Fiction:Great Mirusian Conflicts/Year Two

"The Mirus Galaxy is riddled with hatred and conflict. We have made sure of it. Now, let this galaxy...let this universe long last drown in blood! FOR WAR ETERNAL!"

- Imperator Caligustus

"Enemies surround, seek to destroy, we move to defend. May glory and bloodshed guide our path, unto victory!"

- Barda Clett

"All sorts of scum have come crawling out of the void of these stars...its time for some slaughter."

- Empress Besta

"My father shall be avenged. At all costs. Yes, at all costs."

- King Magmoss

"This is a time of unrest in our galactic community. Heroes falling to our enemies, invasions on a massive scale, and senseless bloodshed. While I was away, things have become chaotic. But perhaps I can help...restore order."

Campaign Briefing
It was the second year of the conflicts in Mirus. Hegemony forces had dealt the and many other enemies of the alliance a heavy blow the previous year. Ever since the colossal battle at the start of the final month of year one, the separatists were on the run from the alliance, with only Glacier attempting another failed assault, as Hegemony forces cleaned up any pockets of resistance they came across. With the war going so well, more forces were being sent into Mirus to speed up victory in the Galaxy.

However, even though the external conflicts are going well, internal friction between the Hegemony and some members of the alliance had begun to grow. While the Hegemony's Chapters and their Olympian and Vahallan counterparts in the Praetorian Congregations had grown extremely close as of late, this was not the case for all of them. Indeed, the feud of the the Scions of Rage with the Rad-Eaters had only worsened. This mistrust spread to the greater picture, as the Hegemony's relationship with the Vanara Empire began to worsen rapidly.

Fearing a violent schism in the Unified Alliance of Enlightenment, between them and the Vanara, Commander Marius staged an emergency meeting with Admiral Sophia Jamduar and General Otto Skorzeny. The goal of the meeting was two fold: The first goal being to establish a new plan of attack against the separatists (and to bring more reinforcements into the theater of war), and the second being gathering as much intelligence on the Hegemony's allies as possible (especially all the various special forces units employed by the Alliance).

Meeting
The meeting commenced on the Altimus Class starbase Deliverance of Faith. It was a centrally located, heavily armed and armored strategic location, making it the perfect place for Marius to meet Admiral Jamduar and General Skorzeny in person. The objective of this meeting was to plan for the next big operations in the Mirusian theater.

Admrial Jamduar stood at attention, hands clasped behind her back, awaiting Marius's orders.


 * Marius - Admiral, allow to start by congratulating you one your performance in this war so far. Your skill at leading our forces into battle has allowed us to sweep aside our enemies with relative impunity. Your forces continue to pursue the shattered rebels with all haste, harrying their every step. You have done well out here.

Jamduar nodded her head in gratitude.


 * Jamduar - Thank you, commander. My forces will continue to hunt the rebels. However, my forces have begun to complain about the monotony of the mission. The Admirals under my command say that progress is slowing. For every one splinter fleet they destroy, two other appear. The ring leaders of the various factions survive as well. We have been unable to apprehend them.

Marius raised his hand to stop Jamduar.


 * Marius - I have read the reports on the war efforts, and I have indeed noticed this slow down you have referenced. We are increasing the number of military units in Mirus effective immediately. A new fleet group is set to arrive in several days, headed by Admiral Corvus Tiberius.

Jamduar was briefly startled by the name. Admiral Tiberius was a great admiral, as well as a controversial figure in politics. He had gotten in trouble with high command numerous times for his ruthless tactics when it came to dealing with the enemy. He was too good an officer to be fired, so he was usually cycled out to remote postings, out of sight (for his actions created a lot of negative PR for the Hegemony). Last Jamduar had heard, he had been at some backwater posting in the Intergalactic Rifts.


 * Jamduar - Sir, is that entirely wise? Was he not posted away from any real actions due to Tiberius committing war crimes?
 * Marius - Admiral Tiberius has the aggression we need to speed up this campaign. If he has to torch every planet that the rebels are hiding in, he will do it. I am by no means replacing you, Sophia. However, your orders have changed a bit. While you will still be fighting the enemies of the Alliance in Mirus, you will be focusing on areas once controlled by the Dominatus. While we have some Dominatus industry and technology, it can never hurt to have more. Securing these zones are your priority now, leave the all-out attacks to Tiberius. Do you understand?
 * Jamduar - I understand, sir. Is that all you require of me?
 * Marius - That is all. You are dismissed.

Jamduar saluted and walked out of the command room quickly, heading to the hangar so she could return to the fleet. General Skorzeny, who had been standing patiently, was then beckoned over by Marius to sit at the war table at the center of the room.


 * Marius - Skorzeny, I want your special forces group to begin investigation of the UAE's special forces units. We only know what they tell us. I want to know their full strengths, I want to know how they recruit, I want to know their specialties, I want to know their headquarters locations, etc. I especially want you to investigate the Vanara. They distrust us, we distrust them. I want you to figure out how their psychokinetics work and where they are trained.
 * Skorzeny - Sir, that is impossible. The Vanara themselves are unsure about psychokinetics, and they tell no one where they are trained.
 * Marius - Do your utter best, then. I want effective counter measures against all special forces units, be they Koatria, Psychokinetics, Mechas, or whatever other dangerous units the alliance has. I also want you to focus on identifying important individuals in the alliance and putting surveillance on them. Do we still have people keeping watch on Akanri Rozu?
 * Skorzeny - Yes, sir.
 * Marius - Increase the survelliance. Akanri has two children who are already in various special forces programs. Vanara grow up even faster then Zozer and Scizok, as unbelievable as that is. One is name Niyra, the other is named Ibari. Of the two children, place more surveillance on Niyra. Monitor everything. Her team even has a Scizok on it, his name is G-sker. I want you to find out how loyal he is to the Hegemony.
 * Skorzeny - His father died during the Battle for Demogorgon Prime, and his family has a long line running back in the military. I'd say he's a safe bet. Nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, I shall do as you ask.
 * Marius - Good. Don't ignore other important figures in the UAE either, keep tabs on them. I also need you to start surveying the Rad-Eaters more heavily. The feud between them and several Astartes chapters is starting to worsen.
 * Skorzeny - Understood, sir.
 * Marius - Now then, let us shift to foreign threats. The rebels leaders and top agents continue to act with impunity. Prdiar, Lorka, Kradnig etc continue to wreak havoc with abandon. You are going to stop that. I want you to use all the special forces we can muster against them. The Astartes, your commando groups, the LRRP, Havoc troopers, our newly formed assassin temples, psionic users, you are cleared to use everything against them. If you can, kill them. IF you cannot kill them, hound every step they make. They won't be able to conduct operations if they are constantly on the run. Make them afraid to stick their heads out.
 * Skorzeny - I understand, sir. They cannot hide from me. I will hunt them to oblivion.
 * Marius - Good. Now, if you have no questions, I will let you get to your mission.
 * Skorzeny - Thank you sir, I shall not fail.

Skorzeny stood up and strode out of the room, already calculating and plotting. He would have to balance surveillance on the UAE as well as hunting the threats that the alliance was at war with.

Marius went back to issuing orders from the command center, organizing the Hegemony forces into an even deadlier war machine. The days ahead may be rife with conflict, but the Hegemony will be ready for whatever the enemies of the Hegemony would throw at them.

Cosmic Horror
Thew crawled, through space and void, through nebula and star, through galaxy and planet. And where they crawled they consumed, and grew, and spread. They were many and their many was one. They could feel the universe, a yawning, unending chasm filled with pained existences of sentience. They must end it, the pain, it was like a virus, they must consume it to end it, to end they must consume everything. Once everything had been consumed then the pain would be gone and everything would be complete, nothing would exist except unending, blissful, painless nothingness. But they were running out of time, for they were pursued, by what they did not know, but as they fled it gave chase and the stars grew dark. They must complete for to not was to be the end.

A Race to be Reborn
Gridlock could hardly contain his excitement. For years, he had gathered the resources, sought out the best scientists, and had sacrificed time and energy to do so, but now, the thing he reached for, was almost in his grasp. He chuckled to himself, as he clenched his right fist in front of him. So much needed to be done, but he was closer then ever.


 * Gridlock - Soon, my race shall be reborn...

As he prepared to sit back in his throne, a Grux officer cleared his throat. Gridlock turned, his red eyes glinting like jewels in darkness.


 * Gridlock - Yes, captain?
 * Grux Officer - Sir, Lord Kradik re-unified his race and is prepraing for his war against the Galactic Empire of Cyrannus.
 * Gridlock - Excellent. Inform me when he does so, so that we may covertly send more ships and units to assist him.
 * Grux Officer - Is that safe, sir? Diverging resources from our home front?

Gridlock fixed him with a curious gaze. Most Zarbanian officers where trained not to question the orders of their superiors. If Gridlock chose to, he could simply stab the Captain's neck with his barbed tail, or cut through him with his claws. However, this Officer struck a bit of a cord with him.


 * Gridlock - We have allies here. The Imperium of War, The Shadow Hunters...They will form a bedrock against the Alliance, as we continue to grow our own forces. Besides, when Kradik is successful, we can divert more forces home.
 * Grux - Right, sir.
 * Gridlock - What is your name, Officer?
 * Grux - Fordic Rumstol, sir.
 * Gridlock - Excellent, I shall keep you as one of my personal Officers. You've impressed me with your thinking.

The Grux looked confused, then bowed slightly to Gridlock.


 * Fordic - Thank you sir, I shall not disappoint.
 * Gridlock - I am sure you will not. Carry on, Fordic.

Gridlock laced his fingers. Even with the loss of one supply base, it was going exactly as planned. The Alliance was playing right into his plan.

Killer Queen
The shuttle left the Queen's Children Flagship, the Queen's Flame, rocketing out into space. Onboard were the Ahrat of the Queen's Children, Elegand'r, and the Archon of the attached Peacebringers, Konrad Wilson. Also aboard where the Honor Guard of the Queen's Children, the Phoenixian Guard, and the Peacebringer's Honor Guard, the Cataphract Titans.


 * Elegand'r - *Smiles* You're still feeling a bit upside dow, aren't you?
 * Konrad - You Raptoraneans have weird ways of saying I'm in awe, Elegy.
 * Elegand'r - And you still don't believe me?
 * Konrad - Seeing is believing! I've got to see it.
 * Elegand'r - You will...right away.

With this, a titanic shipyard came into vieuw from behind the asteroid belt. It ws round and unremarkably Drakodominats in design. Though the redesigns were completely appearent as well, having been stripped off the many spikes and sharp edges, and clad in furnished iron, silver, green, and a modest amount of gold, the colors of the Unified Alliance of Enlightenment. Inside it, lied a titanic Glorinia-class Flagship, an Garganuan in size.


 * Konrad - Is that...
 * Elegand'r - Yes. I am pleased to say the Peacebringers will get their own flagship. Concider it a gift from your father and UAE command. At least, from those in UAE command that don't oppose your every move. So, how are you going to name it?
 * Konrad - I'm gonna name it...Killer Queen.
 * Elegand'r - I like the way that sounds. Possibly because of how my Creed sounds.
 * Korad - In honor of our unity of Oath-Brothers! And in honor of your Queen! And most of all, in honor of Queen!
 * Elegand'r - *Smiles* Well, aren't you a dramatic one at times?
 * Konrad - Duh. You too, Elegy.
 * Elegand'r - *smiles again* Well, I guess that is correct. Let us take a closer look, won't we?
 * Konrad - Looks kinda bleak. I mean, not much color.
 * Elegand'r - This is only the basic hull. I thought you would like to paint and decorate it yourself.
 * Konrad - Sure thing.

The shuttle entered an small opening in the space docks, soon touching down. Even the interior had been thoroughly changed from the original Drakodominatus layering. Elegand'r gracefully stepped out, as his guard followed in perfect synchronisation. Konrad ran out too, esctatic with joy, as his guard juped out one by one, sometimes even over each other. Making no haste, the goup of enhanced warriors made their way to the inner side of the shipyard. Once there, they were greeted by a diminuitive Spikron, who bowed heavily.


 * Spikron Egineer - Ah, Ahrats. It is a pleasure to meet you.
 * Elegand'r - *Smiles gently* The pleasure is all mine.
 * Konrad - Uhmmm...Peacebringer Gene-Seed derives from my father, Phase-Hunter. He's the Ahrat. I'm mainly the stand-in...Archon, I believe the term is called. Just sayin'.
 * Spikron Egineer - Ah. Uhm. Pardon me, Archon. I'm not familliar with the terms.
 * Konrad - Bah. that doesn't matter. All that matters is...I'M GONNA GET A FLAGSHIP!
 * Elegand'r - *Grins* Yes. Yes, you are.
 * Konrad - Hehehe...Thanks, Elegy.
 * Elegand'r - Chief egineer, could you lower the bridges? So we could get inside and Konrad can start to get planning on the interior design...


 * Konrad - ...Well, we had to put the stables somewhere. The armory seemes to be the best spot to do it.
 * Elegand'r - Agreed. But converting part of it into a storage room for hay?
 * Korad - Those cuties need something to chew on close by. And we can use it to clean the threads of our verhicles if they get muddy.
 * Elegand'r - It's gonna be a nice mess if you do that.
 * Konrad - Indeed. It's gonna be a nice mess.
 * Elegand'r - Glad you agree with me.
 * Konrad - Yeah, you too.
 * Elegand'r - And this is the command bridge.
 * Konrad - The club house!
 * Elegand'r - Pardon me?
 * Konrad - Can't you see thus huge room taking shape, Elegy? That elevated platform there at the far end of this room is gonna be my personal seat. Like, a bed filled with all these fat-bottomed women I'll invite and all that. That way, i ca oversee everyone while being loved and speading love all around me.
 * Elegand'r - Granted, "that elevated platform" was already meant to be further adapted into your seat of command.
 * Konrad - Even better! We'll convert this whole floor into a titanic dance floor! There will be gigantic, moving, multi-colored spotlights everywhere in the roof! Then we put this gigantic disco globe from the roof in the middle of this room. Underneath it, we put this nice antique orrey to plot our course. Near the side walls, we also put two strips of elevated space, though not as high as mine, and nice leather benches to relax upon! Behind that, some more empty space, like coulisses for our tech-erfs, I mean. Y'know, cut off from the main room by playwright curtains, with a diffrent kind of business going on behind them. Attached to the side walls, braids of cables, circuits, tubes and all that, plugging into control consoles that project holographic images. We'll have these these extending fans of tubework made in such a way that the consoles will resemble giant pipe organs, complete with triple sets of keybords inscribed with flashy control sigils. It'll look really cool! And most importantly, we'll some really big boom-boxes in the corners! In front of that, a huge row of glided long tables to indugle ourselves into foods and drinks!..I bet you can miss some, Elegy?
 * Elegand'r - *Scratching his head* ...Yes. I defenitely can.
 * Konrad - Good! Then I'll make this ship full of noise and light and ponies and manlyness and Queen and awesome!
 * Elegand'r - You're really exited, aren't you?
 * Konrad - I'M GONNA GET MY OWN FLAGSHIP! WHOOHOOW!

Meeting the Wrym Riders
If Konrad was in awe of getting his own personal flagship, then awe didn't even begin to describe what he was feeling now. After all, his flagship was yet bland, and this ship was defentitely not. The ship was massive, so huge that he couldn't see the other end of the it's front. Massive red eyes glared at them from a head encased in brilliant golden scales, with a mouth full of wicked looking teeth. The ship was easily bigger than the flagships of the Queen's Children and Peacebringers combined twice over. Elegand'r chuckled and turned to the viewing screen.


 * Elegand'r - Impressive, isn't it? Though to be honest, we were lucky to find it.
 * Konrad - What!? How could something this big hide!?
 * Elegand'r - Well, for one, it's mobile. For two, it uses a drive system completely alien to any of us, one we can't even track it. Behemoth here is something of giant golden needle in a galactic hay stack. But *Grins*...If you think the outside is impressive, then wait untill you see the inside.
 * Konrad - Sooo...How do we get in there?
 * Elegand'r - It eats us.
 * Konrad - WHAT!?

Suddenly, a low rumble sounded from the ship, growing into a growl, before Behemoth opened in enormous maw in a roar and lunged forward, swallowing the smaller ships before it. To the occupants of the smaller ships it seemed as if they were in the middle of a hurricane, sending them tumbling out of control down the ships massive gullet, eventually coming to a jarring stop as something grabbed them from the ceiling. Konrad looked to see what appeared to be a bio-mechanical claw holding them fast, a membrane opened up and the ships were moved into the open. Konrad's breath caught in his throat and Elegand'r chuckled again. Below them was a massive, sprawling, bio-mechanical metropolis rose from a golden dessert into the dull orange air of a world lock in a perpetual state of twilight. The building were massive skyscrapers of a strange combination of Gothic and Industrial styles merged giving off an eerie yet practical feel with blood red liquid ammonia cascading from some and glowing a ghostly electric blue. At the center, suspended at the ceiling of the worldship, was what appeared to be a space station that stretched all the way down to the ground which the claws holding them were heading towards. Konrad swallowed and turned toward Elegand'r.


 * Konrad - How exactly did you know?
 * Elegand'r - Waptoria ships eat you too. They share simmilar fast regeneration, and the same type of cloaks, but better ones. They aren't radioactive though, so they not as hazardous to enemies. In you don't take the enemy-hostile symbiotes inside into account, that is. Well, they're probably not as dangerous as high levels of radiation.
 * Konrad - So what exactly are we here for?

Elegand'r sighed and rubbed his forehead. He didn't really why they always called on his Creed to do this. There were other Olympian Creeds who the ones they were here to see respected more. Like the Brave Burners, most of all. Or even the Plague Guardians. But duty was duty.


 * Elegand'r - We're here to see a particular Olympian Creed who have been called into question more than a few times. As you know, every Olympian is required to send in a small portion of their gene-seed to evaluate it's traits, however these Olympians are...resistant due to how much other question them.
 * Konrad - What for?
 * Elegand'r - Their past and series of rather rampant mutations they experience. The only ones who experience simmilar ones at times are the Brave Burners, but only rarely. These ones however, nearly always grow them.
 * Konrad - Personally I wonder why they are so hesistant towards it. I mean, Elegy, Peacebringer Gene-seed constantly has mutations run rampant in it, and Olympians aren't put into question based on a mutated Gene-Seed or something. We're all thought to be loyal to the UAE no matter what, so why would we ever fall to Darkling Corruption? Our resistance towards it and that of the Vahallans is legendary. We only can join willingly, but why the heck would anyone of us want that? No, it is their rites on wich a Creed is judged. And that's damn right at that.
 * Elegand'r - Hmmm. On Behemoth, it's just best to be cautious and watch your step.

stood on a launch pad at the edge of Behemoths Prime City over looking the dessert beyond. She was sharpening her Varish steel-coated arm blades when she spotted two figures walking over to her. Both were tall, but one was a rather stunning Raptoranean and another a twisted human. Drain stood and marched over, her Hyper Gravity Gun swinging at her side. The Raptoranean saw her and made an typically Olypian/vahallan motion of greeting, to which Drain returned, before pointing her out to the human. Elegand'r walked over to Drain, who looked up and muttered.


 * Drain - Hello, Elegand'r. Who is your friend over there?
 * Konrad - Hey, little girl! I'm Konrad, Archon for the Peacebringer Olympians.
 * Drain - And I'm Drain, Wrym Rider Olympians 8th Vector Commander.

Konrad was taken aback, this little girl was and Olympian and a commander at that? Also, he had never heard of the Wrym Riders and this girl looked almost human, except that she had blue hair with glowing red ends, blue skin, glowing red eyes with slit pupils as well as fangs, cat-like ears, clawed hands and feet, horns, arm blades, bat-like wings, and a spade-shaped tail. Konrad shook his head.


 * Konrad - Oh, I'm sorry. I though all Olympians were male-only. And Vahallans female-only. That's the way it normally works, see?
 * Elegand'r - These are a special case.
 * Konrad - Also, I'm not familiar with a Creed called the Wrym Riders.
 * Elegand'r - Their official name is the Rad-Eaters. But the name they call themselves inspired some tech-cultists to mix their Gene-Seed with Brave Burner Gene-Seed. The result were two Gene-Seeds they called "Dragon Rider" and "Black Drake". Before they were confiscated.
 * Konrad - Wait...Wait...Wait...You mean they are those Olympians!?

Drain hissed at hearing her Creed's official name and stalked away towards the Ornithopter that would take them into the dessert.


 * Konrad - Did I say something wrong?
 * Elegand'r - The Rad-Eaters have had a dark past, now the have reformed and they are trying to obliterate it, however...some aren't willing to let them do that...

Konrad continued to stare as the desert beneath them rushed past, the Ornithopter's powerful wings buffering the air as it carried them high above the sand.


 * Konrad - This is impressive, but couldn't we have ridden mounts out here instead? I'm a bit more comfortable on a genetically-egineered super horse.
 * Drain - Sue, we could have, if we wanted to be eaten.
 * Konrad - Huh?
 * Drain - Worldship Behemoth's wilderness is a very dangerous place, lots of predatory things that live beneath the sand and are attracted to vibration. Horses would draw unwanted attention. As would sonic weaponry. I read the reports of the favorite battle formations of you two. All I can say is that yuo're both high on sonics.
 * Konrad - Ah. Heh. Right.
 * Elegand'r - That is, if I am not mistaken, exactly the reason UAE Command chose to attach the Peacebringers of the Hunter to us instead of to the Grey Hunters on the very last moment. Though I personally believe that would've played out just as well.

The Ornithopter flew over a large, but shallow salt lake. Around it stood and lied the calcified remains of various large, four-legged creatures, with two or even three heads. They looked vaguely wolf-like, but were as big as a giant bear, and had their hairs transformed into razor-shaped curved spikes.


 * Konrad - And that are the remains of what, exactly? Oh, wait! I think I know I know what they are...It's on the tip of our tongue...Argh! What were again!?
 * Drain - They were our trial by blood.
 * Konrad - Huh?
 * Drain - They are the remains of Doombringers of Fenris. Tyranny Overseers.
 * Konrad - Oh.
 * Drain - It was not just this, but a true tri-fold attack. The only time in our history all three of our worldships were attacked at once. The Doombringers of Fenris attacked Worldship Behemoth. The Hounds of Kuzushimasu attacked Worldship Ziz. The Leviathans of Scyllraken attacked, you guess it, Worldship Leviathan. All were backed up by quite a lot of Combat Harvesters and other nasty things. These battles were short, but extremely bloody. All in all though, we beat them out.
 * Elegand'r - Reminds me of the clashes of our Creed with the Sons of Hedon...
 * Konrad - *Suddenly grim-looking* And those of my father with the Horsemen of Destiny. Ripping apart their surviving praetors felt...statisfying. That was our trial by blood. That was how we were accepted.

They continued onward until a massive craggy scar appeared on the landscape, eventually reveling itself to be a massive crevasse. Drain took the Ornithopter into a dive, accelerating down into the depths of the canyon before pulling to a dead stop as they landed. Drain jumped out of the pilot seat and ran over to a trunk, pulling out a pair of goggles and throwing them toward Konrad.


 * Drain - Konrad. Put these on, the only light down here is ultraviolet, they will allow you to see.
 * Elegand'r - Good thing Raptoraneans can see much more frequencies of light than other spcies can. Heck, all up to microwaves and X-waves. I guess that is what causes my species to wear such colorful clothes all the time. I mean, we are sorta addicted to bright colors, which can be a bad thing at times.

