All Roads Lead to (FT, Closed, ATTN Great Imperium Romanum)

[Xiscapia]

Territory of the Great Imperium Romanum, Augusta Trebecorum IV...

The date was Year of Our Lord Emperor Foxfire Rose Nineteen, Death of the Life Season.
There were rumors of war.

Of course, the war had already started, it had been going on for months, but the thing about having an Empire that spanned multiple star systems was that, from the perspective of anyone who was not a high-ranking official or military commander, any or even all the planets could be under attack and you would never know it until the casualty reports began rolling in. Rumors and a paranoid hysteria about infiltrators didn't help matters any either, and the media just couldn't keep up with the talk spawned off the Ansible Network, people constantly looked to known sources while trying to sift through the user-generator "news" and just kept hoping that half the things they were hearing were fabrications. So far there had only been one direct attack on an Xiscapian world, which resulted in no Imperial deaths and the destruction of two of the three attacking vessels, but people were understandably nervous. In other nations of the Coalition worlds had fallen to the Ternion menace and planets had been destroyed, and lately their advance, while costing them heavily, had not been stopped except in a few places.
Naturally, because of this, all military forces had been pulled back in defense of the Motherland.

The Twilight class scout ship was designed with exact purposes in mind: Military reconnaissance, long-range exploratory missions, and initiating First Contact. While the Xiscapian Imperial Navy held a number of them, two scouts were utilized by the government had prowled the universe for years now, making contact and gathering data, unfazed by wars and upheavals. Piloted by the androids Unit 9511726 and Unit 505221 respectively, it had been a long time since either of them had made contact, their jobs demanded meticulous work and the careful cataloging of everything they saw, even in dead systems and deep space. The two automation's were patient by nature, however, and they did their duties with a sort of mindless determination, the unstoppable force constantly encountering so-called unmovable objects. Theirs was not the sense of duty founded in patriotism, but in programming, a less romantic but more reliable motivation.

Unit 505221 was on the other side of the home galaxy at the moment, so it was Unit 9511726 that found the Romans. She (technically speaking the androids were sexless but this one had taken on female features and for the sake of continuity can be considered a "she") had enough weaponry concealed within her mainframe to effectively demolish a small building, the intelligence to bring down a capital ship from the inside, the durability to do both, and the restraint and foresight to try and avoid having to do either. First and foremost, the Mk.XVII model three was a diplomat, designed for First Contact with other races and peoples. It was compatible with the Twilight class, the two literally made for each other, and so far neither had failed in their tasks.

Unit 5052216 had thus far been wildly successful. First Contact had been established with no less than three unknown races with her, she had coordinated a war which the Kitsune Empire won with minimal losses, taken and established groundwork for two colonies and not taken a single scratch the whole time. Entering the system cloaked she made note that this was an inhabited area, the first she had encountered in over eight hundred standard cycles. Moving closer the scout, really just a box of sensors which engines, a FTL drive and a few weapons attached, began to make scans and intercept any communications it could. Naturally she was required to make contact, but her primary objective was to keep herself, and the ship, intact, and that meant not blindly gliding in while AA systems got a lock and blew her apart. Most of the people she'd encountered thus far were friendly, or at least benign, but some were in fact openly hostile, which had forced her to escape from them, often times while releasing a number of destructive weapons in their direction.
It usually did not end well for them.

Still soaking up everything the ship could discern about the system, Unit 9511726 sent a message down to the principal planet, maintaining her cloak in case they decided to display madcap inhospitality:

Greetings unknown civilization. I am Unit 9511726, a Mk.XVII model three android of the Kitsune Empire of Xiscapia. I have taken notice of your infrastructure as of sufficiently high level to initiate First Contact with you. My intentions are not hostile. If you will allow me the honor of meeting, can you direct me to an area where I can meet with a diplomat or similar dignitary?

The message was repeated in every language in the Xiscapian database, and for a brief moment Unit 9511726 allowed the ship to become visible to the naked eye and to sensors, so as to prove she was near, before quickly flicking the cloak back on and moving to a different location to avoid any fire that might have been unleashed at her.

The date was Year of Our Lord Emperor Foxfire Rose Nineteen, Death of the Life Season.
There were rumors of war.

OOC:

Scout ship: http://premium1.uploadit.org/MaxOutrider/ShipImages/Marauder-Corvette.jpg

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Augusta Trebecorum IV System, Moon Base Solaris, In Orbit Of The World Augusta Trebecorum IV,

Silhouetted against the backdrop of a pleasant fertile world lush with forests and great rolling plains was a lifeless lump of dull grey rock. A small moon, one of two orbiting Augusta Trebecorum IV, served as a military head quarters for the Imperium presence in this dimension. Radar dishes nestled in craters like plates stacked up in racks monitored the skies for the usual chaotic mess of wide band messages that bounced their way weakly across the galaxy from various interstellar nations; of these weak scratchy messages from events now rendered irrelevant the Xiscapians first contact communiqué stood out like a fire works display in the night sky.

----------

In the atmospheric domes sealed against the cold vacuum of space the Roman computer systems whirred and clicked as they had been since power first surged through their systems, ticker tape whizzed out of a hatch before the eyes of supervisor, who sat over a magnifying tray and ran his eyes over the number; his head propped up on a cushion. Other personnel sat at their stations, used to the tedium of their job, suddenly however an unexpected click echoed throughout the room emanating from the computer; all eyes turned to one of the stations for this rare event of spontaneous action.

"Full message translated." a flat automated voice announced to the room at large, a sheaf of paper began ticking out of a printer as everyone’s eyes drifted back to their stations. Then there was another click.

"Full message translated." Followed by another.

"Full message translated." And another.

"Full message translated."

