Darksaber1
Secret Emperor
Iggy, I'll send you a pm with the summery for why the Shu'Ghoo suddenly matter. (part of the update blurb, since I wouun't finish that story tonight.)
GalaxyNES- No Horizons
- Thread starter Lord_Iggy
- Start date
KaiserElectric
Total Freakin Besties
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 3,461
I shall join after said update then. 
Update 14
Time is running out for the Vintorez Confederation. Centuries have passed since their first contact with the Fehan, in what future historians may one day describe as a huge missed opportunity to befriend one of the strongest and most quickly-developing powers in known space. At the time of first contact, the Fehan were more docile and exploratory, but the ever-cautious, and oft-paranoid Vins refused to engage in any meaningful interactions during the period when their visitors were still amenable to such things. Now, they face an expansionist and militarily-powerful Empire, who is no longer interested in anything but the conquest of the rusty red planet of Vintorez. Vin observation stations have detected three separate battlefleets of unknown capacity approaching , but they have almost no time to prepare, for the might of the Fehan Empire is about to fall upon them. Survivalists to the last, the Vins, or Finto, as their likely conquerors know them, are bunkering down and constructing what defences they can, but the first fleet has already arrived, silently setting a course straight towards Vintorez itself.
The enigmatic presence known as ‘The Many’ continues its slow, sublight advance towards Fehan space. Those studying it have not made any further discoveries regarding the nature of this potential threat, although Fehan scouts have found several worlds indicating signs of civilizations ruined by nuclear warfare- whether or not The Many are involved in this, or simply attracted towards radioactive worlds, remains unclear.
The Third Karronic Expeditionary Group, still pursued by the implacable Fehan, continues to maneuver its way in front of the backdrop of the colossal migration of the Hammenammir. Back at home, the Karronics have confirmed that the Fehan have located their long-secret home. As more and more weapons are devised, their economy finds itself strained to the point of collapse. Pressure is building to do something with the fleet, although exactly what ‘something’ is going to be remains very much unclear. However, a small scouting expedition by the Fehan, towards the world of Zephyr, may be the trigger to release all of the centuries of buildup into a full-blown war. Eager to deny the Fehan any amount of information, an expeditionary group was dispatched to intercept the Fehan scouts. However, when the two groups met over Zephyr, the Fehan scout turned out to be significantly better-armed than the Karronics had expected from their previous encounters with such vessels. Nonetheless, the superior firepower of the Karronics managed to deal critical damage to the Fehan, sending the scout plummeting down onto the greenish blue orb of Zephyr. The Fehan survived their rough landing, but their discovery by the native Akarians was followed by an immediate wide-frequency broadcast from the orbiting Karronics, briefly introducing themselves stating their intentions to capture the Fehan ‘spies’. The Democratic Federation of Akari’s introduction to the world of alien politics has been sudden and rough, and much hinges on the decisions which they must make in the immediate future.
The Hammenammir, ignoring the petty politicking around them, continue onwards with absolute purpose. Their promised world awaited, just as they had anticipated. A world divided in two, one side sheathed in perpetual, frozen darkness, the other burning under the heat of unending sunlight- and between the two, a thin, habitable ring with a rarefied atmosphere comfortable to the spacefarers. The scattered fleet homed in on this world, with huge numbers setting down on its surface, with more of the migrants arriving at all times. This grand movement of populations has led to an incredibly fast development of the world, which has still not received a proper name from the assembling Hammenammir- the vast majority of their focus has been on settling the still-arriving migrants down on their new home.
Jen-Tsa remains silent, as the epoch of Trasna fades from memory, and wildlife begins to spread across the planet’s surface once more.
The Allentryen continue their expansion and exploration, continuing to watch with interest the settlement of Trasna at Mas-Chasi. Meanwhile, on their opposite frontier, the Tapani Republic is beginning to understand the galaxy’s spheres of influence, coming to recognize a general edge of their own space, and the beginnings of Zaff and Zan space a short distance beyond.
Explorations by the Allentryen into the void between their home arm and the next coreward arm have revealed a previously unknown planetary system. Its native inhabitants, the Shu-Ghoo, are a biomechanical mass bearing many signs of being engineered by a vastly more advanced civilization. While capable of producing quite advanced technology, the Shu-Ghoo seem to prefer using simpler tools, and appear to be limited by a simplistic mindset. The potentials of interaction with the population of the isolated Whurp system have been very exciting to the technologists of the Tapani Republic, there is also some hesitation, due to fear of the capabilities of the amorphous sentient black goo.
The Zan Shamai rushed in frantic activity, dividing his time between his investigations into Wera and exotic weaponry, and expanding his Empire. Several surgical strikes towards Nidkubra, New Braniga and the Zaff Remnant took control of peripheral regions, sending each faction respectively onto the defensive. However, no continuing offensive was to take place, Shamai took only what he needed to maximize his industrial production in the critical few years before the Zan Kena’s forces would arrive. His own survival was the very first priority, for he knew, deep within his cold mechanical self, that his way of thinking was the only hope for ensuring the continued reign of the Zan.
Spurred into action by Shamai’s aggression, and the increasingly alarming approach of the Zan Kena, the United Republics of Hedge, Nidkubra, and La’Matra have finally begun to move forward in integrating their defensive systems. Hoping to provide a front to protect their alliance from the depredations of monstrous neighbours with no respect for the sanctity of life, this ‘Galactic Republic’ is building upon centuries of highly productive cooperation. Beyond simple military integration, a nascent central government has been established at Garv’n, a suitably neutral central point for the new Republic. The influence of this new combined government is not yet widespread, but it is now recognized by all systems previously under the control of the three founding nations, even if it serves as more of a meeting point than as a true governing entity at this early point in its development.
The young Republic would face its first challenge in very short order. Kena, executioner of the Zan Hegemony, came barrelling in directly towards the world of Felton Haven. The fast numbers of Fudirunin present on the planet evacuated, managing to get a huge percentage of the planet to safety before the Zan struck. Pleased by this sign of submission, Zan Kena seized the planet and immediately began to convert it into a factory world, to serve as his base of operations in the region. As wave after wave of Zan war machines gathered in the system, a secondary strike force directed itself towards Navart, the last world of the Zaff. Intending to finish the job that Shamai had botched previously, Kena wasted no time dealing with the pesky Zaff fleets- he simply approached their one planet, set up an array, and casually glassed the planet.
Of those who did battle with Kena, a small portion of the Zaff escaped in their last two fleets, fleeing towards the realm of Zan Shamai. Paradoxically, this was one of the safest places to go. Centuries of piracy had trained the Tapani to attack Zaff vessels on sight, and Shamai had withdrawn his forces from the extremities of his empire, to concentrate his spindly machines of destruction into a more effective, compact group. Thus, this scion of the beleaguered Zaff species landed on Morav, a former peripheral colony of the old Dominion- now almost a lost memory to modern Zaff- which had been similarly peripheral to Zan Shamai even at the best of times. The Zaff drove off the few forces of Shamai in the region, and began once again to settle down, in a futile attempt to begin rebuilding their fallen glory. Kena could only laugh at how this pathetic race was still able to defeat the traitor Shamai. As the defensive Zan braces for battle, the executioner sharpens his blade, as an overwhelming force musters just outside of Shamai’s reach. If the wily Zan has any cards left, he’d best play them soon.
