Interstellar Empires: Solar Rebirth

[Trektek]

The Voice from the Dark
Mechking Mechking

There are set times that the Tribal Council of Ten assembles in order to discuss important issues that affect all of them as a people and to bring up any current grievances or bad blood between the various Great Tribes. As such, it is very rare for them to be called to assembly when not at those times, thought not without precedent. During major wars between the tribes, the Lord High Cleric might assemble the Great Chiefs in order to bring peace and balance back to the Wapokol Lands. Or if a new major resources of Ancients technology was discovered that could change the balance of power, or give their people something new and extraordinary, then also could the Council be assembled.

So it was such as this time. A contact from beyond the stars from a Voice of God. As the various Great Chieftains assembled, there was murmuring about what this Chysnoid Holy Union wanted. The message had already worked its way to each of them, one way or another before the meeting as it took time for them all to gather from their home sectors. Each were of a different line of thought on the matter, but what the Lord High Cleric's task was to do, was help them all come to a consensus after revealing all of the information at hand, and not just the hearsay that gathered from the aether.

Lord High Cleric Rastadan raised up two of his arms into the air while his other two remained crossed over his chest, just beneath his cloak. "Grand Chiefs. By now, you have all heard this message from the Voice of God that belongs to the Chysnoid Holy Union. They are another culture that is extending a hand of friendship. I do not proclaim to know what God they serve, but as we all know that are many such Gods that profess friendship and cooperation, I believe that we should take the chance."

It was Seline of the Diamond Shield Tribe that spoke up first. She was a true beauty, even into her middle age. A major warrior through and through. She wore an ornate headdress filled with colorful feathers and bronze chains. In each of her ears lay a single silver stud and around her wrists were two dark gauntlets inscribed with Holy Runes. "Just because the message says that they wish us to come in peace and extend relations to them, does not mean it could not easily be a trap."

Xaf of the Blue Snake clan followed up her words with his own. A shifty looking man, he was much more thoughtful than his appearance gave off. His eyes were covered with blue tinted glass while his mouth was obscured by a black cloth. His outfit was a sky blue color inlaid with black gems and a bit of static energy could be felt in the air around him. "I agree with Seline. This could be an elaborate trap by a new culture that wishes to gauge our level of technology before they strike hard. They already were able to penetrate our minds. And who knows how powerful their shamans and clerics are if they are capable of speaking directly for their God?"

There were murmurs of agreement amongst the other Chiefs, but none spoke out loudly.

Rastadan nodded as the Chiefs spoke their piece before once more speaking up. "It is that sort of thought that could have prevented us from finding the treasure troves of The Ancients. Perhaps fighting might break out. But look at each of the Tribes. Was there not fighting before we all became unified within an alliance? This has become a time of greatness and exploration. But what would have happened if we did not take that very leap headfirst into the darkness? We would have fought more and understood less. I say that if they are offering the hand of friendship, that we take that hand and shake it tightly so that any treachery falls lose and only acceptance and understanding remains so that we all might be stronger for it."

Kalicorn of the Frozen Brothers Tribe spoke up in acknowledgement of Rastadan's words. He was a larger man, built heavy and strong. He wore Red and Black colors, with long braided hair and various tattoos of symbolic meaning along his face and neck. "I agree, Lord High Cleric. I offer one of my strongest battleships, The Holy Scripture lead by Chief Salkxo to meet with this Voice of God."

Rastadan smiled as he continued his words. "It is good that you have volunteered such as I have the perfect messenger to go along with this journey...." Rastadan motioned to the door and in walked young Kilarn and Shaman Hidalar. Your son, Kilarn was the one that offered up to me, this vision of words and I have deemed him worthy of this great task, to be our voice along with my appointed Shaman Hidalar."

Kalicorn seemed taken back for a few moments before chuckling at his son. "It seemed that you have been given your chance at a play at destiny after all, my son. I approve of your task. You shall bring us all great Honor and Honor to our Tribe and Alliance. Now. I believe that we should put this venture to a vote?"

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

The vote passed with a majority and soon enough, the ship was prepared along with the crew and supplies. Kilarn was nervous, but he felt that this was his chance to shine and he had to be ready, even if he felt the butterflies squirming around in his stomach. But this was his moment, his chance to prove himself and be remembered in history. He was to be a representive of the Wapokol Alliance to another Empire.

As the ship began its journey, he thought back to his Father's words to him, "Remember Kil, speak softly but carry a big stick. Even if you are coming in peace, be ready to have to use your strength should it prove necessary."

Kilarn's first night on the ship was one where he was unable to sleep. He thought back to the lush jungles that were his home. The brilliant ancient architecture that he loved to watch. Participating in hunts for Beast Machines alongside his peers. Eventually he drifted off to sleep.

