Rise of the Remorhaz Society

[sachmo]

Eagle Down

2405.9

The upgrade of the mining facilities has been completed throughout the Society. Minerals are being mined at an unprecented rate. The abundance of raw materials will allow for a much more flexible and complete building program throughout the Remorhaz Society.

Once again, the Norak Continuum refuses to negotiate with our diplomats. Meanwhile, our ships gather for an assault on their homeworld. It�s only a matter of time now.
In the Lapzooli system, Nemesis watched as a Norakian Alagoinhas class frigate approaches the wormhole. If they come, we�ll be ready, Captain Jager thought. They will not run the barricade. Help was on the way in the form of Gamma and Delta Fleets. It was only a matter of time.

In the Xillantha system, colonists landed on the fifth planet of the system, and renamed the planet Fort Justice in honor of the crew of the first Remorhaz ship to be lost in combat. The colonists began setting up a spaceport as quickly as possible. Next on the list would be a resupply post. This system was now deemed vital to the Society, and so the Navy was making its possession a priority. Orbiting Fort Justice was the RSS Hawk, with Falcon making way at best speed to assist in securing the system. As soon as Manticore was repaired, she would also head to the system. When the defense of the system was secured, a scouting mission would be sent into Fezzran system, where Rage activity could be monitored.
Back on Remorhaz, the military was being restructured. With the creation of the Remorhaz Space Marine Corps, the corps of officers would have to be taken from both the Army and the Navy. Also, since the ranks of the Marines were based on the rank structure used by the Army, the highest-ranking officer in each branch of service was given a specific title. For example, the highest rank in the Army was previously General, with the senior-most General serving as the head of the Army. Now that the Marine Corps would also have their own Generals, each branch had a specific name for its commanding officer. So with this change in rank structure, Admiral Urian was �promoted� to the rank of Grand Admiral, and General Gulman to the rank of Field Marshal. The position of Commandant of the Marine Corps had yet to be filled. Grand Admiral Urian, Field Marshal Gulman, and Chairman Sachmo were interviewing prospective candidates. With a war on, such a decision was much too important to be entrusted to the Representatives. A creature of politics would buckle under the strain. The Commandant had to be an officer of vision, motivation, and patience. Building a service branch from the ground up, during a war, would be an almost impossible task at best. The Corps needed a warrior to lead it.

2406.0

In the Lapzooli system, Nemesis, backed by thirteen defense satellites, destroyed a Norakian Alagoinhas class frigate and sustained no damage. Her crew was ecstatic; and she hoped that would Last. It wasn�t their fault about the outcome of the Battle of the Rocks, but they felt that way anyway. On the positive side, because they felt that way indicated to Gina that they were coming closer together as a unit.

The Rage were on the move. While the Eagle was preparing for her jump into an unknown system, there was a massive matter disturbance detected on the scanner four parsecs from the wormhole.
�Emergency stop!� Captain Hanks screamed. He wasn�t sure what the disturbance was�it could be a gravity �riptide�, or an ion cloud (a big one!), or even something coming thru the wormhole. Whatever it was, Captain Hanks didn�t want to collide with it.
The small System Patrol Ship responded to the emergency stop quickly. The helmsman deftly stood Eagle on her stern, and then rolled her over, so that the main engines could be used to brake their forward momentum.
�Captain! I have multiple bogies completing jump from the wormhole. I count�six, no, five frigate sized craft and one larger. Sir, the frigates match Rage patterns, although they are types we haven�t seen before. Range to closest target�two parsecs!�
This was definitely a bad situation. If those Rage ships had missiles, there was no way Eagle could get out of range before they were hit. Captain Hanks made his decision quickly.
�Sparks, launch an emergency beacon. Attach the signatures of those Rage frigates for the intel boys to add to the database. Copy the message to Hawk and Fort Justice. I�m sure we�ll know what types of weapons they have soon enough.� Hanks had to smile at his own joke, even if no one else did. By launching the beacon, he was betting that they wouldn�t make it thru the fight, but at least the Navy would know what happened, and where.
�Missiles incoming. Captain, we have at least thirty missiles inbound!�
�Weps, target the closest Rage ship and fire at her. If I�m going to lose, I want someone to go down with me.�
�Aye, Aye, Sir. Firing.�
Eagle lurched ever so slightly as her twin depleted uranium cannons fired at the Rage frigate.
Captain Hanks looked at the tactical display. Only one way to run, and that was away from the wormhole. �Helm, stand on it. We have to open the range as quickly as possible, or we are in trouble.�
The helmsman acknowledged. Hanks looked at the display again. They were at 110% power on the engines, and rising. He really was trying his best to open the range, but Hanks knew it wouldn�t make much of a difference. Those missiles were fired at to close of a range for the Eagle to get clear.
The XO shouted with glee, �Direct hit with both guns, sir. The Rage frigate is venting gas. We hurt her, sir.�
They wouldn�t go down alone. Eagle ran for 2 parsecs before the missiles caught up with her.
The first spread hit her slightly aft of amidships, obliterating the crew quarters, mess, and medical bay in an instant.
The power went down, but came back up just as quickly. The XO hadn�t been strapped into a seat, and now he lay on the deck, his head bleeding from a nasty gash given to him by a console.
�Damage report!� Captain Hanks called.
Life support called back with the grim news. �Captain, the left rear quarter of the ship is gone. We are trying to close off sections now, but I think it may be more than we can handle. We lost Ingols and Rospero when the hatch was torn off.�
�Do what you can. Good luck.� Hanks frowned. That salvo had pretty much done them in, and there were at least 25 more missiles inbound.
�Weps, you fire at that target and you take him to hell with us, alright?�
The Weapons Officer acknowledged the order, and his voice cracked. Tears were streaming down his face. They all knew that they were going to die today.
�Sensor, where are those other missiles?�
�8000 mete�� The next salvo of missiles slammed into the bow, vaporizing the forward half of RSS Eagle. A few men trapped in the twisted wreck that had been the rear half of the ship lived another fifteen seconds before a third salvo turned what was left of the ship into a quickly dissipating could of debris.

