Planet Grab (FT, Closed)

[The Pacifican Islands]

The ships pulled up beside the Kobolians, and then came up the shields. There were 3 destroyers, surrounding the flagship battlestar, providing limited shield cover for the top and bottom.

FSS Wiper-A (Allure Class)

The Wiper descended to Cygni 3, as being one of the many classes of ships to be able to make planetfall. As the Wiper descended to a small Kobolian Science Post, they delivered supplies, and to use the landed ship as a escape craft and a base. Suddenly, a scan showed Golden Hegemony ships heading their way! Before they could deliver the supplies, they flew up, and hid in the ionosphere. They sent a message to the fleet.

LEVEL 5 CLASSIFICATION REQUIRED

PRIORITY MESSAGE FROM FSS WIPER-A

FWD: THE REMNANTS OF KOBOL

Possible enemy vessels detected. Recommend to hide in ionosphere.

MESSAGE COMPLETE

---

As the fleet headed into the ionosphere, a fighter was dispatched to scout the fleet from 1 million km away.

F-76 Space Arkbird

"Sundown One. Cleared for takeoff." The back of the carrier Hong Kong opened up, and the plane floated out the back. The carrier maneuvered away, as the Arkbird streamed towards the Arcadian ships. "Sundown One reporting. They have a massive force." "Estimate?" "400 ships." "Class?" "Many of them are presumably unarmed ships, but there are a lot of warships. Estimate 300."

FSS HONG KONG

Message: To FSS SUNFISH
Fwd: FSS ENTERPRISE

Sunfish, recommend you turn on holo-fleet.

The Sunfish turned on Holo-Fleet, which made a holographic projection of a larger fleet, used to intimidate. This time, the Sunfish floated near the Kobolian ships, projecting 30 more Battlestars and 2 more Strikestars accompanied with 50 Gunstars. They also projected 20 Dreadnoughts, and 5 more battleships, 20 more Constitutions, along with another Sunfish-class, which was about 75% the size of a Battlestar. Although they knew that the holographic weapons were harmless, they still did that, to bluff.

OOC: My ships are Star Trek style, so expect phasers and photons.

EDIT: Holo fleet was inspired by Star Trek Online.

-snip for now-

[Lotrabme]

Nation Name: Sphermenia

There is an OOC thread which has been set aside for applications. My only concern about yours is the presence of 45,000 warships in your fleet, after I specifically stated there were to be no massive fleets. Change that and you are accepted, though I must warn you about Senkaku and Kobol's presence around Cygni f.

I hope the 40,000 ships you are referring to are from Sphermenia's forces. (I told them to redact that information as the fleet size was too large). Aside from that and your coming close to the Kobol vessels I have no idea what is happening in your post, it seems like you are expecting an attack and you've landed forces on Cygni d (3) which I must add is occupied by a faction already. Please consider what you have written.

[Lotrabme]

Cutting the communication with the new nation as Halgrim's raptor headed for their docking bay, Fraya ordered four raptors to scout the new contacts. Two to approach the contacts that just appeared, and two to scout the contacts that had been here when they showed up.

"They're sending their Ambassador over" said one of the Adjuncts in the command room to the Admiral.

"Good, this situation developing as it is, it'll be a change to be able to speak to someone face to face." said the Admiral. "Volelee, will you go to the docking bay and meet with this Halgrim fellow?"

"Of course Lord" nodded the Malluman as he, two Malluman Minors, and two Cy-1 battledroids went to the docking bay where Jack Halgrim would be arriving.
------------------------------------

Jack Halgrim's raptor would come to the rim of the round Starbase, within view of several large turrets. There were small robots flying about outside the Starbase, several of them congregating around the Raptor. About 5 of them would lead it into a holding pen of robotic arms on the side of the ring, and soon after it would be pulled within the hull. Inside a large Cargo-bay airlock, the room would pressurize and fill with atmosphere. After about half a minute, the three purple saurians and two androids would enter the room. The three biologicals were wearing skinsuits with power armor over it, and while the skinsuits were uniform in their black color, the armor was colored differently to indicate rank, with the gold and black trimmed armor of the Vizier showing his authority.

If Jack looked outside or opened the door to exit, he would see three 8-foot tall reptiles with robots that might have looked somewhat familiar standing behind them. If he came out, the one standing in front would introduce himself in a deep and rough voice, coming through rows of sharp teeth: "Greetings Ambassador Halgrim, I am First Vizier Volelee, right hand of the Admiral Baylock IV."

OOC: My battle droids the Cy-1's are based off the new battlestar's cylons, while the Cy-2's are based on the B-2 battledroids of starwars. Thought it was interesting that you are the battlestar humans, while some of my inspiration is from the cylons of both series.

[The Seran Federation]

Outside Federation Territory, Edge of Unsettled System, En-route to Inner Worlds

"Attention, all crew. Revival procedures are in progress. Please vomit in the identified drainage area if needed. Report to stations as soon as possible. Thank you.

The automated voice was the most annoying part.

Geoff Rech was on the floor, on his hands and knees, completely naked, and puking his guts out. Always a lovely way to wake up from cryo-stasis. Luckily, all he had to puke was the fluid they pumped into your lungs and stomach for the cold nap. Around him and on other areas aboard the Kratos-Class Battleship, 350 other crewmen, techs, and pilots would be going through the same situation. Even on the other 60 or so ships in the colonization fleet, there'd be about thirty-thousand marines and maybe ten-thousand Navy crewmen would all be waking up. His only assumption was they'd ended their five-year journey and had finally reached the edge of the previously drone-explored-but-uncolonized system.

Rech stood up and looked around him at the other 30 crewmates, men and women, who were going through the same revival stages he was. Some of them had the silver sockets in the back of their heads that signified someone who could be cloned and reanimated if they died. Geoff was not one of them. He walked to his locker and opened it to don the blue jumpsuit he was issued. The name plate on it showed he was "Technician Rech." He sighed inwardly and left the revival cry-stasis chamber to go about making sure the ship still worked and the auto-pilot hadn't sent them off-course into a black hole or a super-nova.

