Chronicles of The Omniverse Archived Carina-Sagittarius Arm
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glmstr
Magus
Where the cosmos were often cold and dark in their deepest clutches, one lone vessel stood, basking in high orbit around a barren planet surrounding a red dwarf. The ship in question basked in the gentle glow of the starlight, in some ways not unlike a great toad, crouching atop a rock and overlooking the pond it saw as home. With a bulky and wide hull, the carrier did fit the description aptly, aside from the bright white-and-orange paint lacquered onto the alloy exterior.
On one observation deck, two humanoids stood by one of several windows, unreasonably thick yet still free of most imperfections to allow safe and reliable views to the stars around them.
"Admiral," one spoke up. It, no, he, turned his gaze towards the planet beneath them, ocular sensors zooming in to get a better view of its cratered, dusty surface. "What is beauty?" The admiral in question looked first to the subordinate, then to the stars themselves, appraising the spiral disc of the Onyx Galaxy.
"I doubt you'd understand, TARLEY," one of her hands raised to touch her face, the cold steel of her fingertips pressing against warm skin. "It's a concept created by those born in flesh. You feel it, of course, yet you cannot truly understand it. Our people's best thinkers could not, and they've been poring it over for millennia. Look to the stars. They're beautiful, no?"
"They are, admiral."
The admiral leaned towards the machine, and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that is?"
"They look a certain way. The chaotic patterns of light and dark please the eye. Is that correct?"
"Beauty isn't just something's appearance. Beauty is an idea. Each of these dots, these stars in the sky, is another destination, like the one below us. They're all different, even in minute ways, with vastly different histories. They may rhyme, but they never repeat. That vastness, that sense of infinity, TARLEY. That's what I believe is so beautiful. From here, they are but specs, dots of light on a canvas."
TARLEY hesitated, and considered the admiral's words carefully. This inquisitiveness, that curious drive, he suspected that was precisely why someone such has her would be given charge of the vessel.
"I see. I will keep that in mind, admiral."
On one observation deck, two humanoids stood by one of several windows, unreasonably thick yet still free of most imperfections to allow safe and reliable views to the stars around them.
"Admiral," one spoke up. It, no, he, turned his gaze towards the planet beneath them, ocular sensors zooming in to get a better view of its cratered, dusty surface. "What is beauty?" The admiral in question looked first to the subordinate, then to the stars themselves, appraising the spiral disc of the Onyx Galaxy.
"I doubt you'd understand, TARLEY," one of her hands raised to touch her face, the cold steel of her fingertips pressing against warm skin. "It's a concept created by those born in flesh. You feel it, of course, yet you cannot truly understand it. Our people's best thinkers could not, and they've been poring it over for millennia. Look to the stars. They're beautiful, no?"
"They are, admiral."
The admiral leaned towards the machine, and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you think that is?"
"They look a certain way. The chaotic patterns of light and dark please the eye. Is that correct?"
"Beauty isn't just something's appearance. Beauty is an idea. Each of these dots, these stars in the sky, is another destination, like the one below us. They're all different, even in minute ways, with vastly different histories. They may rhyme, but they never repeat. That vastness, that sense of infinity, TARLEY. That's what I believe is so beautiful. From here, they are but specs, dots of light on a canvas."
TARLEY hesitated, and considered the admiral's words carefully. This inquisitiveness, that curious drive, he suspected that was precisely why someone such has her would be given charge of the vessel.
"I see. I will keep that in mind, admiral."
A small flare of light, no more than a few miles in diameter, began to grow nearby to the planet. The telltale sign of interstellar travel for most species, the light grew larger and brighter, heralding the coming of a ship. When the ship arrived, returning to normal space no more than thirty of forty thousand kilometers from the carrier and nearby planet, there was a small ripple of brilliant energy that dissipated into a sphere around the small vessel.
The Iarin frigate, one of the smaller of its kind, was out scouting the areas of the galaxy as their mission dictated. They'd been one of the last to leave, having been held back for a number of reasons, but in being such a late flier they'd been passed on information about the race known as the Aschen. As the frigate performed a sensor sweep of the gravity well, a process that took several minutes, it pinged a simple message to the carrier in basic mathematics in the event that whatever species was aboard did not know any common languages. To a computer, the message was simple, and read as follows.
"Greetings, Iarin vessel Rigganno communicates. Harm no. Languages?"
As the frigate continued to sit there, a marking began to glow in a light teal on the hull in the visible spectrum, the image repeating across all frequencies of the EM band. It simply marked the vessel by name and civilization, though the image was extremely complex to those without knowledge of the Iarin.