Hawk had indeed gotten the message from Eagle. Lieutenant Commander Harry Norten stared at the tactical display as Eagle flared and died on the screen. He immediately called down to the colony and informed them that �if they wanted to live they would put all efforts into building as many defense satellites as they possibly could, and some weapons platforms, and they could do it right goddamn now.�
Governor Yuri Kalasnikov immediately had everyone quit work on the spaceport and begin assembly of defense satellites. By his estimation, they should be able to get three built and launched by the end of the month. It wasn�t much, but it would have to do. Yuri had seen video of the bombardment of Cirius. Now that nightmare might actually become a reality. He had those he could spare begin constructing bunkers. There would be no way they could protect everyone, but maybe some of the children could survive.

In Wurtuy, Commodore Lu decided to divert Gamma Fleet to protect the Xillantha-Wurtuy wormhole, in case the Rage decided to try and penetrate this system.

The scientists had finally finished the prototype for the next combat ship hull. This destroyer hull was 300kt, and so could pack more weapons than the frigate. On this hull the Navy Design Bureau created three new designs:
1. Glory Class DD- with 3 missile tubes and 2 DUCs, this ship can handle anything thrown her way.
2. AUX-R (Auxiliary Repair)- this ship would allow ships damaged in combat to be repaired while underway.
3. AUX-S (Auxiliary Supply)- this ship would join with a fleet to extend its range and decrease the need for resupply runs.
These craft would be build as soon as possible, but the Glory DD�s were obviously going to be the first off of the line.

The Research Guild, on orders from the Chairman, began researching methods of construction a weapon system, which could survive atmospheric re-entry, carry troops, and provide fire support for those troops. With this, the Marine Corps would have a weapon to fight with.

