Fiction:Da Reckoning

"EVENTUALLY DA PROPHECY WILL BE REALISED. DA WHOL GIGAQUADRANT WILL BELONG TO DA LORONZ. WE IS GONNA SMASH EVRYON EVA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!"

Da Reckoning is the name of the war affecting the entire universe, primarily taking place in the, in which began a crusade to purge the entire universe of any non- life. Meanwhile, the rest of the galaxy fought the Rogue Boyz in order to restore the after its destruction at the hands of the Rogue Boyz prior. The deadliest the Loron had ever been, the conflict that followed would cost the lives of many factions.

About
This is a collaborative fiction in which anyone is free to participate, created by Technobliterator. It serves as the conclusion to the Rogue Saga, as well as a conclusion to the much of the story arch of the - though its plot will be much less intricate, and the themes more focused on a single antagonist, the Loron. Around half of the story will be told from their perspective, while the other half told be the participants who fight against the Loron. Like a typical Loron story, the plot will be at times bizarre and comical, though there will be more grounded and serious aspects.

Participants can join by simply writing sections or being involved in the collaboratively written roleplay sections. Though this time around the Loron are a formidable foe, the war is still a fun war in which the antagonists are goofballs. Anyone is open to join, though asking first is preferred.

Participants
To join the war, you may simply add your name below with any factions you wish to be involved, and then write a section. However, the co-ordinators reserve the right to remove your addition. Though you may be involved however you wish, it is often preferred if you ask the co-ordinators first, and you must discuss before writing about major events (see Rules).
 * - Co-ordinator
 * Da Rogue Boyz (Shared with OluapPlayer)
 * - Co-ordinator
 * Da Rogue Boyz (Shared with Technobliterator)
 * Flag of France.png French Empire
 * 20100Vincent
 * Algolurn Popular Republic.png Algolurn Popular Republic
 * DrodoEmpire
 * Drodo Empire Flag.png Drodo Colonial Flag.png Drodo Empire and its colonies
 * Silvan natives
 * 20100Vincent
 * Algolurn Popular Republic.png Algolurn Popular Republic
 * DrodoEmpire
 * Drodo Empire Flag.png Drodo Colonial Flag.png Drodo Empire and its colonies
 * Silvan natives


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 * ZP Symbol.png / (Cyrannus only)
 * Ecoraptor3339
 * War-Imperial Remnants
 * UMF.pngd Republic of Nations
 * Dinoman82
 * Various independent factions?
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Rules
There are only a few rules, and failing to adhere to them will result in your participation being suspended.
 * 1) Do not add major changes to the war without discussion and approval. These include key character deaths, large losses of fleets and destruction of named star systems and other major changes.
 * 2) No belittling of factions involved. As barbaric as they are, the Loron are a very potent threat now with stronger weaponry than in the past and are very brutal fighters that are over double the size and strength of a human. Further reading can be found on their pages, but just trust us, they're not easy to defeat.
 * 3) Please follow the format of the page(s). This is to keep it all neat and tidy.
 * 4) As with any wiki, once you submit your edit, you give up ownership of it, retaining only an attribution to you. The co-ordinators have ultimate say over your edit, and may mercilessly redistribute it as they see fit.
 * 5) Remember, at the end of the day, even though they are now a threat to intergalactic peace and their weaponry and strength in combat is not to be underestimated, the Loron are still an empire of goofy space chavs who eat pizza and listen to space rap. Which is to say: this war is ultimately about just having fun. Feel free to be as comedic as you like, and there are literally no limits on how insane your addition can be.

Rogue Boyz Prolog: Alreedy A Deemun
heard voices in his head. Voices crying out in terror as he tore people apart limb from limb. Voices of his own Loron as they were slaughtered by UNO, by, by Ref'kolar. And voices screaming out as smashed their skulls. He could hear them as if they were happening before his eyes. And he could smell the stench of the bloodied corpses of Loron, of Gratz'kaoz' disgusting skin which hadn't showered in his entire life, of machine oil burning. He could taste the blood of his enemies, and of his own wounds. And what hurt him the most...he could taste the blood of his old mentor. As if it were still happening, right before.

Fre'kloar awoke, screaming in terror. Within, he realised he'd had another nightmare. Another anxiety attack, which hit him daily as any memories of his old life resurfaced before him. He cried out as the other Loron stared at him.


 * Fre'kloar - gah...da dreems...DEY KEEP HAPPENIN!!!!
 *  - MATE CAN YA STOP SCREEMIN LIKE A LITTEL GIRL WES TRYIN TA REST AND YOR ALL "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!" AGEN
 * Fre'kloar - it haunts me...evry time...i can feel da wars all ova agen like deyr not ova...
 *  - fre'kloar man its been wat, eight yeers? its time ta get ova it alredy
 * Fre'kloar - YOO DUNNO WAT ITS LIKE. DA HORROR OF WAR...DA PAIN AFTA...I CAN STILL FEEL IT...IT STILL LINGERS!!!! no one knos our pain. da pain of TROO SOLDIAS. only grak'tona undastands. yoo kno wat its like ta lose somfin deer to yoo...yoo lost da crown.
 * Grak'tona - i did but i kinda got anotha one ages ago tho
 * Fre'kloar - gah...whai does NO ONE CARE...WHAI???? DATS IT...IM GONNA REVIVE JOL'KIAR!!!!
 *  - Because that went well last time, didn't it? I don't get your issue. You're a Loron, you're supposed to be hardwared into loving war.
 * Fre'kloar - I DUN CARE WAT YA SAY. IM GONNA ASK BRAG. HELL FIX DIS...I NEED JOLKIAR BAK!!!
 * Hagto'Zhl - NO. YOO SHUT YA MOUFF. YOR NOT GONNA DISGRACE JOLKIARS TRAININ BY REVIVIN HIM

Fre'kloar, now a Sikka Boy, got up out of bed and ran towards. He lifted him out, and shook him violently waking him.


 * Fre'kloar - GIMME TIME POWAS!!!!! LET ME GO BAK AN SAVE JOLKIAR!!!!
 * Brag'klogga - WAT DA HEL??? NO DATS HERESY AGENST DA HOLY BOOKS AN ZR'AN'KAR
 * Fre'kloar - I DUN CARE!!!!!!

Fre'kloar tossed Brag'klogga aside, and picked up his staff. He violently shook it, until Dark Chronoscopic energy leaked out, into his right eye. His eye burst, blood from it leaking onto Brag'klogga's carpet, as he slammed his arm violently around, eventually breaking his knuckles. He screamed out in pain, as the other Loron looked at him confused.


 * Hagto'Zhl - wats wiv him man
 * Rel'larutina - ... I didn't know Loron could suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, but I think that's what's going on.
 * Hagto'Zhl - eh wats dat speek loroniz spik alredy
 * Rel'larutina - Basically, war trauma made him crazy.
 * Grak'tona - HE NEEDS TA SNAP OUTTA IT BEFOR I THRO HIM IN DA DUNJUN
 * Hagto'Zhl - ill try an fix it

As Fre'kloar slammed his arm on the floor, Hagto'Zhl grabbed it and attempted to slam it against the wall. He kicked out violently at Hagto'Zhl, spasming, until eventually his arm was bent backwards. In pain, he slammed at once more against the floor, breaking it off, before Hagto'Zhl slammed his head repeatedly and knocked him out.


 * Hagto'Zhl - dat...culda gon betta
 *  - IF YA ASK ME FRE'KLOARS NO LONGA FIT TA BE LEEDA. SINCE JOL'KIAR DIED HES BEEN ACTIN LIKE A TOSSA
 * Hagto'Zhl - dont be silly man. maybe hes gon insane but rememba who he is. rememba dis is da guy dat led us ta kill Zr'Ahgloth an make da loronz da best. we still owe him our respect.
 * Ray'loth - I GET DA FEELIN DA FRE'KLOAR WE KNEW IS DED. HE NEEDS TA QUIT WIV DA ATTITUDE OTHAWISE HES GONNA GET HIMSELF KILLED LIKE AN IDIOT

Striding in with her robot form actived, knelt down to clear up the bloody left over, and picked up Fre'kloar's huge body over her shoulders.


 * Rogue Geek - I do believe Rel'larutina is correct. What we need is to take Fre'kloar to a correctional facility.
 * Brag'klogga - we also need ta CLEEN MA CARPET HE GOT BLOOD ALL OVA IT. DATS WHER I DO MA SHAMAN RITUALS AN ALL. HAO AM I SUPPOS TA PRAY FER DA COMIN OF DA SIXTH SUNRISE LIKE DIS???
 * Hagto'Zhl - wait wat sixth sunrise
 * Brag'klogga - DID YA NEVA HEER OF DA PROFFECY OF DA SIX SUNS?
 * Hagto'Zhl - explain dis

Brag'klogga grabbed his staff, waved it a bit and created images in the air. They displayed well-known events of Loron history, ranging from the founding of to the death of Zr'Ahgloth years prior.


 * Brag'klogga - da six suns tell of da loronz rise to powa. it all begun in da furst sun when da Propa Big Loron Empire was founded. all da otha four followin suns hav been accurate
 * Hagto'Zhl - yeh. founded by ME AN DEN FAKE ZRAHGLOTH STOLE IT. ok carry on
 * Brag'klogga - dat is part of da proffecy akshully. zr'ahgloth was DA METUL LEEDA who was rivalled by DA ROGUE LEEDA. and him dyin was da fifth sun. wat happens next is da VENOM SUN when da VENOM LEEDA, A HERO DENIED OF HIS MENTOR, DESTROYS DA FIRST GIGAQUADRANT AND MAKES DA LORONZ RULAS OF DA OONIVERS

The other Loron watched the images with awe and glee. The prophecy matched exactly with their history, and they knew that Brag'klogga's predictions had never been wrong before. Their excitement grew.


 * Brag'klogga - ITS ALL IN DA HOLY BOOKS. PRAISE ZR'AN'KAR
 * Grak'tona - da venom leeda??? I VOLUNTEER
 * Brag'klogga - NO DUMBO FRE'KLOAR IS DA VENOM LEEDA. DA TALES TELL HAO HE USES A SIK EYEPATCH AND ROKKIT ARM
 * Grak'tona - SHUT UP MAN I LOST MA MENTOR AS WELL

Grak'tona grabbed the ice crown on his head, and smashed it on the ground. He stomped on it violently, then gasped, curled up in a ball and cried.


 * Grak'tona - NUUUUUU MA CROWN!!!!!! SEE I LOST SOMFIN TOO. IM DA VENOM LEEDA
 * Brag'klogga - idiot da venom leeda is da same as da rogue leeda. da one who founded da rogue boyz. DATS FRE'KLOAR. HES GONNA LEED US TA GALAKTIK DOMINASHUN... WHEN HE STOPS BEIN A STOOPID EMO
 * Grak'tona - den...den i cant be da king of evryfin???? den ma DAD WAS LYIN WEN HE SED I WULD BE DA ULTIMAT KING?????? no...nooo dis cant be happenin...DIS CANT BE HAPPENIN!!!!!!
 * Rel'larutina - For starters, Loron can't have living parents. Second of all, shut up already.

Grak'tona sobbed, then stood up, and ran back sobbing to his room.


 * Hagto'Zhl - wow. jus wow man.
 *  - i legit fink hes managin ta get worse every time he opens his mouff
 * Hagto'Zhl - ok so da important stuff. so bragklogga basically now fre'kloar is gonna be da one ta leed us to anotha victory yeh?
 * Brag'klogga - yeh. dis is da part of loron history wher we stomp da entire oonivers. den da godz com and make us a noo oonivers and we stomp dat one next
 * Hagto'Zhl - hold on hold on. i got vague memories of dis story. wat about dat otha fing dat can happen?
 * Brag'klogga - ... wat otha fing?
 * Hagto'Zhl - uh i dunno...somfin about peepz gettin naked. wait nevamind im gettin mixed up wiv da Annihilashon wen da weirdos got naked whil da oonivers died?
 * Brag'klogga - OH I REMEMBA DAT. DA HOLY BOOKS SAY DA LORON GODZ GOT SUM POPCORN AND LAFFED AS DEY WATCHED DEM ALL DAI
 * Hagto'Zhl - oh ok SOUNDS SIK MAN
 * Brag'klogga - but yeh. wes supposed to DOMINATE DA OONIVERS next. so we shuld probs prepare fer dat
 * Rogue Geek - I find it alarming how accurate your theories have been in the past. Except for that one time when you "predicted" that you would get a nice pair of socks for "krissmass" last year and only ended up with a sack of coal.
 * Brag'klogga - its not theories. its all in da HOLY BOOKS such as da GANGSTAPEDIA. dese books hav been written by da godz and hav been wiv da loronz since befor we even invented pizza
 * Rogue Geek - I find that incredibly difficult to believe. Forgive me if I do not buy that any Loron ever knew how to read a book, let alone write it and claim it was written by gods.
 * Brag'klogga - yoo would not undastand cus yor a machine. a FREAKY LOOKIN MACHINE WAT DA HELL. regardless ITS GONNA HAPPEN
 * Rel'larutina - Yeah, just like the apocalypse was going to kill everyone and we would be saved by gypsy ninja pirate robot zombies. Riiiiight.
 * Brag'klogga - MAN YOOS BLIND. DAT TOTALLY HAPPENED BAK WHEN FRE'KLOAR KILLED GRATZ
 * Rel'larutina - I really, really doubt that these books of yours are what you think they are. In fact, I'm fairly positive you actually made up this story in your head and just conveniently matched it to what went on.
 * Brag'klogga - denyin da holy books of zr'an'kar... DIS DAYS COMIN!!!!!!!!
 * Hagto'Zhl - yanno i havent spoken ta dad in a long time. brag is he ok?
 * Brag'klogga - cours man zr'an'kar is watchin ova us at all times. i did notice hes been a bit quiet lately BUT HES DA BEST GOD EVA SO NO WORRIES

Late to wake up, dragged himself out of bed and walked over to the group.


 * Kal'kuir - man wat did i miss
 * Ray'loth - fre'kloar was bein a losa so hagto broke his arm. oh btw wes gonna rule da oonivers soon apparently
 * Kal'kuir - hm ok

The Rogue Geek walked over to Kal'kuir, dropping Fre'kloar in front of him, then put her arm around him to mock him.


 * Rogue Geek - Want to go fix up Fre'kloar, darling?
 * Kal'kuir - I CULD GIV HIM A SIK EYEPATCH AND ROKKIT ARM but can ya stop callin me darlin in front da othas
 * Rogue Geek - You programmed me to, sugar!
 * Hagto'Zhl - eitha way man i got only one queston. brag WHAI DID YA WAIT UNTIL NOW TA TELL US????
 * Brag'klogga - urm it was a combinashun of me waitin fer it ta confirm itself... and i kinda forgot hur
 * Hagto'Zhl - well brag fer bein incompetent, an kalkuir fer bein a perv, YOO TWO JUS ERNED YASELF A WEEK IN DA BRIG.
 * Brag'klogga - ZR'AN'KAR DENIES DA BRIG
 * Kal'kuir - OH COME ON MAN I JUS WOKE UP DATS NOT FAIR
 * Hagto'Zhl - yoo fix up frekloar. an Rogue Geek, take him to da mental hospital an try an get him stable. i dunt fink eitha way wat happened heer was an accident. also someone...take care of brag.
 *  - WHO PUT YOO IN CHARGE MAN
 * Hagto'Zhl - ya fink anyon else is up fer da job?
 * Ray'loth - im ok wiv dis
 * Hagto'Zhl - ok evryon prepar fer war an stoof. we got a meetin nex week. also btw brag shuld we tell fre'kloar da prophecy or let him work it out on his own
 * Brag'klogga - I WILL. HE MUST PREPARE HIMSELF FER DA GODZ DEMAND DA RECKONIN OF DA OONIVERS!!!!

A week later, the Loron, all shaken by the events of the night, got together. Many of them were nervous and fearful of Fre'kloar, having no idea how sane he was now, but recognising that he was prophesised to carry them to victory once more. With custom made robotic eye and arm, Fre'kloar stood towering over them, imposing, but he was no longer the bright, optimistic leader they knew him as. Still intimidating, if not more so, but seemingly apathetic to the feelings of any of them. Hagto'Zhl stood by his side, while Grak'tona stood distant from them, with no crown on his head. Rel'larutina sighed at what a mess they were.


 * Rel'larutina - Look, guys. We literally achieved the victory no one thought we could. We were the winners, we triumped over our greatest evil, and this is what we've become? Bitter and scared for the future? Come on, guys, someone lighten up!
 * Brag'klogga - WE CANT FULFILL DA SIXTH SUNRISE WIV DIS ATTITUDE MAN WATS UP WIV YAS
 * Hagto'Zhl - ENUFF. let da boss speek.

