In the universe, anything can happen (private)

*On transition through slipspace the T.S.F. Angels will Rise continued on its path to Tantalus. The dreadnought was fresh off the assembly line at the forge world, Rhineland. While following the basic layout of a typical dreadnought she spotted some reverse engineered laser weaponry taken off destroyed Centauri ships from multiple conflicts. Though not as good as their Centauri counterparts it showed that the Ordenreich was now starting to diversify its weapon payloads. The dreadnought was tasked alongside the Ordenreich 2nd through 4th spear fleets with the liberation of Tantalus from their Aurelian oppressors. This fleet was the largest fleet the Ordenreich had assembled since the Hildenburen wars. This may have seemed unnecessary but the Ordenreich hoped that a show of force of this magnitude will deter any counterattack from the Aurelians. When the fleet was 40 minutes from Tantalus the Paladin Komtur in charge gave his last minute orders*

Paladin Komtur Michael: Order all ships to Combat Alert Alpha, imminent contact.

Comm Officer: Orders sent.

Michael: Give me a layout of FOAB strike targets from Black Hawk actual

Tac Officer: Layout up sir.

*A hologram of the planet of Tantalus showed up with 30 target reticules around it*

Michael: Filter all targets that will cause collateral damage to Tantalus's surface

Tac Officer: Filter up

*27 of the targets disappeared leaving three remaining*

Michael: Send those target coordinates to Artillery Fleet Howitzer. Estimated Casualties?

Tac Officer: Based off fleet concentration and estimated shield and armor strength we count about 57% enemy ship casualties. Based off Black Hawk actual's scanning our guns might be better than theres and our shield tech slightly stronger, not to mention the shock and awe will play a factor from those FOABs. Chance of enemy victory: No way in hell sir.

Michael: Solid copy. Order howitzer to fire its FOABs. Order Black Hawk actual to bug out.

*On Comm*

Michael: All hands prepare for contact! Fur Den Auftrag!

(OOC: Tosev and this one updated)

Major Poula-Benz nodded at Colonel Vinci. "Fair enough, though we cannot leak more than five or so soldiers back home. If too few troops are available, we'll have a tough firefight."

