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Uachauguthlo System IV- U'rsthollosha Spiral
Vorta Helix of Shen Xiu III
Unchallenged upon arrival, the fleet of Ngahakzha cruisers engaged their sub-light drives. Completely unimpeded, the vessels charged past Vespae X-6 and the Class II 182's unobserved on sensors piercing through the icy hued vapours of the celestial giants upper atmosphere. Progressing forwards, the Utukku Scanners manoeuvred to the darkside of the Frozen Moon, Isaias eclipsing the world of Shen Xiu III, and this prevented their detection. Steadily approaching closer towards the planet with every passing second, the Imperial Fleet taking note of the invading flotillas degraded sensor performance, including their inferior weaponry, craft and grids.
Darkness churned beneath the black crystal volumetric surface of oracular instruments belonging to the awe-inspiring flagship. The command bridge bathed in 'black light', with an impressive design. Consoles arranged in a sphere around the sovereigns cathedra, including its own control console and displays. Various hues of midnight intermingling with shadows creating a gyrating hive of holographic maps and blue prints of the defending fleet. Programming continuously all the scrumptious information into the Atemporal-HiveMind of the Ngahakzha fleets unparalleled intelligence- telepathically informing admirals and commanders of her direct intentions and their vital information.
Elegantly in regal militia poise upon the cathedra, bio-synthetic tourniquet overlapped with the delicate weaves of spider-silk lace and translucent gossamer displaying long slender legs, sleek torso, and toned limbs with brazen explicitness. Opiate rubicund mouth pursing, offering only but a short plume of icy Thanaterosian breath (Cryomancy), the air caught in seizure like ice cracking a mirror's surface; even the sound shrill scraped harshly across the visuals. Depicting the coquettish harbinger in a seemingly phantasmoric whorl within an ensorcelled darkness' mien. An energy that drew many to its blackened fires. Her thoughts were of the calmness of the void, fluctuating and rippling around them, something else tugged at the threads of her mind.
It may have appeared tactically brilliant that the War Council had ordered the dispersion of military fleets to galactic outposts in order to protect the hival Leviathans and the U'rstholloshan way of life. A mission Xytrinah was certain they predicted would fail, and that it had been ordered merely to cause distraction from other treacherous deeds or to divide in order to weaken its heart. They would be shown the error of their ways in due course, and learn that it was a dire mistake to awaken that beast or to challenge where her loyalty resided. How easily it was to impede such an operation and scatter its remains across the cosmos whilst each vessel vanished from detection in a swirl of arcane voidic blackness.
Staking claim over this particularly alien and volatile galaxy brought new possibilities. Liberated of the task of venturing through the galaxy in search of ideal settlement, the Ngahakzha could finally progress; live the lives they had been promised so many years ago before the Ulaqugl Wars. When Empora'Noctae and Shen society had been resolved in treaty by Imperial decree but then later fell to the birth of the Naz'aakith- now identified as the U'rstholloshan race [restricted data]. Substantial in its numbers with a fleet a thousand times larger than its former size due to the fusion of numerous belligerent forces obtained during victory, subjugation and exile. Empora'Noctae haven already fallen to the ever-consuming new empire, an event that had already brought the Shen Imperials to strict concern.
Power imperative to bring all enemies to death-kneel had been achieved and any form of reckoning sought by the Shen's Commonwealth or Federation for its losses and betrayal, utterly hopeless due to its finances extracted the loss of its main corporations now drained of all resources. Even when thinking back to the myriad thousands of years before, the siege-- the closing days of victory had been sweet and assured. Having beaten the armies back into their only remaining city, even in spite of its numbers, none could do anything to prevent its inevitable defeat. So instead of facing that defeat, the cowardly senate abandoned their great city leaving it to the horrors and pillaging spawn to desecrate and befoul. Therefore no regret came from Xytrinah, having drained the entire senate and their beloved families. One by one each cruelly suffered, voracious appetite snuffing them out like the pinched flame of candlelight... bringing them to the icy embrace of darkness.
