The Star Union Ch 2
Hi Everyone.
Imageveiwer here bringing you another instalment of The Star Union, Chapter 2
And as promised I added a codex at the end of this chapter so if you want you can skip straight to the end where I created input the contents from a separate chapter where I can focus on these codexs pretainng to the biography of the species, weaponry and technology that the Star Union possesses from two other games as stated before.
Xcom Series.
PlanetFall Age of Wonders.
If you like my chapters and stories, then please consider viewing my p-a-reon to see many of my projects for other sites where I post other stories I cannot on this site as well as chapters in progress for your favourite stories.
Anyway without further ado I give you….
The Star Union Ch 2
The Opening War. Weapons of great Wonder and Terror. And Bitter Defeat.
-Date 2157 3 weeks after the first day of the Invasion, the siege of Shanxi-
Day and night, the crackling blast of thunder and flashes of lightning did not stop as every man; woman and alien manned the walls of the city.
For 3 weeks straight the garrisoned troops and free fighting militia of the city fought against the massive alien army that was bringing it all at them.
"Go Go GO!" commands went out over the blaring sound of gunfire and explosives as troops moved through the city's walls to take up positions where they were needed.
The walls stood strong against the tank fire that was over 2 hundred Metres away from the city with most of the shots not meeting their target.
The Turian tank group currently firing at the city kept their distance behind the other tanks that was metres ahead of them.
These tanks were neither damaged nor destroyed, but perfectly alright however they were devoid of their original crew who promptly abandoned them once the mechanised war machines ceased to operate when reach a certain distance towards the city.
Leading the army from the rear was general Deolas Arterius who watched as the Turian army under his command charged straight to their death while all support granted to him was impossible to use.
"Anything!?" he cried out in anger towards his technicians as he gritted his teeth in frustration over what should've been a text book Turian siege tactics that were ineffective against whatever was stopping their air and ground support.
Over the thundering booms of tank fire and the crackling of guns, he heard his tech crew very clearly as they worked on their Omni-tools that scanned the battle field before them "It's not an electromagnetic field or any form of energy field for that matter. The tanks were hijacked by an aggressive cyber-attack that took over their entire systems. Thankfully though it has limited range so we shouldn't worry about losing anymore tanks." They informed him.
But that did little to temper his frustrations and anger at the lack of victory he promised his people "Shouldn't worry! Look out there, I'm forcing our men. My Turian brothers and sisters to charge head long at that city because we can't get any closer without losing everything!" he looked on the battlefield where inch by inch as the men and women of the Turian army fell like files, every step they made towards the high walls of the city was paved for by a 100 if not more Turian lives.
With each death before him, General Deolas felt the hatred he held for these aliens grow more and more. His avian Face tightening into a sneering scowl as he glared at the city that continued to stand in opposition against him.
"We were not prepared for this. These…Aliens! We went in blind to what we're used to dealing with." The Turians were used to dealing with rogues and rebels, Krogan upstarts, Batarian Slavers, and the occasional criminals.
…but not this…
Not…an enemy that they cannot hit.
Their tactics and weaponry were ineffective…and despite what Deolas hated to think….he knew what the outcome might be.
"At this rate, we'd be force to retreat."
-Shanxi's Administration Building. Repurposed Defensive base.-
Inside the city of Shanxi, the reverberated base dubbed White King was overseeing not just the defence of Shanxi City. But the corresponding structures and outposts as well putting up their own resistance against the invaders.
Around the clock, generals and tacticians worked in plotting new strategies and organising the defence while comns and psionic seers relayed orders through the military channel and the Psionic network.
In charge, General Adam oversaw the reports and the priority defence of the city. He knew that if this settlement fell, it would mean the fall of the entire planet. "Report." He asked for the hourly update on their defence.
A Hybrid junior officer came up before him and saluted as he read off the updates on his pad "The alien aggressors armour division has not advanced a centre metre after their first wave was knocked out by our Synthesis operatives." He reported, the colony would not be what it is without a synthesis Data house managing their cyber security and Programing of its robotics and drones to help build the city into what it is.
At the first sight of Armour encroaching, the Synthesis network was ordered to stop them due to the settlements lack of a true military force to meet them head on. They unleashed a powerful Deamon program aided by net links that widened the range of the upload.
Yet that still left those that were unaffected by the cyber-attack "And the walls?" the constant thundering that kept him up day and night as the ringed walls were constantly hammered by the low impacting tank rounds from far away the optimal position the tanks would have greater affect at damaging.
"Still holding. Their kinetic rounds are bouncing off of the alloy barriers." The junior officer related to him as the army of soldiers and volunteering militia garrisoned at the top with defence guns mowing down the onslaught of the enemy invaders.