The computer clicked and burbled the same message over and over again, clicking as it accessed the memory cartridge holding that particular action, printers across the room went crazy, tapes in their holders began spinning wildly, disks and needles began scratching away at gramophone records with undue speed as the computer clicked into another cartridge and announced to a now invigorated audience.

"Language translated."

This was a shocking enough revelation itself, but even shockingly the computer began repeating it again and again, a technician now frantically organising paper read outs announced, "It's printing out complete alien alphabets!"

"What on earth is going on!" The Head Supervisor announced, forced from his usual routine of doing nothing and into something.

"Association's one to twenty two completed.." The computer added.

"Sir," a harassed Roman technician yelled from behind a rapidly increasing pile of disks, "The computer's received a full language somewhere, and somehow it's managed to use it to translate all those other messages we've been receiving over the years."

"But how is this possible," the Head Supivisor boggled in disbelief, "the odds of it even knowing it's got the same message from two different sources are impossible!"

"Audio message received."

*click*

"Audio message received from inter-system source."

*click*

"Playing message.."

Greetings unknown civilization. I am Unit 9511726, a Mk.XVII model three android of the Kitsune Empire of Xiscapia. I have taken notice of your infrastructure as of sufficiently high level to initiate First Contact with you. My intentions are not hostile. If you will allow me the honour of meeting, can you direct me to an area where I can meet with a diplomat or similar dignitary?

A silence descended upon the room, broken only by the repetitive babblings of the computer.

"Well I’ll be damned, their broadcasting it in dozens... no hundreds of other languages." Gasped a technician examining a whizzing piece of ticker tape pouring from an opening in the computer.

"Well... thank you Kitsune I suppose," the Head Supervisor thought aloud scratching his chin, "If that's how you refer to them."

"Procedure, sir?"

"Ah yes of course." Reaching onto his desk he flicked three out of five switches. Switch one indicated that an immediately relevant message had been received, switch two indicated that it was a First Contact situation, Switch four that it was a peaceable one, and Switch five relayed the information to the relevant offices of power; inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief that he hadn’t had to flick switch three.

---------

The message whizzes down the copper wiring that connected the offices of the Roman military on Solaris, decisions were quickly made, the Kaiser on Augusta Trebecorum IV was informed of the development, and a message was sent to their visitor who by now seemed to be hiding; the firm steady voice of the Roman Legatus Legionis of the Augusta Trebecorum IV system issued the greeting to their extra-terrestrial visitor. The only off tone part of the message was how they went about addressing Unit 9511726, they had not recognised it as a name for an individual, and so decided it was the name of the ship itself; indeed, the use of Roman numerals had thrown them somewhat, the computer was not that adapt at translations.

Pleasant greetings, to the commander of the Mk. XVII Android Unit 9511726 spacecraft, from the designated rulers and protectors of the Augusta Trebecorum IV system; I am Legatus Legionis Hadrian Sax. Our leaders have expressed enthusiasm and pleasure in the prospect of receiving a dignitary from your race, indeed, the Kaiser of our world has decided to meet with you personally, preparations are being made for your arrival. Enclosed are co-ordinates and directions to allow you to land safely without incident, awaiting your arrival with great anticipation. Legatus Legionis.

Meanwhile, down on the planets surface, on a bright summer’s day, Roman guards began cordoning of the Central Plaza for the arrival of their interstellar visitor. Officials, functionaries and attendants began quickly erecting banners and making preparations, the city of marble and gold sparkled in the sun as crowds thronged around as rumours flitted through the city that someone of great importance was arriving.

[Xiscapia]

Capital. I will go to the indicated coordinates with gladness for your warm reception.

Of course, Unit 9511726 couldn't be glad about all this; she couldn't feel any emotion at all, she wasn't programmed or designed for it. The android was relatively advanced, she could eat, drink and engage in sexual intercourse like any organic, but she did not experience the effects (or side-effects, as it were) of those actions, she could not becoming intoxicated, taste, become obese or malnourished, contract diseases or produce offspring. The options were there to avoid offending her hosts, as in some cultures a visitor turning down drink, food or sex from their hosts was considered downright hostile, and not there as actual needs or urges. Her primary purpose was to explain to people about the Kitsune Empire and what was contained therein, her secondary function that of a intelligence-gatherer, and, if needed, a machine of war.
She was simply versatile.

The scout finally decloaked, becoming visible once more, and turned to shoot through space and enter the atmosphere of Augusta Trebecorum IV. A more dramatic being would have let the vessel scythe through the air, burning brightly like an errant comet, but Unit 9511726 brought the shields of the ship up, letting her descend normally, slowing as the craft dropped, drifting over a city as she settled it down. She noticed the city fairly glimmered with precious metals, gleaming in the reflected sunlight of the system's star, and there was a number of people in the area, apparently expecting her arrival. This was somewhat irregular; usually, it was a simple government delegation greeting her, not large crowds.
But Unit 9511726 was nothing if not flexible.

The scout landed gracefully with typical machine precision, engines shutting down with barely a hiss, squatting there like some sort of huge, menacing space insect, steam rising from it where ice crystals had burned up in the descent. After a moment a ramp lowered itself and Unit 9511726 walked evenly down it, staring ahead. She didn't look at all like a robot, not with the velvety orange fur which covered her form, the perked fox ears on her head and bright yellow eyes taking in everything, tail curling a little bit, wearing a black jumpsuit without any adorning tools, weapons or symbols aside from a tiny Imperial flag insignia on her right breast. Unit 9511726 looked for all the universe like a walking (some would call it "anthropomorphic") fox, and not much more sinister than the little canine beast with which her creators shared so many characteristics.
She bowed low, once, and straightened up.

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Augusta Trebecorum IV System, Augusta Trebecorum IV World, Augusta Trebecorum IV City, Central Plaza.

