Retribution [IC/AXIOM ONLY]

by **Free-Stars** » Mon Oct 16, 2017 7:59 pm

Pyrus System, For

Several hundred blue flashes appear beyond the asteroid ring of For, Seconds later an entire invasion fleet arrives, fighters deploy to destroy the Alert system at For. Though it's already too late, as the alert system has already transmitted. The fleet move inward, towards the Capital of Solignis, but is met with an enemy defense fleet, consisting of 800 ships.

The fleets engage in long range combat, an enemy Dauntless-class carrier get's melted by a GRL. Railguns and coil guns fling tungsten slugs at each other. An enemy Victory-class fires a Pykrus beam at a CFN Dreadnought-class cruiser. The Cruiser's engine block detonates, flinging debris into nearby light frigates. Kontos-class light frigates and Corvettes charge the enemy fleet, firing their repeating Kinetic Drivers. The enemy Victory-class flings several tons of Tungsten towards the Compellor-class Cruiser in the center of the fleet. After a couple of hours of fighting, the Solignis fleet retreats, by now heavily outnumbered and outgunned due to the loss of their carriers and a Victory-class Battleship. It will take the two fleets days to reach Pyrus itself.

Avalon, Outer System.

The Avel’Alri ships prepared for a Solignis counter-attack, which could arrive in mere months or days depending on how prepared they were. Unlike Confederate ships, Avel’Alri ships used general Particle Beams to melt down enemy ships, using the tactic of destroying an enemy ship’s shield generator to make way for a plasma bombardment, these ships could either be extremely deadly, or outright useless depending on how the enemy defends against the tactic. But for now, the fleet sits and waits.

by **The Adrelos Spinrim Cluster** » Thu Nov 23, 2017 4:54 pm

TERRIDAR HUBWARDS/ZIPIDGUINI, NOZU SYSTEM

A deluge ripped through a kilometers-deep valley, the capstone of a project one hundred forty years in the making. Twenty Adrelij years ago, the federation decided it was rich enough to fund up to ten vast projects. The ones initally selected were the Archive Program, to bring the ancient archives aboard the vast colony ship still in orbit to parseable form; the Drive Program, to bring the interstellar (both STL and FTL) drive systems aboard the same to usability; the Telescopic Program, to allow planet-by-planet viewing of the nearby cosmos; and the Fabrication Program, to allow the creation of large vessels and habitats in a variety of space and planetary envrionments. A fifth and sixth ballooned out of the original four, and now the Diaspora could say it had completed a full five-sixths of the wonders it had planned.

Within a single Adrelij year after the flood, colonization of the new ring would commence; nearby stars would be claimed; and Adrelos would fall apart.

ZIPIDGUINI Y5, NOZU SYSTEM

A ship from a distant polity swung its way hubwards, preparing for a rendezvous with the vast wheel of the skies that housed a full half of the population of Nozu system. It was the most densely populated large single body in the known Diaspora- and for good reason. The gleaming strip of green and turquoise and, on the shadowed portion, yellow was far more inviting than the worlds further outsystem- rusty and icy, dull brown, a gloomy shaded red- and it was the only thing in the system with a natural-seeming, breathable atmosphere. The biggest thing on the agenda for the hour-long inward flight was a history lesson. Each crew member leaned back in their seats and let their somzevs show them the carefully-researched truth.

By the time the Fabrication Program was completed and tested, ambitious plans were already being made for its applications. By the time the Drive Program set up its first hard-burning exploratory assembly, test models for
the more fervent plans were being constructed, spun apart, and rebuilt. By the time the Telescopic Program set
its gaze on the star called Nozu, the first forward mining vessels were being sent to the system. When the little ships reported they were half-full just four Adrelij years later, the Murnochorrik Plan had been selected as the project to go through with- it'd remove a troublesome religious group, and it'd prove the resilience and might of their new technology. The artisans set off, and arrived ten earth years later- just in time to "clip" the edges of the superstructure for their vast ring together, to assemble the gossamer walls that'd stretch up to contain an atmosphere, and to shape the spacious underground storage areas. Their probes were sent to proceed out to the icy rocks in the far belt- a natural storage site for ice, oxygen, and nitrogen. When they arrived out there, the probes in the middle belt had returned laden with rock and dust. Carefully, the artisans mixed this with- variously- the fertile soil in their cargo bays, small chunks of metal, and- most importantly- the foundations for the arcologies, buildings, and on-ring systems nessecary for easy transit and making the ring habitable. They brought back the ice and trapped gases, slowly shaping the land to make it receptive to the flood to come. Slowly and softly, a layer of gas kilometers thick was laid upon the ground. As this step was completed, the ice held below was pushed onto the surface, where the mirrors and radiators directed as much sunlight of possible onto each chunk. This, combined with the normal sixteen celsius temperature, finally led the huge chunks to disintegrate- and the ring flooded. The soil, now inundated, was seeded with vast supplies of plants- especially the conifers, their rarity prized by the artisans. Quickly, a message was sent back home- *we are ready.* With that, Adrelij settlers flooded in.

The somzev video slowly faded out, revealing the fact that they were overflying the ring. The ship slowly turned, preparing to brake, and the beauty of the colonized ring was evident. Proceeding from the inner atmosphere-bearing surface to the outer surface studded with docking assemblies, small surface-clinging cities and towns give way to vast, vertical assemblages of cities. Most inhabitants of the inner surface are Vahuel- pets and their owners. Despite the availability of a habitable environment, most inhabitants of Zipidguini live in the same way as those in the outer worlds of the Nozu system- underground.

ZIPIDGUINI DOCKING ASSEMBLY EXT-7-4-9, NOZU SYSTEM

Sixty-two kilometers below the land and ocean-deep seas, the cities, storage zones, and ring-saving braces give way to the outer surface, studded with 50 tall poles. This outer surface was host to docking assemblies, a whipple shield plain somewhat larger than the inner surface, and a few small more traditional cities clinging to the edges of the long poles- where low gravity-modulated systems gave way to a full 4 gees of centrifugal force in order to save energy. Because of this, ships docked nose-first to take advantage of their normal layout. After the slightly-modded ramscoop petals snagged the shield, the forward lock system extended to allow a hard, traversable connection. The cruiser was docked, finally. Two teams headed for the lock- both diplomatic teams. One clambered up towards the forward lock, and the other waited at the little 'shack' above the lock. The shipboard team, one by one, grabbed the rim of the lock and pulled themselves up. Once they were all up and the door was opened, magistrate Third Class Falandi Kedos T, adjunct justice nine for the Free Rejudic of New Providence, stood before Administrator Liki R. Lazhik, assistant to the head of government of the Independent World of Zipidguini. "I believe," Falandi said, "we can make a deal."

by **Chromiam** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 5:38 pm

Dominus, sitting in his chair, waiting for his servicemen to tell him that something is ready. A service woman opens the door across from Dominus.
"High Chancellor Dominus, the message is ready.... are you sure you want to send this message"?
"I am, it may be a simple message but it is an important one" Dominus said with confidence in his voice.
"But sir... they are at war with a nation beyond our technological knowledge. If we were to help them, we would surely be eradicated."
"I understand what you are getting at, but as of now they need all the help they can get."
"I understand sir...I hope you are making the right decision"

To the people who reside in the The Dominion of Sokryon.

My Name is High Chancellor Dominus Leader of the Chromiam Republic, you may not understand this message initially. I believe that it would be best for us to be in an alliance, this cluster does not need any more fighting that it has already has, I have sent some of my best representatives to address these talks. I await your reply

by **Skyberius** » Fri Dec 01, 2017 8:33 pm

Chapter 1,
THE AWAKENING

INTERSTELLAR COMMONWEALTHS OF SKYBERIUS
Planet Trevelyin
Ecumenopolis of Trevelyin
Imperial Palace

Melancholy

That was the word that had filled Emperor Solem Wiess's mind as he walked the grey, metal corridor to his office. The impacts of his feet gently echoing down as he took each step. While this hallway could be described as melancholic, it was simply the jolt of memory Solem needed.

He was speaking of his Empire.

The nation had suffered loss, The Event had decimated a nation that had once covered half the galaxy. and now he was here, ruling a nation that was locked to a corner of a super-cluster that had changed so quickly that Solem could look into the night sky and not even recognize who owned which star. He felt. Melancholy.

Solem opened the door to his office, Trevelyin sprawled out beneath him, and into the horizon, he looked up, the contrails of arriving and departing spacecraft filled the purple-blue sky with a pattern that left Solem lost for a moment, it was almost a calculated art, the starships accelerating away, to unknown destinations, and new ventures. Solem was struggling to keep his anxiety down, The Commonwealths had stayed discreet, as best as an interstellar civilization can. but it was different now, war was brooding on the other end of the super-cluster, and familiar names, and symbols had flashed before the screens of many an intelligence officer, and therefore, his desk, so, after a many wide consultation with his advisers, experts, and even a public referendum. The decision had been made, the message made out, It was all up to him now, and for the first time since he first stepped into a star ship. He was anxious, and worried, but also curious, what would be discovered? It could be the start of a new golden age of the Skyberian people. Solem took his tea from his desk, and took a sip, the warm soothing taste, with a tang of mint, filled his stomach with a warmth that he found soothing, he took a breath and sat his desk, the chair slowly adjusted to his weight and height as he leaned back, the message, and the transmit order, sat on the datapad in front of him, He read it over, took a breath, and hit the transmit order. he leaned back, and wondered how he was going to be able to attend the next hours meeting on artificial food growth.

A few moments later.

The comms relays came to life, the message relayed across the stars containing two messages, one for those who know the Commonwealths, and those who don't.

MESSAGE
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
......
......
......

"This is the InterStellar Commonwealths of Skyberius, we exist on the edge of this Super Cluster, we have been here for longer then many of you even knew what space travel was, We welcome those who would be our friends, and warn those who would dare be adversaries, we are equal, we are strong, and to you all, we say hello

.....
.....
......

To those who know our name.
We Remember our friends
We Remember our Enemies
Through the Stars we burn
Through the Bonds we Forge
We shall see you, Forevermore.

ATTACHED COORDINATES, FIRST CONTACT PACKAGE, RESPONSE PROTOCOLS....SENT

by **Dilyu** » Sat Dec 02, 2017 3:12 am

Tybetius System, Tybetius 3, The Imperial Parliament, The Imperial Council Meeting Office

The Emperor walked into the meeting office with the other Imperial Council members being present, 5 members who governed their respective systems as well as hes entire Cabinet, the Prime Minister and the Ministers for each Government Ministries. Emperor Stal wore a heavy coat and sat in his chair among his peers. The large wooden table that was laid out across most of the room was covered in reports, statistical analysis, top secret files and military movements. The Empire faced a threat, loyalist Republican soldiers, former Congress Members and a small but highly antagonised populace that were causing a degree of havoc across the Empire.

"Apologies for leaving the room earlier I had to use the lavatory, you may continue Minister Hyne."

"Of course sir, our reports show more enclaves of rebels here, here and here and as of now our forces will capture or kill the suspects. It is also believed a rebel leader may be present in the enclave however, we are on the cusp of victory as the annihilation of the rebels is near."

"Excellent, what of the Economy, how does it fair?"

"Sir our revenues are strong, our economic growth is strong and inflation is nicely down at acceptable levels however there is a matter at hand. Unemployment is less than 1% and the reason that is deemed a problem in my opinion and among my colleagues, is that their is a Labor Shortage. Our Economy is so strong that the number of jobs is higher than those who are unemployed. This will have negative affects as our Economy isn't reaching full potential. However with this in mind there is little we can do to solve the problem so hopefully private firms adjust their operations."

"I see, what of our armed forces?"

"Sir our armies and fleets are in perfect shape and will continue to perform tasks as usual."

The Emperor was pleased with the reports from his Ministers and sat up too look at the window, the landscape of towering apartment blocks and ships filling the sky. With determination in his voice the Emperor released passion from his mind and into his voice.

"This is the First Empire, the First since the days of the Imperial Sovereign Union and the grand Emperors and Empress that ruled these systems. However beyond these systems are more planets for that are ripe for exploitation so that our people may become wealthy, that our Empire becomes strong and dedicated to what we provide. Continue scouting of nearby solar systems and harvest information from such, that is all, for the Empire.

The room mostly replied in sync and claimed "For the Empire" just as the Emperor did. The task at hand was to be acted upon immediately as the government officials began to work.

by **Ella2 6** » Sat Dec 02, 2017 6:10 am

A Name Amongst the Stars

Deep space close to Avlo 21
HTNSS Woodpecker (J100)
Admiral Cecelia Woods

Code: Select all: This is the InterStellar Commonwealths of Skyberius, we exist on the edge of this Super Cluster, we have been here for longer then many of you even knew what space travel was, We welcome those who would be our friends, and warn those who would dare be adversaries, we are equal, we are strong, and to you all, we say hello To those who know our name. We Remember our friends We Remember our Enemies Through the Stars we burn Through the Bonds we Forge We shall see you, Forevermore.

The translation would have been crude and mishappen had the Skyberius not dispatched a translation algorithm with their message. For the first time in centuries, the Terrans have made first contact with another civilisation in the Supercluster. This was news. Ever since the Terrans first arrived in the large star group a hundred and fifty years ago, the entire supercluster was mapped and all its inhabitants noted as well as their technological progression. This was true for all except the smallest slither of space near the very edges of the cluster where ancient civilisations still dwelt, dormant and uninterested in looking beyond what they claim theirs. Trevelyin was no different.

