tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55943298854008331922024-03-13T17:18:55.208-07:00Fall From GraceFall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.comBlogger210125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-79167846285647414432015-09-15T14:46:00.005-07:002015-09-15T14:46:43.910-07:00The Nature of the Beast<div style="text-align: justify;">
The winds that were blowing in gently from the north brought with them
the salty tang of the sea. Sitting on the breakwater Sister Samantha, a
most chaste member of the Blessed Order of the Little Sisters of Charity
let the wind rustle through her hair and the sun beam down onto her
face and body. All around her the other members of her order who were
with here were relaxing, praying, reading, sleeping, or just enjoying
themselves. They had all been here for a while, integrating themselves
with the locals and trying to ask questions of a race who had it seemed,
only two answers. Two answers to everything. Can we hunt it, or can we
eat it. She sighed and looked over the small bay to the great starbase
of Basilisk, bastion of the Dewiek in this system. It reached skyward,
it's hiports and buildings majestic in the midday sun, all around it the
growing urban sprawl mixture of old and new looked, well, alien
compared to the starports of Darkfold. <br /><br />With a smile she watched
as her translator, Rengern walk over to her. The fluid movement of the
muscles of the great wolf always filled her a longing to just squeeze
them and examine them, the investigator within her curious about their
physiology. How sharp were his claws, how much bigger will they become
as he grown old. She blushed as she caught her eyes roaming over his
chest and turned away to pull her robe back around her and stand up.<br />"Rengern, my friend. I hope you are well?"<br />"Indeed, little sister. I see you are putting the governors gift to good use?"<br />"The
shuttles? Yes. We located a prime location and are awaiting
confirmation from out scientists to verify if the plan is possible. It
is a lovely planet."<br />"I dont like the sand though. It gets in the fur, takes ages to get it out."<br />Rengern
shook his head, his mane fluffling for a moment before he smoothed it
out. He looked off at an angle for a moment and sniffed, wrinkling his
nose.<br />"You hu-mans have a distinctive smell. It takes some getting used to."<br />Sam laughed and pulled the rest of her outfit back on and set her wimple correctly.<br />"So do you Dewiek. Especially your adolescents, they stink to high heaven."<br />Rengern looked genuinely upset.<br />"By
the claws of my forefathers why would you want to smell a cub? Do you
realise the risk you put yourself in to get that close? The young ones
do not have the ability to recognise that you are not prey, they might
attack you and..... Oh."<br />He sighed and rubbed his paw over his face. Sister Samantha was laughing behind her hand. Again with this humour. Bloody woman!<br />"I
came to tell you the Elders of the village you visited have agreed to
see you and answer your questions. After that, I recommend you return to
the starbase, it is easier for us to protect you there."<br />"So you can keep an eye on us at all times?"<br />"You must understand, your safety is paramount to us. It has come down from the highest authority that you are not prey."<br />She
nodded and fastened her belt. Two answers, she sighed. Subvocalising
she issued an order to her party and waited while they sorted themselves
out and filed into the shuttles.<br />"Come Rengern, lets see how much trouble I can get myself into."<br />"I swear, you have been sent to test us."<br />"The True One moves in mysterious ways, I am sure that there is some influence in you somewhere of him."<br />Rengern
rubbed his temple and whispered under his breath. They are not prey,
they are not prey, they are not prey. Samantha just smiled at him as
they strapped themselves into the shuttle.<br /><br />Later that evening an
angry Sister Samantha took her usual table in the bar. Most of the rest
of her party had retired to their quarters, but she and two of her
guards remained, as did Rengern.<br />"It was not my fault Sister. You touched on delicate matters! Matters that outsiders shouldn't even know about!"<br />"You could have helped more than you did!"<br />"Listen female, you do not provoke a wolf in his lair and you certainly don't poke it with a pointed stick!"<br />"I didn't use a pointed stick!"<br />Several of the other patrons turned their heads and looked at the argument then laughed and returned to their drinks.<br />"If
you had one you would have! You don't question an elder like that, they
are revered and respected and your questions were insolent!"<br />"If they didn't keep changing the subject I wouldn't have to keep asking the questions!"<br />"You are a guest here, Sister. You would do well to remember that."<br />Rengern got up and walked away.<br />"Rengern, where are you going?"<br />"To get some air. There is a bad smell here. I will see you in the morning."<br />Samantha put her hand on her companions shoulders and stopped them from causing more of a scene than was necessary.<br />"Get the beers in. I need to get this report written up and sent of."<br />"Sister, how long are we going to be here?"<br />"Until the job is done, may the True One give me strength. I swear I was given this assignment as a punishment."<br />The monk laughed and slapped her shoulder.<br />"At least we are not with the Flagritz. These Dewiek are amieable enough once they have a few drinks in them."<br />She
sank back into her chair and groaned as a large pack of Dewiek boiled
into the bar, howling and laughing and punching each other. One of them
pointed in her direction and they all looked, silently, unnervingly at
her before going back to their carousing. Pulling out her personal
computer from her bag she set it up and started to write her report.<br /><br />"....Are
even more than those living in the starbase. The parallels are
striking, and under any other circumstance the standard training would
have taken hold but I have yet to find the key to get into their mind.
Their ability to communicate amongst themselves with a complex auditory
and visual system, made possible by their empathic abilities makes
them....."<br />A small leather ball bounced off of the table and hit her
in the shoulder. She picked it up and looked at it, recognising it
almost immediately. It was a training tool for the cubs, to increase
their hand to claw co-ordination. When she first saw a group of them
batting the ball around between them she was intrigued. Now she seemed
to be hit by one or more most evenings when she came in. Recognising
where it came from she threw it back.<br />"... their empathic abilities
makes them work well in a small pack, and on the battlefield I have no
doubt they would be very dangerous. I hope I do not have occasion to see
this. Even with isolated villages on the planet they have shown a level
of connectedness between each other that is astounding. I may have a
visit from the Inquisiton for saying so, but there is much about the
Dewiek that I have found to admire...."<br />The ball flew at her again and she caught it in her off hand while continuing.<br />".... but also much that is hard to live with. A full report will be made by evensong tomorrow. Sister Samantha, Avoir Mission."<br /><br />She
closed the computers top and threw the ball as hard as she could,
hitting the offender on the back of the head. The pack, as one, turned
to her. Keeping eye contact she drained her beer and watched as three of
them came over to her, from the look of them, older cubs. One of them
picked up the table and casually threw it aside. A yelp from the corner
was met with a low growling from the rest of the young pack. The one she
had hit on the head with the ball stood infront of her. Even as an
older cub he was still two meters tall and had all the tools inbuilt
that were needed to kill her with one well aimed swipe of his paw. He
pushed her in her chair and sniffed several times.<br />"Why are you here? This is not a human place. This is a place for warriors, for the Dewiek!"<br />There were howls of agreement, literally.<br />"You
are not wanted here, with your stupid robes and questions and
arrogance. Your softness offends me, and your hairless bodies are
revolting. And that singing you do that is murder on the ears and the
mumbling under your breath. Pah! All humans are good for is being
hunted! And our warfleets have done that, hunted humans."<br />The cub stood up and howled long and spread his arms wide.<br />"We
have heard the tales of our brothers, fighting humans, killing humans,
laying waste to them, scattering them like cattle before the howl of the
pack."<br />"Oh really? I heard about the Dewiek fleets being decimated,
hunted down and destroyed. Maybe your stories are just that, stories,
made up to tell those who cannot fight what the real Dewiek do."<br />"You
humans cannot fight properly, you fight from distance instead of
getting up close. Even the lowliest of us here has more honour than you,
hairless worm of the noisy god."<br />Samantha stood up and put her hands on her hips, squaring off against the cub.<br />"What
do you know of honour, you.... a cub... barely out of the nest. You
insult my God, impugn my honour and stand here with a pack to support
you knowing full well that I can't do anything about it. You are nothing
but a spoilt child, a drunken lout and a coward!"<br />The silence in the
bar became apparent at that time as she looked up at the dewiek before
her, the scent of him filled her nostrils, the sound of his breathing,
the smell of his hot cloying breath near overwhelming. At that instant,
she knew, she would never leave this planet. And she smiled.<br /><br />Because
of the silence, the slap when it came was heard by everyone. Stools
were pushed aside as wolves stood up. Behind her, her two companions
stood up as well. The tension in the atmosphere was palpable.<br />"So, human, what are you going to do now?" The cub growled at her.<br />"Liam, go and get two large beers ready. Now."<br />He scurried off to the bar and she pulled a low stool around and stood on it and looked at him, eye to eye.<br />"We
of the Brotherhood are peaceful. We spend our days in pious
contemplation, in study and forever looking for the word of God. The
True One tells us to turn the other cheek," she turned her unslapped
cheek towards him," So why don't you hit me again? Or are you not man
enough to do it?"<br /><br />The dewiek pulled his arm around to slap her,
an evil wolfish grin on his face. As his arm came around she kicked him,
hard in the groin, following up with a punch to his head that stunned
him and then bodily leapt on him. They crashed to the floor, scattering
patrons and she straddled his chest, one hand holding her long dagger
from her belt and at his throat, her eyes looking directly into his.<br />"While
I have your attention I will tell you a story. It is a story of honour
and mutual trust. When your great Elder Gath Edhoras stumbled upon a
lost group of survivors from a flagritz attack he offered them a choice.
Duel him with honour, fight him one on one and if any survived they
would be rescued and returned to safety. If he died, then there would be
no recriminations. And so my people, people from my sect dueled him,
and one by one they died until one finally killed him, after he had been
wounded. He died the way all Dewiek wish to die, in combat, with the
blood of the enemy on your claws, with honour and remembered by his
enemy as a true warrior and a hero. I know that under usual conditions
if I fought you, I would die because I am simply not strong enough to
fight you, but I would do so and die, and I would die well!"<br />She slammed the knife into the floor next to his head.<br />"Liam! Beers! Now!"<br />She
took one and drank it, drinking much, but splashing a lot down her
front, throwing the glass away when she had finished and taking the
second, pouring it into the mouth of the Dewiek beneath her. Standing up
she walked over to the bar and handed the bartender her credit chit and
turned to the assembled Dewiek, including the cub who had made it to
his feet, wiping his mouth.<br />"We are here to drink and celebrate! I
celebrate my God and you celebrate the hunt and we both worship to the
best of our abilities! So let us drink and howl at the moon for tomorrow
we may all be dead!"<br />The dewiek walked up to her and stood infront
of her. She looked up at him and waited for the blow. Softly and gently
he picked her up and sat her on the bar and looked her in the eye.<br />"I have never seen a human who could stand up to a dewiek, in his own bar with his pack behind him and knock him down."<br />"Your
pack is strong, but my pack is stronger. My pack is my faith and my
belief in the True One. My faith gives me the strength to face down a
fearsome Dewiek and his pack. On his home turf. All of my followers
would do the same. But enough of that. Now show me what it is to be
Dewiek, let us drink and fight and I'll run with your pack! I swear on
the Bible of the True One I will spend a month with you and I will see
what it means to be Dewiek!"<br />The Dewiek grinned and laughed at her
and slapped her shoulder so hard she moved. He threw his head back and
howled, his pack howled. Sitting on the bar, in a Dewiek tavern, covered
in beer but with a grin on her face Sister Samantha threw back her head
and howled.<br /><br /><br />A few days later Samantha awoke slowly, dull
pain radiating from her, dulled by powerful drink. Looking around she
found herself in what looked to be a back alley in the starbase,
partially buried under a pile of snoring Dewiek. Feeling around gently
she groaned in pain in her side, guessing a couple of broken ribs and
her tongue found a gap in her teeth that wasn't there before. Looking
down she noticed her robes were in tatters, but covered, mostly, what
needed to be covered. Pulling her right arm around she noticed the rune
shaped scars on her arm, Dewiek equivalent of tattoos. With no small
amount of pride she read what they said. Little Howl.<br /><br />As she
pulled herself from the pile other Dewiek began waking up and pulling
themselve together. Facial hair matted with drool and blood, other
smells of a not so nice nature. As she stretched and leant against a
wall some of the Dewiek congratulated her for keeping up with the run,
though they didn't explain what the run was. As some of them departed
the majority started to gravitate towards the starport, Sister Samantha
went with them, looking, as they eloquently put it, for more of the
tooth of the shark that bit them.<br /><br />As they stepped out into the
sunlight of one of the main streets and located a tavern Sam mused, it
would be a long month, but that was the nature of the beast.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-51093537368614369482015-09-15T14:46:00.001-07:002015-09-15T14:46:16.125-07:00For Whom the Bell Tolls<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sister Murcia leant against the last survivor of her party and wept.
Before her lay nine unlit pyres, eight held the remains of those who had
followed Sistar Pilar, and the last one was empty. Around them the
engines of the reinforcements she had called in were loud in the desert
silence and she was making damn sure that no one got in the way of this
ceremony. That the natives had come and attacked them was annoying, that
they were the most likely people to have taken the Dewieks body was
unforgivable. She pulled out the bone necklace that was her friends and
placed it around her neck and took the flaming brand from the last
survivor. Standing by the pyres she turned and faced the group that was
there, taking care to catch eye contact with the Zealot Ezikial and his
native guide.<br />"We have lost over the last few days a considerable
amount. People have died, friends, loved ones, the faithful. Butchered
by the attack of the Flagritz, attacked by the natives of this planet,
and finally, at the hands of this most noble Dewiek."<br />She moved from pyre to pyre, lighting each one.<br />"I
have not fought in many battles, but I have seen strength, and I have
seen courage. And I tell you truthfully, with the True One as my
witness, that without the honour of the Dewiek Elder, none of us would
have been here to tell this. I looked into his eyes at the moment of his
death, I held his hand as the life faded from his eyes. I saw..... "<br />With a faltering voice she stopped at the last, empty pyre.<br /><br /><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Empty,
why had they taken the body? What would those savages do? How dare they
interrupt such an important event? They would burn, their villages
would burn, their children would burn, they would reap what they had
sown and the True One would judge them!</i></span><br /><br />"We have a
choice.... We can ignore what happened here, and let it blow away in the
dust. Or we can honour the fallen. Our fallen, and the Dewieks. They
have already offered to take us away, transport us to safety. But I say
no, our honour demands we stay. We can not stand by while the godless
heathens desecrate the body of a fallen hero of the Dewiek. I will
return to Ascension and I will ring the great bells in the Cathedral to
let Gath's ancestors know he is coming and he died a worthy death, which
is all a great warrior can ask, and honoured by his foes! I care not if
the Inquisition comes for me, for I have the righteousness of my faith
as my shield, and I will carry this spear, with his blood on, to the
Altars of the True One and bless his name this most holy relic. I will
ring out his name with praise and let everyone know that he died a true
Dewiek, a noble Elder, and a leader of his people!"<br />She threw the
torch onto the empty pyre and watched the flames dance high and started
to sing a hymn, her voice shouting out so all could hear, and before
long everyone was singing, everyone was remembering, and none would
forget.<br /><br /><br />The Desert Rat looked over at the Zealot with a little confusion in his eyes.<br />"Can she do that? Will your superiors not punish her?"<br />"Probably. But do you think that would stop her?"<br />"No. I will go to my people, I will ask them about the tribe that stole his body. Maybe they know who it was."<br />"I hope so, because I very much doubt that this has ended for her."<br />The Zealot turned to the camera mounted on his shoulder and turned it off.<br /><br /><br />Inquisitor
D'morenta watched the transmission with interest. That such things
would happen now, at this time. Was this fate? Or just faith? Perhaps
she was right in her belief that the True One touched not just her
people, but others. It was dangerous talk, but once more she would talk
with the Dewiek. She pressed a button on her desk and waited for her
assistant to arrive.<br />"Send a message to the Cathdral of Ascension,
start the bells ringing. We are honouring those who fell. And get me the
Dewiek Ambassador and ready my estate for a week of hunting."</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-34654387537721930982015-09-15T14:45:00.001-07:002015-09-15T14:45:29.189-07:00I Believe<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sister Pilar watched the Dewiek while her companions argued between
themselves. It was obvious that there was some hatred amongst the
troops, it wasn't easy to have an outpost taken so quickly. It may not
have been by the Dewiek, but she had no way of checking. Definately the
Flagritz were involved, but weren't the Dewiek and the Flagritz allies?
Was this just a ruse? She watched the hulking Dewiek and wondered why.
The scent of the orange that he was eating with obvious relish was in
her nostrils, it seemed to be a cloak that surrounded her, reminding her
of days gone by at the Convent..... for a moment the memories closed
over her and the arguments and pleading of her band were so many grains
of sand on the breeze, her hand reached her throat and touched.....<br /><br /><br /><i><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="color: maroon;">She
sat in a semi-circle with the other acolytes, listening to the stories
that the Sister was giving to them. She remembered the day as if it was
yesterday. Although the others considered her a dragon and a harsh
disciplinarian she was always in awe of her, always listened, always
remembered. That day, while she was talking to them about compassion and
the martyrs of the True One she was eating an orange as well. The small
knife she had working each piece as she told the tale, the way she
would use the blade to emphasise points as she said them. That day she
had openly wept at the teachings, something no other acolyte had done.
They had laughed at her for it, until the Sister has scoulded them and
sent them away in a howling fury. None of them had seen her so
terrifying before. And yet when she sat down next to her, there was only
kindess in her face.<br />'Pilar, my dear. You of all of them it seems
have understood what I was trying to teach. I hope in your darkest hour
you will remember that. It doesn't matter who, or why or where, always
have compassion, always believe in yourself. I see something in you that
I remember in myself, that I lost.'<br />She took her necklace off, it
was one that we all talked about, the symbol of the True One that she
had made herself. A piece of bone, scrimshawed and coated with a
microscopic layer of silver.<br />'This is my rosiary, it came from a
person I fought, who nearly killed me, but he let me live. Though we
were both wounded severly, he was less so, and with a working hand he
could have killed me. But instead, he stabilised me and left me where
our brethren could find me. Three days later he was captured and
executed. I risked excomunication in pleading for his life, and was
punished more severely than you will ever know. Compassion for an alien
was unheard of, they said. A thousand lashes over a hundred days.
