Once Upon The Stars (Updated 08-22-04)

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment A

�The Death toll for the Alorian Homeworld is in the billions!� The headline was morbid. 'How ironic,' thought Tam Christopher as he stood there watching the vid, that he should think this morbid after what they had done? Billions of lives lost, an entire world obliterated, and a race on the verge of extinction. Yes it was morbid, but he does not feel pain for them. Why should he, after all, they killed his wife and daughter. Tam, not wanting to hear any more about the holocaust, switched of the vid and sat down in a chair next to the big window in his office. He swiveled the chair around and looked the window gazing in awe as he at the spectacular view that being one hundred and fifty-three floors up provided of the city that lay far below him.

Soon Earth would face a similar fait and would be reduced to nothing more than a lifeless rock in space thus giving way to the destruction of all of the wonders that make up this beautiful planet including his beloved home city of Seattle. Burned to cinder would be the combined accomplishments of mankind, all of the great achievements, works of art, and history that mankind has ever experienced or created. Nothing will be spared; all that will remain will be the burned and chard remnants of a once pristine green and blue planet. All evidence that a once proud race having called this planet home would be forever be obliterated from is surface. As Tam sat in his chair he began to think about the events of the past, about the Last time he had seen his beloved city in ruin.

Following the defeat of the Galvon, and their efforts to destroy the planets of the Earth Stellar Alliance, as many as a million war criminals were arrested and charge for their crimes and among them, the Leader of the Alorian Imperium.

The Alorians, once a colony world of Earth, had claimed independence some two hundred and twenty years ago and had successfully succeed from the Earth Stellar Alliance. The citizens of the planet Aloria formed the Alorian Imperium, and cut all diplomatic relations with the Alliance sighting fundamental differences in the philosophies of life. At that time the Alliance could careless about one rouge world, especially one that was so far removed from the center of the Alliance. �Let them go, let them fend for themselves,� was often the opinion that most citizens of the Alliance voiced. But secretly, deep down, it hurt them all to see a planet full of humans turn there back on the very people and planetary alliance for which they came. The resentment was out weighted by the presiding belief that one day the people of Aloria would come crawling back to the Alliance begging forgiveness and asking for re-admittance; but that day never came.

The Alorians, basking in the glory of their independence, began a systematic exploration and colonization program aimed at the many worlds along the rim of the galaxy. For well over two hundred and twenty years the Earth Stellar Alliance, an alliance made up of nearly sixty-four Earth colonized worlds, gave the Alorian Imperium absolute reign in the outer systems. Attempts at re-establishing diplomatic relations with the Alorians were met with failure and often more than not; the destruction of the currier ship that had been dispatched to relay the diplomatic peace Messages. Despite this open and often brutal response Earth Command refused to, or more appropriately, chose to ignore these overtures of war. �Let them take the risk of exploring the rim,� was often the comment Tam heard in the Council Chambers in the years prior to the war. �Let them bare the cost of exploration and colonization,� was the common attitude held by most on the Council members back then.

It was true; the Alorians posed no real military threat to the Alliance and therefore were viewed as nothing more than a despondent child, prone to fits of rage of course, off exploring the galaxy. This normally would not have posed a problem except for the fact that the Alorian Imperium had made first contact with an alien race known as the Galvon, a fact that escaped the Alliances intelligence community entirely, and together they were plotting the destruction of the Earth Stellar Alliance.

As he sat in his chair watching the sun go down over Pacific Ocean, Tam remembered the events of his past. Odd how something that had happened so many years ago would still be so vivid in his mind. Tam folded his arms behind his head and leaned back as far as his chair would allow him to go. He relaxed and cleared his mind and began to recall the past where he tried and convicted the monster that had taken his beloved family from him.

�For the record, the events you are about to witness are actual records from the Alorian Imperium Planetary Archives.� Tam Christopher was a tall slender man with jet-black hair, a fairly tan complexion and deep penetrating green eyes. He spoke with a gentle yet firm voice; his stride was sure and precise. He knew what it was he was doing, and it was his faith in justice that drove him with purpose and pride. Today was his day, for he was the Chief Prosecutor for the Alliance and he knew what had to be done. As he slowly stood and walked in a smooth effortless form from his table to the center of the court, making momentary eye contact with each of the six presiding Alliance Judges as they sat in a semi circle behind their bench, he continued speaking.

