STGOD2k6 Diplomacy

[Stormin]

Many lighyears away from Diem space, MKS-150 Strength dropped into real-space. The was no surprise at the lack of signs indicating the nearby presence of civilization. It was expeced that finding X-5 would take some effort. The ship sent a tightbeam FTL tansmission to the Republic, informing them of the situation. Strength then engaged active scanning in the hopes of finding its destination.

Like most systems, the system the alien ship jumped into had not warrented more than an automated observation station. Watching essentially nothing was not wortwhile for a full AI and even the caretaker program was low awareness when the ship arrived.
Caretaker noticed the intrusion and began its if/then checklist. Quickly it was determined that the incursion was not a Diem ship, even one centuries newer than the latest update recieved. First step in the alien detection program was to awaken the fully sentient but dormant AI, a task which would take hours. While this was starting, some of the jump capible message pods, that were shielded by the star so they wouldn't be noticed, jumped away to alert the observation hubs. Next was to keep the aliens here long enough that the AI could awaken.
On the outermost rocky planet of the system, the small atomic-decay generator burst into its full fission function to ignite the fusion plant. Small but powerful communications arrays pointed towards where the alien ship was and began sending obviously artifical pulse transmissions on every frequency that they were capable of.

[Nephtys]

GND Solaris...

"We are indeed, biologically of a race called 'Human'." Highwater placed her gloved hands down, looking at the screen with a nod. "But while we appreciate the gesture, the ship has no need for the bodies of outsiders. While we respect the deceased, those belonging to lesser factions of our species. We are.. distinct from them." she adds, with an arrogant air. Just a little.

She turns to the holographic recorder, looking towards it. "Alien probe, we would like to conduct diplomacy in person if you don't mind... if you are capable of even taking offense. It is the way of our people to avoid intermediaries whenever possible."

GNCL Emberwind...

Makina Northbloom adjusted her collar slightly, unsealing the helmet. "Well. That was a big waste of time." she held it under her arm, shaking off the transit back. "This makes overseeing a refit feel exciting." she murmurs to the Lieutenant following her in.

Lieutenant Maeda still looked stunned, after it all. "Commander, do you think the assassination will have any affect on those other nations? I know many of them were backwards and superstitious, but we'll have problems if a few of them turn hostile..." she replies softly.

"Why would you think that?" Northbloom smiled. "We will see through it as we always have. Letting them destroy each other, should they choose that as their path." The pair moved along to the command deck, and Northblood stretched out her white suited arms.

"Commander on deck!" Maeda called out, then turning. "Your orders?"

"Continue patrol course." Northloom considered carefully, "Then rendevous with Fourth Squadron as we make our turnaround, and let's see about a resupply." she nods, turning. "I'm getting some sleep..."

With that, the Commander stepped back through the doorway and rubbed her eyes. After this mess, a good few hours in her pod was just what she needed.

[Companion Cube]

Gdnar.temp241.term
userprofile: combatant leader 2nd class T'gir (Tacted)
access "Log"
input password: //accepted

My efforts on behalf of the Expeditionary Force continue, with two successful extermination ops this week. The sapient amphibian species discovered roughly two months ago has proved definately hostile, with no tribal, ethnic, or national divisions identified between concentrations to the north-east and south of Landing's position.

Initially, it was hard to understand how Fleet could have missed them; first contact was with a three hundred-strong raiding party armed with primitive muzzle-loaders and spears, and we were able to track the remnants to a sizeable settlement straddling the banks of the southern delta's westernmost river. The huts we found (hovels, really) were irregular in shape and constructed of mud. What's more, there was nothing to suggest they were actual homes; each seemed to be a storehouse for weaponry or food, with the only natives present serving as guards. It was only after our punitive force had quit the field that the remote sensors we'd emplaced caught a glimpse of the town's inhabitants: over five thousand of them, emerging from the river, where they'd obviously been hiding.



Later dissections by the xenobiologists confirmed that the natives were cold-blooded, and this, taken with the haphazard nature of their structures, explains why orbital scans failed to spot them. With the new data in mind, analysts are reviewing the logs, and have so far tentatively identified two probable cities, as well as numerous towns and villages. A reason for the regular tracks running through the jungle is now apparent; they are war paths, and the fact that they are excavated waist deep along their length indicates that ambushes are regular occurances.