The Utarite Combine, for the first time in centuries, is experiencing internal strife, as conflicts break out over expansion rights in the new worlds. Working to find an external enemy upon which the Combine can direct its energies, the leadership decided to prepare for an invasion of the planet Unaka, best known for its exotic trade in slave illusionists. A fleet was dispatched to Unaka, but met with disaster on the surface. Despite being by all appearances a fallen civilization given over entirely to simulated reality and decadence, Unaka, a world of crumbling arcologies and physical pleasures, remains a deadly trap for all those who are vulnerable to the charms of the natives. The Utarite soldiers, evidently unprepared for the illusory and pheromonal challenges they would encounter, met with disaster. In an event similar to the first contact by Ma’Autra, almost all of the first landing team was lost. However, rather than fleeing as the Lauki did, the stubborn Utarites sent down a series of rescue operations to attempt to continue the operation. This had the unfortunate effect of causing the loss of progressively more and more of the force that was supposed to be taking over the planet. After losing over half of their own force, a safe landing site was finally secured, and the Utarites began to spread out, keeping the locals isolated and under duress to prevent further illusory tricks. However, it was at this point in the invasion that the true resistance of the planet was revealed. It remains unclear whether it was a deliberate action by an organization of Unakis or simply a natural result of the planetary gestalt, but many of the Utarites, particularly those who had been the first onto the planet, suddenly defected. Their own vessel was brought down onto the planet, and the remainder of its unaffected crew was indoctrinated by the Unaki.
On Utar-Prime, the Combine’s High Command can only worry about what fate has befallen their comrades, and debate the wisdom of sending a second force to determine the fate of the first. Meanwhile, another exploration fleet ploughs into La’Matran space- thus far, it has managed to avoid any sort of incident, although La’Matra is beginning to take an increasing interest in the new arrivals.
The interesting times, it seems, just keep on coming for the Utarites. Shortly after the establishment of the new colony of Kutar, sensors began picking up huge energy surges tens of light years outside of the system, consistent with those produced by discharging jump drives. The thinly-stretched Utarites know little of this new entity, other than the facts that it is large, calls itself ‘Ra’, and is approaching Utarite space at an alarming speed.
It seems that the Utarites will get the ‘uniting fight’ they were looking for. Perhaps, if they are lucky, even several!
The Lumos remain as non-interactive with physical life forms as ever.
Kau’Loc of Ma’Autra continues her exploration throughout the Star Forest. Arriving at the world of Cordate, heart of the Star Forest, she has set root once more, deepening her contact with the beings which she believes to be the distant relatives of her own Maus ancestors.
The Rogue Fleet, having successfully protected Lu’Ma from the Mechaniforms, moves on in pursuit of the raiders, towards the planet of Truff. Making contact with the New Branigan fleet, the Ullau and Sanathi irregulars helped to sandwich the main Mechaniform force, before proceeding to chase down the remnants.
All of this was happening concurrently to a large effort by the Collectivity of Sanath to wipe out the remaining Mechaniforms. It brought significant alarm to the Collectivity to find the Mechaniforms rapidly increasing their numbers from even the smallest populations- clearly their population is extraordinarily resilient, and would require a sustained effort to wipe out. Having suffered their depredations for many cycles, Sanath is more than willing to engage in just such an effort. With growing fleets and militarized city-ships, the Collectivity has begun to extend the outer boundaries of ‘safe space’, working to eliminate all Mechaniforms immediately upon their discovery.
It will not be an easy struggle.
Map
Time is running out for the Vintorez Confederation. Centuries have passed since their first contact with the Fehan, in what future historians may one day describe as a huge missed opportunity to befriend one of the strongest and most quickly-developing powers in known space. At the time of first contact, the Fehan were more docile and exploratory, but the ever-cautious, and oft-paranoid Vins refused to engage in any meaningful interactions during the period when their visitors were still amenable to such things. Now, they face an expansionist and militarily-powerful Empire, who is no longer interested in anything but the conquest of the rusty red planet of Vintorez. Vin observation stations have detected three separate battlefleets of unknown capacity approaching , but they have almost no time to prepare, for the might of the Fehan Empire is about to fall upon them. Survivalists to the last, the Vins, or Finto, as their likely conquerors know them, are bunkering down and constructing what defences they can, but the first fleet has already arrived, silently setting a course straight towards Vintorez itself.
The enigmatic presence known as ‘The Many’ continues its slow, sublight advance towards Fehan space. Those studying it have not made any further discoveries regarding the nature of this potential threat, although Fehan scouts have found several worlds indicating signs of civilizations ruined by nuclear warfare- whether or not The Many are involved in this, or simply attracted towards radioactive worlds, remains unclear.
The Third Karronic Expeditionary Group, still pursued by the implacable Fehan, continues to maneuver its way in front of the backdrop of the colossal migration of the Hammenammir. Back at home, the Karronics have confirmed that the Fehan have located their long-secret home. As more and more weapons are devised, their economy finds itself strained to the point of collapse. Pressure is building to do something with the fleet, although exactly what ‘something’ is going to be remains very much unclear. However, a small scouting expedition by the Fehan, towards the world of Zephyr, may be the trigger to release all of the centuries of buildup into a full-blown war. Eager to deny the Fehan any amount of information, an expeditionary group was dispatched to intercept the Fehan scouts. However, when the two groups met over Zephyr, the Fehan scout turned out to be significantly better-armed than the Karronics had expected from their previous encounters with such vessels. Nonetheless, the superior firepower of the Karronics managed to deal critical damage to the Fehan, sending the scout plummeting down onto the greenish blue orb of Zephyr. The Fehan survived their rough landing, but their discovery by the native Akarians was followed by an immediate wide-frequency broadcast from the orbiting Karronics, briefly introducing themselves stating their intentions to capture the Fehan ‘spies’. The Democratic Federation of Akari’s introduction to the world of alien politics has been sudden and rough, and much hinges on the decisions which they must make in the immediate future.
The Hammenammir, ignoring the petty politicking around them, continue onwards with absolute purpose. Their promised world awaited, just as they had anticipated. A world divided in two, one side sheathed in perpetual, frozen darkness, the other burning under the heat of unending sunlight- and between the two, a thin, habitable ring with a rarefied atmosphere comfortable to the spacefarers. The scattered fleet homed in on this world, with huge numbers setting down on its surface, with more of the migrants arriving at all times. This grand movement of populations has led to an incredibly fast development of the world, which has still not received a proper name from the assembling Hammenammir- the vast majority of their focus has been on settling the still-arriving migrants down on their new home.
Jen-Tsa remains silent, as the epoch of Trasna fades from memory, and wildlife begins to spread across the planet’s surface once more.
The Allentryen continue their expansion and exploration, continuing to watch with interest the settlement of Trasna at Mas-Chasi. Meanwhile, on their opposite frontier, the Tapani Republic is beginning to understand the galaxy’s spheres of influence, coming to recognize a general edge of their own space, and the beginnings of Zaff and Zan space a short distance beyond.
Explorations by the Allentryen into the void between their home arm and the next coreward arm have revealed a previously unknown planetary system. Its native inhabitants, the Shu-Ghoo, are a biomechanical mass bearing many signs of being engineered by a vastly more advanced civilization. While capable of producing quite advanced technology, the Shu-Ghoo seem to prefer using simpler tools, and appear to be limited by a simplistic mindset. The potentials of interaction with the population of the isolated Whurp system have been very exciting to the technologists of the Tapani Republic, there is also some hesitation, due to fear of the capabilities of the amorphous sentient black goo.