Fre'kloar growled, as he shook his robotic arm, and spoke, but it was not his loud and beaming voice filling the room, but a quieter, growling voice.


 * Fre'kloar - we all lost somfin ta war. da oonivers finks we is all freeks. dat wes all stoopid monstas dat cant do any reel damag. but we destroyed deir preshus UNO. dey fink were all monstas, so its time fer us ta get reveng on dem.
 *  - dats a bit mor like da fre'kloar we kno
 * Fre'kloar - we came dis far. we survived da horrors of war. dey brought war ta us, so well bring it ta dem.
 * Rogue Geek - Actually, every war recorded in Rogue Boyz history has begun by Loron with unprovoked atta-
 * Fre'kloar - SHUT UP. yoo dont kno da pain. i can still feel ma eye an ma arm missin. i can still feel da wars i was in...an still heer da voice of ma mentor. wes all monstas. im alredy a deemun.
 * Hagto'Zhl - ... oi hold on dats ma job
 * Grak'tona - frekloars rite. weve all lost somfin. i lost ma crown. i can still feel da icy...cold...amazin crown on ma hed...its all gon. destroyed by da losas in da oonivers.
 * Rogue Geek - It was destroyed by you in a hissy fit, actually.
 * Grak'tona - SHUT UP. it was all deir fault. DEIR FAULT. we need ta make dem pay.
 * Kal'kuir - i believ da mediks call dat feeling a "ghostie pain". it gives ya a scare when yor not lookin. also WAR IS SIK WAT YA ON ABOUT
 * Rel'larutina - Don't try using logic on them. They're being melodramatic.
 * Hagto'Zhl - i meen i didnt reely loos anyfin but killin all da ooniverse? sounds FUN

Fre'kloar looked out towards his window, as he punched the wall in rage, then slowly pulled his arm away, and turned back to them.


 * Fre'kloar - its time fer da oonivers ta PAY. lets make dem SUFFA as WE SUFFAD. we killed deir UNO...NOW LETS KILL DEIR MOMS. DEIR ENTIR PLANETS. DEIR EVRYFIN. WES GONNA MAKE DEM PAY. no moar just cause. no moar good guyz. no moar nuffin...JUS LORONZ KILL EVRYON. DONT DISCRIMINAT. IF DEIR NOT A LORON, AN DEIR NAME IS NOT "BILLIG", KILL DEM.
 * Ray'loth - BUT DATS JUS HAO ITS ALWAYS BEEN IS YOO SERIUS
 * Hagto'Zhl - man jus go along wiv it. we get ta kill dumbos dats wat mattas
 * Ray'loth - an dey say im a crazy psycho
 * Fre'kloar - lets giv da oonivers HELL. KILL DEM ALL FER MOCKIN US. FER LAFFIN AT US. bak wen we taunted dem on da UDB, we sed we was gonna kill da Politically Correct Asskissas first. SO LETS KILL DEM FIRST. BUT NOT JUS DEM. NO SINGLE TARGET. GO TA EVRY GALAXY. KILL DEM TA PROOV WE AINT PLAYIN NO MOAR.
 * Rogue Geek - I have prepared fleets largely than we have ever had before. We have an almost infinite number of factories and breed Loron at rapid rates. What Fre'kloar is suggesting is not even that unreasonable.
 * Hagto'Zhl - ok den LETS GO KILL GEEZAS AGEN
 * Fre'kloar - no...first i need ta giv yoo anotha speech about ma SUFFERIN. MA ANGST.
 * Rel'larutina - Yeah, no, no you really don't. Okay, Leedas, you know what to do! Go out and send your fleets to kill whoever you want! Meeting closed.

Polar Crystal Alliance Prologue: Facing the Horde
Having called an urgent meeting, entered the council chambers of the  on. His facial expression was one of fear, though he strode towards his place with a certain confidence as if he was both ready for what was to come, and terrified at the same time. , the only other surviving high-ranking member of the Unified Nation, stood outside the room, unable to enter, but still wanting to hear what was going on. Tuolog took his place, faced the other councillors, waited for silence, and then spoke up.


 * Tuolog - Councillors, I bring grave news. I knew that it not be long before Da Rogue Boyz begin their conquest of rest of the galaxy. But I fear they willing to do damage outside of Borealis as well. And I fear that their day of reckoning approaches.
 * Xeron - Why we have waited for this long to do something about it, I don't understand. It's obviously time to put the Alliance on maximum alert.
 *  - I would alert the Aegis Guard. Hyperborea must be fortified.

, warmaster of the Alliance and ruler of its military affairs, descended from his office as he heard the conversation.


 * Arkarixus - The Aegis Guard is not enough. It is time to mobilize the entire Alliance. The Loron must be exterminated.
 *  - I concur. These criminal filth have marred our galaxy for too long.
 * Xeron - Indeed! We wage war on the Loron and force them into submission, like we should have done already.
 * Tuolog - I never understood the willingness for genocide in this Alliance, but alas. The Loron fleet should not be underestimated. They are far, far beyond what we seen in the past.
 * Kithworto - Genocide aside. The Loron are now threatening the lives of this galaxy.
 * Semirian - It is not a matter of willingly commiting the genocide of races. The Loron are beyond reasoning and will destroy us without a second thought. Responding in kind is the only option.
 * Tuolog - I will agree here. The is...limited in capacity, to say least. I think however our duty extends beyond mobilizing our forces. I have word from spies that the Loron developed travel to other galaxies through wormholes created by their "Rogue Geek".
 * Augustex - If that is the case, we must rally our allies too.
 * Tuolog - Yes. They attack the entire Gigaquadrant. Or at least, they attack four galaxies in it - this being one. If our spies, and my understanding of Loron, is correct, they aim for the homeworld of whoever they declared their enemy. We can assume that homeworld in this case is Hyperborea.
 * Kithworto - I will warn Andromeda of this. In turn, I will order the wormholes within the Republic's territories to be closed. I will not give the Loron the benefit of moving through them.
 * Rylarien - Not all of the Alliance can send help to outside of Borealis. However, we will warn our allies of the coming threat regardless.
 * Augustex - I will contact our allies in the and the Pax Infinitus Armada. The Loron represent a common threat to us all.
 * Tuolog - I have plan to defeat Loron. I able to bring in an outsider to this discussion?
 * Kithworto - Go ahead.

Tuolog nodded, and signalled to Durzhan to enter. Durzhan flew in, and took Tuolog's side.


 * Durzhan - My plan, mostly, has worked. The leader of the Loron suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, which has kept him from mobilizing until now. Of course, now he is far deadlier than ever, but he is insane enough that he is very likely to turn on his own men.
 * Kithworto - You speak to a Council with myself, with Arkarixus, with Tuolog. We have no need to fear their leaders.
 * Durzhan - This will be important later.
 * Xeron - You continue to tell us we should not underestimate the Loron. But you have yet to tell us what we should be afraid of that we do not know already.

Durzhan turned towards Xeron, making a more concerned face, while Tuolog became more uneasy, as if fear was beginning to surface.


 * Durzhan - The Unified Nation of Ottzello was developing a new technology prior to its destruction. Based on technology previously seen in, and its own brand of nanotechnology, with self replicating nanomachines and a mass use of quantum replicators...I realise you are not scientists, so I will give you the short of it: it can cover a planet in nanomachines and convert it into star fleets. The mass of a planet averages 6 times 1024 kg, and the average is 2 million tonnes, so by the time the planet is drained to the core, that's approximately 3 quadrillion Sik Ships.
 * Augustex - And, how long would that take, may I ask?
 * Durzhan - Going by a standard Hyperborean day...two days.
 * Semirian - By the ancestors...not even the Kormacvar possessed such technology.
 * Tuolog - Keep in mind that it extend beyond these planets. Should they harvest a star, the average sized star could net them over a sextillion. And this technology in the Loron hands now.
 * Xeron - Why did you not finish it?
 * Tuolog - Firstly, because draining a planet of resources like that in that rate is immoral. More importantly, I see vision of dark future for UNO should such technology work. UNO's AIs become power mad, and we transform into something worse...I not want that for universe. But Loron not care about that. They only want to wage war.
 * Arkarixus - Loron strength always has been in numbers. And with how many worlds they took from you, their resources must be unlimited.
 * Rylarien - Do not tell me they have an unlimited supply of soldiers too.
 * Durzhan - Quantum replicators can create any element, but they cannot create other cells. But all that is required to grow life is energy. And they can drain any element and transform it into energy, if not simply drain that of a star. And there's the Grid, and our Kralgon cloning technology.

Arkarixus shook his fist and slammed it against the wall. He spat, and then turned to Tuolog.


 * Arkarixus - You made a wise decision to not finish this technology. But it matters not how many there are. They're like paper.
 * Kithworto - With weaponry stronger than UNO. The Loron's resources are the closest thing to unlimited. But they must have a weakness, they always do.
 * Durzhan - And they do. Their leaders. These Loron are rigid about their tradition, including that in which a successor may only succeed a leader by defeating him. When someone else destroys the leader, they are confused and unsure who to take orders from. They will be forced to retreat. And when they are down to their last leader, we finish them.
 * Xeron - I hate to admit it, but killing Loron is no easy feat, let alone their leaders. Their leaders are practically godlike soldiers, it would take entire armies to destroy them, and we fear we cannot beat them at the numbers game. Arkarixus, can you face them head on?

Arkarixus shook his head, and turned away.


 * Arkarixus - When the day comes that the Loron stand at our days ready to burst them open and rip our heads from our spines, I will face them, and send them where they belong: out of the airlock, choking for breath and freezing to death in the cold embrace of space, where they are more welcomed than anywhere else. But I have business to attend to until then...a people to watch over.
 * Durzhan - We will do our best. Their leaders will be spread across the galaxy. We will cut this invasion off at its head, and the body will not function.
 * Tuolog - I only pray this works. Durzhan, you sure that our current iteration of the plan better than last?
 * Durzhan - I have seen all possible outcomes written in every timeline. I am certain the way I altered it this time will work. I can merely pray the universe does not loose too many more than it already has.

Six Suns, Four Fronts
Screams, anguish, terror. The screams of the victims at his own bloodied hands, the anguish of himself after receiving blow after blow from the foes he had fought, and the terror of him and his crew as they faced against Gratz'kaoz. These were the things that Fre'kloar saw. The nightmares anyone would suffer at the hands of were the reality that Fre'kloar lived in every day. Screams, anguish, terror.

But the images he normally saw disappeared, and cleared apart. Instead, Fre'kloar was looking at Jol'kiar, sitting across from him.


 * Fre'kloar - jolkiar?...JOLKIAR MAN I NEED YOO
 * Jol'kiar - frekloar...hagtozhl was rite. afta zrahgloth, yoo still hav one moar enemy.
 * Fre'kloar - MAN DONT DO DIS TA ME IM NOT GONNA FITE YOO
 * Jol'kiar - yoo hav one moar enemy...but its not me...

Fre'kloar was puzzled, and he ran towards Jol'kiar for what seemed like an eternity, and grabbed him.


 * Fre'kloar - WHO MAN IM NOT GONNA FITE YOO
 * Jol'kiar - we always finish da misshons togetha yeh?
 * Fre'kloar - NO NOT DAT
 * Jol'kiar - lets finish dis...togetha man

Fre'kloar found himself unable to control his arms. He slammed his fist repeatedly into Jol'kiar's skin, eventually cracking it, and pulling his blood-coated arm out of Jol'kiar's pierced stomach. The arm slowly transformed into the rocket arm Jol'kiar had built for him, as he found his skin rapidly changing into the shade of blue of his new Sikka Boy appearance. He was back to normal, and found he was staring against the window of the Krooza, with the other Leedas staring at him. He'd had another anxiety attack.

Fre'kloar stood up in front of the Leedas, Poshiez and Warbosses. It was the day he had announced that they were going to begin their assault.


 * Fre'kloar - fanks to da geek heer, we hav unlimited resources dat wes gonna take frum unos world. we can rob whol star systems wiv it. evry planet, asteroid and otha piece of rok gets turned into shipz fer da bosses ta kill peepz wiv. we is unstoppable.
 *  - LORONZ NEVA LOOS
 *  - eyyy maybe som of dat mehtul can build me a betta Lil' Homie
 *  - da only problem wiv dis is turnin da planet into mehtul ruins da fun of blowin it up. BUT I CAN TURN DEM INTO BOOMSTIKZ INSTED HURHURHUR
 * Fre'kloar - but in orda ta truly take ova da oonivers, we need a plan.
 *  - I VOTE WE STORM DEM WIV TANKZ
 *  - i vote we turn dem into cash fer me
 * Ray'loth - MAN FINK ABOUT SOMFIN ELS FER ONCE
 * Grak'tona - oh we hav big plans fer dem...BUT WES GONNA MAKE DEM BUILD CROWNS AN THRONES FER ME AN ENSLAV DEM
 * Voa'reak - OH MA DAYZ YOR AN IDIOT MAN WE SHULD DO BETTA DAN DAT

As the Loron bickered amongst themselves, Hagto'Zhl fired his Blasta into the air, silencing them. He gestured towards Fre'kloar to continue speaking.


 * Fre'kloar - i hav a new orda. becuz wes so big, wes gonna attak all da big galaxies, take out da biggest empiya deir or da one we hate most, an blow it up, den turn deir peepz inta slaves, an deir planets into boomstikz. dey cant stop us once we get goin.
 * Grak'tona - dats a good plan. wats da four galaxies? i dont kno da names of any of dem
 * Rel'larutina - You...at least know the name of Borealis, right?
 * Grak'tona - no i dont but IT SOUNDS BORIN AN STOOPID AN SOUNDS LIKE ITS FULL OF NOT WORTHY PEEPZ
 * Rel'larutina - You're...in Borealis.
 * Grak'tona - oh. well at least i was rite about da last part
 * Rogue Geek - Of the first three star systems we take over in the new galaxy, two of those will be drained of resources and turned into factories, to produce at least a few sextillion ships for a grander fleet. These can be each of the four front for our assault.
 * Brag'klogga - jus as da prophecy says. da six suns eech hav four different stages befor dey rise....DIS DAYS COMIN!!!!!

Fre'kloar displayed a map in front of them on a large board, and pulled out his crayons to begin drawing with his metal arm. He immediately put a cross on Borealis on the map, specifically, on Hyperborea.


 * Fre'kloar - dats da one im goin for. im gonna take out da whol PCA by destroyin deir main planet den comin fer da rest of dem. speshully da Zoles den da .
 * Hagto'Zhl - four galaxies dere. frekloar got one. so now its time fer da otha three. i got som unfinished bizness wiv da Dumbo Combinashon of Pizza. so ill go to da an destroy Mirenton. i bagsy deir.
 * Grak'tona - dat one dere...

Grak'tona pointed at the.


 * Grak'tona - FULL OF UNWORTHY HAT PEEPZ. IM GONNA GO DEIR.
 * Rel'larutina - Pfft. As if you'd even know how to get to Cyrannus. It can only be accessed by wormholes, you putz.
 * Grak'tona - SHUT UP MAN...YOO DONT KNO DA PAIN...DA PAIN OF LOSIN!!!!!
 * Rel'larutina - I'm going to go look for a wormhole and then send my front there. We'll take out the, and presumably, their allies, the .
 * Grak'tona - ill go fer da unworthy heretikz i guess. som place in da .
 * Rogue Geek - Wow, that was surprisingly easily agreed upon.
 * Fre'kloar - da oonivers will kno we is BAK. an we is BADDA DAN EVA BEFOR. i cant wait ta kill da borealis peepz.
 * Traz'raka - yo queston. wher do we go? an wat happens if one of yoo losas get stomped?
 * Fre'kloar - LORONZ NEVA LOOS. but i guess if we did den yood all jus com bak an join da borealis front. also da leedas will decide which warbosses an poshiez ta take soon.
 * Gol'thabex - only goin if cash is involved. jus sayin.

Da Rokkit Punch
Planet Garilia was a mostly desert planet, and bar an oasis here and there, almost lacking in life and in water. Were it not for the rich metals found within the surface and its close borders with the rich Ottzello Sector, it was likely the would've skipped over the planet entirely. It was a heavily defended world that the PCA flocked to for commerce, to mine and trade the luxuries metals and stones it possessed.

Fre'kloar wasn't interested in mining the world. He was interested in swallowing it whole.

Arriving on the planet's surface on just a small, late at night, while the other bosses beneath him led the charge to conquer surrounding star systems in the region, Fre'kloar was prepared to fulfil this mission alone, feeling he needed no help. The barely hospitable planet had one major outpost that he would destroy, so that the fleet could move in unopposed and eat the world. As he had no idea how to fly a Fighta himself, it simply dropped him off, operated by the Rogue Geek, as he jumped off, and walked slowly towards the large fortress.

