Ambrosia Software Web Board: The Officer's Club Bar - Ambrosia Software Web Board

Jane watches the men while leaning against the counter, slightly amused at the situation. Soon, it appears as if she's made up her mind about something. She pulls out a computer padd from her vest pocket, and begins to write something out.

Jane heads for the door in a hurry, but not before managing to drop the padd in Sundered Angel's pouch. "I'll check up with you later, Angel. I've got to go."

Verad is temporarily thrown off by her quick appearance. He peered at the unfazed visitor with curiousity as she ran by. Who was she? Well, in any case, there was work to do. Verad signals a slug, and he slimes his way out of the bar. He then crosses his arms across his chest and whispers under his breath "I hope this works..."

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No Guts, No Glory.
She had nice legs. Well of course she had nice legs! She had nice Everything!

**Toothpaste doesn't realize that Bayle's Piss™ is alcoholic. He finishes off his 5th can and... falls out of his chair. He falls asleep on the floor of the bar and drools messily.**


[ just so you know, Bayle's Piss is only the name of a potent drink, and should not imply its contents ]

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"I like ice cream without chunky bits in it... they get stuck in my tubes." — Bungie's Soul

No thing (formerly Nothing) walks out of the Bar reluctantly next to Verad.

No thing pulls out a pistol and vaporizes the giant puddle of Toothpaste's drool. "You could'a slipped on that. There, I saved your life, I guess my job is done."

No thing strolls away humming contently, but Sundered grabs him by the scruff of his neck. "Nice try." He growls.

"Right…" Verad trailed off, before his thoughts shifted. Action by the Gaitori? Not likely. They are a diligant member of the DGA. Although it could have been done by the isolationists… But they will be dealt with. Eventually. They are not that big of a problem.

*Turns his attention back to Sundered Angel*

"Now, where were we?"

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Verad
Ex-Taeskor and
Salrilian Auspex

**Sundered Angel seems mostly amused by the diversion. The Gaitori do not have the forces to affect these matters, so the attempt seems nothing less than comical, if a little dangerous.**

You were asking me how I stand on current matters. Well, my friend, that is a very good question.

Recently, the Salrilians and their minions have been consolidating their territory. You have thousands of warships now and millions of support personnel. Almost 60% of the Oracular Net's processing time is dedicated to the possibilities involved in a war with the forces arrayed in self-defense.

**Then comes an ironic smile.**

I am also aware that nearly 8% of its processing time is devoted to me. I suppose I should consider it an honour. But nevermind that.

Your military, Verad, is prepared for war. Your intelligence is dedicated to such a war. Your captains even have orders for such a war. Now, forgive me if I'm being naïve, but in my experience, such a situation leads, inevitably, to a war.

When Sargantanus awakes, as I'm sure he will soon, he will find himself with two choices. Step down his forces, and risk pre-emptive annexation by the Ishiman, or take over the galaxy. I have no doubt which he will choose. The question is, Verad...

Will you support him?

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Sundered Angel,
The One and Only

Ares Webboard Moderator, and all-around Nice Guy

-----pause plot---------

Sorry, Sundered, for the annoying questions but I'm just not following you.
Why would the Ishimans annex Sargatanus (it's Sargatanus, not Sargantanus) ?

-----return to plot------

"So he would aim to conquer the galaxy, eh?" a smug grin form's on the Cantharan's jaws. "I would like to see what my Superiors think of this."

*elavator music* MUAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!

*Verad realed back with a grin*

"Is this a trick question?" He said with a chickle, and quickly leaned forward againg, this time much more serious. "His eminance has shown that he is nothing less than a messiah. If the prophesy isn't enough for you, look at our current situation: All of the government of the Divine Galactic Axis are experiencing the highest peaks of prosperity they have ever seen. Disdain and crime a virtually non-existant. Even the reactionary traditionalists are rarely objecting. The only offending faction anywhere are the Gaitori Isolationists, who are little more than low class thugs; mediocre terrorists at best."

*Sundered Angel stared unphased.* "True, crime and disdain are at record low, but it isn't exactly by choice is it? For if it was, you wouldn't need platoons of shock troops patroling the streets, and sections of the Oracular Net looking through personal electronic files to find objectors. Your "peace" is built on fear and oppression."

