Fiction:Da Reckoning/Da Andromeda Front

Da King Takes Da Pawn
Planet Tiideran, a colony. Freezing cold, mostly barren, the world was a mining colony, covered in icy glaciers, mining robots for the, and more importantly, hundreds of civillians. The world was still rich with resources, ones which the Loron would love to mine for themselves. Grak'tona was spoilt for choice for this world. Would he turn it into his new ice palace throne world in this galaxy, or simply eat it up and turn it into more starships for his royal fleet?

He had yet to decide. While Zalk'don commanded his ships to destroy the surrounding defending fleet, Grak'tona, with an army of Freezflamas, and his trusty sidekick Drizz'pyrokirk, crashed down at the top of an enormous mountain. This itself contained an underground colony, his first target. Grak'tona turned towards Drizz, and pointed at the mountain. Drizz grinned, as he pulled out his Flama, as his other Freezflamas followed him. The flamethrowers burned through the ice as they made their way towards the colony.

The colony was far from defenseless. None of them had expected the Loron starfleet to push through the orbital defenses and reach the world, but they were still prepared. The fierce militia came out of the caves in full force, ready to protect their kin and their resources. Their guns blazed, but they had never fought Loron before, and had no idea what they were in for. As many Freezflamas fell, those pushing through set the colonists alight, burning alive. It was like a living nightmare for those so used to the cold to experience heats in excessive of a thousand degrees celcius.

Grak'tona himself roared, as he charged forward at the colonists. Several mining robots quit their mining jobs, as they tried to fire upon the Loron, but Grak'tona barged through them, knocking them down with his shoulders or simply slapping them to the floor and exploding them. Another he grabbed above his head, and threw it towards the colonists, as its drill severed the colonists' head while the explosion splattered their remains. Grak'tona ordered Drizz and his men to head inside the caves, and flush out any remaining colonists, so as to spread a message to them.


 * Drizz'pyrokirk - oi man deres still dat colony below da mountain man
 * Grak'tona - den we can get to dat afta we killed dese geezas in da name of da king
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - no man...i got an idea...can we get zalk'don ta fire at da mountain?
 * Grak'tona - eh sure

Grak'tona headed inside the nearest cave opening, as he gave the order to Zalk'don. A missile hit the mountain, which began to shake. The hordes of Freezflamas and the bombardment from Zalk'don's ships had caused the once rock-solid mountain to begin to crumble. Despite the violent shaking, the colonists of a big tailed species were able to maintain their balance and stance, whilst smaller of not same species held onto them. The colonists were confused by the whole act and exchanged words loudly. Everyone paniced, until Grak'tona held his finger to his mouth and ordered them to hush.


 * Grak'tona - SHHHHHH. yoo dont yell wen deres an avalanche man.
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - yeh...yoo kno wat ta do
 * Grak'tona - da king ordas yoo ta do da reel fing yor ment ta do: YOO RAP DA AVALANCHE RAP TO DA GOD OF AVALANCHES SO HE SAVES YOO!!!!!

The other Loron cheered, as they began to pull out their speakers and began rapping. The mountain crumbled down, as the bombardments and the noise of the Loron caused its foundations to shake. A few colonists attempted to go out fighting, but they were little match for the sheer numbers of the Freezflamas. And soon, icy glaciers fell and crushed the colony, as they attempted to flee out of the other caves. Grak'tona and the other Loron laughed hysterically, as they too fled the caves. Many of the Loron found themselves trapped beneath the rock and ice, but those remaining got out.

A boulder came crashing down from the top of the mountain. It picked up momentum, crushing colonists and mining robots alike. Several more joined it. Many other Freezflamas, including Drizz, dashed out of its way, ready to let it crash on the colony below the mountain. But Grak'tona didn't move an inch. As the boulder hit him, it simply collapsed in his path, as Grak'tona stayed stood where he was, completely unflinched, his tough skin protecting him as he simply shrugged it off.

The mountain collapsed, as the rocks and ice fell towards the colonies below. Grak'tona gave his final orders.


 * Grak'tona - I MADE UP MA MIND. dis planet ent worthy of da king. we'll find a new ice planet an den if its not perfect WE TERRAFORM IT AN MAKE IT PERFECT.
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - so yor gonna destroy it?
 * Grak'tona - yeh. take me bak to ma ship, Da Royal Chariot, an lets go take da rest of dese stoopid Nomat-watevas. i dunno deir name but deyz allied wiv da heretikz.
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - chek up on golthabex man. lets see how hes doin.

Gol'thabex was half way across the galaxy. He had different orders entirely: kill the leading officers of the PAE. And his first target: Ashmaga Kanesh, aboard the HHS Radiance. Formerly High Ordinator of the Ecclesial Navy, now Lady Admiral of the United Andromedan Navy. Allegedly the supreme naval authority in the - though that hardly mattered now. was over, and the Great War the Ecumene as a whole abstained from. Now the Ecumene's federal military was, at best, nothing more than a glorified police force.

Until now.

He'd already broken his way in. By blowing a hole in the ship, and crashing through in an air-tight suit, Gol'thabex was a mere few rooms away from Ashmaga herself. But the reinforced metal was not enough for his hammers. He slammed them against the doors, smashing them open. Several greeted him, firing at him, but he shrugged it off. He threw both his hammers at two of them, which nailed them to the wall as it smashed their skulls, and then held his hands out for them, as they retained to him. Two more Radeon attempted to tackle him in close range, but he simply slammed his hammers down on them.

Energy enhanced, and made of the toughest metals in the universe, Gol'thabex' hammers broke down the final wall in between him and his target. He glared at the Tyrekian.


 * Gol'thabex - so yor da target. yoo dont look much liek a leeda.
 * Ashmaga - And you barely look like a Loron. I will fight you.
 * Gol'thabex - im betta dan dem. yoo shuld kno dis.

Gol'thabex threw his hammer at her, but she dodged it. Instead, it hit one of the flight terminals, causing a malfunction. The ship began to shake violently, as Gol'thabex retrieved his hammer and smashed it at the guards protecting her. Ashmaga pulled out her electrified longsword and stabbed Gol'thabex' arm, but it barely hurt him. He slammed his hammer and broke it in half, then grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against the wall.


 * Gol'thabex - im gonna hav yor hed.
 * Ashmaga - Not that easily.

Ashmaga fired her plasma gun at his leg, which partially pierced his shield, and forced him to lose his grip and fall slightly. She tried to hack away it him with what remained of her sword, but he simply flung her several feet away with a single blew. He threw a hammer at her, which pierced her leg and stuck her to the ground.


 * Ashmaga - Typical...I lose to the least Loron-ly of you all. I suppose I retain some dignity.
 * Gol'thabex - wat da yoo kno about leest loronly
 * Ashmaga - Loron fight because they love it. They don't do it for any real cause, unless it's good ol' fashioned revenge. Not you. You fight to load your pockets.
 * Gol'thabex - becuz im BETTA dan dem. im worth moar dan anotha loron. if yor good at somfin, neva do it fer free.
 * Ashmaga - Yeah...you're good. I wasn't expecting a single Loron to smash my ship while the rest were on the other side of the galaxy, alright. But you're not a Loron. You don't feel the glee of battle that they do.

Gol'thabex grinned, and chuckled to himself. He walked slowly towards her as she was helpless. She tried to pull out her plasma gun, but he ripped it, and her arm, from her, tossing them aside. He retrieved the hammer that had stuck her to the ground, as he laughed.


 * Gol'thabex - dats wher yor wrong...I ENJOY KILLIN LOSAS LIKE YOO!!!

And he slammed his hammer down, splitting her head, and kicked her aside. Then he turned to the rest of the terminals, and slammed his hammers into them, smashing them to bits. He pulled computers out and threw them frantically. And once he was sure that the ship was going to go down, he picked up the splitten skull of Ashmaga and carried it back to his starfighter, and left. He and the other Thugz had new targets. They wouldn't be able to catch their foe by surprise so easily next time, and would face resistance, but they were ready for it.

The XIth Convocation of the Highlords
The highermost level of Station 's Seat of Light, the Convocation Chamber, was the pinnacle of power in Andromeda both metaphorically and figuratively. Compared to the rather accomodating House of Lords below and the gigantic Great Ecclesia at the base of the Seat, whose planchements rose so high that special care had to be made to prevent clouds from water vapour from forming above the politicians, the chamber was quite small - just enough to host the four highlords and the several dignitaries and drones witnessing the discussion. That was not to say of course that it was in any way plain or not grandiose, as the artists from all over Andromeda had taken great care to decorate the place. The floor of the chamber, and the large platform upon which the Highlords were convening, were both made from a particularily rare crystal mined in the - transparent, but with a very unique, glistening tinge, allowing the Highlords to observe the happenings in the Seat of Light below, but not vice versa. The circular walls, mstly made out of rare Groodrubian brazilwood (somewhat ironic considering the transpiring events) and decorated with gold and stone, and were supported by several marble semipillars emerging from the wood and holding the dome above - made according to traditions of Divinarian architecture, and thus decorated with various shifting, abstract holographic images, mostly symbolic in nature. The walls themselves too were decorated, albeit in a more realistic way, as per Draconis traditions: they depicted important events in Andromedan history, from formation of the Galactic Commonwealth, to the defeat of Grochius on Cathemera, the Shattering, the signing of the Treaty of Ragnabad, and finally the end of the. One could see that pictures did on occasion break out of two dimensions, gaining volume through holography.

In the center laid, as it was said before, a four-stepped crystal platform, the center of which was a great stone table, further elevated above the platform. The temple had the shape of the rhombus when viewed from above and an hourglass when viewed from the side: its stepped quadragonal elements slowly became smaller as they went further down and then larger again as they reached the platform's floor, like two stepped pyramids placed against one another. Four similarily raised seats - again decorated, though not as grandiose as the thrones of their respectable homelands perhaps - were placed at every side of the rhombus, one for each Highlord. At the very center was a small holoemitter, which right now showed the events in the outer colonies.

A morbid silence was held in the chamber. The four Highlords of Andromeda sat in their appropriate seats, looking tentatively at each other - imploring each other to do something, to break the silence somehow. All of them knew full well what had happened a day ago. An entire colony turned into dust by fury.


