Sci-fi Game--Invasion 800

[Rhialto]

I had this idea a long time ago, back when Alternity was fresh off the stands... (Ahh, nostalgia...)

Earth, 800 A.D. In Europe, humanity is, under the reign of Charlemagne , beginning a recovery from the collapse of the Roman Empire. The caliphate of Haroun al'Raschid, centered in Babylon, is one of the cultural and scientific centers of the world. In China, the enlightened T'ang dynasty has ended centuries of warfare.

All this advancement proves useless when the aliens come down, and add Earth to their interstellar empire.

It's now twenty years later. Humanity is enslaved. Small pockets of resistance exist, but they are few and scattered. Earth is being flooded by aliens, come to aid the Empire in its conquest, rule over small sections, run the bureaucracy, or simply to get rich.

Of course this insignificant backwater might prove very handy to some people...

 

[Rhialto]

(Note--this universe uses many of the alien races introduced in the Dragon magazine articles, adapted from Star Frontiers and Traveller, albeit often in an altered form. Also, though the traditional Alternity races are used, their cultures are completely different for the most part. With that caveat in place, we begin.)

A Brief History of the Fraal Empire

The Glorious Divine Empire of the Fraal was born in struggle and blood over ten thousand years ago. For centuries, the Fraal Republic had spread out from the solar system that the Fraal called home. The race had overcome their relatively weak bodies by developing incredible psychic powers. At its height, the Republic had been a culture of gentile mindwalkers, governed by a chilvarous code of ettiquette. A hundred explorers, generals and scientists worked to expand the rule of the Fraal.

Towards the end of the Republic, this was beginning to change. Loyalty to the state was being replaced to loyalty to one's own interests, and a love of exploration changed into a love of wealth and exploitation. Many partisans of what are called "the old virtues" feel the Fraal way of life first began to develop "the taint" when they encountered the Weren. A bloodthirsty, savage race, prone to leader-worship, the Weren were easily moulded by the Fraal into a loyal soldiery. With the Weren, a prolific and strong race, the Republic's military was easily able to thwart its age-old rival, the Heisha Autarchy*. However, Weren soldiers were loyal not to the Republic, but to their commanders, as was shortly proven afterwards by the March of General Kaije, who used his Weren troops to seize the capital, and have himself declared Dictator.

Kaije's rule, though harsh, brought a brief respite to the increasingly chaotic Republic. However, it ended quickly, when, after nearly ten years of rule, Kaije was brutally assassinated. From that time onwards, the Republic's history was dominated by cutthroat politics, brutal powerplays, and constant civil strife. "Poison rules here, not the Senate, and the naked blade holds more authority than the Law." wrote famed orator Orege in a letter, bemoaning the death of the old virtues. It was in this sorry state that the Sylix Dominion found the Fraal when they invaded.

The wormlike, semi-aquatic Sylix were at this time one of the greatest powers of the Galaxy. Expansionist, militant, and egotistical, they ruled an interstellar empire of hundreds of worlds--and were fast on their way to ruling more. The Sylix religion preached their dominance over all lesser races, and supported only one "virtue"--superiority. It looked as if the Fraal were doomed.

It was in this situation that Soiran, one of the greatest of the warlords who dominated the later days of the Republic, called for an alliance to repel the invaders. Many came to discuss it with him--and were quickly killed. Soiran quickly seized control of their troops, used them to destory any remaining resistance, and then fought off the Dominion. Once that was done, a grateful Senate "granted" Soiran the title of Emperor. Soiran I ruled for a remarkable 500 years. Few of his descendants have proven so lucky.

The early years of the Empire were ones of rapid expansion. Much of the Dominion was conquered, and the first wars with the mercantile Vrill Consortium occured. A major accomplishment was the conquest of the T'sa Principalities. The scientifically minded T'sa surrendered for the most part and became an invaluable part of the Empire. The primitive K'kree were found, and quickly enslaved. A major encounter was with the humanoid space-faring race that would become the Mechalus. The Mechalus had conquered much of their own solar system, and would probably have developed a jumpdrive within a century. They never recieved that chance--the Fraal conquered them utterly, and then destroyed virtually all memory of their culture. The race was heavily altered by T'sa scientists, into their present, mechanized forms.

The recent years of the Empire have been something of a decline. Recent battles with the so-called "Brightstar Alliance" have proven difficult for a military dominated by Weren, Mechalus, and Vargr mercenaries. Generals and colonial governers are becoming increasingly corrupt and unreliable, and even the bureaucracy seems strained to the breaking point. As the Empire becomes more preoccupied by wars with the Alliance and a reawakened Dominion, it is easy to see why the Empire's recent conquest of the tiny planet called by many of its primative inhabitants "Tellus" has failed to garner much notice in the capital...

