The Salvation of the Shattered Axis, Chapter One: Giants in a Galactic Conflagration

[+5 Vorpal Bunny]

Episode 1 - Giants in a Galactic Conflagration

Setting Piece:

'Our Axis fell long ago. Don't look at me like that, fellow citizen, you know I speak truth. Our death was such a slow and terrible thing. Our freedom was strangled first - our speech silenced, our history forgotten, our thoughts rewritten. Yes - did you think the things you suddenly forgot, that you dared not think, the trails you refused to follow were an accident? Do you realize, fellow citizen, how deeply you were controlled? How your spirit to live, to thrive, to overcome and expand and shatter limits, was so insidiously snuffed out by dependent complacency? How you were taught to do nothing, to just be comfortable and never, ever see what you are truly capable of?

My fellow citizen, that was no accident. Our Lights:' (*he conjures a sword and shield of fire and light*) - 'we all have them, even if you have forgotten - are manifest visions of our Sacred Purpose. They are our Power, our Truth, our Will to leave our Sacred Mark upon this Galaxy! Your Light is your Birthright, my fellow Citizen, and it is for your right to Shine that I fight for now! For there are those like us who refused to accept the status quo. We listened to the sense of wrongness deep in our hearts, and bit by bit chose to DO SOMETHING about it! In whatever way we knew, we fought!

Perhaps you haven't seen, fellow citizen. Perhaps your battles were quiet; not all battles are with guns and blows, nor with the Light. Many are simply the choice to learn, to excel, to do the best you can no matter how many times you fall; to help others where you are and to stand for something greater than yourself. Your heroes are around you, every day, and you don't need a cape to honor your valor within! For the real battle was never for your body, but for your mind, heart and soul. I say truly, my fellow citizen, that you are not alone.

Some cling to the decrepit remains and say our once-beloved Axis lives still. Many just claw at the decaying corpse of our once-great empire, searching for a way, any way, to survive our Long Night. And then there are those like US, who see the spreading galactic conflagration not as tragedy, but opportunity. We see history in the making - an open gateway to a galaxy reforged in our own image. Better than before!

I wish there was another way. A peaceful way. But, even now, countless loved ones perish without food, water and power. Our rivals rise and seize our holdings as crime lords and supervillains exploit us from within! Worse of all, the dreaded Eradicators claw at our doorsteps once again, ready to consume us all! Our Emperor and Empress' (*he spits on a picture of them*) 'once claimed the divine right to rule. I say they lost their 'Mandate of Heaven' long ago! Sadly, my fellow citizens, peaceful reform has long been made impossible. A famous champion of Old Earth once spoke - "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."'

(*a long pause*) 'So be it. I, Markus Starhammer, Firstmost Paladin and Primarch of the Foerani Bastion, Repeller of the Eradicators and Guardian of the Gates, call you to join us upon the Second Cleansing Crusade. We shall strike fatal blow to our tyrannical empire. We shall cast down our decrepit rulers and shatter our chains at last! And, through the fires of war, in ferocious contest against our would-be oppressors, we shall forge a new and brighter nation from the ashes of the old. Stand with us together as our guns thunder and trumpets sound!

For a new age is here - and the time for indecision is over.

Loose the torpedoes!'

- Recordings of the all-station hacked Holonet broadcast transmitted by Markus Starhammer in 'The Speech that Shattered the Axis', on the New Year of 2902 A.D., during the opening volleys of the Axis Civil War.


And then, silence.

These were the words that resounded across the Galaxy as the Terran Axis finally shattered - completely and irrevocably. Across the vast rotating cylinders that housed millions, upon every device and hologram within a hundred thousand light years, images of rebelling planets, fleets clashing in space and Lights turning against Lights consumed every hologram. A real-time image of the Galaxy hung overhead; before slowly fragmenting with many but small flickers of flame, now vast searing lines rapidly spread across planets, star systems and stellar sectors. Borders shattered and lines warped as countless worlds rebelled and the fires of war spread.

Across the city-sized Fields of Forged Light, a vast complex equal parts military installation and Light-specialized university where hundreds of thousands of heroes trained, itself wrapped within the Stalwart Starhold, a vast shining metropolis with mile-high buildings and floating platforms wrapped around the cylinder's interior, both under the watchful eye of the Celestial Gate that rimmed the center of the cylinder that welcomed more every moment - and that number in recent days has swelled a thousandfold - all stood still.

Some heroes cheered, agreeing with the man who vocalized their deepest dreams and forged them into action. Finally, their collective thought was, someone with the will to challenge the Axis on their own ground and do what needed to be done!

A few wept. For all the Axis' faults, they thought, it was still their home, their land, their work, family and way. Until this day, perhaps it could be redeemed. No more. They cried bitterly, silently, knowing that it was now truly dead.

Most were silent. This was not the first charismatic demagogue speaking grand dreams, igniting the fires of many into visions of blood and struggle and conquest. Whatever agreeing or not, they grimly watched history repeat itself - knowing, many firsthand, that countless would be caught in the crossfire.

And then, regardless of allegiance, they all looked at each other. And they knew. The Day that was foretold by the Redemption itself, inevitable and terrible, had come at last.
The Axis had fallen. The Galaxy was ablaze. It now stood upon the precipice - a grim, dark future of only war seemed closer than ever before.
But hope surged in them again as they recalled - They have all trained for this day.
Against all odds, they have already brought hope to so many. In many places, they have begun to reverse the tide of decay. Even the Light has begun to return - and it always Shone brightest in the dark.
Certainly, there were many challenges ahead. Not all would make it out alive. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and peace on the other side.
This was not the only way.


