Eternity RPC Board
11-12-2016, 02:26 AM
(This post was last modified: 11-20-2016, 03:48 PM by Jamzor the Jaxxor.)
“Why am I only hearing about this now?”
“I wanted to make sure it was real before I bothered you with it, Admiral. Planetary Security has been especially jumpy lately.”
Admiral Castillo grunted in reply as he entered the bridge. The marine sentry clicked his boots, saluted, and announced the Admiral’s presence. “Give me a summary of things as they stand now, Commander,” Castillo said.
Commander Kirill started to give him the rundown: “PlanSec CENTCOM’s power reactor was forcefully overloaded, and approximately 40% of the complex was destroyed with the rest sustaining damage. The CNN station in Capentia City has been captured by enemy troops. The enemy assault against the Government House was repelled. There have been multiple explosions across the city that we have determined to be from hidden explosive devices. One of these devices was detonated beneath Viceroy Girgum’s vehicle. His present condition is unknown, but he was alive, if barely, when we last heard.”
“Any activity outside of Capentia City?” the Admiral asked.
“A few small towns and rural villages have declared for the Capentian Liberation Front, none of which have PlanSec garrisons. Some of the smaller detachments have been engaged by the enemy. Overall, however, the majority of activity is in the capital.”
“Right,” Castillo said. “Since the Viceroy is out of commission, I am in control of PlanSec. Ensure it that all divisions are on combat footing, and move any available units not currently engaged or adjacent to an engaged unit to the capital. The defense of CENTCOM is our first priority. After that is retaking CNN. Comms, make sure that Fleet Command-”
“Sir, unscheduled live broadcast on CNN!”
On one of the many screens on the bridge, a picture of a short, round man in faded military fatigues appeared.
“My name is Bendon Franderico, and I am with the Capentian Liberation Front. This morning, we have taken control of the CNN station in Capentia City. The headquarters of Planetary Security, our Arcultian occupiers’ armed enforcement wing, has been destroyed. The Arcultian viceroy is also dead, and the Government House will soon be in our hands.
“Brothers, countrymen! Listen to me! You have been living a lie and have been lying to yourselves. The Arcultians are not our protectors, they are our oppressors. They are not a distant nuisance, but are an ever-present threat to our liberty. They listen to your conversations, read your private communications, and remove anyone they suspect of actionable disloyalty, I know you all know someone who has disappeared. A coworkers, perhaps, or a friend or family member. The police told you that they committed suicide or eloped with a lover, and on the surface you pretended to believe that because the alternative would be too difficult. However, deep down, you knew that you were being lied to. You knew…”
“How long are you going to allow his propaganda to continue?” demanded Admiral Castillo.
“Sir, the enemy’s cyber defenses are much more sophisticated than anything we would have imagined they were capable of,” the systems security officer replied. “It will take time.”
“Admiral,” the comms officer called out, “we have the Viceroy. He wants to speak to you.”
“Very well, I’ll take it in my office.” Castillo walked into a side room which served as his office. On the holographic display which activated on his desk when he approached was Viceroy Girgum. He looked terrible; his face was pale, his hair—what was left of it—was caked in blood, and he had bandages across much of his head. “Viceroy, it’s a pleasure to see you alive.”
“Save it, Admiral. Why are you allowing this to continue?”
“We are moving as efficiently as possible to destroy these terrorists, Viceroy,” Castillo replied.
“Not the damned terrorists!” Girgum snapped. “The broadcast! The damned traitor will ruin us! He’s going after their hearts and minds, don’t you understand? You may not have been following very closely the situation on the ground, but I have. This is too dangerous to be allowed to continue a minute longer!”
“Their cyber defenses are strong,” the Admiral said. “My men will need some time to break through, and the troops on the ground will need time as well.”
“Then launch an orbital strike,” the Viceroy said before coughing up blood.
“Is that wise? In a friendly city?”
“Do it before the city becomes unfriendly!” Girgum yelled as he was carted away by doctors. “Do it, or so help me God, I will ruin you!”
Walking back onto the bridge, the Admiral was worried. Launching an orbital strike, even of the lowest possible magnitude, would have devastating effects on a city as densely populated as Capentia City. There would certainly be unintended consequences. However, disobeying the Viceroy, especially one as influential as Girgum, was incredibly dangerous for not only Castillo’s future career, but also his life.
“Prepare for kinetic orbital strike and target the CNN building. Order our troops around the building to fall back to a safe distance, and fire when ready,” the Admiral ordered. His men hastened to fulfill his commands, as any good Arcultian soldier would, without any hesitation.
Commander Kirill, as his second-in-command, however, was allowed to discreetly and privately ask the Admiral, “Is it wise to use orbital weapons in Capentia City, sir?”
