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...

Planet Slaughter
Jotal was a young adult Krektal. He was an office worker, with some combat experience, running a dayjob on the planet Gotla. He had a wife and 3 kids; his wife was expecting a new this day, but he couldn't visit her until work was over. He couldn't wait to introduce a fourth child to the family. He had two beautiful daughters taking up schooling and a son, who was a proud warrior wishing to grow up and be the first to really explore space and visit another planet. The first to understand the Cold Ones, he dreamed! Jotal smiled whenever he thought of what his son would tell hm.

The people of Gotla owned a rather small empire, with pretty low technology. They were barely spacefaring. The mostly plains environment of the world was full of wildlife to chase down and hunt, and the rest of the environment was either a jungle, a barren desert or a cold, mountainous zone. The indigenous population, the Kretkal, mostly lived in villages and camps out in the desert, although huge, bustling cities and massive armed forces weren't uncommon. The people had begun mining the moons and other worlds in the solar system, and only just discovered the existence of the Cold Relays. The Kretkal weren't a very hostile people; hostility in a galaxy with the technology to blow you up in seconds was difficult. The Zoles Imperium had set up some embassies on the world, trying to ensure peace between them.

And Planet Gotla was now under heavy seige.

The peaceful world was under attack. Well-armoured soldiers, armed to the teeth with machine coilguns, plasma grenades and accompanied by mechanized walkers and tanks. The soldiers, of various races (Wranploer, Imalmah, Levarcor, Nilito, Zoles, Murglbrg and others) who were made almost indistinguishable due to their incredibly thick armour, attacked in huge numbers with powerful vehicles behind them. Their weapons tore apart the Krektal warriors, who had assault rifles firing poisoned arrows. The arrows, of course, didn't dent the metal armour of the approaching soldiers. The weapons didn't compare to the machine coilguns ripping them apart in seconds and killing in so few shots. Those who hid in buildings had the stone fall on them when the machine colguns ripped the building apart. Or were blown up by plasma grenades, or plasma shells from the tank. Villages, camps, and soon cities, were torn apart. The armed soldiers attacking incredibly aggressively; they were mad, and they showed it in their aggressive attacks, and their facial expressions. The Krektal were now also mad; they were outraged by this attack, and were angry at their children being killed.

Jotal hid. He saw the massive explosions occurring outside, and checked his phone. Several friends were being shot and killed. He checked up on his daughters; assumed dead, as the school was destroyed. His son? Surely his son was alive! Yes! But no...his son was murdered by a single shot from the machine coilgun of the angry soldiers. Jotal was now frightened. He checked his wife. She was giving birth! Surely she couldn't die!

And the hospital a was blown up. Jotal curled up and cried. He didn't care if these angry soldiers destroyed him anymore. Everything around him was blown up. He would die soon. And then, at that moment, an explosion. Good. He was out of this hellish life. The planet had been ravaged.

But beneath the rubble, Jotal heard a message, after the fighting was over. He was a loud, female voice displayed on speakerphone, accompanied by the sort of music one would associate with a television advert.

"Acting under contract, SAM - Soltako Armed Military - has recently defeated the Krektal in war, and restored tranquility to this world, as the Krektal continued with their threats to invade others."

Lies! The Krektal were a peaceful people! And when he looked around, all those angry soldiers were now laughing.

"Utilising the latest in technology from highly recognised brands such as the Borealis Consortium Network Military Supplies, as well as the latest advances in drug sciences - including a rage-inducing drug to cause the soldiers to feel anger to their foes, and thus boost their performance - we hope you will continue to support SAM for your combat needs, as we continue to deliver the swiftest and most effect fight to the enemy."

Jotal didn't know what to say. They were never angry? They were fighting for business? What good does a proxy war have in business? Against innocent people?

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.
 * New Economy

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 Borealis 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.

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.

The Black Star Company
Chairman Soin leaned back in his chair and looked out the the window of his office. The sound of heavy machinery could be clearly heard as the new Black Star Company headquarters took shape. Factories, training grounds, and living quarters began to rise up from where once mighty forest stood. Soin was pleased with the progress that had already been made and that everything has happening right on schedule. Before long Soin was certain that the Black Star Company could become the premiere private military company in the galaxy in just a matter of a few years. All of the sudden the door to Soin's office slid open. Soin turned around to see Ton'ris walking into the room. Ton'ris - "Sir, I would like to deliver a report." Soin - "Ah very good. Go ahead." Ton'ris - "Construction of the Black Star Company headquarters is going ahead of schedule and the factories that are already compete are running on full capacity. Recruitment has gone up slightly and the board believes that it is almost time to start our advertisement campaign. Also we are still looking for a location for your...'project.'" Soin - "Excellent. Before long all will know the Black Star Company as the premiere private military company in the Borealis galaxy and perhaps in the future we shall expand our influence elsewhere." Ton'ris - "Yes indeed now if you will excuse me I have matters to attend elsewhere." Soin - "Very well."

Ton'ris walked out of office leaving Soin alone. Or so he thought as out of the corner of the room a figure walked over to Soin's desk.

Soin - "Mister Zih I have a job for you." Mister Zih - "Hm?" Soin - "I want you to go and monitor the team that is looking for the location of our 'project'. We cannot risk it being discovered."

Mister Zih just simply nodded his head and slowly walked out of Soin's office.

Dangerous Negotiations
In the unruly territory of the Imalmah, criminals and bounty hunters lived dangerous but "safe" lives. The Zoles and the Niaka rarely approached this part of the galaxy due to its distance and relatively peaceful planets. However, behind this peace was an entire underground world of crime, death and violence, fueled by the "gremlin people" of the Imalmah for their amusement and profit. This part of the galaxy was arguably the most diverse culturally, with thousands of different species inhabiting the planets and space stations built by the Imalmah. Most of these aliens, however, ended up living a life of misery, never leaving back to their homeworlds again. The Murglbrg bouncers of a certain Imalmah hub were on their usual schedules when they noticed a stranger approaching. It was a. Despite being such a territory of crime, the Wranploer were rare to come by in there, and were equally respected, feared and hated across the Imalmah species. As the hulking Wranploer approached the bouncers, all of them prepared their weapons.

Tell your boss that Zekuc is here.

One of the Murglbrg bouncers backed off and called his employer on a radio, telling him the name of the Wranploer. After some seconds, the Murglbrg allowed Zekuc to enter the hub. All made way for the Wranploer, who looked in amusement at the scared faces of the hub's guests. He entered a door leading to the administration room of the place, where an Imalmah awaited.

Imalmah - ''Sorry for the guards, Zekuc. I couldn't take any chances.'' Zekuc - ''It doesn't matter. What I want to know is if you got the stuff.'' Imalmah - Don't worry about it, the shipment is already on the checkpoint, my men are just waiting for you to claim it. Zekuc - ''For your good being, it better be. Because if it's not, the Wranploer Legion will burn this place to the ground with you trapped inside.''

Zekuc left, leaving the Imalmah quite a lot of credits. A large shipment of illegal guns and ammunation were negotiated, and while the Wranploer disliked trading with the Imalmah, using such weapons against the Zoles would make it worthy in the end...

Rampaging Torment
The Zoles world of Masrad had been safe from the war since the beginning. Unaffected by the Xi'Arazulha and the Vague, life on the planet was safe and quiet. The planet had never suffered an attack on its history, actually, being considered a jewel of the Imperium. However, this was about to change.

Masrad's skies turned red and fire rained down its cities. Through portals, enraged cultists appeared and mercilessly attacked the population. these cultists prayed in a mysterious dark tougue, and demons started to be sumoned into the planet, massacring its ground forces. From the flames of destroyed buildings, emerged, whose mere presence made the Zoles guards shake in fear.

''YOU ACT AGAINST THE DEVOURER. ALL HERETICS MUST DIE!''

Indricarron let out a robotic roar as he gunned down anything that attempted to attack him. His formidable clawed hand ripped apart any soldier that attempted to melee him. Conventional attacks were useless against the metalic abomination, who was being protected by both an artificial and essence shields. It only took a few hours for the Chosen to overrun the planet, using its population as one big sacrifice for their god.

The grew more powerful, and they would not allow anything to stop them, not even Zaarkhun's War Economy...

Cybernetic King and Lord
Since their intervention on Ottzello's quarantine, the remained silent. However, and his mysterious associate kept going on their plans, torturing  to harvest hs energies. On the cold and barren rock that is the Borealis Grox homeworld, Planet Mirras, the King and his newest general,, planned their next move when they received a transmission rfom ships approaching their territory. Mirras III would have ordered the ships to be immediately destroyed, before noticing they were of Grox origin.

The spaceships made their way to Planet Mirras, where Mirras III, Thylaxiz and travelled via shuttle to greet, in Grox terms, the visitors. As the gigantic ships descended into the planet, Mirras III looked at its designs. He had records of the, but didn't actually believed they existed.

Mirras III - ...Tuuros drones.

