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This is a story I've had floating around in my head for an origin to the Data Angels, my faction of choice plus the other Crossfire Factions as it seems pointless not to include them. I never felt the official story went into enough detail (although I still enjoyed it) so this is my take. What would be really cool is if Mike Ely tackled the Crossfire factions within his Centauri Dawn series 
Chapter 1
CEO Nwabudike Morgan walked through the corridors of Morgan Industries with his usual chorus of aides following quickly behind him. A flurry of comm-links, business deals and appointment making, these people saw to it that Morgan remained the leader of the most powerful and profitable financial institute on Chiron.
Since the ill-fated day that the U.N. Colony Ship Unity was destroyed, Nwabudike Morgan had found himself in charge of a motley crew of colonists who were lost without their Captain. They had been prepared for hardship when they arrived at Chiron, but not before they had even made orbit.
It had not been hard to exert his authority over the group, for his promises of riches and the comforts of old Earth fell on worried and desperate ears. They latched onto anything that was familiar, and the ever-present rat-race to make money was part of everyone’s history.
Throughout the years they had expanded in isolation across the continent. Knowing that trade was essential, Morgan Industries soon had ships exploring the oceans and eventually come across other colonists. Already the world was growing smaller and smaller seven different factions each laid claim to as much territory as possible, trying to ensure their dominance over others to ensure their way of life.
Morgan Industries, the only faction to have landed on the Central Continent had an obvious advantage, plus a wealth of resources to exploit and sell for profit in foreign markets. In the North, they mined the Uranium flats for energy, while in the South, a meteor impact site dubbed “Garland’s Crater” provided rich resources in abundance which were normally scarce on this alien world.
And of course there was the Alien Temple. Morgan’s scientists had been studying the site for years now, trying to make sense of it’s strange markings. He had even invited some of Head Academician Zakharov’s best men from the University to look at it, but it’s secrets still remained hidden. All they could tell was that it was somehow connected to the strange monoliths that dotted the landscape, one of which loomed on the outskirts of Morgan Industries Headquarters itself.
On the Western Continent, Chairman Yang had established his strange socialist Hive culture, whose bases inhabited the Pholus Ridge region all the way up to the strange Alien runs at the far north, amongst the fungus. To the South of him, surrounding the Great Freshwater Lake were the holdings of the Spartan Federation, led by Colonel Santiago, who found herself frequently in conflict with her former mentor, Sheng-ji Yang. To the East of the Federation, and across the channel from Morgan Industries, were the U.N. holdings, surrounding Chiron’s only active volcano, Mount Planet.
Out on the Eastern Continent lay the Stepdaughters of Gaia, who dwelt amongst the lush vegetation of the Monsoon Jungle; the University of Planet, who controlled the strategically important “Planetneck” and stretched all the way across to continent to the Great Dunes. Lastly were the Lord’s Believers, Sister Miriam’s religious devotee’s who controlled the Sunny Mesa and the Upland Wastes.
Between the seven faction and two hundred and fifty-seven years of colonization, Planet’s continents were almost out of room, and many factions had begun to build their bases in the sea. It was eight such Sea Bases that would be the topic of discussion at the impending board meeting.
“Sir,” spoke one of Morgan’s aides, interrupting his chain of thought, “I have the Gaian Ambassador on Channel Three. He wishes to discuss with you Morgan Aerodynamics’ continued breach of environmental regulations for clean-living.
“Explain to the ambassador that I am about to enter a Board meeting, but, that as soon as it’s over, I shall call him to assuage his fears over these rumours of environmental violations.”
With that, Morgan entered the Council office, causing all of his board members to rise. The beautiful real oak doors were closed behind him, and he gestured for everyone to be seated. He took his place at the head of the table and began the meeting.
“I’m glad we could all make it. We’ve got a lot of business to do, so let’s get down to it. Doug?” Morgan turned it over to his Vice-President of Industry.
“We’ve had a request come in from the Hive, asking for three fleets of rovers, with silksteel armour and shard weaponry, plus silksteel armour to cover four full garrisons of troops. He’s willing to pay extra for quick delivery.”
“It seems Chairman Yang is having more trouble putting down this Free Drone rebellion then he anticipated,” mused Morgan. “Sara?” he queried, referring to the VP of Intelligence.
