When Opposites Collide

*Paladin Komtur Maya viewed the tac display showing all the fleets and their positions. The Christanans deployed in a standard planet defense tactic placing the fleet between the enemy and the planet's major population centers. The Heraklean tactics were simple yet surgical it seemed. From their fleet disposition they were concentrating on making a single breakthrough in order to land troops on the surface either with the intent on capturing the Christanan government or enact a terror campaign against the civilians. Either tactic would effectively end the battle in favor of the Herakleans. Paladin Komtur Maya weighed her options before giving orders.*

Maya: Weapons, how are we doing?

Weapons Officer: Ma'am, our FOAB launchers have locked in trageting solutions to disperse our FOABs in a way that will cripple the Heraklean fleet. All our other vessels are reporting that they have their preassigned targets in sights and are ready to engage at will.

Maya: Very good. Send word to the other Order Captains that they are not to engage unless I specifically authorize it or they are engaged themselves.

Weapons Officer: Yes Ma'am

Maya: Comms, Hail Order Captain Phillip, Arcanii Network.

Comm Officer: Yes, Ma'am... on screen.

Phillip: Order Captain Phillip, Arcanii Network, T.S.F. Nightstalker, reporting as ordered Ma'am.

Maya: Order Captain, how many Arcanii stealth frigates do we have in this fleet and how many heavy ground troops do you have?

Phillip: Ma'am, we have four stealth frigates hiding amongst the fleet each carrying seven squads of Black Hole Spec Ops Legionnaires.

Maya: Good I have a new mission for you. We suspect that if peace talks break down the Heraklea will make capturing the Christana capital and their government leaders a top priority. I want the stealth frigates to sneak in amongst the Christana defenders and be ready to deploy all Black Hole Legionnaires to defend the Christana government officials from capture. Only deploy your troops when we are sure that the Heraklea are attacking the Christana capital with ground troops.

Phillip: Yes ma'am. We are moving into position now. Phillip out.

“I don't like this waiting.  I've read intel on Richie stealth technology.  It's years ahead of our own.  They could be doing anything out there, and we can't see.  Hell, they could be sidling up next to our own damn ships and plant bombs!” ranted Fleet Admiral Zlenka.

“I don''t think their stealth capabilities are so effective that our sensor suites are going to completely miss a collection of them getting close enough to knock on the door, Ma'am.”

“I still don't like it.  We have no initiative.  If this kicks off again, it's going to be extra bloody.”

“If we even make a move that looks aggressive, it all comes crashing around our ears.  And State will just disavow our actions.”

“Um, Ma'am?  Sir?  I may have an idea for some initiative.”  Fleet Admiral Zlenka looked at the junior officer.

“Talk to me, lieutenant.”

“Ma'am.  As you well know our missiles are highly visible while they're driving.”  Fleet Admiral Zlenka nodded.  “Well, when they are flying ballistic, they are the next best thing to invisible.  If we deploy some of them now, they can be pre-targeted and ready to strike before we start launching salvos.  We could cripple the Christanans with that first strike.  Or at least do enough damage to let our first moments be focused on preventing the Ordenreich fleet from interfearing.”

“I like it.  Do it.”

* * * * *

“Sir, have you seen the latest communication from Christana?”  Grand Admiral Adelei Kirrin, Chief of the State of Heraklea turned from the window overlooking Kirrinheim.  His face was grim.  “I guess so.”

“If things go sideways, we could be at war with the OrdenReich.  They're not a nation to take lightly.”

“We could recall the armada.  Cancel the whole mess.”

“We can't.  The Christanans attacked us.  That cannot go unanswered.  We need to make sure they will never make the same mistake again.  If they believe that other states will bail them out when they mix it up with us, they will meddle and interfere with our affairs.  We can't have that.”

“So what will you do?”  Grand Admiral Kirrin turned back to the window.

