NationStates Jolt Archive

A man know simply as ‘Dark Angel’ sat alone infront of the Tribunal, Tappee ruling body. Darkness engulfed the room, with a single light shining over Dark Angel, so that he could not see the other members of the room.

“Give us your report” Said a voice from somewhere in the room.

Dark Angel was the Director of the Saecula Saeculbrum, Tappee temporal agency. He was here to give his annual report to the Tribunal. Calmly he grabbed a glass of water from the desk and took a sip.

Clearing his throat he began “If you take a look at your Data pad you find a copy of my yearly report.” Allowed them a moment to look through the information. “As you can see compared to pervious year the number of incursion is up. As you can also see that in every case SS agents able to protect the STC from any kind of alteration, with a 100% mission success rate.”

“Do we now who is behind this sudden increase in incursions” asked another voice from the shadows

Dark Angel shifted about in his chair a bit “actually no, we don’t. Problem is these incursion could be almost any time zone, and our ability to monitor the STC is” he paused trying to find the right word “Well it’s limited.”

An awkward silence soon followed.

“With all due respect” said Dark Angel ending the silence “Since we have discover Time Travel we have become complacent, feeling that there was no further need to research temporal mechanic. With this latest batch of incursions it is my opinion that with the current level of technology that Tappee has in the field of time travel, that the SS can adequately protect Tappee against both present and future Temporal Attacks. With that being said I would like for the Tribunal to forward a motion a to increase temporal research by a minimum of 100 times that of the current level.”

Voices could be heard chatting on off in the darkness. Suddenly they stopped, “Very well, the Tribunal agree unanimously with your assessment of the situation.

Shortly after Dark Angel left the room, normal lighting in the room returned to a normal level.

“Why have we not continued Temporal research” inquired on of the Tribunal member

“When we signed the Temporal Accord we were limited to the current Temporal technology that we had at the time, the accord basically locked us into temporal ability that we are at now. So naturally we basically cut funding to temporal research and gave it to the SS” Answered Thriaz Morison, the Tribunal chair.

“So what is our next course of action?” asked another member of the Tribunal

“Contact the Temporal Research Commission of Indra Prime, and request permission to move from a level 7 to at least level 10” answered Thriaz

“I is against our tradition to ask for permission from outsider, this is an internal mater” shot a member.

“We signed the Accord on our own free will, and will be subject to it punishment should we break it” scolded Thriaz “I’m contacting them now. He walked to the centre of the room where Dark Angel was sitting, as he appoched the desk lower in the ground and was replaced by a platform.

Walking his way on to platform he hit a serious of button, he was now send a Holographic Avatar of himself to the Temporal Research Commission of Indra Prime “This is Tribunal Chair Thriaz Morison of Tappee, and I would like to formally request a meeting with the Temporal Commission”

Almost immediately after a channel was opened and the request was made, a blinding flash of light enveloped the entire room, even lighting up the darkest corners. As soon as the light dissapeared, every member of the Tribunal had vansihed from the room.

Aboard the Indra Prime Flagship Phaeralon

The Tribunal members, the leaders of the Tappeean government, materialized in a completely dark room which appeared to strech on to infinity. The Tribunal council could almost hear the subsonic vibrations that were being caused by the ships ventillation system as well as the distant harmonic pitch of the engines that were powering the great ship. In the blink of an eye, the entire room faded from darkness to reveal a complete 1080 degree view of the galaxy around them. The council, at first, sub conciously held their breath because they actually had the thought that the realtime holographic representation was real and they were in the cold of space. A streamlined Obelisk-like desk appeared about 15 meters away from the group and at the table were five people. All were wearing what appeared to be Tailored uniforms with the Logo of the Temporal Incursion Fleet High Command, but where there were supposed to be the heads of the people, there was only blackness. These were not shadows covering their faces, there was just nothing there, as if the darkness that existed before, only remained in those five spots. The members of the Tribunal slowly approached the people who were seated at the desk and they were ordered to stop 10 feet from the desk.

In a voice that was neither male nor female, nor decidedly human, the question was asked ,"What is the reason for the summoning of this council Thriaz Morison of Tappee?"

