NationStates Jolt Archive

((Planets I, but pretty open to Rp. The catch is that this is will have 'romantic' rp elements within. Tune in and find out why.. =^^= ))
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*Six hours and twenty-four minutes, standard time, after the Jump from the Green Sun System*

The Fleet had stuck to a more time consumption variance jump rather than a instant style, to help cover their presence in this dimension. The Dimensional Fold Cores being masked in such a 'basic' jump signature wasn't easy, since they 'couldn't' mask the 'size' of the Jump wave the five mammoth vessels created.

Still, there seemed to be no shadow echoes that the Dark Enemy usually used to, literally speak, 'haunt' the Gaian vessels prior to an attack.

A Jump comptrollers voice reported over-comm.. ":: Wake Field 000.012.. detecting no pursuit signatures.

..calculating two standard minutes until coordinates intersected. Probable Jump Point envelope calculated to collapse at intersection point 89.3% confirmed. ::"

Ackronus is working with some controllers in Dimensional Cartography when the latest report is made. "~ A bit low for an intersection calculation. ~"

"The Mainframe Core wasn't fully repaired Lord.."

Ackronus looks at Knight-controller Allura with a sigh. "~ Another sign of how far we have to go overall. ~"

"How's his majesty." Allura asks out of curiosity. Ackronus smirks his beak. "~ As mortals say, 'like a baby'. ~" Allura smiles and looks back at her holo-displays.

Dimensional Cartography was being used as a 'double-check' calculator for the Jump, since as noted, the Mainframe Core wasn't at full capability. The vessels just flat out needed time to utterly repair themselves. Already, the barely, newly regenerated hull was stressed, since the understructure hadn't fully stabilized.

The sooner they simply got to this new System, the (hopefully) better chance they'd have to repair and rebuild.

":: Intersection coordinates, one minute. ::"

Ackronus looks towards the forward viewport. "~ Time, it has come. ~"

Ackronus turns back. "~ Keep on those readouts until we enter the coordinate envelope. Ensure the other vessels ht the marks as we do.

..I will wake the Excellency. ~"

---

"That long?" Aleaic asked, wiping his eyes. Ackronus only nods. Aleaic moans with grogginess..

"I presume then that.."

A light strobe-klaxon sounds. ":: Coordinates reached. ::"

Ackronus.. "~ Intersect now! ~"

A heavy visual shimmer occurs, as the Jump envelope is collapsed at the same time that the physical coordinates in space are 'merged' with.

In mere milliseconds, the Eternal Destiny breaches the plane, followed by it's sister vessels, in order: Illiad. Eternus, Odyssey and Soltana.

Their gravity wake is immense.. and for one, a bit too much for it's Drive Engines.

":: ~ Fold Shunt Dump detected from the Odyssey!! Reading Drive Plasma rupture!! ~ ::"

Aleaic immediately stands, despite the disorientation of the Fold envelope collapse, as a large, bright flash garners direction for the dire report!

"Dump their Main Drive NOW!!"

As an emergency measure, the Drive Core, along with the attached Drive Engines, four 50 kilometer Drive Units, all connected in one Core mass, detaches and immediately is dumped into several dispersal 'dimensions' at the same time...

...just as it passes the dimensional boundaries, the Drive erupts..

Just enough energy from the explosion escapes the heavily diluted cascade to cause the Odyssey to be hit hard!

It's more inertial, and a vessel of much smaller size would not survive the shearing force of the Laws of Newton on such ridiculous scales...

...as it is, the entire lower-aft of the Odyssey is buckled greatly, making the 200 kilometer vessel suddenly cartwheel out of control! The other vessels manage to steer clear of the gargantuan 'pic-up-stick'.

Aleaic grumbles as he keeps watching this. "How long till they can regain level."

"~ About twenty standard minutes. ~"

Aleaic looks up at a barely clear visual of Lord Commander Janos. "What happened?"

":: The Core just gave out from the gravity shock. We're lucky the Shunt didn't feedback onto the Amplifier relays, and into the Fusion Batteries. ::"

Aleaic just nods. "Make count of casualties.

..dammit I've had it." Aleaic says the last generally.. then he calls out to the combined Fleet...

"As of this moment, this System is our home. We will 'not' travel outside of it until further notice. Whatever happens, we either make this work for us, or we cease our existence.

..Fleet Commanders meeting at 0345 standard hours, two hours from now...

..Ackronus.." ..the Avian Lord nods. "Send out probes and find out 'what' this system has. If a 'remotely' M-Class world is found, that will be our home."

"~ Acknowledged milord. Sensor-Prime. Send our twenty probes from each vessel other than the Odyssey. Near-sublight capability, full active scan.

..set for initial scan for planets, planetoid belts, star type, and Oort cloud composition and activity within the System. ~"

Activity begins to pick up once more in the Command Core.

Within minutes, the called for probes begin shooting out in all directions towards probable gravity nodes within the system, as well as towards external area of the system for the said Oort cloud.

