[GS] Time?

Continued from Returning to a new home


Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10043
Tag: Falconous Jakal
Content:

Falconous Jakal stood in the command center in the Imperial Palace, noting all the stats and figures that had to do with running his Empire.

"My Lord, we are receiving an unknown transmission."

Falconous was taken off guard, there are only the rare transmissions received way out here, and never distinguishable. "Lets hear it."

"To anyone that are descendants of the human survivors from the great war, please send a message to this probe. Our location will not be revealed however we will get your message."

"Do you wish to respond, My Lord?" The Comms Officer said.

Thinking out loud, Falconous muttered, "It is not the Progen, they already know we are still here." Speaking a little louder, Falconous orders. " Patch this message through: 'This is Falconous Jakal of the Galactic Shogunate, we are human descendants of those from Earth, and though we did not fight in the great war, we are survivors of the planet Earth'."

Falconous sat back in his chair to think as the message is sent.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal, Midori/Faye
Content:

Mitianna lay back against a tree in the Imperial gardens watching as Falconous and Balanna go about their sparring match. It was decided that since the attack from Midori/Faye that it was time to start honing his Psionic skills. The choice was simple as Balanna could stop a sword millimeters from cutting through a neck if Falconous's psionic shield failed from fatigue. The past few weeks, Falconous's mental stamina had greatly increased, his mental exercises have given him the ability to manage two strenuous tasks at once or three or four minor tasks.

Commotion off in the direction of the palace brought to her attention that the fight had stopped and Falconous was walking toward some of his guards. Mitianna was not at all familiar with the life at the palace. Servant waited on her at ever turn, she was not allowed to do even the simplest of battle exercises, not even able to have a good melee match with a guard. She felt as if she were being kept in a cage and expected to be the Empire's brood mare.

The more she thought of her situation, the more steamed her mood got. She stood up, her robes wrinkled as she ignored flattening them out. She marched right up to Balanna and picked up a discarded sword. She stood in a battle stance before Balanna and ordered her to attack. Balanna simply stood there. Balanna was placed in charge of Mitianna's safety ever since the attack on the palace, and she saw this as a violation of those orders.

"Balanna, would it not be easier for you to protect me if I kept my skills sharp, or would you rather me be as helpless in a fight as a child?" Mitianna said under her breath so that Falconous would not hear. "Now attack me so that I can keep my edge.... and my sanity!"

Falconous turned when he heard the first peel of metal on metal as the two girls started to duel. The guards that stood before him began to surge forward and pull their swords. Falconous held up an arm and motioned them out of the gardens. He unsheathed his own blade and began toward the two fighters.

Falconous was only a step or two away when he startled them, "So you wish to fight, My Love?"

Mitianna stepped back and took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "I just needed to get some exercise."

Falconous nodded, dismissing Balanna. "And here I thought I WAS giving you enough exercise in the after hours." Mitianna blushed at the innuendo. "Well, if you want to fight so much, then shall we?"

Falconous took a defensive stance and awaited her assault. Mitianna smiled and brought the sword in an overhead arc. Falconous easily deflected it and bumped her hip to throw her off balanced. "Just because you are my wife, does not mean I will let you win."

Mitianna huffed and countered with a series of quick jabs and cuts. "Just because you are my husband and the Shogun, does not mean I am going to give you mercy."

For the next hour, the gardens were alive with the sound of cuts, blocks, parries and grunts as the Shogun and Empress went about sparring with each other.

After they were done, Mitianna asked between heavy breaths, "So what did the guards say?"

Remembering that he didn't finish the talk with them, he took out and unfolded a piece of paper from his robe. "It says here that there was an energy surge and an explosion just on the outskirts of our system." Falconous studied the paper a bit more before adding, "What do you think?"

"I think so soon after the Progen Cruiser incident, we need to be cautious. We really need to start working on getting out defensive platforms finished." She answered.

Falconous looked off for a time. "I think you are right there, My Love. I will talk with the engineers first thing in the morning."

