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Post by shredderdx on Sept 30, 2013 14:40:42 GMT -8
Vinter Seckt stirred. Unveiling his eyes, he saw the feet of an alien. The feet of a Maracaian. To prevent dishonor, Seckt stood, and easily towered over the seemingly old Maracaian. He noticed the mechanics, and wondered if they were from birth or war. If from war, this was an admirable individual. If from birth, this was a disgraced individual.
Taking note of his surroundings, he suspected he was in a place of imprisonment, specifically for interrogating. However, he had little to go off of. Seckt looked into the eyes of the old Maracaian before him, daring him to speak first.
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Oct 4, 2013 7:18:04 GMT -8
"Impressive"
Chief Tefal expected the Szor to be alive and conscious, but witnessing him standing up after being hit by a plasma weapon was definitely beyond his expectations.
"So you are the one responsible for this mess. I guess you are fully aware that you violated our borders and broke into a secret facility of the Maracaian Triumvirate. Wars have been started for less..."
The chief walked towards the Maracaian Symbol that was engraved in the wall opposing to the door.
"Luckily, the Triumvirate has no interest in an interstellar war... not now."
He turned around, looking at the Szor again.
"Tell me, who are you working for? The Szor Empire? Or maybe one of the Delcathian nations? Lying to me will only make it worse for you and your subordinates. And don't act like you can't understand me, I know you can... But maybe you are more talkative if I use your language."
As he spoke his last sentence in the strange Szoran language, his throat did hurt for a few seconds. The vocal cords of a Maracaian are usually not capable of emitting the sounds used in this language, but through intensive training he managed to learn the many tongues spoken throughout Varapha.
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Post by shredderdx on Oct 8, 2013 7:46:27 GMT -8
Seckt was impressed at the ability for this creature to use his language. He has known foreign creatures to have destroyed their vocal chords by speaking the Szoran tongue. "I respect you for your performance of my tongue," Seckt responded in his own tongue. "But I have no respect in your cowardice. I am Lieutenant Vinter Seckt, of the proud Szoran Empire. I have killed in your domain, yet you show no anger and your desire for retribution is withheld. Your nation is obviously unfit for war. I have felt the brunt of your weapons. I will be able to proudly display the scars.
"Can you say the same? Do you proudly display your scars? Or are you ashamed of them? Answer not, I already know the answer. To avoid tangential speech, I will make my final point swift. I speak for my squad, my fellow comrades. They will tell you nothing. I am the only one who will speak."
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Oct 11, 2013 15:35:12 GMT -8
Chief Tefal was amused by the Szoran attempt to provoke him.
"The Szoran Empire... I can see why you would want what is kept inside this facility.", he sighed, " I have seen people like you before, Lieutenant Vinter Seckt. Proud warriors, hungering for blood and conquest. They invaded our territory, slaughered our brothers and sons while we could do nothing to stop them. But their own arrogance has led them to their doom, and when their mighty fleet was crushed, their greatest warriors lying dead to our feet and their civillians crying in fear, we let them live. You may see it as a sign of weakness, but having mercy with your most hated foes requires more strength than any battle or war."
The chief looked into a few documents, then he continued, "However, this does in no way mean that are not going to harm your captive subordinates if you force us to do so. But, if you answer my question you may see your... families again. So, what are your leaders planning to do with the technology you were supposed to steal?"
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Post by shredderdx on Oct 12, 2013 9:31:42 GMT -8
Seckt looked over this old alien, attempting to figure out and understand his philosophy.
"My family are the ones fighting now in your domain," Seckt responded. He began to follow the protocols for capture by enemy forces. Seckt looked at him in the eye, and revealed nothing but defiance and pride.
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Oct 18, 2013 13:39:06 GMT -8
The chief was alerted by Seckt's response. Did he just hint further Szoran operations within the Triumvirate's territory? Or was it just an attempt to distract him? He typed a short message to fleet command in his desk-integrated console, recommending to stay vigilant. He had to find out more.