As the ships landed, gigantic robotic beings in bright white armor came out of them, forming a line. A larger being, with a blue glow and large metalic wings made its way through the line and approached the shuttle. Mirras III and the being looked silently at each other's eyes. Korizakh - I am, leader of the . Mirras III - ''Hm...impressive. I though you were only a myth.''

Thylaxiz was speechless, while Khensu merely saluted the Nexus Grox leader, emotionless as his usual. Mirras III appeared indifferent. Korizakh walked in circles around the shuttle, observing the Borealis Grox leaders.

Mirras III - State your business, Tuuros king. Korizakh - ''Your forms are weak. Inferior. But since the downfall of the Meta-Empire, your colony stood as one of the most powerful. Cooperation between us would be...beneficial.'' Mirras III - ''I see. What are your intentions?'' Korizakh - ''It should be obvious, "brethren". I want Nexus Grox presence in Borealis.'' Mirras III - ''Hmm. I cannot see why not. Your people can build colonies inside or next to my own territory...'' Korizakh - That is satisfactory.

Mirras III approached Korizakh's face, narrowing his eye.

Mirras III - ...But what do I gain from this?

Korizakh stood silent for a few seconds. The "inferior" Grox king had more guts than he looked.

Korizakh - State your price. Thylaxiz - Perhaps you could get these planets in enchange of defending our own territory from . Korizakh - This name...explain. Mirras III - ''The Universal Junction of Species, an extradimensional empire composed of hive minded synthetics. They want to assimilate us, and that is an insult I cannot take.'' Korizakh - ''I see. My...masters...have fought this Junction before. And synths? You should see our synths...It is more than obvious that the Universal Junction of Species will come after us when they notice we are here. I accept your deal.'' Thylaxiz - My King, should we tell the Lord about our "associate"? Mirras III - No.

This got Korizakh's attention.

Korizakh - What was that? Mirras III - Not of your interest.

The Nexus Grox soldiers all aimed their weapons at Mirras III. Thylaxiz appeared startled, but Mirras III remained indifferent.

Korizakh - ''Perhaps it is? I believe so.'' Mirras III - ''Not. Of your. Interest.''

The planet's defenses all aimed at Korizakh.

Korizakh - Your weapons cannot stop me, you should know that. Mirras III - You'll know everything, but only when time is right.

As Mirras III talked, a vision of a glowing, red, four-eyed being bursted in Korizakh's mind. Mirras III's eyes also shined red at every word. The King and the Lord stared at each other for several seconds, until Korizakh ordered his Nexus Grox soldiers to let it go.

Korizakh - ''Very well. But when "time" comes, I want answers.'' Mirras III - ''Worry not. You'll learn everything...''

Korizakh and the Nexus Grox left Planet Mirras, leaving a gigantic construct around the planet as some sort of shield against attacks. Whoever Mirras III's associate it, he will not tell any outtsider about it.

The Fate Delayed


wasn't done yet. The Vague were now wandering around the galaxy aimless. Everyone who saw them near their territory thought of them hostile, and decided to strike first. The Vague would always retaliate until the threat was dealt with. But no one understood what the Vague were up to.

Many of the Vague were seen trying to enter Ottzello's quarantine. But others saw the Vague paying no notice to it. Others saw them hanging around it. Were they trying to get inside the quarantine, or guard it? It was all very unclear.

But the Vague were still at large. And they were still a threat. If the Vague Fate was delayed, everyone was sure that it wouldn't be delayed for long.

Law vs Chaos
A message was sent out to every Loron's mobile or desktop device. It was from the Propa Big Thug Boss, Fre'kloar. Fre'kloar was shown typically in his command bridge on the Propa Big Thug Krooza, as he gave orders.

Fre'kloar - ''Lissen up Thugz Fer Dosh employees, I got a misshon fer ya all. Thugz Fer Dosh has recently been hired by Caldaris Megacorporation ta take care of a littel problem. Dem bugs. Dis is a problem dat we need takin care of. Fer da last three months we been fitin dem along wiv othas but I wanna push dis fite nao!! all warbosses an leedas meet me on da bridg btw''

A few minutes later, all of the Thug Leedas and Warbosses appeared on the bridge.

- wat man Fre'klolar - oi wez gonna batta da niaka man da megacorp doods sed - sik i hated dem losas Fre'kloar - ''dese boyz must reelly hate dem. dey payed a lot of pmcs. an dey paid us a lot of money. we betta not disappoint dem cos we dunt do dat do we lads'' - ''whos gonna leed da attak? which warboss? i fink we shud send '' Hagto'Zhl - nah man wuld be good cos he can blow dem niaka ta bits an explosivs da kind of fings we need agenst dem Fre'kloar - nah nah boyz...i got a betta idea...

examined the Borealis siutation for the umpteenth time. She hadn't performed a successful operation in three months. Now, with the War Economy and the new regime, many people were starting to see less and less reason to be scared of the and the Zoles' ideas of 'laws'. In fact, more and more people who hadn't previously been introduced to the Niaka believed that the Niaka were just another PMC, but not a mercenary PMC. It hurt the Niaka not having UNO to back them up when they needed it, and with the Zoles focusing on other things. It also hurt that everyone now had far more advanced weapons, due to the trading and the accelerated production of new, incredibly powerful technologies.

Xerkea - Boys, we gotta get ready for an attack.

Xerkea gave out the order for the sixth time. Several incoming forces from multiple sides were attacking. Xerkea sent one of her best, Chief Maitaven, to fight the Thugz Fer Dosh at their space station.

The space station, rather than having its core being interior, was mostly exterior, with artificial gravity and air. Various floating glass-like platforms (though not literally made of glass) connected to the main core made up a Niaka center of operations. It was a perfect base, too. When the areas for docking and entering the spacestation were mostly outside, the Niaka had better places to position their defences, and had more control on what wasx going on in the space station. The model was similar to one of space resorts, so many would mistake it for just another space resort and either pass it by or foolishly go looking for a casino.

The Thugz Fer Dosh docked in several of the spaceports. A huge force of armed-to-the-teeth Thugz hopped out, with incredibly powerful weapons from all the big-name weapons producers. The Niaka, in their mech walkers, hadn't prepared for advanced Loron. Their mechs were armed-to-the-teeth, but for once, their mechs' were matched by the Loron, in size, strength and weaponry. Chief Maitaven led his squad to the front line, to attack the leading Warboss,.

Ray'loth roared as his knocked Maitaven's mech to the ground. His boys were pushing at the Niaka and the Niaka's defences, but they were ready for everything. Ray'loth kicked at Maitaven's mech, but Maitaven managed to knock Ray'loth back and fire at him. The shots pierced Ray'loth's incredibly thick skin, but Ray'loth moved faster and knocked Maitaven back. Maitaven nearly fell off the platform, but just managed to grab on and gain footing, then fire at Ray'loth. Ray'loth made one last charge and shoved Maitaven to the ground. Whatever this transparent substance was, Ray'loth wasn't able to push Maitaven through it like glass. Maitaven's mech was stamped on repeatedly, until it was nothing more than crushed metal.

All the Niaka were on full alert. All their squads deployed to combat Ray'loth. But it hadn't been Ray'loth who was in charge of this mission. Their sneaky boss,, along with several of his teams had already infiltrated the Niaka base. And as Ray'loth and his invaders fought more Niaka, an antimatter time bomb had been planted in several key points of the station. The Thugz were gone, and vrey quickly, the station was blown up.

War Commercials
TMI= Dramatic music starts as scenes of a Human Republic village are displayed. A deep, booming voiceover begins.

"Many years ago, in a distant galaxy, one group of people were witness to something remarkable."

The scene pans out to an aerial view. A black-coloured flying saucer engages a sqaudron of advanced starfighters in a dogfight. Clearly powerful weapons are launched on both sides. The saucer quickly defeats the enemy starfighters, but the last one fires a huge volley of ion missiles before it bursts into flames. The saucer begins crashing to the ground, but it still has enough control over its landing to survive mostly intact.

"A drone of the Tokzhalan Empire single-handedly defeated an entire squadron of starfighters from the legendary Delpha Coalition of Planets, suffering minimal damage in the process."

People flood out of the village, armed with laser rifles, and begin to dissect the fallen vehicle.

"It landed near a Human village, giving the settlement's inhabitants access to the miraculous technology within."

The scene fades to white, and a shiny black orb drops from above and hovers mid-screen.

"Now, Tokzhalan Technology is bringing their discoveries to you. Our Omnidrones have abilities with countless possibilities."

The orb creates a variety of mechanical tools out of its own form, then returns to its original shape as a large metal block drops from the ceiling to its side. A powerful laser beam is emitted from the orb and slices the block in two.

"We also sell many software upgrades, helping the drones reach their full potential in every area from creativity to problem-solving skills. Our most popular subsidiary, Tokzhalan Military Industries, provides upgrades that allow the Omnidrones to make full use of Tokzhalan offensive..."

The orb fires a swarm of miniature rockets to a target off-camera.

"...and defensive technology."

