Fiction:Coming of Eternal War/Year 1

The Eternal war has begun, the first year is marked by massive and large battles, all sides still show off their whole strength. With the attack of the Troodontids something much bigger than they'd ever imagine had been started. The battle for survival had begun.

Substories

 * Weapon Factory
 * Blood, Ice and Water

Empire at War


Supreme General Thor looked the army. Only a small part of the entire army of the Troodontid Empire had gathered, but still there were androids as far as he could see. An army that the Troodontids couldn`t have imagined some years ago. But that was before the attack of the alien spaceship, before their meeting with the Dominatus, before their struggle during the Great Deceiver. But unlike most they came strengthened out of this war. With new allies, new technologies, but also new enemies. They had made peace with all of them, except one. This one was and is the Imperium of War. And this empire was the cause for the gathering of the Troodontid Troops. Due new technologies, the Troodontids could now easily reach the Imperial home systems. Thor got loose and turned back to the colony. It was time for the last checks in security...before the first step in preventing Eternal War would be done.

The First Step
Camouflaged Carrier Ships reached the orbits of strategic Imperial Worlds deploying hidden satellites and missiles. Those instantly entered the orbit of their enemy and then deactivated to minimize the chance of being noticed. The Imperial Forces had in fact noticed the hyperspace jumps of the Carriers, but they dismissed them as simple mistakes in the technology. For once the weapons remained unnoticed.

The Second Step
A Waptoria Beetle-class Cruiser docked the Builder-class. W'tze ordered his guards to stay the ship, wary of the Troodontid-Dominatus alliance.


 * Troodontid AI - Welcome to our ship, Waptorian alliance. We are pleased about your visit.
 * W'tze - I'm quite glad too. Many council thought this was a trap, and didn't want me to go.
 * Troodontid AI - No, don`t worry. This is not a trap. We have no interest in attacking you.
 * W'tze - Yes, I know. Well, I believe this meeting was planned because of a cooperation, right?
 * Draicon - Yes, in fact it is...in two matters.

W'tze turned around too see the Troodontid President.


 * Draicon - But follow me to the meeting room. There we can talk more freely.
 * W'tze - As you wish.

W'tze followed Draichon to the room.

They have one of the most powerful and dreaded fleets as well as military. A few months ago it might not have been possible to destroy them, but situation has changed. With their aid to the Dominatus and their alliance with the CyraEmp they had to split up their fleet. Now only a part of it is left in Mirus. However they have gained a huge amount of Tyranny Technology since the latter's defeat, so they are more dangerous than ever. We need to strike now, or we might never get the opportunity again to destroy them. But we need to plan and coordinate our attack. We can`t allow them to notice us before it is too late for them. We are currently sending hidden satellites to their most important planets in Mirus. W'tze - We will strike fast, de-terraforming their planets while your androids kill the survivors. We can't allow any battle to turn long-lasting, or the Imperium will win.
 * Draicon - At first we would like to talk about some shared research. If I remember it right you have very advanced bio-technologies? We would really like to do some research in this field.
 * W'tze - Hmm that's fine.
 * Draicon - Good, I hope this will be a profitable alliance for both of us. And so we come to the second purpose of our meeting.
 * Draicon - You might know that we only have one major enemy left, the Imperium of War. We also know that they are your enemies as well. We plan to defeat them ultimately before they become to powerful. But let me explain the situation:
 * W'tze - I'll ready our bioweapons and such. Maybe I can also give some bioweapon designs to you, as an extra support for your armies. If we could work together more tight, we might be able to create a virus with is specifically meant to kill Dragowar. But for now, let's stay low.
 * Draicon - We usually are against biological weapons, but in this case there might be no other option. We will give you message when we will make our first strike when we have ulimately prepared for this war meaning when all satellites are orbiting Imperial planets.
 * Draicon - If you know anyone else who could help us, ask them, but don`t risk to ask them if you think they could help the Imperium.
 * W'tze - Don't worry, the Unified Alliance of Enlightenment won't aid the Imperium, we are part of them.
 * Draicon - Good.
 * W'tze - Then everything is said. Good day to you.
 * Draicon - Good day to you as well.

The Third Step
Thor looked over to Kvasir, Draicon and Teruclus. The three had been discussing plans about the spaceships for quite a while. The scientists had found a new highly robust material which now was put on the fleets that would fly to Mirus. The first ships had already got the new alloy and now it was discussed if the matter should be added to all spaceships.


