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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

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【VAF】Chapter║: 27 ─ Probing Force

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37 minutes after the Fleet Commanders ended their meeting hundreds of wormholes appeared near Silenia 4, and from those wormholes emerged 1000 Hakum ships.

Onboard the Atlantis Class SkyCruiser UAS Rome B2265 Admiral Andrews is surprised by what he sees.

Admr-Andrews: " Its just Hakum Sky Swords, Sky Spears and Sky Super-Spears! No Hakum Sky Blades or Sky Daggers! Why?" the admiral opens a Coms channel with the other Fleet Commanders "Are you all seeing this?"

Gen-Chan : " Our goose is cooked!"

Gen-Aziz : " Migon Escort?"

Admr-Mahidra : " Most likely!"

Admr-Kondi : " Do we run, or do we die?"

Admr-Andrews: " We fight!"

Gen-Chan : " We don't run from Hakum!"

Gen-Aziz : " Let them come"

Admr-Mahidra : " We stand our ground!"

Admr-Kondi : " Then it's Death!"

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Onboard the UAS A2278 Curtland Captain Bennet receives her orders.

Capt-Bennet : " It looks like we're going to stick it out"

Exec-O: " It's going to be a fight!"

Capt-Bennet : " Engineering; Reactors to Maximum!"

Eng-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Navigation; Put us on assigned battle station! Ahead one Third!"

Nav-O : " Ahead one Third Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Weapons; I'm authorizing fire control release! Fire at will!"

Wpns-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Tactics; I'll need a constant read on their manoeuvres!"

Tact-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Surveillance; We have to coordinate our attack with the others! Keep the data link system active, and synchronize us with the Fleet!"

Surv-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Coms; I need a continuous link with Fleet Command!"

Coms-O : " Aye Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Security; I need your people to help with the injured!"

Scrt-O : " Aye Captain!"

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The Human Fleet was definitely outnumbered, and victory was never a real possibility, but that did not stop the humans from trying. As the two forces collided in an exchange of fire, more and more human ships were drawn away from Silenia 5 because more of the Hakum assault was directed at Silenia Five's moon; where the military instillations were located. To human commanders it seemed that the Hakum wanted to deal with the defensive human forces on the moon before their assault on Silenia Five.

Understanding Hakum military strategies was complicated by the fact that no one could discern their strategic objectives. Understanding what the Hakum were planning was always difficult, and Humans had never been able to decipher their cryptic logic, but extensive war gaming made the humans prepared for all sorts of scenarios. The big problem was that the Hakum were in all likelihood combining their own objectives with those of their masters the Migon.

To the Humans the attack on Silenia Five did not make any kind of sense, and there was no strategic value in the destruction of the outpost because the area was surrounded by Developing Interstellar Civilisation that could host Galactic Alliance forces in the event of an emergency. Therefore destroying the military base in Silenia could not weaken any long term Human military presence in the region.

Analysis pointed to something else at work, and Human military strategists feared that this assault might point to a full scale mobilization of the Migon Federation.

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Onboard the UAS A2278 Curtland Captain Bennet is trying to keep things together in the largest battle of her career

Capt-Bennet : " Turn to the right!" the ship shakes as a result of Fusion Beam hull Impact "Dispersion fire on 220!"

Nav-O : " Aye!"

Wpns-O : " Aye!"

Capt-Bennet : " Damage report!"

Eng-O : " Hull breach on deck 69! Emergency measures holding!"

Capt-Bennet : " Redirect energy!"

Eng-O : " Aye!"

Surv-O : " Wormhole forming at 6 O'clock!"

Exec-O: " On screen!"

A wormhole forms near the planet Silenia Five, and from the wormhole emerges three 4-5 km diameter asteroids moving at high velocity in the direction of Silenia Five, then the wormhole closes.

Capt-Bennet : " Inform Fleet command!"

Coms-O : " Aye Captain!"

Surv-O : " Another Wormhole forming at 5 O'clock! More asteroids Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " What the hell?"

Surv-O : " Another Wormhole forming at 7 O'clock! More asteroids Captain!"

The wormholes continue to form for a second, release asteroids, close and open on another location near Silenia Five.

Tact-O : " They're popping up everywhere! Reading Hundreds of asteroids Captain!"

