Official War Thread
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Re: Official War Thread
Nova Kajar, who's there ... *looks*. I see, my forces never went there because Lovely left fairly quickly. Prodigy's probably fortified on the outskirts and there are certainly 3000 Marines there. I'm about midway between Bryden and Nova Kajar.
So, responding from between Bryden and Nova Kajar ...
EDITED FOR CLARITY (no one had responded)
So, responding from between Bryden and Nova Kajar ...
Summary: My 40 M1097 Avengers, somewhere between Bryden and Nova Kajar, attempt to intercept the 30 Cruise Missiles fired off towards the Marines (if they haven't mysteriously dissapeared under the three day rule), and Prodigy's forces if you're aiming a bit outside the city. Ben tries to contact Mel'Kat to warn him of this new threat. Navy does a secret move.Out of the blue, the radar on the M1097 Avenger's picked up incoming missiles. They were too low to be aimed at the Omen. They hadn't been expecting ... anything, 'cept maybe from the Omen - and they were too low to have been fired from the Omen. Still, they were fired at Nova Kajar, and even if the civilians had been long since evacuated, there were Shirithian Marines there. Time to intercept.
As the intercept missiles fired off, Ben Gryphon looked up. Andreas had been gone for a while, Mel'Kat, and now the Omen had got some mysterious allies. Things weren't looking good.
Summary: Divine Showdown. Scott and my backstories collide horribly, and I think mine came off slightly better. They're into the final chamber. Harvey or Scott, I'll leaving room for you to make final posts and then I'll end this madness."Of course," Andreas said. "My Institute is in the Flying Duchy of Glanurchy."
"So the rumours are true!" Sorri cried. "There are flying islands again!"
"Considerably smaller than Nelaga, but yes," Andreas said. "So, with introductions out of the way, lets turn to this ..."
He looked at the door. It was possibly of Jasonian design, but he couldn't be sure.
"Do you recognise the writing?" Sorri asked.
"It looks vaugely Jasonian," Andreas said. "Though I'm fluent in the Old and Middle Tongue, Ancient Tokish and Shirithian, and have a smattering of Halluci and ancient Jasonian, I don't have enough to translate it. But look here," he said, pointing further. "This part definitely isn't Jasonian. It looks like Audente. You know, this chamber might date back to the very time that Jasonia lifted up out of Audentior and established itself!"
"Amazing!" Sorri said. "Though it doesn't help us much ... I can't read Audente."
"I can," came a soft voice. A small Hyperborean girl walked out of the nearby tunnels, where she had been hiding. It was Nele.
Andreas looked at her oddly. As a High Priest, he had a reasonable idea when Cedrist deities were around ... and sensed something of the sort in her. He walked up to her, crouched down to meet her at eye level, and said, "My name's Andreas, what's yours?"
"I'm Nele," she replied, smiling. "Are you here to stop the bad people killing everyone?"
"Always," Andreas replied.
"Then I shall help you," she said, and went towards the door.
"That would be very good," Sorri said, waiting for her to come over to the door. But she jumped, as if she'd seen something.
"How are you even here?" Andreas asked.
"She snuck into the camp while the others were evacuating," Sorri said. "We only found her down here yesterday."
"How far down do the tunnels go?" Andreas asked.
"We haven't looked much further down," Sorri replied. "Deeper, I guess. Anyway, it doesn't matter. We need to get through this door and see if we can find the antigravity engines. Imagine, these islands flying again!"
"But it is historical that the islands rise again," Andreas interjected. "Surely you know that?"
"I'd like to imagine so," Sorri said, not looking at Andreas, just at the door now. "But I wouldn't say its certain."
"You're fighting for the wrong side, then," Andreas replied.
"My goodness, I am," Sorri said. "I'd never thought about that. I just came with the Hyperboreans and didn't think about the politics.
"Playing games with the lives of mortals? You think that's not like a story? Mercenaries ignoring the battle and rampaging across undefended lands? You think that's not history?" Andreas questioned, annoyed.
"I guess you're right," Sorri said, somewhat surprised. "Though I wouldn't have said it like that."
"I have seen history and I have seen that Nelaga will rise again, and I am here to ensure it happens," Andreas declared. "No one is interfering with me, no one is stopping me."
"Err, the only thing stopping you is the door," Sorri said, confused. Andreas nodded. "Well then, shouldn't we let Nele read it?" There was a pause, Andreas looking deep in thought. Then Andreas nodded again.
"Well, glad that's settled," Sorri said. "Nele?"
"I am ready," she replied.
"Lets get into a treasure room then," Sorri said. He began to rub his hands, grinning. "Gosh, this is a lot more exciting than normal digs. Perhaps I should do treasure hunting more often ..."
Nele turned to the door, and read it. "Why, it's just a simple combination lock," she cried, and began to move a few tiles.
"The password's always 7718," Andreas suggested. "Or Aurora."
Nele moved a few more tiles, and the door began to slide open. "It is done," she said.
"Of course," Andreas said. "My Institute is in the Flying Duchy of Glanurchy."
"So the rumours are true!" Sorri cried. "There are flying islands again!"
