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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 1: Ascendance

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【VAF】Chapter║: 28 ─ Instinct

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10 hours later 3 O'con Federation SkyCruiser BattleGroups arrived in Earth space to pick up Ambassador Timal who along with Ambassador Cuvil of the Andronian Federation were due to attend a security conference on Arun. The Crystalorb Council of Elders decided to send Guardian Naole and Guardian Isis as the Crystalorb representatives, and the 5 Human Governments all sent their senior military representatives.

High Commander Azori of the Azleck Republic, General Onlec of the Folong Empire, Sky Commander Khilag of the O'con Federation and Admiral Quanite of the Jiquam Federation would also attend. From the regional powers; General Dapil of the Kulnet Dominion, General Guquil of the Qua Federation, General Bavi of the Solte Federation and High Commander Razod of the Nabi Federated Kingdom

Guardian Naole was scheduled to depart with the O'con Federation SkyCruiser BattleGroups, but before he could leave he had to give his quarterly report to the Council of Elders detailing all the progress made since his last report. When Naole finished his detailed report the Council of Elders called in Commander Cyris and Guardian Isis to give their account, and when they were finished all three section heads remained for additional questions.

Cyris, Isis and Naole stand in front of the Council of Elders.

Scarlet : " For 30 years we've been trying to understand how Naole did what he did on GG54171, but not even Naole has been able to duplicate it."

Kilan : " For a moment you were able to channel the power of the Spirit Stone Naole! Do you have any Idea how?"

Naole : " I think the power comes in response to a need, not a desire! For what ever reason I've always been able to call upon the power of the Heart of Crystalorb!"

Kilan : " Could it be the Blue Chest Crystal?"

Naole : " I don't think so! I do however believe that it might have something to do with the age of the Chest Crystal! Maybe Crystal content is also a factor? But the most likely answer is the age of the Chest Crystal!"

Cyris : " This is your 294th year alive!"

Isis : " And as Crystalans get older they get more powerful!"

Maole : " This must somehow increase your connection to the Spirit Stone!"

Scarlet : " I'm almost as old as Naole, but my connection to the Spirit Stone is relatively the same as it's always been, and since I became an elder I’ve had more direct contact with the Spirit Stone"

Kilan : " We have to remember what the Spirit Stone is!"

Maole : " It is essentially a Chest Crystal"

Scarlet : " Therefore Crystalan Ships and Crystalans without Chest Crystals would always experience limitations in their connection with the Spirit Stone! However the bonding of Crystalan Ships and older Crystalans with Chest Crystals can amplify the connection with to the Spirit Stone."

Cyris : " I'm not sure I like the Idea of bringing our elderly out of retirement so that they can enhance and amplify the connection of the Crystalan Ships with to the Spirit Stone."

Isis : " Wouldn't it be easier to just create more Fragments of the Spirit Stone?"

Scarlet : " Fragments of the Spirit Stone expose the Spirit Stone to dangerous Negative Psionic Energy, and as such must only be placed on vessels that have maximum defence capabilities like the Nalen Class SkyGarrisons!"

Maole : " If the Migon capture a Fragment of the Spirit Stone it could be deadly for all Crystalans"

Kilan : " We will find our oldest and wisest and place them on Crystalan Ships as Crystal Oracles! They will be the eyes of the Spirit Stone!"

Scarlet : " Isis and Naole!" Isis and Naole focus their attention on Lady Scarlet "Go to Arun in the name of Crystalorb. Inform the O’ltana and our other friends what we plan to do. Tell them of the progress we've made."

Isis : " On your Command!"

Naole : " On your Command!"

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The path to Arun is specific and heavily defended. The entry into Arun requires 8 jumps of 30 LightYears, and any deviation from this path will solicit a military reaction from the Azlecks. The Azlecks aren’t colonial, and because of this they only have two large colonies on nearby systems, but they have hundreds of military outpost in a radius of 350 LightYears around Arun. The Azleck's military outposts provide perimeter defence for Arun.

Arun itself is protected by 300 orbital stations that form the planetary defence system. Arun's 3 moons have massive military instillations to support the defence stations, and the moons serve as primary military ports. Arun's defence systems were specifically designed to defend against a Migon assault, and because the Azlecks are one of the few races to survive a direct Migon attack they had a good approximation of Migon capabilities.

