The Solar Empire Expands 2.0 (FT, CLOSED)

[Telvira]

OOC-Due to some *ahem* difficulties encountered on the original, this is now restarting as CLOSED. STAY OUT! YOU KNOW WHO I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Everyone else, TG me if you want to enter.
TELVIRA: Ventree System
Edge of Imperial Space
The bridge of the Scholyim-class command cruiser Herald of Wrath was wrapped in silence as the crew watched the planet grow in size on the main viewscreen. Primero Zharn Takin sat in his chair, absorbed in the reports being broadcast to him. The 3D control interface was a transparent hazy blue semi-circle filled with reports from the other ships in his armada.
“So far so good.”
“Excuse me sir?” His subordinate, a segundo by the name of Kirama, had apparently thought the statement had been addressed to her.
“Nothing, Segundo. Are all ships in position?”
Kirama nodded. “Yes, Primero. The armada awaits your orders.”
Takin raised himself from the chair. “Good. I will broadcast a message to the planet first. Once I give the order, the Itache and the Night’s Claw will open fire with SBMs. Target communications, space stations, and anything else of strategic value. Then send in the advance wave.”
“Yessir.”

Takin smoothed out his uniform. “Get me a channel to the planet’s leader.” Minutes later, the main viewscreen was split into two images: one of the planet from orbit, and another of a table full of beishalka, humanoid aliens with blue skin and head-tails, similar to Twi-leks, dressed in flowing robes.

The beishalka at the head of the table spoke first. “Human scum! You have three standard minutes to get out of this system or I swear I will blast every ship in that armada into dust, you filthy—”

“Shut up.” Takin cut him off with a sharp and commanding reply. “Now, without anymore interruptions, let me speak.” Takin cleared his throat for dramatic effect.

“Your planet, Ventree, is now hereby under the protection of the Solar Empire of Telvira. You, Councilmen, have five standard minutes to surrender to my forces, or you will face a far worse fate. If you submit peacefully, then I can assure you that your people will not be harmed and your civilization will survive mostly intact. My terms are such: all space-faring craft are to return to dock at once. All soldiers and military vehicles are to remain in their barracks. All ground and space defenses are to be powered down and evacuated. Do you accept?”

The Council Leader’s reply was a simple one: an upraised middle finger and one sentence. “Take your terms, you human filth, and shove them up your—” Takin didn’t even wait for him to finish. “Fire.”

In unison, 150 Strategic Bombardment Missiles (SBMs) streaked out of their launchers on the Mayson-class dreadnoughts Itache and the Night’s Claw. The planetary point-defense knocked down a few, but over 95% hit. Anti-matter explosions rippled across the planet’s surface as the warheads hit their targets with 100% accuracy.

“Primero, scans show no targets are still standing. They are defenseless.”
“Launch the transports.”
In the Umberto-class battlecarriers, Lightning-class assault transports left their loading/docking bays, while F4s launched to escort them down to the planet’s surface.
Primero Takin turned to Segundo Kirama. “Segundo, you have the helm. I shall be taking a nap; wake me if anything interesting happens.”
As Takin walked off the bridge, he doubted that would be likely.
---
DESPOTANICA:
The Colossus-class Arkship Misanthropy of the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod approached the distant planet at a steady 10-gee acceleration. The antimatter engine was working at 110% in order to move the massive vessel through the vast distances separating safe jump points and the main habitable planet in this star system.

Unfortunately, 110% was not enough at all.

Misanthropy was still more than 3 AUs away when long-range scans showed that the planet formerly known as "Ventree" had completely fallen to the attacking fleet. The sentient AI-assistants of Captain Remilliod brought him a sad message: the remaiging, isolated pockets of resistance no longer controlled their homeworld - Trading Clan Remilliod could not ask them for mining rights in exchange for more advanced weapons and other defensive systems.

Once again, they had arrived too late to exploit the impending-doom-soon-to-fall over a civilization.