 * Kvasir - This alloy is highly protective, it might be vital for this war.
 * Teruculus - Well, we might not even need it. Our shields have served us well so far.
 * Draicon - I have to agree with Teruculus. We might not need the alloy anyhow, our shields are nearly impenetrable.
 * Kvasir - But our shields are far from unfailable. The Imperium of War has already managed to break through them, they can do it again. The alloy could allow us to fight even if the shields are down.
 * Draicon - But we might also miss our time frame and the Imperium of War could already have the advantage. Within every hour we wait it gets more likely that they notice our satellites.
 * Kvasir - Our satellites might remain unnoticed even far after we are gone. No, we have to add that alloy to all of our ships.
 * Teruculus - But it stops the Quantum replicator from producing other things like new ships what could be even more vital. You forget we have to rely on a single one since you are too bungling to build more!
 * Kvasir - I deprecate that reproach! We are working on them as fast as we can or - may I say - as any Troodontid can, but yet there are important parts missing.

Now Thor steps into the round.


 * Thor - Well, my dear friends, you miss the point. We have to do all that things, we are in war. And for war you always have to prepare well. May I suggest another option. We add the new alloy to the first wave of invading ships, then we put back the Neutridium production and focus on producing new ships which already have the new alloy. We will only send ships with the alloy to Mirus, while the less protected ships stay here till they get improved.
 * Draicon - Very good idea. I think we will do it like that. That`s why you are the supreme commander and not we. You are the best strategist of us by far.

Both Kvasir and Teruculus agree to the plan as well. Soon the time of the attack has come.

A problem
But due an attack of the Space Nomads, the final attacked didn't happen that soon. But unlike probably thought it was no disadvantage for them. Instead they were now even more powerful, even more dangerous and even more ruthless. Having secured that the CyraEmp wouldn't get involved, the Troodontids prepared to strike.

The Last Step
The satellites had already been brought in position in the preparations for their last attack. Now the Troodontid bring in their fleet. They had decided to pick Karvakus-5 as prime target, but attacks would happen all over the sector, while most would be done by satellites.

The Bifröst opens its wormhole right over the planet and several of the bigger warships of the Troodontids came trough, including two Dragon Class Ships.

The planet has a fleet consisting of various Anger and Rage class Cruisers, and even some Juggernauts and Dreadnoughts, but there was also a Empire Class Titan in orbit, indicating a Dragowar Warforger was commanding the planet.


 * Thor - It seems we gonna have a big fight. Samrrak, you have the commando.

Samrrak's ships instantly start to close in, charging their weapons as well as jamming the Imperial ships. Some Anger Class Warships are send in to test the strength of the Troodontid fleet.


 * Samrrak - Let them come. Don't fire, instead send the star fighters.

Instead of releasing the expected laser volley, the Troodontids now send star fighters and more importantly bombers that destroy the Anger Class ships systematically. The Imperium sends more Anger class ships, now lead by two Rage classes. Now the Troodontids decide to fire. Hundreds of plasma shots start to hit the attackers. Meanwhile, Wraith Class Dropships try to board the larger ships while the Troodontids were busy dealing with the Anger classes. However, they were already expected. The Androids onboard start to turn the table, pushing the invaders back into their spaceships. They soon find out it would be not that easy, however. The Imperial Legionnaires let the Androids come close, and then blast them with their shotguns. The Androids back off, as the Legionnaires start to charge at them like a wall of pure anger and discipline.

But then, Samrrak joins the fight together with seven of his supersoldiers. Together they finally manage to push back the Legionaries by wreaking havoc within them, causing the formations to collapse. The Legionnaires were gunned down, however the Dragowar Centurion survived.

Samrrak - This one is mine!

The Dragowar, angry at the loss of his comrades, enters Blood Rage. Samrrak however manags to dock the firs strike, then he goes into attack mode himself. Dragowar in blood rage gained almost unnatural resistance and strength, so the Centurion manages to survive the first strikes. But Samrrak plays on time. Unlike organics he didn't tire, an advantage of being an android. He found out that the Dragowar showed no signs of exhaustion either, due to his Blood Rage. As the centurion charges, he dodges. The Centurion charges past Samrrak who then rotates his blades right into the Dragowar's back. Dragowar in Blood Rage are extremely powerful, but also more sensitive to damage, so as Samrrak slashes through the Centurion's nervous system, that ends the Centurion's life.


 * Samrrak - No one enters my ship and survives it. Now we will pay that back. Launch the boarding ships. We go for their titan. I will personally lead the attack!

