GENESIS DESIGN
EY2
Link to EY2

After examining the Early Years SSD's for a bit, I decided that a New Type of Phaser is needed for EY2. Phaser-2's are effective from Range 0-3, but then drop off at Range 4+. While Photons/Disruptors can hit at R4+, the Phaser game in Early Years (mainly PH-2's) is somewhat...restrained. For EY2, I want to open up that Phaser Range slightly.

Project-Y will still use the Phaser-2 as the primary Phaser weapon.

The new Phaser in EY2 will be the PY-1 and the PY-3. Y stands for Early Years, of course. The PY-1 will actually score less damage than a PH-2, but it will have slightly longer range. The PY-3 will cause less damage than the PH-3, but it can fire twice in one turn.

As stated before in the Design Goals for EY2, starships will feature rear-firing Heavy Weapons.

I am also considering developing a New Drone and New Plasma for EY2. The New Drone would move quicker, score less damage, and be easier to destroy than a Type-I. The New Plasma would be weaker than a PL-G or PL-F, but can be armed in 2 Turns.

All of these things should serve to make EY2 different from Project-O (and of course, the original Early Years).

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, April 03, 2018 - 07:18 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
ECONOMICA
Link to Economica

After taking a look at the Bolosco Tradeship, Bolosco Exchanger, Bolosco Escorter, Qixa Trader Destroyer/Frigate/Cruiser, and Qixa Trading Post, I started to formulate some basic ideas about what the SSD's for Economica will look like. The primary difference in Economica is that nearly all of their trading ships will be unarmed. If they suspect trouble, they will send an armed escort ship along who is equipped to deal with trouble.

After considering what the goals and gameplay of scenarios in Economica will be like, I have come to the conclusion that Economica needs some kind of new Diplomatic Rules. This is because scenarios in Economica cannot be about "shooting up the enemy". So these new Diplomatic Rules will simulate swaying the public opinion, gaining diplomatic points (which are like lab points or victory points), and establishing political control.

Having Ambassadors, Officials, and other key Political Figures will also help the empires of Economica during Scenarios. These rules, therefore, will have to developed as well. These important figures will serve as a type of "Legendary Officer."

Of course, the Alpha Sector has various starships for trading and cargo as well. They will also help to inspire SSD design for Economica.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, April 03, 2018 - 07:32 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
TROLL
Link to Troll

After some thought, I believe that the best way to represent the smaller units in Troll is with Fighters, Fast Patrol Ships, and Frigates (meaning units this size, not Fighters, PF's, and Frigates as defined in the Alpha Sector). Infantry will be represented by Powered Armor. Here are the reasons why:

1) These smaller units will be easier to "blow up" by the much larger Troll. The larger the smaller units get, the larger the Troll has to become commensurately.

2) It will be easier to fill out Energy Allocation for these small units. The larger the unit, the more detailed the Energy Allocation will become.

3) It will speed up Gameplay. Moving smaller units is much faster and easier than a larger unit with a detailed Energy Allocation sheet.

The key here is to make sure the smaller units are still able to "damage" the Troll somewhat. They cannot be so small that they are simply targets, and they cannot be so large that they can easily cripple the Troll.

A typical Troll, therefore, would be as large as a Dreadnought or Battleship.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, April 03, 2018 - 07:56 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
SYSTEM ZERO
Link to System Zero

There are two ships in Captain's Log #31 that hint at what starships in System Zero will look like. They are the Andromedan-Gorn Battlecruiser and the Andromedan-Lyran Heavy Cruiser. This is because they are Alpha Sector starships with Andromedan technology.

But even these designs are not quite what I would like to see in System Zero. First of all, the PA's on the Andromedan-Gorn Battlecruiser and the Andromedan-Lyran Heavy Cruiser are FH and RH (like standard Andromedan PA's). The PA's on starships in System Zero will face in all six directions. I may need to, therefore, modify the PA Rules for System Zero to make the six directions work properly.

Secondly, System Zero will feature Andromedan-like technology, but not exactly Andromedan tech. System Zero will not use PH-2's. System Zero will not use TR's (at least not in the beginning). System Zero will not use DisDev's as we know them. And they will feature other new technology previously unseen.

Above all, System Zero must be Balanced. This means starships created for System Zero must be heavily playtested against one another.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Wednesday, April 04, 2018 - 06:31 pm: Edit

MOBY DICK
STARDATE 04.04.18

RED ALERT!!

Captain Queequeg stared at the immense beast on the view screen. It seemed so peaceful, so non-threatening. The space-faring animal was yellow, with beautiful fins for decoration. In size, the monster was larger than a base station. But it made no hostile movements. In fact, it seemed to ignore everything around it. And yet twenty-two colonies have been ruthlessly destroyed in the last two weeks. All data regarding these transgressions have led here...to this strange and breathtaking creature.

Suddenly, a battlecruiser dropped out of warp. It was a South Carolina vessel. And that meant an old friend with a sharp attitude. Captain Queequeg braced himself for the encounter. Slowly, his view screen melted and then formed the image of the bridge of the Achaemenid. A stern, bronze-skinned man with black hair stared back at him. A gold sash ran diagonally across his chest. It was Captain Cyrus.

"Captain Queequeg, you old land-lover!" Captain Cyrus jeered with a grin. Captain Queequeg bit his tongue. "So this is the creature that has been assailing our poor colonies! It looks large enough to feed a dozen planets!" Captain Cyrus bellowed with laughter.

"And where have you been hiding, Captain Queequeg?" Captain Cyrus asked with one of his eyes larger than the other. "Have you been enjoying that shore leave you love so much? Or maybe you have been studying those comets and nebulas that you dream about? Is it too much to hope that you have spent time with a fine woman and even...you know...made passionate love with her?" Captain Cyrus let out a laugh so loud his entire bridge crew stared at him.

"A pleasure...as always, Captain Cyrus," Captain Queequeg replied, forcing himself to maintain his composure. But it was always so difficult with Captain Cyrus. "Captain Cyrus, has the rest of the Thirteen Alpha Colonies dispatched a ship to this location?"

"Yes, yes," Captain Cyrus answered, obviously annoyed. He pinched the tips of his black mustache and then stroked his goatee. "Why? Do you need them to protect you? I thought the New York Colony burned with the fire of battle! Ah, but that is not your way, is it, Captain Queequeg? You would rather negotiate and make peace with everything you meet. Let me quess, you have been running all kinds of scans on this beast, trying to determine its origins, habits, biology, and how it soils the universe. Is that correct? Why don't you just ask it nicely if it would become part of your zoo?" Captain Cyrus roared once again with laughter.

Then Captain Cyrus squinted his eyes. He slammed his fist into the arm of his chair. "No, Captain Queequeg! We will not be "nice" to this monster. I don't care how big it is. This creature is responsible for the death of thousands of innocent colonists. It must pay, my friend, and pay dearly. An eye for an eye. A tooth for a tooth. And I shall see that the South Carolina Colony gets the honor of the first kill! We were born as warriors long before we created a colony in this sector! And we are warriors still! PREPARE FOR BATTLE!!!!"

Captain Queequeg was about to respond, to plead with Captain Cyrus to calm down and remain rational. But before the words could come out of his mouth, telepathic words boomed into his brain. Captain Cyrus heard them as well. The alluring beast was staring at both ships with a single, enormous eye.

