Beyond Alpha Centauri :::

[GeneralTacticus]

Laekdaemon Central

When Intel Director Katrina received Menelaus's message, she had all the authorisation she needed to eliminate Lysander. She was acting under orders. More than that, though, she held a personal hatred for the little bastard. She fought and sweated and bled for the Cadre ever since she had joined it more than a century ago. Lysander, on the other hand, had hardly seen any serious action, and yet he had made Major and held her in contempt for being an 'outsider'. He preached war with Sparta, but had no idea of what that would mean. Katrina would relish the task of killing such a deluded fool.

"Intel Director Katrina to all agents." she sent into her commlink via a neural uplink, "We have full authorisation to destroy Lysander. Repeat, we are authorised to destroy Lysander."


All across Laekdaemon III, members of the Cadre Security Forces received their message and confirmed it. One, however, at Dienkes Base, Agent Arete, cursed inwardly as she listened and sent her own message to the upper levels of Lysander's forces.

She was probably the only member of the Cadre Security on Lysander's side, and no-one else knew, except her comrades with Lysander. Menelaus and his lackeys no doubt thought their instrument of tyrrany was loyal, and it mostly was, but she wasn't. She was Lysander's only source in those forces and that made her important beyond imagining.

"Followers of Major Lysander." her message read. "Menelaus has ordered the arrest and execution of our leader. Warn him at all costs."

Captain Marcos also cursed as he received that message. Lysander was coming back, thinking he was safe, while at the same time Menelaus was going after him! This could not be allowed to happen. He would have to warn him. At the time he received it he was on his way to the barracks square for morning training, but he could take the punishment for being late if he had to. He ran back to his own quarters and began keying in a new message for Lysander.

"Major Lysander, I have just received news of vital importance. Menelaus has ordered Cadre Security to arrest and execute you the moment you set foot on Cadre territory. Please bear this in mind."

Laekdaemon III, Low Orbit

As Lysander's ships began to make their final descent towards the planet, having passed through the simple Cadre satelite-mounted scanning systems, they received Marcos' message. When Lysander read it he gaped in shock. If that message, no doubt triggered by information from Arete, he would have walked straight into a trap and that would have been the end.

His reply was brief. "Message received Marcos, I thank you."

He then opened yet another commlink - audio only to prevent any listeners from knowing who he spoke to - then said, "Commander, we must change plans. We are in danger. Follow me."

Without waiting for an acknowledgement the Hive pilot pulled Lysander's ship around and began heading for the Leonidas Jungle. Lysander looked at his scanners and saw the other ships following him.

The ships dropped rapidly through the atmosphere, and as they neared landing Lysander's confidence began to return, but it was rudely shaken when he received a message from Laekdaemon Central.

"Shuttle 0069, you are heading for an unathourised landing area and are suspect. Change course immediately and land at Laekdaemon Central Aerospace Complex."

"Oh, ****." Lysander swore. He'd never expected them to track his shuttle. He had no choice. He would have to get his three ships landed and his men out, then gather his followers and overthrow Menelaus. It was obvious now that Menelaus did not intend to carry through on his promise of democracy. While no-one had yet even mentioned it, this was just another reason why Menelaus could not be trusted. Sooner or later, he would sell them all out to Sparta.

Commander Felchek replied on the still-open commlink. "Lord Lysander, what do we do? We do not have the weapons to put up even a token resistance against an air attack."

"Commander, we must go down and hope we escape before they hit us. We have no choice."

At that point another voice cut across the commlink. "Shuttle 0069, this Lieutenant Castro of the Laekdaemon Cadre air force. By not complying with our directives, you have implicated yourself of treason. You will fly to Laekdaemon Central now, or we will shoot you down."

Cutting the link to Castro, Lysander barked orders to the pilots of the three ships. "Go down, full speed! don't worry about the ships, but save at all costs the lives and supplies we have. We must escape!"

All of Lysander's ships speeded up greatly and hurtled toward the jungle below, while the damnable Lieutenant Castro sent a final message.

"Shuttle 0069, by disreagarding two warnings you have convicted yourself of treason. You will now be destroyed. Ships accompanying Shuttle 0069, you are being given a last chance. If you break away, you will survive. If you stay with it, you will go down as well."

Alarms on Lysander's shuttle began blaring, indicating that the Cadre needlejets had locked on to it and were preparing to fire. Similar alarms were soming over the commlink from the other ships... but the ground Lysander intended to land on was coming up fast. This would be race between the needlejet's weapons and Lysander's ships.

Lietenant Castro watched without emotion as his craft's wepons panel indicated 'READY'. "All craft, fire at will." he said over his own commlink. Instantly a stream of air to air missiles flew from the wings of the needlejets toward the fleeing spacecraft. As insurance, he also began firing gatling lasers. One of the enemy took a glancing hit and staggered in mid-air, it's enormous speed hurling it a staggering distance, but it was still intact. He kept firing and was rewarded as another craft took a hit and one of it's engines cut out. At that moment all three fugitive craft crashed into the ground and began plowing through the jungle. The misiles were close behind.

All of the jets screamed across to the landing site and arrived just in time to see missiles impacting all along the shuttles. None of them survived, and all exploded almost instantly.

"Squadron, return to base. No doubt they will send a team over to see who the hell this was."

He turned back for Dienkes Base Aerocomplex, and his squadron formed up behind him.

****

Lysander and the rest of the Hive forces with him threw themselves into the jungle at the last minute. Less than a second after the last Hive soldiers were fleeing their ships, the cloud of missiles fired at them earlier had impacted against the ships. Lysander sucked in deep breaths and leaned against a tree trunk. While the whole incident had felt like a lifetime, it had probably not been more than a minute from the first warning to the crash landing.

"How many are still alive?" he asked Felchek, who looked quite rattled.

"Not sure, sir." he replied, before turning around and barking, "All right, everybody! Head count! If there are any wounded, let me know!"

"It would probably be easier just to ask if there's anyone not wounded." Lysander muttered.

When the count was complete, Felchek turned back to Lysander. "198 troops in total, lord." he said. "Appparently most of the dead were soldiers, 39 of them to be exact. The other deaths were 4 officers, 7 saboteurs and 2 assassins."

Lysander nodded. "Very well, now we must move. Our first destination is Dienkes Base. I have a contact in the security there, and many other followers too. We shall begin our revolution there - it should not be hard to take control of it."

"Very well, lord. If you order it, we will move."

Six Days Later

Lysander and his bloodied Hive allies were encamped near Dienkes Base as dawn broke. Most of them had had a brief sleep in the hour since they had arrived, and now they were ready to move. Lysander opened him commlink and began speaking.

"To all loyal followers the Cadre, this is Major Lysander speaking." his voice boomed, concentrated as it was into the commlink. His message would now be flooding all the networks of Dienkes Base, as he had issued a code word a little while ago, ordering his followers there to hijack the network.

"I have returned, and I have brought allies with me. This is a great day, for it shall be ever after recorded as the beginning of the liberation of Laekdaemon from the tyrrany and treachery of Menelaus. I call upon all members of the Cadre to unite under me and overthrow the Spartan puppet Menelaus! We will win!"

