STGOD: The Pheonix Wars (Chapter II)

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

Right now, the "psychic weapon" is no longer the major concern of Admiral Hauser. It is the battle that worries him so much. While the Empire still outgun their enemies by magnitudes, now there is nothing but a few of Imperial ships defending their position, thanks to Darth Kreshna's wanton decision to send many Star Destroyers to carry his 'secret mission'.

In fact, now there he only has only four Star Destroyers, an Eclipse-Class Command Ship, the Phoenix, and the new Death Star. Sure the Death Star and the Imperial battleships are mighty powerful, but they cannot be on many places at once. Even with huge advantage in firepower and shields, there are simply too many Daleks.

As the battle ensues, the Emasculator starts suffering heavy damage from enemy fire. It shields buckles under too many pressure, and finally the mighty Star Destroyer explodes. There is great disturbance in the Force as thousands of human beings lost their lives.

Inside his chamber, Darth Kreshna revels in the death of Emasculator's crew.

I hunger. This battle should serve me right. Hunger. Thirst. Nourishment.


The Avenger II is still competent as always under the leadership of Captain McKenzie. Its turbolasers are blazing, destroying more and more Daleks ships on its way.

Darth Kreshna revels in the deaths of those Daleks.


A Goa'uld ship explodes under heavy concentration of Daleks fire. Its crews die simultaneously.

Darth Kreshna writhes in ecstasy.


But suddenly, several dark ships appear out of nowhere, destroying both Goa'uld and Daleks ships in the process.

Darth Kreshna is suddenly tensed.

They are back.


Several transmissions ensues as the Goa'uld and the Daleks are blaming each other, but now they become irrelevant as those dark vessels materialize again.

And they are singing a song. A song is not audibly heard through hearing senses, but instead strikes to the heart and mind of every sentient beings in vicinity.


Sailors often believe in myth called "Syreen Song", that lures them into an apparent beauty but in truth is nothing more than ensured death.

Who dares to disturb my inner sanctum?


And the song is soothing, calming, relaxing. Suddenly, every Daleks, Goa'uld, and humans in their vincinity become docile. As the crews become abnormally calmed, the dark vessels are destroying them without effort.

NO!!! I CANNOT FEED!!!

[Ra]

*Galadriel then senses the source of the strange psychic weapon as it disables ships left and right. Focusing deep inside herself, Galadriel tries but is unable to dampen the field's effects on the Goa'uld ships.*

*The Mothership suddenly becomes the prime target of the dark menace. Several ships come forward, weapons blazing. The Eye beam fires, obliterating a single enemy ship. Shocked, the enemy retreats to hyperspace...*

*Only to reappear elsewhere.*

I want those Daleks destroyed.

*Ha'taks not effected by the "song" pummel Dalek ships, teaming up on them and obliterating them. The Mothership dispatches a cruiser trying to get within boarding range, its debris dancing harmlessly against the sheilds.*

The enemy is using a psychic field to disable our ships. The entire purpose of this engagment is to deplete both alliances' forces.

We should begin planning a slight retreat. But with the Daleks on our home turf, we are on the defensive.

*As Ra says defensive, an Eclipse blasts through two Dalek ships. Despite the strong attack, and the initial blow caused by the new menace, Ra's forces have held strong. By concentrating fire and isolating squadrons of Dalek ships, the swarms of Ha'taks begin to win the upper hand.*

*Just as things begin to change for the better, the new enemies come back, and disable a much larger portion of all four fleets. Teaming up on a Star Destroyer, two dark ships cause the massive vessel to explode.*

[Dartzap]

*The Behemoth Lord Detritus's personal ship*

The Troll lord is meditating, something he has not done in a fair while, due to the recent battles

His eyes closed his mind wondering around the galaxy of his mind, all is peaceful there.. except for one thing, he concentrate on the image in his imagination.. a huge blackship pummeling the Saucer ships of the Daleks and the Pyramid Ships of the Goa'uld.. the Imperials as well were in trouble..

So, The Great Azaerel has sent the Auditors after him? atleast that's what he thought they were...