"Considerably smaller than Nelaga, but yes," Andreas said. "So, with introductions out of the way, lets turn to this ..."
He looked at the door. It was possibly of Jasonian design, but he couldn't be sure.
"Do you recognise the writing?" Sorri asked.
"It looks vaugely Jasonian," Andreas said. "Though I'm fluent in the Old and Middle Tongue, Ancient Tokish and Shirithian, and have a smattering of Halluci and ancient Jasonian, I don't have enough to translate it. But look here," he said, pointing further. "This part definitely isn't Jasonian. It looks like Audente. You know, this chamber might date back to the very time that Jasonia lifted up out of Audentior and established itself!"
"Amazing!" Sorri said. "Though it doesn't help us much ... I can't read Audente."
"I can," came a soft voice. A small Hyperborean girl walked out of the nearby tunnels, where she had been hiding. It was Nele.
Andreas looked at her oddly. As a High Priest, he had a reasonable idea when Cedrist deities were around ... and sensed something of the sort in her. He walked up to her, crouched down to meet her at eye level, and said, "My name's Andreas, what's yours?"
"I'm Nele," she replied, smiling. "Are you here to stop the bad people killing everyone?"
"Always," Andreas replied.
"Then I shall help you," she said, and went towards the door.
"That you shall not," came a booming voice. Out of a tunnel that seemed to go even deeper than current level there was a sudden flash of light, and Andreas recognised the voice as that of Sakat.
"That she shall," came another booming voice. A tunnel, higher up, also lit up, and down walked the god Meskan.
"How are you even here?" Andreas asked, knowing full well that Sakat could only travel where water was, and the only land he could step on was the beach, halfway between land and sea.
"This island is floating," Sakat said, "and the deeper tunnels go down to the ocean. These islands are the only land upon which I may tread, save the sea itself."
"How far down do the tunnels go?" Andreas asked.
"All the way down," Sakat replied. "And you," he added, turning to Meskan, "will leave my islands alone."
"It is not within the rules of the game for you to interfere with my pieces," Meskan replied. "Leave Nele to do what she is destined to do."
"Destiny, bah, the thing of stories. It is what history says she did that matters!" Sakat replied.
"But it is historical that the islands rise again," Andreas interjected. "Surely you know that?"
"But I am the god of time!" Sakat said, half angry, half surprised. "It is I who ensure that history runs as it should."
"You're fighting for the wrong side, then," Andreas replied.
"Are you suggesting that I'm going against history?" Sakat said, his eyes narrowing.
"Playing games with the lives of mortals? You think that's not like a story? Mercenaries ignoring the battle and rampaging across undefended lands? You think that's not history?" Andreas questioned, annoyed.
Sakat said nothing. Meskan laughed. Sakat turned to him and demanded, "Have you been messing with my pieces?"
"I have done nothing to your priest," Meskan replied, laughing still.
"I have seen history and I have seen that Nelaga will rise again, and I am here to ensure it happens," Andreas declared. "No one is interfering with me, no one is stopping me."
"This stinks of Stora," Sakat said angrily. Andreas nodded.
"Who am I to play games with the lives of mortals like some common demi-god?" Sakat went on. "There will be words about this, Meskan. But now is not the time. I shall not interfere further in this work - my Priest seems to have it under control. Andreas, do what you have to do." Andreas nodded again. Sakat dissapeared.
"He thinks I am siding with story?" Meskan said, outraged. "There will be words after this." Then he calmed and turned to the little girl. "Nele?"
"I am ready," she replied.
"You have been brought to this place, at this time, to do this," Meskan told her. "Nelaga must rise again - and it will not happen without you. Be enlightened," he concluded, and then, like Sakat, disappeared.
Nele turned to the door, and read it. "Why, it's just a simple combination lock," she cried, and began to move a few tiles.
"The password's always 7718," Andreas suggested. "Or Aurora."
Nele moved a few more tiles, and the door began to slide open. "It is done," she said.
EDITED FOR CLARITY (no one had responded)
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
Re: Official War Thread
Nickleson’s Backstory, part 3 of 3
Eight years ago
The dinner with Radru was strange. Nickleson didn’t really know what to say. Radru kept trying to prompt him with events that apparently occurred in his past, but Nickleson knew nothing of it. They eventually finished their salty MagiGARPs awkwardly.
Radru sighed. “So nothing? Why did you even come here then?â€
“I don’t know,†Nickleson lied. “You seemed so serious before, and I thought maybe if we talked you would realize that I’m not who you think I am. But it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen.â€
“Whatever. You’re Nickleson of Esthar. It’s just that you, and the rest of the world, doesn’t remember. I’ll find some other way to prove it to you all. But I think you’d better go now.â€
“Yeah, okay,†Nickleson said, getting to his feet.
“Uurk,†Radru said, shaking a bit. “I can’t get up. I can’t move! Hey, help!â€
Nickleson looked down at him. “Oh. It’s about time.â€
“What? Huh?â€
“You’re under the influence of a very expensive poison. It paralyzes only the muscles in your arms and legs. The idea is that you can still talk while under its affect. Mixed in is a rather potent drug that lowers your inhibitions towards lying. Truth serum, if you will.â€
Radru‘s eyes bulged. “You poisoned me?!†Why?!â€
“Because I was sent here to kill you,†Nickleson said quietly.
