STGOD: DAS: Coalition of Nations

[SirNitram]

"Your observers arrived without any sort of greeting or registration, approaching a highly important meeting without any sort of preamble or transmission of their intent, ignoring the following Earth traffic control transmissions <<LIST FOLLOWS>> They refused to identify themselves or in any way discuss their purposes there, and acted in a way entirely unbefitting a diplomatic or observational party. We would be pleased to return them from custody, but can offer no apologies for our rightful police action, undertaken to protect both the lives of our own people and the lives of those visiting our world and territory."

Several hours later

The memory-burst indicates otherwise, and has never failed before. The observers identified themselves to your authorities as observers and nothing more, an accurate description. They gave the name we give those who require audio-based identification. Your statements contradict reality on multiple levels. This was no diplomatic group with government ship to respond to your claimed traffic violations. They will return as they came, via commercial transport. Rest assured the conduct of this 'Polish' group will be broadcast raw to the populace, and these untruthful statements with them. Message ends.

The Wanderer group was heading through the complicated mess of customs and departure from Earth, not raising a fuss.

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol
Terra
Sant Tomas Spaceport

"Might as well," Carlson replied to the Polish official. "I've already been dragged out of bed. Might as well make it count for something. Lead me to them."

[consequences]

-----Elsewhere-----

"Howdy y'all, hope we aren't too late for the hor-doevres. Carryin a diplomatic party out of Burgundy, and we'd appreciate the hell out of an arrival vector."

Apologies for keeping you waiting. Welcome to the Sol system. You have been flagged as a diplomatic envoy, and assigned a course to Earth. United States vessels will escort you to Earth, do not deviate from your assigned flight plan. Unfortunately, the hor-doevres are all gone, but the banquet afterwards is sure to be spectacular. Please enjoy your stay in Sol.

The now-familiar trio of destroyers settled into escort formation around the old freighter.

Sol
"Appreciate that Control. Please advise as to weapons regulations regardin sidearms and the like."

The vaguely birdlike, yet solidly built ship lands without incident, flawlessly touching down despite its excessively ramshackle exterior. Upon landing, a tall man with piercing blue eyes descends from the bay door turned landing ramp. The eye is immediately drawn to the oversized pistol peacebonded in the holster at his hip.

_________________________________________________

Elsewhere

"They're coming through! Get back, position deltagghhhh!"

The transmission was cut off by the sounds of screaming and heavy weapons fire. The surviving video pickups showed heavily armored troops moving forward in a textbook close terrain assault, as apparent civilians calmly charged forward, strapped with command detonated explosives. By now, everyone knew their former friends, lovers, and comrades were already dead, but the time needed to dispatch the bombs proved fatal as the follow up assault forces cut the defenders to pieces.

The former Minister of Transportation, turned Premier by simple attrition, turned towards the self-destruct for the base, only to be distracted by a plaintive cry over one of the pickups. Looking up in horror, he saw his daughter, presumed dead, struggling against her captors. One of them turned to the pickup, and announced calmly "Surrender without resistance, and she gets a clean death".

He then stepped aside, revealing the figures pulling out their knives, pausing momentarily, then beginning to slowly flay the girl alive.

The Acting Premier stared in horror for a few seconds, before turning back to the control panel. He then felt a brief impact, followed by nothing, as his viewpoint gradually shifted down and sideways. Intellectually, he saw the slaughtered members of his 'cabinet', as well as his aide standing over him with a knife while extending an all-too-familiar protrusion from his mouth and towards the Premier's own, while emotionally he gibbered in mindless fear.

His last conscious perception, unmercifully, was the sight of one of the troops hesitating briefly, before dropping its knife into his daughter's hand. His daughter then calmly plunged the knife into her own eye socket, as the Premier's personality finally dissolved.

Confirmed, last center of Food source 37's resistance eradicated. No additional fleeing Food concentrations apart from those already intercepted and eliminated. Begin full population conversion at this time, collect first line ground forces for transport to next target.

