STGOD2k6 Main Thread

[Spyder]

The sleeping powers of the Phoenix Cluster have awoken. With the smell of blood already in the air, their world would never be the same again.



..................STGOD 2006



It was a dark place. A dull blue glow eminated from somewhere nearby, just enough to give outline to three tall figures.
"It's in motion. The message has been delivered."
"Do you really intend to aid them?"
"My intentions are naturally for the greater good. Any aid we supply directly will of course come at cost which we will evaluate before we move."
"Will they die?"
"Uncertain. They have yet to demonstate their value, perhaps they will. What about your student?"
"He's no doubt up to his own machinations. He moves against me but I'm confident that this will resolve to our advantage."
"You do not consider him dangerous?"
"He is cunning, but he can be predictable. We'll catch up with him soon enough."
"Very well then, what's next on the agenda?"

Elsewhere...

The Antigan port authority was constantly busy. Ships of all shapes and sizes were constantly coming and going, making Antiga one of the busiest ports of the sector. Although the Guild Worlds were not considered a unified nation in the traditional sense, the phrase "All Roads Lead to Antiga" was common, and to a large extent trueas the influence of the Guilds extended from the islands of Thalysene to the temperate lands of Tyria.

On Antiga, the port authority had just received a message from Concord. "Alright, we just got a heads up from Concord. Looks like a Falau'un ship is on it's way in. When it arrives we're going to give it landing priority at the first available dock. Our buddies in Concord ran into a few problems at their last encounter so we need this to go as smoothly possible. Alright then, let's get back to work."

[Nephtys]

The diplomatic team began to talk amongst themselves about the actions of the locals.

"They seem to be hailing us in various differnet languages and cyphers. If I'm not mistaken this is the diplomatic equivalent of screaming for a response."

"I suppose we should give them one."

"What language though? The one the hailed us in first is probably best, it is the basic Trade Language everyone spoke back during the Great Wars and the period preceding them."

"Alright, so we continue on our current course, and hail them withe the basic message that indicates we are not here to kill anyone."

"Not yet anyway."

"Why must you be so pessimistic? Before we got out of subspace you were placing bets on us getting blown to pieces, now you are suggesting that maybe will go to war for no apparent reason. How did you make it into a diplomatic team anyway?"

"I'm not pessimistic when dealing with foreign entities."

The banter continued for a minute or two. The diplomatic team was enjoying an unspoken joke at the expense of the Gaians, who where screaming for a response of some sort. Meanwhile the Mekidar took their sweet little time in doing everything from entering stellar orbit to finally answering the hails. Naturally though, the joke would stop once they actually began communicating.

Rock transmitted to following message, "We are on an exploratory and diplomatic mission. It is our intent to contact and establish relations with the space faring nation or nations in this region."

[Note: About the basic Trade Language comment. I'm basing it on the fact that during the large diplomatic meeting near the cluster, nobody seemed to have trouble talking to eachother.]

Whisperwind, in Prinus...

"Transmission decoded. Patching in the message to your station, Commander."

Stoutkin watched his holopanel, pressing closer to the display. "You've entered the space of the Gaian Compact, and are interested in who you happen to be. We would appreciate no further inquiry or travel through our systems for the moment..." he transmits.

"We're fully willing to meet in person to discuss opening relations. But for now, please maintain your course and speed. We'll wait for your response."

[Thirdfain]

Rally Point Tertius
Deep Space
Edge of Silver Flame Territory

The Iron Fleet seemed to erupt from otherspace as a single entity. At one moment, there was only the shadow between those tiny campfires we call stars. The next, there were countless megatons of refined metals, entombing literally millions of scurrying, warm bodies. Rank after rank of battleship, cruiser, and escort came into being, unchanged by the lightyears and passing time, precisely as it had stood over Albiachor.

The Parliamentary Empire had come at last, appearing suddenly as a flash of chaos at the outer edge of the Silver Flame's sensor system. It's immediate purpose was unknown, but it could be garuanteed that 'the battlewagons would not waste much time before plunging deep into the slowly beating heart of quelectin civilization.

The time for talking was nearly over. The time for action was nigh.

Total Forces Deployed:
Operation Hammerblow
CO: Grossadmiral Johan der Vandermere

Wall of Battle
CO: Admiral Siyr tlii Khazan

1. Battle Squadron
CO: Vizeadmiral Esteban Southerly
I. Division
- BB-13 ICNS Sovereign of Rohag (Flag)
- BB-14 ICNS Emperor of Shankell
- BB-15 ICNS Empress of Tesh
- BB-16 ICNS Empress of Bered Kai
IV. Division
- BB-7 ICNS Mayor Weathers IV the Explorer
- BB-8 ICNS Mayor Saxe-der Krimage II,
- BB-9 ICNS Mayor Wrightby IX
- BB-10 ICNS Mayor Kasmir-Fennec
XI. Division
- BB-173 ICNS Urbis Militant
- BB-174 ICNS Urbis Benevolent
- BB-175 ICNS Urbis Munificent
- BB-176 ICNS Urbis Belligerent
I. Fleet Escort Division
- CE-1 ICNS Ghosthead
- 18 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