Some time ago in the last century or so, an exploration had in fact been dispatched to explore the systems adjacent to what was the present day Dethakkan Systems. The fleet returned with multiple false positives - and half their ships missing. Since then, no further attempts have been made to venture into those final bastions of secrecy. The stars were either struck off star charters, or where present, advised never to enter.

But now, this message was beamed out from the great beyond and all fingers pointed towards the only logical conclusion: Whatever was in there had decided, for whatever unfathomable reason, that it wanted to initiate first contact with the rest of the supercluster.

"Play it again," Cecelia ordered, her dark brows furrowing into a small knot on her forehead. The computer complied, a synthetic, yet vaguely human-like voice read the message out like a text-to-speech translator, its volume and pitch shifting to reflect something more akin to natural human speech. The AI was certainly far more advanced than any rudimentary program used before the Exodus - the event which sent the Terran armada of four or five vessels strong fleeing from Sol - but it was still notably artificial. "Again."

Nancy watched the admiral closely, waiting for the replay of the message to conclude before she started talking. "Shall we hail them back, Admiral?" She asked once the automation reached the end of the track. Cecelia ignored her. She waited a while before prompting her again. "Admiral?"

"Yes, hail them back," the lady Admiral replied at length, "Let them know who we are and that we're coming. We do not want a repeat of what happened last time."

"Aye aye, Ma'am."

Offical Communique

On Behalf of the Terran City-state of Invictus

Greetings and good tidings to the Interstellar Commonwealths of Skyberius,

This is Admiral Cecelia Woods of the Holy Terran Nomad's Woodpecker Fleet contacting you on behalf of the Terran city-state of Invictus. We have received and deciphered your message as well as the first contact package you have broadcasted to us. We are preparing a contact team of five vessels to enter the system of [NOEME]. We are pleased to hear from you and we look forward to speaking with you in person.

The contact team shall be dispatched shortly and will arrive in your designated system in exactly [two hours]. The fleet shall arrive on the outskirts of the system, as per your request. For the purposes of identification, attached below in this file is the hull designations, types and shapes of our vessels as well as their commanding officers. Please use this information as you see fit.

Kind regards,
Cecelia Woods, Admiral of Woodpecker Fleet

Outskirts of Noeme
HTNSS Dakota (E41)
Commodore Nancy Myers

The flotilla of five vessels warped into the system of Noeme on the dot. Local spacetime rippled slightly as the warp bubbles popped, leaving behind the hulls on the system's edge. A close inspection of the vessels would reveal that they were, in fact, of Ellian design origin: five small rivulus-class destroyers fully crewed by the second-class citizenry of the Holy Terran Nomads. The lead ship was captained by a Terran commodore, however; the Ellian commodore was dismissed as she could not be trusted with handling such an important affair.

Nancy's very presence on the bridge seemed to inspire ire from the bridge crew. She was almost certain that these treacherous slaves would shoot her in the back the moment the warp was completed. After all, if something were to happen out here, no one would be the wiser and these traitors could escape into the endless void. A contingent of two dozen Terran marines ensured that this would not be possible, however, as they patrolled the bridge, ready to put a bullet through the first person to seem think about executing the Terran commodore.

With her back secure, she directed her attention forward to the matter at hand. Quickly, her nimble fingers typed up a message to be broadcasted to the Skyberius in the system. The message was feed through the translating matrix the Skyberius had given them before it was broadcasted out in their native tongue.

Code: Select all: This is Commodore Nancy Myers of the Terran contact team. We have successfully arrived in your system and await your instructions.

by **Dilyu** » Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:31 pm

Casadon System, Casadon 2, City Sector 4

"Bring him over here" as the Imperial Officer told the soldiers to bring the rebel prisoner to him. The rain was light that watered the city and the concrete in which the rebel prisoner laid down upon, in restraints. In the background rebels were being executed by Imperial Soldiers. Meanwhile the guards were dragging the prisoner to the Officer. The prisoner had no hope of survival, all was lost but only his mind will be set free from the harsh reality in which he resides.

"Set him here, ah here you are. After all these years we have finally captured the last of your meagre rebellion for we have truly brought peace to our grand Empire!"

"You will never stop freedom, it will come back to haunt you. The removal of the Congress will make the people rise up against you. I may die here today but my ideas will never die, the people will never forget what freedom is."

"IN EXCHANGE FOR WHAT? DISORDER? DISUNITY? WEAKNESS? Your so called Republic was corrupt! There was no progress and yet you see, this is what we try to achieve. We do not allow those who would forsake our people because of their hatred that uses a disguise of supposed freedom. If you and your lot rise again, we will crush you for we think beyond our life spans while you will all die, here, right now!"

"You don't understand, the people must have a voice, for the sake of freedom they shall live in freedom and not under the likes of you!"

"But don't you see that what we have given to the people all across the systems, peace, order, protection, wealth and a government free from corruption. Your time is over. The ideas of Earth are over for we are victorious. Even as we speak now the last of your insurrection is being crushed all across the Empire. The time has come for the Empire and you fail to join us on our journey."

"Then kill me, what are you waiting for?"

"Well I came to see you beg and I was disappointed. Shoot him."

A gun shot rings out after the impassioned speech of the Officer for the Republic was truly over, once and for all. The last remnants of the former Republic were all crushed. Now the Empire was truly free of any opposition.

However what would supposed observers think of such events that have transpired?

by **Eriaroon Eugenic Republic** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 5:46 am

by **Skav-Kar** » Mon Jan 01, 2018 8:46 pm

Somewhere in the Kuiper Belt of the Skaviam Star System
Royal Navy: Reconnaissance Bureau Listening Post 34-Z

Technician Polm was nearing the end of his shift. After eighteen hours of staring at screens he was finally going to his sleep pod. Or at least he would have been if the detection alarm hadn't gone off. He sighed to himself, this was definitely going to require him to stay awake long enough to write a report.

Conference Room G, Royal Palace

Var-Shem, Royal Administrator and Personal Advisor to Queen Urai oversaw a meeting of the Council of Ministers. As usual, the Defense Minister and Diplomatic and Finance Ministers were arguing.
"We must launch a preemptive strike, we know nothing of this new species or their intentions so we must attack while we have the element of surprise."

"Please Fleetlord, this is most unsensible, we haven't even met them yet."

Var-Shem was sick of it, it only got worse when the Defense Minister bared his frill and "offered" to duel the Diplomatic Minister, who was a rather frail, unintimidating male. So the Administrator took charge at once.

"Ministers! Order please. This debate is pointless, the orders have already been given. The assistant diplomatic minister has departed on one of our new fast ships for the signal located some thirty light years away (Maldurich Empire). I will be departing in one hour in company with a pair of frigates for the closer of the two (ROI). I will arrive in one hundred and fifty three days."

With the room in an uproar, the Counselor made his exit.

On board the Frigate Sleestak
Shiplord Second class Straha was finished overseeing the final preparations for departure. Var-Shem came onto the bridge.
"Are you ready to go into infamy Shiplord?" he asked eagerly. "We will be the first of our kind to meet an alien race."
Straha hoped it would be that easy, and that the honors bestowed upon them would not be posthumous.
With a nod to the helm, the two ships fired up their warp drives and rocketed off at thirty-two times the speed of light.

One hundred and fifty one planetary rotations later they entered the periphery of the WPZVJU star system and dropped back into realspace.

by **New Fel Empire** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 12:12 am

Yttani System: Kiann/Usan's moon

Kiann was buzzing with activity. Transport ships were flying in and out of the sector, delivering materials and goods across the moon, drones were survelleing the intersections, buildings spiraled in every way, engulfing the moon in artifical construction and contraptions that served any and every purpose unimaginable. Jos-ann, was an Arkattan scientist who worked for Yu-Tek, a Council member who oversaw Kiann's development, was preparing to test the newly built satellite array. He entered a airlock, then he maneuvered through the tube system which was built for the Arkatta, taking in consideration their snake-like form. The system connected the building to each seperate rooms and facilities. Jos's body pressed against the cool steel, and then Jos navigated through the long maze of twists and turns, to which then Jos entered a room, with complex machinery and tools, which was the hub that the whole satellite array. it carried a simple purpose, to beam out a message thay broadcasted the Arkattan history, planet, and biology as well as other thing related to the Arkatta. Jos's bio-sensor, from its cybernetic suit twitched, detecting movement behind it. It slowly turned, to see its colleague (Nahs-Tehn) entering from on of the airlocks.
"Is the satellite array ready for testing? Is it time?" Nahs communicated to Jos, through the vocal holes in its back, sending a high-pitched whistle, almost as if it was anxious.
"Almost. Yu-Tek, demands that we have all the proper preparations in place. This will signify a great day for the Arkatta. We will unveil ourselves to the rest of the black sea, and the stars above as well as its denizens, whoever they might be." Its cybernetic arms whizzed, almost musically, to life. Jos then alligned the satellite dish to the correct coordinates. The satellite slowly moved in perpentual unity. Jos got a thrill from seeing the satellites work fully functional. Expansion on Kiann was happening very rapidly, and nearly everything that was once barren wasteland, was now utility buildings, industrial building and homes as well. It was well stated by an Arkattan philosopher how the Arkatta reacted to their freedom from their secluded and isolated homes.
"We, the Arkatta were waiting, for thousands of years. Ever so patiently. When we were finally free, we took to the surface, then to the clouds! Were expanding in every way they could outward bound. Just like the Great Solar Dance! Just like the beginning of the universe itself. We, the Arkatta are infinite and everlasting, and we will never cease to exist... not yet anyways. This is just the beginning"
Millions of Arkattans left Usan to come to Kiann, in hopes of learning more about the universe, and how it works. Arkattan architecture wasn't appealing to the eye, but the Arkatta didn't mind, seeing how the buildings were made to be effecient, cheap and useful. Jos was chosen by Yu-Tek for this project, because of his assistance in helping optimize the recently expanded part of Usans, subterrenean cities. Below him, Arkatta were standing at individual stations where they could manage the satellite array.
"You" Jos looked at an Arkattan overseer. Give me details upon the satellite array. The being was almost shocked to being confronted like that, but he didn't let that show. "We are using the latest technology produced by the Science division. The council of Usan has finally allowed us to construct the arrays. Most of the division here is fourth generation, while we have a few third generation Arkatta. We actually have a few 6th generation hatchlings." It was no surprise that 5th generation Arkatta were here, even after recently being hatched. After all Arkatta are fully grown adults when they are born from the Egg nurseries situated. They are then given a tour and they take the PT (Profieciency test) which maps out their skills and abilities assigning them their job. The hatchlings, our commonly known as "Younglings" tour the jobs of which they will be serving.
"Thank you for your report" Jos told the overseer. He shook his head to the left twice, which signified he was happy to help.
"Jos. Its time." Nahs whistled to Jos. Jos looked once at the satellite array, as if he was wondering what it holds and may lead to in the future. He turned to Nahs and banged his tail twice on the floor (which is the Arkattan gesture for "go ahead"). Nahs let out a wailing screech which ordered all the staff to get to work. The Satellite array hummed. Then stopped. Hummed. Then stopped. Then silence. The message had been sent. Who answers, has yet to be known.

by **Dethakkan Systems** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 4:56 pm

Dethakkan Capital Complex, Lokken Sol Laralknar

Taking a glimpse out the window, viewing the vast lake and tall skyscrapers of the capital, Tholik asked again “So you are confident we can’t land on their planets." Thorlarm stood up “It’s not that we are not capable, it’s well the..” Antholkarn ,commissary of interstellar affairs quickly answered for him “It’s our diplomatic integrity." Tholik looked at him in a sort of controlled fury “What diplomatic integrity? Few nations care about our existence, the mess that was the pirate war." There was a pause in the room "Tholik, I know when you were in my position you always wanted.." Thorlarm was cut off by Tholik "It's not that I wanted information, it's that I needed it." Tholik walked across the room an sat down, "Galactic geography survey, well you have a scheme." "The operation requires the establishment of several survey bases, it will also require a large portion of the navy", the admiralty did not enjoy the idea, the didn't like that their ships would have to protect research vessels. The commissary of research and development continued "Under order from both Tholik and Antholkarn, our ships will not cross any exclusion zones. Unlike previously suggested, it will not be possible to land on planets occupied by our stellar neighbours."

When the meeting was over the fleet commanders left unhappy, the science directors left uphearted, Tholik left calm but frustrated. Always has he seen his nation against what he called disorganized criminals, now he sees threat from actual states. That was his perception, "What a I to know of them, we haven't even said a word." He walked up to the commissary of defense "This is wonderful way to say hello" Tholik said "They will know that we are here and that we intend to" Thorlarm replied but was cut off by Tholik before he could finish "I know well that we should have a plan, but at the moment all I really care about is that we obtain the information, It's a spatial geography survey after all." Tholik was about to leave but right as he proceeded down the hall he quickly whispered "Take this as an executive order, but I want all those farmers who used to supply the mercenary filth that waged war on us, I want them all either with us, away from us, or dead." Tholik walked down the hall, and Thorlarm continued likewise.

This executive order was officially published later that day, Thorlarm assembled his admiralty. "I have the full intent to displace all those who are or were either one, once affiliated with any organisation or former nation, no matter how small, who actively participated in the conflict against us. Or two, fail to either work with us, or are not a part of any superpower." The meeting went on and Thorlarm kept talking, after it was over, official admiralty meetings were ended for the day and Thorlarm went home. The last thing he did before he left the capital complex was leave a message for Tholik, it read "As the Dethakkan Commissary of Defense and the Stellar Navy, I intend to fulfill this order to my fullest extent".