Unit 9511726 had landed in front of the main government buildings, a large cobbled city square filled with fountains and statues, it had been cleared of pedestrians, who now gathered around excitedly, held off by the Roman troops who lined the square, their attention turned not inwards to their extra-terrestrial visitor, but outwards to the populace. Banners held by ceremonial troops stood waved in front of the great marble steps that led up the Roman temple where the Kaiser held his offices and residences, the banners were a plain purple, since it was thought that displaying the Imperial insignia too proudly was a misplaced sign of overt nationalist Imperialism which could be conveyed to their visitor.

What had been excited cheers now turned into a quiet silence as the people realised that this was not some celebrity, but rather an alien being from another world. Unit 9511726 movements were watched by a steadily increasing number of people as news channels were flicked on across the world, his descent from his spacecraft and his slight bow would be immortalised as part of a First Contact.

Atop the stairs that fronted the columned buildings of the Imperial offices, the meeting delegation awaited. A large cheerful looking man, looking for all the world like a freshly shaven Santa Claus, was clad out in a white toga with a purple sash along his length; a golden leaf pinned to his chest was his badge of office. Flanking him were a dozen other men of upstanding importance, most of them were also clad in togas, it seeming to be the typical form of dress for Romanum culture, but one or two were dressed out in suits or other "out of place" items of clothing. Indeed, the ones that seemed to be most out of place in the entire plaza, including Unit 9511762, were a pair of monocle, spectacle wearing jellyfish who floated in large glass bell shaped tanks mounted on wheeled platforms; they were set slightly to the side of the main group, but part of the delegation nonetheless.

Breaking the silence, the seemingly jolly man stepped nimbly down the stairs, followed by his delegation and even more slowly by the jellyfish whom levered themselves down each individual step with a lift like device mounted below them. Stopping at the bottom of the steps where Unit 9511762 was he took a moment to take in "her" appearance, then introduced himself, his town, and his entire nation for the first time.

"Greetings, and welcome to Augusta Trebecorum IV, I am Titus Figulus, the Kaiser of the local systems of Great Imperium Romanum. This is the delegation whom have come to welcome you to our pleasant little world," with his large meaty hands clasped together he seemed to be quickly taking in Unit 9511762, a difficult feat when he didn't know she was an android, but none the less decided on the spot in his typical showman nature that Unit 9511762 would not be negatively affected by a bit of flamboyancy, "This here is my delegation whom have the honour of meeting you." He indicated his followers who all bowed slightly, the jellyfish a few steps up watching the goings on from the side did nothing aside raise a tentacle in acknowledgement, "And this," he indicated waving his hands over the crowds, "Are the people who have the pleasure of meeting you!" A roar of jubilation erupted from the crowds; confetti seemed to pour from the sky as the crowds cries went up; like most Kaisers in the most content areas of the Imperium Titus was a people’s man. Stepping closer to Unit 9511762, his voice carrying easily over the din of the immense plaza, he asked, "And whom may I ask are you to make this day a momentous occasion for our people? Please, ascend the steps with me; let us talk, if you'd like that."

[Xiscapia]

Unit 9511726 didn't seem impressed with the proceedings, again, not out of any sense of arrogance or aloofness, but because it was literally impossible to impress her. She saw everything, every face, every article of clothing, every weapon, every piece of technology, the buildings, the attitudes of the people, even the very temperature and climate of the surrounding area recorded and cataloged. She had two eyes, of course, but these were more for aesthetic purposes; unlike her creators, she had sensors all over her body, so if it was within her detectable range she could not miss seeing anything. The android also had a perfect memory, she had not forgotten a single word, gesture or order since she was first brought online many years ago. Amongst the humans she seemed a stranger, showing nothing in the midst of swirling emotions and feelings, still and silent to their multi-colored song.

"My unit designation is 9511726." She answered Figulus in a bland voice, without the accent of feeling, not cold, for that would have implied some emotion, but with insipidness, walking alongside him. "I am a Mk.XVII model three android, built in the Kitsune Empire of Xiscapia for the purpose of locating and establishing contact with nations, governments and races such as yourselves." A somewhat disconcerting addition to the entire spectrum of views: Unit 9511726 did not appear to blink. "In the name of the Kitsune Empire, from Emperor Foxfire Rose and the Imperial Family, and the people of Xiscapia, I bid you, Kaiser Titus Figulus, the people of Augusta Trebecorum IV, and the people of the Romanum, warm salutations."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Unit 9511726's lack of any overt emotional joy over the proceedings did not concern Titus one bit, not because he did not care, but because he was too wrapped up in the entire event of confetti and cheering to notice; his advisors did notice somewhat however and alerted Titus to Unit 9511726's lack of enthusiasm as she elaborated on her purpose. As she spoke the advisors whispered in excited half sentences amongst themselves as they ascended the stairs.

"An android? What's that?"
"A robot my good man."
"Roman numerals? I say."
"An empire?"
"An emperor?"

Ignoring the chittering advisors, and the silent jellyfish, Titus escorted Unit 9511726 past the marble columns and through an archway serving as the entrance for the governmental buildings, carved into the archway were the words Forum Romanum in latin, as opposed to the more functional galactic basic, also known as English, which the Romans were speaking. Entering a corridor of stone, marble and ample numbers of statues and vases mounted atop pedastals they strode down it's length, Titus gibbering away in his overly friendly manner.

"A robot hmm? Or as you call yourself an android, how fascinating, how fascinating you are I mean! You must lead quite an interestingly life, do you go home reguarly whilst floating around space or do you just sit there? Still, your people must be quite the engineers to have built you! We've only built one sentient robot in our time, but he was more of a computer, you should meet him sometime. Oh look at this vase it's cracked, what a shame, Rubulus have that fixed will you? Sorry where was I... oh yes, do they look like you, your people that is?"