 * Iovera - [This place has become quite indecisive, Uriel.] - Iovera, having the advantage of being a telepath, sent a psychic message to the Draconid Paragon, connecting their minds together. The Clericarch was arguably the least cooperative member of the council. As one of the fiercest supporters of unity and authoritarinism in the Ecumene, she was stalwart in her decisions, and did not intend to rule with a gentle hand. She of all the Highlords believed the most in the importance of strict rule, as any Divinarian cleric would, and had a full intention to enforce it if necessary. This belief was further exacerbated by her mistrust towards the new arrivals: the French and the Kicath. As much as she respected both the humans and the Paclernosi, the fact that they wielded ultimate power in the Ecumene without even being full part of it infuriated her somewhat. For her, they were all take and no give. Not to mention the way they stalled discussions compared to the old triumvirate. The old Commonwealth was founded by rulers who all were, in essence, friends, who were amicable and understood each other instantly. The new Ecumene's council was a council of allies. Perhaps more convenient, more honest and representing Andromeda more fully, but the same openness that was in the Commonwealth was obviously gone - as was her husband, and with him, her optimism. - [Perhaps the decision to expand the Council was not so wise after all.]
 * Uriel - [Do not fret, Clericarch.] - Uriel lacked Iovera's innate abilities, but knew that she would know what he was thinking nonetheless, and thus in this silent discourse he opened his thougts to her - [This indecision is no different than the open floor of the Praetor's council.]
 * Iovera - [Perhaps, but this is still quite cumbersome a system. Though I understand the reasoning behind the decision, sometimes I wish it were just me, you and Tyraz for once. There was much less bickering back then.]
 * Uriel - [No. We are not. Democracy has its uses but at this hour, authority is required.] - Uriel shifted in his seat, he stood from his chair and looked upon each of the highlords. Gathering his words, he straightened his back. - It goes without saying a shadow has been cast on our home. We are all shaken, but the colony's loss should not shake us. Let us take it, and remember it as we march in retaliation!
 * Kitravasuron - March as we may. We are all aware of how the Loron move. This is not a simple offensive. The threat of the Loron stretches beyond that of Andromeda; something that we cannot ignore. We must do our best to end this threat here and prevent it from growing back. But the Loron, as we know, are unpredictable and their methods are hazardous. It will take more than just an orbital bombardment, and not even then will they be scared of it.
 * Iovera - We've faced armies like this before. We need to somehow organise our forces and strike at the heart of the best - only then the marching armada can be stopped. However, we know the sorry state the army is in right now.
 * D'Arcy - It is important not to overstate the threat posed by the Loron. They possess advanced technology and the means to do serious damage, but that does not change the fact that they are a mob, not a state. They are disorganized, highly erratic, and lack any form of serious leadership or direction even in this moment. They have no strategy, no grasp of tactics, no organization beyond that of momentary greed and lust for violence. To take them on like one would a state––on equal terms, in a competition of military and industrial might, would not only be a waste, it would be a grievous mistake. The Loron onslaught is a tempest whose character can be likened to water. Their energy and power will break itself harmlessly on our walls when faced with any form of systematic, organized defense. But if we were to wade out into the shallows, we would be surrendering that advantage. Fighting on their turf, on their terms, we would be deferring to their strengths––flexibility, spontaneity, and instability––and risk being trapped by the rigidity of our own forces. I fear that we might be swept off our feet and drown. The Loron threat must be addressed through mitigation and a limited marshalling of forces. The question is not how it must be defeated, but how we can best protect ourselves before it disintegrates on its own.

For France's envoy to the Highlord Council, Lord-Ambassador D'Arcy Marcoux, the crisis was an uncomfortable occurrence. A refined cosmopolitan, he was at his worse when walking out of lockstep with the Andromedan elites which he blended with so easily. Indeed, France often seemed to exist a world apart from Andromedan concerns. It was a member of the galactic community, yet separate; a native when it wanted to be a part of the solution, and a foreigner when it was a part of the problem; heavily invested in the Galaxy's success, yet unwilling to invest itself fully in its institutions; a believer in governing by consensus, yet maintaining an undemocratic veto on legislation which would infringe upon its sovereignty; a proponent of a stronger, united galaxy, so long as it would retain its privileged status; and always with a foot out the door.

D'Arcy was left with the Herculean task of pulling these contradictions together into workable, palatable policy, which was never easy. Some in Andromeda saw France as a champion of the rights of states, a defender of sovereignty against the infringements of a narrow interpretation of Andromedan unity. Others saw it as a model for a more fair and principled union, its form of government perfectly marrying peerage with democratic rule. But on bad days, D'Arcy suspected that members of the Highlord Council saw the Milky Way's second hyperpower as an irreconcilable mess of contradictions whose influence was barely justified through the dividends doled out by its participation. This was likely to be one of those days.

The Lord-Ambassador had sent multiple cables to Paris informing them of the upcoming meetings of the Highlord Council, of the kind that required the Highlords to be present. La capitale considered the meeting a stage act, as the Highlord Council had jumped on the occasion to demonstrate its relevance to its critics. It was only one colony, they replied, and to the Loron no less. Mired in five crises in four galaxies at once, most of them involving the Loron, the French Empire had better things to do than to dispatch the Emperor to Elysion for a round of theatrics. However, D'Arcy mused as he he finished his remarks, the effects on French prestige would be felt. Everywhere, lulled into pacifism by an intense desire for peace after prolonged conflict, it felt like the Nation was surrendering leadership to the very rivals––friend and foe––it had bested during the Great Xonexian Schism. France had to take the Loron seriously, the French diplomat thought, yet he understood why he was the only one present who was the head of state of no nation, why had suddenly become the symbol––sticking out like a sore thumb––of France's seeming lack of commitment to dealing with the Loron threat.

Uriel contemplated the Lord-Ambassador's words deeply, he receded into a state of contemplation, curious for a potential solution. His suggestion rang true for many enemies of his Imperium; an empire that had over the eons become famous as a formidable hammer, and more importantly as a nigh-impenetrable bastion. Like his peers on the council, Uriel was no stranger to the Loron threat. He agreed with D'Arcy, in silence however, that the Loron were at their core a storm more than an organised threat. But that did not make htem dangerous. But at the same time, while he understood the Loron could be weathered, they had access to supposedly unlimted resources. Weathing the storm was not an option.


 * Iovera - I think the truth of the matter is that we must respond quickly. The armies of the Ecumene require reformation. Our united militaries must work in greater cohesion. As Masaari always tells us, unity is to be maintained.
 * D'Arcy - We need to respond, yes, but that can be done with the pieces already on the board. This is not an opportunity to manufacture a crisis in order to advance a political agenda. We've been deadlocked on how to reform the military up until now, and should put politics aside while Andromeda is still grieving.
 * Iovera - Indeed, but a reform needs not be radical. Besides, the... predicament of our galaxy gives us time. Even with their new technologies, it will take months at worst for the Lorons to reach Elysion. We have time to spare. A single commander to bring together the Ecumene's collective military might will suffice to halt the attack before it reaches its peak.

Uriel broke form his silence and looked up.


 * Uriel - I may have a candidate in mind...
 * Iovera - [No. No way.] - Iovera relayed a mental message to Uriel - [The crisis requires radical measures, but not so radical.]
 * D'Arcy - We can discuss the candidate once we've come to an agreement about the position itself, its powers, how its appointed, and how long it will serve before being discharged. I can make the case to the Emperor why a Commander would be necessary in this instance––indeed I think he would agree––but if this is to become a precedent in the Ecumene, we need to go about this carefully. Do you intend this to become a permanent position, to be held even in peacetime?
 * Iovera - In the perfect scenario? Yes. There are enough threats in the Gigaquadrant for us to defend from. If we have to organise a single military from the scratch whenever there is a crisis, one day or another, what the Lorons will fail to do, others will.
 * D'Arcy - Yet, it is a serious question whether the Ecumene is ready for a single, permanent military command. I'm not speaking for France, but rather for those who feel uncomfortable with consolidations of power under the Highlord Council. The stability and cohesion of the Ecumene relies on their willing participation and trust of the system.
 * Iovera - The Supreme Commander will be answerable to the Light. Provided that the lawmakers down there won't scoff at the notion, I presume the Loron attacks will more than show the opponents of a stronger military why it is needed.
 * D'Arcy - I'm not sure it does, but for the Commander to be answerable to the organization's democratic arm is a start. How do you envision that working? I'm going to echo Your Holiness' own position when I point out that a democratic check on a military position could be a disaster in the middle of a losing campaign.
 * Uriel - What the position also needs is an individual that can be trusted to command in the best interests of both the Ecumene and the greater galaxy.
 * D'Arcy - More importantly, that he is seen as such by the constituencies of the Ecumene. How about this? Since this is a military matter requiring executive decisiveness, we could implement the same process of selecting a Lord Protector, except in reverse. The Highlord Council comes to a decision on a candidate which it recommends to the Light. The Light must then approve this selection by a two-thirds majority. If it does not, we recommend another candidate.
 * Uriel - This is an acceptable consideration.
 * D'Arcy - There should also be a mechanism by which the Light could recommend that the Judiciary remove the official from office, though that should be a lengthy and cumbersome process, ultimately subject to the judgement of the judiciary––and immune from veto.
 * Iovera - I have no reason to object to these potential counterbalances. That leaves the fourth Highlord. Your Majesty? - Iovera turned to Kitravasuron - Do you have any reasons to object?
 * Kitravasuron - I have no reason to believe why we should not consider this. Times are dire, and such we need - Andromeda needs - a figurehead.
 * Iovera - Excellent. The only issue left is the title the Supreme Commander should have. Not to say that is the most pressing issue, but sophisticated-sounding titles are very much important to Ecumene's tradition. We are Andromedans, after all.
 * D'Arcy - ''I'm glad your Holiness brought it up, since "Supreme Commander" might alarm some constituencies within the Ecumene. I would recommend something more obscure, and which implies less authority. "Commander-in-chief," for example, or "Géneralissime."
 * Iovera - Lord Géneralissime. As I said, this is Andromeda we are talking about.
 * D'Arcy - Very well. If the Light approves, I cannot object.
 * Uriel - Then at present we are in agreement: That the Lord-Géneralissime, or perhaps Lord-Generalisimus will be selected for approval by each of us, who must then be assessed and voted on by the Andromedan Light. Are we all in approval?
 * D'Arcy - I will need to relay this back to Paris for the Emperor's personal approval, but I do not foresee any issues. Excuse me. He stood and left, clutching his personal communicator.
 * Iovera - And while our esteemed Lord-Ambassador is communicating, perhaps Highlord Uriel would name his potential candidate?
 * Uriel - 'I have considered what is needed: A long and defined career, considerable experience both in the Borealis Galaxy and combating the Loron, a strong aura of authority and a controlled demeanor even when under fire.''
 * Iovera - ...Yes. I think everyone understands who we are talking about. Regret her as I may, she is indeed the best possible candidate.
 * Uriel - Personality aside, her mind is an incredible one. to behold in regards to military strategy.
 * Iovera - [The humans will likely demand something in return from us for that. Any particular plans you have in mind, Uriel?]
 * Uriel - [Like for a like, Iovera. As much as it may seem like favouritism, we need to demonstrate our trust in them. If they are to become more open to one of our own commanding such a high position...then perhaps we should entrust one of theirs in another position.]
 * Iovera - [Make sure it is someone equally as competent as her. We can't allow nepotism.]

