Week 2 - Land Grab

There was an Iron Republic All Call of withdrawl from the planet of Hephaestom. Delta Brethren stood up as one from their places along the factory lines that churned out parts for Neoflayer Starfighters. The machines kept running, doing what they did, but without quality controls, and loading commands. Soon the less automated machines would be shut off by citizen supervisors.
The Brethren marched to nearby Iron Republic bases. Like most I.R. bases in the Polar Expanses, it was made up of parked starships. They had been sitting in their positions for a long, long time. Deltas kept them maintained. Working through them and cleaning and even replacing parts that wore out as the years went on. Now the Beta Brethren returned to the vessel as well. The ships were accompanied by starfighter escorts.
Brethren had certain codes encoded in their minds as part of their education in the cloning vats. One was an all-call withdrawl.
Certain tones opened up the proper state of fugue in the Clone. Then the words must be precisely timed and of certain cadence to equal a coded number that corresponds with a rule of behavior in their subconscious. The codes had never been recorded, purposely to keep the information out of all hands, even those of the Board of Directors (though they had a Director’s authorization code).
As the ships took off, there was an eerie quiet on each of the four planets.
A calm before the storm.

In her palace on Kyrpos, Ar’Yay Hive Queen fumed. Smoke rolled off her shoulders as she raged at her underlings. She knew she was innocent, and from a certain point of view she was right. But like most set-ups, it had worked because it fed into the guilty pleasures of the victim of it.
The corruption of the Board of Directors was overt, but to see such similar corruption spreading through the Quall Hive Queens’ Council disgusted her to her core. The idea of having to bow and scrape before those…those arrogant and abusive and petty tyrants.
How dare they, she thought. But she would accept her unfair punishment.
She would martyr herself for her belief in her innocence.
But first she would save her citizens from the danger of her enemies.
Ar’Yay had lost the orbital defenses and fleet of starfighters located at all of her planets when the I.R. withdrew. She still had her personal fleet, but it wasn’t nearly enough to protect four planets was it?
While she decided she would begin the withdrawl, any who dared to step foot on her worlds would taste it in pain for years to come.

Message mekanoids flitted across the city scape, projecting their announcements at any who would listen:

Notice to All Iron Republic Personnel and Hive Queens,

I am evacuating my planets back to Kyrpos, all of my 18,800,000 Units within the Polar Expanse will be transfered here to Kyrpos. Also I am sending in a few million Quall to transfer my current HQ. I am going to move 100 miles to the east and using our mastery over heat and flame we are going to supercool a new set of islands out of the Magma away from the current fighting and move all of my Hive there.
The child of Soregi is going to take over my Hive when she is mature which should be in the near future. We wouldn't want her new Hive to be in a battle zone now would we? My Hive is now considered Rogue therefore shall not be trusted with this war effort so we will not attack Garmen Fe or his allies unless directly attacked. I think i will consider this my pre retirement.

Have a lovely day and enjoy your wars.

And yet the mekanoids were not alone in the skies above Haephestom. When two hours had passed, and all two million citizens fled into the Energy Bridges to Kyrpos, a small splinter fleet of Aegis Starfighters and Gunpods bearing the markings of the Uloh Free Confederacy landed. An announcement was made by the Omega Brethren to those few defenders left.

"To all Residents of Hephaestom, we wish to inform you that the Iron Republic forces that controlled this planet have abandoned you. We have come to take control of this planet. We would prefer to do this peacefully. All residents that wish it, will be provided with Transportation off world to a location of your choosing at our expense. All residents deciding to stay will be given preferential treatment during the reorganization of this planet. Citizens choosing to stay will be given fair compensation for the disruption this change in leadership will cause. Any one taking up arms against our forces will be considered to be hostile terrorists. all Military personnel with be allowed to maintain their posts after a brief background check. Military forces have 2 hours to contact us and let us know their decisions. if there are any questions, please feel free to contact our local representative."

They were joined by the Hive Stingers and S.U.A.R.M. of Lord Mor'aye'ahn. They quickly restored control of the colony and have split the planet...or have they?