The Zoles operated fortress was filled with surface-to-space weaponry, but none would detect a small starfighter. No one believed that a single ship of a size that small could carry enough people to get through the masses of walkers, tanks and supersoldiers on the surface anyhow. But Fre'kloar didn't need backup. He strolled towards the gate, towering several meters tall, as the two Zoles guards fired on him. But he appeared not to feel a thing, his thick skin and miniature shield generator shrugging off their lasers. He grabbed each of them by the throat, lifted them several feet in the air, before slamming their heads against the wall, crushing them, then knocking the door to head inside.

An insular building, Fre'kloar was greeted by supersoldiers of many races, including from the Refuge of Ottzello. Each of them turned towards him and fired, as he strolled through, breaking their necks, ripping their bodies apart, and smashing their skulls open. As they continued to fire on Fre'kloar, their determination turned quickly to fear, as soldiers who had undergone extensive training and thorough genetic enhancements saw it all go to waste as they dropped their weapons and fleed. This angered Fre'kloar, as he ran to catch up with them, ensuring he could kill them.

Fre'kloar's face was covered in the blood of those he had killed. He strolled through the metallic corridors of the structure which had finally been alerted to his presence, and he found fewer and fewer reinforcements attempt to stop him. But not because they were running out of soldiers, because they were running out of soldiers brave enough to face him. This frustrated him. And almost spontaneously, Fre'kloar suffered another anxiety attack, as he felt the fear on their eyes. They reminded him of the fear of Loron in the face of Zr'Ahgloth, of Ref'kolar, of Gratz'kaoz, and the fear they had inspired.

Fre'kloar's rage grew, as he reached the end of the corridor to a room full of computers, the operating center of the room. He crushed the first Inalton he saw, and picked up the next Zoles and smashed them into the computer. He picked up another, and flung it towards the remaining guards. He was close to the center of operations, about to deactivate the base, when he was surrounded by a dozen in robotic suits.


 * Niaka - You are under arrest, Loron.

Fre'kloar stopped, and turned towards them. He was outnumbered heavily, but he didn't so much as flinch.


 * Niaka - Surrender and die.

The rage on Fre'kloar's bloodied face changed to a grin, as he pointed his left arm out in front of them. The Niaka looked puzzled, at first, simply fixating their weapons on him. His robotic arm shot out of his wrist, and flew through each of them, tearing a hole in each suit as it flew through them, and within seconds, the arm had destroyed all twelve. He turned around to the door to the command center. A emerged ready to face him, who he simply pushed aside to the floor with his arm, crushing.

The command center contained only a single, circular terminal at the center, and a Zoles captain operating it. Known as Vavtrius, with much heavier armor and a more powerful turbolaser cannon, he turned towards the hulking Loron figure.


 * Vavtrius - You're taller than I remember. And your skin has thickened.
 * Fre'kloar - yoov seen wat i did to evryon heer. get out or itll be moar painful.
 * Vavtrius - Hah. You think I, captain of this region of space, will go down as easily as my peers? You think I, with decades of war experience and hundreds of slain and Loron under my belt, will be defeated by the likes of you?

Fre'kloar grinned, strolling towards Vavtrius. Still confident, Vavtrius aimed his weapon straight between Fre'kloar's eyes, as if daring him to walk forward. But Fre'kloar fired his rocket arm towards the console between them, and it opened a hole in it. The arm then exploded, and Fre'kloar grinned to himself again. He had what he came for, and now he turned around and left, as Vavtrius was not worth his time. Vavtrius growled, as he fired at Fre'kloar, whose shield absorbed the impact. Fre'kloar turned to Vavtrius, and dashed towards him, tearing his gun in half. He lifted Vavtrius in his hulking armor up in the air with his left arm, the metal claws grasping his throat as he was powerless to resist, while Fre'kloar's right arm slammed into his ribs and then ripped out his heart. He pulled it out slowly, and crushed it. On his way out, he sent a message to the Rogue Geek.


 * Fre'kloar - dis base is ded. send ma ship down den send da planet eeta ta turn dis planet into moar ships.
 * Rogue Geek - Excellent. Meanwhile, the other bosses, including Naktor'zak and Voa'reak, have taken a total of two dozen planets in the last few hours. They were unprepared for the size of our fleet.
 * Fre'kloar - dats good. den dey kno we is BAK in bizness. im comin fer hyperborea

Leaving the base, his PTSD still haunting him as he strolled out towards it, he was consumed by rage once more. Once outside the fortress, he fired his rocket arm to its ceiling, and exploded it, causing it to collapse in on itself. He slammed his remaining arm into the outside gate, causing it to fall. His ship arrived, and the unstable boss finally left the world.

The Collective's Move
The was restless ever since Da Rogue Boyz successfully defeated UNO six years prior. The board of the Supreme Advisors discussed many times over the possible extermination of the Loron, as they saw the attack on the Ottzelloans as an act of war they should not ignore. After all, when the declared war on a race, they were clear that complete annihilation of the opposing faction was the only acceptable outcome - surrender was seen as a means to delay destruction and recover, and the Collective had little use to keeping their enemies alive, as it served of little benefit to them in most occasions. The discussions had so far ended with the Collective believing an attack on the Loron would prove counter-productive, but once news hit of attacks on the Zoles Imperium, the board united once again.

The Supreme Advisors and Royal Admirals presented themselves before Queen, who analyzed the situation carefully. It would be the first time she would declare war on a civilization, though it was clearer and clearer that the Loron's continued existence was a threat and an offense to what the Collective stood for.


 * Maryah - Let it be known that today, the Indoctrinate Collective has declared war upon The Rogue Boys, who-
 * Windey - Dear Queen, they're called "Da Rogue Boyz".
 * Maryah - ... You mean that name is not just strange alien slang?
 * Windey - Oh, I wish that was the case.
 * Tarygan - Further proof that these demented barbarians are nothing but a blight in our universe. We cannot wait any longer. They must be destroyed.
 * Maryah - Indeed. As I was saying: Let it be known that today, the Indoctrinate Collective has declared war upon... "Da Rogue Boyz"... who threaten the lives of our allies as well as the stability of our new home galaxy. Let it be known that they shall be subject to the full might of the Collective's armada, and will be subject to the worst punishment to aggressors: complete and utter annihilation. Their worlds will be reduced to cinders, their culture will be erased from history, and their race will be be extinct, save for handfuls of individuals who shall be taken for study at the Collective's xenobiology academies. Let it be known that this enemy will face justice, and there will be no mercy.

, Marechal of the Royal Guard and supreme leader of the Indoctrinate Collective's military assets, stepped up, bowing to the Supreme Advisor board as he did so.


 * Jerkon - Our forces stand prepared to eliminate the Loron threat.
 * Maryah - See to it that it is done. The Polar Crystal Alliance must be helped.
 * Tarygan - And indeed, so do the Ottzelloans. Coordinate your efforts to free the Unified Nation's assets from Loron control, Royal Marechal. We shall get in contact with the Alliance and the Refuge of Ottzello in order to warn them of our upcoming support.
 * Jerkon - So be it.

Jerkon and the admirals left the board, while the advisors discussed war plans among themselves. As Maryah left the throne to the corridors of her palace at, she was followed by Tarygan Tersly, a content expression on the older Dracogonarious leader as she followed the queen.


 * Maryah - I knew the day to wage war would come. I just didn't think we would wage war on... psychotic manchildren.
 * Tarygan - As you grow old, you will realize, most aliens are strange and sometimes downright nonsensical. And I must say... you recited the Dracogonarious's Oath of Intergalactic Punishment marvelously.
 * Maryah - Heh... It almost feels bad, saying basically "we're gonna kill you all, no regrets".
 * Tarygan - Oh, it does not, believe it. It is for the best. The Loron will die, and Borealis will rid itself of one more of its cancerous growths. It shall be a day worth celebrating.

Da Thug Warz
Many obstacles stood in the path of the Rogue Boyz. And one of them was the. Having given the order to conquer one of their worlds rather than destroy it, to prove their superiority, Fre'kloar, along with Voa'reak and Naktor'zak in, landed on a desert planet, filled with bones from creatures who had made the sand their grave. The were fierce fighters, as one of the physically strongest races in the galaxy. But even they would struggle against the physically strongest race in the galaxy. Fre'kloar made it his goal to take out Camp Vrurka, the leading Murgur of the star system, and hang his head up on display to prove the dominance of his species.

The Murgur stronghold was heavily fortified. Fre'kloar grinned at the thought of taking out another desert's fortress, but the fortified armor and shield generators made this fortress difficult to take over. The Murgur, with many other species from the Aegis Guard, amassed an enormous army to confront the Loron, lining up in a square formation, to attempt to slow the charging Loron hordes they expected. Fre'kloar turned to Voa'reak, who nodded.


 * Voa'reak - hurhurhur...TRY AN CATCH ME!!!!

Voa'reak, along with many Jetpakkaz, took off to drop bombs on the unsuspecting Murgur, dispersing them. As the chaos ensued, many Troopaz swarmed them. Though the Murgur were able to fight longer than most did against Loron, the Loron could ultimately overcome them. The brutish rage and aggression of the species was matched only by their numbers. The fortress' cannons began to fire at Voa'reak's forces and took out many Jetpakkas. Voa'reak was caught in a dogfight.

Now was Naktor'zak's time to shine. With a platoon of s, he fired the antimatter cannons at the forcefield. The Murgur were not nearly expecting the firepower that they sustained, as it obliterated their shields. Within mere minutes, the forcefield was down, and the fortress took fire. Its windows shattered, as glass was spread across the battlefield, some of it piercing Loron and Murgur. Several more Murgur swarmed out to face the Loron, while others brought in tanks to combat Naktor'zak.

Walking through the Murgur horde, Fre'kloar shoved aside both Loron and Murgur, crushing the Murgur along the way in a cold manner, as he attempted to meet his foe. The enormous Captain Vrurka was almost as tall as any Troopa, and much more heavily armoured. He took out his cannon and fired at Fre'kloar, who responded by diving to his side and firing his rocket arm at Vrurka, knocking him out. He strolled towards Vrurka, towering over him, who picked himself up, and stared up at Fre'kloar in the eye.


 * Vrurka - You Loron are not true warriors. You are mere animals dressed as warriors. If I do not overcome you, my brethren will.
 * Fre'kloar - yoo dont kno war...YOO DONT KNO DA PAIN OF WAR LIKE I DO!!!
 * Vrurka - Hah! You think I am unexperienced? I fought in the Hegdar Revolution, where I earned the respect of my companions, and my leadership. An honourable war, a fight over scraps to the death. I know what it's like to face your own kind and slaughter them where they stand. To watch friends turn into enemies and have to tear them apart mercilessly.

Vrurka's words made Fre'kloar widen his working eye. He held his head in his hands, as Vrurka's words made him think of his own conflicts. How he had fought other Loron who should be working with him, and not against him. And how he had been forced to slay his best friend. He roared, as he dashed towards Vrurka, picked him up, and slammed him into the ground with full force, then kicked him and broke his armor. Vrurka got himself back up, and dealt a blow to Fre'kloar's side, but he barely flinched. His bionic arm slammed into Vrurka, as Vrurka fell.


 * Vrurka - To be outmatched by an animal. By a thug. But nonetheless, an experienced fighter. There are worse ways...I could've gone down.

Fre'kloar spat in his face and ripped his head off, holding it up for other Murgur to see. By this point the fighting was dying down, as Fre'kloar looked around him to watch other Loron fight. A Troopa was overrun by three Murgur, and cowered, hiding his head in his hands. Fre'kloar growled, as he ran towards them and slammed them away, killing each of them with a single blow. He yelled at the Troopa.


 * Fre'kloar - IDIOT. YOO CANT JUS COVA YA HED WIV YA HANDS LIKE A BABY IN DA MIDDLE OF A BIG FITE
 * Troopa - BUT...BUT YOO JUS
 * Fre'kloar - SHUT UP. GET OUTTA MA SITE OR IMMA BREAK YA TEEF.

The Troopa nodded in fear, as he ran off. The battle was dying down as the fortress was almost destroyed. Fre'kloar looked around him, the battle seeming distant. He was used to the battlefield, it had almost become a home to him, and to shut out from everything during a fight when he was barely threatened was a privilege very few could enjoy. But then he looked at one of the glasses he'd shattered. He bent down and looked at his reflection, and noticed something: it wasn't his own. No bionic eye, no bloodied face, the body, in fact, of a Betta Boy. And he was wearing Hagto'Zhl's hat. When had he ever put that on?

No. Fre'kloar gritted his teeth, as he realised what he was looking at. The reflection he saw was not his own, but that of Zr'Ahgloth. He growled, as he stomped on it with his feet. The glass was shattered. Bits of his own, true reflection, and not that of Zr'Ahgloth, were now visible to him, as he realised he'd simply witnessed another illusion.

With Vrurka's head in his hand, he made his way back to the ship, willing to call this a victory.

Da Cheese Pizza
Along with Naktor'zak and Voa'reak, Fre'kloar set his eyes on a new PCA world. This time, the fortress he was attempting to destroy was on a forest world, controlled by the. More technologically advanced than the Murgur and sporting powerful psychic abilities, but physically weaker. To mock her feminine appearance, Fre'kloar also brought the Rogue Geek along. The army tore its way through the forest, mowing down the wildlife, as they faced the Rovegar who took up their positions within it.


 * Rogue Geek - I still do not see why you were so amused by the thought of me fighting here.
 * Fre'kloar - DA PAIN OF LOSS... no wait. akshully its jus cus catfite
 * Voa'reak - i can see da dum chikz frum up heer. dey got kinda scary gunz tho
 * Naktor'zak - DIS FOREST IS DUM. I CAN BARELY SEE ANYFIN
 * Fre'kloar - WELL CUT DA TREES DOWN. DA TREES WILL LERN DA PAIN OF WAR
 * Naktor'zak - dey will lern da pain of MA MASSIV TANK

Naktor'zak fired his cannon and blew a massive hole in a group of trees, and while it marked a clear path towards the fortress, it also killed many of the Loron.


 * Voa'reak - IDIOT
 * Naktor'zak - NOT MA FAULT DEY WUS IN DA WAY
 * Voa'reak - oh no not dat i meen I WAS GONNA BOM DA TREES MAN WAT DA HELL

The Rovegari Militant's forces could be seen arriving to the scene, bringing up platoons of armored soldiers sporting high advanced assault rifles accompanied by armored vehicles. The Matriarchy's weaponry was among the best of the Polar Crystal Alliance, and even the Loron's best shields would be torn to shreds in seconds at their combined firepower.


 * Rogue Geek - I...probably should've prepared our equipment for that.

From the far left, all manners of odd sounds echoed throughout the deforested area that Da Rogue Boyz were tearing through. It first sounded like an explosion, then the cracking of ice, and then electrical surges, among many other sounds that the Loron could not quite make out.


 * Naktor'zak - uhhhhh is it jus me or is ma tank malfunkshonin agen
 * Voa'reak - DATS JUS CUS YA LITERALLY NEVA CLEENED IT but den agen ma jetpaks actin strange
 * Rogue Geek - They're never that obnoxiously loud.

Through the remaining standing trees in the distance, a swarm of all manners of substances, culminating in a flaky black storm, swept over the region.


 * Naktor'zak - yeh its definitely leekin oil an da gas has gone all weird
 * Voa'reak - oh ma dayz yor an idiot. ITS OBVIUSLY A ROVEGAR ELF MOMMY WATEVA DEYZ CALLED WEPON
 * Fre'kloar - deys killin demselves. A WEEKLINGS WAY OF ESCAPIN DA PAIN

The storm tore away at the armour and the flesh of the Matriarchy's forces; with what remnants of their being were passing through the air like a thick mist, all towards one location. Trailing their eyes towards the left, a faint but massive silhouette of a creature stood not too far in front of them, with a hazy green glow of what appeared to be eyes. It was laughing under its breath, seemingly consuming the essence that the Rovegar left behind.


 * ??? - om nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom nom
 * Voa'reak - ...man BRAGKLOGGA WAT DID I TELL YOO ABOUT DRINKIN TOO MUCH
 * ??? - BRAGKLOGGA? DUMASS I AINT BRAGKLOGGA
 * Rogue Geek - I believe we've established that that's not Brag'klogga.

As the deathly haze cleared, the full figure of a warped Loron stood before them. It was huge by most accounts, and its skin seemed to writhe upon itself, as if serpents crawled under its skin. It also had four eyes, and it sported rather formal clothing, and most notably, a distinguished hat tilted slightly on its head. Not to mention, an open demonic maw on its chest.