�You will witness the planing, the betrayal, and the attack, orchestrated by the Alorians against the people of the Earth Stellar Alliance. The very attack that left Earth Command in ruin and nearly hundred thousand people dead.� He paused for effect as he directed his gaze at the tall lightly complexioned Alorian male sitting at the defense table. �Damascus Gore is the mastermind behind the atrocities I am about described.� Now pointing directly at the Alorian, Tam continued his opening statement.

�The prosecution will show beyond a doubt that Damascus Gore, then the Subadar leader of the Alorian Imperium, with full knowledge of his actions and intentions, did enter into a dialect of peace with the Alliance with the sole intent of betraying our trust.� Tam paused for effect before continuing his opening statement. �By ordering an unprovoked and sneak attack upon the Planet Earth during a peace envoy which resulted in a horrific loss of life, Damascus Gore acted with criminal intent.� Tam looked back at the Judges before making his next statement. �When then Subadar Gore ordered the bombardment of the cities of San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland, the destruction of Earth Command in Denver, the obliteration of the Earth Orbital Spaceyard Facility, and the destruction of the Orbital Colony of New Prussia, he knew full well that he was violating the established convention of war. By targeting and destroying civilian population centers Subadar Gore committed an open and deliberate act of genocide.� Tam once again paused for effect as he took in the whole of the court. The chamber was full of people who all wore an expression of hatred upon their faces. �Under the code of war, acts of genocide are considered war crimes against humanity.�

No one spoke as Tam returned to his table and sat down. He touched a few controls and the room dimmed. In the center of the court a holographic representation of the Alorian Pro Counsel Chamber took form. Subadar Damascus Gore could be seen entering the room from a side door with two other Alorians followed him as he walked over to six other figures who were standing in the center of the room waiting. Four of them were Alorian security and the other two were obviously Galvon, one a male, the other a female.

Subadar Damascus Gore spoke as he entered the room. The Galvon language was exceptionally complicated and his voice came acrossed as a rash of mechanical scraping noises as the bio-translator converted his words into the Galvon language. A communications translator interpreted what was spoken for all to hear in the Justice Chambers. �Greeting Lord Vassuala. I trust your journey here was a pleasant one.� It was more of a statement than a question. The female Galvon looked at him as he approached and smiled opening.

�Oh it was an excellent trip my dear Subadar.� She said as she continued to smile. She looked over at her male companion and he spoke. He was less than hospitable, a Galvon male trait, and was more direct in his conversation.

�I trust that all was satisfactory?� He asked of Damascus.

The three Alorians had stopped within half a meter of the Female Galvon and her male companion. Again Damascus spoke and once again the communications translator interpreted the language. �It preformed as you had promised.�

The female Galvon put her hands together and spoke in a genuinely soft and comforting tone. �Then it is settled. Your people will do as we ask and join our holly crusade against the vile invaders you call the Alliance?�

Damascus spoke only one word. No translation was needed for what he had said, for everyone present knew the meaning of the word; �Yes.�

[ June 11, 2003, 12:36: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

I had to make some minor changes to the above installment. Sorry about he false post.

[ June 14, 2003, 18:26: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment B

The hologram faded from view as it was replaced with a new scene. Two men sat silently in a room, from the architecture it was clearly Alorian in design, as two Alorians, both fully costumed in their military uniforms, entered the room from the far side. One of them was carrying a package; the other extended his hand to one of the men who by now had stood. The Alorian offering his hand spoke first, �Greeting Ambassador Christopher, I am Subadar Damascus Gore of the Breen Imperium. I trust that you enjoyed your trip to our world?�

Tam Christopher, then an Earth Stellar Alliance Ambassador, could be seen smiling in the hologram, as he responded. �It was a fine trip Subadar Gore. Allow me to thank you on behalf of the Earth Stellar Alliance and the planet Earth for your hospitality and generosity.� Looking to the man standing next to him Tam continued speaking. �Allow me to introduce to you my aid, Mathew Bishop.�

The Subadar nodded slightly then reached back and took the package from his aid and offered it too Christopher. �This is a gift for your President. It is a shame that he could not have come for these negotiations.�

