Resurgence - Discordant Mantle

== Voices from the Stars ==
“What the hell?” asks Captain Michaelson of the Enlightened mostly to himself.  He stands and looks toward the HPG from the bridge of the Overlord. “First Mate, are you seeing this?” he asks, turning his head slightly while keeping his eyes ahead.
“Yes, sir, should I relay to the Prime Minister?” the First Mate asks.
“At once Brother, immediately.”
The First Mate moves over his console furiously typing to get a direct line to the Prime Minister.  “Yes, sir, the Captain requested to speak with you immediately.” Turning to the Captain, “Sir, the Prime Minister is on the direct line.”
“Roger that, Prime Minister, what are your readings on the HPG?” asks the Captain while he holds his fingers to his earpiece, thunder from the artillery firing from around the base of the Overlord echoes in the background.  Also firing are the tallest weapon mounts on the dropship trying to take out mercenaries peeking out too long in the distance.
“Nothing since Gray Monday, Captain, why?”
“Have you checked right now, sir?”
“One second….” The Prime Minister is ordering his support staff to inquire to the HPG status of the microphone.  “I have my people looking into it, is everything ok out there Captain?  It looks to us like the Grand Knight has pushed the Mercenaries from it and we are gaining ground in all directions.”
“Sir, the last time I saw that blue light on an HPG dish was in the days before Gray Monday.”
***
“Prime Minister, the HPG is sending and receiving signals!  This hasn’t happened since Gray Monday!  There is all sorts of flash traffic – codename… Discordant Mantle?” one of the support staff explained to the Prime Minister, the codename giving him pause as he spoke to the Prime Minister.
Suddenly, there is an unbearable squealing sound that echoed all around the city.  Looking over the readouts, the HPG dish is rotating, for the first time in decades, clearly breaking through dirt, old lubricant, and rust.  Readings are off the charts as data flooded into the databanks.  Two consoles in the bunker that were designed to interact with the HPG suddenly light up like Christmas trees, one screen blowing out, sparks flinging in all directions from the hole it burned through a covering tarp. Everyone present jumped with the sudden flashes and pop sounds.
The Prime Minister rushed over and began tearing off the dust covers that had been placed over the consoles.  Each screen read “DISCORDANT MANTLE – HPG activation sequence initiated – all systems online – updates downloaded, network synced – ready for use.”
On the inbound data screen it cycles through a list that is constantly updating, everything from personal files, to news articles, to dropship manifests, and more – all dated from Gray Monday.  “What does this mean?...” the Prime Minister is trying to take it all in, talking aloud to himself. 
“Sir, can we reach the March Capital?” blurted out one of his support officers.
“Do it!” pointing to two staffers, the Prime Minister gives the order without hesitation, “try to reach the March Capital!” ordering them to the consoles. 
“Sir!” one of them shouted back just seconds later.
“Well son, did it work?” the Prime Minister asked.
“W-w-w-we… We are receiving a communication request from the March Capital, sir.” The staffer says in shock and confusion.
“Open the link now!” the Prime Minister orders.
He turns toward the holotable, which now had been taken over by the HPG system.  The face of the man who was supposedly going to leave the Filtveltians alone appeared, but before the Prime Minister could fully open his mouth to speak, Duke Bernard Marsin began shouting.
“What the hell are you deploying mercenaries and the Citizen’s Militia into the Periphery March for Prime Minister?!  I have reports of multiple worlds under attack on your orders!”
Immediately, the Prime Minister’s blood boiled, “The nerve you have to accuse me!  Right now Undredal is under siege from your own mercenary forces and even the damned Tortuga Pirates!  We are cornered at our spaceport!  The Brotherhood of Randis just landed to crush your treacherous forces and pet pirates!”
“I have given no such order, how dare you accuse me of such an act after the courtesies I have extended your little Coalition!” shouted back the Duke, but before the Prime Minister was able to yell back, a voice from someone out of view caught the Duke’s attention, his hologram turning to listen. 
Regaining his composure, the Prime Minister continued with a raised voice but not shouting, “Duke Marsin, are you saying that you did not order these attacks?!”
Turning back, the Duke responds, “Hell no, I absolutely did not order any attacks, nor do I have any communication with those pirates. Are you saying that you did not order units to take Federated Suns worlds?”
“I did not, Duke Marsin.”
“Well dammit, we need to fix this.  Are you able to get a channel to the mercenary commander?” asked the Duke.
Looking to his support staff, the Prime Minister gave the orders to go loud on all open channels and frequencies.
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Chapter 2: Knights of Olde
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Chapter 4: Truth Comes to Life
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Category:Resurgence
Category:Works by Minis&Dumbbells