Elisha Whitcomb's Story

Behind the Coalition lines, the rythmic song of deafening footsteps echoed through the foliage of the Hidden Glen, a shadow casting itself over the Saber tanks and the Coalitioin personnel within them. The towering form of a King Oni walker stepped up behind Coalition lines, while a Tsunami Tank rolled up alongside the saber, followed by a pair of Sudden Transports.

Disembarking from the Sudden transport was a young Taiyou commandant, the supreme commander of the 1st Imperial armada, Ayako Katamura. Slowly she stepped up to the Coalition lines, flanked on either side by Imperial warriors.

"Whose in charge of this operation?" She said, coming up to the driver side of the vehicle. "I need to speak with the Commanding Officer." She said, handing the nearest UCON officer a data disc containing tactical data from a previous engagement. "Coalition forces are to relinquish all real estate jurisdiction from this particular Reverence immediately." She said, moving past the group to observe the dead ship below. "This is a confirmed kill from the ITN Suzuhara no Abe, a Yamato class Battleship and therefore falls under Imperial Taiyou jurisdiction. We ask all surviving personnel be handed over to us for immediate processing."

---

Commander Bentley and Admiral Whitcomb turned to Aaric, and then they looked to the screen showing the King Oni towering over the ridge. "The Taiyou were the ones that shot us down, no doubt here to kill the rest of us off... if UCON is demanding officers and you're getting enlisted.."

In the rear of the bridge, there was a sudden groan, and a person stumbled fourth into the CIC, prompting salutes from both Admiral Whitcomb and Commander Bentley. "President Kane!" They said, and the other man held his head. "I was knocked out in the fight.. what happened?" He said, clutching the declaration of surrender in his hands, signed and notarized by the quorum.

"We've been shot down by the Taiyou, and UCON, the Taiyou, and the Varden are arguing over who picks over the kill." Whitcomb said, Kane nodded and then reached for the communicator.

"This is President Jarrod Kane, what assurances do we have that we will not be harmed, I have an important message to deliver to the Coalition executive government.. and was en-route to deliver said message to the Coalition..." He said, waiting for a response.

Aaric raised a brow and eyed Whitcomb who had regained consciousness and was now speaking to President Kane. Of course his face was hidden behind his PDS helmet. “We did not respond to this crash site to finish you off, salvage your technology, steal information, or take hostages. We responded to this site to provide medical assistance and found you and your vessel to be in need of rescue.”

The squad sized element continued to perform the tasks issued as commands, setting up a perimeter. “Since the reformation of your government the mandate, at least as far as the Aschen are involved has been suspended. The conditional declaration of war by the Varden on the Aschen has been suspended per the request of Kianna McGregor before the reformation and expunged by the act. This is true unless you choose to continue hostilities that are described in the still existing mandate which I can go into detail on at some other time. Our intent is to provide you transport to an Aschen system...”, he said as he eyed the declaration in the President’s hand. “… where you could issue any declaration from a safe location.” He turned his head back up to look into the President’s eyes. “Thirty minutes is more than enough time for us to organize such an evacuation but the intent to detonate an NaNBC weapon or device with NaNBC capability and range here would cause me to reconsider. I must know of your intent.”

Aaric waited for President Kane’s response as President Kane waited for the Coalition’s. The communication Aaric had transmitted repeated once more and then was dropped.

; Colonel Arthur Slaw watched the Taiyou mech traverse the skyline, nearby Coalition aircraft in slow burns overhead like a picturesque resemblance of the Tripartite. “We have a perimeter established here Commander but that ship’s a red-zone. We only have two gunships inbound now, you can’t move anything heavy in the area or you might compromise the remnants more. We need to step back and keep this zone clear of any more god damn intruders okay? We already have the Varden in there claiming prisoners of war.” The Azrican hitched a thumb back towards a smoke cloud billowing over the horizon, as another small convoy of armored cars rolled out past the Coalition checkpoint. “Twenty meters away is the mobile command center, we’re receiving full transmissions from the site now.”

In the command center a technician pointed another enlisted man over to a holoboard as the other hand clutched the headphone to his ear. “Sonuvabitch the fucking President of the Confederation was on that ship -- we need to get them the fuck out of this ET gagglefuck now.” The enlisted man took a tablet device from his hand and quickly sprinted through the large tent to a Master Sergeant with his feet up on a desk.

“Fuck Wills you’re always on duty for the worst shit, god dammit we need a dispatch to Slaw now and you need to get a shake-down on the line from Regiment!” The Master Sergeant nearly toppled over the desk as he took the tablet device and disappeared out of the flap door.

An engine sprang to life as the stripped-down Saber turned over and a marine special operator threw away the camouflage netting that had been previously draped over it. Around him, three other Saber’s that comprised MAG Alpha Six’s special infiltration vehicles sputtered as their engines burned to life and their crew readied the sprinting vehicles for their mission. On the gunner’s deck of the first Saber a masked soldier yanked the bolt back on the 14.7mm three barreled rotary cannon, and a thumb toggled the electric chamber of the 7mm revolver gun co-axial to the rotary.

“You think this is fuckin’ real? Just a random Reverence the Tiy’s shot out of the sky … war’ll be better off without another one.” Another masked gunman said from the exposed back seat of the Saber that came rolling out of the tiny dug-out garage. The driver pulled goggles over his eyes and made one last adjustment to the helmet on his head before pointing a finger out of the car.

“Time to realize why you’re paid to shoot instead of think, remember why you didn’t join Intelligence. Buckle up and roll marines, we’re meeting some SRI sissies for a nice walk on the Reverence.”



