GalaxyNES- No Horizons

Aul'Za was present everywhere, in all of Au, he was within all. His conversion to machine, into a program, had expanded him beyond any biological potential he could have had before. Inside the machine infrastructure of Au he was plotting a new image for his union, a grand scale of expansion and exploration, of building great things and advancing exponentially. While Mother was away on her quest, accompanied by many ships of his people, and many Lauki indeed filled them, Aul'Za was left to run the Union himself. His first order of business was simply to consolidate his gains and put down the remains of Ma'Autra where he could. Data indicated that several fleets escaped into the void and that was unacceptable.

A vast fleet was constructed on Au and Uex, using all the resources of outlying systems to their advantage. This grand fleet had more than one purpose: to hunt down and end all traces of Ma'Autra in the galaxy, to colonize deeper space than ever before, and to make contact with civilized beings for purposes of cooperation. This would be a five point expansion from the center of La'Matra space, three would go after the known routes of the fleeing Maus, and the other two would go towards the unknown.

In the space around Au and Uex, these vast fleets were assembled by trillions of Lauki workers and using the most recent technology available. The largest of these ships completed dwarfed the grandest battleships in the fleet to this point, gigantic 'Worldships' as they were being known were the capital ships of these expeditions. Designed to hold millions of Lauki for future colonization and potential war, they were the size of small moons and filled with all the luxuries of a planet side home. Large scale Maus farming was the key to the food supply on these ships, as the maturing new generations of modified Maus could nearly triple former output. It was true that the Lauki had used their former masters techniques against them to greater affect and usage, a truly ironic outcome for the mighty Maus.

As these ships were built what remained of the Maus led factions continued their retreat into darkness. One of these fleets was aimed at Lumos, where they hoped they could find a new life in one of the systems around it, the next was aimed around Skriv space into a whole new unknown. He ships left in the Lu'Ma exodus were heading into the interior of civilized space, passing through Choon territory as sneakily as possible, even in the same months as One's own fleet made their way towards Garv'n. They aimed for greener pastures beyond the Choon, hoping that empire would dissuade the Lauki from hunting them down, they were wrong. They would manage to find a system suitable for them and a new world to settle.

They named it Iau, reminiscent of their old homeworld it was New Life for them, new opportunities. They had fled Ma'Autra under Oau'Noc because of their more democratic choices but they would not be safe from Aul'Za at any rate. The world they landed on was occupied by a very diverse ecosystem, filled with plants and animals of all shapes and sizes. Nothing to threaten them, only to be exploited at a later time when the settlement was stable and growing. Their first order of measure was to hide their new homeworld, shielding themselves from outsiders by keeping low amounts of spacebound vessels off planet, to keep activity slow and harmless to any potential neighbors.

The great hunt began, both for new homes and for old enemies, and it was yet to be determined how this would end for either side.

A Planet on the Brink of Destruction, Part 2

As Tal-Edra naChasa Samsha approached the entrance to the tsasatra. During the short trip over to the throne room, she couldn't help but remark to herself on the peculiarity of the summons. As she was soon to come of age, all the knowledge involved in the Tsubo had already passed and there now was very little that her mother could pass on to her. So why then would the queen want to call her now of all times? Samsha knew that Chasa was ailing, but she did not think her sick enough to be dying any time soon. Whatever the reasons, her questions were soon to be answered as she entered the tsasatra.

"What is it mother? Is something the matter?" Samsha inquired.

"Yes daughter, something of the utmost importance has just occurred, something that will come to affect everyone on this planet, and it is important that you listen and understand the words I am about to tell you." Samsha fell silent, and after a few moments, Chasa began speaking in a low, raspy voice.

"Listen daughter, for even as I rested this night I was visited by the gods Zutra and Edra. They have shown me visions of things to come, things too horrible to imagine, and yet, in time they will come to pass. It is unavoidable, so has it been written. "

"Listen daughter, for it shall soon come to pass that the trasna will wage war with the ossudra and the age old struggle between the evil of Teso and the light of Zutra shall be brought to it's culmination here on Jentsa. It will be a long war, and one which will claim the lives of many trasna. Scarcity and destruction will be the lords of the land during this time and all shall be torn asunder."

"Listen daughter, for there will come a time when the forces of good have been exhausted, a time when the end is near and all stands on the precipice between salvation and annihilation. It will be during this time that one will arise of the darkness, one who will unify the kin of Teso, and bring darkness to the heavens."

"Listen daughter, for this will be a terrible time for all, a time of despair and ruin. Many daughters and sisters will be killed, and much mourning from the heavens and the daughters of the stars will become disjointed once more. The Zeptha will be no more and all shall be equal before the darkness."

"Listen daughter, for when despair has set in, and the trasna stand before the precipice, then shall salvation appear, and the last cry of righteousness will be issued. A great battle will occur, one which shall shatter the heavens and tear the earth asunder."

"Listen daughter, for even as the cry wanes there will be naught but ruin and destruction in this land, and not a soul will be left alive on the earth. All will be as in the beginning, barren and lifeless, and the gods will look upon the land and despair. But fear not, for from the ashes will arise a survivor, but one tsa remaining. And the gods shall rejoice, and just so shall the world be redeemed for she will find a suitor and thus will the time of peace arrive forever and for all time. This is unavoidable, so is it written."

Chasa fell silent then. Samsha remained for some time, always expecting Chasa to say something, to explain what this meant, but she would say no more, and soon Samsha took leave of her mother, no more enlightened than when she had entered.

A Brief Lesson in Fudirunin Technology, the Nidkubran Gestalt and Higher-Dimensional Topologies

The small collection of La’Matran Lauki followed their Fudirunin Tour Guide, noting that he seemed to be totally indistinguishable from the Fudirunin Pilot and Fudirunin Stewardess who had brought them to this location. They in turn were apparently identical to all other Fudirunins that the group had seen. Their tour guide (again, indistinguishable save for a hat that he had agreed to wear to prevent the Lauki from losing him) had made some earlier attempts to help them recognize the difference between individuals of his species, but they struggled to distinguish between each Fudirunin’s unique mental resonance within the psychic gestalt of Nidkubra. For that matter, it was growing increasingly unlikely that they were capable of detecting any sort of psychic gestalt at all, Fudirunin or otherwise.

Thus, the tour guide was still wearing a piece of Lauki headgear, impaled on one of his extruded spikes, as he led them down the cramped, bright passageway to the laboratory complex.

“And here we are in the testing chamber. I understand that you’re asking about our propulsion technology, so I’ll hand you off to…”

The small pinkish ball of fuzz hummed, and another Fudirunin, selected apparently at random, changed direction and joined his comrade. The Lauki were very pleased to note that this alien was discoloured with smudges of Purple and Green.

“Best not to ask him about that, he’ll go on for weeks about the accident.” spoke the gently chiding voice of the tour guide, privately in each of their heads.

“Zo, you are ere to zee our elaztic drive? Excellent! Iz right over here!” came the excited staccato of the Fudirunin Scientist.

The discoloured organism led the group towards a separate chamber, with a hollow suspended area inside.

