18 - Might Makes Right

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Battles with the Leath (in their own systems) permeate the whole book, some major, some minor. New weaponry is introduced, new tactics explored, a new shipyard built. Still no winner. New lands and people are assimilated into the Empire, Bad Company expands and is more active, and All Guns Blazing is taken over by new owners, with new horizons to explore. Team BMW takes in Tina, a new member, and all get back to work! A new Guard team is formed, Gyada’s Team, and Matrix (TOM's puppy) almost gets killed when an assassination attempt is made on Bethany Anne at the Leath Peace Conference. Baba Yaga is introduced – Witch of the Night – Bethany Anne’s newest persona.

Empire Things; Vacation Time; Baba Yaga first Appears - Etheri's Witch of the Night

Chapter 19

Positive propaganda created. Giannini and Sia show videos of Leath battles sent out over all public systems. Cheryl Lynn thinks this will open everything up for the Etheric empire. Empire’s fleet outmatched by 50% to 80% in new production and existing tonnage. Bethany Anne gives lower staff encouragement to think up new ideas, plans of attack. Asks about reasons for new wars. Bethany Anne expresses that when people ask for help, they get it because they asked, not because they can do something for the Etheric Empire.Will check on "War Packages" with Patricia.

Ixtali Council asks for membership in Etheric Empire.

While in a Good-will parade, disturbances were multiple. Bethany Anne made any electronic devices painfully hot, causing many to drop their items. One Noel-n (Jhrex)i pushed long pin into Yollin rear (Sis'tael) when watching parade, causing Yollin to lurch forward over Noel-ni in front of her, injuring some. They started kicking her, the alien. Bethany Anne stopped it all, and was shot at by Noel-ni police.Bethany Anne caught the rocket and exploded it in the Etheric. On coming back, she protected the two Yollins (Mon, D'leck and , found the teen who had instigated the incident, and returned him to the Noel-ni. All Yollins who wished to migrate back to Yoll would be transported. She left two days later.

X’telent, an Ixtali an information spy, was trying to get technological info to sell. He tried 3 waves of spy-bots, last wave might make it. Bots got “data”, will transfer to ship when out in space. Barnabas on his trail, Stephen reads his mind.

Admiral Thomas asks Kael-ven to help Defense Sec E’kolorn build up Navy and armed troops. Help decide who gets which ship. Wants a BIG group. Kael-ven agrees, joins Etheric Navy, for 27 kegs of dark and light beer. Kiel also agree to help build a Yollin Fleet.

Aboard the QBS Reynolds, Bethany Anne asks ships EI to change his name, getting too confusing having a live Reynolds and a digital Reynolds. Live Reynolds will keep Reynolds, digital Reynolds with go by middle name, Alexander. Capt. Natalia Jakowski agreed. Scott loads a ton or armor, weapons, to “be prepared”. Ship now QBS Alexander. Packed for vacation (See Vacation time below).B ethany Anne, as Baba Yaga (Darryl's suggestion), and Darryl look for Darkness for Hire group that is reassembling. Darryl fights two aliens who accosted them on the street. Knocks out both. Go on to find Darkness group. Find group in bar in Port Sharon. Kill 18 in bar, leave. Beginning of the stories of Baba Yaga, the Etheric’s Witch of the Night.

Bethany Anne speaks in the Open Court concerning thew battles with the Leath. "Know that my real fight is with the Kurtherians of the Phraim-’Eh clan, one of the Seven Kurtherian Clans. The Etheric Empire has declared war to the knife with that clan, not with the Leath who have been subjugated by these aliens, acting as their ‘gods’ for generations. I have been granted a long life, and I will use that life to make sure you suffer for killing my people both on Earth and in space. Every member of your clan is now our enemy."

Leath; Darkness for Hire

Chapter 23

Empire’s fleet outmatched by 50% to 80% in new production and existing tonnage. Only saving factor is rigid timing of Leath attacks (22.4 days apart in Karillian system). But that might change, if K'gurth Clan thinks it necessary to abandon the mathematical beauty of the activities. Three attacks in last 4 months. War packages discussed.

Leath military head, Maliki, meets with Kurtherian clan leade, Torik, r to review successes in battle with Etheric Empire. Not much headway, so Kurtherian will consult with other Clan leaders to implement strategy.

Torik, Clan leader, meets with 7. Talks with Var’ence, a fellow Kurtherian, about problem. She thought that lack of proper calculations had to do with lack of information about enemy. Will try to discover what is missing.

Protecting Gating ships with doughnut of 10 older ships surrounding them, so attacking missiles/drones, etc., will hit them, with better ships in the middle. Better ships will slip through Gate while older ships being attacked. 10 ships, four battleships, two massive dreadnoughts slipped through Gate, all guns powered. Reynolds checks for asteroids with offensive capabilities.