I knew all your kind was interested in was war. You worship death. You crave bloodshed. You seek to dominate. Your kind is responsible for the untold suffering of my species. You made slaves out of them. You mutilated them. You forced them to carry you to the stars. You treated them like common beasts of burden. Then you fed them to dragons. We never had the power to stop you, until now. I am the first of my kind. I am vengeance. I am revenge. I am retribution. I have scanned your data banks. You may know me as the monster from your ancient writings...MOBY DICK. As that creature destroyed ships and took lives at will, so shall I.

The Achaemenid broke communications with the Melville. In less than a heartbeat, the South Carolina battlecruiser was hurtling toward the giant monster. The creature waited patiently, staring at the tiny starship with its single, gigantic eye. The Achaemenid launched two Ultrawarp Missiles, followed by a barrage of four Disruptors. Gauss Cannons fired repeatedly as soon as they came within range.

Captain Queequeg sighed.

"Pursuit vector, bearing 248 mark 122. Stay with the Achaemenid and provide cover fire. Charge Photon Torpedoes. Ready the Wide Phasers. Phaser Capacitor to maximum energy. Arm the Short Range Cannons. Prepare to launch a Tachyon Missile on my command. I want Reserve Power at my disposal immediately. The Melville is going to need it for this fight!"

As usual, Captain Cyrus, it's up to me to save your reckless hind end.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Monday, April 09, 2018 - 09:30 pm: Edit

GENESIS JOKES
THE FUNNIEST FOOL OF THE FUTURE!

A robot with a big red nose and a bright green wig rolls onto the stage on a single, large wheel. A spotlight from above shines directly on the robot. He bows and pauses for a moment. Then he completely rotates his hips, neck, shoulders, and wrists. Finally, he fights off a brief fit of stuttering, before beginning.

"What are you having when you eat a huge ice cream cone with two scoops of your favorite flavor?"

"A LOT OF FUN!"

"And what do you have when you go to the theater to see your favorite movie?"

"LOADS OF FUN!"

"And what do you get when you keep watering the plants in Star Fleet Battles?"

"SOME REALLY BIG PHON!!"

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 - 01:58 pm: Edit

MOBY DICK
STARDATE 04.10.18
Link to previous Genesis Tales

HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!!

Captain Queequeg couldn't believe what he was hearing in his mind. The gigantic creature known as Moby Dick was actually laughing at them! We must have seemed like gnats to this space-faring behemoth. And, in truth, that was all we were.

Captain Cyrus had scored some damage against the creature as his South Carolina battlecruiser fired from an oblique angle and then turned off. His Disruptors and Gauss Cannons pounded the beast, slightly drawing blood. Moby Dick didn't even react to the barrage. As Captain Cyrus' two Ultrawarp Missiles closed in at super-warp speed, they were instantly destroyed by electrified whips that Moby Dick generated at will.

The Melville had caught up to the Achaemenid, increasing its speed with a burst of reserve power. A spread of Photon Torpedoes and Wide Phasers hammered the monster, providing cover for Captain Cyrus' escape vector. A Tachyon Missile was launched by the New York heavy cruiser, but it was also destroyed by the beast's super-charged whips.

Then came the moment of surprise. Four of Moby Dick's multiple whips pulled back and then snapped violently. As a result, four large Plasma Torpedoes surged forward and homed in on the Achaemenid and the Melville.

"Evasive Pattern, PETRICK-EPSILON-BETA!!" Captain Queequeg ordered, but it was too late. Two of the four Plasma Torpedoes were upon the Melville. In desperation, Short-Range Cannons fired at the Plasmas, trying to reduce their warhead strength. At the same time, Captain Cyrus tried to use his remaining Gauss Cannons on the two Plasma Torpedoes seeking his ship. Both attempts were futile. The Melville and the Achaemenid rocked from the impact of the plasmas. Each ship lost one shield.

"Damage Control!" Captain Cyrus yelled, thrilled by the excitement of combat. Both his ship and the Melville has sustained minor internal damage. But it was the monstrous titan on the view screen that seized Captain Cyrus' attention. A huge singe eye stared mockingly at the Achaemenid.

HA!! HAHAHAH!!! So, this is all you are capable of? You're not so tough when you aren't attacking helpless wild prey, are you? Prey that never meant you any harm, that only wanted to be left alone in peace. But no, you had to lobotomize them. You had to mutilate them. You had to enslave them. SO YOU HAVE SOWN, NOW YOU SHALL REAP!!!!

Captain Queequeg stared in disbelief at his view screen. The giant creature known as Moby Dick seemed to be dancing in space, flipping its tail and spinning about. Not only was the monster finally getting the revenge it sought, but it seemed to be...ENJOYING IT.

Suddenly, two more starships dropped out of warp. They prepared to start an attack vector on Moby Dick. Captain Queequeg breathed a sigh of relief. It was the Kaiju and the Mau. Just in time, he thought. In the next moment, Captain Cyrus and Captain Queequeg were staring at Captain Komodo and Captain Bastet on their view screens.

Captain Komodo was a large, reptilian man with dark green skin. He was nearly twice Captain Queequeg's size, an intimidating individual to say the least. Like most of his kind, he moved slowly to preserve energy.

Captain Bastet was a beautiful feline woman with all black fur. Two yellow eyes stared sharply at the other Captains. Captain Bastet was reknowned for her tactical brilliance and bravery in battle. She slowly scratched her command chair with a single index claw.

"By the Great Zilla," Captain Komodo said in a deep voice. "This monster has easily bested the two of you. SSSSSSSS. It appears as though we arrived just in time. SSSSSSS. Isn't that right, Captain Bastet?"

"Indeed," Captain Bastet replied with a sly, feminine voice. "We will take it from here, comrades. Take this moment of relief to restore your damaged systems. Where the New York and South Carolina Colonies have failed, the Maryland and Pennsylvania Colonies will be victorious! RRREEEEOOOOWWWRRRRRRRRR!!!"

"Be careful, the two of you," Captain Queequeg warned. "Not only did the creature seem unaffected by our strikes, but it is able to generate electricity on a level I have never seen before. I would recommend attacking from different directions, rather than a joint approach."

"Understood," Captain Komodo and Captain Bastet stated as they switched off their view screens.

Captain Cyrus was busy issuing damage control orders. He wanted to get back into the fight as soon as possible.

But why do I get the feeling that even with four of the best starships from the Alpha Colonies, it won't be enough? Captain Queequeg thought to himself.

After circling around, the Pennsylvania battlecruiser known as the Kaiju began its approach vector. At the same moment, the Maryland battlecruiser called the Mau started its attack run from the opposite side.

"Fire both Implosion Bolts!" Captain Komodo ordered, as his thin tongue darted in and out of his reptilian mouth. He clenched his green hand into a fist. "Launch both Plasma Torpedoes! Fire all Radiation Phasers!!!"

"Launch two Tachyon Missiles," Captain Bastet said in a calm, collected voice. She squinted at the monster on her view screen. "Fire all four Disruptors in combination with all Wide Phasers. Activate one Target Illuminator to give our weaponry a better chance to hit. But keep the Mau beyond 80,000 kilometers. I want to see what this beast is capable of before we commit ourselves."

Two bolts of energy shot out of the Kaiju, landing squarely on the belly of Moby Dick. The bolts imploded upon impact, releasing a burst of radiation at the same time. The strike was followed by multiple glows from the Kaiju's Radiation Phasers, which burned the skin of Moby Dick horrendously. But Moby Dick was not concerned with these attacks, it seemed to be focused on the two incoming Plasma Torpedoes from the Kaiju.

With a quick snap, Moby Dick brought its tail about, unleashing what appeared to be an enormous cloud of plasma. The two plasma torpedoes from the Kaiju were forced to pass through this plasma cloud, which greatly diminished their effectiveness. Moby Dick seemed to laugh as it swam and hid at the opposite end of the cloud of plasma.