 * Naktor'zak - oh good its a flashie gon crazy, ok i dont have ta cleen anyfin den
 * Voa'reak - whos dis bozo
 * ??? - I BEEN LOOKIN FOR YOO LOT
 * Rogue Geek - Have you, now? Has Fre'kloar made another enemy?
 * Fre'kloar - PREPARE TA FEEL... DA GHOSTIE PAIN
 * ??? - wat da hell
 * Fre'kloar - DA PAIN OF LOSS... OF WAR... uh. yor not gettin it i can tell. wat do ya want

The warped Loron started scratching its head, as the eye upon its hat started looking around at the team in front of him.


 * ??? - nao dats da fing. wher i com from deres no such fing as wantin anyfin
 * Voa'reak - man yor an idiot
 * ??? - WAT DA HELL DID YOO JUS CALL ME
 * Rogue Geek - A name would perhaps be nice. I assume you know ours.
 * ??? - yeh. yoo wer all da talk bak in da dominion
 * Naktor'zak - WOAH woah woah. dominion? yor one of those deemun bootliks den
 * ??? - not reely a deemun bootlik wen ur boy is da santo man himself
 * Voa'reak - dunno who dat is probs sum weirdo dark loron god
 * ??? - WAT DA HELL DID YOO JUS CALL HIM man ur reely annoyin shut up
 * Rogue Geek - Voa'reak, at this point, I am not surprised when you fail your research entirely. "Santo man" refers to one of the most high ranking individuals in the, let alone the Dominion.
 * ??? - yeh. dey call him but dat reely hard too pronounce at tiems
 * Fre'kloar - and whai is yoo heer? da dominion is da ENEMY. DEY HOUSED REF'KOLAR
 * ??? - YOO BE SURPRISED. DA SANTO MAN LIEK YOO LOT. YOO MAEK HIM LAFF CUS HE FINKS UR FUNNI an dat whole take ova da oonivers fing is wat he lieks an stuff. SO DA SANTO MAN PUT ME HEER CUZ for dat whole reesun
 * Fre'kloar - so ya want ta be in ma army. I WULD USUALLY SPIT AT YA BUT DEN AGEN I GUESS MOR LORONZ IS NOT A BAD FING
 * Rogue Geek - That, and it's normally wise to accept offers from overcharged demon whackjobs who will kill you if you don't.
 * Naktor'zak - zr'an'kar and da otha 30 loron godz is stronga. i cant beleev ya forgot hao strong da 40 godz is. its an insult to da 50 godz
 * ??? - NAO NORMALLY I WULD TURN U ALL INTO SPAGHETTI FOR SAYIN DAT but yor rite so its all gud
 * Rogue Geel - Well, mr....what's your name?
 * ??? - MA BOY SANTO sez . dunno whai he call me dat
 * Rogue Geek - I see. Well, Mad'Hatta, let me formally extend my warm welcome into Da Rogue Boyz or...something. Benefits include pizza parties, kissing Fre'kloar's foot, and pizza parties. Apparently. No one does the second of those though.
 * Fre'kloar - FER NAO
 * Mad'Hatta - didnt fink so cuz dat sum ugli foot
 * Fre'kloar - ITS DA FEET DAT STOMP ON LOSAS
 * Mad'Hatta - man u an da DAM SCARY ONE shuld hav a sleepova or sumthin
 * Rogue Geek - I formally decline. I realise you were not speaking to me, but my response was a preface to whichever offer you were about to make for me.
 * Mad'Hatta - gud idea cuz DA DAM SCARY ONE is DAM SCARY
 * Fre'kloar - ya kno wats scary? PAIN an LOSS an WAR. TIME TA GO

The Rogue Geek signalled for the ship to land and pick up the other Loron, as Mad'Hatta had already destroyed the Rovegar's fortress. She then turned to him.


 * Rogue Geek - You brought your own ship, or do I need to make you a room on Da Propa Big Rogue Krooza?
 * Mad'Hatta - srsly i dunt even rememba hao i got heer
 * Voa'reak - dis guy. its seriusly like we jus met brag'klogga agen
 * Mad'Hatta - DAT CHRONOSCOPIC ENERGI STUFF THO. WHAI HAV DAT WEN YOO GOT POWA OF...actuly dunno wat powa i got cuz da santo man can be a reel sumfin sumfin at tiems BUT STILL POWA
 * Rogue Geek - I...see. Room it is, then. You will need to give me a list of preferences for the appearance of your room and I will tailor make it to you. I take pride in my ship. Because while Kal'kuir will not admit it, I did most of the design work on it.
 * Mad'Hatta - do yoo liek green
 * Rogue Geek - I...suppose so? I don't really have preferences.
 * Mad'Hatta - LOTSA GREEN DEN
 * Rogue Geek - This works for me. But I ask that you please don't ask me to make green pizza for you.
 * Mad'Hatta - seriusly yoo fink yor pizza is as gud as mien
 * Voa'reak - dems fightin words
 * Mad'Hatta - SHUT UP I DIDNT SAY YOO CULD HAV SUM OF DA PIZZA

The Rogue Geek blew a robotic sigh of relief, as she prepared the Krooza's landing.

Runnin Frum Da Cops
Fre'kloar's advance further in the galaxy was going swimmingly. The Loron were conquering planet after planet, and Fre'kloar approached Hyperborea even faster than he expected. He was now coming up to taking another planet, landing on one of its lush jungles. Mad'Hatta, Naktor'zak and Voa'reak were in the process of annihilating the Zoles defenses on other worlds, leaving Fre'kloar to take this. Fre'kloar hung back a little bit, as the rest of the army charged in to annihilate the defenses on the world.

But this wasn't going to be as easy as before. Surrounded by four bodyguards, as he led the Loron a distance, suddenly another Loron dropped down in between them. None of them recognised him, but neither did they know of any Loron who weren't with Da Rogue Boyz. The Loron was thickly armoured, not using any typical Loron gear, and armed to the teeth with weapons.

Staring speechlessly as he dropped in between them, they were about to ask his name, but they didn't get a chance to. The Loron immediately pulled out his two dual-wielded pistols and Fre'kloar's bodyguards with plasma squarely in the head between their eyes, with a much sharper aim than any other Loron possessed, and killed all four of them, before aiming his weapons towards Fre'kloar, and speaking:


 * X078 - MY NAME IS X078. FREEZE CRIMINAL.
 * Fre'kloar - DA HEK AR YOO???? YOR GONNA REGRET KILLIN MA BOYZ

Fre'kloar swung a punch to X078, who responded with the fastest reflexes he'd seen of any Loron since Jol'kiar, to grab his arm and twist it behind his back. Fre'kloar, in his surprise, failed to retaliate.


 * X078 - yoo may kno me as...Fed'koppa. im wiv da Penumbra Unit. wes heer ta bring yoo ta justic
 * Fre'kloar - STOOPID COPS LIKE YOO GET ON MA NERVES

With his superior strength, Fre'kloar eventually managed to pull Fed'koppa over, free his arm, and kick Fed'koppa to the floor. He was about to stomp on him, but Fed'koppa rolled over to the left, recovering immediately. Fre'kloar pulled out his rocket arm, but Fed'koppa pulled out and fired his left pistol at it, and suddenly, his left arm dropped as it began to weigh him down. His right eye, too, dropped as it hit his head, and he could now feel the weight of its metal.


 * Fre'kloar - wat...WAT DA HELL DID YA DO
 * Fed'koppa - dats supa advanced EMP. designed ta bring CRIMINULS LIKE YOO ta justic. now yoo dont hav replacements yoo can TRULY FEEL DA GHOSTIE PAIN.

Fre'kloar gasped, horrified. It was true, he felt the pain of his arm and eye far stronger than he had since the bionic replacements had been attached. As he tried to swing his left arm, he simply lacked the power on it, his now dead bionic part weighed it down too heavily, as he furiously charged towards Fed'koppa with a dead bionic eye whacking his face. Fed'koppa punched Fre'kloar, grabbed him, and threw him to the floor, then grabbed his arms and pulled out a handcuff.


 * Fed'koppa - I WAS SENT HEER TA SNEEKILY ARREST YOO SO WE CAN PUT YOO ON TRIAL. IF NOT DEN ILL JUS KILL YOO. YOO CAN COOPERATE OR I CAN PUT A PLASMA BLAST BETWEEN YA HED. AN BELEEV ME: DAT PLASMA CAN ACTUALLY KILL YOO.
 * Fre'kloar - MAN YOR DA WORS KINDA LORON. NOT ONLY AR YOO BETRAYIN DA TRADISHON BUT YOR A FREEKIN COP. WAT DA HELL
 * Fed'koppa - SHUT UP. I SUGGEST YOO USE YOR RITE TA REMAIN SILENT OR ILL KILL YOO. NOW LOCK YA ARMS TOGETHA SO I CAN CUFF YOO

As Fed'koppa attempted to cuff his arms, Fre'kloar's right arm grabbed Fed'koppa by the neck and pulled him closer, as Fed'koppa saw the fury in Fre'kloar's eyes.


 * Fre'kloar - wen i killed da UNO, i fort dat all da messed up loronz betrayin da tradishon was ded. BUT I WAS WRONG. YOR GOIN DOWN!!!!!!!!

Fre'kloar's arm grasped Fed'koppa, as he found himself choking for air. He attempted to pull Fre'kloar's arm off, but found Fre'kloar's single arm was just as strong as two Fed'koppa's. Horrified, Fed'koppa attempted to pull out a plasma pistol, but Fre'kloar's legs swept under Fed'koppa and kicked him off balance. Fed'koppa fell, but before he could recover, Fre'kloar kicked his head, flinging him further away, as Fed'koppa dropped both his pistols. He then slowly walked to Fed'koppa, about to kill him.


 * Fre'kloar - YOR WRONG. DA CRIMINAL HEER IS YOO FOR YOR CRIMES AGENST DA LORONZ
 * Fed'koppa - i dunt giv into scum like yoo. GET ROASTED THUG

Fed'koppa pulled out his second pistol and fired it squarely at Fre'kloar, not realising its setting was still on "electrified stun". He also did not realise that Fre'kloar's bionic parts were specifically designed to absorb energy from the surroundings. As it fired, Fre'kloar's arm and eye both began to work again. He grinned.


 * Fre'kloar - how about DAT????
 * Fed'koppa - welp

Fre'kloar fired his rocket arm at Fed'koppa, bruising his head, as he charged towards him, raised him in the air, and headbutted him repeatedly. He then tossed Fed'koppa once more to the floor, about to deliver a killing blow.


 * Fre'kloar - I DONT NEED YOR LEGAL SYSTEM. IM DA JUDGE, JURY AN JURISTIC...wats da third one? i dunno. anyway ANY LAST WORDS?????
 * Fed'koppa - nah.

Fed'koppa himself smiled gleefully, as he pulled out a teleporter from his belt, and immediately pressed the button on it. Fre'kloar roared, as he tore everything around him apart. He slammed the ground, the corpses of the bodyguards Fed'koppa had killed, and even his own communications device. First, it called for a shuttle to land and pick him up, but the second slam simply destroyed it.

A few hours later, five Loron Troopas, concerned, returned to him. He continued to stare at the corpses of his men, while waiting for his shuttle, and the other shuttles, to land, and pick him up.


 * Troopa - can we board da shuttle yor on
 * Fre'kloar - I GUESS. WATEVA. JUS DONT MAKE A MESS
 * Troopa - wats up man we won be happia
 * Fre'kloar - I DONT CARE DAT WE WON. DAT FEDKOPPA DUMBO GOT AWAY AN DA PCA AR TRYNA ASSASSINAT ME
 * Troopa - man yoo focus on da negativs too much dese dayz. all da loronz hav been worried dat yoo ent yaself
 * Fre'kloar - WAT WULD YOO KNO ABOUT BEIN MASELF
 * Troopa - ya old self wuld hav laffed wen losas ran away. ya old self wuldve not focused on ya enemies an focus on da victories ya won. dat was da frekloar we respected

Fre'kloar turned to them, first in disgust, but his face soon turned to a huge grin.


 * Fre'kloar - laffed? focused on da GOOD STOOF? ha...hahahaha....HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! LETS LAFF!!!!!

The other Loron awkwardly laughed along, as Fre'kloar then walked towards them with his arms stretched out. The Troopas stretched out their own, embracing him for a brotherly hug, before he ripped off the heads of one. The rest gasped, their jaw dropping, as he hysterically laughed while punching and slamming them. He was slaughtering his own men.


 * Fre'kloar - COM ON MAN LIVEN UP WE WON!!!! LAFF WIV ME!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

As Fre'kloar chased after and smashed their skulls, he caught the last one, and threw him on the pile. His sarcastic, hysteric laughter turned to spits of disgust.


 * Fre'kloar - YEH RITE LAFF!!!! LAFF AN FOCUS ON DA POSITIVS INSTED OF FOCUS ON DA PROBLEM!!!! ISNT IT FUNNY MAN!!!! LAAAAAFF!!!!!!!! YOO SICKEN ME, TWERPS. I DIDNT WANT ANYONE ON MA SHUTTLE ANYWAY.

As the shuttle landed, Fre'kloar got on it himself, isolated from anyone around him. As he calmed down, and the empty, silent shuttle began to leave the planet, he looked out of the window, trying to see the world he had conquered. But in the window, he not only saw the planet, but also a reflection. He squinted as he looked at it, because the reflection looked off. It became much clearer to him, as soon his reflection stood out completely, as it was no longer a window, but now a mirror. It was himself, but younger. And it looked much more like a Dark Loron. How could that be possible?

Because he wasn't looking at himself. He was looking at Ref'kolar the Laugher.

Another violent, furious outburst from him, as he smashed what appeared to be the mirror. But his fist went straight through the shattering mirror as he'd made a hole in it. It cleared out to him, as it was now very clear to him once again that he'd been looking at a window, not a mirror, and his eyes were playing tricks on him. The hole he made sucked air out, as he began to gasp for breath when the shuttle left the atmosphere, but a metal plate soon covered the window protecting the air, as he coughed and wheezed. He was exhausted, and fell asleep.

A Fine Meal
The Loron continued their success. They were now mere parsecs away from Hyperborea. A few more worlds, and it would be theirs. In the process of conquering a large Zoles colony, Fre'kloar, Mad'Hatta, Voa'reak and Naktor'zak had all stormed and destroyed an enormous citadel. About to kill the Zoles at the head, Fre'kloar aimed his rocket arm, before the Zoles was killed instead by a who stabbed him from behind. His corpse was then pulled to the right, and as Fre'kloar's eyes followed the hook, he recognised the who'd done it. , with his Loktan pal Gyjak.


 * Mad'Hatta - MAN I WANTED TA EET DAT
 * Voa'reak - HUR MAN I STUFFED MASELF WIV PIZZA AN ATE TONS OF ZOLES TODAY SO IM FINE
 * Mad'Hatta - YEH WELL...I USED TA EET LOTSA NICE STOOF WEN DA SANTO MAN HAD TEA PARTIES
 * Voa'reak - WAT, JELUS?
 * Mad'Hatta - ME? NAAAAH

Billig walked out of the shadows towards them, smiling.


 * Billig - Good thing you took over this planet, 'ey? Lots of their military are trained here.
 * Mad'Hatta - oi whos dis geeza? i fink da Santo Man sed he was a dumbo
 * Fre'kloar - dont worry man. dis guys a homie

Billig walked over to them with delight, as Gyjak pulled out an enormous weapon and tossed it in front of Fre'kloar.


 * Billig - That there's a subatomic disrupta, firing high-energy blasts that can convert anythin' they touch to gluon plasma, 'ey? You need special permits, an' special interest peeps to get yer hands on it...it's illegal in almost every market.
 * Fre'kloar - dis guns ILLEGAL???
 * Billig - Yeah. An old UNOC member 'ad one, an' that's 'ow 'e managed to destroy yer tanks so easily.
 * Naktor'zak - MAN I ALWAYS KNEW DAT GUN WAS ANNOYIN. IT DESTROYED MA SHEELDS
 * Billig - That's right, 'ey? An' you 'aven't managed ta get yer own? I can get you plenty where these come from.

Fre'kloar looked unhinged, as he didn't speak. Billig was used to Fre'kloar's glee and excitement at times like this, so there was a briefly awkward pause. Billig continued.


 * Billig - You're on the news all 'round the galaxy, 'ey? "The Loron, space barbarians, threaten to destroy all life within' it, with their unstoppable march!" Every headline. Everyone's scared of you. They didn't expect you to get this far.
 * Voa'reak - good. wes gonna wrek dem all
 * Billig - But yanno what that means for me? "The war on Loron"...kinda distracts a bit from the PCA's "war on crime". That police force you encountered the other day...'e's been givin' Wranploer Remnants a bit of a tough time, 'ey?

Fre'kloar shook his bionic fist.


 * Fre'kloar - i intend ta giv him a worse one. he shuld pay
 * Billig - That's good, 'ey? Because while you're off fightin' a war, us Wranploer are off gettin' very, very rich. Of course, there's one little pest who's been 'aving a fun time taking Remnants down...but the crime rate is finally risin'. An' I 'ave you to thank.
 * Mad'Hatta - crimes da best man
 * Billig - I got plenty more guns where that came from. With more firepower than Kal'kuir can muster. Illegal, of course, since I can't acquire any weapon of the calibre you want legally. All I ask in return is you keep up the work, eh?

