The Saga of Captain Vega (Reformatted)

[Deleted]

Map 3: Rinze: 32X32. Normal Difficulty. No Elite Technology.

Contained within are the memoirs of Captain Juron Vega, a Templar Captain assigned to the protection of a 10th of the Exodus Fleet. It is our hope that this retelling will serve to honor the man who labored diligently and sacrificed much to ensure the future of humanity.

Prepared by the Academy of the Templar Archives, AE 27.15.4.

[Deleted]

1.0 A.E.:

After nearly a century of travel, our small convoy has arrived. I, Captain Juron Vega, was tasked with escorting a tenth of the Star Trader fleet in the Great Exodus. Millions of men, women, and children perished in that chaotic age, yet the Prophet protected us as we left the Galactic Core and journeyed to our new home in the stars.



Unfortunately, though, we did not arrive at our planned destination. Rather, we arrived on a spiral arm adjacent to the Rim that we have been referring to as Rinze. Whether it was due to a plotting error or a conspiracy within the De Valtos hive to chart out new, profitable lands is something that will be determined when there is time. What we do know is the De Valtos hive positioned themselves 1 full degree off target and jumped, leading the other two hives off course. As my sworn duty was to protect this fleet, I was required to follow.



Our portion of Rinze is filled with mineral rich asteroids and binary stars, so even though it was not our planned destination, perhaps this is where the Prophet intended for us to arrive all along. With our fuel dwindling, we really have little choice but make the best of our situation. I feel very nervous whenever I look at the long range scanner and see all the interference blocking our view of the surrounding area. Anything could exist within this dense area. We must be vigilant as we dispatch the exploratory forces.



May the Prophet guide us as we travel this dangerous path...



1.4 A.E.:

What a trying few weeks! We have only just established our first three colonies and already the nobles are bickering about the best residences within their colonies. One would think that the hardships we left behind and have endured thus far would make them less fickle... I suppose some things never change...



Last week we sent the TE Zendu to explore a strange anomaly near our colonies, and they discovered a fully functional, though somewhat archaic and abandoned, hab unit on a desolate planet. Of course, we took advantage of this blessing and installed it on Cadar Prime, but I am nervous about the orange blood in certain places... It almost looks like Xeno blood, but surely the filth could not be even here... Could they?



On days like days, I can only wish my wife and daughters survived the chaos of the Exodus. I was onboard the TD Shalun when they were ambushed by Xeno and all onboard the transport...I have not set foot in that cursed vessel again.



My advisor encourages me to rest, but how can I rest when there is so much to be done? Perhaps a few minutes can be afforded...



1.6 A.E:

By the Prophet! I have slept for a full day! Thankfully, my advisor attended to any urgent affairs, but I must now go about my duties.



While sleeping, the Prophet appeared to me in a dream, encouraging me to keep my vow, even at the hardest moments. I pray this is not an ill omen of things to come...



1.11 A.E.:

Cursed gossips! The TE Zendu discovered some interesting artifacts implying the existence of a rare group of Xeno in the area, though it was far from conclusive and could be hundreds or thousands of years old. However, the news leaked on Cadar, and crushed morale. At times like these, we desperately need to work together, so I established a neutral place for the princes to gather for diplomacy. Hopefully, this will check the ancient rivalries so we may present a unified front to any dangers.



11.13 A.E.:

Our fears were realized today. The TE Zendu discovered a planet today covered in the Xeno filth, but it was not the common filth encountered before. These were the Red Zorga, of whom I had only heard legends. Though the other details varied, they were always described as extremely aggressive and rapidly expanding. So far, the legends proved true. As soon and the TE Zenga discovered one of their colonies, two mass driver ships closed in from outside of sensor range and opened fire. They managed to dodge the first volley, but were struck squarely by the second, inflicting significant damage. It would only take a few more hits like that to destroy the ship, so I ordered the TD Shalun to intercept the ships and the TE Zendu to retreat. I can only pray that they can hold on the five weeks until the TD Shalun arrives.



1.18 A.E.:

The TD Shalun has arrived, and not a moment too soon! The TE Zendu took more damage in the 5 week hit and run battle with the Zorga mass driver vessels, but survived and kept them from advancing beyond the binary star system. If a scout vessel can hold off two, we will see what a proper warship can do against this filth.