To all at once, the Redemption 'spoke' as an undeniable, certain and reassuring voice within. The Plan still held; hope still burned bright. They were here, they were trained, and they were ready for the task to come. Each being here had a part to play in this grim day, and only together would they stand. They had many tasks - some would tend to those caught in the crossfire, nurturing, protecting and ultimately empowering them to not only survive, but thrive during this terrible war. Others would enmesh themselves deep within the rebellion, through varying neutral powers, and for the most daring infiltrate the collapsed Axis itself, so that they can steer those within towards a more peaceful and united resolution. And for the most powerful among them, it had a special plan - they would be those who took the fight straight to the Axis itself. They would recruit and rally whole worlds, take the fight to their fleets and forge together the vying powers that - well-meaning or not - threatened to throw the Galaxy into even further disarray.

If they did, it promised, this war would end sooner, a more peaceful revolution secured, and the majority of humanity and more would survive. They would rebuild, face the horrors beyond and ultimately create a better civilization than before. Their good works would expand, the Lights they kindled would Shine in others and the hope they created would inspire new movements of their own. After all, it reminded out loud to all, to remember the Tale of Trinity - how it only took one Light for others to remember how to Shine. Because of Caleb, Nadia and Amy, and the angel that supported them, their whole home world was well on the way to being saved in both body and spirit. The heroic ways of old, the Redemption declared, have begun to return by their example, as over a dozen once-denizens of their home world shone with a soft white and gold light from above, echoed much more strongly in the three siblings (and Trinity, for those who can see in spirit) whose Light radiated out to them in turn. Individually, you see the Redemption's Light reaching out to each of you in turn as its presence intensifies greatly - a sense of warmth and power and utter confidence in all it has called.

No, more than called - Chosen.

You all have, for one reason or another, gathered together at the center of the Shining Nexus, a vast plaza placed under the foot of the Celestial Gate. Lining the four arched marble and gold walkways leading up to it upon each corner, with many more arches circling around to hold the dome above that connected to the gateway, hundreds of thousands all around turn their eyes on you now in recognition of the monumental task at hand. The Redemption's Light shines down from the Celestial Gate in an open eye above, bathing you all within its holy glow. One by one, the sentient starship one by one reminds everyone of your deeds -

Lady Miriam, who has upheld the original ideals of nobility in the face of those who neglected it; who rebelled against her father's abuse of power and instead chose to steer her inherited business and Light towards the selfless service of others. A valuable bridge between the Redemption's spiritual mission and the means of influence in the physical and a shining example of how what was corrupted can be turned around.

Ivo's, whose ingenious mastery of information, both in this world and the spirit, and ability to forge his vision into reality would command great value during the challenges to come, for not all situations could be won by force of arms. Domania's wise guidance of Ivo towards a higher calling while nurturing him and others' homes was likewise important - for the turning of a heart back towards good was a great victory already all its own.

Moonshadow, who similarly proven that even the dreaded agents of the Axis could be turned back towards a worthier cause; whose work with the crew has already set an example for others like him in both peace and war. His knowledge of technology, his training in the field and knowledge of the way Axis agents worked would prove invaluable as they infiltrated the core of the Axis itself.

The Dread Sorcerer Zargothrax himself, representative of the ferocious will of humanity to survive, thrive and fight back even in the darkest of times, even if it meant delving into the forbidden wonders and horrors of the Netherrealm itself with eyes wide open. A man who commanded the ability to navigate The Beyond, an essential skill to both rescue others and strike

Finally, Omar Assaf, 'The Alchemist', who represented the other end of humanity's will - to hope, endure and restore even when all things seemed bleak; who commanded perspective born of many centuries of experience and knowledge, alongside with firsthand experience of the Eradicator threat poised to return and consume all, regardless of side.

Together, the Redemption spoke, they would be tasked with a mission of immense importance - one that would take them into the bowels of the Terran Axis itself.

The people murmured excitedly; this wasn't the first high-powered group sent on these kind of missions. The Immortal Warriors, a group of Old Earth knights, gunslingers, samurai and more have already pulled off an exciting coup, setting free billions of slaves deep within the Culus Necropolis. The Travelling Troupe, a collection of performers, artists, orators and more have wandered world after world, inspiring others to rebel, create and shine their own Lights once again. The Breadbasket Brigade braved the Galaxy upon fast ships to drop essential food, medicine and supplies to starving Axis worlds, recruiting them in the process. The Visionaries, a collection of seers, super-scientists and strategists who coordinated rebel fleets and outmanuevered Axis police and generals while educating and reviving technology on backwater worlds. And, finally, of course, all knew of the Shadow Squadron, although few knew who they are or how many they were, only of their deeds: fleets sabotaged, tyrants assassinated and fortresses wiped out overnight.

All were rightfully famous for their deeds. But never before has the Redemption collected such a group of powerful Lights together. The murmuring became a buzz, until that same distinct presence spoke again and they steadily quieted. But the tension remained, and with good reason - The Redemption and its missions were always known for their scope and ambition, as well as the danger involved. Not all made it back alive. It didn't play safe - and those familiar with its history knew that was true of the ship itself as well. At times, it seemed comfortable to gamble. Nonetheless, it always had a plan, and far more often than not, it carried them through.

Eventually, it quieted down; with the people reassured that a plan was in place to handle everything going on beyond, they returned to their duties - and the Redemption called you all into the inner chambers at last.

How you came there, how you handled this and what questions you have are your own; among a marble circle with many chairs, a ball of golden light hovered overhead - with the still-beating heart of the Nameless Light at its center. Now alone, it spoke in depth of its plan:

The insertion of the most powerful group of Lights mustered into the heart of the Terran Axis itself. The goal is the recruitment, liberation and salvation of as many Terran Axis civilians as possible. To subvert, replace and when need be defeat in battle the tyrants keeping them in place, with the goal of bringing essential Axis worlds to their side. Finally, by coordinating with other forces inside and out, to open up a second front in the war far behind the galactic lines.

But to reach these worlds heavily-guarded throughout space and shielded from bombardment and teleportation alike, there was only one solution - travel through the darkest depths of the Netherrealm.

And that is why you are here. None other on this ship, outside of anyone you know of, have made such an expedition before and survived.
But, the Light reminds you, you are no ordinary team. If anyone can do it, it's you.