With that said, Poula-Benz returned her attention to the alleyway horizon as she marched over a corroding, fallen light post with its lamp blown out. Through the smoggy skies, a few of the brighter Core stars managed to leak enough light through to assist the Tantalans in traversing the abysmal darkness… And then the Tantalo-Flagellant Convoy would find itself entering the planetary region where buildings were even more rundown than back home. At least several apartment units managed to survive intact near Higgsborough, but this region of the planet…

~~~

The convoy continued to meander through the dusty alleyway, occasionally stopping long enough for Major Poula-Benz to alert the convoy for signs of trouble had they arisen. At one such stop, passerby's once shopped at a backend corner store which was now teetering on the brink of collapse: Inside, the countertops' metal panelling was completely stripped away, leaving behind I-beam girders which probably supported the weight of a desktop monitor at some point. Vertical columns once feeding power to whatever occupied the checkout counter were now leveled to several stumps behind the ransacked counter, and it appeared someone stripped the ceiling for spare copper; several chipped ceiling tiles and remnants of a bulb fixture laid strewn across the lobby.

---

"Wake up, you fools! We've got to get moving!"

O'iquil's orange eyes glinted in the starlight as they opened, catching sight of Hr'ikin making rounds throughout the unit's hall through the doorframe.

"We're moving yonder to the East!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Someone uttered from behind a closed door moments before another armed Aurelian troop stumbled into the corridor: The Tihn'tharin's repeating crossbow was trained at the stairwell leading downstairs, and from the corner of his eye he caught O'iquil's gaze. And hissed!

"O'iquil! Grab your bow and let's go!"

"Fair enough!"

Grabbing his Cet'pho-skinhide knapsack and an ebony-black, recurved bow studded with human bone fragments on the grip- the only one of its kind amid the Tihn'tharin dispatchment's armory- O'iquil strapped the bowstring across his chest while the woody frame crisscrossed his knapsack's drawstring. "Let us go!"

Within minutes, all forty Tihn'tharin scrambled to descend the stairwell as Hr'ikin led the war band into the abandoned apartment foyer. The female leader flared her flattened nostrils as she trained her crossbow upon the masonry, though only for a second since the crowd emptied out into the street. O'iquil trailed behind the two rearmost Xu'tharin with his carbon fiber javelin in one four-fingered hand and his other hand tugging at his bow grip. Out here, it was almost pitch black even by Aurelian standards, enticing one of the soldiers to wrap his spearpoint with spare washrags in preparation for a fire. Seconds passed before Hr'ikin noticed a glow from behind her: One of the soldiers managed to salvage two Aurelian stones from her knapsack and ignite the group's only light source.

"Thank you,"[i] O'iquil whispered to his comrade, who begrudgingly bobbed his head. [i]"It's too dark even for my eyesight! I swear we should wait until morning-"

"Not a slim chance, if I may interrupt."

Both Aurelian males relented as a muscular female pushed through their column with crossbow in tow. O'iquil reformed his line with his peer as the Aurelian occupation unit arced around the road corner to the east-northeast, passing in front of a vacant plaza which was empty… Except for one indicator of recent activity: "Halt! Halt your positions!" Hr'ikin hissed to the ensemble behind her as they bunched up into a precarious crowd. "Pass me the light! I smell something awful!"

"Here," replied one of the Tihn'tharin as the burning spear was passed into Hr'ikin's worn hands. She extended her staff-arm to her fore… And froze.

"We've a dead body! Looks like one of ours."

O'iquil gazed ahead to where Hr'ikin raised her arm: From a secluded doorframe laid the carbonaceous skeleton of a fallen Tihn'tharin situated within a pile of ash. As she stepped closer, it became apparent that something was up.

"So that's what happened to most of our scouting team!"

"I enquire your soul, ma'am?"

Hr'ikin looked over to O'iquil, and then another soldier, with a somber gaze and one slight bob.

"Vh'riixin issued orders for a hunting party to scout this area one half of a moon cycle ago. Of twelve Xu'tharin, only four returned- three of whom sustained grievous injuries and ended up dying in their family homes. We could be walking into a trap."

As the convoy began to make its way into the Twilight Sector, Colonel Vinci scanned her surroundings, and took in the feeling of ruin that permeated the surroundings. Never had she seen a planet so desolate and run-down as Tantalus, and the decay was starkly different from the well-maintained bases of Alpha Centauri. There was a faint and distinct sense of unease; it was clear that there would be hostiles to encounter them in this kind of region, no doubt about that. The sooner these Aurelians could be defeated, the better: the fact that the Tantalans had to even endure these surroundings was an atrocity in and of itself.

(OOC: This post will be a little short because I'm kind of busy right now but I'll make a bigger one on my next go around)

*The FOABs that Howitzer fired struck precisely at the points they were ordered to fire on thank to advancements in the FOAB slipspace delivery system. (Stop me if I'm doing this wrong magna) The FOABs caught the Aurelian fleet off guard and the blast destroyed a majority of their ships. The blasts size and proximity to Tantalus would have seemed like temporary suns in the skies about Tantalus. Soon after the FOABs struck the Ordenreich fleet arrived in system and broadcasted a message to the Aurelians using a universal translator adapted to the Aurelian language made possible thanks to the Arcanii stealth frigate.*

Paladin Komtur Michael (message to Aurelian fleet): Attention Aurelian ships. This is Paladin Komtur Michael of the Hierarchy of the Ordenreich, on board the dreadnought T.S.F. Angels Will Rise, 2nd Spear Fleet. Your empires policies have been found as crimes against sentient life. You are ordered to stand down a completely retreat from the Tantalus system. We are fully prepared to engage you in combat as evidenced by our use of Fusion Ordinance Astro Bombs which we just used to wipe out the majority of your fleet. You are outnumbered, outclassed, and outgunned. Do not resist and throw the lives of your soldiers away meaninglessly. You have 20 minutes to respond or we will open fire.

Michael (To Tac Officer): I don't want to give the Aurelians any breathers. Begin moving our ships into combat range of theirs. I want to be able to wipe out their remaining ships the moment that 20 minute window closes. Also order our ground forces into position to wipe out the ground presence of the Aurelians on Tantalus.

Tac Officer: Orders away sir

(OOC: To Magna, I totally forgot about the other part of the RP with your explorers. If you want to continue that I will pass for now on my next post for that and respond to your next post on it if you want to continue it, sorry)

Within seconds, an abrupt flash brought Vh'riixen to her knees as something rammed into the B'rorsir T'ngy's stern, erupting forth into an alien ball of energy as it engulfed the ill-fated vessel and seventeen of her detachment's supporting capitals. Below, irradiated graphite fragments which were once living hulls plunged into the thin Tantalan atmosphere.

"Kh'uunari Vh'riixen! What just happened?"

What just happened? The Aurelian female remained crouched as her surroundings blurred. Shellshocked for another second or so, Byu'zikin only straightened back up after one scrawny Aurelian male interrupted the bridge's activity foray with a piercing shriek.

"We've got an inbound message! Kh'uunari, respond!"

"Right…" Slowly, with an apparent limp on her right leg, Kh'uunari Vh'riixen hobbled over to her subordinate's bioterminal and let her golden eyes eavesdrop on the intercepted transmission:

"This is Paladin Komtur Michael of the Ordenreich… Your empire's policies have been found as crimes against sentient life. You are ordered to stand down and completely retreat-"

"I demand a status report!"

"Too many of our ships are gone- Blown into space by something-"

