Between the Foundation born pilots and mercenaries acquired through recruitment there is a clear difference in their demeanor. While the majority of the Secondary Forces are mutt group of pirates, freelancers, smugglers and mercenaries few selective officers are put in charge of them from the Foundation's elite. One in particular receives great valor, Shane Free Prominence. Age 21 he has received the CrossBones highest declaration of valor. Raised in a Foundation boarding school he is well known throughout the leadership of the Foundation. His personality never changed and the confidence he presents in front of his peers is unmatched. "Tamed lion in front of lambs."
Rockefeller sought his guidance through the recent disturbance with the Lixon Complex bombing. Rockefeller is slowly losing his grasp and his health is failing. Agent Prominence is assigned to Rockefeller's personal fleet. Through transparency Gothera does not interfere with this transaction.
Rockefeller on his Casino greets Agent Prominence and they sit by a window over looking Planet Manhatten.
"Gothera is eradicating the Foundation," Rockefeller strongly ejects "we must do something" he continues. Shane looks out to the view of the planet below " I never killed a man- who was innocent. Nor have I judged the condemned. I simply enforce the laws of nature," Shane looks back at Rockefeller as he speaks "Foundation was born to provoke violence and it will end in violence."
Rockefeller now realizes that there is no return and there is nothing he can do to undo the damage and destruction he has committed or help to commit. Trembling softly Rockefeller leans forward "Do you believe God will forgive me?" Shane looks away "A man cannot judge. But a man can judge himself and know that death is not the judgement but the door to judgement." he takes another look at Rockefeller " Same for the war the Foundation has created. You say we must do something - Gothera is to blame. But he is only a man thus we cannot force the judgement on one man. Only the system of violence and greed. Gothera is not the problem the Foundation's complacency for senseless killing and war."
Rockefeller finds no comfort for the words he hears. So many have died in his name and there is no comfort for the nightmares. "So you too wish to eradicate the Foundation?" Shane stands up and clutches his fist "If you only understood the truth about the Foundation perhaps that conviction you feel would mean something!" he puts his hand down and speaks firmly against Rockefeller
"Years ago there was a powerful family that sought independence for their generations to live free from constant war they searched for years for a new home. They found that home and began to build. But the Foundation sought to rule over them and brought war to them, forever. The city they built was grand and served peace as justice and not war for justice. But because of the foundation's greed they vanished into the voids of space. We are searching for all the same city but for different reasons and intentions. Foundation wish to use the city for war and Gothera wishes to destroy it."
Rockefeller is stun with the revelations. "You're talking about the Sunken City!?"
"A city full of life and love a strong nation of proud people."
Rockefeller stands and gains hope. "What are we to do? What am I suppose to do!?" Rockefeller bows forward. Shane takes a glace towards Rockefeller pose of obedience and softly speaks " There is nothing we can do to prevent the blood that will be split finding the Sunken City. It's too late to try to stop momentum that Gothera has created. And the Foundation will cease to exist in it's current embodiment and Gothera will completely rule over the Foundation and the CrossBones. We must find the Sunken City first and warn the peoples of that nation what is coming for them."
Rockefeller looks up at Shane with the glow from the planet behind him Rockefeller mutters out "White Knight," he continues louder "we will find the city first." Shane puts his hand on Rockefeller's shoulder "Then we must take what forces we have and depart quickly."
:::Background:::
Noland Grey was born to Bill and Samantha Gregor on 792A.S., on a off world outpost just inside the Rheinland sector.
His parents were first introduced to the idealism of the CrossBones Foundation
through Noland's fathers employer. Bill had for many years worked for a fortune 500 company well known
for its media contracts. At a very young age, Noland was immediately sent to a Foundation school, at the
request of the CEO at the company at which Bill worked next to. Bill never told Noland the name of this
person who had influenced his life in such a profound way, but his father often referred to him as his uncle.
Nevertheless, Noland was shipped off to Foundation school, where his education was fully paid for by a
anonymous donor.