It asks if you have any questions.

Spoiler: Broad Notes on This Setting:

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First, everyone gets 200 Hero Points! Have fun with them - trust me, you're gonna need them! I'll also in general work with you if you want to do something epic outside of the rules that fleshes out your character, the party and/or the setting as a whole. Because of the epic nature of this campaign, I'll give more Hero Points in general, especially for Role Playing, Stunt Rewards and playing up to this campaign's themes.

Theme-wise, this setting considers not just overt resistance, but cleverness, moral fortitude, acts of charity and more as forms of heroism as well, and that there are many roads to victory here, both physical and moral. Redemption, Renewal and Salvation are all major themes as well, as is the battle between Good vs. Evil on both the physical and metaphysical scales. Finally, playing up epic, mythic and heroic themes, as well as your connection to humanity on scales both great and small, is encouraged here - heroism needs the (seemingly) ordinary to provide contrast, and a 'Saving the World (Galaxy, in this case)' story is made relatable by showing people and places you are invested in saving.

Because of the epic tone and sheer scale of this setting, a lot of things are left with broad and open descriptions; this is deliberate. The aim is to give enough to latch onto to move the plot forward while giving you the space to flesh out your own characters, backstories and complications as well. On that note, feel free to ask about any details here. Depending on the circumstances, I may ask for an appropriate check, but it can be assumed in general that you know most things about the Redemption and a good deal about major locations and inhabitants.

This campaign follows a core plot of Saving the Galaxy, particularly by taking down the Axis and building something better in its place, and yes I am railroading a bit at the start to get this game going. However, this setting is also meant to be mutable and interactive - and as your first adventure is going to take you deep into the ever-changing Netherrealm, this is especially so. A big point of this setting is that heroes matter, your actions have an impact and you absolutely can make things better (or worse, if you choose). There will be plenty of space on all scales to introduce your own ideas to this setting as well, as well as to bring in people from your backstory and just in general show off your character too.

To help enable this mechanically, I'm doing to do something risky but potentially rewarding - I'm giving each of you a free special use of Hero Points that can be activated once per Scene. These require feasibly interacting with the environment and story in some way, although not necessarily in the present - you absolutely can leave a Chekhov's Gun. You can do one of the following:

1) Edit Scene to include a detail related to your backstory, complications and/or recent actions.

2) Stunt to add a new power or otherwise do something creative not explicitly mentioned in the rules.

3) Deliberately invoke one of your Complications; depending on its nature, it may appear during this Scene, between scenes or next Scene - but appear it will.

[Quellian-dyrae]

Why us?

Amy didn't ask the question out loud. She knew the answer, logically. But in that first moment of being asked if they had any questions, that was the first, fleeting thought that went through her mind. Amy still had trouble, sometimes, seeing herself and her siblings as "big names", at least on an intuitive level. To her, deep down, in her instinctive self-conception, they were still just three social workers who happened to have an angel living in their heads. Ordinary people...who just so happened to be blessed with an extraordinary ability to help others.

A lot of people might not have caught the slight, amused twitch of Nadia's lips (to be fair, she had just been told that they were going to be running a full-scale invasion into the Shattered Axis, and that the safest and most practical way to do it was to go at them full-bore through the depths of the Netherrealm, so one amused twitch was kinda hard to notice compared the the huge, eager grin that was currently on her face), the brief flick of her eyes in his sister's direction. The triplets had the capacity for private thoughts, of course, but they tended to be sharing them with each other by default. Nadia had caught that thought, fleeting though it was, and while it didn't surprise her, it did amuse her. Nadia Springs had precisely zero problem recognizing themselves as big names on an intuitive level. Heck, if anything, she was just happy that the rest of the galaxy finally seemed to be catching up to what she'd been saying all along!

Caleb might, admittedly, have kinda blinked once at the idea of waging an assault through the Netherrealm. It wasn't like they hadn't battled demons before - there were few foes Trinity understood how to fight better, in fact - but it was like, still. That seemed pretty ambitious. He didn't share Nadia's default assumption that they were completely invulnerable as a matter of course. That being said, given the team that had been put together for this ("Hot dang!" has literally been the first words out of Nadia's mouth when they had all assembled), it also wouldn't be fair to say he was especially worried or concerned about the idea. It was a big play, and they'd have to take it seriously. But he had no doubt that it would be within their capacity.

While they had their share of experience fighting demons, and Trinity in particular knew a fair bit about the Netherrealm in the general sense, they hadn't actually been there very often, and when they had been it had always been for things like, "Go destabilize this wormhole that's spewing a bunch of mid-level demons into the city; it has to be done from the inside, do make sure you get back out before it collapses" or "some dimension-phasing demon's been pulling people they think nobody will miss into their domain for presumably untoward purposes, someone ought to put a stop to that" and such like that. You know, brief excursions. They'd never really travelled through it before, at least not by any but the most common and routine means.

So Caleb, ever the one to keep on task, asked, "Do we have a particular route plotted out, or should we figure one out ourselves?" Given that on the one hand the Redemption was a sentient spaceship so plotting a course seemed kinda like its forte, but on the other hand they had freaking Zargothrax on their team, both possibilities seemed pretty much equally plausible, to him. "And if the former, what sort of information do we have on the route? Like, what sort of demons should we expect to encounter in what numbers, and so on?"

"I feel like the most important question, though, is do we calculate relative bragging rights based on the number of demons defeated, or the size of the largest demon defeated? I could really go either way on this..." Nadia added in what was...certainly a contribution to...some tactical discussion. Somewhere. I mean, presumably at least. It's a big galaxy.

(The sidelong looks of wry bemusement she got from her twins were, needless to say, much more obvious than the one she had given Amy.)