Reminiscence brought a malicious pleasure unlike anything in recent memory. Standing idly no more while others reaped the glory of her efforts-- their worth had already established the opinion of being a fruitless and indolent waste, the true purpose having faded with the failure of its previous ruler. Barely a sting to the bareness pangs of the heart, one that no longer pulsated with passion for the Chathla Way. Chuckling with ironic elucidation, Xytrinah's concentration shift and placed mind on the scrutiny of the numerous grids displaying highly cryptic sequences in a cuneiform unknown to the Noctaean scholars upon the VDU holographic interfaces. Implants and via cortical assessment holding the secrets of what they revealed, storing it so that she may study it in the privacy of her own chambers.
Battle stratagem being discussed and determined, never foolish to believe any world was utterly defenseless. Intending fully well that the Shen would detect their approach through hyperspace since the Electro jammers were not to be used in a manner for subterfuge... it was her intention and desire for the Vespae Fleet to know this crushing force was weighing down upon them like the hammer of the Gods. The bulk of battlecruisers were to arrive five minutes before the Hives and remaining combat vessels. Dividing forces in this encounter would hinder and obstruct any counter-manoeuvre that may encumber forward progression.
Employing distraction, sniper and feint tactics- along with firm intent to drop a cynosural field directly on top of the enemy fleet; claiming the system simply by producing overwhelming opposition with numbers so vast that only surrender could be plausible and sensible choice. Taking out their planetary defences and anchoring a territorial claim unit along with sovereignty blockade units would be done in conjunction by a smaller tactical fleet with drones during the battle. Cynosural powergrids already surging with the Strontium Clathrates and interstellar ice-crystals refined into a unique class of liquid ozone. They would either submit or lest they perish in the desolation of the night... trapped within the tangled webs of Death and Change gleaming in the paling light of the stars.
Withholding no plan or desire to depart this galaxy completely and return to lifeless droll of the Ayenian Spirals or the black cinders of fallen dynasties that deserved to be forgotten not remembered by treaties and celebrations at this point; ambition had taken a more rewarding endeavour. Not since these exotic pleasures rested in the palm of hand and within a few short moments, the first wave of cruisers would exit hyperspace and stake yet another claim on a world prominent of sin. Soon, the Apophis Hives, Bombers and Super Capitals (Leviathans) would arrive, bringing these untutored cretins steadfastly under the iron fist of the Ngahakzhan domination. First steps within this system had been the colonization and stated "liberated" citizenship of the Chathla and Elysium people.
Secondly, had been to completely overpower the entire system and thirdly, to instate a pawn in guise regent, acting as the voice for the entire Empora Systems all had come to pass, Shen was all that now presided of the former spiral. Now, it was simply a matter of tightening the security of the system... culling the straggling cattle, tightening the noose, so to speak. Arachnidan domed structures stretched athwart the glimmering void as far as the naked eye could see. Encircling them the countless automated Infiltrator III, EW Interceptors and Combat drones hung suspended and in their hundreds-- the silent sentinels of the 'Segmentum Daiaghsa barriers'. Sphecius and the Apophis XI-VI Interceptors moving into position flanking the destroyers as jammers and scramblers visibly came online across the combat station the grids of the Flagship and Battlecruisers stations.
No sooner did targets begin appearing on the grids (even those thought to be protected by their cloaking devices), the first offensive action of the cruiser portion of the fleet began. Reclining back into the black leather upholstery of her elaborate command chair, attention shifting as eyes gazed upwards to the massive high resolution screen that made up the far wall of the flag bridge. Telepathic communications being constantly exchanged twixt on-bridge personnel, vows of silence always held such high regard and the stars, never failed to offer such a rare lulling quiet. Carrying with her repute quite renowned that it had long surpassed mythical echelon of fleeting admiration... images of the 'Ascended Illustrious Empress' (a bold move on her behalf, but one now claimed nonetheless) portrayed an exceptional perfection that brought unabashed secular thoughts to the minds of countless men who found themselves in close quarters.
