The Four Horsemen attack!

by: Nathan - posted: 11/16/2008 3:49:00 AM

Beyond Protocol the MMORTS that is still living in the shadows of EVE has a strong and creative group of followers. Don't believe me? Take a look at this excerpt from their website which was written by a player:

"When Command was contacted, they notified us that rather than being attacked by the enormous fleet that appeared over the planet, they were hailed. This is in fact a return of the dreaded Four Horsemen, but they seem to have changed in demeanor. This time, rather than an unnamed onslaught, like history records during their last public crusade, the commanders were told that our people would be spared in return for our pacifism. While it may have been nearly a century since their last appearance, every child still hears stories of the 4H. Most of the commanders’ parents were themselves only children when they survived the initial attacks. So, they took the only conceivable action when outnumbered and faced with such deep seeded fear, they complied. Within minutes the entire fleet was gone again. They are either using some sort of cloaking generators, or are capable of traveling faster than light. We were then ordered to return immediately for repairs and redeployment. "

The short but sweet collection of Cpt. Stark's logs can be found on the next page.

 

Well, you’ve had some insight into the first Galactic War? That’s good. What’s crucial to remember here is although the “War” only lasted half a month, the price was enormous. Some historians put the total casualties around 2 billion. Many of those happened when the committee was just sittin around talkin. However, we know the carnage didn’t end there. So, get yourself ready for round two from a slightly different perspective, Silas Stark’s view from the deck of a battleship.

Selections from the log of Bridge Commander Silas Stark, in command of the Halberd

January 20th, 3650 TE
1200 Hours
The ship’s inaugural ceremony was an excellent send off. The crew seems eager to be in space guarding one of our nation’s largest populated planets. There have been minor skirmishes in the sector, but nothing major. It seems that, while there is tension between several of the various peoples of this system, they are reluctant to enter into a drawn out conflict. Even so, the port controller, Scott Newman, an acquaintance of mine, assures me, he and his family feel safer each time they see another ship go up. I used that in a speech I gave to the crew, and many seemed to have taken it to heart. However, William Lockheed, my helmsman, seems to have taken the defense of the entire planet onto his shoulders. With a little more experience, and some mentoring, I think he’ll make a fine officer. He just needs to relax a little.

We are currently headed out to the dark side of the third moon, where we will be stationed in advanced guard for the next few months. I’m anticipating a good deal of down time, in which I hope to have the, mostly green, crew do an assortment of exercises. I’ll have them all either promoted or begging to resign by the end of this station!

February 5th, 3650 TE
2130 Hours
At 1700 hours exercises were interrupted when the ship was broadsided by several unidentified small fighters. While we were able to disable them, they managed to cripple nearly all of our critical systems. My lead engineer tells me we are basically dead in space for the next 48 hours. Our long range communication was the first thing to go so we can not inform the main colony for another 5 hours.

As I said, we only disabled the fighters. However, a short time after, each one self destructed, leaving us without prisoners to interrogate. I have yet to see ships with that sort of firepower. The way they seemed to just appear out of space would also imply a fairly large technology gap. Is this the latest culmination of a local campaign, or the return of a more ancient and sinister enemy?

February 6th, 3650 TE
0420 Hours
Communications were restored, and we are proceeding back to the planet at half of our maximum speed due to irreparable damage of our engines.

When Command was contacted, they notified us that rather than being attacked by the enormous fleet that appeared over the planet, they were hailed. This is in fact a return of the dreaded Four Horsemen, but they seem to have changed in demeanor. This time, rather than an unnamed onslaught, like history records during their last public crusade, the commanders were told that our people would be spared in return for our pacifism. While it may have been nearly a century since their last appearance, every child still hears stories of the 4H. Most of the commanders’ parents were themselves only children when they survived the initial attacks. So, they took the only conceivable action when outnumbered and faced with such deep seeded fear, they complied. Within minutes the entire fleet was gone again. They are either using some sort of cloaking generators, or are capable of traveling faster than light. We were then ordered to return immediately for repairs and redeployment.

Dissention over the decision is obvious, but without unity and a battle plan, it is baseless. Just as every child fears the 4H, they also know that they were only defeated when humanity unified against them. I imagine they will call the war something heroic like, the Second Galactic War.

February 21st, 3650 TE
2000 Hours
For nearly two weeks since repairs were completed, the Halberd has again encountered zero opposition while on patrol. The crew is still on edge.

It seems discussions within our nation have stalled as to how to deal with the return of The Four Horsemen. At the moment, only military production has been increased, they rushed 4 more battleships to space, moving their project plans ahead by months. I am not convinced of their space worthiness… More ships have begun construction in their place.

The majority of our commanders want to attack, but the reality is that our nation has suffered no casualties as a direct result of the war. Therefore it is most likely that we will remain out of the fight as long as possible. However, several of the key nations still flying the flag of the Galactic Alliance are taking heavy losses from, what seems to be, a vastly superior force than the one encountered 100 years ago. I have also heard rumors of local nations actually aiding The Four Horsemen, overtly and covertly. I am not at all sure of the validity, but just the thought is unnerving. Could this group actually become an established force with more staying power than the nightmares that they create?

March 18th, 3650 TE
1800 Hours
Command informed me several days ago that communications with two of the cornerstone members of the Galactic Alliance have gone silent. Today, The Four Horsemen made a mass communication announcing that hostilities with the public at large would no longer be their way, but that the inhabitants of Fadlar and Rutal, including its sub systems, should be evacuated. They also announced a new name for themselves, the “Apocalypse Imperium”, letting the leaders of nations know that service to them would lead to freedom from oppression. It seems as though they have been recruiting…

March 30th, 3650 TE
1430 Hours
In all of my years, I have never been as confused as I am now. Just as the Apocalypse Imperium seemed to have the upper hand in every conceivable aspect, they left; without warning and without struggle. Several of their fleets, and many of the nations that served them remain, but the organization as a whole seems to have dissolved. I can only imagine what this will mean for the future of mankind, and if, or rather when, the Imperium will return…

- Silas Stark, 3602 - 3775 TE