"What about rations?" it was critical to know how your food supply is. A hungry populace would lead to internal strife especially during a siege, and a hungry garrison would lead to mutiny and lack of fighting if they didn't die from hunger first.
Attrition was the greatest fear any army would face when encircled by another army.
"We're giving a steady supply of food to everyone; we should be able to hold out for a month before we are forced to tighten our belts." The officer reported, all in all it was looking good for General McKinley.
He wasn't aiming to beat the invaders on land. Just stall them long enough for the Star Union to relieve them as their biggest threat was the fleet in orbit over them. Though their guns posed no threat, their presence alone allowed the alien invaders to supply their war effort against them, something that McKinley didn't have as their encircled them, and cut off any route to gain supplies from the other settlements.
He then turned to one of his technicians who were trying to break through the jamming signal the Aliens were using to isolate them from the rest of the Star Union "Anything yet on receiving help?"
"Negative. The other settlements are facing the same problems we are, though their dealing with their issues differently."
-Meanwhile, High in orbit. On board the Valorous Spirit. Flagship of the Turian 2nd fleet-
High above, the Turians 2nd fleet remained stationary.
The flow of transports carrying supplies and reinforcements down was continuous, especially the onslaught of fighters racing from the ships down to the planet below.
On an initial point of perspective it seemed like an ordinary invasion with the fleet providing support to the forces below…However that was not the case.
The Turians were in fact in a stagnant battle.
The resources and equipment provided to them was doing little to secure the lone planet they isolated from the rest of their empire.
On board the bridge of the Valorous Spirit.
The commanding Admiral of the 2nd Fleet Admiral Adarian Niticus was overseeing the continuous supply and requests of support while he maintained his fleet at their position over the planet.
He could not bring his ships closer into the planet due the Planetary shield that prevented orbital support, on top of the alien's incredible cyber-attack that was plaguing General Arterius's troops.
He had attempted to lend further support by having one of his frigates enter into the planets atmosphere, only to be attacked by the alien's cyber weapon the second the Star of Honour began its descent.
The virus took control of the frigate and made the ship crash land far from the major city General Arterius was besieging.
Admiral Niticus knew that he cannot spare any of his ships.
They were massive targets, and while the Cyber-attack that General Arterius reported to have a limited range, but when given a target too big to miss, it was impossible to avoid such an invisible attack.
So he just stood at the helm of his ship.
Listening to the ongoing reports of the forces on the ground not making any strides in taking the planet.
"What are the reports?" he asked for an update, already knowing the answer but still he needed something to preoccupy his troubled mind.
"No progress made toward taking the settlements. General Arterius is facing massive casualties and the loss of 1/5 of his tank division." Reported one of his Lieutenants who was overseeing the statistics and supply of resources for the main army besieging the settlement.
That was the report he continued to hear over and over again. They couldn't keep this up.
He knew not where else these aliens were stationed in, or if the rest of the Turian fleets were engaging them. Only that they could not keep up the fight with no sight of victory to come, the aliens would eventually come to relief their colony from them.
It could be hours, days or even a week from now before they come. And with no progress made and their own resources being put to waste, Admiral Niticus knew that with new success in sight….they may need to consider other options "WE may need to retreat." Those words felt odd to say as they left his mouth.
And all of his crew look at him as though this wasn't the Turian admiral before them.
One nearby officer spoke up "Retreat? But sir… we haven't even made a scratch against them." It was against their universal sense of honour and code to flee without making any such strides in battle.
And while Adarian Niticus shared in that same mentality…his military mind was more focused on the Preservation of his men rather than personal and collective pride "Exactly. Our weapons and tactics mean nothing! Blast it even the Krogan weren't this troublesome…. At this moment, what I wouldn't give to have a Krogan army right now. They would've punched through or at least made a push for us." He doubted the Krogan would ever fight for the citadel again, much less lend a helping hand in this war.
But that is the type of situation that they found themselves in.
When they could not overcome a challenge that they consider such impossible and dire methods to even think of achieving victory.
Admiral Niticus needed to rethink this whole invasion. He needed to confer with the chain of command on their next steps and if they have a solution to this war "Establish a link with Palavan Command. We need to re-evaluate our current strategy."
"Yes sir."
"…what kind of monsters are we fighting?" was all he could ask himself as he wondered how his brothers were doing down there.
-Sector 5. Citadel of Despair, reserved Psynumbra land-
A lone structure of dark obsidian colour stood alone amidst the plans and mountains that surrounded it.
It was designed like a grand gothic castle that stood imposing over all in its shadow.
A dark energy came off from that place. And it wasn't just the scenery or the bad vibe it gave off.
