as written by Dashmiel
Not So Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far Far Away
Somewhere in the oldest reaches of space, there lived and thrived an ancient civilization. It was a most peculiar and singular group of people, long since dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. All of the knowledge of the universe. Presently, there was a flurry of activity all over one of the myriad of systems populated by these peoples. Graceful and colossal space-bound creatures glided through the silent backdrop of space, numbering in the hundreds of millions. With perfect precision and care, gargantuan slabs of machinery were positioned this way and that way, slowly forming into a monolithic scaffold-like mega-structure dwarfing the lone planetoid slowly rotating in the background.
And yet despite the grand undertaking taking place, it would be evident to a metaphorical omniscient observer that the whole affair had a well-practiced and even humdrum feel to it. If said an observer were to glimpse into the core of those great silent creatures and see the staunch workers within, they might even be taken a bit aback at the fact that the single most commanding expression was not one of proud achievement, but rather that slightly listless look you get out of people who are comfortably settled into their routines.
But then, all such an observer would have to do to explain such a pedestrian approach to a marvel of planetary scale engineering would be to figuratively look up and about.
Absolutely overshadowing the wonder currently under construction were a dozen acts of impossibly massive triumphs over the natural order of things.
Arranged in a sprawling and decidedly unnatural pattern around the one planetoid system were twelve massive “O-type” blue super-giant stars, curiously encapsulated in mind-mindbogglingly super-massive shifting bands of some artificial and decidedly active construct with a very clear purpose: The absolute manipulation of the energy output of these giants. From the effect their arrangement has on the local gravitational force, to the way their luminosity is focused and a hundred thousand other carefully interdependent parameters, it is obvious that the goal of this massive energy gathering apparatus centers around one single point: the now complete-and minuscule by comparison-scaffold in the center of it all.
Answering to some unseen call, all of the space-gliding creatures suddenly vanished in a spectacular display of free photons being shaken loose as the fabric of space-time was warped in hundreds of millions of places by as many wormholes, leaving behind them a tranquil scene of industrious labor finished, stellar workers clocking out at the end of yet another mundane shift.
___
Meanwhile, deep within the Starhawk Grael'Quenoxis…
“Just one little connection more…” came the disembodied husky voice from beneath a tangled mess of machine parts and cables. “Are you certain this system is really necessary for the carrying out of my primary function?” asked a second disembodied voice from nowhere in particular. “Of course it’s necessary. You have to be ~perfect~, an absolute 1:1 reproduction and well, that takes...production” replied the first voice. “I just really don’t think…” protested the second voice before being abruptly cutoff “Energizing!” “I…oh my” exclaimed the second voice before the door to the manufacturing laboratory of Frey’nja Vatremaus was opened to admit an imposingly tall figure.
“Frey, why are ignoring my hails? Wait…why is Xilunexus’ shell naked!? Why are YOU naked!?” exclaimed the bemused new arrival.
With some effort and many a comic jerky pull, Frey managed to extricate herself from the tangled mess of her workstation, and beheld the new arrival, Diarneus Bevernixan, resident Xeno-biology expert and techno-mage.
“Hey! Unlike you and your endless meditation and time spent poring boring texts and annals, I have to actually get physical with it to work, and clothes just get in the way” protested Frey as she made her away across her work-space to meet Diarneus. “Besides, you don’t complain like that when I do manage to get you out of your lab. I was just putting the final touches to Xilu’s new shell, now, whaddya you want?”
“Yes. Well. Uh, Grael’Quenoxis has been met and docked by the Khav’Nen twins and the rest of the tsrin’nen, and is prepared for the jump into the staging area in an hour. And, um, listen would you mind garbing yourself please?” asked an increasingly flummoxed Diarneus.
“Oh fine, you big prude” replied Frey before mockingly and theatrically waving her hands about in a mimicry of the jazz hands as she mentally interfaced her Va’nyr link with the room’s materializer module. A second later, pure energy was casually converted into matter and projected around her form in the form of the slightly garish and provocative design of skin tight vac suit designed and favored by her. “Better?”