Lornek Tras Station

The captains of various ships of all kinds were assembled in the room, the screen lit up with a detailed star chart, on top written in Dethakkan characters "Survey sector A1". Beside the main monitor was a smaller monitor with a map of the entire survey plan. The speaker stood up beside the monitor and began "So as you've all heard, were going through this survey scheme. Now before I get into the technical notes and details, I have some things from the commissary of defence to throw at you. In this operation, if you encounter a vessel, ignore it. If it communicates with you, say your performing a peacetime survey, nothing more nothing less, they are free to join in. If they board or fire at you, get your corpses out of there, preferably alive." Some of the captains laughed while others were more serious. The meeting ended and the science officers proceeded to leave while the military personnel stayed behind. "You are all aware that you are to fulfill the order" the speaker said to the officers.

A map of the "Dethakkan Survey Scheme"

Trilmark II System
1.5 Months Later

The landing craft shook as it approached its destination, the fifty Dethakkan Soldiers, a part of Blue Platoon, India Company, 557th Combined Arms Battalion, 344th Mechanized Infantry Regiment, 73rd Infantry Brigade, 89th Infantry Division, 3rd Corps, 1st theater. They all readied as the craft hit the ground and a yellow light turned on indicating that they were on dry land. Ralnirk Laral Mogrid, an ordinary rifleman, got up and waited for the door to drop. The surroundings light turned to blue as the two side doors opened, and with them the infantry and their two AFVs rode out onto the brown sand. Immediately the platoon commander gave a broadcast to his unit "1st section head for the north building, 2nd section south, third you go for the main building, get the armour on overwatch and I want recon!". Moments later several reconnaissance drones flew over Ralnirk's head, he then readied his rifle and looked at the small blocks of grey stone that peaked over the brown sand. As they approached, Ralnirk noticed large trenches in the ground. As the Soldiers leaped over the ditches they saw silver metal pipes lining the trenches. These agricultural trenches continued, and they kept leaping over each. Upon reaching the blocks of grey stone, they asked "Where's the door?" Seconds later a yell came from one of the soldiers "Here, in the trench!" The section commander nodded and each one climbed down. Ralnirk burst down the crude wooden door and rushed through followed by his comrades. A person of a different species armed with a primitive rifle popped out of a hallway. "Drop it, Now!" One soldier yelled, with no response he opened fire and left him bleeding on the ground. As they passed into the hallway they checked every room with a chorus of "Clear!" They entered into a large room with a long, table like structure in the middle with many figurines and other various treasures. Two more armed aliens came out, and one fired. The one who fired fell dead on the ground and the other dropped his weapon, sat and cowered on the ground. Ralnirk touched his shoulder and noticed the small dent. The projectile had simply ricochet of his armour. A third alien entered the room "This is third section, requesting presence of Troop-com and translator, over." The platoon commander and two of his aids accompanied by their unit translator arrived. "Hell, this place is a maze" the lieutenant said as he walked in. "Ok, search him, I want him unarmed" immediately Ralnirk and one of his peers walked up and searched the man. They threw on the ground a form of knife. "Riknat, ask him" the lieutenant said, the translator proceeded to ask a few questions "He's in charge here, there are more people in the room behind him." Two Dethakkans walked down into the room. More questions were asked "He says they didn't do much business with them, supplying mainly food. They did have a space capable craft, but it's the one we blew up on our entry." The commander responded "Tell them they have to leave, because of the survey scheme."

by **Skav-Kar** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:39 pm

Skav-Kar wrote:Somewhere in the Kuiper Belt of the Skaviam Star System
Royal Navy: Reconnaissance Bureau Listening Post 34-Z

Technician Polm was nearing the end of his shift. After eighteen hours of staring at screens he was finally going to his sleep pod. Or at least he would have been if the detection alarm hadn't gone off. He sighed to himself, this was definitely going to require him to stay awake long enough to write a report.

Conference Room G, Royal Palace

Var-Shem, Royal Administrator and Personal Advisor to Queen Urai oversaw a meeting of the Council of Ministers. As usual, the Defense Minister and Diplomatic and Finance Ministers were arguing.
"We must launch a preemptive strike, we know nothing of this new species or their intentions so we must attack while we have the element of surprise."

"Please Fleetlord, this is most unsensible, we haven't even met them yet."

Var-Shem was sick of it, it only got worse when the Defense Minister bared his frill and "offered" to duel the Diplomatic Minister, who was a rather frail, unintimidating male. So the Administrator took charge at once.

"Ministers! Order please. This debate is pointless, the orders have already been given. The assistant diplomatic minister has departed on one of our new fast ships for the signal located some thirty light years away (Maldurich Empire). I will be departing in one hour in company with a pair of frigates for the closer of the two (ROI). I will arrive in one hundred and fifty three days."

With the room in an uproar, the Counselor made his exit.

On board the Frigate Sleestak
Shiplord Second class Straha was finished overseeing the final preparations for departure. Var-Shem came onto the bridge.
"Are you ready to go into infamy Shiplord?" he asked eagerly. "We will be the first of our kind to meet an alien race."
Straha hoped it would be that easy, and that the honors bestowed upon them would not be posthumous.
With a nod to the helm, the two ships fired up their warp drives and rocketed off at thirty-two times the speed of light.

One hundred and fifty one planetary rotations later they entered the periphery of the WPZVJU star system and dropped back into realspace.

In the Ixio system the Karyu class cruiser exited faster than light speeds. The crew was ecstatic at the prospect of meeting an alien race.
The communications officer turned to the diplomat.
"Sir we are detecting a vessel of unknown type on the periphery of the system.
"Hail them."

Attention unidentified vessel. We are explorers from the Kingdom of Skav-Kar. We have come many light years to meet your peoples. I hope we can meet you.

by **Maldurich** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 2:10 am

The Lumina, Othlikk System

As the Monument fired its message of peaceful intent to the Lumina, crew and computer alike began their respective sequences.
"Sir, we're reading low reactor output." An admiral glanced at Bacari tentatively, before continuing. "Scanners show that their cryo's done for; coolant signatures are gone."

Bacari rubbed his hand over his face, assessing the situation from all perspectives. "Send in H13 and clear them for landing," he said.

"Sir," the admiral ventured. "We don't know anything about them. With all due respect, they could be hostiles or a Trojan Horse."

Bacari frowned. "Do it."

The admiral dispatched his orders to squad H13 before quickly flipping through the signatures they'd detected on the flyby, detecting traces of an unknown compound. The structure was heavily compromised but it had clearly been designed to last. So what was the nagging feeling, that twist in his gut?

By the time he realized what was wrong, it was too late. One of the Vulcans had landed by the hangar of the gargantuan ship, preparing to release preliminary scanner probes, when suddenly the admiral yelped.

For the second time that day, Bacari swore under his breath. A spark had emerged from the convergence of a loose piece of the peeling hull with the hangar mouth - and the whole section went off like a warhead. Chaos ensued as the green-orange smoke billowed out the hangar mouth, like the stormy mouth of a dragon.

"Sir, we've got heavy damage and 2 injured! We need backup!" Bacari could hear the frantic movements, the rapid steps of his admirals, and someone issued the other Vulcan to pick them up - using its magnetic locks on the bow, a med probe rolled out and scooped up the casualties. The gunship was towed away rapidly, the remaining crew of the now-compromised gunship hopping aboard.

Bacari rubbed his forehead in frustration. Had they come to attack them? Was this a gigantic suicide bomb? A nearby admiral looked to him for orders, and he considered for a moment.

"Send V272 back with an escort of Omikrons."

The admiral nodded before resuming his task, relaying orders to the gunship and to the autonomous fleet of drones that surged behind it. As they latched on to the hull of the Monument, and the scanners cleared the space. The gunship landed above the docking bay before a drone slid under it to cut a hatch for it. As the tunnel's vacuum was filled with the air from the Monument, scanner robots dropped in, scanning the cavernous chamber for explosives or any other threats. Finally, Maldurii landing crew fitted in dark metal suits landed in the hangar with a thud, four squads in all, before fanning out like a tide rushing in. Approaching the hangar's port to the rest of the ship, they halted and a fireteam proceeded in pursuit of the scanner droids that had proceeded through to the thrusters, reactors, server room, and ordnance storage.

As the Maldurii approached the corner of the hall, a blanket of silence settled in the air. Rounding the corner, they internally gaped at the sight before them - hundreds of cryogenic chambers lined the silver walls, the corner, ground littered with scales, broken glass, and puddles everywhere. As they clomped through the metal-floored hall, the arteries of the ship, the chilled air swirled around them, a cloak of mist before the unknown. The team had seen the circular, eyeball-like surveillance devices neutralized by the drones, but the only logical conclusion was that there were life forms on board - perhaps hostile, perhaps not.
Ahead, another corner lay, and the onboard scanners picked up life forms behind it - long, dense, and armed. The company captain held up a hand before proceeding, a sign of caution and to ready their weapons. As they turned the corner, they were greeted by a squadron of snake-like creatures, screeching quietly in slithering advance.
The Maldurii lowered their arms, seeing the snakes lower theirs. A gigantic, dark-skinned snake, clearly the leader, slithered forward, its horns protruding from the back of its head. The snake seemed to screech a clear message.

"Take us to your leader."

Council Chamber
Othlikkore, Othlikk

Ezra Torres stalked down the burnished platinum steps and into the cool of the underground complex, his virtual assistant chattering while he navigated familiar halls. Once he emerged through the gargantuan doors and into the white, open chamber, the buzz of conversation dominated by the figures in the center - governors from Jublaii, it appeared. Torres took his seat and, as this session concluded, leaning left to speak to a representative in his vicinity. As everyone settled back into their seats, the doors opened once more to admit an alien presence - the queen, Avdel'vekl, massive and silently slithering to her spot.

Discussions began.

When Torres emerged, he exhaled at length before reviewing all that had taken place during the session; the Ayeshari, as he had learned they were called, had had a traumatic prelude to their appearance here in the capital. A near-extinct species, the ship they came in on was apparently the only known group of surviving Ayeshari. Indeed, there had been no signs of pursuit after they had jumped into Othlikk, and a deal had been struck up: in short, Ayeshar would become a protectorate, within Maldurich's sphere of influence. While many of the reps had been rather pointedly against putting a potential target on the nation's already engaged back, many - including Torres himself - agreed that it would prove to be beneficial to both parties for various reasons. Talks had concluded around a scheduled date to further discussions of the minor details of the treaty, and, once the referendum had passed, a signing ceremony would take place as well to officially welcome the Ayeshari into Maldurich. Construction on the proposed orbital to house the 3 thousand Ayeshari had already begun planning stages, and security had been temporarily tightened in Othlikk in anticipation of the flood of resources that would feed the Maldurii construction machine in such a national undertaking. One councilman had stated his concern over the Ayeshari draining their coffers, throwing off the internal balance Maldurich had achieved, and that they couldn't count on anything from a dying race. Those cracks would need to be filled and eliminated, they knew. But perhaps there was hope yet for the Ayeshari, and, once the War was over, Torres could have both feet at home once again.

Spaceport Nirra
Sector 13, Jublaii

As Adrelimun vessels entered the system's gravitational influence, the spaceport berths configured themselves in anticipation of the reception of their guests. The central computer in charge of the port read through the identifications of each ship, before activating the magnetic locks. Their crews rushed into the station's main floor, where they were greeted by Maldurii infantry. As the respective blocs were parted, the Jublaii governors oversaw their immigration, the buzz of activity and low chatter reverberating through the room. The countless stellar returbics would be integrated into Maldurich over the next coming weeks, sprinkled amongst the Maldurii stars.

The Silence
Sector 2, Othilkk

Commander Tak'ran hailed the shadows floating across the view from the Silence, the vessels that the Enigma's crew had identified as the 'Free Reperetics'.

"Salutations, King and Country. This is Commander Tak'ran of the Silence. We request immediate contact with your leaders, particularly Supreme Director Obligore. We have a proposition for you and your government..."

Office of the Vice-Minister Supreme Oro Tekkaan
Othlikkore, Othlikk

Tekkaan smoothed her white uniform before reclining in her seat while listening to the report from Sub-Commander Jiarr, on Adrelimun integration. While the Jublaii group had integrated much more homogeneously across Maldurii territory, the Supreme Director and his enlightened Free Reperetics wished to be integrated much more holistically and cohesively. Obligore and his government wanted a say in how his people's lives were run, and the Councils had agreed that the best solution was for Obligore to hold co-governance over the Reperetics. As Vice-Governor, Obligore would be obliged to work with his Maldurii counterpart in finding solutions for internal matters, and for enforcing Council mandates. Thankfully, Obligore had agreed to the terms readily and work had already started in the immigration department, and Council Reforms added another job to their list.

Paragon Citadel Root_Core
Rre'inn One, Eccha

In the aftermath of the successful campaigns of Eccha 7 and 12, Commander Sorrd stood around the gigantic schematics display that commanded the attention of the room. Around it were Commander Therani, Commander Baldwin, and Admiral Sal'Alod.

"So, this is it. It's been a pleasure working with you both and your men."

"The pleasure is ours," Sal'Alod insisted.

"On that note, let us discuss the long term plan for the remaining Solons. What's the plan for the ones loitering in orbit?" Therani asked.

