Tiberia Series

Tiberia: War With the Planet Burners Chapter 3 Innocense Lost

I begin to wonder what happened during this period. I browse in the federal archive, I find little however I continue my research as I need to shake off all unlawful feelings for Zoya. Unfortunately she is exactly the person I need to fill this gap. I go speak to her and find out the secret behind his lack of reporting.

After Arcadia he locked himself away in his quarters, he refused to speak to anyone. I was assigned to lead the fleet and the Redemption without him. It was an overwhelming task. After a couple of months I went to his quarters. When I stepped inside I saw a great departure from the normal spartan conditions. When I opened the door a stack of of paper greeted me. I continued into this foreign landscape. As I reached the bed I saw Tiberius an old man, he clearly hadn't taken his longevity shot. I pricked him with the needle and those drawn lines retreated. "Why did you do that? I want to die." I told him simply that committing suicide was to spit in the face of the souls of those decompressed bodies floating in orbit of Arcadia. I eventually convinced him to go on.

A few hours late we were sitting in those quarters after an eventful 4 hours. A young ensign no older than 30 had rushed in as we finished redressing. "Sir, we have contacts to the 3 o' clock. "WHAT! Tell the bridge I'll be there in 2 minutes, Zoya take over for me okay.". I dashed off with the ensign. While I was an apt commander, I was no Thawn... yet, we were getting overwhelmed; AGAIN!!! Then Tiberius showed up and somehow won the day.

After he finally recovered from the shock, we were both hit by another major event. I found that I was pregnant. Somehow, this was profounding. I thought the gene-seed prevented unauthorized fertility. We both had to make up an excuse as if the doctor found out the truth we would both meet or deaths at the rope. Because humanity had overcrowding issues.

Now I was raised by strong parents back in the 1930s don't ask me how I'm still alive. I demanded a wedding, even though he was mature for 100 he still had alot to learn. For three weeks he held out on me, he didn't want either of us hurt. Of course the high command couldn't get rid of my demands and well they couldn't get rid of Tiberius either eventually both he, and command caved into my demands.

3 months later aboard the ship there was a bland old military wedding ceremony over Besos. I wanted to be on Besos Prime but well I found out later that would be a bad idea. During the ceremony the warning klaxons went off. We all had to rush to battle stations. I had an ensign take care of the newborns. Once we had visual Tiberius shouted "FUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCK!!!!!" They Jen'Madte had put over 12 million contacts into the air.

The first hits landed about 30 seconds after everyone was at their post. We lost the main gun. That was probably our only hope to win the battle. Luckily for us the launcher bays were still operational all fighters were launched into that roiling mass of ships. I regretted that decision. None of the fighters made it back. After 1 hour we had to withdraw all remaining ships. The Jen'Madte were more brave this time and targeted military vessels, the civilians remained untouched.

I can still remember what happened next. As we left engagement range the Jen'Madte decided to kill an easy target and virus bombed the planet. As the planet turned orange as the atmosphere burned away, so did Tiberius's. After the battle for 3 months all I remember is Tiberius exploding over everything. Instead of sadness he felt rage. He started talking genocide. We had managed to capture 10 Jen'Madte. I was there for when Tiberius tortured them. He dipped the ravaged bodies in Sulpheric Acid. The screams could be heard through the entire ship. He even targeted me with his violent unending spate of rage.

I finally convinced him to calm down. This was called the happy day by the one surviving Jen'Madte. It was indeed a happy day. However he never completely cooled off from the aftershock of Besos Prime.

After this conversation I am intrigued by the figure known only as Tiberius Thawn. I now found that he was mortal and fallible containing a full range of human emotion. I continued down this path knowing I would find more information. I found another file in the archive for orders of the Third Imperial Fleet. I am uploading them now.

Active... loading, loading, loading, access granted; opening file #41014101 "Third Fleet to X-45"

---To Tiberius Thawn

I represent the Imperial High Command. I have recorded the file and the orders are as follows...

Tiberius Thawn is to move to travel with his fleet and the remaining refugees to the planet X-45. This planet is no Besos Prime but it should be sufficient to hold the population of 250,000. This is where the Imperial Fleet will be mothballed until we can come up with a counter attack plan. We do in fact have a plan but it will take a while to come into fruition. Tiberius I know you are a bold soldier but I am ordering you to keep your head down.

If you must know we have finished a full scale version of the Neutron S missile. So sit tight and await further orders. If this operation is performed successfully you will be promoted to Grand Admiral.

---- Imperial Representative Tarkin.

close file; closed, loading, loading, loading; select option; option save file, loading loading, complete; shut down sequence activated.