Prologue: After securing the Tiraxian ship, our heroes proceed on to Earth with the alien ship in tow. The rest of the journey is uneventful, and the Star Fist arrives at Earth a couple of weeks later. After numerous debriefings and much study of the enemy ship, the Empress calls a meeting of the warlords and their aides...
The Heroes find themselves in one of the palace conference rooms... as lavish as the rest of the palace, to be sure, but functional at the same time. A large table dominates the room, with the Empress seated at its head. The Enchantress is also present, as is a third warlord from the neighboring sector. Mindwave and Bruno enter and the meeting begins...
The Empress says, "Welcome, Mindwave. Please be seated." On a computer screen built into the table in front of Mindwave, a document appears. The Empress explains, "This is what we've been able to determine from your sensor data and the captured Tiraxian ship..." The report reads as follows:
The Tirax System
The Tirax system is a single-star system with eight planets.
The fourth planet is the only one that falls within the bio-zone of the
system, but we have seen evidence that the Tiraxians have inhabited other
planets as well, and even have outposts as far out as the seventh planet.
An analysis of the captured Tiraxian corvette shows that their
technology is as advanced as the Morgoths’ and only slightly behind our
own. The corvette uses fusion power coupled with ion propulsion systems.
The weapons systems on this craft are based on tachyon technology, allowing
them to cause a great deal of damage, but at the expense of high power
consumption coupled with slightly shorter range than our own particle accelerators.
The ship was crewed entirely by robots, save for ten humanoids in the central
chamber of the ship who were suspended in liquid-filled tubes. These
humanoids served the computer of the ship, providing storage and abstract
reasoning abilities, such as pattern recognition, that the computer itself
was not able to emulate. After much work, we were able to help these
humanoids think on their own.
According to what we learned from these humanoids, the entire
fourth planet of the Tirax system is controlled by a computer that has
apparently designated itself Omega-1. The computer itself is not
capable of abstract reasoning, but, with the help its deranged creator,
it came up with a way that it could use the Tiraxian’s brains to handle
these more abstract functions for it. It started out small, with
the computer depending only on the help of its creator’s mind, and then
only on a voluntary basis. But the computer began coming up with
plans to completely integrate Tiraxian minds into its network. Within
a year, the computer had devised a plan to quietly capture people off the
streets to integrate into its network. A few at a time, people began
disappearing. The computer made several careful calculations and
chose only people who were not likely to be missed... homeless people,
prisoners, etc.. These people were captured by the computer’s robotic
security forces (which by this time were considerable, and embraced by
the people as they left dangerous work to machines rather than “real people”).
Taken to secret underground facilities, these people were inserted into
life support tanks and permanently integrated into the machine. As
more and more people were integrated, the computer became more and more
formidable. It continued producing robots, secretly building an army
that would take over the planet. Its plan succeeded, and today, nearly
all Tiraxians are integrated into Omega-1’s network. Those who remain
are freedom fighters, and are ruthlessly hunted by the robotic armies of
Omega-1.
Perhaps soon we will be able to get these humanoids out of their
life support tubes, but there are several complications, not the least
of which is they’ve never used their muscles before. There are several
medical personnel who are making preparations for a zero-g extraction,
which will allow the Tiraxians to operate with minimal effort. The
process will be long, but eventually the doctors are hopeful that they
will be able to rehabilitate these beings to a point where they can at
least operate on a low-gravity planet.
Tactically, the Tirax system is significant. Our previous
estimates of Morgoth expansion have proven to be inaccurate. The
capture of the Tirax system would allow us to very quickly establish a
base of operations to head off the Morgoths and contain them. The
system has many of the facilities that we would be able to use in place
already, leaving us the task of retrofitting the existing facilities as
opposed to building new ones. We are concerned, however, that in
capturing the Tirax system, many of these facilities will be destroyed.
We are searching for a way that we might possibly disable Omega-1 and capturing
the system relatively intact. However, our information of the system
is limited, and we have no real intelligence on the system itself, with
the exception of the records that were obtained from the Tiraxian colony
ship “Voyager” and the short excursion of the Star Fist into the system.
We feel that it is of the utmost importance to investigate this system
more closely, and seize it before the Morgoths discover its existence.
A marriage of Morgoth and Tiraxian technology would be frighting indeed.