"Let's not forget dogma." Verad added matter-of-factly. "Most are loyal due to the prophesy. And tell me: Are there any governments out there that don't maintain peace by instilling the fear of retribution into their citizens? I certainly can't think of any. And my former species is particularly nasty about it; the Axis dosen't broadcast executions, or slag a captured planet. Or in a recent case, 131 captured planets."

"So your harbninger of peace, your sword wielding, renegade hiring, backstabing, murdering symbol of enlightenment can't figure out a way to maintain control without violence?" Sundered Angel thought he had argued Verad into a corner.

Verad chuckled. "A while ago, shortly after his promotion to fleet admiral for the Old Order, his eminence wrote in his thesis 'In order to establish control, one must exercise to the fullest extent their viciousness and cruelty. In order to establish relations, one must exercise to the fullest extent their caring and generousity. In order to maintain either, one must be prepared to push all to new limits.' But he has proven himself wrong. After we bring the citizens of the Axis to physical enlightenment there will no longer be any need for force."

"'Physical' enlightenment?"

"You mean he didn't tell you?"

"No." Angel said bluntly. "Enlighten me."

Verad grinned as if to excuse the pun. "After his melding with the Oracular Net, his eminence had a revelation, to which his very being was a catalyst: No matter how advanced a lifeforem evolves, it will still remain flawed, and still be driven by biological urges (personal gain, survival at the cost of others, reproduction, et cetra). So what then? Mechanical? Although a decided improvement, a chunk of metal cannot develop an inherent personality; a 'soul' if you will. Without that, you're still left with just a machine. When it comes to mechanicla personality, the Audemedons are about as advanced as they get. And they run on a central consciousness, which makes for little inovation. To truly advance, you need individualism. Thus you need to combine the two. The plans are already set. Within ten years, every citizen of the Axis will be indeterminable between biological or mechanical."

"So with this 'physical enlightenment' Sargatanus plans to 'wipe out unecessary biological urges,' for instnce, through thought control. By reconfiguring emotional responses in the brain to agree with his will. An 'enlightenment' to which you have become an unwitting victim."

Verad leaned in close to Sundered with a look of venom in his eyes. "What I do, I do by choice. His eminence is the lightbringer. and I will support him until he delivers us to enlightenment, and long after. What he orders me to do is the will of divinity manifested. If he orders me to give, or care, or hurt, or kill, or die, I will follow it without question. I hope that answers yours."

*Sundered Angel nodded aprovingly.* "Your loyalty is unbridled. Unfortunately it is all for a man whose ambition and madness are also unbridled. If you have a conscience, I suggest you listen to it."

*Verad cracked a smile, but retained the venom in his eyes.* "Good day, demon. We will meet again." *Verad walked briskly out the entrance, followed promptly by his guards.*

*Sundered Angel could feel that the seed had been planted. Lying in the deepest recesses of Verad's psyche, beyond the reach of any program or nanoprobe, his conscience was screaming in torment. It wailed for him to listen to Sundered Angel; to become himself again. But there was no part of him that would hear it. At least, not yet…*

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Verad
Ex-Taeskor and
Salrilian Auspex

[This message has been edited by Verad (edited 07-24-2000).]

Quote

Your "superiors" are part of the newly formed Divine Galactic Axis, and think that conquering the galaxy would be just dandy. (Divine Galactic Axis = Salrilians, Cantharans, Audemedons and Gaitori. The Bazidan and Obain are close allies to it).

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Throughout their history these "unenlightened" beings have continually opposed and fought abuses of power wrought by their own bretheren. We, as the prophets would do well to learn from these Humans.
-Final statement of the Salrilian reformist Sirthis shortly before his execution.

*Toothpaste wakens to the sound of elevator music*

"Hey, where's the cream filling?!"

*Toothpaste suddenly realizes where he is, and, feeling like a fool, quickly walks out of the bar without paying his tab*

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"I like ice cream without chunky bits in it... they get stuck in my tubes." — Bungie's Soul

**Sundered Angel watches the departing backs of Verad and his guard, and a wry smile plays across his lips.**

"Enlighten me, please, Mr. Verad Sir!" Hah!