Several kilometers above the wreckage site the bay door of a Vedama heavy transport jet slowly lumbered open, leaving the platoon of khaki-colored soldiers spectator to the calm, gradual colors and sights of the ground below them; all marked with the charred image of the Aschen Reverence below them. “This is Six Three, we’re ready.”

“See ya’ later, stupid.”

The first soldier took a running jump out the back of the airjet, with his arms and legs spread out beside him as he plummeted down through a patchwork of clouds and felt the tug of the chute loft him in the air on a descent to the ship. “I’m inbound, triangulate that transmission onboard the ship and standby to hack directly into the onboard life monitors.” The soldier’s face was obscured in a blank helmet made of a single plate as he used a computer module on his forearm as the ground began to close in. “I’m inbound in ten -- get ready with the Eyeglass, I don’t want any unnecessary surprises while I’m dangling out here waiting for those poor Group fucks.”

Commandant Katamura scoffed a moment. "Varden claiming prisoners of war my ass." She said, taking a pair of binoculars from an Imperial warrior and bringing them to her face, watching the scorched hull of the ship. "Finders Keepers. Take the crew, we get the ship." She said, turning back to Colonel Arthur.

"And it's Commandant, not Commander. A Commander controls a single ship, an Admiral commands a fleet, Commandants command Imperial fleets flagged by the Emperor." She corrected, her accent marring her words only slightly. "I've got four more King Onis in bound, and Sudden Transports to take control of the crew, I can have officers and enlisted transported to Coalition custody, I also understand the President is on board." She said, frowning.

"That complicates things... never the less, with this new intelligence, the Prince has elected to come here to Terra so we can negotiate the surrender of the Aschen Empire." She said, staring out at the ship.

"Best have your heads of state on the horn as well." She said, while being handed a communicator to communicate with the Varden.

"Attention representatives of the Varden Federation, this ship is a designated Taiyou kill, you will surrender the Aschen crew to Taiyou or Coalition custody immediately-- This is non-negotiable, you have thirty earth seconds to signal compliance or we will engage."

She turned to one of her Imperial Adjutants, a young Taiyou man in a crisp black uniform.

"Sono fune ni notte idō suru tame no junbi, Aschen sa rete inai nanika o korosu." She ordered, and the man nodded quickly.

"Hai, Wakarimashita."

Ayako then turned back to the Colonel. "It's strongly advised that all Coalition assets move to immediate cooperative to targeting all Varden assets. This is going to spiral out of control fast." She advised.

---

President Kane simply shook his head, then sent anothe transmission. "I have an urgent message to deliver to the COalition and Taiyou heads of state, my staff and myself are ready to transfer to Coalition or Taiyou custody, so long as we're not harmed." He advised, while Whitcomb and Commander Bentley turned to eachother, then to Aaric. "I wouldn't challenge the Taiyou... problem is the Taiyou are liable to gut us as soon as they take us out." Whitcomb said, but the radio waves were split asunder as a single Taiyou sudden Transport passed overhead, unlike the standard white wash, this was bathed in a deep crimson, and it bore the Imperial Seal, Prince Takayama was already on station.

Aaric tilted his head to the sky for a moment before turning back to the collection of Aschen leaders. ‘The Pike is in position and is awaiting green status on the PJP. They will light the beacon on your command Admiral.’, EGO communicated with Aaric. The Varden Admiral raised a brow though none of the Aschen could see his expression. “I am not about to start a war trying to rescue people that do not wish to be rescued. Such an act would be akin to kidnapping. I hope for your sake and the sake of your people that you are making the right decision Mr. President.”

‘Disseminate.’ Aaric thought and EGO responded. ‘Target?’ The thought in reply came next. ‘The Aschen.’ A device, resembling a steel flower opened on the PJP. A trillion specialized and highly advanced nanites swarmed the site, seeking out Aschen personnel. They would painlessly attach themselves to the survivors of the Thunderous Song as dictated by EGO unless otherwise stopped or prevented. The PJP shimmered and vanished from sight.

‘Transmit to the Coalition, repeating the President’s attempt at communication.’ Aaric thought. ‘The communication is being repeated…’, EGO replied. Threats issued by the Taiyou or other organizations meant nothing to Aaric or other Varden leaders. Like always he acted in accordance with reason and the principles instilled during a long career. Once the communication was complete Aaric transmitted to the Coalition and the Taiyou. "This is Admiral Aaric Arlan, Field Marshal, Second in command of the Varden Expeditionary Theater. I would normally inquire as to the name and title of the individual representing the Taiyou in matters of diplomatic relations but the Varden will be withdrawing. Such inquiries then are moot.”

Aaric turned his head in the president’s direction and continued to transmit. “It would behoove the Coalition and Empire to give fair and just treatment to these detainees, applying neither torture or the threat or action of execution. Aaric out.”

‘Have the Pike light the beacon.’, Aaric thought. EGO transmitted an audible alert to every member of the squad. They all turned to look in his direction as Aaric turned to the President, the Admiral, and the Commander. “Good luck.” ‘Three, two, one, jumping…’, EGO communicated to each warden. Space seemed to stretch and boil around their forms. For a moment they were still there and yet not. They were there and also somewhere else. A nimbus of bright light engulfed them and shot out from them where they had been standing but not into the air. The rays traveled down, encountering the ground beneath their feet and vanishing. This same process took the VTOL and the defensive positions the Varden had previously set up to include the Casters, Charges, MAGs, and HCBs that they had dug in to defend the Aschen.

"... Another day in Paradise." A Female voice echoed through the CIC which was rather silent, and only slightly clamoring with activity.