�If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.� Tam was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. �I will see that he gets this.�

�Yes, these times are most trying,� commented the Subadar politely, �especially now that we know that we are not alone in this universe.�

�Indeed Subadar,� replied Tam honestly. �It is a shame that we do not have more information about these aliens that have been attacking us.� Tam felt a burning sensation in his heart as he recalled the reports of whole colonies being bombarded out of existence. �The President and the members of the Alliance would appreciate any information you might have on these aliens.�

�We know only that they are a race of violent warriors who are driven by conquest.�
�Yes it would appear so.� Tam and the others all sat in what looked like very old and elegant wooden chairs that were arranged around a small round table while an attractive Alorian women brought and served them all something to drink.
�This is Bavaria, a wine from our southern Continent.� Commented the Subadar as he sipped from his glass. Tom swirled the crimson liquid around in his glass before sampling it. It had a pleasantly sweet robust taste.
�Most impressive Subadar.�
�I am glad you enjoy it. I will have a case of it place on you shuttle.�
�That is most kind of you Subadar,� replied Tam.
�It is a shame that our two societies have been unable before now to open a diplomatic dialog. A trade alliance would have been most beneficial to both of our peoples.�
�Of course.� Replied the Subadar rather cryptically.

�Do you realize that you are the first of your kind, from the Alliance that is, to visit Aloria since our independence?�

�From my understanding Subadar, we are the first delegation from Earth to visit Aloria in over two hundred and twenty years.� Tam answered as he took another sip from his glass. �I must say that your world is not what he have been lead to believe.�

�Ah you thought it to be a barren waste land did you not?� This was the first time the Subadar�s aid had spoken. Tam looked from the Subadar to his aid before responding.

�Yes, we were led to believe it to be just that, a desert world.� Tam instantly did not like this Alorian. Something about his mannerism alarmed him. What exactly it was, he could not articulate, but he knew that he did not like him.

�A misconception that we feel protects our privacy Ambassador.� Commented the Subadar politely. To Tam, the Subadar appeared to be exactly what he was, a practiced politician. Hard to believe, but even in distant parts of the galaxy, one politician can always recognize another. Changing the subject Tam brought up the reason for their visit.

�Subadar, it has been over two hundred years since our people have gone our separate ways, and it is the since hope of my government that the time has now come for our two societies to reconcile our differences and forge a bond of enduring friendship.� Said Tam as honestly as he could. Tam knew that his sole reasons for being here were one to gather information, if possible, on the alien attacks and two address the separate, but equally important issue of the growing border raids along the Alliance and Imperium boarders that have increased in recent months to epidemic proportions. Tam was to impress upon the Alorians that continued attacks would not be appreciated, and that by signing a peace treaty, war would be averted between the two. Earth Command believed the Alorians were responsible for the boarder raids and knew that a war was looming between the Alliance and the unknown alien race and did not want to have to fight Alorians and the aliens along two fronts. �As you may or may not be aware Subadar, Earth Command has had to enhance our presence in our boarding systems due to increased pirate raids and other unexplained attacks against Alliance shipping lanes and trade planets.�

�We are aware of this.� Again it was the Aid who spoke.

�Forgive me Ambassador, allow me to introduced Javin Vain, Supreme Military Commander of the Alorian Imperium.� This bothered Tam considerably, although he hid it well, it was still semi noticeable in his expression.

�I apologize, I had assumed he was your aid Subadar?� Tam felt ill, something was wrong here, what that was still remained to be seen? This Alorian was not an aid, but the second in command of the Alorian Imperium. �I had not realize that this man was your Pro Counsel Subadar,� commented Tam in a puzzled tone.

�For an off worlder you know our political system and titles well.� Observed the Subadar kindly. His comments only proved to raise the hairs on the back of Tams neck.