Fre'kloar remained unhinged, then he nodded slowly to Billig. Billig smiled.


 * Fre'kloar - wes gonna make dem all feel da pain. all fer revenge. if yoo wanna help, yor welcom to.
 * Mad'Hatta - da Santo Man has betta gunz dan dat
 * Billig - What, jealous?
 * Mad'Hatta - who ME? nah
 * Billig - Just keep in touch when yer need new guns. I got eyes everywhere, so just rememba..."eye" have you.

Billig crept back into the shadows as he left, while the other Loron left, laughing over the thoughts of what their new weapons could do, while Fre'kloar kept his blank expression.

Wrong Turn at PCA Space
With the approach of the Loron threat to the Zoleia Sector and Fed'koppa's failure in assassinating Fre'kloar, the Polar Crystal Alliance went on full alert as the Council deployed the rest of the Penumbra Unit. The black ops agents of the Alliance were tasked to taking down the Propa Big Rogue Boss and his Warbosses before it was too late, and to take care of Naktor'zak, Penumbran Xevern of the was called to solve the problem, and the crafty agent was quick to come up with a strategy to defeat the Crazy Boss.

Naktor'zak and his forces were lured into a colony of the Zoles Imperium at the outskirts of the Corrupted Sector. They had received transmissions coming from Xevern, who provoked them into the planet. And knowing the Loron, the Penumbran knew they would never refuse a challenge like that. Coming out of a shuttle, Naktor'zak's tank was followed by hordes of Loron Troopaz and other sorts of vehicles as they stared at the Alliance army awaiting for them at the horizon. He laughed as he commanded his boyz.


 * Naktor'zak - DESE GEEZAS FINK DEYZ MATCH FER DA LORONZ. LAFFABUL ENNIT? LETS SHOW DEM WHOS IN CHARGE OF DA OONIVERSE LADS

The Loron army roared battlecries and charged, with Naktor'zak's tank going at full speed, nearly running over his own troopaz as he launched himself at the enemies.


 * Naktor'zak - FASTA! FASTA!!!!! I WILL RUN YOO DOWN!!!! ROADKIIIIIIIIIIIIIIILL!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tank opened fire, sending its highly powerful shells at the army's direction as the Loron army prepared to attack. However, at this point, they would come to a halt as they realized something was wrong; the enemies were not reacting to their moves. Naktor'zak was moving too quick to stop and quickly arrived to the enemies's position, ready to run over them with his tank, only to pass through them harmlessly. As the Warboss finally managed to stop in place, he looked around in confusion, as did his forces.


 * Naktor'zak - wat... WAT DA HELL? WATS GOIN ON HEER?
 * Loron Troopa 1 - is dis da ghostie pain da propa big rogue boss told us about?
 * Loron Troopa 2 - ma bones is rattled alredy
 * Naktor'zak - hold on a sec... dese eint ghosts... IVE SEEN DIS TRICK BEFOR. OH MA DAYZ NOT AGEN!!!

Before he could continue, Naktor'zak received reports inside his tank: a Polar Crystal Alliance fleet had arrived and flanked the Loron's own ships, ambushing and taking them by surprise. The forces of the Alliance unleashed their full might on the unsuspected Loron, quickly tearing through their shields and finally rending their vessels to pieces. Naktor'zak growled in anger as he remembered the Unified Nation of Ottzello employing this same trick before: this was no colony, it was a wild planet filled with advanced holograms. Meanwhile, the Alliance fleet, led by Penumbran Xevern, begun descending into the atmosphere as they prepared their weapons.


 * Xevern - You really are pathetic, eh? Prepare orbital bombardment. I want the Loron leader pulverized beyond recognition.

The Alliance fleet opened fire, bombarding the planet with all of their might and quickly turning the battlefield into a hellish landscape as they sought to give the Loron no quarrel whatsoever. The Loron army had no time to react as they were destroyed near instantly, and Naktor'zak screamed as he attempted to flee, hiding among other Loron Tanks as his own vehicle sustained more and more damage. He ordered a shuttle to come and save him as his Propa Big Rogue Tank begun to fail.


 * Naktor'zak - GET ME OUTTA HEER!!!!!
 * Xevern - You think everyone's gonna try their luck against you in melee... Idiots. A spaceship will always prevail over your fists.

Loron shuttles descended into the planet in a last attempt to rescue as many boyz as possible, but PCA fighters came after them to take them down. Naktor'zak barely managed to drive inside one and order it to fleet, leaving other Loron behind otherwise the fighters would catch up with him. As the Loron Crazy Boss barely managed to escape the ambush, Xevern watched the rest of the army die at the planet, oblivious of Naktor'zak's escape. The Niaka turned to his men, his facial expression showing some glee.


 * Xevern - Heheheh... Never gets old...

Jetpack Versus Wings
Simultaneously to Naktor'zak's ambush, Voa'reak had taken a path through the Mirianis Sector to try and get to Hyperborea from 'behind', cutting his way through the Indoctrinate Collective in the process. The Loron found it rather difficult to fight the Collective due to their technology rivalling that of UNO, meaning they could not rely solely on their new tech to defeat them, though the Collective would come to lose a number of outskirt colonies to their attacks over the last weeks, due to the numbers advantage the Loron had. Coordinating with the Polar Crystal Alliance, the Collective decided to make a move against Voa'reak, who currently attacked the planet of Rimoseus.

The Red Technocrat, the Destroyer-class Dreadnought of Royal Marechal Jerkon and flagship of the entire Collective, led the fleet of the empire against the Loron forces over the atmosphere of Rimoseus while the Marechal himself descended to the colony alongside the ground forces of the Royal Army to face Voa'reak head-on. Jerkon had nothing but disdain for the Loron, believing their culture and mannerisms were some sort of elaborate prank on the universe for he refused to believe such stupid creatures were really able to sustain a spacefaring society, and his orders were quite clear: exterminate the enemy, and leave no survivors.

Voa'reak and his Jetpakkas fought the Draka Fang, the standard ground-based branch of the Collective's military, and the mad flying Loron showed great glee as he flew through the army with considerable skill, firing his blastas and attacking at close range with his shanka. Jerkon observed him from a distance alongside the Royal Guard, reading through his moves and expressions as he analyzed the Loron.


 * Voa'reak - SHAME KAL'KUIR ISNT HEER HE WULD LOV TA LOOT YOO RED GEEKZ
 * Jerkon - Employ the standard procedure. I will serve as bait.

Jerkon made himself visible over the distance, standing upon a cliff and opening his arms and respectable wingspan as he shouted at the Loron Warboss, whose attention was quickly caught while his troops were busy fighting the army.


 * Jerkon - Loron. I am Jerkon, leader of the Collective's armies. I am here to destroy you.
 * Voa'reak - ... YOOS DA LEEDA OF DA ARMIES? HURHURHURHUR MAN ID HAV EXPECTED A ZAZZIE BOY OR A DULETHA NOT ONE OF YOO SQUISHY LOSAS
 * Jerkon - You think yourself so strong. I know you. You fly with that piece of scrap metal on your back because your own wings are too small for your weight... You are envious of us flying beings, are you not?

There was a noticeable condescending tone to Jerkon's voice even though his expression continued serious and stonic, and as he spoke, he gently beat his wings so that Voa'reak could see them. The Jetpakk Boss clenched his fist as he glared at the Dracogonarious, with him clearly enraged by the comment.


 * Voa'reak - WOAH WAT DA HELL DID YA SAY???
 * Jerkon - You heard me. You envy us flying beings. You will never soar the skies like us.
 * Voa'reak - YOO FINK YOO CAN JUS DISRESPECT ME LIKE DAT?! OH MA DAYZ MAN IM GONNA RIP YA IN HALF!!!!
 * Jerkon - ... Then come and try it.

Jerkon's words deeply offended Voa'reak due to how right he was, and he would not stand for it. Roaring in range, the Warboss took flight and made a beeline to Jerkon's direction, his arms stretched so that he could grab the Dracogonarious and crush him like an insect. However, before he could even get close, a gunshot was heard.

A sniper of the Royal Guard, who was hiding over the distance, fired a single shot which penetrated Voa'reak's shields and hit him straight in the jetpack, causing a portion of it to explode as the Loron was thrown off his route, coming down crashing into the ground as he was set ablaze. Voa'reak screamed as he was dragged across the earth, breaking a leg in the process as other members of the Royal Guard jumped out of camouflage and opened fire, shredding through his shields and armor.


 * Voa'reak - AAAAH!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!!!!!

Before they could finish him off, however, other Jetpakk Boyz flew into the fray and attacked the Royal Guard, while others came to Voa'reak's rescue, grabbing him and flying out of the scene. The Warboss coughed blood as he had his eyes widened: he was brought to the brink of his life in a matter of seconds, and he could watch the Royal Guard quickly dispatching his men as they gave chase. Jerkon watched the incident before turning back, leaving the Loron army's field of view as quickly as he had arrived.


 * Voa'reak - GRRRRH... curse yoo dragon geek... CURSE YOOOOO!!!

Voa'reak ultimately managed to survive the battle by being extracted by a shuttle, but his forces were completely exterminated, to the last Loron. He was forced to flee the region altogether, for it only took moments for the Indoctrinate Collective to give chase.

When the Dracogonarious want someone dead, they die.

Da Ghosties
Having heard the news of Naktor'zak and Voa'reak's defeat, Fre'kloar's immediate reaction was to shrug it off. But deep down, he knew that he shouldn't react like that. He knew that he shouldn't feel contempt for the Loron that had been with him for decades now, not just his allies but his friends, had been foolishly flung into a scenario by him in which they were close to death. He should feel guilty, not simply disregard their death as just another one of his inferiors falling.

Sod that. No, there are no friends in war. War is full of casualties. Fre'kloar knew that all too well. Maybe he was just convincing himself that what could have been the loss of two of his dearest friends was meaningless, but he just shut out his thoughts. They went instead to his own thoughts. Locked in his room alone, all the decorations he had set up torn apart by himself in another panic attack, he felt almost claustrophobic. The empty walls began to come in on home. And then the door opened. Jol'kiar walked through.


 * Jol'kiar - look...yoo cant discard ya ghosties foreva. we all gotta liv wiv dem
 * Fre'kloar - jolkiar?...MAN DESE DREEMS HAUNTIN ME YOO KEEP COMIN BAK BUT YOR NOT REELLY DERE
 * Jol'kiar - im always heer...im anotha one of yor ghosties. im in yor conshense now. im always heer. yoo cant escape yor ghosties...
 * Fre'kloar - MAN WAT DA HELL YOR DA WORST GHOSTIE OF A MENTOR EVA
 * Jol'kiar - yor ghosties...yor sin...YOO CANT ESCAPE DEM...

Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

As Fre'kloar blinked, he found himself no longer in this room. Instead, he was upon a cliff. Trees towered over the landscape, reminding him of his visits to during his service under Zr'Ahgloth. However, it was not the Groodrub he remembered. A red tint covered the world, the skies were darkened, and the sun was blocked - an eclipse. There was no living or dead soul around him, save for a massive entity, its form shrouded in darkness which rested some distance in front of him.


 * Fre'kloar - man...is dis ANOTHA GHOSTIE??? JOLKIAR MAN WATS GOIN ON
 * ??? -  Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...rrrrreeeeeeeeeee.... 

Out of the darkness popped out the head of a Loron. It dragged itself across the ground, making its way to Fre'kloar until he could get a good look at it under the blocked sun. It was malformed, its eyes uneved in size and its jaws broken. However, one thing got his attention: it wore a distinct helmet, almost a copy of the one he wore himself. But it was not his helmet... Ref'kolar's helmet, rather. The head's eyes turned to him as the entity continued to groan.


 * Fre'kloar - OH MA DAYZ REFKOLAR BECAME A MASSIV GIANT. MAN DEEZ GHOSTIES GETTIN CREEPIA AN CREEPIA. DIS ALMOST REMINDS ME OF DA TIME I WENT TA HIS PLANET AN KILLED HIM...AAAAAAHH DA GHOSTIES OF WAR!!!!!!
 * ??? -  Freeeeee....FRRRRREEEEEEEEE... 

Another head then rolled in. Malformed like the first, but it wore a hat with a feather in it. It was obviously Zr'Ahgloth's hat. Once it approached, Fre'kloar could see they were not actual heads - they were connected to the giant entity by massive tendrils. They were little more than tentacles.

Fre'kloar shrieked at the sight, as he cowered down. He began to fall to his knees, open out his arms and scream to what seemed like the endless, and now lifeless, Groodrub air.


 * Fre'kloar - DA GHOSTIE PAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN!!!!!!!

The titan then begun moving. The two heads begun groaning, as if in agony, as whatever controlled them slowly got to its feet and walked into Fre'kloar's direction. It did not run, but rather appeared to limp. Only when it got close enough did it open its eyes - it had more eyes than Fre'kloar could count. Its face shone under the blood red eclipse - Gratz'kaoz's face.


 * ??? -  Yyyyyoooooouuuu... diiiiid.... thiiiiis... 
 * Fre'kloar - HAUNTED...BY DA GHOSTIES...BY A LUST FER REVENGE???

The heads of Ref'kolar and Zr'Ahgloth begun wrapping themselves around Fre'kloar, constricting them like snakes as they put themselves against his own face, smothering him. Meanwhile the head of Gratz'kaoz wept. It wept, and Fre'kloar lost his senses.

When he woke up, he was back to his room. Still terrified, he looked up. Jol'kiar stood over him, with a stern expression on his face.


 * Jol'kiar - yoo cant run from da ghosties...yoo neva kno how deyz gonna manifest demselves. but da ghosties of da loron will linga...
 * Fre'kloar - MAKE DEM STOOOOOOP!!!!!!
 * Jol'kiar - yoo cant stop dem...yoo cant get rid of dem..
 * Fre'kloar - NOOOOOOOOOOO
 * Jol'kiar - lets finish dis...togetha man
 * Fre'kloar - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Fre'kloar, once again unable to move his arms, flung them at the vision of Jol'kiar, knocking it against the wall. As he had done every time an appirition of Jol'kiar appeared, he relived his moment, slamming his arm into Jol'kiar's chest until the heart was ripped out, reliving the moments where he slew Jol'kiar. But this time, he slammed into the wall. And instead of Jol'kiar's heart being ripped out, Jol'kiar vanished, as Fre'kloar broke down the wall, and fell through. He had landed in Mad'Hatta's green room, who was busy showering in hot cheese.


 * Mad'Hatta - man cant i get som privacy on dis ship
 * Fre'kloar - sorry man...it was da GHOSTIES
 * Mad'Hatta - eh wateva

Da Revengeance
It was clear when Hagto'Zhl set his eyes on the DCP world of Mirenton, that he was aiming big. The DCP's technology outmatched the vast majority of civilisations within the universe, let alone the Milky Way. But with their vast territories and a space force that outstretched any the Loron had previously owned, Hagto'Zhl went in confident. His first target: an outer DCP colony, a forest world home only to a few orbital defenses and a relatively small population of s defending it.

His ships had already engaged the orbital defenses. Though a Loron Sik Ship was almost nothing compared to a ship of equal size belonging to the Delpha Coalition, it didn't matter when the Loron outnumbered them twenty to one. And when Hagto'Zhl, with his army of, swarmed the world's outpost, he knew it was time to get revenge.

The Loron had never tasted vengeance against the DCP after the. They'd never had the opportunity to confront one of their oldest foes in battle once again. So the excitement among the Loron as they swarmed and hacked away at the Grimbolsaurian defenders was felt. Every Loron gave it their all, firing every bullet they had, every shell in their tanks, and attempting to break every bone in the body of their foes.

Hagto'Zhl led the charge himself. His demonic powers from within him surged. The biologically and cyberntically enhanced forces of the DCP's troops made them strong, but not strong enough for him. As he towered over them, his strength ripping even their toughest defenses apart, Hagto'Zhl grinned and chuckled to himself with every trooper he stomped.


 * Hagto'Zhl - DAD IS WIV US TODAY. WE TAKE DA DCP FER ZR'AN'KAR. WE HAV BEEN WAITIN FER DIS!!!!!

Hagto'Zhl was joined by two others. The first was Knar'gank. Sneaking behind enemy lines, Knar'gank attempted to rip into the larger soldiers among them. However, many of them spotted him first, and many others weren't killed so easily by his knives. Knar'gank was forced to fight, though he was still able to claim decisive victories over his foes. The second was Kal'kuir. With his cybernetic limbs and his mad genius weaponry, Kal'kuir distorted space and time, killing not only DCP, but his own Loron soldiers, in the process.