“It appears the Drones have begun to organize themselves under the leadership of a man named James Domai. He’s a lander who’s been a drone for Yang the entire time, but he had some combat experience as a Peacekeeper back during the 2006 LA riots.”
“So the Free Drones have a voice.” Morgan realized this made them more dangerous to Yang, and potentially more profitable to Morgan Industries. If the war were to drag on, many more requisitions would be coming in from Chairman Yang, and perhaps Morgan could even open supply lines with the Free Drones.
“What is there progress so far?”
“They’ve managed to gain control over all the bases along the Spartan Federation border. They’re troops have even been seen pushing towards the Unity wreckage, not far from The Hive itself” If Sara was right, and she always was, the Drone’s were almost on Yang’s front doorstep. He couldn’t possibly hold them off forever.
Turning back to Doug he made his decision.
“Inform the Hive that we will provide them with their equipment as requested, and put the rush on the order as well. Plus, through in ECM devices on all of the infantry armour as a little bonus.”
“Now, let us get down to the real point of today’s meeting,” Morgan began. “As you all now know, the Spartan Federation has been seeking to join our Alliance with the University. I don’t need to point out that this would enable us to strike at any faction on Planet through our combined Allied territory. However, Colonel Santiago asks a high price for her offensive capability. She wishes us to turn over our string of eight sea-bases between us and the Western Continent to Federation control.”
“Now, if we do this, Sparta Command is likely to assemble her fleets within these bases. The bases will therefore need to be supplied with raw goods to construct the ships, and the base populations will swell as more Spartans are stationed there. Plus, it will provide us with a buffer between us and the Hive, should the Chairman seek to come after our lands once again.”
“Therefore my proposal is this,” he began to conclude. “We accept Santiago’s terms and turn over the eight sea bases. The Federation moves in, we sit back and fill their requisition orders and watch the money roll in.”
“The citizens of those bases aren’t going to be too happy about it. The switch to a police government isn’t going to be an easy one.” This was his V.P of Human Resources who spoke, Anita Best.
“That is not really a great concern. Those who can afford to can make their way back to the mainland, profits will increase in the long run for them. So, now we will vote. All in favour?” Everyone raised their hands.
“Well, I guess that pretty much decides it then. Dismissed.”
Private conversations broke out all around the table and Morgan went to inform the Colonel of the good news.
Chapter 1
CEO Nwabudike Morgan walked through the corridors of Morgan Industries with his usual chorus of aides following quickly behind him. A flurry of comm-links, business deals and appointment making, these people saw to it that Morgan remained the leader of the most powerful and profitable financial institute on Chiron.
Since the ill-fated day that the U.N. Colony Ship Unity was destroyed, Nwabudike Morgan had found himself in charge of a motley crew of colonists who were lost without their Captain. They had been prepared for hardship when they arrived at Chiron, but not before they had even made orbit.
It had not been hard to exert his authority over the group, for his promises of riches and the comforts of old Earth fell on worried and desperate ears. They latched onto anything that was familiar, and the ever-present rat-race to make money was part of everyone’s history.
Throughout the years they had expanded in isolation across the continent. Knowing that trade was essential, Morgan Industries soon had ships exploring the oceans and eventually come across other colonists. Already the world was growing smaller and smaller seven different factions each laid claim to as much territory as possible, trying to ensure their dominance over others to ensure their way of life.
Morgan Industries, the only faction to have landed on the Central Continent had an obvious advantage, plus a wealth of resources to exploit and sell for profit in foreign markets. In the North, they mined the Uranium flats for energy, while in the South, a meteor impact site dubbed “Garland’s Crater” provided rich resources in abundance which were normally scarce on this alien world.
And of course there was the Alien Temple. Morgan’s scientists had been studying the site for years now, trying to make sense of it’s strange markings. He had even invited some of Head Academician Zakharov’s best men from the University to look at it, but it’s secrets still remained hidden. All they could tell was that it was somehow connected to the strange monoliths that dotted the landscape, one of which loomed on the outskirts of Morgan Industries Headquarters itself.
On the Western Continent, Chairman Yang had established his strange socialist Hive culture, whose bases inhabited the Pholus Ridge region all the way up to the strange Alien runs at the far north, amongst the fungus. To the South of him, surrounding the Great Freshwater Lake were the holdings of the Spartan Federation, led by Colonel Santiago, who found herself frequently in conflict with her former mentor, Sheng-ji Yang. To the East of the Federation, and across the channel from Morgan Industries, were the U.N. holdings, surrounding Chiron’s only active volcano, Mount Planet.
