Revan part 2, the wanderer, Revan Options

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 14: The Meeting

The cavernous chamber was dark, only lit by the holo-panels that the various crew toiled upon. On a circular platform that floated twelve feet above the consoles and floor of the Infinite Sojourn's bridge, a lone figure sat, cross-legged, meditating. He was clad in gleaming sapphire armor, his shaved head did not reflect the light from the white spheres that bobbed about. For in the many centuries of wandering space, the aged Dark Naryyn had learned many arts of the shadows that few imagined.......

A single, dagger-length, jewel hovered before him, suspended by his his power. Slowly the crystal split, like a blossoming flower, and he began to lift off the cushion........ Now the gem was in several pieces, that twisted this way and that, they twirled about, and the light began to turn to a blue hue as the faces refracted the light.

Two others levitated to the platform, both sported more practicle armor then their commander. The fragments came together, each fitting like a puzzle, and fused back into one. They bowed, and the larger of the two spoke. "Commander, we did not wish to disturb you, but we've felt a..... flutter from a nearby world."

The man opened his eyes, they were slightly bleached of their original crimson, and he stared into space for several moments before answering. "I have felt this as well, and what do we know of this world?"
His voice was solid, strong, but wise all at the same time.

"This planet did not register in the databanks, but when we cross-referenced it with the old charts from before the founding of Xarmanca..... we made a discovery." The ancient sage stood and turned to face his two warriors. "What discovery was that?"

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Revan finally woke up, and he noticed a dull ache in his neck from his awkward position. He flexed his tense muscles and felt the "crack" of his neck realigning. Holding his helmet in one hand, he rubbed his eyes with the other.

The vehicle bounced as it ran over a series of crevices, and Revan was surprised he had fallen asleep in the first place. Rhys was on the floor, hands on her lap, sash off, and eyes closed. Her presence was soothing as ever, and Revan was filled with her tranquility. He couldn't help but grin. I never imagined, that I'd ever fall in love, and enjoy it. It was true, he'd never stopped to think about love, only worrying about getting better.

He undid his harness, strode until he reached Nara, who was lying on a bunk peacefully. For a moment he just stared at the girl, the white scar now seemed to enhance her attractiveness rather then become a disfigurement. Revan slowly reached down and pulled a strand of hair away from Nara's eyes, and readjusted the thermal blanket.

As he turned, he noticed Rhys watching him with great interest. For a moment they just stood there gazing at each other, and Revan was irrationally worried that he was blushing, even though with his complexion it was impossible. Why is it, that I can stand in the presence of Mehrunes Dagon without fear, and be rooted to the spot by a beautiful woman? He mused.

Rhys was studying him closely, and registered his unease. She switched to Tamrielic to keep the conversation private. "Revan, if you wish, we can do this in private."

"Very well," He answered, then in a more pained manner. "Thank you," In an attempt to banish his uncertainties, he decided to make a joking attempt. "But I doubt you can wait that long to resolve this, Rhys."

She relaxed, and responded by fieghning disappointment. "I will remain content." And she glided past him........ Revan took a deep breath and replaced his helmet. "One thing I have to love about you Rhys, your incredible understanding." It wasn't sarcasm, it was the truth.

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Nov 28 2006, 11:22 PM

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 14 (cont.):

Turning to the two High Naryyn in the cockpit, Revan asked them in Naryyn about what had gone on while he'd slept. "Well, dark o-" The gunner winced at his verbal blunder. "Sorry, we're still getting used to the idea of working with you all."
Revan inclined his head. "It's alright, we don't have much in the way of honorifics." Then he thought for a moment. "And we take pride in our heritage, just as you do. We're proud with what we are." At least those that Revan knew were happy with themselves as they were.
"Yes, sir." The reply was obviously automatic, but Revan wasn't sure he outranked this soldier. The gunner finally spoke as he manuevered through the various obstacles in their path. "We split up from the main group, and are about to meet up with another scout devision. The commander wants us to check the area around the bay for a way to the mainland without being noticed."
"How long has it been since our departure?" Revan queried. The gunner took a look at a chrono on his headgear, as he lacked a full helmet. "According to my suit it's been a good half hour, we'll hook up with the other group in a few minutes."

Marthyn.........

The Hunter's hull was long and pod-like with a lustrous gold alloy, and several aquamarine colored power conduits appeared and dissappeared along the length of the ship. The gold finish was now smothered beneath black scorch marks from the wash of enemy weapon's fire.
One of the carriers took a particle blast to its prow and was gutted, the attack caused a chain reaction. Though carrier didn't carry much amunition, they held fueled up fighters, dropships, and worse, bombers in their cavernous bays. Those ships were now tearing the capital ship apart as they detonated, violently.
Hundreds of single ships were wiped out in the shockwave, but there were easily thousands more. And they swarmed towards the Dominance and the Hunter. In respounce, the twin hvy. cruisers launched their contingents of fighters and bombers.
However, the expiditionary ships remained in the protection of their mothership's shields. Marthyn could understand, they were out numbered, outgunned, but this would play for time, time for reinforcements to arrive.......

High Naryyn cruiser, Dominance

Ankrus stood defiently in the face of the enemy. The two cruisers under his command were holding their own well, but he could tell that there would be no glory in fighting this single battle. If we leave and fight on our terms later, then we can defeat them when our support arrives..... He thought to himself.