Soon hundreds of the boarding ships leave the Dragon Class towards the Empire Class which cut through the armor of the titanic warship and release swarms of androids. The Imperium never expect the Androids to attack their most powerful ship, so the Androids have the element of surprise. Before the Imperium could adapt to the new situation, the first guard platoon was already down. Then the more advanced technology and numbers make them able to defeat the remaining soldiers. Soon the troops reach the bridge.

The Dragowar Warforger enters the room, accompanied by two Warlocks. Facing the eight super soldiers, while six engage the Warlocks, Samrrak and his companion attack the Warforger.

The Warlocks tele-charges at the Androids, but the Superwarriors evade the attack and wait for the warlocks to become material again. The Warlocks slashed at the Androids with their glaives, but the androids dodge the weapons. The Warlocks hope to weigh down the androids down with their much bigger size and increase the force. The androids now pull out additional swords out of their belts - with one of their legs. The Warlocks still try to weigh them down, making them unable to react on this in time. Both die when the blades pierced through their bodies.

The Warforger charges forward, and cuts down the Androids in his path with his chainsword, but soon Samrrak joins back in the battle, now with the help of all Super warriors. They dodge the Warforger's deadly strikes. The Warforger gives them no chance to aim properly, but suddenly Samrrak jumps out of the battle together with his companions.


 * Samrrak - I offer you to surrender. You fought well. There is no need for you to die if you don't want to.
 * Warforger - What if I accept? I wonder there is any mercy in your mechanical hearts...machine...
 * Samrrak - I never have mercy, but I know when someone can be useful for me. You could be useful.
 * Warforger - Useful, huh? In what way? Cannon folder?
 * Samrrak - You are a supreme fighter. We can need supreme fighters. You have a very different fighting style from our. We would like to learn it.
 * Warforger - It's a mix between tactic and rage...but machines do not know emotion...
 * Samrrak - We are androids, we know emotion. Right now I feel a mix of anger, fun and interest.
 * Warforger - Interesting...you are more advanced than we guessed. But how do I know you won't kill me once I have taught you my style?
 * Samrrak - Well, that could be a risk, but again: we are androids. We do never lie. We don't have to. Most don't think of us to be smart enough to talk, so why not simply giving no answer instead of lying.
 * Warforger - Ahahah, yes? Cunning indeed. Well, fine, but you must realize the entire Imperium, including my own legion, will turn on me once I side with you. So I need protection. A place to live. What can you offer?
 * Samrrak - You have seen the power of our fleet, I think that we can protect you is out of question. You can come to our home world and live there till we have - uhm - made peace here. Then you can come back to your home again - if you want - or remain at our home.
 * Warforger - I will never be allowed to return to my home, as I will be forever branded as a traitor. *points at a surveillance camera* They possibly know already we are talking, so my only option is joining you.
 * Samrrak - So may it be.
 * Warforger - Then I swear loyalty to the Troodontid Empire. Their morals are my morals. Their choices are my choices. Their wishes are my code.

The Warforger put his sword in front of him, and kneeled. After some seconds, he got up again.


 * Samrrak - Then you are now officially citizen of the Troodontid Empire.
 * Warforger - Heh heh heh, I'm probably the first Dragowar ever to achieve that. Now let's get out of here!
 * Samrrak - Indeed, on both matters.

However, the Warforger's legion is still onboard. The doors open, and a legion of Gruntowar, lead by a Privatowar Centurion enter.


 * Centurion - Death to the traitor and the Androids!

The Warforger roared, and prepared his chainsword.


 * Gastus - I AM GASTUS GRAVIATUS, AND THESE ANDROIDS ARE MY NEW LEGION!

Gastus charges, and swings his chainsword upon the Privatowar. The Privatowar is dead instantly. He then picks up two Gruntowar by their necks, and breaks them, before crushing the head of a third one under his foot. After some more sword swings, the legionnaires are all dead, and Gastus' armor dripped with blood.


 * Gastus - That serves them well.
 * Samrrak - Impressive, impressive.

Samrrak is clapping for his new ally, his subordinates join in.


 * Gastus - That was nothing...just Blood Rage.

Gastus leads them to a Wraith Class Dropship, with took off, and enters the Dragon Class. The Dragon class fires all it got at Gastus' former ship, with explodes violently.

The battle is over. The Troodontids won. Karvakus-5 had fallen.