D'Arcy returned, flipping his personal communicator shut as the ornate door to the chamber closed behind him.


 * D'Arcy - The Emperor approves of the current proposal, but he has a suggestion this council might appreciate. He reassumed his seat.
 * Iovera - We are listening.
 * D'Arcy - He'd like for the Highlord Council to also be able to recommend the deposition of the Lord-Generalissimo, and for there to be a mechanism by which the incumbent's removal from office is accelerated if both the Highlord Council and the Andromedan Light jointly make such a recommendation.
 * Iovera - We are in agreement.
 * Uriel - A reasonable request. I indeed concur with the Clericarch.
 * D'Arcy - Perfect. With that amendment, France votes in favor.
 * Uriel - Excellent! I presume there is no further business?
 * D'Arcy - Until the Andromedan Light votes on this proposal, we can do no more, but Your Royal Majesty had a candidate to suggest?
 * Uriel - Much has been discussed already, ambassador. Though this meeting does give me one final thought: Historically it has always been that we all gather in person. Given Highlord Valery's commitments to business in the Milky Way Galaxy, perhaps it is time these chambers recieved an overhaul; a holoprojector relay, perhaps. So that none of us require crossing galaxies in order to discuss matters of state.
 * D'Arcy - That is a very reasonable step to take, and I would like to apologize on behalf of my Emperor that he could not make it here today. Indeed, the importance of being present is crucial to the Council's smooth operation and expediency. However, as our committments expand with the growth of the Ecumene, both domestically and abroad, along with demands on the time of our leaders, it might be more efficient if we relegated the discussion of details in the Highlord Council to appointed delegates. Meetings between heads of state such as these would serve to guide the agenda of the Highlord Council, set out a framework for discussion and policy, and take a limited amount of time. Much more expansive talks would take place between appointed ambassadors, covering each issue in depth, and resolving points of disagreement. This is a rough framework I haven't in the least prepared or refined, but what are your opinions?
 * Iovera - Lord Exarch Karsin Lanar will speak on my behalf when needed.
 * Uriel - My daughter Alessa has blossomed into an excellent diplomat. I can offer her to speak on matters such as these.
 * D'Arcy - ... Then we are in agreement. The French diplomat seemed somewhat surprised and taken aback by the success of his improvised motion.

Da Push for Exterioris
A couple decades ago, the New Tadpole Empire made its presence on Andromeda. Unlike what many expected from the New Empire's shady appearance, they surprisingly did not bother the rest of the galaxy, and simply wanted to stay alone on the Exterioris segmentum, being content in expanding in the lone area and studying Umbra with their outposts. The rest of the galaxy was content in leaving them alone - which is just what the New Empire wanted. Refuge from the Milky Way.

Their peace was not going to last. After their showdown against the nearby Nomatari Sovereignty, the Loron turned their attention to them. While Gol'thabex was busy, Ca'aghstar, a Loron who recently became a Warboss, looked at a starmap of Andromeda's Exterioris segmentum. A vast segment mostly devoid of civilizations, except for one on its heart: the New Tadpole Empire. In the center of the New Empire laid an artificial wormhole linking Andromeda and the Milky Way, specifically to the, a place he was tasked to conquer. His assistant, a Norol named Run'nore, approached him.


 * Ca'aghstar - so those dumbos hav sum wormhole we culd use to travel to deir stoopid sector. if we can destroy da empiya we can gib dem a big surprise rite
 * Run'nore - Well, there are a few problems with that plan. The wormhole will lead us into the middle of Soloth, so we'll be vulnerable to attacks from all angles.
 * Ca'aghstar - do ya fink im stoopid? i kno dat already, first we are gonna weeken da empiya's defenses in this galaxy, den we will take dem ova an shut down da wormhole. afta dat we'll get deir resources ta build our shipz, den we'll storm dem. Kal'kuir would be proud man
 * Run'nore - Actually, he would facepalm. There's a lot that can go wrong with this. You're lucky you're charismatic enough for most Loron to follow through your plans.
 * Ca'aghstar - aw com on man yor hurtin ma feelins

Ignoring his snarky comrade's comments, the Loron ordered his fleet to attack the New Empire.

The citizens of the New Empire had no warning of the incomming attack, and many were taken by surprise as Ca'aghstar's forces loomed on the New Empire's colonies. The underwater worlds were no match to the Rogue Boyz, as they used torpedoes instead of missiles to lay waste to the colonies. Some ships were even fitted with the ability to head straight underwater.

The attack was not one-sided - as soon as they learned of the attack, the New Empire mobilized their forces and fought back as valiantly as they could, but they were no match for the Rogue Boyz and their UNO technology, and ditched the planets, saving as many people as they could. The New Empire watched in shock as the Loron started absorbing the planets' resources. Defeated, they retreated and let the Loron embrace their victory while the New Empire mustered more forces.

Ca'aghstar sat on the commander's seat on his mothership. He recieved a transmission stating that the Loron managed to take over 27% of the New Empire's outer colonies.


 * Ca'aghstar - see man i told ya it wuld work. dey neva faced da TROO STRENF of da loronz befor
 * Run'nore - Yeah, but now you revealed your hand. Now what?
 * Ca'aghstar - dunt worry man i hav a plan

Fasler, the leader of the New Empire's military, balled his hand into a fist.


 * Fasler - I can't believe we lost so easily. If only we had seen them...
 * Bulpwes - Relax Fasler, it wasn't your fault.
 * Fasler - Maybe not, but even then. Those guys are at our doorstep right now. What if they take the wormhole and invade Soloth?
 * Bulpwes - Then we won't let them do that. I'll call the Emperor and the . We'll get reinforcements from the Milky Way. We won't be defeated.
 * Fasler - Thing is, our troops are busy dealing with the Tadfroggy Imperium in the Milky Way. We're being flanked on both sides!
 * Bulpwes - Don't worry, I'll think of something.

With a wink, Bulpwes walked away.

Eetin Da Dum Planets
Grak'tona's conquest to build his new empire of ice in Andromeda would run into several complications. One of which presented itself in the form of Planet Heralannis, a world, and the first of the system to take over. But despite the powerful Juggernaut and Mercator ships defending the world, the sheer number of Sik Ships meant that the defenses were wiped out immediately.

As Grak'tona's fleet had now decimated the NTA's space defenses orbiting the planet, the fully hospitable, lush, green world was now ripe for conquest. Its vast complex of cities, home to many and, were ripe for the Loron to take as their own. And the moons of the world were ripe for the Loron to build colonies of their own on.

But Grak'tona had other plans.


 * Grak'tona - DIS PLANET IS TOO WARM. CANT HAV IT
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - yeh but it culd be used ta grow lotsa food an pizza
 * Grak'tona - NOT WORFY. NOT WORFY OF MAKIN PIZZA FOR DA KING. FIRE DA PLANET EETA.

And so it was done. Grak'tona's Sik Ship, and several others surrounding, launched an enormous horde of planet eating nanomachines. It was like none the population had seen before. Already terrified to leave the surface, as any escape shuttle leaving the world would be instantly shot down by the ships orbiting, the citizens watched in dread as the sky became filled with nanomachines. In many cases, they blotted out the sun as they filled the sky. Within minutes, only pitch black remained. No light could get through, but the light bounced back to the surface, which raised the temperature in spite of the lack of a star.

Already scorched, the nanomachine-filled sky closed in on them. It was eating away at the atmosphere and drawing closer. Many others shot down what appeared to be beams hitting the surface, which were both sending materials back to the ships and eating away at the ground early. Tertanai and Imperix alike clinged to their loved ones. Ground defenses desperately fired at the machines drawing ever closer to them, but it was futile, there were simply too many of them. Many of the nanomachines simply self-replicated with the materials gathered, and it was already too late.

The planet's population choked for breath, scorched. Soon, the horde of machines swept past them, as the machines were done eating the atmosphere. They now ate everything on the surface. Every building constructed, every inch of rock, everything made of atoms was eaten up by quantum replicators and sent back to the Loron ships. The Loron watched without a care in the world, as a planet full of people, people with families, who had done nothing to warrant war, were all murdered in a grotesque and painful way, and their bodies finally crushed.

One would think it would be a bloodbath. But the only blood left would be drifting away in the empty space left as the machines ate the world whole.


 * Zalk'don - MAN I WISH I CULD JUS BLOW DEM UP
 * Grak'tona - FINE BLOW UP A MOON LONG AS DA NANO FINGIES CAN EET UP DA DEBRIS

In glee, Zalk'don turned the Sik Ship around and aimed at the moon nearby. He fired a single, huge, relativistic antimatter missile, which exploded the world from within. Nanomachines were sent to catch the debris and eat it. Now, they began to construct new Sik Ships, as Grak'tona gave the orders for several of his Boyz to inhabit them, and clone their own army of Loron. Over the course of several more hours, the entire system had been eaten up. Quadrillions of Loron Sik Ships, almost too many for Grak'tona's Boyz to fill up.


 * Grak'tona - DAT WAS SIK. LETS GO KILL MOAR PAE DUMBOS

And his crusade marched on. Soon, he would have his empire of ice. And this two sextillion strong fleet would ensure it.

