Reawakening

[Free_Pacific_States]

Battlestar Galactica - Earth Orbit
Command and Control Center
“Commander,” The CQ officer turned from his console, glancing towards Adama, who was standing at the center of the room. “We’ve got a verified Action Order from the SDC.”

“Excellent.” Adama stated. “Dispatch four vipers to take up positions behind the Pax Space Pod. They’re to escort it in and attempt to threaten it into changing course. But they should not take any offensive action.”

The CQ officer gaped. “Sir…how did you…”

“Psh, son, I’ve watched the FPS Military at work for the last half year.” He smiled. “They’re completely predictable.” He took a breath. “Tell the CAG to see to this mission himself.”

---

Low Earth Orbit
The four vipers approached the pod cautiously, ensuring in their movement that their approach was not taken as an attack run. After a short time, they came to hold at a distance just within weapons range of the pod, and the lead viper pilot (who also happened to be the CAG for Galactica) began transmitting on all open frequencies.

“Attention Pax spacecraft; attention Pax spacecraft. You are approached FPS airspace without authorization. Turn back immediately.” The transmission stopped for a few moments before continuing. “Pax spacecraft, if you do not turn back before reaching FPS Airspace, we will use deadly force to halt your progress.”

As the pod continued flying towards Earth, the four vipers continued following it, breaking off only when the pod was close enough to the ground for four F-18s to take over the escort.

[packilvania]

The pod, being unmanned, made no response, and only continued to fall.

From Hive Earth Command

FPS government. Accidental pod drop was initiated. Heading towards FPS territory. Recommend evacuation for 30 miles from impact site. DO NOT attempt to shoot pod down. Action will result in wide spread of pod contents. We are attempting to shut pod down.

***OOC: FPS, take the impact onto your own hands. I’m not sure how you want to do this…

[Free_Pacific_States]

OOC: Well, that makes two of us, lol…
IC:
Liberty City - FPS Emergency Military Command Center
Command and Control Room
“Oh, please,” Chris snapped, staring at Boris, “do you really believe this crap? ‘Accidental pod drop.’ Right. Because the Pax are so prone to errors.”

“Even computers make mistakes.” Charlie stated. “It is very possible that something went wrong.”

“It’s more possible that they intend to invade!” Joan O’Conner, who had just entered the room, unsurprisingly sided with Herfeld. “‘Clear a thirty mile radius.’ Right. So, in short, they want us to let their pod land while keeping our troops miles and miles away.”

“Mr…Mr…M…M…Mr. President, I…I…I…you…you…” Turning, Matt watched as an extremely pale, large glass wearing, white-jacket clad scientist, carrying a thermometer in one hand and a stack of papers in another, approached. Turning, Matt held up a hand, ending all discussion immediately. “I’m sure you all know Stewart Rodings of the Federal Bureau of Science?”

The entire group immediately beamed and waved to the short scientist, who immediately dropped all of his papers while waving back. Jumping to the ground, he quickly gathered them all up, before standing again and facing the President. “Sir, I, uh, think I, uh, m…m…might h…h…have something to con…con…”

“Excellent!” Matt stated. Like the rest of his staff, Terrus loved Rodings. For though the man lacked common sense, the ability to speak clearly, or truly any kind of social skills, he was extremely talented and more importantly completely apolitical. Which was a testament to his brilliance…few apolitical people have achieved high office. “What is it?”

“Sir, ac…ac…acc…acccording t…t…t…to my ob…ob…observations,” the man began to become excited as he realized everyone actually was listening to him, “these…these pods do not de…de…decelerate before l…la…landing. It…it…it’s very p…pr…probable that they a…ac…actually w…will c…create a c…c…crater that large.”

“Much like a meteor or asteroid?” Boris asked.

Stewart nodded.

“I think that answers the question of what to do, then.” Charlie stated. “Sir, clearly, they aren’t asking us to back off simply to facilitate some kind of weapon deployment. They’re trying to save our lives.”

“And that goo?” Herfeld asked.

“If I might say so, sir,” the FPIA Director appeared out of nowhere, speaking in his normal quiet, raspy voice, “this is an excellent opportunity for a look at Pax technology. That goo might obliterate a couple fields before we can contain it. But once we do, we’ll be able to study it and the technology in the pod.” He took a breath. “I would highly recommend not destroying it.” He glanced at Stewart. “By the way, Director, pages 45 and 46 in your report have been swapped.”