Still gibbering away Titus escorted Unit 9511726 and his long suffering advisors past the endless procession of artifacts and deep into the sparkling bowels of the Forum Romanum.

[Xiscapia]

Unit 9511726 waited patiently for a gap in which to answer the Kaiser's many questions. "I have not re-entered Kitsune Imperial territory since I was first deployed one thousand five hundred eighteen cycles ago," she told him. "Every second of my existance not spent engaging in diplomacy is in effort to establish First Contact with another race, nation or people." She paused at his next question. "My creators are proud of their engineering skills," she said, "I am the third in a series of sapient automated droid units. I would be interested to meet you sapient computer, perhaps he and I could exchange data." She paused again.

"Technically speaking, I look like my people, Kaiser, they do not look like me. I am a nearly perfect replica of a Vulpes Vulpes kitsune female, the primary race of the Kitsune Empire. What you see before you in my form is what you would see if you met a biological member of the Vulpes Vulpes part of the kitsune race. My form can be altered," she seemed to shimmer a little and abruptly a somewhat different being was standing there, one with a more narrow pelvis, unpronounced breasts and a differeny facial structure, but essentially the same characteristics, "to display the shape of a male," 'her' voice was deeper but no less bland, and she changed back again to her original shape, "but this is my default state." She looked at Titus expectantly.

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Titus was momentarily surprised by Unit 9511726's transformation, but being mostly unable to grasp the supreme technical difficulties of such a feat he spontaneously appluaded as though it was a party trick; followed quickly by a few of his parrot like advisors.

"Oh I do say, a most inspiring technical feat that. I haven't seen such trickery since the Phale A'Theins holograpics! Try beating that chaps." He called over his shoulder to the jellyfish trundling along behind the delegation, turning back to Unit 9511726 before they could respond, if they were capable of doing so, "as for yourself, you are most interesting; perhaps we could talk more over the glorious baquet we have prepar-"
"My Kaiser?"
"Wha? Oh yes Legatus Legionis?" Titus said swinging round to a tall, pale yet solidly built man.
"Perhaps Unit nine five one one seven two six would find it more constructive to visit the sentient system you mentioned earlier?" The Legatus Legionis asked, easily rattling off Unit 9511726's name.
"Oh, well... I do suppose it's more fitting... how do you fancy that then Unit nine five one two... two six seven? A more informational guided tour perhaps with my Legatus Legionis Hadrian Sax?"

[Xiscapia]

"My designation is Unit 9511726," she corrected him without rancor. "It seems it would be beneficial to all involved parties if I were to meet with this sapient computer system, as an information collector it would be faster and easier to exchange data between two like units."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

"I... ah, yes well, um..." Titus fluttered for a moment, being caught uncomfortably in embaressment before grasping back onto a thread of conversation he could comfortably assume, "Legatus Legionis, I believe that it would be apt for you to escort our visitor to computer system no?"
Hadrian Sax made a Roman salute before answering in an officious voice, "As you wish my leige."

Hadrian turned, leading Unit 9511726 down a different corridor lined with the same assortment of vases, statues and ornaments whilst Titus continued onto the main hall; elaborating loudly on the spectacular feast he had planned for this afternoon. Hadrian did not comment on the architecture or the decorations, deciding that Unit 9511726 would find minimal interest in such things, having walked a significant distance through the marble maze, occassionally descending down an elaborate staircase or two, he made an informative comment.

"The sentient computer system, as you know it, is called Wilhelm Antikythera, he chose his own name after becoming sentient after an anticipated four days of operation. After absorbing information from the national archives he took the name of Wilhelm Schickard, the father of modern computing in the third universe we accessed and consequently the father of computing in our own, he also took the name of the Antikythera mechanism, which was an advanced astrological computer map built by the Greeks; taking this name he told us that it was so he would be known as the father of all computers in the Imperium and the earliest of them all. Otherwise, he is his own master, and the technicians which maintain him are his slaves, his ideaology is kin to the Greek philosophers, but his concious workings are beyond us in the same way you cannot phanthom what goes on in many peoples minds. You shall be free to speak to him as you wish."

Entering a through a doorway flanked by guards they entered Wilhelm Antikythera, it was not so much that the computer was in the room, but the room was in the computer. Shelves stretching high up into the ceiling were arranged in twelve rows, on each shelf was built an elaborate array of spinning gears, cogs, spinning tapes and humming transistors. The room was dry and warm, an uncomfortale warm breeze circulating through the room as fans whined and pipes of cool water gurgled through the workings. It was a cathedral of technology.

Walking down the central row with technicians in white lab coats, wearing head pieces equipped with magifying specs, prowling amongst the machinery, Hadrian showed Unit 9511726 to a large console occupying the entire back wall, doorways embedded in the consoles face implied more machienery beyond the console itself. With tapes spinning and lights blinking on the consoles face, which technicians seated on small tables in front of it devotedly recorded on note pads and type writers, a small screen, supported on a crane, with two amplifying horns, akin to those used on ancient gramaphones, built into it's side like an animals own "horns" descended down from above to Hadrian and Unit 9511726. Stopping a foot above them both, and orienting the screen slightly downwards to look at them the screen flicered, a black and white face formed out of complex interlocking geometric shapes to make the face of a middle aged plain looking man with a moustache, the screen glanced at both of them before speaking in an odd voice.

"Hadrian Sax, Legatus Legionis of the fourth diemensional colonies, bringing to me an extra-terrestrial robotica by the name of Unit 9511726."

Each word did not match the previous nor follow onto the next in a flowing manner. Each one was said in the same voice, but on it's own, the pauses made during normal speech were twice as long with Wilhelm Antikythera, in truth, the time taken to access the word and play it took a substantial amount of time. Although adding emphasis to his words were two small three clawed telescopic arms wih which he gestured with as he spoke beneath his face's screen.