The Iarin frigate, one of the smaller of its kind, was out scouting the areas of the galaxy as their mission dictated. They'd been one of the last to leave, having been held back for a number of reasons, but in being such a late flier they'd been passed on information about the race known as the Aschen. As the frigate performed a sensor sweep of the gravity well, a process that took several minutes, it pinged a simple message to the carrier in basic mathematics in the event that whatever species was aboard did not know any common languages. To a computer, the message was simple, and read as follows.
"Greetings, Iarin vessel Rigganno communicates. Harm no. Languages?"
As the frigate continued to sit there, a marking began to glow in a light teal on the hull in the visible spectrum, the image repeating across all frequencies of the EM band. It simply marked the vessel by name and civilization, though the image was extremely complex to those without knowledge of the Iarin.
glmstr
Magus
While the great bullfrog of a vessel appeared quiet and still, the inside of the ship was whirring with life. That is, the few areas that were not left at a vacuum were whirring. Much of the ship remained depressurized as they were operated by various sorts of machines and androids, those that still had flesh were relegated to the portions of the craft that still had an atmosphere. Conveniently, the alien species had at least hailed them in a simple mathematical script, which was deciphered in mere moments. A new translation log was created, one that would eventually expand to cover the Iarin tongue, given time.
A message eventually was shot back, alongside many scrying sensors carefully observing and documenting every square millimeter of the vessel, even at the immense range.
A message eventually was shot back, alongside many scrying sensors carefully observing and documenting every square millimeter of the vessel, even at the immense range.
DESIGNATION: FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF ALIGNED SYSTEMS
PURPOSE: FURTHER PROGRESS OF ASCENSION BEYOND FLESH.
PURPOSE: FURTHER PROGRESS OF ASCENSION BEYOND FLESH.
The systems on board the frigate parsed the reply message without issue, only to shoot back a packet of data with the basic Iarin language as well as another message.
"Greetings FRAS vessel, from Iarin captain. May your journey be healthy. Hail is requested." The communications array aboard the Rigganno swapped to an internal line, passing on the incoming message to the live crew while organizing a suite of instrumentation for any kind of communications beyond the simple.
As the sensors swept over the frigate, the Federation vessel would note that a portion of the frigate did not appear to exist under the eye of a sensor, but was very much visually a part to be seen. Roughly amidships was a portion that simply could not be detected by the sensors, but to the naked eye appeared as a another structural portion of the Iarin vessel.
"Greetings FRAS vessel, from Iarin captain. May your journey be healthy. Hail is requested." The communications array aboard the Rigganno swapped to an internal line, passing on the incoming message to the live crew while organizing a suite of instrumentation for any kind of communications beyond the simple.
As the sensors swept over the frigate, the Federation vessel would note that a portion of the frigate did not appear to exist under the eye of a sensor, but was very much visually a part to be seen. Roughly amidships was a portion that simply could not be detected by the sensors, but to the naked eye appeared as a another structural portion of the Iarin vessel.
glmstr
Magus
Machines worked with a frantic yet calculated pace to decipher the language codex and add it to the file, before long creating a simple but robust program for speaking it and uploading the file to several designated translators, TARLEY among them. A similar file was sent in response to the Iarin vessel. While to most biological creatures on board the language seemed cumbersome and esoteric, their computers would have an incredibly easy time deciphering the space-efficient, information-dense tongue.
The less mechanical of the crew spoke in hushed whispers over tablets, pointing to the portions of the unknown ship that were blacked out on most non-visible EM frequencies. Was it a weapon? A cloaking device? A simple curiosity in the architecture? As a precautionary measure some of the hangars facing away from the Iarin ship opened, with strike craft and boarding vessels on standby. Unless the aliens showed direct aggression, they were to remain still and within the carrier.
Radio silence after the language file lasted around thirty minutes, until they received a response in the Iarin tongue.
"This is Admiral Keller of the Federal Republic of Aligned Systems, request for hail granted."
The less mechanical of the crew spoke in hushed whispers over tablets, pointing to the portions of the unknown ship that were blacked out on most non-visible EM frequencies. Was it a weapon? A cloaking device? A simple curiosity in the architecture? As a precautionary measure some of the hangars facing away from the Iarin ship opened, with strike craft and boarding vessels on standby. Unless the aliens showed direct aggression, they were to remain still and within the carrier.
Radio silence after the language file lasted around thirty minutes, until they received a response in the Iarin tongue.
"This is Admiral Keller of the Federal Republic of Aligned Systems, request for hail granted."
As the vocal connection came across, the captain aboard the Rigganno ordered it be played over the speakers on the bridge. She listened quietly, then smiled. She stood and spoke into the air, letting her voice carry into the void via EM radiation to the other vessel.
