Hey everybody! I'm back with another chapter! This will be primarily centered on the CC for the most part so hopefully its still enjoyable for all.
I really don't have any big news aside the fact I'm working on 'Bisca's Journey' Which is a spin-off sequel to my first story 'Dragon of the COG' Aside from that, not much else. So with that…next chapter!
Chapter Ten: Hell's Doorstep
The Citadel. 20th of Bloom, 423 A.E.
Nearly a dozen Admirals and Generals were sitting around the large table, their holographic images a soft blue of pixels and shimmering lights. A mixture of Salarian, Terran, Turian and Asari officers, they represented the front line commanders of the coming invasion force of Toad Two. At the front of the table were the Councilors, each insistent on being present for this gathering.
Along the right side of the table was another holographic representation, the visage of Admiral Adrian Trescu showing a permanent scowl. By no means a handsome man, his stance indicated that appearance didn't matter…only experience. His presence was only overshadowed by Chairman Diaz and what appeared to be an infantry colonel as their images gave a light ripple.
"Is everybody ready?" Councilor Procus inquired, the Turian receiving a multitude of affirmative nods.
"Good. Now first things first is an update on our war efforts. I know the councilors have been hounding our Embassy for information about combat operations, but we could not risk the chance of our mutual enemy becoming aware of our plans. Even the slightest rumor could have proven disastrous" Izabel Diaz quickly explained, her demeanor cold and unflinching.
Admiral Trescu cleared his throat, his tone firm. "We lured the Caliphate assault fleet into a trap at the Convel System which required numerous hit and run tactics, deception and the abandonment of 'derelict ships"
"Aren't there other worlds in the Coalition they could've retaken? How did you ensure they would go for Convel?" Admiral Malmus asked quickly, the Turian officer responsible for the first assault wave in the upcoming battle.
"We believe it's very similar to their actual homeworld from interrogation of prisoners and how hard they fought to take the planet. But that's beside the point" Taking a short pause, Adrian resumed. "After luring their fleet into our trap, Coalition forces were able to ultimately cripple their combined fleet of nearly thirty eight hundred ships to the point of full retreat. After their destruction and overwhelming naval victory, Seran forces have successfully invaded Toad Three, or by its proper name Le'hak. However, their naval tactics have changed once more which I can attest to personally"
"How so?"
"They have now implemented full suicide charges at a high percentage of light speed. Before, at sublight velocities we were able to handle their massed attacks quite easily. However, at these velocities, seconds can mean the difference between victory or complete annihilation. My own fleet suffered nearly forty percent losses during this new tactic as a full Corvette fleet hid in the upper atmosphere of a gas giant" Clicking a button, Admiral Trescu brought up a battle recording of that day, the hovering representation of combat playing out with ferocity. Flaring suns and bursts of plamsa only added to the butchery as the caliphate ships charged into the hulls of Seran vessels at maddening speeds.
"Christ…they are insane" Admiral Hood muttered as the battle recording ended. Murmurs from the officers echoed, each collecting their thoughts of this upgraded tactic of madness.
"You should also be aware that they have upgraded the plasma weapons of their Dreadnaughts, Battleships, and Heavy Cruisers. Instead of the slow moving blobs they used at the start of the war, these are now focused beams of super heated energy much like the Hammer of Dawn" Playing an image of the burning and crippled enemy flagship, the gathered officers watched as it still managed to burn a lance through the Ephyra, the hull bearing a horrific scar.
It was a sobering fact that most of the vessels in the Citadel fleets couldn't match such a vessel one on one.
"Have you developed any counter measures to these massed tactics?" Admiral B'Sayle asked, her image flickering.
"I threw up a wall of massed fusion sprint missiles to intercept the suicide corvettes. At those speeds turning is believed to be fatal or crippling so they do fly in straight line. Anything that can intercept them before they strike a ship should be used. Also, please remember that each of those corvettes also carry an external launching rack for their own torpedoes. They'll use those to saturate defenses while they dive in to destroy your ships"
"Spirits" Procus cursed as he rubbed his metallic temple. "How do you fight an enemy fleet that doesn't even care about survival?"
"You destroy them. However, these facts are only half the problem your forces will face"
"You mean there's more?" Tevos asked with shock, already the possible casualties of this future battle making her feel sick.
"Yes. Your combined fleet will be entering the Toad Two system via Relay. A relay that the Toads have no doubt kept under heavy surveillance. If I was them, I'd be fortifying that system with every ship I could muster while laying mines to inflict massive casualties among the first wave"
A Salarian spoke up, his eyes blinking rapidly. "You may be quite correct, Admiral Trescu. Surveillance drones through the Mass Relay have quickly been destroyed. Before communications are severed, significant naval forces have been accounted for. Likelihood of minefields, defensive platforms and heavy naval presence is high"
"You should all prepare yourselves for heavy naval losses. These bastards fight hard and they will use their own ships as suicide craft in an effort to destroy you. I will of course, share any further information after the conclusion of this meeting. Now, give your attention to Colonel Ferd Savov" Visually sitting down, Adrian clasped his hands as the Colonel took the attention of all gathered.
A heavily bearded man, the top of his head was completely shaven while a weathered face of hard lines earned from years in the field stared back. Taking control of the information display from travelling from Sera, he spoke with a rough hew as the image of a new world appeared.
"This is the world of Le'hak. As is standard naval doctrine, the fleet bombarded all major population centers to exterminate the Klor'vian presence with high success. However, much like Bo'link, they have heavily dug in to the point of massive, underground shelters for their civilian population" Zooming in on a long mountain range that spanned one of the continents, the Colonel continued. "When your troops land, expect little resistance in the bombarded cities and towns except for delaying actions. The Toads have made sure to fortify every hill, mountain, and defensible piece of geography for the purpose of killing any invader. Add in the massed artillery, plasma mortars and infantry attacks and you can all expect bloody and brutal encounters"
"I suspect that the defensive networks on Toad Two will be even worse. They've had months to prepare" Another Turian voiced, his words taking on a slight hollowness.
"I wouldn't doubt it. To put it in perspective, think of the island hopping campaign during the Terran Second World War. However, they have largely ignored swamplands, flat terrain and tiny urban centers. Holding those would be foolish and impractical"
Admiral Hood cursed. A student of history, he could only imagine the losses from such a fortified enemy. Especially one that burned with religious fanaticism.
