Just in Time.
Writers : Adrin, Genovus & Caecyan (Severce) and Teal (CharlotteCarrendar)
(d-Adrin)
Adrin was not a man for sit down discussions, he knew he had to make an exception due to the nature of who the participants were. “I wish I had some kind of happy story to tell you, but to be blunt – this timeline is the closest thing to hell that could ever be described. If the bloodshed, war and absolute terrorization of our people was just the factors at hand I would not sit here concerned. — This stream, has begun to show signs of collapse. Space-time continuum distortions and rifts are forming in all three explored Spirals.” The look on his face, his expressions were so different from the man that was her son, yet the emotion behind the words poured from a leader, a man who had been driven to war one too many times over one too many foolish reasons.
“Our obsession with war…has brought us to the brink.” He said, admittingly. “The hand I have played has not been the most fruitful these last years, and I’m afraid I have only added to the issue. I created a….” The words were hard to use, “A special place within time and space, in an attempt to right a wrong within my world and…all it has done is intensified the damage.”
As Adrin spoke, the Asalnara jolted hard, the sound of loud crash resounding as the ship responded to the action. Flashing panels of light blue became visible along the midline of the room.
(Bridge)
“Admiral….we need you on the bridge.” The voice on the other end sounded disturbed. “We have three vessels on sensors and they have opened fire.” The ship bucked again.
(Genovus)
“Thank you for the compli….”
The Tal’Kryso was already on his feet by the time the bridge summoned, heading towards the doors. There was nothing from him in terms of the guests. “On my way…” He steadied himself as he headed out into the corridor, racing to the lift that would take him to the Main Bridge.
(ɑ-Adrin)
Adrin listened to what his counterpart had to say, eyebrow raising – he had plenty of questions. He wanted to consult the Temporal Interface, flying blind was making him uneasy. When the ship started to buck, his right hand reached up for his mother’s that had been on his shoulder.
-
The three vessels that had begun their attack were highly advanced, the exterior of their hulls were smooth, uninterrupted translucent material which seemed to change shape and design as they moved. Their power sources were Dimensional Isolate Tristram Taps, technology that even was questionable in comparison to that of the Umarians. No exhaust ports existed for the engines, completely relying on advanced distortion fields, that seemed to adjust in curvature to adjust for the in-system gravities that normally disrupted such drives, and even under those conditions the lead ship had already broken 0.5c twice during pass manurers. Beneath the outer surface of the hull, pinkish-purple glowing structures could be seen, obviously engine and weapons mounts. Each time the ship would fire, the skin around the weapon would flow to allow the shot and then close back off.
Their shielding seemed to be of a multiphase layering design that worked in cohesion with the advanced sub light drives. The deadly armaments of these vessels would reveal themselves fully over a few moments, swarms of tristram-x missiles and torpedoes launched in volleys from the engine pod tips, zipping towards the Lorenzian vessel and the damaged Vanguard V.
Aialos
Main Bridge
“Bring us to zero zero mark one five four…and fire forward banks. Target the graviton emitters on that lead vessel.” Tsuya ordered, watching the tactical display from the central platform in the Command Chamber. A wicked grin came to her lips as she watched the Lorenzian vessels take the beatings of her precious attack group.
Tsuya had only been a Queen for a year, but in that time she had seen more than her share of combat. The Avari-born Sepra was violently opposed to the central government and Eitan-Daithilus rule. Her spine covered shoulders flexed, sending trails of sticky toxin running down her barely covered body. “Master will enjoy these gifts….” she uttered to herself, fingers tracing through the volumetric glyphs.
*
“I wish I had some kind of happy story to tell you, but to be blunt – this timeline is the closest thing to hell that could ever be described. If the bloodshed, war and absolute terrorization of our people was just the factors at hand I would not sit here concerned. — This stream, has begun to show signs of collapse. Space-time continuum distortions and rifts are forming in all three explored Spirals.”
