Chapter Three

[Quantum Rain]

First topic message reminder :

As the forum auto-splits topics every 50 pages, the next topics will be named further chapters accordingly. This is chapter three, guys, KEEP IT UP!

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~Jediluigi

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--Yaga Minor--

“Unfortunately, they did not have one.” He stated, looking over the janitor’s shoulder to confirm his directions mentally. Now there was just the matter of blending in without magic…

--Unknown World--

Leon walked up cautiously toward the creature, pistol ready in his free hand as he kept himself aware of his surroundings. So it takes a shot to the head to kill them. He thought, as he used the opportunity provided by the creature to learn how to combat his potential enemy.

--Gothis Orbit--

The Hive Ship activates its telekinetic powers once more, managing to deflect the torpedoes utilizing similar abilities to the Rachni. The Collective fleet presses on still, taking light losses via the Thanix cannons by comparison to the Turians.

--Gothis Land--

Despite the Collective Troops hunkering in and luring the enemy to them, several were still dieing, while some managed to put up a fight.

--Charad--

The pilot looked at the kiwi incredulously, as if annoyed. She hands the drawing to the kiwi, as if emphasizing it.

--Konnsallann Station--

Cross was annoyed, at first, to the interruption, but then intrigued by the report she overheard. She remained silent, however, waiting to see if anyone would even remember her presence and what they would say in explanation.

--Bladnir--

(On hold until JL either gets Victoria II or managed to talk to me on Skype to discuss where to go from here.)

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

*The hawk lands and crouches next to Cross.* Bularr (whisper): Bularr to Talon Squad. False alarm, but stay put. (to Cross) I think we should blow that thing when it's finished. How many charges do you have left, General?

[Quantum Rain]

"Two or three... but that won't help us..." Cross replied, examining the new object and recognizing it. "That's a missile silo... and if they have on here, they'll have ones in the other two bases too..." He said, thinking for several moments on how to tackle the situation.

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

Bularr: I have five. If we place them well enough, it could destabilize the structure enough to bring it down. But that leaves the possibility of other silos...is it surface-to-orbit?

[Quantum Rain]

"Whether it is or not, whatever it hits is going to deal plenty enough damage..." He stated, taking hold of a sniper rifle which had materialized out of his photon pack. "We need to eliminate the guards quietly so that I can hack into their controls and deactivate the other silos. There are about fifty guards patrolling the base. The newcomers make fifty-three. Kill them and count them as you go, and don't get caught by the turrets."

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

*Bularr nods and starts to recloak, but hesitates.* Bularr: General, perhaps we could turn this missile against them once we deactivate the others, if they are present.

[Quantum Rain]

"Let's address that after we've dealt with them." Cross said, shooting the Lieutenant in the head and signaling his team to begin firing. Six more guards had collapsed to the ground while the others ran for cover and scanned their environments for the missing enemies.

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

*Bularr nods and fully recloaks, a faint breeze the only sign of his departure. The runners of Talon Squad dig themselves out of the snow and take up position flanking the guards in cover, while the darters zip down from the sky and kill several. As quickly as they appear, the darters vanish, while the runners snipe several more of the guards.*

[Roach]

Brusilov: Send out a platoon of Pelargir Marines and intercept that patrol.

*A group of Pelargir marines fall into pursuit of the patrol they follow them waiting for an opportunity to strike. Another group lies in wait ahead of them placing the mines in their path. along an open clearing in the forest ahead tall grass stands as high as a man waist the marines lie in wait ready to spring their trap.*

[Quantum Rain]

*Bularr nods and fully recloaks, a faint breeze the only sign of his departure. The runners of Talon Squad dig themselves out of the snow and take up position flanking the guards in cover, while the darters zip down from the sky and kill several. As quickly as they appear, the darters vanish, while the runners snipe several more of the guards.*

After ten more guards had fallen, all of the bewildered as to the sudden surprise of death, Cross spoke over the comm. "Okay, I'm moving in towards the missile silo. Cover me and keep pressing the advantage." He said, converting his rifle back to energy and conjuring a long-sword of plasma. He leapt out of cover coming straight down and then slicing through one guard. Another took aim but was swiftly taken down as Cross made progress toward the silo quickly, his escort sniping and providing cover for their general.