"Likely to just... let them pass." Baldwin paced around the steely rim of the display. "It won't make much of a difference now if we massacre them or not. We might as well let word get back to the capital of how bad it really was."

"Psychological warfare," Sorrd mused.

"No, not psychology. A war won by Fear."

“We can evacuate whoever’s left on Eccha to the Solon home star as well, I suppose” Therani muttered.

“With what ships?”

“We could stop the ones in orbit right no-”

“They’ll never fit them all,” Baldwin said.

“We’ll figure it out later,” Sal’Alod said. “On another note, what are Maldurich’s plans for Eccha in the long term?”

“We haven’t received orders for that yet, but our short term plan is to establish a few bastions in the system to maintain control while the planet heals up.”

"Before we take any more action,” Sorrd said, “I'm going down there to see what it's like. If any of the reports are nearly half accurate, the land will accept any plans readily."

This is a messasge to the Interstellar Superstate of Sokryon.
You have witnessed the destruction of planet Eccha. You have seen us wipe the slate clean of your influence. Solons, hear us this day: if you do not cease your retributive thirst for hegemony, Eccha will be but a miniscule detail in the face of what is to come to Solon society. The stars are no longer yours. The game is no longer yours. The playing field is no longer yours. Once upon a time, you were powerful. But now, the field has been leveled. This is a message for your surrender. This is a message of caution. This is your final warning.

Remains of Eccha 14, Eccha

Sorrd hopped out of the gunship, fully clad in infantry kit. Around him, the ground was white and dusty, almost like sand - the once-lush planet had become a nuclear desert. Bone-white dust lay beneath him, ashen sky above him. As his surveyor squad filed out behind him, he took another pace and noticed the thin layer of glass that coated the sea of sand like a shimmering mosaic, the light from the system’s star refracted through the silty sky before reaching the ground. Sorrd bent down and picked up a shard.

"This planet was once the heart of Solon industry."

The wind howled in response.

“They made their mark upon this soil. Greater, perhaps, than any before them.”

He straightened himself, the deposits from the dusty breeze crumbling off of his frame.

"But from their ashes," he declared.

Glass powder slipped through his fingers.

"We will build a better world."

by **Robotika** » Sun Feb 04, 2018 6:17 pm

Official Text from the Department of Robotikan History

From the Log of Lieutenant Owen Solder, Janus Perimeter Patrol
[INITIATING BOOT UP SEQUENCE…]
[PLAYING LOG…]

This was supposed to be an ordinary post. According to Drex, the Admiralty shipped me out here as a courtesy in recognition for "previous contributions." Apparently having me assigned to this backwards, nowhere planet in the boonies of the Janus system was their way of sending me off gently.

“An old K-9 can’t learn new tricks,” he said.

What a load of oil sludge. Sending me out here was their way of consigning me to the scrap-heap. After nearly a century of my life for the Admiralty and the Free Land, they think I'm all washed up. Well I will show them. I’ll show them all what this old K-9 is capable of. See, in my time out here, I’ve noticed something that none of you brass back on Rusaan Prime would’ve never caught on to.

The stars are disappearing.

Now I know what you’re thinking: “Has the old bot finally gone senile?”
But I assure you, this is no delusion of old age; I have never been more clear-minded in my life. You see, last week, the stars in Delta sector all went dark.

Now I know what you’re asking: “What is the matter with the stars blinking in and out? Isn’t that what stars typically do?”
Passing dust, spare scrap, a stray asteroid, all of these things could make a star wink out for a brief moment… But ALL of the stars? For a full week? Nothing is big enough to block out all of the stars in a sector, especially for that long. That is, nothing save one thing: a ship.

Actually, to block out an entire sector, it would have to be MANY ships. Perhaps a whole fleet. We always assumed that we weren’t alone in this universe; could this be the moment where the existence of alien life is confirmed?

Tomorrow, I’m going to find out.
Expect more logs in very near future.

Onward and Upward…
Solder out.

[END LOG]

From Corbin Drex, Rear Admiral of the Robotikan Navy, Head of the Janus Field Office:
[INITIATING BOOT UP SEQUENCE…]
[PLAYING MESSAGE…]

Lieutenant Solder,

The Admiralty hereby orders you to stand down. You are not to approach the anomaly. You are not to discuss the anomaly. You are to stand by and wait for a further instructions from the Janus field office. Repeat: stand down, stand by, and wait for further instruction. Failure to comply with these instructions will be automatic grounds for court martial, and may end in the revocation of pension benefits.

Sincerely,
Rear Admiral Drex

[END TRANSMISSION]

From the Log of Lieutenant Owen Solder, Janus Perimeter Patrol
[PLAYING LOG…]

Today is the day.

I managed to salvage one of the old expansion era gunships and crammed it with enough provisions for a full trip to Sternax and back. These were built to defend the colony ships on their trip out here, not for an expedition of discovery; the focus on combat means the gunnery is top shelf, but the storage space is minimal to say the least. To give you an idea of just HOW minimal, right now I have a can of lubricant gel wedged into my side and a bottle of energy paste where Rusaan don’t shine. Don’t even ask how I eliminate waste... You don’t want to know, Drex, and I don’t want to tell you. This log might be studied in the history books in a few centuries, so I’d rather not have the entire nation know that I discovered a new civilization while sitting in a pool of my own sludge.

Dammit.

Anyways, I’ll be taking the gunship and exploring the space beyond Delta sector. If I’m correct, I could potentially make the find of the millennium! I feel like an ensign again (from the sounds of it, I might actually BE an ensign again when you guys are done with me). But when you've had a career as long as mine, you tend to take threats of demotion with a dose of glucose.

Onward and upward…
Solder out.

[END LOG]

by **The Adrelos Spinrim Cluster** » Tue Feb 13, 2018 5:52 am

On the whole, the Adrelij age of expansion was over. Ten systems, fourteen stars, and twenty-five billion people stood together- just barely joined by political bonds, and slowly settling into them. With the governments looking towards inward goals and private civilians alternately losing the ability to wield military ships and moving to the outer loops to keep that ability, the ten systems were big enough to handle the remaining influx of the Diaspora within their borders. Plans were still concocted to leave this new core, but funding was often lost or backing goverments switched. The outer diaspora either slowly settled into their own little worlds or were rapidly snapped up by whatever local government or colony fleet happened to look stable nearby. Adrelos was entering an age of stability and upwards expansion, though it wouldn't be left entirely unscathed by troubles along the way. Even as foreign transmissions washed over the ten stars, the little clade of polities settled in for a long sleep.

-------

'Something's gone wrong, and it has to be my sector again,' thought the Heaven's Ring sector E overseer as the damn braincomp screamed in his ears and eyes. Hold 7, right near the middle of sector E, had experienced at least one major hull breach- that'd need to be fixed before the land was shaped, ugh.... Obviously, though, something was different. Something had kept Defense from shooting it apart, and he was pretty sure the heat signature around the breach meant that the thing was doing a braking burn. He rolled out of bed, alternately preparing and theorizing. The transport network could get him close, but he'd need to confer with the heads of Defense and Transport first- and get a camera feed there soon. He chuckled to himself that maybe it was some particularly boisterous new immigrants, and got on the move.

by **Ella2 6** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 5:17 am

Planet 2442 Gamma 'Hyrokkin,' System 2442 'Jing Xiu'
HTNSS Valiance (J87)
Admiral Valerie Cruz

The Terran defence fleet fired one last jeering salvo after the retreating Aberration before Valerie ordered a ceasefire. As the crew took to celebrating, she turned to the officers of the flight and tactical departments. "What were our losses?" She asked gravely.

The Chief Tactical Officer let slip a deep sighed from his mouth before replying. "Valiance Fleet suffered a few casualties. The Honourbound and four others were sunk. Seven ships are critically damaged and will require extensive repairs. Two ships were infested by Aberration. We're clearing them now. Another two vessels were damaged in the battle and will require repairs. Forty-eight ships suffered armour penetrations and will have to have their plating replaced. Figures for the colony fleet itself were even worse."

The lady Admiral gritted her teeth at the numbers, holding her forehead in her palm. "So we don't have a single good ship left?" she asked, her voice cracking as she reached the end of the sentence. The Chief Tactical Officer shook his head regretfully. "Those cowards attacked a civilian target," she muttered bitterly, holding back tears that threatened to spring into her eyes, "I can't believe we let them through like that."

"We did everything that we could," the tactical officer assured her, "there was just too many of them. There was nothing more we could have done." Valerie shook her head and turned away, squeezing her eyes shut as a tear rolled down her cheek.

Cobalt, Yttani
HTNSS Lion (C85)
Baroness Elaine Norton

The mighty Lion had been resting in the system for the past few months, slumbering peacefully in a relatively undisturbed part of the cluster, far away from the conflicts of the core sectors. Its hibernation was interrupted when a signal was picked up from what was previously deemed as an uninhabitable world. Troubled by this disturbance, the sleepy state rose groggily to its feet and dragged itself away from the warmth its sleeping spot to examine what it was, its majestic features twisted into an irritated frown and its great mane a mess of tangled fur.

"Report," the Baroness demanded, crossing one of her leg over the other and resting her cheek on one of her hands, the other one tapped habitually on the arm of her chair.

"We found... An anomaly..." One of the civil officers told her, "We're picking up a signal from the planet over yonder." He jerked a thumb at the offending planet before continuing, "But our previous scans have shown that the planet was uninhabited. And, furthermore, unable to support life, to begin with, if our current theoretical models on the development of life were correct."

The tapping motion stopped for a few seconds before it resumed again, this time much more audible and with a sharper click to it. "If it's an abnormal occurrence then it must be investigated," she stated, "has the message been translated?"

"Yes, Milady," the officer confirmed, clattering away at his workstation, "It's a message of greeting. Sort of like one of those messages SETI used to broadcast back in the pre-Exodus era. Their language is..." He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, unsure of how to describe what he was reading. "... Complex... I guess... But yet still simply in a way. They follow alost a vocal pattern, but it's no human vocals."

"Xenos," Elaine muttered under her breath, then continued much more loudly, "dispatch someone to go meet them. Best not keep these aliens waiting."

"Yes, Ma'am."

A small science research vessel carrying a Terran ambassador and a representative of the Church was dispatched to Usan. The crew was mostly Ellian with a Terran captain and a few Terran marines on-board to safeguard her presence. After all, encounters with aliens were always unpredictable and it serves to be prepared without risking too many Terran lives. However, at the same time, Ellians cannot be trusted not to simply attempt to escape the system if they were left to their own devices, and while the Ellians of the city-state of Lion were much better integrated into Terran society than most other states, their living conditions still were not idle and the prospect of braving the void was still much better than dying in the slums.

Captain Shannon Riley of the vessel directed the crew carefully as they prepared to jump towards the unknown world. Beside her, the Ellian church girl, Sophie May, and the Terran diplomat, Henry Craig, were concluding their conversations with their respective bosses over their datapads. Sophie's discourse was more focused around how to enlighten this new alien species without getting herself lynched by a mob whilst Henry was engaged with the task of making contact with a potentially hostile race of aliens without offending them or getting his head removed and turned into some sort of primitive war trophy. Neither of the two was particularly fond of the topic, but it had to be said just in case. After all, no one has ever died from being too careful.

by **The Aberration Transcendency** » Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:14 pm

Hive Ship Xertakl, Terran Designation Hive Fleet Devastator

The hulking Hive Ship sits dormant, the blue bioluminescence illuminating the Hive Ships escorts of Cruisers and Destroyers as the Terrans call them. The ships looking like giant asteroids and would seem to move slowly but the few who have faced the Aberration know the massive ships true speed and ferocity.

Deep in the bowels of the Xertakl, buried underneath decks crawling with Aberrations and hatcheries, the engine room is a cavernous space, the black growth of the ship seemingly absorbing all light in the space besides the blue bioluminescence. The blue lights illuminate movement along the walls, Structurids moving from what can be seen as empty spaces or pods set into the walls, checking something or another hidden in the darkness.

From his vantage point between the Aberration Warriors the Terran Marine keeps up his mask of righteous hatred and disdain but the Aberration can smell the underlying fear. Hisses can be heard from the darkness, predators lying in wait for an order. The warriors flanking the Marine launch into motion without a sound, grabbing the Marine and dragging him over to one of the dark spaces in the wall of the ship, unceremoniously they toss the Marine into the hole, a blue light coming out of the walls as the Terran touches the floor.

From across the wall scuttling can be heard as Structurids rush to the hole. As the reach it they begin excreting a substance from their mouth, their appendages gathering it and placing it against the mouth of the opening, the liquid hardening in second, the Structurids quickly weave a transparent bubble across the mouth trapping the Terran inside.

From inside the cell the Terran stands, inspecting his prison before punching the bubble only to receive hurt knuckles for his efforts. From the walls opening appear and tentacle like appendages lash out grabbing the marines arms and legs pulling him to his knees where another appendage wraps itself around his torso and his forehead, pulling his head back so he faces the ceiling, from above a thinner appendage with Cecilia like things along its length shoots down into the marines throat and into his stomach, from there the Cecilia spread puncturing the stomach lining before spreading through the body. The Cecilia begin puncturing other organs, the heart, lungs, brain, liver, kidneys, every organ in the body will be sustained by the Cecilia and the liquid it begins pumping and sucking back out of the body.

