NationStates Jolt Archive

It has long been a held assumption that we, Sol and the Path, were alone. The sheer reluctance that people have shown to merely thinking on the concept that there might be life somewhere ‘out there’ alone is a clear sign of some form of deep rooted fear. For centuries we the Children of Sol have longed for that word, that message, from the deep regions of space. Yet despite all our best efforts there never was a return to our own attempts. Then we found the Third-World-Gate, and our entire reasoning changed.

Through this Gate we found the means to travel instantaneously to the other Sol worlds and within a matter of decades we had colonized Luna, Mars and Europa. Humanity entered a new age of reasoning as World-Gate after World-Gate was exposed and we spread out across the habitable worlds and satellites of our blessed mother Sol.

Did we wonder who had built these World-Gates? Of course for they were clearly made by intelligent design. And as we wondered what creatures could have made the World-Gates, so to did we come to wonder after two-hundred years over the odd matter that there seemed to be no World-Gates beyond the range of Sol no matter how many means we tried to reach out with our World-Gates to the other systems, as we had centuries before tried to reach out with satellite signals.

Once more the Third-World-Gate, Terra’s Eye, would be the revelation and answer to the questions we craved to have answered. We had used the World-Gates as exactly that, gates to connect our worlds, Sol’s children, to each other. But the World-Gates served a far greater purpose.

On the 21st of January in the year 2845, Richard Krachtoff, one of the many experts of those days in the World-Gates, made an astounding and entirely inadvertent discovery as he caused Terra’s Eye to shut down it’s connection to Europa, and in it’s place opened a inter-dimensional portal.

The World-Gates could be used to travel between the worlds, yes, but their true and far greater purpose was to connect Sol to the dimension that we have come to call the Path. And through this Path we found that our control over the World-Gates grew greater and far more stable. But the Path, how glorious it must have looked to our long gone fore-bears. A world with no limit in its size. Where the cold and cruel blasphemy of space is removed and where there was life.

Yes, the life. At last we had found that which we so had longed for during our entire existence, brethren and sisters. Aliens. The natives of the Path were varied, for how else can it be in a place that is made by the Gods to be infinite, and many of them were as amazed and overjoyed to meet the lone Children of Sol, as we were pleased and overjoyed to meet them.

With the discovery of the Path, at last Humanity, Sol, could fulfill it’s rightful and so long denied dream, to expand. No longer would we be hindered by the wrongness of space, there was only a world that could be explored for all eternity. Empire after empire, kingdom after kingdom, world after world, no matter the size of the civilization, they would become part of the glory that is being one of Sol’s children. Bloodshed was inevitable yes, and the brave soldiers of Sol grew in numbers to sizes that could populate all of Terra on their own. But the joy of those many who joined on their own to our magnificence was far greater then the sorrow of those who had to be cleansed to allow our rightful expansion.

We have long thought we were alone, Sol and the Path. But now we have found a new World-Gate in the Path and were it leads we know not. It stands far away from Sol’s borders in the Path, the distance far greater then the Entire Empire itself and the news took long to travel to the World-Gate leading to Terra, leading to the Eternal Will of our Empire, the Emperor Deighton.

The expansion stopped. Sol’s soldiers no longer moved forward, watching only over that which was already under their charge. Emissaries no longer moved out to seek new cultures, to fill their dreams with the glory of the Empire. All the eyes turned inward for many generations.

For we feared where the World-Gate might lead too.

In the Path, there were few who were the equals of the Shining Empire, of Sol’s Children. But beyond that World-Gate… There lay only darkness for what would happen if we opened the gate? Never before had we seen a World-Gate lead to anywhere but the Sol system. Never before had we seen a World-Gate outside of the Empire’s Border’s in the Path. But eventually voices rose up. Many voices across the Empire, and not even the Eternal Will could defy the overwhelming might that thundered across the Path as Sol’s Children and the Path’s Children spoke up.

That was centuries ago. A group of colonists were cryogenically frozen in suspension, their bodies loaded into the bellies of the beasts; Cerberus, Abara, Grunzu, and in these beasts the colonists spend lifetimes in cold silence as they approached the World-Gate far away. We have arrived one hundred years ago, building the means to support our numbers over the past three generations. The Beasts aid great beyond means as they have been stripped bare and forming the three city sections of what we call Drathar. Cerebrus the Greek guardian watches over the World-Gate fifty miles north. Abara the Ashashi healer stands in the center, watching over us benevolently and Grunzu the Utaroc lady of steel stands to the west, forginf and housing our great trades and tools.

