NiNES: A Broken Galaxy

[Symphony D.]

TO: Lacaille
CC: Democratic Autarchy of Huris
FROM: United Systems Commonwealth

We have been debating the rather sensitive nature of the situation caused by the request of the people of Lacaille as regards its ultimate allegiance with either the DAH or USC. We have recognized the DAH authority to colonize the system previously in agreements, and we have maintained that recognition up to this time. The desire of the indigenous pre-Scourge inhabitants to side with the USC conflicts with this standing agreement and produces, as one might imagine, a difficult situation.

At present, we do hereby pledge a guarantee of aide to the people of Lacaille ourselves in addition to whatever additional supplies the DAH itself has allocated. However, a long-term solution that accomodates all parties is difficult to arrive at given all circumstances involved. We have been searching for a solution that does precisely that.

What we have concluded is that, if it satisfies both the DAH and the people of Lacaille, the currently inhabited territory of the Lacaille system may, if it so desires, may side with the USC if it so chooses as it has voiced, and the remainder of the system, including any formerly habitated areas now uninhabited, will fall under DAH control. Effectively, both sides would share possession of the system. To accomodate this, we offer to either declare Lacaille a demilitarized zone with only defensive installations or to work with the DAH government to create a joint task-force for the system and to co-administer its defense to ensure stable relations.

If this proposal is unacceptable to either party, we are open to a counterproposal.

 

[Niklas]

From: Lacaille
To: USC
CC: Democratic Autarchy of Huris

We make no claims as to what we do not already inhabit. The terms are acceptable to us.

 

[Niklas]

Still one set of orders unaccounted for. Dis, get a move on.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

Accepted.

Lacaille will be split between the DAH and USC, and demilitarized.

 

[alex994]

One Rare Glance​

“To journey into the unknown and bring knowledge of a mysterious and secretive place to the light, that is the mission of all explorers. Like the Marco Polo of old, so do I proceed into the darkness…” –Hanson Richards

The Ascendancy of Imperial Guangdong, or the Ascendancy as she is called, is a mysterious place. Her borders are strictly patrolled and outside of her trading system of Denebola, none have ventured past her borders. Ships come out of the Ascendancy but never in. The citizens of the Ascendants it is said prefer not to associate with the larger populations of the galaxy and if one observes their history since the Incident it would be understandable.

Imagine if you were an Ascendant and that after recovering from the Incident, the first civilization your ships gain contact with were the Nekomi. Humans with… very noticeable physical modifications with even a tail in some cases, it was probably quite surprising. From the conversations I had prior with Ascendant merchantmen, their people are a relatively conservative one who believe that humans should look natural, even if they weren’t.

It was with much wrangling and massive amounts of bureaucratic paperwork that I was able to procure the first visa to the Ascendancy. The official in charge of that at Denebola told me that it had required an act of the Houses to establish a department in charge of granting a limited number of visas to foreigners. I was as giddy as a young teenage boy before his first prom. Who knew what lays behind the closed borders of the Ascendancy? Was it an extremely advanced and isolated society or one that was lagging behind in the galaxy?

I must say that my interest in the Ascendancy was piqued years ago at the IGG where I met briefly with one or two of their representatives, both in the middle ages whom had been born on Earth. They were friendly, even sociable yet in the end they remained aloof watching the games with disinterested eyes. They didn’t care who won or who lost, merely the act of playing. As I stepped upon the Ascendant Capital World, I did not feel the euphoria I thought I would have, but quiet amazement and marvel.

It is not like the large cities of the Emergents, or the modern glistening metropolises of the USC, it was quaint and beckoned to a bygone era. I had much to discover and explore.

 

[Niklas]

Ah well. Better try and fail than not to try at all.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that my plan for updating during the weekend will not work out. And the problem is not so much time, I've had plenty of that, the problem is much more sinister and ill-boding.

Lately I've been having problems with my shoulders. I've had problems for the past two years, to some extent, from too much computer time and too little workout. I've been able to keep a semblance of balance, but the past two weeks it seems they've decided enough of this, and things have just gotten worse. I've been in steady denial, thinking it'll pass and I can go back to the balance I had, but it seems it doesn't work that way. The consequence is that if I sit at the computer for longer periods of time, my shoulders, neck and head are killing me. Doctor's orders are, of course, to not sit at the computer.

Bottom line? Updates will invariably take more time from here. I'm not going to scrap this game, I like it too much. But I will have to start rationing my time at the computer (scary thought for someone who sits here most of his waking hours). I will complete the update in my own time, and I will announce a new deadline once it's complete. Those who think they sent rushed crappy orders can send more fleshed-out versions, as long as you don't change spendings.

The scene is wide open for writing stories.

ps. Kids, do your workout. Don't end up like me.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

This is a broadcast for all soldiers in Vega Clearing Squadron: You are advised to sleep within the next twelve hours, as the cloud cover over your next target of sector six has held for forty-five of the sixty hours required to begin operations.
-
Vega Clearing Squadron, battle stations. The call went out as simply as that. A hundred men got into armor and took up weapons. They were few enough to be efficient. At the edge of the inhabited sector sixteen, they lined up and tested their weapons in the general direction of sector six. What awaited them was known in the general, but not in the specific: Civilian areas, some of them possibly defended by robots, if any such were still active. The mains had been cut remotely and the area had been irradiated from orbit, but there might still be some kind of defense mechanism self-contained enough to stay active.