“But why?†Radru pleaded.
Nickleson shook his head. “I don’t know. Because someone paid five times my normal rate without blinking an eye for me to do it. But I’ve talked with you twice now. You’re harmless. You have no job, no contacts. You’re not involved in anything. The only thing about you is this Esthar nonsense. I honestly have no idea what it‘s all about, but apparently it’s very important to someone that you stop talking about it. And that makes me curious.â€
“It’s the truth! I had lived in Esthar my whole life until a week ago. I woke up and the world had changed, but only I remember how it was.â€
“So, then what? I know of no Esthar. I’ve lived in Stormark my whole life. There’s no Esthar on any atlas or in any history. I’ve looked quite thoroughly.â€
“It’s the truth,†Radru repeated pathetically.
“I can see I’m not going to get anything useful out of you. Waste of a good poison,†Nickleson said. A dagger was sitting on the nightstand. Nickleson picked it up and eyed it. The hilt was transparent, almost rainbow-like. “This is a nice blade. Yours?â€
“Yes.†Radru was sobbing at this point.
Nickleon approached Radru.“Do not fear. It will be fast. I take no joy out of causing people pain.â€
As he prepared for the strike, for one brief moment, madness seemed to be reality. Was there a bit of truth to what Radru said? Could it be possible that this entire life he was living was a lie? It was almost entirely unthinkable, nonsense of a rambling fool. And yet…
He said, “You’re name… it’s Radru. Radru Kellas. Is that right?â€
“Yes! Yes!†Radru said, smiling between his tears. “Do you finally remember?â€
“No,†Nickleson said, and he plunged the dagger into Radru’s heart.
Radru gave a shudder as his life faded and finally went limp. Nickleson held the dagger in his heard the whole time, waiting for that final indication that all life had ended. When it finally came, he released his hand, and the dagger fell to the ground.
“Very good, very nice,†that creepy hooded man was saying. “Your fee, in full, is waiting for you up front.â€
“How do you know I did the job?†Nickleson asked.
“We scanned your emotions when you came back. You believe that you’ve killed Radru, and that’s good enough for us. Besides,†there was that invisible toothy grin again, “we don’t’ think you’re stupid enough to try to lie to us. If you have no further questions, this meeting is over.â€
Nickleson turned to leave, but stopped. “One more question. What is Esthar?â€
There was a noticeable change on emotion in the room. Nickleson immediately regretting being curious enough to ask. Assassins try to stay as detached from their jobs as much as possible. But this was just too weird to ignore. He had to know.
“Esthar is… a lie,†came the carefully-worded reply. “It represents something that doesn’t exist, that never existed, that never will exist.â€
Nickleson eyed him. The man continued. For some reason, Nickleson was going to get the whole story.
The man said, “There are many things in our history that should not have occurred. There exists a certain power to warp history, to make events happen that never would have. Esthar was one of these such events. My organization, hmm, well let’s just say that we possess the counter-ability towards such actions. Esthar was the creation of madness, and through great resources and effort, we managed to eliminate it, to send it back into the nonexistence that spawned it, and make things right again.â€
“However, we are not perfect beings, and some things happened that we did not intend. Radru, who is nobody special really, somehow escaped our reconstruction. As a remnant of the lie that was Esthar, he could have unraveled our efforts and brought back that fake place. We needed someone, you, to deal with him swiftly. And you have, and we appreciate that.â€
“So, then it’s over?†Nickleson asked.
“No,†came the reply. “There are other such illusions. It could have been over for you, but now you know a bit too much. So we will be requiring your services on a much larger level.â€
“I’m listening,†Nickleson said. A new job was always welcome.
“There is a country that will be forming out of the lies of the past. It is called Nelaga. This is a much larger-scale problem than Esthar because we do not yet know who is leading this effort. We need someone to infltrate the ranks of this country, work their ways up to the command level, and follow our orders regarding their leadership when the time comes.â€
“How long will this take?†Nickleon asked.
The man said, “Eight years.â€
“Eight years?! Err, thanks but no thanks. I don’t think I want to commit to something that big.â€
“I want to stress that this is not an optional offer. I can sense the taint of the Dreamprism, the device of lies, upon your mind. We simply cannot let you go now, knowing what you do. You only have two options at this point. You can do as we say and live in Nelaga, which will be very comfortable and easy work for the money we will provide, or we will send someone like yourself after you and perhaps hire him instead. And in eight years, when you complete your job, that‘s it. It‘s all over.â€
Nickleson glared. This was a crappy situation. But really, what else was there to do?
FIoJ Fist Omen-class Gravship, somewhere near Nova Kajar
And so Nickleson had done what the man demanded. He had gone to Nelaga and joined up with the Gold Eagle Society. For what it was worth, the man had been right about the job’s ease. There were little real responsibilities, lots of freedom on what he did and where, and more money than he could easily spend in that backwater province.
