Famine in Flames
Day 4


Days does not dawn simultaneously on all planets in the metaverse, but the clock at
Manton Prime is the standard by which time is tracked in Famine, and the other
known universes. It showed the beginnings of another day of war in Famine, the
Universe in Flames.

Perhaps because of the lull the day before, both sides were moving out early. Ships
began to flash on detectors at ungodly early hours. Even G'kar was awake, though
his bloodshot eyes gave lie to the fact that he pronounced himself eager to go.
"Neber Feld Beddr" (Thump), he is quoted as saying.

As more and more ships began to move, the question became, who would take the
initiative. The war had looked similar the last two days. The Marines moved to the
offensive, and Willow would react. The Marines had failed to take their targets, but
the losses on both sides had been devastating. The Marines had not attempted a
major defense during Willow planetary assaults. Would the Marines resume the
offensive? Would Willow assume the offensive? Would either side react to attacks
and move in, in spite of the heavy casualties this seems to bring?

The fabric of space/time is still strained. Subspace does not allow all messages to
flow. The dance of discovery continued. No planets seemed to be under attack.
Then, Willow had a horrific thought "The Children!". The Willow recruits were sleeping
quietly, under their fluffy blankies, in the depths of one of the outer galaxies, far from
the recent fighting. Willow wondered if The Marines could be so ruthless, but in their
hearts they knew. This was total war.

Willow rushed scouts to the scene, tearing holes in space and time in their haste,
only to discover the worst. A massive Marine assault fleet was massing over the
sleeping youngsters. Willow felt they had no choice. They knew that after two days
of successfully defending planets, the Marines would be ready, but like a mother
protecting her brood, they came.

The fleets turned. The massive warships assuming new headings, for the outer
galaxies, and the waiting Marines. As they assembled near the site of the Marine
assault, they were perhaps blinded by their concern. They made a mistake, with
deadly consequences.

Survivors indicate that the order to attack the marine flank was given when some of
the fleet was still two sectors away. Instead of an entire warfleet diving into their
side, the Marines faced one or two ships at a time running seemingly insane,
kamikaze attacks. And the seasoned Marine gunners are far too good to miss in a
situation like that. It was slaughter.


3/27/99 8:30:59 AM CoolDog(SM) killed Rat-Fighter(Willow) in sector #1230
3/27/99 8:31:00 AM Hammurabi(SM) killed Kabral(Willow) in sector #1230
3/27/99 8:32:06 AM CoolDog(SM) killed Big Bopper(Willow) in sector #1230
3/27/99 8:32:06 AM CoolDog(SM) killed Dund33(Willow) in sector #1230

The Marines peeled off to hunt the survivors.

3/27/99 8:33:30 AM Armageddon(SM) killed target(Willow) in sector #1229
3/27/99 8:33:41 AM CoolDog(SM) killed Hyperion(Willow) in sector #1229

3/27/99 8:35:05 AM Hammurabi(SM) killed -DieTRYing!-(Willow) in sector #1239

And Willow had suffered the single worst defeat of the war to date. And perhaps the
worst defeat in the history of SM ship to ship combat. We do not know of any other
to rival it.

But, instead of resuming the assault, the Marines pulled back. The Recruits were
saved, but for how long. At what terrible cost.

Perhaps the Marines were satisfied with their work. Perhaps they were cautious that
Willow had another fleet in the area. But they pulled back.

Willow searched for the escape pods scattered throughout the sectors. Die-Trying
was the easiest to find. His mutterings even penetrating the vacuum of space in the
outer galaxies.

As I have alluded. Though the SM/Anla Willow war is assuming perhaps
unprecedented scale, it is not the only conflict in Famine. The Unforgiven have
resumed the hunt. After an inexplicable period of relative inactivity, where they made
pacts with perhaps more alliances than any time in their long history, the feared
Unforgiven are on the prowl again.

Individual hunters and Small Alliances such as United Federation of Planets, Starfleet
Academy, and Navigators of the Nexus have had members killed by Unforgiven
hunters in recent days. The Unforgiven are by nature loners, relishing the stalking of
a solitary hunt. They rarely cooperate, even with each other, but they can, better
than any some say, when the need arises. Since early in Famine, the Unforgiven has
not been as active as some in planetary assaults. Until today.

It has now been discovered, that the alliance DarkShade was the small but sturdy
group that helped Willow claim a few more Marine planets on Day 3. On day 4,
DarkShade found themselves under attack.