[Beowulf]

Sol - Between Earth and the Moon
Martelo Rapido

The universe compressed as the cruiser Martelo Rapido shifted briefly to the super-luminal. The distance between Earth orbit and the moon was considered a short range tactical manuver, though the time seemed like an eternity. Powered shields? Check, Tractor Capacitors? Charged, whomever this guy was, he sure as hell wouldn't be getting away from the Martelo Rapido.

Just as the universe was beginning to expand back into its normal shape a broad band communication was recieved by the unregistered ship:

The distinctively dual-hulled ship responded: "This is Government Ship Spring Blossom. We request a honor guard for the representative of the Son of the Sun."

You could also feel the collective sigh of relief.

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MESSAGE
NIP Martelo Rapido Responding on behalf of the Portuguese Empire. All ships entering the Sol System are expected to announce their presence upon arrival at the edge of the system. Please lower any deflector shields, sensor obfuscators or faster than light motivators while we scan your ship for contraband before processing. Transmitting Earth approach vector, please follow us.

OOC: Assuming you aren't trying to hide anything, and you have no absurdly illegal sbustances or weapons of mass planetary destruction...

The Spring Blossom was escorted to a Polish space station, before delegates from the Son of the Sun were transported down to the planet.

The diplomatic conference happening at Sant Tomas Port was now in full swing. The Portuguese diplomat was making his way around the crowd, discussing interstellar trade laws and their impact on commerce. Portugal was a major comerical empire and trade was always a hot topic for them. Strong supporters of the Coalition of Nations, Porugal was always interested in improving the Merchante's guild ability to trade and make money. With half the key points of the Coaliition agreement involving anti-piracy efforts and free trade there was little doubt that Portugal would be one of the first states to sign up.

OOC: of course there's nothing blatantly illegal onboard. Also, no weapons of mass planetary destrucion; mass destruction, that's a given. Most warships can manage to take out a city easily.

Once the shuttle landed, a single figure walked down the ramp, all features hidden inside a hostile environment suit. Careful scanning would reveal an overabundance of electronics, but no single power source for those electronics. Those with thaumic sensors would detect magic coursing through it.

"I am Winter Storm, cousin and representative of the Son of the Sun. Lead me to this conference of yours."

[rhoenix]

"Portuguese forces are moving to intercept and question, at this time no further vessels required. Remain on station in case needed."

Captain Oran's reply was just as terse. "Acknowledged. We will gain high Mars orbit until further notice."

The two cruisers turned as one, and accelerated smoothly and with not much engine flare toward Mars.

The larger, and much more intimidating ship Immolator sent some tight-band communications back and forth with the docked Silent Eye, with many messages being routed to Archon Prasad. Eventually, a transport ship was launched from the Immolator, and the request for docking came immediately.

"Polish Republic forces, this is Templar Jornis. This transport ship carries infantry to serve as Archon Prasad's Honor Guard for the duration of the proceedings. We request authorization to cross your space and dock with the station."

[Dahak]

