The Chiron Chronicle 6: 2182

[Sprayber]

War Outpost - Sometime in the past

Major Kessel was standing in the base command center at War Outpost. The local garrison Commander had just returned from the last of the executions. "What are you still doing here Major? I was lead to believe that you and your family left yesterday." " I sent them on ahead. I had a few details to work out here before I my reassignment was to become official." "I see. So you saw the unpleasantness this morning then?" "And last night , and the night before" Kessel added before the commander could finish. The commander only smiled. "Yes the local population was not in the mood to cooperate. Of course I was only following Helzburg's orders." "Oh really. From what I am hearing from Sparta Command, Helzburg was a little too zealous in his handling of the circumstances. And while we are at it, he isn't even in the area. So basically you took orders from him and not the people directly responsible for the situation?" "Listen Kessel, I know you have an interest in the topic at hand, your wife being a PK kid and all. But Officially, your responsibilities for War Outpost ended last week. You are the Political Officer for Commanders Keep now. I suggest that you concern yourself about those duties. Besides your lucky, your getting out of this hell hole of a base. Count yourself lucky that it's someone elses's problem."

Commander's Keep

Decades later, General Kessel was back at Commanders Keep after unsuccessfully trying to get to Blast Rifle Crag. He had turned back after a number of Spartan Security Service had been see at a road block leading to the besieged base. There would have been no chance to get past them and then proceed to the base. Just too many hurdles. Kessel had grown tired of running back and forth. He only had one more destination left. One of Kessel's men walked over and stood in front of him. "Sir, what do we do now?" Kessel thought for a moment. "Well there are many places we could try and get to. But I have decided that you and the rest should try to get down to Assassin's Redoubt." "What about you sir?" Kessel forced a smile to spread across his face. "I shall go to Sparta Command." The look on the young Lieutenant's face was priceless. "But sir, you will be executed on sight." "Maybe, but I think that Santiago would like to ask some questions before she puts a bullet in my head." The attempt at dark humor was totally lost on the young man's face. "Don't worry lieutenant, I don't plan on dying just yet. Make your way down to Redoubt. I will have use of you when you reach there." With that Kessel got up and picked up a pack on the floor. He gave some last minute instructions on what to do in case things didn't go as planned. He said goodby to each of his men and walked out the door. Later as Kessel had got into a work gang on it's way to Sparta Command, he thought about everything that could go wrong. Including having to trust a member of Sparta Command's top probe team. Kessel didn't like probe teams. You just could never trust them. But then again that is what they do.

[Guardian]

U.N. Headquarters

Commissioner Lal had to admit that he was impressed.
Appearantly, Chairman Yang had chosen to ignore Braddock's sabre rattling and submitted a relatively wise and reasonable amendment to his Council measure... It looked like Yang might be sincere about wanting peace after all. Yesterday, they hadn't been so sure...


From: Commmissioner Pravin Lal
To: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive

You have my attention, Chairman. Now if the Spartans show their "approval" with action and not just words, we may have something to work with here...


From: Commissioner Pravin Lal
To: Planetary Council

The Peacekeeping Forces would not violate a peace agreement!
There would be no need for anyone to send forces, but neutral observers would be fine.
We could even allow the Hive to send a few of those if that would make anyone feel better.


U.N. Enforcement Base

General Braddock received the message just as he was finishing lunch.
Upon returning to his office, he immediately activated the comm-link.
Time for another chat with the Commissioner...


Planetneck, Hive side...

Sergeant Sung had been called to the observation post as soon as the PK ships had re-appeared on the horizon, just in case they might try to "talk" to the Hive soldiers with morse code again.

Nothing much had happened though, and Sung had spent the night there uneventfully. Now he was getting tired, but he kept watching the ships. It wouldn't do at all to get sloppy and miss something cruicial. The lieutenant wouldn't approve that, and the lieutenant was one of those people he'd better keep happy...

Even as this thought was going through his mind, blinking lights appeared on the horizon...
He felt a rush of excitement as he started to read the message.
What was the crazy plonkers up to this time?
He knew he was about to find out... or at least get a clue...

HELLO AGAIN HIVERS... NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN... ARE WE HAVING FUN YET...

They had a weird sense of humor, these Peacekeepers...

WELL IT HAS BEEN A NICE PICNIC... WOULD HAVE LOVED TO STAY AND CHAT BUT THIS IS IT FOR NOW... WE ARE OUT OF HERE... YOU BE GOOD NOW OR WE WILL COME BACK... TELL YANG WE SAID HELLO... BYE FOR NOW...


The blinking stopped, whereupon the foils turned away and headed back out to sea...
Chairman Yang had made them leave again.


On the other side of Planetneck...

The alert had been called off. Some of the soldiers were leaving the bunkers and the formers were heading back out to resume their fungus planting. Sergeant Jacob Iota-9 was checking in with the rest of his unit when a Peacekeeper came running up the communications trench. The insignia on his uniform marked him as a lieutenant of the Special Forces. The man said he came to apologize for what had happened the day before, when the Cyborgs had been the last to know of the alert and somebody had sent them anonymous messages asking how they felt about their "friends" now... He explained that some of the Peacekeepers had been suspicious towards the Cyborgs ever since Aki Zeta-5 signed a treaty of friendship with Yang. The problem, he said, was not that the Cyborgs had signed this treaty, but that they had done so at a time when the Hive was technically still at war with the Peacekeepers... There had been a cease fire, but no actual peace agreement at the time. Sure, this agreement had come, but the Cyborgs, being allied to the Peacekeepers, should have waited until it was in place. They had not. Lal had chosen to ignore this breach of protocol, saying that the Cyborgs were merely trying to ensure a lasting peace with the Hive, but to the military it had been something of a betrayal...