--PresidentRagman & Mor'aye'ahn gained the planet of Hephaestom. Currently split 50%, but can be contested by either party--

Lil'ye'ahn sat in the command chair of the Chameleon's Grace, orbiting the tiny world of Nanabozho. She looked down at it's beauty, hoping that it's inhabatants would accept her aid. She came not for a fight with it's people, but to defend them from those who might bring them harm. She gave the order to deploy all starfighters in a defensive grid surrounding the planet, and took a deep breath. Rising she opened a broadband communication with the planet.

Free People of Nanabozho, I an Lady Lil'ye'ahn of the SUARM. We come in peace, seeking not to conquer but only to build an alliance. We offer aid in the form of an orbital defense force to protect you during this time of upheaval. There are many factions that would wish to dominate and subjugate you, now that the Quall have abandoned you. We wish to negotiate for the right to build a starbase, factories, farms and research facility upon your lands in return for our aid. These will employ mainly Nanabozho citizens, who will be given training in SUARM technologies. This will help to boost both your economy and education levels. We would expect a 60% share of all profits from these enterprises, 30% of which would be re-invested into the planet. If any of these terms are unacceptable, or our presence is unwelcome, we will leave your space in peace, just as we came. I await response from whatever remains of the current governing body.

Lil'ye'ahn closed the channel and sat down again. Turning to Claptrap, she sighed. "All we can do now is wait friend. Wait and hope that they accept our offer." She stared out at the planet, wondering what the next few hours would bring.

There was no response, no reply. The entire population of the planet save a small scattering of families had fled through the Energy Bridges to Kyrpos. The Brethren had left on their own during the all call.

Finally as hours passed without reply or signal, they finally landed and stepped out upon the fertile land. Lil'aye'ahn leaned down allowing the moist soil to slide between her fingers. "I think this world is abandoned."

--Lil'aye'ahn now has the world of Nanabozho--

A set of freighters put down on Conflagros hours after the last of Ar'yay HiveQueen's people left the planet. Teams of Blackheart security operatives quickly secured the buildings of governance and took control over the last few families left on the planet.
It was quiet, simple and professional.

--Blackheart Security now controls the planet of Conflagros--

Bishop Makaan was praying in his cell when there was a loud banging at his door. "We are under attack! EEF forces are attacking the space port!" Bishop Makaan sighed to himself, he had hoped that the evacuation would procced smoothly but he knew deep down that it wouldn't. He made plans for such a contingency. He was a bit surprised that it was the EEF that was striking against him, the Queen would want to know. He relaxed and reached out through his larva into the Hive Mind. "My Queen, are you there?"
"Yes my child" was the response, "has something happened?" Hive Queen Ar'Yay's voice filled his mind with a feeling of peace and contentment.
"My Queen the attack has come like you said, it seems that the EEF has come to seize this world before the evacuation is complete."
There was a pause, then the feeling of contentment returned "well then, not who we thought but it matters not. If they seek to steal my children away they shall meet failure. I am giving the orders now, the holy warriors of the Quall N'Drone are on their way as we speak. These infidels shall burn in righteous fire, some may be lucky and will find out first hand the joy that you know. Just because they lash out in their ignorance doesn't mean that they should not know true happiness. "
"Yes my Queen, I shall spread word amongst the faithful, we shall defend our homes and temples, we may be leaving this world but we aren't gone yet, as long as there is a single Horned Dog here we shall fight against these infidels so they do not defile the holy shrines"

With that the Bishop stood up and reached out with his mind to the people on the planet informing the of the invaders, telling them to arm themselves with whatever they could. "The sacred Quall N'Drone are arriving, lay in wait for the enemies and ambush them as they come, watch as the Holy Warriors show these invaders why our faith is strong!"

At that moment black tentacles arced up from the floor, sucking the life from Bishop Makaan and all his staff.

5 minutes earlier

General Vulfrym, was soaked in blood and sweat, and most of it was other peoples. He was standing proudly behind the stone wall that stretched around the Cathedral of Ar'yay, the most holy site on the planet. Thousands of Horned Dog Cultists had died on the bayonets and bullets of the Lions of Earth. Even the Horned Dog's extensive resiliance was unable to survive the hail of plasma and liquid nitrogen grenades that the Immutable Heavy Gunners unloaded on those who advanced on them.
A few Horned Dogs had nearly breached their line, but then Vulfrym was among them cutting down with the Punishment of the Left Hand with two swift chops. The sword cut cleanly through the Horned Dogs, bisecting their heads and killing the larvae and host in one merciful stroke.
His comcrystal beeped, and he lifted it to his ear, "What is the status of the spaceport?"

