Famine in Flames
Prologue

The Universe of Famine is in flames. Little word of these events has reached the
outside. This is the first in a series of communiques in an attempt to let the
Universes know of the turmoil in Famine.

Disclaimers:
1) The details of these events were gathered by news bulletins, and conversations
with the principals and others. They may not be complete or completely accurate,
though we have tried. Clarifications and elaborations are welcome.

2) Any portrayals of characters are done for effect, and are completely intentional :)

3) Any quotes may or may not be accurate. We don't care as long as they make
good sound bites.


FAMINE IN FLAMES - PRELUDE TO WAR

Famine was at peace, but it was an uneasy peace. Large alliances ruled entire
galaxies, and small traders and alliances were being squeezed into ever smaller
areas. Hunters roamed the trade routes and skirmishes were frequent. Most of the
large alliances had Non Aggression Pacts with each other, and eyed each other warily
from heavily fortified planets, and mined galaxies. Small alliances were often the
target of aggression from the more warlike of the larger alliances.

In an attempt to gain some breathing space for small traders and entrepreneurs, the
Shadow Syndicate claimed all of the Alskant galaxy and declared it a free trade zone.
They stated their intentions to keep it free from hunters, and promote the growth of
smaller alliances, who were suffering under the pressure from the huge and powerful.

One of the large alliances, The feared Space Marines, was at war with a smaller
alliance, the Navigators. While the Marines were reducing a Navigator planet, some
words of advice on tactics, and perhaps a small amount of money (details are
sketchy) passed from sympathetic Shadow Syndicate members to the Navigators.
The planet fell anyway, but the Marines were outraged. They had a Non-Aggression
Pact with Shadow and viewed this aid and comfort to the enemy, however small, as
a violation. The actual wording of the pact is not clear, and it is unknown if this was
considered or addressed in the NAP, but these details are best left to the lawyers.

The Marines declared war on Shadow. Willowstrance, another large alliance, known
for their generally peaceful ways, had agreed to support the Shadow goals in Alskant
by aiding in patrols, and even went so far as to ink a Mutual Defense Pact with
Shadow. This pact and the Marine declaration of war occurred almost
simultaneously. The Marines argued that the Shadow offense occurred before the
signing of the MDP and that Willow should not be bound by the MDP for events they
had no part in. Evidently Willow was divided on the issue, and during the initial Marine
assaults on the Shadow strongholds in Alskant, Willow patrolled for hunters, and
tried to maintain the free trade status of Alskant.

Shadow was smaller than the Marines and gradually fell under the concentrated
Marine assaults. Shadow fought bravely and well, but the strength of the Marine
Juggernaut was too much for them. Others may tell this tale. It needs to be told, but
it is a small war by comparison to the larger conflict now raging, and it's telling must
wait for other historians.

As Shadow weakened, the worst happened. Their leader, Creel, was called away. In
a surprise move, the remnants of Shadow merged into Willow, taking with them the
remaining Shadow planets in Alskant. A lull occurred in the fighting as all sides
digested this development.

The universe was on a razor's edge. Tensions were high. Everyone was jumpy and
flying with their fingers on the trigger. A member of Karr's Kavaliers flew over one of
the infamous scout drones of the Space Marines. When the owner of the drone
suddenly appeared, the Kavalier feared for his life and fired. Another NAP was
broken. The Marine was not killed, but with tensions dangerously high, there was no
time for diplomacy. The Marines struck back quickly. They killed Shareen Karr, leader
of the Kavaliers and a top ten trader fell. The war flared in another direction.

The Marines began the same punishing assault on the Kavaliers they had employed
on the Shadow Syndicate. The Kavaliers also resisted bravely, but the Marine war
engine ground on. The Kavaliers were forced back. They took Marines with them, but
the weight of numbers and forces were too great.

Meanwhile, many small traders and remnants of alliances fled to the relative safety
of Willow. Willow's reputation for peace and trade attracted many, weary of the
fighting. Though they knew in their hearts that peace would probably not be an
option. Willow grew to unprecedented proportions. They briefly became what may
be the first 1 million exp alliance in the history of the Space Merchant Universes. We
cannot confirm this, but we know of no others.

Willow then decided to reinstate the Alskant Free Trade Zone. They retook the
planets the Marines had taken from Shadow, and declared Alskant once more open
to trade. Willow cited the Shadow MDP as justification for the reclamation of Shadow
property, and pledged to go no further. However, the Marines viewed this as a
violation of the NAP and with the powerful alliance Anla'Shok, they declared war on
Willow.

The following communications will try to tell the story of this epic war.

(Note, KK never had an NAP with TSM.)

Prologue | Area 51 | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4
Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9
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