The Forge
The factory world churned with activity as its massive facilities worked constantly, hidden away in the Deep Core from the prying eyes of governments due to its situation and careful maniuplation of navigation data. It was obviously something a galactic government would scoff at since they had untold worlds to use to produce their goods. The Union had no such luxury, operating through a network of legitimate and illegtimate fronts which had to be handled with discretion. The most visible element of the Union for some time now had been the Galactic Liberation Front who had done an excellent job distracting the galaxy. Yet the Union still needed hardware and thus the Forge was built, or more precisely was constantly being built as the Union dug deeper and deeper into the planet with their ever increasing workforce of necrotroopers.
It was an immense project; an entire world dedicated to producing the Union's expendable puppet soldiers, the Necrotroopers, along with weaponry, vehicles and warships even from the shipyards that now sat in orbit. Certain members of the Committee were becoming uneasy with what looked to be a major military buildup at the Forge and the Union's secret shipyards at Polis Massa. The Chairman was planning something, something on the scales the Union had never worked on before. Necropolis war carriers were parked in orbit, already a sizable fleet's worth and more on the way. Some thought this was simply another way to store the Necrotroopers as the Forge's immense cryogenic storage facilities had to be constantly expanded along with its factories and facilities.
The only individuals who knew anything belonged to the inner circle of direct Union operatives or had proven their loyalty to the Chairman. The only hint of anything going on were the off-handed mention of something called Phase Two.
The Chairman's Office
Estro Sabrino read over data from reports on Union operations as of late and on Forge production. Everything seemed to be going along as he had hoped and the recent lull in the activity of Union fronts would likely cause the great powers of the galaxy to lower their guard ever so slightly. The Union's name had been mentioned in news programs now which was just as well, it added mystery to the organization. That mystery could be utilized as an effective tool later on to spread fear and panic, which is what Sabrino wanted. Psychological warfare on the masses could be just as devastating as a military strike on a key installation. For now though the Union needed to prepare for his grand designs to shape the galaxy. The Coalition was proving weak, splintering apart even as the Empire remained bloated from conquest while its military ran about on little tangents of self-glorification. The Black Dragon Empire almost seemed dormant and the Commonwealth was simply there.
It seemed time to begin pushing things forward now that the foundations had been laid for Jutraalian Tango, Sabrino's overall strategy for the Union. Operation Nerfherder would have to begin as soon as possible, though it would require delicate handling to ensure no one really noticed what was going on. The Union needed information, all forms of it, to stay ahead of its many enemies and prospective customers. However, it also needed a trump card in situations that might prove vital to the Union's overall success later on and where better to look than the up and coming youths of this day and age? Sabrino smiled a little and issued a summons.
The two men who walked in differed greatly as one was a tall, proud looking Falleen scientist, his long braid of hair wrapped casually around his neck as he wore a spotless white lab coat. The other man was very non-descript who looked like he'd blend in with a crowd just about anywhere in his drab grey suit and sad features.
"Dr. Mengax, Anon, thank you for joining me at such short notice," Sabrino replied calmly as the two took their seats in front of his desk.
"Chairman, what is it you wished to see me for?" Mengax looked slightly annoyed but Sabrino ignored that. Doctor Mengax was the Union's much needed scientific genius, having developed the Necrotrooper program along with a number of other items. His specialization in neuroscience would be very much needed for what was to come.
"I was reading over one of your proposals, Project Janus," Sabrino stated calmly, pressing his fingertips together in a thoughtful motion.
"Project Janus?" Anon spoke up, looking lost at that name.
"My proposition on brainwashing and mental conditioning to create sleeper agents," Mengax replied, used to dumbing things down for the Union's vast horde of non-scientific minions and members.
"Yes, a project I funded to completion if I am not mistaken," Sabrino replied.
"Indeed, sir, and we now hold the results of that funding in a fully operational Project Janus. Success rating is about 90 percent overall," Mengax replied proudly.
"What of the other 10 percent?" Anon asked curiously, deciding to see what problems there could be.
"Suicide. The conditioning can fracture the mind of a subject. One in ten will become suicidal while most others recover and can be triggered by a very specific command phrase. Its much better then when we started, initially we had a 50 percent suicide rate," Mengax noted.
"And how does this involve me?" Anon looked back towards the Chairman who simply smiled.
"I'm giving you control of Project Janus, you are to use it to begin infiltration of the major galactic governments."
"What? But how? We can't just randomly go grabbing government officials and brainwashing them, someone will notice," Anon replied, looking a little unsure.
"Precisely, which is why we will target youths getting ready to join the governments and their militaries. It is people at that age range who have a higher suicide rate than most anyways. Whenever that 10 percent shows up, it'll be odd but seem just like another hormone driven suicide combined with back history which we can plant later if needed. We shall slip our little ticking time bombs amongst their recruits and help them along if need be to promotion. No one would ever suspect such a tactic considering most of our operations have been open and brutal. They won't see this coming," Sabrino smiled darkly over his steepled fingers.
Anon merely nodded, taking this in along with everything else. It seems the Union had found a use for him afterall, as a recruiter for sleeper agents. At least he wouldn't be stuck on this thrumming factory world anymore, it was so dreary and dead with all the automation and usage of necrotroopers.
"Very well, where shall I begin?" Anon asked curiously as the began to consider options for execution of this operation.
"Where else? The Empire," Sabrino replied with a chuckle.
The trio launched into discussion on the beginnings for this subtle yet dangerous plan that could allow the Union to reap great rewards. All it would take is time and patience.