Through the will of the True One I survived. When I returned to my cell I
found his skull fragments on my table, and a message from the Abbot. In
defiance I took the largest piece and scrimshawed the piece with the
most beautiful artwork of the True One I could muster. No one could
destroy it after that. I have no daughter to pass it on to, so I give it
to you. One day, I hope you will pass it on as well. Polish it well,
look after it, and it will look after you.'</span></span></i><br /><br /><br />Pilar
looked at the Dewiek and her hand squeezed her necklace. The scent of
orange bringing tears to her eyes as she remembered the past. Slowly she
turned and walked to her companions. The sergeant stood up and cast a
dismissive wave at the warrior.<br />"What are we going to do about it? We do not give in to the demands of alien filth. We kill them."<br />"Sergeant Sergio, if you do not keep a civil tongue in your head I swear by all that is holy I will remove it."<br />He was shocked at her tone, quiet and cold and took a step back.<br />"You are going to agree with it?"<br />"Let
me put it this way. If we stay out here, we are dead. If we fight him
and die, we are dead. If we win I believe that his people will keep
their word. And some of us may live."<br />"Sister, your talk is heretical! I would be within my right to kill you now and bury you beside him."<br />"Our
outpost was overrun, we don't know how many survived, we dont know if
the rest of the convoy was destroyed, we don't know if they reached Dune
Cove and were destroyed there."<br />"We can get to high ground and try the radio...."<br />"We
did.... there was nothing. We may be the only Brotherhood forces left
on this planet. Even in this system. And if I am given a chance to save
even some of our brethren I will take that chance. I would fight the
devil himself to save your soul. I know your pain and anguish, I feel it
more so. How many people lie dead, or captured? I don't know. I DON'T
KNOW!"<br />The Dewiek looked up at the shout and shook his head, scratching at the sand which seemed to get everywhere.<br />"What
I do know is we are alive. And we have been given a way out. Some of us
will die, that is for sure, maybe all of us. But we will do this
because it is the honourable thing to do, it is the right thing to do
and because I believe....."<br />She pulled out her necklace and kissed
the symbol of the True One scrimshawed onto the bone of an enemy who
showed compassion, with effort she stopped herself from crying, just.<br />"Because I believe."<br />The Sergeant looked at her and lowered his weapon.<br />"Sister, we will all do as you say. Won't we?"<br />One by one the others, even the civilians agreed.<br />"Sister,
please forgive my arrogance. I could only see through my rage. If you
will lead us in a final prayer, we will be ready. And I would be
honoured to be the first to fight."<br />Sistar Pilar reached over and placed her hand on his face and rested her forehead on his.<br />"The
strength of the True One will be with us. It is in the hands of the
True One if we fail or we succeed. Either way, I hope that our story
will be retold. If not at one of our convents, then at the Halls of the
Dewiek."<br /><br />The Dewiek looked up as the woman walked over to him. He stood up and flexed and looked down at her.<br />"Your people have made a decision?"<br />"We have."<br />He could tell from the look on her face, a grim stoicism that they had accepted. <br />"There is a place near here that we can use, a natural arena."<br />"Give us a moment and we will follow you. Before we do, I have a question. What is your name?"<br />The Dewiek smiled at her.<br />"My name... is Gath."<br />"Gath.
My name is Sister Pilar of the Blessed Order of the Little Sisters of
Charity. If you do.... if we all fall, leave us here, but will you let
the others of our Order know?"<br />"Yes, I will. If I die...."<br />"I will. I give you the word bond of my Order. We all will."<br />He
looked down upon her and nodded, holding out his hand, his claws
retracting slowly. They shook and looked each other in the eyes. They
both understood.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-58428359869429062522015-09-15T14:44:00.005-07:002015-09-15T14:44:41.730-07:00Lost in Purgatory<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sandstorm howled with a fury of almost biblical proportions. Those
safely inside the tanks and what civilian craft they could acquire did,
protected from what was seen as the wrath of god, the mother of all
storms. Almost bumper to bumper they pushed on, not knowing if the
superior flagritz forces were following them, or if they would ever meet
up with Ezikiel again. The mood was sober, only the singing of hymns
from the acolytes kept their spirits up. Onwards they pushed, into the
unknown.<br /><br />With a whine and a stench of burning the tank ground to a
halt. Smoke billowed from the rear compartment, hastily extinguished by
supressors, but making the atmosphere unbearable. The wounded groaned
and moaned while the hatch was open to vent the smoke and acrid air.
Sand immediately began cascading in, but the wind was able to vent the
smoke and the hatch was sealed quickly.<br />"This is tank alpha seven seven do you read me?"<br />Static.<br />"This is tank alpha seven seven do you read me? Over?"<br />More static, then fragments of someone talking then more static.<br />"Keep trying soldier."<br />A
nun sat down and removed her headgear ruffling her hair and massaging
her neck. She looked around, a small group of heavily armed soldiers,
some civilians, acolytes and some who were wounded.<br />"You, take stock
of what provisions we have here. Driver, check out the engine if you
can, see if it can be repaired. Keep a look out of the vision slits,
this storm can't last forever."<br />"Sister, will we get out of this? The True One says that in adversity the truly blessed will be known. Is this adversity?"<br />The driver as he was peering into the engine compartment spat and pulled his goggles down.<br />"No, this is purgatory."<br /><br />It
was several hours later when the hatch was thrown back and Sister Pilar
pulled herself out onto the turret. Over half of the tank had been
covered in sand, and most of one side was up to the turret. Taking a set
of binoculars from a soldier she stood on the turret and scanned the
horizon while others pulled themselves out. The area was a sandy
wasteland, barren and empty. She pulled out her communicator and started
to scan the channels. There was nothing, just static. Sitting on the
edge of the turret she drummed her heels against the hull and jumped
down.<br />"How many are we?"<br />"Just ten, including walking wounded."<br />"I thought there were others?"<br />There
were three brief gunshots and then a junior sister pulled herself out
of the tank, tears in her eyes. Pilar looked at her and smiled.<br />"You
did right sister. Now come, we need to move, help the wounded. We need
to get to that outcrop of rock, it's a long way, but we can make it
before night fall I think."<br />"What about the weapons?"<br />"Bring everything you can carry. We will fight, but I'd rather we survive. So make sure you bring the water."<br />The driver pulled out a bottle and waggled it.<br />"And the holy wine?"<br />She laughed and took the bottle, taking a mouthful of the aniseed liquor.<br />"Blessed be. Now, move out, and keep an eye out. We don't want to be ambushed or run into anything...."<br />With a sigh she handed the bottle back.<br />"Unexpected.... May the True One carry us to safety. If we are worthy of your blessings, hear us now O Lord."<br /><br />Slowly, but with determination, the small group of survivors, lost in purgatory, headed out.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-19540015034159736342015-09-15T14:44:00.001-07:002015-09-15T14:44:12.932-07:00Storm in a Teacup<div style="text-align: justify;">
The sandstorm howled through the streets, alleys and plaza's of
Sandstorm City. Awnings and signs flapped frantically, people cowered
behind closed doors and even ships were grounded. It was a bit of a
misnomer calling the outpost a city, but it provided a function for the
Brotherhood, an important station to look after new recruits. From his
residence the Zealot Ezikial watched the power of the storm. He was not
happy. But then when you incur the wrath of leader of your order, you
did not expect a plum assignment. But this?<br /><br />He opened a bottle of
wine and whispered a brief prayer and poured a glass. Even that grated
him, having to pour his own wine. Maybe that was part of the punishment,
he was too.... comfortable with luxury. All had gone, his estate on
Mobile Bay, his artwork, his books, his wine cellar. He groaned at the
memory as his fellow zealots smashed every single bottle before his
eyes, destroyed every piece of artwork, burnt most of the books. There
were some that are just too holy to burn. And banished here. <br />"Are you sure this is the best wine you have?"<br />"Aaaah,
my friend. You would not believe me when I said even a glass of water
is a luxury to us. And this wine, which has so much waste when you make
it, and fills the mind full of shadow and desire, it is not for us."<br />"Yes I know... you are a simple people...."<br />The figure sitting on the stone steps leading to the drained pool kept talking despite him.<br />"We are a simple people, we need only the desert and the gifts that she brings...."<br />"I swear, you were sent here to test me desert rat."<br />The figure laughed and picked up the glass of water from a nearby table and walked over to Ezikial.<br />"You see this? I have killed men before for such a glass, and you give it to me freely."<br />"I do. I don't have much.... but I offer it freely."<br />"You are a strange man, Ezikial of the True One. But your heart is in the right place."<br />In
a blur of robes the desert rat leapt at Ezikial and lunged his weapon,
at his heart, stopping mere inches from his chest. Ezikial sipped his
wine.<br />"You would be dead if I was an enemy, you are too soft."<br />"Look down.... And I do hope you didn't spill your water."<br />The
desert rat looked down at the heavy pistol that was also inches away
from him, but from his stomach, his finger tight on the trigger.<br />"I wasn't sent here because I was soft...."<br /><br />When
the storm abated the sound of bells started ringing properly from the
small church. People started to clear away the sand and assess the
damages. Ezikial and the desert rat headed out into the outpost,
watching the storm as it moved on. Slowly, over the course of twenty
minutes the various guard posts reported in. All was well it seemed.<br />"My friend, I must go and perform my duties."<br />"It is as expected, I must speak with my people. And see if there is any progress."<br />"If there is no progress, then again I offer my house to you and yours."<br />"You are most gracious. I will see you soon."<br />Ezikial
watched as the wiry desert man pulled his robes around him and ducked
into an alley. He smiled and walked on, waving at various people he
recognised and waving at those he didn't. They recognised him, at least
if not who he was, at least what he was. And if there were any who knew
what he had been, they kept their fear hidden well.<br /><br />From a flat
roof near the church, under a tattered awning the desert rat sat and
waited. It wasn't long until several others arrived, like him, they had
the look of the desert on them. They made their greetings first, after
all the rituals had to be made and obeyed.<br />"What news?"<br />"It is grave. There is an army building, it came down during the storm."<br />"They are coming here?"<br />"Yes. Already their scouts have been seen. We have intercepted a few, but there must have been more."<br />"Why? Do we know?"<br />"The scouts we intercepted were paid by the Flagritzi, it is as we were warned."<br />"Flagritzi and the Dewiek, plus the other aliens. They warned us they would come."<br />"No, the old man did, not this one. He is too brazen, too soft. It may be well that he dies. He does not know how to rule."<br />"He is not a ruler, he is a leader though. And he is not soft."<br />"He
is no leader, he was an inquisitor, a bad one. There is bad blood on
him, and if you associate with him, then there will be bad blood with
you. I speak now, from our mothers side, and you will listen."<br />The desert rat held up his hand in submission and then rubbed it over his stubbled chin.<br />"How long do we have?"<br />One of his companions pointed to the horizon, there were glimmers of sun on metal.<br />"Less time than you think."<br />"I speak now from our fathers side. I will stand by him. I care not what he was, I only know what he is and what he may become."<br />"You were warned."<br />"And
would I be any less of a man for breaking bread with he who I call
friend, and then leaving him to die? What honour do I have from that? I
might as well be a water thief and join the northern clans than live
righteous and true."<br />"You are the son of our mother and our father. Go brother, with honour and if you make it, we will judge then your friend."<br /><br />Ezikial
was in the middle of a benediction when the desert rat burst in to the
church and ran up towards him. Already from both sides of the church
guards were standing and raising their weapons.<br />"Peace brothers I plead it. Ezikial my friend, we must go. Now!"<br />A
thousand words filled his head and he could feel his hand shaking from
anger, that he would dare to burst in like this. But, from what he knew
of the man, he would not do it. Unless it was necessary.<br />"What is wrong my friend?"<br />"Enemies are coming. Lots of them. We need to leave."<br />"No. I will not leave my...."<br />The
first sounds of gunfire started to be heard, and then the sound of
heavier weapons, lots of them. Almost as one, the guards and several of
the congregation raised a hand to their ears and listened. Several
headed out the door, others went to the exits and looked out, weapons
ready.<br />"A mercenary army is attacking us. You are heavily outnumbered."<br />"We are the Brotherhood, the unfaithful always outnumber us."<br />One of the guards came down the bell tower and saluted.<br />"Sir, it's bad. Tanks and troops, thousands of them."<br />"Tanks or troops?"<br />"Sir,
thousands of tanks... thousands of troops. Probably about four
thousand, coming straight at us, but with pincers moving either side.
Our outer defences are already heavily engaged and there are reports of
squads of them breaking through."<br />"Sir, movement in the street, looks like a lot of troops, they are not ours."<br />"How can you be sure?"<br />"They are alien?"<br />Ezikial pulled out his pistol and took a combat staff from one of the guards.<br />"Are you with me, Desert Rat? Will you fight with us?"<br />"You need to ask? I am with you, by this fight I call you brother and will introduce you so to my clan.... if we survive."<br />"If we survive. Blessed be, brother."<br /><br />The mercenary unit moved into position around the church while their leader kicked in the door.<br />"In the Flagritz...."<br />A
shot took him in the throat, throwing him back and a black sphere
followed, scattering the troops before it exploded. Screams and oaths
were shouted followed by a scream of fury from the church. Ezikial
leading his small band engaged the mercenaries in vicious hand to hand
fighting. Blasts from his pistol and the scything arc of this combat
staff knocked the merc back despite their weaponry. He stood, breathing
heavy and threw his staff away, checking his pistol and pulling out a
curved dagger. One of the surviving guards pulled out a tac map and
checked it briefly.<br />"Sir, our defences have crumbled, our people are fighting to the last and making it very costly for the enemy."<br />"Ezikial,
we must flee, this outpost is lost. It never had a chance. But we can
escape and we can come back better armed and ready for them!"<br />"I will not leave my people to die to an alien horde! I owe them better than that!"<br />"The people will mourn your death and then you will be forgotten!"<br />"Better to die with honour than fight a dishonest war!"<br />"May
your True One damn you for a slow brained moron! How do you think they
were able to attack without the HBO stepping in? They are only attacking
you! The civilians are not being targetted!"<br />Ezikial stopped for a moment.<br />"Aaaah,
I see that got through to you. You are not fighting individual people,
you are no longer an Inquisitor, you are only a functionary, a
government lacky. And you failed at that! People are dying because you
do not recognise that there is no hope here!"<br />"There is always hope!"<br />"Sir,"one
of the guards pulled him back into the ley of a house,"It's been
confirmed over the net, the HBO sees this as a fight between two
opposing cultures. There has been no orbital bombardment, damage is
being limited to a minumum."<br /><br />For a moment he was lost in thought.
The enormity of what had happened was now only beginning to get through
to him. He pulled out his communicator and switched it to a wide band
transmission.<br />"This is Zealot Ezikial, acting governor of Sandstorm
City. All Brotherhood troops will attempt to break out of the city and
escape into the desert. If you are not Brotherhood you will not be
targetted. For your safety, stay in doors. I repeat, all Brotherhood
troops break out and escape into the desert."<br />He closed the communicator and sighed.<br />"Forgive me, my friend. Let us escape before there truly is no hope."<br /><br />Several
hours later Ezikial looked down from the bluff overlooking the outpost
of Sandstorm City. There were still sporadic firefights within the city
limits, but the majority of fighting had stopped. He had seen a large
motorised convoy leaving fast heading away under heavy fire, but it had
also escaped. The desert rat placed his hand on Ezikials shoulder.<br />"My friend, there was nothing we could do. There were simply too many of them."<br />"I failed them. Do you understand how much I have failed? Do you have any idea?"<br />"Yes.
I told you, we are a simple people. This... is bad. But we are alive.
And that is good. Now come, there is another sandstorm coming, we can
hide in there while it comes and then I will take you to my home. You
will be my guest."<br />"I will return here. One day, some how."<br />"Yes, but not today. Now come, let me tell you about home...."<br /><br /><br />Far,
far away in her office in the monestary complex on Mobile Bay Penitant
Inquisitor D'morenta looked at a folder she was handed. It was labelled
simply 'Battle: Persian - Mithras'. She opened it and read it, frowned
and then handed it back to her assistant.<br />"Burn it. Send out a warning to all acolytes in Halo that their training facility has fallen."<br />"Shall we mount a force to retake the outpost?"<br />"No.
My man on the ground will have to make do with what he has there. We
can't go sending the fleet out for every storm in a teacup."<br />As soon
as her assistant had gone she sat down at the computer console and
brought up the excommunication proceedings for Inquisitor Ezikial and
started reading.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-40104419501738502092015-09-15T14:43:00.003-07:002015-09-15T14:43:32.488-07:00Matters of Faith<div style="text-align: justify;">
Zewt System - Brotherhood Assault Transport 'Ecumenical Matter'<br /><br />The
inquisitor paced up and down in the hold of the transport, her fingers
caressing the beads on her rosary as she muttered a prayer under her
breath. Every now and then she would look up at the readout on the wall,
and start pacing again. Around her, strapped into their seats a dozen
nuns were checking their weapons and whispering prayers, all
occasionally looking at the Inquisitor as she paced. <br />"Inquisitor D'morenta," a voice came over the tannoy, "We are approaching the co-ordinates, we need you on the bridge."<br />"I'll be there shortly Captain. Melissa, keep an eye on things, I'll be back."<br />She
slipped her rosary into her belt and made her way along the walkway
towards the bridge. Strange sounds echoed along the corridor, machinery
deploying outside the inner hull and the thrum of shield generators
coming back online. As she squeezed through the doorway onto the bridge
she listened for a moment to the coversations.<br />".....Caliphate
control to Brotherhood transport. If you do not transmit clearance codes
you will be escorted to a holding area and your complement placed under
arrest pending....."<br /><br />She tapped the captain on the shoulder and
held out her hand, he passed over a headset for her and clipped it into
the main console.<br />"Caliphate control this is Inquisitorial Transport
code 56 dash Alpha. We are going to be in dock for an hour to recharge
shields and perform maintenance on some exterior shielding. Prepare a
landing bay for us. Thank you."<br />"Uuh... Transport 56 dash Alpha we do not have you on our....."<br />"Caliphate
control. I understand that this class of ship requires a somewhat
smaller berth than you are used to. May I recommend you allocate us the
level 7 berth spinward of the main dock. I pray that I will not have
cause to bring this to the attention of the Inquisition, though I will
utter praise to your superiors for a quick docking. Inquisitor out."<br />The Captain looked at the screen and swore softly.<br />"Inquisitor, look at this. These readings I've not seen before. I'm unfamiliar with these designations."<br />"It's nothing to worry about. It's just a GTT squadron. Looks like three ships, fast boarders."<br />"Look, I'm not happy about this. It's one thing to go against the Caliphate, but the GTT as well?"<br />"Allies
are allies. There were bound to be more in the area. There are several
other Brotherhood ships landed here. What's a handful more of the
faithful? Most of them will not notice anything out of the ordinary."<br />"I signed up for this because...."<br />She glared at the captain and pulled her rosary out of her belt and started rubbing one of the beads between her fingers.<br />"Jake,
the Confederacy is dead. Not just dead it's now a handful of pirates
and drifters operating on the outskirts of civilisation. You will get
your revenge one day, but that day is not today. Now if you can't land
this transport and wait for us while we perform the True One's Will then
I swear I will pray for your soul and then kick you out of the nearest
air lock. Do you understand?"<br />The Captain turned and looked at her and shivered under her gaze. Damn these religious fanatics, damn them all.<br />"Caliphate control to 56 dash Alpha. You are cleared, standby for docking beacon."<br />"Thank you control, transport out."<br />She turned back to the Captain.<br />"Get us down there. And do not draw any more attention to yourself."<br /><br />Few
noticed the transport landing, even fewer noticed the Inqusitorial
markings on the side. Transports of all different types and affiliations
landed here, but only those who were given permission to land. Hence,
any that landed were beyond reproach.<br />Inquisitor D'morenta led the
two columns of nuns down the landing ramp and into the docking bay. She
checked the weapons strapped to her upper arms and slipped her hands
into cowled sleeves and walked towards the exit. It was guarded by two
heavily armed troopers who held up their hands.<br />"Hold it, ID papers please."<br />"I
am here on Inquisitorial business. I am not bound by the petty concerns
of the Caliphate. Step aside, I will not ask a second time."<br />The troopers looked at each other then back to the Inquisitor.<br />"That may be, but you are required to be signed in. If you do not do so, you will not be able to pass into the station."<br />"Melissa?" Carmilla turned her head to the nun behind her who pulled out a scanner.<br />"One camera and these are the only two in the area."<br />One
of the quicker troopers reached for his communicator only to find
himself looking at the fat barrel of the silencer on Carmilla's weapon. A
second silenced pistol was pointed at the second trooper.<br />"Weapons down, hands up."<br />Their weapons clattered on the floor and for a moment sadness flickered over her face.<br />"I will pray for your souls."<br />She fired twice.<br /><br />Outside
of the docking bay she let the nuns past and pulled the last two aside.
