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Post by vaklu on Aug 9, 2015 8:03:42 GMT -6
The imperial cutter Zephyr arrived in the wake of the space battle and special envoy Vitali Demor could see the cracked husks of the alien bioships floating in orbit. They would hail the union command to request landing coordinates. The Union and the Empire had never been on the best of terms but the Emperor had clearly and emphatically made his views clear. A human nation was under attack by xenos and the Empire would offer aid. If Asteron turned them away it would be beyond his control.
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Post by killer spork on Aug 9, 2015 8:25:11 GMT -6
The destroyer Indomitable was on high alert, fearing additional bug reinforcements that could land and cause even more havoc on the planets surface. Yet this vessel was unmistakably human and even bore the marks of the Viscarri Empire. What could the bourgeoisie, a state that kept their workers as serfs, want with Asteron?
Yet these were strange times. Defeat appeared certain on Torgau. Who was Asteron to turn away an outstretched hand? After a moment of confusion, clearance was granted for a shuttle of Viscarri dignitaries to be granted access to Vorcia. The sprawling capital of Asteron was massive and resembled a fortress city. Areas that hadn't been turned into industrial factories had instead been completely flattened to create complex killing zones from Vorcia's many forts and firing points. The shuttle was joined by a flight of Asteran, J-22 fighters for protection, as the shuttle was guided towards the interior of the city. The shuttle landed atop a massive sky tower. A hasty honor guard had been prepared, though these soldiers were not in dress uniform. Instead each was in combat gear, fully loaded assault rifles and body armor in hand. This was a planet under siege. There was little time for formalities. Colonel Abdulya and a small group of officers awaited the shuttle to disgorge its passengers.
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Post by vaklu on Aug 9, 2015 9:13:03 GMT -6
Special Envoy Demor had brought his own guard and they were the first off the shuttle. A squad of the power armor clad Legionnaires of the Second Legion, the Thunder Born. Their armor painted in the electric blue of their legion the heraldic lightning bolts badge marked in silver on their shoulders. The formed two lines along the exit ramp. Then Demor disembarked along with another individual in power armor, though far more ornate than the others. A massive bear skin cape hung from his shoulders and his high crested helm was clipped to his belt.
Once the reached the the Colonel and his group Demor gave a small bow. "I am special envoy Vitali Demor, may I present Legate Jonah Benivrik of the Thunder Born. He has come with me as my military adviser. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice."
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Post by killer spork on Aug 9, 2015 13:41:50 GMT -6
'' I see. '' Colonel Abdulya said evenly with a nod of his head. '' You can understand that Chairman Galiani, if it were not for the war, the Field Marshal would be here to greet you personally. '' Well, that or one of Galiani's doubles. Abdulya was keen to keep the aging General's condition a state secret and as far as he was concerned, the Viscarri would not get within an inch of him. '' Please, come with me, General. '' Abdulya said with a wave of his hand. The Asteran soldiers looked so small in comparison to the Legionaries. But did the Viscarri have the fanatical spirit of the revolution to go hand in hand with their technology? The Colonel thought not.
The group descended in an elevator, deep below the ground. While Vorcia itself had not seen any enemy air raids yet, it was clear that Asteran officials were taking no chances now that diplomatic guests had arrived. The group arrived in a military operations room. Staff officers scrambled to and fro, a massive map of Torgau sector was on display, enemy positions were highlighted in red, while the Asteran positions were in blue. Unfortunately, there were only small islands of blue amongst a sea of red. The group entered a small conference room, a grim faced General waiting to greet them.
'' I am General Kayani, commander of the Vorcian Front. Welcome to Asteron. '' He said with a faint smile. '' I wish we could greet you under better circumstances. But, pardon my bluntness, I do have a war to run. Why have you come? ''
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Post by vaklu on Aug 9, 2015 15:24:37 GMT -6
"The Emperor has sent me to offer aid to the Union. He offer the services of the 2nd Legion. He believes that our political differences matter little compared to our shared heritage." Demor had his own views on this, but knew better than than to argue with the emperor.
"My Legion can arrive in one standard cycle. Overall Command will of course be yours, but I would request a degree of flexibility in localized tactics." The legate would follow the orders of his emperor but he wasn't keen on having his men used like cannon fodder by general's that had seen them fight before let alone understand their technology.
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Post by killer spork on Aug 11, 2015 5:39:11 GMT -6
The Union of Asteron had always been hostile to outside powers. The Viscarri Empire represented what the Union opposed. It was an autocratic regime, ruled by a King, that kept its people, it's workers in chains. But the Viscarri were something that the Ayar could never be. Humans. In the name of Humanity, they had reached out and offered a hand. Naturally, Asteron was suspicious but the Viscarri Empire was too far to make an attempt at conquest and after the almost certain demise of Torgau Hive, Asteron would need every soldier that it could get its hands on.
'' We accept. '' Kayani said simply. It was a humbling moment but the war had the potential to drag on and on. Every soldier would be needed.
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Post by vaklu on Aug 11, 2015 7:14:38 GMT -6
"The Emperor will be gratified to hear it." Demor gave a small bow and turned to leave. "Come Legate we must go and inform the Emperor."
"Negative. You will be informing him." The Legate pressed a button in the wrist of his guantlet. "Byron bring my war gear from the shuttle." Then he turned to the envoy. "My orders are to stay and act as liaison until the rest of my legion arives, along with my squad. Now that the Thunder Born have been committed to this theater all elements are to arrive with all speed. My squad and I are already here, so further conveyance is unnecessary."