“Much. Now, Gherin sent me here after you ignored his hails too, to check in on the progress of Xilunexus’ physical shell. Is it complete?” queried Diarneus.
“I dunno, ask her” Replied Frey with a satisfied grin at Diarneus’ expression upon turning to see yet another naked figure moving towards him. “Greetings, Master Bevernixian. I can confirm full operational status of this artifice. It is a pleasure to greet you among the physical. Shall we engage in the ‘Dranis’Tekkar’ now?” asked the slowly advancing android before continuing “Frey informs me it is customary to do as much to one’s new acquaintances, and I suppose that meeting old friends in person for the first time counts as such” Delivered the very naked android whilst embracing the stunned man.
“W-what, no, Xilu. No. Whatever Frey taught you of physical interaction is not a good baseline to go by. And there’s no time for that at the moment, at any rate.” replied a startled Diarneus before regaining his composure and continuing. “Gherin asked me to come find you, it seems whatever final touches Frey was doing kept you busy too, because your personality interface wasn't responding to his hails either.”
“Oh. Yes, my apologies. The syncing with this shell and the finalization of my system was…distracting, and I could not focus for a time. I see Gherin awaits within the Seed chamber. I do believe I’ll take a stroll and meet him in…person” said the AI with the traces of her first physical smile upon her face as she went through the same process Frey had gone before to garb herself before exiting Frey’s workshop.
“So, ‘Di…we've got about an hour before we need to get to work, how about a little ‘Kar?” exclaimed a mischievous Frey. “You’re incorrigible” replied Diarneus before closing the workshop door.
Azixa would never admit that she was nervous about this trip, though she certainly was. To those who could read her mannerisms well, however, they would see that she was certainly excited. A very tiny smile was present on her lips a good percent of the time as they became ready to head out. Her only quarrel, which barely bothered her anyway, was the constant connection to the Va'nyr to send information over the other members of the crew. She made sure to keep up as well as she could. Any missed time could mean a world of trouble. Or rather, several worlds of trouble. To get there as quickly as possible was her goal, or rather, her hope. There was a giddiness associated with the thought of inspecting the alien galaxy they had targeted.
To delve into their worlds and their notions of time- different and interesting ways they explored it, kept it, viewed it. What more could she have asked for?
Only to get there faster!
She made her way to the bridge, moving at a swift, but controlled pace. If she were there, the connections to the Va'nyr would not need to be so prevalent.
___
Grael'Quenoxis, Chamber of the Va'nyrian Seed
Especially constructed to sit just below the power core of the great Starhawk, the Seed chamber was the single deepest and most secure area aboard Grael'Quenoxis. Separated from every other compartment by a two sided membrane containing the highly energized plasma-medium that every Starhawk uses for temporary energy conversion, it has but a single entrance. As Nilin Gvyhe'arne walked down the long hallway leading into the chamber, she couldn't help but feel that this was the most obnoxiously long walk of her very long life.
“I am going to kill him. Forget the pact. Forget that he’s already dead. I will re-activate him myself just so I can kill him again” muttered the ceremonially robed woman as she was met by Xilunexus.
“Did you know about this hare-brained plan those two cooked up?” queried Nilin, abruptly cutting the android’s greeting before it began. “No Mistress Nilin. I was not aware the contents of the Seed had been altered after our departure from Va’nyria. I was only aware of the usual complement and of the addition of the Starbreath.” Replied the android as the pair made it before the doors to the Seed chamber. As the security measures scanned their bodies atom by atom to ascertain their identities, Nilin continued her interrogation. “You’re telling me Gherin did this behind YOUR back!? I swear I will kill them both.”
“Please Mistress, I’m sure they've got a suitable rationale. You really wouldn—“ “Of course I’m not literally going to kill them, Xilu. Though I may accidentally set that bastard into an inactive state for this. The gall of it” Replied the angry woman as the doors into the Seed chamber opened.