“Alright, what we ave ere is a zuzpended igh density metal ball, and an yperdrive of the elaztic variety! Now, when ze drive iz triggered, a connection iz formed with ze ball, and-”

From this point onwards, the scientist’s intentions ceased to translate properly in the minds of the Lauki, leaving them staring and picking up occasional clear words, such as ‘Curvature of the Universe’, ‘Loophole between the Dimensions, and ‘Temporal Slingshot’. Abruptly, the words became entirely clear once more.

“Now, ze demonstration!”

The tiny hyperdrive model, hovering at one end of the enclosed tube of the lab, began to build up its charge, showing up on the monitors.

“At zis short diztance, ze charging period and energy cozt are comparatively-”

Before he could finish, the hyperdrive disappeared, and at the same moment, the tiny metal ball exploded as a hyperdrive crashed into it, halting only as it hit the kinetic barriers at the edges of the test chamber.

“Now, in a real craft, ze connection iz broken early, to prevent a collision zuch az zat!”

“Well, thank you very much,” said the Tour Guide, following a short stunned pause, “I’m sure our guests can return back should they wish.”

“Explozion iz a good sign for experiment!”

The group departed from the lab, and the Tour Guide began to speak again.

“So, was that clear enough?”

“Er… not exactly.” Spoke the lead Lauki.

“How so?”

“Well… we kind of missed the bit between turning on the drive and having it undergo and total molecular annihilation.”

“Oh, well, in common terms-”

The Lauki perked up at the chance of a comprehensible explanation. Their faces began to fall, however, only moments after his speech began. Several moments later, he finished.

“Those are common terms?”

“Er… yes?”

The Lauki made a strange gesture which might have been the mixture of a facepalm with a exasperated pulling of antennae.

“Well… could you explain with a metaphor? Or in a way clear to someone who’s not familiar with higher dimensional topographies?”

“You’re not familiar with higher dimensional topographies?” the Fudirunin seemed amazed.

“How about you just tell us what happens, without any of the technical talk? We’ll get someone else to figure that out later.”

“…alright then. How’s this?” the foot-tall ball of fuzz who was the Tour Guide seemed as if he was deeply concentrating, before beginning. His voice carried a distinct tone of someone speaking to a young child. Or perhaps a small domesticate or some sort.

“The spaceship is here. The target is over there. The spaceship… uh, connects to the target, like stretching an elastic strip from the spaceship towards the target. This takes a lot of energy and is really hard. Once the connection is complete, the spaceship releases its hold on its present location and follows the most direct path to its target… and… okay, this is really hard to explain without that higher dimensional stuff-”

“Humour us.”

“And suddenly it’s there at the target.”

“Okay, now try a bit less of the simplicity.”

“It follows the most direct path towards its target, which due to the curvature of the universe does not pass through our own dimension.”

“Ooh!” exclaimed one Lauki, “Like how the shortest route between two corners of a two-dimensional manifold entirely bypasses its own space?”

“…” was the response of his fellows.

“You know… like if you imagine the world as a flat sheet, but it’s actually a curved universe, so its’ real shape is like a curved sheet or a hyperbolic paraboloid? So the straight line between any two points doesn’t pass through the surface anywhere except for the origin and endpoint?”

“That’s… very… very… generally correct. You’re on the right line of thought, at any rate.”

The one Lauki beamed. The others stared at him with bewilderment and a touch of resentment. Jun did not enjoy the sensation of confusion, and they liked the idea of other Jun knowing what they didn’t know even less.

“Anyway, the spaceship functionally disappears from our four-dimensional universe, and ‘resurfaces’ at the target. We have a few systems which cut a ship out of its trajectory so it drops out before collision, but that model had no such control… because it’s a just a model. Also, because my colleagues love explosions, and that one makes for a popular party trick. Any questions?”

For a few moments there was silence. Then, Vice Admiral Mentacik began to speak.

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...
"As Admiral Latt is in a most peculiar position and unfit to command the fleet I am assuming control as second in command, I order all weapons firing upon the foreign ships to be halted immediately and try every means known by us to try to contact these beings be it radio, binary, morse code. I don't care how long it takes try them all." The weapons aboard the Tapani ships all stopped firing simultaneously. And the crews on all ships began to attempt to signal the foreign space ships. After an hour it was deemed a failure by Mentacik and he ordered the ships to return to Nuxue A then the unexpected happened the foreign ships began to...

Update Music

Update 11
Squarepusher: Tomorrow World and Parov Stelar: Homesick

Update 11

La’Matra, led by the energetic duo of One and the digitally resurrected Aul’Za, has set out on a flurry of activities. Deeply interested in uncovering further information about Turamak Katzil, the ancient civilization known by some as ‘The Gifters’, One has set out on a quest to discover the fate of her creators, leading her into numerous contacts with the Choon, who seemed profoundly unsurprised to see an ancient computer piloting a repurposed freighter previously in the possession of an enemy bent on the destruction of their species. Some confusing philosophizing and diplomacy with Taz, the dominant Choon on their homeworld of Took, led to One gaining access to the elder’s frame, a relic of the Gifters, which has a largely unused connection to many of the beacons once used by the Turamaks. With this clue, One was off on the hunt once again. Sidetracked by the discovery of Nidkubra and Hedge, One has spent a while with the former while being offended by the less gregarious nature of the latter. The Fudirunins and their compatriots have been very pleased to host the La’Matran delegation, and have thus far engaged in several declarations of friendship and good will, as well as occasionally blowing up test chambers in the name of shared scientific advancement.

Meanwhile, at home Au has been reclaimed, under the name Au’Kalua, Life’s Reclaiming. As the long process of ousting Ma’Autra from all of its myriad outposts continues, the old ‘Eternal Union’ becomes more of a diffuse and theoretical entity, its last champions heading outwards into the unknown. These few forces have scattered. Some remain at their observation posts, many light years away from the Lumos, watching the Utarites continue their fearsome expansion, seizing the world of Grubaan for the Combine and dispatching a military fleet to investigate the strange activities at Unaka. Others wander without aim, grieving their horrendous loss, while the forces of Lu’Ma, carefully skirting the bottom edge of Choon space, have come across a heretofore undiscovered planet. Christening it ‘Iau’, they have made landfall, and are beginning to build a new, better Union of Lauki and Maus, far away from the terrors of Aul’Za, who has been elevated to a outright diabolic position in Lu’Ma’s mythology. While their new world’s history began peacefully enough, things would not last this way for long. Unbeknownst to Lu’Ma, this world was at the very outer edge of one of the deepest incursions of the robotic raiders who have been plaguing Sanath. These abominations against nature made landfall on the virgin world, evidently intending to take more than planetary virginity. Thus far, the infant Lauki-Maus nation is just barely managing to hold the line against this nightmarish incursors, whose numbers constantly rise as more arrive on the planet in search of a good… fight.

Sanath remains locked in conflict. The Mechaniforms continue their rampage, striking at La and Nept, the last two untouched worlds of the Collectivity. The Choon, in concert with infantry forces belonging to the other major species of the Collectivity, proved able to provide a strong resistance against the invaders. It seems that their world was low-yield enough to convince Mechaniforms to withdraw, instead striking towards Nept, the spiritual heart of Sanath.