The orb is then hit with a burst of blaster fire from the opposite off-camera direction, which bounces harmlessly off its deflector shields. The orb then vanishes, reappearing one second later with a mechanical arm carrying a plasma sword. A second burst of blaster bolts is deflected by the blade and returns to its origin, and a wilhelm scream is heard. Finally, a heavily armoured soldier jumps out from the other side of the screen as if to land on top of the orb, but is instantly vaporised by a shield-penetrating missile launched from the plasma sword's hilt.

Finally, the surface of the orb seems to melt, and it changes shape into a female near-Human form. Underneath it appears the text:

(The shape of) Tokzhalati Cendtø, CEO of Tokzhalan Technology.

The near-Human starts speaking with a much softer, more natural voice.

"Oh, and did I mention that they're polymorphs?"

There is a booming noise as the Tokzhalan Technology logo is shown, then the screen fades to black.

Black Star= Various clips and images of recent wars and battles show on screen before a voice comes in.

"This is a time of war and change. Threats abound and who will you trust to keep your investments safe? A bunch of thugs with guns or highly trained professionals?"

Suddenly the Black Star Company logo fades in.

"The Black Star Company values professionalism and effectiveness. You will find no other company as dedicated to getting the job done and getting it done right than us."

Several clips of Black Star Company training exercises and fire test before the voice comes back in.

"So what will you choose thugs with guns or a professional fighting force? Now accepting contracts. Remember, first come first serve!"

NEO= Multiple Liopela and Arviper soldiers are fighting in a bloody deathmatch among the dystopian city landscape, all while a cold female Artharon voice is speaking. ''Look at Borealis. It is a galaxy of bloodshed and conflict. Like in the wild, we have to be strong to survive...'' Suddenly the image vanishes in the darkness and the voice changes to that of a male Radeon. Except that in the wild, you cannot change your very biology. The picture returns again, but this time it is vastly different. Arviper bandits, this time, are running at their enemies at extreme speed, tearing the Liopela with vicious abandon with unnatural strength. Suddenly it is replaced with a picture of an Arviper slowly transforming, muscles growing and body shifting both inside and outside. ''We come from a civilised galaxy of scientific prowess and advancement. We are no longer bound by mere fate and chance to determine our life. With NEO biotechnology and cybernetics, you can be better. Stronger. Faster. Accept the wind of change and become something more than mere mortals. The transformation will give you new power to look how do you want, to be as strong as you want. You are in control of your body now, fully and completely.'' The image faded to darkness and the Artharon voice did return completely. ''For the right price. We accept contracts for genetic and cybernetic modifications, each modification having its own cost. We shall assure you that we shall do whatever you want with your body, with no major side effects whatsoever!* Contact us now and recieve two additional arms, for free!'' * not counting such side effects as: itchy skin, minor scars, hair discolouration, eye discolouration, stomachache, toothache, loss of hair, skin discolouration, additional limbs, loss of sleep, loss of hair (yes, it happens often so we put it twice), loss of sanity, wreaking pain, bloodthirst, craving for flesh, long and painful death and transformation into a monstrous abomination wishing only to destroy everything on its path.

Tokzhalan Metamorphic Incapacitations
It was a normal day at work for an official in a military base of the Zoles Imperium. Surrounded by dozens of loyal soldiers, it would take a dedicated assassin to bring him down. Unfortunately for him, there were enemies of the Zoles that were very dedicated, dedicated enough to target an official in a comparatively unimportant base, and perhaps most importantly, they were also very rich.

The equatorial regions of this planet, where the base was located, was subject to frequent thunderstorms around this time of year. In these thunderstorms, eagle-sized individuals of an endangered native bird species would often be struck down by lightning or damaged by strong winds. As there were no other settlements nearby, the injured creatures, when they survived, would be taken into a nearby building for treatment and recovery.

On this day, like many others, guards watching a flock of birds in the sky noticed one animal being caught in a sudden downdraft and crashing in a nearby puddle. One of the guards performed the routine journey to take the bird for treatment. Upon arrival inside the medical building, the bird unexpectedly began shooting small missiles around the room. At first, the cameras and turrets were disabled; there was the sound of weapons fire, and the guard soon ran out of the building. He explained to the other guards what had happened, and, fearing the possibility of metamorphic drones being used to secretly attack the base, as well as refusing to let security in the base slip, offered to have himself tested to prove that he was still a Zoles.

The tests confirmed that he was the same Zoles as he had always been, and an engineering team was sent into the building to repair all of the damage that had been caused in the attack. As all of the guards were given new equipment and training to prevent another such incident happening again, it seemed that whatever their enemies' plan had been, it had been thwarted. Unbeknownst to them, this was deliberately designed in order to lead them into a false sense of security. Two of the missiles fired by the fake bird had in fact been smaller drones, which activated their cloaking devices after the cameras failed and left the building behind the Zoles guard, darting around the base and into a forest on the opposite side.

One drone uncloaked and grew four metallic legs on its underside, along with a missile launcher on top. The other flew into the canopy and used hyperspatial scanning to determine the location of the official that was its target. The former drone, protected by incredibly thick armour and regenerative deflector shields, walked towards the edge of the forest and sent a spread of missiles against the base, triggering the guards and turrets nearby to open fire on the assailant. The latter drone fired two consecutive missiles - this time, cloaked and transphasic - at an altitude above the base's roof. The cloaking devices had little effect; even if the anti-air turrets could not detect the weapons themselves, the disturbances to the surrounding wind and rain caused by the missiles travelling at such a high velocity were more than noticable enough to become targets for point-defence fire. However, their shields kept them intact for long enough to blast a large hole into the base's roof above where the official was doing routine paperwork. The official reached for his gun, while the soldiers surrounding him pointed their own at every possible ingress.

The drone that had been used to draw the guards' and turrets' fire triggered several explosions next to it and collapsed onto the floor, giving the impression that it had been too heavily damaged to continue functioning. In order to keep up this façade, it had to keep its shield inactivate and unregenerated, and could not repair its surface armour. For now, the rest of the task was down its accomplice. Flying several kilometres upwards, it was a careful balance in the upper troposhperic gales to position itself directly above the hole, but once this was achieved, the drone turned its rapid-fire blasters against the turrets, and occasionally against the weapons that were launched in retaliation so as to reduce the pressure on its deflectors. After a few turrets had been disarmed in the first couple of seconds, transphasic rockets were fired into the room in an attempt to either directly kill the target Zoles or injure him with shrapnel. The explosions caused part of the room to collapse into rubble, barely managing to prevent the offical and his men from leaving to a safer part of the base.

The other drone's magnetic drive whirred into life, propelling it off the ground and beyond the guards surrounding it. To give it an extra split second against the turrets, it reactivated its shields and began repairing its armour before dropping into the hole and firing jets of superheated plasma at all of the Zoles in the room. The soldiers still shot and destroyed the drone, but it was too late. The drone that was still in the air performed one last scan to confirm that the official had been burnt to death and transmitted a report back to its contractors confirming the success of its mission. At the instant its message was sent, it was finally defeated by the remaining turrets.

On the other side of the galaxy, an accountant was browsing the website of. This recent hire had, according to TMI's rules, apparently turned into a purchase due to the Omnidrones' destruction, resulting in a cost of nearly four million credits for the assassination of a single Zoles official. The accountant read about more expensive and powerful technology that could have cut the costs overall, by keeping the drones out of danger and allowing them to be reused for hundreds of missions, but these were not to be purhcased yet. His employer was specific about making sure that the Zoles would not be forced to acquire any new technology until it was "too late for them", which they might otherwise be tempted to do if more exotic weapons were fielded against them. For the present, further assassinations would take place inefficiently, so long as they remained successful.

Pax Draconica Extanum Consafretma
Ultralite Squads, had been hired for another raidig mision. Since the emergence of the War Economy business had expanded dramatically with clients happy to hire them. One of them wanted to gain an advantage over the Goldori Republic. A minor empire, the Goldori had been hit a few times before by PMCs and a captain of the task force believed it would be an easy job. Heh ad hired a small fleet to bombard the planet to rubble once the initial raiding parties were done looting.

The captain was in his quarters when a siren blared across the ship announcing for all ships to be ready. He domnend his gear and checked his armour before marching down the hol. The siren shifted blue to announce that they had arrived and almost immeditately the ship shook from something. he pulled out a communicator and contacted the bridge.

Sergeant - Captain what was that?

To his shock, a fleet of warships bearing the markings of the Draconid Imperium were firing a deadly broadside. A dozen ships had alredy been hit before they had a chance to raise their shields and even more were getting pounded by gun batteries firing fro mthe surface. The sergeant, along with many others ran for shuttles to escape the hellfire. Small fighters swarmed from Clustermaster-class carriirs, picking off Ultralite fighters and shuttles. he rocked abotu in side the tiny shuttle hoping he could at least kill something. His thoughts were cut-short when an explosion on the shittle's starboard side destroyed the engine. His shuttle went tumbling through the sky and crash-landed near a farm on the outskirts of a Goldori city. he and his surviving soldiers gathered theri gear and discreetly headed towards a barn but their effirts were cut-short when fire from nowhere downed two Levercor soldiers. Ducking for ocver behind a barricade the sergeant peered up to see a twenty-strong squad of aliens he had not seen before firing at his unit.