No, these are something different..

He wondered if the people he dealt with knew why he hid himself from them, while he did
look like a normel troll, there were a few differences, he for example was almost three feet taller than the average Troll, he was almost ten feet tall. His eyes, unlike those ones of his brethren, which were bright red, were black, there was no white of pupil there, just pure black.

He was as a close resemlince to the God Cropolite as anyone had ever seen.

For that was what he was, the God Of Trolls Incarnate, No one apart from a few senior trolls knew this, he kept it mostly to himself, to protect his speices under his command.

Having a god amongst you only caused problems

He opens his eyesand gets up, he pads over to the Commboard,

"Admiral, prepare the most undamadged fleet we have to go back the battle, full cloak, something is happening, and I want toknow what it is.

"Sir? go..Back?"

You heared me Admiral, infact, i think I had better take the Behemoth and the Honour fleet, I do not think the general fleet will be able to deal with this on their own..."

"Of course Sir... I will have the fleet readyto deploy in 3 minets.. and Sir?"

Yes?

"It's good that we will finally fight together"

Detritus smiled, this would be the first time in almost a century he would fight himself, he hoped his powers had'nt waned since then



"It shall be a fine and intresting battle I imagine"

"Of that my lord, I have no doubt, going to L-space in 5,4,3,2,1.."

*the Honour Fleet Departs, leaving the massed Troll Fleet to defend its new home.*

[Kresh has a bad memory]

The dark vessels continue playing their song. The vessels in their vicinity simply do not retaliate despite they are being slaughtered by those vessels' peculiar blasts, since their crews become totally docile. Many Imperial humans, Goa'ulds, and Daleks meet their death in bizzare tranquility.


Darth Kreshna can no longer feed upon their life-force.

However, the Phoenix Entity inside him is boiling with rage. Fiery aura blazes from his body, enveloping the entire Death Star, and then the entire battlefield.

YOU DARE TO DISTRUPT MY FEAST???

As the fiery aura reaches the dark vessels, their song is abruptly ceased. Their victims are suddenly awake. Captain McKenzie is among the first who realizes this; as he shakes off the tempting tranquility, he barks his order, "all gunnery officers, target those newcomers NOW!"

The Star Destroyer is firing its mighty turbolasers to one of the dark vessel. The strange vessel writhes, as if it is actually alive. The ship is crumbling, then disappear.....

Only to re-appear somewhere else. Although being depleted of their "song", the dark vessel still proves a formidable opponent, as it starts firing on the Castrator. This time. the Star Destroyer retaliates. However, aboard the Avenger II Captain McKenzie quickly learns, "every tractor beams, lock on the dark ship!"

Now the dark vessel cannot escape, still trading fire with the Castrator. The Avenger II joined the fray, and moments later, the dark vessel crumbles in pain.

In pain. The scream of agony cannot be heard by ears, but directly goes to the brain, as if telepathically. Every sentient beings in vicinity feels a strange fear tickling their spine.

[Kreshna Aryaguna Nurzaman]

OOC: that was me; KAN. *sobs* That was not guest! *pulling out his hair in frustration*

Aboard the Death Star, Admiral Hauser quickly reacts as well. He orders his crew to lock the battle station mighty tractor beams on multiple targets, then starts obliterating those dark vessels one by one with the superlaser.

But now, as everyone is free from the dark vessel's paralyzing songs, Daleks ships become the menace again. Heavily outnumbered and having their hands full, the Imperials can barely defend themselves against the horde of Daleks ships.

Hauser is frustrated. It is all Darth Kreshna's fault, he thinks. If only he has adequate number of ships in his hand.....


Suddenly a booming message is broadcasted. A message that usually strikes fear on those who hear it.

But this time, both Ra and Admiral Hauser feels relieved hearing the message, as it is the voice of their ally.


WE ARE THE BORG. WE WILL ADD YOUR DISTINCTIVENESS TO OUR OWN. RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.

[Ra]

*Galadriel senses the death of the dark ship. She seems frozen in place when Ra taps her shoulder.*

What happened?

