Phoenix War III

[Destructionator XV]

"Thank you, Meryetre, for clearing that up," Adam said.

"If, for any reason, we do fall under attack however, the four missile platforms and twelve energy cannons will be set up within the day," an officer added.

"Very good, dismissed."

The Lord and Lady go down to their private quarters, and after being sure it was empty, they started talking with each other in code:

"My plan is proceeding as I had forseen" she said. "The Destructionator agents are in place, your faux-broodlings are nearing completion, and the talks seem to be proceeding as I expected. Kruger also took the inititive to get the media involved, a good plan."

"And the escape plans?"

"Stardestroyers are all that concern me right now in the long term. The short term is under control."

"How fiendishly devious."

"Of course it is - I designed it."

She turns to look at a picture of the Death Star over earth and continued speaking: "By the time the Lord Kreshna discovers our zeal," she began.

"The fate of his station will already be sealed!" Adam finished and they shared a laugh.

[Narsil]

"So there was an attack on the Gao'uld? That is very interesting," the construction craft mused. "Biological technology, too, and that explains a few things."

"What does?" one of the warships asked.

"Any universe that can allow for biological technology must work on slightly differing laws of physics, that might explain why we're not getting home so easily with our own methods..." the constructor trailed off. "Once our diplomatic envoy returns, we might begin to make some progress. I'll begin working on making us some extra defences against these creatures in the meantime."

"What about our weapons, will they work properly?"

"Basic physics seem to work the same way, actually, I'm reckoning it's just things like the maximum possible resistance that flesh and bone would likely have to a nuclear weapon or the ability to travel between universes."

[Destructionator XV]

Somewhere in another universe...

"Ship's Log, ASV Argo, supplemental, Captain Ryan Harrison recording. Having successfully rescued our captive crewmen with no losses, we have returned to the coordinates of the subspace disturbance, and are preparing to reopen the rift between universes."

"Sir, the device is charged," the ship's science officer reported. "We'll have to decloak to begin the procedure, and sit here for about a quadricenton for the static warp bubble to do its part."

"No ships in sensor range captain, but the cloak reduces the range, so we can't be sure," the tactical officer said.

"Let's do it," the captain orders, "drop the cloak."

"Captain, Falcon class destroyer decloaking; closing fast. It's the Lightbringer!"

"Barr must have been waiting for us!" Ericson says.

"Shields to maximum, arm all weapons."

"Sir, while we can take him, odds are we'll be crippled too."

"Weapons range in four, three--"

"Set course for Wivillia, maximum warp."

"Lightbringer in persuit, sir, and she can easily outrun us."

"Aft torps, maximum yield, full spread, Fire!"

"Direct hit, sir, her warp field has destabilized."

"Time to Wivillian border, three minutes."

"Lightbringer back up to speed, closing fast."

"Captain, other ship coming into sensor range on intercept course... Azrow class battleship."

"Never thought I'd be happy to see one of those" the Captain thought.

"The Lightbringer is breaking off, returning home." the tactical offer reports, relieved.

Next, the communication officer spoke: "Sir, the battleship is demanding we come to a full stop and drop shields."

"Do it, then hail them."

"Sir, they are hailing us."

"Then, open a channel."

Over the speakers, the sound of an old man's voice came though: "This is Captain Joseph Arnold of the Republic Defense Ship Incorrigible. How can we render assistance?"

Captain Harrison smiled. "I am Captain Ryan Harrison of the science vessel Argo. We were fleeing aggressive tyranny and merely seek a safe place to recooperate peacefully before going home."

"I see we scared off that vessel picking on you. We see similar things all too often. Captain Harrison, our borders are open to all, on the condition that you don't cause trouble. We must ask that you follow us to a border station and permit us to search your ship before you proceed to any of the core worlds. You have our word that no harm will come to you or your men while in the space of our Republic."

"That seems more than reasonable, Captain Arnold. Lead the way."

[DesertFly]

The hall was packed. Ambassador Namtaru, after numerous calls for explanation, had scheduled a press conference. As he made his way to the stage, Namtaru was certain that he saw several important leaders in the audience, and he was even more sure that those who weren't there would be carefully analyzing every word and phrase he said.

In front of the podium, he made a noise that sounded much like someone clearing their throat.

"Ahem. Greetings everyone. There have been a great many rumours and accusations flying around from different circles lately, and I feel that the time is right to set things straight and clear up any misconceptions or wrong ideas that people may have." He gestured at the podium, and a large screen behind him lit up with images of Tais II.

"The planet you see behind me is Tais II. This planet, until recently, was the home of what Lord Ra claimed was a small outpost. At 1450 hours on Thursday, Zerg scouts, in the system on a routine surveying and mapping expidition witnessed the following battle." The screen began flashing with images of gliders and Zerg locked in combat and Al'kesh exploding. When they came to the fiery death of the Ha'tak, there were several gasps in the audience.

Namtaru continued.

"As you can see, the aggressors in this battle are biological, the same as my own species." The screen began to show more images, this time from the battle on the planet. The scenes shifted, until they arrived at a Hydralisk, one claw sunk through a Jaffa's chest, the other coming down to take his head off. The crown gasped. "Yes," said Namtaru, in a quieter voice, "these images are real, and they are Zerg. This being you see here is a Hydralisk, one of the most versatile creatures in the Zerg forces. My form is modeled after that because of its versatility, but I assure you, I have no more in common with that beast, that monster there on the screen than our form." The screen began cycling images again. "The horrors you see here on the screen were sadly done by Zerg, but-" his voice jumped "-they are not us! I have been in constant communication with my superiors since news of this outrage began to reach my ears, and the worst has come to pass. It seems that one of our Cerebrates, or military commanders, disagrees with the policies of our leader, and has taken his brood and gone rogue. We're not entirely sure why he attacked this planet and slaughtered its occupants, but we fear that this may be a bid for power. This cannot be tolerated! I call upon the other races of this galaxy to help us end this threat! The Zerg have had their share of hardship and struggle, but we recognize that none of us can live in peace or hope for safety in a galaxy where madmen like this are allowed to run free! I call upon you, Darth Kreshna, and you Lord Adam, and you Detritus, and all the other leaders (oc: who I'm forgetting) of the free peoples of this galaxy to come together and destroy this madman and his forces." The audience was beginning to show signs of excitement. "Avenge this tragedy! Let not his sins go unpunished. We Free Zerg commit any forces neccessary to help end this threat once and for all! Thank you, and goodnight!"

As Namtaru stood there, the audience erupted in spontaneous applause. He smiled to himself. The crowds were just as easy to control as ever.

After several minutes, the applause died down enough for Namtaru to make his voice heard once more.

"And now, if there are any questions, I will answer them as best as I can."

He waited for the first...

[Destructionator XV]

"Got some recordings of meetings on subspace," Lord Adam said to the Lady as they sit alone, "a wee bit old, but I hear they are quite interesting."

"We'll, let us view them," she answers.

OOC: COLOR CODED FUN: gray = on the TV

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Supreme System Lord," a Jaffa officer announced.

"Heh, he is so full of himself."

"Seventeen hours ago, a fleet of Zerg jumped into the Tais System, along our borders, destroying a small outpost there and setting up mining operations to exploit the system's mineral wealth."

