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The Flame From The Void - Printable Version

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The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-17-2023

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Chapter 1: Bitter Homecoming

Kansas System ,2350 Hours, #SYSTEM ERROR#
  • HFB-Polyphemus
  • ID: Markus Brass
  • Rank: Lord Commander


My name is Markus Brass, Captain of the Polyphemus and Lord Commander of the Legion.

After several years in the uncharted region of Sirius, a trip that has cost us time away from our homes and our loved ones and the Legion. A trip that took away people that were friends, lovers, family. I would of hoped that would the toll we paid, on our flight back home. We've tried hailing in the Legion frequency, a call that would be only answered by the void. Star Captain Fightmaster would try all known frequencies and check the communications often for damages but the truth was much harsher.

They were gone.

Our home, Vespucci, was empty and our hails in the system communications returned only silence. There was no faulty equipment, everything was in order, the problem lied elsewhere. I ordered the helm to set course for Leniex, perhaps the nebula grew in intensity and blocked all communications in and out. On our way there we spotted scrapped metal, debris and military grade energy traces and a few clicks further we would find more clues -clues that would give us the cold sweat-, a Legion patrol group turned almost to ash except a distress beacon transmitting faintly, just enough for anyone close enough to receive its transmission. We moved anything that could be salvaged to the hangar bay 03-A, the cockpit was almost intact with the cold body of a private preserved in a horrid state. The medical team moved the body for examination and we began downloading data from the ship's systems. I've attached the patrol log to this entry.

. . . . . .
Accessing file: HLP-1/3, Vespucci patrol....
[START]

. . . . . .
<Sound from machinery and personnel in the background which reminisced of a fighter hangar. Cockpit hatch closing.>
-CO: Patrol Wing 1, check your ships status and prepare for take off, it's a routine patrol but keep it professional.
-Wing Leader: Roger that mission control, see you in a few hours. <Wing Leader addresses to his wingmen> Alright, let's welcome the two rookies by showing them around Vespucci, Dave. Check your ship's status to ensure you're good to go, after that follow my lead.
-Private Hastings: Y-yes sir. <Hastings was breathing heavily as if he was extremely anxious, but happy> All systems green, good to go sir!
-Rookie 2: Good to go sir!
-Wing Leader: Alright, we're taking off, remember your training and you will be fine.
<Ship engines are powering up and soon they're taking off, transmissions concerning the patrol and some tips from the wing leader followed for some time before weird readings started popping up and the immediate order from the wing leader to break off and retreat followed.>
-Wing Leader: Our comms are jammed, rookies, break off and retreat to Leniex and warn the rest, Liberty's here! We'll buy you some t- <A plasma projectile cut the leader's ship in half before exploding, scattering pieces of metal in the immediate area. Numerous squadrons of Liberty strikecraft accompanied by massive capital ships ambushed the patrol near the Kansas jumphole. It would seem like a nightmare come to life as the secret Legion's home system was discovered by their arch-enemy. Private Hastings was nervously maneuvering away for his life while his wingmen fell one by one. A plasma projectile hit him in the engine causing an explosion, separating the ship in numerous deformed pieces and destroying the ship's vital systems. By chance, the cockpit was destroyed only partially, allowing the pilot a few more minutes to live and witness the magnitude of the threat to his home, before succumbing to the cold feeling of death. The log continues to record for what it seems forever before being recovered by the Polyphemus.>

. . . . . .
Closing File
[END]

. . . . . .

Our homes -my home- were gone.

Sadly, we weren't able to recover any more information as I deemed it necessary to retreat and keep our presence hidden until we collect more information to cautiously plot our course in what is now, hostile territory. In all my years of service I've never thought this could actually happen, I wasn't mentally prepared for this, my only regret is not being here and counter the assault but, I'm not going to lose my hope just yet, there might be Legionnaires out there waiting for us. I think... I think I'll end this recording here, I'm in too great of a shock and grief to continue. <Brass takes a deep breath and exhales>

Brass out.
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-20-2023

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HFB-Polyphemus
ID: Markus Brass
Log Entry

Captain's Log Entry,

Soon after our arrival and the discovery of the Legion's demise, we've uncovered more information of what went through from the time of our departure until their end. It seems there was a re-structuring period in the Legion's ranks and assets which appears to have been the key point in the history that unfolded. A merge with a questionable group and their addition to the upper ranks caused the deterioration of diplomatic relations with supporters and allies, the mismanagement of Legion's assets and the fall of the Commonwealth.

