Story Time with FUTURECRAFT!

Read these stories, or write your own. Please note: Stories should be of a decent length, and no trolling, or I shall request Mack to bring His lordly wrath down on you.


Chapter One: Fall

Commander Error sat in the lounge and observed his first command. A "baby Battlestar", in the parlance of the dockworkers, a mere 50 meters bow to stern, but impressive in it's own way. The StealthStar Altera sat, waiting for her crew, as the dockworkers finished their sweeps. Hopefully, Error mused, the fearsome-looking guns mounted on this war machine would never be used, but he was no fool. The United Factions was splintering, Holy wars swept the streets of the Taln Sovreignity, riots shook the Futurecraft Empire, and politicians were rapsing on each other's nerves.

The launch of the new StealthStar was an unprecedented event. All Commonwealth vessels before her were only equipped for self-defense, never for open war.
While the higher-ups fretted over designs and cargo routes and pirate, the Commander had a new, simple, job: hunt down and kill the Warlord behind the UF's fall; Lord Tiel.


(Doc, you make a good bad guy.)

Put me in there as a corrupt politician (I cheated with xray)

Also make Tiel the leader of the Rebellion, and Why is Mack a bad guy? He dumped that ego, kind of, he tried to lead diplomatically on Solaris.

hyperlite wrote:

Put me in there as a corrupt politician (I cheated with xray)

Also make Tiel the leader of the Rebellion, and Why is Mack a bad guy? He dumped that ego, kind of, he tried to lead diplomatically on Solaris.

Mack makes a good bad guy, and you'll be the Empire's corrupt finance minister.

Nice writing. But why the heck am I a bad guy?

I don't actually not like you, but since you in fact did leave Altera (for good reasons) you fit the role.

One thing in particular was certain. They would be coming for him. The former chancellor of the United Factions sighed as he gazed out the translucimetal at the many millions of stars and a handful of nebulae visible to the naked eye from his adhoc flagship’s position cruising the Western Expanse. Lord Tiel shifted his legs on the red carpet of the observation tower, or rather, the talon like appendages that served an identical purpose to the feet of humans, as he recounted the events of the past month.

The battle had gone in his favor, no doubt. Previously the thought of a flotilla of mere frigates headed by a dated cruiser penetrating the defenses of the UF’s seat of power would have been unheard of. Tiel had spent many resources ensuring the animosity and distrust inherent betwixt the reluctant allies would never die, and in fact amplify…the lord’s beak twisted in a smirk…that, they most certainly did. It had been a difficult task to set things in motion before he resigned from the high council, but the repressed conflict between each member faction’s interests had finally erupted spectacularly in an event that ended in the previously united interstellar empires opening fire on one another…and then he and his fleet sweeping up the remnants, forever wiping away the fallacy that was the ‘United Factions’.

But, he thought with a grimace, there was always that significant outlier you just couldn’t account for. A task force of 30 spacecraft had entered the fray when victory was at hand, belonging to none other than the Commonwealth. Had they come to secure their own place in the event that was to spark a war, the lord did not know. What did matter, however, is that for a group of ragtag vessels designed for ‘self-defense’, they bore many powerful weapons. At his subcommander’s behest, a retreat was ordered, and now here they were, drifting at the corner of the galaxy like a bunch of subservient dogs.

He knew the crews of the multiple war vessels that surrounded his were restless and eager to join battle with the enemy. Morale falling would be this movement’s undoing. And thus was the reason for the reckless action he was about to order his officer’s to take.
The Lord stood up, brushing the spontaneously appeared dust off his blue and gold tunic, and strode over to the other side of the room that served as the bridge of the observation tower to a thin console imbedded in the wall. He prodded a bright holographic button at the bottom of the panel.

“Yes, sir?” the voice on the other end inquired.

“Harskvoy, order all ships into claw formation and execute a jump to these coordinates. Warp 7.”

A long pause followed while his underling carried the orders out, then,

“Sir, those are in the middle of Empire space. Are you certain that is..wise?”

“Make it so, Commodore.”