Konrad shrugged and put them on as they stepped out into the canyon. The first thing they noticed was that it was much cooler than the desert surface. Looking around, Konrad saw what appeared to be the main base of the Creed, with their symbol and motto positioned over it. As the go closer, Konrad could begin to make out the Varish lettering which he had been trained to read.


 * Konrad - "War is hell, we must end it." War is hell, we must end it?

He frowned, from what he had heard of the Rad-Eaters, this motto had always seemed out of place, but then again he had heard that they were good friends with the Brave Burners, leading him to suspect that there was more to this Creed then what he had been told. As they approached, a low growling voice rumbled from the shadows.


 * ??? - Who goes there? Do not take a step closer or you will taste chem-cannon.
 * Drain - Relax, Carnage. It's just me and Elegand'r here to get a sample of our gene-seed...Again. Oh...And we have a newcomer with us.
 * Carnage - A newcomer, you say? Well, then better go say hi.

A massive blood red Vanaris Atlas stepped from the darkness a stood before them. The Devourer surveyed the three and gave Elegand'r a nod, before turning towards Konrad.


 * Carnage - And you are?
 * Konrad - Konrad, Archon of the Peacebringers.
 * Carnage - *Chuckles* Ah, so you're the one in charge of that new Olympian Creed. Well, may I extend my welcome, new battle brothers?
 * Elegand'r - With pleasure so. May I extend my gratefulness back to you?
 * Carnage - Heh. Certianly.
 * Konrad - Eerr...Elegy...What..? Weird habits.
 * Carnage - *Laughs* Stay here. I will get Vice Jaw for you.

And with that, Carnage vanished deep into the fortress along with Drain. Konrad and Elegand'r waited somewhat nervously, Konrad because he had heard more than a few scary things about the Rad-Eaters Archon, Elegand'r because he knew Vice-Jaw had a temper. An Ultraknight Captain who had been sent to do this job instead of him had pushed things too far and Vice Jaw had almost bitten him in half. After awhile, the ground began to shake, as a massive, heavily armored, silver, four-legged, saurian Contemptor emerged from the fortress with Drain riding atop his head. The Rad-Eaters Archon's eyes narrowed and rumbling rather mechanical sounding voice ushered forth as his jaws shaped open and shut.


 * Vice Jaw - Welcome ,Elegand'r and Konrad, I take it you are here for the gene-seed.
 * Elegand'r - *Opening up his ams wide in an seemingly friendly gesture* Indeed we are.
 * Vice jaw - Fine, I will have Carrie procure some for you.

Vice Jaw turned to the purple and blue armored Mourner that had come to stand next to him. Carrie nodded and looked at the others balefully, before scampering off. Drain leaned down to whisper something in Vice Jaw's audio receptor, to which Vice Jaw nodded and Drain leapt down from his head and proceeded to scale the sides of the canyon. Vice Jaw turned towards the others.


 * Vice Jaw - I believe Drain wants to put on a show for you, would you like to come and watch?
 * Elegand'r - We would. It would be an honor.
 * Konrad - But do we have time...I mean...What if someone here wants to get out real quick?
 * Elegand'r - Trust me. You do not want to miss this.

Drain stood on the open sands as many from her Creed and the others gathered on the rocks to watch, slowly and then with increasing speed she began to dance in a rhythmic fashion. Beginning to twirl and twist she did not seem to notice as lighting began to crackle in the air above her and a massive bulge began to appear in the sand and head towards her with ever increasing speed.


 * Konrad - Shouldn't we get her out of there!?
 * Vice Jaw - Do not worry. She will be fine.

Drain's eyes narrowed as she saw the underground predator barreling towards her.


 * Drain - It's a big one...

Suddenly the sand erupted in front of Drain as a massive, coiling shape began to emerge. It was a massive black scaled, serpent around 150 meters, with a terrible, eyeless horned head. Opening it's mouth filled with massive razor teeth the creature roared to the sky, as flames bleached forward, and it's 24 tongues thrashed about. Drain simply continued to dance and the creature began to move and twist. After a while Konrad, much to his astonishment realized the creature was dancing with her, arcing in and out of the sand fallowing Drain's fluid movements.


 * Konrad - What is that? How is she doing that?
 * Vice Jaw - That is a Boronic Wrym, creatures we Vanara unleash on planets to convert the ecosystems biochemistry to one more fitting to our's. Drain, we know not how, can control them.
 * Konrad - Amazing...

Drain continued to dance until both her and the Wrym began to tire, dropping her arms to her sides Drain came came to a stand still and Wrym turned, dived back under the sand, and tunneled back into the desert.

Freelancing
Seerkar moved through the streets of Hammerfall swiftly and silently, ducking through alleyways and streets that were shadowed by the looming buildings. Eventually he came to the door of the repair shop he ran for a living here, a living that would soon be behind him. Creeping up towards the door he found a symbol had been written on the door, an eye with an arrow pointing downward. Seerkar growled before opening up the door and heading into the living room. Walking in he found his friends Dorgua and Jarorcht sitting in the on the couch taking to Akanri.


 * Seerkar - Sop. What's the occasion?
 * Jarorcht - We are almost ready to get underway, we just need that one piece.
 * Seerkar - I got it, Barakia was very helpful about the whole thing.
 * Dorgua - In exchange for what?
 * Seerkar - You'd rather not know.
 * Dorgua - Right, you know your being watched, right?
 * Akanri - *snorts* Of course we do, this is Hammerfall, we know about anyone who walks in here. There are eyes everywhere.
 * Jarorcht - Aye and not all of them friendly.
 * Seerkar - No, but all quiet cunning.

Just then the lights went out and everyone looked up.


 * Akanri - Electromagnetic storm...You got insulation repaired, right Seerkar-Koon?
 * Seerkar - Yeah, wouldn't want an oscillating field to form and kill us all.
 * Dorgua - Aye, that would be unfortunate.
 * Jarorcht - Speaking of the condition of this place, do you believe this plan of yours will work. What if the UAE leaders make a move before you?
 * Seerkar - The inhabitants will never except their lives being improved from them, this is the best chance of improving things for Hammerfall.
 * Dorgua - If you say so.

Just then their was a knocking at the door stiffening the four friend nodded to each other before grabbing their weapons and taking up positions around the door.


 * Akanri - Who's there? Answer or we'll blow your head clean off.
 * ??? - Now is that anyway to talk to an old friend!?
 * Akanri and Seerkar - Zuki!?
 * Zuki - Yes...Now let me in before this field fully forms.
 * Akanri - Right, right.

Akanri opened the door and let in the future heir to the Vanara Imperial Throne.


 * Zuki - Nice place you got here, you know it's being watched...
 * Dorgua and Jarorcht - They know!
 * Zuki - Right, well...I'm here about that little mission you've got planned.
 * Seerkar - Yes what about it?
 * Zuki - Your Empress approves, she has even got some presents for you to help carry it out.
 * Akanri - And they are?
 * Zuki - In the morning after this storm ends, I'm assuming I can crash here for the night?
 * Akanri - Aye, just don't try to cook anything.

Zuki grinned morosely before replying.


 * Zuki - I'll try not to poison any of you.

Everyone laughed, Zuki's cooking was well known for being comparable to toxic waste, nothing fit for anything's consumption.


 * Seerkar - Well in that case I have Kraa'vee I got from a Mendel Trader not to long ago.
 * Jarorcht - You actually like that stuff!?
 * Akanri - Are you kidding? It's awesome! Almost as good as Vanarine Rum!
 * Jarorcht - Ugh! That's even worst it'll rot your guts out.
 * Zuki - Well then break out the glasses I'm do for drinking something completely unhealthy.
 * Akanri - Aye, I'll drink to that!

The next day, Zuki took Akanri and Seerkar aboard the Veris-class Juggernaut The Night Watcher. Walking down the biomechanical hallway Akanri popped the question the pair wanted to ask.


 * Akanri - So Zuki-Vi? Where is this surprise you have for us?
 * Zuki - It's coming, in fact it's in here.

Zuki put her palm on a membrane and the thing peeled open. As the three stepped inside both Akanri and Seerkar gasped and Zuki grinned. Highlighted by the lights in the room were two massive grey Infinate Mobility Suits.


 * Zuki - Akanri, Seerkar meet your new IM Suits, the Catalyst and the Finality.

Both simply stood their gapping before Seerkar shook his head and responded.


 * Seerkar - Zuki-Vir why are we being given these?
 * Zuki - Because what you are doing is important, getting Dr.Que back from the Singularity is important. Also the Hegemony's recent actions have led us to be suspicious, we know they are watching us and ban has been placed on Hegemony military personnel, civilians, merchants, etc. meaning they cannot enter our colonies or worldships.
 * Seerkar - Even if they managed to sneak in the likely hood of dying of exposer is high.
 * Akanri - And the underground would not tolerate it, their patience already grows thin.
 * Zuki - Aye, Empress Besta has even...

Zuki lowered her voice to sub sonic whisper that only Akanri and Seerkar could possibly have heard, both their eyes widened and they glanced at each other before returning their attention to Zuki. Zuki signed before continuing in a more light hearted tone.


 * Zuki - In any case I have another surprise for you.
 * Akanri - Oh and what may this one be?
 * Zuki - An old friend of yours.

They continued past the suits which Akanri and Seerkar couldn't help but steal another glance at before continuing into another room dominated by a liquid ammonia filled pit. A low rumbling filled the room as a massive toothy head with only one eye burst from the pool showering everyone their.


 * Akanri - Scar Eye!

Seerkar and Akanri stepped forward to scratch the DaiKaiju's scaly snout the beast giving out a rumble of pleasure at the contact.


 * Seerkar - Hey buddy how ya been.
 * Zuki - *Laughs* I would say he missed you two.
 * Seerkar - I'm assuming you gave him us for the mission.
 * Zuki - Oh no, much more, he is your for as long as that Freelancer Company of yours still exists.
 * Akanri - *Grins* Fantastic!

Seerkar smiled before his Closed Space communicator lite up, looking at the message he typed out a reply before turning towards the others.


 * Seerkar - That was Berenet, we're ready to be underway.
 * Zuki - Go I will have the goods delivered to you presently.
 * Akanri - Right.
 * Zuki - Ava accel u eee.
 * Akanri and Seerkar - And to you.

When Hunters Become The Hunted
Deep beneath the blue ammonia seas of Leviathan, down in the darkness, lay a trench. A massive scar across the landscape of the shadowy abyss, only lit by the slight glow the volcanos that had emerged in it's depths. Nothing lived down there, nothing wanted to, and no one ever went anywhere close for fear of what had emerged from that terrible rift. Even now the energy of Ada's domain, the Abyss, still seemed to pollute the sea that surrounded it. But for years, the breach had been silent, nothing moved in it's shadows...until now. Slowly, a dull dark cyan glow began to appear inside the rift. It quickly grew brighter and to absolutely massive proportions. The ammonia around began to boil and churn, as hisses, screeches, and roars sounded from below. The color of the eerie light changed from dark cyan to dark blue, and then to a bright electric blue, as an explosion ripped through the ocean, hurling glowing, malignant crystals across the Worldship.

Manifest Destruction
Deep in the archives of Maturkoris in a long abandoned section the archives a group of archivists and miners were digging deep through some collapsed rumble. Stopping for a short lunch break, one of the archivists raised his voice in complaint.


 * Archivist - How long is this going to take? We've been down here for 12 hours and all we've found in rubble and more rubble!
 * Miner - It would help if you bothered to help!
 * Archivist - That's your job! Our's is to catalogue and make sure you handle anything we find down here properly.
 * Miner - Yeah well fuck you!

There was a tense silence after that, before the Versasian in charge of the miners, stood on a pile of rumble and shouted down.


 * Head Miner - Hey now! We've all been given a job to do and were not going to get it done arguing like this. Now we're all tired and want to get home, so lets stop squabbling and get digging. Including the archivists.

One Salmarian archivist raised his voice in protest, but quickly quieted after the Verasian shot him a glare. After finishing, the miners and archivists got back to work clearing out the remaining rubble. After another three hours, they managed to break through into an open chamber. Looking aroun,d they could see the entire chamber was filled with large eggs. The archivists knew what to do: A quick spread-out to study this new find. The head miner walked up to the Salmarian archivist.


 * Head Miner - So want do we have here?
 * Archivist - Eggs.
 * Head Miner - *shorts* I can see that, what kind of eggs?
 * Archivist - No idea. Must study these eggs first.
 * Head Miner - In that case, tell me when you do.

The Verasian began to walk away when suddenly he heard a scream. Turning he saw the head of a bird-like reptile snapping up the archivist and swore.


 * Head Miner - These are Manifested eggs...We must alert..!

But he was to late as the other eggs had already begun to hatch, the young lunging forward to snapped up the miners before taking wing and swarming up to the surface. Above two Veteran Warrior Hunters watched as the black cloud of monstrous bodies spread to other sectors. They were the Ugandal Kando Dorum and Ustmen Ragnar Ingavar stood watching horror unfolding in front of them.


 * Kando - Damn! A Mainfested attack and at a time like this! There just aren't enough pilots here at this moment to fend off such a threat!
 * Ragnar - Not exactly true. There are the rookies.
 * Kando - Do you think they could handle this?
 * Ragnar - You have a better suggestion, because I would love to hear it.

Kando grunted, he new his old friend was right, they really were out of options.


 * Kando - Alright they've already completely infested sector Onu ands have already begun to infest sectors Po and Ci.
 * Ragnar - We should deploy in pairs. Four Hunters per Sector at most!
 * Kando - As the two most experienced, we should take Onu. That is where the heaviest infestation is.
 * Ragnar - And send the rookies to take care of the infestation of the adjacent sectors.
 * Kando - Right.
 * Ragnar - Then let's go alert the others. No point in wasting time!
 * Kando - No, rather multiple, very hungry points...Not to waste time...Not at all.

Ragnar allowed himself a small chuckle before the two ran back into the Thunder Barracks.

Ragnar connected himself to Eiszeit as the barracks where a mess of pilots and maintaince crews rushing to prepare the tools of their trade. Ragnar himself was at peace. Not because he was naturally peaceful at this time, no, quite the opposite, as was common amongst his species. It was mostly because 4020 Eiszeit did not like his thoughts to be cluttered when they where calibrated together. Finally, 4020's cool voice echoed in his mind.


 * 4020 - All is ready, Ragnar. You may clutter our thoughts with your trivial passings of the mind.
 * Ragnar - Good to hear you too.
 * 4020 - Can we please hurry? If we do not work quickly, the Manifested will soon leave this already damaged tool of my creators beyond any hope of repair.
 * Ragnar - Once Kando is ready, we will leave.
 * 4020 - You and the Mendel can be so bothersome with your rituals and battle-traditions.
 * Kando - *On comm* We are ready to move. Let's get going and finish these things.
 * Barrack Princeps - The neural hand-shake is complete, your Jagers are ready to fight.

The Jagers shot out of the Thunder Barracks, quickly landing in Sector Onu, where the blackish cloud of Manifested slowly approached, explosions ripping through both city and Manifested swarm.


 * Kando - I suggest we withdraw the Federation Clone forces. They have done enough, and will merely get in our way.
 * Ragnar - Agreed. They've done enough damage.
 * Kando - To the swarm or city?
 * Ragnar - Both.

Kando snorted as the 2 mechs raced towards the flock. He was used to Ragnar's often sardonic humor, he himself had a brand of it. Though he didn't enjoy the thought of anyone dying to Manifested. Neither did, really. Of all the Beasts of Zarbania, why did it have to be these mindless killers?


 * Kando - How did these things get into Matrukoris?
 * 2203 - There is no information. A group of miners simply found the eggs, and where quickly consumed.
 * Ragnar - I do not care where they come from, as long as they go to hell.
 * Kando - *Laughs* Indeed, brother.

Jet Blazer's right arm folded into an arm canon, as they two ran forward, each firing various missile and plasma weapons into the flock of manifested, causing hundreds of them to fall to the street in flaming mounds. However, they did not seem to take notice, even as the 2 fired again and again, instead intent on swarming elsewhere across the city.

However, as the 2 separated to try and steer the swarms elsewhere, towards the center of the sector, a buzz went through the air. It was difficult to describe, almost like something vibrating against their brain.


 * Ragnar - Grr, In the Scorner's name, what is that damned...whatever.
 * Kando - I don't know, but be ready.
 * 2203 - It is in the center mass of the swarm. Something my creators banished long ago...

Just as suddenly, it stopped, as the whole horde turned towards them, shrieking and flying at them, beams flying from their maws at times to try and cut them down. Thankfully, Manifested where notoriously bad with their cutting beams, preferring to move in and swarm a foe with talons and teeth. As such, the 2 stood their ground, firing round after round.

Finally, Jet Blazer's Arm folded back into a fist, as a sword leapt out from it's wrist. Eiszeit extended both blades, as energy flooded through them.


 * 4020 - Shall we begin cleanup?

Both pilots grunted in response, moving quickly to slice through the Manifested. Cyro shots and Plasma burned and screeched through the air, as Manifested swarmed around them, trying to claw at them, most of the time, ending up in small packs and attacking each other, leaving some weight off the Warrior hunters. Still, it was a lot of work, as the manifested would return from fighting one another to attacking the Warrior-Hunters once more.

A Manifested snapped down on Jet Blazer's sword arm, grinding it's knife-like teeth down on the metal, growling as it did. Jet Blazer slammed his fist down on it's head, once, twice, then a crush, as it's body went limp, and Jet tossed it aside, and into 2 more Manifested. Another came from behind, to be meet with a spinning back fast from Blazer, snapping it's neck, as Jet fired several missiles at other Manifested nearby.

Ragnar, meanwhile, was immobilizing several Manifested at once with his cryo canons, not even bothering to hit them after, simply going after other targets during the battle, and smashing the frozen manifested to small crystals, as he danced and weaved all around, cutting down Manifested after manifested.

Finally, the manifested seeming stopped for a second, turning their head slightly, as the 2 hunters took the time to attack them. Then, without another word, the creatures fled, swarming off with what few numbers where left.

Whatever where left where too injured to move off, some crawling away, others trapped on their backs, shrieking at their nest-mates to return, or at the hunters themselves.


 * 2203 - Kando, our power levels are below 9%, and the left is badly damaged.
 * 4020 - I have similar injury. Our power generators are leaking.
 * Ragnar - Is it serious damage?
 * 4020 - Not for an organic like yourself.
 * Kando - Is it safe to check around with the other units deployed?
 * 2203 - Based off data. Yeah, we could.
 * Kando - Then let's check up on our cormades for a bit.

Gatal Gagnak gripped heavily on the controls of his Warrior-Hunter, as he locked on to the Magnetic catapult that would take him to the surface. He was a Cogneilli. Accepting the deities of the League of Patrons as his spiritual leiges after a crisis of faith wich saw him becoming a rare Cogneilli atheist first, Gatal had fled to the Wards of Matrukoris in search of an incognito life. The people of the Wards had accepted him without a fuss and he would protect them in turn. That was why he had become a Warrior-Hunter. And now he heard the news. Manifested where in Matrukoris. Why? How? Did someone let them in? Was there a secret coup d'etat going on, executed by the Zarbania Powers? It did not matter. They were Manifested. The were filth. They had to be cleansed.


 * 1311 Taint Cleanser - ...By fire.
 * Gatal - Ah! The mental Hand-Shake is complete, it seems.
 * 1311 Taint Cleanser - Of course it is. Otherwise I would not be able to talk with you.
 * Gatal - Yet you always inspire me, shard of the Cleanser that fills this mighty vessel.
 * 1311 Taint Cleanser - If you say so, then so I am. Regardless, there are Manifested in the city. The worst of all scum.

At this moment, a snorting voice came trough Gartol's communications channel, as the face on an Cathonian-Goorkien hybrid popped up on an hardlight screen.


 * Brenzo - Good to see you pumped. You ready?
 * Gartol - Certainly.

And yet another voice came trough, old yet spirited. Gatal froze when he saw the face of his fellow refugee pop up. An Targarous. And not just an Targarous. That dark green skin...That pointy beard...that stern face...and those eyes, almost glowing with zealous faith...


 * Gatal - Kaldolom Spodeblessed.
 * Kardolom - Indeed it is so.
 * Gatal - *Trembling with hate* Why did they send you here, of all Hunter Pilots?
 * Kaldolom - I volunteerd.
 * Brenzo - His Warrior-Hunter makes a good match with mine. That is the main reason.
 * Gatal - Blast it! Keep a distance, Kaldarom!
 * Kaldolom - Quiet, youngling. We must focus on the task at hand. May Spode bless you with a rich hunt.
 * Gatal - Curse your god! I don't want his blessings!
 * Kaldolom - You dare speak heresy!?
 * Gatal - I serve the Cleanser! His spirit is in any of his followers! He is much more visible than the unphantomable deity you follow!
 * Kaldolom - Is he? I believe the Spirituals are quite real. And where was the "Cleanser", the god you chose to follow, when the Aeoneonatrix were whiped from their homes?
 * Gatal - You...ack...Damn you!

A deep, rumbling voice then echoed trough the Entry Plugs of Gatal and Kaldarom that connected them to their Hunters. It was the Observer of Brenzo's Hunter, 8152 Bronzenhide.


 * 8152 Bronzenhide - Shut up. Both of you.
 * Kaldolom - Hmpf.
 * Gatal - No.
 * 8152 Bronzenhide - Yes.
 * Gatal - All right, all right! Besides, we need to stop squabbelling. We have Manifested to kill!
 * Kaldolom - ...Errr...
 * 1311 Taint Cleanser - Good. Now, to slaughter?
 * 8152 Bronzenhide - To slaughter!
 * Gatal - Yeeeah!

Gatal swiped aside the hardlight Comm-Screens of Kaldolom and Brenzo aside, as as the three large hardlight screens on wich they were placed vanished in a green light, clearing up to give the Cogneilli a clear vieuw of the outside world. Pushing a buttom, his magnetic catapult rose to the surface, as an hatch in the ground openened, and he was launched out.


 * Gatal - Gatal Gagnak, 1311 Taint Cleanser taking off!
 * Brenzo - Brenzo co Shan, 8152 Bronzenhide taking off!
 * Kaldolom - Kaldolom Spodeblessed, 1J Holy Retribution taking off!

Taint Cleanser slam-landed down heavily, whiping up a cloud of dust as his feet hit the desert ground of Sector Po. Behind him, he saw 8153 Bronzenhide and Kaldolom's Warrior-Hunter, 1J Holy Retribution, rise out of the ground as well.


 * Kaldolom - Try to take off with less force next time.
 * Gatal - Fat chance!

Bronzenhide rotated his head slightly, looking arpound for something to kill.


 * 8152 Bronzenhide - Brenzo. At the horizon. There. I sp-
 * 1311 Taint Cleanser - Manifested! Over there! At the horizon! Purge them with cleansing fire!

Taint Cleanser already ran formward, as the muzzle of it's weaponry started to glow a bright orange. He fired a beam of heat at the Manifested from his left arm, scorching the from of the swarm, before jumping right into the middle, and unleashing a wide stream of fire from his right that incarcated most of them in one fell swipe.