Turning towards her right, chin tilting upwards slightly, presenting her countenance towards a more definite and regal deportment. Fine-chiselled beauteous features bathed in the opalescent radiance of the multitudinous screens. A true beauty to behold and one that none within the countless Imperial Courts came close to surpassing or most over explored galaxies through the universes. Transversely, crimson apertures crept into a malignant smile before command issued a sharp series of instructions. With a bustle of activity, crew immediately springing to action, completing all appointed instructions proficiently, as if they were not human and instead perhaps mechanically altered for optimal performance: religiously loyal and dedicated to their regimen.
Tactical officers studiously comparing the calculated time of arrival between the Vespae-Shen fleet and the incoming Ngahakzhan fleet soon to make rendezvous just outside of the largest celestial satellite of the Shen homeworld. Knowing the Ngahakzha's alacrity to be capable of not only out manoeuvring but also covering vast distances in meagre seconds due to highly advanced warp and void drives... presenting yet another massive disadvantage to the awaiting fleet marking the intent of battlefield position. "Empress, we have clear visuals of the enemies Command Battlecruisers and escort 2nd Class Destroyers."
Addressing the ships communications officer directly, prompting the flagship's AI to encrypt communications and open a secure channel to each Battlecruiser in charge of the squadrons, "Advance. Let us see how well their shields hold to the iron fist we yield! Launch drones and let our eyes feast upon the might of the Ngahkzaha. At your leisure Gentlemen.... fire at will!" Calm... unnervingly unemotional- the dispassionate salaciousness of Xytrinah's voice audible. Resounding twixt an oracles revelation and the seductive lips of a woman who held vast power over many intergalactic federations and empires; not to mentioning had seen everything born from the art of war. First officer nodding in compliance, "Yes Empress" then attentively tending to the will of his superior.
All sub-warp engines of the attack flotilla emitted pure fusion in a dazzling display of energy changing formation and direction to intercept the Vespae in full force. By means of misdirection and sheer firing power tactics, they would force the dogs into a corner and see if their bark was worse than their bite. It was if the celestial gates themselves had opened, when the dark firmament lit up with different auroras of stellar flare and emerald radiance. Distance nine million kilometres from interception: thousands positioning into synchronized formation, Cruisers leading with the Harbingers, Destroyers and Frigates nestled in the heart, followed by the Hives and the Interceptors swarming to encompass.
The fleet except the main flagship and its escorting cruisers and destroyers began their momentum towards the Shen's. Moving at five percent of the speed of light, they would cover the distance in well under ten minutes. Opening fulmination bay doors on adjacent sides of each Battlecruiser, thousands of darts took their first steps in the nebulous haze. Darts formed into colossal waves above the fleet, as each opened fire to clear their path across the grids. Incalculable chrysolite illuminated globes of energy in their thousands took journey in the direction of their programmed objectives.
Aboard the Utukku Scanners and Electro's the shipboard sensors detected the cloaked mass of the adversaries yet to exit the slipstream including the mass of detected weapon fire not yet visible but imminent. Admiral A. Uthros gave the order to deploy the 'Novum Aurora' device. For most the deployment of a weapon such as the Nox VI brought with it a heavy burden however years of military service within the Chathla prevented him from displaying emotion. An emaciated, long-limbed man who's facial features were oddly angular, pale and gaunt though common of his species.
This order was relayed to the artificial intelligence charged with controlling each Infiltrator II (each combat armed drone with pulse carbines and grenade launchers) aboard the decoy carriers to lure defense craft in closer towards the inner webs of the battlefield grids. Technically programmed by a separate sequence of modules the unmanned Electro combat drones took flight from the maws of the behemoth Battlecruisers, its short-range powered hyperspace field generator accelerating away from the 'Egg Sack' appearing in the hyperspace window on set coordinates.
Initiating a countdown sequence of the Nox IV, all nodes switching to |active/online| activation by means of data streaming from the Ops frequencies of with the scanners and logistics; weapon sensors automatically pinpointing prime targets, adjusting itself while detonation sequence was initiated.
[Novum Aurora Nox IV> Core Weapon |STANDBY|> Power capacity 60% and increasing].