A large circular room, the Seed chamber was dominated by four monolithic upright machinery rectangles nearly twenty feet in height, forming a rough square where they met in the center of the room. From where they rose through the crystalline floor they could be seen to extend for hundreds of feet more below. At the center of the chamber was a single cylindrical console, displaying no tactile means of interface. Before it, upon an ornate and clearly long used hover chair sat an old man in animated discussion with visibly no one.
The entire chamber was permanently kept at frigid temperatures and limited moisture exposure. As Nilin crossed its threshold she had to suppress a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold atmosphere as the doors behind her shut with a gentle hiss.
“Yes, yes. I understand the chances are slim, but it’s a risk we must take regardless. Ah, here they are. Nilin, Xilunexus, thanks for joining me. We have much to discuss.” Proclaimed Gherin Va'tremaeus in earnest, absolutely oblivious to the brewing storm he was about to face. “Xilunexus, bring him here. Now” growled an annoyed Nilin as she summoned another chair from the corner of the room with a wave of her hand. “At once, Mistress Nilin” replied the android as she took a stand by the center console and seemingly went inactive for a few seconds, which Nilin decided to spend giving Gherin a very pointed look which the old man craftily saw to avoid.
“Warning: Seeded Personality loaded into manifest drive: Alaxel Gyveraian” proclaimed the disembodied voice of Xilunexus as the air above the center console began to shimmer and crackle, ending in a floating holographic representation of a sheepishly grinning Va’nyrian man. “H-Hey Nilin. You’re, uh, looking good. I…didn't expect to actually see you so soon, we could have had this talk in our heads, y’know…”
“What, and rob you the chance to see how angry I am? How could you!? Loading the Father of Desolation into the Quorum Seed? Are you insane!? That one was never to leave the archives, by your own decree I might add, sealed into consensus by all three of us. What is the meaning of is?” exclaimed a near trembling Nilin who was becoming increasingly furious at the lack of reaction from her two peers.
“Uh..Gherin didn’t tell you, huh? Listen, Ni. We might need him. Well, not him of course, that would be a horrible idea. But his memories. His knowledge. Where we’re going…I think it’s it. And he’s the only one who’s ever seen them, y’know.” Asked the projection.
“What? You mean…” whispered an incredulous Nilin.
“Yes. The Elo’Rantus. That might have been their home galaxy. Or will be their home galaxy. I’m not too sure on the temporal dynamics of it. But yes.” Chimed in the old man. “But why did you not tell me before!” exclaimed Nilin. “Well we feared you would have this same reaction…anyways, that’s not important right now. We have much to discuss, and talking will take forever. We must achieve consensus quickly” said the projection gravely. “Very well. Let us become one. Consensus.” Replied The StarSpeaker before the trio closed their eyes and began to discuss in earnest through their links.
___
EQ Staging System
The tranquil scene over the Va’nyrian Exploratory Quorum Staging System was suddenly ruptured by the arrival of the Elo’Nen. The local spacetime once again became a churning maelstrom of reality as hundreds of thousands gigantic wormholes began to open into the system. From each one came a single Elo’Nen class Starhawk, the largest of their kind. They glided, jumped, and generally cavorted as much as giant space creatures can be said to cavort in celebration. It was time for another of their kind to expand into the cosmos in search of knowledge.
At the extreme edge of the system, roughly 25 AUs from the nexus of the stellar energizing apparatus the largest of all the wormholes opened to admit two Elo’Nen. One was Grael'Quenoxis, the chosen to ferry the 76th Va’nyrian Exploratory Quorum into a far flung unknown galaxy, and the other the All-Mother, greatest and oldest of the Tsrea’Nen, here to see another of her children off.
For nearly an hour the assembly of the Elo’Nen discussed and made merry, but their affairs are not for terrestrials to understand.
With a short jump, Grael'Quenoxis took its position within the stellar charger, immediately feeling the rush of power just waiting to be admitted into itself. Underneath each of its “wings” rested one of the Khav’Nen, and within its varied holds, the massive 160KM long Starhawk could feel the anticipation of its 200 young Tsrin’Nen at the prospect of the journey into the unknown.