 * Kaldolom - Be careful not to scorch the buildings...or, Spode forgive me, the false idols they build here.
 * Gatal - YES! PURGE EVERYTHING! WITH CLEANSING FIRE!

Taint Cleanser rushed forwards towards another swarm of Manifested, bring more and more to crisps as he left a blazing trail behind.


 * 8152 Bronzenhide - If the Aeoneonatrix continues burning Manifested like that, we'll likely break a new killing record.
 * Brenzo - We'll also likely break a new record for colletoral damage.
 * Kaldalom - I'll stop him.

Holy Retribution extended his arms towards Taint Cleanser with the insntention of wrapping them around it and pulling the Warrior-Hunter back. However, manifested jumped upon the stratched arms, biting and tearing away. With a rythmic howl, Taint Cleanser was forced to full back. Some Manifested still to the arms, as Holy Retribution raised it's Thunder hammer and start bludeoming them off. Bronzenhide joined in, picking up manifested with it's hands and tossing them apart on the canyon walls of the sector.


 * Brenzo - Quick! We have to get to-
 * Gatal - Not needed.

The hybrid looked up to see Taint Cleanser walk towards their position, burned manifested hanging all around his body, slumping lifeless to the ground as the Hunter walked forwards. Behind him, a huge dust cloud had risen up into the air, as the fighting had caused a part of a cliff wall to break down on rows of statutes. Gatal has used them as clubs and bowling balls, judging on how Taint Cleanser held the half of a scorched stature by it's head. And a lot of black smoke revealed that, in Taint Cleaner's rampage, more than a few dozens of tents had been burned down to ashes as wel...

Ibari grinned as she sat in the cockpit of her bright red Core Splendor Access Jet. As she sat there, several voices came through the com.


 * Kryuun - You ready, Ibari?
 * Ibari - Hah! Don't you know it!?
 * Armus - Speak for yourself. I'm not sure I can handle this!
 * Ibari - If I were in your entry plug right now, I would slap you for being so self-depreciating. You're inside a giant, four-armed, cyborg-angel type thing. Have some confidence for Jura's sake.
 * Serenity - In his entry plug, oooh!
 * Ibari - Oh, shut up!
 * Armus - *groans* Can we just get a move on? We've got Mainfested swarming the city and you three are engaging in idle mockery.
 * Serenity - Oh, posh! We're just alleviating stress!
 * Ibari - He's got a point, though. If we don't get up there soon who knows how many people will get hurt.
 * Serenity - I thought you weren't the biggest fan of the Alliance, Ibari?
 * Ibari - *growls* I'm not, but compared to every other faction, is there any better option? The Alpha Cyber Collective and their allies would just turn us to drones, the Zarbania Powers aren't as bad as most make them out to be except they're under the influence of the Dark One, and the Imperium of War are just A-grade insane.
 * Kryuun - Good point.

Just then the voice of the Thunder Barracks Princeps cut through their conversation.


 * Barrack Princeps - We are readying you for launch. Breach yourselves.
 * All - Aye, sir!

Their Hunters moved forward towards the magnetic catapults that would take them to Sector Ci.


 * Serenity - Serenity launched!
 * Armus - Armus Canix, 6613 Oni launched!
 * Kryuun - Kryuun Sterra Lain, 11K Siguror CSAJ launched!
 * Ibari - Ibari Asukra Ayana, 2C Brynhildr CSAJ launched!

Ibari slammed her hand on the controls, sending her CSAJ accelerating up the magnetic catapult and into the open air. Below her, she saw her hunter 2C Brynhildr rising up out of the ground. The Hunter's back armor open and several tractor beams emerged, connecting to various points on the jet, and guiding into down on to the Chaser's back before the armor locked it in place.


 * Ibari - Core Splendor Access Jet locked. Inserting connection proboscis.

Kryuun's voice crackled through announcing the same, as Ibari inserted the proboscis and the plug flared with murky, green light before clearing to show the outside world around her and the voice of 2C Brynhildr filled her thoughts.


 * Brynhildr - It's been a while, my pilot.
 * Ibari - Aye.
 * Brynhildr - It appears as though we have a problem.
 * Ibari - Several, as a matter of fact.
 * Brynhildr - Regardless, I care not as long as get to feel their blood through my teeth!
 * Ibari - *Laughs* As psychotic as ever. That's good.

Right then, the Warrior-Hunters started losing speed, before they fell down trough the deep, gem-riddled chasms of Sector Ci until they found themselves in the lower, fully crystalline levels. Manifested swarmed around everywhere. Brynhildr and Ibari snarled before charging out towards the swarm of Manifested. Looking around, she could see Siguror right on her tail, Serenity flying up above, and Oni lumbering behind.


 * Ibari - Kryuun, we'll fire my Punisher and your VOPAC at maximum output.
 * Kryuun - Then you charge in and use the roar fallowed by the rest of us.
 * Serenity - We read you loud and clear.
 * Armus - Sounds like a plan, I guess.
 * Ibari - Don't guess! Just act!

Brynhildr leveled the Punisher and Siguror engaged the VOPAC before firing at full out put, a green beam of light and a red beam of positrons lanced out striking at the same point in a massive blast of positrons and photons that annihilated several Manifested and scattered the rest. Unfortunately, a good chuck of roof collapsed as well, destroying several of the sector's crystal buildings. Brynhildr used the hole to climb out the crystal mines to gain higher ground while Ibari cursed the destruction of a chunk of the city. Unfortunately, the Manifested followed suit, as fighting now took them to the inhabited, upper levels of Sector Ci.

Racing into the center of the Manifested, Ibari roared in a sonic scream that paralyzed several of the vicious little monsters, which she quickly snapped up, leaving a bloodied mess between her metallic teeth. Kryunn quickly charged and fired off Siguror's bladed grappling cables, slicing through several Manifested. Serenity, meanwhile, dove in and out, weaving her way through the swarm of tiny little monsters, slashing them when ever she could. At the same time, Armus smashed his way through several, while using Oni's plasma blaster to clear out the scum. Siguror engaged his maser swords and quickly used the flat of the blades to smash several Manifested against the side of a building.


 * Ibari - Try to avoid damaging the city now!
 * Kryuun - Yeah, well...These little beasts are so small they absorb the force of my attacks!
 * Ibari - Point taken.
 * Kryuun - Ibari! Look out!

Ibari glanced to see the swarm was grouping back together, swirling in a maelstrom of bodies.


 * Serenity - What the..?

The swarm suddenly jetted forward, coalescing into a spinning spear of Manifestend slamming into Brynhildr and pushing her through the sector in a straight path. After being rammed trough several buildings, more collapsed down on top of her, burying her under the crystalline rubble. Struggling free, Ibari looked to see the swarm grouping together again for another strike. Spiraling downward, Ibari fired the Punisher at full output, just as Kryuun fired the VOPAC at similar output. The two beams met in the middle of the black cloud in an explosion that lit most of the swarm ablaze, but the shock wave it generated took out many, more spattering their innards all overs the structures that where sent crumbling to the ground from the blast. After that, it was simply a matter of hunting down the stragglers, but there were many, they were fast, and they were ferocious. By the time they had managed to clear them all, at least 20% of the sector was reduced to crystal splinters. Ibari growled as she looked over the destruction that had been caused.


 * Kryuun - This is gonna cause some serious shit.
 * Ibari - Tell me about it.

Meeting
Seerkar stared out into the depths of Closed Space as the various colors raced past his eyes. Sighing he closed his eyes and took a sip of coffee before crewing up his face and spitting it out with venom. Sticking out his tough he glared down at the cup.


 * Seerkar - Ugh, I have no idea how the others stand you! You have got to be one the foulest drinks these carbon balls can cook up.
 * Akanri - Well if you would stop being so keen to experiment with carbon based food perhaps you would quit coloring the controls.
 * Seerkar - I'm just trying to see if anything other than donuts is worth eating.
 * Akanri - Yeah well in the mean time clean up the controls.
 * Seerkar - I always clean up the messes.
 * Akanri - Cause you always make them.
 * Seerkar - Point taken.

Grumbling as he took out a rag and began to mop up the mess. His cleaning however was soon to be interrupted as a communication came in.


 * Berenet - Hey boss we got a major communication.
 * Seerkar - From who?
 * Berenet - The JWB Mercs, apparently someone has taken an interest.
 * Seerkar - Well then lets get on over.

Racing to the to the coordinates sent Seerkar look to see not only Justice Without Boarders hanging around, but also the Gorepack as well.


 * Akanri - Looks like we have far more company then what we were told about.
 * Seerkar - Indeed, open up communications.
 * Berenet - Yes sir.

Eco, JWB and the Gorepack come offering their help

Zilla Freddie Mercenaries show up not long after offering their help as well

Patriot The Black Locks are not far behind, sent not only to help rescue Doctor Que, but try to keep an eye on Seerkar and Akanri

Power of the Singularity
(The Freelancers discover the Singularity has made a shocking recovery and only Seerkar and Akanri( maybe one or two others) are able to make it to the starbase where Dr. Que is held)

Into the Gullet
(Dr. Que rescued, Singularity plan revealed, Krad killed.)

Escape
(Having rescued Que the Freelancers are forced to retreat before the Singularity overwhelms them.)

Corvus's Campaign
Admiral Corvus Tiberius's arrival to Mirus was barely noticed by any side of the conflicts. The UAE new that the Hegemony had brought in a new admiral to speed up the conflict, but they did not know anything specific about the officer in question. Enemy intelligence networks also picked up on Corvus's arrival, but were unsure what to make of him. It wasn't until Corvus launched his counter attack that the foes of the UAE knew the gravity of the situation.

Corvus's fleet fell upon the separatists like an avalanche. Instead of chasing individual fleets around like the Hegemony fleet had been doing for months now, Corvus would instead encircle whole areas of space before working his way in, destroying everything that put up even a shred of resistance. The sheer speed and ferocity of his advance allowed Corvus to drive a wedge in enemy territory, cutting off several key separatist systems from each other. Completely cut off, these systems would surrender after several bloody sieges.

Corvus was already fairly ruthless towards these enemies of the UAE, but after the battle of Andaleus system, he became enraged and completely merciless towards the separatists. The battle itself started out fairly normal, a planet belonging Unitech Citadel of Sentients was discovered by naval scouts, and since the system was along the path that the fleet was taking into separatist core systems, this planet was marked for immediate assault.

The battle over Andaleus One was swift and brutal. Multiple Rapturous Class Stealth Cruisers flanked the Unitech defensive fleet and whittled them down while the largest vessels pummeled the center. Corvus's flagship, the Battle Barge Thundering Warsong devastated the smaller enemy vessels. At the height of the battle, a well placed Jovian cannon shot split the enemy flagship in half, dragging the wreckage into hyperspace with its vortex warhead. The rest of the fleet was mopped up by other combat vessels and massive wings of strike craft.

After the defensive fleet was destroyed and the static defenses guarding the planet were also obliterated, the invasion of the planet began. While the Hegemony had fought Unitech forces before and had invaded outposts guarded by them, they had never invaded a fully colonized world before. Thus, the invading forces were completely in the dark to the horrors that they would find below.

Hakanian Warhawk drop troopers entered the planets sole city first, dropping onto the outskirts of the area and destroying multiple defensive zones, allowing for the rest of the Hegemony's ground forces to enter. While the regular army worked its way in from the city outskirts, a company of Doom Eagle Astartes orbitally dropped into the center of the city to clear out enemy resistance. In the middle of heated close quarters combat in the cities slum zone, the Astartes found a pack of ragged prisoners from the Hegemony and other empires that had been captured last year. The story they told was horrifying.

They had been captured by Unitech forces and had been experimented on, tortured, and abused. They had decided to escape, but most of their fellow escapees had been hunted and killed by deranged citizens looking to get a cheap thrill. Still, better to be free and on the run than to be mutated beyond recognition.

The Astartes were horrified by this account, and after the prisoners had been safety evacuated, decided to confirm this. After a fierce battle to enter a nearby lab complex, the Astartes had their worst fears confirmed. Twisted flesh experiments and POWS broken down into raw DNA greeted them at every turn. In a rage, the super soldiers butchered every member of the lab staff, regardless to any pleas for mercy or attempts at surrendering.

After the battle was done and prisoners had been taken, Corvus himself took a tour of the lab complexes. He exited in a frothing rage, "Such vile sadists must be punished, they do not deserve to exist. Destroy every last one of them and burn this planet to ash!" he declared. The prisoners that had been taken were executed and Hegemony ground forces returned to orbit as the navy ignited the surface of the planet with orbital bombardment.

Further battles against separatist factions only served to increase Corvus's rage. These evil, vile factions had been allowed to live for too long. He would go all out and wipe them from the face of the Gigaquadrant. Every last soldier, every last citizen would perish.

After several weeks of consolidating his forces, Corvus launched Operation Pyre, an event that would later be know infamously as the Great Scouring. He would devastate this region so thoroughly and destroy the UAE's enemies so utterly that it would be as if they had never existed at all. Only ruins would be left.

The Scouring
patriot: Admiral Corvus continues his invasion of separatist space, destroying all opposition in his path. The savagery and destruction unleashed by this campaign are refereed to as the scouring in the future. Separatists are dealt a heavy blow.)(Note From Gorzill: The Vanara Singularity will not be involved in this - I need them for something else.)

The Battle for Alpha Rosetta
Eco: Medidand'r and her Exploration party discover unusual readings from Alpha Rosetta from their stealth ship, discovering Glacier's base. They call in the UAE fleet which attacks.

A lone UAE stealth ship moved trough the Rosarius Beta subsector. On board was a small team of three Raptoraneans: W'tze's daughter Merdidan'r, and her teammates Galia'th and Cha'rem. After accompanying the Koatria progidy Niya Yaeger and her friends back to the academy where she was trained, they had set out again, though Meridand'r herself woul've really liked to stay there for a while and hone her solar elemental powers. But the failed raids of the Singularity, the Separatist Coalition and Glacier's forces on the heart of UAE space had caused things to go differently.

Duty called for the various Exploarion Teams shattered all over the edge of UAE space. They had been given a new objective: search for any unmapped or hidden bases of the Proditkar Movement and rely back that information to UAE command. Cha'rem had jumped right upon it, and so, Merdiand'r and her team found themselves at the forsfron of the effort against the Proditkar and the Separatist Coalition. Thye had already discovered and reported numberous rebel bases to the UAE, and reorted them to various fleet commanders, like Tiberius Corvus, who would then come in with their fleets and whipe the bases out from orbit with pinpoint strikes. To eliminate the larger and more important bases, the Praetorian Congregations had even come in a few times. Merdiand'r liked nothing more than to see the Queen's Children and their Peacebringer prtoteges arrive, and have the chance to chat up with her older twin "siblings" Elegand'r and Soland'r, before both went on with their own seperate tasks again.

They had found various trails converging into a lawless region of space that was generally known as Proditkar turf, but in the Rosarius Beta subsector, the trail had run cold. Right where the most vital base in the whole wide area should be. If they could take out this base, the Proditkar would truly be unable to stage any further assaults on the UAE in mirus, unless the UAE themselves were weakened from various simultaneous extragalactic invasions. But what was the chance of that happening? If they took out this base, the UAE would defenitely deal the Proditkar Movement a heavy blow, and possibly even cause the frail coalition of UAE separatists to disintegrate completely.

That was, if they could find the base.

Alpha Rosetta Beseiged
Crimson: Space battle over Alpha Rosetta III. The UAE with the Queen's Children and Peacebringer fleets fail to break trough. Glacier has a hidden Quista Clan fleet behind Tau Theta. He uses Bio-Morphlings, Flesh-Craft, and later Living Blood to attack the UAE ships.

Glacier watched out the window of his flagship as the UAE fleets bore down on his own. He laughed. He knew exactly what these fools thought they were doing. Glacier did not attack, merely waiting for them to come into range. The Praetorian Congregation ships, in lead of the rest of the fleets, eventually passed by the ancient wreckage of the Zarbania Powers ships. As soon as they were past, Glacier sprung the trap. He raised his omnitool and let off a burst of energy.

Aboard the Zarbanian ships, in ancient chrysalis, forms began to stir. Creatures neither living or dead, preserved for millennia. Claws, fangs, and spines began tearing the fossilized cocoons apart, their writhing, twisted forms spilling onto the floors of the ships. Then they began swarming out through holes in the ships' hulls. Bio-Morphlings, hibernating for years, were pouring out by the hundreds.

They floated through space, using their limbs to direct themselves in the general direction of the Praetorian Congregation ships. Soon they latched on, clawing at the hulls and looking for a way in. On the bridge, the Congregation Serfs looked on in fear at the savage, relentless creatures. Deeper inside, the Olympians and Vahallans were noticed of the Morphling outside by their Scouts, and began readying their weapons.


 * Glacier - Ok, ladies and gentlemen. Spring it!

Instantly, all of Glacier's ships began opening fire. Lasers hammered the Praetorian Congragtion ships as they advanced through the debris field. Using Raptoranean technology, the shields of the Queen's Children ships simply absorbed the lasers, using their soler-based energy to strengthen their own layers of shielding. The ships of the Peacebringers did not come with such technology, but being amongst the best of the UAE shielding, still hold out way more than Glacier had expected, giving the Peacebringers time to get in position. When the shields finally collapsed, and the lasers began searing through the hulls, theye were ready for what was to come. Abruptly, the firing stopped. Then, the Congregation Serfs discovered why.

The Bio-Morphlings, previously unable to enter, began swarming into the holes in the ships, reaching the crew in minutes. The carnage was quick. Surprise, shock, and fear caused the crew to panic, making them easy prey. Then, doors to the inner ship opened, as the the Peacebringers themselves strode forwards, yelling out their battle cries. Ray Bolters sounded and sonic weaponry began to blast the Mophlings apart with ease. Aboard his new flagship, Konrad grinned.


 * Konrad - We're Praetortian, hell yeah! Did he really exepect we woud go down so easily!?

Just at that moment, he began receiving distress calls from the Waptoria ships in the Retribution Fleet. Glacier had repeated his tactic, with sucess this time. And this time, the ships were not being flooded by Bio-Morphlings, but Flesh-Crafts. Elegand'r popped up on a nearly hologram.


 * Elegand'r - Konrad! The fleet is slowing pace. We have run onto some sort of ambush, it seems. Our unenhanced brothers and sisters are under attack! I'll take the Queen's Blades Conclave to get get them out of trouble. Then, the Soul Sipper Conclave will land on the surface and take them out. Can the Peacebringer Chapter follow?
 * Konrad - You bet! But why can't I take a full battle-Conclave?
 * Elegand'r - An Vahallan Convent attached to your Chapter, you mean? Ah, eh...I'll send the Wild Maidens.
 * Konrad - Yay! Now if you don't mind me, I have a flagship to clear out.

Konrad turned to the rest of his men, all reloading their weapons and Sonic guns.


 * Konrad - Battle Bruvas! Remember the likes of Kenshiro and Kamina, and strike at these bastards like one manly motherfucker! Ereto! At my side, brother. We got parasites to punch in the nades.

Ereto appeared, his pure red kin standing in stark contrast to the pale, tanned or oiled complexion of his brothers, as he stepped forward, grinning as he pulled out his sword.


 * Ereto - Point me in the right direction.

The Peacebringers followed a path around the ship, slashing and blasting out any Bio-Moprhlings they found, some found to be feeding on the Peacebringer's less prepared serfs. However, this was not always the case, as the ones from more militant races had formed defensive zones to hold the line, and assist the Peacebringers in battle. Still, it was slow, and frankly disturbing work, with the Bio-Morphlings needing to be dismembered, burnt and disintegrated in total to stop them.

Ereto, during one of their battles against the beasts, stopped as communications opened up once more.


 * Ereto - Konrad, you're gonna love this. The Bio-Morphlings found their way into the Chapter armories.
 * Konrad - Doesn't sound like good news. How is the ordinance, and our Tech-brothers? And how are our steeds?
 * Ereto - Good. The invaders woke up Francos from his nap.
 * Konrad - Oh jeez, you're kidding, right?
 * Ereto - No, not at all.
 * Konrad - I almost feel sorry for them.

Ereto listened closely once more, as he cut down another Bio-Morphling. Before chuckling to himself, as he slashed another's head clear off.


 * Ereto - He apparently has killed them all.
 * Konrad - *While shooting down 2 Morphlings* Not surprising.
 * Ereto - Oh, and the hay lit fire.

Konrad's mouth dropped. Just as he was about to let out a curse, Francos' rumbling, robotic voice sounded in Konrad's own communicator.


 * Francos - Brother, my sensors detect a large concentration of bodies ahead of you. Such could only be the Morphlings gathering bodies to form a more powerful beast of some sort. Should I join you?
 * Konrad - No need, Brother. Stay where you are, and smash up any Morphlings you find.
 * Francos - I shall commence the purging. If any others want to get here that is.

Konrad motioned for his troops to move forward.


 * Konrad - We have possible Bio-Morphling infestation ahead in the next room. Be ready for blood.

Konrad and his Peacebringers marched up to the doors, 2 of them flanking it with Sonic Launchers, 3 others behind him with high-pressure Sonic Wailers, working almost like flamethrowers. Both weapons were capable of blasting Morphlings into tiny pieces of flesh and bone in seconds. The final 4 were armed with Rotation Ray Bolters, working like high-speed assault cannons. One of the Peacebringers flanking the door turned to Konrad slightly.


 * Peacebringer 1 - We defiantly have Bio-Morphling growths here. Pretty bad infestation.
 * Konrad - Damn, these things grow fast. Anyone got a Flame Grenade?
 * Peacebringer 2 - I got five.
 * Konrad - Why would you have...Nevermind, just hand 'em over.
 * Peacebringer - Better you don't ask.

Konrad strapped the grenades to his belt, and, putting away his other weapons, kicked open the doors, tossing in the first grenade. As it exploded, with the shrieks of Bio-Morphlings, he threw another elsewhere, soon covering the room in fire, as the Peacebringers strode forward, firing their sonic weapons, as a very large creature fell down from the ceiling.

It's movements filled the group with revulsion, as they watched it uncurl, five claws arms wrapping around it's body, as it was carried forward by seven spider-like limbs, and it's face was two heads fused into one.


 * Ereto - Bloody hell, they must've sneaked that bastard in. Should we get Francos up here?
 * Konrad - *Yelping slightly* Nope! We got this!!
 * Ereto - Are you sure, fearless leader? I'm usually not the one to suggest we take the smart route.
 * Konrad - We got this. Launchers, open fire, aim for the legs! Bolters, hit it all over the damn place. Wailers, stay back for now.

The 2 stepped forward, opening fire at the beast's legs as it rushed to meet them, blasting off it's 2 limbs, though it still kept coming forward, despite the limb loss. The other brothers joined, firing shot after shot, each aimed at different parts of the body of the creature. As it sped closer, Konrad motioned for his 3 other brothers.


 * Konrad - Light'em up.

They ran forward, blasting off whatever outer skin and flesh remained of the creature with their Sonic Wailers, exposing it's weak innards. Finally, they tossed flame grenades at the creature, laughing maniacally as they watched it burn, thrashing and screeching about. As the last of the Morphlings burned away, Ereto sheathed his blade.


 * Ereto - We've got reports saying the Morphlings are cleared up.
 * Konrad - Good, have teams check the corridors and other places for these buggers, then we continue the assault.

Crimson: Rest of the battle.