When things got serious, and this Harvey Lekuan had revealed himself as the leader of the organization, after nearly eight years of silence the man had called him again. “Get on his good side,†he had said. “Make him trust you. An opportunity will arise.â€
Nickleson had, and sure enough, here he was aboard the Omen. His orders after that were simple, “Make sure the Nelganas lose the war by any means necessary.†That had proven a trickier task, as many nations flocked to Nelaga’s banner and the Omen itself had proven quite formable. Nickleson had tried to undermine Harvey’s confidence in the Omen’s capabilities, citing many mechanical errors and uncertainties, but when that failed he had organized the hostile takeover. Harvey himself still eluded him, but all things considered, things were going well.
It was outside of Nova Kajar, the capital of this fledging country, that Nickleson received the last phone call from the man that he would in his lifetime.
“Provos island. Nang. Now.†came the voice.
“What?†Nickleson exclaimed. “I am about to bombard Nova Kajar, their capital. Nang is nothing. It‘s emptyâ€
“There are things in motion you do not understand. Nova Kajar is little more than a symbol, but Nang could destroy everything. I have no more time to explain. Nang must be destroyed!â€
The line went dead, leaving Nickleson feeling like a fool upon the bridge.
“New course,†he announced. “Nang, on Provos island. Make for Nang with all possible haste.â€
“Sir? We’re just outside Nova Kajar.†a bridge hand said.
Nickleson said irritably. “Did you not hear me? Forget Nova Kajar. Set course for Nang, immediately. Gunner stations, begin shooting at Nang at once!â€
“Nang is well out of our effective targeting range, sir,†a gunner reported.
“Never mind that! Begin firing at once. Once we close the distance, systematically destroy every building in the city!â€
Summary: Nickleson’s backstory completed, finally. The Omen changes course from Nova Kajar to Nang and is wildly (and completely inaccurately) shooting in the direction of the city.
God, this backstory made more relevant sense when other people were doing their parts too.
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Re: Official War Thread
Summary: Provos rises towards the Omen, thanks to Nele. Andreas teleports everyone out.The door slid open, squeaking loudly as it did. It had clearly seen better days. And more light.
"Channel Astral Light," Andreas muttered, and his staff sent a clear glow, illuminating the entire room. It was about the size of a normal room in a house, and occupied by control panels in one corner, and, on the opposite wall, a giant motor. Nele gasped.
"You've seen this before, haven't you?" Andreas said. She nodded.
"I dreamed it," she said simply.
"But this is extraordinary!" Sorri exclaimed, looking at the panels. "Is this really ..."
"A Jasonian Anti-gravity motor, of Micron design, and thoroughly inoperable," Andreas said. "I've certainly seen plenty before, even helped excavate some."
"Inoperable?" Sorri said, sadly. "Are you sure?" Without waiting for an answer he ran over to the control desk and started to press buttons, willing it to work. It was dead as a doornail.
"The power cells failed years ago," Andreas explained. "We're not entirely sure why, but when one of the motors was destroyed by Shirithian missiles 2700 years ago, they all spontaneously failed. It may have been the lack of Concept Box. Certainly there was no hope to repair them without it."
"Concept Box?" Sorri asked.
"You don't know the legend ... that Jasonia's antigravity came from an ancient Micron secret, hidden by one of the last microns (before he succumbed to the plauge) in a Concept Box, that whoever touched the box would have full knowledge of its workings, and none other would understand?" Andreas asked.
"Not really," Sorri confessed. "But you ..."
Another light source entered the room. Meskan had returned. "The girl has another part to play before the end of all things. So the prophecy was interpreted, and so it shall be." He disappeared before they could ask any more questions.
"What does that mean?" Sorri asked.
"Either exactly what it says, or something so cryptic its beyond our skills to figure out," Andreas said. "Nele?"
The small girl had been looking at the motors with an expression of awe the whole time, ignoring the conversation. The others had stayed outside. At her name, she looked up.
"Yes?" she said, matter of factly.
"Don't suppose you've been struck by any brilliant inspiration?" Andreas asked hopefully.
"No," she said, in an equally matter of fact voice, and went back to look at the motors.
"When the time is right," Andreas said, and turned back to the control panel. "Now, to see if I can get this working."
"But I thought you said it was inoperable?" Sorri asked, confused.
"It is," Andreas said. "But I might just be able to repair it. You see, I have this."
He drew a small cube from his cloak. It glowed slightly. "No, don't touch it," he said, at Sorri's questioning look. "It'll knock you out for three days while implanting the knowledge, and we can't have that. I've already got it, though. And I have to be careful with this thing ... if it fell into the wrong hands."
Sorri had no true idea of what Andreas was referring to, but nodded anyway.
"Now," Andreas said, looking back at the motors, "This one seems in far better repair than any of the others we investigated ... lets see." He touched the box a few times, and the glowing changed note. "Aah," he said, and reaching under the control desk, began to fiddle. "Of course!" he said, as he went to the motor and placed the tiny, live cell into a container, breathing on it first. "So simple ..." he exclaimed as he pulled a few switches. Then, suddenly, the room lit up with its own light, and a voice spoke out, "Welcome, Mr President."