Rear Admiral Shaun Hunter walked into the conference room. A quick glance around the table told him that this was a serious interview. He had half expected his request to transfer to the new Space Marine Corps to be buried under a sea of paper. Some of the older fleet officers weren�t very fond of him.
Hunter was widely known throughout the Navy as being a brilliant, but pushy officer. He had written some excellent papers on tactics during his career, but he had never bothered to try and conform his ideas to those of his senior, whoever he may have been at the time. Often, this resulted in friction between him and his commanding officers. If it weren�t for his brilliant mind, he probably would have been mustered out of the Navy long ago, but where he had many enemies, he also had many friends. So, he advanced thru the ranks, moving from command to command, learning all that he could about the Navy, and applying it to what he already knew. This had created on of the most brilliant minds in the service, but none of that mattered now. He would never make Fleet Admiral, or anything after that, however. His enemies could easily see to that, and his friends could not get him past his current rank. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Naturally, when the creation of the Space Marine Corps had been announced, Hunter had jumped at the chance. Of the very few space to surface missions that the Navy had run over the years, Hunter had advised or participated in all of them. He had written at least five papers on theory and tactics of planetary invasion tactics. Unbeknownst to him, Grand Admiral Urian and Field Marshal Gulman had used his papers as a basis for their proposal for the creation of the Marine Corps. He thought he would be a natural fit, and maybe it might jump-start his career.
Hunter stepped into the middle of the room and stood before the assembled staff. He saluted crisply, and stood at attention when Urian returned it.
The Grand Admiral spoke. �Welcome to the review board, Rear Admiral Hunter. As you know, this panel is responsible for selecting officers for transfer to the Remorhaz Space Marine Corps. We are interviewing volunteers first, and then we will go thru and select officers whom we believe will fit in best and contribute the most to the Corps. Since the main mission of the Marine Corps will involve surface combat, the majority of officers and non-commissioned officers will come from the Army. That does not necessarily mean that Army officers will get the highest positions. Do you have any questions before we start?�
�No, sir.�
�Fine, then. Field Marshal Gulman, if you would start please?�
The Field Marshal cleared his throat. �Rear Admiral, can you tell me why you have been in your present rank for the Last five years?�
The question surprised Hunter. He hadn�t expected to have to defend himself so early. He figured that the Field Marshal would want to do his old cronies a favor and get him out of the Navy, and out of their hair. If that were indeed his intention, why would he try and disqualify him right off the bat?
�Well, sir�I would have to say that while I cannot answer your question with any more knowledge than I possess, I can probably answer your question honestly. I haven�t always made friends during my career sir. I tend to fight for what I believe in, often long after I should have given up the fight. I believe if I had been less stubborn on a number of occasions, I might have made Vice Admiral by now.� The cat�s out of the bag now, Hunter thought. I wonder if I�ve already killed my chances?
Next to speak was Grand Admiral Urian.
�Rear Admiral Hunter, can you tell me why, on numerous occasions, you would publish papers that you knew sometimes contradicted or even demolished the theories of your superiors?�
This is a damn firing squad, mused Hunter. Not what I expected at all. Well, if they want to humiliate me, I might as well give them something to talk about.
�Grand Admiral, I believe the problem here is not that I would publish these papers, but that some of my past superiors refused to even attempt to try anything new. If it hadn�t been me, it would have been some other officer. Tactics need to evolve, sir. If they sit stagnant too long, you might end up holding the short end of the stick before you know it. My job is to keep my people alive and achieve my objective, not to earn brownie points with my superiors.� Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Still, Hunter was disappointed. He had always thought of Admiral Urian as a free thinker. He thought the Grand Admiral was a friend.
Finally, the Chairman spoke. �Did you know that you are the highest ranking officer to request a transfer, Rear Admiral Hunter? How do you think that will look to your superiors? It smacks of desperation to me, if you want to know the truth. Is that it, Rear Admiral? Do you want to continue your career, since we all know that it�s pretty much over now in the Navy?�
Hunter was furious. From the Field Marshal he expected it. From the Grand Admiral, he hadn�t, but he respected the man, so it was easier to take. Now the Chairman? Had he really screwed up that bad?
�Mr. Chairman, with all do respect, I am not a politician, nor do I wish to be one. If my actions over the course of my career have cost me rank, then so be it. I worked very hard to get where I am today, sir. If this is the end of the line, then so be it. I will say this�I regret nothing. If one of my papers on missile tactics saves a ship, then it was all worth it. If the Marine Corp can benefit from my papers on Space to Surface combat, then it was all worth it. I stand by my decisions, because I am the one who has to live with them. I might not be the smartest officer in the Navy, or the most successful, but I think that I am the best that I can be. Nothing said here can change that, Mr. Chairman.�
With that, Hunter stood at attention, waiting to be dismissed. Now he wished they had just buried his request. He had sniped back at the Chairman of the Remorhaz society, the Grand Admiral of the Navy, and the Field Marshall. The Chairman was right. He could kiss any hope of another tour of duty. He was finished.
Hunter snapped out of his thoughts. The three questioners were still conversing, but they had their com units turned off, so no one could hear what they were saying. He stood at attention, hoping they hadn�t forgotten him�that they would dismiss him and end this farce. Maybe they want to watch me squirm?
After several minutes, Grand Admiral Urian turned his com unit back on. He had a smile on his face, and a bit of a mischievous look�maybe the eyebrows?
The Grand Admiral spoke. �Rear Admiral, thank you for your patience. We appreciate your honesty in your answers. While another officer might have�well, toned them down a bit, we had to be sure of what you were made of. If we approve your transfer, can you promise to continue acting the way you have conducted yourself here today? Will you wade through the junk, avoid playing politics, and concentrate on the mission at hand?�
Hunter was stunned. �Of course, sir.�
�Will you continue to develop tactics and keep them from getting stagnant? Also, and most importantly, will you strive to keep your men alive?�
�Yes, Grand Admiral.�
�Well then, Rear Admiral Hunter, in accordance with the judgment of this review panel we would like to welcome you to the Remorhaz Space Marine Corps. We had a promotion in mind, also. How does Commandant of the Space Marine Corps sound to you?�
Hunter blinked. That had to be a mistake.
�Sir?�
�How would you like to be Commandant of the Space Marine Corps, Shawn?�
Hunter swallowed. This couldn�t be happening, but his heart took over his speech functions.
�Sir, this is not what I expected, but with every fiber of my being, I would be honored to accept the position.�
Urian smiled. �Excellent. Come on over here and shake my hand, Commandant. We have your five stars ready for you.�

