Fiction:Second Borealis Galactic War/Original/Business of War

"Survival of the fittest!"

Business of War is the era of the in which the society of the  was about to change a lot. After the were placed under a quarantine, and the  began to make changes, a society with nations and governments was beginning to be a thing of the past, as warbands and corporations took over.

New Era
In the new era of Borealis, the concept of a nation or government is being cast aside. Everything is unified by a single, universal Borealis currency, the Borealis credit, and by war. The same "survival of the fittest" laws that apply to nature and to evolution apply here, as borders and societies governed by laws do not exist.

Adaptability is the key to survival. If a warband, a corporation or an individaul cannot adapt to the new businesses, the new weapons, new technologies or new groups, they will die. Anything unnecessary is filtered out, and only the toughest of the tough remain.

Private military companies (PMCs) and corporations are the new thing right now. As corporations dominate the economy and make war products, they also hire PMCs to do their dirty work and to advertise their products. PMCs, in turn, buy these products and get hired by local organizations or corporations to do dirty work or to fight proxy wars. Any individual who can't somehow fit in one of these groups is, in most cases, dead meat.

There are no such things as borders anymore. Anyone who can somehow get a home anywhere can live there, in a multi cultured society. As long as they can survive the streets and afford to get food (or to grow/hunt for it) and buy the appliances and things they need, they can live. Until their home is destroyed in a war, or proxy war. Or until they are hired/kidnapped by another group.

Only advanced technology, the theory of deterrence, and the single economy keeps the peace. Everyone has to fit in or stand out in a way that they can survive. That is what Borealis is becoming.

King Rebaris' torture
awoke. He was on board the, and and  chuckled as he awoke in a dark lair. He was attached to a large machine, which was sort of plugged into him as well as imprisoning him. He could move, but it was difficult.

King Rebaris - ''Zaarkhun! You're in league with the Wranploer!'' Falrik Zaarkhun - Good observation.

Volim hit Rebaris incredibly hard; Rebaris hadn't felt such pain in some time. Volim grinned evilly. He was enjoying this.

General Volim - It's amusing, seeing my worst enemy be reduced to a pile of shit! Falrik Zaarkhun - ''You see, Rebaris, Volim's very disappointed that he cannot kill you. So instead, I'll let him have the next best thing and torture you. The more you co-operate, the less he hurts you.''

Volim tortured Rebaris badly, to near death. Rebaris was scared, but then nanomachines from the Iron Fist' machines healed him. However, the nanomachines did not stop the pain, and they caused him even more pain.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''I have some questions for you. You must answer them.''

Rebaris sighed and gave in. Falrik Zaarkhun asked many things, until his knowledge on the Zoles Imperium and how they functioned was almost full. He asked them what they knew of the Grid and of the Vyro'Narza, and when Rebaris gave answers that didn't satisfy Zaarkhun, Volim grinned as he hurt Rebaris more. The interrogation lasted for at least an hour, and at the end of it, Rebaris was released to a prison cell.

Volim - Torturing my worst enemy was very satisfying... Falrik Zaarkhun - It's all part of the plan...hahaha!!

Commercials
Imalmah Products= A group of 8 Wranploer soldiers fought an identical group of 8 Arviper soldiers. They hammered each other with laser fire. Then, an Imalmah, the presenter, stepped in.

"Tired of fighting your wars with the same weapons that everyone else uses?" he asks. "Sick of seeing your opponents take much more of a beating than they should be? Want to just smash them to bits? Everyone can relate to that!"

The Imalmah aimed a small device at the 8 Arviper soldiers. These soldiers' had their guns replaced with turbolaser weapons.

"At Imalmah", the presenter continued, "we value quality and efficiency in our weapons. The slick design of our rapid-fire turbolaser carbines, pistols and rifles, allowing for ease of use and the sheer bragging rights of defeating your foes with style, coupled with the hypermatter reactor that creates incredibly powerful blasts."

The gun was the center of the screen, as its design was shown, its interior, and grip.

"As the weapon automatically updates using Grid hypermatter energy", the presenter continued, "it is one of the most efficient weapons on the market, almost never running out of power. So get your products from Imalmah today!"

The Imalmah Products logo was displayed, and the commerical was over. Ultralite Squads= Various images and short clips were shown of successful raids and terrorist attacks were showed on screen. Then a voiceover was heard.

"Want a job done right?", the voice said. "Tired of always being behind because your soldiers aren't effective? Want an advantage in the field? Or simply want protection? The Ultralite Squads use the latest in powered exoskeletal-armours, nanomachines boosting their performance, implants to increase their strength and weapons from the well renowned Imalmah Products and Kaytor's Goods among other companies. We are rated on average 95% by war critics. Don't waste time, sign your contract now!" Thugz Fer Dosh= Fre'kloar stepped onto the screen.