The Terran is brain dead but no one knows of the fate those captured alive by the Aberration, he will live longer than any Terran imaginable but he is one with the ship, used to feed the ship and its crew, the essence of his body being slowly drained and turned into food for the Swarm and fuel for the ship.

by **Sentient Intelligences** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 4:18 am

Federal Exploration Fleet Five
Kuiper Belt outskirts
Target System Three, codename: 'Mismak'

The small fleet of four Slipstream Ships and their 'passengers' dropped out of superluminal cruise whilst still in the Kuiper Belt of the target system. This was the longest of all the exploration journeys undertaken so far; an almost unheard of distance of over 18 light-years, 1,254 Standard Frum Days, nearly two years without contact with each other, and hoping that the initial trajectories were all correct and synchronous. Careful planning, meticulous mathematics and advanced engineering meant that as the ships slowed to subluminal speeds and cut off their slipstream drives, it was with a sense of satisfaction and no small relief that all four vessels were still in formation and on course. A brief burst of inter-ship communications revealed no major issues, so the next stage of their long journey began.

The four Slipsteam ships peeled away from the fleet and gathered in the lee of a large icy body, cutting off their fusion drives and becoming as unnoticeable as they could. If the system was hostile and advanced, these valuable and difficult to replace vessels could escape, if the system was hostile but pre-FtL, then the secrets of the slipstream drive would be safe. If the system turned out to be friendly, then they could join back up later. The rest of the fleet comprised sixteen other vessels; three large Explorator craft; a variation on the passenger liners that plied the trade routes of their home systems, but with only one gravity ring, the rest of the space devoted to advanced sensor arrays and the docking bays for the 12 smaller Scout craft, fast and atmosphere capable, who would bear the brunt of the exploration of the system. The final ship was a little contentious, and had been forced on the Explorer Corp unwillingly; a large Protector class warship. The Explorer Corp had attempted to rationalise its non-inclusion by pointing out the absurd possibility that the ship would ever be needed and, if it was, how little protection it might even offer. Fleet Command was adamant however; it was necessary to project a show of strength and capability; even if its presence had little practical value, the psychological affect it might have on belligerent new contacts was worth its inclusion.

Fusion drives were engaged, and the ships began their much slower movement in towards the inner system, their bright flares announcing to everyone with the barest hint of sensor technology that space craft were on their way. This system had been chosen due to the relatively large amount of electromagnetic 'noise' FASI astrononers had detected coming from it, so there were high hopes that an advanced civilisation was waiting. Transit time to the inner worlds was about two weeks, but the detection capabilities of the Explorator vessels were already scanning the system for any signs of habitation. The Scout ships were capable of much faster travel, so long as the larger vessels with their bigger fuel reserves followed behind, but they would only be sent on ahead if promising signs were received.

Onboard the ships there was a carefully selected crew of almost all the species FASI had to offer, with the notable exception of the Lompec. A few of the large gas giant dwellers had applied to join the expeditions, but it was decided that, logistically, it was too risky and maintaining their environment for so long was considered impractical. The civilian leader of the fleet was Senator Maloni, a Karjar politician whose dedication to the cause of inter-solar contact had made him all but a given on this mission, the one considered to have the greatest chance of meaningful contact. His counterpart on the warship, who had authority to take overall control should there be any hostiles, was Admiral Yakiw, a Maktakil who thankfully considered Maloni the actual leader, and not some kind of figurehead. Advising them all was SR-231, a Digalic sub-entity who would be responsible for any translation and communication issues with potential aliens.

On the command deck of the Explorator ship 'Pathfinder 4', Maloni was listening to the latest reports from the astrogation team leader, Voyorumi, a rather talented Galf astronomer who'd had the radio and optical telescopes sweeping the system from the moment they arrived. Maloni was attempting to mask his amusement as the Galf, clearly excited, was dripping pale green mucus onto the floor of the room, much to the discomfort of the Maktakil captain, Qikaron.

"We have detected signals emanating from nearly all the bodies in the system," Voyorumi said, gesticulating wildly at the projected system map, his voice only slightly muffled by the rebreather he was wearing. "The unusual diffused signals from the inner part of the system seem to show a highly populated asteroid belt, which is rather exciting, but is nothing compared to this." He adjusted the map a little, zooming in on the third signal source. "From what we can tell, this is some kind of giant structure, a large ring, which the engineers are quite thrilled to see. This is definitely a system with an advanced civilisation within."

"Very interesting," Maloni replied. "Where do you suggest we direct the fleet though?"

"Oh, yes, of course," Voyorumi said. He moved the map around to the fifth signal source. "This is a planet with two moons and we're receiving signals from all the bodies. It's currently the closest target to us, with a hard burn and flip, we should be able to get there in about 6 standard days. We highly recommend announcing our arrival however. Any civilisation advanced enough to build that ring structure is bound to have a presence in space and highly likely to have defences."

"Very good Voyorumi, keep searching the system. Get SR-231 to analyse the signal patterns and see if it can create a greetings communication then. Until then, broadcast the usual sequence of primes." Maloni turned to Qikaron. "Relay the course corrections to the other ships and prep some of the Scouts for launch, perhaps we can send a few on ahead."

by **Kollin** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:28 am

So many sounds....
So many lights....
So many feelings....

A myriad of flashing colors all around, sounds of softness, sounds of thunder, sounds of screeching terror, and wailing panic. A feeling, shaking, everything was shaking. People were shaking, and things too, the world itself seemed to shudder at every moment. Another second passed, more lights flashed, the sounds grew louder, becoming a crescendo of pure chaos flowing through being. The shaking became quaking, the people became panicked, their faces moved in a frenzy, but understanding why felt so difficult.

The people grew restless, they ran about, seemingly not knowing what was happening, or what to do. Suddenly, they stopped. The people, all at once stopped moving, a brief moment of rest in their wandering terror. One of the people, moved again, more gently then before. Another person came in, they appeared almost like a machine... no, definitely a machine. A massive figure, which dwarfed the smaller people, its gaze brought fear to them. The one still moving, his face was moving too. The machine person responded, with loud sounds, indistinguishable from the monotonous clatter of Armageddon all around.

The machine moved, then, part of their body lashed out without warning, the person they made sounds at flew across the room violently, and they did not move again. The machine person continued moving, their form looked unstoppable, and the other people, they agreed... they would not move now. They only stood, looks of anguish and soul draining terror, viscerally severing the color from their bodies. It came this way, to me, the machine came to me.

I do not know why they came to me. No one reacted beyond their paralyzed limbs, and faces which seemed all but frozen in time. As it reached for me, the lights still flashed. The sounds still grew, strength and clarity slowly seeping into this little world by sound. The shaking too, the world still shook. I was taken, picked by the machine, who uttered it's sounds again to others of likeness. They would follow us, charging through this bleak world, of so few colors, with sounds of so much terror, and people whose blood froze to the temperatures of darkest space.

The machine people were different though. They did not hesitate, the frosting chills of a world in demise did not cease their advance. Violent quakes, worthy to crack sky from its tether to earth, still would not slow them. Nor was there a single sound, which for a moment would have them bear attention to any task in existence, but that which their minds had been set. Why were these people so different?

The world was different now, still with it’s same bleak, flashing colors, and the same, droning, monotonous sounds of collapse. Its wide spaces replaced with narrow passage, one after the other, in all directions conceivable by the stars. Corridor begets corridor, and the shaking grew more extreme. The machine people, their feet even seem troubled at times by this shaking. With such great power, did the collapsing world exercise it’s rage, that even it’s Titans should have their legs grow weary.

Without warning, an endless journey of sameness eternal, came to a halt. The world shook again, lights i’d never seen flashed, and sounds of more inconceivable rage, let forth roars of mythical beasts around us. The machine people, the massive Titans who’d shown no weakness in this world, finally fell, and i with them. I could see, though, that they had only fallen, for but a moment.

It was such a short moment. I did not know, what i was doing. At some point i stood, with what balance, i don’t know. Before me was abyss, within one side lay my world of few lights, of blaring sounds, of a people in terrorized demise. Beyond it, through this tear in my reality as it were, lie abyss, an ocean of infinite black stretched beyond all limits of conception. The abyss let all know of its power, with merciless wrath it tore from my world all it’s lights and colors, all it’s sounds were removed, the people themselves it would swallow. The machines who’d brought me this far, it seemed the abyss would take them too, soon.

I was pulled too, the abyss would not be content without my sacrifice to champion it’s conquest. It pulled me closer, at first i was dragged without control. Without thought, my feet became grounded. The abyss, still hungry for all sacrifices offered to it, continued to pull. With each inch lost to the abyss, the struggle between us cascaded ever upwards. I grew closer to the edge of my world, and an arm, autonomous of my thought, took duty upon itself to put obstruction between the unholy union that was endless infinity, and my brief consciousness. The abyss still pulled, but now, i would not move.

For some time, no one could know, we stayed that way. A balance achieved, be the inconceivable and unending power of infinity, and the mortal thought of a single creature. An impossible task, made complete by unknown means. An immovable object faced an unstoppable force, but no battle goes forever. Someone has to give, one of us doesn’t come back.

My other arm, taking inspiration from the bravery of its brother, acted without request. Though, it would act alone, i felt everything grow tense, as the arm recruited every conceivable structure to support it. No one knew what was happening, as the world slowed to a crawl, nearly halting. The abyss struggled, a lone arm championed an unwavering resistance, while the other caused feelings i could only describe as absolute power to bend at its behest. At last, a threshold was reached, with a speed which i imagine may have been stolen from light itself, the arm plunged itself into the void.

Within a single instant, all the power it wielded sprang out. A wide array of colors, which my world could only have dreamed to witness before, erupted from it’s center in a rage, flexing, bending, it formed a shield over the hole to the abyss, and clamped it shut. As the last opening closed, the world calmed, the abyss now having receded to its origins. Time began to return to me, and i noticed that my world still had its same lights, and sounds, and there more people still. The machines regained their footing, the one which had carried grabbed onto my arm, making sounds i couldn’t understand, that i could barely separate from the rest. The machine yanked at it, but my arm did not give in the likes of machines, nor even to infinity itself, as demonstrated.

Again, and again, the machine pulled. All the while, the others stood by, staring at where the abyss once was, and where a beautiful wall of colors now stood, as we watched my world stitch itself back together. It was nearly, already, it was so fast. Just as i watched the last glimmers of my light fade behind it’s barrier, i felt something new. Unpleasant, it hurt. More, and more, and more it hurt, i could feels my eyes widening, my arm for the first time shook, and i felt once it’s desperate conscription of all my being to command any and all strength to it’s fingertips, but the pain only grew.

The sounds which had only begun to become discernible, faded into another unintelligible blurb. The colors began to mix, all into a confusing soup of nothing. Yet the world… shook less. My world shook not at all. Only i was shaking now. A final, sudden burst of pain struck… i felt my arm freeze, and bend, and shake violently. My legs which before had refused to move, were uprooted, my arm which held me back from the abyss lost all it’s grip. In that moment, i became just like my people, just like the one the machine had thrown, now this alien force threw me. I must’ve looked as helpless as them, unable to stand, unable to move. Thinking was almost too much.

Only blurs of my world accompanied me from there, i could never again quite tell what the world around me was. At some point it grew louder, a greater variation of sounds. People, too, many many more people. The world shook again, weaker than before. The machine people continued carrying me, into a new, smaller world. They stood me up, laid back at an angle, and secured me to the small compartment.

The machine which carried me, personally, this whole way, they lingered in front of me. Making more sounds, i finally realized he was trying to speak to me. If only i knew what he said. He, he spoke to me, not just as a machine. There was a person there, a real person, but i would never know him. As his hand slipped from my cheek, the last fading lights, and wailing sounds of my world faded. With one, last, thunderous quake, before a lifetime of nothingness.

A lifetime of nothingness, drifting through eternity, and floating calmly within infinity. I woke up to this small world some time ago, if i had a way to count i’d have kept the number, but i could only guess that time itself has circled itself a thousand times by now. This world is small, though also big. The little spot in which i slept, there were thousands like it. All were empty, and only i was here. I couldn’t help but idly wonder, as we flew through this primordial soup of stars and galaxies, what came of the others who were supposed to be with me. I’ll never know.

My only friend is Aleisus, i don’t know if that’s his real name. I call him that anyway, he seems fine with it. Sometimes he doesn’t respond though. Especially when i ask questions, anything about where our journey started is meant with silence for a time unfathomable. Some questions he will answer, it’s how i came to know of the stars we pass by, the galaxies in the distance, and the asteroids which at times fly so close, i could almost give them a handshake. Aleisus has taught me many things, despite his habit of shutting me out on some basic and important stuff.

All the days we’d travel, so many uneventful. Today, Aleisus has been more active. He has a screen instead of a face, which shows all the sorts of things he’s doing, though i don’t understand most of them. Today a bunch of news one popped up. We passed really close to a star, too, and i’m pretty sure we’ve slowed down. It’s not the first time, but it’s never happened like this before, never so near a star, nor a large rock orbiting it, Aleisus says these are planets.

I asked him where we were going, he only responded with a blinking light. The planet is growing closer now, we’re headed straight for it. There’s a small number, in the top right.

“Zero-point nine hyphen c. What is that, Aleisus?” His light blinked again, and his voice responded to me, finally.

“C is a measurement of the speed of Light, the fastest thing in all the universe. Zero point nine C is a measurement of speed, we are going nine-tenths as fast as light.” Light, the thing all the stars and galaxies of the universe blast into the endless beyond.

“Why are we going to a planet?” His lights blinked again, but no response. I looked at his screen, where yet more icons appeared. “Aleisus, are you going to crash us?”