But perhaps there was still a faint hope. Perhaps the original inhabitants of the planet could no longer be exploited, but the attacking fleet still remained in orbit above the planet. It was now rather obvious that - like the blue-skinned aboriginals of the planet - they had ablosutely no idea of the unbeliavable wonders they were practically sitting on. Captain Remilliod decided to try and bargain with these newcomers. Perhaps they'd turn out to be as foolish as he had hoped the Ventriites to be.

Misanthropy beamed a comm-laser towards the command ship of the fleet surrounding the planet and broadcast the following, text-based message:

"Greetings and congratulations on your newest takeover. May the power of your fleet bring you great honor and many victories now and in the future. I am Captain Remilliod of the Arkship Misanthropy, a deep-space superfreighter belonging to the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod. We are independent traders in information, technology, artifacts and memetics. Our vessel requires certain minerals found in large quantities on the planet – known to us as Ventree – and we’d like to purchase temporary mining rights to a certain valley near the Southern Pole. During our long journeys, we have acquired many technological marvels which, we are quite certain, would be of great value to you. We eagerly await your response.

- Yours, sincerely:
Captain Remilliod
---
TELVIRA: Primero Takin's summoner chimed, waking him from his light nap.
"What is it?"
"Primero, there is a trading ship appraoching the planet. It wants to purchase mining rights to a portion of Ventree. They're offering tech in return."
Takin took a moment to think. "I'll be up in a minute."
--
Takin smoothed out his uniform again, then nodded to the comms chief. A channel opened to the ship. "Superfreighter, this is Primero Zharn Takin, of the Solar Empire of Telvira commanding the task force around this planet. I are intrigued by your offer, but I must first consult my superiors. What do you intend to mine, and what do you have to offer in return for mining rights? Bear in mind that we intend to strip-mine this planet, as dictated by protocol."
---
DESPOTANICA: That was fast, Captain Remilliod thought to himself when the reply arrived. That's a good sign. Perhaps these primitive fools can be bought out even more easily than I thought.

Misanthropy turned completely around and began a 7-gee deceleration. The Captain and his small command crew - as well as their AI-assistants - had a short meeting of about five seconds (their thought processes accelerated by 100-fold, of course) before finally coming to an agreement of a suitable answer. These "Telvirans" seemed proud and arrogant enough to be charmed by words alone, but perhaps they had to be offered some of the more advanced technologies too. But nothing too advanced.

Finally the comm-laser activated again and proadcast the first offer:

"We note that you are on a campaign of conquest. We spacers rarely take part in any major engagements, but we recognize the commercial opportunities these conflicts provide. As such, we are going to offer you weapon blueprints we have acquired from a long-dead alien species which, despite their nearly unheard-of level of advancement, inhabited only a single star system millions of years ago. The most destructive of these weapons are "reversed singularity bombs", which create a local bubble of unlimited spatial expansion, tearing everything within to pieces - even the gluonic bounds holding protons and neutrons together. In addition, we have "hypometric weapons", which eliminate matter by transporting it into a ramdom location in the universe. Of course, these are only a few among the many offensive technologies we are familiar with, and if you so will, we can discuss about our defensive technologies and propulsion systems as well.

The resources we need are of a special isotope of Beryllium, which we intend use in one of our future experiments. This isotope is found in small quantities in interplanetary space as well, but our scans indicate large pockets of this material just below the surface of this planet. You don't need to worry about your own mining projects, for we only intend to stay for a week or two, and Beryllium is very poor as a ship material anyway".
---
TELVIRA: Primero Takin visibly relaxed. "Misanthropy, after having consulted my superiors, we are willing to allow you to send mining teams down to this area. However, your operations will be confined to the area you specified earlier, and we reserve the right to send observers to watch your operations. Do you accept?"

[Telvira]

TRIAD:
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HR-1388 System - MACE Observation Outpost 238 - Five parsecs from Ventree system
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Ever since the Branch Office and multiple Franchises had been established in this universe, TRIAD Enterprises unofficial black ops department had been sent more and more assets and resources to deal with the many myriad political factions, and the many commercial opportunities those factions presented. MACE, short for Market Assessment, Competitor Elimination, did not appear on any reports, documents, or databases. It's existence was known only to the many operatives themselves, the Board of Directors, and the CEO himself. Most of it's agents and operatives were Marduk, although a good number were from various other species.