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

After a long journey, The Holy Scripture arrived at the given coordinates. A shaman opened up the communication channel and Kaliarn spoke up. "Chysnoid Holy Union. I am Kilarn, third son of the Grand Chief Kalicorn of the Frozen Brothers Tribe, members of The Wapakol Alliance. We have come upon your message of peace from your Voice of God and wish to communicate with you."​

 

[doodleSM]

• Flat Moon
• In the Shadows
• Orders built on Hatred

• 
  
  Flat Moon
  
  "There is no deliverance for the weak." - Haamid el-Mady, Philosopher
  
  Deep within Heydrian Space, there were many listening posts and stations to survey Heydrian space for traffic and signals. The base was located in the far reaches of the Al-Emin system on the desert planet of Jayne. Commander Lawrence Syyn had a small garrison keeping tabs on various signals and frequencies. Slaves and rebels constantly send messages across the Empire. It was their task to find them and bring to the Heydric version of justice.
  
  In the listening room, Legionary Faheem el-Assad was idly tapping his fingers on the console. "Hey Albrecht, you ever tried going on the historic channels? They say that there's ghost lingering on them." Albrecht was a sturdy and well built Heydrian "Sure, just don't let Commander hear us." Faheem nodded. They changed the signal. Immediately, they found a signal. "Seems that there are ghosts on the wavelengths today, huh?" Faheem teased him. Albrecht sighed, "Whatever, open a frequency. Probably some traders." With a tap of the button, the frequency was opened. "To any Heydrian who can hear me! I am Namor Galbur, I am a descendant of the lost seed ship, the Seigehead! I wish to reconnect to my people, reconnect your lost people to you! Please respond!" echoed at the Al-Emin Listening Post, the two soldiers looked at each other awkwardly.
  
  The two soldiers got on the intercom. "Heydrian SOS signal detected. Standby, hailing Namor's ship. Tell a boarding party to approach."
  
  "This is Al-Emin Post, you are within Heydrian Space. Stay put whilst we approach your ship. Hail Syren."​
• 
  
  In the Shadows
  
  Hesar followed Baker, but he was flanked by two Heydrian legionaries. Hesar spoke with his hands formally behind his back. "So, gentlemen. How fare the war against the UEG? I hope that you've been making headway?" The two legionaries carried with them top of the line SLAVKA rifles. They trodden alongside Baker, watching Hesar closely. The men had a demeanor and aura of pure bred hatred. Whilst Hesar had an optimistic and sly smile.​
• 
  
  Orders Built on Hatred
  
  Few escaped the Psyker Purges in the Heydrian Empire. Those few fled beyond the Vaskran planets and into the fringe of the galaxy. Arkhan Severus was a former Lord-General of the Heydrian Legions. He possesses psychic power, albeit mediocre. Though, after the Voswall Incident, he defected from the Legion. The purges came shortly after his defection. Severus left with his acolytes. They created the Ordo Arcana deep in the eastern fringes.
  
  They taught new acolytes and fledgling Human Psykers that were located in the eastern fringes of the galaxy very powerful psychic powers. A mystical and esoteric form of psychic phenomena known as Arcanic Syntax Control was a difficult to maintain in the Ordo Arcana. Arkhan was labelled the Great Traitor by the Heydrian Empire. Apparently, a legendary and infamous wielder of psychic power. Though, the stories of course are blown out of proportion.
  
  He taught ten Human Psykers the discipline of Psychic Elementalism. The ability to use one's psychic potential to warp and manipulate light and dark.
  
  On the volcanic fringe world of Judge-Cauldron lies the inner sanctum of the Ordo Arcana. Arkhan meditated as an acolyte of his order entered.
  "I felt a rupture." The acolyte said. "As did I..." Arkhan said. Arkhan covered himself in blackened robes, his frame was well built. Typical build of former Heydrians. The acolyte was frail and measly. He had cut hair and lesser gray robes. "What does it mean?" The acolyte inquired. "It's a psychic resonance we can't fully comprehend. We can't do anything until we've had a greater understanding of the rupture."
  
  The acolyte nodded. Arkhan sighed "Saladin, right?" The acolyte looked to him "Yes, I am Saladin." Arkhan sighed. "Go to the galactic North, find the source and attune to it. Return to the Order." Saladin nodded, eagerly. "As you wish, my lord."​

 

[Corrosion]

• In the Shadows
• The Coming Darkness
• Awakening in Steel

• 
  
  
  In the Shadows
  UEG Rebels​
  
  Baker led the contingent from the landing pads and into the base proper. There were several other craft that were landed on the surrounding pads, mostly transports such as the retired DTT-137 Condor dropships. There were even a couple of foreign-manufactured craft. Trade was still somewhat limited with the other nations in the galaxy, but the market was still open, and for the most part, profit came above everything else, for both human and alien alike.
  
  As the Commander headed to the heavy doors, he nodded to a pair of power armoured CFF infantry standing on both sides and gripping their standard-issue CA223 assault rifles. They nodded and then turned and followed right behind the group as they passed. Compared to the legionnaries dressed in more simplistic uniforms, the troopers looked significantly more intimidating, and though none could see their expressions through their reflective visors, their faces were grim and serious.
  