"Wow, that is a little close."

"Despite my initial beliefs, highly credible intelligence sources have told me that this Zerg force is a rogue brood which has acted without the consent of their government. ... That does not, however, mean this rogue brood will go unpunished."

"He's lying," she commented, "The pitch of his voice gives him away."

"And the face of his bodyguard."

"Indeed, he doesn't know what is going on at all."

The Goa'uld tried not to show his concern, but did sweat under his embarrassment.

"Look at him closely. There is more on his mind. For a false god, he is a terrible liar."

"Remember though, not everyone is as observant as you and I. Nor as smart."

"This is true."

"Here comes the second recording."

"This planet, until recently, was the home of what Lord Ra claimed was a small outpost."

"Claimed? Interesting word choice."

"A cautious choice: he may not know what was there at all. This statement is indubidaly factually accurate, so even if he does know, he is not risking a lie."

The screen began flashing with images of gliders and Zerg locked in combat and Al'kesh exploding. When they came to the fiery death of the Ha'tak, there were several gasps in the audience.

"How the hell do biological beings get these images?"

"Psychic cameras?"

"That's weird."

The scenes shifted, until they arrived at a Hydralisk, one claw sunk through a Jaffa's chest, the other coming down to take his head off.

"The following press conference is rated 'R'. It contains
Graphic violence.
Adult themes."

"Viewer discresion is advised."

"It seems that one of our Cerebrates, or military commanders, disagrees with the policies of our leader, and has taken his brood and gone rogue. "

"Fascinating. Think he's bullshitting?"

"I don't know. I am having a hard time reading this guy, but deceit is a tool of statecraft."

"Naturally, only a fool abuses this tool, lest it become dull."

"Naturally."

"We're not entirely sure why he attacked this planet and slaughtered its occupants, but we fear that this may be a bid for power."

"Maybe because it was an easy target? Fuck, our two science ships could have blasted it when we were there."

"If that is their MO, we should probably defend this place a little better."

"Indeed."

"I call upon the other races of this galaxy to help us end this threat! "

"Interesting. If they cannot handle it themselves, it might represent a significant split in their forces."

"Or perhaps, they want to save their own blood, make us do their dirty work."

"Or it is a ruse."

"I can't tell at this point."

"The Zerg have had their share of hardship and struggle, but we recognize that none of us can live in peace or hope for safety in a galaxy where madmen like this are allowed to run free!"

"The irony is he says that while standing on a Death Star commanded by a Dark Lord of the Sith."

"I call upon you, ... and you Lord Adam, ... leaders of the free peoples of this galaxy"

"Sorry pal, not of this galaxy."

"I'm not even sure most of us could be honestly called leaders of free peoples."

"Perhaps."

As Namtaru stood there, the audience erupted in spontaneous applause.

"Shit, people are stupid sheep."

"Yup."

"Well, that is the end of the recording we got; any questions would have been cut off. We might get a transcript of those later on. What do you make of it?"

"Well, Ra is definitely bullshitting, but what else is new with him. He doesn't really know what is going on and is scared of what this could mean. The Zerg fella, I can't tell. Haven't got him registered yet."

"Hmm, nor do I. So we know only one thing for certain: creatures attacked a base only a couple dozen light years from here and brutally slaughtered its inhabitants."

"Yeah, all the details are up in the air."

"Curious... think we could take advantage of this? Imagine if some 'evidence' was found (and by found I may mean manufactured) that showed this was Zerg under orders from their central command."

"That is dangerous."

"Yes, but consider then that we were to create or hijack some Zerg of our own. Let them loose on the Death Star."

"I see where you are going with this. We graciously offer our assistance in bringing them under control, and in the process 'accidentally' cause some major damage to certain systems."

"Precisely, and the Zerg get the blame. When their ambassador hears about this, he will say, truthfully, that he has no idea what is going on, that it must have been a rogue group."

"And thanks to our previous 'evidence', the more he professes his innocence, the more the others will think he is covering something up."

"Yes, and from there they decide to strike back, but since the Zerg weren't actually at fault, they will, rightfully see this as an unprovoked attack, and respond in kind."

"We then sit back and watch as they all destroy each other. A plot worthy of the Baron himself, but dangerous, very dangerous."

"Yes, it is. We'll need to flesh it out a little more to account for that."

"We'll see."

[Ra]

"You're fucking insane," Madar snapped. Still dressed in her suit, the Dark Jedi strode alongside Ra as he made his way to a parked Al'kesh.

"I probably am," Ra muttered.

"You're going into the heart of Zerg territory - although their ambassador explicitly stated any intruders would be destroyed on sight - in a single slow, lumbering and primitive strategic bomber," Nica stated, flicking one of her brain-tails over a shoulder. "Yes, you're certifiably insane."

"And sending all three of us on a suicide mission by dragging us along," Madar glared.

"The Zerg would be stupid to try and assassinate me now," Ra stated. "And I have a backup plan."

Madar chuckled, and responded, "Like you had when a bunch of backwater primitives Ringed a nuke-"

"Shaddap," Ra snapped. "Alright, I don't have a backup plan. But it's either; meet with their mysterious leader, or go to war."

Slowly, a Jaffa man walked up.

"Director Kerasher, what do you have on the Zerg?" Ra asked.

The Goa'uld Intelligence boss answered, "Not much on their military strength, m'lord, although we've been able to determine which of their planets acts as a capital of sorts. That's been downloaded to your ship's navcomp."

"And this leader of theirs?" Madar added.

"Nothing, outside of what you've told me," sighed Kerasher.

"Not even her fucking name, or what she looks like," Buscan muttered.

"Probably looks just as freaked out as that ambassador of theirs," Nica chimed in.

"In his latest press conference, Ambassador Namtaru indeed made reference to one leader," Kerasher added. "I'm not sure what-"

"She's been in both our heads, Mister Director," Madar interjected. "I heard her just after I warned Meryetre, Ra heard her during his press conference eight hours ago."

"I'm not immediately eager to trust your 'hunch', ma'am," Kerasher stated, "But I'll take your word for it."

"My 'hunch' is based on what I sense in the Force, Director," Madar clarified demeaningly. "I know what I'm talking about."

"My apologies," Kerasher answered with a frown. "Very well, m'lord, I shall take my leave of you."

Ra gave him an impassive nod, and boarded the ship. Before long, they were off into orbit, and made a jump into hyperspace, right toward Zerg space.

A long, uneventful trip later, the Al'kesh exited a hyperspace window, zipping over a fringe Zerg colony.

"Here goes nothing," Madar muttered.

Ra couldn't help but glare.

[Ra]

"Multiple Zerg contacts headed this way," Madar stated.

"Hail the Zerg planet," Ra commanded.

Nica crossed her legs, and put a metal piece to her ear, replying, "Hailing frequencies open, sir."

Ra changed over into his "Goa'uld" voice, sounding deep, demonic, and menacing. He stated, "This is the Supreme System Lord Ra of the Reformed Goa'uld Empire. I DEMAND to meet with your head of state at once! You will be given ten minutes to comply."

"Alright, now that you've managed to do that, how do you back up your demand?" Buscan inquired.