A short time later, an emergency meeting of the department heads aboard the MACE Observation Outpost 238 discussed the report on the Ventree system, and made decisions on what to do. After an hour of debate, it was decided that further intel was needed. Intel which could only be obtained on-site. A recent covert operation had provided this outpost with a number of Abh designed ships, including three Roil-Class Assault Vessels. These would be dispatched to the Ventree system, and attempt to discover what was happening there.


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Ventree System - Outer Periphery - Five Light Hours from Planet Ventree -
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While sticking to cover had been determined a high priority, speed in gathering the required intel was higher than covert presence. Thus the squadron of Roil-class ships traveled to the Ventree system using purchased hyperspace drives. The ships dropped out of hyperspace a full five light-hours from the conquered planet, immediately using non-thermal thrusters to begin pushing them away from the hyperspace entry point. All three ships shut down all power but communications and computers. Their EM and thermal signatures at this range would resemble a cluster of cometary fragments, and even that signature would take five hours to reach those battling further inside the system.
Their position thus masked, the three ships launched a dozen tiny sensor drones each, these used onboard Colonoal-type FTL drives to 'jump' deeper into the system. It was assumed that the jump signatures of the drones would be detected, so the drones were considered expendable. Each was programmed to jump to a different location five light-minutes away from the planet and begin powerful active scans of the area. The distributed positioning of the drones allowed the whole set to share sensor coverage, and receive scan returns from each other as well.
If the combatants picked up the Assault Ships at all, which was deemed unlikely, it would be some time before any attacks from so far in-system would actually reach them. In the meantime, their drones were blithely announcing their locations for the whole system to hear, blanketing an area five-light minutes across with every scan emission known to TRIAD's science.
---
DESPOTANICA: Excellent! Captain Remilliod though when he was finally granted a permission to send his men onto Ventree's surface. Of course, he didn't really trust the Telvirans to keep their word, and definitely they would turn against him after seeing what the Misanthropy was really after... But by that time, the Captain hoped, his vessel woud be close enough to unload a whole barrage of reversed singularity bombs and hypometric missiles, thus ending the Telviran threat once and for all. Of course, approaching that close to a hostile fleet had some severe counter-risks too, but then again, stakes were very high.

The Captain beamed the coordinates of his "Beryllium-rich valley" to the distant Herald of Wrath and adjusted the superfreighter's flight path just enough to allow it take orbit around Ventree after getting close enough. Of course, Misanthropy was too large to actually land on any planet, but one of her numerous hangar bays opened and sent a large shuttlecraft towards the planet. Inside were some of the Captain's most trusted crew, as well as several cybernetically enhanced worker-gorillas and robots... And something else too.

But as the shuttle propelled itself towards the planet, one of the combat-AIs brought the Captain a troubling message: apparently someone, or something, had entered the system duting the battle, and was now doing everything in order to stay undetected. However, the space-warping jump-signature generated by an extremely small-scale FTL engine was there, almost blending to the cosmic background radiation... but only almost. The sentient AI oversees on the Misanthropy's outer hull immediately zoomed to the targets and identified them as some kind of sensor drones.

Captain Remilliod did not like this at all. The concept of some yet-unknown party observing this all was very unnerving, as it added an unknown factor to the precise calculations his enhanced mind was performing each and every second. After thinking about it for a moment, he ordered one of the returning combat hornets intercept the nearest drone and bring it to the Misanthropy for further investigation.
---
DESPOTANICA: Hikikomori - the shuttlecraft from Misanthropy - entered Ventree's atmosphere and headed towards a deep, icy valley near the Southern Polar regions. Piloted by Captain's Champion Brannigan, Hikikomori was a large and heavy atmospheric craft, meant to carry cargo, goods and passengers from surface to orbit and back.

