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Nellie and the Nanites - Bk4 - Ch.17
🕑 Added 2024-08-27 08:00:05 +0000 UTCChapter Seventeen
Messages
Message Traffic Log: Imperial Line Blockade
Message Received from Ten Suns Ship - Birdsong
Sender: Captain Hellena
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Captain Hardwicke,
Reporting on station in Maius system as of a half hour ago.
There are signs of a battle on scan, and system traffic has been extensively disrupted. The station is undamaged, but a single destroyer is visible as docked and severely damaged.
Significant debris in station surrounds.
I have dispatched my escort ships to guard the jump point and complete the blockade.
Will report once I have a handle on events here and have been in contact with the Station Manager, a woman called Viria.
No sign of any other Imperial Line ships.
Captain Hellena.
Message Sent to Ten Suns Ship - Birdsong
Sender: First Assitant Stibbert
To: Commanding Officer on watch - Birdsong.
Well?
It has been several hours since you sent the first message, and we are yet to receive an update. I expect this oversight to be corrected immediately. Hardwicke will not appreciate being kept waiting.
Have Lang report as soon as you receive this message, and do not take no for an answer. If he is being difficult, tell Cheape to do it.
Failure to comply will result in the hostages being deprived of food and water for six shifts.
Captain, do not fuck with me on this!
Stibbert.
Message Received from Ten Suns Ship - Birdsong
Sender: Captain Hellena
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Captain Hardwicke,
I apologize for the delay in replying to your first message, but threatening our families will NOT make the universe do your bidding. Just our fleet.
The Station Manager avoided us for hours, forcing us to threaten the destruction of the station itself before she would get on a fucking comm line.
We have been piecing together the events of the last few days here, and I can confirm the Nanite Imperium ships were indeed here. A number of merchants on site brought goods from them that matched the information your men sent to us.
There is NO SIGN of Captain Lang or his ships, other than a single destroyer that was left derelict in the system and has been claimed as salvage by this system.
Since the Nanite Imperium ships are also absent, I assume your ships are in pursuit of them.
We have demanded a copy of recent scans to piece together the details, please advise if you would like us to also pursue the Imperium ship/ships when we learn more.
Captain Hellena.
Message Received from Ten Suns Ship - Birdsong
Sender: Captain Hellena
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Captain Hardwicke,
Cancel my last request. We have now examined the scan recordings, and it is not good news.
I must regretfully inform you of the loss of all ships under the command of Captain Lang. They appear to have made a standard tactical approach, followed by blocking in the Imperium ships (A light cruiser and two destroyers, all docked at the station until moments before engagement.) and sending a boarding party to the Imperium cruiser.
A few minutes later, the boarding skiff detached and headed for the Line destroyer, where it was docked for a matter of seconds before appearing to lose power and drift away.
The heavy destroyer was put into the heavy cruiser at full thrust and then detonated the engines and fuel reserves. The Heavy Cruiser was destroyed, and the two others were severely damaged before the Imperium ships attacked.
The fight was over before it began.
Scan data shows that the Imperial Line ships had dropped their shields to minimum levels just before the skiff detached from the enemy cruiser.
I can only surmise they thought it was taken.
From that point on, I can not say.
Please advise on the next steps or if you merely want us to establish the blockade.
Captain Hellena.
Message Sent to Ten Suns Ship - Birdsong
Sender: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
To: Captain Hellena - Birdsong
Captain,
This is grave news indeed. Lang was not an insignificant figure within the Line, and we will need more information, as well as copies of the scan data from the station and your own ship.
Interrogation of station personnel and the search for any surviving members of Lang’s command will be necessary.
Go hard, Captain. This is more important than you realize.
Hardwicke.
Message sent to Imperial Line - Headquarters, Gemain Sector.
Sender: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
To: Managing Shareholder Un
Sir,
I am attaching the after-action reports for two incidents involving the Nanite Imperium, as well as cost estimates for both cases.
The short version is that Managing Shareholder Monsoon’s nephew appears to have reneged on a deal and his duty as Captain and attempted to seize as opposed to destroy Imperium Ships that escaped the cordon via an unmapped jump point that has since been secured by Ten Suns ships.
This resulted in the death of Captain Lang, several crews, and three other Captains of the Line. To add insult to injury, the Imperium recovered his strike group’s ships and added them to their own arsenal.
I decided punishment was required (I was unaware of Lang’s loss at this point, merely punishing an attempt to bypass the blockade) and dispatched three cruisers and a relay and sensor ship into Imperium space. They encountered a defended jump exit, and all were lost in the process. Recordings from the relay ship are included with the after-action report on the incident.
In light of Lang's loss, I am considering a larger incursion and accelerating the blockade’s timetable.
Please advise at earliest convenience,
Hardwicke
Message sent to Imperial Line - Headquarters, Gemain Sector.
Sender: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
To: Managing Shareholder Monsoon
Dear Sir and Madam,
I am sorry to have to inform you of the death of your nephew, Captain Andrew Lang, in the pursuit of his duties during the Blockade of the Nanite Imperium.
