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

[kerensky]

Okay, so now I have my computer back (got a copy of XP for christmas). Is anyone still interested in a word format of the story???

[Rasorow]

Yes

Rasorow

[Starhawk]

Bump, I've got more chapters coming I've just been taking a break and trying to write a real book

Well next chapter to follow soon please stay tuned in the meantime you can download the word format of the story and catch up.

[Starhawk]

2421.5
At the same time throughout the whole of Icara all vid screens all and all channels suddenly went black for a moment, seconds later the Imperial Anthem began to play softly in the background as the Imperial Eagle, with a world held in it’s right claw and a starship in it’s left appeared on screen. Throughout Icara billions gathered around screens to see what was happening.
Then the face of the Praetor himself appeared and throughout the Empire people fell silent in curiosity and fear as they waited for their beloved leader to speak.

“My fellow Icarans, my friends, brothers and sisters today I come before you with news both great and terrible, for this month two things have happened that may forever change the fate of the empire.
The Great news is that our brave men and women have found and conquered what they believe to be the Phong homeworld, though it’s population numbered less then one billion we believe this to be a great blow to the enemy, especially as the rest of the Berchest system fell to the 3rd fleet swiftly, those worlds that could not be conquered were sterilized for the safety of all humanity. Also the Briggia system suffered a similar fate, several hundred million Phong have been sterilized leaving their worlds open to human colonization.” all over Icara people cheered, the war was finally drawing to a close as more information scrolled across the bottom of the screen with information that the HMS Shadowclaw had just entered a third Phong system and was preparing to sterilize all worlds therein.

But the cheers came to a swift and sudden halt as the Praetor raised his right hand, palm facing the screen. “However my dear people, there is terrible bitter news that I must inform you of, for the HMS Tigerclaw and HMS Satuki have both been lost to a new star nation known as the Andoran, 4,400 sons and daughters of Icara perished in the brutal attack launched by an Andoran battleship. Now though we are angered by this situation I must remind you that 4,400 lives are nothing as compared to the billions of Icarans that would be put at risk should open war come between ourselves and the Andoarns, because of this I have ordered our Political bureau to send ambassadors to the Andorans in an attempt to bring peace, know this however though peace may come they will be made to pay for the lives they took on the 3rd of this month.

As always my friends I will guide and protect our people, Praetor Leonidas signing off.”

2421.6
Admiral Babcock sat numbly in his command chair, when his fleet had entered the Zerg system they had fully expected to find Phong worlds, instead they found more Xeno’s of the Xiati variant, the same ones that had lost an entire squadron to a single Icaran super dreadnought, and in a single broadside to boot.
Deciding that since the Xiati had proven hostile from the start Admiral Babcock directed his infantry regiment to launch a direct assault on the first Xiati world in system.

Landing the troops was easy enough as the world had no weapons platforms or orbital defense satellites what so ever, but once the infantry of the 1st Icara landed they soon discovered that the Xiati were totally unlike the Phong, they were tall brown skinned and over 30% of their body mass consisted of cybernetic enhancements, fortunately for the invading soldiers the Xiati world was defended by only a small force of lightly armed militia and fell swiftly.

On the Phong front the Shadowclaw had “sterilized” three entire worlds held by the Phong in the Fyras system, the 3rd fleet had just entered the Arich system and soon it too would fall before the might of the glorious Icaran Empire.

[Starhawk]

2422.8 It ends with a Whisper
“War Ends not with a Glorious Trumpet, or a shout of victory, War ends with a quiet prayer by the enemy, a quiet plea for mercy that only the victor can answer or ignore, war ends with a whisper.”
(Hung Sun Lee, Earth 1575 when the Icara-China war comes to an end)

“In the fires of death life springs anew.”
(General Tamara Jordan, 1st Hunnic Regiment, Earth 1910)

Admiral Ross and Captain Yu Lin sat stunned on a silent bridge, the entire crew seemed to be frozen in place as the Com’s officer played back the message, the 3rd fleet had conquered two and “sterilized” one of the worlds in the final system of the Phong yet they had expected the enemy to fight on even longer, but just five minutes ago the Icaran Ambassadorial services’ messenger drone had just arrived with a message informing the crews and soldiers of all Phong front forces, the war was over, the Phong had surrendered unconditionally.
Ross and Yu heard a quiet “Thank God” from several positions on the bridge but no cheering, no joyous celebrations, right now only stunned disbelief that a war some of their men and women had been fighting for their entire lives was finally over. Ross gently and discretely slipped his hand into Yu’s and squeezed her hand gently and smiled softly when she squeezed back.
“Admiral Ross, Captain Yu.” the com officer said quietly, Ross looked over at the young woman and smiled.
“Yes Ensign”
“Sir, redeployment orders have just come in, we are to report to aid 1st fleet in neutralizing the Xeno star system neighboring this one, it belongs to the Xiati variety of Xeno sir.”
Ross hissed internally, they had just finished fighting one war, he wanted to give his crews and soldiers time to rest and at least a little time to relax, but instead they would be sent to a system that belonged to a Xeno race that they were still not “officially” at war with.
“Helm, lay in a course, comns give me fleet wide please.”
“Aye”
As the fleet wide alert chimed Ross stood up confidently, clearing his throat and fixing his uniform.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the fleet, we have done our great task at Last, the Phong forces have surrendered unconditionally, yet we do not have time to rest at this time, for we have one more system to conquer at the moment, just one before the Admiralty will allow us to return to Icara in triumph, with our brothers and sisters of the first fleet by our sides, so I ask you, be brave and true now more then ever not for me, not even for the Praetor but for your families back home and for future generations, so that they will no more have to fear the threat of a Xeno or a mutant, return home with me my comrades, once our job is done, return with me not as heroes but as servants of a glorious heritage! God bless, Ross out.”

