Aboard the HMCS-Magnificent, random power fluctuations and malfunctions began to cripple key systems on the ship:
Comm. Officer : Weve lost contact, sir.
Captain Aldrich: Get me the engineering deck what the hell is going on here?
Chief Engineer Richardson: Engineering to bridge, weve got a massive power falloff.
Captain Aldrich: What caused it?
Chief Engineer Richardson: Power drain appears to be from the Nomad Containment Area.
Captain Aldrich: Can you tell if the NCUs are still operating, we got nearly six hundred Nomads confined down there.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Cant tell from here, but
Suddenly main power fails, silencing the mighty engines of the Magnificent and rendering it dead in space.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Aye, we just lost the main reactor. If the Nomads werent out before, they certainly are now.
Captain Aldrich: Stay put and get main power back online. Ill have additional security sent down to engineering.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Aye.
Captain Aldrich switches the intercom to ship-wide.
Captain Aldrich: To all hands, weve lost main power and the Nomads have escaped their containment units; report to the nearest weapons locker for sidearm distribution. Security, report to the Nomad Containment Area and Engineering.
Security Officer Robinson (over the intercom): Aye sirAnderson, Jared youre with me
Meanwhile inside the containment area, the Nomads were beginning to awaken from their enforced slumber. Filled with a cold hatred, they began to search for a target anything anything to focus their rage and attention two guards happened to be on duty in the containment area.
Watching in horror as several hundred NCUs powered down, the two guards held their guns up ready to fire at a moments notice, but with a few hundred units in front of them, fear began to grip them, and they slowly began to back out of the room.
Guard 1: I dont f***ing like the looks of this.
Guard 2: Lets get the hell out of here.
The containment area was dark making it difficult to see steam could be heard venting in the distance the sound of a unit popping open to the left another on the right small tapping sounds coming from all around and moving closer
The guards were nearly at the large entrance doors for the bay. On the other side an airlock control which could be used to flush the entire containment area into space. They got out of bay and while one guard turned to operate the airlock panel the other watched over his back. The guard frantically pushed in the button sequence that would begin the depressurization.
Guard 1: Done.
Nothing happens.
Guard 2: Punch it again!!
The guard entered the same correct sequencenothingthe system appeared to be jammed.
Guard 1: WHAT THE HELL, you entering that sequence right!?!
Guard 2: YES!!!
They ran out off time to argue the point furtherten warrior Nomads quickly rushed out of the door, jumping them where they stood and impaling them to the ground with their razor-blade tentacles. Holding them down, several of the smaller Nomads then followed up and infiltrated their pinned and helpless bodies. The Nomads were on the loose and there would be no stopping them now.
Sensing that engineering was only a short distance away, the Nomads moved through the decks of the Magnificent with amazing speed and agility. The Warrior Nomads lead the way by driving through any forces encountered and holding crew members down until they were taken as hosts by the smaller Nomads. By the time they reached the doors to engineering another 25 crew members had been taken as hosts.
Setup like a wall in front of engineering, a mere half-dozen security officers were all that stood between the Nomads and their primary objective. Echoing down the halls, the sound of crew members being attackedscreaming in agony as theyre impaled and then the garbled sound of their friends voices as they became infested. The sound grew ever louder and ever closer.
Security Officer Robinson: Here they come boys, lock and load!!!
They stood no chance.
Like a tremendous tidal wave the Warrior Nomads charged around the corner and overran the last defenses for engineering. Guns blazing to the end, the security officers held out as long as they could.
Security Officer Robinson: Chief, get out of here... we cant hold them!!!
A Nomad suddenly wrapped a hold around Robinsons neck, hauled him down to ground, and stabbed him in the right shoulder, pinning him to the ground. The Chief Engineers last sight of Security Officer Robinson was several smaller Nomads jumping onto his body and him shaking vigorously on the ground.
With engineering and the containment areas secured, the Nomad-infested crew members moved the more complex Superior and Minor Nomad Brains into engineering and worked to create an organic interface between several of the brains and the ships primary computer. Other members also began repairing the ships main reactor to help provide the energy necessary to encourage additional growth from the brain cluster.
Having control over engineering, the Nomads would begin to work like a virus, spreading through the ventilation and electrical conduits that ran the length of the Magnificent.
Meanwhile on the bridge, the Chief Engineer Richardson finally reports to Captain Aldrich:
Captain Aldrich: Chief, what the hells going on? Half the ship is in lock down leaving most crew members stranded and isolated
Chief Engineer Richardson: I cant explain it, the doors should be working theres absolutely nothing wrong with them. The only thing I can figure is the Nomads are affecting them. Theyre also interfering with the intercom and have complete control over engineering!!!
Captain Aldrich: That means that
All controls on the bridge suddenly powered down.
