Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:20:47 GMT
Celefra: Capitol Space
The aircraft carrying the EPA staffers took up most of the morning flying from point to point and circling to be scanned, passing over the many concentric security rings around Celefra in its approach to the capital city. Inside were Nrzqzr's deputy staff, a large group of generals, admirals, economists, spiritual leaders and intellectuals who formed her 'shadow cabinet' chosen to take over EPA should anything befall her and the regular cabinet. For their duration of the war they had not done much of anything given the AGA had never embarked upon any decapitation strikes but lately this had changed. The shadow cabinet was gaining more and more power now that Nrzqzr had largely stepped down from her political leadership and taken a more military role leading the Operational Manoeuvre Group. Given all of this, it was them who had to answer to Inara's call for an urgent meeting in Celefra.
Upon landing, the shadow cabinet was quickly brought to the Capitol imperial palace in a convoy of armored vehicles. It was led by an individual named Sddly, veteran of the confrontations in Telestus and first in line to succeed the twins for EPA's command.
Inara had been waiting for them. She had spent most of her time now in the gardens, the prospects of the war looked sadly quite grim. With Eos now effectively gone and the APP rapidly losing ships all she could do was watch and wait for the outcomes of both Rubikon and the Crucible proper, even though Capitol had contingencies the stress of the wait was bad enough. When Inara had received reports that the EPA battlegroup there, pride of the APP and having in tow a super weapon of prestigious power (one that had been massively hyped by EPA diplomats and strategists confirming to the Empress that it would be the bane of the AGA), had done a runner she had flown into a fit of rage in which even Illian had given her space.
Rubikon had been an additional chance to smash the allies, and EPA and the Z1 had been a critical asset in such, that both had simply ran away was unacceptable. And Inara was keen to put across that to the EPA representatives.
She was located in a large hall, once one of the banquet areas for her father, Inara had chosen it to be the place of meeting, the great vaulted and painting ceiling not having had guests for quite some time. Inara had ordered the place cleaned and prepared, and she sat alone at the head of the table hands to her mouth and elbows on the table as the reps were graciously led into the hall by some of her personal Hydra Guard. While she looked cool and composed, her mind writhed in anger.
Most of the shadow cabinet walked into the hall but it was only Sddly who stepped forward to address her directly, the rest preferring not to incur the wrath of the Capitol empress over an operation they had not being briefed on. Sddly himself was a bizarre creature, silently hovering over the polished marble floor, he looked like a set of triplets conjoined at the back, fused together with life support machinery and computer lobes grafted all over its body. Its legs were tiny, robotic appendages that twitched and writhed without purpose while his three arms were long enough the tip of his fingers almost reached the floor. It was no major surprise to Inara that Nrzqzr had chosen a set of triplets to take over EPA in case of emergency, but the sheer amount of machinery that merged them together was still pretty off putting
Inara ceased the urge to shout, and realised that she couldn’t even offer the... Thing a seat. She smirked at that and found it rather amusing. It was off-putting for sure, but then she had been around her fair share of EPA commanders and Axiomatic demi organics both on the rather strange side, it never quite got old however. She waited a moment before speaking.
"I see no reason to sit here exchanging pleasantries when we both have duties to attend to, so let’s skip the middle man shall we? I want you to tell me why EPAs finest flotilla with some of the most impressive weapons at your disposal including the legendary Z1 which you have consistently told me would be a wonder weapon to help end the war, seemed to withdraw immediately at the start of the battle? And only seemed to dump their ammunition in the cover of our own reinforcements before withdrawing from the system entirely? I don’t even know where such fleet is at current. The performance of some of EPAs finest forces and weapons are a bit... lacking don’t you think?"
"We found no significant need for it." Sddly replied, hovering over to the table as if taking a seat while slowly rotating so as to look at Inara with all three of its dead, porcelain-like faces. Its voice was clearly three different people speaking at once, though none of the triplets were moving their mouths. "As far as we can tell, Rubikon is presently in no danger of being taken over yet. Even with the intervention of two of their strategic weapons. While the damage inflicted by the plasma coil in Rubikon Prime is regrettable, I have heard that many of the critical assets were successfully evacuated including the bulk of the Panopticon."
"And yet" Inara gestured to a current holographic which was projected into a large space in the room, showing an up to date situation in the system "The situation is still on a tenuous edge, one that could have easily been reverted by your forces proper engagement. Your fleet could have inflicted much heavier losses and most likely helped throw back the allies entirely with active participation, that and the Z1 could have at least boosted morale with its presence especially if it showed off its true power. I would rather the system was a guaranteed victory rather than a see-saw situation between the two sides. Your presence would likely have reversed the damage to Rubikon Prime at least, what does your fleet intend to do now? Simply disappear and not participate in the war?"