Battle of Vigash
Two Troodontid Koios Class Spaceships prepared for flying to Vigash, guarded by a Krios Class. The Research Colony on Vigash did not have a blockade and so the Troodontids easily started jamming the planet's communication. The teleporters did not work due the shield so the Troodontids started to deploy Transporters to bring the androids to the ground. Hundreds of them started to descend to the surface, together with equal numbers of starfighter.

There was a canyon leading to the base, but it was blocked by various sentry outposts. Turrets, Droids and various vehicles were patrolling the canyon. Atop of the outposts were various combat-engineers, ready to deploy more of them.

The Superwarrior noticed that very soon and newly formed the troops. Massive Fire Androids would take the lead. Followed and guarded by Shield Androids and Heavy Scorpions. the Hailfire Androids would take care of the droids and turrets in return. The more vulnerable, smaller androids that would be guarded by the Tank Androids would come after them.

Some droids came flying in, machine gun firing. The Hailfire androids instantly took them down by firing some missiles against them.

As the army entered the canyon, two more Droids, and an Anarchy class Mortar, attacked, but the Shield androids were capable of stopping all fire before hitting the army while the Hailfire androids destroyed the attackers.

Two Crusher classes started to fire missiles at the Androids. Two Anarchy class mortar, meanwhile, stared to fire at the Shield Androids.The Anarchy classes were atop the cliffs. The Androids took out the Crusher classes first, and then the Anarchy classes. They made it to the first outpost, however it's gates were closed and the whole complex was shielded.

The gates and shields needed to be opened from the inside, so the Fire Androids simply started to walk against the shields blocking the view of the soldiers inside.
 * Superwarrior - Hold ! All androids, you got order to fire at this shield. We'd need heavy weapons to break through, a Proton or Metric cannon. But we lack one at the moment. we can't call the mother ship as well so we have to work with what we have. We will concentrate the entire ground forces on the outpost here. The Speeders in return will cross the plateau and enter the shield up there. They won't notice them as long as they are cloaked. They will deploy the Fission Bomb. We then got twenty minutes to leave till the bomb detonates.

And so the speeders did. Within minutes they reached the base and attacked. Only few forces remained and were overwhelmed quickly and unnoticed. The Fission Bomb was deployed and hidden. As soon as the speeders were back, the androids started to retreat back to the dropships. The Warlock in command of the station's military saw it happen.


 * Warlock - They are retreating! Chase them!

But the androids had already reached the dropships and were leaving the atmosphere. The turrets and tanks started to fire their flak cannons after the ships managing to shoot down a single dropship, that was now slowly falling back to the planets surface.


 * Warlock - That's one! One isn't enough! Let them all explode!

One was enough. The dropships reached the bigger spaceships. But there was an explosion. Just not as the Warlock wanted. The Fission bomb ripped apart the entire base and the surrounding area, annihilating the entire IoW army.

Counterattack
The attacks on the planets didn't remain unnoticed. But yet it remained unknown who did it. The jamming had successfully destroyed all records of the attacks, so the Imperium of War would have to hunt a ghost, a very dangerous ghost.

The IoW send several ships to investigate the attacks. The cognizance was shattering. On most attacked planets the IoW forces were devastated, had not even been capable of fighting back against their attackers, not talking of destroying. The attacks came from nowhere and disappeared as fast as they came. No one had even seen them, so they could even still be around. They had only caused destruction, but nothing else.

Then a small fleet entered the Karvakus system. No attack reports had come from here, but due the attacks the IoW now started to patrol the borders. Some thing was different now however. The colony on Karvakus-5 seemed similar as usual, none of the IoW legionnaires noticed the androids that hid in the shadows. None of them noticed the planet was now in the hands of the Troodontids.

They were just about to leave the system again, when their view wandered over to the near star. And the gigantic spacestation blocking the view. Definitely not IoW design, the fleet approached it. The object did not answer to any of the contact tries. The Imperial Fleet opened the fire.

The strange object was in fact a Troodontid spacestation. A gigantic repair station for the androids damaged or destroyed during the fights. And fully capable of fighting back. As the first shots hit the Troodontid shields, the spacestation activated its weapons. The spacestation was equipped with hundreds of starfighters and during the fight more and more were repaired. Volley after volley fired the laser cannons of the spacestation against the Imperial fleet which also deployed their starfighters.

At first the Imperial ships seemed to gain the upper hand, managing to break through the shields of the spacestation with their fighters and bombers. But the spacestation was far too big to be destroyed that easily. One Imperial ship after the other was destroyed by the cannons of the spacestation.

