Short Story: So It All Began *Teaser*

[tombe0]

I've been keeping a "history" of sorts of Mwari Colonial Alliance and here's a little teaser for all to see :)

The whole story will be posted after the current game is over.

COPYRIGHT:
This story is a work of fiction based on real events on the Edge Of Chaos - Onli
ne multiplayer internet game. All rights reserved by Seppo Järvinen (a.k.a Tombe
0) 2002. Permission for redistribution in either electrical or printed form can
be obtained by contacting me by email: heaven@imnetti.fi
----------------------------
*TEASER START*
It was now or never, baalsabboth had allready suffered great damage by all attackers, I was just coming in range as I saw a AN ship power up and vanish only seconds later.

"COMPUTER! Track that ship, did it JUMP?"
"Negative, no CJ trace from ship, location unconfirmed."
"Damn it must have powered down."
"Please rephrase order?"

Idiot computer, if you spoke out your thoughts it did think that an order was given... someone should do some major reprogramming on the Voice Control Module.

Then I was in range and let Baalsabboth know my ships full power, The Neutron PBCs did fast job of it's diminishing shields and soon the ship was shredding to pieces. A huge explosion ripped it, as the reactor core was breached.

"Pilot, Escape Capsule leaving target."
"Forget it, we're not murderers."

The EC made a hasty flight to nearest L-Point and vanished to capsule space, most probably jumping to nearest AN controlled system. There it was, the system was now clean, only few ECM Decoys left, and maybe some powered down ships that were to be hunted down soon.
*TEASER END*

[Wizard Prang]

It started, as so many things do, in silence. The Great Hall of the League echoed in its solitude, awaiting the signs of life.

Suddenly, there it was. In a quiet there was a stirring, a rustling as the first pilot appeared. No one knows from whence they came, but in the here and now that did not matter. A moment later, there was another, and another appearing with increasing rapidity until the ancient Hall echoed with chatter. Old friends and comrades greeted each other with warmth and nostalgia over times past. Old enemies buried their differences and consigned past wrongs to the ash heap of history. Plans were made, teams were forged, and so it was that the League came into being once again.

Pilots dispersed to their ships; some to repair ships, most to fighters. Soon the home sector was swarming with ships. Some jumped out to neighboring systems, but most stayed near the base as thoughts turned to the election. Before long, the list of candidates was whittled down to only two or three. It was a difficult choice, but finally one candidate emerged victorious to claim the mantle of Fleet commander

While this was going on, a bunch of the more adventurous - some would say reckless - pilots had jumped out of our system and had gotten as far as Hamadan in the Oman system. They had gone seeking adventure and excitement, and had found it, as the Oman faction became aware of their presence.

Cooler heads back at the League base ordered these hotheads to withdraw, but they refused. When the Fleet Commander was finally elected, his first order was that they turn their ships around and head back to League-controlled space. By then, however, the damage had been done.

We were at war.