"As of now, the recent discoveries with these precursors appear to contradict pre-existing theological notions, that is why if I were you, your holiness, I would hold off on publishing these findings by Rodrig den Armok," says Ruban Haldrim den Rothorag through the video call.
"You're right. As of now, paranoia surrounding the Final Crucible has reduced due to our fleets' recent victory against a major fleet in the Arilos system, but it is still rather high. Publishing a scientific finding that is at odds with Valmic teachings may further undermine the faith and the government," I say. "Tell the Baljon Archaeological Society to continue their research into the Zroni. Perhaps in time, the situation may resolve itself."
"Thank you, your holiness, it will be done. May the Divine bless you," says Haldrim before ending the call.
As I turn off my computer, someone immediately knocks on my door. "Your holiness, it is Barim. I have some news to tell you."
"Come in, Barim."
Barim comes in with a touchpad. "We have a lot of good news today, your holiness," he says. "Your call for rapid expansion in order to harness as many resources as possible, our economy is strong, your holiness."
"Tell me the exact statistics of those resources."
"We get 47 units of energy, 98 minerals, and 26 alloys per months. However, our food gain is middling at 8 per month and our civilian factories are taking a hit in production, likely due to the peace festivals right now. Other than that, we're doing good."
"What else Barim? Do you have any updates on the Final Crucible situation.
"Yes, your holiness. The fleets, underneath the command of Admiral Polosch, have reached the Crucible shipyard ahead of time and they have captured it."
Progress against the Final Crucible has been going well lately. Over 250 people have been outed as members are currently being converted back to the faith. The most interesting part about this is that many of these members actually surrendered themselves to religious officials. This was mainly due to reduced faith in the Final Crucible's radical beliefs with a recent victory against cultist fleet in the Arilos system.
After the initial skirmish in Gaullia, two hostile corvettes were disabled and were boarded by marines from Task Force Kampas. Luckily, one of the corvettes belonged to the enemy admiral, who committed suicide before the marines could reach him. Found with his body was a data drive and it contained valuable information on the cult. Much like our ships, each ship tracks every other ship, so these drives managed to identify the location of a sister fleet. So, the navy dispatched Task Force Gaddlar and Kampas to take it down while Mirasma stands by to escort our science ships from possible guerilla strikes. The only problem this drive had was that it won't track any new ships should the cult acquire any new ones.
The sister fleet was found in the Arilos system. It was far more powerful than the fleet we faced off against in Gaullia, boasting an imposing battleship known as the "Temple of Light."
The battleship was heavily armed and was supported my numerous corvettes. It was a hard-fought battle with several casualties, but a victorious one. The battleship was then disabled and a boarding party was sent to capture crew and any intelligence.
Just like the previous fleet, they found the Admiral who led the fleet dead on the floor after she shot herself. Also like the initial fleet, a module that tracked other, smaller, guerrilla fleets. Task Force Mirasma managed to fend off several these fleets as it escorted our science ships thanks to this intel.
However, Admiral Polosch expressed concerns that fleets like these could have never been gained purely by stealing them. But through the interrogation of several high-ranking prisoners, we eventually found out their source of ships: a shipyard. As it turns out, an inside man hijacked one of our construction ships and built a ship in the Gromos system, which is rather far from our territories.
We then dispatched the three fleets for a pre-emptive strike on the shipyard whilst the Final Crucible are unaware that we know of its location.
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Admiral Polosch's imposing voice blares from the comms, "All ships put hyperdrive on standby."
"Captain Jardur, hyperdrive is on standby!" shouts Lieutenant Hullos through the HOS Camdur's radios.
"All ships prepare to enter hyperspace in ten... nine..."
"Ten seconds! Prepare the weapons!"
"Eight... Seven..."
"Weapons ready!"
"Six... Five..."
"Lieutenant Tarrob, check out shields and energy supply," Captain Jardur says to me.
"Four... Three."
I boot up the computer. "Shields ready, power consumption is moderate."
"Two... One..."
