The Virus

[cats]

'Nakar crouched behind a corner of the corridor, she held a ceramic nanoblade in her teeth. She heard someone coming, dropped one of her bags that occupied her hands and replaced it with the knife. As the guard rounded the corner, she leapt at the guard, tackling the human to the floor, and drove the blade through his neck and into his brain. She removed the knife and sterilized it with a localized EM pulse, then retrieved her bags and continued to the landing bay. Her communication device was in one of her bags, she remembered, and retrieved it. Hopefully, the Narok Class that had transported her hadn't left yet.

//ELSEWHERE//
(Aboard the Narok Class Borosh that, luckily, hadn't left yet)

Shi'Ker aimed her coilpistol at the back at the back of Captain Fletcher's head and activated the charging mechanism. When the green bar reached the halfway mark, she pulled the trigger and sent a slug through the infected captain's brain and into the command console. She ordered the bridge emptied and activated a variable frequency EM sweep to kill any other nanides, hopefully they hadn't reached exponential growth yet. 'Ker left the bridge, manually shutting down all control stations and placing it under electronic quarantine. Humans seemed to be more susceptible to the virus, she ordered them to their human quarters save two, an engineer and the pilot. She needed someone to disconnect the hyperslip drive and someone to maneuver the ship, there were no feles aboard that could.

//BACK TO THE RESEARCH STATION//

'Nakar relieved the dead guard of his ion beam rifle. The first three had only conventional powder pistols, not enough to down the biomech if it had gone rogue. She set off down the hallway, activating her comm device as she ran, and sent an emergency signal to the Borosh.

//LATER//
(After killing some more infected guards)

'Nakar arrived at the docking bay and found the other researchers already there. Markus was obviously busy and the other scientists probably didn't know any more than Nakar. She looked out of an observation window and saw tiny flashes of light in the sky, low-orbit battles between the infected and non-infected. She listened to the other VIPs, a NR ship would be there to evacuate them shortly. She thumbed her earpan, deactivating the distress signal, her ship was probably flotsam by now anyway.

//LATER//
(A few hundred thousand kilometers from planet's surface)

The makeshift bridge rocked as the navigator/pilot made an emergency maneuver away from an incoming plasma bolt. 'Ker returned fire with railcannons. Glowing tungsten steel slugs raced toward the target, smashing into unprotected armor and ripping apart the hull. She aligned another shot and fired, the round hit the lone frigate's reactor room and destroyed a containment field emitter. The ship exploded in a silent puff of nuclear fire. The crew relaxed, 'Ker only now registered the scientist's distress call. She sifted through communications and found that there was already a ship en route to evac. She ordered the pilot to move closer to the planet and monitor the evacuation, then sent a communique to the evac vessel, telling it that Borosh was prepared for escort.

[Ivan2006]

---Transmition from EES Shining Armor---
This is SGM Ivan Kintobor.
I am now going to join your fleet with 10 Equestria-class cruisers.
Altough I am the highest ranked person in this fleet, I give command to you as you have more knowledge of the situation.

[Crash Override]

-Equestria class cruisers? Hm. Interesting ships.

*He looked at the window*

-Now,what would be our next action? There is hell out here
*He said at intercom*

[cats]

The Narok Class intercepts the message from the EE. Ker advises against a full flotilla escort, more chance of infection and a large possibility of total destruction if one of the ships were infected.

[Prototype]

Omega had blacked out, the buzzing in the back of his head told him he was under attack from the virus, though he had remained in control due to his consciousness being centred elsewhere, and due to the fact that the typical N.S.C.D. brain was very resistant to viruses, and Omegas brain was far superior to the typical brain.

Omega detected multiple ships in the vicinity of the station, from different empires, fortunately the only N.S.C.D. ship there was the Bruiser class that had brought him there, which was not controlled by the apparently genocidal Theta. Omega started its engines remotely, he was a major hazard to anyone aboard the station, even though he was technically immune from being controlled, he acted as a carrier, he had to get off the base.

The small Bruiser class frigate was docked outside the station, it's weapons had not been fired, so Theta nor the virus had gained control. Omegas plan might work.