Cold black eyes still not shifted from the holographic screens floating before her. The fifty or so personnel which facilitated the bridge-crew fastened their harnesses (required for individual safety and stability to ensure order on the bridge during combat situations). Complete concentration positioned on the volumetric screens hovering above stations; scrolling statistics and logistic readouts all a part of the vessels vitals. Operating a spacecraft of this magnitude, maintaining its complete effectiveness and absolute function was no easy task outside of combat let alone within the thicket of Trojans.
Tactic stations opened neutral links attached to the ships mainframe. Connecting through the inviscid flow of the spiral tapestry, using mentally manipulation to intelligently programme assigned security clearance gaining parallel accessibility to all weapons. No longer any just a solitary being or just a crew member of some influential armada.... now they were a 'linked extension' a part of their "specialized" weapon; the only one of its kind. Whether their weapon of choice was the control of the diminishing systems, launchers, plasma projectors, fusion cannons, ion-beam cannons or even the fabled Novum Aurora itself, every weapon swiftly came online.
Brought to mind only by a faint reminder through the hival helix and the audible metallic resonation from twin auxiliary chambers robotics loading the railguns primary set of rounds into dual noctrinium compartments. Sapient disembodied voices whispered throughout the bridge, the Atemporal Hivemind further adhering to quantum cognitions and semantics.
[Tech III Railguns |ARMED| Activate ALL Launchers| Load Antimatter Hybrid Turrets |ONLINE| target sequences |LOCKED|> Catalyst charges |LOADED|] FIRE >>>
Turrets taking aim followed by the first volleys of lethal hybrid ammunition erupted. Primarily the firing of the turrets was relatively silent considering the power and force behind the rails. Insignificant clatter and vibration capacitor hums too faint to transmit noticeably through heavy armor. Explosions flawlessly orchestrated, sanguineous beams slicing into the flank of a stationary ship until hulls melted and ruptured into blazing conflagrations. Pieces scattering like dust among the rank and file of maelstrom and debris. Battle station visuals on the bridge flaunted the magnificence. Engines accelerating with frightening speed bringing course to counter-manoeuvre and obstruct isolated targets from rejoining the mass, sniping through the Shen one by one mercilessly.
Delphini attack ships ambushed to isolate, flat dark gunmetal shading adorned with flashing running lights to the abdomen gleamed heinously in the sporadic flashes of pulse and explosion. Casting shadows over symmetric angles and off-balance appearances, there was no mistaking their presence. Electronic Interceptors equipped with close-range weaponry, jamming and scrambling capability encumbering navigation, preventing external communication, jamming weapon sequences and target locking. Wave after wave smaller vessels engaged solitary targets, descending in squamous mass, a furious storm. Interceptors dodging and weaving, maximizing position before striking like the black rain of a thousand arrows.... piercing the still heavens to silence the angels.
Noticeably the Shens or "Celestials" as they so liked to call themselves, did not foresee such a possibility, even in their advanced technologies that in the past crippled worlds and brought Empires to shackles. Comparably, their defenses were weaker, relying too much on EM shield reflectors and other outdated sentient bio-mechanisms. Lack of coherence and interoperability in Vespae fleet meant that they could not cope with the sudden appearance of this formidable onslaught. Unable to reply on treacherous communications and offering of deals due to rigid strategic, failing to realize what was happening up against a more superior force. One that had no intention of standing down or accepting deal that would later prove just as worthless as the Shen Emperor, Th'Alyntho. Evidence of his authenticity still stained the walls scarlet of the now derelict Necri Imperial Hive.
[Novum Aurora Nox IV> Core Weapon |STANDBY|> Power capacity 80% and increasing].
"Empress, they are attempting to establish communication, shall I open the comms?" Eydis uttered with a stern promptness.
"Request denied. Terminate fire and wait further orders... " Visual lists appearing with defined clarity in the frontal lobes of Xytrinah's psyche, infused through the stored memory of the Wraiths, selecting through the hybrid artillery. In her regard their was nothing they could offer, and they had nothing she was interested in to set terms to- except their 'complete' destruction.