Admiral Rana B'Sayle raised a hand, her image slightly rippling from her seat across the table. "I thought the Klor'vian's were religious fanatics? Historically, most groups of such ideals are very resistant to any change of tactics or reasoning. But in a few short years since they first began this war against the Coalition, they've adapted to a defensive nature"
"As previously stated, the Caliphate's religion is insane, but they aren't stupid. Their species natural adaptability and understanding has led them to quickly develop new weapons or simply copy our own within a short time. At the start of the war, massed wave tactics were the standard, their reliance on numbers to carry the day. Their equipment was substandard and frankly, embarrassing for a space faring species to use. But within two years of conflict, they are now on an equal footing with a standard Gear"
"What about infantry weapons? We know they've copied the Seran lancer rifle and wield plasma grenades, but have they made any breakthroughs?" A Turian Colonel inquired, his own image a shimmering blue of light particles.
"They have. Aside from making sure the majority of their mortars and artillery are hidden from orbital bombardment until needed, the Gears have already encountered a 'plasma thrower" Clicking another button, a weapon appeared with two shoulder straps, a bulbous tank with attached hose and spraying nozzle. "From early reports, this can easily burn through flesh and armor with ease with similar characteristics of the COG scorcher. While I understand that most of your infantry forces have kinetic barriers, it must be assumed that they will be of little use against such a weapon. Plasma grenades and anti-armor rockets have similar destructive capabilities"
The Turian nodded quickly, his silver eyes narrowing at the newest deployed weapons his enemies would use. "Have the Caliphate shown any use of mass accelerator technology in small arms or any weapon systems?"
"No. We believe that their territory, like the Coalition is devoid of any Element Zero deposits. Chemical weapons are the standard"
"Actually, I'm curious about something. The Coalition has obviously made numerous advancements, especially in the development of your vessels, genetics, and artificial intelligence. But you still use gunpowder firearms. Surely you would benefit with upgraded infantry weapons"
Chairman Diaz shrugged, her demeanor simple. "Gunpowder is cheaper. Why spend ten times as much on some fancy space rifle when the Lancer Mark Three gets the job done. Plus, it worked just fine against the Batarian's with all their fancy shields and technology"
"So, it did" letting the issue drop, the Turian went silent for the time being.
"Will you be able to send any ships to assist in the coming invasion?" Tevos asked, her hands folded and clasped.
"Absolutely not. Our fleets have taken heavy losses and half of them have been pulled from the front lines for repairs and reinforcements. The only offensive operations we can undertake right now is reinforced pickets that are searching for the next Caliphate world, and even those are limited with the Toads launching piece meal corvette raids against Le'hak. I will not risk our invasion forces" Diaz snapped out, her tone even and harsh.
Tevos gave a weary sigh, the hopes of a unified fleet with the Seran's crushed. "What about engine upgrades? When we take this system, any of our ships attempting to leave will be picked apart due to their slow speed compared to your slipspace drive"
Diaz studied Tevos, her gaze scrutinizing. "I was under the assumption that your collective scientific community now had numerous samples of Caliphate engines. Surely they are working on reverse engineering or developing a hybrid drive?"
"We do, but our scientists are still working on it. They say possibly in three to six months a viable upgrade will be available for Council military vessels"
"Then I fail to see how the Cog giving you upgrades will help the current situation considering that your planned offensive starts in a matter of weeks. Even if I handed you the plans for the Slipspace drive, none of your ships would be able to use it without extreme reconstruction" Standing up, Diaz's posture was defensive. "This was covered in the treaty, and yet you still ask for us to hand over technology your people are quite capable of developing yourselves. If you have any further questions of Caliphate technologies or tactics, Admiral Trescu and Colonel Savov will assist your officers to the best of their abilities. Now if you will excuse me" Stepping away, Chairman Diaz rippled out of sight.
"I hate it when she does that" Tevos muttered.
A throat cleared, the rippling image of Admiral Trescu clicking another holographic image into place above the table. "I will be going over the classes of each enemy ship along with their strengths and weaknesses. Input will be welcome so you may all develop proper tactics. After all, this isn't like fighting the floating garbage scows of the Hegemony"
A slight rippling of laughter enjoyed the tiny joke, giving the meeting a reprieve from the tense atmosphere. Delving in, the assembled officers did all they could to learn about the enemy they would soon face in battle.
Vio'shelek System, 1st of Reap, 423 A.E.
The star system was a hive of constant activity with a constant flow of transports laden with civilians leaving the high orbit of the garden world toward the central systems. Glowing electricity from urban centers burned among the nightside of the planet, while the daylight side milled with activity.
A temperate world with one supercontinent and two smaller landmasses across a gulfing ocean filled with several island chains, they were covered by mountains and plains, jungles, deserts and grasslands. The supercontinent was now host to the majority of the defensive works with nearly half a year of effort put into fortifying every hill, mountain, and ridge line with weapon emplacements for the military. The oceanic islands had done the same, literally digging down into the bowels of those ancient mountains to create hundreds of veritable fortress.
This was done everywhere, the civilian population lending their strength and industry to the massive effort as ordered by the church and their god.
Near the singular moon of the planet, the sprawling fleetyard pushed orbital industries to the limit, constructing corvettes, plasma weapons, and using construction to expand the newest defensive armament, the Orbital Plasma Array.
After all, if the Coalition could do it, so could they.
While not fully completed, it was still operational at sixty eight percent coverage. With each satellite hosting shields of a heavy cruiser, it was believed that they would enact sufficient losses upon the invaders.
Fleetmaster Bo'klar read the latest reports from a datapad, his scales showing a slick humidity as his flagship, the Dreadnaught Hav'oc took station above the elliptical of the planetary plane with the 3rd fleet. Far below the oval orbits of the planetary plane was the freshly constructed and crewed 6th fleet, their crews raw and new. Nearly another thousand suicide corvettes had taken up multiple angles in squadrons, their attention pointed toward the Mass Relay that hung in the empty void.
The constant probes from the Council hadn't dropped, but were a unending nuisance that had to be eliminated with extreme haste.
"How are the minelayer's faring? Have they fully deployed our new weapons?" He suddenly asked, his yellow eyes studying a nearby officer at the tactical table.
A rapid tapping of glowing green keys filled the bridge of low level activity, the crew at normal duty.
"Fleetmaster. They have completed eighty three percent of the planned field around the relay. In another six days it will be complete"
"Good. Keep me apprised if there are any issues" Scowling, he went back to the latest reports.
"A disaster. A complete disaster. A foolish waste of ships, lives, and military strength. Now, Le'hak is a bombarded ruin of ash and corpses, a graveyard to nearly a billion of our people! The Serans have achieved a massive victory today and yet the church wants me to beat the Council forces when they emerge and counter-attack! What madness! I will be fortunate to stop them!" Blinking heavily, the officer could not show distress even though most of the crew's morale had taken a serious hit at the devastating war news.
