The Beginning

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: The Beginning
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ1
Content: G

Falconous sits at his desk with a great amount of paperwork laid out before him. Across the desk sits Mitianna Marks, General of the Galactic Shogunate Armies, and to her right sits Flin Novem, Admiral of the Galactic Shogunate Navies and commander of the Heavy Battlecruiser Vengeance.

"My friends, I have asked you here today to let you know of a few of my plans and to give you your orders for executing them..." Falconous pauses to judge the other's reaction. Seeing nothing noticeable, he continues, "Mitianna, For you I need you to gather some of your best engineers and builders, supplemented with a few scientists from The Military Research and Development Center and board the GSTS (Galactic Shogunate Trade Ship) Honor. You are to head to the Outer Asteroid Belt to the site of the Great Battle. There you are to find all you can about the enemy ships and begin construction of a salvage base. The materials floating out there are too valuable to this empire to let set."

Mitianna nods her head, "As you wish, My Lord." She pauses as she ponders how to phrase the next question, "If I may ask?" Falconous nods for her to continue, "What is it I am looking for, specifically?"

Falconous smiles and sets back in his plush chair, "Anything that can further our quest to run these bastards from our galaxy!"

"But, My Lord, you cannot expect to run them off with just a single Battlecruiser and a few Trade ships." Flin interjects.

"No, Flin. That is where you come in. I need you to take the Vengeance and head to Magnus. There you will survey the best position to place a metal refinery and geosynchronous orbital shipyard." He ruffles through the papers on his desk and pulls one out. He hands it to Flin. "It will be large enough to construct 4 heavy cruisers or one Titan sized ship. With the shipyard over Tagnus and the one over Magnus, we should be able to place into service an armada by the end of the year."

Flin grabs the paper and studies it. "This is an immense operation, My Lord. It will take a while to build it."

Falconous studies the two in front of him. "I have been researching automation processes since my father's death. the Military Research and Development Center has had a recent breakthrough that will allow for massive amounts of work to be done here and shuttled to the sites. We have also been experimenting with exoskeletons to lighten the load on the builders. Each of you will be receiving 25 of such units on your assignments. I expect that there will be no downtime in the building process and I want them up and running in 6 months."

Falconous stands, the other two only moments behind. "Mitianna, Flin, this is our future, I have invested a great amount of the empires wealth in this, do not let it be in vain."

The Admiral and the General bow respectively and leave the Shogun to his business.

Falconous seats himself once more, and faces his communications screen. He touches a few buttons and an intergalactic channel is opened. "This is the Shogun Falconous Jakal of the Galactic Shogunate. I am sending this message to all mercenaries that wish to do some honest, but rewarding work for my empire. If you are interested, be here no later than 10 Standard Days after the transmission of this message. Coordinates are as follows:" Another couple of buttons later and the coordinates are sent and the message has ended.

Sitting back in his chair, Falconous lets out a deep sigh. He turns to stare out the window into his garden as he says to himself, "I hope that this is the right path for me."

Author: Midori Kusanagi
Title: The Beginning of a New Job
Location: Miltian System, Aboard the Seraphim
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag:
Content:

Browsing the Intergalactic Channel, Midori comes across this message;

"This is the Shogun Falconous Jakal of the Galactic Shogunate. I am sending this message to all mercenaries that wish to do some honest, but rewarding work for my empire. If you are interested, be here no later than 10 Standard Days after the transmission of this message. Coordinates are as follows:"

Having finished up all her work on Second Miltia, Midori and her crew restock and set out in the Seraphim for Tagnus, of the Galactic Shogunate.

While deprting, Midori relays a message informing the shogun of her approach.

"Shogun, This is Midori, Commander of the Seraphim, Leader of the Phoenix Mercenary Guild, I am answering your call for Mercenaries, I am setting out now from the Miltian system."

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Midori Pt 1
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ2
Content: PG

A small amount of anxiety and restlessness enters her body as she enters the Te'kal system. Right where the message said and a week early no less. Her thoughts were torn from wondering what tasks lie ahead by the intercom clicking.

"Unknown starship, please identify yourself!" Came the respectful, yet forceful voice.

