The Tides of History (an St/Sw cross over)

[sonofccn]

I apologize for being to late and so absent

Hey no problem, take your time.

Battles conclusion and the death of a certain hero.

Well I hope the hero goes out with one helluva bang. Anyway can't wait! :)

[Praeothmin]

Yeah, the founders are nasty, but see, that's something that's always been implied, yet never really explored in DS9...

Great chapter...

[Admiral Breetai]

Well I hope the hero goes out with one helluva bang. Anyway can't wait! :)

has anybody died with a wimper in my fic?

Yeah, the founders are nasty, but see, that's something that's always been implied, yet never really explored in DS9...

Great chapter...

thanks and yeah I figured if DS9 was on HBO or SHOW they'd have held nothing back..I'm just filling in the blanks as it were..if it grosses you out or terrifies the readers I cannot complain

[Admiral Breetai]

new chapters coming...this ones isn't the only one should finish by the end of the evening the rest. Battles grinding to a close, Grand Admirals are up to something and The Dominion has some discord in it's lines

also going with the false preacher theme for Vi'retess I've tried to portray him as close to the anti christ as you can get in a sci fi setting lemme know how I'm doing on that front.

"I've always believed in paying close attention to everything I've been told it's an obsessive trait but really it's been my experience even the smallest snowflake can cause a monstrous avalanche' - Captain Robert April


Orbit over Ord Mantell – hour 20

Admiral Rennek sat back both sides had brought over what reinforcements they could, he noticed though that the pattern of the attack that had changed progressively over the last four hours, he was thinking back on it, originally they’re tactics had centered around destroying everything they could and hurling themselves at the enemy in near suicidal and vicious attacks now that had changed, he began to see the type of battle formations he saw from the recording of the battle of Chomell and other key mid rim sectors. They were driving imperial forces pushing them, the bulk of the fighting was now concentrated around the planet, Rennek realized now it looked like there may have been some division in the Dominion lines.

“they’re trying to make us abandon the sector “ he said “are they?” another asked, Rennek nodded and rose up his vessel had been spared damage but he saw an orbital graveyard of imperial vessels and realized he had likely lost close to eighty percent of his own forces. He began thinking about it, he had vessels posted a fleet of a hundred ISD’s and a thousand other ships waiting in a nebula on the door step of the expansion region. The Dominion had been reinforced but they had lost fourteen thousand ships over the last twenty hours and had quickly begun to lose more until their tactics changed. Outnumbered they still were a dangerous foe, able to fight his ships on two to one or three to one odds depending on the vessel in question.

“Nilus flagship has been destroyed’ another reported Rennek nodded excellent another dangerous imperial officer biting the dust. Thinking about it he grinned before rising. “Keep fighting for another hour but begin diverting what remains of our fleet to Yabosta” he said they all eyed him “sir retreat? But our orders’ “are to never abandon the mid rim I don’t intend too in fact within ten hours we should return to Ord Mantell ‘he said they nodded

Allied star base Red Dawn:

Vi’retess slammed his hand onto the desk and let out a curse ‘that arrogant fool!” he snapped “he’s not serious!’ “I’m afraid he is” another vorta said Kevon had changed since the dominion war his hatred for humanity had begun to cloud his judgment and it was showing, Kevon believed them beaten and was diverting from the mission.

Garros frowned ‘maybe we should allow this” he said to the old Vorta “I mean if we can push them back to the expansion region all we have left to worry about is Malastare “ Garros remarked. Vi’retess frowned they had for the most part completed their agenda but he wanted to thoroughly annihilate the enemies forces here. He sat down calmly taking a pause and thinking about it, he could always secretly order a suicide dive against the planetary shields of Malastare, which was another problem it took way too long for his forces to crack those shields unlike earlier the empire was adapting. He turned eying Garros “very well boy” he said rising folding his arms behind his back the possibility that the mad Admiral or Guylos had planned some type of trap was also a possibility and there was curiosity he did want to spring the trap and see just what his enemies minds were capable of. He turned to the lizard like techs and other Vorta’s ‘order Kevon to press his advantage “he said before rising he yawned weakly and then cracked his lower back “Garros I am going to retire’ he paused thinking about it then he smiled “in the interest of diplomatic relations and friendship between the Galactic Alliance to restore the Republic and the Dominion would you be interested in leading while I sleep?” he asked

The other vorta looked up Garros was taken aback “Sir I’m just a starship captain’ ‘so you keep saying’ he said ‘consider it a gesture of trust we place the ultimate fate of our battle in Republican hands”

Garros bowed ‘you honor me sir’ he said before turning and eying the Vorta who nodded in respect. Vi’retess smiled as he left, the boy could do no harm to the outcome now so it was hardly a risk Garros would likely realize that later he’d be annoyed Vi’retess essentially used him for a political gesture but he would make up for it later, what was important was Rebel faith in the Dominion.

……..
Bright Jewell system

The resolute drifted through space on silent running as the crew ran around making various repairs, the Dominion had long since begun concentrating on the planet itself. Acting Captain Hertz had essentially been able to get some sleep and even eat a decent meal in the hours since the exterminators had shown up. Communications were still down but he was told that power had been restored to the back up shield generators and an engineering crew was outside doing repairs in zero G on the vessels engines trying to salvage some of the engines that were down, he wondered what it was like dancing in-between those massive fire breathing cylinders his brother had become a mechanic and he often times worried he’d fall in or get burned of course his own mechanics assured him that would never happen and with engines off now they had time to really get in there. There were still massive holes in the vessel of course but all the same a few weeks at dry dock would be all she needed when his men were done. He was proud and he hoped the old man was proud. “Captain Hertz’ he turned eying Maniac the hotshot pilot who had apparently killed a Dominion capital ship. Hertz was still amazed at the fighter squadron that showed up the new technology was amazing and luckily allot of the ships they had taken on their way out had some of these new supplies his men could look over and see if they could replicate the tech. assuming they survived of course “I’m still getting used to that’ he said “I don’t think I’ll be Captain for long though” he said Maniac shrugged ‘maybe but for now” he said for his part he radiated confidence and seemed to never really doubt himself at all, Hertz was still new at command but he had authority and carried it when he needed too. ‘Your boys can get communications back up in about two minutes they tell me’ he said ‘let’s go head to the secondary command bridge”

Hertz nodded walking out ‘not a Dominion bug in hours’ he said Maniac nodded “Yeah big boy thinks their changing their game plan” he said “Really? ‘ he asked the fat fighter pilot was as dumb as a Bantha but he was at times surprisingly insightful ‘thinks their gonna push through or try too” he said

Hertz nodded ‘what would you do?” Maniac thought about it ‘if I were them keep it going’ he said ‘but if I was Rennek let ‘em run it” he said “then close it around them and jump them with the aid of a local fleet’ he said ‘they’d have to try and run and by then you can have enough reinforcements to finish them’

Hertz nodded he had to admit that made sense ‘risky though “he said “have you thought about where you’ll go?’ ‘assuming we can even jump?’ he asked “I’m not sure nothing is going to be happening for awhile after this and I want to get even we all do” Maniac nodded grinning so there was fire in him after all ‘what if I told you I knew about a fleet that was going to be seeing heavy action in the coming months”

“I’d order you to give me the jump coordinates” Maniac grinned “well I can’t refuse an order sir” both men smiled.

