Ghosts of the Past...

[Assassin Twin]

Message To: AW Cruiser Sigtryggr
From: [MiD] VHF Ace of Spades
COMM ID: Twin

Hail, Sigtryggr. This is Assassin Twin of the MiD. I am currently inbound on your position, Via Sigma's. I would request a mutual Breifing when i arrive, as we are all in danger from this new threat. Any help in this is probably apreciated, it is from this end. See you in space soon.

Twin out.

---

Maxwell.Smart - Blood Dragon, by choice and imprisonment.

[N]Ulvnotisgi - Liberty Rogue VHF pilot

[Reaver Company Inc.]

The Unrelenting was one of the most massive ships known to man. Slightly bigger then a normal Dreadnought, due to the thicker and heavier armor, the ship packed even more punch. Two Inferno Cannons were tucked away under the ship, four large battleship class missile turrets sat on the back of the ship, and 6 experimental energy projectors filled out the rest of the hard points. The Unrelenting was in a class of it's own, the Super Dreadnought.

So when the ship limped back to Freeport 9, bleeding air, water, flame and smoke into space, gaping holes revealing the guts of the once mighty ship, it's reactor leaking, and it's shields gone, a feeling of dread began to creep across all those involved.


Not all was lost though. The Unrelenting had come out of the encounter with more information about these strange aliens. Also, in a testament to it's sturdy super-structure and engineering, the Unrelenting could be repaired. A flight of Repair Ships were sent from SiN Tech HQ on Manhatten to Freeport 9, and were expected within the next few days. Until then, the ship was moored to the station, and the on-board repair teams went into action, fixing what they could and patching anything leaking.

The Captain of the Unrelenting, one Markus Bishop, had called a briefing between active SiN Tech units and the resident AW CO's.

*** * ***

"All right, Now that we're all here Ill give my report.

"As noticed before, the attack came when the ship appeared beside us, without any warning. Nothing on long range, mid range, short range, nothing on any sensors of any kind. It just appeared as if it had always been there. I don't think even the Nomad Cloaks are that good.

"As soon as it appeared, the thing struck out at us. It's tentacles seem to be wrapped in some kind of field that negates our shielding, but any other information on it will have to be analyzed by a real science team. Fortunately, we were running a combat drill at the time, so our weapons were combat ready. That's probably all that saved us. It smacked us around for a bit, and our missiles and energy projections did almost nothing. In an act of desperation, we fired out Inferno Cannons at it. For unknown reasons, the ship seemed stunned. It just stopped where it was. Unfortunately, still with one of it's tentacle things inside my ship.

"We sent a boarding party down to see if we could force our way in and capture it, but we found something strange. We -did- get access to it, but there was nothing inside. Not a single soul. It was like the ship was on auto-pilot or something. Then the party heard, what they say were strange noises, like something talking in an unknown language. And after that, the ship faded away, right out from underneath the boarding party.

"It is because of this incident that I feel we may not be dealing with an alien race at all. At least, not a living. I think that we may be fighting the remnants of an alien civilization. I think we may be fighting ghosts."

---

Reaver Recruitment | Forum Reaver Database | Neutral Net Database

[Dab]

"This is the Sigtryggr, acting captain Deiran, requesting approach to Vanir shipyards."

Commander Grenn: Acting Captain? What has happened to Captain Allineare?

Lieutenant Deiran: I think, sir, when you see our ship things will get alot clearer.

Commander Grenn pulls up a magnified view of the Liberty cruiser. The front, bridge, viewports were broken inwards, bodies still littering the bridge floor, hung up on command consoles or railings. There was a huge hole in the middle of the port side of the ship. Not anything like an energy weapon impact.

Commander Grenn: What the hell did that?!

Lieutenant Deiran: I take it you havent been reading the news reports, or anything from Command?

Commander Grenn: We were ordered into comm blackout. We'd recieved reports of hightened activity out here by the houses. The comm blackout is meant to keep this shipyard a secret, but in addition to that it also keeps us from finding out any news. Our main source of information is the ship crews that end up here. But your the first ship to arrive here in the last week. Grenn finishes typing at the keyboard. There, your cleared for repair dock 13.

Lieutenant Deiran: 13? That many damaged ships?

