The God-Machines: Part I

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Vjun and Aargonar had bowed to the Dominion eagle. Such was the fate of those that sought to antagonize the fledgling galactic power. Order was brought to these worlds swiftly; the warlords that had controlled them tried in a court of law, and their warriors were properly conscripted as reparations for lives lost in the conflict.

The victory was one that the red-clad youth had expected. His mind had woven a web of power that united the myriad legions of the Dominion in ways most mortals could never hope experience. Through the web, the warring worlds were subject to conquest in its purest form. Their defeat had been a total one; what few pockets of resistance remained were being mopped up by the garrison left to provide security while the government was restructured.

This was all important in the long run, but it paled in comparison to the discovery made within Bast Castle.

A task force had been dispatched to see if the rumors were true. Cedric rode at its head from within his meditation chamber within the Chimaera. The force translated into real space on the edge of the system. Yaga minor and her sister worlds turned like globes on a dais in the distance. It was here that one of the last god-machines had fought its final battle, and it was here that she yet rested.

As stated within the journal, a large nebula of roiling energy tumbled in upon itself to the far galactic east of Yaga Minor. It was here that one of these machines remained, her crew having abandoned her shortly after the fall of the Sith Empire. Others had tried to retrieve the god-machine, but none had succeeded. The few that returned from this place told tales of daemons prowling the decks of the forgotten vessel and tearing their way into the hulls of others. They said that creatures from the beyond called this nebula home.

Most took the stories with a grain of salt, but Cedric understood.

"Take us in," the youth muttered to the helmsman as he strode onto the bridge. The nebula welcomed the Chimaera like a lost friend, its embrace throwing off both the ship's stealth generator and her shields. The Archlord's brow furrowed as the sensors went dead too.

All they had for sight were human optics. That, and the great ocean's guidance.

"Let us see what these daemons have to offer us."

 

[Klesta]

One more day, one more sortie for Yula, onboard the Chimaera, flying a craft that is foreign to her: the TIE Advanced X1. It was also foreign to the other two that usually formed the close guard of Yula when in flight: Daisy and Pixie. With the original squadron leader being promoted to be in command of a starfighter group garrisoned on Aargonar, and, with it, two fighter pilots transferred from the Chimaera to Aargonar, Yula and the other two ladies were transferred to that post. They have been effective on Aargonar, but she returned to her old station in the hierarchy: that of a squadron leader. The Chimaera proper has been deployed to Yaga Minor concerning rumors of the scuttled Acerbitas that the Dominion intends to recapture. By now Yula does not feel the need to worry about orbalisks: she has come to realize that they might be an issue only in ground attack missions. This mission was strictly space-borne here: Yula was comfortably seated, or at least as comfortably as was possible when wearing the black flight suits of the Dominion for use in unpressurized craft...

"All units, initiate pre-flight checks: we're going to screen the Chimaera and, if enemies are attacking the Acerbitas, we'll engage them. The priority here is to protect both assets"

"Roger, roger"

"But with the little time we had to adjust from our old craft to this one, what practical issues are there, other than for docking and rearming?" Daisy asked.

"Not that much: docking and rearming will be your main issue"

Attack craft: 72 TIE Advanced X1s

[member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Alyson Halle]

The Chimera wa a mighty machine in and of itself, it was over a kilometer long and is a mighty war machine, its reactors supplying more power than is needed for a small world, but Alyson could care less about technical details, all she cared for was the legends of Daemons of some sort. She hoped these Daemons would give her a good fight, as the legends back home said they did.

She was accompanied by some of her finest guards, she learned the hard way not to take rookies into battle anymore, after what happened no Aargranar , so she now took only her best guards with her at any situation. Upon being informed of their arrival in the nebula Alyson made her way to the bridge to get some sort of awareness on what would happen, she knew little of ships, but she knew alot about fighting, and that was what she brought to the table in this situation.