[Stormin]

<Snip>

Probe looked at at the communication and agreed with the idea.
"I agree. With your permission, I will retract my scanning network and send a message to a designated contact point. Once I recieve a reply I will be able to enter full diplomatic discussions at a time and place of your chosing."

[Adrian Laguna]

The Captain of the Strength enjoyed the view, everywhere the beautifully intricate constellations and stars. A direct plug like this would have overwhelmed him in a combat situation, that is why one delegates tasks to other officers. But for simply enjoying the view, nothing beats having a military ship's entire sensor grid replacing all of your senses. Of course, the fact that he had no control over where the sensors were being pointed was slightly vexing, but he had a duty to make contact with X-5, and his pleasure was not going to interfere with it.

Suddenly, something new came-up, shortly followed by a stronger signal. The Captain senses withdrew from the grid. He asked nobody in particular what had happened, and mentally kicked himself for not ordering a more in-depth survey of the system.

Power signal on one of the planets and pulsing transmission on virtually every EM frequency coming from it. A signaling device. Apparently a small low-profile outpost. The Strength Folded into orbit for a closer look. Everything seemed automated, no signs of life. Though clearly something was powering-up. Maybe send a team to scout? Diplomats counsel against landing univited in other people's property.

Doesn't appear to be much to do exept maybe see if the thing's owners have noticed that somebody triped their perimeter alarm. The Captain orders a detailed scan of every rock in the system, if nothing else, to give the crew something to do.

[Stormin]

<snip>

As more processing power was brought on-line Observer was able to understand more about the visiter. Mass calculations and estimates of maximum engine power and guesswork on the ships function. It was built for combat, but it was so different from the wrecks of human ships that Observer doubted it was built by the descendants of that race.
Observer stopped broadcasting the beacon and reviewed its options. The alien was currently performing an active scan of everything in the system and would most likely find most of the observational satalites that were placed near every major body in the system though it had a good chance of missing the heavily shielded and deeply buried main node.
Selecting the highest bandwidth channels avalable, the secondary node began translating greetings to the aliens in Diem's language codings, ancient Human codings (the latest recieved by this rather out of the way outpost) and several artificial mathmatic languages.

[Glimmervoid]

"Sir" said the com officer with a hint of worry in his voice, "I have a message here giving us further instruction"
"Well you are the com officer" replied the ships Captain, "What dose it say"
"No Sir you don’t understand I have a message here on my computer but it did not come through the com system, it just appeared. It says we should dock with the asteroid we just scanned and giving a long list of procedures to accomplish this"
"Just like the message on my computer screen", said Coldrock "it just appeared no, sender no evidence of a hacker"
"You mean you knowingly brought my ship in to contact with a people who have near free rain over our computer systems. What would have happened if they had ordered our shields to fall, or a power plant to over load." snapped the Captain
"I don’t believe there current actions prove they could do that Captain," said one of the science officers "There is a big difference putting a message in to our system and overriding layers of safe guards."
"I dose not matter", said Coldrock razing his voice over the officer who was about to continue, "This mission could be vital to the Silver Flame, all our lives are insignificant next to that."
"I am not happy about this", said the Captain "but we have come this far we might as well see what these people have to say for them selves and I will set the ship on a dead man switch so if it is a trap this new race will be unable to gain any useful information. Helmsman take us in to the asteroid and began the outlined docking sequence."

The Egbert moved towards the asteroid, it then begin the a sequence of actions which cumulated in it docking with a metallic recess within the asteroid.

After the airlock was properly secured, the Captain, Coldrock and an assortment of science and security officers stepped through in full hasmat gear there minds on fire with what they might find.

[Spyder]

The interrior was old, very old. Writing in some odd alien language ran along the centre of the wall, small lines of writing in various different texts ran under it, translations into different languages perhaps.

The echo of an air scrubber could be heard humming throughout the corridor. The atmosphere was detected normal.The door almost sounded as though it was grinding on it's hinges as it split apart, the anxiety among the group grew as they continued on, the door closing behind them, they were torn between their curiosity as to what lies ahead, their anxiety for what they were getting into and their hope that the door they just passed through was going to open again on the way out.

The lights brightened, one of the Quelectin briefly checked his vitals to ensure he wasn't in the midst of a heart attack. They found themselves inside a larger room, compared to their relative size the room could have been described as cavernous. On the far wall a screen beeped to life showing an image that the Quelectin had only just witnessed.

The Aetherclipper gracefully glided towards its destination, voices were heard, Quelectin com traffic distorted behind background noise. Before their very eyes the chilling events repeated themselves, the camera zoomed in to show the remains of the vessel bursting into flames as it descended through Shearwater's upper atmosphere.