Unlike most Advanced Interstellar Civilisations the Azlecks operate more BattleCruisers than Destroyers, and they were studying designs of the Esara Class SkyCruiser with the hope of developing their own version of the Enhanced Weapons Array. The O'con Federation was helping the Azlecks develop Thunder Force Strike capabilities, and the Vanguard Class BattleCruisers they'd previously acquired were useful as test beds for Azleck Enhanced Weapons Array technologies.

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As the security conference gets underway Admiral Quanite of the Jiquam Federation explained the Galactic Alliance response to the attack on Silenia Five and the presence of a planet killer in the Developing region. The Galactic Alliance Council had decided to send a Jiquam Federation led taskforce to hunt the Hakum fleet with a particular focus on destroying the planet killing mass driver.

Admiral Quanite explained that Galactic Alliance scouting ships were already in the area near Silenia Five searching for signs of the Hakum Fleet. Admiral Quanite indicated that the Jiquam Federation was sending 120 StarCruisers to Arun as part of the Galactic Alliance preparations for a possible Migon advance, and that the Folong Empire was also sending 120 StarCruisers to the Nabi Federated Kingdom.

Ambassador Cuvil of the Andronian Federation indicated that for the first time in 1000 years the Andronian Federation would deploy a capital planet protection force of 100 SkyStriders on O'con to help the O'con Federation to better defend themselves in the event of an all out Migon assault. The enigmatic Andronians don't normally participate in capital planet protection, but the O'con Federation was a special case, and the Andronians and the O'ltana had become fast friends.

The similarities between the Andronians and the O'ltana were undeniable, and their Civilisations were kindred spirits. In the O'ltana the Andronians has finally found a partner Civilisation like; the Carmaks and the Hildrano, and the Folong and the Jiquam. Older Civilisations tend to operate in pairs or groups, and the Andronians had for a long time operated on their own because they had no cultural similarities with the other Older Civilisations.

The Andronians are the oldest of the original 6 Older Civilisations, and the Andronians Civilisation is nearly 90000 years older than the Migon, and 200000 years older than the Carmaks. Most of the technology of the 5 Galactic Alliance Older Civilisations has its origins in Andronian technology, and proof of this was the similarities between Andronian Federation SkyStriders and Carmak Republic SkyStriders.

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The fusion of Cephalopod and Electric Eel shape; Andronian Federation SkyStriders are:

1〙 28.5317 km in Length and 8.1837 km in Width on the main body, with 19.348 km long Electric Eel shaped tentacles. 2〙 On the main body of the SkyStrider there are 9 Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons and 10 High Energy Particle Beams Polyhedron Prisms. 3〙 At the tip of each of the 8 Electric Eel shaped tentacles is; an Advanced Fusion Beam Cannon and a High Energy Particle Beams Polyhedron Prism.

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At the security conference the Galactic Alliance decided to assist the 5 Human Governments with security on Silenia Five, and the Nabi Federated Kingdom was selected to help the 5 Human Governments to secure Silenia Five. The Galactic Alliance understood the importance of the Human military presence in the Developing region, and the fact that the 5 Human Governments had become extensive military suppliers to most of the Developing Interstellar Civilisations made a continued Human military presence critical to regional security.

For 25 years the 5 Human Governments had been selling Apollo Class Destroyers, Juggernaut Class Frigates, Gunship Class StarShips and Multidirectional Particle Beams to the Developing Interstellar Civilisations. The Multidirectional Particle Beams sold were intended for Mobile and Immobile defence platforms developed by the Developing Interstellar Civilisations. The selling of this advanced weaponry was part of the Human Civilisation's integrated security development plan for the region.

The 5 Human Governments had been aware that they were on course to join the Galactic Alliance, and that the joining would restrict some of their technology from being transferred to Human allies in the Developing region, but the 5 Human Governments still had obligations as a result of bilateral agreements and treaties. Therefore the 5 Human Governments accelerated the sale of advanced weaponry to Human allies in the Developing region.

The end result is that the Human allies in the Developing region quickly found themselves with advanced weapon systems and platforms that they could not duplicate or repair. This meant that they would need Human technical support for the foreseeable future. However the Human allies in the Developing region would benefit from weapons and systems designs which would enable them to produce similar systems in the future.