Inside the base, that speech had been the signal for Lysander's men to begin the coup. They were all armed and ready nto go, and as Lysander finished speaking, they moved.

Within moments the base had turned into a battleground. Impact bolts cracked everywhere, people were dying, and the rebels were rapidly gaining ground. In under an hour, without so much as a whisper to the outside world, Dienkes Base had fallen.

Arete smiled broadly as she stood over the bloodied body of Menelaus's governor Polynikes.

Cheers and jubilant whoops echoed through the base as the last resistors surrendered. 48 minutes before, this had been under the control of Menelaus. Now, in a brief spasm of violence, is had been liberated.

"This base now belongs to us." she announced over the network.

This was the 'all clear' signal for Lysander who now entered the base. When he did so, his followers lined the streets and cheered, while the Hive men behind him fanned out and began searching for any further resistance.

Now Lysander entered the admin complex at the heart of the base and sat down to plan his next move. Felchek and Arete entered followed him into the governor's office and sat down across the table.

"Very well. We have this base. That is a momentuous acheivement, but it is not enough. We must liberate all of our people from Menelaus and his oppression. I will now broadcast another speech over the entire planetary networks. If all goes well, by the end of the day the whole of Laekdaemon will be ours."

[Cybergod]

Cross-ships link up, Mammon and Quantum Shadow

Captain Tyre, Data Keeper Brai and a couple of covert personnel waited by the ship’s bay doors, as the Quantum Shadow underwent the last docking procedures.

“Docking complete,” the computer voice boomed as the doors sucked themselves in, the air hissing as the pressure in the inter-docking bridge equalised. Captain Tyre and his security men walked up and entered the bridge. The air felt extremely cold in deep space, especially in between ships. He turned to Brai and the rest of his company, gesturing they should follow. As he stepped on the bridge’s platform, Brai shivered. Two men, carrying a large crate walked behind him.

They neared the closed bay doors of the Morganite ship. They stopped in front of the doors. Tyre grew impatient as he waited for the cumbersome doors of the Morganite ship to open. As they did, hot, luxurious air rushed in. Bright light from inside greeted them along with a couple of security officers. A tall security officer approached Tyre:

“Are you of the Saturn Kingdom?”

‘No we just guessed which flippin’ frequency we should broadcast from, dimwit!’ Tyre thought to himself as he answered: “Aye, I am Captain Kalire Tyre, covert operative of the Saturn Kingdom, in Our Majesty’s intelligence service.”

“Then you must come with me, to meet Captain Michael Judson,” the Morganite looked at the strange weapons the Saturnian officers had and then glanced at the large crate that was carried. He looked trivially at the captain.

“This is all according to plan. We are under instructions to cause no harm to you, your crew or Morgan Interstellar.”

Finally the large man bulged and turned, and the Saturnians entered Mammon. Brai enjoyed the comforting warmth of the ship’s interior as they walked down a long hallway, to eventually enter a big room, where Captain Judson and his two advisors sat. The man stood up and took his blue cap off to salute Tyre.

“Welcome to our vessel! I am Captain Michael Judson, this is Science Officer Deitzler, who will be taking care of the data, and Dr. Ishimora Heidyako, who would watch over the transfers.”

“I am Captain Tyre of the Saturn Kingdom. This is Data Keeper Brai, he is in charge of data security on our side,” Brai shook each of the other men’s hands. Judson looked around and told his ‘clients’ to have a seat at the negotiating table – a round marble desk on his left. As they all sat down, he inquired about the obscure crate.

“All will be revealed,” Tyre said. “Now, shall we discuss business my good friend?”

“Of course of course! The CEO is most interested in your latest research in the field of ‘psionics’,” he looked nervously at the two men around the box. “I’m guessing that is what you’re carrying – a few working prototypes.”

“Prototypes?!?” Tyre chuckled, “Please allow me to demonstrate,” he got up, walked over to the crate and pressed his right thumb on a little light circle on the box and its top slid off to reveal strange glove-looking instruments. He pulled out one glove, pressed a few buttons on the side and pointed it at Judson. The Morganite guards raised their blasters at the man immediately.

“Please, don’t take offence, this isn’t lethal,” Tyre said. ‘But it can be, under right settings’ he thought as he searched through the other man’s mind. “Your full name is Michael Lois Judson. You were a single child of a wealthy Morganite family. Both of your parents died in a traffic accident and you were grieving all your life since that, working hard to make them proud. You studied law but changed your interests when you realised Morganite diplomacy could be ‘multi-dimensional’ as you yourself put it, when you talked with your life-long friend Reiss. Your wife Sandra and little Dana are the things you hold most sacred in your life,” he paused a second. “Now I feel that you are overwhelmed so I’ll stop there, for the sake of your health, since I fear for your weak heart,” he said as her put his hand down.

Captain Judson blinked at an incredible rate in his moments of astonishment. The other two men starred first at their captain and then at Tyre with a puzzled expression. He gulped and asked: “How… how did you…”

“It is the high pinnacle of Saturnian technology, but the user must be well trained, otherwise fatigue might develop,” Brai answered the unfinished question as all eyes were pried on Tyre as he took off the apparatus. His captain looked exhausted as he wasn’t particularly trained to use the psych whip – this advanced version required the little known psychoactive energy, found around sentient consciousness, as it used it and its own power to manipulate. “This is a new improved version of the original psych whip, which was only capable of inflicting pain by weakly affecting the victim’s nervous system. This jewel however, as you’ve seen, does much more. Now, all we wish is the confirmation that you will give us the data in the fields of Nanotechnology and Advanced Robotics. With this knowledge, both of our factions can develop more advanced… gems… such as this.”

“Why, certainly!” Judson said. “Officer Deitzler, please secure connections with Mr. Brai, we must exchange data at once!”

[History Guy]

Mike Gladden

Morgan's Hideaway, Building 5

Montrose Despard Turnwadson had finally stopped panting after his rush up several dozen flights of stairs when, after a fifteen-minute wait on Level 102, the lift doors suddenly popped open on the landing beside the millionaire. Out jaunted old Ferdinand Delbar, in his nice blue jacket, late as usual.

“Now, Ferdy,” said Monty, rushing up alongside the Tracking Officer, “What in heaven’s name is going on here, eh? I’ve got news that Samnos is under attack from the air, that Naxos is beating back continuos enemy assaults, and that a whole different system in the Corporate Sector is gone! Now, to add to this, you run around the place like a bleeding idiot with a guy who’s trailing you with a gun…and what took you so long getting up here?”

“ I had to change into better clothes, Monty," he replied. "I doubt you’ll get into Mike Gladden’s apartment in that…A chap wanted me to deliver a message to Gladden at the double quick…‘for the good of my government’…” Delbar eyed Monty critically, “And how did you know where to find me?”

“I watched you type ‘102 Level’ on the lift programmer when you when into the lift.”

“And, if you’d be so kind, would you tell me who on earth was ‘trailing’ me with ‘a gun’?”

