Post by Sheng on Oct 20, 2023 17:27:43 GMT
"The Mantle"
Unmarked EPA Stronghold | Undisclosed Location
02:30 AST
An unregistered, unmarked, unknown location. That was what was requested by many of the invitees to the first Strategic Meeting since Nightingale, what better location then one of the many long since forgotten cities the Reborn Colonists had settled in? It was briefly inspected, being one of the smaller cities on the now uninhabited planet, its potential was noted before a quick deliberation happened and it was chosen. Those in the EPA personally trusted by the attendees quickly overtook it and now our cast was currently meeting in secrecy in one of the former cities many rusted skyscrapers, a large utilitarian building that served their purposes rather well. The interior was in a somewhat decrepit state as the exterior was encompassed with rust and unstable masonry throughout, but one of the rooms had rapidly undergone renovation, reinforcement and furnishing to allow for safe and comfortable business conduct. The room itself was a somewhat sparsely decorated 15m x 15m oval within the middle portion of the 17th floor, black steel floors and walls that were adorned with various dim lights and sleek polymer furniture. In the centre was a long oval table where 11 of the most powerful individuals in the Second Dawn were sat. Each one of various race and occupation, quietly discussing more of the minor topics to each other whilst they waited for the meeting to truly begin. The truly influential however were three remaining Fleet Admirals, General Cytodyne of the Executive Protection Agency, Chairman Maneko of the Potius Cras Corporation, System Administrator Novaron of Arkehold, Director Trinidide of the Alternative Operations Division, Secretary Xysian-5 of the Middle Sector, Secretary Atropos of the Alteris Colonial Frontier and most importantly: Grand Councilor Satagon of the Second Dawn.
The idle conversation continued up until 03:00 when two more individuals entered the room: General Aylden of the Colonial Federation of Slavansk and and Emissary Paragon-XV, the Second Dawn's representative to Laptev. Now that all attendees had finally entered the room, the table came to life and revealed itself to actually be a holo table. The other members looked down at their respective screens before Satagon began speaking "I thank you all for attending, as you all know we've had some serious setbacks in regards to our own objectives the least of which are not going to be so easily brushed away. The Quosx have pushed back the initial invading forces and are believed to have recovered significantly in their deeper territories due to the assistance of the I-C-A and CONA. On that front there are also rumours of an impending counter offensive from Alliance Forces in the Mivoan System. It would, in fact, seem that the deployment of the Preeminence has had an especially volatile effect previously thought of as unlikely. That effect being a split between radicalizing the remaining Alliance Forces and causing immense 'panic fortification' as General Cytodyne has called it. This 'panic fortification' is largely occurring in more traditional worlds where Alliance Forces scrambled for underground bunkers and heavily armoured compounds for fear of wider W-M-D usage. This has worked in our favour on planets where it has occurred as our ordinance is more then capable of penetrating these highly armoured surfaces but where the enemy has been radicalized we have seen a highly dramatic uptick in their morale."
Those present digested the rather long-winded opening statement and viewed various reports that were sent to their respective screens about the aforementioned radicalizations and bunker-scrambling. They were... not speaking highly in their favour. Where the enemy retreated to armour, the EPA found far less difficulty in their operations but where they had radicalized? Casualties had significantly increased on their side with a not insignificant decrease on theirs. The attendees took a few minutes to examine the content before Cytodyne himself cleared his voicebox and looked around the table to see if anyone was still reading, when he saw they weren't he began to speak. "Indeed, the fighting has stagnated in many fronts due to this sudden uptick in morale. I'm afraid that this has resulted in a less favourable casualty count but I do think that the inbound reinforcements could possibly negate the sudden hit to our operations. With the Potius Cras corporation now handling the more minor engagements in the theatre, many invaluable Agency assets have been freed up to join in the primary fighting inside of the major frontline systems. In addition, a significant bulk of Quosx forces are presumed to be K-I-A due to the anomaly in Corona. However our intelligence on that front is still lacking and it is quite possible that they could yet return to reinforce the Alliance."