Everyone watched in awe as the scientist opened up his report and gaped. “Why, they are! Thanks a…” He trailed off, looking up to see that the Director had once again disappeared.

“Well, that settles it, then.” Matt stated. “Tell the local police to evacuate the entire thirty mile radius. It shouldn’t take too long…this is in the middle of farmland, right?” Seeing a nod from Chris, Matt continued. “Chances are, only a couple hundred people, at tops, live in that area. Have the military divisions I ordered into the area assist in the evacuation and then establish a perimeter just outside the thirty mile radius. Be sure the entire area is evacuated before the pod hits in…”

“Twenty-three minutes, sir.” Chris stated. “It’ll be a hard deadline to beat, but, we’ll do our best.”

[packilvania]

The pod rammed into the ground. The unlucky farmer who owned this land would have a gripe indeed. A large crater now stood where his house once was. This wasn’t the end of it though. The pod popped open and the grey goo seeped out, devouring the pod. The ground around the zero mark began to sink away as they goo reconstructed it into the first spire… The Hive node. The Pax were fond of spires, probably borrowed architecture from the Codex. Trees, animals, and even the old pickup sitting around were devoured as a city was built… The borders would reach 20 miles wide. Remarkably, the construction took only 2 days.

[Free_Pacific_States]

“Only a single casualty, sir.” Chris stated as he entered the Spherical Office, to which Terrus had returned once it was confirmed this wasn’t a Pax pre-emptive assault. “A small plane, apparently, didn’t get the radio warnings about the pod. The pilot of the aircraft, it’s presumed, didn’t even know what hit him.”

Matt shook his head sadly. “Poor guy.” He looked up at Herfeld. “What’s the status of the impact zone?”

“It’s stopped expanding.” The Secretary of Defense replied. “Apparently, we were correct about the Pax not using suburbs.” He took a breath. “The weird part is that the city seems to have built itself right into the area’s infrastructure. Piping lines, roads, power lines…everything connected up perfectly.”

“Power lines? Water lines?” Terrus asked, alarmed. “Should we be letting them get that kind of access?”

“They already provide the nation’s power, sir, and if they cut that power they’d easily kill our water purification ability. There’s no change in our tactical situation.” The Secretary of Defense took a breath. “Which, I should note…”

“Yes, yes, I know.” The President held up his hand. “You don’t like it. You’ve objected to everything from the trade pact to the power deal ever since they were created. I’m aware of the risk these agreements create. But as long as we’re careful, that risk is greatly outweighed by the benefits.” Matt took a deep breath. “Have we heard anything from the Pax?”

“Nothing. Nothing at all.” Boris, who had been sitting quietly across the room, sat forward. “Literally, they’ve done nothing. Not a single movement in the past two days.”

---

Packilvanian Earth Territory
Hive Node 1
“…how long do we have to stand here?” A drone askedunable to handle simply standing there for such a long period.

“QUIET!” Another replied. “We aren’t supposed to move…even our tongues!”

“Psh.”

“Don’t make me shut that mouth for you, boy!” An older drone stated.

“How? How are you going to shut my mouth? You can’t move!”

“Oh yea! Take THIS!” The older drone began staring at the younger one, not at all blinking.

“Hah! You think I care?” The younger drone asked defiantly. After a few seconds, though, he eyed the old man. “You…you…your just going to stare at me?”

“Damned right.”

“Fine!” The younger drone replied defiantly. No one spoke for several hours, during which time the younger drone began to sweat, then to shake slightly. Finally, he swore. “Fine! Stop it! You win! Stop it! I CAN’T STAND IT ANYMORE!”

---

Liberty City - The Blue House
The Spherical Office
“So, what do we do now?” Terrus asked.

“I’d advise we send a scouting team into the city to verify that it is safe.” Chris suggested. “Once the city’s safety was secured, we could send in some science teams, try to learn anything we can.”

“You think the Pax are just going to let us do this?” Boris asked.

“If you ask me, they haven’t a choice.” Chris replied. “After all, that pod did enter our airspace without permission. By FPS law, the government is allowed to confiscate the pod and its cargo for inspection. We’ll just say we’re inspecting it.”

“That sounds fine.” Matt stated. “In the mean time, Boris, began working on an exit strategy for this whole situation.”

“Yessir.”

[packilvania]

Sorry I’m slow. Work is hell. Expect a post later tonight.