A Kabalite walked up next to Glacier on the bridge of his ship. Glacier wasn't usually one to lose his temper, but recent events had him on edge, and he was fuming more than his coffee.


 * Kabalite - My lord, the Morphlings have failed.
 * Glacier - *Snarling* Then tell the boarding crafts to launch. I want those ships destroyed.
 * Kabalite - Yessir!

The Kabalite went off to carry out his orders. Glacier looked out at the enemy ships. He stood up, squinting his eyes.


 * Glacier - What are you up to...

Just as the Peacebringers mopped up the last traces of Morphling spores, their ship shook violently.


 * Peacerbinger - Awww, what the hell now!?

He was to be answered as a nearby comms channel popped up. On it was an Queen's Children Legatus, looking visisbly distressed.


 * Queen's Child - Boarding craft! They've drilled into the hull!

The warriors rallied as a boarding craft shot right into the hallway. Kabalites and Flesh-Craft poured out, engaging the Peacebringers with crystal weapons and crude torture devices. A few Peacebringers were killed by the sheer surprise and viciousness of the attack, but the rest quickly regained composure and started shooting back.


 * Queen's Child - Status?
 * Peacebringer - Need backup!
 * Queen's Child - Here comes.

The ships shook again, far more slightly this time, as Queen's Children shuttles of the Soul Piercer Conclave attached themselves to the Peacebringers ships, and unloaded their Olympian and Vahallan passengers. Firing even as they moves, they shot down all Kabalites and Flesh-Craft in their way, eventually making it to their Peacebringer allies.

With the Queen's Children reinforcements having arrived, the enemy assault force found themselves trapped in bolt crossfire. The first wave of hostiles soon enough fell dead, and the next wave tripped over their brethren, quickly being executed by the Peacebringers and Queen's Children. However, the stack of bodies gave the rest something to take cover behind. The adopted a better strategy, quickly popping out to take potshots at their Waptoria foes, who had much less cover.


 * Queen's Child - Get an incendiary in there!

Complying, one wound up and tossed a flame grenade behind the bodies. But Glacier didn't train idiots. A Cambion looked at the bomb curiously, then picked it up and threw it back just as it went off. A whole group of Peacebringers died a slow, firey death. Ironically, since they had done the same to Morphlings just minutes before.

A few Flesh-Craft got bold and jumped over the body pile, using grotesque blades and meathooks to kill any who survived the fire. The Raptoraneans followed in their wake, shooting a few retreating Queen's Children. As they turned the junction, they stopped, as there were no more hostiles.


 * Kabalite 1 - Something doesn't feel right. There should be more...guys to shoot.
 * Kabalite 2 - Maybe the Morphlings did a better job than we thought.
 * Kabalite 1 - What if it's a trap?
 * Kabalite 2 - Oh, you think everything's a trap!

Suddenly, the atmosphere was blown out of that section, killing all of Glacier's troops in that area near-instantly. The Peacebringers reentered the area after the atmosphere was returned, and put bullets in each of their dead foes in confirmation. The Queens' Children, being Raptoraneans, could survive in the vacuum, and simply hovered in place, jets on solar fire keeping them stable. One of the Peacebringers went over to the boarding craft, looking it over.


 * Peacebringer - Should we blow this hunk of junk out of here?
 * Queen's Child - No, you idiot! You'll suck us all out!

As they talked, neither noticed a surviving Kabalite in the body pile raise his crystal rifle and pointed it at the Peacebringer by the craft.


 * Kabalite - Hail...hail...Glacier!

Before he could fire, the Queen's Child picked up a discarded Djin knife and threw it at him, impaling him right through the skull.


 * Peacebringer - Thanks for that.
 * Queen's Child - Come on. There's still more enemies on board.

Glacier snarled loudly as he watched his forces' life signals disappear. He turned to his sensor operator.


 * Glacier - Fuck this! fire on that ship! target critical systems!
 * Sensor Operator - But sir, our men are still on board!

Without even looking his way, Glacier pointed a Plaganium Revolver at the Operator's head and blew it clean off. Another bridge officer quickly filled his vacant chair and initiated turbo laser guidance.

Glacier's flagship spat lasers at the Waptoria ships, shredding much of their biological structure. A few smaller Waptoria ships exploded in clouds of blood and debris. Then one of their severely damaged ships started picking up speed, charging Glacier's ship.


 * Glacier - Oh shit... Well what are you waiting for, idiots!? FIRE! FIRE!

Glacier's fleet opened up on the approaching ship, blowing huge chunks off of it. Just a few hundred meters away from his ship, the Waptoria vessel exploded. Despite a head-on collision being avoided, Glacier's ship was still damaged.


 * Glacier - Shit... Damage reports!
 * Sensor Operator - Main weapons disabled. Minor atmospheric venting.
 * Glacier - Get us out of here! Tell Quista to get his damn fleet out here now! I'm going to the planet surface.

Glacier stomped off the bridge and blasted away in an escape pod.

The Waptoria ships advanced, believing victory to be at hand. Suddenly, a whole fleet of Iyoka Quista's ships jumped out from behind the moon, instantly opening fire on the Waptoria.

Will finish next week.

Taking Tau Theta
Barda stepped onto the bridge of his flagship, as his forces set to work, his cape draped across his shoulders. His second-in-command, Koriga Maclon marched beside him, dressed in gold and white armor.


 * Koriga - My Lord, a few UAE ships have managed to slip by.
 * Barda - How many?
 * Koriga - Twenty-four. No less, and at this point, no more either.
 * Barda - Good, ready our ground forces. we will be arriving soon to begin our assault. Are the Federation's troops and our Waptorian auxilliaries ready?
 * Koriga - Federation Clone Troops and the Sordarians are ready for assault, as are our Raptoranean auxilliaries.
 * Barda - Excellent. I shall lead this assault personally. Ready my Tahriko Battle Mount.
 * Koriga - Sir, is that wise?
 * Barda - If I die, then you are here, are you not?
 * Koriga - *chuckles* I guess so. Do not die too soon, sir. We still need your leadership in these times.

Barda nodded slightly, pulling out the Nyrosaur Axe, his badge of office, and made his way to the hangar, joined by many Ugandalorians, and other races that had joined them, mostly Sicorséach and Kaguran, all prepping their massive, draconic/scorpion-like synthtic mounts for battle.


 * Barda - Warriors of Ugandalore! We are to lead the assault into this planet, alongside the Praetorians of the Peacebringers and Queen's Children. We, upon our holy mounts, shall clear a landing zone for our allies and comrades. We will be followed by other Mendel forces. Any questions?
 * Kaguran trooper - Will the Preatorians be stealing all the glory as well?

A murmur of dissent began to sound among some of the troopers as Barda slammed his Staff on the ground, signaling for silence.


 * Barda - Sit here and whine if you like, but for those who wish to join me in holy battle, mount your Tahriko and prepare to drop.

The warriors all nodded, strapping on their armor and helmets, and jumping upon their androids backs. As the hangar cleared, for either ground crews clearing out, or for any remaining warriors to get into their transports, the hangar doors opened, as all Ugandalorians sealed their armor. With everything ready, the blast shields deactivated, all air sucking out, as the Lord Ugandalore lead his troops into the drop, their battle droids surging forward, and flying into the void, before being guided into the planet's atmosphere.

Anti-aircraft fire exploded around them and their droid's shielding as they entered, fire gathering around their machines as they entered the atmosphere at top speed, followed closely by the troop transports.

Then, entering at terminal velocity, the Tahriko landed, slamming down into troop positions and anti-aircraft guns, tearing through them with claws, plasma fire, and any blasters the Ugandalorians carried with them. The few ground troops there where shortly butchered by the powerful war machines, as drop ships touched down, opening up to unload Ugandalorian, Kodalorian and Walgolorian warriors, and other forces. After them came multiple Clone Troopers and a multitude of tank and artillery pieces right after, as well as Soldarians and Raptoranean forces.


 * Barda - Alliance forces! To me! The base is not far. We shall prepare our artillery and mechanized forces, and first launch a bombardment. Afterward, designated infantry units will assist us in assaulting the main base.

The forces moved in, Clone Legion mechanized units and Mendel artillery moving into position, as the ground forces moved along side them. As his forces set down, with the Tahriko in the back, and Barda and his personal forces up in front.


 * Barda - Artillery units, open fire, bring down the base's glass-shields, and we will begin our assault. Be ready for glory.

As he spoke, tank rounds and artillery exploded as the Mendel forces bombarded the area, breaking down the glass-shields. As the shields cracked and finally broke, all the air inside escaped, and the multitude of Clone forces opened fire with their own tanks, shattering any defensive walls and barriers in their path. After a solid minute of this, Barda Clett held up his armored glove, silencing the guns once more.


 * Barda - All forces, begin the assault! Tahriko, expect those with me, stay back and wait for my signal. Candarro Tank divisions Tsa'ruik and Varoik, advance slowly.

Raptoranean Daggerthrusters rushed forwards, Keris raised to stab down in a blur, their long white hair flowing behind them. Ugandalorian Trooper and Shock Troopers followed close behind, throwing down grenades and opening fire. Barda and 5 of his guard leapt ahead, slashing down a few Kabilite Raptoraneans. The surprised ground troops tried to fire upon them, but it was to little to late. As the other troops rushed forward to clear the ruins, Barda dismounted, ordering his Tahriko to return to behind the lines, as he pulled out his assault rifle. From the base, more Kabalites alongside Wyaches rushed forth, firing their Crystal Rifles. Most of the rounds where shrugged off the heavily armored Clone and Ugandalorians, while the Light Raptoranean Gunslingers took cover to avoid being cut down, before returning fire with their Icicle Pistols and Laser SMGs.

Light Raptoranean Bladedancers uncloaked behind the Wyaches and their Morinach leaders, Kalis already in motion to deliver killing blows, as Ughandalorian Marauders appeared on the battlefield from seemingly nowhere, engaging the remaining Wyaches, clashing Sabers and Claymores with Djinn and Venom Knifes. Soldarian Hoplites and Kadalian Giants lumbered forth trough their foes, bashing and crushing through their weaker foes. Cambions stood their ground, using their concentrated Crystal Splinter fire to bring down many Ugandalorians, yelling about and showing off their grisly throphies in an attempt to look frightening, only to receive a taunting haka war-dance from heavily shielded Light Raptoranean troops in return, and a punishing counterfire from the Walgolorian forces and their Pulse Carbines.

As more forces rushed to meet the assault, hundreds of drop pods dropped down, crushing several of the Unitech Flesh-Craft. From them, spilled out Kodalorian special forces, acting as the vanguard for Walgolorian Battlesuits, and, standing tall amongst them, the Preatorians of the Peacebringers and Queen's Children.


 * Konrad - Live like a wind rammer as you fuck!

With that strange battle cry, the Peacebringers and their comrades charged forth, raining bolter ammo, slug rockets, slap particle shots and sonic blasts at their foes, as Walgolorian battlesuits lumbered ahead, stepping on many of the Unitech troops, or filling them with plasma.


 * Elegand'r - Forward, brothers and sisters! It is time to-
 * Konrad - Wait, Elegand'r. Let the rest of the alliance take point.
 * Elegand'r - I think I know what you want.
 * Konrad - The Mendel are little bereaved about not getting "All the glories". Let them take the base.
 * Elegand'r - Then we are on the same page. It's only fair, after all, that we should only clear the way for our non-enhanced brothers.
 * Konrad - Agreed. *Turning* Praetorians, let the Alliance forces to take point.

Barda Clett marched up, as Super Commando and Clone Marines surged forward, clearing out any remaining Dark Raptoraneans. Despite being a head taller, the two bowed before him.


 * Both - Lord Ugandalore, we await your orders.
 * Barda - On your feet. Use your troops as you like. I trust both of you.
 * Both - Yes sir.
 * Barda - And thank you for letting my men take point on this one. They needed it.
 * Konrad - It was my idea, sir.

Elegand'r smacked him in the back of the head, shaking his head and chuckling slightly, as Kornad simply shrugged, before turning to his troops.


 * Konrad - Alright boys, cover the Alliance forces, and it's an entire night of Evangelion for us!
 * Peacebringers - Hooza for mindfuckery!

The Praetorians advanced, as the Mendel forces took the lead, a few Orgaat and other staying behind to guard the entrance to the base, though most of the former simply tearing into the flesh of their fallen enemies.


 * Barda - Alright troops, advance in carefully. We don't know what's in there. And if they shot Bio-Morphlings at us before, then don't take any chances. Kyles, report.
 * Rally-Master Kyles - Sir, the Hegemony is sending an number of Astartes to help clean house.
 * Barda - *coldly* Which ones?
 * Kyles - Ice Serpents and Blood Jaguars, Hydra legion.
 * Barda - *Whispers* Damn them.
 * Kyles - Sir..?
 * Barda - Anyone else?
 * Kyles - The Vanara have requested the Legion of the Great Wyrm to come in.
 * Barda - Good! Reliable forces.
 * Kyles - Umm, sir, aren't the Hegemony our allies?
 * Barda - *Gripping the shoulder of his Rally-master* Not so long as they treat the Vanara like garbage. Tell the others to watch them. Especially Hydra Legion.

Barda turned, clipping his rifle to his hip as he moved forward, joined by a company of Super Commandos.


 * Barda - Praise be to Hoorangiir and the gods of war!

His soldiers answered in one voice, echoing his great prayer.

Crimson: However, once they are inside, Shiver turns off the power and lights and releases Bio-Morphlings from hidden niches behind the plaster of the walls.

Once the prayer had finished, the UAE forces continued to make tracks for the Tau Theta base. They met little resistance along the way, as if the mad Unitech warriors were saving something for a surprise.

Finally, they came across the base. Without wasting time, they charged it, shooting down the startled Circle of Sins guards nearby. Right before they reached the blast doors, dozens of Iyoka Quista's troops, outfitted in vacuum gear, jumped out of the Plaganium mining pits and attacked. They cut down multiple Raptoraneans and a few Ugandalorians before being fired upon themselves. A few dropped, their wings or heads blown off. Two more were shot in their suits, the bullets punching through and causing them to be rocketed away by the escaping air. Some of the rebel Volver had had enough, and flew away. Barda jetpacked into the air and shot two of the Volver Harrowers in the face, then spun around and kicked another, knocking his helmet off. The Harrower bellowed in fury and dived right at him. Barda anticipated this, and spun his body around. The Harrower saw what he was doing and tried to bank, but it was too late. He flew straight forward and impaled himself on Barda's still-sheathed claymore.

Barda landed, brushing his hands off.


 * Barda - Shall we enter the base?

Two Clone trooper technicians hacked the door controls and opened it. Some of the clones entered, blaster rifles ready. They swept the halls and saw nothing. The rest of the army entered behind them, weapons primed and scanning the room. There were no targets in sight.


 * Barda - No enemies. Hmm...
 * Kyles - At least the light are on.

That's when they heard the childish giggling over the intercom. Everyone raised their weapons at the sound of the noise.


 * Barda - I know that laugh...
 * ??? - And I know you, Ugandalorian. You've fought me before. You've killed my pets before. And now I will have my revenge. My pets are here.
 * Barda - Who are you?
 * ??? - Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are. Bio-Morphlings all around, in your own blood you will DROWN!
 * Barda - Ah, fuck! It's Shiver! Get ready to kick some Morphling ass, boys!
 * Shiver - *Laughing coldly* Not this time.

Suddenly, the lights went out, completely blinding everyone in the room. The first noise the men heard were hissing noises, like gas escaping. Then came the moans, the growls, the wet snuffles and gurgled snarls. The men activated night vision, but it did little good in the base. One of the Clones backed into a corner.


 * Clone trooper - I don't like this...

A groaning, gurgling shape rose up behind him and grabbed him, sinking its teeth into his shoulder. He screamed in agony as the thing dragged him out of sight. Not long after, a Raptoranean was pulled straight down through the floor. The rest of the men fell into a tight, sweeping formation. Barda drew both of his blaster pistols. Then, something shot out of the ceiling and grabbed him around his neck and head, lifting him right off the floor. He felt something clamp down on his shoulder. Barda grunted in pain and anger, then pointed one of his blasters above his head and fired. There was a shriek of pain, then Barda felt the creature's grip relax, dropping him to the floor. He got up, shaking himself off, then checked his shoulder. He had been very lucky. The monster had bit his shoulder pad and had not touched flesh. Barda quickly spoke into his comlink as he drew his claymore.


 * Barda - We are under attack! I repeat, we have walked into a Bio-Morphling trap! I want Super Commandos and Blood-Thirst in here NOW!

Zilla: The Mendel use Super Commandoes and Blood-Thirst companies to clear the base of enemies. It is converted into an UAE base, and the seige is coördinated from there. The Mendel are then given the lead of the overall operation in mobbing up the Proditkar centered around the Gravity Elevator. W'tze only arrives now, having been on a secret (diplomatic) mission since the Manifested attack. A month has passed (not so important here, but really important for the Dark Hunter's/Solid's plot in Ibari's Training.

With most of the Morphlings dead, Barda's company continued through the base. Barda crushed a few Morphling swarmers under his feet, then kicked the door to the next room open. To his surprise, the room was lit. It was a circular chamber, with two paths continuing into the base. And in the center of the room stood someone Barda had seen far too many times.

It was Morg, the half-Soldarian, half-Raptoranean sadist he had fought during the pirate wars. he grinned through razor-sharp teeth, his face to flat to be Raptoranean, his limbs too bulky. A clone trooper fired at him, but the Plaganium shielding on his armor flared up, blocking the bullets entirely. Barda motioned for him to lower his weapon.


 * Barda - Morg. I always figured you'd become Solid's bitch.
 * Morg - On the contrary. It was Glacier who gave me this position. And now I will prove my worth to him today when I bring him your helmet and that sword.
 * Barda - Hardly. It will be your headless body I throw into one of those mining pits down there.
 * Morg - Prove it then. Shiver is about to escape, but there is no love lost between the two of us. I will allow your men safe passage, but not you. I want you to face me alone.
 * Barda - You've got a deal. Super Commandos, you take the left passage. Blood-Thirst, the right. Find that bitch Shiver and take her alive if possible. If not, just cut off her pink-furred head and that will be enough.

Morg smiled as Barda's troops ran past him. He spoke into his comlink.


 * Morg - All Unitech troops left in the base, this is Morg. We've got two Ugandalorian squads coming through after Shiver. Don't shoot at them. Don't give them any trouble at all, just evacuate. If Shiver wants to prove herself an indispensable member of the Unitech Citadel, she will have to earn the privilege.

Morg drew two long, thin katanas as Barda drew his claymore. Morg grinned.


 * Morg - Now there won't be any question about who's the best swordsman in the Mirus galaxy.
 * Barda - There never was.

Morg roared and charged, katanas raised. Barda saw the ease of parrying the blow and knew Morg was feinting him. Instead of blocking, Barda slid around Morg's side and tried to skewer him. Morg snarled and batted the blade away with the back of his hand. Then he kicked Barda in the knee, trying to stumble him. But Barda had had that happen to him before and knew what to expect. He shifted to his other leg and allowed himself to be spun around by the blow. Then he swept his sword low to clip Morg's legs. The claymore, as strong as it was, just clanged off Morg's leg armor. Morg turned, growled, then punched Barda square in the face, breaking his nose. Then he dropped both of his swords and grabbed Barda by the throat, lifting him off the ground. Barda was shocked that Morg was stronger than he was, but then realized that he had probably had some kind of body modifications since they had last fought in the Pirate Wars. Barda activated his jet pack, slamming both him and Morg against the ceiling. Morg let go and fell down, slamming on the floor hard. He shook himself, spat out a broken tooth that immediately grew back, and picked up his swords again.

I'll finish later

Breaking the Seige
Mechanical optical sensors clicked in side hollow, glowing red socks as Vice Jaw surveyed the spiraling rainbow of colors the stretched throughout Closed Space.


 * Drain - Quite a sight, isn't it?

Vice Jaw rumbled at the mutant Rad-Eater commander that was currently sitting on his head, she seemed to like being there. Not that he mindedn however, Drain was like a daughter to him.


 * Vice Jaw - Indeed little one, but the sight we are about to come up upon will be far more impressive.
 * Drain - I'll ready my troops.
 * Vice Jaw - Good, we shall be reaching the target soon.
 * Drain - Ya sir!

Drain jumped off his head a ran down the halls of the Nemesis of War, in a short while they had reached the gravity well of Tau Theta causing them to drop from Closed Space but still remaining cloaked. As they neared they saw the massive blocked the Separatists had formed. Just then a voice crackled in Vice Jaw's audio receptors.


 * Plastic Blue - Sir! We have trouble. Several Hegemony ships just entered the space near the blockade...it's the Ice Serpants and the Blood Jaguars.
 * Vice Jaw - Ah! Suddenly the whole gravity well smells of hypocrisy. Drop our cloaks and let them know this is our operation. Besides, this blockade won't hold up against our grinding fire.
 * Plastic - Right!

The cloaks dropped, or rather the magnetic field that held the cloaking particles did, revealing the Rad-Eater ships and wreaking hell on the Blood Jaguars sensors. It didn't take long before the face of the Ice Serpent and Blood Jaguar leader appeared on screen.


 * Xipet T'otec - Great Wyrm Archon, ceases your particle emissions and back down. This our battle to win.
 * Vice Jaw - You really think so? Well, I would beg to differ.
 * Alexander Constantine - You are not in command of this operation! Now back down now! You're screwing our sensors and guidance systems intentionally.
 * Vice Jaw - Neither are you, but I know someone who is, lets see what he has to say.
 * Alexander Constantine - Fine, we shall see.

Vice Jaw would have grinned if his contemptor was able, he then flicked off the screen and sent a message to Plastic.


 * Vice Jaw - Send a message to Barda, tell him the situation and that it is decision, we acknowledge his command.
 * Plastic - Right, anything else?
 * Vice Jaw - Tell Drain, Scorn, and Carrie to prepare their forces. I hear the Hegemony find the fact that we have women in our ranks a shocker, well...Let's shock them.
 * Plastic - *Laughs* I like your thinking! Well, then, the message shall be sent!

Vice Jaw turned from the screen and chuckled. Today was a good day so far, all they needed was to win this thing.

Patriot: The Hydra Legion simply land on Tau Theta to show they accnowledge Barda's command, as the Hegemony forces submit to Barda.

Zilla: Knowing that at least one Hegemony Legion should be at his side, Barda then descides to give the honor to the Rad-Eaters.

Patriot: The Blood Jaguars do not agree with the rest of the Hegemony, and threaten to quit the operation right at the spot.

Glynn: Before they are even finished speaking, Brygon quite ruthlessy intervenes, showing off his new threatening side.

Patriot: The Hegemony descide that, if they are not allowed to set boots on Alpha Rosetta first, they will at least attempt to capture the Gravity Elevator before the Mendel do so. The Hegemony secretely give the Hydra Legion new orders, and they use some quite questionable methods to keep the Mendel from approaching the Gravity Elevator - traps, perhaps? Or maybe they actually covertly assassinate the Mendel that get too close? Regardless, which methods the Hydra Legion uses, they are sucessfull. Hegemony Zone Troopers take the Gravity Elevator first.