Ord Mantel –same time

Kevon’s command vessel shook as an imperial gunboat of some type rammed into the side, the vessel shook again as the smaller vessels threw themselves at him. He smirked he was getting close now near him several Dominion heavy cruisers and what remained of their light cruisers opened fire with a flash of bright white beams carving into the last of the orbital stations, before turning and raining down onto the planet below – small plumes of dust erupted followed by much larges ones that covered a hemisphere, soon he saw orange and ordered his men to stop. This was supposed to be one of their planetary cities this junkyard of the cosmos, with layers of metal built upon one another until the surface of the planet was unrecognizable. These fools wanted to build such wasteful resources consumptive worlds? So be it, it was easier for the Dominion to deal with any ways, and though it possessed a fraction of the population of the imperial capital Kevon had done as ordered. Soon the entire sector would be starving to death whether they conquered it or not. Though he was proud to say that he had burned through metal until he touched the ancient and primal core of the world which was now belching out fire and lava for hundreds of miles, it was a mixed with frustration. Vi’retess may have been the oldest vorta model in service he may have fought against countless different species he had never faced humans. They were an entirely separate beast a dangerous enemy and he was handling them all wrong. You didn’t try and manipulate humanity you tried to kill it; you attempted murder them until none of them were left. Not understanding this principle the senile fool went and promoted a human rebel officer as the man’s attaché’ as his second and worse of all now he was allowing him to take command of the battle? Kevon severed all communication and pressed the advantage

From his position on the command ship Rennek was pale, he hadn’t fought a real war and he knew a good portion of the younger commanders hadn’t and this was showing in their reaction. He was dangerously close to loosing control when the Dominion bombarded Ord Mantel two ISD groups engaged attacking Dominion forces in a suicidal charge to stop the oncoming attack coming between the planet and the weapons fire, they lasted about a minute and a half before they were torn to pieces and their broken hulls reigned down on Ord Mantel a futile gesture of frantic panic that did more harm then good and further forced the Dominion forward.

Rennek cursed “get me what’s left of the fleet” he ordered coldly “Attention all ships! Their goal is to force us back they are trying to bully us to scare us! Let them’ he said “trust me on this if they think they are succeeding they’ll make for the nearest sector”

‘And invade the expansion region? With all due respect admiral you should be shot for your cowardice” ‘no idiots listen to what he’s saying’ another said “you have something planned don’t you admiral?” “I’m crazy not stupid” he said ‘and I’m not a liar I said Dominion aggression would stop here it will’ he said –for now- he thought ‘trust me give them the opening they want, believe me this will end soon” he said as communications were again jammed. Slowly the remaining ISD’s fell in line their engagements got closer and closer to the planet before moving off “are you sure about this sir?” his aid asked Rennek nodded “but when the time comes that command ship is mine” he said coldly

Coruscant imperial war room

Seras watched the battle along side Octavian Grant both of them seemed unnaturally tense ‘what is he doing?” she said “he’s falling back? They want to leave the system can’t he see that?’ she snapped “evidentially you’re grasp of tactics is as ordinary as your birth” Grant said, Lucien Tyrell growled “what the hell do you mean? I can’t see what either of you two are talking about” “she means” Guylos said entering “that This Dominion commander has shifted the entire strategy of the battle from one of destruction and suppression to advancing “ he said Grant nodded Seras frowned “I can’t see what Rennek is planning’ she said Enzo had left earlier with a fleet to one of the near by expansion region sectors the Grand Admiral was a brawler but a smart one and he wanted to fight, she suspected that he believed they’d fail but the way Grant and Guylos were talking “I see” she said ‘Rennek knows this” she said “he’s trying to lay some type of trap for them exploit this?”

Grant eyed her she had that commoner’s intelligence and annoying habit of learning fast but he was glad for once that he didn’t have to explain things twice. “Your field is sciences “he said simply ‘perhaps your better suited to sciences” “every battle yields new information for my people” she said “I want to see this first hand’ she added looking at Guylos “which star destroyer did Grand Admiral Enzo take?” “He took the SSD Hammer” he said she flinched that was an experimental prototype that was created in conjunction with Grand Moff Turhain and her own people, it had an updated armor and it’s weapons only the heavy turbo lasers some of the medium ones were traditional the rest were an experimental mix of technology plasma bolts generated the same way the Dominion weaponry did, had she known that she was essentially creating a primitive disruptor like so many others did long ago in the milky way she might have felt a sense of resentment on how far their distant cousins had come in such short time. The engines were also different manufactured based off dominion impulse drives combined with their own tech it would likely make Hammer faster, the re-sequencing technology based off their replicators was also installed as well as a few missiles and a new power core all hastily assembled in the months since the fall of Red Dawn, much like the experimental fighters the giant was untested, and no Grand Admiral dared sit inside a ship that was one part radical and unstable tech one part imperial engineering until now. “So it seems Enzo is crazy what a surprise” Grant remarked “oh I don’t know Octavian” Guylos said ‘it might be effective in battle ““if the blasted thing does not blow itself up first”

“I hear they have singularity based power cores” Tyrell said every one eyed him the man was using spice again and was painfully behind on the intelligence “Yes, thank you” Grant said before eying the other grand admirals Tyrell nodded internally furious at the way he was dismissed.

“Grand Admiral I’ve got a report from Captain Vinzen he says a fleet of six hundred ships have been detected in a local nebula” an aid said, Guylos frowned was it Renneks relief fleet or a Dominion ship? Had they laid a trap for their own trap? “ID codes check out its Captain Gamilos’ Guylos breathed a sigh of relief ‘excellent link up with them we’ll start the party together”

“He’s insane and perceptive” Octavian said of course they both knew it was any bodies guess which system they had in mind. Grant picked another system entirely and Enzo had taken his fleet to a second one (which also only an hour jump from Malastare he had noticed) “Yabosta system?’ Seras said surprised ‘you’ve been there?” Grant asked she nodded “there’s a plant that grows on the main planet it’s pretty deadly we wanted samples for research” she said ‘it’s the most boring place in the galaxy I mean to the extent that every one knows every bodies name they wave at the imperial storm troopers and they have back like some small backwater town”
“Sounds like a nice place” Guylos remarked ‘if you wish to go insane from boredom” Grant remarked ‘and they will be host to last chapter of the wars of the mid rim? ‘He shook his head

………..
Ord mantel – twenty minutes later

Several imperial fighter squadrons swung by low orbit dumping their payloads into a Dominion cruiser before veering off passing through the remains of a falling ISD The fighter squadron now low on missiles and power had no choice diving into orbit. The commander of this squadron would later rename it “the Orphans of Mid Rim’ as it was joined now by hundred or so other fighters now risking a landing on the mutilated world for similar reasons. Another twenty bombers joined them now.

Kevon watched the sight mildly amused ‘pathetic little things” he said sipping some juice his daily meal time over he got up and looked around ‘now then we’ve done what we came here to do...it is time to do more” he said calling up a star map ‘there the Yabosta system” ‘sir it’s out of the way puny” ‘indeed but it’s within striking distance of major systems and the best part is no hyper lane between them” every one knew what that meant, you had to reach those main systems by some other route you couldn’t jump from Yabosta to there easily enough to make entry into those systems from that “direction” worth defending. Subspace manipulation that produced warp and now slipstream had no such limitations only computing power and sensor accuracy limited how fast he could go. If he got detailed scans he could destroy those systems from Yabosta with impunity and be gone before imperial vessels could respond. Tempting enough as it was “prepare all vessels for slipstream travel we are invading the expansion region and this time we will not be playing the part of petty vandals I want a Dominion flag over the system by tomorrow” he ordered


Allied starbase Red Dawn – same time

Vi’retess stretched himself making his way sleepily into a second room, hidden from view on the way in a series of holographic representations of Vorta’s appeared as well as one of the large bear like creatures and two Jem’Hadar Ar’tech younger but now fat form sat in the center chair “did you sleep well overseer”
Ignoring him Vi’retess eyed them all ‘Kevon has failed us and gone rogue, Garros has managed to convince several Dominion ships to fall back to Red Dawn but the rest aren’t listening’ he said calmly ‘of course not he is a human after all” “never the less this treason by Kevon cannot be forgiven” Vi’retess remarked “no it isn’t it’s ruined our agenda more than you know” another said ‘my long range sensors are detecting imperial transmissions an hour jump away from Malastare’ Vi’retess thought about it ‘hmm this situation could still be salvaged” he said calmly

‘how so” Vi’retess thought about it “I am authorizing the use of sub space weaponry” every one looked uncomfortable “I also want you to tap into your power reserves and replicate six proto-matter warheads’ he said every one seemed to blanch ‘sir are you trying to destroy the planet? And erase the defense fleet”

“Yes” he said ‘yes and scare them terribly” he said ‘when this reserve fleet comes in I want you to engage them with typical Gamma Quadrant tactics suicide ramming fight stupid make it ugly make it brutal” “we’ll suffer 100% casualties “Ar’tech said “Yes, you will’ Vi’retess remarked ‘it will solve the white problem and you can always be revived’ Ar’tech growled but nodded

Vi’retess smiled a grin that gave several of the newer vorta chills he looked demonic nearly predator “when the battle of Dustig is over I want everything in and around Malastare dying or dead’ he said coldly ‘send that message to the Grand Admirals we have the power to end life as they know it, let them know the power of the founders’

“ALL HAIL THE FOUNDERS’ “VICTORY IS LIFE” to those few not caught up in the cheers might have noticed a founder was indeed in the room. Vi’retess old form cast a shadow behind him that shadow seemed to be laughing while the old Vorta was only smiling that cold vicious smile of his.

