The Hyperspace Wars - A Reckless Ride

Part 1 - The Rise of the Tyrant

The Hyperspace Wars, a period etched in the annals of the late 28th century, were not fought on defined battlefields with massed fleets. They were a more insidious conflict, a chaotic scramble for dominance fuelled by the perilous pursuit of speed and the vast, isolating distances of the time-delayed galaxy. In the border regions, far from the established cores, lawlessness flourished. Communication lagged, authority was distant, and opportunity beckoned for those willing to exploit the vacuum. One such pocket of turbulent life was the ZeeZee star system, specifically ZeeZee Station – a minor hub, a waypoint on the edge, known more for the comestible goods sourced from the small, 0.7g planet below than for any significant strategic importance. Its population, a mix of transient traders, station workers, and those who preferred life away from the denser systems, significantly outnumbered the few hardy souls tending the garden-farms and villages on the planet’s surface.

In a dimly lit, cluttered office on ZeeZee Station, dust motes danced in a single beam of light from a cracked window. Empty data-slate cases and discarded food wrappers littered the surfaces. A half-empty bottle of old Earth red wine sat on a desk. D.D. Dagbert, a man whose face is a roadmap of past indulgences and simmering ambition, sat hunched over a desktop terminal, illuminated by its glow. He was dressed in slightly rumpled, once-expensive clothes. He was a strange figure, a green-haired big carrot of a man. On the first sighting anyone would describe him a strong, though his body was large but his arms strangely thin, his legs slightly too small – a living, screaming exclamation mark of a man, yet capable of cajoling anyone who stood too close. This was a private moment, unseen by the public.

A tinny audio feed from a local station crackled: “…reports of increased transit disruptions in the outer sectors this cycle. Authorities on ZeeZee Station advise caution. Remember, report any unusual activity immediately…”

D.D. Dagbert snorted, a low, guttural sound. He took a long swig from the wine bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “Caution? Hah. Caution’s for the lousey. Crummy.”

He stared at the screen, waiting. The room is silent except for his breathing and the faint hum of the old office equipment. The contrast between the man and his surroundings is stark – a former ‘ruling head’ in a forgotten corner.

“Hated this damn office. Hated the job. ‘Real estate manager.’ Selling dreams to dirt-poor immis, pommies. No real credits. Not like… nothing REAL business. Found better ways. Always find better ways.”

He grinned, a predatory flash in his eyes. He gulped more wine. “Grab ‘em all by the pussy. Yeah. By the narrative. Make the pussies believe.”

A notification flashed on the screen. D.D. Dagbert leaned closer, his eyes narrowing. He typed a rapid command. “Long night. But a profitable one.”

Alyssa Matesic, a sharp, weary-looking woman, stepped into the office. She was dressed neatly, a stark contrast to Dagbert’s disarray. She carried a data-slate. “Sir? You called?”

“Yeah. Alyssa. You agree. Don’t you?” Dagbert said without looking at her.

“Yes, Sir. Sure,” she replied flatly.

“And you’ll do it again. When the campaign starts.”

“When does the campaign start, Sir?”

“Wait for it…” Dagbert’s breathing was heavy. “Things change. There’s something bad out there. Something they need me to fix.”

A news alert popped up on the screen. D.D. Dagbert’s eyes gleamed.

NEWS ALERT (On screen): URGENT: SHIP ATTACKED NEAR ZEEZEE PERIMETER.

Dagbert slammed his hand on the desk, making the wine bottle rattle. “There! See?! Told you! Something bad!” He pointed a shaking finger at the screen. “I think we have a ship out. Yeah. We got a ship out. Contact them. Give ‘em help. Make a show of it.”

“Right away, Sir,” Alyssa Matesic said, nodding and already typing on her data-slate.

“Alyssa! Wake up, Mam Matesic!” Dagbert was grinning widely now, revealing stained teeth. “That… that is the start of our campaign! Arrange the interviews! Get the feeds ready! ‘Local Hero Rescues Families from Outer Chaos!’ That’s the headline!” He allowed himself only a short grin. Alyssa Matesic nodded, her expression unreadable, and exited the office. D.D. Dagbert stared at the news alert. The desktop light reflects in his eyes, making them seem cold and calculating.

“D.D. Dagbert. Back in business. And this time… this time the whole damn station’s all my show,” he whispered to himself.

He leaned back in his chair, the initial surge of excitement settling into a cold, calculating focus. This wasn’t just about a single act of piracy; it was about crafting a narrative, a carefully constructed illusion of chaos from which he would emerge as the sole bringer of order. He had done it before, in smaller ways, during his time as Head of the Council, subtly manipulating information to discredit rivals or inflate his own importance. But this time, the stakes were higher, and the canvas was the fear spreading through the station population.

He thought of his Puppets, his former wives. Each one, in his mind, a carefully chosen tool for a specific phase of his life, discarded when their usefulness waned. He saw the station’s population in much the same way – easily swayed, easily controlled, if you knew which strings to pull. And fear was the strongest string of all.

The ‘URGENT’ news alert pulsed on the screen, a digital drumbeat for the chaos he intended to amplify. He would ensure this incident, and others like it, were reported with maximum impact, highlighting the vulnerability of the station and the inability of the current, weak administration to protect its citizens. Then, he would step in, offering the strong hand they craved, the decisive action they were told was necessary. His ‘rescue’ of the attacked ship wouldn’t just be an act of apparent heroism; it would be the opening scene of his carefully orchestrated return to power. The goods stolen by his pirates would fund the campaign, and the manufactured crisis would provide the perfect platform. The Hyperspace Wars, with their inherent chaos and communication delays, were not a threat to D.D. Dagbert; they were an opportunity. A reckless ride for the galaxy, perhaps, but for him, a calculated ascent.

He picked up a small comm-unit from the desk, his fingers quickly navigating the interface. He initiated a call. It connected after a few moments.

“Wife,” he barked into the comm-unit, not bothering with a greeting. His tone was demanding, dismissive. “Get ready. We have an interview tonight. Local feed. Prime time. Wear that blue dress. The one with the… the shimmer. And remember your lines. You’re concerned. You’re worried about the station. You trust me to fix it.” He paused, listening for only a second before cutting the connection. He never used her name, always just “Wife” when addressing her directly, or “Puppet” in private conversation or to others when referring to his current or past spouses. It was a small, primitive cruelty that reinforced his sense of ownership and control.

Setting the comm-unit down, he ran a hand through his thinning hair. The interview. Yes. He needed the right visuals. Him, looking concerned but capable. His “Wife,” looking demure and trusting. The staged rescue footage. It was all falling into place. The fear was already out there, a seed planted by the galaxy’s larger madness. Now, he just needed to cultivate it, water it with carefully crafted lies, and harvest the power it would bring.

The sound of the news alert repeated faintly in the quiet office, a siren call to a man ready to exploit the fear of others for his own gain.

A brightly lit media studio on ZeeZee Station. A backdrop displays the station’s logo and a graphic of a ship in distress. A local news anchor, with an overly sympathetic expression, sits opposite D.D. Dagbert and his wife. D.D. Dagbert is wearing a crisp, dark suit, his hair neatly combed. His wife, dressed in a shimmering blue dress, sits beside him, looking appropriately concerned. A small, carefully positioned medical droid is visible in the background, tending to a figure wrapped in a thermal blanket – one of the ‘rescued’ passengers.

NEWS ANCHOR: …a truly harrowing ordeal for the, family and their passengers! But in their darkest hour, a beacon of hope emerged. We are joined tonight by former Head of the Council, D.D. Dagbert, whose swift action led to their rescue, and his devoted wife. Burger Dagbert, thank you for being here.

D.D. DAGBERT: (Leaning forward, voice modulated to sound calm and reassuring) Thank you for having me. It was… it was a difficult night. Seeing the reports come in… knowing there were innocent people out there, in danger… It hits you hard. Especially when it’s so close to home. To our home, here on ZeeZee.

NEWS ANCHOR: And your ship, the ‘ZeeZee-So-long! 2801-TB’, was the first responder. A remarkable feat.

D.D. DAGBERT: (A modest shrug) We just did what needed to be done. My crew, they’re brave individuals. Saw the alert, knew the risks, but they went out there. Because that’s what we do. We look out for each other. It’s about community. It’s about… about being prepared. Something this station desperately needs right now.

NEWS ANCHOR: (Turning to D.D. Dagbert’s wife) And Mam Dagbert, how did you feel when you heard about the attack and your husband’s involvement in the rescue?

D.D. DAGBERT’S WIFE: (Her voice soft, slightly trembling, clearly reciting practiced lines) I was… I was so worried. For the family on the ship, of course. But also for my husband. He’s always been a man of action, of principle. He can’t stand by when people are suffering. I know he feels things deeply. (She places a hand gently on his arm, a practiced gesture of wifely support.) I just… I trust him. I trust him to do what’s right. For this station. For all of us.

D.D. DAGBERT: (Patting her hand, a fleeting, almost imperceptible squeeze that is more about control than affection. His public smile is warm, but his eyes are cold) Puppet, you are my rock! Always supportive. Always understands the need to protect our home. My wife knows how much this station, these people, mean to me.

NEWS ANCHOR: A truly touching display of unity and concern. Burger Dagbert, this incident, and others like it, must raise questions about the security of our routes here on the perimeter.

D.D. DAGBERT: (His tone shifting, becoming more serious, more authoritative) They do. And frankly, the current administration… they’re not doing enough. They’re weak. They’re reactive. They issue ‘cautions’ while our citizens are being attacked. We need strong leadership. We need someone who understands the dangers out there, someone who isn’t afraid to take decisive action. Someone who can bring order to this chaos.

He looks directly into the camera, his gaze intense, a clear political statement. His wife continues to look concerned and supportive beside him, his perfect, lovely ‘Puppet’ for the public.

NEWS ANCHOR: Powerful words, Burger Dagbert. It seems the issue of security is at the forefront of everyone’s minds tonight. Thank you both for sharing your experience and your perspective.

D.D. DAGBERT: (Nodding, his public persona firmly in place) My pleasure. We’ll get through this, ZeeZee. Together.

The visual fades from the news studio, replaced by a graphic of ZeeZee Station with the words “Security and Stability” overlaid.

Part 2 - The Shadow of Piracy

The ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’ was an good workhorse, a bulk transport ship that in its best decades; it was reliable enough for the trade routes that skirted the edges of the ZeeZee system. For the FasaRie ship-family, it was home, a vessel passed down through a generation or two. They weren’t chasing speed or glory, just making a living, hauling comestible goods from the planet below ZeeZee Station and other local produce to nearby systems. Their lives were a comfortable rhythm of transit jumps, cargo manifests, and the quiet hum of the ship’s engines, a stark contrast to the escalating chaos reported on the wider OCN feeds from the core systems. Conflict, when it arose, utilized repurposed civilian craft. The ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’, like all interstellar vessels, possessed an FTL Grid for faster-than-light travel about 6.7c, the usual ITT buffer rings fore and aft, hull-mounted navigation thrusters, and a flat passive meteoroid shield plate at the front housing the main radars. Its habitat rings and gravity cargo sections were organized in swing decks, designed to manage g-forces during both freefall deceleration and cruising phases. On this trip, in addition to the FasaRie family of around twenty members, divided into three working shifts, there were over fifty co-working settlers bound for the mining outpost. The settlers were organized in a similar fashion, with the children typically with the first shift, having breakfast and then schooling. It was currently early first shift term, meaning some of the night shift might still be awake, preparing meals or settling down for sleep.