"So."

Wilhelm intoned turning to face Unit 9511726 with the tone of a wise father, the voice in which the entire Roman dictionary had been recorded in.

"You have come to this world seeking contact with another race, on behalf of your creators. Yet all I wish to ask you is, how are you?"

[Xiscapia]

"All of my systems are operating at or above minimal output levels required to keep my physical form fully functional." Unit 9511726 responded. If she could have felt something as abstract a curiosity it would have been rearing its head now, other sapient automation's, especially A.I., tended to be rather eccentric, bearing much more in common with an organic than a machine, and this one didn't seem to be an exception. Legatus had said it, Wilhelm Antikythera, had an ideology not unlike that of Greek philosophers, and the android wondered, as far as the term could be used, exactly what this entailed.

[Great Imperium Romanum]

"Excellent." Wilhelm said, flicking his mechanical hands upwards slightly whilst the face which was shown on his screen suddenly switched to one of the same face, but having a slight smile with light creases at the corners of his eyes, a few seconds later it switched back to his neutral expression.

The cradle supporting him dropped him down to the same eye level as Unit 9511726, the screen bobbed up and down slightly whilst adjusting it's angle as Wilhelm spoke, with his mechanical arms gesturing whilst he spoke it was clear that he was essentially simulating a similar body language of someone who would employ ample body signs whilst talking.

"So Unit 9 5 1 1 7 2 6," he started, saying ech number with a significant gap like he did with usual words, "You have come here with a purpose, a purpose which I presume was bestowed upon you by your creators. As such, I would like to enquire, as to what it is."

[Xiscapia]

"Your words would indicate you are already aware of my purpose," Unit 9511726 noted blandly. "My primary function is to seek out nations, races and people who have not yet been contacted by the Kitsune Empire and initiate First Contact with them. Secondary functions include averting conflict, mapping and catalogging star systems and those objects contained therein, gathering intelligence where forces may prove hostile, and patricipating in military-style actions against persons and beings which would seek to do me harm." She paused a moment. "As long as there is unexplored space in the universe, my mission is not complete."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

"Yes," Wilhelm continued, orientating himself to a position one foot above Unit 9511726, looking down whilst continuing to gesture in an overly flamboyant fashion, "But unless you are unable to synthesise a tone of voice designating a particular emotion," His screen suddenly flicked through a variety of screens implying various states of emotion, "I am led to presume that you for one am unconcerned by your endeavour to learn all there is to learn. Consequently I am led to assume from you demeanour that these tasks are of course the functions given to you by your creators."

"As such," he dropped down once more to Unit 9511726's height, "I wish to know, not why you are here, for I do indeed already know that particular naunce of this affair, but rather, why your creators wish you to do such things."

[Xiscapia]

"First Contact is of great importance to the Kitsune Empire," Unit 9511726 stated. "Finding new relations allows it to expand trade, acquire technologies it did not have before, form alliances with those who have morals similar to it and boosts both tourism and immigration influxes. Practically speaking, I have been on assignment for eight hundred forty two standard cycles, a length of time most races in the Kitsune Empire would not have the capacity to operate at acceptable levels without needing to dock frequently at friendly ports. Thus an automation, a being that does not require food, sleep or similar necessities that plauge most organics, would be the most logical choice, including the added benefits of an android being more resilient in all ways that most biologicals."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Wilhelm's screen switched abruptly to a quizzically bemused face, an eyebrow slightly raised in interest, before switching back to the neutral picture usually displayed, "Similar objectives to the Imperium then, so tell me, having initiated a First Contact, which so far has gone smoothly, what would the next steps be for your in order to further your own peoples objectives?"

[Xiscapia]

"I need to acquire as much general information as I can about the people I have established Contact with before the diplomat arrives." She told him. "Once the Ambassador or Ambassadress lands my work here will be finished and I will depart to continue fulfilling my primary programming. I came here because I believe you can give me a great deal of information pertaining to the Imperium."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Hadrian, who had been standing by impassionatly untill now, suddenly stirred to life, "An ambassador is arriving?" without waiting for a response he turned away from Unit 9511726 and Wilhelms discussion; walking a short distance off to be polite he began sending messages to various administrators to renew the festivities.

Wilhelm meanwhile portrayed a screen of great interest on his monitor, extending down and rotating so that he faced the same way as Unit 9511726, he placed hi mechanical arms gently round her and urged her towards to main control panel constituting the wall, "Well, if it's information you are after that I can provide, presuming that you can do the same for me and my kind of course. If you would care to examine this interface here..." Withdrawing his arms from around her shoulders he rose above her head height once more and gestured down upon the console, "Disk and hardrive swapping I presume would not only be completely incompatible with you but also terribly slow for what we intend. If you can interface with my system wirelessly then perhaps we can be of use. Now tell me, what information are you interested in..."

[Xiscapia]

Unit 9511726 allowed herself to be guided by Wilhelm's spindy mechanical arms, a curiously tactile gesture, towards the terminal. Standing next to it she concentrated for a moment and "pinged" the server, letting herself into the system as it opened for her. "Any and all information you can provide me access to would be apprechiated," she told the Roman computer. "I can wirelessly, as you said, download anything you give me access to from this system, and I can upload a number of texts and data sheets pertaining to the Kitsune Empire for the perusal of yourself and the biological members of the Imperium. I am most interested in cultural and historical information, but any data or any kind you can give me is helpful."

The android kept a few sensors on Hadrian. The Xiscapian Diplomatic Corps member who would be landing should be prepared. She reflected silently. Kitsune ambassadors were not often met by cheering crowds...

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Although Wilhelm was more or less the god of the Imperium digital world he was not so disillusioned with himself that he'd let Unit 9511726 run amuck through the Imperiums databases, instead he created an empty database for her and guided her to it, logging her into it he set about placing documents which he considered to be of use to her within the database.