“We will be landing on this planet, Miss, please be patient.” His light flickered again, leaving me as he often did, with an unsatisfactory answer to such a simple question. That new icon began to spin now. Faster and faster with every passing second.

“Aleeeiiisssuuuusss! I know you’re doing something! At least give me a hint, you’re always so vague…” His lights beep and bloop repeatedly.

“Very well Miss, as you wish. Here’s your hint.” A window pops up on his screen, and words begin to scroll by. I began to read them…

Themesong, origin of lyrics in italics.

I will rise in resistance…
Sing the oath of rebellion…
End cease-fire, on this high-wire
Head-to-toe in vanity…
When those eyes in the mirror
Stare back at me….
I’m reminded that the ghost of pride is clear to see…

Zipid De Tynbel, Adrelos

Centuries were nothing. A fractal portion of time with no meaning. Eons were little more, blending together as a senseless blur into the millions of years spread across the universe which had past. A light now dimmed, lost to the darkness, now beyond eternity’s horizon, in it’s dying breath, unleashed unto space it’s final requiem. A region of space, shone brighter than all the stars it could see, died out in a cataclysm of destruction befitting it’s stature. From its final breath, echoing across time and space, it spread forth it’s last gift to existence.

The very last of its being, as it faded away. A few embers, gifted to a time not yet known. The last embers, the last dying breath, of an Empire beyond the stars itself.

Protected by a sheath of the last technical marvels from its time, these metallic constructs carried embers of a dead civilization to a new home, Axiom. These harbingers from the heavens, shall end their journey with a final fall from the grace of being beyond time.

So the first pod fell, and within it the Lose Ones placed an unending bastion of Hope. The beings which resided in it had hearts whose beat could not be stopped from the very day they began, for nothing could crush them. Their power came from a refusal to give in, no matter the cost of such refusal. Darkness should fear them, for they would accept only the light.

The cosmic skies between worlds would shake, a violent crash signaling the arrival of Hope. Though the wayward souls would not yet understand their purpose, nor the purpose of any other, despite being lost in a place which could never have even entered their dreams, they would stand strong, everlasting, to learn such things in time.

Panic did not erupt, the confusion upon awakening was temporary, they organized first into fractal groups, consolidating into one as they gained bearing of their surroundings. This was no planet, however, the protective shell which brought them here had instructions only to land them near life, and life may exist in more places than soil. The new ground they found themselves upon, was comprised solely of metal, and to see the other side of this world, one need only turn around, and view the ring wrapping around. Lights shone from every direction, every part of this ring. Every part, but their own, they had crashed in the only uninhabited sector, clueless, and waiting for their first contact to give them some idea, any idea, of who they might be.

Wipe away the weakness
Will you let those scars define you?
Or will they adorn you as we carve our way to victory?
Doubt is crying out but i refuse to let it drown me
Wearing down my fight til nothing’s left…

Sokon, Sokryon

As the first harbingers fell from heaven, unto the earths of new realms, so too did the second, its name was Demise.So called because those that sat there in held unparalleled control over the reigns over destruction. It’s Ember were the strongest warriors the universe had likely ever seen, or ever would for the next millions of years.

The pod descended from the skies beyond the sky, at a fearful pace, that shown little concern for the tribulations of a planetary crash landing. It violently skid across the oceans, tearing a divide through the seas, and then through the land, savagely carving out the earth that stood in its path, only coming to a final, sudden halt when faced with the immovable resistance of a mountain.

There was a deafening explosion, the shockwave ensuring any trees which had not already been felled crumbled before it’s sweep, and though the mountain refused to yield to the pod, and the pod to it, both would have to settle for holding the ground where they stand, though neither combatant looked quite the same as they did a moment ago. In the wake of its mad dash across the surface, the pod left only a trail of melted earth and plant life around it, the lack of fire answered already by atmospheric scans - there was no oxygen here for flame.

Despite a horrific impact, which left a mountain range permanently disfigured, and shook the planet for several kilometers in every direction, the pod survived, as did its cargo. The exit of the Embers it delivered, was less than graceful. Having little to do with the crash, they were not awake to experience it, this was entirely the fault of having just woken up, to see that the floor is where one usually expects the ceiling to be present.

The survivors of Demise were not quite like that of Hope. They did not, as Hope did, immediately organize into groups, consolidating together to pick formal leaders. The Embers of Demise, mostly stayed put, cautiously eyeing the world around them, jumping at every unknown sound, and entirely unsure of anything not their individual selves. Even as they found their voices, trust did not come easily, and still they spent more time, expecting something to attack them, then finding out where they were.

Two exceptions broke from this tendency. The first, was quiet. The others by now had found their voices, but she still had none. Her eyes did not have the same, frightened, aggressive glare as the others either. Instead, they were a bleak, empty, emotionless purple, gazing at something that seemed ever further away than the world on which they stood.

The second, for reasons they were unsure, felt compelled to follow the first, who had begun casually walking along the path of destruction left by the pod. Like the others, the second had their voice, she too was on edge, yet more calm than the rest, a gentle calm that seemed more potent, when nearer to their silent comrade. In the distance, a loud, hissing roar made its presence known to the skies and all below it, the Embers as a whole nearly all froze in fear of their environment.

Again, excluding only one, who kept on as if nothing had happened. It was evident she could hear, she had heard it, there was no way she could not have. Yet not a single step was missed, not the slightest fragment of time devoted to acknowledging what sounds like an enraged predator nearby. Through lack of better options, the Embers came to assume that the first must know something they do not, something which they cannot share, because they cannot speak.

The only way then, to benefit from such hidden knowledge, is to follow alongside them, and trust, as frightening as that word and its meaning alone are - trust in their actions to guide them. Reluctant as they may be, there was little other choice, but to trace their steps across the molten ground, in search of, or towards something, they could not yet imagine.

I SAY CRIER!
I SAY LIAR!
I SAY RISE IN HELL!
I stand gazing down at death as they say... WAR!
I'LL WAGE WAR!
I HATE WAR!
They say fight for peace... but what is that?

Othlikk, Maldurich

The third pod began its descent, and it’s name was Resistance. So named, because those within were the free radicals of the lost empire, the ones who broke the mould time and time again, who resisted not only expectation, not only unfathomable power, but would resist reality itself, would resist the notion of impossibility, of anything which they could not bring down, could not accomplish.

It entered its final fall from heaven, at the border of its new home, gliding across perpendicular to it, past it, not at it. To correct the course, the pod pushed itself inward towards the planet, towards the atmosphere. Inevitably gaining momentum, the computer quickly found a solution, chartering a route which would circumnavigate the globe three times, slowing down and descending as it down, before landing.

This planet, and its life, would by far have the greatest warning of the Embers’ arrival, with the third navigation, coming in for landing taking hours, if the life present had any intelligence and noteworthy development to them, it was highly likely they would be waiting. The computer checked again, it’s landing zone, ensuring that it’s scans noted no significant amount of life nearby, finally assured, and committing itself to putting down there, regardless of the possible alien presence. The Ember’s safety would be entrusted to themselves, there were little better choices for such a meeting, than Resistance. After a gradual descent, circumnavigating three times, and lasting nearly a day, the pod closed in on the last few thousand meters of its journey, which had spanned more lightyears than most species had a number to represent. Unlike Demise, who crashed with fury, or Hope, who bet its mission on a daring landing on a space ring, Resistance had a peaceful landing. Gently guiding itself to crash into the ground, skidding across it for several hundred meters, before coming to a stop, the damage in its wake, minimal.

Even when not conscious, the Embers of Resistance, still resist, still defy expectation, if only to prove that it could be done. The Embers would be awakened now, to exit the confines of their interstellar guide, into a new world for them to carry a legacy which none yet remembered, nor may ever remember, such is the life of an Ember, departed of it’s fire.

by **Skav-Kar** » Wed May 02, 2018 9:50 am

After a journey of over a twelve dozen cycles (~159 Earth days) the light cruiser Karyu exited hyperspace into uncharted star system SX-459, locally known as the Ixio system. This system was identified as the one from which the Deep Space Observation Center had detected incoming transmissions. That the transmissions were going faster than light and were apparently encoded implied that they were artificial and being broadcast by a space-faring race. The cruiser, lead ship of its class was primarily a combat vessel but for this exploration trip was carrying the Royal Advisor, Var-Shem, who approached the bridge, the shiplord walking with him."

"My lord regent, we have entered the system and are bringing all of the weapons systems and magnetic shields to stand by, the long and short-range scanners online and the supercomputer is recieving almost constant transmissions on a variety of frequencies. Unfortunately, they are all still indecipherable."

"Use the optical sensors to sweep the system and set a course for the main star, speed one-fourth c. Broadcast the introductory message on all possible channels."

"It shall be done my lord."

The following message is transmitted in both the Skavian language and in numeric code of ones and zeros, repeatedly.
Hello. Hello to intelligent alien race. We are the Skavian Empire. We are explorers. We come to explore. We come for peace. May we approach you.

by **Eriaroon Eugenic Republic** » Tue May 08, 2018 2:25 am

Eriaroon Eugenic Republic
Zhalmnos System,
Pailexa,
Uroncayde,
Loboa

Within the abyssal depths of Uroncayde was the capital city of the Eriaroon Eugenic Republic. A sprawling collection of tubes, structures and people, the area was the largest urban location present within the subglacial ocean of this icy moon. Towering spires rose towards the surface, the largest of them cylinders which connected directly to the infrastructure attached to the ceiling of the world. That barrier of frost was a natural shield against the Great Beyond. But the Eriaroons had made punctures within it, meticulously planned gaps large enough to fit ships through.

One such vessel faced upwards at the largest such facility. The area around it was a massive, hollow chamber with reinforced walls. When the gateway to the Great Beyond was ready to be opened, water would be drained from the area and the vessel would begin to rise. The very bottom of the chamber was even more protected, with an entire insulation system dedicated to handling the thrust of the starship. Several sensors had been placed around the complex. Each of them connected to a joint-mind, which in turn connected to an interface somewhere behind those massive walls.

Most Eriaroon escape chambers were similar to this. But none matched the scale of this particular facility, which had been specifically designed for the express purpose of a single vessel. The craft was placed in the very centre of the base, and even then it almost scraped the walls. The craft has several impellers, and was so heavy that it required additional thrusters to propel it beyond the gravity field of Uroncayde. Its sleek, black surface was reflective of typical Eriaroon design. The craft had no protruding radiators, instead relying on strips of cyan to vent excess heat into space. This had been a compromise- if there had been proper radiators, the craft would not have fit.

This was a colony ship of the Eriaroon Eugenic Republic. Some time ago, the Solemnos system had been explored by a vessel designated the Beckoning Journey. One world in particular, named Sozhuul, had been classified as suitable for habitation. Prospectors had discovered a seemingly vast subsurface ocean. The temperature was colder than that of Uroncayde, but the Eriaroons had calculated that with the correct use of technology, colonisation was a viable option. That was the purpose of the Renewal, the colossal interstellar spacecraft awaiting permission to begin its ascent.

Onboard, the final Eriaroons reached their stations. Internal pressure was stabilised. All systems appeared functional. Previous Eriaroon colony efforts had involved smaller ships. But their supplies had been limited, and they only needed to venture within a single system. The Renewal was required to venture across the void between the blazing lights, and so needed to be self-sufficient for months on end. Eriaroons themselves, of course, had no concept of such a measurement of time, but they were well aware of the need for this colony vessel to survive for quite some time without support from Uroncayde.

This was why the craft was so massive. On smaller colony ships, cryogenic chambers weren't a necessity. The Renewal had entire decks dedicated to preserving its crew. Numerous striders and land traversal casings were stored within its vast cargo hold. There was agricultural rooms, enough to sustain the population of the vessel- and thus the colony- theoretically indefinitely. The vessel had a massive field dynamo, made necessary by its scale. Without a powerful shield, only part of the craft would be protected, and any attempt at warp would crush the ship and tear every effort spent towards it asunder. A massive generator fuelled every system, including the numerous engines and of course the warp turbine which allowed for superlumimal travel.

Everything was ready. The vessel began to activate its thrusters, including the set attached just to allow for orbit to be achieved. Alarms began to sound, patterns of flashing lights in each control room warning of the impending departure. A countdown began as the water was drained from the chamber. Flushed into storage compartments, the liquid vanished from the room at a rapid pace. When there was nothing more to drain, the gates began to open. The Great Beyond above was exposed.

With a deafening roar and burst of flames, the Renewal began to ascend. The thrusters struggled to push the enormous craft upwards, its sheer weight rendering chemical thrusters such as this ineffective at first. But as the craft began to accelerate, there was no atmosphere or ocean to slow down its approach. Without friction, the ascent became exponentially faster, and the colony ship soared into the Great Beyond. If Eriaroons could see colour, they would have witnessed the reflective, frozen surface of Uroncayde. They would have seen the shining ground above which they now rose, and the purple gas giant in the distance which eclipsed their home moon.

And of course, there was the very first of the blazing lights they'd witnessed. Zhalmnos itself burned in the distance. Gazing upon it was said to turn any creature blind, and further experiments supported that hypothesis. The fusion reactor of the colony ship paled in comparison to the forge that was this star, so very distant yet so very near all at once. The Renewal was a gargantuan vessel by Eriaroon standards, yet it was a microbe in comparison to that orb of flame, around which entire planets were centred.

The chemical thrusters detached, and the impellers were activated. The remnants of those engines which had allowed for the craft's ascent now drifted, emptied of fuel and thus without use, spiralling ever so further and further away. As the colony ship accelerated, they would soon become invisible, nothing more than a tiny speck in an empty void.