Demor just nodded his head. You didn't argue with an Imperial Legate(unless you were the Emperor or had death wish). "I will go with all haste to speed up the deployment."
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Post by killer spork on Aug 30, 2015 16:33:00 GMT -6
The whistle and pop of machinegun fire was near constant as Major Lanias surveyed the Viscarri advance. Initial bug resistance seemed to be clustered in pockets throughout the Torgau sector but the Viscarri seemed to be taking no chances as they advanced through the ruins. The steady thrum of artillery, like peals of thunder echoed from behind the lines as advancing units called in artillery strikes. Standing next to the Imperial Legate, Lanias was quietly impressed by the Viscarri (if not disgusted with their subservience to an autocratic overlord). The soldiers about him were bigger, stronger, and seemed to have been bred for combat. They dwarfed their Asteran counterparts and moved with professionalism that a military officer like Lanias could appreciate.
'' I wasn't aware that humanity had reached such a high technological level. '' Lanias said, a hint of jealousy in his eyes, turning to the legate. The Asteran Army would be invincible if it had such weapons at its disposal.
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Post by vaklu on Aug 30, 2015 18:58:57 GMT -6
The Legate gave a soft chuckle. "Not bad for a bunch of "Damned Monarchists" ehh?" The servos of his powered armor whirred as he worked a kink out of his shoulder. "The legions are the pinnacle of the Empire's achievements it's true. But beneath it is still the will and skill of the men and women who serve. How old do you think I am boy?"
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Post by killer spork on Aug 30, 2015 19:20:26 GMT -6
'' Monarchists. '' Lanias said with a sigh. '' A pity that humanity cannot be united under the banner of Revolution. '' The Major was young, no doubt promoted rapidly through the ranks after the slaughter the First and Second Armies had taken. The Asteran Officer Corp had grown thin and the General Staff had turned to its younger commanders to fill its ranks. Lanias gave the Legate an appraising look. '' Fifty. '' He said, hazarding a guess. '' Though I suppose with rejuvenation treatments, you could be as old as my great grandfather. ''
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Post by vaklu on Aug 30, 2015 19:45:48 GMT -6
"I am 250 years old. the youngest Legionaire in the Thunder Born is fifty. I have had the honor to serve two Emperors. Old Polgavich has served three. As for revolution, the Viscarri have no need of one. Our people are feed and cared for. We are free to live as we like. My Father was a machinist, Guild certified and all that. And while I'll admit not every Emperor is the greatest gift to the galaxy most of them are stable." He dropped his voice conspiratorially at this point. "They say that the royal family takes steps to keep the loonier ones from making it into the succession."
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Post by killer spork on Aug 31, 2015 14:46:38 GMT -6
Nearly three hundred years old. It was a baffling number, nearly incomprehensible to Lanias. When the average life expectancy for an Asteran male was only fifty years old, the Viscarri had managed to defy death. But was such a life worth living? Immortality, it was neat in theory but in reality? The Major cast a curious gaze at the Legate.. In a reality, seeing one's loved ones wither away to nothing felt rather empty.
'' The old Council told us we were being fed and cared for. Bread and work is all you need! It was the slogan that the industrialists fed us. In reality, they were feeding us to the slaughterhouse on the battlefield over personal feuds between the Hive Cities and selling us as slaves to the Ayar. My father was an orphan, his father died in some shithole trench during the Siege of Jouran. The thought of one man controlling my destiny... '' The Major gave a shake of his head.. '' In Asteron, we rely not on the individual.. but on the strength of the workers, of the party, and most importantly, the army. Each cog in the machine is essential to a more perfect union. '' The Major knew he sounded idealistic and perhaps he was. Five years in a military academy being drummed with propaganda would do that but in his heart, he was a firm believer in the righteousness of the Asteran cause and the teachings of Leneru.
'' Yet I doubt we should be debating politics on the battlefield. '' The Major said with a grim smile. '' Regardless of your beliefs, you have my thanks for your contributions to the war effort against the Hive. ''
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Post by vaklu on Aug 31, 2015 18:46:30 GMT -6
A laugh erupted from the legate. "You may be right my boy. But I'll end it with this, while some of our emperors might have had a man shot for insolence no Viscarri has ever been sold into bondage. As for our help that's something to thank the emperor for. He was the one who shouted down the privy council to send us. He believes that humanity must stand together, and after seeing this Hive in the flesh I know him to be right."
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Post by vaklu on Sept 3, 2015 19:24:48 GMT -6
Several days later the second legion would begin embarking on the ships that would take them home. Legate Benivrik was everywhere helping to make sure all went smoothly. When the final shuttle was being prepped for departure he sought out Major Lanias. "Well my boy it seems this is farewell." He stripped off his powered gauntlet and offered the younger man his hand. "I you ever get feed up with the revolution hop a shuttle to Doma Prime and we'll see if we can get you into the legions." His grin was wide and toothy.
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Post by killer spork on Sept 4, 2015 8:20:52 GMT -6
'' Comrade Benivrik, if you ever tire of serving your Imperialist overlords, the Revolution offers a chance for redemption. '' Lanias said with a smile, taking the Legionare's hand in a firm grip (that dwarfed his own)for a shake. The last shuttles carrying the Viscarri towards the stars were beginning to take off. Soon, they would be joined by the last of the Ayar and his homeworld would at last be free...except for its internal divisions. Dark days were ahead for the Union but a soldier in the Asteran army could never lose hope. '' We will meet again one day. '' Lanias said, offering a salute to the departing soldier.
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