Cerberus House
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Cerberus House is a large, multi-building complex located in the Chatau-Region-Name{TBC} region on the planet Chatau's Landing.
It has been through a number of name changes. This has often coincided with the change of ownership, as the building complex has also changed hands a fair few times.
Originally, back when the building complex was owned by the Osiryx Federation, it was known as the Li’Karo research compound. Now though, the building complex belongs to the Terrans and is the homebase for their mighty Cerberus Fleet.
Compound History
Li’Karo - A Scientific Research Facility
The Li’Karo research compound was constructed in UGY 4650, shortly after the Ulmaatis settled on Chatau’s Landing. Consisting of multiple laboratories, studies, and housing for the scientists, it was by far the largest compound on Chatau’s Landing at the time.
Most of the Ulmaatis early scientific developments came out of Li’Karo. Eventually though, as they expanded across the galaxy, scientists from Li’Karo were reassigned and the compound was stripped back until only the projects that would be impossible to remove remained on site.
By UGY 5220, only 45 scientists and 73 OF security-officers-of{TBC} remained.
Those who remained on site continued to either conduct research valuable to the Osiryx Federation and Ulmaat population at large, or (in the case of the security-officers-of{TBC}) protected those at the compound from external threats. That usually meant the occasional stray wildlife, until the Terrans came along in UGY 5306.
Arrival of the Terrans
Prior to the Terran’s first relay jump, there were extensive discussions between the Intergalactic Terran Initiative (ITI) and Osiryx Federation as to where the Terrans would stay. It was deemed that Chatau’s Landing would be the safest planet for them as it mimicked much of Earth’s atmosphere and environment.
To make the transition smooth, the Osiryx Federation offered to house the Terrans in the old living quarters at the Li’Karo compound.
Today we welcome the first Terrans to Chatau’s Landing - history in the making. Like the Dreggans before them, we welcome the Terrans with open arms and hope that we can all work together on this intergalactic journey to create a better, brighter future for the children of tomorrow.
For the first time in decades, the scientists and security-officers-of{TBC} had company. Not just in the form of Osiryx Federation Alkors, but unfamiliar faces of a brand new species from a far off galaxy.
At first, the Terrans and the Osiryx Federation officials were more than happy to live amongst each other until other arrangements were found.
It didn’t take long for those sentiments to change.
As talks between the OF and the ITI stalled, with neither side truly willing to compromise in the face of strangers, tensions began to rise at the Li’Karo compound. Whilst it remained civil for a while, the first draft of the Sol-Cerberi Concordat would fuel the fires that would eventually lead to the downfall of Li’Karo, and the rise of Cerberus House.
OF - Regional Security Division
Tau Cerberi Security Logs - Policing
UGY 5307
V'Carsa, Pemalkor
Federation ID PM-RSD-899020
CLASS 5 : yn
[START TRANSMISSION]
There are some concerns amongst the researchers regarding the Terrans staying in Social Block C. I have attached the relevant files to this report, should anyone reading decide they would like a wider understanding as to what exactly is going on, because as of this morning there are far too many to summarise each individually.
What I will say is that some of the concerns are valid.
There are certain Terran individuals who are agitated at their current living situation, though their agitation has yet to move beyond the odd piece of profanity spoken in passing. We have taken to monitoring their activity, if only to alleviate the researchers’ concerns.
Little else can be done without overstepping. I know some of my peers would prefer swift, decisive action, but they fail to understand the political nuances. We cannot afford to unjustly antagonise our spacefaring compatriots, especially not during such a time where we are trying to foster mutual trust amongst our people.
Should things escalate, I shall consider adjusting our approach.
The Terran troublemakers have moved on from name calling and passing profanity. In the past week, we have come across instances of vandalism and the damage / destruction of Osiryx Federation property. In all cases, some form of pro-Terran message was left at the scene of the crime.
This, of course, has the researchers in a bit of a panic.
I have increased the security around the laboratories, as well as Social Block A, to try and provide a bit of comfort in these stressful times. They would prefer for me to set the security teams on the troublemakers, to stop the issue at the source, but other than the damaged property there are no charges to be held. All I could do is fine them and send them on their way.
Not a solution that the researchers are keen on, but I have reminded the lead that we are trying to navigate a very delicate situation. I cannot act unjustly, even to these newcomers.
Tomorrow, I will reach out to those in charge of the Terran congregation and see if we can’t work together to restore some form of peace.
My efforts to calm the rising tensions have so far proven futile. Yesterday, the troublemakers turned true instigators.