"Ladies and Gentleman, I give you ... antigravity!" Andreas said proudly. It was then the room began to shake fiercely as the first of the Omen's missiles impacted the ground above.
The computer screen sprung to life and gave a shot of the overhead. "Omen closing in," the computer announced calmly.
"What do we do, what do we do ..." Sorri said. "Such priceless artifacts about to be destroyed."
"And half a dozen lives too," Andreas added, but didn't push the point. Sorri was a true Archaeologist.
"We have antigravity, but a fat lot of good its going to do if the Omen destroys the whole island," Sorri added. "What can we do?"
Andreas cast his mind out, and then drew back, sighing. "We're more than a hundred metres underground," he said. "Which means its not easy for me to throw up a shield. And I could't defend all of Provos anyway."
"I know what to do," Nele said.
"Not now dear," Sorri said, ignoring her. "What do you mean you could defend all of Provos?"
"Magic, of course," Andreas replied. "I am a Lord of Magic."
"I can help us," Nele said again.
"Not now dear," Sorri said, dismissing her. He turned back to Andreas, who was now grinning. "Lord of ... why are you grinning?"
"Sorri, I think she might have a point," Andreas said. "You remember the prophecy?" Without waiting for an answer, he crouched down to talk to Nele. "What should we do?" he asked her.
"We're an island that can fly," she said simply. "So why don't we ram the Omen?"
"Ram the ... ram the OMEN?" Sorri exclaimed. "We'd all die!"
"She has a point," Andreas said. "It's our best chance of taking this rogue Omen down. And if we don't, it'll take us down."
"No way, I won't condone it," Sorri said. "This destruction of priceless archaeological artefacts ..."
"I have more motors," Andreas said. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Nele moving.
"The loss of so many lives," Sorri added.
"There's six of us. The rest of the island is empty," Andreas replied. Nele was at the control desk now, and moving as if she knew it.
"We just ... we can't," Sorri pleaded.
"We can and we must," Andreas replied.
"Lifting engaged," the computer said. "Target acquired. Manual override disabled. Have a pleasant attack."
"What was that?" Sorri said, his eyes growing even wider.
"Me," Nele said simply.
"You dreamed how to do it, and you did it," Andreas said. "Gosh, if when you're seven you take down the Omen with ancient Jasonian tech, what are you going to do when you're seventeen?"
"She won't live that long, we're all gonna die!" Sorri screamed. At that cry, the others who had been waiting outside ran into the room. Before they could ask, Andreas began to answer. He knew he had seconds before the situation deterirorated.
"No we're not," he said, glancing at the computer and seeing the island rising rapidly towards the Omen. "I'm a mage. I can teleport you out of here. But you have to be willing. It takes a lot longer if you aren't."
"But there must be something we can do!" Sorri cried, turning to the control panel. Try as he might, he couldn't get the computer to do anything.
"Manuel Override deactivated," the computer repeated cheerfully. Andreas ignored it and turned to the first man, a Hyperborean.
"Are you willing to escape?" Andreas said.
"I am," said the man. Andreas touched him and he dissapeared, only to reappear back in the capital of Hyperborea a millisecond later. Andreas turned to the next, and repeated the sequence. Finally, only he, Nele and Sorri were left.
"Come on Sorri, we have to leave," Andreas said. He looked at the computer. There were fifteen seconds before they would hit the Omen. It would take at least that long to teleport Sorri out, if he was unwilling. "You must be willing to leave."
"I don't want to die!" Sorri repeated, starting to cry.
"Then don't," Andreas said, touched him, and then Sorri was gone.
"Are you scared?" Nele asked Andreas, as he turned to her.
"No," Andreas replied, grinning. "I do this sort of thing for a living. Are you?"
"Five seconds to impact," the computer announced.
"I am for daddy," she said.
"Then lets go to daddy," Andreas said.
"Impact in one second," the computer announced.
From outside, it looked as if the very land was rising up to fight the Omen. "That's gotta be Andreas," Nicholas said, watching from Enhasa. "That's so his style."
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
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Re: Official War Thread
Before the end
"Um.. captain! Seismic activity indicates..."
"Flying islands?" The captain said as he saw the entire island rise up into the sky.
"Ok. Enemy performing magic, units appearing and disappearing and now a flying island! Now, I have seen everything!" continued the captain.
"Have you seen Ardashir free a Babkhan slave because of the later's magical talents?" asked the executive offer quietly to the captain.
"No."
"Well, then you haven't seen everything!" came the quick reply.
With the missiles and torpedoes striking their intended targets, X-200 made a break for safer waters. It didn't want to end up in the current that was going to try and take up the space that the island left. And worse, be below the island when it comes down!
Summary:
All my ships that were near Jasonia leave the area as they dont want to get caught in the tidal currents that result as the island goes into the sky. Also as a precaution of not being under the island when it comes back falling down!
Jeremy's hospital ship sunk.