"This is Captain Ovvanna, of the Iarin Collective. We receive your transmissions clearly." She smiled for a moment, though ti didn't matter one way or another.
"Might we ask your intentions for this location, Admiral? We are explorers mapping more of the Onyx Galaxy for our people, but we find new species to be interesting, and as exploring members, I feel the prerogative to find our more about you and your species."
"This is Captain Ovvanna, of the Iarin Collective. We receive your transmissions clearly." She smiled for a moment, though ti didn't matter one way or another.
"Might we ask your intentions for this location, Admiral? We are explorers mapping more of the Onyx Galaxy for our people, but we find new species to be interesting, and as exploring members, I feel the prerogative to find our more about you and your species."
Lazzamore
WAAAAAAAAAA-
Mahl was a warrior. He hated conflict. He hated everything about war. He hated violence and all that stems from it. Mahl couldn't stand himself. The All-seeing One never intended for the U'n to fight. Yet somehow, under the reign of Zen-1, the Avatar of the All-seeing One of Mord, he fought. He fought well, amazingly well in fact, and oh- how the people loved him. Stupid people.
Well, Zen-1 is dead. Cappa-1 is the new avatar now, and darn it all if Mahl would take another life! When the wars ended and the exploration of space began, Mahl was stationed to the Swoop. HIS ship. It took him away from the violence, the noise, the pressure... It took him to space. Captain Mahl of the scout-ship Swoop plied the stars to spread life, finally not death!
A noise snapped Mahl out of his dreaming; it was a knock at his quarters door. He gathered himself together. "Enter!" The short and bright-eyed young engine-abbess Lea entered. She was small and cute, but had a fiery temper and a keen mind. But he would not stand for the top engineer of his ship to be any less then brilliant. "You are needed on bridge sir. Please come immediately, we are... not sure what to make of it." Lea does not say things like that to the captain regularly. It must be very important.
Mahl stepped out into the cramped tunnels of his ship. the smallness wasn't right for just anybody. It made some people panic, some even cried. But Mahl loved it; sometimes he imagined he was in a womb or something similar, protected from all the evil. The bridge, not being a long walk from the captain's quarters, was a canister-shaped room completely full of screens indicating what's outside the vessel. Almost all screens showed different types of imaging depicting the anomaly. The Swoop had never been this far out. On this, their longest mission, they were prepared to find hostile alien worlds and strange cosmic anomalies. But everyone knew what they all really hoped for...
The screen that caught Mahl's eye was the full-color video feed of the anomaly. two glimmering objects, although too far to make out much detail, moved too irregularly for this to be anything else. This was first contact with alien life in 300 years. Lea had tears in her eyes, as a technician asked the question: "Sir, do we send it??"
"Initiate first contact protocol." and with a few commands, digital information carrying all forms of communications all saying one message; an excerpt from the U'n holy text written in the original language of the alien Believers who gave it to them, perfectly preserved. It would let the aliens know who this ship was: Fellow believers, who wished to rejoin the great mission.
Unfortunately, they never anticipated the thought of never actually finding the great mission.
<Letter to Krim 1:23; ...And they shall all know the truth of the Great All-seeing One. For even the non-believing shall bend knees in his glory and goodness, and his justice shall forever be sung of...>
Well, Zen-1 is dead. Cappa-1 is the new avatar now, and darn it all if Mahl would take another life! When the wars ended and the exploration of space began, Mahl was stationed to the Swoop. HIS ship. It took him away from the violence, the noise, the pressure... It took him to space. Captain Mahl of the scout-ship Swoop plied the stars to spread life, finally not death!
A noise snapped Mahl out of his dreaming; it was a knock at his quarters door. He gathered himself together. "Enter!" The short and bright-eyed young engine-abbess Lea entered. She was small and cute, but had a fiery temper and a keen mind. But he would not stand for the top engineer of his ship to be any less then brilliant. "You are needed on bridge sir. Please come immediately, we are... not sure what to make of it." Lea does not say things like that to the captain regularly. It must be very important.
Mahl stepped out into the cramped tunnels of his ship. the smallness wasn't right for just anybody. It made some people panic, some even cried. But Mahl loved it; sometimes he imagined he was in a womb or something similar, protected from all the evil. The bridge, not being a long walk from the captain's quarters, was a canister-shaped room completely full of screens indicating what's outside the vessel. Almost all screens showed different types of imaging depicting the anomaly. The Swoop had never been this far out. On this, their longest mission, they were prepared to find hostile alien worlds and strange cosmic anomalies. But everyone knew what they all really hoped for...