Teal’s gestures prior to this revelation from Adrin were that of a light hearted approach, yet showing concern at the same time. But of course, when Adrin finally opened up as to the situation in regards to the stream now showing signs of collapse, her facial expressions became like granite. Through her eyes you could see the halos of light, that came from her inner being, a soul which had been through more in many lifetimes than others could well imagine. If fact part of her also existed in this time spiral, but was unknown to all others who were in the dining hall aside from her Son of the Alpha timeline, Adrin. Through Iondara’s eyes she knew that Adrin’s words held truth. The many years of war and destruction had brought no great rewards to either side; but the damage had not been fully understood, until now.
“It is part of the reason we are here, Adrin. Your Father had tried to stop this from happening many years ago. Yet this tireless obsession with war….the tearing apart of families and love ones, for a handful of planets to gain under imperialist rule. All for a crown. Millions…no…billions of lives lost, so few can roll in the wealth of ill gotten gain. There are no winners in war, for all will lose everything if we don’t stop it, and correct the damage to the spirals.” Teal’s eyes locked on Adrin’s as he sat across the table from him and said quite firmly..”It’s the price we are willing to die for.”
As Adrin continued, there was a shock, something had hit the ship, and Teal closed her eyes tightly, regaining her footing, as the chandeliers over head swung back and forth like pendulums. The ship was under attack. Opening her eyes, she saw that Genovus was already up and off his chair, heading for the command station; her son Adrin placing his hand over hers.
Admiral….we need you on the bridge.” The voice on the other end sounded disturbed. “We have three vessels on sensors and they have opened fire.” The ship bucked again.
Teal removed her hand from Adrin’s shoulder as the other two men were already on their way to go and lead the counter offensive. She leaned her head down towards his ear and said;
“They don’t realise it but they need you.”
Teal drew back and then skirted around the table, and hurried off after Adrin and Genovus to see what she could do to help.
*
(Genovus)
By the time Genovus reached the bridge, they had already lost their tether to the Vanguard V. The three ships were doing everything they could to try and separate the two vessels, all while pounding the Ne’vexis-Class Battleship for all that it was worth.
“Alright, let’s see what we got here…” Genovus said, looking at the tactical overlay. “Try to keep the distance between us and the Vanguard V to within a hundred thousand kilometres.” He ordered, looking over briefly at the operations table. The smell of smoke already in the air, he knew, just by the feeling of the ship they were taking it hard.
(d-Adrin)
Upon reaching the bridge, the Adrin from the Delata Time stream went straight to the communications terminal.
“LCS Kendra’s Star…This is Aestaesys Adrin Eitan…we are under attack and require immediate assistance.” He began a distress call that would hopefully reach his Command Titan that was at Hellespawn waiting for them. The communication system indicated that the signal was unable to penetrate the disturbance caused by the enemy weapons.
(ɑ-Adrin)
“Need me…?” Adrin questioned, knowing that the two men from the Delata Timeline were much more fashioned for war than he was. He followed his mother, to join the others on the bridge. He had plenty of combat experience, experience commanding fleets — things within this timeline however seemed much more intense.
He steadied himself by grabbing the railing next to the tactical station as the ship rocked hard. The shields were beginning to fail, he could feel it – the intensity of the bursts against the hull.
If only I could get to the Vanguard V. He thought to himself as he idly played with the tactical enhancement lenses that was in his pocket.
*
On reaching the bridge, Teal smelt the smoke that was being filtered through the air-conditioning ducts, and knew that the ship was taking a battering from the enemy assault. Another hard hit, and she gripped one of the railings just near the panels of control consoles. She maintained her attention with what Genovus was ordering, and then when they mentioned the Vanguard V, she felt an inner wave of panic.
The ship was a sitting duck, being towed along behind the main ship. The Adrin of the Delta timeline, started a distress signal to the Command Titan, or the nearest ship in the vicinity to come and assist in fighting off the menace, but there was no response, due to the heavy firing and interference from the mutiple warheads being fired. Teal’s fingers wound tightly round the rail, when she could hear a voice inside her head.