Capt-Bennet : " Ooh God no!" hand over mouth "Its some sort of mass driver!"

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When the series of Wormholes stopped the entire Hakum force jumped into Nth Dimensional Hyperspace leaving the Hundreds of asteroids to plummet to the surface of Silenia Five. Because of the initial speeds of the asteroids their impacts with the planet were more pronounced than would occur with natural asteroid impacts, and the force of their collision was biblical; destroying everything in sight.

The Hakum Fleet suffered no casualties, and they were able to escape with most of their ships largely undamaged. The human Fleet on the other hand had suffered major casualties with the destruction of; 2 Aries Class BattleCruisers, 1Vanguard Class BattleCruiser, 12 Apollo Class Destroyers, 2 Nubia Class Destroyers, 4 Juggernaut Class Frigates, 3 Valiant Class Corvettes and 236 Gunships.

The human fleet could do nothing but watch as the devastation on Silenia Five unfolded, the asteroids were moving too fast and they were too far away for their weapons to be effective. The people on Silenia Five knew what was coming, and they sought shelter from the coming storm. For the first time the Human race understood the true extent of the Hakum capabilities, and nothing would ever be the same again.

As the human fleet observed the asteroid impacts on Silenia Five the preparations for full scale evacuation of survivors got underway. Crystalorb's 100 Casara Class Cruisers were the only large ships in the area capable of Atmospheric manoeuvring, and they were being prepared to rescue survivors on the planet Silenia Five. Crystalorb instructed its commanders to begin rescue operations as soon as the planetary Atmosphere was stable.

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When the recovery operations got underway the scale of the devastation was beyond belief, the near total destruction of Silenia Five. The Joint Silenia Five Colony belonging to all 5 Human Governments had been the Human Civilisation's premier Outpost, and the Joint Silenia Five Colony had grown to become the largest Interstellar Trade port for 1000 LightYears in any direction.

Fortunately the Silenia Five Interstellar Trade port was still intact, along with the Joint military base, and from it the 5 Human Governments could continue to maintain a military presence in the region. As the mobile StarShips positioned themselves to assist with the evacuation of Silenia Five information about the attack started to spread through the Internet; The Internet now referred to Interstellar Network a Subspace Communications network that evolved from the original Internet of Earth's 20th centaury.

The Developing Interstellar Civilisations of the region went into a panic as connections to the human based Interstellar Network gave them access to human news channels, and the realization that there was a Hakum Planet Killer in the region spread through the populations of all the worlds within 2000 LightYears of Silenia Five. The Developing Interstellar Civilisations weren't the only ones afraid, even the Developed Interstellar Civilisations were afraid, but the Advanced Interstellar Civilisations kept calm and prepared for war.

The United Atlantic Federation, the United Indian Federation, the Islamic Alliance and the Asian Consortium believed that the attack on Silenia Five was to prevent the Human Civilisation from intervening to protect the region from Hakum attacks, but the African Federation did not share the views of the other Human Governments. The African Federation along with Crystalorb took the view that since this was an attack by the Hakum's Migon Escort Division, and it implied the beginning of a Migon advance.

The Crystalorb Leadership had been observing the events on Silenia Five, and 1.08 Billion Crystalans living on the Crystalorb Moon and on Earth had witnessed the battle in Silenia Five as part of their Crystalorb Network. It was Crystalorb policy that the Council of Elders and the Crystalorb Leadership not hide from Crystalans any military activity taken in the name of Crystalorb, and on behalf of Crystalans.

This gave Crystalans real time battle information, allowing them to influence their elected representative in the Crystalorb General Council when decisions were being made. Crystalorb was in constant contact with the African Federation's Federal Executive Council; preparing to coordinate and synchronize strategies with the Federal Executive Council and the African Federal Security Force.

As casualty numbers became available the death toll was estimated at 597 million; 52% of whom were Human

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At the UHC headquarters in New York the United Human Civilisation Security Council was in an emergency session to determine a collective course of action in response to the Hakum attack on Silenia Five. They were represented by; Ambassador Cross of the United Atlantic Federation, Ambassador Jadu of the African Federation of City States, Ambassador Muntra of the United Indian Federation, Ambassador Lee of the Asian Consortium and Ambassador Issack of the Islamic Alliance.

