Unity's Flames

[miokalia]

At the ice tray, the threat level was elevated to POSCON 3.
All but two ships of the fleet were now reporting. And SOS codes were being sent out.

Qualt went up north with Tjr. Secretary (president) Konig, they needed to recover someone for consultation.

Reports were coming in as they were enroute.

MZS Burroughs reported hit by CPC type weapon, likely sunk.

MZS Kohlaviyta damaged by reflected beam and debris.

Still collecting alpha reports.

CPC-like device was not fired by ASE, they are not within range for that type of weapon, nor have they even hailed the fleet yet.

Gamma resonance did not detect fast neutron radiation. Source was not a nuclear weapon.


Vuela saw this and said,
"CPC's don't make mushroom clouds."

Upon arrival at the rustic cabin, Blinn didn't waste any time. Vuela didn't recognize him any more since he had made some changes.
In particular, last time she saw him, he was more orange and reptile-shaped, but now, he was apparently wolf-shaped and light gray.

"Is Doroy Blinn home", she asked.

He glared at her and chirped the correction, "Doroy Irving Blinn."

Qualt already knew what Vuela didn't, regarding his apparent change, and started,
"Salnai is engaging in nanite warfare against Aluez and trying to draw us into a conflict with them.
Oh, and they also seemed to have fired a CPC-type weapon at our evacuating fleet.
Um. Help?"

The mechanical wolf made a long sigh then said, "You already told me this."

"And you haven't replied much to it.", said Qualt.

"So why can't you just threaten Salnai?
You're having a fleet run away from Salnai because they have a CPC?
Seriously?
I bet amongst that fleet, you probably have several crew members and equipment which is equipped with smaller CPC devices. Probably newer too, from what you described with the beam spreading.
You know as well as I do the risks and problems with using a beam spreader system with a CPC."

"I can't just land on the island and have somebody stick a fork in their spreader device. I'm sure it's fortified. Plus they might go for broke if this installation falls.", said Qualt, "And I'm running away from Stidham's insane threats."

"Which is why I wouldn't have anything around there to begin with. Nor would I have let Andertol get lost up there, as you apparently did."

"I'd like to see you try to control him"

"I did. I did just that for 3 years."

"He's not the same as he was back then. He kinda changed."

"Why do you think I got out when I did?"

"Because you were obscessed with bringing KZ on-board with inorganic rights and once you finally took a bullet and made your point and won them over. You couldn't think of anything else to do.
So you went and... apparently found a mate I see."

Vuela then looked shocked and gawked,
"Wait! Wait a minute!

So Blinn is..."

She then made several gestures trying to explain a bizarre form of Malych reproduction and eventually said,
"So Blinn basically um... merged with something then?"

Blinn annoyedly said,
"I'm standing right here and yes. It's called NAND-type subtractive reproduction, don't try to grasp it because there is no organic analogue to it. Stop judging me."

Vuela looked embarassed and said,
"I'm not judging."

Blinn said,
"I left because I didn't want to jeopardize what I had accomplished.
And because one day, Andertol came back from one of the Kazian meetings all amorous with Itka and I knew that it was only a matter of time before he'd start hearing K24 and you clearly know the rest.

I would argue that Salnai has been placed into an unexpected position by this. They thought that Andertol exposing himself up there would accelerate their plans by turning us against Aluez because of his assassination.

But apparently he got attacked by just the right person, someone seething with nanites, and you and I know the rest.

I should have guessed the bastard would be a genosaurer. What with his carelessness and creative misanthropy. You know, all the stereotypes of that model."

"So now what?", said Qualt.

"Well, they've crossed the Rubicon. They just fired on our fleet.

Obviously you're going to have to keep Andertol contained for the time being. I would keep an eye on him just in case Salnai manages to log into those foreign nanites in his core and try to get him to do things. Or kill him.", he said.

"So we stand behind Aluez?", Qualt asked.

"No", Blinn growled, "Stidham strikes me as the kind of man who doesn't like it when AIs conspire in his general vicinity, even if it has nothing to do with him or his confederacy.

So we can't. For the sake of causing harm to his reputation, respect Stidham's request. Let him look like a dick."

"Could you just please come back for a bit and see the rest of this through?", asked Qualt.

"Technically, I can't refuse that request.", he said, "Although why are you doing this to me?

I mean, isn't it obvious that I've kinda settled down?"

