NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This thread is a continuation of this one (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=398392).

If you want an invite, TG me with a basic idea of what you want to do. OOC comments welcome, but don't spam the thread with them.

Nations with permission to post ICly here:

Cyrian space
Gaian Ascendancy
Snake Eaters
Siesatia
CorpSac
Xenonier

------------------------IC-------------------------

One year later, May 2049

After quite some time, the political controversy over the Gaian Ascendancy's proposals died down somewhat. The Parliament had sought to avoid the same controversies with the Cyrians by convening overnight to ratify their proposals, and this ratification largely escaped media notice, as that same day, the newly formed Ministry of Space Exploration announced a target date for the launch, the twentieth of July, the eightieth anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. Skeptics of space colonization mostly kept quiet, adopting a wait-and-see approach.

After several months, astronomers and physicists had finally completed a reconciliation and standardization of the various astronomy charts that the Gaians, Cyrians, and various other nations who had assisted Evil Woody Thoughts had put forth. During this time, the government had also culled crew from the armed forces, mostly the Air Force, and with heavy assistance from both the Gaians and Cyrians, trained them for spaceflight.

On 15 May, Prime Minister Whitfield convened a brief press release to reveal that the Space Ministry had recruited the initial group of 565,000 colonists. They would receive two months worth of training; all of them except the children already had one needed skill or another to begin with.

Also, during this time, inflation creeped up ever so slightly as the government bought up every surplus supply that it could find that would be of use in space. These supplies soon found themselves whereever there was a closet or room for a pallet in the motley fleet of spacecraft that the government had procured.

On 17 May, the nation's first astronauts started to test the various FTL drives by making roundtrip excursions to Pluto. By the beginning of June, these tests had been successfully completed, bringing a significant and much-needed boost to morale...

((OC- This is one year later, then it would have taken place after the Gaian - Snow Raven Trial of Absorption, so my posts might reflect a little. =^^= ))
--------

After the Gaian introduction, they had sent two vessels to continue the first steps, as the Gaian Republic dealt with a serious crisis of it's own. This drew most of the Gaian Fleet for awhile, added by the long Jump distance between Sol and the Republic.

However by the May 17th annoncement, the Fleet was back up to speed, and better at long range Jumping in fact. 42 Jumps were reduced to only 23, and with it, came the first 'true' Gaian help..

..Two Potemkin Class WarShips came in, along with the agreed vessels that were described at the original meeting. With them came a good escort, bringing the numbers up to 17 starships. They lept above/close to Jupiter orbit, and moved in from there.

They also brought with them an interesting extra. But more on that in a bit.

When they arrived, they simply sent a single coded signal.


This is the First Assistance of the Ascendancy.

We will be in orbit around Terra soon.


The flotilla a few hours later passes by Luna, and onto Earth.

As the 20 July launch date loomed near, the colonists began the process of saying good-bye to their friends and relatives, for they knew that, with the exception of those who would embark on later interstellar trips, they would never see one another again. The Gaian fleet had been in orbit for the last few weeks, and some of the Gaian crew* had taken advantage of the rare oppurtunity to visit Sol; however, this was forbidden during the last three days before launch.

On 16 July, the government warned its news-hungry citizens not to expect news of the colonization effort every day. The Ministry of Space would be lucky to hear from the expedition between jumps, the government said, and even then, it would be technical jargon that would hold almost no meaning for the general populace. However, the government revealed its intent to divulge transmissions from the expedition live when it reached the target system...or as close to live as is possible with extreme distances.

Also, some political analysts speculated on the effects the space program would have on the December parliamentary elections...

OOC: I would have launched with this post, and therefore made it more interesting, but I wanted to see what you brought. :D

*If you didn't want your crewmembers to partake in tourism, I'll remove this.

OOC: Im waiting for a good time to post.

*If you didn't want your crewmembers to partake in tourism, I'll remove this.

((OC- Are you kidding? How often does a fleet get to tour the Motherworld? =^^= ))

-----

The following was handed over to the Woodians soon after the Gaian Fleet entered orbit.

10 Invader Class JumpShips with 20 Union-C Class DropShips
1 Congress Frigate Class WarShip

The loaned vessels were the massive Potemkins, that could hold 25 DropShips each, and were loaded with an extra 40 DropShips of Lion, more Union-C and several massive Overlords.

The remaining four vessels were the two High-Mobiles Himura and Megratrona, and the WarShips Davion and the Flagship Monolith.

Soon after their inital arrival, the Gaians had constructed a proper starport to allow for the now coming in DropShip droves that landed and loaded up the various Woodian souls.

During the loading phase, P.M. Whitfield was told that a series of HPG mini-beacon platforms were placed all along the planned Jump route, allowing for more communication capability that they expected to have.

He was also offered passage on the Monolith to come to the Gaian Home System, promissing communication with his home would be a simple matter. Travel to and back, with the tour included, would be less than a month and a half.

After all his home was visited, it would be fair to offer the same.

Either way, on July 16th, the Gaian Fleet prepared to depart the Sol System, and a Zenith 76 degree arc out of the System was calculated for Star Node 023.18.AGS-3, approximately thirty-two light-years distant.

Already their Jump engines were being warmed up, including those of the Woodians, with the various allied nation support assisting on the various vessels within this 'fleet'.

The Gaians were ready to return to the Home-Republic Arc, now were the Woodians?

OOC: I'm going to list the ships in the fleet; the listing will come in handy later. And I won't have to go digging through the other thread to add up all those orders later if I do it now.

Spacecraft obtained from Snake Eaters
5 regular Corvettes
5 military variants

Weaponry:
Length: 400 metres
Width: 100 metres
Depth: 100 metres
Volume: 4,000,000 cubic metres
Gross Mass: 500,000 metric tonnes
Hull Construct: Adamantium/Titanium mesh - Inner and Outer hull.
Weapons: x 10 Ion cannons, x 35 Laser banks
Shields: Basic (Double Front, Rear, Overlapping) - Radiation and Energy Projection
Armour: Light to Medium
Hanger capacity: 15 Viper class Interceptors
Variations: Corvette/M (Military) - Increased shields, armour, weapons, and hanger capacity.
------------
Spacecraft obtained from Siesatia
3 customized colony ships

Weapons:

Hull Composition: Titanium/Steel Alloy

Armor: Titanium/Steel Alloy 6 Feet thick

Shields: Class III Radiation/Energy Weapon Deflector Shields

Weapons:
50 Ion Emmision Pulse Cannons (Disables power sources and shields)
20 Mid Yield Turbolaser Cannons
4 Torpedo/Skipper Missile Launcher

Hanger Compliment:
30 Atmospheric Scouts
10 Raptor P3X40 Fighters
--------
4 D1L0 Destroyers

Weapons:
Crew: 300
Passengers: 100
Fuel: Plasma
Life Support: Indefinate
Armor: Titanium, 14 Inches, Self Sealing, Type III Deflector Shield
Weapons: 22 Type III Siesatian Disruptors, 12 Torpedo Launchers
--------
2 TE3X40 Battlecruisers

Crew: 1200
Passengers: 500
Life Support: Indefinate
Armor: Titanium, 20 Inches, Self Sealing, Type III Deflector Shields
Weapons: 30 Type IV Siesatian Disruptors, 25 Torpedo Launchers
-----------
Spacecraft obtained from Cyrian space

7 Freighters

Weapons: 2 Plasma Cannons (and presumably very basic shielding)
-----------
Spacecraft on loan from the Gaian Ascendancy

10 Invader Class JumpShips with 20 Union-C Class DropShips
Length: 505 Meters
2 PPCs or 2 Naval Large Lasers
---------------
1 Congress Frigate Class WarShip

Length: 703 Meters
8 Naval Large Lasers
8 Naval Autocannon/10s
8 Naval Autocannon/30s
1 Killer Whale Missile Launcher
2 White Shark Missile Launchers

Ammo:
300 rounds NAC/10 ammo (60 Tons)
200 rounds NAC/30 ammo (160 Tons)
5 Killer Whale Missiles (250 Tons)
10 White Shark Missiles (400 Tons)

All of these craft, with the exception of the Gaian ones, were obtained on the earlier thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=398392&page=9&pp=15[/url); I have aggregated them for reasons that will become apparent later. For the sake of simplicity, I will RP with all the ships having been retrofitted with Gaian propulsion systems.