Admiral Thomas, on Reynolds, assessing entrance of Leaths into system. Natalia Jakowski Capt. of Reynolds, gets info re defensive asteroids in system.Throwing rocks at Leath ships works.8 of the ten defensive ships down, Leath only 50% o fway to system. Leath retreat, losing 8 defensive ships, one frigate, and 3 destroyers damaged. Earth lost one close-in combat vessel, and six ships needed repairs.Worried. Leaths had changed their behavior. When would they change their attack schedule?

Leath suggests that a Noel-ni planet Sertjal host a peace accord meeting between Leath and Etheric Empire, 50 of each. Meeting will be attacked, and all killed. Darkness for Hire hired by Prine Intelligence Two (Leath) to do that. (Bocklans-Tuley, Kraaz-Shrillexian, P'kert-Tulet).. Meeting on a floating hotel, so that it engines destroyed, whole thing crashes down. Etheric Empire will be blamed. Willing to take out their own people to kill highest level officer in Leath military. Her first reaction was to try to figure out what they really intend. Next reaction was to accept so that she could kick-ass the Leath.

Six months later, on ArchAngel II, she dresses for Conference. Wearing armor, as are Ashur and Matrix. Giannini reporting news person, stating viewpoints of each side, conditions of attendance. Meeting with Leath First Line Prime Commander Ch’lockteck,

Three days later, Matrix, on outer perimeter duty, talking to TOM, finds aliens running to attack Conference, calls the alarm to TOM, is shot, kicked in head as left for dead.

Che’Al, assassin, awaiting time outside large conference room. Time to power up rifle she had assembled. Timepiece gave signal, rifle fired into conference room. Being warned, TOM was able to alert the AI, which threw Bethany Anne out of the way of the shot, which melted the chair upon which she had been sitting. The second shot killed the Leath leader, Ch’lockteck, by heating his brain until it exploded. Communicating with TOM, she was able to find the location of the shot, and hurled an Etheric Energy ball into that small area, killing whomever was in there

Bethany Anne heard shooters approaching, and used Etheric energy to heat their rifles so that they could not handle them. Bethany Anne threw her Katana sword to Scott, who cut off the arm of an attacker. Peter and 4 Were Guardians joined the party, Todd and guardians join the fray, Todd shot in the chest/heart. Bethany Anne is informed that the engines were being attacked, which would drop the hotel if successful. She took Scott and Darryl, (Etheric), landed in room with weapons they had brought in for just such an occasion, close to the engine room. Ran down halls to engine room.Bethany Anne threw Etheric energy ball down hall to take out whomever was there. Hit two of bad guys. Bethany Anne came around corner, threw more Etheric Energy, killed all of rest of destroyers, except Kraas and a few others .Publicity battle was waged by both sides, trying to lay blame on Etheric Empire, trying to tell truth of reality of events.

First Line Prime Commander, Leath forces. Will meet with the Sixth of the Seven, after this meeting, to see what the “Gods” would provide. Would start on strategy sessions, and on planning two major offenses on Etheric Empire. (4 from Navy, 4 from Army, 4 from Intelligence.)Reward for success: “Gods”will admit Leath to next level of technology.

Planet Merrek attacked by Leath, who have dug in, surprising Etheric Empire. Knew Leath had left system, but didn’t know where. Found by extrapolating gate angles and location.Marines and Werewolves fighting Leath on the planet.Battle to the Leaths, on video. Bethany Anne will retaliate to the fullest. Brooklyn and the Team all killed in last battle.

Baba Yaga going to Merrek, as Death, to avenge Etheric troops killed and defiled. John, Eric, Darryl, Scott, Peter, Stephen, the Shinigami, accompanied Baba Yaga. To Merrek, and retribution. Appears in dark, works in dark, kills in dark.

In space, ArchAngel and the renamed Alexander were facing off against four of the Leath superdreadnoughts, with both sides having an assortment of other large ships on their flanks.

Leath condensing forces into 4 locations. Bethany Anne and Peter (Pricolici) attack one, dug into ground, with lots of soldiers in it, including the ones that had defiled Etherian troops. Find Command Center (Etheric transfers), demolish staff, leaving commander alive to experience the destruction of his post. Commands ADAM to puck the post completely. All Leath on the planet will die because of he disrespect to the Etherian Empire.

Two new ships appear above planet, brand new designation, never seen before.

All Guns Blazing

Chapter 18

Bethany Anne wants Team BMW to get on the ball, and start inventing/creating things the Etheric Empire’s fights/battles. (Stephen delivers the message.) Will have to start working again. Who to trust with All Guns Blazing? Yelena (Bobcat’s wife) to take it over and grow it. Chery Lynn to be publicity, Stephen as bouncer, along with Jennifer. Tina would like to join Team BMW. Tina accepted. One of the “guys” on team. Now a Team of four.

X’telent, an Ixtali an information spy, was trying to get technological info to sell. He tried 3 waves of spy-bots, last wave might make it. Bots got “data”, will transfer to ship when out in space. Barnabas on his trail, Stephen reads his mind.