Spoiler: Telepathic chatter, spoilered for cleanliness but feel free to open

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~I would have thought personal fighting power of the strongest demon defeated would have at least made the list.~

~You know, you'd think that, but size is cooler. I'm pretty sure that's a law of physics. And it mostly covers the same territory anyway.~

~I do feel obligated to note that there are plenty of demons whose size is a poor measure of their power at best. Many human-sized demons command sufficient power and magic to crush towering behemoths by force of arms.~

~I mean, I'm not arguing that, but then you have to explain how the guy was actually some sort of fiendish arch-warlock and get into why his fireballs are the best fireballs and then someone points out that mages are usually squishy up close and you have to go into a whole thing about wards and by the time you get back around to actually bragging everybody's moved on. Whereas with size you can just be like "Dude was a hundred feet tall and I knocked him out with one punch!" and everybody just gets it.~

~Well, I suppose you're the expert.~

[Zelphas]

Ivo is... less than impressed with the "Primarch" and his little speech. The past few months with a renegade spirit inside his head with at least as much control over his body as he has shown him thoroughly just how close the so-called "stability" of the Terran Axis had been to folding under its own weight, and he signed on to Redemption primarily in an attempt to see if these insane people and their cliché ideals could actually create something from the intergalactic dumpster fire that was already on the horizon. It's a task challenging enough to be worth his time, even if he would only play a relatively small part in the whole.

The fact that Starhammer decided to simply kick over the entire tottering structure himself strikes him as massively short-sighted. Even if the core is all bad, it's easier to destroy than it is to build; salvaging what they could from the Axis before it all falls apart seems like the better play to him, but that was off the table in one bombastic speech.

One side of Savo's mouth opens, and a decidedly more feminine voice than his usual timbre states quietly with an ancient Slavic accent: "My dear Ivo, when the foundation is rotten, it is better to burn down the house. The family will survive for you to build a new one."

The following argument was somewhat confusing to those around Ivo, since it consisted of two different voices issuing from the same mouth, sometimes attempting to interrupt each other. To anyone who had seen Ivo before, this was nothing new.

--------------------

Ivo's left hand waved cheerily to the group assembled in the inner chambers, the left side of his mouth twitching upwards into a smile. Both wave and smile were quickly suppressed under a stony grimace. The Wonder Triplets, Ms. Business, the Renaissance Faire wannabe, the Axis Agent, Mr. Immortal... and him. This is going to be a long operation for Ivo, especially since the operation seems to be a flat-out ten-person, eight-body invasion team. (The sharing bodies thing still made Ivo's head hurt, mostly due to the person sharing his mind.)

Ivo's severe look lessens the barest fraction as Caleb asks a somewhat sensible question, only to harden immediately the moment Nadia opens her mouth. The minute she finishes speaking, he raises his right hand. His left hand tries to slap it down, but he ignores that. "The first and only time I entered the Netherrealm, I returned with an un-- a unique houseguest inside my own head," he deadpans, his face and arms twitching slightly as he fights to keep Domania from exerting control. "Not tremendously keen on going back so soon."

[Llyarden]

Lady Miriam had watched Starhammer's speech quietly, her only reaction a quiet sigh. Then she quickly retired to her office, dispatching her Refractions out to her contacts beyond the Redemption, putting into practice plans she'd hoped she would never need to bring to the light of day, protocols that she'd carefully inserted into the group's records that would put plans related to the most badly-hit areas on hold, release funds to the employees who needed relocation, and establish a charitable branch to help those affected by Starhammer's attack and the subsequent battles that would inevitably be unleashed as a consequence.

Only then, once she had done as much as she could, in the privacy of her quarters, did she cry.

---

She nodded along with Caleb's questions - she wasn't particularly familiar with the Netherrealm herself, though with Zargothrax there it wasn't like she really needed to be; if even half the rumours she'd heard about him were true he would be a better reference than the finest libraries in the Axis. Or at least what was left of it.

Nadia's remark caught her attention, though, and she spoke in her normal, carefully neutral tone, a talent learned from many, many business meetings where she couldn't say what she truly thought of the negotiators on the opposite side of the table. (Of course, she didn't have even remotely as much disdain for Nadia as she had most of them - indeed, she rather liked the Angel of Hope's boundless optimism - but the principle still held.)

"Given that we're travelling through the Netherrealm to reach the core worlds and try to prevent the entire galaxy from collapsing in on itself, we are in something of a rush. Personally I'd like to hope we don't get delayed by demons at all."

[Hyperbolic sine]

Zargothrax let out an amused, throaty laugh. Ashley and Ryan always said it made him sound like a villain, but it's not like he could change the way he laughed...or, well, maybe he could, but for what? With his reputation, it would be pointless.

"Then you very well might be the safest among us all, Mr. Duvall. Spirits don't take kindly to eviction."

What about the triplets, though? On one hand, the spirit that called itself Trinity was powerful enough to possess three bodies at once; on the other, well, it was possessing three bodies at once, so perhaps wrestling control of a single body would be relatively easier. A fascinating edge case...but hopefully they wouldn't find out the answer the hard way.

"As for the route..." he continued, after catching himself staring at the Springs trio, "you should forget realspace logic. There's very little plotting involved in navigating the Netherrealm, you make the route lead where you want to go. The trick is doing that without attracting attention."

[Quellian-dyrae]

Amy gave Ivo a little, sympathetic smile. She didn't actually say anything like "Don't worry, we'll all keep each other safe" or something like that, because that seemed...kinda silly considering the skill and power of all present. She didn't think he actually needed comfort or reassurance, anyway. She was pretty sure he was just grumbling. Still, she could sympathize. For all her own power, she'd have been pretty well terrified of the thought of a mission into the Netherrealm herself, had it been just her or even just her and her twins. With all of them together, though, the best her fear could muster was "sensible practical concern".

Nadialet Ivo's grumblings pass uncommented, but when Miriam spoke she...well, she had already been grinning pretty widely, but Nadia had some sort of weird special ability where even when her smile couldn't really get much bigger she still seemed able to somehow "up the voltage" on it, and here we are. "I completely agree!" she said with exaggerated enthusiasm, eyes dancing. "We should absolutely make it a priority to ensure we are not delayed by any demonic encounters!"