Vuela interjected:
"Merging with another thing is settling down? You guys are weird."

"Like OMG, how is this bitch the president?", said Blinn sharply, "You see, when two Malych or Zoic Androids or some combination thereof love each other very much..."

"Ok ok ok. I was kidding.", she said, but to no avail.
Blinn countered,
"Too bad. You pooped in your bed and now you get to sleep in it."

"She was kidding.
Please spare her this. She can look it up on wikipedia if she wants to.", Qualt insisted

[Aluez]

"Two targets hit off the coast commandant, one sunk, other damaged. ID seems to be of Miokali design with the ship." says the gunner as she viewed the Sat targeting imagery. "Orders, sir?" she turned toward him.

"Let them run... hail them and tell them to get lost."

-----

To: Fleeing Miokalian fleet
From: New Harrison Island Defense Forces

We apologize for your losses, but it is protocol for us to fire on anything suspicious off of our coasts in the event of an attack. We lost one of our silos, and you just happened to fit the range for a cruise missle attack or worse.

Please consider this message a warning for you to leave. You have 30 minutes to leave our waters before we fire again.

Cheers,

Commandant Kahn

-----

"What happened?" asks Lafi, looking upon the council, idly wondering where Tod was at. Something was seriously amiss here.

"I do not know Archleader," says Sosec as she read the reports as they flooded in of people in Tyr, and all around Alenia. "It is saying the same thing: CONNECTION DAMAGED, SELF DESTRUCT INITIATED. We don't have such a thing, and why would it display in front of our eyes... even though we CAN wirelessly connect with devices to display such things in front of our eyes in the case of bionics and nanite hackers."

"Yes, but not everyone has this ability" Angel looked over at Sosec, sliding a disk over to her. "We also just got reports of an installation being found nearby Alenia, about 7 to 12 dishes exploded in the forest, and of course... now we have a suspicion of nanotech mind control."

Lafi rubbed her eyes. "Why did we choose to crash here again Alueza..." she mumbles before opening one eye and looking at the AI.

"Well I couldn't help that... but good news: after that stunt, I think it's time to start building an ENDGAME fleet" she says, before bringing up an image for an old fashion style sleeper ship. "It will take 4 years for each ship... but we can do it. I think."

"Not to mention it'll take some cooperation from other nations... which is gonna be a pain in the rear to get..." Jeremy sighed softly and looked at Lady Sosec. "So, would the princess of the leadership care to lend her knowledge of engines on this project?"

Sosec laughed and smiled at Jeremy. "Oh but of course. I am a child of the Stars as it is, so this project is gonna be overseen by me... hopefully we can make it work"

Lafi nodded before looking at Orillion when he walked in. "Can I help you General?"

"Yes ma'am, could you explain why... you collapsed? One minute I am coming here to ask why you people are under martial law and acting like fascists, but as soon as I walk in, I see you all collapsed... and why were you all using the secondary hall?"

Lucifer quirked a brow. "Probably for the same reason why the crematory smells like a dead dinoid"

Blair laughed nervously as he found out the comment he made about IX. "Ohh... something tells me I am dead if I ever go there..."

Everyone looked at Blair before Lafi spoke up. "And that is exactly what you're gonna do... with Tod of course." she waved her hand on before looking at the design as it slowly rotated in front of them. "I will fund this if I get to choose where we end up."

"And where is that?" Alueza perked a brow toward her and padded out into the main floor.

"Pluto... far enough away from this crazy ass planet" she sighs and smiles a bit. "At least it'll have an atmosphere..."

[Kingdoms of Cal]

The HMS hooded dropped it's stealth protection.

The commonwealth's fleet was showing every sign of being very annoyed. This was not a SOTO attack alone.

The HMS Hooded moved between the fleets, it followed the commonwealth's naval engine and ordereds.

It raised it's guns but not in ether direction. The guns face forward and back.

She simply sent message "all fleets go home, we do not want to be here."

[The Anean Star Empire]

Chancellor Nakhi Welhan

"Where is IX?" I asked.

"He's on the way to Aluez." Soldavini said.

"How many are in the Citadel?"

LucAI appeared next to Soldavini. "Two million sir."

"Seal the doors. Move us to Defense Condition One. Do not launch though."

