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Posted by: UnLimiTeD
« on: June 26, 2010, 11:24:47 AM »

Then better try to be finished within a 100 years ;)^^
Posted by: Zorgn
« on: June 26, 2010, 09:32:25 AM »

Thanks for the comments.

Quote from: "Matty_D"
I thought you were mad in your startup in terms of the power of the Terran Empire, and now something nastier has wiped them out.

I am mad. :D However, I do have a plan, a vague idea of the ending, and SM powers to play around with. There will be plenty of ass kicking, but if I can pull my ideas off, it won't come down to a complete brawl (which I would be on the losing side of, I assure you). That is, if the NPRs and slowdown don't kill me first.
Posted by: MattyD
« on: June 26, 2010, 08:30:56 AM »

Ahh, I was unaware of the etiquette in regards where I could comment.

Nice beginning, I thought you were mad in your startup in terms of the power of the Terran Empire, and now something nastier has wiped them out.

I hold out little hope for our heroes....

Nice writing though, I will enjoy their fiery plunge into the abyss.
Posted by: UnLimiTeD
« on: June 26, 2010, 08:24:57 AM »

Very nice beginning.
Posted by: Zorgn
« on: June 26, 2010, 06:24:13 AM »

An insistent buzzing pierced the dark room of Son Percella, Schrade appointed governor of the human colony Robia-B IV. A shape on the bed stirred, and a hand reached out, slapping the com unit off before retreating into the tangle of bedding. Moments later there was a slight grate of metal on metal, and the entire north wall of the room opened like a giant set of window blinds, letting in a blast of unwelcome light and cold air.

A howl of indignation loosed itself from the bedding followed by curses.

"You up?" the omnipresent, genderless voice of Robia's colony AI asked with the barest hint of amusement. The window grated, and closed once more as the room's lights came up and the heating system kicked in to restore the room to comfortable conditions.

Son sat up, gathered the blankets around her, and glared at the ceiling, though no sign of the mischievious AI manifested itself there. "Your designer is lucky to live out-system. This had better be damned important."

"It is. An unscheduled ship has arrived and is blaring emergency codes on all channels. Everything from the standard SOS to plauges, mutiny, invasion, you name it. It's not responding to our attempts at communication, but it is headed here."

"Wonderful."

[center:11dal7pt]- - -[/center:11dal7pt]

There was no military to prepare, and no ability to intercept the ship even if there was something in range. It was a risk you took when you wanted to do something the Navy would likely bombard your planet for.

Two days after the ship appeared in the system, it landed peacefully at the landing pad just outside the cluster of buildings that comprised the colony and was recognized as the Bates, a small passenger ship that occasionally dropped by to purchased their research data and prototype weaponry for transport back to Schrade headquarters.

[center:11dal7pt]- - -[/center:11dal7pt]

"The pilot's on his way," was all the packed conference room needed to hear to quiet down the rampant rumors and speculation about this most unusual arrival. Son Percella and her counterpart, Kevin Stalworth, governor of the mining colony, had called a meeting of Robia's higher-ups. Government people, scientists, a few pilots, and even the police chief had come to learn just what the hell was going on.

Abruptly, the door at the end of the room opened, and Valencia Delcarlo, pilot of the Bates entered. The quiet that had momentarily ruled the room shattered as questions flew thick as hail. Delcarlo kept up fairly well, and soon the story began to unfold.

Delcarlo had been leaving Schrade HQ when an emergency comm drone entered the system. It began broadcasting that Earth had been attacked by a fleet that matched them in technology, but far outnumbered the planets' defenders. Despite valiant efforts, the enemy had landed on Earth, apparently searching for something, while the fleet collected asteroids in orbit. Realizing Schrade space may have been compromised by the fall of Earth, he ordered the Bates autopilot to head for Robia, gambling that its secrecy might turn out to be a safe haven. Before reaching the jump point, hostiles poured through the Earthward jump gate and engaged the Imperial Navy detachment. Once again, they were vastly outnumbered, and the Schrade corporation sent out the signal to destroy the interstellar navigation components of all corporate ships. Delcarlo, having already locked in the jump command, was able to convince the autopilot AI to wait until they arrived in Robia to delete its maps. Unfortunately, by the time they arrived, the autopilot was a nervous wreck with conflicting orders, and fried everything upon landing, leaving the ship an immobile wreck.

Delcarlo suspected Earth was gone, and the ground troops had been after the official Terran Empire starmaps. If so, nowhere in Terran space was safe. Fortunately, Robia was thought to be far outside the Empire's borders, and at the very least was secret. Hopefully.

Son, taking charge of the shocked silence that had fallen over the conference room, outlined her plan to deal with the situation. First of all, they would continue as they had from day one. Research and mining would continue to be their reason for existence. However, if they did not receive word from the home office by January 1st, 2736, a little over four months from now, they would assume the Terran Empire had lost the war, and would declare themselves a sovereign power. They would then begin research and production of the equipment and facilities to spread into space, with the ultimate goal of reclaiming the Empire from whatever force had taken over it, or vengeance on those responsible for destroying it.