I felt the wicked ship die. Not a mere sensation...

We all felt something when it was destroyed. But the battle is not over yet.

*Ha'taks and Dalek ships continue to trade barrages, even as the dark vessels continue their attack. However, the Imperials are beginning to gain the upper hand.*

*Another ship is caught in the Imperial tractor beams, and crumbles under a heavy barrage from several Star Destroyers and Ha'taks. Its death is felt again by Galadriel, but she was becoming more accustomed the sensation that time.*

Hail the Dalek vessel.

You're on.

*A hologram of the Dalek commander appears.*

We should stop this bloodshed amongst ourselves. The real enemy is trying to destroy us all.

Your concerns are irrelevant, she-Elf. All of you scum will be exterminated. Including the new plague that attacks us.

M'lord, the Borg have arrived.

Finally.

You do not see what is obvious before your eyes? These new entities precipitated the battle we now fight. You should listen to reason.

*The Dalek commander laughs, and ends the transmission.*

Fool.

[Ra]

*Borg cubes swarm down on the battle site, cutting beams tearing into Dalek ships. Then, more of the mysterious living ships arrive. They begin their "song" before Borg tractor beams can sieze them.*

*Galadriel senses the song renewed, and reaches out to its source. The singing stops, but it requires great effort on the part of the Elf queen.*

Destroy... them!

*With the Borg tractor beams locked, Goa'uld and Borg ships team up on the dark vessels, destroying three of them. The last ones shoot their way loose, and hyperspace away.*

*The attack over, Galadriel then falls to the floor in anguish. An Eldar officer rushes to her aid.*

M'lady, are you alright?

Exhausted, but I am fine. Now, we must recover from this battle, and seek answers.

[Dartzap]

The Behemoth lies cloaked, watching the battle through sensors slightly protruding through the cloak

Lord Detritus has closed his eyes again, seeing the things that the sensors of his ship could not tell him, he reaches out towards the planet nearest to the battle

Hear me speak, Hear me, The Lord of you and your Spirit, hear me now


You have Returned?! Our Master is Back?

Yes, i once more come to you needing your help

Once you came before, once where Death was your Companion, is this the case now?

No, There is .. something happening, something which i have little comprehension of

You wish to ascend once more?

No! There is much to be done here, i cannot leave at this time

What do you need then?

Information, who or what is this new group that attack everyone?


They are no-one..they are everything..

[Dartzap]

*Lord Detritus returns to the Bridge*



You have learned everything you can from this battle Admiral?

"I think so Milord.. Although what we have, is all rather confusing.."

In Time, everything will become apparent, that much I can promise you


"i hope so My Lord"

We shall return to the fleet, there is much I have to think about"

"At once Milord"

*the small fleet decloaks and jumps back to L-space*

[Robert Walper]

Lord Walper, having left the Death Star some time ago, sat in his chair. He'd had it moved to his spherical holographic chamber. The calm beauty of the stars soothed him when he wasn't directly participating in a battle or controlling Borg forces. Although surrounded by the awesome view of space, his eyes are currently closed. His fingers tap lightly on the armrest.

He was uneasy, although this fact he'd admit to no one. And while the Collective responded immediately and obediently to his thoughts, the drones and Collective at whole could never sense any of his.

Events were no longer proceeding as he had foreseen, and the strands of control he had been so successfully manipulating throughout the system were now, to put in understandable terms, getting tangled. Or in even some cases, cut.

Finally his eyes opened. He directed his thoughts into the Collective. All Borg forces return to assimilated space, maximum speed. Do not engage any enemy forces. Defend borders against aggressors, but do not pursue. Concentrate all resources into maximizing fleet production and defensive measures.

Robert sat forward, again closing his eyes. As much as he disliked the concept of a passive posture, he would not engage any enemy forces until he had a better grasp of what was going on in the system.

[Ra]

We must begin to uncover what has just transpired.

Of course. But how do we go about that?

First, we must investigate the ninth planet. I sensed something there.

