Short story in progress: "Bloodlust - Business as Usual
Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 6:59 pm
-Axis 1729 Space, The Mekantan Abyss
--Observation Deck of the Tsthathi destroyer Roawe 788
Peret Eralii sighed as he watched green and crimson lights play across the starboard nacelles. For the first time in years, he saw the dancing lights of the Abyss as more than the ephemeral bars of an ever-changing prison. They were more than sources of energy the station clusters, and threats ships had to contend with. They were... beautiful.
He ran a hand through his messy blonde hair, allowing himself a smile. They belonged to the Tsthathi people of Axis 1729 now, not the Mekantans.
"Yoya, Peret! They're replaying the Declaration again, manno!" A voice called from below the observation deck, a fellow crewmate Peret never could remember the name of. "I be turning it up for you, manno!"
"Thanks, friend!" Peret called down, sighing contentedly. He could barely believe it. The Elders finally found the gonads to declare independance from the Mekantans.
"Men and women of Axis 1729..."
"Long have we lived here among the plasma storms, the asteroids, the nebula and dust. Here, in this inhospitable land, we have carved out a place for ourselves, our children, and thier children. In a place where survival has been an uphill battle, we have thrived, and grown."
"By your hard work and perseverence, Axis 1729 counts itself among the most powerful clusters in the Abyss. Five hundred stations. Two hundred million men, women, and children. My friends, we have toiled long, hard, and without rest to build this life. How many friends, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers have died to make our cluster what it is?"
"Why then are the fruits of our labor harvested not by we who worked, suffered, and died to plant the seeds of prosperity? Who lives in luxury off of our toil while we struggle to live? Who preys upon our people without care or justice? Who?"
"The Mekantans!"
The record was eclipsed by the shout that came from the rest of the ship, a hundred voices raised in unison.
"Well I say no more! From this day forth, let the work of our people benefit our people! Let us harvest the fruits of our labor without Mekantan interference! Let us take hold of the reins of our destiny! No more slavery to Mekantan dogs! No more bowing to false Goddesses! From now on, Axis 1729 salutes no empire, no oppressive race of tyrants! We are free!"
The cheer that followed was almost painful in its volume, but Peret couln't help but get caught up in it.
He wasn't a member of Neo-Mekanta's herds. He wasn't some resource for the Mekantan Warlords to fight over. He was a proud Tsthathi man!
And he would fight to the death to stay that way...
-Darkship Aryak'ze Kyruran, High Orbit over the Hiveworld Ghyagis
--Primary Commons Chamber
"- slavery to Mekantan dogs! No more bowing to false Goddesses! From now on, Axis 1729 salutes no empire, no oppresive race of tyrants. We are free!"
Thunderous laughter followed the end of the recording, joined by screams of pain from Tsthathi and Feran slaves who found thier limbs broken or severed by celebrating Mekantans.
"Doe'Tstha'zekeh'za khii'gah'nlya'ta!"
"Khii'tza'to! Shaa'keh'za nlya'kya Mekanta'ze'keh."
"<Of silence-make-being!>" A voice boomed, silencing all but the whimpering and sobs of the slaves. Four broad figures in power armor strode into the room, flanking a reletively small-framed Mekantan female with a regal air about her. Her crimson hair was neatly tied back, bobbing with each step, as her golden eyes darted around the chamber. Several officers of both genders smirked, lustfully looking her over. Others bowed respectfully, knowing anyone Overlord Kaenin placed in charge of a Darkship was a force to be reckoned with. <"Of War-thing-command-person to speak-make!">
The crew of the terrifying warship made some distance between themselves and their commander, sensing what was to come. "<Of Tsthathi many-being> Axis 1729 <to oppose. Of orders to be of attacking. To be ready to move.>" She said simply, nodding. With that simple order, Iashya math Kannsa, Ship Commander of the Stone's Blood, turned on her heel and strode out of the commons chamber as a roar rose among her subordinates. She, unlike many of her comrades, felt no need to join in the violent celebrations common among her people. Not when there was tactical planning that needed to be done.
Her orders from Overlord Kaenin were clear: Eradicate the resistance armada and retake the rebel colony cluster at all costs. It was a mission she intended to carry out with her signature precision.
She did not celebrate the promise of combat, only victory.
---
Figured I'd do something to flex my literary muscle after a long downtime. And what better to do than cover the day-to-day workings of the Neo-Mekantan Hegemony.
I'm still writing, as we speak. I'm just posting things here in case any of my dear, dear rape victi- I mean allies have anything to say about it.
I haven't really used the Tsthathi factor much, since all of my Neo-Mekantan stuff has usually taken place outside the Abyss. Think I should add notes? (Or, hell, finish my ESUSWiki stuff...)