“Move the 1^st, 3^rd, 5^th and 6^th Expeditionary Fleets and the 2^nd, 5^th and 9^th Marine Divisions to the southern frontier.  Tell STRAT to write me a campaign plan."

“I'll make it happen sir.”

"Oh and Henry?"

"Yes sir?"

"Give them the Minerva.”

"Yes sir."

Admiral Hatch pressed the com button again to the Order.

"Paladin Komtur Maya, if it makes any of this go faster let me tell you what actually happened." The Admiral cleared his throat.

"Our ship the FPS Seer went beyond our borders and met with the Herakleans. According to the report unarmed ships of a third party warped in, the Herakleans started to destroy these ships however they entered our border so we took responsibility. Within 3 days the Herakleans came back with a fleet however came right next to our planet and demanded these refugees. We denied them in which they responded by targeting our ships. In retaliation we targeted back and you can guess what happened next." The Admiral proceeded to take a sip of his coffee.

"These people should not be allowed to continue, they have already slaughtered everyone on our moon. If we sign a true they will just come back and this exact situation will repeat once again."

(OOC: Trust me when I say you don't want to get in a ground battle with me, you will be fighting Aragon from lord of the rings with machine guns and green native americans on crack)

Maya: We understand the situation admiral and will do what we can. In the meantime, I suggest you attempt to establish a meeting with a real Heraklea ambassador so military hotheads aren't making the decision. Maya out.

*Paladin Komtur Maya cut the connection with the Christana and sent an update to O.S.S.C Livenstein on the situation. O.S.S.C sent a reply stating that they are anticipating a worse case scenario. They have already ordered the entire fleet to start mobilizing on the edge of the Ordenreich's influence sphere bordering Heraklea and have ordered a full combat task force to Christana's home planet. This includes another ultradreadnought as well as a full fleet and ground assault force to be deployed to Chirstana's surface should the need arise. She sent a message to the Heraklea.*

Maya: Attention Admiral of the Heraklea fleet. You and I both know the terms you set for the Christana are unacceptable. You are asking for complete capitulation of Christana to your will which is the main reason why fighting broke out in the first place. Christana responded to this violation of their independence with force. Asking for the same demand's especially when your enemy is now ready for you and has potential reinforcements is redundant. If you truly want peace you will provide a fully qualified Heraklea ambassador to meet with an equally qualified Christana ambassador on neutral ground to establish a settlement that meets both parties satisfaction. Now either stop lining up shots against Christana's and my fleet which I highly believe you are right now and come to the peace table or we will move to assist the Christanan fleet and yes FOABs have been authorized by my higher ups and I will not hesitate to use them to bring a quick resolution to this conflict. Maya out.

“Paladin Komtur Maya von Danzig Nova, this is Fleet Admiral Zlenka.  If the Christanans find my terms unacceptable, then they can refuse them themselves.  They have yet to respond to them.  If they fail to engage diplomacy, that is hardly our fault.  The onus is upon them to give us signs of good faith in diplomacy in as much as they attacked a diplomatic mission and their escorts.  We are willing to negotiate for peace, but if the only response we can get to our terms is 'no' and there are no counteroffer, then I simply don't see how diplomacy can work here.  Surely you understand.”

Fleet Admiral Zlenka signaled the COMM officer to send the transmission, then sighed.  “They do have one point though.  When Commodore Pershing gets back from the head, she's taking over talks.”

Maya: Understood. We will be standing by.

*Maya turned off the comm an turned to her Comm Officer*

Maya: Whats the status on the task force?

Comm Officer: They are 15 minutes from our location ma'am.

Maya: Well... seems like O.S.S.C. are on their toes today... Send a redirect they are to wait just outside maximum sensor radius of Christana in dark space. They are only to come in on my word.

Comm Officer: Yes ma'am

"Ma'am, a message from the Valhalla came for you while you were seeing to the tactical situation.  Message is on your screen."

"Oh really," replied Fleet Admiral Zlenka.  She snorted after quickly reading it.