That is really good. You should be an author. I saw a wall of text and read the whole thing (unusual) What happens when he makes the jump?

It's a hook for Error to tie in to. Lord Tiel's flotilla raids an Exion freighter convoy whilst Error makes his shakedown cruise in the same sector.

By "Exion Space" I beleive you are referring to the small underground compound residing under the crust of the burning Areia. Either that or the few, barely noticeable supply lines going between Areia Compound 2 and an old, barely functioning city-ship salvaged from what remained of the Planetary Defense Corps, the remaining of whom joined together to form Exion Industries. Most of the current Exion ships are PDC leftovers from their final stand at their capital planet, Areia. Since Exion Ind. only had what was left of the PDC to go off of, they found shelter in the only servicable compound they could find, later discovering Hegii, the only mostly functioning ship left. The compounds were designed for wave 2 of the PDC, but they were unprepared for the surprise attack and couldn't get their back-up plan up before the planet began to burn and the surface became a fiery hell. The only place safe being underground. Although lacking in anything to get themselves started, Exion Ind. made a profit from selling parts salvaged from their fallen ships, later accumulating enough to purchase a small terraforming device, which has allowed an area around the compounds main hatch to be at least breathable. They also managed to create all the tech we can see now, which also gave them the boost to begin construction of what is currently named C-101. The fight for Areia lasted a mere 15 minutes before the main defenses were overrun and the crew were scrambling to their escape pods. The High Empress led the last of her fleet straight into the heart of the enemy's fleet, countless ships were lost. As a last resort, she ordered the crew to flee as she led The Wrath of Yori on a collision course right at the drone's command ship. The battle was won, but at the cost of millions of lives and the High Empress'. The enemy's name was mostly unmentioned as I didn't know who they should have been, later settling on drones similar to the berzerker drones from SGU. What a lot of text I've written...

Vinyl Scratch wrote:

By "Exion Space" I beleive you are referring to the small underground compound residing under the crust of the burning Areia. Either that or the few, barely noticeable supply lines going between Areia Compound 2 and an old, barely functioning city-ship salvaged from what remained of the Planetary Defense Corps, the remaining of whom joined together to form Exion Industries. Most of the current Exion ships are PDC leftovers from their final stand at their capital planet, Areia. Since Exion Ind. only had what was left of the PDC to go off of, they found shelter in the only servicable compound they could find, later discovering Hegii, the only mostly functioning ship left. The compounds were designed for wave 2 of the PDC, but they were unprepared for the surprise attack and couldn't get their back-up plan up before the planet began to burn and the surface became a fiery hell. The only place safe being underground. Although lacking in anything to get themselves started, Exion Ind. made a profit from selling parts salvaged from their fallen ships, later accumulating enough to purchase a small terraforming device, which has allowed an area around the compounds main hatch to be at least breathable. They also managed to create all the tech we can see now, which also gave them the boost to begin construction of what is currently named C-101. The fight for Areia lasted a mere 15 minutes before the main defenses were overrun and the crew were scrambling to their escape pods. The High Empress led the last of her fleet straight into the heart of the enemy's fleet, countless ships were lost. As a last resort, she ordered the crew to flee as she led The Wrath of Yori on a collision course right at the drone's command ship. The battle was won, but at the cost of millions of lives and the High Empress'. The enemy's name was mostly unmentioned as I didn't know who they should have been, later settling on drones similar to the berzerker drones from SGU. What a lot of text I've written...

Fixed.

Also, a recount of the battle above the UF's capitol. Still WiP; Chapter 1.

Scores of spacecraft weaved through the dense crossfire of plasma bursts and laser blasts, firing their own in turn once they found themselves at an optimum position. Ships crumpled like tin foil under missile barrages, hulls boiled away by superheated plasma. Victory was out of hand for even the catalysts of these casualties, as plumes of lethal particle cannons emerged from the multiple defense platforms in geosynchronous orbit above the planet in retaliation. Columns of pure fire lanced out from the twelve batteries of the Invocator as the mighty destroyer’s shields absorbed the brunt of incoming volleys of weapons fire. But not all of it. The entire ship jerked to the side as a handful of lucky missiles found themselves buried in the vessel’s hull.