[Admiral Breetai]

well part two up. Ar'techs idiocy strikes again! Imperials get some payback and there seems to be a friendly founder? Truth? or is this another deception?

Imperial news network coming up - enjoy

"it's never the enemy you know that is a problem, the Klingons have been and will always be our foes but they will say so openly. This hard truth we have come to learn is that it is the unknown, that we must fear the darkness around us that may yield our greatest enemy and we must be vigilant we must train to walk in the night expecting the unexpected" - Admiral Jacques "The Hammer" Picard "Memories of the War with Romulus "

……………
Battle of Ord Mantel – hour 21

Commander Aryas sat down he was breathing hard he had just received his first anti radiation injection in the last hour and finally feeling a little bit better, the little ones were coughing though and had to take turns with the few breathing masks left to them, their supplies were swiftly running out. He looked out across the volcanic surface towards the crater where that cave of horrors had been. He would have nightmares about that for years to come he was sure of it, therapy could only go so far, many of his men were a wreck one had killed himself. He looked down the youngest surviving orphan slept with him on his lap she was feverish the radiation medication wasn’t helping and the clouds irritated her little lungs. He swallowed they needed to get off the planet soon or she would die, they would all die here on this graveyard of ships and unwanted parts.

Sitting up he made his way towards the technical operator an older clone named Tank he was tinkering with their only communications device trying frantically to get it working so they could call for an evacuation, trying to find a way to get out of all the jamming and all the dust and dirt in the sky. “Any luck tank?” “No sir this a first rate mess we have ourselves in” he said “I’ve never seen a jamming system so complex in all honesty “ he said “I can crack it maybe in a few hours’ he said ‘assuming Dominion ships don’t keep up the bombardment” he added Aryas nodded “have you heard from the patrols “ ‘yeah they said they’re heading towards the city to see if they can find any survivors’ he said Aryas nodded ‘alright” he said looking out a roaring sound could be heard and he quirked his head quizzically running outside he joined several troopers “sir what is it?” “sounds like ships of some kind” he said gripping a missile launcher “get any heavy weapons we have left prepare to fire on” “wait sir look’ above they saw an outline of an imperial shuttle craft followed by several bombers TIE’s of a series of classes he had never seen before and one boxy hull of an imperial gunboat slowly landing near them. He felt a sigh of relief and took off towards them with a series of Storm Troopers who took off along with them. As the vessels landed Aryas came to a stop, he squinted at the gunboat watching a hatch open and some one step out. He was young a few years older than Aryas himself; he was massive though physically powerful his skin was tanned and dark he gave the impression of a storm trooper and bared a similar appearance to a clone trooper. His visage was calm he walked over and grabbed Aryas hand shaking it in a powerful grip “I’m commander Aryas” “I am Captain Cronus “ he said in a curt voice “General Taragyn?” Cronus asked “Dead sir, the changeling took him and many of his crew and did something “Cronus nodded “any one of rank higher than commander alive? ‘ ‘In the army? No sir” ‘then you misspoke “ ‘excuse” “acting general Aryas” he said Aryas paused ‘sir there is at most thirty imperial storm troopers left alive on this planet’ “Yes’ was his only answer as he walked towards the primitive camp they had set up he gestured to his own security forces which immediately went about bringing the youngest and the ones with the worse injuries onto the gunboat Aryas nodded, the man was silent most of the time but he seemed to be very much in control of his own men.

Entering he eyed tank who rose up and saluted “are you any good at that’ ‘yes sir” “then inside my ship ‘ he ordered before walking away Aryas walked along side him “sir with permission I would like to take a detail around to search for any surviving military and civilian personnel’ he said Cronus eyed him “we cannot care for many more” “I understand sir it’s just” Cronus looked back eying the children some too scared to let go of Aryas men ‘they’re your mascots?” he asked “I guess they’ve become that sir” Cronus nodded “you’re lucky I like mascots ‘ he said before handing him a rather exaggerated in size hand pistol “give it back to me when you return or do not return” he said walking off.

Aryas nodded gesturing to ten of his men and then began moving out.


Orbit over Ord Mantel hour 21

Rennek gripped the seat hard as an energy beam lanced across the command bridge breaching it’s shields and causing some minor damage on the top of the shield tower, Rennek growled ‘order gunboats to cover the command tower increase forward fire power’ he yelled “sir we can cover ourselves” “no” Rennek said ‘keep the firing on the enemy instruct the gunners to be frantic in their firing make it look like we’ve panicked’ he said and flinched near him another ISD exploded in hellfire an older victory model was smashed by debris her shields buckling it wouldn’t last much longer. He observed the lead Dominion ship and the remaining two thousand vessels slowly became enveloped in blue energy before vanishing. “Scans’ he ordered ‘two hundred of their remaining bugs stayed behind to stall us sir and one of their smaller cruisers everything else is entering their subspace ftl”

“scan their trajectory” he said she smiled ‘Yabosta sir” he nodded ‘excellent” he said “order all remaining gunboats and fighters to engage the enemy I want every major heavy craft ready to jump in two minutes understood”
His aids looked up “sir that’s suicidal our lighter vessels will be destroyed” ‘I know but they’ll take them down as well “he said before looking out in the blackness of space “we will be needed in Yabosta” he said “understood sir” Rennek sat back down and rubbed his forehead he had a terrible head ache which he was sure was blood pressure related. He felt terrible this was going to be remembered as one of the bloodiest conflicts in record history he was sure of it. It would take them several alternate jumps to get there as opposed to the direct way this was going to be a problem in terms of time.

Outer system Bright Jewell

The resolute hung in orbit over the ruins of one of the stations; they had been checking for any survivors and trying to salvage anything they could for spare parts and weapons, so far they had been pretty much totally unlucky to find much of anything and soon the crews would have to return, Hertz sat in the command chair deep in thought, he had received the call to head to Yabosta but he knew the ftl drive likely couldn’t accomplish much of anything in it’s conditions it was debatable that they could even make the jump needed to get too Maniacs mythical redeemer fleet. He had to make a tough choice contemplate trying to land on Ord Mantel in this condition and wait rescue or try and make it out of system and hope they had enough to supplies to last them the month or so long travel time to reach the nearest imperial out post (assuming it hadn’t been destroyed by the Dominion any way). His thoughts were disrupted by a censor call one of the technicians looked up “sir have a look” Hertz walked over and looked down he eyed the sensor profile. “it was abandoned?’ he asked “no it suffered severe damage to it’s aft guns, and one of it’s engines is out” she said ‘but the biggest problem is it seems that the command tower was knocked out before they could transfer command to the secondary bridge it’s adrift” she said ‘I’m also reading really unusual power signatures from it”

“I know that ship it’s a prototype SSD sent by Grand Moff Turhain” the voice came from Big Boy who eyed it curiously “those power signatures are experimental anti matter generators “Hertz paled at the thought ‘you’re kidding me?” “No sir we flew into system on one just like it” he said ‘any life signs?’ he asked the aid shook her head “no sir” she said ‘wait, yes! Several human bio signs located in the rear very faint” Hertz thought about it before looking back at the screen he hated the thought of abandoning the resolute “big boy brief the engineering crew on it and give me their in put if they feel they can make it fly come back to me’ he said ‘aye sir” he said taking off. Every one eyed him “sir, this is the old mans ship’ “I know but we wouldn’t want us lost” he said honestly every one else nodded Hertz walked back to the command chair sitting down in thought, if they could make it fly assuming they could how much value would it actually have?