Any unit that was near Nova Kajar is now down 20% of its strength. Not sure what you guys had, so, I am just using a number.
"Um.. captain! Seismic activity indicates..."
"Flying islands?" The captain said as he saw the entire island rise up into the sky.
"Ok. Enemy performing magic, units appearing and disappearing and now a flying island! Now, I have seen everything!" continued the captain.
"Have you seen Ardashir free a Babkhan slave because of the later's magical talents?" asked the executive offer quietly to the captain.
"No."
"Well, then you haven't seen everything!" came the quick reply.
With the missiles and torpedoes striking their intended targets, X-200 made a break for safer waters. It didn't want to end up in the current that was going to try and take up the space that the island left. And worse, be below the island when it comes down!
Summary:
All my ships that were near Jasonia leave the area as they dont want to get caught in the tidal currents that result as the island goes into the sky. Also as a precaution of not being under the island when it comes back falling down!
Jeremy's hospital ship sunk.
Any unit that was near Nova Kajar is now down 20% of its strength. Not sure what you guys had, so, I am just using a number.
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Re: Official War Thread
Extreme, did you take into account my missiles trying to shoot down yours?
Andreas
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
"He showed up three or four years ago and accidentally took over the micronational world by being way more competent and enthusiastic than everyone else. Now he sort of rules us all, but it's a benevolent sort of thing, as far as we know."
~Scott Alexander
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Re: Official War Thread
Extreme, I think almost all of the units there were under the three day rule, so you couldn't target them anyway.
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Re: Official War Thread
Aye... hence the 20%. I am assuming you might have got about 30 to 40% of my missiles (probably a few less). The rest either hit the place dead on, or slightly off the target... and given the number of people, that's not a whole lot of people.
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Re: Official War Thread
Actually, now that I come to think of it, I don't think any units were still there. They haven't been posted about for like a week. And also, Andreas's things, they are designed to take down missiles. Wouldn't they get more than 30-40%? Or did you have really uber missiles?
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Re: Official War Thread
andrea's unit was not near where i fired... so, technically, i doubt he's even in range, but i am giving him some.
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Re: Official War Thread
Weren't everyone's units together? Oh well, it's not affecting me and debatably not affecting anyone, so oh well.
Re: Official War Thread
Final Post of the Nelagan War. Sorry for the delays. Hopefully satisfying.
Summary: yay!FIoJ Fist Omen-class Gravship, closing on Nang at breakneck speeds
“Missiles! Fire all the swarm pod seekers at Nang immediately!†Nickleson bellowed.
“Sir. We’re many times our operational range away from the city itself to-“
“DO IT!†Nickleson screamed. They were closing fast on the city, and were well over Provost now, but their long-range weapons just weren’t inflicting enough damage. In fact, they didn’t even really know what they were shooting at. Nickleson had no idea what the big deal was with getting there immediately but knew better than to try to defy the men pulling his strings.
“Sir, weird altitude readings here,†reported a navigation station. “I’m getting very odd echoes against the ground. It’s like we’re falling, but clearly we’re not. I don’t understand.â€
Nickleson eyed the console. Sure enough, it appeared they were losing altitude rapidly, yet he felt nothing of the normal sensations of falling.
“Must be some sort of enemy trick. They may have broken into our equipment. I want-“
“SIR! The ground!†one of the men exclaimed, pointing out the bridge windows.
Nickleson saw it just before impact; the ground itself rushing up to meet them, as if saying hi.
The original engineers of the Omen were very enthusiastic in their campaign to raise funds for the project so many millennia ago. ‘Capable of defying an entire nation! Able to withstand a direct nuclear attack!’ they had boasted. And it was probably all true. The Omen was a craft designed to replace an entire airfleet; unwieldy and outlandish, but nothing if not effective at soaking up enemy attacks.
After the Nelagan War, a major topic among military buffs would be if a fully functional and staffed Omen-class Gravship would have survived the impact with Provos. The prevailing compromise was that an Omen would be able to perform an emergency climb in time. Perhaps not to entirely have outrun the island, but to at least mitigate some of the force of the impact. Other camps said that destruction was inevitable, and a few fanboys insisted that an Omen at its prime would be severely damaged, but not critically so.
This hypothetical discussion would be the debate topic of the future. Right here and now, there is no room for discussion. Totally blindsided and already not at top condition, the Omen had Provos island slammed into its underbelly as if the fist of an angry planet personified. It wasn’t even the huge and solid thing that did the job, but the amazing, near-impossible speed at which it had risen. Antigravity machines waiting hundreds of years to restore the island to it’s “natural†position in the sky finally got their dreams.
The Omen wasn’t destroyed immediately upon impact. It simply had too much reinforced metal in too small of a place to be utterly destroyed by any realistic force known to man. What did happen was that the craft was sent spinning wildly into the atmosphere, damaged and malfunctioning subsystems fighting against each other and the world below to regain and control and failing spectacularly.
“Damage report!†Nickleson yelled from the corner in which he had been thrown amidst the screams of dying men and metal. He didn’t really expect any sort of reply. Most of the crew lie in sickening positions, having been tossed like rag dolls against the celing, floor, walls, and other sharp and hard surfaces in the bridge when Provos had slammed into them.
