NationStates Jolt Archive

.:ooc:.Well, quasi-open anyway, as there is going to be a bit of a surprise appearance. Basically, the first contact will be played out, then people can jump in.

-=Koratu System, 400 Lightyears from the Imperial Core

It had been years since the conclusion of the ESUS Civil War and the destruction it wrought - thousands of ships lost between both sides in the bloody feud. However, things had moved on since then - Arizonan lands had remained untouched by the war, even if the fleets had been battered. Now, they were on the move again, to plant the flag in a new expanse, the Koratu System. It had been discovered by reconaissance probes looking for an uninhabited system in which to colonize, and showed up on no record as being claimed. A colony ship and escort was quickly put together and sent to the fourth world of the system.

"All forces, prepare for planetfall," spoke Captain Yorath of the A.N.S.S. Last Night, into the comm. The vessels had arrived at the fourth world, Abarazo. He looked down at the world stretched out below him - the projections about it had been pessimistic, he thought. The lush greenery and blue oceans perhaps rivaled even Ondataru, the crown jewel of the Empire. The ships began their descent, leaving a blazing trail across the blue skies of the world as they fell through its upper atmosphere. They slowed as their landing thrusters fired, setting them down gracefully upon the surface.

Yorath exited his vessel and looked across the great plains stretched out before him, and breathed in the air - it was incredibly fresh and clean. It was almost too good. He looked at the men and women arrayed before him and smiled.

"Ladies and gentlemen, while perhaps in getting here, we had little hardship, but in establishing ourselves here, there will be. You, however, abandoned familiar soil, friends, and family, to come here, in search of fortune, or to serve your Empress. Yours' is a spirit that is hardy, resourceful, and your decision to take this risk will be remembered. Centuries from now, when Abarazo is a great world of our Empire, as I am sure it is destined to be, it will be to you that your descendents look for inspiration - in hard times and good. Without further ado, however, I claim this world, for the Imperial Corporate Nautocracy of Arizona Nova!"

A cheer erupted from the crowd as the Imperial flag was planted in the earth. Captain Yorath took a deep breath and smiled again. It was a great day.

Five Hours Later

Captain Yorath retired to his quarters to begin the log after helping oversee the initial construction of the first shelters. He was pleased - already they were ahead of schedule. It was as if the very air carried a message of hope and optimism. A low tone sounded, signaling someone at the door to his quarters.

"Come in," he said.

One of the marine officers - Commander Burton, if he recalled correctly, entered.

"Sir, one of our recon patrols have found something," he said urgently.

Captain Yorath looked up at him and blinked. "Found what?"

"We believe it to be a settlement of some sort, pre-Industrial, however."

Yorath frowned. The probes should have been able to detect life forms on this planet. "How did we miss them?"

"I don't know, Sir, but our own scanners were also jammed."

"Jammed? How could a pre-Industrial society jam our sensors?"

"It might have been some natural condition, but I'm still not sure."

"Well..." said the Captain resignedly. "I guess we shall have to enact the First Contact protocol then. Make sure the civilians are secure within the main vessel, and contact the homeworld; we may need a dignitary shortly."

"Aye Sir, right away."

The Settlement was not merely a settlement, it was a bustling city of just over 800,000 people, nestled in a valley around which, vast impassable cliffs rose, a large pass the only entrance.

The City did indeed to be pre-industrial, huge white walls of great stone, crystalline roof's upon tall tower, and Banners of unknown origin flying upon them. But it was all an appearance.

The walls themselves were protected by a shield generator hidden deep inside the bowels of the city, and once inside, markets with exotic goods, people using computer terminals and the starport would all reveal this was infact, a very advanced civilization.

Of course, the energy readings that might betray this fact were hidden, the forests, the mountains, even the ground itself endeavoured to hide the surface, as this was but one city, a few dozen more were hidden in similar valleys, villages were secreted deep in the green forests of this world.

And this world was known, to its inhabitants, as Navaél, and it was but a borderworld of a resurging empire, an empire lost long ago to galactic events and unexplainable things. But, history had allowed some to survive and reform into something greater.

But, on the outskirts of the forest before the plains, there was a blemish, an unknown. Some Vessel.

Aélas moved swiftly through the tree-tops, as his training as a scout taught him, he neared where the trees began to thin, and that was when he saw it. Small by no account, with what databases told him, a small amount of humans milling around it. Becoming engrossed with studying the ships hull, his ears only noticed the creaking of the branch once it was too late.

He Fell, he beleived he was dead, the tree was by no means the smallest, but maybe by luck, maybe by fate, he landed ontop of one of the humans who had been studying the forest.

