STGOD: DAS: Main Game Thread.

[Academia Nut]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi Orbit

"I have a set of coordinates where you can send your diplomatic team, Archon Brea. Point of protocol, do you have teleporters or will you be using shuttles to get to the surface?" Jurloc asks.

He then adds on, "And I am also to tell you that the politicians have assembled a nice welcome basket for you. I do hope you like it."

[rhoenix]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi Orbit

"I have a set of coordinates where you can send your diplomatic team, Archon Brea. Point of protocol, do you have teleporters or will you be using shuttles to get to the surface?" Jurloc asks.

At this, Archon Aya Brea's bright blue eyes seemed to soften as she smiled. "My ship is equipped with matter transference systems - simply let us know where you would prefer us to land, and I and my two aides will be there shortly."

He then adds on, "And I am also to tell you that the politicians have assembled a nice welcome basket for you. I do hope you like it."

At this, her face brightened slightly with genuine pleasant surprise. "Well, I do thank you and your politicians for your thoughtful hospitality. I was authorized to give gifts of welcome and goodwill to you as well, so I shall be happy to reciprocate."

Upon receiving coordinates through the comm system for where she and her two aides to transfer to, she and her two aides faded into existence on the precise spot indicated. Already, all three were looking around with guarded curiosity.

[Tanasinn]

Khulassian Sovereign Space, Northern Rim
K.R.S. Fairchild
Bridge

High Diplomat Fhur-mar-Nor waited calmly on the cramped bridge of the brick-like, well-maintained hauler Fairchild for the words he wanted to hear. A being of 155 years, Fhur was too old to be commanding a navy ship, and in a way, he wasn't in command. It was true that he was nominally in command of the ship on which he currently resided, and it was also true that he was nominally in command of the entirety of the Watchman Mobile Unit. He knew, though, that it was his considerable diplomatic skill and experience serving in the Watchman Mobile Unit in years past that had got him this mission more than anything else. Indeed, the presence Vice-Admiral Nal-mar-Suhn, a silent Khurl of rigid composure and little words, was all the proof the High Diplomat needed that he was only in charge so long as things went well.

This did not particularly concern the High Diplomat: he was to be one of the key players in shaping modern Republic relations with the Reskye, and it was a duty of such importance that he cared little for whether his authority onboard the Fairchild was mere smoke.

"Status report on the cargo," he said calmly, studying readouts on the bridge's tac-screen that already told him what he wanted to know. The young Khurl technical officer to which he addressed his question knew better than to give the quick, general answer on his display. With a pause to double-check the readouts on the Fairchild's precious cargo manually, he responded, "All readings green, sir; the cryo-chambers are showing no unusual fluctuations in the health of the Gharn cargo."

Fhur paused for thought, clenching his mid-tentacles rhythmically as he did so, a habit he had acquired while dealing with stubborn foreigners and ruthless Republic politicians.

"Wake five of the sleeping Gharn and have them get cleaned up, suited up, and sent up to the meeting room. We want to present an air of readiness and professionalism to our guests."

"Aye sir," the technical officer responded in the bizarrely musical Khurl language, relaying the High Diplomat's command to the Fairchild's considerable storage space.

He didn't need to be told to demand the top five physically and mentally rated Gharn, and it didn't take long for crewmen in the cargo section to pick out these pre-rated five out of the two-hundred-thousand-odd Gharn in deep freeze onboard the Fairchild. This cryo-bay, along with a spartan but roomy receiving room, made the Fairchild a unique beast among cargo haulers. Of course, Fhur thought, it won't be quite as unique if relations with the Reskye proceed positively. Which they will.

A computer station sounded a single mournful note from the cramped sensors corner of the Fairchild's bridge, "Incoming vessels, High Diplomat. Numbers unsure; it's almost surely our guests," the sensor officer reported.

"Execellent. Get our shields up then, Weapons. Comms, see to it that the other vessels in the Mobile Unit do the same: let's not appear uncautious," Fhur turned, "Vice-Admiral, let us head to the receiving room. Please try to calm yourself," the joke met a chilly response from the rigid Khurl, who turned without reply to follow the High Diplomat. For Shultakk fell in-step as the pair left the bridge, the door to the Fairchild's bridge whispering shut after them.

[Spyder]

NGF-17 "Tristan"
Near Oberin Space

Several minutes pass, the brunette and the Wanderer starred intently into each other's eyes, no sound or movement from either of them. The soldiers, remaining completely unaware of the conversation taking place.

A human whispers to the reptilian, "this is kinda hot."

[SirNitram]

The Wanderer, once content with the answers from the woman, lifted a hand. Your ambassador has spoken with me at length. I advise you not to speak in such a manner around her, though, while we are in Gestalt. She knows as we know, and we know your thoughts. We will conduct an inspection of the ship you have attempted to save. Join us if you require such, but you will please remain in-system until our return.