"What's did I miss that was so funny?" asked Commodore Pershing.

"Ah, Commodore.  You will be taking over diplomatic talks for the next round.  And just so you know, the Einherjar have added another demand."  Commodre Pershing groaned.

"What do they want?"

"They're demanding Einherjar pilgrims be permitted access to the 'Shrine of Unson.'"  Commodore Pershing rubbed her temples to alleviate her growing head ache.  Fleet Admiral Zlenka barely contained her chuckle.

"Don't smirk like that at me, Ma'am.  Of all our demands, that's the one we're most likely to get."

(OOC: Would Jenova be appraised of anything that your people learn, Sacae? If so, I'll drop a line from Jenova every once in a while. If not, just assume that the Burninite mothership is observing the situation from the sidelines.)

"We've seen enough." A female voice says. Gordon. "Ready a task force. A dozen Star Destroyers and their complement should be enough. If the shooting starts again, immediately deploy to Heraklea."

"It will be done, Chancellor."

The Admiral messaged the invasion fleet.

"So I believe it is time to discuss peace, our diplomat is on stand by however we wish for these talks to happen of neutral ground."

(OOC: My fleet will keep the Burninites linked in to our battlenet so whatever is discussed over the mics by the Ordenreich will be heard by the Burninites)

“Where exactly do they think they are going to find neutral ground?”  Fleet Admiral Zlenka asked incredulously.  “Does Hatch actually believe we're willing to withdraw our forces and let them regroup?  Re-arm?”

“The Burninites,” said Commodore Pershing.

“Pardon?”

“The Burninites, ma'am.  The Chrissies don't trust us, we don't trust them or the Richies.  Who does that leave?  The Burninites.  They haven't declared themselves for Christana like the Ordenreich has, they've only interposed barriers to stop the fighting.  We have them send a small-boat we can meet on board.  Neutral ground.”

“Can we trust the Burninites?”

“They have an almost pathological need to meddle in other people's affairs, but the very nature of their intervention here betrays their priorities.  They want peace.  If they do anything that undermines a diplomatic solution, the very peace they want goes up in smoke as we burn that planet to its foundations.”  Fleet Admiral Zlenka nodded.

“Very well, Commodore.  Let's bring in the Burninites.”

* * * * *

“Admiral Hatch, this is Commodore Pershing of the Heraklean Diplomatic Service.  We propose having the Burninites send a small-boat for diplomatic talks.  Do you find this proposal acceptable?”

* * * * *

OPERATION CRUSADE

COMMANDER: FLEET ADMIRAL ALBERIGHI, ALEXANDRE
OBJECTIVE: CAPTURE OF CLOSEST KEY ORDENREICH SYSTMS
ORDER OF BATTLE: 1^ST EXPEDITIONARY FLEET, 3^RD EXPEDITIONARY FLEET, 6^TH EXPEDITIONARY FLEET, 2^ND MARINE DIVISION, 5^TH MARINE DIVISION, 9^TH MARINE DIVISION
AREA OF OPERATIONS: ORDENREICH
SUBMITTED: FLEET ADMIRAL MAC NAOIMHIN, SEHRAZAT

APPROVED:
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL HEIDENDALE, HENRY
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL BURKE, ATHEA
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL IDA, MEAGAN
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL DORIA, ALEKSANTERI
RECOMMENDED: FLEET ADMIRAL ALBANO, CHIBUZO


* * * * *

OPERATION CORSAIR

COMMANDER: ADMIRAL LAKATOS, SHREYA
OBJECTIVE: CRIPPLE ORDENREICH INDUSTRIAL CAPABILITIES
ORDER OF BATTLE: 5^TH EXPEDITIONARY FLEET
AREA OF OPERATIONS: ORDENREICH
SUBMITTED: FLEET ADMIRAL BUTLER, KASPER

APPROVED:
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL HEIDENDALE, HENRY
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL BURKE, ATHEA
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL IDA, MEAGAN
RECOMMENDED: HIGH ADMIRAL DORIA, ALEKSANTERI
RECOMMENDED: FLEET ADMIRAL ALBANO, CHIBUZO


OOC: Note the lack of a “signature” in the approved blocks for these operations.  These are still only proposals and have not yet actually been authorized.  They are just arrows in the quiver if talks breakdown.