"Jump Completed." Colonel Emerson reported as he turned to face the Admiral, the middle aged woman offering nod. "Got another Monster of the week again, fortunately I happened to be passing through. Danger close, break through the lower orbital bastions at full throttle, settle in above the city." She ordered, bringing up a large tactical holographic display.


"Coming Online, Grid One Seven Nine Carom One One Eight." A Lieutenant reported, and the Admiral nodded. "All hands, Action stations."

She grabbed the CIC railing, as the Gs pulled nd tugged ever so minutely at her and her crew's form. To the observers below, the chaos of the attack would be interrupted by a deafening roar, followed by a Crash and a flicker of light. There would be a massive form in the skies above the city, easily thirty kilometers in length. This massive, bulbous form approached rapidly, but though it appeared large, and close. The ship was maintaining an altitude of 80,000 feet above the ground.

Once it came to a stop, Admiral Whitcomb pulled up a tactical display, highlighting Alucard's form amidst the buildings and the chaos.

"Our entry has stabilized, initiating Hub control for all linked Aschen ground forces." The AI Said, engaging a large holographic display.

"Initiating Battlefield Control." The AI Added.

Once everything was settled, Whitcomb cleared her throat. "Get a regiment ground side, launch Apollo fighters." She ordered.

---

Once the Reverence II Was situated, the Terran Military, the NPA, and the Invictus would be provided real time tactical feeds of the entire city as they were patched into the Aschen Battlenet being broadcast from the Reverence II Overhead. A moment went by and a trio of triangular shaped fighters shot out from the hangar decks, making a broad arc, they dove directly towards the center of the fighting.

"Varden Forces this is Harbinger of Piety Actual, Stand Down, We have this under control. Don't need you Varden playing Hero like you always seem to do, Let the grown ups engage." She said, changing the comms.

"Terran Forces this is Harbinger of Piety Actual, We got your back. You tag 'em we'll bag 'em."

The arcane airship that continued to fire a volley of lightning bolts at Alucard suddenly came to a stop and with that it began to change its course of action as the golden galleon began to turn its guns upon the building the vampire was standing on itself allowing the crew to change out the crystal munition they were using. Some of the crew of the airship began to open fire ahead of time as they fired missiles made of blue force at the building in hopes of downing it and the source of the tentacles.

"Search and Destroy!" Arden Maximoff shouted as he tossed his drink off to the side and pointed the end of his cane towards the vampire on top of the building only to allow his emotions to get the better of him as a large summoning seal appeared before his ship. "Search and Destroy Elemental of Water! Wash away this filth and bring me what remains!" With this the seal opened to the elemental plane of water and a vast ocean began to poor out only to be held together by four silver rings chained together by arcane runes and chains. Suddenly the great water beast began to wrap itself around the building while the missiles passed through it harmlessly destroying the structure it was slowly enveloping.

Meanwhile as the ships above did their things the vampire drow bellow began rushing Terran citizens out of the city using great speed and strength to move as many woman and children out as he could while the military did their best to keep the dark energies at bay.

"You heard the Terrans." Arya Bones shouted to her soldiers. In a clearly rehearsed and expert fashion the soldiers began to loop their wire ropes through the anchors on their helicopter and on their belts. "Double time it." Sugar Bear ordered, "Ready!" An Invictus Elite said loudly.

From each side of the helicopter soldiers leaned out, the only things keeping them from falling to their death being the cables they were attached to and faith in whatever god they believed in at this point. It probably helped some achieve peace of mind by knowing that the ropes were extremely durable.

The soldiers leaning out of the helicopter took aim with their assault rifles and rained down precise gunfire on the hordes attacking the Terrans on the ground. "Get some of those weird magic shields or something up." Arya ordered, the soldiers who weren't opening fire placing their hands against the inside of the helicopter and projecting a protective barrier on top of whatever low-powered shielding the aircraft already had.

"Sugar, Banner, come with me to assist the Terrans in ground combat." Arya said, "Between us and them, plus any local PD that show up, we'll be able to handle this." Arya assured her men, "That's if we can stagnate their numbers, and if this is the work of that Necro-Vamp, we won't as long as he's around and focused." Sugar Bear informed Arya.

The Invictus commander thought on it for a moment. It was probably too stupid, or crazy, to go after the guy creating the undead hordes they were facing without knowing anything about him. But, maybe it was just as stupid not to try to throw him off of his game if they had the chance.

"We'll take those things on the ground out." Arya told Sugar and Banner before leaping from the helicopter. Her two comrades followed suit, the three Invictus Elites landing lightly against the ground in the midst of their undead enemies as if they weren't just on the verge of free-falling moments ago.

"Open up the channels to the Varden and the Aschen." Arya ordered as she and her men began to engage the undead on the ground, Arya making use of her modified Mamba Pistol, combat knife and skill at not trying to be murdered to hold her own against her current enemies.

"Varden, Aschen, try not to get out of control with your ordnance. We want the city somewhat intact." Arya said over the channels, "We need someone to find out if that other airship is friend or foe and measure just how much they're going to be." She added, "See if you can ID the motherfucker causing this shit too. Me and my boys will try to engage them if we aren't dead." The Invictus Elite said.

"You always say stuff like that and it's not cool." Sugar told Arya, "I'm a combat pragmatic, what can I say?" The woman responded.

‘Who the frell takes a super capital ship into an atmosphere? Shliznat!’, he commented in his head. ‘The Aschen do.’, answered EGO as if it were an actual question. ‘That was rhetorical EGO.’, he answered back in thought. ‘Tell me the corvettes still have a firing solution.’, he thought and EGO answered. ‘The pilots are reporting that they still have a firing solution but it will be danger close on the Reverence.’