"Your family? Within our domain? I doubt this is possible, no ship could enter our space without being noticed... yet you managed to come here... How was this possible? What level of infiltration can be expected? Speak!"
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Post by shredderdx on Oct 19, 2013 9:10:50 GMT -8
Seckt smirked inwardly, but kept his face free from anything but a neutral expression. He needed to erode at the alien's state of mind.
"A good warrior never reveals his secrets. However, release me now, and your death shall be swift."
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Oct 24, 2013 15:55:34 GMT -8
Tefal was unsure what to think about the alien's statement. He could be just playing with him, but if he knows something, it is vital for the Triumvirate to acquire this information. The chief knew the Szor was indoctrinated and well prepaired for such a situation, so he would need something to crack the ice.
He pressed a button on his desk and said "bring in one of our guests", "yes, brother" was the short reply through the internal com system.
Then, the wall to Tefal's left became transparent and revealed a Szoran prisoner, followed by an armed Maracaian. The Szor was severely injured, but in a manner typical to his species, he acted like it was nothing.
Tefal turned back to Seckt and said "He can neither see or hear you, and if you even remotely care about his life you better tell me what you know."
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Post by shredderdx on Oct 25, 2013 14:16:10 GMT -8
Seckt glanced over at the captured Szoran, then returned his gaze to the alien. "His death, if you dared strike him down, will be glorious. His death was for our Empire's cause. He is captured; it is what he expects."
By this time, Seckt's wounds have scabbed over. Their species healed quite quickly. However, this comes at a great cost. Cancer ravages the older individuals. A cure to their cancer would prove a great ally in them. For now ...
"You might as well strike me down with him," Seckt continued. "Deliver us both to the Natural Order."
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Oct 30, 2013 17:46:01 GMT -8
"Oh, you would like that, wouldn't you? Dying for the fatherland, just as you are supposed to. Well, I shall grant that wish for your men. But for you, the sentence shall be exile. You will be sent to planet Shaganomba, our beloved homeworld that was shattered during a great war. It should be a familiar sight to you."
Tefal ordered to bring the rest of Seckt's squad in, and as they were lined up on the wall, he could look into their eyes. What he saw was joy and pride. "Poor, foolish beings", he thought. Then, with a swift, simultaneous movement of the Maracaian guardians, the prisoners were beheaded.
The transparent wall turned solid again, and he turned back to Seckt. "See it as your final test of strength. The usual subjects do not survive longer than a few hours." The chief knew Seckt's resilent physiology would allow him to survive long enough to plan his escape. He even expected him to reach his nation's borders before he would succumb to the radiation. Hopefully that would sent a clear message to the Szor Empire.
But even if further attacks occured, they still had one prisoner spared from execution. With the help of this living test subject, methods and drugs could be developed to make further interrogations more successful.
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Post by shredderdx on Oct 31, 2013 7:11:50 GMT -8
Standing, scowling, seething, Seckt looked into the eyes of the alien who had executed his family. Blood has been spilt, and there will be more to come. Victory shall be achieved, in one way or another. Then and there, he made a promise to himself. Vengeance will be his. He will return to this rock, and he will destroy every Maracaian here. He will personally see to it the death of this mechanically-mutilated alien, but not until preceding entertainment has been experienced.
Until that day of triumph, he will bide. He will gather strength. Then, he will conquer.
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Nov 4, 2013 16:29:16 GMT -8
The modified escape pod that was destined to bring Seckt to his tomb soared between the ancient wrecks that orbited Shaganomba's sun. The chief could only get a short glance at the tiny ship before it disappeared behind an engine section that broke off a much larger construct thousands of years ago. He could only assumpe what hatred this alien would bear after seing his men slaughtered. It didn't matter to Tefal, though. The Triumvirate was attacked by alien forces, and further attacks are likely.
The Great Gathering has been alerted, and large portions of the fleet have been mobilized for increased border patrols. Even the civil ships are ordered to join larger military expeditions if they are to leave Maracaian territory, an order that is not always followed though, since many smaller outposts cannot wait for their supplies until one of the expeditions sets a course for them.