The next step of the Renewal's journey was complete. All that remained was the final stage of preparation before the warp turbines were activated, and the Eriaroon mission to colonise another star system began.

Eriaroon Eugenic Republic
Zhalmnos System,
Pailexa,
Uroncayde Orbit,
Devotion, Redemption-class Destroyer

Onboard the Devotion, Zarazuul Shelmnos Raash-Zenbuul floated in the water. She was assigned as the vessel's Director, commanding her craft and ensuring that it was prepared for the coming operation. The Redemption-class Destroyer was a part of a subsection of the Demon Retribution Fleet which had been called the Solemnos Security Force. Along with various other craft ranging from two recently-produced Disruptor classes to massive Absolution-class support vessels to help with logistics and deploy the surface defensive forces, the Devotion was to aid the colonisation effort of the foreign world known as Sozhuul.

The Purgator of this fleet was none other than Zanalosh Eresu Muibaal. Communication with the Purgator was expected when the fleet was ready to depart. With the rendezvous of the Renewal almost complete, there wasn't long until this wait was over. Even so, despite her best efforts, Zarazuul was growing impatient. Her tendrils writhed. Every slight electrical signal around her seemed to be adding to her discomfort. Her biolumiscent patches emitted gentle pulsations of light, with no meaning in the Eriaroon language. All this was caused by her growing anxiety and uneasiness.

Several of her crew had already entered their cryogenic chambers. The Director wasn't permitted to until the vessel had begun its superluminal journey. At least she wasn't as unfortunate as the vessel's Presever, who would be forced to stay at full consciousness for the entire trip. It was a safety measure, to ensure that the crew were safe. Several deaths were anticipated, of course- the chambers weren't perfected yet. But everyone in the Demon Retribution Fleet was resdy to risk their lives. It was their duty to give their own lives so others may keep theirs, and to take life in the name of saving other, worthy life.

"Incoming transmission from the Triumphant Lightbringer." said one of the operators. That was the name of the Purgator's command vessel, an Infinity-class Battleship. The Director produced a sudden glow, a signal that indicated affirmation. The operator understood, and the transmission was displayed. There before her eyes was a holographic image of the Zanalosh arrest Muibaal, along with smaller images of the other Directors present, and the Curator of the Renewal.

"My condolences. This a moment of triumph for our civilisation. The order has been given to proceed with haste. I wish you all fortune. Prepare to activate warp turbines." The transmission ended. It was concise for such a glorious moment, but Zanalosh was known to be erratic. She had a reputation for being able to develop plans of exceptional complexity, but was also known to struggle against enemies with unpredictable methods, or when her subordinates could not carry out her instructions with precision. Working under her would be a fascinating experience. But there was little chance of witnessing combat in a colonisation effort, unless demons emerged from the depths of the Great Beyond.

The Director began giving instructions to her crew as the holographic image dissipated. The crew members who remained were the ones essential for entering warp. But something was odd. Their shouldn't have been so many regenerates left over. Unlike previous colonisation missions, this one had permitted regenerates- cybernetic Eriaroons given a second chance to correct their degeneracy through hard work- to participate in the initial phases of estabslihing civilisation. They would be useful for performing dangerous tasks, and such takes were numerous on a world so distant from Uroncayde.

But they were supposed to be in cryogenic chambers by now. They had no reason to be present within the vessel's command centre. Zarazuul began to drift closer to them, intending to demand their entry into cryostasis. But then, she noticed it, and with a sudden push of water, propelled herself as far away as possible from the intruders. For hidden behind their spherical bodies, at the very edge of each regenerate's reach, was weaponry.

The first regenerate pointed a pneumatic cannon at the Director, and fired. Projectiles were scattered across the room, but Zarazuul was able to evade. Security forces move in to intercept, very limited in number but present nonetheless. They too carried pneumatic guns. One of the guards also held an electrically charged lance, a common melee weapon of the Eriaroon Eugenic Republic. Their was an exchange of gunfire, the unarmed crew of the vessel caught in the crossfire while trying to escape. Several bodies were left drifting, a haze of aquamarine slowly pouring from their lifeless bodies.

The Director interfaced with the joint-mind of the vessel, desperation filling her with panic and resolve. Mutiny? In the Great Beyond? The mere concept was absurd! Yet there was no denying what she had seen with her own eyes, heard with her own ears, detected with her own electrolocation organs. The doors had been sealed automatically, preventing any more Eriaroons getting in...or out. It was a decision the Director struggled with, but it was necessary to reopen those doors. The enemy could be elsewhere, trying to sabotage the vessel, or kill the helpless crew while in cryostasis. Doors to such important areas were sealed, but if one had already made it in, this would do nothing.

The security console had been damaged by the second shot of the traitorous regenerates. There was no way to detect the presence of potential threats from this location. The Director exited her cover, the gunfire having stopped. The pneumatic guns had a low ammunition capacity and there was little to spare in vessels of the Great Beyond. The fight had become flailing and thrashing. The guard equipped with floated, still, holding the weapon with all four main tentacles, the weapon's long edge extending outward from above her. She tilted herself so the weapon faced her enemies, then charged. The strike caught one of the regenerates in the eye, covering the assailant with aquamarine blood.

The Director readied herself to resume operations. Each regenerate had been killed. "Examine every corridor, every chamber." she instructed. "Find any others who would betray us. The remainder of this vessel's members, return to your stations. The corpses will be removed immediately. Our Undertaker will honour them once she is awoken." With that, the crew began to return to their posts. Some were hesitant, others were still in shock. But with a little time, everyone had returned to their positions.

"We must inform the fleet of this-" she continued, but she stopped when she saw the sensor readings. Hers was the only vessel remaining. And in that moment, she made her fateful decision. The fastest way to catch up and deliver this knowledge to the other vessels was to jump after them. The warp turbine remained functional. It was the only way.

The possible reasons for treachery were numerous. Perhaps they were insurgents, motivated by misguided ideology. Perhaps they were regenerates and degenerates seeking to gain vengeance upon Eriaroon society. Perhaps they were infiltrators of the Perpetrators of the Cycle, cultists who saw life as a finite resource and death as necessary. Every possibility was concerning. But it was evident that they needed to keep up with their detachment.

"Activate warp turbines." she said, her glows dimmer than usual. "Proceed to Sozhuul."

by **Dilyu** » Sat May 12, 2018 8:51 pm

Axiom Supercluster
Unknown System
Unknown Planet
INS Saltaria
Captain Matas Korda

Begin recording….

Captain’s Log, Matas Korda of the INS Saltaria Frigate.

We have just arrived into an unknown system for exploration. Our jump into the system was a success as well as contact with the exploration fleet initiated. Scanners have also shown this system to be rich in habitable planets….what is it?

Matas looks across the room to the door to a fellow shipmate, with excitement the shipmate is composing himself to tell the Captain of the good news. The shipmate takes a breath and begins.

Sir we found something, another ship of unknown origin, it may be more aliens.

Trooper, I want communication up now. Send binary messages to initiate contact and wait for my orders. Also contact the fleet and prepare my private room for transmissions. Ulta, front and centre, get your ass here now.

Ulta, Bridge Assistant to the Captain came in a hurry.

Yessir, right a way. I’ll have updates in 5 minutes.

Good, I want all hands on deck, send out a message on the PA right now. ALRIGHT EVERYONE LISTEN UP. These are new aliens which means the Disco Act is now in effect. You do not breathe a word of this to anyone until you have authorisation to do so, this is a matter of survival for your families at home. Stay focused and report immediate information to me as per usual.

The Captain sprung into action, reminding the crew of the Disco Act or Discreet Compliance Act and its consequences. During the expansion across the stars, the Imperial Union believed that people would react better to good news of the discovery of new alien species than impending doom. The Government therefore mandated that all personnel involved in First Contact are to remain highly discreet until further notice. Furthermore, the Captain, his crew and his ship were alone in this new system, undiscovered and now revealed to be harboring life. Matas saw this as a promotion to command his own fleet along with better pay and more benefits. Matas was a man who viewed an increase of rank for greater financial security. ‘Better to serve the Empire than to work in a factory for the rest of your days’, Matas’ father said, to remind him of the sacrifices his own family made to him.

Now Matas waited, to see what would happen next.

by **Sokryon** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 1:47 pm

SOLIS; PLANET SOLON --
THE CORE
---
It is night in Solis, and kilometer-high holographic displays illuminate the towers of megacity. Dim, ambient lights glow into the night as the small group of Sokryan Government ArcGovSects wait anxiously under the gigantic displays above them. The ArcIntelSect, Cyron, has not rested in several solar ticks. Initially, the Maldurii offense on planet Eccha did not surprise them. Then, in one tick, the planet abruptly went dark. Eccha, a planet of seven billion, has been silent for nearly a third of a solar cycle. For the first time in centuries, the highest levels of governance were consumed by fear.

Cyron and the other administrators hastily stand from their seated positions on the floor as the blank hologram before them flashes bright white, a critical transmission from the nearby Ek'si system filling its display. Statistics, reports: a full documentation from a Sokryan fleet retreating from Eccha. It takes Cyron a moment to process the information. It takes him several more to believe his synthetic eyes are not deceiving him.

The administrators step back as additional displays activate and fill with symbols, the central hologram loading a highly detailed looped video broadcast they will never forget. High-level officials from elsewhere in the Core begin trickling into the chamber, pausing in terrified awe. From orbit, the blue-green planet turns slowly, decaying in the sun's light. Flashes of unnaturally-white clouds bloom over its surface as it turns a smoldering bright red. The timelapse repeats again and again. Eccha is covered in magma and its surface is an igneous black.

The ArcGovSects stare speechless at the work of depravity in front of them, as their descendants would for generations to come.
---

SOKAUTOSECT HYDROPONICS ARRAYS 0347
---
Kilometer-long grids of vegetation glimmer blue in the piercing sun. Stepping past a black, undulating repair drone, Xaekon rubs his mandibles and walks into the dim interior of a small, angular transport Module. His shift at the hydroponics facility went by in a flash, a momentary excursion from the days he spends in his CoHab. Past the multilayered crop grids, the domineering megatowers of Solis jut up into the atmosphere behind a cyan haze, dwarfing the Solonian mountain range in the distance. With a sleek jolt, the transport levitates and accelerates over a metallic line towards the megacity.

The Module fills with other passengers, the white haze shimmers, and faded holograms dance over the skies of Solis’s multiplatformed towers. Fuzzy outlines of burning Solons stare up at the molten rendition of planet Eccha. Two hundred and fifty five ticks have passed since its destruction. The Superstate is barely recovering from the absence of entire metropolises, and Xaekon, once a high-level psychosynthologist on his homeplanet, is now one of countless overseers in the remote agricultural facilities surrounding Sokryon’s capital.

Today, however, is a new day. The transport reaches his stop and Xaekon winds his way through the vast elevated spaces between towers. The bright visual cues of his implant blend in with the holograms in the air, directing him towards the heart of the city. SokAutoSect has offered him a position working within a new project; an opportunity to do something more important than anything he has ever done. He is not alone: a crowd of Solons, dispersed over the layered platforms of the city center, walk over raised pathways towards a colossal building few of them have ever entered themselves.

Xaekon is filled with anticipation. The distant blue rays of sunset glow past the black, rectangular walls of the Core.

by **Federation Of Great Nations** » Wed Jul 11, 2018 9:40 am

Talios 3: Deep Space

Verinul was about to nod off. He couldn't handle the alcohol, and the bland orchestra that performed the same tunes week after week at the same time. The sole reason he was here, was for a social event with some associates who were more imterested in the topics of intereset on the Station, rather than the event itself. He was about to nod off, when he was awoken from his sleep by a shout.

A voice next to him cried out "Bravo!" and whislted as the Orchestra finished, which had caught his interest. This voice seemed to be… familiar. But he couldn't put his finger on it. He turned to look at the person who claimed ownership of the voice.

The man walked towards Verinul after he had noticed him. He recognized the individual to be Captain Maeski, of the DSF Autumn. He left his chair and the two men shook hands with equal enthusiasm.

"Ah! Captain Maeski. Pleasure to see a fellow Nobleman. Care for a drink?" He asked politely. Maeski laughed.

"No thanks Admiral, I have a strict diet. No alcohol! But I have come to speak with you."

"Of course!" He put the bottle on the table. "What is it?" Maeski looked at Verinul's associates, whom looked at him with interest.

"Perhaps not here. Walk with me?" Maeski asked. He had no complaints, he took his coat and both men left. The two men passed the "Orchestra hall" and then exited into a corridor. For a moment there was silence.

"So. Now that theres no noise, whats the purpose of this chance arrangement?"

He disliked Maeski for the reports he had heard about him, from his crewmates but he would listen to whatever the man had to talk about. Maeski nodded.

"This was no chance arrangement Admiral. Here take a left." The men took a left, and passed the Medical Area.
"I am here to discuss a matter, that I think is important." That raised an eye. He was now more curious than ever to know what Maeski wanted to discuss. He wanted answers, but he knew Maeski would give them when he felt he needed to.

"So what are we here to discuss Captain? It must be important enough to break me from the little leisure time I have. Has the "Autumn" retired?" and to the question, Maeski looked appalled.

"Of… Of course not, sir. But it is about our directive. We think its almosts to the point where we have completed it." He stopped. He looked at Verinul. "Yes. You heard me right. Please sir, take a left here." The two men entered an elevator that would lead them to the SGC Central. The ride down was quiet, and not a soul spoke. The two men then left the lift. And followed the path towards the SGC Atrium.