“Damage report!” the commander of the craft called out as he rose from the floor, knocked down by the jostling of the ship, claws moving to gain a better grip on the flooring of the bridge.

A clearly stressed ensign, feathers damp with underlying sweat glands responding to the nature of the situation, hunched over a console responded, “We’ve lost atmospheric pressure on deck 4, casualty reports are still coming in, Captain Fayr, sir!”

Fayr muttered a curse under his breath, brushing debris off his crisp blue and gold uniform.

“Lieutenant, what’s our status on weapons?”

The officer turned her head from the readouts scrolling across her respective screen and replied,

“Plasma turrets 3 and 7 are down. We’re down to 60% efficiency, sir.”

Another oath escaped the captain’s mouth.

“Bring us about, we can’t risk the starboard side being hit again like that!” Fayr directed his order to the fore of the bridge. No response.

On closer examination, the navigator’s chair was occupied by a corpse, ostensibly killed by a discharge from the visibly damaged holographic panel. Before the captain could add yet another swear to his curse-streak, a cool and unnaturally calm voice flooded from the bridge speakers.

“A fleet of ships of Taln make have emerged into subspace just outside the designated warzone.” The AI informed the bridge crew.
Fayr strode past what used to be the navigator to the viewport.

“Those look like ours. About time high command sent in the cavalry!” He said in a mix of happiness and ire.

14 sleek ships glided out of a massive quantum rift, ion drives effortlessly pushing their weapon-laden prows away from the gap torn into regular subspace by their FTL engines and toward the scene unfolding before the unannounced flotilla. In the lead was an aging Transpiration class battlecruiser with blue streaks on the smooth, yet rugged hull. Plasma turrets and laser batteries swiveled in each vessel’s weapon sockets to bear forward, pointed at the battle taking place amid the stars.

“My lord, only four capitol ships are in orbit. As you said there would be.” a Tien in a gray uniform with gold piping told the figure standing at the aft of the bridge, eyes intently watching the warzone sprawled in front of the fleet.

“Yes. All as predicted. Is it not excellent when a plan finally comes to fruition, commodore?” the figure said, all but identical to the commodore save for an attire of dark blue garments with similar gold lining.

The fleet commander merely nodded his assent to the rhetorical question, then turned to the tactical officer seated to the right of him.
“Kyr, tell the fleet to accelerate to attack speed on an intercept course to that grouping of-“

“Sir, we’re being hailed!” an ensign interrupted.

The commodore turned to the lord, whom nodded slightly, the Tien equivalent of a smirk spread across his features.

“Audio only,” the officer ordered his junior.

A few seconds passed as a connection was established, then,
“This is the Taln destroyer Invocator, ship ID E5678. Identify yourself.” A pause, then, “It’s good to see some friendly faces around here.”

“Taln warship, stand down or be destroyed.”

No response was granted the newcomers as the Invocator came about, weapons bearing the brilliant amber glow that signified readiness to fire.

“Close the channel.” The Lord paused a few moments for the audio link to dissolve into static radio garbage, “Order all ships to engage that destroyer. Concentrate fire on their starboard engine’s external FTL coil.”

While the UF bickers and fights, an empire prepares for war. Comprising thirty five planets in an area with excruciatingly low supplies, this empire draws its strength from the necessity of invading. Living in an area know to the UF as the Barren Northern sector, they leech off everything they can claim from their planets, leaving only their home world unscarred. Little under twenty years ago, they received a communication from the UF in its younger years, and while the UF believed they gained an ally, in the transmission, they received a message in the tongue of the soon to be invaders. It was a number. 20. 20 years until the invasion of the UF by the Strigiforme Nationalized Kingdom.

Commander Error grinned at his new command's DRADIS board as the Taln vessels crept into his range. He presumed they were on a resource mission, though it hardly mattered; his only orders were to destroy all non-UF vessels. No quarter given.