...She...yeah she probably didn't see avoiding such encounters as a necessary or even particularly preferable approach to enacting such a policy proposal.

Caleb gave an appreciative nod to Zargothrax, considering the information. He had known in the general sense that space was kinda relative in the Netherrealm, but he hadn't understood it to be, what, mutable, more-or-less? He could definitely see the advantages to such an approach; guarding a border on a planet was one thing, and in outer space many orders of magnitude harder, but even that couldn't compare to trying to guard a border against a shifting and shiftable interdimensional approach. To do that you'd have to...hm.

"So would it be reasonable to assume" Caleb asked, still kinda to the Redemption and group at large, but now looking directly at Zargothrax, "that the Axis probably has some people...I'm not sure of the technical terminology but well 'making' the Netherrealm...'connect' to their territory in some particular way? I'm imagining like, if we can step into the Netherrealm from here, and by means of will or power or technology or whatever say some equivalent of 'okay, there's a straight tunnel starting here and when we come out the end we'll be in the part of the Netherrealm that deposits us in the Axis capital', then someone in the Axis capital could go into the Netherrealm and by the same means say 'this part of the Netherrealm that allows access to our capital is a giant heavily fortified fortress and the only way in is through.' Or something along those lines, probably dedicating some amount of power or energy to make sure it stays that way long-term. Maybe even create some kind of alliance with 'local' demons to defend it?" He wasn't sure how all it would work or what the practicalities and logistics would be. But it sounded to him like something the people who raised him would do, anyway, and he figured the most sensible assumption was that anyone of high enough rank in the Axis to be in charge of defense of their capital would be at least as ruthless as them, and probably worse.

[Volthawk]

Moonshadow had been in his room performing minor diagnostics when Starhammer's transmission came through. His arrival on the Redemption, at that time still an Axis agent, had not ended well for him and although he had been shown mercy there had still been many damaged systems to repair and replace. By now, he seemed functional. Enough was working to work at fully efficiency, at least. He'd just have to make do without a few minor systems.

A civil war scenario. Not what he expected. It had always been a possibility, sure - the fact that Moonshadow would be just as effective turned against certain other Axis agents as his intended targets had not been lost on his handlers, and his training had included somewhat relevant scenarios - but nothing he'd seen had been at quite this scope and scale. Significant rebel factions, powerful Axis assets going rogue, yes. The whole Axis turning on itself? Not so much. He supposed they had just believed that they were too large, too powerful, to truly fall.

He pauses in his assessment. Was all this the important part of this? He'd found the people here were fond of asking different questions than the people he used to work with. When a situation happened, rather than just wanting his analysis and plan for dealing with the problem, they wanted to know what he felt about it, what his thoughts were besides the facts. He'd been finding it unfamiliar territory, but it was something he had to do if this was to work. So what did he feel about this war? He wasn't sure yet. One thought does cross his mind - he wonders what side the people he used to work for chose.

---

As Moonshadow listened to the briefing and the others' comments, anyone paying attention to him rather than the Nameless Light might notice that his posture was rather...stiff. Lacking in those little shifts in posture and minor gestures and movements that you normally see when someone's sitting around for a while. Whenever he moved, it was for a reason. Elsewhere on the ship, doing his daily duties or whatever other business brought him out into the wider world, he often looked rather relaxed and normal, but here the act was unnecessary. This was how he normally was, for better or worse (these days, it felt like the latter applied more often than the former) and the team would spend long enough around him that he felt that they should see that sooner rather than later. Besides that, there was also the way he looked around. His cybernetics were quite subtle, close examination or particularly sharp senses being needed to notice that, for instance, his eyes weren't quite natural, but by now word has spread around the ship of the broad strokes of what he could do - that he could see your Light, understand it and through it know exactly what you could do. The rumours were rather exaggerated, as they tend to be after some time, but he nonetheless noted what he saw. That wasn't his priority right now though, so he doesn't dedicate much attention to it - that, and as soon as he'd been told the team composition he'd spent a little time putting together and sending messages to the other members asking for information on their skills and capabilities for the sake of "facilitating effective teamwork and allowing for rapid tactical decisions in the field".

Caleb's questions gets him talking. "It would not be implausible. Axis security services take a variety of approaches to their tasks, and it is unlikely that any route in would be completely undefended." He pauses. "I myself am a testament to their willingness to use the powers of those opposing them against themselves, so using the beings of the Netherrealm is a possibility. However. Not every avenue of attack can be given the same amount of attention. My limited understanding of the Netherrealm suggests that its nature would likely limit the extent of their defences, compared to their realspace equivalents, and if they are relying on demonic aid, that may be an asset for us." Although Moonshadow's tone is always quite steady, giving little away, his next few sentences have the sound of something recited verbatim from memory rather than a passing observation. "While local assistance can be useful when operating in neutral or hostile territory, they are nonetheless limited in their usefulness. Their loyalty is to themselves, not your nation or the mission, and the terms of any agreement made will only keep them useful for so long if they meet significant resistance. With that in mind, recommended procedure is that while local assets can be used alone for minor tasks, any significant matter should involve at least one of your own operatives, with said assets used in a support function."

"The last part there is important. If they do have a presence in the Netherrealm, they will have people either there already or able to quickly respond - they will not be satisfied with just assuming that the demons will handle us. Someone experienced with dealing with the dimension, I would expect, and with the authority to do whatever they can - including using whatever demons they have control over - to stop us. That is likely the most dangerous thing we'll be facing." Another pause. "Although that is only if we let them realise we are there. No security grid is impenetrable, although I will have to defer to those with expertise on the Netherrealm when it comes to how that might happen."

[Zelphas]

Ivo responds to Zargothrax's statement of assurance with a blank stare, followed by a sigh--and Domania seizes the moment of annoyance to take major control over the body.