At the end of the week, a press conference was held in Turian, the capitol of the Remorhaz Society. Commandant Shawn Hunter was introduced to the Society as the commander of the new Remorhaz Space Marine Corps. He briefly outlined the job of the Space Marine, and then answered questions from the press while the uniforms were displayed.
From the Lapzooli system, Captain Gina Jager watched the ceremony on the vid unit. So Rear Admiral Hunter was the head of the Space Marine Corps? She couldn�t think of a better choice. First, he was a Navy man and so she was sure that it got under everyone skin in the Army. Also, she had studied under him, and read some of his papers. His paper on effective damage control techniques had probably saved the lives of fifty crewmember on the trip home from the Battle of the Rocks. Hunter would make them the terror of the galaxy. She had to wonder, though, if his Marines would be ready in time for this battle?

To be continued...

[sachmo]

Genocide

2406.1

The Rage, thankfully, did not press their attack. It certainly wasn�t because of our overwhelming naval strength, thought Governor Kalashnikov. He hoped the Navy was serious about holding this system, because it looked to him as if the Rage could take it anytime they damn well pleased. RSS Falcon arrived in system to assist Hawk.

At the Glory shipyards, a new ship was launched. The RSS Comet was the first of the Comet Class Attack Ships. Armed with nothing but planetary napalm bombs, she was well suited to surface attack duties. Grand Admiral Urian hoped that if the Norak saw a demonstration of what the Comet Class Attack Ships could do to a colony, they would surrender, or at least sue for peace. She set out for the Lapzooli system immediately.

With the immediate threat of the Rage averted, Gamma Fleet once again laid course for Lapzooli.

2406.2

Nemesis joined up with Hyperion and Furious in Delta fleet. Captain Jager was in command of the fleet until Commodore Lu was in system. The three captains discussed their options, and decided to make a raid on Lapzooli II, the homeworld of the Norak. She had constructed two defense Space Stations, and these defenses needed to be softened up before a large attack could be mounted. Also, the fleet would be able to gather intel on any other defenses the planet had. Delta Fleet left the wormhole behind, and began the month long trip to the homeworld of the Norak.

The Grand Admiral of the Remorhaz Navy stood on the platform of the Remorhaz Space Yard. Before him, lit up brilliantly in her berth, was RSS Glory, the first of the Glory Class Destroyers. She was a hybrid design, and a bit of a departure from the previous ship designs. She mounted three capital missile tubes, and two DUCs. Command was given to Captain Peter Winters, an officer fresh from a tour on the General Staff of the Navy. He was an excellent leader, and a good tactician. Glory was to proceed to Xillantha and join up with Manticore, Eagle, and Hawk On board Glory was Rear Admiral Shiro Sakazawa, who was to organize the fleet in Xillantha into an effective fighting force. This fleet would harass the Rage while holding the system. If an opportunity presented itself, Sakazawa had authority to authorize and action he deemed appropriate.