1:20 A.E.:

This battle is over, and the Xeno are retreating, but this is no victory on our part. Right after the TD Shalun jumped in, a third mass driver vessel jumped in, and the three together pounded on the TD Shalun as it tried to fend them off. It wasn't until the TD Vega jumped in that they pulled back, but this had less to do with the fact that the Vega arrived then that their real mission became apparent. While our valiant Templar ships were engaging the Xeno filth, a Xeno colony vessel jumped in and planted the filth deep into one of the star systems.



We must crush this infestation swiftly, or we will surely be overrun. Even the TD Shalun and TD Vega will not be able to stand long against this hoard. We need new vessels, new colonies, and new tactics, or we will perish to the man.



1.23 A.E.:

I have been working tirelessly for three weeks now on the Xeno problem, and the faction leaders, my advisor and I have developed a risky strategy. Cadar Syndicate and Syndicate Rychart will establish a parameter of colonies around the Red Zorga space, containing their advance. They will then expand backward throughout the cluster to provide industrial support to the front line. Meanwhile, De Valtos will expand away from the line to provide the financial support essential to the success of this operation.



In order to accomplish this, several things must happen flawlessly. First and foremost, the factions must cooperate with each other at all times. I would hope that they would see the urgency of our situation and unite, but I fear this is wishful thinking. Diplomacy, shared research, and direct Templar involvement in the political sphere are the only things which will make this happen.



Second, we must manufacture new combat vessels and research lost technologies. Now that the Xeno are aware of our presence, they will only grow stronger. If we do not also, we will be both outnumbered and outclassed. Beyond that, our colonies will soon grow beyond their capacity if we do not improve living conditions. A balance between our military and civilian needs must be maintained.



It cannot be overstated how risky this plan is, but it cannot be overstated how dire our situation is. The thought of using colonies as a wall against the Xeno goes against everything I believe, and I can only pray the support structures stand. But, this is the only way. May the Prophet forgive me if I am in error.



1.27 A.E.:

Today, the first warship manufactured in our new home left the stardock. It is a Cadar designed F XVII, codenamed Blue 1, and was designed to be a counterpart to the mass driver ships we encountered before. It is faster than either our TD or TE class vessels, packs a punch with its autocannon, and more importantly, is easily mass produced. Soon we will be fielding a small armada of these fighters.



Soon, De Valtos will be fielding their own design, the Austerity Class fighter. It uses the same weapon system, but uses a much heavier armor and, in typical De Valtos fashion, is twice as expensive. Only time will tell which design is more effective against the alien.



1.40 A.E.:

As I write this entry, the last binary system in the initial Xeno barrier is receiving its first colony. There is still much work to be done; two systems only have one colony, so the alien could easily create a foothold and compromise the containment, but we are decidedly making progress.



There has been no sign of the Red Zorga mass driver ships since our initial battle. I don't know which is more unsettling; seeing their war vessels in combat or knowing they are there, building up their strength. I can only pray that our forces are ready when they reemerge from just outside our sensor range.



May the Prophet protect us from their fury.

[Deleted]

Part 2...

2.5:
Seriously? In the midst of our greatest crisis since the Exodus the faction leaders are going to start feuding? This time, it is De Valtos refusing trade with Rychart over what seems to be little more than a miscommunication. I will have to be swift in dealing with this disunity and pettiness or it will surely spread.

2.20:
It had been a year to the day that the Xeno filth retreated from what would become Marquette, and vanished into darkness. We had not seen a single warship during that entire year.

That all changed today. A fleet easily twice the size of the last fleet jumped in to attack Marquette, guarded by Blue 1 and Blue 2. The TD Shalun and TD Vega are jumping in to assist, but this will be the first true test of the Cadar design.

2.22:
Blue 2 was lost in combat today to the Xeno filth, who then immediately pulled back from combat. Maybe they were just testing us and our combat abilities. Or maybe they were trying to distract us from something.

Either way, we were tested and came up short. We need a larger number of higher quality ships to ever hope to win this battle.

2.24:
So that's it! A colony ship just emerged from the darkness while our fighters and the Vega were chasing away the last of the Xeno hoard. The TD Shalun is preparing to engage. We must not lose another system!