It wouldn’t admit it to its charges, but it too was excited to participate in its first Exploratory Quorum.
The Elo’Nen proceeded to contact the Supreme Star Speaker for the expedition, Nilin Gvyhe'arne, to request permission to begin the final departure preparations.
»Query/ StarSpeaker /Docking Authorized?” «
» “Yes. You may begin the process.” «
» “Overjoyed/Tsrea'Nen/Unision/Energizing” «
___
Aboard Grael'Quenoxis; Arboretum
Within the Starhawk, it’s complement of Va’nyrian crew members had all temporarily paused in their duties, and assembled in the Va'nyrian flora-filled arboretum within the massive depths of the starhawk that would be their home for the foreseeable future. There was no ranking system order, no stage or dais, podium or platform.
The crew simply stood in one massive loose crowd composed of tens of thousands of Va'nyrians, and before them, set apart from them stood Nilin. The excitement of the gathered crew was literally palpable to Nilin as she joined her brethern within the communal Va'nyrian band, her consciousness fully merging with her peers down to the deepest of roots of identity. Tranquil silence reigned supreme amongst the gathered Va'nyrians, as they discarded the need for physical interaction and all became one.
» I, Nilineani Tvre'Rexlan Gvyhe'arne, known to some as 'All Mother', 1st Scion of Lov'Nerivana Gvyhe'arne and First Terani-Schal of the Evraïnin'Teran, reach out to you today, brothers and sisters, to call for consensus. «
»We bear witness to your request, sister, and accept your request to unite in the name of consensus. What is your query, All Mother?«
»Will you accept me as your Supreme Starspeaker, and place your lives within my hands?«
A gentle and warm artificial breeze blew through the Arboretum, ruffling the leaves of the fantastically alien trees as Nilin looked at the assembled crowd, her features perfectly, neutrally placid. There was no other sound but that that the breeze made as it flittered through the leaves and set them to whispering.
»We have reached consensus regarding your request and find it to be the best course of action. We accept you as our Supreme Starspeaker, All Mother. «
With a nearly imperceptible lifting of the corners of her mouth, Nilin cried out "Then go and get back to work, Quorum 76, we have a mission to complete!" The combined cheering of the multitudes assaulted her as the organized mass scrambling took place.
___
Aboard Grael'Quenoxis' Operational Nexus aka The Bridge,
Va'nyrian Home Galaxy, Exploratory Quorum Staging System
Stellar Charger
"Grael'Quenoxis reports itself as fully energized and ready to begin the transference manuever, Mistress." called out a projected holographic display of Xilunexus to Nilin from within the bridge of the massive starhawk. All about the bridge were dozens of Va'nyrians, all neatly nestled within their respective duty stations. Nilin herself sat at the rear of the bridge, upon a complex and deeply recessed cocoon like chair, a wide console filled with symbols in the main branch of the Va'nyrian language encircled her station, whilst dozens of holographic displays surrounded the air around her.
"System status" queried Nilin as she effortlessly collated all of the information assaulting her attention from quite literally millions of sources within the Quorum flotilla within Grael'Quenoxis.
"All systems nominal. All departments report ready status. All energy nodes throughout the Quorum read as full. Grael'Quenoxis' overflow nodes stand ready for transference backlash, and the Beacon is primed and ready." replied Xilunexus.
»Grael'Quenoxis, you are cleared to proceed.«
»Understanding/Profound Attentiveness/Tsrea'Nen in Tow/Discharging«
Suddenly, in an explosion of exotic particles, the massive scaffold at the center of the stellar charger exploded and the fabric of space and time was torn asunder as the Elo'nen spread itself in a distortion field, existing within a pocket universe outside of reality, where the tenets of Quantum Mechanics held even greater weight and the rules of reality were distorted. It then expanded this field beyond itself, fanning out before it, to pierce a great swath of the cosmos and forge a direct path by making two points in space suddenly exist as one single point from it's frame of reference. It opened a wormhole spanning 14 billion Ly, and in a single moment surged forward. A journey of 14 billion light years performed in a literal instant.