Commander Grenn: Sort of. We pulled all the wreckage from the conflict with with Rhienland in the Unknown systems, and the Sigma-17 system. Add to that, what we still had left over from the occupation of Rheinland. We pulled all that together and started the construction of new ships from them. We happened to get most of the debris here, at this shipyard. Took all our construction docks during the Rheinland Occupation, now we got at least half of what eas in the Unknown system, and that was a ton by itself. We had to expand our construction into the repair docks. Your lucky to be on a Liberty ship. Most people these days are stationed on captured, rebuilt, or bought Rheinland ships. The Osiris class battleships are all being used by our high command. But enough with that. Tell me about what happened to you and your ship.

Lieutenant Deiran: There have been sightings of some very weird ships throughout the Omicrons and Sigmas, we just recieved a report about some sightings in New York as well. Nowhere else as of yet. A Sin|Tech Dreadnaught got caught up in a fight with one. Its dual Inferno Cannons managed to disable it long enough to get an inspection team on board. They found out more than most have so far. Not a single life on board. But our encounter was a bit more fortunate. We were sent to go find the Chimaera, Captain Soren's ship, or recover its debris. It had found a destroyed version of these ships, and was recover the debris from it to bring it back, to here I would guess. But we lost contact with the ship in the middle of a message being recording for the Lord Captain. It had been able to retrieve a command system from the bridge of the ship, and had integrated it into it's own bridge. Shortly after it took control of the ship and summoned another to destroy it, and we don't have the slightest clue why. We arrived at Planet Cella Dor, where the ship had been but didn't find a trace of any of the ships, in space or on the planet. We spent a couple of hours in the syetem searching, but didn't find anything. We were preparing to leave when another of these ships appeared off our port side and attacked us. It slammed some kind of weapon into our side, then a tentical-like crystal arm straight into our bridge. Only the Captain and myself survived. The former just barely. We then made our way here.

Cammander Grenn: And how is this more fortunate than anyone else?

Lieutenant Deiran: Because they didn't bring back this.

He held up a red pulsing crystal-like substance. Grenn's mouth dropped a open, staring at it.

Lieutenant Deiran: When it attacked our port side this got stuck in a closing emergancy door. Damn thing ripped itself straight out anyway. We thought it would hurt it but the arm attached to the ship immediately started to, for lack of a better term, grow it back. Some kind of high-tech auto-repair system, immediate and efficiant.

Commander Grenn: Well kid, I'd say I'm looking straight at your promotion to anything you want to be. Luciaden is on this station, and knowing him it might not be a complete coincidence like we would be lead to believe. He says he is here to convert a couple in-construction ships to sensor rigs, to try and detect these ships BEFORE they appear, but that wouldn't normally require someone like him. I'd say you havent been the only one going through your thoughts this day. Bring yourself, and more importantly, that down here to the planning command room. You'll meet the Lord Captain there.

(OOC: And this shipyard will remain a secret, by order of the co-story leader =) So you can't find it. It will be playing a part later on in this story, and will require that it be a secret shipyard.)

---

[Nightfall]

Manhattan bar, New York system.


"I will have to refuse your hospitality my Don. The business we have requires urgency. We shall continue on private coded comms if you don't mind. Now, if you excuse me, I have some things to attend to while I'm here." said Nightfall and turned to leave... he paused... "Family matters, I'm sure you'll understand." Bernard threw the words over his shoulder and walked away.

He approached the barkeeper... "I had a case of Anejo be delivered here for a certain gentleman, is it here?"
"Yes sir, it has arrived." said the barkeep.
"Good, I don't see the gentleman in question arround, can you please personally see to it that he gets it?"
"I will look to make it certain myself!"
"Good man... here is something... for the trouble" the 'something' Bernard gave him were 'some' large amount of credits..

He went back to his white Sabre. Engaged the comms, issued some orders for the Ravager, the Anduril and the Tarja then he took off and set course for Zone 21...

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Chucc]

The Don looked at the man's back as he walked away. Smiling to himself. "I take it the device has been planted?" He asked the bodyguard at his right.