“Well...I've got the gun right here…the guy was just following you around, aiming it at you discreetly and the like. I sort of gave him a little slap on the cheek and he just collapsed!” Delbar suddenly turned round in his tracks and headed back toward the lift, “Now where are you slogging off to?”

“I’m just heading back down to my room, where I think I will stay throughout the rest of my time here at Morgan’s Hideaway,” replied Delbar, timidly.

“Oh come on, Ferdy, where’s your sense of duty? And hey, where is your sense of adventure?”

“It’s gone. I lost it. I guess it’s out adventuring,” responded Delbar, nearing closer to the lift. A quick grab at Delbar’s collar dragged him forward, and Monty turned him around.

“Now, let’s get this thing over with, OK? The only way to get this clear of you is to get is done, right?”

“Well…sort of…”

“Sort of? Sort of? What room is Gladden in anyway?”

“Ummm…err…Room 666, or 669, or something. You’ll know it by all the heavily armed plainclothesmen hanging suspiciously around it…” This had barely escaped the Tracking Officer’s lips when the two men came face to face with a long, lighted corridor that ended in a balcony overlooking the mountain range. The door at the end of the hall was made out of whole bronze, and the gold nameplate read ‘Apartment 669’. In front of the door stood two burly little fellows with greasy faces, and ugly expressions. These guys must have been the heavily armed plainclothesmen haning suspiciously around the spot. This was obviously Mike Gladden’s room.

“Errrr…I’d say we’re here, Ferdy.”

“Oh damn,” Delbar responded, coming very close to turning around again.

“No, come along.” Monty walked up to one of the stationary guards and asked sheepishly, “Can we see Mike Gladden?”

“When he’s down at the casino you can see him. You can’t talk to him down there unless he comes to you, however,” responded the square-faced man in a thick, gruff voice, which was tinged with incredibly bad breath. Montrose was suddenly made miserable.

“I mean, sir, can I see him now? My friend has a message for him…”

“Forget about it, kid…” responded the man, who appeared to be two years or so older than Monty at the most.

“But you see,” broke in Delbar, “I’ve a message from Snakeyes.”

“Snakeyes? I guess that’s different. Come up here, though, I’ve got to give you a rub-down, concealed weapons, you know.” The man then seized Delbar and then Monty, and pat them in various places, just to make sure that they weren’t hiding a shredder pistol or an impactor revolver, or something to that effect. “Don’t want to have Mike Gladden go down with a plasma shard in his head on my shift or nothin’.” Delbar and Monty eyed each other curiously. “OK, you two are clean, I guess I can show ya in.”

The man took out a small security card and ran it past the bronze door, and without a sound, the door opened. “Boss,” said the man, peaking his fat head into the dark room, “I’ve got some visitors for you. They have a message from Snakeyes.”

A voice from the room responded, “OK, Grimsby, show them in.” The man pushed the two men into the darkened room. As Delbar’s eyes became accustomed to the dimness, he looked about him. At the far end of the room, alongside the oak-paneling, Mike Gladden, a tall, powerful looking clean-shaven man, sat in the center of a long brown couch. He was flanked by two smaller men, both with some amounts of facial hair and one with a pair of thick spectacles on. In other chairs around him were more people, men and women, about six in all. Hanging on the walls around them were the heads of countless dead beasts, many so exotic that Delbar had never seen anything like them.

“Sorry if I’m interrupting something important, Mr. Gladden,” said Delbar, sheepishly.

“Not at all, Mr…”

“Delbar…Tracking Officer at Morgan Interstellar, Tracking Room 3…”

“Oh yeah, a guest,” responded Gladden, rolling his eyes, though neither Delbar or Monty could see it. Gladden was somewhat ticked off by Snakeye’s choice to ask a guest to deliver his message. “What’s up with Snakeyes?”

“Umm…he said he was being pursued by a gunzle, Mercer, or some name like that. He wanted me to deliver his message for him,” responded Delbar.

“Ah, OK. What’s the message, Mr. Delbar?”

“Something to the effect of ‘Saleed is not with us’.”

“Oh, alright. Thanks. You’ve been very helpful. Gives these two gentlemen fifty Morgan dollars each, Mr. Braine.”

“Well, I was rather hoping you would tell me what this was all about, as someone down there did try to kill Mr. Delbar,” said Monty.

“Well, it is rather complicated. As you may realize, the Saleed of the message is the manager of this resort, Mr. Saleed al Hassoun. You may not realize that he is something of a danger to the government. In fact, he used to be a politician before links were found that connected him with the attempt on the life of the CEO during the Bree War. I doubt you are old enough to remember that, however. I certainly am not. From here he seems to have become deeply involved with several…Mafia groups. In fact, some of the people working here even refer to him as the Don,” Delbar did not say so, but he had heard some stewards refer to old Gladden as the don. “He helps out a man named Boreo, a very powerful man in the Corporate Sector, System 1. Mr. Boreo and his men deal in drugs, the illegal ones I mean. He buys, sells, and smuggles them. One of his jobs accidentally got the levanda ant onto Pollux D, and that’s been no end of trouble for the farmers there, especially in the Coral Islands area. Anway, we are pretty sure that, in some way or another, Mr. al Hassoun has some big time ties with that guy. Mr. al Hassoun has ties also with the Free Capella movement, which you may or may not have heard of.”

“Free Capella movement? There is one already?”

“It was around before we Morganites got into the picture, but since the Terrans were defeated there, the group’s object has been to drive off the Morganites, and become a separate entity. Thanks to Snakeye’s message, it’s been confirmed that Saleed has been assisting them, and has, in fact, started paying for the production on a warship, a very large and powerful one, on one of the moons of Terra Nova, with which they wish to accomplish their goal. It’ll be completed in about two years. The CEO doesn’t want the construction stopped however; he has his own plans on what to do with it. Saleed thinks that by helping out, he might be able to use them for his own purposes once they secede. Saleed wants more power, and he wants Morgan out. He’s got mob influences, and now influences in the Free Capella movement. It’s not especially good, but it’s nothing to cry over. If anything starts up, my boys…I mean, the government will take care of the guy. See him out, if you like. I hope that answers your questions. We’ll be watching Saleed closely, don’t you guys worry.”

Delbar and Monty were then shown out of the room, and were hussled off towards the lift. “You know, Monty,” said Delbar, “I leave in a week. I can’t say I’ll particularly miss this place.”
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Frankychan]

Morganite Colony: Samnos
Hive Command Ship People's Glory
Five days before fall of Cadre's Dienkes Base

Warning klaxon's still blared throughout the command ship's bridge. Sparks flew from exposed wires dangling from the bridge's ceiling. The last hit from the Morganite barrage disabled the command ships engines. Admiral Bippol's ship was, now in effect, a stationary orbiting platform.

The admiral gripped what was left of a guard rail while technicians fought to put out fires that were breaking out all over the bridge. Two security personnel removed a dead officer, passing right in front of Bippol. A ceiling beam jutted out and stood like a totem pole in the center of the room.