As Rech set out, passing others who were busy going to their stations, he wondered if this system really did have a habitable world like the drone reports said. He hoped so, or that meant they'd probably not waste resources on building a warpgate and the ships would take another 5-year journey back. Oh, joy.

Little did Geoff Rech, or anyone else in the colonization fleet know, that in the five-year journey from the edge of Seran Federation space to this unexplored system, other civilizations and nations had found this system and were already laying claims to it. Some of them were benevolent, but others... The Serans would just have to find out.

[The Remnants of Kobol]

As the five raptors funneled out of the Battlestar Acropolis, four split off and headed for close flybys of the other ships, but Jack's flew straight and true on the predesignated path supplied by those they were about to meet. Looking out the porthole as they got closer, Jack saw the turrets training on them. He hoped it was just a precaution. His diplomatic raptor was completely unarmed and lacked anything to do much more than jam missiles. His primary defense was the Diplomatic Blue paint and the large Kobolian Governmental Seal slapped all over it.

Landing in the bay, he sat for a few moments not sure what to expect. His guards, the elite Black Berets, checked their weapons then secured them. His pilots went through the final landing protocols. He took a deep breath and hit the button to open the hatch. His eyes first went to the three reptilians standing in front of them. As he stepped out, the one he presumed was the lead spoke to him in his language through a translator device introducing itself as a very high commanding officer. As his four Black Berets disembarked, they saw the metallic shimmer behind these three. One shouted "CENTURIONS". Simultaneously from years of experience and training, they drew their weapons and covered Jack. As they began to drag him back into the Raptor, Jack noticed they hadn't fired yet. He shook the four men off him, stood up, and asked one question.

Pointing at the robots behind his reptilian hosts, he asked "What the frak are those doing here?"

Two raptors broke off from the group on a vector that would put them just 2 kilometers off of the lead ship in this new group. They would proceed to there until they received a hail or were fired upon. They hoped for the first. Given how close the jump had come to their Battlestar Group, they needed to be sure they weren't a threat. Fifteen clicks from the Acropolis, they began transmitting their looping message.

Any vessel, any vessel. This is the Remnants of Kobol Battlestar Group Five. You have entered our operating zone. Please state your intentions.

Two raptors split from the group and began on a course headed directly for what they deemed to be the lead ship.
"We're picking up fighters sir." The ECO spoke up.
"Very well, start broadcasting our white flag. Hopefully these guys know what 'don't shoot us, we're pathetic' means." The pilot of the recently made diplomatic raptor quipped. The staff member from Halgims camp, who would be serving as ambassador for this meeting, didn't laugh. The ECO however barely managed to control her giggles in time to register a very large fighter coming up on their six.
"We've got a fighter coming up on our six. I'm getting a transmission. Patching it through." She passed the comms to the "Ambassador".

[The Pacifican Islands]

OOC: I just snipped the previous one so the other post didn't happen.

IC: FSS Enterprise

"Take scans." "Yessir." "Captain! They're Cylons out here!" "Lead by whom?" "The Mind Empire!" "Okay, but Kobol has sent 4 raptors there. Should not be a worry."

---

The Enterprise turned on its diplomatic "peace flag" system. "This is Captain Picard of the FSS Enterprise. We are on a peaceful mission. Please state your intentions."
"Sir, we're picking up fighters!'' Reported a young ensign at the front of the bridge.
"Very well. Pulse the peace message again and raise to blue alert. Move us under the Kobolian fleet, but tell the hospital ship to move in the middle of the fleet, as we've saw guns training at it."
"Yessir."

[Lotrabme]

"What?" Said the Vizier Volelee with a stunned and confused look at this new development.

Thinking he realized it must be the androids. "Them?" The reptile said pointing to two droids that he had brought. "Those are our battle droids, I don't know where you would have seen them before. I presume your foes that your Admiral spoke on before used similar types of androids."

"You must understand" said the Vizier stepping forward to Halgrim "our Haman compatriots are masters of robotics and are integrated cyberneticaly."

-----------

Too the Pacifican fleets peace hails the Admiral responded from the bridge: "Welcome Captain Picard, I am Admiral Baylock IV, if you are allies of the Kobol fleet then we are on friendly terms."

[The Pacifican Islands]

"What?" Said the Vizier Volelee with a stunned and confused look at this new development.

Thinking he realized it must be the androids. "Them?" The reptile said pointing to two droids that he had brought. "Those are our battle droids, I don't know where you would have seen them before. I presume your foes that your Admiral spoke on before used similar types of androids."

"You must understand" said the Vizier stepping forward to Halgrim "our Haman compatriots are masters of robotics and are integrated cyberneticaly."

-----------

Too the Pacifican fleets peace hails the Admiral responded from the bridge: "Welcome Captain Picard, I am Admiral Baylock IV, if you are allies of the Kobol fleet then we are on friendly terms."

"Awesome. Very well. We are in a alliance with Kobol since the 2020's. 14 years now. Anyways, did you develop those droids in your own nation or did you use another civilizations tech?" Picard responded. "Anyways, I have a meeting with my senior crew over lunch. I have to go now! Bye!" The hail was cut by Picard after heading to the kitchen 10 decks away just to know that they had ran out of spaghetti, so they had hamburgers for lunch. Picard brought 16 hamburgers to the conference.

He dropped a few...

[The Remnants of Kobol]

Now all standing, still with weapons drawn, the five men stared at the robotic creatures behind the Vizier. Looking closely, they could see some differences from a standard Centurion, though not enough to warrant it being a different species. Having not seen any action yet, Jack ordered his guard to stow their weapons. At much protest, they did, though they kept one hand on the weapon ready to draw in a microsecond.

