Imperial Palace, Pellas District, Cascadia City
Inviere stood near a window overlooking the gleaming city of Cascadia, glass and concrete bathed the entire city in a brilliant white glow from the ring's star.
The young woman was deep in thought, and while they were far removed from the infection that nibbled at the edges of their settlements, it was a concern. "We can't simply cleanse this ring." She said to herself, before moving towards a nearby pedestal, there she reached out and picked up a stone tablet with a rather ornate, yet cryptic engraving of their home galaxy, and coordinates to their home star system. The Guidestone as it was called was the single most revered artifact among the entire remnant civilization, a reminder of who they were, and their roots.
Her reflection was interrupted, though, as an Adjutant stepped into the palace reception hall where she had been standing.
"Siress; we have a message from the Xenos that call themselves Dethakkan." The man said, offering a bow, and then passing the woman the folded piece of paper.
With one swift motion, she opened it up, and eyes scanned the written message.
"They want to meet with us to discuss the infection?" She said, tilting her head.
She considered eight hundred years of Aschen reputation on this ring, they had kept to themselves, maintained suspicion of the other races, on the ring, those who tried to venture into the Aschen held territories were often turned away, through the point of a gun. It was only through sheer intimidation, and luck that no one was provoked into attacking them; their massive warships, and the constant threat of the Infection capitalizing on any internal strife among the ring dwellers provided the much needed justification for strict isolationism.
"Shall we break eight hundred years of silence? We have built and consolidated our own forces, focused on maintaining our vessels, what if we have lost the capacity to speak with these Xenos?" The Empress asked.
"They are our neighbors; inform Admiral Acastus to proceed with his Reverence and accompanying fleet to the Dethakkan side of the ring, and transmit a reply in the affirmative that we will hear their people..."
Inviere quietly turned back to the guide-stone, picking it up.