Prologue - Gateway Station

You stare up at the metal ceiling of your quarters, blinking slowly and sparingly, your mouth dry as bone. Lying back onto your bunk, you exhale slowly, as you quietly stroke your short, well-trimmed beard. You continue to look up in contemplation. You are General Adam Jensen of the Sovereign Colonies Armed Forces. Born in the smog and pollution of Earth, you had come so far since then. When you had joined the 401st Elite Infantry, you were overjoyed; the 401st are one of the most prestigious units in the entire S.C.A.F., winning battle after battle during the Secessionist Wars. When you had been promoted to Colonel and placed in command of the Division, you continued their winning streak; claiming victory at Battles on Mars and Pluto, skirmishes throughout the Colonies, and even the Battle of Vancouver back on Earth. Despite these victories, despite the 401st's reputation, the Sovereign Colonies were losing the war, however. Battlefleets once considered fully operational had been rendered into lifeless hulks; be it from Secessionist Raids or the crippling lack of resources. Divisions relying on stable supply chains now struggled to feed their soldiers, and power their weapons.



A long story short, the Sovereign Colonies were losing.

-- -- --​

Spoiler: [Datapad Contents] - AC-P FLEET (Auth. ADM Graves) XO- Cpt Arnold Belknap

CMS Roanoke - UD-24 Class Orbital Command Platform | 'Overlord' | Command Ship

CMS Terra Nova - CL-13 Class Heavy Transport | 'The Luv Boat' | Scientific Cargo + Personnel Transport + Prefabricated Base Platforms

CMS Shackleton - CL-13 Class Heavy Transport | 'The Delivery Boy' | Military Cargo + Personnel Transport + Ration Supplies

CMS Greely - Sovereign-Class Light Frigate | 'Think Tank' | Scientific Research Ship

CMS Brusilov - Sovereign-Class Light Frigate | 'The Comeback Kid' | Long Range Sensors + Orbital Mine Layer + Combat Vessel

CMS Mawson - Sovereign-Class Light Frigate | 'Fat Man' | Nuclear Missile Launchers + Combat Vessel

CMS Nimrod - Sovereign-Class Light Frigate | 'Mailman' | Long Range Communications + Combat Vessel

CMS Rowett - Sovereign-Class Light Frigate | 'Quarterback' | Combat Vessel

Spoiler: [Datapad Contents] - TASK FORCE VOLANTIS (Auth. GEN Jensen) XO- Cnl James Gaskell

29th Infantry Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

30th Infantry Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

91st Infantry Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

162nd Infantry Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

401st Elite Infantry Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Elite Legionaries

2nd Armoured Division - 20,000 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

95th Force Reconnaisance Battalion - 800 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

104th Force Reconnaisance Battalion - 800 S.C.A.F. Legionaries

41st Engineering Battalion - 800 S.C.A.F. Engineers

22nd Engineering Battalion - 800 S.C.A.F. Engineers

12th Engineering Battalion - 800 S.C.A.F. Engineers

TOTAL PERSONNEL - 124,000 Soldiers

Spoiler: [Datapad Contents] CIVILIAN ASSETS (Auth. DR. Serrano) Secondary Personnel- DR. Alexei Obruchev, DR. Ramsey Bergerac