Not So Long Ago, In A Galaxy Far Far Away
Somewhere in the oldest reaches of space, there lived and thrived an ancient civilization. It was a most peculiar and singular group of people, long since dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. All of the knowledge of the universe. Presently, there was a flurry of activity all over one of the myriad of systems populated by these peoples. Graceful and colossal space-bound creatures glided through the silent backdrop of space, numbering in the hundreds of millions. With perfect precision and care, gargantuan slabs of machinery were positioned this way and that way, slowly forming into a monolithic scaffold-like mega-structure dwarfing the lone planetoid slowly rotating in the background.
And yet despite the grand undertaking taking place, it would be evident to a metaphorical omniscient observer that the whole affair had a well-practiced and even humdrum feel to it. If said an observer were to glimpse into the core of those great silent creatures and see the staunch workers within, they might even be taken a bit aback at the fact that the single most commanding expression was not one of proud achievement, but rather that slightly listless look you get out of people who are comfortably settled into their routines.
But then, all such an observer would have to do to explain such a pedestrian approach to a marvel of planetary scale engineering would be to figuratively look up and about.
Absolutely overshadowing the wonder currently under construction were a dozen acts of impossibly massive triumphs over the natural order of things.
Arranged in a sprawling and decidedly unnatural pattern around the one planetoid system were twelve massive “O-type” blue super-giant stars, curiously encapsulated in mind-mindbogglingly super-massive shifting bands of some artificial and decidedly active construct with a very clear purpose: The absolute manipulation of the energy output of these giants. From the effect their arrangement has on the local gravitational force, to the way their luminosity is focused and a hundred thousand other carefully interdependent parameters, it is obvious that the goal of this massive energy gathering apparatus centers around one single point: the now complete-and minuscule by comparison-scaffold in the center of it all.
Answering to some unseen call, all of the space-gliding creatures suddenly vanished in a spectacular display of free photons being shaken loose as the fabric of space-time was warped in hundreds of millions of places by as many wormholes, leaving behind them a tranquil scene of industrious labor finished, stellar workers clocking out at the end of yet another mundane shift.
___
Meanwhile, deep within the Starhawk Grael'Quenoxis…
“Just one little connection more…” came the disembodied husky voice from beneath a tangled mess of machine parts and cables. “Are you certain this system is really necessary for the carrying out of my primary function?” asked a second disembodied voice from nowhere in particular. “Of course it’s necessary. You have to be ~perfect~, an absolute 1:1 reproduction and well, that takes...production” replied the first voice. “I just really don’t think…” protested the second voice before being abruptly cutoff “Energizing!” “I…oh my” exclaimed the second voice before the door to the manufacturing laboratory of Frey’nja Vatremaus was opened to admit an imposingly tall figure.
“Frey, why are ignoring my hails? Wait…why is Xilunexus’ shell naked!? Why are YOU naked!?” exclaimed the bemused new arrival.
With some effort and many a comic jerky pull, Frey managed to extricate herself from the tangled mess of her workstation, and beheld the new arrival, Diarneus Bevernixan, resident Xeno-biology expert and techno-mage.
“Hey! Unlike you and your endless meditation and time spent poring boring texts and annals, I have to actually get physical with it to work, and clothes just get in the way” protested Frey as she made her away across her work-space to meet Diarneus. “Besides, you don’t complain like that when I do manage to get you out of your lab. I was just putting the final touches to Xilu’s new shell, now, whaddya you want?”
“Yes. Well. Uh, Grael’Quenoxis has been met and docked by the Khav’Nen twins and the rest of the tsrin’nen, and is prepared for the jump into the staging area in an hour. And, um, listen would you mind garbing yourself please?” asked an increasingly flummoxed Diarneus.
“Oh fine, you big prude” replied Frey before mockingly and theatrically waving her hands about in a mimicry of the jazz hands as she mentally interfaced her Va’nyr link with the room’s materializer module. A second later, pure energy was casually converted into matter and projected around her form in the form of the slightly garish and provocative design of skin tight vac suit designed and favored by her. “Better?”