"Where did you acquire that design? That design is nearly identical to the race of mechanical beings known as the Cylons with which we have been at war with for the better part of four thousand years. We were able to defeat them enough recently to buy ourselves a truce just over two hundred cycles ago. But even still, we're not too keen on meeting them, especially if they have made allies." Jack managed to catch his breath and speak diplomatically again.

"Roger that Picard, just make sure to keep out of our firing solution. Sending safe coordinates to you now." Fraya hung up the phone. "Always so gung ho those Pacificans. Just jump right in to fray then figure out what's out there." The XO laughed. He'd served under Fraya for several years now and had seen this happen before.
"But you can't fault their gumption. Some of our allies couldn't be bothered to save their own planets. These guys just keep chugging. Even several thousand lightyears from home." The XO quipped.

Overhearing some disturbing chatter across the wire, Fraya checked the DRADIS twice and ordered a systems analysis.
"Picard, we're getting a negative on Cylons. Please confirm over?

[The Pacifican Islands]

Now all standing, still with weapons drawn, the five men stared at the robotic creatures behind the Vizier. Looking closely, they could see some differences from a standard Centurion, though not enough to warrant it being a different species. Having not seen any action yet, Jack ordered his guard to stow their weapons. At much protest, they did, though they kept one hand on the weapon ready to draw in a microsecond.

"Where did you acquire that design? That design is nearly identical to the race of mechanical beings known as the Cylons with which we have been at war with for the better part of four thousand years. We were able to defeat them enough recently to buy ourselves a truce just over two hundred cycles ago. But even still, we're not too keen on meeting them, especially if they have made allies." Jack managed to catch his breath and speak diplomatically again.

"Roger that Picard, just make sure to keep out of our firing solution. Sending safe coordinates to you now." Fraya hung up the phone. "Always so gung ho those Pacificans. Just jump right in to fray then figure out what's out there." The XO laughed. He'd served under Fraya for several years now and had seen this happen before.
"But you can't fault their gumption. Some of our allies couldn't be bothered to save their own planets. These guys just keep chugging. Even several thousand lightyears from home." The XO quipped.

Overhearing some disturbing chatter across the wire, Fraya checked the DRADIS twice and ordered a systems analysis.
"Picard, we're getting a negative on Cylons. Please confirm over?

"Fraya, *munch* we have a positive. Our sensors *munch* detect many *munch* Cylons." Picard said eating a Cheezburger. "Helm, *munch* enter safe coordinates, move ships there. Pull the hospital ship out." "Sir, the coordinates are 20 km to port, where the Gunstars are congregated." "Very well. *munch* Set a course for that location.

---

OOC: "So gung-ho those Pacificans." Yup. We take scans after we warp out. We know how to tell from enemies in a second. If they're shooting at you they're bad.... "Chugging." A regional in-joke...

[Lotrabme]

Now all standing, still with weapons drawn, the five men stared at the robotic creatures behind the Vizier. Looking closely, they could see some differences from a standard Centurion, though not enough to warrant it being a different species. Having not seen any action yet, Jack ordered his guard to stow their weapons. At much protest, they did, though they kept one hand on the weapon ready to draw in a microsecond.

"Where did you acquire that design? That design is nearly identical to the race of mechanical beings known as the Cylons with which we have been at war with for the better part of four thousand years. We were able to defeat them enough recently to buy ourselves a truce just over two hundred cycles ago. But even still, we're not too keen on meeting them, especially if they have made allies." Jack managed to catch his breath and speak diplomatically again.

"It must be a coincidence Ambassador, we have never before encountered the...Cylons was it?." He turned to the droids which stood still.
"I also must tell you these are not our only design for our droids, these are Cy-1's which are multi-purpose servitors, and our Cy-2's are a much larger version with heavier armor and are exclusively for battle. Many of our droids have anti-gravity technology and are not humanoid in design, the Sen series they are. Then in terms of sentient AI we have the IL series, which can take whatever form is neccesary, be they humanoid, orb-like, or non-corporeal. The second and third apply to this ships main AI and the regional world-controller, Goldeye."

Stepping forward, the Vizier brought a data-pad with holographic projections of the various robot types cycling. "You can find this and other relevant data through this datapad that is linked to the Gomorrah's library. I hope this has satisfied your concern, as I believe my Admiral is anxious to meet you."

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

Admiral Baylock's message to Picard was cut short as it seemed the captain was ready for lunch. "Well, that was brief" he chuckled to himself. He sent a text scroll to the Captain to let him know about the droids, information he found curious.

The message read: "The droids were formed by our own civilization. No precursors or outside sources were involved to our knowledge except for what we took from Old Earth."

[The Seran Federation]

Unsettled System, En-route to Terrestrial Worlds

Technician Rech had noticed that, as far as scanning went, this system was odd. There were either dozens of other vessels on the other side of the system near the outer planets, or those were asteroids. Rech hoped asteroids, but assumed ships, as did most of the crewmen aboard the Seran fleet.

They had closed to within a million kilometers of the largest of the terrestrial worlds. It was a garden world with a single moon, and it looked beautiful on the optical scopes. But Rech had a gut feeling. If those signals were ships, then this world had already been claimed. "Oh well, guess we'll see when we get there..."

Aboard Warbarge S-3

Her armor was a pale pink and pearlescent, much like a shellfish's shell. She wore her blond hair back in a single long ponytail that hung to her waist. Her ice blue eyes and her oddly colored hair was a rarity among the crew on the ship. It showed she was a ethnic Artharian rather than an ethnic Seran. Usually, that would be cause for derision, as the Artharian minority was seen as lesser than the Seran majority. However, no one thought poorly of this young-looking woman.

The reasoning for this was partly due to the railgun strapped over her shoulder. But the real reason was the "39" emblazoned across her arm, chest, and the side of the helmet she held in her hand, as if the number was a rank. The true respect came from her young look, in which she was actually closer to forty, despite looking to be in her early twenties.

