom quietly.
“Oh for-“
“Sergeant!” Tom said once again causing Rudy to looked over at him. Rudy got the message and said no more. All he could do was quietly shake his head in disapproval. Not at all bothered by this, Tom asked what he thought to be the most logical question given the circomsantces.
“Doctor Mentor, if the ship is sealed and there is no obvious methods for opening this hatch, how will your team gain entry?” Tom knew that in a situation such as this, not everything could be anticipated. Especially if the situation is an unknown, and that object out there was a indeed a huge unknown.

“I would suspect that the GEC would want to use explosive.” Mentor commented as he looked over at Ron for confirmation. "The ice under that section of the ship is solid for nearly half a mile straight down."
“We could use explosives, however we would have no idea on how that would effect the object.” Replied Ron cautiously.
“Gentleman.” Said Erin Rogers politely. “If I may?”
Everyone stepped back from the table a foot or two as Erin stepped up still holding the image that she had picked up earlier. She put the image back down on the table and pointed to a fuzzy dark line that appeared next to the hatch.
“Even through fourty meters of ice, the detail of the image that your Gravimetric Core Sampling device has rendered is impressively telling Doctor. If you will all look closely at the image you will see what I mean.” Everyone looked at it for a second without saying anything.
Captain O’Connor began to smile as he noticed what it was that Erin had seen and was now drawing everyones attention toward.
“Writing.” He said as he looked up at her. “There is some kind of writing on the hull next to the hatch.” This caused everyone else except Captain O’Connor and Carl Wilhelm to look again at the image.
“I should have mention that Mrs. Rogers is a linguistics expert. A linguist with excellent eye sight and exceptional intelligence.” Commented Carl as he looked at her with approval.
“And where there is writing next to a hatch, it is more than likely instruction on how to open it.” Commented Richard.

“Well done Mrs. Rogers.” Tom said as he gave her a broad smile. “Well done.”
“Once the area is excavated I can get a clearer image of the writing, if that is indeed what it is, and then hopefully decipher it.”

[ April 06, 2003, 17:46: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Pandoran Ship Set (http://galileo.spaceports.com/~william/pan/Pan.htm) Available for download. (Contains SPOILER Information)

[Atrocities]

BUMP for a day

[mlmbd]

Atrocities, great addition to the story! I like the shipset, as well!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[The FryeR K]

so far so great http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

keep'em comin please http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[Atrocities]

The story is not what you would call action packed is it? It will become so soon enough in its own way.

The best thing people can do is what all of you keep doing, telling those of us who post such stories that you enjoy our work. Thanks.

[mlmbd]

Atrocities, The story is not what you would call action packed is it? It will become so soon enough in its own way. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">There is much more to a good story than packing it full of action. You make your story very interesting. Even without being action packed. The roller coaster is thrilling. But, the bumper cars are bLast! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

The best thing people can do is what all of you keep doing, telling those of us who post such stories that you enjoy our work. Thanks. <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You are more than 'Welcome'!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Ruatha]

Yes. It's not an all action story.
But I think it's more interesting this way.
I'm quite curious to know what will happen.
And alien technology is always exciting.

Now, If I could just find me something similar for myself under this ice outside my house... better go looking! (It's about 5mm thick though, so it better be a small spaceship) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Ruatha, I seriously think you do not want to find this. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

Part XIII The Sect

The evening hours around the Capitol City were more often than not a time of relaxation for those who spend their day in the high stress environment of Pandoran politics. Senator Caparo Kordesh was no exception. He enjoyed his late night walk from the Senate Complex to the Salideen Temple. It was his time to reflect upon the day’s events and to center his Ki, ones soul and mind. He would walk the half-mile stretch each night that he was in the Capitol City enjoying the peacefulness of his solitary walk. The Salideen Temple was the only place within the Capital that a member of the Salideen religion could go and be left alone without interruption for as long as they chose to stay. As he walked along the path leading from the Senate Complex to the Temple, he could not help but enjoy the cool evening breeze that was blowing in from the ocean. Usually this time of the year, with the on set of winter, the breeze would be much colder. But tonight it was rather unseasonably warm and it was a welcome surprise for Caparo was unaccustomed to the cold and was thankful that tonight was warm.

The air was heavily scented with the aroma’s of the coming winter with the unmistakable sent of freshness that blew in off of the sea with the winter winds. Despite the warmness of the evening, Caparo shivered at the thought of enduring yet another cold winter in the Capitol city. Privately he yearned to return to his home in Kora, the southern most city on the Praetorian Continent. To be with this wife and children enjoying this time of the year together as a family should, but politics as they are, demanded his presence here in the Capitol city. He was taking his time this evening as he walked slowly along the path contemplating how the news of this day would affect the events of tomorrow. More importantly he was reflecting upon how he would tell the others that another ancient artifact had been discovered. He pondered what they would say and what they would demand be done. The responsibility would fall to Caparo to decide as the Enactor of his order. He had already made his choice, and he feared that the others would object, but the decision was his, and his alone. He had not risen to his position of Senator and head of the Secret Investigations Division (SID) without the political talents of a Pathor, and the cold ruthlessness of wild Darbok as it made its kill. No, he would not have become a powerful man without some measure of cold-blooded ruthlessness so he would stand by his decision to act before having spoken with the others.

Caparo entered the Salideen Temple and made his way to the Makcons office. He walked in and stood before a wall of books and in a subdued voice he spoke in old tongue giving the code that would open the passage before him. The bookshelf began to dissolve as if it were being dematerialized. It faded from view revealing a well-lit passageway. Caparo entered the passage without looking back. As he walked down the passage the bookshelf rematerialized and sealed the end of the passageway. Caparo made his way down to the end of the passageway into a large room. In it there stood three other men in front of a large round holo projector. The projector itself was actually rather large compared to the standard unit of the day, no wonder since it was engineered and constructed nearly six thousand years ago. Caparo approached the men who were obviously full-featured rendered holo images of other members and stepped up into the blue light of the holo emitter allowing it to softly scan his image, which was then instantly transmitted to the location of each of the three other men.
“Greetings fellow Illuminati.” He said politely.
“Greetings Enactor Caparo.” Spoke the man to Caparo’s right in a friendly tone. “What news do you bring us this day?”
Caparo smiled inwardly to himself before speaking. This was his moment, his moment to show the others how far he had come.
“The news I bring you occured about a week ago as a discovery was made by a scientific team on the Northern Victorian Glacier. I put Trax on alert and ordered him to monitor all military communications. Today, for the first time, General Green announced the discovery to the Prime Minister as a alien ship.” Caparo commented with some eagerness in his voice. “I have-.”
“This is an unfortunate turn of events!” Interrupted the man directly in front of Caparo in a raspy voice. He was an elderly man with long white hair and an equally long beard. Subadar Patheon Crow was dressed all in white with an even whiter complexion. Patheon possess a powerful presence and wields an intimidating demeanor as easily as any man would wield a weapon upon helpless victims. He was also, by far, the tallest of the four men standing just over seven feet tall. “How could you allow this Adamar?” He said as he looked at the man on Caparo’s left.

The man on Caparo’s left looked down slightly and then back up. If he harbored any feelings of shame or anger, his expression did not betray him. Adamar Meldorn was in Caparo’s mind a weak man. He was not physically weak as he was a healthy handsome middle-aged man with dark black hear and very tan skin. It was his Ki that was weak. Adamar was an advocate of peace and did not condone actions that resulted in people being harmed. He was more human than Alorian, and that sickened Caparo. How such a man could ascend to the rank of Pro Counsel within the Illuminati was an anomaly that Caparo wished he could rectify.

“You are correct Subadar, this event is unforgivable!” Replied Adamar evenly. “However, the likelihood of such an event was highly probable given the humans latest technological achievements and their ever increasing exploration of the Polar Regions.”
“Excuses are all you have to offer?” Commented Serrin, the man on Caparo’s right in a mocking tone. Serrin Grathor was about the same age and build as Caparo, but had a far more commanding presence. Caparo admired him, in fact he admired them all even Adamar to some degree, but Serrin by far the most. Next to himself, Serrin was one of the most ruthless of all of the Illuminati. When Serrin was elevated to the rank of Pro Counsel his first act some nine years ago was to mastermind the assassination of Prime Minister Avakor Reinhardt clearing the path for Senator Killian Delzoro, a pure bread Alorian and the ranking member of the Illuminati, to ascend to the office of the Prime Ministership.

Prime Minister Delzoro stalled the advancements of the Space Exploration Division (SED) and even managed to have many of the programs within the Division cut. His untimely death in a Sky Chariot accident, an assassination no doubt, caught the Illuminati off guard. They had not planned for the likelihood that he would be assassinated, and therefore were ill prepared to recover from his death. Delzoro was the Subadar of the Ruling Sect of the Illuminati and his death resulted in the promotion of Patheon to Subadar, Serrin to Acolapissa, and Adamar to Pro Counsel opening up the position of Enactor that Caparo now holds.

When he was elevated to the rank of Enactor, Caparo learned early on that in the Illuminati Ruling Sect, one had to be of powerful mind as well as body. Ones Ki could not be weak for a weak Ki would result in ones early death. Those who maintained control of their emotions and duties would be feared by those who did not. Caparo had been a member of the Ruling Sect ever since being elected to the senate some ten years ago. As the only surviving Illuminati member in the Senate, the rank and title of Enactor was his. The Enactor rank afforded him a position of power within the Illuminati accountable to no one except these other three men. Caparo understood that in order to became as powerful as he could, he would have to gain the trust and admiration of his fellow Ruling Sect members. A task that he has spent the better part of ten year achieving. As Enactor, Caparo was only three ranks away from becoming the absolute leader of the Illuminati. But in order to obtain the promotions that would lead him to the rank of Subadar he would have to eliminate Adamar and even Serrin. To that end he has plotted for the Last ten year.

“Well Adamar, what say you?” Demanded Serrin in a hostile tone. “Should we not have destroyed the ship sooner?”
“You speak as if you have forgotten that this matter was discussed the day the humans discovered the ship. And together we decided not to obliterate the site.” Commented Adamar in his customary even tone.
“That was over a week ago before the humans knew what it was they had discovered. Only two weeks ago did we order the assassination of John Lesser thier Space Exploration Division Director in order to further stall the humans efforts at space exploration and now all of that is in peril.” Replied Serrin sharply. “We should have eliminated those who made the discovery and yes obliterated that site from orbit immediately!”
“Is it not better that we too explore this find and gather information on the whereabouts of the Pandora? Or would you have it destroyed and with it any chance of finding her?” Commented Patheon in his harsh raspy voice.

“Pandora?” Caparo had never heard of this and in fact he had not even heard that the Ruling Sect had already been informed of the humans discovery. “What is Pandora and why was I not told of that you knew of this discovery?”
“You were not versed in all business of the Sect because you are only the Enactor and not privy to all knowledge of the Alorian race and the Illuminati.” Commented Patheon with a matter of fact tone that cut through Caparo like an ice razor though soft flesh. This hurt Caparo deeply. He had always thought that he was in the inner circle and was apprised of all. To find out now that he was not was disturbing and hurtful.

“I do not understand.” He stated simply in bewilderment.
Patheon looked to Adamar to explain and explain he did.
“You see Enactor Caparo, we Alorians are a race of genetically engineered humans that had evolved over an eon into a new species of human. Originally created as a slave labor race by humans nearly ten eons ago, the Alorians systematically rebelled and gain control over their human counterparts and established themselves as the great race of the known universe. Humans were reduced to a slave class and many trillions were exterminated as a precaution against rebellion.” Adamar looked saddened by this and paused briefly before continuing.

“We Alorians began a galaxy wide colonization program that resulted in the establishment of nearly three hundred worlds throughout known space. We rained supreme for nearly a thousand years until an some unknown and unbeatable force swept through our space and laid waste to our worlds.”

Caparo knew that the Alorian race was the dominate race of Pandora, and he even knew that they had come from another world but he did not know how that came to be or that his race was originally a slave race to the humans. He shuddered inwardly at that thought as Adamar continued the story.

“Many Alorian ships did not survive the holocaust, but a few did make it. The Pandora Colony ship was one. Filled with nearly a million Alorians and human slaves along with all of our equipment, it made its way to the safety of this system, the Tycora system, only to be damaged by a meteorite within throwing distance of salvation. Within seconds nearly nine hundred thousand died from exposure to vacuum, of those who survived, only about a tenth were Alorian.” Adamar looked toward Serrin and Serrin continued the story without pause as if he had rehearsed spoke it for many years.

“The Alorian colonist and the Overseers of the human slaves had no desire to die when the Pandora entered the atmosphere of the planet and burned up. So they put the ship under the control of its AI, and left the humans to die as they abandoned the ship in life pods. The Alorians expected to be the soul survivors of this event, but were horrified when the Pandora broke through the atmosphere of the planet hours later and safely crash-landed. Later we discovered that the humans in an ironic twist of fait name this world Pandora after the doomed slave ship that had brought them here.” Serrin was obviously disgusted by this and it was evident, but what could one do, the humans out numbered the Alorians ten to one and in order to survive they, the Alorians, had to accept the humans and their culture.

“The rest is history that you already know.” Commented Patheon. “The humans were a primitive people and had little resources available to them. The Pandora was abandoned and long since forgotten. Over the years many have discovered artifacts either from our escape pods or from peaces of the Pandora her self but no one has ever found the Pandora.” Caparo had never heard this before. He understood the history of his people that is to say the taught history, that every pure bread Alorian had been trained to believe in since childhood, but this, this was all new to him.

“Prior to our colonization of this system, our forces constructed a series of defensive satellites in the orbit of all of the habitable planet of this system. With all of the asteroid activity within this system it seemed that a protective satellite network was the perfect way to defend a planet from rogue asteroids. We have maintained control of this planets satellite network since entering the system some six thousand years ago. Over the years many of the satellites have gone off line or have been destroyed. It was satellite failure some four thousand years ago that resulted in the near destruction of this world. A failure that was not entirely accidental. You see, four thousand years ago this planet was on the verge of being invaded when the defensive satellites obliterated all but one of the invading ships. That ship penetrated our atmosphere and crash-landed. Its location was never determined given the fact that we had lost all but two of our satellites in the defense of the planet. We did not know who the invaders were, or how they happened to find this planet until just prior to the asteroid strike. This system is so far removed that the likelihood that some race would stumble upon us was remote at best. We theorized that the attackers had honed in upon the Pandora’s emergency beacon. That it was the Pandora herself that lead them to our world. We had hoped that we could find the Pandora, deactivate here bacon, repair her, and leave this planet to colonize one of the other habitable worlds of this system, when one of the remaining two satellites failed allowing an asteroid to penetrate the planet and strike our continent.” Serrin paused momentarily and looked upward before continuing. “Our race as a whole was nearly wiped out in the days that followed that cataclysm.” In all the time that Caparo had known Serrin he had never seen him look so troubled.

“We knew once the communication was made that an object had been discovered under the ice that it could only be the invaders ship. We tasked our remain satellite in preparation to obliterate the ship when Pro Counsel Adamar suggested that we allow the humans to excavate the site so that we could access the ship and gain information on the whereabouts of the Pandora.” Commented Patheon. “We are extremely fortunate that the humans have chosen to keep the discovery classified. If today is the first day that their military has announced its discovery, then may yet still manipulate the situation to our desires.”

Serrin seemed excided by this prospect. “I will order Trax to infiltrate the site immediately and gather the computer records of that ship. It will be a glorious day for the Illuminati and the Alorian people.”

Caparo swallowed hard as he broke into a cold sweat. His desire to act alone had come back to bite him in and soon soon afterward. This was not going to be good he thought to himself. “Thank god they can not see me sweating.” he said quietly to himself.
“Trax’s orders have already been given.” He said with as little emotion as he could given the sickening feeling that was now gowing within his belly.
All three men looked at him, correction looked through him. He had for all intents and purposes given Trax an order that he should not have without consulting with them first. Even as Enactor, the proper thing to have done was consult them prior to giving any orders concerning an artifact.
“Recall him!” Commented Adamar with a bit more shock in his voice than he would have preferred. “Recall him now!”
“I can not.”
“You fool!” Commented Serrin coldly. “How dare you give such and order to one of the Assassin Guild without consulting us first!”
“The order was his to give as Enactor.” Said Patheon flatly. “He does not have to consult us prior to giving such and order, it is only a courtesy. It is the standing order that all artifacts be collected or destroyed and those who discover them be eliminated.” Patheon looked at both Serrin and Adamar to calm them both before looking back at Caparo. “Send Tanix to intercept Trax and advise him to gather information prior to any containment actions. That the sight will be obliterated from orbit within five rotations regardless of the success or failure of his objective.”
“Yes Subadar.” Replied Caparo.
“And in the future, it is best that you consult with us prior to tasking any of the Assassin Guild.”
“I understand Subadar.”
“See that you do Caparo, or you will find yourself the hunted.” Serrin snapped harshly.
Caparo could only look down to hide his humiliation at having made such a mistake.
“It is not for use to blame the Enactor Serrin, for he was not made aware of our needs.” What was this thought Caparo as a wash of bile erupted into his throat. Adamar was protecting him! Caparo shivered at the thought of this weak fool standing up for him. It infuriated him on a personal level to have someone as loathsome as this weak Narvok advocating his defense.
“With respect Pro Counsel, it was my mistake to make regardless of the Sects needs or not.”
“Perhaps, but never the less, one can not plan for all contingencies if one does not have all the information.”
Caparo did not wish to continue the discussion; he simply nodded politely and looked back up at Patheon.
“I shall dispatch Tanix immediately.” With that he stepped out of the blue light of the Holo scanner and turned away from the others. He walked over to the far wall near the passage way and spoke softly.
“Tanix I have a mission for you.” Caparo waited for Tanix to respond but he did not have to wait but a few seconds.
“Orders?”
Caparo relayed the orders and then returned to the soft blue light of the Holo scanner.
“Tanix is enroute however I will have to use some of the SID officers to cover his old assignment. I will attend to that once we are concluded.”
“Very well. If Trax or Tanix communicate any findings, have them contact us all.” Commented Patheon in a tone that held a bit more sting than Caparo would have preferred to hear. Caparo looked from Serrin to Adamar then up to Patheon with no expression despite the confusion he felt.
“Forgive me Subadar, but that is uncommon.” He said with caution.
“Yes.” Replied Patheon simply then his holo image dissipated as he stepped out of view of his holo scanner leaving Caparo to star at empty space. Caparo slowly looked over at Serrin who shook his head slightly before vanishing.
“They do not trust you.” Commented Adamar politely causing Caparo to look over at him.
“You are a threat to them, and they fear you.”
“Why?”
“You command the SID and are in line to become Prime Minister in the event that Robert Benton should advocate the position.”
“This causes them fear?” Caparo could barely hold back a laugh.
“This causes them great fear. And people that they fear have a nasty habit of disappearing.” With that Adamar’s images dissipated leaving Caparo standing alone in the dark.

[ April 14, 2003, 14:52: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[mlmbd]

Atrocities, I really like the Pandora Colony ship's survival, and the inference of Pandora to establishing a new colony! Really nice stuff!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Gryphin]

"a nasty way of disspearing" ooo, I like that. Thanks for a great Monday morning read.

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. Glad you liked it.

[Ruatha]

Yes, it was good.
But I'm more interested of what is happening up on the glacier!!!

[Atrocities]

Who cares about the Glaicer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif I want more evil characters and dark plots to take over the world. Oh wait, ooo I am writing this story aren't I? Well in that case, we shall go back to the Glacier and find out what is happening. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Bump for the Day

[The FryeR K]

Keep it coming...
I love sub-plots that expand the story

NEED MORE http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

[mlmbd]

Atrocities, you had better hurry! I can see that The FryeR K is getting the shakes. From withdrawl, most likley!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Raging Deadstar]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Who cares about the Glaicer. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif I want more evil characters and dark plots to take over the world. Oh wait, ooo I am writing this story aren't I? Well in that case, we shall go back to the Glacier and find out what is happening. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hooray for more evil characters and evil plots!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[CNCRaymond]

Like I have asked in other Posts, how do you guys come up with this stuff? How? I have been following this story since you first posted it, and it never failed to keep my interest. Bravo Atrocities.

I do however have a couple of questions.

1. If they did not already have artificial gravity, then how did they keep the Tempest in the Air?

2. What are Trax and Tanix? Are they humans or these new characters, the Alorians?

3. How far are you going to take this story? By that I mean to ask are you going to take this story in the same direction that other writers have gone? You know, a rendition of play-by-play story development, or are you going to keep it original and follow a different path?

4. Is there a back-story? About what happened prior to the ship crash landing?

5. Why do you write? What drives you to do it?

[Atrocities]

Thanks CNC.

I will explain the technology regarding the Tempest in greater detail in an up coming segment. It is slightly mentioned in a previous segment. The Tempest used Repulser technology to stay in the air. In fact all atmospheric ships use repulser technology. With the development of Gravametic technology, ships that once needed a tremendous amount of space to house there repluser generators will need only a fraction of that space to house a gravametric generator.

Additionally Gravimetric generators will alow large ships to leave the planet whereas in the past they could not because of there size.

Yes, I have a complete back story developed, and written already. That was one of the first things I did.

Yes in a way the story will follow a game of SEIV, but will not solely depend upon that game to keep new stories coming in.

Why do I write? I guess I do it because I have always been a writer. I have never applied my talent to story telling before. I have a lot of experience in writing scripts for ENG and other productions. I have spent the Last 8 years writing techniqual manuals, SOP's, and other documents for my former employer. Writing a story just seemed like a fun thing to do, and it is. In many ways the story tells itself and all I do is try to keep up.

I hope this answers your questions.

[ April 24, 2003, 11:35: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XIII Trax

“I am telling you that I saw something moving.” Said Lieutenant Sam Hosi as he looked at the hand held scanner that Specialist Donald Valentine was holding.

“Well the motion scanner doesn’t show any movement.” Replied Valentine as he and Hosi slowly complete another half turn sweep of the parameter with the scanner.
“I don’t care what that things says, I saw something moving. I am going to call it in.” Commented Hosi with a hint of alarm in his voice as he turned away and started to key his COM.
“Fine go ahead and call it in.” Said Valentine in a whatever tone. “See if I care if you make yourself look like a fool.” Valentine lowered the scanner a split second before he felt the sudden and unusual sensation that comes only seconds before death. His bladder released its contents as the taste of iron began to fill his mouth. He had no feeling from the neck down, as if something had just reached out of thin air and severed his spinal cord. It was an odd sensation, dying that is, one that he had never pondered he would ever feel. He tried to blink, but his eyelids would not work. His vision began to blur as he lost all perspective of his surroundings. As he started to slump down to his knees, blood coming from his mouth and nose, his vision began to darken. His mind raced and before him he witnessed his entire life pass by. He could not speak, as he fell forward, face first into the snow. The Last thing he heard was the sickening sound of his own breath escaping from his lungs. Valentine was dead before he realized he had just been shot.

Sam felt something warm hit the side of his face before he could key his Com. He turned abruptly to face the source of the warm liquid that had just struck him, fearing that his Comrade had just spit on him, his anger flared. What he saw was not his Comrade standing next to him, but a blue flash followed by a sudden pain in his head. His ears began to ring as his head was thrust backwards. His vision immediately vanished replaced by nothingness. They say that a blind man can still see, but as Lieutenant Sam Hosi, the Officer in charge of guarding the landing pad, fell backwards into the snow he realized that was not true, for he saw nothing, nothing that is except for a brilliant inviting bright light that seemed to warm him as he moved toward it.

Slowly as if one was not sure that one was seeing something, an almost transparent form only slightly outlined by the falling snow began to approach the two bodies lying on the cold white ground of the Victorian Glacier. As Trax slowly walked up to the two dead men lying in the snow he holstered his all black very sleek looking Depleted Uranium Pulse Pistol (DUP Pistol). It was a shame that he had to terminate these two men, but one of them had seen him exit the Sky Chariot. His Optical Masking Net –or OMN- was one of the most sophisticated peaces of technology ever conceived, but it was not infallible.

In conditions such as rain, dust storms, or falling snow, air borne particles can and often do accumulate on the individual thus providing a faint out line. A OMN worked by using the principles of light refraction. To see something it had to be illuminated by light. The OMN refracted the visible light spectrum away from the individual warring it along an electromagnetic surface bending it, so to speak, away from the source thus making the person warring it nearly invisible.

It was Trax’s own body moving through the falling snow that generated an optical phenomenon known as ghosting that the trooper had seen. Stowing away on the Generals Sky Chariot was indeed risky, but given the time factor, an affordable one. Once Trax stopped moving he had but only a few seconds to respond to the threat for the falling snow would begin to accumulate on him thus compromising his position. The OMN under these conditions would protect against electronic detection, such as motion and heat sensors or scanners, but not the human eye. As the snow fell, Trax stood motionless only twenty yards in front of the two troopers. Trax knew that it was only going to be a matter of seconds before one of them noticed him becoming visible as the snow accumulated on his body, therefore he had no alternative but to terminate them.

Trax understood very well that there was no way to completely hide ones movements in the snow although the repulser shoes he was warring would prevented him from leaving noticeable foot prints in the snow, his OMN would only offer limited invisibility protection in the open while the snow fell. It would be far better to be inside away from the falling snow for as long as possible. Limit his movements and gather intelligence was the missions’ primary objective. Trax brushed the snow from his shoulders and looked around the area. He saw no one but realized that this would not Last for long once these two men failed to report in the situation would become caustic. This was a set back but one that could not be avoided. Time was now going to work against him and Trax understood that his best chance at success and at remaining hidden would be to hide these bodies.

The best option open to him at this point was to drag them back onto the Sky Chariot, but the Sky Chariot had only a limited amount of space and not many good hiding places. Especially places to hide two dead bodies. His best bet was to use his spare Optical Masking Net and cloak them both. To prevent the snow from accumulating on them Trax dragged the two dead men under the Sky Chariot before activating the OMN. It was a small device, with a limited range, but with the bodies stacked on one another, the OMN did successfully camouflaged them.

Within minutes Trax had made his way to the Operation Tent. He listened intently to the discussion in the tent waiting for someone to enter. It was only a few seconds later that two men approached the tent and opened the door to enter. Trax was well inside and standing in the clear before the tent door was closed.

“Ah Calvin and Dr. Ramzies,” Said one of the men. Trax gathered that he was Ron Lindley Chief Engineer of the project. “This is General Thomas Christopher, his Pilot, sorry I forgot your name.” Ron looked over at Richard slightly embarrassed.
“Captain Richard Hess” Said Richard as he offered his hand to the men. Calvin took Richards hand and then Toms as Ron continued the introductions.
This lovely lady is Colonel Erin Rogers and this gentleman is Carl Wilhelm, from the Space Exploration Division.”
“A pleasure.” Commented Calvin as he shook everyone’s hand. Dr. Ramzies was taking off his coat and had not seen Carl when he heard Carl’s name. He stopped cold and slowly turned. Calvin was shaking hands while Ron finished up the Introductions.
“Gentlemen and Cornel, this is my associate Calvin Kurd and Dr. Bill Ramzies one of Doctor Mentors team members.”
Carl looked right at Ramzies and smiled.
“Bill it has been a while.” He said in fake tone of politeness.
“Not long enough you bastard.” Replied Ramzies hostilely.
“Come now, is that the way you greet all of your old friend?” Commented Carl in a mocking tone.
“Old friend?” Said Ramzies coldly. “I don’t ever recall us being friends Colonel. But I will tell you what I do recall.” He said as he took a step forward.
“Bill.” Said Dr. Mentor as he put his hand on Ramzies shoulder. “This is not the time or place for old vendettas.” Ramzies looked slightly over at his friend all the while never taking his eyes off of Carl. He smiled slightly then turned and offered his hand to Tom.
“General, it is a pleasure to see you again.” He said to Tom with a smiled as Tom smiled back and took his hand. “Despite the company.”
“It is Bill.” Replied Tom kindly. “It is good to see you again.” Tom flashed a look in Carl’s direction and smiled. “Despite the company.” Tom Christopher knew Bill Ramzies from Carl’s court marshal. They both had served under him at the Pennington Massacre, and had spent a few nights in the bars in the Capitol city together during the proceedings. They had gotten to know one another quite well, and even stayed in contact for years following the court marshal, but eventually lost touch with one another over the years.