"That's it! We've waited too long!" Vh'riixen snapped, red-faced and tense throughout herself as she paced away from Xu'tharin R'lil's Company. Then- without provocation- Vh'riixen immediately impaled an ornate seeming vase with her toned upper arm, sending the flask flying some seven meters until it shattered upon striking the scaly hull. Xu'tharin R'lilil bowed and extended his head, anxious while his peers resumed their frantic duties keeping the vessel stable for as long as possible. Byu'zikin Vh'riixen straightened up from her barbarous gait until she loomed a full head higher than R'lil's: "Fire the cursed tubes at the surface! I will feast on the slaughter's suede until we are pleasant, and decapitate their whimsical brains from the very vertebrae they are hiding! Scramble the drones and awaken our Gol'Azkhorzin spawn!"

---

Of the thirty-something capital vessels and their fighter escorts, only seven- including Vh'riixen's vessel- remained intact from the radiation blast. Three vessels still maintained formation, albeit with severe radiation burns, radionuclide contamination, and possible crew depletion due to uneven radiation distribution since the port faced the nuclear explosive's origin. From one biological ship, an opaque vapor trail composed of blood spurted from one such ship's sponsons as fluids effused from a scorched gland; perhaps, it would seem that the port's crew perished underneath the tortured behemoth's skin.

No verbal response would be issued, but finely-tuned sensors could pick up a growing haze of stuff growing out from the remaining eight carriers and Vh'riixen's flagship: Swarms of insectoid Gol'Azkhorzin encapsulated inside propolis-mended capsules emerged from the tips of proboscises of the fleet's vessels as the first dispatch drifted outward like a hive's response to a disreputable child's torment of the nest. Someone threw a rock, and so a colony's drones emerged to protect its queen- or dominant species, in this case. And the warp ring?

The torus-like organism, sufficiently distant from Tantalus and thus the Ordenreich nuclear detonation, was still intact, albeit the crew inside the monstrosity's interior could not withhold their responses to the carnage which took place; beating against the fleshy interior hull, X'irl G'rod of Aurelia pressed herself against the hull's viewing window, the Aurelian's tools dropped upon a table held down by the rotating ring's centrifugal force.

---

"What in His name's going on here?"

"I… Someone tell me what's going on."

Along the eastern horizon, a thin band of glowing clouds met the Major's thunderstruck eyes: Thin, aurora-like ribbons of light bled through the haze as daytime temporarily lit up that portion of Tantalus's skyline.

Several minutes of undivided silence occupied the alleyway trespassers as the sky faded into nighttime once again, leaving Major Poula-Benz petrified- wondering whether or not something was theirs when Sergeant Kodz's transceiver picked up a transmission:

"This is Comms Officer Wyrdin! I repeat, this is Officer Wyrdin: We've lost contact with eighteen Aurelian vessels! We've lost contact-"

Major Poula-Benz ignored Wyrdin's pause as she disembarked from Kodz's truck. An audible murmuring of queries were met with a voice which surprised even the Major herself:

"Guys, this is just in: The Aurelian Navy has been decimated-"

"Holy shit! Major, Major! We've got bogies! Hundreds and hundreds of bogies coming in our way! Get your men out of-"

"Hey! Look out!"

Major Poula-Benz turned her head just fifteen degrees counterclockwise when a fellow soldier knocked her to the ground-

Tzzzzzzzz!

A barrage of razor-point, carbon fiber arrows narrowly missed the Major as a column of darts hit several unsuspecting soldiers instead from above, killing two of them instantly as the spikes pierced their scalps:

Bzzzzzzz-

Grrrrrn!

A bright flicker of solid red light emanated from someone's laser rifle as it vaporized chunks of alien flesh off from something floating three hundred meters above: An armed Gol'Azkhorzin pod fighter swerved left moments before it impaled into the earth some hundred meters away, though a pheromone trail it left behind was not undetected. From the same direction the thing came from, eight more biological aerospace craft were coming in at strafing altitude.

---

"Which location would offer the largest array of instructional materiel, Chief Roe? That is where we want to go."

Gieffrei whistled quietly as he scanned Samsir, Roe, and whoever else entered the room for the slightest hints of trouble. Samsir continued, partly aware of Gieffrei's concern even though he was out of his line of sight:

"Furthermore, we could use a tour of the planet surface and a bunk in which to stay, if that is not too much of an issue."

The barrage of arrows caught Colonel Vinci exposed, but instinctively she moved her arms to protect her most vulnerable areas. Although the arrows were surprisingly dangerous for their lack of technological sophistication, the Flagellants were armored in rigid neutronium armor that deflected them away easily, leaving but a few scratches. Looking into the sky through her scope, she signaled to her soldiers, and said, "Hostiles incoming from above. Take aim."

Then, she began to lock into one of the pod vessels, and fired from her plasma shard rifle. A steak of lurid green plasma thrust itself into the sky, quickly making contact with the pod and beginning to melt away its flesh. Though Colonel Vinci had seen plasma melt away the flesh of unarmored human beings before, there was something different about seeing a bioship melt away. Perhaps it was the visceral nature of the vessel? In any case, her fellow Flagellants quickly began to lock in to and take aim at the various podships, and began to fire upon them.

(OOC: Sorry for the slow updates. Exam week is a pain)

*Paladin Komtur Michael observed his tactical display then looked at the Aurelian ships still intact from the FOABs. He saw what looked like tiny bugs coming out of some of the ships which they began assuming a cover formation around said ships.*

Michael: What the hell...? This is new... Officer! Analysis!

Tac Officer: Organic organism sir apparently able to survive the vacuum of space. The Aurelian fleet seems to be made up entirely of organic ships.

Michael: Odd... but our weapons seem to hurt them regardless. I don't like those "bug" swarms. Classify them as fighters till we know more and have our carriers launch their fighters to intercept. Order all capital ships to attack the remains of the Aurelian fleet from long range and keep them there. I don't want to know if those bugs are nastier then they let on. Frigates and other escort ships are ordered to support the capital ships and remain in escort formation until otherwise specified. Also order Howitzer to remain on stand by and order them to retarget for a FOAB strike in front of our fleet. If we manage to lure the Aurelians from Tantalus I much rather obliterate them with minimal risk to our fleet. Also order our ground teams to start landfall procedures on Tantalus. Priority is the complete destruction of any and all Aurelian ground forces and bases. Secondary objectives is to link up with any Tantalan resistance movements and the suspected Centauri or Heraklean team thats ground side. Orders upon location of these two assets are to establish communications between them, myself, and our ground command.

Tac Officer: Orders are being sent out now sir.

-------------------------------
space over Tantalus, Ordenreich ground assault fleet, Order Captain Maximus, 320th Heaven's Darkriders Division

Maximus: Asses in the pods, Darkriders! Our numbers been called! Once again we will be dropped ahead of the main invasion force to secure ground for the main assault! We will be dropping using our ant hill doctrine! Any darkriders that drop within a 20 mile radius of the staging ground will regroup with the rest of the Darkriders to secure the site for the main invasion. Everyone else that drops outside of this radius will hit the Aurelians any way they can and hamper their efforts to coordinate an attack on the staging ground. We also have orders from the head honcho. Any of you that make contact with the local resistance or any of our fun neighbors are to get them in contact with the Paladin Komtur. Afterwards you are to aid in their efforts! Are we understood!

Other Darkriders: SIR YES SIR!

Maximus: Good now get in those pods!

*Maximus and the other darkriders got in their drop pods and they began launching about 20 minutes later*

*On the way down*

Maximus: Darkriders! Remember our motto! In the Darkness!

Other Darkriders: WHERE YOU LEAST EXPECT IT

All: WE WILL STRIKE!!!

