Human Time Line

Updated Sunday 15 May, 2011 12:18 PM

Human Time Line

Book Four -The Renascent Epoch of Mankind

Chapter 5 Here Be Dragons

Initial Moves

Although it was hoped otherwise, it soon became apparent that the Elysium Union was indisputably split. A group numbering about 2 billion had left cutting all contact with the remainder, whilst those remaining had inturn divided into 2 large groups now planning the opening moves of the civil war.

Yet the two sides of this war had very different policies. It was never the intention of the Union Explorers Agency (UEA) to turn the debates of the Assembly into battles of ideology. Even though the tensions flowed high, it was assumed that the basic principals of the EU would always be observed by all. Even the opposition, led by Lucifer, were thought to agree on this.

The opposition, now called the Luciferins (after their leader), were at first content to play by these rules. This was all the more a good reason to keep to them, considering they were able to apply these basic principals to their own ends in the political debates that echoed throughout the Assembly. They were even able to utilise these principals when applying pressure on the UEA for control of its activities. It was only when, after some dubious clandestine actions by the UEA, that a reversal occurred. Thereafter it was the Luciferins who were then under the microscope.

It was not long, therefore, before the Luciferins, especially Lucifer himself, cried fowl. Although the majority of the Assembly played by the very same principals that Lucifer did not too long ago, he then refused by rejecting calls to observe a summons & then a warrant. By doing so, not only did Lucifer lose all moderate support in the EU, he also brought on a political crisis. Many say that was exactly what he wanted. A show down, as it were, in order to start a civil war in order to seize an opportunity to become tyrant of the EU.

The opening moves of the EU civil war were quiet ones. The split of the EU was, however, rather revealing. In the "Rump" EU, there were about 9 billion SSS (Humans), while the remaining 1 billion were made up of all the Post-Catharsis Vargary & Unis.

In military terms, only the Guardians sided with the "Rump" EU. In support of the Guardians, most of the Clandestine & Explorer personnel likewise followed. The great bulk of the militia, though, joined the ranks of the Luciferins, as did some Clandestine & Explorer units.

The Luciferins were solely made up of SSS (Humans). The other Post-Catharsis species either stayed in the "Rump" EU or had joined with the Post-Catharsis Lyonies in leaving the EU entirely. Even some SSS (Humans) agreed with the Isolationists & left to begin anew. This ensured that the Luciferins numbers were about half of the "Rump" EU. Although on paper this statistic seemed most hard on the Luciferins, due to the fact that the militia joined them, made the military numbers somewhat in their favour - at least in numbers. Overall, though, there was a fine balance - the Rump had the better trained & experienced Guardians, while the Luciferins had the lesser trained, but more numerous, militia.

It was from this position that Lucifer decreed a "purifying" war for the EU. The Chamber of the Luciferins agreed & with somewhat religious zeal, elected Lucifer as Commander in Chief. This was regardless of the fact that Lucifer had no military expertise at all. After selecting favourites as his subordinate commanders, again few had military experience, they met to plan their attack.

It was decided that the Luciferins would attack before the "Rump" EU built up sufficient numbers. Although it called for a broad front deployment, large formations would, nevertheless, be concentrated where the enemy was located. Then a constant advance would push forward with emphasis on the flanks. Eventually an envelopment would occur thereby trapping most if not all of the Rump defenders. The surrounded Rump EU forces would be offered surrender, acceptance of the Luciferins victory & subsequent government, or die.

Little concern was given to what the Guardians would actually do. It was considered that Lucifer had the victorious plan & that the Guardians (& other defenders) would play their part according to the script. Most expected the civil war to be over within a short period of time. In a similar fashion, most wanted to commence the offensive immediately.

The Assembly of the Rump EU discussed, whilst their opposite number did the same, how to meet the posing threat. No one really wanted to fight the coming war, even though most now accepted the inevitable. Unlike the Luciferins, the Assembly referred all military matters to the UEA. The experienced personnel, such as Gabrielle & Michael, were given a free hand in order to conduct the pending war. The Assembly, however, retained the right to order campaigns & broad objectives, but the UEA would make the plans.

Furthermore, seasoned persons such as Mary, Lilth, Uriel, Raphael & Sariel were on hand to add their experience & wisdom to the Assembly. Raphael stated that the "Luciferins will attack first. No doubt about it. The Guardians numbers will need to be dramatically increased. I consider this to be our first priority in this crisis & an Act of Assembly". Soon, Gabrielle had more personnel, including Raphael himself, than he knew what to do with. The main drawback was, however, that many of them were inexperienced.