---

They however aren't the 'only' curious ones..

..a couple of 'probes' are headed 'their' way.

((OC- At least 'humor' me by reading it... ))
--------

*Two hours later*

The gathering takes place within the Second-Plane, where a large semi-Throne room is. It's not much, beyond it's 1 kilometer sized Command Center, a pseudo-mimic of the Gaian Throne Chamber that exists only in memory now..

Several rings of command section stations, raised all around the Throne Level, with only one raised platform where the Throne seat rests, itself surrounded by a near enclosed 'C' of indicators and holo-controls. Much of the 'C' however is made of holo-graphic light, rather than physical material, such as the pearlescent-Titanium grade surface it attached to. The catch was, the 'light' was just as solid, allowing the sight..

..of Aleaic leaning on the outer edge of the Console, one near a series of five holo-displays floating over the tactical console below it. The rest of the 'C' was deluged with similar displays, some of which echoed the immense versions hovering over the Throne Center in a slow 'orbit' of the cylindrical chamber.

Aleaic was hearing details of the Core Dump from Commanders Shantor (Illiad), Mikuwa (Soltana) and Janos of the stricken Odyssey. Commander Revin (Eternus) and Lord Ackronus simply listened.

They also began to comment on the rapidly growing information on the System they had entered. In fact, the holo-screens in the chamber were being dedicated to the information marinating these screens. The Odyssey had become second fiddle for the moment.

The Commanders and their Excellency simply chatted about small gaian talk, such as cultural bits here, culinary tads there, and even for once, a few joshing jabs. they all however were muted constantly as the probe streams continued. Finally...

":: We've gained 76.3% resolution over all gravity wells within this System. We can offer a Level 3 report on the basics of the local System. ::"

"Noted.." Aleaic calls out. He then mentally tabs a large status screen to float down level to the combined Commanders. The chamber wasn't empty however, about 70 controllers and scan-techs were also well engrossed.

Ackronus is the first to take note of the System. "~ Strange compliment for a natural System. ~" Aleaic just shrugs. "There are stranger still throughout the dimensions."

----

A tech in Command Core was doing a simple sensor sweep around the Illiad, when she notes a strange 'echo' in the Delta-Band SUHF subspace spectrum.

..but a closer scan shows.. "Goodness........... Controller Endur!"

----

Level-III Initial Report: Coded Level Green-Safe
Subject: Initial Probe Scan of Local System.

The following details are as follows:

System Compliment:
~ 1 Blue-Type Star; Medium Class Giant. Estimated Helium level puts age at 2.4 billion standard years old.
~ 8 Heavy Planetary Nodes
~~ 4 Rocky Core type (Planet Nodes 1 - 4 and 8. 2 habitable Class-M (Planet Nodes 3 and 4)
~~ 3 Gaseous Core type (Planet Nodes 5 -7, all Giant Class, the largest, Planet Node 6, is 3 Fusion Levels off from Solar activity)
~~ Particle Rings detected around Planet Nodes 3, 6, and 7
~~ 48 Satellite Luna Bodies detected, with about 36 detected around the Gaseous Planetary Nodes. Node Luna 4 around Planet Node 4 is the most likely Luna candidate for immediate terraforming needs.
~ 1 Planetoid Belt between Planet Node Orbits 6 and 7, with gravity pulling planetoids into both bodes, as well as decent numbers of cratering on the moons of both Planet Nodes. It should be noted that the orbit paths of Nodes 6 and 7 are much farther apart than normal for where the Planetoid Belt lies. Suggest further probing into possibility of a former planet having existed there.
~ Oort Cloud established at 8 AUs away from Solar Body. Planet Node orbits collectively end at 1.6 AUs A total planar length of 6,331,782,724 Standard Kilometers.
~ Scans indicate there are 72 Cometary Nodes or the usual various sizes and distances. Calculations indicate none threaten the two habitable planets or the terraforming Luna candidate within the next 10 standard Solar Years.
~ Stellar Winds are classed at Type-VI, for purposes of extra-planetary asset placement outside of any local Planetary Node Fields.

Also, as per standard first contact doctrine, sensors at present do not indicate the presence of indigenous life forms of an advanced state. Sensors indicate there are about 183 lifeform gnome species on Planet Node 3 and 207 on Planet Node 4, sensors also indicate limited simple types exist amid the gaseous atmospheres of Nodes 5 - 7. The Lunas of the local System however do not seem to contain lifeforms.

------

All of a sudden, a tech calls out.. "MILORD!!!"

Aleaic and his Commanders swiftly look. "Aye?" ..the Excellency responds.

When they learn. "Where the Light did they come from?!"

Ackronus almost steps over his own Excellency with his 'own' booming voice. "~ Are they Dark Enemy?! ~"

"Nay.. they seem however............

...to be blunt, 'untechnological' in nature. They... um..."

Aleaic directly goes to the tech rather than use his Throne consoles. When he gets there. "Let me see..."