If only I could get to the Vanguard V.
It was Adrin, her Adrin, and this was the moment she decided to speak up. Pulling herself along using the railing, she reached Genovus and asked;
“Don’t you have smaller class fighters to take on the enemy, or at the very least distract them long enough to make a definitive strike against them. Try and take out one of the three ships?”
The idea behind this was, if Adrin could get a hold of a class fighter, he could somehow get back to the Vanguard V, and do what he could to stop the attack on the lead ship.
*
(Genovus)
Another buckling impact, this one was hard enough, powerful enough that it caused an eruption beneath the occupied port pilot’s console. The console blasted apart, sending fragments of debris impaling into the pilot and knocking him right out of the chair and into a smouldering mess on the floor. With the starboard seat empty, the helm control was passed to the AI – a less than ideal situation while in combat.
“I need another pilot up here!” Genovus called, the internal comm making a buzzing sound as it was inoperative.
He didn’t really have time for whatever Teal was saying, blurting out. “I hardly doubt the few fighters we have onboard would last very….” The ship buckled again and the main power systems went offline. The secondary systems immediately kicked in, the blue flashing lights turning red. The smell of the pilot’s toasted body filtering into the already smoke filled air.
(ɑ-Adrin)
Adrin caught on immediately as to what was being asked by his mother. He didn’t say another word and just turned back around disappearing into the lift. “Areospacy Bay….” he ordered, the lift zipping into motion as it headed towards the flight deck.
(d-Adrin)
The ship heaved again, and he gave a curse as he peeled away from the communications terminal. “No help coming, you can’t get a word in edgewise with that interference.” He didn’t want to overstep Genovus so he passed Teal heading to the tactical station to relieve the lower ranking officer there. He was a better shot anyway and he knew it.
The ship had been deployed for a long time, it’s stockpiles were not ready for an all out conflict, he scrolled through the torpedo inventory and began to get a fix on the three ships, the computer assisted targeting function was doing nothing for them. Too many disruptions. “Turret Gunners, please switch to manual systems…lets see if we can do this the old fashioned way.” Adrin ordered.
A single fighter launched from the Asalnara heading for the Vanguard V.
*
Genovus was barking orders into the internal com, when Teal approached him of the need to get fighters out and into the battle. Course, he would blow her off, with a comment that they had few fighters actually on board. Another massive tremor rocked the ship, and whilst Teal held on to the console, she quickly glanced over her shoulder, to see her son make a beeline for the lift. Inwardly, she felt a surge of pride in her heart for him. She knew he was not one for war, or big noting himself in the face of danger. He did what he could on the quiet, and she knew at least he now had a chance to get back to the Vanguard V. Neither Genovus nor Adrin of this timeline seemed to notice and it was probably best, since they needed their wits about them in the handling of this ship.
“No help coming, you can’t get a word in edgewise with that interference.”
The situation was becoming direr, and a strong and skilled hand was needed to fight using whatever this warhorse of a ship had in its capabilities. Teal just couldn’t stand idly by and let the crew, Adrin and Genovus do all the work. She was after all, the Commander of the Vanguard V and was decorated for years of service. Much of this ship seemed almost antiquated in a sense to the ships she had been on over the years.
“Turret Gunners, please switch to manual systems…let’s see if we can do this the old fashioned way.”
The burning smell of a dead pilot’s skin was still permeating the air, and Teal was aware that some of the crew may not be up to speed with combat abilities, due to the years out of service. She immediately looked for an available terminal in which to assist with the manual system for firing the guns. Seeing one just ten feet away, she didn’t even ask Adrin, or Genovus, but hurried across the floor, and slid into the chair, taking up the head set and placing it on, logging into the system; her fingers dancing across the keys.
*
With Teal’s assistance, along with other weapons crew placed throughout the ship, Adrin was able to coordinate the manual firing of their turret systems. The asune rounds pounding into the incoming Avari ships; the assault seemed to be like running up hill, the Avari vessels were faster, more advanced and the three just seemed to take turns which ship came into weapons range. One of Teal’s shots hit the engine pod of the lead ship, causing a breach in the starboard field assembly which made it slow down to 0.25c.
