Forsaken Ruins: Part 9 (375 hits)
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Submitted by Craig Williams <thetyrant82.at.hotmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-09-14 06:12:42 EDT
Part 8: http://www.ubersite.com/m/74430
Part 7: http://www.ubersite.com/m/67403
Part 6: http://www.ubersite.com/m/66862
Part 5: http://www.ubersite.com/m/66009
Part 4: http://www.ubersite.com/m/65313
Part 3: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64985
Part 2: http://www.ubersite.com/m/64817
Part 1: http://www.ubersite.com/m/63802
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Matuno removed his hand and allowed Mattias to pass into the concourse. The only light came from the hangar itself, through the transparent side of the concourse. The arched doorways to offices, freight warehouses, and even hovertram stations on the other side were barely visible. The Blackbird was high overhead, and its blinking navigation lights sent soft pulses of light throughout the darkened hall. Kirlana was sitting on floor with her back against the glass, staring blankly at a locket she held in her hand that was still hanging from her neck.
Veniel was standing in front of a console built into the hub that Mattias had just exited from. The greenish hue from the console gave him a ghastly appearance. Without saying a word, he extended has hand towards Mattias. A disc was between his thumb and index finger.
"What's this?" Mattias asked, taking the disc.
"The last part of our agreement," Veniel answered. "A way for you to get past the Arch Angel blockades on either side of this system."
"You mean having a CONCORD fleet blast through them for us wasn't your plan all along?"
Veniel dismissed the remark. "Your brother has also been given a copy of that."
"What's on it?" Mattias asked. Matuno stepped out from the hub.
"The Immensea had some help when they built these stations, Captain", Veniel said. "What you are holding in your hand are the exact locations of not only these bases, but of a jumpgate network that you will not find on any CONCORD maps."
"What are you talking about?" Mattias asked. Kirlana looked up from her fixation on the locket.
"This jumpgate network rings Empire space, but does not traverse it. Thus, every region in deep space is interconnected and completely independent of Empire influence."
Mattias was stunned. "The Immensea built them?"
"Not the first ones, but once Immensea began establishing a presence in the outer regions, the gate builders realized they shared common ground with Moreau, especially where it concerned hiding their existence from certain Empire influence." Veniel emphasized that word.
"So, the Amarr built them?" asked Mattias.
"Quite the opposite," answered Veniel, who was now looking directly at Matuno. "The rise of Minmatar power was always puzzling to us, considering the extent to which the Amarr Empire went to suppress their ambitions. Amarr ships used to patrol all of the gates leading to and from Minmatar systems; nothing could travel in or out without being checked. We wondered how an enslaved nation was able to amass armies and construct warships right before the watchful eye of their alleged masters."
"The answer was hidden jumpgates, unknown even to us until very recently. With the help of Gallente engineers, Minmatar tribes began construction on the gates in complete secrecy and without Republic knowledge. The pirate cartels operating in the vicinity were sympathetic to the Minmatar's plight, but also saw an opportunity to advance their own agenda by assisting them. The gates provided the Minmatar with a 'back door' through which rescued slaves, construction materials, supplies, troops, and warships could travel unhindered by Amarr checkpoints."
"Years after the Rebellion, the cartels continued work on extending the network to include more systems. When the Immensea constructed their first bases here in the Immensea Region, Moreau convinced the cartels of the mutual gains that could be realized by sharing resources. Moreau offered them access to his stations in exchange for access to their jumpgates. The resulting partnership quickly accelerated both projects, since they complimented each other's practical needs and counter-institutional ideals. In the end, 96 gates were constructed over the course of more than 140 years, with more than half built in the last 30 or so, after Immensea was founded."
"One of those gates is in this system, Captain, and Trald Vukenda believes that you are unaware of its existence. Most of the smuggler gates are used primarily to ferry supplies, the majority of which are illegal within Empire space. The pirates have never felt a compelling need to guard them, except when traveling near the borders of rival or competing clans. The only ships you will see near there will be Cartel industrials, although I imagine all that will change once knowledge of this network comes to public light."
The sound of the click hiss from another MGU startled Mattias. Tantoseisen emerged from the hub.
"Well, it's official, I'm to be court-martialed as soon as I return," he said. "But so long as I'm here anyway, I'm going to have a look around. If there is any evidence here about any intelligentsia still in power within Empire space, I need to find out."
"How did CONCORD take the news?" asked Matuno. Tantoseisen shook his head.
"They're completely shocked. I'm still not sure they even believe it, and knowing them, there's going to be an expedition—this time, an authorized one—to confirm everything."
"I hope you exercised caution in choosing whom to share that information with, Commander" said Veniel.
"It's been taken care of," he answered. "No matter what, they won't be able to keep this discovery quiet."
"Court martial," Mattias breathed. "Tantoseisen, I'm sorry," said Mattias. He knew how hard his little brother had worked to build such a remarkable career in law enforcement, and that if not for his own bad luck and poor decisions, this would have never happened.
User Reviews
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-09-14 06:42:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
WTF I'M NOT READING ALL THAT