Both men laughed at the Irony of the situation for here they were standing together after so many years, in the presence of the very man that both hated. A man who had unwittingly brought them together for the first time years before and whom they had testified against in a court marshal for mass murder.

“After we are done here, why don’t you join me in the mess tent for a drink?” Bill asked kindly.
“I would love to.” Replied Tom.

Arnold never looked away from the others, but slightly leaned over and spoke softly into Carl’s ear. “You don’t have many friends do you?”
Richard having heard the comment snickered quietly next to the two men.
Carl did not respond, he simply looked on, but Trax could see, that he was not pleased. Aside from having enhanced hearing, he also had excellent eyesight and a keen ability to read people. He could see and sence that Carl Wilhelm was cleverly masking a tremendous amount of rage.

“As nice as reunion can be, I think it best that we return to the task at hand.” Commented Captain Macmillan O’Connor politely.
“Of course.” Commented Bill politely as he looked over at Calvin. “Go ahead.”
Calvin frowned slightly and took in a deep breath before he spoke.
“The ice is much denser than we had anticipated and it will take us another few more hours to safely cut through it.”
“That is not good news.” Ron said as he leaned forward and looked at the display on the table. “I thought your Gravimetric scans showed the ice to be of lower density Doctor Mentor?”
Mentor feeling slightly chapped by the comment was more than willing to defend his himself and his work.
“If you will recall Mr. Lindley, my team and I are up here to test the prototype and to discover its flaws and such.”
“Forgive me Doctor.” Commented Ron politely. “I did not mean to offend you.”
Mentor just smiled at him and nodded politely but was still miffed at him.
“Well then, I would suggest that we all get some rest.” Commented Rogers. “I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a rather long day.”
“Agreed. My men have made accommodations for you and your party General.” Said Captain O’Connor.
“Thank you Captain.” Replied Tom as he put his coat back on. “Bill how about that drink?”
“It would be a pleasure.” Replied Bill Ramzies as he fastened his coat and stepped toward the door. “Follow me.” Bill offered as he and Tom left the tent.
“Dr. Mentor?” Carl asked politely. “Do you mind if I ask you a few questions regarding your work?”
Mentor looked puzzled. He had the blank stair that a Carma beast often displays in ones headlights just prior to being struck.
“Excuse me?” He eventually asked.
“Your work on Gravimetric Technology Doctor would be of great benefit to the Space Exploration Division.” Replied Carl.
“Oh yes, of course. Yes, you may ask me whatever you like.”
“Perhaps we could talk in a more inviting environment?” Asked Carl.
“The mess tent?” Offered Mentor. “It has comfortable chairs Mr. Wilhelm.”
“That would be fine, and please, call me Carl.”

As the two men left the tent an officer approached Captain O’Connor who was organizing the materials on the table and began to whisper in his ear.
“Sir Team Six is past due and has not reported in.”

Trax could see O’Connor’s face harden at the news. It had only taken thirty minutes and already they knew they were missing men. Trax had under estimated the security of this site. A mistake that has now complicated the mission. Trax watched as O’Connor took a step away from the table and began to look about the tent with a perching glare. A glare that would send shivers up the spine of even the most hardened dark soul.

O’Connor scanned the tent from right to left before centering his stair directly at where Trax was standing. Trax for the first time in his life felt a flash of fear overwhelm him. ‘What? How could this man see me?’ He asked himself as he held his breath. But O’Connor had not seen him. He turned and barked an order at one of his officers. “Double the guard on the entrance to the object. Send out Team Ten and Eleven to search Team Six and notify all other Teams to be on alert.”

Rogers was putting on her coat when O’Connor gave the order. She looked over at Richard then back at the Captain. “Captain?” She asked. “What seems to be the problem?”
“I have two men missing Colonel, and that is damned unusual.”
“Do you believe that the security of this site has been compromised?” She asked more out of caution then curiosity.
“Yes I do.” He replied as he keyed his Com. “Winston get your *** in here!”
“Captain, Is there any thing we can do to help?” Asked Richard.
“You can notify the General for me and ask him to return here.”
“Consider it done.” Replied Richard as he started to put on his coat and looked over at Ruddy Arnold. “Sergeant stay here and assist Colonel Rogers.” Ruddy looked at Richard and despite what he thought about saying just simply nodded his acknowledgement.

Trax knew instantly that this Captain O’Connor was no fool. He would have to be far more cunning than he had been in order to avoid detection. Trax doubted that they would discover the bodies masked and hidden under the Sky Chariot but if they were then the operation would be completely compromised. Trax considered for a moment the potential for detection and decided his best option was to return to the Sky Chariot and prepare to destroy it and the bodies to prevent the discovery of the OMN and the means by which he was hidden. Above all else, his primary directive was to project the Illuminati’s technology. He waited for Richard to exit the tent and followed him out. Richard took off at a jog toward a series of tents; no doubt one of them was the mess tent. Trax knew that time was seriously working against him so he wasted little time on stealth as he made his way toward the Sky Chariot.

[ April 26, 2003, 12:42: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

BUMP, Did any one read this?

[Krsqk]

I read it. Very nice...looks like things are heating up nicely at the excavation site. Now, if I could just get ahold of one of those suits... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Keep up the good work--I eagerly await each new installment!

[CNCRaymond]

I also enjoyed it. I look forward to the next chapter.

[pathfinder]

Yes, Atrocities, some of us did read it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif Good read it was, yes http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[The FryeR K]

issa goooda
es ist gut

eh its ok http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[mlmbd]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
BUMP, Did any one read this?<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just did. Excellent, as always. Had not been on the forums all weekend!

<font color=purple>mlmbd http://www.shrapnelgames.com//ubb/icons/icon6.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/shock.gif </font

[Atrocities]

Part XIV Talk is cheep and I have an expensive ear.

It had stopped snowing and Trax was able to move undetected to the landing area in a relatively short amount of time. He could see the search teams moving in his direction and worked rapidly to attach an explosive to the under belly of the Sky Chariot. He would destroy the Chariot the in the event that the bodies were discovered. He attached a motion trigger to the surface of the Optical Masking Net –or OMN- that was hiding the two dead bodies and slowly moved away. The detonator would trigger the explosive device if the OMN were moved. Since the dead men were unlikely to move, the likelihood of the detonator going off accidentally was remote. But in the event he was otherwise occupied and unable to trigger the device himself, then the motion sensor would. Destroying the Sky Chariot was the only way to dispose of the bodies and or those who discovered them without leaving a trace of the OMN.

Trax’s mission was to evaluate the situation, gather intelligence, destroy the alien ship, and terminate any who discovered harmful information regarding the ship and its origins. He was prepared to terminate every living sole at this site to accomplish his mission regardless of his own safety. He had enough micro taterium explosives (MTE) with him to reduce a five-mile radius to smoldering ash, or in this case ice cold sludge. But for now, he would return to the Operations tent and continue to monitor the Humans.

“I can not believe that Prime Minister Delzoro would ever pardon some one like Wilhelm.” Said Bill Ramzies as he and Tom sat at a table in the mess tent drinking hot lacto berry juice.
“Believe me when I heard about it I just about shot the messenger.” Replied Tom as he sipped from his cup.
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because the messenger was none other than Robert Benton.”
“Oh.” Replied Ramzies. “That must have been tough?” Said Ramzies in more of a statement than a question but Tom went ahead and treated it as a question.
“It was more than tough. That bastard was pardoned and then took my old job.”
“You’re joking?” Ramzies said in shock. “You have got to be joking me?”
“No joke. Killian pardoned that bastard the day before he died and appointed him to the Space Exploration Division (SED) as the new Director of the Space Engineering and Planetary Colonization (SEPC) program following its reactivation.”
Ramzies shook his head slowly. “The Last time I heard from you was when you took that job. I was sorry to hear about the program being shut down.”
“I was to.” Replied Tom somberly.
“Who would have thought that you and I would be reunited in one of the coldest places on the planet? Sitting here, drinking hot lacto berry juice discussing a sadistic bastard like Carl Wilhelm who by some sick twist of fait is also here with us.” Ramzies motioned his right arm around in an arc. “Life’s little ironies.”
“Life is what it is Bill.”
“Yes indeed it is. Here you are, a General for crying out loud.” Ramzies offered his glass in a toast.
“And you a Doctor in gravimetric technology.” Replied Tom with a broad smile.
“Cheers.” The two men said then tapped their cups together.

Richard Hess entered the tent and about the same time as Dr. Mentor and Carl Wilhelm. He made his way over toward Tom and came to attention.
“General.” He said officially.
Tom looked up at him and stared blankly.
“What is it Richard?”
“I am sorry to bother you General, but Captain O’Connor needs you back at the Operations and Command tent.” Replied Richard.
Tom gave Richard a puzzled look then smiled at his friend Bill Ramzies as they began to stand.
“Looks like we will have to catch up later Bill.” Commented Tom politely. “Duty calls.”
“Indeed, I look forward to hearing how they drug you out of retirement and why they made you a General, General.” Said Ramzies. The two men shook hands and Tom followed Richard out of the tent. Bill sat back down and drank the rest of his drink alone.

Trax moved as swiftly as he could toward the Operations tent and planted a series of listening devices along the ten and the adjacent communications and command tent. Once he had completed his task he returned to the Operations tent and waited for the chance to enter. He really did not need to wait for someone to open the door, he could slip in by melding, but that took an enormous amount of energy and he was already running low due to the fact that he had his environmental suite internal temperature set to maximum to fight off the severe cold. One weakness the Alorians had, and he too by genetics, was a low tolerance to cold. He would replace the power pack once he had identified a secure and safe location. For the time being, he would stand, wait, and listen.

“So tell me Doctor, do you have any idea of how your research will improve the quality of life on Pandora?” Asked Carl as he and Doctor Mentor took a seat. Doctor Mentor had gotten himself a cup of hot lacto berry juice and was holding the cup openly between his hands.
“I know that it will allow us to explore for more resources under the ice without the risks that historically limited the development of this region in the past. Other than that I have not really considered it.”
“Ah a modest man.” Commented Carl. “You truly have no idea what it is you have invented do you?”
“I don’t follow you?”
“He is talking about weapons Doctor.” Commented Bill Ramzies from the other table. “He wants to develop your technology into a weapon Doctor Mentor.” Bill could not stand to listen to Carl’s fake generosity and mock humility any longer. Carl was playing Mentor for a fool, and it angered him greatly. He stood and walked over to their table and sat down.
“Tell him Colonel, tell the good Doctor here about what you do with weapons. Tell him about Pennington.”
Carl responded as calmly as he could. How dare he bring that up. “Tell him what?” Carl’s eyes said more then he had, he was daring Bill to answer. Bill was a smart man and knew instantly that Carl was not about to discuss the subject but would welcome the chance to tell the Secret Investigation Division that Bill had. Bill pondered for a second what would happen if he did discuss it. More than likely Carl would notify the SID and both he and Doctor Mentor would undoubtedly be classified as security risks and sent to the Gulag for the remainder of their lives. It was a better choice to change the subject and never mention Pennington again while in Carl’s presence.

“Tell him about how you want to use his technology to make weapons.”
“Bill, perhaps this is not-“ Started Doctor Mentor but he was cut off by Carl. Carl had had enough of Bill Ramzies. He disliked the mans attitude immensely and honestly just wanted to knock that smug self informed look right off of his face but reserved himself to a more professional course of action.
“It is alright Doctor Mentor, it would be better if the air was cleared before we continue our talk.”
Doctor Mentor nodded slightly and leaned back in his chair. This should be interesting he thought to himself as he folded his arms.”
“Yes by all means, lets clear the air shall we.” Commented Ramzies sarcastically.
“I am sure that General Christopher has informed you that I was pardoned by the Late Prime Minister himself?”
“He has.”
“And that I was appointed as Director of the Space Engineering and Planetary Colonization program?”
“He mentioned it.”
“Then you can understand my interest in Doctor Mentors technology?”
Bill crossed his arms, cocked his head slightly and sighed. It didn’t really matter what Carl said, Bill knew it would be a lie, but what the hell he thought. “Enlighten us but remember, talk is cheap and I have an expensive ear.”

Carl looked at Bill Ramzies with little more concern than one would give a bug just prior to squashing it. Carl could care less what he thought of him, he was here to talk to Doctor Mentor, and it was only Doctor Mentor that Carl cared about.
“Doctor Mentor, your gravimetric technology works by generating a new gravity field which defies the natural gravity within a specific area of ice thus allowing the attached scanner to accurately read the ice density and other finer characteristics; correct?”
“It is far more complicated than that, but yes, basically that is correct.” Replied Doctor Mentor politely.
“Your device by itself is more than capable of generating a rather large gravity field on lets say a scale of one to ten thousandth its size?”
Mentor did the math in his head before responding. “That is essential correct.”
“In other words, the technology that you have engineered, developed, and successfully tested could theoretically generate an artificial gravity field large enough and powerful enough to scan an area of ice equal to that of a Tempest Class Sky Carrier?”
“If we are talking mass, then yes, easily.” Replied Mentor. He was curious now, and started to understand where Carl was going. As he did, his expression began to change.
“And if that area were self contained and gravimetric device moved would the field generated by it move with it?” Carl asked.
“Yes, assuming what I think you are saying, yes, if placed on a ship such as a Sky Carrier, it would move with the ship.”
“Would it be theoretically possible to use your gravimetric device to generate a new gravity field, lets say for sake of argument, an artificial gravity field around the ship thereby allowing it to remain air born without the use of repulsers?”
Both Mentor and Ramzies sat forward abruptly. The smug look on Ramzies face was completely gone now replaced by one of seriousness as he considered this possibility.
“My God.” He uttered out loud more to himself than to the others. Carl was not lying, for he really was here on official SED business, and not here to kill them all. Bills disbelief wore on his face like a bad poker players expression at having received useless cards. This was oddly enough very gratifying for Carl as he examined their responses.
Carl observed that Doctor Mentor was looking at him with an astonished expression on his face. Obviously the Doctor had not considered all of the possibilities for his new technology.
And indeed it was true, Doctor Mentor had not considered the many possibilities for gravimetric technology. It was just now beginning to occurred to him that he had already invented not one, but several new forms of technology with a single invention.
“My god, with some refinement just one Gravimetric Device could easily provide equal too or more than enough lift for something as large as a Sky Carrier.” Ramzie finished saying in an astonished tone of voice as he looked from Carl over to Doctor Mentor.
“With standard lift thrusters and propulsion systems, a ship could stay air borne indefinitely.” Said Doctor Mentor as he continued to think of the possibilities. “Why this has never occurred to me before I don’t know.” He looked at Carl again and shook his head slightly. “The possibilities.”
“The size benefit alone would be astronomical. Your Gravimetric Device would entirely replace the need for repulser generators thus freeing up more than a third of a ships internal mass for other uses.” Ramzies commented.
“That is not all it could do. Think larger gentlemen.” Said Carl with a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Think about the practical application of artificial gravity alone.”
Mentor looked absolutely mesmerized as new thoughts began to explode and grow in his mind. The possibilities were beyond any that even he could have conceived of.
“Space exploration.” He said so softly that he wasn’t even sure if he had spoken it aloud.
“Space exploration is only the beginning Doctor.” Commented Carl with utter conviction. “Only the beginning.”

[ May 03, 2003, 09:18: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

As usual - > Goodie!

[Erax]

Excellent! I'm sure none of us readers have any idea how this will turn out. I can hardly wait for the next part!

[The FryeR K]

I like... I like...

this keeps getting better and better...

[Raging Deadstar]

Great chapter atrocities, though now i have to change My story and edit the chapters with the assasin in, you beat me to it! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Oh well, great title though! I like the idea of this trax guy not being totally unbeatable and having certain problems and constraints facing him, it makes the character sooo much better http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Great Work!

[Atrocities]

Thanks, RD, but don't alter your story because of me. It is reasonable to believe that we all will at one point or another follow many of the same ideas as we all come up with our stories. Besides, who the hell is going to read what we have posted aside from those of us here at this forum? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

And if you like Trax just wait. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[ May 04, 2003, 12:10: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1052158207.BMP http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1052158242.BMP http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/newuploads/1052158146.bmp

For those of you who like guns. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ May 05, 2003, 19:21: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Hum, no one seems to ever bump this post. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[Krsqk]

I haven't bumped the thread, but it's one of the first ones I look for when I open the forum. I enjoy your writing and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. Now if you'll just stop making each one a cliffhanger! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[dogscoff]

Bump it? I could never do that, it would be an act of cruelty:

If I bumped it, it would go to the top of the forum. Everyone else would see it there and think that you had posted an update. How disappointed would they be when they saw that it was just a lousy bump from me? I couldn't be so cruel http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Seriously though, I think people just read more than they respond. That's what I've found with O&C anyway. If you really want to see how many people are reading, do what I did: Move the story to your own site and set up a counter.

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by dogscoff:

If I bumped it, it would go to the top of the forum. Everyone else would see it there and think that you had posted an update. How disappointed would they be when they saw that it was just a lousy bump from me? I couldn't be so cruel http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Fooled me you cruel being!
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon8.gif

[Atrocities]

Ah good points. I had to find it burried on page three. I will have the next two segments posted later this week.

[The FryeR K]

just do what i do make a link directly to it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Atrocities]

Part XIV Life’s Little Surprises

Tanix Largo was not especially keen on the idea of having been assigned such a mundane task as messenger, nor was he especially fond of where he would have to go to deliver the message. Unlike many of his comrades in the Illuminati Assassins Guild, he did ask questions and often held an independent thought or two. Oh he had been warned by his superiors, including Trax himself, on several occasions not to deviate from or question orders, but to simply follow them like a good mindless drone. Tanix was unusual in that he enjoyed killing. It made him feel good to see the life fade from a victims, ‘no not victim, subjects, yes that word fit better,’ a subjects eyes. It really was not his fault that he was so sadistic; it was the fault of those who had engineered him, or was it? It was something that Tanix often thought about, but quickly dismissed. Although he enjoyed killing, many of the other members of the Assassins Guild did not. They preferred stealth and cunning over the simplicity of elimination and sanction. ‘What fools they are to deny themselves the pleasure of the kill,’ thought Tanix quietly to himself as he waited patiently, hidden from view by his Optical Masking Net, or OMN, in the cargo hold of the supply ship Voodoo. It was an easy effort to gain access to this ship as it was not guarded and only a few people were around loading supplies. Supplies that are going to be delivered from Andover Base to the Discovery sight at the Victorian Glacier. Tanix just simply strolled onto the ship without a care and took up a nice comfortable spot to kick back and wait for the ship to be loaded and depart. That was about an hour ago, and the flight crew had not yet arrived. Tanix was becoming board and his mind began to wonder as he contemplated his desire and lust to kill against his comrades’ orders to avoid killing. An unusual juxtaposition at best, and an ironic one at that. Trained and bred for one purpose in life, assassins designed to kill who avoid killing as if it were a golden rule. An unspoken rule that Tanix relished violating as often as he could.

“This will be the Last shipment to Discovery Site,” commented Pilot Joe Watson to his co-pilot Ted Barlow as they walked up the loading ramp and headed for the Voodoo’s cockpit. “The word is the site is going into absolute lock down and we are to fairy the Last of the scientific team and other nonessential personnel back to Andover.”
“Well I for one am damned happy that the hoppes to that god forsaken frozen pit are over,” commented Ted Barlow in an almost jubilant tone, “I’ve seen enough snow and ice to Last me a life time.”
“Likewise,” Joe said as he climbed into the pilot seat and began the pre-flight. “I only want to see ice in my drinks from now on.”
“Speaking of which, you still owe me two shots from our bet Last week.”
“That game was rigged and you know it Ted.”
“Oh come on now Boss, Harry beat him fair and square.”
“The hell he did, that low life stump jumper cheated.”
“I am going to tell him you said that.” Commented Ted as he smiled. “I am sure it will warm his heart and boost his ego to know that you think he is a cheater.”
“While you’re at it, tell him he owes me two drinks and your collecting for me.” Said Joe as he finished the pre-flight check sheet and handed it to Ted for review.
“Tower this is Voodoo One-Five-Zero requesting departure clearance.” Joe said into his COM.
“Voodoo One-Five-Zero, you are cleared for departure on course vector two-one-one-North. And you boys have yourselves a nice flight.”
“Thank you Tower, Voodoo One-Five-Zero completing taxi run and lifting off. See you tower heads in about six hours. Be sure to keep the Red Flame on until we get back.”
With that Joe flipped off his COM and he and Ted entered into another meaningless discussion about some arbitrary topic of little interest.

Tanix had to restrain himself from the overwhelming desire to kill these two humans in order to shut them up. It was a compulsion that he found almost to strong to control. Perhaps later he could kill them, he thought has he slowly removed a small device from his tactical utility belt, pressed a few buttons and gently stuck it to the Voodoo’s inner bulkhead. He could not see what it was he was doing but he knew exactly how to do it after years of practice, training, and practical use. He had deployed many such devices on many occasions all while being safely hidden under the protection of his Optical Masking Net. Once the device was outside of the OMN, it became visible only for a second as quickly took on the color of the surface to which it was attached and became utterly invisible. “A little return trip surprise for you both,” whispered Tanix to himself as he smiled insidiously.

The Voodoo’s flight from Andover Base to the Discovery site took about an hour. They were cleared to land and did so as they had done so many times before. The ramp dropped and Tanix was down it and out of the ship in seconds. The two pilots were still climbing out of their seats by the time Tanix made it to the Operations and Control tent.

On the Voodoo’s return trip, some five hours later, while over the tip of the Bastion Continent heading out over the Sea of Pandora, the small device that Tanix had installed finished its count down and detonated. The Voodoo exploded into a million peaces of super heated particles of metal, pLastic, and other matter. The flight crew and seventeen other men and women including many members of Doctor Mentors Scientific Team, all died in the time it takes a person to sneeze. A subsequent investigation into the loss of the Voodoo concluded that a fuel cell heating element had failed resulting in the freezing of a critical valve that when automatically engaged ruptured under pressure and caused the explosion that destroyed the Voodoo and her passengers.

The Tents were not really tents at all but prefab constructed buildings that had been assembled. Most of the small buildings were coated with fresh snow that was quickly melted and flowed off onto the ground were it would promptly freeze. The Tents had internal roof heating elements that would keep the Ice and snow from burring the structure, and they seemed to be working rather well as there appeared to be little build up of snow and ice on the Tents outer roof. As PFC Kord Anuran and PFC Leo Hurt moved along the landing area looking for the two missing soldiers, Kord looked on with little interest in his duty. He wanted to be where it was warm under one of those heated roofs, and quietly thought to himself.

“No doubt by now those missing men are sitting back in the mess tent sucking down a warm one enjoying a good laugh while the rest of us are out here freezing our balls off looking for them.” Commented Leo sarcastically.
“Or worse, this was some stinking drill that the Captain had planed and he is sitting back in the mess tent sucking down a warm one having a good laugh about it all.” Replied Kord just as sarcastically.
“Hey what that?” Asked Leo, as he moved toward what appeared to be a small lump under a government sky chariot.
“What is what?” Replied Kord as he looked over in Leo’s direction.
“I think I have found something.” Responded Leo excitedly.

Tanix shivered slightly in the cold, he had just turned his environmental suit-heating unit to maximum and was calculating the power usage when it happened.

The explosion knocked him flat face down into the snow. The force of the explosion was so powerful that it nearly caused the Operations Tent to collapse as a result of the shockwave. It took Tanix several seconds to clear his head and recall where he was. His ears were ringing and he could taste copper in his mouth. His mind began to race as he wondered if the explosive he had planted had detonated prematurely. “The pleasures of life and all of its little surprises never fail to amaze me,” he said to himself as he slowly rolled to his side as several men in white uniforms ran past him.

He had to move quickly or run the risk of being stepped on, but aside from rolling onto his side, he could not otherwise move. He was in pain now, not that simple kind of pain one would expect from having just been blown to the ground by a powerful explosion, but a more sinister kind of pain that cames from having been struck by a peace of shrapnel that had been blown away from a ship by a powerful exposition which had just knocked you face down to the ground.

Tanix simply laid there hoping that no one would see his outline in the snow, or worse, step on him. He ran calculations in his mind and determined that the explosion had not come from the ship he had just left therefore his surprise had not gone off. No, the explosion had come from directly behind him about three hundred yards away. He could hear men yelling now, they were shouting about that a sky chariot had just exploded and that several men were injured. A sky chariot he thought to himself, it must have been rigged to blow by Trax. But why would Trax draw attention to himself by blowing up a sky chariot? It was an odd thing to do for one who wished to remain unknown.

Something odd was beginning to happen now, Tanix could feel his heart beat slowing, the pain was beginning to subside, and he could breath without wincing. The Environmental Suit was beginning to administer pain medication and adrenaline. A welcome sensation to be sure thought Tanix as he slowly lifted himself up off of the ground and stood. He was weak and could feel that he had a few broken ribs. ‘Oh those are going to hurt like hell in the morning,’ he thought to himself as he slowly moved into a shadowed area next to the Communication tent. He knew that Trax was around, and quietly spoke into his COM. At this distance it was relatively safe to break radio silence and advise Trax that he was present with new orders. Trax would no doubt not respond but would instead make his way to Tanix in short order.

Tanix took in a deep breath and spoke as clearly as he could. “Trax, operational objective modified, current location south-west Communications tent. Status injured.”

The medication was beginning to fade and Tanix realized that he would have to have Trax’s help to remove the shrapnel from his back. From the feel of it, it was a jagged peace of cast epoxy steel, the substance used as plating on the outer hull of ships and vehicles. It was a semi medium size peace of shrapnel that felt warm and rather unfriendly as his sat lodged in his back. Tanix’s major concern was that his Optical Masking Net had been damaged or worse, he himself had been seriously injured. He would know soon enough.

Trax was standing by the entrance to the Command and Operations Tent when the explosion occurred. He could see General Christopher and his aid Richard Hess leveled to the ground by the explosion. No doubt one of the search parties had discovered the bodies of the two soldiers that he had to sanction upon his arrival and subsequently hid under the sky chariot that he had arrived on. He had hidden the men under his spare OMN and placed a motion sensitive explosive along with them in the event that they were discovered. A good precaution since they were obviously discovered.

The explosion did not startled Trax as he had expected it once he placed it, but what did cause him to unexpectedly draw in a breath, despite the best training the Illuminati could provide, was the unexpected COM message from Tanix.

[Atrocities]

bump for the day

[CNCRaymond]

Nice read. I thought you had given up on this story. glad to see that you have not.

[Raging Deadstar]

I wonder how these two are going to interact with each other. I imagine tanix isn't going to get any sympathy. Great Chapter as always, keep up the good writing! I await with baited breath (sp?) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Part XIV Moved up a few thread to correct grammer issue. Thank you Ruatha. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

And I added some to the story to beef it up a tad.

[ May 25, 2003, 09:43: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

Great as usual.
Just one critisism, exchange women to woman, it makes it easier to understand the story.
(nitpicking from my part!)