The factory world churned with activity as its massive facilities worked constantly, hidden away in the Deep Core from the prying eyes of governments due to its situation and careful maniuplation of navigation data. It was obviously something a galactic government would scoff at since they had untold worlds to use to produce their goods. The Union had no such luxury, operating through a network of legitimate and illegtimate fronts which had to be handled with discretion. The most visible element of the Union for some time now had been the Galactic Liberation Front who had done an excellent job distracting the galaxy. Yet the Union still needed hardware and thus the Forge was built, or more precisely was constantly being built as the Union dug deeper and deeper into the planet with their ever increasing workforce of necrotroopers.
It was an immense project; an entire world dedicated to producing the Union's expendable puppet soldiers, the Necrotroopers, along with weaponry, vehicles and warships even from the shipyards that now sat in orbit. Certain members of the Committee were becoming uneasy with what looked to be a major military buildup at the Forge and the Union's secret shipyards at Polis Massa. The Chairman was planning something, something on the scales the Union had never worked on before. Necropolis war carriers were parked in orbit, already a sizable fleet's worth and more on the way. Some thought this was simply another way to store the Necrotroopers as the Forge's immense cryogenic storage facilities had to be constantly expanded along with its factories and facilities.
The only individuals who knew anything belonged to the inner circle of direct Union operatives or had proven their loyalty to the Chairman. The only hint of anything going on were the off-handed mention of something called Phase Two.
The Chairman's Office
Estro Sabrino read over data from reports on Union operations as of late and on Forge production. Everything seemed to be going along as he had hoped and the recent lull in the activity of Union fronts would likely cause the great powers of the galaxy to lower their guard ever so slightly. The Union's name had been mentioned in news programs now which was just as well, it added mystery to the organization. That mystery could be utilized as an effective tool later on to spread fear and panic, which is what Sabrino wanted. Psychological warfare on the masses could be just as devastating as a military strike on a key installation. For now though the Union needed to prepare for his grand designs to shape the galaxy. The Coalition was proving weak, splintering apart even as the Empire remained bloated from conquest while its military ran about on little tangents of self-glorification. The Black Dragon Empire almost seemed dormant and the Commonwealth was simply there.
It seemed time to begin pushing things forward now that the foundations had been laid for Jutraalian Tango, Sabrino's overall strategy for the Union. Operation Nerfherder would have to begin as soon as possible, though it would require delicate handling to ensure no one really noticed what was going on. The Union needed information, all forms of it, to stay ahead of its many enemies and prospective customers. However, it also needed a trump card in situations that might prove vital to the Union's overall success later on and where better to look than the up and coming youths of this day and age? Sabrino smiled a little and issued a summons.
The two men who walked in differed greatly as one was a tall, proud looking Falleen scientist, his long braid of hair wrapped casually around his neck as he wore a spotless white lab coat. The other man was very non-descript who looked like he'd blend in with a crowd just about anywhere in his drab grey suit and sad features.
"Dr. Mengax, Anon, thank you for joining me at such short notice," Sabrino replied calmly as the two took their seats in front of his desk.
"Chairman, what is it you wished to see me for?" Mengax looked slightly annoyed but Sabrino ignored that. Doctor Mengax was the Union's much needed scientific genius, having developed the Necrotrooper program along with a number of other items. His specialization in neuroscience would be very much needed for what was to come.
"I was reading over one of your proposals, Project Janus," Sabrino stated calmly, pressing his fingertips together in a thoughtful motion.
"Project Janus?" Anon spoke up, looking lost at that name.
"My proposition on brainwashing and mental conditioning to create sleeper agents," Mengax replied, used to dumbing things down for the Union's vast horde of non-scientific minions and members.
"Yes, a project I funded to completion if I am not mistaken," Sabrino replied.
"Indeed, sir, and we now hold the results of that funding in a fully operational Project Janus. Success rating is about 90 percent overall," Mengax replied proudly.
"What of the other 10 percent?" Anon asked curiously, deciding to see what problems there could be.
"Suicide. The conditioning can fracture the mind of a subject. One in ten will become suicidal while most others recover and can be triggered by a very specific command phrase. Its much better then when we started, initially we had a 50 percent suicide rate," Mengax noted.
"And how does this involve me?" Anon looked back towards the Chairman who simply smiled.
"I'm giving you control of Project Janus, you are to use it to begin infiltration of the major galactic governments."
"What? But how? We can't just randomly go grabbing government officials and brainwashing them, someone will notice," Anon replied, looking a little unsure.
"Precisely, which is why we will target youths getting ready to join the governments and their militaries. It is people at that age range who have a higher suicide rate than most anyways. Whenever that 10 percent shows up, it'll be odd but seem just like another hormone driven suicide combined with back history which we can plant later if needed. We shall slip our little ticking time bombs amongst their recruits and help them along if need be to promotion. No one would ever suspect such a tactic considering most of our operations have been open and brutal. They won't see this coming," Sabrino smiled darkly over his steepled fingers.
Anon merely nodded, taking this in along with everything else. It seems the Union had found a use for him afterall, as a recruiter for sleeper agents. At least he wouldn't be stuck on this thrumming factory world anymore, it was so dreary and dead with all the automation and usage of necrotroopers.
"Very well, where shall I begin?" Anon asked curiously as the began to consider options for execution of this operation.
"Where else? The Empire," Sabrino replied with a chuckle.
The trio launched into discussion on the beginnings for this subtle yet dangerous plan that could allow the Union to reap great rewards. All it would take is time and patience.