Dustig sector capital Malastare

Antarez had been watching the battle with interest the entire fight, he and Grand Admirals Batch, Guylos and Grant had suspected an attack would come to Malastare the same time it would come to Ord Mantel and yet nothing happened. Antarez witnessed the breakdown of the chain of command in the Dominion lines and was pleasantly surprised to see even his enemy was fallible to the same hubris and discord his own race. Aboard his command ship he kept close watch on the stars, folding his arms behind his back he didn’t lower his guard one minute, keeping the patrols going no matter what. Things seemed to be calm and he was about to catch some shut eye when the warning alarms erupted all over the command tower. “What’s going on?!” he asked alarmed ‘subspace disturbances detected!’ one of the technicians said “where!”

‘Beneath us!” Antarez paled when he looked out the window and saw. A brief flash of purple exiting their FTL at insane speeds too close to decelerate it smashed violently against the shielding causing the planetary shields to ripple a second flash occurred and a third, the suicide ramming over loading planetary shields until they collapsed. Antarez yelled out a curse and ordered communications for the entire fleet ‘every one fall back to planetary orbit and prepare for battle’ he ordered as what was left of the Dominions invasion fleet for the middle rim exited slip and opened fire on his position, his vessel shook sparks exploded and Antarez fell back bashing his head against a computer before collapsing on the floor darkness over taking him.

…….

Ord Mantel surface hour 22

Commander Aryas walked along the heated ground, seeing countless dead be they Dominion soldiers Imperial soldiers or civilians, it seemed as though the Dominion had killed everything. He heard the faint rumbling of another eruption fire and lava belching out some hundred or so km away. He gripped his rifle gesturing for the group to spread out a little each one shining their lights as best they could, in this cold darkness and dust even with their optics and lighting it was near impossible to see more than a few meters ahead of him, it was this “flying blind” that really bothered him, it was his duty as an imperial officer to seek out any survivors but at the same he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that they’d up in another Dominion trap or something. “Sir I’ve got movement” turning Aryas eyed him, glad he hadn’t called him General or something the concept was too much for him. They saw it a group of people walking forward they were dirty and burned, some suffered severe burns he could see the dust was doing a number on their lungs. As they walked a figure lead them he stepped calmly a strength in his movement a vitality that was not in the others that set off alarm bells, as they moved forward Aryas blood went cold and he raised his blaster very quickly every one followed suit “step away from him now’ one of the troopers ordered coming up beside the man on his left, the stunned and tired civilians backed off looking in fear and alarm. Aryas walked forward eying the man other troopers who couldn’t see it fully now caught it, they had seen it before the sunken in eyes the obscenely smooth face the round ears the clay like color of his clothing. The man smiled at them “I’ll do as you just don’t hurt my people” he said gesturing to the ones in the back ‘shut your mouth they aren’t your people you murderer “Aryas hissed, the figure quirked his head “murder? We’re at war?’ “This isn’t war! This is slaughter” “what planetary bombardment? Didn’t your people destroy Alderan?” he asked Aryas glared “what are you playing at?” “nothing at all’ the changeling said calmly before smiling “I’m here to surrender myself to you “ he said ‘and as a show of good faith I brought you survivors useful ones too ‘ he said

It took Aryas an enormous amount of will power not to shoot that thing.

……………
Bright Jewel system Resolute


Big Boy returned eying Hertz “well I talked it over with the boys “ he said “the mechanics think it’s insane but they all agree this ships got no life left in her, they’ve also discovered damage to the fusion reactors they cannot repair” he said

Hertz nodded ‘so we have to abandon the Resolute’ he said as Iceman and Pyrex came up beside Big Boy “not really” Iceman said “I believe imperial regulations specify you as commanding officer can rename a prototype vessel whatever you please without any permission from any immediate superior” he said Hertz smiled ‘resurrect the Resolute as an imperial Super Star Destroyer? I like that’ he said before getting up ‘get me ship wide’ he said to the remaining technicians “Attention men and women, we have now been involved in a twenty two hour long brawl’ he began “ with enemy who is our mirror image however distorted, they fight with our ferocity and dedication but have an unknown viciousness that has become more and more apparent the longer we fight them: where we are inexperienced they have centuries of it where we are experimenting with new technologies they are master of the radical and the dangerous, though this may seem hopeless time and time again we have shown that even in crippling defeat we persevere we carry on, whether this is a trait of our species or a cultural trait is unknown what is known is that that heart that passion was brought out in all of you by one man’ he said “Captain Denarys was days away from retirement when we took us youngsters and began training us, though he was only to get us past basics on this rookie vessel he choose to stay on longer, when the war came he could have broken this family up transferred it to a different fleet or scattered us, instead he choose to stay command us and fight along side us, some of us are gone now, our old man is gone now” he said ‘but we’ve gained new friends some new family and now we’re going to gain a new ship’ he said “I know that wont sit well with some of you but the Resolute apparently cannot survive without her master, she’s dying around us now she has gotten us far and we have fought like hell to try and save her but we can’t we have to abandon ship’ as he said this more then a few people on deck burst into tears “even in her final hours she fought like a warrior to avenge the old man..none of us can ever forget that’ he said ‘I wont let her die forever’ he added “near the planet is a floating hulk an SSD a prototype with fantastic new engines and weapons, we are going to take ourselves to this giant we are transferring our files our logs we’re taking the old mans picture and we are taking our name” he said “the Resolute will live on she will be given new life and a new body she will carry on the old mans spirit and this family will not break up! We are Empires children we are the galaxies last hope! I will not allow her to drift into the abyss without avenging our loss our people’s loss’ he said ‘so make your peace say your prayers get your shit together and get ready because the Resolute isn’t done yet! We aren’t done yet! We’re going to make the Dominion pay for what they have done here this day! For every life! I swear to you the Resolute will stand at the final battle when the Dominion is cast into the void of cosmic history! Do you hear me?” cheers erupted around the bridge

Maniac smirked ‘you know what this means boys?” “The Exterminators are work’n overtime “

Battle of Malastare – hour 1

When Antarez came too he was being tended to by a medic quickly he brushed them away and stood up eying the battle around him, men were running along in a panic he could see people laying about him bleeding and he realized he was in the secondary bridge? “What the hell happened?’ he snapped walking back to command “Raise holo screens show me the battle” he yelled the technicians scurrying to action quickly it was displayed, Antarez blanched seeing two ISD’s suddenly burst into flames and crack apart, noticing a Dominion ship doing the same he frowned “what the hell is that?” ‘on top of their weaponry they’re using some sort of Subspace weaponry I have never encountered before they seem to phase between the two at random sir, they’ve destroyed their own ships as often as ours” he added Antarez glared ‘maniacs’ he hissed ‘order all available SSD’s to form up in a diamond shape around us with five ISD’s battle groups on each side of the formation in the same pattern” he hissed

“The purpose sir?” one asked “you ever seen an ancient steam powered plow at work?” he asked one nodded “a holographic recording” “Exactly’ Antarez said “we’re running the Dominion over’ he said coldly

Aboard the Dominion command ship

Ar’tech frowned watching the battle ‘what are they doing?” he said another vorta thought about it ‘they’re trying to mass up and bully us with their size away from the planet’ Ar’tech laughed “oh really? Well let’s ride out and meet them’ he said coldly ordering the vessels forward all around him Dominion bug and gunboats clashed in one sided battles as they frantically tried to deplete Dominion numbers to aid their capital ships. Two frigates rammed a larger Dominion cruiser splitting it half too close to Ar’tech’s command vessel for his comfort “increase speed’ he ordered

Several ISD’s moved ahead of the new formation engaging several groups of bugs, Ar’tech could see the duel of green and white energy weapons and the flash of torpedoes and proton missiles, for a second time a vessel exploded in a display of violence from seemingly nowhere this time it was a victory class ISD. All around them space itself began to burn then it happened

The massive wall of Superstar destroyers unloaded with a hellfire of missiles weaponry and six large massive torpedoes nearly the size of some of the smaller frigates. Ar’tech jumped up eying the display screen , the sheer mass of weapon fire tore into the Dominion line slaughtering the arrogant Vorta’s forces with impunity the few cruisers that got in rammed an SSD knocking it out of the fight the rest formed up and kept lugging forward ISD’s supported their fire with their own formidable weaponry a few with experimental beam weapons that lanced out colliding with Dominion assets, the mill of carnage continuing as the two fleets moved forwards towards each other preparing for a brutal; up close and personal brawl.