This woman was Deidre. Deidre was one of the fifty Immortals, the battlefield commanders of the Federation Marines and Navy. They were the first fifty volunteers into the now-well-established cloning program, thus catapulting them to the forefront of the military's power bracket. This was Deidre's second body, as her first was rotting somewhere in the northern hemisphere of Artharia, due to a gunshot wound to the face. However, less than 3 seconds after that death, she had awoken in a genetic duplicate of her old body, the current one she has now.

One of her pilots on the Marine-loaded warbarge spoke up, "Sir... I think we have signals emanating from the large garden world. It looks to be that the planet may be inhabited or colonized."

Deidre showed no outward expression. "So be it. We make planetfall on schedule. Either the people there are friendly, or not. If not, well, that's why we're here, hm?" She smiled as a chorus of "Yes, sir!" broke out along the warbarge's bridge.

[The Remnants of Kobol]

"That is very strange Picard, we have no signals of Cylons on DRADIS nor have we heard any chatter from them." Fraya seemed concerned that her and her ally had different data, especially from so close together. Considering her entire Battlestar Group was reading no Cylons, she decided to brush the Pacifcan warnings off as a false positive.

"Very well. These robots appear very much like a race of beings we have fought before. Given their genocidal nature towards my people, please forgive our extreme reaction. If such a design is pure coincidence and you have indeed never encountered the Cylons, pray that you never do. We would be very happy to visit your library and examine some of your material. Specifically your history, culture, and medical areas. We will be happy to transfer such information back to you from our databanks. Hopefully we may make this a mutually beneficial relationship. But it would be impolite to keep your admiral waiting. Please, show me the way." With that, the four Black Berets snapped their sidearms in the holsters and followed in lock step behind the Ambassador, who was walking with the the Vizier.

"DRADIS contacts. Edge of the sector. This place is busy as a shipyard. We miss a memo or something?"
"Fine, dispatch a raptor team, do a flyby of this new group. I want technical specs if possible. Otherwise, just open a line of communication with them.

[Lotrabme]

"Very good, If you will Ambassador" said the Vizier as he walked side by side with Halgrim and the group of guards walked behind.

The way the raptor had been pulled into the vessel was up through the 'bottom'. To the observer it would seem as though the rim of the ring-shaped starbase was the floor. After a short walk through the cargo-halls the group would come to a gravity lift which would have them ascend into the main Habitat ring. The Vizier showed the way by stepping in and with no effort ascending at about 15 mph.

After ascension took place for around a minute, the gravity lift would turn off at one level and all would jump off into a round room with several holographic decorations and displays, mainly terminal interfaces. Looking up the members of the group could see the grav-lift could have continued into further levels. The Vizier and Halgrim would walk first leading the group into a hallway with a stunning view of the ring habitat, showing the greenery and the living quarters and shops walling the ring, and the parks and passageways below. All manner of droids could be seen flying about, in the hallway mainly Sen engineers working on various panels and keeping the ship maintained.

Coming to a large tower like building, the group would enter and encounter two heavily armored Golden Cy-2 battledroids. The Vizier would state his rank and his present companions before the two androids would turn to face each other and the automatic double doors opened. Into a rounded hallway the group would enter, beset by another group of doors, which this time would be opened by the Vizier pressing his four fingered hand to a terminal. These doors would open as well, and the group of behold the spherical chamber that was one of the command centers. The Vizier entered first and came to the Command throne placed centrally among several station's manned by cyborg Hamans.

The Admiral would turn and see the group, to Halgrim and his guards this Admiral Baylock would look similar to a human male, but a very lanky and odd looking one. He had a large head with several metallic devices attached, seemingly for neural interface and the like. His facial features were small, diminutive, the eyes only standing out within normal parameters. The body seemed close to atrophied, indicating a long period of space dwelling in more minimal gravity and a lack of focus on physical health, however he had enhancements to make up for this lack, and overall while thinner in the limbs, his chest seemed barreled and his body weight seemed located in his torso, and standing from his chair Baylock proved to be 6'4" in height.

"Thank you for bringing them Vizier" he said nodding to his right hand officer as he stepped from the dais the throne was on as he approached Halgrim. The Admiral's white-beige skin reflected the blue and purple light of the room. "And you must be Jack Halgrim, the Ambassador of the Kobol fleet. It is a relief to finally meet someone in person from these fleets that have been arriving. I am Admiral Baylock IV of the House of Vulcan."

[The Pacifican Islands]

"That is very strange Picard, we have no signals of Cylons on DRADIS nor have we heard any chatter from them." Fraya seemed concerned that her and her ally had different data, especially from so close together. Considering her entire Battlestar Group was reading no Cylons, she decided to brush the Pacifcan warnings off as a false positive.

"Very well. These robots appear very much like a race of beings we have fought before. Given their genocidal nature towards my people, please forgive our extreme reaction. If such a design is pure coincidence and you have indeed never encountered the Cylons, pray that you never do. We would be very happy to visit your library and examine some of your material. Specifically your history, culture, and medical areas. We will be happy to transfer such information back to you from our databanks. Hopefully we may make this a mutually beneficial relationship. But it would be impolite to keep your admiral waiting. Please, show me the way." With that, the four Black Berets snapped their sidearms in the holsters and followed in lock step behind the Ambassador, who was walking with the the Vizier.

"DRADIS contacts. Edge of the sector. This place is busy as a shipyard. We miss a memo or something?"
"Fine, dispatch a raptor team, do a flyby of this new group. I want technical specs if possible. Otherwise, just open a line of communication with them.

"Wait... Yes. Cylons but their neural interphases are different. Hmm..." Replied Picard. "My sensors pick up finer things that your's dosen't, but then they don't detect big things well."

[The Seran Federation]

"DRADIS contacts. Edge of the sector. This place is busy as a shipyard. We miss a memo or something?"
"Fine, dispatch a raptor team, do a flyby of this new group. I want technical specs if possible. Otherwise, just open a line of communication with them.