The Zan Shamai rushed in frantic activity, dividing his time between his investigations into Wera and exotic weaponry, and expanding his Empire. Several surgical strikes towards Nidkubra, New Braniga and the Zaff Remnant took control of peripheral regions, sending each faction respectively onto the defensive. However, no continuing offensive was to take place, Shamai took only what he needed to maximize his industrial production in the critical few years before the Zan Kena’s forces would arrive. His own survival was the very first priority, for he knew, deep within his cold mechanical self, that his way of thinking was the only hope for ensuring the continued reign of the Zan.
Spurred into action by Shamai’s aggression, and the increasingly alarming approach of the Zan Kena, the United Republics of Hedge, Nidkubra, and La’Matra have finally begun to move forward in integrating their defensive systems. Hoping to provide a front to protect their alliance from the depredations of monstrous neighbours with no respect for the sanctity of life, this ‘Galactic Republic’ is building upon centuries of highly productive cooperation. Beyond simple military integration, a nascent central government has been established at Garv’n, a suitably neutral central point for the new Republic. The influence of this new combined government is not yet widespread, but it is now recognized by all systems previously under the control of the three founding nations, even if it serves as more of a meeting point than as a true governing entity at this early point in its development.
The young Republic would face its first challenge in very short order. Kena, executioner of the Zan Hegemony, came barrelling in directly towards the world of Felton Haven. The fast numbers of Fudirunin present on the planet evacuated, managing to get a huge percentage of the planet to safety before the Zan struck. Pleased by this sign of submission, Zan Kena seized the planet and immediately began to convert it into a factory world, to serve as his base of operations in the region. As wave after wave of Zan war machines gathered in the system, a secondary strike force directed itself towards Navart, the last world of the Zaff. Intending to finish the job that Shamai had botched previously, Kena wasted no time dealing with the pesky Zaff fleets- he simply approached their one planet, set up an array, and casually glassed the planet.
Of those who did battle with Kena, a small portion of the Zaff escaped in their last two fleets, fleeing towards the realm of Zan Shamai. Paradoxically, this was one of the safest places to go. Centuries of piracy had trained the Tapani to attack Zaff vessels on sight, and Shamai had withdrawn his forces from the extremities of his empire, to concentrate his spindly machines of destruction into a more effective, compact group. Thus, this scion of the beleaguered Zaff species landed on Morav, a former peripheral colony of the old Dominion- now almost a lost memory to modern Zaff- which had been similarly peripheral to Zan Shamai even at the best of times. The Zaff drove off the few forces of Shamai in the region, and began once again to settle down, in a futile attempt to begin rebuilding their fallen glory. Kena could only laugh at how this pathetic race was still able to defeat the traitor Shamai. As the defensive Zan braces for battle, the executioner sharpens his blade, as an overwhelming force musters just outside of Shamai’s reach. If the wily Zan has any cards left, he’d best play them soon.
The Utarite Combine, for the first time in centuries, is experiencing internal strife, as conflicts break out over expansion rights in the new worlds. Working to find an external enemy upon which the Combine can direct its energies, the leadership decided to prepare for an invasion of the planet Unaka, best known for its exotic trade in slave illusionists. A fleet was dispatched to Unaka, but met with disaster on the surface. Despite being by all appearances a fallen civilization given over entirely to simulated reality and decadence, Unaka, a world of crumbling arcologies and physical pleasures, remains a deadly trap for all those who are vulnerable to the charms of the natives. The Utarite soldiers, evidently unprepared for the illusory and pheromonal challenges they would encounter, met with disaster. In an event similar to the first contact by Ma’Autra, almost all of the first landing team was lost. However, rather than fleeing as the Lauki did, the stubborn Utarites sent down a series of rescue operations to attempt to continue the operation. This had the unfortunate effect of causing the loss of progressively more and more of the force that was supposed to be taking over the planet. After losing over half of their own force, a safe landing site was finally secured, and the Utarites began to spread out, keeping the locals isolated and under duress to prevent further illusory tricks. However, it was at this point in the invasion that the true resistance of the planet was revealed. It remains unclear whether it was a deliberate action by an organization of Unakis or simply a natural result of the planetary gestalt, but many of the Utarites, particularly those who had been the first onto the planet, suddenly defected. Their own vessel was brought down onto the planet, and the remainder of its unaffected crew was indoctrinated by the Unaki.
On Utar-Prime, the Combine’s High Command can only worry about what fate has befallen their comrades, and debate the wisdom of sending a second force to determine the fate of the first. Meanwhile, another exploration fleet ploughs into La’Matran space- thus far, it has managed to avoid any sort of incident, although La’Matra is beginning to take an increasing interest in the new arrivals.
The interesting times, it seems, just keep on coming for the Utarites. Shortly after the establishment of the new colony of Kutar, sensors began picking up huge energy surges tens of light years outside of the system, consistent with those produced by discharging jump drives. The thinly-stretched Utarites know little of this new entity, other than the facts that it is large, calls itself ‘Ra’, and is approaching Utarite space at an alarming speed.
It seems that the Utarites will get the ‘uniting fight’ they were looking for. Perhaps, if they are lucky, even several!
The Lumos remain as non-interactive with physical life forms as ever.
Kau’Loc of Ma’Autra continues her exploration throughout the Star Forest. Arriving at the world of Cordate, heart of the Star Forest, she has set root once more, deepening her contact with the beings which she believes to be the distant relatives of her own Maus ancestors.
The Rogue Fleet, having successfully protected Lu’Ma from the Mechaniforms, moves on in pursuit of the raiders, towards the planet of Truff. Making contact with the New Branigan fleet, the Ullau and Sanathi irregulars helped to sandwich the main Mechaniform force, before proceeding to chase down the remnants.
All of this was happening concurrently to a large effort by the Collectivity of Sanath to wipe out the remaining Mechaniforms. It brought significant alarm to the Collectivity to find the Mechaniforms rapidly increasing their numbers from even the smallest populations- clearly their population is extraordinarily resilient, and would require a sustained effort to wipe out. Having suffered their depredations for many cycles, Sanath is more than willing to engage in just such an effort. With growing fleets and militarized city-ships, the Collectivity has begun to extend the outer boundaries of ‘safe space’, working to eliminate all Mechaniforms immediately upon their discovery.
It will not be an easy struggle.
Map
A great ripping of gas as it vented into space was all there was to announce the passing of the once Zan fleet from the Wera's vast bowels. Now reduced to a planetoid sized pellet of metal, organic matter, WERAIDE, WERORANGE and the unmentionables of a Wera's stomach it hurtled out from that vast gas cloud on a collision course with a Zan world. Was it an accident, a mistaken shot in the dark? Or was it a humorous means of showing superiority? Well probably both. That a planet had to die to achieve it didn't bother the Wera in the least, those that heard the song of triumph laughed and the force behind that was enough to dim suns and cause a planet's poles to realign. The saliva and rotting detrius that burst out from baleen that needed a clean during these laughing fits may also seeded an unknown number of planets with life... little meteorites full of Zan parts, bacteria and Wera DNA to seed the heavens.
But back to the main event that pellet of Wera droppings currently hurtling towards that poor Zan planet. If the Wera had been normal giant planet-sized God creatures that ball of schiesse could have been stopped... as it was it had passed out the bowels of a Wera and because of that simple fact it skipped across reality - barely touching - like a flat stone bouncing across a lake in some infantile game. The planet - and we can still call it that - exploded as the thin atmosphere vented out into space as the projectile hit, the WERAIDE did in the planet's surface in bathing it in acids fit to strip internal lining of a Wera's stomach in pleasurable burning while the solid state energy of the WERORANGE and the solid cores of the pips rent the continents asunder in a show that that took the guilty party back to the beginning of creation when all things were new and most things died... sooner or later.