(Genovus)
“Good shot!” he yelled out, watching the tactical projections. The veteran Admiral wanted to get the attacking ships to break off. Hopefully they could provide enough deterrent to make that happen.
(ɑ-Adrin)
Adrin arrived on the Vanguard V and raced towards the bridge. “Vanguard, begun pre-launch procedures for TX-02, one volley aft and another forwards.” He ran through the security area at the entrance to the bridge. When he arrived, the console for Temporal munitions launch had already raised from it’s place under the floor just forwards of the command chair. He struggled with the chain around his neck, grabbing his launch key. “Vanguard, bring up firing solutions, tag target one and target two…we can at least try to even the field.”
WARNING…Authorization has been made for Temporal/Subspace Munitions Launch. Temporal Weapons cause extreme disruption to localized space. Proceed with caution. The AI droned on in a repeating cycle as the enterance passages to the bridge sealed due to the restricted nature of the TX-02 Torpedoes.
-
The three Avari ships continued their attack, pounding the two ships that were now both severely damaged. Under the orders of their division Queen the Avari-Sepra were relentless, self sacrificing in their goals to achieve victory. Remaining in sections of their own damaged ships despite their lives being threatened or ended they remained steadfast, maintaining the upper hand.
-
Space fluxuated 900km off the Vanguard V’s starboard bow, a small vessel appeared from a disruption in space. The ship was not very large at all, slightly bigger than a fighter but smaller than most escort ships. It appeared to be some type of destroyer. It’s hull was some type of crystallized niranium coated metamorphic material almost like the advancing ships. Having a roughly maurader-like look to it. It was fast, faster than the three attacking vessels. It opened fire, joining the frenzy. Two of the ship’s subspace encased tristram cannons drilled against the Vanguard V’s upper hull as it flew over, and then again hitting one of the forward launchers where the subspace munitions were being loaded.
The small ship fired a burst from it’s main gun. It was devastating; the sensors of the ships surrounding them would detect the fire. It was a multiphase weapon, delivering a dimensional energy that didn’t register on the known matrix. The single shot tore through the ventral hull of one of the Avari ships. Within seconds the ship was adrift, it’s main power systems offline as the gaping hole where the cannon shot had tore right through the ship and out the other side blazed with evident plasma venting.
*
With Adrin and Teal, along with other officers manning the turret guns, together they were able to make successful strikes against the enemy fleet. In particular, one of Teal’s own shot made its mark; taking out the engine pod of the lead ship, and putting it at higher risk, when it continued to engage in the battle. Though Genovus sung out his praises from his station, Teal kept focused at the job at hand, knowing in the back of her mind, that Adrin would have reached the Vanguard V in his small fighter. Knowing the Vanguard V’s capabilities, it was madness not to have it involved in the attack, and to hopefully take out one or more of the enemy ships if they came in range.
Radar projections also flashed up that another ship had suddenly burst into real space, 900kms off the Vanguard V’s starboard bow. A much smaller vessel. Teal’s eyes narrowed as the statistical data rolled up along the screen along with a 3D projection of the vessel. It was some kind of destroyer, but it was the read out on its hull that gave Teal true reason to be concerned.
“We’ve got company!” she called out shrilly, hoping that Adrin and Genovus were aware of what was going on. “Wait…its attacking the enemy ships.”- Teal blurted. “I hope Adrin got to the Vanguard in time.” Her eyes stayed locked on the radar screen, as she watched the battle now revolving around her own stricken ship.
*
(Genovus)
Teal’s firing once again ensured a hit on the same vessel she had before. The enemy vessel exploded, the lead Avari vessel had been destroyed. Debris from the ship drifted outwards on an intense shockwave which caused the ship to shake. Genovus grinned, “One down…two to go..” Obviously she could shoot, he was impressed – perhaps this step mother from another time was worthy of his attention afterall.