"YOR DUM"

Fre'kloar punched the camera man.

"oh by da way yoo betta buy frum thugz fer dosh or imma shank yas"

A New Employer
The Propa Big Rogue Krooza had been wild with activity. To support the new Thugz Fer Dosh theme, everything had changed. New insignias were posted everywhere. New brawls occurred inside the Krooza. There was new propaganda, new paint, and a lot. And Fre'kloar got a call passed on to him. As with all potential employers, the employer didn't show their face.

Fre'kloar - ''Thugz Fer Dosh! pay fer seven hitz an da eigthf is free!''

Fre'kloar listened in.

Fre'kloar - ''wat? yo yo yo, b-boy, does ya take thugz fer dosh as a joke? WE DUNT RUN DAT WAY MAN WE-say dat IS a lotta cash...yo man wez takin dis job. yoo betta giv us da cash ya promised!! PEEC OUT BRO''

Fre'kloar smirked. He pulled the Krooza' microphone and made an announcement.

Fre'kloar - ''Attenshon all Thugz Fer Dosh employees! We now hav a noo employa!!''

Under Quarantine
The, inside the quarantine, were all depressed and upset. There was a sense of defeat, of sadness, and of boredom. Everyone felt UNO's efforts had been wasted.

At least they had the. The Tralzica had been isolated from society for thousands of years, and only recently been discovered. But whatever happened, UNO was trapped. UNO had no idea what was happening to Borealis, as they just worked on the Vyronicia Fleet.

Old Ways Are Lost
Vekaron looked out the window of his spaceship, then back at his computer terminal, and back out the window again. He sighed at what he saw.

Advertisements on transport and on websites for new tools of destruction. New cybernetics on sale to ensure ones' survival. The first ever proxy wars, when a PMC fights either another PMC or small, weak nation for sheer business interests. And maybe the war economy was boosting the economy and maybe it was allowing other markets to also progress. And maybe it was improving the people of Borealis.

But these new ideals flooded out the old ways. Vekaron was surprised at how quickly the Zoles Imperium was old news, and how few of the newly spacefaring races were expanding their borders, but rather abolishing them and fitting in with the new regime. There was only one person who could save them from this: King Rebaris.

Rebaris was kidnapped by UNO, but he wasn't in Ottzello. When quarantining the sector, that was one of the things he had to check using the Vida'Rranlora (who hadn't confirmed who had kidnapped Rebaris). UNO, or whoever kidnapped Rebaris, hadn't hidden them in Ottzello, surprisingly. A space station made sense; it was a perfect place to hide a kidnapped king. Or maybe he could search for a Borealis Vida'Rranlora database, for the most definite answer?

Either way, Vekaron would find Rebaris. And Vekaron wouldn't allow the old ways to become irrelevant.

The War Economy
3 months later...

Exit Zí-Jittorám, Enter Kicath
Planet Amnitimus-7, Kicath Empire - 15th October 2788

Skhánaróton -01 and a troop of Borealis Consortium warriors, about 10 Zí-Jittorám and 40 Levarcor, made way on a small dropship to the planet's icy surface - Amnitimus-7 was a large planet heavily present with elements required for the alloys the Kicath used for their militia. Skhánaróton wanted to know the secret of the Kicath's very expensive material, and invasion was the best option.

Skhánaróton landed on the planet with the Levarcor and Zí-Jittorám next to a small residential area comprising of about 100 Elinte. He went in guns blazing; killing most of the Elinte and alerting the majority of the Kicathian soldiers - about 20 Shockers, 10 standard troops, a Juggernaut, and 8 others. One other warrior stood amongst them; Agent Alpha. Standing over a head's height taller than the Kicath, and then Skhánaróton standing a head's height taller than the other Zí-Jittoram, both walked towards each other in a gradual pace with their fists clenched. Skhánaróton had turned on shields, discarding his weapon and crushed it with his 2,500lb frame. Alpha had no weapon to fight with, but his near 10,000lb frame cracked the ground underneath.

Other Kicath and BCN warriors fought; Zí-Jittorám attempted to tear the Kicath in half with their tongue and some succeeding - although the Shockers began to do their work by making the BCN warriors stumble. Two Zí-Jittorám or so began to combat the Juggernaut, nearly equalling them in height - the Juggernaut had snapped the neck of a Levarcor and started slamming his fists into the Zí-Jittoráms' side in a feral manner. Alpha and Skhánaróton stopped about thirty feet away from each other and strafed each other in a circular pattern. Exchanging a wordless conversation, Skhánaróton towering over Alpha and Alpha looking slightly upwards. After a brief moment, Skhánaróton ran at Alpha at a pace faster than Alpha could register.