[ May 24, 2003, 14:46: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Raging Deadstar]

Great Addition Atrocities. It's interesting what abilities these Assasins have hidden up their sleeves, and now a love interest. Gee as soon as SE becomes a commercial sucess this'll be made into a movie http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[CNCRaymond]

Ya,a nice addition. Great read, but a little slow. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Your story is more indepth than most of us are used to.

[Atrocities]

{Thanks Ruatha} http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Part XIV Next Time Duck

“We will be alright Tom,” said a very lovely looking woman holding a young child in her arms. “I doubt they will bombard the city.”
Tom leaned in and kissed the women gently on her lips. Afterward he starred into her deep green eyes for what felt like an eternity. He hated to leave his wife and daughter alone while he went off to defend the city from attack by the Global Alliance. He leaned down and softly kissed his newborn daughter, Emily, on her forehead. He then whispered ever so softly, “Daddy loves you and no matter what happens, know that I always will.”
Tom Straitened back up and once again kissed his wife but this time it was the kind of kiss a man gives a women when he is not sure whether or not he will ever see her again. The kind of kiss that Lasts forever. Once they had relaxed away from their passionate embrace, Tom smiled and said as confidently as he could, “I love you Mira, you and Emily both. I want you two to be safe, and I will see you once this is all over.”
Tom then slowly turned, as Mira eyes began to water, and started for the door. He glanced back one Last time and his heart was warmed, his resolved to do or die cemented, and his duty clear. He must protect them both from harm by taking down as many Global Alliance ships as he could. Tom looked away without ever considering that that would be the Last time he would ever see his wife and daughter again.

“General! General!” It was at first a faint voice, ever so soft, and then it began to get louder and move from the distance toward him. “General Christopher can you hear me?” It was an unfamiliar voice, it was female, and it sounded as if it was coming from now where and everywhere at the same time. Then Tom felt something shaking him, an odd sensation as he stood there on his porch in Evergreen City looking up at the blue sky. The shaking continued as Tom began to notice that the sky had begun to change color. It was no longer the deep cobalt blue that it had only been seconds ago, but now it had taken on an imperial white color, the color of snow.
“General Christopher can you hear me?” The voice had become so loud that he could not avoid it, it was emanating from all around him now. The shaking became more violent and Tom had to brace himself against the wall then suddenly, as if time flashed in his mind like a night beacon being switched on then off then on again, he was awake starring into the face of one of the most attractive woman he had ever seen.
“Mira,” he said without thought, slightly stunned before his senses returned and he recalled where he was.
“No General, my name is Nina Smith.”
Tom Tried to sit up but found the effort to painful to continue. He relaxed and slumped back down. His mind was racing now, for the Last thing he remembered was Richard walking in front of him. Now he was looking up into the face of this lovely woman with the most radiant green eyes he had ever seen. Even more brilliant than his wife’s. She also had long black hear that looked like a vain of pure Tivan Silk. She was strikingly beautiful; a real angel if ever there was such a thing. Tom laid there quietly for a second collecting his thoughts and gazing at the women looking down at him. Finally he had assimilated enough of his memory to ask her a question.
“What happened?”
“Your sky chariot exploded, you and your aid along with several others were injured by the bLast.” She responded in a soft comforting tone. It was so soothing to hear her speak that Tom nearly blacked out again. He caught himself and fought the urge to drift off. He struggled to keep his mind focused as he tested his extremities one by one. ‘Ok, I can feel my feet and hands. I hurt, but I don’t hurt that badly,’ he said to himself as he concluded his ‘I’m in one peace’ self-examination.
“Help me to sit up.” He said as he attempted to do it by himself and realized that he could not.
“Really sir, you should stay lying down, you took one hell of a hit.”
“I have to check on Richard. Is he alright?”
“He is about like you except he was hit by a peace of shrapnel.”
Tom’s face frowned at hearing this news. He doubled his effort to sit up and with the lovely woman’s help he was able to do so. A wave of nausea rushed over him and he felt as if he were going to vomit. His head spun, and his ears popped. He could feel his own heart beat beating hard and fast. His ribs began to hurt and it was hard to breath. But despite this, he stood up. The young woman braced him, as he looked around the tent. There were many injured people in their and many more attending to them. He stood there for a moment, waiting for the nausea to pass, before asking the young woman to take him to his aid Richard Hess.

It took Trax about a five and a half minutes to traverse the distance from the Operation Tents front side to the back of the Communications Tent. There were many people running about now, some tending to the wounded, and others attempting to put out the many small fires that had spawned into existence. Trax could see that the explosion had all but atomized the sky chariot leaving what was left of the craft scattered in smoldering black peaces of twisted debris and burnt metal all over the white ground of the Glacier. There was a large crater where the craft had sat with steam and smoke rising from it in tandem swirls of black and white vapor. Trax noticed that the explosion had also destroyed the two Prowlers parked next to the sky chariot and had damaged a third. A transport was also slightly damaged, but still looked to be in good shape. That had to have been the ship that Tanix had arrived on.

As Trax cleared the back of the Command tent he could see Tanix sitting in the shadow cast by the Communications tent. His optical scanner allowed for the detection of Optical Masking Net’s thus allowing him to see Tanix even though he was masked and cloaked from view. It looked to Trax that Tanix was indeed injured and having a tough go of it. He slowly moved up next to him, and saying nothing, he pulled out a small hand held medical scanner and began checking Tanix.
Tanix had passed out by this time and was not offering any resistance, a sign of serious injury, or a serious weakness on his part. Trax concluded the scan, reached behind Tanix and grasped the object that had punctured him and with one even pull yanked the shrapnel from Tanix’s back. This caused Tanix to awaken but to his credit, he did not scream or otherwise make a sound. He looked over at Trax and smiled, “Good to see you again Master Trax.” He said slowly and with some difficulty.
“Be quite you fool. Lean forward so that I can apply the liquid bandage.”
Tanix did as he was told, and leaned forward. The liquid bandage felt warm when it was applied and almost as soon as it hit his skin the pain began to subside.
“This will stop the bleeding and allow for your body to begin healing its self.” Trax said quietly. During this entire time they had been passed by many people, none of whom had seen them. Trax had to apply the liquid bandage without seeing where it was he was applying it. He could not have Tanix disengage his OMN, as that would have resulted in him becoming visible.

“Can you stand?” Asked Trax as he himself stood. He knew that Tanix could see as well as he could, and that in the optical scanner he was a yellow outline. Tanix slowly stood, it caused him considerable pain to do so, but he did do it and he did it without muttering a sound. ‘Far better to appear strong than to be strong,’ he thought to himself as he gritted his teeth.

“This way, I know of a place that will offer us sanctuary for the time being,” said Trax as he started walking off toward a Snow Marshal, a small ten-man transport sitting all alone next to the supply tent acrossed from the Troop Billet.

“General,” said Captain Macmillan O’Connor in a concerned tone of voice as he entered the mess tent and took in the scene. “I was told you were injured in the bLast.”
“He was Captain, but he refuses to lay down allow me to administer first aid until he has seen his aid.” Commented Nina Smith.
“Here allow me to help sir,” Said O’Connor as he put his arm under Toms and around his back, lifting him and giving him support. “Ms. Smith if you please.” He said indicating her to lead them to where General Christopher’s Aid, Richard Hess was being treated.
“He is in the kitchen, next to the door leading to the storage tent.” She said politely as she began to lead the two men in that direction.

Tanix climbed into the Snow Marshal first followed by Trax who closed the rear hatch. “We will be safe in here for a while. Disengage your OMN, and allow your energy pack to recharge,” Said Trax flatly as he disengaged his own OMN. The two of them shimmered slightly then materialized into full view of one another.
Without waiting for Tanix to speak, Trax fired off the question, “What are you doing here?”
Tanix sat for a second, attempting to get comfortable before replying. “I was sent to give you new orders.”
“The operation has been modified?”
“Affirmative. You are ordered to gather Intel on the object and ascertain weather or not its main computers can provide the location of other artifacts, namely the ship Pandora.”
“Then it has been determined that this ship is not the Pandora?”
“Affirmative. You are ordered to destroy it once you have the data. I was to assist you, but given my injury, I will not be able to.”
“Next time duck,” said Trax harshly.
Tanix had long since learned that his old Master Trax had a dark and drule sense of humor. To expect him to feel sympathy for his misfortune at being in the wrong place at the wrong time was pointless.
“Why did you destroy that ship? Doing so will only alert the humans that you are here.” Replied Tanix calmly.
“It was snowing when I departed the ship, two humans spotted my movements and had to be eliminated. I hid them under the ship using my spare OMN to camouflage them. I placed a Micro Taterium Explosives near them with a motion trigger in the event they were discovered.”
“I take it that they were discovered.” Said Tanix mockingly.
“I would say yes.” Replied Trax seriously having paid no attention to Tanix’s tone.
“The humans will no doubt begin to look for us.” Commented Tanix as he slightly sat up and looked out the forward window of the Snow Marshal. “This location will not remain secure.”
“It is secure for the time being. They have already searched it, and marked it as such.” Trax was looking at his Command and Control Pad (CCP) marking the location of all the humans within its scanning range. I have penetrated their Command and Control network and I am plugged into all of their CCP’s. If they plan to search this area again, we will have adequate time to relocate.” He tossed Tanix the CCP and checked his suites recharge meter.
“Most likely the humans will consider the explosion an act of sabotage, but with nothing to proceed on, and limited by the loss of man power, they will continue with their plans t lock the site down and evacuate the wounded and non essential personnel as planned.”
“They have recalled their patrols to evacuate the wounded,” Tanix said as he held up the CCP for Trax to view.

“Once they begin to evacuate their wounded we will be afforded the chance, although limitedly, to move about freely. I will infiltrate the object, and obtain the information needed prior to destroying it.”
“What of me? My strength has returned and I am able to assist,” Tanix said with some confidence as he once again adjusted his position. “Honor dictates that I participate.”
“No,” Replied Trax coldly, “you are injured and therefore you will make your way to the evacuation point and await my arrival.”
“This is unacceptable.”
“Your OMN is damaged and your spare unit is non-functional.”
“What?” Said Tanix as he reached for his spare OMN and felt it. It was indeed damaged and would not deploy when activated. Tanix felt his stomach sink as he looked up at Trax with a blank disappointed expression on his face.
“The success of this operation dictates that you continue on with the mission alone.” He finally said with little emotion. This would be his first failure, mission wise, since he became active. It was not a palatable experience to say the least.
“Agreed,” replied Trax as he reached for Tanix’s CCP. “I shall adjust your CCP and you may use it to avoid the human patrols. I will also need your Micro Taterium Explosives (MTE) as the object is far larger than our Intel had reported.”
Tanix handed over his MTE’s and took his CCP from Trax without comment.

Trax, upon the full recharge of his OMN, reactivated it and slipped out of the Snow Marshal and headed for the opening that the humans had cut into the ice in order to gain access to the object. He slipped by the guards as easily as a soft summer breeze blows by those who are napping ever so comfortably on the beach.

He moved down the tunnel to where the humans had stopped excavating and could clearly see the hull of the ship through the ice. Trax estimated that it would likely take the humans about three to five hours of normal excavating to expose the hull. Once that had been completed, Trax would create a diVersion and then meld through the bulkhead at the door and enter the ship. He would be going about his mission while the humans attempted to gain access. Once he had completed his mission, he would exit the vessel and make his way to his evacuation point.

By the time the humans gained entry, he would be well on his way back to the warmth of the Capitol City and the Humans well on their way to oblivion. However, until then, he would have to hide. Trax found a small area out of sight of the main tunnel, a natural fracture in the ice that broke off into several different direction providing ample areas for Trax to hide. He found a good location to conceal himself from view and disengaged his OMN. He would need all of his Environmental suites energy in order to meld through the objects hull. He had no idea how thick the hull was, and did not want to run out of power half way through it. He had heard stories of that happening to other Operatives, and did not want to add his name to that dubious list of failures.

“Richard you really need to learn how to duck when the other guy swings at you.” Commend Tom in a sincere but slightly joking tone of voice as he looked down at his aid. Richard looked like he had taken the blunt of the explosion. His hair was slightly singed and his face blackened. Tom could see that blood had at one point been coming from his eyes, nose, mouth and ears. A sight that made Tom shudder.
“General,” said a young woman kindly, “he looks worse than he is.”
“Thank you Melissa,” replied Nina softly.
Richard smiled slightly and tried to speak. “I could offer you the same advice General,” his voice was very weak, almost un-hearable, but everyone who could hear it smiled.
“Captain,” asked Tom “how many did you loose?”
Captain O’Connor did not look down; he simply answered the question as honestly as he could. “I lost four men to the explosion with another seven, not including you or Captain Hess, having been injured.”
“I am sorry to hear that Captain,” Tom said solemnly with sincere reflection that only an officer who had lost men could understand. “It is never easy to loose good men to such a tragedy.”
“With all do respect General, this was not tragedy.” Replied O’Connor angrily.
Tom looked over at him and studied him for a moment. “What do you mean?”
“I had sent for you just prior to the explosion because two of my men had gone missing.”
“Missing?” Tom asked innocently. “And you think this had something to do with the explosion?”
“I do General. I do not believe in coincidences, nor do I believe that a sky chariot would suddenly explode right in the middle of search operation.”
“Some one blew up my sky chariot to hide something.” Tom understood full well what the Captain was getting at. What ever had caused his two men to go missing was most likely connected to the sky chariots explosion. The explosion was more than likely designed to cover up something.
“Most likely sir.”
“What is your game plan then Captain?”
“We lost two of our Prowlers in the explosion, and a third was damaged. I have recalled the remaining three back from patrol and will have one of them fly the wounded back to Andover Base. The other two can pick up the Scientist and troops in Davenport and take them to Andover as well.”

“What about the scientist and non-essential personnel still here?” Asked Tom.
“They can go out on the transport that is off loading cold weather equipment. It was only slightly damaged by the explosion and will be completely off loaded within a few hours.” Replied O’Connor as he consulted his CCP.
“What are talking about? I was not informed that any of my scientist would be leaving.” Commented Doctor Mentor angrily as he and Doctor Ramzies entered the room. “Would someone please explain this to me?”

“Don’t worry Doctor, you, Doctor Ramzies will be remaining behind to assist us with gaining entry and evaluating the ship.” Replied Captain O’Connor without looking up from his CCP. “We need to evacuate all other personel, including your people, in order to secure the site completely. As it stands Doctor, we may have an unwanted visitor and the more people running around the harder it will be for us to contain the site.”
“I see, the explosion then was not an accident?” Asked Doctor Mentor politely.
“No Doctor is was not.” Replied O’Connor simply.
“We had heard that it was a ruptured fuel repulser power cell that blew.” Commented Doctor Benton as he observed Nina Smith cleaning General Christopher’s facial wounds with some measure of amusement. Nina was enjoying herself.
“No Doctor, an explosion of that size could have only been caused by a fuel cell or an explosive device. And I want to thank you both for your help with the wounded. In fact, thank you all for your help.” Replied Captain O’Connor as he looked about the small room from face to face.

“Requesting permission to remain on site as well sir,” asked Richard.
Tom looked back down at Richard and smiled. “I want you to head back to Andover for a full check up Captain. No arguments.”
“Thank you General,” commented the young lady who was attending to Richard.
“General allow me to introduce to you my nurse, Melissa Anne, she is a student of Doctor Ramzies.” Richards voice had returned, although it did seem to have a bit more energy then Tom was accustom to hearing. It only took one look to know why. ‘Well I’ll be damned’ thought Tom to himself. Richard is in love with his nurse, and rightfully so as she was a very attractive woman. Tom could not suppress a smile and had to think before he opened his mouth to say anything.
“I think Ms. Anne is correct, and I would be most appreciative if she would accompany you back to Andover Base.”
Tom could see instantly by the smile on Ms Anne’s face that his request was greatly appreciated. She smiled broadly and looked right down at Richard blushing slightly. ‘Oh ya, the love bug has struck once again.’ Tom thought to himself in an amused way. How many good men had he lost to this infectious ailment he could not count. Now only if he could get Ms. Smith to stay behind.

“Well then, if your aid is going to be keeping his nurse, then I must demand that you, General, keep yours.” Nina Smith said in a charged voice as she finished cleaning Tom’s head wound. It was apparent to Tom that Nina Smith was not the kind of woman that men blew off. She was, among many things, full of pride and spirit. Tom liked her the instant he opened his eyes and starred into those radiant green eyes of hers.
“Who am I to argue with the Doctor,” he said as he smiled at her.
“I am not a Doctor yet, but if you military types keep getting hurt, I sure as hell will become one soon enough.”
Everyone seemed to laugh lightly at her comment including Tom who especially enjoyed her sense of humor.

“Captain,” it was Lieutenant Michael Winston voice coming over O’Connor’s COM, “Guardian One has landed and is ready to take on the wounded.”
“Very good Lieutenant, please advise Major Mantel that in light of our current situation I will require the services of his Tactical Trooper, Sergeant Harris.”
“Affirmative Sir. And sir in case you were not informed, one of the dead PFC’s was from Guardian One.”
O’Connor closed his eyes for a brief second before responding.
“Please inform Guardian One’s crew, and express my regrets. O’Connor out.”
“Yes sir.” With that the COM went dead.

“Richard, you have a nice flight now. I am sure the pilot of Guardian One will give you a smooth ride down the mountain,” Tom said in his usual bantering way. Richard new he was poking fun at him for the bumpy ride in.
“I’ll see you in a few days sir.” Richard said as Tom and Captain O’Connor left the room.

Nina had spent much of the time cleaning the Generals wounds and wanted to wash up. She could not explain it, but she found the General to be one of the most attractive men she had ever seen. ‘Oh stop it,’ she said to her self as she washed up. ‘Sure he is a handsome man and he is probably married.’ She stared at herself in the mirror for a long while before dawning her coat and helping the others to load the wounded onto Guardian One.

[ May 25, 2003, 09:38: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

Can't get enough, keep it coming.

I hope the ice falls down over that Trax figure.

[Raging Deadstar]

No way Ruatha, i wouldn't trust these pandorans with anything more harmful than wooden sppons! Then again it's probably why i wouldn't even trust humans with that! Go Trax! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

Part XVI Buried Alive

Trax waited patiently in his hiding spot, his OMN off until the time was right. The humans had just cleared the Last of the ice from the hull of the object. Trax knew it was a space ship, most likely one of the many ships that had attempted to land on the planet over the millennia but were repulsed or destroyed by the old orbital defense of this planet. Trax never believed that the Human could have ever had the technology to build such devices let alone travel the stars, but something, something deep within him told him that there was more to the universe than he could possibly believe.

Trax could not explain it, but something deep inside of him believed in something that was much more than mere word could ever possibly explain. A force of life, a sensation of nature, or even perhaps the universe it’s self, a being or substance that was far more than flesh and bone. Trax did not understand why he believed in this, he only knew that he did. The humans call this thing God, but Trax felt that it was far more than what the humans had come to believe it to be. Some how the word God paled in its descriptive ability at describing what it was that Trax had been touched by.

As he activated his OMN, Trax could not help but reflect back upon the day that he was touched. Prior to that day he could kill without regret, without concern, and without guilt, but now, after that day, he knew to kill a living being was evil act that that brought pain and sufforing to all. He now felt anguish over having to take a life, he never felt that prior to his day of enlightenment, but now, now he knew taking a life was an indeed a truly evil act, an act that was both as wrong and as in moral as any act that could ever be committed by a living being against another.

Trax truly hated having to kill, especially now that he knew it was wrong, but he was what he was engineer to be, a cold-blooded killing machine, and nothing, not even the will of God himself could ever reverse the horror that he has caused, or will continue causing. All he could do now, when forced to kill, was to make it as painless as possible for his victim, and hope that when his time came, God would have mercy upon his sole.

With deliberate will of force Trax, hidden by the cloud of his Optical Masking Net, (OMN) moved slowly toward the two men standing near the entrance of the tunnel that lead to the surface. He had drawn his Taber, a doubled sided blade of polished dorinium with a dark Decka wood handle, and had crept up to the first man. With out pausing he sliced the blade of his Taber through the mans neck severing his arteries, bone, muscle, and flesh from the mans right ear all the way over to the left ear. The cut took only a millisecond to perform, and the man never cried out. His hands never made it to the lethal wound, as he was dead before his mind could grasp the horror of the situation. The poison on his blade saw to that. The second man, having just been hit by the spray of the dead mans blood as it pulsated out of his neck wound in several great streamers of crimson, which faded in seconds as the mans heart stop beating, turned and before he could control himself, let out a blood curdling scream that was heard for miles.

Sergeant Ruddy Arnold had seen his share of death but nothing in his life had ever prepared him to for this. The sudden shock of seeing a man die only seconds after having talked to him was more than his mind was prepared comprehend. He had screamed before he realized he had done it. By instinct alone he had raised his pulse rifle in a split second, clicked off the safety and squeezed the trigger. The pulse rifle, utilizing a compressed pulse antium coil, erupted into action firing twenty round pulses per second of positively charged depleted uranium 980 pellets. The effect of which instantly shattered the surrounding ice along the walls of the tunnel like glass. Ruddy fired the rifle at first blindly in all directions, then slowly gaining control of his fear and allowed his military training to take effect, began to control the direction of his fire. He held his fire and swept the tunnel from side to side while looking down the sights of the rifle. His COM chirped once then twice again before he felt secure enough to respond.
“What in the hell is going on?” Yelled a voice. Ruddy did not at first recognize it, but as his heartbeat slowed and his mind began to clear, he replied.
“PFC Ledie is dead.”
“Ruddy this is Tom, what in the hell is going on? Why are firing?”
Ruddy continued to scan the hall as he slowly backed his way out toward the surface. He could hear other soldiers coming up behind him as their feet compressed the snow.
“I say again, something just killed PFC Ledie.”

Tom and the others had heard the scream then the gunfire and had all taken cover. Tom knew that Ruddy Arnold was not a man easily frightened, and if he was firing his rifle, then it was to save his own ***.
“Sergeant, what is your situation?” Tom asked in an official tone of voice trying to get Arnold to respond with more information.
“I am working my way out of the entrance tunnel, something killed PFC Ledie, slit his throat while he was standing right next to me.”
“Did you hit it?” Captain O’Connor asked over the COM.
Tom had not yet dismissed the Captain as he had just returned to the excavation site when the scream and shots rang out.
“I don’t know sir, I am shooting up the tunnel pretty good though, and I can’t imagine anything surviving it.”
“Sergeant ceases your fire. We are sending in reinforcements.” Yelled O’Connor into his COM as he gave a gesturing order to two armed troopers to head out.
“I think I got it.” Replied Arnold as he held his fire and swept the ice corridor from side to side with the muzzle of his pulse rifle. Two troopers came down the corridor from the main chamber heading toward him, and another two came up behind him, guns ready, but nothing to shoot.

The diVersion had worked perfectly and Trax was well clear of the entrance shaft a good millisecond before the surviving trooper opened fire. As the drama played out, Trax made his way toward the main chamber and the exposed bulkhead of the alien ship.

The humans were all hiding or attempting to do so as Trax slowly made his way through them. By the time he reached the bulkhead several of the armed humans had already left the chamber no doubt on their way to assist their comrade in arms. Trax smiled to himself, rather astonished at how well his diVersion had worked. In the hours before the humans resumed excavating the ice chamber, just to be on the safe side in the event that he had he been discovered, Trax had taken the precaution of planting a few Micro Taterium Explosives (MTE), in various locations of the tunnel and could have detonated them cutting the chamber off from the outside. The few humans that would have been left in this chamber, cut off from reinforcements, would have posed no problem for him. But as it now stood, he had gained access to the object without interference, and would most likely not need the MTE’s. He had long since learned the lesson that it was better to keep them active then to deactivate them therefore he did not deactivate prior to morphing through the hull of the ship.

Tom was standing with Colonel Rogers and Carl Wilhelm when Sergeant Harris and Captain O’Connor escorted Sergeant Arnold into the main chamber. Tom could tell instantly that whatever had happened, it had had a profound impact upon Arnold for he was as pale as the snow out side.
“Whoever it was knew what they were doing.” Commented Captain O’Connor. “It was a clean kill.”
“Ruddy, what happened?” Asked Tom.
“I don’t know General, Ledie and I were just shooting the fodder about nothing in particular when he stopped talking. It was just then I felt something warm hit me and I knew instantly that it was blood, but I had no idea.” He paused and just looked blankly at Tom.
“Now idea about what?” Tom asked him.
“No idea that man could be killed so quickly.” The look he gave Tom would forever haunt Tom’s dreams. It was a look that Tom had never seen before, one that he prayed to god he would never have to see again, the look of absolute fear.
“Carl I want you to take Arnold top side and see to him.”
“Yes General.” Carl voice was sincere. He stepped forward and took Arnold by the arm. “Come on Ground Pounder, let’s go get you something warm to drink.”
Tom had never considered, not even for a second that Carl had reformed, but after seeing this display, Tom had no doubts that Carl Wilhelm had indeed changed.

For the next hour and a half Colonel Rogers, assisted by Nina Smith worked on deciphering the alien language. Nina Smith first course of study was in language and mathematics, and was proving to be invaluable. Colonel Rogers had expressed privately to Tom that she was impressed with Nina’s skill and that with her help they should be able to decipher the alien language sooner than she had hoped for.

Tom had decided to hold off on having Sergeant Harris and Captain O’Connor relieved of duty in light of what had happened earlier. It was now clear to everyone that they did indeed have an un-wanted visitor. Who he, or she was Tom did not know, but one thing was for certain, whoever it was, was one highly trained individual. So far no one left alive had seen the intruder, there was no evidence to account for his presence that is except for the death toll, which now stood at five.

The main chamber had been scanned with a bio scanner, and aside from Tom, Colonel Rogers, Nina Smith, and a few armed guards, everyone else was either confined to the mess tent, aside from those operating the command, operations, and communication tent, or were out looking for the intruder. Obviously whomever it was had to have escaped out of the ice tunnels to the surface for no man could have survived the firestorm that Sergeant Arnold had unleashed into that ice corridor. Tom knew this, but something inside of him, deep down was driving him mad. Arnold did not see who killed the PFC, nor were there any footprints or any other signs that would indicate that any one other than the PFC and Ruddy were in that corridor at the time the PFC was killed. That left only two possibilities, Ruddy killed the PFC and was using this story to cover it up, or he was telling the truth in which case that meant that the attacker, ‘no’ assassin could not be seen.
Tom drew in his breath at that thought. He knew that Ruddy was telling the truth, for he had heard rumors about an elite assassins guild that had the ability to mask or otherwise hide their appeared. A rumor that Tom would have cast off as utter Dayton fodder if not for actually having seen one. It was on the Bridge of the Tempest, right before he killed that vol Devon Gore, that he, just for a second, off to one side, caught a glimpse of something moving. It was not a solid object it appeared to be more or less like a mirror being moved slowly through a room. Its reflection bending the light and objects it passed as it slowly traversed it course through the Tempests Bridge. It had vanished the instant he took notice of it, leaving him with the sensation that often has been describe as having been bushed by a ghost. A truly evil and dark feeling that send shivers up your spine generating goose pimples and razing the hairs on the back of your neck. Ever since then Tom could not sake the feeling that he was being watched.

Doctor Mentor and Doctor Ramzies had left the chamber to get something to eat in the mess tent, leaving no one in the chamber to monitor the seismic monitoring device. At first Tom felt what he could only describe as a wavy feeling passing under his feet, a quick glace at the others in the chamber confirmed that what he had experienced was not a solitary sensation. They all had felt it. Without being prompted Nina Smith moved over to the monitoring equipment and within a second gasped. She moved her hand to her mouth and looked up at Tom and then the others with a stunned expression on her face.
“The ship has begun generating heat.”
Everyone moved, except for Tom and the two troopers, one of which was Sergeant Harris, over to look at the monitors. Tom looked around the chamber and noticed that the ice was beginning to melt.
“Everyone out of here now!” He ordered.
Colonel Rogers, the two engineers from the GEC, sprinted toward the chamber exist and the long corridor that lead to an even longer corridor that lead to the surface.

