NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This post is primarily to firmly-establish my IC presence in the Neptune sub-system. If any thread develops from it, that’s a nice side-effect.

IC:

It had been several years since the end of the Neptune Conference, the unprecedented gathering of a number of nations wanting to get a slice of the Neptune pie following Moontonia’s evacuation. Well, it was unprecedented in Skeelzanian circles anyway; no one had gotten killed during the course of it. Still, the conference had been a success. Thanks in part to an amiable host-nation and the opposing faction’s willingness to negotiate (starting a war wouldn’t help their chances either), the Sternreich had gotten what they’d wanted for nearly a century: an outpost in Sol, birthplace of humanity and the undisputed hub of galactic civilization. Now, nearly 5 years after the end of that historic meeting, the Skeelzanians sent word that they were coming to claim what was theirs.

The communication relay satellite, left in geo-synchronous orbit of Neptune ever since the Skeelzanian delegation left, suddenly awoke from its period of dormancy. Locking onto every receiver it could get in the outer system, it digitally shouted a message on all frequencies, obviously believing saturation was the best way to get results.


//Official Skeelzanian Sternreich Communications\\
Announcement from the Ministry of Foreign and Xeno Affairs
Concerning the establishment of Skeelzanian installations in the Neptune subsystem and the payment of Der Angst as outlined in the Neptune Accords

It is estimated that within 72 hours of the sending of this signal (and its assumed reception within the Solar System) a small Skeelzanian tast force will arrive within the Neptune subsystem. This will consist primarily of two barges, which Skeelzania is allowed under the Accords. A small military detachment will be present; however, they will not enter orbit of Neptune nor remain on the scene.

These barges, accompanied by several small vessels to assist in installation, are fully self-sufficient. They will take up orbit over Neptune’s North Pole. This orbit will be geostationary; if this conflicts with any current paths, please inform us to avoid collision.

Furthermore, these barges contain the gold and other valuables that make up Skeelzania’s payment to Der Angst for allowing us to establish this mission. If the Hypocrisy can contact these stations and arrange a pick-up, it would be appreciated.

\\End Communication//


Roughly seventy hours after the message was flashed all over the outer system, the Skeelzanian force arrived. Emerging from hyperspace with their usual starburst flashes of light, the ships remained stationary for a few minutes, getting their bearings. Satisfied that they had arrived in the right system, the captains gave the order to move ahead. Unlike previous visitations to Sol, none of the warships powered up weapons, though shields were quickly brought on line.

And their certainly were a healthy amount of them. Four destroyers, the Angstians would recognize them as sister-ships to the Ridder, formed a flanking wedge ahead of the main body. Following these ships was a craft that somewhat resembled the Creon, the Nemesis-class cruiser that had been present during the negotiations. However, this ship (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v87/Bad_Skeelz/DIED8.jpg) was slightly greater in length, with the prow cannon replaced by a knife-shaped wedge. A great deal more turrets were also present. All five of the ships were painted in the drab-green colors typical of newer Imperial vessels.

Behind these escorts came the real stars. Three kilometers in length, the two vessels looked as if someone had transplanted a small city into space. The barge’s base was vaguely hull-shaped, though without the massive engine thrusters common on Skeelzanian vessels. Topside was heavily built up with towers, antenna ports, and other structures. Towards the ‘bow’ was a massive hanger, with runways extending out from the barge for several hundred meters. Stationed near the edge of the barge’s structures, obviously meant to be seen, where high, slant-sided towers. At the top of each of these towers was a quite functional turret; in fact they were of the same model mounted on the Nemesis cruisers. Skeelzanian legalists had determined that, while the armament was capable of engaging targets over great distances, their position on a near-stationary object classified them as “defensive”.

When still a good distance from the planet, the warships reversed thrusters and dropped out of the path of the barges. Tended by their tug-ships, the two structures slowly moved into geo-stationary orbit. Sticking anything over a pole and keeping it stationary was a tricky business, but when your working with two 3 kilometer objects it got downright hairy. The tug captains breathed a sigh of relief when the barges flashed that they were in place. After flashing a final salute, the tugs boosted back to open space, to link up with the warships before jumping back to Skeelzania.

Vasili watched the ships gradually disappear back into space from his spacious suite aboard the Narvik, one of the two barges. An empty bottle rested on the table behind him, with the remaining liquor residing in a glass in his hand. As the light of the tug’s engines faded, he quickly downed the glass. “Well, that’s that. Time to begin serving my life sentence.” Walking back to the desk, he dropped the glass onto its wood paneling, seemingly ignoring the blue-skinned women sitting casually on the far corner.