North of the Defense Line

They found the Spartan captain while "mopping up" after the battle. The man was unconscious, and his left arm was severed at the elbow. Enemy or not, this one was no longer a threat to anyone and the Peacekeepers were still the humanitarians. A medical team was called up and quickly came running over. As they gently lifted the wounded Spartan onto a stretcher, Commander Cooke relived the brief but intense battle... The Spartans hadn't used their nerve gas... at first, the Peacekeepers hadn't even noticed it, they had been so... so eager to kill Spartans... He felt a slight twitch of guilt at the thought, but there it was. These Spartans had been different though... they had been brave and... honorable... and pretty damned good at their stuff! They had been pounded and blasted by the artillery, outnumbered and surrounded, hunted like animals... and yet they had managed this, even with their heads befuddled by the soporific gas... His unit had taken more of a pounding than he would have expected under the circumstances. Some Spartan gunner had even punched a few holes in his command rover. It would still run, but repairs would be needed before he could fight again...

As his medics carried the wounded Spartan officer away, Cooke decided that this incident would have to reported back to HQ immediately. Santiago's word wasn't worth a lot these days. But Spartan XMsl Rovers charging into battle against overwhelming odds and not using their nerve gas... Now that was something real...


South of Data Acquisition

Commander Grafton had arrived at the front to take command of the allied forces that were getting ready to attack the Spartans at Data Acquisition. With him was a new Special Forces regiment, who had just completed their training. During the last couple of months, their training had been focused on urban assault missions, with intensive and brutal house-to-house fighting. The troops must have drawn their conclusions, and they had been right. Now they were here and they were as ready as they could be. Still... Grafton knew that if they went in, many would not come back out. The soldiers knew that too, but they didn't seem to mind all that much. In a way, that made sense... After all, many of them were U.N. SeaQuest survivors, who had already been through Hell...

[This message has been edited by Guardian (edited April 24, 2001).]

[DarkCloud]

OOC:

SMAC: Could you please post something since Anastasius was caught with the nuke device and committed suicide and Daniel Jakhobs-Howell was apprehended in a war with the nerve gas pods.


Sister Miriam of the Believers
Writing to: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive

Dear Yang,

I admire you for your humanitarian ideals of ending the war in the Promised Land.

I also admire your suggestion of my appointance of a peacekeeping person, with this
new position I shall be able to spread the Gospel to all factions everywhere in the
Promised Land.

I also praise you for your communist ideals, however you must make certain that
everyone is equal in your country and that religion is allowed to proliferate. If this
is not allowed then your country will fail.

As a suggestion I state that the Peacekeeping forces should have one rover unit to quiet
rebellions and mediate peace in each capital city on Chiron.

From: Head Academican Prokhor Zakharov
To: The Chiron Alliance Council

I am disgusted at Yang's proposal of a regulatory "Peacekeeping-Force" to be appointed to
each faction. This force will merely limit the liberties of each country and destroy the
countries freedoms. When the rights of each country are taken away by these so-called
"Peacekeepers", who are nothing but spies, then the country is not a country at all, but
is an instrument in the hands of the "Peacekeepers."

My suggestion is this- merely appoint twenty diplomats from each faction to each other
faction's capital cities so they may quell dissention and keep the peace.
There is no need for excessive spying

-APZ

From: CEO Nwandbike Morgan
To: The Chiron Alliance Council

Dear Chiron Council,
I am most disturbed at this new proposal of a "Peacekeeping Force", if there is to be
a force as such in each of my cities then trade may well suffer. Also, I do not have
the troops to support sending out peacekeepers to other parts of Chiron; however since
I do not have the troops to contribute, I feel that I do not have to receive troops
garrisoning my bases.

Perhaps if you make the units up of 50 Morganite Laser Rovers, 50 University Laser Rovers,
50 Cyborg Particle Rovers, 50 Spartan Rovers, etc. Then I may be able to comply with your plan, however, as it is now, it is impossible to
comply with.

-CEO Nwandbike Morgan

From: Kommadant Reya Hollis-Keyson
To: Head Academican Prokhor Zakharov

Zakharov,
I have news from my 'informants' that your council has decided to move the University
underground to an easier defensible and more concealed location... If this information was
to fall into the hands of the... let us say, Cyborgs, and they rejected your ideas-
you would not like it, would you?

(I.P. Untraceable)
(Citizen Number Untraceable)
(Citizen Identifaction Implantation Number Untraceable)

From: Head Academican Prokhor Zakharov
To: Kommadant Reya Hollis-Keyson

What do you want?

From: Kommadant Reya Hollis-Keyson
To: Head Academican Prokhor Zakharov

I want you to give my political group, "The Perfect Society", political positions and
political clout in your next government. Our society is a large one, yet is not well
known so far... We are against petty Isolationism and for Defense, Knowledge, Alliances,
and Trade.

I look forward to dealing with you in the future...

-Reya

(I.P. Untraceable)
(Citizen Number Untraceable)
(Citizen Identifaction Implantation Number Untraceable)

[Natan]

From: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive
To: The council

Dear friends, I beleive you have misunderstood. I did not propose a peacekeeping force in every base, or even in every capital, or even in any capital on Chiron. I proposed a small peacekeeping force, which will now be downgraded to an observor force at Lal's request, to patrol a DMZ in the area between his force's and those of Colonel Santiago.

OOC: Darkcloud, where'd you get this idea of a peacekeeping force in every capital? It's just in the buffer zone between the PKs and the Spartans.

From: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive
To: Pravin Lal of the Peacekeepers
**Encrypted**
Since your vendetta against the Spartans has been concluded satisfactorily, I am delivering the next two rovers. They will be crossing the planetneck tonight.

From: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive
To: Colonel Corazon Santiago of the Spartans
Now that we have an understanding, I would like to set up cooperation between our two factions. If it is acceptable to you, I would like you to send some of your military officers to help train my forces and practice some joint operations, and in return, I will send some of my infrastructure managers to your Faction's territory to help its lagging Industry. What do you say to this proposal?

The planetneck: The rovers crossed over the planetneck in barges, under tarpaulins. When they reached the peacekeeper side, the barges pulled closer to shore. The rovers were dumped into shallow water for the anxiously waiting PK forces to pick up. In the storage compartment of one of the rovers was a message, written in broken, ungrammatical esperanto on a slip of fine paper:

peacekeepers: What you write so much nonsense for?