Very well. But for now, we must also get to work on neutralizing that... field the enemy ships produced.

My researchers will get to work on it at once.

Excellent. Now, Lieutenant, set a course for the ninth planet. We jump alone.

*At Ra's command, the mothership jumps away, reappearing over the ninth planet. The dark planet was pockmarked with the recent turbolaser bombardments, but otherwise completely lifeless.*

Galadriel, this is a dead rock.

Look more closely, impatient one, and you will see several impact craters. They are recent.

Reading tibanna signatures in the craters. They were created by a heavy turbolaser attack.

OK... But what does all of it mean?

[Dartzap]

"My Lord, the Goa'udl mother ship has departed for an unknown location, it has gone alone, May i suggest we attack the fleet while it is gone?"

No Admiral, as much as it would please me to see those ships destroyed, the Goa'uld will need them intact more than we need them destroyed.. There are things afoot which may change our view of this war.

"My lord, what could you possibly mean?"

At the moment Admiral, we must concentrate on rebuilding, The Daleks are doing our dirty work for the time being.. but that will not last, we shall have to rebuild this entire fleet to combat whatever threat is coming our way.

"But My Lord, surely we are already in an War?"

True.. but the next will surely be a war between Gods

[Robert Walper]

Robert continued to monitor the system from afar. So far, actions of both enemies and allies were unclear to him. This annoyed him greatly.

Perhaps I'll simply do what Sith do best. Lord Walper thought. While the players remained unchanged, Walper knew there were new ones. Powerful ones...yet to be determined friend of foe. He directed the entire Collective to regenerate. Throughout all of Borg space, ships and facilities, drones obeyed. Although he knew the cost would be significant for what he was about to do, he drew upon the Collective strength of the Borg once again. Trillions of Borg, all with a distinct impact and substance within the Force, poured their energy into his will, and he directed it throughout the entire system as a single thought:

COME TO ME, PHEONIX BEING. COME, AND EXPLAIN YOUR PRESENCE WITHIN MY DOMAIN.

Spent, Walper slouched in his chair for a moment. He could feel the ripples throughout the Collective. Several hundred thousand drones had not survived the drain, but Walper noted with satisfication that the Collective in a regenerative state was not as badly affected, and was quicker on the recovery process. With a thought, he put the Collective back into normal operation, but still in it's passive and defensive posture.

I doubt these creatures missed that particular message. Lord Walper mused. Now to see their response...

[Destructionator XV]

At my starbase...

A'millian forces watch with anticipation as the Lord returns. Through the jump gate comes two 400 metre ships, standard Warrior class, then a massive 700 metre beast, The Lady's Pride, then two more Warrior class ships.

The men are releived to see reenforcements from back home. And the sight of the massive ship made them proud to be A'millian citizens.

On The Lady's Pride...

"Put me on fleetwide."

"Ready, sir."

"Brave warriors, I bring greetings from Her Excellency in the form of her new ship, a battleship with the power to destroy enemy Stardestroyers face to face with relative ease. Together with our existing ships, we again control the greatest single power in this galaxy!"

He nods to the communications officer.

"Channel closed."

Fresh crews from headquarters were distruibted to the ships that needed them. In the spacedock, the fleets were being quickly repaired. We have lost much strength since before the battle, but we will soon be strong again.

A little while later, in the Lord's quarters...

Lord Adam is disturbed by what he has been sensing of late. No longer does he simply have to worry about enemy ships and Sith Lords. There is a new menance

He reads through intellegence reports. Borg ships attack, then quickly withdraw, as if the collective was temporarily disrupted. At the same time, men have been reporting hearing screams coming from nowhere. PTSD he would have thought, if he didn't hear those screams himself. Imperial ships are acting in a bizarre fasion, opening up their lines to attack uninhabited planets. And the Trollish spies report that the Imperial leader has gone mad.

Then booming in his head comes this:

COME TO ME, PHEONIX BEING. COME, AND EXPLAIN YOUR PRESENCE WITHIN MY DOMAIN.

