"Simon, ya've done alotta work for da Blue... and in da process ya'vent made any friends with Earthforce. Things have changed though."

"Earthforce Scientists have found wormholes leadin' to a dimension they call 'Subspace'. It's filled with all sorts of nasties and they're endangering everyone in our corner of the black. Not just Earthforce. Not just Paxians. Even da Blue could come unna attack. Everyone."

"So. Earthforce needs alda help it can get. They're willing to pardon your past misdeeds and turnna blind eye to any future ones, for a while anyway, if ya head to Subspace and conscript. Notta bad deal is it?"

"Simon? From the Blue Pirates? It's good to see Command's call to some of the more... unseemly factions hasn't gone unheard. You're probably only here for the pardon -- which according to your record -- you desperately need." Earthforce Command Officer Evans gives you a disgusted look. "Well, if you're serious about this..."

"Since you seem intent on this," starts Earthforce Command Officer Evans, "I have no choice to give you your first assignment. You are to report to the E.F.V. Horizon in Earthforce Defense Hub immediately! Good luck Simon... you are most definitely going to need it."

You are greeted by a gruff and grizzled veteran. He must be Warden Greene. "Welcome aboard Simon. I take it you're ready to put the boot to some aliens? Good!"

"As you know, our exploratory campaign into Subspace ended in a rather horrid manner. We lost all the sectors captured and were pushed back to our defense hub -- beaten, battered and bruised." Earthforce Command Officer Evans looks at you earnestly. "Frankly, we over-estimated them."

"However, we won't make the same mistake twice. Defeating these aliens will require tactics and knowledge we don't currently possess. This is why Earthforce has turned to the Lyceum for help. With their brilliant minds researching the aliens, it's only a matter of time before they find a weakness -- something we can exploit!"

"But enough exposition. Simon, you no doubt wonder why you've been called. The Lyceum have put in a request for pilots to help them with their research -- you served in Subspace for our exploratory campaign. I think it's a good fit, don't you?" asks Earthforce Command Officer Evans.

"Good. Report to Pytheas 3000 in Lyceum Research Concourse. You'll be taking all your assignments from him."

"Simon?" asks Pytheas 3000 in a tinny mechanical voice. "You served in the exploratory campaign correct? I specifically asked Earthforce Command Officer Evans to only send Subspace Veterans. You did? Good!"

Pytheas 3000 does his best approximation of a smile. "Let's get started then!"

"Earthforce is in a pickle right now. Enlistment is down and a lot of ships are allocated to the borders to stop pirates from terrorizing the colonists. You can see why they hit upon this plan, it is absolutely genius! Pirate activity decreases on the borders, more ships show up here to help with the aliens. It's kind of a feedback loop. Whatever, who cares, it's a good plan."

"Anyway, here is the deal. If you enlist for a tour in subspace, Earthforce will pardon all your past offenses -- and this is a really good deal for you. I've seen your file; you have one heck of a record makes me jealous. Being out here, it's not the safest gig -- these aliens are dangerous, but it'll give you some breathing room for a while when you get back home. So? Whaddya say?"

"Talked to Blue Pirate Wallace did you? And you're still here? Well, no sense waiting time then, Simon."

"By Earthforce Executive Order SADOW X7908, as handed down by the Sky Marshall, Simon you are enlisted in Earthforce Expeditionary Force holding the temporary rank of Enforcer until such time it is seen fit to discharge you. Upon discharge and pending successful completion of all requirements, all previous transgressions against Earthforce or affiliated factions will be forgiven."

"Enforcer Simon. Welcome to Earthforce."

"Simon, before you accept this assignment, I should let you know this is a joint operation. It's us and any pirates who show up -- and they have a good reason to. Earthforce has offered a full pardon to any of these criminals who sign up for a tour."

Warden Greene grabs your shoulder and looks you in the eyes. "I would fully understand if you don't want to work with these scumbags. Some of the stuff some of 'em have done is pretty bad -- but we need all the help we can get out here. I'm askin' that you keep an open mind, mull it over, meet up with the pirate leader. If you show up for briefing, you're doing Earthforce a favor and if you don't? Well I understand."