Earth, Bejing, Summer Palace

The small shuttle came in from the south, its approach secured and observed by a thick layer of defense and detection grids. It landed on a small, private landing pad.
The palace itself was possibly not what their alien guests might have been expecting. It was nothing grand, nothing imposing, it didn't seem like the place a multi-billion people space empire was reigned from. Temples, pagodas, and small houses blended in with a perfectly maintained garden. The buildings itself were, of course, delicately decorated, but nothing lavish. It was a place of serenity, a place that invited contemplation and relaxation. This was maybe the reason the Daughter of Heavens preferred it to the more imposing Forbidden Palace.
The two aliens were led along a winding path through gardens of different flavours and scenery until they reached a small pagoda in a small forrest of bambus. It was open to the outside, only several silk curtains slowly wafting in a breeze. A human might have thought it to be romantic, even. A small round tea table was in the middle of it and standing on the opposite site was the Daughter of Heavens herself. A tall woman with midnight-black hair, she seemed to be in her middle twenties. Her looks were what people of older times might have considered exotically beautiful. Only a handful of guards were visible, trying to be as unobstrusive as humanly possible.
"Welcome to the Summer Palace, Tara'shaani," she nodded politely to the slightly grey bat-like humanoid and extended her hand. "And of course Mr. Sorrelion," nodding towards the rabbit-eared post-human. If she had any resentment towards non-human life, it didn't show. She gestured them to sit down and did so herself, pouring each one a cup of tea. "I hope you enjoyed your walk here. I very much like this place. It gives peace to the mind..."
"It certainly is something special," Tara'shaani observed.
"It is," she smiled. "I thank you for coming here. I heard that some of your colleagues were not so enthusiastic about this visit, so I am delighted that you came."
"Yes," Tara'shaani carefully answered, "there were some fears, especially so short after the attack."
"I understand it is a diffult time," she dryly observed. "But I wanted to personally express my deepest regrets at your loss. Captain Duong was at no time acting on orders from my Empire. And we can assure you that we took steps to avoid further..incidents like this."
"Your regrets are duly noted," Tara'shaani nodded. "Still, not to be impolite, regrets alone do not make up for our losses."
The Daughter of Heavens actually smiled. "I understand - and admire - your frankness. As Duke Ruzhkov said at the conference, we will of course give you reparations. The Hegemony will pay for any damages to your ship and compensate for any loss you suffered. Furthermore, we would consider sponsoring a diplomatic representation in the solar system, here in Bejing or a place of your choosing. And, if you were interested, the Hegemony would be willing to extend favourable conditions to usage of our space elevator and trade benefits between our nations." She smiled warmly. "I hope this will show our true, honest intentions and will help to smooth any problems between our nations."

[Starglider]

"You went there alone? Do you have any idea how foolish that was?"

Cahaan'nol was still in a state of shock. it seemed so interesting when it was just computer files and imagining but now i am here it it is becoming a nightmare

"Not alone. I went with my ha-tar friend, Anthon Sorrelion. He is a fully qualified diplomat you know. And it worked out alright. I met with their empress, she didn't have me dissected, she even agreed to pay reparations."

"To support your embassy idea. Foolish, but brave and clever, I will give you that." All high-probability reactions from Honush-Co'sota#36-Serenaas have extreme negative outcomes. "But you realise this will almost certainly send Serenaas into the storm?"

The older Kiroter'nah sighed. "I have the codes for his shell you know. The home-flock agreed with my assessment and sent them in case of the worst. Here, take this." He withdrew two crystal memory rods from a subdermal pouch and handed one to Tara'shaani, keeping the other for himself.

"I will make one last attempt to bring him around. If that fails, well, there may be a struggle. I will ask our hosts for a large cage - I wonder what they will make of that." Cahaan'nol tried to smile.

---

The meeting room was pitch black. His optical sensors fed him only a hazy low-light image of what seemed to be a shape crouching behind the table, wings draped about it like a cloak. "Serenaas?" He reached for the illumination control panel. A sudden sharp clicking broke the silence. Echo location he is pouncing hide!

Cahaan'nol dropped to the floor quickly enough to avoid being speared by the laser blast, but not quickly enough to escape unscathed. The pulse burnt a first-sized hole through his left ear, sending phantom pain shooting into his head. where did he get that weapon from Most probable source is stolen from a careless TGU guard. "Serenaas! Seren it's me, Cahaan! Don't shoot! For the flock's sake don't shoot!"

A soft light came on; a decorative lamp taken from the table, now on the floor between Serenaas's paws. "Cahaan? Get in here, get clear of the door. Don't you know they're coming? But they won't take us alive, and I'll take as many of them with us as I can." In his right hand he clutched an ugly but evidently effective laser pistol. The dim light glinted in his wild, staring eyes.