From their look they were Kastorian, but slight for all that.<br />"Okay, you two know what you have to do?"<br />"Yes Bishop, we do. We have memorised the layout and where to be."<br />"If you are caught...."<br />"We will leave that to the True One. We will meet you back at the Transport."<br />"Go with God."<br />"And you, Bishop."<br />Carmilla
watched them go and then returned to the head of the other nuns and
moved off quickly. It didn't take long to find themselves outside a
nondescript door in a back corridor. Despite being out of the way the
corridor was clean and well travelled. Unfortunately it was also on the
security grid, security cameras moved back and forth slowly. She stood
by the side of the door as one of the nuns pulled out a device and
attached it to the control panel. It whirred softly as it hacked the
panel and the door lock slid back allowing them to enter.<br /><br />The bored guards looked up and saw the nuns approaching. One pulled himself to his feet and yawned.<br />"Security authorisations."<br />He
held out his hand and gasped as the lead nun pulled two pistols out
from her sleeves and fired twice. His confused face slammed into the
floor as his life leaked over the floor. As the light in his eyes faded
he felt his body being rolled over and his security pass snatched from
his body.<br />"Spread out, any guards retire them quickly. No alarms. Someone keep an eye on the consoles. You two, with me."<br />She
ran towards the main door and inserted the card, then prayed her intel
was correct, tapping in a code. The door flashed and opened revealing
two guards who fell back under a hail of bullets. Inside she looked at
the readout on the wall and cursed.<br />"What's wrong?"<br />"There are too many. There shouldn't have been this many. How much room do we have on the transport?"<br />"Maximum? About six hundred seats.... Oh."<br />"Doesn't
matter. We take them all. Pull the doors.....," she checked the list
and found the name and ran down to the cell and looked in," Open it."<br />The
door to the cell opened and the light flickered on. She looked in, then
looked up... then was slammed against the cell door behind her. A large
furry clawed hand grasped her around the neck and lifted her off the
floor until she was eye to eye. The Dewiek leaned in closer until it was
just an inch away from her face and sniffed.<br />"Why do I not smell any fear on you? Death, yes, but no fear."<br />She grabbed his hands and pulled them enough to speak.<br />"Because I do not fear you."<br />"You
will learn! Did you think you could torture me as you have done and not
get your throat torn out? I have killed more humans than you know, what
is one more in a dress?"<br />"I did not let you out so you could kill me!"<br />"Then you should not have let me out! Your death will lead to my death and I will die fighting!"<br />"You are not going to die here you stupid creature, I'm here to release you!"<br />The
Dewiek threw it's head back and howled with laughter. It turned its
head and saw the other nuns with guns pointed at it, then noticed the
bodies on the floor.<br />"Why are they dead?"<br />"Because they would not let us let you out."<br />"So you killed them?"<br />"Yes."<br />"Why?"<br />"That
would be an ecumenical matter and one I do not want to talk about while
I have bloody dead troopers lying around. Now do you want to be fucking
stupid and kill me or do you want to help me figure out how to get you
all out of here and onto my transport?"<br />"Who are you, human? Who are you who do not fear the revenge of the Caliphate and would help your enemy?"<br />"I
am Inquisitor D'morenta, and why I am doing this does not matter. It is
beyond your comprehension. Now let me down so we can get you all out."<br />"All of us?"<br />"Yes. If we can."<br />"Who sent you?"<br />She told him. The hand opened and she dropped to the floor, gasping and rubbing her throat.<br />"Open
all the cells, lets get them ready. Pick up any weapons you want, but
we'll get out quicker if you don't start killing everyone in sight."<br />"You seem to have done that."<br />Behind them both more Dewiek prisoners were being released, snarls and low rumbled filled the air.<br />"I hope you know what you are doing, little human."<br />"In matters of faith I always know what I am doing. Doesn't mean I'm not in over my head."<br /><br />The nuns at the prison door looked back at the horde that was pouring out of the cell block.<br />"What in the..... You didn't say it was this many. Where did all they come from?"<br />"Don't ask. I don't know. But we should be able to fit them all on the transport. I think."<br />"If there are any who cannot fit, they will fight to the death to let the ship escape."<br />"It won't come to that!"<br />With
a hiss the door to the prison opened and a squad of caliphate troopers
marched in and stopped. Before she could stop them, the Dewiek leapt.
She thumbed her rosary and whispered a prayer.<br />"You are strange, human. You kill without mercy, but pray when we kill."<br />"I pray for the lost souls."<br />"Will you pray for mine when I die?"<br />"Don't make me find out. Now lets go, follow the nuns."<br />She pulled out her comm unit and spoke quickly.<br />"Is the diversion ready?"<br />"Yes Bishop, it just needs you to give us the word and the charges will be fired."<br />"Keep the channel open, we may need it. Have you located the wires for the security feeds?"<br />"I think so."<br />"Then cut them now."<br /><br />In
the central control room the officer of the day looked with interest at
the screens. On one of them he noticed the corridor filled with dewiek
walking with a purpose then the screen was filled with static. All
around the other screens were filled with static. He dialled a number
and spoke to the gruff voice at the other end.<br />"Governor, I think we may have a problem. "<br /><br />Alarms
sounded through the station and troops grabbed their weapons, listened
to orders then departed for stations. Carmilla and the lead Dewiek
looked up at the ceiling and cursed.<br />"Was this not part of your plan, little human?"<br />"No actually it wasn't."<br />"Did you have any other plan than walk in and walk out with a prison full of angry Dewiek?"<br />"Nope... actually I'm playing most of this by ear."<br />She pulled out her pistols again and let out a high pitched whistle. The nuns all pulled out similar weapons.<br />"And yet you are all armed?"<br />"Listen
fur ball, I'm doing this for a reason. I don't have to put up with your
sanctimonious spouting of the bloody obvious. I'm releasing you all
because you do not deserve to be held in a small cell and left to rot,
or be tortured until you beg to be slaughtered! I'm risking everything
because I believe it's the right thing to do and I would risk the fires
of hell to do it and no one can stop me!"<br />"Stop right there!"<br /><br />The
voice that rang out was a tall officer commanding a small unit of
marines, they all had their weapons ready, though the look on the faces
of the marines as they saw what was infront of them told her all she
needed to know. She raised her pistols and fired, the nuns fired as
well. Turning back to the Dewiek she poked him with a pistol, a fury in
her eyes.<br />"No one. You got that? Or do you want to go back to your cage?"<br />She waited a few moments then pulled out her communicator.<br />"Set off the charges and get back to the ship."<br />A few moments later the lights went out and slowly came back on. The alarms sounded even louder.<br />"Captain, this is Inquisitor D'morenta, fire up the engines we are coming in hot."<br />"Inquisitor, be careful, it's all over the net that there was a prison break."<br />"Really? Well just get the engines ready and drop all the ramps."<br />Turning to the Dewiek she grinned.<br />"So how fast can you run?"<br /><br />By
the time the screens came back on the officer of the day saw the Dewiek
and started to issue orders to the troops, the madness in the control
room was reaching fever pitch as troops requested order confirmations.<br />"Governor, we have reports of a couple of nuns firing on our troops."<br />"Nuns?
Get who ever is in charge of the Brotherhood ships up here now. I want
to find out what is going on. And print out a list of every ship that is
in dock and a verification of who is on my station."<br /><br />It took
several of the nuns to pacify the Captain as he saw the horde of Dewiek
that poured into the hanger and onto his ship. But by the time they were
all on board and Carmilla had stormed onto the bridge followed by one
of them he quickly strapped in.<br />"Damn you Inquisitor."<br />"Don't worry, if we are caught you won't have to worry about anything."<br />"Why is that?"<br />"Because if I know the Caliphate they will ask the GTT ships outside to stop us. So keep going."<br />The Captain cursed again and backed his ship out.<br /><br />The GTT captain in charge of the squadron looked over the orders that had just come over the command console.<br />"Detain ship trying to escape? Which ship?"<br />"Just says a troop transport, sir."<br />"Do they give a reason?"<br />"No. Just that it is in violation of Caliphate law."<br />The Captain saw a ship leaving the docking bays and ran a scan on it.<br />"Ignore
that ship, it's a Brotherhood Inquistion transport. Okay, send an order
to the squadron to power up weapons and get the engines fired up. When
this ship comes out we'll be ready."<br /><br />Yank System - 2 Days later<br /><br />Several
days later the ship landed on a tropical planet and began to disperse
it's cargo. Carmilla stood outside, the Dewiek with her and looked out
over the forest. Already the other dewiek prisoners were dispersing into
the forest.<br />"Why did you do this human, really?"<br />"I told you, because I believe it is the right thing to do."<br />"What are you getting out of it?"<br />"Something, certainly a bollocking."<br />They looked up as a large transport ship took off from a nearby starport.<br />"And why here?"<br />"Who would think of looking for you here?"<br />"We could easily find our way to one of these starports and return to the Empire."<br />"You won't though. I promised to free you, or if I couldn't, to execute you. Either I was told would have been acceptable."<br />"Yes. That is true. You are wise, little human."<br />"No... I just believe."<br />She pulled a copy of the True One Bible from a pack and handed it to the Dewiek, and then the pack.<br />"Food and a communicator. You are always welcome."<br />"There are those who would say that that was unwise."<br />"There
are those who do not understand the way of the Hunter, but plenty who
understand how to be prey. Go with God, and don't be a stranger."<br />Turning and heading back onto the shuttle she didn't look around and waited until the ship had taken off.<br />"Someone get me the Lord Inquisitor. And set course for Varnasi, we have some matter of faith to discuss.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-79031686164742059482015-09-15T14:42:00.005-07:002015-09-15T14:42:59.435-07:00Welcome to Kastor<div style="text-align: justify;">
In her personal chapel at the highest point of Yank Humanitarian Mission
Inquisitor D'morenta looked out over the bustling vastness. The ships
taking off and landing, the local population going about their day, the
occasional tolling of the church bells. Divesting herself of her garb
and habit she slipped into a casual dress and sat cross legged just
watching. Clutched in her hand the official orders from the Lord
Inquisitor as to her next post.<br /><br />The sun was just dipping below
the horizon when she heard the door behind her open. She didn't move,
just kept watching her starbase.<br />"I'm not interested in eating now. Bring it back in a few hours."<br />Footfalls and the sound of a walking stick brought her head up and around, her eyes glancing to her pistol, just out of reach.<br />"I thought I taught you better than that, daughter. Leaving yourself vulnerable, even here in your sanctum is just bad form."<br />She
rolled towards the weapon, hand reaching out grabbing the pistol and
she came up pointing at the voice. There was nothing there, only the
darkness of the room.<br />"Lights."<br />Slowly the lights raised and she
him in the corner of the room, in her favorite chair, a similar, but
larger pistol pointed at her. She stood and lowered her weapon, a smile
coming to her face.<br />"Dad!"<br />He smiled, and shot her.<br /><br />As he
walked over to the body on the floor the door behind him burst open,
three armed nuns came in. Two pointing their weapons at the man and the
third going over to Carmilla. She checked her pulse and let out a loud
sigh, thumping the but of her pistol onto her chest. The sound of the
form fitting body armour clinked below it.<br />"You are a royal pain in the ass Carm."<br />Carmilla breathed in deeply and sat up, her pistol still in her hand.<br />"Body armour. One of these days Carm you'll come to some harm. And you.... why did you shoot her?"<br />"Because
where my daughter is going next will need more than just her pretty
face and her faith. Faith only stops so much, but won't stop a bullet."<br />"Actually...." She pulled herself to her feet, "I find faith can move mountains. But I accept the point, thank you Father."<br />He got to his feet and the two faced each other than fell into a loving hug.<br />"It's been too long."<br />"And
you have come far in such a short time. But now, you are going to be
facing a challenge that will make even you seem insignificant."<br />"I can handle where I am going, but I feel that you are after more than just a hug and stand at the pier and wave me off."<br />He pulled a crystal from his pocket and handed it to her.<br />"I'm here for prophecy."<br /><br />From
a bag slung around his shoulders he pulled out an old book wrapped in a
heavy plastic protection. Carefully he selected a page and started to
read.<br />" ...And thus the emissary walked forth and to them said,
‘This is what the True One, our Lord says: I will take the Kastorians
out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all
around and bring them back into their own land. I will make them one
nation in the land, on the plains of Sargo. There will be one ruler over
all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into
two kingdoms...."<br />Carefully closing the book he rewrapped it and left it on the table.<br />"There are more passages there, all written a long time ago."<br />"So what? It could have been planted by missionaries. Where did you find it?"<br />"I found it in a submerged city off the plains of Sargo."<br />"Never heard of Sargo."<br />"Of
course not, it was a ruin long before the ice caps melted and submerged
the city. Sargo is now a stretch of fields surrounded by the ruins of
three merged cities. As I said, it was written a long time ago."<br />"And this has what to do with me?"<br />"You
are being sent to Kastor. You are the reincarnation of the emissary.
At least, that is how I have told it to the locals I have been with."<br />She knew better than to laugh.<br />"How could you, it was under Detinus control until recently."<br />"That's why I have not been in touch until recently. But it gave me time to talk and lay some groundwork."<br />"Well the Caliphate is there now."<br />"And the Brotherhood."<br />"It's still a bloody warzone!"<br />"And
when did that ever stop you? Or I? Or those of faith? This is one you
cannot hand over to a subordinate. You need to go there yourself."<br />"And
bring the Kastorians together? Look, I believe in prophecy more than
most, but I can't believe that I will be the one to do this!"<br />She paused....<br />"Can I?"<br /><br />The
fast freighter Rising Sun landed in the ruins of the old starport, it's
thrusters forming a cloud of dust and debris. Once it had died down the
ramps lowered and the troops and monks started unloading and forming a
perimeter around the ship. Carmilla, clad in her full robes and habit
walked down, her closest nuns behind her. She reached down and took a
handful of the dirt and rubbed it in her hands, coarse and hot.<br />"So, this is Kastor."<br />"Sister,
we're showing a high background radiation and pollution. And there is a
group of life forms watching us, that way." The little nun lowered her
instruments and pointed. Carmilla started walking towards where she
pointed, a collection of mostly intact ruins.<br />"Get everything set up. Regardless of what happens we are here now."<br /><br />From
the second floor of the ruins the Kastorian scout altered the
magnification on his rifle. He cursed under his breath and pulled the
ragged mask from around his mouth so he could breath in the acrid air.
Once again the off worlders were coming to pillage and steal the wealth
of the Kastorians. It must not be allowed, he mused as he centered on
the woman in the lead. He breathed out and pulled the trigger.<br /><br />The impact knocked Carmilla off her feet and her nuns leapt forward, one of them holding up a pistol.<br />"Find the shooter, take him alive!"<br />One of them pulled Carmilla to her feet. Groggily she fingered the hole in her habits and cursed.<br />"This was a new robe. I don't think they have any idea how much these things cost to get fitted properly."<br />"At least the body armour works."<br />And
still she checked the Inquisitors body with experienced fingers,
finding no wounds she dusted her off as best she could. A few moments
later there was a few shots and a cry from the ruins.<br /><br />The Kastorian scout was thrown to the floor before Inquisitor D'Morenta. Defiantly he stood up and looked at her.<br />"I
must say that was a good shot," she held up her symbol of the True One,
"And if it wasn't for my faith in the True One it might have killed
me."<br />"Then give me a gun and I'll shoot from here and I will kill you! You come to pillage and loot and rape our people.."<br />"Actually we are here to learn and help your people."<br />He laughed and spat.<br />"Foreigners, you are all the same."<br />She held out her hand and a pistol was placed in it and she handed it to him.<br />"I
am here on behalf of the True One, it is his will that I am here. It
even may be prophecy that I am here. Regardless, my faith says I will
either stand here or I will be buried here."<br />Placing a kiss on her symbol of the True One she looked at the short man before her, could feel the anger radiating off of him.<br />"Do as you will, my son. I will forgive you, no matter your choice."<br />She closed her eyes and started to pray.<br /><br />The
Kastorian hefted the pistol and checked it, then pointed it, at her
head. He knew that from this point on he would be remembered. Behind him
in the ruins others were watching, would make sure his sacrifice was
not in vain. How dare they come here and do this. Was it not said by his
grandfather that legions of off worlders fought and died not far from
here, at Sargo? What better place for them to die than.... his finger
relaxed on the trigger. She looked up at him, her eyes looking into
his.... no, not into, beyond. The look of tranquility on her face, there
was no fear, no anger. To look on her executioner with such a look....
it spoke of the old days, when the monks came from beyond and....<br /><br />"Tell me..... why are you here? You women?"<br />"I
told you, my son. We are here to make your planet whole. We are here to
bring peace and prosperity to you and your people. We are here to make
the Kastorians one people, one race, to stand against those who would
bring you down."<br />She offered her hand.<br />"Will you join me? Will you be the first to welcome me?"<br /><br />From
both sides people watched, the Kastorians in their ruins, and the
faithful of the Brotherhood stood behind their Sect Leader. What would
transpire here today would echo down the ages.<br /><br />"What is your name?"<br />"I am Carmilla of the Blessed Order of the Little Sisters of Charity, Inquisitor of the Brotherhood."<br />"Then I welcome you Carmilla of the Brotherhood. Welcome to Kastor."</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-45809788501026237812015-09-15T14:42:00.000-07:002015-09-15T14:42:24.973-07:00A Prayer for the Dying<div style="text-align: justify;">
Inquisitor D'morenta listened to the reports of the battles, the battle
language translated, the screens showing the tacticals. Around her the
other officers were cheering or cursing. She watched the military
attaché from the other affiliations, taking notes and marking up the
kills. The distaste on her face was obvious.<br /><br />"This is not your sort of thing, is it Sister?"<br />"No, it is not." She lowered her voice and turned to the Lord Inquisitor<br />"This.... Barbarism is beneath us."<br />"No Sister, it is the will of the...."<br />She sneered, "It is the will of the Caliphate."<br />His hand clenched her wrist.<br />"You will obey. If not the orders of the Caliphate then you will obey me. You know the penalty for disobeying the Inquisition."<br />"But...."<br />His hand moved fast and the sound of the strike caused a few heads to turn.<br />"You will retire to the chapel and pray. Get out now, no questions. We will talk about this later."<br />She held a hand to her face and bowed, "Yes my lord. Please send me a final tally of the battle."<br />"Don't push it...."<br /><br />Hours
later the Lord Inquisitor walked silently into the chapel. He watched
for a while as she tended a large number of candles with several of her
acolytes.<br />"It us good to see you attending to matters if faith."<br />"The True One will protect the souls of the faithful."<br />"And who will protect yours? Too many are talking about you. Here."<br />Carmilla took the pad from him, and read it in silence.<br />"Isn't this planet currently engaged in a civil war?"<br />"Something like that."<br />"This is suicide...."<br />"Consider it a challenge. A true test of your faith. If you believe you can do it, you will be rewarded."<br />"If I cannot or will not?"<br />He handed her a candle. <br />"Then
someone will light this where you fall. When you say a prayer for the
dying remember to pray for their souls to. And if it helps Sister.... I
have faith in you."</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-74827137528998246782015-09-15T14:40:00.002-07:002015-09-15T14:40:39.957-07:00When Drums Beat<div style="text-align: justify;">
Sister D'morenta and three guards sat around the now smouldering fire.