"What's our status?" Bippol shouted above the chaos. He noticed his uniform was torn badly from the shoulder to his waist. He felt something moving on his forehead and wiped it off. Looking back at his hand he noticed it was covered in blood.

A human tactical officer, also bleeding from his forehead, answered.

"Admiral, wing commanders reporting numerous losses. Six of our frigates are destroyed while five more are heavily damaged. Corvette losses equal eight with four badly damaged. One battlecruiser lost and one with a fractured hull. The Terran Fleet diverted some of the Morganites."

Bippol grimaced at the sound of the Terran Fleet. Sure, they diverted some of the defenders, but their sheer brashness was astounding.

Since arriving in the system, the Terran Fleet ordered all Hive ships not to land on Samnos and even went so far as to threaten to fire if Hive troops landed on the colony world.

Bippol, wary but compliant, ordered no Hive landing craft to approach the planet. The sheer gall of these arrogant Terrans! Do they not know who they are dealing with?

The admiral limped to a stationary datapad. The stabbing pain in his right leg told him that it was broken due to the Morganite cannonade. One more thing you Morganites must pay for, Bippol thought.

"Order our fighters to regroup for a secondary attack. Have our bombers commence attack at the regrouped Morgan ships at that platform." Bippol began punching his personal code into the datapad. "All ships are to attack the remaining Morganites. All ships that are badly damaged and beyond repair are to ram any opposing ships. Lastly, send this message as well as a copy of the Spartan message to Hive command. They may want to know the Spartans are here."

* * *
Encrypted Message
To: Hive command
From: Admiral Bippol of Expeditionary Fleet

Offensive at Samnos proceeding well. Acceptable losses inflicted by Morganites to Hive Fleet. Terran arrival unexpected. Terrans threaten to fire on Hive ships if Hive troops land on Samnos.

Spartan vessels engaged with Hive forces. Repeat, Spartan vessels at Samnos.

Prediction that control of Samnos space will occur shortly.
* * *
--------------------
The remaining Hive fighters, still numering in the hundreds, regrouped and set course to the Morganite platform.
--------------------
Hive Fighter Group: Luo Yang
Hive Fighter Pilot LY-01, Wing Commander Trenton Wilford (human)

Commander Wilford set course for the Morganite cluster, knowing that his fellow fighter pilots were right behind him. Narrowing his eyes, he analyzed what was ahead of him.

Numerous Morganic capital ships were all huddled next to each other while fighter patrols revolved around the "cluster". He thought he spotted the infamous Spartan ships.

"Fighter Wing Luo Yang," Wilford spoke into his comm, "Our target is the Spartan corvettes. Break through the defense grid and commence attack on them. Kamikaze bomb the Spartans if you receive too much flak."

The wing commander nodded as his fighter pilots all acknowledged his orders.

As he closed in to the "cluster", the Morganites began firing on his fighter. Wilford jinked his fighter left and right, dodging the large projectiles flying past him. Through the flak of the defenses he saw a couple Morganite fighters on an attack trajectory with him.

Wilford smiled and fired his rail gun. He was rewarded with one of the enemy fighters exploding in a shower of sparks and debris.
--------------------
Hive corvette: Drone Keeper

Captain Zzrin, a Xiero, watched on his viewscreen as Hive fighters began swarming the last remaining defenders. Turning toward the helmsman, he began his orders.

"Helm, set course for the Morganite platform."

The Fran helmsman turned to face the Xiero captain.

"Sir, we are too badly damaged to survive a direct assault."

The captian sneered, "I know that. We are going in with our guns blazing. Orders are to ram enemy vessels if our ship is beyond repair. Our ship is beyond repair so we will ram."

"Yes sir." The Fran turned to set the suicide course.
---------------------

The Drone Keeper began its final destination toward the Morganites. Numerous other vessels formed up with the Drone Keeper, some with huge holes gaping in their sides, others trailing sparks in space.

The damaged vessels literally became a suicide fleet, ready to engage with their enemies, pledging their lives to defeat the foes of Emperor Yang.

[Lonestar]

Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles(CHOAM) Building
Nuevo San Antonio
Beta Hydri 4

"You must be twisting my tail, Lord Protector. You cannot be serious."

Lord Protector Ian leaned forward from his spot on the Executive Directorship table. "I'm dead serious Ambassador Atvar. We've already begun trade with the Free Drone Republic, and we are in the process of hammering a trade treaty with Morgan Industries out."

"I will have to consult the Emperor. A directorship is one thing, but a Executive directorship?"

Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles(CHOAM) was the huge super-corporation that was created when the interstellar trade agencies of the Protectorate and the Dosi Federation was merged some years back. Now it administered intersteller trade throughout both the Protectorate and the Dosi Federation. While there were over 150 "Directors" in addition to several billion shareholders, there were only 10 "Executive Directors", the real power in CHOAM. Ian, the Protectorate Trade Minister, Alchemax, and Stark-Fujikawa held executive Directorship positions. Currently, there was a opening on the Dosi part of the ED. Bringing in a human would level control of CHOAM somewhat. (The shareholders were still overwhelmingly Dosi).

And Lord Protector Ian could think of no better person than MI CEO Morgan.

Ambassador Atvar briefly moved into the Dosi posture of respect. "I will convey your resquest to the CHOAM center on Barraka. I know the Emperor considers you a friend, but I do not know if he will let the Board allow such a thing." He scurried out.

A courier walked into the room, and handed a flimsy to Ian. "My Lord." He gave a sharp salute and walked back out.

Ian glanced at the note.


GHE unresponsive. Admiral Fel taking Battle Squadron Able of the 4rth fleet to begin raid on LP 658-2

-Kolasklar


Alchemax CEO Stone looked at Ian.

"Something interesting, M'lord?"

"Nothing at all, Tyler. I believe you wanted to make a report....?"

[Mr. President]

It Begins

Two pens moved in unison. Three strokes and it was done. Kristy Adams and Menelaus rose from the table and shook hands, as applause cascaded around them.

Abruptly, the scene froze. Ethan Maxwell fidgeted with the remote control, staring through the projection. "This situation has progressed far beyond the acceptable level," he said. "The fascist alliance is growing by the day, and all our attempts to stop it have failed."

"I'm afraid I genuinely don't understand." Another Freedom Party Senator, Robert Patrick, spread his hands in question. "The Cadre is no danger to our cause. They're not going to influence Adams' economics or military policies -"

"I have seen this before," Maxwell said, rising from his seat. His hair was grey and thin, but the inflections of his voice were identical to when he was the second man in Domai's military-communist junta. Pacing up and down the long room, he continued, "Adams would have us believe that her 'trade' with Lakedaemon is humanitarian in nature. Nothing could be further from the truth. She will exploit that world ruthlessly, strip it to the bone, squeeze every last penny from it. Then she will drop it like a hot iron. We must stop her, and fast."

"Why should we care?" another man asked nervously. "Our mission is to socialize the Free Drones."

"Our mission," Maxwell snapped, "is to free the oppressed workers of all nations. To do that, we must destroy the capitalist alliance that holds them down."