Norik's shuttle had docked with the Hunter just before this trouble started. He won't like this, but we'll have to retreat for now. As an envoy of the council, Norik outranked Ankrus, but the Naryyn commander had made up his mind. The heirarchy tends to be overly ambitious, and allow it to blind their better judgement.
"Helmsman: prepare for jump manuevers, Ensign: get those aircraft back in their hangers, and alert the crew to brace for a planetary jump!" He barked to his bridge crew, who jumped to their tasks. "Sir!" The com officer yelled. "We're recieving a comunique` from the Hunter."
"Ignore it, tell them to prepare to withdraw!" He ordered him. Norik is going to roast me for this, but as long as this gets results I couldn't be happier. He thought dryly.

Marthyn.........

The Dominance suddenly stopped firing and the single ships wheeled to reenter the two hanger bays of the warship. In a clumsy imitation, the Hunter followed suite. What are they doing? Marthyn exclaimed.
Then a javalin of pure white light erupted from Dominance's depths. The bolt sped toward the enemy fleet, but it was not an attack. The bolt tore open a huge vortex that flashed green, white, and yellow. It seemed to thrash as though unstable and violent, which it was.

Together, Dominance and Hunter blazed forth and dissappeared into the whirling cyclone. The portal shuddered as if struck, and winked out of existence. The two cruisers were gone!

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 10 2006, 11:57 PM

[The Metal Mallet]

Wow, lots happening in these updates Revan. Battlecruisers dissappearing, more powerful characters showing up. Things just keep building up!

Keep going my man!

[Lord Revan]

Info Post

High Naryyn Society: As with its military, the general public is organized into a rigid system. All construction and architecture is logical, but ornate. There is no crime on the worlds that are the center of the High Naryyn's Empire. The law enforcement is very strict, and are feared by any would-be criminal. Medical care and hygenics are easy to obtain. The inner worlds are beacons of civilized life, with little to no poverty.
All High Naryyn are "middle-class" at the very least, prestige is passed from generation to generation, young adults must earn what they are due. The enviroment is devoid of any clutter (aside from bio-degradables).
Agriculture is commonly indoors, all plants are treated to precise care, in this manner, there are never shortages of food. With almost every planet raising its own necessities, there is little need to import and export supplies and foodstuffs.
Public transportation is made up of thousands of large passenger vehicles (like metro buses today). There are close to no privately owned vehicles (aside from diplomatic or politically important vessels). In this system all traffic flows smoothly, and resources are easy to manage. The entire system is linked, controlled by a central tower that is fully staffed at all times.

Only on fledgling colonies or worlds that are governed by non-Naryyn, are there pockets of organized crime. These organizations run black markets, smuggle countraband, and control other elements of illegal activities.
But despite their influence on the outer worlds, these guilds do not dare enter the center of Naryyn power, and for good reason. The only thing that can compare to the severe punishment of being found guilty of a crime is the persecution of the Dark Naryyn. Only the youngest and most foolish scoundrels go near the core worlds with illegal goods.
The Council's power is undeniable, they have no regard for any species' laws and regulations on organized crime. If a crimnal enters Naryyn jurisdiction then they are under the scrutiny of the Council, and the common punishments are exile from civilized culture or (in greater frequieny) execution. The Council does not intend to appear sqiemish. And their will is clear, "no creature may display the audacity to blight High Naryyn society"

High Naryyn Naval Vessels-

Carriers- though massive (1.5 miles in length), these warships are dwarfed by the mighty cruisers. Each ship has three hanger bays (one on each lateral side, and a third running along the dorsal area). They may be large, but their size is mostly taken up by the hanger areas and by the armories for every ship in the navy. With two meters of armored material (like synthisized titanium) at the least protected point on the hull, these ships can take a handful of punishment.
However, despite this, if an enemy could cause enough internal damage then the fuel, munitions, and singleships could start a chain reaction that could tear the capital ship apart. Aside from their huge fighter contingents these vessels have little weaponry.

Frigates- the smallest naval vessels to garner the title of a capital ship, frigates (like modern day specimans) are built mainly for speed and mobility. Never in the history of the navy has a frigate been given flagship status.
Their hanger bay is usually used for troop transports, but they can hold roughly a squadron of starfighters in addition to their dropships. Their arsenals are mostly point-defense (anti-fighter/ anti-bourding craft) guns, but on some occasions they are outfitted with a single, light particle cannon (barely capable of scuffing a hvy. cruiser, but capable of fending off carriers and destroyers).

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 14:

The small fleet hovered for the next few minutes, confused at the High Naryyn's sudden departure. The lead cruiser, the flagship, slowly oriented itself into a position above Vardenfell. The other ships flanked it, the frigates breaking off to take up posts above the Grazelands, Ashlands, and other topographical regions of the island.

Marthyn took another step back, the surviving carriers released great flocks of dropships upon the land below. There had to be hundred, no thousands, of transports, each of those capable of carrying twenty-four man-sized creatures. Morrowind was being invaded by something altogether worse then the Expiditionary Force.

Those can't be a part of the navy, no officer would dare fire on an expansion group like that. Marthyn had a sinking feeling that whoever -or whatever- was commanding those ships wasn't interested in colonizing or conquering, but instead interested in only extermination.........

High Naryyn fleet............

In the black void a brilliant flash of white light erupted beside the red satilight planet of Nirm. The Hunter and the Dominance burst into view. They rapidally decelerated to a slight drift......... On the Dominance's bridge, Ankrus shakily rose, during the hasty jump manuever he'd failed to secure himself to something and was thrown to the deck.

