Chapter 580: Stock Car Race

"I remember when I heard that the lemurs of Terra had suffered a Great Die Off, as if a Great Filter had swooped down from the darkness and eliminated them. I rejoiced, because that meant my people would survive.

"Then it became knowledge that it was an attack upon the Mad Lemurs of Terra by a species that my species could barely comprehend, much less fight.

"It was then I lamented the loss of the Mad Lemurs of Terra and asked 'who will save my people?' to a malevolent universe.

"And the universe answered: Behold! Humanity!" - Former Grand Most High Sma'akamo'o, from I Have Ridden the Hasslehoff

7th Army Bugler

All news, no rumors.

7th ARMY REGROUPS!

For the first time in nearly four hundred years, all of the 7th Army is located in one place as they undergo force retraining, reconstitution, and reinforcement. Having done a massive interstellar movement from multiple theaters of combat, V and VII Corps, along with other attached elements, has moved to the planet TLK-38732.

With the fact that dependents have been moved from all over the galactic arm, this has represented Space Force's largest logistical movement in its history and nearly a billion dependents, civilian contractors, and support personnel have all gathered on the planet.

This movement and reconstitution comes at a time where things are urgent for Space Force and the Confederate Armed Services. With the Atrekna pushing across all fronts and making deep strikes to the rear areas, time is of the essence.

With 7th Army being the vanguard of the Confederate Army, the pressure is on to finish reconstitution and redeploy to allow 4th Army and 9th Army to fall back and regroup. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

9th GUARD EMERGES VICTORIOUS

Despite heavy losses in the Halveran-19 System, the 9th Guard (Old Blood) managed to repel an Atrekna assault in full force. After six years of steady warfare (local time) the fabled 9th Guard emerged stronger than ever despite losses due to the Great Die Off. With the addition of the Nakaskian species to their ranks, the 9th Guard is at full strength and is redeploying to take the fight to the Atrekna.

The 9th Guard is currently opening their ranks to those with at least a hundred years in the Confederate Armed Services. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE]

AI DRIVEN SHIP 'MARDUK' SIGHTED AGAIN

In another case of Terran 'Dead Hand Systems' being let loose on the galaxy, the Marduk, a ship entirely driven by an Artificial Intelligence of the same name that predates the Great Glassing, has been spotted in Unified Council space. In addition to dropping off troops that had been aboard a Type-IV Harvester back in their home system after an undisclosed rescue, the Marduk was seen landing android troops in defense of the Hretrazk System.

The question of just what else was released by the extinction of Terran Descent Humanity is something that many worry about. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

4th FURRY FLEET ENGAGES ATREKNA

The 4th Furry Fleet, having left Tir na Nog last year, has arrived in time to engage the Atrekna as they assaulted the Urkrevat System. While contact is currently lost with ground forces, the 19th Furry Armada still holds the outer system and is currently reporting that the ground fighting, while heavy, should be coming to an end within the next month. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

TEMPORAL WARFARE CLAIMS

Due to the nature of the war against the Atrekna, Defense Finance and Accounting Service as well as Personnel Command realizes that many troops have been experiencing different amounts of time in service, time in grade, and time in position relative to those who have not been involved in temporal warfare.

If you have been subjected to time dilatation or extension, let your Temporal Warfare Officer know, collect all supporting documents, and file a claim with DEFAS or PERSCOM. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

REENLIST TODAY!

With the war against

>No

TEMPORAL WARFARE SCHOOL AND INDIVIDUAL TRAINING

With the war against the Atrekna, the Confederate Armed Services is devoting resources to ensure commanders and field troops are educated in temporal warfare and temporal counter-measures. Long term unit cohesion studies as well as emergency reinforcement doctrine is currently undergoing change.

General Thomas Ik'lktak Morgan has stated that he is sure that with proper training at command through company level, the Confederate Armed Services will be prepared to handle any temporal warfare strategies the Atrekna choose to employ.

See your Training Office for further details. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

GENERAL TRUCKER BOARD OF INQUIRY FACES DIFFICULTY

After using the Black Cauldron Protocol against the Atrekna, General Trucker was relieved of command with prejudice and placed under arrest until a board could be convened. A Board of Inquiry's bylaws insist that an officer face a board of his peers, including a makeup of at least 55% of the accused species. However, with the Great Die Off, only sixteen Terran Descent Humans remain in 7th Army, and of that sixteen only two are officers, meaning that the board's required species breakdown cannot be reached.