Upon graduation of Foundation school, Noland was asked to continue his education and work for the
Crossbones. He was sent off to enlist within the CrossBones infantry unit, where he learned tactics in
guerrilla warfare, and demolitions. He was one of the best in constructing large scale demolitions, but his
real talent was later discovered to be quite different. One day, the CrossBones called upon his unit to
capture a outpost just outside of Liberty. Upon capture, Noland was asked to interrogate one of the
commanders. He extracted the desired information within five minutes and thirty nine seconds. The
CrossBones recognized Noland's talent in extracting information and sent him to a interrogation school for
top level spies, where he learned advanced torture techniques. He served as a 'Interrogator' for several
years for the CrossBones. But, this took a profound toll on Noland's mind, he was constantly troubled by his
sense of consciousness, inflicting so much pain. He eventually was promoted when the war started and
moved out of interrogation into space as a bomber pilot. He was often still called upon however to
occasionally offer his services.
Noland often jokes about how he simply traded a scalpel for a bomber, and that they were essentially no
different. In effect, Noland is often drinking to suppress what he refers to as his 'conscious.' Noland believes
deeply in the CrossBones cause, but curses his parents for directing him into this cursed life. He disliked
them so much, that he even went as far as to severe all contact, and changed his name. His parents have
not been heard from since, and Noland still loses sleep at night wondering who his fathers employer was
exactly. :::
Gothera returns to the Gaul Cruiser sitting far above New London and out of range of military warning defense buoys. With a deep disposition Gothera now is ready to completely eradicate any opposing leaders and military Constables. With him a handful of his agents set out to bring Rockefeller at bay.
But no where to be found Rockefeller's contacts were gone in Bretonia and no where can him or his agents were be found within Bretoina. Frustrated Gothera's agents sought to look further into Liberty. No where has Rockefeller properties provided any clues where he went.
Only a list of supporters and investors of Rockefellers businesses and public relations. List of 72 peoples between Bretonia and Liberty held in the hands of Gothera as he commands his agents to round them up and their families.
"We'll make an example of them in front of the eyes of the people who support him. We'll send the fear into every sole in Sirius that the Black Hand of Death will not end in this era. God of Fear will consume them....entirely."
// Just some RP important Chars to make mention and a little brief on their importance to the Crossbones as well as the story behind my three major RP's. Listed as I remember from where I left off. Others, who still belong to the Crossbones can add their own in OCC settings.
Rockefeller: An ex LSF agent who now deals with weapons on the black market. He's also a traitor. He committed many murders of other LSF agents in his quest for business. He is also a big public figure and political stake in Liberty. His casino is his number one contact hub for weapons. Rockefeller is also a member of the Crossbones. However he is a rival to the final goal of Gothera's Crossbones. Rockefeller plans to use the Foundation as his stepping stone into ultimate rule over Sirius.
Operation Jackal is set for four days at 1200. Our elective ventures declare that we must reseed ourselves into the highlights of proving grounds for active political change and ultimate control. Our political operation, the couple of the military operation, will consult our initial procedure. From intelligence gathered by our respective agents the military will act solely on information provided; nothing exceeds the boundaries displayed in the debriefing in three days. Due to the nature of our operation this order will not requisition the number of military crafts needed to complete this operation. All Constables are to RV at Orion within two days to be fitted with the proper equipment.
Orders for Operation Jackal:
Primary Forces are to utilize anti-capital class vessels at the insertion point (WP001). Primary Fleet Objectives are to eliminate harden targets greater than level four classified ships and structures.
Secondary Forces are to utilize anti-bomber and anti-fighter vessels at RV zone three (WP003). Secondary Fleets are to relieve Primary forces from possible defenses and ambushes from selective targets presented in the debriefing, in three days.
Civilian Operation Forces are to utilize transports and recovery vessels at RV zone six (WP006). Civilian Operation Fleets are to maintain supplies and munitions between WP001 and WP003.
This is a prudent operation I wish you all success and glory.
~ 819AS "The Great Hunter Part One"
The Crossbones had originally one force and operated as one group. Since 734AS the policy and structure of the Crossbones had shifted and changed into proto-lords. Where Constables were given more discretion on how they operate military actions within their respective ZOI. Outa, Phronia Order, Zema Order, Zien Order, and Zhoa Heja Forces spilt the Crossbones into five abled fleets. Some Constables who control anyone of these fleets often become territorial in their ZOI’s. Over the years this has caused some internal conflict. To resolve this the Crossbones ‘elite’ created a new transparency policy that required all Constables to work together rather than apart in their ZOI or another’s.
