NationStates Jolt Archive

Xelmathir Shipyard, Elvenford, Ether Planetary Orbit, Ether System

The silver beams of the shipyard's structures sparkled in the sunlight reaching from around the curves of the homeworld, of Ether.

The shipyard was a blur of acitivty, in the centre, a large vessel was in the last stages of its construction, one of the last engines being tugged into place and attached into position, a few more sheets of protective armour being sealed on to the gleaming silver hull.

On the shipyard, a few hundred of the most select people gazed out of the viewing windows, onto the vessel that was soon to launch, the ESV Einhasad, she was a seed ship, a colony ship, she was taking Ether's children to a new world, a new system, a new place.

Captain Eal'Hathan stood on the bridge of the Einhasad, he gazed out of the windows, when a sharp beep emitted from a console, he strode over to it.

"Captain, the last few construction teams have left the vicinity of the Einhasad, and the colonists are aboard, "

"Ahh Good Master Engineer, And the hyper-core? is it operational?"

"Yes Captain, and ready to go at your command, sealing of the ship is currently in progress, but we are ready to go at your command"

"Thank you master engineer, Eal'Hathan out"

Eal'Hathan turned his gaze out of the windows of the bridge once more, he saw the stars, where he was going..

"Helm officer, power up the engines and take us out of dock, and set our course for the Tentharus system, Communications, order the Guardian and Ithanikus Destroyers to form on either flank, and after we reach Tentharus for them to launch their interceptor wings on escort duty"

The 2 officers followed their orders to the letter, and the Einhasad slid out of dock, with its escorts hastily falling into line.. the 3 ships began to speed forward, and then zipped into hyperspace.

[Tag, for now.]

A Few Hours Later, Tetharus System

The ships burst back into realspace, perfectly in their formation, small silver dots, interceptors, added to the silver of the stars in the darkness of space.

"Captain, we have arrived, all systems functional, Guardian and Ithanikus report fully functional"

"Very good, set a course for the 5th Planet, that is our objective, the planet of Hapeva, sensors, keep active, i want to know if anything comes up"

"Yes sir"

The ships began to slide through space, towards their objective.

OOC: Someone shoot me already lol, i mean bump

At about the same time, there was a disturbance on the edge of the system, a pulse of radiation, and a ship emerged. Aboard the Exploration vessel Inviolte two, the bridge crew went through the old routine.

"Secured from hyperspeed Sir," said the helmsquendë, and elf woman of moderate stature, and even for her race, exceptional grace, especially when dealing with large masses like the ship. The ship's commander leaned forward in his seat, and then turned slightly, to view the table behind him.

"Commence sensor scan," he ordered, looking at his 'science officer.'

"Wake clearing sir, now scanning. Interesting... we seem to be reading," she looked at the large holographic display, to see precisely what was out there, but it was definitely interesting.

ESV Guardian

The Bridge of the Gaurdian was as shiny and new as that of the Einhasad, The crew were relaxed this was a good old escort mission, nothing was going to happen here was it?

The Captain, Etheras Dethena, stood watching the interceptors out of the viewing windows on the bridge, her crystal blue eyes watching every movement out in the abyss, Her long black hair resting neatly where it did everyday, not coming one centimetre past her elven ears, she was also complacent, but had a feeling about something...

A small, but distinguishable reading appeared on sensors, the officer, bored out of his mind was quick to notice it.

"Captain Dethena, i have a reading here, i have no idea what it is but its there"

"This could be interesting, Helm, Break formation, Comms, contact interceptor squads Omega 1 and Alpha 3 tell them to proceed just ahead of us, and inform the Ithanikus to continue escort of the Einhasad" Dethena quickly ordered

"And, set a course for the reading" she added

The Guardian slowed and began to turn its bulk, before speeding up and proceeding to its target.

The ICEV Inviolate II accelerated toward the Guardian, slowly, carefully, curiously. They scanned the elven vessel, noting a lack of apparent weapons.

Arshaw, AKA Mîriel, or Mîraglariel if one were feeling pedantic, watched the display calmly, with an analytical detachment. She noted, idly brushing back some of her raven black hair from her grey skin, that this was the second first contact in a while. "They're approaching with a fighter screen sir, reaction?"

"Nothing, try to establish communications."

The ship began running through a number of standard signal protocols, including some very common ones based on simple chemical ratios and so on, sending not words, but rapid groups of abstract mathematical progressions. The entire crew of the vessel, a ship vastly less sophisticated than a true Imperial warship, tensed with anticipation. With any luck, this wouldn't provoke aggression, but if it did, they were ready to respond.

"Its a ship.." The Sensors officer said

"Its sending something... Argh.. not maths!" Complained the communications officer.

Etheras chuckled to herself

"You have the standard protocol information pack, send it!" Dethena ordered the comms officer.

"Of course, data being sent..."

"Oh, and bring the fighter squadrons back to either flank.."

"Yes Captain"

"And, order the Psionics to stand by" Dethena added

"Precuation?" The Comms officer asked

"Of course, i want the Psionic beacons charged" She replied

"Yes Captain, i will carry out your orders now"

The Interceptors split into their squadrons, and proceeded to the flanks, the psionic beacons showing definate signs of energy build up, but in a friendly blue colour, instead of a blood red of combat, the information from the Gaurdian spewing out to the other ship.

The Inviolate II received the message back, “It’s a rudimentary ‘communications package’ captain,” Arshaw said, “Retrofitting the comms system to make us compatible.”

Commodore Rale nodded briefly and stood, gesturing to the science officer, “Online… now,” she said, looking at him pointedly. “This is Commodore James Rale of the Imperial Exploration Ship Inviolate II,” he said, “our intentions are, as you can no doubt imagine, peaceful,” he said. A line of text at the side of the holographic display that dominated the bridge showed something of interest to him. Specifically, unknown energy readings – of unknown magnitude no less – that might be weapons charging. He was going out on a limb here, but he gave a negative look off to one side of the holo’s capture area, that seemed to say ‘don’t respond to that.’