Hagto'Zhl, as per typical of Loron, was here for a specific prize. The surface-to-space ace-to-space cannon mounted on the world. A subatomic disruptor, the weapon would destroy any Loron ship that would pose immediate threat to the world. Once the Loron destroyed it, they were free to annihilate the planet and turn it into yet another world broken down with nanomachines and quantum replicators for their grand space navy.

The mad scientist Kal'kuir had a huge grin on his face as he chuckled with laughter, firing his insane inventions at the DCP. Feeling that he was outsmarting them, Kal'kuir brought out his bigger guns once the horde finally reached the cannon. All sorts of unnatural disasters, from randomly appearing comets to seemingly causeless whirlwinds, threatening the lives of everyone involved, spawned from the spacetime defects of the trigger-happy Kal'kuir, as he slaughtered those in the path to the cannon.

As the Loron piled on the cannon, whacking away at it, even their combined strength could not take out its incredibly thick armour. Hagto'Zhl signalled to them to move aside, as he prepared his fist. Charging up his demonic strength, he delivered a single, powerful blow to the armor. Once exposed, from a distance, Kal'kuir let off a blast from his cannon, as an eruption was caused from the inside.

The Loron then fled back to their starships, as they were ready to consume the world. They'd won a victory over the DCP, which was almost unprecendented for them. But it wouldn't be this easy from now on.

The Coalition Reacts
The very first reports of the attack were already being streamed to the minds of the DCP's leaders before the nature of the attackers were known. The attack was sudden and came as a surprise. It was even more of a surprise when it turned out to be the Loron, as the Coalition had not anticipated that the Loron would strike out of Borealis so soon, nor had the technology to penetrate the warping of space that shielded DCP territories. The DCP's newly appointed Emperor Lunarai felt troubled by these invaders, as he was born from after the DCP-Loron War, and so consulted his older brothers and father, Wormulus II, who confirmed that the Loron were amongst the most unpredictable species in the universe. And with that, reports streamed in that the Loron had indeed swiftly conquered the planet and were already beginning to dismantle it with hypermatter detonations and self-replicating machines. They had overrun the DCP's defense fleet to keep them busy while the Loron brandished weapons never seen before on the surface.

Lunarai speculated that the Loron planned to disable the DCP's fighting ability first, before heading to other major civilisations of Plazith like France, so he forced his head of intelligence (who begrudgingly complied) to share this information with France, the Draconis and the Plazith Cooperative, which the Delphans now had a special relationship with. This was a move that the Loron or more likely who was commanding them; may not have anticipated.

Lunarai ordered all systems within a hundred light years be stripped to a minimum crew of colonists. Most of the DCP's peoples inhabited space stations and megastructures so this was a fairly easy operation to conduct. Furthermore, the shapeshifting cities of the surfaces of planets entered fortress mode or optimised shielding. Many of Lunarai's commanders were in the opinion of saturating the invaders with hyperspatial weapons, but the Emperor was interested in the new weapons that the Loron had acquired. A much closer confrontation was needed, and Lunarari's brother Warlord Titanozor was feeling fit for the role. Titanozor had previous experience fighting the Loron on numerous occasions and had the most connections with the Borealis galaxy. Meanwhile, the Loron appeared to have stayed put, demolishing the planet using quantum replicators and nanomachines to consume the materials blasted into orbit and construct weapons and ships, all at an insanely high rate. This had to be slowed at all costs, so Lunarai directed all secondary and tertiary defences from the Maelstrom in a volume of ten cubic light years to challenge the Loron front. These were comprised of trillions of drones, nanomachines and hyperspace missiles. The first of these hit ships, manufacturing zones and replicators that had been erected by the Loron.

It was now a battle of attrition between the Loron's nanomachines and the DCP's, which consumed and barricaded against each other. The friction alone destroyed many of the fabrication units and orbital tethers that hauled material from the surface. For now, the Loron advance had been stalled until either the DCP or Loron made the next advance. It was hoped this pincer movement could grind the Loron front enough for Titanozor to get close.

Apalos Pizza With Extra Q-Balls
As the devastation of the Loron swept through the universe, the knew it had to take action or else risk the fall of the  that it had chosen to support. As none of the Alliance's member states had opted to call upon Apalos aid, the collective consciousness was free to make its own decision about where to act. Firstly, it needed to gather as much information as it could about Loron tactics and strategy, and the safest place to do that first-hand was where the DCP had managed to bring the Loron advance to a standstill.

This standstill was about to end, for the warfare that currently engulfed the Loron beachhead was not the kind of warfare that involved Loron armies. It was warfare involving nanomachines and missiles; something to which the appropriate response was comparable technology, not guns and fists. Unable to properly fight, and with their pizza production slowed down by the DCP's attrition, the Loron grew restless. With what ships they had available that could evade the continuous barrage, they moved to attack the next planet on the path to Mirenton.

While they were prepared for an attack, the colony was not expecting it. The fleet of thousands of Sik Ships dropped to sublight dangerously close to the planet's stratosphere, bypassing the planet's outer shielding and pummelling the rest with hypermatter shockwaves. The thick and study armour of the fortress cities was no match for a quick bombardment of antimatter missiles, which opened the way for Loron ground forces to run straight inside and massacre their enemies as the Sik Ships turned their weapons to the orbital defences, who had by this time only just been able to react to the sudden invasion of their space.

The DCP would have been able to get reinforcements through, but they would not easily pass the blockade of Sik Ships to reach the cities, and this was where Apalos came in: to distract the Loron space forces.

The Loron sensors at first detected a large flying saucer, about 45 kilometres in diameter, a light-second or so away. However, this saucer was different to any vessel they had ever encountered. It emitted infrared radiation consistent with an internal temperature of over 450 kelvin, and large volumes of similarly hot gas containing a mixture of volatile organic compounds spewed out of several vents around the rim. Most strangely, while the outer hull appeared to be made of some kind of ceramic, the ceramic in question appeared to be indistinguishable from baked clay.

Unbeknownst to the Loron were the processes occurring inside the saucer. The centre, far cooler than the rest, saw the shaping of large pieces of Apalos replicator-computronium into kilometre-sized discs covered in a mixture of complex carbohydrates and elastic proteins, and into long cylinders of a smaller radius, iron-red in colour, which were sliced into thin pieces that were then attached to the top of the larger discs by a sticky paste of lipids and cellulose. These conglomerates were then moved through the hotter regions of the vessel towards the rim, where proteins were denatured and water evaporated.

It was a giant pizza oven, baking pizza-base motherships and pepperoni escorts, which were launched out of the vents towards an incredulous and insulted Loron fleet. Determined that this cultural appropriation could not be allowed to continue, the Loron broke what little formation they had to engage the Apalos saucers. Although comparable in size to, and outnumbered by, the Sik Ships, the saucers did not have to maintain life support (indeed, life support would allow the toppings to go off) and so were able to arm themselves with many more weapons and supply more power to their defences.

As the motherships' shields were worn down, the smaller pepperoni saucers detached from the top and dived into the Loron fleet, outmanoeuvring their larger opponents and using their flexibility to curl up and evade missiles, but their lack of armour meant they were easily burnt by turbolaser bolts. The motherships were much more resilient, for their starchy exterior was for nothing more than appearance, and thick diamondoid armour lay underneath.

After the initial wave was over, the Loron were able to destroy the Apalos ships at a faster rate than new ones were being baked, so the Sik Ships were free to take aim at the oven and open fire. It was only when they had dealt significant damage that they realised the DCP had arrived at the planet's surface with their reinforcements several minutes previously while the Loron had been distracted by the flotilla of soliton beam-firing pizzas.

Mendel on the Defense
Meanwhile, as Hagto'Zhl and his troops skirmished with the DCP and Apalos, a minor Boss had broken off his fleet from the main force to seek out some easier targets to plunder and planets to strip bare. Boss Yar'khal was on the hunt, and wished to make a name for himself among Da Rogue Boyz. His barbaric appetite for battle was matched only by his delusions of grandeur. Still, his fleet's breaking away and their venture towards the outer rim had not gone unnoticed. A small group of corvettes tailed the Loron Sik ships, unnoticed. Ever since the Loron had entered the Milky Way, their Mendel owners had been on high alert, and this break away fleet confirmed their doubts and fears.

One of the ships pressed a button on his seat, contacting his commander.


 * Captain - Commander Saren, we are tracking the Loron break away fleet. It's heading towards Jeroi, at a surprisingly slow pace.
 * Saren - Excellent. Keep up the scouting and report whatever news develops. I will have our forces ready.

Meanwhile, Yar'Khal was in deep "discussion" with his minor retainers and assistants.


 * Loron #1 - oi where weez even headed man. nuthin ta fight here except...nuthin.
 * Loron #2 - yeh shuldnt weez be joinin Hagto's boyz against dem DCP dumbos?
 * Yar'khal - shut yo mouff all yoos a buncha chikz. who here iz descendeded from Boss Trenn'fal himself?!
 * Loron #2 - yoo I guess
 * Yar'Khal - ME. DATS RITE. wat eva I say goez, ya got it?
 * Loron #1 - *disheartened* yeh boss.
 * Yar'Khal - we gonna go to dese planetz and fite whoeva iz livin dere, kill dem and use der planets to create more shipz for mai Sik Fleet of Sikness. AND I WILL BECOM DEH GREATEST BOSS EVER

Yar'Khal held out his arms in a dynamic pose, expecting to here his troops yell and voice their support for his ingenious strategy. Instead, they merely scratched their heads, some staring at Yar'Khal, others poking the walls with their Shankaz in boredom.


 * Loron #2 - if yoo wantz a bigga Sik Fleet why cant we just join Hagto and dem othas man
 * Yar'Khal - CUZ I SAID SO YA DUMBO. NAO GET SOME BOYZ AND THROW DEM AT DAT PLANET OF DUMBOS.
 * Loron #3 - WAT PLANET, YA TOSSA?
 * Yar'Khal - *Points to his holographic projector* DAT ONE IDIOT
 * Loron #3 - oh. didnt see dat.
 * Yar'khal - NAO GO AND KILL SOME PEEPS BEFOR I KILL YOU DUMBOS FER NOT RESPECTIN MA BOSSLINESS

The other Loron Bosses and leaders grunted and grumbled in response, heading out to grab some Boyz and begin the assault.

The Loron ships encountered no problems, causing many captains to question if there really was anything to fight here. After many a slap from Yar'Khal and his "Biggest Boyz" in charge, they became more quiet. The rest of the boyz happily loaded into their transports, tired of sitting around doing nothing and wanting to kill something. Many of their transports landed, some crashing done from bad piloting and over-excited boys distracting the driver (or killing him). The transports doors either opened, or where blasted opened, and out came hordes of eager boyz ready to fight, some with shankaz, others with big blastaiez, and others on their tanks and carriers.

Meanwhile, they where being watched. From high upon the tree branches and in the hills and trenches criss-crossing the planet, where a number of Walgolorian scouts, their bright armor painted over to hide them in jungles and underbrush. One of their leaders pressed a button on his comlink in his ear.


 * Mer'doth - Commander, I've spotted the Loron, sending you the information now.
 * Saren - Excellent Mer'doth. Engage part one of the plan. Begin sniping and hit and run tactics.
 * Mer'doth - Aye, Commander, Glory to the Clans.
 * Saren - To the Clans, and good hunting.

The Leader gave the signal, his Gvanta and other scout teams loading and clicking their sniper rifles into position and ready for battle. Now began the hunt.

The Loron continued their march, some running ahead in excitement for the battle with whoever was in their way. As they came to a valley, they found nothing. Groaning, they lowered their guns and shankers in disappointment, beginning to trudge back to the group, when one of the boys noticed something.


 * Troopa - ey boss deres a red dot on deh back of yer hed man
 * Boss - watcha meen

He begin turning around, trying to find the red dot, as several more lit up, covering the biggest Loron in red lights. As they began to take notice, a loud crack sounded as snipers opened fire, blue plasma rounds arcing through the air and cutting through the Loron and their primitive armor and grab. Some of them opened fire at random directions, some cutting each other down. Finally, the last of the Loron fell to the ground, blood trickling out of their wounds, as the Gvanta moved on.

The rest of the Loron continued their march at a faster pace, coming to the valley, figuring their brethren had found a good slog. The Loron came around, finding their dead comrades. The Loron grew angry and began shouting at each other and the corpses.


 * Boy - dese idiots found a good fite and got killed lik some wankaz or somefin
 * Big Boy - dis wasnt a fite ya git. in a fite da Loronz always win. so how could dey lose?

One of Yar'Khal's lieutenants, Grimm'killa, lumbered forward, his armor smoking and clanking about as he approached, inspecting the bodies.


 * Grimm'Killa - dis was a sneaky kill it waz. so we need some sneaka boyz to take out dese sneaky gitz. get me some.
 * Boy - yeh ok boss

A number of Sneaky Boyz marched up to the Boss, weapons ready, as though they had arrived there the moment Grimm'killa needed them.


 * Grimm'killa - *pointing to the trees* go to da treez an kill wat ever you find dats not a Loron. Stomp em, eat em, shank dem. Do whatever it takes ta kill dem.
 * Sneaky Boy - an wat if dese ar Loronz killin us
 * Grimm'Killa - DEN SLAP DEM AN MAKE DEM JOIN. we iz da TROO EMPIYA of deh Loron, and all of em join us unda Fre'kloar

The Sneakiez nodded, and ran off, splitting into three groups and heading toward the swamps and jungles, looking for their foes. As they hit the tree line, their coloration changed to a more muted, brown tone. Mer'doth looked at them curiously from his perch, not sure what to make of them. Silently, he gave a signal, ordering his scouts to withdraw, as his veterans remained with him, one of them contacting him via comms.


 * Gvanta - What is your plan, Leader?
 * Mer'doth - I have never seen such formations from the Loron back home. We will watch and observe, and see what happens.

One of his Gvanta nodded, and moved to a lower perch to get a better view of the enemy. As he did, one of the Loron turned and opened fire with his blaster, the high caliber bullets tearing right through his armor. The warrior's bloodedied corpse fell to the ground, as Mer'doth turned to his soldiers, shouting in Mendel.


 * Mer'doth - Attack! Leave none alive!

The Gvanta Warriors opened fire with their pulse weapons, exchanging fire, as the Gvanta leapt down, some attempting to run off, only to be caught by the Loron, and brutally beaten to death, as the Loron opened fire, cutting down the scouts in short order.

Mer'doth and 2 of his brothers moved as fast as they could, attempting to get some space between them as Mer'doth contacted his other comrades.


 * Mer'doth - Gvanta-Brothers, retreat. These Loron are more cunning then thought, regroup at the rally point so we can try this again, a different way.

Merd'oth received nothing but static, trying again and again to raise his troops. Finally, he contacted his Commander.


 * Mer'doth - Saren, my best scouts have been neutralized!
 * Saren - You must be joking. Your best scouts got killed by a bunch of Space barbarians?
 * Mer'doth - I kid you not. They deployed camouflage, seemed far more respective to changes in environment and noise, where not the aggressive barbarians we expected. I know not how to deal with such threats.
 * Saren - Get back to base. We'll figure this out.

Grimm'killa and his troops sat waiting in the valley, as the Sneakaz came bounding out, one of them with a bloodied figure over his shoulder. The lead Sneaker walked up to Grimm.


 * Sneeka - found some gitz. neva herd or seen em before. deyz pretty weak, even fer some not-Loron gitz.
 * Grimm - whose dat one dere? i fort i sed ta KILL EVRFYIN
 * Sneeka - A PRISONA OF WAR. we wanna to know who dese gits ar ennit?
 * Grimm - hm ok

They threw the Walgolorian down, who sat up, struggling against her bounds, her face contorted into an enraged glare.


 * Grimm - WHO ARE YOO GITZ?! WHO DO YA FINK YOO IS KILLIN MA BOYZ?
 * Walgolorian - I won't waste time to talking to such lowly barbarians! You are all savages! The Mendel are coming for you, all of us! A race of true warriors who will...!
 * Grimm - YEH YEH SHUTZ IT DUM CHIK. DERES MOAR OF YOU ON DIS PLANET?
 * Walgolorian - *Smiles* Yes! Many more. Our Mendel kin will slash you to pieces with our Claymores and axes. The Kadalian will crush you under their firsts! The Orgaat will make a feast of your bones! Kill me and my tribe if you wish, but know more will come to see you dead!
 * Grimm - hmm. i fink ill do jus dat.

Lifting up his blasta, mounted on his left arm, he opened fire, tearing through her armor and organs, as she feel to the muddied ground, her blood soaking into the muddied earth. Several of the boys cheered, ready to fight.


 * Boy - so moar fitin?
 * Grimm - Yeah, and MOAR WINNIN to do.