First came the Imperiums history, a summarised, yet incredibly lengthy and detailed document. It told the history of a group of settlers, conquering neighbouring tribes, then villages, the formation of a Republic, it's expansion, the stories of accompanying battles, civil strife, architectural wonders that would endure the centuries, then the betrayal of a nation, the end of democracy and the Republic accompanied by the joyous exultation of the willing public, the Roman Empire had been formed. More expansion, war, bloodshed, but at the same time details of civil order, a government that was willing to let the people believe what they wished and to go about their lives, their cultural traits undisturbed. More Emperors proclaimed at the expense of democracy, then the tales of invasions from roaming tribes, epic raids, the sacking a burning of the capital city numerous times, and then at the nations darkest hour, when their Emperor fell to barbarians in battle, the Senate murdering the nations successor at his coronation and the reinstitution of the Senate.

A story of success, unbounded advancements, the conquering of the known world, the discovery of the Indian continent, Russia, wars of assimilation, trading, romantic exchanged between rulers, a new world discovered across the vast ocean; and finally a world dominated by a powerful, tolerant, and wise Roman Empire with a Senate at it's helm to care for a diverse populace and a powerful yet constrained Ceaser to maintain peace and order.

From then on there was exploration of space, of the worlds lands and oceans, little more than an extensive cataloguing exercise, but then a discovery, an ancient piece of technology that led to parallel universes. An entire new chapter unfolded before the Empire, the conquering of alternate Earth's in the aggressive swings of the Middle Ages, the assimilation of a Roman Republic and Empire in a joyous meeting of super powers, a failed attempt to conquer an earth locked in the Cold War of the 20th century, trade and diplomacy between a 21st century earth which the Imperium had established itself, and the tales of glorious wonders encountered in the universe as the Imperium spread forever outwards to the stars in multiple universes.

From this Unit 9511726 would learn the history of a reformed Republic forged in war and cooled in peaceful tolerance, how the Imperium spanned seven dimensions, and that they often settled on the same world. It revealed that this was the fourth universe the Imperium had ventured into, and which explained the name of Augusta Trebecorum IV, as the fourth version of the world settled; how the Imperium held five fabled Earths in its grip, had a foothold on another, and was searching for the one in this dimension due to being repelled by the native forces.

Aside from a comprehensive cultural and historical mapping of the Imperium there was little in the way of strategic information, little by way of technology or military forces, except that the Imperium maintained a garrison in every city on every world, and very little planetary information on locations was given.

Tapes spun madly in their holders as the date was comprehensively fed into a reusable tape deep within Wilhelm’s system, being fed to Unit 9511726 and cleaned as fast as she could take it in, and as fast as Wilhelm could access and arrange the transfer of data.

[Xiscapia]

Unit 9511726 received the information as quickly as it could be sent, storing it all, consuming like a glutton eating food without chewing, saving it for digestion later. As soon as she got everything Wilhelm could give her she began to send along her own packets, containing information that was largely of the same kind.

The history of the kitsune started well before the Kitsune Empire came into being, thousands of years ago on a single planet in a different galaxy from this one, of medieval technology, fractured kingdoms and kitsune fighting each other under separate flags for their countries. An alien ship of still unknown origin landed in one of the kingdoms and sent out troops to conquer the fox-like humanoids. With their vastly inferior technology the Xiscapians were no match for the invaders, and after a number of warriors were cut down and a village burned the locals melted into the surrounding forests, hiding from the soldiers. The aggressors attempted to hunt down the natives but the Xiscapians were experts at concealment and even with all their technology the aliens were unable to find them, and lone patrols had a disturbing tendency of vanishing without a trace. Frustrated, with the darkness of night falling and some of their units having failed to report back, the attackers fell back to their starship and decided to wait until daylight to resume their search.

The local elders called the priests to them and with their magic they contacted all the other lords and leaders on the continent and informed them of the situation. After some debate it was unanimously agreed that the kitsune would have to forget their differences and unite to battle the instigators so, after some assembly, an army from each nation was called forth and marched to the province which had been penetrated by these beings. While this was occurring several days went by and the guerrilla warriors had managed to recover the corpse of one of their foes. After some cautious fiddling with it they were surprised to find that the menacing armored figures were actually rather soft and squishy underneath, and so with typical kitsune curiosity, they cooked and ate the dead soldier, and found that he was pleasing to their palate. Somehow, after discovering this, the enemy didn't seem quite so threatening anymore.

So the warriors of a dozen different nations assembled and, at night when the antagonists were safely in their vessel, stormed the ship. The fighting was quick and brutal: The adversaries weren't prepared to be met inside their own craft, and the kitsune warriors showed no mercy, slaughtering those who dared defile their world at close quarters. In the end the defeat of the barbarians from the stars ushered in a new age for the kitsune, as they all came together under one flag and began to explore the strange and wondrous technology their opponents have inadvertently gifted them. Over generations they were able to figure out what the equipment did, how to use it, and finally how to make their own, admittedly crude, copies. In the space of less than a hundred years the kitsune, who now called themselves the Xiscapians, went from being a fragmented medieval people to a space-faring race, though they did not explore outside their atmosphere for two reasons.

The first was that every few years another force of aliens, each different from the last, would come upon them, usually small but sometimes large fleets, and attack. Every time, the Xiscapians would smash the enemy ships, kill their soldiers, and scavenge their technology to make new weapons and equipment with, so they could use them against the next set of interlopers. This made them highly militaristic, with more empathise on creating weapons to defend themselves with than trying to go out and explore to find races that would also probably try and kill them. Nonetheless, slowly but surely, they expanded outward, keeping inside the system but still looking around, like a man standing on his doorstep reluctant to leave the pool of light and travel out into the darkness.
But one day everything changed.