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Post by shredderdx on Nov 5, 2013 7:57:52 GMT -8
Seckt sat in the escape pod, strapped in. The bonds at his wrists were proving to be a nuisance. He brought them to his mouth, and began to gnaw on them. His teeth had little difficulty breaking the bond. Although it tasted horrible, at least he had more freedom. He would begin to work on the larger strap once he "landed" on Shaganomba. The Maracaians were fools if they believed he would perish on their home planet. He knew the radiation levels. They were just high enough to kill a Szoran child, but not a full grown. However, there were some areas that could prove to be lethal. He hoped he would not land in one.
To escape the dead planet would prove to be difficult. He began to study the design of the escape pod, and wondered if he could engineer it to serve as a small ship. However, he would need fuel, food, and water to survive a trip back into Szoran space. If intel proved to be correct, it would be difficult to find animal life on the planet. If there were any.
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Nov 9, 2013 19:54:49 GMT -8
A large fleet emerged from warp. the research facility was deemed unsecure, and a whole armada has been send to protect it until it could be relocated.
In a way, it saddened the chief that he would have to leave this place soon. It has been his home for over a hundred years... a hundred years of peace, a golden age for his species, but soon, this age would end, even if there hasn't even been an official statement of the Szoran government regarding the incident yet. That wasn't necessary for the paranoid Maracaian fleet command to prepare for anything.
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Post by shredderdx on Nov 10, 2013 12:49:11 GMT -8
(Szoran) Seckt crashed onto the alien homeworld. Opening the pod, he surveyed the terrain. Blackened waste was all that welcomed him. Returning to the insides of the pod, Seckt sought out something to aid him with hunting. By some electrical channels, wiring, a rigged control device, and some tape he scavenged from the pod, he created a stun gun. He was not sure if it was lethal or not, but he was about to find out. He set out to hunt some rodents.
(Vixaian) High President Magnar Tiill was to give a speech four months hence. It was mainly to reassure the masses of a lack of a threat from the increased military activity of the Maracaian Triumvirate. He knew what the activity was for, but he wasn't going to tell his people. Being in such power in a nation, there are bound to be secrets. The Maracaians has contacted him for aid against the Szorans, but he politely declined. There was another, bigger threat looming, and he needed spare men for that.
Because of a need for men, the security for the speech was going to be very minimal.
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Nov 15, 2013 17:45:55 GMT -8
Somewhere over the planet Thoro, a Vixaian ship emerged from warp. It was a small civillian vessel, bought under a false Vixaian name, and it was immediately intercepted and scanned by a corvette-sized security vessel. Lacking of patience, the security moved on quickly after they haven't found any obviously illegal weapons and warheads aboard.
The ship's pilot was indeed slightly nervous. The jamming field that was installed to hide his Maracaian bio-signature could be penetrated by most sensors if given enough time. The Triumvirate counts on his success, and failure would lead his nation into the most devastating war in Maracaian history.
The ship slowly entered the planet's atmosphere, and various warning signs began to flash, but the pilot ignored them. The defensive shield began to glow, and soon he could see the governmental building, and a huge crowd in front of it. Apparently his target was not there yet.
Another warning sign appeared, indicating that the ship was locked on by some sort of anti air weapon. He received a message of the ground security, ordering him to land in one of the public hangars. It was not quite what he intended to do. The pilot looked for a tall building, and quickly found one nearby. He let the ship hover above its roof and jumped out.
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Post by shredderdx on Nov 16, 2013 13:17:20 GMT -8
(Szoran) Hurtling through space, Seckt had collected a large amount of rodents for consumption for his travel. Readjusting the escape pod was of no difficulty; a simpleton could have changed the destination of the vessel. He was still far from his Empire's territory, and so he waited. And shall continue to wait.
During his long wait, he thought up of many ways of how to return the favor to that Maracaian. Leaving Seckt to die on a near-inhospitable world was not the worst they have done. No, it was the mocking of his honor. That will not be left with no consequences.