The Wanderer started walking towards the site on the ship where it would allow access to the freighter, already having been told by the woman.

[Academia Nut]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

Materializing on cobblestones cut from polished coral, the entourage from the Golden Sky Combine are immediately greeted with the smiling visage of Alrazi Mylis, Supreme Elder God of the Straltoc Federation. Standing over twenty feet tall, he is a strange centauroid creature with a humanoid torso and an octopedal lower body, his legs enormous segmented structures jointed somewhat like that of a spider, only the size of tree trunks. Unlike Ambassador Felsith his torso is free of grinning faces, but he has four arms instead of two, the hands shrouded by "cuffs" of twitching tentacles. For a head, he has a strange mixture of lupine and crocodilian features, with four pairs of glowing blue eyes arranged in pairs running over an enormous maw. Trailing down his back like living dreadlocks are dozens, perhaps hundreds of tentacles covered in eyes and mouths seemingly at random.

Flanking him on the right is another equally bizarre creature, this one a fifteen foot diameter ball of dozens of incredibly long, double jointed arms all connecting at the centre. In the palm of each hand is either a single, staring eye or a lamprey like rasping maw. It occasionally changes the hands that serve as support, and it is apparent that its primary mode of locomotion is rolling.

On the left side of Alrazi is a creature that upon first inspection appears to be something out of Aztec myth. An enormous winged serpent, although these wings are more bat-like than avian, this creature is nearly as tall as Alrazi while mostly coiled up and its wings drapped about its body like a cloak, although the digits in the middle show that they can also be used for grasping and manipulating things. Instead of the tentacles of its brethren, this creature is covered in a fine "fur" of anemone-like tendrils, each topped with a tiny human hand.

Arranged to either side of the Straltoc leaders are vast seas of squirming black tar that frequently manifest eyes to look at the newcomers or mouths to cheer at their arrival.

Bowing respectfully as one, Alrazi then says, "Welcome Archon Brea, I am Supreme Elder God Alrazi Mylis. To my right of me is the current Elder God of Commerce, Gralthrak Echen, and to my left is the Elder God of State, Nyzal Sorbith. We welcome you to Crulmathi, on this most sacred of sites, the Plaza of the Ancients, where the first settlement of the Straltoc people was founded four hundred years ago."

To the psychic senses of the Golden Sky Combine, the three Elder Gods radiate intense wisdom and intellect, the product of hundreds of years of experience and the equivalent of hundreds to thousands of minds working as one, while the masses of tar to either side are an ocean of minds, literally hundreds of thousands of individuals all packed together.

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol System
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy

"What we want," said Hale, "is peace, prosperity, and mastery of the Arcana. That means being strong without succumbing to hubris and wealth without becoming soft. Terran history, and our history as well, is replete with examples of what happens to the powerless. There is a saying in Centrality space: 'They used to burn witches. Now witches burn their enemies.' What we desire ambassador is are profitable trade relations, alliances with dependable allies, new territories, and a military strong enough to make even the most bloody minded foe think twice about taking us on.

"From your nation we may help us obtain all of that. New colonies are easier to found when space is safer, wealth comes from trading partners, and new allies and perhaps better understanding of the Arcana. What we might desire from you in terms of trade is considerable: we have many resources, but we are a growing nation. Many of our finished goods go to export where the names of our corporations have been associated with quality since the early days of starflight. Industrial technology, from mining bots to factory machines, would be valuable in quantity. There are other markets as well, but that is our most pressing need."

[Academia Nut]

Sol System
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy

"Well then Ambassador, when you put it like that, how can we refuse you trade? Although you do bring up a good point. The Straltoc is rather distant from Earth, and with so little central authority piracy is a serious issue. And not even those somewhat honourable scoundrels the Polish impounded recently, but the worst dregs in space. It is one of the primary reasons my delegation came aboard a cruiser with escorts, there was serious concern of attack. The Coalition of Nations, while my people are back on board after a brief scare, does offer to help unify peoples in fighting this menace to peace and prosperity, but of late it seems to have been spinning its wheels for ratification as various groups bicker over the details. Perhaps our two nations could come to a more... personalized... alliance to free our trades routes of predators? I believe my government knows of several lucrative worlds between our home and Earth that are too far outside of our space to effectively police, but that a joint venture with another power might be able to successfully colonize."

[Imperial Overlord]

Sol System
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy

Nale raised his glass. "How could I possibly say no?"

[Academia Nut]

Sol System
Earth
Sant Thomas
Temporary Straltoc Embassy

Taking up a glass in one of massive hands, Felsith returns the toast and says, "Then to a prosperous future for both our peoples. And I know just the place where we can start..."

[Crossroads Inc.]

===================
Border of Nephilim Space
===================
(NOTE: Please consider the following to have happened much earlier ad PRIOR to the current ‘probe’ incident)

“Now hear this. All Targets have escaped, it would seem we have arrived a tad late to meet our unknown ‘guests’. Never the less this search is not over. I want all corvettes to perform a Sweep within this sector and report any findings. Destroyers will Separate to return to the nearest Nephilim sensor outposts and compare records. They may have picked up something we have missed. All ships are to meet back at his location in 24hours. Dismissed!”