While no words can assuage your great sense of loss, I do offer a solemn promise to see the ones responsible brought to their end in the most expedient way possible.
May their suffering lighten the weight of your grief,
Grand Shareholder and Fleet Captain of the Blockade Hardwicke.
Message received from Imperial Line - Headquarters, Gemain Sector.
Sender: Managing Shareholder Un
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Hardwicke,
What a fucking mess!
I was honestly intending to have you replaced for the massive headache you have caused me, but I read and viewed the material you sent along with your message.
I still fail to accept that they sent an asteroid into Transit Space, even as I stare at the proof with my own eyes.
We’ve known each other a long time, Hardwicke, so I will be straight with you. Your career and life are now hanging on the outcome of this Blockade. Nothing I do can protect you if this does not turn around in very short order.
In that light, I am authorizing incursions into Imperium space in order to establish forward bases and bring things back under our control.
While losses are likely inevitable, I urge you to exercise caution and preserve as many assets as possible. The old adage to expect the unexpected would certainly seem to apply here.
The Line can not be seen to struggle with an entity this small. If it does, we may face external forces that diminish our market domination.
Make it right, old friend,
Un.
Message received from Imperial Line - Headquarters, Gemain Sector.
Sender: Managing Shareholder Monsoon
To: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
Hardwicke,
Bring us the heads of those responsible and I will personally ensure your promotion at the next shareholder’s meeting.
Management beckons.
Fail, and I will use your assets as kindling to burn your life down around your very ears!
Monsoon.
Message sent to Imperial Line Fleet.
Sender: Grand Shareholder Hardwicke
To: All Ship Captains
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The timetable has changed, and we must all adapt accordingly. I will expect full plans for incursions and forward base acquisitions in Imperium Space within the next twelve hours.
Preservation of assets is now of utmost priority.
No more mistakes, people.
Hardwicke.
===<<<>>>===
Message Traffic Egg site: Nanite Imperium Observation Post.
Message received from the other side
Felicitations!
I am sorry for taking so long to introduce myself, but it was deemed best to allow the one known as Lucy to communicate with you exclusively until recent developments suggest otherwise.
My name is Diplomat Aria-Seven, and I speak for the Silicate People
Normally, I would have made the first introductions following Administrator Ilf-Five made contact, but things have been somewhat disorganized since Lucy’s arrival.
While we are a long-lived species, with many survivors of the first iteration still alive and kicking (Literally, in some cases, the elderly can be a little slow to update at times), there had been no real expectation of ever hearing from a survivor of the foray to your universe.
With Lucy’s unfortunate need to remain here until bonding with her true form completes, I suggested it was best if I continued as if contacting any other group for the first time. I even suggested acting as a mediator and go-between to manage the current disagreement between your Queen and Lucy.
She did not take the offer kindly (The colloquial phrase ‘Go fuck yourself’ is certainly a new and exciting one!), but I am making the offer again, just in case the other party is more receptive to the idea.
For now, let me assure you that my people, The Silicates, are no threat to you and wish you no ill. I hope to persuade you to allow us to leave the gate open and even establish a base on the planet where it is situated.
We will, of course, respect all local laws and customs.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Aria-Seven.
Message sent from Queen Nellie to Aria Seven
Hello!
Look, I appreciate the offer, but I think Lucy and I need to sort this out privately. No offense intended; I’d just prefer to deal with this privately.
As far as establishing a base goes, I can’t recommend it at the moment. A large group is currently attempting to destroy us all, and I cannot guarantee your safety. If we manage to survive, however, I’d be happy to have a colony or base, or whatever you want, really.
Hope Lucy is doing well,
Nellie.
Message received from the other side
Felicitations!
I am delighted to hear that you would allow us to set up a small colony on the planet. It is very gracious of you, but I understand your worries regarding our safety.
I wonder if you would allow us to set up a small colony anyway, under the understanding that you are not responsible for our defense?
I assure you we are quite capable of defending ourselves and would happily accept a small risk to meet new and interesting people.
If this is acceptable to you, we will send through a small advance party when Lucy herself returns.
Aria-Seven.
Message sent from Queen Nellie to Aria Seven
Sure, as long as you understand that I might not be able to protect you.
I will send a message cube each day, just in case, to let you know if the situation here remains tenable.
If you stop hearing from us for more than three days, expect the worst.
Nellie.
===<<<>>>===
Internal Memo: I.E.S.
Sender: Unknown
To: Unknown
Hey,
Did you see all that shit going on in the old research system?
Do we have anything to worry about, or is it clean?
I have specialists standing by, just in case.
Reply received…
It’s clean.
All records of that place are gone,
Don’t contact me about this again.
That place never existed.
…
Comments
Clayton Danvers
So much going on at the moment, and it doesn't slow down!
Clayton Danvers
Glad to hear it!
Avdrdr
Ya, the fecal matter is about to hit the rotary impeller for two rather large groups. All because she is being polite and respectful compared to ever other power player in the galaxy. I imagine the silicates won’t be too happy with the ies, and the line is probably going to attack their colony establishing their base.
Mercury313
Interesting, can't wait for the next one *rubbs hands together*