2406.3

Delta Fleet entered the system of Lapzooli II. Captain Jager was very nervous. She was leading the fleet into battle against the capitol of another empire. Resistance was expected to be fierce. Quickly she had her Sensor Officer do a sensor scan of the system. She didn�t want to run into anything unexpected, and if the Norak were going to spring a trap, now would be the time.
�Captain, uhhh, I�m not sure if I really believe what I�m seeing, but it seems that neither the planet nor the Defense Space Stations around the her are armed.�
Gina nearly choked on her coffee. �What? XO, can you confirm?�
Commander Svenson quickly moved to the sensor screen. �I confirm that Captain. Not one defensive weapon. We are clear for approach. We do confirm that the planet is inhabited by 2.4 billion Norakians.�
Her mission was clear. She was to probe the enemy defenses and do as much damage as possible while ensuring the safety of her ships.
�Right then. We attack the planet with nuclear missiles. God damn this war.�
Gina punched up her com link to both Hyperion and Furious.
The faces of Captain Reed and Captain Jennings appeared instantly.
�Well my friends, it looks like they left their homeworld undefended. We will move in and fire nuclear missile salvos for effect. Be ready for anything�I just can�t believe that they would leave Lapzooli II open like this.�
Captain Reed spoke. �I saw that too, Gina. We�ll be ready. We need to take advantage of this. If it�s a mistake, they won�t make it again, so we need to make this count.�
Captain Jennings nodded. �I concur, Walt, but we need to let Remorhaz know about this situation. Maybe just having us here in orbit will bring them to the table.�
Gina shook her head. �There�s no time. We attack, and if Remorhaz wants us to pull back, then we�ll do it, but we can�t let this chance go. I don�t like it any more than either of you, but it�s what we get paid for. Keep your heads up and be careful.�
Both captains cleared the channel, intent on commanding their ships.
�Helm, make full speed for Lapzooli II. Weps, load up the missile tubes and begin targeting the facilities on the surface. Let�s take out their Space Yard first.�
The orders were acknowledged. Gina kept a close eye on the tactical display.
In the end, there were no tricks. Delta Fleet nuked Lapzooli II, defenseless, and killed 255 million people. Both Space Stations were destroyed also. Now the homeworld of the Norak was blockaded. Would they come to the table now?

Gamma Fleet hunted down and killed a lone Norakian colony ship, and destroyed her. RSS Comet made it to the Lapzooli system, and moved to join Delta Fleet in the blockade of the Norakian homeworld.
Glory launched RSS Cyllene, the first fleet supply ship in the Remorhaz navy. She immediately headed for Lapzooli to extend the staying power of the fleet in system.

The Research Guild, in cooperation with the Space Marine Corps, felt that they were making progress on the trans-atmospheric craft, but that an actual prototype was probably about three months away.

2406.4

Gamma Fleet began an attack on Lapzooli II. After the bombardment, the Norak had been able to launch a new destroyer, the Amaro Class. She was armed with class three capital ship missiles, three point defense cannon, and two shield generators. It would be a tough ship to take down, but Commodore Lu wanted to concentrate on nuking the planet. That would draw the enemy ship into the fight, maybe cause him to make a mistake. A mistake might give them a chance at defeating the Amaro. Both sides maneuvered and fired, but the Remorhaz fleet had the advantage in that they had a large planet to hit, while the Amaro had to drive them off. He was not completely successful, and around 200 million Norakian colonists were killed. No spacecraft were damaged in the battle.

In the Fezzran system, Manticore and Hawk jumped in system. Their scanners immediately picked up a Rage colony on Fezzran IV. This was a colony Nemesis had destroyed in the opening days of the war. Next, they noticed eleven Rage ships, mostly frigates but also a few destroyers. The task force immediately headed back thru the wormhole and made full speed for Fort Justice. This was definitely going to be a holding action for a while.

Remorhaz launched the first fleet repair ship, RSS Icelus. She was sent to Glory for forward basing.

2406.5

Gamma Fleet, blockading Lapzooli II, was bolstered by the appearance of RSS Comet, a Comet Class Attack Ship. Her captain, Commander David Trinner, maneuvered his ship as close to the planet as possible. While Intimidator and Artemis lobbed nuclear missile salvos at the surface, Comet unleashed a hellish attack of fiery napalm against the installations on the surface of the Norak homeworld. The galaxy had not seen destruction like that done by the planetary napalm. Trinner tried to target military targets initially, but once those were destroyed by the awesome power of the bombs, he was forced to switch to civilian installations. Norakians died by the millions. In a second attack, the homeworld of the Norakians was destroyed. All of their cities were destroyed, afire, or just smoldering craters from nuclear attacks. Their leaders were killed along with everyone else on their home planet. Surely the remaining planets would surrender faced with this genocide. Wouldn�t they?