-------------------------------IC------------------------------

The Prime Minister, not quite expecting to be invited to the Gaian home system this soon, made hasty preparations for his imminent departure. As he was also interested in laying his eyes upon Evil Woody Thoughts' future space colony, he arranged for the fleet to proceed directly to the target system. After this, most of the fleet would return for more colonists, while a small portion, containing the Prime Minister and assorted dignitaries, would divert to the Gaian home system before returning.

When the Gaians announced that they had installed HPGs along the jump points, Evil Woody Thoughts' citizens were most pleased to learn that they would be receiving near-daily reports on the fleet's progress.

Finally, the sun rose on the Twentieth of July, the eightieth anniversary of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. Shortly after dawn, Prime Minister Whitfield took the last shuttle to the sole Congress-class frigate WarShip, which would serve as the fleet's flagship. He made a parting broadcast to his nation:

Good morning. The fact that I address you, for the first time in the history of our nation, from the vacuum of space, is a testament to how far our great nation has come in the last fourteen months, and to how far it will go. The last year has ushered in a leap of technology never before seen in our country's history, and this is only the beginning.

I will be gone on the first interstellar diplomatic mission undertaken by Evil Woody Thoughts for the next one to three months. Exactly how long it will take, is difficult to say. I am therefore leaving instructions for the President Pro Tem of the Parliament, Carol Ronen, to serve as acting Prime Minister in my stead.

We evolved from the void of space, and to space we shall return.

As the feed cut off, Mission control had all ships report status.

Guidance-GO
Comm-GO
Control-GO
Procedures-GO
Network-GO
Recovery-GO
Drives-GO
Shielding-GO

As the last indicator lights flashed green, the commander of the expedition, Brigadier General Keith Hansen transmitted to the Ministry of Space back on Earth, "We are go for launch." Then he broadcast to the other vessels, "Prepare to jump to lightspeed on my mark."

Not ten seconds later, launch clearance came from the Ministry of Space.

"Mark."

At that, the Woodian colonization fleet vanished into the stars, on its way to the first waypoint.

((OC- Nice anniverssary ya chose.. =^^= ))
-----

*Seconds into the same*

The Gaian Fleet Commander, Star Commodore Xen Karin listened to the readiness reports from the Woodian 'fleet', while her own were well ready.

"Final report.."

An aide replies to her left. "All vessels report green. Jump Cores at maximum. Back up batteries also charged. All personel are situated and everything's tied down.

How's the drink sir?"

She slurps a bottle of herbal tea. "Quite fine."

All about, the readiness reports turned into Jump Standby. When the Woodians declared ready. "Lock Nav to the first Jump Point."

"SN - 023.18.AGS-3 locked. Jump envelope extended, and tunnel forming."

At the same moment, the Woodian and Gaian Fleets Jump.

Moments later, two hours later, they arrive at the first JumpPoint.

A dark System with a dusk green star glowing in the distance. They arrive interestingly enough about 500,000 kilometers from a dead planet. A bland husk with no real value other than scenery for the new star travelers. A bare ring of broken matter from what used to be moons slowly rotates around the world.

A green haze of stellar matter floats about, glowed a little the far starlight of the long since exhasuted star.

"Jump successful sir." Navi-Tech reports. "Very good. Set for point two."

"Point two NS - 343.61.AGS-6. Near a Nebula Cluster. Jump time, two hours, mark..."

Karin stands. "Relay to the other ships and tell them to enjoy the view."

About 100Km from the EWT fleet all seemed normal, well if thats what you could call the blackness of space. Suddenly and with out warning a tear formed, Red light poured from a small tear growing quickly, then the tear got bigger until it was fully open.
From its mouth a single ship came out a demonic form of the old Hunter Class destroyer of the once mighty Camarilla chapter, demonic symbols of the fallen gods. The ship was massive spanning out at 1.3Km long with its gun ports open and fighters spewing out.
"Commander, there is pray in the system, Fallen Fighter brothers have been sent out we should be within Heavy Ion Cannon range soon." a battle brother snarled to the commander.
"Vary welll" the commander snarled back not takeing any notice of the Fallen brother. "ignore all hails from them, when we are within range send in the breaching pods"
Fighters moved in at standard formation, grouped in 7s a total of 14 of the freak creations. Man and metal fused together makeing a abomination of man, the fighters moved at outragus speeds towards the ships infront.
The lead pilot used the sensors to look round, inside the cotpit lifeless body of him sat, metal and wires covering him, tubles comeing out of his body here and there and out of his mouth. in the minds og the others he spoke, "take out engines and command strutures, wipe anthing elce out" and with htat the fighters kicked in there afterburners with weapons hot.

=======

Elce where the Destroyers Fallen and Honor moved through hyperspace, since the awakening of the Demonic God Yen-Lo-Wang hyperspace seemed different as if it had eyes.
"Commander, we have detected the filth, they are attack a group of ships from....." he paused "Terra" he said as if he couldnt belive it.
"top speed, enter deeper into hyperspace we must get there now. God dam trators wipe them out" The commander replyed, the symbols of the Sabbat Chapter was visable on there armor.

The ships in question were part of the 1st company, the only company to have a fleet built for them. there mission was simple hunt down and kill all the Followers of the Fallen gods.
======

On route to the same place the Inquisitor's Destroyer The hands of Gods was on route, a tigerclaw class destroyer refit. its mission was to make first contact with the EWT fleet after the area was cleared of the tratiors of the Dark Empire.
Its escorts, a few She'Klan class Corvettes and Lifeless Class Corvettes, intotal about 16 of them all together.

OOC:got to make this short, dude comeing round the house to sort out the water main. all stats on ship can be found in the links in my Sig.

OOC: Couldn't find specs for the Hunter-class destroyer.

IC: When this strange craft spewed forth hordes of fighters, Brigadier General Keith Hansen knew that whatever it was, it wasn't friendly, and had no interest in peaceful first contact. Fortunately, standard procedure mandated raising shields immediately after dropping into subspace. He quickly ordered, "Cyrian freighters, disengage and get as far away from the combat as possible. Corvettes, engage fighters and fire ion cannons at their command ship. Everyone else, concentrate fire on the command ship, oh, and calculate a course for lightspeed just in case."

The superfreighters lumbered away from the enemy's position, while the heavy combat ships positioned themselves between the approaching fighters and the fleeing noncombatants.

The enemy fleet seemed most interested in taking out the two battleships, apparently mistaking them for the command vessels (they were the biggest ships in the fleet, after all). One of them, the EWS Freiheit, reported shields at 72% after the first pass of fighters; the other remained untargeted. The ten Corvettes began sweeping space with their laser banks to target the fighters, and the destroyers and battleships fired their disruptors at the ememy command ship. After a moment of calculating firing solutions (and having the Freiheit's shields knocked down to 59%), the destroyers and battleships released their torpedoes as well...

(OOC: I gotta go now too, so I know what ya mean. St00pid 9 AM classes)

When the unexpected alien force appeared, contact was ignored and Commadore Karin asked.. "What the hell are they, and what are they doing!?"

Then the EWT vessels suddenly went into combat mode, even firing first. "And what are THEY doing!?!?"

When it was clear that the alien vessels weren't going to stop their attack anyway..

"Tell the Woodians to move their passenger vessels behind our WarShips. The Potemkins will form a secondary defense line for the civilians.

All CAG and Woodian WarShips will form a forward X-point formation and deploy all fighters into a support screen on the flanks.

And prepare an emergency jump solution to the secondary planned route."

--

As a result of the orders, the Gaian vessels quickly deploy forward of the Woodians to protect their charges. While they move forward, the Gaian WarShips also plot firing solutions for a long range strike..

..and deploy a combined Gravity Wave Blast firing effect at several points towards the alien attack.

The Snow Raven Trial of Absorption had taought them too much.

OOC: dam if i knew there was so meny defensive ships i would have sent an escort for the Destroyer. BTW EDT i wasnt going for command ships, i was going for the bridge and Engines of any and all ships (a 500mt Fusion Torpedo should do something lol, or a 500g Anti matter warhead).
http://s6.invisionfree.com/International_Mall/index.php?showtopic=1609 <---link to the Space Marine ships.