"Oh, nothing," Madar sighed. "Just the fact that the entire back of this ship is nothing but naquada-enhanced nukes."

Buscan and Nica turned to each other, and yelped, "WHAT THE-"

. . .

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Agreed, if a large military force preforming wargames isnt a clear warning, I have no idea what is anymore, probably nuking a planet is considered a polite cough...

Darth Kreshna nodded seriously, then replied "we will prepare for the arrival of the Battlefield Goliath, then. Kreshna out."

After the communication closed, the Sith Inquisitor contemplated. Once Flotsam arrived, they would arrange a fleet combat training near the Zerg border. Of course there wouldn't be territory violation whatsoever, just enough to show their muscle.

Browsing through his message again, Kreshna browsed through his Inbox and found the A'millan Ambassador's reply:

To: Dark Lord of the Sith Kreshna:
B CC: Imperial News Agency
Include previous messages as attachments


Your people claim to be committed to peace, and yet you keep a massive Weapon of Mass Destruction in full operation. Tell me, Darth, is this a diplomatic outpost of peace, or is it a military battlestation of an Empire? Are you committed to our peaceful future and continued prosperity, or are you committed to keeping everyone in this galaxy cowering in terror? Terror of becoming the next Alderaan?

John Kruger
Ambassador, A'millian Star Empire

Darth Kreshna frowned again. He really had no idea why the A'millan suddenly insisted the disarming of the superlaser out of the blue. Furthermore, during the treaty that formed the Death Star Three Project, it was agreed that the Empire would keep the Death Star's superlaser, and Lord Adam was one of the head of the states that signed the treaty. Why the A'millan suddenly swinged their allegiance was totally lost to the Sith.

He lit a cigar, then wrote the reply:


TO: His Excellency Ambassador Kruger of the A'millan Star Empire
FROM: Sith Grand Inquisitor Darth Kreshna of the Galactic Empire
CC: His Excellency Lord Adam of the A'millan Star Empire
SUBJECT: Re: Death Star Disarmament Request

Dear Sir,

Frankly I am baffled by your government's insistence in disarming the Death Star. I should remind you that Sol Charter implies that the Death Star, while serving as diplomatic outpost to ensure peace for our future generations, still keeps its superlaser as part of the agreement.

Cordially,

Darth Kreshna
Imperial Sith Grand Inquisitor, Prince of Byss, Archduke of Bilbringi, Honorary Baron of Naboo, Honorary Prince of Coruscant, and Imperial Viceroy of Milky Way


Kreshna punched the 'SENT' button, then sighed. He really did not get it. After the end of Empire/Guardian War, he, alongside with Ra, Lord Detritus, and Lord Adam, realized the importance of preventing another Guardian War. Darth Kreshna, out of good will, offered his personal battle station, the Death Star Three, as a diplomatic outpost for various nations to settle their differences carefully.

And thus, the Charter was signed.

However, it was also agreed that the Sith was still the rightful owner of the Death Star, and while there were various embassies and consulates, the Death Star itself was still part of Darth Kreshna's Milky Way Fiefdom. Thus, things like whether the superlaser should be there or not, or how many defense HTLs would be maintained on its surface, was entirely up to the Empire. Morever, nobody else had ever been objecting to the superlaser so far. So the A'millan insistence was really baffling.

Darth Kreshna took another aspirin, trying to shrug his headache off. Despite all these years, the Phoenix essence was still burning inside him, and sometimes it gave him the headache. He felt something wrong, as if Lord Adam really wanted to disam the superlaser using whatever means necessary.

The Sith wrote another email to Moff Jonathan McKenzie, expressing his conern, as well as ordering to double the security aboard the station, especially near the superlaser. The intelligence was ordered to open their ears as well, in case the A'millan decided to infiltrate the station.

Sending the mail, the Sith now turned of the Holo-TV:

The hall was packed. Ambassador Namtaru, after numerous calls for explanation, had scheduled a press conference. As he made his way to the stage, Namtaru was certain that he saw several important leaders in the audience, and he was even more sure that those who weren't there would be carefully analyzing every word and phrase he said.

In front of the podium, he made a noise that sounded much like someone clearing their throat.

"Ahem. Greetings everyone. There have been a great many rumours and accusations flying around from different circles lately, and I feel that the time is right to set things straight and clear up any misconceptions or wrong ideas that people may have." He gestured at the podium, and a large screen behind him lit up with images of Tais II.

"The planet you see behind me is Tais II. This planet, until recently, was the home of what Lord Ra claimed was a small outpost. At 1450 hours on Thursday, Zerg scouts, in the system on a routine surveying and mapping expidition witnessed the following battle." The screen began flashing with images of gliders and Zerg locked in combat and Al'kesh exploding. When they came to the fiery death of the Ha'tak, there were several gasps in the audience.

Namtaru continued.

"As you can see, the aggressors in this battle are biological, the same as my own species." The screen began to show more images, this time from the battle on the planet. The scenes shifted, until they arrived at a Hydralisk, one claw sunk through a Jaffa's chest, the other coming down to take his head off. The crown gasped. "Yes," said Namtaru, in a quieter voice "these images are real, and they are Zerg. This being you see here is a Hydralisk, one of the most versatile creatures in the Zerg forces. My form is modeled after that because of its versatility, but I assure you, I have no more in common with that beast, that monster there on the screen than our form." The screen began cycling images again. "The horrors you see here on the screen were sadly done by Zerg, but-" his voice jumped "-they are not us! I have been in constant communication with my superiors since news of this outrage began to reach my ears, and the worst has come to pass. It seems that one of our Cerebrates, or military commanders, disagrees with the policies of our leader, and has taken his brood and gone rogue. We're not entirely sure why he attacked this planet and slaughtered its occupants, but we fear that this may be a bid for power. This cannot be tolerated! I call upon the other races of this galaxy to help us end this threat! The Zerg have had their share of hardship and struggle, but we recognize that none of us can live in peace or hope for safety in a galaxy where madmen like this are allowed to run free! I call upon you, Darth Kreshna, and you Lord Adam, and you Detritus, and all the other leaders (oc: who I'm forgetting) of the free peoples of this galaxy to come together and destroy this madman and his forces." The audience was beginning to show signs of excitement. "Avenge this tragedy! Let not his sins go unpunished. We Free Zerg commit any forces neccessary to help end this threat once and for all! Thank you, and goodnight!"

As Namtaru stood there, the audience erupted in spontaneous applause. He smiled to himself. The crowds were just as easy to control as ever.

After several minutes, the applause died down enough for Namtaru to make his voice heard once more.

"And now, if there are any questions, I will answer them as best as I can."

He waited for the first...

In the conference room...

A comely looking journalist rose her hand. Everyone noticed her; that was the famous Aswina Jasmine from XNN (Xizor News Network).

The journalist asked, "Ambassador Namtaru, if your government claimed to be not responsible for the Zerg attack on Tais II, then how come the attacking Zergs wore the same color with your brood, as shown in the recording?"

Watching the live interview from the TV, Darth Kreshna smiled. He wondered how Namtaru would answer Aswina's question....


OOC: yes, as in StarCraft gameplay, each brood has their own distinctive color, do they?