The ruined homeworld of the Nitha, Kasekral and Qii, presently covered with systems to repair the ruined biosphere and ‘re-neptiform’ the planet, was an excellent target for the machines- plenty of plunder, and some sort of importance to their victims. One warlord, Torg Shockhammer, led the assault, gleefully sabotaging the intricate machinery and carrying off much of the valuable equipment. Sanath was briefly in shock, having believed that the Mechaniforms would not target a planet of no real strategic or material significance, but reacted quickly, sending a huge force to against the massed invaders. Relying on the Sanathi refusal to use heavy arms once again on this planet, Torg proved to be a wily and destructive commander, repeatedly outmanoeuvring and humiliating his opponents, at the same time growing in the esteem of his colleagues. Only when defeat seemed certain did the warlord finally withdraw, making sure to wreak maximal havoc on the planet and evacuating a good portion of his forces before bidding farewell and escaping back into space. The furious Sanathi forces extinguished all those who did not escape in time, but there is little good to be found in the slaughter- Sanath has suffered grievous harm, and the homeworld bears the horrid scars of recent war once again.

The mechanical invasion of known space continues elsewhere, even as stragglers continue to spread terror throughout the spacelanes surrounding Sanath, further isolating the beleaguered Collectivity. Presently, one prong plunges blindly into the space of the Zan Shamai, another approaches Took, while a third another plunges towards the Zaff world of Truff, which is already experiencing troubles of its own. Cut off from the much more prosperous world of Navart, Truff is awash in a general sense of unimportance, not helped by the perceived ineptitude of its leading council. There have been murmurs of a revolt among the Branigan, but quite unsubstantiated- no one would dare whisper about such heresy as a Branigan betraying his master.

The Zan Shamai is quite uninterested with the activities of the ‘cute’ robotic incursions on his borders, remaining deep in study and contemplation. He emerged from this state abruptly, however, launching a ferocious attack against the Fplinmy Forces which had dared to seek revenge against him. It is unclear exactly what Shamai did to defeat the vast numbers of Yplein, let alone their vast Yjogl steeds, but whatever it was… was disturbingly efficient. Shamai himself returns to his private study, quite pleased with the results of his new weaponry when employed against colossal spaceborne targets.

The Hammenamir swiftly crushed the limited fleet of the Amur, moving swiftly through the business of strip mining the surfaces off all nearby uninhabited planetoids before departing before the Amur could plot anything disadvantageous to the wandering fleets. Their forces are now rapidly closing on the worlds of Nurm-Tok and Athre.

Fehan has been growing in activity lately, possibly stirred into the action by the ever-increasing awareness of new alien species, and their potential dangers. After confirming the existence of some unknown species who has been watching over the Fehan for some time, there has been a rush to tail the withdrawing scout vessel, as well as a hunt for the homeworld of these enigmatic beings.

Captain Dechturi of the 3rd Karronic Expeditionary Group, well aware of the greatly increased local vigilance, has concluded that his mission was compromised. With all of the caution and paranoia for which the Karronics would be known, were they not, by their own intentions, unknown, Dechturi broadcast a message declaring as much. With this done, he then set out towards ‘home’, heading off in an entirely misleading direction antispinwards. Suspecting that he was being tracked, he detected and disposed of a rather crude stealth probe with conventional weaponry, not wanting to reveal any of his more advanced technologies. Unable to detect further probes, but strongly suspicious of their existence, he has continued his voyage further and further away from the homeworld. The 3rd may not return home for generations, if ever, but if it will protect Catifah, then it will have been well worth the effort.

Still quietly tailing the mystery fleet, the Fehan have launched an unprecedented flurry of probes out from their space. While most have yet to reach their destinations in potential habitable systems, one has come into contact with a truly awe-inspiring behemoth of the stars, a Wera, just outside what they know as the Ihi Nebula. Concurrently, the Fehan are continuing their own military fleet buildup. The expenses, however, are a strain on the finite resources of the homeworld. Some work has been done to alleviate this in the long term by renewing the colonization program, long stifled by a lack of funds, discouragement by the situation on Sathan, and a general lack of interest. The first Fehan have landed at the world they have named Karaith, finding the glacial planet to be quite rich in both heavy metals and volatiles. The local species, known by the new settlers as ‘Tunului’ lack any sort of large-scale governance, despite their sentience. The Tunului have little idea of the transformation that is likely to rock their world. Given widespread ignorance of the mere existence of the alien Fehan and the near total lack of communication attempts between the two species, their prospects do not look good.

The Akari Explorers, having been determined to be far too close to Catifah, have been disabled and abducted by a careful Karronic strike force. Their whereabouts are now unknown to all outsiders, though it is suspected that they are being interviewed to gain an insight on the mindset of this new alien threat. The Democratic Federation of Akari, meanwhile, has focused on the construction of a new fleet for defense, sending probes to ascertain what happened to their disappeared expedition.

The Tal’Edra war machine is on the roll. Untold numbers of Trasna perish in the brutal warfare, as the fortified dens of the Ossudra are one by one taken down, each at more ludicrous cost than before. The very leadership of the Tal’Edra has been taken by a vision of apocalyptic destruction inevitable from this war- but perhaps it would be better to not live at all, than to live in a world where the Ossudra still live and draw breath.

The first contact event between the Tapani Republic and the mysterious forces at Nuxue B have been rather surreal for the Allentryen. Upon their bombardment of the planet, an entire fleet materialized out of nothingness, drove the Admiral responsible for the attack order into insanity followed by catatonia of uncertain duration, then waited. Vice-Admiral Mentacik, heeding the gibbered advice of his superior officer, immediately halted the attack and opened up communications with the mysterious fleet. After several fruitless efforts to contact these implacable entities, the whole fleet began to withdraw. As they did, the entire alien fleet vanished as it had appeared. Moments later, a simple transmission was received.

“Do not sear us with your harsh fires, skyfolk of metal trees. Rather, leave a vessel above us, for it is writ that we, the sea, shall reach into your minds soon, and understanding will be shared.”

Map

*communication arriving*
"Have the Wera been dispatched off?"

*communication arriving*
"Zan Shamai answer this elder or else."

*communication arriving*
"Zan Shamai, have you done the unspeakable?"

*communication sent*
"For so many cycles you Elders had this weapons in your arsenal and yet did not use them? Did not study them? what makes the Zan better than others if they do not learn?"

*communication made*
"It is not allowed among the Zan to search outside our ability. The other living are nothing but a disease, and their so called technology should only be used in special occasions where it is must be done."

"That is a silly way to live lives. The weapon yo gave me will make a Zan empire greater than every seen before but one no longer built on the idiotic and blind mass murder of everything alive."

"Zan Shamai. I, Zan Kena, hereby declares you ended."

"I care little for your decelerations Kena. I dare you to come here. I am now the god among Zan."

"The Zan have existed for many cycles and passed many tests. One puny living being will not match the........."
* communication over*

I always knew something was crooked with the way we were acting, the way we were thinking. Destruction and chaos is what we truly were and not all mighty gods. Why do we build empires and devour the living when life is the main point in all this? A new thought has come to my mind. I am free from the Zan, I am free from enslavement to those insane elders. I am a greater god than them.

Now I must prepare for they will not allow me to exist much longer. I will show them what they gifted me with. How come none before thought of learning from this technology and using it?


I can also sense at the edges of my realm something new, something similar to my robotics. It is not of Zan origin but I think that will be my test of power. One must kill chaos when it is still young, and not let it destroy a galaxy like was done with my species.

Erez, I'm seeking your approval for this Zan voicework I did. It's the Zan Yamal's last words before his execution by Turamak Katzil.