(4 hours later)

Captain Moz puffed deeply on his pipe, massaging his head, things had not been going as planned ever since they lost the unknown ship targets. He was still trying to figure out what he was going to tell RUDI about the incident. Either way, he knew the Machine entity would not be happy with loosing contact with anything unknown to him.

That’s when the beeping started.

“Mr Merf, Report please.” He said looking to the operator at scanners.”

“Sir, two destroyers dropping out of hyperspace, they are ours sir!”

“What? Those ships aren’t due back for almost a standard Kol day, what are they doing back so soon. Mort! Hail them immediately!”

“Aye Aye sir”

“This is Captain Moz to Destroyers Whumpus and Thyme. Report! Why have you returned from the Nephilims outposts early?” Moz tapped his large foot impatiently as he listened to the comms. There was a silence; everyone on the bridge listened quietly…

“Sir.. This is Captain Epson of the Whumpus… The Nephilim outposts, they are gone sir.” Moz blinked, no one said a word…

“Confirmed by the other destroyers too Sir, nothing but rocks and scrap metal left…”

Moz looked out over the bridge crew, his teeth grinding… “ those ships, a distraction, surely it must have been!”

“Get my UISC command on the horn, NOW!

[rhoenix]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

Perhaps most surprising was the complete lack of surprise evinced by Archon Brea and her two aides at the appearance of their greetors. Instead, they only seemed to feel benign curiosity.

Archon Aya Brea herself was somewhat short for her people, standing only a small bit over two meters tall, and had a toned physique. Deep black hair, nearly blue in the light of the star overhead, was obviously long and worn in a concise arrangement at the back of her head that resembled a star. She had a tan and attractive face with startlingly clear blue eyes that calmly beheld the beautiful world, and the enigmatic Straltoc leaders greeting them. Her clothes were comfortable looking, though still had some measure of "official" look to them. Her two aides were less congenial, one woman, one man, whose appearance, clothing, and demeanor nearly immediately marked them as militarily trained, and still of that mindset. They appeared calm at the scene before them however, though doing their duty to protect their Archon.

Bowing respectfully as one, Alrazi then says, "Welcome Archon Brea, I am Supreme Elder God Alrazi Mylis. To my right of me is the current Elder God of Commerce, Gralthrak Echen, and to my left is the Elder God of State, Nyzal Sorbith. We welcome you to Crulmathi, on this most sacred of sites, the Plaza of the Ancients, where the first settlement of the Straltoc people was founded four hundred years ago."

Bowing deeply in return in sync, the three rose after a moment, prompting Archon Brea to speak. "Supreme Elder God Alrazi Mylis, I am honored by your greeting and your introduction. To set foot on the same spot your people began their lives here fills me with gratitude at your thoughtfulness."

Turning to each in turn, she cordially and warmly greeted each. "Elder God Gralthrak Echen, I an honored to meet you - should trade arise between our peoples, I look forward to spending more time speaking with you. Elder God Nyzal Sorbith, I am honored to meet you as well.

"In turn, I'd like to introduce Templars Shinjen Erinyes, and Mattea Nuvrien. They are my trusted aides, though not as used to diplomatic work as I."

"As thanks to you for your hospitality and generosity, I'd like to present this gift to all of you - it is a datacrystal used by our people, and on it is a close-up recording of a supernova of a blue giant star in extremely high resolution. I found it stunning in it's raw beauty despite being an astrogator for many years, and I hope that it evinces the same wonder and fascination in you."

With that, as a gesture of Gliesan honor and cordiality, she stepped forward one pace with the multifaceted crystal gleaming in the palm of her hand.

[Spyder]

Svetlana groans noticably. "You are dismissed" she says to the gathering with a subtle hint of angry slavik as she leads the Wanderer through the hatchway.

Nova soldiers and officers continue about their business as their pair proceed through the cramped confines of the Nova vessel. A plethora of alien creatures seemed to be in Nova's obviously non discriminant employ.

Their thoughts, spilling into a stream of disjointed consciousness ranging from a variety of personal dramas to unintelligable alien jibberish.

~That makes four different tax returns I've got to file this year, and to four different governments. Sometimes I wish I could just dissapear, but then I could never come back. Paperwork's a bitch.~ A concerned marine pondered as he passed the pair of them on his patrol.

The contined around a behind passed another marine guarding a stairwell hatchcoming. ~I wonder how the kids are doing. I've got to call Gwen when we're back in port.~

Another one on the way to the starboard airlock, ~What the hell is a Starborn anyway?~

Past an amenities office, ~Oh God, she's coming. Don't think about midget scat porn, don't think about midget scat porn...shit, shit shit! I'm thinking about midget scat porn aren't I? FUCK! STOP USING THE WORDS MIDGET SCAT PORN! STOP!~ Somehow the marine was able to keep a stern expression throughout this rather intriguing inner monologue.