Outa Forces is one of three fleets designated as the Primary Aggressive Forces. They operate anywhere from Kusari to Tau’s. Outa Forces was the original fleet , largest, and oldest fleet Crossbones have to present date. Their patrols have increased in the Tau’s with the growing numbers of Gallia Forces showing up there. Among the forces Captain Aaron Sepal, an gunboat captain that is renowned for his ability to attack forces much larger than his own.
Captain Aaron Sepal can be easily compared to an onion. He has many layers to his personality and the closer to the core you get the more exotic he becomes. He is a man with great vision and virtue. His build is a slender, fit, man standing 6’5” with a towering posture. His face is long and carved with wrinkles; void of any facial hair. His uniform is basic with very few flares and shiny objects attached. It’s navy blue with red piping, his pants are a sky blue with red strips on the outside.
In the last few weeks reports trickled in stating that several patrols have been wiped out by a single cruiser. Captain Sepal has been ordered to find and destroy this lone cruiser. Due to the secret military operation that the Crossbones are getting ready for, ready for war, Captain Sepal was given very few resources to work with. Even in an one on one battle a gunship against a cruiser would already favor the sizable foe. Never the less orders must be carried out.
Captain Sepal leans over the backing of his command chair. From the angle his bridge crew could only assume that he was in deep thought. His face appears harder than concrete and immovable from anything less than self-discipline. Only one in his crew has served with him before. The others were new and often amazed at Sepal’s presences. He is the kind of man that you would gladly sacrifice your life just so he’d be alive to lead on the charge into battle. It is said that just before the battle he stands with such a fierce readiness that his very own soul is bonded with the machine. That the machine begins to stand like a general in the old century wars. Hell could be rising all around but Sepal, and his vessel, would be the iron that held the world together. These thoughts meddle their way into the crew members.
“Let us begin our mission,” Captain Sepal gently orders with an surprisingly soft voice.
The Botta is an prototype gunship designed in 810AS by Sepal and his staff. The Botta featured nine cannons and one forward cannon. It’s shape resembles the likeness of a raven with swooped back wings. The Botta hosts seven crew members and a bridge. It’s armor is heavy, which makes it slow. However the core is an hybrid core from an old Red Hessian Army light cruiser. In all technical terms It’s more an cruiser than a gunship class vessel. The Botta is the only one of its class. A new Botta Class is underdevelopment.
"Where to captain?" The Botta sways to her left several hundred meters nose down. The slender profile of the Botta makes her hard to hit and easy to navigate through small corridors. "Dead to star mark 0087 - 48900," Captain Sepal says grasping hold his orders from Lord Gothera. He opens the letter and addresses the crew. "Our Lord has need of our services once again. There is a Gallic cruiser that has been plaguing our own and our enemies patrols. It has 100 or so victories; our orders are to capture it." The crews smirks make a sharp decline. "Capture it? How many guns?"
"12 cruiser class weapons." Captain Sepal replies.
The five of crew has never been through a battle with Captain Sepal nor the Botta. The Botta only hosts nine gunship weapons and a cruiser forward cannon. Her hull is tougher than any of her size and class. Even so the gravity of a heavier cruiser in a one on one fight would put the odds against the Botta. Even without seeing this her crew and Captain share the same thought. Regardless Captain Sepal accepts the mission.
"How long till we're through this field?"
"One hour, Captain"
"This is where the last report came from, if she's here, she's here."
The Botta also had another feature that allowed it to one up any of its class. Her bow, aside from the forward cannon, holds a full partitional shield. Partitional shields focuses all the energy to one specific location. Leaving the remaining portions of the vessel exposed. However the partition that covered is nearly impossible to penetrate with typical energy based weapons. It takes a few minutes to charge and after the first use to reuse it would be harder. If over used in short periods of time it has the potential to overload and self destruct. Captain Sepal foreseen the downfall of the partitional shield and allowed the designers to make it detectable. If the Botta were to cloak it would render the partitional shield offline until uncloaked and the shields raised to full capacity. Leaving a nearly a minute of complete exposure to all types of weapons.
Captain Sepal looks through the hard scope; which is a window that is accessible through the exterior hull of the ship. Through the dark haze there is sporadic flashes from the lighting discharging. Series of flashes catches the eyes of Captain Sepal.
"HARD TO STARBOARD!"
The Botta drifts to the right avoiding a volley of consecrated energy.
