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[SMII IC]The Fate of the Future
Scooter
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
A broadcast from an unknown origin in space has been found by your people and discovered to contain information to build two great technologies: Jumpgates between systems, and communication devices that can work instantly across galaxies. While the source of the broadcast is not known, it had a strength, angle, and distance such that it reached many races in a large region of space in a short period of time. Thinking they were alone in the universe, now each species has discovered things are a lot more crowded than they first appeared. There's no telling what possibilities lay in store for adventurous individuals in the years to come, but that's not your concern. You, leader of your people, must make sure they survive to get that far.
This is the IC thread for Space Myth II (OOC Thread, Wiki). Diplomacy, expansion, invasion, and more shall follow!
This is the IC thread for Space Myth II (OOC Thread, Wiki). Diplomacy, expansion, invasion, and more shall follow!
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The Great Hall of Orm. The birthplace of the Concordance. Despite the elegance and delicacy of the music that had once been played within, played for the most privileged of Ormian society, the design of the building was oddly reminiscent of a tomb, as though the architect had subconciously known that from it would come the death of his race.
Within the former orchestral pit, a meeting was taking place. Not that it would be apparent to a deaf observer.
"I say we spread! We now know that there's more out there! More for the taking! We would be complete and utter fools were we to not take advantage of it!" shouts a rough, thunderous voice.
"Yes, you would say that, wouldn't you Barbaro. As always you live up to your name. Yet look at the end of result of our taking of this world. The Ormians would have gone on to greater things, while we sit here in ruinous decadence! If we are so unable to function without something to conquer, then perhaps it is better that we die out." replies a cooler, calmer voice.
"Again with the Ormians! They're dead Requiem! Dead! And they were weak, in mind and in body! They practically laid themselves before us! Let them lie!" shouts back Barbaro heatedly.
"Quiet, Barbaro. Although you have a point about Requiem, this is hardly the time or place for such a discussion. Although I do agree we should expand, we should not displace other species to do so. I for one believe that we are capable of coexistence. After all... we need not take by force what they willingly give..." says a third voice, more feminine than the first two.
"True though that may be, Grazioso, the fact remains that the most glorious, most organized period in our history was in the great military campaign against the Ormians... were we to recreate that on a galactic scale..." says a fourth voice, noble in it's bearing.
"See, Requiem! Anthem agrees with me! We ought to-"
"Enough," says a final voice. It speaks quietly, but there is an undeniable power to it. "We expand. But we shall do it in the same manner as we took this world. Through the sheer might of our culture when possible, through stealth when it's not, and through war when necessary. After all... the dance has not ended. The dance goes on."
With this, the other voices quietly expressed their understanding, and left the room. Concordance had spoken.
((OOC: Names are gender-neutral. That's why it's not 'Graziosa'. That's not a proper musical term.))
Aboard the Indrajit, in orbit around Dyaus; Meru System
In many ways, the Indrajit represented the glory of the Tvashtri people. No ship like it had existed before, and it was to be the first of many. It was the flagship for the quickly growing fleet, the holy sword that would vanquish any force that stood in the way of the Eighth Prophecy.
Aboard the ship, Ravana Dashagriva was both captain and high priest; in this capacity, he was essentially the leader of the Tvashtri Fleet, only answering to the Council of the Hundred. A hundred different voices, a hundred different opinions, and a hundred different views on how the Prophecy should be interpreted.
Ravana found solace aboard the newly built ship. He did not speak of it with his crew, but her hallowed walls sang to him. The hum of her engines lulled him to sleep like a babe, while the cry of her weapons promised him his time was now. The Council ruled the accursed rock that had become their temporary home; it would be Ravana who would rule the promised new home world.
Watching out the window of his personal quarters, Ravana saw that construction had begun on the Muladhara. Resources were scarce, so construction was slow. Once finished, however, the orbital station would be both a temple for the gods, and the holy art of science.