“Much. Now, Gherin sent me here after you ignored his hails too, to check in on the progress of Xilunexus’ physical shell. Is it complete?” queried Diarneus.
“I dunno, ask her” Replied Frey with a satisfied grin at Diarneus’ expression upon turning to see yet another naked figure moving towards him. “Greetings, Master Bevernixian. I can confirm full operational status of this artifice. It is a pleasure to greet you among the physical. Shall we engage in the ‘Dranis’Tekkar’ now?” asked the slowly advancing android before continuing “Frey informs me it is customary to do as much to one’s new acquaintances, and I suppose that meeting old friends in person for the first time counts as such” Delivered the very naked android whilst embracing the stunned man.
“W-what, no, Xilu. No. Whatever Frey taught you of physical interaction is not a good baseline to go by. And there’s no time for that at the moment, at any rate.” replied a startled Diarneus before regaining his composure and continuing. “Gherin asked me to come find you, it seems whatever final touches Frey was doing kept you busy too, because your personality interface wasn't responding to his hails either.”
“Oh. Yes, my apologies. The syncing with this shell and the finalization of my system was…distracting, and I could not focus for a time. I see Gherin awaits within the Seed chamber. I do believe I’ll take a stroll and meet him in…person” said the AI with the traces of her first physical smile upon her face as she went through the same process Frey had gone before to garb herself before exiting Frey’s workshop.
“So, ‘Di…we've got about an hour before we need to get to work, how about a little ‘Kar?” exclaimed a mischievous Frey. “You’re incorrigible” replied Diarneus before closing the workshop door.
Azixa would never admit that she was nervous about this trip, though she certainly was. To those who could read her mannerisms well, however, they would see that she was certainly excited. A very tiny smile was present on her lips a good percent of the time as they became ready to head out. Her only quarrel, which barely bothered her anyway, was the constant connection to the Va'nyr to send information over the other members of the crew. She made sure to keep up as well as she could. Any missed time could mean a world of trouble. Or rather, several worlds of trouble. To get there as quickly as possible was her goal, or rather, her hope. There was a giddiness associated with the thought of inspecting the alien galaxy they had targeted.
To delve into their worlds and their notions of time- different and interesting ways they explored it, kept it, viewed it. What more could she have asked for?
Only to get there faster!
She made her way to the bridge, moving at a swift, but controlled pace. If she were there, the connections to the Va'nyr would not need to be so prevalent.
___
Grael'Quenoxis, Chamber of the Va'nyrian Seed
Especially constructed to sit just below the power core of the great Starhawk, the Seed chamber was the single deepest and most secure area aboard Grael'Quenoxis. Separated from every other compartment by a two sided membrane containing the highly energized plasma-medium that every Starhawk uses for temporary energy conversion, it has but a single entrance. As Nilin Gvyhe'arne walked down the long hallway leading into the chamber, she couldn't help but feel that this was the most obnoxiously long walk of her very long life.
“I am going to kill him. Forget the pact. Forget that he’s already dead. I will re-activate him myself just so I can kill him again” muttered the ceremonially robed woman as she was met by Xilunexus.
“Did you know about this hare-brained plan those two cooked up?” queried Nilin, abruptly cutting the android’s greeting before it began. “No Mistress Nilin. I was not aware the contents of the Seed had been altered after our departure from Va’nyria. I was only aware of the usual complement and of the addition of the Starbreath.” Replied the android as the pair made it before the doors to the Seed chamber. As the security measures scanned their bodies atom by atom to ascertain their identities, Nilin continued her interrogation. “You’re telling me Gherin did this behind YOUR back!? I swear I will kill them both.”
“Please Mistress, I’m sure they've got a suitable rationale. You really wouldn—“ “Of course I’m not literally going to kill them, Xilu. Though I may accidentally set that bastard into an inactive state for this. The gall of it” Replied the angry woman as the doors into the Seed chamber opened.