"Yes Empress" replied the First Communications Officer. Attentively transferring to the tactical station since duty was better placed where her talents and expertise proved useful. This obviously wasn't going to be a situation where resolution, diplomacy or exchanges of peace were to be heard let alone considered.
Eydis Zavaleta, being one of various proud and spirited souls serving in the Imperial flotilla under the present Black Phoenix Empress who sat only yards away from where she stood. A former orphaned slave child, now one of innumerable whose blood boiled for revenge on those who tormented her people, the Shen. Wearing the Imperial crimson uniform ornamented black and gold trimmings, hands covered by detachable dark leather, as the rest of her physique. A light flak jacket with a few symbolical pins attached to the shoulder region of station and achievements, ensemble complete by the iconic dog-tag flora insignia dangling just over her heart. Ironically, Eydis wore her vest openly, revealing only what one could deem as a joke of a cleavage and was more masculine than feminine. It still remained a topic on the lips of multitudes.
Instantaneously all fire terminated... an eerie silence crept over the crew, perceptions continued on full alert, nobody thought it had ended; none even dared resound in any bouts of victory. The flagship hadn't moved yet; it rarely moved to engage in the full skirmish of warfare on the front-lines until the third or final waves of assault. Connecting to the Zรขashรขcheria Atemporal Hivemind: through the inviscid flow of the spiral tapestries flowing throughout Xytrinah's system. Vocal announcement chimed across the grids, "Engage second group. Commence second wave of attack..." Dull reverberation of hybrid railguns being mechanically inserted, new hybrid rounds of antimatter and dark fusion ready for the next siege. Thuds of drone bay doors opening again notified the crew to brace themselves for more, this time in the heart of battle.
[Novum Aurora Nox IV> Core Weapon |STANDBY|> Power capacity 100% full capacity] >> [Necro Interceptors> |ONLINE| |ENGAGE|].
Quantum Computing connected to the main SI sensors, distinguishing the phase, intensity and impact point of all incoming enemy fire. Matching the plasma cannons to the exact equivalence of the enemy's fire and utilizing it in crossfire streams of returning and intercepting fire from the ship's hull where each had been strategically positioned. Aggressively mocking the Shen shield stratagem, employing the Vespae counter-attack methods against them-- except without the inadvertent flaws caused by the fatal error of their own defectively planned operation. "Engage battle", Engines flared to life, the low, reassuring thrum of battleship thrusters... enemy drones and rounds engulfed in an aura of ion-trails.
Turrets taking aim and firing in rhythmic unison, blood-red beams slicing into the side of a stationary ship until the vessels golden hull ruptured, pieces of it scattering like dust among the stars. Battleship after battleship exploded in violent bursts of light under the attack from the flagship leaving the Shen and the Vespae forces in a position they had not been in before. What could they do but press on and die? Swooping in, drones and frigate forces caused even more disorientation, ranged cruisers supporting them with laser-fire over a distance and the titanic Mothership firing blast after blast of its extreme-range weapons; cannons created specifically for this battle sending the rival forces into utter disarray.
For hours streams of glaring light lit up the system, nimble Interceptors diving into the gathering of competing crafts. Smaller vessels holding the Ngahakzha line prevented Vespae squads from coming close enough to fire upon their nemesis, leaving their fleet defenseless against the relentless tsunami of Imperial supremacy. The succeeding assemblage of Shen decreased with those that followed, leaving quarter of capable cruisers hadn't yet engaged in defense or evasion. Half of the residual armada already engaged waited for the final front, their hesitant forces in rapid decline. Pleas for mercy were not heard, just as the supplication of the Delphini people had gone ignored as they were butchered to the last child before their beloved Emperor. His gifts.
"Eye for an eye, as it is from iron to fire. " Xytrinah delivered the words both accompanied; caressed by the void and the various ‘hival’ ethereal' whispers throughout the howling tapestries with a crystalline cold clarity .
But the torture before Th'Alyntho's final retribution was to display most keenly the murderer's schist tortured across the hulls of the entire Z'ash'cherian, Ngahakzhan, Z'shoth Arm, U'rstholloshan, the war-leviathans of the stars and infamous Kassogtha Leviathan before the eyes of his people.