The Camdur shakes violently as we enter hyperspace, the ship is rapidly travelling in a tube-like ray of light alongside the other ships. As part of routine, I check my computer to check on any FTL damage or any interference with our equipment. So far, the jump is good with a only a few burn marks on our armor here and there, but it's no issue.
The ship exits hyperspace and a wave of energy comes out if it as we finally enter the Gromos system. I stare out of the front window and I see it: the Final Crucible shipyard, the fleet that guards it, this truly is the heart of heresy.
"ALL FORCES WEAPONS READY! PREPARE FOR COMBAT!" shouts Admiral Polosch.
Our ship rockets forward alongside the armada of corvettes and destroyers charging at the fleet and the shipyard. The pentagonal pattern of our shields blink in and out of our sight as hostile rounds bounce off of it.
"Missle crew target the interceptor over there," says Captain Jardur as he highlights a ship on the interface. "It has no point defense systems."
"Good hunting, Captain. Preparing to strike."
Missiles fly overhead and they make their way through the void. It strikes the highlighted ship and it explodes after few strikes. These new high-explosive torpedoes really are quite effective.
"Missile crew. Currently reloading next payload. ETA ten minutes."
"Gunship crew keep the pressure going."
A glorious rain of missiles, lasers, and bullets litters the void. Right now, our destroyers tear through the corvettes with the auto-cannons and Final Crucible missiles are shot out of the sky with their numerous interceptor systems.
Eventually, most of the defense fleet was overwhelmed and their corvettes now are either disabled or scattered debris. We now head for the main event: the shipyard
Our blue lasers concentrate fire on their weapon systems and the station's kinetic batteries fail to penetrate our shields. A barrage of missiles destroys another missile launcher on the station. Before we could even do anything else, the station's weapon systems are toast and the only thing we have to do is send in a boarding party.
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The cultists run away in retreat down the station's halls as my squadmates gun down several armed Final Crucible gunmen. We continue to advance toward the main bridge of the station, where we suspect that the mysterious Final Crucible Matriarch lies.
We chase them down, my breathe quickens as I run at top speed. But suddenly, I begin to feel lighter and lighter. This makes the trip easier, but my squadmates stop.
"Everyone, I think they're shutting down the station's gravity controls!" says one of them.
"Why do you think so?" I ask.
He tosses his rifle into the air and it falls unusually slowly. It looks like he's right.
"They're trying to slow us down," says our officer. "They're probably trying to escape with the Matriarch."
We run at full pace and our officer says to me, "Shoga, radio the Admiral, tell them to watch for any ships from the hangar."
I boot up my radio. "Bridge Command this is Boarding Squad Ana-Cora. Watch for the hangar bay, the station's grav controls are shutting down, we suspect that the matriarch is trying to escape!"
"Got that Ana Cora," says Admiral Polosch. "Our ships are already taking aim at the hangar and we also see a battleship similar to the one we found in Arilos."
As we run, it become increasingly hard to stay o the ground, and before we know it, we're suspended in a vacuum. It is incredibly difficult to move and we fly through the crowded halls of the station at a snail's pace and sometimes knocking into the ceiling a few times.
"All units we are seeing a battleship fleeing the hangar bay of the station," says a feminine voice on the radio. "Take aim."
"That's the ship the Matriarch is escaping in!" says one of my squadmates.
"Bridge Command this is Boarding Squad Ana-Cora what's the update on the ship? I believe that is where the Matriarch is!"
"Ana-Cora this is bridge command. Unfortunately, the ship has slipped out with an emergency FTL jump. A;; squads please proceed with searching the station."
"Damn it!" shouts our officer.
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"Where they able to seize the cult's matriarch?" I ask Barim.
"No, unfortunately. She escaped in a flagship and slipped past our forces with emergency FTL systems," Barim answers. "Fortunately, the station had the coordinates of the ship. They appear to be seeking repairs in another shipyard far into the Bosas system."
"Are they hunting the flagship down?"
"They are currently repairing and refueling in the captured shipyard. But Admiral Polosch has said that the fleets will head to the system as soon as possible."
"The situation is looking very good for us now. The faith shall prevail in the end."
"Prevail indeed, your holiness.:
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