The screen that caught Mahl's eye was the full-color video feed of the anomaly. two glimmering objects, although too far to make out much detail, moved too irregularly for this to be anything else. This was first contact with alien life in 300 years. Lea had tears in her eyes, as a technician asked the question: "Sir, do we send it??"
"Initiate first contact protocol." and with a few commands, digital information carrying all forms of communications all saying one message; an excerpt from the U'n holy text written in the original language of the alien Believers who gave it to them, perfectly preserved. It would let the aliens know who this ship was: Fellow believers, who wished to rejoin the great mission.
Unfortunately, they never anticipated the thought of never actually finding the great mission.
<Letter to Krim 1:23; ...And they shall all know the truth of the Great All-seeing One. For even the non-believing shall bend knees in his glory and goodness, and his justice shall forever be sung of...>
glmstr
Magus
"We are not the first explorers from our home," Keller responded, a notable pause following it. "This ship is a carrier. The planet below was designated to be colonized for the purposes of further discovery." While such information might have been considered at least slightly sensitive, such honesty would likely prove helpful, at least for a first impression. "We are in stationary orbit above the outpost, if you wish to interact further, seek that installation out." Such an offer provided the Iarin with ample opportunity to leave, if they so chose, while also allowing diplomatic meetings in a more controlled environment. Below, the 'fort' in question was still under construction, but for the most part operational. The orbital cannons were not yet complete, but otherwise it was ready to defend against most forms of military aggression.
The admiral stepped back and 'muted' the recording as TARLEY approached her once more. The automaton pointed to the tablet in its hand, detailing another foreign hail. A call of faith. It sounded somewhat similar to the Ascending, though there weren't any documented voyages in this area, and was in the wrong language. That, and this seemed to worship a central deity more than a divine state of existence. Such idolatry was dangerous, even the faith of Keller's homeland was sometimes plagued by such zealotry. "Do not respond to them, not yet," the admiral switched one of several display monitors to the sensors rigorously inspecting the U'n vessel. It was completely foreign to their databases, and not at all similar to the Iarin vessel.
This complicated matters.
The admiral stepped back and 'muted' the recording as TARLEY approached her once more. The automaton pointed to the tablet in its hand, detailing another foreign hail. A call of faith. It sounded somewhat similar to the Ascending, though there weren't any documented voyages in this area, and was in the wrong language. That, and this seemed to worship a central deity more than a divine state of existence. Such idolatry was dangerous, even the faith of Keller's homeland was sometimes plagued by such zealotry. "Do not respond to them, not yet," the admiral switched one of several display monitors to the sensors rigorously inspecting the U'n vessel. It was completely foreign to their databases, and not at all similar to the Iarin vessel.
This complicated matters.
The Iarin Captain nodded as the line went silent, gesturing to some of the members on the bridge. Moments passed before a sudden crash of noise sounded from the open communications channel, jarring all of the crew members on the bridge until one of them could finally shut it off. Everyone stayed silent for a long moment, some with more concern on their faces than others.
"Was that..." one piped up cautiously, only to be cowed into silence once more from several sudden glares. Ovvanna stood up, fairly shaken, and walked over to the nearest mapping screen, looking for the source of the abusive sound. As her eyes scanned the false-color image before her, she noticed the small U'n vessel.
With quick actions, she began barking orders, the members of her crew snapping into action as all lights began to dim. Across the vessel's exterior, lights faded out, including the symbol marking the vessel, winking into inky darkness save for a few very small lights scattered across the hull. That smoothed exterior began to break up some as the point-defense system came online fully. In the void of space, the near lightless amber and purple vessel tuned to point its bow in the direction of the Swoop.
"Do not fire unless I give the command. Whatever is within that vessel, it obviously does not speak as we do," said Captain Ovvanna, taking position at the helm of the frigate. "Send them a basic mathematical greeting. Nothing fancy, no frills. Maybe we won't engage in combat today."
"Was that..." one piped up cautiously, only to be cowed into silence once more from several sudden glares. Ovvanna stood up, fairly shaken, and walked over to the nearest mapping screen, looking for the source of the abusive sound. As her eyes scanned the false-color image before her, she noticed the small U'n vessel.
With quick actions, she began barking orders, the members of her crew snapping into action as all lights began to dim. Across the vessel's exterior, lights faded out, including the symbol marking the vessel, winking into inky darkness save for a few very small lights scattered across the hull. That smoothed exterior began to break up some as the point-defense system came online fully. In the void of space, the near lightless amber and purple vessel tuned to point its bow in the direction of the Swoop.
