Post by atriangle on Mar 17, 2022 1:37:13 GMT
Hilid, far north of the Capital.
Far beyond the shining lights, the expanses of factories, farms, and shipyards lay a single house straddling the ridge of the great valleys of the Ueathan desert. An old truck and a sedan sat outside of it, both covered in dust and old beyond their years in Kepler service. The lights in the house were on, smoke emanated from the rooftop chimney sending embers floating across the vast sea of the desert beyond. A place that no one could find by accident. Someone was home who wished to be out of sight and mind.
“The winds of time and fate are shifting once again and my time here is long past due to end. For half of the current time our people have walked together as one nation I have been at its helm, for democracy to exist in a stable form I can no longer be in good conscience and still lead. My term is up and this era has ended in failure.”
The voice stopped, the second began to speak, he sounded younger but with a rasp voice ruined by smoking and stress.
“Do not become so quick to blame yourself Chairman, a large deal of the current chaos in the galaxy is far beyond either of our control and that of Kepler. Our interests lay closer to home, notably to the east.”
“Yes, The once High Imperium brought low by its stumble of a waltz. Our people have been put on a warpath by them, how can you blame them? That day will never be forgotten, less so forgiven. Only for the perpetrators behind the scenes to be welcomed back into their senate with open arms and glee.”
A light appeared near the second man’s face as he attempted to light a cigarette. Only to be met with a strong arm on his hand.
“No smoking here my friend.”
“My apologies. I have received word from General Leander recently, the Viestrya Guarda’ plans to act soon with a full mobilization, he plans to make it quick.”
“Before other parties stick their hands in places they do not belong, yes. This galaxy is a pile of dynamite, ready to explode. Once that fuse finally pops in the coming month, no one can fully comprehend. A war not only of flesh and blood, but also of the galactic economy, it was always built atop pillars of sand that everyone chose to ignore until that Teliran wrote his dainty little report.”
There was a long pause in the conversation.
“Councilman Holdt, I believe in your ability to win this election over Ms. Shangri. I regret leaving you with the brewing war to come. I prepared all of these young men and women to go die for our peoples nation in the conquest of another, only for you to be the one to tell them go.”
“I understand chairman, the right thing will be done and in the end our corner of the galaxy will rest at peace.” Holdt lastly stated.
“And what would the right thing be?” Balinsti asked a rhetorical question.
“Everything that should have been done when the ACR stumbled around, finish and rebuild what the HI once destroyed to build their empire upon… To help the people of Kepler to achieve peace.”
Recording end. The light in the cabin remained, a dark figure stepped out and entered the sedan, it drove down the endless road to the capital under the cover of night.
—---------------------------------------------------
The far east.
>>DataComms transmission Eidolon.
>>Target Destination: Waystations I-124 -> I-157
>>Aespa Ohkryan Fleet Control key ATHD$HGA4y1-=6158976543_HEX5-656678954edvaRCE
>>Encryption key accepted
>>Place fleet order
>>Combat Readiness Inspection, Long Term deployment
>>Inspection crew en route
>Confirmed.
Inside a hardened fleet depot buried deep within a rogue planetoid on the fringes of Kepler controlled territory lay not a single soul breathing. Yet with a freshly transmitted signal having just arrived and FTL sensors picking up a new incoming signature, the amount of life on the black planet increased to nearly a dozen now. The transport cutter approached the planetoids city sized blast doors recessed into the rock as floodlights illuminated the way for the small vessel to dock.
The natural cavern inside was dozens of kilometers of clear and open space, dozens of gantries lay dormant, with lights activating and paving the way for the new human arrivals. Entire squadrons of destroyers, supply vessels, stores of ammunition and fuel, communications equipment, all lay dormant here, simply awaiting for the orders at hand to rejoin combat fleets.
“Current inventory tally is at three million units of fuel, suitable for three months operation without resupply. Sixtyfour Dark - II class destroyers, unmanned, fifteen not meeting operational service requirements. Full munitions and miscellani supplies stationed here, communications and autonomous systems are semi-dormant but can be brought back on line. Current rating is reserve ready.”
“One down, three more to go. Everything seems to be in decent shape, but I hope none of these vessels will need to see combat, only 75% being suitable for use isn’t a good sign.”
“No, not at all. Which is why they’re reserves. If all goes well they will be doing easy anti - piracy and policing bolstering later on.”
—----------------------------
As the clock struck midnight in Hilid all was still tense, still recoiling with fear, hate, and anger from the attacks on their soil by the House of Jaros. A feeling of hate still permeated the air, the desire of constant peace through revenge on those who could carry out such attacks. On the reaches of government owned property and parks lay a freshly laid foundation, a large public mausoleum open to the air and elements. A lone figure entered and laid a flower on one of the hundreds of graves marked unknown.