Unknown System, Aboard Warbarge S-1
Xavier leaned back in his command chair, hands behind his shaved head. On the side of his bald cranium was a black "01" tattooed into his skin. His fingers slowly touched at the circular metal implant at the base of his skull, indicating a neural interface and his ability to be cloned.

He loved his position as the highest ranking military official in the Federation, and what he loved even more were cushy jobs where he-

"Commander Xavier, We have a small group of ships en-route to our fleet. They look to be on an intercept course. I place their size somewhere around a lander, but much faster, like a large fighter."

Xavier opened a single eye so he could see the rest of the bridge and the various officers, technicians, and underlings that piloted his warbarge and commanded his division of Marines. "Do they appear to be hostile? Must I contact one of the cruisers or frigates to target them and blow them out of space? How about you wait to speak until you have something substantial other than mystery ships, Chief Technician, understood?"

His audio implants could pick up the tech's nervous swallowing gulp. "Y-yes, sir. They're remaining on course and look to close within the next few minutes. I'm having Comms direct a UV wavelength comm laser in their direction."

Xavier ignored the Tech's blabbering. He hadn't become the Immortal he was today by worrying about such trivial matters.

To: Unknown Flight

You are entering flight space for the Seran Federation. If you close within one-thousand kilometers without stating your intentions, this Federation Exploratory Fleet will open fire on your flight with long range directed energy weapon fire.

Repeat: Please identify and state intentions or you will be fired upon.

[The Remnants of Kobol]

Ascending on a lift of sorts, the Ambassador was astounded to see the scope of the city within the ship. It was similar in a way to Colonial Alpha Base, the capital. He had so many questions. Were they self sustainable? How many people lived aboard this vessel? Was this a standard procedure for all new systems or was it simply used for special diplomatic missions in a sort of Shock and Awe?

They came to a set of doors where two of these Cylonesque guards, gold tinted, stood. Stating his name a rank, the two guards stepped aside and the door opened. The group proceeded inside and found a humanoid being that appeared to be of great stature. He immediately introduced himself as Admiral Baylock.

"Admiral Baylock, it is pleasure to meet you. On behalf of the Imperial Republic of the Remnants of Kobol, I would like to say that it is an honour for our great nations to have met. I would like to present this data storage device containing our entire history as the first token of this new, and hopefully long lasting, friendship." Halgrim moved forward, bowed, and presented the Admiral with a small drive. On the drive was indeed a comprehensive history of the nation from as early as the Exodus from Kobol. It would contain our stained past with the wars we fought early on out of greed, hatred, and spite for one another, to our change to isolationists, to our more recent activity in the past several centuries as keepers of the peace and soldiers for good seeking to promote sapient rights through our influenced part of the universe.

"Bingo, there's our cue." Callsign Hellraiser, the lead pilot on this flight spoke up. Changing his communication frequency to match the one they received the transmission on, he responded. "This is Major Calfat of the Remnants of Kobol. We mean you no harm, we are on an approach to investigate your vessels. Please understand that we too like to take the highest precautions when a large number of unknown contacts jumps into sector nearby our own vessels. We have a member of our diplomatic staff aboard if you would permit us to land."

[The 44th Indp Legion]

Note that my usage of "calibre" is an in-character method of approximating power consumption, rather than actual barrel dimensions of a weapon.
Also note that 'hlaser' is not a misspelling of laser. It is not a laser. It works in ways lasers don't. You can seem them, for one.
Final note: my ships are NOT yet anywhere near the system, apart from the drone.

Oort Cloud, Cygni System.
An autonomous surveillanec drone about the size of a sputnik drifted silently in an unremarkable orbit. Some might have called it a spy drone but it might as well have been in this most distant of orbits since before anyone else arrived. With no active sensors, the power signature of this listening probe was minute and, 282 light-days from Cygni [A], the drone was invisible to all but the most immaculate of long-range sensor arrays.

That is, until something triggered it to activate other systems. Undoubtedly, it had picked up some shreds of the communications flurry far towards the distant speck that was the signi system proper. An ecndoded message was sent, directed away from the system. Though definately not announcing it's existance, advanced sensors would have no trouble picking up the signature of FTL strategic communications, though it's content was another amtter entirely.


The SSGL Wacan The Second, 22-46B, rP-RA s4, thousands of lightyears from Cygni
The Wacan was an old Terranoid Class tactical carrier. It's veteran crew was well accustomed to the rigors of reconnaisance squadron operation. It's hull was littered with fresh and faded scars of superficial combat damage. It sat idly as a pirate corvette scurried in terror before it. A second corvette had surrendered an floated equally idly. A third had been turned into a debris cloud. It's main armement consisted of four 'light' antimatter projection cannons - high powered monstrosities of 'prescision' destruction considerably more advanced than plasma projection cannons of equal calibre. Secondary weapons consisted of a modest amount of flak cannons. More advanced versions replaced some of these flak cannons with low-calibre plasma projection cannons, but these were not available to the 44th.

"Hail them again." Said Commodore Danseg.
"You're broadcasting Ikky." Said his communications officer.
"Hold relative position immediately or you will be fired upon. This is your last warning." He said sternly.
He waited patiently.
Sparks flashed from the ceiling.
"No course change." Reported the helmswoman.
Denseg continued waiting patiently.
"Range?" He eventually asked.
"Point Five-two lightseconds, sir" Reported his tactical officer.
"Hm. Very well. Main weaponry: fire one, confirm." He ordered.
"Main weaponry, firing one." confirmed his tactical officer.
They could just hear the buzz of the weapon capacitors on the bridge, though only barely.
Electricity arced slightly on one of the walls.
With a distinct and muffled ptch-whoo they heard one of the cannons fire.

A bright blue line appeared briefly between the two ships. The cannon's hlaser effortlessly pierced shield and hull of the pirate ship, delivering it's deadly load at or near the centre of mass of the ship , annihilating there with the ship and obliterating the rest with the nergy which that released.

