The Crimson Wolves
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The Crimson Wolves[edit | edit source]
| Chapter 2: "The Crimson Wolves" | |
|---|---|
| Major players | Universal Council Ivona Craine Montez Lycanis |
| Vote outcome | Assault launched on Crimson Wolves' command ship |
| Major events | Defeat of Crimson Wolves Capture of Montez Lycanis Disappearance of five squadrons in unknown flash of light One-quarter of Imperial Forge Colonies rendered defunct Civilian death toll close to a million |
| Timeline Chronology | |
| Previous Chapter | Next Chapter |
| "The Catalyst" | "The Shard" |
Summary
Shortly after the discovery of Mimir ("The Catalyst"), reports of pirate activity in the Kepler system - where the devastated Imperial Forge World Kepler-7 was located - were brought to the Council’s attention. The Crimson Wolves - a group of ex-Imperials led by Montez Lycanis, a disgraced former Imperial noble - had taken advantage of the unrest in Kepler and had begun to target planets in the system, leading several Imperial Forge colonies to suffer heavy losses.
As the pirates were employing guerilla tactics to avoid detection, as well as the fact that the command ship had not as yet revealed itself, the Universal Council was initially forced to consider spreading its forces to locate the command ship and defend against the next attack, and risk taking heavy losses. However, Ivona Craine, commander of the Empire’s Third Fleet and second granddaughter to their Emperor, revealed that the Third Fleet had already tracked down Lycanis’ command ship. Craine negotiated for the launching of an assault fleet against the Crimson Wolves with her in command and Imperial custody of Lycanis, in return for sharing the Crimson Wolves’ location; however, this would mean abandoning the Forge Worlds in favor of committing to a full assault. Faced with these options, the Council tabled the decision to a vote, with the seated Councilmembers briefing their respective factions.
With the Union opting to take a more defensive approach, and the Empire and Federation voting in favor of a full-scale offensive, the Council approved Craine’s command of the available military squadrons, with the fleet setting out immediately under Commander Craine’s directions to the coordinates she had shared.
Transcript
Report from the 18th conference of the Universal Council: time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Held on board station Ignis, in the neutral center of the Core Systems.Councilmembers for the Empire: Ji Young-Joo, Moira Craine, Cael’an Ashuret
Councilmembers for the Federation: Áurea Adonis, San’a, Kim Lee
Councilmembers for the Union: Aish Fenix, Haley Nguyen, Mandla BankoleThe following is a transcript of the briefing on the relevant vote for those involved in the Explorer program:
…once the initial recovery vessels have been sent out, the Council will, indeed, decide on what actions to take regarding the incoming Quantum shipments from Sera Varse’s expedition. Thank you for your concerns, President Adonis.
The Council is pleased to report that the situation in Kepler-7 is progressing smoothly. The Imperial Forge World is halfway toward being evacuated, and the waves of Quantum energy from the Pinnacle – the Union mercenary ship orbiting the planet - appear to be decreasing in frequency. It is only a matter of time before our research fleets are able to approach the wreck and investigate the cause of the Quantum Drive’s malfunction.
Unfortunately, there is now another issue within the Kepler system which demands the Council’s immediate attention: due to the unrest around Kepler-7, other planets in the system have been targeted by a group of pirates known as “the Crimson Wolves”. Their supposed leader, Montez Lycanis, is a disgraced Imperial noble now styling himself a “pirate lord”. The Crimson Wolves’ ships have mainly been employing guerilla tactics to avoid further detection, and many of the Empire’s Forge colonies have already suffered severe losses. Since the Kepler system remains on the border of Empire and Union territory, policing these actions falls under the Universal Council’s jurisdiction.
Though it is known that the Crimson Wolves have a command ship, it has yet to make its presence known in these attacks. As such, we cannot predict where or when the pirates will strike next, and our forces will need to spread out while we attempt to locate this ship. It is likely our forces will suffer severe losses if we proceed with this course of action. There is, however, another option. Ivona Craine, commander of the Empire’s Third Fleet and 2nd granddaughter to their Emperor, has come forward saying that the Third Fleet has tracked the Crimson Wolves to their command ship. She is willing to share this information, on the condition that the Council launch an assault on the command ship with Ivona herself at the helm, and that the body of Montez, dead or alive, be handed over to the Empire. This would mean abandoning defense of the colonies in favor of eliminating the root of the problem. Thus, the vote placed before the Council is as follows:
Should the Council spread its forces out and defend the Forge colonies, or should we accept Ivona Craine’s proposal and attack the Crimson Wolves’ command ship head-on?
Your faction contact will issue a statement shortly in your respective vote channels before the commencement of the vote.
Faction Storylines
Transmission from San’a, Valkyrie of the Federation and representative of President Lee
Good Sol, Explorers! Congratulations on the first successful vote of the Explorer Program. Sending an investigative fleet has proved to be most effective, and will potentially bring in vast amounts of Quantum from beyond the Core Systems. However, what President Adonis raised during the conference bears repeating: the factions must work together to avoid a tragedy like the Sol system’s destruction, and investing this influx of Quantum into the Federation’s structured and stable corporations would be an important step towards that goal.