All around him the pitch-black command deck brightened as the moniters and systems reactivated. One would think that with all our advanced technology we'd be able to pull off an instantanious jump without all our computers frying. He thought to himself privately. The crewmen began to stir as well and check the ship's status.
"Report!" He barked to them. "Navigation: the core is running hot, cooling now, the engines are off-line, and engineering isn't responding. Weapons: all guns are off-line sir, and the main particle cannon's slagging!" Ankrus snatched a small computer pad from its cradle and it affirmed the senior officers' news, the ship was a mess.

The core was damaged, but Ankrus found himself more worried about the MPC. That cannon was the hallmark of any heavy cruiser, unlike normal particle weapons that fired blasts of charged particles, the MPC loosed the coherant beam that had gutted the carrier above the planet's surface. In a way it was more important then the other cannons that lined the hull.
As if all this wasn't enough, it got worse. "Commander....." The comunications officer began. "Patch it through." Ankrus said, resignation coiled around his voice.........

The Infinite Sojourn..........

The ancient Naryyn stared at the hologram of Nirm with a look that could turn sand into glass in an instant. Nirm, how long has it been since I last walked upon your surface? His thought was not well-guarded, so the bridge crew probably caught the a murmer of the comment.

"My lord, shall we proceed to this world?" Asked Capt. Yarkan. Around seven feet tall, the slender Virtarak captain was a perfect representative of his people. Long ago, after Nirm, the Dark Naryyn had only just settled down on Xarmanca when they encountered the Virtarak. Captain Yarkan's people were natural warriors, proud adventurers and explorers.
They were brilliant with technology, and had forced to fight for survival against the other species of their homeworld, which they based their technology on. Though lacking great strength for close combat, they had amazing eyesight and uncanny agility.

When the two races met, the circumstances weren't candid, there was a misunderstanding between the two cultures, and war broke out. After half a century of fighting, the Dark Naryyn finally found the Vitarak base, and defeated them. However, through the many years of combat, the Naryyn had come to respect the Virtarak as equels, and the survivors were allowed to reprieve if they agreed to fight alongside the Naryyn in the future.
And now here they all were, five hundred years later. "Yes, Yarkan, we must proceed with all due haste to this world, it was of great significance before our people mingled with one another."

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Apr 20 2007, 01:12 AM

[The Metal Mallet]

Things are progressing... and it seems hard to judge who is on what side! We'll just have to wait and find out...

Good stuff Revan.

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 14 (cont).

"We're nearing the coastal areas." The commanding officer in the lead scout anounced. The cliffs and frozen canyons had dissappeared, and given way to a forest of trees and bushes. Still the trip was no less bumpy. Revan, who was standing behind the driver and gunner, glanced toward the aft compartment. Nara was awake and Rhys lay sprawled backward on one of the bunks staring at the cieling, resting her head on her hands.

The High Naryyn were beginning to get uneasy about the silence over the command-link, which was normally filled with com-traffic. Revan was getting uneasy about a the sence of malevolence that resonated from something unfamiliar. "Ok, from here on out were in the open and vulnerable, so stay alert and keep an eye out......"

As their vehicle cleared the last of the treeline, Revan took in the new details: there were now more then a dozen ships floating above them, the two ships he'd seen before were gone, and one of the smaller ships was sitting one-hundred meters from the scouting group. The other Naryyn began to react, and the CO was ordering them to bull back to the forest.

Meanwhile the numerous weapons on the frigate were swivleing to take aim at the intruders. The recon patrol were almost to the cover of the forest when it opened fire. Snow and dirt erupted all around the APC, and the trees splintered like so many pieces of twigs.
Something exploded beside their transport and it nearly flipped over on its side. But at the last moment the driver hit a series of controls and with a roar, the vehicle righted itself. Rhys was standing beside Revan by then gripping a nearby weapons rack for support.

Suddenly there was a shrill tone blaring throughout the APC and a light on the console was flashing red. "What's that mean?" Revan yelled over the alarm and the other noises of ammunition going of around them. The gunner managed to glance at it before a tree began to topple over into their path. Fortunately the pilot punched another set of contros and the armored vehicle jumped over the obstacle.

The gunner yelled back. "They have a missle lock on us!" And he jumped from his seat running toward an odd mass of consoles and gadgets that Revan couldn't fathom. The officer threw himself into the chair and began furiously tapping buttons, sweat pouring from his scalp. A small moniter beside Revan blinked on and it showed a overhead view of the region, small lights indicated the surviving scouts, there was a flying shape that soared above them, the frigate!

The frigate released a storm of small flying lights that had scrolls of text and numbers beside each as they approached the scout vehicles. This is insane! Revan mentally fumed, but Rhys gave him a look that could have been agreement or admonishment, but in the chaos of the moment he couldn't tell which. The screen zoomed out and the main force of defectors came into view, moveing laterally from them.

Revan felt a sense of dread when he realized that they would soon exit the forest and be in the open again. Through it all, the swarm of dots that made up their devision were winking out one-by-one, and the missle salvo drew ever closer......

The Dominance.......

Ankrus took his reprimand like the soldier he prided himself to be, but even he was reaching his limit. Norik paced about the bridge, and even though the conversation was private, the other officers would of had to be blind and deaf to not realize what was happening.

"So,......" Norik's mental voice was calm but possessed a veiled threat beneath it. "Had us flee like spineless cowards instead of stand like our heritage dictates?" Ankrus replied. "I decided to put the well-being of our troops before my own honor, holy one. We were outmatched, and it was a strategic withdr-" "May I remind you commander," Norik cut him off. "that it is our way to stand in th face of impossible odds and fight to the very end?"

