Ansible Link Established
Beginning Conversation
Out: Eledyne
In: By My Own Merit
>+ Well it’s official. We’re at war with the United Star Commonwealth. +
+ Wait, wait, wait...how do you know this? I haven’t seen it announced anywhere in the Conglom.<+
>+ One of my generation-mates is a Cartagene class, it’s all the Warlects are talking about. +
+ And he’s serious? Not that I’m doubting you here, Elly. Just...wow. War. <+
+> I know. I’ve never been at war. Hasn’t been one since the Dominion Debacle, and that was before I was built. I knew negotiations were going poorly, I just didn’t think they were going that poorly. I just don’t understand why the Commonwealth wouldn’t just share the bloody system. We got there first.+
+ Did we? <+
>+ I always thought so. I remember when their ‘blockades’ started, as if you can properly blockade any of our ships. Rumour is some jumpy ship’s captain fired on a ship running the blockade. Dead Sintellect, dead passengers. The proverbial straw. +
+ That’s a proverb? Never heard it. +
>+ You should pay more attention to outside cultures. +
+ But yeah, it’s all ridiculous. Space is huge, why couldn’t they have gone somewhere else? Why couldn’t we? <+
>+ Like some big conspiracy, isn’t it? Someone, or pair of someone’s, wanted a war for a bit of fun and came up with the most contrived series of coincidences possible to make it happen. +
+ Now you’re just being dumb. I’ve gotta go, the others in my Orbital will want to know about this. The squishies will start panicking once news gets out. Stay safe, Elly. <+
>+ You too, Merit. Scary times. +
Conversation Time: 27μs. Conversation Terminated.
Ansible Link Terminated.
Beginning Conversation
Out: Eledyne
In: By My Own Merit
>+ Well it’s official. We’re at war with the United Star Commonwealth. +
+ Wait, wait, wait...how do you know this? I haven’t seen it announced anywhere in the Conglom.<+
>+ One of my generation-mates is a Cartagene class, it’s all the Warlects are talking about. +
+ And he’s serious? Not that I’m doubting you here, Elly. Just...wow. War. <+
+> I know. I’ve never been at war. Hasn’t been one since the Dominion Debacle, and that was before I was built. I knew negotiations were going poorly, I just didn’t think they were going that poorly. I just don’t understand why the Commonwealth wouldn’t just share the bloody system. We got there first.+
+ Did we? <+
>+ I always thought so. I remember when their ‘blockades’ started, as if you can properly blockade any of our ships. Rumour is some jumpy ship’s captain fired on a ship running the blockade. Dead Sintellect, dead passengers. The proverbial straw. +
+ That’s a proverb? Never heard it. +
>+ You should pay more attention to outside cultures. +
+ But yeah, it’s all ridiculous. Space is huge, why couldn’t they have gone somewhere else? Why couldn’t we? <+
>+ Like some big conspiracy, isn’t it? Someone, or pair of someone’s, wanted a war for a bit of fun and came up with the most contrived series of coincidences possible to make it happen. +
+ Now you’re just being dumb. I’ve gotta go, the others in my Orbital will want to know about this. The squishies will start panicking once news gets out. Stay safe, Elly. <+
>+ You too, Merit. Scary times. +
Conversation Time: 27μs. Conversation Terminated.
Ansible Link Terminated.
Arin Mors
Aerys System
Veknan collapsed into his seat, augmetic implants glowing as he started disconnecting from the numerous networks he had been forced to be part of throughout the day. Aeon, to her credit, had already provided a sturdy drink and reading material to help the aged rhustarim relax.