A glorious work this destruction, this Symphony of Destruction, the sharp HISS of the venting of gas, the SHRIEK of dying continents an operatic ARIA that only the Wera could hear and appreciate and the PINGING of popcorn left too long in the microwave as Zan cooked in their armour and then SILENCE as their armour melted down into little Zan sized slag piles, a dead world left in the Wera's heavenly passing’s passing.
But back to the main event that pellet of Wera droppings currently hurtling towards that poor Zan planet. If the Wera had been normal giant planet-sized God creatures that ball of schiesse could have been stopped... as it was it had passed out the bowels of a Wera and because of that simple fact it skipped across reality - barely touching - like a flat stone bouncing across a lake in some infantile game. The planet - and we can still call it that - exploded as the thin atmosphere vented out into space as the projectile hit, the WERAIDE did in the planet's surface in bathing it in acids fit to strip internal lining of a Wera's stomach in pleasurable burning while the solid state energy of the WERORANGE and the solid cores of the pips rent the continents asunder in a show that that took the guilty party back to the beginning of creation when all things were new and most things died... sooner or later.
A glorious work this destruction, this Symphony of Destruction, the sharp HISS of the venting of gas, the SHRIEK of dying continents an operatic ARIA that only the Wera could hear and appreciate and the PINGING of popcorn left too long in the microwave as Zan cooked in their armour and then SILENCE as their armour melted down into little Zan sized slag piles, a dead world left in the Wera's heavenly passing’s passing.
KaiserElectric
Total Freakin Besties
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 3,461
Here we go, give me the thumbs up so I can start contributing. I just need a star for my nation to inhabit, if anyone is willing to make a suggestion.
Spoiler :
Darksaber1
Secret Emperor
Tekitekitekitekitekitekiteki!
Gh![chirp]ee-takai-Dhura-Kiap-Thwougha chattered her battle cry as she lunged forward with her main weapon, a sort of long-shafted propeller, catching he opponent centre mass, flinging pieces far enough to splatter on the tall windows that surrounded the fighting-pit. Even as her opponent was being blended, the Kia-Cjiuk-Cootra* was swinging both of her large-toothed circular saws at another, ctching him off guard and removing his weapons tentacles.
Tekitekitekitekitekitekiteki!
Seeing another foe approaching, I-Dhura-K activated, and prepared to launch, one of her air-grenades. She was very proud of herself for inventing them: she assembled some volatile chemicals that would react to expand quickly, than encased them into an extruded plastic case, so that when she activated (released chemicals that would allow the contents to mix and the case to begin to decay) and fired them, they would soon burst, blowing any Other hit to small pieces, and since it was just air-pressure, it would cause any lasting harm (it could damage any organs the Other had at the time, but only briefly shocks/stunts the affected).
The grenade worked perfectly, splattering her opponent over a considerable area, letting focus on the last Other remaining. He particularly large, wielding a sort of long, toothed drill, as well as two chain saws. As he lunged, I-Dhura-K launched an air-grenade, hitting the drill on its underside, the immediate rupture forcing the weapon up, allowing I-Dhura-K to rush under it, propeller ramming home against the Other.
Amid cheers from the Others in the stands above and the earlier defeated Others at the sidelines, I-Dhura-K paused to wave her tentacles in victory, relishing the success. But only for a few seconds, then she helped push the runner-up back together before rolling across the arena and the through large arch that lead to the preparing-rooms, of which she had her own. Of course she had her own dressing room (a term only loosely used, and only because that as what they were called in the Sacred Videos): in the videos, Stars always had private dressing rooms; the Stars were the best sports-players or best-actor/actress, best fighter; I-Dhura-K was the best fighter, so according to logic she got a room. Whistling happily, I-Dhura-K disarmed her remaining grenades, then expelled them into a bin, as well as placed her weapons a table, then heard a polite trill behind her. Seeing an Other in the door to her dressing room, I-Dhura-K scooped her autograph-book off the table and flowed towards it. There was always at least one Other that can for a autograph, since in the videos, Others always wanted the autographs of Stars for some unclear reason, and since I-Dhura-K was a Star, Other wanted hers.
[Friendly] Who should I make this out for? I-Dhura-K sent, sending the Sacred Words for this action to the Other once they were connected.
[Polite declination] My name is Theick-ghaha-Toum-Paik-Cherrup, but I am not here for an autograph. The Other responded, slightly surprising I-Dhura-K.
[Slightly taken aback, inquiry] Oh, what can I do for you, then?
[Statement] Your...what did you call them? Air-grenades? are really quite ingenious.
[Puzzled] Ah, ...yes?
[Statement] I represent a group that values original thought in people like you, and would like to invite you to a meeting, here is the date, time and location. And feel free to bring friends, this is not a secret meeting.
[Slightly wary] Youre a New Thinker, arnt you? I-Dhura-K sent, somewhat suspicious. Unlike some, she did not dislike New Thinkers off-limb, but did prefer to avoid them, or get their meaning clear.
[Statement] I am indeed. A-Toum-P said, giving the both the chemical and physical equivalent of a nod. [Explanation] But this meeting concerns bigger things, and will be publically broadcast. We hope you will come. She finished, pulling away and flowing out of the room.
I really do want to go, dont I. I-Dhura-K thought, lokking through the data-packets. This could be interesting.
*Comparable to a masculine-female personality
Gh![chirp]ee-takai-Dhura-Kiap-Thwougha chattered her battle cry as she lunged forward with her main weapon, a sort of long-shafted propeller, catching he opponent centre mass, flinging pieces far enough to splatter on the tall windows that surrounded the fighting-pit. Even as her opponent was being blended, the Kia-Cjiuk-Cootra* was swinging both of her large-toothed circular saws at another, ctching him off guard and removing his weapons tentacles.
Tekitekitekitekitekitekiteki!
Seeing another foe approaching, I-Dhura-K activated, and prepared to launch, one of her air-grenades. She was very proud of herself for inventing them: she assembled some volatile chemicals that would react to expand quickly, than encased them into an extruded plastic case, so that when she activated (released chemicals that would allow the contents to mix and the case to begin to decay) and fired them, they would soon burst, blowing any Other hit to small pieces, and since it was just air-pressure, it would cause any lasting harm (it could damage any organs the Other had at the time, but only briefly shocks/stunts the affected).
The grenade worked perfectly, splattering her opponent over a considerable area, letting focus on the last Other remaining. He particularly large, wielding a sort of long, toothed drill, as well as two chain saws. As he lunged, I-Dhura-K launched an air-grenade, hitting the drill on its underside, the immediate rupture forcing the weapon up, allowing I-Dhura-K to rush under it, propeller ramming home against the Other.
Amid cheers from the Others in the stands above and the earlier defeated Others at the sidelines, I-Dhura-K paused to wave her tentacles in victory, relishing the success. But only for a few seconds, then she helped push the runner-up back together before rolling across the arena and the through large arch that lead to the preparing-rooms, of which she had her own. Of course she had her own dressing room (a term only loosely used, and only because that as what they were called in the Sacred Videos): in the videos, Stars always had private dressing rooms; the Stars were the best sports-players or best-actor/actress, best fighter; I-Dhura-K was the best fighter, so according to logic she got a room. Whistling happily, I-Dhura-K disarmed her remaining grenades, then expelled them into a bin, as well as placed her weapons a table, then heard a polite trill behind her. Seeing an Other in the door to her dressing room, I-Dhura-K scooped her autograph-book off the table and flowed towards it. There was always at least one Other that can for a autograph, since in the videos, Others always wanted the autographs of Stars for some unclear reason, and since I-Dhura-K was a Star, Other wanted hers.