The 5 Human Governments were not worried about the possibility of Human designs ending up in the hands of those Civilisations that were not friendly to Humans, and that was because Human technology is largely based on Crystals harvested from Hodian and Lodian blood together with Crystalorb's Crystal Technology. Crystal Technology is extremely specific, and could not be duplicated.

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Following the security conference Naole and Isis held private consultations with Ambassador Timal of the O'con Federation, Ambassador Cuvil of the Andronian Federation, General Onlec of the Folong Empire, Admiral Quanite of the Jiquam Federation, Sky Commander Khilag of the O'con Federation and High Commander Azori of the Azleck Republic.

The purpose of the consultations was to inform the advanced Civilisations about Crystalorb's plans, activities and progress. The 2 Crystal Guardians gave a detailed presentation on Crystalorb's activities, they explained Crystalorb's plans, and presented Crystalorb's current developments. The Crystal Guardians then showed the delegates images of the 63% complete Nalen Class SkyGarrisons.

After the presentation the Crystal Guardians invited questions.

Admr-Quanite : " These SkyGarrisons you speak of would become immediate targets for the Evil ones! Are you sure they can take sustained assault from Migon BattleSpheres?"

Isis : " The Nalen Class SkyGarrisons are equipped with our most advanced technologies, and because they carry a fragment of the Spirit Stone they're backed by the combined energy output of 5000 Reactors on the Crystalorb Moon and 11% of the energy output of 15 Stars! If that’s not enough, then I just don't know!"

Gen-Onlec : " When the Migon discover what you've been doing they will come after you! Doesn’t that concern you?"

Isis : " Crystalorb does not plan to be dependent on the Galactic Alliance for its long term security needs. We think that the Migon will attack sooner than the Galactic Alliance expects, and our strategies are in line with that view point!"

Naole : " We are not building the Nalen Class SkyGarrisons as defensive tools, but as offensive tools! The primary role of each Nalen Class SkyGarrisons will be to support and supply up to 1000 Esara Class SkyCruisers, 6000 Casara Class Cruisers and 200 Crystalan Ships!"

Azori : " How many of these SkyGarrisons do you have?"

Naole : " We have 265 Nalen Class SkyGarrisons, but once they're fully operational we will be able to use them to gather even more resources than we are currently able to process. We will then use the additional resources to build more SkyGarrisons. The plan is to have 1000 Nalen Class SkyGarrisons in 200 years"

Isis : " Historical records indicate that the Galactic Alliance has been fighting this war on the Migon Federation's terms. Crystalorb does not intend on following Galactic Alliance example! Crystalorb intends to take the fight to the Migon Federation."

Gen-Onlec : " You are actually naive enough to believe that you can win?"

Admr-Quanite : " Do you think that you can succeed where we've failed?"

Azori : " Your overconfidence will be your undoing!"

Naole : " I understand your apprehension, and your concerns are not without merit. However Crystalorb has no intension to live in fear of the Migon."

Isis : " Most of the Galactic Alliance has been content to let the Andronian Federation do your fighting for you."

Admr-Quanite : " Hey!" the admiral interrupts "We do our fair share of the Fighting!"

Gen-Onlec : " So do we!"

Azori : " The Azleck Republic has always fulfilled its role!"

Isis : " We mean no disrespect! All we are saying is that the Andronians seem to carry most of the war load on the front lines!"

Naole : " Ever since Humans joined the Galactic Alliance we've been granted access to Galactic Alliance shared knowledge and records, and as you all know our Spirit Stone has some special abilities that allow us to integrate Galactic Alliance shared knowledge into Crystalorb knowledge. Consequently we now have extensive knowledge of Galactic Alliance Battle history, and from that we've been able to calculate each member’s historical contribution to the fight against the Migon. The Andronian Federation contribution has been calculated at 33.658%, and the other 4 Older Civilisations contributions have Each been calculated at 10.86497%, leaving the rest of the Galactic Alliance members at 22.88212%."

Admr-Quanite : " The Galactic Alliance Council agreed on those responsibility divisions based on careful analysis of military capabilities of each member."