Council of War
The fleets from all over Andromeda were gathering in Neo-Tertamian territory - ships of white and gold as well as vessels of local Ecumenical militaries converging in a secret point somewhere in Segmentum XII. The focal point of that great fleet, around which these ships united, was the Ecumene's recently constructed supercarrier, Immaculate - the newest pride of the galactic community. A monolith of gleaming metal, equally a work of art, a vessel, and an object of abject fear, it represented the unyielding strength of the galaxy that the Lorons were about to face in its entirety.

It was on this ship's vast cathedralic bridge that all of the galaxy's highest-ranked officers were brought together - some in person, others as holograms. Bellisarius Claudius Alaricus, the Legate-General of the Bastion Legions, master of the countless automated armies of the Ecumene - a machine as much as his "men". Volunus Karnithus, former Imperium admiral, now Grand Marchal of the Ecumene's proud marines - the Dragoon Corps. Abal'nyan, Princess of House Nyan and Grandmaster of the elite Guardians of Light. Zelfron II, preserver of law and order in the Ecumene and Supreme Commandant of the Internal Guard. Marchal Vendradu as supreme military authority in Segmentum XII too was present on the meeting, despite his relatively low position in the Ecumene as a whole.

The two most important guests, however, were still absent.


 * Zelfron II - This is a beautiful vessel. The creativity and engineering applied to it are nothing short of excquisite. A pity that its first flight will be so bloody.
 * Volunus - A pity, Supreme Commandant? Surely the situation will make out flagship's maiden mission a moment that will be one billions will speak about.
 * Bellisarius - Perhaps the Supreme Commandant does not truly appreciate the glory of battle. - Bellisarius' voice was noticeably cybernetic and bore little emotion, but it only served to undertone the bile of sarcasm felt in his every word - After all, your people decided to abstain from the Schism.
 * Zelfron II - Let us not descend into petty nationalistic insults, shall we? We must focus on the situation at hand foremost.
 * Volunus - I concur. These Loron must be dealt with. Swiftlly. And decisively..
 * Bellisarius - Which is why I believe veterans of the Schism should maintain primacy in this discussion. I was the last time Divinarian officers actually had to fight a war?
 * Zelfron II - ...You seem to praise your Imperium a little bit too much, Legate. Ironic, considering you would never have risen so high in the military if not for the Ecumene... human. - the burning red cybernetic eyes of the Legate flared with anger, even though little else in his body seemed to indicate it.
 * Abal'nyan - I must agree.
 * Bellisarius - I would recommend you to keep quiet, Telzoc. You are not a true warrior.
 * Chosogi - Am I interrupting something?

A small, thin winged sillhouette of a emerged from the door of the bridge, dressed in the official uniform of an Ecumene officer - hardly impressive and fairly short himself, but wearing a lavishly decorated military cap that made him appear at least a foot or so taller. He seemed somewhat reserved and a little bit uneasy in the surrounding of other officers, yet attempted to keep its cool as he flew gracefully into the front chair. Volunus frowned, cleared hsi throat and gazed at the Clanden admiral.


 * Chosogi - I believe this is my chair. And my ship.
 * Volunus - So wonderful you could finally join us.
 * Bellisarius - The newcomer. Welcome to the High Command, Lord Admiral. We have a most troublesome situation at hand - provided that he understands the order of things here.
 * Chosogi - Order of things?
 * Bellisarius - You know what we are talking about. - Bellisarius's eyes flared - The High Command concerns itself with the matters of war, and war is a game. Thus the High Command itself is also a game, and we all must choose a side in it. You are neutral, as of now.

Volunus smirked in Chosogi's direction.


 * Chosogi - ...Are you talking about? Does that happen even here? Even now? Are you insane? Do we really argue about politics in a middle of a war? ...Why? Do I not understand something?
 * Venoriel - Yes, Lord Admiral.

The door suddenly opened yet again - not with a gentle, uncertain movement of the hand, but with a strong and sudden telepathic push. The sounds of clanging of metal boot soles against marble grew louder and louder as the last member of the High Command entered the hall - moving with graceful dignity and looking down at the rest of the officers. A tall, stern yet stunningly beautiful Radeon female wearing a pristine white uniform with a robe that extended to the base of her feet.

.


 * Venoriel - You all are pathetic. Your petty conflicts are not only disgraceful - they are criminal. There was a time when the commanders of the Ecumene and the Commonwealth were the best of the best, heroes who abandoned their differences for the sake of greater good. Tyraz Breek. Jahricveredis Telnhao. Larnus Vontarion. - Venoriel spoke with her usual condescending tone - Do these names hold any meaning to you, officers?
 * Volonus - You speaks as if I am ignorant of the statues that line the road to His Majesty's palace.
 * Bellisarius - You are a Radeon. What do you know of valour?
 * Venoriel - Indeed, I am a Radeon. I am also a Divinarian, a devotee of Spode, a protector of Borealis; witness to the vanquishing of false gods and demons. But do you know what I am above all this? - Venoriel's voice became increasingly more intense - I am an Andromedan officer, and we have a duty. Leave the political squabbling to the Light and the Highlords. Their mission is to talk. Our mission is to execute. Now. To the situation at hand.
 * Volonus - Yes - Volonus straightened himself, correcting his uniform as he attempted to restore his confidence - The Loron continue to lay waste to our home, the more we bicker, the more they destroy, the more we fail.
 * Venoriel - Well said. Now, the greatest weakness of the Lorons of course comes in their arrogance and their lack of foresight and intelligence. An enemy of choleric temperament is meant to be irritated. That must be our goal. Threaten them, bait them, and then exterminate them.
 * Bellisarius - You suggest creating a trap?
 * Volonus - Yes...Tempt these barbarians with a treasure that will distract them, throw them off-guard. And when the time is right, we strike!

Volonus punctuated his excitement by confidently thumping the planning table, grinning sinisterly.


 * Abal'nyan - A dishonourable tactic, but-

At that moment, a new hologram appeared. But it was not one of the PAE. Showing up out of nowhere, Grak'tona's hologram appeared as he began to speak. He blew rasberries at the others first.


 * Grak'tona - SUP IDIOTS
 * Abal'nyan - What?
 * Venoriel - Excellent. The idiotic one reveals himself.
 * Grak'tona - HURHUR YOR FING IS DUM. GOLTHABEX TOOK OVA ONE OF YOR SHIPS AN LET ME SPEEK TO YOO THROO DIS FING. YOR ALL PATHETIC WIV DIS CONFRENCE. SOON YOR PEEPZ WILL BE KISSIN MA FOOT AN BUILDIN MA NOO THRONE
 * Bellisarius - He has access to our communication codes. This will not stand.
 * Grak'tona - ITS AKTUALLY PROPA FUNNY DAT YOO FINK YOO CAN MATCH MA POWA. YOR ALL GONNA BE SLAVES TO MA THRONE AN GOLTHABEX WILL LOB OFF YA HEDS. I HAV ACCESS TO YA CHAT FINGY SO I CAN REED ALL YA MESSAGES AN SEE HOW DUM AN GEEKY YOO ALL IS. I WULD LECTUR YOO ALL ABOUT DA GHOSTIE PAIN AN DA LOSS BUT HUR I GOT MA CROWN BAK. SO GET STOMPED LOSAS!!!!!!

Volonus tapped some text into his pad, he kept it disconnected and handed it to Venoriel, where there was the message "The Eye could isolate his transmission and cut him from the system." Venoriel subtly nodded.


 * Grak'tona - OI IDIOTS TRYNA GET MESSAGES WIVOUT ME KNOWIN. HUR YOO FINK YOR CLEVA NOW BUT JUS WAIT TIL I FIND OUT HOW TA HAK INTO DEM AS WELL!!!!


 * 'Venoriel - Now, I believe that first of all we need to focus on evacuating civilians! - Venoriel winked to the officers. She knew full well that the Lorons would seek out the place where there will be the most combat and the most bloodshed. She also knew that Grak'tona hardly understood deceit. - The planet of Iath could serve as a refuge for non-combatants during the war. The place where they could take all their belongings and riches, as well as their families. Do you agree?
 * Bellisarius - Of course, madam! - Bellisarius bowed, as did the rest of the officers. - A most brilliant plan.
 * Venoriel - Charming. I believe the meeting is adjourned now. Until next time.

The Battle for Q'lnas
Sitting in his Sik Ship, known as Da Royal Krooza, Grak'tona and the other Loron had a brief discussion before attacking the next world. After having slaughtered world after world, Grak'tona now wished to conquer a world full of refugees in order to kill the majority of them, and make the rest of them his slaves. When he saw that the world they were converging on was composed primarily of oceans, he got even more giddy, and called for a discussion with the rest of the Warbosses, and with Gol'thabex.

Having just earned a new crown, Grak'tona smiled to himself as he addressed the others.


 * Grak'tona - SO DA WIMPY ALIENZ RAN AWAY TO SOM DUM WATA PLANET. HUR DIS IS DA BEST FING EVA
 * Zalk'don - wata? man dats hard ta jus bom stuff
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - no but its GOOD FER FREEZIN. WIV SO MUCH WATA WE CAN JUS FREEZE DA WHOL PLANET AFTA KILLIN EVRYUN. WE MAKE DEM SLAVES DEN DEY BUILD US AN ICY KINGDOM
 * Grak'tona - HURHUR YEH EXACTLY WAT I WAS FINKIN. DA KING ORDAS WE TAKE DA PLANET OVA

Gol'thabex had remained silent. While the others initially put it down to his usual quiet-ness, Gol'thabex was, in fact, not too keen on the idea. He spoke up, which was something rare for him.


 * Gol'thabex - i dunt fink dats a good idea. somfin looks fishy about dis
 * Grak'tona - wat do ya meen. all its got is a buncha wata an som cowards dat cant fite
 * Gol'thabex - it doesnt look like a good idea. deyz probs arrangin a trap. i vote i leed da assault on ma own wiv ma Thugz Fer Dosh. dat way we can cleer da geezas out den jus freeze da world
 * Grak'tona - AR YOO STOOPID? BY MA ROYAL DECREE I DECLAR I GET TA TAKE DIS WORLD AN FREEZ IT. MAN WAT DA HELL GO BAK TA ASSASSINATIN LEEDAS
 * Gol'thabex - its yor loss if yoo get bommed ta deth

It was clear Grak'tona had already made up his mind. The Loron agreed on their course of action, and sent their fleet to take over the oceanic planet.