"Direct hit. Target destroyed." Reported the tactical officer.
He was interrupted by sparks erupting from his console.
"All systems nominal." He concluded.

Four hours of piracy related policing passed before they were interrupted by new orders.
"Strat-Comm to Argo, Strat-Comm to Argo/i], come in [i]Argo." Said the voice from the speakers in the captain's chair.
Danseg pushed a button on the armrest and said "Strat-Comm, this is Argo Tac-Comm, confirm."
A panel to his left hissed softly.
" Argo Tac-Comm responding, confirmed. New orders for Tac-Comm. Proceed immediately to system 16-09A, route P-RA, sector 7, henceforth named Cygni. Primary objective: Secure trade route through sygni system.Secondary Objective: Ensure safety and isolation of indiginous life on Cygni Three to the greatest degree possible.Rules of engagement: Attempt friendly relations. At all points consider peacefull resolutions to conflicting objectives. Confirm Tac-Comm." Said Strat-Comm.
"Proceed immediately to system 16-09A, route P-RA sector 7, henceforth named Cygni. Primary objective: Secure trade route through sygni system.Secondary Objective: Ensure safety and isolation of indiginous life on Cygni Three to the greatest degree possible.Rules of engagement: Attempt friendly relations. At all points consider peacefull resolutions to conflicting objectives." Logged Commodore Danseg.
"True copy, confirm Tac-Comm." Said Strat-Comm
"Confirmed." Responded Danseg dryly
"Strat-Comm out." finished thevoice from the speakers.

"Tacc-Comm to Argo, form up on Wacan, standby for rifting. We will be leaving As soon as possible. Confirm."
"Form up on Wacan, standby for rifting. Leaving as soon as possible." Responded his captains.
"true copy, confirm." Finalised Danseg.
"Confirmed." They replied as Danseg left his chair to start preperations in his ready room.

[Lotrabme]

"Admiral Baylock, it is pleasure to meet you. On behalf of the Imperial Republic of the Remnants of Kobol, I would like to say that it is an honour for our great nations to have met. I would like to present this data storage device containing our entire history as the first token of this new, and hopefully long lasting, friendship." Halgrim moved forward, bowed, and presented the Admiral with a small drive. On the drive was indeed a comprehensive history of the nation from as early as the Exodus from Kobol. It would contain our stained past with the wars we fought early on out of greed, hatred, and spite for one another, to our change to isolationists, to our more recent activity in the past several centuries as keepers of the peace and soldiers for good seeking to promote sapient rights through our influenced part of the universe.

"Your gift and your offer of friendship is well received Ambassador" said Baylock smiling with his small mouth and bowing his head while taking the drive. "Because you have presented us with your knowledge, you shall be free to explore ours." With very smooth movements the Admiral turned his head to a floating robot gliding across the room, the little robot turned when he saw the Admirals hand reaching up to beckon him forth.

"Introduce yourself" said the Admiral to the floating ball, which came down and said in a high voice: "Hello, I am IL series Goldeye, rank of World Controller for the Cygni colony. If you require anything I and the ship AI of the Gomorrah are at your service Ambassador Halgrim."

Baylock said "We have guest-quarters near here which you may rest at free of charge. They are five levels down and in the Officerial habitat suites. I doubt you would want to stay in your shuttle craft while you are here." he chuckled the last line.

[Nyte]

Cygni Star System
Interstellar Empire of Nyte

The "Hammer of Balos" dropped back in to normal space roughly two million miles out from the second asteroid belt of the Cygni System with a flash; the accompanying discharge of built-up energy that surged forth from its immense, roughly ovoid shaped bulk would be easily detectable as it expanded outward in a roiling wave for several thousands of miles. At nearly nine thousand meters in length and a third of that in both height and width, the "Hammer of Balos" came in at the top of the size scale for a Fortis Class Asteroid Base, and it made good use of this space with a number of seperate, yet integrated facilities, armor plating, and weapon systems scattered throughout and upon its bulk.

Nearly invisible in comparison; concealed as they were under the bulk of the Hammer of Balos, were a pair of 750 meter long Stalker Class Frigates which immediately began to maneuver themselves into an escorting position with one on each flank of the "Hammer." The two frigates immediately launched a single squadron of 10 ASF-1 Aerospace Fighter-Bombers to form a CAP; a standard procedure when jumping into a new system; known, or otherwise.

The three craft began to move steadily towards the second asteroid belt in the Cygni System with its final destination leaving it concealed somewhere deep within the maze of rocks.

Sorry for the shortness and lack of characters in this post. It's a little past 3AM here, and I just wanted to get something of an intro up before I log out. My next post will have more of well... everything.

[The Remnants of Kobol]

"Thank you very much for the hospitality Admiral Baylock. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to meet a friendly race out here. Our luck has led us to several military confrontations. In fact, to the deeper parts of Uncharted Territories, we send our Navy in lieu of our Expeditionary Forces for fear of being attacked." Having been offered a chance to read this nation's history, Halrgim asked "Would is be acceptable for me to download your nation's history and send it back to our ship? I am but a man and our AI would be able to process so much data faster than I."

Being introduced to Goldeye, the Halgrim asked it "Hello Goldeye. It's a pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind my asking, how sentient and sapient are you? I ask because most Kobolians can trace their at least one ancestor back to a race of mechanical beings called Cylons. They started as our creations in labs, but they became our equals, and now our ancestors. We find a unique level of respect for mechanical yet sapient and sentient beings."

Lastly, when offered the quarters, Halgrim replied simply. "I am unfortunately the only full ambassador on this mission. With the other fleets appearing, I will have to meet with them as well. However, I am sure that one of my proteges would be thrilled for the opportunity to stay in this vessel. It is much more comfortable than our own."