President Lee, who temporarily left Vargas to attend this conference, has also shared a general update on the situation there: Though the unknown signal continues to disrupt Nexus comms, the new communication infrastructure installed by SpyreCorp has significantly lessened the number of tragic accidents. Though only a temporary solution, SpyreCorp’s infrastructure has allowed Vargas to continue production, which for now is more than satisfactory.
As for the current vote, it is disheartening to see yet more resources be spent in the ongoing situation around Kepler-7. All the same, the Crimson Wolves are not a threat to be taken lightly: many of the Federation’s own systems have suffered from their attacks in the past, and eliminating the pirates’ leader would be very beneficial. The only question is whether the Empire, and in particular, Ivona, are disclosing the full scope of their intentions here. On the other hand, if the Council spreads out its defenses and holds the Crimson Wolves off, the pirates may well give up on Kepler, but might then move closer to Federation-controlled systems, forcing us to deal with them directly.
Stay vigilant.
San’a
A directive from Ji Young-Joo, emissary of the Emperor
The Emperor’s majesty shines upon you this day, Explorers! Imperator Solas – may he outlive the stars - commends you for your excellent judgment on the last vote. It is a pity the other factions are not blessed with his wisdom, nor the guidance of the Oracle. Nonetheless, this new influx of Quantum shows our Emperor’s forethought in trusting this expedition; though it may be headed by scum from an ignoble and vice-ridden Union system, no doubt the Empire will soon reap the benefits of their discoveries.
On to this bastard Montez, this pretender who styles himself a lord among peasants, and persists in using the name of the Imperial house of Lycanis even after his exile. Lady Ivona, in her grace and wisdom, has deigned to convey her prodigious strategic insights to the Council, and what do they do? They quiver, they cower; they ask you to vote! An attack on the Crimson Wolves’ command ship would allow us to put this disgrace of a noble to justice.
Even so, it has reached my ears that while the Emperor approves of his granddaughter’s candor, and has no qualms about her military prowess after the victory at Twilight Eden, his eminence urges her not to get swept up by the impulses of youth; it may still be more fruitful in the long run to ordain that the Council defend the Imperial Forge Worlds, and to engage Montez later, on the Empire’s own terms.
As before, the voting process will begin fifteen minutes from now. Your vote belongs to the Empire, Explorers. Use it well, and let the songs of the Oracle light the path toward glory!
Sic itur ad astra.
Comm from Haley Nguyen, Union member and Vox representative
Hello Comrades- I’ll just say it: I don’t like this setup one bit. I’m sure some of you have also lost family and friends to the Third Fleet, so I’ll spare you the details, but safe to say I’d sooner recommend trusting a dozen venomous snakes than I would a cold-hearted monster like Ivona Craine.
Good job on the last vote though; the Vox is still undecided on how to deal with the discovered Quantum, but it’s definitely better to have it with the Council than just floating around, waiting for someone to grab it. Good to have one of our own leading the fleet too; I’ve heard amazing things about Sera from several Vox reps, and it seems like she’s more than up to the task. Apparently Casper Varse was also part of the Twin Suns’ unit manning the Pinnacle when it… you know. From the looks of it, the ship will be accessible again soon, and we’ll be able to check for survivors then.
Regarding the new vote: it looks like either way the Council slices it, people are going to suffer. Of course, the workers on the Imperial colonies don’t get much of a choice. Nor do they deserve to be thrust out the airlock just so Miss Craine can fulfill her little revenge fantasy. Thing is, if we send out troops to defend them, one-third of those soldiers are going to be Union, and with resources spread this thin, it’s not going to be pretty. Do we leave Imperial slaves to die, by no fault of their own, and wipe out a potential threat? Or do we let our own soldiers go down defending Imperials? I don’t envy you right now, I have to say. Votes will open in fifteen minutes; do what you think is right, Explorers.
Here’s to a brighter tomorrow.
Haley
Voting Results
The Universal Council has consolidated the votes of each of the factions: Attack the command ship 2 (Empire,Federation) , Defend the colonies 1 (Union)
The final vote is in favor of accepting the information volunteered by Ivona Craine, and launching an assault on the Crimson Wolves’ command ship. Ivona Craine has shared the coordinates of the command ship with the Council’s forces, and command of the available military squadrons has been transferred to her. The offensive force will be setting out on immediately, as per the current acting commander’s directions.
Urgent Information[edit | edit source]
Summary
Under Commander Craine’s command, the Council fleet - comprising well over a hundred ships - quickly located the Crimson Wolves fighters. While the pirates only numbered a dozen or so, the Council offensive was carried out swiftly, the fleet rushing Lycanis’ command ship persistently until the vessel was nearly destroyed. With the pirates decimated, Commander Craine then left the Council’s flagship to personally retrieve Lycanis in her fighter.