When the valley was only a few hundred kilometers away, Brannigan contacted the Telviran F4s:

"This is the heavy cargo shuttle ]Hikikomori. We believe we can manage the rest of the journey alone. We thank you for your escort and your willingness to keep your part of the deal. I am sure Captain Remilliod will remember your generosity in the future, should we meet again.

Hikikomori engaged her atmospheric engines and began the final preparations for landing.
---
DESPOTANICA: Having landed on a deep, seemingly ordinary valley between large, icy cliffs near the southern pole of Ventree, Hikikomori had sent several cybernetic worker-gorillas to unload the massive stone drills and explosives she had carried within her cargo bay. The bounds of the mining site were rapidly becoming clearer, although it was hoped that Hikikomori could leave this war-torn planet as soon as possible.

Captain's Champion Brannigan and the few other Transhuman Traders belonging to the landing party didn't occupy themselves with lowly physical work. Instead, they walked around the landing site in their powered exoskeletons, overseeing the work and motivating the gorillas with electric spikes whenever it seemed necessary. Each Trader was nearly three full meters tall, horribly thin - nearly skeletal - and enhanced with countless of cybernetic implants ranging from artificial eyes and faceplates to robotic limbs and calculation nodes directly linked with their brains through throbbing vein-cables sticking out from their enormously bloated craniums.

Brannigan was a bit worried about the Telviran soldiers. Even as the gorillas were assembling the large main drill, he could see, hear and smell the soldiers, who had so far stayed near the valley's entrance. The exact firepower the soldiers had brought with them was still unknown, but it was likely rather high. After all, the Telvirans were already aware of the deceitful nature of the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod, and it was very unlikely they'd just leave Brannigan and his team do whatever they wanted.

We may have to kill them before we leave, he thought. I hope we don't have to come to that, though. It could be dangerous, especially if we have already secured the Jumper Clown device...

One of the worker-gorillas approached the Captain's Champion. The creature bowed its head as it – or, more precisely, as the small synthesizer installed just below the gorilla’ sewn-shut mouth – spoke to its master:

“O great Champion, the drill is ready and powered up. We await you command. Shall we begin the drilling now, or do you wish us to wait more?”

Brannigan shook his head.

“No. We’ll start right away. As soon as we can leave this place, the better.”

The gorilla bowed its head again.

“Your wish is my command, O great Campion.”
---
TRIAD: ****************************************************************************************************
Ventree System - Outer Periphery - Five Light Hours from Planet Ventree - MACE Task Force
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The three Abh style ships did not have standard names, they were identified by registry numbers only, and the lead ship was the AEMS-2243. Crewed entirely by a handful of sapient Marduk and dozens of sub-sapient drones, the three ships were intended to be expendable, easily deniable assets. Right now the Marduk acting as Captains for the three ships were conferencing in the combined fleet datatspace.

#2243, we are getting new readings from two drones. Number eleven from 1678 and number eight from 347. Both drones have been captured by two separate parties in the conflict. The on-board DE's report they are still intact and continue active scanning from within the two unknown vessels. Returns are distorted, but we have obtained approximate internal layouts of each craft. What are your orders?#

#Continue observation efforts. I will report the situation to MACE command. If either of these unknowns attempt to tamper with the drones, order them to initiate self-destruct. Have we recorded their communications protocols?#

#Acknowledged. Affimative, we have scan data recording their inter-ship communications.#

#Initiate communications channels to both vessels, use their own protocols.#

#Acknowledged. Channels open.#

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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Herald of Wrath
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Onboard the Telviran craft, the drone sat patiently, still shouting at the top of it's scanners. Now that it was in an atmospheric environment, the acoustic sensors were now picking up sounds and any language spoken around the thing. As before, the simple digital mind inside watched and reported. Only now it was receiving new instructions to activate the acoustic generator.
From the one-meter spheroid a voice issued, a synthetic, mechanical voice, #We request that you identify yourselves and state your intentions towards our probe.


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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Misanthropy
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As aboard the Herald of Wrath, the drone aboard the Misanthropy also watched and listened, only in this case there was likely less language to listen to, owing to the trans-human nature of the Misanthropy's crew. At the same moment that the drone aboard the Telviran vessel issued it's message, the drone aboard Misanthropy did the same, only with a short-range radio transmission, #We request that you identify yourselves and state your intentions towards our probe.