His gaze lingered only for awhile as he looked beyond. Beyond Dyaus, he knew lurked Prithivi, the dead world of his ancestors. Beyond that junkyard floated Indra, a violent and inhospitable planet, but rich in resources they would need. His ship had been built from metals found in it's rocky surface, metals baked by the lightning that scorched the planet in a constant display of the gods power.
And beyond the tiny Meru system? Ravana wondered what next lay in store for him and where he would find the fabled homeworld.
The Anandan ship had entered the Assh-Serai's system, and made no secret of this fact. No, rather, it instead broadcasted on all frequencies a single message, over and over until it recieved an answer.
"The Grace of the Star Gods comes forth, and unto you shines Their light. Sentient Thought flows only from Their gift. Wisdom springs only from Their acceptance. Understanding shines only from Their reverence. We have been chosen to spread the gifts of the Star Gods to all those who would willingly come to them. Accept the love of the Star Gods, revere Yhem as is just, and you shall have everlasting joy."
This message repeated, and upon recieving a response, it changed and a new voice spoke.
"We are the Anandan people, and we come to spread the Truth amongst all. They have told us that others exist on faraway worlds, and sent us forth to find those others. Thus do we greet you, in the name of the Star Gods. Come into Their light, that all that is hidden may be banished and all that is unknown may yet be seen."
The ship waited, then, and the original message loop began again, repeating endlessly unless the Assh-Serai chose to open communications and respond again. It would wait there, until it was recalled, or it was invited to open diplomatic conduct... or until the Assh-Serai took action against it.
The High Council had kept a tight lid on communications from Galactic sources. The contacts from other sentients of the galaxy was disturbing, not that such a variety of life existed elsewhere, but that the form it held was so rigidly defined. There seemed to be just a single template for each alien type encountered so far. This secret was kept from the Ardek public since the apparent same-ness of the other sentients in the galaxy held disturbing connotations.
All of the aliens had fallen under the sway of their own cults of Standard Deviation far, far worse than Faddon's madness had ever dreamed of at some point in their histories. What else could explain the lack of differentiation between individuals? Obviously every alien race had facistically pared itself down to one dominant type and wiped out all the others in a holocaust of genetic cleansing. Such horrendous devotion to conformity had to lay deep within their developmental past to the point where their own diversity was relegated to fables, myths, and legends, otherwise the horror of what they had done would be more evident.
The leaders of the Ardek have kept this knowledge from their peoples a secret due to the fears that such a xenophobic universe would hate them for their shared diversity, jealous of the Ardekkian expressions of individuality. Scientists and great thinkers brought in on this secret agreed that any group with such conformity would view such a rich and diverse culture and life of the Ardek as hostile to their own. The aliens would obviously feel threatened by those members of their own societies which, upon seeing the splendor of the Ardek, would come to question their own uniform nature and rebel against their clone-like masters.
As such, expansion into the Galaxy would need to be cautious, lest the poor, one-formed aliens turn on themselves upon witnessing the splendorous magnificence of the Ardek.
Noah McTonald looked over the progress reports again and smiled, tapping on the desk to the sound of the mining lasers cycling. He had been the CEO of the main food producer in Solnot for over 500 years, but his investment in a small research endeavor on Venein had paid off in ways he hadn't dared dream off. They had designed the first Hyper Dimensional Catapult, and while that particular piece of technology had been unreliable at best, it meant his corporation was the first to arrive in a new solar system. The discovery of the Warp Gate and the Maps it contained had propelled his corporation to leadership of the entire Virii race. Within a few months he had bought out every major corporation thanks to the influx of resources coming through the gates.