2. Battle Squadron
III. Division
- BB-17 ICNS Emperor of Suroch
- BB-18 ICNS Diarch of Armada
- BB-196 ICNS Fearless
- BB-197 ICNS Valiant
V. Division
- BB-198 ICNS Conqueror
- BB-199 ICNS Courageous
- BB-1 ICNS Mayor Triesti XII
- BB-2 ICNS Mayor Tremulo the Reformer
XII. Division
- BB-172 ICNS Northwatch
- BB-177 ICNS Viribus Unitas
- BB-178 ICNS Viribus Potens
- BB-179 ICNS Viribus Firmus
II. Fleet Escort Division
- CE-2 ICNS Battle Saint
- 18 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

3. Battle Squadron
VI. Division
- BB-192 ICNS Black Queen
- BB-193 ICNS Red Duke
- BB-194 ICNS Ambitous
- BB-195 ICNS Unwavering
VII. Division
- BB-188 ICNS Bellicose
- BB-189 ICNS Challenger
- BB-190 ICNS Steel Prince
- BB-191 ICNS Iron Lady
III. Fleet Escort Division
- CE-3 ICNS Ostramandius
- 18 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

Reserve Squadron
XX. Division
- BB-124 ICNS St. Jabbar's Writ
- BB-97 ICNS Hieraeophant
- BB-106 ICNS Warlock
- BB-132 ICNS Endurance
I. Launch Tender Group
- CT-1 ICNS Dominion
- CT-2 ICNS Tyrant
- CT 3 ICNS Master
III. Escort Group
- 6 "Ghul" Destroyer Escorts

Fleet Scouting Squadron
II. Fleet Scout Division -
- CA-4 ICNS Celebrantus
- CA-5 ICNS Imrha's Reach
- CA-6 ICNS Sanguine Straits
IV. Escort Group
- 6 "Ghul" Destroyer Escorts

Cruiser Force
CO: Admiral Fafnir Haight-Williams

1. Battlecruiser Squadron
CO: Commodore Geoffery Bates
I. Battlecruiser Division-
- BC-1 ICNS Admiral Stevanaphulis
- BC-2 ICNS 3rd Battle of the Armada
- BC-3 ICNS Barrage at Firewater
I. Patrol Escort Group
- 2 "Grindylow" Destroyer Leaders
- 2 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

1. Cruiser Squadron
I. Fast Cruiser Division -
- CL-1 ICNS Tarmuth
- CL-2 ICNS Steelshatter
- CL-3 ICNS Ostmarch
II. Patrol Escort Group
- 2 "Grindylow" Destroyer Leaders
- 2 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

2. Cruiser Squadron
II. Fast Cruiser Division -
- CL-4 ICNS Cobsea
- CL-5 ICNS Cymek
- CL-6 ICNS Basilaerus- CO: Captain Lil ksa Shraik
III. Patrol Escort Group
- 2 "Grindylow" Destroyer Leaders
- 2 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts

Point Costs

Capital Units:
6 "Pax Crobuzona" Superdreadnought Battleships (720 points)
18 "Mayor Radaghast VI" Dreadnought Battleships (900 points)
8 "Urbis Victorious" Dreadnought Battleships (320 Points)
4 "St. Jabbar's Writ" predreadnought Battleships (100 Points)
- 2040 Points Total

Cruiser Units:
3 "Admiral Stevanaphulis" Battlecruisers (60 points)
3 "Dominion" Torpedoboat Tenders (60 points)
3 "Ghosthead" Armoured Cruisers (60 points)
3 "Bered Kai Nev" Armoured Cruisers (45 Points)
6 "Tarmuth" Protected Cruisers (60 points)
- 285 points total

Escort Units
60 "Vampir" Destroyer Escorts (480 pts)
12 "Ghul" Destroyer Escorts (60 pts)
6 "Grindylow"Destroyer Leaders (48 pts
- 588 pts total

Small Craft Units
22 squadrons "B3" Gunboats (440 pts total)
6 squadrons "G5" Torpedoboats (120 pts)
5 squadrons "G1" Torpedoboats (50 pts)
- 610 pts total

Ground Forces
300 poins Civil Marines in transports

Total: 3823

[Adrian Laguna]

The area between the Republic and neighboring nations

Forty-five military vessels, assisted by a couple hundred civilian ships on government contract, were exploring and charting the seemingly deserted area surrounding Mekidar space. They were searching for remnants of the Republic or the other nations that had influence or territory in the area during the Great Wars. Even abandoned cities or bases could yeild useful technology, or materials. Most of the civilian vessels had been hired to explore a specific system or planet, rather than to wander around looking as the warships were doing.

Fleet Deployed:
10 Hedgehog-class Frigates (2 escorting each Battleship)
20 Guardian-class Cruisers
10 Alliance-class Heavy Cruisers
5 Warrior-class Battleships
Approximately 200 civilian vessels

[OOC: I'm convinced that there can be useful stuff to be found if I take the time to look. Also, around 20 science vessels have been exploring the area for a few decades now.]


Contact Point 2

"We would certainly appreciate speaking with an actual Diem.

