Flagg

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

It might take me a little bit to get a post in. I haven't gotten much sleep lately.

@Pepperm1nts

Well, take it easy and keep me posted. No need to rush, we've got plenty of people who'll be making intro posts.

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

@all: Ok folks- please begin posting. If your character was at the briefing, feel free to have your intro either be a flashback of some kind, your character attending the briefing, or your character in the immediate aftermath of the briefing. I will assign folks to squadrons if they have not already indicated a preference, but unless you say otherwise, I'll be assigning you to one of the squadrons attacking Celestine V. The three folks who are in Rho squadron- Enalais, CommodoreRobot, and InkBlood- you're good to go. Also, Vahir has begun a history of the old Empire here: http://piratepad.net/v2eDAbGKgg Feel free to jump in and contribute! And of course, find me in the main ppad, the chatzy, or most reliably by PM here with any questions you may have.

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

The wiki you're referring to is from an earlier RP attempt by the same name by me and a few other players here. For right now, I'd rather not start a wiki until the IC is well underway, when I'll have time to act as a moderator of a full wiki. Then I will revisit the idea. But for right now, let's stick to the RPG thread.

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

...whenever men are not obliged to fight from necessity, they fight from ambition; which is so powerful in human breasts, that it never leaves them no matter to what rank they rise. The reason is that nature has so created men that they are able to desire everything but are not able to attain everything... - Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy Present Day... Strategic Orrery, the Orbital Fortress Invincible, in orbit of Odros, Valyrian System.... Count Cezare stood as the officers of His Unapproachable Majesty's Second Royal Expeditionary Force assembled, filling the amphitheater with the buzz of a thousand muted conversations. Generals in their crimson dress uniforms, medals tinkling on their chests, filed into the massive chamber alongside naval captains and commodores in deep blue tunics. Hulking Gn'Mok Legates, clad in the rune-inscribed bronze plate traditional to their rank, stood silently at attention on the floor of the chamber, their black eyes unblinking. Nyrkin battle-masters, Introgg warchiefs, Xos dignitaries and even more exotic xenos commanders clicked and chittered to one another as they took their seats below the human officers, who regarded them with mixed surprise and distaste. For xenos to be included in a formal operational briefing was most irregular. Cezare tugged absentmindedly at his starched collar, throwing a glance at Lord Admiral Rutherford, seated with the naval leadership on the High Command dais. Rutherford was eying the proceedings with his customary facade of paternal sternness, in contrast to Rear Admiral Wander who sat just to his left, wearing a mild smirk, as though in on some joke everyone else was missing. Behind both men, somewhat obscured by shadow (no doubt on purpose, thought Cezare, the old ghoul loves to play it up), lurked Vice-Admiral Korwitz. The buzz of chatter in the room fell silent in an instant, and the assembled commanders scrambled to their feet. Cezare did not need to glance at the entryway to know why. His Radiance the Grand Duke had arrived. A short man, heavily built, with thick dark hair and a magnificent mustache, Konrad von Ravenstein swept into the room without ceremony, an unlit pipe jutting from the corner of his mouth. He took his seat amid the High Command staff, green eyes hooded and watchful. The room took its cue and sat down, save Cezare, who cleared his throat. "Welcome, excellencies," said the Count, "to His Unapproachable Majesty's Second Royal Expeditionary Force. As you know, we have been tasked with claiming the Maalik System for the glory of the King and the Kingdom, freeing its enslaved masses from the deluded followers of Arius, of cursed memory." At the mention of the Maalik System, the lights dimmed and the holodisplay in the center of the Orrery ignited, filling the room with a detailed, three dimensional star chart of the Leopon Sector, with the Maalik System highlighted in blood red. The hologram magnified the System, the planets and bodies of which filled the room as they spun lazily in their orbits. "Our target system has seven planets, all terraformed and populated by the old Empire. These are: Celestine V, Acheron, Virgilius, Minos II, Malacoda Minor, Cerebus, and the ice-world Cocytus VI..." said the Count, the holodisplay highlighting each planet in turn, displaying geographic details, population statistics and military assesments, "Of these, Celestine, Minos and Cocytus have populated moons. Other notable bodies include the Charon Asteroid Belt bisecting the system, and the gas-giant Caina. Enemy strength in the system is high. Our intelligence reports no less than three major naval battlegroups, including the battleships Malebranche, Demiurge and Atropos. The Atropos, at least, suffered catastrophic damage at Archangel-" The naval officers interrupted with a polite smattering of applause directed at the abhuman Captain Lutzen, who grinned toothily. "-and is undergoing extensive repairs, but the other two ships are in good working order. Ground forces, likewise, are numerous, the usual Arian mix of farmed clones with battle augments, local conscripts and mercenaries, slave soldiers, and drone-tanks and atmospheric craft." Count Cezare cleared his throat and continued. "Our naval dispositions are as follows: the Second Expeditionary Fleet will comprise six major combat squadrons: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, Rho, and Omega. Captains, you have been given your assignments already. Generals, the troopships and landers will follow the fleet's lead. Our invasion hinges on the Maalik System's two stable subspace translation points, codenamed Paolo and Francesca. Paolo is located center-system, just beyond the orbit of Celestine V. The enemy have made Celestine and its moon, Pontius, into a formidable fortress-world. Francesca is located within the Charon Belt, in the outer system. Thanks to His Majesty's announcement of the Reconquest, the enemy knows we are coming. Our options are... limited. Given their fortifications at Celestine, the enemy likely expects a push through Francesca, and has filled the Charon Belt with hired marauders and pirate wolf packs to harry any attempted incursion. Our strategic plan is simple: a feint through Francesca with naval squadrons Rho and Epsilon, who will engage the mercenary elements in the Belt in clearing operations designed to give the impression of an impending full-scale push. The squadrons will be able to use the Belt to their advantage, avoiding larger enemy fleet deployments and making use of old Imperial depots and mining installations to resupply. They will be given a steady stream of reinforcements in order to further the impression that this is where our main fleet will translate. Our attack, however, will come through Paolo." The holodisplay focused on Celestine V and its moon, highlighting its extensive fleet protection and orbital fortifications. Murmurs arose throughout the amphitheater. Cezare paused, glancing at von Ravenstein, who stood slowly. "We will take Celestine V from under them," the Grand Duke said, "We will break them where they are strongest."