Isis : " That still does not change the facts! We at Crystalorb don't want to be dependent on others for our security. Over the next Hundred years we will expand our security capabilities to put us on par with other advanced Civilisations, but we do not intend to deploy our forces as part of Galactic Alliance operations because the 5 Human Governments will actively fulfil that role. Crystalorb's role will shift to assisting in the protection of the 5 Human Federations. We have constitutional obligations to the African Federation of City States, and those commitments will continue. We will serve the people alongside our counterparts in the African Federal Security Force, and we will continue to share our technological development with the African Federation. The African Federation will continue to support our efforts to Advance Human Civilisation."

Amb-Cuvil : " Why not share your technology with all the 5 Human Federations?"

Isis : " The simple answer is that we don't trust the other 4 Human Governments, and the feeling is mutual. Crystalans are a kind of Hybrid human, and that unsettles them; It always has. They've never trusted our motives, and we've always seen them as uncooperative. Officials of the other 4 Human Governments don't trust what they cannot control, and this has always been a source of Crystalorb's tensions with the United Atlantic Federation, the United Indian Federation, the Islamic Alliance and the Asian Consortium."

Naole : " The African Federation shares our beliefs and goals. Like us they seek to improve their society, and we are able to find common ground on most issues. The other 4 Human Governments have all sorts of expansionist agendas, and they've expressed a desire to become a major power in the Galaxy. The African Federation and Crystalorb want a more understated approach, and we seek to be more introspective in our development. We don't want the kind of progress that comes at someone else's expense."

Azori : " What about shared security?"

Naole : " We will continue to participate in Galactic Alliance security projects as and when the African Federation makes that request. The O'con Federation has a direct line to the Crystalorb Council of Elders, and our leaders will answer any call for assistance the O'ltana request of us! What we won't do is be part of failed long term Galactic Alliance strategies against the Migon Federation! The time is coming when the Older Civilisations will once again be required to lead, and all Civilisations will have a choice on the direction that leadership points our shared destiny."

Admr-Quanite : " Now you question our ability to lead the Galactic Alliance?"

Gen-Onlec : " I believe they are!"

Amb-Cuvil : " And they should! When we formed the Galactic Alliance we made a decision to focus our efforts on protecting the younger Civilisations, and this was done to give them time to prepare. We cannot contain the Migon forever, and the Crystalans are giving all of us an opportunity to end this war without end. This is exactly the kind of thing we've been hoping for!"

Gen-Onlec : " Cuvil! The Andronian and the O'ltana indulge the Crystalans because you see yourselves in them. It may be true that they hold the key to eventual victory over our foes, but are you willing to risk their lives to find out? "

Admr-Quanite : " You shouldn't encourage them Cuvil. They are young, and they don't understand the danger they're putting themselves in."

Amb-Cuvil : " I know it's easy to see Crystalans as a young species, but let's not forget what they are. A part of them is older than we are!"

Gen-Onlec : " Which is why we should not risk them so easily!"

Azori : " Unfortunately the Crystalans are not asking for permission. They've already decided on their course of action!"

Naole : " The brightest light is worth nothing hidden in the dark!"

Isis : " It's true! Crystalorb has decided! We would be foolish to do this alone, but if it comes to it, Crystalorb will go alone."

Amb-Timal : " The O'con Federation will never allow Crystalorb to stand alone."

Amb-Cuvil : " Then we will stand together at the edge of the abyss!"

Naole : " We would be Honoured!"

Admr-Quanite : " This is madness! But then again what about it is different in this galaxy of insanity. I suppose your going to drag all of us into the storm with you."

Admiral Quanite understood that Andronian involvement would mean the involvement of all the Older Civilisations, but he knew that most members of the Galactic Alliance would refuse to join an operation started by humans, even if the humans are Crystalans.

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Since Ambassador Timal and Ambassador Cuvil were due to return to O'con together Naole and Isis took the Intrepid BattleGroup on a direct heading for Earth. Ambassador Timal was going home for extended consultations with the High Council of the O'con Federation. Naole and the Crystalan Ship Indigo had travelled as part of the Intrepid BattleGroup, and Indigo would have to return to Earth to receive a Casara Class Cruiser BattleGroup escort to the Crystalorb Moon.