Cahaan'nol stepped slowly forwards, spreading his wings momentarily to obscure Serenaas's view of the entrance. Behind him he could just make out a soft padding sound. good tara has slipped in and he is fixated on me He crouched down in front of his evidently deranged former co-ordinator. "The Hegemony can't reach us here Seren. The TGA guards are very effective." Serenaas didn't seem to hear him.

"Don't you see Cahann? We must strike the Hegemony. Strategy against these xenos is too important to be left to the leaderflock. I can no longer allow Hegemony infiltration, Hegemony indoctrination, Hegemony subversion, and the interstellar humaan conspiracy to poison and impurify all of our precious organic tissues."

"Co-ordinator? What are you talking about?" Out of the corner of his eye he could see Tara'shaani creeping into a position to pounce.

"Have you ever heard of a thing called irradiation? Irradiation of food?"

"Ah, yes, I have heard of that, Seren. Yes."

"Well do you know what it is?"

Library check: food irradiation. "I believe it is to ensure naturally grown food is safe to eat."

"Do you realize that irradiation is the most monstrously conceived and dangerous xeno plot we have ever had to face?"

Tara'shaani pounced, grabbing at Serenaas's shoulders. He yelped and fired wild, his laser pistol burning one of the table legs to ashes. It collapsed in a tremendous crash, spilling data pads and ornaments onto the three of them. Cahaan'nol lept forwards and tried to pin the struggling Serenaas down. The three of them were a flailing pile of wings and fur and claws. "Traitors! You're in on it! You work for them!" Finally Tara'shaani found the right spot, lifted the flap of fake fur and jammed her data rod into the port in Serenaas's back. He collapsed motionless to the floor, his shell control overridden.

Quickly Cahaan'nol rolled him over onto his back and triggered the release mechanism. The chest split and opened, revealing an intricate and colourful tangle of crystals and fine metal wires, interlaced with gleaming aluminium struts and capsules. He unlocked the manual clamps on the largest, central one and grabbed the squealing batlike creature within before it could fly away. Like all Kiroter'nah Serenaas's organic form was blue, hairless, slightly slimy and the size of a small earth cat. Now he was shrieking crude insults and trying to bite Cahaan'nol's hands. Cahaan'nol quickly went to the sleeping space, tossed Serenaas into the large cage they had procured from the TGU and locked the door. Shaking his head sadly, he returned to the meeting room.

---

"Well that is that. Look at this mess. He didn't go without a fight." Cahaan'nol was looking at Tara'shaani's right wing, which had been badly ripped by Serenaas's claws. Serenaas's former shell was slumped in the corner.

"You had a lucky escape yourself." said Tara'shaani, looking at the still-smoking hole in Cahaan'nol's ear, from which hairlike copper wires were trailing. "You are the co-ordinator now of course."

"We'd best get this cleaned up, and as much as possible covered up. We will say that Serenaas was struck by a debilitating illness and that we are awaiting the healers on the Destiny Star. That at least will work to our favour, they are unlikely to deny such aid. But we cannot let anyone see him like this, bad enough that he is naked, but insane as well? We will have to hide our damage with humaan-style bandages until we have the means to repair it. We will say it was an accident."

"What of your speech to the 'Coalition' conference?"

"It will have to wait. You go ahead with your embassy idea, contact the human nations individually asking permission to build a small space station in synchronous orbit. With the Hegemony reparation funds of course."

Tara'shaani nodded and turned to leave but Cahaan'nol had a final thing to add. "One piece of good news; I have been studying the material sent by the delegation from the 'Stellar Dominion', and it seems that they too have a sky-free species in their nation."

"Flying sapients? Humanoid? Like us?" Most Kiroter'nah were prone to sentiment about such things, but Tara'shaani was perhaps a little more prone than most.