"I'll be damned, use the forward cannon sights to find her!"
The Botta sweeps the horizon slowly. Another discharge of energy emerges from the dark catching the Botta by the rear. Violently the entire crew is knocked off their feet.
"Battle Stations lads! Full at arms!"
Seamlessly another violent shake grips the hull of the Botta causing everyone to frightfully attempt stagger once to their feet but again found on the floor. Captain Sepal manages to regain control and helps the helms man to his feet.
"Lock yourself in, do not take your hand off the controls unless I say! Gunners take your seats do not let your hands leave the triggers." Captain Sepal orders periodically.
"Aye, Aye!" The crew chants.
Another hit against the Botta taking the shields offline. Without time to react the next cluster of energy blisters through and hits bare metal. Like a drunk cheese grater the effected area is riddled with holes.
"Takes further into the Nebula; then cloak!"
"SIR!"
Just before Captain Sepal could reply his breath is caught by the unveiling of the foe who grabbed him by the hip in battle. The vessel was two or three sizes larger than their own with a pearl white hull.
"Baleine Blanche," White wale, Captain Sepal said in his mind.
"Captain our engines are losing power," The Botta comes to a near stop. The bridge now is dim with the shade of red from the monitors displaying real time combat data. Each crew member now awaiting new orders. The attacking cruiser is still out of range of the primary weapons. The forward cannon is the only weapon able to hit the cruiser from their distance.
"Release counter measures-full, bring the bow towards the cruiser, charge the cloak, fire drop shields, and fire at my call!" Captain Sepal throws his hand forward and leveled high so it can be seen. "FIRE!"
With rapid snap each crew member reflexes with precision. Finally, as Captain Sepal predicted, the cruiser fires another round straight towards the Botta's bow. The Botta's forward cannon sends out an blinding wave of energy that engulfs the front end of the cruiser with cringing brightness. As soon as the energy has dispersed the Botta has cloak as if it was destroyed during the final volley. Moving slowly the Botta moves far out of range of the enemy cruiser.
"We took a big risk letting our shield down as we fired the forward cannon," says a stocky shorter man. "I believe the true risk would to show our backs. Status on the engines?" Captain Sepal looks to the others standing at their stations. "We are on impulses, our cruise dive is offline I do not know why."
"How did they find us so quickly? The report was a week old. Even if the cruiser linger their resources would have been low." Captain Sepal sends to his first mate.
"Well, Jack, maybe we thought of this all wrong. He fights like you."
"So what you're saying that we are the prey and they are the hunters."
"Yes seems to be that way."
"Why us? Did I kill a brother of his, son? We've been out for three days there is no base near here that could host a cruiser like that. It must have followed us."
"Captain we need to make repairs where should we go?" The first mate turns around.
"Follow the waste of the cruiser keep us out of range but we will need to keep within range for a counter attack."
The crew, who are still shaken, now hesitate. Captain Sepal looks back at them. "Well? Get to the repairs!"
Months after the shoot out at the Casino George Elliot LPI tracked down several suspects that were on the George Elliot during the attack. LPI followed a lead of a mercenary by the name Double Gun. Double Gun, Rick Dora, was charged with Felony Man Slaughter, but was found innocent due to testimony that Rick Dora was lead to believe there was a legal bounty against the man he shot down. After the trial Rick Dora faded into the whitewash of static in the mist of all the chaos. He serviced a prison liner offering part contracts to transport the prisoners. He declared that he would not point another weapon at a human ever again. Rick Dora discovered shortly there after that Rockefeller set him up and the mark was a rival weapons dealer. Richard Regal, Gothera, knew about this when he hired him with the other men. Gothera knew that Rick Dora wanted a piece of Rockefeller for himself. However Rick found a bitter taste of reality. Rockefeller was masterminding entire genocide. He was a terrorist. After the casino job Rick went into hiding. Until today after the Crossbone broadcast he decided to talk.
The room is small with a grayish blue haze and a minute light over head. There in the middle was a heavy table about 3 feet wide and 6 feet long with two chairs on the longer sides. One side of the table Officer Ramze, the other Double Gun.