[DesertFly]

In the conference room...

A comely looking journalist rose her hand. Everyone noticed her; that was the famous Aswina Jasmine from XNN (Xizor News Network).

The journalist asked, "Ambassador Namtaru, if your government claimed to be not responsible for the Zerg attack on Tais II, then how come the attacking Zergs wore the same color with your brood, as shown in the recording?"

Namtaru momentarily looked quite puzzled. He shook his head, then answered. "The Zerg who attacked Tais II were Zerg, not some other species. Their numbers were drawn from the ranks of the Swarm, as I've already said. I suppose the Swarm could somehow paint or alter the pigmentation of those who are still loyal, but that would only serve to help your visual identification, and beside, that's a modification that would be easily copied. No, the colors of Zerg have no significance, and attempting to make a distinctive "Swarm Color" would only lead to confusion and possible attempts by the enemy to decieve us."

OOC: yes, as in StarCraft gameplay, each brood has their own distinctive color, do they?

OOC: Indeed they did in Starcraft. But I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

In the conference room...

A comely looking journalist rose her hand. Everyone noticed her; that was the famous Aswina Jasmine from XNN (Xizor News Network).

The journalist asked, "Ambassador Namtaru, if your government claimed to be not responsible for the Zerg attack on Tais II, then how come the attacking Zergs wore the same color with your brood, as shown in the recording?"

Namtaru momentarily looked quite puzzled. He shook his head, then answered. "The Zerg who attacked Tais II were Zerg, not some other species. Their numbers were drawn from the ranks of the Swarm, as I've already said. I suppose the Swarm could somehow paint or alter the pigmentation of those who are still loyal, but that would only serve to help your visual identification, and beside, that's a modification that would be easily copied. No, the colors of Zerg have no significance, and attempting to make a distinctive "Swarm Color" would only lead to confusion and possible attempts by the enemy to decieve us."

Jasmine asked again, "so have you done anything regarding to this 'renegade Cerebrates'? Could you tell us further about them, who they are, and why they were attacking Tais II?"

Edited to fix your broken quote tag
~Adam

[Destructionator XV]

"Pack your bags, guys. We're going home." Ambassador John Kruger announces to the staff at the embassy, holding up a piece of paper.

All the people present drop what they are doing and look at him.

"Official order, direct from the crown. Transport will be here in eight hours, so get to it quickly; we don't want to leave anything behind."

[Destructionator XV]

Somewhere in another universe....

"Personal log, Captain Ryan Harrison recording. We have been in Wivillian space for six sectons now, and what an experience it has been. Like most people, I have never visited the Republic of Wivillia in our home universe and knew little more than what everyone learns in high school and in the news. They have been our opponents before, and I have been close to their people and ships, but I never really knew them. Actually being here, alternate universe or not, has been an wholly interesting trip.

But I want to see my family again. I want to go home, and so does my crew. To this end, we are going to the capital to try to get assistance in going back to the disturbance unmolested, but whether we get their help or not... I just want to go home."



"Wo-o-o-w" Captain Harrison said looking out the shuttle's window while descending over the Wivillian capitol.

"A magnificant city, isn't it?" the pilot of the shuttle, a Wivillian tour guide, said.

"Yes, I've seen major cities before, and all of them are amazing in their own way, but I think this takes the cake."

"With an area of nearly two thousand square kilometres and a population of over nineteen million in the city proper alone, this is the second largest city in the Republic. When you add in the surrounding metropolitan area, it easily climbs to the top in both physical size and population."

"Incredible."

The shuttle flies over seemingly endless skyscrapers and finally stops at a huge, both tall and wide, building in the middle of the city. It lands on a satellite platform of the big building, and Captain Harrison is greeted by men who escort him inside.

After a short wait, he is called inside an office.

"Mr Harrison, I am Steve Raymond. How do you do? I hear you and your crew have some trouble with the A'millians."

"Yes, that's right."

"Well, there are some things we can offer you and your men. You can immigrate here legally, a process I can help you begin right now, or you can remain as a visitor for up to a bidecitar if you simply fill out one of these extended stay forms. These are just used in case something happens to you or an emergency comes up and we need to contact you."

"But, what if we should want to go back?"

"Currently, as a short term visitor, you just need to check out through a border station. If you become an extended visitor, you will simply need to give notice to this office, which can be done at the border station, then check out. If you immigrate however, you can leave our nation at any time, but going back means you become a visitor to the A'millians, and are thus subject to their laws rather than ours."

"Is that the best you can do?"

"Yes, I'm afraid it is. We aren't on the best terms with the A'millian Empire, so once you pass by the border, we can offer nothing more."

"I see. And if we left, then wanted to come back here?"

"Simply begin the visitor process over again. Should be no problem at all; our borders are always open to visitors."

"Well, Mr Raymond, thank you, but that will be all for now."

"Thank you, Mr Harrison, and good luck."

The captain leaves the building and gets a ride back to the ship.

"No go, gentlemen. We can stay here or be on our own. I say we go on our own. Set your course for the border station where we came in, and from there, back to the disturbance."

The Argo leaves the wonderous planet in a blink of light.

[Destructionator XV]

Somewhere in another universe....

"Sensor sweep, are we alone?" Captain Harrison asked.

"Scanning, sir..... we don't see anything, but there could still be a cloaked ship."

"They couldn't have been waiting here all this time. For all they knew, we weren't coming back," Ericson pointed out.

"OK, drop the cloak. Let's do this."

"Saturating warp nacelles, the plan is proceeding as predicted."

"Scanners still clean sir."

An uneventful hour later....

"It worked! The disturbance has reopened!"

"Finally... take us in, one quarter impulse."

"Subspace field intensity increasing... six hundred millicochranes... one cochrane, two point three, increasing rapidly."

"We're passing through the centre now..."

"Subspace field dropping off sir, we're clear... but the disturbance didn't collapse on itself like we thought... it seems that exotic particles are holding it open. This shouldn't be possible."

"Neither should alternate universe travel. What does it mean?"

"I have no idea sir, but it is stable in this state."

"Can we leave it for now safely?"

"There is nothing we can do here right now."

"All right, deploy a warning beacon then set course for PWE-306. Let's make sure we are where we want to be."

***

"Coming up on PWE-306, sir... sensors detecting post-industrial civilization sir! Exactly what should be here.... we made it.... we're home."

A wave of satisfaction went over the crew.

"What is the nearest starbase?"

"One-eleven, sir. We can make it in one day."

"Set a course, best possible speed."

"With pleasure."

The Argo disappears in a blink of light and in the darkness behind them another vessel followed...

[Ra]

High Orbit, I-1071 - Mereytre's Quarters

"I don't like how this is going," Meryetre said, speaking to another Jaffa. "Tais is now completely in Zerg posession, and Lord Ra is doing nothing about it."

"M'lady, all I can say is that we can't move unless His Lordship commands us," the other Jaffa answered.

"Then," Meryetre looked down, pondering for a moment, "perhaps we should do something about it ourselves."

"You've been around Madar and those other outsiders for far too long, Meryetre," the Jaffa officer frowned. "She's putting all these ideas in your head that disobedience has no consequence, no repercussions. I know you care about her, but remember who she is."