Out on the Eastern Continent lay the Stepdaughters of Gaia, who dwelt amongst the lush vegetation of the Monsoon Jungle; the University of Planet, who controlled the strategically important “Planetneck” and stretched all the way across to continent to the Great Dunes. Lastly were the Lord’s Believers, Sister Miriam’s religious devotee’s who controlled the Sunny Mesa and the Upland Wastes.
Between the seven faction and two hundred and fifty-seven years of colonization, Planet’s continents were almost out of room, and many factions had begun to build their bases in the sea. It was eight such Sea Bases that would be the topic of discussion at the impending board meeting.
“Sir,” spoke one of Morgan’s aides, interrupting his chain of thought, “I have the Gaian Ambassador on Channel Three. He wishes to discuss with you Morgan Aerodynamics’ continued breach of environmental regulations for clean-living.
“Explain to the ambassador that I am about to enter a Board meeting, but, that as soon as it’s over, I shall call him to assuage his fears over these rumours of environmental violations.”
With that, Morgan entered the Council office, causing all of his board members to rise. The beautiful real oak doors were closed behind him, and he gestured for everyone to be seated. He took his place at the head of the table and began the meeting.
“I’m glad we could all make it. We’ve got a lot of business to do, so let’s get down to it. Doug?” Morgan turned it over to his Vice-President of Industry.
“We’ve had a request come in from the Hive, asking for three fleets of rovers, with silksteel armour and shard weaponry, plus silksteel armour to cover four full garrisons of troops. He’s willing to pay extra for quick delivery.”
“It seems Chairman Yang is having more trouble putting down this Free Drone rebellion then he anticipated,” mused Morgan. “Sara?” he queried, referring to the VP of Intelligence.
“It appears the Drones have begun to organize themselves under the leadership of a man named James Domai. He’s a lander who’s been a drone for Yang the entire time, but he had some combat experience as a Peacekeeper back during the 2006 LA riots.”
“So the Free Drones have a voice.” Morgan realized this made them more dangerous to Yang, and potentially more profitable to Morgan Industries. If the war were to drag on, many more requisitions would be coming in from Chairman Yang, and perhaps Morgan could even open supply lines with the Free Drones.
“What is there progress so far?”
“They’ve managed to gain control over all the bases along the Spartan Federation border. They’re troops have even been seen pushing towards the Unity wreckage, not far from The Hive itself” If Sara was right, and she always was, the Drone’s were almost on Yang’s front doorstep. He couldn’t possibly hold them off forever.
Turning back to Doug he made his decision.
“Inform the Hive that we will provide them with their equipment as requested, and put the rush on the order as well. Plus, through in ECM devices on all of the infantry armour as a little bonus.”
“Now, let us get down to the real point of today’s meeting,” Morgan began. “As you all now know, the Spartan Federation has been seeking to join our Alliance with the University. I don’t need to point out that this would enable us to strike at any faction on Planet through our combined Allied territory. However, Colonel Santiago asks a high price for her offensive capability. She wishes us to turn over our string of eight sea-bases between us and the Western Continent to Federation control.”
“Now, if we do this, Sparta Command is likely to assemble her fleets within these bases. The bases will therefore need to be supplied with raw goods to construct the ships, and the base populations will swell as more Spartans are stationed there. Plus, it will provide us with a buffer between us and the Hive, should the Chairman seek to come after our lands once again.”
“Therefore my proposal is this,” he began to conclude. “We accept Santiago’s terms and turn over the eight sea bases. The Federation moves in, we sit back and fill their requisition orders and watch the money roll in.”
“The citizens of those bases aren’t going to be too happy about it. The switch to a police government isn’t going to be an easy one.” This was his V.P of Human Resources who spoke, Anita Best.
“That is not really a great concern. Those who can afford to can make their way back to the mainland, profits will increase in the long run for them. So, now we will vote. All in favour?” Everyone raised their hands.
“Well, I guess that pretty much decides it then. Dismissed.”
Private conversations broke out all around the table and Morgan went to inform the Colonel of the good news.
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