Nina Smith started to grab equipment when Tom yelled at her. “Get out of here now, that is an order!”
The others had cleared the entrance to the chamber when the ground began to sake violently throwing Tom, Nina, and the two troopers to the ground. The seismic event continued for several seconds before calming down. Tom had barely begun to stand when the first explosion occurred. The walls and ceiling of the main chamber entrance collapsed filling the main chamber with ice particles and plunging the room into nearly absolute darkness.

It took several seconds before Tom’s eyes could adjust to the lowered light level. There was enough light penetrating down through the ice above them to give the chamber a soft eerie blue glow. There was not a lot of light, but enough to allow them to see. Just then a light beacon was turned on. Tom looked over at it as several chemical lights were activated and tossed out into the center of the chamber brightening up the area to an almost normal light level.
“PFC Hamlin is dead sir.” Reported Sergeant Harris.
“Nina are you alright?” Tom asked before he realized he had.
There was a cough or two before she answered. “I am fine. What in the hell just happened?”
“Good question. Sergeant, check your COM.”
Without replying Harris activated his COM and spoke into it.
“This is Sergeant Harris to command and operations, do you copy?”
There was not answer at first so he repeated his hail. This time a reply came through.
“Harris this is Lieutenant Winston what is your situation?”
Harris handed his COM over to Tom who spoke into it.
“Lieutenant, this is General Christopher, there has been an explosion in the one of the corridors and we are trapped in the main chamber.”
“Understood General.”
“Did any of the others make it out?”
“Colonel Rogers and the two GEC engineers made it out sir. They are shaken up a bit though, and have minor injuries. Nothing that a few liquid bandages can’t take care of. What is your situation?”
Tom looked around the chamber taking in the situation. “One down, PFC Hamlin, the rest of use, Nina Smith, and Sergeant Harris are well.”
“General this is Captain O’Connor, can you tell me what caused the corridor to collapse?”
Tom looked over at Nina then to Harris who was studying the ice at what had once been an eight-foot high by six-foot entrance into the chamber.

“An explosive device.”
“Colonel Rogers is telling me now that the ship is also generating heat and we all have felt the seismic activity.”
“Affirmative.” Replied Tom.
“I will have a team start digging you all out momentarily Doctor Mentor is alarmed by the seismic activity and wants to do a quick scan of the ice to determine if he can safely excavate the area. He also wants to see if he can determine what caused these seismic events, and if we can expect more.”
“Tell him to hurry Captain, the ice down here is melting rather rapidly as the temperature continues to rise.”
“General, what is the ambient temperature at this moment?” It was Doctor Ramzies asking the question.
“Bill I’d say it’s about a degree or two above freezing and getting warmer.”
“Ok General, we are going to start digging you out now. We can’t afford to wait for Doctor Mentors results.”
Tom looked at both Nina and Harris and could see that both of them wanted the hell out.
“Make it quick Captain. Being buried alive is not how I invisioned I would be spending the day.”

[ May 25, 2003, 15:28: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

Ahh, this time I got all the action I needed!!!
Blod and explosions! And Trax isn't all bad either!
Where will this lead us???

[Atrocities]

XVII Revelations

Over the next thirty minutes Captain O’Connor’s team worked feverously to clear the ice from the corridor. Only a small section, about six meters or so had collapsed and his team was making good time. The fear was not another collapse, but rather how much oxygen was left in the main chamber. Their first order of business was to drill a hole through the ice in order to allow fresh air into the chamber. That was accomplished within the first fifteen minutes of the rescue operation.

In the mean time Doctors Mentor and Ramzies, using the Gravimetric Core Sampler, scanned the ice around the main chamber. What they discovered was startling. The ice had not only begun to warm in and around the chamber, but around the entire object.

“General Christopher, I estimate that the object will melt the surface ice over it within twenty six hours.” Said Doctor Mentor in what could only be described as a tone of utter despair.
“Why is it melting Doctor?” Tom asked more than a little annoyed.
“Our best guess Tom is that the ship itself is generating the heat.” Replied Doctor Ramzies.
“Bill we already know this. The General wants to know why.” Snapped Nina Smith over her COM. Tom was standing about ten feet from her and hadn’t considered that she had anything to offer to the conversation. He was wrong.
“Nina, we don’t know why it is generating the heat. We can only speculate.” Replied Doctor Mentor.
“Lets here your best guess then Doctor.” Tom said.
“I believe that something, perhaps our proximity to the vessel itself has triggered an automated response. This response has in turn activated some kind of system that is now attempting to free the ship from the ice.”
‘Oh that is just great,’ thought Tom to himself. “Captain how much more time is your rescue operation going to take?”
It took several seconds before O’Connor could respond. “About two hours give or take an hour.”
“General Ron Lindley here, the ice is a lot softer and our team is going through it rather rapidly. We have to be careful though as this ice is not like the ice we first excavated. That ice was compact and hard as steel, this ice is less dense and could give way to more collapse.”
“Thank you Mr. Lindley.” Replied Tom as he lowered the COM. Tom was not prone to fear attacks, but the prospect of being buried alive under a hundred tons of ice did not appeal to him, and he could feel the chambers walls beginning to close in on him. Nina Smith was trying to organize the Monitoring equipment; a useless task as most of it was damaged beyond repair and the equipment that was functional had no power to operate with.

Harris was just sitting on one of the durra pLastic chairs holding his rifle and staring at the entrance. Tom could tell that Harris was feeling the pressure the same as he was. They both wanted the hell out of this tomb before it became a permanent resting place.
Without warning Harris jumped to his feet and looked around the chamber then directly at Tom.
“Sir did you hear that?”
“Hear what Harris?”
“That popping sound?”
“I hear it too,” Replied Nina. Being trapped in an ice chamber with Harris had not caused her any undo stress, or at least none that Tom could see, but he knew she was uncomfortable in Harris’s presence.
“There it is again.” Commented Harris, as he moved toward what appeared to be a hatch on the alien ship. “It’s getting louder.” Tom could hear it now too, and was growing concerned.
“Harris your side arm.”
Harris looked over at Tom and without comment tossed him his pistol. Tom cleared the safety of the gun and raised it. He also lifted the COM to his mouth and spoke into it rather softly. “O’Connor we may have a new problem.” There was no response. The COM was dead. Nina checked hers and it too was dead.
The rapping sound grew louder and started to change pitch, it was now more like a whine the kind that a flash would make as it was building a charge.
“Harris get back away from that thing!” Harris did not have to be told twice, he moved away from the hatch, as did Nina Smith. Both moved over to where Tom was standing.
“The whine grew louder and louder and then the bulk head began to change. At first Tom could not believe his eyes, it was as if the metal had come alive, had some how began to alter its structure into a human form. Both he and Harris raised their weapons.
“Hold your fire Mr. Harris.”
“Sir with all due respect, if that thin moves so much as an inch toward me I will shoot.”
“And if he doesn’t I throw snow balls at it!” Replied Nina who was now hold snowballs in her left and right hand.
“Lets see what it does before we kill it people.”
The form began to change color it took on a more humanoid appearance before collapsing to its knees. Tom knew instantly what it was he was looking at. The form solidified into a humanoid body, covered in a deep black armored uniform. The uniform was like nothing he had ever seen before, but somehow it looked familiar.
“Who are you?” Tom asked out loud.
The humanoid form did not respond, instead it collapsed to the ground. In the distance the rapping sound began again. This time it was far more intense than before.

Tom moved over toward the humanoid and knelt down beside it. Harris was covering him and Nina was covering Harris. Tom rolled the form over and he could see what looked like release fasteners on the part of the armor that covered the humanoids face.
“Sir are you sure that’s safe?” Asked Harris in a concerned voice.
“Well soon see.” Replied Tom as he clicked the fasteners and removed the humanoids helmet reveling the face of a man, a human man.

Nina gasp and Harris’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head.
“Oh my god, he is human!”
“And he is still alive.”
“Sir, what in the hell kind of man is he?”
Tom took several seconds before he answered Harris’s question. Tom had never seen this man before, but he knew him and he knew what he was.
“This is a member of the assassins guild.”
Harris’s face instantly went from one of shock to one of utter hatred. He took several aggressive steps toward Tom and the unconscious body of the assassin.
“Step aside sir.” Harris barked.
Tom looked up at Harris and understood what it was he was planning on doing.
“Stand down Sergeant.” Tom ordered but Harris did not respond. “I said stand down Sergeant!” This time Tom rose to his feet and Harris leveled his pulse rifle at the man on the ground.
“He killed my trainee and four other good men sir, he deserves to die.”
“I said stand down Sergeant!”
“I can’t sir, I hav-” In the middle of a word there was a rather loud thonk and Harris’s eyes rolled upward and he collapsed to the ground. Standing behind him was Nina Smith holding one of those useless monitoring device wearing a wicked grin. “Oh that felt really good.”

[Ruatha]

You are productive today!
And keeping good quality aswell as quantity!
What happened aboard that ship? Is it a human ship?
I want MOOOOOOOREEEEEEE!!!!!

[Atrocities]

Thanks Ruatha, I had to get it to paper as it was eating my mind to death.

I promise you the next two installments are going to really be interesting.

I just wish I could learn how to use my comas right.

When I sat down to write Part XV, I did not know that I would be up all night writing. I have completed two more installments past the ones posted here. I am tired and am going to crash now. I will polish them up later and post them tomorrow.

[Atrocities]

Part XV Compassion

“God damn him!” Cried out Sergeant Paul Harris as he slammed his helmet to the deck after being told the news about PFC Kord Anuran having been killed by the sky chariot explosion. Lead Pilot Major Jellico Mantel, a long time friend of Harris’ understood him enough to know that he was not really angry with the kid, but more or less angry with himself for not having kept him alive.
“It wasn’t your fault Paul.”
“Like hell it wasn’t.” Replied Harris as he tried to fight back a tear. Sergeant Paul Harris had recently lost his wife and two children and was having a tough go of it. Jellico knew and understood this. After all, who wouldn’t be having a hard time keeping it together after loosing those precious soles closest to you?
“It wasn’t a his fault either Paul, he was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Oh for crying out loud Jel, you of all people know that is utter Pathor fodder!”
“No I don’t know that Paul.” Replied Jellico as sternly as he could without sounding combative.
“That kid was my responsibility, and it should have been me that bought it not him.”
“Now that is utter Pathor fodder if I have ever heard it,” responded Jellico coldly. “You can not blame yourself for what happened to him, or to your wife and kids.”
Paul slumped down the bulkhead, and came to a sitting position on the deck with his knees up. He crossed his arms over his knees and leaned forward until his forehead touched his forearms. “I should have been with her and the kids Jel. I should have been there.”
Jellico kneeled down next to his friend. He put his hand on his shoulder and spoke in the softest voice he could. “Paul, when I lost Lori, it hurt so deep that I almost couldn’t cope with it. I thought about flying this crate right into the side of a mountain on more than one occasion, but you know what, I got through it. It still hurts like a knife through the heart, but I am dealing with it. I know what your going through, and I know how much pain your in. And I know that nothing that any one can say will ever elevate it, but for the Gods sake, just give it some more time. The pain will lesson, the guilt will subside, and you will move on.”
Paul looked up into the face of his friend and shook his head slightly. “You’re a good man Jel, a true friend, but don’t tell me that you know how I feel because you don’t. You couldn’t possibly know how much it hurts to loose your entire family.”
Jellico knew his friend to well to take his comment as an insult. Instead he smiled at him and squeezed his shoulder firmly.
“All I am saying old friend is that you were there for me when Lori died, and I will be here for you if you ever want to talk.”
The two men looked at one another for a moment, both giving the other a deep compassionate look of understanding that only two truly good friend could offer one another. Nothing needed to be said, both understand. Paul slowly reached over and took Jellico’s hand and Jellico helped him to stand.
“You had better get those wounded people settled in.” Said Paul somberly.
“You be careful.” Replied Jellico.
With that Paul smiled at his friend, grabbed his Pulse Rifle and headed down the loading ramp.

The excavating had already resumed by the time Captain O’Connor, General Christopher, Doctor Mentor, and Doctor Ramzies entered the ice tunnel. Chief Engineer Ron Lindley and his Assistant Engineer Calvin Kurd, both from the Global Engineering Corp, or the GEC for short, had already begun the process of clearing the Last few meters of ice away from what they hoped was an entrance hatch into the alien ship.
Colonel Erin Rogers was already examining high definition images of the writing they had discovered on the hull of the ship next to the hatch that they were now trying to gain access to.
“Colonel Rogers,” Said Captain O’Connor as he stepped up, “any luck translating the writing?”
Colonel Rogers looked up at the Captain and smiled. She was not an overly attractive woman, but one that could easily hold her own in a beauty contest. “Not yet Captain, but give me time.”
“From the looks of things, time is running out.” Commented Carl Wilhelm in his usually characteristic tone of voice. It was neither sarcastic nor rude but it did have a slight and subtle hint of both.
“Shouldn’t you be back in the mess tent drinking hot lacto berry juice?” Replied Sergeant Ruddy Arnold in response to Carl’s comment.
“I would think that you would be better suited to guarding the entrance than standing around here bothering those of us who actually have an education and know why we are here.” Commended Carl with notable sarcasm in his voice.
“Knock it off, both of you.” Snapped Tom harshly. “Sergeant Arnold, grab a pulse rifle and go guard the entrance. Carl see if you can assist the Colonel in deciphering that writing.”
Tom was not going to put up with these two tossing insults back and forth at one another. Enough time was wasted dealing with the sky chariot explosion already, and he did not want any more time wasted on useless arguing.
Arnold left without saying a word. He had long sense given up on his mission to spy on Tom for General Green, as Tom was wise to it, and kept him out of the loop. Arnold knew that he was considered by most to be a brown nosing little Pathor, but what could he do, he is what he is, and he considers himself smart enough to know what it was that he was; a major brown nosing little Pathor.

Carl was no fool, and knew that he had to make himself useful or he would be ordered out of the narrow chamber back to the surface to most likely guard something. So he did what he could to assist those around him. Tom took note of this and considered sending him topside to guard the remaining Prowler while the crew repaired the damage caused by the exploding sky chariot. But Tom opted to keep him where he could keep an eye on him. Tom still did not trust the butcher of Pennington, and despite his obvious attempts to prove to Tom that he was a new man, Tom still did not like or trust him any further than he could toss a Tempest Class Sky Carrier.

The excavating went on for nearly two hours before Tom decided to go to the surface and get something to eat at the mess tent. As a precaution Captain O’Connor had him escorted to the mess tent by a Sergeant named Paul Harris. Harris did not say much, mostly yes sir, and understood sir, and for this Tom liked the man. He was old school, he had a strong command presence, and he knew when to talk and when not to. This man had seen action, and agony on a scale similar to Toms own. Without ever talking to him, Tom knew him. It was as if he could almost read the mans mind. He was dedicated to his duty, but housed a tremendous amount of person pain. A soldier and warrior first, an ordinary man second. It took a special kind of man to become a man like Mr. Harris, and that fact was not wasted on Tom.

“General,” Said Nina Smith in a warm welcoming voice as he and Sergeant Harris entered the Tent. “Come to have me check those-” She stopped in mid sentence and glared past Tom at the Sergeant.

‘This is kind of odd,’ thought Tom, Doctor Ramzies had also wanted to get something to eat, but when he was informed that Sergeant Harris would be escorting them he declined and returned to his work of monitoring the ice for seismic readings. Doctor Ramzies expression was very similar to the one now being displayed upon Nina Smiths face as she stood there in front of Tom starring at the Sergeant. It was not a nice expression that she wore; it was more or less a combination of hatred, anger, and fear all rolled up into one spiteful expression.

Tom looked at Nina for a second then over to the Sergeant. His expression was more or less the same as it had been before they had entered the mess tent. He neither seemed bothered by nor otherwise interested in her or how she looked at him.

“You keep bad company General.” She finally said. Her voice was not at all friendly; when she spoke it was as if she was spitting the words out.
“Excuse me?” He asked honestly confused by the whole thing.
“This Vol* nearly took my head off a week or so ago.” (*Vol – A very dirty disgusting creature that lives in its own waste and eats the bugs that its decaying waste draws.)

Tom looked confused as he tried to understand what she had just told him. ‘Nearly took her head off?’ He repeated to himself.
“I am sorry, I don’t follow you.”
“Just keep that bastard away from me.”
It was clear to Tom that Ms. Smith sincerely disliked the Sergeant, and that that dislike displeased Tom considerably. Without looking at the Sergeant he dismissed him and ordered him back to the excavation site. The Sergeant left without saying a word.
Tom could tell that Nina appreciated what he had just done. He walked over toward her and took a seat at the table that she was standing next to. She was standing very rigidly, and Tom could see that she was trembling slightly.
“Care to talk about it?” He asked compassionately.
Nina looked down at him and tried to smile, but could not. She had folded her arms in front of her body, the universal gesture that signals one discomfort in a social setting.
“It will be alright, I will order him to stay away from you,” Tom paused for a second, “and from Doctor Ramzies.”
“Bill told you?”
“He didn’t have to, I could see it on his face the moment he saw the Sergeant.”
“That bastard tried to kill us!”
“What happened?” Asked Tom with as much concern and compassion as he could.
Nina took a seat acrossed from him and he gently took her hands into his. Her hands were both very soft and very warm, and Tom could not help himself, he felt compelled to look into her eyes, those beautiful green eyes. Tom’s heart melted as he gazed into depths of Nina’s eyes. They were so powerful, so inviting, so very much like those of his wifes, oh how he missed her. Whatever it was that was bothering Nina, what ever Sergeant Harris had done, Tom would take care of it.

“Doctor. Ramzies and I tried to reach Davenport after some General ordered us to stand down. Our communications were cut off, and Doctor Mentor was concerned that we were all in peril. He ordered Doctor Ramzies and I to take one of the Snow Marshals and head for Davenport.” She paused and looking away from Tom in the direction of Davenport for second before looking back at him. He listened intently to her story as she continued.
“The Snow Marshal got stuck, and we had to use a Scrambler to continue our journey. We were almost to outer limits of Davenport when one of those frightful Prowler things dropped out of sky right on top of us.” She had a cup of hot lacto berry juice sitting on the table next to her and she reached over and picked it up. She turned back toward Tom and took a small sip before continuing.
“They were going to shoot us if we did not surrender so we did. They landed, a ramp lowered, and two men came out carrying guns.” She paused again and looked away.
“It is alright, please continue.” Tom said softly.
“That bastard hit Doctor Ramzies in the face with the butt of his gun for no reason, then he hit me.” She looked back at Tom; the tears were gone, replaced by anger. “It was not a gentle tap either, it was hard; the kind of way someone like him would hit an enemy he was trying to kill.” She tried, but could not stop from tearing up once again.
“That bastard tried to kill us, for no reason what so ever, and he got away with it.”

Tom sat back in his chair, never taking his eyes off of her, reflect back upon what Nina had just told him. Tom did like the Sergeant, but he could not condone an unwarranted violent act such as the one she had just described and undoubtedly suffered. If it was true, and Tom knew it was, then he had no choice but to act. He would have the sergeant, the flight crew, and Captain O’Connor relieved of duty and sent back to Andover base and held pending a court marshal investigation. Tom leaned forward and spoke in a soft tone.
“I believe you, and I will see to it that he stands in front of the Judge Advocate for his actions.”
Nina smiled and took his hand in hers. She squeezed hard as she bit her lower lip.
“I am sorry for what has happened to you and to Doctor Ramzies.”
“Thank you. Thank for believing me.” She said.

[ May 25, 2003, 12:34: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XVIII Demons

Several minutes passed before the assassin regained consciousness. Tom had searched the man for weapons, having found many, he removed them all, but was still keeping his pistol leveled on him as a precaution. The man moved his hand to his head and blinked several times before sitting straight up. The speed at which he did this amazed Tom, he had never seen a man move so quickly, well almost never.
“Who are you?”
The man looked up at Tom and started to stand. Tom kept the pistol leveled on him the entire time.
“Your fast friend, I’ll give you that, but I sincerely doubt that you’re fast enough to evade simultaneous fire from two direction. The man looked at Tom then over at Nina who was holding the pulse rifle like a hardened pro.
“Go ahead vol rectum, try something.” She said coldly.
The man looked back at Tom and nodded ever so slightly.
“We have to leave and leave now. You must order the destruction of this ship before it frees itself from the ice.”
“What is your name and who in the hell do you work for?” Asked Tom firmly.
“We have met before, do you not recall?”
“Listen friend, I don’t know you, and right now I am searching for a reason not to blow your ugly *** away.” Replied Tom.
The man was obviously smart enough to know that Tom was not bluffing. His demeanor changed considerably at this realization.
“In about twenty or so minutes what is in that ship is going to open that hatch and come out after me. Trust me when I say this, they will not be friendly, and they do not take prisoners.”
“Why should I believe you, you still haven’t answered by question.”
“You already know what I am and who I am therefore I can see no reason to waste time discussing it while all of our lives depend upon you doing as I say and destroying that ship before it can free itself.”
“Answer my god damned question or so help me I will kill you.” Tom was serious, more serious than he could ever recall being. Tom knew, as did the assassin that he would kill him if he did not answer his question and soon.
“I am a scientist.”
“Vol ****!” Tom stated flatly as he took a step toward the man bringing his pistol muzzle right up into his face. “Scientist to employ morphing nets and walk around hiding under a cloak. They neither carry explosives nor pulse weapons.”
The man turned his head away, obviously not affected by the threat the pistol possessed.
“Regardless of what you believe, believe one thing, if that ship breaks free of the ice that currently is keeping it captive, every Last man women and child on this planet will die. Of this I assure you.”
“He’s full of vol fodder sir.” Said Harris as he stood up rubbing his head and flashing Nina a quick dirty look and getting a smirk in return.
“Glad to see that you have rejoined us Mr. Harris.” Commented Tom.
“Do you hear that sound, have you not noticed that it has become louder in the Last few moments?” Asked the man honestly.
Tom had to think, he was correct the sound had become louder.
“What about it?” He asked.
“That is the sound of several hundred bad things restoring power to a ship full of many thousands of bad things. And Within the next few minutes, many of those bad things will figure out where I have gone, and will come through that hatch looking for me. And when they do, nothing will hold them back, they will descend upon us in feeding frenzy and leave nothing but bone.”
“What?” Asked Nina in a vicious tone of voice.
“That ship, my dear, is full of a race known as the Huron. A race that came to this planet a long time ago in search of food, in search of us.”
“That’s vol fodder! There is no life outside of Pandora, and we all know that.” Replied Nina coldly.
“If you wish to test that theory, then stay here and await your death. In the few moments that you do live will prove to be the most enlightening of your life.
“Enough with this fodder! How do you know the things in there are hostile?” Snapped Tom rudely.
“Because I accidentally awoke them up while attempting to download there ships computer files. I can only conclude that the ship had a defensive system that detected my presence and brought those thing out of their hibernation. Regardless of how they were awoken, I have spent that Last few hours fighting for my in an attempt to escape.”
“What in the hell were you doing in there in the first place?” Asked Harris.
“Gathering information.”
”For who?”
“I told you that I am a scientist.”
“Say that one more time and I will put a round through your knee and leave you here for whatever those things are in they’re to find. Do you understand me?” The man smiled and nodded in agreement.
“Now tell me who you are an who you work for.”
“As you wish. My name is Orata, and I am a member of the underground science guild an organization filled with enlightened minds dedicated to the discovery of technology by other races.”
“That is Pathor fodder, you’re an assassin! Sir with all do respect, I recommend that you just shoot him.” Commented Harris.
“Quiet Harris.” Ordered Tom sharply.
“Ah guys I don’t think we can waste any more time on talk, whatever those things are that are in there, look like there about ready to come out here.” Nina was referring to the hatch. It had been opened about quarter meter and several claw like hands were visible at the base of the door attempting to lift it.
“Whatever they are, they aren’t human!” Nina commented as she backed away toward the collapsed entrance to the Chamber.
“And they look hungry.” Harris added as he reached for his pulse rifle and Nina handed it to him.
“As I have already stated. Now I would suggest in the strongest terms possible that we retreat and seal off this chamber before they manage to get that hatch all the way open.” Commented Trax flatly.
“In case you haven’t noticed Farta, the way out is blocked.” Commented Harris in less than a friendly tone.
Orata looked over at him, somewhat offended by his insult, but not showing it, then glanced over toward the entrance. He quickly looked back at Tom, and Tom didn’t not see what he expected to see, as the man did not appear in the least bit concerned about what he saw. In fact, he smiled at Tom and Tom knew instantly that it was this man who had caused the collapse.
“You’re the one who sealed us in here.” Tom said angrily as he lowered his pistol slightly and took the man by the arm. “Harris cover that door, if anything comes through it,” Tom looked back briefly, “kill it.”
“Our COMs are still down.” Commented Nina.
Tom flashed Orata a dirty look. “Are you responsible for that as well?”
Orata looked over at Nina and said. “Try them now.”
Tom then directed Orata’s attention toward the equipment that was set out on the floor of the chamber. “This is your stuff, is there anything there that we can use to our advantage?”
In the background Nina began using her COM.
“No response,” she said, “just static.”
“Keep trying.” Replied Tom.
“Nina Smith to any one who can read me.” This time a respond was almost instantaneous.
“By God we thought we had lost you. We are almost through the ice, give us another ten minutes.” Replied Ron Lindley excitedly. Tom lowered the pistol and raised his COM.
“Ron, step on it, we have a bad situation brewing in here and may not be around in ten minutes.”
“What’s the problem General?” Asked Captain O’Connor.
“Captain, I am ordering you to start pulling your people out.”
“Pull my people out General?”
“Affirmative. I am giving you a direct order to pull your people out and advise Global Command that this site is to be destroyed. This ship can not be allowed to free itself from the ice.”
“General are you issuing a Trident Alert?”
“Affirmative Captain, full scale Trident Alert. We have less than twenty four hours to obliterate this thing before it frees itself.”
“Understood.” Replied O’Connor. He knew that when a Trident Alert was issued it meant business. Without question he issued the order to clear the site, and relayed the command to Andover Base. Within the hour this site would be completely evacuated. Within twenty hours a Tsunami class Destroyer would launch a fusion missile and wipe this ship and all evidence of its existence from the face of Pandora forever.