But a literal dark energy swirled from the spire in the middle of this nightmarish structure that would have even the bravest of souls fleeing in terror as the echoing wails of horror and despair emanated from within.
And this was sight that Platoon 3 came across on.
"Spirits….By all that is HOLY!" were the words that escaped from the surviving commander Theve could only utter as he stood with what remained of his men before the terror that wiped out nearly all of his men
Upon the field, was a scene best describe as a nightmare.
Dark cloaked beings radiating a dark aura stood before them with a wave of corpses lying dead at their feet, amidst their ranks were creatures that only the truly Mad could portray as these dark spectres brought such feeling of dread and horror just by looking at them.
From floating dark ghosts to an imposing dark abomination that reaved the souls of those sliced by its scythe like claws that cut his men down like wheat.
Commander Theve had never been much of believer in gods and demons.
But before him now, as he watched his entire company fall to this creatures that shot bolts of dark energy out that either killed or had driven his men Insane as they were hit.
Before him, Theve had thought back to the teachings his parents and teachers told him about the spirits.
Invisible entities that are embodied by the actions and decision of beings and reflect the nature of lands and cities.
That they were neither good nor evil.
But for once in that moment as he stared into the abyss these things of the darkest recesses of the void, he believed that there truly were spirits.
….Evil Spirits. Avatars of the blackest souls and darkest nightmares.
Commander Theve and what was left of his company ran shrieking in fear. Fleeing with all sense of honour, duty and sanity gone has they had seen the faces of demons and knew what awaited them in hell.
-Sector 1. Temple of Clarity. Site of Celestian Pilgrimage.-
Captain Tevelin and her company were not prepared for what they faced as they prepared to strike the small structure under the cover of night.
A simple by the book night time assault. Take the enemy by surprise.
Only….they were the ones being surprised.
Before she even knew it, they were dropped upon by several figures with fists glowing as bright as a sun.
Though unarmed of any weapons, these combatants proved to be effective hand to hand specialists and their illuminating appendages weren't just for show as she saw several of her men turned to ash from being struck by their glowing fists.
One by one they were disarmed and pushed back, not a stray round connecting until she was one of the few who still had her guns.
She hesitatingly raised her fire arm with her men who stuck close with her while those of them that were now weapon less flocked behind them.
Tevelin was all but ready to throw her life for the Turian Hierarchy when all of a sudden the night turned into day.
Like the flick of a switch the land around her was illuminated, her eye's burned and she was forced to close them at the sudden appearance of the sun.
But as her eye's adjusted she saw that it wasn't the sun blinding her… coming down from the heavens themselves as several white and golden garbed figures floated high in the air above her and her squad…and there… directly in-between them was a being of pure light.
A living sun directly hovering a few inching above her.
But Tevelin didn't feel fear when she gazed up at the living star with wide eyes of awe. In fact…she didn't even feel a creep of terror at the presence of these celestial beings but rather…uplifted… captivated…at peace.
The presences of these creatures had a haunting radiance that drove away all thoughts of anger, fear and hatred and instead breathed an air of inspiring power and unity.
Tevelin dropped her guns and dropped to her knees along with the rest of her squad before these creatures as to what she could best describe as…. Gods!... in living flesh.
-Sector 9. Geyser 1. Artic continent-
Commander Nayrn was leading his entire tank division towards where their Intel speculated the source of the energy field keeping this planet safe from orbital attacks due to the massive flux of energy radiating from this corner of the planet.
All was going smoothly, no contacts with the enemy and no delays in their track towards the spiring lone tower that sat in the distance. It was like a monument of technology and Nayrn wondered if it wasn't Prothean from how advanced and awe inspiring it looked, especially with the fount of energy pouring out of it like a soft river towards the sky.
All was quiet…too quiet….. Nayrn's instincts and military training told him to expect an ambush as there was no way that these aliens would leave this wondrous structure defenceless.
And no sooner did his thoughts prove true then when several figures appeared out of nowhere 'Clockers!' was his first thought as he saw a small group of them stand there and took the time to get a look at this splinter unit with glowing bladed gauntlets. They appeared to be fully armoured in some form of battle suit with large hexagonal device on their upper torso, their faces were obscured by helmets so he couldn't tell they were different from the other by the noticeable difference in sizes and builds amongst them.
Nayrn stopped his analysis to see them coming at him "All units engage!" he ordered as every single one of his men under his command moved to the front and began to open fire. The clocked infantry appeared to fade in and out of sight with them gaining more ground towards them.
He had his tank turn its gun towards the charging stealthier "Fire!" He braced himself as recoil from his personal vehicle was strong as its cannon made a direct hit at the group, leaving nothing but a smoking crater where they once were.