  Heading inside the base, it was already very lively. Maintenance crews walked the base's hallways, followed by repair drones buzzing by after them. Soldiers in armour and fatigues also headed to their next assignment or simply wandered off-duty. The ones that were close to Baker immediately stopped what they were doing and hastily saluted, curiously looking at the Heydrians.
  
  "We've been making progress," said Baker as he passed a drone carrying several crates of equipment. "Us separatists have able to match the UEG on the field when it, but we still need more equipment. Heavier weapons. As you know, we get most of our equipment from various companies who support our cause. Even then, there's not enough, and there's only so much a company can get away with before getting investigated."
  
  They passed by a long window that showed the base's rather extensive underground hangar bay. There were dozens of craft docked there, from fighters to gunships to smaller warships. There were also ground vehicles, such as the old FT384 Sowar battle tanks and several APCs, among others. Hundreds of personnel were working on the vehicles there, preparing them for the next battle.
  
  Baker continued. "We still need better equipment for our troops, something the UEG doesn't have a counter to. They know what our equipment can do. These SLAVKAs are gonna be one hell of a surprise."
  
  Eventually, the came to a room that appeared to be a shooting range and several more CFF soldiers. There were no targets, however, as the range itself had not been activated yet. Baker stopped, turning to the Heydrians. "The CFF heads will want to see how these weapons of yours work themselves. Know that they're getting what they're paying for."
  
  On cue, a trio of holograms appeared, each one of a well-dressed official. The first was a man in fatigues, and the other two were a man and woman, both in sharp business suits. Baker took a moment to introduce the three.
  
  "General Vernon Tanner, CFF military commander," he pointed to the man in fatigues, who nodded.
  
  "Austin Crosby, management head," the man in the business suit stood up straight.
  
  "And Elena Fisher, CEO of Klimek Solutions, one of our key suppliers," the last one, the woman in the business suit, gave a short bow in respect.
  
  Elena spoke first. "Lord-Commander Hesar," she said, smart and businesslike. "Allow me to start by saying that it is a pleasure to meet you. It is unfortunate that we are not meeting in person."
  
  "Yes, yes," General Tanner interrupted. "Let's cut to the chase. I want to see what these weapons of your can do, whether we're getting what we're paying for," he turned to Baker. "Commander?"
  
  Baker nodded. "Yes, sir."
  
  He nodded to the technicians, who tapped their control pads. A second later the range lit up, holographic targets appearing. Baker turned to Hesar. "If you could demonstrate?"
  
  doodleSM
  
  
• 
  
  
  The Coming Darkness
  United Earth Government​
  
  Compared to the massive vessels of Task Force Akimbo, the Kissinger was tiny. It was only around two hundred and fifty metres and completely unarmed. As a diplomatic transport it had to be to avoid any incidents. It was currently in high orbit around Aglios, at the meeting point some five thousand kilometres away from the main task force. Here it waited for the alien vessels to send their own delegation.
  
  Complying with the request, the lights had been dimmed, and the alien vessel docked via the airlock. The aliens would first have to pass through the ship's bioscanners, light washing over them as the scanners detected any possible contaminant. After that came the decontamination itself, with a small amount of odourless gas of a special compound removing any traces of anything that might be harmful to humans.
  
  After that the airlock door itself opened, leading to the ship proper. There were several armed Marine guards there.
  
  Selee-01
  
  
• 
  
  
  Awakening in Steel
  Asphix Collective​
  
  Approximately three days after its reactivation, the Central Warmind had successfully brought 89% of Nexus Prime back online, with repairs nearing completion. The areas still offline had substantial damage and would need more time to repair. Production facilities were running at full power, fabricating countless machines to bring everything back to working order. It had also restored the functions of Production Hub 001, its main factory world in the Nexus System. The destroyed Warforms that littered its surface had been consumed for material by the factories, and following its directive to Replicate, they were producing thousands of Warforms each minute.
  
  Above each planet the Central Warmind was working to restore the satellite communications grid and hyperscanner array to gain more information about the galaxy it had awoken to. So far, it had detected more signals from the Chysnoid Holy Union, along with signals from several other nations, the closest ones being the Prestatin Order of Worlds and Izvrith Collective, the last of which also appeared to have a central intelligence that oversaw its operations.
  
  More nations meant more threats.
  
  That was unacceptable.
  
  The Asphix were still low on materials, however, as the closest worlds had already been stripped completely barren during the Swarm War. The Central Warmind had dispatched several World Eaters, massive constructs meant to harvest a world's raw materials and biomass for building materials and fuel to nearby worlds. During that time it had also discovered that much of its expansive Warp Filament network had been rendered offline. The network allowed Spaceborne units to near-instantly travel across the galaxy via linked Filaments, but now that most were offline craft had to depend on their Dark Matter Drives, which were considerably slower and much more inefficient.
  
  More worryingly, it had discovered that much of its memory banks remained corrupted. That meant that it had lost much of its knowledge of more advanced technology, and with the schematics gone, it essentially had to start from zero. Now it only had the technology and designs it had at the very beginning of the Asphix's creations during the Swarm War. It was advanced enough to still be interstellar, but it was a heavy blow. It had also discovered that many installations scattered throughout the galaxy such as its many Dyson spheres were too degraded and offline, and the Filaments that led to them unlinked. Once they were restored, however, the Asphix could be brought back to full operating capacity.
  