"Do not fire unless I give the command. Whatever is within that vessel, it obviously does not speak as we do," said Captain Ovvanna, taking position at the helm of the frigate. "Send them a basic mathematical greeting. Nothing fancy, no frills. Maybe we won't engage in combat today."
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Big Brother
Grand Confessor
It was safe to say that the Aschen Empire did not often venture into this part of the Galaxy, with turbulence going on back home, and the mobilization of Valore, there was a shift in priorities concerning what the Empire did with it's Cartography division of the Imperial Navy.
A single Hesperides class Cruiser, flanked by a pair of frigates winked into a rather isolated sector within the Carina-Sagittarius arm, they were part of a legion of ships tasked with exploring, and mapping the galaxy, this was the unique responsibility bestowed upon commander Aidan Korso.
Once the jump was completed, the ship began moving forward at sublight speeds through the thick blackness of space; Korso quietly watched the displays, the blackness on the visual monitors, and the emptiness of the wide-spectrum scanners.
"Maintain course, and mark the clock to the next jump T-minus one centar." Korso ordered, while his eyes drifted up to the clock, which was set for one hour.
"Inform astrometrics... they can begin their charting procedures."
A single Hesperides class Cruiser, flanked by a pair of frigates winked into a rather isolated sector within the Carina-Sagittarius arm, they were part of a legion of ships tasked with exploring, and mapping the galaxy, this was the unique responsibility bestowed upon commander Aidan Korso.
Once the jump was completed, the ship began moving forward at sublight speeds through the thick blackness of space; Korso quietly watched the displays, the blackness on the visual monitors, and the emptiness of the wide-spectrum scanners.
"Maintain course, and mark the clock to the next jump T-minus one centar." Korso ordered, while his eyes drifted up to the clock, which was set for one hour.
"Inform astrometrics... they can begin their charting procedures."
A soft thrumming noise rippled around the interior of the Piabolle's bridge as it floated on the edge of Iarin Space. The noise indicated another object had entered the nearby area after having been at superluminal velocities. It was a surefire way to track the arrival of some sentient species, save for but a few, but the Iarin didn't know of those. Assara Ellonin, commanding officer of the 1200 meter-long warship looked over at one of the screens that had brought up a complex display of the vessel they were now tracking. She frowned.
Aschen.
Minutes passed in silence as she thought through some of the implications of the arrival, but she finally decided it might be for the best. After all, the trio of vessels didn't seem nearly as well-armed as the ship she commanded, and the fleet of cruisers and frigates not a half-lightyear away would be more than capable of providing assistance if it was required. She prepared a transmission on broad-spectrum frequencies. After all, she had no reason to hide.
"Aschen vessel, this is the Iarin vessel Piabolle. State your intention in sovereign Iarin territory," it said, Assara's voice rippling through the void on electromagnetic waves. Unlike many of her brethren, Assara spoke much like a traveler on Valore might speak, her sentence structure more close to the galactic common than the rest of Iarin society.
Aschen.
Minutes passed in silence as she thought through some of the implications of the arrival, but she finally decided it might be for the best. After all, the trio of vessels didn't seem nearly as well-armed as the ship she commanded, and the fleet of cruisers and frigates not a half-lightyear away would be more than capable of providing assistance if it was required. She prepared a transmission on broad-spectrum frequencies. After all, she had no reason to hide.
"Aschen vessel, this is the Iarin vessel Piabolle. State your intention in sovereign Iarin territory," it said, Assara's voice rippling through the void on electromagnetic waves. Unlike many of her brethren, Assara spoke much like a traveler on Valore might speak, her sentence structure more close to the galactic common than the rest of Iarin society.
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Big Brother
Grand Confessor
"Sir..." Korso's Executive officer called out as he focused his attention on the wide-spectrum scanner. "I've got contact, bearing two nine one carom one two one... its an Iarin ship, sir.."
Korso's eyes widened slightly in suprise, but he kept his calm demeanor, there was always the risk of encountering a hostile civilization while charting the galaxy, and the message that came through from the Piabolle spoke volumes.
The Hesperides class was no pushover, weighing in at about nine million tons, and boasting a modest length of about 950 meters; however it was not suited for extended engagements, having been designed for long range reconnaisance, and hit-and-run attacks. The Cerberus was no exception.
"Sovereign Iarin space..." Korso said quietly.
He had to act quickly.
Snapping to action, he first grabbed the radio, beaming a tight band transmission to the nearest escort frigate.
"Yashuman, this is team leader, log these coordinates and get the hell out of here, High command is going to want to know what we've found!" He called into the radio.
A split second later, one of the escort frigates fired it's retro-thrusters, breaking from the formation while spooling it's FTL Drive.