For a single moment Nayrn felt proud of himself and his belief in the Turian military…but that moment was shattered as the group of stealth operatives rushed out from the cloud of debris… at double the number.
Nayrn was stumped but his military mind concludes that what they shot at was holograms and what they were looking now was the real deal amidst a projected army.
"Keep Firing!" again his men opened fire, these aliens seemingly unfazed by the hail of 50 guns firing all at once.
Before Nayrn knew it they… they were upon them!
The first line of his troops were swiftly cut down, the attackers weren't holograms not even their doubles as every Turian who met them stood no chance as those energy blades cut through their weapons, shields and the best armour the Turian military could produce.
In his awe and moment of shame that his overconfidence was now getting his entire unit killed, Nayrn took notice of the way these aliens moved. Every slice. Every jump. Every dash and movements their bodies made left after images that followed after the physical manifestations of the attackers that moved like ghosts in the wind.
Nayrn watched as 2/5's of his company was cut down like wheat before a scythe before he snapped out of it.
Just as he was about to rally what he could a new enemy appear directly above him.
A floating construct that suddenly appeared in the air, similar in construction material to the tower this unmanned object that was surrounded by two floating crescent discs gave off pulses of energy from its central body.
Everything became distorted and Nayrn felt like his legs would give out as the very tank he sat in felt like it was vibrating.
Before he knew it as the odd alien device began to hum… he was no longer on that battlefield.
-Sector 5. What remains of Turian Platoon 12.-
Fire… a sea of flame was all Kiart had to say as she watched her commander and the best of her unit be consumed in a tsunami of fire that reduced them to little more than ash in the blink of an eye.
Not even the vehicles and surrounding landscape were saved as their metal hulls and frames melted under the intense heat. Plants, trees and even the ground itself were marked in the scars of incendiary hell flames.
And amidst the raging eternal fires Kiart Saw the metal titans that destroyed everything she saw around her pass harmlessly through the walls of fire that continued to melt the metal of the APC's and tanks with some reduced to a bubbling stew of liquid metal.
Before she made a desperate retreat away from these inferno beasts, she wondered as how her people could stand up to these monsters.
-meanwhile in orbit. In the Valorous Spirit.-
Admiral Niticus knew that this was going to be a waste of time but damned if he didn't do something!
They weren't winning. They were losing! Massively. Suffering casualties on every board with not even a confirmed kill to report to the growing list of casualties, MIA's and forced retreats.
Niticus stood before an open projection of the Turian's military council and tried to plead his case.
But he'd have better chance in debating the wind or convincing a Krogan to forget about the Genophage.
Turians were proud. There no mistaking that as they have a long history of military and marital success.
Not once in their history have they accepted defeat.
Not in the unification wars.
Not even in the Krogan wars! Because of one of two things that Turians never do even in the face of utter peril.
…Retreat and Surrender.
A Turian falls on the battlefield as a soldier should. Taking as many enemies as he can with him or sacrificing his life to achieve victory No matter the cost.
But what they were doing right now… was madness.
And this is what Admiral Niticus was trying to explain to the Turians before him on the projected screen.
Sitting on a long table were the high commanding generals of the Turians Military Council.
Second in authority and power to the Primarch himself, as well as the defacto judges that decides on whom the next primarch is when the previous one dies or retires from active service.
Primarch Fedorian wasn't present due to him being needed elsewhere to coordinate the other Turian fleets to parts Niticus had no clue of.
…so he got what he could get to the closest thing Palavan could spare of its commanding officials.
"Admiral Niticus. What you're suggesting is unheard of and treasonous! We mustn't retreat, we must continue the fight!" one of the high generals he was talking to proclaimed with many nodded at this insane notion when untold resources were being spent on no achieving results.
Most of them before him were either elders reaching their years and reliving in past glories or young punks filling into their shoes.
"Have you not heard what I've said!" Niticus was at his wits end with these people "Have you not read the Battle Reports!? We are facing an enemy with technology that far exceeds our own! General Arterius cannot move his armour or Aerial support because of the enemy's abilities to instantly hack into our own vehicles and disable them." No additional support would be coming to Deolas aid in the taking of the city that suffered under his continued battering of tank shells.
"We are aware of th-" but he was cut off as Niticus laid into them all that had been happen since they started this shit show Invasion.
"Commander Tevelin is unaccounted for with scouts reporting star beings having hypnotising many Turians by their presence! Commander Theve and what's left of his men have all lost it! Sputtering madness about dark spirits and evil gods ripping the souls from his people. Survivors from Nayrn's company reported attacking ghosts and a floating device capturing many of their brothers, Commander Nayrn included. Finally! We have a report from captain Kiart proclaiming how her commander's entire company was wiped out in a flash of fire that reduced our men to ash and melted our tanks!" all of these facts he threw at them wasn't just red flags but bleeding crimson that screamed Dangerous! Beyond anything that they had ever encountered in the span of their history.