Pressing the button on her control panel, Midori replies, "This is Midori Kusanagi, commander of The Seraphim, I heard you were looking for mercenaries?"

A slight pause could be noted before the reply, "Midori Kusanagi, yes here you are, The Shogun is expecting you, please proceed to the following coordinates for landing:...."

"Understood, we will move there momentarily." Midori changes the attitude of her ship and heads to the far side of the planet Tagnus.

From her vantage point as she heads down in her personal fighter, Midori could see a small congregation of people just on the outskirts of the landing pad she was directed to. Her peerless skill as a pilot gave no mention that the ship had actually landed. Midori unhooked her restraints and headed to the opening portal.

Walking out into the noon day, Midori is faced with a nicely dressed man who bellows above the sounds of the crowd, "My Lady Midori Kusanagi, may I introduce to you, Shogun, Falconous Jakal!" He bows and retreats. The group separates and a man approaches edged by four guards.

"Hello Lady Kusanagi, it is a pleasure to meet you." Came the youthful voice.

"My lord, the pleasure is mine."

Falconous peers through the portal Midori just emerged, "Is there any others that will attend you today?"

"No, I came here from the Miltian System specifically to see you about the request for mercenaries."

"So be it, before we go inside and begin, I must ask you to remove your weapons and leave them on your ship or with my guards....Protocol of course."

Midori removes her scythe and rifle and hands them to a waiting guard. "Thank you kindly, now if you will, please follow me inside where it is better to conduct business,"Falconous turns and leads Midori inside to a spacious office.

Motioning to a seat as he passes it, Falconous states, "My Lady, please have a seat."Midori sits down in the aforementioned chair.

Falconous sits in the plush chair behind a great desk and pushes a box toward Midori. "This is for your time simply coming here, I know that all time is precious to each person."

"And it is?" Midori asks as she opens the lid. Falconous says nothing as she peers at 10 Kg of flawless crystals, "Thank you, my Lord, your gift is much appreciated."

Falconous leans forward, arms crossed on the table, "Now, down to business, as you may have seen as you approached the planet, I am in the process of building ships for my empire. I have a small population here and everyone is busy doing their part to grow the empire. Here in lies my conundrum, I do not have the man power to do certain tasks, nor the ships for them to man yet. This is where you come in. But before I say more, I must ask that if you are interested, I need a vow of secrecy from this point on, If not then you are free to go with you box."

Midori thinks for a moment, and perks up a bit. She replies with a smile, "I am interested, you have my vow of secrecy and trust."

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Midori Pt 2
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ2
Content: PG

"Good. Now, you have two options, you can go piece rate work, I pay as you deliver, or I can put you on the payroll so to speak. Both are lucrative, but it may not be in the conventional manner." Falconous explains.

Without hesitation, Midori answers, "I prefer to be paid for what i have done, when I have done it."

Falconous leans back in his chair once again. "Ok, so this will be a test of sort to begin with. I wish for a design and specs of a high endurance fight to compliment my forces. I want you to find them. I will give you enough Crystals to barter with and your payment will be determined on the quality of schematics you bring back. The catch here is, you have one week to complete it, be back by the time the remaining mercenaries show up."

Midori raises an eyebrow. "So let me recap, you want the design and specs of a high endurance fighter within one week?"

"Correct"

Midori sighs, contemplating the size of the task, "Very well, I'll see what i can do."

Falconous hands Midori a card.

"Whats this?" Midori inquires, examining it closely.

"This will allow you passage in and out of this system unmolested by the guards and allows you to fuel at our stations at no cost. My guards are now loading 250 kgs computer grade crystals into your ship. It is more than enough for the task." Falconous rises and heads to the door, Midori follows. "I look forward to working with you some more, but let me make this clear:" Falconous turns to face Midori square, "If you intend on running with those crystals, you will be hunted. Not by me, but by other mercs."

Falconous then takes Midori's hand and kisses the back. "Until next time, My Lady."He opens and holds the door open for her

"Yes, my Lord, until next time." Midori concludes as she leaves the building for her ship.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Results
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag: FJ3
Content: PG

Flin Novem was sitting in the Captain's chair aboard the GSS Vengeance when the comms officer directed. "Sir, I have the Shogun on top priority from Tagnus for you."