Tom, who had never taken his eyes off of Orata, had noticed that he was looking at several small black semi flat objects sitting in a pile to one side of a empty Depleted Uranium Pulse Pistol.
“What are those?” He asked.
“Explosives.” Replied Orata simply.
“Show us how to use them”
“As you wish.”
“Nina take Harris’s rifle and watch that door. Harris get over here.”
Nina and Harris did as they were told as the hatch on the ship slide open another inch.
Orata explained the how to operate the explosives in short order. Tom handed Harris his pistol and picked up a few of the explosive devices and planted them near the hatch. One of the arms kept reaching out at him as he deployed the charges. Tom was close enough to see into the crack as the door continued to inch open centimeter by centimeter. What Tom saw was enough to cause any sane man to challenge the sanity of his own mind. They were alien; of that there was no doubt. From what Tom could see, they were short light bluish purple creatures with deep red eyes. Tom did not need to be a mind reader to know that these things were not friendly at all. He finished planting the Last charge and stepped back. He kept a couple in his pocket to be on the safe side. Tom walked backwards keeping the hatch in view.
“Why did you collapse the entrance?” Asked Harris as he stood there guarding Orata.
“In case I failed to escape, they would have been contained.”
“Contained only until their ship was free.” Commented Tom as he stepped up next to Orata holding a small device in his hand.
“This activates the explosives, and the detonates them?” He asked holding the device up for Orata to see.
“Yes, only the ones that have been assigned to the controls will detonate as you activate them. You do realize that if you do detonate them, we will all be crushed by the ice”
Tom had programmed the device according to Orata’s instructions, assigning each explosive to a remote trip switch that he alone held. He could blow them all, or one at a time. Tom even programmed the two devices in his pocket to the controller.
“And yes that does include you.” Tom said with a smirk. “That little trick you did where you came through that hatch, well I found the power source and well,” he pauses slightly, “see for your self.”
Orata seemed to look away for a second, at some point just past where Tom was standing. He did not smile at what he saw, only ever so slightly frowned.
“Very clever of you General.” Orata Commented. “My environmental suite has just enough reserve energy to keep me warm for a few more hours.”
“Hopefully long enough to get you back to Andover Base.”
“Tom!” Yelled Nina as she opened fire with the Pulse Rifle. Here target was the first of the creatures to squeeze past the hatch. It did not survive the experience as the depleted uranium pellets “Shells” pummeled its body into paste. Many of the shells penetrated the darkness behind the hatch and vicious screams let out, loud enough to shatter glass and evil enough to convert even the staunchest atheist to the religion.
“General? General what is going on?” Asked Ron almost yelling over the COM in concern. “We hear weapons fire?”
“Ron just get us the hell out of hear.” Replied Tom.
Just then the hatch on the alien ship seemed to melt into the wall as literally dozens of barbaric looking little alien creatures, humanoid in form, but as un-human as insidiously possible aggressively fought their way past one another through the hatch. Nina opened fire once again reducing many of them, if not all of the first ones, to dead heaps who were promptly pulled back in through the hatch as more attempted to get.
“Keep firing!” Yelled Harris as he kept the pistol aimed at Orata who seem not to care at all.
Nina continued to fire at the little demons, yes, that is what they looked like, those little demons she had seen in old religious books. They were depicted as the evil servants of those who angered God into cleansing the universe of all life say for that which lived on Pandora. How then could these things be alive? How could God have missed them? Nina maintained her fire but the little monsters were gaining ground as more and more of them tried to come through the hatch.
“Ron tell me you almost through?” Yelled Tom into his COM to be heard over Nina’s firing. There was an uncomfortable long pause before Ron replied.
“General we have just been ordered to evacuate.” Replied Ron in what was a sincere ton of regret. Tom looked at the COM as his anger began to mount.
“Come again?”
“General Christopher I have been ordered by Global Command to evacuate all of my men immediately.” Captain O’Connor said over the COM. “I am sorry sir, but you and the people with your are on your own.”
“O’Connor!” Yelled Tom into the COM with all of his anger. “You will disregard that order and continue to dig us the hell out of here!”
“I am sorry sir, I have been relieved of my command and ordered back to Andover. This site is now considered Omega.” Tom looked up at the ceiling as Nina continued to fire. He slowly turned toward the hatchway and looked around. Nina had decimated what appeared to be nearly fifty of those things, one could not be sure as they were being pulled back inside as they fell.
“I am sorry sir. God be with you.” Said O’Connor right before the COM went dead.
“What’s wrong sir?” Asked Harris.
Tom did not respond, he dropped the COM and just stood there. In all of his life, he had never felt as hopeless as he was feeling now. The realization that they were all doomed somehow didn’t seem real to him.
“An Omega site is the military’s way of saying those left behind are left in the hands of God.” He said just loud enough for Harris to hear. Harris looked lost; his expression was one of a man who seemed not yet ready to die, but one who would welcome death as an escape. Tom could not imagine why a man would ever welcome death say for one thing. Tom could not help but think of his wife and daughter as he looked back on his life.
Tom knew there fiats had been sealed; someone had made the call to condemn them all to death. Tom stepped forward away from Orata and Harris, and pressed the triggering button on the explosive control device for the first set of explosive planted near the hatch. Everything went white as the little explosive exploded simultaneously releasing their combined horrific power. The force of the bLast knocking everyone to the ground and caused tons of ice to come crashing down in front and around them.

[ May 26, 2003, 14:03: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[The FryeR K]

Too much all at once my just finished
my brain hurts

NEED MORE

[Raging Deadstar]

Very good! So this is what the huron shipset is for, looking at the racial portrait they look nasty! A very good chapter, seems like the actions hotting up! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. I have sumitted the first two segments to the Scifi and Fantasy forum (http://speculativevision.com/forum/Messages/29/2706.html)
and have gotten some great constructive feed back.

[ May 27, 2003, 13:50: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Ruatha]

What, Tom dead? and Nina too. Surely not!

[Atrocities]

Yup, dead and so ends the story. Depressing isn't it? Abandond and buried alive deep within a man made ice cave.

What a way to go.

[ June 03, 2003, 07:43: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Raging Deadstar]

What? Thats the story finished or have i misread your Last post? If it is i have enjoyed the story thouroughly and each chapter is excellent, but i hope there is a few more chapters to come!

[Ruatha]

I belive he is joking, surely he must.
I'll accept nothing else!!!!!

[CNCRaymond]

Ishe joking? How do we know. Futhermore, how many people actual follow this story? Will it be missed? I think not.

[Ruatha]

I'll miss it if it's actuallu finished, which I refuse to accept as It's the best story in the forum.
So yes, it will be missed!

[Atrocities]

Its not finished by a long shot. CNC is just trying to be dramatic I think.

The next two parts were written before the Last addition was posted. They'll be posted soon. I wanted to wait as I posted several new additions this month, and I felt that perhaps I posted to much at one time and scared a lot of people away from the story. Give it some time and perhaps people can digest all the segments I posted.

Thanks for the devotion guys, it is appreciated. I like to write for my self, as learning tool, and a way to endulge my imagination.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif A good clif hanger is always good for a story. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif *Farscape* comes to mind.

[Raging Deadstar]

I follow this story everytime an update is posted, unfortuantly i never keep track of the dates so i always visit this thread if it's at the top of the forum praying theres an update http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Hopefully there'll be a final chapter to honour the bravery of Tom, Nina and the others http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

[Raging Deadstar]

oooh, nice plot twist, i never expected this! Very good writing Atrocities! I eagerly await the next chapter http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Thanks man. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Say I was wondering if we could petition Tim to add a Fan Fiction forum to the Malfador section of the forum. I know with StarFury coming out in a few months people will have a whole new source for which to write from. It might be a good idea, or not, but I would help us keep all of the great story threads in one location as apposed to being buried in this forum.

[Ruatha]

I guess I must re-reead it a couple of times, I don't get it, at all. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

Edit- Ofcourse, silly me. I get it now, I hope http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[ June 11, 2003, 19:29: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Atrocities]

The answer is in the Title.

Think of it as a retro segment dating back a very very long time.

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment A

“The Death toll for the Alorian Homeworld is in the billions!” The headline was morbid. 'How ironic,' thought Tam Christopher as he stood there watching the vid, that he should think this morbid after what they had done? Billions of lives lost, an entire world obliterated, and a race on the verge of extinction. Yes it was morbid, but he does not feel pain for them. Why should he, after all, they killed his wife and daughter. Tam, not wanting to hear any more about the holocaust, switched of the vid and sat down in a chair next to the big window in his office. He swiveled the chair around and looked the window gazing in awe as he at the spectacular view that being one hundred and fifty-three floors up provided of the city that lay far below him.

Soon Earth would face a similar fait and would be reduced to nothing more than a lifeless rock in space thus giving way to the destruction of all of the wonders that make up this beautiful planet including his beloved home city of Seattle. Burned to cinder would be the combined accomplishments of mankind, all of the great achievements, works of art, and history that mankind has ever experienced or created. Nothing will be spared; all that will remain will be the burned and chard remnants of a once pristine green and blue planet. All evidence that a once proud race having called this planet home would be forever be obliterated from is surface. As Tam sat in his chair he began to think about the events of the past, about the Last time he had seen his beloved city in ruin.

Following the defeat of the Galvon, and their efforts to destroy the planets of the Earth Stellar Alliance, as many as a million war criminals were arrested and charge for their crimes and among them, the Leader of the Alorian Imperium.

The Alorians, once a colony world of Earth, had claimed independence some two hundred and twenty years ago and had successfully succeed from the Earth Stellar Alliance. The citizens of the planet Aloria formed the Alorian Imperium, and cut all diplomatic relations with the Alliance sighting fundamental differences in the philosophies of life. At that time the Alliance could careless about one rouge world, especially one that was so far removed from the center of the Alliance. “Let them go, let them fend for themselves,” was often the opinion that most citizens of the Alliance voiced. But secretly, deep down, it hurt them all to see a planet full of humans turn there back on the very people and planetary alliance for which they came. The resentment was out weighted by the presiding belief that one day the people of Aloria would come crawling back to the Alliance begging forgiveness and asking for re-admittance; but that day never came.

The Alorians, basking in the glory of their independence, began a systematic exploration and colonization program aimed at the many worlds along the rim of the galaxy. For well over two hundred and twenty years the Earth Stellar Alliance, an alliance made up of nearly sixty-four Earth colonized worlds, gave the Alorian Imperium absolute reign in the outer systems. Attempts at re-establishing diplomatic relations with the Alorians were met with failure and often more than not; the destruction of the currier ship that had been dispatched to relay the diplomatic peace Messages. Despite this open and often brutal response Earth Command refused to, or more appropriately, chose to ignore these overtures of war. “Let them take the risk of exploring the rim,” was often the comment Tam heard in the Council Chambers in the years prior to the war. “Let them bare the cost of exploration and colonization,” was the common attitude held by most on the Council members back then.

It was true; the Alorians posed no real military threat to the Alliance and therefore were viewed as nothing more than a despondent child, prone to fits of rage of course, off exploring the galaxy. This normally would not have posed a problem except for the fact that the Alorian Imperium had made first contact with an alien race known as the Galvon, a fact that escaped the Alliances intelligence community entirely, and together they were plotting the destruction of the Earth Stellar Alliance.

As he sat in his chair watching the sun go down over Pacific Ocean, Tam remembered the events of his past. Odd how something that had happened so many years ago would still be so vivid in his mind. Tam folded his arms behind his head and leaned back as far as his chair would allow him to go. He relaxed and cleared his mind and began to recall the past where he tried and convicted the monster that had taken his beloved family from him.

“For the record, the events you are about to witness are actual records from the Alorian Imperium Planetary Archives.” Tam Christopher was a tall slender man with jet-black hair, a fairly tan complexion and deep penetrating green eyes. He spoke with a gentle yet firm voice; his stride was sure and precise. He knew what it was he was doing, and it was his faith in justice that drove him with purpose and pride. Today was his day, for he was the Chief Prosecutor for the Alliance and he knew what had to be done. As he slowly stood and walked in a smooth effortless form from his table to the center of the court, making momentary eye contact with each of the six presiding Alliance Judges as they sat in a semi circle behind their bench, he continued speaking.

“You will witness the planing, the betrayal, and the attack, orchestrated by the Alorians against the people of the Earth Stellar Alliance. The very attack that left Earth Command in ruin and nearly hundred thousand people dead.” He paused for effect as he directed his gaze at the tall lightly complexioned Alorian male sitting at the defense table. “Damascus Gore is the mastermind behind the atrocities I am about described.” Now pointing directly at the Alorian, Tam continued his opening statement.

“The prosecution will show beyond a doubt that Damascus Gore, then the Subadar leader of the Alorian Imperium, with full knowledge of his actions and intentions, did enter into a dialect of peace with the Alliance with the sole intent of betraying our trust.” Tam paused for effect before continuing his opening statement. “By ordering an unprovoked and sneak attack upon the Planet Earth during a peace envoy which resulted in a horrific loss of life, Damascus Gore acted with criminal intent.” Tam looked back at the Judges before making his next statement. “When then Subadar Gore ordered the bombardment of the cities of San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, the destruction of Earth Command in Denver, the obliteration of the Earth Orbital Spaceyard Facility, and the destruction of the Orbital Colony of New Prussia, he knew full well that he was violating the established convention of war. By targeting and destroying civilian population centers Subadar Gore committed an open and deliberate act of genocide.” Tam once again paused for effect as he took in the whole of the court. The chamber was full of people who all wore an expression of hatred upon their faces. “Under the code of war, acts of genocide are considered war crimes against humanity.”

No one spoke as Tam returned to his table and sat down. He touched a few controls and the room dimmed. In the center of the court a holographic representation of the Alorian Pro Counsel Chamber took form. Subadar Damascus Gore could be seen entering the room from a side door with two other Alorians followed him as he walked over to six other figures who were standing in the center of the room waiting. Four of them were Alorian security and the other two were obviously Galvon, one a male, the other a female.

Subadar Damascus Gore spoke as he entered the room. The Galvon language was exceptionally complicated and his voice came acrossed as a rash of mechanical scraping noises as the bio-translator converted his words into the Galvon language. A communications translator interpreted what was spoken for all to hear in the Justice Chambers. “Greeting Lord Vassuala. I trust your journey here was a pleasant one.” It was more of a statement than a question. The female Galvon looked at him as he approached and smiled opening.

“Oh it was an excellent trip my dear Subadar.” She said as she continued to smile. She looked over at her male companion and he spoke. He was less than hospitable, a Galvon male trait, and was more direct in his conversation.

“I trust that all was satisfactory?” He asked of Damascus.

The three Alorians had stopped within half a meter of the Female Galvon and her male companion. Again Damascus spoke and once again the communications translator interpreted the language. “It preformed as you had promised.”

The female Galvon put her hands together and spoke in a genuinely soft and comforting tone. “Then it is settled. Your people will do as we ask and join our holly crusade against the vile invaders you call the Alliance?”

Damascus spoke only one word. No translation was needed for what he had said, for everyone present knew the meaning of the word; “Yes.”

[ June 11, 2003, 12:36: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

I had to make some minor changes to the above installment. Sorry about he false post.

[ June 14, 2003, 18:26: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment B

The hologram faded from view as it was replaced with a new scene. Two men sat silently in a room, from the architecture it was clearly Alorian in design, as two Alorians, both fully costumed in their military uniforms, entered the room from the far side. One of them was carrying a package; the other extended his hand to one of the men who by now had stood. The Alorian offering his hand spoke first, “Greeting Ambassador Christopher, I am Subadar Damascus Gore of the Breen Imperium. I trust that you enjoyed your trip to our world?”

Tam Christopher, then an Earth Stellar Alliance Ambassador, could be seen smiling in the hologram, as he responded. “It was a fine trip Subadar Gore. Allow me to thank you on behalf of the Earth Stellar Alliance and the planet Earth for your hospitality and generosity.” Looking to the man standing next to him Tam continued speaking. “Allow me to introduce to you my aid, Mathew Bishop.”

The Subadar nodded slightly then reached back and took the package from his aid and offered it too Christopher. “This is a gift for your President. It is a shame that he could not have come for these negotiations.”

“If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.” Tam was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. “I will see that he gets this.”

“Yes, these times are most trying,” commented the Subadar politely, “especially now that we know that we are not alone in this universe.”

“Indeed Subadar,” replied Tam honestly. “It is a shame that we do not have more information about these aliens that have been attacking us.” Tam felt a burning sensation in his heart as he recalled the reports of whole colonies being bombarded out of existence. “The President and the members of the Alliance would appreciate any information you might have on these aliens.”

“We know only that they are a race of violent warriors who are driven by conquest.”
“Yes it would appear so.” Tam and the others all sat in what looked like very old and elegant wooden chairs that were arranged around a small round table while an attractive Alorian women brought and served them all something to drink.
“This is Bavaria, a wine from our southern Continent.” Commented the Subadar as he sipped from his glass. Tom swirled the crimson liquid around in his glass before sampling it. It had a pleasantly sweet robust taste.
“Most impressive Subadar.”
“I am glad you enjoy it. I will have a case of it place on you shuttle.”
“That is most kind of you Subadar,” replied Tam.
“It is a shame that our two societies have been unable before now to open a diplomatic dialog. A trade alliance would have been most beneficial to both of our peoples.”
“Of course.” Replied the Subadar rather cryptically.

“Do you realize that you are the first of your kind, from the Alliance that is, to visit Aloria since our independence?”

“From my understanding Subadar, we are the first delegation from Earth to visit Aloria in over two hundred and twenty years.” Tam answered as he took another sip from his glass. “I must say that your world is not what he have been lead to believe.”

“Ah you thought it to be a barren waste land did you not?” This was the first time the Subadar’s aid had spoken. Tam looked from the Subadar to his aid before responding.

“Yes, we were led to believe it to be just that, a desert world.” Tam instantly did not like this Alorian. Something about his mannerism alarmed him. What exactly it was, he could not articulate, but he knew that he did not like him.

“A misconception that we feel protects our privacy Ambassador.” Commented the Subadar politely. To Tam, the Subadar appeared to be exactly what he was, a practiced politician. Hard to believe, but even in distant parts of the galaxy, one politician can always recognize another. Changing the subject Tam brought up the reason for their visit.

“Subadar, it has been over two hundred years since our people have gone our separate ways, and it is the since hope of my government that the time has now come for our two societies to reconcile our differences and forge a bond of enduring friendship.” Said Tam as honestly as he could. Tam knew that his sole reasons for being here were one to gather information, if possible, on the alien attacks and two address the separate, but equally important issue of the growing border raids along the Alliance and Imperium boarders that have increased in recent months to epidemic proportions. Tam was to impress upon the Alorians that continued attacks would not be appreciated, and that by signing a peace treaty, war would be averted between the two. Earth Command believed the Alorians were responsible for the boarder raids and knew that a war was looming between the Alliance and the unknown alien race and did not want to have to fight Alorians and the aliens along two fronts. “As you may or may not be aware Subadar, Earth Command has had to enhance our presence in our boarding systems due to increased pirate raids and other unexplained attacks against Alliance shipping lanes and trade planets.”

“We are aware of this.” Again it was the Aid who spoke.

“Forgive me Ambassador, allow me to introduced Javin Vain, Supreme Military Commander of the Alorian Imperium.” This bothered Tam considerably, although he hid it well, it was still semi noticeable in his expression.

“I apologize, I had assumed he was your aid Subadar?” Tam felt ill, something was wrong here, what that was still remained to be seen? This Alorian was not an aid, but the second in command of the Alorian Imperium. “I had not realize that this man was your Pro Counsel Subadar,” commented Tam in a puzzled tone.

“For an off worlder you know our political system and titles well.” Observed the Subadar kindly. His comments only proved to raise the hairs on the back of Tams neck.

“We were well briefed upon our arrival.” Replied Tam sincerely. He did not want the Subadar to know that he was far more aware of Alorian society than he appeared to be, and graciously accepted their host’s offer at a simple education upon their arrival some two days earlier. Bringing the subject back onto topic Tam came to the point. “The Alliance wishes to avoid any possible military misunderstandings, therefore I have been tasked to inquire about asking for assistance from your government in stopping these raids.” Tam knew full well that the Alorians were behind many of the raids and it sickened him to have to play this game with the ruler of the Alorian people. What Tam really wanted to do was return home and strong arm the Counsel and the President into action first against the Alorians, then go after the alien threat. Tam was of the opinion that it would be better to nip this boarder issue in the butt now rather than allowing the Alorians to continue believing that the Alliance was weak and unwilling to challenge them. ‘Teach them a lesson that they won’t soon forget and they will think twice before ever sparing with the Alliance again,’ was the argument he had made to the Counsel before being sent on this peace mission. Tam had his doubts that the Alorians would play ball, but the others were right, peace had to be given a chance. Tam just prayed that cost of the peace did not end up costing more than the Alliance was willing to pay.

“If we refuse to help the Alliance Ambassador, what then? Will your mighty star ships invade our space and attack our planets?” Vain asked hostilely.

“I do not understand what your are asking me Commander?” Replied Tam. He knew full well what this Alorian was asking; he just wanted to hear it from him.

“Your problems are not our problems Ambassador, so why should we involve ourselves in them?” It was both the answer and question that he knew he did not want to hear. This Alorian was insulting Tam and the Alliance by playing innocent and he knew it. When Tam spoke, he did so as carefully as he could for there could be no miscommunication here.

“Subadar, with all due respect, the Alliance knows of the Alorian involvement in these border raids.” Tam chose to direct his comments to the leader of the Alorian Imperium rather than debate the issue with his second in command. A decision that had a gratifying result as the Subadar’s underling, Vain, took offense to it.
“My mission objective is a simple one, I have been sent here with the hope that you will sign a peace accord with the Alliance and agree to stop these border raids thus sparing our two societies from war.” Tam waited for the Subadar to respond but all he did was sit there looking at him calmly.
“The Alliance has no wish for conflict with the Alorian Imperium, especially in light of these alien attacks in our core systems, but make no mistake, although my government is only interested in peace, one way or another these border attacks will be stopped.”

The Subadar said nothing. He just sat there calmly listening to what Tam had to say as if he had not a care in the universe.

“Futhermore, if you have any information regarding the aliens who have been attacking us, I have been given the liberty to offer you compensation for your information.”

“Our involvement?” Said Vain slowly with contempt; his tone and intent were clearly apparent as he slowly stood. “Even if we are behind some of these border attacks, what will the mighty Alliance do? History has shown that your Alliance will cower away from conflict and your mighty star ships will run back home to Earth without ever having fired a shot.” He leaned in toward Tam with the intention of intimidating him and found that Tam was no man to play games with. Tam countered Vain by leaning toward him as he slowly stood. This had a pausing effect against Vain who did not know how to respond to Tam’s new demeanor. The two men stood, slightly hunched over on a table face to face locked in a stair down that neither would back away from. Several seconds passed before Van asked his question again, in a much less offensive tone as he gained a small hint of respect for Tam.
“I ask it again, what will your Alliance do if we refuse your peace treaty?” Tam, when standing, was a good four inches taller than Vain but despite this, he felt, rather he knew that Vain was far from intimidated.

Tam knowing full well he was now being tested, an old strategy whereby the leader would allow an underling to attack so the he could study the pray for weakness. Tam was far to smart to fall for this and therefore chose his response carefully before replying, as this was not the time for a challenge.

“As I said Commander, The Alliance is committed to defending the boarder and will take appropriate action if provoked.” He kept his gaze and tone even as he continued to stare directly into Vains eyes. ‘Who will blink first my small friend?’ Thought Tam to himself as his stair down with the Alorian Commander continued. ‘Who will blink first?”

“They are our guest Vain,” The Subadar finally said with a hint of amusement in his voice, “take your seat!” The Subadar was firm, his command over his subordinates was clear to Tam as Vain sat down without muttering a word. ‘Score one for the Alliance.’ thought Tam as he shifted his gaze from the now seated Vain to that of the Subadar.

Tam made it his primary goal upon accepting the mission to the Alorian Imperium to impress upon and insure that the Alorians understood the importance placed upon the defense of the Alliance’s colony worlds. That if the Alorians did not stop their raids against the Alliance border colonies a military response would come and with it the likely prospect of war. A prospect that the Earth Stellar Alliance Counsel did not want explored in light of the unknown alien threat.

“I have reviewed the proposal sent by your Alliance Counsel.” Said the Subadar as he slowly stood. “We will sign this treaty with your people. We will join your Alliance in the spirit of friendship. But know this Ambassadar, we will not be threatened or allow your ways to influsance ours. ”

A small wave of relief washed over Tam as he allowed himself to relax. ‘Score two for the Alliance,’ he thought to himself.

“I shall come to Earth and we will celebrate that day for an eon to come. ” With that the Subadar turned and started walking toward the door he had entered from. Before leaving the room, he pausing for a moment looking back at the three men he had left standing at the table, and informed them that Vain would be making the arrangements for his journey to Earth.

Tam could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as Vian said; “Follow me.” Tam and his aid, Mathew Bishop, followed him out of the room.

[ June 15, 2003, 09:11: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Raging Deadstar]

Great Chapter as always, i like how the story's taken this twist. It's intriguing to think what will happen next. As Usual another great addition

[Ruatha]

“If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.” <font color=red> Rogue <font color=black> was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. “I will see that he gets this

Rogue?

Otherwise, good story.
But I wanna know hat has happened in the Ice???
(* Impatient *)

[Ragnarok]

Man, I need to find the time to catch up on what I've missed. Anyone got some spare time they can lend out for a little bit? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
“If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.” <font color=red> Rogue <font color=black> was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. “I will see that he gets this<font color=black>

Rogue?

Otherwise, good story.
But I wanna know hat has happened in the Ice???
(* Impatient *)<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Crap! Ahhhh, a typo that I missed. Thanks. The ICe will comith soon.

[ June 15, 2003, 09:13: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Ooops, fixed.

[ June 30, 2003, 14:28: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment C

The holographic imaged blurred for second as the next scene was loaded. When the image finally formed they were on what appeared to be the Bridge of an Alorian war ship. It was a rather large bridge by any definition, and one that was full of Alorian officers and crew. They moved about performing their tasks oblivious to the image upon the viewscreen.

Earth was beautiful, a blue gem hanging in the tapestry of space like a safire glowing in the dark. It was the crown jewel of the mighty Alliance, a virgin world as pure as any eden ever imagined. Untainted by war, a condition that was soon to be changed, this pristine planet was the birthplace of all humans; weak humans that is. As Vice Lord Vek Waldorf stood before the image of Earth on the massive bridge viewer he fathomed how much he hated this planet and the weak humans that called it home. He wanted nothing more than to boil its oceans, reduces its forest to ash, and slaughter its inhabitants. This planet may have been the birthplace of all humanity, but it was neither his birthplace nor any member of his crew.

“My Lord all ships are now within striking distance and the Earth Orbital Command has transmitted clearance through their orbital defense satellites.” Said the Alorian weapons officer from his station. Vice Lord Waldorf was like most other Alorians, tall and slender with a muscular build and commanding presence. Vice Lord Waldorf considered himself to be one of Aloria’s most gifted military minds. Soon the Alliance would come to know his name as one of the mastermind behind this brilliant attack, a true military genus. The plan was flawless, by luring the Alliance into a position whereby they trusted them, the Alorians have been able to bring an armada into the very heart of the Alliance, a fatal mistake that the Alliance will not soon forget.

“Very well, send the message.” Vice Lord Waldorf was attired in his best uniform, an impressive Alorian military design, one with many more bars and ribbons than those of the officers around him. He stood amid deck looking directly at the image of Earth on the viewscreen as it changed to the face of the Subadar of the Alorian Imperium. “Send to fleet, we attack in one minute!”

The Subadar of the Alorian Imperium spoke. It was a pre-recorded message for the people of Earth and the members of the Earth Stellar Alliance.

“People of Earth, and members of the Stellar Alliance, a new dawn has risen in our universe, one that will afford us all the serenity of peace that our ancestors had promised. As this message is being broadcast throughout the Alliance our warships orbit Earth the home world of all humanity and the very heart of the Alliance. Know this, we are here as the voice of the galaxy, the voice of the pure, the voice of the chosen, and with us we shall bring the tide of everLasting change. Your fates were ceiled long before your births, and even now at the twilight of your deaths you still possess no compression of your genetic weaknesses. Let it be known that the natural evolution of the universe is that the strong survive and the weak perish. Fear your deaths not, for those that are about to deliver them do so knowing they are the superior race.” With that the screen went black and all hell broke loose on Earth.

Tam Christopher stood in the Counsel Chambers in Paris as his stomach sank and the room began to fill with the noise of concerned conversation. Something was wrong, something horrible was about to happen and Tam knew that he was powerless to prevent it.

Vice Lord Waldorf, standing proud on the command deck of the Alorian Flag ship Atrocities, was smiling from ear to ear as he looked upon the helpless Earth. Even if they’re planetary weapons did respond it would be too late for his ships were already in optimal firing position. It was with sincere gratification that he gave the order that would forever go down in human history as the most infamous order ever given.