What happened next was unexpected but welcome. "Commander, we're being hailed by a heavy cruiser called the Armet." The comminications officer informed them. A vein became visible on Norik's forehead, but it dissappeared after a moment as the envoy sighed. "Patch it through to the main projector."
The hologram came to life and a middle-aged Naryyn wearing the uniform of a fleet admiral appeared. "Greetings, brothers, I am Fleet Admiral Satith. I'm the one in command of the reinforcements that you were promissed to eliminate the rogue fleet." Ankrus bowed to the ranking noncom; Norik merely nodded to him, but no one dared confess that the same fleet had just kicked them off their own world.

Infinite Sojourn, edge of the system.

On the rim of the star system, the Infinite Sojourn and its entourage emerged from a flash of light and began to excellerate in-system. Deep in the bowels of its armored shell, its commander, Arastus strode along his command platform. The viewscreen on the wall showed Nirm along with its sister planets, Arastus nodded and studied the scene.

Finally he spoke his mind. "We'll continue toward Nirm at a moderate speed; release the probes to scan the area." The orders were given and along the aft section of the ship several surveilence drones launched from their ports and sped across the system to gather information. Each of the cylinderic drones sported curving "wings" that folded along their black shell. Three traveled toward the target, while the others swept across the nearby void for any threats to their mission.

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Apr 20 2007, 01:14 AM

[jack cloudy]

Looks like trouble to me. I mean, I don't think that the APC has that much point-defence. ECM might help but kinetic kill dumbfires are almost as bad as live tracking explosives. I wonder what will happen? And will Nirn survive?

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 15: The Resistance

For several minutes Marthyn watched as thousands of troop transports swarmed over Vardenfell and the mainland. He felt a painful throbbing in his head as the population began to feel the effects of the invasion. He dropped to his knees, overwhelmed by the mental sight of the carnage......

The village of Seyda Neen, most people were in their houses (as per the orders of the High Naryyn). Suddenly dozens of large blurry creatures raced into view. They threw open doors, tearing them off their hinges if they were locked.

Men and women of different races were torn from their houses and familes into the streets. Screeches and cries were audible but completely incoherent. The vilagers were grouped up and many of the creatures would approach and kill them.

The screams were drowned out by the sickening sounds of snapping bones and bodies colapsing. A single, larger creature stood in the center of the blood-stained street; it raised its staff above its head and began blasting the buildings to pieces.

Everything, from the lighthouse to the most run-down shack was destroyed. Finally after the village was razed and the people were dead, the attackers began to search the coastline for more things to kill.

The scene deminished, and Marthyn was found it hard to breathe. He looked down at the snow between his hands and knees. Nuasia gripped his body and he felt mentally ill. What are those things doing?
Marthyn willed his stomach to calm down, and was so distracted that he didn't notice he wasn't alone until it arrived.

A dropship swooped down and came to a halt fifteen meters from his hill. The doors opened and its ramp extended. He struggled to his feet despite the wave of malicous intent that radianted from the vessel.

Marthyn waited, dazed, for the inevitable. Suddenly a large hand, larger then any human's, grasped the side of the ship for support. The creature revealed itself, it stood two and a half meters tall, but was slightly hunched over. Its helmet hid its face, but its enlongated head was shapped like a snake or some other reptile.

Its eyes, however, were visible, they were those of an animal, a verticle slit that showed no mercy in its depths. It swung its head this way and that, twitching up and down as though sniffing. As more began to exit the vessel, it brought its leer upon Marthyn.

Kill the High Naryyn, kill the Dark Naryyn, kill all the Naryyn! Its hatred was coated with centuries of spite and anticipation for vengence. The group spread out, eight in all, advancing toward their prey. The leader, about a head taller then the rest pointed its staff amnacingly at Marthyn, the tip gleaming with lethal energy.....

The imediate threat banished the sickness they wrought, and Marthyn channeled his power.... An energy blade jutted from his very arm, and he did the same with his left arm. The malevolant being before him loosed its attack.........

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 28 2006, 03:47 AM

[The Metal Mallet]

Seems like a lot of creatures like invading Nirn... These one in particular just seem plain old evil. Good stuff Revan!

[Lord Revan]

Sorry for lack of posts, I'm getting involved with role-playing, and it's still one day after Christmas
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Revan part 2/ chapter 15 (cont.)

The Infinite Sojourn and its entourage approached the world of Nirm. Their silhouetes were almost completely broken up, black metal on black void, the only exeptions were the moments where a ship would move past a star in the distance.

The Nirm probes showed rolling plains, mountain peaks, and arid tracks of desert. Commander Arastus was only mildly surprised at the discovery of primitive civilization, a probe came in close to a huge one-hundred foot tall tower in the center of a city. To be expected, give anyplace a couple milenia and life begins to sprout.....

As one of the three probes soared over one of the mountain ranges, an unexpected sight was portrayed by its sensors. A small group of golden, bulbous ships hovered around a small island. High Naryyn, here? Arastus cocked his head and pondered this new development.

Meanwhile the probe soldiered on, collecting more footage of the ships. This was made possible by the cloaking technology integrated into their compact shells, which were based on the ability of some Naryyn to bend light. Shrouded by their cowl of invisibility, the other two probes moved in and joined their brother in studying the ships.