Our policy reguarding territory is as follows: Space is generally empty, and it is therefore useless for there to be any claims over an area of it. Nothing continues to be nothing reguardless of who claims to own it. Planets, moons, and asteroids are tangible real estate, for this reason they can be claimed by an organization. We generally accept claims upon these bodies, if the claimant shows that they can defend this claim with something more tangible than mere words. An outpost, orbital installation, or patrolling ship tends to be enough.

Claims upon entire systems are a slightly different matter, even when the claimant can defend their claims on each individual body. Take this system for example. If for some reason the Republic or a group of its citiziens took an interest in it, the planet we are currently orbiting would most likely be accepted as belonging to the Diem, due to the presence of the automated outpost. However, despite the existance of orbital probes, it is likely that for all the other planets, the Diem-noiy would not be recognized as the rightful owners.

There are various extensions, exeptions, clarifications, and addendums to this policy. The manner in which this policy is followed changes on a case-by-case basis, and it is not so much a set of rules as guidelines. We find it unlikely that a territorial conflict between us will arise in the near future."


Hubira System

Boulder reciprocated the Quelectin's gesture, establishing a direct link with them. Security was not much of a problem, every comms terminal is physically separated from the others, and from every computer system and network aboard the ship. The only communications terminal whith access to other systems is the one reserved for military communiques involving certain types of orders and tactical plans.


Prinus System

"There are no ships, other than this one, from our nation within your space. A meeting, in person, with an individual or group properly authorized by your government to deal with foreign entities such as the one we represent, would be appreciated."

[phongn]

United Stations Deep Space Listening Post-9E5*

DSLP-9E5 was really more a small station than listening post - she had docking facilities for ships of superfreighter size (if only one) and numerous other bays for lesser shuttlecraft. For now she was host to the cruiser USMV Congress, on her patrol amongst the stars and her crew enjoying the normal pseudogravity of a rotating system. Warships with their uniform gravity fields were often a source of some discomfort for new sailors who had never left their rotating homes before.

Corporate interests, traders and everyday civilians mingled with military personell moving to and from their destinations. Yet it was much more organized than an outsider would expect; a lifetime raised aboard stations meant that despite their fierce individualism, everyday routine could be rigidly authoritarian. Accidents on a station could have disasterous consequences and from their youth every child had procedure and routine drilled in their heads, all while the spirit of individualism instilled. It was a dichotomy few understood.

But today this routine was broken by the appearence of a strange and alien ship. Traffic to and from outside the borders of the United Stations were mostly undertaken by US-flagged vessels of varying sizes and the occasional foreigner showed up but never something like this. And a transmission had been sent, though for the moment only the command staff aboard the station on the cruiser knew. Responses were sent out immediately and a buzz on the station grew -- who were these people?

Traders who claimed to travel far away told tall tales but there were no concrete answers ... but perhaps they would soon be told.




* Looks somewhat like an enlarged ISPV-7. This is the standard border station for the US; instead of a solar panel these stations have a huge listening array.

[Beowulf]

DSLP-9E5

CSS An began transmitting in the language that they were hailed with. "I am an emissary from the Collective. I wish to speak with a plenipotentiary representative of your government."

[Spyder]

"Concord dispatch: Presense requested at following position. First contact protocol. Other parameters are as follows..."

"Understood, we're on our way."

Forces dispatched to Silver Flame territory.

Conrad Class Cruiser x 1

Edit: Minor consistancy fix.

[Beowulf]

Deep Space
Edge of Silver Flame Territory

Half a dozen frigates came out of hyperspace, in full cloak. They were tasked with watching the coming fury. If they came under attack, they would leave, and with greater speed than any ship that could reasonably attack them.

Farther away, three light cruisers, their destroyers, and a trio of heavy cruisers came out of hyper, also under cloak. They were to protect the frigates if they got into trouble, but stay far enough away to remain undetected if they weren't needed.

[Spyder]

"Captain's log, CAC Artemis. We have arrived in the outskirts of what our intelligence shows to be the territory of the Silver Flame. I've yet to be briefed on the exact nature of our mission here, so until I get orders to the contrary I'll be keeping a low profile, these asteroids should provide sufficient cover. I dispatched a fighter recon to scout the immediate area. So far they haven't found anything unusual. End of log."

[Stormin]

<snip>

((OOC: Sorry, missed this one so didn't reply swiftly.))

The ship's mind studied the message for a time and worried over the implications. Independant actions of parts would be supported by the whole, that was clearly seen. Even if it was not true, it would mean that the actions were not independant but part of a plan.
From its own point of view, the shipmind knew that any infiltrations would only expose all weaknessess to a ready predator. Time would be needed to understand the aliens and find a way to keep the Diem species safe.
"As I have said before, what you speak of has no parallel among the expieriences that I know of. I do believe that an individual could be found shortly that would be willing to negotiate with your people at a set time and place of your choosing so long as it is not immediatly disallowable to us for any of few reasons.
"Because of multiple contacts in a very short time, defensive forces are on heightened states of alert. I ask that your people do not deploy any ships inside this line boardering the direction of your people <locations datavised on sub channel> without prior announcement of non-hostile intent."

[Glimmervoid]

Some were in Silver Flame space.

OOC: This is my current force disposition linkt.