[Clear Skies]

Private message to Datatech Sinder Roze - Standard Encryption

From: Prime Function Aki Zeta-5

My ally,
I am so thankful for your generous gift of this new technology. My experts would be delighted to work in harmony with your engineers to produce this new algorithm. It will truly be an incredible step forward for both our peoples.
Another thing - how are your covert operations against Zakharov progressing? Are his networks still to be read as easily as an open book? I find his dedication to free information somewhat out of sync with his normal character - is this the same man whose aggressive posturing has alienated himself from us for so long?

I remain deeply in your debt. Is there anything which I can do in return?

Yours in friendship,
Aki Zeta-5

[Sprayber]

To: Planetary Council
From: Colonel Santiago

On behalf of the Spartan Federation, I officially accept the proposal by Chairman Yang of the Hive.

To: Chairman Yang
From: Colonel Santiago

My good Chairman, the exchange program of which you talk about is a most excellent idea. Sharing our expertise in the arts of war in exchange for your industrial techniques is a step forward for both of our factions. The selection of our experts will have to wait until after the final negotiations of the truce. Also our command structure is currently under going some "minor" adjustments. We will of course pick top candidates from the Spartan War College to send to your faction. May this be the foundation of a new partnership between our two factions. When the advisors arrive, they will have with them certain technical information that is necessary to make our arrangement practical. I will get back to you with a list of names that will be coming to your faction.
-------------------------------------------------------------

War Outpost

General Von Helzburg had just finished his private lunch when Lt. Hopper walked in with a datapad. "Sir, you have received a message from an unknown source in Sparta Command." Hopper waits for Helzburg to wipe his hands with a towel. Helzburg reaches out and takes the pad from him. "You are dismissed Lieutenant." Hopper salutes spins around and walks out the door seemingly all in one motion. Helzburg keys his password into the datapad and skims through the report. The pad contained several reports but the last one catches his eye and causes him to sit up and read more carefully.

-----Sanitago has accepted a cease fire agreement. An observer force consisting of Believers, Morgans, and Free Drones with a small contingent of Hive observers will be placed in a DMZ between the Spartan Federation and the Continental PKs. PKs have not officially accepted but are expected to do so at any time.----

"Damn it to hell." Helzburg said in a harsh tone. I cannot allow Santiago to be the one handling the negotiations. I have to get my army up there immediately. Commander Hale is due in today. If he doesn't make it, I will have to go on without him. Helzburg, reached over and pushed his intercom button. "Lieutenant Hopper, locate and have all company commanders in my office in 20 minutes." "Yes Sir, right away." Helzburg turned around to his comm system and punched in the code for Ruby Ridge [Data Ac.]. There would be no time for face to face talks.

To: General Weiss
From: General Von Helzburg

Weiss, time is short. I have just received word that some kind of peacekeeping force from various factions are to be placed at the border between Sparta and the PK boundaries. You are not to surrender your post to anyone. Do you understand? Stay within the confines of the base. Santiago may try to bargain away your position but you do not follow her orders. In a few days time I will be the legitimate leader in the Spartan Federation. Just stay put.


Helzburg pushed the button to send the message out and only got a two word reply. TRANSMISSION ERROR. For a couple of seconds Helzburg just stared at the screen. "Hopper get your ass in here now" Helzburg was heard clear down the hall where base governor Wilcox was preparing his afternoon briefing. On the other side of the base a nondescript worker in base maintenance clothing was walking out from the comm tower building minding his own business and whistling a lively tune.


Sparta Command ---- Soldiers Inn Bar

Kessel had been in this place many times as a young officer. It was the kind of place where military officers could come and unwind before going back to the barracks. At this time of night not many were in since it was mid duty watch. Most soldiers and garrison personal were either on duty or still sleeping. At one point Kessel and spend many hours here before and after classes. Even when he taught at the War College, he would still come in to relax after a day out in the nearby terrain for combat courses. Most of his students had been stunned to find out that one of their instructors would go to the same place to unwind. They were still finding out that officers were entitled to more liberties than the lower ranking enlisted soldiers. Tonight Kessel was not here to relax. He was here to meet someone that he had not seen in many years. Spartan Probe Teams were not in the habit of socializing, so the choice of this bar was just a bit unsettling. Kessel noticed a somewhat tall man walk in the front door. He said something to the server and walked slowly towards Kessel. As soon as Kessel got a good look at the mans face he recognized him as the man he was looking for. The man sat down as the server brought what passed for a drink in Sparta. Kessel was the first to speak. "So Poulos, it's been a long time. I hope time has treated you well." "Like most people I suppose. I'm still alive anyway. I see that death hasn't caught up with yet." A small smile appeared on his face. "So far, death has managed to find those around me. Maybe she just has bad aim." "It's funny that you should mentioned she" Poulos said out of the blue. "Listen Poulos, I don't want to be rude but the longer I am here, the less likely I will make it out of here." Poulos nodded. "I understand." "In your message you said that you could get me the new comm codes that will allow me to talk outside the Spartan Net. I have come here at great risk. What do you have for me?" " Take it easy old chum. I don't have the codes on me. But the person that does is in the next room. She just wanted to make sure that it wasn't a security sweep by intelligence." Kessel did not like this backroom stuff but he really had no choice. From what he remembered about this place the backroom in question was really the office. "Ok, lets go get this over with." As they got up he gently checked to see that his weapon was still at the ready. "Exactly what are you getting out of the Poulos?" "Redemption for past mistakes" As they walked back to the door that lead into the office, Poulos opened the door and walked through. Kessel stepped through and immediately saw the figure of woman in the corner. Her face was covered by a shadow. "I hear you have something that I need." "You are correct dear General, and you have something that I need as well." She didn't need to say her name, because Kessel could identify her even before she stepped up into the light. Before he could draw his weapon, he felt a blow to the back of his head. "I told you to be careful Poulos" "Relax Colonel, he has had far worse injuries than the one that I gave him." Colonel Santiago walked over and knelt over the unconscious form of Kessel. She sighed and said, "Perhaps he has, but we need to have answers. Pick him up and bring him to the Command Center."
[This message has been edited by Sprayber (edited April 25, 2001).]