I was informed of an assault on one of our researchers and a swift arrest of the offending Terran individual. We have confined them to a cell within the Security Block, although I am concerned at its proximity to Social Block C where the Terrans have taken up temporary residence. Any attempts to suggest a move to Social Block D have been ignored by Terran leadership.
A pity. I was hoping they would be more cooperative on that front.
Thankfully, they were willing to accept a daily lockdown during which the Terrans will be confined to their Social Block. The lockdown is in place from 22:00 to 06:00. We shall see if that helps.
The lockdown period has been extended, thanks to a string of assaults during the day time. The Terran instigators have moved on from attacking researchers to attacking my security-officers-of{TBC}, often in groups and targeting lone security-officers-of{TBC}.
It has been a reminder of how outnumbered we are here at Li’Karo.
I have put in a request for additional security-officers-of{TBC}, which I hope will be swiftly answered. Even with the extended lockdown, the agitation of the Terrans is palpable, and more of their members side with the instigators with each day that passes. If we wait too long for reinforcements, I fear that the Terran instigators may become emboldened to commit further violence.
It is not helped by the… heavy handed arrests that a few of my security-officers-of{TBC} have completed. Though I cannot blame them, really. The Terrans have taken to attacking us personally - there is nothing I could say or do to ensure that some of my security-officers-of{TBC} will not react in kind.
Riots. Deaths.
All on my watch…
It started a week ago. My security-officers-of[TBC} claim that the Terrans were the instigators, that they were the first to rise to murder. And it makes sense, of course it does, because they have so far been the aggressors in every situation. They have escalated time and time again - from snide remarks, profanity, vandalism, property damage, assault. Now this!
Except…
We collected the bodies - Terran and OF alike (which the Terran leadership protested heavily) - and conducted the post-mortems. Our inquiry suggested that the first death was a Terran.
I will keep this information confined to the official OF reports for now. Revealing it will no doubt only fuel the fires of Terran anger.
Alkor Velle Vani has kindly offered her aid in dealing with the ongoing riots. With her expertise, I believe we will be able to quell the rioters in no time - Alkor Velle Vani has, after all, had experience in dealing with riots at some of our high security strongholds. This probably seems like child's play to her. I shall help oversee the whole thing in person - no more sitting behind a desk and commanding the troops from afar. They need me in the thick of it as a show of support. We can only prevail if we work together.
Otherwise, who knows what the Terrans might do. With their numbers, I would not put it past them to take control of the compound in its entirety, if we are not swift enough to stop the oncoming storm.
[END TRANSMISSION]
Intergalactic Terran Initiative
Hercules V Ship Logs - Mission Reports
Earth Date [2768]
Universal Galactic Date [5307]
Digital Signature [CAPTAIN ASTRID ZIEGLER]
Digital ID [HERC-V CAP-AZER-86612]
[START TRANSMISSION]
MONTH{TBC} - UGY 5306We have a problem.
I know my men. I know Major Sinclair’s men too, and Major Sainz’s men. All of them, upstanding individuals.
But they’re… getting restless. We all are, really. Being confined to this compound isn’t good for any of us - mentally or physically, and the docs’ only have so much medicine they can prescribe to help with that.
They just need to stretch their legs, somewhere away from the same handful of walls and boring, sterile white buildings. I’ve tried to talk to the Federation about it, but the - what were they? Alkors? Something like that. Anyway, those Alkors just don’t seem to want to talk about it.
Except C’Tando. Good head on their shoulders, that one. If I could get them alone for just a second, I could try convincing them to give the guys a bit of breathing space.
I’m worried about what might happen if I don’t. I don’t think they’d take it past the insults they are currently flinging in the Federation’s direction, but cornered animals and all that…
I’ve disciplined five of our finest over the past week. A pilot, two medics of all people, a private, and a staff sergeant. All for acts of vandalism or committing property damage.
Is this really what we’ve fallen to? Confined to a compound galaxies away from home, surrounded by strangers. I thought they were better than this… That we were better than this.
You know what each of them said to me? Blamed it on the Federation. A scientist said this, a security guy said that, one of them body checked me in the hallway, excuse after excuse. So I - probably against my better judgement - have asked my lieutenant to choose a couple of guys he trusts to keep an eye on things. Follow the offenders around, see what happens.
Because a part of me thinks it’s just the restlessness bringing out the worst in them. But they’re my people. I can’t just ignore their concerns, even if they should bring them up before we get to the whole property damage stage. Maybe there’s something valid there.
Hopefully there is. Otherwise…
I’d rather not think about it.
Marco assaulted one of the researchers. Said she started it.