Coldrock's heart sank as he watched the footage.

"Oh dear." Came a voice from another corner of the room. A bald man dressed in a white coat was standing there, how long the apparent human been there was anyone's guess. "You know, it seems to be getting harder and harder to meet people without someone being told to piss off, getting shot or exploding." He paused briefly, "Now, we understand why you did what you did, you didn't know their intentions, there was a world with a sizeable population below and you had to make a decision. When faced with the same circumstances we would probably do the same thing."

He spoke slowly and clearly, casually inflecting a random syllable. "Them however, we are not so sure. Our information is not as complete as we'd prefer. What we do know is that they posess significant numbers of spaceships and planets and have been known to become very angry when either of these assets are threatened." The screen zoomed out to a map of the cluster. Various regions were marked as restricted areas by travelers and independant traders, areas where they knew that their activities would wind up at the scrutiny of one empire or another. Vague outlines of known Crobuzon and Silver Flame territories were displayed on the map, providing a comparrison between the two.

"Oh dear." He reitterated.

[Nephtys]

<Snip>

Probe looked at at the communication and agreed with the idea.
"I agree. With your permission, I will retract my scanning network and send a message to a designated contact point. Once I recieve a reply I will be able to enter full diplomatic discussions at a time and place of your chosing."

"Transmission confirmed, Commander. Coordinates sent."

Highwater nodded. Avatar had told her all she needed to, and specified coordinates around a small and uninhabited body at the fringe of patrolled Gaian space. Her stern face turns to the viewer again.

"And please. Send someone for me to talk to the next time. Proxy by probe seems terribly unsatisfying."

[Stormin]

Colony world 1
Tadom rested comfortably on the bench and inserted the rod end of a device, that looked much like a crystal wineglass with no bottom, into the sand in the bowl on the table before him. Holding it carefully, Tadom moved his other hand and with one finger resting on the lip of the glass he began to move his hand in a circular motion causing the glass to humm and vibrate slightly. The sand exploded in a writhing motion and the glass device jerked sharply.
The insects that were in the sand had a death grip on the rod, one powerful enough to crack the hard crystal in a few spots. With delicate motions, Tadom began to eat the creatures. The meal had just begun when the message came through from the systems primary AI.
A probe had contacted an alien species, and being the most convienient expert on aliens, mostly from time spent on the human digs, he was being asked to be part of the first prepared contact. A hull was currently being readied with the most powerful computer systems and databases and would be ready to leave within days.

[Glimmervoid]

“What, what would you advise” Coldrock stuttered, “we could never stand up to a power of that size. We would be crushed with in weeks, likely less.”

“Maybe we could fall back and fortify The lesser Library, with just one system and its dedicated defences we could hold out longer, or maybe our people could leave as we did during the fall of the Grater Library” said the captain.

“No” said Coldrock simply stating a fact, we have invested too much here me must stay”, turning to the human “Why are you telling us this, why help us?”.

[Spyder]

"This isn't about what I want. The real question is, how far would you be willing to go in order to protect your people? If you had the power to repel an invasion of such a magnitude would you use it? Would you have the resolve to take such a power and use it to drive your enemies back into their own lands so that they could never threaten your people again and send a powerful message to others that would try? If you personally had the choice between leading your civilisation into a new era that will last until the stars grow old or facing total annihilation, what would be your decision?"

[Duckie]

NGC-1138B-159C2-9 [New Revised Standard] Monau-Ra
Imperial Capital:: O-Toik District:: Salrt-Ryoan Embassy

"The Salrt-Ryoa Clan, as the nearest clan with the capability to transit beyond the rift, must be allowed to lead this expedition, your Honor!" barked the tall member of the aforementioned clan.

"Nonsense," retorted the other Khar, infuriatingly calm, "Obviously, given the karmic history of the Salrt-Ryoa and the nescessity of this history as a success, an alternative approach using the Dlyfirq world of Sarkhum."

At this, the Salrt-Ryoan uncrouched, smashing his backrest against the wall. "You know as full as I do that the inheritance of that Lamnyate has gone on undisputed by-"

"-any but Clan Dlyfirq itself," finished the Imperial Magistrate, smirking. "Honored representatives, so sorry, but if you don't finish this either by duel or by word, I will be forced to give this contract to the Imperials. You have twenty five seconds."

