Zone Game 3
The third game in the Zone Games series took place on 20th October 2007
Factions: Rixian Unity vs Iron Coalition
Realising the potential and success for 4 team matches, the factions each had two teams to represent them, allowing for a variety of tech paths and requiring inter-team co-ordination which gave the game and extra twist.
The Iron Coalition was once again defeated, this time by the Rixian forces.
Date: 16OCT2157/File: 00203 - Rixian Communications Intercepted
A Datanet transmission warning of the attack was broadcast some time before the battle:
Report filed by: "DataNet_MountedBurger"
Patrick Ryda, reporting from the edge of humanity.
Just recently, a newly repaired DataNet monitoring station picked up a faint alien transmission from beyond the Kuiper Belt. Upon analysis from our most esteemed xenolinguists, it revealed itself to be a Rixian Battle Communique. The transcript is, to say the least, incredibly disturbing.
Time: 1200 Galactic Solar Time (GST) Date: 15NOV2157 Callsign (Sender): Holy Seat of Warfare Callsign (Receipient): Paladin Autumn Sel File: Charter 31409 of the Battle Inscriptions Priority: Most Urgent Priotity (Kunci Estacen)
---start intercept--- Paladin Autumn Sel, our representative for Sinclan [Editor: A derogative Rixian term for Humans] affairs, the Holy Seat of Warfare has decreed that the Second Ascension Crusade is to begin no later than the Twentieth of the Tenth in the Human Calendar system.
Issa Rix has created a mandate that no price is too great for the subjugation of the Sinclan, with over 10 billion converted baseline human slaves our efforts to Ascend undesireables such as the Dreghklar and the BIOS will proceed much more smoothly than in the past.
As such, the Charter 31409 will be the guide to your war efforts against the first line of defense Humanity possesses, the supremely arrogant and foolhardy Iron Coalition. As they have proven recently that they are unable to overcome even the disgustingly vile BIOS, this First Stage of the Second Crusade shall, obviously, be mere practice for your battle hardened forces.
You will attack the slightly defended forward outpost of Kuramancs, annihilate their bases and establish a Rixian forward staging point in the helium rich asteroid fields surrounding the human position. Our Holy Seat of Intelligence has discovered a relatively minor presence of two Iron Coalition Marine Expeditionary Forces, ironically the Iron Coalition's largest form of Space Combat Task Force. These Task Forces are fully independant and capable of indefinite operations in deep space, with organic Helium-3 mining and processing wings and the capacity to employ capital ships, as well as any form of Technological Combat Doctrine [Ed: A Rixian term for techpath].
We at the Holy Seat of Warfare recognise that our Blessed Rixian warriors are in every way superior to the barbaric Human soldier, but there is no reason to act foolhardy in the manner of the common Human. The Holy Seat of Warfare will allow you to requistion two full Rixian Crusading Orders to combat the two Iron Coalition Marine Expeditionary Forces. Obviously your first choice will be your own Order, the Bloody Lance, but we here at the Seat will deign to recommend you choose the fully battle ready Order of the Deathly Veil.
Invade Kuramancs. Establish a foothold. Reap the Helium-3 and then utterly destroy the pathethic Human.
Ascension, Paladin Autumn Sel.
---end intercept---
As you can see, a Rixian invasion is likely to be imminent. It is in this reporter's small opinion that this is clearly the first attack of a "glorious" Rixian Crusade to "convert" us Humans. I would advise the Iron Coalition to start preparations for all-out conflict. As much as I personally detest the IC's crypto-fascist meddlings, I think I speak for the majority of us when I say go dismantle those $#@!ing Rixians. Better Knave than Slave.
Patrick Ryda, from the edge of humanity.
>>Silent_Spring:76048:118843: Here here! $#@! the Rixians!
>>The_Brockman:451200:890585: I, for one, welcome our new Rixian overlords.
>>Callahan_Blues:56800:34522: I've worked for the Iron Co as a mercenary, and I can say that they're not the pushovers the Rixians seem to think they are.
>>Patsy:9090:1840386: The Rixians have a point though. If the "Galaxy's Finest Military Establishment" was stomped by the BIOS, who knows how much they will lose this time.
>>SnowdenForYossarian:541522:831137: You're missing the point that the BIOS are lean, mean, killing machines.
---END OF FILE---
Iron Coalition Response
>Enter details
Surname: Johnson Rank: Captain Tag: 003-431-170 Section: Office of Naval Intelligence Security Clearance: M-2
>Verifying details and bioscan ...
>Access Granted
>Enter transmission details
Time: 03:45 UTC Date: 17 OCT 2157 File: ONIOPA-0031 Transmission type: Public Priority: C-1 Encryption: -None-
>Initiate transmission
The Iron Coalition is outraged, but not surprised by these plans. We have detected an increased amount of stealth and scout ships belonging to the Rixian Unity, come dangerously close to our space. Coupled with the increased hostility in their transmissions towards us, and finally this intercepted communication, we are sure that they will attack us soon. These aliens have been biding their time like cowards, and now they think that they are striking at us while we are down.
They are mistaken.
Although we did not gain an objective victory at Mercury, our strategic losses were minimal and the pyrrhic victory that the BIOS claimed was due to an unfortunate communications error at key moments. In losing Mercury, we have lost nothing but an incinerator, as we have previously stated. The BIOS have won a planet of Coalition slag, and we heartily congratulate them for it.