[Guardian]

[OOC: The war IS about to end, but the closing scene will be exciting too, you know! Will it all end in time to prevent a massive battle at Data Acquisition?? Nobody knows yet... in fact, nobody except the military knows that the attack is about to begin...]


North of the defense line...

A great moving carpet of rovers was laid out across the desert, heading south-east. Commander Cooke was bringing his army back towards the defense line, but they were not going back the same way they had come out. With their current heading, they would re-enter the line smack-bam on top of the last remaining Cult of War forces...


In Data Acquisition...

They were almost done. It hadn't been easy to sidestep all these Spartan sentries and patrols and snipers and whatnot... but they had done it. The PK probe team had managed to get a pretty good overview of the various Spartan forces and defenses in the captured base. Now they were getting ready to leave, but first... a quick look around in the invaders' datalinks...

John Murdock was hard at work at a computer console. Just a few more security interlocks to bypass, and... voila! He now had access to General Weiss' personal files! Perhaps the general had some defense plans or something lying around... or something that could be used as evidence in the trials that would be held after the war... Best to have a look while they were at it...

Hmmm... here were a bunch of classified memos...

He quickly scanned through some of them as they were downloaded, trying to determine the value of his catch... let's see... Helzburg... Santiago... Helzburg... supplies... nerve gas... and... What the Hell??

He paused for a moment, frowning... had he just seen what he thought he had seen?
He selected four memos that he thought looked especially interesting and hopped back to read them a bit more carefully...

The first one was from Helzburg...


Classified**************************************** **

To: Commander Weiss
From: General Von Helzburg

Subject---
Disposition of civilian trouble makers within the confines of newly won Data Acqusition.

Colonel Santiago has ordered that the base not be allowed to fall into enemy hands. If the civilian population continues to resist your command I am authorizing you the use of extreme force up to and including the use of nerve gas. I do ask that you limit the use of nerve gas to extreme cases since you may need to use existing stockpiles for further use on PK troops that try to retake the base. When possible the use of conventional means of executions is preferred since it provides less of a strain on the military supply situation.

On the subject of native life forms the following rules should be applied. All native life within your area of command is to be destroyed as they generally support PK troop movements.

---

No surprises here, really.
They already knew what the Spartans had been doing here...
The only news was that the orders had come from Helzburg, not Santiago.
Not that it mattered much, as they had enough on Santiago already...
Enough to put her away for a very long time...

-Unless...

He read on...


Classified**************************************** **

To: Commander Weiss
From: General Von Helzburg

Subject---
Support

Commander Weiss. You cannot count on the support of General Kessel in his capacity as Military Commander of Inner Sparta. General Kessel has refused and impeded efforts of the supply office to transport stockpiles of nerve gas to your area of operation. Use your stockpiles carefully. This problem will be taken care of in short order. Even though the Colonel has authorized Spartan units to carry nerve agent she has repeated the stipulation that it be used sparingly. Do not worry about this stipulation as you will be covered by me and my command. You are encouraged to use the remaining civilian population as slave labor as this too has been interfered with by General Kessel.

---

So... this General Kessel evidently opposed the use of nerve gas, and the use of civillians as slave labor... He whistled softly. Looks like we may have just found the first "not guilty" here...

The next memo was from Santiago herself...


Classified**************************************** **

To: Commander Weiss
From: Colonel Santiago

Subject---
Treatment of Civilian Population

Commander. I have heard of your treatment of the civilian population in the newly conquered base. In public I have been forced to support you against your critics. But your actions were over zealous to say the least. In the future, you will contact me regarding the punishment of prisoners and civilians. This is a different war than it was 60 years ago. Do not repeat your actions of the past few months. In the upcoming months some changes will be taking place. Do not put yourself on that list of changes.

---

What the...?!?
Santiago didn't do it!
Santiago didn't order the executions, the torture, the atrocities that had been committed here.
Hell, it looked like she was trying to say that she actually opposed these things, but that something or someone was keeping her from dealing with it openly...

He frowned...

This could change a whole hell of a lot of things if it was true...
-But was it?
Well, it kind of made sense, actually.
Santiago had grown to be a great soldier because of her outstanding ability to control and channel her anger! She knew who her enemies were. She was an expert at finding out exactly where to strike, when and how... in order to maximize the effect of her efforts. Stuff like mass executions and indiscriminate slaughter just... wasn't her style! She wouldn't be running around killing civillians when there were real live enemies out there who wanted to blow her guts out and had the means to do so... Besides, she had a strong sense of honor...

-Or at least that was what she had been like at one point...

Could it still be so?? Could it be that she was somehow forced...

Now, wait a minute... that didn't quite make sense either...
How could anyone or anything possibly force Santiago's hand in any way at all?? She was the Iron Lady, the Queen of Defiance, the one person in the world that NOBODY in their right mind would ever try to push around...

-Unless...

...unless, of course, somebody REALLY had a grip on her...
He nodded slowly... that could not be totally ruled out...
Santiago might be strong and proud and defiant... but she was a survivor first and foremost...
Anyway, enough of that. She would still be guilty, of course, but maybe we shouldn't hate her quite so much...
Helzburg was the one who ordered it, not Santi...
The one big question now would be: Could the same be true for the executions at War Outpost more than 60 years ago?

They would have to find out somehow, but it would have to wait. Now it was time to leave.

The last memo from Helzburg also looked kind of interesting...


Classified**************************************** **

To: Commander Weiss
From: General Von Helzburg

Subject---
Your loyalty

In recent days there has been a shift of power inside the Spartan Federation. Santiago has eliminated several members of the Junta. I am proceeding back to War Outpost in an attempt to ascertain exactly what those changes are. So far these members have been eliminated from the Junta. General Maltz, Admiral Hobbes and General Howards. General Kessel has apparently fled Sparta Command and is at large. He will attempt to contact his friends in various governor's posts. There may be a slim possibility that he will go to War Outpost. With his contacts, it may prove possible to depose Santiago. After such time he will have a convenient accident. Under no circumstances should he be allowed to contact foreign governments about this. If that time comes it will be me that offers peace. Peace may be on the horizon soon. If we can concentrate on the north we will be able to crush Santiago. You should act according to her commands for the time being.