Maximus: FUR DEN AUFTRAG!

Other Darkriders: FUR DEN AUFTRAG!!

*The pods continued to race down, as they were falling the invasion fleet sent began deploying its planetary air support (falcons, pelicans, Archangel fighter-bombers, etc) to the surface to provide air support for the Darkriders. The rest of the invasion force would start deploying when the staging area was set*

-------------------------------------------

Roe: Well sir. Almost every university campus on New Prussia will have access to the entire database of every university and research facility on New Prussia. All you would have to do is use that pass you got to access the computer that would give you the information. We fill all your requests on one go by giving you the tour of the planet's surface and stopping at the university to get your requested information. As for accommodations, your diplomatic status gives you full access to the embassy hotel on the planet's surface. If you wish, I can call ahead to inform them that you are staying there. As it stands I have a shuttle ready to take you to the surface if you wish to depart now?

((Winter Break and Finals got in the way, leaving me time only to post in Scions of the Core. However, I am back! ))

All eight Gol'Azkhorzin lifting bodies tried to break formation, though not before laser fire exploded two Gol'Azkhorzin fighters into a shower of gore which splattered the fissured road. Three other pod fighters received puncturing burns along their fore ends, causing one of them to veer left towards the west while the other one glided and bounced across its own trail of exotic, poisonous blood.

"Get inside! Get inside!"[/i]

The Tantalan fighters wasted no time. The explosive mini trailer was abandoned at a second's notice as Sergeant Kodz shoved two dazed soldiers onto their feet. "Keep it moving! We're being bombed-"

Hiss!

Dark, veinous bomblets joined the fight as their toxic contrails stretched across the sky. Released from the surviving pod fighters, these n'prors crashed into the road, killing two more frantic soldiers.

"Damn, damn, damn- Get moving!"

A few soldiers near the ends streamed into abandoned stores, but Sergeant Kodz and Major Poula-Benz stayed together: They both ducked into a shady corridor whose entrance doors were blown off and waited a second before eight more troops managed to push through the entrance.

"They are releasing gas-"

"Our suits should filter out the toxins," Major Poula-Benz shook her head, still pressed against the narrow corridor's margins as she glanced out of the entrance. "I recognize these halls, if only because we fought in this monster several years ago. We didn't fight the Aurelians, however, when we were here."

The Major followed her Tantalan personnel down a wide flight of crumbling stairs when they reached an ash-encrusted arch at the bottom. One of Sergeant Kodz's soldiers ran her gloved fingers across the collapsing arch's surface. "It's recent… You can feel too much heat for comfort." She let her gloved appendage drop from the frame as an anti-materiel pistol found its owner's hands.

"Someone shut the entrance before any fumes reach my respirator."

"Yes, ma'am," said one of Poula-Benz's lackeys moments before the Tantalan soldiers became cloaked in absolute darkness. Tactical laser pointers appeared a second later as the corridor's occupants covered every square cubit of the cracking walls.

---

"Perhaps we should descend to the surface sooner rather than later. We are curious to know the galactic situation, you see," Gieffrei said before his eyes glanced through a porthole and settled upon an Ordenreich frigate readied for takeoff. "We can take the shuttle, or perhaps we might stow away on the frigate? It is your call, but we're ready."

And so both Tantalan men would follow Roe to whichever vessel would take them to the surface.

((I'll pass on the Tantalan orbital situation this post. Feel free to blast some more Aurelians out of the stars. ))

*In Space over Tantalus*

*The Ordenreich fighters moved in to engage the Aurelian "bugs" that were released upon the Ordenreich's initial attack. Because the fighters were all remote control drones they were able to perform maneuvers that would kill normal organics. The space around the Aurelian fleet quickly began to look like an enraged hornet's nest. Meanwhile, the Dreadnoughts continued hammering the fleet from long distance with the destroyers and frigates sitting quietly next to the Dreadnoughts waiting for their number to be called to begin engaging the enemy fleet at close range*

*On Ground*

*The Darkriders drop pods began hitting the surface. From the ground it looked like a meteor shower. At predesignated drop zones the Darkriders formed a perimeter with the main invasion force landing close behind them. Very quickly the drop zones were filled with Falcon assault choppers, Legionnaire Medium Tanks, Imperator Main Battle Tanks, Mako assault transports, every manner of infantry from Paladins to Black Hole Legionnaires, and even a full platoon of Kaiser Ultra Tanks (single turreted Mammoth tanks from Command and Conquer, fires Cain nuke rounds from Mass Effect), This huge force began pushing out from the landing zone with the purpose of steamrolling every Aurelian Force on the planet's surface. Further out from this zone Helljumpers were scattered throughout the landscape, each pod carried enough ammo and explosives to make every single Helljumper a pain in the ass for the enemy. One particular pod carried an Order Lieutenant who happened to be nearby the group that Command wanted him to make contact with. Upon landing he exited the pod taking everything he could before the pod's timed explosive destroyed the pod. He quickly covered the 100 or so yards it took for him to reach the walls of what was once a market or something. Upon reaching the walls he noticed one of the Aurelians taking cover behind the wall he wanted to take cover behind. The Aurelian didn't notice him as he ran towards the creature cranking his arm back as it began to glow orange. The Aurelian heard the distinct power up sequence of the devastator gauntlet and it turned around only for the fist to connect with its face immediately smashing its face in and sending its body through the ancient, battle worn wall of the market. The Darkrider took cover and began looking for more targets of opportunity to support the group he was assigned to make contact with.*

----------------------

Roe: Here, we will take a Kodiak shuttle. These things used to be military transports but they were replaced recently with the new Pelican dropships. Luckily these things have been refitted for civilian use and have windows so you will have a nice few coming down

*Chief Roe and the visiting Tantalans entered the Kodiak and descended to the surface. After about 7 minutes the Kodiak was now 10000 feet above the surface. From this point one could see the blue sky and rolling green meadows that made New Prussia a picturesque colony. The sun was shining brightly and one could see a forest off in the distance and some patchwork farming settlements scattered across the surface. Finally in the dead center of the view was a small colonial settlement. It was big enough to serve as the capital of the colony and its main spaceport but it lacked the large skyscrapers and large bustle of sky cars that dominated cities in the Ordenreich's core, the Kodiak started banking towards the colony after a few seconds*

(OOC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPsd86Y8et0, the punch attack is what the devastator guantlet does)

Covering the Tantalans as they retreated into the corridor, the Flagellants were able to not only hit but take down numerous pod fighters. Nevertheless, it was clear to them that the fire was overwhelming and they joined the Tantalans into their retreat into the corridor. Although they seemed safe from the attack for now, it was clear to Colonel Vinci that this area appeared to hold other threats. Major Poula-Benz's mention of previous experience in the structure caught her attention, and Colonel Vinci asked, "Who did you fight here before, if it wasn't the Aurelians?"

*Michael watched the display as his ships continued to pick off the remnants of the Aurelian fleet. He then decided to go for the killing blow.*

Michael: Lets show them our new teeth. All frigates and destroyers, micro jump into the Aurelian fleet formation and engage at knife fight range. Cease all long range fire, we can't risk hitting our ships.