"I understand that perfectly," Meryetre nodded sharply. "But we took so many precautions and put so much effort into keeping this operation secret, an effort that would make us strong before our enemies and allies alike. We would gain the bargaining advantage that has been the exclusive perview of the Empire for far too long. And now the Zerg have that advantage, and Tais II is intergalactic news, perpetuated madly by a Galactic Empire that wants to rub our noses in it!"

The Jaffa soldier nodded slowly, and replied, "Yes, the bastards have done everything they can to maximize our embarrassment over the situation. They know everything, and are gloating about it."

"Darth Kreshna claims to champion peace," said Meryetre, "but his actions in sensationalizing this disaster only tell me that he is just another Imperial; and they would love nothing more than to have an excuse to conquer this galaxy. It was my sincere hope, with Fireday, that our People would have a means to fight back."

"That is truly what you wanted?" the Jaffa asked.

"It was," Meryetre stared. "I wanted us to be strong. There was a time when no one would touch the System Lords, save the Asgard, who truly do value peace. Now, we are the backwater power that greater realms spy on with impunity, laughing at our inability to stand up for ourselves. If the "Reformed" Goa'uld Empire is not conquered outright, we will be forced to rely on the welfare of the Empire. Disgusting."

"There could be no greater disgrace," the Jaffa seethed. "To be the invalids of the universe. That cannot come to pass."

"No, it cannot," Meryetre said.

"I can't simply deploy battle fleets to destroy the Tais II incursion force," said the Jaffa, "but according to Ambassador Namtaru's recent statements..."

"The Zerg want the invasion force destroyed as much as we do," Meryetre nodded. "Their leader realizes she made a very bold move in this attack, and her armies are expendible fodder to be purged; keeping her hands clean."

"Indeed," the officer nodded. "All now depends on how Ra's meeting with their "Queen" goes..."

[Destructionator XV]

Death Star III

As workers continue to carry equipment from the former embassy location to the dock to load it onto a transport, a few of them seem to be doing their own thing.



What appeared to be a young human female with yellow meatball head hair and big eyes walked past what looked like a cleaning droid, and noted a minute slow down in it. She blinked as she passed by it, and continued on, towing a big box.

She proceeds into a dark corner, and after checking to be sure she was alone, she opens the box and removes a false bottom from it, revealing a miniature transporter unit and a small magnetic container.

She takes the miniature unit and container out and hides them, setting a timer on both. The transporter would activate in six hours, and the magnetic container would deactivate in seven.

She then continues on as if nothing happened, loading more equipment. Each trip she made, she planted another unit and cylinder after noting the same movements in the same cleaning droid.

At the last trip, six such units and cylinders were planted, and the little droid climbed into the cargo on the way out.

Two hours later, the ships departed, leaving the A'millian Embassy empty, and the plan afoot.

[Destructionator XV]

Death Star III

The miniature transporter units come to life, materializing seven zerglings each before dematerializing themselves.

These zerglings were excellent copies; it would take an expert to tell them apart from the real thing.

The forty-two fake Zerglings all come together and start off toward one of the populated civilian centres of the station, brutally slaughtering anything in their path with incredible speed.

[Dartzap]

Ah! Flotsam, so good of you to come!

Flotsam glared at his boss, He knew damn well what he thought of this new assignment, but he thought he'd make sure that his boss knew damn well he didnt approve

You ordered me and my fleet here without any R&R, to a possibly hostile area? Thats not clever m'lored, not clever at all


Detritus looks at his secound in command, a grin on his face, but there was a something else in his features, sorrow by the looks of it, but why? what did need to feel sorrowful about?

I agree, I want you to arrange matters with Lord Kreshna so that you and your troops have a week or so here before heading to the border, I assume that will be good enough?

Flotsam gave way on this, atleast it would keep the warriors on their toes, and they'd not feel restless

Yeah, that'll do. Thats assuming that there won't be any problems here, right?

I can only hope there wont be any trouble here, from what I understand, Kreshna has called all leave off for the security forces and Militias


I'd not trust the security forces on this station not to notice a Ice Giant shitting in the reactor room. You know their useless!

Possibly. If you want, you can always offer up some of our troops to reinforce his own

Thats a possibility, I suppose. When am I meeting the bastard then?

You will be meeting with Lord Kreshna in 2 hours. Please behave yourself.

Yeah, right! Hah!

Flotsam removes himself from the room, heading back towards his temporay accomodation in the hotel district, throwing his pistol into the air and catching it by the barrel, before a blood curdling scream rings out through the area. Now what does one do when faced by ablood curdling scream? Go towards it or run away very quickly?

Flotsam unholsters his Pulsar pistol, and goes to investigate

[Ra]

Zerg Space

"I think their Queen had to take a piss," Buscan sighed.

"Women," Ra muttered.

Madar pummeled Ra upside the head, and then looked at the com console.

"This is interesting. You've got an incoming transmission from Central Intelligence."

"Patch it through," Ra stated.

A hologram of Kerasher appeared. The man's expression was neutral, but indicated he knew something was up.

"M'lord," he greeted. "Our spies have discovered something I believe you should know, and soon."

"Go on, Director," Ra answered.

"We have spotted massive amounts of Imperial and Trollish fleet movements in this galaxy, indicating they intend on conducting some sort of joint exercise - or more likely-"

"In invasion," Madar stepped in. "Right after Tais II fell, they would just happen to conduct an unscheduled fleet exercise? Not very convincing of them."

"Indeed, I inform all of my allies of fleet exercises months in advance," Ra stated. "That was one of the things we have to do to maintain the 'peace' Darth Kreshna so champions. It's also why I wasn't able to intervene at Tais without setting off numerous alarms."

"Not that it mattered in the end, seeing the media coverage this fiasco has generated," Madar muttered.

"Continue, Kerasher!" Ra barked.

"M'lord, all indications are from our operatives within the Imperial goverment that the same Darth Kreshna that so champions peace, as you put it, plans an action very close to the Zerg border, possibly leading up to a preemptive strike against them in response to the Tais II incursion."

"Odd..." Ra answered. "I hope their Queen is hacking this transmission, because I'd like her to hear it too."

"You're bleeding insane!" Buscan interjected.

"No, I just have a plan," Ra smirked. "Hail them again."

"Channel open," Nica said warily.

Ra nodded, and began in a calm, polite tone, "Queen of the Zerg, this is Supreme System Lord Ra. I came here under diplomatic means to have a meeting with you in person, due to mutual concerns over recent events. Both of us know the Zerg that attacked my outpost were rogues, not under your control. That much is obvious. But what you might not know is what your other neighbors in this galaxy are planning, even right now. This is critical information I've acquired, and it not only means that this entire galaxy could be drawn into war; it also affects your power over this quadrant. I patiently await your signal to go down to the surface."

Madar looked over at Ra in shock. Had her boss just sold out the Galactic Empire? Did he just toss aside long-time allies to gain the temporary favor of some ravaging race of beasts?

Madar was actually impressed by Ra's about-face. Perhaps he had learned something while she was screaming in his face back on Nyla VI. But still, a small and ever-fainter part of the Dark Jedi was horrified at what he was doing. He was betraying his allies and friends, giving away their battle plans to some aggressor and stranger. Was this really to maintain his idea of peace?