~Being telepathic within an environment as...diverse as this requires years of psychological preparation.~ Svetlana commented silently.

The lietenant slips quickly into an environment suit before the pair of them proceed throug the docking collar to the ruined freighter.

~Our crews are working to restore power and atmosphere to the rear of the vessel in preparation for the arrival of the Oberin vessel.~

They approach a suited invidual who appears to be conducting operations within the vessel.

"What do you have to report?" Svetlana asks.

"We've sealed off numerous breaches in the aft and repatched the lines. We should have power back in a few minutes. We found the pilot, looks like the forward cabin was depressurized along with the rest of the ship."

"Flight recorder?"

"Missile impact on the belly made short work of that. Pirates knew what they were doing. Precision strike on the forward manifold vented the cockpit but left the cargo intact."

"Yet the cargo is still here?"

"My best guess is that they picked up our transponder and tailed out of here before we got a fix on them. Either that or they took if when the distress call went out. A pirate would usually try to take out the cockpit on the first hit. It's harder to call for help when you're dead. Someone screwed up."

The Wanderer was listening intently, and not just to their words. There was no sign of deception, this crew was not responsible for the fate of this vessel.

[SirNitram]

I can see that. Our Gestalt contains sufficient experience with such that it's rarely a problem, save in the young, who are generally not allowed out of our borders. The Wanderer replied.

I beleive the human colloquialism is 'This smells unsanitary' in speech. The Wanderer commented as the minds of the crew were examined. The probabilities of this happening in this manner are small. But the question is, who gains from attracting attention between three star nations?

[Crossroads Inc.]

====================
UISC main council Chamber,
Moon Haurn, orbiting Trathala
====================

“ORDER, I will have ORDER!” Bellowed a loud and clearly agitated Quatonian at the speaker’s podium.

The news of attacks on Nephilium outposts had put the Council on edge, but this was nothing compared to the uproar caused by the assumed attack on Opomari tower directly against the NGTO council there. The drumbeat of war was loud inside the council chamber, everyone knew it was coming and no one wanted to admit it.

The UISC as a whole had prepared for war for ages… The problem was it had so focused on planetary fleet defence, that no one dared move their own fleets out of orbit… Already a heated exchange was taking place between Tajlan and Octona delegates.

“Our treaty with the NGTO CLEARLY states that we must ALL pledge forces if there is a call to war! In this instance, the combined forces of at least Two planetary fleets are required to be sent.” The small Octona stated, the Trathalan translator next to him working furiously to keep up.

The imposing Qwintoni on the other side of the council chamber stood among the other Tajlan Delegates, clearly unmoved.

“By all means, I invite you to pledge your ships, Let Octona be rendered Defenceless of its home fleet to go to this war. Tajlan shall not part with ANY Warships that would give another system… an ‘advantage’ “ he said, making a rather rude gesture with his tail as the floor erupted in riotous commotion.

In the middle of the other members, Krahnos Gaylinastro, one of the three Trathalan members sat, shaking his head and rubbing his temples.
“Great Crie, I pray to you to end these fools bickering..” he said in a muted voice. A hand laid on his shoulder as if to steady him.
“Kentara? Blessing upn you, you have returned.. It is has been so hard dealing with these Offworlders, I had verily forgot how much I missed your experience..” Kentara flicked her wings, showing a humorous response.

“I appreciate your kind words Krahnos, though I have brought with me someone even more experienced with dealing with maters of these races.” She said, gesturing behind her as a Droid stepped forward.. Krhanos blink curiously as Darnethlil, the third Trathalan Delegate turned to look as well.

“What is that ‘thing’ doing here? Kentara?” Krahnos snorted as the droid ‘smiled’

“Crie bless you good Trathalan, I hope I do not offend, but I have something the might mitigate this current shouting match… You know the other UISC members respect your races judgment more. After all you have seen much more, and lived through much more… Perhaps, words from you would bring some sanity to those proceedings” The droid spoke as it handed the Trathalan a data pad.

The Trathalan accepted it sceptical, than began to skim over the words. He raised an eye ridge half way down and snorted.

“This… Might just work. I, never would have thought of approaching the others like this” he sai,d reading the rest now.. The droid smiled and began to depart..

“Of course not, that’s why I’m here…”

[Darkevilme]

Staging area,
Somewhere in Nephilim space.

Sensor satellites pick up numerous FTL signatures. Hyperspace corridors opening up across a patch of space, glowing extradimensional tunnels flashing into existence, energies swirling within.