"Yes. And a note left so it will not interfere with his normal routines. Mr. Nightfall might have missed it actualy. They were very discreet in their work. None the less, his main radio's transceiver has been replaced with one of our proto-types, along with full encryption software. Left the manual under his seat as you requested. Channel 420 is a direct link to Nicky's personal COMM." the man ducked as he entered the fighter bay. Standing at 7' 2" he was an enormous man, with the strength of 5 men. Intense training made him hard as nails. The lifetime of support and caretaking after the murder of his parents, made him feircely loyal to the Don. The man had treated him better than his own children. Looking for perhaps the last time at his adopted father, he frowned slightly. "What if Twin can't handle this? I mena even AW has no real affect on the aliens. They are supposed to be the most powerful group in Sirius, with the possible exception of the Order. Any word from our man there?" The giant asked quietly.

"No, your brother has sent no word in many weeks. I am about to send someone to investigate. As this is your brother I will leave it to you personally. Report to me when you have news. Godspeed my son." The Godfather looked at his adopted son for a long time and then embrased him and kissed both cheeks. Reaching into his coat he pulled out a knife. It was fancily decorated and gave off a strange blue glow. it seemed to pulsate as if it was alive. Holding it out the the man he called son, he said, "Here, take this. it is an ancient relic, from the homeworld, Earth. It is supposed to have magical properties, the ability to heal, and to allow you to breathe while in hostile atmospheres. I have carried it since my father gave it to me. Maybe it will help you in your journey." He hugeged the man again and went on his way with the rest of the guard team.

Frankie Dombino was no fool. He knew his brother had to be dead. They talked everyday till a week ago. His wing was out in gamma, on its way back from harvesting Nomads, and their weaps. No word in a week? had to be dead, but he would find out for himself. He went to the launching pad, got in his Avenger and went out to find his brother.

Freelancer Alpha nine seven two, flying 'CHARGE' you are clear for take off. Have a sefe trip. Manhattan out.

"You may have gotten my brother, but now there is a Second Coming." The Giant muttered into his cockpit as he took off towards Conneticuit.

---

Looking into returning, maybe.

[Nightfall]

Nightfall broke out of the trade lane at the fourth ring after Norfolk Shipyards...
He set course for the in-system jump hole and to Buffalo...

Once docked, Nightfall did the standard procedure. Changed ships and outfit.

"Check the white Sabre for any interresting equipment and similar... the clothes too, I had some more contact than I'd like to." he said to the Outcast operative stationed on the base.

No time to waste anyway... no rest for the wicked... he undocked in another ship...

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Assassin Twin]

Hours into their search through Nightfall's ship.

Pieces lay everywhere around the docking bay Nightfall had left his ship in. What was still in one piece was not even recognizable as being a starship. Pulling a wire out of the transceiver, one of the mechanics notices that the wire is Platinum-like in substance. He knows that the wire that had been there was copper.
"Hey," He calls to his colleagues. "Wasn't this all copper wire in the transceiver?"
"It should be, " replies the old Outcast. "We always use the copper, too expensive to run the other stuff. And why waste it?" The grizzled old Outcast finishes as he leans down to look at the wire in question. "Humph, I ain't seen no wire like that before. Its like its made out of some super plastic, or something. Let me see that there." He says pushing the young mechanic to the side.
As he pulls himself under the large wire and metal bundle, the man says, "Huh, thats weird. Its like this is some alien design done to a radio. I think this think might be a little over powered. Lets hook it up, and check it out. I won't swear to it, but I think i heard something about a group making a radio that worked through air, and the vacuum in space making the air travel so quick and to anywhere, it would make for instantaneous communication anywhere in the galaxy." The old man continued as he moved the proper wires to the places they should have been. "Ok, try to turn it on."
The young Outcast turns the dial, and nothing. It doesn't even blink.
The youngster hits the box, "Nothing."
The old guy fiddles with the wires switching things around a little.
"Try now," He says.
The radio chirps to life, picking up a transmission in Kusari about landing on Shinagawa Station. Another from Rhineland, a cruiser finding contraband."Drop the cargo."...."No way, you aren't getting my load."...."Have it your way. Alpha leader to Rhineland Cruiser, seeking permission to fire"...."Permissiion Gran"......."This is Gateway Yellow.."
The young Outcast picks up the mic, "Hello, anybody able to hear me in Omicron Gamma? Over." He lets off the send button saying, "Yeah like we will get an answer from Gamma." Chuckling he sets down the mic.
"Gamma patrol Red Charlie Nine, report your position. Over." Comes clean and clear out of the radio. "Hi there, this is Carver, I'm in gamma, can you hear me? Where are you?" Follows it.
The old Outcast shoots out from under the thing with a look of disbelief. Sputtering he manages, "How could you have gotten to two people? Its like it was an open chanel in Gamma. You can't do that." Waving at the young man, "Talk boy, talk. Find out for sure you are getting heard."
[i]After confirming that they did indeed have a full open communication to ANYwhere in the systems. As if they were in that system themselves, even though they were on Buffalo Base in the Badlands of New York. They quickly shut it down and reported their findings to their boss and to Nightfall himself.

