Dementian
From Magellapedia
Contents |
Background
Society
- Classism
Innate Tech
- Psionic Power
Home Environment
- Gravity 2.0 G
- Temperature 350 K
- Atmosphere Oxygen 1 Nitrogen 3 Water 1
Control Model
- Production +2
- Spy -1
- Genius -1
Commander Abilities
- Knight's Aegis
- Raging Colossus
- Ascended Devourer
Commander Attributes
- Berserk -5
- Survival +10
Racial Traits
PSI
- Can use PSI weapons and devices.
Enhanced PSI
- PSI weapons more effective.
Trained Mind
- Fleets never go berserk.
History
Turning and turning in a widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
William Butler Yeats -- 1st stanza of the Second Coming
_______________________________________________________
Balikbayahn Buddha felt hunted. This was a somewhat strange sensation, since he was standing on the command deck of a Heroic Cavalry class dreadnaught, but the situation merited the feeling. Star systems had been falling silent one by one in a pattern that led straight to the Euphorian capital, and the tiny planet out on the frontier that his fleet now orbited was probably the next to be hit. Transmissions were garbled, but a large number of Euphorian ships were now showing up at the system's edge... maybe a relief force? But he still felt hunted.
His own fleet received orders from their commander to flank the main armada. His ships had boosted Psi drives, perfect for flanking manuevers, and apparently his commander shared his unease. The approaching force was in battle-array as well, and appeared to have ships from some of the silenced systems, and some Tetecuhtin ships as well.
The comm channel clicked. A message was received from the approaching fleet, and the Euphorian delivering it did not look quite right. "Prepare to be assimilated by the Mocuepan Empire."
Mocuepan Empire? No matter. Battle ensued. Streaks of fire. Flashes of light. Explosions. Blood and chaos. Silent screams in the vacuum of space. And something else. From his flanking position, Buddha saw his armada commander's doomstar almost casually turn and deliver a full broadside into the sistership next to her. He had no time to ponder this however, as just then his ship was hit by a psionic dominator from the Mocuepan fleet, and he had to battle mind to mind with the Mocuepan-controlled Euphorians.
JOIn us. feel the FUture. DestIniEs await.
no, a calm sea and a sandy beach
FeEl tHe truth. pAIn and suffeRing.
like hell
Balikbayahn fought free for a second, and he could see his ship was in dire straits. Most of the rest of the crew was still incapacitated, and distortion blasters had penetrated their shields. Messages showed that their armada was broken, and more frightening still were the messages now coming from the planet detailing the Mocuepan assimilation. He was having trouble focusing his thoughts. There had been a little too much exchange of information during the recent mental battle. He felt broken and violated. This battle was lost, and the ship was crippled, but he could still run. He pushed aside his unconcious helmsman and set coordinates. His ship peeled out of formation as a pursuing fleet blasted apart his crippled squadronmates. They jumped -- out towards the periphery of explored space. They dodged a Mocuepan squadron on patrol. They jumped again. And jumped. And jumped. And jumped and jumped. And found an uncharted but habitable world.
The strongest of his crew recovered, but the ship was falling apart. It did not survive the crash landing into a bay on the largest continent. As he and his crew waded through the shallow waters to dry land, Balkbayahn thought over and over of the carange and misery that they had narrowly escaped. The Mocuepa apparently were able to assimilate any sentient. All sentients were at risk, and it was his duty to protect them, by eradicating the Mocuepa. The Mocuepa became more powerful by assimilating sentients, and the best way to eradicate them would be to eradicate the source of their power, other sentients. So be it. Thoughts of death and carnage running through his brain, he waded onto the shore.
"I shall return."