Suddenly one of the probes recorded a sub-sonic roarm and changed its course. The scout revealed a single frigate-class ship in pursuit if of a devision of ground vehicles...... Why would High Naryyn attack their own forces? These growing questions lead to no obvious conclusions.

Curiosity getting the better of him the commander reached out and evaluated the vessels with his mind. The scan answered one question, There aren't any Naryyn in those ships. But there were Naryyn, of both castes, in those vehicles.

Suddenly the scouts that had been searching the nearby region sent a report. The new image was filled with more High Naryyn ships, but there were only two. Both appeared to be damaged or reasonably disabled. Naryyn minds resonated from within their contents.

Arastus nodded, taking in the information. So a small fleet of hyjacked High Naryyn vessels launching an active invasion against the planet, who apparently defeated the vessels that were already here........ With the tribes in the middle.
A feeling of sorrow filled the ancient warrior. They've fought for survival for the ages they were stranded here, now they have more then earned the right to join the rest of us on Xarmanca! The thought wasn't quiet, it wasn't meant to be, it was a proclamation.
Every Naryyn in the fleet mirrored the determination and will of their leader. "We shall not fail!" It was a rallying cry from one ship to the next, until every ship chorused it.

Even the Virtarak, who lacked telepathy, could feel the roaring sea of voices. It was unfortunate they could not be linked in such a way, but Yarkan stood beside Arastus resolutely, if not in a slightly bemused mannner.
"So what is our plan of action?" The Virtarak captain asked. "We take the fight to Nirm. Sharpen your blades and steady your minds!"

Like a swarm of predators, the armada descended silently upon the sphere, intent on saving both their brethren......

Nara........

The APC tossed and turned as all manner of ordinance exploded around it. Rhys and Revan were both in the area between the troop cabin and the cockpit. The gunner was furiously typing at the pad in front of him.
Beyond the current chaos a new sound came into play, a sound that she was more sinsetive to. It was the sound of thousands of mental voices chanting together as one wave of concentrated thought. The Iso Naryyn, our older siblings are coming.....
Nara had never heard of the two words used in such context, but these beings used it to refer to themselves. Dark Naryyn was what we were called during our exile, we made a new name for ourselves when we began our new life........

Rhys........

Another detonation knocked the all-terrain vehicle into a rock, and Rhys slammed into the wall beside her handhold for the four-teenth time. If we don't get blow to pieces, Revan, then I'm certain we'll be smashed into submission....
The armor-clad man glanced at her, but before he could reply the com-unit for the APC belched static. They both turned to look at the device, and a voice pierced the white noise. "........ther...... ravine......we.....use......cover....." The unit went dead, and the driver studied the landscape through the hellish scene of fire and falling debris.

Rhys flinched when the troops in a nearby transport died....... there were no screams, just a sudden cold where warmth had once been. The pilot began to smile, gazing intently at the area beyond the windsheild, but he wasn't suffering shock, yet.
"This is good, this is good, this is......" Before he could finish the third 'good,' the ground dissappeared beneath them, and a sickening sense of free-fall washed over everyone.........

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 28 2006, 02:56 AM

[Lord Revan]

I had the urge to write this for some reason......... I guess I got bored
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Revan part 2/ chapter 15 (cont.)

The lance of energy soared at Marthyn, but he crouched to avoid it. The blast grazed his pauldron, slagging the strong metalic substance. He shook himself, ignoring the stifling heat to the best of his abilities.
Though it grazed him, the brunt of the attack slammed into a cliff-face.
Marthyn struggled to right himself, his suit's mechanical parts whined in sympathy, and stood to face the foes arrayed around him. The blades on his wrists cracked as they carved through the snow around him, and the air smelled of ozone.

Rearing up, staff raised above his head, the leader snarled and swung a viscous downward strike. Rather then parry, Marthyn swung his left arm, his blade meeting the attacker's staff. Both weapons crackled, niether opponent backing down, and the struggled evolved into a contest of strength.
Aided by his suit, he held fast against the larger creature's staff. Not many beings could match a full-fledged Naryyn warrior in full combat armor. The bulky power-suit stood out, but it was a life-saver in sieges, increase in strength, speed, and the protection it provided were invaluable.

The stand-off was halted when a thundering sound filled the air. Both combatants lowered their weapons and all beings gathered in that place searched for the source. Suddenly the hulking monsters became more agitated and they all looked simultaniously over Marthyn's shoulder.

Dumb-founded, the Naryyn turned to look, and felt a gripping panic envelope him. The cliff that the energy blast had hit was cracked, worse it had snow on it. That very snow was now rolling down the slopes, an avalanche! How do these things go blasting everything and not expect things like this to happen?

He turned to look at the creatures, but they were gone. They were clambering into their dropship in a blind panic. Marthyn shook his head, that piece of machinery will never got off the ground before it gets buried.......
The roar behind him reminded the Naryyn about his impending doom. I'm not dead yet. He thought to himself as he began to run at top speed, multiplied three-fold. The avalanche was leaving the mountain, and he was halfway to the transport.
Marthyn's mind still hurt, and his legs were catching up fast. "Keep running!" He yelled at himself, and welcomed the feeling of flowing adrenaline and blessed detachment. The world became the patch of land ahead of him, there were no sounds, no coucghing engine, no deadly ice and snow, nothing at all.

His breath came in short strangled gasps, and Marthyn was burning up despite the cooling units in his armor and the freezing gale around him. Darn it, keep running. You won't get your honor back by getting killed out here! A voice in his head told him.