One diehard had staggered back into a computer station. “Fire alarms throughouts. Electrical failure almost everywhere but here at the bridge. No response at all from levels 1 through 14. And 27 and 28. And 16. And…â€
“Okay okay,†Nickleson sputtered through coughs. Damn, there was blood in his mouth. This was madness. What the hell had happened there? “Sound the evacuation alarm. Everyone make a run for the escape pods. Leave the dead and seriously wounded.â€
“No response from the evacuation alarms,†the loyal officer reported.
Nickleson coughed some more. “Sound EVERY alarm then. And get to the escape pods. Let’s go!†One of his eyes was reflexively closing with a red haze. “That means you! Let’s go!†Several alarms sounded at once. Nickleson recognized the anthrax alarm, a tornado warning, and the chimes for the call to dinner among the mayham.
“Come on, sir,†an armored guard said as he handed Nickleson a hand. Nickleson took it and forced himself to his feet. His legs didn’t feel quite right. The man half-dragged Nickleson out the bridge doors. Several other crew members were running or hobbling past them, but the guard led Nickleson in the opposite direction.
“Private escape pod, sir, for the captain,†he explained as they separated from the others. Nickleson was pretty sure he had nodded in reply. Eventually they came to a flight of stairs leading down.
“I’m not sure I can make those,†Nickleson mumbled. “Maybe we should just go back to the oth-“ and he was unceremoniously thrown down the stairs. His body tumbled against his will, and new pains erupted from places he hadn’t even felt since the impact.
“What the hell?!†he tried to yell when he had stopped, but it came out as more of a chocked cough. The guard had followed him down. He removed his helmet.
“Oh, you,†said Nickleson.
“Yes, me,†said Radru.
“I’m pretty sure I killed you.â€
“You did, actually. But you chose the wrong way to do it. Any dagger other than that one, I’d be dead. Any place other than former Esthar, I’d be dead. Heck, if you’d taken the dagger with you I’d still have been dead. But you didn’t.â€
“I see you make as much sense as you did eight years ago…†Nickleson mumbled.
Radru showed him the dagger. “This dagger. My dagger. I had slept with this dagger under my pillow the day Esthar turned into Stormark. It protected me then. You tried to kill me with it, but it protected me then too. It took me a long time to figure out why. It’s this rainbow hilt. This shiny little gem. You’ve seen this before.â€
Nickleson thought admist the pain. He had. “Harvey’s rainbow bracelet thing. He always wore it.â€
“Yes…†Radru said. “The Dreamprism bracelet. The thing that turns dreams into reality. That’s why they hired you to kill me, and why they sent you here to deal with Harvey and Nelaga. They fear it. But this is getting way out of their control. We’re stronger now. Nelaga, Shireroth, Novatainia. The Small Commonwealth. You can kill individual men, maybe even a few nations, but you can’t stop the whole world. It’s too late for them now.â€
“I don’t care,†Nickleson said truthfully.
“I know,†replied Radru with a bit of sadness. “The old Nickleson from Esthar was a good person, but you changed into someone terrible. The people you’ve killed, not to mention what you did to Ardy’s Reach. You’ve become a creature of evil.â€
“If you’re waiting for an apology of some sort, forget it.â€
“I’m not. I got what I came here for anyway,†said Radru, showing Nickleson a red gem. The Ruby Sphere. The Omen’s on-button. “I’m not here to save you, or to kill you. I’m only here to prove one thing to you.â€
“What? That you’re better than me?†Nickleon spat a bit of blood out.
“No,†Radru said, approaching. He held the dagger close to Nickleson. Briefly Nickleson thought about reading for it, but his arms reminded him that wasn’t going to happen. “I’m here to prove to you I’m telling the truth.â€
“What the hell are you-“ Nickleson began, but then he knew. That dagger. The same feeling of unease had overcame him just before he had stabbed Radru eight years ago. Now it was back, but stronger. Everything seemed to melt away, and finally he knew. He knew about Esthar, and about Radru, and the Blue Island, and the person he once was in that strange alternate place. Everything that had happened to him felt little more real than a dream.
Radru withdrew his hand, and the feeling was gone, but his memories of it remained. Nickleson was overwhelmed with hatred over the lie of a life he was leading. He sputtered, “We can’t go back, can we?â€
“No,†Radru said. “I’m looking for a way to stop it from happening again, but what happened is too late. It should be you here with me, helping me. But I have new friends now. We’ll make sure we do the job right. But there is no room in that place for you. You have done terrible things. I’m not going to kill you for them, because you’ve killed yourself. Goodbye, Nickleson.â€
The Omen gave a sickening shake as Radru got up and began to leave. Nickleson closed his eyes and lowered his head. Everything was getting so fuzzy. Barely over the din of breaking medal, he heard Radru call back, “It was almost nine years ago now. The anniversary is next week. I’ll drink a bottle of Estharan Sarsago Shuffle wine in your honor.â€
For his last moments, Nickleson wanted to do something. To get out, to try again, to make any sort of salvage out of his rotten life. In the end all he could do was lay there and wait. He did not have to wait long.
