Dark culmunonimbus clouds rolled across the southern skies of Cirios Prime at high speeds, swirling around each other in a counter-clockwise direction. The sky was periodically illuminated by brilliant flashes of lightning, followed by the awesome roar of thunder. This storm was characteristically violent for a relatively young world such as this, which compared to Humanity's homeworld of Earth, was in its infancy. Spacy scientists had determined that the lush, jungle world held no sentient life to speak of, which made it a prime destination for colonization.
But the war had put that on hold indefinitely.
The Confederate Grand Assembly had basically revoked all but subsistence funds from the Exploratory Corps in order to fund increased starship production and training of conscripts. The end result was that the roughly 500 strong Spacy Marine detachment on Cirios would have to survive without substantial support for months, perhaps even years.
But that would soon change...
*******
"Baker, come take a look at this!" said Lance Corporal Mike Bell, the flashlight on his helmet illuminating the dark passageway burrowed into the ground.
Sergeant Deidre Baker came up from behind Bell, her own high-powered light flooding the passageway with yellow-white light. She could see runic symbols enscribed on the walls as her optical sensors magnified the images they picked up. The passageway was narrow, but large enough to fit a medium-sized trooper through.
"This definitely isn't a natural formation," said Bell, kneeling next to the passage and directing one of his drones down through the passageway. "It's long, too," he continued after getting a transmission back from the drone.
"Hit command up, they might want to take a look at this as well," replied Baker, motioning in the direction of one of the enlistedmen in her squad.
"On it, Sarge," said Enlisted Three Dalton Keeler.
*******
Deep inside the cavernous underground formation the Spacy Marines had managed to find, an advanced AI awakened after tens of thousands of years of slumber. When compared to the advanced computer technologies of the Draconian League and Jaaq'tah Alliance, it dwarfed even the might of the awesome DEIMOS and BEHOLDER platforms. Some could even say it could challenge the might of the seemingy invincible GOLDENGATE.
"The first level of defenses has been penetrated by invaders," said the montone voice of the alien AI, emerald-green runes lighting up along the walls of the AI's chamber.
*******
The Type 17 tactical sensor drone had already traveled roughly two kilometers into the depth of the underground tunnel, sending back sensor data of a complex that could have only been constructed by an advanced alien race. The simple arcitechure alone left only one conclusion: This was a former military complex of the ancient Draconian race.
Suddenly, on the drone's screen, an elongated glowing green device emerged out of nowhere, circling around the drone. The drone obviously sent back images of this object, which startled the command staff watching back at the Marine base. Then the transmission abruptly ended with a spectacular flash of light.
*******
"Must be some kind of automated defense system -- it's completely consistent with other Draconian complexes we've found on Aquilae and on Draconis Prime," said Colonel Bobby Nash, the commander of the Cirios Exploratory Corps unit.
"Then we need to get word back to the CONSTRACOM -- they'll want to know. Finding any Draconian structure could yield technology we can incorporate in our war machine," replied Major Lysander Wright.
"Let it be done," said the Colonel. "Tell them that we have potentially located a Draconian 'X' and we request reinforcements."
*******
Colonel Xato Kiyomeru stared at the holographic images before him, rewinding them over and over again while simultaneously cross-referencing them with data from the operation to attain the Second and Fourth 'X's less than fifteen years prior. Those discoveries had yielded the development of the ZPE and Felix Converter technologies and the subsequent technologies that had followed. The First, Third, and Fifth 'X's had remained missing or potentially in the hands of the Jaaq'tah Alliance, though the Confederation's Central Intelligence Forces hadn't been able to verify or discount this in any way.
But what Colonel Kiyomeru did know was that if the Confederates could secure another X, it would give them a considerable technological advantage over the Jaaq'tah.
From what Kiyomeru knew of the situation at hand, the Exploratory Corps battallion on Cirios was moving very carefully in their escavation of the chamber simply because of the presence of automated defenses of a caliber they had yet to engage. It was probably enough to secure the structure, but Kiyomeru didn't feel comfortable letting Marines get their hands on sensitive data like this. He had to intervene.
"Goldengate, get me a list of field agents."
Less than a second after Kiyomeru finished his statement, a list of five hundred unassigned intelligence operatives. Kiyomeru scanned the list: "Sort by skill ranking and expertise."
The list was quickly narrowed down to four five-star elite operatives with the skill records for such an operation. Kiyomeru saw a name that brought a sly grin to his face. "Activate Juno."
*******
On the outskirts of the Cirios system, a 42-ship squadron of Jaaq'tah naval vessels emerged through an array of wormholes. Sensors probed the system, searching for any sign of hostile forces but found none -- it seemed that the Jaaq'tah vessels were alone in system.
"Our first priority is to eliminate the Humans on the system's chief planet. Once that is accomplished, we will find the X and retrieve it before the infidels knew what hit them," said the Jaaq'tah squadron commander. "Let's move."
*******
Commodore Tetsuya Asasaki was awoken by the incessant chirping of his VIRGIL. Blinding reaching over and hitting the acknowledge button, the feminine voice of Goldengate brought him to a full state of alertness.