2:34:
It is finally over. Ten weeks of nonstop fighting have resulted in our first victory against the Red Zorga.

The TD Shalun engaged the colony ship and crushed it easily. This emboldened the crew to join with the TD Vega in a revenge mission for Blue 2, which required chasing the murderous aliens deep into their own territory. They bravely drove into the heart of the Xeno infestation and destroyed 2 mass driver ships. Enraged, the Xeno poured out their full armada, but the TD Shalun and TD Vega escaped with only minor damages.

Seething with rage, the Xeno hoard poured down again on Marquette, only to be met with the DVF Austerity, the De Valtos heavy fighter, and the Red 1, a newly designed and constructed Cadar Wolf Cruiser with powers which rival our TD class. Multiple Xeno were slain before they fled for their lives. Celebrations lasted for hours across the colonies, for we now know that they can be stopped. Even I joined in the festivities, though I knew in the back of my mind that the alien would return soon in even greater numbers. Simple containment of the infestation was not adequate. We must cleanse the worlds they occupy.

On a lighter note, I enjoyed the company tonight of one of my officer's sisters, Jessine by name. He introduced us at the celebration, and we talked until the wee hours of the morning. After so many years without my Cassandra, it was nice to have some female company aside from my advisor. Perhaps we will see each other again.

[lixxx235]

Brilliant! Keep it up! +1 exalt!

[Deleted]

Part 3...

3.6:
And so begins the third battle of Marquette. 2 weeks ago, the TD Shalun and TD Vega engaged a Xeno colony ship in orbit around an alien colony, and crushed it without incident. Immediately after the wreckage of this ship burned up in the atmosphere, a fleet of Red Zorga ships advanced on Marquette. The fighters Blue 1 and the DVF Austerity stand ready to engage, as well as the cruiser Red 1. May the Prophet be with them.

3.25:
We have been fighting nonstop for nearly a month now, and our crews are exhausted. Thus far, we have lost the DVF Austerity, but crushed numerous mass driver ships, torpedo ships, three colony ships and three ships of a new design, which seem to be designed around bombarding colonies.

The alien sent their full armada this time, clearly with the intent of slaughtering our citizens of Marquette. We barely managed to crush the first “World Killer” ship before it unloaded its payload of death on Marquette, and in the fighting, the brave pilots of DVF Austerity sacrificed themselves so that Blue 1 could retreat. Their deeds are an honor to the entire De Valtos Syndicate.

Since the initial push, we have fielded Red 2, another Wolf class cruiser from Cadar, and the DVC Prosperity, a Prosperity class Cruiser with the most powerful rail gun humanity has manufactured to date. A further cruiser, the DVC Luxury, is being manufactured as we speak, and will house the most complex torpedo system and a light rail gun. These should help substantially in the coming days.

4.0:
At last, after nearly a year under siege, we have finally pushed back the Xeno hoard. It was a costly battle, as we lost Blue 1 and Blue 2, the DVF Austerity, and the TE Zendu, but they lost countless ships from their armada before scurrying away into the blackness. Our crews are much too tired and ships much too heavily damaged to pursue them now.

In reviewing the combat footage, a scientist from Rychart, who was familiar with ancient combat tactics, suggested that we support our fighters with something he referred to as a carrier; a cruiser sized vessel which can fight, but more importantly, can repair and refuel light craft on the fly. He believes this may be a way to incorporate fast craft back into the battle without as many losses. After considering it for a few days, I commissioned him to not only design a class of vessels to do this, but also to incorporate some of the newfound technologies into more advanced fighter craft.

The designs he submitted were impressive to say the least, but also very expensive. The Falcon SF is fast, extremely agile, and can unleash twice as many barrages of fire as a regular craft. The Condor HF is slower, but much more powerful with its heavy autocannon and boasts impressive armor. The Nest and the Perch CR classes are designed to support the Falcon and the Condor in combat and provide long range torpedo fire. This integrated system does seem like it would substantially improve the effectiveness of our light craft, so I commissioned a fleet of these craft to represent Rychart in combat.