His eyes narrowed dangerously. "And the first step," he said, "is eliminating the New Republic.

"If we ourselves," he continued, "attempt to overthrow or impeach Adams, she will have an excuse to imprison us all. She'll close down the Freedom Party and make socialism illegal. You know that's what she really wants." Maxwell waved his hands to emphasize the point, and was satisfied to see many of the younger conspirators nodding vigorously. "But if the people rise up and demand change . . . all the secret police in the galaxy won't be able to stop it. I move we take a vote."

"Seconded," someone said from the back of the room.

The Freedom Party and Socialist Alternative officials picked up their datapads and began typing. They were attached to the master computer. Maxwell accessed it and typed to command for collation of ballots.

A moment later, the result came through: Yes 27 No 23.

"The ayes have it," Maxwell smiled. "This meeting is adjourned. You will all be contacted soon to discuss the details of our resolution."

The socialist movement filed out of the room. But Robert Patrick stayed behind. His back to the door, he hissed through clenched teeth, "What are you doing, Ethan?"

As the elderly senator looked up, Patrick continued, "Have you lost your mind? You want to sponsor a popular revolt?"

Maxwell drew himself up to his full height. Casting a serpentine gaze down on the younger man, he said evenly, "We have lost our way, Robert. We can put this country back on the right track."

"You will start another Civil War!"

"I will save this country from the horrors of fascism," Maxwell retorted. His eyes narrowed. "You have grown too accustomed to the trappings of politics, Robert. You live the life of a capitalist in your mansion, with a man driving you to work. We are not about politics. We are about revolution."

Maxwell walked to the door, then paused to glance back. "And if you can't deal with the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

[Mellian]

Novan Argonaut Cruiser Wildfire, orbiting some Morganite planet in the Agyptii A system

Joe Nova as been at the bridge for over 10 hours now, watching over the whole battle between the TA forces and the few Morganite ships. The Terrans hasn't moved against any of the space stations, orbitals and space docks which his clan was hired to defend. He was arguing with the local Morganite Commodore incharge of the Morganite forces in the system when he received the message from Kerensky. It pretty much set the Commodore on mute and listen to the message.

Better offer, hmmm? That is quite an fortune. He took about ten minutes thinking over it, remembering what his data angels contacts told him and the consequences if took the new offer...
Hey, if they were to be wanted, may as well take the offer...especially when his ships are in the best of positions....

To: Fleet Admiral Kerensky, TAF
From: Joe Nova, Novan Clan

Your offer is acceptable...we just have to make it official and proper (attached the Novans usual contract and how much the Morganites were currently paying them). I would also like an guerantee that my clan will be accepted in Terran territory...as we do need somewhere to hide. Morgan will not be please and apparently the Spartans and Drones wants my head.

Joe Nova

[History Guy]

Inferno

Skies Above Samnos, Orbital Platform 7

Crackling, sparking, wheezing, they all rolled forth. There must have been a hundred or more of them. Small and large wounded Hiverian ships. They were all heading straight for the remains of the Morganite Samnos fleet, huddled around the last remaining orbital platform. There were hundreds of them, riding on in an uncoordinated attack. Despite the pitiful state of the wounded, smoking ships, they still looked incredibly formidable. Within seconds, dozens of smaller Hiverian fighters came within range of the Morganite guns, and were soon blasted back to where they came from. Namely, Hell.

“Looks like they are turning kamikaze,” said Commodore Marianne Whatley, still sitting in her chair, "It's no surprise." The damage to the Endeavor on the bridge area was under control. The problems now were back within the belly of the whale-like ship she commanded. The fires there spread unchecked, roaring over the wounded where they lay. The flames danced across the lower levels of the vessel.

As Whatley looked across the vale of the heavens from the bridge port view, she watched as a Hiverian corvette, badly wounded in many spots, rolled forward, sparks flying from various wounded spots, flames licking at several areas of her body. She had obviously been a well-constructed ship. Knowing the Hive, it was probably built by thousands of brainless drones, all with the marks of nerve stapling on their bodies. The corvette slammed right against the bow of one of the Morganite corvettes, the noses of the two ships connecting, and cracking like eggs. The two bows exploded. Whatley looked away as the bridge was flooded with casualty reports and details on the fighting at Naxos.

As this happened, a flaming Hiverian fighter suddenly slammed right at the bow of the frigate. As the bridge shook, Whatley heard shards of metal slamming against the walls all around her. “Damage report,” called Ensign Simpson, “severe damage to forward area, there are several dead. Fires are breaking out all over the area. It’s burning like crazy. Soon this ship will be just one big floating cinder.” Indeed, the damage on the bridge was pretty bad. In the darkness of the bridge, the crackles of electricity could be seen emerging from burst electronics. Charred bits of metal lay on the floor beside the dead and wounded. Dr. Francis Kippler and his assistant surgeon were quickly gathering around the wounded, doing as much work as possible on the bridge. The assistant seemed to be taking a break in the shadows. He’d been inactive since the fighter struck.

“I say,” said Ensign Nehru, “must you get up to that in here?”

“The medic wing is full up,” snarled Kippler, “Where in hell should I work?”

The ship vibrated as something exploded deep in the bowels of the vessel, far below. Whatever it was, it sounded bad. “There’s a breach in the starboard reactor house!” called Simpson. Whatley turned her head at him. He was bleeding from the forehead. When the fighter had struck he’d been thrown against a wall. One of his lesser assistants was dead in his seat, his neck snapped like a twig, his body slumped backwards in his chair.

Dr. Kippler cursed. “All my supplies are used up. I’ll need one of you to go back to the wing and get some more…”

“Ensign Nehru, would you please assist the Doctor?” asked Whatley.

“Why can’t his assistant surgeon get the supply kits for him?”

“Because, damn it, he doesn’t have any hands…” responded Kippler. The assistant lifted up his arms. It was true. They’d been horrifically damaged when the fighter struck the bow. Nehru suddenly felt very ill indeed. Nehru turned away in disgust and gave a salute to the Commodore. Turning, he walked towards the doors, which hissed open in front of them. He then walked into the unlit halls.

The walk was exceedingly longer than Nehru ever remembered it to be. While moving down the walkway at a jogging pace, Nehru could hear things literally bouncing off the hull of the vessel. Tapping noises were also audible. Bits of metal, obviously, colliding with the side of the ship. Or bodies…Nehru closed his eyes and tried not to think about anything except the supplies he was sent to get.

A little down the walkway he was stopped. An Officer whom he did not recognize walked towards him from the gloom. “Ensign, I am afraid you can’t go any further. The fires down there are unchecked. I sent a party down there to assist the firemen down there eight minutes ago. I lost contact entirely. It must be pretty bad.”

Nehru cursed aloud, “Officer, I’ve been sent down to the medic wing. Dr. Kippler is up on the bridge now. She was breached on the bow, a single Hiverian fighter slammed right into her. Those Hiverian idiots…Look, how do I get down to the medic wing to avoid the fire?”