"I completely agree with your assessment, your majesty." Sddly replied. "That is also the conclusion our own strategic simulators came to, so I must praise your ability to reach identical conclusions out of your pure, genius intuition. Nevertheless, I most beg of you to look at the bigger picture. We could very well have annihilated the AGA fleet but what would have been the cost? Not only it would have deprived Z1 of precious charge but it would have allowed AGA to get important scans and perhaps an idea, however vague, of the true nature and potential of that weapon."
Sddly's arms and body were rotating in opposite directions, making him look strangely like he was gesturing at the whole room whenever he moved.
"General administrator Nrzqzr, bless her soul, believes it is time to stop utilizing these resources to fuel the meat grinder and instead employ them to their fullest potential. I agree with her judgement. Z1 is no conventional ship and as such we consider it improper for it to be used in conventional battles. While it may appear that Z1 and the Operational Manoeuvre Group have fled and become a non-factor in the war, we have just achieved an overwhelming victory you are not yet aware of. "
"As far as i am aware the allies got more than enough scans when they somehow assaulted your drive yards..." Inara remarked. "I would fully love to stop wasting resources on this ceaseless meat grinder its why I constructed the Crucible to try end the war without as much bloodshed as possible. And yet the Crucible is now under attack by a full on allied fleet and your forces are sadly not there to aid the APP, I need the allies off my territory to allow my own forces breathing space to then conduct lightning raids on critical allied locations. I have contingencies in place but they won’t be ready likely until after the Crucible is destroyed... I am very interested to hear what this overwhelming victory is because as it stands this meat grinder is slowly turning against us"
"We evacuated Z1 and the Operational Manoeuvre Group to the Dectrothian Empire" Sddly replied. "As it turns out, the AGA had set up a Black Sail Organization contract to catch any retreating ships and they managed to track our multiple FTL jumps into Dectrothian space. However, they badly overplayed their hand and attempted to threaten the Dectrothians into revealing the location of their ships or suffer heavy civilian losses. I am glad to inform you that not only was that attempt publicly exposed but that in their arrogance the Black Sail Organization got one of the leaders captured. The Dectrothians have been most collaborative and extradited the BSO leader to us. We have made a deal to give her back; the Black Sail Organization has promised us both blueprints and working prototypes of AGA's new shields as payment for her release."
Inara had heard about the Decthorians and Triarch had several deals with them. Potentially they could be a future member of the APP... Inara let Sddly speak more before her eyes widened, surely the AGA had not hired pirates to do the dirty work? She laughed at loud, a strange moment in such a meeting before she composed herself, the sheer irony of the AGA overwhelming her.
"Those absolute fools, and now they have revealed that the AGA is working with pirates in this war... I bet this will tarnish their image. I’ll have Capitol propaganda works begin flooding the Anc net with such information. As for the technology... That is excellent news, I ask that it be transferred to APP joint R&D at once so we can analyse the shield technology at once." She paused for a moment, maybe EPA had done well after all. But still Rubikon proved to be a problem even with the Immortal Empire contributing aid.
"I commend you for efforts in the strategic picture, however I ask you that your forces be available for tactical missions as needed, the Crucible is an important lynchpin in this war, if your forces are available I would definitely like to have them contribute"
Sddly nodded, or at least the fact that was pointing at Inara in the moment did so while the other two continued rotating inertly. "Two new factions to aid us in our effort, granted to you, your majesty, by the incompetence and arrogance of the AGA. As far as your request is concerned, Sister Nrzqzr has ordered that the Operational Manoeuvre Group no longer be part of any tactical actions.... but fear not, that does not mean its retreat from the war. It means that it will be re-oriented as a strategic action unit for departure as soon as Z1 is ready and, your majesty...." It paused. "I believe that as a form of compensation for any bad impressions we might have caused relocating the ship, that you should be granted the honour of choosing the planet to be Z1's first target."
"And excellent news either way, I want EPA to liase with the Dectrose in regards to the APP, if we play our cards right out of this event we could gain another member and possibly even bring their new powerbloc the FDC into the war on our side. What a delight that would be huh?" She sniggered at the thought.
"As for a target... Ah so many to choose from... Sddly do you have the details on what AGA powers have not been struck at during this war? I heard you and Triarch got rather blunted in the ex UF territories maybe it is time we show the Nucleans that the APP will strike whoever it wants if so you have full permission to wipe out their capital in the galaxy, I am honoured that you give me such a choice of course and for that I understand your choice to use your assets strategically instead of tactically, I will find forces for the battle elsewhere" Inara nodded with a smile.