�We were well briefed upon our arrival.� Replied Tam sincerely. He did not want the Subadar to know that he was far more aware of Alorian society than he appeared to be, and graciously accepted their host�s offer at a simple education upon their arrival some two days earlier. Bringing the subject back onto topic Tam came to the point. �The Alliance wishes to avoid any possible military misunderstandings, therefore I have been tasked to inquire about asking for assistance from your government in stopping these raids.� Tam knew full well that the Alorians were behind many of the raids and it sickened him to have to play this game with the ruler of the Alorian people. What Tam really wanted to do was return home and strong arm the Counsel and the President into action first against the Alorians, then go after the alien threat. Tam was of the opinion that it would be better to nip this boarder issue in the butt now rather than allowing the Alorians to continue believing that the Alliance was weak and unwilling to challenge them. �Teach them a lesson that they won�t soon forget and they will think twice before ever sparing with the Alliance again,� was the argument he had made to the Counsel before being sent on this peace mission. Tam had his doubts that the Alorians would play ball, but the others were right, peace had to be given a chance. Tam just prayed that cost of the peace did not end up costing more than the Alliance was willing to pay.

�If we refuse to help the Alliance Ambassador, what then? Will your mighty star ships invade our space and attack our planets?� Vain asked hostilely.

�I do not understand what your are asking me Commander?� Replied Tam. He knew full well what this Alorian was asking; he just wanted to hear it from him.

�Your problems are not our problems Ambassador, so why should we involve ourselves in them?� It was both the answer and question that he knew he did not want to hear. This Alorian was insulting Tam and the Alliance by playing innocent and he knew it. When Tam spoke, he did so as carefully as he could for there could be no miscommunication here.

�Subadar, with all due respect, the Alliance knows of the Alorian involvement in these border raids.� Tam chose to direct his comments to the leader of the Alorian Imperium rather than debate the issue with his second in command. A decision that had a gratifying result as the Subadar�s underling, Vain, took offense to it.
�My mission objective is a simple one, I have been sent here with the hope that you will sign a peace accord with the Alliance and agree to stop these border raids thus sparing our two societies from war.� Tam waited for the Subadar to respond but all he did was sit there looking at him calmly.
�The Alliance has no wish for conflict with the Alorian Imperium, especially in light of these alien attacks in our core systems, but make no mistake, although my government is only interested in peace, one way or another these border attacks will be stopped.�

The Subadar said nothing. He just sat there calmly listening to what Tam had to say as if he had not a care in the universe.

�Futhermore, if you have any information regarding the aliens who have been attacking us, I have been given the liberty to offer you compensation for your information.�

�Our involvement?� Said Vain slowly with contempt; his tone and intent were clearly apparent as he slowly stood. �Even if we are behind some of these border attacks, what will the mighty Alliance do? History has shown that your Alliance will cower away from conflict and your mighty star ships will run back home to Earth without ever having fired a shot.� He leaned in toward Tam with the intention of intimidating him and found that Tam was no man to play games with. Tam countered Vain by leaning toward him as he slowly stood. This had a pausing effect against Vain who did not know how to respond to Tam�s new demeanor. The two men stood, slightly hunched over on a table face to face locked in a stair down that neither would back away from. Several seconds passed before Van asked his question again, in a much less offensive tone as he gained a small hint of respect for Tam.
�I ask it again, what will your Alliance do if we refuse your peace treaty?� Tam, when standing, was a good four inches taller than Vain but despite this, he felt, rather he knew that Vain was far from intimidated.

Tam knowing full well he was now being tested, an old strategy whereby the leader would allow an underling to attack so the he could study the pray for weakness. Tam was far to smart to fall for this and therefore chose his response carefully before replying, as this was not the time for a challenge.

�As I said Commander, The Alliance is committed to defending the boarder and will take appropriate action if provoked.� He kept his gaze and tone even as he continued to stare directly into Vains eyes. �Who will blink first my small friend?� Thought Tam to himself as his stair down with the Alorian Commander continued. �Who will blink first?�

�They are our guest Vain,� The Subadar finally said with a hint of amusement in his voice, �take your seat!� The Subadar was firm, his command over his subordinates was clear to Tam as Vain sat down without muttering a word. �Score one for the Alliance.� thought Tam as he shifted his gaze from the now seated Vain to that of the Subadar.

Tam made it his primary goal upon accepting the mission to the Alorian Imperium to impress upon and insure that the Alorians understood the importance placed upon the defense of the Alliance�s colony worlds. That if the Alorians did not stop their raids against the Alliance border colonies a military response would come and with it the likely prospect of war. A prospect that the Earth Stellar Alliance Counsel did not want explored in light of the unknown alien threat.