"Piabolle... this is Commander Aiden Korso, commanding officer of the Cerberus, don't mind us, we're just on a sun's day drive mapping the galaxy." He said, his voice coming through clearly, only to be muted moment's later as he muted his reciever.
"Colonel Troy, get all hands to action stations, now!" Korso hissed.
Korso's eyes widened slightly in suprise, but he kept his calm demeanor, there was always the risk of encountering a hostile civilization while charting the galaxy, and the message that came through from the Piabolle spoke volumes.
The Hesperides class was no pushover, weighing in at about nine million tons, and boasting a modest length of about 950 meters; however it was not suited for extended engagements, having been designed for long range reconnaisance, and hit-and-run attacks. The Cerberus was no exception.
"Sovereign Iarin space..." Korso said quietly.
He had to act quickly.
Snapping to action, he first grabbed the radio, beaming a tight band transmission to the nearest escort frigate.
"Yashuman, this is team leader, log these coordinates and get the hell out of here, High command is going to want to know what we've found!" He called into the radio.
A split second later, one of the escort frigates fired it's retro-thrusters, breaking from the formation while spooling it's FTL Drive.
"Piabolle... this is Commander Aiden Korso, commanding officer of the Cerberus, don't mind us, we're just on a sun's day drive mapping the galaxy." He said, his voice coming through clearly, only to be muted moment's later as he muted his reciever.
"Colonel Troy, get all hands to action stations, now!" Korso hissed.
Assara listened to the reply, only to shake her head as it clipped off. Don't mind them and simply allow them to track through the edge of Iarin territory? Unlikely, even on the best of days. With what information had come back about their first interactions with the Aschen, she decided that leaving them alone would do the Collective no good.
Opening up the frequency again, she keyed the mic and said, "Fair greetings to you, Commander Korso. Allow us to provide you with an escort in our space, that you are kept whole and unmolested as an ambassador of your people."
Opening up the frequency again, she keyed the mic and said, "Fair greetings to you, Commander Korso. Allow us to provide you with an escort in our space, that you are kept whole and unmolested as an ambassador of your people."
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Big Brother
Grand Confessor
The frigate that broke clear managed to get clear of the main formation, and in a split second it winked out of existence, leaving the cruiser, and the one frigate remaining.
Slowly the Aschen ship was going to combat readiness, gunnery crews had manned their stations, damage control and medical staff were prepared for incoming wounded. Alarms blared, and the Aschen ship started to raise it's shields, while weapons batteries swiveled to life.
"Forward batteries report ready. We've got tricobalt torpedoes in their tubes and ready to fire." The XO reported.
Korso pondered briefly before he picked up the comm, and keyed it. "That won't be necessary, we're making preparations to move onto the next sector of uninhabited space, we have no intention of intruding any further."
Slowly the Aschen ship was going to combat readiness, gunnery crews had manned their stations, damage control and medical staff were prepared for incoming wounded. Alarms blared, and the Aschen ship started to raise it's shields, while weapons batteries swiveled to life.
"Forward batteries report ready. We've got tricobalt torpedoes in their tubes and ready to fire." The XO reported.
Korso pondered briefly before he picked up the comm, and keyed it. "That won't be necessary, we're making preparations to move onto the next sector of uninhabited space, we have no intention of intruding any further."
The comms stayed wide open as Assara chuckled and sighed. "Commander, the nearest uninhabited sector is 63 parsecs away, give or take a few hours transit. You've been within our territory for some time now. We had no reason to suspect any foul play, hence why we're only just now greeting you. As one of the Iarin High Admirals, I personally decided to stay the hands that would wish destruction of you and your vessel for the unfortunate events at our first interspecies meeting." She clipped off the comm channel briefly, ensuring that the massive warship's shields were as energized as always and that hull integrity was where it was needed, then returned to the mic.
"I've been to Valore and seen what your kind have done, but I remain open to the possibility of cooperation between our kind and yours. After all, we have no true grief with you, as you were defending your territory and your species. It is understandable. Sometimes our more exuberant and zealous members forget that others have rights, just as we do. That being said, you're more than welcome to keep your weapons safe, Commander. While it would not be a pleasant experience, I can assure you that my vessel can handle your weapons capabilities, and is more than capable of return fire in equal and greater value. Come, let us not greet as enemies, but as potential allies. After all, the Aschen system of moving faster than light is somewhat slow, yet your weapons are magnitudes more powerful, at least in some circumstances."