---

Right, that's it for now.
Time's up and we'd better get out of here if we don't want to get blasted by our own people!

"All right, you guys! Pack it up! It's time to get the hell out of Dodge!"

He would transmit his report once they were safely outside...

[This message has been edited by Guardian (edited April 26, 2001).]

[DarkCloud]

OOC: ... will post later; Good, you didn't kill him, I can still do something with this great character- 'get one of his followers to go in save him, unbrainwash him- perhaps start another war- the Perfect society breaks off, University breaks into fringe groups- perfect... thanks SMAC!

[DarkCloud]

OOC: Oh... well, perhaps we could change it to spice up the story so there could be more inter-factional intrigue, Natan?
What does everyone think about this? Should we have peacekeeping forces in every capital?

[Natan]

From: Chairman Sheng-ji Yang of the Hive
To: Colonel Corazon Santiago of the Spartans

I have organized the group which I will send to your faction, Colonel. The list of names is attached. There are 84 in all, 27 military officers who have come to learn of your tactics, 54 industrialists, factory managers, and efficiency experts, and a 3-man cultural attache. They are ready to move to your shores by boat at your command, but I have one request, which is that you provide them with some measure of cultural information about my faction. Enclosed in this comm-link is also a video-clip on Hive culture, for any personell of yours who may come to the Hive as advisors.

OOC: If you could write up or tell me something about how the Spartans work, that would be great. I don't want to have to make up things about your faction which you might not agree with. Its up to you to decide if its worth the time. I have already written a short summary of Hive societal and military structure, you can find it on the second page of the Chiron Chronicle admin2 page.

Darkcloud: Why not make the peacekeeping force a believing proposal, so as not to interfere with my cease fire? Then we could have a good debate in council, with Miriam trying to enhance her power and enlist the peaceful factions onto her side, while the nefarious factions try to fight it.

[Clear Skies]

OOC: DarkCloud, if I must I must. I never really agreed with that storyline anyway, and I think it was a bit irresponsible of you to introduce it without everyone else's approval, but here goes anyway.
Oh, and check your faction leader names. He's called Nwabudike Morgan, not Nwandbike Morgan.

(A cell, deep in the depths of Alpha Prime)
David Jakhobs-Howell knew he hadn't long to live. Anastasius had already committed suicide, or so he heard. and the Cyborgs took a pretty dim view of those who were caught with intent to commit atrocities.
On reflection, his life had been one big mistake from the start. Maybe he could convince the Cyborgs to let him go far, far away and start a new life on some distant corner of Chiron...

Every single hope was dispelled when three Cyborg guards entered his cell, armed with a nerve-stapler. He fought them, but they had grips like steel and were stronger than he'd ever imagined.
The nerve staple stung, a sharp stabbing pain at the base of his skull, and then all conscious volition left him.
"Walk."
His legs began moving of their own accord. He couldn't fight it. Every vein on his forehead stood out as he tried desperately to stop himself moving, but he couldn't.
"Take a left here."
Again his legs moved him with no input from his brain. He could still think, blink and breathe in and out, but beyond that his life was entirely in the hands of his captors. A simple nerve staple shouldn't do this - they must have injected him with some sort of drug too.
He scanned the walls of the corridor. nothing. No distinguishing features, no doors, no windows, nothing. He must really be deep under Alpha Prime.
At the end of the corridor there loomed a door. This was his obvious destination, and for that precise reason it was also the place where he least wanted to go.
Unfortunately, he had very little choice. One of his guards went ahead and opened the door, and his body marched him through it.
The fear would've stopped him dead if he stil had any control over his limbs. In front of him lay an induction chair, an ancient remnant left over from the early days of the Consciousness. before the modern procedures, initiates were placed in this chair and had all their memories, their personality, everything downloaded and merged with a subroutine of the Consciousness, then uploaded back into their brains.
However, he knew what lay in store for him. His personality, memories and so on would be downloaded and then erased. A new personality would be uploaded from backing storage, melded with an algorithm and placed inside his defenceless brain - in effect, he would become entirely another person. Whether or not his consciousness would remain present was unknown - but it would be a vastly changed consciousness if it did.

And he was powerless to stop it.

"Sit."
Still he couldn't disobey. His treacherous body lowered him into the chair, the helmet was placed on his head and the lever thrown...

...and Werner Delta-Four opened his eyes on a brand new life...
[This message has been edited by SMAC Fanatic (edited April 25, 2001).]

[Sprayber]

To: Chairman Yang
From: Colonel Santiago

We will welcome your delegation with open arms, my good Chairman. We will be happy to instruct your officers at our Spartan War College. When our delegation arrives you will be presented with an introduction to Spartan society. I will contact you as to the composition of our delegation and when we would be able to receive your delegation.

[OOC- Natan I am off today so I can write something up for you. ]

Ruby Ridge Memorial {Data Acq}

General Weiss was busy interpreting incoming intel reports of the PK army that was building up outside his city. To be honest, he had no idea who he was holding it for. He received a few supplies from air drops, but nothing significant. The few remaining civilian population was growing more and more restless. He may have to order a fresh round of executions. But this presented a problem. He could not justify using supplies meant for defense on meaningless civilian trouble makers. He had entertained the idea of tying various PKs at strategic points around the base and in his command room. He would then let the PKs know about this. Put that on the damn evening news. But he did not know who he would have to answer to. Helzburg was no longer in a place to cover him if Santiago called the shots. And if he somehow lost, not likely in his view, the PKs would not be gracious hosts if they got a hold of him. He needed to contact both Santiago and Helzburg to see which one was in the best position.

To: Colonel Santiago
From: General Weiss

My supreme commander. Ma'am, I need instruction as to what to do with certain civilian elements that continue to make trouble. They represent a risk to the security of this base as they may assist the PK army in an attempt to take over this base. I await your instructions.

***Encrypted On Secure Code 131

To: General Helzburg
From: General Weiss

Sir, where are you? I have not received any messages from you in some time. I am in a desparate situation here. If I cannot count on you to aid in the defense of this base then I will be forced to take orders from Colonel Santiago.