She took the central elevator to the bridge, when upon arrival she saw the young archlord [member="Cedric Grayson"] . She stepped onto the bridge before bowing to him.

"Archlord." She said in greeting.

 

[Drox Fuga]

[member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Yula Knezevic"] [member="Alyson Halle"]

A small fleet exited hyperspace, a Spearhead Heavy Cruisers, and four Hammerhead Class Frigates carrying the symbol of the Ash Army. On the bridge of the Cruiser was Drox, agent of the Dominion Security Bureau and Lesser Lord of the Dominion. His mission was always to protect the Archlord and garentee his safety. His lack of security was unacceptable to Drox. As such he pulled his personal fleet from "Peacekeeping Patrol" to protect his lord from possible attack. His father failed to protect the previous Archlord, he will not soul the Fuga name again.

Drox walked over to the Holo-Projector and bent the knee as he sent a message to the young lord. "Please forgive the intrusion Lord Grayson, taking the Dominion Flagship and your person alone would be ill advised in this sector outside Dominion Patrols, please allow me the privilege to escort you through this dangerous territory?"

The Fuga family bent the knee in protection of the Greyson Family Lineage, making sure the blood was forever lasting and protected. A loyal and lasting honor that each Head of the Family would take very serious. It would be a tremendous honor to protect the young lord in this mission for Drox.

 

[Bhakt Wemk]

The Nikto would flex his left arm and wince slightly. The arm had mostly healed from the injury Vjun, but it still ached if he moved the wrong way. Still Bhakt was happy it wouldn't be preventing him from partaking in the mission here. He was eager to help as from what he'd heard this was going to be quite important to the Dominion as a whole. A new flag ship, and apparently one that was feared by most of the galaxy, a super dreadnought of some kind. Bhakt figured it would be a sight to behold. He'd also heard of the reports that Daemons awaited them on board the ship. Whatever was the case he hadn't received his official orders yet and was now headed toward the bridge get said orders. They'd be coming from the Archlord himself, and it would be Bhakt's first formal introduction to the young man. He chuckled as it seemed once again he'd be taking orders from someone younger than himself, though from reports on Vjun he owed boy his life. Without the battle meditation offered by Cedric there was no telling how that battle would have ended.

The turbolift came to a stop and the doors slid open to the bridge. Bhakt stepped forward and could see the red clad Archlord and another young woman eyeing the others on the bridge. The Nikto stepped forward and pressed his right fist to his chest in greeting to the Archlord.

"Archlord sir."


[member="Drox Fuga"] - [member="Alyson Halle"] - [member="Yula Knezevic"] - [member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Thor]

Thor's heart beat with anticipation to get even a glimpse of the wonder that was a super star destroyer, it was a dream in itself. He hadn't ever been on a dominion ship or really heard of this new galactic power as most of his time was spent on Raxus prime digging for lost tech. Thor climbed out of the cargo crate he hid in to get abroad The Chimaera not the first time he smuggled his way onto a ship and wouldn't be the last.

The cargo bay was empty save for the skeleton crew left to mill about. Thor stood out from the crew to an extreme degree, his patchwork armor rusted to the point of having holes, a mess of tubes and to cybernetic work he did himself, and just the heavily layered on smell of trash. To make a long sentence short he needed to be stealthy if he was going to make it to the bridge.

"Machine spirits protect me."

[member="Bhakt Wemk"] [member="Drox Fuga"] [member="Alyson Halle"] [member="Yula Knezevic"] [member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

[Lok Jorunn]

The Trident, one could say, was really one of a kind. Possibly the only privately owned star destroyed equipped with a cloaking device and a crew full of pirates, rebels, and droids who'd gone far too long without memory wipes. It was a flashy vessel with a not-so-flashy crew complement, but it made things rather interesting. While loyalty to credits and the client was paramount, it had become somewhat of a mobile shadowport of sorts. Bounty hunters had made their home here, and some merchants sold goods in cleared out barracks bays.