Even so, Gabrielle did not sit by & waited for Lucifer’s plan to unfold. By the time Raphael had finished his speech in the Assembly, he had already dispatched half of his Clandestine units on missions. Having crossed the front lines, which were more arbitrary than actual at this stage, the Clandestine teams hid away in places where they could keep an eye on Luciferins movements.

It did not take long for reports to begin arriving at UEA Headquarters. Analysts soon identified what appeared to be a basic broad front advance into the Rump EU. Importantly, UEA Clandestine Team Sierra-Bravo reported a large concentration of Luciferins on the left flank. Not long after, another clandestine team reported a similar concentration on the right flank. Immediately, Gabrielle & Michael realised the strategy involved & made their plans accordingly.

Murphy’s Law

When the Luciferins forces were finally in place, Lucifer gave the order for the advance. Soon, small engagements along the front line commenced as small numbers of Guardians challenged the oncoming hordes. There was little that they could do, however, as numbers were well & truly on the side of the attackers. To their credit, the Luciferins commanders had placed their large formations well. Where the small formations of Luciferins advanced, virtually no one, except for some UEA clandestine units, were around to stop them. Thus, it appeared to Lucifer that all was going to plan.

Soon, however, concern developed for the Luciferins. It was reported that the Guardian units were not holding their "ground" at all costs. It was assumed by the Luciferins planners that, in the initial stages of the offensive, the Guardians would fight desperately against them. But by withdrawing quicker than expected, it was feared that they could do two things: either establish a strong defensive line that may resist the advance & disrupt any attempt at envelopment; or, they would withdraw so far & fast that the Guardians (& others) would escape the envelopment manoeuvre altogether.

The result of the Guardians actions was an immediate slight change of plan. Lucifer ordered an increase in the general advance. Furthermore, he wanted rear area personnel to move forward to support & strengthen the advancing line in case the Guardians should suddenly counterattack. This was especially a concern in the centre which had become rather thin. Lucifer was, ironically, hoping for such a counterattack in the centre: the reason being that it would ensure that the flanks would succeed in their objective & a substantial number of defenders would be trapped.

It all seemed so perfect. The plan, even with the adaptations, was working. Although reports constantly repeated the fact that few of the Guardians & Clandestine units had been identified, Lucifer showed little concern. His own clandestine units, albeit small in number, reported that there appeared to be no traps waiting & the Guardian units that they had come across had been anticipated by the planners.

It, therefore, came as a rude shock to some when reports started coming in about engagements commencing in the Luciferins rear areas. These reports were rather confusing at first, but after a while it became apparent that UEA Clandestine Units were making hit & run attacks on small rear units. Upon hearing this, Lucifer considered such attacks as desperate measures being conducted by the UEA. Gabrielle, it was thought, was trying to slow down the Luciferins advance by these nuisance diversions. There would be no slowing down, let alone diversion of combat units to deal with the nuisance attacks.

As the Luciferins advanced further into "Rump" EU territory, the rear attacks increased in intensity. Soon the annoying hit & run attacks changed into organised engagements. These were conducted by larger units that made it clear that conquest of their target was their primary objective. Although they were localised, often the target would include formation headquarters & the like. Soon, Lucifer had to transfer numerous combat units to the rear in order to protect their respective parent headquarters. Many, however, did not make it in time. Lucifer was soon losing control of his military.

Pitched battles now commenced to the rear of the Luciferins. More & more Luciferins units were sucked into the desperate battles with the UEA units. And to their great surprise, Guardians were everywhere. Although casualties were being taken by both sides, it was the Luciferins that were taking the higher rates. Having their plans disrupted, inexperienced in combat, & often without communication with commanders, the Guardians made the Luciferins pay a high price.

It soon became obvious that Lucifer’s plan was in danger. Although the rear attacks had still not reached a level of a massive battle, after all most of these engagements involved small formations, they were dragging more & more units away from the advance. More importantly, the advance was slowing down & with it the initiative. Furthermore, the support for the front line units was constantly being weakened.

Still Lucifer did not want the advance to stop. The flanks of the Luciferins had begun to swing inwards as planned. Success was only a short distance away. It was about this time that a large concentration of Guardians were located in the centre. Unlike previously, this formation did not withdraw. It actually held an very strong defensive position that would take some doing to overcome. However, the Luciferins centre, knowing of the envelopment plan, decided to hold its advance & invest this Guardian defensive position.