Thankfully that was not the end.

A number of former Legionnaires managed to flee on the Ven'Gyr and the Incursus to an unknown location and there have been sightings of our vessels flying without our markings, mostly Prosecutors and Inquisitors. There are a number of reasons I can think of why that happened, some of which are that our ships were salvaged from wrecks and repaired and sold on the black market, the sale from former Legionnaires in order to survive or they simply chose to abandon their cause after the destruction of Vespucci. I will continue the investigation and will deploy the S.A.D and A.R wings deeper into Liberty to collect more data while the Polyphemus will remain hidden.

That's all the information I have, for now and will continue to provide updates as soon as new information arrives. End of log.
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-23-2023

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Kansas System , 0650 Hours, #SYSTEM ERROR#
HFB-Polyphemus
ID: Markus Brass
Rank: Lord Commander

Captain's log,

Operating remotely in deep space for so long has been difficult for us as basic supplies such as food and water have to be rationed until we have a steady supply. For now, the hydroponics farm we have on the ship produces enough for our current numbers and we have been sending parties to gather materials from mineral fields and wrecks. S.A.D members operate within Liberty space until further notice in order to collect information about the whereabouts of the rest of the fleet.

I'm planning to transmit in the old frequencies again as there seems to have been a malfunction in our equipment after all, nothing unusual as the Polyphemus hasn't had proper maintenance in a long time. I have some hope left as S.A.D have found Hesperia almost intact but, in Freelancers administration. Most of Hesperia’s personnel were killed brutally by our “allies*, while defending the station.

We will have to make contact with the Zoners as they seem the only faction capable of aiding us with our plan. They seem to have a problem with the lawful forces in Pennsylvania for unknown reasons for now and I'm sure they'll gladly aid us in exchange for expert hands to protect their interests. I will add details later on.


End of log entry.
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-24-2023

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Captain's log,

Today was an eventful day, our raiding party in Magellan hit the jackpot. A trading convoy, belonging to Ageira Technologies, was travelling to Bretonia when they were intercepted by our forces. Sadly, they refused to surrender the cargo thinking they had a chance so we had to force them. Their escort was no match to us so, we destroyed them without too much of an effort. The transport ships were disabled with surgical precision and forced the crew to suffocate, leaving the ships and cargo to us. Additional forces were sent to assist them with the recovery of their loot and escort them back to base.

Our condition in Kansas is stable for the moment but, today we managed to get close to Vespucci jumphole and what we found was wrecks, alot of them, belonging to us and the Navy. I'm not sure how many are we going to find in Vespucci but I hope there's more of theirs. But boy, they brought down a station, they must've had some crazy firepower and guts to do so. One thing is for sure, we gave them a hell of a fight.

Once we reduce the risks for the journey to Vespucci, the Polyphemus will proceed to find Fort Leniex and attempt to scan the database so we'll get the whole picture of the events that brought us here, the location of other Legion warships and hopefully it will be eventless.


End of log entry.
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-24-2023

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Captain's log,

There have been sightings of a group unknown to us called the Technocrats. We’ve seen this folk run around Kansas and sieging a base, fighting the Navy, in an arbiter, so we hailed them from a distance. We were greeted properly, without blasting their cannons and shed some light on the Legion's demise. It would seem that our intel, although being rough, was spot on the Legion ceased to exist years back and were called the Insurgency after merging with Harmony, which probably explains why we weren't receiving any transmissions back to us.

They were confused as to why were we so lost, but decided to help us and let us know that the Junkers in Inverness will give us a hand, which is good, even though they're Junkers, but they’ll think twice before messing with a battleship. They were also kind enough to share the known frequencies to contact Insurgents which will happen ASAP.

It's crazy how much things have changed, Junkers aiding the Legion, an arbiter not in Legion hands but atleast now we're not flying blind in hostile territory. The Polyphemus’ comms were modified to include the frequencies the Insurgents were known to use which should finally show some results.


End of log entry
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-30-2023

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Captain's log urgent entry,

Our recon wing in Vespucci has discovered something.. grim. I'll have everyone listen to their findings which has been reconstructed out of corrupted data.

computer, begin shipwide broadcast.


“It is the beginning of the 9th century for humankind in Sirius. Liberty, the greatest House, stood firm in the center of the sector. However.. As great as their Republic was, the uneven treatment of its citizens led to the creation of the organization called the Hellfire Legion.

In time, those who were viewed as nothing but a small thorn, honed their skills and equipped themselves with enough courage to challenge Liberty's powers and grow to be a potential threat to their rule.