 * Bellisarius - You sure they will come? - Bellisarius stood atop one of the largest artificial platforms of Q'lnas, scanning the horizon. - Perhaps the Lorons are not that dim after all.
 * Venoriel - Trust me on that, Legate General. - the holographic image of Venoriel stood next to the General and his soldiers - I did not believe it at first either that the Lorons are that dumb either.
 * Volunus - They're animals. Animals can be clever, but that means nothing if they cannot ocntrol themselves. Something I see as an impossability amongst these Loron.
 * Venoriel - And here they come.

One after the other, large civilian cruisers appeared out of the stormy sky - large, lumbering titans of metal and plastic. Venoriel smiled as she saw them followed by a vast fleet of Sik Ships. The leading one had a larger arsenal, a blue plating and what appeared to be a giant, golden crown on the face at the front. This could easily be identified as Grak'tona's ship. Many Loron Fightas and Bommas swarmed out, but the majority of the fleet was contained in shuttles within the larger ships.


 * Chosogi - Was it wise enough to risk civilians so much? Risking refugees as bait..?
 * Venoriel - Wait for it, Lord Admiral, and follow your orders. You know what to do.
 * Volunus - Yes ma'am. - Volunus switched channels, broadcasting a message to the fleets lying in wait for the Loron Armada to draw near - All capitals, prepare to fire. Hyperspatial ammunition, fire on Lord-Admiral Chosogi's command.

The Loron fleet sent down its shuttles full of Loron. Each arriving in their own gunship containing gangz of at least twenty each, they came down in swarms, backed up by Fightas and Bommas, full of enthusiastic and battle-hungry Loron.

Hesitating, but hoping to do the right thing, Chosogi ordered his ships to fire. Under the cover of the barrages, Volunus ordered for the ships of the Dragoon Corps to join in, their smaller vessels joining in the onslaught as they fought towards the Loron battleships that were bearing down on the refugee vessels in a bid to protect them.


 * Chosogi - Focus fire on the Loron ships. Do not use heavy ordnance - we cannot risk civilian deaths.
 * Volonus - Dragoon carriers, launch strike wings and have thme focus on the shuttles and escorts. Do not let those brutes close to the refugees.
 * Captain - Roger that, Lord Admiral! - the fleets of the Ecumene, composed of mostly of small but highly Comte-class destroyers supported by swarms of AI-controlled Chevalier frigates, opened fire, sniping down the incoming shuttles and tackling down larger ships.

However, even with the drone vessels at their side, Chosogi's and Volunus's fleets could not much the hordes of ships that the Lorons had brought to their side. Aboard his flagship, the Lord Admiral stared at the situation in desperation, planning all the potential outcomes of the battle in his mind.


 * Chosogi - Excellent. Just excellent. - Chosogi opened the map - Convoys 1, 2, 3, 4 are unharmed as of now. Good. Convoy 5. Convoy 5! Marshal, the refugee ships' defenses are being compromised. Send your forces and focus fire on sector 1-46!
 * Volunus - Understood. Wing 27 and 32, reposition to 1-46, souble-time.
 * Venoriel - Pardon the intrusion, - Venoriel contacted both Volunus and Chosogi aboard their respective flagships, smiling mischievously - I believe this won't be necessary, commanders.
 * Volunus - Excuse me!?
 * Chosogi - What do you mean, Lord-Generalissime?
 * Venoriel - Observe.

As the Loron shuttles began to board the civilian cruisers in Convoy 5, the cruisers' lights suddenly shut down and then turned blood red. Both the Andromedans and the Rogue Boyz took note of that strange change, focusing their attention on the ships; the firefight slowed down for a few split seconds. Then, one by one, the cruisers burst into flames. The bolder Lorons who had already boarded the civilian ships perished immediately, turned into ash, while the remaining Loron shuttles, hit by the shockwave, lost control and began falling into the sea one by one.


 * Chosogi - ...What was that?!
 * Venoriel - You will understand later. For now, focus your attention on the Loron vessels.
 * Volunus - Yes, Lord-Generalissime. Dragoon wing 12, divert from the refugees and focus on the Loron Vanguard.
 * Chosogi - How can y-
 * Venoriel - You heard me, Lord Admiral.

The Clanden admiral was disgruntled and infuriated, but neverthless continued. Turning his fleet towards the Sik Ships, the vessels of the Ecumene began barrage and barrage of laser fire at the Lorons. The Sik Ships responded in kind, sending out their own Bommas and firing their own weaponry. But of course, the vast majority of their shots missed.

At the same time, the civilian cruisers continued exploding as the Lorons came close, blasting off more and more of their ships and forces and sending them to the bottom of the ocean. Slowly, but steadly, the gigantic Loron horde began to grow smaller and smaller, and the superior firepower of the Ecumenical Navy got the best of their Sik Ships. One by one, the shields of Loron vessels faltered and their hulls fell beneath Q'lnas, each victory of the Ecumene accompanied with a thundering splash.


 * Volunus - Excellent...With every sunken ship the Ecumenical Navy upholds its supremacy!
 * Chosogi - This is not victory. How could it be victory? You sacrificed thousands of civilians, Lord-Generalissime? This is madness!
 * Venoriel - You are right. This is not yet victory, and is definitely madness. - Venoriel's hologram laughed, to Chosogi's horror - Marshal, bring your forces to the surface and prepare.
 * Volunus - A dangerous tactic, yes, but nonetheless one that secured us victory. These animals know nothing of thep urpose of a non-combatant, but for those who died during the battle. they deserve a memorial for their courage under fire.
 * Venoriel - Definitely. - Venoriel smiled - These empty ships will all have their names inscribed on the surface of Elysion.
 * Chosogi - ...Empty ships? - Chosogi opened his eyes - What do you mean? What of the refugees?
 * Venoriel - Transported through the Divinarium Wormhole Network to safety.
 * Chosogi - ...Why the lies then? Why did you test us so?
 * Volunus - You mean to say that along with annihilating the Loron in battle, the Ecumene's efforts allowed for the non-combatants they threatened to be spirited to safety?
 * Venoriel - You are correct about the latter. About the former, however...

Venoriel pointed at the surface of Q'lnas beneath the ships. The great seas, deep blue in colour but glistening yellow and white with the lights of underwater cities deep beneath, brimmed with turbulence. Several large platforms made of metal and plastic were raised above the planet mostly covered in water, floating above the oceans - most of them utilitarian in style, but some more elegant in appearance and built in the traditions of Tertanai architecture. Chosogi and Volunus could see small figures of drones and stationed soldiers patrolling the platforms, specifically the ones located directly underneath the site of the starship battle.


 * Chosogi - What is the meaning of this?
 * Venoriel - Observe and prepare.
 * Chosogi - Observe what? You mean the-

Chosogi's eyes noticed strange glowing lights beneath the ocean, growing brighter and brighter as the water itself began stirring strangely, as if some monstrosity had been awakened beneath the seas. Except it was not a single monster. It was many.

Splash! A wave of pearl-white foam, steam and fire devoured one of the larger atolls of Q'lnas, concealing it from sight. The soldiers on the platforms, as well as the captains of starships above, both looked at this strange incident in a mixture of wonder and awe, gazing at the cloud of ash. This awe quickly vanished when the mist dissipated, the sound of violent rap music resounded across the planet, and the Andromedans saw who came out of the clouds. An entire armada of Loron bikes, buggies and speeders covered in seaweed and brine, leaping through the shore of the atoll to the sky, had emerged from the sea with a thundering warcry that resounded across the land - screaming and shouting as they breathed air once again. The Lorons survived. Somehow, they survived.


 * Loron - HURHURHUR IDIOTS. FINK YOO CAN STOP US WIV YA COWARDLY TACTICS. IMMA SHANK YA MOMS MOMS MOM DEN TURN YOO INTO SLAVES FER DA KING!!!!!!
 * Chosogi - How.
 * Venoriel - By all laws of logic, biology and physics, this should not have happened. But, as I have learned when dealing with Lorons, these laws do not apply to them.
 * Chosogi - And what do we do now?
 * Venoriel - We take fight to them. Marshal, prepare to land. Legate-General, organise your forces on the surface. Lord-Admiral... be prepared to fire when necessary.
 * Volunus - By your command. Dragoons! Prepare for deployment!

On Volunus' command, the carriers and strike frigates of the Ecumene's Dragoon regiment directed themselves to counter the thunderous Loron warband. As the strike vessels approached they opened turbolaser fire, flanked by Dragoon starfighter drones that zipped across the atmosphere to strike rapidly in the heart of the Loron horde.


 * Bellisarius - Finally.

A group of Loron led by Drizz'pyrokirk several of which were Freezflamas, attacked the platform. They began to tear apart the PAE's droids, while attempting to smash the ground they stood on. Several of Zalk'don's Booma Boyz fired all their explosives, frantically killing even other Loron in their frenzy. It took little time for Bellisarius to formulate a plan and for the Bastion Legions to counterattack, though. Using their agility and small size, the dimunitive Legionnaire mechs swarmed the savage Lorons with their sheer numbers, getting in the way of their weapons and dodging their gunfire. Though the fire of each droid was hardly enough to even scratch a Loron's skin, they came in thousands - one of the few forces to outnumber the Lorons - and slowly, but steadily tore through their defenses, even though they were destroyed by the hundreds themselves. Shouting a fierce cybernetic battlecry, Bellisarius led the assault, the biological Centurions providing cover fire as the cyborg general tore through the Loron flesh, leaping from place to place so as to avoid fire - cutting down a bloody swath through the Rogue Boy ranks.


 * Bellisarius - Barbarī. - Bellisarius rose his sword and pointed at Drizz'pyrokirk - I wonder if your strength matches your boasting.
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - YEH. YOR STRENGF IS WEEK. YOO BES START BOWIN TO DA KING man i cant beleev im boostin graks ego so much but STILL START BOWIN OR IMMA FREEZ DIS WHOL PLANET
 * Bellisarius - Oh, I shall bow. I am respectful to my defeated enemies. - Bellisarius walked slowly towards the Cold Loron - Who is your king, compared to the mighty Paragavatus?
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - much as i hate to admit it DA KING GRAKTONA IS. YOR KING IS WEEK AN PATHETIC. I BET HE WULD DIE IN ONE HIT
 * Bellisarius - And what of you? - Bellisarius charged at Drizz at full speed, taking advantage of his robotic body, and struck the Cold Loron with his sword as if it was a lance, piercing him in the stomach.