[packilvania]

Message to the FPS Government

Friends of the region:

It has come to our attention that some of our possessions inadvertently landed in FPS during the recolonization efforts. We would like to discuss with you recovering our possessions, or possibly colonizing where it stands. Please respond to this message when possible.

The Pax

“Tlant sir, do you not feel that they will take that as an threat for war?” a small lizard asked as he skittered around, looking at the EP fleet deployments.

“Always will this region look upon anything I do with disdain. My predecessor made sure of that. Hopefully I can mend wounds that seem to be growing. While it is known we could easily take large tracts of the EP, we would destroy them in the process. You know as well as I do we can’t make that mistake again. We need the food…”

[Reziel]

The Northern Grand Duchy – Solanthus – The NISA HQ

Shaking his head, Lord Arak Trevalin could barely believe what he was seeing. The satellite picture showed one of those damned pods landing in the middle of FPS and then… and then that thing coming out of it had began building… no: creating. Generating? Spawning? Breeding? Well… whatever that thing had done… and within few hours it had created a structure of some kind. A huge structure of some kind. And all around it…

«Nothing? Nothing at all?» he asked, suddenly turning towards his aide.

«Uhm… aside evacuating the area… basically, nope. Not yet, at least. No military reaction… nothing. FPS is… uhm… waiting, I think»

«Waiting… for what, bloody hell?»

«Uhm… that we do not know. Should we try to tap their…»

«No… stay away from this. Away. We’re in the EPTO and we’ll offer FPS all the support it will need… but only when they’ll request it. Until that… we’ll stay away. The pod has landed in FPS… it will remain a FPSian problem until they’ll decide otherwise. And we won’t spy on our allies in the remote eventuality of… uhm… an involvement of ourselves»

«With all due respect, my Lord… we already…»

«I’ve told you away» barked the Rezielan, incinerating his aide.

[Free_Pacific_States]

Zalebano Territory - 30 Miles from Pod Crash Site
End of Tyin County Road 14; Edge of City
Coming to a halt despite his training, Captain Ralph Jirvix of the FPS Marines looked down at his feet, watching as the old, crackly county road he and his men had been advancing across turned suddenly into a well-paved, four-lane avenue. In the back of his mind, he wondered why the Pax even needed roads, but, he quickly pushed that aside. He was a soldier, not a tech; his job was just to make sure the geeks following his team in got out alive.

Taking a step onto the newer road, Jirvix waited for anything to happen. An explosion. Gunfire. Some kind of super-technological attack. Even for a hand to come out of the ground and start attacking him.

But nothing happened. Taking another step, Jirvix waited, then finally turned. In the distance, he could see the road block/command post set up by the 31st Airborne Infantry Batallion. Floating above that post were a number of military helicopters, prepared to provide support and evacuation to those entering the city if necessary.

That was not really what concerned Jirvix, however. It was the group of people between that post and himself that his eyes focused on. The six other members of his special forces team were spread out in a defensive pattern around the twenty or so scientists that were heading into the city. As well as a single NPA Agent…for legal purposes.

Nodding simply to the lead military technician, Jarvix turned, and began walking straight down the avenue, keeping an eye out for any kind of threat. Behind him, the rest of the group followed. It would be about half an hour before they reached the first building command had deemed worthy of investigation.

---

Liberty City - The Blue House
Press Room
“Ladies and gentlemen, the president.” Stepping back from the podium, Terrus’ press secretary heaved a sigh of relief. He’d spent several days dodging questions about what was happening in a rural area of the Zalebano Territory…it was good to know someone else would be doing it in his place.

Nodding to the man, Terrus made his way to the podium, and turned to face the assembled reports. “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Today, I will be providing you with a story good enough to make your careers if you work it right.”

“Four days ago, a number of Pax military vessels entered the Sol System via the Jovian Jump Gate. Without any informative public statement, they proceeded to make their way to Earth, and to begin landing mass numbers of personnel and equiptment. Initially, it was believed that this was the precursor to a general invasion of Earth.”

Terrus took a breath. “This presupposition was put aside, however, when the Pax began establishing new cities and expanding the size of old cities within their territory. It quickly became apparent that this was not an invasion but rather merely an expanded colonization. The FPIA currently believes the Pax to be turning Earth, or rather the Pax Mainland Territories, into the…new capital of the Pax Empire.”