He passed the transport by and looked back to see nothing but churning white powder half a kilometer away. Marthyn ran with renewed resolve to survive, he was determined to live through this.
I will find Revan, and put an end to this once and for all! He swore to himself. The thundering flow grew louder by the second, yet the young Naryyn didn't dare look back for fear of seeing the white about consume him.

Marthyn screamed but kept up his struggle to survive, he felt the lives of the creatures dissappear. No way is that going to happen to me, no way! His legs were about to come off, and his chest was going to tear itself apart from the inside out. There was so little air that he had to beat down the urge to claw at his throat.
Finally he spotted the snow in his periphical vision, and he felt an insane calm. This is it, either this thing crushes me, or I somehow live........ regardless, there is nothing more I can do now..... The man felt himself lift of the ground and get thrown through the air. He flailed out of animal instinct, the world's horsizon spun, all his senses became jumbled.

Suddenly he slammed into the ground........ and before the darkness replaced the white, he felt the presense of his brother.......... and his vision faded.......

The Infinite Sojourn.......

The ships dived from the heavens, in an area far south of the hyjacked fleet. The three probes reported a lot of activity since the last scan. "Sir," Capt. Yarkan, addressed the older veteran. "It is likely that the recent activity has been unrelated to our presense, and that we are still undetected."

"Thank you, Captain." Arastus replied and he approached the pilots and navigation officers. "Submerge the fleet, have all ships recall their fighters and seal their bays. If there are any of the fleet that can't comply then have me notified so we can deal with it accordingly."
The order was answered by several 'Yes, Commander's. All capital ships could be submerged under water, the Iso Naryyn made their vessels in the logical process of placing their bridges deep inside the ship's hull. The fleet slowed and slapped into the water, then they began to sink as the kenetic drives that moved them pushed them under the waves.........

[The Metal Mallet]

Seems like everyone has more time to write during the holidays! Consistant work as always Revan. All these editions always get me interested in what's going to happen.

[Lord Revan]

Well, these events are leading up to a war in the skys of Nirm...... but I might have said too much already. This will also lead up to the end of part 2....... and of the Naryyn on Nirm.

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 16: Of Blood and Honor.....

Revan's boots lifted of the floor slightly, but the pilot activated the manuevering thrusters and everyone was forcefully slammed into the floor. In his armor the impact only made his head spin, but he knew that Rhys and Nara could have been injured.

He glanced at Nara to find that she had secured herself halfway into her harness and had not been severly injured. Rhys had landed right beside Revan, but had avoided hitting her head. The gunner had been in his seat and had only hit his head lightly on his moniter.
And of course the pilot had braced for the impact, so no one was seriously injured. "That is why you must stay in your seats." The driver chuckled. Revan pulled himself up and searched the chasm's floor for the other vehicles...... There were only three out of the original fifteen craft remaining.

"All in all, we were real lucky back there" The gunner reasoned, Revan decided to agree with him. "Darn it, the vehicle isn't operational." Revan looked at the various service lights and found that they were all dark.
He didn't understand. "But that wasn't a horrible crash." The driver gave him an amused look. "You don't even know the first thing about our tech, do you?" Rhys spoke up, measurably less calm then Revan was. "No, we don't, so would you explain why we can't use this vehicle anymore?"
For as long as Revan had known Rhys, which wasn't that long now that he thought about it, she'd been a patient and empathetic person, and this was the first time she'd seemed extremely agitated with someone.
But then, everyone feels stress sometime in their lives, maybe Rhys just doesn't experience it that much....

"Well, some of those missles must have blast some shrapnal into a few places, not to mention that fall could have dug those pieces in deeper...." He muttered. Suddenly Revan felt a chill run down his spine, Rhys reacted as well. "Where is that frigate now?"
The gunner flinched. "Well, along with the other systems the sensor array is down, so......." No one needed him to finish, the pilot and Nara hastened to remove their restraints, Revan and the gunner gathered as much general ammo as they could, and Rhys grabbed cartridges of railgun spikes.

With twenty-five magazines clipped to his bandoleer, Revan kicked open the rear hatch. Once on the ground he spotted the other vehicles, each one had soldiers rushing to grab everything useful. A great shadow engulfed the canyon, and Revan looked up.
The frigate hovered above them like a huge predater, its fusalauge was an elongated sphere, with small bumps along its fore-side. And on each bump was a weapon, those weapons were swivling, choosing targets.
The farthest APC, along with most of its crew, erupted in a roiling ball of fire and smoke. Smaller energy pulses tore at ice, walking it toward the other survivors. By then Rhys was beside him with her high-velocity rifle cradled in her arms, the rounds glowing inside the firing chamber.

Both new that they were more outmatched now then they had been earlier. The frigate continued to rain destruction upon the other APCs. They heard a shout from behind, and turned to see the gunner waving around the corner.
"Agreed" Both Dark Naryyn told each other in unison, and they ran after Nara and the others. The Frigate gave chase above the ravine.

Norik.......

As the envoy held the council of war with the two ship commanders, the three exchanged points and counter-points. "It is clear that the Darn Naryyn are univolved with the rogue fleets." Satith informed them.
"Fleets, what do you mean 'fleets'?" Norik asked him. The officer sighed wearily. "There are more then a single fleet that went rogue in the last few hours, command is still trying to keep stock of how many ships we still have in our possession."
Norik clenched his fists, regardless of what Satith had to say, he was certain that the fallen ones were somehow involved. Perhaps they incouraged whoever is responsible to do this...... "That is unlikely, envoy." Ankrus said, and Norik gave him a glare. He had been surprised that the commander could have read his thoughts. I'll have to remember that......
Satith cam to his fellow officer's aid. "Indeed, the council itself has conceded that these are simply traitors, not heretics." Norik felt slightly taken aback at the news, but didn't show it. "So, how do you intend to retake they system?"
The two commanders glanced at each other, and irritating habbit of the military hierarchy. "My fleet is a couple of hours out; by the time we arrive your ships should at least be in some state of repair."