“Ah, follow me, Ensign.” The Officer turned around and walked down an adjacent walkway to another door. The Officer flashed the palm of his hand across it and it hissed open. “Follow me. This is the alternative route. I must warn you, I haven’t a clue as to whether or not there are flames about down this route.”

Turning into another passage, the officer walked down, vanishing into the darkness. Nehru tried to follow, but at first he did not see him any longer, there was no light at all down here. Suddenly, Nehru was nearly blinded by light. It was from beyond a door sliding open in front of him. Nehru could see the officer’s silhouette in the distance. “Follow me,” the officer repeated. Nearing the officer, Nehru realized that much of his uniform had actually been burned away by intense heat during fire-fighting actions. How bad was it? Entering the lighted starboard crossway was a relief. There was a door here leading to the port side of the ship, and another door leading on further aft. The officer approached the portside door. “Please stand back, Ensign. I don’t know whether or not this area is on fire.”

Flashing his palm in front of the door, the officer tensed himself as the hatch hissed open. Much to his horror flames belched forth at him, red, white, and blue alike. Before Nehru’s eyes, the officer became a living ball of flame. As the officer turned about in front of him, the ship shook underneath him.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Marianne Whatley felt water splash against her face and her eyes flickered open. Surveying the bridge around her, she realized that she’d just barely survived a second head-on strike to the bow. Another Hiverian fighter, damn it! And in the exact same place! Whatley was all right, and so, it seemed was just about everyone else. She’d simply been knocked unconscious, as had a great deal of other crewmen. A young officer stood over her with a wet cloth. “Are you alright?”

“Yes, thank you,” said Whatley. She tried to get to her feet, but found it almost impossible, slipping to the ground at once. There was blood all over the floor. The young officer gripped her hand and pulled her up. “What happened?”

“The kamikaze Hiverians. Another wave of suicide ships attacked. One of them slammed across the bridge of our corvette. About two dozen of them slammed right into the Spartan corvette. It’s just swiss cheese now…”

“Is the orbital platform in action?”

“Yes. It just downed an enemy frigate minutes ago. All these damaged enemy ships…being shot up like crazy…and we’ve only got four ships left and our platform.”

“Can we hold out longer?”

The young officer respondedly sadly, “Longer, yes, but when it is all done we’ll all be dead. The Hiverians look to be rather tired of simply slamming their wounded against us, I think the next thing to do is to send in their fresh ships…their capital ships as well.”

“Alright. Have a message sent asking for terms of surrender. Wide-ban transmission, so that the Hive can read it. I want it directed to the Terrans and the Terrans only. The Hive will be ignored if it sends it’s terms. Oh, and order our men on the orbital platform to abandon it and detonate defragmentation charges.”

“Aye, Aye.”

The doors hissed open behind her. Nehru limped in, his uniform charred and tattered, his face blackened and covered in soot, sweat, and blood. In his arms he held several small plastic boxes. “Here, Doctor, are your supply kits.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

[Mellian]

TAS Orion, 12th TAF Task Force, Cyclanid System

Admiral Cooper is at the Command Nexus on the Orion, watching the battle around Samnos. Notices that the Morganites as Surrendered, so quickly sends a reply....

------------
To: Morganite forces
From: Admiral Cooper of the TA forces around Samnos
cc: TA Forces, Hive Fleet

Surrender Accepted,
All remaining Morganite ships in the vicinity are to go at these coordinates (numbers), and prepare to be boarded. All ground forces on Samnos are to surrender as well.

Admiral Cooper
----------

He didn't bother to ask for the surrendering of the last remaining orbital defence platform, as they are currently detonating it. He also quickly informed the Hive to cease fire on Morganite forces, or again, TA forces will fire upon them. Personally, he rather get rid of them right there and then, but cannot according orders if they cooperate. Also took some time to inform the EC Admiral that it will be TAF Marines that will board the surrendered morganite ships.

He orders a squadron of Battlecruisers with escorts to go to the morganite ships and begin boarding. Also informed to have some Medic and Engineer teams to board the ships as well.

He then checks the status on Shebeyev's forces, to see wether Naxos' forces as surrendered as well....

[History Guy]

Correspondence

WIDE-BAND TEXT MESSAGE
FROM: Commodore M.F. Whatley
TO: Admiral Cooper, TAF

Sir,

We agree to your kind terms. We expect that you shall treat us in a fashion befitting. Think us enemies, but remember our heroic stand. The CEO also wishes to forward to you the information that the colony of Samnos has also surrender due to it's inability to defend itself further. We trust you will call off surface bombardments as of this minute. We must warn you, our own frigate, the Endeavor, is slowly burning away from several bad fires spreading from below decks. If she is to be saved, action must be taken now. The fighter Holy Cow will have to be towed to the designated coordinates.

Thank you.
---------------------------------------

ENCRYPTED VISUAL MESSAGE
FROM: CEO Nwabudike Morgan
TO: Lord Protector Ian McDiarmid

My dear sir,

It is with the greatest pleasure that I accept the kind offer of Executive Director at CHOAM. The only ones who will be complaining of it will be my secretaries! As well as working on my other duties (i.e. managing my companies and my people!) I am sure that I can be of much assistance to you and the great Dosi people in further business transactions through CHOAM. Perhaps in this position, trade between both the Protectorate and the Dosi can even be expanded to include trade with Morgan Interstellar. I sincerely hope it does.

As for the treaty negotiations, I am sending via diplomatic ship a team of dignitaries headed by Mrs. Head to hammer out the agreements at Neuvo San Antonio. I'm sure some very prosperous deals can be arranged.

Lastly, I hope very much that the archival data sent to you concerning the Human Hive (now known as the Greater Hive Empire) was of assistance. I'm sure your scholars and historians can make use of it in their histories, as will you tacticians in their designs. In these archives there are over one million seperate (datalink) pages to get through, stretching from the birth of Sheng-j Yang so many years ago to the FTL wars and the encounter with the Hiverian scout ship some years ago.

In exchange, I'd like to ask a favor. I believe that you have encountered the Hive yourselves by now, as otherwise I doubt you would send a message asking for information on that government. I ask you now, if you do have the commlink for that empire, of which I am sadly lacking, please send it to me. I'd like very much to use it at some further time. If they are your enemy, you need not worry, they are not my best friends either...

Thank you,
Morgan
-----
WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR NODE TODAY?

[Lonestar]

LP 658-2

The angry man's face filled the viewscreen of the BonHomme Richard's command Bridge. Admiral Soontir Fel smiled as the fool, his name was Wilcox, prattled on.

"You and your vessels" There were 5 Battleships in this strike force "Will leave immediately. We will not 'surrender', not ever, and certainly not to the likes of you. Now stop jamming our transmissions!"

Fel sighed and made the "cut-feed" gesture. He turned to the Communications officer.

"Inform Able Squadron they may fire at will."

The five battleships launched a barrage of Particle, plasma, and fusion weapons. In less than a minute, the Hive listening station was destroyed. The BonHomme Richard's Tac officer spoke up.

"There appears to be a encampment mear where the Glorfindel went down sir. Instructions?"