His unit managed to pick off two or three of the alien solders, who were equipped with shielding. A soft 'thump' was heard near to four of his squad. before he could do anything those soldiers were bathed in the heat of a plasma grenade. When he looked up he could faintly see the space battle still raging. The soldiers' bodies were charred and mangled. He rested against the wall when an alien twice his height and clad in heavy armour stand over what remained of his unit. The face was obscured by a visorless helmet. He called for the reamining squad to stand up at gunpoint, some of them helped up by the aliens who had fired on them earlier. The alien, who the sergeant could vaguely recognise as a draconis stood before his unit.

Draconis - ''Whever is in charge of this unit step forward. NOW!''

The voice was obscured but faintly fememenin. When the soldiers in the unit each looked at each other a low growl from the Draconis prompted them to puush theri sergeant forward. The Draconis glared down at him and pulled out a large handngun.

Draconis - ''Good... This one will amke a fine example.''

The sergeant widened his eyes as the Draconis pointed the handgun at his face he tried stepping back but one of the aliens standing 2.2 metres tall pushed him back forward. The draconis sqeezed the trigger and an intense pulse of light left the gun and bathed the sergeant in it. He let out a brief, bone-chilling scream as several shots were fired and when the light passed there was nothing of him left. The gras he stood on was blackened and dead, faint embers flew into the wind and faded into nothing. Satisfied, the Draconis lowered the gun.

Daconis - Does anyone else feel defiant?

There was an awkward silence before they were all knocked unconscious.

A few hours later, the governor saw a draconis hologra materialise in his office. The Goldori smiled politely, thanking the Draconis for their act of generosity.

Draconis - Are you satisfied with what er have offered, governor? Goldori - I am sir, very much so. Draconis - ''We have fulfilled our end of the bargain; The raiders have been thwarted and your people are safe. Technology is being provided courtesy of the Imperial Senate so that you can all rise above the filth.'' Goldori - I cannot thank you enough sir. Draconis - I am not finished. In accordance with Pax Draconica your military is to be turned over to the control of the Imperial Talon Navy. We will keep ample garrisons on your worlds due to the relative risk displayed by the natives.'' Goldori - I see. Draconis - ''I am also to be your people's voice on the Senate's protectorate council. I am Derios Orandavonus, and I hope we can continue to enlighten your people.'' Goldori - You're the voice? Draconis - ''You still hold your position governor, as do your subordinates. It is just that... You have to answer to me.''

The Draconis smiled. The governor looked at him with confusion.

Goldori - ''With respect, we are a proud people. I will not be your puppet!'' Draconis - ''You are not, governor. You keep me informed, I convey your people's interests to the senate and in turn I am allowed involvement to keep your republic stable. it is this or we can reconsider accepting your request.'' Goldori - ''Fine, fine. I suppose this is reasonable. I will inform my secretary to give you waht you need.'' Draconis - Good.

The hologram dissolved, elaving the governor to look out at the city he called home. On the streets below he saw his people wearing armour resembling waht the aliens had, in space the ITN held a permenant prescence in the skies.

His planet was one of hundreds, perhaps thousands who had agreed to join the Imperium to save themselves from the chaos of the War Economy. Protection wasn't complete but the assertation was enough to inspire them. The Imperium's prescence in Borealis was stronger than it had ever been.

Vines of Discord


Two Tuff Troopaz from the Thugz Fer Dosh chatted. The colony they were on at that moment had been conquered by then a year ago, formerly being owned by the Adrahira Tribe. The Loron adapted well to the nature of the planet, using it as a large food factory for their other colonies. While they were not in any mercenary scheme, the Troopaz just passed time hunting wildlife and fighting each other for fun.

That day wasn't gonna be the same as others, though. One Troopa noticed small, green insect-like creatures appearing around the colony's borders. They beared great resemblance to the Niaka, but had many strange features, as if they were part plant, part fungi, part animal. The Loron did not mind the little creatures, but this was a mistake. The ground shook as giant bugs appeared outside of the city's walls. Biotanks from the.

Appearing from both underground and from the sky, Alvino slave drones swarmed into the city. The Loron Troopaz fought back as they could, but were overrun. Because the colony did not have many Loron in it, it only took a few hours for the Alvino to overwhelm and dominate the place.

The Alvino Slave Tanks fired bizarre blasts into the ground, which created vines which grew through the ground and buildings in an alarmingly fast rate. The Loron who touched these vines became paralyzed by a strange tonix, and were taken away by assimilated Zoles drones. These Loron would also become assimilated, and would be using by the Brood as new soldiers...

Artifact Hunters
Over the Minga Republic planet of Jahosaer, the Minga had discovered an artifact which once belonged to. The Minga did not know what the artifact was capable of doing, and simply built a shrine around it. They worshipped the artifact daily, confident that this was what the "Cold Gods" wanted.

However, the planet suddenly was hit. A fleet coming from the attacked, with plans of destroyng the artifact. The Eaglartin found the work of the Cold Ones, as well as their followers, as "heretical" against their beliefs of Spode. The Commando left no survivors, murdering the Minga mercilessly. The Republic, however, did not simply allowed itself to get killed, and fought back with all they could. Hours passed, with both sides having casualties, but the artifact was still safe.

As the Commando managed to push through the Minga forces, however, a third fleet appeared. The sight of the new fleet made the Minga and the Eaglartin wide their eyes. It was a Seagon fleet. The Minga and the Commando got into communications, and gruntly agreed to join forces to fight them. But it was no use. The Seagon fleet cut through the Republic and Commando ships with their lasers as if they were made of paper. The Seagon's technology came from reverse-engineered Cold One tech, as well as recently reverse-engineered Vague weapons. The Minga and Eaglartin had no chance.

The Seagon descended into the planet and claimed the artifact as their own. If there was one thing the Seagon would not allow is an inferior species being in possession of such powerful technnology.

Just Friends?
The Unified Nation of Ottzello Leaders all met together in the.

- ''There really is a sense of loneliness. Aside from watching the Vyronicia Fleet's consrtuction...'' - SO BOOOOOORIIIIIN Kralgon Emperor - ''Shut up! , how's getting along?'' Valzo - ''Rather nicely, actually. She's become more stable.'' - Guys, you getting this?

Yogtam pointed to one of the Tralkik Commander's screens. The first ship of the Vyronicia Fleet was constructed. Now that one ship class was constructed, constructing more ships of this class would now be a lot easier.

Zr'Ahgloth - ''ONLY ONE SHIP? MAN DIS GONNA TAKE FOREVA'' Yogtam - Now that we've made this, the process will be easier, idiot! Zr'Agloth - well tell da zealots ta hurry up Yogtam - ''It's not that simple. If it weren't for the Vague or for the Chosen, we would have been able to get more artifacts.''

UNOL were dismissed, and Valzo went to check on Feldosia. She lay down in bed, but awoke when Valzo entered.

Valzo - How're you holding up? Feldosia - Oh, I'm doing fine... Valzo - ''That's good to hear. You need anything?'' Feldosia - No thanks. Valzo - ''I see. Well, call me if you do.''

Valzo walked away, but then stopped and turned.

Valzo - Hey, Fel... Feldosia - Yeah? Valzo - ''There's a space resort nearby. I know the owner of the station, and he's a nice chap. Maybe I could arrange for us both to spend a night there if you want?''

Feldosia thought for a moment.

Feldosia - That'd...be nice. Valzo - ''That's god. I'll see you there.''

Valzo smiled, and left. He bumped into Zr'Ahgloth on the way.

Zr'Ahgloth - yo man watch wher ya goin Valzo - Oh, sorry... Zr'Ahgloth - ''hey man it's ok. anywayz i herd som talk bout a space resort? is dere pizza?'' Valzo - You can't come too... Zr'Ahgloth - no no no...if ya dunt let me an ma boyz com den imma tell dem bout yor little girlfrend... Valzo - What...she's not a girlfriend, I just have to look after her!

Zr'Ahgloth bent down and patted him on the shoulder, then grinned.

Zr'Ahgloth - ''nah man if yoo liek her dunt be ashamed. yor both da same species so i got no problem wiv it. dunt be ashamed jus admit it.''

Valzo wasn't sure what to say. Zr'Ahgloth left.

Zaarkhun's Fear
Back into the, the leaders of the BCN enjoyed their fortunes rising more at each second. Torrent spent his time browsing the Universal Discussion Boards to stay updatedon the news.

Torrent - ''I'm checking the Universal Discussion Boards. Dang Zarkhun, you're really ticking people off.''