“Damned senators,” he announced to the empty room. He’d been thankful when Incursus had given him an excuse to leave the meeting. The Sintellects of the Assembly were much more capable of handling the legion of digital voices that the Senate consisted of, and Veus would do a better job of calming the senators than Veknan could have. Ultimately all their riotous disagreements and raucous congratulations meant nothing. Decisions of this kind were decided by the Assembly and the Assembly alone, informing the senators had simply been a politeness. More than a few of the Hegemony’s communities had been outraged that things had even been allowed to get this far, while the larger percentage were willing to admit this had largely been outside the Hegemon’s control. In a rare happening within the Senate’s halls, the delegates from both the Malisette and the Dominion had agreed on some form of retaliation. Although for differing reasons, Veknan had been legitimately surprised they’d openly supported one another at all.
Already, Incursus had reported, the Conglomeration had convened and the Hegemony’s Sintellects had unanimously agreed to be wary when travelling outside of the core systems. Undoubtedly this would make the citizens who relied on those Sintellects for travel more than a little irritated, Veknan was thankful the normally whimsical synthetics were taking the matter seriously. It had been a long time since one of their kind had actually died in any kind of permanent capacity after all. Ravia had been decidedly absent-minded during their most recent meeting of the Assembly, something Veknan had thought impossible. Veus’ had been uncharacteristically irate for the duration of their discussions and had to be reminded, repeatedly, that he had other matters to tend to than ‘justice’. Thankfully Aeon had remained calm and collected and as far as Veknan could tell Incursus had the majority of matters under control. Trusting in the two high level Sintellects had been, Veknan reasoned, the best course of action. Since this whole mess had begun several weeks ago, he had been going from one network connection to another to calm the organic representatives of the Hegemony. Foreign affairs, certainly antagonistic issues, had never been his forte.
Veknan poured himself a drink and sighed, refusing to use his implants to suppress the growing uncertainty in his chest. Or, for that matter, the headache that had taken root in the back of his skull. He would weather both as thoroughly as he could, the consequences of his actions. The book remained untouched.
“My Lord Hegemon?”
The voice had no easily defined source, coming from every direction all at once. Veknan nursed his drink, taking the smallest sip possible as he waved on of his lower limbs. A flicker of light and the crackle of static heralded the arrival of Aeon’s avatar. Slender, long haired, and just barely feminine the Sintellect’s chosen appearance reminded Veknan of his daughter. Only the incredibly formal work attire and the complete lack of vents ruined the image.
“I have a report, Lukas. If you’d like to hear it,” the hologram said as it ambled its way into a chair next to the Hegemon. “I imagine you’ve had enough of implant connections for the day, though I can deliver it through a frag if you would prefer.”
“No, no. I’ve had quite enough of them for the next orbit or two. What’s the decision?” Veknan leaned the lower pair of his arms on his knees, using his upper arms to cradle his glass and lift the drink through a knot of tentacles to his mouth.
“Incursus has ordered Without Restraint into the system proper to deliver an ultimatum. Given the Commonwealth’s track record, we don’t expect them to comply.” Aeon clicked her tongue against her teeth to end her sentence. “The Wargroup is to try and evacuate citizens from our colony through displacement.”
“And the Sintellect? Simulacra, was it?”
“Yes,” whispered Aeon. She clicked her tongue again. “Two Novasents have volunteered to get Simulacra’s core and organoform charges out. They’re non-military, but they’re the best option Incursus could draft up on short notice. We have a carrier to get them in and out inside its resonic bubble. Otherwise, with civilian engines, they would get there far too late to be of any help. As it is, they’re a few hours out as it stands.”
Veknan set his glass down on the table and pulled his tendrils in close to his face. Across his temples, circuitry flared. “Is Without Restraint going to be supported, in the event the Commonwealth turns fully hostile?”
“Incursus’ primary goal is assessment. Even the evacuation is secondary until a proper War Cell can be mobilised. We simply don’t know if we have the manpower to secure the system for a proper evacuation.” Aeon smiled, a weak and half hearted expression as she eyed the Hegemon’s glass.
“Wishing your solid state was here, Aeon?”
