Setting
Pramia is controlled by one global governing body, The Unitary Republic of Pramia. It is a Unitary state style of government formed through the amalgamation of several smaller, city-state governments. The central and supreme governing office is referred to as the Core-House. It is headed by the Director, this individual the center of Pramia, The Director has the most power in Pramia's government that can be held by any single individual. He has significant influence over the Delegation, Pramia's Unitary Congress, and is the figurehead of the entire URP.
Irral made his appearance, landing in a City Square in a beam of Golden Light, the Draconian Magic Circle being burned into the ground beneath his armored feet, a small crater where he landed having formed. Standing straight, he rolled his shoulders back and tilted his head to pop his joints and relax a bit. He looked to the Emerald Necklace in his hand; and felt it pulling towards something. Finally putting it around his neck, he would let the necklace guide him.
Even here Irral stuck out like a sore thumb. He was twelve feet tall and covered head-to-toe in Draconian Battle Armor as his helmet appeared on his head while he began to walk. Above all of that, he was a Dragon among non-Dragons. He was always going to stick out.
The Command Carrier, Pride of Langara was the first to jump in, along with her escorts, roughly four 2.5km long Hastati class cruisers, two Hera class robotics cruisers, three Hesperides class drone carriers, six Athena class missile carriers, four Aegis class sentinel cruisers, and roughly a dozen Gemino class escort frigates.
They maintained a classic Aschen frigate line formation, with the Command carrier making up the rear portion of the formation of Aschen ships, the frigates making up the front, and the cruisers taking up defensive formations around the Command Carrier.
The only variation of this formation was the Athena class cruisers, which kept their distance from the main gathering of Aschen ships, each Athena cruiser were positioning themselves to provide long range fire support should hostilities break out. Each Athena class missile cruiser was armed with long range Thunderbolt missiles, with a single thunderbolt missile capable of wreaking extinction level destruction upon any unfortunate world.
Once the Aschen fleet settled in, Admiral Montrose turned to a flickering display of EVE, the new Aschen intelligence that accompanied almost every ship.
"Initiating surface scans..." EVE Chimed in. "Energy signatures detected... possible hostile actions... recommend combat readiness at once! EVE Called out, as she analyzed the events unfolding before her.
Montrose nodded, bringing up a large image of what appeared to be a frigate, with anomalous energy readings inside.
"We need to move quickly..." The Aschen admiral said quietly.
"Get the Planck fields powered up! We can't let these people escape! EVE coordinate the fleet, standard formation... bring all hands to battlestations!" Montrose ordered.
"Scanning... energy signatures matching those in Solis' report have been detected aboard that vessel. It is imperative we act quickly." EVE Added.
"All ships, advance!"
The small Aschen task force began to move into attack formation, accelerating quickly towards the frigate in low orbit, and Pramia.
"Alert, energy spike has been detected, origin; The dragon like creature... three nine seven carom one two one..." EVE Called out, a screen highlighting Irral as he unfurled his wings.
"Registering exponential increase in energy output, initiating tactical analysis. Analysis indicates that subject highlighted on display is dangerously viable... advise mission abort." EVE Reported, as Montrose narrowed her eyes.
"Continue our advance, maintain defensive formation and instruct all ships to go to full combat readiness." Montrose ordered.
EVE Offered a brief frown. "Admiral Montrose... registering objection; this task force is rated for underdeveloped planetary assault, and inferior fleet engagements, units are unsuited for prolonged engagements with Super-Magical entities, casualty predictions are high, and collateral damage predictions are also high."
Growling briefly, Montrose brought up the point-and-click interface.
"Maintain our course."
"Plan accepted..." EVE Replied. "Dissemenating revised objectives to all units..."
EVE Interruped her once more. "Incoming transmission... on encrypted priority one channel... unauthorized codecs are being used... de-authorizing codecs... checking transmission for malicious code."
"Registering second artifact... advise diplomatic approach, offer compensation and assistance for surrender of artifact..."
"I am an Omnicompetent Meta-Intelligent NUMA Inspired Artilect, you may call me Omnia. My vessel is currently empty of organic life, and we are willing to comply with orders, but it is imperative we end this matter quickly as I must be going. We are an independent contractor and owe no allegiance to enemies of the Empire."
Montrose considered her response, as the Aschen fleet moved into attack formations, shields flared to life, and weapons batteries began to come online one by one.
Bringing up the interface, Montrose keyed a response.