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

The Sith was standing blind-folded in his chamber, holding a lightsaber. Saying he was blinded, however, was incorrect, since he was training his "other" sight.

BEOW!! The first training droid fired its mini-blaster, which the Sith blocked easily.

Darth Kreshna was a victim of conspiracy --an object of genetic enginering experiment. Totally unknown to his parents, he was already choosen even before his birth. His mother's gynecologist was secretly working for Senator Palpatine and The Organization, and so was the baby's doctor. In succession, they injected the fetus --and later the baby, with the Guardians genetic materials. The result was a Dark Jedi perfectly suitable to host the Phoenix Force.

BEOW BEOW BEOW!!! Now three droids fired in succession. Kreshna dodged the first two while blocking the third.

The Guardians was originally the Middle-Earthen Maiars who dedicated their "soul" to watch over the Phoenix Force. Shedding their physical form, those Maiars mutated their essence into a space-faring race and called themselves "Ancient Guardians". For aeons, the Ancient Guardians had monitored various Phoenix Incarnations throughout ages, and to rally against the Phoenix if it went mad and endangered the universe. Benevolent and disciplined, the Guardians served to keep the balance.

That was until they encountered the Star Wars Galaxy.

A four-armed combat droid lunged at Darth Kreshna, each of its arms ended with a lightsaber.

There was the Light Side, and there was the Dark Side. Such dichotomy, however, did not constitute the boundary of the Force, for the Force was complex and had many facets and manifestations. One of them was what so-called the Phoenix Force, which represented all life-force energy that was, that is, and that will be. It was Darth Plagueis who first discovered the existence of the Phoenix Force, who also sent his young apprentice Darth Sidious to steal the secret files of the Witches of Dathomir that described their first encounter with the Guardians. While Plagueis did not succeed, his apprentice did. Almost did.

FZZZZ... FZZZZZT.... FZZZAAAACKTT!! The lightsabers clashed as the combat droid tried to subdue the blind-folded Darth Kreshna.

Perhaps the greatest cover-up during the era of the Old Republic was when a Guardian UFO crash-landed on Tatooine. Only few selected members of the Senate and the Jedi Council knew that it was not a weather satellite. Yoda, accompanied by a young Cigarette-Smoking Man, went to Tattooine to recover the ruins. The Project Majestic-12 was formed, and the Outbound Flight Project was commissioned. Its mission: investigating a Guardian Nexus whose existence was discovered from the remains of the crashed UFO, and performing a first contact mission.

However, Senator Palpatine --who also happened to be one of the selected fews-- had different plans. Having convinced a young Chiss named Thrawn, Palpatine secretly destroyed the Outbound Flight Project using Thrawn's hand. When Palpatine rose to power, he issued Order 66 to exterminate all Jedi, and the secret of the Guardians and the Phoenix Force was left to Palpatine. And The Organization, of course.

BEOW BEOW!!! FZZZAAACK!!! The blind-folded Sith now had to face the combat droid and the blasters.

The Phoenix Force is all-powerful; its was virtually a limitless source of energy, and certain Phoenix Incarnations had been known to display omnipotence. However, when combined with either the Light Side or the Dark Side of the Force, the Phoenix Force will be simply the ultimate omnipotence, commanding every fabric of reality at the whim of its bearer.

THWIRRRLLL.... Kreshna threw his lightsaber. Three training droids were sliced in succession.

Such thing, however, was almost impossible to achieve, since any Jedi or Sith will be driven to insanity once they became a Phoenix Host. Even a weak telepath like Jean Grey was almost driven insane in the series of events known as "The Dark Phoenix Saga", let alone someone wielding the power of the Force. That was why Palpatine needs the genetically-engineered Darth Kreshna as his vessel to omnipotence. That was also why Palpatine corrupted the Guardians and letting them fall to the hands of the near-omnipotent Archmagus. The Rebel Alliance, the Ssi-Ruuvi, and even the anticipated Yuuzhan Vong invasion; all were just mere excuses for Palpatine to build such gigantic Imperial War Machine.

The true reason was the Guardians.

CRACKLE!! A Force Lightning was emmitted from the Sith's fingers, only it was not Force Lightning at all.

It was something else.

The Flame Tendrils --not Force Lightning-- reached to the combat droid, frying it in an instant. Kreshna's body was now shrouded in a bird-shaped fire aura.

Palpatine was killed during the Battle of Endor, but his Unholy Essence still lurking in the Dreamlands, patiently waiting for the return of the Guardians, and the awakening of the Phoenix Force inside Darth Kreshna.

A great war ensued.

The conflict between the Empire and the Guardians was even greater, much much greater, than the war between two old races known as the Shadows and the Vorlons in another universe. Many smaller nations suffered heavy damages for merely being caught between the two titans. The Goa'ulds, the Trollish Imperium, and the A'millan Star Empire; all had their fair share of casualties during the war. Even the powerful Borg Collective was totally wiped out --although it was rumored that the Borg's extinction was actually attributed to something else-- and the Daleks suddenly withdrawn upon the first appearance of the Guardians.

The Guardians were old, mysteriously powerful, and somewhat mythical. The Empire, on the other hand, held the firepower capable of destroying a looming Guardian Vessel to shreds. And when the two Titans clashed, it was the smaller nations that suffered.

And Palpatine's Unholy Spirit patiently waited behind the curtain while trillions and trillions of innocent people being slaughtered in the war. Patiently waited until the Archmagus --the omnipotent who controlled the corrupted Guardians-- captured Darth Kreshna, the Phoenix Vessel.

Everything was proceeding as Palpatine had foreseen.

Except for one thing.

The Noble Lady Galadriel of the Elf, who served as the advisor to the Goa'uld Supreme System Lord Ra during that time, was the first to notice the nefarious scheme looming behind the war. Ra, Galadriel, Lord Detritus, Commander Flotsam, Lord and Lady Adam, and even the unwilling Phoenix Host himself banded together in a quest to discover the mystery behind all the thing. From within the Dreamland, Gandalf the White and Irene Patterson --who still loved the Sith but was perceived to spurn his love-- also did their part.

And now, Darth Kreshna was a Sith in name only.

Perhaps the most essential part in foiling Palpatine's plan was to separate the Phoenix Force from the Dark Side. The problem was that Darth Kreshna had essentially became one with the Phoenix, thanks to Palpatine's genetic manipulation. Separating the two merged beings was virtually impossible, for it would utterly destroy the very fabric of the universe in the process. Thus, an easier solution was made: with the aid of the Lightsider Princess Leia, Lady Galadriel, and the spirit of Irene Patterson, Darth Kreshna was totally stripped of his Dark Side power in order to make a safe room for the Phoenix Force.

And since then, he was simply The Phoenix.

What Kreshna was actually doing now is training himself using the Phoenix Force to substitute the Dark side in performing his standard "Jedi feats". An example was Lightsaber fighting. Previously, he did all the precog and superfast moves and the likes using the Force, now he had to do it using the Phoenix Force. The Phoenix was more powerful, of course, but also harder to use.

And of course, the Phoenix was omnipotent.