As Altera came to life, the Taln ships turned towards him and brought shields up. Error glanced at his weapons officer. "Did we get the new guns?" he asked. "Yessir" came the reply. Error smiled, knowing that the new HE projectiles were designed to pass though Taln shielding. This was to be the first test. "Bring main batteries online, target that lead Companion." he ordered. The guns emerged from the hull, swivveled, elevated and fired.

The rounds sailed through space, impacting hard on the ship's hull. The enemy vessel shuddered, vomited golden fire, and went dark. Error grinned at his XO as the guns locked on the second ship. Again they spat fire, tearing the comm module and starboard manuvering wing clean off the ship's hull.

Abruptly, the Taln ship turned and vanished into Warp. The CIC crew cheered their victory. Error knew the rounds would only work for a time, before Taln adapted, but if they could do it once, it could happen again. Altera rolled and jumped, flashing blue and vanishing.

***

The Commonwealth was not, contrary to outside belief, peaceful and quiet. The frantic activity at Scorpia Fleet Yards belied this, as the production of the first AssaultStar was underway. Error stared out the glass wall at the massive ship as Altera glided past, and marvelled over how such a large vessel could be so small inside.

But still, Error thought, it was large enough for it's purpose. He would take command of a task force under the new ship, Sagitaria, and take the fight to the Taln. Soon.

At the distant planet Technoma, Supreme Over-Dictator Daynel had watched the battle from his inter-orbital media system.
"I'm glad it got a happy ending." he said to James, his assistant. "Any news from the shipyard?"
James looked through his papers. "We are ready to release the new space limousine to the public, and we have started the construction of the diplomatic transporter."
"Only good news then?"
"Yes, your highness."
"Good. Bring me a cup of hot chocolate, will you?"

In orbit over Cuuyth, the Strigiforme home world, a fleet had gathered. Comprising of 20 frigates, 15 cruisers, 5 battle cruisers, three battleships, and one ultra heavy Assualt ship. On the Assualt ship, known as the Beauty of Annihilation, the ultimate leader of the Strigiforme Nationalized Kingdom paced. For the duration of the invasion, he would go by his old combat designation, ACH0225. ACH0225 paced, and griped at the inadequacy of his forces. Though the Beauty of Annihilation could easily take on a fleet, orbital defenses required.... Finesse that the lumbering ship did not have. It was only a few hours until the launch time, and several ships had yet to arrive. ACH0225 growled, then spat a small stream of fire at an already heavily scorched bulkhead. ACH0225 is a now rare member of a species of Strigiforme that possesses a unique ability to use a naturally produced napalm like substance. It is sprayed by a mechanic in its throat, similar to an aerosol nozzle, then ignited by two stones in the tips of its beak, producing a clacking sound. As ACH0225 paced, time passed, and minutes became hours, and it was the exact time, 20 years later, that the Strigiforme Nationalized Kingdom made contact with the UF. An order came from ACH0225's beak. They jumped.

(we should make like a proper RP of some sort, maybe when Futurecraft is released, in Minecraft, on a server)


"Look, if you think I've told you once now, I've told you a million times. No!"

"But sir, it'll help us get out of Terran space! We could set up a proper shipyard, no damned Terran Taxes, no subsistence manufacturing!" The XO of Tactical Profficiencies was begging at this point. Taln manufacturers had offered to sell blueprints of some surplus FTL drives so that Tactical Profficiencies could expand out of Terran space.

"No. The Taln want to help us turn back into a Sovereignty just so they can make us a wild card - their wild card. We're close to being able to qualify for a Inter-system travel license for EVERY one of our ships. We could build a shipyard in a nearby system. Maybe if you would be patient enough to take a moment and think, you would understand! No, is my final answer!" The CEO of Tactical Profficiencies was sick of his XO's whining right about now.

Infact, the very next day the Terran Trade Confederation had approved TP as qualifying for inter-system license. Within the hour every one of their existing ships was licensed for inter-system travel via Terran FTL drives. Leaving a team behind to salvage the former TP Shipyards, they immediately jumped to a nearby system and begun construction of the new TP shipyards, which would last them many years.