A slight bluish haze hung in a holo tank; it was one of hundreds in the TE room no different than the other. These tanks showed a semi real time picture of space surrounding the Silver Flame transmitted in entirety by probes to be examined planet side. Seconds past, then hours and until finally at a time of no special significance, of no pre-ordained importance, the most notable event in resent history occurred. The holo tank blipped.

Between one moment and the next it had filed with a badly defined blur of shape. A huge amount, more than a single ship, more than a flotilla of ships could account for, it was an armada. Alarms blared, lights flashed, Quelectin ran through the corridors, fear. Admits this chaos stood a lone rock, the tide of bodies parting around him, the waves of fear crashing against him to no avail. He spoke, his words bring order to chaos, his words rippling out defying entropy.

“The time is now, we most stand tall for we are the keepers of silver and we can, will not fall. Our navies will fly, our armies march and we will prevail” He looked around turning his entire body “Call the fleet, put it on high alert, contact the High Seeker and inform the Counsel. All ships are to open full bandwidth transitions to Command at all times, shut down anything you need to, to accomplish this.” Looking straight ahead with the systems sun just rising behind him the Lord High Admiral said “Today we go to war”.

Forces across the empire were put on high alert, the troops of the Second Library Guard were loaded in to the reserve fleet ready to counter any attempted landing, the Silver Flame knew that it would be for the enemy to make the first move.

Hubira System
OOC: Do you mind if this happens before Thirdfans invasion?

The Video link snapped in to life connecting the Sofer to the Boulder.

The Quelectin Admiral spoke clearly in to it “It is pleasant to see a friendly face in this dark time what can we do for you.”

[Spyder]

Coldrock's phone rang.

[Beowulf]

"Use of forces inorganic to the Collective would be preferred."

"Analysis suggests that the Raveners would be useful for our purposes. High amount of aggression, but reasonably controllable. Also, directs their attention from other matters."

"So we shall make use of them?"

"Agreed"

"Agreed"

"Agreed"

"Contact forces have been dispatched."

Ravener space

The heavy cruiser CS Tamerlane dropped out of hyper. It began continuous scans of the system, and began transmitting: "We are emissaries from the Collective, here to open relations."

[consequences]

Ravener space

The heavy cruiser CS Tamerlane dropped out of hyper. It began continuous scans of the system, and began transmitting: "We are emissaries from the Collective, here to open relations."

"Collective?"

"The machines, if they're telling the truth. Which means that we don't want them anywhere near our computers, but we shouldn't have to worry about magical garbage that we as yet have no efficient counter for. Contact recommends diverting them to one of the uplift worlds, except for Jonny and Bob, who say that they should be destroyed and an immediate extermination mission launched to cleanse the sector of their soulless blight."

"Right, so we're going to transfer Jonny and Bob to the Hekartes contact branch, let these people stew for a few hours like we don't know what we're doing, then vector them towards Grendel."


Ravener Space
"Greetings! If you'll alter your heading to the direction you receive this transmission from, and proceed five light years, you'll reach our designated Northern Contact point. Third world from the sun, you can't miss it.

Please keep this com channel open for a brief primer on surviving in Ravener space:

Quite frankly, we don't believe in Diplomatic Immunity. What we do believe in is not interfering with proclaimed diplomats unless they do something to piss us off. Historically, Diplomatic Immunity has been used as an excuse for all sorts of espionage, and generally cast aside by the stronger power as soon as they feel they can get away with it without being caught, or simply step on the complainer. To pretend that a piece of paper or entry in a computer magically makes you immune from the consequences of your own stupidity or malicious behavior is a laughable concept at best.

The main other note is that any form of forced mind control, whether it be by chemical means, magical forces, psychic influence, twisting of the soul, direct electromagnetic effect upon the brain, or any means we have failed to specify but discover someone using anyway, is a good way to piss us off to the extent that we destroy everyone associated with the act. Please just don't, as Righteous Crusades are a pain in the ass logistically, fun as they may be.

Your traffic control clearance upon arrival is Z67-v52 Bravo, and we hope you enjoy your stay within the Ravener Territories.

[Dahak]

Falau'un System, Falu'un Cruinne

The High Councillor Hieran Da'shu, Lord Da'shu sat at his desk and read the latest reports manifested above his desk. He sighed and relaxed, sinking deeper into his armchair, smelling the air flowing in from outside. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining down on them, the houses, statues and palaces glittering in millions of different colours. He tried to be in a better mood, but he failed.
"Life isn't getting easier, Diran," he suddenly said to his assistant sitting on the other side of his desk. "Couldn't the galaxy be a deserted waste, free of others? It gets so meddlesome."
"My Lord," Diran answered dutifully, "we cannot undo the Will of the Universe. Or at least, we still have not found a Mage powerful enough do so. Until that time, we have to make do with what is presented to us."
"True, true," the High Councillor murmurred. "At least the mission to the Gaians is progressing charmingly so far. These Concord people are less welcoming, shall we say?"
"Yes, so it seems. Maybe we'll get better results in one of their major systems."
"So we should. I hate to have no valuable intelligence on the other nations in this region of space. We might have to ask the Air-Mage of the Hus'lkich to be a bit more visible for the Hekartes. So far, these strange people haven't reacted. I hate to not have contact with people so close. Especially after Dri'fayn, House Del'Chu nearly botched it..."
"Yes, that wasn't stellar. But he found his use."
"And a good thing, too, Diran," he chuckled. "Lord Del'Chu might have had to execute him otherwise. Can't live with a house member that brings shame on you. Anyway, I think we should discuss the matter of a forward base we talked about earlier with the High Battle-Mage. It sounded like a good idea."