When Lok had made the call to answer an old friend's request for assistance in their expedition, he'd asked the crew if they'd be so kind as to follow him into the depths of hell once again.

A resounding approval was his answer. As well as a dozen rounds of shots and the hot-boxing of their "entertainment sector."

---​

"Ya ready?"

Lok nodded, blinking hard. "Yeah. Just still recovering."

Kipp looked disgruntled but offered a curt snort in response. "You sure? I'd rather not scrape your body off the side of some asteroid."

"Yes, yes. I've been hydrating like Yrdin said." The Valkyri flashed the other pilot a grin as he slid his flight helmet on. "See you on the other side, brother."

Kipp threw him a wave and took off to slide into the cockpit of his own X-Wing.

They were about to roll up into a heap of trouble. Thank god the whole crew was here. More hands were always better.

[member="Thor"], [member="Bhakt Wemk"], [member="Drox Fuga"], [member="Alyson Halle"], [member="Yula Knezevic"], [member="Cedric Grayson"]

 

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They lingered at the edge of his mind. The beasts clawed at his sense of self; threw themselves at his mental walls with the hopes of shattering them. Not a single one of these creatures managed to do anymore more than dent those walls - Cedric Grayson would hold fast.

Already, the Chimaera and her complement floated into the dark zone of the nebula. She lingered just on its edge to preserve close system burst transmissions with her escort vessels, but communication would vary as to distance once they entered the void.

"Ready to trade your horses for wings Empress?" Cedric asked of Alyson as she made herself known. He peered at her from beneath his red cowl, his lips pressing into an amused little grin. "And you, Mister Wemk, one of the promising students of our Jedi friends. You and I are the same in that regard. I'll be boarding the Acerbitas directly. I assume the two of you will accompany me?"

A burst transmission from Fuga. "Lord Fuga," Cedric's voice carried confidence. "I thought this to be a matter below a man of your station, truly, but your assistance is most welcome. I do not know what awaits us beyond the veil."

The comm switched to fleet-wide, reaching Lok and Yula both. "Keep close to our frigate complement. We do not know what awaits us, and communications will be spotty over a long distance within the nebula. We must be ready to respond immediately to any threats."

He turned to the helmsman. "Take us in."

And with that, the Chimaera roared its way into the void.

[member="Lok Jorunn"], [member="Thor"], [member="Bhakt Wemk"], [member="Drox Fuga"], [member="Alyson Halle"], [member="Yula Knezevic"]

 

[Thor]

It was a tight fit, that is the vent shaft Thor was climbing in. He knew he would never get past the crew so he did a little hacking and downloaded the ship's ventilation layout. If he was right the shaft breaking off to the right would lead to the bridge just the place he wanted to be. Thor could feel the ship moving its spirit commanding itself into the nebula, it would bring a tear this his eye if he had the time to admire. Thor could hear voices now that he was coming up to the bridge, they grew louder and louder until he came to a stop.

A vent panel stood in his way but it didn't stop him for long, Thor took out a small cutting laser and cut himself free. The panel with a light push fell down as thor climbed out on his hands and knees. A few of the bridge men gave him a look "Oh nothing to see here just a gas leak." the words unconvincing even to him. Well, now I'm here time to get to work.

[member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Lok Jorunn"] [member="Bhakt Wemk"] [member="Drox Fuga"] [member="Alyson Halle"] [member="Yula Knezevic"]

 

[Bhakt Wemk]

Bhakt gave a small chuckle at the young Archlords words.

"I don't know about promising, but I'm learning as much as I can. The Dominion is my home now...I won't fail it."

Bhakt then took in the young man. He seemed to ooze confidence with every word and action he took. The Nikto couldn't tell if it was an act, but from the conversation with the rest of the fleet, Cedric already commanded great respect among his people. Though through the force he could sense something slightly off. It wasn't the darkside, as the boy seemed shrouded brilliantly in the light despite his age. No, it seemed like he was concentrating constantly on something. Bhakt would put his curiosity aside for now and looked to the other with him. He recognized her now he realized. He'd met her a few times before and remembered the woman was like him, a warrior. She was flanked by a few guards and Bhakt mentally shrugged. Her station demanded such things.