The other smaller vessel fired again, another shot fired at the bow of the Vanguard V before it turned and fired on the second Avari ship. Pass after pass the smaller vessel had the speed and the weaponry as an advantage.
Over the communications, the smaller vessel began to transmit something. It sounded garbled.
“Don’t……when…..you…..damage……” the communication terminated.
Genovus raised his head, “What the hell was that?” He asked, trying to figure out the message.
(ɑ-Adrin)
Adrin placed his launch key into the Subspace Munitions Launcher console, looking at the screen which still showed the two Avari ships that were passing back and forth on each other as they made runs back towards the two ships. The ship jolted as the small vessel that had appeared out of no where hit them again. It wasn’t producing any major damage, just jolting the ship.
Adrin turned the key. The countdown began as the TX-02 were loaded into the forward and aft firing tubes.
“One minute until firing…” The AI warned.
*
Teal had been keeping watch on the radar screen for what was happening over at the Vanguard V, who was currently under the command of her son, Adrin. She knew that he would have mounted an offensive and brought in their own torpedos ready to fire at the enemy ships. But what didn’t make sense, was when the ship that had rocketed out at the last few minutes, was not only firing on the enemy, it was launching against the Vanguard V as well, aiming to strike its bow. Teal strained to hear the garbled communication that was relayed by an unknown operator.
“Don’t……when…..you…..damage……” the communication terminated.
Teal quickly tried to process what this request meant, and she sounded out each word said, slowly raising her head from the viewing screen.
“We…can’t interfere. WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT WORSE!”
Teal drew up her mic and opened the communications systems so she came on the intercom in the Vanguard, hoping to the Gods that Adrin heard her.
“ABORT…HOLD FIRE…WE ARE ONLY GOING TO DAMAGE THE SPIRAL IF WE ENGAGE…ABORT FIRE!”
Hopefully Adrin would hear her in time, before he fired the twin TX-02s
*
(Genovus)
The disruption in the original communications channel cleared and the image of Caecyan could be seen on the screen. He was yelling, adamantly but there was no audio for him to be heard. His arms waving as he tried to get their attention.
Genovus shook his head at the screen. “See if we can get some audio on this lunatic….” He didn’t know what was being said, other than it was coming from a craft that had fired on ships from both sides.
(ɑ-Adrin)
“ABORT…HOLD FIRE…WE ARE ONLY GOING TO DAMAGE THE SPIRAL IF WE ENGAGE…ABORT FIRE!”
Adrin heard his mother’s transmission and turned back towards the launch platform, the countdown timer was within the last few seconds as he ran towards it. He grabbed the chain that held the launch key and yanked on it just as the countdown reached zero. The Prince’s eyes looked towards the screen, watching as the first launch sequence aborted. The second TX-02 flew from the forward launch tube, it’s field assembly drive engaging as it was propelled at sub light speeds towards the second Avari ship.
The smaller vessel banked to port, it’s cannons firing again towards the missile fired from the Vanguard. The dimensional energy weapon tore into the torpedo and it exploded. A massive eruption tore through space as if the centre of a sun itself had been exposed. Rippling tides of energy rocketed out from the place of detonation as a subspace field of high intensity began to rupture space-time. The rupture was not stable, drawing in debris and the remains of the ship that Teal had destroyed..
“Oh no….” Caecyan whispered, watching as the rupture began to expand in a longitudinal path. From the centre of the hole fracturing spider web-like arms ripped through space. Another explosive discharge, the two Avari ships remaining attempted to jump to FTL which just created more fluxuations as their slipstream drives created more disruption. It was like a cascade, a series of bombs exploding, the two vessels being torn apart in slow motion as they travelled along the fissure, disappearing into it’s centre.
*
At the sight of the image of Caecyan, Teal lost her voice. Seeing him waving his arms wildly and trying to get their attention to stop the missiles being fired meant one thing. That the explosions would cause a rift in the space time continuum. For Teal it was a heart stopping moment. She realised he had crossed real space to try and stop what was about to happen. Genovus’s order left Teal feeling sick inside.