Soldavini said, "What? If we do that then-"

"I know protocol. We should launch, but we don't have to. It just moves the entire colony into maximum readiness. Call up the Colonial Militia. Get a weapon in the hand of every able-bodied person. Ready the NGDF for an immediate deployment. Mobilize the Legion to be ready for any deployment."

God damn. When is IX ever around to make these decisions. Now I understand why he's always drunk. This next one will be the most difficult choice I have ever made.

"The Miokalian fleet was attacked by a weapon in Salnai. They fired the first shot of the war and the Miokalians are running. I want the kinetic rail gun on the Imperator brought online and two of them launched at the ion cannons."

"I cannot allow that." Soldavini said.

"So you would let them start something and get away with it? I thought you were a Talonian. If someone fired on people you considered friends, wouldn't you want blood?"

"Well... yes..."

"Besides, whatever happened in Aluez, and I don't know for sure, but I almost want to bet that Salnai had a hand in it. The first time we hear of them is the same time Aluez goes dark. They are still our allies and I intend to protect them. Launch the strike."

"Yes sir."

I am glad the Imperator is in orbit alongside the battlestation. I don't want to cause some international incident. Well I'll probably cause one anyway.

"Send this to them once we have confirmed impact.

"This is the Chancellor of New Gracaria. The attack on your cannons is in response to the unprovoked destruction of Miokalian ships. While I didn't want to escalate the violence, your actions left me with no choice. I am open to negotiation still if you are intelligent enough to end the fighting before it starts."


Secretary of Defense Luca Rio

"Ma'am, there's a message from what is more than likely a Commonwealth ship."

"Wonderful. What was it?"

"They want us to go back."

The captain of the Harbinger came and said, "There was a priority one message from the Citadel."

"What did it say?"

"We are at DEFCON 1, but no nuclear launches are authorized."

"Send this message to the Cali ship.

"I still have my orders. If you wish to violently intervene, then I have full right to defend my ships. I am to make sure the Miokalian fleet leaves. I demand you to stand down and not interfere with my mission if you want all your people to stay alive."


Captain Virgilio Marse, ASF Imperator

We got our orders from the Citadel and are moving into position to hit the ion cannons in Salnai. There are five down there. The weapons chief is targeting each cannon with two rails to pierce the armor followed by a one megaton conventional explosive. He's timing it to take not even 30 seconds.

Of course, it'd take like a minute for the rails to reach the target and only a little longer for the explosives. Ten seconds after rails launch, the explosives will. If this goes flawlessly, then we will strike a major blow to them I think.

"Everything set down there?" I asked.

"Uh... hold on sir." A few minutes passed. "Alright, I think it's ready. On your order sir."

I pressed the button and on my monitor, it showed that all rails launched. Exactly ten seconds later, the explosives launched.

"Bring our shields online just in case they have a way to counterattack."

And now we wait.

[Aluez]

Kahn perked a brow at the sat screens before growling and rubbing his eyes. "If the fleet turns it's g-" he froze when alarms started to sound off, looking up just as the other Ion cannons and defensive lasers across the island started to open fire. Their own cannons were gone... thankfully their command center was far enough under the ground to not be damaged too much.

"What the hell is going on?!" he asks over the comms channel with the other commanders.

"Ship in orbit opened fire, we are returning fire and using pulse and beam attacks" says the other commanders, all of them saying the same thing.

Kahn rubbed his eyes and growled a bit. "Open the silos on our side of the island, launch a damned ICBM up at them!"

Within minutes, the island was firing bolts of blue light, as well as blueish-white beams into the air, at the ship, which was followed quickly by several missles being fired up into the sky. About 150-200 ICBM's going up after the ship.

-----

To: Attackers
From: Salnai High Command.

We were attacked first, according to our reports. The fleet was in the area, and we opened fire in the confusion. Cease your attacks before further retaliation is taken.

We are also open to negotiating if you remove your ship from orbit, and leave our island alone!

-----

Alenia radar command literally flipped out when they seen several radar contacts coming in, sounding a yellow alert just encase the contacts were hostile.

"Attention unknown contacts, please identify yourselves, are you friendly?" asks Liska, having a nervous tone about herself as she had heard enough horror stories for one day, and didn't exactly want to live in one!

Several of the Tunguska M1's that they had purchased from Russia as a welcome gift started to roll out past the walls and beginning to scan the skies with radar, barrels of the chainguns giving the occasional spin up

-----

To: Nakhi or IX, whoever started this
From: Alueza

Niiiiiiice job starting an advanced North-South Korea skirmish. Maybe next you nutters can explain why my email database in that country was shut off?