On this particular cycle, they were a few hours out from ZeeZee Station, freefalling-decelerating towards a small mining outpost in the asteroid fields at less than 0.01c. The ship’s internal chronometer read GBB -120.96.80.80.58, somewhat Feburary-2812. GBB-timing was quite normal for ship-families in the OutRim.

The main cabin was filled with the scent of freshly brewed nutri-synth coffee and the low murmur of conversation. Nedra FasaRie, the matriarch, was reviewing inventory on a data-slate, while her spouse, Maxen, monitored the navigation console, carefully manoeuvring the ship through the dense asteroid field. Their two children, young Beaven and little Butta, along with some of the first-shift settlers, were playing a low-gravity game of catch in the cargo bay, their laughter echoing faintly through the comm system.

The first sign of trouble was a flicker on the external sensors, a contact appearing suddenly and closing fast. Maxen’s hand went instinctively to the comms panel. “Unidentified vessel, this is the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’. State your intentions.”

There was just a small response. The contact signature, ‘Ship-ID:4232-LHS1610-2767‘, nothing more. Valid, said the ship catalogue, but something was strange about this ship. The ID was recognized, listed in the galactic registry, but it didn’t match the visual data coming in. “No visual confirmation of the id, no markings at all. Where do they come from anyway?” Maxen muttered to himself, a cold knot forming in his stomach. Piracy was a risk out here, but it had been relatively rare near ZeeZee Station itself. LHS 1610 was a station far South, “Pirates!“ he screamed in pure panic.

“Nedra, get the kids and the settlers,” Maxen said, his voice tight. “Secure the cargo bay. Now.”

Nedra didn’t hesitate. She dropped the data-slate and moved swiftly towards the cargo bay access, herding the children and the nearby settlers towards the reinforced compartments.

The pirate ship was on them in moments. It wasn’t a sleek, high-grade vessel, but a bulky, repurposed ship, clearly built originally for mining operations. Robotic arms, designed for grasping and manipulating asteroids, were still visible, retracted against its hull – now looking less like tools and more like potential weapons, capable of seizing another vessel, of opening other ships like tin-cans. Yet, it moved with brutal efficiency, its powerful engines flaring as it closed the distance. It had something that looked like a FTL-Grid over its full body, but was it used for faster-than-light travel? Instead, it served as a launch frame for what looked like invasion pods. Fat, reinforced plates covered sections of its exterior, suggesting improvised armour, a ram designed not just for protection but for brutal, passive-aggressive impact. As it closed, distinct markings became visible on its hull – stylized, jagged symbols that Nedra vaguely recognized from hushed warnings on the trading loops. And then, the ship’s ID pinged on their passive scanner again: 4232-LHS1610-2767. Maxen’s blood ran cold. The valid ID felt like another layer of the deception.

The pirate ship used its superior speed and manoeuvrability to ram the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’s lower side, specifically targeting the thrusters and the lower ITT ring. The impact was bone-jarring, rocking the ship violently. Alarms blared. Lights flickered. They couldn’t manoeuvre anymore. The main engine sputtered and died, the thrusters and the lower ITT-ring disabled by the brutal impact. Maxen was thrown against the console, the air knocked from his lungs.

“Power fluctuations! Engine failed!” he gasped, pushing himself back up.

Damage reports flashed across the console screens – a forward ITT buffer ring showing critical stress, several navigation thrusters non-responsive, the meteoroid shield integrity compromised. Nedra returned, her face pale, clutching Beaven and Butta tightly. The children were crying, terrified by the noise and the violent shaking. The settlers, too, huddled together, their initial excitement about a new life replaced by terror.

The pirate ship then used its robotic arms to latch onto the disabled vessel, holding it in place. With the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’ immobilized, the pirates quickly launched their invasion pods directly into the weakened sections of the hull created by the ramming attack. Heavy boot steps and harsh voices echoed through the ship as the pirates swarmed aboard. As they entered, their appearance was as unsettling as their ship. They weren’t armed with standard tools or even the limited personal energy buzzers sometimes seen in the core systems. Instead, they carried brutal, primitive weapons – glinting machetes, multiple smaller throwing knives strapped to their limbs, and heavy hunting guns that looked wildly out of place in the sterile corridors of a star-ship. A few of the settlers, in a desperate, futile gesture, grabbed heavy kitchen knives from the mess hall, but they were no match for the pirates’ arsenal.

The sounds of crates being smashed open, the curses and shouts of the pirates as they looted the comestible goods – the FasaRie family’s livelihood and the settlers’ supplies – were a brutal soundtrack to their helplessness. The pirates attacked purposefully, injuring many and killing people, to leave the resistance in shock and helpless. They took all light-cargo, medical and any food-supply, copied news and data and deleted the data bases, destroyed the computers physical thereafter. Within what felt like an eternity but was likely only less than an hour, the sounds began to recede. The pirate ship undocked, its thruster-engines flaring as it was leaving the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’ crippled and drifting.

Meanwhile the mining-station’s personal observed what happened on radar and fired an alarm, a call for help through the system.

Silence returned, broken only by the ship’s groaning hull and the children’s whimpering, and the hushed, fearful murmurs of the settlers. Maxen emerged cautiously, Nedra, the children, and the settlers close behind him. The main cabin was a wreck. Consoles sparked, panels were ripped open, and the air reeked of ozone and damaged life support.

The pirate ship disappeared between the asteroids, hiding somewhere in shadows of celestial bodies.

They made their way to the cargo bay. It was a scene of devastation. Crates were splintered, their contents scattered or gone. The pirates had taken the most valuable goods, leaving behind a mess of spoiled produce and shattered containers. Half-wrecked was an understatement. The ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’ was severely damaged, barely functional.

Stranded. Severely set back. They had lost their cargo, their ship was crippled, and the fear of the lawless void outside was now a tangible, terrifying reality. Maxen managed to get a distress beacon activated, sending out a weak, localized signal. They waited, adrift in the silence, the victims of a calculated act of piracy that felt far more organized and ruthless than anything they had imagined. They were alone, vulnerable, and desperately in need of help.

Their wait in the silence was punctuated by the growing chill in the damaged sections of the ship and the gnawing fear of what would happen next. Just as despair threatened to overwhelm them, a new contact appeared on the long-range passive scanner – a familiar signature, one associated with ZeeZee Station’s local utility, a tugboat. They answered first, ready for help, negotiating the normal terms. It was the ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic! 2803-TB’. Hope flickered out. Relief flooded the survivors, a wave of gratitude for the timely response. They did not know, could not know, that this was not an accidental station flight, but a carefully orchestrated arrival, a crucial element in a story being worked out far away in a dimly lit office. They saw only the approaching lights of rescue, a ship sent by the man who would soon present himself as their saviour, who had foreseen the danger and acted when others were too slow. The ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic!’ approached, ostensibly to rescue, but its true mission was to capture the moment, to provide the imagery for a story of heroism and a platform for an unprecedented rise.

Part 3 - The Dictator’s Narrative

The ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic! 2803-DB’ was tugged into ZeeZee Station’s docks not just with survivors, but with a carefully curated narrative. The footage captured during the rescue – the weary but grateful faces of the FasaRie family and the settlers, the calm efficiency of the crew, the presence of the medical droid tending to the injured – was immediately fed into the local media channels, amplified by D.D. Dagbert’s burgeoning campaign machine.

For years, since his last term as Burger-Councillor, many on ZeeZee Station had hoped D.D. Dagbert would simply fade away. Polls, which he obsessively tracked, showed a general weariness with his bombastic style and a lingering distrust from his previous tenure. Concerns about his erratic behaviour and questionable business dealings were widespread, though often whispered rather than openly stated. He knew this; the data-slates didn’t lie. But D.D. Dagbert saw not rejection, but an opportunity. He saw a population complacent in their relative peace, vulnerable to fear, and ripe for manipulation. He would turn the tide, not through reasoned debate or genuine service, but by exploiting the very chaos he enjoyed creating.

His campaign, hastily assembled but brutally effective, was a reflection of the man himself: primitive, profane, and designed to appeal to the basest instincts. Its central theme was fear, its promise a return to a fabricated past of absolute security. The slogans were blunt, aggressive, and memorable: “Zeebigs! Making ZeeZee Bigger!”, “Grab the Pussies!”, “Turn The Tide!”, “We The Real!” He painted a picture of a station under siege from external threats – “foreigners,” “ship-families,” anyone not part of his narrowly defined in-group – blaming them for the insecurity while positioning himself as the only protector. “Weakness is a Crime,” his rallies roared, “We have to grow strong!”

His physical presence amplified his message. D.D. Dagbert, or Dogald Dug Dagbert (Junior) as he was formally known, was a figure who seemed to have stepped out of a low-budget comic stream. His green-coloured hair, a bizarre contrast to his ruddy complexion, sat atop a large body that, at first glance, might appear athletic, but closer inspection revealed strangely thin arms and slightly too-small legs. He was a living, screaming exclamation mark, his voice booming, his gestures wild, yet he possessed an unsettling ability to cajole and draw in anyone who stood too close for seconds, fixing them with an intense, seemingly sincere gaze before launching into his venomous rhetoric.

The staged arrival of the ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic! 2803-DB’ at the station docks became his first major public platform. As the gangway extended, D.D. Dagbert was there, front and centre, a phalanx of local media drones buzzing around him. Beside him stood his wife, Melody, whom he publicly referred to only as “My wife“, or “Puppet”, a chilling term of endearment he used as others might say “Darling.” Melody, dressed impeccably and maintaining a carefully composed expression of wifely concern, played her part perfectly, a silent, visual testament to his supposed family values and kindness.

As the first of the survivors, shaken and injured, were helped onto the dock, D.D. Dagbert stepped forward, his face a mask of exaggerated sorrow. “Tragic, tragic,” he boomed, his voice thick with feigned emotion. “So tragically.” He grabbed the attention of every camera, every data-slate recording the scene. “Look at these poor souls! Victims of the chaos! Victims of the weakness!”

He pivoted, his voice rising, pointing a finger towards the docks’ administrative tower. “And who is to blame?! I’ll tell you who! The current council! They lost control! They fully lost, they are out of control! Never happened since the days of Ross 458! Never! They sit in their offices, issuing ‘cautions’ while our people are attacked! While our routes are unsafe!”

His rant continued, a torrent of accusations against the current administration, interspersed with boasts of his own decisive action. “Who sent the rescue ship?! Who was prepared?! I was! Again my ship, the ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic!’, was there! First responders! Because I understand what this station needs! I understand the danger!” He gestured to his wife. “And my wife here! A good wife, she is! Concerned, supportive! She knows the importance of security, health and care!”

Then, his gaze fell upon the survivors, his expression shifting from feigned sympathy to thinly veiled accusation. “But we also have to ask… why were they out there? If they just would fly save routes, controlled routes is what we need! Not just anyone going anywhere, bringing trouble to our doorstep!” The implication was clear: the victims themselves bore some responsibility for their plight by venturing into the dangerous outer areas, a subtle twist of blame designed to resonate with those who feared the unknown and mistrusted outsiders. It gave him the opportunity to compromise, control and concentrate the public sentiment.

