What is this.. No update for 8 days You are not allowed to take time off for a holiday you know! Now get writing your fans demand it of you

Darn doublé post... My bad

Hey guys-the new post is being written as we speak but I must confess that there are 2 events that will delay its arrival:

1. The May National holiday
2. The fact that my Motherboard broke a couple of weeks ago, which has meant that I cannot actually progress the game until I get a replacement (one ordered today: it's quite an old one :NOTSURE: ).

However you will be pleased to know that I have plenty of backstory to write up: expect a new post next week sometime

This story has plenty of legs in it yet   

Thanks Drengin, Lord Kona and General Homsar for all the appreciation: it means a lot to all writers but especially to me as I need plenty of encouragement      

THE DECIUS DECLARER

2nd March 2238

TERRAN SURRENDER!!

• 12 Worlds ceded to Altaria
• 69 billion Humans to peacefully transition to Altarian rule
• President Allan Bradley accepts permanent exile on Mylos I

By Editor in Chief Rasa Lohrik

The day that has been eagerly anticipated for 3 and a half years has finally arrived. Early this morning at Altarian Central Time 0300hrs an urgent vidcom call was posted to the Office of the President. It had come direct from President Allan Bradley of the Terran Alliance.

The first that us tired members of the Lilac House Press Corps knew was when we were roused from our collective slumbers by the smooth voice of the Lilac House Communications Director Dr Sanata Rislop-Taa’n: she delivered a terse instruction to get the 1st shuttle to the Lilac House and be in the Briefing Room by 0400-sharp!

I arrived to find Lilac House Staff in a state of some excitement and everywhere grinning staffers. This suggested that something momentous and something very positive had happened. Of course, being grizzled veterans of the Press we all pretty much figured that it was a Terran surrender but none of us could have imagined just what type.

The President addressed us shortly afterwards and started with the momentous words:

‘Ladies and gentlemen of the Press Corps it is my pleasure to announce to you, today, the unconditional surrender of the Terran High Command to the Altarian Republic. Early this morning I received a vidcom from my erstwhile counterpart President Bradley. In it he asked for us to treat him and the remnants of the Terrans with the mercy that has long been a hallmark of our race. He unconditionally offered all 12 remaining Terran Alliance worlds to be passed to Altarian control with a population of almost 70 billion souls. The final request he made was for him to be allowed to live in exile.’

Of course there was pandemonium in the Briefing Room-this surrender had gone far beyond any of our wildest dreams as it was widely felt that if the Terrans were going to surrender to anyone it would be to the Arceans or the Torians who were gobbling up most of the worlds in their last remaining systems in the South East corner of the Galaxy: it seemed in the end that when push came to shove the Terrans would rather throw their lot in with a race that at least they look like and share some distant ancestry.

And so in one fell swoop the Altarian Republic has become the most influential star race in the Galaxy with only the continuing shadow of the Krynn threatening our place as bringers of eternal peace to all: the President was not able to confirm the plans for the Krynn Theocracy but we have all seen the lie of the land as far as that looming conflict is concerned. The distraction of building more and more influence starbases, such as that which turned the Krynn world of Epsilon IV over to our control, is just that: a distraction. In spite of a massive building programme around the Krynn planets Amcor II, Heinlein II and Aquarii I all are convinced that it would simply take too much time and too much money to build enough starbases to effect a peaceful conclusion to what many are calling the ‘Krynn Dilemma’.

The Altarian Republic now enters its diplomatic end-game and due to the fortitude and courage of its armed forces and its Leadership is in the strongest possible position to achieve its ultimate goals.

In other news:

• 3 more Spies detected sabotaging 2 of Brindle II’s Galactic Stock Markets and the Manufacturing Capital on Drengi-identity unknown but the Krynn strongly suspected.

• News has just reached us of heroic death of Vice Commander Sirita Muun, who’s Cruiser, Spiro’s Beak, was lost attacking the last of the Terran Battleship Fleets just off Banfield II on the 15th February. She will be awarded a posthumous Duranthium Cross for her valour.

FROM 'HOW THE WAR WAS WON: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ALTARIAN REPUBLIC'

By Professor Lahkmi Patel

Observe, reader the following Sitmap taken at around 22nd Aug 2238 that shows quite clearly the strategic position in the last corner of the galaxy experiencing conflict at the end of a decade-long interstellar conflict:

Contd....

1st Sept 2238

The Krynn Consulate is beset on all sides by its enemies and with the recent (but many would say long overdue) declaration of war by the Altarian Republic, the situation is desperate.

There have been many theories espoused as to why the peace-loving Altarians felt it necessary to declare war at all when throughout 2238 the Torians joined the Iconians, Archeans and the Thalans in their battle with the Jihadi Armies of the fanatical Krynn. Hitherto the war had raged in the Northern Quadrant (see on the mini-map above the dark grey coloured Krynn territories surrounded by the purple of the Thalan and yellow Archean systems). It can be reasonably assumed that the Iconians, who had no systems in close contact with the Krynn had decided to attack the Krynn because they held the worlds Iconia and Iconia V, of great sentimental value to the Iconians.