It was mere minutes before several more guards fell before they used the interior of buildings as cover, shutting all the windows tight with their metal shutters and waiting at the doors. Cross had made it inside, a few more shots could be heard there, but no comm traffic came from him. One could only assume that he was thus far successful in his goal.

--Hollow Bastion--

It didn't take long for Xyphus to catch up, despite the fact he took the most difficult means to get there possible. He jumped from a floating platform and landed next to Xirce, but nearly lost his balance. His legs shook beneath his weight and his arms struggled to hold the weight of his weapons. He tried to hide it, but he was incredibly tired from his climb.

Xirce watched Xyphus, making sure he didn't fall back down to the watery surface below, and then spoke up when he regained his composure. "I hope you can still swim..." He said, pointing to the water-filled distance between them and the city. "I don't see why anyone would design an entrance quite like this..."

[Wynn]

Xyphus stared relatively blankly at the water. However there was a moment of hesitation before he walked toward the edge. He was prepared to dive in, but he was visibly exhausted from the previous climb.

[Quantum Rain]

"... There should be a different way. I can't possibly imagine forcing denizens to-" As Xirce stepped forward as well, an elevator of sorts floated down to them at a brisk pace, stopping just short of the edge. "Well that makes more sense, I suppose." He amended himself, stepping onto the elevator.

[Wynn]

Xyphus let out a barely-audible sigh when the elevator appeared, but he walked calmly onto it and waited for it to go up.
"This place is wierd." Xyphus stated plainly.

[Quantum Rain]

"More than that, I'd say demented would be more apt." He replied, as the elevator flew towards the city, with the castle peering ahead of them. "This place isn't as ruined as it is twisted. None of the damage you see is damage done by battle at all... and the ocean..." He continued, scrutinizing the situation around them. "It doesn't quite make sense, does it?"

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Invictus--

*The Pelargirs eventually get close enough to hear the Imperium soldiers.*

Imperium Sergeant: Anything to report?

Soldier 1: No, sir.

Sergeant: Keep moving, then.

Soldier 2: Sir, why are we even here? Intel said that the local wildlife--

Sergeant: --is toxic to turian biology, yes, yes. But intel also said that one of their civilian resistance groups is in this region right now. We have our orders; find them and capture them. If they don't surrender, kill them.

Soldier 3: They haven't surrendered so far, sir.

Sergeant: Makes no difference to us.

*The lead soldier stops just short of entering the stun-mine field.* Sergeant: Is there a problem, soldier?

Soldier 1: I don't know, sir. Something just feels...off. Like we're being watched. *He looks around uneasily, weapon half-cocked.*

*The sergeant appears skeptical.* Sergeant: It's a forest, Private. There's sure to be something watching us right now.

Soldier 1: No, sir, like there's something with a gun watching us. You follow me?

Sergeant: Unlikely, Private. *Nonetheless, he motions to the others.* Spread out and move forwardly--slowly. If anything moves, shoot at it.

*The patrol obeys his orders and moves slowly but surely into the minefield.*

--Altakiril--

*The darters provide Cross with additional cover fire from above as he streaks across the battlefield, and soon after he enters the silo, Bularr zips toward a window several floors up. Just before he crashes into the window, he fires a super-charged blast from his armor's cannons that blows the shutters wide open, so he sails straight through the aperture. The hawk quickly kills the surprised Imperium soldiers in the room on the other side and then blasts open the door to the rest of the silo. He then zips into the corridor, flying down it at breakneck speed and killing any Imperium men who get in his way. Along the way, he attempts to contact Cross.*

Bularr: General Cross? Where are you?

[Roach]

As they enter the minefield several of the mines are set off they jump into the air and detonate knocking a few of the imperium soldier unconscious. the Pelargir marines open fire from all directions at the men left standing.