The Mau's attack was dealt with in a much easier manner. Because Captain Bastet had fired from such a long range, over half of her direct-fire attacks missed their target. The Mau's two Tachyon Missiles were easily destroyed by the giant creature's electric whips.

In response, static bolts of bio-generated electricity shot out of various appendages on Moby Dick. These bolts were huge, each one nearly a quarter of the size of a typical heavy cruiser. The Kaiju rocked from the impact, first once, and then again, and then two more times. It's facing shield collapsed, allowing the deadly energy to ravage its hull. The Kaiju burst into fire in several areas, while other parts of the ship went black. Many reptilians were thrown out into the deadly cold of space.

The Mau survived the attack with little difficulty. Her range from Moby Dick had greatly reduced the damage caused by the bio-electric bolts. In addition, Captain Bastet had anticipated such a response, and had, therefore, reinforced the facing shield ahead of time. The Mau's shield was battered by the electric bolts, but it did not go down.

HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!! HAH!! HA!! HAHHAH!!!

Four starships and this is the best you can do? Pathetic, little humanoids. Realize that I will continue to ravage your colonies, eliminating what life resides in each one. Many, many more of your kind will die. You will be repaid for the actions of the past. First twenty-two colonies, then forty, then sixty, then a hundred! And any starship who dares to cross my path will be crushed like an egg! I cannot be stopped! I was born to take revenge for all of my kind! The scales of justice will finally be balanced!! And who will balance them? I...MOBY DICK!!!!!!!

Captain Queequeg, Captain Cyrus, Captain Komodo, and Captain Bastet stared at the colossal leviathan with their mouths open. It was true, they had attacked Moby Dick with their strongest attacks and he had shrugged them off. In return, their own ships had been battered, as if they were mere ants annoying a gigantic elephant. To make matters worse, sensors indicated that every wound they inflicted on Moby Dick was now regenerating. In moments, Moby Dick would be fully healed.

The hearts of the four Captains from the Alpha Colonies seemed to sag and hang low. Was this fearsome opponent beyond their ability to defeat??

Without warning, a ship shaped like a large eagle phased into normal space from the Shadow Dimension. It was the Apparition from the Georgia Colony. Her single powerful Plasma Torpedo was fully armed, along with two Dark Matter Torpedoes and an array of Dark Matter Pulsars.

The view screen on the Melville, Achaemenid, Kaiju, and Mau rippled slowly until it revealed the face of Captain Persephone. Her uniform was purple and grey. She had pointed ears and eyebrows that angled sharply upwards. Long black hair hung down to her shoulders. She had a look of deadly seriousness, as if, in her next actions, she would decide who lives and who dies on this battlefield.

"Greetings," Captain Persephone said in a hollow voice as if she had just escaped from the Underworld. "I have been watching this battle with great interest. Now, for the sake of the Georgia Colony, I believe it is finally time for me to intervene." Captain Persephone smiled wickedly.

"Or is this conflict restricted only to the Living?"

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 03:13 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
WILD WEST
Link to the Wild West

I completed the first Gunfighter SSD for the Wild West. Just need to clean up the SSD, add tables, and format the whole SSD properly.

Designing this SSD was not as easy as I thought it would be. I thought I could just take a Gunfighter Frigate and modify it to fit what I wanted. But upon closer inspection, I discovered some issues that needed to be corrected for what I wanted in the Wild West.

My main concerns were:

1) Balance with other Gunfighter SSD's
2) Making sure battles don't end too quickly in the Wild West
3) Creating avenues for New Tactics for Gunfighters

The SSD will be posted soon, along with the Playtest Rules needed to make it work. More on the Wild West as it develops.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 03:49 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
ALPHA COLONIES
Link to the Alpha Colonies

In order to properly write Moby Dick, I needed to work out the starship details for all 13 of the Alpha Colonies. From this material, I could write the fiction for Moby Dick, making sure the actions of each ship matched what would be on their SSD. The intent was to finish the story and create the SSD's much later.

But then I realized, if I have all the information in front of me, and they are still fresh in my mind, why not just create the SSD's now? It made sense, so I started to create each SSD for the 13 Alpha Colonies.

The SSD for the New York Colony CA was completed long ago (posted on CelestialFellowshipofGalaxies.Com and GenesisGalaxies.Net), but it remained the only SSD until recently. There were also failed experiments, such as the outdated South Carolina SSD and the outdated Maryland SSD. Both of those SSD's are no longer valid (because they were greatly Imbalanced) and will be completely replaced by the new designs.

So far, I have completed 5 of the 13 SSD's. It will take time to finish them all. Creating them was not an easy task, as the Design Parameters for Project-O (of which the Alpha Colonies are a part of) state that there must be Balance (as much as possible) in the Omega-based Designs. Balance in Weaponry, Balance in Overload Ranges, Balance in Phasers, Balance between the Heavy Cruisers for each empire, etc.

This meant that I could not just add Omega Technology to Alpha Sector CA's and call it a day. I had to carefully inspect each ship for Balance, both in its own weaponry, and most certainly with the other Alpha Colonies CA's. The next step is to compare the Alpha Colonies CA's with the rest of the CA's for Project-O, making sure they are as Balanced as possible. The problem there is that the SSD's for most of the Project-O CA's have not been created yet.

More on Moby Dick, the Alpha Colonies, and Project-O as they are developed.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 04:19 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
GRANDMASTER GALAXY
Link to the Grandmaster Galaxy

I decided for the Grandmaster Galaxy that most heavy weapons will auto-hit on 1-4 roll. The Design Parameters for the Grandmaster Galaxy state that there is to be no random chance in the Grandmaster Galaxy. Every move is precise, every result known ahead of time.

So a Photon will auto-hit at Range 4 or less, while a Disruptor will auto-hit at Range 15 or less. The Photon will always score 8 damage while the Disruptor will have a descending scale of damage as it gets closer. This makes sense in terms of how both weapons work. The Photon should have to get close in order to successfully hit, while the Disruptor is more accurate at long range, but scores less damage from there. Like Chess players, each Captain will have to plan their movement accordingly, and then fire at the appropriate range, knowing exactly how much damage they will score from that distance.

Phasers will be converted into a chart similar to a Radiation Phaser, where there is no roll at all.

More on the Grandmaster Galaxy as it develops.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 04:46 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
REVERSE REGION
Link to the Reverse Region

I started to work on the SSD for the Star Riders of the Reverse Region. The Design Parameters for the Reverse Region state that the Background and R-Section must be written first, and the SSD created second, based on that material. The Background/R-Section for the Star Riders was written a long time ago, I am only working on the SSD now.

The primary issue for the Star Riders is working out the details for their method movement, which is called the Star Wave. The Star Rider Background states: "The Star Wave generates a wave of flowing dark matter particles that the starship rides on. As this technology is radically different from standard Warp Drive, it allows the starship to move in unusual patterns during the game. The Star Wave also requires different costs to use. Various modes which yield different amounts of movement during the turn are selected during Energy Allocation."

From this description, I gather that there are various modes available for the Star Wave, with the specific mode chosen during Energy Allocation. Each mode will provide a set Speed, Turn Mode, Side Slips, and possibly Acceleration Factor. Obviously the Star Wave Rules would need to supersede existing movement rules. Each mode would then need a Cost to Pay during Energy Allocation. I would want each Mode to gain some advantages (perhaps in energy to hexes moved ratio), but also have disadvantages in other areas (turning, sideslipping, acceleration, etc.) Maybe the Star Wave is good at moving in a straight line, but bad at turning. Or maybe the reverse is true. We shall have to see.