The aircraft carrying the EPA staffers took up most of the morning flying from point to point and circling to be scanned, passing over the many concentric security rings around Celefra in its approach to the capital city. Inside were Nrzqzr's deputy staff, a large group of generals, admirals, economists, spiritual leaders and intellectuals who formed her 'shadow cabinet' chosen to take over EPA should anything befall her and the regular cabinet. For their duration of the war they had not done much of anything given the AGA had never embarked upon any decapitation strikes but lately this had changed. The shadow cabinet was gaining more and more power now that Nrzqzr had largely stepped down from her political leadership and taken a more military role leading the Operational Manoeuvre Group. Given all of this, it was them who had to answer to Inara's call for an urgent meeting in Celefra.
Upon landing, the shadow cabinet was quickly brought to the Capitol imperial palace in a convoy of armored vehicles. It was led by an individual named Sddly, veteran of the confrontations in Telestus and first in line to succeed the twins for EPA's command.
Inara had been waiting for them. She had spent most of her time now in the gardens, the prospects of the war looked sadly quite grim. With Eos now effectively gone and the APP rapidly losing ships all she could do was watch and wait for the outcomes of both Rubikon and the Crucible proper, even though Capitol had contingencies the stress of the wait was bad enough. When Inara had received reports that the EPA battlegroup there, pride of the APP and having in tow a super weapon of prestigious power (one that had been massively hyped by EPA diplomats and strategists confirming to the Empress that it would be the bane of the AGA), had done a runner she had flown into a fit of rage in which even Illian had given her space.
Rubikon had been an additional chance to smash the allies, and EPA and the Z1 had been a critical asset in such, that both had simply ran away was unacceptable. And Inara was keen to put across that to the EPA representatives.
She was located in a large hall, once one of the banquet areas for her father, Inara had chosen it to be the place of meeting, the great vaulted and painting ceiling not having had guests for quite some time. Inara had ordered the place cleaned and prepared, and she sat alone at the head of the table hands to her mouth and elbows on the table as the reps were graciously led into the hall by some of her personal Hydra Guard. While she looked cool and composed, her mind writhed in anger.
Most of the shadow cabinet walked into the hall but it was only Sddly who stepped forward to address her directly, the rest preferring not to incur the wrath of the Capitol empress over an operation they had not being briefed on. Sddly himself was a bizarre creature, silently hovering over the polished marble floor, he looked like a set of triplets conjoined at the back, fused together with life support machinery and computer lobes grafted all over its body. Its legs were tiny, robotic appendages that twitched and writhed without purpose while his three arms were long enough the tip of his fingers almost reached the floor. It was no major surprise to Inara that Nrzqzr had chosen a set of triplets to take over EPA in case of emergency, but the sheer amount of machinery that merged them together was still pretty off putting
Inara ceased the urge to shout, and realised that she couldn’t even offer the... Thing a seat. She smirked at that and found it rather amusing. It was off-putting for sure, but then she had been around her fair share of EPA commanders and Axiomatic demi organics both on the rather strange side, it never quite got old however. She waited a moment before speaking.
"I see no reason to sit here exchanging pleasantries when we both have duties to attend to, so let’s skip the middle man shall we? I want you to tell me why EPAs finest flotilla with some of the most impressive weapons at your disposal including the legendary Z1 which you have consistently told me would be a wonder weapon to help end the war, seemed to withdraw immediately at the start of the battle? And only seemed to dump their ammunition in the cover of our own reinforcements before withdrawing from the system entirely? I don’t even know where such fleet is at current. The performance of some of EPAs finest forces and weapons are a bit... lacking don’t you think?"
"We found no significant need for it." Sddly replied, hovering over to the table as if taking a seat while slowly rotating so as to look at Inara with all three of its dead, porcelain-like faces. Its voice was clearly three different people speaking at once, though none of the triplets were moving their mouths. "As far as we can tell, Rubikon is presently in no danger of being taken over yet. Even with the intervention of two of their strategic weapons. While the damage inflicted by the plasma coil in Rubikon Prime is regrettable, I have heard that many of the critical assets were successfully evacuated including the bulk of the Panopticon."
"And yet" Inara gestured to a current holographic which was projected into a large space in the room, showing an up to date situation in the system "The situation is still on a tenuous edge, one that could have easily been reverted by your forces proper engagement. Your fleet could have inflicted much heavier losses and most likely helped throw back the allies entirely with active participation, that and the Z1 could have at least boosted morale with its presence especially if it showed off its true power. I would rather the system was a guaranteed victory rather than a see-saw situation between the two sides. Your presence would likely have reversed the damage to Rubikon Prime at least, what does your fleet intend to do now? Simply disappear and not participate in the war?"