Weiss sends the message and dictates an order for a certain unit in his army.

---To Captain Gunther. Captain you are to prepare a list of civilians that still reside inside the base area and select individuals for the purpose of placing them in strategic location around the base and inside command areas. You are then to take a copy of that list and transmit it to the nearest PK unit. The list is to be competed as early as this evening. I will get back to you as to a go or no go on those orders.---
Gen. Weiss

[OOC- I'm going to create a little chaos inside the Combine Army. I assume that there are still some civilians left]

Captain Gunther was busy seeing to the preparation of the rovers under his command when his sergeant came running up to him. "Sir, you have received signed orders from General Weiss." Gunther was not pleased at being disturbed. "What the hell does he want now? To take Haven City. The bloody fool is too caught up in his own glory." The sarcasm did not phase he sergeant who just handed the pad and saluted. "Yes sir." "Don't worry sergeant, he won't hear you. He is too busy with his head up someone's @ss." The sergeant merely smiled and turned to walk away. Gunther got half way through the message and knew exactly were this was headed. "Not no, but hell no" was all he was heard to say. He turned around and stormed off to convene an unofficial meeting with some of his fellow officers.

[OOC- Who wants to see what happens with Spartan officers mutiny? ]
[This message has been edited by Sprayber (edited April 26, 2001).]

[[LordLMP]]

To: Planetary Council
From: Captain Svensgaard

Nautilus Pirates official oppose having the Hive or/and the Morganite units as "peacekeepers". But we do approve the idea of the peacekeeping task force to be comprised of Believer and Free Drone units.

Captain Svensgaard


To: Academician Zhakarov
From: Captain Svensgaard

The war between our two factions will end when the Universities war with the Cyborgs and Data Angels is over. And I don't agree to the idea of disbanding probe teams or units, except Universities.

Captain Svensgaard


Blast Rifle Crag

The Battle Dragon units continue to siege the base with minimal losses and having succeeded damaging the base's garrison to the red status thought. While Colonel Rohrer was planning with her fellow commanding officers the full charge into the base, they received a message from Governor Pontas of Blast Rifle Crag. He of course address it to the commander of the "Unknown" rovers in all comm-bands. The Governor pretty much asks for a cease fire, to avoid further useless losses, and to possibly meat each other in person for further negociations, restricted to Governor to Her... Was odd that the Governor would call for negociations behind Sparta Command back... but not surprise that he rather ask for cease-fire instead of surrendering. typically spartan. She replied, voice only, and agreed to a cease-fire and to meet the Governor, at the base's perimeter thought. The next day, she and some escorting rovers move towards the rendezvous point with the Governor. there was of course several squads of Spartan soldiers guarding him. She, and some of her own bodyguards, entered a tent. She saw the governor and the commander of the base's garrisons. The Governor looked a bit surprised when he saw her, but it quickly faded. she was wearing her unmarked, except for rank, nautilus blue jumpsuit. after the introductions, the negociations started....

OOC: Spray, you play the governor as to what he wants like maybe defend the base against the rogue spartans and other things :P


University Base

LMP and his probe team entered University Base about a month ago from Library of Planet. Personally, LMP succeeded in finding some limited information about the Project Alpha, and he also happened finding out about the plan to move University Base underground, which he keeps to himself for now... Project Alpha has started over 60 years ago, where they establish some hidden base which would be dedicated to advanced research. He had trouble finding the coordinates of the base, but succeeded to atleast find out in what area it is at thought...in a Mountain near Port Beta, in cyborg territory. how interesting. After compressing and encrypt the acquired information in some data disk, he ordered the probe team, who haven't got much success as LMP in finding some info on the Project, to prepare leaving the base and to move back in Cyborg territory.

OOC: LMP is not a Nautilus Pirate person...he is just a wanderer, part of a hidden, quiet, and so on, group of people... The Macky, who are not known to the majority of people. to some who knows, they keep quiet, worried that the Macky may do something to them.

*******************************

To: General Braddock and Commissioner Lal
From: General Kane of Hive

I and our units volunteer to be part of the group of units that would patrol an establish De-Militarized Zone. Yang may oppose this, but we are quite willing to help, as there is not much of a future for us back in Hive terrtitory. Do consider it.

General Kane of Hive

************


OOC: will make official response tommorrow, has i need to go to bed now....



[This message has been edited by [LordLMP] (edited April 27, 2001).]

[Guardian]

South of Data Acquisition, that same afternoon...

Things were starting to settle down now, as the preparations were mostly all done. Briefings had been held, orders had been given... the latest intelligence data had been distributed, including the report from a PK probe team that had just come out of Data Acq this morning... everybody knew what their role would be, and they couldn't get any more ready than they already were... So, as they waited for the final order, things were sort of settling down into a calm before the storm...

Something was still happening though, as the suns were beginning to set and the afternoon was turning into evening... With Data Angels and Hive troops watching curiously from their own positions, the Peacekeepers started their own little ceremony... some kind of ritual to get themselves psyched up for what lay ahead. It didn't look very military at all, but it did seem to have the desired effect on the Peacekeepers. All along the line, squads, teams and rover crews were forming up, not in rows or lines, but in small, tight circles. In complete silence, the squad leader or vehicle commander inspected the crew, then spoke a few words to them from the center of the circle.
What happened next caused the jaws of a few Hive soldiers to drop wide open in surprise and amazement: The leaders stepped back to form part of the circles, then they all proceeded to take each other's hands! For a while, the Peacekeepers just stood in absolute silence, many with their eyes closed, holding hands in small circles... then, a soft murmur rose as those who wished to say something to their comrades proceeded to do so... one by one, they addressed their nearest companions, receiving their full attention for whatever it was they had to say... this went on for some time, then the murmur slowly fell away as people got done talking. Still they all stood there in silent vigil, holding hands... until the last word had been spoken and complete silence filled the air once more... then, as if on some unseen cue, they all snapped out of it and came to attention, being soldiers once again.

In almost complete unison came the cry...

WE ARE PEACEKEEPERS!!!

