EV Nova
Auroran Walkthrough

"So," he says, "You must be [Player Name]. Rumor has it that you're battle-handy, not up to my caliber, but you might be the pilot I'm looking for."

"And why would you be looking for me?" you reply with a wry smile.

"My House needs a blockade runner," he explains directly, and you immediately assume that he is an Auroran warrior, which arouses your caution. "It is too soon to bring the military might of the House to bear, so I'm asking if you will run cargo to the port of Dominance in the Heraan Cov system. Interested...?"

"So," he says, "Have you discovered your courage?"

"And why would you still be looking for me?" you reply, a little nervously.

"My House remains under a blockade. Unfortunately, inter-house politics makes it impossible to bring the military might of the House to bear, so I'm asking if you will run cargo to the port of Dominance in the Heraan Cov system. Interested...?"

"Why am I worthy of such trust?" you ask.

"Only a pilot of skill and honor would transport weapons enough to outfit a small system and not think about stealing them." (You don't have the heart to tell him that you had no idea what you were carrying.) "So, will you please deliver these sealed orders to Bazara, my brother? He's the man from whom you have been receiving your shipments. He's currently on Skye in the Murasaki system. However, he will not be there for long, so you must hurry. Will you carry them for me?"

"Archindar says that you are a pilot of skill and honor," he compliments you straightforwardly. "So, will you please deliver these sealed orders to Bazara, my brother. He's currently on Skye in the Murasaki system. However, he will not be there for long, so you must hurry. Will you carry them for me?"

He looks you up and down, and smiles broadly. "So, you must be [Player Name], the pilot who so greatly impressed my two Kachi. You must be good, very good, for they are not easy to impress. I understand that you wish to serve House Heraan. Are you willing to face the trials required to enter it?"

Along the promenades and balconies of the enormous Heraan family arcology, you feel a strange sense of destiny. Here are people {b800"at least as""far more"} decent and honorable than those you have left behind. Yet...

With only a little trepidation you continue on your way to your ship to begin your journey to Gungungun.

"It is time you started to earn your keep," he smiles quietly. "So, will you please deliver these sealed orders to Bazara, my brother. He's the man from whom you have been receiving your shipments. He's currently on Skye in the Murasaki system. However, he will not be there for long, so you must hurry. Will you carry them for me?"

"I hate this spy crap," one mutters, "why can't these bloody Aurorans just come out in the open and fight like real men?"

"Oh, come off it," laughs the other as your blood begins to burn, "it's not like our side doesn't try to do the same. Come on, Syracuse isn't that bad, just a bit polluted. Chances are that there is no spy up there, even if there was, he'll probably be gone by the time we get there, and we'll just patrol around for a few weeks looking for him and have a holiday from the front. The girls up there aren't half bad looking either."

As both of them grin and get down to some serious drinking, your thoughts turn to your mission. So far, this is the only lead you have that might be related to Bazara. It might be a wild goose chase, but you decide to check it out nonetheless and head over to Syracuse in the Galvan system.

The Moashi are trying to launch another raid on our space, and the Heraan House could use your help.

Offer Text (856)
From: Kuron
To: Little Wolf

The Federation dogs are trying to launch another 'exploratory expedition' into our space, and the Heraan House could use your help repelling them.

"I strongly suggest you get out of our seat, {G"'friend'" "'miss'"}," hisses the leader of a small group of what you guess passes for warriors amongst the Moash, and, in keeping with your disguise, you slide off their seat, keeping your eyes down.

"Just like that scum that Am'Rosso sent those guys to meet," sneers the leader, and the others laugh and your ears pick up as Am'Rosso is the name of the Moash Thurokiir. "Apparently the Heraani weakling didn't want to be seen anywhere in Auroran space so he sent a message saying to meet him somewhere in Federation space. But then I suppose that it is fitting that it will be cowardice that will finally be the downfall of their supposed 'House'."

As you digest this information, you let your rage slowly dissipate away. You remind yourself that the yapping of dogs is meaningless, and no true warrior would react to it.

You slowly finish your drink and start making your way back to the spaceport to start searching through the Federation.

"You're one of those Auroran warriors, aren't you?' he asks rhetorically, not even waiting for an answer. "Don't see too many of your kind outside of your ships up here in the Federation. You would want to watch yourself, or the Bureau will drag you in to have a word to you.