Drizz'pyrokirk was stunned at how the lance could pierce his skin, but immediately pulled it out. It had grazed the flesh, but he was still able to continue to fight. He pulled out his flamethrower, and attempted to set Bellisarius on fire, as he swung it around frantically.


 * Drizz'pyrokirk - FEEL THE BURRRRRRRRRRRN
 * Bellisarius - I am impressed. - Bellisarius retained his robotic tone of voice even as the fire burnt at his still remaining flesh and damaging his implants - Is that all you can muster? - Bellisarius attempted to grab his second sword, but, after a moment of pondering, decided instead to transform his right hand into an electrolaser and started to fire at the Loron commander. It was not meant to incapacitate Drizz for any long time, and it would definitely not defeat him, but it gave him the most important resource for Bellisarius: time.
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - MAN SCROO DIS. OI ZALK HELP ME OUT MAN

Flying overhead in his Bomma, Zalk'don moved more of his Booma Boyz and his Bomma starfighters to attack the platform. He jumped out of his own, and pulled out a rocket launcher, and fired it into the ground around Bellisarius. Taken out by surprise, the Legate was thrown off balance, and though his shields absorbed much of the damage, he was neverthless sent flying and dropped on the ground.


 * Bellisarius - It matters not. This body can be rebuilt, and the mind remains.
 * Zalk'don - YOR A FLIPPIN GEEK

Soaring in, a cohort of Dragoons covered for their Legate, accompanied by drones that provided supporting fire, illuminating the Loron bosses and their army with scattering rays of turbolaseer light. Despite their loder numbers, the Dragoons aimed with greater precision compared to the blanket fire laid down by the drones, scoring hits on several Loron soldiers and providing supressing fire againt the Bosses.


 * Bellisarius - Excellent job, Dragoons. For organics, your skills are impeccable.
 * Dragoon - Much obliged Legate. We will occupy the bulk for you.
 * Bellisarius - Let us settle this now.
 * Zalk'don - LOL. YEH WATEVA. IM GONNA JUS BOM DIS PLACE TA BITS. OI DRIZZ GET IN MA BOMMA

Drizz'pyrokirk and Zalk'don both hopped into the cockpit of his Bomma. It tired around, and launched in a frenzy all of its antimatter explosives at the platform. Eventually, unable to sustain anymore damage, the platform collapsed - the hungering ocean pulling both the Lorons and the Andromedans underneath the raging waters...


 * Centurion - What do we do now, Legate?
 * Bellisarius - You were trained to fight in low gravity.
 * Centurion - I am afraid we were n- - suddenly, an electric shock struck the biological soldiers of the Bastion Legions - ...We were, yes.
 * Bellisarius - Yes, you were trained - right now. Thank the gods for programmable education chips.

Now capable of navigating in water, the Bastion soldiers slowly navigated themselves through the dark water, the brightly glowing drones lighting their paths. It did not take long for them to find the remaining Lorons - who, fortunately for them and unfortunately for the Ecumene, were highly capable swimmers.


 * Drizz'pyrokirk - OH MA DAYZ MAN I DIDNT SAY BLOW DA WHOL PLATFORM UP IDIOT. LEMME JUMP IN DERE AN FITE DEM WHIL SWIMMIN
 * Zalk'don - ADMIT IT. IT WAS SIK BOOMZ
 * Drizz'pyrokirk - YOR A FLIPPIN LUNATIC

Drizz'pyrokirk jumped out of the Bomma's cockpit as he dived into the pool, along with many other Freezflamas.
 * Bellisarius - We are not done yet.

The cyborg general's face could not express emotions without human eyes and mouth, but the blood red implants that replaced them flared with anger. Rising on the sea floor and using his legs to attach himself to the ground, Bellisarius pointed his energy sword at the beasts, breathing heavily from his air tanks - and commanded his troops to fire. All in once, the remaining drones, Centurions and Dragoons shot at the Loron survivors. The Loron violently swam after the Centurions and Dragoons, many of them dying before they reached their foe, but their only instinct was to chase the blood and attempt to fight. One of the Dragono officers looked to Ballisarius, as they evaded shots and charges from the oncoming Loron, expressing a degree of concern


 * Dragoon - They don't plan on stopping sir... your orders.
 * Bellisarius - My orders? Just do not stop either, and do your best. You dragoons are the elite soldiers of the Ecumene, after all. Isn't "always steadfast" your motto?

Bellisarius turned to one of the bolder attacking Loron - a particularily large Tuff Boy slowly walking towards the Andromedan soldiers while brandishing his energy axe. An unseen feeling of amusement appeared in his mind without expressing anyhow on his body as he turned to the raging monstrosity. A small mechanical arm appeared from his shoulder, ending with a large energy emitter, heating and boiling the ocean water as it charged. Drizz'pyrokirk, still frustrated that none of his weapons worked under water, watched in frustration. He called for Zalk'don's immediate assistance.


 * Bellisarius - Now.

The cyborg general's eyes flared blood red as his shoulder cannon charged at last and fired. A hissing, swirling orb of magnetically-contained plasma escaped the weapon, evaporating the ocean on its path, and then collided with the monstrous Loron. Drizz'pyrokirk attempted to create a shield made of ice in front of him, only for the plasma to completely penetrate the shield. He decided he was no longer of any use for this battle, and swam up to shore, allowing Zalk'don to take over. Bellisarius finally allowed his emotions to be shown despite his mechanical body, by letting a cold, metallic laugh that resounded, while muffled, across the battlefield - enough for the Loron to hear him.


 * Bellisarius - Drakapes.

Answering to the word command given to them by the general, the nanobots constituting the magnetic field around the plasma bolt disabled themselves, and the plasma was discharged. The fiery hot red explosion blossomed in the Loron bodies, almost completely incinerating - if not evaporating - his entire body, while releasing a shockwave that threw most of the attacking Lorons off balance. Most of the Loron other than Zalk'don at this point were dead, but the fleeing Drizz'pyrokirk almost went under as he was attempting to reach a ship to flee. The heatwave that followed - spreading particularily fast in the underwater environment - soon followed, every Loron appeared to choke under the extreme warmth, particularly the Cold Loron, or just choke and die to the radiactive waste of their own leaking weapons. Zalk'don, who had what was almost an immunity to such things after being around deadly weapons for so long, continued his pursuit, carrying a torpedo launcher with him. The remaining PAE soldiers were fast to retreat, escaping the boiling water.


 * Zalk'don - IM COMIN FOR YOO IDIOTS. YOO MAKE ME SWIM. IMMA MAKE YOO BURN!!!!
 * Bellisarius - Do you see it now?
 * Dragoon - A brilliant, if dangerous, plan sir. Dragoons, finish them off!
 * Bellisarius - There's more. Do you see the big one? - Bellisarius pointed at Zalk'don, who was covered in electronic contraptions to control his weaponry. He then pointed at the melted carcass of the Tuff Boy; his electrised armour, or rather the smoldering remains of it, flickered weakly in the water - A good soldier is meant to react to the situation at hand and act accordingly. What do you see here, dragoon?
 * Dragoon - Faulty electronic equipment, sir.
 * Bellisarius - And we are in water. And these are Lorons. - the dragoon nodded, smirking within his armour and relayed a set of orders to his soldiers.

Upon receiving the command, the PAE military reloaded their weapons and positioned themselves against the Loron horde - yet did not fire. Most of the robotic soldiers' weapons were pointed at the footsoldiers, forming a perimeter of a sort, while most of the Dragoons aimed instead at the Loron who stood in the middle of the mob - Zalk'don. However, their weapons were not charged, and only glew faintly in the water. For a second the battle stopped, as neither side understood fully what was going on.


 * Bellisarius - Activate electroproof forcefields. Fire! - immediately, the Dragoons began to fire, one by one, at Zalk'don's torso. Their attacks seemed to lack actual punch - mere railgun rounds, not energised or otherwise empowered as it was usually done with rail ammunition in the Ecumene, and most of their energy wasted by passing through water - and Zalk'don attempted to activate his shields, while in his frustration, fired his torpedoes, missing every shot. He was clearly not used to the water environment, and this would be his greatest wweakness.

Zalk'don's gloating was suddenly interrupted by a stingy electric jolt that hit his body.He looked down to see one of his electric contraptions broken, as it too appeared to leak. While he was no stranger to being electricuted, the shock and frustration, coupled with the radiactive waste he was already largely covered in, caused him to spasm out.
 * Zalk'don - YOR ALL MASSIV TWITS. IF YOO DIDNT FORCE ME TA SWIM I WULDNT HAV A PROBLEM JUS BLOWIN YA UP BEFOR YA EVEN GOT CLOSE TA ME, YOR SUCH A BUNCHA WIMPS ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!

The electric discharge was also great enough to kill off any Boomaz that were still alive. Zalk'don was the only one who had genetically mutated to the point where he could resist such mechanical failures. The Bastion Legionnaires added in the chaos, firing at the confused Lorons while exposing their own electronics, causing the storm to expand.
 * Zalk'don - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH YOR SUCH IDIOTS!!!!!!!! IMMA COM BAK ONE DAY AN BLOW YOR STOOPID FACES OFF!!!!!!!!


 * Zalk'don - SCROO ALL OF YOO!!!!!! IMMA COM BAK AN MAKE YOR ENTIRE PLANETS MA FIREWORKZ!!!!! YOOLL SEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!
 * Bellisarius - And you said the environment was not on our side.

The Bastion Legionnaires stopped their fire. No more Loron were left. But Zalk'don left no body behind. Now, Drizz'pyrokirk was the only Speshul Warboss left before they had to get to Grak'tona himself.


 * Venoriel - Legate-General, do you copy? - Bellisarius heard a shrill voice coming from his vox channels - I repeat, Legate-General, do you copy?
 * Bellisarius - Reporting for duty, Lord-Generalissimus. We have succesfully eliminated the Loron forces on the ground... in the water. Relaying coordinates to space command. Beaming up requested.
 * Venoriel - Excellent. What of their commanders?
 * Bellisarius - The big one was almost killed. The blue one fled. The... big blue one...