A large circular room, the Seed chamber was dominated by four monolithic upright machinery rectangles nearly twenty feet in height, forming a rough square where they met in the center of the room. From where they rose through the crystalline floor they could be seen to extend for hundreds of feet more below. At the center of the chamber was a single cylindrical console, displaying no tactile means of interface. Before it, upon an ornate and clearly long used hover chair sat an old man in animated discussion with visibly no one.
The entire chamber was permanently kept at frigid temperatures and limited moisture exposure. As Nilin crossed its threshold she had to suppress a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold atmosphere as the doors behind her shut with a gentle hiss.
“Yes, yes. I understand the chances are slim, but it’s a risk we must take regardless. Ah, here they are. Nilin, Xilunexus, thanks for joining me. We have much to discuss.” Proclaimed Gherin Va'tremaeus in earnest, absolutely oblivious to the brewing storm he was about to face. “Xilunexus, bring him here. Now” growled an annoyed Nilin as she summoned another chair from the corner of the room with a wave of her hand. “At once, Mistress Nilin” replied the android as she took a stand by the center console and seemingly went inactive for a few seconds, which Nilin decided to spend giving Gherin a very pointed look which the old man craftily saw to avoid.
“Warning: Seeded Personality loaded into manifest drive: Alaxel Gyveraian” proclaimed the disembodied voice of Xilunexus as the air above the center console began to shimmer and crackle, ending in a floating holographic representation of a sheepishly grinning Va’nyrian man. “H-Hey Nilin. You’re, uh, looking good. I…didn't expect to actually see you so soon, we could have had this talk in our heads, y’know…”
“What, and rob you the chance to see how angry I am? How could you!? Loading the Father of Desolation into the Quorum Seed? Are you insane!? That one was never to leave the archives, by your own decree I might add, sealed into consensus by all three of us. What is the meaning of is?” exclaimed a near trembling Nilin who was becoming increasingly furious at the lack of reaction from her two peers.
“Uh..Gherin didn’t tell you, huh? Listen, Ni. We might need him. Well, not him of course, that would be a horrible idea. But his memories. His knowledge. Where we’re going…I think it’s it. And he’s the only one who’s ever seen them, y’know.” Asked the projection.
“What? You mean…” whispered an incredulous Nilin.
“Yes. The Elo’Rantus. That might have been their home galaxy. Or will be their home galaxy. I’m not too sure on the temporal dynamics of it. But yes.” Chimed in the old man. “But why did you not tell me before!” exclaimed Nilin. “Well we feared you would have this same reaction…anyways, that’s not important right now. We have much to discuss, and talking will take forever. We must achieve consensus quickly” said the projection gravely. “Very well. Let us become one. Consensus.” Replied The StarSpeaker before the trio closed their eyes and began to discuss in earnest through their links.
___
EQ Staging System
The tranquil scene over the Va’nyrian Exploratory Quorum Staging System was suddenly ruptured by the arrival of the Elo’Nen. The local spacetime once again became a churning maelstrom of reality as hundreds of thousands gigantic wormholes began to open into the system. From each one came a single Elo’Nen class Starhawk, the largest of their kind. They glided, jumped, and generally cavorted as much as giant space creatures can be said to cavort in celebration. It was time for another of their kind to expand into the cosmos in search of knowledge.
At the extreme edge of the system, roughly 25 AUs from the nexus of the stellar energizing apparatus the largest of all the wormholes opened to admit two Elo’Nen. One was Grael'Quenoxis, the chosen to ferry the 76th Va’nyrian Exploratory Quorum into a far flung unknown galaxy, and the other the All-Mother, greatest and oldest of the Tsrea’Nen, here to see another of her children off.
For nearly an hour the assembly of the Elo’Nen discussed and made merry, but their affairs are not for terrestrials to understand.
With a short jump, Grael'Quenoxis took its position within the stellar charger, immediately feeling the rush of power just waiting to be admitted into itself. Underneath each of its “wings” rested one of the Khav’Nen, and within its varied holds, the massive 160KM long Starhawk could feel the anticipation of its 200 young Tsrin’Nen at the prospect of the journey into the unknown.