Now that I have a moment to myself, I will inquire of Jessine. I understand she will be around De Valtos Prime in the next week or so, so perhaps I can arrange dinner with her. It would be good to get my mind off the horrors of this last battle.

4:28:
Several months have passed, and we are still finishing up repairs to our fleet. I received an update from our engineers today that the DVC Prosperity will likely need another 10 weeks of repairs. Some have questioned the logic of spending so much time repairing such a heavily damaged cruiser, but the DVC Prosperity is much more than just a cruiser. It was the first reinforcement vessel that arrived in this last battle with the Xeno, and is a symbol of our ability to fend them off. To scuttle the ship and replace it would be devastating to morale, so it is essential that we repair it.

In the months of Xeno absence, the flower of love has bloomed once again for me. Jessine and I have spent much time together as of late, and I find myself marking the days until I am able to see her again. I still wrestle greatly with our relationship; though it has been over 4 years since the Xeno filth took away my Cassandra, I cannot help but feel like I am in some way being unfaithful to her memory every time I take Jessine into my arms. Never before has something seemed so right and so wrong at the same time.

4.44:
After nearly a year of respite from the Xeno, the hoard reared its ugly head once again outside of Marquette. This time, we have a few surprises for them… A small fleet of carrier-supported fighters hides within the asteroids, and we have two Invader class siege transports, the TI Holy Flame and TI Righteous Indignation, and what we call a mother ship, an armed colony ship equipped for orbital bombardment and invasion, are lying in wait.

Our strategy is relatively simple. When the front lines of the Xeno filth begin to engage our cruisers, the fighter squadron will appear out of the asteroids and engage their reinforcements. After the front lines are decimated, the fighters will pull back and be repaired by the carriers while the cruisers are left to only engage the tattered remains of the Xeno combat force. Meanwhile, the siege craft will move in on Callumus II, cleanse the filth from this system, and establish a colony in its place.

May the prophet smile upon our strategy and grant us victory.

[Deleted]

Part 4...

5:20:
Callumus II, the twin star of Marquette, is finally ours! Our mother ship has established a Cadar colony on what was the alien colony.

The battle was fierce and lasted the better part of three months. The outer planets of the system fell relatively easily to our scout teams, but the final holdout of the Xeno hoard, the planet closest to the sun, was deeply entrenched and prepared for prolonged siege. Eventually, we had to mount a full scale invasion of this planet with our full regiment to break the Xeno hold. A young man, Alexander Angelos, was the one who finally took down the queen of this hive, and has been posthumously awarded several distinctions. May his memory inspire all to acts of courage.

5.44:
After the fall of Callumus II, it was expected that the Xeno would break ranks and flee. To their credit, they fought back with everything they had for months longer, though their ranks were crushed by our fighters and cruisers. Even one of our carriers, the HRC Rychart Prime scored a kill. Though the conflict was little more than a skirmish at this point, they held the attack, hoping to reclaim Callumus II

Today, however, the Xeno retreated, presumably accepting their defeat. Contrary to some of the previous battles, there is relatively little damage to repair; our strategy of dividing the conflict between our fighter squadron and cruiser task force worked perfectly, allowing both to repair and rearm but not allowing the same to the Xeno in return. This is a glorious victory for all humanity! Vae Victis!

And now, I have some business with Jessine which was interrupted a year ago…

[Deleted]

Part 5...

6.0:
In celebration of the new year, Jessine and I forever joined our hearts and lives today. While the memory of Cassandra and our daughters lives forever in our memory, I can truly say, for the first time in years, that I am happy.

The celebration will last a full three days on the TD Shalun, a location I deliberately picked to demonstrate my moving on with my life. I had not stepped foot in this vessel for years; it is only fitting that the next chapter of my life opens in this no longer accursed ship.

After the celebration, we will be honeymooning for a full month on the water planet in the Epsilon Ring, which is one of the last systems I can go to on which I can be alone. In the meantime, my advisor, Talia, will handle all domestic affairs and Admiral Orion will handle any military matters which may arise.

6.5:
The last month has been one of the most rewarding, fulfilling times I have had in more years than I can count. Of course, I will not tell you much of what occurred on my honeymoon… that is between Jessine, the stars and I… but the water world of Epsilon Ring is surely a wonderful place for such a time.