The Judge Advocate General's Office has assured the Bugler that General Trucker will be facing a board of inquiry for his use of the Black Cauldron Protocol while adhering to his rights, including that of a speedy trial. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

FIFTH TELKAN JOINS 7th ARMY

The newly christened 5th Telkan Marine Division, under command of General Rawgrakar, has arrived at TLK-38732 to be formally added as a permanent unit under the 7th Army banner, joining V and VII Corps as part of the newly reactivated XII Corps.

Speaking to the press, General Rawgrakar has assured the Bugler that 5th Telkan will uphold the high standards set by First Telkan Marine Division. Also in 5th Telkan's order of battle is the second highest ranking Telkan in service, Chief Warrant Officer Grade Two Mukstet, as well as the highest ranking enlisted Telkan, Sergeant First Class Kuplo, winner of the Crossed Staves of Valor.

The Bugler welcomes our new brothers to the fold. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

THE DEFIANT HERD SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS STRUGETH-9

The Defiant Herd, make up of almost entirely Lanaktallan volunteers, successfully defended the Strugeth-9 System from an Atrekna attack in force despite taking nearly 45% casualties. Former Great Most High, now Lieutenant General Thu'ndrmo'o, managed to disrupt the Atrekna assault after only two years local time passing. Great Most High, now Admiral of the Bronze (Upper Decks) Blast'rmo'o, helped defend the system despite being outnumbered and outgunned, losing only 28% of his ships in the process.

While these numbers are horrific to most other species, the Lanaktallan consider it an almost unheard of strategic and tactical victory with very few casualties. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

4th DOGBOI REGIMENT REJOINS 7th ARMY

You heard that right! Despite having their colors cased Pre-Glassing, the 4th Dogboi Regiment has rejoined the ranks of 7th Army. After eight months of re-familiarization training, the uplifted canines of the 4th Dogboi Regiment have arrived on TLK-38732 to reintegrated into the 7th Army order of battle.

Additionally, Dogboi troopers will be joining many units across 7th Army, with several previously closed MOS's opening up again. The 4th Dogboi Regiment will be joining XII Corps.

We here at the Bugler welcome our long lost friends back to service. [YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE!!!]

DINOCHROME BRIGADE MOVES TO KENTAI COMMANDER SYSTEM

With the loss of Terran Descent Humanity, the Dinochrome Brigade was facing a tactical degradation of nearly 45%. However, part of the Terran "Dead Hand System" is what is known as The Kentai Commander System is built into all Bolo Supertanks as part of emergency systems.

While historically largely unused, the Dinochrome Brigade has recently ordered all Bolo Supertanks to move to this system, returning them to full tactical effectiveness through the use of Born Whole Cloning Systems.

What this means for Terran Descent Humanity and its allies is unknown at this time. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

14th HAMAROOSAN STRIKER BRIGADE JOINS 7th ARMY

For those of you who have ever had close air support and air cover duties performed by Hamaroosan pilots, you'll be thrilled to know that the 14th Hamaroosan Striker Brigade is being added to 7th Army as part of XII Corps. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

DIGITAL OMNIMESSIAH SPOTTED ON HESSTLA AND TELKAN

Reports that the Digital Omnimessiah has returned were confirmed as reports from Hesstla and Telkan have come in with definitive proof that the Digital Omnimessiah has returned. As he appeared just after the Great Glassing, the fact that he has returned when Terran Descent Humanity has been all but wiped out from the universe has made many believe that we are in our darkest hour.

The Second Church of the Prophet - Reformed has claimed that the newest manifestation is merely a complex AI or Digital Sentience masquerading as the Digital Savior, but the 4th Reformation insists that in these times the appearance of the Digital Savior makes perfect sense.

7th Army Command would like to remind everyone that theological debates are best left to the Chaplain Corps and not in the barracks with knives. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

SAILOR MOON SISTERHOOD LIBERATES EIGHTH SYSTEM

The Lolita Sorceress of the Sailor Moon Sisterhood, long considered a myth centered around the fierce defense of Animeland during the Fist Terran/Mantid War, has proven to be, in fact, very very real. Recently the system of Zzyglatz had undergone Atrekna temporal attack, vanishing from the cosmos. A month ago the Sisterhood liberated the planet after it had been under Atrekna control for nearly three hundred years local time.

After liberating the system the Sisterhood vanished again. Military authorities are at a loss to explain exactly how they keep moving from system to system, who controls them, or even their ultimate goals. Additionally, many Terran History researchers disagree whether or not the Sisterhood can be brought under control or otherwise neutralized once the war ends.