The near-elf glanced disapprovingly at the man and the empty bottle, giving an exasperated sigh. “You pity yourself too much, Vasili. Your illustrious father needed someone who he could depend on, and you know how he trusts the old nobles. Stop moping about your lot in life, it does not become of your station.”

The man snorted derisively. “The last of four princes, and 5th child of the Skeelz-kaiser. I’d need another coup to hope for any shot at the throne, and the military bores me. My father stuck me out here because I’m an embarrassment to him. Also, where does a Myrmidon get the idea in her head that she can advise someone ‘of my station,’ as you’d say?”

“It is the mission of my people to serve the Royal Family. You, Vasili Bazyleous Skeelzot, are a member of that Family. Thus it is my mission to serve you, which sometimes requires advising your august self.”

Vasili glared at the elf for a moment, briefly entertaining the thought of enacting some of the privileges he had as a prince. Turning his head away from her, he dug another bottle of whisky out of a desk drawer. “We’re far from home, Mariel. Getting a replacement would take longer than I’m willing to wait. Don’t forget you’re a toy, a very exquisite toy, but one that can still break rather easily.” Uncorking the bottle he took a long pull. “Now, how soon do you suspect the Solars will notice our arrival?”

[tag]

OOC: A bump for the hell of it. Though I probably shouldn't do it at 2 a.m. PDT.

Neptune

<SEU Dreadnaughty> Hrm. Really, their tendency to have warships with them is annoying.
<TEU Mechanical Menace> Meh. They stayed out of the Neptune space sphere. So lets just watch.
<SEU Dreadnaughty> Heh. I wonder what Poseidon-chan will think. Geostationary over the north pole?
<TEU Mechanical Menace> Well, if you're willing to burn fuel in ludicrous amounts...
<SEU Dreadnaughty> Point.

The two warships continued their exchange, idling in Neptune space, and generally slandering everything they saw, as soon as they saw it. The Skeelzanians were a nice, even unusual distraction, but they could hardly be a topic for entire minutes.

The exchange of currency-equivalents (DA economists were still oblivious as of how the hell the Skeelzanian economy worked) happened a while later, quickly, and without too much trouble (Apart from a slightly eccentric shuttlemind confusing a simple job with an aerobatics show, but fortunately, neither accidents nor unfortunate missunderstandings occured).

So far, business as usual. For her part, Poseidon/ Sandra Mikogami watched the two barges through a few dozen external sensor drones in orbit, mildly curious. Granted, neither construction was as impressive as the sixteen times sixteen times eight kilometer complex she operated (Or, as far as she was concerned, was), but then, she couldn't fly Poseidon out into space. Fair is fair.

She pondered a little, then decided to knock.

From: DA Neptune, Poseidon (Sandra Mikogami)
To: Whom it may concern, Skeelzanian Installations
Subject: Welcome

"Well, there you are. May I say welcome? Even if it's been a while. And while I'm at it, is there anything I could possibly do for you?

"And, apart from that, I'm curious. Would you mind me visiting you? Not only would the local council approve, but I'm quite curious of your habitats. It's not everyday that I can experience a new environment."

Sincerely,

Poseidon (Sandra Mikogami); Council-approved

The 'Council-approved' was actually something of a lie. It would certainly approve, later, but for now, Sandra had acted pretty much on her own. Still, the add-on was something of a necessity, given that Sandra didn't officially hold any administrative power.

Not that it really mattered. In DA, administration was more a vague cloud of actions and free-floating portfolios, rather than a strict hierarchy of clearly defined areas of responsibility.

Granted, friction could be high...

“Nosey little fremden, aren’t they,” said Intelligence Officer Roddle, 2nd class.

“Quite so,” responded his direct superior, IO1c Mundol. “The report on them mentioned an unusual curiosity regarding us. Perhaps the Angstian women would rather associate with real men, rather than their stunted males. I’m told they are all quite small.”

Roddle chuckled as he replayed the message. “Or they’re just spies hoping to woo us with their dwarvish charm. However, the request seems benign enough, in my opinion. And if she is a spy, well, wouldn’t hurt to put some fear in them.”

The 1st Officer was silent for a moment, deep in thought. Finally he nodded. “I concur with your assessment, Junior Officer. I will draft a report and recommendation to the Prince immediately. Assuming he accepts, we best get to work deciding just what this Sandra Mikogami wants. What kind of name is that, anyhow? Sounds like a bloody Honru.”

Many decks down and several hundred meters forward, the men and women of the flight deck were loading the last of the crates onto the cavernous planet-hopper. A bulging, hunch-backed trader vessel, several of them had been brought along for just this purpose, namely, taking the gold to the Angstians.