And then the fleet is disgorged into realspace. Blurred streamers of Doppler shifted light drawing lines emerging from the corridors. Each line compressing to its end point into the bronzecoloured hull of a Chamaran warship, the Hunter’s drives flaring brightly as they ignite and they surge forwards. The Shikons and destroyers emerging next, the immense three Shikon battleships forming a heavily armoured triangle in the center of the fleet, the entire formation forming a dazzling new constellation as their engines engage and they head towards the military station in the system, to join the other fleets already massing there.

Destroyer ‘Pride of Aron’, flagship of first fleet
“Destrroyerr Gargassa reporrts successful translation”
“good, that’s the last nyo?” asks Melusine as she looks to the coms-girls who form an unbroken row of six across one half of a tier in the command pit. The circular control stations each with a neko in the center and rising tier by tier from the place where Melusine and Lessa the battlemistress and shipmistress respectively now stood. Melusine nods in approval when she gets the affirmative “let us call the base now, see if they have those supplies from Marass.”

The ship, just one of many, flies on, the entire fleet slowly coming into place in orbit around the rallying world. Supply ships sent ahead by the homeworld meeting them in orbit and delivering the titanic load of missiles, shells, reactor fuel and other consumeables that a full warfleet requires in the field.

[Academia Nut]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

Accepting the data crystal, Alraszi says, "On behalf of the Straltoc people, we thank you for this generous gift, and we wonder if there is a story behind how it was obtained, for we are most intrigued by such stories."

"It also reassures us in the appropriateness of our gift, for we can clearly see that both our peoples treasure knowledge. As such, we give you this," Alraszi then pulls out a small, flat slate and hands it to Archon Brea. "This is one of two of the first ever copies of the Saga of the First Ones, the other for the delegate of the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear. It is an immersive holographic story with full empathic projection, composed directly from our most sacred memories. These memories shared amongst all adult Straltoc, and they tell the tale of the first humans who became Straltoc. I warn you though that as many of these memories are as heartbreaking as they are triumphant, for there was incredible loss suffered by the first settlers. The first part that details our time lost in the void beyond the stars is particularly traumatic."

Alraszi then says, "There was much debate over whether we should give this to you, but in the end it was decided that we must. To learn these memories is considered something of a rite of passage for Straltoc adults, so we finally decided that if we are to interact with you as mature adults then this symbolic gesture felt appropriate."

[rhoenix]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

Accepting the data crystal, Alraszi says, "On behalf of the Straltoc people, we thank you for this generous gift, and we wonder if there is a story behind how it was obtained, for we are most intrigued by such stories."

At this, Archon Brea smiled somewhat shyly. "This recording was the first evidence that our tampering of our own forms and abilities had unexpected results. The ship was trapped in the gravity well of the star, and though the ship would have barely survived the supernova, the people inside shouldn't have. One, however, did, though that's a story for another day."

"It also reassures us in the appropriateness of our gift, for we can clearly see that both our peoples treasure knowledge. As such, we give you this," Alraszi then pulls out a small, flat slate and hands it to Archon Brea. "This is one of two of the first ever copies of the Saga of the First Ones, the other for the delegate of the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear. It is an immersive holographic story with full empathic projection, composed directly from our most sacred memories. These memories shared amongst all adult Straltoc, and they tell the tale of the first humans who became Straltoc. I warn you though that as many of these memories are as heartbreaking as they are triumphant, for there was incredible loss suffered by the first settlers. The first part that details our time lost in the void beyond the stars is particularly traumatic."

Alraszi then says, "There was much debate over whether we should give this to you, but in the end it was decided that we must. To learn these memories is considered something of a rite of passage for Straltoc adults, so we finally decided that if we are to interact with you as mature adults then this symbolic gesture felt appropriate."

At this, the Straltoc could tell that Archon Brea felt...stunned, and honored. She displayed this by smoothly bowing with her right hand clasped over her left fist, after gratefully accepting the small, flat slate. "Alraszi, I am touched and deeply honored by your gift, and I will study it at my first opportunity."

"In return, I would be honored to share the story of how my people came to be as they are, should you be curious."

[Academia Nut]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

"We Straltoc are always curious about all things and would be honoured to hear your story. Although right now we are somewhat curious as to whether or not the delegates from the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear are having any difficulties. It would be rude to begin such a tale without them, don't you think?"

[rhoenix]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Plaza of the Ancients

"We Straltoc are always curious about all things and would be honoured to hear your story. Although right now we are somewhat curious as to whether or not the delegates from the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear are having any difficulties. It would be rude to begin such a tale without them, don't you think?"

"I would be honored to tell you our tale, but I agree - as we are only one delegation welcomed to your beautiful home, it would be rude to proceed without them. We will wait patiently for the delegates from the Grand Republic of the Sky Bear."

At this, she seated herself on nothing in particular, and sat crosslegged in midair. Her aides remained standing, motionless.

[rhoenix]

Somewhere south of Golden Sky Combine space

Studying the surrounding space carefully through her lightpad, Archon Aya Inzeti frowned. Her ship, the Sun Glare, slowed to a stop from superluminal speed in this system, escorted by a larger cruiser. "Astrogator Temvan, are we in the last known space of the Cretacean Confederacy?"