Darth Kreshna shuddered at the prospect. He knew he was actually capable of destroying stars and galaxies, and even universes at whim; a side of the Phoenix he had yet to explore. That was why he chose not to explore his power further, for the temptation was too great --and that was not mentioning the strain on his sanity.


While the Sith meditated after his exhausting training regime, his intercom unit beeped. It was Moff Ronald McKenzie himself, and there was something urgency in his voice.

"Darth Kreshna, milord? There is a Zerg uprising in Metro Sector. We already have the riot contained, but I believe you should see this."

These zerglings were excellent copies; it would take an expert to tell them apart from the real thing.

The forty-two fake Zerglings all come together and start off toward one of the populated civilian centres of the station, brutally slaughtering anything in their path with incredible speed.

Darth Kreshna watched the recording with surpressed rage. Stormtroopers quickly handled the situation; their blasters was powerful (OOC: even Han Solo's DL-44 blaster pistol blasted a torso-sized chunk in ANH) . Civilian casualties were minimal --there were only forty-two Zerglings anyway, certainly far from causing widespread casualties aboard the 600 kilometer-wide battlestation. In fact, the Stormtroopers managed to capture some Zerglings using tranquilizer munitions.

However, it was not the damage; it was the principle. First the attack on Tais II, and now this. Darth Kreshna wondered what Ambassador Namtaru would say this time.
Moff McKenzie spoke again, "we had contacted Ambassador Namtaru according to this matter, but he had not replied yet. I wonder if he would propose the Zerglings prisoner to be extradited, and...."

The Sith cut in, "if Namtaru ask for extradition, we'll use any excuses to postpone it. Not until we analyze those... those abomination."

The hologram of the Moff nodded, and spoke, "oh, and Commander Flotsam has just arrived aboard this station."

"Ah, he's the Trollish military liason now. Where is he?"

"He should have arrived here an hour ago... If not for the riot. We have closed the main highways while our Stormtrooper containing the Zerglings. I suppose Flotsam would be smart enough to stay in his hotel until all the Zerglings contained."

Little did McKenzie know that Flotsam just did the opposite of what he expected.....

You will be meeting with Lord Kreshna in 2 hours. Please behave yourself.

Yeah, right! Hah!

Flotsam removes himself from the room, heading back towards his temporay accomodation in the hotel district, throwing his pistol into the air and catching it by the barrel, before a blood curdling scream rings out through the area. Now what does one do when faced by ablood curdling scream? Go towards it or run away very quickly?

Flotsam unholsters his Pulsar pistol, and goes to investigate

===============================================

Death Star Metro District....

BEOW BEOW BEOW!!! A Stormtrooper fired his blaster rifle, stunning a Zergling. "Say, Sarge, why do we have to set our blaster on stun?"

"Because they're Zerg civilians," his commander replied.

"Civilians? You mean monsters, don't you?"

"Spare your racism, you Tatooine redneck! Or how many times should I tell you that the Zerg is a sentient race??"

"I'm sorry, Sir."

But the commander himself was not sure of his words as he witnessed a Zergling maimed another civilians. The Stormtroopers was still trying to contain the Zergling riot, but many civilians stood on their way.

Suddenly the commander saw a huge Troll holding a Pulsar Pistol. He did not know Flotsam, of course, so he thought it was just another civilian going for a self-defense. He took his megaphone and spoke to the Troll, "attention, this area is closed to civilians. Your participation is appreciated, but unecessary. Let us handle the situation and leave the area immediately for your own safety. Repeat, leave the area immediately for your own safety."

[Destructionator XV]

Floatsam and a few squads of Stormtroopers were able to take down the fake Zerglings within about ten minutes of them starting their attack, but that was enough time for the creatures to tear through dozens of innocent people and troopers alike.

The Stormies start a sweep to ensure there are no more, and Floatsam starts going to his bosses to report what has happened. OOC: If he has a character shield, he is not going to want to be here.

They continue their sweep, and one of them stumbled upon what appeared to be a metal cylinder. He reaches down to see what it is, and the cylinder's proximity detector deactivated its containment field.

The deadly antimatter it held quickly came in contact with the walls, and mass annihilation occurred almost instantly, releasing massive amounts of energy and propelling the rest of the antimatter mass into the walls, where it also produced an annihilation reaction, which kept on going, also setting off the other five bombs, all releasing their deadly payload into the station's walls and armour.

Gamma radiation and a massive pressure wave of air swept through the section, accelerated by the relative constrictions of the corridors, instantly killing everyone in the area of more than ten kilometres, ripping through walls and doors, sending superheated metal and vapour flying through anything in their path at high velocities.

Alarms all throughout the station rang, and all blast doors started to close within seconds, but it was too late for the immediate area of the blast. The pressure wave, still carrying some antimatter, impacted with the outer shell of the Death Star, punching through a large looking, but small compared to the size of the station, hole to the outside.

The explosive decompression ripped out the hole, carring disintegrated remains and hot debris into space, which started to fall down to the planet below instantly. Most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, but there were some chunks big enough to even cause some damage to the surface of Earth.

The remains of the fake Zerg were completely disintegrated, along with thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, Imperial personnel and innocent civilians. The bombs didn't discriminate.

After the minute of horror, the act was done. The station's blast doors protected most of it, including most essential systems, but at least a fifty kilometre sphere inside was completely destroyed.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

The deadly antimatter it held quickly came in contact with the walls, and mass annihilation occurred almost instantly, releasing massive amounts of energy and propelling the rest of the antimatter mass into the walls, where it also produced an annihilation reaction, which kept on going, also setting off the other five bombs, all releasing their deadly payload into the station's walls and armour.

Gamma radiation and a massive pressure wave of air swept through the section, accelerated by the relative constrictions of the corridors, instantly killing everyone in the area of more than ten kilometres, ripping through walls and doors, sending superheated metal and vapour flying through anything in their path at high velocities.

Alarms all throughout the station rang, and all blast doors started to close within seconds, but it was too late for the immediate area of the blast. The pressure wave, still carrying some antimatter, impacted with the outer shell of the Death Star, punching through a large looking, but small compared to the size of the station, hole to the outside.

The explosive decompression ripped out the hole, carring disintegrated remains and hot debris into space, which started to fall down to the planet below instantly. Most of it would burn up in the atmosphere, but there were some chunks big enough to even cause some damage to the surface of Earth.

The remains of the fake Zerg were completely disintegrated, along with thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, Imperial personnel and innocent civilians. The bombs didn't discriminate.

After the minute of horror, the act was done. The station's blast doors protected most of it, including most essential systems, but at least a fifty kilometre sphere inside was completely destroyed.

Even from his condominium, Darth Kreshna could feel the tremor. Moff MacKeznie was still holo-online, and he too, noticed it. "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"

"Oh my God...."

"What is it, Ron?"

Moff Ronald McKenzie was still baffled, and after recovering from his shock, he pucnhed a button to relay the view to DK's monitor.

"Oh my motherfucking god...."

Darth Kreshna knew he was scheduled to meet with Commander Flotsam --the Trollish military liason-- in the next two hour, and originally the topic was about the joint fleet training near the Zerg territory. But after the bombing, he knew that there was another, more important topic to discuss with Flotsam:

A war on terrorism.