"We just got a massive signature on DRADIS."
"Like a dreadnaught?" Fraya looked over at the console.
"No, bigger. And it released a super powerful blast. Far greater than any nuke we've detonated. Blast wave is thousands of kilometers wide."
"Is it in trouble? Malfunction?" Fraya glared at her ensign as he tried to read the data being displayed on the screen.
"Negative on distress signals. And contact size is holding."
"Alright, given the blast, let's not send a raptor team to investigate. Don't want to lose them. Send the following instead."

Unknown contact,
This is Admiral Fraya of the Imperial Republic of the Remnants of Kobol. Please identify yourself. We are not looking to engage in military action.

[The 44th Indp Legion]

Argo Flotilla had assembled, keeping a nominal seperation of 5 lightmiliseconds between the ships [5 lms = ~1500 km]. In total, five warships had assembled -22 if you counted strike craft. At the back were the Usurper class supply cruisers SSGL Volschmitz and SSGL Viceroy the Fourth, which, though significantly down-gunned were equipped with a full coat of military grade armour and were far from helpless. Between the Viceroy and the Volschmitz they carried enough rations to last a full year if the hydrophonics of all the ships failed and sufficient munitions and spare parts to last sever hairy engagements as well as a half-depleted supply of (inert) thruster reactant. The Wacan was flanked on one side by the SSGL Vicious Political climate, also a Usurper class cruiser but with over double the firepower and no relevant amount of cargo space. On the other flank was the Vengeance class frigate SSGL Ydens, which was specially outfitted in a scouting pattern. The Ydens had advanced drone control functionality and was critical to scouting oeprations. As a frigate, it was both the smallest, fastest, most well-armed ship and by far the most expensive ship in the flotilla.

"All strike craft docked and accounted for." Reported the communications officer.
"Navigation matrix code green-one. Rift drive ready. Capacitors optimal. All clear." Reported the helmswoman.
"Ydens, Volschmitz, Viceroy and Vicious reporting all clear." Relayed the communications officer.
"Good. Tac-comm to Argo, rift in, confirm." Commanded commodore Danseg.

A brightly luminescent edge or horizon transversed from the ships from prow to stern, dissapearing into the immaterium in it's wake. The helmswoman read out the reports.
"Rift in complete, matrix stable, formation holding."
"Heading is affirmed, beacon is locked, course set."
"Rift-out procedure started."
The bridge crew looked very tense. Rift travel was the only feasable way available to the 44th of traversing the great intergalactic voids efficiently and though it was safe, when accidents did happen the results were often unspeakable. Accednetally rifting out into a black hole was considered lucky if something went really wrong.
"Entering heliosphere." Said the helmswoman nervously.
"Synchronising."
The bridge crew held their breath as the eponymous rifts, bright as the sun, appearing as but a single bright speck to those in the system unless using some very significant optical zoom, in cygni's Oort Cloud.
"Synchronised."
A sigh of relief was heard as activities resumed in a hustle to determine all kinds of local factors that a small listening probe simply could not physically have the equipment for.
"Optics is updating the starmap. Flotilla has arrived in full and in formation." Reported the sensor officer.
"Recieving timestamp." Reported the communications officer.
"We have arrived within two hundred AU of our projected rift-out location and less than 50 metres per second delta-V, sir. Orbital altitude...282 light-days, sir" Confirmed the helmswoman after discussing the matter with the sensor officer, who was seated close to her.
"Excellent. No radio contacts I presume?" Said Danseg.
"Yes sir, activity must be too light-lagged to apepar on radio sensors." Asnwered the communications officer.
"Very well. Officer Sybil, prepare a resonance ping on my mark."
"Tac-comm to Argo, standby for sensor ping."
"Mark." Said Danseg, bracing himself.

To a psychicly attuned individual such as him, the sensor ping could clearly be felt and heard, an almost deafening "PHUNG". However, to most, it was unheard, unseen and definately not something you would pick up with radio or gravity sensors. Obviously, more advanced sensors, particularly FTL ones and a very small number of exotic communication forms, were known to easily pick up on it.

"No capital signatures. Over one hundred detections, all class three at most, probably class two or lower. There appears to be a cluster of contacts in orbit of Cygni III and there seems to be a significant concentration near Cygni VI and it's neighbouring asteroid belt" Reported the sensor officer.
Being an experienced captain and commander, Danseg did not need to be told they would need to move into range of shorter-range sensors to pick up any more detail than that, but he was told nevertheless.
"Very well. We will await a potential response from local factions. Alert me if contacts appear on medium-range sensors or when we are contacted. I'll be in my quarters." Said Danseg, leaving the bridge to his second officer.

[Lotrabme]

"Thank you very much for the hospitality Admiral Baylock. I cannot tell you how refreshing it is to meet a friendly race out here. Our luck has led us to several military confrontations. In fact, to the deeper parts of Uncharted Territories, we send our Navy in lieu of our Expeditionary Forces for fear of being attacked." Having been offered a chance to read this nation's history, Halrgim asked "Would is be acceptable for me to download your nation's history and send it back to our ship? I am but a man and our AI would be able to process so much data faster than I."

Being introduced to Goldeye, the Halgrim asked it "Hello Goldeye. It's a pleasure to meet you. If you don't mind my asking, how sentient and sapient are you? I ask because most Kobolians can trace their at least one ancestor back to a race of mechanical beings called Cylons. They started as our creations in labs, but they became our equals, and now our ancestors. We find a unique level of respect for mechanical yet sapient and sentient beings."

Lastly, when offered the quarters, Halgrim replied simply. "I am unfortunately the only full ambassador on this mission. With the other fleets appearing, I will have to meet with them as well. However, I am sure that one of my proteges would be thrilled for the opportunity to stay in this vessel. It is much more comfortable than our own."

"Our public records are fully availiable to you Ambassador, you may download them for later use." said the Admiral.

Goldeye floating near him said: "Just provide me with your data storage device and I will make the proper reconfigurations with our systems to offer you it." Soon he was asked about his sentience and he said in response: "Oh, well, I am fully sentient as any sentient biological."