"It would seem so. But there are none of these 'angels' in their earth group, I do not know why. I will contact them and see if they would permit one of our ships to visit." hope i get reassigned to that mission Probability of reassignment is low given current situation. one can dream

[Redleader34]

In the halls of the Poles, there would be a new arrival, a taller human, of African american decent would be walking. He, along with his consort Starblis would enter into the hall, and look, for one of the representatives of the USA. with a heavy heart, he sighed and whispered to her "I don't think I should have come here, I may still be wanted for my hijacking and dereliction of duty.." Starblis hushed the man, and responded "Don't worry, They should forgive you, its been four hundred years, since that happened, they probably thought you had died..." The man nodded, and with a new inner determination, he walked up to the USA's representative and asked "Hello there, I am a citizen of the USA, who was a part of your navy many years ago. What would happen if lets say, I confessed to deserting due to political reason?"

[Hawkwings]

The US representative, taking a break from the insanity that was the main discussion, looked over the newcomers with practiced eyes. His face remained impassive as his mind worked furiously.

Taking on a conversational tone, for he had no desire to cause a big scene, Diplomat Ian Davidson said "I'm no expert on the military side of things, but desertion is one of the serious breaches of duty outlined in the oath you took after basic training, and advanced training. If, let's say, you were a deserter for political reasons, rather than, say humanitarian, I would check with the database of known deserters, see if you were on said list, and if so, I would instruct my security to arrest you and hold you in our custody until your court-martial."

While this conversation was going on, the diplomat had decided to take no action until the man responded. He wanted to see where this would lead, and if the man really was a deserter, the stalking before the catch was much more fun.

"Incidentally, since you are a United States citizen, which you will presumably prove or disprove shortly, and you obviously aren't in my party, you're welcome to join us at our table for the banquet later."

[Redleader34]

The man would look to his girlfriend, and simply say "Tell me where this banquet table is, and I'll show you my passport to prove that, I am a real American Mr.. I'm sorry I never got your name.." After ending his conversation he would walk over and appear to be deep in thought, while he was were conversing via a secure datalink with Starblis.

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"Well, As I said, I could be arrested, If they are willing to arrest me, before realizing who I am, this could cause a major incident.." Starblis would look at him, and shake her head disapprovingly "Trust me hun, this won't be a s bad as you think, after all, you have proof of the ship's condition, and what happened to you those years ago" The man would seem to have a grave look on his face as he responded. "Thats true, but still" the man would seem quite concerned "I can't leave my people, I just can't, Ryand is a good commander, and he could lead us into victory, but I don't want to take the risk, with the NGTO and this development. " Starblis would cut him off with "Its going to work out, it will, trust me.." 

and the conversation would end."

[rhoenix]

Honush-Co'sota#36-Tara'shaani had received the communique from Archon Prasad, of the Golden Sky Combine that morning and in her eagerness to proceed with the embassy project had travelled directly up to the Polish skyhook to meet the Archon. The trip had been a little claustrophobic; she much prefered Kiroter'nah displacers, which whisked one to and from clear sky (technically to avoid teleporting chunks of the scenery into the displacer platform, but it matched her species natural preferences in any case).

She paced along the corridor, letting out irregular ultrasonic clicks as she intermittently echolocated. bad habit i am still nervous She tried to suppress it. The station was brightly lit after all. Rounding the final corner, she got her first glimpse of Archon Kergan Prasad. The tall, immobile figure was staring out of one of the view ports, seemingly watching the shuttles flit to and fro outside.

Before she could vocalize her greeting, the Archon greeted her. "I am pleased and honoured both that you saw fit to meet me in person to discuss my offer regarding your embassy." With that, he turned around smoothly, with a warm smile.

Tara'shaani cocked her head up slightly to meet him in the eyes, unable to quell a lingering feeling that she should be cautious around this alien. but then probably sensible This species is descended from humans after all. Recent evidents are evidence of how unpredictable and irrational they can be. but maybe that was a freak event i have to hope that Realising that she was staring back in a way humans found impolite, she initiated a speech pattern.

"I was intrigued by your offer of funding and a security staff. I am sure your people will make a very impressive ceremonial guard. Why do you offer such a thing for our station and ask for nothing in return?"

Archon Prasad's deeply tanned face smiled a bit more widely. "Oh, what we ask for is a high price indeed - we ask that you be willing to talk with us more, and perhaps begin trades, and other honorable accords. We wish to make sure we are as good a friend as we ask others to be at times."