Bhakt then paused hearing something odd among the hustle and bustle of the bridge. It sounded like a plasma cutter. He finally looked behind him and drew his ax as a clearly augmented human crawled out of the ventilation panel in the wall.

"Whoa who the hell are you pal!"

 

[Klesta]

"All squadrons, protect the fleet"

"I guess, this is our cue"

On Yutans, the three landing legs could handle landings on carriers that did not force onto ceilings. Usually these carriers had hangars that weren't ventral in nature; a topside hangar is, more often than not, more vulnerable than lateral or side hangars. But ventral hangars with ceiling racks were different: these were designed for TIE-series fighters. As all six squadrons took off, they were to be deployed as a defensive posture while the main party doing the job of capturing the Acerbitas was going to be inside the nebula, wading its way through monsters, or so the rumors would place. But now that cluster missiles were in place, they could take off and fly cover for the fleet without having to worry about capital ships, with four shots of five cluster-fired missiles apiece. She knew that fighters could aim for the weak spots of capital ships much more easily than turbolasers or hypervelocity cannons on other capital ships could. By now there were 13 squadrons in flight to protect the fleet assigned to this mission.

Attack craft: 72 TIE Advanced X1s

[member="Bhakt Wemk"] [member="Thor"] [member="Alyson Halle"] [member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Lok Jorunn"] [member="Drox Fuga"]

 

[Alyson Halle]

"I think i am archlord." She said

She had been in the galaxy abroad for a few months now and she generally knew her way around spacecraft now, it was not perfect knowledge, but she knew how they worked and operated, her people however were a different story. Most of her people still have barely ever seen a datapad much less a space ship, but she was slowly working to bring more advanced technology to her world, but it would be a long journey that would take a long time to complete. Buut she would make her planet great again, the glory that was long lost to history would finally be returned.

Then the strange man fell out of the vent with some on the spot thought up excuse that Alyson didn't believe for a micro second. She hated people like this, but he was a threat, who knows what he would try to do, he could try to kill her, or the archlord and that was unacceptable. She quickly moved to block him from the arch lord drawing her weapon to show that she meant business. She walked up to the strange man, standing in front of him before digging her blade into the floor.

"Who are you, speak now or suffer the consequences." she said to the man.

[member="Yula Knezevic"] | [member="Bhakt Wemk"] | [member="Thor"] | [member="Cedric Grayson"] | [member="Lok Jorunn"]

 

[Ras'kala'han]

Noise. Well, more than just noise, Antherion supposed as he roused himself from the depths of his meditation. The shift in the emotional tenor of the beings so near to him had tripped a simple safeguard he had set to awaken him should any potential danger arise, bringing him to consciousness as clearly as a ringing bell. He pursed his lips, rising painfully and slowly, steadying himself against a wall with his hand. He felt his legs crack several times, and was vaguely aware that the pain of it, if anything, had intensified.

His body was not recovering. It was rotting. He was not growing stronger, but rather weaker, and more and more he needed to move himself about like a twisted puppet with the Force. The carbonite had done its cruel work, sapping away what little vitality he had possessed. Cybernetics would delay the inevitable, but what good would they do when his organs and brain tissue began to wither? Would he, piece by piece, transition into machinery?

No... the answers were out there. And the Dominion, the bizarre, democratic mishmash of planets was the only faction, strangely enough, that held control over the arcane lore he needed to save himself from himself.