The jump sequence from Arun is relatively short, and Crystalan Ships with their large energy reserves could complete the jump sequence in under an hour. However moving through the Human security patrols tended to take anything from 1 to 3 hours depending on the day, but because Crystalan Ships used African Federal Security Force transponder signals they were guaranteed access to military routes, and could therefore avoid long delays.

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At 400 LightYears from Earth the Intrepid BattleGroup begins its entry sequence, Onboard the Intrepid Isis prepares herself and sits comfortably for what she believes might be a protracted process.

Isis : " Intrepid; Contact African Federal Security Force Fleet Command and request transit clearance!"

Intrepid: " Aye Commander!" Intrepid then opens a channel with Federal Security Force Fleet Command "Fleet Command; this is the Intrepid BattleGroup, requesting secure transit route."

Coms-O : " Intrepid; the primary secure transit routes full! Please Hold!" after a few seconds "Authorization granted for route 110!"

Intrepid: " Acknowledged Fleet Command!"

Coms-O : " Be advised that there's full mobilization in United Indian Federation Space! Strict adherence to Navigational protocol is strongly advised."

Intrepid: " Will do Fleet Command. Intrepid Out!"

Coms Channel between Intrepid and Federal Security Force Fleet Command is closed.

Isis : " Lock in coordinates and prepare for jump sequence!"

Intrepid: " Jump sequence Locked in Commander!"

Isis : " Observe all speed and Navigational protocols!"

Intrepid: " On your Command!"

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At the Joint Forces Command Centre on Earth's Moon the Five Fleet Commanders were observing operations as ships moved in and out of the Earth system from their respective colonial systems. The largest joint security operation was underway, and some 1800 Galaxy Class Warships were in the Earth system. There were 5000 additional Galaxy Class Warships patrolling the near Earth colonial systems, and the African Federation's Ra System Colony was protected by 3200 Galaxy Class StarShips from the Crystalorb Fleet Contingent and 1000 Galaxy Class Warships from the African Federation's Federal Security Force.

Since the attack on Silenia Five the 5 Human Militaries had been in full mobilization, and they were running constant security patrols on a 400 LightYears radius around earth. By United Human Civilisation Security agreements the Joint Forces Command Centre on Earth's Moon has Five Force Commanders active at all times; one Force Commander from each of the 5 Human Governments.

The Five Force Commanders form the Joint Forces Command Council; which has the shared responsibility for the security of the United Human Civilisation. Each of the active Force Commanders would have the authority to make decisions in the name of his/her Federation. The rank of Force Commander is the equivalent of Fleet Admiral or an Admiral of the Fleet. Each of the 5 Human Militaries had to appoint a minimum of 5 Force Commanders, and this was to make sure that the Joint Forces Command Council is always active.

The Force Commander had a six hour shift, and every 6 hours there would be a changing of the guard. By United Human Civilisation Security agreement each active Force Commander is in command of all Military assets of that particular Federation within 250 LightYears of Earth. The United Atlantic Federation had 15 Fleet Admirals, the African Federation of City States had 12 Fleet Admirals, the United Indian Federation had 14 Fleet Admirals, the Islamic Alliance had 14 Force Commanders and the Asian Consortium had 16 Force Commanders.

The Joint Forces Command Network is a network of Observation posts and wormhole detectors set up between 350 and 530 LightYears from Earth, and its purpose is to provide the Joint Forces Command Centre with detailed real-time data about incoming and outgoing traffic. The Joint Forces Command Network is essentially an early warning system.

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On 19-11-2287 at about 20:00 GMT the active Joint Forces Command Council was; Admiral Miller of the UAF, Admiral Sutra of the UIF, Admiral Borega of the AF, General Aziz of the IA and General Tao of the AC. At the Joint Forces Command Network continuous observation is carried out by personnel from all 5 Human militaries, but each military has a separate centre that also monitors the Joint Forces Command Network and feeds the data to the Fleet.

A UAF Analyst observing the incoming data notices something.

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " Sir! I'm picking up a problem with one of our medium range Wormhole detectors!"

Admr-Miller: " Where?"

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " Grid 351/186; 520 LightYears sir!"

Admr-Miller: " Despatch a Frigate to investigate!"