Flin puts his files he was reviewing down and picks up his coffee cup as he stood, "I will take it in my office." And walks off the bridge.

Flin sits behind his desk and flips the viewscreen up. "Yes, My Lord, how may I be of service?"

"Report, Flin." Falconous states.

"One moment, My Lord." Flin flip up his computer terminal and punches a few buttons on the terminal. "There are many pools and rivers of liquid metal on the surface, most of them are common elements. There are however, in close proximity, a small river of Trinium and a sizable pool of Naquada."

"That is good for us." Falconous replies. "I need you to start setting up the mining operations over the Trinium river. We can shuttle the Naquada in. I also need that Shipyard started as soon as possible!"

"Yes, My Lord. The shipyard was started the day we arrived. It will take only a small time towing the current structure to the desired location above the mining operations."

"We have completed two more trade ships, I will be assigning the Captivate to you to ferry supplies and parts to you. I expect the ships to be returning full within 4 weeks."

"Yes, My Lord." He said with a sigh.

"Good job, Flin. Tell your wife and kids I send my greetings the next time you talk to them." Falconous says, a little more lightly than earlier.

"Of course, My Lord."

Flin closes his viewscreen and computer terminal.

*****************************************

Mitianna Marks was busy studying a print of a scan of the current sector her crew was surveying, when the communication tone alerted of an incoming message.

"Ma'am, the Shogun is on a secure channel for you."

Mitianna turned and headed for her office. "I will take it in private."

Mitianna paused briefly before a mirror and straightened her hair before taking a seat at her desk and flipping open the view screen. "My Lord, it is an honor as always."

"Report, Mitianna." Falconous said

"So far we have scanned only a few sectors, but as of yet we have found very little of interest. There are some salvageable parts floating around out there, engines, munitions and such, but nothing out of the ordinary yet. But I am hopeful as we are still on the Te'kal side of the outskirts. I do not expect to find any alien devices until we get further in." She responded.

"I suspect as much as well. What of the salvage base, has it been started?"

Mitianna let a half-smile show on her face. "Yes, My Lord, we started the day we arrived. We will soon be pushing it further into the pile before it gets to big to do so. I expect within the week to have a few of the critical systems operational."

"Good. We have completed two more trade ships, the Captivate and Enthrall. I will be assigning the Enthrall to you to shuttle more parts as they are finished. I expect for those ships to start returning full in no more than 3 weeks." The Shogun stated.

Mitianna's smile faded and she inclined her head toward the screen slightly. "Of course, My Lord."

She closed the viewscreen and sat a while pondering the immense task and short timeline she was just given.

Author: Midori Kusanagi
Title: A Grand Design
Location: Aboard the Seraphim, Tagnus
Timeline: 10042 AF (After Fall)
Tag: MK1
Content: PG

__

Having worked out the details with Falconous, Midori began searching through her ship's database for the 76 RA-26 Shrike strike fighters design specs. Just as he was starting to give up she remembered she hadn't got around to uploading all of the detailed files onto her ship.

"Phoenix base, this is Midori, Is anyone there?" She asked, as she continued to double-check the database,

A brutish Mercenary answered the call, "Aye Commander, what be troubling yer" asked the Mercenary

Midori replied with "I need you to access my computer, and look for the file encoded RA-26, Its My Seraphim's Fighter Design.. Anyway, can you do that for me?"

The Mercenary replied "Yer Commander i got it covered, dont worry about it, want me to send you the info when i find it?"

"No, Do not show it to anyone, nor let anyone know what your doing, I am coming back to Beta Gabriel personally to pick it up, if anyone has a problem, have them take it up with me when i get back." Said Midori with a harsh tone.

Midori then focuses her mind and sends Falconous a message through Telepathy.

"I am returning to Phoenix Base, I need to pick up that which you specified in our earlier meeting, I think you will be pleased. I shall return by tonight."

As the message is on its way, Midori sits down in her chair, and readies her ships engines. Having set her co-ordinates. She set off on her way, back to the Epsilon Eridani System.


Continued 5 months later on The Shogun's Shield