Finally, he turned back to the cameras, his voice reaching a fever pitch, launching into his campaign phrases, turning the tragedy into a rallying cry. “This is the price of weakness! This is the cost of being soft! We need to be strong! We need to take back control! We need order! We need security! We need… Zeebigs! Making ZeeZee Bigger! We need to Turn The Tide! We are… We The Real!”

The crowd, a mix of concerned citizens, media personnel, and Dagbert’s planted supporters, reacted with a mix of shock, unease, and fervent applause. The narrative was set: D.D. Dagbert, the strong leader, the saviour, the only one who could protect ZeeZee Station from the chaos, a chaos he had secretly orchestrated for his own gain. The piracy, the suffering of the FasaRie family and the settlers, were not just tragedies; they were stepping stones on his path to power, fuel for his reckless ride to win the next election.

Following the attack on the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’, three other ships fared similarly in the ZeeZee system’s periphery over the next few cycles. Each incident, a brutal act of piracy orchestrated by Dagbert’s network, further tightened the grip of fear on the station. Basic supplies such as eggs and other essential comestible goods, along with vital medicines, became increasingly scarce on the station as fearful traders avoided the routes. Each time, it was one of D.D.’s tugs – the ‘ZeeZee-Don’t-Panic!’ or others from his fleet, like the ‘ZeeZee-All-Clear! 2805-DB’ or the ‘ZeeZee-Safe-Harbour! 2806-DB’ – that was the first to arrive at the scene, offering aid and capturing the moment for the media. Once, they were almost too late in the outer-plane of the system, arriving at a drifting, crippled vessel to find more fatal victims than survivors, more who had died before rescue could reach them. Each incident was transformed into a greater D.D. show, drawing more supporters to his rallies, securing more media time, and visibly boosting his poll results. His campaign funding grew too, fuelled by the illicit sale of some of the stolen medications and other rare, expensive goods here on the station or down on the planet. He used the created shortages, the manufactured crisis, to fill his pockets and demonstrate his supposed business acumen. “I am the business,” he would declare with a knowing wink during private meetings with potential donors. “I know how this runs. I am the man! The people’s man, I am!” The chaos was his currency, and the fear of the people was his greatest asset.

The election cycle on ZeeZee Station, already fraught with anxiety over the escalating insecurity, became a landslide for D.D. Dagbert. The public, swayed by the relentless propaganda, the carefully staged rescues, and the promise of a strong hand to bring order, voted overwhelmingly for the man who presented himself as their only hope. The manipulation was subtle in some areas, blatant in others – voting machines conveniently malfunctioning in districts less favourable to Dagbert, news cycles dominated by his rallies and the ‘heroic’ rescues, while opposition voices were silenced or ridiculed. The existing council, weak and unable to effectively counter Dagbert’s narrative or address the manufactured crisis, crumbled under the pressure. D.D. Dagbert was back in power, not just as Burger-Councillor, but with a mandate he would quickly twist into absolute control.

His victory was swift and brutal. Within cycles of taking office, D.D. Dagbert moved to dismantle any potential opposition. Members of the former council were arrested on fabricated charges of corruption and incompetence, their pleas of innocence drowned out by the celebratory noise of Dagbert’s supporters. Political parties, now deemed divisive and a threat to station security, were banned outright. In a move that shocked even some of his more fervent followers, D.D. Dagbert, with the backing of a hastily convened assembly of loyalists and under the guise of establishing necessary “emergency powers” to combat the ‘outer chaos,’ proclaimed a new constitution for ZeeZee Station. This document, drafted in secret, abolished the council system and declared D.D. Dagbert the lifelong President, consolidating all executive and legislative authority in his hands. The era of elected representation on ZeeZee Station was over.

With his position secured, D.D. Dagbert implemented the “RAGE-protocol” – a chillingly named directive that initiated a mass removal of government employees across all departments. Those deemed loyal to the old council, or simply not enthusiastic enough about the new regime, were summarily dismissed, their careers ended, their livelihoods threatened. The administrative structure of ZeeZee Station was gutted, leaving a void that D.D. Dagbert quickly filled with his most ardent supporters, rewarding their loyalty with positions of power and influence.

Perhaps the most significant and unsettling change was the transformation of station security. The existing, lightly armed security force, designed for civil order and minor incidents, was disbanded. In its place rose the “black-forces,” a new security apparatus whose ranks were filled predominantly by the very individuals who had been operating as pirates in the system’s periphery – D.D. Dagbert’s hidden network. These ex-pirates, now armed with the authority and resources of the station, became the enforcers of Dagbert’s will, their brutal efficiency and lack of scruples a terrifying guarantee of the new regime’s absolute control. The jagged markings seen on the pirate ship were now, in a chilling display of overt power, incorporated into the uniforms and insignia of the black-forces. The chaos he had manufactured had not only brought him to power but had also provided him with the loyal, ruthless personnel needed to maintain it. The reckless ride had just begun for the people of ZeeZee Station.

Part 4 - The Desperate Flight

The mining outpost in the asteroid fields of the ZeeZee system had always been a rough-and-tumble place, a waypoint for prospectors and traders. But in the cycles following D.D. Dagbert’s ascent to power in March 2812, it became something more: a clandestine harbour for those desperate to escape his suffocating grip. Whispers spread through the station’s under-levels and the planet’s struggling settlements – of a small, old freighter being refitted at the outpost, its cargo bays being repurposed not for ore or comestibles, but for human lives. It was a risk, a desperate gamble, but for the growing number of ex-government employees, their families, and others who had fallen afoul of the new regime, banned to a planet ill-equipped to support them under the brutal RAGE-protocol, it was the only hope.

Their vessel was the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’, a family-owned freighter that had seen decades of service hauling cargo across the outer rim. It was never designed for long-haul passenger transport, let alone for the speeds they would attempt. Its cargo compartments, stripped bare and fitted with makeshift bunks and minimal life support, were now crammed with the fearful and the hopeful – a mass of humanity seeking refuge among the stars. Among the seventy-three souls were the FasaRie ship-family, whose own vessel had been crippled by Dagbert’s pirates, and over fifty co-working settlers who had sought passage before the net tightened.

Their destination: the nearest star system of HD 115404 A, a journey that would take two and a half years at speeds pushing the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’ far beyond its safe rating. It was a reckless ride born of necessity, a flight through the chaos of the Hyperspace Wars with little more than desperation and a faint hope for safety at the other end.

What follows is a series of excerpts from the ship’s log, maintained by one of the former station administrators, chronicling the long, arduous flight.

Ship Log - FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk

Entry 1: Earth Date 2814-03-04

The last of the boarding was complete, the repurposed cargo bays sealed. Three-hundred-seventy-three souls, crammed into a space meant for goods. “Glad these mechanics and station-techs stay on board,” I heard someone mutter as the airlock cycled closed. “We’ll need them.” I feel desperate though. We’ll run short on biologist-techs though, things we’ll have to learn, to improve life-support during the flight. Right now it will be plankton-protein-shakes, vitamin pills and algae-based carbos will be our main resources for the next two years. It’s a risk. All for the kids. The thrusters are getting us away from our temporary haven at the mining outpost. The acceleration burn begins. The refurbished FTL grid groaned under the strain as we pushed towards cruising velocity. Mostly ex-admin staff and their families, a few planet-side residents who couldn’t stomach Dagbert’s rule and the brutality of his black-forces. The air is thick with fear and the smell of too many bodies in a small space. The kids are scared. Beaven and Butta from the FasaRie family are trying to be brave, helping the younger ones, but their eyes are wide. We’re pushing 0.5c already during the acceleration. The ship groans. Praying the old girl holds together for the two and a half years ahead. Course set for HD 115404 A. Feels like a lifetime already.

Entry 2: Earth Date 2814-03-31

We are underway, fully committed to the acceleration phase. The ship vibrates constantly, a low, unnerving tremor that speaks of systems stressed beyond their design. The FTL grid is a constant, high-pitched whine. We’re pushing hard, trying to reach cruising velocity as quickly as safely possible, though ‘safe’ feels like a relative term out here. Beyond 1, 2, 3c we already reached 4.5c. Brave little Home, though ship! We never have done this before.

Entry 3: Earth Date 2814-04-18

Acceleration phase complete. We hit past 8c for a brief period during the main burn. The ITT buffer rings were screaming under the stress. Maxen, one of the ship-family pilots, says we’re lucky they didn’t completely overload to failure. The vibration was intense. Some of the younger children were sick. Rations are tight. We brought what we could, but it’s visible not enough for two and a half years. Ration is already a quiet presence, a dull ache that reminds us of our vulnerability.

Entry 7: Earth Date 2814-09-27

FTL cruising phase. The constant cannonade, a drone replaces the silent hum of the grids. It is not a lullaby, yet a sound of anxiety. We’re holding steady at 8.2c. Constantly overloading the grids by 30%. The ship wasn’t built for this kind of sustained velocity. Every tremor, every power fluctuation, sends a jolt of fear through the bays. Nedra is trying to keep spirits up, organizing activities for the kids, rationing the meagre supplies fairly. We talk about ZeeZee Station, about what Dagbert is doing. News travels slow, but the little we hear confirms our fears. The RAGE-protocol is in full effect back home. Our friends, colleagues… gone. Replaced by his black-forces. The pirates. It’s worse than we imagined.

The most scary fact is that our radar systems and the front shield are not designed for this speed. We are travelling almost blindly over long distances without adequate protection from interstellar dust or micro-meteoroids. Only medium-range reconnaissance works to some extent. We had installed three additional radar domes sidewise for better close range vision, but one has already failed. We are a fragile bubble in a vast, unforgiving void.

Entry 12: Earth Date 2815-02-27

Witnessed a tragedy today. Another ship, maybe a freighter like ours, pushing the limits too hard. Saw the hyperspace decomposition on the passive scanner – a sudden, violent unravelling of the ship’s energy field and form. No distress signal, just gone. A chilling reminder of the risks we’re taking by operating at these speeds. The fear is palpable tonight. More prayers than conversation in the bays. Maxen says we’re pushing 8.5c now, trying to shave time off the journey. Every decimal point feels like a gamble with our lives.

Entry 18: Earth Date 2815-09-15

Hunger is a constant ache now. Rations are down to minimal sustenance. The children are listless, their energy levels low. The repurposed cargo bays are cold, damp, the air recycled and thin. We dream of fresh food, of open spaces, of a life not defined by scarcity and fear. We talk about HD 115404 A, painting pictures of a safe haven, a place where Dagbert’s reach doesn’t extend. It’s the only thing that keeps some of us going. The emotional toll is heavy. Arguments over minor things, despair setting in. We are a community bound by shared trauma and a desperate hope, but the strain is showing.

Entry 25: Earth Date 2815-12-30

Initiating turning operation. The ship groaned and protested as Maxen and the crew adjusted our vector for the long deceleration burn. First the zero gravity, than the returning g-forces, even with the swing decks, were intense during the manoeuvres. More power fluctuations. The old systems are failing, protesting against the sustained stress of this journey. We’ve had to jury-rig repairs with limited resources, relying on the ingenuity of the mechanics and techs who came with us. Fear of being caught, of being dragged back to ZeeZee, is a constant shadow. We know Dagbert’s black-forces are out somewhere, his control expanding. Are they looking for us? The thought is a cold one.