After studying historical notes and star charts, her astrogator nodded at last. His eyebrows were knitted in concentration. "Yes, Archon Inzeti. We are within one lightsecond of the planet we first met their people on."

Studying local solar system notes, Archon Inzeti came to a decision. "Astrogator, can we have our escort fire a single flailgun shell, set for heat threshold detonation, into this system's star without damaging it or the planets in this system?"

After confirming his notes and his Archon's calculations, he nodded once again. "Yes, Archon. There will be no long-term ramifications that I can see for a red giant star of this size, beyond a very bright solar flare. It should be sufficient to gain their attention."

Her rare golden eyes narrowed, she took a breath before giving the order. Given how valuable a resource stars can be for fuel, it almost pained her to do this. She steeled herself anyway. "Signal the Implacable, and have them fire the shell."

A few seconds later, long range sensors would have detected a large thermal bloom from the Implacable, culminating within a few seconds to a much, much larger thermal bloom of the shell exploding within the corona of the star. Responding as predicted, the star vomited a large solar flare into space, visible for lightyears. Also as predicted, the solar flare never touched a planet or one of the GSC ships.

[Starglider]

Staging area 'Echo',
Sector T-15, Nephilim Space

Ochpoe'ehka perched at the centre of the K.O.H.I. Chronostorm's command space, taking in the view the central holoprojector was showing her. In her professional assessment, as the Kiroter'nah equivalent of a 'flag officer', it was magnificient.

Almost 256 warships of all sizes and it seemed every possible design hung in space before her; sleek fluted Chamara ships, blocky Bear ships, the flattened latticework darts of Kiroter'nah ships, the low bunker-like shapes of the Nephilim ships and the huge rounded dagger that was the Combine command ship. An even greater number of ungainly troop transports were forming up behind the main fleet, though there were no Kiroter'nah ships in that group. Shuttles and supply freighters moved constantly between the warships, while many thousands of fighters and drones circled the perimeter on CAP duty or engaged in training exercises. The tactical plot was a dense knot of tracks, flickering with data tags as organic controllers and computers alike struggled to keep everything running smoothly.

The Chronostorm itself was in Ochpoe'ehka's opinion the finest ship ever made by Kiroter'nah hands, the first of a new class of heavy combat ships designed for just this kind of power projection mission. far more sensible than that ludicrously oversized and overdesigned destiny star why we could have three more of these ships for what that bloated mess cost to build

even with the joint flying we did in the space of the tee-gee-aih it will be tough keeping this circus in line Tactical projections do indicate that if an effective synergy of diverse allied capabilities can be achieved, combat effectiveness will be unprecedented. we shall see many of these brash young 'captains' of the other races seem liable to do their own thing under pressure

"Yaakee'ren checks in co-ordinator, he confirms all ships in Hailstorm group have completed replenishment and are ready for combat operations."

Taxaani-Emeris#2-Yaakee'ren's fast attack group, which he commanded from the K.O.R.I. Black Lightning, had recently returned from chasing the unknown contacts up and down the Nephilim border. Ochpoe'ehka smiled at the thought that the younger co-ordinator must be eager to finally engage the enemy.

"Excellent. Hail the Conflagration, tell them that all ships of the Overflock are prepared to move out on their command."

------

In a meeting space on Haven, most of the senior members of the Anaytrean Cultural Development Flock were arguing vigorously about the upcoming holovid production. Whether live humans could be found to play the appropriate roles was still unknown. The fleet still hadn't confirmed that they would co-operate with the space scenes. It seemed that the vid might end up using a distressing amount of simulated imagergy, which the more elitist storyspinners were vociferously objecting to.

But one thing was certain. 'Pirates of Bootswellington : The Curse of the Atomsk' would be a blockbuster, and was bound to leave much of the population with an inexplicable affection for what cooler heads might regard as mere bloodthirsty outlaws. With the level of funding the mysterious backers were offering, it might even be made into a trilogy.

[Spyder]

I can see that. Our Gestalt contains sufficient experience with such that it's rarely a problem, save in the young, who are generally not allowed out of our borders. The Wanderer replied.

~Fascinating. Someday I would very much like to see your world.~

I beleive the human colloquialism is 'This smells unsanitary' in speech. The Wanderer commented as the minds of the crew were examined. The probabilities of this happening in this manner are small. But the question is, who gains from attracting attention between three star nations?

~If I was to assume this was more then a botched pirate operation I would pose that question to the Oberin battlegroup. Do you suppose they deploy that many resources every time a ship near their territory reports trouble?~

Meanwhile in the rear of the ruined freighter, "Oberin vessel, docking clamp operation has been restored and cargo is prepped for transfer. You may dock when ready."