IC:
The ship rocked as hit after hit slamed into it, the PDS (point defence system) turrets were fireing madly at the incomeing torpedos.
The ship had its fireing salution for the Heavy Ion cannon, Targeting what they thought was the command ship of the entire fleet. The massive Strike of ion energy sped towards the ship then it was followed with constant vollys of fusion cannons, Heavy plasma cannons and Plasma bolter cannons.
"contact the nearest strike group get them to send support, we wont be able to hold out for long" the Commander snarled as the ship rocked again from aother set of vollys. The hard shields were bearly holding any more and it would fall leaving only the armor to hold out, the commander was shore it could after all Armor tech was more advanced then shield tech in the Dark Empire from witch the ships were once part of.
"yes commander" the fallen brathen said as another volly hit them blasting though the shields, slaming into the armor.
The fighters were being cut to shreds still they fought tothe last, some getting hit and decideing to ram the ships rather then just getting blown away. They had underestermated the new ones to space something they wouldnt do again, as the last of the fighters were snuffed out the destroyer was now wide open to be attacked.

Not far from the Destroyer jump points formed and the Sabbat ships poured out opening fire on there fallen Brathen. The hate could be seen light years away, the anger in the attack they way they confronted them up close.

"SABBAT" a brathen shouted
"GET US OUT OF HERE" the commander shouted looking over at the brathens of the ship.
As more fire hit the ship a tear formed as it jumped our, running away from the brut force of the sabbat ships.

The sabbat Hunter Destroyers then turned on the EWT/GA fleet, powering down weapons but keeping gun ports open as a sign of trust, a showing of open hands and a just in case. they kept channels open but where ordered not to make first contact, that was for the Inqusitor.

Close to the HST/GE fleet more jump points formed, intotal 17 jump points formed with the Tigerclaw destroyer firest to be seen followed by the escorts of 8 She'Klan and 8 Lifeless corevettes. all the ships gunports were open but powered down, fighters from the Tigerclaw flew in formation with the small fleet.

Inquisitor Maltec walked onto the bridge, it was rare the Inquisitors made first contacts but this was different. it was rare that the Dark Empire made contacts with new races from Holy terra birth place of humanity and the resting place of the gods. and in these times rare things had to happen with the traitors running rampunt in the Galaxy who knows what they would do.

"do not speak to them unless spoken to, any message from them is t be directed directly to me." Maltec said looking up, his face hidden by the cloak, his long black robes with the imperial Crest on it.
"Yes Inquisitor" the bridge crew replyed as one.

sitting waiting Maltec was shore it wouldnt be long not at all, the ships were still just comeing out of the jum points and forming up in formation.

OOC: half asleep if i carry on righting it might start looking like this "in teh dnd mls zzzzzzzzz" if you get what i mean.

OOC: If you diffused your firepower like that against twenty ships, you'd have had even less hope of causing significant damage. Thus ends my rationalization out of my misread, sorry.

I provided a full listing of my fleet in an earlier post. The Übernationalizt Party was wise to insist that all of the ships have combat-grade shielding and most be capable of light escort duty. :D

IC: The sudden ion and plasma cannon fire finally brought down the Freiheit's shields. Four fighters took advantage of the oppurtunity to ram the Freiheit's hull, but they did light damage at best; one hit a bank of disruptors. A couple of plasma shots hit the sublight propulsion systems, bringing sublight engine efficiency down to thirty percent. Then a new fleet appeared, and fired on the enemy command ship.

Brigadier General Hanssen looked on in satisfaction as the enemy ship retreated. This will make excellent propaganda fodder back home, he thought to himself.

The new fleet showed no signs of hostility, only ambivalence. General Hansen waited for a minute or so to see what the new fleet would do, and after they did nothing, he made a transmission to Prime Minister Whitfield.

"Uh, Mr. Whitfield, I think you're needed for some diplomacy now..."

The Prime Minister hurried to the bridge, where General Hansen quickly told him that this was not what had attacked the fleet. (The Prime Minister had been in his quarters at the time; he had heard the combat but not seen it, and before he had the chance to observe it, it was over.)

The Prime Minister then asked for a debriefing.

"Shortly before we were ready to make our second jump, a large, unknown ship came and deployed its fighters. Hostile intent was evident, so I ordered the superfreighters to retreat and the rest of our fleet to attack. After a couple of minutes of combat, a new fleet appeared and chased them off. We did not suffer any casualties, but the enemy breached the Freiheit's shields and damaged its sublight propulsion. It is still capable of running, but only at thirty percent efficiency. Her jump drive remains fully operational."

The Prime Minister then relayed orders to power down weapons, and further ordered the Freiheit to start recharging her shields. He then opened a hailing frequency to the new fleet.

"Greetings from the Evil Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts. I am Prime Minister Whitfield, the leader of said nation. We are new to space, only recently having to expand beyond Earth. Do you have any information on what attacked us?"

Maltac heared the message, "open a channel" he said sitting down on the throne like command chair.
"channel open" the Comm's officer replyed looking round and brushing her long hair out of her face.
"I am Inquisitor Maltac of the Church of the Dark Empire from the Dark empire of CorpSac, the thing" he said that word as if it was a bad taste in his mouth. "are traitors who follow the fallen gods and declared that our Empress is not the Hand of gods, they were once a Space marine chapter such as the Sabbat. plase accept our aploagise for your ships being draged into a internal matter. That scum has been attacking all around Holy terra, or Earth as you call it." he was about to order the ships to hyperspace and leave when something clicked, "you say you are new to space, interesting a new allie t the empire is never a bad thing and one from terra could be useful in the near future. Transmitting cords to the Fallen cluster outer region. If you ever want to make formal meetings go to them the station will know who you are" he finished waiting, he looked round the room.
"contact Space Core Command tell them to send a Diplomatic core to where ever the EWT want to make the met i have more pressing matter to attend" Maltac snaped at the crew of the bridge, "and tell the Sabbat ships to stay guard incase them dam Filth return in number."

OOC: got to go to bed so i will make a better post when i can.

Prime Minister Whitfield thought a moment, considering what had been revealed about the "internal problems." After a moment of thought, he replied, "Unfortunately, our fleet will be deployed for the forseeable future, and we will not be able to spare an extra spacecraft to visit your...territories...for quite some time. We do, however, wish to maintain cordial relations with your Empire. Therefore, I would like to invite you to a diplomatic reception at Terra in the near future. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will entertain you in my stead.

We can, however, send a diplomatic delegation to visit your Empire if your Empire is willing to provide the necessary transportation.

We accept your apology. We can continue on without repairs for now, and thankfully, there was no loss of life on the part of the Woodians. The Gaians, our allies, have yet to report."

((Guess I missed some.. =^^= ))
----

Meanwhile the Monolith after giving it's fire, took a MASSIVE whack when the combined fire from the enemy fleet started slamming into the Monolith's Distortion Shields, the sheer volume finally taking about 12 seconds of sustained fire from the Ion Cannons and various enemy weaponry.

However that left too little of the barrage to strike the blaze-ferro armor hull, and despite taking a good licking, the armor held as the fire suddenly slackened off as the Sabbat chased off the Dark Empire vessels.

When the battle was over, Commadore Karin bellowed for damage reports.

Thankfully the battle was over so soon, the enemy targeting was rather accurate. About ten more seconds of such concentrated fire would have gutted the Distortion Core and ruptured the vessel in three at least.

Afterwards, the repairs were made, but also, the tactical data from the enemy weapons was also analyzed. Something for later.

Karin informed the Fleet to hold station as the Monolith made repairs..

..and stowed away the four dead.

Finally, Karin listened to the transmissions, the Ascendant Translator working perfectly.



"Greetings from the Evil Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts. I am Prime Minister Whitfield, the leader of said nation. We are new to space, only recently having to expand beyond Earth. Do you have any information on what attacked us?"