Antarez watched the missiles exit ‘time to collision? “ he asked ‘ten seconds, nine, eight, seven’ they watched the fast moving darts “Seras don’t fail me now’ he said, that’s when he and every one else looked away the missiles smashed into a Dominion vessel one of their larger cruisers a flash of anti matter and proton mixed with the vessels reactor and the explosion was bright and violent, he looked down at the sensor display two cruisers had been destroyed another maimed dozens of the smaller bugs had been blasted to pieces. Antarez smirked ‘come on boys let’s keep pushing these bastards”

Ar’tech was thrown from his seat as the energy from the explosion smashed into his vessel, “Damage report!” he roared “Shields at seventy percent we’ve lost our escorts and several cruisers have are dead in the water! I don’t know what those missiles are sir but they are powerful” Ar’tech was seething with rage ‘he wants powerful1 fire two Protomatter warheads at rest of the fleet send a message’ he hissed
‘Sir we need those for the’ Ar’tech pulled out a gun and shot him eying the other vorta ‘do not question me’ he spat the others nodded, commanding the ship and two others to break off and engage the oncoming fleet. The rest of his vessels continued to engage the wall of imperial vessels moving back at the oncoming wall of SSD’s

……….
Commander Napa zipped along in his TIE fighter peppering the on coming dominion ships which tried to lash out in retaliation, Napa laughed today was a good day! He had lost two brothers in battles in the Chomell sector and was now finally going to get some revenge. Like everyone else in the imperial fighter corps he wanted revenge for all the battles where Dominion ships just ignored imperial fighters and plowed through them, with these new TIE’s he was able to actually do lasting damage flying between the body of a cruiser his fighter group opened fire on the wings holding the nacelles on unleashing a barrage of missiles that impacting at the same moment an SSD’s smashed it with a beam weapon tore the wing clean off nacelle exploding as the ship’s reactor went critical and exploded. “boy this is pretty aint it’ he said laughing ‘you said it commander fire works in the sky! ‘ ‘Hey, hey sir looks! “There was laughter on the line and Napa looked over, he saw something he thought he’d never see Antarez flagship moved forward smashing into a squadron of Dominion bugs ripping them into pieces and running them over as though they were mere insects against a speeders window. ‘Oh that’s wonderful justice’ he said as his squad moved forward to engage a series of bugs that were trying to harass their SSD wall.

Ord Mantel orbit – hour 22

All was dark aboard the nameless SSD slowly drifting in space; its color was unusual in that it was pitch black and not painted but the color of its sleek armor a newly fabricated metal based off of Dominion tech and some newer developments in armor that the empire had been working on. The sun light beamed off her body as a dozen shuttles landed on the vessel several people exited in suits and began going various zero G repairs on the most obvious damage another group lead by Pyrex knelt down and opened one of the hatches, entering.

Pyrex shined the light on his blaster outward at the dark corridor, it was mostly empty accept for a few dead and various droids scurrying about frantically trying to effect repairs, several technicians came in and went towards one of the nearest droids directing it down the corridor. Pyrex looked around, the dead showed signs of radiation poisoning, they did detect levels of radiation but it looked like the droids were able to shut off the leak, they would have to restore power and begin immediate repairs in order to make it safe for the crew to spend any period of time longer than several hours. He walked along his magnetic boots clanking as he stepped, he hated Zero G preferring a straight battle, this always made him sick to his stomach, Slowly though the lights went and air was restored, gravity soon followed and he felt a sigh of relief, before ducking out of the way of a following body. He took off his breather and went towards the nearest Communications terminal accessing ship wide ‘ good work boys we’ve got power’ he said the reply came back ‘yeah we need an hour to get this thing to safe conditions but you can inform Captain Hertz he can begin to send people in “ Pyrex nodded


Ord Mantel planetary surface
……………..


Walking along side the group of survivors Aryas refused to keep his eyes off the changeling, hatred burning in his eyes it took all of his restrain not to kill him or try too slowly moving forward they approached the camp. Cronus exited his camp near him were two little ones he eyed the rabble calmly and then casted a firm gave towards Aryas ‘what’s this” he said gesturing to his guns “Sir, this is a shape shifter a founder’ he explained Cronus eyed it the creature merely smirked ‘you’re a man of a few words this will be boring” “why are you not trying to kill him” “Because I am surrendering’ ‘why’ ‘because these, butchers do not represent the Dominion” he said calmly Cronus eyed him it was clear the creature would say no more he tossed him a bucket ‘get in that and stay there until you are confined to quarters aboard a ship” the creature sighed ‘oh you solids’ he said in a sing song voice before slowly liquefying and entering the bucket. Cronus nodded before eying the group ‘he said they were useful refuges sir” ‘well some of us are’ one said ‘We’ve got six doctors twelve engineers and several former pilots’ Cronus nodded ‘go inside with the rest’ he said gesturing for Aryas to follow him

‘Any luck raising communications” ‘no’ ‘the fleet is still jamming’ ‘no the fleets are gone I believe we are alone” Aryas frowned that sounded worse than anything else he had heard all day.

[Praeothmin]

Wow, your battle descriptions are frantic, I can really imagine them as in DS9 SoA, or Once More Unto the Breach...

Crazy...


Oh, and I have a saying, borne from Shadowrun:
"Never trust an Elf, never deal with a Dragon, and never trust or deal with a Changeling!"


:)

[Admiral Breetai]

that's a very wise saying very, very wise I wonder if the Imperials will adhere to such advice . Man it looks like sonof went on vacation we're the only ones updating here!

[sonofccn]

Sweet. So Kevon has gone Colonel Kurts, Ar’tech channeling Killgore, Imperials don't surf!, and the word clusterfrag seems like an understatment. Please go on.

Oh about the changling. There are no good Changlings, they are nightmares manifested who exist solely to devour the souls of the innocent. You taught me that.

[quote=" Breetia"]Man it looks like sonof went on vacation we're the only ones updating here!
quote]I haven't went on vacation I simply am easily-oh look shiny!*Thud* :)

[Admiral Breetai]

well new update in it's short and it's brutal Malastare is going to suffer pretty badly and a ray of hope breaks through the darkness on Ord Mantell, not much in the way of planning or talking this is a battle heavy chapter..one scene might disturb some of you..