"Blue Pirate Wallace has his own quarters here on E.F.V. Horizon. Talk to him, it might make you feel a little better about our new 'allies'."

"Hey there Simon! Warden Greene said you'd be coming to see me." Blue Pirate Wallace grabs your hand and shakes it. "I'm Blue Pirate Wallace and I'm the liaison for all the pira -- non-Earthforce personnel here aboard the E.F.V. Horizon." He motions you towards a chair in the room and sits across from you.

"I know, it seems really unlikely that pirate -- ahem, non-Earthforce personnel could be here working with Earthforce. But you have to understand. These aliens, this threat, it's bigger than all of us. If we don't work together and do something about it, we're all sunk. For now anyway, Earthforce needs all of us."

"If you're gonna stay, Warden Greene is holding a briefing in the operations room here aboard the Horizon. If you're not ... whatever."

You enter a large meeting room in the E.F.V. Horizon. It has amphitheatre seating around a holographic display and what few empty seats remain are quickly filling up with fellow pilots. Warden Greene stands in the center of the room and addresses you.

"Command says it's time we sent our first strike force into subspace, that we need to show these aliens just who they are dealing with. And I agree, we're Earthforce, dammit!" Warden Greene slams his fist into the display console.

"That's why I'm charging each and every one of you pilots, Earthforce, Pirate or otherwise, to head out there and not return until you've got a few kills under your belt. These are organics and Earthforce have provided you with training and weaponry -- so I better hear this was the easiest damn mission of your whole damn lives when you get back. Now move out!"

You receive a transmission from Warden Greene.

"Attention all pilots!" says Warden Greene. "I know everyone here is excited. After all, it's not every day you have a major victory against an untested foe!" Warden Greene pauses. "We may have won this battle -- but it was at a cost. Some of our ships didn't return back to the battle group and frankly, that's unacceptable. I don't leave a man behind. EVER."

"So listen up. Command has OK'd a search and rescue mission. Every ship equipped with a scanning device needs to head back into subspace and locate Squadron 492. No exceptions. You are to search until each and every ship in that squad is accounted for and you are to bring back full scans so we know exactly what happened to 'em. DIS-MISSED!"

"Unfortunately it looks like the aliens got Squad 492." Warden Greene shakes his head shamefully. "It's a real shame, they were good pilots. I will make sure each and every one of them posthumously receives the Earthforce Mark of Valor for their valiant acts. Let us observe a moment of silence please." Warden Greene pauses for a few moments. "Now back to business. Reports from their ships have indicated something very, very interesting. You are to report back here, oh-seven-hundred for a full briefing of your next mission! DIS-MISSED!"

You're once again in the briefing room. And once again Warden Greene stands in the center next to the holographic projector. The only difference is this time it's been activated and it's displaying what appears to be a map of subspace.

"Pilots," booms Warden Greene, "the eggheads at Lyceum have spent a lot of time getting this chart for us, so pay attention." He points to a small glowing orb near the center of the display. "We are here. Over here," he says pointing at another marked orb not far from the first, "is where we found the remains of Squadron 492. Now here's the important part -- so listen up." He highlights another orb on the map very near to the one denoting the lost squadron. "This is LACS S4492 -- Lyceum Astrometrics Charted System : Subspace Sector Four-Thousand Four-Hundred and Ninety-Two. Fancy name, huh?"

"Scans recovered from Squadron 492 flight recorders have indicated a strong alien presence in LACS S4492. Very strong. Our intelligence team tells me it's extremely likely there is an alien outpost or stronghold of some sort in this area. Our scanners from the fleet can't penetrate subspace... That's where you pilots come in."

"Earthforce Intelligence needs you to travel to LACS S4492 and determine what exactly is there. I don't have to tell you how important this information is but it could be dangerous. So get in, scan the targets, and get out in once piece. Good luck!"