Aleaic looks, with a semi-sweating tech beneath him. (Ackronus chuckles when he sees this.) Aleaic though feels a tingle when he studies the holo-screens..

..his determination. "It's... a type of... um.. well..

..archaic energy field... um.. type..."

Aleaic looks up... "...magic............ I'd guess..."

Ackronus looks bemused with his fellow confused commanders.

Aleaic pucks his lips... then..

...lay a course for Planet Node 4. Sublight and in tow with the Odyssey.

We'll figure it all out there."

Ackronus just blinks, but sees no reason to disobey. "~ As you wish milord... ~"

======

With two major Tractor wedge beams projected from the Eternus and Soltana to help the Odyssey’s remaining limited Sublight Drives, with the Destiny and Illiad both Forward and Aft respectively, moved at half Sublight into the System, avoiding the Planetoid Belt simply from a Nadir approach.

It took only seven hours to move inSystem at this angle and arc.

During that time, Aleaic couldn't help but feel there was 'something' beginning to nick at his mind. Several times he told Ackronus, but couldn't convince himself it was dire towards worry.

..he felt... uneasy for a different reason though.

----

"They won't stop eh?"

"What? Something 'that' big is going to?"

"You 'know' what I mean lady."

Two voices unto a third.. "They did detect our 'inferences', so it'd behoove none the eventual."

"But if they find us.."

"..do they 'look' evil to you?" The third asked the second, much more worried voice. The second wasn't stoic though. "They look 'awesome', and something 'awesome' tends to have 'ego' behind it."

The third nods..

..she looks around her circle of trusted confidants and priests. She though was aware of something else.

"Ego.. I do not feel abundant amid these strangers. I feel a deep wound instead."

"Are they like those Green Sun or United Cultures beings? if another overly materialistic force...."

"We remain hidden from all, at least until now.. we do not worry about the others. They already passed though this Temple-Star without detecting us. It can hold long enough till the newcomers draw near.

"We hope. However I fear hope is faint this parcel around, My Queen."

The apparent 'leader' the others look to, only sighs. "We are physical. Physical is not easily hidden indefinitely.

..if we must Reveal, then 'I' will bear the brunt of doing so, as well as the consequences.

You are all my charges after all.." ..she smiles.. "...I hold that responsibility with resolve."

The original voice responds. "Let us hope in that trust we always engendered."

The 'Queen' only sighs....

((...got a small following...))
------

":: Visual feed up.. ::"

Aleaic, back in Command Core, but without his commanders or Ackronus, the last of whom had gone to the Odyssey to look over the damage in person, now pegged more interest as they closed on their second 'objective'.

The viewscreen had a portion magnified of Planet Node 4. Upon first imaging... "Whao..."

The scene was simply majestic. A perfect blue-green terran like world. Clouds played across the world with equal majesty.

In fact, the planet looked so clear, the continents were easy to detail out, including mountain ranges, forests, all the norms of a standard M-Class.. There was the indicated terraform candidate, along with three other moons, the others simple bland gray, maroon, and dark silver colored respectively. The candidate however was a light brown color of clouds occluding any details beneath.

This was only Node 4, indications from Node 3 looked equally as decent, and varied.

It made Aleaic a bit suspicious for some reason, considering the 'probes' they discovered. Since they 'had' been discovered, they simply vanished. No traces since either.

But as they closed on Node 4, there was no trace of the probes, or anything similar.

Even Aleaic's growing concern and impatience resultantly, didn't force out the mystery.

"Too good to be true. It just..."

A comm-signal diverts his attention.. a simply holo-button pushed.. "Here.."

":: ~ Afraid the Odyssey is going to be out of it indefinitely milord. The explosion managed to avoid the Core Amplifiers directly, but the surge ruptures about 82% of the Aft relays and conduits. It's almost a complete redo over here. ~ ::"

Aleaic sighs. "Were almost to Node 4. We'll finish determining it's fate later.

..I'm more worried about..."

Aleaic stops..

":: ~ Sire? ~ ::" Ackronus comms... Aleaic looks about for some unknown reason.

"I.. must be tired. I keep feeling... something.."

Ackronus is about to ask.. but Aleaic just hits the comm button.

Even up to entering high-orbit over Node 4, Aleaic continued to act strangely.

((Guess this is more of a fan fic now... =^^= ))
--------

A small shuttle docks in one of the numerous shuttle hangars of the Destiny, somewhat close to Command Core. (Only one Plane-Level below..)

Ackronus emerges shortly with the sight of a more lively Docking Bay. The continuing recovery operation meant more souls were being used to begin the eventual colonization operations that was expected to come.

The Avian Lord rubs his feathers upon his scalp with more worry of his Lord.

Ackronus nods a few knightly acknowledgments as he strides by to the nearest teleport lift node.

A few mini-'jumps' later, and Ackronus ends back in Command Core.

He doesn't find what he's looking for though. "~ Where...? ~"

Ackronus looks towards the nearest controller, a crystalline humanoid. "~ Controller, where did his Excellency go? ~" ..the soul replies. "He asked simply for us to keep tabs as we enter orbit.