"I am Inquisitor Maltac of the Church of the Dark Empire from the Dark empire of CorpSac, the thing" he said that word as if it was a bad taste in his mouth. "are traitors who follow the fallen gods and declared that our Empress is not the Hand of gods, they were once a Space marine chapter such as the Sabbat. plase accept our aploagise for your ships being draged into a internal matter. That scum has been attacking all around Holy terra, or Earth as you call it." he was about to order the ships to hyperspace and leave when something clicked, "you say you are new to space, interesting a new allie t the empire is never a bad thing and one from terra could be useful in the near future. Transmitting cords to the Fallen cluster outer region. If you ever want to make formal meetings go to them the station will know who you are"



Karin... "Comm.. send this message." ..causing the Tech to scramble.


"This is Star Commodore Xen Karin of the Gaian Republic StarFleet.

Your timely arrival was most welcome, and we thank you for it.

We are currently escorting the EWT Fleet to a point near our territories per a long term arranged agreement to help their introduction among the stars. Without your arrival this would have been a gutted expedition.

Your transmission code method has also been recieved by us, and we we also would like to extend diplomatic contacts on behlaf of my leaders.

Again, you have our thanks."


Karin then ordered.. "Have a secure laser comm-line with the EWT Frigate, and have the P.M. at the other end please."

Prime Minister Whitfield then noticed that now the Gaians were hailing him, over a secure channel. He walked across the command bridge to the other comm station, where he received the Gaian transmission. "Yes, this is Prime Minister Whitfield."

Commadore Karin replies back to Whitfield... "I'm checking to make sure you were still alright. Also, I should warn you a bit about making immediate agreements with unknown races we come across. This is 'our' first contact with this race ourselves.

..otherwise, how do you like having your 'first' inter-civilization contact Prime Minister?"

The Prime Minister replied, "We are fine, the Freiheit's sublight propulsion is operating at reduced efficiency; other than that, we have not suffered major damage nor taken casualties. Thankfully.

As for the opening immediate agreements, that is up to the Parliament. I simply directed them to Earth, so that they may negotiate, as we both know that I'll be somewhat out of the loop for a while. Remember the grilling that the Parliament gave Lord Aleiac Kerensky?

I do not wish to repeat the first contact. The second contact, on the other hand, was much better."

(OOC: I have some idea of CorpSac's intentions as s/he telegrammed me to get into this thread.)

Commadore Karin nods and replies back.. "..and I heard about the retort he made as well.

In any case, we will be preparing to jump on schedule, as the damage to our hull was not dire enough to warrant holding up a jump.

..Jump time is about 23 minutes. Will there be a problem with that Prime Minister?"

--

((OC- No prob, though I expect you want to move this thread along a little quicker.

..any other unexpected events I should be aware of? =oo= ))

Prime Minister Whitfield answered, "Heh. That retort probably switched five to ten votes in his favor. As for the jump time, I can go along with that."

OOC: That was the only attack CorpSac mentioned in the TG's, and by extension, the only one I agreed to. I'm considering splitting off additional diplomacy with CorpSac to another thread so this RP can go faster.

((OC- Kay..))
----

Karin nods, finishing.. "Then we await for when you will be ready to Jump. We'll be going back to the original course, assuming we have no other problems Prime Minister."

Meanwhile the Chief Engineer comes up with the final damage report..

..and the casualty report. That latter makes Karin sigh rather dejectedly.

"Remind me to give an eternal curse on those 'dark empire' types if they ever cross my path again."

"Conduit Six will be repaired in time for the Jump sir."

"Very well, carry on." Karin replies, and then turns to the P.M. in the screen. "If there is nothing else Prime Minister, I must attend to matters."

Prime Minister Whitfield nodded, saying, "The original course is fine by me. Out," then terminated the transmissions.

After another fifteen minutes of preparations, and calming down the colonists who were wondering what had just happened, the Evil Woody Thoughts fleet transmitted an all-clear signal to the Gaian ships.

(OOC: If we could skip forward about twenty jumps, it would make this RP go a lot faster, as I don't have any other events to resolve in my TG queue. :D )

((OC- And off we go.........))
-----

*A week and a half later..*

There had been no further suprises as the Fleet made it's successive Jump through most of the Orion Arm into the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy.

About two-thirds of the way up the Orion Arm, they reached SN - 1297.64/C.AGS-191, the locator designate for the nearest point from the Sol System, and the edge of the Ascendancy itself. They were one Jump away.

The Fleet arrived near a broken planetoid belt that was surrounded all about by plasmatic gasses that the whole thing apparently once comprised as a former gas giant. A barely visible brown dwarf could be seen behind a haze of stellar gasses.

But there was another detail here.

Commadore Karin was called up to the bridge suddenly from Stellarcartography rather suddenly.. "What is it?"

Sensor-Tech.. "Signal coming in at 231.24 Mark 120.90

..it's huge sir.

...and it's ours."

Karin cocks an eye. "Does that mean.."

"Signal coming in.." Comm-tech reports.



":: ~ Hope you don't mind the escort, since we were in the area and all. ~ ::"



Sensors then turns and responds.. "Manefest Ascendancy and escorts coming in from starbord."

Karin nods. "They did get it up then."

Karin then orders Comm.. "Inform our EWT guests that our escort has arrived."

---

About eight hundred thousand kilometers off starboard, the Gaian Super Star-Destroyer Manifest Ascendancy moves in, along with it's two Star Desroyers and three Nebulon Frigate escorts.

Unlike the one everyone knows about, this one went through an extensive refit and techological overhaul.

...including the gleaming white hull and bright sapphire blue lighting scheme.

Never mind the optional extras..... =^^=

OOC: If you have access to SW tech, why not just put hyperdrives on everything?

IC: Prime Minister Whitfield had lost track of the jumps. So when he was informed that only one more jump was scheduled, he was quite pleased.

As the Woodian/Gaian combined fleet dropped back into realspace, Mr. Whitfield noticed a few glints of light far off to starboard, that quickly drew closer. General Hansen whispered in his ear, "They're broadcasting on Gaian identification frequences."

Well, at least we're not in for another surprise attack, the P.M. thought to himself. The second fleet drew closer, until it became clear that one of the ships was the largest man-made object that he had known to exist. Yet he wondered, why was such a large escort necessary? Especially when in Gaian space?

He transmitted a quick question to the Gaian escorts that had participated in this mission since the departure from Earth. "Uh, was this escort scheduled?"

((OC- I ripped the hyperdrives out and changed it over to a Boson Jump Drive. The idea is to eventually have Jump techology that can traverse whole interspaces between galaxies and even further. =^^=

..and the SSD isn't going to be the largest vessel in the Republic Fleet for long. =^^= ))
----

Commadore Karin recieved the query and then simply replied back on a vidscreen transmission.. "May I divert that question to the commander of the SSD."

The next face Whitfield sees in his vidscreen communicator is..

":: Helllo old friend. ::" ..is the Excellency himself.

":: We'll be escorting you for the final Jump into Republic territory. ::"

OOC: As I don't know about hyperdrives ICly yet, but could still find a use for them, would it be possible to transfer some of the old ones for good, old-fashioned reverse engineering? And how many light-years is the final destination (as yet unnamed, unless you have named it) from Earth? I need that information for a newscast that I'll RP after you respond.

The Prime Minister allowed a smile to cross his face, and replied, "Greetings from your old friend...shall we jump and have a nice, leisurely conversation upon arrival?"

He then turned to General Hansen and said, "Begin the necessary jump preparations."

Aleaic nods.. ":: Hope you like Cocoa and cookies. The last Jump will take you directly to White Sapphire space, and your new future. ::"

--

The Manifest Ascendancy slowly rounded to port ot the EWT/Gaian Fleet, and was in position with it's escorts by the time the Boson Jump Engines were ready. The charge needed was only 72 percent, so the wait was much shorter than usual.

When the Fleet made it's final Jump, they passed 32.6 Light-years through the Kamiki TCZ, through the Gold Core Destiny March into the White Diamond TCZ, and within twenty-two minutes, the core of the Gaian Ascendancy.

The Fleet entered the System at a high orbit near Eternal Sapphire, the Saturn sized, M-Class world, with over 6 distinct ring groups of white, gray and blue. The massive blue tinged terran behemoth was framed with star traffic and commerce coming and going from and to the numerous Starbases, StarDocks and Orbital StarLadder Stations.