[Despoticania]

Deep in the bowels of Misanthropy - in the Primary Tech Laboratory 2, to be precise - doctor Anne Nyarlathotep was preparing to cut the unknown drone vessel to pieces with her sophisticated equipment, when the machine suddenly came to life, proadcasting a single, clear message - not by words but by a powerful radio transmission, as if aware of the heavily modified nature of the superfreighter's spacer crew. The message was short and left very little room for alternative interpretations; the drone wanted Nyarlathotep to identify herself and her intentions towards it. After a quick thinking, the doctor called for Captain Remilliod.

The Captain arrived soon - although not in the flesh, but as a fully sentient AI-persona controlled in real time by one the many subpersons of his multi-chambered mind. After observing the drone from all directions, the Captain made a rather unusual decision. He told the truth (with certain minor modifications):

"We are the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod. I am Captain Remilliod, the founder of the Clan and the commander of this vessel, a deep-space superfreighter we have named as 'Misanthropy'. We consider ourselves independent; we bow to no star empire or nation, nor do we take part in any conflicts unless provoked to. We travel from star system to star system in our neverending quest to acquire new technologies, unique artifacts and information to be used as trade items and to improve our ship and physical bodies. We have continued this tradition for hundreds of years, and although we are aware of several other Interstellar Trading Clans and other similar factions out there, we are by far the most powerful and most trustworthy of them all.

As for our intentions towards your drone... We found it drifting in space without any markings bearing the name of its true owner so we decided to bring it aboard for further study. I also admit that the miniature FTL-engine within is of great interest to us. Althogh our own hyperdrive system is fast and reliable, it requires an enormous machinery in order to work properly. Now that we have apparently made contact with you - the yet-unknown faction behind the probe - we would be glad to establish trade relations with you."

* * *

Meanwhile, on the frozen surface of the antarctic regions of Ventree, Captain’s Champion Brannigan was being informed by one of the gorillas that the thing they were searching for had been located – only a few dozen meters below the icy crust. The Jumper Clown Device!

Brannigan ordered the gorillas to start drilling immediately. Several large containers had already been brought right next to the massive main drill. They were to be filled with the worthless Beryllium ore as a distraction. The Jumper Clown Device was to be sealed inside the last container – hopefully without the Telvirans becoming too suspicious.

As the maind drill powered up and sank its carbon nanotube teeth into the ground, Brannigan walked back to the Hikikomori. Perhaps there was still enough time for a nice cup of tea... before things may start getting ugly, he thought.

[Lingards]

OOC: May I enquire as to wether I'm one of the 'Keep outs'?

[Telvira]

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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Herald of Wrath
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Onboard the Telviran craft, the drone sat patiently, still shouting at the top of it's scanners. Now that it was in an atmospheric environment, the acoustic sensors were now picking up sounds and any language spoken around the thing. As before, the simple digital mind inside watched and reported. Only now it was receiving new instructions to activate the acoustic generator.
From the one-meter spheroid a voice issued, a synthetic, mechanical voice, #We request that you identify yourselves and state your intentions towards our probe.

Takin had decided to watch the analysis of the drone from behind a shielded barrier. He was about to order the first incision when the thing spoke. Takin pressed a button, and began to speak, knowing his words would be broadcast into the room for the drone to hear. "This is Primero Takin, commanding the ship Herald of Wrath, in the name of Solar Empire of Telvira. We detected this drone in the edge of this sector of space, which is claimed by the Solar Empire. Who are you, and what are your intentions?"

OOC-Lingards, I would be fine if you joined in

[Lingards]

The Imperial Class Star Destroyer Vantage dropped out of Hyperspace. It was meant to be a normal Exploration mission, but when they saw the situation taking place there was a rather large discussion on wheter to get involved. The Decsion was made among the command staff to move towards the planet and observe the situation before taking any action. Moving towards the Planet the Vantage remained at High alert.