Ivo's body suddenly perks up, sitting a bit straighter and more properly. His hands, the skin shifting until it appears sun-browned and weathered, fold primly in front of him, and his suddenly amber eyes fix Zargothrax with an indulgent gaze. One hand reaches up to fix a curl of grey-and-auburn hair, then returns in place. "Normally, that would be correct, chada, and while I am a generous host I do not abide thieves," Domania speaks, something a little bit hotter than a fireplace kindling behind her eyes. "However, Ivo's spiritual defenses are... When I came to him, his inner 'house' was like a forest clearing to me, without even walls or fences to bar my entry. I have worked to build up a proper house, but we lack a proper lock, if I am making the metaphor properly. We will defend, of course, but some uncultured spirits will just see the unlocked door and try to... I think the word is 'cohabit', that you use?" she chuckles, shaking her head. "I believe that is an acceptable family form in these times, but I do not wish to 'cohabit' with another spiritual form, especially not a bies. Still, they will try."

Ivo's entire body shakes, and a moment later Ivo is back in control, the only change in his demeanor being a slightly deeper scowl.

Spoiler: OOC

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If anyone's confused about what Domania is talking about, look at the Insider's Spirits for the Unspiritual Complication.

Spoiler: Inside the Insider's Shared mind, for my own amusement

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The fact that Ivo and Domania usually spoke to one another aloud did not mean that they always had to do so; it was simply more comfortable for both of them, so they defaulted to that form of conversation the majority of the time. However, there was one topic of conversation that usually remained inside their head, much to Ivo's relief.

Zhenshchina Amy Springs just smiled at--

No.

Just an observation. You could do to--

Stop.

Never, moy syn.

[Hyperbolic sine]

"In principle yes, it is possible to create a sort of checkpoint, a region of the Netherrealm synchronised to realspace, but it is far from trivial. And, of course, any effort to fortify either side of the checkpoint would be on top of that. It is also possible, again in principle, to cut a region of realspace off from the Netherrealm, but an entire planet...it would take an immense amount of resources. It's unlikely, to say the least."

"Considering the extent with which they cracked down on Netherrealm travel, I am inclined to say they are less than confident in their ability to stop what we're going to attempt."

---

"Ah, I see."

As Domania explained her host's circumstances, Zargothrax peered at Ivo with renewed curiosity.

"Most fascinating. Uncharted territory, to be honest, but I could try to put together some temporary countermeasures. If we had time, that is."

He glanced at the Nameless Light, the question unspoken but rather clear. Did they?

[WindStruck]

Aurora didn't know what to think of Starhammer's speech. It was a tragedy, really. Here the Redemption was, spreading its mission of peace and Light throughout the galaxy. Slowly and surely, things would get better. Of course there would still be conflict, perhaps as an ailing body slowly fights off a massive tumor... But this? This was an outright attack that, metaphorically, killed both. The only thing to be done now was to try to pick up the pieces as everything decayed...

Aurora was not happy. She was troubled. But they would have to carry on, as they always carried on. Countless would be lost in the ensuing violence. She would continue helping everyone as she could.. but still, she was only one person. The Redemption was only one ship. Despite its wonders, it still could not be in multiple places at once, either...

--

The Light called her, and Aurora calmly stepped into the inner chambers with seven others. The plan seemed straightforward enough, and she didn't have any other questions.

The ensuing discussion did, however, mention some interesting things. Some vapid and humorous. Others, not.

"There are potentially an infinite number of entry points through the Netherrealm. While in theory certain small locations could be stabilized and fortified, they would not get in our way. Such entry points could easily be circumvented, and we could find another."

Then she asks the Light directly, "When do we leave? I would very much like to say some goodbyes. In person."

[+5 Vorpal Bunny]

Sensing Ivo's contempt for Starhammer, the light's surface ripples rapidly as it chuckles knowingly. 'Indeed; he is a pitiful figure, underneath all the size and bluster. They always are. Too quick to kick it all down instead of stepping up and putting in the work. Sadly, figures like him are not infrequent in the remains of the Axis. 'Well-meaning' or not, they seek power, and are all too willing to murder many to get it.'

The light's surface ripples more slowly, as more elaborate patterns form. A steadily rising and falling hum fills the chamber as it contemplatively speaks - 'but perhaps this was inevitable. And I am too harsh on him. Once, I was just like him.' The hum steadily fades into a somber rumble like a train passing by into the night. 'I tried to prevent it. Turn him back; propose another way. See him succeed where I failed. But he was dead-set that his solution was the only one - that he and he alone was the hero of his story and the only one truly in the right.' The rumble dies. 'And the entire galaxy pays the price.'

The Nameless Light then blazes brightly as he once more firmly spoke: 'But Hubris is always followed by Nemesis. And Starhammer has already forged many enemies - both in this world and Beyond. The Netherrealm has always resisted the Axis's attempts to tame it - The Nameless Light chuckled - despite my best efforts. It remains so. You will find many dangers, yes, but many allies as well. I am not sending you into its depths unprepared; as I saw Starhammer and his many cells move, I put in plans for the heroes under my care. And many heard. There are many on the other side, in the Beyond and the Core Worlds I am sending you to, who are ready to work with you in whatever capacity you see fit once you arrive.

In response to varying comments on the nature of Axis defenses in the Netherrealm, the Nameless Light hummed slowly once more. The sound gradually built in a 'hmmmmmmm', increasing in complexity along the shapes on it as it contemplated a long answer. Finally, it spoke: 'The Axis knows - as I once did - that the Netherrealm is their one weakness. It represents the chaos they can never truly tame, the lapping tides of history, the will to imagination, power and change that is a part of all thinking beings. But they do their best to slow it down. The spirit that Shines both affects and is affected by the Netherrealm; the minds of those within the Axis are deliberately dulled, distracted and diverted from all matters of the spirit, of their potential and purpose, and so they barely offer any gateway towards entry or influence at all. The Anchors of Constancy, the Pillars of Stability and the Crystalline Strongholds are continuations of my work before; they are semi-physical constructs that exist conterminously within Realspace and the Netherrealm that suppresses development of the Light, organizes and structures Netherspace and act as fortresses protecting important ideas and worlds respectively. Finally, of course, you have the Dreamkillers, a secret faction of Axis Lights that hunts down rogue Lights and Nether Entities, stops unsanctioned development of the Light and systemically purges all information about the Netherrealm from technology and memory alike.