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

@all: The IC is up! It's sortve a prequely scene to set the mood. I will be following it up with more directly relevant posts to the actual war we'll be fighting later today or tomorrow. People are welcome to begin posting. Here are a few things to keep in mind: All of our characters will begin the RP at a strategy briefing in the Orbital Fortress Invincible in orbit over the fortress planet of Odros in the Valyrian System. Some things your characters would know: - the King has just declared the Reconquest, to much fanfare. He himself will be leading the first royal expeditionary force into the relatively lightly defended Ur System. - Your character has been assigned to the second royal exp. fleet, under the command of Admiral Rutherford and the overall command of the Grand Duke von Ravenstein. This force is bigger fleet wise and ground force wise than the first royal exp. force, but it is tasked with taking the Maalik System, which is known to be a strategic nightmare and home to the most powerful remnants of the Arian Jihad. Of the ships mentioned in the first IC post, only the Indoril-class cruiser Count van Fesselvingen made it back to Valyrian space (barely) alive. - the Kingdom just barely survived ten years of intense warfare, and not everyone is eager for more. - in the interests of keeping things moving, the talking part of the strategic briefing will be minimal. Have your characters show up and I will take it from there. The Grand Duke will not be inviting questions. Don't worry if you don't introduce your character in this way, it's not required that your character attend the briefing or have an IC post describing attending. - the Second Royal Exp. Fleet will be large, with plenty of NPCs. It's composition and command structure will be detailed at the strategic briefing. - please work with your fellow players to work out pre-existing relationships among our characters, and keep in mind that everyone has been fighting together already for ten years. People have been doing a great job already of this, so keep up the good work. - the RP is still open, no immediate pressure for people to finsh CSes before the IC starts. New characters will be able to enter the role-play at any time. Most probably we are in Eden still, it is only our eyes that have cha