Love,

Alueza

[The Anean Star Empire]

Holy Emperor Isaiah Xaimoungkhoun

Finally arrived in Aluez with a less than friendly reception. I didn't expect anything else though.

"This is Emperor Xaimoungkhoun... or IX if it helps. I was informed by Aatuylva that your nation was struck by some... attack that incapacitated the population. I was coming in with soldiers to act as security in case someone would have tried to take advantage of the situation.

"I guess they could still be used as such if you wish. If not, then we can turn around and head back home."


Chancellor Nakhi Welhan

LucAI said, "Nakhi, you have two messages."

"Wonderful. From who?"

"One from Salnai and one from... Alueza. I sure hope it's not a love letter. It wouldn't surprise me knowing you."

"Go to hell."

I looked at both and then sent replies.


To: Salnai High Command
From: Chancellor Nakhi Welhan

According to my reports, you were never attacked save for ships in your waters. Had you asked them to leave and not attacked, I would not have responded with force. I will only comply with leaving your island alone, however my ship remains in orbit since it has nowhere else to go.


To: Alueza
From: Chancellor Nakhi Welhan

I gave the order for the orbital strikes on them if that's what you wanted to know. IX is off... well... going to your nation with some security forces. And nutters is rather cruel considering that my reasoning behind it was justified, at least to me. At least you're not on the receiving end though.


Captain Virgilio Marse

"Sir, we have confirmed destruction of the cannons. However, they are returning fire. Our shields are holding. They have also seemed to launch over one hundred missiles at us."

"Alright. Estimated damage on impact?"

"If nuclear, negligible. Might have issues with the shields though. I am unsure what the missiles have, but it's best to destroy them now."

"Agreed. Get a lock on each missile and use the point defense lasers to bring them down."

From the bridge, I could see the lasers firing. I'm not sure how many we might have destroyed, but I know at least 20 had to have gotten past. I hate having an undermanned ship.

[Aluez]

To: Nakhi
From: Alueza

You're still a nutter, regardless! All fuzzykins are... -grinning smile-

----

Liska breathed a sigh of relief before sending a message to the troops to tell them to stand down, but remain on guard just encase.

"Oh please, do come in... we need as much help as we can get with the people that are still unconcious, plus with the reports we've been getting, it's been pretty scary..."

[The Anean Star Empire]

Chancellor Nakhi Welhan

"Fuzzykins. I like it." LucAI said.

"Oh shut up. Actually... can you do me a favor?"

"Anything Chancellor Fuzzykins."

"Fuck you. But I want you to bitchslap Alueza for me."

"Alright."

To: Alueza
From: LucAI, Overseer of the Citadel

-bitchslap-

Love,
LucAI


Holy Emperor Isaiah Xaimoungkhoun

I ordered the Megamantics shuttles to return to the colony. I will just take the battlegroup of NGDF troops in. Apparently there's an airfield down there, so they'll probably want us to land there.

My shuttle, the lead one, set down first. I stepped off the back before the ramp even fully came down with a clang. My ultra heavy armor finally came in and the only thing I am not wearing is the helmet. Too restricting.

All black armor, but I have seven gold stars on the chest. I do have the headset on though so I can give orders and listen to the battlegroup's communications.

I wonder if I should expect someone to greet me. While I wait, I think I shall smoke. I took a cigar out of the case and lit it. I put the case back into my little hiding place under my left leg plate.

[Aluez]

To: LucAI
From: Alueza

-Dropkick from hell- That hurt!

-----

Not a minute after they landed, a technical came speeding down the concrete runway, the Nissan truck that had been painted black with the Aluezi flag on the hood and doors came skidding to a halt, a Raccoon on the gun, and an Abh at the wheel.

"You must be the guy that I'm here to meet" says the driver as she got out, a golden headband being seen on her head. "I am Lady Sosec of the Nation of Roses, pleasure to meet you again, Emperor IX"

[The Anean Star Empire]

To: Alueza
From: LucAI

And so did that! Nakhi told me to do it anyway.


Holy Emperor Isaiah Xaimoungkhoun

"Trust me Colonel, I don't forget my people. And since you did end up in my unit, you don't have to be formal with me. Isaiah works just as well. Or IX since everyone still calls me that."