[Friendly] Who should I make this out for? I-Dhura-K sent, sending the Sacred Words for this action to the Other once they were connected.
[Polite declination] My name is Theick-ghaha-Toum-Paik-Cherrup, but I am not here for an autograph. The Other responded, slightly surprising I-Dhura-K.
[Slightly taken aback, inquiry] Oh, what can I do for you, then?
[Statement] Your...what did you call them? Air-grenades? are really quite ingenious.
[Puzzled] Ah, ...yes?
[Statement] I represent a group that values original thought in people like you, and would like to invite you to a meeting, here is the date, time and location. And feel free to bring friends, this is not a secret meeting.
[Slightly wary] Youre a New Thinker, arnt you? I-Dhura-K sent, somewhat suspicious. Unlike some, she did not dislike New Thinkers off-limb, but did prefer to avoid them, or get their meaning clear.
[Statement] I am indeed. A-Toum-P said, giving the both the chemical and physical equivalent of a nod. [Explanation] But this meeting concerns bigger things, and will be publically broadcast. We hope you will come. She finished, pulling away and flowing out of the room.
I really do want to go, dont I. I-Dhura-K thought, lokking through the data-packets. This could be interesting.
*Comparable to a masculine-female personality
KaiserElectric
Total Freakin Besties
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 3,461
I'm going to set my stories to music too, since it's such a good idea.
Theme
"..and the next thing I knew, the compound was secreting acid all over the table," Yrik finished, chuckling dryly. "The helper bionic was a new model though, so he and I grabbed the other samples so they didn't get damaged."
"Seems as though you didn't get rid of it all, though," Ryv said, gesturing towards his hands. Yrik looked down and made a noise of disgust, seeing that the yellow paint on his slender metallic fingers had stained the table.
"I apologize, it's that acid," Yrik explained, gripping his fingers to keep the paint on. "It got all over me and keeps melting the paint on my suit." He stood up and walked over to the water basin to rinse the running paint off. In the meantime, a tiny hovering machine the size of a closed fist popped up to the table to wash of the paint stains. Yrik returned a moment later, staring at his metallic gray fingers with disdain.
"I'm sure you can get that fixed," Ryv reassured him.
"Third time within the last five cycles that happened." Yrik said glumly. "I stained one of my nicer tunics because of that infernal substance."
Ryv could understand, as he had is own deep blue tunic damaged countless times by the bionics training to use welding torches. Thankfully for the poor fellows who had to train them, the bio-suits they wore were fireproof.
"Seems as though it would make an effective paint remover," he observed.
"With any luck, it will," Yrik said. "In any case, I'm sure you didn't want me to fly all the way from Kya in a Stasis Shuttle just to shoot the breeze about a paint remover."
"I think my end goal will be worth making a trip in one of those infernal things, my friend." Yrik leaned forward and lowered his voice, as though he were sharing national secrets. "I wish to discuss with you the fuel used in those shuttles, as a matter of fact."
"Not my area of expertise, but I'm familiar with the concept. Ask away."
A high pitched chirping noise sounded outside the window. Yrik and Ryv both spun around to see that a green-winged, blue-furred animal had perched on the edge of the open window. Ryv was surprised that the thing could fly twenty floors up.
"I'm curious, my friend," Ryv said. "How far can the fuel in an average shuttle take you?"
"At their best, I'd say between here and Vyca. Using our most efficient fuel formula, naturally."
"But there is formula for traveling longer distances?"
Yrik laughed again. "Obviously. We never use it for much, because it would only be efficient if you wanted to leave..."
Yrik froze, a look of comprehension dawning on his face. The blue-furred creature chirped sharply and took flight.
"Not this again," Yrik said with equal sharpness, standing up to leave.
"Wait, Yrik, I implore you to see reason!" Ryv pleaded, following him out the door. Yrik strode irritably towards the elevator at the end of the corridor. "This task is imperative for the Union! If we..."
"It's death for the Union, damn it!" Yrik shouted. "Listen to yourself, rambling on like a madman about shooting good civilized Mejans into space to poke our nose where it doesn't belong!"
"I already discussed the matter with the Council. They find it reasonable for us to adventure beyond our borders."
"Of course they do, the parasites!" Yrik retorted, placing his hand on the scanner next to the elevator door. The gravitational manipulators hummed to life to raise the car, which wasn't enough to drown out Yrik's ranting. "Those bureaucrats want nothing more than to make us an empire again, dividing us and sparking another war that will kill us all. If some other race doesn't come and slaughter us first!"
"Yrik, you forget that I was a council leader once. Why do you think I resigned after a year. I hated lording over others. We all did. Why do you think no council member served for more than a rotation?"
"Except for that greasy ingrate Hyz," Yrik muttered bitterly, ashamed that a fellow chemist had dared to serve more than one rotation.
"Forget him, it's the fate of the Union at stake here. If there is a race out there bent on conquering us, isn't it best that we know our enemies so we can better prepare against them?"
The doors slid open and Yrik stepped in, turning to face his colleague. Ryv stared at him imploringly. "My goal isn't to destroy what he have. It's to save what we have."
Yrik leaned towards the knobs on the inside of the elevator. Taking a deep breath, he spoke slowly and cautiously.
"I'll make sure you have all the fuel you need."
"Thank you, Yrik," Ryv said.
Yrik said nothing as the doors flew shut and the gravity engine hummed to life. Ryv walked back to his apartment, silently masking his apprehension. His greatest achievement was unfolding. Everyone knew that other empires existed, but he would be the one who discovered it. Ryv Il Lyra, the doorkeeper of diplomacy. That would certainly make a nice title.
Ryv returned to find the blue-furred creature had returned, pecking at the paint that the cleaning bionic couldn't remove. Taking a seat, he absent-mindedly stroked the creature, which purred affectionately. Everything was falling into place, he realized. He would lead the Mejani into a new era, and save it from impending destruction. Not bad for a day's work, he thought.
He turned his attention to the creature. It was really a beautiful creature. It's blue coat was stunning. Like the deep blue of his tunic. Like the deep blue of Myki's...
Theme
"..and the next thing I knew, the compound was secreting acid all over the table," Yrik finished, chuckling dryly. "The helper bionic was a new model though, so he and I grabbed the other samples so they didn't get damaged."
"Seems as though you didn't get rid of it all, though," Ryv said, gesturing towards his hands. Yrik looked down and made a noise of disgust, seeing that the yellow paint on his slender metallic fingers had stained the table.
"I apologize, it's that acid," Yrik explained, gripping his fingers to keep the paint on. "It got all over me and keeps melting the paint on my suit." He stood up and walked over to the water basin to rinse the running paint off. In the meantime, a tiny hovering machine the size of a closed fist popped up to the table to wash of the paint stains. Yrik returned a moment later, staring at his metallic gray fingers with disdain.
"I'm sure you can get that fixed," Ryv reassured him.
"Third time within the last five cycles that happened." Yrik said glumly. "I stained one of my nicer tunics because of that infernal substance."
Ryv could understand, as he had is own deep blue tunic damaged countless times by the bionics training to use welding torches. Thankfully for the poor fellows who had to train them, the bio-suits they wore were fireproof.
"Seems as though it would make an effective paint remover," he observed.