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

I came into a place void of all light, which bellows like the sea in tempest - Dante, the Inferno One Year Ago, shortly after the Battle of Archangel, on the outskirts of the Maalik System... Captain von Grimnour sat slumped in her command throne, mind divided between the Lionhead's Semi-Sentience- feeding her a constant stream of updated data- and the activity on the bridge. Officers bustled between computer banks and Lieutenant Travini paced slowly in front of the strategic holodisplay, tugging at his side whiskers and barking the occasional order. An hour ago, a Jihadist fleet had emerged from the far side of the Charon Belt, and was now forming up to meet the Royal squadron. A big Jihadist fleet. Well organized. With a battleship. "How in Ovo's Six fucking Names did they get around us, Lieutenant? With a godsfucked Imperatrix?!" the Captain spat. Travini merely frowned and continued pacing. Naval Intelligence had bungled, badly. The Arian fleets were supposed to be falling back from the Maalik System in panic, turning on each other. Grimnour's squadron was merely supposed to clean up the stragglers and scout out any remaining enemy ships of note. Some fucking stragglers. the captain thought, glaring as she watched the holodisplay. The Jihadist ships were coming on in serried rows, five heavy cruisers flanking an Imperatrix-class battleship, a 10km behemoth that the Lionhead's memory banks identified as the Demiurge, the flagship of one of Arius' chief Void-Heirophants. Apparently His Unapproachable Majesty the King hadn't smashed his enemies at Archangel quite thoroughly. Escort craft hovered around the enemy super-ship like carrion birds around some ancient predator. Comms from the Lionhead's escorts began pinging the bridge. Commanders and captains requesting orders. "We'll be in the Demiurge's primary ordinance range in twenty," said Lt. Travini. Grimnour cursed. She had ten ships under her command, five frigates, a hunter-killer pair of destroyers, and two cruisers besides the Lionhead. Caught off guard, with a major enemy strikeforce advancing between them and the nearest viable subspace translation point, her odds were abysmal. The Lionhead's Semi-Sentience blurted a neuropulse with its terse agreement. Grimnour scanned the holodisplay. She saw her least terrible option. "This is Lionhead to squadron." she declared over her comms, "They expect us to make a run for it, to drive us deeper into this system. Fuck that. Sure we'll run for it- straight through them. Bisect their fleet and translate as soon as your engines can take it. It's been a pleasure serving with you. That is all." The commlink erupted with the grim affirmatives of her escort vessels. The Royal Squadron assumed its offensive formation, the Indoril-class cruisers Count van Fesselvingen and Pride of Adriatus following the Fisher-class Lionhead in the line of battle, with the squadron's frigates and destroyers in defensive positions between the larger ships. "Shields up, strike craft launch." barked Grimnour. A bright azure flash illumined the bridge windows for a half-second as the Lionhead's shields ignited. All along the Royal squadron, fighter-bombers launched from shipboard hangers as shields enveloped the serrated-dagger hulls of His Majesty's Navy. The Arian fleet powered forward to meet their civilized foes, broadcasting their battle-liturgies on the open comm-channels, demanding obeisance to their dreadful and immanent gods. But they had slowed somewhat, perhaps confused by their enemy's unexpected counter-charge. "Enemy fleet entering mass driver range in five." Travini announced. Alarms sounded in the bridge as sensors picked up multiple enemy lock-ons. Grimnour closed her eyes and allowed her mind to integrate fully with the Lionhead's semisentience. For one deliriously delicious moment she was the ship, her heart beating in sympathy with the thrum of the massive engines, burning with the ferocity of small sun. She inhaled slowly, feeling the heavy cannon on her flanks rotate as they locked on to enemy vessels, the torpedoes sitting in the launch tubes, their dim AIs buzzing impatiently for release. Her skin prickled, suddenly alert to the electric ripples in the Lionhead's void-shields as they realigned and adjusted to meet incoming projectiles. She could see the outlines of her enemies, painted bright against the void by the ship's targeting systems, looming closer and closer. She could feel the eagerness of their bloodthirsty AIs. She gave the order to fire without speaking. She willed it, and the Lionhead obliged. Then the bloodletting began. The fleets opened up with long range mass-volleys and lance fire. The forward guns on the Demiurge gutted three Valyrian frigates outright and scored solid hits on the cruisers. The Count van Fesselvingen took a mass-round to the nose, and sped on towards the enemy trailing hunks of armor. The Lionhead's sheilds rippled and sparked as they absorbed the worse of the enemy's wrath. Grimnour eased out of full integration with her ship, suppressing a twinge of panic as the Demiurge loomed ever closer in on the holographic battle display in the center of the bridge, and as her shields deflected heavier and heavier fire. She glanced at Travini, whose bewhiskered face was bright red... but who was otherwise calm, sedately polishing his monocle and shouting the occasional order. "Mister Ryloth, ready the back breakers," he said as the fleets drew within primary ordinance range. Outside, in the vacuum, the Royal and Arian strike craft wings collided into spiraling dogfights just as the Royal ships launched their first torpedo waves. Nuclear detonations and EMP bursts erupted along the barbarian line... and then the two fleets collided. The void was alight with tracer fire and heavy laser exchanges. The Royal ships made their pass to the port side of the Demiurge, raking the monstrosity with fire. The supership's guns remained silent a moment, enough time for Grimnour to allow herself the hope that it was suffering a massive malfunction. The Demiurge's first broadside obliterated the Pride of Adriatus and took out the bridge tower on the Fesselvingen. It's shields popped by the onslaught, the Lionhead returned fire vigorously as explosions erupted along its serrated-dagger hull. Alarms sounded on the bridge. The captain's neural uplink sent her flashes of pain as the Lionhead's semisentience registered damage. "Travini, divert all power from the guns to engines! We'll-" There was a bright flash and a noise like a scream, and then silence as the bridge opened to the void. Grimnour clung to her command throne as her lieutenant and officers were sucked through the Lionhead's burning wound and up into the airless night.