"If I lose this battle, the Coalition will be able to easily push deeper into our territory, leaving a path of vengeance in their wake. The home fleet would not be able to stop them despite the massive effort at ship construction"
Then there was the fact that if he retreated to salvage his fleets for battle another day, the church would deem him as a traitor and execute him. Bo'klar grunted out a light chuckle of amusement. "I'm sure the Seran's don't have to deal with such madness. Nor this alliance of races we now face"
Once more, the fleetmaster harbored the thought that his race was in the wrong, that their current war was a vile mistake started by insanity. He had studied Seran history and despite its horrific bloodshed and carnage, they emerged to be quite the conservationists. "They actually set a full third of garden worlds aside for nature and the environment. An acceptable stance by the teachings of Klorta. By all means, they pursue a balance between industry, habitation, and protecting the environment" His thoughts jumped immediately, his face scrunching in a scowl of scales and yellow eyes. "Yet the church attacks a people that practice such worlds. Perhaps the church is wr—"
"Fleetmaster! I am detecting a massive energy spike in the relay!"
"A probe?"
"Bigger Fleetmaster!"
Bo'klar immediately knew this was it. Today was the day they would face the full might of the Council. "FULL ALERT! Do not engage until my order!" the bridge dived into a green hue of battle lights, the humidity thick and warm. Approaching the holo table, the officer grunted in approval at his dispositions.
Surrounding the void of the Mass Relay near the outer fringes of an asteroid belt, each of his fleets had it targeted for a devastating crossfire. The plasma mines would home in on the nearest ships when sensed, adding to the battle. As a final stroke of slaughter, his corvette craft would dive in from multiple angles at light speeds to decimate the assault forces.
It was their turn for an ambush, and he promised that it would be horrific.
The relay pulsed with light as the first ships flashed into existence among the void. They were dreadnaughts and battleships by the appearance of their size, each beginning to move forward as more of the fleet appeared in a constant strobing of light.
"Fleetmaster! Based on their engine output and ship design, it's the Turians! Should I give the order to engage their vessels?"
"Not yet. Let their ships move further into the minefield first" Watching with baited eyes as the enemy ship count grew, he knew that his commanders were waiting to engage like coiled serpents.
Hundreds of ships flashed into the system, a constant stream of destroyers, frigates and cruisers that were already burning their sublight engines to reassemble into a fresh formation.
"Fleetmaster! Enemy ship count is already passing fifteen hundred vessels!"
"Now. Send the signal to active the plasma mines. Order corvette squadrons three and four to attack immediately"
"Right away, Fleetmaster!" the younger officer shouted with hints of fear and excitement. Punching in the activation code for the floating mines that crowded the rock strewn void, hundreds woke up to complete a single task.
To find the nearest ship and detonate. Pulsing on minimal thrust rockets, the cylinder shaped bombs began to tumble through the darkness toward the Turian assault fleets.
"Captain. Enemy ships are beginning an attack run from several vectors above the planetary plane. Mass and engine signature match corvette class" Technician Tucia Ruftion informed, the female sensor officer quickly going back to her duties.
"We've been informed of their tactics. Begin full defensive fire and calculate their estimated path of advancement"
"SPIRITS! The Caliphate just activated a minefield! We're right in the mid—"
Three of the spinning mines had activated barely four thousand meters away, a hairsbreadth in terms of spatial distances. Surging forward, they impacted the cruisers barriers in a wave of crawling heat that broke them in a shatter of energy. Half a second later, four more mines slammed into the hull, their energy burning through armor and aired sealed bulkheads. Plating sizzled and tore open, several compartments of Turian crew opened to space as they were sucked into the void. Ripping through the starboard side in a flash of destruction, Phaseon became the first victim of the deadly trap as half the ship was torn open to bleed crew and air into the void.
Flashes of green fire erupted among the Turian 4th fleet and the arriving 5th, each one brewing in spherical detonations as space seemed to rip apart with unmatched devastation. Destroyers and frigates were consumed in flashes of light, the proud crews dying among melting bulkheads, hulls, and scaffolding without ever firing a single shot.
During the first thirty seconds of combat, one hundred and thirteen vessels were crippled or destroyed outright, their remains floating among continuing flares of vile plasma bursts.
Admiral Hercus Malmus felt Sword of Honor shudder from a nearby impact, the detonation of plasma consuming a nearby frigate in a blooming ball of green heat. "Track those mines and destroy them! We can't afford to be bogged down in a minefield! And why the hell didn't we see them in the first place!? We planned for the possibility!" The turian shouted, his rage at such losses palpable.
"Sir! They were inert until activation! Our sensors registered them as simply flotsam and space rocks!" The nearby officer yelled back as another detonation pulsed against the dreadnaught's shields. Rippling from damage, they held as wisps of green plasma floated into the nearby vacuum
"Caliphate ships are tracking and opening fire upon us! Spirits! The corvette fleet has fired their torpedoes and jumped to FTL!"
"Full defensive fire!"
Pulsing laser defenses erupted among the detonations and glowing scraps of dead hulls, the stabbing lights illuminating the harsh vacuum as the Turian forces tried desperately to fend off defeat even as more warships flashed into the system to join the battle. Errant mines impacted hulls, billowing orbs of green consuming smaller craft without mercy or concept. Turian ships began targeting the mines, blowing them from space in a staggered fire before they could cause any further damage.
The night burned with sinister detonations as the minefield was cleared, the chaos incurred flaring among all aspects of the fleets.
Five hundred corvettes lunged from above, each ship firing their torpedoes in a horrid bid to sow destruction and death. Having tracked their targets to the best of their ability, they flashed across the void, their arrival measured in a few, brief seconds.
Space burned with dying corvettes bursting in miniature suns of burning engines and roiling plasma as the Turian discipline held strong, their training and tactics hammered into habit through years of drills. Massed counter fire of lasers and MAC shells flared with sharp orders, each battle squadron and cruiser cluster falling into defensive spheres.
But despite that training and Turian pride, nobody could've stopped the coming wave of destruction. Of the two thousand speeding warheads and charging corvettes, four hundred of the torpedoes broke through the outer defensive sphere while one hundred and eighteen craft bore in at light speeds.
More of the torpedoes died in the last few seconds, Turian laser defenses claiming another two hundred.
But that didn't stop the rest.