All around the Fleet soon after arrival, were commerce freighters and JumpShips, with large numbers of XGP class privateer vessels and Shuttles swooping about all over in a series of 'orderly' lanes. Several were heading for the Boson JumpCulip SuperStation about 10 million kilometers distant, in an orbit between Eternal Sapphire and Topazic A & B.

As soon as the Fleet entered the System, a message was recieved on all EWT vessels.

:: ~ From the Ascendancy Council....

..welcome to the White Diamond System.

..and welcome to the Ascendancy Woodian souls. ~ ::

The Woodians had made the journey.

OOC: The picture I had ready didn't include the rings, and I don't feel like photoshopping them in.

IC: When the Woodian fleet arrived in the White Sapphire system, Prime Minister Whitfield knew he had to find one of those hyperpulse generators the Gaians kept talking about. Fortuanately, the Gaians had foreseen this necessity. The people back on Earth would want a live feed, or at least as live as possible over such long distances.

*after a seven-and-a-half hour time delay, on Earth*

"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you news that the Evil Woody spacefleet has reached its destination, the White Sapphire system."

At these words, the nation stopped so that its citizens could stare blankly at TV screens. In Woody Square, located in the heart of Great Woody City, the five thousand or so citizens milling about turned to the giant jumbotron display that constantly carried the latest newsfeeds. And the crowd in the square would continue to grow. Never before in the nation's history had so many people dropped what they were doing.

The news anchor continued, "Seven and a half hours ago, and seven hundred light-years away, the nation of Evil Woody Thoughts arrived at the White Sapphire system...we now bring you live feed. The Ministry of Space is not imposing any time delays, folks, the only delay is the time lag as the transmission travels through space."

*cut to pictures*

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/chair094/silentplanet.jpg

Conversation amongst scientists could be heard in the background, as they brought the scientific instruments of the various spacecraft to bear in an effort to poke and prod data about the planet. The results of the scans scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Diameter of White Diamond I: 118,620 km (9.299 times that of Earth)
Mass of White Diamond I: 5.064*10^26 kg (84.682 times that of Earth)
White Diamond I's gravitational force, in Earth units: .979

(OOC: My calculations might be patently wrong because it's 3:30 in the morning, but I don't care and I'll rp with my calculations anyway :D /OOC)

Atmosphere

23.06% diatomic oxygen
70.67% diatomic nitrogen
4.18% water
1.43% carbon dioxide
0.57% diatomic hydrogen
0.09% other trace gases

The fleet then did a metals scan to find the prefab housing the Gaians had set up (OOC: You did do this, right? I think you agreed to it some time ago, but I'm too lazy to go look for it /OOC), and by extension, the landing site.

The microphone then caught Prime Minister Whitfield conversing with General Hansen. "Ready the Corvettes, then the dropships, for atmospheric entry."

"Yessir" replied the general.

About fifteen minutes later, the camera panned down toward the corvettes, which were drawing closer to the planet. "Shields are raised at full, expect entry interface in fifteen seconds."

Shortly thereafter, said ships dissappeared into ten flames streaking through White Diamond's atmosphere. After a couple of minutes, they fired their retrorockets and slowed down enough to gently descend onto the planetary surface.

The camera angle then changed to the POV of one of the corvettes on the ground. A whoooosh was heard as an airlock was depressurized and opened, and then MSgt Chris Bielski (a TSgt on the earlier thread, promoted for this mission) stepped out, enjoying this symbolic honor as he had told the story of Evil Woody Thoughts to the same people who had sold the ships upon which he had journeyed. The camera panned to the opened airlock.

The news anchor had been silent, awestruck, for about the last half hour, but finally he opened his mouth again. "There you have it, Master Sergeant Chris Bielski, twenty-nine year old Woodian standing on the surface of a planet seven hundred light-years away, this ninth of August two thousand and forty-nine."

((OC- Actually, you got a e-mail addy I can send a FAR better picture I created using CorelDraw9? I use it as wallpaper on my comp. =^^= ))
-----

The Gaians laid back and let the Woodians have their moment. The area they landed at was only the inital reception area for the colonists, a city 26 kilometers across, prefab and stretching high with several Arcodomes and Mega-city enclosures dominating the view. The SpacePort they landed at was about 6 kilometers away, with Gaian asisstants ready to show the colonists through the tram system to the city, which also happened to function as the 'embassy' to the Gaian Ascendancy.

What, just one building for a embassy? *Washu manic laugh*

However they would learn later, that this was only the 'distribution' point for the colonists. Essentially the area was a basic processing center to detail the Woodians genetic makeup, basic information, and basic traning center for the next stage. Also here, the colonists would be taught for the next week, everything that Gaian life and assistance had to offer, as well as the information about the sixteen Woodian colony nodes (same as the embassy in size =^^= )l , and more, the three worlds slated for Woodian specific colonization.

They also were screened for inital entry of canadites into the New Aurora Science Institute to give the more quick learners, the beginnings of teachings to speed Woodian colonization further. Subjects that the canidates would learn, would make the normal Terran subjects they brought with them, well, simpelton in nature.

But that wasn't all..

Prime Minister Whitfield was invited personally, along with his staff, to the Palace Tree itself.

As for the Gaians themselves, unseen by the Woodians at the moment, were numbers of Snow Raven Mechs and resources, including former caste members, being integrated wholly into Gaian society. Also, the Gaian 'Project' above the Zenith Pole of White Diamond was quickly coming to activation.

More, one other detail had changed since the inital Woodian mission the Gaian's made. The Ascendants were slowly coming 'out' of the Dysan Sphere node, and spreading through the Republic. In fact, P.M. Whitfield had a suprise waiting for him. (..two really..)

More, the Ascendancy was ready to begin the Third Great Expansion, their first two having expanded the worlds from one, to fifteen, then to eighty worlds, was ready to move coreward..

...by a great amount. And away from Neo Zetan and allied interested areas, but into areas that had gained the Republic yet another ally.

Thus was about to begin, the Ascendancy Golden Age, but dependant on one major act not yet completed.......

..but first was the welcome reception for P.M. Whitfield. =^^=

((OC- Actually, you got a e-mail addy I can send a FAR better picture I created using CorelDraw9? I use it as wallpaper on my comp. =^^= ))

Sent by TG. I'll post ICly later when I'm not so tired. For some reason I've been spontaneously going to bed about three hours earlier than normal this last week, and I can't figure out why...

Prime Minister Whitfield, upon receiving the Gaian invitation to a mysterious "Palace Tree," decided to take a tour planetside. He made his way toward the docking bays, where dropships were loading colonists and supplies.

He had planned on going directly to the Gaian homeworld, but now he was curious, and wanted to see what exactly this new colony had in store.

(OOC: Your post was extremely difficult to reply to, mostly because it was full of "they will see" stuff that my characters wouldn't know ICly quite yet.)

((OC- You wanted to move things forward. And more, this stuff is occuring 'after' events I haven't finished yet. It's mostly 'coming attractions' filler anyway at the moment. ))

----

A Shuttle meanwhile rose from the surface towards the Freiheit.

Onboard was Lady Seto and Lord Keiichi were onboard.

((OC- You wanted to move things forward. And more, this stuff is occuring 'after' events I haven't finished yet. It's mostly 'coming attractions' filler anyway at the moment. ))

----

A Shuttle meanwhile rose from the surface towards the Freiheit.

Onboard was Lady Seto and Lord Keiichi were onboard.

Prime Minister Whitfield received a page over the PA system of the ship, and he answered the page.

"Hello? Prime Minister Whitfield here."

"Hello, this is the bridge comm officer. Apparently, the Gaians believe you are onboard the Freiheit, and have dispatched a shuttle with Lady Seto and Lord Keiichi onboard to pick you up."

"Uh, this is interesting...well, tell them I'll meet them at the docking bay." It wouldn't be too difficult for the Prime Minister to commandeer a shuttle...

"Yessir."

The Prime Minister continued to the docking bay.

((OC - Did you name the Congress Frigate yet? I mistook the Freiheit as the Flagship...))
-------

A few moments later (and quite anime like in reaction) the shuttle moves from the Freiheit to the vessel Whitfield was 'actually' on.

P.M. Whitfield arrived to see two meekly (unseen teardrops behind their melons) looking Advisors standing there, scratching their heads. Seto.. "*Bad laugh* ..well, guess we have goofups of our own."