Captain Aldrich: They can reroute controls to engineering.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Aye.
Captain Aldrich: With our crew members isolated, the Nomads will just pick them off one at a time through the ventilation shafts. And weve got no control over any of the ships systems. Were like several small cans of sardines... we got to get off this ship and get assistance. Get everyone you can to the docking bay, were abandoning ship.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Aye, sir.
The Captain and Chief Engineer ran off the bridge and took separate routes to help gather everyone they could to the docking bay.
Having gathered only a few other members of the crew, Captain Aldrich and Chief Engineer Richardson were approaching from opposite sides of the docking bay. Suddenly, with a flicker of the lights and later a rumble, the engines of the Magnificent powered up. The Nomads had finished the repairs to the main reactor. The brain cluster, now attached to the main computer, was feed power directly from the reactor and slowly began to grow.
Now with ample energy, the cluster took control over the majority of systems on the Magnificent: weapons, engines, navigation, even life support was now under the Nomads direct control.
In engineering, the cluster brought up a display showing the location of every last crew member on the Magnificent. Apart from the two groups near the docking bay, the only other survivors were about forty crew members, all locked in their quarters with no means of escape. Communicating telepathically, the cluster commanded a couple of the Warrior Nomads and several of the smaller ones to go from cabin to cabin and possess the locked up crew members. The rest were to surround the docking bay and wait. The Nomads quickly scattered to their assignments, while possessed crew members worked on increasing the clusters control over the Magnificent.
Moving into the docking bay, the two groups gathered near the remaining ships aboard the Magnificent: a small X-shuttle and 3 Avenger Fighters.
Captain Aldrich: Good thing a large portion of our fighter wing was out on patrol.
The crew members moved aboard the x-shuttle, it was tight but everyone was able to fit on board. Taking the helm, Richardson started up the engines on the shuttle.
Nomad Cluster (telepathy to the rest): Surround the shuttle.
The Nomads began to pour into the bay and formed a clear circle around the ship. Close enough to be seen, but not so close to be affected by the ship's engines.
Captain Aldrich: Lets get out of here, open the bay doors.
Chief Engineer Richardson: No response.
Captain Aldrich: BLAST them open.
The ship began to settle back down onto the docking bay pad.
Chief Engineer Richardson: Ive lost control, sir.
Nomad Cluster (speaking through ships intercom): Captain Aldrich.
Captain Aldrich: Yes.
Nomad Cluster: Step outside the shuttle, and the remainder of your crew will be saved.
Captain Aldrich: If I refuse.
Nomad Cluster: Then we will shutdown the life support systems on both the shuttle and this magnificent ship provided to us.
Air slowly began venting from the docking bay, as well as the shuttles rear hatch.
Captain Aldrich: ALRIGHT, Im coming.
He stepped outside the shuttle.
Captain Aldrich: Im here what do you want.
Nomad Cluster: For you to watch!!!
Entangled by two Warrior Nomads, the Captain watched as the hoard of Nomads charged aboard the shuttle. He could hear the agonizing screams as members of his crew were thrown against the shuttles interior, impaled by the razor sharp tentacles of the warrior Nomads. Blood sprayed against various windows of the ship. The Captain then listened to the muffled screams of his crew as smaller Nomads infested their bodies.
Captain Aldrich: You said, you would let them go.
Nomad Cluster: I said they would be saved and they have been, the members of your crew are ours now. They have been saved the fate that awaits the majority of your species. Now you will watch, from the bridge of your own ship, as we bring destruction and terror into the heart of Liberty.
The Magnificent, under the full control of the Nomads, laid in its new course. The Planet Manhatten
Omicron Delta, HMCS-Magnificent enroute to New York. Time to arrival 5 days.
A small Liberty Patrol consisting of a four fighters and a cruiser entered into sensor range of the Magnificent.
Liberty Patrol: HMCS-Magnificent, this is Liberty Patrol 53. Youre entering our scanner range.
No response.
Liberty Patrol: Magnificent, we read you at top speed heading towards the jump-hole to Alaska, is something wrong?
Magnificent powers down from cruise speed. On board, Captain Aldrich is brought to the Bridge under the guard of two Nomad Warriors. The Captains face was grim and full of dread. The voice of the Magnificents communications officer is heard on the Bridges speakers, responding to the patrols query.
Comm. Officer: Magnificent to Liberty Patrol, glad we found you. Weve been attacked by Nomads and expelled a large portion of our H-fuel in evading them, could you dock with us and resupply enough fuel for us to reach the Juneau Shipyards.
Liberty Patrol: Affirmative, Magnificent. Moving along side to dock.
Like a spider in a web, the Nomad Warriors waited near the airlock waiting for their prey to come to them.
But aboard the Liberty Cruiser, a young lieutenant was smart enough to take some initiative.