"Mind you," he continues rambling on, "the last one of you guys I mentioned that to didn't pay too much attention, but then he the last time I saw him, he was headed towards New England, and everybody knows that only the old retirees from the military or the Bureau live there, so maybe he knew someone who still had a little clout."

You listen quietly as a he rambles on, and you even buy him another drink. He tells you his life story, which bores you no end, but that first snippet of information was worth every long minute you spend in his company.

Finally you manage to disengage yourself politely and head off toward your ship, finally with a specific destination in mind.

"Swift action is required. Things are afoot here that even our combined minds could not have foreseen. The Dani have begun to sniff about the borders of Heraani space like the dogs that they are. It is necessary that they do not cause too much havoc. Our warriors are still smarting from the Moashi blockade. 'Twould also be politic at the moment if the other Houses knew little about the strengths or weaknesses of House Heraan. The Dani must withdraw without forcing our lads into a swirling battle across a multitude of systems. No doubt the Moashi have put them up to it from behind the scenes. Cunning curs, the Moashi, avoiding suspicion by bullying us by proxy."

"So! You will lead a raiding force into Dani space. I suggest hitting the Dani Himear system, as my intelligence tells me that they have an elite formation of warships patrolling there while their normal fleets are out harassing us. If you spot them, destroy them. But be warned. By the time you start to jump back to Heraani space, the Dani war fleets posturing on our borders will have turned around, heading for home. You'll have to come back through that way." Techerakh grins at you. You get the impression that if you were forced to give the Dani a bloody nose on your way home, Techerakh wouldn't mind...

Once they have calmed down (and you work out that you can see straight if you squint your right eye) Techerakh explains why you are feeling the effects more than normal.

"A great warrior I know introduced me to this drink. It's called an Irish Boilermaker. A fine fellow that Archindar..." Techerakh drifts into his memories for a moment, then continues. "...anyway, we are celebrating your latest honor."

"And what honor ish that?" you slur at Techerakh, much to Karrod's amusement.

"You are being sponsored to serve with the Rimertans, my young {G"hero" "heroine"}," Techerakh chuckles. "Only the greatest of warriors are allowed to do this, as it requires the sponsorship of the Thurokiir of a House. The Rimertans can always turn down the deal of course, but they have always accepted warriors from House Heraan." You are about to ask more about your upcoming assignment when Kuron and Bazara enter the bar. The night seems to blur away...

"The Dechtakars have heard of raids by houseless warriors on the frontier settlement of [Travel Stellar] in the [Travel System] system," Lo Wang informs you quietly after you sit down. "The Auroran settlers have discovered a valuable deposit of palladium, but these honorless thieves have been plundering their shipments as they leave the planet. You and Hune are charged with sorting out the culprits."

Hune looks at you strangely, "Do you accept?"

You struggle with your rage at being used in such a lowly manner, but after a moment you calm yourself and begin to realize that you are being tested, and that Lo Wang is waiting for your answer. What will it be?

As soon as you enter, you are rushed into the main tactics room. Warriors stand around the walls, guarding the important House figures within. Techerakh glances up from a map of the nearby systems, and waves you over. "I have a mission for you," he says. "Do you feel like going for a run out to [Return Stellar]?"

A short time later you have all the information that you need. The Heraan spy has been discovered, and is currently being held under house arrest, awaiting a Moash Interrogation Squad.

At the house, you cruise past the two guards. As soon as their eyes leave you, you spin, and with one blast end both their lives. Using one of the guards' fingers to open the door, you dive through, cutting short the military careers of another two men before finding the spy. The man is in bad shape, but he is Heraan. He will live. You cut his bonds and hoist him over your shoulder. As you bolt to your ship, klaxons and alarms are sounding, and you know that you are going to face some determined enemies as you leave. Leaping to the controls, you simply hit the bricks, praying that you will break out and get back on your way to Heraan before too many get on your tail...

"Little Wolf," he is almost beside himself with excitement "We have the Moash now. Our spy on Moash uncovered a conspiracy. The Moash were going to allow Federation Fleets safe passage across the Auroran border to attack the Tekel and Dani Houses. This is HUGE. It would be enough to turn the Dani and Tekel Houses against the Moash, but coming from us, neither House would believe it. So it falls to us to stop the threat.

"The plan called for the Moash Fleets to send coded messages to the Federation Fleets, who would then jump into Auroran space without a shot being fired. The Council proposes to send two battle fleets, one each to head to the Dani and Tekel rendezvous points, destroy the listening posts there, and quickly erect new ones, feeding signals back to the Moash on Aurora that all is well.