In Xillantha, a fleet of eight Rage ships perused Manticore and Hawk into the system. Both fleets raced for Fort Justice. Glory had made the transit, and Governor Kalashkniov had his colonists build more defense satellites. If the Rage came to Fort Justice, they would have a fight on their hands.

To be continued...

[Atrocities]

Very nice read. I truly enjoy reading your story.

[Ragnarok]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Very nice read. I truly enjoy reading your story.

Ditto, it's getting better and better with each passing story. Keep up the good work. 5 stars for you.

[sachmo]

Thanks, guys. I hope my story can be as interesting as The History of the Galaxy! THAT is some excellent storytelling. The best thing about writing this way is the story tells itself, and I just fill in the cracks! Thanks for reading!

[sachmo]

Consequences

2406.6

�Grand Admiral, Commandant Hunter is on com for you, sir.�
The Grand Admiral hoped that Hunter had good news. The destruction of Lapzooli II had effects that he had not been prepared to deal with.
�Ok, put him thru.�
Commandant of the Marine Corps Shawn Hunter appeared in the com unit.
�Marcus, they�ve finished the design for the assault craft. I can�t wait to show it to you. This baby is going to make the Space Marine Corps the most lethal attack force in history. With a ship full of assault craft, we can land a division of Marines in a matter of hours, and they will be hot and ready to go on landing. When can you come down? Oh yes, an unexpected side effect of the project�the eggheads in the Design Bureau believe that the miniaturization which was done on ship components for the assault craft will also be applicable to the construction of space mines and fighter craft! Can you imagine, Marcus? We could launch a wave of fighters at a Rage fleet before they could even deploy! Entire systems could be blocked off with defense satellites behind huge fields of space mines! This is going to give us the edge we will need to win this war!�
The Grand Admiral had to laugh. Commandant Hunter was still very new to this level of command. He was able to get excited about new things. A few years of the war would squeeze that out of him, but it was a refreshing change.
�Well, Shawn, when were you thinking about holding the test? I�m sure that the Chairman and the Field Marshal would also like to be there.�
Hunter looked off screen and yelled out the question to someone.
�Next week? Damn.� He looked back into the screen. �They say the prototype won�t be able to run the tests until next week.� He frowned. �Actually, they think it will take about five months of testing and design changes before they are ready for mass production.�
�Shawn, you still need to raise an army. We need some brave Space Marines to fill your assault craft� the Grand Admiral kidded.
�Yes, I know. I just want to get out there, you know? I�m ready to show everyone what we can do!�
�I understand, Shawn. We will be at the trial next week. Shall we have dinner soon? Now that you aren�t going to be lording over those poor scientists every minute of the day, maybe you can come and relax with me?�
The Commandant nodded. �Yes, Marcus. I�ve drawn up some preliminary plans for a troop transport design. I know it�s not exactly my jurisdiction, but I�ve figured out how to get the maximum number of assault craft based on the existing transport design��
Marcus laughed again. �Ok, Shawn! Ok! We can discuss it at dinner tomorrow night.�
Someone off-screen call out to Hunter. Absently, he said, �Good deal. We�ll see you tomorrow night. For dinner.� The connection went dead.
Grand Admiral Urian shook his head. Yes, after the first time his Marines go into combat, he will lose a lot of that enthusiasm. It was sad really, but that was the burden of command.
With a sigh, the Grand Admiral went back to his reports.

As the speeder slowed for a vertical landing on the roof of the Senate in the city Turin, Chairman Sachmo looked out of the window. Crowds of civilians ringed the Senate, carrying signs and placards, and shouting. The Chairman could feel their anger even here, 500 feet above the crowd. This is going to be rough, he thought. All of those people are looking for answers, and the truth might be too much for them. The protests had begun as soon as the news of the destruction of Lapzooli II had been leaked by someone in the government. An �unidentified source� had handed the classified videos of the bombardment to Remorhaz News Network. Rather than checking the accuracy of the vid, they decided to run it. The resulting backlash was incredible. Ordinary citizens weren�t ready to see entire planets being glassed on their vids during dinner hour. Also, the people felt their honor had been besmirched. They thought that this was a cowardly way to fight a war. Lastly, they believed that if we could do that to them, then the Norak had every right to do it to us. The average citizen could easily see himself on the other end of that bombardment dancing across their vid screen.