Our offensive and defensive capabilities are optimal, we shall meet any attack upon or inside our territory with our full force and will not only repel them, but we will crush the base from which their attack has emanated.
Let it be known that the Iron Coalition stands firm to protect humanity. We are the first and last line of defence for our race, and will destroy anyone, or anything, that tries to attack our kind. While we may have been pushed back recently, we have never been broken.
>Terminate transmission
Date: 21.10.2157/File: 00204 - Iron Coalition Defeated Again
Report filed by: "asterisk"
As things came to a head in Rixian -- Human relations, the Iron Coalition was once again defeated. The Iron Coalition has failed to stop the Rixian advance, and humans are facing not one, but two alien forces, all seeking to destroy us. Reports note that one of the Iron Coalition's greatest commanders had to be quickly replaced in the light of recent battle injuries sustained by a troop transport train. An attack by escaped IC criminals seems to have caught the Coalition off-guard and allowed the Rixians to move in amidst the confusion. The Coalition had to fight with less forces and preparation, and so, didn't stand much of a chance.
Aside from facing defeat, IC is facing a public relations disaster. Long-established as the military powerhouse that seeks to unite humanity under a common banner, they were defeated by the BIOS a month ago, and have failed to achieve significant military victories since that time. How will they look in the eyes of the rest of humanity is uncertain, as the battle results are still coming in. No doubt there will be a populist spin on it.
Here's what MountedBurger caught off one of the DataNet Relays:
Time: 2200 GST Date: 21NOV2157 Callsign (Sender): Grand Master Autumn Sel Callsign (Receipient): DATANET_ALL Priority: Normal Priority (Kunci Estanon)
---start intercept--- To all Humans. We are the Rixians, and you have seen our faces before.
The recent battle between our Blessed Crusader Orders of the Bloody Lance and the Deathly Veil and your...pathetic Iron Coalition floating scrapyards proved, yet again that the ponderous Coalition is in no shape to serve as the guardian of mankind. Why, even the "security forces" of the GigaCorp showed that they were able to best even the dreaded alien Dreghklar in battle, while the Iron Coalition cannot even maintain order in the realm of humanity.
Our Rixian society has had over 100 000 years of social harmony, even with a caste system you Humans have outgrown, never once facing anything that would resemble rebellion or dissent, but in a few short decades of your race entering the realm of Space the Human race has been fractured beyond repair.
All the Iron Coalition's posturing and swagger have been for naught. If they cannot even control meagre Humanity, what hope do they have against our devout Purification forces? Their ungraceful, ugly mechanical beasts were no match for our beautiful creatures of war. Similar to the Rixian warrior, the Human pilot is trained from adulthood for battle. But whereas he rides into battle on a machine, we ride inside an animal bred and reared since birth to be our companions in warfare.
I must thank the Iron Coalition, however. Their crippling loss has allowed me to Ascend the ranks of my Order to better serve the Unity in future. This battle in Kuramancs was a mere taste of our power. Know that the full force of the Holy Seat of Warfare will soon be with you, Humans.
Ascension awaits you.
---end intercept---
I would like to think that the Rixians will have to fight the Dreghklar, as they seem to know each other already, but It's more likely that they will proceed to press on into Sol. Will Bios have to fight the Rixians, like buzzards over a scrap? Or will GigaCorp and Belters ally again to defend common interest? As always, we'll keep you posted.
---end report---
>>b1ackHand: 1976:489157:56: A shame about the IC no-show. Just when they were about to do their job!
>>.outpost452: 687:102:987: What'll happen once the IC's gone, though? Ah, figures, others'll step up to fight.
>>XpressX: 26262:18171: Not very wise to hate on the Bios, Asterisk. They are stealthy enough to kill you before you know you're dead. >>Ceres_Alpha: 49823:332: For all we know the bios have already killed us. Now they're just waiting for us to realize the fact. The Rixians are just helping.
>>AngelOfDeath:01100:73735: Personally, I enjoy working for the Rixians as a mercenary. They're actually really nice guys when you get to know them, and the ships are lightyears ahead of the boostin' buckets the Belters give us. Also, they can cook a mean Martian Lizard Stew.
Further Iron Coalition Response
>Enter details
Surname: Johnson Rank: Captain Tag: 003-431-170 Section: Office of Naval Intelligence Security Clearance: M-2
>Verifying details and bioscan ...
>Access Granted
>Enter transmission details
Time: 22:42 UTC Date: 02 NOV 2158 File: ONIOPA-032 Transmission type: Public Priority: C-1 Encryption: -None-
>Initiate transmission
These past few weeks have been disastrous for the Coalition, first we lost an engagement to the Bios and now to the Rixian Unity, our pride has been the cause of our fall. We are but humble soldiers, fighting to defend and unite humanity and we have learnt our lesson and stand before you, humanity, to forgive us for failing to perform our duty.
Prior to our battle with the Rixians, there were increasing internal tension, culminating in conflict in the micro-environment Lr-093 Sector A-3. As a result of this internal skirmish, underground rebel cells within the Coalition have been uncovered. The rest of the information uncovered is classified and cannot be revealed in this transmission.
General Fisk had promptly ordered a purge of the Coalition, resulting in our weakened force at the edge of the system, and the delay in the transmission of this message. However, we stress to inform you that the purge was quick and implemented with surgical precision. Security has now been doubled at all fronts in light of recent events, and Iron Coalition is once again ready to perform its duty to humanity.
We will not fail you.
>Terminate transmission