Nodding, Tara'shaani looked thoughtful, still not entirely convinced. "Allow me to confirm. You will provide manpower and materials to assist in construction. You will also supply infantry to help patrol and guard it. In exchange you ask for one dedicated section of this unbuilt station for your people, and possible goodwill toward trade agreements and the like in the future. Is that correct?"

Archon Prasad nodded, and the two began to walk slowly down the corridor, both noting casually that they were both being observed. "That is indeed correct. In these...interesting times, we wish to have allies at our side." He smiled. "I recall Archon Brea making a speech about alloys recently - though she is correct, it's obvious that she became an Archon out of the Marines branch of our military alone, or she wouldn't have been as terse."

Smiling slightly now herself, Tara'shaani replied cautiously. "Are your people always so magnanimous?"

A low breeze rustled his robes slightly as he smiled. "Not always. But what Archon Brea said about alloys is true - all of us feel that way. We feel that we are made stronger by doing what we feel is honorable and just, and this counts as such."

"Well, I will have to confirm with my superiors. The project is still unapproved by the Terrans. The Chamara are submitting their own proposals and others of the NGTO flock may join them. But I thank you for your offer. I will do my best to see that it is taken up."

[InnocentBystander]

OOC: of course there's nothing blatantly illegal onboard. Also, no weapons of mass planetary destrucion; mass destruction, that's a given. Most warships can manage to take out a city easily.

Once the shuttle landed, a single figure walked down the ramp, all features hidden inside a hostile environment suit. Careful scanning would reveal an overabundance of electronics, but no single power source for those electronics. Those with thaumic sensors would detect magic coursing through it.

"I am Winter Storm, cousin and representative of the Son of the Sun. Lead me to this conference of yours."

OOC: Just checking! Gota protect earth and all...

Sol - Earth
High Orbit

After a few formalities the Son of the Sun delegate was ushered into a small transport, the captain of Martelo Rapido was there waiting. He knew he was going to be escorting it down to Earth, but no one had told him what it looked like. He secretly hoped it would be an alien princess... maybe green; he wasn't sure exactly what he expected, but it wasn't a large encounter suit.
"Hello, er, " he stumbled for a moment, " Mister Storm, I am Captain Duarte, I'm pleased to meet you. " the captain reached out his hand as the alien stepped onboard. The alien looked at the captain for a moment, before responding.
"What do you intend to do with that hand." it took a moment for the Captain to realize his mistake.
"Ah, yes. Err it is common for humans to shake hands when they greet each other. One of our customs." the cold gauntlent of the alien reached out slowly and was met by the Captain's. Clapsing the armored hand lightly he shook and nooded before releasing and showing the Alien to his seat.

"You will have to forgive the reaction you recieved when you entered the system. There have been a number of incidents already and on a day like today there is always the possibility of terrorists, can't be too careful.", of course you couldn't have listened to the welcome-beacons that could be heard for 10 lightyears, followed the instructions and not caused such a ruckus... "We've alerted the Poles of your arrival, their president eagerly awaits your arrival." it was an embelishment, perhaps, but the Captain was trying to be as diplomatic as he could. Not an hour ago he was prepared to blow this creature out of the sky, now he was trying to make small talk. What a day.


Sol - Earth
Sant Tomas Island

The shuttle craft touched down on a landing pad near to the conference hall, Polish security officers were there to greet them.

[Hawkwings]

"I'm Ian Anderson, and the US delegation and guests are going to be at table six for the banquet."

Ian took the passport and absently swiped it past the reader. When the information didn't pop up on his screen, he tried again, slightly annoyed.

Then he realized that this passport was not like the ones that were currently in use. Sure, the overall shape, size, and weight hadn't changed in the past few hundred years, and neither had the dark-blue faux-leather covering, but this one felt entirely too... worn.