18 Xenoarchaeologists

22 Xenobiologists

125 Archaeologists

310 Geologists

650 Research Associates

360 Cargo Shuttle Pilots + Crew

18,000 Construction Contractors

25,000 Miners

24 Mule-Class Cargo Shuttles

However, the Sovereign Colonies Council had an answer for that: the Marker Program. Based off of the research of the late Michael Altman, the Sovereign Colonies had studied the devices. Enigmatic and mesmerising, the Markers were a nigh-infinite source of Energy; the answer to the Sovereign Colonies crisis. Truth be told, you knew little more than that about the Program. Even though you were now a member of High Command, secrecy protected the Marker Program. Should the Secessionists get their hands on a Marker...Sliding open with a Mechanical Whirr, the door to your Quarters open up, grabbing your attention as you sat up, looking to the hatch. Standing in the doorframe, clad in a suit of heavy battle armour, two glowing photolenses looking at you, is a S.C.A.F. Legionary; one of the 29th Infantry. The Soldier speaks up, giving you a sharp salute as he snaps to attention."General Jensen!" You give the soldier a nod, replying."At ease, Soldier. What is it?" The soldier breathed quickly as he gave a reply, his RIG projecting a message in-front of him."Uh, yes sir. You are... uhm... expected at the Command Centre ASAP, sir." Expected? This was intriguing. Your brow furrows as you look to the soldier."Expected?" Giving a nod, the soldier responds."Yes sir. By General Caidan." You give a nod, containing your surprise. You may have been a General, but Ambrose Caidan wasGeneral. The overall Commander of the entire S.C.A.F., and a member of the Sovereign Colonies Council. You quickly rise to your feet, looking the soldier in the eyes."I'll be there right away. Dismissed." The soldier, quickly responding, flicked off the message."Very good, General." The soldier quickly gave another salute, before turning around, stepping out of the doorframe. Quickly stepping out with him, you walk through the corridors of Gateway Station. The Station was the nucleus of the Sovereign Colonies war effort; a logistical and strategic powerhouse responsible for directing the vast fleets of S.C.A.F. Warships against the Secessionists. Through the corridors, thousands of Legionaries, Engineers, Technicians, Officers and other key Military Personnel would work, plan, and strategize new methods of victory.Breathing in the processed air of the Station, you step into a small Elevator. As the door begins to close, a woman quickly rushes towards it, waving to you."Hold the Elevator!" You give a nod, pressing the 'stop' button, as the woman steps into it, giving you a smile. "Thank you, General." You give the woman a nod, looking to her Uniform. Aside from it being the typical olive-green colour of the Sovereign Colonies Navy, the woman's rank epaulettes signified her as an Admiral. You speak up, answering her."It's no trouble, Admiral." You hold out your hand, speaking. "I'm General Adam Jensen, High Command. Yourself?" The woman firmly grabbed your hand, shaking as she answered."Admiral Marjorie Graves, AC-P Fleet. Charmed to meet you." You let out a quiet huff, as the woman lets go of your hand."So, Admiral. I suppose you're being called to the Command Deck by General Caidan as well?" She gave a nod, replying with a chuckle."Yes. I have no idea why, but he requested me on the Command Deck. You too?" You gave a nod, as she laughed. "Figures. Well, any ideas as to what this is about?""A mission of some importance to the S.C.A.F., I presume.""A suicide mission, probably.""I have no idea."(Write-In)"I'll be honest, Admiral. I have no idea why General Caidan wants us." Letting out a huff, the Admiral quietly chuckles."Figures they wouldn't tell us... Must be something important." You give a shrug. Perhaps it was, perhaps it wasn't. You wouldn't know until you were briefed.As the Elevator doors slide open, you and the Admiral step out towards a heavy, wide door; flanked by two S.C.A.F. Legionaries; clad in the familiar 'Elite' RIG originally designed for your old regiment, the 401st, use of the RIG had spread to other units throughout the Sovereign Colonies. From the 163rd Reapers, to the 255th Military Police, other elite units had began to adopt usage of the RIG. Quickly displaying your authorisation to the guards, you step forward as the door raises, revealing the compact Command Deck. Filled with various Officers and Technicians looking over various terminals, the Deck itself was bustling with activity, as a Captain directed personnel through the chamber. You and the Admiral step forward, as the Captain turns around to face the both of you, giving a sharp salute as he spoke up."General Jensen, Admiral Graves. General Caidan's waiting for you in the briefing room. Right this way." Following the Captain, you and the Admiral step through another hatch, into a slightly darker room. Two figures stand near a Terminal near the edge of the room; a venerable old man wearing the green uniform and epaulettes of General of the Army; Ambrose Caidan, while the other appeared to be a Civilian; dressed in a brown, tapered jacket, dark grey