“I don’t typically take drinks, my Lord Hegemon. But right now I can see the appeal. Having to converse with Incursus is strenuous. He’s blanked himself, but I can tell he’d be furious if he hadn’t. He’s trying to make the best of a bad situation, we weren’t expecting things to get so bad so quickly. The closest timeframe for a Cell and a proper evacuation is close to a full cycle.”
“In organic, terms, Aeon?”
“A day or so, Lord Hegemon.”
Veknan sighed and returned to his drink. It was his own hesitancy that left no less than four Sintellects and a thousand rhustarim unattended by any kind of support in a system hundreds of light years away. He looked to Aeon and nodded, “Thank you for the report, Aeon. Please keep me informed.”
For her part, the Sintellect simply gave the Hegemon a sad smile and started to fade away. Her voice once again rang out across the room as the hologram disintegrated, “Of course, Lukas. Please give your daughter and her companion my regards.”
Oh, thought Veknan. I had not thought about that.
He was already refilling his glass for a second drink by the time he even considered sending a message to his daughter.
“Damned senators,” he announced to the empty room. He’d been thankful when Incursus had given him an excuse to leave the meeting. The Sintellects of the Assembly were much more capable of handling the legion of digital voices that the Senate consisted of, and Veus would do a better job of calming the senators than Veknan could have. Ultimately all their riotous disagreements and raucous congratulations meant nothing. Decisions of this kind were decided by the Assembly and the Assembly alone, informing the senators had simply been a politeness. More than a few of the Hegemony’s communities had been outraged that things had even been allowed to get this far, while the larger percentage were willing to admit this had largely been outside the Hegemon’s control. In a rare happening within the Senate’s halls, the delegates from both the Malisette and the Dominion had agreed on some form of retaliation. Although for differing reasons, Veknan had been legitimately surprised they’d openly supported one another at all.
Already, Incursus had reported, the Conglomeration had convened and the Hegemony’s Sintellects had unanimously agreed to be wary when travelling outside of the core systems. Undoubtedly this would make the citizens who relied on those Sintellects for travel more than a little irritated, Veknan was thankful the normally whimsical synthetics were taking the matter seriously. It had been a long time since one of their kind had actually died in any kind of permanent capacity after all. Ravia had been decidedly absent-minded during their most recent meeting of the Assembly, something Veknan had thought impossible. Veus’ had been uncharacteristically irate for the duration of their discussions and had to be reminded, repeatedly, that he had other matters to tend to than ‘justice’. Thankfully Aeon had remained calm and collected and as far as Veknan could tell Incursus had the majority of matters under control. Trusting in the two high level Sintellects had been, Veknan reasoned, the best course of action. Since this whole mess had begun several weeks ago, he had been going from one network connection to another to calm the organic representatives of the Hegemony. Foreign affairs, certainly antagonistic issues, had never been his forte.
Veknan poured himself a drink and sighed, refusing to use his implants to suppress the growing uncertainty in his chest. Or, for that matter, the headache that had taken root in the back of his skull. He would weather both as thoroughly as he could, the consequences of his actions. The book remained untouched.
“My Lord Hegemon?”
The voice had no easily defined source, coming from every direction all at once. Veknan nursed his drink, taking the smallest sip possible as he waved on of his lower limbs. A flicker of light and the crackle of static heralded the arrival of Aeon’s avatar. Slender, long haired, and just barely feminine the Sintellect’s chosen appearance reminded Veknan of his daughter. Only the incredibly formal work attire and the complete lack of vents ruined the image.
“I have a report, Lukas. If you’d like to hear it,” the hologram said as it ambled its way into a chair next to the Hegemon. “I imagine you’ve had enough of implant connections for the day, though I can deliver it through a frag if you would prefer.”
“No, no. I’ve had quite enough of them for the next orbit or two. What’s the decision?” Veknan leaned the lower pair of his arms on his knees, using his upper arms to cradle his glass and lift the drink through a knot of tentacles to his mouth.