"This isn't over, waterwalker," muttered the Salrt-Ryoa representative.

"Agreed. Neither of us?" asked the Dlyfirq.

"We deserve it."

"Gentlemen? Twenty," warned the Imperial Clanswoman.

"Our alliance could take yours easily. The Imperial Court would support us- oh, damn it, I know, time. Ryefrau."

"Military? An acceptable proposal."

"Agreement," said the Imperial Representative, clapping her hands together in faux joy. "Now, Clan Ryefrau will be duly contacted. So glad to have done business with the two of you."

It is said that the best diplomacy leaves no one happy.

=========

Avalonian League Space
Joint Imperial/Clan Ryefrau (Unilaterally Approved) Expedition To Nevaryutib Space
taskforce:AZATOTH

Captain Yetneqqird "Yetne" Akeq'Naltudj looked over the map.

"So you're saying that we're approaching from the Coreward direction, now?"

His astrogator nodded absently. "The rift, you see," he said sagely. "Impeded direct routes. We're coming to the first planet in this Nevaryutib area, the one with the strongest deep space radio signals and other sensort data."

Yetne paused. "Wouldn't that be their capital?"

"I don't know, sir, so sorry but I am a humble astrogator, not a planetary communications operator."

Yetne looked at the course. "Well, we're about to find out," he said, full of a bravado that came naturally but wasn't at all natural. This mission was a waste of time. They'd been out for a long time and there likely wasn't anything here anyhow.

"Translating to realspace!"

--------------------------
Unknown Avalonian League System

Realspace warped in on itself and was torn to ribbons for an extraordinarily small amount of time.

First out were the LKLR Frigates Majestic Justice Of The Sword and 47th Empress Sagacious Inafitya, the front spearhead of the mission. Were any guns to open up, the unimportant frontguards would take the casualties, not the next ship.

The next ship was the LKLR Light Cruiser Righteous Incineration Of The Apostate, flanked by a pair of Destroyers and two Frigates.

Making up the rear transition was another pair of destroyers and four frigates.

All of the thirteen ships were small, relatively defenseless against Ships of the Wall, and blaring a comm signal across as many channels as possible.

"Nevaryutib Planet. We apologize for intruding upon your nest during a time of ceasefire or peace. This is the Imperial Khar Naval, Clanfleet Ryefrau/Imperial Family Cooperative Venture taskforce:AZATOTH Xenological Scout Mission.

Your race has been detected and logged by the Khar Imperium. We, the Great Race of Khar, have decided not to alarm you by sending actual Naval Vessels and have made this taskforce composed entirely of escorts and picket ships.

Your race has been given probationary and temporary tag status of VII and has this been deemed to be of Class VII variety. We do not, at this current moment, speaking for this clan and all of its backers (which in this case includes all clans and families, none dissenting), wish to harm you. Thus, you could concievably and not without reason interpret this as,

'We come in peace.'

We await your reply. If none comes within one thirtieth of a solar rotation, we shall depart."

[OOC-
Matt Huang, I didn't say specifically that I arrived in your capital to avoid presuming as to your defenses. Feel free to get my fleet lost anywhere in your map.]

[Total Force in taskforce:AZATOTH within Avalonian Space:
52 Points
8 x 3-point Point Defense Frigates
4 x 5-point Patrol Destroyers
1 x 8-point Light Cruiser [Flagship]
]

[Adrian Laguna]

[I like a no dialogue writing style, it's fun. There are a couple of lines in this one though]

Uninhabited System, not very far from Diem space:

Strength was in the middle of uncovering various surveillance satelites and getting firing solutions on them (gun crews were bored), as well as gathering as much data as it could on them. When suddenly, the same location as before began sending information. Languages... one of the diplomats recognized the languange of Corombion, or rather an badly broken version of it. "Corombion? Aren't those the guys we had a trade dispute with back during the Great Wars?" asked the Captain. "Trade dispute doesn't quite cover it, and we had trade disputes with many powers," answered the diplomat, "but yes, basically."

Apparently the automated outpost has decent programing. The diplomatic team got to work trying to figure-out which of the various greetings would be in the native language. Basing it on the type of synthax and construction prevalent among all the greetings, as well as the way the mathematical languages were constructed. After quite some time of diligent work a candidate was selected to be the most probable native language. The fact that it was the most alien among the list kind of sped-up things, but double-checking never hurt anyone. There wasn't nearly enough to try to work on a translation, but it might prove to be useful.