Lucifer ordered, upon being informed of this halt to his plan, his centre to attack. Although this was questioned by the centre’s commander, Lucifer would have none of it. Again he ordered an attack. The result of such an unprepared assault against determined defenders was predictable. As had happened over the eons, so it happened here. The Luciferins were slaughtered. Guardian casualties were somewhat high, higher than hoped, but their stand & sacrifice ensured that the Luciferins centre advanced no more.

For Lucifer this was unfortunate, but not unacceptable. He had pinned the enemy down & they were about to be encircled. Even so, this meant that the flanks would be thinner than at first planned, but an acceptable result nonetheless. Then, once having achieved encirclement, units could be diverted to the rear to deal with those annoying attacks.

But the attacks to the rear only increased. Before the flanks had completed their mission, Lucifer was reluctant to transfer several units from the flanks to the rear. Transferring units from the centre became impossible, thanks mainly for the vane attack upon the Guardians Bastion earlier. Even Lucifer recognised that to weaken the centre further could invite an attack there by the Guardians, who may attempt such a manoeuvre in breaking out, & then joining the Guardian units to the Luciferins rear. Such a thing would be disastrous & ensure defeat instead of victory.

Almost as immediately as Lucifer feared such a Guardian counterattack, reports came in from the flanks that they were under small unit formation attacks. Although these attacks were being held, they nevertheless indicated that Guardian units (& others) had clearly escaped the envelopment plan. Yet a change to this plan was now impossible as the two flanks finally met. Coincidently, as these attacks had begun from the outside, so the Guardians trapped in the centre had begun attacks on the flanks.

Seeing what was happening, Lucifer ordered the centre to once again attack the Guardian Bastion. Unlike the Bastion attacks, however, which were nothing more than a demonstration, the centre attacked in full. Waiting for them was about 90% of the Bastion defenders. As previously, the attacking Luciferins were slaughtered.

Simultaneously, large Guardian formations attacked weak spots along the two flanks of the Luciferins. These had been discovered by the small unit engagements that had previously kept the Luciferins located here preoccupied. Now outnumbered, & attacked by both sides, the Luciferins defensive lines were cut in several places. Now it was the Luciferins who were enveloped. Both flanks, numbering approximately half of the Luciferins forces, were surrounded in several pockets. Soon desperate battles commenced as these units fought hard in order to withdraw back towards the centre. Any organised effort soon collapsed.

Lucifer could not believe what was happening. With his plan in tatters, he had little choice. What was worse was the centre was now taking a battering & had begun a withdrawal itself. This knowledge only urged the trapped flank units further on as rout took command of the Luciferins. Even Lucifer, a UEA clandestine unit reported, was seen fleeing for Luciferins "territory".

On the way to the illusional safety of their "territory", however, many Luciferins units came under savage attack by the UEA clandestine & Guardian units that had operated so successfully in their rear areas. Finally the battle was over. The Luciferins had lost somewhere near 40% of their numbers. Losses that they could ill afford. Many in the "Rump" EU were eager to chase the fleeing enemy, but the Assembly called a halt to the chase. Enough had died on both sides. A time of healing & rebuilding was required before the pursuit of the final outcome could commence.

Interregnum

Gabrielle was incensed when the order came from the Assembly to stop the pursuit of the Luciferins. As far as he was concerned, the civil war could be over before the day was out, so to speak. Michael calmed him down by pointing out that "Our forces are dispersed, disrupted, tired & spread out. At the moment, I’d doubt if we could get anyone to support anyone else if trouble struck." Gabrielle accepted this advice, even though he thought that the Luciferins could not offer much resistance.

The Assembly, however, had other motives for stopping the pursuit. They wanted to give the Luciferins the opportunity to repent & rejoin the Union. As Mary argued, "It is one thing to defeat them in battle, but if their spirits resist, so too will the fight. The civil war will, therefore, continue regardless & our Union will bleed constantly as a result. They can only return if they truly want to & to that extent we must win their hearts as well as their ‘bodies’."

News soon got out to the rest of the Elysium universe that the EU were in a civil war. Although several were interested in these events, few offered any help. That did not mean, however, that a few civilisations did not get involved. The first were the Ongoum. They were truly concerned that their ally had, for whatever reasons, degenerated into such a state. Furthermore, their motivations were not all pious. The Ongoum were fully aware that while their ally was preoccupied, they were also at risk. Again if their ally was to injure themselves deeply, then any future help would not be forthcoming when the Ongoum needed it.