..I think he went to Observation."

Ackronus cocks an eye. "~ At a time like this? ~"

Ackronus turns to head towards the said Level, at the complete apex of the Command Core, upon the entire vessel.

..his pace seemed to quicken to the previously used lift.

---

"A bit easy..."

"...too.. 'this' is worth our attention?"

The first answers.. "Apparently the Queen's...."

The second teardrops. "Don't tell me..."

.....ala..

"...yup... she's hunting again..."

Tag; I have to wrap up the Time of Terror

((Cool...))
--------

Upon entering the darkened chamber, there's no real detail to be seen at first. The light of the teleport lift gives only a gleam upon an obsidian pitch floor.

Aleaic with seemingly unerring direction, moves into this chamber, continuing on even after the light of the lift fades..

..somewhere along the 'way'.. "Reveal.."

..all of a sudden, an immense panoramic view of space, and the fourth planet. It's not a holographic image. In fact, it had only been a short while ago that the regeneration nanites had completed sealing the glasssteel hull of the Observation.

A series of teleport lift tubes, and a couple of structural supports, both also intensely pressurized glasssteel, held in place an oval globe, with only a crystalline-glasssteel hybrid flooring splitting the globe. There is no edge seals upon either crystal hemisphere. The surfaces are completely smooth.

The immediate superstructure is designed to absorb the 'noise' light around the structure. This makes for incredible clear views of the stars of the galaxy, as well as the planet and it's moons orbiting it. Somewhat close by are the enormous hulls of the other Ascendancy Classes in orbit with the Destiny. A few blinking navigation lights from shuttles exchanging between the vessels gives some 'depth' and 'feel' to the sight.

The fact that one stands upon a nigh invisible floor, makes one wonder if one is floating in space, as if apart upon the heavens itself.

..the main superstructure of the Destiny, splayed out nearly into forever below, with some of the support structures of the Observation, defeats this mystical sentiment. It's not total however, considering the mass below one's feet in this perspective.

Aleaic here is 'drawn', on the feeling he's been imparted upon ever since they passed the planetoid belt.

..he even seems 'smitten' to this course.

He finally stops near the edge of globe, a bare reflection of his image in the glasssteel, also muted by design.

Finally... "So......... care to come out?"

A sudden.. how to say.. 'shock' fills the air. Aleaic seems to not respond physically.. however.. "I don't usually feel like a person that need to be driven against my own accord.

..besides, you already betrayed your 'probes' to me."

Then an 'audible' sigh can be heard.

":: Did we now... ::" ..a certain female voice chimes out, almost gold upon the wind..

Aleaic still unmoves. "Should I ask how you got onboard?"

A strange giggle though shimmers back..

":: I have not, where only my Manii can access your mind and soul instead.

..effective it is, since you understand my speech, as well as my intent. ::"

Aleaic, 'still' stoic, only replies. "I do not sense hostility. In fact, I sense you represent something utterly different, even that from the vein of technological stance."

...a.. ":: Indeed.. ::" ..is the only reply.

It's followed however by... ":: Is this how you see your world? ::" ..a tinge of pure curiosity in the question. Aleaic makes a sigh..

"...my world... my universe... my dimension.

All of which there is alien to my mind at this present time."

The drone voice is readily apparent. ":: I felt your burden. I cannot imagine the details, only feel them. This is how my Manii Contract works with our contact. The spell only does this much, as well as feel the surface of the subject. It's bi-fold in function as well. ::"

Aleaic replies to this simply... "That the feel of a being, still alive within, flourishes...

...yes... you do feel my ashen interior. My soul does not function as it should."

Just then, the image of something that makes Aleaic 'more' than react physically, especially to the eye, comes into view, at least in technological terms, holographicly.

..her appearance is more magic, as the dark about her literally falls away from around her like silk.

She holds a small staff of silver and ivory, a globe of sapphire crystal with a dual band of gold, weaved like the Manii Contracts she practiced, into a meld with the staff rod.

White robe and cowl, easily holy in glow, lined in lavender, and detailed in lace patterns also mimicking her Manii, and studded strangely with pinpoints of light, none blinding, but twinkling like a star upon an atmosphere.

They covered a gown of equal white of the holy, also adorned similar as the robe. The entire ensemble being far from overbearing. A mystic haze, probably due to her 'imaging' added to the air..

..her presence of face was a crown of liquid blue-teal, accented by lighter such pigments due to lighting effect of the planet and blue sun, pearlescent skin studded by two light pink eyes. Every bit of her facade daint and alive.

Aleaic has trouble looking long without feeling guilt for even doing so. A haze of his own 'pink' accents his cheeks.

":: I feel a weight. Such can be termed as removable with one's will.. ::"

Aleaic looks away. "I don't..."

"~ InDEED............ ~" ..Aleaic and the lady suddenly look in suprise as Ackronus leans near a lift. A 'grand' smirk upon his beak. "~ ...that unusual behavior has a cause. ~"

Aleaic tries to hide his embarrassment with a wipe to the face. "Oh lords and ladies me..."