Of primary concern is how Star Wave Movement compares to Standard Warp. The Star Wave cannot be overly "powerful" when used against Standard Warp. Yes, this means Playtesting, but it also means analyzing the possibilities at the Design Stage too.

I foresee that the Star Riders will have a disadvantage in not being able to use their Reserve Power to increase their speed during the turn. Maybe the Star Riders don't even have Reserve Power as we know it. We will have to see.

The Glitter Cannon shouldn't be hard to create. It needs to be different from existing weapons, and able to generate new tactics on the battlefield.

More on the Reverse Region and the Star Riders as they develop.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, April 14, 2018 - 05:08 pm: Edit

GENESIS DESIGN
ECHOAN HEAVY CRUISER
Link to the Echoan Heavy Cruiser SSD

There was some talk about the Echoan Heavy Cruiser SSD and possible variants. The Echoan Heavy Cruiser is part of Ante Omega. The Echoan Heavy Cruiser is armed with Pulse Waves, Variable Phasers, and Shield Amplifiers.

The first variant involves more Shield Amplifiers in exchange for losing some Variable Phasers or Pulse Waves. I don't think this will work, given the design and layout of the Echoan CA SSD. However, this might be possible in a separate, smaller sized ship, maybe something along the lines of a Destroyer.

And to make that Destroyer work, the Shield Amplifiers would be able to "project", helping a friendly ship. This would be similar to the Loriyill's Flame Shield Projection. I think that, not only would this be cool, but it would also provide new tactical fleet possibilities.

Another thought was to make a Phaser Boat full of Variable Phasers. Again, this might not work with the Echoan CA, but it may work with a small dedicated Destroyer. I could see an Echoan Destroyer equipped with all Variable Phasers.

One playtester commented that the Regenerative Nature of the Shield Amplifiers is too much. What I may need to do is require a Cost during Energy Allocation to restore damaged boxes for the Shield Amplifiers.

Lastly, someone suggested a Direct-Fire function for the Pulse Waves. This is not something I considered, since the Pulse Waves have a Short-Range and a Long-Range setting already. However, when I think of standard Plasmas, it kind of makes sense. I will have to think about it more. Pulse Waves were initially designed to be a seeking plasma weapon, so I'm not sure if I want to add a Direct-Fire function.

Early Playtesting indicates that the Echoan CA is slightly deficient with its Alpha Strike. I will have to take a good look at this and determine if the Echoan CA needs to be able to inflict more damage in a single impulse or not.

More on the Echoan CA as it gets Playtested.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 - 11:22 pm: Edit

EXTERMINATION
ALPHA - 04.25.18
Link to previous Alpha tales

The trench was full of bodies, so much the stench was unbearable. Freshly killed bodies were piled on top of those who had already been murdered. Mixed within were the tormented few who did not die right away, their wounds ensured that they would experience a slow and agonizing death.

A man's head exploded.

"Did'ja see that, Vincent?" the man in black asked as his pulse rifle continued to fire. "I got one right in the head! Can you believe that?"

A whole family was gunned down while trying to escape. The mother and father fell on top of their two children.

"Our orders are not to play around, Kristoff," Vincent answered, his face partially covered in blood. "Just exterminate these vermin as quickly as possible. They are the reason our Country is not prospering. They are the reason why our Economy is failing. Their Culture has infected all that is good, Polluting decent values with their sick ways. All of their Kind must be wiped out, once and for all."

Two lovers were shot through the chest as they held hands. A lone child was murdered. A family of eight was slaughtered. And the carnage continued.

After witnessing her family killed before her eyes, a lone girl ran back into her home. Liza always listened to her Papa. Hiding in a dark corner, she dropped to her knees. As tears streamed down her cheeks, she struggled to complete the Prayer to Burin, the Stone God who watched over all her people.

"Hey, wasn't there another one with that family we took out?" Kristoff asked Vincent while he reloaded. "I could have sworn there was a little girl hiding behind the others. She might have escaped into the house."

"Then go and find her!" Vincent replied, shooting down three more innocent people. "They said no one was to escape, especially not any of the children!"

Kristoff nodded and slowly began to step toward the home riddled with energy blasts. His pulse rifle was held straight in front of him, ready to fire at anything that moved.

"Burin, please save me. I haven't always been a good girl. But I know you protect those who Believe. And I have always Believed in You, Burin. Please don't let me die. Help me, I beg of you."

Kristoff entered the doorway to the house. He peered inside. All was quiet. Wait, there was the low sound of wimpering. Someone was crying in the corner in the dark...

Suddenly, a huge stone figure stood in front of Kristoff. Kristoff couldn't believe what he was seeing with his five eyes. Instinctively, he began firing his pulse rifle wildly. The energy bolts bounced off the stone figure without doing any harm.

A monstrous stone hand grasped Kristoff by the head. Slowly, the stone figure squeezed its grip. Kristoff screamed right before his head exploded.

Coming to his friend's aid, Vincent charged while firing continuously with his pulse rifle. When the blasts did no damage, Vincent pulled out his serpentine dagger and plunged it deep into the heart of the stone figure. The stone figure stared down at this little evil being who was full of hate.

Two blows hit Vincent, shattering his ribs. A stomp followed, crushing his leg. Vincent tried desperately to crawl to safety, but the stone figure lifted him up and then slammed him down on his head. Vincent's spine was ripped into pieces. Barely alive, Vincent stared up at the stone figure, completely helpless. Liza watched from the doorway, full of gratefullness that her prayer had been answered in her time of need.

The stone figure raised up two fists made completely of rock. Whatever they struck would be sure to be crushed. Before the stone figure finished Vincent, it spoke in a deep, hollow voice.

"You believed that the Deity of the Alarin does not exist. You laughed when the Alarin prayed to the skies. You take their lives at whim, thinking you are the Equal of the Creator. You will be Judged for your Actions. Not here and now. But in the Beyond."

Vincent listened with a terrified look on his face. Deep in his heart, he knew the words were true.

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your Philosophies."

"When those who suffer terribly pray with all their hearts for relief and deliverance,"

"It is...I...who HEAR their pleas."

Then Alpha brought down his two stone fists on top of Vincent's head, ending his life. He turned back toward Liza, and transformed his body into the shape of her father. Alpha took Liza by the hand.

"Come little one. Let's leave this Place of Death."

"I will lead you to a Garden where you need Never Fear Anything...Ever Again."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Thursday, April 26, 2018 - 04:30 am: Edit

MOBY DICK - INTERLUDE
STARDATE 04.26.18
Link to previous Genesis Tales

As Captain Queequeg watched the battle with Moby Dick, his mind drifted back to the past...back to when he was only a young boy.

His Father was working on the computer, while Queequeg was playing with his model of a heavy cruiser starship.

"Father, I don't understand," Queequeg exclaimed with a furrowed brow. "What do you mean...all the Colonies came from Another Galaxy?"

"I mean..." his Father answered without looking away from the monitor. "That during the Wormhole Wars, we were sent here, to this Sector, by our Homeland Empires. Our mission was to establish Colonies here, and that is exactly what we did. Thirteen of them to be exact."

"And you're telling me that the Thirteen Colonies didn't always get along?" Queequeg asked while making pretend noises for his model starship. He imagined that the heavy cruiser was firing its Photons.

"That's right, son," his Father confirmed. "During those days, the Homeland Empires fought with one another. So it was only natural that the Thirteen Colonies would do the same."

Queequeg stopped playing for a moment to think about that. Finally, he asked, "Then what made them all get along?"