---

Maxwell.Smart - Blood Dragon, by choice and imprisonment.

[N]Ulvnotisgi - Liberty Rogue VHF pilot

[Nightfall]

Nightfall was entering Zone 21... a restricted zone inside a minefield. The Ampoliros was waiting cloaked.

"We see you Sir, uncloaking for you to dock, opening fighterbay doors, welcome aboard Sir!" said the flight officer.
"Thank you!"

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor

[Dab]

There were 11 people standing around the table. In the center of the table the chunk of crystal taken off the alien ship was being held above the table by a gravity generator. The people in attendance were; Lord Captain Luciaden, Admirals Yuri-Pedoren, and on the comm unit, Nightfall, Captains Deiran and Doran, Commander Grenn, head-scientist Xartun. Along with the Sin|Tech leader, and two of his escort wings, Delta and Alpha, and Vice Admiral Alpha.

Head Scientist Xartun: As most of you know Captain Deiran recently recovered a piece of one of these unknown ships when out looking for the remains of the Chimaera. It was then attacked by the same red-colored ship the Chimaera reported attacked by. It's weapons, or at least the ones we've been able to find so far, seem to be the large sharp crystal-like pointed "tentacles," for lack of a better term, which it slams or pokes into your ship with. Though with normal ships you would expect the pieces of the arms to be damaged after hitting a ship as strong as a cruiser, but they had no damage on them at all. They also have some kind of equipment that lets it pass right through ship shields, not hurting the shields, but parting them and making a hole wherever the ships touches. The ships appear to be entirely invincible to our weapons. 5 minutes of cruiser-grade weaponry didn't leave a scratch. Though we have found a way to at least immobilize the ship for a small time, allowing for ships to get away, or board the ship. 2 Inferno Cannons shot by the Sin|tech's dreadnought disabled a ship. It is theorized that tizonas and coladas may also do the same, but require a lot more shots. Some Sin|Tech operatives attempted to board that ship, but after only a minute the ship seemed to recover from the state the infernos put it in. The ship disappeared instantly, no signs of a cloaking device. The red ship also used the same technique. Appearing to the port side of the Sigtryggr. We have yet to find how they are doing this, but when firing at where it had been did not result in anything more than the bolts continuing onward. So they are doing more than simply being hidden from sight. That is all on the ship's techniques and weapons that we have available. Now onto Identification. We have received quite a few pictures on these things.I'll put them up now.

Large Screen turns on and cycles through pictures taken.


Smallest ship we have found. Barely bigger than a fighter. Highly agile, impacts itself upon its target, shredding right through the hull.


Medium sized ship. Slightly smaller than the Rheinland Cruiser. Attacked by the AWC Glasgow in Sigma-17.


Ship the Sin|Tech Dreadnought encountered.


An oddball. This ship is the first we have found to use ranged weapons. The weaponry is very similar to our missiles, except it does not explode upon impact. It basically sheers through the ships armor and hull and comes out the other side. After it had achieved killing of the target ship all of the missile-like weapons would fly back towards the unknown ship and poke into its side. Though it would not go through, but stay stuck in the outer hull. It would then be absorbed into the ship, we think to be used again in its next encounter. The ship with the recordings was found, pockmarked with holes, lifeless. All of the crew had died due to asphyxiation.


Destroyed Alien ship found by the Chimaera.