In the Mendel base, in the capital city of Avernai, the Mendel where busy preparing for battle. Fuel and supplies where being counted, soldiers drilled. Some, off sharpening blades and axes for battle, some checking ammo, and others painting themselves and their armor. Saren sat in the middle of all of this, checking her supplies, as Mer'doth and his remaining scouts hobbled forward, bloodied and weak.


 * Saren - Mer'doth, Brother, what happened?
 * Mer'doth - Something I did not count upon, sister. Loron deploying strategy beyond, Shot, stomp, smash.
 * Saren - This is not the end, what happened to our allies won't happen to us.

Mer'doth nodded grimly as his comrades carried him to the medic bay, as Saren contacted one of her other comrades.


 * Saren - J'kal, are your tribes ready?
 * J'kal - Yes, we await your signal.
 * Saren - Just checking in. Keep on alert, and stay out of sight.

Twin Tides
The Mendel capital city of Karacum, was a center of business and trade amongst the warrior people in the Plazith Rim, in constant flux from trade with both allies, and strange aliens unseen by most of the galaxy. Yet, as was usually the case, the Mendel where quick to turn their cities into a fortress world when trouble began to stir. Razor wire, automated turrets, anti aircraft Mass Drivers mine fields and other defenses surrounded the city. Nothing the Mendel did not want was getting in.

Two Sneakaz watched the Mendel as their forces marched and drilled in preparation for the coming battle. One of them watched from his Snipa, trying to discern what was what. His partner whispered to him.


 * Sneaka 1 - yo see anyfing?
 * Sneaka 2 - yeh, lots of stoff. Dey really, really like their Dakka. And der shankaz.
 * Sneaka 1 - den let's get bak to da boss. He's gonna wanna hear dis. Its gonna be gud.

The two nodded, and activated their camouflage, and bounded into the forests, heading back to the others to report.

Commander Saren sat in the middle of the war room, with her various Sub-commanders and lieutenants, discussing the Loron and how best to destroy and route them. Two days had passed, and nothing had occurred since their breath skirmish between the Mendel scouts and Loron's "Sneaka" units. It had many Commanders understandably on edge. As of now, many where speaking of inevitable tide of Loron death that could come at any moment. Commander Saren calmed her comrades with the only way she knew how. She took out her sword, and slammed it into the table, silencing everyone else.


 * Saren - Now then, let's think rationally and not going losing our heads. These are Loron, we can expect brute force and direct combat. However, what our scouts have reported over these past few days, are sightings of Loron using scouting and infiltration techniques, not unlike our own Gvanta Clans.
 * Ugandalorian - What are you saying then, Commander?
 * Saren - I am saying that the strategies we employed against them in Mirus will not work here. The Loron here have more emphasis on stealth, for now, and seem to be observing us as much as we are trying to observe them. They may not be like my teacher, but there is more then brute force to them now.

Saren stood up, pulling her sword out of the table, and with a single curt motion, re-sheathed it.


 * Saren - Our victory today will rely on doing the unexpected, and fighting our foes a different way. Our god, Hoorangiir demands evolution, and so we must evolve to face this new threat.
 * Walgolorian Commander - Then what do we need to do?
 * Saren - Simple. We deploy our scouts once more, but this time, we deploy our Orgaat. Only they and a few others can match the Loron in close quarters. Once we have located where they are operating out of, we will launch an all-out assault. A rolling tide of death, a hurricane of destruction.
 * Kodalorian Commander - Poetic enough, but can it be pulled off?
 * Saren - It will have to. We have to break the Loron horde here, or we will be broken ourselves.
 * Kodalorian - Then may the Gods grant us victory in this hour of need.

The Commanders nodded solemnly as Saren dismissed them with a gesture. It was time to implement a new strategy, and win this battle.

As the sun began to dip under the hills of Jeroi, packs of reptilian creatures left the city, hunched over, and carrying with them large rifles and polearms. These creatures began splitting into small groups and heading out. The had begun their hunt. While no where near the full amount of Orgaat in the Mendel's armies, the few packs that had stayed in the city, and not the swamps of Jeroi, where eager to get out and meet their foes in the open fields of battle. Night was when they where truly able do their best work at scouting.

The Reptilian-bird creatures, with their muted coloration, where difficult to see once the sun finally slipped below the hills, and night fell upon the planet. Now would begin the moment the Orgaat had waited for. A fight with the Loron, in savage melee, just as they liked it. Where's most of the time, Mendel would deploy fire teams and Orgaat together to systemically remove Loron hordes back home, these new Loron where far too cunning. As such, the quick, stealthy movement of the Orgaat would be paramount in this operation, with most Mendel being too heavy set and armored to allow such a thing.

The Loron, for their part, did not know what awaited them, simply believing the Mendel, as always, would hunker down and wait for them, giving them able opportunity to "plan" and formulate their attacks. The Orgaat however, had other plans, mostly to feed. The first few Sneakaz, going about their nightly scouting to observe and report on the Mendel, where silently removed by mostly unseen foes, who came upon them too quick for the Loron to react.

The Loron leadership was, of course, angered at the loss of contact with several of their sneakaz. Many felt the Mendel had stopped being "Stoopid wankaz" and had finally come out to fight. Many Loron joined together, grabbing whatever guns, shankers and other tools of war and moving to meet their foe. The Orgaat, where too small in number and lacking in any serious weapons to fight the Loron head to head, and stuck to the trees and under brush, where a game of cat and mouse began.

The Loron fanned out, first finding the bodies of their dead scouts, before doubling back and fanning out to search for the attackers. The Orgaat would have to move quickly, as the Loron where coming closer and closer to finding their attackers, and would certainly overwhelm the aliens.

The Orgaat moved in closer, and closer, and many packs began to head back, believing the mission hopeless without more numbers. However, the more resolute of them, probed just a bit further, before coming across the Hell-claw Mountains. A sector once used for mining, tectonic activity had rendered the area dangerous to local workers. Yet this did not deter the Loron, who seemed to have settled in and using the abandoned depot as a base of operations. The reptilian creatures began hissing and releasing pheromones, communicating to one another beyond the range of Loron ears, calling a full retreat.

Unfortunately, the Loron where not as ignorant as the Orgaat would've liked. For what the reptilian barbarians did not know, was that the Loron boss, Grimm'killa was there, and he displayed a much more cunning side then expected. The Loron boss, from a distance, looked like every other major opponent the Orgaat had tested themselves against; large, brutish, covered in scars and trophies of his fallen foes, several heads mounted upon the spikes on his shoulders and back.

Turning quicker then what his size would suggest, the Loron boss opened fire, his blasta tearing through trees and underbrush alike. His bodyguard, confused, but eager to kill something opened fire as well. The large caliber bullets not only could tear through the thick, noted trees that flanked the passes through the mountains. Many Orgaat where shot down, their thick hides and slight armor no match for the fire power of Grimm'killa and his boyz, even if they where shooting blind. The remaining Orgaat rose from their hiding places, opening fire with their rifles and long guns, but not amount of fire power could pierce the Lorons' hides, especially Grimm'killa, and his thick, muscled body further protected by armor, that will scraped together, could still shrug off the Orgaat's own primitive weapons.

Realizing this battle was untenable, and having what they needed, the Orgaat made a run for it. Though they managed to put distance between themselves and Grimm'killa's lot, several of the Packs ultimately ran into the lumbering hosts of Loron making the march back. Here, they not only faced the tender mercies of the Loron infantry, but many would be cut down by the Loron troops transports and tank pieces they had deployed, some merely cut to pieces by bullets, others had their very atoms burnt away by savage and unstable time weaponry.

Despite this onslaught, many Orgaat made it back to their camp, though where embittered at having to leave so many of their kin behind, their flesh to be wasted in Loron jaws and not that of their clan. Though battered, the Orgaat ultimately where able to bring Saren the information she would need, the location of the Loron base, and just a few details of the weapons they used. Curious of how advanced the Loron seemed, Saren made a note to have her troops loot whatever wreckage could be salvaged from this battle. Until then, she would need to wait and begin preparing her troops for the coming assault.

Through the Mountain Pass
Grimm'killa and Yar'khal stood overlooking the many jutting rocks and outcroppings in the great passes. The thought that such a defendable position, with able supplies for vehicles and other weapons, was left abandoned, seemed strange to the Loron.


 * Loron Boy - must not be da smartist gitz arond if dey leff dis place abandn'. dere's so much stoff ta build tankz and wut not, y leff it?
 * Yar'khal - dun know. deyz a weird bunch. cant say i'm impressed with der fittin skillz.
 * Grimm'killa - deze were jus sneakiez and scoutin forces. I still wantz to see wat der made of!
 * Yar'khal - tru. I cam here in fact to see wen dey wold com to fite. I wanna see wat der realy made of.
 * Grimm'killa - hur hur, so do I. dis will be fun.

The Loron had gathered in the enclave, new weapons and tanks glistening in the sun. The sight of such a large horde of boyz filled Yar'khal with much excitement. Such a massive horde would only grow, and, soon, he would rightly feared and respected for his power to conquer in the name of Da Rogue Boyz. Surely, Fre'kloar himself would promote him to an even bigger position of power within the Rogue Boy power structure. He would be the greatest boss of bosses. None would doubt him!

Grimm'killa, meanwhile, merely eyed his boss. He knew what thoughts went through his bosses' head, of ambition and glory, and Grimm would have none of that. While a Boss himself, Grimm merely got that position by killing his enemies. As his name would suggest, he cared little for such things as power, or even bling. To kill and murder where his goals in life, any promotions and higher positions he achieved where merely because he was good at killing. So, if Yar'khal did indeed seek higher position, Grimm would follow. It would mean more gitz to kill, such as these Mendel boyz.

Thoughts of bloodshed and murder where not far from Commander Saren's mind as her forces moved to the mountain base of the Loron. Surprisingly, no ambushes or Loron scout units had been engaged. Many Mendel where put on edge, though Saren expected this. Indeed, these Loron where, as she had always said, not mere idiots. They where most certainly as cunning as any foe the Mendel had faced, and to under-estimate their abilities was a fool's errand. It both unnerved her and excited her at the same time.

Put Ya Hood Up
The battle of attrition had been stalemating. Both the Loron and the DCP had an almost endless supply, but the Loron were running out of both planets to convert to their nanomachines, and patience. They could only eat other aliens for so long. They needed to eat Grimbolsaurian. They needed to exact their revenge.

Hagto'Zhl, with Kal'kuir and Knar'gank in his ship, all stared at the DCP's maelstrom. Hagto'Zhl slammed his fist into the wall.


 * Hagto'Zhl - WHY WONT DA DCP LET US FITE DEM WAT A BUNCHA COWARDS
 * Kal'kuir - i cant even sneek behind deir lines
 * Hagto'Zhl - IM GOIN IN
 * Rogue Geek - Unfortunately, this ship, nor the rest of the fleet, can withstand the maelstrom defenses. Furthermore, if you do not attack anymore planets, and leave the fleet lying here, the DCP will continue to artificially create black holes and destroy your ships. Even if we get through, their ships use nigh impenetrable defenses. There is simply no way to attack the DCP.
 * Hagto'Zhl - MAN DIS IS SO ANNOYIN
 * Rogue Geek - ...Unless Kal'kuir's plan works.

The other two turned to Kal'kuir, who was whacking a terminal with his wrench and screwing it in place with his goggles on. It was made of mostly spare parts with a single fat screen, and a few levers with no description of what any of them did. But a sign on it read "DA BEST ONE". Later, he took his goggles off, turned to the others, and screamed with glee.


 * Rogue Geek - Indeed, Kal'kuir has the solution to our problems.
 * Kal'kuir - YEH MAN I GOT DA BEST FING
 * Hagto'Zhl - WAT

Kal'kuir rubbed his hands together, and on his new installation, pulled a lever. The machine whirred, steam came out, as the other two stared in excitement at this new tool. Finally, it steadied. Instead of steam, the machine burst out confetti, as the screen opened up to reveal a few Norol mechanical dolls dancing inside. Hagto'Zhl's look of excitement changed to a look of horror, while Kal'kuir continued to look excited. Knar'gank facepalmed.


 * Kal'kuir - SEE MAN ITS A LITTLE BUNCHA DANCIN FINGIES DEYZ FUN TA WATCH. DISLL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS OF BOREDOM BY GIVIN US SOMFIN TA DO

Hagto'Zhl stormed over to Kal'kuir with a stern look on his face. He gripped him by the neck and slammed him up against the wall. Kal'kuir looked frightened and held out his hands.


 * Kal'kuir - WAT MAN I WAS TRYNA HELP...I CAN BUILD YOO RAPPIN DOLLS INSTED
 * Hagto'Zhl - I DUNT WANNA DOLL SHOW. I WANNA SMASH DA DCP
 * Kal'kuir - eh? why didnt ya say so i got dat ages ago

Hagto'Zhl kept his stern look, and released his grip. Kal'kuir fell to the floor, then scurried over to another computer, and pressed two buttons on it, as he grinned.


 * Rogue Geek - Oh, that solution? Kal'kuir...that uses stolen technology you and I reverse engineered and we have no idea if it works yet, not that it stopped you from installing it on every ship.
 * Kal'kuir - DIS ONE I CALL "DA HOOD". ITS A ONE WAY MIRRA DAT STOPS EVRYFIN FROM GOIN THROO WHILE YA USE IT. USES A LOTTA POWA BUT IT CAN STOP MOST GUNZ AN MOAR IMPORTANTLY GET US THROO DA BUBBLE

Kal'kuir continued to slam away the console. The invention he referred to was "nightshade". While in use, it could effectively hide the ship using it from the dimension itself. As Kal'kuir activated it, several other fleets in the vicinity, at the order ot the Rogue Geek, followed suit. A jump through hyperspace later, and they had arrived at DCP territory. Kal'kuir grinned to himself, as the cannon on Hagto'Zhl's ship aimed at the nearest DCP warship.


 * Kal'kuir - DIS ONE I CALL "DA SOLUSHON" altho da geekz call it da soliton. IT DOES A TRANSISHON FINGY DAT BREAKS SYMMETRIES OR WATEVA AN BASICALLY MAKES FINGS BREAK APART. ITS KINDA A BLAK HOLE. HURHURHUR I CANT WAIT TA USE DA DCPS OWN GUNZ AGENST DEM

Surprised that the Loron had not only broken through their defenses but aimed at them, the warship was barely able to respond before Kal'kuir fired his ship's weapon. Unable to deploy any countermeasures, the warship, as the soliton blast hit it, was torn apart, as the ship combusted. Other Sik Ships in the vicinity fired their own soliton weapons at the DCP's fleet. And with the enormous Loron fleet, it was not long before DCP defences around the star system were gone. Kal'kuir laughed as he turned his ship towards the planet, ready to fire Da Planet Eeta and turn it into more materials to build more ships of his own. He looked back at Hagto'Zhl, who had kept his stern expression.


 * Hagto'Zhl - i admit dat was sik BUT YOO SHULDNT HAV WASTED TIME BUILDIN A TOY AN JUS USED DIS FING. YOR GONNA SPEND ONE DAY IN DA BRIG DEN YOR GONNA MAKEMOAR SIK WEPONS LIKE DIS
 * Kal'kuir - MAN DATS NOT FAIR

But one thing was for certain: the Loron, with these two tools at their disposal, now posed a serious threat to the DCP.

Protectors of the Milky Way
The Loron fleet, now bigger than ever before, dismantled the world of Eeta at a higher rate than before, allowing them to hound surrounding systems continuously to weaken defences. Lunarai immediately realised the new striking advances made by the Loron had undermined his plans to hold the Loron at the gates of the coalition and wear them down. Specialised metric shields and soliton weapons were somehow now in Loron hands. So what next, he wondered? For now, the Loron had as much chance to gain on the DCP as they could repel it. Surprise had gripped the DCP's public consciousness, of which had now grown much more weary of war. The truth was, the coalition's territories no longer felt so safe, not since malign elements of the Technoosphere scattered the DCP fleets like reeds in the wind, and subverting control of the DCP's Maelstrom almost as immediately, ending the DCP's campaign in the Great Xonexian Schism.