  But now it had an objective.
  
  <<Priority Target: [Chysnoid Holy Union {CHU}]>>
  <<Proceed to Target>>
  
  All targets had to be destroyed.
  
  It had to know the capabilities of the CHU, however. In the Asphix's weakened state attacking blind would be going against its directive to Preserve.
  
  So, the Central Warmind came up with a plan. It had gathered enough of the CHU's signals, and had found the distress signal it used. It would use it against them. Amassing a small fleet of two hundred attack-class vessels, small Spaceborne units no longer than thirty-five metres in length meant to swarm enemy ships and destroy them, it directed them through a working Filament to a star system five hundred light years away from CHU space. Then a derelict Garshul civilian vessel was left to drift, broadcasting the CHU distress call a maximum power. The fleet of Spaceborne Warforms was left to lay in wait for the first unsuspecting victim to arrive in system.
  
  Mechking
  
  

 

[KennethPhoenix18]

• Flatmoon
• Fallover
• In The Garden

• 
  Mission Log: Loki Einhar "Flat Moon"
  Operatives: Gilvo Juio [Rokuzari, Team Lead, Marksmen/Pilot], Lenna Hilma-Dita [Menzari, Demolation], Nna-ju [Kunsizari, Technical Expert]
  Current Status: Unknown (No reports in two standard months)
  
  The response came maybe an hour later, Lenna still hadn't seen her teammates since she was cuffed to the chair. None of her captors had mentioned them either. Namor stood quietly listening to the hail from the Al-Emin post, their accents were completely different from any of Zarian. He leaned toward the console and gave a curt reply. "Yes, we shall wait here for your men. Hail Syren..." The last part came off mild confused like a child saying something he doesn't understand but knows it was correct. Namor stood up straighter with a grin on his face. "Well look at that, no time at all."
  
  Lenna scanned the bridge, standard array. Helmsmen, navigator, communications, gunner, and captain. From what she remembered, these were all the same men that captured in the storage bay, it must have been a small crew. Maybe ten men at the most, the rest in engineering or guns. Or even guarding her Loki. It didn't matter, there were other five men on the bridge and she had broken the cuff thirty minutes ago. The closest man was the navigator, he had a single arc-pistol at his hip. She had planned this in her head multiple times. So what came next was just years of training in action. Turning herself toward the navigator, Lenna rolled off the cuff and rolled into action. The pistol came out easy, the man wasn't a solider it seemed. Turning it upward at his head, she fired. Moving to stand, in quick practiced succession Lenna shot the remaining crew members. Namor first. Not even six seconds passed and five people were dead.
  
  "We might be able to salvage this mission after all." She said going to the main entrance and locking it. "Still need to get my bearings through." Pushing off Namor's corpse from the main terminal, and began to access it. It was locked and nothing she could do outside of shooting would help. "Sh*t... I need to get Nna. He'd be able to get me in but where is he. Probably in the cyrobay." It was then she held heavy footsteps coming from the outside hallway. It sounded like two people. Moving, she unlocked and slid beside the door. It opened and one man rushed in quickly being shot in the head, falling over. The second cursed and stopped. Lenna waited, grinning. "Either stand down or die, Reverter." The sound of a gun dropping came from the hallway as she stepped out. Arms up in surrender, Lenna didn't hesitate in shooting him down.
  
  "Bloody reverters..." Running to the cryobay, she found Gilvo and Nna-ju in their pods still frozen. The terminal was thankfully unlocked as she began the thawing process. "Sh*t... This was a one-way plan... Not enough chems to do a trip back... " She smashed against the wall of the room and at the rate they were going, it would take another ten, maybe fifteen minutes to finish the thaw. The ship's AI sounded the proximity alert. "Unknown vessel approaching." Sighing, Lenna found her Loki suit and quickly put it on. She didn't take her rifle, it wasn't going to help in the plan she had.
  
  The boarding ship locked in and the airlock outside port opened. Lenna stood at the gate waiting. Her Loki armor was designed to be sleek but imposing. All black with silver trim and markings. The soldiers now entering her side flooded in their weapons at the ready. Lenna found it strange, seeing other humans. Not Menzari. Straight up she greeted them. "Welcome aboard. I am Lenna Hilma-Dita of the Menzari clan. I am acting Envoy for the Veiltium Clans. The man named Namor Galbur was a rogue agent and had been terminated. Who among you is the commanding office?" This gambit of her's was the best shot she, and the Clans had.
  