Grak'tona, unsatisfied with the way his men were fighting, had indeed, decided to chase after Drizz'pyrokirk and finish the job himself. He had demanded his ship take a shuttle down to the sea with his royal bodyguards to clear out any remaining opposition. It was the perfect opportunity for the PAE to flex its muscle.


 * Bellisarius - Still here, and fighting. Should we eliminate him now?
 * Venoriel - No. I have a better idea. Report me his coordinates.
 * Bellisarius - I... I am afraid I do not quite understand.
 * Venoriel - His coordinates. Where he is right now, so we could teleport him along with you. I believe we have the chance to eliminate the savage once and for all.
 * Bellisarius - ...Very well. 456.009213; 124214.149646; minus 2112.2432.
 * Venoriel - Excellent. Beginning beaming in 3... 2... 1...

In a flash, a gigantic purple wormhole appeared beneath all of the PAE soldiers - as well as Grak'tona - transporting both to the surface of the planet. Soon, Bellisarius and his men found themselves on top of one of the platforms - doused in copious amounts of seawater, as much of it was sucked along with them. The soldiers, which now looked quite unsettling covered in Loron blood, mud, mire and seaweed - took their time to clean themselves, with the exception of the robots and Bellisarius himself, who was looking at the second, smaller, closed platform, covered in large spikes so as to prevent its resident from escaping. Grak'tona was there.


 * Grak'tona - WHO DARES INTERRUPT DA KINGS ACTIVITIES????? HOW DARE YA SUMMON ME???? YOR NOT WORTHY OF MY ATTENSHON
 * Venoriel - Admiral Eagena, order your ships to bomb the platform. The ice warlord ends his life here and now.
 * Chosogi - Affirmative.

Grak'tona's eyes widened as he roared, but on this platforming, he was relatively helpless against the bombs. It was a smart move from Venoriel, and it appeared they would be able to claim the lives of two Loron today.

But that was not the case.

As the bombs fell, Gol'thabex in his personal fighter, ignoring orders from Grak'tona to stay in his own region of space, flew down and shot the bombs from the sky, as he then turned his ship towards Venoriel. He fired at her, and then jumped straight out of it, landing in front of her, and whacking his hammer. While Grak'tona stood their dumbfounded, Gol'thabex had swept in and kicked her to the ground. Venoriel raised her hands and levitated to her feet telekinetically, now floating a little bit above the sky and glaring at the assassin in anger.


 * Venoriel - You dare?!
 * Gol'thabex - sup idiot. deres a massiv price on yor ugli hed an ill take it.
 * Venoriel - Not today. - Venoriel raised her hand and threw Gol'thabex off the bunker with a telekinetic wave. However, the assassin quickly swam up to the surface and pulled himself back up with a single arm. With the other, he tossed a hammer straight at her, aiming between her eyes. Hit off-guard, the Radeon officer was thrown over the edge, hitting against the wall of thebunker. A large gaping wound now marked her brow.
 * Chosogi - Lord-Generallisimus, there is a...gigantic fleet flying right above us. Several times larger than the one that we faced initially.
 * Venoriel - ...How many? - Venoriel panted as she gathered forces, grabbing her saber - not to fight Gol'thabex, but to give orders to her subordinates, her bodyguards in particular - What are you doing here standing? Do something already! Your commander is in danger!
 * Chosogi - ...Without counting, Lord-Generalissimus.

Having got over his dumbfounded state, Grak'tona hopped over to Gol'thabex and looked at him, flabbergasted and frustrated.


 * Grak'tona - DONT DISOBEY DA KINGS ORDAS
 * Gol'thabex - i took care of assassinatin lotsa geezas. an den i came to da realisashon. IM SUPPOSED TA BE FITIN WIV BROTHAS. WIV MA CROO
 * Grak'tona - I DIDNT ORDA YOO TA DO DAT but ill forgiv yoo cos yoo saved da kings life. still GO ASSASSINAT PEEPZ AGEN AFTA DIS

The two turned on Venoriel immediately, and though she was herself a potent psychic and her guards among the best in Andromeda, they had little hope against the Loron warlords. Grak'tona, with his iron-hard skin absorbed every psychic attack and every bullet that the Andromedans unleashed upon him, while Gol'thabex, with his axes, had enough strength and skill to kill a hundred of soldiers like them. But it was clear that they wouldn't want to stick around and fight for much longer. Bellisarius's army was already coming to aid the Lord-Generalissimus, and they didn't have the time to stick around on this world anymore.


 * Gol'thabex - yoo sed we can jus ignore dis dum planet an go furtha in?
 * Grak'tona - yeh. so im gonna go send yoo to go assassinat peepz agen an distract dem in anotha part of space whil ma fleet goes in. im propa annoyed dat zalkdon failed da king but im not gonna hav him executed
 * Gol'thabex - sure fing. ill com bak wen yoo scroo up agen hurhurhur

Gol'thabex' fighter, on autopilot, flew overhead them both, aiming for Venoriel. As she turned to shield its fire, she looked back where they both stood, and saw they had already hopped in, and flown off to the enormous fleet, joining it. Even though many ships in the fleet had not even reached the atmosphere of the planet, their numbers in the billions were still beginning to block out the sun. The huge warships made their way towards their next target, as the populace stood watching in dread of how Andromeda could possibly hope to destroy them all.


 * Bellisarius - What in the name of the void has happened?
 * Venoriel - Dei'Nar smite me... - Venoriel stared dumbstruck at the Loron hships above her, watching as it simply passed by, without even attacking them, rushing to the next wormhole and deeper into inner Andromeda - This... this was just their vanguard.
 * Chosogi - Should we pursue them?
 * Venoriel - Not yet. No. If this is the size of the armada we are facing, we will have to reconsider our strategy. Completely. By Spode. The size of that thing...
 * Bellisarius - Even the mightiest of forces may be beaten. Especially since we are dealing with barbarians like these.
 * Venoriel - It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them... we cannot avoid a force like this. There... there must be another way.

Da Cow Boyz
Off on his own with only a small squadraon of Thugz in s and Bommas to back him up, Gol'thabex made his patrol around the far reaches of the Andromeda galaxy looking to find the next victims of his piracy. In order to lure out another PAE commander for him to assassinate, he would create enough disruption in the nearby trade routes that they would be forced to notice him, and with a force of such small fighters, he was not easily detected.

But there were other Loron interested in these same Andromeda trade routes, and who had practiced the same piracy for much longer than him. And they didn't like him showing up in what they perceived to be their own territory. Having slowly moved out of hyperspace, a larger squadron, with a ship that looked partially similar in appearance and size to a Loron Sik Ship, and backed up by ships heavily customised from the Fightas and Bommas, an alien force of Loron from the arrived. They were known as Cow Boyz.

Clearly on orders to eliminate the Loron here, the enormous squadron of starfighters swept the area to destroy any of Gol'thabex' own Fightas. The large ship backing them up didn't fire a single cannon, as its Loron inside were oblivious to the dogfight, feeling they had already won it. And while they were relaxing, Gol'thabex' Thugz were taken out easily, dropping like flies, until only his ship was left.


 * Yuz'tan Az'troz - Y'ALL GOTZ A LOTTA NERVE SHIMMYIN ON DOWN TA OUR RODEO ZONE OTTZEE LOSAS
 * Gol'thabex - man who da hek ar yoo ya bozo
 * Teg'zaz Ran'gaz - hey hey hey bud who da ya think YOO ARE spikkin lik dat to da guv'ner gen'ral like dat

Gol'thabex glared at the hologram of Teg'zaz Ran'gaz, with a confused, condescending look on his face, as he attempted to figure out what kind of Loron this was. The Loroniz Spik they both spoke was extremely different, as they not only differed in tone and accent, but their dialect was very foreign. But it was clear, beyond that, they were still Loron.


 * Gol'thabex - if yoo show up an kill ma croo, yoo bes hav a good reesun for it. if yor a loron, den we will spare yoo wen we kill da oonivers, but othawise, im afraid get lost or wes gonna kill yoo now.
 * Yuz'tan Az'troz - yoo think dis is da first time some ottzee loron losa told us ta get lost? dis ain't our first rodeo, pardna. i think yoo best scram or lil ol me is gon have ta kill YOO.
 * Gol'thabex - wher da hek ar ya even frum? yoo talk weird
 * Yuz'tan - ha ha ha! all yall ottzee losas are da same. lookin down on us fer our country muzik and barbecue chikkin. but we're da best loron around! best get it in yer mind that yer death is gonna come at da hands of DA COW BOYZ!

Gol'thabex narrowed his glare at the screen, and then shook his head slightly and went back to his typical lax face. He completely dismissed Yuz'tan and the other Cow Boyz.


 * Gol'thabex - yor about as arrogant as Grak'tona an i bet yor not even close to as cool. so heres wat im gonna do: im gonna make yoo join da rogue boyz or make yoo stop firin on ma croo. or kill yoo. whicheva ya want.
 * Teg'zaz - ok. den we'z gonna pick door numba 4. killin YOO!

Gol'thabex grinned to himself as he looked away from the hologram and towards his targeting computer.


 * Gol'thabex - bring it on
 * Yuz'tan - YA MADE A REAL BIG MIGHTY FINE MISTAKE HERE PARDNA! YEEEEHAW!

As their leader sounded the battle cry, the Cow Boyz fighters began swarming around Gol'thabex's fighter, leaving him with seemingly no escape. The Cow Boyz Fightas, or "Da Cavaliyas" as they called them, were especially agile and powerful, designed to flank a target from every angle and surround them on all sides with overwhelming firepower. Especially against an easy target like a lone, unsupported space fighter, this battle would be as easy as herding cattle for Da Cavaliyas.

"Should" would be a more appropriate word to use here, though. Gol'thabex was no ordinary pilot, and even being outnumbered by hundreds of fearsome Cavaliyas, the situation wasn't as hopeless as it seemed. Just as Gol'thabex had little idea who Da Cow Boyz were, Yuz'tan and Teg'zaz had little idea that they were going up against the most skilled pilot Da Rogue Boyz had to offer.


 * Teg'zaz - man he ded
 * Yuz'tan - fer sure. good nite irene.
 * Teg'zaz - what a shame tho. he seemed like a stand up sorta guy, fer an ottzee dat is.
 * Yuz'tan - shall we pour one out fer him?
 * Teg'zaz - yea. in memory of ottzee losa, bless his heart.

