Thread: Dawn
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Old April 13th, 2008, 03:44 AM

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Default Re: Dawn - The quiet before

2411.5

Nekkar III
Corporate Headquarters...


Chairman Lomax thought he misheard Rita Edwards as she gave her report regarding the Lacerta system. He had never heard anything like it before.

“They think we’re what?”

Rita kept her voice impassive as she continued.

“Yes, sir. They think we are servants of their goddess. And, if our intercepts are correct, they think our battleship is their goddess.”

Nobody spoke as they tried to digest that last piece of information.

Rita relayed the report of her “asset” on Lacerta III and about how the population was in turmoil because they believed their goddess was on her way to their planet.

Someone made the observation that if their “goddess” gave a command to surrender, then the war could be over. Rita shook her head.

“It seems the priests of Norak were caught in a quandary – their goddess was actually here. But they’ve convinced the population that Bismarck is a false god and it is the duty of every Norak citizen to fight at all costs. They now see the war with us as a duty to save their goddess. From us.”

Chairman Lomax drew the inescapable conclusion.

“So any hope of ending this war peacefully...”

Edwards finished the thought.

“...has just been eliminated."

Lomax put his head in his hands.

Zezzis system
Zezzis XII...


The colony was jubilant. The planet, along with her sister planet, Zezzis X had just completed their space yards. With over four billion colonists each, the capacity for production was impressive. Zezzis now boasted five colonies with shipyards. Once a thorn in the side of the empire, Zezzis was fast becoming the jewel of the crown...

Mentocka system
...onboard CDS Bulldog


Commander Katherine O’Rourke was on her last mission. Bulldog would be refit with a master computer and her crew would be reassigned. O’Rourke was hardly a candidate for retirement, but she would no longer be putting her life in danger among the stars. Machines would do that for her. Her accomplishments were impressive, and she would no doubt speak at the fleet academy at Nekkar III from time to time. Her old commander on Southampton, Admiral Harrison (was it really that long ago?) had already issued an invitation to her to do just that. And it would be at the end of the Drepana campaign.

Her thoughts were interrupted. The sensor officer, Sam Chase updated her.

“Ma’am, I have Konigsberg’s beacon. She’s five sectors away from us. Data from her master computer confirms the ship is fully operational.”

O’Rourke merely nodded. Five sectors to the warp point, and then eight sectors to the Cue Cappa home world. McKinley was there as well, loaded with ground troops ready to try and take the planet once the defenses were down. O’Rourke reviewed the latest intelligence updates. The planet had two base stations in orbit, six ships and two satellites. No weapon platforms were known to be there. The ships available were the battleship Konigsberg, her ship, Bulldog, and the frigate Portsmouth. McKinley was also there. The ships and satellites would be her’s and Plymouth’s responsibility. Konigsberg would take out the bases. McKinley would land the troops. The planet would fall. She would retire.

Somehow, she thought it might be a bit rougher than that. Still...

“Comm, signal Konigsberg we are waiting. Upload signatures for us, Portsmouth, McKinley and North Weald.”

Within seconds, Konigsberg sent a reply. The disembodied voice was female and almost alluring. O’Rourke froze when she heard it.

“CDS Bulldog, this is Konigsberg. The addition of North Weald to the is in excess of mission parameters. North Weald is assigned to planet defense at Drepana III. Please confirm command code override for reassignment, Commander.”

O’Rourke then laughed out loud, and heads turned. Sam Chase didn’t get it.

“Commander, something we should know about?”

O’Rourke shared a bit of her past.

“The old days, Mr. Chase. Warp point warnings used the same voice. I do hate that voice.”

The crew smiled and went back to their tasks. O’Rourke answered the query from the computer four sectors away.

“Konigsberg, this is Bulldog. Override code one-seven-four. Frigate class attack ship North Weald currently at Drepana III will join formation prior to mission start. Execute.”

The reply from Konigsberg was almost immediate.

"Command code confirmed. Mission parameters updated. Thank you, commander."

Under her breath, O’Rourke muttered.

"Thank you, sweetie."
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