The lady giggles.. ":: Indeed to yourself milord...

...I am indeed blame of. You may respond with your own names with my own:

Tsunyana...."

((..yada yada.. =^^= ))

“That continent would be perfect.”

Several Cartographer-techs were in the middle of getting new data from the probes orbiting Node 4, when the Avian tech quips. A Prime Controller inspects the data that led to that pronouncement.

His judgment: “Keep checking a little harder. Also, we need the latest data for Node 3.

..but it does look good for a capital continent.”

The Avian tech smirks and goes back to her work.

----

Ackronus then strides up along the crystal floor. “~ Indeed again.

..I can presume ‘you’ are the reason my lord is acting off-key?

Tsunyana smiles. “:: My appologies. It was uncertain how I would be received, so I took the singular route. But I had to be certain of whom was in our Gate-Star. ::”

Aleaic cocks an eye. “You mean this Star System?”

Tsunyana giggles. “:: Is that what you call it? How oblique ::”

Ackronus actually laughs in kind. “~ Our terminology has it’s detractors. ~”

Aleaic smirks less. “I find it comfortable myself.”

“:: I didn’t suggest otherwise. In fact looking at your mind strikes me as interesting in that regard. The others that passed through out Gate-Star had more.. greedy intentions. ::”

Aleaic corrects.. “As are we in our own designs.”

Tsunyana nods. “:: Yes I know. But they aren’t the last of their race. ::” Aleaic looks uneasily in kind, then realizes. “It’s been on my mind, yes..” Ackronus however asks. “~ What did you mean by ‘your’ Gate-Star? ~” Tsunyana sighs, looking down, eyes closed calmly. “:: I’d prefer a different venue to reveal that. ::”

Aleaic and Ackronus look at each other. Aleaic.. “Great...

...might have to look elsewhere.” This makes Tsunyana look at him. “:: You don’t intend to stay? ::”

Aleaic looks at the planet afar. “It’s not our place to claim another’s lands. Despite our needs, it’s not honorable for..”

“:: Please stay. ::”

Ackronus cocks an eye, as Al looks back. “Not if we...”

“:: We’ve hidden ourselves for to long, from those that would do the opposite of what you said. ::”

“But we ‘can’t’ reside in ‘your’ lands.”

“:: Yes you can, we have very little to ourselves as it is. ::”

“And that ‘still’ makes you..”

“:: Are you done? I said.. ::”

“I know ‘what’ you said, it’s...”

Tsunyana actually growls a bit and looks at Ackronus. “:: Hey, Big Bird, get him to listen. We.. ::” ..almost an ‘I’, but.. “:: ...we.. need company. My Mahrni are understandably isolationist for a reason. But that same ‘reason’ has left us..

...small... and alone. We’ve been too afraid for too long. ::”

Aleaic leans on the glasssteel wall. “Sounds sad.”

“:: Aye. That’s why I am offering sanctuary. That is correct from what your mind is calling out for. ::” Aleaic says nothing.

Tsunyana shakes her head and simply walks over and leans on the glasssteel as well, her arms folded over her staff, and a foot on the viewpane. “:: But I see your ego is as your title. ::”

“Safety also.......”

“:: Yes, I can sense that. But I don’t feel that you or your friend here were made to hide. I feel that you were made to shine. You used to, I can sense that much. ::”

“To do so right now is ill.”

“:: Oh quiet will you. ::”

Aleaic bites his cheeks and says none more.

Then, the comm pegs. “:: Sire, signals from Node 3 are coming in.

..you might want to see this. ::”

Aleaic just looks up with a bland.. “Show it up here please.” ..and finds himself ‘stunned’ when the vidscreen wipes open horizontally. It’s yet another beautiful world of blue and green...

...but with something ‘extraordinary’ upon it. “What the light.......?”

Ackronus looks with the same gaze in his avian corneas. “~ That looks like.... ~” ...at the sight of a glowing set of structures. Much of the sight seems to have spread all over one of the minor continents upon the southern hemisphere. A crystalline feel was in the details upon the screen. “~ ...a city... ~”

“:: My Mahrni live there. It’s been forever and longer since we founded it. ::”

Aleaic blurts out despite.. “What’s it’s name?”

Tsunyana snickers. “:: I tell you what. You and your feathery accomplice here come down there, oh, about a few Nors away from that, what you put.. city.

..and I think we’ll both learn from each other. ::”

Aleaic flicks a look from her to the screen, but finds nothing when he looks back. “Where....?”

“:: Along with much more......... :::” ..the echoes end with.

The alone duo exchange glances again, but with the same: ‘Now what.’ ..question in their minds.

*That night...*

They came again.

*Echoes of a female child being torn apart..* *...cries of his with his name in it..* *Screams of a male being disemboweled..* *The death howl of a knight being assailed on all sides..*

*A boy crying more and more as he’s hunted down on a dead world..*

*A planet with a cry of ‘help’ of it’s own..*

A torrent of panicked calls for evacuation, before they are silenced suddenly..*

*Then.........