I took the light machine gun off my back and then got in the passenger seat. I didn't want that digging into my back and potentially firing.

"Where are we heading and who are we meeting with?"

This 250 pounds of armor certainly wasn't made for sitting comfortably...

[Aluez]

To: LucAI
From: Alueza

OOOHH! Sowwy then... -giggles- won't happen again!

-----

Sosec nodded before getting back into the truck, beginning to drive once again as she headed into town. "We will speak to the council and see what we can do with your people. Your security will be a great help to us" she smiles before slowing down when they entered the city.

After about 10 minutes of driving, they arrived in the all-too-familiar hangar of the ship they had arrived on, getting out and heading for the elevator. "We're here!" she smiles and waits by the elevator for him

[The Anean Star Empire]

To: Alueza
From: LucAI

-slaps- and that's for kicking me. You better make sure it won't happen again. Hey, I sounded just like the SecDef that time.


Holy Emperor Isaiah Xaimoungkhoun

I got out of the truck with my machine gun still in hand.

"Meeting the council eh? I sure hope they won't mind the gun... guns. Forgot about my revolver."

Been a while since I was here last. Actually... I don't think I ever was actually in the country before other than in Aatuylva, but that wasn't official.

[Aluez]

She nodded a bit before smiling softly at him. "Nah, everyone has a weapon on their person around these parts... kinda creepy really to know everyone has a gun..." she shook her head before calling the lift, which came a few seconds after she called it.

She stepped into the lift and pressed the button for the bridge, waiting for IX to board

[The Anean Star Empire]

Holy Emperor Isaiah Xaimoungkhoun

As I stepped onto the lift, I felt my phone vibrate. This one I keep under the right leg plate. I pulled it out and saw I had a message from Soldavini. This better be good.

'Colony is at DEFCON 1. No launches authorized. Citadel sealed. Keep on alert. Nakhi ordered an orbital strike on Salnai ion cannons. Successful, but war much more possible.'

I said, "I'm Emperor" I put the phone back, "but I am always LAST to find out about things. You won't believe this, but in the hour or so I was gone from the colony, we went to DEFCON 1, sealed the Citadel, launched an orbital strike on Salnai, and now have a possibility of war. I am going to kill Nakhi when I get back."

[miokalia]

To: Chancellor Nahki Welhan
From: Consulting Commander D0R07 Irving-Blinn


As I'm sure you're aware, we have a fleet moving out of the area after Salnai used a particle weapon against us and Aatuylvan war-minister Stidham (perplexingly) threatened us.

As much as the command here wants to retaliate directly against Salnai for that attack, as well as the one against the sovereign nation of Aluez, we are having to hold back at this time due to political reasons.

Based on the information furnished to me by my clients (The Apparateur and the Secretary Tajir), I have advised them that we should not take major actions in the area until Aatuylva's war-minister Stidham has given us his express, written agreement that he will not threaten or harass us when we're trying to assist his allies, like Aluez.

I have furnished a transmission of intelligence information pertaining to the Salnai attack against our fleet.


Toodles.




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


In a bronze-colored room Andertol sat in one corner.
Superficially, he seemed to be back to normal. A regular animal again.
He stared blankly ahead.

On the other side of a window, Itka paced around manically. She asked,
"Why did you do that?"

"Because we have to", Qualt said, "Because I need him to be like this, or else the whole thing gets disrupted and I'll have to find someone else to do his job."

"You can't just undo what happened to him. You can't just strip him down and stuff him into this taxidermied version of himself. Aside from that being disturbing, it's also not going to work."

"He will forget. And everything will go back to the way it was before this whole mess.
He'll go back to normal and never care.
That's how he is. He forgives and forgets."

"Not really. He mostly just forgets. I know him better than you and I know there are things which he has forgotten but not forgiven. Things that drive him crazy and cause him to do things which appear to make no sense what-so-ever.", Itka had emotions seemingly turned off and continued,
"I think you need to really seriously think about what you're doing here. By locking him up and stuffing him into that skin, you're becoming the same kind of monster that you, and the majority of our species, hates.
Let my mate go."

"You're just upset because he's your mate.", Qualt said.

"Qualt", she growled, "Hell hath no fury like an EM-49 model scorned."

"What are you going to do? Complain to Blinn? I mean, Irving-Blinn as he's apparently known now?"