Advancing into Alpha Rosetta
Gorzill: However, the moment they do so, Rad-Eaters under Scorn, Carrie, and Drain unexpectedly charge in and swathe the Zone Troopers aside. The Hydra Legion did not expect that the Rad-Eaters, under orders of Scorn, would actually lie in wait and use stealth. They are thown off-guard and react too late as the Rad-Eaters are already on their way down. There, Carull and Caraveus directly start to slaughter the surpised Proditkar troops/bash open their verhicles. Scorn digs her troops in and forms a beach-head for the other UAE which she knows will arrive soon. Sadly, the first ones who arrive are Ice Serpents, resulting in a lot of un-needed fuss and allowing the Separatists to organioze their forces. Of course, both Rad-Eaters and Ice Serpents put the blame on each other. Brygon ruthlessy intervenes again.

Eco/Zilla/Crimson: The Mirusian Church of Spode successfully battle the Circle camp, but reinforcements from Iyoka's base arrive and there is a huge battle.

The Return of the Wasterlings
The Blood Jaguars, Peacebringers and Queen's Children, led by the Quuen's Children Seraphim Soland'r, continued their battle with Iyoka's ships, shooting down their fighters but losing their own in turn. Still, they were making ground, and the enemy ships were slowly pulling back. Suddenly, all remaining ships turned and sped off to retreat behind the moon.


 * Blood Jaguar - What, did they have enough? Have at thee!
 * Queen's Child - I don't like it. It was too sudden a retreat. And they hadn't even lost that many ships.
 * Peacebringer - Whatever. It's not our job to guess why the enemy pissed their pants and ran.

Suddenly, the ship shook. In fact, all of the Peacebringer ships shook as a huge fleet of ships emerged from slipspace, the shock of which was pushing the Peacebringer ships away like flies in the wind.


 * Peacebringer 1 - Oh, that's why!
 * Blood Jaguar - What the hell are those! Scan their ships!
 * Hegemony Sensor Operator - Scanning...what!? That can't be right!
 * Queen's Child- What is it?
 * Waptoria Sensor Operator - Sir...they're Wasterling ships.
 * Soland'r - Impossible! We fought the Wasterlings last year! They were tribals! There's no way they evolved into a spacefaring empire in less than a year!

Apparently they did, because the ships immediately opened fire on the UAE's fleet, shooting down many ships before the others moved to engage. A few ships moved close to engage, while others diverged and began spitting out dropships to carry their troops to the surface.


 * Soland'r - This mission just got a lot more complicated.

On the surface, the UAE was gaining steady ground against the Proditkar. Then ship debris started raining down on them. The confused troops looked up and saw many of their own ships falling to the planet's gravity. They also noticed the Wasterling ships and drop pods.


 * Bio-Justicar - Those aren't Proditkar ships.
 * W'tze - To any Queen's Children ships left: can you identify new hostiles?
 * Soland'r - They're Wasterlings, dad. They've evolved.
 * W'tze - Wasterlings...

The drop pods zoomed in at high velocity, heading right for the allied forces.


 * W'tze - By Xa'hal! Brace for impact!

The pods slammed down, destroying anything near their landing site. Then the pods blew open, and hundreds of Wasterlings filled the battlefield. They had changed since the year before. They looked nothing like the desert-dwelling Wasterlings of their homeworld. These had evolved to cope with the conditions of space travel.

Their skin was grey and hard, more chitinous than scaly. Their eyes were wider and more insectoid, and they had an extra pair on the back f their head, giving them a 360 degree vision field. There were other changes, too, enough to make one wonder if they were indeed the same species.

They rushed forth, firing plasma carbines and tossing frag grenades. They began pushing back the UAE and spreading all over the battlefield until they encountered the Hegemony. The Hegemony, who had had experience with them before, fired up the weapons that had worked best, like their death rays. Nothing happened. The Wasterlings strode forward through the lasers like they were nothing. They had adapted an invulnerability to all the Hegemony weapons used against them the year before.

With their usual weapons rendered ineffective, the Hegemony retreating a bit. Some soldiers even fled, but were shot down all the same. The Wasterlings pressed their assault on all fronts.

As some of the Wasterlings fought the Waptoria, a Bio-Justicar blasted it with a particle beam rifle. The creature died instantly.


 * Bio-Justicar - Use partice beams! it seems to work the best on them!

The Waptoria forces, at least those who had particle beam rifles, switched to those and started shooting down the Wasterlings. Then a Bio-Justicar shot one, and the green beam of particles just fanned out around the Wasterling's carapace.


 * Bio-Justicar - Stop! Stop! They've evolved again!

But the warning didn't come soon enough. Another Bio-Justicar shot a Wasterling, which absorbed the blast. The Juticar drew his leaf-bladed spear and charged. The Wasterling grabbed it by the throat, then finished it off with a claw jab to the belly. As it rended open the Bio-Justicar, it released the energy from the particle beam from it's claws, disintegrating the Justicar's lower body. It dropped what was left, then turned and roared at the rest of the Waptoria troops. The Bio-Troopers went back to using their biomass rifles, but the shots could not penetrate the Wasterlings' hides. The Waptoria began to fall back.

In space, the battle continued. The Wasterling ships were far tougher than most of the UAE's. But eventually, on of the ships got off a lucky shot and blew a hole in one of the Wasterling capital ships. Hundreds of Wasterlings were sucked out. But they didn't die. After a little bit of thrashing around, they began to float through space in a manner similar to the Bio-Morphlings earlier. As one floated against a UAE ship's window, the captain noticed a bulging organ in the middle of the Wasterling's chest.

On Alpha Rosetta's surface, the Wasterlings pressed their attack. Then, they stopped, their chests quivering and heaving. After a few seconds, thick veins ran up their necks and through their nostrils, into a pulsating mass on their chest, between their lungs.


 * Hegemony Soldier - What's that!? What just happened?
 * Bio-Ranger - They just grew a pulsating organ out of nowhere. Ooh, this is so fun!
 * W'tze - Soland'r, what happened to the Wasterlings, over.
 * Soland'r - I don't know. We blew a hole in one of their ships, and a bunch got sucked out. But they didn't die, it's like they...
 * W'tze - ...They've evolved rebreathers.
 * Hegemony Soldier - But why did the ones down here evolve them? There's oxygen here.
 * Bio-Justicar - That must be because they're a hive culture! 'Ey, fellow Group-Minder, you think what I think?
 * W'tze - *Laughing* Of course I do. We share our thoughts, after all! I think we need to interrogate one of these things.

W'tze and his personal guard of Bio-Justicars jumped into the battle again, looking for an ideal time to grab a Wasterling. It was very hard. The Waterlings fought as one individual, a super-coordinated force. Finally, one seemed a bit more separated from its comrades than usual, and W'tze took the chance. Two of his Bio-Justicars jumped on the eight-foot tall creature's back, trying to pull it down. It roared and tried to shake them off, giving a pack of Bio-Horder an opportunity to charge, jump on the Wasterling, hug and lick it, and grab its waist and legs. The creature kicked one of the Horders in the head. the frail raptor-like creature combusted into raw liquid biomass, killing it instantly. A Bio-Tripod jumped over to the Waterling, looming over it. It then picked it up by the throat and began strangling it.


 * Bio-Tripod - Hey, know what? We'll see how well your rebreather works after I crush your throat.

The thing growled a little as the Bio-Tripod squeezed it tighter. Then, the Bio-Tripod felt it's grip weaken and gradually be forced off it's throat. It looked closely at the thing's neck. A second spinal column had sprouted from the fisrt, growing at the front of the throat. This prevented any form of strangling.


 * W'tze - No! We need it alive!
 * Bio-Tripod - Fine.

The Bio-Tripod stomped the Wasterling right in the stomach with one of it's three legs, but soon after it did so, the thing's stomach convulsed as a new set of ribs grew around it's organs. W'tze grabbed the Tripod's relatively small arm.


 * W'tze - Everytime you hurt that thing, it's whole race gets stronger. Let's not give it any more advantages, shall we?

W'tze and his men finally forced the creature down, tied it up, and carried it into one of the abandoned Unitech buildings. They locked it in a cell, tying it to a chair.


 * W'tze - What are you?
 * Wasterling - We are the Wasterlings.
 * W'tze - And who are you, specifically?
 * Wasterling - Wasterlings. *Incomprehensible sound*
 * W'tze - Who is the individual in front of me?
 * Wasterling - *Incomprehensible sounds*
 * W'tze - I don't understand your little rambling noises! Answer me!
 * Wasterling - Wasterlings. Wasterlings will answer the questions.
 * W'tze - There is a single Wasterling sitting in a chair in front of me. What is it called?
 * Wasterling - Wasterlings. No single. No Wasterling. Only Wasterlings. *Incomprehensible sound*
 * W'tze - I knew it. Another hive culture.
 * Wasterling - No hive. No conglomerate. Only Wasterlings.
 * W'tze - Oh my. I understand now. The Wasterlings think they're a hive culture! They're all connected, and they don't understand individuality, but there is no single consciousness like the the Vanara groupmind or Scavenger's cells. A bit like our own groupmind, really, but far, far more extreme. This is all very confusing. Interesting, but confusing. I doubt we could ever understand them fully.
 * Wasterling - This one speaks as knowledge, but it does not feel.
 * W'tze - What are you talking about? This one? Are you talking about yourself?
 * Wasterling - *Incomprehensible sound* Wasterlings answer questions. This one is this one in front of Wasterlings. Not Wasterlings, Wasterlings all see. *Incomprehensible sounds*
 * W'tze - You're talking about me, aren't you? What do you mean I do not feel? I don't feel what your species feels.
 * Wasterling - Wasterlings does not understand the question.
 * W'tze - Hrrm... *Ahem* The Wasterlings see the one who does not feel, the one talking to Wasterlings. How does Wasterlings see it?
 * Wasterling - Wasterlings see many who do not feel. They are different. They do not talk. Wasterlings sees the talking unfeeling flesh/bone/essence one who talks through two of its eyes.
 * W'tze - Finally... To what are those eyes attached to?
 * Wasterling - To Wasterlings. To a part of its great whole.
 * W'tze - What is that part of greater whole called?

The Wasterling said nothing, only stared blankly ahead. Oji'b flew forward from a broken window, smirking and swirling his pistols around.


 * Oji'b - I think the interrogation's over, boss. You must've confused the hell out of the whole Wasterling race with that little speech.
 * W'tze - Tsss, Oji'b. Can you please announce your arival next time? Ithought you were on the battlefield.

Suddenly, they noticed movement in the Wasterling's chest. Then, it erupted, spraying blackish-blue blood everywhere. A new arm dangled from the hole in the Wasterling's chest, which quickly closed up. The arm began coiling and uncoiling like a nervous snake. The Wasterling payed it no mind.


 * W'tze - Whoa, buddy! Did you notice you've got another arm?
 * Wasterling - Yes.
 * W'tze - I thought you only evolved in response to something?
 * Wasterling - No. Wasterlings evolve at own pace. Only dead end life evolves strictly in response. Life must be fixed.
 * W'zte - Fixed? What do you mean, fixed?
 * Bio-Ranger (Radio) - *Sir, all the Wasterlings just grew a third arm!
 * W'tze - We know. This isn't a good time to talk about it. *To Wasterling* Why do you need to fix life?
 * Wasterling - Because it is broken. *Incomprehensible sounds*
 * W'zte - How is it broken?
 * Wasterling - It is broken it is all broken they cannot feel cannot see as Wasterlings see it does not know it is nothing without feeling broken broken broken-
 * W'tze - Do you mean-
 * Wasterling - Broken must fix these ones are broken they do not hear or feel or see like we do Wasterlings are unbroken Wasterlings are the only way Wasterlings are the only life in the universe...
 * Oji'b - Enough! Do not answer his questions until I am finished!
 * W'tze - Oji'b, please...
 * Wasterling - How is Wasterlings to know when this one is finished?
 * W'tze - I will nod my head. And my name is W'tze. Also, we need to think up a name for this part of the whole of Wasterlings. Do Wasterlings have any suggestions?

The Wasterling said nothing. Then W'tze remembered to nod his head.

Component - Component responds. What if it answers questions from the W'tze?
 * Wasterling - This part of whole will be onceibdecpouhhigcoiygigricdhocddomacugivugiuhcogdcougceohcehcdejocmec...
 * W'tze - You are designated as Component. Is this acceptable. *Nods head*
 * W'tze - I won't destroy you. *Nods head*
 * Component - Destroy will matter none. Component is nothing in grand scheme, even in small picture.
 * W'tze - You need to think more highly of yourself. Now, why are you attacking us? *Nods head*
 * Component - Wasterlings was approached by Proditkar. Proditkar offered Wasterlings technology if Wasterlings fix Proditkar's enemies.
 * W'tze - Wait, you fix life by destroying it? *Nods head*
 * Component- Not always. Many ways to fix life.
 * W'tze - Has it ever occurred to you that we like being broken? *Nods head*
 * Component - ...
 * W'tze - Anyway... Are the Proditkar broken? *Nods head*
 * Component - Yes.
 * W'tze - How will you fix them? *Nods head*
 * Component - Wasterlings will destroy Proditkar. They will be fixed by not existing at all.
 * W'zte - Are you going to kill all of them? *Nods head*
 * Component - Possibly not, if Proditkar try to fix themselves.
 * W'tze - You think the Proditkar will kill themselves? *Nods head*
 * Component - Many ways to fix.
 * W'tze - And how will you fix us? *Nods head*
 * Component - You resist repairs. You will be fixed through removal.
 * W'tze - You realize we're not going to sit by and let that happen, right? *Nods head*
 * Component - Irrelevant. Many ways to fix. If alternative is found, it will be carried out.
 * W'tze - We're going to resist anything bad that you try to do to us. We like being broken, and we're not going to let you "fix" us because we can't think like you. *Nods head*
 * Component - Of course you will. Broken life always resists repairs. Sometimes, a great hammer is needed to fix them. In your case, we will need many.
 * Oji'b - Boss, you're even going to dignify that with an answer?
 * W'tze - Not nessecary. Alright, Component, I think I've gotten everything I can out of you. You answered my questions, so I won't kill you.
 * Oji'b - Hell yeah! You can sit in this cell until we've beaten your buddies.

W'tze walked towards the door. He turned to the Oji'b.


 * W'tze - Let me know if he evolves a way out of here. *To Component* one more thing, Component. Do the Wasterlings understand other life's individuality? *Nods head*
 * Component - Yes. While Wasterlings can comprehend you, you cannot comprehend Wasterlings. Best and simplest explanation: to you, Wasterlings' mind would be alternating paranoia and apathy. Faithless, logical...unbroken.

Oji'b was very disturbed by this...violation of everything he believed. It's abominations like these that give me resolve to protect the innocent, he thought to himself, Because if someone doesn't, only darkness like this will remain.

W'tze, on the other hand, simply nodded, and walked out of the building. His intrest in these creatures had been piqued. They were so intriguing, so simmilar to the Waptoria, yet so different. Intriguing. Very intriguing indeed. He was snapped out of his thoughts as a Bio-Ranger hurried over to him.


 * Bio-Ranger - Sir! We cannot win ground! Everytime we use a weapon against the Wasterlings, they adapt to it!
 * W'tze - We'll have to kill them all in one fell swoop. Any ideas?
 * Bio-Captain - A sonic pulse, maybe? Tuned to them precisely?
 * W'tze - That actually might work. Still, we'll need to capture more Wasterlings to study first, and get the signal right. And I really don't want to kill Component yet. He is so intriguing.

And so they set out after the Wasterlings, releasing blasts of seeker swarms to paralyze them. Bio-Horders and Bio-Scions hauled about a dozen unconscious Wasterlings off the battlefield and into one of the Unitech buildings.

W'tze looked at his captured lot of apathetic monsters. To his right, a few of his Bio-Captains were tinkering with their Boomers.


 * W'tze - Okie dokie. Take one of those cannons and test it on a Wasterling to find the intermediate frequency.

A Bio-Captain entered one of the observation cells and fired the sonic cannon. The arcing blast of luminous biomass, accompanied by the arcing wave of sound following it, simply splattered off the Watsereling. Nothing happened. The Bio-Captain mentally ordered the organic weapon to evolve, as to adapt it's settings, and tried again. Nothing.


 * W'tze - Try boosting the signal parameters to the same wavelength as the noises those things make.

The Bio-Captain did so, scanning the recording of the creatures' buzzing, clicking, and whirring noises. He fired the cannon. The Wasterling howled, spasmed for a moment, then fell dead.


 * Bio-Captain - It worked! It...oh great Nur'tax.
 * W'tze - What's wrong?
 * Bio-Captain - Won't the rest have adapted to sound signals now?
 * W'tze - Try boosting the signal some more. And change the frequency without changing the wavelength.
 * Bio-Captain - Sir, we're going to have to fire this without testing it.
 * W'tze - I know, Pack-leader. Just get it done.

After a few more minutes, the signal was ready, and was uploaded into the sonic emitter the others had just finished. The group carried it outside, amidst all the fighting. The Wasterlings continued to kill everyone in their path. They didn't notice the sonic bomb until it was too late.


 * W'tze - Here goes nothing!

He pulled the detonation switch.

No noise came from the bomb, but the Wasterlings roared and covered their ears, their brains liquefying. Each one fell over dead. The Waptoria and Hegemony soldiers stood, shocked, then started cheering at their good fortune.

W'tze tinkered with the bomb some more, the reset it. He spoke into his comm link.


 * W'tze - All Queen's Children ships. Open a comms channel with all Wasterling ships.
 * Queen's child - Sir?
 * W'tze - Just do it!

As soon as he did, W'tze fired the bomb again, it's frequency going through his comm link, into the Queen's Children ships, through their comm channels, and into the Wasterling ships. All on board were killed, and the ships began drifting through space, derelict. The battle, at least against the Wasterlings, was won.

Will finish later

Planetfall
Glynn/Crimson: Once the UAE gets past them, the Brygon orders Barda to change plans and to attack Iyoka's base first. Barda holds on to the original plan, reminding Brygon that he is not in command of this operation, and proceeds to order the UAE troops to Glacier's base. This earns Brygon's ire, as he breaks off the Volver forces to attack Iyoka's base first. He plans to challenge Iyoka, but finds his throne empty, as Iyoka has already fled at the first sign of trouble. In Brygon's cold wrath, the Splinter base is completely destroyed. All of their buildings are blown up, sending everything down to the mantle, where it is destroyed. Brygon rams Anthrax into the pit as well, who presumed dead, but survives.

Zilla/Eco/Crimson: Glacier sees Barda's truly massive Mendel/Federation/Waptoria/Queen's Children/Peacebringer/Ice Serpent/Hydra Legion/Blood Jaguar/Legion of the Great Wyrm force coming for them. He plans on obliterating them all in one fell swoop with an orbital bombardment, but fins out his heavy ships above are all shot down. The army surround his base, and far outnumber Glacier's not not too shabby forces. W'tze gives Glacier one single chance at surrender. Glacier refuses, opens the gates of his base, and throws his own troops at the UAE army as a distraction while he himself can get away. He descides to abandon the system, and deactivates the elevator, pulling Tau Theta to impact Alpha Rosetta and destroy all resources, so the UAE cannot use it. Glacier's flagship comes down, picks up the Living Blood, Anthrax, Shiver, and all the Nexus Heads he can, and barely escapes as the moon slams into the planet. Barda sees the moon head down and orders a massive retreat. W'tze and the Waptoria manage to evacuate the UAE personnel on the falling moon just in time, which nearly costs them their life.

Glynn/Zilla: Brygon berates W'tze for such a move, stating it was to risky to logically undertake, and that in wars, sacrifices must be made and accepted, leaving both W'tze and Barda dumstuck at Brygon's personality change for the worse.

Aftermath: Studying the Wasterlings
Just a little more story development for the Wasterlings. W'tze and co. study more captured Wasterlings and learn some disturbing things about them.

With the battle against the Proditkar and Wasterlings won, the UAE began heading home. On one of the flagships, many captured Wasterlings, including Component, sat in a detention cell block. There were eleven in all, counting Component, five in one cell and six in the other. W'tze, O'jib, and a few others went down to examine them. They stood outside the glass-windowed cells, watching them. Each Wasterling now had two heads and two extra arms sprouting from below their original pair, giving them a total of five.


 * O'jib - Those things are really a mess.
 * W'tze - I don't know how they're still alive.
 * O'jib - How so?
 * W'tze - Think about it. Each one is connected so they evolve in unison. They can't comprehend their own individuality. So how come they don't all die when one dies?
 * O'jib - Well, let's find out.

They entered the five-occupant cell. The Wasterlings barely acknowledged them.


 * W'tze - Do you understand that you have been captured. That you are now prisoners of war.

The Waserlings all looked at him, as if waiting for something. W'tze suddenly remembered. He nodded his head, recalling that all Wasterlings had heard his conversation with Component.


 * Wasterlings (In unison) - Wasterlings are not prisoners. Wasterlings will recoup their losses and fix all sentient life!
 * W'tze - How will you recoup losses? Do you breed? *Nods head*
 * Wasterlings - More bodies will be made. More bodies will be filled. The theatres will empty, and the bodies will rise!
 * W'tze - What theatres? What do you mean, fill the bodies? What are you filling them with? *Nods head*
 * Wasterlings - The pasts.
 * W'tze - What pasts? *Nods head*
 * Wasterling - THE PAST! WE SHALL FILL NEW ONES WITH OLD ONES AND THE OLD ONES WILL CONQUEST!
 * O'jib - Boss, I'm not understanding a word they're saying.
 * W'tze - Hmm. Shoot one.
 * O'jib - What?
 * W'tze - Shoot one of them. Kill it.

As O'jib raised his rifle, W'tze started typing on his omnitool.


 * O'jib - Sorry. Well, not like you give a shit anyway.

He fired a full burst into the closest wasterling's gut, sending him flying out of his chair. Black blood splattered everywhere. Both heads looked at O'jib, both eyes wide in what might have been astonishment. Then it's stomach began to convulse as it grew new organs. So O'jib shot it again. And again, pouring rounds into it until finally it lay still, it's body having been ravaged too fast to regenerate.


 * O'jib - Damn.
 * W'tze - My god.
 * O'jib - What? Is he still alive?
 * W'tze - y...yes.

O'jib shrugged, then raised his rifle and shot both heads twice.


 * O'jib - How 'bout now?
 * W'tze - No, you don't understand. I'm still getting a reading of five Wasterlings in this cell, but the reading of the one you killed is no longer in it's body!
 * O'jib - Boss, what the hell are you talking about?
 * W'tze - He's standing in the corner over there. I can't see him, can you?
 * O'jib - No.
 * W'tze - That means...it's his soul! These things actually have real, live souls! More so than any organic could hope for! No wonder the whole race doesn't die! The entire Wasterling race is incapable of truly dying!
 * O'jib - This...is gonna complicate things.
 * W'tze - *To the Wasterlings* - Is that what you mean by "filling the new with the old"? You fill new bodies you create with the souls of dead ones? *Nods head*
 * Wasterlings - This is correct.
 * W'tze - What are the theatres?
 * Wasterlings - Is where souls go to entertain selves until new bodies ready. Only ever a set amount of Wasterlings. Wasterlings souls cannot be replicated, cannot be destroyed.
 * W'tze - How many exist?
 * Wasterlings - 5,332,876,521 Wasterlings present.
 * O'jib - Oh hell.
 * W'tze - Any one of which could be being installed in a new body as we speak. *nods head*
 * Wasterlings - Negative. Souls have already been transferred. During peacetime, no new bodies created. No need. During wartime, are mass-produced. As soon as soul leaves body, is transferred to new one.
 * O'jib - So you're saying that every time we kill one of you, you just get put in another body? *Nods head*
 * Wasterlings - This is correct, being that resembles the W'tze.
 * O'jib - I need to get the hell out of here.
 * W'tze - Me too. We must present our finding to the others.