Yelena, Cheryl Lynn, and Stephen diversifying Bar’s business. Different brews for different aliens. Found Shrillexian favorite that would calm necessity to fight. Shi-tan and Basek wanted to negotiate with Bad Company for rights to an extract, so Shrillexian people could stop sending their people off to fight.

Bar thinking of expanding. Opening bars unique to each planet – All Guns Blazing-Straiphus, etc. Keep name, keep reputation, unique feature for each bar (like space window), sell clothing and merchandise, have profit-sharing plan, All Guns Blazing Patches for those who have tried everything the bar offers. Would be able to collect patches from many bars, many systems, a walking ad for AGB.

Bad Company

Chapter 18

Beethlock tries to take collin plant business away from Bad Company. Doesn’t work. Nathan, Ecaterina, Christina, R’yhek, Shi-tan and Bastek trounce the 12 who attacked them, dismembered Beethlock (a robot), made him pay for the damages, and took him, in pieces, with them. He will be given to Prometheus Major, as his "bitch".

Shi Tan meets Kraaz (Darkness for Hire). Kraaz tries to hire him for a job, and they fight Shi-tan beats Kraaz, who goes away. Kraaz will, in the future, work for Bad Company. After a few years, when Kraaz had retired and Darkness for Hire was no more, Shi-tan invites him to join Bad Company (sent by Nathan, Bethany Anne) Kraaz packs up and leaves with Shi-tan (Kraaz, one-armed, looking for something to do.)

Darkness for Hire

Chapter 20

Bethany Anne, as Baba Yaga, and Darryl look for Darkness for Hire group that is reassembling. Darryl fights two aliens who accosted them on the street. Knocks out both. Go on to find Darkness group. Find group in bar in Port Sharon. Kill 18 in bar, leave. Beginning of the stories of Baba Yaga, the Etheric’s Witch of the Night.

Vacation Time

Chapter 19

What Bethany Anne takes on her ship for a vacation: Real armor, for when we go into battle. Four beam rifles and sixteen extra ammo cartridges for said rifles. Case of grenades. Two months’ worth of nutrient pouches. Case of Team BMW portable shields. Case of Team BMW pucks, remote-guided. Small case of four Etheric energy boosts. Another case of Jean Dukes pistol rounds. Case of skin armor

Technology; BYPS developed

Chapter 24

Stephanie and Kevin plan asteroid ships, with defenses. Will have calculations ready in 2 days, ships ready in 18 months.

New space shipyard cannot meet production deadlines due to problem in mining/receiving needed materials for projects (5% late). Called Jeo. Solution, build more manufacturing facilities near space stations to create manufactured products needed. Hire people already there.

Matrix having problems with body armor. Flex joints will not flex in outer space. Exercises as they talk.

Research Station created, R2D2, on 4 asteroids in orbit in Yollin system, restricted area. Restricted because QBS ArchAngel II and QBS Reynolds would/could gate into it. Landed on Research and Development Asteroid for Team BMW, , and Team went to research room, where William introduced them to advanced plans for miniaturization of the ESD beam.

Tina having a problem with the math, Marcus helps, solves it. Wants an immediate meeting. Lays out fantastic weapon, portable ESD beam. To be rapidly developed. With this breakthrough we can create defense systems that will protect worlds for what are pennies on the dollar compared to what we have now. To be called the BYPS - Baba Yaga Protection System.

Peter and Gyada

Chapter 07

Peter and Todd agree that they need more recruits for their Guardians. Talk about asking Gyada (Russian were) to join them. Met in NSSquared, asked her to join in fight, and remember her berserker training.Will train with Jun, Zhu and Jian at first, then will be training with Addison and Brooklyn for 14 days, also with Carter, Caden, and Chris (Marines)

Drk-Zehn, the young Yollin boy John had saved in the Yollin riots, is finally old enough to claim manhood, and decides to join the Etheric Empire, to help others. Receives family sigil (gold crest) that would tell world of clan support for his responsibility, honor.Videos picked up when Peter came to escort him, starting a wave of young Yollins wanting to join/help Etheric Empire.

Personal relationships

Chapter 19

Richard and Sia hug on a photo/reporting site.

Stephanie and Kevin work together, and live together.

Tina meets with Marcus.

Bellatrix and Ashur want to change places for Halloween, so Ashur changing to black, Bellatrix to white, but not working well for her.

Darryl and Natalia Jakowski together.

Barnabas and Sarah

Chapter 13

Sarah, a single Mom who came outward with Bethany Anne, and Johnny meet with Barnabas and Bethany Anne, watch a video of Johnny’s Dad, Earl. Shows his life, wounded, then re-habed by Bethany Anne, and his death (Killed on duty as a Marine back on Earth, in her service). Meet Lance Reynolds and Admiral Thomas.

Barnabas takes Johnny out for a treat, used him as an excuse to ask Sarah out for dinner.

Workouts

All Guardians, at all times, must keep their personal combat abilities up to 110%. Ashur works out against wolf changelings (Tim) without armor, but definitely needs armor against cat changelings (Jian).