**He sits back down at his bar stool, mixing himself a Devil's Breath and swigging it down. He looks around the near-empty bar, wondering why there's no one around. At times like this it's normally bursting with admirals, fighter aces and mercenaries. But not now...**

Demon, hmmmm? It would appear Sargantanus is up to tricks again. I wonder if he really is sleeping off the effects of that Toriserra?

**Chuckles to himself.**

If only he knew. If only he knew...

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Sundered Angel,
The One and Only

Ares Webboard Moderator, and all-around Nice Guy

Suddenly, a rather large, strong hand slapped itself on Sundered Angel's back. Before he could react with deadly force, the rather large man sat down next to Sundered Angel. "How are ya mate?! Think I could get a froth of beer?"

Sundered Angel's wild glance turned into another chuckle. "Good to see you Rawc. Were've have you been?" Angel's grin slid off to the side as he continued "...hear any of the news lately?" He said as nodded in the general direction of slime residue hanging on the walls. Rawc was in the meantime reaching over the counter fixing himself a brandy-or something or other that he thought might be it.

"Ugh, did ya blast a bug?"
"No. Just that one had stood there a minute ago."
"Hmm..." Rawc thought about it for a second before taking a swill of his drink. "I've gotten a'lot of rare chances to know them first hand lately. Sick things." He then turned his head round at Sundered Angel with a deeper tone "Why?"

"Sargatanus is plotting a devious plan to 'enlighten' us."
Rawc giggled at the thought. "Normally that would sound silly, but go on." He took a sip of his drink
"They..." Suddenly, Sundered Angel stopped mid sentence. His keen senses were being blurred out. Something was wrong.
Rawc began to take another sip of his drink, when he jumped at it "Even sick'r! It's got no flavor." And then he was down on the floor.
Sundered Angel looked around looking for anybody else in the bar as he too was beginning to collapse. Unfortunetly, all he found were some of the Salrilians back with gas masks on, ready to carry them away with their new pairs of mechanical arms.

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She can be a lil' loopy sometimes, but she doesn't leave my sights-Oh! Darn it! Where'd she go!?

Meanwhile, Jane was busy scuffling around the Absolution. So far, she had managed to go undetected, but she was losing patience. "It's got to be around here somewhe-whoops!" She whispered. Jane nearly scuffled into a pair of gaurds walking down the corridor carrying two body cooling retainers. She pondered what Salrilians might be doing with body retainers, but the matter would have to wait. She turned the corner, and "...finally..".
She was at a subjunction cockpit. Impossibly unimaginable as it might be, however, the door buttons were fried. "Uh-huh..." She unzippered a chest pocket revealing a small leather door break-in set. Jane looked some of the tools over and picked out a small seringed utensil. She pulled of the cap with her mouth and looked back at the burnt out control board. Her eyes closed and crossed for a second. This was impossibly stupid. Dropping the utensil on the floor she grabbed her weapon, pointed it at the board, and blasted it for what might have been the 50th time in its life. The doors promplty jerked open, and Jane smiled a devilish grin.

Verad was standing poised in front of a holographic map of the region. The stars moved about quickly as though some one were scanning them. Several red dots spotted the immediate region, and Verad was happy to elimanate a couple of them. He punched in a couple keystrokes, and two of the red dots soon disappeared. A smirk ran across his face "Yes... I'll enlighten you. Soon enough, I will."
"General, were ready for departure."
"Fine. Take us..." he paused as he pointed out a large yellow star "...there." Immediately the small star lit up and the ship was turning away from the station. The holoimage lit up with a message in front of the rest of the stars "E.T.A. to designated destination: 6 hours, 26 minutes."

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No Guts, No Glory.

"She had nice legs. Well of course she had nice legs! She had nice Everything!"
Titan AE

"Sir, It's been several hours now. May I go?" No thing the Cantharan stood a tall five feet.

"Yeh yeh, get out of my sight." Verad said in an irritated tone. No thing started heading towards the fighter bay where his shuttle was stored when he stopped, turned around, and gazed at the starmap through his good eye.