Author: Midori Kusanagi
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal, Midori/Faye
Content:

"Listen.." A quiet voice murmured. Then in response a slightly louder voice could be heard "Listen, to?"
The hard clashing of swords could be heard by the two cloaked trespassers. "I am trying to listen to the Shogun, just be quiet and let me hear what they're talking about." said the quieter voice. "Midori, do you really think the Shogun will be happy about us just eavesdropping from his window ledge?" said the louder voice.

"Ok im at my wits end, I said listen." whispered Midori in an angry tone, just then, Midori pressed her ear up against the glass and motioned Denziel to keep watch. She could hear a faint muffled conversation between the Shogun and Empress..

"It ... here that ... was ... energy surge and ... explosion just on the outskirts ..." She heared the Shogun saying this and barely made it out, "What ... you ...?" Midori then turned to Denziel and followed with "It sounds like something is out down in the outskirts, didnt we received a transmission from there a little while ago?" Denziel nodded then turned to keep watch.

"I ... so ... after the Progen ... inci..., we need to ... cautious. We real... ...d to start ... on getting ... defensive ... finished." Midori turned to Denziel yet again, "Hmm... They could either be talking about the incident with me, or that cruiser... Not certain, lets head back to Evolot, I wish i didnt have to act like a spy, but i dont want to disturb the Shogun, plus, its easier this way, i dont want to deal with his guards while im using this body.."

Just as they were about to climb off of the building, Midori turned and heard something else said, she could barely make this out, even less so than when she was purposefully listening.

"... think ... right there, .... I will ... ... ... first ..."

Turning back to Denziel, who shrugged his shoulders, "Yeah ok, time to go." Midori Pauses for a moment, Denziel turns to her again, "Midori, are you alright." Midori, who was in a trance like state, quickly snapped out of it and replied with "Yeah im fine, lets go." in a less than amused tone.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal, Midori/Faye
Content:

Falconous was walking back to his room pondering all that was decided in the meeting with his advisers. Building 75 strategically placed weapons platforms grouped in triplet within the Te'kal system and an additional 10 platforms for Magnus, 4 platform for Reclamation station and 44 massive platforms paired around Tagnus seemed a bit much. Then he thought back to his battle with just one cruiser of the Progen and thought it may not actually be enough. He had to put his plans for the third and final shipyard in the Te'kal system. It will be the largest they had ever built, able to construct 4 battleship class ships 2 Titans or an immense Leviathan size ship. Of course making that many capitol ships now would not be the wisest, it can also build 8 Battlecruisers or 16 cruisers at a time as well if need be. After it is built, the Galactic Shogunate could feasibly field 1 regiment a year.

As he opened the door to his room, he could hear Mitianna just finishing up in the shower. He sat heavily on the edge of his bad and began to take off his boots. With a towel wrapped around her hair and nothing else, Mitianna came out and sat next to her husband.

"What was decided?" She asked.

Falconous looked at her, still marveling in her beauty. He let a small smile cross his lips as he replied. "We are putting the shipyards on hold and rushing the defense platforms into construction." He paused for a moment before continuing, "We also put out an edict that families without children or with grown children are to begin working on the stations to relieve those that do. We have also enacted a step discount on taxes for each child in a family. Each child will warrant a 10% decrease in a families total tax." Falconous looked to his wife for a reaction.

Mitianna looked away for a moment, "You are trying to boost the Empires numbers aren't you?"

Falconous shook his head. "It is not something that we are doing lightly. But since the attacks 14 years ago, we have only gained some 10% to our population. Our society has always looked to keep it's population low due to trying to keep our empire centered. We can no longer afford to do that in this time. If we were to have another Progen attack, it could wipe out another quarter of our population or more. We can not allow that to happen."

"At least this way you are not ordering people to have children, only giving the incentives. And with Faye now running the Deuterium trade, if she keep up the volume she has the last month or so, the loss of taxes will be insignificant. We actually will make more off the shipments and trade than all of our tax collection. My only concern is in 10 years when all these children enter adulthood, will we be able to support them and their children?" Mitianna replied.