So it was therefore in the interests of the Ongoum to get involved, albeit in a peaceful way. When the Assembly supported the peace offer that Mary had initiated, there was no way that the Rump EU could safely communicate this to the Luciferins. Upon hearing of this, the Ongoum Ambassador offered his services, which inturn were authorised by the Ongoum government. It was hoped that both sides would recognise this gesture by the Ongoum & thus they would guarantee their future relationship with the EU, regardless of whom became victor.

The Ongoum Ambassador was welcomed by the Luciferins. To Lucifer’s credit, he had quickly rallied his followers & had set up a defence line. Thus it was the Luciferins attitude to await the Guardians attack that would surely follow. Overall, however, there was an atmosphere of defeat. But this visit by the Ambassador, & the subsequent offer of peace talks by the Rump EU, changed the feeling of doom into hope for the Luciferins. Lucifer soon argued in the Chamber that they had hurt the Guardians more than was first thought & the EU was scared. Furthermore he continued that "… the great battle had clearly shown the Rump EU that we, the Luciferins, meant business. Without doubt, the peace offer indicates that they are thinking of surrender. Our recent military adventure may have lost the battle, but we have won the war!"

For the Rump EU, such ideas were ludicrous. Gabrielle had no intension of surrendering, nor for that matter did the Assembly. What was on offer was a genuine humane gesture to end the civil war through peaceful means. When the Ongoum Ambassador returned with Lucifer’s refusal, a dark feeling of the inevitable spread across the Rump EU. No one felt it more so than Mary.

War Without End

It was with much sadness that the Assembly finally gave its authority to what everyone thought would be the end of the civil war. After Lucifer’s refusal to even consider peace talks, it became obvious that a war of conquest would have to commence. Although the Assembly issued guidelines that Luciferins should be given every opportunity in order to surrender, few believed that many would. Even more so, many were concerned that the new generation of Guardian volunteers may not take too much notice of the guidelines anyway.

As was the basic intentions with the Luciferins invasion of the Rump EU, so too the UEA forces would advance over a wide frontage. The advance would witness clandestine units in the vanguard, while Guardian forces would make up the main body. Finally, a new EU militia force of volunteers would bring up the rear. Furthermore, the militia would, not only protect the Rump EU from any counterattacks, but would also occupy all conquered Luciferins "territory", thus ensuring security from rear attacks. Gabrielle was determined that the Luciferins would not do to the UEA advance, what they had done against them.

When the UEA offensive began, the defenders put up a strong defence. In several locations, the advance quickly halted. Lucifer moved forward units to reinforce these locations, but failed to stop the UEA everywhere. Furthermore, UEA clandestine units were able to report the movements of these reinforcements, so inevitably the Guardians attacked were the enemy was not. The Luciferins strongholds were then besieged, not by Guardians, but by the new EU militia under the supervision of a handful of Guardians.

It did not take long, therefore, for the Guardians to be deep within Luciferins "territory", while several large defending units were trapped far behind the front lines. Some of these surrendered to the EU militia. Most, however, did not. Many tried to break out, but considering there was no coordinated help, few succeeded. Defeat clearly shone in the eyes of the Luciferins. A last ditched effort by them failed thanks mostly to numbers.

The final battle, nevertheless, was a costly one to both sides. The Guardians suffered heavy causalities, as did the Luciferins. In the battle, even Lucifer was seen to be wounded. Upon this event, many of the defenders fled as best they could. What defence could be made was during & after Lucifer’s withdrawal from the "field". Many survivors withdrew with him & conducted a determined rearguard action that kept the Guardians at bay. After some time, the Guardians stopped their pursuit as this final Luciferins force left EU-Luciferins "territory" & escaped into neutral space.

News of the escape of Lucifer tarnished what was certain to be victory & the end of the civil war. Having said that, the Assembly was not impressed by Lucifer’s escape. Although it was certain that Lucifer was now harmless, even with the remnants of a once powerful army, the Assembly, nonetheless, wanted to bring Lucifer to trail for the civil war. Other’s though, especially some of Lucifer’s Lieutenants, would have to do it in his place.

This fact, however, would not mean that Lucifer would be let off. The Assembly debated & authorised the UEA to track Lucifer down & bring him to justice. Gabrielle was more than willing to organise the operation. Soon Raphael was in charge of the pursuit of Lucifer that employed the same tactics, as were used against the Apparitions, when they were hunted down. Yet, although hundreds of mixed UEA teams were after Lucifer & his remaining band of followers, nothing much was discovered. A few surviving Luciferins were captured, but none supplied any useful information. It had appeared that Lucifer had simply vanished.

On to Chapter 6

This creative work is the property of David Mark Atwell.

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