We are the Children of Sol and the Path. And whatever is beyond this World-Gate, we shall fear it no longer.

Entry made in the journal of Michael Karath; First Guardian of the colony of Drathar, on the date: 24th of March, 6014

((OOC: Intro post and thread. Contact with the NS dimension shall be made in the next post. Also, I should inform people that ‘Sol’s Empire’ despite it’s time period or it’s sheer size is in many/most aspects still is an near future nation. Naturally the same goes for Drathar, only that even has the further point that it is only a colony, so far away from the Empire that it is unlikely it will ever have contact with the Empire again in the next few millennia. As not only do they not possess the means to travel faster then the speed of light, it’s impossible in the Path due to the lack of space beyond the ‘world’.))

[tag]

I smell something like Starcraft here. Nice start though.

((OOC: Starcraft? Hmmm, you mean the three ‘beasts’ that had been send out to transport the colonists perhaps? I can only see that as an similarity. But no, there is no Starcraft thing to them. As mentioned, their space technology is no further advanced then putting simple space stations above planet atmosphere’s and launching satellites. In the Path the very concept of ‘space’ is missing. It has somewhat different laws of nature. The three beasts were in fact enormous landbased transport vehicles that would also serve as the resources to construct the new colony, besides what they carried in their hulls. But many thanks tagging. *bows*))

Long shadows were cast across the land and sea, all eight of them originating from the enormous white pillars that rose up high into the sky, The Eight pillars stood placed in a circle leaving an open space between them in the middle five-hundred meters in diameter. This simple appearing scene was the World-Gate that had been named ‘Shadows Eye’.

The Dratharan structures (power plants for the World-Gate, control centers, army barracks and an airport and numerable warehouses) erected three-hundred meters to the west of the World-Gate paled in comparison to the sheer height of the pillars. Yet still the Dratharans seemed barely impressed by the ancient wonder, whose brothers had allowed for the entire creation of their empire, and were far more worried about where it might lead too.

But despite their concerns, the colonists were bold with their sense of purpose. Many of the colonists were born here, their entire reason for being was this single World-Gate. They would not fail Sol or Path.

Inside the primary control center of Shadow’s Eye, the activity of people made on think of a beehive. The sheer variation of languages used would drive someone not part of the Shining Empire near mad. Over twenty races lived in the colony, many of them coming from far and wide of the Empire, even further changing their languages. Were it not for the translators implanted into every single newborn child of the Empire, co-operation would have been sheer impossibility. Zhiieet languages were as impossible to translate to humans as was the case vice versa, Olraa was untranslatable by ANY race save for themselves, fortunately they were capable of learning other languages at ease and their aid had proven invaluable in the creation of the translator chip. After they had been suffiently modernized over the course of a few generations by the Terrans of course, on does not let people who live in a near steam age environment tamper with cutting edge technology. And instantly trying to modernize civilizations… Well the wastes of Zal’burad stood as testament of that particular idea.

Fortunately, First Guardian Michael Karath had been implanted with the translator chip as all members of the Empire, it helped in providing a mental block to ignore the actual language spoken and instead hearing the language they had learned. This usually meant a second delay but most people got used to the sight of sounds coming a little slower then the motion of the mouth, if there was a mouth in the first place. And now the leader of the Drathar colony paced slowly though the command center, watching the proceedings of the men and women and assorted others, as they worked diligently on finalizing the connection to Shadow’s Eye.

It’s design was identical to the Sol-World-Gates and as such integration of the Drathar’s facilities into working together with the World-gate was proceeding far more swiftly then Karath could have imagined, especially since it had been countless generations since the last actual activation of an World-Gate.

“First Guardian, estimations are that we can complete our works in another two hours. After that we can activate the World-Gate as we see fit. Documents indicate we may suffer power fluctuations the first times, as each World-Gate is slightly different from others, and as such our power plants must be properly fine tuned to match the World-Gate properly.”

Turning slowly in his place, Karath looked into the eyes of the Shadow’s Eyes base commander, the Zhiieet ‘Etheet’ as was the closest, and least offensive sounding, translation to English. The barely humanoid insect like creature’s eyelids ‘shuttered’ up and down multiple time as she waited for her words to finish translating. Rubbing her second pair of legs absently against each other, filling the room with a light additional buzz that went fully unnoticed.