Keiichi chuckles with.. "Who woulda known our info was off with.. *fan WHACK to the head..* ..ow.."

Seto waves her fan at Keiichi with a chiding tone. "Never say too much." Keiichi just rubs his melon. "That things hard you know."

"How do you think I kept my gremlin in line?"

--

*Somewhere on White Diamond*

Azusa sneezes suddenly and looks around. "Not again..."

--

*Back above*

Seto 'restarts' and bows to P.M. Whitfield. "Welcome to our world Prime Minister." Keiichi readily matches Seto's bow.

OOC: No, I hadn't gotten around to it. Oh, and you can RP the landing of the dropship with the P.M. on it if you want, as opposed to having ten different posts between now and then.

IC: Prime Minister Whitfield returned the bow and asked, "When does the next dropship leave? I really would like to tour the place..."

Seto simply says. "Our shuttle will take you directly there."

--

*Panoramic pan shot of the Shuttle shooting from the EWT fleet above, down the atmosphere of the planet. It only takes a few minutes to pass through the upper sphere and past the decent amounts of fluffy white clouds, along with one squall, to enter the high sky line, an arc towards the Holy Palace Tree.

The pass over the central Eternity Continent quickly, and into the central southeastern adjacent Capital Continent, passing over mountian chains, deserts and forests to come into sight of the Republic Capital City, Jurai`alheim, nestled up against the Sapphire Sea.

The original city, a massive 75.7 square Kilometers, built by the Ascendants untold ages ago (carbon dating 'still' isn't conclusive, give or take a few hundred million years at least, but only as tall as a few hundred meters in height at most, a couple of spires about 850 meters tall, were the highest at first..

..until the Palace Tree was planted, and grew at about 15,000 percent over 10 years, creating a monster of a Tree, one that the Gaian's symbiotically melded their habitation with, as well as other 'secrets', to create a Palace that has almost no rival.

The Tree now spans 52.734 square kilometers over the city, with the rest of the city all but a carpet of trees, where the city lies 'submerged' within. However tons of glassteel, crystal, marble, and whitestone structues can be seen popping out from the forest canopy. Behind the Palace is the Excellency Mountian chain, still impeccably white snowcaps atop them. However plenty of structures jut here and there within the forest covered base of the mountians as well, some of which can be clearly seen 'far' into the horizon, where storm clouds don't obscure.

As the shuttle comes towards the Palace, the city starts to take a definite 'glow' from many of the glassteel and crystalline parts of the city, an effect of an ancient technology still being devined, where wavelengths of light create a 'haolic' phosphorus effect, even in full daylight. (Wait till night time... =^^= )

Also can be seen, movement of hovertraffic, both in the sky, and along the ground upon noticable portions of white-gray and bluelight lit primaryways that spiderweb out from the Palace Tree, and the city in general.

Seto keeps Keiichi silent, so that Whitfield can take in the scenery of the moment, right up to when the shuttle reaches the Palace Tree StarPort. A large 3 square kilometer sized area where vessels as large as a DripShip can land, with the titanic branches easily taking the weight. They are helped anyway by a series of anti-grav unit nodes that reduce the alloys, joint beams, and surface of the StarPort, overall by 50 Percent, allowing most of the weight to be from Starcraft, rather than the Port itself.

When the shuttle lands, Seto leads Whitfield out of the Shuttle, with Keiichi behind. Whitfield is then greeted by a decent cool wind, coming from the ocean, which frames the view to the west, the near perfect blue sea (a good arc both turns of the head) from afar, with the coast dominated by the city/forest expanse running away from the Palace Tree.

Seto gives Whitfield another moment, then.. "This way Prime Minister." ..and she turns to head towards a 'huge' entrance arch connected between the StarPort and the internal Tree's hallways.

The Palace Tree was by far the largest nonmountainous thing the Prime Minister had ever seen. Upon seeing that a city had been carved into it, he asked the Gaian escorts, "What untold civilization used to live here? I thought this planet was uninhabited, with the exception of a few Gaians who were setting up the initial infrastructure."

As the party entered the Palace Tree, the Prime Minister thought to himself, I thought it was just going to be a collection of prefab structures...was I ever wrong! This place could probably accomodate several million people right now, if only we had the transportation capacity to bring them here. Well, I suppose that simply makes it easier to develop this colony... He quickly became lost in a daydream, a most unusual occurence for him.

((OC- And now for the real rp reason behind that pic I sent ya. ))
-----

Lady Seto walked in step now with the Prime Minister, as Keiichi is approached by a member of the Masaki House aide department. Seto begins explanations with...

"Since you've made it this far, it's time we told ya.

None of us are from this planet in the first place. We're originally from Earth as well. It's a long story that centers around Lord Aleaic, but essentially a group called the Powers all but forced him to become a leader representing the Powers. Don't ask me who exactly the Powers are, that something you'll have to ask Al and his family when you meet them eventually."

As they continue to walk, they pass through a seemingly unending series of hallways that run through the entire Tree, level upon level, ones that reach as high as a church catheral. In fact almost feels like one too. over a hundred meters high, some fifty plus wide. Smooth whitestone and marble floors and walls, both melded with large sections of branches that run up and along all the hallways. Open arches along much of the wall sections led to offices, administrative rooms, control centers, and more officiates than a senator can shake a stick at.

And the Tree still isn't crowded. In fact looking down the hallway, the number of people moving about at any one time is no more than fifty or so.

Walls are decorated with art objects, banners, and nick nacks from all over the Ascendancy worlds. There are also holo-images and holoscreens galore as well, displaying tons of basic tactical, cartography and administrative data from all over the Ascendancy as well. Lower sections of the walls are like triple sized LACARS control consoles, where one can find info at their fingertips.

And all of it...

"...they were, and still are called the Ascendants. Basically you can call then large Big Birds, but they really are more like incredibly intellegent Griffins. They are over a billion years in age, and before we began expanding into the stars beyond this System, were literally their namesake, Ascended unto another plane of existence. As of late, they have begun 'returning' to our plane, apparently waiting for a race to take over their works, such as we have.

When the Ascendants left, they left 'tons' of techology and prebuilt structures, including whole cities and evidently several whole Star Systems, as well as pseudo-System constructs such as the Ascendant Dysan Sphere, the Jeweled Star Nebulae, and even 'this' Star System, since every one is a M-Class, including most of the moons.

I say this, because this is where the Powers sent us, after Aleaic accepted becoming the Power's representative. And like I said, I'm still not sure why about it all."

Seto stops in the hallway, Keiichi still partially trailing as he deals with affairs of his Advisory position.

"We have elements that are seemingly drawing themselves to us, such as Angelic forces, the Ascendants themselves, and now apparently a new race that doesn't exist in this plane either, are calling themselves our ally."

Seto stops again and shakes her head. "Hope you're getting headache like I am.

Essentially, we found everything already here. Give twenty years of reverse understanding and resources in amounts hard to imagine, and bingo. One interstellar empire."

Seto then starts forward again. "But at least everything 'hasn't' been peachy keen, or I'd be actually worried."

Seto makes a few turns here and there, and they enter the Core Tree sections, where the floor and walls turn less melded with the Tree, and more like a uber-hyper-manga-tech center. personel 'traffic' is more lively here as well.

Prime Minister Whitfield stopped staring up for a minute. "Uh, yeah, my head is spinning, alright. Why do I get the feeling that I could spend my entire life studying this and still not understand it? And, my mind is probably going to regret asking this, but what exactly are the Angelic forces you speak of?" He quickly wiped the drool from his chin, hoping Seto didn't notice.

Seto speaks openly about stuff that would make most goverments guard such secrets with genocidal xenophobia and jealousy. If they were at least half as lucky as the Gaians had become..

"The Angelics are literally from where you think they come from.

Early on in our existence here, a portal was found within the southern pole, or Zenith Pole as we call it, that led to... well.. up there..

..or as we found out, another plane of existence. We discovered things that would make religous thinkers go mad. That literally heaven and hell themselves, were simply other levels of existence, in theor own dimensional plane.

Dimensional in fact is becoming a more acceptable term for us, as the Angelics, Ascendants, and this third new race have appeared from seperate planes of existence, ones that obviously were far more advanced to us that we 'should' have been able to comprehend.