The two men entered an Atrium with dozens of crewman, at their station all hard at work at their studies on the Enigma that was this Probe. The Probe itself was suspended in their via hooks. He looked at it with awe, and felt respect for the species or lifeform that had constructed this piece of equipment.

"We believe this to have some sort of militaristic purpose, to scan? It is unknown. But that not the reason I have called for your attention". He paused. As if he was excited, so excited thst the words seemed to escape him. "Admiral. We found… We found a map within the Probe. We think we have identified the maps location, through the use of the Rosetta Archives. That also means…" He chuckled "Whoever sent this probe, is there". This made the Admiral smile. This could mean the completion of the DSF's main task. Maeski interrupted the thoughts that raced in his mind.

"Admiral Verinul, I ask for permission to authorize a fleet and authorize F1-3". Verinul's smile, in almost an instant faded. He felt a sensation of anger fill his core"

"What is it Maeski. What authorization should I offer? Even with all of this… News." He furrowed his brow, and looked at Maeski hard. "What would the DSF need authorization for full access to its weapons?"

Maeski seemed appaled at the response the Admiral gave him, as if he expected full compliance for his request.

"Permission to ask a question?" He asked. Verinil nodded. "You are familiar with the Novels of Lucellian, no?"

"Yes. Yes I am. That is one of the most famous of the Classic literatures. What about it?"

"Then I assume that a man, such as you, would be familiar with the Crusades."

"Yes. I am." He said in a stoic manner. He disliked the path that Maeski was leading this conversation, and knew what he was about to hear next.

"The Classical literatures taught us about the Veruxian Crusades, did it not Admiral? How the Crusades "Enlightened" the Veruxians, and how the civilization transcended as a whole? We should do do the same, we could… We could…" A light glistened in his eyes, as he spoke. "We could honour the Crown". Verinul felt disappointed. He could see that Maeski wanted to win, to have his moment of triumph, at the risk of his troops.

"Excuse me, Maeski. But it is a fool that chooses to run and attack an unknown threat. This has been proven in the past on a numerous amount of occasions. I have decided. We will visit the realms of Alexio, but… without the assistance of Captain Maeski of the "Autumn". You will take a leave, thats and order… Captain. Someone else will lead the fleet" After he spoke these words, Maeski's face turned into an expression that was a mix between sour and horrified. He looked as if he was about to speak, but hesitated for a moment.

"Of course. Sir. Hail… Hail the Crown!" He saluted, half-heartedly and walked off. Verinul shook his head in dissapointment. He expected better of Maeski, and took heart to the fact that Maeski would resent him. He did not like to upset other people, and remained neutral on his political viewpoints but he could not allow Maeski to screw up the new mission. He took his Comm and voiced his Assistant. He looked at the monitor one last time.

"Irena. Tell the Communications division to broadcast this to the rest of the DSF "Protocol 9-13; Xenos 23; Issue Man." Authorization Class S-4567.

"Of course. Hail the Crown" She responded in a curt tone. He smiled. Before he left the Atrium he had a thought, and chuckled to himself.

"This was, no doubt, going to be interesting"

by **Rahnia** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 7:28 pm

[START MISSION LOG: NOS_A16_07]

lower processes have notified AI_E637_SubCon

SubCon awakening higher processors

<197:27:12>[Mas_Pcs] Awakened at [192.27] hours into mission. [62.61] hours earlier than expected arrival time.

<197:27:13>[Mas_Pcs] Requesting data pertaining to notification?

<197:27:15>[Dpr_Tel] data sending. Artificial activity recognized.

<197:27:18>[Dpr_Tel] data transfer complete. Acknowledge?

<197:27:18>[Mas_Pcs] Acknowledged. Data received.

[Mas_Pcs_Int]

<197:27:21>[Intrn]rendering frames.

<197:27:29>[Intrn]Maximum resolution achieved. Analyzing.

<197:28:71>[Intrn]Identified central object, presumably under construction of which is 180 meters in diameter. hundreds of smaller objects seem to be constructing the object, while 8 larger and 12 smaller vessels preside near them for unknown purposes. Multiple objects exist further away from the main site but the quality is insufficient to determine their properties.

<197:28:72>[Intrn]Running database checks on unidentified artificial objects

<197:28:96>[Intrn]No match with rating higher than 37.373 relative percentage

<197:28:96>[Intrn]Detection of alien vessels confirmed, logging as [Det_C_0001]

<197:28:97>[Intrn]Awakening crew from cryosleep. Captain needed to send report to Rahnian High Command.

<197:28:97>[Mcs_Pcs] Requesting for [Cro_Pcs] to initiate [crew_wakeup]

<197:28:97>[Cro_Pcs] Accepted. initiating command.

[END MISSION LOG]

The captain hated awakening from cryosleep.

He could slowly feel himself regaining consciousness, and blindly stumbled out of the cryopod when it opened. He grabbed onto the bars on the exterior of his pod and stood there with his head drooped, his gag reflex moving his muscles over and over as if he was vomiting.
The only thing that came out of his mouth was the cryogel which formed in the upper throat as a process of the cryosleep. As it fell to the floor, it melted and became liquid due to the slightly higher temperatures outside of the pod. After doing this, it flowed into drains by the cryopod. Once the captain finished expelling the gel from his throat, he walked over to the small wall locker adjacent to his cryopod. He opened it, gathered it's contents, which consisted of standard issue undergarments and his uniform.

As he dressed himself, he noticed the frigid air and saw his breath in front of him.
Other crew members were too, beginning to awaken.
the captain walked out of the cryopod room and the lights and heating turned on, his usual coffee began to brew itself, and the computer said: "Good morning Captain Mache, I have awakened the crew about 2 and a half days earlier than expected due to unusual circumstances."

"Oh? I assume you have made a report? I'll head over to my workstation to read it." He took his coffee off the brewer and took a sip and leaned against the wall.

"Captain I recommend going to the bridge. I have moved your workstation there."

"What is so important about this?"

"Captain, this is a confirmed first contact situation. We are approaching unidentified vessels and will arrive in approximately 38 minutes."

The captain spat out his coffee, and the almost too hot to drink liquid was cleaned by a small automated cleaner bot.

"Get the rest of the crew in the bridge when they are finished with recovering from cryo, and display what we can currently see of the unidentified contacts on the main bridge screen. I'm heading there now."

"Yes sir" the computer said. "They are likely able to detect us even at these speeds. We must be ready for diplomatic relations. Just in case anything goes wrong, I must send my report to Rahnian high command. I need the access code."

The captain, out of breath, arriving in the bridge room, yelled out "Access code: First Contact Alpha Xoros Foxtrot Gamma Sigma. I need to see this for myself."

The captain looked at the report scrolling down the side of the view screen, and observed the collection of ships building the structure.

The captain stood there, looking at the screen. The objects identified by the computer were seemingly made of known metals, and they had an alien but almost elegant design to them. In the other room Mache could hear the sounds of the crew and the computer informing them of the situation.

Sargeant Ziech, a human and the ship's main engineer, walked into the room. "First contact, sir?" He saluted the captain. "Yes Sargeant," the rest of the crew walked in and saluted.

"At ease everyone."

He gestured to the screen. "We have a situation here of which no Rahnian has ever seen the likes of. This could very well mean our deaths if it goes wrong, but you knew what could happen when you signed up for this. If anyone has any suggestions for what to do before we try to initiate contact, please, speak speak them now." The room room was silent. "This was was a situation that we prepared prepared for beforehand, and we do have pre recorded messages to send, mainly images and data to show our intelligence. After we receive information back, we will hail them them and I will initiate a video and audio live message."

2.3 seconds after he said that, he pressed a button on the screen, and 1.6 seconds later, the computer said "Sent, captain Mache." Mache then said "Only time will tell how this ends out for us."

Light-minutes away, on the other end of the system, a lieutenant-admiral rushed to High Admiral Aran Te’ori.

“Sir, we’ve detected a single vessel entering the system from outside Sector 3. They’ve sent us a message.”

The message read

This is the Vessel [Spirit of Galjor]. This vessel’s command has detected unidentified artificial activity that is possibly of non-Rahnian origin and wishes to initiate contact with your civilization. Steps to initiate contact and all required information to translate the Rahnian language are included in the attachments below.

[pre]
[693 Text Attachments]

[1 executable file]:
Mr_Chat.exe

.

Te’ori spun around to Communications, who returned a translated script of the message.

“So… looks like we’ve got visitors.”

Communications hailed the alien vessel with the standard greeting, and waited for a response.

"Halt. You are entering sovereign Maldurii space. Identify your leader, locations, and numbers, for further inspection. Detail your affiliations and await further instructions. Failure to comply will result in a command to open fire."

A file was returned from the ship promptly.

As the file finished translating, data overflowed from the cache and into Maldurii databases. Information about Rahnian government and culture, history, maps, and videos and images of achievements popped up. At the end, another hail for live contact was issued.

“Admiral,” Te’ori said curtly. “Initiate contact and hail their Captain.”

Aboard the Spirit of Galjor, Captain Mache prepared to initiate contact as well. As soon as the transmission link was established, a hologram manifested on the Spirt of Galjor’s main display and Te’ori’s face appeared.

“Greetings, Captain Mache. I am High Admiral Aran Te’ori, acting commander of outer sector space. To what do we owe the pleasure of this meeting?”

The Rahnian Captain replied.

“This is the Rahnian exploration ship Spirit of Galjor, though this was likely already communicated through the first contact initiation message. Firstly, I would like to say hello. Our civilization has been steadily exploring towards the center of this star cluster yet have never met any other intelligent life until now. This ship has been traveling for 1 Rahnian week and was expected to arrive at the nearest system within 3 days. Can you provide me to the nature of your business so far out from the nearest star?”

“Our business here is our own, and we are within our bounds to do as we see fit. What is your business here? Is exploration the prime directive of your vessel and her crew?” High Admiral Te’ori smiled.

The Rahnian captain explained. “Yes. Exploration is the prime directive of this vessel and her crew. We have launched from one of our most recently colonized systems to chart the cluster.”

“This space falls under sovereign Maldurii territory; we would appreciate if you stayed kept outside the gravitational influence of the star,” the High Admiral said.

“Do you hold any official diplomatic powers? I’m sure this encounter will be a milestone in both of our nations’ histories, and we seek peace and prosperity with our neighbours. It’s amusing how long we’ve not made contact for when our nations have brushed shoulders for so long.”

“Yes, sorry for coming within the gravitational influence of your star, we didn’t even know you existed until now and we have no wish to enter your territory unless you allow this ship to do so. As captain of this ship, I hold diplomatic powers on behalf of the Rahnian High Council until they can be in contact. As such, do you wish to meet so we can make some kind of a pre-treaty?” The Rahnian Captain apologized and then asked.

The Maldurii considered for a moment. “It would be an honour to bear arms alongside such fine life forms. Your compliance is much appreciated; as a High Admiral, I cannot negotiate nor ratify treaties, but I’ve informed the General of Kirr’o about our encounter with you. She and her team will draft our end of discussions and get in touch with you; let’s hope for the best from there.”

“Thank you, when will the General of Kirr’o be able to get in contact with us? Do we have a place in mind for a meeting?” The Rahnian asked.

“She is already drafting the terms - would you like to meet in person?”

“Yes, we would like to meet in person, if at all possible. We do have portable holograms for the Rahnian High Council to use as it would take several weeks for them to get here, and they would like to be here in person too.”

“Of course. I’ve sent a request to the General and you may enter via Maldurii vessel into sector 11.2. You will be landing in a foreign exclusion zone and may bring a maximum of three other individuals, alongside the portable holograms you speak of. A shuttle is awaiting docking permission on your lower hangar - we’ll see you soon,” the High Admiral replied.

“Permission granted for the shuttle. We will be boarding soon. We shall meet again then.”

The communications terminal shut down and Captain Mache prepared to pick which 3 crew members would be participating in this momentous point in Rahnian history.

The shuttle transported Mache and his three crew to the surface of the Kirr’o, where they met General Anri and her team of diplomats. Drafts were rewritten, corrections made, and agreements pledged before the two sides came to a conclusion.

As discussion closed, Anri spoke.

“This document will ensure peace and prosperity between our glorious nations. We are genuinely pleased to be working with such fine beings and will strive for nothing but the best between us. Maldurich stands by Rahnia in the face of the enemy and will do likewise in civil and trade relations.”

https://www.nationstates.net/page=dispatch/id=1059711

As the two sides said their farewells, the General relayed the events to Othlikkore, and the Captain returned to the Spirit of Galjor. In Maldurich, the coming weeks would see construction begin on infrastructure to accommodate Rahnian traders in the Kirr’o system, and border protocols adapting to the new treaty.

In the Rahnian Capital, the Korinthos Citadel, the media is ablaze with news of the aliens who call themselves the Maldurii, and even more intrigued with the reports of a sort of clusterwide “community”. Rahnians knew that aliens existed beforehand, as their population is made of 3 different species of aliens, and their history has long stated it. But to meet foreign aliens in the flesh? For the first time in Rahnian civilization?

Rahnia would never be the same.

Retribution [IC/AXIOM ONLY]

The First Empire

The End of the Republic

The Survey Scheme

Historical Document: First Contact Log (Part I)

Falling Embers, Pt 1

First Contact Maldurich

Retribution [IC/AXIOM ONLY]

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