Thraiz took a moment to clear his throat, before proceeding, truth being he was rather intimidated at the moment

“I would first like to thank you for taking this meeting, it is my understanding that it is a rare occasion for you to see anyone, little alone me, and for that I am grateful” Thraiz lowered his head ever so slightly, in Tappee such an action was a sign of great respect

Allowing a moment of silence he continued “Under article four of the Temporal accord it states Once nations reach a certain Technical Expertise level in the field of Temporal Mechanics, where they are deemed to be Seasoned and mature with the technology, they will be brought into the higher echelon, where more responsibility will be added to that nation’s already standing responsibilities to the STC. At that point they will be allowed to develop the more advanced Temporal Technology that would have the potential ability to seriously affect the STC. At that point, the nation in question will have earned the respect in the field and will be aware of the danger they are taking on. I am of the Opinion that Tappee has to date demonstrate the required maturity of our current tech level, and as state by the accord we requesting approval by you to begin research into higher tech levels, going as high as level ten. Reason being for our request is that we feel that cannot no longer adequately protect the STC from Incursion at our current level”

The room appeared to go dead silent as the members of the TIFHC appeared to just sit there and make no response to the statement made by the Tappeean delegation. Seconds turned into Minutes and eventually it reached almost fifteen minutes without anthing being said be either party. While the TIFHC representatives remained absolutely motionless, with their gloved hands folded into one another, the Tappeean representatives, were getting a bit uncomfortable. Since it was the leader of the Tribunal who came to the front and was recognized by the TIF High Command, etiquette demanded that he wait with full patience and silence as the initiating party. But eventually it started to get to him, and he wanted to find out if they were still even congizant of their presence. Just before he was about to break with decorum and ask the TIFHC representatives if they were still here, the same not quite human voice spoke up.

"Thriaz Morison, we have discussed your request for an increase in temporal research grants that require the approval of the Temporal Research Commission of Indra Prime, and as the representatives of said body, we must find out some information from you to make a concrete decision as to whether the Temporal Incursion Fleet High Command should grant you that authority under Article Four of the Temporal Accord. As you are aware the level of technological gain will increase your ability to create temporally based devices that are currently three fold your current ability and will be that much more of a threat to the Space/Time Continuum. Holding the key to that level of technology will put your nation in a level of temporal development that is shared by few nations, including the sovreign nation Indra Prime herself. Generally each nation is required to take single steps at a time, as it is necessary for that nation to develop along the lines that is required to understand the underlying fundamental technology. We do have a few questions for you before we can make our final decision. They are as follows:

1. What is the specific reasoning behind your request of artificially increasing your temporal advancement? Under the Temporal Prime Directive, no nation may be artificially increased in status unless that nation is deemed a worthy nation of such responsibility and is capable of understanding the technology they are pursuing. Even if they are found acceptable, they may not be given the technology by the more advanced nation, but they may be used as consultants. Which leads us to Questions two and three.

2. Why is your nation worthy of being given the ability manipulate the Space/Time Continuum at the tenth level of development?

3. What has your nation done to prove its responsibility level and that your nation can be trusted with this technological advancement?

4. If you are allowed to develop this technology at this specific level of development, are you willing to sacrifice your entire population just to protect the Space/Time Continuum standing shoulder to shoulder with the handful of other nations that have made this promise before you?"

Thraiz thought to himself for moment, choosing his word with care, to do otherwise could end in disaster.

“Well to the first question, as you are most likely aware in monitoring of the STC, Tappee has been facing an unprecedented amount of Incursions. Although to date all attempted incursions have been stopped by Tappee Temporal Enforcement Agency the S.S. We find that should the current trend continue, we will be soon be unable to deal with this problem if we are not allowed to advance our Temporal ability. We are not asking that you give us the technology, but instead allow us to develop it on our own.

If you do not allow us to expand our temporal ability, then you may be forced to step in and intervene. Which would be a violation of article two of the accord, which states Nations with Temporal Ability must keep that ability within the confines of their own nation. I say this not to threaten but to warn, if Tappee is no longer able maintain the STC no one know what the repercussion maybe for everyone else.

As for the second question I can only say this. Tappee has always seen Time travel as a Pandora’s box, and there are forces out there that do not see this fact, we will do whatever we can to prevent that box from being opened by the wrong person, which bring me you third question.

Even before signing the Accord Tappee has done everything within it’s scope to maintain the STC. Under article Ten of the accord we understand what our new role be, and yes we would be willing to sacrifice our entire population to protect the STC, to do otherwise would Tappee’s very existence in time at risk.”