"As history always points out so blatantly, a growing civilization will always adapt. I do not see any problems with the growth as long as we take the necessary steps now to establish the structures we need, both physical and governmental. Also, as our name and trade increases, we will have travelers and settlers make Te'kal their home, further increasing our numbers."

Mitianna lay back on the bed and pulled her towel off, letting her semi-wet hair fan out. "Well the only thing I know for certain is that this household will be increasing in size in about 8 months." A smile spread across her face as she saw Falconous jerk around to look at her.

"You mean you're...."

"Pregnant, yes. I found out this morning."

Falconous bent down to embrace her. "This is wondrous news, My Love. We are going to have a baby." He kissed her deeply and ran his hand behind her neck.

Mitianna brought up one hand and placed it on his back between the shoulder blades and the other ran it through the hair on the back of his head. "I just hope this relieves some of the stress off of you from the commanders."

Falconous pulled away and looked at her with a frown. "After I chose you, I didn't care about that obligation, all I cared about was living my life with you by my side. This.... this is just wonderful in it's own right."

Mitianna pulled him down again and whispered in his ear, "Why don't we get you out of the rest of these clothes."

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal
Content:

Falconous awoke in a cold sweat. The dream that had been haunting him for the last few nights had returned, this time with a conclusion that upset him more than ever before. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he glanced over to where Mitianna would be laying to see her awake, sitting up in bad as well, not in a panic, but calmly staring at him.

"We need to talk, Falco..." She said suddenly.

Falconous was still breathing hard as he replied. "What is it, My Love?"

"I want to take the (ship's name) out on a mission before we announce that I am with child." There, she had said it and she tried to gauge his reaction. When she felt his body tense in response, she hurried on before he could muster his arguments. "It doesn't have to be anywhere dangerous, I just want one more chance to get out and be active before I am overwhelmed with the doctors and ladies-in-waiting and well-wishers who think they will acquire some sort of luck if they get to rub my pregnant belly."

Falconous grumbled as she continued, "Before you married me I was one of the best officers in your corps. Hell I surpassed Gudd in most areas! How can you just demote me for no reason? I have done nothing to deserve such a court martial? I should insist on a court hearing, at least then I would have the right to appeal!"

"You were not demoted, My Love. I married you because I love you, not because I had to. The decision to do the Trinity only allowed us to shed the barriers of our ranks. But I cannot allow you to go off on a potentially dangerous mission when you lead the people as their Empress and now being with child." He explained.

"You of all people, who have been such a champion of equality and making all professions open to both sexes! Listen to yourself! You are a hypocrite and are being narrow-minded and selfish! I did not work so hard for years, study and practice and serve my way up the ranks to be put on a shelf for display as one of your trophies or spoils of conquest! Why did I ever let myself be led like a lamb to the slaughter?" She said in frustration.

Falconous, feeling like he was being backed into a corner, began to lose some of his civility. "You knew from the beginning what it was going to be to marry the Shogun. You saw, at my side, what it was like to partake of the court settings, the meetings and inspections. You were there. How can you say these things now? When our Empire is stronger than ever and we are headed to great heights?"

"And while YOU lead us to great heights, I am to be weighted down by a baby and my title." She repositions herself to stare into his eyes. "I promise you this, if you allow me to go on just one more mission, I will be content to sit at your side and support you in everything you do, I will raise our son and do all that is expected of my as the Empress. But I beg of you, allow my this one favor, one last command."

Falconous reached up and brushed away a tear glistening in the moonlight filtering in through their balcony window. "If I do this you will have to leave unnoticed." Mitianna jumped with glee, she kissed him and embraced him in an excited hug. "I have been meaning to go on a mission to the neighboring system to try and open diplomatic relations with them. As you are the Empress, you have all the authority to talk on my behalf."

She hugged him again, "Anything would be great. Thank you so much, My Love for seeing my side of things."

Falconous held her close, "I may not agree with it, but I can understand your feelings in it. But I want you back as soon as you are done with the mission. I do not want you too far away from doctors for too long."