Listening to the Ambassador's story concerning their descent from mechanical beings, both Admiral Baylock and Goldeye were keen to listen. Goldeye said "That is curious. I believe something similar happened with us.... yes.. you see in our past a small group of old Humans left for the stars, after which they developed high levels of genetic engineering and robotic technology, being able to create sentience in their machines designed for it. I am one of those machines of a later generation, and as the Hamans mutated and became cybernetic, we became in each-other's eyes the same race."

"In a way we share a similar origin" said Admiral Baylock "but from different sources I presume."

The Vizier said "And us? We got uplifted by the Hamans sometime later and out-populated them, and have become their equals as members of the Empire. All of this took place about 1000 years ago or so."

"Indeed" said Admiral Baylock continuing. "Though you see countless Androids and Mallumans, and a few Hamans, we have come into contact and taken into our influence several species. We don't have full control of all of them but we have alliances with those we don't directly control."

Told about Halgrim's situation, Baylock said "That is fine ambassador, if a protege of yours wishes it we would be happy to receive him here.

[Gigaverse]

Astronavis Iudicamentum Carnis, Bellaster Capitalis
Cygni c, Cygni Star System

"Yesterday, the Terraformator has made Planetfall. For the duration of 48 hours before that, continuous cool-down of planetary temperature has been in progress, thanks to the shields specifically attached to the Statio Orbitalis and Naves Incidentes. For this effort, we have recruited Legions well-adapted to working in... overheated conditions. The Salamandrae, Flammae Cinerum, Vigil Scrinii and Legio Ardens should probably have no problems handling this microterran world."

The Lord-Commissar stopped his briefing to think of something. Among his attendances, a half-Elven derailed the whole topic:

"You left your home for this mission, my Lord... How are you feeling?"

"I'd... rather not talk about it."

The Imperium had always prided itself in efficiency and versatility. Upon completion of Planetfall, the Terraformator deployed its own Scutum Refrigerationis, adding to the pace in which the planet could be cooled down. Meanwhile, carefully handling the seeds of the Imperial species, the ranks of the Astartes contribute to quicken the ascension of the planet to Habitable World status. Planetary volcanic activities were being forced to stop, so basalt and other minerals could be extracted directly from the lava itself.

On the other hand, it seemed whoever commanding the operation had more things to worry about.

"How old are you now, my Lord?"

"130 standard Terran years; and still counting."

Yet, he looked like he was 100 years younger - which was no surprise; and no big deal in the Imperium.

"I assume your children must be grown now?"

"... Actually, no. I have only gotten married recently."

"Is that so..."

He remembered his past. A past dedicated as a permanent soldier, who thought of nothing but giving his every breath to the Guard. Yet, in the end, his loneliness led him home at the age of 90. Not until he was exactly 100 years old, did the Guard came to him for help once again...

"Back to business, lad. We expect the completion of the Terraforming process in 6 hours. In the meantime, teleport our materials onto planetary surface; I expect the quick construction of a base surrounding the Terraformator, which would soon shift to Pacificator Psionicus phase. Set up necessary defenses, and guard this world as best as you can."

"My Lord, we'd need water and ice if we are to pick up the pace."

"Already taken care of, lad. Our boys are on Cygni d. Limited numbers only, though. Properly armed. They're obtaining water resources from the planet. When we're almost done with Cygni c, we shall dispatch our... delegation there. Of course, we're a peaceful lot, so I think while we're bringing this level of arsenal, the others can trust that we will handle everything diplomatically."

"Yes, Sire. ... it is now you who will become the new Governor of the provinces on Cygni c, my Lord."

"... Sic. Nos Imperator Protegit."

The Lord-Commissar and soon-to-be Governor turned back to his room, without any other word.

[Gigaverse]

Control Room, Astronavis Iudicamentum Carnis, Bellaster Capitalis
Cygni c, Cygni Star System

"Deuterium, basalt, heat, air, sulfur, carbon and other such resources is being gathered at a steady pace, while air and atmospheric conditions are being reformed to suit the future plans we have for this world. The Manipulus Infernus from Diyu is also providing assistance for us in setting up proper settlements on Cygni c. As of yet, our first 'settlement' - which, for now, mostly consists of a military complex - is expanding. As we speak, Avex Trax the Architect is arriving on this world's barren surface, the Terraformator is shifting to Pacificator Psionicus phase, the cooling-down process is almost completed, and basic civilian facilities are soon to be set up within Atra Cygnorum.

We should be glad that this world is tidally locked, my Lord."

It was given that the Lord-Commissar must always report his progress back to Imperial authorities through a middleman. He was somewhat eager to get such a task over with as soon as possible.

"And I presume that the seeds of the Imperium are already being planted?", he asked the middleman/the Messenger.

"Yes, Sire."

Lord-Commissar Atraus drew a long sigh. Terraforming was an especially tiresome task; not to mention, he had high wind speeds to face against. Of course, the wind could always be exploited of, and sufficient technologies would drive them away at a moment's notice.

"We'll start with vegetation, canals and other essential objectives about a week from now.", the Messenger said, "At this rate, self-sufficiency for this world will certainly be achieved very early. You should be rewarded by the ranks of Ecclesiarchia, who ought to come and check the progress themselves. Until then, my Lord, observe as resources are transferred into the Imperial Database."

"Yes, I get it."

"Don't forget about the Refineries, the Trade Centers and the Orbital Space Docks."

"Yes, yes, I get it."

Once the Messenger left, Atraus Bilis returned to his seat. He poured a glass of water from a bottle, branded by Sakahara Zaibatsu, and drank its entirety. Then, he opened a new tab on his Lifewave screen, same time as his calculations of the next moves he will make.

The arrival of Sakahara Conglomerate and the Ecclesiarchy, engagement in mercantile activities, the arrival of my family...

"Sire, the Architect has arrived, along with the Ecclesiarchy! They're now lowering altitude!", one of his subordinates reported through a sudden, instant tab.

"Is that so...

Send an Astartes welcoming committee."