Omega began to make his way towards the docking bays, though he could not seem to retract the plasma cannon which was mounted on his right arm

[Crash Override]

4 Ships arrive in the system,going off the station.
1 Flapjack freighter,2 Raven corvettes and 1 Sorjat support ship.
*Mayday,Mayday! Everyone is firing in everyone. The Darkstar personell is in hiding and no one is crazy but everyone is freaking out!*

-Present yourselfes! *Jeff in the comm*

-We are from the 103 xx patrol group of the Naoti III. We are here because of a distress call from Doctor Jeffer...
-Cut with that. Make scans in the ship.
- Calm down,sir. We are all enginners and computer specialists. We are from the Cyber-warfare group. Something tried to enter in our system but we managed to hold then off with a small hadron storm.
-Very good. Status on outside forces?
-Yes,they are reporting that some ships went rougue. Mainly the ones that were on repairs with the stealth disabled.Over that,we are receiving attack reports from all systems
-Hm. What are the cargo from the Flapjack of yours?
-Ah..one small reactor...hmm...some food,water,energy cells from the ring and the standar cyber-warfare equipment. Also,we are bringing one Pete in the cargo-hold.

-Awesome. Markus,can you hear me? I have the supplys to make a small outpost with energy,food and some advanced equipment. I will not take any actions alone,so give a direction.

[Ivan2006]

Hope:"Marcus, I´d think Equestria would be a good place for a temporary base.
There are low numbers of robots and cyborgs, so if the Virus took over there, it propably didn´t do much demage.
Also they aren´t dependent on their computer network.
The main base of the EC over there should be save, as it only accepts transmitions on a special encryption algorythm that doesn´t support the transmition of executable files.
We could go there and make ourselves a base where we can analyze the data we´ve got in peace.
Also remember the EBS Harmony is over in orbit around that planet.
It´s an important point both for us and the Virus.
If the virus can reach its fireing algorythm, it can change the settings so that it simplifies mind control instead of breaking it, essentially multiplying the ammount of people controllable by Overmind by 10 or even send out psionic waves so strong that they are lethal if the Virus overrides the energy outflow system as well.
We could use the Harmony to break Overmind´s control."

[Professor Fenway]

After listening to suggestions, Markus made a decision. The area was temporarily secure. He flipped on the fleet channel.

"We will split into three battle groups. The first will be lead by SGM Ivan Kintober. He will take a large number of ships to take the EBS Harmony and use it to help stave off the Virus, and Overmind."

"The second group, whom I will lead, will make a raid on NeoRome. Our goal is to liberate as many ships as possible from the orbital shipyard. The station is always crewed, and has extensive cyber warfare equipment to prevent the station from falling, so that ships can be launched. As such, the crews of these ships may be trapped, but safe. Included here is the flagship Ragnarov. I will take the Darkstar ships and any non-essential personnel, as this will be dangerous."

"Everyone else will warp to Polaris and commandeer the Polaris positronic computer database in order to develop an antivirus. I have sent the decompiled virus to all the researchers."

"We may not see each other again. Now, go! We don't have much time!"

[Crash Override]

-Yes! They can´t hit what they can´t see...do they have fear of dark?...They really should. *The ships entered in stealth disapearing from the sensors and from the eyes of everyone*

-Markus,we are with you.

*The Darkstar ships were ready to follow Markus,scaterred in a star pattern*

1 Flapjack freighter
3 Arrow corvettes
1 Starblazer [Battlecruiser]
and some incoming Ravens [corvette]
1 Firestorm frigate
6 Dagger frigates
2 Wolfhound carriers

[Prototype]

Omega began the launch procedure for the Bruiser frigate, thought he was having difficulty, for his weapons systems seemed to be activated permanently, and he had found himself aiming at various personnel on his way to th docks, though the weapons would only fire upon his command, the virus had not managed to control that functionality yet.

Omega opened a channel to Markus:

Markus, Omega here, I my body has become infected with the virus, but I have remained in control of myself, I believe it is entirely possible to subdue the virus, but I need more time to investigate, however I am entirely capable of infecting others.
I am currently heading towards the N.S.C.D. patrol that escorted me here, though I will not join them, but I shall order them to assist you, though I must warn you, something has happened to our central system, one of the highest ranking officers is trying to order us to exterminate all life, I fear he is being controlled, but I do not know if the patrol is following his orders, if they are, I may be able to override them, if not, they will need to be destroyed, for they are carrying some rather powerful weapons, if the virus gains control, then it could attack your fleets with devastating consequences.