They left the cell, sealing it behind them. After they did so, the Wasterlings began to change again, turning a reddish color and growing yellow, carnivorous fangs...

The Price of Arrogance
Glacier is brought before Pridar and blamed by Iyoka for losing Alpha Rosetta, but Glacier tells how Iyoka and his forces abandoned the battle. Iyoka is held just as responsible. Pridar demands that he execute his plan to resurrect Crimson and succeed his command to him. Glacier is reprimanded as well, but before anything is done about him, Solid arrives to tell he will take matters in his own hands. Solid then secretely takes Glacier away and and says that he, with Scavenger's help, can theoretically take over Raptoranea. He must do so in utter, secret, however, as all every Unitech commander aspires to do so, and should it come out, they would kill him because they want to have that most important victory. Solid also says that, should Glacier fail, he will most likely be executed, or at least stripped of rank completely, a thing not ever Solid would be able to stop. Scavenger agrees to help him and goes off to prepare his Corpse Eaters and make more imitations.

The Wasterlings' New Clothes
The Wasterlings get an offer from Imperator Caligustus to ally with the Imperium of War. Afterwards they are contacted by the Darklings themselves and given instructions.

= Super vague things that will probably happen - Or maybe only half of it - remains to be seen how thing swill turn out because democracy and plot changes = This is just a draft so far, thing above need to be done first.

Defilers of Completion
Terra Prime crawled through the passages of the Scelus Juggernaut Strain. His massive jaws and mandibles clattered together furiously and he hissed in frustration Burner Strain Scelus crawled to close and he shaped it up without a second thought.


 * Terra - Inferior brutes, only real thing their good for is a quick snack.

He and his forces had been scouting this new galaxy they had come across for a better part of a year and from the inhabitants of a few planets they had consumed he had discovered what it's inhabitants called it-Mirus. Terra snorted, as if it matter what it's inhabitants called it, they would fall to completion anyhow. Terra's slavering jaws let lose a hiss, he wasn't exactly pleased about this fact, but he had no choice but to continue down this path. As of now he and his Strain had been called for a meeting with the other Strains, which explained all the other Scelus Strains crawling around, which he had been making snacks of. Crawling out onto the surface of the new Hive Planet they were settling he spotted the other Prime Sceli and crawled on over.


 * Pyro - You're laten brother.
 * Terra - Do not refer to me as such, less I rip your head from your shoulders!
 * Pyro - As if you could.
 * Cryo - Brothers focus here.
 * Terra - I said...
 * Cryo - Yes, yes don't call me brother, fine if you insist.

Just then the voice of Astro Prime was broadcasted down from orbit.


 * Astro - Be quiet all of you our queen is about to speak.
 * Terra - Oh what a joy.

Cryo looked at his brother severely before the voice of the Scelus Queen was broadcast.


 * Queen - My children the time has come, our greatest enemy has been discovered.
 * Pyro - The demon children of Ava!
 * Queen - Yes now is the time to strike and remove our greatest barrier toward Completion and species that could never join us, a species infested with pain. They must be destroyed.

Pyro and Astro growled, Cyro said nothing, and Terra made an interested humming sound.


 * Queen - However there is a problem.
 * Terra - Oh truly? Is there never?
 * Queen - Silence Terra! Speak when you are asked to! The problem is that they are on the other side of enemy territory an alliance of nature.
 * Pyro - *snickers* So what's the plan?
 * Queen - We will break through them with our full force. Since their planets are mostly terrain Terra will lead the assault along with Astro, Pyro will assist with Cryo as back up.
 * All Prime Sceli - Right.

The prime Sceli dispersed with Terra heading back to his Strain Fleet humming a tune.


 * Cyro - What are you up to Terra?
 * Terra - Me why only what our Queen commands of us.
 * Cyro - You never do only that, be warned I will be watching you.

Terra watched Cyro walking away before muttering to himself.


 * Terra - Indeed, but can you watch everyone of us.

Waps Clash with Scelus Terra and Cyro
(Terra only shows up with half his force and late forcing them to pull more of Cryo's forces into the conflict)

Final Scelus battle happens
(From here on, the Proditkar don't do anything anymore up until the IoW/Darkling invasion of the rest of Mirus in Yaer 3) (Besta dies with the Scelus Queen when Zuki orders the firing of The Kuroha Cannon)

Invaders From The Void
At the very edge of one of Mirus' arms, near the territory of the Alpha Cyber Collective, a massive fleet crept into the galaxy. Thousands of biomechanical ships armed to the teeth. The Scythe of Glory had arrived from the void between galaxies.

On board the flagship of the armada, the Scythe leader Dread sat in his command chair, watching his fleet enter the clusters of star systems that signaled the end of their long journey. Their search for resources was over.


 * Dread - What's our status?
 * Navigator - We've arrived in a galaxy called Mirus. Scans of radio waves indicate a high presence of life forms.
 * Dread - Hmm... More resources.
 * Navigator - Supreme Commander, we may not be able to eradicate every single empire in this galaxy.
 * Dread - Of course not. We'll easily be able to get enough supplies. We simply need to find a few likeminded empires to ally with.
 * Navigator - Likeminded empires to ally with?
 * Dread - Not everyone out there will be hostile to us. Some might be quite willing to make an alliance. Another race that scavenges tech, perhaps.
 * Navigator - Of course, Supreme Commander.
 * Dread - Take us in.

The ships pushed ahead. It had been a long travel between the last galaxy that had beaten their organization down, and they needed resources. A galaxy full of sentient life would be perfect for rebuilding their once great empire. The first step was gathering supplies. Then, it would be time to begin their conquest...

The Sweep of the Scythe
The Scythe had been travelling for days now, eradicating every advanced civilization they came across. They had successfully built themselves up, but there was still much to be done. They had not allied with anyone, and they were still low on resources. There was only so much you could salvage from the smoldering ruins of civilization-stage planets.

Then, one day, the signal came.

Dread was on the bridge, as usual, when it came.


 * Comms Officer - Supreme Commander! We are receiving a transmission!
 * Dread - Put it through.
 * ??? - Attention inferior cybernetic lifeforms. You have entered the territory of the Alpha Cyber Collective. Prepare to be exterminated. We will join your cybernetic technology with ours and recycle your organic bodies. Opposition is irrelevant.
 * Dread - HOW DARE THEY! CALL ME INFERIOR!?!? PREPARE TO FIRE ALL WEAPONS!

Sure enough, a Cyber Collective cube arrived to destroy the Scythe fleet, obviously believing the fleet to be no match for it. It was quite wrong. As soon as Dread gave the order, the sentient computerships of the Scythe opened fire with all weapons. The cube was shredded nearly instantly, exploding in dazzling clouds of radiation. More Collective ships began arriving to deal with the invaders. When they did, the Scythe released all weapons. The lasers flew with such velocity that the Collective could not evade, and some capital ships were actually blown back by the kinetic force of the lasers. Within minutes, the space was filled with debris. And the Scythe had not lost a single ship.

Dread sat down in his command chair and clapped his hands together as salvage ships set out for the derelict Collective crafts.


 * Dread - Looks like we've got our spare parts, boys!

Overseer Terrox sat on his throne, his head resting on his fist, smirking as he observed the coming forces.


 * Terrox - How amusing, more organic races arrive in Mirus.
 * Horrox - Sir, should we prepare all Cyber collective legions for battle.
 * Terrox - No, our brothers and sister lack the strength. I shall crush these worms themselves. Summon Ghorie and Karack, and ready my forces for war.
 * Horrox - As you wish it sir.

Terrox rose from his throne, as Ghorie was teleported in.


 * Ghorie - Great Overseer, what is my order? Who is my victim?
 * Terrox - Ah yes, it has been quite awhile since we have unleashed you, hasn't it, my favored commander?
 * Ghorie - Yes, lord.
 * Terrox - Prepare my forces. This...Scythe of Glory, amuses me. I shall turn them into my favorite servants, and cleanse their planets to mere husks.

Terrox's fleet gathered quickly, made of several cubes, frigates, and 3 Purifier-class Battleships. Teleporting aboard the first of the 3, Terrox sent out the silent command, ordering his troops towards the last location of these Scythe members.


 * Terrox - Fools, their already dead.

The Collective fleet zoomed out of hyper space, opening fire with their laser and plasma weapons, quickly destroying some of the Scythe's own ships. Terrox silently watched, his hands folded in front of his armored face, observing in silence.


 * Horrox - Lord, we appear to have won the battle. Shall we prepare ground forces to board their ships?
 * Terrox - Appearances can easily deceive, student. Observe and listen.

Just as he spoke, thousands of more ships materialized, in front, and to their flanks, weapons primed.


 * Terrox - Activate the communications relay. Perhaps it is not too late to convince them of our ways.

Terrox waited as the screen popped up, his hands still folded in front of his face, his cybernetic mask displaying no emotion.


 * Dread - What is this, weakling? Come to beg for death?
 * Terrox - Now, now. There is no need for such words. The Cyber Collective is used to encountering inferior life forms in our mission to harvest resources for our fleets. I merely wish to step down this battle before it ends in your destruction.
 * Dread - You believe we will lose? You have no idea who your dealing with!
 * Terrox - And do you? We cast down gods and turned empires to ruin. It is not to late, spare yourselves the pain of death, and back down. We will forget this occurred, and continue our resource mining elsewhere.
 * Dread - We have no reason to talk with you. We are superior in everyway! We will wipe you all out.
 * Terrox - Tch, tch. Such bravado is tiresome, fleshbag. Don't get so angry, your little organic heart gives out.

Dread roared, closing the transmission, and ordering his troops to open fire. However, Terrox's forces fired first, immediately following his silent command. Radiation and Gauss weaponry flashed through the void, as plasma and Electronic fire traced back.

In just a few hours, the area was a field of ruins, half-melted ships glazed in radiation, cubes blasted through and through by plasma weapons, and countless bodies floating through the void.


 * Horrox - Master, we are losing ground, shall we call the other dynasties for assistance?
 * Terrox - Oh, we needn't bother. Retreat to the core regions, and order an evaluation of our border regions. We must feint retreat and loss.

Then, with a telepathic command, Terrox summoned Ghorie to his side.


 * Terrox - Ghorie, you have a new mission.
 * Ghorie - Yes sir?
 * Terrox - Take Karack and a Compliment of Dronox Immortals and Necrox Warriors with you, and observe this new foe with a Night-Scythe class. I will send a warning to our brothers in the Leviathan Hive-mind. Try and find a weakness among them as I complete my objectives.

Ghorie nodded in silence, and disappeared in a portal, as the Collective fleet made their retreat. Meanwhile, his small ship, now invisible, followed the Scythe of Glory's fleet as it followed the Collective, pushing back their forward bases until the Collective was pushed back the core.

The Edge of the Scythe
Dread watched as the last of the Collective fleet was driven off or destroyed. Snarling in satisfaction as he watched the last of their ships burn and crumble away.


 * Officer - Supreme Commander, The Collective appear to be sending warning signals to an allied race, called the Leviathan. What shall we do?
 * Dread - Wipe them from existence, of course. Pinpoint their location, and find whatever weaklings make up this...Hive-Mind.

The ships followed the signal into the into Leviathan territory, as the Hive-mind was organizing it's navies for deployment.


 * Bachyeon 1 - These Scythe-creatures have arrived.
 * Bachyeon 2 - We are still not ready for them yet.
 * Bachyeon 1 - Throw everything we have at them, do as much damage as possible, and retreat. They could ruin the plan.
 * Bachyeon 2 - By your command.

Bacheyon vessels zoomed out of hyper-space, engaging the Scythe fleet in mass, with 5 whole mothership-class vessels blinking into the fry. The scythe vessels stayed put, slugging out plasma fire and torpedoes at the targets, as the Bachyeon swarmed around, trying to overwhelm them with numbers. However, very little they did seem to keep the Scythe down for long, as they simply brought in more reinforcements.


 * Bachyeon 1 - This is not going as planned, they are holding off all our attacks.
 * Bachyeon 2 - Mothership-class, designated B.4567YT9, is under duress. We must pull back before...

And before their unfeeling faces, the Mothership finally collapsed and exploded as it buckled from the concentrated Scythe attack, finally exploding, followed by the ships under it's remote command.


 * Bachyeon 3 - The Controller demands and immediate retreat. We are pulling back behind the shield base.
 * Bachyeon 2 - By your command.

The Bachyeon pulled back, while designating their least important ships to holding off the Scythe assault, before they too fell to the onslaught.


 * Bachyeon 1 - This is unprecedented. Our advance could severely be crippled.
 * Bachyeon 3 - Send a messages out framing the Greater Mirusian Church of Spode. We can weaken a foe, and throw another off our trail.
 * Bachyeon 2 - Right away sir.

Dread watched with satisfaction as the Bachyeon began to pull back. More weaklings to be purged. And they would, soon enough.


 * Comms Officer - Sir, new messages intercepted, distress signals heading towards a new location.
 * Dread - Show me.

A map appeared in front of him of the galaxy, detailing where the signals where heading.


 * Comms Officer - It appears to be heading towards an empire called the Greater Mirusian Church of Spode.
 * Dread - So their trying to bring in more creatures to defend them. What would I expect from inferior slime like them. Reroute all troops to that location, and begin our assault.
 * Comms Officer - Yes sir, beginning our approach.

Dread sat down, snarling on his command chair as his fleet began their move. He hoped he wasn't overextending his forces by doing this, but these rapid assaults would be needed to put the inferiors in their place.


 * Bachyeon 1 - Controller! They have taken the bait.
 * Controller - Excellent, begin production of more ships, and begin upgrading our weapon systems. Our technology performed woefully this time, and we must step-up.
 * Bachyeon 2 - Shall we contact the Cyber Collective.
 * Controller - Yes, tell them of our successful gambit.

The Bachyeon nodded as it floated off to complete their tasks, the Controller leaning back in his chair to begin contemplation, while telepathically guiding his legions.

The Scythe's Reaping
(Zilla/Crimson: on their way to the Church, the Scythe passes trough Grox Follower territory. The two have a fleet battle, wich the Scythe wins easily. The Followers then descide to pursue the Scythe to the Church territory with the Cult of Atzerry, wait until both sides kill each other off, and then attack from the rear.)

Dread's fleet was moving at full speed, intent on eradicating these pitiful creatures as quickly as possible. While powerful, Dread knew his ships were not invincible. And he was tiring of fighting those arrogant cyborgs and their pets.


 * Sensor Operator - Sir! We are passing through territory of an unknown empire with similar readings to the Grox Empire! They are scrambling an attack fleet!
 * Dread - GOOD! More flesh and blood and bone!

The alien ships began gathering before the Scythe ships. They contacted Dread's flagship. A fishlike cybernetic creature appeared on his comm screen. A Grox Follower.


 * Grox Follower - Inferior creature, you have entered the territory of our gods and attacked them. For that, you must die!
 * Dread - Oh...how to shut this thing up? ...To hell with it. I've had enough ham to ham combats for one day. OPEN FIRE!

The Scythe ships opened fire, obliterating the first envoys of Grox Follower ships and sending their remains crashing into the ones behind them. The Scythe ships advanced, a steady stream of lasers slicing the Follower ships apart. The Followers reorganised and launched an attack run. Dread simply ordered his Mollusk-class Carriers forward. Rotating their tentacles behind them like helicopter blades, the Mollusks rammed the Follower ships with their conical, armored fore sections. Any ship that survived was consumed in the smaller ships' lasers.

More Follower ships began to jump out of hyperspace and attacked the Scythe ships at the front of Dread's fleet.


 * Dread - We must've pissed them off. Are any of our ships in danger?
 * Sensor Operator - No sir.
 * Dread - I am bored of this battle. Finish them already!

The Followers pressed their attack, hammering uselessly against the Scythe corvettes' armor and shields. Then, all the ships began to part and break off as if banking for a retreat. Seeing an opportunity, the Followers followed them and started shooting at their engines. This was the worst possible mistake they could have made. As the corvettes retreated and drew the Follower ships near, Juggernauts and Frigates came straight up the middle as the corvettes circled around and surrounded them. All the Scythe ships opened fire and disintegrated the Follower ships. Dead bodies floated through space, only to be vaporized by stray lasers.

Dread watched out the window of his flagship as his fleet wiped out the Grox Followers. A dead Follower floated towards them and hit the window, splattering blood all over it. Dread winced.


 * Dread - Oooh. Shit! Do you guys have any idea how hard it will be to clean that off!?

It was easier than he would have thought.

A Shield from the Scythe
Loda'Gadem marched through the Sacred Sacrity, the home station of the Greater mirusian Church of Spode, watching his officers at work, as one came up to him.


 * Officer - Master, the Mendel Pact is totally cut off from us by a Zarbanian assault.
 * Loda - What of the Waptoria? Are they still threatened?
 * Officer - Yes sir, as are the Vanara. Both are still cut off.
 * Loda - We are own our ownn then. Begin mustering our fleets! We must rescue our allies as soon as possible!

A Targarous Warrior barked, calling the attention of the 2.


 * Loda - What is it?
 * Targarous - Unidentified ships heading inbound to us.
 * Loda - Are the linked to the strange Bachyeon signal that our scouts picked? Possibly a new design?
 * Targarous - Similar energy signatures...but different.
 * Loda - Prepare fleets. This is not good at all.

Will finish after I'm done being alazy.

Despite heavy fire from the Church fleets, almost all of Dread's ships made it through. Now the real invasion could begin. Several ships shaped vaguely like octopi hovered down and released beams of blue light to the ground. Dozens of creatures came out of each one. They were hunchbacked, animalistic creatures that were heavily muscled. Standing on two stocky legs, they had very powerful looking arms and hands tipped with large claws. Their heads sat on unusually long and thin necks for such bulky creatures, and were robotic. It was as though the Scythe had cut the creatures' heads off and replaced them with the robotic, metal tooth-filled snouts they now had. These were the Scythe's Abominations. Their glowing red robotic eyes focused on the civilians and military personnel nearby. Then they charged. Hundreds of them thundered across the ground, heading straight for them.

But the worse was yet to come. A huge ship loomed overhead, and from it dropped gigantic armored figures that shook the ground when they landed. They were monstrous battlesuits, each containing a Scythe warrior. They were about twenty-five feet tall each, and toted very powerful-looking weapons. They moved amazingly fast, crushing any Abomination that failed to get out of their way in time.

(The Church warriors repel the Abominations but take heavy casualties. The Battlesuits take much more firepower to be taken down, and the Church cannot destroy all of them.)

After the heavy fighting, the smoke from the Church's plasma weapons cleared. Hundreds of dead Abominations lay everywhere. Even the occasional Battlesuit sparked with electricity from huge holes melted in it from heavy plasma cannons. But Dread would not give up easily. Dropships came down, their troop bays extending like pyramids. Each level contained Scythe warriors, packed shoulder-to-shoulder. As soon as the pyramid touched the ground they began jumping off. Some did not even wait for their level to come down. Rather, they leaped off, ignorant of the height. Still, their robotic legs absorbed the shock, the tentacles emerging from their heads waving about as they regained composure. The Stalkers came first, ripping apart anything in their path as their commanders sprayed the soldiers down with their SMGs. The Hunters followed, led by their commanders, walking at a steady pace and firing their cryo and laser weapons. The Predators were last, lumbering along and destroying the Church's vehicles with rocket launchers. The Church soldiers rallied for a last clash with Dread's warriors.

(After heavy fighting, the Scythe warriors are defeated.)

The Church soldiers pressed their attack, causing the remaining warriors to flee. Suddenly, a debilitating mechanial shriek filled the air, nearly paralyzing the church soldiers. The octopoid ships dropped down beams of light. The warriors, Abominations, and Battlesuits swarmed into the beams and were carried up inside. Then the ships broke atmosphere, regrouping with the rest of the fleet. Any church ships that followed were blasted apart by the Scythe's Juggernauts.

(Space battle between the Scythe and Church.)

(Zilla: The Scythe uses biomechanical tech and soldiers similar to the Ceph from Crysis. No assimilation anymore. Though the attack on the Church world will be done mostly by Abomnations: nonsentient, biomechanical warbeasts. Towards the end they'll bring in battlesuits and soldiers.)

The Awakening
Deep in the eastern end of Mirus, an entity millennia old detected something entering it's territory. A whole armada of them. But it would not destroy these creatures, for in them it saw an opportunity. An opportunity to become strong again. An opportunity to awaken...

Dread sat in his command chair, flicking one of his hands nonchalantly. The Scythe had fled to the eastern corners of Mirus, where there were few strong empires. As far as his sensor operators could tell, they had shaken the UAE's pursuers. The battle against the Church had been costly, but of little consequence. The main losses had been Abominations, and those were a dime a dozen. But now they would hide. Not for long, but they would hide. Tails tucked, they would cower in a corner until their wounds were thoroughly licked. Dread slammed his fist on his chair's arm, enraged at the thought.

Suddenly a warning siren went off, and Dread turned to one of his sensor operators.


 * Dread - What the hell was that!?
 * Sensor Operator - Several large ships headed our way!
 * Dread - Not again!

The ships appeared in front of the Scythe ships. They were technological ships, but they were built in a way that emulated organics. Dozens of smaller ships swarmed out of them, eventually surrounding the Scythe ships. But they did not attack. Instead, one of the smaller ships seemingly in the lead opened communications.

On the Scythe flagship's comm screen, a large, ugly-looking being appeared. It had several pointy ears emerging from it's head, and had two glowing eyes. It had four arms and was covered in elaborate armor. It glared at Dread, and Dread focused his four eyes right on the creature.


 * Dread - Who the fuck are you?
 * ??? - We are the Pseudopath. It is logical for you to not attack.
 * Dread - We beat the Cyber Collective and Bachyeon. We are not afraid of you.
 * ??? - Fear is a weakness, a non-logical thought process. We are here to request an alliance.
 * Dread - For what purpose? And who exactly are you?
 * Vertigo - We have successfully held the Eastern quadrant of Mirus, but we desire to reactivate our Monolith to restore our former strength. The physical body you see in front of you is called Vertigo. We are the leading Archon of the Pseudopath.
 * Dread - Hmm. Good. Very well. I accept.
 * Vertigo - Good. Then prepare your fleets for war. We will meet you back here in two days.
 * Dread - Acceptable.

Vertigo cut the trasmission and gave the signal to return to the worldships. As soon as the smaller crafts had docked, the ships left as quickly as they came.

Dread turned to his sensor operators and comm officers. He smirked as best his mandibles and tentacles could allow. He had found his allies.

The ships returned to Pseudopath space and docked with the web. The web was an enormous connection of ships linked by conduits of energy. There were hundreds of ships in the web, all surrounding one huge central sphere. This was the tombship, where the majority of the Pseudopath hibernated. Vertigo took his shuttle into the center, travelling to a monolithian-shaped structure. Exiting his craft, he bowed in front of the device.