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*The Autarchy was itself a Fraal kingdom, albeit somewhat smaller and younger than the Republic. Formed by secessionists, it controlled the wealthy Leith Sector, and was governed by an elected monarch chosen from the elite Heisha family. The Autarchy was completely destroyed and absorbed at the end of the war, though rumors of remnant forces would plague both Republic and Empire for centuries to come.

 

[Rhialto]

(And now, a brief bit of fiction to give a sense of the setting. Enjoy.)


Affairs of the Empire

Quaestor Mecilles walked through the narrow hallways slowly, a slight limp obvious in his steps. The gods, he thought to himself, hate soldiers, especially those who live too long. A sigh escaped his lips. He had fought against so much in his time, and for what purpose? The Alliance continued--the House of Ithur remained powerful enough to give even the Emperor a pause--corruption continued to flourish. He glanced out a small window. A pair of the natives of this planet Tellus stood outside, busily cleaning. Look at them. he thought. They seem so--so unremarkable. He recalled the description of the natives that he had read before coming here. "Primitive, and superstitious, they have yet to prove a significant threat to the Legions." Looking at the pair out there, nervously cleaning up the courtyard, he had a vivid picture of how true that was. They never stood a chance, he thought quietly. Thinking that steeled him, and he continued forward determinedly. I may not be able to win the war, but at least--at least I can win a few battles...

He reached the Governor's Chambers quietly, his expression pensive. Two Weren Legionares nodded as passed, stomping their spears in the ground in tribute. Mecilles wondered briefly if he could trust them. In theory, all Legionares were loyal to the Emperor above all, especially Weren--however, the Governer had had twenty years to imprint himself on the troops. I may have no allies here, he thought to himself, and then cursed that he had not brought Jeldis. He offered his aid, but I refused him. But what was I to do? He is young and untested, and what I do here today is dangerous work... He entered the Chambers, and felt the gun at his side. Still, I am not unprepared. And I have won more with less...


The decor of the Chamber was sumptious, to say the least. The walls were covered with frescoes, tapestries and statuary--some native, others imported. Iedrelle has done quite well for himself, Mecilles thought to himself. His gaze flickered over the room, looking for Tellus's errant governor. He did not seem to be in. A young Mechalus girl was busily cleaning off a small dinner table. Briefly, he wondered why Iedrelle would have a Mechalus as a menial here, and not a Tellan, and then shrugged it off. Most likely, he can trust a Mechalus, but he cannot trust a Tellan. Mecilles was not surprised at that, but still he found it uneasy. He glanced at the meal--it was high quality, but surprisingly sparse. Mecilles shut his eyes, considering things. He is no fool, this one. Arrogant, yes. Evil, certainly. Cruel, beyond a doubt. But not foolish.

His thoughts were interrupted by the rustling of curtains. Glancing over, he saw Iedrelle entering the room. "Quaestor," said the Governor in dulcet tones, "I am sorry to keep you waiting. I had just finished my meal, and afterwards, it is my custom to enjoy the fresh air on the balcony." Iedrelle gave a sweeping bow. "I am most honored to have you with me."

Mecilles stood stiff. Careful now. You must give away nothing... "I am honored to be here," he stated. "You have run this colony well..."

Iedrelle smiled. "It virtually runs itself," he stated emphatically. He took a map out of his sleeve, and unrolled it upon the table. "We have barely scratched the surface of the enormous mineral wealth this planet has to offer. And the rest of this solar system!" A faint smile played on the Governor's lips. "I have entered into negotiations with the Vrill Consortium to terraform some of the more inhabitable worlds in return for a some mining rights. If they work out, I may be able to quadruple the output of this colony--and that is a modest estimate."

Mecilles stared at Iedrelle quietly. "And what of the natives...?

The Governor gave a dismissive shrug. "Hardly worth the effort. We have a few pockets of resistance, but hardly anything to get worried about..." He pulled out a small light stylus, and shone it on the map. "This group of islands--here...this smallish continent--here...and this mountainous region--here...are about the only significant forces of resistance that this world has produced... That and some underground movements..."

Mecilles looked at the areas the Governor had outlined. So...very small, he thought quietly to himself. "I've heard that they possess...mindwalkers..."

Iedrelle laughed mockingly. "They do in fact possess a few with psychic capability--not many--and most of them are relatively unschooled. I suspect what latent abilities they possessed have been triggered by the recent influx of so many of our Academians--the so-called "proximity effect", if you will recall..."

Mecilles gave a learned nod, still staring at the map. "And to what--purposes do you propose we turn the natives...?"

A smug smile came over Iedrelle's features. "My researchers and I remain unsure. At the moment, Cthurgeon S'senles is working with genetic manipulation, seeing how they handle various--adaptations. Over all, we are somewhat surprised by the races--mutability..."