The reply was a welcome one, "We've taken it sir, we now control the main landing sites."

"That is excellent news, start bringing in the Church of One paladins," said Vulfrym, "I want those freighters unloading those zealots as fast as possible."

The soldier hestitated, "But sir we are picking up multiple energy bridges opening in the land between our locations. There are at least a million Quall N'drone out there."

"Are you questioning my orders soldier?" asked Vulfrym.

"Sir, no Sir," said the soldier, "What should we do?"

"Let the paladins flank the Quall," said Vulfrym, "Give me a status report in twenty minutes."

Vulfrym picked up his binoculars and watched as a full Quall horde moved towards their position. They were moving towards his position and Vulfrym knew his soldiers could not survive such a charge. This was truly getting grim.

And Vulfrym always planned for situations where things looked grim. He shouted to the soldiers around him, "I want and ordered withdrawl with suppressive fire. You are moving rearward into the walls of the Cathedral. I just got the all clear beep from Lt. Matheson we have taken the holy site. Set up the speakers!"

Speakers were set up which taunted the defenders of the planet. They announced "Your Queen has Forgotten. You are her hated children. Any who still wish to believe in her come up to her holy sites, and test your faith against our guns. Everyone Else return to your homes and await instructions. This planet now belongs to General Vulfrym."

And Vulfrym had picked the Holy sites for very good reasons. It was a reinforced structure, and one the Quall would refuse to destroy.
it also had a wide courtyard that funneled all incoming attackers towards him before they could get close to the location. His choice of
Immutable Heavy Gunners was to allow this last ditch defensive offense. The raging Quall N'drone Warriors began to stampede.

The Quall charged towards him striking him with Brain Fever. Vulfrym fell to one knee, dizzy and in agony, but the Punishment of the Left Hand needed little to activate it. Vulfrym plunged it into the ground as he fell, activating its power.
As the Quall stepped within a mile of him they fell to the ground dead, their life sucked out of him. As they died power flowed into General Vulfrym. His lifeforce grew with stolen power, and even those Quall smart enough to hurl fire at him, or try to incinerate him found him protected by the power of the Punishment of the Left Hand.

The Quall Horde was slammed from the rear by an army of Earthers in gleaming plate mail carrying swords and shields. They were the gleaming armies of the Church of One. Racist, hateful zealots who saw the Quall as their embodiment of evil. The Quall Horde turned on the Paladins, seeing easy hosts for their Queen. A single preacher in brown robes swinging a two handed sword seemed to cut down Quall on all sides, but disappeared into the melee of battle. Vulfrym swore it had been the wandering preacher Saul, rumored to have been the first Church of One Pope on the prison planet of Refuge.

50 Obsidian Piercers flew above the battlefield. They began to bombard the line of Church of One Zealots and Vulfrym himself.
Vulfrym withdrew into the entrance of the cathdral, still using the sword, and creating a wall of dead quall n'drone bodies that blocked up the doorway inside. Only Vulfrym's own immutable soldiers were immune to the weapon.

There was a circle in the battlefield, as the rest of the armies of Lions of Earth were overrun by hundreds of thousands of Quall.
This circle, was where every creature that stepped fell dead and was centered on the Cathedral of Ar'yay.

It remained this way all night and into the following day, until all the people of the planet of Infernos had retreated through the Energy Bridges back to Kyrpos.

When the sun rose on the following day, General Vulfrym stepped out onto the streets full of dead. Quall and burned Zealots lay dead side by side as far as the eye could see around the Cathedral.

Vulfrym converted his lifeforce to restore those Adepts that had traveled with him and had closed the original energy bridges before the battle. But many others had been captured and taken by the Quall N'drone for implantation.

Then Vulfrym lifted his commcrystal and asked, "Space port? Space port, status update."

Only silence answered him.

--Vulfrym has earned Infernos but at a terrible cost in lives--