“See if we can get some audio on this lunatic….”
“It’s Falcon…”
This would surely be recognised by Genovus, as well as Adrin on the command deck. But as Teal returned her attention to the Vanguard V, she saw the sudden explosion of the missile being fired. She was too late, only able to get the relay in time to stop one of the missiles launching but not the other. Caecyan tried desperately to blow the missile from the very sky, but in hitting it, the explosive impact caused exactly what he had hoped to avoid. The burst of light that came from the cannons being fired upon the missile, was so bright, it completely illuminated all that were on the command deck. Teal turned her head away, unable to stare into the light blast, which was akin to looking into the very core of the Sun itself.
Through the radio static, Teal could hear a faint whisper from Falcon. “Oh no..” Teal looked back as the explosive blast dissipated, but what she witnessed was the very tearing of space itself. A huge seam, with spider like veins reaching out. The two remaining ships tried to make a jump to FTL, but as a horrified Teal watched on, they were both sucked into the tear, along with all the debris from the other ship that had been blown to kingdom come.
Teal threw off the head set and ran from the command bridge for the lifts. She was going to get onboard the very shuttle that brought them over, and fly out to Falcon’s ship. Teal’s greatest fears was that his ship would get sucked into the tear, and she had to stop it.
*
The final eruption was massive, the shockwave that emitted from the tear once the two ships were inside was enough to reclose it. The sudden annealing of the rift, sent out wave upon wave of subspace distortion, forming a riptide of sorts. Teal’s attempt to get into the lift would be cut short as the ship went dark, everything went dark. The LCS Asalnara, the Vanguard V and Caecyan’s ship were flung like toys through space as the wave tore outwards, moving at faster than the speed of light it ripped past Hellespawn and tore the ships from their previous courses. There was no power, no light, nothing — just darkness.
The subspace rift would be detected, read like a book as to the actions that had occurred. The identification of all three vessels, those in violation of Interstellar and Celestial Law would be reported — a humble servant, slipped into slipstream headed to alert the Luminaries of the violation.
|| IX. Of Temporal, Voidic and Dimensional Transgressions
Written by Lao’Taun, an excerpt from the Umarian Book of Interstellar Law
Some of our greatest members lay beyond the normal reaches of the spirals. Their existence and form abstract and sometimes enigmatic, yet they are part of us. It is the irresponsible transgressions of others that must be brought to the forefront of our thoughts now; calling attention to those who weild time and dimensional energies (Asune, Tristram, and others) without regard for the laws which govern their use — the disregard for our brethren has even caused death among them, robbed of the exotic energies in which they live and feed. Those losses shall be mourned.
When creation was sprung, across the spirals – safeguards, guardians (seraphim, espra, and others) and laws were set in place to ensure that balance was maintained and that the adherent locals were protected. With mediocrity however, and this primitive urge to take without reason or regard for the universe these fail safes have fallen to chaos. In this we are not suggesting that the proper usage of these great corners of creation cannot be beneficial when done in moderation and under the proper oversight, for example the many brokerages that we have formed with our dimensional and voidic allies that are symmetrical in nature.
In light of these facts, those who attempt to utilize these powers in manners of irresponsibility (not governed by good and evil, but by the laws of the universe itself) will be considered enemies of the Umarian Astral Raquamothla. It is the leaders of these failed technologists and mages that are truly at fault, and the militias who provide them power. Amnesty will only be granted to those capable of change, for these transgressions cannot be ignored. The universe is not a playground, and developing ignorance is an excuse that can only carry so far. The warnings have been provided in extant texts and other ancient sources; the immortal should be enlightened and be responsible for now even this writing serves as a warning. Some of us have not fallen to lesser stature; some of us have not given into entropy and are not going to cheat our purpose, even those of us who have suffered in past solitary.
The only reason the ignorant shall ever hear, the only resolve a fool will ever know is the shattering blast of our war cannons. ||
>End