Ambassador Jadu of the African Federation invited Maole of the Crystalorb Council of Elders to address the UHC Security Council as part of their planning process.

Amb-Cross : " We should decide on the size of the Reinforcing BattleGroups"

Amb-Lee : " Our Allies in the area are screaming for assistance"

Amb-Issack : " Our military analysts think that we should at the very least each send 10 BattleCruiser BattleGroups and 5 SkyCruiser BattleGroups”

Amb-Cross : " The UAF agrees with the IA's analysis"

Amb-Muntra : " The UIF also agrees!"

Amb-Lee : " As does the AC"

Amb-Jadu : " The AF cannot support such a position, our analysis indicates the possibility of problems."

Amb-Lee : " You mean Crystalorb analysis?"

Amb-Issack : " What sort of problems?"

Amb-Muntra : " We have to Reinforce our people on Silenia Five."

Amb-Cross : " This isn't the time for the African Federation to be dragging their feet!"

Amb-Lee : " We've just experienced the most severe attack on humans in over 170 years."

Amb-Jadu : " The African Federation won't ignore the obvious."

Amb-Issack : " What do you mean?"

Amb-Jadu : " You people are in such a hurry to go to war that you have not taken the time to try and understand the enemy's strategies."

Amb-Cross : " We are an Alliance member now! We are getting support from our allies in the Galactic Alliance! Their ships are en-route as we speak!"

Amb-Jadu : " It's only been a few days. The Galactic Alliance protection detail has not arrived yet, and you want to weaken our perimeter defence by sending ships 29000 LightYears to protect the already destroyed Silenia Five Colony?"

Amb-Muntra : " I don't believe this?"

Amb-Lee : " What has happened to your Humanity?"

Amb-Issack: " All that Crystalorb technology inside you has made you less caring, this is about lending support to people in our joint colony"

Amb-Cross : " Besides; you don't participate in long range perimeter defence; your colonies are closer to earth."

Amb-Lee : " Has the African Federation been completely taken over by Crystalorb?"

Amb-Jadu : " I don't know what you people have against Crystalorb! However we have no problems with the improvements they've made to our society, and our people leave more secure and fulfilling lives"

Amb-Lee : " They've implanted your entire population with their neural implants, and we believe that they somehow manipulate behaviour and moods, which is why there's such little expression of an independent will amongst your population. We think that they've somehow interfered with your genetics to make you more like them, and that is why only you seem to be able to understand them. Your Utopian society has come at the cost of your freedom!"

Amb-Issack: " Now most of your people have adopted their religious beliefs, you've abandoned most of your long held traditions and the African Federation has become increasingly more secretive; just like Crystalans! You've restricted access to your Ra system, and these days not even tourists are allowed in the Ra system. What are you hiding?"

Amb-Jadu : " The African Federation understands your concerns, but your perception of Crystalans is simply wrong! Most of you make the mistake of Thinking of our friends the Crystalans as a different human racial group, and you fail to understand that Crystalans are Africans! I know you would me more comfortable if Crystalans were more integrated like; Lodians and Hodians. But their way of life has set an undeniable example for African communities, and by learning from their example we've become a better people. We in the African Federation have the most Egalitarian human society, and this transformation has been inspired by Crystalorb. No people respects an individual's freedom more than Crystalans. They would never interfere with an individual's right of choice. The technological enhancements to our bodies are no different to the ones available to the rest of Humanity, we've just made them freely available to all our people, and that has allowed us to build a public network and database for wireless information access. Our children no longer have to spend years learning how to read and write because the Crystalans have found ways to introduce that knowledge directly into our brains, and they can also give any citizen of the African Federation any skill he or she desires. The Crystalans have simply found a way to implant Knowledge."

Amb-Cross : " That's part of the problem! If they can somehow program your brain, then what would stop them from making you agree with everything they say? And why is the technology only available to the African Federation? Have the Crystalans explained how the technology works? Why won’t they share that technology with the rest of Humanity?"