Unfortunately, the entire trip could not be so enjoyable. On the way back to the Prime Cluster, we passed an unarmed De Valtos colony ship en route to Epsilon Ring, which was being pursued by a pirate vessel. Local enforcement was too far out, and the rouge was closing quickly on the colony ship, so I was left with little option but to board the ship and slay the pirates to a man. I always wrestle with taking the life of another human, much less a dozen, but we must maintain order.

The entire encounter seemed to be disturbing to Jessine, however. She was somewhat quiet for the remainder of the trip home. I am not sure what about the encounter was so disturbing, but she was clearly troubled. I will give her a couple days and see if I can find out what is going on.

In the meantime, there was something puzzling on the ship. Some of the technology looked very unfamiliar, but matches some of the descriptions of the Red Zorga tech I have received. How is it possible, though, for any humans, even these pirates, to have dealings with the alien? I will have answers one of these days…

6.6:
Jessine finally opened up to me about the encounter with the pirates, and the reality is much more complex than I imagined.

First, she was terrified that something would happen to me while I was onboard the ship. The whole time I was gone, everything that possibly could go wrong played out in her mind, and continued over and over again until the airlock door opened to show me again.

Second, she had assumed, with my position, that I would no longer have to take life. She had been wrestling with the possibility of me having to kill again since we first met, but had hoped that that was all in the past. This encounter caused her to think about the future and the possibility of me having to kill again.

Third, she realized just how intense my training was and how easily I could take life. To her, I was merely her Juron before the encounter. Now, she had seen Templar Captain Vega at work, and how dangerous this man she loves truly is. I am the only person she has ever met who can board a pirate ship and slaughter the crew singlehandedly without so much as a scratch. She didn’t know how to process it at first; in fact, she is still processing it.

In short, then, she went through an emotional roller-coaster the entire time, and is still wrestling with her feelings about this. I must admit that I was taken aback at first by her feelings on this; after all, Cassandra never had a problem with this. But then I realized that Jessine is not from Templar blood; she was not raised with the assumption that battle would happen like Cassandra was, so it is unfair for me to think she would be ok with it all. She said she still loves me, but just needs some time to process everything, which I am happy to grant her.

I can’t shake my own thoughts, though, on that Xeno tech in the pirate ship. Unless they salvaged it at some point, I cannot think of how they would wind up with it, but the completeness of the systems seem to imply that they are new. How is that possible, though? I will find my answer…

6.20:

Those fools leading De Valtos and Rychart! For years their spies have been conducting some clandestine operations against each other, but I have tolerated it for a time because it encouraged research. However, they have taken the conflict to the next level and leveled a mutual embargo. This needs to be dealt with immediately before it becomes an unbridled war.
Sanctions will be in place shortly if there is no change in their relationship.

As usual, this development comes at a terrible time. We have been preparing for an operation we call “Island Hop”, which should lead to the purge of the Xeno filth within 2 years. We will certainly need everyone working together to make this risky operation even hypothetically possible.

[Deleted]

Part 6...

 
6.21:
“Island Hop” officially began today with the advance of our cruiser fleet. Our battle plan, which has taken months to complete, revolves around the cruisers creating a wall in front of the siege transports, while the fighter squadron flanks the Xeno. As soon as a purge is complete, a new colony will be founded to support the attack on the neighboring star, and the siege will continue in this manner until the entire infestation is cleansed.

Given our addition of two more siege transports and the relative ease of the last battle, it seems as though this plan should work, and work well, but with an embargo we are trying to deal with, it may prove otherwise.

Before our launch, I delivered a speech to our forces from Marquette, which was also broadcast on Cellet and the Ursae Outpost. My manuscript read:

“My fellow humans, we are standing in a moment where many have fallen. We have together endured countless hardships over the years, and together we have fought, bled, and mourned, but we have survived nonetheless.

And yet, this is not true of all of us. I look around and see faces missing from our ranks. We are missing the faces of Commander Stephenson and his crew from the DVF Austerity. We are missing Lieutenants Schwartz and Ocho of Cadar. We are missing those who died onboard this vessel when it was critically damaged in the Third Xeno Invasion of Marquette.