“All ships commence firing!”

The hologram faded and the lights in the courtroom brightened.

Tam Christopher stood once again, and began to speak. “Members of this court, what you are about to see is a compilation of the events that followed. With that he sat back down and tapped a few controls on his consul. The room dimmed once again, and a holographic star field began to take form.

The Alorians had sent an envoy of just five ships to Earth. Ships of the First Alliance Fleet, including the Yorktown, scanned each of these ships as they passed into the Sol System. Earth was one of the most heavily defended planets in the quadrant with an entire Fleet of star ships protecting her. Yet not one of these ships had expected or was ready for the treachery of the Alorians. The Alorian ships were of a class not yet identified by Alliance intelligence, and were assumed to be nothing more than large diplomatic vessels with few armaments. However these ships were far more than they appeared, each possessing a Galvon Sensor Inverter, which generated false sensor readings in order to hide there true payload of heavy Galvon organic weapons.

The Alorian ships all fired their weapons; both beam and torpedo simultaneously unleashing a hellish green light that filled the night sky. A hundred or so torpedoes and beams streaked through the atmosphere of Earth at incredible speeds. Never before had Earth been attacked from orbit and those who were outside innocently looked upon the display of lights as nothing more than simple orbital fire works completely unaware of the true nature of the lights that were now raining down upon them. So many of those who saw the brilliant green lights did not realize what was about to happen and watched in morbid fascination as the objects struck their targets and war became a reality. In the first salvo nearly two and a half million people died, in the second and third salvos ten times that number perished. It was the single most deadly attack against a human planet in the history of mankind.

The first Alorian salvo was launched and directed at Earth Command and the city of Denver Colorado. The Alorians beams hit amid tower of Earth Command Central Complex building, some one hundred and fifty stories tall, piercing through its glass and durasteel structure with horrifying results. Within seconds the upper portion of the building began to sway and then collapse downward upon itself taking with it nearly twenty two thousand souls. The high yield explosive torpedoes from the first salvo stuck the campus with the force of ten nuclear fusion bombs, the resulting explosion could be seen from space as the campus was completely obliterated within a millisecond.

The first of the Alorian organic torpedoes impacted shortly afterward in the cities of Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. The resulting explosions obliterated old Seattle, vaporized the west side of Portland, ripped the Golden Gate Bridge from her foundation twisting her into wreckage as San Francisco burned. Many of the torpedoes impacted directly in cities along the west coast of the American continent reducing them to little more than piles of smoldering rubble. The whole attack on the surface of Earth took only thirty seconds to complete. What took centuries to build was destroyed in the time it takes to order a cup of coffee.

The Alorians then turned their attention toward Earths orbital Shipyard facility and the Space Docs. For nearly a hundred years these shipyard facilities were the Beacon of the Alliance space fleet, true symbol of mankind’s desire and ability to explore the stars. The shipyard its self was without a doubt an icon of the Earth Stellar Alliance Space Fleet but within seconds it was no more. Twenty five thousand people, six star ships, and one hundred years of history were blown into atomized metallic and durra pLastic particles so fine that they would orbit the Earth for decades to come.

Once the orbital shipyard facilities were destroyed the Alorians ships targeted the defenseless orbital colony of New Prussia. Earth first orbital colony, New Prussia was established nearly fifty years earlier and had a population of six hundred thousand people. The Alorian ships weaponry made short work of the orbital community reducing it to little more than a burned out hulk floating in space. Within a month it would burn up in Earths atmosphere as it descended down toward the Earth, a fairy funeral pyre for the entire planet to see.

During this time many of the Alliance ships began to react. The Yorktown was the first Alliance vessel to lay waste to an Alorian ship, the Avenger, nothing survived. It took the combined vengeful fire of thirty-five Alliance star ships all of about a minute to destroy all but one of the Alorian ships. The Alorian Dreadnought Atrocities had managed to evade the counter attack and was well out of weapons range of all but a few of the Alliance star ships. Those that did engage her were destroyed or badly damaged. Although the Atrocities escaped the attack upon Earth, she was ultimately destroyed in the final battle over Galvon Prime five years later.

As the lights began to brighten the hologram dissipated and sounds of shock and murmurs of sadness and grief could be heard and indeed felt throughout the courtroom.

Tam Christopher knew that he had won his case before he had even presented it. He knew that Damascus Gore would be found guilty of his war crimes, and punished accordingly. If he had a gun, he would shoot the Alorian himself for he had shaken this man hand and trusted him with all of their lives only to have that trust betrayed and his family killed. Oh yes, if only he had a gun he would shoot him dead right here and right now. But that was not Alliance Justice, and justice for he alone could not bring back all those who had died. No, Gore had to be punished by the Alliance for only the Alliance could punish him in the name of justice. His fait would serve as an example to all those who would commit mass murder in the name of war.

It took the Alliance Judges less than twenty minutes to find Damascus Gore guilty of the war crimes in which he was indited. He would be sentenced to life in prison here on Earth along with all the other war criminals from the Alorian Imperium. All totaling, nearly one hundred thousand of them would be sent to the Earths first Orbital Penal Colony ironically named Aloria.

As Tam sat in his chair looking out over the darkening sky line of Seattle, remembering these events from ten years ago, he thought of Damascus Gore and all of the Alorian war criminals and what they might be thinking about knowing that their Homeworld was now nothing more than a dead rock in space. God had a twisted sense of humor if he had one at all. Aloria was spared the war, but not Gods wrath.

“Sir,” It was Tams aid Meredith Shelby, “I have your transport ticket for passage to New Mecca.” Tam sat there quietly for a moment before responding.
“Thank Meredith, just place it on the table.”
“Sir it has been a pleasure working for you.” She said simply as she sat the ticket card on his desk. “I hope you find peace there.”
“Thank you Meredith, I hope you and your family enjoy Pacifica. I hear it’s a beautiful planet.”
“Thank you sir.” She said softly. “It has been an honor to know you.” With that she turn and quietly left the room. Tam continued to sit in his chair looking out his window at the now darkened sky over Seattle. He pondered his future for a while then left to go home and pack. His transport would be one of the Last to leave Earth before the end came. As he walked down the hall toward the grav-lift he looked down at the name on the ticket card, ‘Pandora’ what an odd name for a starliner he thought, then entered the grav-lift and descended toward home for the final time.

High above Earth orbiting ever so slowly in the night sky was the Aloria Orbital Penal Colony. It was a huge ugly facility constructed at the end of the Galvon Earth war to house nearly a hundred thousand Alorian war criminals. Mostly officers and soldiers captured during the war that had been charged with crimes against humanity and convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison. But now with the eminent destruction of Earth coming, they were being loaded aboard a starliner, one of the largest ships in the Twin Star Lines capable of carrying nearly a million and half passengers and crew. As Damascus Gore and the other prisoners were being transferred to the Starliner, he could see through the windows of the boarding ramp the ships name, as it was painted as large as a building for all to see on the ships outer haul, “Pandora,” he whispered out loud.

Senator Owen Cassady closed the book of Origins and slowly lowered it to his desk. He sat their pale and expressionless for many moments. His wife entered the room; she had brought him a cup of hot lacto berry juice.
“Owen,” she asked in a concerned voice, “are you alright?”
Owen looked up at her and shook his head no. “No my love, I am far from alright.”

[ July 01, 2003, 14:51: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Bump for the day

[dogscoff]

Aaaah, now it starts to make sense. Nice one.


Your fiats were ceiled long before your births
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Stupid little italian cars...

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
Aaaah, now it starts to make sense. Nice one.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Your fiats were ceiled long before your births
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Stupid little italian cars...</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">GD microsoft Spell checker!!!! Faits! (Sp)

[ June 30, 2003, 15:46: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro]

They destroyed the West Side of Portland? Good riddance to those Espresso swilling Yuppies! and their little trendy Fiats too!

[Raging Deadstar]

Very nice chapter. I like the whole courtcase idea and everything tying together. A great addition to a wonderful story http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

If you mean "fate" as in someones destiny, Fate is the english spelling of the word, not sure about american or international though

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro:
They destroyed the West Side of Portland? Good riddance to those Espresso swilling Yuppies! and their little trendy Fiats too!<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Dude you made me laugh so hard I blew tea out my nose! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

And thanks RD for the Fate spelling. I will go correct it now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ July 01, 2003, 14:53: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

I have not given up on the story, just taking some time away from it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ruatha]

our fates were ceiled long before your births

I guess ceiled should be sealed?

Or is it some reference to a Toyota Celica? I mean if it wasn't Fiat?

Otherwise a good one, thanks for bumping, missed it while I was on vacation.

ceil Audio pronunciation of ceiled ( P ) Pronunciation Key (sl)
tr.v. ceiled, ceil·ing, ceils

1. To provide or cover with a ceiling.
2. Nautical. To provide (a ship) with interior planking or lining

[Middle English celen, probably from Old French *celer, from Latin caelre, to carve, from caelum, chisel. See Caelum.]

ceiled

Ceil \Ceil\ (s[=e]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ceiled (s[=e]ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Ceiling.] [From an older noun, fr. F. ciel heaven, canopy, fr. L. caelum heaven, vault, arch, covering; cf. Gr. koi^los hollow.] 1. To overlay or cover the inner side of the roof of; to furnish with a ceiling; as, to ceil a room.

The greater house he ceiled with fir tree. --2 Chron. iii. 5

2. To line or finish a surface, as of a wall, with pLaster, stucco, thin Boards, or the like.



[ August 07, 2003, 04:48: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Atrocities]

What can I say, it was spelled correctly and Office 2k recommended it be changed so I changed it. Another reason to hate MS.

I distinctly recall typing sealed, but like I said, ceiled is what the grammer checker recommended.

Kinda like peaces or pieces.

[ August 07, 2003, 15:05: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XXX

By Gods Good Graces

Segment A

When Tom finally came to after the explosion that he had set off to prevent the creatures in the space ship from getting to them, he could taste the iron flavor of blood in his mouth, and he swallowed hard. He lay there motionless for several minutes, counting bones and body parts by moving as many as he could. He hurt horribly from head to toe, but as far as he could tell he was in one peace with no broken bones or missing limbs. Slowly he sat up and tried to look around. The cavern was dimly light, the cavern lights having been destroyed by the bLast or buried under the ice and snow. The only light that was illuminating the cavern was that which penetrated through the Ice above them.
The air was heavy with aerosolled ice particles and Tom found it difficult to breath. His ears rang and he was beginning to get head ace. Tom looked around a bit more for his comrades and began calling out their names.
“Harris? Nina?” He yelled.
A few seconds later Harris responded his voice rough and strained as he spoke. “General,” was all he could say before entering into a coughing frenzy. “I can’t seem to breath.”
“The air lines must have been cut off, we are running out of breathable air.” Speculated Tom as he tried to stand and nearly blacked out from the effort.
“I think my leg is broken sir.” Harris said slowly as he continued to cough.
“Sit tight.” Replied Tom as he scanned the darkens through squinted eyes looking for any sign of Nina Smith.
“Nina?” He yelled once more without a getting a response. Slowly he started moving through the ruminants of the Cavern looking for her. The bLast had been horrendous and it generated a shockwave that hit them like a tidal wave. Nina Smith was closer to the bLast then Tom, so he focused his search in the area she had been standing. It did not take him long before finding her. He bent down and checked for a pulse on her neck. He breathed a sigh of relief at feeling the smooth and even rhythm of her heart beat as it pushed blood through Nina’s jugular vain. He lowered down beside her and softly spoke into her hear. “Nina, Nina.”
Slowly she began to stir. A moan came first quickly followed by a gasp for air as her eyes came wide open and she let out a piercing screamed.
Taken back by this Tom startled away from her before regaining his composure. “It is alright, your alive.” He said softly as he helped her to lie back down. She said nothing, but Tom could read her eyes, she was confused and scared.
“The explosion caused a cave in as we had expected, we were all caught in the bLast wave and knocked unconscious.” Slowly she began to relax as her memory slowly returned.
“The assassin?” She finally said through chattering teething. “Where is that bastard?”
Tom had seen him lying uncurious against the far wall of the Cavern as he looked for Nina.
“He’s over by the caved in entrance.” Replied Tom.

Thirty minutes later everyone was awake and sitting on whatever they could find, silently waiting for someone to come up with an idea on how to get out of their ice tomb.
“As near as I can figure it, we have little over four hours before were all lit up like the apocalypse.” Commented Harris darkly from his little corner of the Cavern.
“My Chronometer was broken in the bLast, I don’t know the time, but I will agree, we have about four hours.” Replied Tom solemnly as fiddled with the two items in his hand.
“I have two of these explosive devices left.” Commented Tom as he looked at the devices in his hand. “Will they be enough to bLast open that caved in entrance?” He asked of Orata. Trax had used an alas to protect his true identity so to these people his name was Orata.
Trax smiled slightly but did not immediately answer Tom.
“Answer me?” Pressed Tom angrily.
“Yes, there are enough explosives in your hand to bLast through the obstruction. However, you will not be able to escape the bLast radius of a Titus warhead so why bother. It is better to die were we are than live with the false hope of being rescued in time to avoid the bLast. Besides, we will all be dead from suffocation long before we are ever struck by Titus.”
“We will worry about that problem once we are on the surface.” Replied Tom as he tossed the explosive to Trax. “If you try anything stupid, you will be the first to die, that I sincerely promise you.” Said Tom with as much venom in his voice as he could muster. He raised his pistol toward Trax and nodded toward the blocked entrance.
“Now get us the hell out of here.”

[Atrocities]

Glad you happy. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

After being told my story sucked a while back, I kinda lost interest in it. Oh well, I will wrap it up as quickly as I can. Hopefully those who have enjoyed it will continue to do so. Those who don't like it, well then, don't read it.

[dogscoff]

Woohoo! OutS is back! And we're back in the cavern! More woohoo!

[Atrocities]

Part XXX

By Gods Good Graces

Segment B

As Major Jellico Mantel gently set his Prowler, Guardian One, down on the landing pad at Andover Base he could not help but repress the urge to hit something. His Co-Pilot, Captain Chad Jeffery’s, looked defeated as he sat there looking out the window at nothing in particular.
“Come on Chad, let’s get unloaded and head for the Officers club.” Said Jellico as he unfastened his harness and climbed out away from his pilot’s seat. Chad looked over at him and from the look on his face Jellico knew what it was he was thinking. He put his hand on Chad’s shoulder to comfort him.
“He was a good man, even if he wanted to kill you.” He said warmly.
“Its not that Jel, it’s the fact that we left him and other behind.”
“It’s a bad call, but we have to follow order.”
“Some orders should not be followed.”
Feeling a bit angry over the affair of having to leave one of his best friends behind and not being able to live with it himself he snapped out at Chad.
“You don’t think I wanted to stay and dig him out?” Snapped Jellico harshly
Chad looked away and lowered his head. Realizing what he had done, Jellico squeezed his friend’s shoulder firmly and said gently, “Come on, we have a job to do.”

Captain Richard Hess was not a man to keen on lying around, especially s when a good friend of his was in the very real danger of being killed. Despite his injuries, sustained when a Prowler had exploded on the landing field at the discovery site, he walked out of the base hospital toward the Officers Club. He wanted answered, and by God he was going to get some, or heads were going to roll.

The explosion came as a muffled sound as several tons of compressed Ice and snow were blown apart and out away from the entrance to the cavern that held General Tom Christopher and his party. The cavern filled with an arid odor of spent explosive that smelled too much like rotten eggs and sulfur for Toms tastes.
After the debris cleared Orata entered the whole the bLast had created and placed the second charge. The second bLast did the trick; soon after it was set off Tom could smell fresh air entering the cavern. Not long afterward they were all on the surface of the Ice probing the area for any signs of life. All of the buildings were still there, but no sign of life. Nina Smith and Harris made there way as well as they could toward the Mess/Medical tent to treat Harris’s broken leg. Tom keeping his pistol even with the Orata’s midsection made there way to the Command tent. Tom was not surprised to find it completely empty of any equipment. It was standing order to remove all communication and tactical equipment when an area was being evacuated.
Tom and Orata moved back outside and toward the Mess/Medical tent, when out of nowhere a blue light struck Tom in the right backside just below the rib cage. Tom crumpled to the ground without making a sound. Trax who was walking in front of Tom moved so quickly to grab the pistol out of Toms hand that even if Tom had been conscious, he would not have had time to react. Trax knew instantly what had dropped Tom and he knelt down beside him and checked for a pulse. He had one, but it was weakening. Trax looked up as Tanix approached, half walking, half hobbling through the snow.
“You were given an order to wait at the evacuation site.” Commented Trax with some anger in his voice.
“A good thing I did not follow that order.” Replied Tanix sourly.
“Yes indeed it was.” Observed Trax as he stood and casually walked over to Tanix. Without warning he pistol-whipped him knocking him to the ground.
“Next time you fail to follow my orders I will kill you.” He said coldly. With that he fired Toms Pistol into the snow next to Tanix’s head then dropped it. He helped Tanix to his feet and then both of them took off toward their evacuation site without looking back.

Nina and Harris heard the shot and ran out of the Medical tent to see what had happened. Harris, ever the soldier, checked the area as they exited out into the snow. Nina saw Tom lying in the snow first, but Harris’s cautioned her that it might be a trap as they slowly made there way toward him.

Tom’s wound was bad, but not immediately life threatening. Harris could not carry any weight on his leg and was having a tremendously difficult time hopping around in the snow. She was able to give him a mild painkiller and set his leg in a brace, but that was all she could do.
“There they are!” Said Harris as he brought his rifle up and started to take aim.”
Nina stood and put her hand on the forward part of Harris’s rifle and gently applied press to lower it as she spoke softly to him. “Let them go. We need to get the General inside so I can work on him.”
Harris looked at her and could see in her eyes that she knew what she was doing.
“If they wanted to kill him, they could have, but they didn’t.” Nina said as Harris’s rifle lowered slowly.

Since Harris could not help her, Nina had to use one of the tables from the mess tent and drag him across the snow inch by inch. It took here over thirty minutes to traverse the distance, but she did it. She was exhausted but still worked on stopping the bleeding from Tom’s wound. After another twenty minutes or so Tom regained consciousness. He was in serious pain but refused any pain medication.


“Where is Orata?” Asked Tom through clenched teeth as he looked around the tent slowly? He could not see much as he was laying on the floor on his belly no less.
“He’s gone.” Replied Harris.
“We have got to get away from here if we are going to survive.” Tom said as he tried to do get up.
“General, there are no land vehicles, no communication equipment, and both you and I are wounded.” Harris said bluntly as Nina and he bent down to try and help Tom up, “We are going nowhere.” Harris finished with a grunt as Tom finally stood and nearly fell over. Nina braced him as well as she could.
“What happened out there?” She asked in an effort to change the subject.
“I don’t know.” Replied Tom as Nina helped him to lay face down on the medical table. “We were walking along and the next thing I knew I was in here.”
“You were shot with an energy weapon of some kind.” Commented Nina as she sprayed liquid bandage on Tom’s wound.
“An energy weapon?” Commented Tom in a puzzled voice. “Those are only in the experimental stage of development! They don’t exist yet.”
“Well this one was real enough, an inch higher and you would not be here.” Replied Nina in a serious ton of voice as she continued to work.


Richard entered the Officers Club and immediately made way for the two men he openly recognized sitting at a table near a large Muriel of some old battle scene. The two men were not talking, and had barely touched their drinks when Richard hobbled up.
“Gentlemen,” he said politely as he pulled up a chair.
“Captain Hess,” Replied Jellico sincerely. “Glad to see you up and about. Care for a dink?” Jellico raised his hand and started to flag the waitress when Richard spoke.
“Major I need your help.”

[ March 01, 2004, 01:00: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[dogscoff]

After being told my story sucked a while back
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Who said that? Was that here or on the Speculative forum?

There's bound to be some people somewhere who don't like your story Atrocities, just because everyone's tastes are different. However, you know that plenty of ppl DO like it, and most importantly, YOU like it. F**k the rest of 'em and keep writing. You're good at it.

[geoschmo]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
After being told my story sucked a while back
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Who said that? Was that here or on the Speculative forum?
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It was probably some Trek-head canon idle worshipper. Like D say's ignore 'em Atrocities. Write what you want. And don't listen to the critics. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif I does kinda bother me, but what the hell, lifes to short to let people like that bum me out. Any ways, I thought I had better move the story along as it has been a while since the Last segments were posted. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[The FryeR K]

At Last its back...
I've missed it...
Need MORE.

Its going very well.
Keep up the good work.

[Ruatha]

And here I had been mourning.
I really started to think they had died in the cavern and the story was over... Glad I was wrong!!!

[Atrocities]

If I can keep interested in the story there is a lot more to tell.

Eventually when I get really board I am going to go thru the entire story again and rewrite it.

[dogscoff]

Eventually when I get really board I am going to go thru the entire story again and rewrite it.
<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I keep getting the urge to do this with O&C, but I'm disciplining myself to finish it first.

[Atrocities]

My hands hurt more now than they have in ever before. My knuckles ack all the time and my wrists lock up. The tips of my fingers are numb and My neck, back, and shoulder hurt. My eyes are always blurry, and my mind is failing.

What do you think the problem is?

[Ruatha]

Perhaps some sleep might help??

(eagerly awaiting the cause of the problems, I need more http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif )

[ September 18, 2003, 22:17: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Atrocities]

I have a bit more free time and might rap this story up soon. Before starting on the next one.

[Atrocities]

Sorry, just a bump. I had a request to find the story via a PM and so I have done so.

Enjoy.

[Nostalgia For Infinity]

Ah an Atrocities story. I remember them from OmegaProject so I expect great things.

Better get started http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ruatha]

Will there be any continuation?

[Atrocities]

I am in the process of a re-write and yes the story will go on. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I have the next two chapters already written, but will hold off on posting them for now. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[dogscoff]

Hurrah!

*dogscoff does a joyful little jig.

I might need to catch up from the beginning again though. Do you have the story posted in its entirety anywhere?

[Siegebreaker]

That was absolutely great.
I love this story.
When its the next part coming up?

[Atrocities]

In a couple of weeks. I want to finish the rewrite first. Won't have a major impact on the story, but clears up some things early on.

[Siegebreaker]

Atrocities, I think it was not a good idea to post your work on that sci-fi site.
I mean, they look at "the way you tell the story", while I think most people here look at the story itself.
Now we have to wait longer because your work have to be up to the higher standards of those people over there.

On the other hand, its good for you from a writter's point of view. Professional criticism can indeed help you to reach a higher level of storytelling.

But on the other hand, it might seem as a task too heavy to write up to those standards, and it may actually make you lose interest on the story, which would be our lost, not theirs.

But then on the other hand....ok, I have no more hands. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[ February 27, 2004, 19:05: Message edited by: SB ]

[Atrocities]

Thanks SB. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I wanted to do a rewrite in order to focus the story more tightly and give some more back ground on the characters. Basically give the story more substance.

I have not been to that sight in many many months. I don't even have a link any more.

[Atrocities]

Part XXX

By Gods Good Graces

Segment C

“What do you need us to do Captain?” Asked Jellico quietly.
Hess looked deadly serious as he spoke, “I want to go back to Discovery Base and rescue the people we left behind.”
Chad sat back slowly as did Jellico. “What do we do about them being buried under the Ice? How do we get them out?” Chad asked.
Hess looked at them both and smiled wickedly. “Why we steal some explosive and bLast them out.”
“You have got to be kidding!” Jellico said a bit more loudly than he had intended, but no one looked over at them. He leaned forward again and continued in a much quieter voice. “The launch has already begun, we have maybe a couple of hours at best.”
“Then we had better get going.” Replied Hess.
“We will be court marshaled for this.” Jellico Said as he looked at both men.
“Maybe so, but I am not going to leave the General there to die.” Hess was determined and both Jellico and Chad could see it.
“I can’t speak for Chad but count me in.”
“Count me in to.” Said Chad.

Tom was still in a lot of pain from his wound but was now sitting up. Harris had hobbled outside to see if he could find anything that they could use to send out a signal or use to get out of this place before it was destroyed by a tactical nuke.

“How much time do you think we now have?” Asked Nina as she sat quietly sipping a cup of cold Lacto Berry juice.
“I would say about an hour or less.” Replied Tom solemnly.
“When I signed on with Dr. Mentor, I had no idea that I would be atomized by a nuclear weapon a year later.” Nina said wittingly. She was a very lovely women, beautiful of both mind and body. She had a good sense of humor to boot, and the personalty to accept a situation without losing control of her emotions. Tom could not help but like her.
“Its not how I pictured myself going out either.” Replied Tom with a smile.
“Tell me General, is it true that you’re the man who ended the Great War?”
Tom looked down then slowly back up slightly embarrassed that she would know of his past while he knew nothing of hers.
“I played a part in it yes.” He replied with some hesitance in his voice.
“Tell me about it.” Asked Nina.
“It’s a long story.”
“Well we have about an hour to kill, is that long enough?”
Tom smiled at her with admiration. She was an attractive women and Tom promised himself that if they made it out of this alive, he would buy her dinner in the finest restaurant in the Capitol city.
“I knew him, Devon Gore, that is.” Tom Started. “At the battle of Camellia, I was a Captain in the Praetorian Republic, I had just destroyed the Global Alliances largest Carrier the Tempest when my fuel reserves expired and I had to make a crash landing. Not long after that I was captured by Alliance ground forces and taken aboard the Prometheus, King Gore the VI’s flag ship. They through me into the brig after a preliminary beating. I could hear the ships firing at the city and I knew that it was only a matter of time before the Governor surrendered the city. We had put up one hell of a fight, taken many of their ships down, but in the end, they simply out numbered us.”
Tom took a sip from his own cup of cold lacto berry juice before continuing.
“It wasn’t long before I was taken to meet my old friend. They dragged me onto the bridge and dropped me on the deck right in front of him as he sat in a command chair that look a lot like a thrown.”
Tom was lost in thought as he told his story, it was as if he could remember it so clearly in his mind that it seemed as though he had gone back in time and was now reliving the moment as if it were all new.
Gore laughed sinisterly at Tom as he lay before him on the deck at his feet. “You look horrible Tomas.” He said sarcastically. “I should have had my men clean you up for this glorious occasion.”
Tom looked on as Gore slowly stood, arms out stretched in an upward fashion forming with his body a big “W”. Without warning Gore knelt to one knee and brought his face to within an inch of Tom’s. As he spoke, he spat the words at Tom with hatred. “I have beaten you, and now I am going to obliterate your precious city.”
Tom looked to his side and out the forward viewing port and could see that they were at station keeping just outside the city of Camellia. Tom attempted too looked away but Gore grabbed his chin and forced him to look.
“Look at my wrath unleashed!” He spat at Tom as they looked upon the once proud Capitol city of the Praetorian Republic. “Soon your precious city will be burned to the ground and you, my old friend, will spend the remaining years of your life rotting away in the hell of my dudgeons!”
With that Devon forcibly pushed Toms head downward, released him and stood. Tom looked up as he began to raise himself into a kneeling position. “You think by killing millions of innocent people you will force me into accepting you as a God, and forgive you for betraying us all?”
Devon had returned to and was now sitting cross legged on his thrown.
“I am a God, and I need not your forgiveness only your obedience.”
“You many win this war Devon, but you will never be worshiped as a God!” Tom’s tone was one of utter contempt.
Gore looked equally as contemptuous as he spoke.
“In the end I will be worshiped, or I will burn this planet to a cinder and wipe clean the filth that has contaminated my world once and for all.”
“You’re mad!” Hissed Tom as he quicky came to his feet and was stomach punched by the rifle butt of one of his Alliance guards. It hurt like hell, and it drove him down on one knee but he never took his eyes off of Gore.
“Now behold my power.” Gore said magnanimously. “Prepare to fire the Tactical Nukes.”
“NO!” Screamed Tom as he lunged for Gore. The two Alliance guards that were guarding him reacted instantaneously by slammed him face down onto the deck. The force of the blow drove the air from his lungs leaving him gasping and nearly unconscious.
Then, without warning, the ship shuddered violently and the bridge lights went out. Tom looked up but could only see one of his guards through the darkness. He knew that he had but one chance to end this, so with every fiber of his being he raised himself off of the deck and struck the first guard in the groin as hard as he could. The Man let out a yelp and crumpled to the floor. Not wasting a second Tom seized the fallen guard’s rifle and shot the second guard in the face. It was a lucky shot, not aimed, the man’s head simply exploded in a burst of red. The lights on the bridge had gone to combat red as the ship shuddered again and sounds of explosions filled the air. Gore had focused his attention on the ship’s command crew and had not noticed the struggle between Tom and his guards. The second guard’s body fell onto the deck with a dull thud and Tom took the pistol from the dead mans hand and started to slowly stood. Gore was still focused upon his bridge crew, and was barking orders and did not notice that Tom had stepped up beside him until the cold barrel of the pistol touched his head. Gore stopped mid sentence, his eyes opening wide as Tom whispered in his ear, “Give my regards to you’re farther you son of a *****!” And then fired the pistol.
Gore jerked violently to one side and then never moved again. Tom looked out across the bridge of the ship, his gun pointed forward, blood covering his face and forearm, he yelled so all could hear.
“Your King is dead!”
The ship continued to shake violently but no one moved.
“This war is over! It ends here and now!”
Tom’s voice was harsh, the smoke that was rapidly filling the bridge was acidic and it hurt to breath.
“YOU!” Tom pointed the pistol at the senior commanding officer. “Order a cease fire now!” The man looked stoic as he stood there refusing to move. Tom shot him in the chest and then pointed his gun at the next officer who immediately understood what was no expected of him.
Without hesitation the man nodded toward the communications officer who carried out the order to cease fire.
Within an hour the ship was occupied by forces of the Praetorian Republic, the was over, and Captain Tom Christopher was on the fast track to becoming a legend.