Marthyn.......

He was deep in mud, wait, no he was in hot coals....... no that wasn't right either. Marthyn wrestled to control his confused mind. I am at the citadel, no, no, no! There was a single column of light in his head and he siezed it and looked over the other regions with its aid. I was attacked, they are dead...... I got buried.....
The realization opened the flood gate of his recent memory. I was sent to kill Revan, my younger half-breed brother, to regain my honor. The High Naryyn fleet here was chased off and a huge force of monsters are all over this region........

With that straightened out, he forced open his eyes and beheld nothing but white. Snow, I was hit by an avalanche...... He brought his energy to bear and blasted the snow off himself....... In the sunlight Marthyn evaluated his armor and body. His left pualdron was blackened and warped out of shape, but it didn't hinder his movement. The rest of his armor was in mid-condition, most had withstood the force of the snow. His throat hurt and his body was still warming up from lying underneath the snow.
Marthyn felt exhausted, and it was difficult to concentrate. Sitting cross-legged, he slowed his thoughts and heart, beginning to meditate on the current situation..........

[The Metal Mallet]

How unfortunate for Revan, at the moment he's under attack by a frigate and his brother who seeks to kill him survived the avalanche. He's got a lot of problems to deal with.

Continue when you please, Revan.

[Lord Revan]

Revan part 2/ chapter 16 (cont.):

Xarkum woke with a start, he glanced around the troop bay of his APC. When he noticed the fellow High Naryyn sitting around him he calmed down. While he'd been sleeping he'd felt something..... He couldn't put his finger on what it was......

The rest of the Naryyn were soldiers in their heavy combat armor, some were wearing their helmets, others were conserving the energy in their suits. Most of them were armed with the standard issue assault rifles that fired fragments of molten metal at their targets.

The guns had a moderate stopping power at close and medium range, but when in close formation the gunners could bring down things that would normally require anti-armor weapons. A couple were carrying heavy repeaters that had twice the power of the assualt rifles, but were more encumbering.
The main difference between the two weapons was that the rifles used magazines, but the "rippers" (as they were more colorfully know as) had power cores directly behind the firing chamber, these power cores recharged during lulls in use, but produced lots of waste heat.

Xarkum felt vulnerable, despite being inside a full combat vehicle. The APCs had three pairs of all-terrain wheels, along with the thrusters placed on strategic areas of the craft they could nogotiate all but the most difficult obstacles.
Though not as swift as their smaller reconaisance variants, the APC was something of a small tank. The gunner commanded a single light pulse cannon on the top. The cannon could tear most known races to shreds in a second, and could spit ninety rounds per minute.

His vehicle was currently two klicks from the main force, it was a part of the devisions who's task was to protect the mobile artillery guns. Normally these machines would have been carried by a small flock of dropships, because they weren't as fast as their escorts. But the problem was: they had no dropships.
Despite all the heavy firepower surrounding him, the young scholar couldn't shake the dread that nagged at him. I wish Kartah was here at least..... Though occasionally hard to deal with, the sargent was an experienced soldier, someone you would want watching your back. Then there was the fact that neither Revan, nor Rhys were here either.

I'm the only one who isn't a warrior. He envied Revan for his calm and fearless demeanor. Well, he's not fearless, no one is, he's just used to it already..... Xarkum recalled what Revan had told him about his childhood. He grew up with death. What about me? I spent most of my childhood with Xaries' hand on my shoulder......

Xarkum sat there in his harness, frustsrated by his weakness. He idly put on his helmet, and looked at the stream of data that flowed through it........ Or used to.... The combat-net didn't exist anymore, not without a warship to sustain it. Lacking its support, there was no data on their positions or a real-time map of the continent.
These things were considered nessecities to any Naval offensive, all they did have was stock of personnel and all their resources. Still the privacy granted by the circular headgear was a blessing, Xarkum had to admit.......

Still the dread ate at him...... So he took a look at the vehicle's sensors through his suit's uplink...... Nothing, but our devision...... Suddenly, a piece click into place when he looked. It's not for me, it's for Revan!
Certain of his friend's need for help he overrid his harness' saftey locks. Xarkum moved toward the cockpit surprisingly well in light of the vehicle's motion. He removed his helmet again, and the gunner, who wasn't occupied at the moment, stood up.

"Get back in your seat, trooper, we're in a possible engagment area right now, and-" Xarkum did something out of character, for the first time in his life he cut off an authority figure. "I'm Xarkum, Commander Xaries' nephew, and I am ordering you to check the status of recon battalion 507." His voice was not one of a scholar, but of a person who possessed great influence and authority, neither of which he actually had.
Still, the gunner looked convinced, and gave a few moments of thought, then shrugged. Typing the proper command quiries the gunner cocked an eyebrow and did not give the group's status immediatly.... "For some reason that platoon's transponder isn't responding...... could be a technical problem."