But, much like their Realspace counterparts, they have been neglected by the decaying Axis, unmaintained by a fragmenting empire and deliberately sabotaged by rebels. Although still formidable, they are no longer insurmountable. And now their full focus is on Starhammer and his rebellion. As is correctly implied, not all regions can be defended at once, and we will strike where their attention is not present and their defenses are weakest. Doubtlessly, as our former Agent knows, they will buttress their ranks with mercenaries - and these can be intimidated, brought off or even turned by a superior force. Demons can be brought with coin, favors, souls and more, of course, but their real currency is power - and if you show dominance over the Axis, they will turn away from it. And, of course, they are opposed by their Angelic counterparts above.'

For a moment, the room darkened as the hum dropped to a grim bass. 'Finally, a warning - The Netherrealm is, as you likely know, a highly perilous and chaotic place that responds to your belief. For better and for worse, it will reflect you and what you stand for. It is dangerous and rightfully feared' - The tone rose as the room lightened again - 'but it supports your Light as well. It resists the Axis and those who support it; one way or another, you will find it supports you. Keep an eye out for its unique gifts - you may find allies, opportunities or unique creations out in the infinite chaos Beyond.'

'And with that, as several of you asked, I will leave you all with time to prepare. Ready yourselves well, advance what plans you need to and give your love to those dear to you. For tomorrow we leave your world behind - and I cannot promise a safe return anytime soon. With my blessings, use your time well.'

Spoiler: OOC:

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Normally, I would stick with the more traditional system of doing a short exposition then straight into the first Scene format. But since several players asked IC for between-scene events - and it makes narrative sense to do so both as a role-playing game and as part of going from an ordinary-to-extraordinary world plot anyway - I am giving everyone three Downtime Actions (Link for reference). These should be related to preparing for the first Adventure in some way, although whatever context you do that in is up to you.

Lady Miriam, since you described what would be a Downtime Action beforehand, if you use one of your Downtime Actions on that or to support it, I will give it a bonus success.

[WindStruck]

Aurora had many loose ends to tie up. It was not like she expected to die or to never come back, but the fact was, she would be gone for a potentially long time. She called her parents and told them she would visit for dinner. It was.. somewhat of an ominous thing, considering she had forgone the need to eat or sleep for quite some time. She still had a small little bedchamber that held some sentimental items where her parents resided, but sadly, her visits had become less frequent.

On the way over, Aurora made some stops, visiting some of her peers and former mentors, and some clinics. And in between while traveling, she made some more calls. With her absence, there would be quite a hole to fill. Still, though she may have not preferred it to be this way, the Light had spoken and it needed her. At least, if she could notify those she worked with, they would better be able to prepare for her absence.

Before visiting her parents, Aurora made a stop to a young boy who was very promising, much like she was. His name was Jeremiah, though the Light seemed to take a liking to calling him Alabaster. This was much like she received the name, Aurora. He was a slight, slip of a boy with pale skin and ginger hair, which had grown out.

"Remember, young Alabaster, that with the Light, anything is possible. Anything."

"Would I even be as strong as you?"

Aurora smiled gently. "Yes. And even more so."

"Before I go, I would still love to see you levitate yourself. Anyone can do this, for gravity is just a suggestion inert matter follows, as creation seeks creation, that it may not be lonely."

The boy nodded, though perhaps he did not really understand, still...

"I will help you, as subtly as I can. Spread your arms, and close your eyes..."

Alabaster did so and Aurora gently held him by the upper arms. It was an exercise they had attempted numerous times before. "Imagine you are weightless. I shall lift you."

Only this time, Aurora's arms and hands did not move. Her eyes were closed, concentrating on something. Somehow, the boy began to rise off the ground on his own.

"You are doing well. Open your eyes to see for yourself."

Alabaster did so, realizing he felt taller. His feet were off the ground! ...and Aurora wasn't holding him. The excitement was fleeting as was the sudden surprise when he abruptly fell.

"You said you would lift me!"

"I did," Aurora insisted. "I lifted your spirit. I was always there for you, spiritually. But physically.. I needed you to see you were capable of it, yourself."

She smiled warmly and ruffled the boy's hair. "Your problem is you still doubt yourself. We all do. The key to unlocking your full potential is to free yourself."

[Quellian-dyrae]

Caleb nodded as the others described the difficulties of fortifying a Netherrealm location, taking in the additional information, and then the further elaboration by the Nameless Light. A faint, wry grin flicked momentarily across his face. It was still weird, he had to acknowledge, to think about the Terran Axis not as some monolithic force with nigh-infinite power and resources, but as the broken and dying establishment it had been revealed to be. Oh, true, it had been fading for a long time, technologies stagnating, the marvels of the past falling into disrepair as the knowledge of how to maintain them was lost. But even so...compared to what he was used to, on their small home world, the Axis as a whole had always seemed indomitable. His brain didn't always remember they had limits.

Of course, it didn't mean the mission was any less risky; a heavily fortified Axis outpost in the Netherrealm was just one of many potential threats for them to encounter. That it likely would not exist was no reason to get complacent.

The triplets looked...a little uncomfortable when Domania took over Ivo's body to speak. Trinity had that ability; they occasionally let him take the "pilot's seat" in training, so he could show them how to execute some advanced maneuver, help their bodies familiarize themselves with the movements. Sometimes they let him speak through them. Almost always, when he took control it was with their express consent, or in situations where it was necessary for him to take immediate physical action to protect them, with no time for discussion. There had only been two occasions in the past where he had taken over to act unilaterally, both times with good reason, and he had apologized after regardless. They trusted him never to abuse that power, and probably to make better decisions than they would when he did use it.
And even if they hadn't, the truth was that taking outright control was draining for him, and an order of magnitude moreso if it was against their wills. His ability to control them would only ever be limited.