Amb-Jadu : " We know how the technology works, and all implanted knowledge is approved by the Department of Information." shaking his head "Getting back to the point! In 2260 the African Federation and Crystalorb sent a joint taskforce to within 1000 LightYears of sector 02H10 at Galactic Radius 27000 LightYears. Crystalorb was initially hesitant to undertake such a mission because they believed it too dangerous, and until then any ship other than those of the Older Interstellar Civilisations did not return from such expeditions, but after some talks the Crystalans agreed to contribute 2 Crystalan Ships and 4 Casara Class Cruisers to support our 3 Nubia Class Destroyers and 6 Valiant Class Corvettes. We needed to get within 1000 LightYears of sector 02H10 to be able to deploy our long rage probes. The objectives of the taskforce were to survey the disposition of the Migon forces, and to determine if they were preparing to move against our region. After four years of operations deploying a total of 3000 probes our taskforce returned home safely, the probes are still operational, and they continue to report wormhole activity. Over the past 6 months we've noticed an increase in wormhole activity, and we think that it's because there are significantly more ships in sector 02H10 than there used to be. We've passed on our information to the Galactic Alliance and they've indicated that they'll send a long range scouting group to the Migon border to investigate."

Amb-Cross : " It's possible that the activity you've detected was the Hakum fleet that is currently in the region, and since we joined the Galactic Alliance we've been receiving Galactic Alliance security reports, recent reports indicate increased Migon activity in sector 00H35 their frontline border! The Older Interstellar Civilisations believe that the attack on Silenia Five may be an attempt to force the Galactic Alliance to thin their reinforcing BattleGroups in sector 00H35"

Amb-Lee : " We've all seen the reports, and I know the African Federation has also seen them! What I don't understand is why you think the Migon will attack here?"

Amb-Muntra : " Does the O'con Federation share your concern?"

Amb-Jadu : " The O'ltana don't believe that the Migon pose an Immediate Threat to them, but they do consider the Migon to be a long term Threat."

Amb-Lee : " If the O'ltana do not see the danger, then perhaps the danger does not exist!"

Amb-Issack: " And why would they? The O'con Federation has 900 Eleven ship SkyCruiser BattleGroups!"

Amb-Cross : " That's Over 9000 extremely advanced Warships! Not to mention the fact that they have an additional 400 Elmak Class SkyCruisers protecting their frontline outposts"

Amb-Jadu : " And that's precisely why we think that they will come here! They won't try to confront the O'ltana directly, but a strategic strike against the Human race could weaken the Galactic Alliance in the region and leave the younger races at the mercy of the Hakum."

Amb-Lee : " All this sounds like Crystalan thinking to me! They want us to pull back our forces and be reclusive like they are! Keep our heads down and all that!"

Amb-Issack: " Ever since the Crystalans had to be rescued in GG54171 they've been a little gun shy!"

Amb-Jadu : " This isn't about the Crystalans!"

Amb-Cross : " Why haven't we heard from the Crystalans? What have they been doing the past 25 years? Ever since we built the SkyCruisers we haven't needed them as much, and none of us has seen a Crystalan Ship in 27 years. All we see these days is their Casara Class Cruisers, and Silenia Five is their first combat role since the GG54171 Battle. Why have they pulled back?"

Amb-Muntra : " Why haven't they sent someone to talk to us?"

Amb-Jadu : " Actually they did send someone to speak to the Council" he signals the doorman, and when the door opens three Guardian Armoured individuals enter the room "May I present Lord Maole Olen of Crystalorb!"

Lord Maole then proceeds to greet the members of the United Human Civilisation Security Council.

Maole : " Thanks for hearing me at this our critical hour! The Crystalorb Council of Elders has sent one of their own so that you would believe when we tell you that Crystalorb is convinced that the Migon will attack the Human race. We don't know when, but all the signs point to that unavoidable reality."

Amb-Cross : " Lord Maole! Why attack us and not the Azlecks? Surely the Azlecks pose a greater threat to the Migon than we do?"

Maole : " Do they? If you examine the facts you'll notice a pattern! The Humans are one of the youngest planetary Civilisations to ever survive a Hakum attack! The Human Civilisation is the youngest Civilisation to build Fusion Beam armed Galaxy Class Warships! The Human Civilisation is the youngest Civilisation to build SkyCruisers, and now we're the youngest Civilisation to develop Fusion Beam Convergence technology capable of destroying even the Migon Escort Hakum ships. Our rise in power has been the fastest on record! We've achieved in 200 years what many races have not been able to achieve in 2000 years! Something like this does not go unnoticed!" after a pause "It's the doctrine of Unintended Consequences! Our rise has led to us being noticed by the Migon."