Dazed, he heard the Human curse and begin to stand, unwilling to move, he waited.

OOC: Tag, might be worth later involvement.

The human was one Dexter Larkin, one of the civilian colonists and the chief biologist of the group. He had been studying the local fauna when something rather heavy fell down on top of him.

"Aggh!" he screamed. He got back up, rubbing his head, when he saw it - well, him rather. He thought it might have been another colonist until he saw that it was, in fact, an elf. Suddenly Dexter wished he had practiced his Quenya a little bit more. The fellow did, however, look to be in a daze at the moment. He took out his comm and dialed for the meds.

"Hello? Yeah, we might have a situation here. An elf just fell out of a tree on top of me and he might be hurt. What? Yeah, thats right, an elf. No, I wasn't hit in the head. Just get someone out here, it's not like theres some major medical emergency going on right now right? Ok, thanks."

Putting the comm away, he watched the elf to see if he would come to on his own.

Aélas shook his head a little, clearing his senses, he was aware of the Human babbling in the tongue of Man a tongue that would not take long to learn, but was not learnt in the Empire anymore, The human now appeared to of finished and was looking at Aélas like he was some off-worlder.

As quick as he had fallen, he rose, and brushed himself down, and turned to look at and study the Human. He Said nothing, he stood and studied the stranger intently, constantly aware of all escape routes, but there were none here, the trees were spread too thinly.

He sighed, heavily, he could hear people coming from the distance, nodding to the Human he spoke.

"Shar eísi cestal pyl cáesi?"

Dexter blinked. Even his bad recollections of Quenya could make little sense of this language. He didn't have time to reply though, as the medics had arrived.

"Alright sir, what do you...the hell?" The medics froze in place, astonished that there actually was an elf.

"Hey, I told you," Dexter said exasperatedly. "I was walking around, and BAM, this guy lands on top of me. He was just laying on the ground in a daze until you guys showed up."

One of the medics pointed to something hanging by the elf's left side. "You know, this blokes got a sword."

"I'm not sure if he speaks Basic either," said Dexter, looking at the elf. He looked at the elf, and pointed at the distant colony ship through the trees, and jerked his head in that direction, while the medics milled around uneasily.

"Oh Please" Aélas thought, one thing after another with this lot, They'd never seen a sword before by the looks of it.

"Or air éi mys" Aélas said, brandishing the sword and intiating its power field, pure energy engulfing the blade making it more deadly, he deactivated it and sheathed it again, and in a mockery of the Human pointed at the colony ship and made a "shoo" movement, he walked behind, following them.

The group jumped back as the elf brandished the blade. It was a lucky thing they had not been armed, as the elf may have come to harm if they had, nervous as they were. Then they watched as the elf imperiously motioned to get walking to the colony ship, and started off. The medics lead the way while Dexter hung back a little, watching the elf. He pulled out his comm and dialed for Captain Yorath.

"Captain Yorath here, Dexter. Anything to report?" crackled the captains voice.

"Yes sir, actually," he said, "there is a little something to report. I had a bit of a run-in with a native."

There was silence for a few moments on the other end, then the Captain replied, "You mean you were attacked by some wildlife?"

"No sir, not precisely. Honest to God, an elf fell out of a tree, on top of me."

Yorath cursed, "Damnit, there goes the protocol. Hes alright? You didn't get in a fight or something right?"

"No sir, but it's difficult to communicate with him. Another thing sir, they're not primitive at all, it appears. This one brandished a sword and it looked distinctly like some sort of energy blade - he was just showing if off I'm sure."

"Alright, but be careful. When it comes to flight or fight, fly first if you can; we can't afford to start a fight in our position here."

"Yes sir, will do." He put the communicator back in his pocket and increased his stride to catch up.

In his quarters, Captain Yorath grumbled. "So much for dignitaries." The whole matter was getting even more troubling - it seemed the natives knew that they were there; not only that but they were far more advanced than they let on. But where did these elves come from? No known elven state had holds this far out in the Milky Way. Captain Yorath went over to a terminal and pulled up the Galactic Common Archives, and began searching for any possible extra-Solar elven states that may have existed in the near cosmos.

-=-=-

The resident digi-sent on board the Last Night was observing the sensors while the crew was out working. Nothing but the usual debris... except...

What is this...

A ship had appeared. The digi-sent focused a scan in the area; a fold-drive signature. The ship was night-side and closing fast. The Captain had to know.

"Captain Yorath?" rang out a voice in his quarters.

"Yes Pericles?"