The ship replied, sending the native greeting (they hoped) back, as well as a greeting in the Mekidar native language. Having nothing to do, as all the bodies had been surveyed, and an obsevation satellite detected around each one. Some of the crew suggesting taking pot-shots at one of them from across the system, but the diplomats raised-up such a storm of indignation that nobody got laugh at the joke. They laughed at the diplomatic team instead. The Captain ordered a high orbit set-up around the planet with the automated outpost.

Gain Compact Space
A few light-hours from the outskirts of the Prinam system
(Outskirts meaning outermost planets, not Oort cloud)

MRS-123 Rock passed trough the space-time rip, out of subspace and into realspace. It began to coast in at high c-fractional speeds, the comms transmiting at full power and on all spectrums. Hopefully the simple and painfully obvious repeating patern would discourage any thoughts of hostility. The distance from the system would hopefully also help in that reguard.

Hubira System
~50 AUs from the local star (assuming 1 solar mass)

MRS-124 Boulder, emerges out of subspace as the Captain was in the middle of cursing loudly. As the good Captain continued on his diatribe of foul and unspeakable things, the ship began to transmit a simple pulsing sequence on all communications bands. The Captain finally finished his cursing.

He was still very angry, Rip Drives really don't like time-space distortions and they had emerged unconfortably close to two of them. The Emergency Transition safety was activated by the local sun 7.5 terameters away, and a large asteroid now 12,000 km distant. To make matters worse, they had emerged much closer to the alien system than what is considered diplomaticlaly 'safe'. Well, at least the safety system worked, not that he expected it not to. Though it would have been better to have been using the Transition Denial safety, then they'd be at the other end of the system and not so darned close.

[Raxmei]

"Attention, interlopers. You are tresspassing within Khar Space.

This planet, Rytau Kabinalak, is a member of Clan Ryefrau of the Khar Imperium, and is accorded all rights of it up to and including defense by patrol vessels.

You are not broadcasting Imperial Khar Nevari (?Slave Race) Designated Transport Vessel Transponder Signals, and are therefore deemed to be Nevaryutib (??Non-Nevari). This is currently acceptable, although it is mandated by the Gods that this be corrected some day in the future.

Nevaryutib Vessel(s?), your presence is a premature reversal of your final fate and is not appreciated unannounced and (?unpurposed). Please state your business within the Imperium."

"Generic greeting. Tresspass is part of the current business. The Custodial Staff claims an area nearby, as obviously does the Khar Imperium. This expedition was meant to stop short of your borders and apprently intruded too close. To prevent further incidents of this nature, we give you the boundaries of Custodian space and ask that you give us your own information.
This fleet came prepared for diplomacy. If you wish to talk with us you are welcome. If not, we ask to be allowed to leave."

[Nephtys]

Gain Compact Space
A few light-hours from the outskirts of the Prinam system
(Outskirts meaning outermost planets, not Oort cloud)

MRS-123 Rock passed trough the space-time rip, out of subspace and into realspace. It began to coast in at high c-fractional speeds, the comms transmiting at full power and on all spectrums. Hopefully the simple and painfully obvious repeating patern would discourage any thoughts of hostility. The distance from the system would hopefully also help in that reguard.

The Prinam System research outpost had long since detected the inbound high-speed object on her powerful sensor arrays, and the Fleet had already been notified. What was the object's mass and purpose? The wide-band broadcasts were unusual, and a ship was sent to Intercept.

GNCS Whisperwind, a new ship of the Swiftstrike class darted out, with the Lightrider class GND Flashfire in escort.

Aboard her sleekly designed command center, crews worked busilly to prepare for an engagement. A C-Fractional object was inbound, perhaps headed for the planet. It had to be contacted and stopped by all means. Twenty three million Gaian lives could be at risk.

Commander Stoutkin sat with perfect posture at his station, monitoring their rapid closing with the alien object. He was a thinly built man with a slightly receeding hiarline, entering his late sixties. Although the slight tint of grey had begun to seep into his scalp, he remained biologically thirty through Gaian medical techniques.

"Whisperwind Actual to Flashfire." he said to his station, displays flipping on. "Increase your thrust and perform a high-speed flyby. On approach, transmit the following message while we'll decelerate to match vectors."

Code: Select all

Alien craft, you are intruding into Gaian compact space at high speed. Please reverse your thrust and come to a relative stop with the system primary, or we will be forced to engage, for the safety of our colonial assets.