In the darkness of the Tyburn night sky it was easy to see the platforms
and the hi-ports, and the engine burns of ships coming and going. One
of the guards stirred the pot and scooped another helping of penguin
stew into her bowl and looked into the security feed.<br />"Still nothing. Ma'am, we're three hours behind schedule, we need to be out of here before the next security sat comes over."<br />Carmilla took the offered bowl and dipped her bread into it. She sighed as she blew on the stew and started to eat.<br />"Doesn't matter. If he's this late he's been compromised or captured. Regardless they can't pin anything on us."<br />"Unless they scan the pot."<br />They all laughed and ate heartily.<br />"What happens if they do come? If he's been tortured and interrogated?"<br />"Then we're dead. Simple as that. Hand to hand, they will eviscerate us."<br />"Aaaah, as long as I know. It's important how my soul looks when it reaches the True One."<br />Carmilla laughed and slapped the guard on his shoulder.<br />"Do not worry, it will glow! But regardless.... send the signal, then call the drop ship."<br />One
of the guards pulled out a worn drum and started to beat the top, a
rough tune which echoed in the darkness. Overhead a soft whine indicated
the dropship was approaching.<br /><br />Carmilla looked out over the edge
of the cliff at the stations below them. So much to be done, and it had
to be the thrice damned Dewiek who had come. Did they know? Were they
aware of the secret the planet held? She finished her stew and dropped
the bowl into the pot which the guard held and watched a moment longer.
There was no sound of drums coming back that she could hear. Somewhere
the line had been broken.<br />"There is no way they will know. We covered our tracks well."<br />"Ma'am?" One of the guards flanked her and scanned around.<br />"Nothing.... I'm tempted to stay, to hear when the drums beat... but I think it will be a long time."<br />"We are nothing if not patient Ma'am. The True One watches over us."<br />"Yes... that is true. Come, it's time to leave this place. For now."</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-75156593004856305802014-11-25T12:13:00.002-08:002014-11-25T12:13:20.947-08:00Leap of Faith<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There was one thing that Sister Kara of the Martyrs of the Holy
Sepulchre knew. And that was that the True One was with her. She was the
leader of twenty four other nuns, all of the same sect, all sitting in
the same APC, all waiting for the Flagritz outside to break open the
door and kill them. While the rest were disposed to their eventual
deaths at the hands of the godless flagritz, Sister Kara knew otherwise.
Sister Kara had faith.<br /><br />There were few people in the starport
when the Flagritz military drilled a hole into the apc, flooded the
interior with knock out gas and then literally ripped the APC apart. One
by one, after removing their gas masks the nuns stepped out, hands
raised, all except Sister Kara, who stood before them all and confronted
the Flagritz. The battle armoured leader walked towards her and jabbed
her with his rifle, his laugh loud over the squad comms. She dusted the
spot, tilted her head and smiled at him. He lunged again and a few
seconds later found himself lying on the floor.<br />"As a sister superior of the Brotherhood I demand to know why we have been assaulted. I demand to see your superior."<br />She
repeated it again, this time in flagritzi. The rest of the squad simply
pointed to the enraged warrior she had knocked down. She sighed and
closed her eyes.<br /><br />The party of nuns, now stripped of the weapons
sat in the cells waiting. Two of them were treating the bruises and cuts
that Kara had recieved. Even now, she still believed that the True One
was with her. Pain and a beating from the embarrased leader was nothing,
it was more painful to be seperated from her rosary. She began to pray,
the others followed her example.<br /><br />By the time they came for her,
Kara knew what she had to do. She had already heard from sympathisers of
what was to happen to her. If it was true, that she was to be executed
then she would fight it. She would take at least one of them with her,
and she would die, a true Martyr. Stretching she stood up and removed
her outer garments, leaving only her thin vest and a flowing red skirt.
Two flagritz grabbed her, one to each arm, their tentacles holding her
tight while a third walked behind them, reading from a list of charges.
From the direction they were going, it looked like the hiport. As they
reached the base, the sun broke from the clouds and she gazed into it's
beauty and for a moment.....<br /><br />The platform they stopped at was
high in the atmosphere, a maintenance section that was out of prying
eyes and easy for all of them to breath. As soon as they let her go she
struck....<br /><br />Holding her broken arm she looked at the sun.... she
could hear the voice in her head, the subtle prayers that came from a
choir of angels, could see the fortress towers of the city of angels in
the clouds. She knelt down next to the unconcious forms of the warriors
and looked at them, shaking her head that none of them could see the
beauty that she was seeing. Could hear the glory of the True One and his
words. She would die, become a Martyr, her name written in the lists of
faithful to be mentioned by those who would come after. Here, on this
planet, there would be a cairn for her, a place of worship. She would be
remembered. The Flagritz would have their pound of flesh, and the True
One would gain a Martyr. <br /><br />Opening the platform door she walked
out of the platform along the structure arching out over the starport.
She started to run and at the edge, she leapt.<br /><br />Many of those in
the starport who witnessed the end of Sister Kara would only hear that
she had been executed for being a Brotherhood spy. Other saw, and
believed.<br /><br />But then those who had to clean up the mess saw only
the folly of humanity. Somewhere, for everyone, there was meaning in her
death.</div>
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-72227064425533483662014-10-23T13:26:00.001-07:002014-10-23T13:26:08.885-07:00Hexamon Dreams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXDc85yxU3I/VElkPaEGICI/AAAAAAAAAus/DGnVlckrjmY/s1600/Stella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NXDc85yxU3I/VElkPaEGICI/AAAAAAAAAus/DGnVlckrjmY/s1600/Stella.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
She ran through the darkened corridors, her mind focussing on the bundle
in her arms. Around her other corridors branched off, the hot and
slightly misty conditions making the walls look more like grotesque
gothic sculptured nightmares. Every now and then she would stop and
listen to the bundle, which she cradled like a child even though it was
wrapped in her habit. The multi-faceted eyes of the hive workers watched
her and those who followed with interest and kept back, giving them
room. As she stopped at another junction, with three corridors leading
down one of those behind her pulled her and spun her around. As if in a
dream she watched her, the frantic look on her face and the pointing,
her mouth opening and closing, the eyes judging. But all she could hear
was the singing and cradled the bundle and ran down another corridor,
always deeper. Lights flashed behind her, but she ran onwards, her
burden all important to her. As she waited at another junction she
looked up, three workers were standing, blocking a corridor. They seemed
to be looking at her bundle, their antenna quivering, then they started
singing to her as well. She looked at them and smiled, not seeing the
shape of the warrior peeling it'self from the wall ahead..... <br /><br />The
sound of the automatic rifle behind her seemed to snap her out of her
dream. The squeals of the warrior as it was blown apart, and more sounds
of firing behind her turned her around. For the first time she seemed
to look around. The oppressive heat made her gasp and looking at the
workers she could hear their clicking conversations between them and see
them longing for her bundle.<br />"No... it's mine...."<br />"By the blessed virgins, now you come to your senses? Damn you Stella, what are we doing down here?"<br />Stella looked over at the other nun, and the others who were backing down towards them.<br />"I hope there is a way out down here as it's wall to wall back there. Stella, Kaitlin, tell us there is a way out!"<br />"Where.... are we?"<br />"Stella's lost it, are we getting any signal from the APC? Or the ship?"<br />One of the nuns shouldered her rifle and pulled out a small box, shining a light on it's surface.<br />"No
signal, we're being jammed or too far underground. What are we doing
down here? I said we should have taken one of the tunnels leading
upwards. Stella?"<br />Kaitlin slapped Stella's face and shook her shoulders.<br />"Stella, snap out of it! We need you to get us out of here!"<br />An
explosion above them in the corridor made them all raise their weapons
and watch. Another nun ran around the corner, firing wildly behind her.<br />"Imelda, what's the situation?"<br />"We're fucked! Whatever the hell Stella stole it's got them freaking mad!"<br />She
turned the weapon around, rolling the ciger in her mouth from one side
to the other and shot the three workers at range, then walked over and
finished them.<br />"Now they can't see us for a few moments until they
get more workers or drones or whatever here. Stella, what is in that
package you stole?"<br />They all turned to Stella as she unravelled the loose folds of her cloak and revealed her bundle.<br />"We're dead...."<br /> "That was so stupid....."<br /> "True One protect us...."<br /> "Stella! Get rid of it for fuck sake!"<br />Stella ran a hand over the hive egg and whispered to it before looking up.<br />"But it sang to me.... it sang such a song...."<br />"Of
course it fucking sang to you, they're telepathic and you're bloody
pathetic! I told the Sister Superior we needed a damn Inquisitor not an
empath!"<br />"She wouldn't harm me.... she said so...."<br />"And led you
on a merry chase down here into the bowels of hell. If we get out of
here you won't have to worry about what Carm will do becaus she won't
stop Pyros from roasting your ass! Chantelle, Felicitya... scout the
corridors. Imelda, if anything comes down that ramp shoot it. Where is
Tiff?"<br />"Dead... and so is Aisha and Tee-bo. I don't know where the
twins are, but if they are behind us, they are dead because there were
warriors and something big behind them."<br />Stella hugged the egg, feeling the creature inside move.<br />"It's okay, we'll be home soon...."<br />It took Kaitlin a moment to realise Stella was talking to the egg. She raised her pistol and aimed it at her friends head.<br />"Sister
Stella, for the crime of heresy and putting an alien brood above your
Sisters I condem you to death. May god have mercy on your soul....."<br /><br />Stella
looked up at her friend, seeing the grim determination on her face. She
knew what was coming, it had told her so but she was helpless to stop
it, only able to turn her head. The warrior leapt from it's niche and
slammed into Kaitlin, sending her pistol flying. With a scream it opened
it's mouth and ripped out the back of her neck with it's powerful jaws.
Imelda was firing up the corridor as the seething mass coming towards
them, the nightmare wall of shiny black warriors, all scrambling to get
at her. Chantelle ran from the corridor she was scouting, her sword in
her hands and sliced the warrior eating Kaitlin, cutting through half of
it's head and torso. She pushed Stella down the corridor that Felicitya
was scouting.<br />"Imelda, we're leaving!"<br />Stella closed her eyes as
she was dragged down, seeing not through her eyes, but the eyes of the
warriors. Dozens of images of Imelda, all shifting as they moved or
died, getting closer and closer until there was just red. She felt
Imeldas death scream, saw it through the eyes of the warriors that
dismembered her. And still she thought to the egg, don't worry... all
will be well.<br /><br />Felicitya looked up at the wall with despair. This
tunnel as well was a dead end, but the wall was fresh. Resin was still
drying and she took her rifle and started smashing at it. She wailed as
she hammered at it, dropping her rifle and hammering on it with her
fists. Chantelle and Stella appeared out of the gloom and startled her.<br />"Dead end.... Stella.... so help me...."<br />Felicitya
pointed and screamed. The end of the corridor was filled with warriors.
They were still, just standing there watching, she grabbed her rifle
and checked the load, almost empty. Her pistol had one last shot.
Chantelle checked her pistol, it was empty, but her sword was unbroken.<br />"Stella, check your weapons."<br />"I don't need them.... "<br />"Felicitya, if they come..."<br />"I know, the final benediction. Great saints I had hoped it wouldn't come to this..."<br />"I dont think any of us knew Stella would steal a fucking hive egg. Must be something special about it...."<br />The
wall of warriors parted slowly and a man walked towards them and
stopped. It was so surreal that Chantelle simply shook her head.<br />"Who... the hell... are you?"<br />"We are the voice of the Hexamon."<br />The
man stood stock still and looked at them, his voice when he talked was
heavy and ponderous, his eyes almost glowed with a pale blue light.<br />"We
are most upset. We gave you access to us so you could further
understand us. We believed you were different. We believed the one known
as Stella would understand and instead she stole from us."<br />"No, by the moons you are a human! How can you side with them?"<br />"We are the voice of the Hexamon. We were hatched to talk with you as one of you. We are Hexamon."<br />"I should shoot you now!"<br />"We would hatch a new voice. We would not be inconvenienced by the death of a drone."<br />Chantelle
levelled her sword at the egg Stella was crooning over. The warriors
seemed to lurch then stop at what seemed an invisble barrier.<br />"But you would be by this egg?"<br />"You must not. We value life."<br />"Your own? Or ours?"<br />"All life is sacred. Give us the egg. Or we will be forced to take it."<br />"Let us out of here and you can have the egg back."<br />"No. We must have the egg. We will not negotiate."<br />"Then I curse you and this egg in the name of the True One!"<br />She
brought her sword up and swung it down. Stella screamed and pushed her
body in the way, the blade cutting deep into her. As Stella lay dying,
she heard the egg singing to her again and she smiled. She smiled while
Chantelle and Felicitya were torn apart. The man turned her face towards
him, the blood on his hand bright against his light skin.<br />"Even when
faced with certain death you still fight. We are much interested in
this. Maybe we will keep you alive and learn your secrets."<br />An animal scream was heard from behind them as a larger creature was walking forwards, pushing through the warriors.<br />"On the other hand, we think keeping you alive is far too....."<br />A
large warrior, much larger reached down and picked her up, holding her
up and looking at her. As the great maw opened up she realised this must
be a queen.... maybe even the mother of the egg.... and still it sang
to her, but now a sad song. The queen lunged. Such a.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Stella
sat up in bed and screamed, rolling herself in the thin blanket and
shaking. Around her in the dormitory other sisters were sleeping and
snoring. A few woke up and told her to get back to sleep. She curled up
in a ball and rocked herself slowly. Another dream, like the last. But
this one was so vivid, so real. Taking her pad she wrote down everything
she could rememeber and placed it back under her pillow. It took what
seemed like an eternity to fall back to sleep and seemed like only
seconds before the great bell was rung and the sisters began waking.<br /><br />As
she walked barefoot to perform her ablutions her friend walked with
her. Felicitya, a Sister like Stella in the Abbey of the Holy Sepulchre
had joined up with her, both of them running away from the farming
community to become somethign more.<br />"Stella, are you allright? You woke up screaming again."<br />"I'm fine Fel, it' was a bad dream. A very bad dream."<br />"Ooh Stella... it can't be all that bad. Come on... last one to the showers has to say evensong!"<br />All
through the morning, through breakfast, prayers and study she was
distracted. Eventually one of the elder sisters pulled her aside and
spoke with her.<br />"Sister, what is wrong with you today. You look pale as snow and shaking like a leaf. More bad dreams?"<br />"Yes, I don't want to....."<br />"Say no more. Stella, you have been summoned. By the mother superior."<br />"She's here? I thought....."<br />"She
came back this morning. And she is waiting for you in her office. Asked
for you by name, and your friend Felicitya. I hope you havn't been
misbehaving?"<br />"Oh no Sister. I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe she can help me? I don't want to be classed as a heretic for my dreams."<br />"Have faith in the True One my dear and remember he can see all. Be true to yourself and you shall have no fear."<br />Stella smiled and nodded and made her way to the Mother Superiors office.<br /><br />Carmilla was sitting reading a report when the door was knocked on softly.<br />"Come in."<br />She
looked up and saw the two nuns before her. Stella, tall and nervous.
Felicitya looking around in awe at the room. So, this was Stella. I
wonder....<br />"You, Sister Felicitya, what am I feeling at this moment in time?"<br />"I do not know, Mother. I could guess, but I might be wrong."<br />"You are feeling curious and inquisitive."<br />"Very good. How do you know? Not a guess I hope?"<br />"No
Sister, I just have... I just know how people feel. I can tell if they
are happy or sad, honest or dishonest, lying or telling the truth. I
just assumed it was a gift of the True One."<br />"Sooo, you think that you have been singled out by our Lord do you?"<br />Stella went quiet, and quite pale.<br />"I didn't mean.... "<br />"I know. I am teasing you. Please, come sit down. I have need for you to lead an expedition for me."<br />They both sat down.<br />"An expedition, but we are both untrained in the outside world. We know only of what is in the Abbey."<br />"Well
now you are getting ready to go outside. And off planet. But first...
tell me of your dreams. I hear that you have vivid dreams."<br />For the
next hour Stella retold every dream she had, leaving the dream of the
hive egg till last. Carmilla nodded and took notes.<br />"So did you get the impression that you could feel what the egg was feeling?"<br />"Yes, and it could feel me. I guess it was singing to me to keep me calm."<br />"Good. Now then, I will arrange for eight more sisters to accompany you."<br />"Where are we goign?"<br />"Later. You don't need to know straight away."<br />"As you wish."<br />"Follow me."<br />They
followed the Mother Superior through cloisters and corridors until they
reached a large courtyard by the starport. Several nuns were sitting
paitently by a large armoured personnel carrier. One of the nuns was
spray painting a logo on the side, a plume of some coming from a cigar
that was clenched in her teeth.<br />"Imelda...." Stella blurted out then
walked over to the others,"And Kaitlin, Nikita.. Jasmine... Tiff...