More of these empty spots they feared would be filled before the year was up. The final long breath of silence before the gale.
Far beyond the shining lights, the expanses of factories, farms, and shipyards lay a single house straddling the ridge of the great valleys of the Ueathan desert. An old truck and a sedan sat outside of it, both covered in dust and old beyond their years in Kepler service. The lights in the house were on, smoke emanated from the rooftop chimney sending embers floating across the vast sea of the desert beyond. A place that no one could find by accident. Someone was home who wished to be out of sight and mind.
“The winds of time and fate are shifting once again and my time here is long past due to end. For half of the current time our people have walked together as one nation I have been at its helm, for democracy to exist in a stable form I can no longer be in good conscience and still lead. My term is up and this era has ended in failure.”
The voice stopped, the second began to speak, he sounded younger but with a rasp voice ruined by smoking and stress.
“Do not become so quick to blame yourself Chairman, a large deal of the current chaos in the galaxy is far beyond either of our control and that of Kepler. Our interests lay closer to home, notably to the east.”
“Yes, The once High Imperium brought low by its stumble of a waltz. Our people have been put on a warpath by them, how can you blame them? That day will never be forgotten, less so forgiven. Only for the perpetrators behind the scenes to be welcomed back into their senate with open arms and glee.”
A light appeared near the second man’s face as he attempted to light a cigarette. Only to be met with a strong arm on his hand.
“No smoking here my friend.”
“My apologies. I have received word from General Leander recently, the Viestrya Guarda’ plans to act soon with a full mobilization, he plans to make it quick.”
“Before other parties stick their hands in places they do not belong, yes. This galaxy is a pile of dynamite, ready to explode. Once that fuse finally pops in the coming month, no one can fully comprehend. A war not only of flesh and blood, but also of the galactic economy, it was always built atop pillars of sand that everyone chose to ignore until that Teliran wrote his dainty little report.”
There was a long pause in the conversation.
“Councilman Holdt, I believe in your ability to win this election over Ms. Shangri. I regret leaving you with the brewing war to come. I prepared all of these young men and women to go die for our peoples nation in the conquest of another, only for you to be the one to tell them go.”
“I understand chairman, the right thing will be done and in the end our corner of the galaxy will rest at peace.” Holdt lastly stated.
“And what would the right thing be?” Balinsti asked a rhetorical question.
“Everything that should have been done when the ACR stumbled around, finish and rebuild what the HI once destroyed to build their empire upon… To help the people of Kepler to achieve peace.”
Recording end. The light in the cabin remained, a dark figure stepped out and entered the sedan, it drove down the endless road to the capital under the cover of night.
—---------------------------------------------------
The far east.
>>DataComms transmission Eidolon.
>>Target Destination: Waystations I-124 -> I-157
>>Aespa Ohkryan Fleet Control key ATHD$HGA4y1-=6158976543_HEX5-656678954edvaRCE
>>Encryption key accepted
>>Place fleet order
>>Combat Readiness Inspection, Long Term deployment
>>Inspection crew en route
>Confirmed.
Inside a hardened fleet depot buried deep within a rogue planetoid on the fringes of Kepler controlled territory lay not a single soul breathing. Yet with a freshly transmitted signal having just arrived and FTL sensors picking up a new incoming signature, the amount of life on the black planet increased to nearly a dozen now. The transport cutter approached the planetoids city sized blast doors recessed into the rock as floodlights illuminated the way for the small vessel to dock.
The natural cavern inside was dozens of kilometers of clear and open space, dozens of gantries lay dormant, with lights activating and paving the way for the new human arrivals. Entire squadrons of destroyers, supply vessels, stores of ammunition and fuel, communications equipment, all lay dormant here, simply awaiting for the orders at hand to rejoin combat fleets.
“Current inventory tally is at three million units of fuel, suitable for three months operation without resupply. Sixtyfour Dark - II class destroyers, unmanned, fifteen not meeting operational service requirements. Full munitions and miscellani supplies stationed here, communications and autonomous systems are semi-dormant but can be brought back on line. Current rating is reserve ready.”
“One down, three more to go. Everything seems to be in decent shape, but I hope none of these vessels will need to see combat, only 75% being suitable for use isn’t a good sign.”
“No, not at all. Which is why they’re reserves. If all goes well they will be doing easy anti - piracy and policing bolstering later on.”
—----------------------------
As the clock struck midnight in Hilid all was still tense, still recoiling with fear, hate, and anger from the attacks on their soil by the House of Jaros. A feeling of hate still permeated the air, the desire of constant peace through revenge on those who could carry out such attacks. On the reaches of government owned property and parks lay a freshly laid foundation, a large public mausoleum open to the air and elements. A lone figure entered and laid a flower on one of the hundreds of graves marked unknown.
More of these empty spots they feared would be filled before the year was up. The final long breath of silence before the gale.