Senator Harris was waiting for him at the elevator. �Good day, Chairman! How was the flight?�
Sachmo looked at him with a sour face. �Well, the trip from my residence was excellent. It�s amazing how fast a speeder can make a fifteen mile trip.�
If the Senator heard the jibe, he didn�t show it.
He talked as they walked. �Chairman, the citizens are restless, which means the Senate is restless. I know that you will placate them, but it�s important for you to know that your supporters are ready to come to your aid should you need it.� His smile was as big and fake as his hairpiece.
Subtle, Senator. If you think I�m not going to get thru this, you are sorely mistaken, the Chairman thought.
They made the ride down in silence. Well, to the Chairman it was silence, but Senator Harris was babbling about anything and everything.
As they stepped into the cloakroom of the Senate, Harris and his people split off to find their seats.
Yarboro cleared his throat. �Shall I get the disinfectant out now, Chairman?�
Sachmo chuckled. �No, don�t bother, Yarboro. Senator Harris has a few surprises in store today. Actually, I almost pity him.�
�Yes, sir, he probably has no idea.� Yarboro quipped.

The Chairman stepped into the entrance to the rotunda. The Crier nodded to him, and walked down the aisle, tapping his staff fashioned in the shape of a winged serpent, the symbol of the mighty Remorhaz. When he reached the platform he stopped and faced the gathered Senators.
�Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the Honorable Chairman of the Remorhaz Society, Chairman Sachmo! May God preserve us all!�
The rotunda was filled with applause. At least they aren�t throwing rotten eggs, Sachmo mused.
As he walked briskly down the aisle, he tried to read the mood of the Senators. Some of his supporters looked at him, with genuine smiles on their faces, or so it seemed to him. Many of his detractors were also smiling. Sachmo spied Senator Harris grouped with a knot of his cronies. It would be interesting to see who stood with him at the end of the speech.
He walked over to the flag, touched the hem to his forehead, then to his lips, and Lastly to his heart. The ritual over, he turned and approached the podium. He paused a few seconds before speaking. Ok, you better make this good, he reminded himself.
�Ladies and gentlemen, Senators and citizens, I greet you. I am here before you today not to defend my cabinet, or myself but to bring to light the situation in which we find ourselves today. I also wish to make clear the heroics of our armed forces, and the exceptional job they have been doing protecting us all from Norak and Rage aggression.�
The Senate was on it�s feet, cheering.
Keep it together, Sachmo. As they old saying goes, the truth shall set you free. The Chairman smiled. The applause died down.
�Only six years ago, we of the Remorhaz society launched our first spacecraft. We all had theories as to what was out there, but we did not know exactly what we would find. The wonders that we have beheld since that first step are hard to put into words which would do them justice. We have discovered how to colonize other worlds, and how to navigate wormholes that take us across huge distances in space in an instant. We have witnessed stars being born, and even other races.�
Sachmo looked up. Well, I have their attention, now I have to give them the truth.
�As we all know, the contact with these other races offered us the opportunity of a lifetime. We would learn from the Norak about their ways and religion. From the Rage, we would learn how to view the universe from the eyes of a living machine. They, in turn, would learn of our values and customs, our history and dreams. It was hoped that we would all benefit from this, and each race would be richer for it.�
�This was not to be, however. No sooner had we begun to exchange ideas when both races declared war on us. There was no warning, or no rattling of swords, only a terse communication informing us that we should prepare to meet our doom.�
The crowd outside had fallen silent. Sachmo continued.
�In the early days of the war, some of our people did meet their doom. The crew of RSS Hawk arrived in the Fezzran system just in time to intercept the Last pleading cries of the colony on Cirius as the Rage fleet bLasted them from orbit. Justice met her doom on Tudran V. We hung on, and continued fighting. Eventually, our forces turned the tide on the Norak and Rage. We captured the Tudran and Wurtuy systems from them. We chased them into their home system. The difference between them, and us however, is that the entire time we were attempting to make peace. They chose to refuse. We destroyed many of their people. Still they refused to negotiate. We advanced to within one planet of their homeworld. They would not end the war. Finally, our fleet took up orbit around Lapzooli II, the homeworld of the Norak. They were blockaded. Our ships destroyed some of their key installations, and deflected the attacks that came at them. We tried to make peace, but they refused. The choice then was clear. We cannot continue to wait for the enemy to attack our colonies; our worlds. We cannot continue to hold out hope that they will eventually come to their senses and negotiate peace with us. Citizens, neither I nor anyone in the military wish to wipe out an entire species. We want peace as much as our people do. Everyday, the ships of Gamma and Delta Fleets risked destruction in the space over Lapzooli, trying to bring the Norak to the table. We have lost many people in this war, and will lose more before it is thru. I tell you now, I will do whatever is necessary to preserve our Society and our way of life. The tasks that have been required so far have been horrible. Billions of innocents died on Lapzooli II, and countless others in the engagements we have fought. If this is what it takes to secure peace, then it will be done. The enemy is leaving us without a choice. If they do not come to the table, we will destroy them. As distasteful as it sounds, it is what must be done.�
The Senate was on its feet again. The applause thundered through the rotunda, but even louder were the cheers from the citizens outside. They really understood the price that must be paid. Absently, Sachmo wondered if Senator Harris understood the price, too.
�Ladies and gentlemen, even with this resolve, we must still not abandon our efforts to negotiate peace. I have organized a new mission, lead by Senator Harris, that will approach the Rage once more, but this time from a position of strength. They will try to organize a cease fire.�
Sachmo looked up at Harris. The man had gone white as a ghost. Perfect.
�Will also attempt to get the Norak to end their fight against us. Citizens, we will win this war. It is a war that we did not ask for, but we will not waver in our resolve. If the enemy will not take the olive branch we have offered, we will take up the sword and slay them. Thank you.�
Sachmo stepped down from the podium. The applause and cheering was deafening. He made his way down the main aisle, with senators and staff alike looking at him in awe, and trying to touch him. Senator Harris pushed his way thru the crowd.
�C-Ch-Ch-Chairman, I received no word of this mission! I cannot possib�� Harris shouted. The crowd pressed in all around them.
The Chairman held up his hand, instantly stopping Harris� stammering. He leaned in and spoke in the senator�s ear, �Harris, the next time you try to discredit me or my administration with a leak, make sure you understand the stakes. I have to thank you , though.. The leak upset our citizens, but my speech has won them back more strongly than it would have had they had been told the entire situation at once. Also, I have always suspected that you were playing against me, and now I know for sure. You see, you were the only one I allowed to learn the information about the destruction of Lapzooli II ahead of time. Now you are exposed. You are finished in the Senate, Harris. I will offer you this Last mission to parley with the Rage, though. At least this way, you will die a hero, right?�
With that, the Chairman released the senator, who stood there, motionless, as the crowd rolled past him, following the Chairman�the protector of the Remorhaz Society.