"I completely agree with your assessment, your majesty." Sddly replied. "That is also the conclusion our own strategic simulators came to, so I must praise your ability to reach identical conclusions out of your pure, genius intuition. Nevertheless, I most beg of you to look at the bigger picture. We could very well have annihilated the AGA fleet but what would have been the cost? Not only it would have deprived Z1 of precious charge but it would have allowed AGA to get important scans and perhaps an idea, however vague, of the true nature and potential of that weapon."
Sddly's arms and body were rotating in opposite directions, making him look strangely like he was gesturing at the whole room whenever he moved.
"General administrator Nrzqzr, bless her soul, believes it is time to stop utilizing these resources to fuel the meat grinder and instead employ them to their fullest potential. I agree with her judgement. Z1 is no conventional ship and as such we consider it improper for it to be used in conventional battles. While it may appear that Z1 and the Operational Manoeuvre Group have fled and become a non-factor in the war, we have just achieved an overwhelming victory you are not yet aware of. "
"As far as i am aware the allies got more than enough scans when they somehow assaulted your drive yards..." Inara remarked. "I would fully love to stop wasting resources on this ceaseless meat grinder its why I constructed the Crucible to try end the war without as much bloodshed as possible. And yet the Crucible is now under attack by a full on allied fleet and your forces are sadly not there to aid the APP, I need the allies off my territory to allow my own forces breathing space to then conduct lightning raids on critical allied locations. I have contingencies in place but they won’t be ready likely until after the Crucible is destroyed... I am very interested to hear what this overwhelming victory is because as it stands this meat grinder is slowly turning against us"
"We evacuated Z1 and the Operational Manoeuvre Group to the Dectrothian Empire" Sddly replied. "As it turns out, the AGA had set up a Black Sail Organization contract to catch any retreating ships and they managed to track our multiple FTL jumps into Dectrothian space. However, they badly overplayed their hand and attempted to threaten the Dectrothians into revealing the location of their ships or suffer heavy civilian losses. I am glad to inform you that not only was that attempt publicly exposed but that in their arrogance the Black Sail Organization got one of the leaders captured. The Dectrothians have been most collaborative and extradited the BSO leader to us. We have made a deal to give her back; the Black Sail Organization has promised us both blueprints and working prototypes of AGA's new shields as payment for her release."
Inara had heard about the Decthorians and Triarch had several deals with them. Potentially they could be a future member of the APP... Inara let Sddly speak more before her eyes widened, surely the AGA had not hired pirates to do the dirty work? She laughed at loud, a strange moment in such a meeting before she composed herself, the sheer irony of the AGA overwhelming her.
"Those absolute fools, and now they have revealed that the AGA is working with pirates in this war... I bet this will tarnish their image. I’ll have Capitol propaganda works begin flooding the Anc net with such information. As for the technology... That is excellent news, I ask that it be transferred to APP joint R&D at once so we can analyse the shield technology at once." She paused for a moment, maybe EPA had done well after all. But still Rubikon proved to be a problem even with the Immortal Empire contributing aid.
"I commend you for efforts in the strategic picture, however I ask you that your forces be available for tactical missions as needed, the Crucible is an important lynchpin in this war, if your forces are available I would definitely like to have them contribute"
Sddly nodded, or at least the fact that was pointing at Inara in the moment did so while the other two continued rotating inertly. "Two new factions to aid us in our effort, granted to you, your majesty, by the incompetence and arrogance of the AGA. As far as your request is concerned, Sister Nrzqzr has ordered that the Operational Manoeuvre Group no longer be part of any tactical actions.... but fear not, that does not mean its retreat from the war. It means that it will be re-oriented as a strategic action unit for departure as soon as Z1 is ready and, your majesty...." It paused. "I believe that as a form of compensation for any bad impressions we might have caused relocating the ship, that you should be granted the honour of choosing the planet to be Z1's first target."
"And excellent news either way, I want EPA to liase with the Dectrose in regards to the APP, if we play our cards right out of this event we could gain another member and possibly even bring their new powerbloc the FDC into the war on our side. What a delight that would be huh?" She sniggered at the thought.
"As for a target... Ah so many to choose from... Sddly do you have the details on what AGA powers have not been struck at during this war? I heard you and Triarch got rather blunted in the ex UF territories maybe it is time we show the Nucleans that the APP will strike whoever it wants if so you have full permission to wipe out their capital in the galaxy, I am honoured that you give me such a choice of course and for that I understand your choice to use your assets strategically instead of tactically, I will find forces for the battle elsewhere" Inara nodded with a smile.