Lord_Iggy said:

Erez, I'm seeking your approval for this Zan voicework I did. It's the Zan Yamal's last words before his execution by Turamak Katzil.

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Sounds cool thought a little breathy for a creature with no mouth I would also assume different Zan's can have different pitch of robotic voice. Zan Shamai pitch would be way higher.

Why are you making Zan's talk ??? Making a movie? lol

Yeah, it's hard to do that voice without having audible breath- next try I'll try to cut out the breathing sounds or get a pop guard. And yes, I figure Zan all have voices based on that effect, but can be of varied pitches, intonations and accents, etc.

I just like messing around with Audacity, to answer your last question...

Lord_Iggy said:

Yeah, it's hard to do that voice without having audible breath- next try I'll try to cut out the breathing sounds or get a pop guard. And yes, I figure Zan all have voices based on that effect, but can be of varied pitches, intonations and accents, etc.

I just like messing around with Audacity, to answer your last question...

Click to expand...

Cool software. I think I'll have it!

Pretty much just Natural voice with robotic effect...

“Sanathi raiders?”

“Yes Aul'Za, it seems that robotic raids coming from Sanathi space are appearing all over the fringes of La'Matra, hitting some of our outpost worlds near La.” a reporting Jun stated, showing charts and images of ruined worlds.

“This is an outrage! Go back to La and get to the bottom of this immediately!”

“There is something else, sir, we seem to have come across a strange new world in our exploration.” he brought up data on the planet.

“It's a small rocky world. What's so strange about it?”

“Well, here is some video of the first contact with the natives.” the Jun pressed play on the video file.

On the screens Aul'Za was treated to the landing videos of an exploration vessel, the world was illuminated by a dim red star, and the first images were peculiar. The plant life was almost entirely grass-based, and all the blades showed a color of deep black, perhaps from absorbing all the life possible from the dim star. Rolling meadows of these grasses, interlaced with wild flower type plants, which showed off an array of bright colors to contrast the darkness, with small insect like creatures buzzing around carelessly. Aul'Za was thrilled at these discoveries but found nothing noteworthy or strange here, it was all explained through his beloved science.

Then, as the video continued with the on foot exploration of the science mission, things began to change. In the distance smoke could be seen, not of wildfire origin as could be determined by the single billowing tower of smoke, but perhaps a primitive tribe of some king. The crew made their way across the dark meadows of this world, and towards the signals of smoke they saw. Crossing more of these meadows, with all forms of colors in the the flowering plants, and the tall grasses which seemed to have no upward limit to them, some as tall as small Maus the Lauki noted.

The group of explorers approached the edge of a clearing, the grasses had been matted down to the soil or uprooted by something, and then they saw them. A group of small, squishy looking, balls of gray rolling around in the grass around a large camp fire, humming some kind of insane tune that could only be compared to drum and bass. The Lauki came out of the tall grass, where they had luckily not been ambushed by wild animals while they lacked their pokemon, and found themselves easing towards the group of creatures. Who until this point had not noticed them as they sang their hardcore tune, or hummed, or purred, it's not clear really.

Then, without warning, the music stopped and the balls all turned towards their visitors showing strange faces on their squishy orbs of bodies. One giant, pale eye above a large sucker type of mouth, as if off a sturgeon or some other bottom feeding fish. With unnatural speed they all rolled themselves at the Lauki, stopping just short of giving them the bowling ball treatment, and now the size was apparent. These little balls were barely a foot tall, not quite to the knees of their Lauki observers, yet they all stared deeply and quite horrifyingly at them, as if with bloodlust.

“Hello.” one of the Jun said, causing the little balls to perk in his direction followed by a series of sounds that were like playing speech in reverse.

“Hello.” all the balls said together in voice that sounded like an abattoir full of ******** children. Something was misplaced here, one of the balls didn't speak and even the Lauki noticed it, as the others turned at the outcast. Lauki weren't sure what was happening but the silent one began shivering, followed almost immediately by the eyes of the other balls lighting up and firing lasers at him, causing him to explode. All the Lauki began to back away slowly, but as they did the group of balls turned, yet again with scary speed, to stare them down.

“What do we do?” one of the Jun whispers to another.

“I don't know.” the other whispered back, keeping his mandibles as closed as possible.

“Run?”

“Uh...” he looked at the balls “RUN!”

The Lauki all took off running back into the grasses, and at first they noticed the little ball creatures were not following them. Thinking they were say as they reached the ship they let their guards down, only to see beams of energy cut through the grasses and explode a few Lauki as these monstrous little balls rolled with insane speed. The Lauki got onto their ship and heard the strange beat of the local song continue again as the video footage ended.

“Kill it with fire.” Aul'Za could say no more than that. He was terrified of very little, but laser eyed balls creatures with sucker mouths was definitely one of them.

The Dreamweaver

Captain Muiru stood still on the bridge of his Escort Cruiser, Axu Axu, breaking from his stony visage only to engage in brief moments of nervous grooming. The cloudy blue sphere of Nuxue B stretched wide across the lower edge of his vision. As one of the last vessels remaining in the area, it was his duty to wait for whatever was waiting on the blasted planet, in case it followed through on its promise to ‘reach into your minds soon’. That certainly was one of the more ominous things the captain had heard recently. Who talks like that?

‘The Sea’, evidently, he muttered to himself, taking a look around his bridge. The vessel was nearly empty, stripped of all but a skeleton crew and one captain chosen for, Muiru was convinced, a perfect mixture of levelheadedness, loyalty and expendibility. He wasn’t one of the hotshot tactical geniuses from the Stellar Academy on Tapani, nor was he a particularly charismatic and popular figure amongst his fellow Allentryens. He was in a dead end career, unlikely to achieve a promotion, but well enough known for his staid and stolid nature to be ideal for dealing with some sort of mind-violating alien superbeing without giving in immediately to insanity or treachery against the fleet. Fantastic.

“Ensign Kurat, any change in the readings?”

“Negative Captain Muiru.”

The Captain sat down back in his chair. He’d have slumped down in a deep feeling of depression, but he was too strong to give in. They could give him the job that combined mind-numbing boredom with critical, imminent and horrific danger, but it would not break him. He’d show them that Captain Murxa Muiru was made of sterner stuff than that.

Shortly thereafter, he fell asleep.

Captain Muiru awoke to find himself floating through a still starfield. Horrified, he scrambled about, wondering how he was able to breathe, before he realized that he was dreaming.

Very vividly.

“****!”

He could only look around with muted alarm as he probed around this hallucination. Black space and white pinprick stars, and nothing else.

“Well?” his question was indignant, as if daring the thing behind this to reveal itself.

“Hello man of the sky. I trust you are at home in this environment.”

“No actually, I’d rather be someplace with a few solid objects to stand on.”

An asteroid was beneath his clawed feet.

“Air would be nice too.”

Muiru enjoyed a breath of sour-tasting air, noting that he had been doing fine without breathing anyways. He strongly suspected that the air was not, in fact, oxygen and nitrogen- indeed, it carried the bitter tang of hydrogen.

“It’s a start. Now, where am I? Really. I know this is an illusion.”

“…” The voice was slow to respond. “So it is. You are in your vessel. We have woven this environment about your body, but your body rests where it is, apparently asleep.”