Amb-Lee : " The Galactic Alliance does not share your concerns Lord Maole! In any case we cannot abandon our friends in their hour of need."

Maole : " We understand that the United Atlantic Federation, the United Indian Federation, the Islamic Alliance and the Asian Consortium have made commitments that cannot be abandoned, and that's not what we are asking. Fortunately the African Federation of City States did not sign mutual defence treaties with Developing region Civilisations in return for comprehensive access to their markets, and because of this we are free to focus on our security needs. As we speak 500 Casara Class Cruisers and 70 Esara Class SkyCruisers along with 30 Afruika Class SkyCruisers, 60 Vanguard Class BattleCruisers and 240 Nubia Class Destroyers are heading to the Earth system as part of the African Federation's strategy to defend against a Migon assault. We don't expect that Migon will want a prolonged engagement with Arun so close to Earth, so their likely strategy would be a strategic raid designed to cripple the human race, and thereby prevent us from mounting a full scale campaign against their Heralds. The Hakum that attacked Silenia Five are Migon Heralds, and their presence indicates the start of the Migon Campaign! We don't know when they'll be here, and it could be anything from now to 12 months, but our best bet is that they'll want to conduct their raid before the Galactic Alliance deploys their Capital planet protection detail."

Amb-Issack : " That's just seven days!"

Amb-Lee : " Our perimeter defence systems would see such a force coming"

Maole : " You've seen the video data we received from the Vipun Imperial Frigate # 4152! You must've notice the speed of their assaults! I don't think any of us can prevent a Migon raid. What we can do is prevent them from destroying our planets!"

Amb-Muntra : " With respect, there hasn't been a Migon advance in 1000 years, and even if they've rebuilt their fleet the other Older Civilisations have also been preparing for the next campaign!"

Maole : " Crystalans are intuitive! We see intent! The Crystalorb Council of Elders can harness that ability and amplify it so that we can focus it! We sense an intent to kill or raid the Human Civilisation, an intent to cripple us, to cut us down to size, and to remove Humans as a factor."

Amb-Cross : " Why?"

Amb-Lee : " We are not much of a threat to them! Why not the O'ltana or the Azleck?"

Maole : " The Migon are afraid of what we might become! The emergence of Humans as an Interstellar Civilisation has been Historic. The speed of the rise of the Humans Civilisation to a Developed Interstellar Civilisation has propelled us into a legendary status. Fortunately most Civilisations recognize the Crystal technology as having its origins in the original Azleck Kingdom, and they believe accelerated Human Development to be some sort of long term Azleck project. Thankfully the Azleck Republic has been good enough to take responsibility for the accelerated Human Development, and this is the message that Crystalorb in particular has been spreading throughout the Galaxy! You all know that this is the truth; Hodians, Lodians and Crystalans are an accidental product of Azleck experiments. What must always be kept secret are the initial inputs. The Migon must never find out about this or the Human race will be extinguished. Because Hodians, Lodians and Crystalans hold the power that may one day eclipse even that of the Older Civilisations."

Amb-Issack : " And where have the Crystalans been the past 25 years? What have you been doing? Why did you withdraw?"

Amb-Jadu : " The African Federation wanted Crystalorb to focus on projects that could one day help the Human race turn the tide against our Enemies. We needed them to work in secret until they understood all the variables."

Maole : " Unfortunately the Migon have mobilized before our preparations are complete, and we have not yet gained full understanding of what we needed to learn. However working in secret has given us an element of surprise, and our enemies will find that our ships have been greatly improved. Our technology has moved a step further, and we’re better equipped than we otherwise would have been."

The United Human Civilisation Security Council votes to delay the deployment of the Silenia Five Reinforcing SkyCruiser BattleGroups until the Galactic Alliance deploys their Capital planet protection detail on Earth. However the 5 Human Governments agree to replace all destroyed and damaged Warships in Silenia Five, and they send in recovery teams to assist with the evacuation of Silenia Five.

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