Entry 32: Earth Date 2816-01-02

Deceleration phase has begun. Slowing down feels just as dangerous as speeding up, the stress on the ITT buffer rings immense. We’re dropping velocity, the distant suns of HD 115404 A and B growing steadily brighter. Two and a half years. We’re almost there. The hunger is still here, the fear, the exhaustion, but a new feeling is emerging: cautious optimism. We made it this far. The thought of solid ground, of fresh air, of safety, is a powerful motivator. The system stations greeting, a welcome. Hope.

Entry 35: Earth Date 2816-09-18

Arrival in system. HD 115404 A. It’s real. A yellow dwarf star, a system with planets. We’re manoeuvring towards the main inhabited station, decelerating to orbital velocity. It’s larger than ZeeZee, looks… stable. Relief is overwhelming. Tears in the bays. We made it. The ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’, against all odds, carried us here. The journey was a desperate gamble, a reckless ride, but it brought us to this moment.

Entry 36: Earth Date 2816-09-19

Docked at the station. Authorities were hesitant at first, seeing the state of our ship, hearing our story. But the FasaRie family, Maxen and Nedra, they spoke for us, their voices weary but clear. They explained the situation on ZeeZee. The piracy, Dagbert’s takeover, the RAGE-protocol, the refugee crisis. We delivered our report – a compilation of our experiences, the news we’d gathered before we fled, the logs from this desperate flight. It’s just one story from the Hyperspace Wars, one small ripple in the chaos, but it’s our story. And maybe, just maybe, it will make a difference. We are safe. For now.

Entry 37: Earth Date 2816-11-30

Life on the station is… different. Safe. The air is clean, food is plentiful, and the pervasive fear of Dagbert’s regime is gone. But our ship, the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’, our home for so long, was quickly taken under the control of station security. At first, there was a new wave of unease among us. We had fled one form of control, only to have our vessel, our last tangible link to our old lives, taken by another authority. But their intentions became clear quickly. They didn’t just impound the ship; they began a massive, almost unbelievable upgrade.

They tore it half apart. New sections were added, including another full-habitat ring, increasing our living space by 60%, adding more fallback life-support-systems. The old FTL grid’s capacity was doubled, the main engine and ITT buffers were upgraded with redundant fallbacks, and the navigation thrusters were replaced with advanced models, also with fallbacks. The ship was being transformed, stripped of its cargo freighter identity and rebuilt into something faster, more resilient. The station’s security personnel, particularly their technical divisions, used our ship as a training device, a real-world project to hone their skills on an unfamiliar vessel type. It was jarring to see strangers dismantling and rebuilding the ship that had carried us through so much, but the results were undeniable. The ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’ was becoming faster, stronger, more reliable than she had ever been.

We learned that this wasn’t an isolated decision. The station authorities here at HD 115404 A had been taking “measurements,” as they put it, since the first refugees from ZeeZee began arriving. Our ship wasn’t the first, just the largest and most recent. This meant they had been aware of Dagbert’s regime and the escalating crisis for some time. It also meant, chillingly, that they had “spy ships” – covert vessels – operating in ZeeZee’s system, gathering intelligence and, we suspect, making contact with and supporting the opposition on the planet below.

“We are aware,” was the simple, almost understated message we received from an OCN representative who debriefed us extensively. They confirmed that OCN and Horizon courier ships had been observing the situation, their faster speeds allowing them to carry information and maintain a distant watch.

Then, things escalated further. A large, slick Colony-class vessel, a ship designed for long-term interstellar habitation but notably without the standard station ring, arrived at the station. Shortly after, the ‘Ambassador

Wolf-1061

Mk.4’, a courier ship from the most capital station in our Outer Rim, docked as well. These weren’t just casual visitors. Their arrival, combined with the upgrades to our ship and the information we’d been given, painted a clear picture.

The station, OCN, Horizon, and other neighbour star-systems were coordinating. They were building something. A response. A little fleet, perhaps. And our ship, the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’, the vessel that had carried us from tyranny to safety, was being prepared to be a part of it. We, the refugees who had simply wanted to escape, were now, it seemed, going to be part of the force that would challenge D.D. Dagbert’s rule. The desperate flight was over, but a new, uncertain journey was about to begin. We seek a little fleet, and we will part of it, soon.

Part 5 - Life Under the Boot

(Format: Vignettes / Intercepted Communications / Ground Reports)

D.D. Dagbert’s victory in the election and his subsequent power grab in early 2812 marked the beginning of a dark era for ZeeZee Station and the planet below. His reign, intended to bring order and security, instead plunged the system into a different kind of chaos – one born of tyranny, exploitation, and fear. For seven long years, until late 2818 and early 2819, life under President Dagbert was a slow, suffocating descent.

(Station-Report - Early 2813 - Establishment of Youth Programs)

Reports from internal station sources, often smuggled out at great risk, confirm the establishment of two chilling new programs under President Dagbert’s regime, beginning in early 2813. Ostensibly presented as initiatives for the welfare and education of the system’s youth, these programs serve a far more sinister purpose: indoctrination and control.

The “ZeeBig Youth” program operates on ZeeZee Station. Targeting children and adolescents whose parents are deemed disloyal or insufficiently enthusiastic about Dagbert’s rule, this program removes them from their parents, who get exiled on the planet, and places them in state-controlled facilities. The goal is explicit: to mold these young minds into fervent supporters of the President and potential recruits for his black-forces. Propaganda is relentless, loyalty to Dagbert is paramount, and any lingering affection for their families or the old ways is systematically erased. These children are being trained to become the next generation of the tyrant’s enforcers.

Simultaneously, on the planet below, the “children farms” program is being implemented. This targets the children of parents who are considered undecided or whose loyalty is seen as wavering. Instead of being brought to the station, these children are grounded on the planet, placed in state-run agricultural settlements. Here, they are subjected to a different form of indoctrination, focused on obedience, hard labour, and loyalty to the regime through their connection to the land and the production of resources for the station. The aim is to turn them into a compliant, loyal population of farmers and planet inhabitants, tied to the system and dependent on Dagbert’s control.

The implementation of these programs is often brutal, tearing families apart based on arbitrary judgments of political alignment. It is a terrifying extension of Dagbert’s power, ensuring that his grip on the system will extend into the next generation. As Dagbert himself was reportedly overheard saying during a public briefing on the programs: “A terrific idea executed! I give our children, my children… The future, the biggest future of all! They never stay free again! I love you all!”

(Vignette: Station Habitation-Ring - 2815)

The air in the lower habitat rings of ZeeZee Station grew thin, not from lack of filtration, but from a pervasive sense of oppression. Surveillance drones, once a rarity, now buzzed constantly in the corridor-streets, their optical sensors seemingly following every move. Public data feeds, once a source of local news and galactic updates, were now dominated by state-sponsored propaganda – endless loops of D.D. Dagbert’s speeches, carefully edited footage of ‘black-forces’ patrols, and fabricated reports of external threats. Dissent, even a whispered complaint, could result in a visit from the black-forces, their repurposed mining ship armour and brutal weapons a terrifying symbol of the new order. Former government employees, stripped of their positions by the RAGE-protocol, lived in fear, many forced into menial labour or worse. Conscription into Dagbert’s ‘security’ forces became mandatory for some, a chilling transformation of ordinary citizens into enforcers of tyranny.

(Intercepted Communication - Smuggler’s Channel - 2816)

“…yeah, the ZeeZee run’s getting tougher. Dagbert’s got his black-forces crawling all over the place. New tariffs on everything coming in or out. Calls ‘em ‘security tolls’ or ‘route usage fees’. Just another way to shake you down. And the export tariffs on the planet’s produce? astronomical. Says it’s for ‘station defence.’ Bullshit. It’s all going into his pockets. And don’t even get me started on the currency. This ‘Dagbert-Standard’… worthless scrip. He still demands AC-Accord credits for the big stuff, for himself, but he pays everyone in his own funny money. Breaks every rule of the Accord, but who’s gonna stop him out here? The risk is higher, but the desperation… it’s pushing more people to us. Got another fifty trying to get out next cycle. Packed tighter than cargo drones. Taking them to mining outposts first, then trying to find passage further out. These aren’t just traders anymore; they’re families, old folks… just trying to breathe free. The human smuggling business is booming, sadly.”

(Ground Report - Planet Surface - 2817)

Report from the surface settlements is grim. The planet, with its 0.7g and limited resources, was never meant to support the sudden influx of banned personnel and their families from the station. The promised aid from Dagbert’s regime never materialized. Basic goods are scarce and prohibitively expensive. The local economy, once supplemented by trade with the station, is collapsing under the weight of the station’s demands and Dagbert’s tariffs. Schools are unfunded, healthcare is a luxury only the black-forces and Dagbert’s cronies can afford. Grants, pensions, any form of social safety net – all gone, deemed ‘weakness’ by the President. Life is a constant struggle for survival, a stark contrast to the propaganda feeds showing Dagbert’s opulent lifestyle on the station. His insistence on the ‘Dagbert-Standard’ time system, with its nonsensical 10-day weeks, is just another layer of control, a petty tyranny that disrupts even the rhythm of daily life. On the Dagday, the equivalent of the former Sunday, people do not have spare time, no, they have to walk to plazas, and heil the President for hours, in Rain, inSunshine, Heat, Wind or Storm. Being ill is no excuse. It’s a system designed to benefit one man, destabilizing everything else.

(Vignette: Dagbert’s Private Quarters - 2817)

D.D. Dagbert sat in his opulent quarters, surrounded by stolen luxuries. The profits from his state-sponsored piracy, the tariffs, the exploitation of the planet’s resources – it had all flowed into his accounts, mostly in untraceable AC-Accord credits siphoned off before the local currency exchange. He was the ‘REAL business,’ just as he’d boasted. But lately, the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. His wife, Melody, his public “Puppet,” had vanished cycles ago. Not fled, he was sure. Vanished. And whispers reached him, even in his insulated bubble, that the larger stations, those still operating within the AC-Accord framework, were starting to notice the irregularities in the ZeeZee system’s financial reports. His harvested credits, his ill-gotten gains, were becoming harder to move, harder to access. The puppet-player was starting to feel the strings tighten around himself, the marionette of his own self-destabilizing system.

(Ground Report - Planet Surface - Late 2818)

Tension is boiling over. The strikes on the station, initially small acts of defiance, are growing. Workers, pushed too far by the high costs, the worthless currency, and the brutal oversight of the black-forces, are walking off the job. The black-forces themselves are becoming a problem. Without the constant flow of new targets provided by Dagbert’s orchestrated piracy, and with their pay in the worthless Dagbert-Standard, some units are reverting to their old habits – becoming pirates again, but this time, targeting Dagbert’s own supply lines. The planet, now holding the majority of the system’s population and suffering the most under Dagbert’s rule, has officially declared an embargo on the station. No more comestibles, no more raw materials from the surface. The station, reliant on the planet for basic sustenance, is starting to feel the pinch. Seven years of piracy and terror, and D.D. Dagbert’s system is beginning to collapse under its own weight. The chaos he sowed is finally blooming, not just for others, but for him. The stage is set for something new, something that might finally challenge the tyrant’s grip.

