Darkest Before Dawn
Chapter 4
Incursion
Milky Way Galaxy: Outer Rim
AES Conqueror
Earth date: April 03
Nex sat in his quarters, sipping a glass of wine as he looked at the latest unit readiness report. While this would be routine work for him, he couldn't but be uneasy. Technically speaking it had been over nine thousand years since his last conquest. However most of them were done with orbital support ships and teleportation devices to get him and his men from one side of the planet to the other relatively easily. He put down the readiness report and decided to go over the pad Amann gave him with the mission details, intelligence and his assets.
Vespir
Long range sensors show the planet to be the only inhabited one in the system. Single continent with some small outlying islands. Mild climate with some areas of dense vegetation. Double moon planetary system with no colonies on either moon. Only a few major cities spread throughout eastern half of the continent. Western half almost unpopulated. Primitive communications network in orbit.
No indication of planetary defenses to guard against invasion from capital ships. Energy signatures from the planet suggest flight, but no supersonic capabilities and no armed space flight. No hints of Space Travel capabilities outside of comm network. Some Military installations exist outside capital city. However few military aircraft exist. Possibly peaceful race with little knowledge of warfare.
Assets
8th Legion commanded by Legate Varn
126th Independent Walker Unit, Ten (10) Walkers commanded by Commander Relms
One (1) Orbital Ion Cannon
Mission
Three (3) weeks max time limit. The Conqueror will drop out of hyperspace a safe distance from the planet. Once in orbit the Conqueror will loiter for no longer than five minutes, firing only at targets in range. Drop pods should land within two (2) clicks of the capital. Have techs hack into the comm network and disable it to prevent coordinated strikes. Once the capital is gone the rest of the planet should surrender.
Nex set down the pad and took another swig of wine. He then grabbed his staff and attached it to his back on his armor before grabbing his modified rifle and heading out of his quarters. They would be arriving shortly so most of the ground forces were either gearing up or heading down to the drop pods. Nex instead headed for the bridge. It was a short trip but he had a plan. Things would go a lot easier if they had enough shots to take out the cities power as well.
Shortly after Nex arrived on the bridge they dropped out of hyperspace and made their way towards the planet. It didn't take long for a detailed planetary analysis to finish. Nex took a look at the data and knew they might actually have a chance at pulling this off with little or no casualties.
"Is Legate Varn and his men already in the drop pods?" Hiel asked.
"Yes, general." The Legate in charge of the Conqueror replied.
Nex looked at him before speaking in a cold voice. "Take two shots at the military installations there and there."
"Yes sir," the Legate replied as he relayed the orders. Nex watched as four beams of yellow-gold light shot down the screen to where Nex had pointed.
Nex nodded as he said "Good job Legate, now target these five structures and fire twice at each."
The Legate shrugged "If you insist. I would think the Presidential Palace would be a better target."
"And that is why I am the general." Nex said, his scarlet eyes glancing toward the Legate, who paled slightly at the breach in etiquette.
"You see, Legate, I have no intention of killing their leaders just yet. I want them to be alive to witness our victory. I want them to be out there reassuring the populace as we advance on their capital. That way, they will be discredited when our victory is achieved. We do not create martyrs. Only dead enemies." A cold smile curled on the general's lips as he spoke.
The screen lit up with golden light as the crew did as they were told before the Alesian Legate asked, "Unless you know of any more targets, I'm going to need you to proceed to the drop pods for immediate evac."
Nex however, had already left the bridge and was well on his way to the drop pods. He made it there just before the Conqueror got into orbit. As he secured himself in his seat next to Legate Varn, Nex hit the button notifying the Conqueror that they were secure and ready for deployment. It wasn't long before they hit the ground and began to scramble outside the pod. While relatively rare, it wasn't unheard of for the pods to spontaneously combust shortly after hitting the surface.
Nex looked around at their location and noticed it was very sparse. There was very little vegetation and only a small stream passing from the east up between them some of the there pods. Several pods laid scattered throughout the landscape to the east. Commander Relms was in view standing near a pod that had landed in the stream. As the Commander looked towards Nex he motioned towards a hill in the distance.
The small groups of legionnaires and walkers were slowly consolidating into larger ones as they approached the hill. When they got to about a hundred feet from the hill a small green indicator lit up on Nex's HUD. He looked but the indicator constantly was lit up indicating something friendly just beyond the hill.
Nex was just about to chock it to a glitch when Varn said over the comm, "General Ado, I think something is wrong with my armor."
"What are you talking about, Legate?" Nex asked.
"Well sir I have a friendly signal coming from just over that hill," Varn replied.
"That's me as well sir," Relms chimed in.