"Of course, the Moash fleets will be nothing but an expanding debris field, and we will be waiting for the Federation. The Federation will be vulnerable, and not expecting attack. We will clean their clocks. Unfortunately, for this to happen, I need you to go and steal something from the Federation. Are you keen?"

"Tomorrow our fleets will head out in secret to attack the Moash. Ordinarily, I would lead one fleet and Kuron the other. Since so much has gone into the preparation for this attack, and the opportunity is so great to deal a mortal blow to the Federation, Kuron wants to keep an eye on both fleets. Subsequently, we are one commander short. Or we were, up until I gave you command of the other fleet."

You feel your mouth fall open, and Techerakh grins at you. "I had a feeling about you when we first met, and I'm glad to know I was right. I want you to lead the second fleet, and take her to [Return Stellar] in the [Return System] system to wipe out the Moash there. Once you do, the Engineers will jump in and start sending back the false signals. Sounds easy, do you want to go?"

"The Wild Geese have made a strike against Auroran interests in the [Return System] system," he informs you. "We need you two to reinforce those Auroran interests in the system."

Once again there is that odd moment of silence as both Hune and Lo Wang await your answer to the implied question of whether or not you will do your duty.

Once again there is that odd moment of silence as both Hune and Lo Wang await your answer to the implied question of whether or not you will do your {b800"duty, even against those who were your comrades whom you still hold in high regard" "duty"}.

It is with a monstrous hangover that you make your way to Techerakh's quarters the next morning. You arrive to see him stripped to the waist, engaging a number of holographic opponents. Sweat shines on his bare body, making the images of death and destruction that adorn him writhe and take life. You politely wait for him to finish, and when he does so he sits down beside you and begins your briefing.

"Are you ready to redeem yourself?" he asks directly?

"Why all the long faces? Did he die a coward?" The shock of what Kuron says stops you in your tracks.

"I guess you don't yet know how, so I'll tell you and let you all decide for yourselves. The Moashi Fleet you all rushed to stop was only sent for him. And the fool knew it. So what does he do? He speeds to meet them. He gave an excellent account of himself, making a mockery of the Moashi's best. By the time he fell, the Moashi had lost 20 fighters, a cruiser and a carrier. All this he did, even while facing their Mundokiir. Yes my brothers, the Moashi sent the "Eye of Fury" to claim him. So tell me this, who has found peace in the Hall of Heroes, and who still have the lion's work cut out for them."

Kuron smiles sadly.

"Yes, I'll miss that man a great deal, and unfortunately all of our plans must wait until we find a new Thurokiir. That is why I waited for you all to return."

The Moashi Mundokiir has called a meeting of his veteran warriors on Moash. How do you feel about leading a raid?

Kuron had told you of the tradition, but you dread the task. You feel as if it will place Techerakh forever beyond your reach, but you feel that is why the new Thurokiir must do so, so that they may fully carry the mantle of responsibility.

You enter the dim confines of Techerakh's unit, and are surprised to see a holo-projector with a note to you attached to it. You pick it up and initiate its sequencer...and suddenly Techerakh comes to life before your eyes.

"Hello {G"me boyo" "lass"}," he smiles at you, and you feel the tears leap unbidden to your eyes.

"Well, I guess I have died, and my hunch about the Moashi was right. Damn, I so wanted to be there when we marched on to victory. Ah well, I'll save you a spot at my table in the hall of heroes. Now, down to business. I have become very concerned about the number of our vessels being pulled away for duty on the border. Theoretically, all the Houses defend it equally, but lately the requests for Heraani ships have increased significantly. It is starting to leave us undermanned in the inner systems. Now if I have died, all the warriors will have gathered here. Our enemies will either attack our borders now, or will wait for all of our lads and lassies to return to their far flung posts, and then make a strike for Heraan itself. Now that you are Arbiter, you have to carry the weight of the whole House on your shoulders. Don't fret. I made sure that your shoulders were {G"wide" "strong"} enough! You must determine which of the two theories is true, and than act upon it. So much is at stake now. The Moashi are as slippery as eels, as cunning as cutter-House rats. They know we are making a push, and have plans in place to foil us. If they win, then the Heraani will cease to exist. They will blast us into atoms, leaving only dogs to lick at their heels. Don't let that happen! Now I know you don't feel like you can succeed, {G"boy" "girl"}, but don't worry, neither did I when I was in your place. Just remember, I have faith in you! I know that you will lead us to victory. When we are First House, unite the Aurorans. You have the wits to do it, for I have seen it in you. Unite us, then lead us to victory..."