3/27/99 11:56:18 AM Dude Man(TU) killed Myst(DS) in sector #667

Was this an isolated incident? A TU kill is nothing unusual. Many others were
appearing in the news every day. DarkShade continued their plan, and discovered a
Marine Academy member, exposed. They, as had the rest of the universe, had seen
the newsfeeds of the slaughter at the Willow recruits planet. They struck without
mercy.

3/27/99 1:11:58 PM ZooLu(DS) killed akera(SM Academy) in sector #1285

But they soon found themselves under attack from an different front. The
Unforgiven arrived in force. One member made an attack on the Unforgiven flank.
But he was one, and anyone who thinks the Unforgiven gunners are any less
accurate than the Marine gunners is making a fatal mistake.

3/27/99 3:42:15 PM Dread Nought(TU) killed Radical_christian(DS) in sector #1203

The planetary defenders fought back, inflicting a rare loss on the Unforgiven.

3/27/99 3:53:56 PM Spacers(DS) killed Rogue(TU) while defending a planet in
sector #1203

And the remaining DarkShade fighters rushed in, either to try to run the blockade, or
disrupt the attack.

3/27/99 4:02:20 PM Dread Nought(TU) killed ZooLu(DS) in sector #1203

But there were no surprises at the end of the story, no miracles.

3/27/99 4:10:11 PM FrogGecko(TU) killed Trader Vic(DS) while invading a planet in
sector #1203
3/27/99 4:10:12 PM Widowmaker(TU) killed Spacers(DS) while invading a planet in
sector #1203
3/27/99 4:10:22 PM FrogGecko(TU) killed Rudy(DS) while invading a planet in
sector #1203

Rogue was quoted as saying he was sure that HE had the best escape pod in the
universe. Not only that, but he has heard that pod dealers are beginning to charge
increased prices, due to the Marine and Willow run on pods, and that the Unforgiven
has an ample supply from early conflicts, such as The Avalon Coalition. He wishes
the entire Famine Universe to know that TU will be more than happy to provide pods
for any who might be in need.

In the twisted world of Famine politics this raises questions. Has TU entered on the
side of the Marines? Does TU just want to deny aid and comfort to one side so they
both will bleed? Does TU even care? Or were they just being TU. Time will tell, but
this is the sort of thing that keeps everyone looking over their shoulders in Famine.

But, in spite of the twisting side notes. The main war burns on.

Willow, showing the steady determination that has gotten them to this point,
soldiered on, taking three more Marine planets in the evening. There was no
appreciable Marine resistance.

The Marines, showing their inexplicable obsession with planet 555, again massed on
the edge of Thevian. Perhaps they thought the Willow defense indicated a rich prize.
Perhaps they could not bear the thought of being thwarted. Perhaps 555 is the
equivalent of 666 in their culture. But, regardless of their motivations, this time
would be different.

Would Willow mount the same fierce defense of the nights before? A Willow defender
appeared, to try to run the Marine blockade and rush shields to the planet.

3/28/99 2:15:20 AM CoolDog(SM) killed SpamBlade(Willow) in sector #555

It didn't work. Whether Willow was caught of guard, too exhausted, gun-shy from
the morning fighting, or just unwilling to fold their poker hands at Willow HQ, they did
not counter the Marine assault, and 555 finally fell.

3/28/99 2:31:56 AM Degwrath(SM) killed target(Willow) while invading a planet in
sector #55

But Willow was there, flying the edges of the Marine Armada. And when Cool Dog,
the one Marine to send his exploits in this war in message capsules throughout the
universes appeared, he was greeted.

3/28/99 2:34:45 AM garut killed CoolDog(SM) in sector #504

Then for a few minutes the universe again rested. Why Willow had a trader on the
planet, knowing the Marine obsession, is a question as timely as why there were still
recruits on their planet. We can only assume that they will not repeat the mistake,
and that Den Mother SuddenBlood will move the recruits to safety.

The Marines continued to patrol, and soon caught a straggler from a Willow convoy.

3/28/99 3:10:30 AM God_Imes(SM) killed Sprockets(Willow) in sector #543

This would be the last casualty of a brutal day of fighting. The victorious Marines
retired.

This day was a huge victory for the Marines. Will Willow be able to recover? Will
others join the fight, or have they already?

No one knows what day 5 will bring. Famine, the Universe in Flames sits waiting. The
storm is not over.


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