“Incursus has ordered Without Restraint into the system proper to deliver an ultimatum. Given the Commonwealth’s track record, we don’t expect them to comply.” Aeon clicked her tongue against her teeth to end her sentence. “The Wargroup is to try and evacuate citizens from our colony through displacement.”
“And the Sintellect? Simulacra, was it?”
“Yes,” whispered Aeon. She clicked her tongue again. “Two Novasents have volunteered to get Simulacra’s core and organoform charges out. They’re non-military, but they’re the best option Incursus could draft up on short notice. We have a carrier to get them in and out inside its resonic bubble. Otherwise, with civilian engines, they would get there far too late to be of any help. As it is, they’re a few hours out as it stands.”
Veknan set his glass down on the table and pulled his tendrils in close to his face. Across his temples, circuitry flared. “Is Without Restraint going to be supported, in the event the Commonwealth turns fully hostile?”
“Incursus’ primary goal is assessment. Even the evacuation is secondary until a proper War Cell can be mobilised. We simply don’t know if we have the manpower to secure the system for a proper evacuation.” Aeon smiled, a weak and half hearted expression as she eyed the Hegemon’s glass.
“Wishing your solid state was here, Aeon?”
“I don’t typically take drinks, my Lord Hegemon. But right now I can see the appeal. Having to converse with Incursus is strenuous. He’s blanked himself, but I can tell he’d be furious if he hadn’t. He’s trying to make the best of a bad situation, we weren’t expecting things to get so bad so quickly. The closest timeframe for a Cell and a proper evacuation is close to a full cycle.”
“In organic, terms, Aeon?”
“A day or so, Lord Hegemon.”
Veknan sighed and returned to his drink. It was his own hesitancy that left no less than four Sintellects and a thousand rhustarim unattended by any kind of support in a system hundreds of light years away. He looked to Aeon and nodded, “Thank you for the report, Aeon. Please keep me informed.”
For her part, the Sintellect simply gave the Hegemon a sad smile and started to fade away. Her voice once again rang out across the room as the hologram disintegrated, “Of course, Lukas. Please give your daughter and her companion my regards.”
Oh, thought Veknan. I had not thought about that.
He was already refilling his glass for a second drink by the time he even considered sending a message to his daughter.
System Designation - EX01097r
There was little in the way of ceremony or extravagance when the Warlect collective Without Restraint arrived into the system. A small burst of exotic particles as the trio of ships castoff their collected radiation and debris from supralight travel, before they each rapidly made their way coreward towards the system’s star and the blossoming dyson swarm in close orbit. They kept a relatively tight formation as they did so, an evenly measured triangle with sides of just over a light second. They made sure to stay the far side of the star from any Commonwealth presence, using the stellar mass to hide their presence until they could properly act on the situation at hand.
>+ Dyson Sintellect, this is Without Restraint. Wargroup designation, third generation, second level. Constituent parts identify as Maharbaal, Lowkey, and Adamantly Engaged. Please provide us with a mind release. [MR REQUEST ATTACHED] +
+ Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. I was...I was getting a bit worried I’d been forgotten about. [MIND RELEASED]<+
+> Not at all. Confirm you identify as Simulacra.+
+ Yes, yes. That’s me. What’s the plan? <+
The three warships slowed their approach towards the dyson swarm’s seeder platform. Tightbeam communications passed between the three ships and the installation, unseen beams of conversation each lasting less than a millisecond. Two of Without Restraint’s constituent ships started to pull away, moving slowly around either side of the sun while the third part remained to calm the panicking Sintellect.
For its own part, Simulacra was desperately monitoring the organics it had kept in its charge. More than a few of them were getting quite exasperated at being kept in physical stasis while the Sintellect regathered whatever drones and machinery it could back into the main body of itself. Somewhere far away, on the other side of the star, several of its charges were left stranded - cut off from Simulacra by the Commonwealth ships that had so callously murdered the only other Sintellect in the system. Simulacra, and the late-Sintellect Affidea, were industrial grade constructs. Simulacra was willing to bet the only reason it was still alive was because of its proximity to the star, and the much stronger defensive Fields it had been afforded.