It took us 35 hours to get him back from the Federation - I had to go to C’Tando to get a transfer authorised. God only knows what would have happened if it had taken much longer. I mean, is their security chief an idiot? Confining Marco to their cells indefinitely would have lit the fucking match. Talk about giving people a reason to start getting violent.
I managed to talk the rest of the guys down from doing anything in the meantime. Those first few hours were rough, especially when news first reached us of the arrest. But things quietened down when C’Tando agreed to the transfer.
Marco was pretty beat up about the whole thing. That’s not helped, but no one seems eager to retaliate right now. Hopefully that holds up.
Ended up having a word with him in private. Something’s not right there…
Look, when I say he was pretty beat up, I mean it in the literal sense. We had to send him to the medics for a full exam before we could lock him up back on the Hercules V. Bruises, a hell of a lot of them, and a few cuts here and there. Those Federation boys definitely weren’t gentle with him.
Major Sinclair has agreed to lockdown. Might be the right thing to do. But I can’t help but feel like it’s only going to make things worse. The guys already hated being stuck in the compound, how does Sinclair think they’re going to feel when they can’t leave their fucking rooms at night?
Full lockdown.
I told Sinclair this was a disaster waiting to happen. Doesn’t help that the Feds can’t seem to keep their thoughts to themselves - I’ve heard the snide remarks they’ve thrown our way when they’ve been locking up the block for the night, acting all high and mighty. Even C’Tando has heard them, said they couldn’t do anything until the damned treaty was in place.
Maybe not so good a head on their shoulders after all. Or maybe their hands really are tied, just like mine are, because this game of politics is becoming a fucking nightmare.
So far, the Federation has 11 of our guys in confinement. I’ve tried to request the transfers again but the other Alkor - Velle Vani, I think? - denied them all. She’s an idiot if she thinks this won’t rile the rest of them up.
I can only say so much to the guys, but this whole thing is starting to feel suffocating - and I get time outside the compound.
Three Terrans. Three Feds.
That’s the death toll so far.
It’s going to climb, I’m sure of it. Only a matter of time.
Of course Alkor Vani’s at the helm of the response team for those Federation dogs. Probably chomping at the bit to teach us a lesson. Maybe if she’d spent more time trying to find a good alternative to all the shitty clauses they’ve put in the treaty, and less time promoting violence against my guys, we wouldn’t be in this damn mess.
C’Tando is my only hope to stop the riots from getting out of control. Problem is, Vani’s made it real fucking difficult to meet with them. But once I get that meeting, I’ve got a plan of action.
First things first, get our dead back. Top priority. Having the Feds hang onto our dead is only making everyone more pissed - talking about it being a disgrace, how they’re disrespecting our dead. I get it. I do. And they didn’t deserve what’s been done to them.
So yeah, get our dead back - Marco, Rosie, Amos - get them preserved for a proper burial.
Then we get that fucking treaty sorted. Before the compound goes up in flames.
[END TRANSMISSION]
[FILED UNDER Mission Reports]
Cerberus House Facilities
Currently, Cerberus House (and the Li’Karo compound in its entirety) act as a training facility for new enlistees into the Cerberus Fleet. Cerberus House itself has a multitude of sections, including:
- Training rooms and gyms
- Private meeting rooms
- Lecture halls
- Flight simulation decks
- The Cerberus Commons - a place for generals to discuss their plans in public view, or for those in the lower ranks to bring fleet issues to the table
- Engineering decks
The flight simulation decks and the engineering decks are conversions of the old research labs from back when the Osiryx Federation used to run the place. Most of the other facilities have merely been redecorated to fit their needs - a lot of communal areas have had gym equipment installed, for example.
Surprisingly, very little of the old Li’Karo compound has been demolished or removed. There have been additions over the years though.
For starters, the Cerberus Commons was built next to the central plaza in 5320 UGY. A large, open plan building with four floors, it is the perfect place for public discussions to take place. The “Heart of the Fleet” (aka the main open forum area) has plenty of standing or sitting room, and is one of the only places open to the general public.
Another major addition is the “Underworld”. This is a multi-building exercise and drill range which makes use of plenty of the facility’s indoor and outdoor spaces. It is used to train members of the fleet, taking them through the standard drills that they would be expected to perform in the line of duty. Within the “Underworld” is an area specifically designed for elite or specialised fleet drills, which requires additional permissions to access. Security throughout the whole area is very strict due to the hazards it poses.
After everything that happened… they really expect us to just forgive and forget, huh? Those federation dogs locked us up in here for months! This ain’t our home, it’s our prison. The Captain’s just too blind to see it.
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Author's Notes
This article was created as part of the World Anvil Summer Camp 2020 event.
Summer Camp 2020