Sword of Honor rocked with horrific damage as three of the warheads splashed against her barriers, a mixture of green and blues that rippled along the length of the flagship. A corvette was destroyed half a second before impact thanks the excellent defensive fire, but that didn't stop the expanding ball of plasma and kinetic energy to stop. Burning past the shields, the middle portions of the vessel took the full brunt of damage as the outer hull melted away in a flash of green fire. Bulkheads glowed with damage among crewmen unfortunate enough to be nearby.
All along the Turian fleet, warhead detonations burned against shields and barriers while ships literally collided with near nuclear force speeds.
The light cruiser Vanker was ripped in half, both ends floating away among the spinning corpses of crew and debris. Air leaked among nearby flashes of detonations, each representing a dying ship. With her engines still struggling to stay alight, credit of bravery would be recognized to the chief engineer in his salvation of half the torn ship.
Destroyers and frigates burned out of existence, most incapable of weathering such destruction even as others continued to fire with desperate efforts.
In the first ten minutes of battle, the Turian Hierarchy lost over four hundred vessels including, twelve heavy cruisers, eighteen light cruisers and one battleship. Her twin sister, Oath of Honor was barely clinging to life, her hull glowing green among ripped open fissures and floating debris and crew. Engines flickered in a struggle to retain power as supporting ships covered her from enemy fire.
"Damage report!" Admiral Malmus shouted in command as the forward bridge windows flashed with explosions and stabbing fire. Klaxons blared and shrieked, the bridge cast into a deep blue reminiscent of Turian blood.
"Port sections fifteen through eighteen are gone! Severe damage on deck six through nine, Sir! Damage control parties are already on route!"
"Maintain position and open fire on leading enemy vessels! I will not tolerate retreat or defeat!" The massive warship began to turn, her sublight thrusters and engines flaring as other vessels began to reorient toward the bombardment of Caliphate fire.
A searing green pillar of light tore through a nearby frigate, passing through the bridge in a pulse of heat and destruction. More pillars of plasma joined in, mixing in with the bombardment of standard shells and rippling fire.
However, the weight of the council fleets began to be felt as the 3rd Turian fleet finished transiting into the system. Rear Admiral Camibia Flolius had listened to the dire transmissions before arrival, the veteran of twenty years of service immediately moving her vessels to begin engaging the Caliphate vessels pouring fire from below the planetary elliptical.
"Ma'am! Another fleet of suicide craft is targeting our ships! Total is nearly five hundred!"
The older officer narrowed her gaze, silver eyes already envisioning the coming destruction. The main spinal gun fired at a distant enemy cruiser, the caliphate vessel's shields rippling with damage. Turning among the flashes of laser light and massed volleys, it fired a searing beam of plasma at the Turian dreadnaught, Mount Tanhar Staggering under the heavy blow.
"Maintain fire!" The main cannon unleashed another shell to smash against the distant enemy ship, the kinetic forces pummeling the barriers into nothing. Firing again, the third strike smashed against hull plating, ripping it open as the Turian's maintained a heavy, disciplined fire against their enemy.
Corvettes dove from the high elliptical of the system, their torpedoes burning a harsh light among the dazzling explosions and defensive laser fire. Jumping to FTL after acquiring fresh targets, the suicide craft surged in a wave of speed toward the invaders.
Massed slugs and shells streaked through space as targeting computers did their best to track and estimate targets. Hundreds of MAC shells created a temporary wall of fire between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Turian fleets and their suicidal enemy.
Craft brewed up, their mass flashing into roiling balls of energy upon impact as they charged with single minded abandon with the following mass of plasma warheads. Working in conjunction with the main Caliphate fleet, the void burned with war.
One hundred thirteen plasma laden corvettes made it through the wall of slug and steel, each impacting a hierarch vessel at light speed velocities. Flares of fresh lights burned against vacuum, the destroyer and frigate defensive screen buckled and bleeding air. Wounded ships burned with cracked hulls, their crews and officers maintaining a vigilance against the incoming mass of torpedoes that were slayed from the night sky.
Another seventy three ships were destroyed, including two heavy cruisers Honor and Oath that took six warheads each, a loss of all hands as the expanding field of superheated plasma left nothing but floating debris in its wake. Crippled ships disgorged atmosphere and crew, each glowing with damage as unwounded brethren shielded them from total annihilation.
Turian wrecks clogged the void, each a silent tomb among the exchange of munitions between the fleets. Since the battle began less than an hour before, nearly six hundred vessels had been lost with countless more damaged. But still the Turians maintained fire, their honor and creed dictating nothing less. To them, death was preferable to retreat.
"Maintain fire and position!" Admiral Malmus shouted above roaring klaxons as more plasma beams cut through a nearby light cruiser, the twin beams slicing the vessel in half. His ship staggered from an impact, but kept firing, her main gun belching a fresh shell every four seconds. Acrid smoke from shorted relays burned from burst power junctions, filling the bridge with the electrical stench. Sitting in his command chair elevated above the crew below, the Turian flag officer could finally understand the Seran mindset.
"Such devastating firepower"
"Sir! The Asari and Terran fleets are arriving in thirty seconds!"
"Order them to target the enemy fleet below the orbital plane! We will concentrate fire on the other fleet!" Ringing alarms chimed again as his flagship shook, the burning lance of plasma fire tracing along its battered shields.
Pulses of mass accelerated shells left streaks of bluish light, their velocities and barrage continuous as the first Terran and Asari ships entered the system.
Caliphate vessels immediately shifted fire to the emerging reinforcements, intent on causing as much damage as possible from their position.
Twenty eight Terran ships were destroyed in the massed barrage of shells, the destroyers and escort frigates taking mortal damage to exposed engines. Overloading explosions ripped among the first ships to arrive, their deaths silent and bright. Another eighty three took horrendous damage in the first few seconds of emergence from the Relay, their position the worst possible scenario.
After all, Fleetmaster Bo'klar knew where his enemies would emerge. His ships maintained a long distance above and below while also behind the relay, their targeting computers identifying the vulnerable engines as the emerging ships frantically tried to avoid and rapidly turn to bring their own guns to bear.
Massed fire continued, claiming another thirty three Asari ships, the lighter escorts simply unable to withstand the burning lances of plasma heat that burned through barriers and hulls alike.
Admiral Hood braced against his command chair, his Dreadnaught immediately coming under massed fire. Impacts rippled along the Okinawa, her barriers flaring and rippling. Twin beams of energy shattered the Okinawa's barriers, burning through armored hull to rip through several central decks and kill dozens of humans in a flash of light.
"Bring the fleet about and open fire! Flotilla three and four will move to flank with the Asari!" Hood yelled as his flagship pushed emergency sublight in a hard, high gravity turn that strained the inertia dampeners to their breaking point. Lining in fire with half the Terran fleet, the main gun fired, sending a twenty eight kilogram shell at 1.8 percent light speed at the enemy.