The Skeelzanian economy, of course, didn’t rely on physical money. A vast accounting and banking network penetrated all levels of the Empire, with the few dozen or so super-firms making full use of it. Unfortunately it was something of a closed system, and suspicion between Skeelzanians and outsiders made virtual exchanges dubious, at best. Also, the movements of such large quantities of cash, hard to track and easily exchanged, allowed a healthy level of graft and corruption within the Imperial bureaucracy.

The last crate being securely stowed, the suited-up technicians retreated from the flight tech. Robotic limbs maneuvered the bulky craft onto one of the larger gauss catapults. Older models would have been able to exit the hanger on impulse power, but the antimatter engines didn’t shoot out the most benign exhaust. A overhead light bar turned from red, to yellow, to green; the launch technician flipped a switch, and the freighter popped out of the barge. It joined its sister ship, recently launched from the other barge, and slowly made their way towards Poseidon. Skeelzanian gunners kept a wary eye on the surrounding space, ready to reduce anyone interfering in the transform to their elementary particles on short notice.

As the freighters approached Poseidon (and the errant shuttlemind), a tight-beam transmission was shot from the Narvik.


SKZ Neptune Barge Narvik to Poseidon
The Prince has reviewed your request, and has decided to invite a single representative to his respective barge. We would gladly receive your shuttle in our main hanger, and treat them with a tour of our facility.

Would the representative care for dinner?


OOC: You can just have the shuttle ‘fly’ to the barge, and I can conduct the docking and reception itself.

"A single representative, huh?" Jasmin said, slowly connecting to the subsystems, carefully guided by Sandra.

"Yes. I suppose they're very, ah... Paranoid."

"You know... Given that we gave them this in good faith... I mean, nobody else wanted them. Heck, there were people present who would have loved shooting them."

"They could show a little more courtesy you mean?"

"... Yes."

"Indeed. Well... Done. Poseidon's all yours." Sandra smiled in Jasmin's direction. "Actually, feels nice. It's been ages since I've last been disconnected."

"Heh. I still think you should have stayed here, sending a duplicate of your mindstate, though."

Sandra shuddered involuntarily. "But... That would be creepy! Two of me..."

"It is done, occasionally-"

"Yes, by freaks! And don't even try arguing that a city core is a freak all by itself."

"... Damn. Well, you could at least keep a drone with you. Just a small, floaty one."

"Inappropriate. Come on-" She giggled. "I'm backed up, anyway. Granted, it would still be annoying, but... Seriously, just because they're a little xenophobic doesn't mean that they're utterly insane."

The doubt in Jasmin's eyes was obvious.

"Anyway, be seeing you."

A minute later, Sandra was on her way, already having sent a short but comparatively polite reply that yes, dinner would be perfect.

The shuttle was, naturally, unimpressive, what with being, well, a shuttle, and those things generally tended to be unimpressive. A second mind was unnecessary, Sandra, despite being in her late sixties (And looking as if she was in her late forties), was quite capable of 'piloting' it on her own.

What with having experience with running a station of 2048 cubic kilometres...

Dressed in a rather expensive blue gown, her various, extensive augments hidden behind more-or-less naturally looking skin and flesh, the nano-scale optic circuits wrapped around her nervous system and brain invisible (If noticeable through a simple scan), a carefully crafted microfission/ fusion reactor in her torso releasing only minimal radiation, superconducting 'tissue' barely distinguishable from normal tissue, and that only when one actually cut her up, microscopic EEMF emitters on various parts of her skin invisible to the bare eye, the usual self-defence measures (Microdrones usually hiding in now closed 'caverns' inside her largely artificial body being one example) lacking for the sake of politeness, her other sensory systems -natural but augmented or entirely artificial- running normal, and a thousand other tiny differences and changes carefully (And, for that matter, tastefully) hidden behind a blatantly natural, normal, even aged appearance (Not necessarily common in DA and its hedonistic society, where many opted for staying 'young' for a significantly longer period of time than Sandra had choosen to. But then, in her position, it was considered appropriate to show a little age).

She giggled a little as she approached the barge. Given the restrictions with regards to numbers, she supposed that they were a little... scared by the idea of espionage. Of course, there were so many, so much more subtle means to do that...

Perhaps she would even try some of them, once she connected again.

A tag may be in order, since I'm also on the brink of getting land on Neptune's largest moon. If I could bring myself to write an IC post I'd make this post a bit bigger, and higher in quality - perhaps another time.