"courage, nobility, dignity, loyalty and confidence are easy sentiments to Maintain when you sweep across your enemies and gain victory after victory. The truth test of a soldier is when he can maintain his courage in the face of defeat, if he can continue to be noble when his men are screaming and his ship is burning if he can continue to show confidence in the mission and loyalty to the empire when anti-matter breaches and fire kills brothers, and fathers. Can his courage hold in the face of the long night? I was a boy when I learned these bitter lessons, when the carnage of war revealed to the universe which of us were true soldiers, which if us were merely children pretending" Admiral Messenio "The wolf" T'krell 'reflections through a blind eye'

Malastare Orbit - hour 2

- He was hot, he felt terribly hot, and cold at the same time a dazed and dizzy sensation passed over his entire being. He remembered his youth growing up in a work house in the republic, he remembered the cold unfeeling Jedi who had not the talent for the order and not the strength for the agricorps their ministrations their lessons. He remembered the first time he tasted his own blood as he buried his fist into the face of another orphan. He remembered the first crime he ever committed the thrill and exhilaration of theft, the perverse joy he felt in hot wiring a republic police speeder tempting fate like that. His first women though he was too young to have really known her. He recalled the courts sending him to a juvenile military academy where a gruff and old commander drilled in him things that went beyond that petty thrill. Duty and honor, the thrill of battle of laying it on the lines with comrades, the joys of having your work known by others the calm righteous feeling that came with earning respect from ones peers and earning loyalty from ones subordinates. Rygellian Antarez remembered his wedding; his sons birth his grand children. He remembered it all and came back to consciousness and felt warm fluid ebb from his side and upon looking down realized one of the supports from the command bridge had impaled him, the doctors were frantically trying to cut the support beam and then move him to a Bacta tank. His eyes adjusted and he looked out.

They were on fire, all of them, a hundred Star Destroyers and twelve SSD’s burning all around him. Dryer, Effini Charmp all men he had known who had fought with him for over a decade who swore loyalty to him and to the empire, who fought along side him in the battles of Hune and Jalor, a hundred others he had only recently begun to get to know, men he had come to care for even the ones who at times acted dumb. The steel was cut and immediately scarred hands gripped down on steel and a sick tearing sound echoed as he ripped the metal from his flesh. Blood sprayed loose and he struggled rising up ‘sir we need to get you to” “No status report” he ordered “sir, we’ve lost six thousand ISD battle groups!”

“What?!” Antarez was utterly shocked he looked out, eying space, his vessels were fighting frantically hard, but there was an absolute desperation there. He paled “how?” “unknown sir, about a hundred enemy ships suddenly used their ftl to get into enemy lines and they detonated some type of warhead along with their reactors” the aid was visibly shaken “sir, they just vanished some energy wave’ he whispered ‘just it was gone..An entire fleet”

Antarez turned eying the Dominion vessels “I want all nonessential personnel to evacuate and head towards the expansion region seek protection under Grand Admiral Enzo and his fleet ‘ he said gravely ‘give this order fleet wide” he said turning he eyed his aid “take a message to Grand Admiral Guylos’ he said “tell him he was right’ he said “but the other hand conceals more than just a dagger” he warned “he’ll know’ he said “he’ll know” he turned

“Get me fleet wide raise the planet as well” he added the staff nodded all com vessels “Attention Malastare and defense fleet” he said “The Dominion has detonated a new type of weaponry of mass destruction, it had the power to lay waste entire fleets I do not know how many of these weapons they have, though the cost is terrible to them we have paid a far higher price” he added “I am ordering fleet wide and planet wide evacuation of all nonessential personnel” he said “I repeat all nonessential personnel any Moff or commander of or Captain caught abandoning defense of this planet will be brought up on charges of treason and executed..You will do your duty as imperial officers and die on your feet or you will die like a caged beast’ he snapped coldly

Once the transmission ended Antarez turned “order the fleet to fall up beside me “he said calmly ‘and kill everything in our path’ he said

With that the large giant warship loomed forward engines roaring as the vessel came to life again, though dotted with fire and badly damaged she lashed out at her tormentors blazing a path of carnage on ahead. Antarez charged wildly beam weapons and missiles and turbo lasers hewing at Dominion craft, she rammed hundreds of bugs the cumulative damage ripping into her armor, blazing a path towards the lead Dominion vessel. So incensed by the bravery of their commander thousands of wings of imperial fighters flew towards the massive vessels hurling themselves into the maw of a demented and demonic foe, consigning themselves to flames and burning the Dominion vessels from the heavens.

Ar’tech’s vessel shook as the Imperial Starfleet bared down on him, to say that he was enraged would be an understatement, the chaos of the battle had been perfectly timed to smash apart the Imperial fleet and join Kevon on an assault of the expansion region, designed to show up that old fool Vi’retess designed to vindicate himself in the eyes of the gods and to purify his soul so that he maybe cleansed of the mistakes made at Byss, that he may take his rightful place beside the Ancient one, the most serene and oldest of the living gods. But this human, this backwards scarred mongrel and his fleet of degenerate primitives had upset his dreams and demolished his plans. Rage clouded his judgment once again and he ordered his fleet to cover him to form up around him and engage the enemy as he and a group of twenty Cruisers moved towards the planet. If Antarez wanted to dare him he would pay the ultimate price before darkness took him, he would make him suffer and bring him low. Engines roared as the purple leviathan roared forward in space being flanked by a series of cruisers it made its way towards the planet.

All around him imperial vessels dueled with his armada, energy weapons lancing out around him burning at his comrades and foes alike, ships exploded and orbital platforms tore themselves asunder in a frantic struggle. Turning he eyed his aid who handed him a datapad, one hundred thousand Jem’Hadar had been beamed onto the planet? Had he given this order? Was there an accident most of the cruisers carrying troops had been among those who had suicide rammed the shields and smashed into the defenses. Did some managed to survive?

No matter they would be cosmic vapor

Battle of Malastare – hour 2

Commander Khas was knocked against a wall earlier wiping blood from his face he buried a knife into the chest of a Jem’Hadar twisting around he positioned the dead clone between himself and oncoming weapons fire from other Jem’Hadar, he returned in kind firing with his blaster ripping through the corpse and spraying into the enemy downing several he moved forward caving in the skull of another Jem’Hadar before letting out a loud curse of pain as a Jem’Hadar lance punctured his side. Yanking the blade out he turned around and fired at the oncoming creature his weapon drained of power was now used as blunt object, when that finally broke he wrestled a weapon from one of the Dominion soldiers killing him in the process. He staggered sweaty and filthy and laughed. Three hours ago he was at a boring formal dinner and longing for action, an hour ago half the complex was blasted into rubble and all around him thousands of soldiers appeared from thin air. He made a mental note not to ever make a wish again while vaporizing a Jem’Hadar, stifling a smile he opened fire again. The Dominion may have been a bunch of backwards aliens but they did make neat weapons! Vaporizing a second enemy he turned down a corridor towards a group of other Imperials who had been fighting to get to an imperial shuttle and take off. He slumped down near them looking back he saw a young women with two children and frowned “orders?’ “The daughter of the local Moff and his grandkids we’re to evacuate them to Alsakan “one said he nodded “alright I’ll cover you’ he said calmly rising up ‘but sir? Don’t you want to come?’ Khas turned eying him intently before grinning “nah my place is here in battle besides I don’t do milk runs” he said taking a blaster and some charges and one thermal detonator. He felt something grip his waist and he realized it was the mother hugging him, she tied a silk sash around his waist carefully to prevent bleeding before cupping his cheek in her hand ‘Thank you’ she said ‘Ma’am I’m just doin’ my job besides” he said “I’m a fight’n man always have been always will be” She nodded smiling “never the less thank you’ she said as blaster bolts and poloron weaponry clashed around them, quickly Khas tossed a thermal detonator at the oncoming enemy, giving the family and her guards time to retreat. A poloron bolt smashed into a retreating Storm Trooper, Khas avenged him and tore off ager the oncoming clones. “Hey you freaks” he roared “over here, leave my men alone you want me! You want me!’ he roared impaling a first with his own lance.

-……..