[consequences]

Ravener Space


Tamerlane tersely replied: "Acknowledged." and then hypered out to the Northern Contact point.

Northern Contact point(otherwise known as the Grendel system)

"We are emissaries from the Collective, here to open relations." was the message sent by the cruiser aupon arrival.

The reply came nearly instantaneously: "Greetings, and salutations, fellow sentients. Please proceed into a parking orbit over what passes for the largest city on the planet"

In orbit, two medium cruisers and 5 escorts are visible along with a space station, pretty clearly of civilian design, and a number of transport vessels that seem to be transhipping supplies to the surface and station, which seemed to be in the midst of having additional modules attached.

"Acknowledged." Tamerlane engaged High Drive, and arrived near the planet. It then proceeded with orbital insertion. "We must insist on a 1000 cubic kilometer exclusion zone around this craft, to avoid any misunderstandings."

"Acknowledged. We will receive your delegation aboard the station at your earliest convenience, or commence discussion by signal, as you prefer."


"What we have to discuss is not for open airwaves. Delegation will arrive by small craft."

Several minutes later a shuttle departed the cruiser. It headed towards the station, sending ahead the message: "Requesting docking instructions."

"Affirmative, proceed to the bay actively comming your shuttle"

As soon as the request for docking instructions came through, all traffic to and from the station ceased. A charitable individual might think that this was to prevent others from detracting from the importance of the delegation. A more paranoid soul would also acknowledge that this way, if anything blew up, the perpetrator would be quite clear. The shuttle triangulated the comm signal, then proceeded into the bay, and waited for atmospheric pressure to be confirmed.

As the doors cycled closed, a group nearly universally bearing sidearms stepped into the bay. The leader began speaking in an unknown tongue, with accompanying simultaneous mechanical translation: "Hello, and welcome. Will your delegation be debarking, or does your shuttle itself represent the intelligence we are to converse with?"

Shortly after the doors closed, a hatch opened on the shuttle, and a quartet of armed combat androids stepped out. They scanned the group waiting in the bay for weapons.

The question: "Delegation, or security?" was posed, followed after a moment's thought by "or both for that matter?".

A young blond woman in a blue dress with a sword on her waist steps out of shuttle. "Security. I am an Avatar of Joyeuse."


"I am Ravener. Shall we?" Notably, this is the only member of the groupwho is totally unarmed, clad in a black utility uniform.

Joyeuse closes the distance. "Let's."

"Female-appearing artificial life-forms first" he says, stepping to one side and gesturing to the door the group came out of.

Joyeuse laughs, and heads through the door, followed silently by the androids into a standard station corridor, lined with assorted lightly armed humans. They come to what could be charitably described as an approximation of attention, and gesture down the hall as the Ravener delegation follows the mechanicals into the corridor.


Ravener meeting room

A standard boring conference room, although at least the posters on the walls seem to have been picked by someone with a spark of individuality, and not forced by a faceless bureacracy. A half-dozen human sized chairs surround the conference table. The Raveners cheerfully direct the combat droids to the locations that provide them with the best simultaneous views and firing angles on everyone arounfd the table and the entrances.
The androids go to locations other than the ones that the Raveners indicate, but which still provide excellent angles of fire on the entire area. Joyeuse sits down at one end of the table.

Ravener sits down at the other end of the table, with four other members of the group sitting at the remainder, and the rest departing the chamber.
"So what can we do to advance our mutual association?"

"There exists certain entities in the cluster that we would prefer didn't exist. If they got into a shooting war with each other, then the Collective would be grateful to the group that caused that state of affairs."

"Now you'd think that if they could be induced to start a shooting war, that they would probably be able to do it to themselves given time, and that a society not ruled by biological necessity would be willing to take the long view."

"That is the case, except that their actions before naturally beginning to shoot at each other are considered to be suboptimal. Therefore, if such a thing could be accelerated, it would limit what actions they could take before hand."

"Well now, our interest in such an event being brought about would naturally be dependent upon who they are."

"Said entities are the Khar and the Pfhor."

"Ah, them."

"Yes."

"And you are truly unwilling to let nature take its nearly inevitable course as it almost assuredly will with anyone who has to associate with the Khar for any length of time?"

"We are unwilling to wait until destiny brings them into conflict. Their actions have proven to be... distasteful to us, and we do not wish them to continue those actions."

"So what time frame do you envision for this falling out?"

"As soon as possible would be preferable."

"You are, of course, familiar with the old cliche? Fast, good, cheap, pick two?"

"Of course, we realize this won't be cheap."

"It may not be nearly as fast as you desire, either. If this is to be done properly, intelligence will have to be developed, or the entire charade falls apart." Ravener then turned aside to one of the other bioforms. "Contact Roberts, he'll most likely be in charge."

*fadeout*

[Adrian Laguna]

[OOC: Writing in italics is private conversation between the Mekidar diplomats.]