It wouldn’t admit it to its charges, but it too was excited to participate in its first Exploratory Quorum.
The Elo’Nen proceeded to contact the Supreme Star Speaker for the expedition, Nilin Gvyhe'arne, to request permission to begin the final departure preparations.
»Query/ StarSpeaker /Docking Authorized?” «
» “Yes. You may begin the process.” «
» “Overjoyed/Tsrea'Nen/Unision/Energizing” «
___
Aboard Grael'Quenoxis; Arboretum
Within the Starhawk, it’s complement of Va’nyrian crew members had all temporarily paused in their duties, and assembled in the Va'nyrian flora-filled arboretum within the massive depths of the starhawk that would be their home for the foreseeable future. There was no ranking system order, no stage or dais, podium or platform.
The crew simply stood in one massive loose crowd composed of tens of thousands of Va'nyrians, and before them, set apart from them stood Nilin. The excitement of the gathered crew was literally palpable to Nilin as she joined her brethern within the communal Va'nyrian band, her consciousness fully merging with her peers down to the deepest of roots of identity. Tranquil silence reigned supreme amongst the gathered Va'nyrians, as they discarded the need for physical interaction and all became one.
» I, Nilineani Tvre'Rexlan Gvyhe'arne, known to some as 'All Mother', 1st Scion of Lov'Nerivana Gvyhe'arne and First Terani-Schal of the Evraïnin'Teran, reach out to you today, brothers and sisters, to call for consensus. «
»We bear witness to your request, sister, and accept your request to unite in the name of consensus. What is your query, All Mother?«
»Will you accept me as your Supreme Starspeaker, and place your lives within my hands?«
A gentle and warm artificial breeze blew through the Arboretum, ruffling the leaves of the fantastically alien trees as Nilin looked at the assembled crowd, her features perfectly, neutrally placid. There was no other sound but that that the breeze made as it flittered through the leaves and set them to whispering.
»We have reached consensus regarding your request and find it to be the best course of action. We accept you as our Supreme Starspeaker, All Mother. «
With a nearly imperceptible lifting of the corners of her mouth, Nilin cried out "Then go and get back to work, Quorum 76, we have a mission to complete!" The combined cheering of the multitudes assaulted her as the organized mass scrambling took place.
___
Aboard Grael'Quenoxis' Operational Nexus aka The Bridge,
Va'nyrian Home Galaxy, Exploratory Quorum Staging System
Stellar Charger
"Grael'Quenoxis reports itself as fully energized and ready to begin the transference manuever, Mistress." called out a projected holographic display of Xilunexus to Nilin from within the bridge of the massive starhawk. All about the bridge were dozens of Va'nyrians, all neatly nestled within their respective duty stations. Nilin herself sat at the rear of the bridge, upon a complex and deeply recessed cocoon like chair, a wide console filled with symbols in the main branch of the Va'nyrian language encircled her station, whilst dozens of holographic displays surrounded the air around her.
"System status" queried Nilin as she effortlessly collated all of the information assaulting her attention from quite literally millions of sources within the Quorum flotilla within Grael'Quenoxis.
"All systems nominal. All departments report ready status. All energy nodes throughout the Quorum read as full. Grael'Quenoxis' overflow nodes stand ready for transference backlash, and the Beacon is primed and ready." replied Xilunexus.
»Grael'Quenoxis, you are cleared to proceed.«
»Understanding/Profound Attentiveness/Tsrea'Nen in Tow/Discharging«
Suddenly, in an explosion of exotic particles, the massive scaffold at the center of the stellar charger exploded and the fabric of space and time was torn asunder as the Elo'nen spread itself in a distortion field, existing within a pocket universe outside of reality, where the tenets of Quantum Mechanics held even greater weight and the rules of reality were distorted. It then expanded this field beyond itself, fanning out before it, to pierce a great swath of the cosmos and forge a direct path by making two points in space suddenly exist as one single point from it's frame of reference. It opened a wormhole spanning 14 billion Ly, and in a single moment surged forward. A journey of 14 billion light years performed in a literal instant.
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