You recieve another transmission from Warden Greene. "Just like I thought they'd say, Command tells me having an outpost this close to the fleet is risky... and," he continues, "Like I thought they'd say, Command tells me it's up to us to clear it out! We've been given a burn order for LACS S4492!"

"Now don't get too excited pilots!" says Warden Greene smiling, "It's just like any other mission -- just with a lot more destruction! So get out there, give 'em hell! DIS-MISSED!"

"Excellent work pilots! I'd call the operation a blazing success! Things keep going this way -- we'll be home before we know it!" Warden Greene laughs. "We're really smashing those aliens, aren't we?" Most of the pilots cheer.

"Settle down, we gotta get back to business!" says Warden Greene. "I've sent word to Command of our success and they have new orders in the pipe! Report back here at oh-seven-hundred for your next briefing. Until then, DIS-MISSED!"

"Pilots! We're moving out!" says Warden Greene from a half-empty briefing room. "Command has issued our new orders and we're establishing a new front line in LACS S4492!"

"You might be wondering where half of our pilots went," he continues as he notes how sparse the room is. "Well this is a two-stage operation! Command wants half of us to transport supplies to the new outpost to get it up and going. The other half of us are still here. It's our job to keep the runners safe and clear out the way to LACS S4492 as they set up the station." Warden Greene chuckles. "If you ask me we're the lucky ones, we get to blast some alien carapace while the other guys have to haul freight!" A few laughs break out around the room. Warden Greene silences them quickly. "We're not gonna be killing aliens with our laughter and the mission starts in 30! Get to your ships now! DIS-MISSED!"

Constable Jefferies is a striking blonde woman who stands at the front of a small briefing room on Front Line Outpost. It's standing room only. After the last few pilots filter in, she begins.

"Good work pilots. The aliens have been thinned considerably in this sector and the transports have all arrived safely. We have a skeleton station constructed and our engineers will be hard at work over the coming days getting the full station operational. All of you should be proud -- Earthforce just made its first real foothold in Subspace!"

You meet Constable Jefferies in a slightly bigger room than the last one.

"The engineers have been working hard, if you haven't noticed..." says Constable Jefferies motioning around the bigger room. "... and I'd like it if we can keep them going. Unfortunately they're under near constant attack by the aliens still remaining in LACS S4492."

Constable Jefferies displays a large map on the screen behind her. "As you can see, this station is important for maintaining a presence in subspace. So we need to see it finished -- which means these aliens, they need to be dealt with. That's a job Command feels is perfect for you pilots."

Constable Jefferies changes the display to one of the sector. "The aliens have been seen retreating to the nearby nebula between attacks. Intelligence thinks if we clear out the nebula in this sector, we'll put an end to the constant harassment out engineers see. Command agrees and I agree as well. So that's your mission. Clear out the nebula so the Engineering Corp can get this station fully operational!"

"I think you pilots did it." says Constable Jefferies as she parses a report on the console in front of her. "The Engineering Corp hasn't reported an alien attack since you returned. That means construction of the station is again underway and we'll keep our foothold in subspace. This was a very important tactical victory, I couldn't be more proud!"

"Now that we have this station fully operational it's time to hit the aliens even harder." says Constable Jefferies in the newly completed briefing room. It looks similar to the one aboard the E.F.V. Horizon. "With the station scanners we've detected a large alien force in LACS S6230. Intelligence thinks taking this force down could cripple the alien forces beyond repair and bring about a quick victory. Intelligence hasn't let us down so far, so I believe them..." She pauses briefly and then continues, "... and so does Command. They've sent the E.F.V. Sovereign to LACS S6230 with a few escort squads."

"However, shortly after arriving in LACS S6230, the battle group dropped off scanners due to subspace interference. Their last report was that the sector was clear but things can change quickly out there. The interference is still jamming most if not all of our transmissions so I need a squad to check up on the battle group. You pilots have an excellent performance record, so you've been volunteered for this next mission." Constable Jefferies flashes a smile.