Meandering with slow purpose, he began to step towards that which had interrupted him... and seeing as the Chimaera had at last arrived at their destination, remain to see the truth of these 'God-Machines.'

| [member="Cedric Grayson"] | [member="Alyson Halle"] | [member="Yula Knezevic"] | [member="Thor"] | [member="Bhakt Wemk"] |

 

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There would be little for the fighters to come into conflict with for the moment. The nebula was utterly devoid of life; it was a shifting mass of bright colors and abstract ideas, but it was home to nothing. It was imperative that the fighters remain close so that they would not be lost within the chaos of the void. Cedric watched the RTD with narrowed eyes as the mass of small ships buzzed near the Chimaera's surface. A single wrong move and any one of those vessels could be the Chimaera's death with her shields offline like this.

"Anything?"

"We've got a ping at the edge of the system."

Cedric nodded to the helmsman as the vessel chugged onward. "I hope it can be a home for many more," he muttered with a smile. The youth turned to speak to the empress, only to have the arrival of some mechanical...thing disrupt the peace. A raven brow was lofted, lips pressed into a thin line. "A stowaway?"

Someone shouted. Cedric turned his attentions away from the stranger for a moment, and found himself grinning at the source of the commotion. The massive prow of the Acerbitas poked out from a cloud of orange lights. As the crowd parted, Cedric observed that she looked to be in almost perfect condition. The was more than twice as long as the Chimaera, and bristled with enough guns to level an entire star system if need by.

The Archlord's attentions turned from the stowaway for a moment. "Bring us in lieutenant. Prepare our boarding craft! Fighters, move forward and examine the ship. Make sure there isn't anything waiting in her shadow."

He turned back to the issue at hand, "And you," he nodded toward the mechanical man, "Are going to explain yourself."

[member="Antherion"], [member="Alyson Halle"], [member="Yula Knezevic"], [member="Bhakt Wemk"], [member="Thor"]

 

[Thor]

Well, it sure was an entrance already was he surround by people. Thor took his surroundings the bridge was vibrant with activity, a human woman was blocking his way further along with a nikto both pointing primitive weapons at him. "Human your flesh offend my artificial senses, but that isn't your fault you have never know true glory." Thor reached in his bag tossing a cube with movable sides at the woman.

Thor turned his attention to the nikto " I suppose you want something to here." Thor pulled a cybernetic eye out of his bag, it was an old part that he phased out of his design. "I'm not sure what you can use it for but you look due for an upgrade."

A young boy approached thor after shouting orders at the crew, this is their leader thor thought. "I was given a vision of a great beast in this region the one true god. I board your ship in my quest there is something on that ship and my god wants me to find it."

[member="Cedric Grayson"] @Antherion @Alyson Halle [member="Yula Knezevic"] [member="Bhakt Wemk"] [member="Bhakt Wemk"]

 

[Bhakt Wemk]

Bhakt could only look on as the machine man looked about the ship. He started jabbering about glory or some such and tossed something metallic at Alyson, then rummaged around in his bag again and tossed another to Bhakt. The Nikto simply let the cyber eye bounce off his armored vest. He glared at the strange being but as Thor moved closer to the viewport, Bhakt's attention was drawn to the site of the massive Acerbitas as it came into view. It was massive, bigger than any ship the pirate had ever seen.

"That is the ship we're here for? What's the plan boss, leveling a few stars for parking space."

As the Chimera moved in Cedric gave the order to prepare boarding craft. Bhakt looked to Alyson and nodded figuring that was their cue to get to work. He return to the turbolift and wait for anybody else who was coming for the boarding mission.

[member="Thor"] - [member="Cedric Grayson"] - [member="Antherion"] - [member="Alyson Halle"] - [member="Yula Knezevic"] - [member="Lok Jorunn"] - [member="Drox Fuga"] -

 

[Klesta]

On the Archlord's order, the squadrons in Yula's group are making their advance, escorting the boarding craft. In the meantime, [member="Drox Fuga"] stayed behind, covering the Dominion's escape route if they needed to retreat, but hopefully they would not need to. Luckily there was Yula, who stayed alert while [member="Bhakt Wemk"], [member="Thor"], [member="Cedric Grayson"], [member="Alyson Halle"] are onboard landing craft headed towards the Acerbitas with dozens, or even hundreds, of troops in tow - a ship that big often necessitated several regiments of marines to capture, divisions even, if the ship was fully operational. But [member="Lok Jorunn"] was an unknown quantity to her, other than he has fighters in tow and is a Jedi, like several of the people in the boarding craft. Now she would expect the typical Sith to be shooting down any with Jedi onboard, but she knows better than to do that, especially since she betrayed the then-Sith Order on Yutan. May the Force be with me and that I don't have to face orbalisks, she thought, while escorting those landing craft.