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " Aye sir!" the officer sends the order and a frigate is despatched "UAS Kingston en-route!"

Admr-Miller: " Make sure that the..!"

Then suddenly the screens light up, and warning alarms go off.

Surv-O 【AC】 : " Wormhole Detector Failure on Grid 151/306 at 527 LightYears!"

Surv-O 【IA】 : " Wormhole Detector Failure on Grid 251/283 at 505 LightYears!"

Surv-O 【AF】 : " Wormhole Detector Failure on Grid 101/120 at 525 LightYears!"

Surv-O 【UIF】 : " Wormhole Detector Failure on Grid 051/223 at 529 LightYears!"

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " Wormhole Detector Failure on Grid 350/096 at 530 LightYears!"

Wormhole Detector Failure reports continue to stream in.

Admr-Miller: " Holy shit!"

The Force Commanders speak to their respective Fleets.

Gen-Tao : " Activate Red-Con-One!"

Gen-Aziz : " Activate Red-Con-One!"

Admr-Sutra : " Activate Red-Con-One!"

Admr-Borega : " Activate Red-Con-One!"

Admr-Miller: " Activate Red-Con-One!"

Ships from the 5 Human Federations prepare for Battle; activating their weapon systems and deploying Gunships.

Gen-Tao : " There are failures all over the place!"

Gen-Aziz : " We don't know where to focus our forces!"

Admr-Sutra: " I think that's the Intent"

Admr-Borega : " The Dragons are coming for us!"

Admr-Miller: " We don't know that!"

Gen-Tao : " Either way we can't make a move until they do!"

Admr-Borega : " The African Federal Government has ordered all AF citizens into shelters!"

Gen-Aziz : " We don't have the extensive underground network the AF has!"

Admr-Sutra : " We must prevent who ever is doing this from targeting inhabited planets"

Admr-Miller: " Most of the colonies are protected because the structures are underground. Earth is exposed" a message from UAF fleet Command comes in "On screen!"

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Captain Donald James of the UAS Kingston B2273 reports in

Capt-James : " Electromagnetic Radiation readings are of the charts Admiral!"

Admr-Miller: " Nuclear device?"

Capt-James : " Preliminary analysis indicates that it may have been an antimatter device sir!"

Admr-Miller: " Can you locate source"

Capt-James : " Still searching sir!" the Captain's attention turns to his displays and to his crew "What is that?" Asking his surveillance officer "Near that moon!"

Surv-O : " I can't get a good reading on it Sir!"

Capt-James : " Move us in Closer! Take us near that moon and launch Gunships!"

Nav-O : " Aye Sir!"

Tact-O : " I don't like it Sir! The minerals in that asteroid field are radioactive; someone could hide an entire BattleGroup in there!"

Surv-O : " Launching Gunships"

Capt-James : " All stop"

Nav-O : " All stop Aye Captain"

Capt-James : " Full reverse! Deploy probes!"

Nav-O : " Reverse Aye!"

Surv-O : " Deploying probes!"

Capt-James : " Shields to Maximum"

Surv-O : " Energy spike!"

Capt-James : " Oh Hell!"

Admiral Miller had been observing the activities.

Admr-Miller: " What is it Captain?" there's no response from Captain James "Report Kingston!" there's still no response, so the admiral turns to his surveillance officer "Have we lost the Coms link? Get them back!"

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " We can't get them back sir! They're gone Sir!"

Admr-Miller: " What?"

Surv-O 【UAF】 : " Sir! We're picking up multiple Wormhole signatures on all fronts!"

Admr-Miller: " Bloody Hell!"

The surveillance officers from the other Federations also report multiple Wormhole signatures in their territories.

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Migon BattleSphere:

1〙 5km in Diameter. 2〙 Armoured Hull. 3〙 Have 350 spikes; each spike stands 237m from the surface of the sphere. Each Spike is a weapon: 300 Spikes are Advanced Multidirectional Particle Beam Cannons and 50 Spikes are Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons making it difficult for their enemies to distinguish between Particle Beam Cannons Spikes and Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons Spikes. 4〙 Carry 50 Advanced Fusion Beam Cannons; with each Fusion Beam Cannon capable of delivering 200 megatons of energy per second.

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