They built their home and forged a path towards their independence, forming the Commonwealth which welcomed those who struggled.

I was one of them, my father and mother, they were too a part of the Commonwealth and we had a future. Untill that fateful day the evacuation started.

Liberty along with Bretonia had discovered our home and struck brutally our borders. Many people died, one of them was my father. Then they brought their ships above our homes and would spare no one with their bombing.

Those of us that survived, scattered in many directions without a place to go. I'm not sure if we will make that's why I'm keeping a diary so people will know that I, Sarah Phillips, born and raised on Vera Cruz, had a life there untill it was suddenly taken away from me.”


Sarah's body and many others were found onboard a refugee ship. A poor ship condition would cause a catastrophic explosion which destroyed a large part of the ship, taking with it life support systems and left a large hole to the hull, suffocating any survivors from the explosion.

Liberty will spare no one, this is who we're up against and I will never find peace until they pay for their crimes.
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 11-30-2023

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Chapter 2: The Flame has been rekindled

It has been some time aince the Polyphemus returned to Liberty only to find the Legion in shambles. The men under Brass' command were working tiresly to bring their information up to speed and make their presence to their comrades known, securing new ships for their fleet in the process. With a few extra vessels the solitary Arbiter would now become the flagship of Markus’s rag-tag of a fleet. Their discoveries concerning Vespucci's downfall and their allies’ betrayal let their flame of vengeance burst into an inferno.

Now the small fleet consisting of a few former Legion gunboats, some transport ships which served as their temporary home and with over 1.000 souls united under his command, was ready to depart and spread news of their arrival. Their first stop would be the Coronado system, a place where mostly scum were present along with the Crayter Republic. They were to find Gladius, the organized remnant of the Legion and count what forces they have left and, if possible, strike in the heart of Liberty once more.

With the Legion gone, they needed a new name, a name that would remind them of who they were and whothey were forced to become, ruthless and dangerous, a new Legion, the Tartarus Legion.

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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 12-12-2023

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After so long, Markus decided to officially unveil the new Legion manifest to the fleet, it contains all the information that symbolizes the start of a new era for them. Every legionnaire is required to acknowledge and embrace their new formation in order to press on and carry the flame of their past onto the future.


Tartarus Legion

Tartarus Manifest Wrote:
The Tartarus Legion were formed by ex-Lord Commander Markus Brass in an attempt to rally the strugglers and refugees of the former Hellfire Legion after their defeat and complete destruction of its home system. The first part of the name signifies the changes the Legion went through in order to survive -brutal and unforgiving, damning those who oppose them- while the second part is there to remind friends and foes who they were.

Upon his return to Liberty from the uncharted region of space, he witnessed his home barren and desolated. Struggling to process of what had happened he began searching for information and survivors without wasting time. A transmission on old frequencies, which was heard by many but not all of them answered the call because they had already found a new cause, a new life and risking it for the ideals of a mutilated organization was lunacy while the rest were conveyed to the Inverness where Brass’s flagship was waiting. The captain's ship, the HFB-Polyphemus, the only ship remaining of its size in their arsenal, serves as the home for those willing to start anew until a new, more permanent habitat would be found.

With the numbers rising however, the command found themselves with their hands tied as funding and supplies were not enough to sustain them, so they were forced into a dilemma. Either struggle as they currently are with the hope of acquiring financial and material assistance or change their old ways of operating and thus not long after, they came to a conclusion. In a situation where their survival was a priority, they voted that instead of acting as self-imposed knights of justice, they would now use their combat experience to obtain what is necessary for them.

Armed with Brass's most important weapon, the S.A.D wing, which was comprised only by the most elite pilots of the Legion, the effort to train new pilots was trivial as the experience from many years of combat and operation of the Legion standards made them suitable for that role. Informants -which came at a price- in key locations would allow them skirmishes on police and military patrols whenever possible and would provide them with equipment to add, upgrade, repair their own or sell to the black market for credits while raiding trade ships and smugglers -some times without having to use force- provided them with goods to press on.

Having limited supporters in the borderworlds and enough old foes, their time was limited before being discovered. Mistakes were the new great enemy they had to face and as such, only the more experienced pilots were on active duty while the rest focused on logistics and training. More legionnaires took on more than the profession of the pilot, many became engineers, hydroponic farmers, some even managed to become teachers and doctors, hoping that one day they’d be able to build their new home.