"Sir! That last hit killed our starboard shields! Emergency barriers are barely at ten percent!" A crewman yelled as sparks erupted from a nearby terminal.
"Maintain position and fire!"
Another barrage of plasma torpedoes burned through space, their rockets flaring among detonations, pulses of laser defenses, and dying ships.
Lieutenant David Anderson tried to hold back the scream of agony as the Iwo Jima was rocked by another barrage of enemy shell fire. The heavy cruiser had been part of the escort for the Okinawa, providing an unending barrage of shell fire to claim four enemy frigates. She had been fighting well, her commanding officer maneuvering through the maelstrom of battle…until a lance of plasma ripped away her shields and starboard hull. Ripped open along the length of the ship, the damage had been severe as dozens of navy crew were sucked into the void before emergency barriers snapped into place. Even more took horrific burns and blasts of heat, melting skin and flesh as the ship continued to fight.
"Hold him still!" a doctor screamed as Anderson thrashed on the medical table. The ship bucked to the side, the artificial gravity momentarily tipping men and women in the forward medical bay. More wounded screamed from burns as corpsmen tried to stave off the casualties, the flow never ending.
"Lieutenant! I'm giving you a dose of morphine for the pain! I cannot operate on you right now, do you understand!?"
The ship rocked again, blaring alarms reverberating off the walls of the medical bay.
David frantically nodded, half his face covered in first degree plasma burns. He knew his left eye was gone, the wall of blackness blocking half his vision. "Do…do what you need to do" He hissed through clenched teeth as his nerves flared.
"Doctor Chakwas! We have third degree plasma burns over here!" A nurse yelled among the smell of fear, dying and burnt skin that filled the medical bay like a slaughter house.
Pushing the morphine into David Andersons neck, the young man felt an immediate relief as the doctor looked into his eyes. "Michael. Apply medi-gel and wrap his face in burn bandages. Then move him to the floor out of the way" Wiping a few frantic strands of hair clinging with sweat, Chakwas moved to the horribly burned man nearby as the battle continued past the ravaged hull of the Iwo Jima.
Admiral Rana B'sayle felt a hollowness in the pit of her stomach as Beacon of Justice rapidly redeployed with half the Terran fleet, the escorting flotilla's preparing to strike the enemy flank in a high speed maneuver through the swirling harshness of this horrid battle.
Burning green lances of fire seared the reinforced windows, the twin lances crippling the Delicate Balance. Nearby vessels tried to cover the stricken heavy cruiser, but a following wave of Caliphate torpedoes ripped it apart, the vessel's two halves floating among the corpses of hundreds of Turian ships.
Several Asari bodies impacted the bridge windows, their bodies coming apart in a spray of frozen pieces, much to the horror of the crew. But they held firm, silently thankful it was not their fate.
"Ma'am. Nearly seventy eight ships have been destroyed with another sixty three heavily damaged!"
"Maximum speed. We'll hit them from the side while the Terrans do the same. I want a constant barrage of fire and full defensive envelope" Relaying the order, her fleet, now numbering barely eight hundred due to the horrific losses upon entering this system, moved in a downward curve. Supported by another five hundred Alliance vessels, they enacted a rapid bombardment of the enemy. Slugs of all sizes ripped across the void, breaking shields and shattering hulls as the tide of battle fully turned in the Councils favor. The outer destroyer screen burned with destruction and dying caliphate ships, their size incapable of withstanding the massed firepower.
Fleetmaster Bo'klar knew that the odds of winning this battle had been slim from the start. Even with the minefields and opening salvos of corvettes and torpedoes hadn't stopped the sheer numbers of enemy ships flooding into the system from the Mass Relay.
A near miss vibrated through the bridge, the bathing lights of war filling the viewscreen.
Lances of plasma ripped through several more Turian vessels, their hulls a harsh glow among dead and silent comrades. His own flagship fired, the twin beams skewering the bridge of a light cruiser, no doubt killing the command crew as the vessel in question burned with damage and leaking water vapor. Nearby frigates finished off the ship, pounding it into a floating scrap of trapped souls.
Looking down at the tactical display, it was time to enact the final phase of his battle plan.
"All ships are to fall back to the colony. Resupply of depleted munitions is priority. Damaged vessels are to make emergency repairs if possible. Haste is essential"
The Klor'vian was nearly rocked off his feet by a heavy hit to the shields, no doubt from a Turian battleship as the massed bombardment continued between the fleets. Targeting sent twin beams of harsh green stabbing through cold vacuum to splash against the Turian vessel, the battleship staggering under the blow as its shield almost broke.
Readjusting his command sash, Bo'klar knew he was only delaying the inevitable.
There were simply too many enemy ships to deal with. But if he didn't at least attempt to defend Vio'shelek, he would no doubt be executed for cowardice. Firing one last salvo of standard MAC shells and staggered beams of light, the two battered fleets reoriented themselves among the planetary plane. Engines glowing a sterile green, the ships surged into a short FTL jump.
Snapping into existence half a million miles from the garden world, Hav'oc Began to spin in high orbit along with seventeen hundred warships, many of them showing visible damage.
"Slave the O.P.A. into the battle computer immediately! We have less than an hour to prepare!" Bo'klar barked with a stressed sneer.
"Right away, Fleetmaster! Ammunition ships are already moving to our destroyer forces"
"What about the evacuation transports? Have they left the system?"
"The last ones are preparing FTL jump in the next few minutes"
"Good" keying the nearby datapad attached to his armrest, he pulled up the civilian manifests of those packed transports. "The young hatchlings, swollen females, and the honored elderly have no place here. They would just be casualties and targets for our enemies" His clawed fingers stopped mid scroll as his eyes narrowed. "Perhaps Vio'shelek can surrender? The Council might be willing to spare the civilian population" Scoffing, the Fleetmaster knew that was impossible as long as the church commanded the military and administration centers. Plus, the Asari would no doubt want vengeance for their losses last year.
Once again, his inner thoughts treaded on treason against their god and high priests.
Retaking his place at tactical, the glowing points of light and symbols showed the system. Spinning orbs of the outer planets were illuminated, the mining outposts and orbital refinery's already laying dormant and devoid of life. Why give the enemy easy targets with valuable workers? Those Klor'vian's had already been moved to the planet weeks ago to assist in defensive works.
Moving his gaze from the orbital paths of those outposts, Bo'klar witnessed the untied Council fleets hastily reorganizing near the relay. Some blinked out of existence through the alien apparatus, no doubt retreating with grievous wounds and broken crews. But for every ship that left the system, one replaced it unopposed.