"Uh, if I may inquire," No thing began...

"--NO you may not 'inquire'. I told you to leave, now leave before I have you thrown out the airlocks!" Verad practically spat the words at No thing, making him wince.

No thing walked briskly off, and finally found the Fighter Bay. No thing looked at the trashed cockpit on his ship. "Who could have done this...?" he murmured to himself. "Damn! they've taken my matrix subassembalies! They've stripped down my entire ship! At least I've still got some weapons." No thing pondered. "It's almost as if they don't WANT me to leave....."

Verad's Voice is heard over the commbeep: "Sorry No thing. You just know too much of our operations, now we gotta kill ya. Nothing Personal." Enraged, No thing flips a red switch. The two shredder cannons on No thing's shuttle power up and blast a hole in the fighter bay's doors, depressurizing the entire section of the ship. The shuttle shot out of the bay like a bullet, the aft turrets on Verad's ship power up and start throwing a hail of laser fire towards No thing's shuttle. The engines on the Shuttle glow and it disappears from the sky in a flash.

Meanwhile on the bridge, a security officer wanders up to Verad. "Sorry, sir, he got away."

Hey No thing, if you want in on this story, e-mail me. It's sort of outlined already.

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Throughout their history these "unenlightened" beings have continually opposed and fought abuses of power wrought by their own bretheren. We, as the prophets would do well to learn from these Humans.
-Final statement of the Salrilian reformist Sirthis shortly before his execution.

**When Sundered Angel initially saw the gas, he looked extremely surprised. Then a slow, knowing smile spread, and he fell to the ground, where the Salrilians took him from. Now, aboard the Absolution, he lies in the body pod, supposedly unconcious, as all scanners reveal. However, his eyes are open, glowing red in the darkness of the container. Whispers too low to register pass his lips.**

Now, I wonder if this is Verad's plot, or Sargantanus. Verad, I suppose. Sargantanus seems to be aware of the foolishness of any such attempt.

**An explosion rocks the pod.**

There goes that Cantharan. I wonder what he's up to this time? Well, it does not matter. What matters is whether I should see what happens next, or be accidentally "lost" in the depressurization...

I think I'll stay put for now.

**The red glow dies, and Sundered Angel's eyes close.**

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Sundered Angel,
The One and Only

Ares Webboard Moderator, and all-around Nice Guy

*The explosion and depressurization occur and pass quickly. Verad stands on the bridge unphased.*

"The fool. He brought it on himself." He muttered about the AWOL Cantharan.

A crewman looked up from its station. "Course, sir?"

"Simlab 0428 in the Elysium system for an equipment pick-up. Once we recieve our cargo, head to Salril, and dock at Lucifer's Hammer. I want His Eminence to have a pleasant surprise when he awakens."

Jane hovered stealthly behind the door of the bridge listening to the conversation. 'What the hell is a Lucifer's Hammer?' she thought to herself.

"Awe, sir." The sheepish Salrilian laid in the course then looked back up. "Permission to speak freely sir?"

"Of course."

"Do you think it's safe to have that… thing, that demon aboard our vessel?"

Verad forced back a chuckle. "After having met him, I can't see what all the fear is about. I didn't sense anything particularly dangerous about him either. But His Eminence insists that he has some sort of power, and that he could be a potentially large threat. Therefore, I see him as a potentially useful advisor. After a few 'alterations' from the simlab equipment, he should make a well apreciated welcome back gift."

"But how do you know it will work? He's not… he's not… of this existance."

"Overblown. He's just as mortal as you and me. No one could have faked the way he hit the ground after getting a whiff of that gas."

Just then, something tingled Verad's augmented Phylydiod sixth sense. A normal intruder would have been picked up immediately. This one was hiding it, implying that whoever it is, it has telepathy. And it was close.

Verad tapped an icon on a command console and spoke. "Security units to Blue Alert. Possible intruder entry. I want two squads of hunter to sweep the ship, one in aft engineering, and the other in 1-forward." With that, Verad began walking quickly towards the door Jane was hiding behind.

'Great.' Jane thought. 'Now what? There's no way I can take this guy in combat.' She could feel that he sensed her presence and was stomaching panic.