The voice of Robert Walper is heard in all sentients for as far as they can know. It seems that the powerful leader of the Borg and Sith Lord is concerned about some 'phoenix being'.

Lord Adam simply rises an eyebrow.

"Fascinating."

He speaks aloud.

[Josh]

The commissar sat with his feet on the desk, hands clasped behind his head. He wore only his underwear, undershirt, issue boots and Commissar's hat.

It was abysmally hot on the damned planet, but other than that all was well.

Then the Captain came barging in.

"Commissar! Excellent news!"

With a sense of trepidation, Petrosjko answered.

"Great... great... what?"

"Warmaster Sethin has seen fit to dispatch more forces to this mission."

Ah fuck. More Emperor-botherers running around. This was such a nice, out-of-the-way corner of the universe...

"Fantastic. What are they sending?"

"Apparently, the report of telemarketers in the vicinity has inspired quick action. A full dozen regiments will be coming, as well as a battalion of Kasrkin troops and a fleet detachment from Battlefleet Scarus."

Shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit... hell's gonna hop on this damned rock. Wait a minute...

"A dozen regiments, you say? What worlds?"

"Two regiments of Valhallans, four Catachans, a Necromundan unit, Cadians... it is a broad force, Commissar."

A dozen... regiments... of hard-drinking, whoring, devil-may-care troops... on a scorching rock with nothing to do. Opportunity!

He rose to his feet, boots clopping on the floor loudly.

"Brother-Captain, this world will be our base of operations for action in this sub-sector. As such, it will need to be properly prepared for the warriors to come. I need to travel to the second world and see about setting up a proper supply chain."

"Very wise, commissar."

"May I request an escort of two of your fine warriors?

"But of course.

[Josh]

Fat Tony's enforcers were massive slabs of meat, scarred by countless back-alley brawls. They wore pistols in shoulder holsters, and hovered over their boss' shoulder with an aggressive mien.

Commissar Petrosjko's enforcers were massive slabs of meat, scarred by countless invasions of heretical, rebellious, and xenos-infested worlds. They wore bolters and chainswords on their hips, and stood at rigid attention behind the commissar.

"Youwannabooze for da world?" Fat Tony asked.

Petrosjko squinted. "Could you possibly attempt enunciation?"

"You. Want. Booze. For. Da. World?" Fat Tony repeated.

"Oh. Yeah, booze, broads, whole nine yards. This is seriously ground-floor opportunity. I'll see to administrative concerns, you handle the supply end, you knock twenty points off your standard bulk rate."

"HA! Disguytinks I'ma gonna knock twenty points off!" Fat Tony said to his enforcers, who dutifully chuckled.

The commissar took a sip of the bathtub gin Tony had served him, knocking it back without an outward expression. Inside, his stomach protested the move by sending urgent signals to his brain about its desire to relocate itself into another portion of his abdominal cavity. He smiled, mentally ordering his stomach to behave lest it be replaced by an augmetic.

"Smooth stuff. Anyway, make a counter-offer then."

"Can'go lower'n five off," Fat Tony replied.

"Oh come the fuck on. You have any idea how much booze the standard IG regiment goes through in a week? And we've got Necromundans inbound. Even if you walk down to twelve over, you're going to clean house. Seventeen."

[Destruct AFK]

At the starbase.....

Things have been quiet. Whatever this new threat was, it was keeping the enemys quiet. Lord Adam and his men liked this. Soon their fleet would be repaired, and they would be back up to a respectable power. They would be down to about 250 ships, losing about 200 that they could not repair. But it would be better than the 100 they had functioning after the Borg battle.

Lord Adam wondered how far the silence would remain. How long would this new force leave him alone? He didn't know, but he was going to enjoy the chance to rebuild while it lasted.

On A'millian Prime...
The Lady is sitting her her office overlooking reports coming in from all sections of the empire when she hears her door chime.

"Enter."

"Mi lady, sorry for interrupting you, but we have monitored something that we thought you should see."

"Of course."

They walk through the castle to the main control room, a large room with dozens of officers and huge monitors, displaying the locations of nearly all A'millian forces. They go to one monitor in the back of the room.