“The FPS Military was preparing to step down when this harmless recolonization went greatly awry.” Matt took a breath. He had a terrible fear that any mention of a Pax landing in FPS would cause a mass panic. “During the midst of this process of urban expansion and addition, a single Pax space craft, a non-combat craft I should note, was accidentally bumped off course. The pod, which was carrying the equiptment necesary to construct a major Pax city, proceeded to land in an urban area of the Federated Alliance.”

The news room immediately went to peices, as every reporter began asking questions at once. Holding up both his hands, Matt waited until the last murmers had died down before continuing. “I’d like to emphasize that this land was purely accidental and that the craft itself is completely harmless. All it has done is construct a…small city in a rural section of Zalebano.”

“How small?” A reporter close to the front asked.

“Uh…about 30 miles in diameter.” The President replied. Taking a breah, he continued. “The Pax, up to this point, have cooperated fully with our government. Only a single person was killed in the crash landing. At this time, we are considering our options, while the NPA, in coordination with the military, continues to study this craft and its product to determine if they are any threat.”

“Thank you for your time…my press secretary will provide more specific details.” Ignoring the roar of questions, Terrus turned, and left the room.

[packilvania]

OMFG. I had a fairly large post going and the damned page closed. I lost it. I will try to retype it tommorrow as I don’t have time now. Post included a narrative about Noe and his unusual ambition. He wants the new city. Cuttersville is just not strong enough a position for him. He sent for Noi to accompany the group into the city. He calls Terrus for a proposition. He contacts Tlant to let him know of his plans, emphasizing conquest for the Pax. Damn work computers.

[Free_Pacific_States]

Liberty City - The Blue House
The Spherical Office
“Well, then, gentlemen. Unless there’s anything else?” Terrus asked, rising, and stretching as he did so.

Stiffly rising, Noe shook his head. “None. Lets get this done.”

“Indeed that does sound like an excellent plan.” Rising leisurely, Tlant gave the aura of someone absolutely uncaring about his surroundings, or the twelve hours of work that had just been put into the roughly written out document on the table in front of him.

Sitting several feet away, the UN man hit a couple of keys on the laptop he had set up, and then nodded. “That should do it. Printing to your printer now, President Terrus.”

A moment later, four copies of the simple, four page document came out. Setting each of them out side by side, then stapling them together four times at the top, the UN man looked one of the copies over quickly before nodding. “I’ll need all of you to sign on the bottom of each page of each document.”

Two minutes later, after all of the signings had been completed, Terrus smiled. “Well, then, I think thats really it. Its been a pleasure, gentlemen.” Matt offered his hand to the two drones.

“Right.” Noe stated. Ignoring the hand, he grabbed his copy of the document, and walked from the room. The two FPS Marines and two NPA Agents assigned to guard him quickly following.

Tlant, however, took the offered hand. “I’m sorry it had to come to this, old friend.”

“If it hadn’t been for the insurrection, you know, you’d have this county completely in your hand by now.” Matt stated. “Not that you don’t have utter control of certain aspects…but, nonetheless.”

The Pax leader nodded. “There were some blunders there, Matt. But don’t think that this is over. Far from it.” Nodding politely to the FPS President, Tlant gingerly took one copy, and left. The security detail assigned to guard him quickly followed.

Having already packed up his equipment, the UN man took the final copy, then nodded to the FPS President. “Good day, sir.” With that, he turned, and left. Only one guard followed.

Making his way across the room, Terrus laid down on one of the office’s couches, sighing in relief. For a moment, he simply enjoyed the silence of a room, before glancing at the door as it opened.

“How’d it go?” Krodrik asked.

“Noe’s people will be moving to the new city.” Matt stated, flatly. He continued on with the rest of his summary in a relatively unemotional tone. “They’ll fully reimburse those people whose land was destroyed by the city’s…establishment. They’ll cede all land rights to the Cuttlersville area. They’ll be established as an autonomous territory within FPS, with their own territorial police force, though still under FPS federal control.”

He took a breath. “The Pax agreed to jointly cancel the power deal. They’ll be allowed to power the new city, but the rest of their plants in the nation will be closed down.”

Henrik raised an eyebrow. “Not bad.”

“Not bad at all.” Terrus agreed, closing his eyes. “Go tell Chris he’ll need to see to it that a number of military units are prepared to escort Noe’s drones from Cuttlersville to the new city. And have somebody go to the legislature to get permission to move the bases established around Cuttlersville to guard the Pax over to the new city.”

“Will do.” Turning, Kroidrik made his way out.