"I've been to Valore and seen what your kind have done, but I remain open to the possibility of cooperation between our kind and yours. After all, we have no true grief with you, as you were defending your territory and your species. It is understandable. Sometimes our more exuberant and zealous members forget that others have rights, just as we do. That being said, you're more than welcome to keep your weapons safe, Commander. While it would not be a pleasant experience, I can assure you that my vessel can handle your weapons capabilities, and is more than capable of return fire in equal and greater value. Come, let us not greet as enemies, but as potential allies. After all, the Aschen system of moving faster than light is somewhat slow, yet your weapons are magnitudes more powerful, at least in some circumstances."
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Big Brother
Grand Confessor
"I would rather die in the service of my Empire, than on my knees as a coward. Your kind insulted, and mocked our emperor as a fool; they were only allowed to live as a courtesy." Korso responded. Keying off the microphone to take a clipboard from his tactical officer. The ship was now at full combat readiness, and the frigate should have reached Aschen space by now, which meant that if available, reinforcements could be summoned; though until the situation with Valore was resolved, it was likely that this would see little merit.
"We have no reason to trust them, Commander; this is likely some sort of elaborate trap to lure us into a false sense of security, they will attempt to capture us, and extract all they can before disposing of us in a cruel manner as a message to our Empire; the words of the MiniTru are clear in this matter, aliens are never to be trusted." Colonel Troy advised, while Korso considered his next move.
"We're not outfitted for prolonged combat, our only hope is that the Yashuman makes contact and we get reinforced."
Picking up the mic, he keyed it once more to the Admiral.
"What assurances do I have that we won't be simply captured the moment we stay our weapons, or worse? Your species have given us little reason to trust them."
"We have no reason to trust them, Commander; this is likely some sort of elaborate trap to lure us into a false sense of security, they will attempt to capture us, and extract all they can before disposing of us in a cruel manner as a message to our Empire; the words of the MiniTru are clear in this matter, aliens are never to be trusted." Colonel Troy advised, while Korso considered his next move.
"We're not outfitted for prolonged combat, our only hope is that the Yashuman makes contact and we get reinforced."
Picking up the mic, he keyed it once more to the Admiral.
"What assurances do I have that we won't be simply captured the moment we stay our weapons, or worse? Your species have given us little reason to trust them."
Adimaral Assara sighed heavily. She'd hoped it would have been as simple as a pleasant greeting and some communal trade, but it seemed that the Aschen would not be so easily diverted from their warlike nature. She certainly couldn't say she hadn't been warned. After all, when she'd first interrogated Tenna for his crimes, she'd never expected the wealth of knowledge he'd been able to provide, though he made no mention of what he'd been doing since he left the Collective. Still, it had given her some preparation for this meeting.
"What assurances would you require, Commander? We have no reason to fight with you, and the insult you say has ocurred was not meant on the behalf of the Collective as a whole. It was the work of a few individuals who, lacking higher guidance, made poor choices in an extremely tense diplomatic solution. We wish to avoid such blunders in the future, if you'll permit more communication and understanding between our species." Assara paused, switching subjects.
"As a prominent member of the Iarin Fleet, I have the authorization to speak for my people in most any diplomatic setting, and I would gladly treat with you to potentially forge and then deepen the bonds between your people and my own." She paused again, leaving the comms open before continuing. "If nothing else, I have an individual that your government has been seeking for some time. If the passage of him to you without requirement of the bounty you've placed upon his head is an appropriate show of good faith, it will be made."
She disliked releasing her prisoner, and it was very likely she would be forced into retirement if she had to go through with the offer, but she had no doubt that Tenna would find himself capable, even aboard the Aschen vessel. After all, he'd evaded them for a long enough time so far.
"What assurances would you require, Commander? We have no reason to fight with you, and the insult you say has ocurred was not meant on the behalf of the Collective as a whole. It was the work of a few individuals who, lacking higher guidance, made poor choices in an extremely tense diplomatic solution. We wish to avoid such blunders in the future, if you'll permit more communication and understanding between our species." Assara paused, switching subjects.
"As a prominent member of the Iarin Fleet, I have the authorization to speak for my people in most any diplomatic setting, and I would gladly treat with you to potentially forge and then deepen the bonds between your people and my own." She paused again, leaving the comms open before continuing. "If nothing else, I have an individual that your government has been seeking for some time. If the passage of him to you without requirement of the bounty you've placed upon his head is an appropriate show of good faith, it will be made."
She disliked releasing her prisoner, and it was very likely she would be forced into retirement if she had to go through with the offer, but she had no doubt that Tenna would find himself capable, even aboard the Aschen vessel. After all, he'd evaded them for a long enough time so far.