“Thank you, prelate. Your workers are well motivated indeed. My congratulations. … I have read that we can open the Gate-World partially, so that we can send through communications without actually opening it enough to allow travel.” Furrowing his shaved brows, Karath watched Etheet, while he was the highest ranking colonist and as such required to be certain of his thoughts, he also realized that on such an sensitive matter as the World-Gates, it was best to acquire second opinions. This wasn’t merely a colony on the line with his actions, no Shadow’s Eye could be lost by wrong decisions and that was unacceptable.

“Thank you, First Guardian. The workers are well trained due to your governing and proper selectiong on behalf of the original colonists. As for your query on the ability to use the World-Gate to communicate purely, you are correct. This will be less draining on our energy supply as well from what I have come to understand. Allowing us more time to attempt to fine tune our power plants on the first time we open it.”

Nodding his head, he smiled at Etheet, well aware that facial expressions were complete incomprehensible to the insectoid, and clasped his hands behind his back as he turned around again to stare out the wide window that offered view to the impressive sight of the World-Gate.

“Then once we have completed our adjustments. We will activate the World-Gate and send a message to whatever world it is on and see if anyone is capable of responding.”

…………………………………..

Standard NS dimension,
Earth,
Specific location unknown; World-Gate.

An slow hum filled the air as energy began to course through the eight pillars that stood abandoned in the middle of nowhere, plant life that had grown across the pillars for centuries began to smolder and burn away by the heat of the pillars as they drew power from their system net as they received their activation command from another World-Gate and initialized an maintenance round. Within a minute, the heat had risen to such levels that plant life simply charred and turned to ashes, falling down onto the ground and leaving the World-Gate in clear view once more as it cooled down and opened a small, invisible to the eye, portal through the dimensions and connected the Path to this world and a open transmission came through in a avalanche of languages over many frequencies, amongst them was one in English…


This is the colony of Drathar, part of the Shining Empire and proud Children of Sol and the Path. We stand here by the World-Gate that we have called ‘Shadow’s eyes’. And World-Gate that leads to your own world.

Many ages have passed since we have last found an World-Gates, and the discovery of this one has filled us with many feelings. We know not if your world even harbors life or wheter it is devoid, dead. And if there is life, are you able to receive this? Able to understand this? The mystery’s that are presented to us with this new World-Gate are many, and we hope to learn them all.

Whoever is out there, we greet you in peace on behalf of the Eternal Will; the Emperor Deighton and from Sol and the Path.

From the Shining Empire’s colony of Drathar, I am the First Guardian Michael Karath and speak to you on sanctioned behalf of the Eternal Will.

Shadow’s Eye; World-Gate military base,
Fifty miles north of the colony of Drathar.

“We still have received no response to our transmissions, First Guardian. Do we continue broadcasting?”

“Yes, Lieutenant, continue transmitting the message. Perhaps the World-Gate must be opened further?” Leaning forward over the information station, Karath looked over his shoulder at Etheet.”

“First Guardian, according to our systems, the transmissions are being successfully send through the World-Gate and to the other side. There remains of course the possibility that even if there is life there, they might not understand our transmission, or even being unable to receive them.”

Pushing himself up from the station, the First Guardian placed one of his hands on his neck, rubbing the muscles as he thought. “Yes. That possibility remains… But I am not just ready to fully open Shadow’s Eye just yet. Maintain transmitting the communications attempt. Try adding a few mathematical based messages to it. For all we know they mistake our words for nothing more then random gibberish from some insignificant source. ”

“As you wish, First Guardian.” Tapping three of her fingers against her torso plating, the insect like base commander turned slowly on her six legs and made her way to another communications station and the officer behind it.

((Bump?))

The Path,
Drathar Colony,
Templar Tower: First Guardian’s office.

An chilly breeze swept by the glass in lead windows that offered an view from the First Guardian’s chamber in the Templar Tower over the south side of Abara, the civil city center of the Drathar colony. The light from the sky, for in the Path there were no stellar bodies, no sun, no moon, nothing, had grown diffused as night began to fall, orange light bathed the colony as people made their ways from their work to their homes.

For two whole days they had been transmitting signals to whatever laid on the other side of the World-Gate. Two days without an single response. The conclusions were easy to draw to First Guardian Karath; One, there was no sentient life on the other side of the World-Gate. Two, life on the other side of the World-Gate was incapable of receiving basic radio transmission, meaning that they were an exceptionally primitive culture. Three, whomever was on the other side was receiving their signals but choose not to respond to it, for whatever possible reason.