Techerakh's image fades, and you are alone once more.

You gasp as you read, "House Moash has accused the Heraani of neglecting their duty to the Auroran Empire by not providing enough troops and vessels to man the Federation border."

You allow the rage to build inside you as you read further.

"They also accuse House Heraan of being in league with the Federation and of using their influence with the mortal enemies of the Auroran Empire to destroy the other four Houses in preparation for seizing the Empire."

The audacity of the Moashi amazes you. They have accused House Heraan of all the actions they themselves have undertaken. The communique demands that you travel to Aurora and speak on behalf on House Heraan. You stalk back into your ship, and quickly send a message to Hune, asking him to meet you on Aurora, as soon as possible.

"KarHallarn," he pants, and you get the impression that he has been running a long time, "The Moash Fleets left Aurora hours ago, and appear to be headed into Heraani space."

Your blood chills. Realizing that they have failed in their bid to destroy House Heraan politically, the Moashi have decided to try old fashioned force of arms. You rush towards your ship, the House must be warned.

Your first communication is with Kuron, who is still overjoyed by your victory at the Auroran Council. But he quickly realizes the plight House Heraan is in. With the bulk of its fighting capability on the Federation border, there is little standing in the way of House Moash smashing Heraan and killing the Heart of the House. Kuron begs you to buy him some time to mount a defense. You tell him that you will try.

Wearily you get to your feet and make your way to your ship. Kuron, from his hospital bed, informed the House Elders to expect this challenge, as the Moash will be trying to win back some honor. Kuron had asked you what you intended to do when the challenge came, but you told him you had no idea. Now you do.

Before too long you are seated at the First House's position of the Great Auroran Council beside Kuron the Silver Arm (so named now in honor of his new cybernetic limb). The other four Houses quietly await the Thurokiirs Address.

"Brothers and Sisters of the Auroran Empire," you begin, "the days of fighting among ourselves must end. In disunity we will stay under the boot of the Federation. They take our lives, take our resources, treat us with disdain, and fail to see that we are their equals, if not their betters.

"We have been at war with them for generations, but the days of stalemate are over. Soon we will begin a campaign against the Federation, the likes of which has not been seen since the days of early contact.

"Look about you. Are our differences so great that the Auroran Nation cannot push forward? We go to win our right as the pre-eminent warriors in the universe. All I ask is that you are patient, and keep the fighting amongst ourselves limited. I have a much grander vision in mind. House Heraan believes in that vision. Do you?"

The Hall erupts to the cheers of the massed warriors. You take it that they agree.

"Hello KarHallarn," he says.

For a master spy, Frandall does not exactly look the part, but then you guess that is the whole point.

"Mu'Randa has told me what you intend, and I have in turn spoken with the Rebel High Command. We have already reached an impasse. The Rebellion will not support the Auroran Empire if it conquers the Federation. I'm afraid that we feel your bad system of government is little better than the Federation's worse one."

"And what would it take for the Rebellion to come aboard?" you ask.

"Well, for starters, a judicial system would be good..."

"It is most likely going to be through Roughneck Territory." Kuron waves a silver limb towards the ceiling. "The only problem is the poxing Roughnecks themselves. Every time I have considered attacking the Federation, I stumble on the Roughnecks. I have to admit that they would probably hold any advance long enough for the Federation to reinforce the area and push us back.

"So do the Roughnecks have anybody who would take them apart? I know that our warriors would be able to take them, but we don't have time. We have to skip through the system and push on into Federation space."

You think about the possibility, when Kuron suddenly slaps the table. "I know who to get," he beams at you "listen, by the time you get back from meeting the Polaris and the Rebels, I'll have someone else to meet you."

You finish your drink, and think over the upcoming meetings.

"Wolf, as our new Thurokiir, I must report. While we rotted in that filthy Federation hulk, a few of us formed close ties with some Vell-os prisoners. We exchanged pledges.

We said we would try to free them - not just busting them out, but instead freeing them from the "Collective".

The Vell-os are able to communicate to each other through their thoughts, but at the end of the Vell-os wars, the Federation imprisoned the Vell-os into a controlled version of this "mind". They made the Vell-os wear collars, which disclosed their thoughts and made them slaves.