*Upon receiving his orders hundreds of frigates and destroyers of the Ordenreich fleet entered slipspace, seemingly abandoning the battle. Five seconds later slipspace ruptures appeared inside the enemy fleet formation and the destroyers and frigates began unloading into the Aurelian fleet at pointblank range destroying many Aurelian ships before they could respond*

---------------------------------------------------------------

*On the Ground*

*The Order Lieutenant used his jump jets to get onto the roof of the building he was behind and took cover behind a chest high wall that surrounded the roof. From there he began laying fire down on the Aurelians that were still engaging the group he was trying to make contact with. He killed four Aurelians when many more of them started popping up and unloading every manner of weapons onto his position keeping him suppressed*

Order Lieutenant James: This is Order Lieutenant James, 203rd Heaven's Darkriders, to any artillery teams in my sector. Do we have any arty support? I could use some!

Artillery Team: This is Order Sergeant Bannon of the 506th Trebuchet Artillery call sign Thunder 4-8, we are set up and can provide assistance, name a target.

James: Thunder 4-8, I got lots of hostile infantry in my sector, highly concentrated and out in the open. Putting some heavy fire on me. Bring the liquid hell and fire for effect! Target will be marked with laser!

Bannon: Roger standing by for your marker.

*the Order Lieutenant switched the laser on, on his assault rifle and peaked over his cover. He had to remain down to avoid getting hit but he was able to position his gun's laser right in the center of the concentration of Aurelian forces*

James: Target marked Thunder 4-8! Bring the rain!

Bannon: Coordinates accepted! Greek fire inbound!

*Some rumbling of the artillery could be heard following the ominous wooshing sound of it incoming. A few seconds later a shell came down right over the Aurelian position. About 70 feet above the enemy the shell exploded unleashing an umbrella of liquid fire over a 150 feet diameter from its detonation. The screams of enemy soldiers could be heard as the liquid fire settled on the ground and extreme heat could be felt. When James was satisfied that no one was firing he peaked his head over the observe the damage and saw that the Greek fire worked to perfection.

James: Artillery barrage hit to full effect. Good job Thunder 4-8.

Bannon: Glad to be of service, Thunder 4-8 out.

*James waited for about a minute to ensure no Aurelian survived then switched his radio to open channel*

James: This is Order Lieutenant James of the 203rd Heaven's Darkriders, Tantalus Liberation Task Force, Hierarchy of the Ordenreich, broadcasting on open channel to non-Ordenreich extraterrestrials working alongside the Tantalan resistance. I have you on my optics. Switch to radio channel 17.02 and respond.

*James switched to the channel and waited*

Major Poula-Benz remained put, watching her troops crouch and enter the dank atrium before she continued alongside Colonel Vinci. "We are not the only ones opposed to the Red Devils. A group identified as the DRRT claims to lead a 'democratic' struggle against the Aurelians; truth be told, their leadership descended from our imprisoned ex-King's court. Faroek Lawrence Emomalii- yes, I have the audacity to use his full name, but for good reason- led our planet for eleven years until the Aurelians besieged our world sixty-five years ago." The Major continued speaking as the column of guerrillas trickled into an expansive, abandoned hallway which sank into the earth. Hedges of rubble between crumbling nanocrete pillars signified former entrances that probably fed into ballroom-like venues- rooms which collapsed long ago from impact.

"Emomalii was not a terribly great pretender, what with resource mismanagement, but we understood that. God judge the man, however, who surrenders the entire Tantalan military and abandons his people to live in solitude on Aurelia proper. To our knowledge, he is doing fine inside an oxygenated environment, living off of Aurelian luxury. Elderly, but fine. As for the 'Democratic-Republican Revolutionaries of Tantalus,' their leaders claim themselves as our government-in-exile, though we outmatch them in every aspect save for their connived legitimacy."

Sergeant Kodz crept behind the final guerrilla until his ears perked at Major Poula-Benz's voice; the man muffled his own footsteps just as he gestured to several soldiers. "Take the lead until the buttresses pass overhead. We know an alternate route."

"One moment..."

The Major felt two soldiers brush past her suit as she turned around, seeing Sergeant Kodz's soldiers scramble ahead with their rifles. She shook her head.

"What do we accuse the DRRT of? Treason, simple as that. Their ancestors chose not to institute a vote of no confidence against our ex-monarch, but instead 'negotiate' with what would later slaughter tens of millions of our own while imprisoning and enslaving many survivors. When it comes to the Devils, however, there is no dialectic with their gatekeeper or lord; only silence."

---

The remaining Gol'Azkorzin lifting bodies continued their strafing run, but at least the alleyway was clear save for ten ruptured Gol'Azkorzin fighters and a few Tantalan corpses. Many kilometers above, the pod fighters' motherships fared somewhat poorly in their confined arrangement. Shards of calcified flesh spalled into space when an Ordenreich fighter's munitions blew apart one Gol'Azkorzin fighter, sending the largest wreckage down to the planetary surface while leaving the gulf saturated with endotoxins.

Though the Gol'Azkhorzin recovered their initiative, the Aurelians were deep in defeat, however; some three thousand Gol'Azkorzin fighters clustered around Vh'riixen's flagship and two others that survived the Ordenreich bombardment. Halfway around the planet, closer to the star the T'iantaloum Warp Ring's power supply was cut, resulting in the wormhole's collapse long ago when stray radiation from the Ordenreich nukes overwhelmed the photosynthetic cells with corresponding frequencies of electromagnetism.

"There are too many of them!"

"Don't you think I already know that?! Order the fighters to-"

The next moment, Vh'riixen seized up under the influence of stress pheromones thrown off by the vessel's cavities: One or more compartments were breached and undergoing decompression.

"I… Send the Gol'Azkhorzin to the surface! These hostiles' weapons dare not scratch the surface!"

---

In the Ordenreich-controlled marketplace, vaporized cyanides leaked from Aurelian corpses as Greek fire and other incendiary devices reduced the enemy to crisps, causing a potential biohazard to unprotected Ordenreich soldiers closing in on the opposite Aurelian flank. Otherwise, the Ordenreich shock troops would continue facing little resistance until if they pressed into the sectors surrounding Konstantinople- the former Tantalan capital now fortified by quagmired reserves of Aurelian Tihn'tharin taking shelter in the complex ruins. Sections of unpowered tram rails would signify this city's importance as a possible trade center, if not the planet's most important city. Naphtha cradled in Aurelian chandeliers flickered dimly under the stresses of an Everest-esq environment. The beams of light which managed to pierce the dismal atmosphere lit up specimens of invasive Aurelian mosses eating away at the duracrete structures, attempting to transform Konstantinople into a conglomerate of Aurelian hospitality.

---

"I mean not to cause offense, but could we move to an interior section? The flora here reminds me of our adversary's home world."

"I agree with Samsir," Gieffrei spoke softly as he turned away from the window. "It brings us bad memories when we recall our saboteurs failing to disrupt the Aurelian economy. Only when their toxic world is reduced to God's elementary particles may we even learn to appreciate any undeveloped land- yet our former urbanized planet remains in the clutches of the spiritless fools."

"I see," Colonel Vinci mused. Continuing, she said, "Too often, so called 'democratic' polities become victims of their own policies, trying to appease a group fundamentally alien to them. It is for this reason that we Believers put little stock in xenosophonts, though it is more than clear that some of them have fundamentally similar memeplexes and are little different. I promise that we shall show no mercy to this DRRT, if they attempt to pose a challenge to our force here. Still, I cannot imagine that they are entirely dissimilar in outlook? As the adage goes, the enemy of one's enemy is a friend, after all. Silence on their crimes can always be retracted after victory, can it not?"