If things stay stable on this end, who knows, I might risk another jump into things before circumstances yank me out again. ^_^
--Observation Deck of the Tsthathi destroyer Roawe 788
Peret Eralii sighed as he watched green and crimson lights play across the starboard nacelles. For the first time in years, he saw the dancing lights of the Abyss as more than the ephemeral bars of an ever-changing prison. They were more than sources of energy the station clusters, and threats ships had to contend with. They were... beautiful.
He ran a hand through his messy blonde hair, allowing himself a smile. They belonged to the Tsthathi people of Axis 1729 now, not the Mekantans.
"Yoya, Peret! They're replaying the Declaration again, manno!" A voice called from below the observation deck, a fellow crewmate Peret never could remember the name of. "I be turning it up for you, manno!"
"Thanks, friend!" Peret called down, sighing contentedly. He could barely believe it. The Elders finally found the gonads to declare independance from the Mekantans.
"Men and women of Axis 1729..."
"Long have we lived here among the plasma storms, the asteroids, the nebula and dust. Here, in this inhospitable land, we have carved out a place for ourselves, our children, and thier children. In a place where survival has been an uphill battle, we have thrived, and grown."
"By your hard work and perseverence, Axis 1729 counts itself among the most powerful clusters in the Abyss. Five hundred stations. Two hundred million men, women, and children. My friends, we have toiled long, hard, and without rest to build this life. How many friends, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers have died to make our cluster what it is?"
"Why then are the fruits of our labor harvested not by we who worked, suffered, and died to plant the seeds of prosperity? Who lives in luxury off of our toil while we struggle to live? Who preys upon our people without care or justice? Who?"
"The Mekantans!"
The record was eclipsed by the shout that came from the rest of the ship, a hundred voices raised in unison.
"Well I say no more! From this day forth, let the work of our people benefit our people! Let us harvest the fruits of our labor without Mekantan interference! Let us take hold of the reins of our destiny! No more slavery to Mekantan dogs! No more bowing to false Goddesses! From now on, Axis 1729 salutes no empire, no oppressive race of tyrants! We are free!"
The cheer that followed was almost painful in its volume, but Peret couln't help but get caught up in it.
He wasn't a member of Neo-Mekanta's herds. He wasn't some resource for the Mekantan Warlords to fight over. He was a proud Tsthathi man!
And he would fight to the death to stay that way...
-Darkship Aryak'ze Kyruran, High Orbit over the Hiveworld Ghyagis
--Primary Commons Chamber
"- slavery to Mekantan dogs! No more bowing to false Goddesses! From now on, Axis 1729 salutes no empire, no oppresive race of tyrants. We are free!"
Thunderous laughter followed the end of the recording, joined by screams of pain from Tsthathi and Feran slaves who found thier limbs broken or severed by celebrating Mekantans.
"Doe'Tstha'zekeh'za khii'gah'nlya'ta!"
"Khii'tza'to! Shaa'keh'za nlya'kya Mekanta'ze'keh."
"<Of silence-make-being!>" A voice boomed, silencing all but the whimpering and sobs of the slaves. Four broad figures in power armor strode into the room, flanking a reletively small-framed Mekantan female with a regal air about her. Her crimson hair was neatly tied back, bobbing with each step, as her golden eyes darted around the chamber. Several officers of both genders smirked, lustfully looking her over. Others bowed respectfully, knowing anyone Overlord Kaenin placed in charge of a Darkship was a force to be reckoned with. <"Of War-thing-command-person to speak-make!">
The crew of the terrifying warship made some distance between themselves and their commander, sensing what was to come. "<Of Tsthathi many-being> Axis 1729 <to oppose. Of orders to be of attacking. To be ready to move.>" She said simply, nodding. With that simple order, Iashya math Kannsa, Ship Commander of the Stone's Blood, turned on her heel and strode out of the commons chamber as a roar rose among her subordinates. She, unlike many of her comrades, felt no need to join in the violent celebrations common among her people. Not when there was tactical planning that needed to be done.
Her orders from Overlord Kaenin were clear: Eradicate the resistance armada and retake the rebel colony cluster at all costs. It was a mission she intended to carry out with her signature precision.
She did not celebrate the promise of combat, only victory.
---
Figured I'd do something to flex my literary muscle after a long downtime. And what better to do than cover the day-to-day workings of the Neo-Mekantan Hegemony.
I'm still writing, as we speak. I'm just posting things here in case any of my dear, dear rape victi- I mean allies have anything to say about it.
I haven't really used the Tsthathi factor much, since all of my Neo-Mekantan stuff has usually taken place outside the Abyss. Think I should add notes? (Or, hell, finish my ESUSWiki stuff...)
If things stay stable on this end, who knows, I might risk another jump into things before circumstances yank me out again. ^_^