..........that heinous laughter, from One that has no emotion. It’s evil doesn’t even allow ‘that’..

..as the screams of his Sister.......*

--

“AHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh............. hhhhhhhhhhhhhh......” *trembling and shaking...*

“D... damm... it.....”

Even after the Escape, sleep was filled with them. The tortured screams, though more muted, still tore at his soul. The work done too well of the Dark Enemy Lord. The dreams implanted seemed a permanent Curse, as sleep as once again ruptured into the waking. More and more his sleep was bordering his mind into the madness the Evil wanted for him.

But for the moment, his nerves return to the steel that had served him through the war. His blood pressure though wasn’t exactly ‘healthy’ because of this. A normal terran doctor that attempted to take his pressure would probably have a stroke her or himself upon so doing.

Aleaic was a mess. Still, he had slept for a few hours.

..or at least his body did. His mind probably never would.

He simply mentally ‘commanded his garb to phase from a bed jammy, to his usual robes. The robes though felt heavy for a few moments. After he smoothes himself out habitually (love that royal etiquette ) ..he goes to the view port. His chambers at the most forward point of the Command Core plane sector. The view of Node 4...

..no... Node 3 was displayed, since Aleaic had to note the magical city in view as they approached from the southern hemisphere point, of their location. Aleaic had half-ordered this course for the Destiny, of which Aleaic remembers just then and there, of how enthused Lord Ackronus suddenly became, and then so his crew.

“What ‘is’ it with them about this?”

A slide-hatch opens nearby, and a female knight enters. “Morning milord.”

Aleaic looks back with a cocked eye. “Uh, sure.. why the..”

“Lord Ackronus wanted me to make sure you knew when to arrive at the Docking Bay.” ..she says with a meek look. Aleaic grumbles. “I see...”

Aleaic then walks past, not even caring anymore about his hunger, the neutral looking knight. Aleaic stops with. “Thank you nanny..” ..and heads to Command Core Central.

The fem-knight just holds her head. “Such praise..”

----

“Here they come. Are you ‘certain’ that...”

Tsunyana just smiles continuously as she looks up. “Absolutely..”

The first voice, that of an elder male dressed about the same as Tsunyana, minus the frill, and more the stoic linings and trappings. His ‘very’ long white hair and beard, as well as the white-green Staff he holds, more leans onto really, crest a well worn face of wisdom.

(..and if he ‘does’ look too much like Gandalf, so be it.. =^^= )

“Well, I will support your decision, as long as our safety can be assured. But I do worry you are taking a ‘personal’ view of this.”

Tsunyana just keep looking into the blue sky, with a barely sparkling speck between the clouds seen. She simply answers.. “I hazard myself willingly if I so choose.”

The elder Manii Contractor Aegis just shakes his head. “You and your schemes.”

The Queen Aegis barely notices that...

-----

As the Destiny released it’s ‘cargo’ of a compliment of Knights, the Avian Lord, and a uncertain Excellency, the other vessels already had begun to prepare to distribute assets, such as the first landings of City-Units, or whole DropShips the size of small towns that would touch down upon selected locations.

Also, several SpaceStations and StarDocks were already being deployed about Node 4. The local Lunas weren’t ignored. More City-DropShips were being moved into position, as was a Terraformer-DropShip that would place a set of atmosphere climatizers about the luna and, within a few months, create a M-type atmosphere and landscape. The local effects on the environment, as well as species, would be ‘accelerated’ to allow the (supposed: within 86.4%) evolution of species that would have never had the chance in this Star System’s lifetime naturally.

Smaller Capital ships began to emerge from the Docks of the great vessels to begin planning a defense for the System. Added, the three BattleCarriers soon had returned from the Green Sun conflict, and would form the outer System patrol.

But even more, Lord Ackronus had ordered measures to bring to the System, two of the sorely needed Journey Sar-Nor BaseStations that would repair the Ascendancy vessels themselves. Even the Odyssey’s Engine Core would be refitted. Also included were millions of souls that they had managed to save, as well as all the material they needed.

The two would be pulled in using a ‘dimensional signal cancel effect’. The two would be pulled into the System, calculated so that the gravity wakes would cancel each other out. This would be done near the Oort Cloud boundary to help ‘muffle’ the gravity that escapes the null field effect. They would then move at 1/10th Sublight into the System.

Hopefully the operation won’t draw attention.

After Node 4 was colonized, the other worlds would be approached for resource extraction, and other activities. Their code though would take into account the environment of the System at large. But the immediate needs would ‘bend’ this rule some for the time being. After a position of strength was attained, the more normal traits of Gaian society would command they governing of this System.

All this however was pegged on the, what was termed by the fleet wide crews, diplomatic function. There however, thanks to the grapevine, was scuttlebutt about ‘what’ would happen during the meeting.

There were even bets beginning to be wagered. (..unofficially..)