Formation systematized itself into a confusing pattern, one mimicking the formidable Z'shoth Arm- U'rstholloshan military pride and the 'other' something none had witnessed to what was close to an epoch- Saatthan. Fearful arrangement of nightmarish capacity, numbers so vast they blocked out the celestial luminaries, such a mass not seen since the extinguishing of that voidic black star. Procession spread-out, designed to amplify the ghastly effect of the Novum Aurora. Relay-reflect mirrors animated lifted, revealing itself to the enemy's (hiding its true purpose) as the weapon opened fire. Ionizing radiation and energetic photons morphed into necrotic rays. Blinding light, erupting light not of visible spectrums. Searing heat hotter than the surface of the sun. Deadly pulses radiating forth in perfect spherical accumulation; ever- expanding then spreading traversal to an area one quarter that of the moon.
Detonation scalded the firmament, light raced in all directions, illuminating and engulfing everything in its path. Cruisers fortunate enough to be within forty kilometres of ground zero were instantly atomized within the violent tide of white-fire expanding in a seemingly endless barrage towards the remainder of the cruisers those within four hundred miles of ground zero absorbed instantly. Hulls withered, and burst open; cell death extinguishing the visages of life from the organic biological armor. As the bombardment progressed, the now dead vessels broke apart, leaving nothing more than dead husks wrapped around crumbling framework where once a vessel had stood.
Further out, cruisers absorbing the unseen killer and the intense ultraviolet radiation suffered separate fates. As the ultraviolet radiation scorched the outer hulls, the biological armor began to char. In compartments nearest the dying out skins, internal atmosphere combusted, creating a firestorm that raced through open compartments. Those unlucky enough to have been spared the cremation absorbed hundreds of times the lethal dose radiation. In each case, DNA broke apart as cell death spread. Many of these victims would live an hour or two longer, but that life would be one of agonizing torment. Fourteen cruisers at the outer fringe of the sprawling formation remained somewhat functional.
Outer hulls were badly charred, and in irradiated beyond salvage, they were still intact. Those operating these vessels considered themselves lucky to be alive. What they did not know was that their lives would end in a handful of hours. Radiation poisoning would tear their bodies apart cell by cell, as each victim drowned in their own vomit. Across the solar system rapid contagion and emissions subjugated. Impacting shields and vessels present, each craft found their shield strength diminished by ten to twenty five percent. Sensor sensitivity was instantly diminished to a fraction of its former self. View screens automatically polarized to compensate for the intense light and ultraviolet radiation radiating in all directions.
Holographic displays over all combat visuals and consoles of Electro confirmed the victory, its crew sat in shock and admiration. Never before had they ever seen such a devastating sight-- in the black distance, it looked as if a second sun had appeared for a few short seconds however instead of bringing life, this sun had wrought nothing but death, destruction, and devastation. "We are death, the destroyer of worlds. We do not bequest salvation, glory, or joy. We bring death and destruction. We destroy starships the way others would kill insects, we devastate armadas of war and find it comforting. This is why they call us gods. They fear us, and so they should." Xytrinah whispered.
"Commence orbital bombardment."
Destructive energy weapons firing in the direction of the Shen homeworld, this firing sequence would continue until the planet was conquered. The 'Wrath of Z'ash'cheria', gleaming black in the sparkling effervescent starlight... sleek-- sliding into the vacuum reminiscent to a dart cutting through water. Sublight and warp engines emitting a solitary flare of thrust before flickering temporarily then vanishing beneath the stars. Behind the Z'ash'cheria, the hulking, desolate strongholds of the destroyers, cruisers descended upon the last fragments of the Vespae convoy, heralded by the birthed arrival of the Leviathans, Capitals and Hives through the cynosural fields.
Tenebrous arachnidan silhouettes asphyxiated everything in the obsidian maws of its gargantuan embrace. Dimensions looming over the ruinous fleet, bearing witness to the Wraths departure and another Imperial claim to victory: the seizure of Shen Xiu III along with the slaughter of the Imperial family and the deterioration of its deceiving empire.