Every presiding elder was visited by Qonn, the kitsune god, and explicitly warned that a force so powerful even the Xiscapian defenders would not be able to resist them was coming, and that they needed to leave their homeland before they came. The command was not questioned, as the guidance of the Guardian of the kitsune had never led them wrong before, so they began working on producing colony ships, even while continuing to repel invading forces. Finally, over five hundred years having elapsed since they first met the raiders, the kitsune left their world for what they had been told would be such a span of time that not even the children of their children's children would lay eyes upon it again. Since kitsune can live as long as three hundred years, this was a long time indeed. Like leaves tossed about on the wind, the colony ships scattered across the stars, going every which way as they parted carrying their precious loads of millions of Xiscapians.

To this day the full reach of the colony ships is not known; aside from Xiscapia itself, only two other planets where it is known that ships have landed are known, and there is thought to be a number of others. Eventually one colony ship made it to Xiscapia and founded the Kitsune Empire, while at the same time a wandering fleet of ships landed upon a planet a world away and established the Korr Supremacy, a totalitarian nation made up of the gorilla-like Korr. Initial diplomatic meetings did not go well, and the two newly born nations, after taking a few years to firmly construct themselves, went to war. Both sides threw themselves fully into the effort, and after a while both were so heavily engaged that they could not have gotten themselves out of the lock unless one conquered the other or both cooperated in withdrawing. What had started out as mild distaste turned to full blown hatred.

Both sides, the Supremacy and the Imperials, drew battlelines at their orbits, most of the fighting occurring in, on and around the gas giant Jomstar and the hundreds of moons that separated the Kitsune Empire and the Korr Supremacy. Almost all of the moons and asteroids became heavily fortified, changing hands between months, weeks and even days, both sides acting and reacting and not gaining any ground. Warships and troops continued to be funneled in by both sides, but it was a stalemate, the quality of the Imperials meeting the quantity of the Supremacy and neither side giving way. Years went by, then decades, then centuries, until nobody could remember a time the Xiscapians weren't fighting the Supremacy. Every advancement in weapons technology was countered, and so they remained in deadlock, and it seemed the war would go on until the end of time.

Then the Korr unleashed a powerful biological weapon the Xiscapians called Swift Sword, for the speed with which the virus struck down those it infected. All at once the Xiscapian defense crumbled, dying at the hands of the onrushing Korr or falling back to Xiscapia. At this point Emperor Foxfire Rose, who had always been determined to end the conflict himself since he himself had fought the Korr across the moons as a Marine, gave a speech to the nation admitting that the Kitsune Empire had been blinded by her pride, and now was the time to bow humbly and call for help, or all would be lost. Messages were sent out and the Xiscapian people waited with baited breath as their soldiers fought a losing battle across an ever shortening front.
Finally help arrived.

The Democratic Empire of Alversia had a relatively inexperienced fighting force, military having been formed during a civil war and battled only a few foes since then. They earned their honor and prestige fighting alongside their Xiscapian counterparts as they battled the Korr back from Kel itself (Xiscapia's primary moon) and across the cosmos until, two years after the deployment of Swift Sword, Korrillia, homeworld of the Supremacy, was taken by Allied forces. Over two million perished in the final battle alone, and the damage caused by the Supremacy resulted in the destruction of hundreds of Allied warships, the deaths of millions more soldiers and civilians and the razing of several Allied cities, leaving a permanent mark on the Kitsune Empire. Thirteen years had gone by since then and the Kitsune Empire and the (now People's) Republic of Alversia remained strong allies, fighting off a number of threats including the Calaverians, the Greali, the Society for the Advancement of Social Medicine, a rebellion and, currently, an organization of nations which calls itself the Ternion. It is said that the bond forged between the two nations is unbreakable.

Aside from some basic blueprints on the ancient colony vessels and outlines of strategies used in the Korr War, no military information was given. There was an abundance of cultural data contained as well, including customs, system of government of the Kitsune Empire and a copy of the religious book the Ancient Texts, but very little in the way of technology. No information pertaining as to the location of Imperial worlds was given.

"Ambassador Vulpe has informed me that he is about two minutes out," Unit 9511726 said. "I hope you find my information enlightening."

[Great Imperium Romanum]

Wilhelm took in each and every last byte of data, transcribing it onto long whirring data tapes which technicians in the depths of his memory banks scrambled to replace and convert into cartridges for later use, saving a general gist of the information for his short term memory he was left with a feeling of great interest in the history of an entirely new culture, only a few times before had he had the chance to savour something so... exotic.

"That was most intriguing Unit 9511726." His monitor flicking momentarily to a picture of satisfaction, "I can only hope that my maintenance workers upload the information in a permanent capacity for my perusal, in the mean time I shall forward a message to Hadrian and the Kaiser for Ambassador Vulpe's arrival.

Wilhelm paused for a moment, wobbling slightly as he retreived a relevant memory, "What of you then Unit 9511726? Are you off once more to follow your parameters?"

[Xiscapia]

Unit 9511726 nodded solemnly. "My time with others is always fleeting; I continue on until I am recalled or destroyed. My function is simply to lead my people to others, once they can make contact themselves I am no longer needed." She severed the link between her and Wilhelm, and the flow of information died. "Ambassador Vulpe is incoming, I must board my craft and depart this place." She gazed at Wilhelm for a moment, or at least her exterior eyes did. "If you ever receive a long-distance transponder, I will send you my contact I.D. and upload more information to my data storage unit. Then we will be able to talk of philosophy, which I am told you enjoy debating. I may seem dry and clear cut, but cataloging stars and asteroids only uses up a small percentage of my processing power, it would be...productive, to utilize the rest of it." She bowed to him. "Until we meet again, Wilhelm Antikythera."