Big Brother
Grand Confessor
It didn't take very long for a response to be mustered by the Aschen Empire, there was a ten minute lapse between Commander Korso's last communication, and what was going to happen next.
It was possible the silence was simply the Commander deliberating his next course of action.
All possibilities were dispelled as roughly a dozen ships jumped in roughly 30,000 kilometers behind the single Aschen cruiser.
An Imperious Class Command Carrier, specifically the Rosa de Maius winked in first, followed by about a dozen Athena class missile cruisers, Hastati class battlecruisers, and Iconoclast Class battleships.
They took a loose phalanx formation near the rear of the Aschen cruiser, and settled into combat readiness.
A trio of Aegis cruisers followed suit, broadcasting a powerful beam of energy among them, that coalesced into a large bubble around the entire formation.
A message finally came through, originating from the Command Carrier.
"This is Chairman Inviere, of the Rosa de Maius, designate a neutral location where we can meet, and discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss with us.." The message was curt, succinct, and almost condescending.
It was possible the silence was simply the Commander deliberating his next course of action.
All possibilities were dispelled as roughly a dozen ships jumped in roughly 30,000 kilometers behind the single Aschen cruiser.
An Imperious Class Command Carrier, specifically the Rosa de Maius winked in first, followed by about a dozen Athena class missile cruisers, Hastati class battlecruisers, and Iconoclast Class battleships.
They took a loose phalanx formation near the rear of the Aschen cruiser, and settled into combat readiness.
A trio of Aegis cruisers followed suit, broadcasting a powerful beam of energy among them, that coalesced into a large bubble around the entire formation.
A message finally came through, originating from the Command Carrier.
"This is Chairman Inviere, of the Rosa de Maius, designate a neutral location where we can meet, and discuss whatever it is you wish to discuss with us.." The message was curt, succinct, and almost condescending.
The admiral watched her viewing screen calmly as the small fleet appeared in their local area. She wasn't too surprised, and seeing the sudden adjustment of force allowed her to solidify her thoughts on the nature of the species known as the Aschen. As Tenna had warned her, they were warmongers, but fearful of potential allies from without. An unfortunate pair of traits to have, especially in the cosmic political world.
"Meet us at these coordinates, outside of Iarin territory. I will arrive there presently," she responded, her tone equally as cool as the Chairman's, though the sudden change in her might have been more concerning, considering she'd been fairly genial just a few minutes prior. As she turned the communications mic off, leaving the speakers up and the link established, she turned to her bridge crew and sighed.
"Well, it would appear that they desire to lure us out of a place we can claim interstellar safety in, a location valuable because we have immunity here. As a diplomat, I will gladly have us go to meet them, but as a military leader I will not order us to go alone. Contact the nearest three fleets. When we arrive, I want to see all three carriers and their associated fleets waiting for us to take the helm." She turned and turned off the comm link, almost as an afterthought.
"Oh, and ensure that at least two of their Ettarvin are loaded out with the specialty weapons load-out. I would hate to come unprepared."
---
Several hours, and a few strategic jumps at FTL speed, later, and the Piabolle arrived to meet with her trio of fleets, over twenty-five warships of various size and design waiting patiently. Among them were three massive vessels, flat and oblong with openings all along their sides, a half dozen other dreadnoughts like her own, and the rest a mix of cruisers and destroyers, all acting as an honor guard for her ship.
At least, until the ones they waited on, the Aschen, decided to do something incredibly foolish.
"Meet us at these coordinates, outside of Iarin territory. I will arrive there presently," she responded, her tone equally as cool as the Chairman's, though the sudden change in her might have been more concerning, considering she'd been fairly genial just a few minutes prior. As she turned the communications mic off, leaving the speakers up and the link established, she turned to her bridge crew and sighed.
"Well, it would appear that they desire to lure us out of a place we can claim interstellar safety in, a location valuable because we have immunity here. As a diplomat, I will gladly have us go to meet them, but as a military leader I will not order us to go alone. Contact the nearest three fleets. When we arrive, I want to see all three carriers and their associated fleets waiting for us to take the helm." She turned and turned off the comm link, almost as an afterthought.
"Oh, and ensure that at least two of their Ettarvin are loaded out with the specialty weapons load-out. I would hate to come unprepared."
---
Several hours, and a few strategic jumps at FTL speed, later, and the Piabolle arrived to meet with her trio of fleets, over twenty-five warships of various size and design waiting patiently. Among them were three massive vessels, flat and oblong with openings all along their sides, a half dozen other dreadnoughts like her own, and the rest a mix of cruisers and destroyers, all acting as an honor guard for her ship.
At least, until the ones they waited on, the Aschen, decided to do something incredibly foolish.
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