"We have detected 2 ships hiding out here, in the Riwal system. The weird part is they seem to be composed or biomatter. And even weirder, some Knights in the area could feel a magical presence coming from the ships themselves."

"Have we sent any ships to investigate this yet?"

"The ASV Iyo and the ASV Kokoya are in that sector and are enroute to investigate."

"And that is on the other side of the galaxy than the ENF. It seems unlikly that it is them."

"Agreed. It may simply be a new life form."

"Tell the captians to approach with extreme caution. It may be hostile."

"Always, my lady."

A few hours later, aboard the Iyo...

"ASV Iyo, Captian's log, 21-6 AW 4005, Captian Willis recording. We, along with the ASV Kokoya, have been ordered to investigate two bioships in the remote Riwal system. We are entering the system with extreme caution. I have ordered the Iyo to yellow alert and we are now taking scans of the vessels from here."

A technicition speaks up.

"Captian, we have preliminary reports on the ships."

Captian Willis, an older human man, with a full grey beard and a bald head, turns in his chair to face the techniction.

"Report."

"Sir, we have scanned the ship. The energy levels in it are very high, higher than we would have felt possible from biotech."

"Is it a tactical threat?"

"Yes, sir. We project that they could take down our shields in just a few shots."

"And their defensive capibilities?"

"We haven't detected any, sir. Being made of biomatter, we figure that a full phaser blast will vapourize most of it, but I wouldn't count on it if we don't have to."

"Agreed."

Then a man wearing the white cape and sword of the A'millian Knights speaks up.

"Captian, I suggest we leave. Now."

"Helm, set a course out of the system and prepare to go to warp. Tell the Kokoya to stay with us."

The helmsman responds.

"Now falling back, the Kokoya is with us, sir."

Captian Willis turns again to the Knight.

"Now, why did you want us to leave?"

The Knight responds.

"I sensed a disturbance in the magical plane, as if it was charging up a spell. I wanted to be safe."

"Do you think we should go back?"

"I don't know what that spell was, but it didn't seem nice."

"Alright, let's watch it from here for a while."

"I concur."

The officers responded.

"Yes, sir."

[Destructionator XV]

In the Riwal system...

"Ship's log, supplemental, ASV Iyo, Captian Willis recording. On the feeling of my resident knight, we and the Kokoya have fallen back to the edge of the system and are observing the bioships from afar. Thus far, aside from the energy surge when we first approached, they have been docile, as if sleeping. We are still unsure of their intent."

A communications officer begins to speak.

"Captian, we have an incoming message from the Kokoya."

"On screen."

On the screen appeared a youngish humaonid with purple skin and red hair, who also had a bizarre way of standing. He is Captian Rogers of the Kokoya, an Entebbe class science vessel assigned to the edges of A'millian space. It was ship that first reported the ship's presence in the Riwal system.

Captian Rogers speaks with the usual deep rasp of his people.

"We have finished our scans of the ships. They do have great power, but they are indeed fully biological. They would be torn to shreads by tractor beams and phasers. Their organs can channel power from an unknown source into powerful beam weapons and propulsion systems and our magic-sensitive people have determined that they can cast a spell that renders most humanoids inert."

Captian Willis responds.

"So you are saying that they can put our crews to sleep and blast us with their guns?!"

"Preciscly. I suggest we set our computers to go to warp if they don't sense movement inside the ship within one second. This will keep us alive."

"Make it so."

A crew man relays the message to engineering where it would be implemented quickly.

"Captian Rogers, have you determined if we can communicate with them yet?"

"They will surely be able to hear telepathic messages, and maybe subspace comm."

"And what are they doing in this system?"

"Why don't we ask them?"

The direct approach. With a being that could easily kill them all. Both captians loved the idea.

"Helm, set a course to bring us closer to the ships. We are goinig to communicate."

The starships move in closer to the bioships, scanning the planet they are orbiting. As they approach, the bioships start to come to life.

"Shields up, charge phasers." Both captians ordered. They would be ready for the worst.