"With any luck, it will," Yrik said. "In any case, I'm sure you didn't want me to fly all the way from Kya in a Stasis Shuttle just to shoot the breeze about a paint remover."
"I think my end goal will be worth making a trip in one of those infernal things, my friend." Yrik leaned forward and lowered his voice, as though he were sharing national secrets. "I wish to discuss with you the fuel used in those shuttles, as a matter of fact."
"Not my area of expertise, but I'm familiar with the concept. Ask away."
A high pitched chirping noise sounded outside the window. Yrik and Ryv both spun around to see that a green-winged, blue-furred animal had perched on the edge of the open window. Ryv was surprised that the thing could fly twenty floors up.
"I'm curious, my friend," Ryv said. "How far can the fuel in an average shuttle take you?"
"At their best, I'd say between here and Vyca. Using our most efficient fuel formula, naturally."
"But there is formula for traveling longer distances?"
Yrik laughed again. "Obviously. We never use it for much, because it would only be efficient if you wanted to leave..."
Yrik froze, a look of comprehension dawning on his face. The blue-furred creature chirped sharply and took flight.
"Not this again," Yrik said with equal sharpness, standing up to leave.
"Wait, Yrik, I implore you to see reason!" Ryv pleaded, following him out the door. Yrik strode irritably towards the elevator at the end of the corridor. "This task is imperative for the Union! If we..."
"It's death for the Union, damn it!" Yrik shouted. "Listen to yourself, rambling on like a madman about shooting good civilized Mejans into space to poke our nose where it doesn't belong!"
"I already discussed the matter with the Council. They find it reasonable for us to adventure beyond our borders."
"Of course they do, the parasites!" Yrik retorted, placing his hand on the scanner next to the elevator door. The gravitational manipulators hummed to life to raise the car, which wasn't enough to drown out Yrik's ranting. "Those bureaucrats want nothing more than to make us an empire again, dividing us and sparking another war that will kill us all. If some other race doesn't come and slaughter us first!"
"Yrik, you forget that I was a council leader once. Why do you think I resigned after a year. I hated lording over others. We all did. Why do you think no council member served for more than a rotation?"
"Except for that greasy ingrate Hyz," Yrik muttered bitterly, ashamed that a fellow chemist had dared to serve more than one rotation.
"Forget him, it's the fate of the Union at stake here. If there is a race out there bent on conquering us, isn't it best that we know our enemies so we can better prepare against them?"
The doors slid open and Yrik stepped in, turning to face his colleague. Ryv stared at him imploringly. "My goal isn't to destroy what he have. It's to save what we have."
Yrik leaned towards the knobs on the inside of the elevator. Taking a deep breath, he spoke slowly and cautiously.
"I'll make sure you have all the fuel you need."
"Thank you, Yrik," Ryv said.
Yrik said nothing as the doors flew shut and the gravity engine hummed to life. Ryv walked back to his apartment, silently masking his apprehension. His greatest achievement was unfolding. Everyone knew that other empires existed, but he would be the one who discovered it. Ryv Il Lyra, the doorkeeper of diplomacy. That would certainly make a nice title.
Ryv returned to find the blue-furred creature had returned, pecking at the paint that the cleaning bionic couldn't remove. Taking a seat, he absent-mindedly stroked the creature, which purred affectionately. Everything was falling into place, he realized. He would lead the Mejani into a new era, and save it from impending destruction. Not bad for a day's work, he thought.
He turned his attention to the creature. It was really a beautiful creature. It's blue coat was stunning. Like the deep blue of his tunic. Like the deep blue of Myki's...
Spoiler :
Hmm, it would be best if you took the star two further two the left- it hasn't been explored by the Fehan before. It would be a bit hard to explain a complex civilization just showing up there, when it's already been discovered. 
Condor_green
King
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Messages
- 661
Rapid clicking could be echoing through the corridor of assorted metal.
A horrifying creature with many legs could be seen scuttling down the hall at a very fast pace.
This creature was called Ra and it was in command of one of 3 huge superstructure planet-cracking starships.
It had just executed one of the most trying assignments in it's history, active warfare against a sentient species. Victory for Ra had meant the total and complete annihilation of an entire 2500 years of advanced space faring culture, Ra didn't even have a second thought for the losers of what would seem to outsiders a pointless and brutal game.
As Ra reached his destination in the superstructure it's eye glowed a faint orange hue briefly and a hologram of a planet sprung up in front of it.
The hologram expanded to show a massive fleet waiting outside the planet's gravity well, an untold number of large to massive military craft all the legacy of Ra's vicious determination.
Ra didn't spare a second thought to it's accomplishment, or even a thought at all as it's eye flickered rapidly through a series of colors.
Ra's eye dimmed and the fleet located on the hologram began to move and separate.
Ra’s superstructure moved to the planet and made it's preparations, this superstructure's fleet panned out in a defensive formation around the planet.
The other two fleets moved to the other side of the planet.
Superstructure number 2 found a space faring ship on it's system and fired a massive slug at the foreign vessel.
Superstructure 3 ordered the ships under it's command to charge up it's jump drives and remained silent.
As all of this was happening Ra let a random thought stray into it's mind for the first time in centuries.
'Beautiful', Ra stamped the thought out of it's trapped mind and scurried away from the view the console. Leaving the image of a planet burning behind.
A horrifying creature with many legs could be seen scuttling down the hall at a very fast pace.
This creature was called Ra and it was in command of one of 3 huge superstructure planet-cracking starships.
It had just executed one of the most trying assignments in it's history, active warfare against a sentient species. Victory for Ra had meant the total and complete annihilation of an entire 2500 years of advanced space faring culture, Ra didn't even have a second thought for the losers of what would seem to outsiders a pointless and brutal game.
As Ra reached his destination in the superstructure it's eye glowed a faint orange hue briefly and a hologram of a planet sprung up in front of it.
The hologram expanded to show a massive fleet waiting outside the planet's gravity well, an untold number of large to massive military craft all the legacy of Ra's vicious determination.
Ra didn't spare a second thought to it's accomplishment, or even a thought at all as it's eye flickered rapidly through a series of colors.
Ra's eye dimmed and the fleet located on the hologram began to move and separate.
Ra’s superstructure moved to the planet and made it's preparations, this superstructure's fleet panned out in a defensive formation around the planet.
The other two fleets moved to the other side of the planet.
Superstructure number 2 found a space faring ship on it's system and fired a massive slug at the foreign vessel.
Superstructure 3 ordered the ships under it's command to charge up it's jump drives and remained silent.
As all of this was happening Ra let a random thought stray into it's mind for the first time in centuries.
'Beautiful', Ra stamped the thought out of it's trapped mind and scurried away from the view the console. Leaving the image of a planet burning behind.
erez87
Lord of Random
It is a war like no other to fight. A war against one of my own. Before I stop the existence of Kena, I must try to convince him to join me.
to to Zan Kena:
Kena! You are an elder to me, and I still hold respect to our species elders. You know the Zan has nothing but dwindled since the cataclysm yet we choose to continue to wage war against the universe and continue to fall behind more and more. I give you but one chance. Stop your war on the whole universe and join me to make the Zan greater than ever, or you will no longer be allowed in this universe we live in.