Until then, all the assets were placed, but had to be at standby. It still was uncertain if they would stay in this System.

The betting usually was followed by heavy prayer.

---

Aleaic was looking outside at the passing cloud layers, but not really ‘looking’ at them. In fact, ever since they boarded the shuttle to head down, he’s been acting pretty nervous. The uneasy looking around bit was a good giveaway to his accompaniment.

Ackronus asks yet again for the fifth time.. adding: “~ Are you certain you are well milord? ~“

Aleaic strikes a surprised look in response. “Yesyesyes.. fine... just fine..”

The Avian only looks at the knights accompanying. It’s getting harder to hide their smirks of amusement.

Aleaic though asks. “How long till we land already?”

Ackronus replies back.. “~ Such a hurry are we milord? ~” Of which Aleaic detects a tone he doesn’t care for. “I hope ‘you’ are comfortable, Avian-canary..” ..he puts with an obvious jibe. The Griffon-edifice just smirks back with. “~ My comfort is secondary to my curiosity. Should your not be so? ~”

Aleaic responds by rubbing his neck. “If not for the feel that ‘we’ are already under so.”

Ackronus stab-replies.. “~ Is ‘we’ the proper word? ~”

Aleaic looks back vehemently but Ackronus only chuckles and looks back out the viewports. The surface coordinates are very close now. Aleaic only mumbles under his teeth. “I hope the readers are ‘enjoying’ this too..”

((Only a short one tonight...))
------

Just as the Gaian shuttle was about to land, another view, 'other' than the one already there, was interested..

..in fact, six other views. What more, it wasn't in the same place 'each'.

They also looked on with ravishing interest, but also with completely different reactions.

The Weave Cloak Contract was about to be voided in one fell swoop.

They all knew this meant the entire Aegis Commonwealth was about to be exposed. A thousand Epocha Star-Cycles were about to be thrown aside.

But that was tempered by 'whom' was approaching.

The Excellency had 'no' idea how dire his days of bachelorhood was about to become.

..as was his person.

-----

Tsunyana just remains where she be, outside the glimmering Palacade-Citica, as the blustered winds from the shuttle's down draft rushed forth heavily from it's Triterrranium belly.

The effect in fact made Aleaic look away a few times in the name of 'gentlemen’s chivalry.' (She still was wearing a gown-dress after all...)

Finally the shuttle settles down on the lush greenery of the grassland-hills of the Palacade-Citica outlay.

Aleaic then stands and readies himself. (..especially mentally.) ..and notes his guards and Avian 'interloper' waiting for him to signal.

Aleaic just says.. "It's just business my fellows. It will not turn otherwise." ..and he walks past, supposedly full of steel.

Ackronus knows better. "~ Right... ~" ..and follows him out.

As soon as the knights form up ahead of the two, and Aleaic emerges into the blue-light of the world outside, he sees for 'real', her presence for the first time..

Aleaic has brain lock for a split second...

..that split second later, with a nudge from Ackronus, and he strides over towards the vision awaiting him.

Already he can tell he’s being ‘eye-groped’, which doesn’t help his uncertainty factor. Still, he makes good and well enough across the ten meters from the shuttle to her. Aleaic bows as soon as he draws close. Tsunyana with a serene bow likewise.

Aleaic takes a deep breath, and tries to keep his manners, and a still heart.

“We..... meet again.”

A chime returns.. “So you had.. what is word.. gumption, to come to our world.” ..Tsunyana puts ‘knowing’ better. Aleaic just nods. “It seemed well and good to step foot on a peacefully world, vibrant and all, when the chance came.”

Tsunyana smiles. “Then I speak for my Plane by welcoming you to ours. And as for I..” ..she stops before adding more, which makes Aleaic quiver a little.

Tsunyana then turns to the Palacade-Citica with a deft spin. “And I presume this wonder of the Manii would interest you, Lord of the White Ships.” Which Aleaic steps up a foot with.. “Aye, along the name of this city.”

Tsunyana giggles. “It shall be whatever name you wish it.” ..which makes Aleaic ask.. “It has no name?”

Tsunyana looks back. “It’s distinctions are more by fashion, detail and most importantly, what Manii Academia it belongs to. Your needs of a name to title things, are veined of our own in this fashion.”

Aleaic looks back at Ackronus as he tires to decipher this. Finally, looking back with... “By a School of Magic? What.. um.. Contract do you practice here?” Tsunyana replies.. “Holiia Contracts.. We also function with the minor Academia of Fluidicaa and Terrunna, but with.. um.. help. Your mind would call it, um.. Holy, Water and Terra.”

Aleaic then thinks.. “Well, if ‘I had to name it, it’d be: Holiia Primus. But that’s me..” ..Aleaic smiles.

He has no idea what that just did.

Just as Tsunyana is about to respond, something starts... beeping on her person. Aleaic looks with.. “What is..?”