“Woven?”

“Made as to appear as if it is unmodified.”

“Mmm hmm… do you suppose you could make yourself visible? I find it disconcerting to speak to a disembodied voice.”

A clone of Muiru appeared in front of the Captain.

“That’s… okay, that’s even more disconcerting.

The image was replaced with an image of Muiru’s daughter.

“I didn’t think it could get worse than that last one, but it just did. Could you appear as yourself?”

“You won’t find that to be uncomfortable?”

“I’ve seen your fleet without going insane.”

“Our fleet? Oh, hahah, that. Right. Very well, if you wish.”

Before the Allentryen captain, a figure of unimaginable bulk appeared, warping the very stars themselves. It seemed impossible, but the thing was so large so as to be entirely indiscernible in terms of anything other than a massive surface.

“A little smaller? Such as, say, my size?”

The massive shape was replaced with an Allentryen-sized version of the same thing. Black and blue banded, it was a bottom-heavy s-shape, with two long streamer-like… things extending backwards from the lower terminus, and a series of holes from which a variety of flexible limbs extended and retracted higher up on the body. There was no clearly discernible head, or any recognizable features at all upon which he could focus. Muiru decided to look at the upper terminus, even though it was just a featureless conical ending of a bent tube as far as he could tell. He imagined that two darkish spots were eyes, and the organisms seemed to become far less terrifying.

“This is one of us, but not all of us.”

“Alright. Well, I am Captain Murxa Muiru of the Escort Cruiser Axu Axu, a vessel of the fleet of the Tapani Republic. Allentryen is my species, and soldier is my profession? Who might you be?”

The alien was silent for a moment, before the voice returned. Muiru briefly wondered how it was able to talk- probably the same way it was able to modify the world which he was viewing, he concluded.

“We do not have… specific individual names, as you seem to possess.”

“So you’re alright with me just saying ‘Hey you’?”

“That would be acceptable. Now, I have some questions for you.”

“Ask away.”

“Why did you attack us? Where is your home in the sky? What is there at your home?”

“We didn’t know who you were and felt frightened by the unknown, we are from the planet Tapani, and many other individuals of my species live there in vast artificial cities along with a whole ecosystem of other lifeforms.”

“How does a planet exist in the sky? How do you travel from the sky to our planet?”

“The sky’s a three-dimensional space, which contains many other stars, and other planets like your own. We call this place ‘Nuxue B’. We got here in ships that lift us out of our own atmospheres, then in vessels that can transcend the speed of light.”

“Is this vessel yours?” A tiny spaceship drifted between the two conversing individuals.

The Allentryen recognized the vessel- a standard-issue Zaff Privateer.

“No.”

“And this one is?”

The Zaff Privateer disintegrated under the withering fire of a new arrival. It was the Mexxis.

“Ours.”

“So, to summarize, you come from a civilization which exists on another planet, have the capability of traveling between different planets, and attacked our surfaces out of a fear of the unknown?” As the being spoke, rough moving schematics began to float around the two.

“Yes, although I’d prefer to think that the last point is a bit more complex than just that.”

“Interesting. We will be in contact again shortly.”

“Wait, don’t I get to ask questions too?”

“Shortly.”

The illusion faded, and the Captain found himself exactly where he had been before.

“Ensign Kurat.”

“Yes Captain Muiru?”

“How long was I out?”

“You were asleep? You’re usually that quiet.”

“Not asleep. Prepare to send a message to Fleet Command at Nuxue A, and to the Republic at Tapani. Our friends below have made contact.”

ZeletDude, you can feel free to ask a bunch of questions to these guys, consider yourself in proper contact now.

Ok! I'll be asking stuff shortly.. once I get back from going to a place with friends.

New Frontiers

Iu’Lak was wandering around the room in fascination. He was a traveler, a voyager living out the wishes of Aul’Za. A free Lauki, experiencing all that he could of this small corner of the galaxy, for the greater edification of his species.

The room was rounded, carved of the wood of an ancient tree. It was beautiful, at once rough to the touch but also elegant and refined. Iu’Lak felt a giddy excitement, perhaps from the sense of taboo gained from spending time inside a defiled tree such as this. It was not a Maus, however, and not even remotely sentient. It was a Cherwel structure on the planet Garv’n, in the territory of the United Republics of Hedge.

He had traveled to this world from Nidkubra’s Fulincripinal Base, after leaving his birthplace of Uex, and had been here for nearly a full stellar cycle. It was amazing, he’d been here so long, yet he was still barely scraping the surface of this world, figuratively speaking.

He’d learned much for La’Matra. This world was the homeworld of the Cherwels, lengthy hexapod reptilians. Many generations ago, the Verthommes of Hedge arrived, and claimed some of this world for their own. The planet was named Cherwyn then… to this day, that is its name in the native language. The primitive Cherwels and advanced Verthommes conflicted for control of the planet, but cooperated- for the most part. While the Cherwels of the Krenelyn Conclave led the way in befriending their new visitors, those of the Talarthyn, those who had lost their land to the alien settlers, resisted and nearly brought the two species to open war. The situation grew even more complex with the arrival of a Choon, whose presence remains to this day.

Iu’Lak had heard many conflicting reports of this Choon. Some said that he was the salvation of the Cherwels, siding with the Talarthyn and leaving the Verthommes afraid to open the war. Others said that he was the cause of centuries of cold war and lingering bad feelings today. The Lauki was not entirely sure which was true, but he expected that all stories held a small piece of the truth. If he heard enough, the truth would ultimately be carved out from uncertainty.

But it was in this state of frozen conflict that the Tenoderan Organism struck. Facing mutual destruction, the Verthommes shared their technology with the Cherwels, and the two species united for the first time, fighting a long and terrible war to save their planets. Ultimately, Nidkubra joined the fight, exterminating all presence of Tenodera from Hedge’s space, in a war that had ended only a few Cherwel generations ago.

The Verthommes were interesting as well, although Iu’Lak did not know as many of them as he knew Cherwels- they were somewhat less Gregarious. Verthommes were strange, photosynthetic animals, or perhaps motile plants. It might just be easiest to create a category exclusively for them.

As an aside, the young Lauki reflected again on how insufficient his language was to describe the varieties of alien which he had encountered in his journeys.

But yes, the Verthommes. Actually a collection of closely-related species, they were a somewhat retiring folk. They seemed quite content to be on their own, although he heard stories of times when they were more active. Apparently, they had suffered terribly during the invasion of the Tenoderans, and were still reeling from their losses hundreds of cycles after the war’s commencement. Most of them simply remained in their hydroponics gardens, vegetating. A few remained active, railing against the complacency of their comrades…

Iu’Lak did not fully understand the Verthommes, though he greatly wished to learn more in the future. He didn’t quite understand, and struggled to empathize with the heavy sense of defeat permeating the Verthommes, the feeling of inevitability as their numbers were slowly dwarfed within their own nation.

Still, they were an advanced species of many great achievements, and that bit of history could not be changed, regardless of the present.

“Iu Lak ver pel La Matra?”

It was the voice of a Cherwel. Melodious, like water bubbling through a melodious tube. Very strange, but pleasing nonetheless.

“Yes, I am still Iu’Lak of La’Matra.”