�I have reviewed the proposal sent by your Alliance Counsel.� Said the Subadar as he slowly stood. �We will sign this treaty with your people. We will join your Alliance in the spirit of friendship. But know this Ambassadar, we will not be threatened or allow your ways to influsance ours. �

A small wave of relief washed over Tam as he allowed himself to relax. �Score two for the Alliance,� he thought to himself.

�I shall come to Earth and we will celebrate that day for an eon to come. � With that the Subadar turned and started walking toward the door he had entered from. Before leaving the room, he pausing for a moment looking back at the three men he had left standing at the table, and informed them that Vain would be making the arrangements for his journey to Earth.

Tam could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end as Vian said; �Follow me.� Tam and his aid, Mathew Bishop, followed him out of the room.

[ June 15, 2003, 09:11: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Raging Deadstar]

Great Chapter as always, i like how the story's taken this twist. It's intriguing to think what will happen next. As Usual another great addition

[Ruatha]

“If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.” Rogue was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. “I will see that he gets this

Rogue?

Otherwise, good story.
But I wanna know hat has happened in the Ice???
(* Impatient *)

[Ragnarok]

Man, I need to find the time to catch up on what I've missed. Anyone got some spare time they can lend out for a little bit?

[Atrocities]

Originally posted by Ruatha:
“If not for the these trying times, I am certain that he would have Subadar.” Rogue was smiling warmly as he took the gift from the Subadar. “I will see that he gets this

Rogue?

Otherwise, good story.
But I wanna know hat has happened in the Ice???
(* Impatient *)

Crap! Ahhhh, a typo that I missed. Thanks. The ICe will comith soon.

[ June 15, 2003, 09:13: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Ooops, fixed.

[ June 30, 2003, 14:28: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

Part XIX

Past Tense

Segment C

The holographic imaged blurred for second as the next scene was loaded. When the image finally formed they were on what appeared to be the Bridge of an Alorian war ship. It was a rather large bridge by any definition, and one that was full of Alorian officers and crew. They moved about performing their tasks oblivious to the image upon the viewscreen.

Earth was beautiful, a blue gem hanging in the tapestry of space like a safire glowing in the dark. It was the crown jewel of the mighty Alliance, a virgin world as pure as any eden ever imagined. Untainted by war, a condition that was soon to be changed, this pristine planet was the birthplace of all humans; weak humans that is. As Vice Lord Vek Waldorf stood before the image of Earth on the massive bridge viewer he fathomed how much he hated this planet and the weak humans that called it home. He wanted nothing more than to boil its oceans, reduces its forest to ash, and slaughter its inhabitants. This planet may have been the birthplace of all humanity, but it was neither his birthplace nor any member of his crew.

�My Lord all ships are now within striking distance and the Earth Orbital Command has transmitted clearance through their orbital defense satellites.� Said the Alorian weapons officer from his station. Vice Lord Waldorf was like most other Alorians, tall and slender with a muscular build and commanding presence. Vice Lord Waldorf considered himself to be one of Aloria�s most gifted military minds. Soon the Alliance would come to know his name as one of the mastermind behind this brilliant attack, a true military genus. The plan was flawless, by luring the Alliance into a position whereby they trusted them, the Alorians have been able to bring an armada into the very heart of the Alliance, a fatal mistake that the Alliance will not soon forget.

�Very well, send the message.� Vice Lord Waldorf was attired in his best uniform, an impressive Alorian military design, one with many more bars and ribbons than those of the officers around him. He stood amid deck looking directly at the image of Earth on the viewscreen as it changed to the face of the Subadar of the Alorian Imperium. �Send to fleet, we attack in one minute!�

The Subadar of the Alorian Imperium spoke. It was a pre-recorded message for the people of Earth and the members of the Earth Stellar Alliance.