The weakness in Ivo's spiritual defenses that Domania revealed was a non-trivial tactical concern, but reading between the lines, what Domania had said there was that when she had possessed him he had had no means to stop her, and even now, what defenses he had were mostly of her own making. Domania clearly had no compunctions about exerting control over his body, and the triplets were skilled readers of people - they didn't miss that subtle deepening of his scowl when she had finished. If it meant what they thought it meant, he wasn't happy about it.

They didn't know enough about their relationship to make a big deal out of it, to say anything or confront the spirit directly, yet anyway. If someone tried to call out Trinity, they would not be best pleased. But that didn't mean they weren't concerned. Domania seemed generally benevolent, but Trinity was a literal angel, and none of them would have been especially comfortable with him taking those sorts of liberties.

They...elected not to comment when Starhammer was brought up. Their opinions on that subject were complicated, and they had yet to fully sort them out. Their discussions on the matter with each other had gotten heated even though none of them were actually sure they were in disagreement about it. Trinity's virtues were Faith, Hope, and Love, and whether by their own nature or the subtle influence of his presence, those virtues resonated with them. Faith said that one who follows their convictions when they believe it will help others is worthy of respect. Hope said that to make big improvements you must first make big change, and it is better to take risks in the service of making things better than to remain in a bad equilibrium because you fear the growing pains.

Love said you don't start wars. Ever.

The Nameless Light bade them to attend to whatever preparations they needed. There was a lot to do, if they were going to be away for a time. "We'll see you tomorrow, all!" Nadia told the group cheerily, excitement still bubbling in the undertone of her voice. Caleb gave the group a nod, Amy a little wave, and they headed out to begin their preparations.

[Llyarden]

Lady Miriam kinda raised an eyebrow as Ivo's 'passenger' took control of him. That wasn't disconcerting at all. Of course, she didn't comment on it - his affairs were his own. Aurora's question elicited a gentle smile from, her, though, and she nodded in agreement. "Then good night for now," she said, once the Nameless Light had bid them farewell.

She knew in reality she would spend far more time than she wished chasing up the instructions she'd put in place, ensuring they were followed, and making sure that there wouldn't be any panic at her apparent disappearance, and far less time spending the evening with Humphrey. But then, perhaps that was a good thing. Sweet as he was, he was opposed to her heroics at the best of times, to say nothing of flinging herself through the Netherrealm to the heart of Axis territory.

Not enemy territory, she reminded herself. Their aims might have been opposed to hers, but they were not her enemies. If the time came that she truly thought of them as such...then she had failed.

[Hyperbolic sine]

Seeing as the meeting had come to an end, Zargothrax turned to Ivo.

"Well then, Mr. Duvall. Come by my quarters, when you have a moment. Your condition is quite peculiar, and my hands are tied if can't examine it."

"See you all tomorrow. One way or the other, it'll be day to remember." he then said, concluding with his trademark evil-sounding laugh as he left the room.

~Ryan, it's me. I need you to find that resonant isolator device you made a wh- ~

~Oh, the Soulshield? I think it's inside the box behind that broken datareader. But why? You said- ~

~I said it was likely to be pointless, Ryan. Just check it still works.~

[Volthawk]

When the meeting comes to an end, Moonshadow simply nods before walking out. Preparation time. The Netherrealm was the immediate concern, but several of his new teammates were much better suited to understanding and neutralising the threats involved there. With that in mind, he focused his attention to his usual area of expertise - understanding the enemy as best as he can. He might not be hunting Lights any more, but investigating people and analysing data worked much the same regardless of your targets. Picking the targets was easy enough - one way or another, Starhammer is going to be a major part of their operations going forward, by the ripples his actions create if nothing else. Additionally, the Axis response to their presence is also important to anticipate, and his judgement was that the Dreamkillers would be a part of that response. He may be currently limited to one day aboard the Redemption, but that still gives him access to a plethora of resources for his research.

Firstly, there was the crew. Drawn from across the galaxy, Moonshadow had already found the variety of people aboard the ship quite fascinating, particularly when seen through his eyes. The sheer breadth of experiences the people here have had would be of great use to him, if he could find the right people. The Nameless Light itself was also a useful source, of course - it had already given some information about the relevant parties, and had accumulated plenty of useful information in the Redemption's long service. He also had plenty of holonet access. It wasn't a perfect approach, of course, and had many glaring holes in its coverage, but there were still things of use in there. Starhammer was a prominent figure even before his declaration, so the holonet was filled with information on him - plenty of opinions, some facts and records, and a lot that was a mixture of both. Meanwhile, the Dreamkillers were far too secretive, given the clandestine nature of their operations and their stated interest in information control, to have any substantial confirmed information on them existing on the holonet, but still, people talked about a great many things, and stories of secret organisations, hidden factions and mysterious agendas were always popular topics. Perhaps there was some truth he could extract from all that nonsense. He doubted it, though.

In the end, progress was...acceptable, given the constraints. He would have preferred more, naturally, and could probably have done more if he really worked at it, but it would have to do. In any case, he couldn't spend all his time preparing for the mission. Not these days. He had other responsibilities now, part of the agreements he'd made with the Nameless Light and the crew of the Redemption when he decided to stay. At the moment, that took the form of making deliveries - the Redemption was a big place with its own thriving ecosystem, and while the technology on the ship handled a lot of the day to day matters, sometimes people were still needed to make sure things got to where they should be. For Moonshadow, it mainly meant that he saw more of the ship and more of the crew (and vice versa), and while they got more used to seeing him around, he watched and listened, continuing to develop his understanding of his new...what was the right word for them?...and learning how they acted and reacted so he could fit in a little better,