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Verad
Ex-Taeskor and
Salrilian Auspex

((No longer in the bar, so shifting location to... "The Buildup"))

Riven enters the bar. Although the gas was gone, there was an odd scent in the air.
"Water. I'd like a glass of water please!"
After several moments, a small drone pops out from its receptical in the wall. Bearing a strong reseblence to the guys who pop-up when you press their nose, from star wars, it stared fixedly at Riven.
"I said, I'll have a water please."
The drone's head jerked back in shock. Shaking its head, it picked up a glass and went to the bathroom. Riven could hear distinct sounds of water being splashed around in the toilet. Riven spoke up.
"On second thought, I'll pass."
The Drone came back out with an empty glass. It began picking up the open bottles, odd utensils, and momentos left by customers. Riven rolled his fingers in boredom, as the drone began washing dishes.
"Is there anything you have I can play with?"
The Drone slowly looked back up at Riven, and slowly back at the cup from the bathroom that he was washing. Soap duds and all, the Drone slid the cup to Riven and returned to washing other dishes. Riven sighed. He began twirling it with his finger, but soon loses interest.
"There's never any adventure in this bar..." *sighs*

Maybe you should open up a book and immerse yourself in it...

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"I like ice cream without chunky bits in it... they get stuck in my tubes." — Bungie's Soul

As everyone begins to pile back into the bar, people begin to notice that the bar tender is busy.

Riven was resting his chin on his hand as he watched the Drone play his move. The Drone was kneeling on the counter, leaning its small four foot body forward over the game. It slowly lifted one of its four fingers, almost as if it was about to make up its mind, when one of the patrons banged his hand on the counter "I need a Devil's breath!" he demanded.
A sudden mechanical schriek came from the robot. It quickly turned around and jumped off the counter. Taking its small steps around the bar, it reached the other side. He looked around at the group, then at Riven. The Drone picked up Riven's stool (with him on it) and looked side to side. Soon, its head stopped off to the side. Without looking, he put the stool back down and bent down to the floor. There, resting on its side, was the his illuminating holographic bishop. Running back to the counter, he placed it on the board and sat back up, crossing his arms over his chest. Riven gasped "Checkmate!"

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=)

(I'm back, folks!)

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-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

So am I.
Damn, I've got a lot of catch-up reading to do....

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I do not suffer from insanity
I enjoy every minute of it

-Cantharan Admiral za'Grom
After the capture of Earth

*Walks into the bar.*

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-Traek Cicion of the Taeskor

"Never tell me the odds!"
-Han Solo

"I revived a man in Memphis just to watch him live."
-Anonymous Doctor

The Droid begins to nervously fidgit with his work as Cicion walks into the bar. The Droid quickly speed from on item to another, barely finishing one job before going onto the next. In the few short seconds it took for the Droid to get extremely skittish, Cicion had walked up to the Droid with his arms crossed in front of his chest. A belittling frown showed itself on Cicion's face as he tapped his foot impaitenly on the ground. The Droid faced Cicion, pointed its forefinger at its nose and pressed it without hesitation. In a split second, the Droid had popped into its shell, and landed on the counter. Cicion nearly gasped.

"Hey! He stiffed me my drink! I ordered a Devil's Breath!" Came the worried voice of a nearby customer. Riven peered into his own mug and gasped.
"So that's what I was drinking..."

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=)

*A figure in a tattered and slashed brown robe staggers in the door. With his right hand supporting him on various objects as he staggers slowly across the room to a table in the corner, his left tightly gripping his stomach with dried blood between his fingers. He makes it to a secluded table in a far corner and sits down. Looking at the menu of the top ten drinks on the back wall he makes his decision.*

In the weary voice of someone who has been through a terrible battle he says, "Barkeep', give me a Devil's Brea-"

*Cicion half turns from what he was doing, but in doing so he sets down the D'sB he was carrying in front of the worried customer a little too hard and spilled a few drops. The figure stares in shock as the D'sB burns though the table, a table leg, and halfway to the floor where it stops with a fizzle *

"On second thought, I'll take a Merenzane Gold!"

[This message has been edited by Avatara (edited 08-25-2000).]