  Mission Status: Update... New mission codenamed- Envoy
  
  doodleSM
• 
  Mission Log: Loki Einhar "Stormseat"
  Operatives: Lawrue Kui [Menzari, Team Lead, Marksmen], Venja Kui [Menzari, Scout], Yeq Nami [Menzari, Technical Expert]
  Codename: "Fallover" - Active extrastellar piracy group known as "Harsh Reality" has acquired a combined total of 30 kilograms of raw Veiltium. Their intentions are to travel to a system beyond Clan controlled space and sell the Veiltium to an unknown buyer. Suspected to be connected to UEG. This is a long term mission, your team is to gain employment with the group and stay until the buy is planned to take place. At which point before the buy seize control of the ship and cargo, and in the guise of the crew break connections with the buyers. This will be in hopes of deterring future attempts.
  
  It had been about five months since Lawrue and his team first were brought abroad the Fallover. It was a mix of UEG and Heydrian humans for crew and now Menzari, but not just them. Traitors to the Clans he thought. The team of Loki came with the group as they had a cache of Veiltium they'd stole for the processing company they had worked for. It took command weeks to catch up with them, and it was too late for them to do a standard raid. So instead they went uncover and the time spent was about to come to fruition as the buy was about to happen soon. Lawrue didn't know if he and his team were the only Zarians to venture outside Clan space.
  
  The crew was packing other cargo and shifting crates around. Lawrue and his sister Venja were tasked here, Yeq was in engineering as her skills were better suited there. The buy was planned to happen fairly soon. Yeq had patched the team into the bridge's comms to kept tabs on when they would reach out. Yeq's part was to cut the power to the ship while Lawrue and Venja would then terminate the crew and secure the cargo. Simple plan, but Loki never plan for simple.
  
  "This is the Fallover, we will be at the location for the next hour. Hail back with your confirmation." The captain rang in their ears. Yeq smiled as she loosed her worm into the system, it would take a moment to kill power to the ship but enough to get the confirmation and set up the rest of their plan.
  
  Mission Status: Engaged
  
  Corrosion
• 
  
  In the Garden (Part 1)
  
  On Zari, in Elsia, at the Hilma Estates
  Manuna Mila Hilma, The Consort Urie Hilma, Matrona Kulara, Ouna Lucca Hilma, Kana Emil Hilma, Kana Jil Hilma
  
  ​
  In was a storming afternoon over Elsia, this was a common occurrence but thankfully the garden could easily be covered with the glass roofing. Today was an activity day for the Hilma family. Kulara was visiting, but she seemed to be always over so it was no different to any other day. Mila and her husband stood facing each other in simple battle garb, an ax, and shield equipped on them both. The children sat with Kulara to the side of the small arena in the garden. She dashed in the shield at the ready and took the beard of her ax hoping to catch and disarm him. Urie saw the move and letting the two weapons connect pulling up. With her wrist exposed he bashed it causing the ax to go flying out of her hand. Following it up, with a shield bash and kick pushing her out of the arena.
  
  A collective "Ooh" came from the three children and a small chuckle from Kulara. "This is why we send males to battle my dear Manuna." Mila with her years of training kept her composure. "That was too kind of you, Papa. You need to show a better example for your son. Right, Emil?" Mila looked at her son, the older of her twins. Emil smiled with the missing teeth of a boy of eight. Lucca, the firstborn and heir commented. "Is this not a duel, Mother? You challenged Papa and unexpectedly he won this time." Urie openly groaned Lucca had this bluntness to her that will be very useful for her in time.
  
  Mila stretched and went over to her family. It was a nice change pace from the publicity trip they'd been making to the Settled worlds. Mila wanted to enjoy her children's youth, while it lasted. Lucca was only two years before her Investiture getting the Pre-crown Markings. Sitting she took her youngest and sat her on her lap. Urie walked over and handed the ax to Emil. "So come my son. Let's teach you to be a proper Zarian!" Mila nervously laughed as a clawed hand pulled her back. "Give them space, your mate is wise as you are..." Kulara mused. Sighing Mila received a call on her private line. Putting down Jil, she got up and walked away from the group. Taking the call, a projection of a woman appeared in front of her, only she could see it. "Sorry to bother you, my Ruler... But I have disturbing news that you needed to hear immediately. The Loki Einhar, Flat Moon. We have confirmed our suspicions and I can report did go missing and were recently located in..." Mila could feel every hair on her body standing up straight. "Heydrian space. Loki Lenna sent a message using her codes to inform us that they are essentially trapped in their space and will be acting as an envoy to them. We will be monitoring the situation and getting you and the Grand Matrona updates as soon as we receive them. May your steel never waver Manuna." With that, the call ended, and Mila stood there frozen... "F**k..."

 

[Selee-01]

• In the Shadows
• The Coming Darkness
• Awakening in Steel

• 
  
  
  In the Shadows
  UEG Rebels​
  
  Baker led the contingent from the landing pads and into the base proper. There were several other craft that were landed on the surrounding pads, mostly transports such as the retired DTT-137 Condor dropships. There were even a couple of foreign-manufactured craft. Trade was still somewhat limited with the other nations in the galaxy, but the market was still open, and for the most part, profit came above everything else, for both human and alien alike.
  