"An unknown vessel has just folded in night-side and is on a trajectory that will put itself right over us within minutes. Offensive and defensive capabilities are unknown, but a weapon charge has not - or cannot - been detected."

The Captain stood up. "Thank you for telling me - this news must be relayed to Fleet command immediately. Are our defensive systems at the ready?"

"I am already warming up our shields, sir."

"Excellent. I need to send an advisory out to our people on the ground."

"Acknowledged, sir."

.:ooc:. Tags have been noted.

Tag to join later if that is ok

Aélas understood nothing of what the human said, but carried on walking with the rather jumpy group none-the-less. Today was rather interesting indeed.

-=-=-

The ship was small, a merchant vessel, largely unarmed except for 2 fighter's who shielded themselves in the profile of the merchant, Either unwilling to, or unwanting to, It began to slide through the atmosphere, the fighters broke off and veered away to a military refueling station secreted elsewhere, as the merchant vessel slowly but surely began to land in view of the colony ship, over the mountains, in the city that had been discovered earlier.

It might of seen them, but it was unlikely, Aélas was pretty much alone, none of the sensor stations on the planet had, surprisingly been operating on the light side that day, and as so, the dark side's operations had been overtaxed, the planet knew nothing of the ships that had penetrated its atmosphere, and wouldnt, for a while.

-=-=-

Aélas had noticed the sleek merchant ship, probably one of the few of its size with a fold drive, streak through the sky and land, he was annoyed, these Humans were slow, but he was patient, and slowly but surely they approached the human ship.

-=-=-

As quickly as it had come, the merchant ship had unloaded its cargo and recieved a new one, as it neared breaking the atmosphere again, the 2 fighters it had come with merged with its sensor profile again, and the merchant ship folded, taking the fighters with it to unknown places. The addition of the Fighters to the fold would most likely leave a rupture trail through space, but what did it matter when there was no-one around to track them?

Pericles continued to track the vessel as it made its way around the planet. Soon it became multiple signatures - some of which were small, definitely fighter sized.

"Sir," rang out the voice in Captain Yorath's quarters, "the ship is closing to visual range."

"On screen," said Captain Yorath. He looked it over as it soared past the colony and in the direction of the settlement that had been discovered earlier. He watched as it set down to land, and shut off the visual. At that moment Pericles spoke up again.

"Sir, Dexter and the medics have returned with the native and request to see you."

"I'll be right down," replied the Captain. He picked up a small tablet from off his desk and strode out of the room.

He emerged from the ship and hailed the men. They came toward him and he looked over the elf, and began giving greetings in many languages - Quenya, Latin, Basic, whatever he could remember, hoping he would know one of them.

Aélas shook his head, attempting whatever they were was stupid, but they were human, he would speak, and hopefully, their translator would accustom himself to their language.

"Eisi o ailáesos aelyl?" He Said, shaking his head slightly.

"Sár tal sají?" He said again..

"tia ailér, Do you understand me yet?" He said.

Unaware of whether it was working, he prepared to recite something again.

Captain Yorath turned to his men. "This is getting nowhere fast." He began thinking of other ways to try and communicate with the elf.

"Sir? Doesn't the digi-sent have the capacity for universal translation? If it's some obscure dialect of an elven language he could probably decode it," suggested Dexter.

"That is a good idea," said the Captain. "Excellent, we'll try that then." He motioned to walk inside the ship and headed in.

-=Arizona Prime

Back on the homeworld, news of the priorly settled nature of Abarazo had reached the ears of the Empress, and another battlegroup was being drawn from Third Fleet to dispatch to the Koratu system along with a few diplomats, including the Diplomat General herself. Soon an entire cadre of them was packed aboard a small transport headed for the Koratu system.

"So boss," asked Demetrius Garret, one of the diplomats, "how is it that you're being dispatched to this 'mystery nation,' if you don't mind my asking?"

Anariel sighed, and said: "Well, I had actually decided to have a meeting with the Empress as I had some questions, mainly concerning some appointments she made - which completely bypassed me."

"You mean the appointment of High Admiral Ultan to Ambassador to Central Facehuggeria?"

"Precisely," she glowered. "She said something about my bias toward the Facehuggerians might harm relations and that even putting me in such a position might endanger my person, which only served to get me more flustered. Then she said that she did have an assignment especially for me."

"And here you are now?"

"Precisely. I guess the Empress just likes 'pigeonholing' the ambassadors - brutes to brutes and elves to elves."

Demetrius nodded. "Well, it is an important assignment."

"It *might* be an important assignment," she replied. "In any case I get the suspicion that I'm just being made to go as far away as possible."