"Before I tell you anything officer you're going have to know the whole story, not just the Casino heist. My name means something. It's what I've been called for a long time. I never had any problem with the fence of right and wrong, law and disorder. Because there was no difference, at the time, when you are there in the middle of a firefight it's meaningless to hold onto social rules. You can't waste your time deciding what you're doing is right or wrong. The shit is hitting the fan and all you can do is act on instincts that is going to keep you alive. I was there from the beginning of this entire mess. It all started from an order to apprehend a Liberty Naval Officer who was suspect of treason. This was before the war with Rheinland. Before the Fort Bush terrorist attack. I had a set group with me to capture him, a lead told us he was staying at a hotel in lower Queens Manhattan. My friend, Ocrasus, supplied me and my crew with enough explosives to wipe out entire building, if necessary. Of course with the innocent people around we made sure the blast would be confined to a small area. Why explosives? Spies tend to go out in a bang and I wasn't going to risk my people let alone let him get away scotch free. If just one of my men taken out, boom mother fucker you're dead. The name was Johansen Abbet, the mark. There was a musical performing at the hall attached to the hotel. We didn't find him in his room so we figured he went to the show. We worked our way through. The nice thing about him being a Liberty mark is that he was already detained once before. Every Navy laid who so much pissed wrong was given an ID implant. Just scan thousands of people and whamo! Unfortunately they don't sedate the navy boys so they know it's there. So with our luck we had to actually look for him. Long story short we ran into a problem. There was another hit marked that night, an unlawful one- in my opinion, of a loud mouth from the same navy, General Yuo Geinue. Some radical that had too many internal enemies. I saw Jimbo Gun sifting through the crowd, almost collected two bounties right there... sadly he vanished as quickly as he appeared and so did the general. Next thing I know hell breaks lose and someone pulled the trigger to the explosives. Wasn't me, wasn't Golden Ace, Viraxo, or Tammy. Something set off those explosives with a different type of remote. That was a few years ago. Now I know differently, after the news report about the General being slaughtered there. Todd Regal. Never met the guy but from what I heard he was a crazy anarchist with a bad temper. He was at the hotel gunning for someone, either my mark or Jimbo Gun's mark. Needless to say both were found mutated. Of course no one was able to collect their bounties. So I quickly took another bounty. Quiescently that's the bounty that got me in trouble. Quiescently they weren't thugs they were LSF agents. Found that out, again, via CNS. I got locked up for a short time. The order came from a report sent into the Hunter club by an LSF agent. Figured the papers were right. Rockefeller was the agents name. Fucker about ruined my life for the most part. With that notion I began digging into things I shouldn't have, police records, customs databases, and whatever found out that he's a busy guy. I also found Todd Regal. Fortunately for him, Todd Regal, he was killed in combat attempting to escape. But I found his brother instead. Now I met him once before in a bar. Very tall man very big. Couldn't tell what he was thinking half the time. Anyway I found a nest of Rockefeller boys shot them up, landed myself a job with the brother, Richard Regal. He said he liked the way I carry two guns into a gun fight."
Rick leans back a bit and looks off to the side. As a flash back forces its way forward into thought.
"Rockefeller set you up, he also set my brother up to be killed. His ship is the Casino George Elliot. There is two things I need from it. One, Rockefeller I'll leave him to you, and second a container full of weapon grade nuclear devices."
The flash back fades away and Rick is caught in the long silence, which was longer than he felt. The officer says with a flat tone "Go on."
"Well I said I could bring my crew into the job but he refused. Thraxgoh, Midnight, and myself were the only ones on the job besides Richard. The entire time I was on his ship. Their weapons, their food, and their mindset. All I could think about as we got closer to the George Elliot was how warm the blood will be when I finally put some lead into Rockefeller mouth. I've killed men before, officer, I just didn't think he was a good man, ever. I've got deep into his past and found all sorts of money trails. The guy is practically a government protected warlord. Worse of all he order the hit on a cruiser that killed my wife. Forgive me for not spending much time explaining how void my heart is. I was never asked so I didn't tell Richard or the rest. I was just another gun waiting for my trigger to be pulled." Double Gun pauses for a moment amuse a joke in his mind. Again taking a longer pause than he realizes his memories drift back into the small dark box.