“I have been ordered by the Viceroy,” Castillo said. “There is no more to it.” Kirill nodded.
“I wanted to make sure it was real before I bothered you with it, Admiral. Planetary Security has been especially jumpy lately.”
Admiral Castillo grunted in reply as he entered the bridge. The marine sentry clicked his boots, saluted, and announced the Admiral’s presence. “Give me a summary of things as they stand now, Commander,” Castillo said.
Commander Kirill started to give him the rundown: “PlanSec CENTCOM’s power reactor was forcefully overloaded, and approximately 40% of the complex was destroyed with the rest sustaining damage. The CNN station in Capentia City has been captured by enemy troops. The enemy assault against the Government House was repelled. There have been multiple explosions across the city that we have determined to be from hidden explosive devices. One of these devices was detonated beneath Viceroy Girgum’s vehicle. His present condition is unknown, but he was alive, if barely, when we last heard.”
“Any activity outside of Capentia City?” the Admiral asked.
“A few small towns and rural villages have declared for the Capentian Liberation Front, none of which have PlanSec garrisons. Some of the smaller detachments have been engaged by the enemy. Overall, however, the majority of activity is in the capital.”
“Right,” Castillo said. “Since the Viceroy is out of commission, I am in control of PlanSec. Ensure it that all divisions are on combat footing, and move any available units not currently engaged or adjacent to an engaged unit to the capital. The defense of CENTCOM is our first priority. After that is retaking CNN. Comms, make sure that Fleet Command-”
“Sir, unscheduled live broadcast on CNN!”
On one of the many screens on the bridge, a picture of a short, round man in faded military fatigues appeared.
“My name is Bendon Franderico, and I am with the Capentian Liberation Front. This morning, we have taken control of the CNN station in Capentia City. The headquarters of Planetary Security, our Arcultian occupiers’ armed enforcement wing, has been destroyed. The Arcultian viceroy is also dead, and the Government House will soon be in our hands.
“Brothers, countrymen! Listen to me! You have been living a lie and have been lying to yourselves. The Arcultians are not our protectors, they are our oppressors. They are not a distant nuisance, but are an ever-present threat to our liberty. They listen to your conversations, read your private communications, and remove anyone they suspect of actionable disloyalty, I know you all know someone who has disappeared. A coworkers, perhaps, or a friend or family member. The police told you that they committed suicide or eloped with a lover, and on the surface you pretended to believe that because the alternative would be too difficult. However, deep down, you knew that you were being lied to. You knew…”
“How long are you going to allow his propaganda to continue?” demanded Admiral Castillo.
“Sir, the enemy’s cyber defenses are much more sophisticated than anything we would have imagined they were capable of,” the systems security officer replied. “It will take time.”
“Admiral,” the comms officer called out, “we have the Viceroy. He wants to speak to you.”
“Very well, I’ll take it in my office.” Castillo walked into a side room which served as his office. On the holographic display which activated on his desk when he approached was Viceroy Girgum. He looked terrible; his face was pale, his hair—what was left of it—was caked in blood, and he had bandages across much of his head. “Viceroy, it’s a pleasure to see you alive.”
“Save it, Admiral. Why are you allowing this to continue?”
“We are moving as efficiently as possible to destroy these terrorists, Viceroy,” Castillo replied.
“Not the damned terrorists!” Girgum snapped. “The broadcast! The damned traitor will ruin us! He’s going after their hearts and minds, don’t you understand? You may not have been following very closely the situation on the ground, but I have. This is too dangerous to be allowed to continue a minute longer!”
“Their cyber defenses are strong,” the Admiral said. “My men will need some time to break through, and the troops on the ground will need time as well.”
“Then launch an orbital strike,” the Viceroy said before coughing up blood.
“Is that wise? In a friendly city?”
“Do it before the city becomes unfriendly!” Girgum yelled as he was carted away by doctors. “Do it, or so help me God, I will ruin you!”
Walking back onto the bridge, the Admiral was worried. Launching an orbital strike, even of the lowest possible magnitude, would have devastating effects on a city as densely populated as Capentia City. There would certainly be unintended consequences. However, disobeying the Viceroy, especially one as influential as Girgum, was incredibly dangerous for not only Castillo’s future career, but also his life.
“Prepare for kinetic orbital strike and target the CNN building. Order our troops around the building to fall back to a safe distance, and fire when ready,” the Admiral ordered. His men hastened to fulfill his commands, as any good Arcultian soldier would, without any hesitation.
Commander Kirill, as his second-in-command, however, was allowed to discreetly and privately ask the Admiral, “Is it wise to use orbital weapons in Capentia City, sir?”
“I have been ordered by the Viceroy,” Castillo said. “There is no more to it.” Kirill nodded.