(OOC: Anyway, if anybody bothered to scan, they'd detect the probe droids just watching. They'd be easily identifiable as CSR Air and Space Force droids. Incidentally, what is the relation between the Ordenreich and Rhea? I don't remember if they were allies or merely trade partners. I suppose it doesn't matter. If the attack on the Ordenreich happens, then Rhea will move to defend a valuable trade partner, especially one that has FOABs.)

The Burninites will accept their vessel as neutral ground, provided that all warring factions agree to be disarmed upon arrival. Or failing that, that the parties be restricted to sidearms or equivalents.

“We are amenable to a policy of side arms only. Anything bigger can frequently make holes in pressure hulls anyway. And the presence of side arms will help keep everyone honest.”

OOC@Pan: In that case we probably already detected them. There have just been more important things to consider.

" All of this is quite acceptable, give us the ID and we will send our diplomat with an escort to the location, Hatch out."

*Even though the Ordenreich came here to serve as an enforcer of their Writ, Paladin Komtur Maya sends a request to the Burninites to oversee the peace talks emphasizing they will keep their mouth shut they only wish to listen and that its only a request, if the Burninites refuse they will understand.*

(OOC: @Pan: I think officially we're trade partners but recent events with the Hildenburen and that secret understanding we came to regarding the Burninites [which is probably invalid at this point because of the Burninites recent issues] we are friends if anything [at least I like to think so]

@Heraklea: Whatever you wish its your funeral if you do invade. :p
1. Because there was a reason besides hiding the reinforcements that I had my second fleet hide out in dark space. A recently developed military tactic that hasn't been used till now
2. You probably noticed the Ordenreich is highly militaristic, its citizens are required to serve in times of crises and they do a stint of 5 years in the military as a requirement for citizenship so all are well trained.
3. With recent events the Ordenreich has nothing to lose and can and probably will FOAB its own settlements to wipe out entire enemy armies. Scorched earth on a planetary and galactic scale.
Again, you are more than welcome to RP an invasion but just be warned you might take horrific casualties. The last two points I made are well known to all factions in the RP if you wish to add that to your commands considerations)

OOC: Oh, I know. Why do you think one of the operations is targeting commerce and industry? A war between us would be long and bloody. Heraklea recognizes that. The only thing I can hope for early on is that I can force the war to be fought on your turf instead of mine.

(OOC: War, huh, what is it good for?)

The Burninite mothership signals that it will accept transports from the two represented nations as well as an observer representative from the Ordenreich. There is a docking bay which small transports will have no issue using, but the bay will have trouble if three large transports arrive, so it is requested that transports used are kept small.

Jenova responds to the paladin that the Burninites do plan on allowing talks to occur without much interference. She says she will "oversee" the talks in that she will be present, but that she does not plan on intervening in them at all unless the representatives try to throttle one another. She informs the paladin that of course the Ordenreich should send someone over -- preferably someone diplomatic. She reiterates that the Burninites have no bite to back up their talk. They have an interest only in giving peace a fair chance.

She then prepares the ship to accept visitors, readying a conference room, making tea, etc.

The Heraklean cutter sailed out of the small boat bay of HNS Gungnir and made its way to the Burninite ship.

“All the recorders running?” Commodore Pershing asked the pilot.

“Yes ma'am.”

“Good.”  Commodore Pershing left the cockpit and resumed her seat in the main cabin of the cutter.  She rested her hand lightly on the pommel of her sword.  To her left sat the ever uncomfortable James Davanto.  Immediately behind them were a pair of adjutants for the commodore, and behind them two marines.  All the Heraklean are wearing skin-armor and are carrying a pistol and sword on their belts (dominant and non-dominant hand sides respectively).  The cutter approached the Burninite ship and set down in the boat by.  Commodore Pershing stepped to the door of the cutter.