However, shortly after she had departed, a large explosion took place close to Lycanis’ command ship. Corroborated reports from crew members in the aftermath detailed the warping of space around the vessel, before solid light was witnessed damaging a number of the fleet’s vessels. Accounts also reported the subsequent disappearance of the command ship, as well as five squadrons involved in the attack. Post-mortem investigations conducted by the Universal Council revealed that Lycanis’ ship’s Quantum Drive engines had indeed been engaged; however, it was deemed implausible that the engines could have transported multiple ships - and unwilling ones at that.
As a result of the commitment to a full-scale offensive, the Forge Worlds were left relatively undefended, and consequently suffered heavy casualties. At the time, the death toll was placed at close to a million, with nearly a quarter of the Imperial Forge Colonies rendered defunct. However, the pirates remaining in the system had retreated, likely as a result of Lycanis’ defeat. Commander Craine and the Third Fleet departed the Kepler system, bringing the body of Lycanis to the Empire’s Inner Rim. The Universal Council was left unaware if Lycanis had survived; however, later reports from the Empire confirmed that he did, and had been subsequently scheduled for a public execution on his homeworld of Eden Lycanis.
Transcript
The following is a transmission from Yang Chen, captain of the Cossack.
Origin: Alder, ship of squadron Baerle-3.
Dating: Battle #1 in Kepler system: time of ζ Sagittarii 3.32
Designation: mission reportThis is Yang Chen, squadron, u-um, Roche-7. Sorry, I’m… still a little shaken. Never seen anything like it. Commanding a single fleet is one thing, but a hundred- no, over a hundred ships! And with an ease that’s… it’s hard to describe. I don’t believe any of the crew used inter-fleet comms. We didn’t need to- the fleets were like a single unit.
Locating the command ship went well enough. There weren’t even that many Crimson Wolves fighters - only a dozen or so - but our offensive operation was quick, and merciless. From the moment her first command came in, there was no letting up the intensity. Again and again she had us rush the command ship, all but ignoring the surrounding fighters. We were a battering ram, single-minded, striking blow after blow against its hull. When they retaliated, we scattered, like a flock of birds, not taking a single shot.
In those moments, she’d give each ship individual instructions. The fleets fell into a rhythm, but it was never predictable, not once. Even when ships were going down around us, none of the crew panicked. There was something about her way of talking, a confidence that made you feel like you were untouchable. I don’t know how Montez held out as long as he did; Ivona’s fighter didn’t even leave the Tempest until his ship was almost falling apart. I hear she dragged him from the wreck herself. No idea if it’s true, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
When the offensive was over, it was like coming out of a trance, or waking up from a dream where everything made sense. At least, that’s how I’d describe it. I’d wager everyone was feeling something similar. That’s probably why it felt like the explosion came out of nowhere.
I can’t remember who noticed it first, just remember seeing space around the command ship warp, rushing for my helmet before the observation deck’s window shattered. Light poured in- it’s funny, I never thought of light as solid before, but that’s what it was. Solid light. Thick lines of it, bursting into the deck. I held on as much as I could, couldn’t hear anything over the rush of air. Though I do remember- anyway, after a couple seconds the light cleared, and it was… gone. The entire command ship, just… gone. The fighters around it too, I think, and some of our own. I’m sorry, that’s as much as I can remember and, I- my head hurts. Can you take me back to the-
-Relevant section of report ends.-
Captain Chen’s account corresponds to others that detail the events concluding the attack on the Crimson Wolves. Every single one describes this warping of space, along with a strange light, the color of which seems to vary. The exact cause of the command ship’s disappearance remains unclear. Early analysis of the spike in energy from the ship has confirmed that its Quantum drives were engaged; however, it is impossible for Quantum drives to transport multiple ships, let alone unwilling ones. Five of the squadrons involved in this attack have completely disappeared, and locating them is currently a high priority operation for the Council.
The Forge colonies in the Kepler system have suffered severe losses, as anticipated. Near a quarter of them are now defunct, and the death toll is close to a million, perhaps more. The Crimson Wolves’ fighters that attacked the colonies have thankfully retreated; most likely they have left the system, and given the absence of their command ship, it is unlikely they will reappear soon. Ivona Craine and the Third Fleet – both largely unharmed – have also departed the Kepler system, bringing the body of Montez Lycanis to the Empire’s Inner Rim. They have refused to disclose to the Universal Council whether or not Montez is currently alive.
| Expedition to Mímir: | The Catalyst • The Shard • The Crossroads • The Void • Subjugation • The Cradle • Dire Straits • Last Stand |
| Assault on the Crimson Wolves: | The Crimson Wolves • The Ides • Groundswell |
| The Morn Conflict: | On the Brink |
| The Pinnacle Incident: | Quantum Sickness • First Steps |
| The Vargas Epidemic: | Blackout |
| The Opening: | First Contact |