Walking over to the view screen, Noah grinned as the gigantic mining lasers aboard the HCS Rapetrain dissolved asteroid after asteroid into their base components and pulled them into the cavernous holds, where they would be stored until they reached the factories on Marnein, where they would be turned into items ready for sale across the width of the Virii Star Conglomerate. A single trip to Alpha Centanot would bring in more revenue than all of his remaining competitors would earn over the entire fiscal year. Of course, they had run into some hitches along the way. The construction of the new orbital factories in orbit around Junein had ground to a complete halt, supposedly due to the incompetence of the director in charge of Industrial Expansion in Solnot. He had of course been fired, but the damage was done. Sighing, Noah went back to the desk and brought up the galactic map. They had only started harvesting in a minuscule part of the galaxy and already profits were astronomical. "The future is bright indeed," he muttered as he returned to the pile of documents awaiting his approval on the HUD.
Ruzar’s solitude was broken by the careful approach of the fosterling Salas Ven from the communications room.
“With what news do you disturb me Salas Ven?â€
“Varggath Ruzar, Salas Gursothis has just sent word that he has claimed territory on the colony world Ziiz.â€
Ruzar was pleased with this news. Gursothis was his offspring and had always shown signs that he would go far. Gursothis had left on the colony ships with many of the older Salas; there was great opportunity on Ziiz for a Salas to blossom into a powerful Varggath.
“Is their anything else?†Ruzar knew there was; he would not be interrupted without more.
“Yes Varggath Ruzar. Salas Gursothis would like you to sponsor him. He also sent this information about the other Salas on Ziiz.â€
Ven carefully set a small computer in front of Ruzar and quickly backed off.
“You can tell Varggath Gursothis, congratulations on his success. Is that all Salas Ven?â€
“Yes, Varggath.â€
“Then leave me in peace.â€
“Yes, Varggath.â€
Ruzar watched Ven return to the communications room before going through the information that Gursothis sent him.
---
<Hears-Softly> awoke from his fitful dream to the low tone of a sensor alarm and the flashing of an indicator light on the panel before him. Studying the data for a moment, quickly waking his ken. The Codettan known as <M4.7-Canyon-Wind> stretched, some yawning and shaking the sleep from his eyes. He climbed out of his hammock and approached the main computer terminal.
"The system we approach scans positive. A terrestrial world lies in close orbit to the yellow dwarf; surface temperature reads [283K], warm but liveable. Density indicates moderate resources. This will suffice our needs. It is time to wake the ship."
<Canyon-Wind> sprung into action, individually speaking and typing commands into his stations. The vast colony ship began buzzing with seemingly impromptu harmonies as each Codettan was revived from cryo-sleep and began on their duties. Soon the ship would detach into its various independant sections, each speeding off to its specific mission.
---
Within weeks, the colonists had established a base on the surface of the world. Orbital commsats had already formed a link with the Homeworld, and construction of a system jumpgate would be completed within the year.
Inizio I, the first off-world Codettan colony, had been founded.
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
As the Codettans established their base, the Concordance watched.
On the surface of Harmony (the planet the Codettan base is on), the council quietly watched the strange creatures go about their business.
"It is... regrettable." said Concordance, pensively. "We could have learned so very much..."
"Agreed. But in this case, we are victims of circumstance. We're on the galactic fringe. There is little room for growth out here. And we were progressing... slowly," replied Anthem.
"The risk of extinction was too high for us not to take this course," added Grazioso.
"Yes. Then we are in agreement?"
A quick vote was counted. It was unanimous.
"Very well then," said Concordance, as an Ormian slave approached, carrying a radio transmitter "Barbaro?"
"Yes?" came the reply over the transmitter.
"It is time. Let discord reign."
The council watched as the screaming, maddened horde charged over the hills, washing over the base like a great tides, the Dischords driving them on, their noise drowning out the sounds of battle.
"Unfortunate indeed."
|2:67:8.2A.07|
[02]This is Security Chief <F4.2-Stony-Brook>, transmitting an emergency broadcast to Coda Prime. Our colony on Pacem V-c was attacked three hours ago by aliens of hostile intent. We have been unable to establish communication with the invading force. Interrogation has proven impossible, as captured aliens enter a comatose state when separated from the main force. Our defenses are barely holding but will soon be overrun. Our scientists have set the self-destruct on the jump gate to coincide with transmission of this, our final message.