*James noted the lack of contact with the natives and decided to move on reporting on the Greek fire as he went*

James: Order Lieutenant James to Ground Command. Advise caution on use of Greek Fire on foot mobiles. Foot Mobiles expel toxic fumes upon being burned. Recommend our infantry keep helmets on at all times while Greek Fire and other incendiaries are in use

Ground Command: Roger Order Lieutenant. Status on contact with natives and unknown extraterrestrial escort?

James: Still no contact. Attempting to move to physical contact.

Ground Command: Understood. Ground Command out.

-----------------------------

*In Space*

Tac Officer: Sir, our close combat did the trick. Aurelians are folding. Remaining Aurelian ships are placing themselves between us and Tantalus.

Michael: Very well. Order all ships to cease fire. We cannot risk accidental orbital bombardment. Order our frigates and fighters to pursue the Aurelian ships using the planet for cover. Status of the ground assault?

Tac Officer: Ground Command reports that Ordenreich forces are facing minimal resistance on the ground. We have crushed Aurelian strongpoints wherever we found them. Ground Command does report, however, that the Aurelians are concentrating defenses around a defunct Danzig-class city. Resistence is proving much heavier there.

Michael: Good, order Ground Command to concentrate forces on that city. If the Aurelians are defending it more strongly than other cities than its probably a base of operations. Have Ground Command gather forces around the city in preparation for an assault. We will attack the city once we have cleared the sky of any remaining Aurelian battleships and fighters and have our ground support destroyers and Archangel Fighter-Bombers in position.

Tac Officer: Roger sir, relaying orders now.

------------------------

Roe: Very well, we will be inside shortly anyway.

*The Kodiak arrived at the civilian hanger for the spaceport and a vehicle was waiting for them upon landing. The group of Tantalans and Chief Roe entered the vehicle and headed for the local colonial university and research center. Upon arriving, the group got out of their vehicles and were quickly checked through security. The Tantalans were given odd looks by students and researchers alike but left alone for the most part. They left the security room for the grand hall. The Grand hall looked a lot like a gothic cathedral in terms of design but stainless steel was used in its construction instead of wood. The stain glass windows used in cathedrals was replaced with normal windows and a large fancy staircase replaced the location of the altar. Above the staircase was the flag of the Ordenreich.*

Roe: Welcome to Thorn University and Research Center. The University here specializes on agricultural technologies and nuclear radiation clean up. I will call up the Head Scribe in charge and he can direct you where you want to go and answer your questions.

"Neither one of us will concede to each other's demands, let alone sign a truce. The DRRT refuses to work with us until Emomalii's sovereignty is secured. Not that it will happen, obviously."

The Tantalan contingent swerved right as they streamed into a narrow corridor perpendicular to the grandiose thoroughfare. Sergeant Kodz crouched over the ground to the guerrillas' left flank, whispering something in nearly everyone's ear until Poula-Benz heard the man's voice: "Weapons up! We're passing into an underground warehouse-"

"Open fire!"

Soldiers near the front row flinched, but it was too late. Several dozen shots fired into the corridor, wounding two soldiers almost instantly before Sergeant Kodz's men managed to return fire.

Rat-atatatatat!

"Stay down! Now!"

Too late once more. Another soldier fell an instant before Tantalan laser fire met the perpetrators near the eaves of a suspended catwalk. Sparks and flames erupted from a blown conduit, exposing outlines of two humanoid silhouettes as they plummeted to their deaths fifteen meters below.

"Keep still, keep still!" Sergeant Kodz hushed, but those words were in vain. Major Poula-Benz ducked into a duracrete cavity as did six other troops, while the Sergeant and his men stayed put for another burst of fire.

---

Barricades composed of intercrossed pikes, mounted crossbows, and acid-spitting artillery severed every major avenue leading from Konstantinople Plaza into her neighboring districts. Vh'riixen's Gol'Azkorzin fighters glided along the upper troposphere, yet the incoming wave of Ordenreich fighters foreboded poorly for the insectoid occupants within. Vh'riixen's flagship and its escorts were probably the last reliable means of protection for H'rikin's patrol, who now numbered no more than fourteen personnel upon their retreat to Konstantinople's gates.

"Let us through, fools! We're being bombarded!"

"Yes, my lady!"

One member of the eastern phalanx stepped aside to allow the fourteen aliens passage into the fortified stronghold. O'iquil and his bow were readied to engage targets to his hunt's rear, but it seemed the Ordenreich contingency was still closing in on the ruined sector. "We're done for!"

"Not in the name of our deity! We'll poison this world with every drop of blood until even the heavens revolt in disgust!"

H'rikin said this, but knew too well the inevitable; in an hour, everyone would be dead- slaughtered at the hands of the Tantalans' allies. Through ground observation, she knew the warp ring had lost contact with the wormhole network... At any rate, it might as well be fodder for the Ordenreich fleet even if the Gol'Azkorzin survivors managed to fight through the controls and restored energy to the device.

---

Gieffrei blinked at several passersby with equivalent disdain as Samsir and himself followed Roe from the craft into the cathedral-esq corridor. "Meeting with the Head Scribe would be in our interests, although it would suit us if we could wash our faces first? We are not necessarily groomed for this occasion..." Gieffrei breathed when he saw the Ordenreich flag in its supremacy. His eyes watched for passing instructors and their pupils as they went about their daily business.

"We mean not to be rude, but I felt unwelcome by those strangers' gazes."

*Chief Roe gave a cold stare to the students driving them off.*

Roe: Don't worry about the students. The intellectual elite always tend to be on the snobby side. Also don't worry about the Head Scribe and appearances. He tends to be a bit... unusual. Ah here he comes now

*Head Scribe Monroe walked into the main hallway after being summoned ahead of time. He wore the typical robes of a Scribe but they were wrinkled, cut, and otherwise seen better days. Another notable feature was the fact his robes were dyed pink and there seemed to be what looked like flecks of blood on his face*

Roe: Head Scribe! What the heck happened?! Why are your robes pink

Monroe: Hmm? What? Oh, yah! I am looking into the legend of the Pink Avenger. I thought if I did the ritual in the books I could summon him!

Roe: So you dyed your robes pink...? You do realize the Pink Avenger is a comic book character?

Monroe: You say that now but you will see Chief!

Roe: Right... and the blood?

Monroe: I was testing the effects of microwaves on a chicken!

Roe: So you stuck a dead chicken in a microwave and it blew up?!

Monroe: Who said it was dead?

Roe: Right... very creepy. Forget I asked...

*Chief Roe then turned to the Tantalans*

Roe: Sirs, this is Head Scribe Monroe, Head Scribe of the University and Research Center. He may be a little touched in the head but he is friendly enough and one of the most brilliant minds in the Ordenreich. Unfortunately, insanity and brilliance tend to run side by side.

Monroe: I'm not insane Chief! In fact, you are merely the figment of someones imagination. The product of a text based game between people who never met in real life!

Roe: Yeah ok Monroe...

-------------------------------------

*Space around Tantalus*

Michael: Status of our assault on the enemy base of operations

Tac Officer: Almost all units are in position to begin the advance. Artillery are standing by for coordinates and our fighters and destroyers are beginning to move in position.

Michael: Order the artillery to start engaging hostile fortified positions. Have all fighters move in to clear our the enemy fighters. As soon as our destroyers are in position have them begin the bombardment.