A mere hour was all the reprieve Bo'klar and his ships received before the enemy started to move across the system. Separating into two attack prongs, each section easily numbered two thousand to twenty three hundred warships, giving a grand total of forty five hundred naval vessels intent on his destruction.
"Have the destroyer forces refilled their torpedo racks?" he suddenly inquired, his scales sheening with humidity as the bridge crew continued their tasks.
"Only thirty eight percent have resupplied, Fleetmaster"
His amphibian lips turned downward into a harsh scowl while his throat sac tinted red. There wasn't enough time. The enemy would arrive in twelve minutes.
"Those that have resupplied are to fire their salvo in unison with the fleet and orbital array. We will only have one opportunity to cause heavy casualties before they overwhelm us with numbers. Once we have fired that first wave of munitions, the fleet is to retreat to Tarn.
His underlings nodded in understanding. If they hadn't suffered such devastating losses during that mad bid to reinvade the Coalition or found Le'hak invaded and most of her population burnt to ash, things would be different.
"I cannot allow the fleet to be destroyed here! It's a horrid decision but the rest of our worlds would lay bare to the enemy…if they only knew how badly our losses have been" It made his stomach curl, that fact he would have to abandon the colony and countless millions in a bid to protect the rest.
Breathing a sigh of depression, Bo'klar watched silently as the enemy encroached like a wave of vengeance, the minutes and seconds ticking down without fail.
Attacking from above the planetary plane and the flat elliptical of the planet, the council ships fired the first volley of shells, their streaks of light burning through the void to target Caliphate ships in a bid of destruction.
"FIRE!" Bo'klar roared out as the enemy shellfire raced forward at low light speeds. Impact would be in five seconds, but that was more than enough time fir his fleet to unleash their own hell.
Having targeted the cross-shaped and stream lined vessels of the blue tinted Asari fleet along with the escorting Terrans and Turian's, the fire would be horrific.
Two Dreadnaughts, four battleships, and twenty seven heavy cruisers began to glow at the bow, the aperture's turning a blinding green as seventeen of the orbital defensive satellites did the same. Mixed with the standard MAC shells of the frigates and lighter escorts, the Caliphate fleet fired in unison with the destroyer screen and their plasma torpedoes.
Burning through the glowing void above the planet, fifty two searing beams of melting plasmic heat burned through forty nine Asari and Terran ships, crippling or outright destroying them with vile force. Half a moment later, the massed volley of streaking shells and warheads screamed in to be met with pulsing lasers and defensive batteries, the efforts scything hundreds from the burning sky. Shields and ships staggered with damage from near misses, or in the unfortunate case of many, full damage as plasma ate through barriers and hull armor, wreaking more havoc as dozens of destroyers and light frigates died.
Seventy three speeding torpedoes made it past the pulses of defensive laser light to crash against council ships, five of which claimed the Terran battleship London. Melted hull and leaking air spiraled into space as her drive core went critical, exploding in a silent flash of light with all hands. Another fifty eight vessels were claimed, their glowing wrecks rippling with gutted hulls or simply destroyed outright as the bodies of humans, Asari, and Turian floated among the debris.
The massed shell fire from the Council Fleets had reached the Caliphate, each impact breaking barriers or burrowing through the lighter vessels. The damaged and crippled ones from the previous engagement suffered, the final blows sealing the fates of ninety eight ships, including two light cruisers that broke apart to fall into the gravity well of the planet.
"One more salvo than immediate light jump, now! All ships before we're picked apart!" Bo'klar roared as his flagship rocked from multiple heavy impacts. His main weapon fired two more twin beams in unison with the Battleship, Ja'vov claiming a Terran cruiser as the searing beams cleaved the attacking warship into three tumbling, burning pieces among a field of destruction.
A secondary staggered wall of MAC shells ripped outward with the defensive satellites, most targeting wounded or stricken ships to finish the job.
But Fleetmaster Bo'klar's orders were carried out among the fleet, their engines glowing a harsh green before snapping to light speed velocities to carry them past the invading fleet.
Unfortunately for the Asari Dreadnaught, Tranquility, they had been in the path of a heavy cruiser's trajectory. Those ships, along with another dozen suffered similar fates from the hasty stellar plotting. Massed explosions of breeching engine cores and kinetic velocity claimed those ships with all hands on both sides, leaving nothing but floating pieces of debris and tendrils of elements in the void.
The Orbital Plasma Array continued to fire with twenty three grievously wounded ships incapable of escape, the clustered warships firing without end as burning lances of plasma ate through the void to claim two more light frigates of the Turian fleet.
Targeting computers and crews fired ceaselessly, pounding the shielded satellites and dying vessels into orbital scrap.
Salarian ships moved in above the planet's north pole, their guns constantly firing at the incomplete defensive array. They managed to disable one of the satellites, a technical prize for the amphibian's and their scientists.
The sudden silence of combat was deafening, adding a ghostly serenity to the orbital ring of broken ships and bodies of five different species.
Looking out at the expanding orb of a Turian destroyer near the massive fleetyard of the enemy, Mulmus felt the weight of loss. "What are our total losses?" The Admiral inquired softly, his words barely heard among a surging spark of electrical fires and the groans of wounded crew. His flagship was one of the most heavily damaged ships still in formation, the multiple wounds along her hull a glowing hell of embers and twisted decking. A pipe burst above, spilling recycled water vapor among his bridge crew.
"Sir. Total ship losses among all fleets number one thousand three hundred and twelve. Another six hundred and thirty eight are reporting moderate to heavy damage"
Malmus was torn between immense pride for his crews and horror at such devastation. The Hierarch hadn't suffered such losses since the Rachni Wars, and those had been fought centuries ago. Sitting down, he tried to brush off fallen debris from his command chair, but it was everywhere.
"We lost nearly a third of our combat strength in a single battle, and the enemy is still relatively intact. No wonder why the Coalition has suffered such attrition and they were normally outnumbered two to one" The thought filled him with distraught doubt at how his fleets had failed to destroy the enemy with such a numerical advantage. "Those plasma weapons are horrendous. Nothing can intercept them, only capital ships are capable of withstanding their destructive power and even then, that is a fleeting advantage"
He had studied every battle the Serans had fought against these amphibians and couldn't help but respect their resolve. Admiral Trescu himself had fought nearly eight times his weight and survived in the first six months of the war, yet he couldn't even defeat a static fleet.
Clamping down on the depressing thoughts, he turned his attention to the female at comms.