  As the Commander headed to the heavy doors, he nodded to a pair of power armoured CFF infantry standing on both sides and gripping their standard-issue CA223 assault rifles. They nodded and then turned and followed right behind the group as they passed. Compared to the legionnaries dressed in more simplistic uniforms, the troopers looked significantly more intimidating, and though none could see their expressions through their reflective visors, their faces were grim and serious.
  
  Heading inside the base, it was already very lively. Maintenance crews walked the base's hallways, followed by repair drones buzzing by after them. Soldiers in armour and fatigues also headed to their next assignment or simply wandered off-duty. The ones that were close to Baker immediately stopped what they were doing and hastily saluted, curiously looking at the Heydrians.
  
  "We've been making progress," said Baker as he passed a drone carrying several crates of equipment. "Us separatists have able to match the UEG on the field when it, but we still need more equipment. Heavier weapons. As you know, we get most of our equipment from various companies who support our cause. Even then, there's not enough, and there's only so much a company can get away with before getting investigated."
  
  They passed by a long window that showed the base's rather extensive underground hangar bay. There were dozens of craft docked there, from fighters to gunships to smaller warships. There were also ground vehicles, such as the old FT384 Sowar battle tanks and several APCs, among others. Hundreds of personnel were working on the vehicles there, preparing them for the next battle.
  
  Baker continued. "We still need better equipment for our troops, something the UEG doesn't have a counter to. They know what our equipment can do. These SLAVKAs are gonna be one hell of a surprise."
  
  Eventually, the came to a room that appeared to be a shooting range and several more CFF soldiers. There were no targets, however, as the range itself had not been activated yet. Baker stopped, turning to the Heydrians. "The CFF heads will want to see how these weapons of yours work themselves. Know that they're getting what they're paying for."
  
  On cue, a trio of holograms appeared, each one of a well-dressed official. The first was a man in fatigues, and the other two were a man and woman, both in sharp business suits. Baker took a moment to introduce the three.
  
  "General Vernon Tanner, CFF military commander," he pointed to the man in fatigues, who nodded.
  
  "Austin Crosby, management head," the man in the business suit stood up straight.
  
  "And Elena Fisher, CEO of Klimek Solutions, one of our key suppliers," the last one, the woman in the business suit, gave a short bow in respect.
  
  Elena spoke first. "Lord-Commander Hesar," she said, smart and businesslike. "Allow me to start by saying that it is a pleasure to meet you. It is unfortunate that we are not meeting in person."
  
  "Yes, yes," General Tanner interrupted. "Let's cut to the chase. I want to see what these weapons of your can do, whether we're getting what we're paying for," he turned to Baker. "Commander?"
  
  Baker nodded. "Yes, sir."
  
  He nodded to the technicians, who tapped their control pads. A second later the range lit up, holographic targets appearing. Baker turned to Hesar. "If you could demonstrate?"
  
  doodleSM
  
  
• 
  
  
  The Coming Darkness
  United Earth Government​
  
  Compared to the massive vessels of Task Force Akimbo, the Kissinger was tiny. It was only around two hundred and fifty metres and completely unarmed. As a diplomatic transport it had to be to avoid any incidents. It was currently in high orbit around Aglios, at the meeting point some five thousand kilometres away from the main task force. Here it waited for the alien vessels to send their own delegation.
  
  Complying with the request, the lights had been dimmed, and the alien vessel docked via the airlock. The aliens would first have to pass through the ship's bioscanners, light washing over them as the scanners detected any possible contaminant. After that came the decontamination itself, with a small amount of odourless gas of a special compound removing any traces of anything that might be harmful to humans.
  
  After that the airlock door itself opened, leading to the ship proper. There were several armed Marine guards there.
  
  Selee-01
  
  
• 
  
  
  Awakening in Steel
  Asphix Collective​
  
  Approximately three days after its reactivation, the Central Warmind had successfully brought 89% of Nexus Prime back online, with repairs nearing completion. The areas still offline had substantial damage and would need more time to repair. Production facilities were running at full power, fabricating countless machines to bring everything back to working order. It had also restored the functions of Production Hub 001, its main factory world in the Nexus System. The destroyed Warforms that littered its surface had been consumed for material by the factories, and following its directive to Replicate, they were producing thousands of Warforms each minute.
  
  Above each planet the Central Warmind was working to restore the satellite communications grid and hyperscanner array to gain more information about the galaxy it had awoken to. So far, it had detected more signals from the Chysnoid Holy Union, along with signals from several other nations, the closest ones being the Prestatin Order of Worlds and Izvrith Collective, the last of which also appeared to have a central intelligence that oversaw its operations.
  
  More nations meant more threats.
  
  That was unacceptable.
  
  The Asphix were still low on materials, however, as the closest worlds had already been stripped completely barren during the Swarm War. The Central Warmind had dispatched several World Eaters, massive constructs meant to harvest a world's raw materials and biomass for building materials and fuel to nearby worlds. During that time it had also discovered that much of its expansive Warp Filament network had been rendered offline. The network allowed Spaceborne units to near-instantly travel across the galaxy via linked Filaments, but now that most were offline craft had to depend on their Dark Matter Drives, which were considerably slower and much more inefficient.
  