Fel scratched his beard. Would the Hiverians on the ground be more receptive to surrendering? Probaly not. He clicked on the All-Squadron frequency.

"All ships, Sky-Gamma-Zero on the Hive encampment on the planet. Leave no survivors."

The Five vessels manuevered over the Planet and fired down. And Again. And Again. Eventually, when the Protectorate squadron finally left, the most notable feature of the planet was a australia-sized crater....

--------------


ENCRYPTED VISUAL MESSAGE
To: CEO Nwabudike Morgan
From: Lord Protector Ian McDiarmid

CEO Morgan, the Hive archival information was most useful, thank you.

I would, of course, be more than happy to give you the commlink to Yang. Bear in mind, he calls himself "Emperor" now, and seeks Godhood. Obviously, his sanity must be called into question.

I will personally greet your trade dignitaries, and hope that you eventually visit our Fair City. I believe that Trade between our two Nation-states will be most profitable, as will our exchange of knowledge on Alien races not known to the other.

I have recieved word from the Dosi Government that they will allow you to given a Executive Directorship on CHOAM's board. While this will make the ED split 50-50 along Human and Dosi lines, I would like to inform you that the majority of CHOAM shareholders are Dosi. I'm sure that a man of your skills willd find himself welcome in CHOAM.

Ambassador Atvar of the Dosi Federation will be sitting in on our trade talks. While the Dosi government will not permit Direct trade with Morgan Industries/Intersteller yet, by virture of you being on CHOAM's board, you'll have the oppurtunity to procure Dosi goods and services through the Protectorate on a scale that would be impossible otherwise.

Friend Nwabudike, I eagerly await your trade delegation and the oppurtunity to meet you in person. If there are any difficulties with peace talks between yourself and the EC/TA, let me know.

Regards,
Ian

[Frankychan]

Hive Prime

Smiling, Emperor Yang stood beside Warmaster Kang in the war room. Reports from the Expeditionary Fleet were coming in while duplicate data was being sent to Shirlak and Ehud on planet Great Collective. Ship losses scrolled down various large vidscreens on the wall while smaller screens flashed additional data. One screen in particular caught Yang's eye.

"That screen, there," Sheng-ji pointed, "Magnify and enhance."

The primary screen, showing the battlefield camera, instantly switched and began magnification. On screen showed a salvo of Morganite missles impact the People's Glory near the engine turbines. The Emperor's gaze narrowed as he stalked closer to the screen. Yang slowly lifted his left hand in preparation to give a command.

"Stop image." Sheng-ji focused on one location in particular. "Rewind and play back at one-fourth speed."

The location Yang was staring at confirmend his suspicion.

"Spartans." Sheng-ji hissed. Behind, Warmaster Kang growled in contempt.

The Emperor abruptly turned to Kang, his imperial robes fanning out at his sudden movement.

"The Spartans are in the Morganite territories!" Yang's anger flashed across his face.

Serenity....Cannot let my emotions dictate my actions.

Regaining his composure, Sheng-ji took a deep, relaxing breath.

"Kang, how is it that our agents in the Morgan territories failed to tell us that there were Spartan ships located nearby?"

Warmaster Kang hung his head shamefully. "I do not know, your excellency."

The Emperor slowly advanced on Kang while wearing a slight smile.

Still hanging his head, Kang was taken aback when the Emperor suddenly exploded into action, striking him across the face.

"My dear Warmaster, " Yang began, "I want better intelligence gathering next time...You and Shirlak both. Do you understand?"

Kang nodded slowly.

"Good. It seems Admiral Bippol was correct in there being Spartans at Samnos. I must address an interesting transmission sent by Lord Ian as well. I'm giving Ambassador M'rock new orders, he's been sitting out there for too long now."

The Emperor paused and glanced around the war room.

"I believe our Samnos campaign is successfully over. Tell Admiral Bippol that as soon as his fleet completes moderate repairs, he is to set course to System LP 658-2."

* * *
Encrypted visual message
To: Lord Ian of Protectorate
From: Emperor Sheng-ji Yang

*Yang smiled* Greeting, Ian. I trust you and your little government is doing well. Our agents have found some intersting data about you and your little Endeavor incident. Oh, by the way...how is your wife fairing? *Yang's grin widened*

To address your marvelous insight on Hive affairs with the Morganites, that is none of your concern. What we do does not concern your insignificant faction; The Morgan's, Terrans, and ourselves are "discussing" new territorial acquisition procedures...something the Protectorate and the Hive Empire may well have to "discuss" at a later date.

As for your so-called 'orders'...Hive forces will remain in the Terran's newly acquired territory until they have finished our assignment there. I am aware of your dealings with Nwabudike and Terra so don't think I am oblivious to what you are doing.

I do enjoy our conversations, Ian, and hope we can talk later. Your sarcastic humor is infinetly amusing.

Yang out.
* * *
Encrypted message
To: Ambassador Telhai M'rock, Hive-Spartan Border
From: His Imperial Highness Emperor Sheng-ji Yang

Ambassador M'rock, I have contacted you directly to discuss a most mportant matter. Command has, until now, ordered you to stall the Spartan Federation. Unfortunately, this tactic has failed.

Therefore, your new orders are to give the Spartans my personal com-link attached to this message. After you have done this, you will return to your base of operations, planet Plex Anthill. Relay the attached message to Sparta before you leave."

* * *
* * *
Encrypted Visual Message
To: Marcus Kessel, Colonel of Spartan Federation
From: His Imperial Majesty: Emperor Sheng-ji Yang I, Leader of the Greater Hive Empire

*Yang's face exhibited no emotion*

Colonel Marcus Kessel. Leader of the Spartan Federation. Born-2312, Sparta Command. Yes, Kessel, I am indeed Sheng-ji Yang. The same man who led the Human Hive on Chiron all those centuries ago.

You fought in the FTL wars against my forces, quite impressive. The Human Hive at that time was ill-prepared to meet such a tenacious foe...but that is beside the point.

I have officially contacted the Spartan Federation to tell you personally that your attacks against Hive forces in the Samnos affair are unwarranted and unjustified. My forces are lending aid to a government that found itself brutally attacked by Nwabudike's military.

Your intervention on Morgan's behalf is quite shocking, considering the fact that Hive-Spartan relations have not been on the best of terms in the past. I would think that you Spartans would learn from our engagements in the past that Hive forces are not to be taken lightly. I would also think that the Spartan Federation would be careful not to upset the Hive Empire so soon after our recent conflicts.

Corazon Santiago must not have trained her dog as well as she thought she had, Marcus. *Yang narrowed his eyes* I would think her new pet would be smarter than to provoke an unwarranted attack on another government.

Your message has been received and here is my reply:

We would welcome a chance to discuss matters with the Spartan Federation about Hive liberation of Spartan territory. If you and your military think you can invade Hive territory, you will be sadly mistaken...the galaxy would not be prepared for the onslaught of the Hive should Sparta attack us.

You have been warned, Kessel. Do not provoke another war your Spartan Federation may not be able to survive. The Hive is a much different foe since the last time we met.

I leave you with this one last thought, Colonel...