How many more faces must we be missing, I ask you, before we say enough? How many children born in De Valtos, Cadar, and Rychart Hab units must never know their fathers or mothers? What is the cutoff point when enough human blood has been shed before we realize that the extermination of the Xeno is our only recourse?

I say that time has long since past. I say the blood of those brave souls will be on our heads if we fail to avenge their deaths! I say that when we look into the eyes of the war-orphan, knowing we could have slain their parent’s murderer, that we be able to look them in the eyes and say, “Yes! The alien took your family, but I took the aliens’ head”.

Let us go, then, in unison against this common enemy. Let us strike swiftly and decisively to crush this infestation. Let us stand together against the alien and take the battle to them. Vae Victis!”

6.23:
We have encountered an armada of Xeno far larger than we anticipated. We are outnumbered 3-1, but we may yet pull through this…

Aim true, warriors, and crush the bugs where they stand.

6.35:
We have taken our first colony within the quarantine zone. It is the Sothaortatul Gamma system, and it is far from the paradise Epsilon Ring is! The white sun burns many of the worlds into cinders, and what is left is pummeled by asteroids and radiation. I cannot imagine more than a few structures being built in this system, though there may well be many minerals to exploit here.

Cadar is less than optimistic, also. They closed a deal with a group of independent traders to grant them a homeworld in exchange for a king’s ransom and permanent repair rights. As of today, Sothaortatul Gamma is no longer a Cadar colony.

It will take a little bit for the siege transports to repair, so we will fend off any counterattack for a few weeks and resume our assault.

6.39:
My worst diplomatic fear was realized today with the declaration of war between Cadar and Rychart. Apparently, Cadar is accusing Rychart of espionage, a crime punishable by death or war for Cadar. Sanctions are essential in this case, and will be in place in a few weeks if nothing changes. By the prophet, this is absurd!

6.44:
Well, it is not ideal, but the agreement I was able to reach between the leaders will at least reduce the hostilities. They have agreed, rather than conduct all our war between the factions, to utilize their assassins and spies to war on each other, a group of people our society would be better off without in the first place. Part of me is worried that it will reescalate into full blown war again, but this will at least keep things in check for a little while.

[Deleted]

Conclusion...

7.1:
Another alien world has fallen to our combined fleet. Aalamotliogoz is the latest to join our fold after being purged of the Xeno filth. What is concerning, though, is that this system is nearly as inhospitable as Sothaortatul Gamma. It seems possible that the Xeno are practicing scorched earth tactics. Rather than give us a system, they are deliberately destroying as much as possible to withhold it from us. This mission just took on a whole new level of importance.

7.20:
There is something very wrong here. Right after the fall of Ghactllli to our forces, we encountered upgraded Xeno ships which were using Udalox Class torpedoes and Guardian Railguns. We had assumed before that the Xeno had salvaged enough remains of our weapons to reverse engineer them, but we have never used the Udalox or Gaurdian in combat. We had only just made reactors powerful enough to mount these powerful weapons.

This lead my mind back to the pirates I encountered on the way home from the Epsilon Ring with Jessine. They were in possession of Xeno tech, and here now is Xeno in possession of our tech. I don’t know who or why, but somewhere is a leak in our security, and either they are trading directly with the Xeno or are trading with outlaws who are trading with Xeno. I swear by the name of the Prophet that I will find the one or ones responsible and make them pay for this.

As I am writing this, I am preparing to embark to inspect our new colonies and join the crew of the TI Righteous Indignation in their siege of the Ihaca 3 system. If I arrive in time, I will join a ground team in their siege.

7.24:
Yet another alien colony fell as I arrived in the system, but there was no joy in this victory. We found extensive evidence of human relations with the Xeno, including evidence that none other than Admiral Orion was on this planet. I attempted to confront him, but he fled in his shuttle before I could get to him. Curse him and all who are with him! We will show no mercy to such a traitor.

7.33:
May this day be removed from the calendar forever! Today the transport which was carrying Jessine and 700 other passengers, namely ST Aeon, disappeared on the way to Ghactllli, with no wreckage to be found. There was, however, faint evidences of the Xeno filth in the area, so we can only conclude that the transport was captured. My mind is racing in a thousand different directions right now. I know she is probably already dead, but part of my senses she is still alive somewhere. I need to take some time to focus on what I…we should do next. Thankfully, out of respect for the incident, Cadar and Rychart have ended their assassin’s duel and are once again cooperating toward the goal of purging the filth from the universe.