The Cherwel slithered and crawled into the room through what Iu’Lak had presumed to be a window. A collection of his species followed, each clad in an odd series of robes, one fastened above each pair of limbs. Iu’Lak’s presence had been requested by the first Cherwel, Gurren mad nar Beltegor, for a gathering of some sort.

Gurren hung himself from several divots in the wall, as his kind tended to do, then turned to Iu’Lak.

“I am very grateful that you could find this time to spend with us, Iu Lak.”

The Lauki imitated a Cherwel gesture, what he understood to be a friendly sort of head nod. Gurren made a warbling laugh at the attempt, but seemed to understand.

“So, what is your purpose here?”

“Well, gathered in this room, we shall soon have representatives of as many species as I’ve ever seen collected before. All three types of Verthomme, Fudirunins and some of their associates, ourselves… Cherwels, that is, and yourself- Lauki aren’t that easy to find outside of La’Matra, let me tell you that.”

“I see.”

“Oh, and Choon as well.”

Iu’Lak paused for a moment, and looked around, sizing up the room.

“I don’t think that a Choon would be able to fit in-”

“Ah, here she comes!”

All attention shifted to the window as a new Cherwel entered the room. It had been identified as female, though Iu’Lak still struggled to differentiate between the two sexes. Gurren was his representative male, but beyond clothing differences and, perhaps, a slightly more gracile jaw, he could not spot any obvious differences between the newcomer and his companion.

“She is the Speaker of Dreams. Her mind has voyaged into the Choon, and been returned. She speaks for he who cannot, floating far above as he does.”

Throughout the room, new groups were arriving, carried up by groups of Cherwels. A small group of Verthommes rose on a hovering platform, while one Cherwal opened a bag, dumping out a small group of Fudirunins. Through a closer entrance, a hulking creature dragged itself in, flopping itself down on the floor in a manner which, amazingly, still managed to look somewhat dignified. It looked like some sort of huge, amphibian, radially-symmetric Cherwel.

“Is that a…”

“Ullau, I believe.” Chimed in Gurren, “With the Fudirunins. One of the rescued slave species of the old Zaff Dominion.”

Indeed, many others were now crowding into the room. Iu’Lak wanted dearly to rush off to them and interview them right then- all of these new species who he had never seen before, each doubtlessly with countless stories to tell- but this urge was overpowered by his curiosity at what was to come next.

At the center of the room, one Cherwel, clad in particularly august robes, rose high on his tail, making himself visible to all. Iu’Lak congratulated himself on being able to identify the alien’s gender, but quickly turned his full attention to the words of the speaker.

“Hello friends, I thank you most graciously for your attendance at this little social.”

Several Cherwels laughed, as if at a joke. Most aliens didn’t get it. Sarcasm as humor, perhaps, was not a universal phenomenon.

“Ahem. All of us here have been brought together as a wide sample of the sentient species in our sector. We’re living, today, in a time of unprecedented contact and exploration. Cherwyn and Hedge, united, have been reaching out to all of our neighbours. Nidkubra is on the ascendant, combining all of the strengths of the Fudirunin people with those who have been freed from the Zaff. La’Matra has overthrown the tyranny of the Maus, allowing the Lauki to advance towards their full potentials.

We are all species united, not by ancestry or history, but by something common between us at a very fundamental level. We each hold a respect for life, that of ourselves and of others. We are builders, not destroyers- but at the same time, we have all shown the strength to fight in the past, in order to protect what we value most.

However, it is a sad fact that not all of our neighbours feel the same way. Many of us remember the horrors of the Tenoderan War, or the depredations of the Zaff. The Lauki have encountered creatures of terrible violence and strength, cold implacability, or possessed of a simple refusal to communicate, like some of the more monomaniac Choon- much unlike our much-beloved Dreamer.

Our shared values are something which deserves to be protected. We do not know how many may have fought for its protection in the path- there are myths, stories, and half-forgotten histories- but as we know of it today, there is no entity which stands for the defense of that which we treasure most deeply- our right to live, and to prosper in peace.

This gathering, I believe, could be the beginning of that entity- the mindbirth of a grand republic to span the stars, a force to stand against those who would prey upon us. We are yet children in the galaxy, but we must mature in time, and with shared purpose and allegiance we could ensure our survival through these dangerous early phases of our species grand life-cycles.

The idea, thus, has been planted. I leave it to you to consider what you may wish to see come of this dream. Thank you.”

The room burst into commotion.

Iu’Lak was intrigued.

"Speak that the blood is pure and from the fangs of the metal wearer it will be as God's word."

Four cold, heavy hands wrapped themselves around Otaur's heaving shoulders. Thick fingers felt through his rough silver fur to the gold which clung in his flesh. The metal of God, won in battle and meant to remain until death. The old warrior gave no sign of hesitation, his unmoving form was as implacable as the void within which the ancient ship passed. The sound of his heavy breathing filled the silence between the Holyone's words.

"Shall the wearer become impure, should he falter under the scrutiny of God. Let the metal be torn from the body and the blood purified in open air."

On command the Holyone's page twisted his hands back, cleaving the metal from Otaur's coat. Dark blood sparked up with momentum before his two hearts began to pump the fluid through his fur like a spring flood into a dead forest. No sound of pain emerged from between Otaur's cracked lips. The blue lights which bathed the hallowed priest's chamber flickered, putting the ritual into a brief moment of gruesome tableau. Otaur held out his hands as his own blood spider-webbed across his flat palms.

The Holyone stood above him, the ancient, rusting metal he wore almost indistinguishable from his redding, aged fur. Divine hatred was evident in his four eyes.

"Through devotion to violence may the disgraced one again become a wearer of God's metal. Otaur-u-Grubaan, you devote yourself to violence in his name?"

"In God's name I will live within it as the heart pumps within my body." Words memorized in the hope they would never be spoken.

"Then stand, Otaur, and begin your life of redemption."

Otaur stood, his head a full foot above the page which had stripped him of his pride. The young apprentice recoiled as he fought his instinctive urge to submit to the strong. Otaur's four fists clenched in boiling anger, the soft tap of blood dropping onto welded floor echoed through the ship's Holy Chamber. A second life birthed in blood and shame.

Update Music

Update 12
Catacomb & Cern: Bloodmuscle and SKisM: Power

Update 12

The Zaff world of Truff was in a sorry state. Isolated and marginalized, the Zaff themselves were beginning to turn on each other, as what had begun as a series of minor power struggles within the boxed-in planet escalated to the verge of civil war. When Zaff began to fight Zaff, even after they had already fallen so far, it seemed like the end was near. And for some, it was. However, these degenerate Zaff, grown decadent even in their vastly reduced power, did not fight the battles themselves. Rather, as had always been the way, they sent legions of their minions to battle each other, under the command of the greatest of the Zaff Slaves, the Branigan.

Now, the Branigan as a concept is something not entirely clear to many outsiders. It is true that there is a burly reptilian species with that name, and indeed they were the first species to be incorporated into the elite forces of the Zaff. However, members of many other slave species later joined their number, most notably the insectoid Quirri. They were united only by their immunity to the mind-control of the Zaff. Many outsiders would assume that this would make the Branigan the leaders of anti-Zaff resistance. However, it would turn out that the opposite held true. The Branigan alone were unable to feel the bliss of the Dominion, forever isolated from their compatriots. In the beliefs of the Dominion, this fate was equivalent to damnation, and redemption only came through a lifetime of military service.