Lunarai met with his chief commanders for the beleaguered sector, as well as his father, the former Emperor, and brothers. Even the the rogue Warlord Eclipsos had arrived, who had become Lunarai's mentor, and had experience fighting hordes of Mantisorac. Eclipsos took not even a glance at Wormulus, who did the same. Lunarai was now the leader, regardless. Warlord Titanozor was enraged, gazing away before smashing the power-axe he always carried through the floor. Titanozor now prepared his weapons. ''Remind me why he is here?! He is war criminal, if not THE war criminal.'' Wormulus then glanced at Eclipsos for the first time, if just fleetingly. Lunarai realised this was the first time he had seen Eclipsos since the pivotal fight over Mirenton many decades before, but no words were spoken. Would this be the first of a reunion, or the last?
 * Emperor Lunarai - Greetings gentlemen. It disappoints me hat it will now be unreasonable to send Titanozor to fight the source of the Loron in a single battle.  The unexpected turn of events have quadrupled the Loron's numbers.
 * Suzerain Eclipsos - Fitting that our best Loron killer acts like one.
 * Sherif Brakenmal - We have moved back as much of the key sites for industry as we could in the sector. The people, however, are growing unsettled, many want to stay and fight.  This is not the War of Ages however!
 * Emperor Lunarai - Well, it is starting to look like it. What troubles me is that many forces have attempted to breach the Maelstrom before: the Grox, the Dominatus, the Vermulans, Xonexi Alliance and indeed the Civilisation.  But in either case, it was either an attempt to win a campaign of rapid dominance or hold territory.  The Loron are effectively consuming to fuel their war-front in our own yard.
 * The Venerable and Amaranthine Wormulus II the exalted Idol and Father of and for the Delpha Coalition of Planets - I have given you the gift of compassion, Lunarai. You are indeed compassionate for the welfare of our people, for now I believe you must listen to the public consciousness.  We are losing territory, so what if we can move our colonies?  It means we are fleeing, and we cannot do that forever.
 * Warlord Titanozor - I say we let our people stand and FIGHT. The Loron are stronger than non-augmented soldiers, but we fought the Xhodocto with valiant fervour!
 * Suzerain Eclipsos -No, fool. What good is there fighting at home like that when the Loron turn every planet they reach into rubble?
 * Emperor Lunarai -Lets not forget that we have a big advantage over the Loron. They may have developed or stolen advanced technologies, but they are still very poor strategists.  It is believed they had this technology all along and forgot to use it, or something!   My point is, this "nightcloak" technology is new to them, but we have known it since the Cognatus wars.
 * Sherif Brakenmal - Yes, whenever they turn those shields on, they can't see out, and it taxes them of power. I see...  We could manoeuvre our ships, and perhaps cloak our worlds with ghost phase!
 * Emperor Lunarai - You are right yes, but we should be careful not to overuse said strategies. What is important is that we get to the source of the Loron invasion, stop their advances and kill whoever is commanding them.  The Loron are barely cohesive even now.
 * Suzerain Eclipsos -I suggest you send fast craft with hard hitting weapons, that are capable of out-manoeuvring Loron weapons by hopping in and out of phase. That way, we can get Titanozor through the Loron melee.
 * Emperor Lunarai - Warlord Titanozor, I ask you to be in charge of this fleet. Meanwhile, I will see that resources are directed into slowing the Loron invasion.  I will have all capable citizens in reserve ready to fight, but in the military.
 * Warlord Titanozor - I cannot wait to obliterate their ships and smash their leader's skull in! Just like the old days...
 * Suzerain Eclipsos - Can't believe I was created with that thing.
 * Emperor Lunarai - Now now, we are not here for family dispute. I will have you both gone from my chambers.
 * Idol Wormulus II - Titanozor, be careful, my son. The Loron capabilities now are different.  You must channel your rage for the final assault, and use that head of yours to get there first.

Coalition forces were mustered from thousands of light years around to fight the Loron threat. The Maelstrom now breached, needed to be protected not by drones but by full military force, which would hit hard and fast at Loron manufacturing zones before they could ready their nightcloak. The Loron now believed they were unstoppable, and predictably were going in the direction that would lead them to the Delpha Sector and Mirenton. But many did not realise the nightcloak technology would blind them while in use, allowing the DCP time to out-manoeuvre the Loron ships by a tiny margin.

Lunarai also had one more trick that the Loron would not have anticipated: the DCP had new allies and now saw the value of collaboration rather than reaching for dominance on all levels. Lunarai was entrusted as a "Dual Protector of the Galaxy" along with Alexandre I, Emperor of the French Empire and president of France. The DCP had been giving knowledge to Alexandre's administration about the Loron threat, who up to this point like the DCP believed that the Loron were a mob, a disorganized and highly erratic actor whose energy and power will crash harmlessly on any form of organized, systematic defence. They believed the Loron could be channelled like water such that their destructive rage would be mitigated by directing it at themselves. France at this time was not enthusiastic about being embroiled in a war as they were busy in Borealis. Hearing that the Loron now had made massive gains, Alexandre honoured his commitment to the security of the Milky Way through the Grand Commonwealth of Sovereign States. It was decided that France would hold the rear, taking command of trade routes while maintaining a free flow of traffic and surveying hyperlanes for suspicious activity while DCP forces returned home to fight head on. France, and other allies of Borealis were tasked with investigating the black market for any advanced technologies that could have been feeding the Loron advance.

Da Libertus Meat
Arriving on planet Nevrasón, all together in transport ships, the Loron stood in front of the doors, eagerly awaiting the landing on the worlds of Cyrannus. Many of them had never left the galaxy before, let alone visited Cyrannus, and had no idea what to expect. They had heard stories of the, and though the race were an agile and tough species, they knew that they were no match for Loron - and more importantly, that they sounded tasty. Just as the ships were approaching their stealth landing on the world, Rel'larutina and her second in command, Traz'raka, appeared before them all on hologram.


 * Rel'larutina - Now, remember: the places much more emphasis on its space force than its Army. This means that our top priority is to prevent any of their ships from bombarding the world. This outpost consists of several colonial cities, we're going to need to take out all of them while the rest of our fleet enters orbit.
 * Traz'raka - i hate da republicans man. deyz all stuk up old geezas an deyz all hypocrits. deyz all on about "muh second ammendment rites" an "aborhson is wrong" an "global warmin dunt exist" like i wanna slap dem
 * Rel'larutina - Uhh...what?
 * Traz'raka - eh nevamind

Rel'larutina shrugged, and her Norol hologram changed to her hologram of, as the Loron prepared for combat. Their mouths watered with saliva at the thought of tasting the Libertus for the first time, as Rel'larutina gave her final orders.


 * Rel'larutina - We're going to need to do this quickly, before they can bring up any reinforcements. Even if our fleet can likely overwhelm theirs, I'd rather not risk it while I have very little data on this galaxy. All of you are going with Traz'raka. Meanwhile, I'll take a platoon of Smashas with me to blow up the capital of this world, and cut off their main communications. While they're out scrambling around for a way to get a signal off this world, you move in and slaughter them.
 * Traz'raka - hurhurhur i cant wait ta see da looks on deir faces

At that moment, the ships landed, and the holograms began to fade. The doors opened and the ramps retracted, as they all opened their eyes to the lush, green world of Nevrasón, and the enormous city below the hill they had landed on. Only too late had the Republic detected Loron invasion. Traz'raka led his charge towards the city, as the Loron scrambled and kicked over one another rushing to the front lines, trying to be the first to eat a Libertus alive.

But the Loron were not unopposed. Not one of them had brought a Loron Tank with them, nor were their enough Booma Boyz with the firepower to face the Retexa-class Recon Walkers ahead of them, or to destroy the Deinos-class Armored Transports carrying Libertus soldiers. Their suppressing fire was not enough to hold off the Loron attack, but it was enough to prove irritating for Traz'raka. The bloodthirsty Loron fought one another over the taste of Libertus meat, many Loron killing other Loron rather than other Libertus. The frantic chaos of Loron warfare was certainly like nothing the Republic's army had faced before.

Traz'raka stood apart from his men, as he watched the Recon Walkers amass in a huger force, ready to reinforce the army. They had been unprepared for this attack, but nonetheless were ready to deal with it. Their cannons' suppressing fire, and the frantic Loron fighting one another over Libertus meat, seemed like it could play to the Republic's advantage. Traz'raka glared, and pulled out Lil' Homie, placing specialised ammunition in it.


 * Traz'raka - yoo wanna play ruff? awlrite...well play ruff...

Traz'raka loaded Lil' Homie once more with dark matter bolts in the cannon, and aimed them at the Recon Walkers. He grinned to himself as he held the gun to them.


 * Traz'raka - say hello to ma LIL HOME!!!!!

Traz'raka unleashed round after round of explosive bullets at the Recon Walkers. His single machine gun served almost as artillery in itself, as he destroyed the legs and the hulls of the Walkers. Their armor was able to resist a few of the blasts, but not many before Traz'raka could topple them over with the explosives within his cannons. He fired frantically unloading his magazines on them, destroying them before they could shift their fire towards him. The glee in battle shone in his eyes as he unloaded magazine after magazine upon them, until none remained.

Eventually, the Loron's numbers, and Traz'raka's fire, gave them the upper hand, and the Republic had fewer soldiers to spare. Though their infantry was well trained, it lacked the biological or technological enhancements of their Imperial counterparts, and their weaponry was simply not enough for the sheer amount and the sheer strength of the Loron. The Loron stormed through the city, as Nevrasón's local council began with the emergency orders to bombard the planet from orbit.

But Rel'larutina was waiting for this. With her Smashas, each equipped with jetpacks, she turned towards her fellow Norol as she prepared to attack the capital of the world miles away from Traz'raka's own invasion.


 * Rel'larutina - Okay, ladies, it's showtime.

Each of them jetted in, flying past the outer defensive turrets, and firing their own cannons at the unsuspecting civillians. The Norol weren't interested in eating anyone, but they were interested in carnage. As civillians screamed in terror at the surprise attack once they thought they were safe, the Smashas aimed specifically for the council hall. As each of them made their way towards it, they managed to destroy it, not only killing everyone inside, but preventing any signal from leaving the planet. This would not prevent them from sending any message, but it would delay, or at least reduce, the response from the navy to destroy the Loron invasion.

And now, her only goal was to destroy the city and bring it to rubble. Blasting apart the skyscrapers of the town with the other ladies, Rel'larutina had an almost Loron-like glee for carnage and wreckage. This was not war for them, but merely a competition of who could wreak the most havoc on the civillians desperate to flee the world, watching their homes be torn apart. Recon Walkers showed up to attempt to defend their cities, but they were simply no match for the Propa Big Rogue Smasha. Rel'larutina's spacetime cannon, the melee weapons that tore them apart with blades and the missiles made short work of any defenses.

Within mere hours, all life on the city had been destroyed. With the remaining Smashas, Rel'larutina took a stroll through the destroyed city, making sure nothing was left. She then fired up her jetpack to rejoin the ships, and prepared to attack the next world, as the Loron were trying to gain a foothold in this star system. Rel'larutina sent a message to Traz'raka.


 * Rel'larutina - That's good. They didn't see that coming, but it won't be as easy from here on out. We've got the numbers on them, but I still think we should be more weary of their much more powerful navy. I'd suggest eating one of the inhospitable worlds of this star system, and making more ships out of it.
 * Traz'raka - ehhhh dat was fun but I WANNA DESTROY MOAR STUFF WIV LIL HOMIE MAN
 * Rel'larutina - And you will. I'm letting you take over the invasion from here.
 * Traz'raka - YEEEEEEH wait wat relly
 * Rel'larutina - Really. The Republic didn't see this coming, but if we want to get to, we need to prevent any resistance at all. Of the inhabitants of Cyrannus, or close to Cyrannus, there are two other big names to watch out for: the Empire, and the . I doubt the Empire will care to defend the Republic if they themselves aren't threatened, but the Rambo likely will. Therefore, I'm going to take a wormhole nearby to cripple them so they cannot send any reinforcements. You keep the fleet going towards Mou'Cyran and destroy it.
 * Traz'raka - i meen i didnt lissen to any of dat but SOUNDS FUN MAN
 * Rel'larutina - Right. Keep in touch.

The Senate Responds
On the Republic Capital, the assembled Senators of the New Republic watched salvaged footage of the surprise attack on Nevrasón with horror. While the Loron were always considered a threat to the Republic's colonies in the Borealis Galaxy, an attack on Cyrannus was unthinkable. Slamming his fist onto his Senatorial Platform, Senator Rodyctor of Lacertia was the first to speak.


 * Rodyctor - How could this happen?! We have received no reports of any unauthorised use of the Borealisan Wormhole!

Senator of  scratched his chin, deep in thought.


 * Apollo - Clearly, they've discovered another wormhole leading from Borealis to Republic space. This brutal attack is likely due to our old alliance with the Unified Nation of Ottzello. We must respond.
 * Senator  - Quite, quite. Though I am deeply surprised that the arm of these brutes has grown long enough for them to consider attacking an extragalactic civilisation so far removed from their own sphere of influence. Such as it is.

Senator, just recently defeated in the Presidential Election nodded in agreement.


 * Raesa - I agree, though I must stress that the reason why this attack occured is now irrelevant. I concur with Senator Apollo. We must rally our forces, and those of our allies against this threat.

In the floating platform of the Proconsul, cleared his voice, prompting the senators to turn their attention away from the viewscreen and toward him.


 * Athan Apostila - We have already received a transmission from the, specifically Councillor , who requested aid from the unified forces of the Mou'Cyran Accords against this threat. The President has already agreed to send a taskforce from our Borealisan Defence Fleet, though this unprovoked attack on Nevrasón changes matters considerably. I will make an appeal to the Council of the Accords tomorrow, but in the meantime, we must track the movement of the Loron fleet in our space. Fleet Admiral will lead our efforts in this regard.

Unanimously the Senate agreed with the decision, though many rightly feared the next move of these marauding foes.

Da Navy Rekkin
Now in charge of the front, Traz'raka, Ray'loth and Brag'klogga could do as they pleased with the Loron fleet. With several quadrillion Sik Ships, their fleet was now going to take on the Republic's navy. Knowing that the Republic's navy was in many respects more advanced than their own, and was the key component of the Republic's military, the Rogue Boyz attempted to prove their dominance by beating them at their own game.

Over planet Halén, a world filled with orbital space factories building Liberator-class Star Dreadnoughts, the Loron fleet arrived with their enormous armada. They sent a transmission to the sizeable and formidable fleet that awaited them.


 * Traz'raka - OI DUMBOS. TRAZRAKA HEER. YOO FINK YOO HAV DA BEST FLEET? WELL WE GOT A BIGGA AN BETTA ONE DAN YOO. WES GONNA SMASH YOR PUNY FLEET AN GRAFFITI ALL OVA DA REKAGE!!!!!!!

The Republic were intimidated neither by Traz'raka's words nor the number of ships. Their own Praesator-class Star Destroyers immediately aimed their hypermatter torpedoes at the Sik Ships. Though their non-phasic deflector shields sustained some damage, many were simply destroyed. Inside the Sik Ships, Loron manning cannons blasted their plasma and particle cannons away recklessly, many shots missing the Praesators, but those that landing dealing damage much greater than the Republic expected.

Meanwhile, the X-15 Nychus fighters of the Republic attempted to swarm the Sik Ships. But s were simply larger in number, and the X-15s were overrun by the Fightas. Turbolasers flew at one another briefly, until the X-15s were mostly wiped out by Fightas that outnumbered them ten to one. While the Fightas missed almost every hit with their turbolasers, and the X-15s pilots were superior, the frantic chaos of the fight ultimately caused them to lose.

Now unopposed, the s began to swarm the Praesators. Dropping antimatter and plasma bombs, several Praesators could no longer sustain the damage from them and the Sik Ships' particle cannons. The bombardment increased from the Sik Ships who ramped up the pressure on the Republic. The Republic called in smaller Pheobus-class Star Destroyers, to which s, once again, outnumbered the superior ships.

But the massacre had not yet reached its climate. As the Liberator-class and Praesator-class Star Dreadnoughts moved in on the Sik Ships, firing turbolasers and hypermatter batteries, the Sik Ships brought out their main weapons: their relativistic missiles. Able to tear through the shields and armour of both Dreadnought classes after a few hits, they began to deal critical damage. And once again, the Sik Ships outnumbered the Republic 10 to 1. As the Republic fleet dwindled in numbers, it was now simply up to the Loron to kill the stragglers before they left the world, and to destroy the spaceship factory, and convert it to their own.


 * Ray'loth - R O A S T E D
 * Brag'klogga - BEETIN DEM AT DEIR OWN GAME...DIS DAYS COMIN!!!!!!
 * Ray'loth - MAN IT WAS SO GOOD DEY WAS ALL ARROGANT LIKE "LOL WE CAN BEET DESE GUYS DEY MISS DEIR SHOTS" AN WE WAS ALL "YEH BUT WE GOT MOAR DAN YOO" HURHURHUR

Though many Loron blasts failed to connect, the battle of attrition was not one the Republic could afford to pay. What was clear to them was that in a fleet of equal size, the Republic could come out the victors with ease, with only the Sik Ship relativistic missiles posing a significant threat. But the biggest challenge, then, was to match Loron numbers, now that one of their biggest manufacturers in the region was lost to them.

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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


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

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

Until now.

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

Uriel broke form his silence and looked up.


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

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


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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

With a wink, Bulpwes walked away.

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

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

But Grak'tona had other plans.


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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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