Lieutenant: Sir, we encountered the Magnificent on its way into this system. Even if they were evading the Nomads for several days that ship had enough H-fuel for weeks.
Captain: Hmmmdetailed scan of the Magnificent, please. Lets settle the young Lieutenants mind.
The Lieutenant supervised over the scan, as the Liberty Cruiser continued docking maneuversmoving ever closer to the Magnificent.
Lieutenant: Sir? Were reading a full hold of H-fuel, and some odd readings from the Magnificents power reactor. Its operating way above normal. Theres also
The Nomad Brain Cluster sensed the scan and the guns of the Magnificent powered up and immediately began targeting the cruisers bridge. Threat warnings quickly sounded.
Captain: SHIELDS!!!!
It was too late, with a huge explosion two missiles plowed directly into the cruisers bridge followed by several blasts from the Magnificents secondary guns. The blasts ripped apart the bridge leaving a gaping hole in the top of the cruiser.
Fighter Leader: WHAT THE SH*T, RUN!!!
The four fighters of the patrol quickly turned and started making for the jump-hole to Alaska. The engines of the Magnificent powered to full and began to give chase, continuing to fire on the cruiser with repeated blasts from its guns. Another missile barrage was now fired at the fighters.
Fighter Leader: JUKE!!!
Two explosions occurred to left and right, as two of the patrols fighters were taken out.
One of the remaining two fighters quickly turned and headed back towards the Magnificent.
Fighter Leader: JEFFERSON, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET BACK IN FORMATION!!!
Jefferson: Ill take care of this oneget to Alaska, warn themFOR LIBERTY!!!
The pilot flew in close to the Magnificent dodging gun fire left and right. Nearly halfway down the Magnificents length, a blast clips the Defenders left wing causing it to roll sharply. With all fire now focusing upon the fast moving Defender, it approached the back of the ship. Killing its engines and performing a quick turn, the Defender fired a cruise disrupter right up the Magnificents exhust thrust, disrupting the Magnificents mighty engines.
But time had run out for the small craftwith focused fire, the back guns of the Magnificent caught up with Jeffersons fightertearing it to shreds.
With the Magnificents guns turning to bear down on him, the flight leader powered up his ships cruise engine and with the Magnificents engines disrupted was able to escape out of its sensor range.
A slight smile crept across Captain Aldrichs face, as the HMCS-Magnificent turned and began to finish off the remains of the crippled Liberty cruiser.
Estimated Time of Arrival: Saturday January 21, 11PM GMT
Omicron Delta, HMCS-Magnificent enroute to New York. Time to arrival 2 days.
Firebird continued to follow the decaying engine trail left by the HMCS-Magnificent. On his long range scanners, he began to pick up a significant amount of debris directly in his path.
Firebird: Too late.
Recognizing some of the debris as the supports for a forward gun, Firebird identified the remains were that of a liberty cruiser; ripped apart by weapons fire and explosive decompression. Continuing to scan the area, Firebird detected that there was not one but two engine trails leaving the area, one belonging to Magnificent, the other a fighter moving at top speed and ahead by several minutes.
Firebird: Must be a fighter assigned to the cruiser. It should be able to contact Prison Station Mitchell in Alaska and warn them. God, I hope theres enough time.
Firebird continued to follow the course of the Magnificent towards the jump-hole to Alaska.
Estimated Time of the Magnificents Arrival: Saturday January 21, 11PM GMT
Omicron Delta, HMCS-Magnificent enroute to New York. Time to arrival less than 17 hrs.
Lieutenant Goodwin, Patrol 53s Flight Leader, was nearing the maximum contact range for Prison Station Mitchell.
Goodwin: Prison Station Mitchell, this is Patrol 53 with an urgent communiqu?
Static.
Goodwin: Repeat Prison Station Mitchell, this is Patrol 53, please respond.
Prison Station Mitchell: We can barely read you Patrol 53, youre back early we were not expect
Goodwin: Never mind that, something has gone terribly wrong aboard the HMCS-Magnificent, it attacked and destroyed my entire patrol and it is on its way HERE!!!
Prison Station Mitchell: Wait, Im picking up another priority communication
Firebird: Prison Station Mitchell, Im transmitting on a boosted signal can you receive me now. The HMCS-
Prison Station Mitchell: Magnificent is on its way here, yes, weve just been informed. Im contacting Manhatten to get together what ships they can and establish some form of defense. But New London has been nearly destroyed by Phantom Terrorists and half the fleet has been sent to protect Libertys borders.
Firebird: Damn do what you can... theres one thing you need to know, that ship is under the possession of nearly five to six hundred Nomads. Theres no telling what they will be capable of.
Goodwin: Prison Station Mitchell, Im picking up another ship <warning indicators blazing> SH*T reading a Phantom id... I cant NOOO!!!