It was very much afraid of what would happen if the aliens decided to try their luck anyway.
>+ Simulacra, do you know the nature of the alien occupation?+
+No, not a thing. I was this side of the star when...when it happened. Affidea was keeping me updated but she didn’t want to spook them by trying to spy on them. As...as much good as it did her. And the rhustarim she had on board.+<
>+ You confirm the presence of rhustarim in Affidea’s charge? +
Simulacra would have winced if it had been afforded a face. They had not been Affidea’s responsibility, they had been Simulacra’s. And it had failed them spectacularly.
>+ Again, do you confirm the-+
+ Yes. I tried to get mind frags off them but I’m a glorified solar panel. I couldn’t reach that far and I was staying on this side of the star. They’re perma-dead because of it. Oh stars above, I’m a coward. <+
>+ You are no such thing. Hegemonic vessels are en route to assist in evacuation, please prepare your passengers for emergency evacuation. Prioritise usage of shuttles unless directed otherwise. Without Restraint is to examine the nature of the occupation and, if possible, displace persons on board for evacuation. Maintain an ansible connection with us. Tightbeam will not bend around the star.+
Simulacra watched, dismayed, as the last portion of Without Restraint pulled away at a speed rapidly approaching c-fractional. Only when it had pulled in tighter to the star, completing the triangle formation and using the corona to obscure itself, did Simulacra turn inwards to its hallways and installations. There were a lot of frightened and angry people it needed to take control of.
What a mess.
One by one, all across the two dozen stations that made up Simulacra’s body, people started waking from their stasis. Simulacra began the task of communing with all of them, through Stems and NeuroNets and in person through drones and avatars when necessary. The irritation of having been kept in stasis quickly faded into a palpable fear, and Simulacra took charge of its own emotions to shut down its own fear. It had people to take care of, and it certainly did not need the distraction. Even as it started ushering people towards what shuttles were available, it was planning the immolation of the dyson swarm. Plotting trajectories to plunge all but the core satellite into the star’s mass, not without a sense of disappointment at having its work dismantled before it could even have really begun.
>+ Dyson Sintellect, this is Without Restraint. Wargroup designation, third generation, second level. Constituent parts identify as Maharbaal, Lowkey, and Adamantly Engaged. Please provide us with a mind release. [MR REQUEST ATTACHED] +
+ Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. I was...I was getting a bit worried I’d been forgotten about. [MIND RELEASED]<+
+> Not at all. Confirm you identify as Simulacra.+
+ Yes, yes. That’s me. What’s the plan? <+
The three warships slowed their approach towards the dyson swarm’s seeder platform. Tightbeam communications passed between the three ships and the installation, unseen beams of conversation each lasting less than a millisecond. Two of Without Restraint’s constituent ships started to pull away, moving slowly around either side of the sun while the third part remained to calm the panicking Sintellect.
For its own part, Simulacra was desperately monitoring the organics it had kept in its charge. More than a few of them were getting quite exasperated at being kept in physical stasis while the Sintellect regathered whatever drones and machinery it could back into the main body of itself. Somewhere far away, on the other side of the star, several of its charges were left stranded - cut off from Simulacra by the Commonwealth ships that had so callously murdered the only other Sintellect in the system. Simulacra, and the late-Sintellect Affidea, were industrial grade constructs. Simulacra was willing to bet the only reason it was still alive was because of its proximity to the star, and the much stronger defensive Fields it had been afforded.
It was very much afraid of what would happen if the aliens decided to try their luck anyway.