Tac Officer: Sir!

*Around Konstantinople Ordenreich ground forces begin organizing for the advance. Super heavy Kaiser Tanks and Imperator Heavy tanks made a mobile wall with lighter vehicles and infantry behind them. Falcons attack choppers and Pelican dropships were on the ground and prepared to be called upon at a moments notice. All artillery around the city began firing on any Aurelian positions that could be seen from the ground or stealth frigates in space orbiting the planet. Hundreds of Archangel fighter-bombers beelined for the city preparing to engage the Aurelian fighters and clear them from the sky. Finally, the Ordenreich destroyers ominously formed a tight ring around the city preparing to flatten any resistance the city might offer*

"That idea was made clear enough," thought Colonel Vinci as she observed the crossfire and ducked into the cavity along with her troops. One had taken a grazing hit, although his neutronium armor was sufficient enough protection to deflect the blast. Then, turning towards Major Poula-Benz, she asked, "What's our plan here? Hole out, and...? We can use some of our explosives here, which might be a prudent action."

"Someone get a visual!"

"We've got two fallen hostiles... And Xeremiah-James is dead."

"Well, damn!" The Major rubbed away an emerging tear as she peered over the half-wall: Two human bodies laid dead at the collision site. Behind her, two Tantalan troops were already dragging their own fallen comrade up against the opposite wall as they let Xeremiah-James's body lay under the dark expansive ceiling.

"We're trapped, it seems, between these fools and the cursed Buggers. Explosives just won't do if it means more collateral damage we need to repair later," Major Poula-Benz sighed as she climbed over the  crumbling barrier with six Tantalan soldiers forming a row as they joined the Major. She parroted her ears in a wide radius, scanning to hear whether more footsteps awaited the Tantalan dispatchment.

Nothing. Nothing except the sounds of shifting clothing as two soldiers scoured each fallen body for signs of DRRT affiliation.

"Looks like DRRT," one female voice came from above the two bodies as her booted foot kicked a scarlet ribbon off from the guerilla's left arm. "Just why are they down here?"

"Search the overcoat," Major Poula-Benz barked. "The DRRT knows nothing about confidentiality-"

"Already did," the younger woman shook her head and let the pseudo-nylon flap drop. "I see not one potential briefing inside the overcoat."

"Same here. I've found n- Hm?"

Another soldier twisted the right sleeve of the other DRRT guerrilla and felt something move beneath the fabric. His eyes focused until they made out the profile of a rectangular form protruding from the underarm. "Knife, anyone?"

"Use this, but give it back," Sergeant Kodz warned before he tossed a folded utility knife to his subordinate. The suited male raised his arm, catching the descending tool as it fell, and promptly flicked the blade into the fabric surrounding the shoulder blade. "Thanks," came the soldier's voice, yet his eyes focused on the insulation surrounding the mysterious object while he made his second incision near the opposite nylon segment. "Hm...."

"On second thought, Colonel, perhaps we should collapse the corridor yonder." Major Poula-Benz pointed to a dank exit which fed from the catwalk into another area. "They must have camped out in there, I presume. If there are any items of interest in there, we'll haul them out for investigation. Afterwards, we may detonate a charge near the jam."

---

"We're being bombarded! I repeat, we're being bombarded-"

O'iquil watched in horror when an Ordenreich artillery shell punctured the walls of a fallen skyscraper, detonating almost instantly and blasting out severed Aurelian limbs which rained upon the blood-soaked streets.

"Hide, Oiquil!"

Right...

Taking his bow in one hand and a quiver of bolts in another, O'iquil ascended an adjacent stairway which crept along the walls of a partially-ruined skyscraper with six other Aurelian archers and two spitters trailing behind. Positioning themselves behind weathered duracrete blocks, O'iquil watched Hr'ikin establish herself between two spitters moments before they regurgitated gelatinous, toxic blobs towards an Ordenreich ensemble of armor.

"Death to the spawn!"

A chorale of hissing could be heard from afar as the first major counterattack emerged: Dozens of spitter formations along the west side took advantage of their concealed positions by firing into the western Ordenreich detachments while partially shielded by corroded skyscraper spars on the lower floors. And the Gol'Azkorzin? Not so fortunate, actually, as only two dozen could descend at a time to engage the Ordenreich vessels while their escorts remained in the Ordenreich navy's grasp. One Gol'Azkorzin lifting body squad positioned itself above the southwestern Ordenreich lines and began to dump toxin-laden bomb lets of carbon-fiber constitution towards the besiegers below.

---

Gieffrei nodded slowly as he extended a hand with equal caution. "It is an honor to meet you, Doctor Monroe. My partner and I stumbled on the right place, actually, though we could use some help concerning hydroponics and environmental cleanup. Our home planet, you see, is not necessarily as picturesque as this world, and a lack of open space means we are stuck growing algae inside hydration vats. For once, we would be interested to know of the galaxy's latest improvements in urban agriculture and related subfields you might suggest."

Nodding, Colonel Vinci replied, "Of course. I'll get our explosives specialist to set up charges near that entrance immediately, and we will ready it for ignition on your request. In any case, if I may ask, why did you find exactly on that dead man? If it is something relevant to our current situation, I would prefer to know about it."

Ordenreich Soldier: What the hell is that acid?!

Soldier #2: AHHH! IT BURNS!!

Soldier #3: Command! Need orders! We got enemy artillery firing acid on our lines!

*Paladin Komtur Michael listened to the various reports coming in. Other than a few hiccups involving some ambushes the invasion was going well. He then gave his orders*

Michael: Retask some of our fighters to clear the skies above our lines. I don't want those bombers dumping acid on my men. Status of our destroyers?

Tac Officer: In position sir.

Michael: Order them to fire at the buildings those acid attacks are coming from. I want precision strikes only. I want this city relatively intact. However, I want the destroyers to flatten the city blocks those attacks are coming from. Make a statement.

Tac Officer: Yes Sir. Sir, transmission from our armored battalions.

Tank Commander: Paladin Komtur sir! Those acid attacks are becoming a problem!

Michael: I'm aware of the situation. Our close orbit destroyers are taking care of the problem. Whats the status of the column.

Tank Commander: Nominal sir. The acid isn't strong enough to eat away the eezo-infused titanium of our Kaiser super heavies but we lost some Imperator heavies and Auxilia light tanks.

Michael: Roger. Order the tank column forward. Kaisers are to form a wall and screen the lighter tanks and infantry as they push into the city.

Tank Commander: Yes sir! Fur Den Auftrag.

-----------------------------------------

Monroe: Oh? Perhaps you should have thought of this before destroying your planet, yes?

Roe: Monroe, manners.

Monroe: Yes, yes, yes. Just a second mom.

*Monroe tapped away at a datapad he had stored in his pocket then handed it to the Tantalans*

Monroe: Radiation clean up and planet restoration technologies. How to build and how to deploy. This is what you came for yes? I once had a charming man…

Roe: They didn't come to hear your stories Monroe…

Monroe: Oh? Oh yes. Don't mind me… hehehe… you have what you came for. Now shoo! I need to find my clean pair of pants. Bloody dog stole them…

*Monroe leaves as quickly as he came*

Roe: Monroe! Damnit… Sorry with genius comes a little instability. Is that what you needed?

"Looks like we found their standing orders," Sergeant Kodz said as he interrupted Major Poula-Benz's focus. "My group found a diskette. Poor fool probably forgot to leave it with his boss."

Seregant Kodz held out a thin, square plastic case which found its way into Poula-Benz's shoulder pocket.

"Well, let's get out of here. There ought to be a stairwell leading to the surface. Once your team demolishes the exit, we're out of here."