For the Altarians it had been a careful waiting game but when Iconia V (won from the Terran Alliance in May 2237) and its fledgling population of 13m were culturally suborned by the Theocrats of the Krynn it seemed the patience of Benis Mue and his Administration was at an end.

The map above clearly shows the 3 areas where the Krynn worlds and their fleets were concentrated: the main threat to the Altarian Fleet Command came from the central block of 4 Krynn systems. On these worlds were at least 10 of the formidable Avenger-Class Battleships. However in the left circle is highlighted an Iconian Heavy Battleship Fleet that has just cleared out the Krynn Fleet on Amcor II. It is widely believed now that the Altarians were acting in concert with the Iconians since another Iconian Heavy Fleet had just performed a similar service for Altaria on the Iconia and Iconia V planets.

One question that has long vexed historians and analysts of this era was why the Krynn were so passive. What the Altarians Admirals most feared was that the Krynn would launch their Battleships and take the fight to their enemies. At this time, however, all the signs were that the Krynn High Command were paralysed by indecision-their fleets lying dormant on worlds that did not even have Orbital Fleet Managers to coordinate them in defence.

We can surmise that the main Altarian Fleet orders and dispositions were as follows:

• Baka’s Thunder BG (2 Battlecruisers being joined by 2 more in the next 6 weeks): Sub Admiral Thom. Orders to form up and then make best speed for the concentration of 4 Krynn Worlds bounded by the large grey circle on lower centre of map.
• Rala’s Fist BG (8 Mk8 Cruisers): Commander Sirla Sran. Orders to protect the 2 Altarian-held Heinlein systems (I and V) and be prepared to attack Heinlein II and Amcor II when Iconian Heavy BG comes into play.
• Rajak’s Claw BG (7 Mk8 Cruisers; 1 was lost on the recent attack on Regulus II): Commander Per Thuisi. Orders to screen Battleships on Regulus II but not to engage until either joined by Thom’s heavier Battlecruisers or retrofitted with more advanced Droid Sentries

Other factors:

• The Altarians, at this time, were close to completing their research of intelligent Droid Sentries that would be much more effective against the devastating Anti-Matter Torpedoes that most of the Krynn ships were armed with. The battle of Regulus II, when Thuisi’s 8 Cruisers attacked a single orbiting Krynn Battleship and had lost one Cruiser, had been a salutary lesson
• The recent completion of the ‘supreme miniaturisation’ research module was giving Mitrosoft and Dr Hansa much to do in upgrading the design of the Cruiser and the Battlecruiser. Expect the Mk9 Cruiser and the Mk3 Battlecruiser shortly.


Authors Note: at this stage the Altarians had already started a wide scale decommissioning of their older warships. It seemed they felt that peace was soon to be in their grasp……..


Lahkmi Patel was the leading Terran Political analyst of the last decade and is a leading contender for the Terran Nobel prize for Historical Analysis

Always a good read!

Hehe thanks Lord Kona-you been a faithful fan to the end haven't you?

Readers I have finished the story but there is enough for quite a few posts yet (have already started a new game of TA   )

Mambaman, I'm considering wrinting something like this for the war in my AAR. That aleight with you?

6 Sept 2239

[Taken from the Personal Log of Warrant Officer Class 1 Bensa M’ponsah, DC just prior to the AMC assault on the last remaining Krynn World of Nesro V]

I have just finished my Tir Qu’an practice with the rest of my detachment when I am collared by my C.O: we are to assault tomorrow morning and we are to go in light he tells me. Half detachments and no heavy armour. WTF? It’s down to politics he tells me and who I am I to argue-he gets his marching orders from the Marine Generals who have, doubtless gotten theirs from the fracking politicians. My inclination is to put my head down and adopt the ‘I’m just a slogger’ routine but my rank makes that line impossible these days.

We have our Tanks to prep, main armaments to zero and orders to go through just as we have through countless invasions. This one seems different, though, and throughout the Regiment everyone is feeling it. We are a superstitious lot and there is something about the fact that this is the last assault that gives us all a deep sense of foreboding……..

---

[The following transcript was taken from Commsec files covering The Lilac House Triangular Office on the 6th Sept 2239]

(Benis Mue): And so it finishes my old friend-we stand on the cusp of true greatness. I couldn’t have done it without you.

(Heath Bartmanis): Aye Mr President. And who would’ve thought that the Krynn would be such a pushover: whoever they had planning their Fleet Operations must’ve been at the Hashishi!

(BM): There is that Heath, there is that….still these wars have taken a heavy toll of lives: I wouldn’t say that over 11bn AMC lost over the last year was a ‘pushover’ exactly. I really do feel our losses.