Nex paused for a moment as he thought for a moment before saying, "if anyone cannot see the indicator speak up."
After a few moments of silence, Nex told the others, "There was a small outpost here. It was nothing but a long range sensor grid and comm center. It's possible it survived but is on emergency power. Head for the signal and we'll go from there."
"Yes sir."
"Move out."
After several hours of work, Nex's team finally got the comm center on Vespir working again. A few tech heads hacked into the local satellite network in order to broadcast a message. Nex was outside preparing for his declaration to the people of this planet.
"Pathetic mortals," Nex said calmly speaking into a camera, "Your, or rather our planet, is now under Alesian jurisdiction. In other words, you have been conquered. Make no mistake, we have yet to enter your capital city, but we will be taking the city today, by force if necessary."
The camera panned over to view the city as Nex continued, "Your city is now under martial law, that means I, General Nex Ado, am the law on this planet. If you think you can rebel or somehow reclaim what you lost. Remember this."
Nex trailed off as he snapped his fingers and a massive ion shot struck in the center of town causing a huge explosion that could easily be seen from their standpoint just outside of town.
"Shall we take a closer look," Nex asked the camera.
Just then an image popped up from orbit surveying the city. There was a crater in the middle of the town next to an impressive looking building.
The camera once again showed Nex as he said, "I know most of you are probably yelling at me and cursing my name, calling me a monster and a murderer. Asking yourselves how could I kill all those people. The answer is I don't care. Your lives are meaningless to me. You are nothing more then a mere ant under my boot. I will not make life easier for you. I have no desire to return you to your normal lives. From this point on your lives belong to Alesia. Belong to me. If you surrender yourselves you may live. If you struggle you be will punished. If you rebel, you will be killed."
"Today a whole legion will march down your city as though we own it, because we do. When I reach your government I expect an unconditional surrender. Anything less will be construed as high treason. However, your fat politicians will not be the ones to suffer. You will. Their deaths will be quick. Yours will not. I will be seeing you soon."
As the camera blipped off Nex turned to one of the techs and asked, "Is the comm station able to get me a stable connection to Alesia?"
The tech nodded and replied, "Yes sir. The Zero Point Module is still functional but it won't hold out for too much longer."
Nex nodded as Legate Varn looked at him curiously and asked, "What are your orders sir?"
Nex simply stated, "Get the men in standard formation with the walkers in front. I won't be long."
Nex walked through what remained of the entrance to the facility and made his way to the communications panel in the center of the facility. The lights flickered occasionally on his way down but not enough to worry him. Though something was troubling him, but he was unsure what it was. He shrugged. The only reason the comm station wasn't still fully functional is that most of the conduits were stripped out of the walls. It took the tech heads awhile to get enough power rerouted to get the comms up and running. Once at the station Nex booted up the console and established a secure connection to Amanns office.
"Hello Hiel," Amann said, surprised to hear from him so soon, "Finish the job already?"
"We may have a problem," Nex stated calmly.
"What's that?" Amann asked.
"We found the old comm network and got it running," Nex told him.
"So what's the problem," Amann inquired.
Nex calmly told him, "the only reason the station was down was lack of power. Most of the conduits and relays in the place were removed. The locals may have been able to reverse engineer some Alesian Tech."
There was a pause from Amann before he asked, "Is this a secure transmission? Are you alone?"
"Yes." Hiel nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Everyone is outside forming up for our march on the capital." Amann considered the implications for a moment before he replied.
"How many do you need?"
"One on standby."
"Just one?" Amann seemed surprised.
"It's just a precaution. There's nothing definite yet. Besides you still have me here."
"It'll be in orbit within the hour."
"Thank you."
General Nex made his way outside the comm center as the power went out and found all the troops lined up ready for their march on the capital. While it was possible that the locals had only used the Alesian technology to enhance their own systems it was unlikely. Almost everything they had was engineered for one thing. To kill with out mercy. They had adapted, strengthened and disregarded all Lantean tech that did not meet that goal. For that reason the Lanteans had left them alone after their original exile.
Nex took up his position at the front of the formation with the walkers to his rear. It was not typical for a General of his standing to be in the middle of the fight, let alone leading the charge. However, nothing of him was typical.
Nex opened a comm channel to all legionnaires and said, "Move out."
The army moved as one, even the walkers with their steps in unison marched towards the capitol only about one kilometer away. They would be there shortly. Hopefully the locals would just give up, but Nex was not counting on that. At the very least they would fight for a few days after the capital city fell, but even that was stretching it a bit. The only thing Nex had going for him at this point was one little surprise in orbit. A gift from Amann himself.