(Station-Report - End 2818 - Beginning of 2819)

The embargo from the planet has hit hard. The station, once a minor hub of trade and transit, is now a ghost of its former self. The docks are quiet, save for the occasional patrol of a single black-forces tug-boat. All other tug-boats - lost to the resistance, or more worrying lost without a trace. The scarcity of basic goods is no longer a manufactured crisis; it’s a stark reality. The reduced black-forces, restless and increasingly unreliable, are the only visible authority, their presence a constant reminder of Dagbert’s precarious hold. And the piracy… it’s gone. The orchestrated attacks that brought Dagbert to power have ceased. Something strange, scary, terrifying has happened in the darkness of the outer system, unseen and unreported. No one knows why the pirate ships, the instruments of Dagbert’s rise, have vanished, but their absence is a chilling mystery.

Trade with outer systems has stopped entirely. No ships come in, few dare to leave. The communication blackout is almost complete. Access to priority news feeds from OCN and other galactic networks is gone, cut off since the OCN staff, sensing the escalating instability and perhaps receiving quiet instructions from their superiors, left the station over half a year ago. ZeeZee Station is isolated, adrift in the void, cut off from the wider galaxy and left to fester under the weight of its tyrant’s self-made crisis. The air is thick with a new kind of fear now – not just of Dagbert and his black-forces, but of the unknown, of the silence from beyond their system, and of the reckoning that feels increasingly inevitable.

Adding to the tension is the unpredictable behaviour of the ZeeBig Youth. For years, they were the poster children of Dagbert’s regime, their faces plastered on propaganda posters, their chants echoing through the station’s public spaces. Now, with the station’s resources dwindling and the black-forces in disarray, the Youth are a volatile element. Some remain fanatically loyal to Dagbert, their indoctrination holding firm, seeing the current crisis as a test of their faith and lashing out at anyone they perceive as disloyal. Others, however, are showing cracks in their conditioning. The constant hunger, the fear, the visible failure of the regime to provide the promised security and prosperity – it’s eroding the years of propaganda. Whispers of doubt, of longing for the families they were taken from, are starting to spread through their ranks. Some are attempting to escape the youth facilities, seeking refuge with the striking workers or trying to find a way to the planet. The black-forces, desperate for personnel, are reportedly trying to press the older adolescents into active service, a terrifying prospect that is met with a mix of fervent willingness from the most indoctrinated and terrified resistance from those whose loyalty has faltered. The ZeeBig Youth, once a symbol of Dagbert’s long-term control, are now a microcosm of the station’s unravelling, their fate uncertain in the coming storm.

Part 6 - The Courier’s Burden

(Format: Personal Narrative / Ship Log - Horizon Courier Ship)

The ‘Swift Wolf Horizon Mk 20’ was a marvel of interstellar engineering, a sleek, fast courier ship built by Horizon for the express purpose of traversing the vast distances between systems with relative speed and reliability. Rated for speeds up to 10c, she was faster than most other civilian vessels and equipped with advanced sensors and communication arrays. Her sharp conic front shields, designed to punch through unexpected debris or even provide a passive-aggressive ramming capability, were a formidable defence against any threat. Her crew was professional, disciplined, and accustomed to the inherent risks of operating in the time-delayed galaxy. Yet, the ‘Swift Wolf’ carried a burden far heavier than her usual priority data packets or high-ranked visitors. On this mission, she was a spy ship, a covert lifeline, and her crew complement was far larger than any standard courier run. One hundred and twenty souls were aboard, ninety of them the dedicated crew – three shifts of pilots, engineers, life-support technicians, medics – and a crucial contingent of news-aggregators, constantly deploying and reading priority streams from across the network, trying to piece together the fragmented reality of the Hyperspace Wars. The remaining thirty were special-ops personnel, their presence a silent testament to the true nature of the ‘Swift Wolf’s’ mission. In their improvised training room they arranged lessons in physical arts for the crew during the flight into the system of Ross 458 - ZeeZee as locals called the star-system.

Our purpose was multifaceted and dangerous. We were here to coordinate the burgeoning resistance against D.D. Dagbert’s regime – making contact with groups on the planet below ZeeZee Station, linking up with defiant souls at the mining outposts in the asteroid fields, providing them with intelligence and support. We were also tasked with locating and observing the pirates’ secret base, the source of the attacks that had terrorized the system and propelled Dagbert to power. It was a delicate dance, operating in the shadows of a tyrant’s domain, relying on speed and stealth to avoid detection by his black-forces. Our primary directive was always invisibility: listen, don’t speak, observe, don’t act openly. But within those parameters, we were to give the resistance a chance, a fighting hope. This entire operation was coordinated through a secure network of priority streams and encrypted messages, linking us to contacts on the planet, the mining outposts, and crucially, to a hidden OCN presence operating just beyond the system’s inner perimeter.

Chapter 1: Arrival and Initial Reconnaissance 2816

We dropped into the Ross 458 system on a calculated vector, far from the established approach lanes to ZeeZee Station. Our initial days were spent in silent reconnaissance, using the ‘Swift Wolf’s’ advanced passive sensors to map the system, identify Dagbert’s patrol patterns, and locate potential resistance contacts. The void was no longer just empty space; it was filled with the ghosts of failed ships, the lingering radiation from hyperspace decomposition events, and the constant threat of encountering Dagbert’s patrols. Our advanced sensors picked up distress signals with unnerving frequency – crippled freighters, desperate refugee ships pushing their limits, vessels caught in the crossfire of independent pirate attacks. Our mission parameters were strict: gather intelligence, support the resistance, avoid direct confrontation unless absolutely necessary. More often than not, we had to override the instinct to help, a heavy burden on the crew, especially the medics and news-aggregators who saw the raw data of suffering. We received the distress calls, logged them, but could not divert. It was a cold necessity of the mission. Encounters with Dagbert’s black-forces patrols were tense affairs. Their repurposed mining tug and the station’s tug-boats, while slower, were surprisingly agile and armed with brutal, improvised weapons. Our speed and shielding was our primary defence, allowing us to outrun or outmanoeuvre them in most instances. But their presence was a constant reminder of the danger, of how close we were operating to the heart of the tyranny.

Our news-aggregators worked tirelessly, sifting through intercepted communications and public broadcasts, trying to piece together the reality of life under Dagbert’s boot. We also established a silent link with a covert OCN presence operating just outside the system’s inner boundary. This was the OCN staff who had quietly left ZeeZee Station cycles ago, sensing the escalating danger. They were aboard another courier ship, maintaining a low profile, acting as our primary relay for priority messages to and from the wider network. Their presence was crucial, allowing us to receive directives and transmit the intelligence we gathered without risking direct, detectable transmissions from within the system.

(Intercepted Priority Stream Excerpt - Encrypted) //FROM: OCN_RELAY_ROSS458 //TO: SWIFT_WOLF_MK20 //PRIORITY: HIGH //SUBJECT: SITREP PLANET //PLANET-SIDE CONTACTS REPORT INCREASED BLACK-FORCE ACTIVITY. RAGE-PROTOCOL ENFORCEMENT INTENSIFYING. REFUGEE FLOW INCREASING. ORBITER INSERTIONS HIGH RISK. ADVISE CAUTION. //END_STREAM

(Outgoing Priority Stream Excerpt - Encrypted) //FROM: SWIFT_WOLF_MK20 //TO: OCN_RELAY_ROSS458 //PRIORITY: HIGH //SUBJECT: RECON REPORT //DAGBERT PATTERNS ANALYZED. BLACK-FORCES DEPLOYMENT PREDICTIVE MODEL UPDATED. IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL PIRATE LAIR SIGNATURES IN ASTEROID BELT SECTOR GAMMA. REQUESTING VERIFICATION WINDOW. //END_STREAM

Chapter 2: Covert Operations on the Planet 2817

One of the ‘Swift Wolf’s’ key assets was its on-board orbiter-pod, a small, stealthy craft designed for atmospheric entry and short-range system travel. It was our primary tool for making contact with the resistance on the planet below ZeeZee Station. Under the cloak of darkness and utilizing the planet’s own atmospheric interference to mask our descent, the orbiter-pod, crewed by a small team of special-ops and a pilot, would slip down to pre-arranged landing zones.

These were dangerous insertions, pushing the limits of the orbiter-pod’s stealth capabilities and the crew’s nerve. The planet, suffering under Dagbert’s exploitation and the influx of banned personnel, was a hotbed of simmering resentment. The black-forces had a presence, searching for dissenters and enforcing the President’s will, but the resistance, fuelled by desperation and a deep hatred for the tyrant, was organized and determined. Our teams would spend limited time on the surface, delivering vital intelligence gathered by our news-aggregators, providing basic medical supplies and communication equipment smuggled aboard, and coordinating future actions. These weren’t just simple drop-offs; our special-ops personnel were highly trained in covert insertion, establishing secure communication nodes, training resistance fighters in basic tactics and counter-surveillance, and gathering first-hand accounts of the brutality of Dagbert’s regime. They also helped facilitate the escape of small groups of refugees when possible, guiding them to clandestine pick-up points in the asteroid field where independent smugglers, vetted by the resistance network, could take them to safer systems like HD 115404 A. It was a risky operation, a constant tightrope walk between providing crucial support and maintaining our invisibility. Each time the orbiter-pod launched or returned, the tension on the ‘Swift Wolf’ was palpable. We were listening, observing, and quietly, indirectly, giving the resistance a fighting chance.

Chapter 3: Locating the Source 2818

While the orbiter-pod teams engaged on the planet, the ‘Swift Wolf’ continued its reconnaissance in the asteroid fields and outer system. Our long-range sensors were specifically tuned to detect the energy signatures of the pirate vessels that had been terrorizing the system. It was painstaking work, sifting through the cosmic noise, but we had a goal: locate their secret base, the source of Dagbert’s power and the instrument of his manufactured chaos.

We tracked faint energy trails, analysed subtle shifts in asteroid field density, and cross-referenced the data with intelligence from the planet-side resistance and the mining outposts. It took cycles of patient observation and careful analysis. The pirates were good at hiding, utilizing the natural clutter of the asteroid belt to their advantage. But they weren’t perfect. Their ships, while modified, still bore the energy signatures of their original mining designs, a subtle tell that our specialized sensors could pick up.

Finally, after weeks of searching, we found it – a cluster of asteroids deeper in the belt than the mining outposts, a seemingly impenetrable maze of rock and ice. But within it, our sensors detected the faint, repeating energy patterns of multiple vessels, the distinct signatures of the pirate fleet. And among them, a larger, more powerful signature – the likely main vessel, the command ship. We had located the heart of Dagbert’s piracy operation. Our mission parameters were clear: observe, report, but avoid direct engagement.

Chapter 4: The Encounter and Grounding near mid 2818

Our mission was observation, not engagement, but the situation escalated rapidly. We had finally located the likely main vessel of the pirate network, a bulky, heavily modified mining ship – the kind that had attacked the ‘TS Emu MMDCCLXXIII’. It was hidden deep within a dense asteroid cluster, a perfect lair. They detected our presence, and the chase was on.