The hooded figures entered the great hall. A spinning sphere of light, like the web of a spider, rested in a pedestal of gold. There were four of them, and the largest began to speak. It was a strange language, conveyed not so much by sound as by the entwining of various subspace particles, and it reverberated throughout the hall, the world, the universe, and time.

"And how does the war proceed?" the tallest one asked?

The hooded figures did not move or respond. But slowly, the sphere twisted and turned, until in its shimmering display there were highlighted many ships, engaged in battle. As the figures watched, one of the largest ships' shields faded, and a dozen rockets pierced its hull. A huge gout of plasma jetted out of the poor starship, followed by more, and then with a whoosh the air that fueled the life forms within was lost to the vacuum of space. Slowly, the ship's hull grated against itself, and then crushed together like a stomped on tin can.

Respectfully, the youngest of the figures spoke. "The Taln have amassed a great army. I fear the Plan may fall if their advance is to continue."

"Yes, mightn't we send our creations some warships?" another spoke.

Pleaded another, "They might fall without us, and then the Pl--"

The largest roared, a roar that permeated through space and time, and ripped the fabric of the universe in a dozen places. "If we should allow the humankind to find our existence before they are ready, they will resent us. We tried to teach them on their home planet, but they saw us as a threat and drove us away. No, we cannot reveal ourselves to the Humans, unless there is no other choice. We shall be ready to help, but no more. Keep a watch on the Taln. But let nobody see you, and keep our homeworld secret."

The figures walked away, their reptilian tails sweeping behind their hooded cloak. The universe continued to shimmer in it's golden housing, but nothing else moved. The whole universe seemed to be waiting.

An instant after ACH0225, now with the title of Fleetmaster(If you don't mind, I will refer to story myself as Fleetmaster, because ACH0225 is a little unwieldy for a story), gave the order to jump to ultralight speed, the ships arrived in a little known star system with a gas giant and a small, rocky world. The Fleetmaster gave the order to deploy. The Beauty of Annihilation's hanger bay opened, and dropped a prefab orbital station into orbit around the gas planet. This station, however, was different from the dozen or so the other ships were dropping around the system's planets. This station had a low power interstellar Yttrium gate, capable of bending the laws of physics enough to allow a ship to travel vast distances without the energy and armour requirement for ultralight travel, though taking a decade or so. Small amounts of time, to one who can live several thousand years, but they would have to get more supplies to build a faster gate. Supplies that could only be easily found on industrialized worlds. The Fleetmaster then gave the required activation code, and the donut hole in the center of the orbital station sprang to life, glowing with warm hues. Satisfied that his ships and their captains could handle the situation on their own, the Fleetmaster flew back to his cabin for some well deserved rest.

...His cabin, which was the size of a football field and emitted a small gravitational field of its own.

Keon wrote:

...His cabin, which was the size of a football field and emitted a small gravitational field of its own.

Pretty much.

I see a lot of the stories are casting Taln as teh bad guys. I hope you realized I'm not affiliated with them, I'm a splinter group.

Also, all these stories are awesome. Props to everyone

Though I think we should come up with some absolutes so our stories don't conflict. Perhaps a loose storyline that can be built on.

Ok. UF and Taln split. A few weeks into the war, SNK(Me) forces enter the war, attacking both sides to gain territory and supplies. After a long and bloody war, a ceasefire is called, with the SNK taking the Northern sector, and Taln and UF divvying up the rest. Sound cool?

The UF includes Terran and Terran space, right? Just wondering. Btw, why is everyone catsing the Taln as bad guys? I can imagine being a human associate of the Taln in Taln space and being offered FTL Drives by the Terran, it definetly fits... And I agree, we should have some loose storyline to build on. Also, I hope this doesn't turn into a war of Owls and Cockatiels Vs. Humans...

ACH0225 wrote:

Ok. UF and Taln split. A few weeks into the war, SNK(Me) forces enter the war, attacking both sides to gain territory and supplies. After a long and bloody war, a ceasefire is called, with the SNK taking the Northern sector, and Taln and UF divvying up the rest. Sound cool?