Proud and tall they stood there for yet another moment, appearently unafraid of death and disembowelment and whatever else the Spartans could possibly throw at them... then they saluted each other and broke it up, returning to their posts.

They were ready...


U.N. Haven City

Cilia didn't like this one at all. They had just been briefed on their role in the upcoming attack on Data Acquisition. This one would be even bigger than the attack on the two Spartan rover regiments a few days ago, which had been the largest air strike in Planet history. And this time, since they would be operating in their own airspace behind friendly lines the whole way, even some of the interceptors were being equipped for ground attack. She didn't mind taking part in the attack, but... in her opinion, even the Spartans couldn't possibly deserve being hit with white phosporus...


[OOC note: White Phosporus: Incendiary agent used in grenades, bombs, or by artillery for "incendiary smoke missions" (burn and maim the enemy while creating a blinding smoke screen)... This stuff burns when it gets into contact with oxygen. Meaning any oxygen, including the oxygen found in water. Or in... blood... The temperature of this stuff burning is so high that there are no flames... just gazillions of bright white stars flying all over the place... If you get hit by one of these things, it will burn right through to the bone... A side effect is that the stuff also creates a lot of thick, white smoke...
Using this kind of stuff against anyone is certainly NOT PK policy, but it is not explicitely forbidden by the U.N. Charter. General Braddock has found a loophole, and he pretty much reckons that the Spartans deserve anything that can be laid on them... ]


South of Data Acquisition

Commander Grafton had just gotten the word from Braddock: Go...

Taking a deep breath, he silently ran through the overall battle plan in his mind... The mindworms would move in under cover of the darkness, and would begin their attack one hour before dawn, striking from the east and west. Then, as the Spartans were still trying to deal with this massive worm attack, the artillery would open up and the rovers would move in and engage with missile fire from the north and south... then the air force would show up.. they would lay down everything they had along the defensive perimeter in the north and south, hitting the defenders with a mixture of high explosive and... white phosphorus... then the rovers would charge and the Special Forces would follow...

He sighed. This one would hurt everybody... and bad... Was it worth it? What if the war was really ending? Shouldn't they hold back and see if the Spartans were serious about wanting peace before going off to let all Hell loose like they were about to??

Ah well! Orders were orders... and besides, the Spartans were probably up to no good anyway...

He went to give the order...


U.N. News Network

They were doing another "special broadcast" for the Spartans... not really telling much news, but basically just engaging in psychological warfare, annoying the Spartans and telling them over and over that unless they came up with something pretty darned fast, they were all gonna die out here in this hellhole that none of them wanted anyway... and for what? Sure, they would be remembered, but not as heroes...

Another song was played. Hell, what was it with the PKs and Def Leppard anyway??
This time, the song was... Kings of Oblivion...


South of Data Acquisition

They were moving out! Kyla felt relieved, excited and scared speechless all at the same time. Swallowing hard, she took a deep breath and returned to her station, picking up her ABC suit. It was well known that the Spartans planned to use nerve gas against them. From this point on, they would be in full protective gear at all times, until...

until it was all over...

Shaking off a mental image of her body ripped apart by armor piercing rounds slicing through the rover, the started putting the mask on... fumbling... her hands were shaking as she thought about the invisible poison sneaking up on her... cursing under her breath, she ordered herself to Stop it! That's not doing any good...
You knew the risk when you joined up...

After a few more deep breaths, she managed to regain control and finish putting her protective mask on. With her gunner's helmet on top of this again, Kyla looked kind of like a cross breed between Darth Vader and the bounty hunter Boba Fett from Star Wars. Of course, she wasn't aware of this herself. She went back up to close the top hatch, and as she did so, a member of the support crew still on the ground came to attention and saluted.

Slowly... deliberately... and just a little bit clumsily... the eerie death mask turned his way and returned the salute, possibly for the last time...


[This message has been edited by Guardian (edited April 26, 2001).]

[Sprayber]

[OOC--I have a reference to the rejuvenation tanks. Is it assumed that faction leaders and important people recieve this? I can't remember if a certain tech allows this or if it just that the process is made easier to use on a mass scale. It is kind of important in the context that it is used. If anyone disagrees, I can use a different approach.]