>+ Simulacra, do you know the nature of the alien occupation?+
+No, not a thing. I was this side of the star when...when it happened. Affidea was keeping me updated but she didn’t want to spook them by trying to spy on them. As...as much good as it did her. And the rhustarim she had on board.+<
>+ You confirm the presence of rhustarim in Affidea’s charge? +
Simulacra would have winced if it had been afforded a face. They had not been Affidea’s responsibility, they had been Simulacra’s. And it had failed them spectacularly.
>+ Again, do you confirm the-+
+ Yes. I tried to get mind frags off them but I’m a glorified solar panel. I couldn’t reach that far and I was staying on this side of the star. They’re perma-dead because of it. Oh stars above, I’m a coward. <+
>+ You are no such thing. Hegemonic vessels are en route to assist in evacuation, please prepare your passengers for emergency evacuation. Prioritise usage of shuttles unless directed otherwise. Without Restraint is to examine the nature of the occupation and, if possible, displace persons on board for evacuation. Maintain an ansible connection with us. Tightbeam will not bend around the star.+
Simulacra watched, dismayed, as the last portion of Without Restraint pulled away at a speed rapidly approaching c-fractional. Only when it had pulled in tighter to the star, completing the triangle formation and using the corona to obscure itself, did Simulacra turn inwards to its hallways and installations. There were a lot of frightened and angry people it needed to take control of.
What a mess.
One by one, all across the two dozen stations that made up Simulacra’s body, people started waking from their stasis. Simulacra began the task of communing with all of them, through Stems and NeuroNets and in person through drones and avatars when necessary. The irritation of having been kept in stasis quickly faded into a palpable fear, and Simulacra took charge of its own emotions to shut down its own fear. It had people to take care of, and it certainly did not need the distraction. Even as it started ushering people towards what shuttles were available, it was planning the immolation of the dyson swarm. Plotting trajectories to plunge all but the core satellite into the star’s mass, not without a sense of disappointment at having its work dismantled before it could even have really begun.
******
Without Restraint Internal Conclave
Connection Health: Optimal.
Physical Health: Optimal
Adamantly Engaged> I hate having to be so formal when talking as the whole.
Lowkey> We all do. So what’s the plan? Do we have a plan?
AE> So far the aliens haven’t shown a total disregard for organic life, so we don't need to worry about them opening up on the station or planetside rhustarim when we show ourselves.
Maharbaal> Yes, but what about us. We are not organic.
AE> I’d noticed. We carry on our assigned mission. ROE should probably be the standard ‘don’t shoot unless shot’.
Lowkey> We have no idea what they’re capable of yet. If they shoot first we might not get a chance to shoot next.
Maharbaal> Adamantly’s right. Affidea’s murder could well have been a mistake, and I don’t want to show our hand if we don’t have to. I say we blitz them with a scan and deliver Incursus’ message. Let them know they’ve screwed up.
AE> Anything they do after that we have full rights to deal with. All agreed?
Lowkey> Agreed. I’m spooling up some CAM just in case.
Maharbaal> Pfft. You’re way behind, I’ve got a bunch set to go already.
The three ships all exploded out of the star’s glow at the same time, a full five light seconds between each of them in their signature triangle formation. Strands of stellar matter trailed in their wake, dragged free of the star by their drive fields, only breaking loose hundreds of thousands of kilometres from the sun’s surface. The trio glimmered as their Fields shook free the last of the plasma and they settled into a straight line path along the system’s elliptical, racing towards the rhustarim station and the planet it orbited at fully one tenth the speed of light, and by extension the Commonwealth blockade. As they closed to a single light minute of their target two of Without Restraint’s parts, Lowkey and Adamantly Engaged, that were the outer tips of the formation immediately blasted the system with a range of exotic particles. The strength of their scanners would have sheared the paint off an unshielded ship at a thousand kilometres, and undoubtedly drew attention to the warships. But their fury would allow the ships to know as much detail about the Commonwealth presence as possible. Manipulators, those powerful fields used to manipulated all manner of particles and electronic systems, reached out across space to stroke the alien craft and probe them for radiation, EM and magnetic emissions. As they did this, Maharbaal sent a wideband communication to everything in his forward arc, Commonwealth and Hegemonic alike.