Yuz'tan and Teg'zaz began drinking from their personal kegs of extra-strength Adriana whiskey, in preparation for the victory party that was presumably soon to follow. Caught up in their celebration, the commander and the lieutenant were oblivious to the true nature of their situation.

As each of the Cow Boyz Cavaliyas made their short flight back to the main ship to join in the burga and beer celebration, suddenly they tripped a mine. Gol'thabex had left behind an invisible antimatter mine just as he had fled them, which tripped, destroying four of the Cavaliyas instantly. His ship came out of cloaking. Not only was its alleged destruction to them a holographic illusion, he had cloaked to hide himself.

Gol'thabex turned around and fired his cannons, killing many of the other Cavaliyas. The survivors, insulted that their clearly supreme dogfighting skills were being outmatched by ottzees of all people, attempted to tail him, and tried to dodge his mines. But he fired ballistic torpedoes at them, as he swung his ship around them in a rapid loop faster than they could respond to, and shot the remaining ships.

Within a few moments, there were no Cavaliyas left. Gol'thabex cloaked his ship, and landed in the open hangar of the Cow Boyz ship. He killed every Cow Boyz guard before they could so much as sprung an alarm, before he made his way to the main ship's bar where their celebration was ongoing.

As Gol'thabex approached the bar's western-looking door, he peered inside. These Loron were fun-loving, but they definitely did not enjoy the forms of fun that the Ottzelloan ones did. Each of them sat at their chairs drinking, with a country band performing, while the Chikz were cooking burgers and supplying drinks in this frantic fun. Drunken Loron cursed one another and each of them laughed, while Teg'zaz and Yuz'tan stood around a table in celebration.

Gol'thabex made his way through. The Cow Boyz were much too preoccupied with their drinks and laughter to pay him much notice other than an odd glare at first. He slowly walked his way through. He caught glares as he looked around, trying to spot Yuz'tan. As he walked to the bar, he looked to his left, and spotted Yuz'tan, who was still drinking. But more Cow Boyz began to notice him, and they glared. His armor was clearly not from around these parts, and there was no way he should be alive.

He approached Yuz'tan with his typical non-chalant look on his face, with his hands clutching his axes by his side. He walked past as a Chik carrying drinks spotted him. She slowly backed away from him, as more Loron stopped to glare at this outsider. Having noticed everyone else stopping what they were doing, Yuz'tan and Teg'zaz stopped too, to glare at Gol'thabex themselves. He continued to make his approach, as all bar the country band had completely stopped what they were doing, and finally stood in front of Yuz'tan, with a menacing look on his face. There was a brief pause, before he made his request.


 * Gol'thabex - i need yor boyz, yor empiya an yor ship.

Everyone in the bar laughed at the seeming ridiculousness of the request.


 * Yuz'tan - yoo fergot ta say "please".

Gol'thabex continued his intimidating stare, as the rest of the bar mocked him, not taking a single request seriously. Yuz'tan spat in his face, while Gol'thabex stood there, perfectly still. Confused and frustrated at Gol'thabex' lack of a response, he swung a punch at Gol's face, who was hit, but responded with his own punch that knocked Yuz'tan to the floor. Approaching from behind, Teg'zaz tried to smash a bottle on Gol'thabex, only for Gol'thabex to swing around and stab his side with his axe, then kick him to the ground, as his bottle smashed right beside him.

Yuz'tan got back up, and slammed Gol'thabex harder. His punches were powerful, but they were nothing that Gol'thabex had not deal with before. He lifted him up by the neck, and slammed him to the floor. No one in the bar was laughing now.

Teg'zaz swung his legs around and successfully kicked Gol'thabex to the ground, but he instantly got up and grabbed his head, then slammed it through the table. Yuz'tan attempted to get up, but Gol'thabex simply tossed him across to the bar, which caused it to break. The other Cow Boyz had all risen to take a swing at him, but none of them were brave enough to fight the Loron who could outmatch both their superiors.

Gol'thabex grinned, as he walked towards the country band, who had stopped. They each tried to run to attack him, but he threw his axes at them and knocked them down. Another member tried to slam his guitar on Gol'thabex, but it simply broke on his head, and Gol'thabex tossed him against the wall, then took the stage and the microphone. He turned towards what appeared to be a CD player and glared at the band members.


 * Gol'thabex - ...wat da hell. ya werent even playin ya instruments. ya wer jus pretendin ta play an LIPSYNCIN?

Gol'thabex ripped out the CD inside it, and smashed it. He then inserted his own rap CD, brought the volume up to half, and blasted the speakers.


 * Gol'thabex - heers da deel. YOO JOIN DA ROGUE BOYZ OR I PUT DA VOLUME HIYA
 * Teg'zaz - YOO AIN'T GOT DA BALLZ BUD. YA GOT A REAL REAL SAD EXCUSE FER A MIXTAPE RIGHT THERE
 * Yuz'tan - YEA I BET HE LISTENS TO ALL DAT OTTZEE RAP CRAP. GET OUTTA HERE

Gol'thabex grinned to himself as he raised the volume up to 60%. His grin only grew as he watched the Cow Boyz groan and attempt to plug their ears in frustration.


 * Gol'thabex - dont say i didnt warn ya...want me ta blast it to da ENTIYA SHIP???
 * Teg'zaz - I BET YOO DON'T GOT EVEN 100% OF DA BALLZ NECESARY FER DAT
 * Yuz'tan - how ya gonna blast it to da entiya ship, bud? don't ya know dis here saloon iz SOUNDPROOF??

Gol'thabex' simple retort was to raise the volume up to 80%. His sadistic glee as the other Cow Boyz tried desperately hard to plug their eyes caused him to raise it up to a further 90%, just waiting for them to cave in.


 * Gol'thabex - yoo lissen to ME or yoo lissen to RAP. YOO CANT HAV IT BOFF WAYZ.
 * Teg'zaz - wazzat? i can't hear yoo over DA 20% OF DA BALLZ YER MISSIN

Gol'thabex shrugged, and brought it up to 100%. Much of the glass began to smash at the volumes, and were Gol'thabex not used to the extremely noisy battlefield with roaring loud weaponry, he would likely have gone deaf. Many of the Cow Boyz were about to go deaf if they were close to a speaker, but of course, the speakers filled the room.


 * Gol'thabex - DENY ME AGEN AN IMMA BLAST IT TO DA ENTIYA SHIP.
 * Teg'zaz - ARRRRRRRRRRRRGH! HE REALLY DOES HAVE 100% BALLZ! AHHHHHHHHHHH
 * Yuz'tan - da bass... too... much...! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ALRIGHT YOO WIN YOO WIN, I GIVE, UNCLE, ETC.

Gol'thabex's grin widened once more, as he pulled the CD out, and brought up a hologram. It was Grak'tona, who was about to negotiate with them. Sitting on his throne, Grak'tona was surprised to have been contacted.


 * Grak'tona - man..ma new crown is sooooo good...OI OI. YOO DER. WAT AR YA DOIN MAN WHAI DID YOO ATTAK DA THUGZ???? MAN IM SO GLAD GOLTHABEX BATTERED YOO YOO DONT DISRESPECT DA KING LIKE DAT
 * Yuz'tan - "da king"? what da hell. yoo ottzees and yer monarchy.
 * Grak'tona - YEH DATS RITE. AN YOO AR TRAITAS TO DA CROWN COZ YOO LEFT BOREALIS. AN YOO HAV A STOOPID TASTE IN MUSIC. ALSO WAT DA HELL IS DAT TRASH DAT YA EET ANYWAYZ? MAN I SWER ITS INSULTIN. YOO AR TRAITAS TO DA KINGDOM SO GIMME ONE GOOD REESUN I SHULDNT GET GOLTHABEX TA SMASH YA
 * Gol'thabex - man yor an idiot I NEED DEM. dey need ta go mak a massiv mess fer me so dat da PAE geezas can send deir important peepz so i can assassinat dem. we need ta cut a deel wiv dem
 * Grak'tona - ...but...but deyz traitas...FINE. OK HEERS DA DEEL. YOO KISS MA FOOT AN YOO WORSHIP DA CROWN AN YOO SEND ME LOTSA CASH AN IMMA LET YOO LIV. ALSO IF YOO DONATE TONS OF GOLD TO DA CROWN DEN IMMA LET YOO TOUR DA PALACE AN KISS MA FOOT EVEN MOAR COS DATS DA GREATEST HONOR
 * Teg'zaz - ew gross man dats some messed up stuff rite there
 * Grak'tona - YA MOM IS. GO DO CROWN WORSHIPPIN AN MAYBE IMMA LET YOO LIV
 * Gol'thabex - oh ma dayz i cant beleev dey let dis guy do anyfin. ok heers da deel. yoo go kill PAE doods an ill giv ya some of his cash dat he givs ta me
 * Grak'tona - WAT? DA ROYAL TRESURY DOES NOT GIV TA TRAITA UNWORTHY DUMBOS LIKE DEEZ THICKOS
 * Gol'thabex - look jus ignor him hes an idiot. we got a deel?
 * Yuz'tan - grr. i don't like workin wit ottzees like yoo.
 * Grak'tona - I AM NOT AN OTTZEE. IM FRUM BOREALIS ONLY. I SHULD EXECUT YOO FER NOT KNOWIN DAT DISTINKSHON
 * Gol'thabex - fer da record he only knew he was frum borealis a few months ago. befor he didnt even kno wat his galaxy was called
 * Teg'zaz - oh. i feel ya. my momma back home always sed i was from some weird galaxy called "accident" or somethin
 * Yuz'tan - never mind dat. listen here pardner. i dont like yoo. one bit. but i'm in a bind here. so i'll take yer stupid deal. after allz sed and done tho i don't wanna see yoo ottzee losas on mah turf again

Gol'thabex grinned once more at his success, as he turned towards Grak'tona.


 * Grak'tona - SWEET. I EXPECT FOOT KISSIN IN TWO DAYZ TOPS DEN AFTA A WEEK IMMA LET YOO TOUR HALF OF MA ROYAL PALACE
 * Gol'thabex - yoo jus kill PAE doods. imma kill deir important geezas...

The hologram closed, as Gol'thabex made his way out of the saloon and back to his ship. It wasn't quite a beautiful friendship, but it'd do.