Noting that the man had wandered off and seemed to be staring into space, Ian opened the passport to take a look. What he saw was very surprising. The info sheet on the first page looked nothing like the ones currently in use, and furthermore, it listed the man's date of birth in the 20th century, over 400 years ago.

Is this some kind of joke?

Turning to an aide, Ian said "I've got a job for you. Run this guy's name and information through the old national records, and see what you can dig up."

The aide scurried off, and the diplomat then turned to a member of his security detail.

"Get a couple plainclothes people to track that man, make sure we don't lose track of him. Contact me if he doesn't come to dinner."

The security man nodded and wrote a few things down in a pad. He turned away and started speaking into his radio.

Walking over to the man again, Ian handed back the passport, gave him a serious look, and said "I'll see you at dinner, I believe that we'll have a very lively conversation afterwards."

[Redleader34]

Pocketing his passport, he would say "I'll see yo later, Ian, and I hope we can have a ..lively.. conversation then." He would then take the hand of Starblis, who would say a simple hi, before they both headed to meet with the Sky overflock, the man, focused on the dinner which was to determine the fate of not just him, but the entire planet..

[Tanasinn]

A sudden notification signal broke in the vaccuum of space, signaling yet another vessel's arrival before it dropped out of warp: the crew certainly did not want to surprise the defensive forces orbiting Earth. What dropped out of warp was perhaps somewhat underwhelming for a diplomatic vessel: a sleek, seed-like vessel, perhaps 80 meters in length, appeared in realspace with no particular flourish, its bold white hull gleaming in the unsullied light of the Sol System's single star. The ship lacked an escort of any kind, nor did it seem to possess weapons: a purely diplomatic ship.

Without hesitation, the ship sent out a wide-band communication, "We represent the Glorious Khurlassian Republic. I am High Diplomat Kel-mar-Chul, and I represent the interests of the Senate and the Imperial Majesty," the voice itself spoke Polish, though its tones were odd: musical, lengthy, "We apologize for our tardiness, but the journey to this planet was quite long. We request permission to dock so that we may, perhaps, contribute to this proposed coalition," with that, the communication cut off and the diplomatic vessel sat silent.

[Spyder]

Katowica Station

Patrick and Anton say their goodbyes. Before Patrick is escorted to the space elevator he hands the Polish Minister a card containing his contact details.

"I can see things here are a little busy at the moment. We'll have to catch up later, I'm sure we have a great deal to talk about."

[Dark Hellion]

The four smaller drones spread out, taking places amongst the bodyguards of various other species. A hush spreads for a second as the four meter tall Emissary enters the meeting hall. Straightening to his full seven meter height, the Emissary towers above the gathered mass of negotiators and politicians. The metallic robes clink and slither back, forming a cloak behind him, the armored hood converting itself into quill like protrusions from the back of its head, and revealing a blank, opaque three-quarters oval that made up its face. Skeletal limbs of black battle armour, and an armour-plated chest completed the look. While an Emissary, it was designed for what would best be called aggressive negotiations. However, none of the weapons sensors had rung, the numerous massive cannon and particle beamers obviously unpowered for this event. Raising a single hand, a clear deep, and perhaps slightly ominous voice rung out.

Please, do not let me intrude into your negotiations. It seems that perhaps I am a slightly more distracting presence than I had reckoned. Do continue. I'll speak my piece at the appropriate time.

[Starglider]

The following message is transmitted on wide beam hyperwave from a moving source one day's travel outside the Sol system. The source is very powerful for a ship-based transmitter, appearing more like a backbone interplanetary signal.