‘Corvette pilots load your crystals and target lock. Set the guns to discharge at .1 kalvo and cycle to provide a steady barrage and allow for cooling. Allow for aerial units in vicinity of area. Weapons free.’, he thought and nearly instantly that thought was transmitted to the other pilots. In unison eight Varden corvettes, kilometer tall ships deployed their guns. Weapon doors opened so that the armored turrets could set up and transverse to aim at the planet below. Mechanisms clamped the doors back down to provide added shielding for the guns as the loading systems for the hybrid munitions were backed away from the weapons’ loading apparatuses. Cyclotrons were switched off and lenses slid into breech and bore.

When the first corvette cycled its guns the display in orbit was wholly unimpressive. No massive beams of colored energy escaped from each of the thirty two paired four-hundred and six millimeter bores. On the ground it was a completely different affair as the atmosphere ionized above the city and the intense red beams buzzed the Reverence to hit the mass of evil below. Chaotic imps, demons, devils, and the nightmarish mishmash of chaos infused fleshy tendrils melted, turned to ash, and dispersed on thermal currents. Blood burned away, infusing the air with a stink. Larger tendrils and beasts were simply cut in twain, their wounds cauterizing instantly to prevent their bodies from rejoining the mass or regenerating. It was all to give the Terran line some breathing room. They would have it if only they could defeat those that they were already engaged in melee with.

The ground liquefied into a meter deep pool below the target area, turning into a mixture of molten metal, asphalt, liquid glass, and magma. The weapons were set to be just powerful enough to be effective in their current application. It was a precision strike and though the nearby buildings were exposed to terrible heat and electromagnetic pulses, they would receive more damage from the chaos that was already ensuing on the ground than from the orbital strike if nothing had been done.

Apis was watching the scene from above as the first corvette cycled its guns off to cool and the second started to fire immediately. The pilots were on point. Not a single shot missed the target area and no friendlies were hit, not even a unit in flight. Of course the term was used loosely when referring to the Aschen. Certainly the Aschen would complain. He expected it. ‘Perhaps next time they won’t get in front of my guns.’, he thought. 'Shift fire in source direction and cease on my command.', EGO transmitted for him.

The second corvette ceased firing only ten seconds in and the third did not begin. A transmission came across. It was one of the corvette pilots. 'The Reverence is now blocking our line of fire. The buildings are too tall to fire in at another angle. We have no firing solution. Target lost.', thought the corvette pilot on the closed communication network. Apis cursed. ‘Frelling Aschen! How long till the MCC and MBCs get on location?’, he queried. ‘ETA on MCC, MBCs, APDs, and SDs is forty microt. First Thon unit will be on site in twenty microt.’, EGO answered. ‘Relay to the MBCs to prepare to deploy their point defense turrets to the marked location. Relay to marker and Terran forces that defensive positions, and reinforcements are inbound but our big guns are blocked by the Reverence.’, he thought.

“We read you Invictus. Our orbital strike support capability is now blocked by the Aschen Reverence. Incoming defensive positions, reinforcement, and close air support. ETA is twenty microt, twenty-six seconds.”, EGO communicated.

'Rodger.', thought Kristen and adjusted her aim further forward and away from the Terran forces.

Shliznat - Combination that means shit head or stupid fuck.
Frell - fuck; sometimes a combination of "fuck" and "hell".
Kalvo - A Solari unit of energy.
Microt - A length of time equivalent to 1 and 1/3 Earth seconds.

Zephaniel watched as the battle turned out into full out war. Warships from above their heads fired their ordinance as the mass of evil was in the process of disintegration. What appeared to be a losing battle, shown a glimpse of hope that the tides will turn. Hopefully the source will be the next thing to be stamped out. In the meantime the Red Hooded Assassin helped those he could. All the while he saw a person whiz by. He saw Istzyr doing crowd control like himself.

Zephaniel using his own considerable speed caught up to the Drow. "Good to see more are taking a concern for the rushing crowds!" He yelled over the loud crashing and screaming of the battle overhead. "Anyway listen I believe we can accomplish more working together!" "I'm going to check the nearby buildings for survivors, can you manage the streets?!" Zephaniel asked. All the while helping the Drow herd as much of the nearby populace as possible.

The Reverence maintained it's position, and had begun establishing battlefield control to the Aschen Forces in the immediate area. The ship itself was not danger close to the surface, but was in fact perched at a comfortable altitude, just above Terra's ozone layer. Moving from 25 to 30km Above the planet's surface, the atmosphere at this altitude could obviously not support life, and the frigid air made traversing through gravity lift impossible.

"Apollos are away." The AI Reported to Admiral Whitcomb, whom offered a nod. "Are the men to their Dropships?" She inquired and the AI Promptly nodded it's response. "They are making final preparations for departure as we speak." The AI Added, just then a flickering alarm blared, and a single lieutenant turned to face the Admiral. "Sir! Varden ships are powering their weapons!" He called out, and the Admiral growled. "Typical." She said, then shouted out to the weapons officer and the AI in one sentence. "Shields double top, bring us about." She ordered, and then she turned to the Weapons officer.

"Prepare to return fire!"

It was then the incoming ordinance fired from above buzzed past the Aschen ship. The intense heat and ionized atmosphere expanded outwards, fluctuating against the shields of the Aschen ship, which rippled out across the hull. The Varden's danger close shot managed to register as a hit to the ship's AI. With residual energies dispersed by the Reverence's Shields, it would make for a spectacular show, the white sphere of light around the Aschen ship rippled outwards from the grazed hit. But the Aschen would do more than complain.