[Quantum Rain]

--Altakiril--

Cross sliced and then booted a guard forward, the man falling dead to the ground as Bularr attempted to contact him. "I'm just outside the control room. Go down three levels, tear the guards apart, they're everywhere." Cross replied, slicing through the door as he spoke. The next thing Bularr would hear over the comm before it is the dieing screams of Imperium soldiers and blaster fire.

[Comrade Greiv]

As time passed more and more people have become knowledgeable of the rising group within the Sith Empire known as the Red Faction. Though few will ever admit to it, the numbers of supporters of the Red Faction have begun to grow considerably, to where almost 50% of the Imperial Military and 65% of the civilian populace identified with it in secret. This put the plans for Operation "Crimson Rising", the revolution against the Sith Empire coinciding with the annual rising of the Nar Shaluka Red Sun

Unfortunately, Imperial leadership have also become aware of the rising opposition within their ranks and population and had begun to search for those who support the growing insurgency. This hunt would soon force the Red Faction to act with impunity.


-------------


Throughout Hyperion and Altair galaxies

More disappearances of individuals from all around known space are reported with unknown causes with each just as had occurred months earlier. However this time around images finally appear around the Holonet and Extranet of a strange, faceless humanoid dressed in a suit with tendril-like growths from its back. None are able to identify this figure but a name had surfaced through word-of-mouth from viewers calling it the "Slenderman" or "Slender".

None of the governments or Police groups have issued any comments to concerned citizens about this "Slenderman".

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Invictus--

*The Imperium soldiers still standing try to fight back, but with their personal shields overloaded by the mines' blasts, they quickly fall to the ambush.*

--Altakiril--

Bularr: Affirmative. On my way. *He proceeds as directed, his progress rapid thanks to his flying ability. As quickly as possible, he kills any Imperium soldiers that get in his way, aided by their inexperience with fighting someone like him. However, just before he reaches General Cross's location, the remaining soldiers pull back to a large room and seal the doors shut behind them.*

Bularr: That's not good. Chances are they put mines on the other side of the door, so even if I blow it open, I'll get blown up... *He looks around the corridor full of dead Imperium soldiers, sees a grate nearby, and flies over to the it. With a mighty heave of his talons, the young hawk yanks it off and, sticking his head into the ventilation duct, fires a few blasts of his Stea sonar system.* Hard to tell if it goes to that room or not. Only one way to find out. *Turning back to the sealed door, he fires several powerful cannon bursts at it before slipping into the ventilation duct. The attacks do no significant damage to the door. Once inside, he replaces the grate over the duct.*

*Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, the fifty or so Imperium soldiers keep their weapons trained on it.*

Imperium Soldier 1: It's been quiet for a while...

Imperium Soldier 2: Maybe whatever it is gave up.

Imperium Soldier 3: Sure. Why don't you go open up that door and see?

*The second one looks at the wall to their right.* Imperium Soldier 1: What is it?

Soldier 2: I think I'm hearing things, like there's something in the wall.

Soldier 3: [censored]. There's nothing but the vents, and nothing could fit in those.

Soldier 2: Nothing human-sized could fit in them.

Soldier 1: We've been fighting nothing but IS thugs.

Soldier 2: Until now.

Soldier 3: Just keep your eyes on the door until we hear otherwise from Command.

*Inside his vent, Bularr pulls back from the grate leading into the room, and then flies toward it at full speed, charging a controlled burst from his cannons. Just before he can smash into the grate, he fires the blast, blowing out the grate and causing every one of the soldiers' heads to whip towards the noise.*

Soldier 1: What the [censored] is that thing?!

Soldier 2: It doesn't matter, just shoot it!! *The soldiers open fire, but Bularr easily dodges most of their shots, and the ones that impact dissipate harmlessly against his personal shield. He takes the hits in stride as his cannons reconfigure themselves laterally against his armored wings and project thin, sustained energy blades from their barrels. Swooping down, he scythes through the crowd of humans, his blades slicing through shields, armor, and flesh alike. Within two minutes, all the Imperium soldiers are either dead or dying; Bularr shoots the latter to make sure of their demise. He then proceeds to the door at the room's other end, his tail armor smoking slightly from a stray hit, and stabs his energy blades into it, easily cutting through the metal and then bulling through the weakened door with sheer force. He then flies down the corridor and cuts through the door at the end in similar fashion to find General Cross in the control room on the other side. He "sheathes" his energy blades and walks toward the man.*

Bularr: General Cross, sir. Sorry I took so long--they left quite a welcoming party for me. How are things here?