Falrik Zaarkhun shrugged.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''They're all pretty stubborn. They don't accept that maybe new ways are better.'' Volim - ''It's better this way, really! The angrier they are, the least coordinate they'll be when we smash them to bits!'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Of course it is. It's also rather amusing to watch them get so pissed off.'' Volim - ''I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. I did not expect this plan to work so fast and so well. We're richer than ever!'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''It takes quite some co-ordination to work so effectively. Not only have we created a crimelord's paradise, the kind of galaxy you'd long to live in, but we've carved the path for the real plan to commence...'' Volim - Well, this is not yet what I long to live in.

Volim walked in circles.

Volim - ''While a single Zoles citizen survives, this is not the galaxy I long to live in. But one day, they'll all burn. I'll make them pay, the spirits of their ancestors will scream, and Wranploer domination will finally begin!'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Speaking of which, do you want our little friend to come up here? Maybe we can show him what's happened in the past three months?'' Volim - ''No need. I've already shown him. A tear came out of his eye. Pathetic.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''That just shows how effective this system is. Have you ever noticed that the Zoles citizens are, in truth, a bunch of pussyholes?'' Sollow - ''Hahaha, all mortals are pussyholes really. They are too filled with fear. Even you, Zaarkhun, have a fire.''

Zaarkhun clenched his fist and shot at Sollow with a non-antimatter shot. As he expected, Sollow was unnaffected, but it just satisfied Falrik.

Falrik Zaarkhun - Shut up! Torrent - And what the heck was that? Falrik Zaarkhun - Nothing...I don't like to be reminded of it. Volim - Reminded of?

Falrik Zaarkhun sighed.

Falrik Zaarkhun - Volim, it's only fair I tell you what my fear is. Volim - It should be, I did told you mine.

Falrik Zaarkhun looked down at his feet then looked up again.

Falrik Zaarkhun - I'm scared of...gods.

Volim raised an eyebow.

Torrent - Well that's...abstract.,br> Volim - ''What do you mean scared of gods? You fear religion?'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''The concept of gods, the experiences I've had with gods...in general, really! I feel almost weak and paranoid, which isn't like me at all.'' Volim - Experiences? Falrik Zaarkhun - Yes...well you know the time when Genrai Nal was robbed from me...but there's more. Volim - Tell me about it. Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Well...my body wasn't always my own. There was a time when Zargoth took over it.''

Falrik Zaarkhun explained to Volim who Zargoth was.

Volim - Dang... Falrik Zaarkhun - ''But you see, Zargoth took over my body, as part of a little agreement we had. I was going about setting up my own plan when Zargot invaded my mind. He locked my consciousness away in the back of his mind. ButI saw things...I saw timelines...I saw what real power was...I saw the 5th dimension...my mind was about to explode and go insane in nanoseconds, but Zargoth didn't want that, so Zargoth tried rto keep me stable. But keeping me stable only showed me more tings, only gave me greater suffering. It wasn't intentional torture, though. I could just see everything...and now I was I couldn't. The cntrol that gods have over us...the things they can see...what is really stopping them from doing something about it? I become paranoid...I want to break free...''

Torrent rubbed his chin.

Torrent - This explains that little show of yours back when we got that Andromedan artifact. Falrik Zaarkuhn - ''Yes. In that moment of power, I just wanted to show a little rebellion.'' Volim - ''I see...well, my people has no concept of gods. We only believe that our ancestors watch over us. I really don't know what to say about this Zargoth, but he better stay the damn away from us.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''I'm gonna stop it, Volim. I'm going to show him that he has no control over mortals...one day!'' Volim - ''I'll be backing you up in that. If we can beat a god then beating those blue imps won't stand a chance.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Thanks. It means a lot.'' Torrent - ''Well, let's not worry about that. Let's just sit back and watch our profits skyrocketing!''

Falrik Zaarkhun grinned.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''I know, right? The war economy, a perfect economy for us to expand our business in and earn absolute truckloads of cash. Genious!''

Little did Zaarkhun knew, however, but Zargoth was still watching him. And his "moment of power" was insificant for the god of the Ralza...

The Gooplet Target
Fre'kloar - ''Right den Thugz employees, noo announcement. Our last employa was very satisfied wiv our work and has recommended us online. Congratz, wiv yor nex paychek, yoo get a free burga at McRonalds. And now, we has a noo employa.''

Fre'kloar made his daily post to the Thugz Fer Dosh employees. The Thugz could all view it on their various mobile or home devices.

Fre'kloar - ''Falrik Zaarkhun has hired us ta kill some dum Gooplet geeza from da Gooplet Technocracy. Name's Hawrol. Accordin ta Zaarkhun, dere's a few individuals in dis galaxy he wants ded fer some reeson. I dunno da details, but I do kno we gotta kill dis General Hawrol geeza good. As usual, Im offerin a free pizza part to da gang who bags him. Rememba: dat includes drinks, an desert, an if yo're luky dat includs brekfast. SO GO KILL HIM OK''

All the Loron bosses arranged their fleets, and flew off to the Gooplet Technocracy. On a farm world, which secretly housed one of the Gooplet Technocracy's military bases and training centres, the Gooplet were hit hard by a group of Loron soldiers. These soldiers, armed-to-the-teeth with incredibly strong weapons, roaring machine coilguns blazing as they cut apart everything in sight with bullets ripping through the skin of the helpless Gooplet soldiers. And those who weren't killed in ranged combat were squashd in close combat incredibly quickly, beat or kicked to death as the unstoppable Loron trampled them. While the Gooplet had numbers and co-ordination, the Loron had size and strength.

The sheer strength of the Thugz was too much for the Gooplet to take on. General Hawrol offered to surrender, but as soon as he raised his arms in surrender, he was ripped in half by a bloodthirsty Thug.

Haunting
Perhaps they're not so bad...maybe there are some pretty ladies in there...

''What? Who are you?''

Hachiman was dreaming once again. He had just returned from a battle against the Chosen, and he was still hearing a buzzing sound on his head. This sound was growing louder at every battle. It wasn't loud in the sense of "really loud", it was still quiet, but now Hachi could hear it more frequently.

C'mon...you should give them a try.

No! I'm not going with these no-lifers, my teacher told me what they are!

I know you're curious.

This dream was not like the other. Everything was pitch black, except Hachi and another figure in front of him. This figure appeared like a female version of Hachi, in his terms, she would be stunningly beautiful. The figure spoke in a tempting and seductive voice.

''Well...I hear voices. But what they say is completely different from what I see.''

''It's because you're not looking hard enough. Leave that robotic fool behind and join the Chosen, darling. You'll love it...in many ways.''

Uh...

The figure was about to grab Hachi's hand, when she slowly changed. From a beautiful Rianth, the figure became a dark, green-eyed Radeon with a devilish smile. Hachi woke up, startled, falling off his bed. He did not know what to think. These dreams were growing more common, and he was starting to feel tempted...

Searching for a King
At all fronts, the Zoles and the Niaka were under threat by various PMCs, warbands and all sorts. Still dealing with pirates, which were on the rise, as well as the (who acted as PMCs or otherwise) and forever at war with the Wranploer, now was the worst time to be part of the Zoles Imperium. Worse still, their influence was decreasing. Partly due to the rapid takeover of Zaarkhun's new ways, partly to do with the rapid increase in weapon power that the War Economy brought, as well as its increase in general war readiness, and partly to do with the lack of the Unified Nation's help, the Zoles Imperium wasn't what it was. The Zoles Imperium was now old news to everyone. Still had the greatest military and among the most powerful technology, but it was closer to being matched by the BCN than ever. And wanted to keep them alive.

On his search for King Rebaris, Vekaron ran into one of the worlds controlled by the Egeliano Guilds. The Egeliano had been destroyed by the Wranploer before, and with the War Economy, were under threat once again. But if they'd survived before, they could survive this...right? Wrong. These new threats were much greater than the Wranploer has ever been. Vekaron and his small team needed to save them.

The Lamelota Corporation, one of the largest corporations of Borealis, had hired the Department of Armastice Suppliers, whose reputation had soared since their first introduction, to deal with the Egeliano Guilds. As the Guilds were still fairly weak, taking over their worlds would expand corporate interests. But Vekaron had a Zoles army to support the dying Guild.

Vekaron - ''Men, our foes may be strong, but our army is greater. The Zoles have had a reputation for being the greatest band of noble fighters in the galaxy. Let's remind the galaxy why that was, and help our long time ally in their time of need!''

Vekaron and several ships landed on the ice-cold world, with a fully blown Zoles force. The world was a haven for the Egeliano Guilds, as its location made it difficult to inhabit, and so many pirates often ignored it, feeling it a waste of time to attack. The Egeliano colonies were several bases inside the mountains, which were well defended and kept to a pristine condition, requiring a lot of power from the Borealis Grid. When the Zoles landed, the Egeliano soldiers were relieved. The Zoles soldiers pushed on against the Armastice soldiers, being slightly ahead in technology. The Zoles and Egeliano combined outnumberd the Armastice soldiers. But apparently, the Armastice had been given a high budget; Tokzhalan drones were present too.