Topside Turbo-Disruptor turrets came to life, moving up from their armored recesses and traversing to bear aim to each of the Varden Corvettes in orbit. It didn't stop there, but two armored doors opened up to reveal a pair of recesses, Missile silos. Mechanical actuators moved into position, and loaded a pair of 500Mt Anti-Capital ship Fusion warheads.

"Turbo Disruptors, and Missiles primed and ready to fire." The AI reported, but it of course didn't stop there as batteries loaded with Plasmic Torpedoes, and a singular energy projector traversed near the upper bow of the ship. Every Turret, missile battery, torpedo bay, and heavy gun on the topside of the Aschen ship bore aim at the Varden Corvettes.

"We have a firing solution." The AI reported, and Admiral Whitcomb nodded. "Commence fire."

The massive engines engaged, and the ship pushed forward while her AI guided weapons began to open fire, sending a sustained salvo of Turbo-Disruptor shots up towards the Corvettes that opened fire. These were followed up by the two missiles launching, with Self-guidance running in Autistic mode, Jamming or hacking the missiles would be impossible.

The Heavy guns cycled, and discharged their beams upwards towards the collection of Varden ships. Indeed the incoming weapons came in such intensity and number that repelling them all with shields and armor would be impossible, and the ships would find themselves facing certain destruction at the hands of the massive Reverence below, which was now gunning forward, and rapidly climbing in altitude to come about, and bear it's far more lethal weapons into the fight.

As the Reverence climbed and engaged the Varden, five Condor dropships emerged from her hangar bays, deploying a pair of Marine regiments to the ground to assist in the engagement. They would arrive in five minutes.

The AI monitored the situation, and then reported to the Admiral. "We will be in orbit in one Millicenton. I've flagged all nearby fleets to begin emergency intercept course. I've forwarded footage and a report to the Fleet Admiral and the Chairman. President Kane will be briefed on the attack." The AI Continued, and Whitcomb nodded. "It was clear the attack was directed at us, therefore we will respond in kind."

Vladimar glared furiously at Paragon. His eyes resonated with a deep aura of blood red. "Then your blood shall open the gate of my passage..." he growled. The vampire king vanished in a blur and reappeared at the other end of the roof. He lifted the large runeblade in both hands and gripped it in a battle stance. "Much has happened since last we met, Paragon. To underestimate me can be fatal... Only a man can hope to destroy me. So tell me, demon. Are you a man, monster, or dog?!"

The Blood King looked upward as the floating warship further darkened the sky. He attempted to reach out to the body and mind of Arden Maximoff. Vladimar channeled his rage and the demonic energy that flowed through him, attempting to boil the precious life blood within the man. Black cystic pustules would form across his body before exploding with highly contagious and deadly plague onto the other crew members.

As the battle intensified below, the victims captured by the tendrils were lifted high above the city. They carried them over the army and up to the central skyscraper where the Blood King stood. Other tendrils lifted large pikes, formed from broken street lights and poles, and thrust them into the roof. Finally, the tendril-spears attempted to impale the prisoners on the pikes. In ancient days, they would have been set on top of the pikes to die a slow painful death as they were slowly impaled through their nether regions. However, they were in the midst of battle. Every second counted.

The blood flowed from the impaled dying victims towards the center of the roof.

When the helicopters and Aschen fighters soared through the air, the writhing mass of chaotic boiling blood and undead reacted. Pillars and tendrils shot into the air in an attempt to smash or disorient the helicopters. A musket shot snapped from somewhere in the flood and a blue streak of light zigged, zagged, and darted over the battle. It charged at the choppers with murderous intent as it attempted to pierce its hull. The object would circle back around again and again until the vehicle dropped from the sky. Then it moved on to the next one until they all fell into a crumbled heap.


The undead continued to swarm even as the Invictus landed on the battlefield. Though the retaliation against Vladimar's legion intensified, their numbers continued to swell. It was an endless flood that churned them out by the hundreds. However, a single cloaked figure strode amidst the living chaos. He was like a stagnant stone against the raging river. Vladimar's familiars charged passed him, ignorant or indifferent to his presence.

"His name vas once Alucard." he said as he approached Arya. "A vampire. Zee ultimate vampire - arguably zee first and most powerful of all our kind. Take note of zee banners of Wallachia and zee fachion of how zee blood sacrifices are impaled at his feet. You battle one of the fiercest, cruelest, and powerful men in all of human history. Alucard was a monster created to destroy monsters, but now he has been severed from both master and purpose... So now he has cast away the identity and created himself anew."

"He cannot be killed or defeated." the strange figure continued. "This hordes are an extension of himself. They are a part of him as he is a part of them, and what you see here today is only a fraction of the forces within the Blood King's fortress. The harder you fight back, the more people will die - and that will only strengthen him..."

From silence, with no signature on detection radar or sonar. As if it wasn't even there, the great red warship, The Huntress, pulled from the shadows of nothing, it's green eyes gleaming, and it's jaw parted in what could only be assuaged as a grin of fiendish intent. Battle was to be joined, and the predator of a thousand stars was eager for it.

"the party started without me, awww...." Melanie storm muttered in the blackness of the ship. "well, I'm here now.. Time to have a good time."

And with that, the ship roared forward to the front lines, it's forward gauss guns bombarding ship after ship, with no distinction for faction. It would tear through shields and armor as though they were little more than tin foil. It's terrorsome visage would be the last thing many a crewman would see.

The dragon's head would open it's jaws and scream, the air would fill with the sound of a hawks hunting call, followed by a very hyper voiced Storm "IS THAT THE BEST YOU GOT!"

[Warning! Target Lock Detected. Warning!]