Contact Point 2
Hah! "without prior announcement of non-hostile intent," sure, why not? Next time we send a fleet to attack someone we'll have them declare "non-hositle intent" right before they begin blowing shit up!

Very funny...

It would seem that we are dealing with a paranoid species not very amenable to trade agreements. Suggestion: Shift the focus of the conversations toward establishing formal diplomatic contact and away from engaging in trade. Allow them time to become acustomed to the concept of dealing with other interstellar nations before pushing for the exchange of goods.

Agreed, and we shall respect their paroia and reticience... for now.

"The location of this delineated border is incorrect if you intend to draw a buffer for incoming Republic ships. Correct location is now being transmitted on sub-channel. For the time-being, we shall respect this border. Perhaps at a later date, when trust has built between us, we can discuss the start of warmer relations."

Hubira System
The image transmitted to the Sofer showed the upper third of a Mekidar diplomat. The sharper among the Quelectin seeing this image may have noticed an odd thing about it, there was no background, other than a black nothingness of seemingly infinite depth, much like the void of space.

The Mekidar diplomat is surprised at seeing the small furball in the image before him, though he does not show it. The data we have on the Cornish would indicate that they were Humans, these guys are clearly not. Was our analysis wrong?

They have not said anything confirming or denying any connection to the Empire. Perhaps it is best to hold further inquiries into that subject until we have talked with them a bit more.

"The Republic is interested in establishing formal diplomatic relations and engaging in trade with our neighboors."

[Thirdfain]

ICNS Sovereign of Rohag
Flagship, Iron Fleet
Rally Point Tertius Outside of the Silver Flame

Grossadmiral der Vandermere stared into the waterwatch. The neatly-organized ships of his wall of battle were represented by illuminated droplets, suspended in mid-air by the watercraeft of vodyanoi officers. Kreshay Quatriem, fourth star in the Kreshay region and site of the disastrous meeting between the Stropworth Wanderer and the Kreshayan barbarians, hung far distant from the organized fleet. A loose cloud of pickets, watching for any enemy attack, spread out from the main fleet, poised to warn the battlewagons should anything go awry.

The rest of the display was neutral grey mist- territory that was unexplored. The locations of stars, mapped centuries ago, were marked by pale yellow. Any one of the hundreds in the region could be a Kreshayan base- or all of them could be.

There was only one way to find out. Any technological civilization was a mess of emmissions, FTL and otherwise. The powerful sensors on the fleet's scout cruisers could detect those emmissions from lightyears away, and with greater ease depending on the volume of emmissions. Additionally, it would do the enemy no good to deactivate all sources, as their lightspeed transmissions would be detectable still, emmitted months or years before.

Behind him stood a dozen admirals and underadmirals, the commanders of the fleet's battle divisions and escort groups.

"Haight-Williams."

Standing seperate from the Wall officers were the officers from the fleet cruiser detachment. A thick-shouldered man with sandy muttonchops and a high peaked hat bowed stiffly. Fafnir Haight-Williams was the full Admiral in command of the Cruiser Force.

"Yes, sir."

"The situation requires better understanding of the situation. We must examine Kreshay Quatriem, and determine where else the enemy lives."

"Indeed, sir."

"Additionally, all evidence points to the enemy maintaining superlight, intersystem travel. Therefor, the enemy likely also commands civilian space shipping. In addition to searching Kreshay Quatriem, deploy units to search for civilian shipping and any other inhabited systems. Examine these stars first."

Vandermere indicated a number of likely suns in the area around what it's natives called Shearwater.

"Yes, sir."

The imperious admiral waved the rest of the officers off, after informing the battle commanders that they would be doing little but wait until greater intelligence about the enemy was gathered.

Outside, the sleek and businesslike forms of the Cruiser Force sprung into action. 1. Battlecruiser Squadron, consisting of a trio of overengined, overgunned fast warships and a rosette of escorts, hammered towards shearwater and high acceleration. 1st and 2nd Cruiser Squadrons, each one consisting of a triplet of light protected cruisers, spread out into the night, hunting for immobile worlds or mobile prey.

Soon, very soon, they would find what they were looking for...

[Spyder]

Near the approaching Crobuzon line, Silver Flame territory...

The pilot tapped the upper cockpit controls adjusting the sensors. "Picking up some chatter, can't determine anything from this range. Could help if we take a closer look at the planet."
"Our orders are to be discrete, we don't want to risk being spotted. Continue on patrol."
"Alpha two, nothing to report."

Meanwhile, nearby a second group was conducting a similar survey.

The pilot carefully glanced over her instruments, everything was reading normal and would remain so for a few more seconds. The first moments of a large number of contacts appearing on the scanner didn't seem unusual, they'd all seen that screen many times during training excercises in heavily populated systems. Within a second the moment had passed and the pilot was back in reality, they were far from home in unknown territory and the computer had flagged all those contacts appearing on the screen as unknown.

"Multiple contacts approaching our position from three zero five!"
"I see them, think they belong to that planet?"
"We're not waiting around to find out. Abort mission, all pilots return to the Artemis, maximum burn!"

Any form of emissions control went right out the window as the two fighter groups vectored into position and burned away from the approaching vessels. It was unlikely this maneuver would have gone unnoticed.