Thus for many years did the Branigan lead the expansion of the nascent Zaff Dominion. They remained at the forefront of all of the Council of Ten’s military actions, throughout the rise of the Dominion, its defeat at the hands of Shamai, and its descent into the two de facto autonomous Dominions of Navart and Truff.

However, the long decline had weighed far too heavily on the credibility of the Zaff, particularly those of backwater Truff. Thus, when the order to throw away their lives for a civil war not of their own making, the Branigan revolted. Their once-unswerving loyalty melted before a millennium of grievances, and the Zaff, along with those few who remained with them, were utterly overwhelmed. Most of their erstwhile masters were executed, whiel a select few were kept, in a lobotomized or otherwise controlled state.

Proclaiming the nation of New Braniga, in memory of their destroyed homeworld, the new elite began to build the foundations of their state. Much of the already-depleted population, highly dependent on the Zaff mental presence, passed away shortly after the revolution. Only the Branigan themselves, and a small proportion of the mentally enslaved population, remained. Thus, New Braniga was in dangerous waters already, when the Mechaniforms arrived.

Colliding into the orbital defences, the raiders took heavy losses before landing on the surface. Against the warmechs of the Branigan, however, this one small tendril of the invasion found itself badly outmatched. The swift victory over the Mechaniforms would prove to be a valuable catalyst in establishing the new nation, which emerged significantly strengthened from the brief conflict. New Braniga has since begun to extend its influence out into space, eliminating Zaff-controlled probes and facilities in the region and beginning to contact their new neighbours.

In the final Zaff holdout world of Navart, the signal from Truff abruptly winks out, leaving the council to wonder in cold fear as to the fate their last remaining subjects.

Meanwhile, the Zan Shamai, long regarded as something of a rogue, has finally split with the Zan Hegemony, over his rejection of traditional Zan beliefs in favour of pursuing a tainted interest in the perversity and chaos of organic live. Rather than as a regal god, Shamai had long viewed himself as an experimenter, a cataloguer, a scientist, of sorts, possessed with tremendous power- a power which was squandered, cast into the black holes of Zan egomania and empire-building.

Now freed from the reigns of his elders, Shamai has begun to test long-unexercised powers against the foolish robotic incursors into his space, destroying them utterly. His factory worlds churn out vast fleets, but even at this rate of production, it may not be enough. Zan Kena has declared Shamai’s life forfeit, and has already begun his approach.

The Tapani Republic continues its exceedingly slow and cautious interaction with the species living under the seas of Nuxue B, who some are beginning to call ‘The Weavers’- mostly because they haven’t yet asked what the enigmatic aliens call themselves.

Total war ravages the surface of Jen-Tsa, as the Ossudra and and Tal-Edra Clan each cast countless billions of their own against each other in the war to end all wars. Resources are running low for both sides, who are resorting to progressively more brutal and devastating weapons to not only defeat their enemies, but in the event of a loss, render the enemy’s victory pyrrhic. Time is running out for the Trasna.

The Fehan go from strength to strength, as their fleet grows and the virgin world of Anlu is claimed for Fehan settlement. In all of their knowledge, no civilization surpasses them, but they are no fools- much remains far outside of their knowledge, and Fehan seems primed to face the unknown.

The Third Karronic Expeditionary Group continues to play cat-and-mouse with its pursuers, leading the Fehan probes all the way to the previously unknown world of Athre, home of the Sgligatiki Worshippers of Izoza. Presently, the Karronics are making a show of secretly observing the Sgligatiki, while actually focusing on the Fehan, while the Fehan simply watch everyone and try to determine their potential enemy’s psyche from a small handful of deliberately misleading cues. No one has noticed the Amur research base which has been floating above the planet for a good half-millennium, and the Sgligatiki simply have no idea of what is going on several hundred kilometres above their heads.

At any rate, the observers were, at the time of their arrival, entirely unaware of the Hammenammir. Steering clear of elder factions such as Fplinmy or the Zan, these migrants bowled into the territories encompassing the worlds of Nurm-Tok and Athre. Both had very limited presence in space, and thus they generally did not interact with the Hammenammir, as the vast fleets swept by, clearing out all unclaimed mineral wealth in the region. The Nurm are content to remain in their stagnant tidepools, locked in the stasis of a virtual world- although a few of them, those who traveled into space, were encountered by the Hammenammir genuflecting their vessels around the event horizon of a small black hole, and performing a variety of pseudo-religious experiments involving planet-tugging. They were given a respectful berth, and were content to do nothing.

However, one major point of interest did appear in this area- a truly ancient machine of a design vaguely familiar to the migrants. When they descended to Athre to observe this machine, however, the locals reacted in an uproar. Apparently the Sgligatiki worshipped the great stationary robot as the god ‘Izoza’, and refused to allow any offworlder heretics approach it. However, with a reasonably heavy application of firepower, the Hammenammir closed on the robot, at which point the machine shook off centuries of suspended animation and unleashed a withering barrage of fire at the explorers before banishing them from his world. Uninterested in losing further resources over simple curiosity, the survivors moved on. However, as more and more fleets pass by, someone more reckless may be inclined to commit to further investigation into Izoza’s nature.

Sanathi forces continue the long fight against Mechaniform Aggressor Delta, and it is beginning to seem that the worst may be over. The largest forces have either moved on or been wiped out- intelligence on the matter is not yet clear. However, Sanath has been severely tested by the invasion, and is dramatically weakened. New fleets struggle to maintain the Kurilate-Naellae-Nept-La corridor, which is now suffering from endemic piracy committed by those Mechaniforms who lingered behind.

Troublingly, Sanath has received messages from La’Matra requesting an immediate cessation to the ‘Robotic Invasion Forces’ emerging from Sanathi territory. With small, gnatlike enemies everywhere and all fleets occupied in ensuring the Collectivity’s very survival, Sanath is struggling to get a messenger out to explain the truth of the situation.

While La’Matra has suffered only the tiniest damage, a handful of probes installed in space that is not even within their sphere of influence, their erstwhile brothers on Iau are crumpling under the ever-increasing strength of the invasion. As the Mechaniforms run into progressively stronger resistance on all fronts, their forces are being funnelled towards this one weak point. Every day, more and more invaders land on the surface, pushing back even the vast numbers of Lauki that the Maus summon to their defense. Save an event of outside intervention, Iau’s days are numbered.

La’Matra’s periphery has been rife with activity as of late. Scouts encountered the world of Zzndkn, but fled shortly after, chased away from the natives who were simply terrifying to the Lauki. Elsewhere, the last pathetic elements of Ma’Autra have come across another planet to claim, to plant the seeds of a continued Eternal Union.

The Utarite Combine continues its relentless expansion, taking control of the world of Kudur. The species' population is exploding, creating a huge demand for more resources, which feeds back into further expansion. The Utarite Military has been more than effective at scouting out new worlds for settlement, and for now, it seems like Utarite expansion can continue unhindered forever.

Representatives of several different nations and species met at Garv’n, in one of the first multispecies summits in known history. Recognizing themselves as bastions of intelligence and civilization, representative Cherwels, Verthommes, Fudirunins, Lauki and others have begun discussing the possibilities of cooperation, while entertaining the dreams of even greater unity in the future. It is not yet clear whether anything will come of this, or if it will be just another idea that never got off the ground.