"Order the 3rd fleet to secure the system. Once its secure, we will secure the enemy fleetyards around the colony's moon. Heavy escorts to the troop ships when they arrive in system. The Caliphate could counter-attack at any time so vigilance is required"
"Yes Sir"
Clasping his hands, Malmus could feel the weight of victory and all its horror as hundreds of his dead ships floated silently among the void.
"May the spirts of the ancestors guide our fallen warriors"
Vio'shelek, 3rd of Reap, 423 A.E.
Beacon of Justice hung above the garden world, her angled bow pointed downward with hundreds of other ships. Dozens of transports waited for the go-ahead, waiting for the bombardment to commence.
Fresh damage had been torn along her hull two days prior from the Caliphate defensive satellites, their beams of burning energy claiming horrendous casualties. The loss of Tranquility alone had been nearly four thousand dead, and that was one ship. Countless naval vessels from every fleet had been crippled or destroyed, adding to the losses that Rana couldn't think about.
Staring out of the wide window, her mind momentarily lapsed to the events of the last two days. "Nearly one hundred thousand dead. Another twenty eight thousand wounded. Admiral Hood lost nearly a quarter of his fleet, the Turians are already sending the 4th to Oma Ker for repair and reinforcement because of such horrific losses. All told…almost nineteen hundred military vessels destroyed or crippled"
The numbers were disheartening beyond measure.
A fresh Turian fleet had taken position around the invasion forces, their task to guard taken seriously among the spinning flotsam of destroyed industries, ships and frozen corpses of all.
"Ma'am. The Salarians and Turians have taken the system fleet yard. The enemy fought ferociously and to the last"
Rana slowly nodded, the information logged into her mind as she continued to scroll through the ships lost. It was an omen of how this battle would progress on the ground.
"What a nightmare" she told herself as more of the ships positioned themselves in orbit. She didn't even want to think about the suicidal charges of the enemy in those first frantic minutes of entering the system. "Comparable to the Japanese Empire during the Second World War of Earth. Complete madness and willingness to loss hundred of ships and countless lives"
The crewman at comms stirred, the younger Asari turning to look at her directly. "Ma'am, Admiral Hood and Admiral Malmus have positioned their fleets. Admiral Beral of the Salarian Fleet is continuing to patrol the outer system. We can begin bombardment at your command"
Rana B'Sayle heard the information, but knew she couldn't give the order. Not without one final attempt at diplomacy. A task pushed by the council to try and prevent further loss of life.
"Peace? After the horrid losses we just suffered? The atrocities this species has committed and campaigns of extermination? Their religious fanaticism is abundantly clear which is why over eight million Asari had died under Caliphate bombardment last year"
"The Coalition has the proper mindset in dealing with these monsters" Grasping the end of her armrests, Rana's fingers clenched in anger at the suffering this species has caused.
But still…she had to make the attempt. Orders were orders after all.
"Broadcast on all frequencies. Visual and audio" Her command contained barely restrained rage and hostility. Absentmindedly smoothing her uniform to distract herself, the comms officer stroked several light keys in moments, bathing the world below in Asari communications.
"This is Admiral Rana B'Sayle of the Asari Republics. Whomever is in charge of this colony, I am asking for communication"
Moments passed, ticking away for several minutes before an alien appeared on the main viewscreen.
Dressed in resplendent robes of fine materials and encrusted minor gem stones, the creature stared back with a sneer. His scales were a light green with a few streaks of white along the neck. A breathing slit sat below two yellow eyes, the blinking vertical as his bulbous lips parted to reveal rows of sharpened teeth.
"I am the Grand Sacred Protector, Ulin Tre'nov, hand picked by the church to ensure the will of Klorta is carried out on this blessed world of Vio'shelek. What do you desire sub creature? To surrender?" A mocking chuckle erupted from his throat, the bulbous sac changing to a warming yellow-orange. "I accept your surrender. After all, your species couldn't even invent space flight yourself. You had to rely on long dead aliens to reach the stars…pathetic. No wonder you lost so many taking a single system like mind addled chaff" The reptilian blinked, his eyelids sliding sideways as he grunted. "They may be vile vermin in need of eradication, but at least the Serans forged their own path without the assistance of these…Protheans unlike your kind that pollute the stars"
She recognized the tone of contempt, the Klor'vian dripping with scorn and racism. Steeling her will, Rana crushed the initial surge to snap at this foul religious leader.
"You would be wise to check the orbit of your colony, Tre'nov. Your fleets have either fled or were destroyed in battle. Your orbital defenses crippled or captured while your cities lay bare to our weapons. Surrender your world, and no harm will come to the populace so long as they comply with terms laid out by the council"
Braying, rough hewn laughter erupted from the reptilian, his emotions indicated by the throat sac turning bright orange.
"Surrender Vio'shelek? To such mind addled vermin? I will ensure every male, female and hatchling will die in holy war against you hordes of sub creatures weather they desire peace or not! Only through sacrifice will they gain the approval of the church and god! Surrender!? BY WAR'S END THESSIA WILL BURN!"
The transmission abruptly cut off, the main view screen showing a dark void of nothingness.
Rana's conscience was clear and her diplomatic orders carried out. The attempt had been made and not surprisingly, failed against such fanaticism.
Her tone was clipped, devoid of the anger at the insults flung her way moments before. "I believe his answer was abundantly clear. Begin the bombardment"
"Yes ma'am" Weapons answered with a grim finality. Stroking a few keys, Beacon of Justice fired a 33kg mass accelerated slug at the targeted city below, the velocity surging to 1.9% light speed. Ripping through the swirling clouds of the azure sky, the streak of light impacted the city center of Kavin'til. An immediate flash of light and heat erupted outward from the impact site as the surrounding skyscrapers and structures buckled or collapsed under the wave of spreading fire and kinetic energy. Surging across the river that sliced through the metropolis, the Klor'vians that hadn't already taken shelter in the municipal bunkers died like kindling. Glass blew outwards ahead of the pressure wave as ground vehicles were thrown about like toys, adding to the destructive impact.
All across the planet, the allied fleet began their bombardment of towns, cities and urban centers, each streak of light resulting in a glowing impact that created kinetic fused fire storms that consumed structures, industry, and life in an equal sense of uncaring ferocity.
However…the Caliphate had dug in, using months and months of warning to build shelters, bunkers, and subterranean structures to house military, civilian and essential personnel. Stocked with enough wares and supplies to outlast a year long siege, millions upon millions would survive the Council's bombardment.
A fact the infantry would encounter in the coming days.