[consequences]

Drakol
Outsystem

The frigate Pirate's Bane had been silently sitting on the far outskirts of the system, well above the ecliptic for the last week. At first, by the pure necessity of the drive failure that had disabled it so far from anything remotely of importance, and then out of the pure inability to accomplish a damned thing of worth against the defensive shell the Beasts still maintained with inhuman diligence. At least a dozen merchant ships had fallen into the enemy's hands, with nothing that could be achieved by intervening but guaranteeing their own destruction. Even gradually killing their own slow inward velocity towards the planet had been a horrific risk, and there was no chance of leaving the system undetected.

If further proof of a callous, sadistic God was needed, the fact that they had been able to develop more intelligence on the Beasts in the last week than the entire Rim had in years was more than sufficient. By now, they were limited to the passive take from the ship's telescopes, but for days, fragments of data that slipped through the constant jamming had been sent to them by the system recon net, as well as planetary sources desperately trying to send out word. With little else to do, the crew had grimly set about refining the data, and reconstructing the damaged transmission fragments.

Even now, more of the invader's support continued to arrive in system, bringing supplies and further reinforcements. Within hours of the death of the majority of the fleet, the hulk of the disabled enemy battleship had been towed out of the system, the planetary defenses fully suppressed, and the first massed landing begun. Dozens of transports, shuttles and drop pods had been burned out of the sky, but hundreds had remained intact to disgorge their troops. In direct contradiction of standard planetary invasion protocol, several massed forces had been landed in remote areas, along with the standard encirclement of urban areas. It was clearly a ploy to draw out the defenders heavy firepower against them, but it was also a threat that had to be honored, and much of the strategic defensive arsenal had been used in an attempt to burn out those cancers before they could metastasize.

It was a testament to the skills of the Imperial gunners and engineers that the majority of the remote landings had been vaporised, in spite of hellacious jamming from the orbitting fleet, direct fire support by the fleets guns, and seeming unending hordes of aerospace fighters that sought to bring down the missiles before they could even hit the point defense of the centrenching troops and grounded transports. Millions of the invaders had been wiped away, and even knowing how hopeless the situation was, the defenders had taken heart.

It was then, that Drakol received its first real taste of how coldly calculating the Beasts could be. Follow up waves had landed in textbook formations reinforcing those previously landed around urban centers. It soon became clear from tehir drastic superiority over previously seen equipment that where a normal military would scrap its material as they reached the end of their useable sevice life and became obsolete, that the Beasts deliberately retained their stockpiles intact for use in operations. Recon patrols commiting themselves to suicide missions from radiation poisoning and enemy patrols also confirmed that the first wave had been composed of inferior bioforms to those in later waves.

Still more unfortunate, in the end, was the decision by the government to not spread word of the sparse knowledge they had gained of the Beasts to forestall panic before the invasion. While spacers in general, and the Imperial Navy in particular had a far clearer picture of what lay in store for the doomed world, the populace of dirtgrubbers at large remained ignorant. In the face of such ignorance, the Beasts propaganda transmissions were bearing a great deal of fruit. "Those who surrender peacefully won't be physically harmed". "All individuals shall receive comprehensive aptitude testing to guarantee their placement where they can achieve the most working with us". "All shall be shown equal care and concern under our administration" The truly sick part was that each of those statements was 100% true while concealing the sickening monstrosities that would be perpetrated against everyone.

By now, the ship had picked up scattered transmissions detailing the microchip tracking program and physical checkup that the Beasts had mandated in areas they deemed secure. "In order to prevent the loyal from being confused with misguided malcontents, for everyone's protection". From what rumors and few scattered facts Imperial intelligence had been able to garner that wer elogged in the ship's files from before the invasion, this represented a significant jump in sophistication from their normal techniques, especially as each individual receving the treatment showed no change to their loved ones. The fact that the Beasts had broadcast the exact same procedures being applied to their own garrison troops had the sheeplike masses queuing up in droves.

Still resistance continued. A fragment of historical text from near forgotten Earth had mentioned fighting in the beaches, on the sands, in the air, and other such uplifting notions. Now, the Imperial forces fought on in the swamps, in the mountains, in the cave networks, in the sewers, and in the deepest ocean trenches. But the end outcome was still clear, however long delayed. Constantly, the last transmission of another Imperial stronghold was heard, detailing the accomplishments of its fallen defenders, what they had learned of the enemy, and exhortations to resist to the last. Often these transmissions were followed immediately by the pinprick of light and radiation burst that signalled a nuclear or antimatter detonation. the Beasts, for their part, expressed sadness over their now wholly controlled public comm channels at the pointless waste.

At seven days and two hours from the annihilation of the Fleet, the first event happened to change the Pirate's Bane's hopelessly dire fate.

"Detecting a mass, two point five meters in diameter, closing slowly. Highly radioactive and" the sensor officer paused in disbelief "life signs and emergency suit transponder signal?!"

"Helm, adjust course to receive it gently. Marines and Med crew to the docking bay, in case this is somehow a trap."