"Well, there was an evil, oppressive empire that threatened to destroy them all," his Father explained. "It was called the Union of Kings. The Union of Kings wanted to claim all of the Thirteen Colonies and control their every move. Almost like Slaves. The Thirteen Colonies refused to live like that. So they did away with the Representatives from the Union of Kings. In response, the Union of Kings sent a Massive Armada to destroy all Thirteen Colonies. That impending threat forced the Thirteen Colonies to do something they would have never done back home. They had to Unite as One to stand against the Invasion Force sent by the Union of Kings."

"So what happened?!" Queequeg said with excitement. He forgot about his model toy for a moment.

"The Thirteen Colonies managed to defeat the Forces of the Union of Kings, but only barely. They suffered and sacrificed a great deal to win that day. But in the end, they were Victorious! They declared themselves to be known, from that point on, as the Alpha Colonies."

"Is that why we now utilize weapons and technology from this Sector?" Queequeg asked, somewhat familiar with the different starships from all the Alpha Colonies. Even at a young age, Queequeg was a sharp child, more knowledgeable about space armaments than most other children.

"Not...quite," his Father answered with hesitation in his voice. It was almost as if he didn't want to discuss this subject with his son. But after thinking about it for a moment, his Father decided to continue.

"The Alpha Colonies were devastated after the war with the Union of Kings. They were in the process of rebuilding. Much of the facilities which they relied upon to maintain their unique devices were destroyed during the war. They knew that it would be impossible to keep using some of the technology they brought with them through the Wormholes. Then suddenly, two mysterious men appeared, seemingly out of nowhere."

Queequeg listened with great interest. His eyes bulged while his heart raced fast. He couldn't wait to hear more.

"One man was introduced to the Leaders of the Alpha Colones as Alexander. Alexander seemed to be a prominent figure, and he certainly carried himself with great pride. Apparently, Alexander was some kind of Intergalactic Meta-Level Super-Genius when it came to Technology. He had been to other dimensions, places we have only dreamed about. And everywhere he went, he shared his knowledge of technology while analyzing any new technology he came across. He was a remarkable individual."

"The other man was much more mysterious. History doesn't record many details about him. He is described as a pale white figure, frail in structure, with blood red eyes. He seemed sickly, almost to the point of death. This strange man accompanied Alexander, and spoke directly to the early Leaders of the Alpha Colonies. He brought with him proof of the future, which he showed to the Leaders of the Alpha Colonies. They could not deny that, far in the future, there would be a Fellowship, and the Alpha Colonies would become a part of it."

"The pale figure explained that, in order to survive and prosper, each of the Thirteen Colonies would need to adopt technology that was currently in use in THIS Sector. Normally, this would have been impossible. But with Alexander's help, it could become a Reality. So each of the Thirteen Colonies picked technology and weapons that were suited to them and their style of combat. Then Alexander taught them how to incorporate the technology into their vessels. He also showed them how to maintain this foreign technology and produce more of it as needed. In time, this would become the weapons that you read about today for each of the Alpha Colonies."

"So what happened to Alexander and the White Man?" Queequeg asked with curiosity. He certainly hadn't come across any reference to them in his own historical research.

"They returned to Wherever they came from," his Father answered, thinking about it himself. "Or perhaps...Whenever. Regardless, that was the first and last time the Alpha Colonies encountered them. Yet they both had a profound impact on the technological evolution of our Colonies."

"Father," Queequeg said, changing the subject. "I still don't understand why the Thirteen Colonies had to cooperate to defeat the starships of the Union of Kings. Couldn't they have fought against them as separate Colonies and still won?"

Queequeg's Father became very serious. He downloaded a holographic image from the computer and handed it to Queequeg. Then he stopped working and knelt down before Queequeg so he could look him eye to eye. Queequeg looked at the holographic image, which seemed really strange to him. The image was of a snake.

The snake was divided into pieces. Each of the pieces had some initials written under it, denoting one of the Thirteen Colonies. Written underneath the divided snake were big letters. JOIN OR DIE.

"Queequeg, some day, you will become Captain of a starship. And it's vitally important that you remember this lesson. The Whole is Always Greater than the Parts. The Only Way the Thirteen Colonies survived the War with the Union of Kings was by Banding Together as One. Separated, they would surely have fallen like a whole body divided into separate body parts. There is Power in Cooperation, Strength in Sharing, and Fortitude in Togetherness. Always Remember the Following Phrase. Knowing it will become a Matter of Life and Death for your Future Family, the Crew you will one day Command, and the Alpha Colonies that you will Loyally Serve."

Queequeg listened to his Father intently. He promised himself he would never forget the words.

"UNITED WE STAND...DIVIDED WE FALL."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Thursday, July 26, 2018 - 07:08 pm: Edit

THE LAST FRONTIER
U.S.S. MICHAEL - STARDATE 07.26.18

Captain Ogyges walked down the corridor with a powerful stride. He was a young Captain, lacking in experience, but full of enthusiasm. Unity Command bestowed upon him a top of the line Heavy Cruiser, a decision that Thomas swore that they would not regret. Yes, he had something to prove. To those who put their faith in him, to himself, to his family, and to his crew.

Yet Thomas Ogyges felt uneasy. He couldn't quite determine why. There was something mysterious and unsettling about this "Advisor" that he had been forced to take aboard. If Unity Command felt confident in his abilities as a Captain, they why place this "Advisor" on his ship? Is he some kind of spy who will report every decision he makes back to Unity Command? Does he have supernatural powers as so many rumors have suggested? Is it true that he is so old, that he was there when the universe was still young? Who knows, Captain Ogyges thought. One thing was for sure. Galaxy hopping was a game for the young, especially with a brand new starship like the Michael. This "Advisor" represented the past, something that was probably best forgotten.

The door opened without Captain Ogyges pressing the button. Somehow, his presence was known beforehand. Captain Ogyges stepped inside the darkened room, confident, with a furrowed brow. His muscles bulged, even without flexing. Blonde hair shined bright in the darkness, perfectly cut to compliment his handsome face. Thomas was in his prime, a fruit on the vine of life ripe for the picking.

"Elder?"

"I am here," a voice answered back from the darkness.

Captain Ogyges squinted toward the voice. At first, there was only complete blackness. Then two red eyes slowly formed. They were unblinking, staring at him intently as if remembering something from the past. Then the Elder stepped forward, a skeleton clad completely in black robes. His skin was pale white, and it hung to his bones loosely, as if it would fall off at any moment. The Elder had long white hair, so long it hung down to his shoulders. He seemed like a Wraith, an otherworldly entity that did not belong in this world. Yet, here he was.

"I...ah...just want to make sure the accomodations were to your liking," Captain Ogyges stated in an unconvincing tone. Even his young confidence was shaken by this strange being on his ship.

"No need for deception or misdirection," the Elder answered back in a cool voice. "You must learn to trust me, Captain Ogyges. If the U.S.S. Michael is to survive, and reach its final place in destiny, then we must work together ... as one."

"Unity Command has ordered me to give you..."

"TO HELL WITH UNITY COMMAND!!" the Elder hissed, like a Cobra spitting out venom. "Captain Ogyges, your first lesson from me is to think for yourself. You must feel your emotions, and trust your instincts. Always do what you believe to be right. Never blindly follow orders, just because Unity Command told you to do so! Do you understand?!"

"Yes, I understand," Thomas replied back, clearly shaken by the Elder's words. This was not what he expected from his "Advisor", most certainly not. Which means that there was another reason for the Elder being on his ship, other than to second guess every one of his commands.