I do not see him as accepting my deal. I will have to rid the universe of Kena. I will not waste time. My sensors speak of movement among the Wera and I can only assume they move towards here because they believe this war will last long. I cannot allow creatures of such power to continue to live as well. The Wera ruled for eons, even before the Zan existed as a species. But their rule is not good or benevolent or caring. The Zan are cruel destroyers but the Wera just do not care about any of the other species. They only speak to them when they have something to gain out of it, they only help them against someone they hate themselves. They fly through the universe thinking they are gods because of their strange abilities to warp space around them. Yet they must have forgotten. Thousands of cycles ago they sold a young race a technology to produce near infinite amount of energy. The race since than evolved to despise all alien technology and so never developed this technology to what it could have been, a tool to rid the universe from others, no matter how big or fast or strong. A tool that is above all. A door that opens into chaos and destruction.
I have tested my prototype on a fplinmy space fleet that attempted to attack me. Non returned home to speak of the results. I have tested newer version on dead suns in my space. Now it is time to test my final version for the reason I have created this door to chaos. I will kill a Wera.
ooc: Masada. The are no armored Zan in any planet. The only two Zan creatures in our part of the galaxy are Shamai and Kena. Shamai himself don't live on any planet but chooses to live in his main space craft above the planet Shamai for total mobility and protection from ground attacks. Kena as far as I can tell most likely is situated on the planet he just conquered.
What you did eat was robots, lots and lots of robots. That is the Zan army.
to to Zan Kena:
Kena! You are an elder to me, and I still hold respect to our species elders. You know the Zan has nothing but dwindled since the cataclysm yet we choose to continue to wage war against the universe and continue to fall behind more and more. I give you but one chance. Stop your war on the whole universe and join me to make the Zan greater than ever, or you will no longer be allowed in this universe we live in.
I do not see him as accepting my deal. I will have to rid the universe of Kena. I will not waste time. My sensors speak of movement among the Wera and I can only assume they move towards here because they believe this war will last long. I cannot allow creatures of such power to continue to live as well. The Wera ruled for eons, even before the Zan existed as a species. But their rule is not good or benevolent or caring. The Zan are cruel destroyers but the Wera just do not care about any of the other species. They only speak to them when they have something to gain out of it, they only help them against someone they hate themselves. They fly through the universe thinking they are gods because of their strange abilities to warp space around them. Yet they must have forgotten. Thousands of cycles ago they sold a young race a technology to produce near infinite amount of energy. The race since than evolved to despise all alien technology and so never developed this technology to what it could have been, a tool to rid the universe from others, no matter how big or fast or strong. A tool that is above all. A door that opens into chaos and destruction.
I have tested my prototype on a fplinmy space fleet that attempted to attack me. Non returned home to speak of the results. I have tested newer version on dead suns in my space. Now it is time to test my final version for the reason I have created this door to chaos. I will kill a Wera.
ooc: Masada. The are no armored Zan in any planet. The only two Zan creatures in our part of the galaxy are Shamai and Kena. Shamai himself don't live on any planet but chooses to live in his main space craft above the planet Shamai for total mobility and protection from ground attacks. Kena as far as I can tell most likely is situated on the planet he just conquered.
What you did eat was robots, lots and lots of robots. That is the Zan army.
KaiserElectric
Total Freakin Besties
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2007
- Messages
- 3,461
Hmm, it would be best if you took the star two further two the left- it hasn't been explored by the Fehan before. It would be a bit hard to explain a complex civilization just showing up there, when it's already been discovered.
Sounds good to me. I claim said star in the name of SCIENCE! (plz)
North King
blech
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2004
- Messages
- 18,165
A glittering ring of silver-white ice cluttered the plane around Finto proper, a hostile, bitter world of black, white, and blue. Strings of cities were visible by their tracery of lights on the night side; on the light side they were only faintly visible as little gray patches against the continents.
The fleet moved with silence and swiftness into position, an array that webbed the exosphere, every point of the planet visible with terrible obviousness from above.
The Finto already resisted as best they could, of course. They had satellites; they were shattered, crushed by a hail of missiles. Their own projectiles careened towards the Fehan, only to flutter away as they hit the gravity bubbles around them. Enemy ships, jerry rigged in unbelievable haste, fell with similar swiftness, their limping sublight engines barely even able to move out of the way in time.
Once, the Finto might have been a match for the Fehan. But one species had withdrawn from the universe and looked in, and one had struck out. I bobbed my head in satisfaction at the thought. The theories of the masters already played out in front of us – the reason there was no abundance of spacefaring civilizations was that another civilization destroyed them. We were that civilization. We were the destroyers. A thousand years was not enough time, not for us.
Coldly purposeful in the night, the ships settled into their positions, and scans of the world began. Clouds interfered with some, of course, and even the Finto, silly as they often were, tried to hide the more sensitive technology. But much of it, we found.
“What is your recommendation, sir?”
I bobbed my head. “Get the military targets first. Civilians can wait.”
Remorselessly, we identified a thousand different targets. No doubt some of them were old bases, long disused, because their wars were fought in this species' trivial past. But no harm in being certain. The missiles arced from sky to ground, pushing off ever so lightly from the ships before tumbling to the planet below.
“I don't understand, sir,” a younger officer said to me. I looked at her strangely. “Why don't we just destroy the planet?”
I closed my eyes for a moment. Evidently she understood nothing of the philosophy of spacefaring races. Either an idiot, or one of those lower-class fools who never got a proper education. “Busting the planet is the least desirable outcome. Even with the spectacular array of planets in the galaxy, there are only so many which are habitable, and given the density of civilizations and the likelihood of competent terraformers, only so many which ever could be habitable. With an effectively unlimited arsenal, it would be ludicrously inefficient to simply destroy the planet rather than use it.
“Moreover, these Finto may yet prove useful to us.”
She held her tongue after that, for which I was duly grateful. What was I, the instructor for a bizarre field-trip excursion of a seminar on the Theory of Spacefaring Species?
“Military targets destroyed.”
“Which ones?”
“All of them.”
“Superb. And what of the civilians? Do they surrender yet?”
“Sir, it's been moments. I don't know if they have even absorbed what just happened.”
“Well, give them a few more moments and continue the assault if they don't.” I bobbed my head. “No use hanging here waiting.”
OOC: Hopefully these stories will get better later. Kinda drained right now.
The fleet moved with silence and swiftness into position, an array that webbed the exosphere, every point of the planet visible with terrible obviousness from above.
The Finto already resisted as best they could, of course. They had satellites; they were shattered, crushed by a hail of missiles. Their own projectiles careened towards the Fehan, only to flutter away as they hit the gravity bubbles around them. Enemy ships, jerry rigged in unbelievable haste, fell with similar swiftness, their limping sublight engines barely even able to move out of the way in time.
Once, the Finto might have been a match for the Fehan. But one species had withdrawn from the universe and looked in, and one had struck out. I bobbed my head in satisfaction at the thought. The theories of the masters already played out in front of us – the reason there was no abundance of spacefaring civilizations was that another civilization destroyed them. We were that civilization. We were the destroyers. A thousand years was not enough time, not for us.
Coldly purposeful in the night, the ships settled into their positions, and scans of the world began. Clouds interfered with some, of course, and even the Finto, silly as they often were, tried to hide the more sensitive technology. But much of it, we found.
“What is your recommendation, sir?”
I bobbed my head. “Get the military targets first. Civilians can wait.”
Remorselessly, we identified a thousand different targets. No doubt some of them were old bases, long disused, because their wars were fought in this species' trivial past. But no harm in being certain. The missiles arced from sky to ground, pushing off ever so lightly from the ships before tumbling to the planet below.
“I don't understand, sir,” a younger officer said to me. I looked at her strangely. “Why don't we just destroy the planet?”