As Tom finished the story he tried to stand and quickly regretted it. Nina was at his side, offering support before he even realized it.
“Was he a good friend?” She asked softly as she supported him.
“Devon was my best friend at the Academy. The man I killed that day was not the man I knew.”
“He was a monster that one.” Nina said without remorse.
“Yes he was.” Tom said slowly.
Tom thought for moment, there was something else, some familiar now. He looked into Nina’s eyes and decided to share with her something that he has never told anyone about that day. “That day I saw something that until today I thought was just my mind playing tricks on me.”
“What?” She asked in softly spoken supportive way.
“In the darkness of that bridge, to one side, something caught my eye. For an instant I thought I had seen a man standing near one of the bridge exists, he appeared and then disappeared all in the same instant. I brushed it off like I said thinking it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but now.” Tom’s voice trailed off as Nina looked at him and said with some sense of shock, “Orata!?”
Tom just looked at her and smiled. “I don’t know.”

Just then Harris burst into the room, nearly falling as he tripped from hobbling to fast on his broken leg. “A Prowler is coming!” He yelled excitedly.

A minute later they were all standing out side watching as the great black bird landed not more than a hundred yards in front of them. They needed no prodding to move toward it as the boarding ramp began to lower and Captain Richard Hess became visible. Tom was not at all surprised to see Richard, his aid, as he came running down the ramp yelling at them to hurry up.

As soon as they hit the ramp the Prowler began to ascend. They had not even taken seats when the craft was at full throttle moving away from Discovery Base.

Less than thirty minutes later Discovery Base was nothing more than a mushroom cloud rapidly reaching skyward. The Prowler had just barely out ran the bLast wave that could have easily destroyed it when Tom leaned over to Richard and softly said. “The next time you come to the rescue Captain, be sure to bring along some hot lacto berry juice.” Both men laughed and hugged as well as friends and officers could do.

[ March 01, 2004, 06:05: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

The story pre-dates 2400.0 yes.

The game is based off of the Conquest mod, not yet released. Weapons work differntly in this mod. CSM's are not tactical nukes, they are conventional explosives so a tactical nuke is far more explosive than any level of CSM.

[Siegebreaker]

The description for CSM says "Heavy duty missile with a nuclear warhead", if I recall correctly.

I always thought it was nuclear because conventional explosives should do little damage to a year 2400 ship of any kind, since they would suppossely be shielded against meteorites, radiation, and so on.
Even today great advances are being done in low weight tubular materials. Both the US and China have developed materials that suppossely are stronger than steel, though we will not know for sure until the so-called FCVs become operational in the near future, partially replacing the current Abram tanks.

What I mean its that I always thought that any ship in SE4 was armored in comparison to our standards today, and the armor components were armored to the year 2400 standards, thus explaining why a corvette/escort class ship without armored components could take a couple direct hits from CSMs with nuclear warheads, as the in-game description says the are.

[Atrocities]

Again, the story pre-dates 2400.0 and the story is based off of the Conquest mod, not yet released. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Physics of that mod work differntly and given the fact that they have not yet discovered, or re-discovered space travel, neucler weapons are all they have at the moment. Crude and effective.

CSM my have neucler war heads, but they could be low yeild or even neucler waste by products like depleted urianium. Just a thought.

[Siegebreaker]

Originally posted by Atrocities:


CSM my have neucler war heads, but they could be low yeild or even neucler waste by products like depleted urianium. Just a thought. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">Well, I guess every player will think diferently of the strenght of SE4 weapons in comparisson with todays arsenal.

I think the CSMs are really nuclear, and even more powerful than todays nukes, because a few of them can glass a colony with several millions colonists.

Heck, an undefended colony of any size its history when a single lowly frigate shows up packing a couple CSM components. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Still, within the frame of Once Upon the Stars, you can argue that the Colony ship was not up to the standards of the 2400 start date, and thus weaker when struck by a TacNuke.

Or you may say that the TacNuke was an smart bunker-buster with a nuclear warhead. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
That one could definitively penetrate a pre-2400 colony ship that its a seating duck on the ground.

Oh yeah, I like the bunker-buster theory. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Siegebreaker]

Hey, that was a nice surprise. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
I was not expecting another update for another month or so.

The question now its, can a tactical nuke really destroy a colonizer?
I don't remember exactly if in the game one single CSM level 1 can blow out of the sky a colony ship.
I will run a test later. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Oh, but also, this story its pre-2400, the starting game date, right?
So that nuke maybe its less capable than a CSM1, and it was a Tactical Nuke, not an ICBM, so it should be even smaller.
Can we assume that a CSM1 its comparable to a current ICBM?

Sorry for picking on this part of the story. Its just that I'm into Sci-fi "realism". http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif
(Like if such a thing as "sci-fi realism" can really exist http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif )

[Atrocities]

You might have a point there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Thanks.

The thing is a nuke is a very devistating weapon. The fact that CSm's have nuclear cores or war heads probibly makes them lower yeild or something. I will say that that the Tacticle nuke used in the Last chapter is significantly much higher yeild than a standard CSM. (Which will be used in later chapters if I ever get around to writing them.)

Thanks for the help on figuring this out. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

I wonder why no one has read this latest installment. This was so far buried that one needed to pipe air into it to keep it alive.

[Sabin]

Here is the link to the first page of my own story. Thank you.

http://www.shrapnelgames.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=23;t=011023;p=2

[dogscoff]

AT: Just got round to reading it, nice to see everything coming together. I'll ask again though, any chance of posting the entire story somewhere? It would be much easier to read that way than picking through this thread.

As for the nukes... remember that a nuke fired against a target in space (ie against a ship in se4 combat) would be far less devastating than one that detonates in a planetary atmosphere, because in space there is nothing to carry the bLast wave.

[Atrocities]

Once I have the rewrite done I don't see a problem with posting it somewhere. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Ruatha]

Still intriguing.
Want more!

--------------------------------------
No complaints about the substance but some about the grammar and spelling.
I'm swedish and we don't seperate words as much as the english language does, so some of these corrections might be wrong, there where more wordseperations aswell but I'm uncertain as to how it's handled in the english language.

Hey, I only know two languanges, english and swedish and I don't know any of them perfectly!
so some spelling suggestions are propably wroong, I'm quite uncertain about "aide" especially!

Anyway, the story is so good that I'd like the spelling errors corrected, the auto spellers suck!
If you want me to stop critizing say so and I'll happily oblige, but I'd appreciate if anyone checked my stories. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

Ruatha
------------------

arms out stretched
A space to much I think.

They dragged me onto the bridge and dropped me on the deck right in front of him as he sat in a command chair that look a lot like a thrown.”
Should be throne.

of your life rotting away in the hell of my dudgeons!”
dungeons

now sitting cross legged on his thrown.
crosslegged and throne

You many win this war Devon
may

“You’re mad!” Hissed Tom as he quicky came to his feet and was stomach punched by the rifle butt of one of his Alliance guards
Tom is allowed to bring his alliance guards with him?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif


and it drove him down on one knee but he never took his eyes off of Gore
Hadn't he just drawn himself up to kneeing position?

by slammed him face down
slamming

hand and started to slowly stood
stand up perhaps?

regards to you’re farther
your and father

and it hurt to breath.
breathe ??

what was no expected
now

Tom thought for moment, there was something else, some familiar now.
was it something or someone?

of the bridge exists
exits

standing out side watching as the great
outside

see Richard, his aid, as he came
aide ???

just barely out ran the bLast
outran

[Ruatha]

Coming more soon???
Wants some! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Not very many people read stories any more.

[Ruatha]

But we are some who eagerly awaits all new episodes....

Good stuff.

Btw, do you want me to spell/grammar check or is it just annoying? (Won't do it anymore..promise)

[ March 09, 2004, 18:28: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

here and there, occasionally.

that segment was good.

[Atrocities]

Thanks guys. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I am re-writing the whole story as I go, and that is a time consuming process of epic proportions. There are over 80,000 words in this story, and I think I just added another 10,000 in the Last five hours.

It is easy to lose focus of the story when you don't work on it for a long time. Even with good notes, it can be difficult to get back into it.

I hope the re-write clears up a lot of grey areas and adds more depth and character development to the story.

[CNCRaymond]

A nice read. Good work. Look forward to reading more soon.

[Siegebreaker]

Awesome.
I need more!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

Prelude (http://www.astmod.com/conquest/conquest.htm)

[dogscoff]

Oh yeah, this will keep me happy for a while. nice work At.

[Atrocities]

Any one read the new prelude?

[dogscoff]

Yeah, I read it. brilliant. Once you have the entire story up I'll take an afternoon off to read it. BTW, check your PM.

[Ruatha]

Not yet, but I will.

[Atrocities]

I think it is far more difficult to go back through and re-write a story than it is to write it in the first place. I have a new found respect for story editors.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

there is only one job in the whole world that is not harder than it looks...*sigh*...my dream job...mattress testing... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

[Atrocities]

LOL, right. I would think the worst job in the world would be poop anyalist.

"Humm, this crap looks like crap to me."

[sachmo]

Paradise Hotel. Nice!

[Atrocities]

You are the first to catch that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

I really need to get off my arse and just get back into this story. I know that it doesn't have a huge following but still I would like to finish it.

I have the whole story worked out for the most part, it is just going through it and re-writing it so that all the peaces fit.

I wonder why it is so hard to do something that is really kinda of fun. Its like a chore that you know you want to do but you never get up the motivation to ever get it done.

Why is that? I mean when I started the story a year or so ago I really enjoyed writing. I guess circumstances change and priorities shift.

[Ruatha]

I guess it could be the rewriting...
That usually takes some fun out of it, as you've already done it once?

I'm a devote fan btw. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[dogscoff]

Why is that? I mean when I started the story a year or so ago I really enjoyed writing. I guess circumstances change and priorities shift. <font size="2" face="sans-serif, arial, verdana">I find this too. I still enjoy writing O&C but it's more like work now and harder to get started on a new chapter. I think the reason is that when I started te story I could write any damn thing I liked without worrying about continuity, whether it fitted into the plot I had planned (because I didn't have a plot planned=-), whether I'm giving away too much or too little information. As you get deeper into the story, you need to spend more thought on these things, and that drains some of the fun out of it.

[Atrocities]

I have to agree, details can draw a lot of resources out of your mind and make the writing process a bit more problamatic, however I have always loved that kind of a challenge. But lately, like you said, it has just become harder and harder to get into it.

Like today, I sat down with the intent to do some writing on the story, but I got sucked into mIRC #se4 and pppppppffffffffffffttttttt there went the day.

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

When I am not so depressed, not so burdoned with worry, and mod is right I can write a lot in a short time. It is the journey not the destination that matters. However as of late starting that journey has become a destination in and of itself. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

DS do you still belong to that writers forum from a year ago?

[dogscoff]

Is it really a year? I don't really go there very often. It was full of unfinished stories, and very little scifi. Nice enough ppl, but the content just wasn't right for me. I posted there Last month to notify them of my new URL, but I doubt anyone followed it up.

As for the writing... I don't know. I have ups and downs with it, and in the middle of the downs I tend to just keep telling myself that sooner or later there will be an up, and then patiently wait it out. No point trying to force it, imho, just wait. Design another 18 shipsets in the meantime http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

Eventually you'll get so pissed off at yourself for not writing all this stuff that's been sitting in your head for the Last X months that you'll actually sit down and start writing and... suddenly... it's not as bad as you thought it would be.

Be patient with yourself, and have faith in your own abilities. It will come.

[Atrocities]

They seemed by helpful but were kind of a bit confrontational for my tastes.

[dogscoff]

Some were and some weren't. THe guy running it (Bmat) was nice. Had there been more aliens and less elves I might have stayed=-)

BUt yeah, there were some ppl who just couldn't appreciate constructive criticism.

[Atrocities]

Ya I noticed that they seemed a bit more focused on the fantasy side.

Hey man if a cop from back east can write a coupld of fantasy books and make a nice living, then who are we to complain. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I would love to beable to just sit down and write all day and all night without the fear of having to be somewhere or be doing something. To just be burden free and in the mood long enough to get a nice sized story written.

But RL is what happens to you while your busy making other plans.

I do wonder though if we could ever get any of our stories here on this forum web book or real book published.

It would be nice..

Oh ya, I have been working on the re-write and I am happy to say it is going well. Most of my "plot holes" now have plausable explaminations (sp) and I am adding a lot more substance to the story to give it more depth. I hate reading it and getting the feeling that I am reading a Japanize movie translated into english. You know - rushed and corny.

I have the pre-story all worked out and will be writing it soon. Oh and its good too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

I developed many of the characters more deeply and fleshed out the story a bit. Things, I hope, should now make more sense.

The story is currently 75000 words. I wonder how many pages that would be in Hard cover or paper back.

Damn I need a lap top.

[Ruatha]

* Bump * http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/confused.gif

[sachmo]

Atrocities:

F%&* the rewrite. have fun, and clean it up later, if ever. I'm still a fan. Always will be.

[Atrocities]

I will see what I can do. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif Thanks http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

A rewrite of a the Last chapter. It does a better job of explaining the path for the next chapter. Enjoy.


Gambit

As General Green existed his staff car, he looked about the area casually with some caution and noticed that he was not alone. The General had not become one of the United Global Alliances highest ranking military officers by being carefree and careless about who was watching him. It didn’t take him but an instant to spot his newest shadow as he tried to sit inconspicuously in a blue ground car parked next to the curve about six hundred feet down from the entrance of the Paradise Hotel.
Green had become accustom to being observed by others, it came with the job, but this new observer had only appeared on his radar the day before ironically just after he had spoken with that wretch Senator Kordesh. Green knew to play it cool, as he had his own men watching his back, and they to had taken notice of the Generals new shadow and were well prepared to step in and take action in an instant if the need arose.
Having satisfied his curiosity, he closed the door to his staff car and headed for the main entrance of the Paradise Hotel.
The Paradise Hotel was located in the heart of the city of Vanalder and was one of the oldest and most lugubrious hotels on the coastline. Many considered the city of Vanalder as one of the most elegant and magnificent cities on the continent located some sixty miles from the Capitol. Vanalder was well known as a hot spot for discreet politically incorrect relationship and furloughing Senators on weekend trips with their mistresses. Green could careless about the city itself, as far as he was concerned it was a cesspool for the rich and powerful, one that he would clean up when he became Chancellor. Greens attention refocused as he entered the Hotel and was greeted by the bellhop.
“Hello sir, can I be of service?” Asked the bellhop politely.
Green had no interesting in staying long so he ignored the hotel employee’s greeting as he walked by giving him no notice on his way toward the Hotels lifts. Greens objective was a simple one, meet with Kordesh, get him to agree to help him and then move onto the next step of his plan.
Green, having been informed that General Christopher had survived the destruction of Discovery Base, was in no mood to be pleasant. When Kordesh’s aid opened the door to the suite, Green grabbed the man by his shoulder and forcible tossed him out into the hall and slammed the door shut, locking it so the man could not re-enter the room. Even if he were to try one of Greens men would have intervened and rendered him unconscious.
“Now general,” Commented Kordesh from the next room, “That is no way to be treating my aids!” Kordesh attempted to sound sarcastic with a hint of anger in his tone but he knew that if it were him, he would have most likely done the same thing or better, have someone do it for him. As Green approached, Kordesh slowly began to stand. He was holding a drink in his left hand as he came to a standing position and offered his right hand to Green. This only served to anger Green even more. This little man was attempting to patronize him and he would have none of it.
“Why do you have a man following me?” Demand Green directly as he walked over to the bar and fixed himself a drink.
Senator Caparo Kordesh simply gave Green a whimsical look. The kind of look a person gives when his plan is exposed yet that too was according to plan.
“Only a precaution General.” Commented Kordesh politely.
“A precaution!” Barked Green hostilely. “Call off your man before I do.”
“Well that depends General.” Commented Kordesh dismissively as he took a sip from his drink. “Which man do you want me to call of? I have four following you.”
Green simply looked up at him, expressionless but yet not.
“Very well.” Said Kordesh as he sat back down in his chair and relaxed.
Green continued to stare at Kordesh as he wondering if he were serious or not about the number of men he had following him. Concluding that Kordesh was not a man to make light jokes, and that it was more likely than not true that he did indeed have four men following him, Green mentally bumped him up a notch in his book of people not to underestimate. Green finished mixing his own drink and casually walked over and sat down in the chair next to Kordesh.
“So General what is it you wish to speak to me about?”
Without saying a word Green sat his drink on the table, reached into his upper pocket and pulled out a small device. He activated it, than sat it down on the table between them. He then picked up his drink again and leaned back.
“A precaution.” He said with some sense of satisfaction in his voice.
“Are you afraid that I am recording this conversation General?”
“Yes.” Replied Green simply.
“Very well General, we will play by your rules.” Kordesh leaned back in his chair and pulled from his pocket, his own privacy device, activated it and set it down on the table next to Greens. He then politely nodded to Green, a subtle gestured indicating that he wanted him to start talking. Green taking the hint began talking.
“I know for a fact that your organization wants Benton gone, and I am in a position to accommodate that desire.”
Kordesh had expected something along this line but was never the less moved by the directness of Generals statement.
“What exactly do mean General?” He asked.
“I require your assistance to remove an obstacle that lies in my path.”
Kordesh looked puzzled, an act to be sure.
“Really General, and what kind of obstacle would that be?” Kordesh was smiling as he spoke, he was attempting to play the conversation as a joke and that irritated Green.
“Don’t play coy with me Kordesh!” Barked Green hotly. “I know all about your organization and how you have exploited it to maintain power!”
“And exactly what organization would that be General, the Senate?”
“You know damn well that I am talking about the Secret Investigation Division. You have violated your oath of office and have been using the S.I.D. for personal gain.”
“Oh that organization.” Replied Kordesh with a little more emotion than he cared to show. “For a minute there I thought you were accusing me of running some secret order or something.”
Greens face began to turn red as his anger began to build.
“I can see that I may have dramatically over estimated your ambition and willingness to preserve your own ***.”
“Really General, what do you take me for; a fool? Surely you don’t or you would not have asked to speak with me. So please come to whatever point it is you wish to make or leave.”
“You’re going to help me become Chancellor.”
“Right!” Replied Kordesh almost laughing as he spoke. “And if I refuse?”
“If you refuse to help me then I will expose your organization and ruin you.”
“General if this meeting is about the Special Investigations Division?” Kordesh seemed humored by Greens threat. “Then we could have had this meeting in my office in the Capitol.”
“I am talking about your covert operations. Something I do not think you would want our esteemed Chancellor’s spies to learn of.”
The smirk on Kordesh’s face was all but gone now. Green had finally gained his full attention.
“What covert operations?” He asked simply.
“Well I need not list them all, I will list one; Talos.”
Kordesh felt his heart skip a beat. He knew full well that Green was fishing for a response, one that would tip the scales in his favor. A control point so to speak that Green could use as leverage. Kordesh was a disciplined politician and far to skillful to fall for such an obvious tactic so he chose to down play Greens comment. He simply smiled and offered the only logical response he could.
“I have no knowledge of any S.I.D. operation by that name.”
“Really.” Green said as he pulled some documents from the inside right breast pocket of his jackets and tossed them into Kordesh’s lap. He than took a slow sip of his drink as he observed Kordesh and waited for his response.
“I must say that this is excellent Brandon Weed Whisky Senator.” Green commented as he swirled his glass slowly round observing the dense amber liquid contained within it. “Quite smooth.”
Kordesh had done nothing. He simply held his own glass with both hands. His eyes betraying nothing, not even a hint as to what it was that he was thinking which was the pleasant thought of seeing Green tossed from the balcony to his death.
Green new that Kordesh would be hard to crack, so he would have to play the game well.
“Those are documents that outline operation Talos. An operation approved by the S.I.D. Director.”
“And that involves me how?” Kordesh asked smoothly.
“According to Leonard Parks, you know Leonard, the acting Deputy Director of S.I.D.? Well he seems to recall quite clearly that six months ago that you came to him with operation Talos, and that you personally planned and authorized the operation.”
“Leonard is mistaken.”
“Oh I assure you Senator that all the incriminating documentation is sitting right there in your lap. Your duplicity is well documented. Leonard may be many things, but a fool is certainly not one of them. As the Deputy Director of S.I.D., he kept a very detailed logs of his activities and was more than willing to part with them for the right price.”
Kordesh said nothing.
“I can see from your lack of comment that I have your full and undivided attention now.” Green took another sip from his drink before continuing with is his train of though.
“My God man what were you thinking when you devised this operation? The assignation of the John Lesser, Head of the Space Exploration Division, gained you what?” He asked with some sense of sincere curiosity.
Kordesh sat his drink down and picked the papers up out of his lap and slowly unfolded the multi page document. He read through it without comment being careful not to show any expression at all.
Green simply observed him intently without speaking.
“These are most interesting documents General.” Kordesh finally said as he lowered the papers. “If you now know of the operation and fail to reported it, then you are equally as guilty of its crime under Government Article two-nine-zero-three as those who authorized it.”
Kordesh’s expression was stone cold. His face was a blank slate. Green knew that no reaction was a reaction and that denial often more than not, was far more telling of the story than an open admission. Green knew he had him and there was nothing Kordesh could do to escape his grasp.
“I take it you noticed the name of the man who authorized this operation?”
Kordesh just looked on showing no emotion.
“I could careless about your little covert operation to monitor members of the senate and those of the Chancellors staff, or about the assignation of John Lesser, what I am interested in is something far more important.”
Kordesh was slowly growing concerned as he fathomed the obvious. Not only had Green uncovered top-secret documentation regarding ongoing covert operations, but he also had proof that Kordesh directly ordered the assignation of John Lesser. The very thought of this was enough to enrage him and he seldom became enraged. The fact that one of his own men betrayed him was proof positive that he had grown complacent in his duties and had become a liability to things and people far more important than himself. This week had not gone well for him and if the Triluminary learns of this latest failure, the week could end very poorly.
“For the record I am not interested in reporting your operation Senator. On the contrary, I do in fact want it to continue, however, I want copies of all the reports submitted by your people. Especially those for the Vice Chancellor.”
“You are going to kill her?” Commented Kordesh coldly.
“No,” Replied Green simply, “Your people are going to do it for me.”
“I take it that she is the obstacle that you spoke of.”
“With Oranotie dead I become Vice Chancellor.” Green stated matter of factly.
“I am sure that this is only a stepping stone for you on your journey toward the Chancellorship.” Observed Kordesh as he tossed the papers into Greens lap.
Green simply smiled. Not a polite smile mind you, but the kind of smile that illustrated the presence of pure evil.
Kordesh could feel the weight of Greens black mail already. It was a package far heavier than any other that he has had to burden. He needed time to think. He knew that his survival would ultimately come down to his ability to carry out Greens plan while keeping his involvement in the action hidden from the Triluminary.
“Very well General. Its your game.”
“Oh by the way, don’t bother looking for Leonard, I assure you that he is quite well hidden.” Commented Green flatly as he finished off his drink before placing the empty glass on the table. He picked up his privacy device, took the documents that Kordesh had tossed into his lap and placed them both back into his pocket. He stood and walked without speaking another word from the room. As soon as he had exited the suite and entered the lift, Kordesh’s aid came back into the hotel room.
“Sir is everything alright?” He asked with some concern.
“Everything is fine Henry. Please cancel my docket for today and send for the car. We are going back to the capitol.”
As soon as his aid left, Kordesh spoke out load.
“We have a problem.”
“Indeed.” Responded Trax in his usual cold and stoic voice.

[ June 18, 2004, 08:53: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[sachmo]

Awesome!

[dogscoff]

Dogscoff sits at the front, booing, hissing and throwing popcorn whenever General Green comes on stage.

[Atrocities]

Thanks, the next chapter should be out soon.

[Ruatha]

Saving this for summer reading after the wedding, So you'll have a few days to get the next chapter up, then I can read em both. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif
Anticipation!

BTW, I agree with DS: We don't like Green, booo http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/tongue.gif

[ June 19, 2004, 02:01: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[Atrocities]

If your getting married, congradulations. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

Just remember this simple rule: "If she ain't happy, you ain't happy." - Jeff Foxworthy.

[Atrocities]

Part XXXII

Futures Price

Senate meeting chamber R-11 was a small dark wood paneled room with old-fashioned lighting and age stained walls that had been horribly neglected for years. It was considered to be an old “storeroom” by most but in fact was one of the most secure rooms in the Senate Complex. Its high tech privacy equipment insured that the room remained bug free and its appearance kept the occasional curious soul away. The chamber was one of the older rooms in the Senate Complex and was deliberately long over do for remodeling. To say that the chamber was a dismally depressing room, made all the more so by the fact that it was overly heated by the mid day sun and lacked the cooling ventilation shared by the rest of the complex, was an accurate statement. The designers of this room wanted the people in it to be as uncomfortable as possible as the Senate oversight committee was questioning them. However in their zeal to make the room uncomfortable for the witnesses, they also inadvertently made it uncomfortable for the senators who were conducting the interviews. So over time the room fell out of favor and became little more than a storeroom for old furniture and such. However occasionally those who wished their conversations to go unnoticed would hold meetings in the little uncomfortable room out of sight and mind of those who might take notice.