We mean no aggression towards you or your Governing body, but we will be forced to engage should you pass beyond the orbit of the system's sixth planet.

"Keep signalling them if they can't translate in any possible way. If they cross the orbit of the Seventh planet, fire a salvo across their bow." Commander Stoutkin ordered as he sat with curled fingers, gloved hands squeezing together tensely. He was on edge, and wasn't going to be held responsable for any possible kind of alien attack.

[Stormin]

<snip>

(OOC: Diem ships are egg shaped and white with the only real noticeable features are the engines in the back. The ships are smaller than other races craft of the same type because they are designed to be crewed by a single individual at most.)

Hull 47 ((Cruiser [20] [+5 vs Capital]Carries 20 points worth of Combat Drones )) and its escorting vessels, Hull 91 and 133 ((Corvette [10] [+3 vs Fighter] 5 points worth of Combat Drones)) jumped into the system now labeled Contact Point 2, well away from the alien craft on the far side of the system.
Rapid fire burst transmissions passed between the Cruiser and Node 2, and consensus was reached. Hulls 47 and 91 left the system and Hull 133 began transmitting to the aliens where Node 2 had left off. Much more powerful and modern AI systems in the warship began the tedius task of trying to decode the language.
The design of this aliens ship was completely different, as well as the languages, from the first report from a probe in the system now labeled Contact Point 1. This meant that the work of the probe, once that later data arrived this far away, was almost worthless.
The exchanges of language data was working, it did not take as long as feared to create a sufficiently large database of concepts and words that simple messages could be sent with reasonable expectations of being understood. Using a seperate channel from the one currently being used for the language transmissions, Hull 133's AI sent a basic message of greetings and non-hostility in a simplified version of the aliens language.

[Duckie]

"Generic greeting. Tresspass is part of the current business. The Custodial Staff claims an area nearby, as obviously does the Khar Imperium. This expedition was meant to stop short of your borders and apprently intruded too close. To prevent further incidents of this nature, we give you the boundaries of Custodian space and ask that you give us your own information.
This fleet came prepared for diplomacy. If you wish to talk with us you are welcome. If not, we ask to be allowed to leave."

"As the Khar Imperium is the rightful and inevitable owner of all of the Universe and its contents, your supposition is more correct than you would have previously assumed. However, in a more practical sense, you have indeed entered the military boundaries of the Clan Ryefrau enclave within Clan Salrt-Ryoan territory.

The following territory is considered Imperial Khar Militarily Enforcable Interdicted Space. File Attachment Sent. In addition, coordinates NGC-0701Z-912S-7 (New Revised Coordinates) is a Khar system north of the Imperium that does not connect to the main body of the Imperium's temporal territory.

Diplomacy with the Nevaryutib is an acceptable proposition. State the nature of your business within the Holy Imperium. You undoubtedly are here to create a peace or state of mutual ceasefire, as to commit suicide on the talons of such an obviously greater power would not be an intelligent gesture. Are we correct in this assumption?"

[Lancer]

[ooc: After consulting both my system map and the main STGOD map, and taking into account the detection of radio and other long-outdated means of communication, the only world/system that fits your criteria is Avalon itself. Rest assured though, the Avalonians may be insular but they're not the type to immediately slaughter sudden visitors. However, any unauthorized attempts to land would be most unwise given the presence of a full-coverage planetary shield grid.]

A small fleet of vessels was floating around the planet, ranging from macabre multi-kilometer scale constructs that appeared to be constructed of bone and solidified darkness, to small, roughly cylindrical crystalline blue vessels that were barely twenty meters long. By their complete lack of reaction, the fleet indicated that the Khar expedition indeed posed no threat at all.

It took a short time for FleetCom Main to match the alien language with a precursor form in the Ancestor Database and create a translation key. The signal was translated and the information within passed along to the Senate Xenos Council, who would be interested on some level in finding the decendants of one of the races the Ancestors had catalogued long before the first fall.

In the meanwhile, the head of FleetCom Main was charged with the defense of the League. He had communications open an audio-only channel and spoke.

"Khar vessels, you are well within Avalonian League space. State your intentions now."

[Duckie]

[ooc: After consulting both my system map and the main STGOD map, and taking into account the detection of radio and other long-outdated means of communication, the only world/system that fits your criteria is Avalon itself. Rest assured though, the Avalonians may be insular but they're not the type to immediately slaughter sudden visitors. However, any unauthorized attempts to land would be most unwise given the presence of a full-coverage planetary shield grid.]