"You can send one with me if it will make you feel more at ease." She said, climbing on top of him to sit on his lap and look in his eyes straight on. "I promise to be a good girl while I am away and come home soon." She leaned forward and kissed him more passionately this time. Falconous reached up and pulled her down to him as they got lost in each others bodies.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal
Content:

Falconous was inspecting a regiment of troops when a runner came out of the command post at a sprint. He skidded to halt, almost knocking Falconous from his feet.

"My Lord, we just received a message on several common channels, it looks to have been broadcast across all bandwidths." He said in a frantic pant.

"Well what is the message?" Falconous asked, now visibly disturbed by the urgency of the runner.

"My Lord, my orders were to relay that information to you and escort you back to the command post for you to hear for yourself." He half turned and started toward the post, "This way, My Lord."

Falconous followed him, forgetting about the regiment still at attention behind him. The officer in charge waited a few moments before dismissing the troops. Falconous entered the building to an eerie silence, all eyes turned to him as he approached the officer in charge.

"What is this all about Lieutenant?" He demanded, being careful not to show the built up tension he was feeling to the moment.

"My Lord," He bowed, "We received this message only minutes before, but we were unable to tell exactly where it was since it arrived on all normal frequencies and stopped just as suddenly as it started." He signaled to the tech on a computer who pressed a few buttons and the playback began:

"This is Mitianna Marks, Empress of the Galactic Shogunate on a diplomatic mission, please cease fire and open communications...." In the background an answer of 'No response, My Lady." could be heard. "Alien ship, we are on a diplomatic mission returning to the Te'kal system, we have no hostile intentions toward you...." An explosion could be heard and the report, "Shields at 40%."

"Send out a distress signal. All friendly ships in the vicinity, this is the Galactic Shogunate cruiser on a diplomatic mission returning to the Te'kal system, we are set attack by an alien vessel, please send aid immediately if possible..... Send the coordinates....." The transmission ended.

Falconous spun to the officer, "Did you get the coordinates?"

"No My Lord, the transmission was cut off sharply after what you heard." He replied.

"Get me Space Command now!"

The communications tech pressed a few buttons and over the speaker came the voice, "How may I help you, My Lord?"

"I assume you got the message as well, I want it triangulated as best you can, and I need a ship." Falconous ordered.

"Yes, My Lord, we are already working on the origination of the signal. The only ship available is the Kraken, it was just refitted with fuel and weapons from it's training mission. I will give the order to prep for your arrival and departure." The voice said.

"I will be there momentarily." Falconous said and left the room at a swift pace.

As soon as he was out the door, he was at a dead run for the shuttle pad, nearly a mile away. The burning in his legs and lungs were only a distant twinge as his focus stay on getting to the pad and getting to Mitianna, getting to his wife..... getting to his Love.

As he ran, many of his guard, not knowing what was happening ran after him, trying to keep up, but Falconous, with his lighter armor and focused mindset, outdistanced the guards by many meters. He did not even slow as he reached the shuttle, he bound aboard and yelled to the pilot to lift off.

The pilot, who was called by Space Command to ready for departure was nearly ready when Falconous reached the ship and was lifting off before his guards were able to catch up to him. Within two minutes, they were speeding out of the atmosphere and took a course at the fastest they could go without creating a hazard. With all ships routed away from their flight path, it did not take them long to dock aboard the carrier Kraken.

Before Falconous reached the bridge, the carrier had de-moored and started out of the shipping lanes. They made a straight line for interstellar space and engaged full impulse engines.


Coninued in Intersellar space

Continued from Time?


Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal
Content:

Falconous was visibly distraught as he left the shuttle and made his way to his private Estate far into the mountains outside the Imperial City. Not far in the distance, the rhythmic chanting on the monks from the temple a few hundred yards to the North of his estate. The path he walked was lonely as he had ordered his guards to stay at the Palace. He was able to clear his mind without feeling the need to search out his surroundings. This was the one place he could truly feel peace and be at peace. But his thoughts were clouded with uncertainty and confusion.