"Your vessel has been found to be in possession of Imperial Property, surrender it, and we will arrange proper compensation; Failure to comply will result in interdiction, and seizure of your vessel." Montrose stated cooly.
Raising the point of his Lance to what he assumed would be the command ship based off his limited knowledge of Human (And otherwise) fleet tactics, he spoke. "You would be wise to turn around and leave while I do not deem you hostile." his voice boomed over the landscape, and likely, into the ears of the Aschen aboard the ship. He was using his magic to project his voice through most materials that lacked proper anti-magic insulation, or were too thin to protect against the sheer might of the sound-wave.
"Update; energies detected from the creature... it appears that the primary objective is not aboard the fleeing vessel..." EVE's voice chimed in, as if though she didn't even hear Irral's ultimatum.
Montrose did, and in response her gaze narrowed, her expression darkened while her fingertips worked the fleet management interface.
"I'm going to take it out, give me something to work with, EVE." Montrose spoke up.
"Analyzing... two tactical scenarios identified that minimize casualties; as the entity intensifies it's magical energies, I have been able to study them closer, My analysis of the entity's magical composition is complete." EVE replied.
"Considering all relevant parameters, I re-advise mission abort." EVE added.
"Mission abort is unacceptable, we'll signal for reinforcements, and try to keep this thing busy for as long as we can, until additional fleet elements arrive." Montrose rebuked, while bringing her hands across the holographic fleet interface.
The atmosphere of the Command Carrier was that of trepidation, but everyone intended on committing to their duties to the end.
There was a long pause from EVE. "Advise tactical approach... re-calibrate, and activate AEGIS Field for null-magic capabilities, All ships adjust shields double front, thermal dissipation with magical dispersal properties, load-out M-7." The AI Hologram explained, while a large display of the field flickered to life before Admiral Montrose.
"Position Hastati cruisers in a capital phalanx, with frigate, and corvette escort to draw attention away from the main command vessel, the emphasis will be a swift first strike, with long range capabilities. Positioned at the rear, Athena cruisers will fire long range Ajax missiles armed with a tricobalt warhead directly behind the entity, twenty five thousand teracochrane yield."
Missile trajectories were highlighted briefly.
"Follow up with a salvo from frag cannons, while Hastati cruisers engage with long range Ajax missiles carrying High-yield antimana warheads."
"Anticipate likelihood of mission salvage, at fourty-nine percent... considering all possible variables." EVE added, as displays surrounded the Admiral.
"Do it... We'll execute the plan, and signal the fleet, I'll bank on this... thing's arrogance to keep him in the fight... fire and maneuver... keep FTL Drives hot, tactical jumps... let's keep this thing on it's toes!" Montrose called out.
EVE Simply nodded.
"Plan accepted... disseminating objectives to all units, commence diversionary tactics until fleet arrives." EVE then turned to face Montrose. "The remainder of Classis I will be on station in three millicentons, minimize casualties for this period of time, and mission success will increase to ninety four percent."
---
The Aschen fleet continued to advance, but something started to change. The Aegis cruisers moved out among the formation of Aschen ships, and began their first move.
A brilliant beam of blue light began to bounce among the four cruisers, until the entire Aschen formation was engulfed in a massive, but brief, shimmering bubble of energy. Inside the shimmering barrier, magic would mostl likely be useless, no matter the strength, or the caliber. Magic would likely simply fail to catalyze within this barrier, rendering the Aschen ships, and her crews largely immune to indirect magical attacks.
Shields on the individual ships began to flare to life, moving, contorting, and adjusting to accommodate for possible retaliation.
Armored panels aboard the Athena class cruisers retracted, exposing the nose cones of roughly a dozen Ajax type long range tactical missile systems.
The ships continued to advance, at their current speed, they would be within attack range in minutes.
What had happened, up there in in Ospian'lik?
An exploration vessel from the college trudged it's way to a newly formed scar in the mountains.
A farmer scratched his head at a strange shape one hill over, which wasn't there the day before.
“Well what?”
“Arent you going to investigate?”
The Captain looked up to the sky in the direction of whatever had crash landed, “Don’t particularly feel like it, no. Why?”
“Just seems like the prudent thing to do in this scenario.”
“Ugh fiiiinnee. We’ll send out a drone or something. Two of them. And a Servitor with each.” Turning his hat up, he went back to his afternoon nap. “Wake me if they find something neat.”
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