“Permission to come aboard?”

"Our scan detects 6 people in your party, and a rather large transport, good Commodore," a voice responds from the Burninite ship. "We also detect lethal weaponry on all of you, though low enough caliber to fit our requests. Permission to come aboard granted, but please move your transport to the back of the bay, or we're going to have trouble fitting three transports."

(OOC: Edit: Oh, a secret understanding regarding the Burninites? Interesting . I dunno, because I dunno about the content of this understanding, but basically the last RP is my way of changing Burninite society from being based on WH40K to one I saw in Farscape. So up to you on whether or not your nifty secret pact is still in effect. I'm flattered you made a secret pact regarding me ).

The Chirstanan shuttle launched from the tower carrying the human councilman Johnton and four ranger guards equipped with a pistol and a knife.

"This is the FPS Scout requesting entry into the ship."

(OOC: So I'm getting on a plane from JFK tomorrow to Greece and I will either be super active or not at all considering my wait time. I have to go on a plan to one of the islands after I get to Athens.)

(OOC: As I said in that post, its probably irrelevant because of whats going on with your guys. Its also not much of a secret RL wise only RP because Pan and I RPed it in my opening up to the galaxy thread)

*The Paladin Komtur sent a confirmation and got up from her command chair. She ordered that Order Admiral Edward, who is the normal commander of the 3rd fleet, to resume command of the fleet while she oversaw the talks. The 3rd fleet did not bring much in the way of diplomats as they assumed the worse for the battle at Christana. However, Maya was a Paladin Komtur, one of the Teutonic Council, which was third highest power and the important decision makers in the Ordenreich save for the Hochmeister and Ordenmarshall, she would suffice. She picked out two of the best Paladins from the T.S.F. Times of War and quickly boarded a shuttle bound for the Burninite ship. When they left Times of War's hanger she sent a message to the Burninites.*

Maya: This is Paladin Komtur Maya of the T.S.F. Times of War, 3rd Fleet, Hierarchy of the Ordenreich, requesting permission to board Burninite Mothership. We declare no armaments on board. The shuttle is unarmed as well as myself, pilots, and my two Paladin escorts. Maya out.

The Burninites scan and accept the shuttles from the Christanans and from the Ordenreich (assuming the Ordenreich is not in violation of the request to bring nothing bigger than a sidearm, as claimed by Maya).

When the three vessels dock, the parties are met by Jenova Incinerator, highest ranking Burninite of all, if the Burninites were to conform to ranks.

She is apparently unarmed, and is also unaccompanied. "Greetings to all," she says with a slight bow to indicate respect, "and welcome aboard the Ishta. Thank you all for agreeing to limit your arsenals to small arms. Though you are aboard a Burninite vessel, I will merely observe your talks. I will not interfere with you once you have begun settling your dispute."

"That said, I did not expect such party sizes. I think it prudent for the Christanan and Heraklean delegations to be of equal size. I also did not make enough tea for so many. Truly I hope that armed guards are unnecessary here, but I will not stop any of you from following."

"When you are ready, follow me to the conference room. I have prepared my best tea brew!"

*Paladin Komtur Maya said nothing but crossed her right arm across her chest to meet her left shoulder in the traditional greeting of the Ordenreich. Her Paladins, still wearing their full combat armor but showing no visible weapons either guns or knives, followed suit in their salute*

Maya: Madame Jenova of the Burninites. Myself and the Ordenreich thank you for allowing us aboard your beautiful ship. We have come unarmed as promised and look forward to the coming talks.

*The two paladins flanking Maya stood stiff and at attention their faces and postures expressionless due to the full visor and helmet that covered their face but Maya's face could be read clearly and she has a slight smile on it after speaking*