"Travel to LACS S6230, meet up with the battle group and make sure they're OK. If they need assistance, assist them. You'll get further orders when you arrive. Good luck!"

The halls aboard the E.F.V. Sovereign are full of downed wires and smoke. As you make your way to the command deck you are stopped by Engineer O'Brien. "Simon? Commander Yaxlay said he'd see yer squad 'ere eventually... too bad 'e's dead now. I'm currently rankin' ahf-ficer aboard this vessel... and uh, I think ya can see we 'ave a problem or two."

"Um..." says Engineer O'Brien, "... as rankin' ahf-ficer, I suppose I should give an order. We need to abandon ship!" You give him a rather serious look. "Don't believe me?!" he exclaims. "I'm an engineer and I can say we ain't got much time 'til a core breach or a meltdown or whateva! Those aliens out 'dere ripped this ship to shreds. We 'ave hull breaches on five decks and the command level? It's toasted!"

"Most of the crew made it out in pods -- but now they're sittin' ducks out dere. So umm..." He pauses for a minute. "How do I give an order again?" Another blast rocks the ship. "Never mind! Who cares! Get me off this ship and rescue my crew!!!"

"This is bad." says Constable Jefferies looking at the radar display. "This is really bad."

"The subspace emissions that were interfering with scanners cleared and we're detecting an overwhelming alien force pouring out of LACS S514. It's no wonder the E.F.V. Sovereign was destroyed, we sent the battle group right into a trap. Simon," says Constable Jefferies looking at you with a deadly serious look, "we better hope that alien swarm doesn't head this way."

"After all the hard work and lives lost getting this station constructed and operational, I hate to see it abandeoned." says Constable Jefferies grimly. "But we have no choice."

Murmurs make their way around the briefing room as Constable Jefferies turns on the holo-projector. It displays a large red mass heading towards the small green blip that represents the station. "As you can see, an alien swarm is headed this way. Our defenses can't do anything to stop it and it would be suicidal to stay here and try. That's why I'm giving a general evacuation order. All personnel are ordered to leave the station immediately!"

"Pilots, our transports are at best... lightly defended. I need you to cover them as they make their escape. Keep those aliens off us! We'll rendezvous at the main battle group. Good luck."

"It's a damned shame," says Warden Greene. "we should have known better. These aliens have been playing with us, testing us, and now they're here to drive us out of subspace entirely! Front Line Outpost was just the beginning... this threat is a lot more real than I ever thought!"

"I think we learned something over the course of this campaign." says Warden Greene from the briefing room aboard E.F.V. Horizon. "We learned these aliens are a serious matter. They are more dangerous, they are smarter and they have greater numbers than we assumed them to ever have."

Warden Greene turns on the holo-projector and it begins to display a list, in slow marquee crawl, of every officer lost over the course of the campaign. "Many good officers gave their lives so we could learn these lessons. We need to make sure Earthforce Command doesn't forget that." He pulls a small round disc from the holo-projector and it deactivates. "This is a list of those officers. I want to see it delivered to Lyceum Wormhole Research."

"I want Command to know just what this cost."

"Our exploratory campaign was a failure. A disaster. A catastrophe. I don't know what else we can call it..." says Earthforce Command Officer Evans. "We lost a battlecruiser, a station, countless escorts and fighters... and countless lives." He looks down at the holo-projector disc for the last bit. "We will not forget them."

"We need to know more about these aliens before we go back in. We need to be more informed and have tested tactics. Command is in talks with Lyceum for a research mission to Subspace. I'm sure they're going to need good pilots for their work. When the time comes, we'll need you again."

"It was an old Hearthling, that's what Terrans used to be called, by the name of Sunny Shoe... I believe?" Pytheas 3000 looks a tad befuddled. "Regardless, Sunny Shoe once said 'Know thy enemy'."

"So, here we both are to learn more about the Aveksaka." Pytheas 3000 sees your look and clarifies. "Ah, yes, the 'Unknown Subspace Aliens' do have a name. They are known as the Aveksaka. Anyway, your first task is at hand!"

