As the natural cycle of a day came to an end for Kalrafex's forces had finished setting up camp in all landing zones. The ships formed an impregnable outer wall, bristling with weapons, and the area inside the walls had seen barracks, mess halls, and all the essential buildings spring up in just a few hours.
Seeing the progress that had been made, Kalrafex was pleased, and retired to quarters.
"Ready the cannons! Get some TICKS prepared!" Tun-Dar roared, his crew scrambling to obey. "We'll show the Ladredas who's planet this is!"
"I thought you said it was the Humans?" someone said in a sultry voice.
From the crowd of scrambeling Ramgrogs came the cool, collected form of She-Nan, Second in Command of the fleet.
"Yes, well, they have no use for it!" Tun-Dar replied, but his voice sounded unsure of himself.
"Besides living on it?" she inquired.
Tun-Dar merely glared at her, though he avoided her gaze.
"We need that planet, and they are certainly not using it right!"
"You sound just like the Ladredas."
Before he say anything else, She-Nan had disapeared back into the crowd.
"Rrrr...Weapon's Master!" Tun-Dar yelled into his microphone.
"Yes, High Chief?"
"Are we ready for battle?"
"Yes, High Chief. Should be begin an attack, High Chief?"
Tun-Dar glanced back into the crowd, rage still gripping his mind. He took a deep breath, and sighed.
"No, just keep them at the ready. And signal for some more ships to come."
Tun-Dar turned to look out to space.
"The first move is your's, Ladredas."
"The Rams have readied their fleet Shipmaster," a scout reported on the screen in front of Kevlan.
Kevlan thought to himself for a moment, and rubbing his forehead came to a conclusion. "Move the Masias forward in preparation. Send the Pladers behind them and get me a firing solution for the torpedos I want them right and ready for launch. Send 10 000 of the Las'mases to the planet to prepare initial invastion; we may have time to enslave some of the population before it is eradicated."
Kevlan hesitated before giving the final order; that wasn't good, he as a leader could not afford to be hesitant, as it would affect the moral of his troops if they knew he was not sure of himself. Pushing all doubt aside he finally would break the stalemate.
"Prepare to fire initial attack in T-minus ten minutes"
While the two parties in the void above Earth began preparations for killing each other, on the planet below, the Volictors began their campaigns.
Everywhere they are met in battle, pits score the earth from the void cannon fire, and screams of agony are heard as claws rip through kevlar and flesh.
At the end of the day, all camps have increased their radius by 50 miles.
The Hivemind saw, and the Hivemind computed. Then, the Hivemind acted
There was no command given, but suddenly, several ships let forth a horde of semi-sentient pods, whose only purpose was... descent
Pods rained down all around the globe, and perfectly coordinated troops spilled out, immediately engaging the Volictors in furious combat. Surprised, and under unexpected attack form all angles, the Volictors were pushed back, to their camps in disarray. Then, a further drop pod flew down, but this one did not die upon landing, like the others.
Instead, it focussed the power of the Hivemind, allowing it to communicate to non-psychic beings, and the voice of the Hivemind spoke directly to Kalrafex
For what reason do you war against the humans? They have done you no wrong, and they can by no means pose a threat to you. Your actions are illogical and wasteful. Justify them or cease immediately!
Upon hearing the Hivemind's words in its head, Kalrafex's first reaction was amazement, then annoyance at the apparent psychic powers on display by the fully organic foe.
"My justification? Look at those huddled masses! They have had many cycles to prove themselves worthy of life! Yet still they focus on killing one another! They've only been to their own moon once, for Ul'n's sake! Also our race decided upon this course of action. We shall not be swayed."
After speaking this piece, Kalrafex gave orders to the gunners manning the decks of all Inflectors.
"Fire around the camps. Disperse the enemy. We must regain the ground that has been lost. Surely our comrades on the ground will accept this. And if any more pods are launched from that cluster of ships, I want them targeted and shot down as soon as they enter the atmosphere. Launch another fifty squadrons of fighters and put them on standby."