An explosion drowns out Goodwin's transmission.
Firebird: Get what ships you can, the HMCS-Magnificent is coming to Manhatten...and it isn't alone.
Estimated Time of the Magnificents Arrival: Saturday January 21, 11:00PM GMT
The HMCS-Magnificent had passed through the jump-hole into Alaska. Several ships now joined it in formation. Not Nomad shipsbut ships belonging to the Phantom Empire a group bent on the destruction of the entire human race. Led by DarkStar, the Phantoms formed a wedge in frontescorting the Magnificent past Planet Anchorage and towards the Connecticut jump-gate.
Despite having spread out their forces, Liberty was able to call upon several allies to assist in the defense of New York. Ships belonging to the Asgard Warriors (AW) were more than eager to help Liberty engage the Phantoms having sought their destruction for several months now. Ships from the [8492nd] and the Sirius Federation (SF) also positioned themselves to defend New York at all costs.
Meanwhile, onboard the Magnificent, Captain Aldrich is again brought to the bridgefor the last time.
Nomad Brain Cluster: Watch now as our plan is set into motion.
Captain Aldrich: Liberty will not fall without a fight.
Nomad Brain Cluster: Were counting on it.
The Magnificent and Phantom fleet slowly entered scanning range for the Connecticut jump-gate. Three battleships, five cruisers, and several dozen assorted fighter craft were awaiting the Magnificents arrival armed to the teeth.
Nomad Brain Cluster: Good. This is going to be childs play.
Captain Aldrich thought to himself: Only five Phantom ships are providing cover, and the largest is a cruiser, what have the Nomads got up their sleeve?
It became clear, several Liberty fighters approached within scanning range of the Magnificent. As each one entered range, the pilots began to loose control of their ships and entered into formation with the rest of the Phantom fleet.
New York Defense Commander: Damn. They were right. Keep all standard fighters back from the Magnificent. Modified ships youre a go.
A fighter belonging to a member of the [8492nd] moved into range of the Magnificent; however, unlike the standard Liberty fighters, the Nomads couldnt take control of it. And it began to open fire upon the Magnificent.
Nomad Brain Cluster: Hmmm somethings different that ship cant control it.
The Cluster continued in vain to control the fighter, but the SF had been working with CRI and had developed a prototype jamming device to counteract the Nomads ability to takeover ships.
Nomad Brain Cluster: Phantoms, engage. This is going to be more difficult than we had planned.
The Phantoms along with the controlled Liberty ships accelerated to top speed and engaged the modified forces of the SF, AW, and the [8492nd].
Forced to fire on their own ships, the New York Defense Fleet tried to disable all but the Phantom craft. But without the same limitation the Phantom and Nomad-controlled ships were providing an effective wedge for the Magnificent. It moved unobstructed towards the jump-gate at full-speed.
With the other capital ships pulled off by the Phantoms, only an AW cruiser stood guard over the jump-gate.
Connecticut Jump-gate: Theyre overriding the controls!!!
The Connecticut Jump-gate began to open and the Magnificent continued its fast approach. The AW cruiser moved in the way of the jump-gate laying heavy broadside fire against the Magnificent, draining its shields. A missile struck the Magnificent just next to bridge and Captain Aldrich could see a large gapping hole through the window. The cruiser had managed to get the Magnificents shields down. But that would be all without warning two nova torpedoes from Nomad-controlled ships struck the well positioned cruiser. With the cruisers shields gone, the Magnificent blasted the cruiser with concentrated fire, tearing the ships hull into two pieces. The Magnificent passed through the wreckage of New Yorks last line of defense and proceed into Connecticut.
A couple of patrols were called back to Manhatten, but they would be no match for the HMCS-Magnificent. Flying as though it were shot out of a cannon, the Magnificent came out of the Connecticut jump-hole and made a direct course towards the planet.
Captain Aldrich aboard the Magnificent struggled to no avail as Manhatten continued to grow ever larger in the bridges window.
The HMCS-Magnificent at full cruise plowed through the planets docking ring, destroying it and severely damaging the ships forward sections.
Nomad Brain Cluster: LAUNCH!!!
The three remaining avenger fighters and the x-shuttle, dropped out of the Magnificents hanger bay like debris. Fully loaded with Nomads, they proceed to land upon different portions of Manhatten. Hidden amongst all the chaos, these Nomads would be the seed of things to come.
And the HMCS-Magnificent, proud defender of the human race, served its new masters will. With minimal flight control, it plunged itself in to the very heart of Liberty and freedom. Striking the primary symbol for the human races continued survival. The HMCS-Magnificent crashed into the remains of the Sleeper Ship Liberty, and in a massive explosion the surrounding city was leveled to the ground.