Zone Game 29

Zone Game 29 took place on 24th January 2009.

Factions: Rixian Unity vs Rixian Unity

ZGs return in 2009 after a short break for Christmas. This game also incorporates squadron based game play though to a lesser degree. In this game, set in the middle of the raging Rixian Civil War, Rolling Thunder play mercenaries hired out by the Rixian Extremists, lead by disgraced commander Autumn Sel against the Rixian Progressives (the existing establishment from which Autumn was initially exiled).

DataNet reports follow:

Nick_H: JAN.20.2159/Transmission: 00250.001

Report filed by: Nick_H

It has been quiet around here. Too quiet. For about a month, in fact, there has been no news from the DataNet staff. No, we have not been overrun by mustache-twirling Bios or corporate influence, we just did not have anything to report on!

Maybe all the factions laid aside their arms and dedicated several weeks to remembering the good old days, seeing how we are now approaching the 19th anniversary of Earth's destruction. More likely than not they simply had more pilots on leave. I mean, probably, not that we are sure of anything.

Right, excuses aside, I have two bits of information I want to get out there for you: news and probably-good news. The news is that not-too-long ago we got a tip that the 81st Marine Division (more commonly known as Steel Fury) held a live-fire exercise with their Iron Coalition buddies. This tip was accompanied with about ten minutes of quality video footage, and I suggest that you track it down and view it, if only to look at how they work so that you are not surprised with their tactics when they come to liberate your mining outpost. Knowledge is power, seek it.

And now for the probably-good news. I am sure you are familiar with Rolling Thunder. No, not the smash-hit by Nu-Clack Industrial band Vacuum Corpse, but the group of renegade mercenaries made up of all sorts of defectors. Rixian pilots, GigaCorp security, IC recruits, you name it, RT has them. Just by chance, I happened to be in the same border outpost one of their carrier groups made a stop in -- you can tell it is RT because they fly ships that were not made from scraps. I investigated a little bit, found out they were resupplying for a long-distance trip. My methods aside, I determined their destination to be outer Rixian space.

Now, why would Rixians hire a bunch of unclean mercenaries to help them, and who are they fighting? Further investigation revealed that there might be some internal struggle in the Rixian hierarchy. Why? Who cares, humans win either way when a bunch of grays pound on each other! It might be even better if the pounding occurred between Dreghklar and Rixians. This may actually come to pass, because I did catch wind that RT's destination was fairly close to Dreghklar space. I guess that is why it is called outer Rixian space.

I am sure Autumn Sel has something to do with it. Remember that his Bloody Lance was retired after a crushing defeat. I did not think the Rixian rulers would let him command again, but that is one gray who will not go down without a fight.

Now, understandably, I cannot reveal my position, but either someone else or I will be watching this series of events, and we'll keep you posted.

Nick_H: JAN.24.2159/Transmission: 00251.001

Date: JAN.26.2159 - File: 00251

Report filed by: Nick_H

Apparently, most of the DataNet contributors are sleeping, busy with special reports, or being replaced with more efficient robot AI, so you must read my posts again! Just to clarify, in the last posting that refers to this conflict I made mention of the Rolling Thunder mercenary group and possibly unintentionally offended some readers. Usually when I offend I try to do so and feel pretty good about it, but apparently some people, possibly members of RT who may or may not be human, are unfamiliar with the fact that Rixians consider not-Rixians unclean. At any rate, now you know if you did not know already. Like I said before, knowledge is power and you should seek it.

Regardless of their internal racial and ideological breakdown, Rolling Thunder contributed heavily to the Rixian side that hired them. After going over logs, it becomes clear that the Rixians that hired RT were evacuating forces from a planet, in a gesture of open defiance against the Rixian government proper. Their aim was initially to hold off the light response fleet, but the rebels ended up destroying the response fleet entirely. I am not entirely sure what the rebels feel is so unjust; Autumn and his rebel forces probably want to kill humans more than the other side will allow them to. Whatever the reason, it seems that Rixians are going to be preoccupied with internal affairs at least a little bit more than before, meaning that we Humans get a reprieve from their attacks and can focus on our own internal bickering.

In large part thanks to RT's help, the rebel forces utterly demolished their less-organized kin, and were set free to destinations unknown. I was observing the battle, and at the end of the conflict -- right before the rebels mopped up the government's response -- the government forces attempted to deliver some meager tribute in surrender to the rebel forces. An amusing gesture, by any means, except nobody was actually around to pick it up before it disappeared into vacuum.

I am going to see where this goes, see if I can get a message from Autumn or something of the sort. When it comes up, you'll know where to find it, because, as always, we'll keep you posted.