  More worryingly, it had discovered that much of its memory banks remained corrupted. That meant that it had lost much of its knowledge of more advanced technology, and with the schematics gone, it essentially had to start from zero. Now it only had the technology and designs it had at the very beginning of the Asphix's creations during the Swarm War. It was advanced enough to still be interstellar, but it was a heavy blow. It had also discovered that many installations scattered throughout the galaxy such as its many Dyson spheres were too degraded and offline, and the Filaments that led to them unlinked. Once they were restored, however, the Asphix could be brought back to full operating capacity.
  
  But now it had an objective.
  
  <<Priority Target: [Chysnoid Holy Union {CHU}]>>
  <<Proceed to Target>>
  
  All targets had to be destroyed.
  
  It had to know the capabilities of the CHU, however. In the Asphix's weakened state attacking blind would be going against its directive to Preserve.
  
  So, the Central Warmind came up with a plan. It had gathered enough of the CHU's signals, and had found the distress signal it used. It would use it against them. Amassing a small fleet of two hundred attack-class vessels, small Spaceborne units no longer than thirty-five metres in length meant to swarm enemy ships and destroy them, it directed them through a working Filament to a star system five hundred light years away from CHU space. Then a derelict Garshul civilian vessel was left to drift, broadcasting the CHU distress call a maximum power. The fleet of Spaceborne Warforms was left to lay in wait for the first unsuspecting victim to arrive in system.
  
  Mechking
  
  

The black cube extended a thread of rippling darkness, linking up with the airlock with a hiss. The Umbral Emissary patiently went through the decontamination, and the Marines saw their first Umbral. It was an ink-black sphere, roughly a meter across, and a faint golden light flickered at the edges of the orb.

GREETINGS
I AM THE EMISSARY DESIRED
LEAD ME TO YOUR DIPLOMATS

The Umbral's thoughts were deep, cold, and ancient. It regarded the Marines with slight interest, golden lights reflecting off their gear.

 

[Corrosion]

• New Frontiers, Old Memories
• The Coming Darkness
• Fallover

• 
  
  
  New Frontiers, Old Memories
  United Earth Government​
  
  Durgans took a step back, still in complete amazement. "That's amazing... truly amazing. This could change the entire history of faster-than-light travel. The Alcubierre didn't suffer a catastrophic malfunction, it just activated before the drive was fully primed."
  
  For hundreds of years the Pioneer was thought to be a failure, and with it billions of dollars and years upon years of research, gone in a flash. The world had united in the attempt to build a working interstellar drive, nations putting their differences aside for the betterment of humanity during what was a turbulent time. The joint initiative had hoped to launch humanity to the stars, solving the issue of being bound to a single life-giving planet and solar system. When the Pioneer was lost, the that venture fell apart, each side blaming each other for the loss and going back to the old ways.
  
  If they had known the Pioneer did work as intended were it not for a simple glitch in the system, humanity could've spread much earlier, and not a century and a half later with the discovery of the RIFT. Humanity could've united much sooner, and perhaps the situation would've been better than what it was now, with the humanity Durgans knew still warring with each other over wars od independence and power struggles.
  
  The Captain watched the video showing the Pioneer reactivating and using its payload of self-replicating drones to construct more and more machines, and then great cities and ships, transforming the planet it had landed on into a machine world. He watched as the territory of the Tekkan Simulator grew, growing to match that of the current UEG, and then more. An entirely new race was created from the ground up, machines much resembling the endoskeletons of UEG androids, countless billions of them.
  
  It was a lot to take in.
  
  While Durgans was watching the footage, Harris was in a conversation with his fellow A.I. within the realms of pure data. He was quite surprised that the Pioneer returned with Qubit Code in kind. "Interesting. According to records, you were programmed with traditional binary and not Qubit Code. It was still in its infancy when you were launched."
  
  He also took a few nanoseconds to completely analyse the several exabytes of data the Pioneer had sent over, and then compiled it for later review by his human compatriots.
  
  Durgans couldn't help but ask a question once the footage ended. "I have just one question: Why?" He asked. "Why simulate humanity, and the societies of Earth?"
  
  
• 
  
  
  The Coming Darkness
  United Earth Government
  ​
  Inside the Kissinger and on the other side of the airlock, Arham Gallindo couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He was a diplomatic of many years, having been present during the UEG's first contact with the Mizi’rikan Confederation. He knew what to do when dealing with new civilisations. Yet, the very prospect of meeting a new alien race was always to exciting, and harrowing. There could be another Vaskran War at any moment. As a precaution, Arham was surrounded by a squad of armed Marine guards, handpicked from the best in their unit to ensure the safety of the diplomats.
  
  The alien vessel that had been sent to meet them was as strange as its mothership, being a featureless black cube that seemed to move without any method of propulsion. The lights had been dimmed as part of the aliens' request. An odd request to be sure, but it was deemed a courtesy for meeting a new race. First impressions mattered, after all.
  