Those around the table nodded at Cytodyne's words, with Satagon swiping at his own screen to view some of the reports they had of the situation of Corona and they were rather sparse due to his hasty withdrawal from the theatre once he had acquired the probe. It was a wildcard, if the Quosx forces were freed to return to their homeland it could quite possibly trump their assets present in the theatre and cause them to start losing ground if they couldn't come up with a plan to counter. On the other hand, if the forces were destroyed it meant that what they were fighting already was all they had in reserve. Now that didn't do much good at the present but the information was still valuable, as for now they'd have to begin planning for the occurrence of Quosx reinforcements from Corona as well as continued aid from those who were already giving it. He flicked through a few more reports before Trinidide tapped one of her tails against the table to beckon their attention, once she had it she started speaking. "I think we should loosen the rules of engagement for the forces in the Quosx Theatre. If we begin to refocus our efforts on the civillian populace then-" however she was interupted by Aylden, the Slavanski General, who said in a stern town with a rather pronounced glare "Then you can count our forces out." He then turned the glare onto Satagon and even partially increased it as his tone escalated into restrained frustration "Though due to your lack of response to our own request to help with our problems we may have to do so anyway. Your unnecessary escalation of the conflict has caused not only discord in our own parliament but also military action from the Commonwealth and the Selenican Republic, incursions have already been recorded on our northern border because of the aid we promised to you. Whilst the scientific end of our deal was upheld admirably, I am afraid it is simply no longer good enough."
The table went dead silent when Aylden had concluded his rant. Trinidide was glaring murder at him with her bladed tails raised threateningly behind her, meanwhile Satagon and Novaron simply stared at the Human like he had sprouted a second head. Satagon's optical lights pulsed briefly as he processed what Aylden had said before he said in a low tone "Is that so, General?" A few optics focused on him at the break of the silent tension that was permeating the room. Aylden's expression softened slightly as he realized the position he had just put himself in but it became no friendlier. Satagon gazed at him for a few more seconds before continuing "Then I deeply apologize, for I had no idea your defensive forces were so incompetent. I had figured that you would not need my help in repelling a gaggle of poorly trained and easily bruised natives, that you would have no trouble in preventing what I have been able to do without lifting a finger. Evidently, I was drastically mistaken." Aylden bristled at Satagon's rather blunt take on the situation, his glare giving way to a blatantly enraged expression as his leather gloved hands balled into fists. The Human maintained his glare for a few more brief seconds before his fists loosened up and his hands came to rest on the table. The other attendees watched the spat in silence, with many watching Aylden to see his reaction to Satagon's challenge.
Aylden exhaled through his nose before responding in a more calm yet no less sharp tone "Evidently. I apologize that the Federation has produced less than desirable results, my friend. However it is not due for a lack of trying, we simply lack the military strength to repel two regional superpowers at once. Something you must be more then able to sympathize with, no?" Aylden's lips twitched at his less-than-subtle implication at the end of his statement, Trinidide moved to stand before Novaron reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder to push her back down into her seat. Satagon inclined his head before responding "Truly, these are dire times... very well, if it is aid that you require then it is aid you shall have. I will draw up an aid plan within the next few days and have it sent to you directly, would that appease your superiors?" Aylden stared at Satagon for a few more seconds before giving him a curt nod and leaning back in his chair, some of the tension draining from his face. Satagon nodded in response for saying "Well then the matter is settled. If there is nothing else, then you are free to return to your ship. General Aylden." Aylden nodded once more before briskly standing up and yanking his tunic down before promptly departing for the door, once it had closed behind him Satagon let out a snort before saying in a sarcastic tone "Yes, settled indeed. We are giving them nothing, despicable Human distractions are the only thing that Slavansk has given us. Let us return to more important matters, Trinidide?"
Trinidide looked back to Satagon and cleared her throat with a mechanical hiss before standing up, gesturing to the other attendee's holo-screens before saying "The Conclusion Device has been returned to Arkehold following the successful deployment on Syviln, it is under constant watch by the Home Guard and a small contingent of ships from my own personal armada- it is entirely safe to assume that there is virtually no risk to the weapon as long as Arkehold's borders are secure." Satagon nodded before turning to give Novaron a pointed look, the Reborn nodded before adding "I have made sure that Arkehold remains a fortress, the borders are closed and communications are still being jammed. No one can get anything in or out of the system until you permit it, Grand Councilor." Satagon nodded happily before saying "Good work from you both, it pleases me to know our most vital assets have such capable optics watching over them. However... the situation in the A-C-F... I've heard some disturbing things, would you care to dispel my concerns Atropos?" The heads of the other attendees all slowly swiveled to Atropos who nervously pulled at the collar of her jacket, the dark purple Reborn nodded before saying in a slightly shaky voice "O-Of course, Grand Councilor. As you all know, the dissidents have been conducting hit-and-run style strikes on Federal Convoys on the surface worlds within West Aquarius and Hibernia. I've increased Agency presence on both naturally but- it doesn't seem to be having a desirable effect, I'm a-afraid."