"You know the drill." said the captain quietly. "We go in, we shoot anything that looks like it moves, use the elcutters on power lines and the like, disable everything in the area. Move!"

A number of shots and explosions sounded as VCS moved to "secure" buildings by disabling them. They sliced open power sources, cut down robots, shot at solar panels, demolished walls, smashed communicators, and blanketed the area with occasional EMP bursts. There was the expected lack of resistance. About three minutes into the assault, the squadron began to feel more relaxed. Chatter filled their radio bands as they moved into the sector, securing it through tactical destruction.

"Found some elerium motors in a warehouse, marking it on the tactical display now."
"Remember to blow roofs where it's convenient so the satellites can map the area after us."
"Private Lion here, we've got a shielded core on our hands."
"Robot in sight! Vee-Four here, robot sighted."
"Lieutenant, please come and take a look, I need authority to blow something up."
"SHEEET. Sorry about that, just hit a booby trap. Two wounded, no dead."
"Residential block 45 secured, roofs gone."
"We've got open streets here."
"Entering the sewers, captain."
"This is private Meyer, I think I've found a weapons cache."
"Get a hacker to the south end! I've found a data cache network!"
"Defense robot is down. Repeat, defense robot is down."
"Alert, this is Vee-Three, we have scuttler defenses. Lasers only so far."
"Sir, we appear to have blown up a building full of explosives."
"Vack! Vack it all, functional defenses!"
"It's a bank and storage."

The raid continued for about three hours, whereupon the clouds above sector six began to part. A few mini-nukes at the border of the cleared area served to create fortifiable positions with a good view.

 

[alex994]

Ah well. Better try and fail than not to try at all.

It's becoming increasingly obvious that my plan for updating during the weekend will not work out. And the problem is not so much time, I've had plenty of that, the problem is much more sinister and ill-boding.

Lately I've been having problems with my shoulders. I've had problems for the past two years, to some extent, from too much computer time and too little workout. I've been able to keep a semblance of balance, but the past two weeks it seems they've decided enough of this, and things have just gotten worse. I've been in steady denial, thinking it'll pass and I can go back to the balance I had, but it seems it doesn't work that way. The consequence is that if I sit at the computer for longer periods of time, my shoulders, neck and head are killing me. Doctor's orders are, of course, to not sit at the computer.

Bottom line? Updates will invariably take more time from here. I'm not going to scrap this game, I like it too much. But I will have to start rationing my time at the computer (scary thought for someone who sits here most of his waking hours). I will complete the update in my own time, and I will announce a new deadline once it's complete. Those who think they sent rushed crappy orders can send more fleshed-out versions, as long as you don't change spendings.

The scene is wide open for writing stories.

ps. Kids, do your workout. Don't end up like me.

That's exactly what my mom says will happen to me! Well, actually she said I would turn out like those Chinese university dropouts who spend all their time on the computer...

I hope you will be able to recover, relatively speaking that is, and improve your situation

 

[Nylan]

Best of wishes to you Niklas. I believe the wait will be more than worth it, and hopefully I'll get something half-decent in before the update. I hope your situation improves.

 

[Lord_Iggy]

I've been drawing schematics of all my ships on my sketchbook, and I'll try to scan them and upload 'em.

Good luck with improving the upper body strength.

 

[alex994]

Ahah! Is that why you haven't updated yet iggy? You do know I'm saying this in jest right...?

 

[Lord_Iggy]

No to the first, yes to the second (I use the blue background, I can see everything written in white).

I just sketch things. Like that cartoon picture of me I posted in the picture thread a while back.

 

[Nylan]

Niklas, if the gym is too much trouble, you could always try Dynamic Tension as a starter

 

[Niklas]

Thanks for all the well-wishing!

I actually have a veritable gym at home, or at least the parts that I need for my training - cross-trainer, pilates ball and rubber band. Workout has been going well for quite some time, so I don't really know what's going wrong lately.

Anyway, after almost not being at the computer today, the aches are greatly subsiding. I still feel it creeping upon me when I sit here now, but I feel more confident now that I will be able to do something about it.

 

[Kozmos]

Position your bed next to the computer, that way you will be able to type while lying down.

 

[BananaLee]

This thread shall never slip.

 

[Massive Attack]

any eta or is this dead?

 

[Nylan]

This is most definately NOT dead

I refuse to let it be dead. I will study the art of necromancy if necessary.

Niklas is just having some troubles. Read his previous posts.

If you're bored, then post some stories!

 

[Niklas]

This most certainly isn't dead (even though my shoulders have been for the past two weeks or so ). I would have wanted an ETA for this weekend, but I'm no longer sure about that. I can only ask you to be patient, or even better, write a few stories while waiting.

 

[Kozmos]

Oh well. The current month is one of the chaos months in the year. I have load of work to do so I wont complain.