Deeper in the facility a maid ran with several children into a secret compartment, she was ragged covered in sweat, the little ones were in tears, they had witnessed a Jem’Hadar trooper murder their parents in cold blood. Shiris was a servant she had been one her entire life, though she had thoroughly enjoyed her life and had loved being around the little ones and officers wives she was known as an even tempered kind women who was well regarded by everyone and was considered the safest person to leave your children with. But she had seen the horrors of the Dominion war, she had seen the reports, the rumors how they killed without discrimination how they slaughtered women and children how the enigmatic founders butchered without a second thought. She had even been made to swear that if they did invade; if all hope was lost it would be up to her to prevent the little ones from being tortured. Barricading themselves in the doors she clutched at the four kids holding them tightly as they cried ‘its okay we’re going to be okay” she said softly “we’ll be okay “she kept repeating, soon the doors seemed to glow faintly red as weapons fire began impacting against the thick doors, it grew hot “Auntie Shiris are we going to die” one asked tears welled up in her eyes as she got the poison gas capsule out of her pocket, “no sweetheart no” she reassured them “I want you to close your eyes and take a deep breathe’ she whispered her voice straining.

Orbit over Ord Mantell- same time

Slowly the large leviathan grumbled and groaned to life, power and gravity had been restored and now things were slowly moving towards fully functional. Hertz sat down in the command chair as some one placed a picture of their beloved “old man’ above his head, several technicians and mechanics scurried back into the hangar bay they had finished renaming the vessel the Resolute, he had sworn she would live again and she would. ‘Status report?” he asked “weapons hot, engines good hyperdrive active” Hertz nodded as he was about to give the order to jump to the outer rim territories an aid interrupted him “sir we’re receiving a signal from the planets surface its faint but’ Hertz eyes widened “holographic? Eye sir”
“Show me”
Slowly a pair of figures were revealed one was a very large grave muscular man in his late thirties beside him stood a young man who was likely as old as Hertz tired and stressed he seemed new at command. A kindred spirit perhaps? “This is Captain Hertz of the SSD Resolute “ he said Cronus frowned ‘no I know the Resolute and her captain it is an imperial star destroyer” Hertz nodded ‘our Captain was killed, as the only surviving ranked officer I assumed command, the Resolute suffered a critical blow and was dying I brought her new life and new form and you?” “I am Captain Cronus” he said ‘I am acting general Aryas” his companion said “We have wounded and sick, fighters and other essential equipment some of our civilians are specialists” he added Hertz smirked “well then would you like to join me?’ he asked Cronus eyed him “are you going to Yabosta”
‘no, I have the exterminators aboard they have told me of a more shall we say worthy fleet for our endeavors” he began, Cronus nodded he knew the exterminators renamed as they had been, an elite unit and their second in command Iceman had contacts through out the empire, he likely knew more about the situation than the captains and commodores did. “you have my fighters and my ship but we cannot break orbit’ he said simply Aryas nodded “you have my men too if you can pick us up we’re stranded”
Hertz frowned acting general? That young? Had he been the only one left alive of any rank? Just how badly had the ground battle gone? And the fact that even the cruiser sensors were now detecting couldn’t break orbit bothered him. The ship could be stowed in the SSD until repaired or scrapped but could they? He looked over at his trusted mechanics “can we breach atmosphere with her new hull” they really didn’t like the idea “well sir, with the new additions to the artificial gravity tech? Yeah I think so but I wouldn’t stay down too long and I would keep us at least twenty thousand meters off the ground”
“Can you make that altitude?” Hertz asked Cronus nodded “we can “he said “make what repairs you can in fifteen minutes we’ll be picking you up’ he said “Hertz out”

Aryas watched the holographic image fade and sighed he felt good, glad they would be rescued, the health on the children could finally improve he thought finally get better and he could finally relax a little ‘one question” he said ‘why did you not tell them about that thing in the bucket?’ he asked. Cronus thought about it. “What sentient would not fight like a madman to save his god?” he asked Aryas nodded and felt a little bad, he was a general now apparently meaning he should have had the intellect to think of that, that the enemy could be listening. “You’re right ‘he said “I don’t know how to think on my ranks level” he said ‘you will learn’ Cronus said “come let us check on your mascots tell them they will be saved”

Malastare – hour 2

Napa and his fighters zipped along the battle lines, his brand new Tie’s had taken down a dozen Dominion vessels and he was feeling very good about himself “they must have lazy bums fighting for them over at Jewell” he said “we’re doing great” he remarked dodging between beam weapon and turbo laser, covering TIE bomber as he strafed along a Dominion capital ship, scoring a critical hit before going up in flames itself. Napa had seen the devastation that Dominion weapon had done blinding a fleet away in an instant; he saw the weird clear energy wave crash into everything for a million klicks indiscriminately killing everything in its path. It was menacing, it was horror made manifest. He ordered his fighters to engage in any Dominion vessel that came anywhere near his fleet and the planet. They had begun to take losses, but they had been giving as well as they were taking. “Boss it looks like we got a big one coming” turning he saw it a large purple vessel backed up by smaller cruisers, the command ship. As the rest of the fleet engaged in a brutal battle this small fleet had snuck in and positioned itself between the planet and his fighters, suddenly a one small orb ejected from the ship and tore off bobbing and weaving as if controlled by a mind or a pilot of some type. Brightly the light tore off down towards orbit, Napa saw a bright orange light as it began the re-entry process that light suddenly brightened and began burning pink, then blue, then gold and yellow and silver, it was the prettiest thing he had ever seen until he realized with horror it was whatever warhead those suicidal Dominion ships had protected just before the fleet vanished Napa gasped ‘’ by the force, no” he whispered

………
Malastare


Khas tore into another Jem’Hadar his vision slightly blurred from the blood loss; a bright smile erupted on his features as he killed the last of his enemies before slumping back against the wall. All around him were countless dead, he had fought with the best of them the born and bred soldiers of the Dominion the supermen and he had killed them cutting them down like so much grass before a thresher, and he couldn’t be happier. Looking up he saw a bright light multicolored and pretty and smirked “ah fireworks” he said grinning

Everything went white Khas and everyone for fifteen million square kilometers went up a bright white light arched high into the sky, an erupting bright mushroom cloud that burst into a million, million bright colored energy orbs sparkling and dancing along the planet surface beautiful little pixies merrily bounding along until everything they touched ceased to exist and in a flash of light a billion souls were completely erased, being reduced to vapor and primordial ooze only the lowest life forms some animal species and plants where sparred the surface of the planet danced in a bright illuminated dance of death.

From his position aboard his SSD Antarez blanched “status?’ he asked breathlessly “half the planetary population is gone sir” he sighed ‘prepare the super laser..’ he said “order all damaged craft to make a micro-jump rip through the Dominion take out as many as they can” he said “show them how The Empire will meet the night! Face the Darkness like Warriors!”

[Praeothmin]

Wow!

That's all there is to say...

[sonofccn]

Napa? Where's Vegeta? :)

Short but so brutal, good update.

[Admiral Breetai]

It is a war a great war an idealogical and philosophical conflict for the very soul of the galaxies between two brutal super powers it is going to be brutal but I am trying to portray the humanity there as well.

you've got two questions that need asking though: what is that changeling up too? and are Vi'retess and Sidious the biggest threat to every one in between them? or is there something much worse coming

[Praeothmin]

Nope, my only question is:
Will there be any survivors after the war?


;)

[Admiral Breetai]

another short update but a fitting one for the conclusion of the Mid Rim Wars

not much I can say other than..I hope you like.