It was a brutal, high-speed dance through the asteroid field. Their knowledge of the local terrain was extensive, their ship surprisingly fast for its size. We used our superior speed to gain distance, but they were relentless. We exchanged fire – not the energy weapons of old, but focused pulses designed to disrupt buffer rings and targeting systems. Our ship, the ‘Swift Wolf’, took hits. Alarms blared, sections of the hull buckled, and the noise of our buffer rings became erratic. We were harmed, bleeding atmosphere in a few compartments, our navigation systems partially compromised.

But we were faster, and our crew was more skilled. Seeing an opportunity amidst the dense asteroid field, our pilot, acting on instinct and training, made a daring manoeuvre. Instead of attempting to disable them from a distance, we used the ‘Swift Wolf’s’ superior speed and the reinforced strength of our sharp conic front shields. We rammed them. Not head-on, but a calculated, brutal strike to their side, like an iceberg tearing into a hull. The impact was immense, a sickening crunch of metal that reverberated through our ship. The pirate vessel, caught off guard and already manoeuvring through the treacherous asteroid field, was sent tumbling violently off course by the force of the collision. It spun out of control, its momentum carrying it directly towards a massive, unyielding asteroid. There was a secondary, catastrophic impact as the pirate ship, its bulk no match for the solid rock, was torn apart. Debris scattered, adding to the already dangerous environment of the asteroid cluster. They were grounded for real, their main vessel utterly disabled, a wreck among the rocks.

However, our own damage was significant. While we had successfully disabled the main pirate vessel, the ramming manoeuvre and the prior exchange of plasma impulses had taken their toll. The ‘Swift Wolf’ was no longer capable of sustained high-speed courier runs or covert operations in the system’s periphery. We were, in effect, grounded. Our nearest option was a small, independent mining station, one that had quietly resisted Dagbert’s influence and was a key node in the local resistance network.

Chapter 5: Grounded but Active mid 2818 - Early 2819

We docked at the mining station in mid 2818, our ship bearing the scars of the encounter. We were safe, but our mobility was severely limited. The ‘Swift Wolf Horizon Mk 20’, the fast courier, the spy ship, was now a stationary command centre. But our work didn’t stop. From the mining station, we continued to coordinate the resistance, relaying information gathered by our news-aggregators, planning the next steps with the planet-side opposition and the other outposts. We monitored the crippled pirate ship’s wreckage, ensuring it remained disabled.

Our presence at the mining station, a clear indicator of external involvement, and the sudden cessation of large-scale piracy following the disabling of the main pirate vessel, sent ripples through the ZeeZee system. It emboldened the resistance on the planet, contributing to their decision to declare the embargo on the station. It added to the growing unease and instability within Dagbert’s regime.

Our communication link with the OCN relay ship just beyond the inner perimeter became even more crucial during this period. We transmitted detailed reports on the state of the station, the growing unrest, the embargo, and the unpredictable behaviour of the black-forces and the ZeeBig Youth. We also received intelligence from the wider network – confirmation that other systems were aware of the situation and were beginning to coordinate a response. The OCN relay ship, staying invisible, acted as the silent conductor, orchestrating the flow of information that would prepare the ground for the intervention.

(Intercepted Priority Stream Excerpt - Encrypted - Late 2818) //FROM: OCN_RELAY_ROSS458 //TO: SWIFT_WOLF_MK20 //PRIORITY: CRITICAL //SUBJECT: INTERVENTION TIMELINE //EXTERNAL ASSETS MOBILIZING. ETA SYSTEM PERIMETER APPROX. Q1/2 2819. MAINTAIN COVERT STATUS. CONTINUE RESISTANCE COORDINATION. PLANET EMBARGO EFFECTIVE. EXPLOIT STATION VULNERABILITIES. PREPARE FOR PHASE TWO. //END_STREAM

The ‘Swift Wolf Horizon Mk 20’, grounded but not defeated, became a silent promise in the ZeeZee system – a sign that the wider galaxy was watching, that help was coordinating, and that the reckless ride of D.D. Dagbert’s tyranny was approaching its end. Our presence here, and the information we continued to gather and transmit, was still useful for the rising revolution. The silence from the outer system wasn’t indifference; it was the calculated quiet before the storm.

Part 7 - The Galaxy Responds

(Format: Strategic Briefings / News Updates (External) / Refugee Accounts)

The silence from the ZeeZee system, broken only by the faint, encrypted priority streams from the ‘Swift Wolf Horizon Mk 20’ and the OCN relay ship, was finally giving way to a ripple of concern, then alarm, across the wider galaxy. News of D.D. Dagbert’s tyrannical rule, the orchestrated piracy, the brutal RAGE-protocol, and the desperate flight of refugees had, despite the communication delays and Dagbert’s attempts at isolation, finally reached the ears of concerned neighbour star-systems, foundations and the major interstellar networks like OCN and Horizon. The reports from the refugees arriving at systems like HD 115404 A, the intelligence gathered by covert courier ships, and the increasingly desperate messages from the resistance on ZeeZee’s planet and mining outposts painted a grim picture of a system suffocating under a tyrant’s boot.

The response was one of coordinated intervention and support, a joint effort born of shared concern for human lives and the stability of interstellar routes.

(Strategic Briefing Excerpt - Joint Systems Coordination Hub - HD 115404 A Station - Early 2819)

Attendees: Representatives from HD 115404 A Station Command, OCN High Priority Operations, Horizon Strategic Planning, and various Neighbour System Liaisons.

Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf (HD 115404 A Station Command): …the data is conclusive. President Dagbert’s regime in the Ross 458 system is a clear and present danger to regional stability and human welfare. The refugee accounts are consistent, detailing widespread human rights abuses, economic exploitation, and the use of state-sponsored piracy for political gain. Our intelligence from the ‘Swift Wolf’ and the OCN relay confirms the internal collapse of his regime, the breakdown of order, and the planet-side embargo. The pirate main vessel is disabled, but the black-forces remain a threat, albeit a fractured one.

Director Nevel Machika (OCN High Priority Operations): OCN’s mandate is information flow and network integrity. Dagbert’s communication blackout is unacceptable and hinders vital interstellar commerce and data exchange. We have assets in position, maintaining a passive watch. Our priority is to re-establish open communication channels and ensure the free flow of information, while supporting efforts to restore legitimate governance. We can provide logistical support and secure communication relays for the intervention force.

Commander Hain Tadesse (Horizon Strategic Planning): Horizon’s interest is the safety and reliability of interstellar transit routes. The piracy emanating from ZeeZee, even if now diminished, has impacted confidence and trade. We are prepared to contribute vessels and personnel to a coordinated intervention. Our courier ships, while not combat vessels, are fast and equipped for rapid deployment and reconnaissance. We also have specialized vessels capable of search and rescue and cargo transport.

Liaison Officer Jasia Eylat (Neighbour System Coalition): Our systems share borders and trade routes with Ross 458. The refugee crisis is impacting our resources, and the instability poses a long-term threat. We are committed to supporting an intervention to remove Dagbert and restore order. We can provide personnel with expertise in civil administration, infrastructure repair, and humanitarian aid.

Security-Chief Sharma: Agreed. The plan is as follows: This is an intervention and support operation. Our primary goals are the removal of D.D. Dagbert from power, the restoration of legitimate governance on ZeeZee Station and the planet, and the provision of humanitarian aid to the affected population. We will support the existing resistance movements on the planet and station.

The intervention force will be composed of vessels contributed by participating systems and organizations. It will include:

Horizon Courier Ships: For rapid transit, reconnaissance, and acting as mobile command and communication hubs.

Specialized Vessels: Including search and rescue ships, medical transports, and vessels equipped for infrastructure assessment and repair.

Colony-Class Ships (3): Repurposed for large-scale personnel transport and serving as temporary command centres and humanitarian aid hubs. These vessels will carry the bulk of our personnel.

Personnel will total over 12,000, comprising:

Trained Relief Specialists: Experts in humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and civil administration.

Special-Ops Personnel: Highly trained individuals for covert insertions, intelligence gathering, and supporting resistance fighters.

Station-Police and Security Personnel: Experienced in maintaining civil order and securing infrastructure, adapted for this specific operational environment.

Technical and Medical Personnel: Engineers, technicians, and medical professionals for ship repair, infrastructure restoration, and providing medical aid.

Our strength lies in our coordination, our expertise, and our commitment to restoring stability and providing aid, not in ruthless might.

The operation will proceed in phases: Initial infiltration and support for the resistance, followed by a coordinated push to secure key areas of the station and planet, culminating in the removal of Dagbert and the establishment of an interim administration. The ‘Swift Wolf’, currently grounded at the mining outpost, will serve as a critical forward command post and intelligence hub.

We anticipate resistance from Dagbert’s black-forces, but intelligence suggests they are fractured and demoralized. The primary challenge will be navigating the chaotic environment he has created and ensuring the safety of the civilian population.

This is a complex operation, requiring precise coordination and unwavering resolve. We are intervening not for territorial gain or political dominance, but to free a system from tyranny and alleviate human suffering. The galaxy is responding.

(External News Update Excerpt - OCN Galactic Feed - Early 2819)

News Anchor (Voiceover): …reports from the Ross 458 system, also known as ZeeZee, indicate a rapidly deteriorating situation under the authoritarian rule of President D.D. Dagbert. Sources confirm widespread shortages, suppression of dissent, and the implementation of brutal policies like the RAGE-protocol. Refugee flows from the system have increased dramatically, overwhelming resources in neighbouring systems. In response to this growing humanitarian crisis and the threat to interstellar stability, a coalition of concerned systems and organizations, including OCN and Horizon, has announced the formation of a coordinated intervention force. This force, explicitly designated as civilian, will focus on providing humanitarian aid, supporting local resistance efforts, and restoring legitimate governance to the ZeeZee system. The first elements of this intervention are expected to arrive in the system’s periphery in the coming cycles…

(Refugee Account Excerpt - Recorded Testimony - HD 115404 A Station - Early 2819)

“…we heard the whispers, even on the planet. That ships were coming. Not Dagbert’s ships, but… others. From outside. It was just rumours at first, but then the messages started getting through, from the mining outposts, from people who had escaped. They said help was being coordinated. That the galaxy hadn’t forgotten us. We didn’t dare believe it at first. Seven years under Dagbert… you lose hope. But then we saw the news feeds, the ones the smugglers managed to get through. They showed the ships gathering, the people volunteering… twelve thousand of them, they said. Relief specialists, police, technicians… no soldiers. Coming to help. It felt… it felt like a miracle. After all the fear, all the hunger, all the loss… finally, a sign that the boot wouldn’t be on our necks forever. We just pray they get there in time. For those still on the station, still on the planet… for the kids in the ZeeBig Youth and the children farms… We pray they get there soon.”

The intervention fleet, a diverse collection of vessels and personnel united by a common purpose, began its long journey towards the Ross 458 system. Their arrival would not be instantaneous; the vast distances and the realities of interstellar travel meant a sustained period of acceleration and deceleration. They were not traveling in a single, compact mass, but along carefully calculated, dispersed trajectories, primarily approaching from the directions of GJ 480, GJ 3779, and HD 115404 A. These routes were chosen not only for strategic positioning but also to avoid gravitational impacts and the lingering debris fields from Dagbert’s orchestrated chaos. The communication delays meant their arrival would not be a sudden shock, but a gradual convergence, a slow tightening of the net around the isolated system. The wheels of galactic response had been set in motion. The intelligence from the ‘Swift Wolf’ and the OCN relay continued to flow, providing real-time updates on the unravelling situation within Dagbert’s domain. The resistance on the planet and mining outposts, bolstered by the promise of external support, intensified their efforts, preparing for the coordinated counter-revolution.