Skhánaróton was flummoxed - he found himself on the ground further away than he initially ran from; Alpha had tossed him across the residential area. He stumbled to his feet and assessed Alpha - Alpha was about the height of a normal Zí-Jittorám but was well over four times the weight of one and could easily decapitate Skhánaróton if he was not concentrating. Skhánaróton walked towards Alpha again and lashed out his tongue, wrapping Alpha's neck in the fleshy appendage. Alpha struggled to keep standing as his tongue was surprisingly strong - acidic saliva began to corrode his armor and the armor began to fry at his neck. Alpha clasped Skhánaróton's python like neck; unable to come to terms with it choking him.

Skhánaróton hurled Alpha to his distance and punched him in an articulate but feral fashion (like all Zí-Jittorám) - Alpha's head was rocked as the hook from Skhánaróton could have decapitated him if it were not for his armor. Alpha's helmet buzzed as all he could see was a huge Zí-Jittorám growling in his face. Alpha was beaten in the head again and his visor cracked - Skhánaróton giving a faceless smile as Alpha became disorientated. Alpha blindly punched Skhánaróton in the chest; right under the area where his central eye is. He vomited blood from the Kicath's unnaturally powerful punch - it crushed his armor and damaged his innards. The blood poured on to Alpha's helmet - as it corroded his helmet, Alpha viciously torn it off his head and spat out the blackish blood from his own mouth.

Skhánaróton could see his enemy's face and attempted to tear Alpha's head off by going for another punch with his right hand - Alpha ducked under and with a returning hook to the same place where he hit Skhánaróton before. Skhánaróton screamed in pain as he vomited out more blood - on to the Kicath's armor again. Alpha failed to cover his head as the blood spilled out - on to his head. Alpha roared out in pain as he hurled Skhánaróton to the side and held his now heavily scarred face in agony.

Skhánaróton got up; he spat out remaining chunks of flesh from his acidic vomit and picked up Alpha with one hand - straining to hold him, he opened up his four-jawed mouth wide, revealing the venomous teeth of the alien. Alpha could no longer see out of his right eye - it was burnt out, along with a majority of the skin on his head, revealing his fleshy skull. Alpha could barely grasp Skhánaróton's hand as Skhánaróton slowly leaned in. With the remainder of his strength he twisted the Zí-Jittorám's arm, with a low-pitched cracking sound all the way up the arm. He lost his grasp as he roared in pain. Alpha slowly got up to his feet and picked up Skhánaróton with one arm, dropping him again and grabbing two of his mandibles and tearing them out of proportion. Skhánaróton kicked Alpha away as he retreated with the remainder of his troops back to his ship - bloodied and broken. Alpha's neck was heavily strained, the majority of his face without skin and his armor fried. Alpha bent down to pick up his destroyed helmet as he looked out at the fleeing ship with his good eye.

Afterwards, Agent Nu had arrived and stood behind his leader ominously asking him one thing:

"War?"

Alpha replying with one word;

"War."

Neo Praetoria
Vindevus Ultanos, the 's viceroy in Borealis looked out of the window on to an arid planet below and sighed. Three months ago the imeprium had to evacuate their colonies Ottzello sector of the galaxy. The Praetorian battlestation that once orbited the former capital world now hung in geostationary orbit over a new planet. The population had scattered around a globular cluster in the Zolei sector. He walked over to a screen and looked at footage from below. Since the rise of the War Economy the fledgeling colonies had to find off from more pirates more than before and the local Imperial Talon navy had been stretched to near-capacity. Orbital defences and surface-to-orbit guns were commonplace o nthe new planets. A monumental construction project had begun on numerous worlds to house the 17 billion who once called the Ottzello Sector home. On the surface of the planets many were living in prefabricated shelters that provided comfortable living as droids and nanites worked to hastily contruct mid-rise buildings in newly-created cities across the new territory. As he mourned silently Terella Vex entered the room, saluting the viceroy. When he didn't notice, she coughted to garner his attention.

Vindevus - ''Three. Months. In the few years we have been in this galaxy it feels like things are getting worse.'' Terella - ''Do not blame yourelf viceroy. You could not have prevented this.'' Vindevus - ''What if I could? Thanks to that damned Zaarkhun it now feels the pacifcation of the galaxy has taken two steps backward! And now rather than building a gleaming and quiet future we have had to build for war. Dranvamus and Drakonmi Terevus feel like the safest territories in the universe right now.'' Terella - ''Viceroy perhaps this can work to our advantage. Remember that all these pirates and mercenaries now work for the highest bidder. We have the Imperium's own economy - one of the mightiest in the galactic cluster - to back us up.''

Vindevus looked up with a look of interest in his eye.

Vindevus - What are you suggesting Terella? Terella - It is only a suggestion but what if we were somehow the highest bidder?