"I don't know how else I am to explain that we have severally underestimated an enemy who is unaffected by our weapons!" not even a single confirmed kill did they have to report amidst the continuous growing number of KIA's and MIA's.
But it seemed…that he was not the only one as one of the Turian general stood up and relented on something that Niticus didn't know "We are getting reports similar to your own across the traverse! Not a single moment where we are not hearing the exact same story of demons and impregnable shields. Yours is hardly the voice screaming at us to pull back but it is the one facing lesser resistance then what our ships and armies are currently facing as we speak." It was clear that this was not a war on a single front now that Nictus knew he wasn't the only one facing obstacles and defeat in this war…and he dread to imagen how the other fleets were fairing if the initial report of the surviving vessel from the far fringe of Citadel space had to say about their combat prowess.
If this really was as good as Niticus had it….then they needed a lot more than the full might of the Turian Military….They Needed the Citadel…"We need to rethink everything! We don't need numbers! We need allies! The Salarians! The Asari! We need their-!"
Cut short one of the older general filled him in on that part as their council representative was already in the process of requesting aid "we are already engaged in talks in gaining their support and-" whatever else was about to be said was cut short as a young Turian officer barged in, face pale and showing fear.
He didn't have time to show respect or apologise for the rude interruption as he quickly yelled out "Admiral, it's urgent! We need you on the bridge now!" Admiral Niticus wasted no time to storming out from the urgency that needed him most.
He marched directly into heart of his bridge, taking his place once more on the C.O's podium as he looked on to the utter chaos before him that wasn't like this 20 minutes ago when he went to talk to the Military Council.
"What is it!?" he shouted over the ship full of screaming and shouting voices all at once.
His personal deputy right beside answered as he frantically tried to micro manage everything in his absence "Multiple ship signatures exiting the Relay." He said but the absence of friendly or hostile was left hanging in the air.
"Give me visuals." He ordered.
Before them a large projection appeared that revealed what the feed from what the main cameras were seeing "Spirits…." A fleet, larger in both size and numbers were exiting out of the mass relay with ships appearing one after the other.
Niticus didn't know if this was the Enemy's main fleet or simple a smaller portion of what he feared to be the alien's forces if what they could go on being the last dying words of the Admiral Ziane's last ship.
Niticus was frozen with fear, just like much of his forces as they watched with hopelessness and absolute terror at the full force of they perceived to be the great fleet of these of unbeatable fiends.
He was only knocked out of his Stupor by the terrified cry of his subordinate "Admiral…what do we do!?" all eyes were upon him, waiting with impending dread as to what their commander had for all of them.
Niticus looked down….he knew they were no match for the Technological superiority and numbers that came coming through…but he couldn't leave the men and women still fighting down there to the reinforcements come to relief their colony of them."…All hands…to battle stations! And someone get in touch with our men down there! Tell them to evacuate the planet. IMMIDEATELY!" his men went to their stations, ready to coordinate with the other fleets to engage the enemy in order to give time for the army down on the planet side to evacuate before they are forced to leave.
This would an Uphill battle that sees no victory for them…only death. But that didn't mean they weren't going to go down fighting for the preservation of their own "Spirits Be with us."
-Turian main army. Siege of Shanxi command post-
Down below, the news of the space battle above was already being received…and not being received kindly by many "Evacuate the Planet!? Are you insane!?" General Arterius shouted at the projection of Admiral Niticus who told him what to his ears damnable treason was.
The Admiral stared back with a more control expression to Arterius frustration and anger that he held not to him specifically. But to the alien that thwarted his attempts to break through their defences "It's not my sanity I'm questioning-!" A massive explosion sounded through the projection as Niticus staggered to the side and the feed cut out a bit before it showed him getting his footing as the sound of concerned cries rang out through the channel.
"We just lost the Spirit of Honour!" cried one of the Turians on Niticus ship who alerted him to the loss of another one of their Battleships in this impossible space battle.
"Divert all energy to Kinetic Barriers!" They were going completely defensive, their weapons barely scratching into the shields these ships have, while their devastating weapons were tearing Niticus's fleet apart with every hour this went on. "We are barely keeping it together as it is. Their fleet is tearing at us one by one and pretty soon we won't be able to pull back. I'm giving you the chance to get yourself and everyone one of your men out of that planet. If you're not out of there by half a rotation then I'm leaving you down there, I won't sacrifice my people any longer then they have to." And with that he cut the communication with Arterius who was left with that order…a simple order to follow for some but to Turians….it like asking them to stop breathing…or even to give up on their proud heritage and beliefs.