At the moment when Chairman Sachmo was holding Senator Harris and telling him that he had been undone, someone had snapped a holopic. It was the Last known holopic that showed the senator alive.

2406.6

The second Glory Class Destroyer, RSS Triumph was launched from the Glory Shipyards. She was sent to join the fleet in Lapzooli.

At Fort Justice, the Xillantha Defense Fleet watched as the Rage fleet turned course and headed to the wormhole leading to the unknown system Eagle was sent to explore before her demise. Rear Admiral Sakazawa had a meeting with the commanders of the fleet. Between them, they decided that after a few more ships bolstered the fleet, they would risk another recon run into the unknown system, unless the Lapzooli Fleet was able to make a run sooner. Fort Sachmo began constructing a Space Port.
The colony ship was originally ordered to colonize Lapzooli VII was rerouted to Lapzooli II, in the ruins of the Norakian homeworld. Since this world had a breathable atmosphere, it would be idea for colonization. The colony ship should arrive in a month. By that time, all of the fires should have stopped burning.

To be continued...

[Atrocities]

Have you ever read Brotherhood Of War series? If not, you might want to consider it. By the way, excellent chapter "Consequences" was.

[sachmo]

Originally posted by Atrocities:
Have you ever read Brotherhood Of War series? If not, you might want to consider it. By the way, excellent chapter "Consequences" was.

By W.E.B Griffin? Sure have, but I liked the Corps a little better.

[Ragnarok]

Taking a break here Sachmo? No new storys lately so I'm guessing that's it. Which is totally fine since you put out excellent storys. Just thought I'd post and check it out. Which if you read around on different story threads you'll see that I do that alot. I can't help it, I'm addicted to the storys on here! Help me!!

[sachmo]

Originally posted by Ragnarok:
Taking a break here Sachmo? No new storys lately so I'm guessing that's it. Which is totally fine since you put out excellent storys. Just thought I'd post and check it out. Which if you read around on different story threads you'll see that I do that alot. I can't help it, I'm addicted to the storys on here! Help me!!

Alas, two days of my daughter having colic, and my wife needing a break(!) have kept me busy. I was able to put a few thing together, though, and so I was raring to go tonight. Story to follow...