Vindevus was silent. A devious smile spread across his face and Terella smilled back with a nod. It was an ingenious plan but one that would require more than the private accounts of a few nobles. Vindevus looked back out of the window.

Vindevus - ''If we were the highest bidder to these people, we would be the ones to pull the strings. We could construct an aspect of order the same way the Imperium itself has done with its own economy... I like it.''

Terella nodded. She saluted and left Vindevus alone. After he knew she had left the corridor he locked his door, tuned off any electronics he new were operating and scanned the room for any listening devices and with a brief in-room EMP he activated a hopographic projector on the side of his office wall. He modified the screen that acted as a window to the planet's surface to a view that looked into the very core of the galaxy. He cleared his throat with a smile as the wall-projector activated to display of a shadowed figure. The darkness gave no indicators as to what it was.

Vindevus - I have need of your services in Borealis...

New Economic System
Koratus, appointed Governor of the colonies in Borealis, sat in his dark office and sat quietly thinking. After several minutes of this meditation, he summoned the local Ambassador, Kraiglias. The Ambassador walked in, bowed respectfully, and sat down in the chair opposite the Governor.
 * Preparing

Kraiglias - I have the intelligence reports that were gathered after our Ottzello colonies were evacuated. Koratus - ''Excellent. I could use some good news right about now.'' Kraiglias - I'm afraid I don't have much, this galaxy seems to be a lost cause. Koratus - Elaborate. Kraiglias - ''The civilizations of Borealis as too far gone to return to even somewhat of a peaceful state. We may have to resort to Plan Beta-Psi.'' Koratus - I think you may be right, but first tell me what you know about the local civilizations. Kraiglias - ''Well, the Zoles are a Type-KM civilization that are in a hopeless attempt to bring order to the galaxy while their king is missing. The Minga Republic is a Type-ZT civilization that worship an ancient species of precoursers call the Cold Ones. The Gooplet Technocracy is a Type-SI civilization, the Zealot-Commandos are another Type-ZT, the Murglbrg Warbands aren't even worth mentioning.'' Koratus - ''I see. And the rest?'' Kraiglias - ''Ah yes, the possible threat civilizations. Firstly, the Warnploer Legion are a Type-PNC civilization that warmongers wherever they seem to go. However, most of their territory is in the Second Galactic Arm, so I believe that we are safe for now. The Borealis COnsortium Network, however... well, here.''

Kraiglias hands Koratus a small datapad with some information on the BCN.

Kraiglias - ''As I was saying, this galaxy has quite a few hostile civilizations. The Devourer's Chosen is an organization of creatures that were corrupted by Entropic Energy. The Niaka Special Forces are a law-enforcement civilization that may get in our way, and pose somewhat of a threat to Federation interests. There is a division of the Grox Meta-Empire here in Borealis.'' Koratus - Well, the Meta-Empire is not very outwardly aggressive. Kraiglias - ''These ones are different. They are extremely powerful and very aggressive. Fortunately, they seem to not have much of a grudge against us. Also, there is one more noteworthy civilization that we have information on. They are called the. They are a Type-HX civilization who believe that they are the "purest life". We must take action quickly if this threat is to be extinguished.'' Koratus - ''Agreed. Warn the fleets. We must mobilize soon.''

Governor Koratis was sitting in his office when he recieved a transmission from Emperor Mercuris, supreme ruler of Mercuris Federation space. The Governor bowed accordingly and then began to speak. Koratus - Emperor, I was not expecting you to call me so soon. Emperor Mercuris - ''There has been a change of plans. With the Illidarius evaluated as a negligible threat in Bunsen, I have chosen to designate more of our military forces to Borealis. With the UNO threat now in a position of no power, We have more forces to expend in Borealis. And with intervention no longer an option, we must resort to pacification. I am sure that you are familiar with Contingency Plan Beta-Psi?'' Koratus - ''Of course my lord. We were preparing for an event such as this before you called. We were just waiting for your order.'' Emperor Mercuris - ''Well, consider the order given. Your instructions are to establish a private military company under the name Department of Armistice Suppliers. You must make sure that everyone in Borealsi is aware of our existence. Use it to keep funding their brutish wars and keep them happy. Just remember this, always stay three steps ahead of them, and never sell them our best weapons.'' Koratus - And what is to become of the money sir? We have no internal economy. Emperor Mercuris - Just send it to the Gerillum Peacekeepers Corps''. They will send it to our allies, who are in a bit of a mess at the moment. Just remember not to get on the bad side of any of the powerful organizations or clients.'' Koratus - Yes sir.
 * New Economy

He bowed to the Emperor, and his holographic image disappeared. He began typing commands on his console, to transfer what funds they had into Borealis Credits, effectively turning them into a multi-quadrillion credit organization. Everything would work out smoothly.