Oh for.. Aélas thought, walking through the ship, it was interesting, but bland, Human, boring, but efficient, he had to give them that credit. He much prefered his own people ships, though.

He spoke with their, AI, it seemed, and after a few moments, it seemed they had gleaned some success.

He turned to what he hoped was their captain, and with luck, the Digi AI would translate in real time, converting his voice into something intelligble to these Humans.

"Hello, I Am Aélas, Scout Of The Drath Woods, Estate of the City of Naquíth, Province of Barranas, World of Vanar, Elf of the Imperial Republic, and who may you be?" He said.

Pericles listened as the elf made his speech and repeated it in Basic to Captain Yorath, who nodded. He said back to Pericles,

"I am Captain Yorath of the Last Night, of the Imperial Corporate Nautocracy of Arizona Nova. We have come to this planet in hopes of making a new home for ourselves here. Do you have an embassy of some sort nearby?"

Pericles repeated the information back to the elf, and then spoke to the captain again:

"Sir, the homeworld reinforcements and envoys have just hit realspace outside the system and should be here within minutes."

Tedious.. but it works..

"Captain Yourath, Naquíth, A City your forward scouts may of discovered boasts 800,000 People and a starport, and ultimately, the province is home to just over 1 million people, however, The Capital of this planet, and ultimately, this worlds embassy, is located deep within a forest in the Vale of Glaspherine, where the mountain ridges of Aquanor and Nadór meet on the southern continent, I recommend that you travel to Naquíth and put your case to the ruling council there, they have sufficent clearance to immeaditly placate your immeadiate concerns, and act as an embassy, thus easing your burden, either that, or you can travel in your ship to the Capital of Glaspherine, which is a rather chaotic place at the moment, with the ending of the Celebration Of The Evenstar" Aélas said, not pausing at all during his rather long recital.

Captain Yorath blinked after the digisent finished the run-on speech.

"Ooookay. To Naquíth, then?"

"I think thats what he wants," said Dexter.

"Alright then, to Naquíth. Inform the diplomatic liaison."

The ship containing the diplomats was just about to land when the order came with directions.

"We're being redirected to an elven city on the surface," the pilot said to the passengers on board. "It's fairly close, we'll be there in minutes." The ship turned about and sped toward the nearby mountain range.

True to his word the ship set down quickly on solid earth just outside the city, and the diplomats disembarked.

And so, Aélas informed Captain Yourath of the route he would need to take through the great forest and mountain barrier, whilst, meanwhile, In Naquíth.

Aélas had taken measures to inform Naquíth of the Impending arrivals, and The Mayor, along with 4 of the Cities Undoriél Legion, And the cities most expert diplomat, had travelled to the unknown ship. The meeting was one of which stories could be told, Great white walls glistening in the Afternoon sun, whilst water flowed through channels into the city, and grass rustled in the peace.

The Mayor, Talas Héldron, Introduced himself, along with the Diplomat, Renár Balas. They were both quite proficient in English, or Basic as it was becoming known.

"But I beleive that standing here all day would not bode well, Please, follow me, we shall endavour to travel to the Mayor's office inside of this great city." Renár said, as he and the Mayor turned towards the town and began to walk towards it, followed by their Honour gaurd.

As they approached the great walls, its great wooden doors, there was a slight flicker, a trained eye would notice it as a shield deactivating as the Doors swung open, flickering again as they were on the other side.

"Magnificent, isnt it" Said Talas, sighing slightly. The city was in four tiers, the first tier, great white buildings sold many wares, terminals and the spaceport all opened up the City to the galaxy outside, The Second Tier held the Residential buildings, children played in the streets and washing fluttered from lines suspended above buildings.

"Whilst we do have every technology you would have, or we would hope so, many do prefer traditional methods for traditonal things, such as washing clothes." Renár said, smiling slightly at the diplomats as they continued to look around.

Every building was crowned with a blue roof, fashioned out of Crystal, or at least, Crystalline Material, as Municipal buildings rose up around them on the Third Tier, they neared the fourth, where great gardens, the Mayoral offices and all other buildings were built.

The Honour gaurd departed them there,as they approached the Mayoral office, it had taken about 2 hours to walk up the 4 tiers, and not many words had been spoken.

Inside the Mayoral office was the same white stone, but many rugs of unknown silk, Crystalline staircases and many great tomes held within bookcases made this a more stately place to be.

Once within the Mayors main offices, they sat, and were brough Water, Fresh from the springs of the mountain, tainted with a fruit, much like Lemon, were the Mayor hinted to drink, as they all seated themselves.