(Vixaian) Tiill looked over the speech he was about to give. He had wrote it himself, such as every other speech he had given. High Presidents could go either way, writing their speeches themselves or having another to do so. Both were accepted ways, until it was to the point that the High President depended on someone else to do the writing. That would be unacceptable. However, every High President has to make their way to the podium. He had to do so in a few minutes. He looked out the window, and saw thousands of Vixaians amassed outside. Billions more would be watching this live, all around Thoro. Still, more billions would be seeing this in the days, even weeks to come.
Tiill looked to his wedding bracelet he wore everyday, and sighed. It has been many years since his beloved wife had died, before his presidency. Not a day goes by when he doesn't think of her. She was the one thing that mattered, in all of Thoro, in all of the Universe. Fate took her away, by the hands of a thug. Since then, he vowed he would bring justice. So he did. And now, Thoro has the lowest crime rate of the whole Vixaian Nation. That still didn't bring her back. Although she may be smiling wherever her soul rests, it was not where he could see it.
Standing, Magnar Tiill made his way to the podium.
*meanwhile* "Vessel of Cesser, return and dock to the designated hangar. As much as you wish to get a better view of HP Tiill, you have to dock in the hangar, and make your way up to the building by foot. We will send an armed force if you do not comply," a security officer ordered. He stared at the civilian vessel as it landed on top of a large building. He shook his head, and decided that what he said would be an empty threat. There was no need to send officers in to arrest him. Besides, they probably didn't have enough men. That war against the Tarkans demanded many men as is.
The officer looked to his colleague to his right. "Say, what do you think that guy is going to do?" he asked.
"Oh, probably just wave the flag and applaud when necessary," the second officer replied.
"I guess you're right."
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Nov 18, 2013 16:13:14 GMT -8
He checked his heavy equipment; a Szoran handgun, and a sniper rifle. Both weapons were too large to be handled properly by a Maracaian, but his training with them would have to do well enough. The Maracaian pressed a button on his electronic bracelet, activating his ship's autopilot. As it headed to the nearest hangar, he made his way into the building.
The corridors were empty, just as he expected. No voiced could be heard, so he assumed the building was completely evacuated. Now, he just had to find a good place on the eastern side of the building to get a clear shot on Magnar Till. The assasin slowly moved through the building, holding his silenced Szoran gun.
Suddenly, he froze. He heard footsteps, coming right from the nearby staircase. No matter if it was a security officer, or just an innocent little child; if they get too close, they would have to die. He could not risk to be seen by anyone.
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Post by shredderdx on Nov 18, 2013 17:04:19 GMT -8
High President Magnar Tiill stood at the podium. Looking across his audience, the people of the Vixaian Nation, he bowed.
"Sons and daughters of Thoro, we stand as a nation of science, honor, and good. We stand together against evils, no matter the odds. We stand together in the name of all that is good. This has been reflected throughout our history, and even in the present. Testimonies have been tried against us, but nothing has ever brought us down. Nothing will ever bring us down. The powers of our minds give us the strength needed to overcome any foe. The honors of our hearts give us the agility to stand fast against evils.
"Even though we are strong, and quick to stand, we must not be quick to violence. There has been rumors, and rumors of rumors...."
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Post by Dr.Freeze on Nov 22, 2013 18:16:09 GMT -8
As the footsteps came closer, the assasin quickly moved to the closest door and waited. He could see a rather young Vixaian police officer. A harmless patrol, he thought, and once the vixaian was out of sight, he was on his way again.
Corridor after corridor, he tried to find the perfect spot to neutralize his target. Vixaian architecture seemed strangely unstructured and archaic to him, but soon he found what he was looking for; a small room with only one small window directly underneath the ceiling, but located at the eastern side of the building. He activated the scope of his sniper rifle, and quickly identified the silhouette of his target behind the wall.
Now all he needed was a hole in that wall to shoot through. He assumed the windows to be monitored, so he brought a small plasma drill with him. The elements it used could most commonly be found in the engines of Szoran starships. It was just another faked clue to fool the Vixai.
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