The ship carefully released jets of air to position itself, as the distorted metal structure neared. A low tech, but nearly undetectable grappling hook shot out and snared it, carefully dragging it in. Decontamination foam was sprayed liberally, and a group of four remote controlled maintenance mechs moved forward to begin untangling the wreckage, within minutes revealing the scuffed but still gleaming white suit of an Imperial Captain. Its insignia and nameplate proclaimed it to be Flag Captain Daknir.

The suit was reverently brought up to the infirmary, as rumors ran rampant throughout the ship. In the Fleet, Daknir was known simply as 'The Man Who'. The Man Who stood down a cruiser squadron on a pure bluff in only a destroyer. The Man Who when captured by pirates while traveling on a merchant ship, seduced the captain's daughter, and brought back the ship as his prize and her as his wife. The Man Who had led four ships into a five cornered brawl once in a border dispute, and somehow not lost a single man. And now, The Man Who had survived the impossible.

"I'm telling you it's impossible, not to mention completely ludicrous. Suit life support is only rated to 24 hours, and none of them ever made it past 36 in the testing under the best conditions. Even if he had the thing custom-made from the finest components, he'd have been stone-dead at five days max."

Meanwhile, the suit, detecting its own imminent failure, as well as a liveable environment, began reviving its occupant from hibernation trance, and cracked the seals. As the faceplate recessed, Daknir drowsily asked "Are these the Halls? Did we take them with us?"

Commander Tirn, captain of the Pirate's Bane responded"Sir. I beg to report that while you have sent more foes to precede you into the Halls, you have yet to reach them yourself. This remains the mortal plane Sir."

"My ship? The Imperium?" "My people? " A brief hesitation, followed by a whispered "My wife?"

"You ship was lost ramming an enemy vessel, from what little we could see of the battle from our position. The Imperium and your people are both being subjugated by the Beasts sir. It grieves me to inform you sir, that your wife is confirmed dead, leading a resistance cell on your family's estates. The Pirate's Bane has been lurking in the outer system for seven days now observing sir. It is my dishonor to report that we have completely failed to materially damage the enemy."

"Commander, if you get even a fraction of what you've oberved to anyone who can effectively resist, you'll have done far more to damage the enemy than the slaughter I choreagraphed. In fact-" he broke off, as sensor alarms began to sound.

"Captain to the bridge. Incoming friendly convoy, Shield Brother and Sentinel escorting, four million miles further insystem than us and decelerating"

Daknir and Tirn both reflexively moved towards the hatch, before Daknir stopped himself. Tirn responded "Brief themon developments, and vector us out-system immediately." Shutting off his comm, and not turning as he barreled out into the passageway "Sir, if you would please accompany me to the bridge?"

Both arived on the bridge moments later to find two red faced commanders on the screen, one of them shouting "What do you mean the fleet's gone?! What the hell have you been doing for the-?"

Daknir cut straight across him in an icy tone "The fleet was lost in combat against the Beast. This ship was unable to effect sany relevant damage to the enemy in its position, and has been gathering intelligence. The Imperium has fallen, and these three ships are all that remains to gain assistance. I am assuming operational command of this flottilla. Your supply situation and status?"

The first commander replied "Two weeks provisions and spares, systems running nominal.

The second stared for a second, before growling "Three weeks provisions, but the drive needs overhaul. One week operational at best."

Commander Tirn added " Sx weeks provisions and spares, systems running at max spec."

"Commanders, as you are alread traveling in-system and have less chance of long-term survival, you are elected as rearguard. Detach your freighters to proceed independently to nearby powers. Commander Tirn, set course for Earth's probable location, maximum speed. Gentlemen, buy us enough time, and yourselves some servants in the Halls if you can. Execute."

The visual cut off,mas on the tracking display the twenty freighters began to slowly scatter. The two frigates killed their deceleration as they arrowed in towards the swarm of ships already moving out towards them. A moment later, the Pirate's Bane vanished into hyperspace.

Alarm! Cohesive Food Source formation in outer system. All available ships intercept and neutralise with maximum speed.

[A-Wing_Slash]

Crulmax System
Crulmathi
Shuttle Pad Adjacent to the Plaza of the Ancients

Amassador Pitsiark cursed bear engineering under his breath. If the Golden Sky delegation indeed had matter transporters, then that Archon would already been on Crulmathi, and with the Straloc, while he was still stuck aboard this stupid shuttlecraft. Thankfully, it seemed that they were finally about to touch down.

Pitsiark was out the shuttle's hatch almost as soon as it touched down. He was by no means a skinny bear, which made his newfound speed all the more unusual. He quickly turned back to the shuttle to encourage his aides.

"Come on bears, we don't have all day here. Hurry up and get that crate onto the hoversled, and make it snappy! I need whats inside to give to the Straloc, and if we have to keep them waiting one more time I am going to start ripping your fur out!"