Aisha... Teebo.... and Chantelle...."<br />Imelda blew a smoke ring and droped the spray gun on a crate.<br />"Well, someone read her mission briefing..."<br /> "There was a briefing? Why wasn't I told...."<br /> "You were, you were asleep...."<br /> "Yeah but I'm not in the briefing...."<br /> "Is there a briefing? And why is she shaking?"<br />"Sisters, this is Stella. She will be the leader on this expedition. I need you all to keep her safe, and out of trouble."<br />"So where are we going? It wasn't in the briefing...."<br />Stella turned to Carmilla, eyes wide open.<br />"Rahm.... Rahm Prime... "<br />They
all looked at Stella, who was shaking and white. Felicitya held her
close and looked disaprovingly at Carmilla before remembering her place
and lowering her head.<br />"You are the new diplomatic envoys to the Hexamon. Rahm Prime on Mobile Bay is where you are heading to talk to the Hexamon."<br />"About... what?"<br />"Religion...
trade.... anything that comes to mind. As long as you talk about
Religion. Find out of they have one. And keep her safe. We don't want to
start a diplomatic incident now... do we?"Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-76994026498591352832014-10-19T04:26:00.001-07:002014-10-19T04:26:32.175-07:00Expansion and EruditionThe shaman stood inside the stone circle and chanted. Here on the sacred
plains of his people, and in the ways of his forefathers he summoned
the sun from it's resting place. His chants were supported by the small
choir of women who were placed around the small stone circle. According
to legend, the songs of the shaman commanded, and the songs of the women
beckoned. Either way, usually, and at the approriate time, the sun rose
lazily over the horizon. As it did today. Today however, the sun
brought something new, and from his place by the altar in the centre of
the stone circle, he noticed the black spec that was above the sun and
the sound of the winds, yet no wind blew. It was, he though excitedly, a
sign from the great sun god!<br /><br />The Brotherhood troop carrier
descended quickly and roared through the early morning sky. In the troop
compartment hundreds of soldiers went through the routine of final
checking their equipment. Sisters walked amongst them, offering
benedictions, prayers and blessing their armour and weapons. Up in the
cockpit the pilots flew nape of the earth towards their destination, the
sun behind them. From her seat the Inquisitor Carmilla D'morenta
watched with interest on the various monitors as they flew over plains
and rivers and fields. So the rumours were true, there was indiginous
life here. So much the better for them, and for us. Looking on the
forward monitor she saw the stone circle in the distance and slapped the
arm of the pilot and pointed.<br />"Land there."<br />"But Inquisitor, that is not our landing site."<br />"Land.... there."<br />"Yes, Inquistitor."<br />The
pilot flipped a switch and informed the soldiers to prepare for
landing. They brought the troop carrier around in a lazy arc and landed
not far from the circle. Already the ships in orbit were asking for
clarification on the landing spot. Carmilla ignored them for the moment
and unbuckled herself, pulling her habit on properly and checking her
weapons.<br />"Inform the other ships that this is where the outpost will
be constructed. Send them the appropriate landing configuration, we will
check the area."<br />The pilot acknowledged and lowered the ramps.<br /><br />The
women watching the troop carrier fled as it landed and disgorged
people. They ran straight to their village and left the shaman. He stood
watching enraptured as the sign from God sat there like a great hunched
beetle. The people who had come off the ship dispersed in all
directions and some were coming this way. He took his staff of
leadership and walked towards them.<br />"Brothers! I greet you in the name of...."<br /><br />The
Inquisitor at the head of her personal squad of zealous warriors walked
towards the stone circle and saw the man coming towards them. His staff
was raised, and he spoke in a language they did not understand. They
circled him and two went to scout the circle and Carmilla pushed her way
through. She looked him up and down, clad in a long robe with strings
of beads and other jewelry around him, and stylized icons of the sun.<br />"Do you understand me? You, savage?"<br />He
looked at her strangely and spoke, neither could understand the words.
He tapped the symbol on his chest and pointed at the sun, then at
himself.<br />"I think he is some sort of holy man."<br />"Yes, looks like some sort of solar god. Can we convert them to the true faith?"<br />"Tricky if they can't speak a civilised language."<br />She
mused this and walked into the stone circle, touching the walls and the
masonry. It was old, very old, but repaired and painted, plastered over
in places. The man walked over to the altar and watched them closely.
He pulled out from under a basket full of food and laid it on the
surface and gestured to it. One of the zealots ran a scanner over it and
nodded.<br />"The food seems edible, no obvious contaminants. And this seems to be a narcotic of some description."<br />"So we have food, trade goods and judging from this and the jewels there is plenty to keep us. Have they found his village yet?"<br />"The scouts have found several, from the look of them all are at the same level of technology. We will have no problems here."<br />Carmilla
lifted up her habit and pulled out her knife and started tapping the
stones where the new repairs had been made. She scratched the paint
aside and the man shouted at her and shook his head and walked over to
her pushing her back and standing infront of the stone.<br /><br />He looked
at her with amazement! How dare they try and desecrate the temple of
the sun, what were they? Heathens? Were they so uneducated as to not
know what....<br /><br />Her backhand when it came knocked him to the floor. Two Zealots moved in and stood on his arms, keeping him down.<br />"How dare you strike an Inquisitor of the True One! Are you a heathen? Do you not know the penalty for doing that?"<br />He
shouted back at her, and she shouted at him. Both angry and defiant in
the names of their own gods, both learning much and understanding too
little... too late. On the outskirts of the temple, hidden in the
undergrowth the local warriors had seen their Shaman, and the leader of
their people struck down. What they did came naturally to them. They
attacked. And their attack sealed their doom.<br /><br />Carmilla watched as
her troops pulled back to a defensive position and the fighting
started, row after row of the savages were torn apart, but they kept
coming. The man at her feet was chanting now, irritating her. She pulled
out her pistol and shot him without looking.<br />"Cleanse the area,
every village for five miles. If you think they can be converted to
worship the True One bring them back. If not, kill them all."<br />She reached down and took the stylised sun from his chest and crushed it over him.<br />"One day.... someone will do that to you...."<br />"So... you can understand. Those who came before us said you could."<br />"We will be... avenged...."<br />"But not today."<br />She shot him again, between the eyes.<br />"Burn
all the bodies. Any signs of religious buildings I want them torn down,
any who complain I want them shot. This is my world now. Bring down the
other ships, it's time to start building a real future for these
savages."<br /><br />The great haulers landed in the places asigned to them
and one of Carmilla's girls came over. She was wearing combat gear, but
had kept her headdress. Looking around she could see the plumes of smoke
from the burning villages.<br />"Had some trouble Carm?"<br />"Not really. Ready to start building?"<br />"Oh
yes, shouldn't take too long to get the basics done, and my explorers
who are still on planet have locations of interesting things to exploit.
There will be a full report for you within the week."<br />"Good. Make sure this stone circle is used in the construction."<br />"As a centre for the outpost?"<br />"If you wish, or as foundation rubble. I'll leave it to your artistic temprament."<br />"Oh, that reminds me. That small order of nuns you sent to Solo? To the flagritz station?"<br />She racked her brains for a moment then smiled.<br />"The Martyrs of the Holy Sepulchre? How are they doing?"<br />"They uh... want you to call them. Apparently it's urgent?"<br /><br />Carmilla
sat on the top of the altar and pulled out a communicator. Running the
signal through the troop carrier she managed to raise the ground party.<br />"Aah, Inquisitor D'morenta. We are so glad you called. We had some trouble finding you."<br />"I'm setting up an outpost, the expansion must go on. What have you learnt about the Flagritz?"<br />There was a sound in the background of the communicator, a heavy banging sound. The nun seemed unphased by it.<br />"Well
most of what we found out was as expected. We found three classes, a
heavily xenophobic one, the warrior caste and the peace caste. Only the
traders or peace caste would talk to us."<br />There was another sound in the background, a heavy repeater being fired.<br />"Sister, what is going on back there? It sounds like you are shooting something."<br />"Well....
some of the Xenophoics took exception to us and got some of the warrior
caste to try and throw us out of the starport."<br />"Where are you?"<br />"In
our APC. They can't get in without using something heavy and we think
they won't do that because it will start hostilities. And we can't get
out as they've broken the latch on the door."<br />"And the heavy repeater?"<br />"Oh, they just took out out wheels."<br />"Sister, I'm not happy about this. I'm sending someone down to take over."<br />"But we can...."<br />"Enough!
I dont' want to get into a shooting war with the Flagritz, heaven alone
knows what Pyros will say when he finds out what we're doing there. It
took a long time to get access, don't screw it up by killing any
flagritz."<br />"By the sacred tomes, but what is they eat us?"<br />"Then pray they don't choke on you and die! D'morenta out."<br /><br />She
threw the communicator at the nearest stone circle and kicked her heels
on the altar looking at the blood stain on the floor. Some days, she
thought, it would be nice not to have to kill anyone before breakfast.
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-84896446127636191772014-10-19T04:25:00.001-07:002014-10-19T04:25:23.776-07:00To Obey a DreamThe dream was long and tumultous, almost a nightmare. The Inquisitor
Carmilla, clad only in gosamer silks tossed and turned on the large bed.
Images flooded her mind, a giant figure standing above her on a wind
swept plain, his robes untouched by the wind, one hand wielding a fiery
sword in a defensive position, the other reaching out, grasping,
beckoning. Although she looked up, his face was hidden, and she cast her
eyes down, fearing the worst, for it does not do to look up on the true
face of god. Many times she had read of the old days when those who
were not loyal or faithful enough were smitted by the Lord. But was it
piety, desperation or zealotry that caused her to once more turn her
head and look upwards. Her arms spread she called out his name and
honoured him with prayers shouted into the fury of the winds. Words
filled her mind, like the slamming of leaden doors, each word nearly a
physical blow. As he spoke images appeared in the air around them.
Standing her ground she listened and watched, recognising the alien
races, those long since believed by the Brotherhood to be lesser,
godless heathens. Her eyes opened in horror as she heard his words and
stepped back, flinching.<br />"No" she screamed. The understanding of his
words and gestures, what he wanted her to do. It was unthinkable, it was
dangerous.... it was a test of her belief.<br />"No," she screamed again. And a third time, "No!"<br />The
words formed in her head and a hand reached down and pinned her bodily,
all breath leaving her and the interstellar cold invading her limbs.<br />"YOU.... WILL..... OBEY....."<br />With
a flourish the fiery sword swept down and slammed into the ground
inches from her face, the fire along it's blade searing her flesh on her
face and side.<br />"OBEY..... OBEY!"<br /><br />She awoke screaming, her
back arched, muscles taut, her hands reaching out and grasping, gripping
and digging in. From one side of her a whimper of a man in pain, from
the other hushed whispers of shocked concern, and prayer. Slowly
soothing hands massaged her limbs, oils and salves were brought and the
lights slowly raised. As she calmed down and started to breath she
released her hands and slumped back onto the bed, heat and pain
raidiated from her, every time she reached up to touch her face, a hand
pulled it back with gentle insistance. Hands pulled her into a sitting
position, a warm cloth mopped her brow while another tried to clean her
hand, others cleaned away the charred robes. With a gesture she pushed
back the bodies around her and shook her head.<br />"My Lady, are you okay? You... cried out. Should we summon your hand maidens? Or your physician?"<br />"No... summon my entourage. I need counsel."<br />She
looked around and seemed to realise where she was for the first time.
Four men were with her, though one was being bandaged on his arm. Each
one was beautiful for a man, and as naked as the day was long. All were
looking at her, but careful not to stare.<br />"What happened to your arm?"<br />"My Lady, you grabbed me in your nightmare. It will heal."<br />With a grunt she laid back then gestured to them.<br />"Leave me. I dont need you at the moment."<br />They
knew better than to argue. As the men departed one of her hand maidens
slipped in and climbed onto the bed, bowing towards her, a look of shock
on her face and reached out with a hand and then pulled it back.<br />"My Lady, your entourage has been summoned from their sleep....."<br />"Good. Get me some tea and something to eat. And what are you staring at?"<br />The
burning sensation on her face and her arm increased and she looked
down. A livid burn ran the length of her arm and she reached up to touch
her face, her hand maiden was quicker.<br />"My Lady," the concern on her face overwhelming,"Please dont. I will call for your physician."<br />Carmilla batted her hand and reached for a mirror and looked into the reflection. And screamed.<br /><br />By
the time her entourage had been summoned and turned up she had dressed
and was sitting at a computer terminal. Turning to them she pulled the
cowl of her robes to cover her face.<br />"I had a dream. About the True One. I need counsel on what it means. Not just for me, but for our sect."<br />"Carm, what happened? Why are you hiding your face?"<br />"I was chastised. Let us leave it at that. I had a dream that the True One wanted me to go out among the aliens."<br />"Aaaah, a raid on the aliens? Slaves is it? Or just sport, burning and hunting?"<br />"No.
I have been given a decree by the True One. One that I intend to fulfil
to the best of my ability. I have already seen the price of my failure
to obey without question. I will not let that happen again. We will see
what Gods the Aliens have, and we will bring them the word of God, the
glory of the True One."<br />"You jest.... bring our God to the alien? They are heathens, savages!"<br />"They are potential converts.... if they understand the glory of our God then we are enriched, even if they are...."<br />"No!
I will not permit this! I will bring this herasy to the Lord
Inquisitor! We do not besmirch our faith with the alien scum who
threaten our Church with their...."<br />Carmilla slowly pulled back her cowl. A livid burn scar ran the length of her face and dissapeared under her robes.<br />"You will Obey... just as I Obey. We are the chosen of the True One, let us not forget that."Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-82474923102616117022014-09-14T00:36:00.003-07:002014-09-14T00:36:42.832-07:00Phoenix: Beyond the Stellar Empire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2MUj8H0Uck/VBVFXjanYbI/AAAAAAAAAto/XkD4WpYkk3U/s1600/bsetitle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T2MUj8H0Uck/VBVFXjanYbI/AAAAAAAAAto/XkD4WpYkk3U/s1600/bsetitle.jpg" height="106" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Phoenix: Beyond the
Stellar Empire is a turn-based, open-ended space opera. It combines
strategy and tactics with resource management in a persistent universe
that has been continuously running for over 20 years. <br />
<br />Everything from trading, diplomacy, missions and naval/military combat is possible. <br />
<br />The
game also has full-time human moderators to deal with unique
situations. This game is not for the casual gamer – months to get to
grips with, years to master. <br />
<br />It does not offer cheap thrills,
it does not offer pretty graphics and it does not offer instant
gratification. It offers the chance to create a legacy, the ability to
do things in the game others have not and never will, the chance to
fundamentally alter the game universe in a persistent and ever evolving
storyline. It offers a game for life.<br />
<br />
Starship positions are free to run, and you can sign up today.<br />
<br />
Everything you need is on the <a href="http://www.phoenixbse.com/index.php?a=home&sa=lib&tid=1486" target="_blank">Sign Up Page</a>.<br />
<br />Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-2020306380769962352014-09-14T00:34:00.003-07:002014-09-14T00:34:11.596-07:00RevelationsThe Wormhole into the Eden system pulsed, a rainbow of colours exploding
into the ether as the gargantuan battleship traversed into normal
space. Old grey paint covered the majority of its surfaces, as well as
the old banner of the Confederacy. Damage from combat could be seen over
it's hull, scars from past conflicts. Battle commendations going back
year after year etched into the hull, a graphic reminder of the violent
past of the Confederacy. Powerful engines flared and pushed the warship
towards the navigational beacons through the defensive lines of
Brotherhood ships and platforms, screens of fighters and the caressing
tendrils of sensors. In the dying glow of the wormhole a mural across
the front of the ship however proclaimed boldly the existance of the
Caliphate. Slowly, the lines opened and allowed the Emissary through.<br /><br />Inquisitor
D'Morenta and her closest aides sat in conference. Planetary survey
maps covered the table, stacks of statistics on mineral yields, lists of
lifeforms, political and sociological ethnotyping of populations. A
heavy tome of prayer was open on a lectern and an initiate was reading
to the room, a background echo of the piety of the cathedral complex
they sat. She rubbed a gloved hand over her face and dropped a survey
log onto the table.<br /><br />"This is getting us no where. These records are four, five years old. Some of them older."<br />"It's
all we have." Sister Marchessa picked up a piece of burnt parchment
with a sketch of a Hive Queen. "A lot of our records were lost during
the....."<br />"Please, we don't talk about those times." A grizzled
warrior in a monks robes worked his rosary slowly, muttering
occasionally under his breath. "Inquisitor, we just need to get more
ships and groups out surveying the planets."<br />"All of which costs money."<br />"We
have the initiates, and we have the locations. We just need your
blessing, with results we will be able bring more wealth into the
coffers and fund more exploration."<br />"Fine, you have my blessing. Next
order of business. The Caliphate. Gregor, put down the rosary and tell
me what your spies have told you."<br />"It's not good...."<br /><br />The
Caliphate battleship landed and disgorged five men. A tall figure,
wearing heavy silken robes followed by four veteran soldiers, all
wearing the personal clan sigil of Darius walked towards the security
entrance to the colony. A flourishing of a sheaf of papers and security
passes allowed them through every single door and entrance. Word passed
through the colony to the cathedral, an Emissary had arrived.<br /><br />Carmilla
brushed a speck of dust from her habit and nodded at the report. It was
as if there was a madness encircling the Caliphate. The Confederate
Offficers who she had helped escape had said the same thing. Something
was different, something not right. It was lucky, she thought, that
Pyros was in charge. His decisions were at least more reasonable. She
looked up as she heard a commotion outside the door and turned around,
one hand slipping under the table. Two of the guards in the room were
listening to their comms while others readied their weapons. She raised
her hand to stop Gregor and waited. The door opened, and was closed by
the caliphate marines.<br /><br />With almost feigned indifference she
watched the man walk in. Cool, calm, dangerous. Like a shark, pure
predator. Slowly she moved her hand back up onto the table and nodded to
the man. Here was a man to be afraid of, a man that held the power of
life and death over anyone and everyone in the Caliphate. Titus. The
Assassin Emissary.<br /><br />"Salaam, Inquisitor D'Morenta. I bring greetings from the Caliphe and the Lord Inquisitor."<br />He pulled the sheaf of papers out and and selected one, handing it to her. It was addressed, in heavy gothic script, to her.<br />"You are ordered hence forth to make your presence before the Caliphe in three days. The location is in the...."<br />Gregor pulled himself to his feet and slammed a fist onto the table.<br />"The Caliphe does not order here! This is a sanctuary, a holy place. Only the Lord Inquisitor can order an Inquisitor..."<br />"Gregor...."<br />"No, this man is filth. I know him. Assassin. Beast!"<br />"You
honour me too much. But I am not here for you. Inquisitor D'Morenta,
you have three days. The penalty for disobedience will be severe."<br />"Oh Titus, you do have a flamboyance about you. Three days? It's not enough time. I need five."<br />"And
yet you have only three. There is no flexibility, no leeway, no
begging. Your ruler and your Lord Inquisitor demand your presence. I am
baffled why we are even having this conversation. Are not monks and nuns
just supposed to... obey?"<br />"We do. We obey just fine," Carmilla
stood up and smoothed down her habit, "But we obey the True One. Not the
Caliphe. However, he is one of Gods children, so we will be humble and
come and visit. You may go Titus, you have fulfilled your requirements."<br />Carmilla bowed to the Assassin Emissary and watched him depart. Gregor sneers and spat after him.<br />"Yes Gregor, I see you were right about them. We must be cautious."<br />"Pah, he is lucky I didn't put a bullet in him!"<br />"We are lucky you didn't. They would wipe out our sect without even blinking. They have the power, we have the faith."<br />"Doesn't that make us stronger?"<br />"Oh yes.... but faith doesn't stop photon guns from raining down death on out colonies."<br /><br />Three Days Later<br /><br />Inquisitor
D'Morenta stormed down the Emperors corridor in the Caliphate capital,
her entourage struggling to keep up. From behind her the sounds of
arguing from the council chamber. The Assassin Emissary caught up with
her and grabbed her shoulder.<br />"Inquisitor, that was not dignified!"<br />"Bullshit Titus! That's not how things should be done, that was a damn witch hunt!"<br />"The FET knew what they were doing....."<br />She looked up at him and pointed a finger at him.<br />"Titus the Confederacy is larger than just one person!"<br />"Carmilla," he sighed softly, "Do you believe that, or is it your father speaking?"<br />Her
hand lashed out, slapping his face with a loud crack that even turned
the heads of the guards along the corridor. She shrugged and nodded and
looked up at him.<br />"Oh Titus, I'm sorry. I guess you are right. The Caliphate rules now, I guess I should stop living in my fathers shadow."<br />"I
think that this is just a bit larger than that. The Lord Inquisitor
needs you and you... just stormed out in a fit of girlish pique?"<br /><br />Carmilla
walked back into the council chamber and found the Lord Inquisitor,
Pyros sitting there in quiet contemplation. The other delegates and
leaders were still rowing.<br />"You are too impetuous."<br />"Yes my Lord."<br />"You will obey the Caliphe, he is the leader of our Alliance."<br />"Yes my Lord."<br />"And you will support the Caliphate by pledging your holy system to them."<br />He raised a hand to her.<br />"And the words you should be speaking now are 'Yes my Lord'."<br />"Yes.... my Lord. I will follow your lead, myself and my whole sect."<br />"Good.