Tsunayna blushes with a strange grimace suddenly, adding.. “Oh fiddle.. sorry about this..” ..and she pulls out a diamond laden ‘device’ that looks incredibly like.. “Looks like a cell phone... what the?” Aleaic quips, looking back at a shrugging Avian Lord. Tsunyana though suddenly has a ‘time’ of it all of a sudden.. *Brup..* (..ohya.. =oO= )

“Aya? Uh.. yes I.. I know.. but you see.. yes I know it just got a.. yes I know he..

..but you see... wha.. WHA? Wait.. he won’t... but it’s not...

..wait a secura, you can’t push this onto a new.. I don’t care if he used a ‘name’, it doesn’t mean..

..oh no it DOESN’T!” ..the sudden terse tone making Aleaic jump a bit. He’s got a bad feeling growing as he says to Ackronus. “Um, might want to prepare for a crash lift-off..”

“HEY!! He won’t under... HE WON’T! Will you stop.. will you other stop..

..oh not ‘you’ also!”

Aleaic has to ask. “What’s going on?”

Tsunyana though seems totally occupied. “Hey, I got to him first, so tough on that part. Besides, you ‘all’ know what..

..YES I do know what it means by letting them stay. Yes I know it’s blown, but it simply doesn’t matter now!” ..some silence..

..then.. “I said HOLD it with that discussion. That’s only credible with a full Council meeting.

..yes I.. but not THAT! It’s not fair to him!” ..of which that last part makes Aleaic suddenly more jumpy. Finally.. “What’s going on milady?” ..he puts with an impatient tone.

Tsunyana though.. “Hold it a secura.” ..and looking at Aleaic dead on. “Unless you want more attention than just my own, let me finish this.”

Aleaic looks flustered in response. “That falls under the ‘ignorance’ quotient milady. If..” ..but Aleaic is cut of by a ‘scream’ from the.. cell phone? Tsunyana shoves her voice back in. “NO HE’S NOT READY FOR THAT!” ..apparently.. =oo=;;;;;;; Aleaic takes a good step back.

But just as Aleaic is about to just give it up... “I know he’s a powerful lord! But not OUR lord! Why are you so insistent!?”

Aleaic isn’t sure what that meant..

..a second later. “No.. wait! Waitwait WAIT wait! We can’t force him just after he GOT down here!

..will you stop being subjective like that! He’s not a prize!”

Aleaic suddenly has enough. “Okay, pack it up. We’ll just...”

But before he can say further, a strange sound tinges the air, just before Tsunyana.. “VELRANDA!! DON’T CONTRACT! DON’T DO IT!!”

In a split second, Aleaic looks back, but then ‘feels’ the air suddenly turn ‘dark’, with power..

..and a flood of dark ‘sparkles’ suddenly envelops the shuttle, with the knights, and..

.............vanishes... Aleaic of course.. “WHAT THE ETERNAL LIGHT!?!?!”

Tsunyana holds her mouth, just before.. “VELRANDA!! How could you...”

Aleaic though, with only his Avian friend next to him, also AGAPE, suddenly turns spins back at Tsunyana with... quote.. “What just HAPPENED to my shuttle and Knights!?!?!?!?!?”

Tsunyana still stunned by the audacity of the moment, only replies. “They’re fine, they’ve only been ‘replaced’ back on your ship.

But I fear.. *suddenly turned back to the ‘device’* ..oh ‘you’re’ a fine one to speak Lady. Now you just stranded them here! He’ll never agree to anything now!”

Aleaic looks back between the empty spot of his former transport, and the one he thinks was the culprit, or at least in part. Aleaic then orders.. “By all that is honorable, I expect my shuttle to be returned to this spot immediately.”

Just then, Ackronus informs with.. “~ Milord, the shuttle was just checked in on the Destiny, all knights and crew accounted. ~” ..which makes Aleaic fractionally appeased. By a small such. Tsunyana though is still apparently spitting into her device with equal fervor. Aleaic though keeps staring at the Lady, up until..

“You six have NO right to impose something like that on him! It ‘will’ drive him away, not to mention put him in great danger by participating in your ‘fantasies.” Tsunyana barks, but finally has enough with.. “Indeed! Then try and come claim him! I swear by the Academia Aegis that thou shalt not BE!” ..she finishes with a sudden SMACK to her device, followed by her throwing it away from her, followed by a.. “~ Avar`sharan!! ~”

..and a TON of light streaks suddenly BLASTS the device to oblivion. Aleaic goes from anger to manic fear in a second and back, within the dust and smoke. “WHAT THE ANGELS WAS THAT!!??!”

Tsunyana just grimaces with a sigh, putting.. “Appologies, I was... miffed as well.” ..said with a hand to her left cheek.

Aleaic just looks back at Ackronus with. “You still think this is funny?” Ackronus only shrugs.

“~ Does that word exist here? ~”

OOC: Ah well, too late, tag!

((Oc - Hope everyone's enjoying reading this. Will add to it later.

This is just to satisfy joining Planets I, as well as engage a whimsy storyline. =^^=

..guess this a bump, to help people catch up. =^^= ))