[Dartzap]

*DSIII Space*

Debris, everywhere. As far as the eyes could see bodies gentley spinning, most of the bodies have something missing, legs, arms.. heads.

In the midsts of the ever expanding debris field... a rock,shape looks almost... huminoid.

In it's crystal brain, the soul sleeps.

HELLO FLOTSAM, YOUR NOT DUE FOR A FAIR WHILE

Flotsam looks at the figure in front of him. He was tall, in a black robe, and he looked damn thin

Oh Cropolith... Did I really just die?

POSSIBLY

Possibly?!

IT'S A NEW THEORY, IT'S CALLED THE UNCERTAINTY PRINCIPLE

Are you positive about that? Flotsam glared at the figure. Death, he knew walked with any soldier, it was a well known saying. It appeared it was more than that...

FUNNY, I THINK NOT.

So, if I'm not dead, why the hells am I here?

YOUR WAITING

For what?

Pride

Death fades away, His last word echoing in the world of nothingness.

Sod this! Flotsam runs towards what appears to be a light not far away. About half way there, a pit opens up beneath him, sucking him up.



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

'Thank the Gods of Celesti! He's awake!'

Flotsams eyes snap open, he raises himself off of the bedslab he had been lying upon.

Where the HELLS am I this time?

'Sir!' A troll saluted 'I'm Captain Shist Sir!, your aboard the Pride of Lancre

... Pride, did you just say?

'Yes Sir!, we were sent out into the debris field to look for survivers with most of the fleet, we found you in a deep freeze coma, The Doc said five minutes more and You'd have been a gonner!'


Well, I'll be damned... Thank you Captain, I need you to take me back to the DeathStar. I want to know who the hells did this.

'The Zerg, surely sir?'

Hah! Yes, possibly. Lets get to it

'Aye Commander! We will arrive at the DSIII in under 5 minutes'

And send a messege to Kreshna about what's happend to me, with my apologies. I'll probably have to explain the whole deep freeze thing...

'Understood sir'

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Death Star III, after the explosion.....

Sith Inquisitor Darth Kreshna and Moff Ronald McKenzie were supervising the recovery effort. Imperial response team was quick to act, evacuating and rescuing the survivors. The ten kilometers-wide hole was quickly sealed with atmospheric shield. Medical shuttles went back and forth to carry the injured people. A message had been sent to Coruscant accordingly; Darth Kreshna wonder what the Empire would react. Perhaps an all-out war against whoever behind this? But war against whom?

"This is totally insane," the Sith remarked.

"It is," Moff McKenzie replied, "a terrorist attack. An unprovoked terrorist attack. First, the Zerg rioters, and now this."

"Note that the rioting Zergs were also killed during the explosion. Do you think it is some sort of suicide bombing?"

"Could be. I'm not a diplomat, Kresh, but do you really suspect the Zerg behind this act of terrorism?"

"Dammit, Ron, Tais II was attacked by the Zergs, and he denied the involvement of Zerg's official government. And now we had all this Zergling riots. And the bombing. It is really hard to believe whatever Namtaru would say after this events, except...."

"Except?"

"Well, I'm not sure. Based on intelligence reports, Zergs warfare technology are mostly biological by nature, and they don't have the technology to build a bomb with such destructive capacity. Besides, it was just too obvious: a Zergling riot, followed by a bomb."

"What's your suspect, then?"

"Well.... The Trollish Imperium is definitely no; they are the closest Imperial ally, just like the United States and the United Kingdom on the planet Earth below. The Goa'ulds... Preliminary report said that this explosion did not resemble naquadah, although even if that was the case, it is actually hard to believe: Ra and Baal actually compete for Imperial support. The A'millans...."

"Haven't they been persistenly asking for disarmament of the superlaser?"

"...and they actually have the technology to build such destructive bomb. The Zergs, cooperating with the A'millans to perform terrorist attack on the Death Star. Unfortunately we don't have evidences so far. I'm still waiting for Commander Flotsam, maybe the Trollish Intelligence (MI-6) could help us investigating this matter."

"We just received a message; Flotsam survived the explosion, and will be here in less than 5 minutes."

"What do you mean 'survive'?"

"Well Flotsam was not in the hotel when the bomb exploded; he was actually in the middle of the explosion, yet he survived."

"He WHAT?"

"He did."

"Well I'm actually looking forward for a meeting with him. The Trolls are our closest ally, not to mention powerful. I believe it is imperative for the Trollish Imperium and the Galactic Empire to cooperate in a war against terrorism."

"Now you sound like a diplomat. Oh, you've been scheduled for a press statement after your meeting with Flotsam."

[Destructionator XV]

I-1071

Lord Adam beams up from a planetary survey and gets notification that he should turn on his TV.

Images of Zerglings came on the screen. One of them jumps the camera, and the view quickly switches to another view of reporters being told to stay out of the way by Imperial troops.

Of course, being nosey reporters, some of them remained to get footage of the carnage. After a few minutes of chaotic film, all the reporters and camera people are pushed out of the section while Stormtroopers move in to clean up.

Seconds later, the live feed is abruptly lost and the image cuts back to the studio with confused, afraid, and paniced anchors.

Adam lowers his head, slightly trembling. He wipes the forming tears from his eye and looks back at his beautiful bride, who sat unmoving and pensive, no look of emotion.

She always was the stronger.

Suddenly a beeping was heard from the com panel. Adam quickly composes himself and answers: "Yes?"

"Urgent message from 242 sir, on the open channel."

"Understood, patch it in."

A middle aged female human voice came through the speakers: "Admiral Wise here, sir, we just received alarming news about an attack on the Death Star."

"I am monitoring as well."

"What the hell is going on!?"

"I know as much as you do, Admiral."

"What are we going to do?"

"There is one thing - examine that footage of the Zerg carefully and compare it with Zerg images from Tais and what the Quine took."

"...yes, sir."

"Keep me appraised. Out."

[Destructionator XV]

Genator II
Destructionator Command Ship
Position unknown

"I've selected my next target," the yellow meatball head girl said to a middle aged man with pale skin and green eyes.

"Do you have authorization from the crown?" the pale skinned one asked.

"We are on detached duty, are we not?"

"You have a tendency to go too big, far too big, without proper authorization. This stops now."

"You know we can't have them in on every detail. We need to keep Royal hands clean of our blood, and Royal minds clear of our designs."

"There was no need for as much energy as you used here."

"When did you become all soft, Thirteen?"

He snaps his head around and stares right at her: "We have a greater purpose and operational restraints, Fifteen. If you realized this, you might have a command of your own by now."

"Now is our chance to strike back for the wrongs levied upon us by these bastards!"

"I will not let petty revenge taint our purpose, child."

"We live in a different world now,old model. If you do not get with the changing times, you, too, will be swept away by the whirlwind."

"Your sadism has made you arrogant. A design flaw common in your series."

"Your overgrown set of ethics have made you worthless. A design flaw common in your series."

"If you try an unauthorized attack, of any magnitude, I will deactivate you. Is that clear?"

"I see."

"Is that clear?"

"Crystal."

The pale model suddenly jerks he head back forward and cocks it to the side, while the female model stands back, looking forward, both acting as if nothing just happened.