Deolas Arterius was not dumb…he saw the writings on the wall just as much as anyone under his command could see. But this retreat would leave a bitter defeat that would mark his soul as he was almost conflicted to give the command "…DAMN IT!" his fist slammed on the glass screen of his keyboard, creating webbed cracks on its surface as the holo-projected keys static and distorted from the damage.
He seethed with Rage; his eye's burning into the settlement that stood tall and unopposed to the full might of his military forces that littered the ground in its shadow. This undented city would stand forever as a symbol of his defeat.
One of his lieutenants who had heard his conversation with the fleet admiral called out to him "Sir….?" Deolus didn't turn to look at the young Turian who stared at him, like many of the soldiers, officers and engineers who looked at him now for his judgement.
The majority all of whom were looking terrified and stared at him with silent pleas to order the retreat against these monsters.
Biting back the bile and venomous hate that threatened to spew from his mouth as the words he was about to say tasted ugly upon his tongue "….sound the full retreat. This is General Arterius To every Turian on this planet… we are retreating. I repeat, all Turians report back your command outposts and board the shuttles. We are leaving this damn planet." Through sheer will, he ordered the only failure in his military career; soldiers upon the front lines turned around and began to withdraw back toward them as they heard the orders.
-Shanxi's Administration Building. Repurposed Star Union Headquarters-
Inside the admin building of Shanxi, the Union's code breakers who had previously tapped into the Turian's communication had heard from their wide range broadcast the words that caused one of them to jump and declare "We just intercepted the alien's communications. They're in full retreat!" cries and cheers went out across the room and comns as everyone was now hearing the news.
And General Adams was breathing a huge sigh of relief "Blessed Emperor. The star union is here." Never before had his commanding capabilities and strategic training been put to the test in this monumental defence of one of the Union's Colony planets.
He wiped his brow which had accumulated sweat from the Pressures of fighting off a full Invasion. One of his Junior's came up to him and amidst the thunderous cheers Adam heard him ask "Do we pursue?" almost eagerly he asked, baring that gleeful smile much like everyone around him as some looked to Adam for what he had to say.
General Adams however….saw no need for them to give chase when they already have the fleet above doing that for them. "No. we done enough already, send out the news that the enemy is retreating and we can finally rest." They had just won a hard won battle, there was no need to go and push their luck after fighting a fierce siege.
But all not yet over "What about the captives sir?" General Adams recounted on the captured enemy personnel during this invasion. Though his troops weren't the ones reasonable for the number of Captive Enemy POW's.
He still counted them as the Union's captives. By the outposts and sanctioned structures that amassed and sections of the planet "Let Vanguard command and the Union decide on what to do with them." This day would be marked as the Hard won Victory in the Union and Turian War.
And it would go down in history as the major defeat for the Turians in Galactic history.
Omake: Codex Syndicate
Often spoken in hush whispers of fear, and disdain the Syndicate is an organisation of aristocratic houses within the star union often seen as organised crime families due their unknowable number of connections and pulls in every part of the known galaxy.
Founded by members of extraordinary talents or political backings, the founding members of what has become known as the Syndicate families established their dynasties using their various wealth, intrigue and political connections to create their own powerful houses within the star union.
The legacy of these families is carried on by their descendants through backdoor and political intrigue. Investments and sabotage. Assassination. Connections. Ownerships of resources and a variety of skills, technology and powers far too valuable to the Star Union to remove.
The majority of the Syndicate families are humans and Psionics with few being outside of the race and following the Baser Doctrines of the Psynumbra ways.
The original and still standing elite families are from the original Psynumbra followers and powerful elitists before the colonisation of Harvest.
Oriented in Dark Age style aristocracy, the families of the syndicate see themselves as the nobility of the star union with many tracing their lines to former Xcom fighters during the first invasion and Advents occupation with the greatest amongst them being house Aronro.
Said to descend from the founder of the Psynumbra cult, House Aronro has held power since the founding of the Star Union and been the face of the Syndicate with current Patriarch Lord Setarin serving as the Highest ranking Member of the Star Union's Council.
ON their capital world of Harvest, from a simple perspective the Syndicate govern the world as a republic of houses however this is only by appearance.
Seven selected houses are invited to join the Council of Seven and they are selected from the greatest and most powerful houses of the Syndicate from Star union space.
The organisation and ascension of houses are organised as such.
Lesser houses or Lower house are relatively newly formed houses from legitimised bastards granted lands and resources, privateers and pioneers striking gold on discovered land plots and planets, and are quick to lay claim to these resources before anyone else. However this does not go so easily for them against the otherwise more established houses within the union and if a lesser house is not quick to swear fealty to one of the greater houses then they are at risk of being destroyed.