Captian Willis turned to his communications officer.

"Open a channel."

"Open, sir."

"This is Captian Willis of the A'millian Space Vehicle Iyo. Identify yourself and explain what you are doing in this system."

He waits patiently for a response.

[KAN as the Ancients]

"This is Captian Willis of the A'millian Space Vehicle Iyo. Identify yourself and explain what you are doing in this system."

He waits patiently for a response.

"Identify yourself."

"Explain what are you doing".

Such phrases are easy to answer in most cases. In fact, those are nothing more but a matter of "who" and "what"; the most basic phase of communication.

Between different species, the ways to communicate vary highly and are not always compatible with each other. Plants, for instance, communicate by producing various pheromones, while bees do it through various flight pattern. Sentient beings, on the other hand, have developed this wonderful tool called "language", so even when encountering alien species, "communication" is merely a harmless process of translating the language.

A harmless process of understanding.

Harmless?

Of course, the Ancients do not mean any harm when communicating with Captain Willis. In fact, they're merely explaining "who they are" and "what are they doing", aren't they?

And they still don't mean any harm when Captain Willis start experiencing strange sensations due to certain stimulations on the center of his sensory system. The fact that the Captain starts seeing peculiar, blasphemous imageries is not the result of a harmful intention; neither is the bizzare piping sounds and the beating of drums only the Captain can hear.

The bridge crews watch in anxiety as Captain Willis starts laughing maniacally while betraying an insane facial expression.

[Ra]

COME TO ME, PHEONIX BEING. COME, AND EXPLAIN YOUR PRESENCE WITHIN MY DOMAIN.

*The words boom loud in Galadriel's mind, shattering her concentration. Ra's mothership still orbits the ninth planet, conducting scans. Ra notices her lost concentration, and walks over.*

Another vision?

No. Walper hath called out to the being posessing Darth Kreshna. He wishes a confrontation.

Then perhaps this entire incident will be resolved.

I cannot see the end. The Being of Fire... the Phoenix Being Wapler called it... will not yield so easily. And even if it were to leave Kreshna's essence, the Ancient Ones will continue their pursuit.

M'lady. We're recieving new telemetry. Close scans by an Al'kesh indicated that there were some kind of anomalous signatures. However, we cannot identify them.

Give me the data, and I will examine it.

Yes, ma'am.

*Looking over the data, the technical readouts made little sense. Then, clearing her mind, something began to clear. She felt something gnawing at her mind... similar to that gnawing when the ancient ship was destroyed...*

Ready me an EV suit. I will continue my investigation on the surface.

Is that a good idea?

Do you trust me or not, young one?

[Ra]

*On the surface of the Ninth Planet, several blue flashes announced the arrival of Galadriel and several Kull Warriors on the surface. In addition to the Goa'uld supersoldiers, the mothership had been gifted with two squads of Stormtroopers and one of Darktroopers, led by Major Irene, a skilled and daring commander that also happened to be experience in vacuum environment warfare. For the moment, only one squad had accompanied Galadriel.*

*The ninth planet was cold, and dead. A wasteland of methane snow and rock, the planet would seem to never have harbored life. As the Goa'uld weren't very fond of EVA, the only thing Galadriel could find for a space suit was extensively modified Kull Warrior armor, similar to that worn by her own ELF Troopers. Suited in the dark outfit, Galadriel led the group toward the nearest crater. Its presence in the Elf's mind grew as they approached.*

We are very close now. Stay alert.

Reading some unstable terrain ahead, m'lady.

I see. Major, have five of your soldiers remain to secure our approach.

*With swift hand gestures, Irene orders four Stormtroopers to take cover and watch for any enemies.*

*Galadriel then senses the disturbance with great clarity.*

This way!

[Dartzap]

"My Lord Detritus, soys amongst the Goa'uld fleet indicate that the Ra has landed upon the ninth planet, known to them as 'Pluto'

Intresting.. very intresting, knowing you from past experince Admiral, Am I right in thinking your planning an invasion?