Another of the Terran "Dead Hand Systems" that was thought to be a myth is now currently taking the war to the Atrekna. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

BIOLOGICAL APOSTLES SPOTTED IN MANY SYSTEMS

During the heavy fighting on several systems, several of the Biological Apostles have reappeared. Reports state that the Biological Apostles are not clad in the late Terran Imperium regalia, but rather in the traditional appearance.

So far eight of the thirteen Biological Apostles have been spotted, including Enraged Phillip, Vat Grown Luke, and Green Thomas. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

7TH SIMBA REGIMENT REJOINS 7th ARMY

With the return of those lost to the Friend Plague over 8,000 years ago, many of our friends are rejoining their old professions. The 7th Simba Regiment, out of the old Pan-Afrikan Union, has finished re-familiarization training and will be joining XII Corps. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

9,500TH CAN YOU BREAK IT GAMES TO BEGIN

The Can You Break It Games, a Terran tradition dating back to the Second Great Global Conflict of Terra, will be convening despite the loss of Terran Humanity. With new equipment being fielded across the Confederate Armed Services, the Can You Break It Games are being opened up to all species and all equipment.

Of some note is Chief Warrant Officer Warkrahk, who set a record in completely disabling a suit of Hobgoblin Power Armor in less than 2.5 seconds six years ago.

Another notable competitor joining is Ha'almo'or of the Atomic Hooves and his aptly named 'Wrecking Crew', noted for completely destroying nearly fifty state of the art experimental tanks in less than three months.

Signups are available at your Training Office. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE?]

------------

General NoDra'ak closed the window on the dataslate and looked back to his office. He was sitting behind a fairly impressive desk, the window behind him, his awards and knickknacks around him. He set the dataslate down and lit a cigarette, turning his chair so he could stare out the window at the grassy lawn of the 7th Army Headquarters building.

A company of Tukna'rn infantry was running down the road and he watched them for a long moment.

The article had gotten one thing right. Trucker's board of inquiry was proving to be a complete headache.

By the Terran Armed Services Code of Military Justice, Trucker was supposed to have 55% of the board made up of Terran Descent Humanity staff officers. The problem was, since the board was composed of seven members, that meant that Trucker was supposed to have at least four Terrans of higher rank.

Since Trucker was a Major General of the Bronze, that shouldn't have been a problem for 7th Army. At the worst, he'd have to be returned to Terra.

None of the options were available any more.

Trucker had offered to waive the 55%, but JAG had refused, stating that the Breastwork Inquiries and the Statenborg Trials made it impossible to waive that requirement.

Smokey 'No considered the whole thing. He couldn't even do the bare minimum three officer board of inquiry, since there was not even two staff officers that outranked Trucker and were Terran Descent Humans. The TASCMJ was so specific on it, going as far as stating that Digital Sentiences and members of the Biological Artificial Sentience Systems were their own species, that there was no way out of the problem.

There wasn't enough humans to convene the board.

Use of the Black Cauldron automatically forced a board of inquiry to be convened.

Worse, from many points of view, is that the majority of species in the Terran Confederate Armed Services viewed what Trucker had done as a masterful approach to a disastrous situation. Even NoDra'ak had very little reservations over the use of the Black Cauldron Protocol.

Which was why it could only be activated by a Terran Descent Human.

Smokey 'No tapped his ashes and took a long drag off his cigarette, using his datalink to crack the windows so he could exhale a thin stream of smoke out the windows.

It felt strange to General NoDra'ak. Personally, he found the fact he couldn't place the Terran in charge of a division or two to be wasteful and a detriment to the Confederacy's war effort. On the other hand, he understood that the TASCMJ had to be adhered to, especially with the addition of so many new xenospecies.

On the gripping hand, he wondered just how many civilians were going to die because he couldn't field Trucker in charge of a couple of tank division.

For a second he had the urge to fling the datapad he'd loaded with the precedents and historical records of using the Black Cauldron straight out the window.

Another unit ran by, a battalion of Hamaroosan striker pilots, the one in the lead spinning the pole with their guidon on it.

General NoDra'ak sighed and turned around, moving the datapads around.

The Confederacy wasn't that old, only about a thousand years old, but Terran Descent Humanity had tens of thousands of years of warfare under its belt.

Surely someone, somewhere, had chiseled on a stone tablet or written on ink and paper, or drawn onto a clay brick, something, anything to help NoDra'ak out.

He sighed and brought back up the precedents from prior to the Mar-gite War.

He just had this nagging feeling that the decision was going to be taken from his hands.