work-pants, and a thick head of jet-black hair. Quickly snapping to attention, both you and Admiral Graves look to the General. Turning around slowly, the General speaks."At ease Jensen, Graves." He looks to the table, gesturing the two of you towards it. "Have a seat." Giving a nod, you step towards the table, pulling out a chair, sitting down in-front of the General as he speaks."What I am about to tell you is never to leave this room. Am I understood?" You speak up, giving a nod. Despite being a ground-pounder, even you understood the value of discretion."Yes sir, General." Quickly following suit, Admiral Graves responds in kind. Looking to you, General Caidan speaks up."Now, you already know me. This is Doctor Earl Serrano; head of our Marker Research Program." Turning around, the civilian gives a nod, speaking in an Argentinian accent."Yes, greetings." You give a nod, as General Caidan continues."I've called you two here for a mission of the utmost importance to the Sovereign Colonies. As you both know, we are losing the war. The Secessionists have seized many of our supply routes, and we are struggling to keep up. Our last hope is the Marker Program. As you may already know, we have succeeded in reproducing several Markers from the original Black Marker found on Earth, however, we still haven't uncovered the secret behind them." Stepping forward, the Doctor interjects."That is where I and my team come in. While performing experiments on one of the Markers at Ptolemy Station, we found that the Markers weren't producing that Energy, but instead receiving it from a 'signal' pointing into deep space." Giving a nod, the General spoke."A Planet that we have code-named 'Tau Volantis'. Doctor Serrano has already prepared a scientific expedition to the planet, but this matter extends far beyond the science division. That is why we are preparing for a heavy Military investment in this expedition." He pauses, looking to the Admiral before continuing. "Admiral Graves, you will be in command of all spaceborne assets with the Expedition. It will be your task to ensure that orbital control is maintained." The Admiral gave a nod, responding with a quiet 'Yes sir.', as General Caidan turns to face you."General Jensen, you will be in command of all ground forces for this expedition. It's your task to set up all facilities required, to ensure Security for all personnel, and to ensure that Tau Volantis remains in our control. For this task, we are assigning four Infantry Divisions, an Armoured Division, two Force Recon Battalions and three Engineering Battalions to your direct command." Your eyes widen slightly at that. Over a hundred thousand Soldiers! Such a force was usually only ever seen on only the most major of battlefields, not a Military expedition. This was obviously a major investment for the Sovereign Colonies. The General continues. "For this mission, we are also assigning your old unit to your command attached with this force; the 401st Elite Infantry." You gave a nod, smiling. The 401st were the best soldiers you had ever seen in your life. Time and time again, they had seen through nigh-impossible odds, and claimed victory. You knew you could trust them to get the job done if the Secessionists invaded.General Caidan continues with the briefing. Standard Protocols, Auxiliary objectives for the Admiral, and more scientific conjecture from Serrano. Finally, the General looks to the two officers, speaking."Serrano, Graves. You're both dismissed. General Jensen, stay here." You give him a nod as the Admiral and Doctor stand up, leaving the chamber. You look back to General Caidan, as he speaks up."This is to be kept completely off the records, General Jensen. You have one last objective." You quietly gulp. These objectives were always the worst. Ones meant to be kept from the other Officers. He continues. "This signal means that we could potentially be entering a First Contact Scenario. Your mission is to observe this situation to the best of your ability, and to determine the threat, if any. I give you full authorisation to enact Scenarios One through Three from First Contact Protocol." You give a nod. You knew the Protocol. "In a Scenario Four event, contact the Council for further instructions." You speak up, blinking."And in the event of a Scenario Five?" The General lets out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes tightly."Pray that we never have to call a Scenario Five..." You give a nod, responding."Understood, sir."You breathed in heavily as you looked out of the bridge of the CMS. Gateway Station was far behind the Flotilla, as it moves towards the edge of the system, preparing for Shockspace. The Command Platform drifted forward, two heavy Transports flanking it, as the Frigates took point. Beside you, Admiral Graves barks orders towards Officers, as they set thesystems for long-distance travel, while Doctor Serrano quietly types into a datapad; some kind of journal, perhaps. You look down to your own datapad. Connected to your RIG, the Datapad's content could be projected or transferred to other RIGs, if need be. Looking over the contents, you read over the Personnel and Assets.