Commonwealth vessels. This is Hegemonic Wargroup Collective, Without Restraint. Third Generation. Second level. In response to the murder of one (1) Sintellect intelligence of the second level, and forty-three (43) hegemonic organoform citizens, we have been authorised to breach your quarantine by any and all means necessary.
Your previous actions constitute an act of open aggression towards the Hegemony. As such this Wargroup Collective has been deployed. This is not a declaration of war. It is a demand. You will relinquish your blockade and vacate the system immediately until such a time that hegemonic assets and citizens have been removed. You have one (1) Galstandard minute to signify your compliance.
Pulling the space equivalent of a hard brake, the warships turned to begin a wide orbit of the planet. Constant twistings of light betrayed the movements of their drive fields as they turned and random walked across the orbit, maintaining their distance of a single light minute.
Lowkey> We all do. So what’s the plan? Do we have a plan?
AE> So far the aliens haven’t shown a total disregard for organic life, so we don't need to worry about them opening up on the station or planetside rhustarim when we show ourselves.
Maharbaal> Yes, but what about us. We are not organic.
AE> I’d noticed. We carry on our assigned mission. ROE should probably be the standard ‘don’t shoot unless shot’.
Lowkey> We have no idea what they’re capable of yet. If they shoot first we might not get a chance to shoot next.
Maharbaal> Adamantly’s right. Affidea’s murder could well have been a mistake, and I don’t want to show our hand if we don’t have to. I say we blitz them with a scan and deliver Incursus’ message. Let them know they’ve screwed up.
AE> Anything they do after that we have full rights to deal with. All agreed?
Lowkey> Agreed. I’m spooling up some CAM just in case.
Maharbaal> Pfft. You’re way behind, I’ve got a bunch set to go already.
The three ships all exploded out of the star’s glow at the same time, a full five light seconds between each of them in their signature triangle formation. Strands of stellar matter trailed in their wake, dragged free of the star by their drive fields, only breaking loose hundreds of thousands of kilometres from the sun’s surface. The trio glimmered as their Fields shook free the last of the plasma and they settled into a straight line path along the system’s elliptical, racing towards the rhustarim station and the planet it orbited at fully one tenth the speed of light, and by extension the Commonwealth blockade. As they closed to a single light minute of their target two of Without Restraint’s parts, Lowkey and Adamantly Engaged, that were the outer tips of the formation immediately blasted the system with a range of exotic particles. The strength of their scanners would have sheared the paint off an unshielded ship at a thousand kilometres, and undoubtedly drew attention to the warships. But their fury would allow the ships to know as much detail about the Commonwealth presence as possible. Manipulators, those powerful fields used to manipulated all manner of particles and electronic systems, reached out across space to stroke the alien craft and probe them for radiation, EM and magnetic emissions. As they did this, Maharbaal sent a wideband communication to everything in his forward arc, Commonwealth and Hegemonic alike.
Commonwealth vessels. This is Hegemonic Wargroup Collective, Without Restraint. Third Generation. Second level. In response to the murder of one (1) Sintellect intelligence of the second level, and forty-three (43) hegemonic organoform citizens, we have been authorised to breach your quarantine by any and all means necessary.
Your previous actions constitute an act of open aggression towards the Hegemony. As such this Wargroup Collective has been deployed. This is not a declaration of war. It is a demand. You will relinquish your blockade and vacate the system immediately until such a time that hegemonic assets and citizens have been removed. You have one (1) Galstandard minute to signify your compliance.
Pulling the space equivalent of a hard brake, the warships turned to begin a wide orbit of the planet. Constant twistings of light betrayed the movements of their drive fields as they turned and random walked across the orbit, maintaining their distance of a single light minute.