The Torture Class crusier slowly dropped out of warp. It's black "fins" were slowly undulating, as the ship's navigational helm pulled the ship into real-space. The danger of daemonic possession was high, but such risks had to be taken in warp travel. As the ship finally manifested iself fully in real-space, the fins stopped undulating and instead started blasting out waste gases. As the waste gases were pumped out, the ship started to move. Slowly at first, but not before long, the ship was zooming through space.

The ship started scanning the area. The green pentogrammic wards on the loadout screen started to process the information accumalated in the search. As the search neared it's end, hexogrammic wards lit up in a blaze of fiery orange to notify the helmsman that the search had finished. With that, the counter-wards searched through the information, trying to highlight anything of particular importance. Suddenly the wards turned to a deep shade of magneta and the warning klaxons wailed.

"What is it!?" Said Commandante Serpentimus with a note of alarm in his tone.

"Not sure. Possibly a ship, even four ships!"

"Mon-Keigh?"

"Were processing them now. Captain!"

"What?"

"We have identifiation. Three ships are possibly of Eldarian origin or Elven. The other could be Necrontyr, but it's not certain."

"Umm, take us in for a closer look. We might find something..."

"Yes, Commandante"

Dethena kept darting her eyes from the main view to the informational layouts the computers were recieiving, her thoughts wandering, probing, she wasnt the most gifted of her race but she could detect some forms of tension, to be expected, if only she could get in to one of their minds..

Her thoughts were interrupted abruptly, she could sense another entry into the system, but her thoughts came back to the bridge.

"Incoming contact on the comm channels" The Comm officer informed.

"Play it on the main channel" Dethena ordered.

Dethena stood up from her chair.

"This is Commodore James Rale of the Imperial Exploration Ship Inviolate II, our intentions are, as you can no doubt imagine, peaceful" The communication channels came to life, playing the message.

"Is that all?" Dethena asked, furrowing her brow.

"Yes Captain" The Comm officer answered.

"Hmm, are we `compatible` as such for a reply" Dethena inquired

"Try and see i suppose Captain." The comm officer replied.

"Very well, Transmit the following" Dethena Said

"Yes Captain" The Comms officer replied

"This is Captain Etheras Dethena of the ESV Gaurdian, We are escorting the ESV Einhasad to its designated colonization target in this system." Dethena said.

"Transmitting and awaiting response" The comms officer said.

"Lets see what happens.." Dethena said, sitting back down in her seat.

“Interesting,” muttered Arshaw, “Colonisation target?”

The captain turned to the blue-grey skinned elflike woman, “Oh well ,” he said, “I suppose we ought to,” suddenly the necrontyr woman started, “Immaterium detection sir, vessel, appears to be a dark eldar construct of the cruiser class.”

Rale didn’t need telling twice, “Helm, bring us about, someone raise captain Dethena again,” a moment later he was online again, “It appears your mission may require some combat after all, that vessel that just appeared is almost certainly hostile, and more than a match for this ship, I’m evacuating. If you wish I’ll send for military assistance from our fleet immediately…”

----

OOC: Wow! Comorragh, all I can say, is, that's a vastly better post than I recall your ones in December being. Brilliant! ;)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v160/Midlonia/settling_party.png

Settling Party K-O 522 Battleships Musketeer and Arrow of Desire In escort.

"We aim for the fith planet of the Tetharus System, understood?"
The face of the freighter captain looked at the Captain of the Musketeer with ernest.
"Yes yes, we know, this planet shall be for the emperor, and all the regular stuff, we should be there in an hour or two."
"SIR! Sensors indicate several ships of unknown origin."
The Capiatin blipped off the image of the freighter commander and turned to look at his sensor officer.
"Eh? This system is SUPPOSED to be uninhabitied by advanced life."
"Well I've got these funny blips on the sensors, can't tell what origin they are."
"We follow the orders, continue our course."

The Flairs behind the ships spat out a bit further and continued for the planet.

"Combat? Evacuating where?" Dethena shot back over the comms.

"Full charge on the beacons, immeaditly! deploy the interceptor screens, and ready the bombers" Dethena ordered

"Yes Captain" An officer replied

"Captain, numerous contacts inbound" The Sensors officer said

"More.. god damn.. The Einhasad cant leave and theres millions of colonists on board" Dethena said, partialy to herself and to the bridge crew

"Inform the Ithanikus, ready for combat, and send distress messages on all frequencies!" Dethena ordered

"Yes Captain" Numerous officers replied in unison.

OOC:
Thanks Ctan, my rping has improved :p

I'm going on holiday for a week.... This is my last post.....

I.C:
"Captain, the ships have detected us!"

"Open comms! Now!"

"Yes, master"

Message to all ships:
Attention, we are not hostile! Stand down at once!

"Unknown vessels state your intentions!"

The Dark Eldar ship remains silent. But faint signatures of a psychic distress beacon could be detected.....

bump

"No response, though communication of some kind is detectable, just .. not to us" The Comms officer said

"Ah, charge the Beacons, full power, let them rip" The Captain said.

The Interceptors and a few wings of bombers engaged full speed towards the Ships, the Beacons on the destroyers charging bright red, and lancing out towards the ships, like a tesla coil gone wrong.


OOC:Psychic beacons, have no idea of effects.. but not stupid minute stuff obviously

The Inviolate II acellerated faster than was normal, numerous members of the crew reflexively closing their eyes as it activated its deliberately primattive hyperspeed drive. The ship shot away into the distance and dissapeared.