It had been two weeks since Mitianna had left and a week since she had gone missing. He had spent every waking minute putting all effort into searching for her, he had even taken a few shifts piloting a fighter to assist in the search. He had gotten so very few hours of sleep the last week, and now that he was alone, he felt the weight of exhaustion bearing down on his shoulders.

Gone was the love of his life, gone was the familiar feeling of her presence, gone was the touch of her hand against his cheek when they were in private, gone was his wife. He had a great urge to take a ship and continue to search for her on his own, but the responsibility of his position kept him grounded and coming back to Tagnus with the Kraken. The short day trip back was a somber one as all aboard felt that they had failed their mission.

Falconous stopped at a junction in the path that he was following and stood there. The slight crisp breeze ruffled his cloak and his hair waved as it passed through. The chanting had faded as the music was at an interlude. When the monks began chanting again, a tear came to his eye. The chant they were voicing was the last one that he and his father had done before they left to the Imperial City and his departure aboard the Shogun's Shield.

He took the North fork and made his way to the temple. The rough climb did not phase him as he was focused on his thoughts and not the path ahead. He entered the immense single room structure and proceeded to remove his shoes and kneel before the statues before his. He lowered his head to the ground as he slowly began to add his voice to the chant to their ancient deities. He allowed himself to get caught up in the process and his voice began unsteady and unsure.

He bowed to the ground, he allowed himself to forgive his lack of strength for his men men. He straightened and took a breath. His chant became stronger, more steady.
He bowed to the ground, he allowed himself to forgive his lack of strength for his people. He straightened and took a breath. His chant became stronger, more steady.
He bowed to the ground, he allowed himself to forgive his lack of strength for his hidebound ideals. He straightened and took a breath. His chant became stronger, more steady.
He bowed to the ground, he allowed himself to forgive his lack of strength for not being there for his wife. He straightened and took a breath. His chant became stronger, more steady.
He bowed to the ground, he stayed there for a moment, he could not forgive himself for leaving his wife out in space without knowing the truth. He straightened and choked back his own failure. His chant had stopped.

The entire temple had become deathly quiet as the monks had focused on their Shogun chanting so strong become so quiet so fast.

Falconous tilted his head back and let out a howl that made the monks cower a bit in surprise and fear. As the howl went on, he poured his emotions into the release and his powers seeped into it as well. The building began to tremble on the very bedrock that the amazing temple was built. The monks scattered to get free of the building before it was brought down. Falconous' howl went on and on, inhumanly long as it reverberated throughout the temple, the valley and the mountains themselves.

As quickly and unexpectedly as it started, he stopped and slumped forward. Looking at the ground, Falconous pondered what he was to do. His face hardened as he had made his decision. He straightened his back and stood, he replaced his shoes and ran down the path he had just climbed. in mere moments, he had reached his shuttle and he was flipping switches in a blur of finger and wrist movements.

He was off, ascending to the space that surrounded the planet he had called home.

Author: Falconous Jakal
Title: Time?
Location: Imperial Palace, Tagnus
Timeline: 10044
Tag: Falconous Jakal, Midori
Content:

Having not much to do due to her Ships malfunction causing alot more damage that previously expected, all Midori had to do was stare up to the sky, from her room she could see alot of things happening.

She witnessed over the last while a large Carrier leaving Tagnus, then returning a while later, all seemed very exciting. But due to her Comm's on the Seraphim going haywire she couldn't contact the GS without using one of the other ships, which seemed trivial as the Seraphim would be fixed soon.

Just as she was about to turn away from the onlook of space, she noticed a tiny shuttle leaving Tagnus at high speed, in that moment, she felt an urge to follow it.

Midori made her way to the Seraphim as quickly as she could to check if things were okay yet. When she arrives she questioned Denziel about it, asking if the final repairs could be fixed during flight, after a short conversation, Midori was in her captain's seat ready to give the order for take-off.

"All systems are online, we are only lacking the comm's systems right now Midori, give me a few hours and i willl have it back online." Denziel said as Midori was giving the orders for launch.