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

Chatzy here: http://us19.chatzy.com/71454494321136

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

Hm, I've been wanting to do an RP of this style for a while now (Controlling fleets instead of warships, but hey, I'll take what I can get). I'll write up a character sheet, if you guys still have room for one more.

@Vahir

Absolutely!

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

Sounds good, Sky. @ all, I've had a somewhat busy day. I will try to get some progress made tonight on the IC intro so we can get this shindig moving and keep up the momentum. For those of you who want to get started on their IC posts, all of our characters will begin the RP at a strategy briefing in the Orbital Fortress Invincible in orbit over the fortress planet of Odros in the Valyrian System. Some things your characters would know: - the King has just declared the Reconquest, to much fanfare. He himself will be leading the first royal expeditionary force into the relatively lightly defended Ur System. - Your character has been assigned to the second royal exp. fleet, under the command of Admiral Rutherford and the overall command of the Grand Duke von Ravenstein. This force is bigger fleet wise and ground force wise than the first royal exp. force, but it is tasked with taking the Maalik System, which is known to be a strategic nightmare and home to the most powerful remnants of the Arian Jihad. - the Kingdom just barely survived ten years of intense warfare, and not everyone is eager for more. - in the interests of keeping things moving, the talking part of the strategic briefing will be minimal. Have your characters show up and I will take it from there. The Grand Duke will not be inviting questions. Don't worry if you don't introduce your character in this way, it's not required that your character attend the briefing or have an IC post describing attending. - the Second Royal Exp. Fleet will be large, with plenty of NPCs. It's composition and command structure will be detailed at the strategic briefing. - please work with your fellow players to work out pre-existing relationships among our characters, and keep in mind that everyone has been fighting together already for ten years. People have been doing a great job already of this, so keep up the good work. - the RP is still open, no immediate pressure for people to finsh CSes before the IC starts. New characters will be able to enter the role-play at any time.

War of the Seven Suns (Sci Fi Naval RP)

So, how soon until we can post in character?

@gorgenmast

I'm working on the IC now. This RP took off faster than I expected, so I'm scrambling a bit to keep up. I'll try to start the IC by tomorrow.