Now before I send you to your quarters and repeat the Prayer of
Obedience fifty times, you will sit and watch and listen. And maybe you
will learn something."<br />"What am I watching?"<br />"Now that is a good question. You can answer it after they stop shouting."
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-36828952867950290852014-09-14T00:33:00.007-07:002014-09-14T00:33:51.729-07:00Escaping the ChainsThe heavy grating set in the wall moved slightly. Again it moved, as if
someone behind it was pushing against it. A faint sob from behind it as
the person levered it open partially, the corner allowing fingers
through, a redoubling of effort, a frantic hammering. The grating moved
again as the person thrust their body at it and eventually made a hole
large enough to squeeze through. A woman pulled herself out and tried to
push the grate shut. She was bedraggled, dirty and dressed in a
tattered ship suit. Looking up and down the corridor she was in like a
wild animal she ran and opened a large door covered with warning signs.
Great gusts of wind slammed the door back and she jumped through and
pulled it shut.<br /><br />Looking around she found herself on one of the
walkways that ran under the great starbase of Mirabile, one of the
decaying outlying Brotherhood stations in the Yank system. Wind howled
and sent the waves from the sea lashing the thorlium columns that kept
the station up. Holding onto the chains that acted as a barrier around
the walkway she breathed deeply and let the spray cover her. For far too
long she had been without proper air, or even water that had not been
through the aging filtration systems. For a moment, she looked over the
edge, into the steel darkness of the sea and thought about simply
leaping into it. A swift watery death was better than being caught
again.<br /><br />As she stood there a sound moved her and she looked up.
The great bulk of a freighter was lifting up from one of the landing
pads and heading out. From the direction, to one of the starbases along
the coast. Leaning out she looked up, and saw something. The great
elevator of the hiport leading up into space, and from there it would be
easy to jump a freighter. Easier than the landing pads here, they would
be full of guards. It could be done... It... must be done. She started
running down the walkway towards the main columns as fast as she could.<br /><br />The
maintenance bay at the base of the column was shut, but the window was
glass and shattered easily. Inside she found tools and began working on
the wrist cuffs and tracer belt. A small plasma cutter seared her skin,
but the cuffs fell to the deck. Luckily the bays medical section had the
necessary pain killers. Sitting back, rubbing her burned skin, tears
streaming down her face she kicked the tracer belt through slats in the
floor which fell into the ocean. With luck they would think she had
drowned. But luck was never on her side. Dragging herself up and through
the door she saw the markings on the wall and pressed the relevant
button, a selection of rungs shot out slowly and led upwards. With
screaming muscles and pain lancing down her arms she started to climb.<br /><br />As
she reached the top rung and looked over she heard the sound of the
weapons being cocked. Standing just on the edge of the upper walkway was
a woman, surrounded by several guards. She sobbed, recognizing the
insignia of the Inquisition on the woman. Letting go of the rungs she
felt herself falling back, only to feel herself grabbed by the woman who
held her, then pulled up by the guards. They slammed her to the floor
and fastened restraints around her then pulled her up, grabbing her hair
and pulling her head to face the Inquisitor.<br />"I was interested to find that workshop. One of the hidden little places of the previous governor."<br />The Inquisitor sat down on the edge of the walkway, the ocean far below her boots.<br />"Did
you know he leapt from here? Or some place like this. Did a swallow
dive into the ocean. Body never recovered. Mind you, not that we
looked."<br />"Let me go.... please.... "<br />The Inquisitor gestured to the spot beside her and the woman was forced down into a sitting position, her legs over the edge.<br />"I hate this place, this decaying monstrosity. I wish I could destroy it, but it's all part of the greater good."<br />"Let me go...." she pleaded. "I was taught the rite of the True One. I wasn't escaping from that, I was escaping the chains! "<br />"Yes,
the old governor loved his slaves. I guess you didn't know that the new
Lord Inquisitor decided to issue an edict against slavery in the
Brotherhood. They were all given their freedom."<br />The escaping slave looked up at the Inquisitor.<br />"You mean.. I am free?"<br />"Technically yes. That's why we are here. You... do want your freedom yes?"<br />Her eyes gleamed at hope of freedom.<br />"Yes my Lord!"<br />"Then as the new Governor of this starbase and with the power of the Inquisition, I give you your freedom."<br />She
gestured to the guards behind her, the slave bent forward so they could
get to her restraints. Instead she felt the guard behind her kick her.
She fell screaming into the waves below, the Inquisitor watched
impassively.<br />"Well this is a cause for celebration. Mirabile, is now
free of slaves. Praise be to the True One. Come on, lets hit the nearest
bar. You boys deserve a drink."<br />Carmilla D'morenta stood up and dusted herself off, looking down at the body floating in the sea.<br />Yes she mused, no more slaves, only the purity of the devoted. Blessed be!
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-17713106244999633592014-09-14T00:33:00.004-07:002014-09-14T00:33:30.658-07:00End of an EraInquisitor Carmilla D'morenta and her entourage stood and watched the
birth of the Caliphate. All around the men of Darius were proclaiming
the new order. The men of the Frontier Exploration and Trade bowed their
heads, as did the Central Intelligence Agency. The Brotherhood watched
impassively until they too, bowed their heads. The Confederacy was now
no more, a memory. She watched as the great Confederate flag was cut
down and replaced by the new one. To her left an old man clutched her
shoulder and cursed.<br />"I can't believe it. I worked side by side with
the Confeds and later fought them. They were proud men, it's a shame to
see them go."<br />"Yes Father," Carmilla sighed, "But we must move with the times."<br />"And I suppose you'll tell me the old guard will just be happy with the change over?"<br />"The Confederacy that you knew was not the same one that died here today."<br />"And what happened to the steadfasts?"<br />"They either changed allegiance to the new order, or they...."<br />"Carmilla... do one thing for me. I want that flag."<br />She smiled at the man standing on her right, a tall impressive figure even clothed in heavy robes.<br />"Oh I think I can do that."<br /><br />Two
men oversaw the movement of the old Confederate banner. They were
unaware they were being watched, and by the time the Inquisitor was
behind them it was too late. Two heavy saps struck their heads and they
tumbled, unconscious to the floor. Sleep gas capsules were thrown and
the employees collapsed.<br />"Was that necessary? To strike them?"<br />The taller of the entourage turned to her and threw back his hood. His grey uniform could be seen underneath.<br />"Yes
it was. I swore an oath never to turn my hand against the Confederacy,
but this is something different. We're going, leaving all this behind,
but we may be back one day."<br />"So the Confederacy will rise again?"<br />"Yes ma'am. It may."<br />She nodded sagely and thought for a moment then pulled out an envelope and handed to him.<br />"Read it when you get to the starport. Do what it says, no questions."<br />He frowned but took the envelope.<br />"As you say."<br />"And take my father to his hotel. I think this has all been too much for him."<br /><br />She
stood on one of the large embankments looking out over the starport,
leaning on the railing. Her guardian coughed slightly and she could hear
the sound of her pistol being cocked.<br />"Weapon away, we are amongst friends."<br />"Aaaah Sister, I have been looking for you."<br />"My Lord Inquisitor Pyro, I am at your service."<br />The
leader of the Brotherhood, flanked by his heavily armed guards walked
towards her and leant against the railings. Behind them his guards began
assembling a surface to air missile.<br />"I have been hearing disconcerting rumours about you. Aiding revolutionaries?"<br />"Yes my Lord."<br />"You will have to be punished for such."<br />"Yes my Lord."<br />"The
Caliphate rules now. And we are part of it. If you do not understand
that, and do not accept that there is no place for you here."<br />"Yes... my Lord."<br />He sighed and handed her the controls and they watched the ship take off.<br />"Destroy it."<br />She
flicked the lock and pressed the switch, the missile behind roaring
into the sky and slamming into the ship which exploded, falling back
upon itself in a black plume of smoke.<br />"I am glad we had this conversation, Sister."<br />"The True One wills it, My Lord."<br /><br />From
the side of the hanger bay the Confederate Officers watched the ship
burn, one by one they dissapered into the the hidden escape passage
until only two were left.<br />"That is quite some daughter you have there."<br />"She scares the hell out of me sometimes. Long live the Confederacy."<br />"We will rise again!"<br />And with a salute he was gone leaving the old man to watch the ship burn.<br /><br />-------------<br />OOC:
I have always been fond of the Confederacy, and it is a shame to see
them gone. But, games change, and this is a game. Long live the
Caliphate <img alt=":)" border="0" src="http://www.phoenixbse.com/blue/smile.gif" style="vertical-align: middle;" />Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-5193419932980480402014-09-14T00:33:00.001-07:002014-09-14T00:33:12.876-07:00Crash and Burn - Survivors<span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>ire. Fire is the gift that the True One gives us. Fire purifies. Fire holds back the night and the nightmares. Fire.... <br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">B</span>rother
Matthew stood firm, his flame thrower spraying gouts of liquid flame at
the pack of desert wolves that was facing him and his dying neophyte.
Dozens were dead and dying, the stench of their fur filling the air, the
smoke from their burning carcasses filling his eyes with tears of
irritation. And still they came. <br />"My Lord is my guardian, with his blessing I shall stand firm...."<br />More
gouts of flame and the squeals, the dying. Less now, but they were
closer. A distant beeping brought a tinge of fear until it was quashed
under prayer. Nothing lasts forever. With a pressurized hiss the fuel
tank ejected. The last tank was held up by his Neophyte, whimpering in
pain. Seconds lost. Insert, lock, pressurize. A shape lunged at him,
razor sharp talons ripping into his chest, the butt of the thrower
slammed into it's neck followed by his boot, the crunch of bone then
again spraying at the attacking pack. They were relentless, but he was a
survivor.<br />"We make our stand here, and by the True One we will die here fighting!"<br />Behind him, he heard Tobias let out a last sigh and his body slumped. With grim determination he fought on.<br /><br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>ar
out in space a ship appeared in a purple haze, gas dispersing slowly as
it finished it's jump. The gas, flotsam from a gas giant they jumped
from to escape hid them for a moment, then the great engines of the
battlecruiser powered up and left it behind. Moving with a speed and
grace that defied it's physical shape, a clenched fist of black steel
festooned with weapon and sensor ports the Pride of Folkvar headed
towards the sun. <br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">O</span>n
the ships bridge Folkvar looked over the internal scans, checking
damage and casualty lists. The last running battle had been fierce, as
expected with Dewiek hunters, but he was better. Rubbing his tired eyes
with a paw he stretched. Folkvar, once the greatest in the land, was now
free. In a sense. No longer High Lord of the Dewiek, Folkvar the Wolf
Baron was now also know as the Fallen. He got up and walked the bridge,
wondering how merciful it was that Filtiarn, Lord of the Wolves, held
back the final killing blow. Change had always come slowly to the
Dewiek, and this was no exception. How long had it been planned, talked
about, discussed? Were the marauders that attacked his ship Filtiarns?
Pah, but he was still one of the twelve until his hide had been
displayed, and that would take some doing. <br />"Comms, inform the sector
command we are here. See if there is any news that we need to download,
and find out where my sons pack is."<br />The communications officer barked a confirmation and after a few moments stepped aside.<br />"Sector Command, this is the Wolf Baron Folkvar. By standing orders we are informing you of our presence in your territory."<br />On the screen a greying wolf looked up and spat off screen.<br />"Folkvar, why do you have to dirty my sector? We have no need of you here."<br />"Hold your tongue, this is a courtesy call, nothing more. I seek the Silver Claw pack, they are in this cluster I understand."<br />"Aaah,
you seek your ragged cur of a son. When you have gone my sector will be
better for it. Changes to the old ways are wrong. They should have
killed you, your time is past."<br />Folkvar looked aside, tapped his comm
officer and pointed to the download, he nodded and began to download
data from the command.<br />"I will attempt to forget your insults to me....."<br />"That
is why you are cast out, mongrel. Folkvar the Fallen? I call you
Folkver the Dead. You have 48 hours to leave my sector or I will unlease
my fleet against you. And before you whine like a female in heat, I
will send that to the High Command. Be well."<br />Folkvar looked at the
screen. For someone to talk to him like that showed how far he had
fallen in some eyes. But then there would always be those who were of
the old school, the old ways. Remnants. Regardless, he was still one of
the Twelve and he had power, albeit diminished. Throwing back his head
he howled with laughter.<br />"Those old fools. I pity them, maybe once I pick up my cub we will head over there and tear out his throat."<br />Falling back into his command chair he looked out of the window, aware of a silence from the comms officer.<br />"Well, do you have his location?"<br />"Yes, and I've sent over the co-ordinates... but...."<br />"But what?"<br />"According
to this the Silver Claw pack has been in no less than seven engagements
and lost four ships but accounting for at least nine destroyed. Last
reported action, just a few hours ago was with a Confed transport and
it's escorts. Then all contact was lost."<br />"Divert all power to the jump engines, get us to that location. Quickly!"<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>olkvar
left the bridge and walked into his quarters, slamming the door behind
him. A cold shiver ran down his spine and he shook his fur wildly. Over
on one wall were seven pictures, all of them his cubs. Three had died,
as befitting a Dewiek, in combat against superior odds. The rest were
competant, successful and influential, but of all of them, the youngest
was his favorite.<br />"Aaaah, young cub, I know you will be fine."<br />A form on the bed stirred and yawned.<br />"My love, why do you call him that, he is old enough to hunt."<br />He leapt onto the bed and swept his mate into his arms.<br />"White Strides will always be a cub to me. I am far to fond of him."<br />His mate held him tight and bit his neck softly, shivering when she heard his low gutteral growl.<br />"And I... am far too fond of you."<br /><br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">B</span>rother
Matthew brought the pointed stone down, smashing into the desert wolves
skull. Finally, it was over. Staggering back he tripped over a burnt
body and fell onto two more dead wolves. Pain lashed his body, dozens of
slashes, bites and cuts covered his body. Blood flowed freely from his
wounds. Under the glaring sun he struggled to his feet and looked
around. His weapon was broken beyond repair, used as a club when it had
finally run out of fuel. With gentle touches he wiped it's plaque and
wept. This weapon had been a constant companion for many years and it's
loss was a devestating blow. Tearing his robe he made some makeshift
bandages and covered the worst of his wounds then set to work. Despite
the heat and the stench he dug a grave for his neophyte and buried him,
covering it with heavy stones. A prayer was read over the body and
finally, when his obligations had finished, he staggered over into the
shade and sat down.<br />"You were brave, young Tobias. Know that you will find solace in heaven."<br />From
the depths of his pocket he pulled out a small box and activated his
emergency homing beacon. It was set to a Confederate frequency and with
luck help would arrive. Slowly, he drifted into unconsciousness.<br /><br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">T</span>he
roar of rage was heard all through the ship. Over the last hour they
had managed to find and locate the remains of the Silver Claw pack. The
survivors from the flagship were taken aboard and the ranking officer
told Folkvar the news.<br />"Your son is dead, my Lord. He was killed by
forces onboard the freighter. From what scattered reports we could get
before the freighter went down over the planet, a Monk killed him."<br />"A Monk? This was a confederate ship I was told, not a Brotherhood one."<br />"Why
not suppose there was one travelling on board. Until we go to the
planet and retreive the escape pods and jettisoned compartments we won't
know."<br />He turned on the officer gripping him his neck in one swift movement. He growled and squeezed.<br />"We won't know? But you said he is dead. Might he not have taken an escape pod?"<br />The officer tried to back away, snapping and whining.<br />"My lord, all pack leaders are tagged and monitored. He flatlined!"<br />Folkvar threw the officer against a bulkhead and stormed back to the bridge.<br />"Take
us to the planet, now! I was all sensor scans running. I want every
signal from that planet, every morsel. You will chase down ever lead on
any signal that indicates that Confederate forces are alive down there.