It sits back in the command center, waiting for the enemy's next move.
It should be noted that all of the Collective are telekinetic, and that they use this force instead of electricity and conventional weapons, though the effects hardly differ
And what of you? responded the Hivemind, What is your race worth? You yourselves have only recently reached space-faring technology, and your first action is to make war on a weaker planet. However, it continued, as the Volictors' guns were prepared, your second act was worse. Making war on a stronger race only proves stupidity
By the time the the Inflectors fired fired their space to ground barrage, the Hivemind had seen, computed and commanded at the speed of thought, and the Collective troops had shrunk, become dense and armoured, and dug themselves deep burrows, in which to outlast the storm
In orbit, as the Inflectors turned their weapons downward and fired, another command went out. With out a battle-cry, and without a single leading ship, the fleet leapt forward, psycho-kinetic weapons flaring to tear into the Volictor fleet. Many fleet's spewed forth thousands upon thousands of tiny beasts, little more than dual psychic brains, one for attack and one for guidance, to engage the enemy fighters, while others vomited forth uncounted hordes of tiny spores, to drift into the enemy and burn with acid secretions, or to fall to the planet and create further footholds for the Collective
ALERT!,Ladredas forces are engaging the Ramgrogs. Volictor forces are deploying on Earth's surface. The Collective are engaging Volictor forces.
"Do you see what's happening now?. They have begun their bickering for splitting up the planet" a councilmen sighed. "Do we just sit by and watch idly?. These fools and their hostile actions, there is no way the Earthlings are going to listen to our diplomacy now. They will never trust the word of spoken by us. We have but one choice. They are but organics, we are droids. We are Novavores above all else. We must go to war. Earth will be our home." he pressed.
Sylvan nodded his head. "It would be wise if we did have some eyes and ears on the ground, but I think we should still wait and see how this plays out before deploying in force" he nodded to the council members before informing them that the meeting was adjourned.
"Commander Ralfix" he spoke as he walked back to the battle bridge. "Yes, Admiral?" came the reply. "Have our Warhawks go into active production. Alert the fleet that we are on standby alert from now on and get our shields and weapons online" he commanded.
"Oh one other thing!" he said turning around. "Have the Warhawks launch a couple of laser and missile drones to Earth. Have them conduct a terrain sweep but do not order them to engage anyone unless fired upon. I think it's about time we see what's happening down there" he said as he entered the massive command area.
Sylvan sat in his chair and viewed the events unfolding before him through the hologram projector. "Navigator Siran!" Sylvan called out. "Have the fleet break orbit with the moon. Take us closer to Earth"
"Commander Ralfix, have our drones form a forward protection wing as we move out. Have the rest provide a flank on either side. Let's be prepared for anything!"
Damn! This is getting worse by the second!
Directing his attention to the Collective first, the troops on the ground were ordered to place an impenetrable layer of Ocratox weave along the ground as they progressed, keeping the Collective from emerging behind their lines as the fight continued.
Speaking to the Colletive, Kalravfex launched into a tirade.
"How dare you accuse us of being new to the void! While you may have been around long before us(legends on their homeplanet speak of a giant telepathic...thing passing over them long before), we have been in and amongst the stars for a good millenia! And if you desire combat, so be it!"
The fighters still left in hangers were launched immediately, and only two Inflector ships were left behind to continue support for the ground troops.
Fifty Inflectors were also left behind to guard the hospice ships in the void between the Ramgrogs and Ladredas, to provide something to consider before annihilating one another.
During the initial attack by the Collective, Three Inflectors are hit by charging ships, two of the enemy's ships lodging into place and being dragged down into the atmosphere before exploding. The last two are put both put out of the fight.
The acidic spores overload shields, and many of them hit the side of one of the Inflectors, corroding it quickly.
Kalrafex directs the ship to fly into the center of the attackers as quicky as possible.