"Well, sorry we have not spoken much on our way here, but I beleive yet another race has stumbled across one of our worlds, Please, first, Ask any questions and direct any concerns to Me and Renár" Talas said.

Captain Yorath craned his neck, looking around as they walked down the grand venues of this hidden city.

Who are these people? he thought. How could we not have known about this?

Questions like this flew through his mind as he followed with the rest of the group into the heart of the city. When they arrived at the office, he gladly accepted the water graciously as the walk had left him a little parched. He sipped it down as he looked around the room for some clue as to what nation these elves were from.

"Well, I guess the first matter of business is our colony here. We had no idea your city - civilization - was here when we scouted out this system. Will we be allowed to stay here? Secondly, your nation is unknown to us, your flags and penants not in any registry we have access to. Why have you hidden yourselves away so carefully?"

"I Will Let Renár adress your questions, here." Talas said.

"Thank you, Well, Foremost, Your colony, I cannot foresee any problem with such an establishment on this world, however, you would have to conform to strict pollution and enviromental control rules, and you would be subject to all articles of this planets Judicial writings, of course, with allowances." Renár said, smiling slightly.

"Ah, that question, Well, The Imperial Republic was founded during a period of rather unstable political and military conditions in the nation we originally came from, we have since founded a large empire spanning a sizeable portion of space, and have gone out of our way to secret ourselves as to not draw attention, another more serious reason for hiding ourselves would be that the nation we come from, originally, disappeared many years ago, it was completely erased by what we can only call a universal flip. We have since endeavoured to retrieve sacred artifacts from our home nation, and we desperately wish to reforge the symbol of its power, The Evenstar, but so far, our attempts have been fruitless" Renár told them.

"But, of course, you wonder which nation and which period, and as for now, Our databanks have nothing to hide, The Nation in Question was known as Arenumberg, we left during the harsher days during the undocumented Brysdale incident, a very bloody human rebellion, we left that system in exodus, and we cannot return to somewhere that does not exist. But, it has been many years, and we now have our own culture and history here.." Renár said.

"But sorry, I rant, please, speak" Renár asked.

"We shall try to work, then, within your specifications," replied Captain Yorath. "Though your story still doesn't make too much sense..."

"Captain," interjected Anariel. "If I may elucidate?"

Captain Yorath started, only having now realized her presence. "Lady Anariel! I did not see you earlier! Please, speak on."

"Well, I am not too clear myself - Arenumberg, or at least the one I know of, was a nation of humans. They sent a distress signal to us, asking for assistance against a Shivan incursion. We responded, but they disappeared soon afterwards in spite of our efforts. It could be they were the rebels Renár speaks of..."

"A universal flip, though," pondered Captain Yorath. "What is that?"

"Probably some temporal devilry," someone grunted.

"Whatever it is," said Anariel, "it seems we have the last branch of the original elven civilization of Arenumberg before us now." She looked around the office. "Verily, a lost civilization. The court historians would go wild."

Sometime Later.. Like a while later.. um, yeah, a while later, lets call it 8 months.. Ah, maybe 7.

Time had passed, The Imperial Republic had established full diplomatic contact with Arizona Nova, and even now, trade ships from both nations plied the space lanes to and from each other, And it had all begun on Koratu, as it had been called by the Humans.

It had indeed grown more important with the Human colony upon its surface, which, to any outsider, would appear to be no different to the Elven cities, they did, afterall, have to conform to the laws of the world.

Now, after all this time, the final piece of work had been completed on a monument that now stood in the central plaza of this new Human colony, a monument to Man and Elf, All The Races Of Arizona Nova And Arenumberg working together.

Renár smiled as the crowds gathered around to the sound of elf chorus, combined with the finest human music played from elven instruments, the day was indeed good, the sun shone, and flower petals fluttered in the breeze, he turnt to the Arizonan by his side, He handed the Elethwé globe to them, he globe signified a new era of peace and co-operation between the two.

Renár shook the Arizonans hand.

"I beleive you have to give a speech to this crowd.." He said, chuckling slightly.

Captain Yorath accepted the handshake, beaming. He turned to the assembled crowd and waved, and began:

"People of Koratu - of Vanar - we come here today to celebrate the alliance of our two nations, but it is to you, the elven peoples of Arenumberg, to which we owe our greatest thanks! Already established on this world, you in fact nurtured it, made it grow, but in your graciousness, you agreed to let us also dwell here, even assisting us in our efforts to build our colony. The fruits of this have made both of us prosper greatly, and this great monument is a witness to it! It is my sincere hope that we both continue to prosper together, in peace, until the stars themselves grow dim!"

.:ooc:. Now fully open, huzzah!