The Angelics in fact helped establish an Accord with us, one that is essentially an interplannar alliance, one where we gain angelic souls in host vessels, so far in our Angel God Infantry Guards, but more that could be used to create more magnanimous vessels. We're still exploring that..

,,and in return, we eventually, at some unspecified point, will assist in the wars against.. well.. you know where. But we suspect that all 'that' is only at the tip of an iceberg that seemingly has no size limit.

The Ascendants and the third new race, as well as a recent absorption of humans from a totally seperate realm of space, is starting to create a nation of ourselves, that is having trouble being seen as nothing less than a good guy melting pot." Seto still has trouble believing it herself.

She then hands a hankerchief to Whitfield. "Not best to drool too much."

I'm not even sure if I understand this mythology OOCly. Is it something you made up? Please send a nice, long Ascendants for Dummies telegram to me. :D

The Prime Minister sheepishly accepted the handkerchief. Well, at least Aleaic isn't here; that would have been really embarrassing.

Prime Minister Whitfield knew that hw would not be able to handle more interdimensional philosophy stuff today. He changed the subject, asking if there was a place from where he could address the people back on Earth.

OOC: I will not have internet access during spring break, and as such, will not be able to reply to this thread until the 20th.

((OC- Actually that's part of what's coming up...))
-----

Seto led Whitfield through the halways into the open column chamber of the Central Command Core. Levels upon levels of control stations a platfoems ran through much of the chamber, set in the center of the Tree and running several kilometers down and up from where they were.

Everywhere activity was alive with the govermental upkeep of the Ascendancy. The passed unto a fifty meter wide walkway over this chamber, with parts of the floor actually glassteel, giving impeccable views of the Command Center. Down was the dusk of blue-light, where the levels dediacted to support ancilliaries ran. Deeper was kept a secret.

Above, the beautiful Tree Canopy, borken through to show the clear blue sky, several high cirrus clouds skirted through the translucent dome above.

Despite the Center being in a Tree, the sight of branches or trunks was not present here.

Seto then leads Whitfield deep through the center of the Center, holo-screens, various Advisor Sectors and hundreds of Gaians pass through his eye.

She then leads her guest to the large northern section of the Chamber, where the walls are more ornate, if plain still to match the rest of the chamber. For here, the Council's own quarters and Coucil seats, along with their Offices and every other comfort they have garnered, reside iwthin a stroll from the Command Center itself.

As Seto draws nearer. "In here lies his Excellnecy, Prime Minister."

As Seto led the Prime Minister deeper and deeper into the tree, he thought he had stumbled onto the Gaian home system. He tried to ignore the thought, but it was too strong...

He checked his watch and realized that he had spent five hours in here. When Seto mentioned the presence of Aleaic, whose presence Whitfield had not expected, he wiped his chin with the handkerchief that Seto had given him earlier. Thankfully, no drool. The Prime Minister uttered, "I should very much like to speak to him."

Seto led Whitfield the last distance, but this time without Keiichi behind, who long since went to another portion of the Command Center on an Advisory errand.

..the distance encompasses a rising ramp, widening from the normal width to well over twice that, and 'far' more intracite and monicered than the normal walkways. images of angels, galaxies and Ascendancy emblems were colored in bronze pigments, running well up the equally monicered walls and more about it..

..The entrance between the Command Center and the Council Chambers, and more within.

As soon as Seto and Whitfield passes into the Chamber, the air turns 'far' more imposing.

...not to mention the ten foot griffon creature talking in common to a blue-cobalt glass colored humanoid, both actually in feminine tones, the latter with gleaming white 'hair'.

To the far left is Lady Funaho speaking to... and Angelic... you know.. wings and all... the genuine article..

Seto just keeps silent to let it all sink in.

--

((OC- Might wana keep an eye on a thread named 'Evil Lives on' by Neo Zeta. Got a major ruckus going on with them in it.))

Seto led Whitfield the last distance, but this time without Keiichi behind, who long since went to another portion of the Command Center on an Advisory errand.

..the distance encompasses a rising ramp, widening from the normal width to well over twice that, and 'far' more intracite and monicered than the normal walkways. images of angels, galaxies and Ascendancy emblems were colored in bronze pigments, running well up the equally monicered walls and more about it..

..The entrance between the Command Center and the Council Chambers, and more within.

As soon as Seto and Whitfield passes into the Chamber, the air turns 'far' more imposing.

...not to mention the ten foot griffon creature talking in common to a blue-cobalt glass colored humanoid, both actually in feminine tones, the latter with gleaming white 'hair'.

To the far left is Lady Funaho speaking to... and Angelic... you know.. wings and all... the genuine article..

Seto just keeps silent to let it all sink in.

--

((OC- Might wana keep an eye on a thread named 'Evil Lives on' by Neo Zeta. Got a major ruckus going on with them in it.))

OOC: If you post on the Evil Lives On thread tonight, I'll probably catch it and read it. I'm too lazy to do a search :p

IC: The Prime Minister had seen more strange stuff in the last five hours than he had in his previous fifty-five years of life. Seto and Keiichi were both quiet, and the Prime Minister, not knowing whether it was wise to disturb the aliens' conversation, stayed quiet and still. He stifled his desire to ask his hosts "What is THAT!?" as a small child would, and simply glanced about the room.

((OC- What would you like your three Systems named? I have a map with your 'place' already set up.))
---

Seto decides to end the 'suffering' Lord Whitfield is having. She then 'bellows'.. "I present Lord Prime Minister Whitfield of the Woodians."

Every eye (human and nor..) turns to see, and then greet variously, just as Aleaic and Tsunami emerge, both dressed in simple robe smocks, almost like detailed up shinto robes. Aleaic sees Whitfield and smiles. "Excellent." ..and starts to approach Whitfield with an extended hand.. "Welcome to the Ascendancy Prime Minister.

I trust your journey went smoothly enough." ..said, even more than knowing the journey that took place.

((OC- What would you like your three Systems named? I have a map with your 'place' already set up.))
---

Seto decides to end the 'suffering' Lord Whitfield is having. She then 'bellows'.. "I present Lord Prime Minister Whitfield of the Woodians."

Every eye (human and nor..) turns to see, and then greet variously, just as Aleaic and Tsunami emerge, both dressed in simple robe smocks, almost like detailed up shinto robes. Aleaic sees Whitfield and smiles. "Excellent." ..and starts to approach Whitfield with an extended hand.. "Welcome to the Ascendancy Prime Minister.

I trust your journey went smoothly enough." ..said, even more than knowing the journey that took place.

OOC: The name "White Diamond" is fine for the first system; I've already used that name myself three hundred million times in this RP. Haven't thought of names for the others yet. I guess I'll name them when I get around to colonizing them, but if you could please send me the maps anyway :D

Oh, and did you get my telegrams for teh regional business?

IC: The Prime Minister returned the bows, thanked Seto for the introduction, and then briefly greeted his hosts. He then turned to Aleiac and said, "Well, I trust that you heard about the little, er, engagement we had right before the second jump. Other than that, the journey did go well, and I should like very much to make a speech to the citizens back home if an HPG can be had. But the EWS Freiheit will require sublight engine repairs before long. We need to divert her to a shipyard."

((OC- Yeah I got em.. ))
---

Aleaic nods.. "LAdy Yurika, our StarFleet Commander in Chief already informed the nearby drydocks to allow your vessels to make repairs as soon as they wish.

The advantage of an overly large fleet, is the docks that came before it. Heck we're still not at full capacity and capability.

As for your needs to communicate back, Lady Seto will take you to our News Center facility where you can be set up for any transmission you wish."

Lady Seto comes up.. "That should be no problem. The reporters have been practically dying to talk to the Woodians about their decision to come into space and all..

..I'd be careful Prime Minister, you're something of a celebrity about these parts."