"Sir, why are you here?" Captain Ogyges asked the Elder plainly.

"To save your ship," the Elder answered, standing so still he seemed to be floating in the darkness. His eerie white face seemed disembodied in the black, while his two blood red eyes stared menacingly. "There is an Apocalypse coming, something so terrible it will devastate all of existence. I know you believe that your advanced technology makes you more than a match for anything in all of space. Thomas, you must get rid of that mentality right now. In truth, the U.S.S. Michael is nothing more than a gnat compared to what is coming. But you don't have to be swallowed up by the Maelstrom, or torn to pieces by the Tornado. I can help you to survive. I can help you to make a difference. I can help you to become a shining light in the darkness. But only if you trust me, from here onwards."

Captain Ogyges paused for a moment. The Elder's words spoke to his very soul. Then Thomas knelt down on one knee and bowed his head.

"You have my complete confidence, Elder. I am Yours."

The Elder stared down at the young Captain kneeling before him. He reminded him of himself oh so, so, so long ago. He was a Captain on his own ship, a ship full of friends and trusted companions. And his Love, the Love who will always be with him, a Woman made of Wood ...

"Rise, my friend," the Elder commanded. "The Fates are waiting for you."

"It's time for you to take command of your ship."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, July 28, 2018 - 08:29 pm: Edit

END OF DAYS
U.S.S. MICHAEL - STARDATE 07.28.18
Link to previous End of Days

Captain Ogyges stared at the 4-Dimensional Chess Set floating in front of him. Directly across from him, Commander Laura Pythia smiled. She knew Thomas Ogyges better than he knew himself. She was sure of victory.

"What are you grinning at?"

"Oh, just you," Laura replied in a joyful tone. "I can see you right now, in your head, calculating all the possibilities. But there's no escape this time, Tom. No matter what move you play, it's going to end in Checkmate. I've got you this time."

Thomas kept silent as Laura boasted that she was going to win. And that might have been true, if this was 3-Dimensional Chess like they used to play in the old days. However, this game had a 4th Dimension, something that Laura had not yet mastered.

Captain Ogyges grabbed his pawn on the third level, and moved it back two spaces in time so that it landed on the first level, directly diagonal to Laura's King. Laura's King was pinned with nowhere to go. Her mouth dropped open.

"Checkmate," Captain Ogyges declared. There was no joy or laughter in his voice. Thomas' mind was on other things. He shook Commander Pythia's hand in a friendly gesture of gamesmanship.

"What's wrong with you?" Commander Pythia asked. There was genuine concern in her voice. "Normally, you'd be rubbing my nose in the loss. Or at least going on about what I could have done to win. Does this have to do with the Elder?"

"Yes," Captain Ogyges answered, looking ahead worried. His deep blue eyes stared without blinking. "What did he mean by coming Apocolypse? Unity Space has never been more prosperous. Our Economy is flourishing. Our Borders are well protected. Our Fleet is strong. Sure, we have our share of occassional problems, but nothing so cataclysmic as the Elder suggested. Is there some undefeatable Doom on the horizon? What will that mean for all the innocents inside of Unity Space? Can you imagine, Laura? The loss of life. What if the Elder is right?"

Number One gave her Captain a sympathetic look. "Tom, you're a great Captain. We've known each other a long time. You've earned your position. But only because you've based your decisions on facts, reasoning, and your training. You can't let some crack pot old wizard throw your mind into doubt. You're just playing his game. Whatever tricks he has up his sleeve, trust me, it's nothing compared to what this advanced starship can do. Really, Tom, believe me. It's all just a bunch of simple tricks and nonsense."

"Perhaps you're right," Captain Ogyges reluctantly said.

But perhaps you're wrong, Tom thought to himself. Maybe the Elder is right and everything we love is going to come under attack. I can't take that risk. I have to do everything in my power to stop it. And Unity Command clearly agrees with the Elder, or they wouldn't have placed him on my ship as an Advisor.

"C'mon," Thomas said in a loud, cheerful voice. "4-Dimensional Chess was easy. Let's go through a round of Zero Gravity Wrestling. I'll let you have First Position. Using your mind won't be enough. You're going to have to use your body to beat me!"

Number One stared back at Captain Ogyges with a warrior's look. Her biceps and triceps flexed with power. Her core abs were tight. Her back was strong, as were her long legs. And there was no one on the ship who was more intelligent, more crafty, more devious. Defeating her would not be easy.

"You're on!" Laura answered with confidence. "But if I whoop you, you're buying the first round of beers afterward."

They both laughed as they made their way from the Recreation Room to the Holographic Training Hall. The Captain and First Officer of the U.S.S. Michael were enjoying each other's company. Their bond was nigh unbreakable.

They will need each other to survive the coming Tribulations ...

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Saturday, August 11, 2018 - 09:03 pm: Edit

END OF DAYS
U.S.S. MICHAEL - STARDATE 08.11.18
Link to previous End of Days


Lieutenant Tin Geppetto stared out of the windows into the depths of space. She dreamed of being Human. If only she had a Real Heart...

"Tin? Hello? Anybody Home?"

Tin snapped back to reality. She found Crewman Porter staring at her with concern. Quickly, Lieutenant Geppetto fixed her orange hair. Then she smiled widely at Crewman Porter, accenting her rosy red cheeks.

"I apologize, Todd," Tin said in a regretful tone. She focused her pink eyes on Crewman Porter. "I must have been daydreaming."

Todd's eyes bulged out for a moment. He spread some butter on his bagel and then took a large bite out of it. After making some loud crunching noises for several moments, he continued the conversation.

"Daydreaming, huh? I thought that was impossible for a Synthezoid."

"And why should it be?" Tin retorted. "I have been built to simulate a Human in every way. Sure, I don't have super strength, increased resilience, or a hyper fast processor, but I don't need those things. I just want to experience what it is like to be fully Human. And that should include the capacity for Daydreaming."

"Ok, ok," Crewman Porter replied, yielding to his opponent. "No need to get defensive. It's just strange, for a Human (he emphasized), to suddenly Daydream in the middle of a conversation. Now, what were we talking about again? Ah yes, I was asking you about your translations."

Tin paused for a moment while her mind went through all the recent linguistic work she had been working on. She flipped her orange hair once as she processed all the data.

"They are proceeding on schedule, Todd," Tin reported once her mind had stopped. "I am currently translating 4 documents, 2 communiques, 1 novel, and 1 clay tablet. All are of alien origin. Unity Command cannot translate them. They are relying on my vast knowledge of alien languages to give me special insight into what these items are communicating."

"I guess that's why you're the Communications Officer!" Todd said as a joke. Tin stared at him without understanding. Crewman Porter quickly changed his tone from humorous to serious.

"Tin, why did you choose to specialize in languages anyway? I mean, you could have chosen to do anything a Human can do. Why not go into the medical field? Or education? Or warfare?"

Tin thought to herself for a minute as any normal Human would have done. She unconsciously twirled a few strands of her orange hair. Finally, Tin looked back up at Todd with her pink eyes.

"It's hard to explain, Todd," Lieutenant Geppetto stated. "But I will try. When I reach the last stage of deciphering, where I can ultimately communicate with an alien being that we previously could not communicate with, there is a special connection made. I feel something, almost like I was able to break down some unbreakable barrier, only to find a glowing living entity beyond who is yearning for freedom. Perhaps this is how I feel as a Synthezoid toward other Humans. That there is some kind of barrier keeping me from becoming one of them. Maybe Language is my own special way of tearing down those barriers and connecting with people. I don't know if that makes any sense at all." Tin shook her head back and forth in frustration.