Sparta Command---The Command Center

Kessel had been awake for an hour now but still no one had come to see him. This didn't bother him especially. He had been given this treatment by Santiago before. But of course, this as different. By the looks of things he had been brought to the Command Center. Before the Command Nexus had been completed this was the most advanced Building in the entire Spartan Federation. Now it was merely an extension of the Command Nexus that was constructed below. What puzzled him most was that he was being kept in a briefing room and not a cell like he had expected. While the possible reasons were being ran through his head, he heard the sound of the door lock being turned off. As he looked around the door slid open and Poulos walked through wearing a Spartan Security uniform. "Whats the matter? Santiago too busy to come herself." Poulos just laughed. "She is busy right now with reports from the front. You aren't holding a grudge are you?" "Me, hold a grudge. All you did was hand me over to Santiago" "Actually, I prefer to think that I merely brought you two back together. You see General, Santiago has a proposal for you." "And just what is this proposal?" Poulos smiles and moves towards the door. "Why don't you follow me and you can ask her that very question." Kessel got up and the two men walked down the hall. They turned a corner and entered an elevator. After descending six stories they exited the elevator and entered a long hallway. Kessel knew where he was going. It was one of the Colonel's many offices. This one was her office in the Command Nexus. They had passed many guards on the way to this particular office. But this time Kessel knew these four were different. They were members of the Santiago Guard. Little was officially known about them , but what people did know was not to cross them. They were scanned and allowed to enter the outer office. As Kessel and Poulos made their way through the outer office Santiago's assistant, Voki, walked out from a side room. "Ah, General Kessel. The Colonel is expecting you. Wait right here." Voki walked over to the desk and pushed a button. "Colonel, General Kessel is here." "Good, send him in." "You may enter" Kessel walked to the door and entered into the inner office of Colonel Santiago. He had been in the office before, but this time it felt different. "Good afternoon, I trust that you feel no ill effects from our last meeting? " Besides my pride, not a thing." Saniago smiled. "Always the one to inject humor into a tense situation. One day that may backfire on you." "What's the worst that can happen to me. Die a little?" "In Sparta, my dear Kessel, no one dies a little. But enough of the small talk. You are here for a reason." "And that is?' Kessel asked before Sanitago could finish. Ignoring the interruption, Santiago continued. "We have had our differences as of late General. You have even gone as far as disrupt several policies that were implemented. In hindsight, they may prove to serve Sparta well. Let me bring you up to speed. Our neighbor, the good Chairman, has presented a plan for a cease fire. Considering our situation with the Combine Army surrounded at former Data Acquisition by a PK and allied army. And with unknown rovers sieging Blast Rifle Crag. And our former colleague General Helzburg with the Main Army in War Outpost. I have decided that a change is in order." "What kind of change are you thinking about?" Kessel had no idea what to expect. "I have decided that it is time for me to take a leave of absence." That last statement leveled Kessel. "I have made some serious mistakes in recent years. I have looked at the overall situation and determined that what is best for Sparta is for me to be out of the spotlight, for a while anyway. After looking around at possible leaders for the Sparta, I have come to only one conclusion. You General Kessel are the only one in a leadership position that has taken responsibility for our actions. You have questioned me when you felt that Sparta's interests were at stake and you have backed me when few else would." Kessel wanted to ask so many questions but only one came out of his mouth. "Then why this purge and hunting me and my men down like animals for the past few months?" "At the time you went against my orders to support the army with what it needed. Which is ironically why I am offering this position to you now." "What exactly are you going to be up to while I am running things?" "It has been a long time since I was in the rejuvenation tanks. I shall take this occasion to catch up on the treatments. Now, as I see it the main threat as of this moment is Helzburg. He is currently at War Outpost with the entire Southern Army. Most of which would desert his position if they had an alternative. There is also the matter of Blast Rifle Crag. I have sent General Kell to Janissary Rock to take command of his Blockade Guardians. He has orders to proceed to Blast Rifle Crag and to wait further orders. Because of the pending cease fire he will not engage just identify and maintain contact." Santiago paused for a couple of seconds. "What are you thinking General Kessel?" "How and when will you explain this to the Spartan people and to the other factions?" "I will announce this when we negotiate a treaty. I must inform you that we are in the middle of rebuilding ties with the Hive. They are our best allies to counter the growing Alliance." "As much as the Hive have never been my favorite people, I must admit that Yang is as distrustful of the Alliance as we are." Sanitago sits down in her chair and motions towards the comm equipment. "Tomorrow, you will introduce yourself to Lal and the good Chairman. And Kessel, it might not be a bad idea to mention that you were once married to a woman of PK background. To Lal that is." Kessel let out a small chuckle "What, you don't think the good Chairman wouldn't like that piece of information?" Despite the situation, Kessel had to say it. It was just his way.

That had been the scene just a few hours ago. It was currently almost midnight Kessel hadn't got any sleep at all and he felt it. Then again he hadn't got that much sleep for the past two months. But the difference with today was that he was waking up in his old post. Kessel was always slightly amused at the name of his position. Commander of the Military District of Inner Sparta seemed like a long title to him. But that was what Sparta was all about. Long titles and even longer responsibilities. The whole point to the position was to protect against the possibility of the army turning itself on the population of Sparta itself and to provide a link between Sparta Command and the other bases. A primitive form of civilian government if you will. During the war, Kessel had failed to protect Spartan citizens from the ravages of the Army and from Santiago's temper. Kessel vowed to never let that happen again. Santiago had boarded a needlejet and had departed for Assassin's Redoubt barley half an hour ago. There she would prepare for the eventual fight with General Helzburg. This would be her last duty as a Spartan officer before she stepped out of public life. Kessel's duty was just beginning. No use in trying to sleep anymore so Kessel got up and made his way over to the Command Center where he would start trying to put the Spartan Federation back together again.

Ruby Ridge Memorial {Data Acq.} earlier in the evening

General Weiss had not received a reply from Sparta Command or from Helzburg. It was like the world outside Ruby Ridge had ceased to exist. Except for those ever present Pks that were stationed outside the base perimeter. In his paranoia, Weiss began to imagine that the rest of Sparta had indeed been crippled. Maybe he was the last Spartan authority. He punched in his password to validate the order he had given to Captain Gunther earlier that very morning. He then took out his sidearm to check to see if it was ready for action. He didn't seem to care that he had done that very thing at lest five times that day. On the other side of the compound Captain Gunther and two other rover group commanders were busy rounding up civilians. Not to use as human shields, but to sneak out of the base. "How are we going to do this Sir" The Sergeant asked. "Simple sergeant, we are going to let them walk out the two base perimeter gates." "But sir that is over four thousand people. How are we going to get over four thousand people out those gates?" "You know what Sergeant, we may not be able to let them all out. But we are going to let as many out as we can. Do you remember what we did at Janissary Rock? To our own people no less." The sergeant lowered his head. He remembered. Everyone in the three rover regiments remembered what happened at Janissary Rock. Sure the Blockade Guardians had done most of the killings. But they were the ones that went in afterwards to clean up the mess. Captain Gunther walked up to one of the PK citizens that had been singled out to be a leader. "Listen to me and listen closely. We will be evacuating the citizens on a block by block basis. If anyone does not have a mask you must have them form a line in front of this building" Gunther pointed at the supply building near the first set of gates. "There are ten personal rovers that were captured in the first days of the takeover. I suggest that you use them to transport the old and sick. I want you to get them together now since the rovers need to go out first. Third. Take some of the former PK soldiers, and I know that there are at least a handful of them in the city, and appoint them as organizers. You have until first light to complete the evacuation. By then the ruse will be up and I won't be able to guarantee your safety. My advice is for the group in the first rover make a lot of noise on the PK radios. Let them know your coming and let them know who you are." As Gunther turned to walk away the PK woman grabbed him by the arm before he could get to far. "Why are you doing this? Why are you risking your position and life for us. Why now?" Gunther stared at her for a moment. "For redemption. For honor" The woman let go and Gunther went to pay a visit to General Weiss.

[This message has been edited by Sprayber (edited April 26, 2001).]