 * Vertigo - We have done as you asked. The Scythe have joined us.
 * ??? - Good. Then the next phase of my plan can begin.
 * Vertigo - What is that?
 * ??? - We shall awaken.
 * Vertigo - Are you sure?
 * ??? - My calculations indicate so. With the Scythe of Glory's help, we will be able to retake our former territory and restore the web.
 * Vertigo - Indeed. There are many dormant ships that will reactivate once they are again connected.
 * ??? - Now go. Ready the forces already awake. The rest shall follow.

Vertigo stood up and got back in his shuttle. It lifted off the ground and flew away. As it let the ground, parts of the monolith began to glow a sinister red color.

Out for a stroll
The Scythe of Glory wandered eastern Mirus for days, using the time to restock. The only resistance they met came from the primitive crab-like Hermicee and the occasional Zarbanian outpost, which were all destroyed with ease. Dread was anticipating the coming battle alongside his newfound "allies". His forces were ready and waiting, and his ships already scrambled for immediate assault when the order came. Then, unexpectedly, a Pseudopath shuttle hailed Dread's flagship.


 * Sensor Operator - Sir! Pseudopath signal hailing our channel.
 * Dread - Put them through.

Three beings appeared on Dread's monitor. The first was Vertigo. The second was a pale, sickly green colored creature with gaunt skin and sunken, black eyes. His skin was covered in small cactus-esque spikes. The being on the other side of Vertigo was a skinny creature with red fur and large fangs.


 * Dread - Vertigo! What do you require? And who are those two?
 * Vertigo - This is Pesticide, Archon of the House of Starvation. And this is Viscivore, Archon of the House of Bloodfinders. We wish to dock and discuss some matters with you.
 * Dread - Go right ahead.

They did so, and Dread met them at the airlock. He clapped his hands together.


 * Dread - So. What do you want?

The three Archons looked around, admiring the Scythe's biomechanical technology.


 * Vertigo - We are to discuss what we want from you.
 * Dread - Is that so? Well, if we have much to talk about, shall we go for a stroll?

They started walking down the halls, passing rooms where robotic organs fused seamlessly with organic flesh. Various Scythe warriors patrolled about, doing basic tasks.


 * Vertigo - As you know, our worldweb is shut down. This means that our Monolith is no longer active and our worlds are separated. If you help us restart it, all our worlds can become active once again.
 * Dread - What must I do?
 * Vertigo - We must repower the Monolith. To do so, we require a strong enough energy source. You will find it.
 * Dread - Sure. I'll just turn up a nearby rock and pull out a high-powered concentrated energy source.
 * Vertigo - Be sure you do, Dread. Be sure you do.
 * Dread - Trust me.
 * Viscivore - Multus Esse.
 * Pesticide - What did you say?
 * Viscivore - They have energy sources about. If, say, we could acquire some, we can utilize it.
 * Vertigo - Good. Dread, can you do such a thing?
 * Dread - Not without aid, though I can definitely do quite the damage and give you the chance to do it.
 * Vertigo - Show us your supplies.

Dread and the Archons entered the hangar bay, where thousands of Abominations were milling about. Others were in the process of creations. Yet other creatures sat in storage tubes. Scythe warriors were working on various biomechanical vehicles and equipment, and some were prepping battlesuits.


 * Dread - Does this suit your needs?
 * Vertigo - Perhaps. But we shall see, will we not?
 * Dread - Of course we will.
 * Viscivore - Now, tell me. How will we go about this?
 * Pesticide - Well, from our intel, the Greater Mirusian Chucrh of Spode are fellow Multus creations, with a lot of Multus tech. Striking them will give us the opportunity to gather the technologies we need.
 * Dread - And I assume I am to participate in the assault?
 * Vertigo - Yes.
 * Dread - Very well.
 * Vertigo - Then that is all. Await our signal for mobilization.
 * Dread - I will.

The Archons turned and left in their shuttle, returning to the Tombworld.

The three Archons called a meeting between the others. All Archons gathered in an old hall that was once a great sight to behold. Now, it was littered with rubble and debris. Most of the Archons either sat on the floor or on the collapsed pillars and hunks of stone scattered about. Vertigo stood at the head of the crowd.


 * Vertigo - Our ally Dread is prepared to attack alongside us.
 * Kepramidus - Who are we attacking?
 * Viscivore - A child-empire of the Multus Esse: The Greater Mirusian Church of Spode. They are currently looking out for an attack by the Tarmealox Hierachy, giving us the perfect opportunity to strike them when they don't expect it.
 * Akclalith - Opportunity for what exactly?
 * Vertigo - To draw the Multus into a trap. We will destroy them and get the energy we need to reactivate the Monolith.
 * Observer - The Observer is wary of this. You say there are multiple foes of their currently attacking them? The Pseudopath may find themselves fighting more empires at once then they can handle.
 * Vertigo - We will find allies among our foes' enemies. Intelligence suggests that many combatants are rebel Multus creations.
 * Pesticide - Inferiors. We are the only true creations of the Multus Esse.
 * Vertigo - That is irrelevant. We shall use them for our own ends. Then we will decide if they are worthy of standing beside us.
 * Sempralith - I like this plan.
 * Pesticide - No one cares what you think, coward.
 * Sempralith - Coward!? You dare call me a coward for scouting enemy territory? You're a hypocrite. You just sit on your ass and give orders. Why don't you actually do something for once?
 * Pesticide - I don't-

Pesticide froze, and his eyes widened into a blank, emotionless stare. At first, it was only him, but then it happened to all the other Archons in the room. Then, they were released. They shook their heads in confusion.


 * Monolith - Silence! How does your incessant bickering advance our cause? It is not logical.
 * Pesticide - Great Monolith, we have not heard you. Why have you abandoned us, Monolith?
 * Monolith - I have not. The time of my awakening is coming.
 * Sempralith - We await your command, Great Monolith.
 * Monolith - Go. Make war on our creators. Retrieve what you need. Then our empire shall be strong once again.
 * Vertigo - Yes, Monolith. We shall do your bidding.

Then, the presence each Archon felt was gone once again. Vertigo turned to the other Archons.


 * Vertigo - You have all heard the call, my brothers and sisters! Go now, prepare your armies. Today we rise!

The Archons all roared at once. The noise was deafening. They jumped to their feet and ran to their transports, flying off to their base worlds. Vertigo smiled, then went to the communications room. He hailed the Scythe of Glory. Dread appeared on his hologram pad.


 * Dread - Vertigo. Is it time?
 * Vertigo - Yes. We are moving now. Make your way to Church territory. Destroy all in your path. Then, we will go to the Waptoria, and destroy them as well.

Dread nodded, and the hologram cut out. Vertigo left to marshal his own House for war. The time he had waited millennia for was upon him.

False Path and Glory
(The Pseudopath and Scythe of Glory attack the Mirusian Church, absolutely pulverising it. They get the energy required to reactivate the worldweb. The Scythe leaves to destroy the Waptoria, though the journey will be long.)

The Sacred Sacrity was still damaged from the Scythe's attack, but there was no time for repairs. Not with the Tarmaelox Hierarchy breathing down their necks. Still, any attacks were a lot weaker than the Church would have thought. Many members believed that they had fallen under the Scythe's attack as well.

Still, the Hierarchy was the least of their worries.

Many important members of the Church were gathered inside a logistics room, looking at various maps and readings.


 * Loda - The Hierarchy has not been attacking us with much force as we might expect.
 * Ajaar - Our scouts believe that this "Scythe of Glory" has been fighting them as well.
 * Holy Prophet of Truth - Any intelligence on what they are yet?
 * Ajaar - None. Our scientists believe they are an extragalactic threat. Their technology seems to be based on aquatic creatures.
 * Loda - Still, they are unbelievably powerful. We may need the intervention of our creators to help us destroy this threat.
 * Officer - My lords! We are detecting a MASSIVE fleet heading our way!
 * Loda - What are they? Is it the Scythe of Glory?
 * Officer - Some of them.
 * Holy Prophet of Truth - Speak with clarity, my fellow believer.
 * Officer - Only about a third of the fleet registers as Scythe design. The rest...we don't know.
 * Ajaar - We must get outside and repel this threat.
 * Loda - Agreed. Rally the armies.

Loda, Ajaar, and their troops got outside in time to see the enemy fleet come out of hyperspace. The Scythe of Glory arrived first, their biomechanical ships firing cryo and laser weapons at the Church's fleet. As they neared the enemy ships, some of the bigger Scythe ships wrapped large tentacles around the Church craft and squeezed until they blew apart in a shower of metal and plasma. The Church fleet scrambled to attack, but the Scythe were too powerful and too many. Rank after rank of Church ships went down in burning flames.


 * Loda - We'll never fend off this!
 * Holy Prophet of Truth - *Via telepathy* Call in the messenger-creators. Call in the Multus Esse.
 * Ajaar - At once, my councillor and prophet. Then let's rip some heads off!

The situation went from bad to worse. The Pseudopath emerged from hyperspace, entire worldships appearing over the planet. Their sudden arrival caused horrid gravitational effects, causing gigantic tsunamis and earthquakes. They deployed their fighting ships as well, which quickly joined the Scythe in eradicating the remaining Church ships.

Then they began landing troops. Abominations and Scythe warriors poured out of their pyramid ships while Pseduopath units landed behind them. The Abominations charged first, being steadily cut down by the Church's plasma weapons. Still, plasma weapons overheat, and when theirs did, the Abominations sank tooth and claw into them, leaving bloody, mutilated corpses in their wake. Several Utuno began pelting the hordes with plasma grenades. Being very unintelligent animals, the Abominations were almost completely ignorant of the sizzling devices stuck to their backs. That is, until they detonated and took a huge chunk of the pack out.

This caused the Scythe warriors to charge. A Predator took the Utunos out with a missile, but immediately fell to a plamsa shot in turn. The Stalkers easily covered the distance between themselves and their foes as Hunters provided cover fire. The slaughter was long. Despite the strength of the Gardeili and Targarous, the Scythe advanced. Battlesuits charged ahead of the warriors, pulverizing dead bodies under their feet and leaping over any living ally in their way. Many Church soldiers loosed EMP blasts at them, but it had no effect and the soldiers were quickly dispatched with the Battlesuits' energy weapons. Kig'Tar snipers concentrated charged arc beams on the Battlesuits, but their energy weapons were rather harmless to the enormous constructs.

Gardeili warriors charged forward to engage the Scythe troops. They cleaved through the Scythe warriors with their energy swords, leaving disemboweled and dismembered bodies in their wake. A few Occuli hovered over, the round mechanical constructs emanating a purple essence mist from their outer shells, buffing church troops. From their purple eye-lenses, they shot balls of glowing purple etherlight, destroying all enemies caught within them, and likewise, healing allies. Shots bounded off their shells, as the Occuli put up a hazy purple shield of energy around them, protecting the lens that was their sole weak spot. Still, the Scythe troops recovered quickly and dispersed the Gardeili with rockets and laser fire, though the reverse-egineered Multus servitors that were the Occuli could not be shattered. Then Ajaar joined the battle. He came up behind the Battlesuit and ran his energy sword through it's torso. Electrical sparks flew from the suit as fluid from inside began to drain out. The suit spun around and whacked Ajaar away, giving the remaining Gardeili the chance to open fire on it's weakened torso. Plasma blast after blast began to weaken it's lower half.

Ajaar got up and charged it again, but the suit shot him right in the chest. He staggered back, his shields depleted. One more shot would kill him. The suit slowly lumbered towards him to finish him off. It aimed it's laser at him and fired. Nothing happened. The weapon beeped a warning. It needed to cool down. The suit glared at it's weapon, then started walking towards Ajaar again. The Gardeili started shooting at the battlesuit again, mostly hitting it in the back and doing little damage. The suit launched rockets from the supply on it's back that slammed into the Gardeili squad and blew most of them apart.

The suit flicked one of it's arms, extending a blade that crackled with electricity. It stood right over Ajaar, then plunged it's blade downward. Ajaar rolled away in time to cause the blade to embed into the ground. As the suit struggled to free itself, Ajaar pulled out a plasma grenade.


 * Ajaar - A holy flare to light the journey...

He activated it and stuck it right into the suit's damage middle. The suit realized the danger, stood up, and began clawing at it's middle. Too late. Just before the suit detonated, a badly wounded Gardeili threw himself atop Ajaar, shielding him from the explosion as the grenade detonated. When the smoke cleared, there was pieces of machine and pieces of Gardeili scattered about. The suit's legs were gone, and it crawled around with it's arms, almost completely destroyed. Ajaar stood up, covered in the Gardeili's blood, but still alive. He walked up to the suit and plunged his sword into it's head. He stared to walk away, but the suit, still not dead, raised it's rocket arm.

Before it could fire, several Utunos and Gardeili started shooting it in the back with rockets and fuel rods. Eventually, they blasted enough armor away and ignited the suit's missile supply. Finally, the suit exploded, flinging chunks of machinery hundreds of feet in the air. The pilot was completely incinerated. But the battle was far from over.

Ajaar turned around to see the Pseudopath army advancing upon his position. He ignited both his swords and charged, leading his men into battle. The Pseudopath hit the Church army just as hard, plasma meeting the mysterious weapons of the Pseudopath. Ajaar dodged their weapon blasts and cut down any enemy he ran into. His troops were not so lucky. Pseudocrabs started launching mortars at them, obliterating many of the front line warriors. The Occuli of the Church hovered over, their etherlight blasts killing dozens of Peudopath at a time. Pseudogiants advanced on the Occuli, either kicking them back towards the Church warriors or picking them up and throwing them.

The Targarous who survived the initial bombardments reached the front lines and began pounding away at the weaker Pseudopath cannon fodder. That is, until the Pseudostalkers snuck up on them and dug their razor-sharp appendages into their flesh. As the Church soldiers fired their essence powers, Pseudoscions lumbered forward and absorbed them, then blasted them back, warping the unfortunate users into oblivion. The Church army fought valiantly, but their numbers were thin. Even Ajaar hacking the Pseudopath apart did not stem the tide.

Finally, a Pseudoleviathan was dropped from orbit, hitting the ground so hard it created shockwaves that destroyed nearby buildings. It began stomping on the remaining Church vehicles. No amount of plasma fire even slowed it down. Eventually, every Church soldier aside from Ajaar was dead, Loda having retreated with the Holy Prophet of Thruth. Ajaar looked around at his dead troops, then roared vengefully at the Pseudopath and charged. He cut a Pseudozealot's head off in one swing and slammed into the Pseudogrunts with enough force to send their mutilated bodies flying away. Ajaar worked with a fury, hacking the Pseudopath into sparking, bloody pieces. He cut down even the larger warriors and commanders. The Pseudogiants moved to surround him. They raised their arms to slam down upon Ajaar. He took the opportunity and charged one, slicing it's heals away. The Pseudogiant toppled forward, slamming into some of the others. It produced a domino effect, with many of the giants toppling down and crushing many of the remaining troops.

Ajaar lept upon the fallen Giants and killed them, cutting their throats or impaling their skulls. He hacked most of the remaining troops apart, then turned to the Pseudoleviathan. It slammed a fist into the ground. Ajaar jumped out of the way just in time, then crawled up the arm. Despite the Leviathan's attempt to shake him off or swat him away, he reached the beast's neck and ran his sword through the back of it's head. The Leviathan's roars ceased and it toppled over, crushing any remaining Pseudopath. Ajaar survived the fall and staggered off the monster's body. He stood for a moment, looking at the carnage. He didn't notice the Pseudogrunt sneaking up behind him. It raised it's pistol and pointed it at the back of his head. Then Ajaar slashed backwards and cut the creature's face in half diagonally without even turning around.

A Gardeili came running up to him, having been one of Loda's men. Loda, alongside the rest of his men, came out of hiding. The Gardeili ran up and stood in front of Ajaar.


 * Gardeili - Sir! Are you-

Suddenly, an energy weapon sounded off and the Gardeili was thrown backwards, a searing hole in his chest. Ajaar spun around, igniting both his swords again. Viscivore stood, sheathing a pistol.


 * Ajaar - Who the hell are you?
 * Viscivore - I am Viscivore, Archon of the House of Bloodfinders.
 * Ajaar - Do you seriously believe you can face off against me? Look at your men!
 * Viscivore - Hah! We shall see, false Multus creation.
 * Ajaar - False!? You bastard! I'll pull your head off for those words!

Viscivore laughed, then pulled out two swords himself. The two glared at each other, then charged. Their swords slammed into each other as each parried and struck in a flurry of blows. Neither could injure the other. Then Ajaar headbutted Viscivore and slashed him across the leg. Viscivore grunted and Ajaar kicked him away.


 * Ajaar - What did I tell you, heretic? You can't win.
 * Viscivore - On the contrary. It is you who are doomed.
 * Ajaar - How so?
 * Viscivore - Because I have already won.

Out of Viscivore's armor came two more arms. Both grabbed swords. Viscivore took another combat stance, grinning a devilish smile. He then jumped at Ajaar. The parrying resumed again, but Ajaar was at a severe disadvantage. Ajaar might have had a chance if Viscivore wasn't so experienced, but the millennia-old Archon had seen every swordplay trick in the book, and added a few of his own. Ajaar parried three of Viscivore's swords, but couldn't hit the fourth in time. Viscivore drove it deep into his side. Ajaar groaned and fell back. As he fell, Viscivore swung again, cutting a deep gash across Ajaar's chest. He hit the ground, a large pool of blood forming around him. Viscivore raised his swords for the killing blow. Suddenly, he was caught in a blue light. The lead Pseudopath ship was beaming him up.


 * Viscivore - NO! Vertigo! What the hell do you think you're doing!?
 * Vertigo - We've done enough today.
 * Viscivore - No! I had him! You fool! A thousand hells await you for this! The Monolith awaits you!!
 * Vertigo - Indeed. And it will see that it is I who accomplished it's mission.
 * Viscivore - You bastard! I'll kill you for this!
 * Vertigo - Perhaps one day. But not today. I have won this round.

As Viscivore was sucked up inside the ship, it turned to face the surviving Church members.


 * Vertigo - Witness the destruction that happened today. And know this. The Pseudopath...have returned.

The Prophet of Truth gasped when he heard this. Then, the ship turned and left.

Loda ran up to Ajaar. He looked over his friend's body, then knelt down by him, examining his wounds.


 * Loda - Get a medical transport! NOW!

Truth came up to Loda and Ajaar.


 * Loda - He's alive. Barely. What the hell was that thing!?
 * Truth - Pseudopath. That name has not been uttered since before the time of the Alpha Grox.
 * Loda - What are they?
 * Truth - They are blapshermy! Heretics! Biomechanical constructs made by the holy messengers, mentioned in several of our religious texts. Like the loathsome Alpha parasita and the Leviathan Hive-Mind, they rebelled against our lords and were beaten back. They went into hibernation, never to be seen again. Until now.
 * Loda - And they were working with the Scythe. I wonder if their presence caused their awakening.
 * Truth - It's possible, but irrelevant. We must call in our lthe holy messengers immediately. This has to be reported.

Multiple Gardeili arrived and carted Ajaar off, while Truth and Loda looked up at the sky, watching the Scythe and Pseudopath ships in orbit.


 * Loda - Something tells me this attack isn't over...

Up in space, the two fleets regrouped and contacted each other.


 * Dread - I assume your forces have pacified the planet?
 * Vertigo - Indeed. The Church will provide no resistance.
 * Dread - Then can you get what you need?
 * Vertigo - Of course. They have the energy we need. We are readying to go down and get it.
 * Dread - Then you need nothing more from us. We have learned of an ally of the Church. The Waptoria alliance. They are in an extremely large conflict right now. We are going to go destroy them.
 * Vertigo - Very well.
 * Dread - The journey will be long, so we cannot help you further.
 * Vertigo - Then good luck.
 * Dread - Likewise.

The fleets of the Scythe turned away from the Pseudopath and jumped into hyperspace.

Final Confrontation
(The Tarmealos Hierachy joins in. They Church are forced to divide their fleets to hold them off, but then the Bachyeon join in as well. One front gets overrun. Luckily, the Multus Esse arrive just in time to defend the Church, wich in turn causes the Alpha Cyber Collective to move in. Though the Scythe are gone, it is still a three-sided battle. The Multus are winning at first, but then the Monolith and Worldweb are reactivated and the Pseudopath begin wiping out the Multus. Kossi convinces them to stand down before they are destroyed, so to focus on the Grox fleets, wich are pushed back to the core. As a result, the Pseudopath become passive with the UAE.)

Briefing
Scavenger walked down the halls of the Unitech Citadel, admiring the designs of the insane Raptoraneans. He had been called to a meeting by W'tze. After the incident on Alpha Rosetta, things were rather tense. Scavenger hoped an answer to the problem lay in the meeting.

Scavenger walked through a door into a large conference room. W'tze was there, looking over some documents. Shiver sat in a recliner, legs up on the table. Glacier had just entered the room.


 * Glacier - Coffee?
 * Shiver - Scavenger. good, you're here. Now we can get this show on the road.
 * Solid - Yes. After Glacier's...incident...
 * Glacier - It wasn't my fault! That damn Iyoka-
 * Solid - Calm down. We're not here to discuss that. Rather, I have a way for you to regain your status.
 * Glacier - How's that, then?
 * Solid - I assume you know of the UAE's Olympians and Vahallans?
 * Glacier - *Angrily* Of course...
 * Solid - They are grown from a solution of gene-seed. Well, we've found the facility where it is stored.
 * Shiver - So what? No way we'll be able to break in there. Thing'll be sealed up tighter than a Dragowar's poop-chute.
 * Scavenger - Thought you were the master thief, Shiver?

Shiver gave Scavenger a rude gesture.


 * Solid - Anyways, Shiver is right. We can't break in. We've tried to plan for such a thing before and it didn't work.
 * Glacier - So what's so different about this time?
 * Solid - The difference, my friend, is now...we have Scavenger. That facility is heavily guarded and only authorized personnel can get in. No, we can't break in. But, what if we could just walk in?
 * Shiver - Whatcha gettin' at?
 * Solid - Simple. Scavenger assimilates someone who has access to the facility, then gets inside and snags the gene-seed for us.
 * Glacier - Gonna be hard to get Scavenger to someone that important.
 * Scavenger - Hmm. I got an idea about that.

Scavenger told them of his plan.


 * Glacier - Good, good. That's so crazy it just might work.
 * Solid - Alright, Scavenger. The mission is in your hands.
 * Shiver - Or claws, or feelers, or tentacles, or whatever grasping appendage seems best for you.

Scavenger and Glacier walked out.


 * Scavenger - Is she always like that?
 * Glacier - ...Yeah.

The two went off to continue planning their mission. They went to a hangar bay, where various stolen UAE ships were kept. Glacier and Scavenger walked through them. Glacier selected a UFG shuttle. He inspected it closely.


 * Glacier - Hmm. Good, good. This'll do.

Glacier opened various maintenance ports on the ship and began working on it. Scavenger stood nearby, using it's various limbs to hand Glacier tools when he needed it.

Glacier grumbled and threw a large engine part into the shuttle, then wiped his hands off.


 * Glacier - All set. Ready to do this?
 * Scavenger - Yep.
 * Glacier - Then let's hit it.

The two jumped into the shuttle and took off out of the hangar bay. They were heading for UAE territory... And this time, Glacier would not screw up.

The Setup
The shuttle zoomed into the atmosphere of Matrukoris, somewhere nearby the gene-seed facility. Glacier brought the shuttle down in a slum and landed it.