Luminescence Fire Opal–class Airship, en-route to Nang
In the chaotic few days that had followed Harvey’s arrival in Enhasa and the signing of the first ceasefires, everyone had finally agreed that the threat of the Omen was too big for any single group to shoulder. The Hyperboreans were one of the first nations to respond with force, sending in their four ready Opal airships to prepare for combat, including the legendary Luminescnce. Backed by what remained for the Maragoan air force, the small armada set an intercept course for the Omen in while the joint Novatainian / Maraguo navy closed from the south. It would have been a terrible final showdown, as everyone feared the odds were not in their favor, but in light of letting another city meet the fate of Ardy’s Reach, they were willing to do what needed to be done.
The rise of Provos island straight into the Omen made their work considerably less deadly. Though a few boisterous grunts complained bitterly about not getting to see action, the mood was overwhelmingly one of relief.
The Omen managed to limp on for a full six minutes, bobbing and weaving in the sky like a drunken cork caught in a whirlpool. For a few terrible minutes nobody was sure what would happen. Escape pods were shooting off in every direction but the possibility of the Omen regaining control had kept them on full alert for military action.
Then, almost mercifully to the dying craft, the Hypon reactor finally blew.
It was an explosion of the sort rarely witnessed; not one of fire and reds but of light and sparkles and countless small rainbows. Hypon, that mysterious quasi-organic substance, was as clear as water but shined with color of oil. The shrapnel of the destroyed craft was laced with prisms that reflected the light from the dying reactor in a million unusual angles.
The allied leaders watched the spectacle from the observation deck on the Luminescence. Harvey, Areuhat, Nicholas, Lucious, Jonas, van Kerke, Tephi, and a whole slew of other commanders, leaders, and various people of importance crowded around the windows to watch the spectacular destruction of the mighty craft. In many ways, it was very similar to a giant, amazing firework, both in appearance and as a signal that the terrible war had finally come to a close.
Finally, there was silence and stillness in the air. The FIoJ Fist Omen-class Gravship, the last superweapon from the age of Jasonia, was completely destroyed.
In a flash, Andreas and Nele appeared behind them. Nele ran over to her father, who picked her up, smiling broadly. Harvey only had to take one look at Andreas’s face to know what part he had played in recent events, and he gave his good friend a big smile.
“Helmsmen,†Tephi Ara Gal Sekion announced as he held his daughter tight. “New course; Nova Kajar. Tell them were are coming. The war is over. It is finally time to make peace permanent.â€
On the shores of ancient Solaria, two figures watched the finale distantly.
“I hope you won’t take this personally, my victory here and all,†the blue-haired god of Enlightment Meskan said, letting his feet play in the soft sands and warm waters.
“My dear fellow,†the Squid-god of time Sakat replied from in the water. “You seem to believe you have triumped here.â€
“HAH!†Meskan laughed. “Explain that statement, if you can!â€
Sakat bubbled, “These events have just occurred, but they are already in the past, and the past is mine. That fleeting moment of the present that you triumph so dearly is now empty.â€
Meskan’s good mood would not be ruined. “If you want,†he said lightly. “But the present is still mine, and the flying islands are back; Provos floating the sky is proof of that. You have no power there any longer. I am sure that the others will soon follow. The dusty past will always belong to your cold suction tentacles, but I have a great and exciting future waiting for me here in Nelaga.â€
“And it is yours, as we agreed. I will not make any petty attempt to interfere. But I am curious why you let the girl live. I had given you permission to do that, if you wished. Considering our rivalry I am surprised that you did not,†Sakat said.
Meskan gave a distant look. Finally, he said, “Tephi is an interesting man. Dangerous, maybe even to us. I had hoped the death of his wife would make him know his place, but it did not. There was no purpose in taking his daughter too. He has turned his back on me forever perhaps, but he can still do good work, and true enlightment knows that the goals matter more than in who’s name you do them under.â€
“History disagrees with you. History only remembers names and deeds, not thoughts and memory.â€
“Well then,†Meskan said, his grin widening. “Perhaps we shall have to settle this dispute in another way. But not here. These little islands have been through enough for the time being.â€
And in a flash of divine energies, they vanished, leaving the Nelaga Territories solely in the hands of the mortals that had fought and succeeded to protect it.
- Lord_Montague
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Re: Official War Thread
OOC:
What a load of bollocks.
What a load of bollocks.
In Battle; Unbeatable.
In Victory; Unbearable.
In Victory; Unbearable.
- Guido Zambelis
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Re: Official War Thread
OOC:Oh go guess why don't you? wrote:OOC:
What a load of bollocks.
I get the distinct impression that someone's not enjoying the way this war ended.
Re: Official War Thread
There's a very small line of text in there, too small to be picked up easily, but I enlarged it all for you.Lord_Montague wrote:OOC:
What a load of bollocks.
OOC: no missiles were fired and characters that did more than press buttons that fire missiles and move to secret locations? What a load of bollocks.