Rela Dora, Rick's wife, was a prominent public figure and book writer. She was younger than Rick and was married to him since she turned 18. Their love was an honest simple love. Rick was a line worker, cleaner, and full time student. Rick never really was into education till he met Rela who was a senior at high school working at the diner. Rick was intelligent, but didn't think he would need school to get to places he wanted to go. He figured that his skills would land him a job in the Liberty Security Forces. But all that changed when he got married. He was just stratified being a husband and a possible father. That all changed now, Rick thought.
"I will be back after I have the speech in New London! Please don't leave the place a mess while I'm gone. My sister was going to come over and take care of Bernie while you work. I love you Ricky! Don't stay up do late! Ok ok....I love you! I miss you too. Ok I really got to go now I love you!"
Rick comes to and watches as the officer begins talking. It seemed at that moment the story was no longer important. He was a criminal because he let his rage to over come his reason. He became obsessed with finding Rockefeller he forgotten that he was first a grieving husband, not a vengeful murder. There is a fine line between justice and revenge.
"Anyway officer Rockefeller wasn't on the George Elliot. I couldn't find him. Again I wasn't given much time. We shot up a bunch of his guards and what not. I can't really say if I actually pulled the trigger or not. There was so much going on that I was going through the motions. Before we were committed to the job I went into the lobby to count heads. I did that and decompressed a bit. Being around those men was like poison. I felt like I was disgracing the death of my wife. Anyway I counted the bodies as we escape after the shoot out was over. There were at least twenty of them missing. Not really important, but I believe that Rockefeller played dead in a guard's uniform. So after we jettisoned from the George Elliot, I used the escape pod and stayed behind. I was later picked up by an Junker who took me down to Manhattan. I've been there ever since. I figured if I was caught there was no reason to run. I was wrong. I've perverted everything I stood for. That happens to you when you become a Hunter and taken a life. My wife died at the age 19, I was only 21 I didn't get my license till I was 22. I'm 27 now. I've wasted my life chasing someone who doesn't even know what he has done. That sort of narcissistic attitude makes me no better of a man. I don't know any other details about the other guys. Rumor has that they were killed shortly after, funny I dodged that bullet. Officer there isn't more to say, I have nothing else to say. Just lock me up."
The officer stands up and places his hand on his belt. Rick can hear the chiming sounds of keys and metal bracelets. He tightens his fists and motions them forward. The officer looks at him "What? Go." The officer walks to the door and opens it, telling the guard to escort Rick out of the building. Rick becomes pale and trembles his knees become weak and his voice cracks.
Operation Black Eye has been a closely coveted asset to the Foundation's response against Military forces. Black Eye is a system of mirrors that are undetectable in space that relays graphical images so detailed you could spot a flea on the scalp of an Xeno woman, from Gamma. There are thousands of mirrors deployed and the highly complex algorithm tells the mirrors to move according to the will of the Foundation's interests. The first mirrors were deployed 800AS to spy on the Bretonian fleets. With success the team of intelligence agents have been able to account for the majority of nationalist fleets in Sirius.
Gothera has recently learned of the Foundation's satellite and motions for the mirrors to be moved into Gallia. However the process is too dangerous to take the satellite from its secret position, for which hasn't been moved since its construction, and risks being discovered by the LSF and other intelligence agencies. The original scientists who created the program and the satellite have long since been expired. Gothera orders a small fleet to extract the data from the satellite in order to construct a second Black Eye Satellite.
Rockefeller and Prominence have monitored what known opposing Faction fleets (Gothera's Fleets) and discovered his forces breaking into smaller sects. Rockefeller's Fleet alone cannot match the sheer numbers of Gothera's, but it would seem that splitting of the forces would give Rockefeller an opportune moment to strike. With other considerations of political allies and foes time is running out for them to make their move against Gothera. Upon a meeting of the high command within Rockefeller's and Prominences fleet it is discovered that securing the Black Eye would give an advantage over Gothera as the satellite can be reconfigured as a weapon. A weapon capable of hitting any target anywhere. In order to do this all resources must be set to the original Black Eye.
The beginning of the internal war begins on the eve of Christmas 819AS. Gothera, Rockefeller, and Prominence Fleets emerge into one sector. The fate of either story rests on the outcome of the battle. If the Black Eye is destroyed it will spell defeat for all parties involved. If Gothera is able to extract the data he will have complete supremacy over the Foundation and its enemies. If Rockefeller and Prominence secures the Black Eye for themselves the Foundation will cease to exist. 100 hours remain before the fleets are within striking distance...