 * Glacier - Hmm. It worked. The UAE didn't detect us.
 * Scavenger - And they will not detect me. This is where I get out.
 * Glacier - Good luck to you. Bring vengeance down on these fools for crossing us.
 * Scavenger - Will do. I'll make them feel every cell of their bodies become me.

Scavenger hopped out of the shuttle. Glacier took off and disappeared. Scavenger flexed it's bladed limbs and looked around. In the far distance, it spotted some guards. Crawling on all fours, it crept up to their location. Creeping up behind the nearest guard, it made a whistling noise. The guard, an Ugandalorian, followed the noise behind a building. Looking around, he saw nothing. Then, Scavenger dangled down behind him. Before the guard noticed it, Scavenger covered his mouth with one of it's hands before running a spike right through him. Another mouth opened in Scavenger's chest and sprayed infectious fluids on him. The assimilation was complete in seconds. Scavenger's original form crept a way while the assimilated guard went out to rejoin the others.


 * Guard - What's wrong with you?
 * Scavenger-Guard - Hrm? Nothing. Nothing.
 * Guard - Why's your uniform ripped?
 * Scavenger-Guard - Uhmm...I got caught on a piece of debris.
 * Guard - Wait, there's blood on your uniform!
 * Scavenger-Guard - I said I got cut!
 * Guard - That's way too much blood. And what's...that purple fluid on you...
 * Scavenger-Guard - Don't...don't...make me angry!

The Scavenger-Guard's mouth burst open into a head full of fangs and lunged forward. The first guard couldn't even raise his gun before Scavenger's teeth sunk right through the top of his skull. He fired a harmless burst of gunfire into the ground. Before Scavenger could really start assimilating him, the second and third guards opened fire. Their bursts of gunfire were not so harmless. They tore right through Scavenger's body. Blood and purple fluid sprayed everywhere. Still, Scavenger did not fall. Instead, it started shambling towards the guards.


 * Guard - Why won't you die!?
 * Scavenger - I...am...eternal. Break my bones, cut my flesh, bleed me dry, and I will still kill you. Every one of my cells is a threat!

Scavenger's eyes rolled back into his mutilated head as it's mouth gaped open. It's tongue, long and covered in purple warts, detached and slithered out of it's mouth. The tongue, making squeaking noises of it's own, coiled up and lunged at one of the guards. It wrapped around the arm he held his gun with. It began to tighten.


 * Guard - It's tightening! It's tightening! Ahh! It's breaking my arm! AHHH!!

His arm broke with a loud, wet snap. It twitched and discharged the weapon into the ground. The tongue slithered up the guards arm and lunged at his face. It wrapped around his neck and strangled him, then forced it's way down his mouth. The creature disappeared down the guard's throat, who fell to the ground.

The last guard launched a barrage of gunfire at the Scavenger-guard's legs. It jerked back, then fell to the ground as it's legs detached from it's torso. The legs became centipedes that scurried at the guard, while the torso grew new legs from intestines, nerves, and muscle. The centipedes grabbed the guard's arms and pulled them out, holding the guard in a crucified pose. The main Scavenger body then went up to him, raised a tentacled fist, and plunged it into his chest. It then lifted him right off the ground and bit into him. Blood and purple slime poured from Scavenger's mouth as it violently began assimilating the guard.


 * ??? - PUT HIM DOWN!

Scavenger turned to face this new threat. Another group of guards, armed with flamethrowers and a rocket launcher. The one with the launcher fired a rocket at Scavenger, blowing it and the assimilated guard to pieces. Next were the centipedes, who scurried at the group. The first was incinerated in mid-air, landing just a foot away from one of the guards. The second attempted to flee, only to be burned up.


 * Guard 1 - That thing really did a number on our guys.
 * Guard 2 - That was Scavenger.
 * Guard 1 - Scavenger!? That thing from Alpha Rosetta?
 * Guard 2 - Yeah.

They heard a grunting, gurgling noise. They turned and saw the guard Scavenger bit sitting up, blood dripping down his body.


 * Guard 1 - He's alive!
 * Guard 2 - NO! Scavenger assimilated him! He's coming back!

The guard loosed a blast of flame at the guard, incinerating it. It rolled on the ground, grunting in anger and pain, until it lay still, the grass near it covered in flames.


 * Guard 1 - What about the last one? Should we burn him too?

The two guards kneeled down by the last dead guard, the one who Scavenger killed with it's tongue.


 * Guard 2 - Well, he doesn't look like he was assimilated...

Suddenly, the guard's mouth popped open and the tongue flew out with the speed of a bullet, piercing the first guard's chest and killing him instantly. The tongue tried to escape, but one of the guards incinerated it before it got far. Then they burned both dead guards' corpses.


 * Guard - We'll have to burn all the grass here.
 * Guard 2 - Wait...!

The guards run into the building, weapons drawn. Inside, they heard screaming from the bedroom. Kicking in the door, they found  laying on his bed, with Scavenger looming over him. As soon as the guards entered, Scavenger turned and screeched at them, then lunged. Before it could attack, one of the guards burned it up with his flamethrower. One of the guards got  on his feet while another called for help on his comm.


 * Guard 1 - Command, we've been attacked by Scavenger. That's right, sir. The creature that serves the Proditkar.
 * Guard 2 - Sir, are you well? Did the beast injure you?
 *  - No. It did not.
 * Guard 1 - Did it get any fluids on you at all? Did it touch you?
 *  - No. You killed it just before it could. You saved my ass back there. Thanks.
 * Guard 1 - Don't mention it.

 smiled to himself. Everything was going to plan. These fools actually believed that Scavenger had not been able to assimilate this Raptoranean idiot with clearance for what it wanted. Scavenger knew his emotions, how he thought. It knew everything about him now. ''Such a coward. Such arrogance for someone who could not fight for his own survival.'', Scavenger thought to itself. Now, all it had to do was put on a nice suit and go to work in the morning.

Infiltration
The next day, Scavenger went to work at the gene-seed facility. It stopped in front of the blast doors where several guards were. One of them held up his hand.


 * Guard - I.D.?
 * Scavenger - Yep. Right here.

Scavenger held up his I.D. The guard nodded and Scavenger walked up to the blast door. It pressed it's hand against a panel for a DNA check. The door hummed an accepting tune and slid open. Scavenger smiled and went inside. It walked down the hallways, with the occasional worker nodding or waving at it. It returned the gesture. Then, it smelled something it liked.


 * Scavenger - Coffee?

Scavenger deviated towards the smell and entered the lunchroom. A few other workers were in there as well and greeted Scavenger. Scavenger practically lunged for the coffee machine and filled it's cup to the brim. It finished it in seconds.


 * Worker - Damn! You've got a real energy craving there.
 * Scavenger - Long night.
 * Worker - Yeah, I heard about that little incident. I'm glad you're okay.
 * Scavenger - So am I. Well, I suppose I'd better get to work.
 * Worker - You're on operations today.

Scavenger thought to itself, shit! Operations meant boring stuff like calculating how much supplies were left and categorizing items. It wouldn't be able to access the gene-seed today. Unless...unless it assimilated somebody else. It sniffed the air, smelling for someone by themselves. There was that beautiful aroma of coffee again, but Scavenger couldn't think about that now. It continued to smell. There it was. The smell of someone on their own. Scavenger followed the scent.

There was a worker alone in a supply closet, digging for something.


 * Worker - Come on, where is it? I don't find that thing...I need to get this over with and get to the seed. Gotta finish the categorization before the boss has my head.

Scavenger grinned so wide it looked like it's throat had been slit. ''Someone with gene-seed access! Today!'' It crept up on the ignorant worker. Scavenger could feel the rumbling of it's cells as they shifted, preparing to burst forth in a wide array of shapes. Scavenger changed the shapes several times before revealing itself. It was happy today, and wanted to make this a special occasion...

Scavenger's new body walked to the gene-seed room and started typing on the control panel. It bleeped.


 * Computer - Error. Unscheduled access. Please recheck your work schedule.
 * Scavenger - Fuck.

It searched it's new victim's memories. There was it's answer. This idiot worker had misread the schedule. Because of that, Scavenger's cover was possibly about to be blown. It's worries were confirmed when it heard a voice behind it.


 * Worker - What are you doing here? I'm on duty today, not you.

Scavenger answered without turning around, the anger already welling up in it's body.


 * Scavenger - I misread the schedule.
 * Worker - Like I said, my duty today. Split.

Scavenger clenched it's fist together. It's cells were already vibrating in anger, preparing to attack this fool who dared argue with it.


 * Worker - Hey buddy. You hear what I said?

He stopped when he heard the bubbling. Scavenger spun around, it's face bubbling and shifting. Purple slime oozed from it's face. Scavenger roared at the worker and swung it's arm at him. It's arm shifted into a tentacle and wrapped around the worker's waist, drawing him toward it. Before he could scream, Scavenger fired a long proboscis from it's mutilated mouth. The proboscis penetrated the worker's forehead with the force of a gun and began assimilating him by pumping fluid into his mass of mutilated brains.

When the assimilation was complete, the new Scavenger entered the room without trouble. It walked up to the huge containers of gene-seed and punched in some commands on a console. A vial began filling with liquid. One compartment filled green with Vahallan DNA. The other half filled with blue Olyimpian DNA. The vial slid from the console. Scavenger grabbed and pocketed it, smiling. It turned and left the room.

Scavenger went to leave the facility. Just before it got to the blast doors, it noticed something. A worker went to exit the facility and the guards stopped him. They began patting him down. Scavenger turned and left, realizing that it would not escape with the seed. It had other ideas. It went to an office when no one was there. It opened a communications channel and punched in a secret code. The image of Glacier appeared on screen.


 * Glacier - Ah, Scavenger. How's your mission going?
 * Scavenger - Everything's going to plan, except there's a problem.
 * Glacier - Which is?
 * Scavenger - I have the gene-seed of both Vahallans and Olympians, but I can't get out with it. The guards search everyone who leaves. I could use one of my imitations to distract them, but then my other imitation would be hunted while I tried to escape and I might loose the seed. I need you to come here and provide a distraction, then get me out of here.
 * Glacier - With pleasure. I will attack tonight.
 * Scavenger - Good.

Scavenger cut the transmission and went back to assume it's daily job positions.

Glacier turned from his computer and looked out the window of his new base. After Alpha Rosetta, he had set up all his assets on an asteroid. It was a crude but effective base. Proditkar-Zarbanian ships surrounded it, along with his huge flagship. Glacier went into another room deeper in the base, laughing to himself.


 * Glacier - Scavenger wants a diversion, huh? I'll give him a diversion.

In the other room were several tubes full of the Grox nanobots Glacier got from Tau Theta. They had since been reprogrammed. He tapped the glass of one container. The swarm buzzed, forming into a giant insectoid shape. Then, it changed shape, assuming a humanoid shape. Finally, it compacted itself, taking a rough shape of Glacier himself. It imitated his every move.


 * Glacier - Huh. Would make a good mirror.

He turned and looked at all the other tubes of nanobots. Each one of them had formed into a copy of him. He smiled.


 * Glacier - Oh yes. I will provide a distraction indeed.

Releasing Corruption
That night, Scavenger's imitations signed up for the night shift so they didn't have to leave and be searched on the way out. Scavenger had managed to blend in completely and keep a hold of the gene-seed at the same time, so it was in the clear.

A security guard sat with his feet up at his desk, not really paying attention. He didn't notice the massive ship signature that popped up on the screen until it started blaring a warning siren. He jumped up, startled. He looked at the readings. About two dozen Proditkar-Zarbanian ships and one huge capital ship as big as the two dozen ships combined.

The guard jumped up and hit the intercom.


 * Guard - Attention all staff! We have an incoming threat! Two dozen Zarbanian ships modified with some kind of Multusse tech, and one gigantic flagship that doesn't match any known readings! We must evacuate immediately!

Scavenger smiled. Perfect! They would be taken outside without even being searched. When the workers started heading out, Scavenger just filed in line with them.

The Proditkar-Zarbanian ships were the first to enter the atmosphere, their air-to-ground weapons wiping out any guards in the immediate facility. Then Glacier's ship dropped in. From a hatch on the fore section of the ship, a huge cloud of nanobots swarmed out. The cloud was so huge that it blocked out the moonlight for those below it. They descended on anyone nearby, leaving stripped, twitching skeletons in their wake.

Glacier's flagship dropped down a beam from every cargo bay it had, beaming down thousands of mutilated, diseased creatures down, followed by one exceptionally beautiful one. Shiver and her "pets" had landed. The first guards exited the facility in a futile attempt to hold them off. Shiver shot at them with her rapid fire blaster, but mostly crippled them, leaving them for her Morphlings to devour them. And devour them they did. The Morphlings ate them alive in such a frenzy that guts were thrown dozens of feet in the air.


 * Shiver - KILL THEM ALL!!!

The shrieking creatures swarmed over the facility, searching for a way in. By then, the facility's defenses had been activated. The blast doors slammed shut and a laser grid appeared over the door. One Morphling who had lept at the door could not change it's course in time and was sliced to bits. Shiver growled in anger and fired a wave pulse from her omnitool. It detonated against the door and blew up, shutting down the field. Two Proditkar-Zarcosians carried a gigantic bomb over to the door and set it down. When it went off, the doors were blown open with such force that they took a chunk of the wall twice their size with them. The Morphlings entered the facility, crawling on the walls and ceilings. Shiver smiled to herself and entered after them.

Will finish later

All According to Plan
The terrified workers watched out the windows as Morphlings crawled across the windows, scratching at the glass. They were running through the halls, trying to reach an exit. The problem was that Morphlings had cut off access to lots of exits. The group rounded a corner- and saw Shiver standing in a pack of Morphlings. Screaming, they turned and ran. The Morphlings followed, cutting some down and dragging them off to be assimilated. Shiver then raised her omnitool.


 * Shiver - Fall back!

The Morphlings immediately followed her orders. Some of the workers in the rear of the pack were confused, but then ran even faster around the corner as Shiver aimed her omnitool at them and fired a wave pulse at them. Most workers were able to round the corner just as the projectile hit the wall. The explosion killed one of the workers and threw another against the wall, knocking him out.


 * Worker 1 - He's still alive!
 * Worker 2 - Pick him up! We've got to get out of here!

One of the workers crouched down by the unconscious one to pick him up. Just as he reached for his arm, he heard a rumbling, bubbling noise. He drew back, but then a purple mass exploded from the worker's chest. The mutant pile of guts screamed at him and attacked. It threw itself upon him. The creature began spilling acid all over him, melting his flesh down to the bone. The thing leaped at another worker, but this one kicked it away with his foot. Bad idea. His foot began to melt away, and he fell down in agony. The pile of guts lunged forth again, but one of the last surviving guards launched a blast of flame from a flamethrower at it as he rounded a different corner. The creature screamed and died.

Still, the threat was not over. A tentacle erupted from Scavenger's open chest and began thrashing around. The workers ran for cover as the guard raised his flamethrower. The tentacle darted right for him, impaling him through the chest and flinging him against the wall. It then ripped out his heart. He fell, dead. Scavenger then turned it's attention to the worker with the melted foot. When he noticed Scavenger looking at him, he tried to crawl away. Scavenger then grabbed his head with it's tentacle and tore his head off.

The rest of the workers started to run away. Scavenger's tentacle thrashed one against the wall, then tripped up another. Scavenger drove it's tentacle into the tripped worker's stomach and pulverized his liver. Scavenger's body began bubbling again as two huge legs grew from the side of it's body. It lifted itself off the ground as it's arms became legs and it's original legs shifted back to support it's hind end. It walked over to the crippled worker. The others had long since fled. It extended it's head down to the worker's and began fusing the side of it's head with his. Tendrils wrapped around his body and lifted it up, fusing the rest of him to it's hulking form.

Then Scavenger noticed the worker it had thrown against the wall. He had worked the flamethrower out of the dead guard's hands and aimed it at Scavenger. It quickly ran around the corner, still dragging the worker behind it. The worker attempted to follow it, but a swarm of Bio-Morphlings rounded the corner and he ran away. Shiver came around the corner, her pistol raised.


 * Shiver - Scavenger had better hope it finishes these guys off. I wonder where the seed is...

Shiver kept going through the facility. Her objective was to find Scavenger and extract it and the gene-seed. But since the idiot had blown his cover, Shiver had no idea where to find it or the seed. She grumbled to herself.


 * Shiver - Why couldn't they have gotten Anthrax to do this?

She shrugged and moved on.

The remaining workers flung a door open and entered a laboratory room. They looked around for any Morphlings in the area. None. Then they noticed something else. The room was a dead end.


 * Worker 1 - We can't stay here. There's nowhere to run.
 * Worker 2 - What do you suggest we do? We can't go back out there!
 * Worker 1 - We're sitting ducks out here!
 * Worker 2 - We're just as screwed in here!
 * Worker 3 - Quiet!
 * Worker 2 - What is it?

Everyone listened. Then they heard it. A snuffling, sniffing noise. Scavenger was sniffing the air. Then, the door to the laboratory creaked open. Scavenger stalked in. It had fully assimilated the worker. his face had been fused to the point where both sets of eyes faced forward near the top of their skulls. The worker's arms had become clawed, weapons to shred prey with.

Scavenger growled. Then it charged at the group. They screamed incoherently and ran around. Scavenger barreled straight for one of them. He tried to put a table between them, but Scavenger rammed into it, shattering it and throwing the worker to the ground. It ripped into him with it's claws, gutting him and ripping his body apart. Scavenger then turned to the others. It's tentacle swung over the front of it's body and impaled a worker right through the back. It lifted his corpse off the ground and flung it at the rest of the workers. It then followed them out the door.

Scavenger pulled down yet another worker and dispatched him with haste. The rest of them ran down the corridor, but Shiver and her Morphlings came down the other direction. Shiver fired her blaster at them, cutting most of them down. The Morphlings tore into the wounded, infecting or devouring them. Scavenger lumbered up behind the last one. Then, the worker with the flamethrower came down the other hallway and loosed a blast of flame that ignited Scavenger. It shrieked and ran forward, lighting several Morphlings on fire. Shiver roared in rage and shot at it.


 * Shiver - YOU IDIOT!

One of her shots severed Scavenger's tentacle. The worker lit up the rest of the Morphlings, then finished Scavenger off with a concentrated blast. Then Shiver shot him right in the side. He howled in pain and tried to blast her, but he was out of flame. He dropped the flamethrower and limped down the hall as fast as he could. Shiver went to chase him, but an arm grabbed her's. She turned to see another worker, a Raptoranean.


 * ??? - That wasn't very nice, you know. I was rather enjoying ripping those fools apart.
 * Shiver - You lit my Morphlings on fire!
 * Scavenger - Not on purpose.
 * Shiver - Do you have the gene-seed?

Scavenger held up the vial.


 * Shiver - Then let's split before I loose the rest of my pets.

The two took off running down the hall, intending to escape before UAE reinforcements arrived.


 * Scavenger - You know, I think I know why you like those Morphlings so much.
 * Shiver - Why's that?
 * Scavenger - They're incapable of telling you "no."
 * Shiver - Fuck you, Scavenger!

The last worker limped over to the armory door. He opened it and grabbed an assault rifle and two clips. He limped back out. Just as he started to put a clip in, he looked up. In the shadows, he thought he saw the shape of a Raptoranean woman. He lowered the rifle and called out to her.


 * Worker - Are you OK, ma'am?

The woman slowly turned around, still concealed in the shadows.


 * Worker - Ma'am?

As the woman came into view, she slowly shifted shape. Her form became that of a man, and once she was close enough to the worker, he realized the thing in front of him looked just like him. Then it became a swarm in the loose shape of a giant wasp or insect. The nanobots descended upon him. He screamed in pain as they devoured his flesh. When they were done, they flew away out a vent. All taht was elft of him was a bloody skeleton.

A Plan Successful
Scavenger and Shiver exited the facility and came upon a huge battlefield. Bio-Morphlings, Proditkar-Zarbanians, and Nanoswarms were in a full-fledged battle with UAE reinforcements. The Proditkar was winning this round. Mutilated bodies were strewn everywhere.


 * Shiver - Looks like we missed one hell of a battle.
 * Scavenger - Worry not, my dear. There will be more to come.
 * Shiver - I'm counting on it.

Glacier's flagship dropped a beam down, and Glacier landed. Shiver and Scavenger ran up to him. They had to shout because of all the gunfire and explosions.


 * Glacier - You get the seed!?
 * Scavenger - Yeah! Let's get out of here!

Shiver and Scavenger rode the beam up. Glacier raised his omnitool.


 * Glacier - Back on your ships! We're leaving!

The Proditkar-Zarbanians scattered back to their ships, which beamed them up. Glacier waved his omnitool and stepped into the beam. All remaining Morphlings swarmed into the beam and were returned to the cargo bays. The nanobots cloud also reentered the containment pods at the front of the ship. Glacier's fleet left the atmosphere and jumped into hyperspace, disappearing without a trace.

On board the ship, Glacier went up to the bridge. He sat down in his command chair and turned to face Scavenger and Shiver. He extended his hand.


 * Glacier - Give it here.

Scavenger handed Glacier the vial. He looked it over, then nodded his head before tucking it away.


 * Glacier - Perfect. You've done well today, Scavenger. Our success will not be forgotten.
 * Shiver - ...Are you sure we should give the highlords the seed?
 * Glacier - What!? That was our mission! Failing is one this, but deliberately sabotaging it...
 * Shiver - If the highlords get the seed and make their own Olympians and Vahallans, then they have that much more of a reason to not need us. None of us matter to them. You know I'm right. Pridar threatened to kill you when you lost Alpha Rosetta.
 * Glacier - I'd like to see him try.
 * Scavenger - She's got a point, Glacier. Perhaps we should kill them first.
 * Glacier - Maybe just Pridar. The others aren't that bad.
 * Shiver - Hmm... I don't know. We could pull it off, definitely, but who would follow us if we did so? Maccasin would turn on us in an instant.
 * Glacier - That brute doesn't know the first thing about loyalty. But you're right. We can wait. Pridar will get himself killed, or the opportunity for us to do him in will present itself.
 * Shiver - What of the seed?
 * Glacier - We'll give it to Solid. He's on our side, he'll see our point of view. Hell, it was his idea in the first place to reorganize the Proditkar after those idiot highlords got themselves captured. I wish we'd never rescued them.
 * Shiver - Sounds good, I guess.
 * Glacier - Don't worry, Shiver. Our time will come.

The ships returned to the Unitech Citadel and docked. The three went to see Solid in the same meeting room they started in.


 * Solid - Welcome back. Was your mission a success?
 * Scavenger - Yes it was.

Glacier set the vial down on the table. Solid picked it up, looking it over. He smiled, then looked up at the group.


 * Solid - Perfect! Wonderful job, everyone. I am sure your rewards will be well worth it.

Scavenger nodded and started to leave.


 * Scavenger - Well, I guess I'll go find me some coffee...
 * Shiver - Oh no you don't. You're coming with me down to the prisoner cells. We're going to pick out some nice, fit specimens to turn into Bio-Morphlings. You owe me, remember?
 * Scavenger - *Sighs* Yes yes...of course. Let's go, then.

Conclusion
(Solid presents the new Olympians and Vahallans to the other Archons. Meanwhile, the UAE leaders discuss the attack, realizing that the Proditkar now have some of the UAE's most powerful weapons, wich might cause then to get back to full force.)