[Telvira]

The abrupt appearance of a Star Destroyer in the space over Ventree immediately put the Telviran fleet on high alert. An aide ran into Takin's viewing room. "Sir, a Star Destroyer has just emerged from hyperspace!" Takin whirled around. "Send the Scipio and it's battlegroup to cover it. I want F4s prepped for launch. If the Imp's are gonna make a push for this system then we'll kick them in the teeth."

On the right flank of the assembled Telviran armada, the Magnificant-class monitor Scipio, 4 Mayson-class dreadnoughts and 5 Abruzzi-class cruisers shifted to put the Vantage square in the middle of their weapons envelope. In the bowels of the two Umberto-class fleet carriers, F4 pilots clambered into their cockpits as technicians secured FRAMs and FM3s to their rotary missile launchers. The the pilots waited for the orders that would catapult them into space and towards their enemy.

To the Imperial Star Destroyer
It has been a long time since we have had contact with the Galactic Empire. Surely you have not forgotten your treachery against us. We haven't. You have five standard minutes to explain your presence in this system or we will turn you into glowing space dust.
-Primero Zharn Takin

[Lingards]

"Thats the second time thats happened" The Captain commented as they received an incomming transmission regarding 'A Galactic Empire'. Another ship, the Explorer, had also been challenged as an 'Imperial Vessel'. The Captain of the Vantage decided to pascify these people. The Vantage slowed to full stop and he said.

What is it with you people calling us the Galactic Empire? No matter, I bring greetings from the Star Republic

[Telvira]

OOC-Sorry for the delay

IC-"The Star Republic? Haven't we had contact with them before?' Takin turned to his intel officer. "Sir, the Derflen encountered a Star Republic ship, the Explorer, just prior to the skirmish with the EDF." "Add an addendum to our report-NAVTEL needs to add them to the roster."

To the Star Republic Ship
We apologize. It was a case of mistaken identity. What is your reason for being in this system?

[Lingards]

We're on a Exploration mission, we're charting this sector of space and looking for potential colony sites

The captain replers tohilst the ship was still, the science officers took the opporutunty to run sensor scans of the system.

[TRIAD Enterprises]

((OOC Note: Hey guys, sorry if this causes any problems, but I don't know if I'm going to be able to work on this thread till after the weekend, Sunday at the earliest. If I do get a free moment to write, I will. If possible, try not to leave me behind please?))

[Telvira]

OOC-That's fine. My online times will be sketchy for a bit, so this can go on temporary hiatus until I can post regularly again.

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Ventree System - Outer Periphery - Five Light Hours from Planet Ventree - MACE Task Force
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#Alert! Fractal shift detected in local spacetime!#

#347, elaborate!#

#Acknowledged 2243. Spacetime sensors detected probability breakdown approximately fifteen minutes ago, absolute. Anomaly required ten minutes to fully manifest. Multiple detected combatants in this system no longer appear in local time-stream. Targets identified as Remilloid and Telviran remain. Further, one vessel previously identified as Star Republic has re-entered the system. Recorded transmissions indicate they were subject to the temporal shift as well, for they make no indication of the previous conflict.#

#Is there any threat to our vessels or systems?#

#Unlikely. Our para-universal nature may be why we retain memory of the previous time-stream. No systems are indicating any instability, and local probability wave-forms have stabilized.#

#Very well, continue the operation. Open channels to the drones aboard the Remilloid and Telviran vessels.#

#Acknowledged. Channels open.#


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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Misanthropy
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The drone 'listened' to the Misanthropy's Captain as he made his speech, again recording and relaying. When the radio channel opened again, the broadcast was as before only powerful enough to be received through the interior of the Remiloid ship, but no further.