Pushing hard with a high morale, the Zoles managed to pick off the incredibly strong Tokzhalan T-class drones, which were high in number and, for their size, very deadly. Well-aimed shots managed to pick them off, but Vekaron soon saw the real beast that the Armastice had deployed.

Vekaron - Take cover!

Vekaron and several others deployed metal blocks for cover. The Armastice tanks arrived in numbers, but behind it, was an enormous Tokzhalan Z-class drone. The Z-class drones were normally seaside warships, but this...a hovercraft vehicle, 32m in diameter, full of charged plasma cannons, and accompanied by Armastice tanks, was incredibly tough to defeat. With its tough armour, all the Zoles vehicles and Egeliano defences couldn't break it. They focused instead on the Armastice vehicles.

Zoles - Damnit...this thing MUST have a weakness...

Vekaron quickly accessed his mobile device. He accessed the Tokzhalan's site, and looked at various forms of the base-Tokzhalan Z-class drone, noticing weaknesses. He located the form he was up against, and read it carefully while behind cover. He found no weaknesses on the base model...but:

"Note: base model does not include coverage for ventilation shafts. As overheating was a difficult problem to overcome with this model, we advise you to browse our other products for defences on the ventilation shafts."

Ventilation defences not in the base model. On a cold world like these, who worries about overheating? A lot of people. Overheating was a problem, no matter how cold the world. Vekaron looked at the points of ventilation; one underneath and one on the side. But how would he get past the shield?

"Base model does not include electromagnetic defence; its shields are vulnerable to an electromagnetic pulse."

Vekaron grinned to himself.

Vekaron - ''Fire an EMP blast at the Z-class drone! I'm going in...''

An EMP was fired. Vekaron rushed in, using his anti-tank weapons, and blasted the ventilation shafts on the drones' sides. Then, bravely, he slid underneath the drone, through explosives in it, and then came out on the other side. He felt great satisfaction as the drone eventually overheated, and exploded. The battle was quickly over, and the Guild Master spoke to Vekaron.

Guild Master - ''I thought we were goners once again! I can't thank you enough...you and your army...here. Some of the smart people in our guild managed to hack into that destroyed drones' AI. We found something mentioning one of the hirers of the drone has Rebaris locked up in their spaceship...'' Vekaron - ''Locked in a spaceship, eh? At least I know he's still alive, and it narrows it down a lot. I'll have to find out what I can about the spaceships all these corporations own.''

Unholy Partnership
In the Niaka Special Forces-aligned planet of Jhaworg, the colonies were under attack from mercenaries hailing from the Ultralite Squads. The Niaka were the second greatest opposers of the War Economy, and as such, were always targetted. In a galaxy of crime and freedom, no one wanted an interstellar police telling people what they can or can't do. The Niaka fought bravely on both land and space, the forces suffering heavy losses, with the Niaka losing men fast.

''I bring the true light. Stay down, or die!''

This was about to get nasty, though. In the middle of the batle, a fleet from the Devourer's Chosen appeared, led by herself. The Niaka and Ultralite men were startled, and after moments of silence, decided to join forces to take the mad cultists down. Malcaeum demons started to emerge into the battlefield, and grew stronger due to anger-inducing drugs used by the Ultralite soldiers. As the forces were slaughtered however, things got even nastier.

PAYBACK TIME, SPECIAL FORCES!!!

A gigantic alien ship suddenly appeared into the battle. Dakster's mothership. The Niaka and Ultralite soldiers could not believe they were being attacked by the Vague themselves, and did what they could to stay in security. Dakster received a transmission, coming from Geltastra. As her image appeared on the screen, he backed down.

Geltastra - ''So...the Vague Fate. We meet at last.'' Dakster - Don't hurt me! Geltastra - ''No need for fear. The Allied Gods have ordered me to not intervent in you and your mission.'' Daskter - I see...who are these "gods" you speak of? Geltastra - ''That does not concern you. What matters is that you want UNO dead as much as I want them out of my way.'' Dakster - And you want to convert these beings as much as I want them out of "my" way...our goals are similar, Radeon.

Geltastra saw a great opportunity in this.

Geltastra - ''If that's so, let us work together! Together, we would be unstoppable!'' Dakster - ''*sigh* As much as I would want to, things I cannot speak of forbid me from doing so. We may, however, do business that would benefect us both...''

Dakster's mothership fired a blast of its desintegrating blaster into a mountain, completely destroying it. He then screeched, to all to hear.

Dakaster - JOIN THE CHOSEN, OR YOU'LL BE NEXT!

Both Niaka and Ultralite saw no hope, and willingly surrendered. Geltastra laughed, content.

Dakster - ''The Vague are currently aimless since UNO's quarantine. We could give you some of our services, such as intimidation, eradication...'' Geltastra - Intimidation, you say...perhapos you could give the Inquisition of Drakon a scare for me... Dakster - ''YES! The Draconis will pay for hurting me! And in exchange for this, I have a request for you.''

Dakster transmitted several coordinates to Geltastra's ship, showing what appeared to be "holes" in Ottzello's quarantine.

Dakster - ''We have managed to create spacetime portals that lead to inside the spacetime pocketspace Ottzello is located in. Portals that a 4D being could not access easily...but a 3D being should have no problem. As such, we cannot enter them ourselves, but you could. Get in there, and destroy them as much as you can!''

Geltastra smirked evilly. Who knew how much problem the Chosen and the Vague could cause together...

Hunting the Purest Life

 * The Meeting

Secretary - Viceroy, Ambassador Kraiglias is resonding to your call Vindevus - *in his office looking out of the window* Put him through. Ambassador Kraiglias - ''Hello Viceroy. Nice to see you. Is there something that I can do for you?'' Vindevus - My sources tell me the Federation is undergoing a paradigm shift that relates to the Borealis Galaxy's new situation. Kraiglias - ''I assure you that the Federation is not changing its ways at all. We are adapting to the situation in Borealis in order to better aid

one of our allies as they fight an unknown threat. We have, however reactivated an external trade system in order to procure currency to aid

the aformentioned ally.'' Vindevus - I see... Kraiglias - Is there a problem? Vindevus - ''Nothing serious. But for the most part I do not entirely approve of the new situation. Certainly the Imperium is growing, we are being contacted by minor cultures almost daily looking for protection. Can you tell us anything of this unkown threat? Do not worry, the channel is secure.'' Kraiglias - ''Our allies have told us very little. Only that is is a very powerful threat and that we should not get involved. From our intelligence, we have deduced that they are called "" and come from another dimension.'' Vindevus - Wait, another dimension?

Kraiglias nodded.

Kraiglias - Yes, another dimension. Vindevus - ''I can see why this may be a problem. I have a proposition. Recently the Imeprium has been.. shall we say 'generous' to a number of local PMCs. With a few calls I could provide you with support.'' Kraiglias - ''I am glad to hear it. We have recently discovered a civilization called the "". Do you know anything about them?'' Vindevus - ''Very little. Thay appear to be a biolofical culture; organic technology, bioships, possibly a hive mind. We have yet to have direct experience.'' Kraiglias - ''Well, they apparently are a very hostile civilization. We in the Federation call this a Type-HX. Our protocol dictates that they must be supressed quickly, and without hesitation. Anything short of total subjugation is less than sufficient.'' Kraiglias - ''I realize that this is a bit harsh, but is in neccesary. They have done nothing but torment this galaxy for their whole existence.''

Vindevus nodded.

Vindevus - Understandable. Kraiglias - ''We have already doubled our ship production, and our war with the Unified Nation of Ottzello has allowed us to discover new means of interstellar transportation by studying their ships and the Cold Relay technology. Now, our ships and weapons potential has expanded tenfold. We are ready to engage them at a moment's notice. And that moment is nearing.'' Vindevus - I am pleased the federation has expanded so well. Kraiglias - Well, thank you. Vindevus - ''The imperium itself appears to be the lone light in this galaxy. The influence of the Zoles is dying out, the Niaka are being pushed back and UNO are gone. We will provide what we can to help you against the Alvino. Now I believe this is all?'' Kraiglias - ''Yes, but before we leave, I wish to make one thing clear so there is no misunderstanding. Many civilizations involved in the war in Borealis believe that organizations like the Department of Armistice Suppliers are war profiteering and encouraging crime, genocide, and despotism. This *may* be true in some cases, but certainly not in ours. The only thing that we gain is knowledge about Borealis.'' Vindevus - As long as you keep this in mind, we will have no problems.

The Ambassador smiled and nodded.

Kraiglias - ''I'm glad we can agree. Until next time.'' *closes transmission*

Greasing the Wheels
Chairman Soin was in his office within Black Star Company's secret headquarters. Business was good and there was no shortage of demand. As he looked at a set of reports Mister Zih walked in holding a communicator, he gently placed it on the desk and looked at Soin expectedly. Soin pulled his view away from the screen and looked up at him with a look of intrigue.