"I knew the man yes, he was firm and harsh uncompromising but he loved his men as though they were his sons, I believe that was the mistake Ar'tech made he took to many sons and at last he was beyond enraged and that rage brought about a change of galactic history" Grand Admiral Enzo "reflections of the great war" published 2445

"Ah, I had heard of that battle in tales after the event, indeed I wish I had been present for this conflict to see the day a human struck fear into the hearts of the living gods"- Dahar Master Im'pec of house Rozhenko


Ord Mantell –

Commander Aryas sat outside a blanket over his armored body he was wheezing but it was better than being in the cruiser which had become a makeshift hospice and urgent care facility. Cronus stood grimly beside him eying the rising sun as it fought ferociously to peak over the clouds of volcanic ash and radioactive dust. A couple children played around them wearing gas masks they had just been given their doses for the radiation poisoning and seemed to feel better, they needed to get off this dying world though and soon. In the hour since the broadcast another hundred civilians arrived, Aryas refused to count the walking wounded the dying and maimed who continued to groan and stroll along like undead sithspawn, they would come seeking refuge only to die, this did nothing good as it scarred and terrified the children, demoralized the men and brought all sorts of pests that now came crawling out of the woodwork to feast on the rotting dead. It was a miserable sight, “they’ll be here soon?” Aryas asked “depends I would think” Cronus said calmly. “Uncle Aryas” one of the kids said ‘what’s that noise?” Cronus and Aryas armed themselves looking around; the rumbling came from above them the faint light became darkened as a huge shape began to loom towards them. ‘what is that?” the child asked others scrambled in towards what shelter they could find. The ground rumbled and for a tense moment neither man were sure

Then they saw her. The resolute looming above them a grim and courageous monument to the honored dead, the valiant imperial soldiers who now awaited entry into paradise, she had come back to them returning from the dead crawling back from the abyss and descending now from the lofty heavens onto this dying world, light beamed from her deck as tractor beams began lifting equipment and vessels. Cronus eyed Aryas both of them elated but grim and as resolute as their savior. “come young General we have a war to fight and a Captain to serve’ he said Aryas laughed ‘you’re wrong sir” he said “We have an ideal to fight for and that ship and it’s crew embody it in every way” Cronus nodded “where the Resolute and the exterminators go victory will follow, the spirits of Bright Jewell will allow nothing less”

……………..
Malastare: hour 3

It had pretty much gone to chaos after the massacre of Malastare Napa and his squad were zipping around the stars frantically trying to avoid being destroyed by suicidal Dominion forces that rammed what remained of the orbital defenses, smashed into ships and even began ramming through fighter squadrons. The violence increased ten fold as the ships fired off what remained for their doomsday missiles at the planet below, Napa saw out of the corner of his eye one Star destroyer engaged in a hopelessly outnumbered battle bravely collide into the missiles, a flash of energy it died sending Dominion ships to hell with their own weapon.

Antarez stood valiantly his SSD a grim mirror of himself, bloodied and wounded Doom close at hand. It had entire sections ripped out of it, the command bridge was partially blown off yet everyone knew the Admiral still lived, that he would be the last to fall on this battlefield lest his end take all that stood against him out. Napa zipped around avoiding weapons fire continuing to fire and drop his remaining bombs. He was resolved to die here if his death brought about some sort of change in the tide of war but he would fight smart give his gift at the right moment. He realized that moment dawned on him when he looked around and saw that his vessels and comrades were all dead. Alone now the last fighter in the Imperial fleet defense of the middle rim territories fought his way through oncoming bugs. He smiled the four bugs that had given chase to him were vicious, fire was dancing around him as white beams of light tore into space, he had destroyed their command ship personally earlier in the battle and they refused to let him go. Napa resolved to honor their glory, with a funeral pyre the Dominion would not soon forget. Zipping along towards one of the larger cruisers that dueled with the wounded command ship he brought his demented pursuers forward, they darted to either side firing too and fro Napa kept himself calm, he aimed for their nacelles flying fast and keeping himself tight, the bugs forming him on his rear tightly backed. Good he thought they were more concerned with revenge than common sense! He drove closer merely meters away from the cruiser now closing, closing.

The death of Napa the valiant was a story told in naval academies for hundreds of years after, the last charge of the imperial fighter corps in the mid rim and how through sheer determination he tricked the enemy into destroying it’s own cruisers, an efficient and humiliating sacrifice that light up the stars in an imperial funeral pyre for all to see, and all to honor.

Ar’tech watched one of his escort vessels erupt in flames as his own bugs smashed it to pieces crashing as one pathetic remaining fighter, he watched as determined imperial troopers threw themselves into the oncoming path of his missiles and exhausted his supply witnessing ramming in the manner consistent with the Dominions tactics and he was filled with rage which took him now. “Order vessels to ram remaining imperial starships set reactors for overload! Take with you a dozen of they’re own’ he snapped. A bright neutron beam smashed into his ship causing minor explosions. Ar’tech glared as he saw the limited beam weaponry of the SSD attacking him, paying attention to the screen he saw it, the front of the vessel began opening triangular doors sliding to their sides as the massive ship of the line opened her forward maw to reveal a massive canon ‘what is that thing” ‘it was used over Hune and to devastating effect, two seconds before the doors are completely opened” “FIRE AT IT” he roared, the Dominion vessel belched out torpedo and beam weapon which smashed into the forward section of the SSD pieces being hewn off explosions rocking the vessel until finally the doors budged to a stop. Engines roared and Ar’tech began laughing maniacally.

Antarez cursed under his breathe, too many had died! Too many, he let out a sigh “charge the main guns” he ordered ‘Sir, with the doors only partially opened’ “I know” he said calmly “divert all power to the shields and jump engine” he said coldly before looking at his men “hail the Vorta scum’ he hissed, they nodded at first no response only weapons fire ‘get me fleet wide as well” he said he had to make this count. Soon an image of a fat vorta appeared before the screen arrogantly stuffing his face ‘well” he said calmly ‘the mighty warrior Antarez hero of the middle rims lowers himself to speak to us lowly vorta’ he said laughing ‘do you surrender on behalf” ‘shut your vile mouth’ he said coldly ‘you putrid fat bloated pimp’ he bit in a voice full of righteous fury that seemed to rush around him like an aura of vengeance fueled fire and burn the very demon who tormented the fleet. “I hear you have immortality, that your memories and personality will be downloaded” he eyed him coldly “you will never forget me Vorta, you will never forget my people this fleet my men so long as you draw breath’ he hissed “I am Admiral Rygellian Antarez commander of the last fleet of the middle rim territories and I am the voice of revenge, revenge against you and justice for all the dead! I carry them vorta” he snapped Ar’tech stared at him in shock rage fueling him “you dare” “be silent” he snapped “we will fall here, but in doing so the spirits of the fallen of the butchered and massacred will swarm the empire and galvanize the universe against you! Take this message back to your master Vi’retess tell him that the souls of his victims cry out and through the undying resolve of the imperial navy he will be made to face them! And when we kill his gods and crack their worlds open like an egg when you are all brought down to final judgment I will be waiting for you all on that day of your final death when an imperial flag flies over an ocean of dying amber! I Admiral Antarez and his fighting imperial heroes will be there...waiting for you” as he said this a light beamed out of the front of his vessel, the explosion was massive the entire front section of the SSD was vaporized instantly the energy feedback decimated systems all over the vessel, the remaining charge from the weapon ripping Ar’tech’s ship in half scattering all around the coalesced dominion vessels with sickening green and orange shocks that destroyed shields or ripped into damaged vessels. The dying ship automated now entered hyperspace too close to the Dominion fleet.

The remaining Imperial ships saw Admiral Rygellian Antarez and his magnificent funeral pyre and heard his words, could hear and see the fear on the face of the vorta before the end and watched as a straight line of fire erupted through the Dominion lines vaporizing anything and everything in its path. It was said the final minutes of the wars of the mid rim were decided by frantic and chaotic fighting, until one determined Admiral grabbed the messenger of the gods by his throat and with his dying breath delivered a solemn promise

“We will make you pay”

[sonofccn]

Absolutely brutal...another hero who proves humanity won't go silently into the night.

Hope you don't mind. Kinda felt inspired. :)

Ord Mantell, Malastare, Squadron leader Napa, Admiral Antarez,Mckenzie the godslayer. These are the names that must, will be remembered and countless thousands upon thousands of others whose sacrifice was not recorded but shall not be in vain. We are beset upoin by devil-aliens of unimaginable legions but their hearts burn cold, lifeless as their unnatural Xeno masters. We are the Imperial Elite! In our breasts lurks a crucible of twin flame, one of honor and devotion to our Empire of order which alien slave-soldiers could never understand and the other the tens of thousands years worth of raw, naked savagery that is our ancetral right. The devil-aliens know not of this either but they shall. Holotransmission submitted by Commodore Jack Krevin following the defeat of the Midrim.