�People of Earth, and members of the Stellar Alliance, a new dawn has risen in our universe, one that will afford us all the serenity of peace that our ancestors had promised. As this message is being broadcast throughout the Alliance our warships orbit Earth the home world of all humanity and the very heart of the Alliance. Know this, we are here as the voice of the galaxy, the voice of the pure, the voice of the chosen, and with us we shall bring the tide of everLasting change. Your fates were ceiled long before your births, and even now at the twilight of your deaths you still possess no compression of your genetic weaknesses. Let it be known that the natural evolution of the universe is that the strong survive and the weak perish. Fear your deaths not, for those that are about to deliver them do so knowing they are the superior race.� With that the screen went black and all hell broke loose on Earth.

Tam Christopher stood in the Counsel Chambers in Paris as his stomach sank and the room began to fill with the noise of concerned conversation. Something was wrong, something horrible was about to happen and Tam knew that he was powerless to prevent it.

Vice Lord Waldorf, standing proud on the command deck of the Alorian Flag ship Atrocities, was smiling from ear to ear as he looked upon the helpless Earth. Even if they�re planetary weapons did respond it would be too late for his ships were already in optimal firing position. It was with sincere gratification that he gave the order that would forever go down in human history as the most infamous order ever given.

�All ships commence firing!�

The hologram faded and the lights in the courtroom brightened.

Tam Christopher stood once again, and began to speak. �Members of this court, what you are about to see is a compilation of the events that followed. With that he sat back down and tapped a few controls on his consul. The room dimmed once again, and a holographic star field began to take form.

The Alorians had sent an envoy of just five ships to Earth. Ships of the First Alliance Fleet, including the Yorktown, scanned each of these ships as they passed into the Sol System. Earth was one of the most heavily defended planets in the quadrant with an entire Fleet of star ships protecting her. Yet not one of these ships had expected or was ready for the treachery of the Alorians. The Alorian ships were of a class not yet identified by Alliance intelligence, and were assumed to be nothing more than large diplomatic vessels with few armaments. However these ships were far more than they appeared, each possessing a Galvon Sensor Inverter, which generated false sensor readings in order to hide there true payload of heavy Galvon organic weapons.

The Alorian ships all fired their weapons; both beam and torpedo simultaneously unleashing a hellish green light that filled the night sky. A hundred or so torpedoes and beams streaked through the atmosphere of Earth at incredible speeds. Never before had Earth been attacked from orbit and those who were outside innocently looked upon the display of lights as nothing more than simple orbital fire works completely unaware of the true nature of the lights that were now raining down upon them. So many of those who saw the brilliant green lights did not realize what was about to happen and watched in morbid fascination as the objects struck their targets and war became a reality. In the first salvo nearly two and a half million people died, in the second and third salvos ten times that number perished. It was the single most deadly attack against a human planet in the history of mankind.

The first Alorian salvo was launched and directed at Earth Command and the city of Denver Colorado. The Alorians beams hit amid tower of Earth Command Central Complex building, some one hundred and fifty stories tall, piercing through its glass and durasteel structure with horrifying results. Within seconds the upper portion of the building began to sway and then collapse downward upon itself taking with it nearly twenty two thousand souls. The high yield explosive torpedoes from the first salvo stuck the campus with the force of ten nuclear fusion bombs, the resulting explosion could be seen from space as the campus was completely obliterated within a millisecond.

The first of the Alorian organic torpedoes impacted shortly afterward in the cities of Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. The resulting explosions obliterated old Seattle, vaporized the west side of Portland, ripped the Golden Gate Bridge from her foundation twisting her into wreckage as San Francisco burned. Many of the torpedoes impacted directly in cities along the west coast of the American continent reducing them to little more than piles of smoldering rubble. The whole attack on the surface of Earth took only thirty seconds to complete. What took centuries to build was destroyed in the time it takes to order a cup of coffee.

The Alorians then turned their attention toward Earths orbital Shipyard facility and the Space Docs. For nearly a hundred years these shipyard facilities were the Beacon of the Alliance space fleet, true symbol of mankind�s desire and ability to explore the stars. The shipyard its self was without a doubt an icon of the Earth Stellar Alliance Space Fleet but within seconds it was no more. Twenty five thousand people, six star ships, and one hundred years of history were blown into atomized metallic and durra pLastic particles so fine that they would orbit the Earth for decades to come.