Not both sides, all sides. According to Error the UF splintered into its individual factions, I expanded upon that by having everyone mistrusting each other. The breakup of the UF was due to events set in motion by me, Lord Tiel, hence the Commonwealth's eagerness to neutralize me.

From that point onward I'm assuming Error and I will play a cat and mouse game throughout the galaxy, whilst the former members of the UF stockpile weaponry and prepare for war (Perhaps the commonwealth hopes to expose me as the perpetrator of the breakup, preventing all-out galactic war).

At an intense showdown above the sun between five of the factions, your ships warp in and proceed to kick ass, forcing a retreat of all involved. Right when Error has me cornered, he's recalled by the commonwealth to fight this new opponent. Your forces sweep across the sector, ravaging worlds and gathering resources to construct a Yittrium portal so as to call in additional reinforcements (Your fleet took several decades to travel to our galaxy, creating a portal here will allow the corresponding portal in your galaxy to send in ships).

Scouts from each faction see this massive construct mid-space, and report back to their masters. Somehow, someway, everyone sees the need for an immediate, if not temporary, unification and become reluctant allies, pushing your lot to the edge of the sector and all but decimating the portal, but taking many ship casualties. You vainly fear further reprisal (As you do not know how many ships everyone has left) and work to obtain a ceasefire so as to get a clearer estimate of the opposition, while negotiating for the control of an uninhabited solar system.

The factions realize that working to a common goal suits everyone's needs and charter up a new rendition of the United Factions. Lord Tiel is never found to be the instigator of the original breakup, and is offered a seat on the new High Council. On the way to obtain his post, he is shot and killed by Error, whom consequently is put under military arrest.

This sets the stage for a new story where Strigiforme realizes they had nothing to fear and launch an all-out assault on the weakened UF, and Error is disillusioned with his government and strikes it out rogue.

Sound good to everyone?

Also, I'd like to re-assert Lord Tiel is not part of Taln, you saw earlier he ordered the firing on a Taln vessel. He's an eccentric noble turned political dissident head of a militant splinter faction.

Eliuser12 wrote:

The UF includes Terran and Terran space, right? Just wondering. Btw, why is everyone catsing the Taln as bad guys? I can imagine being a human associate of the Taln in Taln space and being offered FTL Drives by the Terran, it definetly fits... And I agree, we should have some loose storyline to build on. Also, I hope this doesn't turn into a war of Owls and Cockatiels Vs. Humans...

The UF consists of every major faction here, save for the ones who expressively objected to membership in it (ala ACH and Vinyl) ACH0225 is just confused. Take a look at the above post.

Also, I thought it might be interesting if in the new UF the factions decide to elect an omnipotent chairman so as to have a central, decisive authority. They picked a little-known but seemingly gracious senator from the small FCE by the name of...Mackeroth. If you've kept tabs on what went on on Solaris, you can see where I'm going with this.

1. Lord Tiel resigns from post as chancellor, satisfied with arrangements made.
   
2. United Factions dissolves into chaos and bickering as each faction leaves the alliance.
   
3. Commonwealth Intel discovers evidence pointing to the disappeared Lord Tiel as the culprit of the breakup, and commissions Commander Error to hunt him down.
   
4. Major battle in the works over the star E-347, disrupted by hostile alien ships opening fire on the opposing factions.
   
5. SNK, the aliens, search the sector for materials to construct a massive Yittrium portal so as to call in more reinforcements to occupy the galaxy (The ships sent are merely a scouting party).
   
6. Factions build a shaky alliance and attack the SNK, destroying the Portal but taking severe casualties.
   
7. SNK, unaware of the true strength of the enemy, quickly arrange a peace treaty and retreat to an isolated Solar System granted to them by Declaration B-135 of the UF's constitution.
   
8. The UF is reformed with a new charter and new head, factions work toward future cooperation and galactic-wide peace.
   
9. Lord Tiel is murdered by seemingly rogue Commander Error, as the information regarding his part in bringing the original UF down was lost to the SNK. The commander is placed under arrest.
   

^Timeline of the first arc, to make things clearer. Anyone have issues with it, let me know.