Skeelzanian gun turrets slowly tracked the Angstian shuttle as it maneuvered into the main hanger. Interior defense turrets took over the job as Sandra passed through the heavy blast doors, continuing to follow her until the deck crew took over. Once the shuttle was fully inside, an overpowering multiple-wave message was blasted at the shuttle. “Relinquish control of your vessel. We will guide it from here.” After allowing only the briefest pause, two large mechanical arms swung down from the ceiling, firmly gripping the shuttle. Guiding it over the patterned hanger floor, they positioned Sandra over one of the larger elevators, where another pair of grasper, this time on the floor, took over.

Slowly the elevator descended, leaving a large hole in hanger floor. A series of doors closed over the shaft until; finally, the lift came to a stop somewhere in the lower flight decks. The room was large and rectangular, harshly lit by overhead florescent lighting. Yet another interior defense turret sat sullenly in the corner, its two large cannons in ‘rest’ position.

The room was obviously fully-pressurized, as several rows of Skeelzanians and Myrmidons stood at attention to the shuttle’s side, their ranks stretching towards a doorway in the opposite wall. The Skeelzanians, FS Marines judging by their insignia, wore medium combat armor, reminding one of a seven-foot-tall Medieval knight. They carried no weapons, though each had a large-caliber pistol and blade at the hip.

The Myrmidons were naked by comparison. They wore the orange livery of the Flight Deck, with a blue sash over the left shoulder. The orange tunics contrasted sharply with their dark blue skin, a product of certain genetic manipulations to the original Eldar stock. White eyes stared impassively ahead, through the ranks of Marines to the dura-steel walls opposite. In fact, aside from the near-elves and their clothing, the room had very little color at all.

A blast door swung open at the wall opposite of the shuttle, between the two groups of men. Vasili Skeelzot stepped through, followed closely by his chief of security and chief purser. While the purser wore the green of his station, the two others were dressed in the black and red uniforms of the FS. To distinguish himself from normal officers, Vasili wore a bandolier inlaid with silver over his left shoulder, as well as ornately-decorated short sword on the left hip. The man himself was not overly tall, a few inches above seven feet, with a face that, if not handsome, was not repugnant either. Coarse black hair, the Skeelzot’s aquiline nose and a narrow face gave the impression of a bird of prey, if not an outstandingly bright one.

The trio stopped before the shuttle and waited for Sandra to step out. As soon as she did, Vasili bowed deeply. “My lady, it is an honor for us to receive an emissary so soon. This only affirms the budding companionship between our two great nations. Allow me to introduce myself: I am Vasili Bazyleous Skeelzot, son of Hamilcar Skeelzot and lord commander of the Neptune barges. I must ask however, do you chose for us to dine now or would you rather tour the facility first?”

OOC: Cut up that speech however you want, I just wanted to get it out there and save ourselves some posts.

Sandra couldn't help but to giggle through basically the entirety of the short trip. How paranoid.

But then, Saturn was just as paranoid, so...

Leaving the shuttle, she hesitated for a moment, the atmospheric pressure and the local gravity being a good deal higher than what she was used to. Oh, right, their homeworld... Bah. A few seconds later, she was (Sort of) accustomed to it.

Well, as good as it was possible without a complete refinement, or rather, reconstruction, of her body.

What a reception. She blinked, most certainly not being used to this level of formality, and sudenly being slightly nervous that she could do something wrong. After all, she wasn't here to insult her new neighbors.

Knowing a little about the Skeelzanian society (Well, assuming a little, based on what little interaction it had had with sol), she sighed, seeing the Myrmidons. How sad. Not the kind of society she could like. Well... She'd see.

Incidentally, she felt a little... Little, what with being only about 163cm tall, about half a meter smaller than the men she had to do with, here.

Of course, her per capita resources were somewhat more impressive, but still, she couldn't help but to feel a little... Ant-like.

She bowed back, a good deal less deeply (As was common in DA. Granted, it could be considered impolite, but Sandra was a little less regardful to such things than usual, what with being 'trapped' in this excessive gravity. Unlike shipminds, she wasn't especially used to multiple gees. Besides, by bowing a centimetre, her head was about as deep as the Skeelzanian's after a deep bow), smiling only a little uncertain. "The honour is all mine, Lord Commander. I'm Sandra Mikogami, essentially Poseidon's major... Operating system." She chuckled. "Well, commonly, the dinner comes last, and I've no intention of breaking with tradition." She hesitated, stepping forward. "Oh, and... Emissary is perhaps the wrong term... Also intended, of course, but in my case, well, being Poseidon's mind, I just thought of paying a friendly visit to a fellow, ah... Station." She giggled, wondering a little who would be her equivalent, on board of the barge... The Lord Commander, most likely, although he was more in a position equal to Takashi's...

It was all very complicated.

"Anyway. I'm all yours for the tour, Lord Commander."