Do you understand?"<br />The crew growled their confirmation. <br />"Get the shuttles read, I want an armed force with each one. We investigate each signal which mentions Confed or Brotherhood."<br />"Sire.... you may want to hear this...."<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">T</span>hump thump.....<br />I
can hear my heart beating. With every beat I know I am alive. If I am
alive there is hope. If there is hope there is faith. With faith I
cannot die.<br />Thump thump.....<br />If I cannot die, then I will live.
And if I live I can say the proper prayers for my neophyte. He fought
well, but I could have teached him more.<br />Thump thump.....<br />It is getting cold. Even though the sun is directly above me, and the ground is too hot to touch, I am still cold. <br />Thump thump.....<br />......<br />Thump thump.....<br />Am I ready to die? Are those angels coming towards me?<br />Thump.....<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">B</span>rother
Matthew awoke in a glaring white room and raised his hand to cover his
eyes. The pain was gone, now only a distant memory. He could hear
nothing, save again his heart beating, and a low whistling sound.<br />"Am I dead?"<br />A
wheezing laugh caused him to turn his head. A very tall wolf was
leaning against a wall, his dark fur immaculate, his harness pristine
with it's medals and accolades. This, he saw, was a highly place Dewiek.
Though, he mused, not a million miles away from the ones that had
fought him on the planet.<br />"Where am I? Or is that a delicate question?"<br />"The question isn't. But the answer may be."<br />"Oh....."<br />The wolf chuckled, but seemed intent on staring at the monk.<br />"Perhaps you know who I am?"<br />"No. To me you are Dewiek, though from the look a skilled and dangerous one."<br />The wolf chuckled again.<br />"I am the Wolf Baron, Folkvar the Fallen."<br />Matthew frowned and tried to sit up, the strength leaving him.<br />"I thought.... you were... top dog so to speak. Thank you, if it was you who found me."<br />Folkvar walked over to the monk and patted him on the cheek.<br />"Oh don't thank me yet. You may live to regret living. But get well, yes, hu-man. I have much to talk to you about."<br />He padded out of the room and closed the door, a red light indicating it was sealed.<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>olkvar's mate met him outside the medical bay and embraced him.<br />"You don't need to do this."<br />"He will get better, then I will fight him to the death."<br />"It's a pointless fight!"<br />Folkvar punched the metal wall, denting it in fury and howled at her.<br />"He killed my son!"<br />His mate snarled and grabbed him slamming him bodily into the bulkhead.<br />"You
may be the Pack Leader, you may be my mate and the father of my cubs,
but if you ever, EVER think that I am not grieving for my lost cub I
will make sure you never have cubs again! I want to rip out his throat
and bathe in his blood but we are at peace now with the Confederacy! And
I will not risk loosing you!"<br />"No... I will fight him. But I will give him every chance to make amends, in the traditional way."<br />"He will not know our ways."<br />"Then he will die."<br />Folkvar stormed off leaving his mate, his howls echoing around the ship.<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>rom
his bed Brother Matthew heard the shouting, the sounds of fighting and
the howling. Then it all went quiet and the door to the infirmary
opened, letting in female Dewiek. She was smaller than Folkvar, but
mottled and wore a long flowing dress.<br />"I never realised how passionate you people are."<br />"Thank you."<br />"For what?"<br />"For calling us people. Not animals. So many of your kind do that."<br />She
checked his bandages and applied a salve from a sealed bottle. With her
keen eye she checked his wounds and added a nannite compound to heal
him quicker.<br />"What did I do to make him so angry?"<br />"You killed his.... our son. Assuming you are the monk that is being talked about, who caused so much damage to out pack."<br />"If I killed him it was only in self defence. There were some of your kind killing the innocent. I could not allow that."<br />"Did they die quickly?"<br />He
looked over at her and took her in. As a Dewiek he believed she would
be beautiful to them, but she had hidden muscle and was a fighter, that
much she could not hide. To lie now, would be found out in time. No, the
truth is always the truth, so shall it be.<br />"No, some of them didn't die quickly."<br />"My mate is going to fight you. In the ships arena. To the death."<br />"That is not a problem."<br />"What, you think you can win?" She asked with incredulity.<br />"Oh
no, I will probably die. But that is not a problem. I have faced death
too many times, I have prayed for my soul too many times. Maybe it is my
fate to die here, amusement for the mob."<br />"I will never understand you hu-mans. But I think I like you."<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">I</span>t
was several days later that Brother Matthew was led away from the
medical bay and into the Arena. Deep in the heart of the ship the Arena
was a place for settling disputes between crew, fighting prisoners and
occasionally, just relaxing. But today it was obvious that this was
something special. Clad only in his torn robes he was lead into the
centre of the arena. Around him the crew howled and stamped, eager for
the uncoming festivities. From a side annex Folkvar and his mate
approached and stood in the middle of the arena. Folkvar wore nothing
and his mate addressed the crowd.<br />"We fight today. One on one, in the
traditional form. Our leader, Folkvar the Fallen against Matthew of the
Brotherhood. Our leader fights to avenge the death of our cub, White
Strides. If there is any who stand against us, and side with Matthew, do
so now. This will be....," she looked at the human, "A fight to the
death."<br />The crowd cheered and hammered on the benches infront of them. His mate departed and Folkvar walked up to Brother Matthew.<br />"You
are fit and well and deemed able to fight by our doctors. You will
fight me, we will fight to the death, for the memory of my cub. You can
choose what weapons we use, not that it will give you any advantage."<br />"I do not need any weapons."<br />A hush settled over the arena.<br />"You will die, little man."<br />"Death comes to us all. Shall we begin?"<br />Brother Matthew backed away a few feet and moved into a defensive pose.<br /><br /><span class="spaced" style="font-size: 18pt;">F</span>olkvar
leapt, howling as he attacked, his claws slashing towards the monk,
missing by a whisker. The monk attacking him while he was open, doing
nothing more than irritating him and he backhanded the monk, sending his
flying. Matthew picked himself up, wiping the blood from his mouth and
moving around slowly. Another leap and three red cuts were slashed
across his back, but still he kept standing up. Folkvar walked over and
punched the monk, sending him to the ground and punching him again and
again. Matthew managed to block a few and even hit back with some lucky
strikes. A punch to Folkvars head had his stepping back long enough to
get back to his feet. They danced around each other a few more times
until Folkvar slashed him again, and again and again. Despite bleeding
profusely he continued to get back on his feet. Folkvar rolled and
slashed low, tearing a hamstring and seing Matthew tumbling.<br />"You are weak. You will die out here unsung unpraised not even your skull will adorn my wall. And still you dare to fight me?"<br />Folkvar watched as Matthew, despite all the odds, stood up.<br />"I fight because my faith is strong even if my body is weak. Do your worst, you are an honorable predator and one i respect."<br />Matthew closed his eyes and started to pray. He felt Folkvar standing above him, smelt him, could feel the heat on his body.<br />The
Fallen lowered his fist which would have delivered a killing blow. He
reached down and lifted the monks head and waited til he opened his eyes
and looked into them. What he saw shocked him. There was no look of
fear, no look of hatred. There was the look of the zealot, the wild eyed
look he always had himself when fighting against overwhelming odds.
There was no way that the monk before him could ever win, and they both
knew it. He lowered his arm... and stepped back.<br />"No. You are not prey. No prey I ever faced had such conviction."<br />A scream came from the audience.<br />"You must kill him!"<br />"No.. He has the strength of his god within him and even at the end he did not flinch. That... I cannot kill."<br />"You must, it is our way!"<br />"Hah!
You say that to me? Folkvar the Fallen? Things change! And this fight
is over. Tend to his wounds. If you want a fight... we go to Sector
Command. I have not forgotten, nor forgiven the insults done to me. Who
is with me?"<br />The crowd cheered and dispersed, heading to their
stations. Folkvar turned and looked, his mate was standing with Brother
Matthew, already rubbing salve into his wounds. He walked over and
looked down at the monk.<br />"You, Brother Matthew, are an enigma to me. You kill my cub, but I can't kill you. Why is that?"<br />"Maybe
because you recognise something of the animal in me. Or maybe, it is
the will of the True One. Either way, neither of us dies today."<br />"Have you ever seen the Dewiek fight?"<br />"Other than when you are pounding me into the floor? No."<br />Folkvar laughed.<br />"Then
you shall. I can't say I'll ever like you Monk, or your kind. But I
respect you. And for me, that is enough. So come with us. I offer you a
look at the Dewiek that few ever get to see."<br />"I accept, as long as I can have somewhere to sleep that isn't covered in wolf hair."<br />"Ha, you are funny little man. Tell me.... tell me about your True One. I would know what you are like."<br />"So you can one day attack us?"<br />"If we do, I think maybe... it would be a mistake. But what do I know, I am no longer in command.. I am just a Baron."<br />"Just nothing, you are still Folkvar, and that is something that people will remember long after I am gone."<br />"Then talk to me of your ways and your god."<br />"Okay... in the beginning there was the word....."<br />Folkvar's
mate watched as the two sat on the blodied grounds of the arena and
smiled. It was a start, she mused, but she'd still like to rip out his
throat. She wouldn't, she smiled to herself, as she recognised in
Matthew what she recognised in her mate, they were both survivors.<br /><br />Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-25683772327227128852014-09-14T00:32:00.005-07:002014-09-14T00:32:31.087-07:00Crash and Burn - Innocent LivesBrother Matthew awoke to the sound of sirens and the violent jarring of
the ship. His neophyte was cowering in a corner, snivelling and recieved
a just slap around the head. Pulling his cassock on and fastening his
heavy belt he opened his copy of the teachings of the True One and
picked a line at random. <b><span style="color: maroon;"><i>Only with fire is the devil purged, though fire can work both ways, for it is mischievous</i></span></b>. He mused for a moment and pulled his bag from the overhead locker.<br />"Come along Tobias, we should ask the Captain why we have been disturbed."<br />"Master, it must be pirates! Who else would attack a confederate transport?"<br />Who
indeed, he mused, perhaps it was wrong to take such a ship on the eve
of the devil's work. The DEN were planning a hunt, a parody of honour,
barbarism pure and simple. Animals, nothing more. And yet these animals
might make a hunt of the True Ones servants, and that was not permitted.<br />"We shall see, come Tobias, and bring your bags. There is Gods work to do this day."<br /><br />The
Captain was calm, though he could see that all was lost. His two
escorts were already burning, their hulls spinning, and one of the
agressors was also dead. But there were two more. His maneauvers were
good, but they were faster, his shields were good, but their weapons
were faster than his recharge rate. And out here on the Rim there was no
room for errors, and help might not come. So regardless of his orders,
he swung his ship towards the planet and tried to run for it. The
thought of jettisoning his cargo never crossed his mind. A cargo of
pioneers, colonists for one of the outposts. There was no way he would
let them be sport for the Dewiek. <br /><br />Suddenly the ship started to
shudder and whine, the engines slowing. He ordered more speed, but none
came. Tractor beams? Damn them, they meant to board! He keyed the
intercom.<br />"All hands, this is the Captain. Prepare for boarding, issue weapons to all who can carry them!"<br />He
noticed the ships had stopped shooting him now. The large ship was
maneauvering for boarding while the smaller one skittered around. With
frantic hands he moved all available power to the engines, but it wasn't
working. The ship was stopping and there was little he could do. <br /><br />The
two ships slammed into each other then rebounded slightly. An armoured
docking tube from the Dewiek ship slammed into the transport, cutting
torches burning into it's hull. Inside the hull portion slammed onto the
floor and the civilians inside watched in horror, as the giant wolves
walked into the ship, festooned with weapons. With a howl they cut down,
their blood spattering the walls. On the bridge the Captain began
lowering bulkheads and directing troops.<br /><br />The civilians ran, along
with some troops and ended up in the aft cargo hold. The soldiers held
the advancing Dewiek off, bit by bit, but their numbers were thinning.
Crying children, weeping mothers, and the stoic men of the Confederacy,
proud to the point of death, armed with what weapons they could waited
to pay for their lives with Dewiek blood. Outside the door the firing
stopped and an intense banging started, a hammering and a howling.
Weapons were trained on the corridor, a killing zone that lead to the
door and then there was silence. All watched as the doors lock opened
and slowly swung in. There were sighs and praises as they looked on the
form of Brother Matthew, wreathed in smoke. Behind him his neophyte was
making sure the bodies were dead and then they both stepped in and
closed the door.<br />"Brothers and sisters. Fear not for they shall be
here soon, and one way or another we shall see who is stronger this day.
For I will stand and fight with you, as the True One stands with you.
These animals are heathens, and do not know the way of the True One, but
we shall give them a gift of the True One this day." With that he
pulled a weapon from his bag and checked it. And indeed, etched along
the side were the words 'Gift of the True One'.<br /><br />The door to the aft cargo hold opened again and a wolf stood at the door while his companions looked at the dead around them.<br />"You
cower in the darkness, hiding in the bowels of the ship, hoping we will
not notice you. But we can smell your fear, smell the prey. Come out
and face our judgement, or we shall come in and slaughter you all."<br />Brother Matthew stood his ground and gazed at the creature before him.<br />"Who are you to stand in my way? You, are you worthy? Or are you more cattle like these confederates?"<br />The great wolf walked a few steps into the corridor and stood astride it, slamming another cartridge into it's weapon.<br />"Oh I am worthy, O Devil. The question is, are you?"<br />"I
am White Strides of the Dewiek and I come here to hunt our Prey. You,
are not prey. But out here, what does that matter, I shall have your
skull for my trophy wall."<br />The other Dewiek behind him turned and backed him up.<br />"And
the Lord shall say unto his shepard, be warned of the wolf, for they
shall prey on your flock. And thus the Lord gave his shepard the
greatest gift."<br />White Strides howled with laughter.<br />"Holy man, you preach to those who do not believe. But you are true, we... WE are the wolves, and we shall prey on your flock."<br />"Then I have no other choice but to give you the greatest gift that my Lord gave me."<br />"And what is that, prey?"<br />There
was a click and a hiss as a pilot light was turned on. Brother Matthew
brought his gift up and let the Wolf see it for a moment and understand
before he pulled the trigger.<br />"In the name of the True One, I call thee Devil!"<br />Gouts
of liquid fire covered the Wolf and those behind him. Their screams
were terrifying and echoed through the ship. Other Dewiek turned and
headed towards them. Brother Matthew simply walked over the burning
bodies, his Inquisitorial Robes immune to fire, behind him his neophyte
singing hymns of the Inquisition. <br /><br />Inside the Dewiek ship the
pack leader checked his weapons and those of the crew with him.
Something was going wrong, that fool White Strides had failed to take
down a simple transport of colonists. He raised his head and sniffed
then turned to the docking tube. At the end a man stood, holding a great
flame thrower.<br />"If you had fought with honour, wolf, I would call
you out and fight you one on one. But you slaughter without regard,
innocent lives have been taken and that cannot be allowed. By the power
of the Inquisition and the True One, I call thee Devil and send you back
to the hell from which you were spawned!"<br />"Wait! You dare use a flame thrower in space? Are you insane?"<br />Brother Matthew pulled back the hood of his cassock. The eyes of the zealot glared back, daring him to say more.<br />"Thou shall not suffer a Devil to live. If it cost the lives of a hundred of my brothers I would still follow my heart."<br />The
pack leader through himself aside as the torrent of flame poured into
his ship and slammed his paw on the airlock quick close. On the other
side he saw his men burning and felt the implosion as the docking tube
cracked. Alarms sounded as the glass on the airlock cracked. He had
enough time to howl one last time before he was sucked out when the
glass gave way.<br /><br />The Captain of the Transport felt his engines
return and slammed them onto full throttle. Alarms were ringing all
around the ship, people were screaming on his bridge but he kept heading
to the planet. Computer screens were flashing, structural integrity was
failing. When he was close enough to the planet he sealed the various
holds and one by one ejected them on a safe trajectory, then instructed
his crew to get to the life boats. He cursed the Dewiek and settled back
into the seat as his ship started skimming the atmosphere. At least, he
thought, the crew were safe.<br /><br />Brother Matthew pulled himself out
of the jettisoned hold and looked around. Desert stretched as far as the
eye could see. Looking up he saw the remains of the transport as it
finally disintigrated, the debris raining down like stars. With a sigh,
and with his neophyte salvaging as much water as he could carry, they
both started walking.<br />"Master, where are we going?"<br />"The True One will guide us, and that is all I need to know."
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-73798335820361637312014-09-14T00:32:00.001-07:002014-09-14T00:32:06.614-07:00Ben al Ya'mir and the Search for the Codex ApocryphaThe wind howled across the desolate plains and towards the pinnacle of
rock that dominated the area. A circle of black rock a mile high, carved
and smoothed by hand, its countless steps worn away by the passing of
devout disciples. For at the top of the black column is the Temple of
the Worms. A fortress monastery that has stood for decades, a bastion of
the Brotherhood from a bygone age. Now the fortress is in ruins, its
noble structure which had stood unmolested for centuries was crumbling,
decaying and waiting for the right time to offer up its secrets. Few had
found the monastery, even fewer had left.<br /><br />And thus it was that a
lone ship discovered the planet and found the towering pinnacle with
its ageless ruin. The vessel was the renowned "Realms of the Faithless",
the Templar of the zealot Ben al Ya'mir. On the plain before the
monastery lay the ships of three and ten crews who had happened upon the
planet by accident, or by fate. As he walked among the ships he could
see that while many had been there for many years, some were more
recent. It was at the base of the carved stairs leading to the monastery
that he grasped the cross around his neck as he beheld what had become
of those who had come before him. A pile of skulls, some complete and
grinning back, others broken into fragments.<br /><br />At the top of the
stairs Ben al Ya'mir beheld the fortress monastery and fell to his
knees. The vast walls, battlements and towers stood proud, the gate far
too vast for one man to open. He touched the baroque carvings on the
door and felt the cold stone. The entire fortress, it seemed, was made
of the same stone, carved out of the living rock, including the gate.