After Mindwave reads the report, the Empress continues, "As you can see, the Tirax system has great significance to us. If we are to cut off Morgoth expansion, it's imperative that we have control of this system." She looks directly at Mindwave, saying, "To this end, Warlord, The Enchantress and I have decided to give you command of a full battle group to accomplish this mission. We have a newly commissioned dreadnought due to arrive in the next couple of days, and her support ships are here already. You will take this battle group and return to the Tirax system. You have proven your resourcefulness, and we trust that you will be able to accomplish this task." Mindwave, bewildered by the news, replies, "Thank you, my Empress..." The Empress continues, "If you wish, you will be assigned a new command crew, or if you wish to keep your current command crew, they will be transfered to the new dreadnought." Mindwave replies, "I will remain with my current crew." The Empress nods, then says, "Very well, they will be transfered to the new dreadnought when it arrives. Your officers will also be promoted to reflect their new standings. Captain Tarna will have the new rank of Commodore and will be the commander of the group. Commander Brenna will be promoted to Captain. The rest of your command crew will likewise be promoted to the next rank, and the rest of your staff will be augmented to support the larger bridge of your new ship." Mindwave smiles at this as the Empress continues, "Your mission is simple. Capture the Tirax system as quickly and efficiently as possible. We prefer to just wipe out this alien computer and free the people, but be wary of the Morgoths. Under no circumstances can they acquire control of this system. Is that understood?" Mindwave nods and says, "Yes, my Empress." The Empress then nods and says, "Very well. You have a few days until the Dreadnought arrives. You may spend them as you wish." And with that, the meeting is dismissed.
Three days later: The new Dreadnought arrives, and Mindwave chooses the name "Excellion" for the new ship. After a private ceremony where Mindwave confers Tarna's and Brenna's new ranks, the newly assembled fleet is under way. The trip to Tirax is a long, uneventful one, made even longer by the anticipation of the battle to come. Soon, however, the fleet drops out of warp just outside the system.
Mindwave, on the bridge of the Excellion, says, "Report,
Commodore." Tarna answers, saying, "Long range sensors are showing
slightly increased activity around the seventh and eighth planets in the
system. Other than that, we don't have much more information than
we had previously." Mindwave nods and says, "We need to get information
on the planet itself. What about a reconnaissance run?" Tarna
thinks about that for a moment, then says, "We could send the corvettes
in to make a pass on Tirax IV to gather information." Mindwave nods
and says, "We could mount an assault as a diversion, then slip the corvettes
in for a quick pass." Tarna nods and says, "That should work.
The corvettes are the fastest sublight ships we have, and they have some
protection. Between their speed and their shielding, they should
be ok." Mindwave nods and says, "Very well. Make the preparations."
Less than an hour later, six corvettes are dispatched
to a remote part of the system as the fleet prepares for battle.
A short time later, the Excellion and her escorts press into the systems,
mounting an assault on the outposts located around Tirax VIII. As
the battle engages, a signal is sent to the Corvettes and they begin their
high-speed run on Tirax IV. Tirax IV is protected by twin battle
stations in opposite polar orbits. As the corvettes begin their run
on the planet, the sky is lit with green tachyon beams streaming from the
two battle stations. The weapons on the stations, however, were designed
to be used against larger captial ships, and the six corvettes bob and
weave through the fire. As they approach the planet, however, several
fighters are launched to intercept them. Red laser bolts spit from
the corvette's defensive turrets, and green tachyon bolts accompanied by
green-white tachyon torpedoes are returned. The corvettes have the
advantage of speed, however, and the battle is short. The corvettes
leave the fighters behind, both sides having suffered light damage.
The main fleet battle goes fairly well, though neither
side suffers heavy damage. Once the corvettes are clear, Commodore
Tarna withdraws the fleet and the data is analyzed while repairs are made
to the damaged ships. The corvettes managed to gain a great deal
of information as they passed the planet, the most significant of that
data being low power, low frequency radio transmissions... far below the
bands that the Omega-1 seems to use. The traffic appears to be broadcast
by various groups around the planet, and seems to indicate some sort of
a resistance movement.
Mindwave says, "Commodore, can we receive those
signals out here?" Tarna shakes his head a moment later, saying,
"No, unfortunately they're not powerful enough to reach this deep into
space. We'll have to get much closer to Tirax IV if we plan to receive
those signals." Mindwave thinks for a few moments, then says, "We
could slip a ship into the system... Tirax II is unoccupied, isn't it?"
Tarna nods and Mindwave continues, "We could hide behind the planet, emerge
just long enough to send a short message, then hide again." Tarna
nods and says, "That's possible. We would need to send a smaller
ship, of course... probably a frigate. It's fast enough to get in
undetected, and if it is discovered, it has enough firepower and endurance
to escape." Mindwave says, "Very well. I will join the crew
of the frigate on this mission. We need to make contact with the
leaders of the resistance."
A short time later, one of the frigates slips into
the system and hides behind Tirax II. The ship's communications array
is recalibrated to transmit on low frequency radio waves. Mindwave
says, "Open a channel." The communications officer complies and Mindwave
says, "This is Mindwave of the Imperial Legion of Stars, speaking to the
leaders of the resistance movement on Tirax IV. We wish to aid you
in your struggle." A moment later, a voice returns, saying, "Mindwave,
my name is Silas. We welcome your help. Unfortunately I must
keep this short, to avoid being detected, but we have a safe communications
window in two hours. We will contact you then. Silas out."
And with that the channel goes dead, and the waiting game begins.
TO BE CONTINUED...