I will attempt to study the Virus further on my ship, and I will communicate findings to the research team, but I must place myself in quarantine, I am very dangerous.

If you see any N.S.C.D. ship approaching you without hailing you the following keyword, assume it is hostile:
"Phi"

If you see a tormentor class approach you, run, for it will certainly be under the control of the virus

Omega out.

Omega watched as the ship drifted away from the station, he checked the weapons systems, all were functional, though upon further inspection, he noticed that the sniper rail gun had been loaded with a nuclear warhead, if the patrol were hostile, he might be able to destroy them himself.

[cats]

'Ker opened a channel to Marcus' ship. "Lieutenant Shi'Ker, temporary CO of the TSRFM Narok Class Borosh reporting. I have the fastest ship in the sector and Darkstar stealth systems, as well as formidable weaponry. Prepared to assist in any way necessary, though I request a position of escort to whatever ship will be transporting the VIP scientists."

[Iv121]

I guess until you figure out what's going on I'm out couse there is really no much a viral researcher can, ironically, do here. It would make more sense that if the overmind is linked to the virus they both spread control in the same way and those little bugs are the perfect way to do it ...

[Crash Override]

'Ker opened a channel to Marcus' ship. "Lieutenant Shi'Ker, temporary CO of the TSRFM Narok Class Borosh reporting. I have the fastest ship in the sector and Darkstar stealth systems, as well as formidable weaponry. Prepared to assist in any way necessary, though I request a position of escort to whatever ship will be transporting the VIP scientists."

OCC: Wow,how the hell do you get my stealth systems? O.O its my faction special tech

[Prototype]

Omega hailed the patrol, three of the ships responded, the other two rejected his hails.

The three ships that responded, two Extinctor cruisers and a Vivisector carrier, had all been sent orders by Theta, and had refused, the other two ships, a Bruiser and a Beluga, had accepted the orders, and were preparing to attack the other three ships.

Omega hailed the first Extinctor:
"Captain, have the frigates been acting strangely"

"Yes sir, they are preparing to battle, they appear to be charging up warp"

"They will be heading to either the EE fleet, or the Neoroman fleet"

"They would be destroyed in seconds"

"Yes but I believe they are carrying the virus, they must not infect the fleets, Captain, and your commanding officer, and possible the last hope of the N.S.C.D, I command you to fire upon the frigates if they do not comply"

"They are not complying, they shot at us earlier"

"Well destroy them, before they leave"

"Roger sir, over"


The Extinctor class aimed fifty of its 100 odd cannons towards the two frigates, and began to open fire, the Bruiser was destroyed, but the Beluga raised shields, and began to move away from the patrol

It looked like they were going to get away, but the ship exploded mid flight, apparently one officer on board had refused the orders, and had self destructed the ship.

Omega ordered the three remaining ships to join the NeoRoman fleet, and gave them instructions to hail Markus with the keyword "Phi", and explained why he would not be joining them.

The captain of the Vivisector hailed Omega:
"Sir if you are infected, do you not pose a risk to the entire operation"

"I do, but I have remained control, I must discover why I am still in control, though if I present a serious danger, you have my permission to shoot me, Omega out"

[Ivan2006]

...loading...
This is SGM Kintobor.
I have managed to team up with the 1st and 2nd flottilla of the UBF which preserved themselves with stealth engines while recovering further strategic points. (to be precise the EES Yana, a dreadnaught of the Halberd-class which was commanded by a major VIP and now serves as our flagship as well as the EES Vortex, an Egg Carrier Mk. I-class battle carrier with the Project:MAELSTROM prototype)
Now engaging the Harmony. Brief scans have shown that the personell is not trying to stop the virus from taking over the station.
We believe they are under influence from Overmind.
We sent boarding teams over to the station, expecting the security systems as well as the security bots and the crew against us.
We are trying to reduce the death count through the usage of psionic weaponary.
Expected time until takeover and completed hardware reformatting: 5 hours.

Hope: Marcus, I just got information that the SGM managed to extend his part of the fleet by several middle-sized ships, a dreadnaught and a carrier.
They are going to retake the EBS Harmony now.