(Strategic Briefing Excerpt - Joint Systems Coordination Hub - HD 115404 A Station - Mid 2819)

Attendees: Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf (HD 115404 A Station Command), Director Nevel Machika (OCN High Priority Operations), Commander Hain Tadesse (Horizon Strategic Planning), Special-Ops Command Leads, Station-Police Contingent Heads, Humanitarian Aid Coordinators.

Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf: Phase One is complete. The initial infiltration teams, utilizing the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’ and three Horizon courier ships operating under strict stealth protocols, successfully executed the early outtake of the primary pirate base in asteroid cluster Gamma.

Special-Ops Lead Commander Itsuo Cubitt: The operation was a success, Security-Chief. Our teams, comprising approximately 300 special-ops personnel, were inserted via orbiter-pods and boarding tubes. We encountered resistance, primarily from the core pirate crew loyal to Dagbert, but our tactics proved highly effective. We utilized non-lethal deterrents – med-bombs dispersing targeted sedatives, sleep-gas in enclosed sections, and aerosolized irritants like pepper-spray in close quarters. The objective was to neutralize, not eliminate. We secured the main pirate vessel and the surrounding base infrastructure with minimal casualties on either side.

Director Nevel Machika: The live stream from the operation was broadcast internally to all intervention force personnel and, with a significant delay and careful editing to remove sensitive tactical details, released on the external OCN feeds. It showcased the efficiency and precision of the special-ops teams, highlighting the non-lethal nature of the intervention and demonstrating the vulnerability of the pirates’ supposed stronghold. It was a powerful visual, intended to reassure the wider galaxy and demoralize Dagbert’s remaining forces. The message was clear: their hidden strength had been neutralized.

Station-Police Contingent Head Officer Nedra FasaRie: Simultaneously, our teams on the planet, working with the local resistance, conducted targeted operations to apprehend key Zeebig supporters. We focused on individuals identified by planet-side intelligence as being instrumental in enforcing Dagbert’s rule and the RAGE-protocol. Resistance was minimal; the embargo and the news of the pirate base’s fall had already severely weakened their resolve. The remaining Zeebig supporters on the planet are now in custody, awaiting due process under interim administration guidelines.

Commander Hain Tadesse: Phase Two is now commencing. The three Colony-Class ships, along with the remaining twelve courier ships and their attached tug-boats – including several of the station’s own tugs that had been recovered or liberated by the resistance – are closing in on ZeeZee Station. Their approach is dispersed, maintaining safe distances to avoid gravitational interference and debris fields, but their convergence is coordinated and deliberate.

Special-Ops Lead Commander Itsuo Cubitt: Our boarding teams are ready. Approximately 3,000 special-ops personnel will lead the initial push to secure key areas of the station – command and control centres, communication hubs, habitat ring access points, and infrastructure nodes. They are equipped with armoured gear, visored helmets, and light exoskeletons, clearly marked with orange striped “POLITE” insignia – a visual distinction from Dagbert’s black-forces and a clear statement of our intent: order, not brutality. Following the special-ops, the main contingent of station-police and medical personnel will board, equipped with protective suits and sealed helmets, prepared for potential low-pressure or compromised atmospheric conditions, ensuring their safety as they move through the station. We anticipate encountering pockets of resistance, but intelligence suggests it will be fragmented.

Station-Police Contingent Head Officer Nedra FasaRie: Our primary concern is the safety of the civilian population and minimizing damage to station infrastructure. We have protocols in place for dealing with potential civilian unrest or those still loyal to Dagbert. We anticipate encountering elements of the ZeeBig Youth; their indoctrination runs deep in some cases. We are prepared to use non-lethal force to neutralize any resistance they offer. This is not a punitive action against them, but a necessary step to secure the station.

Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf: The final objective is the apprehension of D.D. Dagbert and the establishment of an interim administration. Intelligence suggests Dagbert has consolidated his remaining loyalists and black-forces in the main council area. We will proceed with caution to avoid unnecessary conflict. Our goal is to take him alive and bring him to justice.

(News Update Excerpt - OCN Galactic Feed - Mid 2819)

News Anchor (Voiceover): …In a rapidly developing situation in the Ross 458 system, a coordinated intervention crew, comprising vessels and personnel from multiple systems and organizations including OCN and Horizon, has begun operations to restore order and provide humanitarian aid. Reports confirm the successful neutralization of the primary pirate base, a key source of instability in the region. Intervention teams are now moving to secure ZeeZee Station. Sources emphasize the quick coordinated nature of this operation, focusing on law enforcement, relief, and the support of local resistance efforts against the authoritarian regime of D.D. Dagbert. Further updates will be provided as communication channels are fully re-established…

(Refugee Account Excerpt - Recorded Testimony - HD 115404 A Station - Late 2819)

“…we watched the feeds from the station, the ones the OCN relay ship managed to get out. Seeing the ships arrive… not Dagbert’s ships, but the big Colony-Class ones, the couriers… it was like a weight lifted. And then the footage from the pirate base operation… seeing those special-ops, with their orange stripes, moving so fast, so… polite in how they took control. It wasn’t a battle; it was an operation, a surgery. And then the reports from the station itself… the teams boarding, a rush in the docks, moving over the street, through the corridors. We heard about the resistance, mostly from the ZeeBig Youth, poor indoctrinated kids, making a ‘last stand’ they called it. Sad and sorrow. But the black-forces, the ones who terrorized us… they surrendered. And Dagbert… they got him. Gassed him right in his council chamber. The tyrant, brought down by sleep gas. It felt… almost anticlimactic after all these years of fear. But he’s gone. The boot is off. We can finally start to breathe again. The station is safe. The planet is safe. It’s over. The reckless ride… it finally ended.”

(Strategic Briefing Excerpt - Joint Systems Coordination Hub - HD 115404 A Station - Late 2819)

Attendees: Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf (HD 115404 A Station Command), Director Nevel Machika (OCN High Priority Operations), Commander Hain Tadesse (Horizon Strategic Planning), Interim Administration Leads, Humanitarian Aid Coordinators.

Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf: Operation complete. D.D. Dagbert is in custody. Resistance on ZeeZee Station and the planet has ceased. The black-forces have surrendered. The ZeeBig Youth are being assessed and provided with psychological support and re-education programs. The children farms on the planet are under the control of the interim administration, and efforts are underway to reunite families separated by Dagbert’s policies.

Interim Administration Lead Officer Jasia Eylat: The scale of the humanitarian crisis is significant. Years of exploitation and neglect have taken their toll on both the station and planet populations. Our priority is to establish stable governance, restore essential services – power, life support, communication – and provide immediate aid. The Colony-Class ships are serving as temporary hospitals and distribution centres for food, water, and medical supplies. We are working with the resistance leaders to form a transitional council.

Humanitarian Aid Coordinator Mei Lina: The long-term needs are substantial. Infrastructure on the station is degraded, and the planet’s resources have been severely depleted. The psychological impact of seven years under Dagbert’s rule, particularly on the children in the youth programs, will require extensive support. We are coordinating with neighbour systems and the combined Horizon and OCN networks to bring in additional resources and expertise.

Director Nevel Machika: OCN is working to re-establish full communication links with the ZeeZee system, restoring access to galactic news feeds and data networks. This is crucial for ending the system’s isolation and integrating it back into the wider galactic community. We are also compiling a comprehensive report on Dagbert’s regime, the orchestrated piracy, and the intervention, which will be disseminated across the network.

Commander Hain Tadesse: Horizon is assisting with route stabilization and debris clearance in the system’s periphery. The disabled pirate main vessel remains under observation. We are also facilitating the return of refugees who wish to come home, coordinating with the interim administration to ensure their safe reintegration.

Security-Chief Olivia Rudolf: The cost of Dagbert’s reign, fuelled by his exploitation of the Hyperspace Wars’ chaos, is clear. This localized conflict, a microcosm of the larger instability in the galaxy, underscores the vital necessity of moderation protocols and the role of the networks. The ‘reckless ride’ of this era, marked by unchecked ambition and the suffering of those caught in the crossfire, has come at a high price. But from the ashes of this tyranny, there is hope for a more stable, more just future for the ZeeZee system. Our intervention was a success, but the work of rebuilding and healing is just beginning.

The stage was set for a confrontation, not an old age Earthen battle, but a complex operation to liberate a failing system from a tyrant who had exploited the chaos within the Hyperspace Wars for his own gain. The galaxy was responding, bringing the weight of its collective will to bear on the reckless ride of D.D. Dagbert.

Part 8 - Aftermath and Echoes

(Format: Historical Commentary / Personal Reflections / Ṭraika tǒngyī = ट्रैक 统一)

The Hyperspace Wars, a tumultuous era of trade, science, and exploration conflict, did not end with a single decisive battle, but rather a gradual, complex resolution. The period between 2823 and 2838 saw a series of “Hyperspace Conferences” convened across the human-inhabited galaxy, a collective effort to grapple with the chaos, the devastating human cost, and the fundamental dangers that had defined the preceding decades. By the middle of 2833, these conferences were well underway, drawing on the hard-won lessons of conflicts like the one that had unfolded in the Ross 458 system, the home of ZeeZee Station.

A decade had passed since the fall of President D.D. Dagbert on ZeeZee Station in late 2819. His tyrannical reign, a localized microcosm of the broader instability, had ended not through overwhelming ruthless force, but a coordinated intervention of relief specialists, station police, and special-ops, supporting an internal counter-revolution. The memory of his rule – the orchestrated piracy, the brutal RAGE-protocol, the heart-breaking fate of the ZeeBig Youth and the children farms, and the desperate flight of refugees like those aboard the ‘FF Home ट्रैक 统一 Mk’ – remained a potent, if painful, lesson for those in the ZeeZee system and beyond.

The events in the Ross 458 system were not isolated anomalies within the Hyperspace Wars. They were symptomatic of a galaxy struggling with unbridled ambition and the unpredictable consequences of rapid technological advancement. The devastating massacre in the Kuiper Belt in 2821, in which thousands perished in a daring attempt to breach the 13c limit, served as a stark, system-wide warning of the dangers associated with FTL speeds beyond current understanding, particularly in the vicinity of major gravity wells. The Teagarden’s Star News incident, which exposed criminal fraud, the murder of a station detective using doctored news non the Lost Colonies, underscored the pervasive corruption and manipulation of information in the time-delayed galaxy. On the other hand, OCN’s attempt to silently inject the fact of the Lost Colonies into the interstellar media stream demonstrates how otherwise grievous disturbing, destructive news can be disseminated without causing general mass hysteria. The growing amount of other ship losses, including those that contributed to Earth’s decision to enact the Hyperspace Memorandum, highlighted the constant danger faced by ships traversing the interstellar void.

These disparate tragedies, each born of the era’s unique challenges, collectively fuelled the impetus for the Hyperspace Conferences and the development of the Hyperspace Protocols. By 2833, the focus of these conferences was squarely on formulating a framework for a safer, more stable interstellar future. The lessons learned from the reckless ride of D.D. Dagbert and the suffering he inflicted were central to these discussions.