"Er.. yes Milord"

Good, you may deploy Invasion Force Goliath, i know Commander Flotsam has been wanting to use his new Carrier for ages now.

"Goliath sir? isnt that a bit over the top for such a small group of enemys?"

No, there is something else there.. More than i can sense at any rate. Deploy at once Admiral

"At once Sir"

* From the newly formed astroid belt, 300 ships depart, only one hundred of those are star craft in the truce sense.. the others are Magma class trasnports, between them, they have over fifty thousand troops and their various weapens to deploy*

[Ra]

*As the Goa'uld mothership orbits the ninth planet, Ra recieves word from Galadriel. A hologram of her armor-clad form shimmers into view.*

We have reached the first crater, Ra. My conclusions are correct. This planet served as a... psychic nexus for the Ancient Ones. By attacking these areas, Darth Kreshna may have done the alliance a great favor.

It appears this discovery is much more important than I once believed. I am summoning an entire fleet here to back up the efforts. If word gets out that this planet holds such importance in this investigation, there could be another battle looming.

A wise precaution, young one.

*The hologram of a slim figure in Stormtrooper armor appears. It's Major Irene.*

M'lord, there are still some subterranean ruins of the Ancient Ones' nexus. I recommend we look into this further.

Agreed. I am deploying the Darktrooper squad to your location. Normally, they would be needed only for... extra firepower. However...

Darktroopers are slightly Force-adept. They'll make this go a hell of a lot faster.

We'll report back in the next hour. End transmission.

*Galadriel and Irene's holograms flicker away. Behind Ra, several Darktroopers stomp forward.*

Join Galadriel's force on the planet. I want a better idea of what we have found. Stay alert. This technology may return to operation any second.

As you wish, m'lord.

*At that, the Imperial supersoldiers vanish in the blue flash of the Asgard transporter.*

[Dartzap]

*Far Side of Pluto Annex*

The fleet emerged all at once, the transports to the rear, the battleshp escorts to the front the Fleet Command was on the Goliath, the first of the Trollish Carriers, It was the only ship in this fleet that had any chance of surviving a direct confrontation with the Goa'uld mothership.

Commander Flotsam looked over the scans that he was receiving

"There are a number of craters all around the this planet, we shall have to investigate throughly"


"Shall I give the transports a parameter for when you want to land?"

"Yes, we shall send them right over this one here.. deploy to the south, and then we shall have three of those crators within easy range"

"Of course Sir, i shall inform the captains at once"

*the transports start their descent towards the planet, unknowingly heading right over where Ra's troops have landed.*

OOC: I know I'd hate to have those things going over at low alititude, planes are bad enough!

[Ra]

*A Darktrooper suddenly looks up. A swarm of transport ships zip overhead.*

Enemy forces, sir!

I see them. We can't risk a cannonade with you there. However...

*All over the mothership, Kull Warriors and ELF Troopers deploy. The ELF Troopers - clones of Legolas equipped with modifed Kull armor (eliminating the implanted components, etc) - had not seen action thusfar. An entire platoon beamed down to Galadriel's location, along with the other stormtrooper squad.*

*Galadriel and Major Irene move deeper into the dark corridors of the Ancient Ones' node, both benefitting from the enhanced vision systems of their respective suits. Suddenly, Galadriel holds up a hand. Irene levels her E-11 for good measure.*

A dark presence is still here. Kreshna's bombardment was quite thorough, but...

*Then, Galadriel senses it.*

It is here. An essence... But what we seek is not here.

What exactly are we looking for?

A small part of the question is answered. These nodes are very old, possibly even as old as the First Age. Now its purpose is clear.

*Irene looks over.*

This was a home of the Ancient Ones. A vessel for their essence.... But not all were destroyed...

M'lady, we've got company!

*Grabbing the Major by the arm, Galadriel dashes out of the ruins. Outside, Troll forces are already exchanging shots with Stormtroopers.*

Report.

Major, three squads of Trolls are inbound. They apparently were attempting a survey of this crater.

We have found most everything we can on this crater, Major. It would be wise for us to move on.