Map

Hi there! I would like to join this NES. Is this possible? I am not sure, but I will post a profile here for the referee to take a look at...

Is this ok? Can I even do this?

The Star-Forest/Starlife

Species: The Star-Forest is an area of space completely controlled by the species called the Dendro (though they would not know themselves by this name). The Dendro are sentient tree-like beings. There are technically many types of Dendro sub-species, resembling different kinds of trees, some deciduous and some coniferous. They can uproot their root-like tendrils and usually move slowly, though they can move a bit faster if required to do so. The Dendro brain is located in its legs, or the roots which it walks with. This network of roots represents the synapses of their extensive brain network. There are many ways Dendro can communicate with one another. The main way is to send vibrations with their tendrils through the crust of planets. Their advanced network of planetary roots systems allows it to act as a sort of high-speed Internet, and makes disrupting their communications extremely difficult. Even though the Dendro do a wonderful job at communicating, they are highly vulnerable to fires. For this reason many Dendro growths migrate towards water sources or places with heavy rains so that, in the event of a fire, they can either use the natural weather cycle or dump themselves into a nearby river or lake. Yet some fires are good, as with all decay and destruction, there can be re-growth. When a Dendro is damaged and grows back, it will grow to be more intelligent and larger than it was before. That is why fires caused by heavy sunlight or drought can actually be a positive thing, and this is also why migrations of Dendro occur from desert-like regions to water-side regions. The rite of passage of living in a desert region with forest fires will create stronger, more resilient Dendro.

The Dendro that resemble deciduous trees are called the Decids, and they are decidedly the most powerful of all Dendro sub-species. They go through seasonal changes depending on their planets, and this can often effect their moods. The Conifs are the other sub-species, and these are much more stalwart and less temperamental. It also makes their brains slightly less advanced and their roots systems are not as sensitive. The Conifs often act as on-planet laborers and defenders because of their ability to withstand extreme temperatures. But the Decids are more intelligent, and are responsible for interstellar travel and "government" affairs (which does not at all resemble government affairs of other star-nations).

Dendro planets are named according to the type of tree which has the most control over that region. For example, the capital planet is called Bodhi, representing the god-like tree that reigns over the capital and controls most Dendro society. This is a mysterious tree, and one whose root system is deep and extensive. Dendro systems are named after types of leaves, which symbolize the leaf-types (and so the tree-types as well) which the sun of that system sponsors growth with the most. The capital system is called Orbicular, as the sun promotes circular-shaped leaf growth. Dendro regions are called Forests, and their cities are called Growths. Towns and smaller settlements are called Groves.

Dendro young come from seeds and they take a long time to grow into adults. That is why population growth can be a bit slow in Dendro society. The seedlings can also uproot, though it takes them some time to learn this skill, just as a baby will eventually learn to walk. It also takes them some time to be able to speak or communicate by hooking their roots up to planetary networks. To grow, a seedling needs to learn on its own how to find sunlight to engage in photosynthesis and where the best water sources are. Eventually, when it is a Treeling, it will have to undergo the rite of passage that includes sun-fire and torment. Despite the interconnecting network that all Dendro are part of, each Dendro can make its own decisions on what it wants to become. There are many levels of this seemingly simple society. There is art, music, government, military, philosophy, and all kinds of other types of disciplines that a Dendro may focus on for the greater good of Dendro society. This is their decision, though usually there is some pressure as to what kind of Dendro is needed more at the time of its raising.

Larger tree structures can be created, which are the backbone of Dendro space ships. If many Dendro begin to grow together, they will create a combined vessel and a tree that is large. Their roots systems will permanently merge. Usually it is best to create a vessel with a Dendro that has focused its root-power on engineering or structural integrity, and add in a Dendro that is well-versed in communications. Interplanetary/interstellar communications are done using highly sensitive seed-springs that are quick and effortless. They are spore-like in nature, and attach themselves to asteroids and other space-junk, and grow to serve the sole purpose of delivering a message. These spores and special communication seeds can grow at incredibly fast rates, even if they are lacking water and sunlight. The Dendro settle other systems and planets through a long process of terraforming, to make the planet just right for their growing needs. This means that highly advanced and older Dendro can actually shoot seedlings into space, or attach them to space-rocks, and send them to other worlds to begin a colony. This is how Dendro society began to spread into the stars.

Forces: Dendro are a peaceful race, yet there is need to defend themselves from those seeking fire and industry that would threaten the peaceful development of Growths. There is a sort of "warrior caste" of Dendro that will grow to be mighty and resilient, and will undergo several fire torments. Dendro infantry are focused on their task and they can often manipulate the ground beneath them with their roots or swing vines or other tendril-like mechanisms into their prey. Dendro space-ship forces are massive trees that have grown together. They are merged Dendro. Dendro planets are meticulously tunneled into with complex roots systems and networks. A Dendro can effectively learn to fly by using their roots systems, if they merge with the correct types of other Dendro. This will create a unified force that can engage in space-flight. The growth will have to organically manipulate itself to become resistant to the pressures of deep space. They will then uproot, taking a chunk of the planet with them, and use that chunk of hard, inter-woven, inter-grown rock as a shell to travel through space. They will use their roots, which reach out the end of the rock, to navigate. The Dendro species developed this system of space travel over millions of years of evolution. Extremely light Dendro are able to fly on-planet and act as a sort of air force for that planet. Dendro can also hollow themselves out and merge with each other to make growths atop lakes and rivers, and even oceans if they train themselves long enough. The sea-weeds of planets are part of the network, and they can often merge together to create brain networks of underwater settlements. The weaponry used by Dendro space-ships includes hurling bits of highly concentrated mineral rock at their enemies and using their tendrils to wrap around their enemies, like a giant space-squid.

Technology: Technology in the computer sense is nothing to the Dendro. As mentioned before, their "Internet" or communications system is a highly complex network of roots that goes through planets, and even connects planets, and then even connects stars (using asteroid-like, extremely fast communication offshoots). Usually planets and moons are connected physically with massive forests of trees combined together and covered in a rocky, hair-like substance that protects Dendro from the threats of space. This means they can grow outer layers protecting them from space, and then gradually bring up rocky layers with natural growth cycles and with some labor from the Conifs. The home system of Orbicular has several planets near each other, and so a network of these massive growths has occurred, physically connecting planets and winding around them. All of these mentioned connections are usually uprooted, to allow for natural orbits to occur. If there is some emergency, they will connect again. This means that Bodhi is a star-system of space that has strange growths and odd organic space-junk in constant orbit. Other Dendro systems have this as well, but the planets are not as close and so it is not as extensive.

Description: The Star-Forest is what the Dendro worlds and systems are known as. The Interstellar Forest is also appropriate. It is basically a league of thousands of sub-species of Dendro (all of which branch from the Decids and the Conifs). Their governments or societal structures have effectively merged, creating a highly sophisticated interstellar collective. They are organized and rather peaceful. Many tree-expeditions have been sent in asteroid shells to find other races and communicate with them. But at this time, the Dendro have not found other life to communicate with, even on the worlds they have colonized and terraformed. Sometimes Dendro old will sacrifice seeds to place them into shells and propel them into space, hoping they will randomly land and begin growing somewhere, eventually connecting back to the Star-Forest.