An hour later the 3rd fleet was en route to it’s newest war zone, Lin and William sat quietly in her quarters, both of them a little to surprised by the days events to speak immediately.
“You know William, that the first wave of Atmospheric conVersions took place today?” Lin smiled sweetly while she stabbed at a piece of sushi with her fork.
“Really? I wish I could have seen it, I hear it looks amazing as an atmosphere changes from a hostile non-breathable gas ball to a beautiful blue jewel of a world for the first time.” Ross’ eyes glowed as he thought of how amazing that site must have been.
“You probably will someday, maybe we both will.” Her voice changed to a more alluring tone, but her smile remained the same sweet smile that Ross loved so much about the young woman.
“Tell me Lin, what do you think about this “eternal war” that the Praetor declared?” his voice was quiet as if Ross felt like he was asking something dangerous (which indeed he was) but Yu simply shrugged in response as if he had asked a question about the weather or some such.
“I don’t know, I’d like to see home again someday but we knew when we signed up that this may go on for our entire lives, but at least we’ve ended two threats to our people, and a third I soon to join the list of conquered foes.” Her smile faded slightly and she shrugged again “But let’s not talk about such depressing things, how’s your mother?”
The two laughed and talked for hours before Ross excused himself and went to get some sleep before his fleet shipped out in the morning.

[Atrocities]

Very good read. I look forward to more.

[Starhawk]

2423.0
The Icaran embassy on Arich V towered high into the sky, it’s gray fortress like visage dominating the landscape for miles around, a hundred Icaran marines guarded the perimeter, and auto cannon turret towers rose high into the sky at the corners of the massive wall that surrounded the embassy building it’s self. A tiny black ground car approached the fortified battle steel gates and rolled down it’s single un-plated window, a man wearing a Magellan Corp uniform leaned his head out and whispered the pass code to the Icaran sentries who silently turned about and opened the gates to the embassy. The auto cannons tracked the vehicle as it drove up to the door of the main building.
More Icaran marines waited as the car door silently opened, revealing a short, nervous looking gray haired man wearing a business looking suit that had the symbol of the Magellan Corp emblazoned on the right breast pocket. Two Magellan Security branch guards stepped out of the car behind the man in the suit, a third guard stepped out of the driver’s seat and walked over to stand beside his fellows. Eight Icaran Marines walked surrounded the Magellan Corp representative and his three armed bodyguards, a sergeant stepped out of the cluster of marines and grumbled out “Lay down your weapons now, and follow us.” at this the other marines all aimed their weapons directly at the small group of Maggies. The shocked Corporates dropped their weapons at the man in the suit’s gesture.
Fifteen minutes later the man in the suit was sitting in front of a towering Icaran ambassador.
“You wanted to speak to us mister Chairman?” the towering man said gruffly as the head of the Magellan corporation squirmed uncomfortably.
“Yes mister ambassador I did, for two years now the Magellan corporation has been fighting a massive war against both the Manti Star Kingdom and the Neo-Star Empire, in the process of this war billions of Corporate employee’s have died and dozens of our worlds were burned to dust in the fires of conquering armies and fleets, our navy lays in ruins and our army has been totally destroyed.” Chairman Schmit almost cried as he spoke but the Icaran ambassador sat expressionless, and gestured for the man to continue.
“The Magellan corporation knows that you have been redeploying one of your fleets, so that it can invade one of our few surviving systems and this we simply can’t allow.”
The Icaran ambassador smacked his hand on the desk to cut the Chairman off “There is not a damned thing you can do to stop us mister Chairman!”

“That is not what I meant mister Ambassador! Please listen to me, we need this war to end but our enemies will show us no mercy, we are asking….”the Chairman paused sorrowfully “We are asking for a merger, that you take over our surviving worlds and protect our surviving population.”
The Icaran Ambassador froze, a grin crossing his face as he realized what the Chairman of a hostile empire was suggesting, complete and total surrender of a hostile Empire into the folds of the Icaran Empire, and without even needing to lose a single Icaran life.
“Very well mister Chairman, I think we can accommodate your needs, but we are going to need some insurance, namely that you are going to need to keep your people under control until our State Security forces can secure your worlds, if any of your worlds rebel they will be destroyed, no questions asked, is that understood?” the Ambassador’s voice was ice cold as he laid out the conditions of the surrender, Chairman Schmit’s eyes welled with tears and it was obvious that it was a great force of will alone that kept him from breaking down in front of his enemy.
“Very Well mister Ambassador, I accept the terms, we surrender to you for the preservation of our people.”
The Icaran ambassador stood and shook the other man’s hand, a sharkish smile still on his face while the Chairman frowned grimly “Have a good day, Schmit.”]


On the ride back to the space port the former chairman of the Magellan corporation broke down into tears, reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pulsar gun, carefully placed it in his mouth and with one Last thought of his family who had died when the homeworld of his empire was destroyed he squeezed the trigger and let the darkness take him.

[Atrocities]

Thank you. A nice send off for the old year and a good first read of the new.

[Starhawk]

Hey all long time no post.....just wanted to let you know this story is fAR from dead and that I am right now working on Chapter 2 of the latest "series" involving the HLS 303 (Forlorn).

For personal reasons this story arc means a lOT to me and so I wanted to get it RIGHT so I have been working and reading and re-reading and having others read the still unfinished chapter.

Also from now on the "From the Begining" story will be a little different then it has been, it will get darker grittier and less "child friendly" during mainly battles but also in other 'arcs' that may come in the future.

As far as technology goes I have also been working on making the tech more consistant so that it is easier for your suspension of disbelief


Anyway I hope you all look forward to my story continuing

[Starhawk]

Thanks AT Happy NEW YEAR YA'LL!!!