‘The reverence is targeting the fleet and leaving the Terran atmosphere to close.’, EGO relayed to Apis. ‘Fleet links up…’, he thought almost lazily and was interrupted by EGO. ‘Incoming enemy disruptor fire.’, EGO announced as it was the disruptor fire that would be the first to reach the Varden fleet. ‘Have the corvettes get some transversal.’ Apis communicated and EGO relayed.

[Fleet Links Engaged.]

Turbo disruptor fire impacted the aurora shielding of the corvettes, causing brief visual ripples and distortion when they did hit. They did not always hit, despite the target lock. ‘Incoming missiles.’, EGO relayed. ‘Deploy nanite cloud.’, Apis thought and that thought was instantly sent by EGO as a command to the other ships in the fleet. Small ports opened to release a loose steel colored cloud that enveloped each of the ships and within those clouds the ships vanished.

Particle beams from the reverence’s heavy guns attempted to cut into each of the two Varden dreadnoughts without warning from EGO and the shielding dipped under the pressure as the nanite clouds parted for a few seconds. Both the Winds Will and the Vraad took hits to their starboard broadside. The weapons did not penetrate into armor. The shields pulsed as the two pilots cycled their aura boosters, dumping some of the gang’s shared capacitor reserves into the effort. ‘That stung a bit.’, one of the dreadnought pilots commented over the net. ‘Only your Solari pride.’, retorted another. ‘Clear the net.’, Apis intervened.

APDs buzzed about the fleet observing from many different angles as the missiles and torpedoes were devoured by a hungry swarm of nanites and reprocessed, lending a portion of the energy garnered to other ship systems. ‘Back us off a bit. I don’t want to risk harm to Terra’s ecosphere.’, he thought as each of the ships continued to take fire and the fleet moved so that if they did fire upon the Aschen, Terra would not be behind the reverence. ‘Give me a rough sensor schematic of the reverence. I want to disable her if possible.’ he thought and EGO’s answer was almost immediate.

‘All sensor types are experiencing reduced resolution when trying to penetrate the reverence’s hull. The cause is unknown but it is to be expected. We have similar sensor shielding. Identifying possible targets of opportunity based on ship hull, max efficiency, observed ship layout, and other information collected.’, commented EGO in his head. ‘Prepare remote ECM burst. Keep the gravimetric sensors up. Shield all other sensors. Dreadnoughts prepare to siege. All ships load void with exception of corvettes. Corvettes ramp up to one-hundred kalvo. Bring our bow around and put the reverence in sight of Destiny. Startup destiny sequence and have the Zephyr prepare a cyno. Alert regional fleets in Ayenee and Eden. Have them green light. I want them ready to jump if this escalates further.’ Apis thought the command. The Zephyr was the lead corvette.

The Whisper started to come around to align with the reverence. ‘Prepare to target lock and fire all guns on my command.’ Behind the steel colored cloud guns were deployed and every single Varden ship blossomed into a thing of war. ‘Transmit to the reverence.’ Apis thought and EGO opened a channel. “Harbinger of Piety Actual you will stand down and cease your attack or you will be destroyed. You are outgunned, the extent of which you have failed to realize. Any attempt to use your primary weapon will result in your immediate destruction. This is your first and final warning. Apis out.”

The Harbinger of Piety continued to rapidly climb into low orbit, kilometer by kilometer the Reverence II continued to climb in altitude until it pulled itself free of the Planet's gravity well.

"AI, Solution report." She demanded, and the AI turned to report. "No Damage. I will advise that Turbo Disruptors are calibrated for Atmospheric and Planetary combat, I will re-calibrate them for Anti-Ship combat and Ship to Ship Combat."

The Admiral scowled, and turned to one of her Lieutenants. "Someone didn't tell me that the weapons were calibrated for planetary combat!?"

A Lieutenant shook his head. "I meant to say something but you ordered a firing salvo."

Whitcomb nodded.

"Hold fire, re-calibrate and prepare to re-engage."

---

The Aschen Reverence paused a moment, holding fire and sitting there for several moments. It was then a Polygonal shaped shield went around the ship from front to rear. Varden sensors would detect this as some sort of physical light barrier. Aschen Hard Light Shields to be more specific. These flickered a brilliant blue and maintained while the Reverence's crew worked to re-calibrate the ship for full combat deployment.

The Varden Message inevitably came through... Whitcomb listening to the message on the speakers.

“Harbinger of Piety Actual you will stand down and cease your attack or you will be destroyed. You are outgunned, the extent of which you have failed to realize. Any attempt to use your primary weapon will result in your immediate destruction. This is your first and final warning. Apis out.”

The Admiral smiled, and then she manipulated the holographic projection. "Outgunned they say." She said, tapping her finger against the flickering hologram.

"AI, Deploy our task force." She ordered, and the AI Nodded.

----

From the Varden fleet, the Reverence II would be seen moving slightly, the Hard Light shield flickered, and the bottom portion of the shields slid away, revealing two gaping hangar bays. The Bays opened wide enough to accommodate the larger of Aschen ships. First generation Reverence PACs moved out one by one, the AHSC 'Terra Nova' and the AHSC 'Hellena' Moved out from the gaping bay. The first generation Reverence I's moved alongside their larger second generation counterpart. Once they cleared out, a 19km long wedge shaped CNV Emerged, it was as if the Reverence II was giving birth to the CNV. Once it had completely emerged, it bore towards the Varden ships, it's Singularity cannon slowly powering up.

"CNV Acheron, maintain combat readiness, engage on my command." She hailed, and the CNV's Commander acknowledged it's response, while preparing it's bank of Turbo-Disruptors to bear on the Varden ships.