"Indeed," said Mecilles calmly. He had seen S'senles's work, as well as its results. Neither had been particularly calming to his old nerves. "You mentioned a trade agreement with the Vrill earlier..."

Iedrelle gave a slight nod, and then turned away, feigning abashment. "Perhaps I went beyond my authority in doing that, but the deal--it was right there before me...'

Mecilles dismissed his talk with a deferential wave of the hand. "There is no wrong in that. The Consortium is, despite the occasional bit of hostility, an old ally." Mecilles smiled calmly. "No, there is nothing wrong in dealing with the Vrill. As opposed to, for example, dealing with the Sylix."

Iedrelle stiffened somewhat, and gave a nervous laugh. "Quaestor, I fail to see the relevance--"

Mecilles smiled at him. "Don't you, Governor?"

The Governor frowned ferociously at that. "Quaestor Mecilles," he snarled, "are you accusing me of treason?"

Mecilles gave a harsh laugh. "I am not accusing you, Governor--I am stating the facts. You are dealing with the Sylix Dominion, selling them raw materials in return for technology. "

Iedrelle turned away. "Absurd! Why--"

Mecilles shook his head. "It is not absurd, Iedrelle, and as for why, that is simple. You are not running a colony here--you are beginning a kingdom. Or perhaps, even an Empire. You are not altering Tellans genetically to make workers--you are doing it to create soldiers. You are flooding the planet with Consortium mercenaries, and Vargr." Mecilles regarded Iedrelle calmly. "So, tell me, Governor, where were you planning on letting it end? Here? Or on the Imperial throne...?'

Iedrelle snarled. "An old fool like you could never understand one like myself! You are too bound to that pius young weakling Cathdrides..."

Mecilles smiled. "Cathdrides is young and he is pius, but he is no weakling, Iedrelle. He sees power-hungry men such as yourself for what they are--a cancer rotting away our Empire. When he hears of this, you will be dismissed, what you have done here will be disbanded, and this colony will know the true benefits of the Empire's dominion--not whatever twisted variation you have brought. So I ask again, Iedrelle--where would it have ended?"

Iedrelle glanced up at him. "You will never know, old man..."

It was them the shot struck Mecilles from behind. Fortunately, his robes absorbed most of the impact. Twirling, he saw the Mechalus girl that had earlier been cleaning Iedrelle's table. A trained assassin, disguised as a servant...a clever move... Mecilles drew his gun, the reflexes of a thousand battles coming to the fore... when he was cut down from the side. As he fell, he saw the long, thin blade held in Iedrelle's hands. He glared up as his blood leaked from him.

"You bastard..." the dying Quaestor muttered.

Iedrelle laughed at that. "As a matter of fact, yes." He walked away, staring fondly at the blade before him. "Remarkable little weapon, isn't it? They are made in the east, through a special tempering process. Primitive, but quite effective." He turned to the Mechalus. "Vetrell, make certain to leave his body somewhere prominent. As a representive of the Emperor, he no doubt proved a tempting target for the various Resistance cells. Most likely, they'll be tripping over themselves to claim responsibility..."

"You'll never get away with this," Mecilles spat out. "Someone will notice I never left this room--and my assitant already sent my report!"

Iedrelle smiled. "I'm afraid I have you outflanked on both those matters..." He turned slightly. "Jeldis...!" As Mecilles watched with disbelieving eyes, the young Quaestor stepped out from behind a tapestry.

"What is it, sir?" he asked Iedrelle, grinning.

Iedrelle waved towards Mecilles. "The business we discussed earlier has come up..."

Jeldis smiled. "Of course sir. I will do it immediately." He glanced Mecilles over, briefly--and then his entire form shifted into that of the older man's features.

Mecilles started. "An--Academy spy..."

Iedrelle smiled at him coldly. "You do not think I'd enter into something this risky without allies, do you?"

Jeldis nodded. "By serving Governor Iedrelle, I satisfy both the Academy, by gaining your death, and myself, by gaining the position, of Resident Quaestor..."

Mecilles shut his eyes. He would have wept, if he'd thought it would do any good. "Go on then." he heard himself muttered. "Imagine you have won. But a crime is always revealed, in the end, no matter how hard you try to conceal it. You cannot kill or corrupt every Quaestor..." And with that Mecilles Karil died.

Iedrelle watched as Ventrell hoisted the old man's body over her shoulder, and walked out of the room through the secret passage that had been created, no doubt, by some paranoid Tellan prince years before. There was a slight bloodstain on the floor where the Quaestor had fallen--Iedrelle had no doubt it would be gone in the morning. "The things one must do to achieve greatness..." he muttered to himself, as he walked out onto the balcony.

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Well, any thoughts? I'm dying to hear your opinions...

 

[Rhialto]

A quick bump. I'll try filling it out with something later. Please give me some opinions, ne?