Lesser houses genuinely survive for the next few generations by owing fealty to one house or the other and committing tribute to their greaters through resources, deployment of skills and technology.
Baronies are houses above lesser's but none the less are vassals to greater houses, owing to serving generations and building their strength, they have lived rather well using the protection of their powerful liege lords and establishing relations with them through marriage, partnership and sending their children to the heirs and heiress of their lieges.
Baronies donate their wealth, connection, and services to their overlords, training and raising troops and commanders to be called when summoned for war.
Baronies can also take vassals for themselves in service to their liege house if needed, increasing their own standings amongst the Syndicate.
Marquees are the next standing rank above Baronies. Considered the middle class rank of the Syndicate dominion in terms of power, prestige and wealth, Marquees are houses that control a small sector or continent of land on the planet for their Dukes, Grand Dukes and Sovereign lords.
Often Marquees will find that they will be given governing control of a planet or system to manage.
Dukes and archdukes are the next level that all syndicate houses strives to attain other than sovereign houses.
A collection of systems and hordes of planets and other lower class houses at their disposal, these are the established and rewarded positions of power that brings with it recognition and prestige that sets them apart from others.
The elites of the syndicate but these positions of power are fought over continuously with dukes and duchess having earned or inherited that power and working tirelessly to keep that power by any means.
Preventing or thwarting plans of theft, fraud, coaction, assassination, sabotage, and undermining plots to destabilise their image and power while at the same time doing all of those things to their competition and vassal houses.
It is a cut throat system that to the syndicate is both life and a game to them.
Banquet events and extravagant parties are a means of displaying their power and wealth to the other houses thus earning further prestige to their name.
Even acts committed by other family members such as military victories, acts of Heroism, technological breakthrough and close relations with others who have committed these acts earns honour to the individuals and the family they are a part of.
However this same rule also works if these individuals commit acts of barbarism, terror and criminal offensives that casts a dark shadow of disfavour and dishonour to both them and their house with such punishments delivered out equally to the crimes committed. The most common form of punishment dealt out to those who stray from the desired or laid out path for them or their current activities is too shameless to ignore then they are promptly disowned and banished from the family with all ties they once had to close friends, servants and family members severed completely along with businesses, property and associates all closed off from them.
They are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs, banished from Syndicate society all together that not even their house's mortal enemies would take them in for an advantage against their former house.
Finally there are the Sovereign Houses.
The elite of the elite, the ruling houses of the syndicate that rule with the authority of kings and leaders over the other houses of not equal rank then themselves.
Sovereign houses rule the syndicate houses through the council of 7, the official governmental body of the Syndicate nobility. They settle disputes, feuds and deal out punishments to crimes committed against syndicate houses or houses who have committed crimes against others.
There can only be 7 sovereign houses at once and sovereign houses are elected to their position by recognised merit, prestige and power that they have demonstrated to have. They contribute and manage many sectors that keeps the order and peace within both the star union and Syndicate own space.
Military, information networks, Economic managements, Technology, counter intelligence, administration and politics branches are all handled by each of the sovereign houses.
Sovereign houses are sacrosanct, meaning that unlike how other houses may initiate proxy wars or direct assaults on other houses, a sovereign house cannot be touch, judged or directly attacked by lesser or even other sovereign houses.
But that still doesn't stop others from trying to undermine and bring down a sovereign house. Because the very same methods used to elect one to the highest offices requires a strict holding of power, wealth and influence that made them into what they are.
Syndicate houses that do not follow or are not a part of the Syndicate housings are called Robber Barons.
Rouge houses that ignore the laws and rules of the Syndicate and lawlessly plunder and pillage resources from other houses.
In terms of military and firepower the Syndicate offers a wide variety of soldiers and armour of their private military to bring to the star union.
The Indentured are the common foot soldiers to a Syndicate house. Recruited or otherwise in servitude to their liege house, many of the men and women serving in the main infantry are compelled to do so by a contract that hold them and their children to serve until such time that the terms of their service are complete or their die to the last of their line.
Picked and trained from lowly commoners, many throw themselves to their local syndicate lords in order to support their family or avoid paying debts. Those whose debts are unavoidable and unattainable seek out a syndicate lord to pay it all at the cost of life and the lives of his children to his great grandchildren depending on the depth of what he owes or the terms of service they must work till their last breath.
Most indentured servants and soldiers are from five generations from the original recipients of the contract, any attempts to nullify or avoid this contract is met with severe repercussions as the house that holds their legally binding contract can call upon the debt to be payed up in full should they rebel or refuse to follow through with the commands of their syndicate masters.
Not even the star union's courts can aid a servant from escaping his master's leash as by union and syndicate laws the contract is valid and the Syndicate houses arm is long and wide with none living so long after breaking free from their master's control.