With another, smaller bow to the Legatus Legionis, Unit 9511726 left the Imperial Offices. Outside she quietly reboarded her scout and lifted into the air, climbing through the sky until she broke atmosphere and shot away through space, ever onward and outward...

Even as the ship with her android pilot bid the world of Augusta Trebecorum IV farewell, another, much larger vessel moved towards the planet. The Xiscapian Imperial Starship Lilac was a Light Cruiser, under capital size at six hundred and fifty meters but still a powerful warship in her own right, sporting hundreds of guns, torpedo tubes, missile launchers and other weapons of destruction. Today, however, she was not here to fight, but instead to simply transport a diplomat to a newly discovered people. It might seem foolish to some, sending a entire Light Cruiser when a simple corvette or even a long-range shuttle would do the job when there was battle elsewhere, but it was for exactly this reason that the Lilac was sent; protection was necessary for a diplomat in such troubled times. Where diplomats had to be deployed in areas at higher risk for attack they went with a Heavy Cruiser and guards, Ambassadors had been murdered before.

The necessary exchange was made between the Lilac and the planet and the Light Cruiser obtained permission to slide into geo syceous orbit over Augusta Trebecorum IV, the city. This being done a small shuttle drifted out of the hanger and fell through orbit, setting down almost exactly where Unit 9511726's craft had.

"We've landed, Ambassador."

"By Qonn..." Ambassador Vulpe stared out a simulated porthole at the throngs of people. "Did they know I was coming or did I just interrupt a speech?"

The pilot laughed. "One of the scouts was here before you, sir, I think they gathered for it."

"Ah..." Vulpe looked a little nervous. The Ambassador's hair and fur was a shocking white, but he was nevertheless young and spry, barely in his thirties. Orange eyes looked warmly out from above a gently sloping muzzle, indicating that this was a kitsune not of a violent or hostile demeanor. He wore deep purple and black robes which stretched down to just cover his feet without trailing on the ground, and his only visible armament was a white katana sword on his hip. His arms were folded inside his long robes as he stood, the lone occupant of the ship aside from the Imperial pilot in the cockpit, preparing to take his first step onto this alien world.

The descent of the Ambassador was certainly different from that of the android, he walked slower, almost meandering, visibly looking around at the buildings and the people, taking a moment to breath in the air, looking a little intimidated at the large crowd of people. At the bottom of the silver, plated ramp he stopped, head moving right and left, looking for someone to greet him, before he looked straight ahead to the crowd of Romans. Looking the people of Augusta Trebecorum IV dead-on, Ambassador Vulpe smiled, raised a hand in greeting, and bowed deeply.

[Great Imperium Romanum]

The Ambassador was met with the typically over enthusiastic greeting of the spectacle loving Romans, an immense rolling wave of cheering, whistling and applause rolled over the city. The crowd having tripled since Unit 9511726 had arrived to get a look at what was so fascinating in the main square, the crowds swelled further, drawn by the sight of the Lilac high above the city. Confetti rained down from the buildings surrounding the square as people let banners and streamers swirl down from the raised steps leading down to the square; it was to no surprise that Ambassador Vulpe would have felt some what intimidated, the collosal Roman crowds, with recently mounted nes agency bill boards displaying their own networks television channel on the edges of the sqaure, airships and a few anti-gravity platforms floated in the air on the edge of the square to get a better look; in the distance an unco-ordinated release of fireworks, during the day no less, sent elaborate shows of fire sparkling over the city.

The cities Roman Guard and Police Service formed a wall of outward facing sheilds to keep the crowds back, although even in their jubilation they maintained their sense of order; two towering tripod's stepped their way over crowds and buildings, setting down their feet delicatly at their heads turned and swivelled about, making sure that the excited masses were kept in check, as a small car sized aircraft snuck too close past the square it was seized firmly but delicatly by a number of tentacle like metal arms and moved back to a designated place beyond the line.

The Roman delegation had gathered once more at the top of the steps, in the same way that Unit 9511726 had been greeted, once more the Kaiser and his horde of advisors with Hadrian hastened down the steps to their esteemed guest. The two tanked jellyfish like creatures deigned to wait atop the steps in the shadow of a supporting coloumn rather than venture down and up once more.

"Greetings our most esteemed visitor!" Titus boomed over the crowds torrential jubilations, "I would give you a full welcome myself but it seems that our people have done so already!" Raising his hands, his flashing smile being magnified by the great billboards erected on the edge of the square, the people somehow managed to cheer even louder. "Ambassador Vulpe I presume yes? I am Titus Figulus, Kaiser of the fourth diemension of the Imperium and Augusta Trebecorum IV, I welcome you with all the warmth in my heart to our realm."

Titus bowed, his delegation followed suit.

[Xiscapia]

Ambassador Vulpe smiled widely back, exposing a number of sharp teeth, and bowed in turn, voice taking on the lilting accent Xiscapians had when speaking Galactic Common. "Your people are most hospitable, Figulus Kaiser, such a welcome speaks highly of you. I am glad to be here, and I bid you salutations from Emperor Rose, who regrets he could not be here in person." He turned briefly to the crowd, raising his voice. "The people of the Kitsune Empire send their warm regards to the people of the Great Imperium Romanum, may it stand a million years!"

Facing Figulus again Vulpe grinned, tail curling around his legs. "I have a gift for you from the Emperor, Kaiser, may you never find cause to use it." Out of the shuttle stepped the pilot, carrying held horizontally in two hands a katana sword sheathed in a glossy, shining scabbard the color of mahogany. He handed it off to the diplomat, who in turn, gripping the sword in an identical manner, knelt down on one knee and held the weapon up over his head, extended towards the Roman. "Please accept this offering from Emperor Foxfire Rose and his consort, Empress Jade Rose."