Zone Game 9

Zone Game 9 was the first Zone Game of the new year, and occured on 12 January 2008.

Factions: Rixian Unity vs Iron Coalition and Belters

The Iron Coalition and Belters forces allied up and completely smashed two Rixian lances, it looks like the IC combat simulation in ZG 8 payed off.

DataNet reports follow:

Date: 11JAN2158/File: 00212- Old Friends

Report filed by: "Nick_H"

Without earth, it's difficult to feel the change of seasons and years. But, in case you forgot, we're now in 2158. This conflict has gone on for over eight years. Hard to believe, right? In another eight years there will be cadets who have never known anything different. If we take a trip to memory lane, it all started out with GigaCorp and the Iron Coalition. Bios jumped into the fray, followed by the Belters, and then the Rixians. In the past year, the Dreghklar Empire dropped by, followed closely by some new and unknown human group from the void.

What are these battles about anymore? Charred Earth? I don't think any of the Bios colonization efforts have been successful (if you remember, they battled through the IC and planted Gen:eve and Gen:adam on Earth). I honestly can say that I have not heard anything about them since they got sent to that hell. Are we fighting for an ideology? Probably, but there is no clearly "right" side. Is there really not enough space to go around? I don't believe that the universe is that small and that there are not enough asteroids to go around.

Maybe we're just stuck in an intergalactic struggle that we can't seem to get away from, because everywhere one faction goes, another faction is. And who knows what kind of civilizations we've yet to encounter?

Eh, I'll leave it to the Martian philosophers to figure out. They, at least, are firmly grounded. So to speak.

On the subject of actual news, the Iron Coalition fleet has been showing some movement. Yes, yes, I know. Their track record lately has been less than impressive. But the Rixian forces are stirring once again. Here's what DataNet sensors picked up from Rixian space:

---

This is Grand Master Autumn Sel. As you well know, the Iron Coalition is perhaps the weakest and most pathetic foe we proud Rixians have ever faced. As such, the Holy Seat of Warfare has given us a most noble task; the absolute annihilation of these inferior humans. The Farsight Archers and our Bloody Lance have once again been tasked to this mission, and while you may think that such force is unnecessary, the Holy Seat does not want us to lose any more warriors than we have to.

A large concentration of Iron Coalition forces currently occupies the "Fish" cluster, the Holy Seat of Intelligence has determined that a overwhelming attack at these forces would permanently cripple the Iron Coalition war machine, allowing our illustrious Orders to take control of Human space in our quest to Ascend the Sinclan once and for all. Our forces mobilize at 1400 hours on the 12 of January, Human time.

Ascension, my brothers.

---

Well, there you go. It's not just the DataNet that thinks IC is easy pickings.

But wait!

A little birdie told me Caius' fleet is on the move and that Caius is greatly bothered by the Rixian advance. That Rixian transmission didn't note anything about them, though. Seems that IC has a position already, so those Belters better get there quick unless they want to become food for Little Grey Men From Space.

Keep guessing, and we'll keep you updated as more comes in.

---end report---

>>astrod0m: 832:523:0-92435: Hah, is DataNet suffering so many shortages of staff that they have to rely on Rixian broadcasts for information on the IC?

>>Angel_Of_Death:9200:1100: I think the odds on this one are gonna be pretty damned skewed. I'd advise anyone who hasn't yet to put their money on the Rix.

Date: 13JAN2158/File: 00213 - Humans Triumphant

Report filed by: "Nick_H"

The Iron Coalition and Belter forces defeated two Rixian detachments despite the blatant skepticism of the DataNet regarding their ability to do so.

We have no leads as to what kind of agreement Belters and IC came to, but it seems reasonable that they recognized that they share some goals and put aside ideological differences to destroy would-be alien invaders. Comparatively speaking, human forces seemed far more skilled than the Rixians. Unlike previously suggested, it is unwise to write off the Iron Coalition as a serious contender in the Allegiance wars because of a few losses. It is possible that significant bureaucracy may hinder IC at times, but they turn out some of the most highly skilled pilots we have ever seen.

The battle commenced, as always, with the Rixian forces attempting to expand with the ever-dangerous rip scouts. After their threat was neutralized, the Belter force quickly dispatched stealth fighters and eliminated enemy miners. The IC deployed small-to-medium sized Capital Ships and conducted several well-coordinated bombing runs against the disorganized Rixian forces. With the Rixian force thus crippled, it was simple to corner and overwhelm the remaining Greys.

As always, the Rixian Autumn Sel had some comments to this corner of the universe:

---start intercept--- To all frequencies, this is Grand Master Autumn Sel.

I am not so arrogant that I cannot recognize a defeat when I see one. The humans provided an unexpectedly powerful and unified front that completely annihilated our attempted forward miner offensives, as well as skillfully employing Tactical technologies in the Belters' attack on our Order and a combination of Supremacy and Shipyard to destroy our brothers the Farsight Archers.

Some would call these strategies cowardly or desperate, but in light of the current military situation they were the right choice to halt our glorious crusade, if only momentarily. I respect noble warriors and the humans in this battle proved they were not the pathetic weaklings I previously thought they were. The 1st Marine Division of the Iron Coalition revealed to us that the elite of their military are a force to be reckoned with.

However, I can assure you all, human, Lizard and Rixian alike that a defeat of this magnitude will never again be seen. We have learned from our mistakes and the next time our Orders enter bloody combat, we will emerge victorious, and all species will taste Holy Ascension.

For Issa Rix! ---end intercept---

I seem to recall Iron Coalition statements like this. Will the Rixians go the way of IC?

We will be sure to update as more information comes in.

---end report---