  Still, nothing could truly prepare Arham for the sight that greeted him when the airlock doors opened, nor could anyone else.
  
  It was a featureless, inky-black sphere floating a few feet off the ground, with a golden light flickering on its front as it 'spoke'. Arham felt a presence at the back of his mind he couldn't describe, but he could somehow hear what the alien was saying.
  
  Arham took a moment to compose himself, and then took a step forwards. "I am Arham Gallindo, and as a diplomat, on behalf of the United Earth Government and all of humanity, I bid you welcome."
  
  Selee-01
  
  
• 
  
  
  Fallover
  United Earth Government
  ​
  PIRATE STATION ORPHAN, KAPPA 9924 SYSTEM
  WILD SPACE
  
  Orphan Station was a fairly backwater station run by pirates located in Wild Space, the area of space administered by no nation. Instead, the ones who did were outlaws, smugglers, and pirates, the ones who cared little about the laws of the nations they were born to. The station itself was a medium-sized one, built into several hollowed-out asteroids joined by connectors, home to a population of a couple hundred comprised of various species. Most of its inhabitants were either Human or Vaskran. Just about all of them were the same breed of outlaw, of course.
  
  Still, despite its remote location a few thousand light years from the nearest UEG colony world, it was still a decently busy station for smugglers to trade their goods, mercenaries to accept jobs, and hitmen to accept bounties. A dozen small to medium-sized spacecraft circled the station, several docking in its hangar bay, and a few more either jumping in or out of the system.
  
  The station wasn't unarmed by any means, either. It was armed with several Gauss turrets scavenged from old UEGNC ships left to drift after a battle. Not enough to protect it from a well-armed fleet, but enough to keep anyone who thought of attacking the station or trying anything stupid away.
  
  For a few moments after the hail was sent there was only silence. Then came a response, a rather gruff voice laced with static. "Fallover, this is Orphan Station. Proceed to dock. You've got a couple of guys waiting for you."
  
  KennethPhoenix18
  
  
  

 

[Hercynia]

• Sempervivium
• Picket Ship "Lutea"

• 
  
  Blazing light cascaded from the captive star within Sempervivium, trapped in an infinite cycle and web of subtly-shifting gravitational fields, overseen by the ceaseless, watchful eye of the facilities primary inhabitant. Hedra was, of course, doing rather more than just star-gazing, as it were - its attention split countless ways and its mind - if you could call it that - working on an inconcievable amount of data. Of course, it was only inconcievable to something with limits - limits that Hedra had long since moved past, what with ever-expanding processing units and storage, the yottabytes of memory, and the near-arcane crystalline matrices that made Hedra what it was - all powered by the sun which only Hedra could regulate. It was almost a self-fulfilling loop - one could no longer exist without the other in their current state - but Hedra was not in the process of wasting processing cycles on waxing poetically.
  
  Instead, most of it was focused on two seperate places. The first, within Sempervivium itself, in one of the collosal shipyards as countless twisting threads pulled together in the distinct hulking shape of a Titan-class ship, simultaneously brutal and elegant as it slowly pulled itself together. The other, directed coreward as sensors lay idle in space, research stations orbited and data was produced from the supermassive black hole that formed the basis of all life in the galaxy.
  
  It was no particular secret that the Izvrith Collective was advancing coreward, though to most - even those within the Collective itself - it looked like a mere aquisition of further territory. After all, it was unclaimed and relatively secure, with the few systems there heavy in valuable resources that could be used and shaped to advance the nation. That, of course, was one reason - but it was not the key purpose that Hedra, that the collective had. Not truly. Anybody who saw the expansive research stations, must have put together the numbers - there was much more at play here than anything as simple as territory. The only question that remained, of course, was precisely what that was.
  
  
• 
  
  The Frigate "Lutea" moved through space, its regularly-flashing blue lights the only source of illumination for light-years as it moved, relatively slowly across its patrol route. The ship was busy, onboard, but hushed - not quite to the level that it would be described as silent, but certainly tense. A quiet concerned aura around each crewmember as they worked on their respective speciality. This was one of many suspected smuggling routes, and command had given the order to extend the patrol here - just in case. A frigate was overkill, perhaps - but then, with no wars to fight, the Collective had the ships to spare. For now, at least.
  
  The thin sliver of unoccupied space - a politcal no-man's-land - between the Mizi'rikan Confederation and the Izvrith Collective was a popular destination - it didn't belong to either side, and so it belonged to those who were the same. Those who had left the Collective tended to remain here, close enough to slip into their borders and benefit, and far enough away to be almost untouchable without calling the said borders into question.
  
  Even the fact that the Lutea was present was worrying, for some - particularly those aboard it. Civilian traffic was all very well, but the frigate was distinctly military. It hadn't crossed any borders, and hadn't fired any weapons - but should somebody run the wrong way, and give cause for the Lutea to chase, if they retreated into Mizi'rikan space, it could be dangerous. The Collective outgunned the Confederacy, of course - at least in their eyes - but nobody wanted a war. Friendly relations were important enough, and maintaining them more so.
  
  Martydi