A small fleet of vessels was floating around the planet, ranging from macabre multi-kilometer scale constructs that appeared to be constructed of bone and solidified darkness, to small, roughly cylindrical crystalline blue vessels that were barely twenty meters long. By their complete lack of reaction, the fleet indicated that the Khar expedition indeed posed no threat at all.

It took a short time for FleetCom Main to match the alien language with a precursor form in the Ancestor Database and create a translation key. The signal was translated and the information within passed along to the Senate Xenos Council, who would be interested on some level in finding the decendants of one of the races the Ancestors had catalogued long before the first fall.

In the meanwhile, the head of FleetCom Main was charged with the defense of the League. He had communications open an audio-only channel and spoke.

"Khar vessels, you are well within Avalonian League space. State your intentions now."

Avalonian System "Avalon"
taskforce:THANATOS

The Khar vessels had shields up, as they had already been for the jump, but they steadfastly refused to power weapons or target them at the Avalonian ships, perhaps realizing the futility of picket vessels engaging even a handful of true ships of the wall.

The Khar Diplomat obviously bristled at some part of the terse Avalonian audio transmission, as the reply came thus:

"The Khar do not currently recognize the sovereignty of this Nevaryutib Empire, and so are not within any space but the universe's, which is by all rights claimed by the Great Race of Khar itself.

However, it is to be considered that to be diplomatic, we will, at the time, accept your claim of territorial sovereignty over this system and others that your race claim, within acceptable limits.

The Khar have detected your presence, although you have not announced yourself to them. taskforce:AZATOTH is a verification fleet made to determine the presence of and the sophistication of Nevaryutib or Nevaryutibiz natives within the Rimward Edge of the Cluster.

Based upon analysis, your voice and glottal patterns lead us to believe that you, the Avalon?, are yet another Primate Descendant Colonial Race known as Human and a Lamnamuyaraiz [Untranslatable]... we do not know if that will autotranslate, but it means 'A Sub-Empire Kingdom That Does Not Establish Claim As Rightful Owner Of All Others Of Its Race And Is Not United With Others By A Ruler More Powerful'. Is this correct

If incorrect, please correct if at all possible. If so, this taskforce's tertiary mission objective (declassified) is to isolate cultural and political distinctions making this Avalonian League and establish a mutually beneficial trade of goods, ideas, and slaves among our powers."

[Dahak]

Falau'un System, Falau'un Cruinne

Looking out from a balcony on the eastern side of the Chamber of Council, the High Councillor and High Grand Mage Hieran Da'shu, Lord Da'shu dreamily looked down into the unending nothingness of the deadly cloud cover below.
"You studied the report of Air-Mage Drif'ayn, House Del'Chu, did you?" Councillor Hel'Thchak, Lord Hel'Thchak asked.
"Yes, I studied his mind excerpt. He really isn't much of a diplomat, really. But he could have done worse I surmise. Still, we might send him on a mission as such. He did perform well with these Gaians, did he not?"
"So it seems. We can direct him to change course and quit the exploratory mission."
"Do so," the High Councillor said. "And we also should send ships to those nations near us. And send someone sensible to these Hekartes. Drif'ayn, House Del'Chu did a very, very poor job with these people."

***

A group of destroyers left the system soon afterwards, setting course for alien civilisations near Falau'un space.

[Lancer]

Everybody in the command center of FleetCom Main bristled at the association. The fleet commander quickly corrected the Khar diplomat, glad that he had only opened audio channels. "Those that you have encountered before are of the second evolution of our form. Our own lineage is far less...debased. We make no claims to their kind, nor do we interfere in their affairs. They are no more our kin than they are yours.

However, if you wish to establish diplomatic contact, then I shall forward you to the Xenos Council. They have the authority to maintain long-term diplomatic contact. Be warned though, we do not grant access to our worlds freely."

[Duckie]

Everybody in the command center of FleetCom Main bristled at the association. The fleet commander quickly corrected the Khar diplomat, glad that he had only opened audio channels. "Those that you have encountered before are of the second evolution of our form. Our own lineage is far less...debased. We make no claims to their kind, nor do we interfere in their affairs. They are no more our kin than they are yours

However, if you wish to establish diplomatic contact, then I shall forward you to the Xenos Council. They have the authority to maintain long-term diplomatic contact. Be warned though, we do not grant access to our worlds freely."