(HB): true but we have captured 7 Krynn worlds, Benis, we are the most powerful race in the galaxy with over 40% of the total Galactic influence: we hold sway at the UP and we are the architects of the most formidable alliance this galaxy has ever seen: you have been the architect! Gods man give yourself some credit for once! History will hold you up there in the pantheon of the greats even if you can’t see it right now.

(BM): Aye Heath but the methods…the methods. But come let’s start on the victory speech we said we’d work on…..

---

THE DECIUS DECLARER
6th September 2239

Special Eve of Victory Edition

THE REPUBLIC STANDS ON THE CUSP OF GALACTIC VICTORY

• Last Krynn world poised to be invaded
• StarForce 1 on way to Nesro V
• UP Shortlists Benis Mue for Mylos Peace Prize
• Victory Parades planned across Republics

By Editor in Chief Rasa Lohrik

It has been a long time in coming this peace thing: almost 9 years in fact since the Krynn first declared war on our Star Race. And now, with the veteran Simonssah Armoured Marine Divisions prepared to smash the battered Krynn Capitol World of Nesro V, the wheel has turned full circle…………

---

Admiral’s Log: Stardate 7th September 2239

Battlegroup Commander: Sub Admiral Serjuan Thom, Duranthium Cross

AWS Baka’s Thunder, Lead Battlecruiser

We are now in orbit around the Planet Nesro V, the last holdout of the Krynn Theocracy and awaiting a dawn assault by the AMC, which will follow a Mass Driver bombardment from the Warships in my command. I fail to see why it is still necessary to pound the planet from afar first but after some of the suicidal defending on some of the other planets the AMC are taking no chances it seems.

The Battle Cruiser is a formidable ship and has performed very creditably against the scattered remnants of the Krynn Space Fleet that we have encountered. It is fast, very heavily armed and protected and is a very easy craft to fight: frankly too easy with all the automation and smart systems: it almost takes the ‘fun’ out of command.

I sound war-weary perhaps? Yes I probably am: it will be a pleasure to return to my homeworld of Altaria and leave all this behind-at least for a while; doubtless the Navy will want me to take up some post in the Academy lecturing on Fleet tactics.

These thoughts are random and boring methinks when all I can think about at the moment is how my former charges Sanda and Per are doing. Last I heard on Fleet channels Sanda’s Rajak’s Claw Battlegroup went into action against a single suicide Krynn Battleship that was trying to attack Slepur II. He had no less than 6 Cruisers with him and they still lost one of them to those damn Anti-Matter Torps: the antiquated PD Combos on the Cruisers are just no match for the fracking things. I am told that Starfleet Command has now belatedly ordered all Mark 8’s to be retro-upgraded to Mark 9s: they have the Droid Sentries fitted. Too late for the 200 odd souls who perished on the Menop’s Tar.

Well we will be performing escort duty to Star Force 1 in a few hours so I need to get my Ceremonials in order-we have a surrender to supervise……

---

FLASHCOM (To all Planets in Altarian systems by flash communication)

8 SEPT 2239 1605hrs

(Flashcom starts)

To all citizens of the Altarian Republic, your President, Benis Mue III commends you and notifies you that 60 minutes ago he has received the unconditional surrender of The Krynn Theocracy after the fall of their Capitol World of Nesro V. This after a light invasion force of just 1 Bn AMC took it with minimal losses.

The President adds his pride to be part of an Altaria that can now take its place as the most influential star-race in the Galaxy

None of it could have been achieved without your sacrifice

(Flashcom ends)

*appaludes* The end of an epic!

Hehehe thanks General-glad a few of you managed to stick with me to the end. When's your next post Sir?   

Hey General I didn't see your post above asking if you can copy this style for the war in your AAR. Of course my friend-I would be honoured indeed   

Hope you were in the Metaverse. 12,240 is a lot of points.

BTW, If/when I write an AAr in this style for the war in Earth Federation, it'll explore the political undertones of the conflict and have content from both sides.

Excellent ending to a superb story!   I thought I had responded a while back, but I think the forums ate my post like it has a few times recently.

Sentient species taste better...

Hey thanks alot Kzinti-your appreciation of this story was one of the things that kept me going   

Hi General sadly I wasn't involved in the Metaverse. What is it and how does it work?

It's a way to indirectly compete with other players. When you post a game to the MV, the points are added to your total. There are also MV "empires": teams of players collaborating to rack up the points.

Hope that helps.

Thanks man

Great work mamba...this was well written and captivating. I liked the idea of coming from numerous perspectives. Now you could write one from the Terran perspective of the same events...could be intriguing.

Hey thanks Bott and that's not a bad idea at all-I might try that

I am thinking of starting another game as the Krynn though and tackling a story from their rather interesting perspective-depending really on the interest (hint hint)  

I vote yes

Sentient species taste better...

Seconded!  

Hehe-excellent-well I have started the new game now so expect the teaser post for my new story 'The Way of the Krynn' soon   

I think you described the Altarians a little weird. I mean they were massacring children! History of Benevolence my ass! Crushing your enemies and not accepting sues for peace sounds a little Drengin.