Despite its high level of damage, it makes it most of the way before its engines are crippled, 2/3 of the way into the cluster.
With a prayer to Ul'n, Kalrafex orders the reactor of the doomed ship targeted. When the Fleet fires upon the ship, it explodes in a blaze of glory, nearly 400Km in diameter, engulfing many of the Collective's ships.
Catching the small group of ships that recently appeared, Kalrafex decides they are not as important as the present threats of the moment.
I hope that was all fair enough...tried not to godmode or auto or something like that...
The Hivemind reacted, pulsing huge amounts of power into the shielding forces, absorbing and redirecting the energy of the titanic explosion. However, as a leaving gesture, it sledgehammered into the mind of Kalrafex a bolt of sheer hatred and disgust for the meaningless savagery of all such base races as the Volictors
Shields flaring, the Collective forces dispersed. Among many forces, the breaking of the line would have been a foolish move, but with the complete coordination borne of a single shared mind, the fleet instead stuck from innumerable directions. The Hivemind sent five ships to attack the remaining bombard-ships, but spared the hospital ships.
Planet-side, the Collective forces reacted quickly to the laying of Ocratox, emerging from the ground where possible, and burrowing to better exit points where not. As soon as they reach the surface, they mutate to attacking form, murderously smashing into he Volictor troops in melee and with telekinetic power. Among them, Dest moved, thinking only as a part of the group
As the pair of ships began to fall from orbit, the Hivemind could not save them, for their bodies were beyond surviving, and their minds were too full of panic to save themselves. Channeling through Dest, the Hivemind wrenched the two ships with a huge psychokinetic shove, altering their orbits and aiming them for Kalrafex's base
A squadron of small and agile laser drones suddenly flew over the Volictor position. The mechanical eye of the drones began recording information, it saw the Collective assault and the Volictor response. The resulting fireball and the arrival of the Draklen fleet. It reported the information back to the High Keeper.
"What now?" Sylvan slammed his fist against his chair as he saw a new race appear. "What in Nova's name is going on?. Why has the galaxy turned up here?" he let out a deep murmur from within his mechanical frame. "This is getting out of hand!" he murmured to himself. "Computer, open a communication channel to the Collective, and the new comers. Send the following message to the Collective:
"This is Admiral Sylvan Dol-Kar of the Novavores!. State your business on planet Earth and explain your actions against the Volictors."
Send this to the new race that jumped in.
"This is Admiral Sylvan Dol-Kar of the Novavores!. Request that you withdraw your fleet
from Earth airspace as you are in a conflict zone. If you are here by mistake, we advise that you return immediately. If not, we politely ask that you state your business in this sector"
While the sudden dispersal of enemies was slightly shocking to Kalrafex, its distraction was unnoticed by Kalrafex, who was floored by the sudden influx of psychic energy that flowed from the Collective. However, after only a few seconds, he was able to overcome the wave, and returned to leading the forces.
The fighter ships all exacted their own tolls on the enemy, concentrating their efforts on the largest ship. Over 40k swarm the colossal vessel.
Spotting the five ships going for the dual ground support Inflectors, Kalrafex orders 7 of his own ships to join up and protect them. Three of the Collective ships are hit.
On the ground, furious combat reigns as void cannons and repeaters fire endlessly. Closer to the enemy, hand-to-hand combat breaks out, and while many of the Volictors die in the initial swarm of enemies, upon regrouping, the grenades from afar mixed with the deadly abilities of the Volictors while up close help to fend off the waves of hostiles.
Mixed in with support from the ships ringing their base, the combat lasts merely an hour before the last of the hostiles are driven off.
.98 million dead on my side as a result of this, .51 million sent to hospice ships.
Kalrafex's ship, still in orbit, notices the flaming wrecks being aimed at his ship. Unleashing the forward batteries, the hulks are completely annihilated.