To free them, the Vell-os said there was an ancient artifact on a planet called Korell that would re-awaken their subconscious minds, giving them more power to break free of the Federation Collective. They pledged to us that they would give us some information to further our tech development.

These Vell-os prisoners were recently transferred to a Medical Research Facility on [Travel Stellar] in the [Travel System] system. Some of us had been forced to work there, and the experiments are horrific.

We ask for leave to rescue them. We gave our word. We need to get to [Travel Stellar] as quick as possible, disable the station and rescue those Vell-os.

As your warriors carry the Vell-os back aboard [Ship Name], your sensor operator turns to you, a wild gleam in his eye. You immediately recognize the look as the Fjargen, the wild fearful frenzied look of coming battle.

"Arbiter," he grins ruefully "A large Federation interceptor fleet has just entered the system and is moving in to block our escape."

You call for battle stations, and the crew quickly rush to their positions. Casting your eye out to the main viewport, you curse roundly. The Federation are trying their utmost to stop you, and you are greatly outnumbered. You will give them that; at least they make a good fight. The battle lust fills your veins, and you bark out the order to attack...

On landing you revive the Vell-os. They are groggy at first, but are soon revived with the expert medical care provided here. Within hours many of them are looking better, and they explain that their nano-technology enables them to recover far faster than the rest of humanity could hope for.

"But we need to be moving as soon as possible KarHallarn," says a woman named Llanwyn, who seems to be their spokesperson, "because the Federation will already be on their way here. We need to get to the planet Korell to gain access to an ancient artifact that will amplify our strength so that we will gain the strength to be free from these damn bonds.

"Would you be willing to take us?"

"Wolf," she smiles "You and your crew have suffered terrible privations in order to save us from the Federation, and we are extremely grateful. However, we have another request to ask of you. We are in need of transport to the Polaris station they call [Return Stellar] in the [Return System] system. Once we are under the protection of the Polaris, we will be able to begin our fight to free our people telepathically from the Federation's collective. Would you be willing to transport us there?"

You consider for a moment, but your decision is already made. You have sacrificed for these people, and to deny them now would cheapen the deeds of your warriors terribly. You tell Llanwyn that you will take them. She smiles, and tells you the co-ordinates. It will be a long journey, but no longer than it has been already.

Upon landing you are met by an elderly gentleman. He is old, but still has the look of eagles about him, and you are glad that he wants to talk rather than fight.

"I am Nil'Rabiska" he says "and you are Wolf. We have reason to believe that you have Vell-os passengers aboard. Is this correct?"

You tell him that you are Wolf, Thurokiir of Heraan house, and that if he wishes to harm your passengers, he will have a fierce battle on his hands.

He smiles, "Proud Arbiter, fear not our blows. An old communicator left by the Vell-os generations ago awoke from it's slumber ten days ago, and told us to expect your ship. We are here to escort you to [Return Stellar] in the [Return System] system, where you will be permitted to land and rest. You have done your passengers a great service, and we will honor you." You gratefully accept his invitation, and head for [Return Stellar].

"This will make for huge advances in technology," she explains excitedly. "It will take some time to analyze and put to use, but you will be the first to hear of it."

With that they quickly scurry away to begin looking at the data, and you grin and shake your head at their excitement.

"We've called it the Thunderforge," says one of the scientists quietly, "and we have been working around the clock to finish it. It has two radar missile launchers with one hundred and fifty radar missiles, two storm chainguns, four fusion pulse turrets and four 150mm railguns. But what separates her from the rest are the four new weapons she has that are based on the tech from that Vell-os data-cube you gave us. We call them 'TripHammers', based on how they work and what they will do to your foes.

"This is the first we have ever built," he continues with quiet pride. "It will be months before we will complete another, but we thought we would offer this one to you, Arbiter. We would be honored if you would have her."

"It WOULD probably be easier to just kill everybody," you begin.

Kuron laughs. "I have set up another meeting for you, but this one is pretty easy," Kuron begins, taking a long draught of Ale, "I know the man very well. In fact he was a battle brother to Techerakh, in the early days. A great warrior, Archindar, otherwise know as Eamon Flannigan. He is the leader of the Wild Geese."

"It WOULD probably be easier to just kill everybody," you begin.

Kuron laughs. "I have set up another meeting for you, but this one should be pretty for you," Kuron begins, taking a long draught of Ale. "After all, you know the man very well. In fact he was a battle brother to Techerakh, in the early days. A great warrior, Archindar, otherwise know as Eamon Flannigan. I believe you are familiar with him?"