Once the orbital shipyard facilities were destroyed the Alorians ships targeted the defenseless orbital colony of New Prussia. Earth first orbital colony, New Prussia was established nearly fifty years earlier and had a population of six hundred thousand people. The Alorian ships weaponry made short work of the orbital community reducing it to little more than a burned out hulk floating in space. Within a month it would burn up in Earths atmosphere as it descended down toward the Earth, a fairy funeral pyre for the entire planet to see.

During this time many of the Alliance ships began to react. The Yorktown was the first Alliance vessel to lay waste to an Alorian ship, the Avenger, nothing survived. It took the combined vengeful fire of thirty-five Alliance star ships all of about a minute to destroy all but one of the Alorian ships. The Alorian Dreadnought Atrocities had managed to evade the counter attack and was well out of weapons range of all but a few of the Alliance star ships. Those that did engage her were destroyed or badly damaged. Although the Atrocities escaped the attack upon Earth, she was ultimately destroyed in the final battle over Galvon Prime five years later.

As the lights began to brighten the hologram dissipated and sounds of shock and murmurs of sadness and grief could be heard and indeed felt throughout the courtroom.

Tam Christopher knew that he had won his case before he had even presented it. He knew that Damascus Gore would be found guilty of his war crimes, and punished accordingly. If he had a gun, he would shoot the Alorian himself for he had shaken this man hand and trusted him with all of their lives only to have that trust betrayed and his family killed. Oh yes, if only he had a gun he would shoot him dead right here and right now. But that was not Alliance Justice, and justice for he alone could not bring back all those who had died. No, Gore had to be punished by the Alliance for only the Alliance could punish him in the name of justice. His fait would serve as an example to all those who would commit mass murder in the name of war.

It took the Alliance Judges less than twenty minutes to find Damascus Gore guilty of the war crimes in which he was indited. He would be sentenced to life in prison here on Earth along with all the other war criminals from the Alorian Imperium. All totaling, nearly one hundred thousand of them would be sent to the Earths first Orbital Penal Colony ironically named Aloria.

As Tam sat in his chair looking out over the darkening sky line of Seattle, remembering these events from ten years ago, he thought of Damascus Gore and all of the Alorian war criminals and what they might be thinking about knowing that their Homeworld was now nothing more than a dead rock in space. God had a twisted sense of humor if he had one at all. Aloria was spared the war, but not Gods wrath.

�Sir,� It was Tams aid Meredith Shelby, �I have your transport ticket for passage to New Mecca.� Tam sat there quietly for a moment before responding.
�Thank Meredith, just place it on the table.�
�Sir it has been a pleasure working for you.� She said simply as she sat the ticket card on his desk. �I hope you find peace there.�
�Thank you Meredith, I hope you and your family enjoy Pacifica. I hear it�s a beautiful planet.�
�Thank you sir.� She said softly. �It has been an honor to know you.� With that she turn and quietly left the room. Tam continued to sit in his chair looking out his window at the now darkened sky over Seattle. He pondered his future for a while then left to go home and pack. His transport would be one of the Last to leave Earth before the end came. As he walked down the hall toward the grav-lift he looked down at the name on the ticket card, �Pandora� what an odd name for a starliner he thought, then entered the grav-lift and descended toward home for the final time.

High above Earth orbiting ever so slowly in the night sky was the Aloria Orbital Penal Colony. It was a huge ugly facility constructed at the end of the Galvon Earth war to house nearly a hundred thousand Alorian war criminals. Mostly officers and soldiers captured during the war that had been charged with crimes against humanity and convicted and sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison. But now with the eminent destruction of Earth coming, they were being loaded aboard a starliner, one of the largest ships in the Twin Star Lines capable of carrying nearly a million and half passengers and crew. As Damascus Gore and the other prisoners were being transferred to the Starliner, he could see through the windows of the boarding ramp the ships name, as it was painted as large as a building for all to see on the ships outer haul, �Pandora,� he whispered out loud.

Senator Owen Cassady closed the book of Origins and slowly lowered it to his desk. He sat their pale and expressionless for many moments. His wife entered the room; she had brought him a cup of hot lacto berry juice.
�Owen,� she asked in a concerned voice, �are you alright?�
Owen looked up at her and shook his head no. �No my love, I am far from alright.�

[ July 01, 2003, 14:51: Message edited by: Atrocities ]

[Atrocities]

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