The table was silent after she said that, with Satagon staring at her with a murderous gleam in his glowing white optics. He slowly reached a hand up and pinched the bridge of his snout before slamming that same hand down on the table. Atropos flinched at the action and started stuttering out a frantic apology before he cut her off with a shout "ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS, ATROPOS?! TWO DAMNED PLANETS! THAT'S ALL IT FUCKING IS! WHAT- HOW ARE THEY STILL EVEN A FUCKING PROBLEM?! ARE YOU TELLING ME YOU CAN'T HANDLE A FEW FUCKING RETARDS WITH SECOND HAND WEAPONS AND MOLOTOVS?! I- I GAVE YOU AN ENTIRE FUCKING DIVISION OF AGENTS! AN ENTIRE! FUCKING! DIVISION!" He slammed his hand down on the table a few more times, Atropos started shaking like a leaf in fall as he did it. Once he stopped his servos quietly hissed as they released the tension after building up in them, he then said in a much calmer but still quite agitated tone "I cannot fucking spare the resources to deal with this, Atropos. This responsibility was given to YOU. YOU assured me that this was a- a- what did you call it? 'minor case of sporadic radicalism?' Well- evidently the fuck it isn't! They've already hijacked our broadcasts more than once! They are bombing Agency Bases! Hell- a few firefights have even happened in the cities!" Satagon snorted before standing up suddenly and kicking away his seat in frustration, his hands grasping at his head before he flung his arms out to either side and said "Fuck, ME! I have one of the largest, strongest, capable militaries in the Unmar at my fucking fingertips. How are we fucking up THIS badly?! We're in a stalemate in the fucking Quosx, we have ICA and CONA ships massing outside our eastern fucking border! One of our core hubs was obliterated by some random fucking superweapon! And we don't even know who it fucking WAS! And- and NOW you're telling me we can't handle a couple of bands of disgruntled civies in our own fucking territory?! What is this- some kind of sick fucking JOKE?!"
Satagon spun around to face Atropos, rage subtly burning behind every movement he made as he pointed a harsh index finger at her and said "Get your shit TOGETHER, Atropos! This is un-fucking-acceptable! If you can't quash this little 'insurrection' then I will replace you with someone who fucking CAN! Do you understand me, girl!?" Atropos rapidly nodded and stuttered out a quiet apology, Satagon just shook his head with a humourless chuckle before pointing towards the door and saying in a dry tone "Get the fuck out of my sight like the fucking defect you are." Atropos rapidly nodded once again before stumbling up from her chair and bolting for the door and slamming it shut behind her. Satagon let out an exasperated sigh before collapsing back into his chair and muttering something under his breath, the room sat in silence for a few more seconds before Trinidide let out a quiet titter, her tails coiling into her lap as she held a crimson hand in front of her face in an attempt to muffle it. Satagon looked up at her and clenched his hands into fists before asking in a curt tone "Is something amusing to you, Director?" To which Trinidide merely waved dismissively at him before saying in a sultry tone "Oh you know me, just enjoying the sight of you turning that girl into a stuttering, sobbing mess~" A few of the other attendees turned to look at her with a slightly concerned air, Novaron even going as far as to mutter 'fucking psycho' under his breath only to receive a fierce glare from Trinidide. Satagon looked between the two before throwing his hands up in exasperation and saying "Well glad you're fucking entertained, Trinidide. If we can all get back to the matter at hand then?"
The other occupants of the table looked at each other before all looking to Satagon and nodding. The disgruntled dictator let out a sigh before pulling his chair back forward and leaning forward to access his holo-screen, swiping at it a few times before a projection appeared in the centre of the table. It was a cover page for a presentation, displaying the Councilor's Star behind big blocky text which read "The Grand Plan." The other attendees sat up a little straighter at the sight whilst Satagon began in a more revived tone "Right. Now onto one of the most pressing matters of this evening's little meeting, but before I begin I will remind you that this is for your eyes only. I would be quite displeased were the contents of this matter to become knowledgeable to anyone else. Is that clear?" They all nodded with little or no reluctance and Satagon hummed his approval before pressing a finger to the holo-screen before him, causing the screen to transition to an expansive document labeled "CDS - Effective 1 - SAGA & CONA Idealization Programme." Satagon then continued "Ancerious. Filled with all manner of organic and synthetic life, teeming with variety and diversity. Some would call it a beautiful sight, no? Well... I am of a different opinion."
To be continued...