As she spoke, Sergeant Kodz crept up beneath the remaining remnant of a catwalk. He raised an index finger for a second before he curled it down: All clear in the local language.  At the catwalk ladder's opening, shredded cartons littered the sides, and two threadbare cots were pressed against a portal's edge.

"We won't know exactly what orders they carried until our machines back home can decrypt them. Odd enough that there were only three of them though; why is the DRRT so damned interested in this building, I do not know," Major Poula-Benz whistled, haplessly kicking aside another segment of crumbled rubble. "We suspect there's some sort of den nearby, but the Aurelians managed to push us back north every time a patrol effort caught wind of our feuds."

The first several soldiers met the stairwell as did the two soldiers responsible for scavenging the DRRT chaps' clothes, ammunition, and nutrient packs. Major Poula-Benz braced herself for a flash of  starlight as the utmost soldier pushed aside a manhole cover leading into a leveled marketplace.

"Let's go."

---

The animalistic devices continued to pump their secretions into the field, albeit at a rate which found the Aurelians struggling to keep up with the depleting stores of the stuff.

"We're running out of s'lued!"

I can tell, thought O'iquil as he lowered his bow against a duracrete pillar to readjust his organic respirator. Just when an Ordenreich destroyer looming overhead released something into a nearby bell tower, blasting forth metallic wreckage infused with burning alien flesh. "Pull out! We shall burrow into the capillaries of this wasteland and kill those who pa-

---

"Thank you... ?" Gieffrei muttered with every attempt to conceal his frustration: He raised his shoulders anxiously when he felt Samsir's grasp clamp down.

"We've got what we needed, although it would be appreciated if we could retrieve multiple copies of these documents in... Whatever storage medium your people use as well as several compatible readers," Samsir finished while Gieffrei shook his head.

"Roe, sir, could we return to our ships afterwards to obtain our food before we visit our berths? Samsir is correct, however: Offer us a cost in exchange for a dozen or so of these tablets, and we would gladly accept reasonable offers. It will take weeks- possibly months- for our boys and girls back home to decipher Monroe's gift."

With a nod towards the explosives specialist standing by, Colonel Vinci followed up after Major Poula-Benz. Almost immediately the explosives detonated in a brilliant flash of green plasma, with no subtle amount of force behind the blast. Near the exit, the walls shook furiously and then crumbled, leaving nothing but a massive pile of rubble. Turning back towards Major Poula-Benz, Colonel Vinci remarked, "I suppose that explosion should more than do it. In any case, we might be able to examine your diskettes, if it proves necessary, but our own information architectures will be without doubt completely alien to yours. Nevertheless, we would like access to the information, when the time comes."

*City of Konstantinople*

*Ordernreich Knights, Paladins, and their various assets pressed hard into the city. Once the Kaiser Heavy Tank line reached the edge of the city. The offensive broke off into smaller groups methodically clearing grid after grid of the enemy. It was clear that the shock and awe tactics of the destroyers and artillery did their job as resistance was sporadic at best. It wasn't long before the Ordenreich forces secured the city center. Though there might still be resistance in the city, the city had been captured by the Ordenreich.*

Knight Commander Moresby: This is Knight Commander Moresby, city center secured. Switching the consolidation operations.

Order Captain Michael: Roger that. We still have a planet to secure so set up a F.O.B. in the city center and await further orders. We also have some good news up here. Our Q.E.Cs have finally managed to punch through the interference caused by our proximity to the galactic core and we have linked back up with Livenstein O.S.S.C. That means 34.67 is back online.

Knight Commander Moresby: Roger that sir. We'll bring it online. Get some morale back into our boys on the ground. Moresby out.

O.E.C. 34.67 songs played for Ordenreich troops on Tantalus:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JnxmI1ojYc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SihoKQ-uLqE

------------------------------------------------

Roe: Yeah I think we have some physical paper copies around here somewhere…

*Roe then checked his radio after receiving a transmission from his command*

Roe: Well you may not need to decipher it at all. I just got off the horn with my command. Our high command has reestablished contact with one our battle fleets. Then have successfully invaded Tantalus and have driven the Aurelians into hiding. The Aurelian fleet over the planet has been obliterated and Ordenreich troops have captured the city of Konstantinople. My command has informed me to tell you that the Ordenreich is fully prepared to aid your people as you utilize our technologies and knowledge to revitalize your home world and bring your tech level up to our level. Command also wants no payment for this service.

"It will likely take a while for our surviving mainframe to decrypt any worthwhile data, if any. We err on the side of caution and assume that our foes used time stamp-based encryption, but just why we found this in the first place irks me."

Major Poula-Benz slung her rifle to its bandolier before she took hold of a rusty rebar segment and followed Sergeant Kodz's last soldier into the nighttime milieu. What had been a comfortable (By Tantalan standards) 15 degrees Celsius hours ago cooled to a disheartening temperature of 5.1 degrees C, and it didn't help matters either when one of the soldiers shouted below.

"We're one tarp short! I'm afraid we will have to bury our fallen martyr around here. Unless if you are content with crowding together inside one shelter which I doubt-"

Cue the desiccated Aurelian corpse which laid on the shard-encrusted earth. Sergeant Kodz watched as one soldier nervously held her breath and tapped the deceased's wrist.

"It died recently. I smell nothing , however."

Ah, the rich almond smell of cyanide was absent. Sergeant Kodz raised his rifle towards an empty doorway as did Major Poula-Benz and half the Tantalan contingent.

"Last words for Xeremiah-James?"

"We prayed together- fearing for our lives during the Dyson Massacre." Someone's tears seemed to entice other Tantalan soldiers into mourning the latest death, and even Major Poula-Benz found herself shedding a droplet. "God heard our prayers for salvation, and pointed us to liberation. A curse it is, however, when evil masquerading as assistance steals from us one of our own. Fratricide, genocide, and everything betwixt is a fatal sin."

Ash flakes swirled in wispy paths as they descended upon the unsuspecting soldiers below, followed by a gust which disturbed the silent formation.

"And let us not forget those whose names elude us, Your Regency, for ignorance means disregard for our existence. Amen."

---

What... Damn...

O'iquil's gangrenous arm burned with his fading passion, making him become aware of what had happened. Blood- some of which included his own- stained the ground in an assortment of hues which reminisced for earlier historical festivities. An entire palette of red, orange, brown, and green smeared across O'iquil's chest alerted him to the roasting Aurelian bodies which were once his closest peers. Among them were none of O'iquil's friends' faces- not even the primitive weapon which struggled to reinforce O'iquil's position and now burned some fifteen meters away in a toxic heap.

He wiggled his feet- in response, instant pain sliced through his posterior side and up his spine.

"Ack!"

O'iquil held steady, staring up at the sky in search for any signs of Aurelian assistance. None, nada, nyet.

---

"Samsir, someone get me some water. I want to speak with my commander myself!"

"But-"

"Roe, you wouldn't happen to know of a bunkhouse we could crash at? Samsir and I need to converse in private."

There is no way... Samsir, are we being deceived?

"Nevertheless, we cannot explain just how grateful we are for your peers' assistance."

((I need to head on to bed. D: I'm getting sleepy, since it turned out we've had an extended CHEM lab /AND/ a dormitory fire drill which has consumed the greater part of my motivation. D:))