7.37.4:
How is it possible!? Jessine is on the side of the Xeno! We just encountered her during our assault on Bothax 3. I know my wife; she would never work with the Xeno, even if someone like Orion would. But my eyes did not deceive me; it was undoubtedly her. There must be some explanation to this…

7.37.5:
Gamma Squad just reported several of the passengers being with the Xeno, but upon their execution, discovered that they were certainly not humans. Their blood was not red like a human, but purple like the Red Zorga. I don’t know for certain, but these aliens seem to be creating a hybrid human/xeno species from the passengers. I don’t know what this means for Jessine, but at least it is possible that she is still alive somewhere. If she is, I will find her, and I will allow neither man nor alien to get in my way. These xeno will feel the unbridled wrath of a Templar…

7.43:
We have cleansed the last of the Xeno colonies in Bothax 3. On the core planet, we found thousands of what can only be xeno clones of the humans captured, including multiple Jessines. We took no pity on their human form. There were no Xeno survivors. We have yet to find the original colonists, but neither did we find any cloning equipment. Alathosol is the last remaining Xeno system, so if Jessine is, by any miracle, still alive, this would be where she is.

7.44:
I ordered no one to assist me on this mission. As one man, the TI Righteous Indignation volunteered for this mission. We would dive in headlong into the very heart of the Xeno infestation on Alathosol to determine if there were any human survivors of the ST Aeon and extract them, destroy any cloning equipment, and butcher any Xeno in the way.

They could have said no. They choose not to.

7.45.4:
We happened upon Orion on the second planet of Alathosol, or rather what remained of him. He was in the process of being transformed into a Xeno, though he still retained all of his memory and consciousness. After about an hour of interrogation, I finally got some of my answers out of him. Apparently, Orion was part of a network of independent Xeno-worshiping “transhumanists” who see the next step of our evolution as merging with the Xeno.

We had no legs after my interrogation, so we carried him into the shuttle and back onboard the TI Righteous Indignation, where he was tried and convicted of betraying the human race. He was ejected from the airlock with an explosive device attached to his chest as a warning to anyone else who may consider following in his footsteps. Now, onto the third planet and any survivors.

7.45.6-7:
Thank the Prophet! After fighting our way for a full week though the waves of Xeno and clones, we found the central clone complex on the third planet of the Alathosol system. After clearing the facility, we turned our attention to the hundreds of pods throughout the complex. I cannot recall the number we recovered, but only that the 17th I opened contained my Jessine, wrapped in tentacles and slime, but alive. She didn’t wake up until after we had gotten all the survivors into the TI Righteous Indignation and orbital bombardment began.

Her being awake doesn’t alleviate my worries about her. She is not responsive, but simply stares into the distance. The psychologist says she will be ok in time, but it may take a long time to get her back. She is worth the wait. The last three months without her have opened up my eyes to this reality.

It won’t take long for the Alathosol system to be rendered sterile. I have mixed feelings about this widespread destruction, but this will guarantee that the alien filth are completely exterminated.

7.47:
The Alathosol system is now completely incapable of supporting multicell life, including any form of Xeno or human. The Xeno filth has been completely eradicated from this sector, and with the last planet falling, we all took a deep breath of relief. The war is finally over for us.

At least, it is over for us with the Xeno. I returned to discover that Rychart and Cadar are at it again with a trade war, a couple planets are overpopulated, and spice is not being evenly distributed. No rest for the weary, I suppose…

[Deleted]

Epilogue...

8.1: Jessine finally started speaking again. Right before bed, I saw her mumbling something silently, so I squatted down in front of her and looked into her eyes. She stopped mumbling for a moment, recognizing my face, and softly whispered, “Juron?”. Immediately she let out a blood curdling scream and sobbed uncontrollably for hours while I held her close. “It is ok” I repeated over and over while trying to comfort her, “It is over; we have killed them all”. Finally she looked up at me saying ominously, “Don’t you understand? It is just beginning…”

[fallen]

Awesome read, and very unique +1!