"Commodore Asasaki, your battle group is to set its destination for the system Cirios immediately. You will rendevous with the star fortress Salvation to pick up a high-level officer before departing."
Asasaki sat up in his bed, swallowing hard. This was his first mission as a battle group commander.
But the war had put that on hold indefinitely.
The Confederate Grand Assembly had basically revoked all but subsistence funds from the Exploratory Corps in order to fund increased starship production and training of conscripts. The end result was that the roughly 500 strong Spacy Marine detachment on Cirios would have to survive without substantial support for months, perhaps even years.
But that would soon change...
*******
"Baker, come take a look at this!" said Lance Corporal Mike Bell, the flashlight on his helmet illuminating the dark passageway burrowed into the ground.
Sergeant Deidre Baker came up from behind Bell, her own high-powered light flooding the passageway with yellow-white light. She could see runic symbols enscribed on the walls as her optical sensors magnified the images they picked up. The passageway was narrow, but large enough to fit a medium-sized trooper through.
"This definitely isn't a natural formation," said Bell, kneeling next to the passage and directing one of his drones down through the passageway. "It's long, too," he continued after getting a transmission back from the drone.
"Hit command up, they might want to take a look at this as well," replied Baker, motioning in the direction of one of the enlistedmen in her squad.
"On it, Sarge," said Enlisted Three Dalton Keeler.
*******
Deep inside the cavernous underground formation the Spacy Marines had managed to find, an advanced AI awakened after tens of thousands of years of slumber. When compared to the advanced computer technologies of the Draconian League and Jaaq'tah Alliance, it dwarfed even the might of the awesome DEIMOS and BEHOLDER platforms. Some could even say it could challenge the might of the seemingy invincible GOLDENGATE.
"The first level of defenses has been penetrated by invaders," said the montone voice of the alien AI, emerald-green runes lighting up along the walls of the AI's chamber.
*******
The Type 17 tactical sensor drone had already traveled roughly two kilometers into the depth of the underground tunnel, sending back sensor data of a complex that could have only been constructed by an advanced alien race. The simple arcitechure alone left only one conclusion: This was a former military complex of the ancient Draconian race.
Suddenly, on the drone's screen, an elongated glowing green device emerged out of nowhere, circling around the drone. The drone obviously sent back images of this object, which startled the command staff watching back at the Marine base. Then the transmission abruptly ended with a spectacular flash of light.
*******
"Must be some kind of automated defense system -- it's completely consistent with other Draconian complexes we've found on Aquilae and on Draconis Prime," said Colonel Bobby Nash, the commander of the Cirios Exploratory Corps unit.
"Then we need to get word back to the CONSTRACOM -- they'll want to know. Finding any Draconian structure could yield technology we can incorporate in our war machine," replied Major Lysander Wright.
"Let it be done," said the Colonel. "Tell them that we have potentially located a Draconian 'X' and we request reinforcements."
*******
Colonel Xato Kiyomeru stared at the holographic images before him, rewinding them over and over again while simultaneously cross-referencing them with data from the operation to attain the Second and Fourth 'X's less than fifteen years prior. Those discoveries had yielded the development of the ZPE and Felix Converter technologies and the subsequent technologies that had followed. The First, Third, and Fifth 'X's had remained missing or potentially in the hands of the Jaaq'tah Alliance, though the Confederation's Central Intelligence Forces hadn't been able to verify or discount this in any way.
But what Colonel Kiyomeru did know was that if the Confederates could secure another X, it would give them a considerable technological advantage over the Jaaq'tah.
From what Kiyomeru knew of the situation at hand, the Exploratory Corps battallion on Cirios was moving very carefully in their escavation of the chamber simply because of the presence of automated defenses of a caliber they had yet to engage. It was probably enough to secure the structure, but Kiyomeru didn't feel comfortable letting Marines get their hands on sensitive data like this. He had to intervene.
"Goldengate, get me a list of field agents."
Less than a second after Kiyomeru finished his statement, a list of five hundred unassigned intelligence operatives. Kiyomeru scanned the list: "Sort by skill ranking and expertise."
The list was quickly narrowed down to four five-star elite operatives with the skill records for such an operation. Kiyomeru saw a name that brought a sly grin to his face. "Activate Juno."
*******
On the outskirts of the Cirios system, a 42-ship squadron of Jaaq'tah naval vessels emerged through an array of wormholes. Sensors probed the system, searching for any sign of hostile forces but found none -- it seemed that the Jaaq'tah vessels were alone in system.
"Our first priority is to eliminate the Humans on the system's chief planet. Once that is accomplished, we will find the X and retrieve it before the infidels knew what hit them," said the Jaaq'tah squadron commander. "Let's move."
*******
Commodore Tetsuya Asasaki was awoken by the incessant chirping of his VIRGIL. Blinding reaching over and hitting the acknowledge button, the feminine voice of Goldengate brought him to a full state of alertness.
"Commodore Asasaki, your battle group is to set its destination for the system Cirios immediately. You will rendevous with the star fortress Salvation to pick up a high-level officer before departing."
Asasaki sat up in his bed, swallowing hard. This was his first mission as a battle group commander.