#We are members of the Free Navy of Tuuranis, although we are often known to Outsiders as the Tuuranic Raiders. Like you, we scour the stars for the tools and knowledge to improve ourselves. We may be able to come to terms, however we must request that you release our drone upon request. The machine is equipped with a rudimentary digital entity which is programmed to destroy the drone if it should detect unauthorized tampering with it's systems. In the interests of further negotiations, you are advised not to attempt to open the drone.
As for trade of technology, we may be able to reach terms for the sale of Space Fold drive systems. However, the miniaturized version used aboard our probes was purchased from another party, and we have no ability to reproduce it. We would be willing to sell you information which will lead you to the party we purchased the drones from. Will this be acceptable?#

After the incoming relay closed, the drone returned to passive observation mode. The surface of the outer casing suddenly changed, as swarms of nanomachines were released from inside, transforming the outer surface into a material that would reflect a wide spectrum of scanning emissions, to prevent the Remilloids from just scanning the interior for the secrets they sought.


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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Herald of Wrath
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At roughly the same time as the drone aboard the Misanthropy was responding to the Remilloids, the drone aboard the Herald of Wrath was doing the same.

#We are members of the Free Navy of Tuuranis, although we are often known to Outsiders as the Tuuranic Raiders. We were attracted to this system long-range communications traffic indicating a battle in progress over this planet. We believed we might find an opportunity that would benefit our vessels. We have opened communications with the other vessel present, identifying itself as the Misanthropy. We will be attempting trade negotiations with their crew, however when this is concluded, we will depart this system if you request it. We request that you be willing to release our probe at that time, but for now you may keep it aboard your vessel. The machine is equipped with a rudimentary digital entity which is programmed to destroy the drone if it should detect unauthorized tampering with it's systems. In the interests of further relations, you are advised not to attempt to open the drone.#

Like it's brother in design, this drone also deployed the anti-scanner nano-surface to dissuade non-invasive examination.


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Ventree System - Outer Periphery - Five Light Hours from Planet Ventree - MACE Task Force
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In the outer edge of the system, the three assault ships floated on minimal power, imitating a cluster of cometary debris to any who took only a passing look. A close examination would reveal the ships' true natures, but for the moment with everyone else in the system's interior, this was deemed to be enough to hide the assault ships' presence while the drones further in-system dealt with the situation there.

[Despoticania]

Competitors! Captain Remilliod thought. How dare they enter our territory?! This will not do; they'll have to be dealt with later...

But the Captain still wanted the miniature FTL engine onboard the drones. In fact, he felt that he HAD to acquire it, no matter the cost: considering what military potential the technology had - Misanthropy could launch thousands of combat wasps and each of them would be within range before the enemy even knew they were being targeted - it could be among the best deals ever...

Of course, when we have secured the Jumper Clown device, we could simply... But no. the Captain knew that there was a remote possibility that the thing he had sent his Champion, Brannigan, to find from below Ventree's surface, wouldn't be as easily manipulated as he hoped it to be. For now, he decided to go on with peaceful negotiations.

After observing the drone - now covered in nanotechnology-based, mucous substance - the Captain gave his reply:

"As a sign of goodwill, we will release the probe whenever you request. As for our possible trade negotiations, we'd be more than willing to know the exact location of the third party from which you havce purchased the miniaturized FTL devices. We are also interested in hearing more about this Space Fold drive system. Judging from the name alone, it might be somehow related with the ancient concept of Warp Bubble drive. Although we've never been able to construct nor acquire such a device, we've come to the conclusion that it would have several advantages over the standard hyperdrive.

Of course, we don't assume you are going to just give this information to us, and therefore I'm going to offer you some of our own technologies in return. As we, the Interstellar Transhuman Trading Clan Remilliod, are known for our specialization in weapons technologies, we'll start with them. The technologies we've found to be particularly sought-after include "hypometric weapons", which eliminte matter by transporting it into a random location in the universe and "reversed singularity bombs", which create a temporary bubble of maximum possible entropy - thus producing a miniature version of the possible far-future event some scientists have named the "Big Rip". In addition, we've found means to produce and store vast amounts of antimatter without the rather risky use on penning traps. Or, if you're more interested in unique alien artifacts, we can offer you them as well. We have recently obtained many mysterious and ancient relics such as the "Wimbli's Trident" and the "Glowing Rod of the Precursors".