The Legion having their flame rekindled by Brass’ spark, gladly embraced their new identity

The remnants, now organized, took on the name Tartarus Legion and rallied for their exodus from Liberty in the pursuit of a new home and future, hoping one day to avenge their fallen and lay waste to Liberty, leaving them with nothing.

“Remember our fallen, we are the Legion.”
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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 12-13-2023

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The fleet assembled and the men readied themselves for the harsh journey ahead. Markus activated the ship's comms and sent a brief message to all ships.

"-This is the Captain speaking, as all of you know by now, we're all that's left from the Legion. Every man, woman and child I consider to be my family, the most precious legacy our beloved home left us with and I thank you for answering my call to unite once again. I want all of you to brace yourselves for the journey we have ahead of us and it will only be successful with everyone's help. Our first stop is Vespucci, our old home, to pay tribute to our fallen brethren and from there we will embark on our great journey in search of a new home. Remember our fallen, we are the Legion."

The captain closed the comms and after a brief pause signalled the helm to set course fo Vespucci. Following a discreet route to Vespucci, he witnessed with his own eyes the macabre remains of the battle that was fought at their doorstep. Immense amount of scrap and wrecks now populated the field where once Hellfire Legion patrols and a station once were.

On the other side of the jumphole lied the bigger part of the conflict as parts of the reclaimes footage were coming to life. Metal husks belonging to Navy vessels along with Legion ships lied there, suspended and preserved in the void, unveiling the scene of the valiant last battle fought by the defenders against the invading forces. The Polyphemus set course for the hidden Fort Leniex, leaving the rest of the fleet in wait while they would attempt to uncover the unknown-so-far parts of the Legion's demise. After entering the nebula where the bastion was hidden in, their signal was lost to the fleet due to severe electromagnetic interference blocking any non-specialised sensory equipment from scanning the field. After some time navigating through rocks, the Polyphemus reached its destination only to find its place of origin in ruin, however, not by enemy fire. Fate's Hand, one of the Guardians of Vespucci and the Legion lied next to Leniex in pieces without a trace of external damage by incoming fire and the station was torn apart. The force required for such work could only come from the innards of the fort, carefully planted explosives in key locations of the structure would provide sufficient force to successfully dismantle it.

The core of Leniex which would be the computers that held all the information concerning the ship schematics, weapons, history and future operations as well as the AI. A sophisticated scanning of what remained of the database produced little results, most of it was gone after the evacuation of the station due to the impending invasion. What was left was merely information of the schism between them and the Commonwealth and ship schematics of a downgraded Judicator.
Finished with the task they had, the Polyphemus re-joined the fleet after acquiring the information and resumed their mission, leaving Vespucci behind and their next stop would be the Taus.


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RE: The Flame From The Void - Charos - 12-13-2023

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As the fleet was approaching the jumphole where the other other guardian once stood, the Ravager, they picked up a familiar signal. It used the old frequencies and it belonged to the Hellfire Legion, one of the battlecruisers under Brass when he was still in the High Command, the Redeemer. Apparently, Daniel Rou, Brass's former right hand onboard the Polyphemus was later given command of the Redeemer before things between the Commonwealth and Hellfire Legion started getting tense, unaware of what would follow soon. He and his crew traveled to the Omegas on a diplomatic mission to maintain relations with the Red Hessian Army, Legion's old distant allies.

After fulfilling their task of diplomatic nature, they would embark on their journey back to Leniex as soon as news of the Commonwealth started falling apart came in. The events that unfolded in the Omegas and Bretonia slowed the pace at which they were traveling in fear of attracting unwanted attention in a territory so far from home. Moving in stealth and with their hearts racing, they managed to reach Magellan later than their determined ETA only to find out their domestic problems only escalated and a civil war broke out. Not wanting a part of this, Rou and the Redeemer hid away from Legion's reach in deep space only resurfacing for supplies as they lied in wait for a sign.

That sign came upon Polyphemus' arrival and the transmission they picked up but did not respond in fear it might be a trap, however, they began to move with caution as they could not just leave it be. They moved to Vespucci in a location that surveillance of the system and a retreat to the Leniex cloud to escape pursuers was possible. Their plan was to wait for a predetermined amount of time and if nothing would come up, they would abandon the idea and would carve a path of their own somewhere far. However, the Polyphemus arrived and that idea was cast aside as they were happy to see an old friend and his flagship on the horizon. With the engines to full, the Redeemer started moving out of its hideout brandishing the skull and flame of on its hull, thus bringing their long voyage to an end and the beginning of a new one lied just ahead.
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