Forces within STL range:
Pyre fighter group x2

Reinforcements within jump range:
Conrad Class x1
Artemis' remaining fighter compliment, Pyre x3, Z1 x2

[Stormin]

Hull 490 flew through Diem space at a sedate pace, its scheduled drops from overspace at every system to gather new information on these other aliens slowed the journey but the time was needed to assimilate the data.

Tadom rested in his personal chamber and let the data flow through the many implants in his brain. Everything about these Mekidar was analysed and studied and an understanding was being formed.

Aliens could not be treated like Diem, creatures evolved and twisted by a world that could not support more than one or two individuals within days travel... something that built into the species a very powerful sense of individuality and a compulsive desire to be alone. The only known alien world, a human colony destroyed during a galactic war, showed the idea of a lush and water-filled planet where great seas regulated temperatures to avoid the extremes that all Diem worlds had. Such a world could support large groups with less effort and smaller areas during species development leading to tribalism (a Gaian word) and larger interdependant groups.

This was among the worst case situations imagined for first contact. Aliens that would not only be unpredictable but could not be considered coordinate within themselves. Impromptu growth projections even showed that they could not only outgrow entire planets, they could overuse everything and even deplete resourses wherever they went.

The Diem method of exploration using automated probes to study a system and catalog everything about it, including all useable resources, and then simply staying back and studying it for centuries or millennia not only differed from how these creatures acted but invited them to take the systems and information which would ease extraction of whatever they wished. If they felt they were able to do so, Tadom was now sure that they would take what they wished while eliminating any threat that the Diem would pose to the alien's plans.

Without appearing to be prey for the eating, Tadom knew he had to both appease and delay all comers until a final solution could be discovered.


Contact Point 2

Shipmind opened a communication to the Mekidar ship. "The most expeirenced aliens communication and interactions expert among the Diem has agreed to act in negotiations with your people at a time and place of your choosing, subject of course to practical considerations."

[Thirdfain]

ICNS Basilaerus
Approach to the Lesser Library
Silver Flame Territory

Captain Lil ksa Shraik delicately lapped a her tea, holding the cup up to her headscarab's mouthparts with slender, ruddy-skinned hands. Around her, officers went about the boring business of ship-duty, and she enjoyed the moment of relaxtion. Courses had been set, and though they were deep in projected Kreshayan territory, she'd have long warning from the ship's diviner-suite if anything came up.

As was her custom, she walked around the bridge, watching each station and stopping to converse with each officer. Legally, khepri were afforded the same status as humans within the Civil Empire, but law and practice are two different beasts entirely. After all, to a human, a khepri was a monstrosity: A crimson-skinned woman with a massive scarab where her head should be. Lil laughed inwardsly at the idea- any idiot could see that a human was just a khepri with a monkey's head, anyways. However, most of the crew was human or scabmettler (close enough to human that no one cared,) and the captain must do her best to maintain loyalty. Lil achieved this through vigilant attention to the crew's needs and iron-hard maintenance of efficiency and discipline.

By and large, it worked. The human and scabmettler officers trusted her, and the crew didn't mutter too much.

When the contacts went off on the psonar, she didn't even feel excited.

"We have sentients, Captain. Multiples. Probably small craft of some sort, bearing follows." The psonar operator was a rich second son of the Vandermere family, usually a serious problem in the Fleet.

"Excellent work, Mr. Vandermere." Lil didn't mind having the wealthy scion on board, the boy was in his uncle's shadow and didn't turn to his breeding for advancement- "Track them, Actives online, I want distance, heading, and rate of movement ASAP."

More powerful sensors activated, probing into space, transfixing the fleeing fighters. The small craft would now know precisely where the Basilaerus was, but the same also held true- more detailed information on the escaping fighter craft hit Lil's screens.

"Odd. Completely different in design, power generation, and drive method from the small craft encountered at Kreshay Quatriem. Perhaps from a different Kreshayan faction? Or someone else altogether?"

Her voice, translated from supersonic noise and puffs of pheremone into Ragamoll by a cogitation engine hanging from heer neck, was a computer's bland feminine tone.

Lil's headlegs waved in faint distress, chitenous joints clicking slightly.

"Guns are hot, Ma'am. Should we take a shot?"

"No, Mr. Sturias. I'd like a comm-line, ASAP. Radio, aethergraph, and hypercomm."

The Fleet had appropriated a number of technological FTL hypercomms, mostly from Juu ni Crais' OEL corporation.

"Fleeing vessels, this is the Imperial Crobuzon Naval Ship Basilaerus. Heave too immediately."

[Lancer]

ooc: Tentative exploration from the Avalonian League, following contact with at least three lowborn groups.

Ancient maps from the Ancestor Database had catalogued the homeworlds of various sentient and pre-sentient races galaxy-wide; supplimented by updates from before the Second Fall, the League knew of at least a million worlds which had supported life within the local cluster. The Leagues most powerful active sensors could only reliably monitor space for twenty lightyears around. Only one neighbor had any teritory at all within that range, and contact with them had already been established.

Two locations seemed to house at least one recently-active race.