Do not upset the water if you are not prepared for the deluge.

Emperor Yang out.

* * *

[Sprayber]

******Encrypted Visual Message ******
To: Yang.
From Colonel Marcus Kessel


*Kessel’s face is blank*

I would have thought a person of your age and experience would have grown out of the need for petty insults by now. But after a few centuries I suppose even the sharpest mind will begin to believe the propaganda that is spewed out in his name. But putting aside that. Your comments about Spartan forces attacking Hive ships in what was once the Morgan Cooperate Sector and now Spartan Territory must have taken all your strength to keep from bursting out in laughter. You are no doubt claiming some sort of victory to your people or hiding it altogether. The latter would be best since your so called allies don’t seem to want you around anymore. Perhaps upon seeing the wanton disregard for everyone’s life but your own, they have seen your true nature. Once again Yang, you have shown your cards to them too early. They see you for what you are. And your endless talk about Sparta upsetting this and upsetting that may work on your mindless populations but they only bore me. If you had the power to destroy Sparta, you have tried to do so. We know many things about your supposed readiness. We know that without suicide tactics your fleets are no better than the Morganites. We know that without the Terrans you are unable to sustain invasions for any appreciable length of time. We also know that there is a new player in the neighborhood that is not friendly to you. And finally, we know that your alien allies were beaten back the last time they tried to make inroads into this region of space. Tell me Yang, why doesn’t your ally help you? Could it be that they are being beaten back by the Gorn on every major front in their ancient war? And if you don’t know, why aren’t they telling you? Your only real problem Yang is that you believe the garbage that your underlings tell you. They are have stopped being honest to you centuries ago and now let you go about your trip into this fantasy empire that you have built for yourself. But as long as you stay in your borders and stay out of Spartan affairs and those of our allies, I don’t care what you do in your empire. But the moment you cross the borders into Spartan, Drone, Morganite, Cadre, or independent space, Sparta will be there to slap you down and bring you back to cold reality. My advice is go start something with the Peacekeepers. Their endless rhetoric about democracy will be a perfect match for your endless rhetoric about whatever you think passes for a government. Now if you will excuse me, I have things to attend to.

But first, one more thing Yang. It goes without saying that any hive vessel or force found in Spartan or allied territory will be eliminated. But be warned that also goes for those found inside Cadre territory as well.
*Kessel smiles and his image is replaced by the emblem of the Spartan Federation*


As Kessel walked out of the Comm room he was joined by Major Castor who had been in an adjoining room monitoring traffic from various Area commanders.

“At least you sounded calm sir when you delivered the message to Yang.”

“I was telling the truth for the most part, his endless speaches do bore me. In fact that was always Colonel Santiago’s biggest complaints against the man. His endless speeches and philosophical ranting. She said during her training in the Unity security force she would volunteer for extra duty just to get away from his damn speeches. I believe here words were, worse than Pravin Lal’s mindless babble.”

They both laughed has they came to split in the hallway.

“Major. I want you to relay the Hive comm link to the Morganites. Send a message to their ambassador here on Sparta Prime and apologize that I couldn’t send a message personally to CEO Morgan but there was urgent business with defense matters that had to be handled.”

“Right away sir”

With that the exchanged a brief glance and they started off in separate directions.

*****Encrypted Diplomatic Message*****
To: Morgan Ambassador
From: Major Lera Castor.

Dear Ambassador, the Spartan Federation has come in possession of the Comm Link to the Hive. Colonel Kessel wished to give it to the CEO personally but urgent defense matters called him away. If you come to the Central Command building I will personally hand it over to you and assist in transmitting it to your home world.

Respectfully, Major Lera Castor: Chief of Staff-Spartan Central Command

[Sprayber]

******Encrypted Message*****

To: Fleet Admiral Kerensky
From: Colonel Marcus Kessel

Admiral, I don’t usually explain myself to military commanders from a hostile fleet but I am beginning to have doubts that there are any reliable civilian alternatives in your Government. Since I have sent repeated messages to apparently no one of importance, I guess I will try you. Our presence in the conflict is really rather simple. Morgan Interstellar is an ally under attack. Several attempts have been made to make peace with your government before the attack on Capella, and even before the attack on Callisto, but there was an odd silence from your government while InEn appeared to prosecute the war. All that is the past however and that should not be allowed to undermine the moment. You are currently conducting offensive operations In Spartan Territory. You have said that you don’t recognize that fact but since we do, it appears that continued violence can be expected. Unless we choose to stop the conflict where it know stands. There has been some question raised that your forces had already seized territory before the official transfer to Sparta was completed. If that is the case then certain things can be worked out by all parties later. As I see it Admiral there are really two choices in the whole matter. One we cease hostilities immediately and settle this as civilized societies. You may find that CEO Morgan is satisfied the InEn threat has been ended and will be willing to deal with terms favorable to Terra or. Two we can continue this war indefinitely until one or both of our states are exhausted and depleted. Honor has been served by all parties, it is time to put this foolishness behind us. I do hope that you will not mistake my suggestions as weakness, because you should not doubt that Sparta stands willing to prosecute this war to the bitter end. But I hope that cooler heads will prevail.

One more thing Admiral. Reports of cooperation with the Hive have some of my advisors claiming that Terra cannot be trusted. I prefer to believe that the presence of Hive forces is a mere coincidence and that Terra would know better than to deal with such elements as the Hive. They seek to create chaos and opportunities to manipulate. If I were you Admiral, I would want to know the exact circumstances of their involvement in this matter. And also If I were you, I would make sure that there are no Hive ears listening to you in Sol. They can be very sneaky. I await your answer to my proposal to cease hostilities where forces stand and use negotiations to handle the rest. You have two systems in your hands with a good chance at a third. Think hard about why this is being fought. Then decide if its worth fighting for another decade or tow.

Respectfully Marcus Kessel: Colonel Of The Militia.

CC Ceo Morgan **Encrypted**

[GeneralTacticus]

FTL Transit to Laekdaemon, 4 days before the fall of Dienkes Base

Menelaus sat in his shipboard qurters, staring absently at his computer screen. Currently it was blank, but he wasn't looking at it. He was looking right through the dark screen, seeing nothing but his own thoughts.

How much things have changed since our founding... he thought, ...we started out a group of idealists who wanted to change Sparta. Now we are little different to them. He contemplated this for a moment before dismissing it from his mind. He had other things to do.

Switching the computer on he tapped a few keys and brought up it's records of all the reports submitted to him. He gave them all only cursory examinations, as they were on trivial matters. Conveniently, his commlink then beeped, informing him that they were entering Laekdaemon.

He got up and walked to the bridge, arriving just as they began swinging into orbit over Laekdaemon III. He stared down at the world below him. Fifty eight years he had ruled that world with absolute power. If all went well, he would rule it for the rest of his life. The ship now began descending towards Leonidas Aerocomplex, the central aerospace facility on the planet.

Twelve minutes later, Menelaus' ship landed and the Cadre leader stepped out once more onto the surface of his world. His bodyguards followed him out as he headed for his quarters.