Once the CNV Deployed, a handful of Battlestars deployed, roughly a dozen ships moved out and in a staggered formation, while the CNV Deployed an additional Reverence I, and all three first generation Reverences began to deploy smaller Frigates, Battlecruisers, and Battlestars which formed out in a staggered formation.

Once the Aschen fleet situated itself, Whitcomb opened up a channel to Apis.

"Commander Apis, this is Harbinger of Piety actual. We are demanding your immediate unconditional surrender for your unprovoked attack. You have one millicenton to comply or we will engage." She said sternly, while the Hard-Light shield disengaged, revealing the ship facing it's side towards the Largest Varden ship.

"Concentrate your fire on the Command ship. Battlestar Task force, engage the corvettes when I give the order."

In a brilliant light the FTL jump spat out a reaching halo of gun-metal gray vessels, one hundred and sixty starships of Task Force Cobalt exited translight. Several AUs from New Terra the Star Fleet force made a sudden brightness on sensors and detection arrays, the largest signature coming from a pair of massive 20 kilometer Resplendence class superbattleships. As radiation and excess momentum boiled over from the jump, a gargantuan wave of energy from behind the ship left by the translight propellant, hull fields encasing all of the Star Fleet vessels glowed with a violent intensity and from a distance the shower of bright sparks reached apart like wings.

Onboard the CNS Promethean Dawn a Fleet Admiral stood over a holographic display of a Royark class Robotics Cruiser, a bulbous and incredulous machine unlike any other type of Scatterran origin.

“Jump completed in accordance with the PERIMETER system address -- Terra ahead.”

“Thank you Jameis, proceed with the operation.” While Admiral Kamnaris continued on with the display in front of him the array of airscreens in front of him winked to life. Somewhere a mechanical mind took over from the disembodied pilot, a capsuleer somewhere deep within the recesses of the Promethean’s keel.

“Admiral Kamnaris there are various units stationed around Terra,”

“Oh God dammit so there’s a variation in the god damn inputs -- “ Kamnaris stopped as he looked at a holographic display, a remote sensor relay on the screen from the navigations center elsewhere in the massive bridge of the ship. “Oh. Fuck, welcome to Terra.”

“Is it time to authorize Condition Alpha sir?”

“Yes, yes it’s time for Condition Alpha.”


A cluster of starships just under an AU from the CNS Promethean Dawn a nimble assault carrier joined up with it’s last group of escorts on the trek through the Terran star lanes. Several thousand kilometers above the assault carrier a robotics cruiser, the CNS Imphir, steamed ahead in front of it’s sister ship the CNS Carlesa: two huge domes along the spine of the craft replacing the bulwarking and hull structure typical of Scatterran spinal cannons.

In the depths of the vessel’s superstructure the bridge was eerily silent and bathed in a smothering red light. On a main airscreen in front of two Star Fleet officers Admiral Kamnaris stood with his back to the camera, hunched back at the holotable.

“Is a Demon salvo ready?” Kamnaris replied over his shoulder, imagery pulsing in front of him as a few static pulses came across the screen. Residue from the jump could be seen on sensors burning away into a long, ghostly ‘tail’ from the Scatterran starships at surprisingly distant ranges.

“We’re preparing the setup parameters for a EW operation, many of the ships are well within a local range -- the planetary mass nearby will bound back the signals, whatever doesn’t make it we can catch back and send again.” Captain Rayjik spoke promptly, as one hand drew away a line of sweat from his chin. “Before we had arrived Perimeter logged a heavy 500mt device but we haven’t seen the last-effects of something that size going off.”

“Break group and follow the assault carrier, Arcadian will be supported by the battlecruisers Karsinoth and Hrusca and a guided missile detachment. You and the Carlesa are to disarm and disengage those combatants understood?”

“Understood Fleet Admiral.”




“Alright god dammit let’s lock some channels and get the dialogue going, we are breaking up this silly gagglefuck!” Commander Kraviyr held onto the railing around the commander’s nest as he bellowed orders into the operations pits down nearly two stories below.


“Starbox network online, arrays hot.” A Junior Lieutenant replied, similar confirmations rising up the staggered floors to the Commander as he stood away from the railing and took a digital wireless in his hand. With Captain Rayjik standing directly in front of the capsuleer interface nestled in the belly of the commander’s nest, Kraviyr controlled the physical operation of the vessel to leave the Captain to postulate theory.

“We’ve cooled from the jump, hull capacitors ready to boost the signal.” Lifting the receiver to his head Kraviyr heard the Lieutenant Commander relay the latest update before making a hand signal and turning to the holographic broadcast board. Using his free hand to activate one key a batch of tiny circles suddenly pulsed to life throughout a 3D hologram of the star system.

“Attention all vessels, attention all vessels … disengage, disengage … this is the CNS Imphir. Attention all vessels, attention all vessels, disengage all weaponry and combat abilities immediately: you engaging in inconsiderate aggression in a Star Fleet enforced demilitarized zone you will disengage your vessels immediately. Comply.”

'Track celestial objects for use of dark energy bombs and anti-matter bombs at location with radius of fifty metra off two metra to closest side of the Harbinger of Piety's cross section. Advice for possible collateral damage caused by use of dark energy bombs and anti-matter bombs at target location.’ Apis thought. 'No registered celestial will pass over target space for the next ten cycles. With current gravimetric observations the damage will mend in five cycles. No registered effect on Terra or the SOL system is predicted due to dimensional expansion. Anti-matter energy discharge will cause no significant disruption of Terra's ecosphere at under ten-thousand kalvo.’ EGO relayed after performing the calculations.