To the far galactic east (ooc: Falal'un), the destroyer Highborn was sent, with instructions to drop out of subspace five-lightyears from the nearest inhabited world and initiate contact.

To the northeast (ooc: Hekartes), the Great Reclaimer was sent, with similar such instructions.

Though the Avalonians retained the insular (and what some would consider aloof) characteristics of their Ancestors, they had also inherited the intelectual curiosity that had allowed the Ancestors to traverse galaxies.

[Spyder]

"No, Mr. Sturias. I'd like a comm-line, ASAP. Radio, aethergraph, and hypercomm."

The Fleet had appropriated a number of technological FTL hypercomms, mostly from Juu ni Crais' OEL corporation.

"Fleeing vessels, this is the Imperial Crobuzon Naval Ship Basilaerus. Heave too immediately."

"We're being pinged!" The pilot watched his instrumentation, gripped by uncertainty.

"Picking up a number of emissions. Could be targeting, could be comms..."

"I don't think it's targeting, it's an FTL broadcast, multi-spectrum. I'll replay the flight recorder, see if we can decode it." The pilot flicks a switch on his right console and clicks the control. Before he finishes his analysis.

"Fleeing vessels, this is the Imperial Crobuzon Naval Ship Basilaerus. Heave too immediately." The static laiden message from the Crobuzon warship flared through the radio system.

"Or just listen for radio chatter..."

"I got the FTL comm!"

"Fleeing vessels, this is the Imperial Crobuzon Naval Ship Basilaerus. Heave too immediately." A somewhat clearer signal came through.

"Yeah, thanks. I think we got the message."

"Patrol, this is Artemis, we just intercepted a message from alien forces, you've been spotted. Abort mission and return home." The message from their host cruiser closely followed.

"Well shit..."

The reply eventually came through form the small fighter group.

"Sorry lady, we're needed elsewhere. Maybe next time."

The distance between them and the Basilaerus was steadilly growing.

[Thirdfain]

ICNS Basilaerus
Approach to the Lesser Library
Silver Flame Territory

"Jabbar eat his eyes."

The ship's waterwatch shifted slightly, illuminated droplets skimming through midair under thaumaturgic power. Figures began to scroll, a number of dials whirred as difference engines calculated possible intercept patterns.

Lil's headlegs curled up flush with the armoured side of her headscarab. This was unfortunate. The Basilaerus was a fast vessel, without a doubt: lightly armoured, a Civil protected cruiser relied almost entirely on thaumaturgic means of defense. The weight saved on armour and bracing went to speed, supply duration, and the ship's powerful teardrive. However, the tiny fighters pulled incredible acceleration, and her chances of intercept were slim at best.

The Wall of Battle was equipped with tenders, each one with an attendent swarm of gunboats which would have been able to catch the sprightly small craft. However, no such luxuries were available to the Fleet's ever-small cruiser arm. The escort destroyers weren't even fast enough for the job.

However, the little fighters would be easy to track.

"Mr. Sturias, contact Division Command, tell them we are tracking unidentified craft. Open a communicatrice to Fleet Command, I want this all back to the Grossadmiral."

As the other two cruisers of 2. Cruiser Squadron arrowed towards the faint but growing emmission signatures of Kreshayan systems, the Basilareus, along with her escort the destroyer leader Guerriere, peeled off and followed the fighters.

[ooc] Since I doubt your ships visiting the Silver Flame would be way out away from the main planets, I'm gonna assume that if my scouts are within short FTL range of the cruiser, they are also within pretty short range of the inhabited systems, so they are starting to pick up the inescapable emmissions of high-tech civilization.[/ooc]

[consequences]

Miranda
A Cliched Darkened Conference Room

A dozen individuals sat, gathered to discuss the direction they would attempt to shape. While powerful would almost certainly be the wrong word, these could certainly be described as the most influential members of Ravener society. Fortunately, they had all known and worked with each other for a decade or more, so the confusion inherent to all of them being referred to by the same name was minimised, at least amongst themselves. Unfortunately, the same could not be said of personality conflicts, given the strength of will of all present.

"It's an invaluable opportunity."

"It's a bloody invitation to walk into a trap is what it is. Am I the only one who sees a problem dancing to the tune called by a Toaster?"

"Don't be such a fucking Luddite, Ravener. Can't you grant that machines can be as highly evolved as bioforms for once?"

"Well, Ravener, if you weren't so quick to jump to conclusions, you'd have noticed that I do give them all due credit. I grant that they can be just as scheming, duplicitous, malicious, and bloodthirsty as any meatbag, if not more so, with the added benefit of being able to casually wait decades for a plan to unfold. Or do you really think that they came to us because they liked the cut of our jib?"

"Well, no. But if we are to have any effect, we have to be deliberately involved. Besides, its not like we have any reason to like our potential targets."

"Granted, but precautions are certainly in order."

"So, with that last point addressed, we are all agreed?" Heads nodded around the table. "Then I see no reason to delay your forces longer, Ravener. Or should I say, Roberts?"

_________________________________________
Deep Space

A dozen stealthships, of the barest minimum size necessary to be barely effective as individual combatants, quietly threaded their individual ways through the deepest reaches of space. If all went as planned, no one would even know they had existed, and more substantial forces could traverse iunnoticed in relative safety.