There was no way in. It was exactly as he had beheld in the vision that
had sent him to this moon.<br /><br />He looked up and saw the brown and
grey disk of the planet that filled the sky and began his prayer as the
sun lowered over the horizon. All through the night he intoned
incantations and prayers, seemingly in a trance. In the darkness outside
the fires warming light strange creatures lurched, shadows crawled and
animals howled. A strange glow enveloped him as he slipped deep into the
Trance of Faith, as he had been taught by the Masters when just an
Acolyte. When morning came and he awoke the fire had burnt through and
the great gate of the fortress had opened for the first time in a
thousand years. He had passed the test for which the key had been the
Trance of Faith. The spirits of the monastery had sensed that the
Brotherhood had returned and opened the gate once more.<br /><br />He passed
through the main gate and walked through a corridor towards a large
open area. Over the millennia nothing had grown, leaving the ground as
bare as the day the monastery was abandoned. Massive doors made
completely of gold, silver and precious stones led to sights unseen and
treasures untold, but Ben al Ya'mir looked around until he found a door
he had seen in his vision and walked towards it. As he approached the
doors he could see that around several were skeletons, some twisted,
come crushed, others burnt. The penalty for choosing the wrong door had
its price, those who lusted after the wealth that was offered behind the
doors paid the price for their lack of faith. The door he stopped at
was plain and made of wood, despite the years it had not aged, decayed
or warped. The door opened when he turned the handle and led to an
antechamber and another door. Above the door was a simple legend. The
Temple of the Worm. The doorway to all he had dreamed of. The Temple
where the tools of his serviture to the One True God would be found.
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-84457855803053704122014-09-14T00:31:00.006-07:002014-09-14T00:31:43.107-07:00The Preacher"Adeste fideles... Ave verum Dei!" <br /><br />The cry of the Preacher
resounds around the high dome of the colony. Once more he cried it
before turning to the crowd who stood around him. The clothes and
uniforms spoke of many affiliations, no few recognise the Preacher and
who he represents.<br /><br /> "Te Deum Laudamus!"<br /><br /> "We don't praise the God of a lunatic mad man." <br /><br />The
Preachers thin hand flashed across the speakers face leaving two red
streaks from his rings. the speaker, a Captain in the Stellar Patrol
reaches for his sword, which the preacher deftly strikes from his hand
with his staff. Ignoring the Captain he raises his arms high, the
sleeves of his robes fall and reveals that they are heavily scarred. His
voice deepened as he roars at the crowd.<br /><br /> "The God of which I speak is the God of the Brotherhood! The One True God!" <br /><br /> "Tell us of this God. Who is he?" <br /><br /> "No! It is treason to even listen to the Preacher. I will have you all arrested!" <br /><br />The Preacher stands beside the Captain who is a good foot taller than him and rests a hand on his shoulder.<br /><br />
"Is it treason to listen to your heart? That is what you should do
Captain. Did you have no doubts when you destroyed the Pirate Cruiser
Achilles? Or when you crushed the riots on Rebellion? How much blood
have you spilt because it was the orders of a man a thousand light years
away? I know this. My God knows this." <br /><br />The Preacher turns from the Captain and walks amongst the crowd, who part before him. His stick taps to every second footfall.<br /><br />
"The One True God is eternal! The winds call his name, stars
prostrate themselves before him! With one command his will is done by
the legions of faithful. Devoted followers who will allow nothing to
stand in their way. You..." He points to a man, "Would you face untold
odds to do what you could? Could you fight on a distant planet, watch
your friends die and still be of the same resolve? Would you stand under
the onslaught of enemy weapons constantly pounding you? Could you lead
your men into a colony defended by five times your force? Would you?" <br /><br />He points his stick at a man wearing a stained deep space flight suit.<br /><br /> "No I would not."<br /><br /> "Then why should he?" <br /><br />He points to the Captain and the crowd turn to gaze.<br /><br />
"He. He has done all of what I have said. He has wept at the
futility of Imperial conquests. He has dreamt of greater glory. That is
what I can offer." <br /><br />Amongst the bustle of the busy starport it seems silence has descended on the small group.<br /><br />
"Would you like to fight for a cause that is just and noble? Would
you like to command a vast army of warrior monks and spread the word of
your God? Would you like to sample the gifts of heaven? Would you like
to know the way to Paradise?" <br /><br />He steps closer to the man, the
cowl on his robes raising slightly showing a deep, thick scar running
down his neck. The man cringes slightly, to the Preachers amusement.<br /><br />
"Would you like to? There is much more than this. Come with me and I
will teach you the ways of my God, the One True God. I can show you the
way to true enlightenment and offer you the keys to Paradise."<br /><br /> "But the Brotherhood are..."<br /><br />
"Your only chance for salvation. When we march the bells toll and
the banners fly high. There is much wailing and lamentation from the
enemy who can see from the banners that the end is nigh! Follow me now,
join the Brotherhood and learn the true meaning of prosperity, pleasure,
honour and fear." <br /><br />The Preacher walks through the crowd and
towards the access ramps of the docking bays. He stops and turn around,
those following him stop as well.<br /><br /> "Should I forget to
mention, the Brotherhood are not violent by nature. We simply know how
to defend ourselves. But when we are pressed, we will fight. Join the
Brotherhood and we will defend our faith together. And should we fail
then we will become stronger! Armies shall march to conquer and carry
back our bones for burial, and we shall become the greatest Martyrs ever
known."
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-16008424443408734892014-09-14T00:31:00.003-07:002014-09-14T00:31:21.030-07:00The House of the Autumn Breeze - We All Have A PastThe heavy cruiser decelerated into the outer rings of the Borderlands
system and waited, drifting under it's own momentum while it scanned the
area. Trails of ships that had passed recently were still fresh but
nothing was visible. Slowly, and with definite intent it turned it's
stubby nose towards the a distant planet. Launch tubes cycled open at
missiles were loaded, sensors were on full. Even from this distance the
crew were tense.<br />"Captain, this is suicide. If they decide that they don't want us there they will destroy us without so much as a reason."<br />"Technically, we are allies. The FET and the BHD work together."<br />"The are fanatical bastards and I don't want to risk my ship!"<br />"Technically my ship, you work for me. If you don't like that, I can change it."<br />Carmilla
D'Morenta looked up from the station she was sitting at and looked at
the Captain of the cruiser. The captain was one of her friends, one of
her Autumn Breeze girls, but that didn't make her stupid. There was
truth in her words, there was always that risk.<br />"Believe me, I don't
want to have this ship shot at, but we received the flight plans, the
location of the colony, even details on how to get past the natives.
Trust me, we'll be fine!"<br /><br />Several hours later the ships alarms
rang, waking Carmilla from her sleep. As she walked into the command
deck she saw the reason through the bridge viewscreens. Dozens of large
warships were in orbit, dozens more could be seen on scan. Space
stations in orbit little more than orbital gun platforms tracked them.
Sensors from at least three different factions scanned and analysed
them. One by one they slowly passed.<br />"See, Captain. Nothing. Because
we are allies and we are allowed here. Now, land at the co-ordinates
given, but Captain, make sure everyone is armed."<br />"You don't trust the natives?"<br />"No, I don't. And I don't trust my fathers reasons for sending us down here either. So I'd like to survive."<br /><br />There
was no place to land so the ship simply crushed an area of the forest
to make it's landing platform. One by one the ground party made it's way
out of the ship and into the forest. They all checked their weapons and
packs and Carmilla sauntered down the ramp and walked off. Although she
couldn't see them she knew the locals were there. The sounds of the
animals in the forest were loud usually, but here they were silent, as
if being driven off by something. <br />"So what are we after here?"<br />"The
back way into the colony. Should be over this rise. Father always liked
to talk about this colony, said it was his favorite and he was sad to
leave it."<br />"Yeah... Carm, I don't want to put a dampener on your day, but there is no colony here. That looks more like a resource dump."<br />She
crested the rise and looked out. What was once a flourishing colony was
now an overgrown ruin. Only a small area of the colony was still
working, several rows of mines and factories churning out product while
workers could be seen heading to the overgrown residential towers. It
seemed someone was making a go of the place, unwilling to let it simply
fade away. She turned back to the heavy forest and then sighed.<br />"We have a job to do, so lets do it."<br />It
was the work of a few moments to locate the substation and open the
door leading to a descending corridor. The sound of water dripping and
little else could be heard. Torches were turned on and they walked in,
scanning the walls and floor for any signs of security devices.<br />"Carm, are you sure we should be here? Trespassing on the Brotherhoods territory? There are rumors of what they do to people."<br />"Those are just rumors, we'll be fine....."<br />The
corridor opened up into a great underground compound, all around the
walls were decorated with the banners of an old Brotherhood House. Signs
of fighting were visible all around, damaged warbots and scattered
armor littered the floor. The walls were criss crossed in places with
bullet and laser marks.<br />"No one has been here for a long time it looks like."<br />"I guess some things are best left hidden.... maybe there was a reason they left this place."<br />"Yeah.... I guess...."<br /><br />"They never left, they were executed where they stood!"<br />The
voice when it rang out caused the small party to fall into position,
their weapons raised, eyes scanning to find the source. He spoke again,
now walking out of the shadows by a darkened corridor, followed by
heavily armed troops.<br />"You are trespassing. By the power invested in
me I pronounce you all in violation of Brotherhood law and sentenced to
summary execution. Do you have any last words?"<br />Carmilla followed the man, the monk approaching her, her weapon still raised.<br />"You dare point a weapon at me? Can you make your execution any more painful?"<br />"We can leave once we've come for what we need. There is no need for any violence."<br />The monk laughed.<br />"There
is need, you are violating a sanctum that has been declared
excommunicatis. Your presence here is enough to kill you all a thousand
times over. Troops, take positions.... aim..."<br />"Stand down."<br />The
words drifted across the chamber, soft yet full of command. A large monk
in heavy purple robes walked into the room, flanked by the papal guard.<br />"Your eminence, you should not be here!"<br />"You
tell me where I should go? You think I did not know of this woman's
presence here? More that I should wonder why you are here?"<br />"Your
eminence, it is written that that place was a sanctum of the De Vermis,
one of the most heretical traitors ever to be excommunicated, we patrol
here in case any of the taint returns."<br />The purple clad man walked
towards Carmilla, his kindly face looking down at her, his hand gently
pushing her weapon away from him.<br />"Your zealous nature does you proud, but this here is the daughter of one who was always loyal. And I had her sent here."<br />"But your eminence...."<br />"Leave us... or I will be forced to be... unpleasant."<br /><br />The monk sat down on one of the piles of debris and looked at the group before him.<br />"Aaah
please, my dear, if I wanted you dead you'd never have landed. The True
one in his wisdom has sent you to me. And not without a little bit of
guidance. In truth, my zealous companion was right, I should have you
executed for trespassing."<br />"But.. you won't?"<br />"Oh good lord, no. I think it's far more likely that you will survive. You may even accept what I am going to offer you."<br />"A life in servitude to the Brotherhood? I don't think so. I never was one to be a slave."<br />"A
slave? Is that what you think of us? You are the daughter of one of our
darker members, a traitor and a heretic, a blasphemer and mass
murderer."<br />"Are you talking about my Father?"<br />"Yes. And by my faith, you know I tell the truth."<br />"No. No! He was excommunicated, cast out!"<br />"Aaaah my dear. Are we incapable of sending out spies?"<br />"That's not possible, he was hunted down!"<br />"But never caught.... ever. That was his cover. And now, it is time for you to take his place."<br />"My father would have told me if he was still working for you. He would have told me!"<br /><br />Her
cries were more pleading than anything else. To be told, buy the
enigmatic leader of the Brotherhood no less that her Father, far from
being the cast out traitor she had believed, was still one of the
faithful. And that she was being offered a position.<br />"Say I believed you for one minute. What post could you even offer me? There are too many who would remember and...."<br />"Remember what? You know how long ago we are talking. Time passes. People forget."<br />"Yes, but we all have a past."<br />"Yes
we do, and yours have come back to bite you. It's simple, Carmilla
D'Morenta, or should I say, Carmilla Porteus, you will join the
Brotherhood, or I will have you, your family, your friends and everyone
one you know executed."<br />She looked at him for a moment. The silence
of the moment extended into minutes, then she laughed and lowered her
self to her knees and bowed.<br />"Who am I to deny my family. The True
One has always been watching me, I guess this is fate. I pledge myself
to you, and my family once again to the service of the Brotherhood."<br />"Excellent, now rise, my young apprentice, you have much to learn and we have much work to do."<br />Carmilla
rose, reaching up and tearing off the FET symbol from her shoulder and
letting it fall to the ground. There was now a new beginning, and as she
looked around and followed Algienon she smiled. Yes, we all have a
past.Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-75803642774192167102014-09-14T00:30:00.004-07:002014-09-14T00:30:50.919-07:00The House of the Autumn Breeze - Exceeding her AbilityCarmilla sat on the edge of the cliff and looked out over the vista
below. Great crashing waves slammed with force into the reefs, the
howling winds pelting an acidic mixture of chemical snow. Another
vicious planet, no life, deadly on the day side, lethal on the night
side. A planet more akin to the cold depths of the True Ones hell than a
place to find treasure. She fought the wind and got to her feet, wiping
the slush from her helmet and heading into the protective shell of the
outpost. Years of neglect and being forgotten had taken their toll, and
what was left was taken by those scavengers with enough savvy to steal
without being detected. And yet, there was treasure.<br /><br />One of her
crew handed over the printouts that a whining computer was churning out.
She matched them with the records she had. They matched, mostly. Nine
years had brought on some changes, and yet, there were still secrets out
there.<br />"Captain, we have to go, if we stay here another night I can't guarentee the seals will hold."<br />"That's okay. We have what we came for."<br />She crumpled the paper and threw it onto the floor.<br />"We've been on a wild goose chase."<br />Removing
her helmet she breathed in deeply and coughed. The smell of corroding
metal and a faintly cinnamon acidic scent wafting from the other room
made her rub her eyes and sweep her hair back.<br />"The mineral that is here is exotic, but it's the wrong one. Maybe they changed the recepie from what Father was told..."<br />"Or maybe he didn't know what he was after?"<br />"Oh
he knew alright.... his searches for this.... dominated part of his
life, and earned him an excomunication... but he kept looking."<br />"Captain. If it's the wrong place, can we go?"<br />"Yes.
But log it. This is still worth money to someone, and if we have enough
thorlium we can come back, and begin drilling again."<br /><br />As the
crew started to take down the shelter they had built around the
abandoned outpost she sighed. Chasing nine year old rumours and
legends.... how was this supposed to help carve out an empire? Replacing
her helmet she walked out into the snow that was now almost a blizzard.
She kicked over the sample crates of Moxa. Treasure, but not
economical. A waste of time and effort.<br />"There must be an easier way than this."
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-77372391505367508092014-09-14T00:30:00.000-07:002014-09-14T00:30:24.139-07:00House of the Autumn BreezeThe old man watched the sun go down over the great shallow sea of
Durobrivae. Already there were several women throwing wood from the
shore onto the fire, the crackling flames sending sparks high up into
the darkening sky to dance with the trails of the ships landing and
taking off from the moon. He sighed and fell back into the large chair
and held out his hand, a glass was placed within it almost instantly.<br />"Carmilla, I won't say I don't miss it, but I can't go back out there."<br />"I know father."<br />"But I get the call.... the lure of the frontier is out there."<br />"I know father."<br />The ice cubes in his glass jingled as he swirled the liquid.<br />"It
will be up to you. When I was out there I had legions at my command,
fleets. But no more, the disgrace, being banished here... I can't do it.
I won't."<br />The woman standing beside him knelt infront of him and
took his hands, the sleeves of the long kimono she wore covering both
their hands. She smiled at him and squeezed gently.<br />"Father, I know. I'll be going out there with just the resources I have at my command, my closest friends."<br />"Yes, your Autumn Breeze girls."<br />Was that distaste in his voice? Or simply the bitterness of the old veteran.<br />"Yes,
we will go out and carve out a slice of territory and make ourselves
known. You know what we do, pleasure at any cost. For any who can afford
our services."<br />"There was a day when I would have called you wh...."<br />She cut him off, standing up and straightening her kimono, her face a vicious scowl for a moment.<br />"I
told you before, if you call me or my girls that again I would cut you.
I don't care who you are, father, or who you were. I will cut you."<br />The low chuckling laugh from him softened her face, again, another of his tests.<br />"You
are my daughter, Carmilla, but that may not be enough. Here, take this.
It's the secure com-codes for an old friend of mine. I hope he is still
alive. If anyone can give you that help that you need, it will be him."<br />He slipped a datadisc to her and then gestured her away.<br />"Now
leave me be, but come back every now and then to visit. You want to go
to the Yank System, you can get there through the wormhole. Goodbye,
Carmilla, my daughter."<br />She kissed his cheek and walked down to the beach gesturing to her girls, who all fell in behind her.<br /><br />The
small fleet of ships took off, eight ships, a motley mixture of
freighters, explorers and warships. From the bridge of the small scout
ship she slipped the datadisc into the commstation and sat back. The
details of the person flashed across the screen. Zuvoro Norozov, the
Kumicho of the FET Cartel. She smiled, she had heard of him, was this
the will of the True One? A lot of her plans could be moved forward with
the Cartel, they were her kind of people. And they were the kind of
people to expand the horizons of her Associates. Maybe her fathers
adherence to the religion of the True One, which had rubbed off onto
her, would put her in good stead as well. With a smile she put a call
through to Zuvoro.
Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5594329885400833192.post-77005566707649570832014-09-14T00:23:00.000-07:002014-09-14T00:23:33.628-07:00End of Eve and a New BeginningI guess from the last post date that it is obvious to most people that this blog is no longer functioning. Well, I stopped playing EVE pretty much around the time of the last post. MMO's are just not worth playing when you do not have anyone to play with, and as everyone knows EVE is probably the worst game in the world for casual pickup of friends to play with.<br />
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<br />So with the lack of friends due to RL stuff, I decided to hang up my EVE toons. A lot of history, a lot of fun, a lot of.... aaah hell. It's just gone, not going back. Nor am I going back to Star Trek Online.... or Star Wars: The Old Republic..... they just don't have the pull anymore.<br />
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So I went back to see if the game I stopped playing when I started playing EVE was running, yeah, nine years ago... and it was!<br />
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<a href="http://playbymail.net/pbmwiki/index.php/Phoenix:_BSE" target="_blank">Phoenix: Beyond the Stellar Empire</a><br />
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So now I have returned, and having a lot of fun. It may not be the game for those of you who go made and apeshit for MMO's as this is, wait for it, a Play by E-Mail game.<br />
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So this blog for EVE is now dead, it will stay as I still enjoy reading about my exploits, but the new posts will be about Phoenix, and my Religious Fanatic, the Inquisitor Carmilla D'morenta. Yeah, I know, it's a character I love :D<br />
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You can do a lot worse than having a look at the game, it's one of the rare original keepers that is deeper than EVE, has all the things you got there, conquering space, exploration, big fleets and screw outposts, we have proper starbases :D<br />
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Sign up, read the forums, talk to the people, and embrace a game that rewards you.<br />
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Mark <br />
<br />Fall From Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00529499812647964551noreply@blogger.com1