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>>> Permission To Approach Burst <<<
@from      'K.O.D.X. Destiny Star' : Kiroter'nah Overflock
@escorting Chamara diplomatic yacht : 'Quintana Reborn'
@escorting Republic of the Sky Bear envoy : 'Bruin'
@escorting Kiroter'nah special diplomatic transport : 'K.O.S.C. Elucidate' 
@purpose   Provision of security to listed envoys.
@purpose   Provision of medical care to stranded Kiroter'nah personnel.
@purpose   Transport of supplies for proposed shared embassy.
@designate Approach vector and contact protocols.
@request   Flightplan and clearance to Terra high-orbit.
@request   Temporary IFF designators as may be required.
@request   Terran escort vessel from system perimeter.
end transmission

[img=left]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/st ... eghVar.png[/img]The Chamara and RotSB ships are unarmed transports (sleek and blocky respectively), the Elucidate is the cloaking cruiser that took serious damage earlier (the hull is heavily patched and the support framework is broken in various places) and the Destiny Star is a 2100m long 120pt titan (which would actually be a 200pt ship if everything on it worked properly). The later is shaped like the Negh'var class pictured left, but has the usual Kiroter'nah 'eggs in a latticework' structure.

[Hawkwings]

TRANSMIT: START
RECIPIENT: 'K.O.D.X. Destiny Star' : Kiroter'nah Overflock
CC: Chamara diplomatic yacht : 'Quintana Reborn'
CC: Republic of the Sky Bear envoy : 'Bruin'
CC: Kiroter'nah special diplomatic transport : 'K.O.S.C. Elucidate'

Your ships' arrival has been filed with Traffic Control. You will be cleared for entry after arrival outside Sol system. United States vessels will meet you at your exit point and provide diplomatic IFF transponder codes. Thank you for transmitting your intentions before you arrive.

ATTACHED: Nav coords: Rally point Gamma-2
Comments: Please exit FTL at the following coordinates, we are clearing a preliminary path for you from there.

END

For such a large diplomatic group, a larger escort group was assigned to the task. A Grav-battleship, three cruisers, and nine destroyers were to meet the convoy as they entered realspace.

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol
Sant Tomas
Detention Center

Doctor Carlson entered the room with the Wanderers. "Hello," she said. "You've stirred up quite the hornest's nest. They dragged me out of my bed and half way across the solar system to talk with you."

[SirNitram]

The Wanderers were still in their Gestalt; they never seemed to leave it. One spoke, the others just watched silently. "Very little has changed, then. Humanity still hates the 'Other'. Who are you, that the appearance of us requires your loss of sleep?"

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol
Terra
Sant Tomas
Detention Facility

"Tell me about it," said Carlson. "A religious lunatic threw acid in my face. Had to have a complete rebuild. Artificial bones, cyber eyes, vat grown skin, the works. Of course, that was a while back. And to be fair, they would have thrown the book at my attacker if they had been able. You know what they say, don't you?"

She paused. "But you had a question. The answer is I'm the Logos Centrality's leading expert on psionics and psionicists. You got the Poles and that blockhead Hale all stirred up somehow, so much so that that bitch of a First Councilor had me dragged out of bed and across the solar system to try and find out who you boys and girls are."

[SirNitram]

"We are Wanderers. Individual identity is... Difficult. We are here on behalf of House Mnenosic." The 'Speaker' replied, studying the mind of the Logos psionics expert. "The individual we spoke with did not know of us, of the psychics that Mankind made. Are you aware of the history, the actions of those now dead?"

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol
Terra
Sant Tomas
Detention Center


"I know how gestalts work," she said. "I'll follow along just fine. Now there were a number of psychic programs in the early days, some going back even before mankind reached into space. So saying your from an early group doesn't narrow it down much. Judging from the fact that no one's heard of you, your from far away and insular. Descended from those nasty spacer experiments would be my guess. Ugly business."

[SirNitram]

"Accurate. Our earliest memories are of a time when the Gestalt was a single entity and a computer, wired together, calculating jumps." The Speaker continued, recounting what was obviously an unpleasant time. "The push to expand the knowledge, the capability, was quite unpleasant. We have avoided Humanity for many obvious reasons, yet now there are transmissions calling out to the void. We came to observer. Our House is the living memory of our species."

A pause. "We regret we cannot narrow down which program we were. We beleive we came about naturally, and were then forced to new levels of psionics by extreme conditioning."