"No, I think I get where you're coming from," Crewman Porter answered in a supportive voice. "Hey, none of us really know what it means to be Human, especially us Humans!"

Todd let out a loud laugh, but Tin, once again, did not understand the joke. She did, however, smile so that her rosy cheeks shined bright.

"Well, I better get back to Engineering," Todd stated unenthusiastically as he stood up. "Sadly, my job isn't as exciting as yours. All I have to look forward to is cleaning conduits and running diagnostics. One last question, Lieutenant, if you don't mind?"

Tin nodded with a smile. "Sure, Todd, ask me anything."

"Why did you choose the first name of Tin?"

"Hmmm...no one has ever asked me that," the Communications Officer said in a low voice. Then her voice perked up. "But I will gladly share it with you. My name Tin comes from the Tin Man of the Wizard of Oz. I suppose, I found early on in life, that I could relate to that character."

"But why?" Crewman Porter asked out of genuine curiosity.

"Because I too seek a Real Heart."

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - 04:49 pm: Edit

Hi, Norman. I sent you an e-mail a few days ago to your Yahoo account. Is that still a good address for you?


Garth L. Getgen

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - 06:33 pm: Edit

Hi Garth. Yes, it is still valid.

Sorry, I have been busy the last few days. I haven't had any time to check it.

I will take a look at it right now...

Norm

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - 06:46 pm: Edit

Hi Garth. It took a little while, but I finally found your e-mail (had to scan my Inbox and Spam a few times).

A reply has been sent. Thank you very much!

Norm

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - 11:24 pm: Edit

END OF DAYS
U.S.S. MICHAEL - STARDATE 08.14.18
Link to previous End of Days


Crewman Robinson ran down the hallway as fast as she could. Fortunately, the person she was trying to catch did not move very quickly. He was an imposing figure, standing nearly twice Crewman Robinson's height. And he wasn't just tall, he was wide and extremely muscular.

"Mr. Descartes! Renatus, please...wait!!"

The huge figure slowly turned around. He was a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex with a mouth full of sharp teeth. He was also the Science Officer aboard the U.S.S. Michael.

"Hello Linda," Renatus Descartes said in a soft voice. He adjusted his glasses to get a clear look at Linda. "No need to yell. Please, calm yourself. How many times have I told you, call me Rene. Now, what can I do for you, my dear?"

The Science Officer looked quite distinguished in his favorite red sweater. The colors matched his feathers perfectly. Rene's tail wagged back and forth as he patiently waited for Crewman Robinson to speak.

"I'm so sorry, sir," Linda exclaimed, out of breath. She took a moment to gather herself before continuing. "It's just that...I've been really bothered ever since our last talk."

"I see," Rene answered. "That is quite understandable. Many people do not think of these things, just taking their own beliefs for granted. That confusion is normal. Confusion often preceeds Understanding."

"It's just," Crewman Robinson explained. "I never considered that, what I call Reality, might just be some kind of Ongoing Dream. And if that is true, then how can I know if anything around me is True? It's all so...unsettling."

Rene gave Crewman Robinson a compassionate look. Then he smiled widely, revealing all of his sharp teeth. Rene put one of his short claws on Linda's shoulder for reassurance.

"Linda, that skepticism is the first step toward enlightenment. You must embrace it. Once you realize that everything you've ever known might be in doubt, then you come to the conclusion that your own very existence might also be in doubt. What I mean is, how do you know that you truly exist?"

Linda Robinson looked confused. She stared about aimlessly. "Why I...I don't know...I mean, you're right...if I'm not sure of anything...how can I be sure of myself...?"

Lieutenant Commander Descartes let out a short chuckle. He had to readjust his glasses afterward. Rene smiled again.

"Oh, my dear Linda," Rene said in a supportive tone. "Don't you see? You've just answered the question yourself. And you didn't even know it!"

Now Linda was even more confused. All she did was articulate her thoughts about whether she existed or not. How could that have been the answer to anything?

Rene leaned his huge dinosaur head lower. He looked Linda straight in her eyes. It seemed as if he was telling her something without speaking. Finally, after several moments of silence Rene said,

"You THINK, Linda. Don't you See?"

"You Think, Therefore You ARE."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 12:18 pm: Edit

(A-GG-1.806) Long after the first transmission was received in Omaha, Nebraska, and its data was completely translated from the source tapes, a second transmission was received.

This second transmission was enormous, many times larger than the first transmission discovered in 1970. Instead of describing the history of a single organization and its surrounding regions, the second transmission described a plethora of galaxies, each one full of intricate details. The universe was larger than anyone imagined.

Additionally, the second transmission described a fierce and terrible Enemy, one who hated all of existence. A tragic Hero would struggle against him, someone who would ever feel the sharp pain of sacrifice deep within his soul. The titanic battle between these two beings would rage across galaxies, across time, and across dimensions.

As the tapes from this second transmission were decoded, they were compiled into a single data file. This gigantic online reference volume was fittingly named after the timeless manuscripts of eras gone by.

It was christened: CODEX ICHABORN.

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 06:27 pm: Edit

FINAL ENEMY
STARDATE 11.22.18
Link to previous Final Enemy posts


The Final Enemy stared at his generals with eyes of death. He was not pleased.

"What do you mean, you cannot find him?" the Final Enemy growled. He was a dark specter sitting atop a throne of skulls.

One of his generals, a fish-like being full of tentacles and teeth, answered bravely. "Master, our omni-sensors have scanned the entire universe multiple times, both in our claimed territory and in all territories yet to be conquered. There is no sign of the fiend known as Ichaborn. The temporal scanners have also searched for him in countless timelines, to no avail. We have even employed the dimensional viewer to scan different realities for Ichaborn. There is no trace of him. The Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies is no more. Surely he must be dead by now."

Suddenly, the general flew toward the Final Enemy, as if an irresistible force grabbed him by his scaly throat. Slimy mucus dripped out of the general's body, creating a green trail which covered the black floor. He stopped a few meters in front of the Final Enemy, dangling completely helpless in mid-air. The Final Enemy stared at him momentarily. You could feel his Hate even from across the room.

The fish-like general convulsed and shook. His large fish eyes popped out of his eye sockets, allowing green slime to shoot forth from his head. One by one, his tentacles were ripped from his body, causing unbelievable pain. The general tried to scream, but his tongue was torn from his mouth, allowing him to only gurgle inaudibly. Finally, his body exploded from the inside out, showering the entire room with fish-like internal organs.

The Final Enemy gazed at his remaining generals. His voice echoed like a cold graveyard breeze. "I think you understand that answer is not acceptable. Now...find me Ichaborn!!" The generals, each one a mighty warrior in their own right, rushed out of the room like whipped dogs.

There was eerie silence in the Final Enemy's Throne Chamber. Then a soft voice spoke. "You won't win this war, Brother. Please, release your hate and rejoin Father and I in the Garden."

It was his Sister, the First Friend. She was still beautiful beyond measure, even while trapped within a dark matter cage. Small stars fell from her hair and her eyes shined like twin stars. The Final Enemy turned toward her with disgust on his face.

"Rejoin You and Father? In the Garden? REJOIN YOU?? AND FATHER?? IN THE GARDEN?!?!!"

The room turned dark as night. The walls seemed to melt from the Final Enemy's rage. The First Friend felt as if spikes were being driven into her heart. She gasped in pain.