(Historical Commentary - Mid 2833 - Excerpt from a Hyperspace Conference Report)

The discussions surrounding the Hyperspace Protocols are deeply informed by the diverse experiences of systems and factions across the human-inhabited galaxy. The localized conflict in the Ross 458 system, while perhaps smaller in scale than some other flashpoints of the Hyperspace Wars, provides crucial insights into the human cost of unchecked power, the vulnerability of frontier systems, and the insidious ways in which chaos can be exploited for personal gain.

The fall of Dagbert, a tyrant who rose to power on a wave of manufactured fear and controlled information, underscores the vital need for transparency and accountability in interstellar governance. His exploitation of the time-delayed nature of galactic communication to perpetuate his narrative and conceal his crimes highlights the necessity of robust, independent information networks and the free flow of verified data.

The ongoing refugee crisis originating from ZeeZee Station, even years after Dagbert’s removal, serves as a stark reminder of the long-term humanitarian consequences of such regimes. The need for coordinated relief efforts, for safe passage for those fleeing oppression, and for support in rebuilding shattered lives and communities is a central theme in the Protocol discussions related to humanitarian aid and system stability.

Furthermore, the intervention itself – a controlled and coordinated effort of relief specialists, police, and special-ops – is being studied as a model for future responses to similar crises. The effectiveness of targeted, non-lethal intervention, combined with support for local resistance, offers a potential blueprint for addressing localized conflicts without resorting to destructive force. The “POLITE” insignia of the special-ops personnel, a symbol of their mission to restore order rather than inflict violence, has become a quiet emblem of this new approach.

The experiences of systems like ZeeZee, caught in the crossfire of the larger Hyperspace Wars and suffering under internal tyranny, reinforce the argument for the necessity of a governing framework – the Hyperspace Protocols – that can provide a degree of stability and oversight in the absence of traditional interstellar governments. The vulnerability of these frontier systems, often reliant on limited resources and isolated by communication delays, makes them susceptible to exploitation. The Protocols aim to provide a safety net, a set of shared rules and support mechanisms to prevent such situations from escalating into wider conflict or humanitarian disaster.

The question of “7c is enough,” a sentiment born from the tragedies like the Kuiper Belt Massacre and the understanding of the chaotic variables at higher speeds, is a recurring theme in the Protocol negotiations related to FTL safety standards. While the pursuit of faster travel continues, there is a growing consensus that it must be guided by caution, rigorous scientific inquiry, and a shared commitment to safety, rather than reckless ambition. The lessons of the Hyperspace Wars, etched in the wreckage of ships and the suffering of countless individuals, are shaping the future of interstellar travel.

(Commentary Sections - Excerpts from various System/Faction Proposals for the Hyperspace Protocols - Mid 2833)

Proxima Commentary (Proposal: Foresight, Science, Concentrated & Combined Efforts, AC-Accords Now): “The events in Ross 458 underscore the critical need for foresight in interstellar development. Unchecked ambition, divorced from rigorous scientific understanding and ethical considerations, leads inevitably to chaos and suffering. We propose that the Hyperspace Protocols prioritize investment in fundamental research into hyperspace physics, fostering concentrated, combined scientific efforts across systems to deepen our understanding of the universe’s limits. Furthermore, the economic instability witnessed in systems like ZeeZee under Dagbert’s regime highlights the urgency of universal adoption of the AC-Accords, providing a stable economic framework that transcends local tyranny. The time for fragmented approaches is over; a unified, science-driven, and economically stable galaxy is the only path to lasting peace.” (Proposal agreed upon)

Barnard’s Star Commentary (Consensual: More Focused on the Kuiper Belt Massacre - Social and Science): “While the ZeeZee conflict highlights political and humanitarian crises, the Kuiper Belt Massacre remains a powerful, consensual example of the inherent scientific dangers of this era. Our focus in the Protocols must be on establishing robust safety regulations for FTL operation, particularly near mass shadows and at velocities exceeding 7c. The social impact of such tragedies – the loss of life, the displacement of communities, the erosion of trust in technology – necessitates a strong emphasis on humanitarian aid protocols and psychological support for affected populations. The lessons of the Belts, both scientific and social, must guide our approach to responsible exploration.”

Earth Commentary (Proposal: Implement Active Reaction): “Earth, having experienced the direct impact of FTL failures near our own system and having navigated a period of necessary internal focus under the Memorandum, understands the vulnerability of systems to external chaos. We propose the implementation of ‘Active Reaction’ protocols within the Hyperspace framework – coordinated, civil intervention forces, similar to the one deployed in Ross 458, capable of providing rapid humanitarian aid, supporting local authorities in restoring order, and mitigating crises before they escalate. This requires a shift from passive observation to proactive, coordinated response, guided by principles of human welfare and system stability.” (Proposal consensual, reflecting Earth’s experience and evolving stance)

ZeeZee Commentary (Consensual: Explaining the One Viewpoint… Years After - How Reconstitution Works): “From the perspective of the ZeeZee Star-System, years after the intervention and the removal of Dagbert, the Hyperspace Protocols represent a promise of stability we desperately needed. The process of reconstitution is slow and challenging. The humanitarian aid, the support for rebuilding infrastructure, the psychological healing – these are the long-term consequences of tyranny and chaos. Our experience underscores the need for the Protocols to include not just crisis intervention, but also long-term support mechanisms for systems recovering from conflict. The ‘one viewpoint’ from a system that lived under the boot provides a crucial, consensual perspective on the real-world impact of the Hyperspace Wars and the necessity of a collective framework for peace and recovery.”

Teagarden’s Star for the Inner Stars Circle (Consensual: Pointing Out the Wider Involvement of the Lost Colonies): “The Teagarden’s Star incident and the subtle threads connecting it to the narrative of the Lost Colonies remind us that the Hyperspace Wars are not just about speed and territory, but also about information control and the criminal manipulation of history and the narrative. The Protocols must address the need for transparent communication networks, independent news sources, and safeguards against the deliberate spread of misinformation. The echoes of the Lost Colonies, still influencing events centuries later, highlight the long-term consequences of historical events, their narratives and the importance of preserving accurate records in a time-delayed galaxy. We are low on capacity for priority news and even those are still SLOW.”

Wolf 1069 for OuterRim (Proposal: Mitigate, Moderate, Maintain): “From the OuterRim, we have seen the full spectrum of the Hyperspace Wars – the reckless ambition, the devastating losses, and the struggle for survival on the frontier. Our proposal for the Hyperspace Protocols centres on three key pillars: Mitigate the risks of FTL travel through rigorous safety standards and shared data; Moderate conflicts and disputes through independent mediation and de-escalation protocols; and Maintain open and reliable communication channels across all systems. The events in Ross 458, ZeeZee-Star, a system in our own region, underscore the urgent need for these measures to protect the vulnerable and ensure a degree of order on the frontier.” (Proposal agreed upon)

Wolf-Pack Commentary (Consensual: A General Comment on Interplanetary Reaction Groups): “The concept of coordinated ‘Interplanetary Reaction Groups,’ as demonstrated by the intervention crews in Ross 458, is a practical and necessary evolution of system security in this era. These groups, composed of specialized personnel, non violent, non conflicting, offer a flexible and effective means of responding to localized crises, providing aid, and restoring order without the destructive capacity of older forms of conflict solution. The Protocols should endorse and facilitate the formation and coordination of such groups across systems, leveraging our collective expertise for the common good.” (A general, consensual comment reflecting a practical outcome of the intervention)

CD-Cet for the South of the Rim (Agreed: Focus on Responsible Expansion): “As a major hub in the galactic South, CD-Cet is invested in the responsible expansion of human civilization. The Hyperspace Protocols must ensure that future exploration and colonization efforts are guided by principles of sustainability, ethical engagement with alien life, potentially advanced could be encountered, and the safety of colonists and support personnel. The lessons from the chaotic expansion during the Hyperspace Wars, and the vulnerabilities of frontier settlements like those on ZeeZee’s planet, underscore the need for a planned, coordinated, and safety-conscious approach to venturing into the unknown.” (Proposal agreed upon)

GJ 1289 for the East Of the Rim (Proposal: Combined Scientific Efforts): “Our system, positioned in the East of the Rim, has contributed significantly to the scientific understanding of hyperspace physics. We propose that the Hyperspace Protocols establish a framework for mandatory data sharing on FTL experiments and anomalies, fostering combined scientific efforts across all systems. The fragmented nature of research during the Hyperspace Wars, with factions hoarding data and repeating dangerous experiments, was a major contributing factor to the chaos. A collaborative, open scientific community, facilitated by something like joined interstellar academies, is essential for safe and responsible technological advancement.” (Proposal agreed upon)

OCN/Horizon: agreed, showing full consent SILENT statement(2833, to the hands of the public not earlier than 2933): The Teagarden Star incident is far bigger than a one-sided news fraud and a single handed murder case would suggest. The most intriguing fact is the fabricated story about the founding date of LHS 1610. We know that this station was founded between 2743-2745 - officially. But we also know that this cannot be true. LHS 1610 was from the beginning a station built for thousands, a transfer hub, but only inhabited by a fluctuating population of 70 to 170 people. Obscure, oversized, not coherent with the history of a family space-station. All records from prior 2745 have been erased, that much we know. The name of the founding family is unknown, the first settlers disappeared without a trace. Only the second generation, a completely swapped new population, is officially recorded. The evidence points to an earlier isolated settlement of LHS 1610, 1 or 2 decades earlier, a carefully manipulated history, blurred traces of ships and people migrating in on faster ships from the wolfpack, crossing the Earth plane, the rim systems just after LHS 1610, preparing for the great leap out south, 150ly from the sun, still more than 90ly from LHS 1610. It must have been a fleet operation. Invisible, manipulating the news and networks to their own advantage. It was not a criminal act, rather than act born of desperation that has been well hidden for about a century, not only for the public eye, but for everyone. The scary thing is that we were not aware of what was happening at the time and that the ease of vulnerability for the social, economic and information infrastructures had been demonstrated. Any other ‘what if’ scenario would have resulted in the immediate collapse of all our societies. And even now, these historic messages require careful monitoring, moderated messaging, otherwise they would send shockwaves through the system. We work according to the principles of ‘moderate’, ‘maintain’ and ‘mitigate’, as Perceptionism envisages. Nevertheless, we need a fallback system, a complement to our efforts. Individual systems can fail on their own, they will, as we have seen.

The Hyperspace Conferences, drawing on the collective wisdom and the painful lessons of the preceding decades, were forging a new path for humanity among the stars. The events in the Ross 458 system, the fall of D.D. Dagbert, and the suffering of its people, served as a powerful, recent example of the very chaos the Hyperspace Protocols were designed to prevent. By 2838, these protocols would be ratified, establishing a framework for interstellar safety, communication, and cooperation. The Hyperspace Wars, while leaving deep scars, had ultimately compelled humanity to confront the consequences of its reckless ride and to build a more stable, more responsible future in the vast, challenging expanse of the galaxy. The echoes of the past, from the Kuiper Belt Massacre to the quiet suffering on ZeeZee’s planet, were shaping the present and guiding the way forward.