The fighters meanwhile were destroyed by the androids, but they could send one last message to their headquarters: Androids. Then the remaining Imperial forces were defeated. The spacestation had survived, but it was heavily damaged. Its hull had been destroyed at several points, and the shields had been greatly weakened. The Imperium now knew who their attackers were. And worse, the war would probably last longer than the Troodontids hoped.

Battle of Achacia
The Imperial forces now knew who they had to face, but they hadn't realized the true extent of the danger. Instead the Fleetlords only had order to watch out even more.

The Troodontids in return hadn't noticed that the Imperium knew who they are. Their next target was the supply planet Achacia, a planet valuable for the outer sections of the Imperium. The world was the main food production planet in its area. Accordingly it was protected by a strong fleet. In order to take them out ,a big fleet of Troodontid ships was now preparing to attack them under the lead of Samrrak.

The Bifröst generated a wormhole to the location, and soon several warships arrived in the orbit of the planet. 4 Nyx Class, 8 Nemesis Class and uncountable corvettes now started their attack.

On the Imperial flagship, the captain was informed about the approaching danger and he instantly opened a communication line with the Troodontids.


 * Captain - So you dared to attack us? Suffer for your mistake, you soon-to-be slaves!
 * Samrrak - Well, it is you who made a mistake. You should have send a distress call rather than slander.
 * Captain - You really think we couldn't handle your few ships? We are outnumbering you by far. And you are nugatory, Troodontids. We have what you don't.

Samrrak and the Troodontids who watched the battle were all surprised by this statement, but Samrrak soon steadied himself and gave order to attack.

The energy building up inside the super plasma cannons of the Nyx Classes was visible as bluish lightning flickering across the lowest parts of the ships. Then the cannons fired. The first shot hit the flagship, burning up, most of its shield and doing hull damage.


 * Captain - What? NO!

But his scream died away unheard as the second shot hit the spaceship, destroying it completely. The other spaceships now were caught between fleeing and fighting. Samrrak however didn't care much. One Imperial ship after other was consumed by the merciless fire of the Troodontid ships. Then the invasion force went down onto the planet and captured it.

Battle Plan
Gastus stood before the room with lead to the senate, and grumbled. Nearly all those doors hare had simple AI's monitoring them, and thus, he needed to confirm his ID most time he needed to pass them. The doors were circular in appearance, and would sank into the floor if opened. Gastus grumbled another time, muttering "Are those AI's really this stupid to ask my identity EVERY TIME?", confirmed his ID, and watched.


 * Samrrak - Well, they need to. This is the best secured building we have, apart from the T.A.S.C headquarters. If everyone could walk in nd out as he wants, we would end up in chaos.
 * Gastus - In the Imperium, we had just Preatorians with had brain implants with allowed them to remember the face, voice, smell...of every individual in the army. Much easier, if you'd ask me.
 * Samrrak - Unless you got a traitor.
 * Gastus - Only if that traitor is a real imperial citizen. These Preatorians can tell imposers of the batt. Oh, wait...You mean me.
 * Samrrak - Not you in particular, but a brain implant is hard to overwrite. They would most likely allow a citizen to enter though he or she works for the enemy.
 * Gastus - You are right, probably. Oh well, why are we blabbering about brain implants in front of the president?
 * Samrrak - Because you complained about the security AIs.
 * Gastus - And the president allows us to do so? Well you are surely different from the Imperium.
 * Draicon - Why not? We are all citizens, we are all allowed to talk whenever and about whatever we want. Minus maybe our secret weapons when talking with an alien empire, but ah, who would actually do that?
 * Gastus - Well, were are my manners...*bows* Greetings my Impera...my President.
 * Draicon - Greetings, Gastus, greetings, Samrrak.
 * Gastus - You called us, president Draicon? Ugk...of course you did. The real question is why?
 * Draicon - We are at war. We all know it. We need to develop strategies to finish this fast...and clean. Possibly you could help us with the strategic planning.
 * Gastus - I can provide you insights into the tactics of the Imperium, of course. Sadly the same cannot be said of what the Imperium of War was developing in collaboration with other empires, that data is highly classified. I can tell you they recently have collaborated with the Zarbania Powers, however.
 * Draicon - Well, we don't plan to give them a chance to fight back.
 * Thor - The Zarbania Powers ? Never heard of them. Are they powerful?
 * Gastus - Bunch of pirates and slavers. Very influential though, with powerful dark matter technology, and not to be underestimated.
 * Draicon - I will take care of them. We will keep them out of the war, if we can. I guess the IoW fleet outsizes ours by far?
 * Gastus - You can say that.
 * Draicon - Good, then they will feel secure.
 * Gastus - So that's the reason you expect to win this?
 * Thor - I will explain you our strategy. They are strong, a direct attack of them on our territory would be fatal for us or at least highly destructive. But they are no match for us when it comes to ship-against-ship fights. If the numbers are equal we can destroy them with low or no losses. The IoW have an enormous territory and we will use that against them.
 * Gastus - Divide and conquer...heh. Old Imperial tactic.