Soin - ''Another contractor? Hm, let's have a look''

Zih simply nodded. The communicator flashed on-screen to reveal a dull-skinned heeyorian fitted with a synthetic eye. The Heeoyrian grinned when the communcation opened.

Soin - ''Business is moving quickly today so no padding. What can Black Star do for you?'' Heeyorian - ''I reresent a wealthy benefactor from the Arm of Knowledge and he would like to... Procure your services in protecting their interests.'' Soin - ''This won't come cheap. How much are you offering?'' Heeyorian - My benefactor is willing to offer 35 billion Borealis Credits for your services, with the prospect of further work in the future if your men do well. Soin - ''Thirty-five... billion you say?'' Heeyorian - ''My benefactor is a very wealthy man and raiders are hampering his profits. it would be a shame if he loses business from this.'' Soin - ''I suppose we could see to it. Just tell us where you want our services and we will see to it.''

The Heeyorian nodded and ended the communication, displaying a significant list of locations spread out accross the galaxy.

Soin - Zih, this benefactor of his will certainly keep us busy.

Zih nodded as the two of them looked over the list. Not wanting to turn down such a generous offer they accepted the Heeyorian's terms. If their benefactor paid well they saw little reason to ask who they were.

A few days later, above Neo Praetoria Vindevus was in his offiers when his communicator buzzed for his attention. Walking over to his desk he touched a small panel gently to activate it. A shadowy figure emerged on the screen on the wall who spoke with a distorted voice.

??? - ''My sources tell me that Black Star Company and Soltako Armed Military have agreed to work for us, as you suggested. Vindevus - Thank you for informing me. ??? - It is no truble, viceroy. Vindevus - ''Keep asking around, and do not worry about the fees. It is not like we are on a budget.'' ??? - ''Perhaps the BCN can be persuaded? They are a highly influential multi-business organisation with numerous connections to the underworld and several economic establishments.'' Vindevus - ''As interesting as it may sound I would rather not let Falrik Zaarkhun benefit from our plans. Besides, he's rich enough already.'' ??? - ''I see. So far none has seen through our guise, not yet anyway.'' Vindevus - ''That's good. Who knows how many would reconsider if they realised they were becoming glorified policemen working for the Imperium.'' ??? - You may not know, Viceroy, but I can guess. Vindevus - Please keep it to yourself, I would rather not burden myself with figures right now.

Vindevus disabled the communicaton and altered the settings for the panoramic screen behind his desk to display a view of Meo Praetoria's new capital, which was still under construction. He smiled as he looked about the view, watching buildings rise and crowds assembling in streets. The Imperium's new colonies Borealis, were being built as fortresses from the ground-up.

Still Trapped, Still Under Fire
The Unified Nation of Ottzello may be under quarantine, but they weren't safe.

The Tralkik Commander picked up hostile signs attacking UNO's worlds. But these hostle sins were familiar. The Devourer's Chosen had attacked them. But the Chosen had no colonies in the Ottzello Sector.

Yogtam - That's impossible! Tralkik Commander - Unless someone has found a way to access this small pocket of spacetime, it is.

UNO's soldiers knew the drill. Everyone in the affected colonies took defensive positions and fired at the incoming Chosen demons, and all the automated defence turrets aimed at everything not identified as part of UNOS. But UNO were fighting a losing battle, as the determined Chosen forces seemed endless.

Yogtam - Send UNOC! Kralgon Emperor - No...I have a better idea...

The Emperor looked at Valzo.

Kralgon Emperor - Is Feldosia ready? Zr'Ahgloth - wat dafuq YOR SENDIN FELDOSIA MAN WE CANT EVEN CONTROL HER Kralgon Emperor - ''Exactly. Insane demon vs insane demon.'' Valzo - ''No...she's not fully recovered! And what you said is downright insulting!'' Kralgon Emperor - Aww, what's wrong, want to protect your little girlfriend?

Valzo looked to the ground, feeling embarrassed. The Emperor continued.

Kralgon Emperor - ''It's a cruel world we live in, and drastic times call for drastic measures. Feldosia is an unimportant and useless asset-'' Valzo - She is not! Kralgon Emperor - ''She is! Face facts, Valzo. Your playmate has no value to us, and is unreliable due to this corruption. Her powers don't match that of, and she's not that good a representative. Now send her off to fight!'' Valzo - No... Kralgon Emperor - Then I override the System!

And the Emperor assumed emergency powers over UNOS. He forced Valzo to sleep, and Feldosia was deployed to attack the Chosen ship. She teleported inside, and engaged her incredibly angry, almost demonic Dark Gyronic form. The Chosen were almost outmatched, when she teleported with several elite squads of UNO Loron.

Zr'Ahgloth - harsh on da littel dood Kralgon Emperor - ''Life's harsh. We can't put our silly affections before drastic measures like this. Don't think I enjoyed doing that.'' Zr'Ahgloth - ''still deyz yor homies. yoo shuldnt treet yor homies liek crap afta all dey don for yoo'' Kralgon Emperor - ''I know I shouldn't. But I had no choice. I just...'' Yogtam - Well, looks like she's succeeded.

Feldosia had destroyed the inner reactor of the ship, and was being burnt. But her powers allowed her to absorb mostof it. Through UNOS, they managed to record her actions.

Kralgon Emperor - To reward her for succeeding so quickly, let her live.

And Feldosia was teleported back aboard the UNO Omega Commander. Valzo was awoken, and was sent to the medical bay to help her. The rest of UNOL spoke.

Tuolog - ''I not understand. Only way they could enter is if the Vague somehow manage to let them in.'' Yogtam - If the Vague and Chosen are working together, it's entirely possible. Tuolog - ''The Vague leader is the "Prodigal Son". And we know "Prodigal Son" is. But why Mac do this? Mac's always been a sort of friend to us. He a cursed. No reason he should be doing this...'' Yogtam - ''Mac's also an incredibly troubled individual. Who knows what he's capable of?''

Meanwhile, in the medical bay...

Valzo - Fel...are you okay?

Feldosia, in her normal form, smiled.

Feldosia - I'm in pain... Valzo - ''Have you taken nanomedicine? There must be something that can cure those burns...have the nanomachines in your body not-'' Feldosia - No, you don't get it.

Feldosia smiled to him.

Feldosia - I'm pregnant.

Adrahira Target
The Adrahira tribes had already seen wars. They didn't understand. Their tribes encouraged nothing more than peace and harmony, yet they were being slaughtered by knights with guns that could rip apart forests in minutes. And the Soltako Armed Military headed straight for the Adrahira target: a tribal chief who'd made more noise than he should.

SAM landed on the world, guns blazed, heading straight for the tribal village. Their flamethrowers burnt down the forest world and all Adrahira villages nearby. The Adrhira had some technology - energized bows and arrows - but nothing compared to the heavily-armoured advanced soldiers that headed their way. The Adrahira chief ordered a retreat, but that didn't look possible.

The sky was filled with the Borealis Grox. And in little time, the planet was destroyed.

On Planet Mirras, in his throne, Mirras laughed. He had directed the attack, and wanted to get rid of all the aliens who saw him take over the Cold Relay in that star system, to transform it to a red Grox Relay.

Mac - You sick bastard...why did you have to kill those tribesmen? Mirras III - I'm not havng aliens in a Grox-controlled outpost.

Mac spat.

Mac - I can't wait til my outside help comes along and destroys you...and your little 'master'.

Mirras III looked unimpressed. He gave the signal, and a Dronox Commander pulled a lever, releasing energy into Mac, torturing him. Mac screamed in pain.

Mac - You...don't know...what I'm capable of... Mirras III - ''Yes I do. You're not even a true member of your race. And what outside help do you have?'' Mac - They're occupied at the moment...but they'll come when I speak to them next... Mirras III - That's a pretty vague answer.

Mirras III walked up to Mac, and grabbed his head. He released some strange energy into Mac's head, and Mac saw a vision.

Mac - Agh...!

''Blue creatures screamed in terror. Their race was dying. Blood, gore and violence, everywhere. The children saw their parents dying. A mechanical terror was slaughtering all. It got worse. Mac saw Borealis as a whole, surrounded by a Shadow. A Shadow the size of the galaxy. The Shadow waved one of its hands through the galaxy, and half of the blue creatures disappeared. No trace. Simply gone. The rest was left to die. One of them escaped, going into the Grox Empire's territory. Suicidal. All was chaos, all was disorder, the Ancient Ones were dead.''

Mirras III left the room along with other Grox and Dronox, leaving Mac alone, unconscious.

Zaarkhun's True Intentions
Back into the Iron Fist, it was time to reveal Zaarkhun's plan.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Volim, I'm gonna give you the offers. You can be the one who executes and leads the master plan....let's make this more interesting. Get Rebaris here. I want him to witness the death of his race.''

Some Wranploer soldiers brough Rebaris to the room.

Falrik Zaarkhun - Ah, my dear friend, his Royal Highness! Rebaris - ''Urgh. I liked the cell more than looking at your face.''