Armed with state of the ARC Energy Pulse Repeaters, No form of shielding or armour can withstand the full onslaught of a billion bolts of pure energy coursing through them. Cerebral control collars are the insidious means of which some Syndicate house control their otherwise indentured servants.
Guild Assassins are experts in their field of discreet or otherwise public display of assassination, trained in all forms of assassination, espionage, marksmanship and weaponry. Employed by the Syndicate Aristocracy as a means of keep balance and control against their rivals should they become too openly aggressive, Too Generous, Attain power too quickly, marry the wrong person or threaten the wrong house, the guild assassins are quick to eliminate the competition or act as counter assassins to the very same plots employed against their employer's enemies.
The most utilised weapons of guild assassins are the ARC type IX Pulse Sniper rifles. Powerful energy weapons that fires a precise bolt of Arc Energy with high impact that leaves none standing with its high penetration. It is even capable of taking on armoured and flying vehicles with ease, along their skills to remain always undetected with sophisticated stealth equipment and training.
Runners are the scouts and messengers of the syndicate, employed on a decent wage in service to their master's family they carry or otherwise seek and report on rival armies. Using Gravity Psi-Tec boots, the Runners can traverse over any form of terrain that an army would have trouble passing through or over.
Ascending up to the tallest peak of traitorous mountains and speeding over water and land alike, they can easily travel anywhere on high speeds. And if cornered or otherwise in danger, they come equipped with a short range escape module teleporter that can safely transmit them away from a battlefield or danger at a moment's notice.
Each runner is equipped with an Arc Pulse Pistol for defence but some Runners are also charged with capturing escaping rebellious servants and spy's with their Arc Bolas that will incapacitate and paralyse their targets until removal.
The Mirage is the only Ariel flight craft created by the syndicate that utilises Psionic technology and capabilities. As its name implies, this flying vehicle uses psionic energy to project a life like Hallucination to deter and otherwise caution off unwanted eliminates that threatens its house.
It is equipped with psi-tech Blasters that are capable of Psionic affects depending on the augmentations and rituals made it.
The Wraith is what you get when you combine Psionic Technology and heavy armour, a Floating tank using a psionic gravity module The Wraith is unhindered by terrain that would normal affect all terrain vehicles within the star union.
A powerful Psionic Cannon is sits above the body on this slim but otherwise strong tank form that uses Psionic charged energies from Harnessed Psionic crystals. It is capable of instantaneous teleportation that creates psionic explosions within the immediate teleported area.
The Overseers are Psionically gifted officers or C.O's who oversee and manage a house's work force. Using Psi-Tec Staffs the Overseers have no trouble in enforcing order into any disgruntled worker or using their Cerebral Override keys to get more from out of their charges at the expanse of the workers life and health.
Trained to keep things in order and more or less their charges alive so as to not bring down the wraith of the union for violating worker rights and safety, Overseers undergo medical training both conventional and psionic based healing techniques.
Enforcers are Syndicate's version of Riot police or suppressors. Equipped with Psi-Tech gauntlets that have the impact force of a thousand angry men and women when striking a target. They are deployed to quell and crush any form of rebellion and civil strike, their gauntlets can make quick work of crowds with just a single connected punch able to clear blocked pathways full of people.
They also employ personal Psionic Shields that can protect them from ballistic, energy, laser and psionic weapons with varying limits depending on the weapons used to assault their shields.
Subjugators are powerful Psionic masters that rule over governing sectors for their syndicate houses, usually household servant's and industry workers.
Sitting atop their floating hover chairs that grants them exclusive and full access to control collars that can be used to employ a violent burst of pain to motivate or quell subordinates with results varying from non-lethal shocks to complete liquidation of the Brain. This very same method can also be used to reanimate recently dead servants and soldiers back to life with all critical wounds instantaneously repaired.
The chair is surrounded by Psionic control orbs that project the Psionics powers greatly towards its main features including the Psi-tech Heavy Repeaters mounted on the side of the chair.
Zenith's are the Pinnacle symbol of Syndicate military, a marvel of psionic technology, Syndicate ingenuity and the best Arc based technology money can buy. To call it a tank is folly as the Zenith is in its own way a mobile base, many indentured soldiers have described being in the presence of the ship designed mobile Armoured assault Vehicle with awe as its Pisonis aura bolsters the courage and commitment the soldiers have, going as far as to enhance their combat attributes.
It is commonly said that *To Make an enemy out of the syndicate is to Invite Death. But to make a friend out of them is to live in paradise.*
These words echo throughout the Star union as many denizens on many worlds take heart these teachings when crossing or dealing with a member of the Syndicate.