The colony is lost; some of our people captured. We have set the reactor core to go critical so as to prevent capture of technology and the rest of the colonists. Hopefully the blast will take a few of the aliens with us. Included with this transmission is all information gathered on our attackers. Beware the threat on the galactic spiral. Remember your fallen brothers and sisters.
Remember Pacem V-c.[03]
[05][RECEIVING ATTACHED MEDIA][17]
[04]
"Go up, thou bald head." -2 Kings 2:23
The Assh-Serai reject the words of the Star Gods. Indeed, the Star Gods find their people to be such a backwards and anathema race that they glorify the galaxy with Their power and eradicate the Assh-Serai altogether. Their glorious light shone on the Assh-Serai darkness and destroyed these vile things utterly! Their shapeshifting, skulking ways will no longer pollute our people with their presence! A single Assh-Serai escaped the cataclysm that destroyed their people, and for this survival, we thought, perhaps, just perhaps, they were not a total loss. Perhaps they could still be won into the Star Cult and shown the Truth. The Star Gods had seen fit to give this one mercy... and so some of our people listened. In Their infinite widsom, the Star Gods have seen fit to show us why the Assh-Serai were so evil... several of our finest minds were nearly corrupted beyond saving by the Assh-Serai menace. But the Star Gods showed us the path, and we followed Their will... the Assh-Serai vileness is no more.
The Star Gods have shown us Their love, and have given us a new home! The system of Jeraltis is named for one of the great heroes of the Revolution, and the Star Gods have told us to honor his memory. This system is warm and inviting, and is truly an expression of the Star Gods satisfaction with how we have dealt with the Menace. First, the Plague, then the Revolution, and finally the Assh-Serai, may their memory be a lesson to us all. Do Their will, and They reward us. We will do Their will, and we will bring the Star Gods light to every dark corner of this galaxy. Perhaps, should They wish it, farther...
We have discovered a new people. These people have called themselved Dolphoids, and they are an aquaoid race. The Star Gods find them compatible with we Anandans, as we live on the land, and they beneath the sea. The Star Gods command us, and we follow Their will. Some of our strongest wills walk amongst them, even now, and convert them to the Star Gods will. Town by town, village by village, city by city, planet by planet we convert them. Forth do we go, doing the Star Gods work, and we show Them that we are truly worthy of Their countenance. They have rewarded our people with knowledge, even though we be tainted by the remnants of the Assh-Serai. Perhaps these new Dolphoids will strenghten our Star Cult.
"Wha?"
"Boss Grug, he did it! He broked da stars!"
Haak stood from his throne, which sat in a chamber that was once the cargo section of an old freighter. His bones ached... he was an aged Wargh of 17 cycles. He still had half his teeth, most of his claws, but most importantly, more venom in his veins than any other who'd raised axe against him. He snorted, reflecting upon this strange news.
Eloth was not the gem it had been when he was still in a larval stage, incubating within the toxic muck of its battlefields. It's sky constantly rained ashes, and the sound of gunfire and explosions was a constant. War was the way of things. There had been time for little else. But if what Klag was telling him was true, it meant that Clan Sparkwitch's latest scheme had actually worked. He had found a way off the system.
"Da stars?"
"Yah, Boss. He found a new one! What we goin' do?"
"We'z takin da war up. Juss 'cuz Grug find it, don' mean he can keeps it."
Soon the sound of cannons grew quieter, and was replaced with the sound of struggling engines as cruisers and frigates sluggishly took to the air. Triumphant roars broke out within Boss Haak's flagship as it punched through the atmosphere. Behind it, many others followed... the rest of the Clans had heard, and were not about to let Boss Haak of Clan Blackskull claim this new star so easily. There was a new world to be conquered. A new war.