Avalon, Avalonian League, Rimward Tetrant
taskforce:AZATOTH
Light Cruiser Righteous Immolation of the Apostate

The Khar Imperial Xenodiplomat considered the carefully phrased reply, and decided that it was likely that the Avalonians were a subrace of Humanity with upstart arrogance to claim itself as superior. He paused, wondering whether to tell his superiors to file them under Humanity or start a new folder for Avalonian, and then decided on the former to avoid all of the bureaucratic mess that was the discovery of a new Genus of slaveraces.

"Of course, honored... representative?. So sorry, but we did not mean to imply you were of the same caste as baseline Humanity.

Referendum to your Xenological Council would be most welcome, in fact. I must consult with my superiors... one moment."

Several minutes passed, during which time the Khar ships moved into a loose defensive formation, Frigates and Destroyers arrayed around the small Cruiser like a miniature Carrier Flotilla or Battleship PDG.

"We understand the security of Avalonian worlds is a given. I am in fact gracious you have allowed us peacable entry at all. We had no idea that this could even possibly be your capital world, which it appears to be. Please note that even as we apologize for such an uninvited visit, we should inform you that a reversal of this would likely not be appreciated by the Monau-Ra Orbital Defense Network or the Home Fleet and likely would end in tragedy. Consider yourself forewarned. We have only the safety of Hu- ... Aval-?... eeerm... Nevaryutibiz such as yourself in mind when we say so- to do otherwise would be wasteful and crude.

Now, as to that diplomatic... Alien Legation, was it?. We await your instruction as to the whereabouts of such a facility."

[Lancer]

"Your warning is unnecessary, we have no interest in your worlds. As I have stated before, we do not see the need to interfere in the affairs of...outsiders.

Typically, the Senate Xenos Council conducts negotiations via long-range communications. However, since you wish to meet with a representative at a physical facility, we shall have a facility created to accomodate your diplomats and their vessels. It shall be ready shortly."

Just outside one of the cities nearest to the small Khar expeditionary fleet, a large hemispherical dome irised open, and a snowflake-shaped structure floated off the planets surface. As it exited the outer atmosphere of Avalon, small ripples moved across the otherwise invisible surface of the planetary shield. Cavernous docking bays that dwarfed the largest of the Khar vessels present many times over could be seen on each arm, glowing blue edges along the outer edges revealing semi-permeable forcefields that held in atmosphere.

"The delegation from the Xenos Council will be onboard the facility shortly. You are clear to dock."

[Duckie]

Understandably cautious, there was a slight delay as an Imperial Diplomatic Response Team was transferred from the Righteous Immolation of the Apostate to the 47th Empress Sagacious Inafitya.

The defensive shields of the smaller frigate peeled away, layer by layer, flickering as they abruptly stopped functioning with the exception of navigational hazard shields.

The 47th Empress lazily moved towards the structure, its compatriots moving to fill the gap in formation as it exited.

It docked with the Diplomatic Facility, firing altitude thrusters to match velocities with the station.

---------------------
Alien Diplomatic Station
Temp Codename "Nevyerseb
Diplomatic Team Mission Recording E

A traditional four-man diplomatic team exited. The first to enter was a skinsuited scientist, who took a few readings of the atmosphere before motioning for the other three to enter.

The Khar entered the hallway, hoping to spot an Avalonian welcoming party. Stepping forward, the leader of the group nodded his head as the others bowed slightly in the proper gesture for one of lesser but not entirely low rank.

Tyertirfnepak [Trans- Lieutenant Commander or Frigate Captain, dependign upon context] Akeq'Malasuredj indicated the sidearm, a small dual-use pistol at his and his team's sides.

The suit's comms activated, issuing a tinny voice that spoke in good but rather halting GalStandard West. "Apologies, respected Avalonians. Helmet takes time to remove and important question has occured. Sidearms- not to be used, mind- permitted at diplomatic assembly? So sorry, no wish to impinge upon your honor, but have had bad experiences with unarmed teams aboard enemy facilities. Directive of my Rodomak direct from his Etoloeqnalkrezifo Oeq Ryefrau, I must consult with him if this is forbidden."

[OOC- I have taken the liberty of placing some sort of Avalonian or Avalonians in the corridor where Malasuredj entered, to avoid a long, drawn out process that undoubtedly wouldn't occur if he was carrying a pistol that was not allowed to be kept. Amusingly, he might be speaking to just some random passerby, but I assume a welcoming party is there for him.]