‘Raven and Agincourt align with Harbinger of Piety and prepare to release dark energy bombs to detonate at marked location. Ouse and Rambler align with Harbinger of Piety and prepare to release anti-matter bombs to detonate at marked location. Set bombs to five thousand kalvo.’ The four ships aligned and prepared their payload even as the Whisper finished aligning with the Harbinger of Piety and Whitcombs transmission came across. ‘Destiny is ready to fire on your command. Bombs are reported ready to deploy.’ EGO relayed.

'Remote ECM burst in three… two…', Apis thought but was interrupted. ‘Incoming transmission from new contact., EGO relayed. Apis performed an audible grunt and grumble in the POD as the transmission came through. ‘Aurora double front for gravity sheer and divert some power to the gravity dampeners. Cold align fleet. Cold align.’ His had his finger on the trigger and had been a single thought away from pushing it. It was still within reach. A single stray thought confirmed through his will would be the only thing he needed to end the Aschen ships present on the field. “CNS Imphir this is VEF Whisper, Admiral Rye Apis commanding. I would give me great pleasure to accommodate your request provided Harbinger of Piety is of a like mind.”, his thoughts were translated into words and transmitted.



Standing on the outer hull of the Whisper was a man garbed in black. He was there for only and instant and sort of mulled about. He peered briefly across the distance at the Aschen ships and to the ships that surrounded the one upon which he stood. The cloaked man then turned his eyes down to the surface of the planet and vanished.

-"So tell me, demon. Are you a man, monster, or dog?!"-

"All this and more, beast," Paragon turned, glowering at the Blood King, his dark cloak fluttering in the smoggy breeze, "and in the name of every blameless mortal killed by your hand long before their time... for every innocent soul unjustly claimed by your insatiable hunger... I will stop you."

With these words, Paragon reached into his cloak, unveiling a magnificent blade, every bit as bright as Vladimar's was dark. It glowed with the soft, celestial ambiance of the full moon, a bright and shining star amid the hellish epicenter of the Blood King's horror.

"The Night demands justice, Vladimar," he stepped forward, blade brandished, his words writhing into the vampire's ears like serpentine whispers, "so come to it. Come and face the Dark."

---

Back on the ground, an NPA Sergeant overheard the mysterious stranger's words with Arya.

"Well what the hell are we supposed to do then?!" he growled, "STOP fighting it?!"

Still, there was no arguing that the ensuing conflict was only making Vladimar stronger. With every man killed, the chaotic blood wave pulsed higher, groaning against the psionic boundary of the Svalinn with wretched yearning. It was the Svalinn, the TNG-sanctioned energy shield constructed from the wills and minds of mortal Terran heroes, that kept the full power of the Blood King's "level zero" attack at bay, allowing the hordes of hell to be released only in small waves, rather than the tidal frenzy that it ought to be. If that shield failed, there would be very little hope left for the city.

Luckily, with the arrival of Invictus, Aschen and Varden support as well as the continued efforts of many brave and valiant heroes, the defensive line formed against Vladimar's horde was solidifying. Shaky still, but far better than it was. Despite this, the situation remained dire. Every drop of blood spilled only increased the power and energy of the invaders. If the defenders were to have any hope of winning the day, they needed to cut off Vladimar's "food supply".

"Admiral Whitcomb, Warden-Admiral Apis, do you copy? the Sergeant commed into the two ships high above the city, "I need IMMEDIATE evacs of all civilians in the area. If those floatin' hunks of metal have direct ship-surface beam transport abilities, that'd be fuckin' dandy." He tapped at a holo-screen on his arm. "I'm uploading the coordinates of the seven most populated buildings in the vicinity. Get them out, get them safe."

Meanwhile, another NPA Enforcer, hunkered behind a chunk of thrown-up concrete, was making a separate call to Fort Veritas. "Veram actual, do you copy? This is Strike Four, requesting immediate requisition of Tetris operatives and Sixth Legion to contact point. Air support is needed. Requesting a bombing run from V-88 prototypes along designated coordinates..."

The forces of order continued to make their stand against the tides of chaos, fighting them with their weapons, machines, fists, powers and honest human courage.

As the three ship's ranked into what was HOPEFULLY a ceasefire, a Terran Trireme pulled up onto the scene. It hailed all parties involved almost immediately after.

"For the love of GOD," the very-tired visage of Captain MacDuff would appear on their holo-screens, "would somebody PLEASE give me a sitrep of what we're blowing each other up for? I have a vampire prince in the Wing and an insurgent uprising in Hafirjan to deal with. The last thing I need is our own 'allies' trading fire in orbit."

Istzyr was perplexed at the angelic assassins offer only to chuckle and stop for a moment to consider what was all going on. The act of war was upon every mind in this entire city and yet here stood someone who also was here to help the fleeing and the damned. "Well I suppose that will work out just fine for now." Istzyr then smiled revealing his white fangs a bit while waving on those who were still running.

It was up upon the golden galleon that everything and just about anything could go wrong as Arden took a step forward only to suddenly fall to his knees as he felt the presence of his target breaching his mind like it was nothing but a stroll in the park and it was through sheer will power alone that Arden dismissed the conjured water elemental with only a moments notice. With every moment that seemed to pass pain began to flood the sorcerer's senses and the screams of his crew members did nothing for his moral other than send him into yet another fit of emotions. "You think you can decimate Arden Maximoff!" His voice seemed to echo throughout the city as he raised his cane high into the air allowing the energies he controlled to flow through him to sever the connection and in hopes stagger his opponent.

In the mean time as ships were getting hit on both sides the golden galleon began to turn tail for the crew that remained protected had only one thing on their mind and that was to survive and fight for another day.