Xarkum knew for a fact that there wasn't a problem with their equipment. "Are there any reports of a hard contact recently?" The trooper put in the request. "No, but here's something odd, we lost the 507th several minutes ago."
How he got the information he got then, Xarkum would never know, but he began to give orders to the other vehicles...... Apparently they either found his false charisma very convincing or thought that a relative of their CO knew his or her stuff better then anyone else. Xarkum couldn't tell, but was satisfied by the results none-the-less.

The group came to a halt on a nearby butte, the mobile cannons took up firing positions and made the preperations to fire. The hovercraft only touched the ground when unoccupied, or when in their bombardment mode. They slammed into the earth and gained a powerful grip on it with four firing claws.
All twenty-two cannons latched onto the butte's soil, their guns were capable of firing when moving, but truly shined when they were secured and brought to bear appropriatly. The operaters moved about their duties quickly and efficiantly, and the other soldiers lended a hand wherever they could.

In ten minutes, the artillery batteries were finally ready, and Xarkum took a deep breath. In the fading light the frigate was only disernable because of its glowing power conduits and it was quite active..... Now for once in my life I can do something that I can be proud of......
"Sir, the frigate doesn't appear to have its shields activeated; we have the element of surprise." The ranking officer reported. "Good, now we can strike a blow at these traitors." It struck him as ironic for him to call something else a traitor, but they had heard the broudcast from their homeworld. This is but one vessel in a great many traitors..... Xarkum thought.....

The scholar-turned-officer gazed intently at the target. "Fire at will...." And the gun emplacement opened up in earnest.

This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Dec 31 2006, 08:37 PM

[The Metal Mallet]

I like how Xarkum is stepping out of his shell in this update. Looks like such things happen when the going gets tough. Good update.

[jack cloudy]

Yeah, but does he know what he's doing? If that frigate survives the initial attack, they're toast. Whatever happens, things are about to heat up. In the plasma striking at lightspeed type of heat.

[Lord Revan]

Info Post

High Naryyn ship building- like our construction of military tech today, the High Naryyn mass-produce and standardize (not sure that's a word). Therefore their ships are almost all identical, and equal (with the exeptions of hvy. cruisers and flagships).

Vessels are powered by immense fusion reactors, and are made from artificial alloys, such as synthesized titanium. They're propeled by ion engines, and so they can go on long voyages without resupplying problems. Though this does limit atmospheric mobility, to solve this problem the ships store 5% of the ions passing through their engines for environments that lack any amounts of such particles.

A ship's bridge is located externally, on their bow. To protect these valuable control areas most ships have extra armored plating around their bridge. This however limits the command center's field of view to a directly forward view.

Iso Naryyn ship building- in their exile where resources were scarce and rationed occasionally. The Iso Naryyn learned to depend on their natural power for energy. And so all their technology is based on the Naryyn's mystic power.

While the High Naryyn had plentiful resources and shipyards with which to construct their vast fleet, their cousins made things by working together as a whole. They built their military in the few places that would allow tedious work to be done.

Rather then sophisticated, man-made power sources, Iso Naryyn vessels are powered by huge crystals that channel the energies of the Naryyn into a useable source of power. As with their cores, these ships do not possess engines, but they have powerful kenetic drives deep within their hulls. These drives move the ship in virtually any direction.

The bridges are located in the center of these ships, protected by countless layers of metal and mystic energy. Though the High naryyn make their ships of reflective, golden alloys, the Iso Naryyn imbue their constructs with the same sense of subtlety that they favor. The only give away for these shroaded behemoths is their deep purple running lights.

-------

High Naryyn vehicles-

APCs- medium sized all-terrian vehicles, these small tanks are the middle ground between the heavy artillery batteries and the nimble scouts. Outfitted with jump-thrusters along certain areas of their chassis, they can jump and hover over or around obstacles.

Their armor is resistant to light-arms weapons, energy or projectile based. Their wheels are fire-resistant, and stab-proof. They are, when unoccupied, neutrally bouyant (they float, well actually bob on the surface).
They have more electronics in their arsenal then any scout, and any APC could function as a temporary outpost on wheels. With a built in transponder mounted in the cockpit, a warship could pin-point one within five-meter's accuracy.

Scouts- small, vulnerable, and fragile are justifiable descriptions for these vehicles. Their main asset is speed, they have the same thrusters on their bigger cousins, but in less number. It seats five man-sized humanoids when properly outfitted.

All of these soldiers are relatively unprotected from enemy fire, though the driver is defended from all but a shot to the helmet. Though lacking any advanced tech in their compact chassis, they do possess a communications uplink that any nearby troopers could use for short range communications.

Mobile Artillery Cannons- bulky, slow, and stubborn, these things are the complete opposites of any scout. MACs (not Halo MACs) hover over the surface at such a slow speed a normal human man could outrun one. This problem is solved by the employment of dropships specifically built to lift these bad-boys from hot-zone to hot-zone.

Though armed with a small 72mm for repelling enemy infantry on the move, MACs require an escort to protect them from hostile threats. Because it would hardly be a chore for a soldier to jump on one and plant an explosive on its armored plating.
These things are only worth the sweat when deployed for attack. They have four restraining claws that hold them in position when they fire their deafening 228mm terror of a gun. Their main weapon fires a highly explosive projectile like a railgun's spikes. The primary difference is the expolsive yeild given by the round when it hits its target.

Coupled with a warship's invaluable combat-net services, these armored tyrants can put a HE surprise on any enemy's lap. Although on Nirm there are no ships to provide this sort of accuracy.



This post has been edited by Lord Revan: Jan 1 2007, 05:36 AM