Looking over the latest reports that littered his desk, Karath reached up and massaged his temple as he tried to ignore the steady pounding in his head, the Heran flower tea wasn’t helping today against his headache…

Even with the World-Gate swallowing his attention, he could not ignore his civic duties. Legislations had to be examined, council meetings on day to day ruling had to be participated in and during it all the people expected him to solve the mystery of the World-Gate called Shadow’s Eye….

“Bastards.” The words came out before he realized it. Was he angry? No, not really. But he was disappointed. Two whole days of transmitting in hundreds of languages, mathematical query’s and not an single response. He had no choice left but to send out explorer’s through Shadow’s Eye.

Opening the World-Gate fully. The thought alone caused his head-ache to flare up again. If there was someone on that other side, then whatever their intent was, he would be most unhappy with their lack of responses to his people’s transmissions. Furrowing his brow, he sipped his Heran flower tea and grabbed another rapport detailing the latest agriculture statistics.


Slowly the group of two-hundred men and women soldiers approached the World-Gate. Several vehicles rode behind them, an few were armored personal carriers, most however were supply vehicles as well as reconnaissance vehicles packed with scanners and all manner of research materials.

The soldiers themselves were all humanoid, dressed in what seemed to be medium weight body armor compromised of dark blue plates made of an synthetic alloy. Their faces hidden behind thick transparent visors, and golden crosses decorating their chests and shoulder guards.

Templars of the Shining Empire, devoted and without fear, they would perform what ever task was assigned to them. Today, their orders were simple, enter Shadow’s Eye and find out what resides on the world that harbors the other World-Gate.

Watching from the Shadow’s Eye military control room as the World-Gate was fully opened, an gateway being ripped between this dimension and the other world, Karath only hoped that he wasn’t sending two hundred men and women to their certain deaths on the other world.

And as the first Templars stepped into the shifting lightening display of the rip between the worlds, the transmissions seeking contact with others continued unabated.

The Path,
Drathar Colony,
Templar Tower: First Guardian’s office.

An chilly breeze swept by the glass in lead windows that offered an view from the First Guardian’s chamber in the Templar Tower over the south side of Abara, the civil city center of the Drathar colony. The light from the sky, for in the Path there were no stellar bodies, no sun, no moon, nothing, had grown diffused as night began to fall, orange light bathed the colony as people made their ways from their work to their homes.

For two whole days they had been transmitting signals to whatever laid on the other side of the World-Gate. Two days without an single response. The conclusions were easy to draw to First Guardian Karath; One, there was no sentient life on the other side of the World-Gate. Two, life on the other side of the World-Gate was incapable of receiving basic radio transmission, meaning that they were an exceptionally primitive culture. Three, whomever was on the other side was receiving their signals but choose not to respond to it, for whatever possible reason.

Looking over the latest reports that littered his desk, Karath reached up and massaged his temple as he tried to ignore the steady pounding in his head, the Heran flower tea wasn’t helping today against his headache…

Even with the World-Gate swallowing his attention, he could not ignore his civic duties. Legislations had to be examined, council meetings on day to day ruling had to be participated in and during it all the people expected him to solve the mystery of the World-Gate called Shadow’s Eye….

“Bastards.” The words came out before he realized it. Was he angry? No, not really. But he was disappointed. Two whole days of transmitting in hundreds of languages, mathematical query’s and not an single response. He had no choice left but to send out explorer’s through Shadow’s Eye.

Opening the World-Gate fully. The thought alone caused his head-ache to flare up again. If there was someone on that other side, then whatever their intent was, he would be most unhappy with their lack of responses to his people’s transmissions. Furrowing his brow, he sipped his Heran flower tea and grabbed another rapport detailing the latest agriculture statistics.


Slowly the group of two-hundred men and women soldiers approached the World-Gate. Several vehicles rode behind them, an few were armored personal carriers, most however were supply vehicles as well as reconnaissance vehicles packed with scanners and all manner of research materials.

The soldiers themselves were all humanoid, dressed in what seemed to be medium weight body armor compromised of dark blue plates made of an synthetic alloy. Their faces hidden behind thick transparent visors, and golden crosses decorating their chests and shoulder guards.

Templars of the Shining Empire, devoted and without fear, they would perform what ever task was assigned to them. Today, their orders were simple, enter Shadow’s Eye and find out what resides on the world that harbors the other World-Gate.

Watching from the Shadow’s Eye military control room as the World-Gate was fully opened, an gateway being ripped between this dimension and the other world, Karath only hoped that he wasn’t sending two hundred men and women to their certain deaths on the other world.

And as the first Templars stepped into the shifting lightening display of the rip between the worlds, the transmissions seeking contact with others continued unabated.