Another 20 ships are lost from the fleet as the organic vessels attack from all directions, but the main force forms up into a large sphere, which lets them defend from all positions equally well, and hit x number of Collective ships.
Yeah, x as in you choose. I don't know the number of ships you have, so...yeah.
The missiles hit their targets obliterating them. However the foe sent their own salvo headed towards the fleet, "Take evasive manuvors NOW!" The ships were not able to dodge most of the bolts and many ship's shields failed and were destroyed, Strange, they didn't have these weapons in the beginning of our invasion of their planets" Kevlan thought to himself. These were all interesting developments, he sent another salvo of plasma and braced for a counter attack.
Tun-Dar watched as Kalravfex engaged in battle against the Collective creature.
"Hmm, shame. It looked as though they could of been a good ally."
He merely shook of his doubt, and began to ready his ship for battle against the Ladredas.
"Are the TICKS ready?" he called into the intercom.
"Yes, High Chief! All loaded with our best warriors and hackers!"
Tun-Dar nodded his shaggy head. "Then Hajorn protect them."
From the base of the ship, three small capsules launched out, traveling below the main ship of the Ladredas.
"Fire our missiles near the front! Keep them busy!" Tun-Dar ordered. Everyone thinks that a space-battle is only through guns and lasers, Tun-Dar mused.
When the capsules were beneath the ship, they exploded, launching 3 needle -like pods into the hull of the ship. But we fight the way we always have...
The shocked Ladredas crew looked at the giant metal point that penetrated their ship, and guards and readied their weapons. Hand-to-Hand!
The tip exploded, nearly taking out the whole room. From the smoldering hole rushed a squad of Ramgrog warriors, all screaming their battle-cries. When all three pods had settled, their was nearly 6 squads of 20 Ramgrog warriors, each squad with their own hacker and engineer. They made their way through the ship, securing rooms and trying to find the main core.
The ship was then hit by the Ladredas attack, shaking from the concussion.
"Set most of the power to the shields, but keep some fire on their hulls! We need to keep them distracted!"
Neither do I. Do you know how many cells there are in your body? No
Well, try keeping count of every living being in a collected race of millions of billions.
(That's not how many ships I have, but i's probably around a million or so, though none are especially huge or special)
Oh, and also, the Collective view absorbtion as a gift and blessing, and an improvement to life
The Collective retreated back to their bases, but maintained a vigilant guard. Bodes of both alien species were gathered and fed into organic processors, which in turn spat out new members of the Collective
Any wounded, of any species, were given treatment, but the Collective knew little of Volictor and human anatomy, and for many lost causes, the only option was to be drawn into the Collective and given the enhancements to mind and body that allowed control of the body's own healing processes. In this way, the Collective gained new ground troops, and the Hivemind gained knowledge gleaned form the memories of the saved foes
A message came through:
"This is Admiral Sylvan Dol-Kar of the Novavores!. State your business on planet Earth and explain your actions against the Volictors."
The Hivemind turned a section of it's huge intellect toward the sender, and focused on the mind of Sylvan Dol-Kar, projecting the image of Dest, to put the Admiral at ease. The thought came through
I am Dest, and I speak for the Collective. We are here on our galactic Pilgrimage, and we have found the Volictors attacking the humans of Earth. We tried to stop the conflict, but they would not relent. We have attacked to prevent the mindless savagery, and to defend the humans
"This is Admiral Sylvan Dol-Kar of the Novavores!. Request that you withdraw your fleet
from Earth airspace as you are in a conflict zone. If you are here by mistake, we advise that you return immediately. If not, we politely ask that you state your business in this sector"
"Sir! Wait! There appears to be other races here! One just sent us a transmission!"
Mognarr opened the pod and walked back to the communication centre.
"Start transmission captain."
"Admiral Sylvan of the Novavores, we come in peace, we hope to negotiate a deal with the humans. What is the situation with the planet? How many different races are currently here? What are your intentions with earth? Transmission out."
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