Genral Nai and Sollow chained Rebaris to a wall.

Torrent - You're gonna love this, Zoles. Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Do you like Volim's throne room? Made of pure gold. I bet you never had the same priveledges in your throne room.'' Rebaris - ''Why would I want it to be pure gold? Gold is an inefficient material for construction.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''It's nanometal gold, idiot. Don't tell me a race as advanced as the Zoles has never heard of nanometal construction...'' Rebaris - ''I don't get your obsession with nanotech. It's like "I MUST PUT NANOTHINGIES IN EVERYTHING OR I'LL DIE". You and UNO are like that.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Bah. "These nanothingies" are incredibly useful, you know. That's why they're put in everything. But, I'll refrain from talking. You're going to need some popcorn. Fetch the king some popcorn or something!''

A Wranploer soldier got him some popcorn, Rebaris felt unimpressed,

Falrik Zaarkhun - You see, you're about to witness the destruction of your kind...and Volim has waited a very long time for this moment. Volim - Almost 2,000 years! Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Yes, you can tell he's pretty excited. Do you want me to explan the master plan?'' Rebaris - Get to the point. Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Oooh, demanding. I can tell you're used to being king...''

Falrik Zaarkhun looked out of the window.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''You see, by a long way, the Borealis Consortium Network are the most rich corporation. And also, by a longer way, the Wranploer Legion are one of the most expansive empires. We own a lot of territory. And we continue to gain more daily. Many of the resources that all these weapons creators use to make their tools of destrcution come from worlds either within Legion territory, or that my elite soldiers have taken. You see, I've take over the majority of planets and star systems containig worlds with the resources that create these weapons. When it's all under my control, I charge a great deal for them. I also charge a great deal for delivering blueprints no one knows came from me. In fact, the Consortium Network are behind at least 75% of the designs you've seen in this War Economy. What does that mean? It means we earn 75% of the profit! And that's a lot of money...''

Falrik Zaarkhun, excited, turned to Rebaris and looked him in the eye.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''But it means something else. We have each of them on contract. And we also have a lot of money to spend on those we dn't have on contract. Essentially, everyone in the galaxy owes me a favour. I'm going to stop secretly supplying these designs through my decoy agents I sent to all these companies now, as Ino longer have any need for these contracts, but not before one thing happens first: All owners of all my weapons - the PMCs, the small and helpless civilizations - are all going to attack the Zoles Imperium on this day!''

Falrik Zaarkhun clenched his fist.

Falrik Zaarkhun - ''And the Wranploer Legion will lead the attack. General Volim himself will! General Volim will, today, defeat the Zoles Imperium, with the help of 65% of the Borealis Galaxy!!''

Falrik Zaarkhun laughed maniacally.

Rebaris - ''Huh. It's an intelligent plan, I must admit, but frankly, the Wranploer are primitive compared to the Imperium. You are seriously understimating my race.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''No no...you don't understand. Have you seen the weapons the War Economy has allowed us to produce? With huge competition between armsdealers to supply the best weapons, the best designs, and the most destructive methods of destruction, vastly powerful weapons are produced. And the Wranploer get their hands on thesee weapons. Even if they don't match your technology, they outright destroy the primitive weapons the Wranploer are used to using! And what's more, the Consortium Network isn't primitive as a whole. It's inconsistent. There are few examples of highly advanced technology - like this ship, for instance - but there is advanced technology. And when the Zoles don't have UNO or the Niaka to come to the rescue, they're in a bit of a difficult situation...''

Rebaris shook his head in dismay.

Rebaris - ''Who's saying the Niaka won't help? You're also forgetting that the other 35% of the galaxy sees the Imperium as a best friend, and will fight to death to defend it. I'm not even counting the extragalactic allies we got. You're commiting the same mistakes Volim did in the First Great War, and you know how that turned out.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Those 35% of the galaxy are also becoming very uneasy about helping the Zoles. A I continue to kill the certain individuals who have spoken against our economy, they begin to lose hope. Their morale is broken. Who's saying the Niaka won't help? How can they, when they have so many problems of their own? One of the major players in this economy, the TMI, who aren't getting their supplies from us, have also been paid rather a lot so that we can purchase their drones and deal with the Niaka. The Niaka will have some great difficulties...''

Rebaris began to panic now. This couldn't happen.

Rebaris - ''You'll fail, like Volim did. Your overconfidence blinds you and will be your downfall!''

Volim was about to hit Rebaris in anger, when he suddenly held his head, in pain.

Volim - Uuuurggh! Falrik Zaarkhun - Hahaha...I'm sorry, but your extragalactic allies are- Volim?!

Volim's eyes appared blank.

Volim - ''Cold Ones...slaughtered...Grox slaughter...galaxy in flames...those red eyes staring at me! Make it stop!'' Falrik Zaarkhun - You're having that vision again?! Volim - Blood and fire engulf one half...the other...is still missing...

Volim fell down, dizzy. Falrik Zaarkhun grabbed him and shook him.

Falrik Zaarkhun - Stay with me General... Volim - Urgh...*shakes head* What happened? Falrik Zaarkhun - ''Ah, good. You had that vision again...'' Volim - I did?...I don't remember having it...'' Torrent - ''This happened before, years ago. I though that was over, but looks like it's not.'' Falrik Zaarkhun - ''I've had reports of some strange neural activity... We'll have to delay the attack. Get Volim checked out by one of our therapists.''

Falrik Zaarkhun clenched his fist at Rebaris.

Falrik Zaarkhun - Don't think you've won... Rebaris - ''What a moodkiller. What was that about anyway? Something about the Grox and Cold Ones?''

Torrent hit Rebaris.

Torrent - ''None of your business! Back to the cell with you!''

Genrai Nal and some Wranploer soldiers took Rebaris back to his cell. The attack would be put off until a few days, buying time to have more targets killed.

Invasion of Fanaticus
The Niaka Special Forces, Adrahira Tribe, Minga Republic and a branch of the Egelielano Guilds had been planning to deal with a common enemy for several months. The was going on a rampage since the War Economy started, destroying several Minga, Adrahira and Egelielano planets, as well as many other innocent races, all because they didn't follow their belief on Spode. It was time to put an end on the Commando once and for all, but this time without the Zoles' help.

Ja'Hal, leader of the Commando, noticed a large enemy fleet emerging from the nearest Cold Relay of the Eaglartin homeworld, Fanaticus, and quickly ordered the empire's fleet to standby. Ja'Hal let out a speech, ordering the fleet to leave no survivors and to make the heretics pay for attempting to defy the Commando's holy capital. As the allied force reached Fanaticus, they were met with all of the Commando's might.

The Commando was quite formidable despite its small territory, quickly destroying the ships of the Egelielano, which were the least powerful of the fleet. The Minga had a long hatred toward the Commando because of their desturction of several Cold One artifacts, and fought with all of their determination. The Adrahira and the Niaka simply wanted to put an end on hostilities, even if death was necessary.

The battle raged for hours, both sides suffering losses but on a stalemate in power. Ja'Hal watched the ships fighting, bombing the capital city, but something puzzled him. Why would the heretics work together? Why were they not fighting each other? What made them unite forces against the Commando? In Ja'Hal's head, the enemies should be fighting each other, as they did not share beliefs at all. He could not help but send them a transmission.

Ja'Hal - ''How? How do you keep fighting together? Your beliefs don't fit! You are heretics to each other as you are to me!''

, who was leading the attack, replied.

Xerkea - ''Because we all agree on one thing: we want peace! This galaxy has been thrown into waste since the extragalactics arrived! First the Xi'Arazulha, then the Vague, now the Consortium Network and their PMCs! It's been 4 years since my species has last slept well at night, because we fear that the next day, we may not be here anymore! You being an intolerant bastard does not help at all! Open your freaking eyes already! We want peace, and for peace, we must work together!''

Ja'Hal sat down. This was completely alien to him. He wanted to tell the Niaka Chief how she was wrong, but...what if she was right? What if the Commando was actually doing wrong all time this? Perhaps this is why so many outsiders had ganged up against them in the First Great War? Perhaps this is the reason the Commando was a shadow of its former self?

Ja'Hal got up and looked at the screen, where Xerkea and the commanders of the other races were watching. He sighed.

Ja'Hal - ''...You are right. I was a blind fool. My old leader was a blind fool...heck, my entire species is made of blind fools. We never considered here-I mean, outsiders, could think differently but still remain at peace. Such concept is completely alien to me...'' Xerkea - Give peace a chance, Eaglartin. Ja'Hal - ...I will.

The Commando fleet seized fire, and backed off from the allied forces' ships.

Ja'Hal - ''We have been blind for too long. It's time to redeem ourselves...Niaka, allow us to help you oppose this "War Economy". It is an insult to us and to all of Spode's life.''

Xerkea appeared content, as well as the other commanders, except for the Minga commander who stood silent. The allied fleet also seized fire and called reinforcements to help them rebuild the damage on the capital. It was time for a chance of values in the Zealot Commando. They had joined the Order side.