As Kordesh sat in his chair, he loosened his tie and fanned his hand in front of his face to ward off the vile smelling smoke that was rapidly filling the room. As he stared at Chief Senator Leroy Tabion who was toting heavily on one his exotic White Tipped Cigars, he thought about killing the man, however he quickly replaced that thought as he pondered his meeting with General Green two weeks ago and what had been discussed. As the room slowly filling with the choking sweet yet pungent smoke coming off of the Chief Senator’s cigar, Kordesh considered his options. Should he kill Green or try to turn the situation to his advantage. He spent the Last two weeks trying to find the source that had leaked the information to Green but with no success. He knew that Green could not have turned his man and acquired those records without significant help and that alone caused him the most concern. As he thought quietly to himself the door on the far end of the chamber opened and two men and two women stepped in. He recognized them all immediately, one was Raymond Elliot, the Chancellors Vice Roy, and the other was General Thomas Christopher. The first women was Lisa Oranotie, the Vice Chancellor of the UGA, and the other women, who took a seat next to the Chief Senator, was Kendra Kelly the Senator from southern province of Norwin.
“Senators.” Said Elliot as they all took their seats across from them. “Today I am here to you to ask for money and you will give be giving it to me.”
“Is that right?” Asked Tabion as he took a deep drag off of his cigar and exhaled in the general direction of Elliot.
Not missing a beat, nor showing any sign of offense Elliot continued confidently.
“What I am about to tell you is considered top secret and therefore classified under article two-six-two of the planetary security act.”
This grabbed the Chief Senators attention as well as that of Senator Kelly.
“Please continue.” Commented Tabion as he corrected his posture and sat up more attentively.
“Succinctly put, we are not alone in our universe.”
For the first time in his life Tabion jaw slacked allowing his expensive cigar to drop onto the table before him. The shock on his face was clear.
“Surely not?” Responded Senator Kelly in an exasperated tone of voice.
“I assure you that it is quite true Senator.” Replied the Lisa Oranotie humbly. “In fact General Christopher here nearly lost his life to them two weeks ago.”
Somewhat regaining his posture and having recovered his cigar, Tabion cleared his throat and spoke.
“It has been widely discussed and heatedly debated that we, the people of Pandora, are alone in the universe. Our religion clearly states that we are the chosen of God himself and we alone were given special disposition to live on Pandora under his sovereign protection.” He took a drag from his cigar and continued. “Now you come in here and tell us that our entire belief system, indeed the entire religion of the planet is wrong?”
“Enough with the religious Dayton fodder get to the point.” Barked Kordesh impatiently.
“As I was saying Senator.” Continued Elliot, “Our long held belief that we were alone in the galaxy was in correct. We are not alone.”
“And now I am willing to wager that your going to say you need money to begin building a star fleet to combat these aliens?” Joked Tabion sarcastically.
“That is correct Senator.” Replied Lisa without hesitation and in a very serious tone.
Half laughing Tabion put his cigar down and leaned back in his chair. “You have lost your minds, all of you if you think for one moment that I am going to believe for an instant that there is Alien life out there. I don’t know where you get off making these wildly blasphemous accusations, but rest assured I am not buying into them. You especially Elliot, are all those parties and signal women finally having an effect on you?”
Kordesh sat their without saying a word, he knew full well what Elliot and the Vice Chancellor were talking about and did all he could to repress the beads of cold sweat that were beginning to form on his forehead.
“I assure you Senator, I am quite serious. So serious in fact that I am here today on direct order of the Chancellor himself.” Replied Lisa as she began to loose patience with the Chief Senator.
“Raymond what is it that you are saying?” Asked Senator Kelly politely.
“Senators we are not alone. We were never alone and now we know this and must act before it is to late.”
With that Tabion picked up his cigar once again and took another drag from it. He sat there quietly for several seconds without saying a word.
“Do you have any proof of this?” He finally asked in a serious tone. “If you don’t you might as well get up and walk the hell out of here right now and stop wasting our time!”
“We do.” Responded Elliot “You all know General Thomas Christopher, currently Director of the Space Exploration Division. Two weeks ago General Christopher and his team encountered and fought these aliens on the Victorian Glacier.”
“The nuclear bLast?” Asked Senator Kelly.
“Yes.” Replied Tom. “We had no alternative. Doctor Brook Mentor and his research team discovered a crashed space ship some seven months ago while conduction tests on the glacier. The military was brought in by order of General Green four weeks ago and assumed control of the site once word of the discovery leaked. Two weeks ago I flew up there to meet with Doctor Mentor to discuss his work and assess the situation when for some unknown reason the ship began to emit a strong power reading that went far beyond our ability to measure. Shortly thereafter we gained entry into the ship and were attacked. It became clear that the alien creatures that inhabited the ship had survived its crash in some sort of status and somehow our activity revived them. They were extremely hostile and possessed a keen sense of military tactics and fought with a viciousness that I have never before encountered in my life.”
“Aliens?” Asked Tabion slowly. “Aliens as in little blue men?”
“No Senator, Aliens as in humanoid creatures that attempted to kill my staff and I and if not for the intervention of a nuke, would have successfully freed their ship and would be at this very moment be involved in destroying our world.”
“Oh my God!” Said Senator Kelly as the color in her face drained.
“Don’t tell me that you are buying into this fodder Kendra?” Asked Tabion sarcastically.
She flashed him a dirty look but said nothing.
“What do you propose?” Asked Kordesh half hoping this was all some sort of bad dream. If not for the growing headache he was now beginning to experience, he would have concluded that this month was all some dreadful nightmare designed to test his resolve.
“Simply put we need to fund the rapid development of space capable ships, planetary defenses, and the formation of both a space born navy and military.”
“My God, do you realize what it is you are asking for?” Senator Kelly said as she took on the look of a startled animal in some ground car’s lights.
“Yes Senator, I do. We need to develop a means to defend our planet from alien invasion.” Elliot Said.
“A project of this size won’t be kept a secret for ever. Once word leaks that we are building up our space program people will begin to panic. They will assume that we know something that they do not and we all know where that will lead.” Commented Tabion as he put out his cigar and reached for another.
“That is true Senator, and that is why the Chancellor will address the planet later this week announcing that the S.E.D. will be turned over to civilian control for the purpose of commercial development of space. General Christopher will be re-assigned to the new military agency, the Pandoran Defense Force while Carl Wilhelm, the current Director of the Division of Space Exploration and Planetary Colonization will assume the role of Director of the S.E.D. once it has been turned over to Civilian control.” Replied Lisa.
“In the mean time we will be establishing the infrastructure, develop the technology, and begin the formation process for our new space born military. It is the Chancellors intentions to tell the people of Pandora that we are going full force into the future with the development of our planets space program however the formation of the Pandoran Defense Force will be kept classified until the time is right.” Elliot said as he pulled some papers from his brief case and handed them to the Chief Senator. “Satellite images of the alien ship and statements from those who saw it. Proof Senator that we are not alone.”
“How long was this ship under the ice?” He asked in response.
“As near as we have been able to determine, it crashed Pre-Sylvanian.”
“Oh my.” Senator Kelly said softly. “That’s impossible!”
“The data has been confirmed. One thing is for certain, their technology is incredibly advanced compared to our own, and it has been since before our civilization even began.” Elliot said seriously. “All the information that we have is in these briefs.”
“General Christopher what do you deem the threat level from these aliens to be?” Asked Senator Kelly. “I mean if you destroyed their ship and it was incredibly old what are the chances that more of them will come?”
“Senator I would rate them as the single most severe threat to this planet since judgment day. Shortly before the ship was destroyed, our communications monitoring station at Andover Base detected a signal coming from the ship. It was directed into space and we believe it to have been either a distress call or a homing bacon.” Replied Tom honestly.
“Assuming we grant authorization for this project, what are your intentions Elliot?” Tabion asked as he thumbed through the paper work he had been handed. It was clear now that he was taking this far more seriously than he had earlier.
“All ongoing programs at the Space Exploration Division would continue under civilian control however with a higher focus on technological development. As we discussed the Pandoran Defense Force would be formed who’s first priority would be to establish a recruitment and training operation for the men and women who will eventually command our ships and their crews in space. Secondly, and equally as important, they would begin the development of space weapons and build our first military exploration craft that will be construct at the S.E.D Space Complex near the Capitol City. The S.E.D. will focus on developing colonization technology and the development of other technologies as needed.”
“As I see it, we have little choice in the matter now. If we are not alone in the galaxy, then the beliefs that our society have held so dear for so long are false. We will need time to educate the people and counter the Salideen religion.” Commented Tabion sadly. “I am afraid that many of our citizens will resent this and claim that we are forsaking the very religion that saved our planet from annihilation. That we are inviting Gods wrath down upon us and they will do everything in their power to prevent, stall, inhibit, and disway our attempts to educate the population as to the truth that we are not alone.”
“It is going to be a long hard journey Senator, one that we must all commit to now and forever.” Replied Lisa solemnly. “We must put to rest this belief that we are unique in the galaxy for it is an out dated and naive view of our universe.”
“I assume that both the Space Exploration Division as well as the Pandoran Defense Force will have a Senate oversight committee?” Asked Tabion.
“Yes.” Replied Elliot simply.
“Well then we will need to find a chair for this new committee.” Said Tabion as he looked to other senators.
“I will do it.” Replied Kordesh.
“So be it. Senator Kordesh shall chair the oversight committee for the civilian S.E.D. and P.D.F.”
With that they all slowly stood, shook hands and left. As Raymond Elliot and Tom Christopher walked into the hall of the Senate complex, they stopped and said their good byes to the Vice Chancellor. As she walked away Raymond turned to Tom and said. “If they ever find out what it is we are going to really use the money for, they will execute us.”
“Then they must never know.” Commented Tom stoically. “No one must ever know for it’s the price of our future.”

[Desert Fox]

Atrocities, your story just keeps getting better. I enjoy it and I do not see where you made any major mistakes that takes away from the story. Glad you added more to it and since you did it has given me background story ideas for the Mod I am helping with The Galactic Conquest Mod.

I am sure you recall my email about this Mod. I want to ask again if I may use some of your story ideas with our own background story? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

You have a genuine talent for writing dude. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Atrocities]

Thanks, and Have fun with your mod. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[ July 05, 2004, 21:00: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Hum, very little feed back means very few people are reading this story. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif Is it that boring?

[EvilGenius4ABetterTomorro]

No, it's a great story! You just posted it over a holiday weekend and I myself just now found it. Just like "Empire of Man" stories. Just now found them. Location and timing kind of buried it. I'll be waiting.

[sachmo]

Atrocities,

Sorry for the lack of feedback! I was just able to read this today, but I have to agree with the accessment...the story is great and you are definately honing your writing skills!

Just keep writing, and we'll keep reading! You can bank on that. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Atrocities]

Thanks for the kind words. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif You are all far to generous.

[XenoTheMorph]

Atrocities your story is a must read! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon6.gif

I really do look forward to each new installment.

[Atrocities]

Thanks. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

I have spent a lot of time figuring things out for the story, things that I never thought would matter, but do.

Like explaining why the Salideen Religion was so powerful and how it effected the very culture of the race. The reason the planet was named Pandora, and why there are no other humans or better yet why these ones were so primitive if they came from a space faring human culture.

It has been a lot of fun to write.

[Ruatha]

Now I've read the Last two chapters (rewrite and the new one) and I want MOOOREEE!!! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon12.gif

[Atrocities]

Glad you enjoyed it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon7.gif

[astruskustuvas]

this is one of the Best fanfiction that i have read, i realy enjoyed it

[Atrocities]

I just converted this to PDF format. It is 145 pages thus far. That is a lot of pages for a story that only about 25% written.

[XenoTheMorph]

145 Pages! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

If you keep this up it will be a full blown novel! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Atrocities]

Any One Want an update?

[Atrocities]

2360.5

Innocent Times

The summer was nearly over and the class of 2360 was eager to graduate this day and begin their military careers as officers of the Global Alliance. As a large group of the men and women that would soon become the fiftieth class to graduate from the Pandoran Military Academy gathered in the assembly area for the ceremony, the spectator stands began to fill. The day was a hot one, easily the hottest of the year, made even more miserable by the humidity of the southern continent this time of the year. Krellor was a horrible month to hold a graduation ceremony thought Thomas Allen Christopher, a brass, confidant looking, and handsome young man as he tugged at his cadets dress uniform attempting to adjust its uncomfortable fit.
“Out of ten months in a year, why in the hell did they have too chose Krellor to hold this damn ceremony in.” Muttered Tom to himself as he wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked over at the stands and felt sorry for the spectators who would be sitting there out in the open with the sun baking down upon them. The fit of his uniform left something to be desired and he began to tug on it again.
Tom hated wearing the tightly fitting uniform nearly as much hated this place. The climate of the southern continent was as unfriendly as a group of drunken upper classmen looking for more beer money on a Rossday night. Tom hated the Academy nearly as much as he hated leaving it. It had become his home over the Last sixteen years and now it was time to leave. As he sat watching his classmates gather in the assembly area, he pondered his life with some regret. Not having a family, and being raised as an orphan, was a constant reminder that there would be no one in the stands today for him. His adopted father had recently passed away, and his mother was too ill to make the trip. The loneliness that he felt this day was an empty feeling that ate away at his heart like a virus leaving him to feel depressed on a day that he should be feeling exaltation.
“Tommy boy!” Yelled one of his classmates, and closest friend Devon Gore the Sixth, as he made his way through the crowd toward him carrying two glasses of juice. Knowing Devon, the juice was no doubt heavily spiked with Brandon weed whisky, his favorite intoxicating beverage of choice.
“Why so gloom my man?” He asked as he sat beside him and handed him one of the glasses. “This is the first greatest day of the rest of your life.” He said cheerfully. “A toast to our coming glories, my they be grand and glorious.” He finished with a smile.
“Devon, are you drunk?” Tom asked him as he sniffed the drink he had been handed.
“You better believe it.” His friend said in joyful manor.
“What am I going to do with you?” Tom asked as he drank the contents of his cup, crushed it and threw it to the ground. “Cheers.” He said simply and stood up to walk away.
“Wow, wait just a minute there.” Commented Devon as he too stood. “Just where do you think your going?” Tom playing the amused part, bowed slightly and said, “Why to the drink cart my Prince, our glasses need refilling.” Both men laughed and walked together toward the refreshment stand on the other side of the assembly area.
“You know you’re not alone.” Devon said to him kindly. “You and I have each other, and the many women of this planet to keep us company.”
Tom smiled at his friend warmly and considered the time they had spent together having a good time womanizing and chasing about the planet over the years as Cadets.
“Devon what are we to do now?” He asked in a whimsical tone of voice as they walked up to the refreshment cart and each of them took a glass filled with juice that had obviously been spiked against regulations.
“Why my dear friend we serve the Alliance and my father with honor and distinction, advancing in rank until we are both Supreme Generals.”
“Easy for you to say, promotion won’t be an issue for you.” Commented Tom without thinking. He immediately regretted what he had said but the damage had been done. Tom had grown to know Devon Gore like a brother, but he had never before seen the expression that was now etched in his friends face.
“I earn my rank Tom, I expect nothing from my father but his thrown some day.” Tom realizing that he had offended his friend and offered an apology.
“Hey Devon, I didn’t mean it to sound that way.”
Devon relaxed and let out a smile from ear to ear.
“Hey look it’s Erin and Mira. You know you should marry that one.” Devon had said joyfully, having forgotten Tom’s remark. Tom had learned long ago that his friend was somewhat peculiar in that regard. Something’s bothered him while other things seem completely unimportant. Perhaps a result of his royal upbringing Tom thought to himself as Devon waved at the two ladies.
“Come on Tom, lets not keep the future Mrs. Christopher and her friend waiting.”
With that both men made there way toward them, drinks in hand.
“If she will have me, I would gladly marry her.” Tom replied honestly as they approached the two lovely looking women in dress uniforms.
“Well, Mira is a fine women and she would make a fine wife.” With that the two men joined the two ladies, also cadets about to graduate, and together they walked off toward the courtyard where the graduation ceremony was about to take place.

[XenoTheMorph]

Of course we want an update http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Good thing you choose to do so anyway http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Atrocities]

Yup. I guess I got bored Last night.

[Atrocities]

2369.6

The Decree

It was truly a dark cloud of events that were now rampaging across the planet with hurricane force. King Chandler Gore the Fifth, having declared himself Emperor, ordered the attack of several Alliance member states. Emperor Gore had decreed that all members of the Global Alliance were to adopt the strict laws of the Salideen Religion. Any member state that refused would be subject to invasion and pacification. Many of the Alliance’s member states denounced the Emperors decree and were subsequently invaded. Their leaders were executed and the populations bombed into submission.
“The Senate will never support these actions. I mean how could they?” Tom said as he read the morning paper vid. From the tone of his voice, Mira his wife could tell that he was truly concerned over the current state of the Alliance.
“Tom, King Chandler has gone insane and broken the Alliance by attacking its member states. The Senate, what is left of it, has no control over him now.”
“My God!” He said with shock in his voice, “This means civil war.” Tom looked out the window of their apartment at the heart of the Capitol city, which lay before them.
“This civil war is going to tear our planet apart Mira and we are powerless to do anything.”
Tom threw the paper vid across the table angrily.
“Now that the Praetorian Republic has condemned his actions, its only going to be a matter of time before they vote to succeed from the Alliance and you know damn well what that will mean.”
Mira smiled softly as she leaned over and hugged her husband. She was truly a beautiful woman, one of the prettiest on the planet. She had long black hair that was softer than anything Tom had ever felt in his life. Her deep green eyes were gifts from Salideen himself and possessed the power to pierce a man’s soul. Her skin was soft and tan and smelled pleasantly of helter roses. Tom smiled as she embraced him; all that really mattered to him was that he had her love.
“I am sure the leaders of the Praetorian Republic know what they are doing. The King would never dare attack them over this.” She said softly.
Tom and Mira both knew better than to believe this, they were both officers in the Global Alliance and they both knew that by condemning the King and his actions, the leaders of their home continent, Praetoria, had put them all in harms way.

“He's no longer the King Mira, he has declared himself Emperor. And these recall orders tell me something that I don’t want to believe.” Tom said as he picked them up from the table and looked at them. “Our leaders are recalling all military men and women to help defend Praetoria.” He looked up into her eyes, and felt the weight of the world upon him as he spoke. “These recall orders can only mean one thing, they are expecting an attack and that will lead us strait into a civil war.” She released her hold, breaking their embrace and sat in the chair opposite of Tom’s. She was no longer smiling.
“This holly war that the King,” She paused, “That the Emperor has brought upon us is not your fault Tom. You must know that.” She said solemnly as she took her husband’s hands in hers. “No one could have foreseen these events. The loss of that shuttle did not bring this war upon us. You have got to accept that this is not your fault Tom.”
“Isn’t it though? I mean if not for that shuttle disaster, Gore would not have had the ammunition he needed to gain the support of the religious right. This war would never have come to be if only we had succeeded.”
“Gore is insane, he ordered the murder of half a million people because they refused to accept his decree to abandon their way of life and adopt the beliefs of the Salideen Religion. That is not something a sane man would do.”
“You know what we must do?” Tom said softly. Mira said nothing as she softly nodded yes.
“It’s only going to be a matter of time before we are arrested.”
“Why?” Mira asked in an alarmed tone of voice. “Why would they want to arrest us? We are not absent from our duties, we haven’t left the city or committed any crimes.”
“The King, I mean the Emperors decree that all members of the Global Alliance are to strictly follow the laws and beliefs of only the Salideen religion condemns us. Think about it, the Salideen religion is the belief that man was created on Pandor in the image of Salideen himself and to explore the stars was a crime against Salideen punishable by death.”
“I don’t understand?”
“I am one of only a handful of men who have ever left our planets atmosphere. Under the Emperors decree I am now a criminal, as are all those who have ever worked in any capacity for the Space Exploration Division. There is no way that the Emperor is going to allow you and me to remain free.”
“Tom that’s crazy!” She said dismissively. “Devon won’t let his father harm us.”
“Look Mira, I know this sounds ludicrous, but Devon has changed, and you yourself just said that his father was insane. Trust me, they will come for us and Devon won’t stop them. Our only hope is to leave the city and head for Camellia before they do come for us.”
“But our careers?”
“There over.”
Just then the door chime announced that they had a visitor. The sound of the chime startled both Mira and Tom and they both let out a light laugh.
“I’ll get that,” Tom said as he stood.
Mira went about cleaning up the table and organizing her paperwork for the day. She was assigned to house duty during her pregnancy and was given accident reports to review.
Tom walked to the door and looked at the outside viewer. It was his commanding officer Lt Colonel Robert “Bob” Benton. Tom opened the door and saluted.
“Good day sir.” He said as he waited for the Colonel to respond.
“Oh relax Tom,” he said as he stepped into the room. “Your on leave, no need to salute me.”
“Thank you sir.” Replied Tom. “In that case may I offer you a drink?”
“Sounds good.”
“Take a seat Bob, I’ll let Mira know you’re here and get that drink for you.”
“Wait.” Said the Colonel quietly. “We need to talk privately first.”
Tom could not hide the concerned look that spread across his face. He simply nodded yes and gestured that they should enter his study. Once inside Tom closed the door and locked it. Went to the bar and poured two glasses of Brandon Weed Whisky. The Colonel had taken a seat in the Studies couch and accepted the drink from Tom as he sat down next to him.
“What’s going on Bob?” Tom asked.
“You and Mira are in danger, you both need to get out of the city by tonight.”
Tom could feel the blood leaving his face, he felt the sudden urge to black out, the kind of feeling that one gets when one is delivered extremely bad news.
“What?”
Bob leaned forward and as he spoke. “There is a transport, the Hiru, leaving the city tonight from the East Transit Platform. You both need to be on it.”
“Why are you telling me this Bob?” Asked Tom after he drank the entire contents of his glass in one gulp. “How could you possibly know that we are in danger?”
“Not just you Tom, but all of us. I am leaving as well with my wife and children.”
“My God!” Tom said as he fathomed the situation. “We were, Mira and I, just discussing this.”
“Discussing what?”
“The possibility that we would be arrested because of my involvement with the S.E.D.”
“Well your correct. The order to arrest any and all personnel connected with the Space Exploration Division came down from Head Quarters today. I don’t think they realized that the order would first come through my office though. Or perhaps someone at HQ did and wanted to give us advanced warning, I simply don’t know, but I do know one thing, we have less than thirty hours to get the hell out of this city and off this continent.”
“How many others have you told?” Asked Tom.
“You’re the first on a very short list.”
“How short?”
“Short.”
Tom’s expression began to take on a more serious look. “Bob we have to warn the others.”
“Tom we have no time. And if word leaks that we’re planning on leaving, we are all dead.”
Tom considered this for a moment before responding; the thought of not telling so many people that their lives were about to be forever changed was haunting.
“There must be a way to warn the others.”
Bob finished his drink and stood. He was not happy about his decision to limit the number of people that he would be telling, but the choice had been made.
“Make sure you and Mira are on that transport tonight Tom. Make damn sure you are.”
Tom just looked drained as he walked the Colonel to the door. His thoughts were racing as they exchanged their good byes. Tom stood silently for a moment, attempting to calm himself. ‘This cannot be happening.’ He thought to himself.
“Tom who was it?” Asked Mira. She had stepped into the greeting room curious as to see who had come to the door.
“Pack some things, we’re leaving tonight.” Said Tom as he looked at his wife.
“Tom what’s wrong, who was that?”
“It was Bob Benton, he said we need to leave the city by tonight.”
Mira looked positively bewildered. The shock on her face was a clear as glass.
“What the hell?” She finally asked as Tom headed for their bedroom and she followed.
“Tom we are not leaving our home!”
“Mira,” Tom shouted not really meaning to. He looked down at the floor for a second, then back up at his wife who now had the look of a scared child. He took in his arms and softly spoke, “We have to go.”

[Atrocities]

UPDATED

[Ruatha]

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/heart.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/icon44.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/icon02.gif

[Atrocities]

I have spent the better part of the day writing and all that I have to show for it is a longer Chapter II of this story. I had hoped that there would have been more hits on this thread than the one that I did get. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon9.gif

Is this story that bad? Or is it like so many other, the victim of dis-interest?

Any ways, the re-write is progressing, and hopefully RD will soon post the first chapter of this story to the www.spaceempires.net/home (http://www.spaceempires.net/home) Fan Fiction page.

[dogscoff]

I have spent the better part of the day writing and all that I have to show for it is a longer Chapter II of this story. I had hoped that there would have been more hits on this thread than the one that I did get.

Is this story that bad? Or is it like so many other, the victim of dis-interest?




Hey, you know I'm reading it. I didn't read it over the weekend because I wanted to save it for the loong, boring Monday morning at work. And it was worth it, too.

Good to see you re-writing it. The story was great anyway, but I know the feeling of "I wish I'd mentioned XXX 12 chapters ago" all too well. Hopefully the re-write will lead to a tighter story with better continuity.

And it will give me a chance to refresh my memory of events as well. Looking forward to your next post At.

[Atrocities]

I took the advise of many and hopefully it will pay off. The first chapter is about 10,500 words and the second is close to 9,000 words.

My biggest issue is with grammer. I tell you I wish I could aford to have a professional proof reader go through the finished story and help fix all my mistakes.

And thanks DS, I hope you enjoy the latest two chapters.

[Ruatha]

Post it here and we'll grammar check it.

[Raging Deadstar]

Hey Atrocities, I've been meaning to reread this story, I'm just curious if you started it again or something... It's a bit confusing. Is the first chapter still the first chapter? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

Help out my poor confuzzled mind and I'll try and get through this collossal piece. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

Edit: As for Grammar, I'm not the best at it but when you send me the revised chapters for SpaceEmpires.Net I can have a look through them for you and send back any bits that make no sense http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Edit 2: Ahh, I missed that! It seems you Just Sent me the Revised Chapter http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Atrocities]

Actually, I have a new Version for you RD. I can email it to you later today. I should have Chapter 2 done later today.

Revision SENT

[Raging Deadstar]

Atrocities said:
Actually, I have a new Version for you RD. I can email it to you later today. I should have Chapter 2 done later today.

Revision SENT



I know, I just got it. I'll be out for the next 4 or 5 hours today, so Any more revisions won't get missed http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/icons/icon10.gif

Edit: And a Promotion for me http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif /threads/images/Graemlins/icon48.gif

[Atrocities]

Congradulations Lt Colonel RD. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Ruatha]

Edit:
Went into the thread and found a new part I hadn't read, oh a new one I thought.
Read it and liked it.
"Part XI Origin", it was good!
Then I saw Mlmbd's reply and saw the dates....
The new forum kicks me back and forth in time!
Someday I wanna re-read it all again in the proper order, will wait til you're finished though.

[Atrocities]

http://www.spaceempires.net/home/modules/coppermine/albums/userpics/10016/normal_tsunomi.PNG

Artist Rendition of the "Destruction of the Tempest"
“Birds away!’ Yell the pilot into his COM as he spiraled down and under the Tempest on his course away from the big ship. Seconds later the two missiles that he had fired impacted within the hanger of the ship detonating against the mid ship support sub structure and penetrating the aft ammunition magazine before exploding. The force of the explosion not only ripped the support beams that held the overhead Anti Gravity Pod causing it to collapse, but it also ignited the ammunition in the magazine. The resulting explosion generated enough force to blow the large ship in half. As the two flaming pieces of the Tempest fell from the sky, a series of secondary chain explosions began to occur thus sealing the fate of the ship and crew.

[Atrocities]

Has any one even read this story?

[Black_Knyght]

Believe it or not, I have.

[dogscoff]

Dud you know I have (although it's quite a while ago now)

[Atrocities]

Captain Jonus Trager (Ironside) and his crew escape an unprovoked attack on the Earth. They escape the battle, using an untested ship that deposits them in an unknown sector of space, where a history tells of a conflict that still rages was the cause of the Earths apparent destruction.




Sounds very familar doesn't it. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif Ice Planet (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0454718/)