 * Thor - In some way, yes. We will launch random attacks on their territory during the first phase of the war. Highly destructive, but for the overall war not very important other than creating strategic outposts. However it will cause them to increase their protection. And that in every system. Even for a fleet as big as the Imperial, that does mean hardly more than a handful of ships per system. That's the time we will launch our invasion on their central planets. Without their capital they are without structure. Chaos will be unleashed, their fleet will break apart. We will destroy as many of their last strongholds as possible and then leave the Imperium to crumble on its own. If we just weaken them enough, they would become unable to gain any strength again.


 * Gastus - That would work. Though we must be careful. All the TyrannyTech they salvaged...they could use it as a a back-up option to regain strength, and then we'll have to start all over again. Not that I would dislike it. But for now, that plan will work.
 * Draicon - TyrannyTech? that could indeed complicate everything. Kvasir and his scientists luckily already analyzed almost everything, maybe they can develop counter-technologies as well.
 * Thor - We need some distractions however. If our plan is clear from the beginning, the IoW will sense it and react.
 * Gastus - I'm not good with distractions and such. What do you propose?
 * Thor - We would like to cause the feeling to be everywhere, to be unstoppable, to be unable to defend against. One part of this plan is to get some of the system lords of the Imperium to work with us.
 * Gastus - *chuckles* Ah. I get it. Will do my part.
 * Samrrak - And if you fail to persuade them, we can always send the androids after them.
 * Gastus - Oh, about that. I took a look into your android types, and their tactics. using overwhelming force is very similar to the tactic of the Imperium of War, and thus, they will find a way to counter it. What you need is stealth. Assassination. I did some more research and discovered you had plans for an assassin android. I advice these to be taken into development.
 * Draicon - They aren't ready yet. We didn't have the right ideas to finish it and put instead our point of view on Superwarriors.
 * Gastus - Tsss. Yu should continue that project. Without it, your android army follows pretty much the same tactics, some new tactics would do good.
 * Thor - Well, the tactics they use have been proven quite effective. But we will se what can be done.
 * Gastus - Speaking about Stealth Androids and Superwarriors...I've given myself the freedom to combine those two into one android. The result was pretty effective.
 * Thor - That would be quite interesting.

Gastus showed them the schematics of an android. It had pitch-black armor, a clocking device. In the palm of it's left hand, it had a phase disruptor blaster with could also deploy a visible shield around the android as long as it's shielding was active. In it's right hand, it held a monomonecular ninjaken-type sword, charged with electricity, with it could release in a close-range shockwave of electrical energy. It's synthetic muscles were build in such a way it has supreme agility and speed.


 * Samrrak - Nice.
 * Gastus - Thought so. Anything else you want to discuss with me?
 * Draicon - We need a powerful outpost in your galaxy. Do you know any metal rich, massive planet?
 * Gastus - Abandoned?
 * Samrrak - Not necessarily. We could conquer it.

Gastus sat down in deep thought.


 * Gastus - Well, Praxis Mayor might be an good option. It's abandoned, but unlike the other abandoned mining planets I know, it wasn't striped off it's recourses.
 * Draicon - Then we will build that outpost there.
 * Gastus - Yes, do that. The Imperium never sets up automatic defenses on planets they abandoned, they need them on the front lines. Besides the lack of atmosphere and the solar radiation with will kill an organic in minutes, it's perfectly safe. So you'll need to terraform it slightly before you can do whatever you want to do.
 * Draicon - That's no problem. We have technology to oppose that effect. Our shields protect against the radiation, we can easily produce oxygen and any other air we need easily.
 * Gastus - Good. Still, it's better to let me go with the colonization post. I once served as an consul of that planet, so I know it inside out.
 * Thor - Very well, but we would need you as soon as possible back here.
 * Gastus - Got it.

At this point the events of the Weapon Factory begin.