[Roach]

--Invictus--

*The imperium troops are stripped of their weapons and armor and beamed back to the federation HQ the Imperium troops armor is disassembled and tracking devices are disabled while one suit i kept intact in a electronic jamming field for study.*

[Wynn]

"More than that, I'd say demented would be more apt." He replied, as the elevator flew towards the city, with the castle peering ahead of them. "This place isn't as ruined as it is twisted. None of the damage you see is damage done by battle at all... and the ocean..." He continued, scrutinizing the situation around them. "It doesn't quite make sense, does it?"

Xyphus shrugged. "I guess it's all irrelevant in retrospect." He said blandly. "This isn't an architectural inspection." He would be tapping his foot, as if he were impatient to get off the elevator, but his expression remained completely devoid of feeling.

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

Vonak: Nice catch. You'll have to get one of your own gearheads working on them, 'cause all of mine are either dead, captured, or missing.

*Friendly units continue to arrive at the Federation base, but then Vonak pauses in his work.*

Vonak: Got a problem over here, General! *He beckons Brusilov over.* Some civilian informants just told me that the Imps are mustering a counterattack. We'd better get ready.

*True to his word, the Feds' sensors pick up a large Imperium force inbound--armor, infantry, and aerial assets. An enormous flying warship leads them.*

[Roach]

Brusilov: Ah so they actually want to party. Get me a tactical analysis of that ship i wanna knw its size and armaments. Defense control give the a suprise with those 7200mm railgun batteries we brought with us. i want fighters and Birds of prey airborne ASAP. And move the 4th lancers and the fourth armored ton engage the imperium ground forces lets see how they like federation battle mechs.

*federation fighters lift of and swarm into the air along with several klingon birds of prey that had come down from obit. Federation Mechs and tanks move with infantry support and engage the imperium ground forces while the giant air battle is joined.*

[Quantum Rain]

"More than that, I'd say demented would be more apt." He replied, as the elevator flew towards the city, with the castle peering ahead of them. "This place isn't as ruined as it is twisted. None of the damage you see is damage done by battle at all... and the ocean..." He continued, scrutinizing the situation around them. "It doesn't quite make sense, does it?"

Xyphus shrugged. "I guess it's all irrelevant in retrospect." He said blandly. "This isn't an architectural inspection." He would be tapping his foot, as if he were impatient to get off the elevator, but his expression remained completely devoid of feeling.

The elevator suddenly stopped at the halfway point, almost sending Xirce forward off the edge. He quickly regained his balance, and sighed. "I'm thinking I should wish it were." He commented, staring at the distance they had yet to go, and looking back to see that it would be equal distances to and fro, and thus, quite a feat to swim. "I don't think we can swim that distance..." He said, thinking. He conjured as large of a hardlight platform as he could, focusing as much as possible. He stepped onto it, closing his eyes as it flickered slightly due to his concentration faltering.

--Altakiril--

Cross turned and aimed a pistol at the door as it opened, lowering his aim down to see the avian. "..." He put the gun away, continuing his incessantly rapid typing on the digital keyboards as information poured in front of his eyes. "Slowly. They have a heavy encryption, it's as if they anticipated this happening... I'm going to try hacking it with my mental implants to speed up the process. Keep the enemies out." He order, touching his forehead with his index finger, causing a bright glow to emanate from the tip of it. He lowered it down to the keyboard, it glowing brighter in response as he connected to the system.

A distance away, Bularr could hear the shuffle of more guards approaching, alongside yelling and the barking out of orders. They were discovered quickly after Cross connected to the system.

[Fore Admiral Disayle]

--Altakiril--

*The hawk curses in his native language.* Bularr: I thought we killed them all. Can't hold them all off on my own...Bularr to Talon Squad. We need help--send some runners in here before we're overwhelmed. Just follow the path I took.