"Keep tight and protect the landing craft! Also, keep your eyes peeled: who knows what lurks in the nebula"

"That, even though the monsters everybody talks about here are most likely not to be able to survive in the vacuum of space" Daisy told the wingmen.

Attack craft: 72 TIE Advanced X1s

 

[Drox Fuga]

[member="Yula Knezevic"] [member="Cedric Grayson"] [member="Lok Jorunn"]

Drox stood at the bridge of the Cruiser as the patrol fleet fell into posistion to protect the Archlord and the ancient star destroyer. The sight of the massive starship that was cloaked by the nebulous fog. Looking at it now Drox was very interested in how they could have missed the craft in the first place. It looked larger then the nebula itself, and the transport he brought with him, the ship would only be at half crew, let along no boarding team could secure the ship 100%.

Drox radioed the Archlord and his ship, "My Lord, allow the Dominion Marines board the monstrosity, I would hate to see your ship Undefended, once we have the hanger clear, you and your soldiers can board safely."

Drox ordered his Hammerhead Corvettes to aim their cannons at the Hangers and escape pod hatches as those could be modified to launch boarding teams. Having the Archlord here alone, having his personal Marines board the ship while he was undefended was unacceptable. Drox then moved his cruiser to a boarding posistion and launched some Shuttles to land in the Hanger Bay.

 

[Ras'kala'han]

Antherion stepped out of the hallway, the frail creature stepping to the side of the Archlord. To think, the strange society that had caused such worry among the Sith, and here he was, within reach of its leader... he wondered, for a moment, what his fellows would give for such an easy chance at an assassination. He held no fear of the Dominion. Their path did not lead them on utter conquest, not in the way he believed. Their way took them inwards, to the Nether. To the Force. That was his destination as well, so he would gladly fight alongside these strange Jedi.

He paused to let the mechanical rat make his case, and to let the Archlord respond. Personally, he would support the execution of this man and whoever was responsible for letting the spaceport refuse wash up on the flagship of royalty, but the stern youth did not rule through fear.

For the best, probably, that one as powerful, with such potential as he, follows the tepid path of the Light. If the Dark rose within him, he would doubtlessly bring dominance to bear on all of us.

"I am... unsuited for a boarding party, my lord. I will remain here and scramble the probe craft, joining you when you wish to go. Better that I remain at your side to watch, to examine, to advise."

| [member="Cedric Grayson"] | [member="Alyson Halle"] | [member="Yula Knezevic"] | [member="Thor"] | [member="Bhakt Wemk"] |

 

[Lok Jorunn]

You didn't have to tell 'em twice.

The Crimson Aces and their squadron leader zipped forward towards the Acerbitas with due haste.

​It was a magnificent, massive vessel of which the likes of Lok and his band had never seen. It was well over twice the length of the Trident and its width seemed to rival even a small moon. How the frak did this thing manage to linger out here this long without someone finding it? And if someone did, why hadn't they taken it? So many questions and so few answers.

The comlink crackled with static. "Dear gods," came the voice.

"Cut the chatter," Lok retorted, "Move in. Two flights, sweep the port and starboard sides."

"Aye, cap'n."

[member="Antherion"], [member="Drox Fuga"], [member="Yula Knezevic"], [member="Bhakt Wemk"], [member="Thor"], [member="Cedric Grayson"], [member="Alyson Halle"]