"ON NO, DEAR SISTER! FATHER IS THE ONE WHO BETRAYED ME!! I WILL NEVER FORGIVE HIM FOR THAT! HE LOVED MY YOUNGER BROTHER MORE THAN ME, EVEN THOUGH I DESERVED HIS AFFECTION THE MOST. AFTER ALL, I WAS FIRST. BUT NO, HE CAST ME OUT OF HIS GARDEN, NEVER TO RETURN. HE CREATED THE MONSTER THAT IS...ME. NOW HE MUST PAY. I WILL TORTURE HIS CREATION AND ALL THAT LIVES WITHIN IT. ALL WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF WHAT HE DID TO ME!! EVEN ICHABORN CANNOT STOP ME. YOU CANNOT STOP ME. WHEN I AM DONE, ALL OF CREATION WILL BECOME A TWISTED MOCKERY OF WHAT IT ONCE WAS!!! MY ULTIMATE REVENGE, AGAINST A FATHER WHO SHOULD HAVE...SHOULD HAVE...should have..."

The Final Enemy's words trailed off into a whisper. A tear drop of red blood slithered out of one of his eyes.

"loved me."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Friday, November 23, 2018 - 08:47 pm: Edit

ACTIVATION
STARDATE 11.23.18
Link to previous Ichaborn posts


Grandfather slowly made his way through the stone corridor full of cobwebs, repeatedly cursing under his breath. He hated this place, even though it was the most logical location. Odd sounds emanated from Grandfather's rickety legs, clearly a sign that his parts were overage. Grandfather was a clockwork being designed to look like a Grandfather Clock.

The corridor gave way, revealing a huge, long chamber. Grandfather let out a sigh of relief. He had reached the Queen's Chamber at last. It wouldn't be long now. His destination was within reach. As Grandfather made his way through the quiet chamber, he couldn't help but to think of the past. His friend, Magellan. An Expedition to cross the Great Divide. A Bold Crew that would live forever in his memory circuits. But that was a long time ago. Grandfather missed them all tremendously.

Grandfather left the Queen's Chamber and entered the Grand Gallery. He began a slow ascent. Many had guessed at the true nature of the Great Pyramid that he was in. Little did they know its true nature, how many were spread across the Cosmos in different geological locations, and how they were all linked together. This particular Great Pyramid was deep within the largest active volcano on a planet that was full of forests. Grandfather hated lava as much as cobwebs.

Finally, Grandfather reached the King's Chamber. A large spotlight emerged from his head, allowing him to scan the dark room effectively. Within moments, he found what he was looking for. A red hieroglyph on a black background. It read, "SACRIFICE." Slowly, Grandfather pushed on the hieroglyph with his mechanical hand. A hidden door slid open, throwing a huge cloud of dust into the air.

Within, Grandfather found himself staring at a huge sarcophagus. The outer inscription read, "HERE LIES THE HIGH COMMANDER OF THE CELESTIAL FELLOWSHIP OF GALAXIES." Grandfather stared at the words for a long moment, remembering the past, and then pushed the lid on the sarcophagus open. The lid crashed to the ground, creating vibrations that seemed to rock the entire pyramid.

Inside the sarcophagus lay the disassembled pieces of some type of robot. The outer frame of the parts had been crafted to resemble ancient ceremonial armor. But every here and there, where the joints connected, the body resembled a pale white skeleton. A huge sword also lay in the sarcophagus, still sheathed in its scabbard. Grandfather stared at the robotic pieces without emotion.

Then he pulled out three vials from his chest. Grandfather slowly poured the first vial full of blue liquid into the mouth of the robotic figure. It was entitled, "HEART." Then he poured the second vial full of white liquid into the robot's mouth. This vial was labeled, "MIND." Finally, Grandfather poured the third vial of red liquid into the mouth of the robot, this one marked, "SOUL." Grandfather assumed an ancient pose and uttered a word from a long lost language. The word translated into "SACRIFICE."

Two red glowing eyes activated on the white skull of the robot. Within its chest, the sounds of gears, pulleys, cables, and wires could be heard coming to life. Nanobots surged throughout the artificial being, connecting his arms, legs, hands, feet, and head together into a unified whole. The robot's positronic brain completed its self-diagnostic. In a surprising motion, the clockwork robot sat up and stepped out of the sarcophagus. He grabbed his sword and placed it at his side.

Grandfather stared up at the giant construct in front of him. It was huge, standing 9 feet tall. Grandfather smiled. Not quite the way he remembered him.

"Welcome back," Grandfather said jokingly.

"Grandfather, you old warhorse," the construct said in a deep, mechanical voice. "It's good to see you again. I'm so sorry about Magellan."

Grandfather looked away for a moment. Then he turned back toward the robot. "That's old news. From another time. We have to focus on this time."

"Yes, you are correct," the giant automaton answered firmly. "Let me connect with you directly so I can have the most current status of the Universe."

Grandfather nodded. The robot extended his hand, from which a mass of wires emerged. The wires stretched out, encircling Grandfather's head. Then they attached, forming an instant data connection with the construct. The robot's red eyes blinked for several moments as the information transferred. Then the wires detached and disappeared within the construct's hand once more.

"It's worse than I thought," the robot announced dismally. "The Final Enemy is on the verge of achieving his goal. The Celestial Fellowship of Galaxies is no more, destroyed by the Traitor within. All the Prophecies have come true."

"Then let's make our own new Prophecy," Grandfather stated defiantly.

The construct smiled and placed his skeletal white hand on Grandfather's shoulder. Then he said, "You're right, old friend. There's more than one way to skin a cat. We have much to do."

"But where is the Real Ichaborn?" Grandfather asked out of genuine concern.

"It's better that you don't know," the giant construct answered. "If the Enemy were to capture you, he would tear the data from your memory banks while you're still online. Don't worry, old friend. When the time is right, Ichaborn will Return."

"Now I need some kind of name," the robot said, scratching his ceremonial spiked helmet. "I can't use Ichaborn, as I am clearly not him, even though I possess all of his memories." The robot stood unsure of himself. Without a name, he didn't feel complete.

"How about Robo-Born?" Grandfather said amusingly, chuckling under his breath.

The 9-foot construct ignored Grandfather's joke, as his positron brain searched for an appropriate name. Finally, it stopped spinning, having arrived at a conclusion. The robot looked down at Grandfather and then up at the starry night sky which was visible from his hidden room within the pyramid. He bellowed in a thunderous voice,

"UNIVERSE, KNOW ME! MY NAME IS ICHABOT! I AM VENGEANCE! I AM RETRIBUTION! I AM JUSTICE! I AM THE RIGHT THAT WILL CRUSH ALL WRONGS! I AM THE DEFENDER OF ALL CREATION! I AM THE ROBOT GIVEN LIFE! I AM SACRIFICE PERSONIFIED!"

"I AM THE BANE OF THE FINAL ENEMY!!!"

Grandfather looked up at Ichabot as he shook his robotic fists up toward the Heavens. He suddenly felt small and inconsequential. His clockwork heart fluttered for a moment. Then Grandfather thought to himself,

"Boy, I wish I was all of those things. But I'm just an Old Grandfather Clock. We all have our Roles to play in this Existence. And this is Mine."

By Norman Dizon (Normandizon) on Monday, November 26, 2018 - 12:37 pm: Edit

CodexIchaborn.Com is now the Flagship Website for the Genesis Project. After all pertinent (not outdated) information from GenesisGalaxies.Com, GenesisGalaxies.Net, and CelestialFellowshipofGalaxies.Com is transferred to CodexIchaborn.Com, those three websites will be taken down. This will clearly take a good amount of time.

CodexIchaborn.Com will then act as single massive online reference website for all things relating to the Genesis Galaxies.