But even as the message was sent, on of the sentient AI personas brought the Captain a message: on Ventree's surcafe, Brannigan and his team had found the Jumper Clown device and were now ready to pull it up from its 50 million -year tomb.

* * *

The Jumper Clown device was a perfect sphere about one meter in diameter, glowing brighter than the sun now that the cybernetic gorilla slaves had lifted it from the deep chasm drilled to the frozen ground. It caused visible spacetime distortions to its background as the worker robots placed it inside the last container. Captain's Champion Brannigan looked nervously towards the valley entrance. They were shielded from curious eyes by the walls of the chasm, but he wasn't entirely sure if the Telvirans had noticed either the light or the spatial distortions.

Well, we'll know soon enough, he thought as he began walking towards the Hikikomori. The heavy shuttlecraft was already ready for take-off as soon as the container would be inside.

"We may be in for a firefight", Brannigan told to the gorillas. "These nonbelievers may soon test your faith by trying to prevent us, your Only True Gods, from leaving this planet in our magical skycraft. If this happens, it is your duty to stay here and fight to the death. If you do this, your souls will go right to the Gorilla-Heaven... But if you run from the battle, you'll burn for all eternity in the Gorilla-Hell."

The frightened creatures bowed their heads in front of their master and activated the numerous internal weapon systems stored within their powered exoskeletons.

[TRIAD Enterprises]

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Ventree System - Ventree Orbit - Misanthropy
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The sapient minds controlling the drone's systems considered Captain Remilliod's offer for a full three minutes, a very long time to a mechanical species, before responding.

Considering the description of both these "hypometric weapons" and your "reversed singularity bombs", it is likely that they are so advanced we would be completely unable to reproduce such devices, which would leave us at your mercy to produce or procure more. That is a situation our leaders would not readily accept. However, it is your third offering which we are considering. We do have the capability of manufacturing and storing antimatter, however such processes carry considerable risks. Risks enough that our leaders have abandoned such power sources. If you are willing to sell the full technical details of safely manufacturing and storing antimatter, we would consider this adequate compensation for both the location of the party responsible for the miniature Fold drive, but we would be willing to provide you with a working model. Not the drone which you now possess, as there are other sensitive technologies aboard, but another similar machine containing one of these drives.

Perhaps you will be able to determine how the original designers created a Fold drive in such a small package. Even if you cannot determine that, you should be able to reverse engineer the basic concepts behind Fold drives. Will this arrangement satisfy your needs?

Once again the drone went 'silent' after delivering the message. While the drone's masters were in fact willing to make the offered exchange, they had set in motion contingency plans to keep the Remilloids from obtaining certain sensitive TRIAD technologies. As soon as the negotiations were concluded, or if the drone detected any complicity, the machine had been preparing it's self-destruct systems. Inside the shielded casing, a nano-factory had been churning out a supply of disassembler nanites. When released, they would break the drone down to component molecules. The reaction would be contained and neutralized by the nanite-shell now covering the drone and dissuading scans of it's interior.


((OOC Note: Sorry for the delay and somewhat crappy post. Was waiting for Telvira to respond as well, but figured I'd try and keep things moving somewhat.))

[Telvira]

OOC-RL is going to keep me off NS for a while, so I'll probably start posting in earnest Saturday or Sunday

[TRIAD Enterprises]

((OOC Note: No problem Telvira, we can wait if you need the time.))

[Telvira]

OOC-Wow, this thread really slipped below the radar. Sorry to everybody who I kept waiting

IC-
Surface of Ventree
The Telviran troops who were sent to watch paid no real attention to what was being extracted from the mine, though the distortions and light certainly did interest a few. But no hostile moves were made by the troopers, who merely insured they had several recording devices turned on the area and then returned to their positions and speculated with each other as to what the hell they were mining down there.

Herald of Wrath-Ventree Orbit
Primero Zhan Takin nodded. This mission was getting too out of hand for him-the sooner these people left, the better. "We would prefer it if you would leave this system as soon as possible, for we are still in the middle of subduing this world and appreciate as little interference as possible."