Tarn System. 13th of Reap, 423 A.E. (313 ly 'south' of Vio'shelek
Repair and resupply ships flooded over his fleet, their essential actions bringing his ships back up to full time readiness. Floating near the minor fleetyard that orbited the outer gas giant and its tiny systems of moons, Bo'klar went over the battle report once more.
Located in his private chambers, the fleetmaster knew there really wasn't much he could do currently except complete resupply requisitions, reports, and to try and think of the navy's next move.
He sneered at that thought because even the stupidest, most backwards officer could figure out the enemy's next move.
Tarn was an inhabited system, located almost halfway between Vio'shelek and Le'hak. Home to nearly four hundred million of his species, the planet itself was reversed from most worlds. Instead of oceans separating continents and islands, it was instead a single world landmass with inland seas and landlocked oceans. On top of that, it was cooler than the homeworld with winters that made habitation in the northern and southern hemispheres difficult.
Still, Bo'klar found it to be a beautiful world of stunning mountain ranges, spanning forests and jungles…even the deserts and grasslands had a simply tranquility.
But none of that would matter if he couldn't find a way to stop their enemies…especially the Seran's.
"Right now they're invested in securing Le'hak and eliminating the forces there. We gave them pause and serious losses, but they'll rebuild their fleets and ships for a new offensive. Once that happens, they'll begin to search for more of our worlds and eventually find Tarn. If they take it, we lose the Western Caliphate and its resources. The minor colony of Glortha would be slaughtered to the west, leaving us with four sacred worlds and one youngling colony remaining" His thoughts turned to the colony he had to abandon, knowing by now that the ground invasion was underway.
Bo'klar had contemplated another strike against the Council fleets, but there were so many ships. He was responsible for eliminating nearly two full fleets, and that only led to fresh reinforcements flooding the star system through the Relay.
"If I could find the starting point…perhaps a raiding strike would disturb their efforts?" Contemplating the idea, he could easily see its merit as a fresh plan began to form in his mind's eye. But it would be risky. If it failed, it would only be a matter of time until they lost the war.
"I'm no fool. They've captured some of our ships and technology. It's only a matter of time before their interstellar speeds match ours. When that happens, the war is as good as lost" He snorted. "It's already lost anyway. If we were winning, our worlds wouldn't be under bombardment or dead graveyards of ash and corpses"
The depressing thoughts were interrupted by his personal computer chiming with an incoming communication.
Bo'klar didn't really need to guess who would be on the other end as he hit a key, opening the channel.
Supreme Priest Y'larv stared back, his emerald scales sheening while his silken robes shimmered under an offscreen source of light. His gaze was blank, but that didn't mean anything. The leader of the church and their society was notorious for hiding his thoughts and emotions.
He spoke, his words dripping with his high born breeding and station in life. "Fleetmaster. You fled one of our sacred worlds, leaving our populace to the mercy of those vermin. My advisors and fellow priests are demanding your head for cowardice. Explain yourself or face death"
The fact his tone didn't change at all was a terror in itself. With one word, Bo'klar would be labeled a heretic and traitor.
He must tread very carefully.
"My holiness and voice of our god, the almighty Klorta would be very pleased that I was able to destroy or cripple nearly two whole fleets of the enemy. The minefield and upgraded corvette tactics along with our superior plasma weaponry incurred heavy losses while I was able to maintain the vast integrity of the fleet. If we had been evenly matched in terms of numbers, victory would have been ours. The fact that these council craft had to relay on numbers to win battles speaks of their backwards thinking and inferior science" Pausing to intake a breath, he plunged into his next words. "I believe I have come up with a battle plan to not only deal the Council forces a heavy blow, but to retake Vio'shelek from their filthy hands and return it to the bathing light of our god"
There was a momentary pause, Y'larv's mind slowly churning at the words. Clasping his clawed hands in full vies of the screen, he gave a slight nod of consent.
"What is your plan to mitigate your blunder and loss?"
"To locate the starting point of this Prothean Relay and strike their reinforcements and staging bases. Several corvette fleets would be needed but their sacrifice would ensure that the Council was cut off from critical military needs. Once that happens, they will no doubt answer the call to relieve and rescue their escape route. The enemy ships left in Vio'shelek would no doubt become easier prey to the rebuilt fleet, giving us a chance to crush their offensive spirit and land reinforcements"
More silence from the holy priest, eating away at the seconds, giving the humid air in Bo'klar's chambers a chill of dread.
"And what of the Coalition filth?"
"Unfortunately Supreme Priest, we will only be able to launch one campaign. I believe the Council will make the easier target"
"They do have inferior weapons and ships. Hardly space worthy" A contemptuous statement filled the room as the leader thought it through.
"Our new cluster frigates and destroyers are nearing completion. Compiling the number of corvette's you require will take approximately three months. You will stage constant raiding actions against the Council forces polluting our space while also searching for this end-point alien construct. Once our glorious fleets and soldiers have retaken the offensive, we will strike at the Asari homeworld and sear it of inferior life. May Klorta guide your hand in battle for it will be your last chance at redemption"
The communication ended, leaving the fleetmaster horrified. "A strike against the Asari homeworld? Is he insane!? If that succeeds nothing will stop our enemies until we're extinct!"
He had studied the Council. The Asari were loved as diplomats, artists, and pursuers of culture and peace. To attack Thessia would be a rallying cry across the galaxy.
Their vengeance would not be quenched until their ships hung above the Klor'vian homeworld.
"Is the church wrong? We're supposed to protect life yet the supreme priest talks about exterminating it! I simply want to resecure our world and buy time to…to…" The thought was foreign to him…to a lifetime and centuries of creed.
"Peace. I must find a way to bring about peace. But the church would never accept that with any species. The only way to bring about a peace where my species survives…" Bo'klar's eyes widened in stunned realization.
The church must fall if his people were to survive.
Standing up, he walked to his window, looking out at the serene darkness of the galaxy while nearby ships underwent repairs and resupply.
Could he do this? Could he stage a coup and end this horrific war?
The answer was already there.
But he would need allies…and trusted ones at that. If even the slightest rumor of disloyalty were to emerge, his death was guaranteed and his people would die under the might of the galaxy.
Grabbing a glass and bottle of treasured Tarnnish Swamp Ale, Bo'klar poured himself a drink as the gears of treason began to churn in his mind.
So this chapter is a little shorter than most of my others, but I think it's a good ending point until the next one. And yes, the Council really got hit hard despite winning the naval battle. Which I hope you all enjoy.
Now, little announcement. It's getting close to summer and nicer weather, so updates will be slower. If I have the day off and its sunny, warm and pleasant outside, I won't be sitting in front of a computer.
That's really about it so I hope your enjoy reading and leave a pleasant review!
The happy