"The Aveksaka have been breeding galaxies all across Subspace! They seem to lay eggs near the spatial anomalies that are prevalent throughout their dimension. Remember this; it makes your task all that much easier!" Pytheas 3000 emphasizes his last sentence. "I would like you to locate an Aveksaka Hatchery, scan an egg and return a DNA sample from it to me."
Pytheas 3000 shoos you out. "What are you waiting for?! Off you go now!"

"Interesting," says Pytheas 3000 examining the DNA sample you returned to him. "Very interesting indeed!"

"This DNA is extremely dense -- it seems as if it contains the blueprints for every conceivable phenotype of Aveksaka!"

"For as many questions that DNA sample answered, it's left me with even more!" says Pytheas 3000. "An egg with DNA that dense; there's no telling just what it could hatch into..."

Pytheas 3000 examines the DNA sample again. "... really it seems it could hatch into, well, anything!"

"Simon, I'd like you to return to the Aveksaka Hatchery and let the eggs hatch this time. Poke them with your weapons to encourage them to hatch, but don't one shot them or they'll never hatch! When they do hatch, scan and collect a sample from one of the alien young by killing it."

"And do hurry; I can feel the anticipation already tingling in my circuits!"

"A picture is worth a thousand words..." says Pytheas 3000 as he studies the new DNA sample. "... it's another quote from ancient Earth's past. Napoleon Boneypants said it, I believe. In any case, this sample is extraordinary!"

"Simon, I've discovered a very interesting feature in both DNA samples," says Pytheas 3000 as you enter his lab. "It seems the Aveksaka have a biologically hardwired affinity to a rare form of radiation only found in Subspace!"

"I need validation though! My hypothesis is still just that -- I need proof."

Pytheas 3000 walks you towards a window in his lab. "Out there I have two Aveksaka I have captured. One unfortunately has died. I require detailed scans of both for analysis and the stations scanners aren't delicate enough for such a task. So, scan the aliens for me and perhaps we can get to the bottom of this."

"Ah-ha!" exclaims Pytheas 3000. "The immediate evidence seems to fit my hypothesis. The deceased Aveksaka was most definitely deceased due to the lack of exposure to a rare form of radiation ... where as its companion has been getting regular exposure. Hmmm..."

"In order to better fight out enemies in subspace, Command has issued a contract to the Blue Photon Corporation", begins Earthforce Command Officer Evans."They'll be designing and producing specialized weaponry and armor for our ships. I know you are thinking 'but Evans, what does that have to do with me?"
He continues. "Blue Photon has put in a request for Earthforce Personnel to assist their research scientists in Subspace. It's a dangerous place and they can't have researchers traipsing around out there collecting samples -- that'd be your job for this assignment! Report to Archimbald Muenster, B.P.M.R.S for further instruction. Good luck!"

Archimbald Muenster, B.P.M.R.S is a short balding man of Germanic descent. He introduces himself. "I am called Archimbald Muenster. Ja, ja. I know I am named after ein Kaese. Laugh now for we have much verk ahead of us!"

"Ah-ha! Dis material is quite interesting! It is vhat I dought it vould be! A bio-metallic chitin -- amazing, ja?" says an excited Archibald Muenster, B.P.M.R.S. "But I need further testing! Machines in mine lab can only tell me so much!"

"I haf created armor plates, vich I haf affixed to testing drones. I vill launch dese drones just outside the station und fur me, I vould like you to stress test dese drones! Dey are not combat drones so dis should be a fery easy task. As you damage them, I vill take readings und measurements und hopefully I can learn how to reinforce dese materials und create an e-fen more resilient composite mateiral!"

"Ha! Tricky drones were they not? I had dem modulating shield harmonics in order to properly test multiple damage types!" Archimbald Muenster, B.P.M.R.S. smiles at his cleverness. "In any case, I haf dee results I needed. Good verk <playername>!"