Ship that attacked both the Chimaera, and Sigtryggr.

Those are all the pictures that have been gathered. There have been twice as many encounters against these ships, but not all that had gotten recordings of the fights.

Luciaden: Commander Grenn, release these photos to the house governments. Advise them to avoid these ships whenever possible. Use a ship and take it to another base to do that. Keep this location a secret.

Commander Grenn: Aye Sir.

Commander Grenn walks out of the room.

Head Scientist Xartun: Now for the real prize. We have been able to gather a good deal of information from the piece of the ship we have gotten. First, it seems the ship has a auto-repair system inside of it, repairing, fixing, or replacing anything that gets broken. Such as the broken piece that we have. The Sigtryggr reported that the ship had immediately begun healing after the piece was ripped off, and that is how it did. We have no material in our records, or any of the house records, even the restricted ones, of this type that is used in these ships. Farther assuring us that it is not man made. But whatever it is, its the hardest substance we've ever found. We have tried every laser, or weapon we have with absolutely no effect except for the infernos.

Xartun grabs the piece.

It is very heavy, which we assume allows it to slam into its target much stronger than it otherwise would.

He passes it around the table. One of the Captains, Doran, almost dropping it due to its weight.

We think the different colors of the ships identifies what class they are. The command ship found by the Chimaera was an orange-green color
The Red ship seems to be its escort.
Black and purple seems to be standard attack and defense ships.
And the Blue seems to be missile carriers.

As the piece of ship was passed around it remained a lifeless chunk of crystal. But as Luciaden grabbed it, the areas around the finger tips started pulsing green. Like ripples in water.

Luciaden: Xartun, what is it doing?

Xartun's eyes widen slightly.

Xartun: I do not know sir. This hasn't happened before.

Luciaden hands the debris to the scientist, when he does so, the pulsing stops. Curiously he hands it back to Luciaden. As their hands rest on there is a rhythmic pulsing coming out from where he is touching it, yet not a thing happening from the scientist. They set it back down on the table and it returns to a lifeless-like state.

Luciaden: Alright, here is what we are going to do. Admiral Yuri, you will coordinate the search teams, Admiral Nightfall you will be doing the outer-world searching. Check all systems that we know of that are not mapped, and look for any sign of these things. You will work with Vice Admiral Alpha and his Leviathen in this task. His ship will be extremely resourceful in your task. Captains Deiran, and Doran, you will search all of the systems we have mapped here, in this galaxy for these ships. Have your ships be fitted with numerous Inferno Cannons, if you see a ship, you disable it. Then try to get it back here. Remember to shoot it with infernos every once in awhile, to keep it from coming back on-line. Do not alert the houses that your are there. I want this to be a covert operation. Sin|Tech organization, I leave you to decide your own course of operations. Xartun, We will find the reason of this.

He pushes his hand down on the chunk and begins it pulsing again.

Luciaden: You all have your assignments, if anyone has any questions, feel free to stay behind and ask them. Dismissed.



(OOC: Makes you wonder, eh?)

---

[Nightfall]

Omicron Minor system...


Nightfall listens to the briefing amazed...

"All seems pretty clear on my side, Lord Captain." replied Nightfall "I took the liberty to assign some of the Outcasts' Apparitions fitted with fighter versions of the Inferno Cannon to Vice Admiral Alpha's battlegroup. I'm preparing a certain large amount of Outcasts... they are fitted with infernos as we speak. I will see what can be done with the other factions to help in this matter. Of course, this is done in utmost secrecy. Nightfall out."

He closed the channel.

"Buffalo Base, Nightfall. Patch me through that comm device!"

"Sir, you may start at your own discretion." said the Hacker at Buffalo.

"Assassin Twin... I was told to give you the details on my findings... attachment follows... Nightfall out!"...

---

If the stars should appear one night in a thousand years, how would men believe and adore and preserve for many generations the remembrance of the city of God? - from 'Nightfall' by I. Asimov
The Outcasts consider Siniestre Nube a sacred place for several reasons. Early explorers discovered a jumphole within the depths of the cloud that leads to a strange world of ringed stars and strange craft. All ships in the burrial ground are placed facing that hole to honor the Alien Spirits. - An Outcast rumor