I closed my eyes for a moment. Evidently she understood nothing of the philosophy of spacefaring races. Either an idiot, or one of those lower-class fools who never got a proper education. “Busting the planet is the least desirable outcome. Even with the spectacular array of planets in the galaxy, there are only so many which are habitable, and given the density of civilizations and the likelihood of competent terraformers, only so many which ever could be habitable. With an effectively unlimited arsenal, it would be ludicrously inefficient to simply destroy the planet rather than use it.
“Moreover, these Finto may yet prove useful to us.”
She held her tongue after that, for which I was duly grateful. What was I, the instructor for a bizarre field-trip excursion of a seminar on the Theory of Spacefaring Species?
“Military targets destroyed.”
“Which ones?”
“All of them.”
“Superb. And what of the civilians? Do they surrender yet?”
“Sir, it's been moments. I don't know if they have even absorbed what just happened.”
“Well, give them a few more moments and continue the assault if they don't.” I bobbed my head. “No use hanging here waiting.”
OOC: Hopefully these stories will get better later. Kinda drained right now.
To: Shamai
From: Kena
You know the charges against you. You accepted the weapons of the Elders of the Hegemony, then denied their destructive purpose, sparing the life of our common enemy. You seek to lower yourself to the level of one of these evanescent beings of flesh, like a child playing in the dirt in the company of gods. The Zan have survived for countless epochs holding to our creeds, strife between us now would be as the Götterdämmerung, the apocalyptic end of all that is and a descent into the perpetual twilight of the lower elements of existence. I implore you to halt your disastrous course of actions immediately.
However, as Shamai contemplates this predictably grandiose message, a private address reaches him from his Executioner-to-Be:
Shamai, let me speak frankly. I am a pragmatic Zan. All but the most foolish of the elders know that the Hegemony is slowly, irreversibly fading. We flare bright briefly, but our numbers are trickling away into the inescapable void of time. If you truly seek to strengthen the Zan, then speak to me from your core. What secrets have you uncovered from these ancient relics? What new miracles have you created? Can you do what has been denied to us since the dawn of the Hegemony- bring about the twilight of the Wera?
If your actions shall bring this about, and elevate us to the immortality and dominance that our elders have so thoroughly failed to bring to the hegemony, then we are allies. If your words are true, then let the Galaxy fall into dominion beneath us, the Undying Hegemony.
From: Kena
You know the charges against you. You accepted the weapons of the Elders of the Hegemony, then denied their destructive purpose, sparing the life of our common enemy. You seek to lower yourself to the level of one of these evanescent beings of flesh, like a child playing in the dirt in the company of gods. The Zan have survived for countless epochs holding to our creeds, strife between us now would be as the Götterdämmerung, the apocalyptic end of all that is and a descent into the perpetual twilight of the lower elements of existence. I implore you to halt your disastrous course of actions immediately.
However, as Shamai contemplates this predictably grandiose message, a private address reaches him from his Executioner-to-Be:
Shamai, let me speak frankly. I am a pragmatic Zan. All but the most foolish of the elders know that the Hegemony is slowly, irreversibly fading. We flare bright briefly, but our numbers are trickling away into the inescapable void of time. If you truly seek to strengthen the Zan, then speak to me from your core. What secrets have you uncovered from these ancient relics? What new miracles have you created? Can you do what has been denied to us since the dawn of the Hegemony- bring about the twilight of the Wera?
If your actions shall bring this about, and elevate us to the immortality and dominance that our elders have so thoroughly failed to bring to the hegemony, then we are allies. If your words are true, then let the Galaxy fall into dominion beneath us, the Undying Hegemony.
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
Point the point. Consideration of continued efforts.
Point the line. The vastness of the universe, orders of magnitude beyond our ability to control.
Point the circle. To control the lack of control. To establish framework by which differences are arbitrated, the diversity of self-replicating sentient organisms placed in equality.
Point the sphere. To establish a peaceful framework for collective unity, by force if necessary.
Our credo:
[To avoid xenocide, targeted xeno-selection.
To bring honor to the universe.
To be angelic arbiters of the mewling void. ]
[Point the 4-dimensional n-sphere.]
Point the line. The vastness of the universe, orders of magnitude beyond our ability to control.
Point the circle. To control the lack of control. To establish framework by which differences are arbitrated, the diversity of self-replicating sentient organisms placed in equality.
Point the sphere. To establish a peaceful framework for collective unity, by force if necessary.
Our credo:
[To avoid xenocide, targeted xeno-selection.
To bring honor to the universe.
To be angelic arbiters of the mewling void. ]
[Point the 4-dimensional n-sphere.]
Thlayli
Le Pétit Prince
"Resident-demon-construct cleared in sector QT-Evest-Scythe of Destiny-234. Requesting permission for holy celebration from resident cherubim."
"Honorable hierarch, duty watch 432. We find that cloud patterns on world EX-432, now called Nakir'kral, indicate that hyper-aridity has been reduced to 97.6% of the terran surface from 98.4%. Colonization of indicated polar regions recommended for Kasekral only."
"Point the arc from top to right to top. [Trans: frustration.] Genetic experimentation upon species QX has indicated that the development of bio-weapon 'Iscxali' would be unfeasible. Sentience take on ganglionic structures is transient at best, and tool using remains limited to the removal and consummation of eyes. Point the mobius; unclear. Uplifting both unlikely and unethical. We question the development of, in words of lead bio-adaptor Chee'cha'ni, 'thinking electrical snake spirit' for it is unclear what the use of this is. Point the sphere. Requesting transfer."
"We have found that the shelled sea-creatures from the planet Nept are delicious. This planet Nept that is the first-city home. However, they also cause severe hallucinations. We are willing to barter sufficient man-hours to provide new circuitry on this city ship under construction. This city ship is the one that you call Holy Electrophoresis Relic which is composed mostly of Nitha? We believe this name has some significance as to the creation of the Nitha. We are unsure. Regardless, if the Qii will engineer us shelled sea-creatures that are delicious, but do not cause us to fall over and change color, we will provide the circuitry for this ship? If this is acceptable?"
"Honorable hierarch, duty watch 432. We find that cloud patterns on world EX-432, now called Nakir'kral, indicate that hyper-aridity has been reduced to 97.6% of the terran surface from 98.4%. Colonization of indicated polar regions recommended for Kasekral only."
"Point the arc from top to right to top. [Trans: frustration.] Genetic experimentation upon species QX has indicated that the development of bio-weapon 'Iscxali' would be unfeasible. Sentience take on ganglionic structures is transient at best, and tool using remains limited to the removal and consummation of eyes. Point the mobius; unclear. Uplifting both unlikely and unethical. We question the development of, in words of lead bio-adaptor Chee'cha'ni, 'thinking electrical snake spirit' for it is unclear what the use of this is. Point the sphere. Requesting transfer."
"We have found that the shelled sea-creatures from the planet Nept are delicious. This planet Nept that is the first-city home. However, they also cause severe hallucinations. We are willing to barter sufficient man-hours to provide new circuitry on this city ship under construction. This city ship is the one that you call Holy Electrophoresis Relic which is composed mostly of Nitha? We believe this name has some significance as to the creation of the Nitha. We are unsure. Regardless, if the Qii will engineer us shelled sea-creatures that are delicious, but do not cause us to fall over and change color, we will provide the circuitry for this ship? If this is acceptable?"
erez87
Lord of Random
Not unexpected but still surprising. Kena answered as expected to the fullest. Now all that is left is to choose a target. Which of the beasts will fall....
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