*He holds up one of his explosive charges, sighs, and then tosses it into the corridor that the soldiers are approaching from. The resulting explosion collapses it.* That'll slow them down. *The avian then takes position high up in the room with his cannons trained on the wall of rubble and begins sniping any Imperium soldiers that come through the doorway.*

*Outside the base, Talon Squad receives Bularr's orders.* Runner 1: Hey flyers, stop zipping around and give us some cover fire!

Flyer 1: Done. Make your move, gallus.

*The runners stop shooting at the remaining guards outside and break cover, sprinting towards the silo. The flyers run escort overhead, shooting any Imperium soldier that dares to stick their head out of cover. Thanks to this, the runners reach the silo in one piece and then begin running straight up its surface. This leaves them vulnerable to attack, but they soon reach the hole left by Bularr and scramble into it. Their task done, the flyers return to pressuring the enemy soldiers back on the ground.*

*A short time later, the runners storm into the control room. Their arrival is timely--the Imperium soldiers are pressing hard, despite Bularr's best efforts to slow their advance. The runners thrown themselves into cover and immediately start firing back. Several humans are quickly taken down by their hail of energy bolts, and many divert their attention from Bularr to the new arrivals. This allows the hawk himself some breathing room to reform his energy blades before zipping down from his sniper post and flanking the Imperium soldiers at close range, slashing them down with lethal speed.*

[Roach]

--Hussar 6--

The Federation starship Jonathan Archer maneuvered through the the 6th solar system in the Hussar sector a system designated R5M62. The old Excelsior-class Starship had seen hundreds of tours of duty and had undergone extensive refits. Nevertheless the ship was still more than capable for combat or for its current role of surveying new potential colony sites. The ships Captain was a stern woman with flowing black hair and luminous green eyes. She stared out at the expanse of space displayed by the view screen as she awaited the reports for the probes they had launched.

"Captain Dian we are getting readings back from our probe now this system contains two M class planets both of which could be suitable for colonization." A scruffy Dwarven ensign said looking up from the science console.

"Set a course Mr. Vrinak" Captain Dian said looking over at her conn officer.

"Course laid in captain" The young vulcan ensign responded.

"Warp 3 Engage." The captain replied cooly

The venerable old ship lurched forward into warp and exited near the planet a few moments later.

"Captain unidentified vessel on sensors. The configuration matches an Amarrian Prophecy battlecruiser." a young human man said from the tactical console.

"Why didn't our probe pick it up?" Dian asked raising an eyebrow

"Captain it's likely the ship was shielded by the magnetic field of the nearby asteroid belt." the tactical officer replied

"Hail them Ensign Briton" the captain replied

"Channel open Captain" Briton replied

"Unidentified ship you are trespassing in territory not yet approved for no federation military traffic please vacate the system immediately."

There was a long eerie pause but no response.

"Captain the ship is locking weapons!" Briton shouted from the tactical station.

"Shields up red alert." An alarm klaxon blared as the alert status changed the ships shields came up just as several beams of crimson light flashed across the bow of the ship.

"Lock phasers on that vessel and fire at will." Captain Dian remarked in a calm tone.

Several phaser beams lanced out from the ships many phaser arrays and struck the old Amarrian battlecruiser its shield rapidly buckled and the phasers scorched and peeled away at the ships armor. The prophecy activated its armor repair modules and the armor began restoring itself the two ships traded fire orange phasers answering crimson lasers.

"Fire a salvo or photon torpedoes aim for the armor generator." Dian said

Six photon torpedoes leapt from the frontal torpedo tubes, the streaked across space and slammed into the port side of the ol Ammarrian battle cruiser there was a bright flash and after it cleared the Ammarrain ship was no longer firing it hull no longer glowed with signature sight of nanobots glowing as the formed into new armor plates.

"Direct hit to their main capacitor relay they are disabled Captain." Briton said surprisingly calmy for an Ensign on his first tour.

"Well done Mr. Briton i can see why you graduated top of your academy class. Stand down red alert contact fleet command see if they have any information on that scrap heap."

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