Just then, the Griffion Avian Lord, Lord Ackronus steps up to Lord Whitfield. With a nod of his large head... "((~ Welcome young human. I am Lord Ackronus. I also wish you well with your new journeys. ~))"

The Prime Minister then nodded to Aleiac and Seto, then turned to Lord Ackronus. "Greetings. I am most pleased to meet you, yet know little of you. Seto attempted to explain the Ascendants and related beings to me earlier; yet, unfortunately, the explanation was beyond my comprehension. I look forward to learning more about you and the Ascendants, but for now, my brain must rest. Or at least retreat into the familiar art of giving political speeches for the folks back home, for they will want to know just what they are getting into. And I do not believe they will be dissappointed."

Ackronus chuckles in an avian 'churup' tone.. (..sounded like it too..) "((~ Of course young one. ~))"

Aleaic then adds.. "Well then, let's not hold you up any more than you have been."

Seto then nods and guestures for the P.M. "This way please."

She leads Whitfield to a teleporter. And unlike the journey through the Palace, this trip is a 'straight' shot, where they simply step into the large white orifice, and seconds later they end up at the News Center.

The place is actually well 'normal', about everything one would expect of a news center. Course add to that the hyper-tech computer center feel like the rest of the Gaian centers of all kinds and flavors.

Within an hour, the local HPG Class-B station is directed towards Terra, with a signal dedicated for the Woodian transmission..

When Whitfield is ready, Seto just tells him off holo-camera... "Whenever you're ready Prime Minister."

Prime Minister Whitfield keyed in a transmission, "PRIME MINISTER TO GIVE SPEECH LIVE IN FIVE MINUTES," and then pressed the "TRANSMIT" button. Fortunately, the controls for the HPG were not all that different from the SETI transmitters that Evil Woody Thoughts had first used to contact civilizations outside of Earth, so the P.M. already had some idea of how to operate one. This way, the news networks back home could prepare to receive and broadcast it live, instead of the first couple of minutes being cut off. It would also allow the Prime Minister a few minutes to form a coherent speech that he had not yet had the chance to write.

He then set a timer on his watch for five minutes, with an alarm to beep with thirty seconds left, and began formulating his speech.

A few minutes later, he heard a beep from his watch. Thirty seconds. He looked at the camera and collected his last thoughts. It will be about midnight in Evil Woody Thoughts by the time this transmission arrives. Adjust speech accordingly. Five seconds. Four. Three. Two. One.

"Good evening citizens of Evil Woody Thoughts, and indeed the world. I address you tonight from the surface of White Diamond. Just over six hours ago, you watched as Master Sergent Chris Bielski made the first steps on this planet. I followed shortly thereafter, and I still cannot comprehend all that I saw.

I arrived planetside to find an ancient city that rivals or exceeds the splendor of Great Woody City. According to the Gaians, this city was built millions of years ago by a species known as the Ascendants. I do not yet understand much about the Ascendants, for one could easily spend their entire life studying them and still remain confused. Nevertheless, I have spoken with an Ascendant, Lord Ackronus, and expect to talk with him some more in the coming days, and the citizens of Evil Woody Thoughts will learn more about the Ascendants in due time.

Needless to say, the pre-existing infrastructure here on White Diamond is excellent. Furthermore, with the exception of roughly half a million Gaians and Ascendants who maintain this city, it is vacant and ready to accept several million colonists. This is most assuredly better news than I had expected to deliver.

Of course, space colonization is not without risks, and a small band of space pirates attacked our fleet. However, our forces successfully repelled the attack with minimal losses--zero casualties for Evil Woody Thoughts and, regrettably, four reported casualties for the Gaians. It is evident that a strong military is just as much a necessity in space as it is on Earth.

Nevertheless, we cannot allow a few scratches from pirates to deter us from that which is necessary for survival. The colonization effort can now proceed on an accelerated schedule. I am hereby ordering Brigadier General Hansen to undertake repairs and return to Earth and pick up more supplies and colonists. I challenge Evil Woody Thoughts to have 200 million people living on White Diamond within the next ten years--and it can be done with a retooling of our $50 trillion dollar economy.

I expect to remain away from Earth for several weeks, as I will be attending diplomatic events here at White Diamond and on the Gaian homeworld. As I cannot discharge my terrestrial duties, especially those concerning Parliament, I hereby name my Deputy Minister, Nick Brock, as acting Prime Minister in my stead, in accordance with the Successor Acts.

One year ago, this country was bitterly divided over the prospects of successfully reaching for the stars. Three weeks ago, five hundred and fifty thousand Woodians set off on Evil Woody Thoughts' maiden space voyage, having little idea where they were trying to go, even less what what would become of them. And now, we have reached the stars. Whenever someone despairs, 'It cannot be done,' let them remember this.

Good night, and long live the nation of Evil Woody Thoughts." A technician cut the feed.
------------------
In the dead of night, while most of the nation slept, the major news networks broadcast this speech. Those few that were awake watched with an ever growing sense of pride, usually moved to tears by the last minute or so of the speech. Those that were asleep would have to wait for the rebroadcasts in the morning.

Aleaic, looking over a Padd display of the new bloodlines from Clan Snow Eagle to be added to the genetic pool, as well as new data on exercises from a Cluster from Xi Galaxy to deploy quickly through the StarGate Internetwok, from Emporia Prime to Shadow Core, one end of the Republic to the other (within six hours... still needs work..,) is distracted off by the speech Lord Whitfield makes.

Lord Keiichi and Lady Skuld with him, and Lord Ackronus behind him, they watch and feel impressed.

"Gee, I'd feel pretty proud too if I was a Woodian right now on Sol-Terra."

Aleaic nods. "Ah... but the real fun for them is only beginning.

Wait till they meet the Neo Zetans and the others."

Ackronus looks down at Aleaic with.. "((~ Spoil not this moment for them young one. ~))" Aleaic just waves it off.

"Gee, I'd feel pretty proud too if I was a Woodian right now on Sol-Terra."

OOC: Just wait until the updated polls come out a few NS days from now. :D

IC: The Prime Minister, physically exhausted by the hours of walking through the city and mentally exhausted from the combined effects of trying to absorb the intracacies of the Ascendants and having to give an ad hoc address to the nation, had three words to say after the speech: "I must rest." He briefly thought of the polls due out in a few days, and wondered if he would get to see them. Yet, he knew from the reactions of the Gaians that he had not, in his state of near-exhaustion, bungled the speech.

He sat down in a nearby chair to rest his legs a bit more and fought the urge to sleep.

Seto has none of that and approaches Whitfield swiftly. "Now now Lord and guest. It be time to show you to your guest chambers within the Palace.

..the universe and all still demands sleep from even us. Come now.." ..put with a almost motherly tone..

...which is nothing compared to Misaki being mothered by the same. =^^=

Prime Minister Whitfield knew that in spite of his desire for instant rest, he would be better off tomorrow if he took just one more hike to better quarters. He sheepishly rose from the chair and followed Seto to his suite, thinking about glorious sleep all the way there.

...and a second quick tele-pad run brings the two to, all of a sudden again for Whitfield, to another massive chamber.

Seto speaks simply, like a chamber maid or hotel belllady.

"And here will be your residence quarters for at anytime you wish to reside on our world during your many trips here.

..it's a small room, but should meet your needs."

.....for small, for a small mansion that be. The room is about half the size of an indoor stadium, well furnished in an open area setup where the rest area (with an Emperor sized bed, fluffed and pillowed out the arse..,) the work area (one the size of an office area all it's own. Well stocked in techy comm and comp equipment.,) and the entertainment area (a large area with a massive blue fur rug with several couches and chairs arrayed before a theater setup the size of a real terran movie theater, with sound and vid quality of the gods... THX up the arse, so to say..,) and a 'kitchen' area with a large such setup of marble and whitestone, arrayed around a large food molecular dispenser. (..about the same quality of food of a Star Trek style type. Not everything's perfect...)

The entire area is luxury incarnite.

...and Seto calls it small...

The Prime Minister couldn't help but chuckle at Seto's description of the chamber. "Well, if you believe this to be small, I cannot imagine what quarters you would consider spacious." He cracked a smile. "Good night."

Well, if it gets too inhospitable on Earth, we'll just have to move the entire capital of Evil Woody Thoughts here, he thought to himself. While it was easy to think that in such surroundings, if the climate back home continued to change as rapidly as it had been, Great Woody City would be surrounded by glaciers in a few decades, maybe even be underneath one in a hundred years or so.

He then trotted over to the giant bed, and spent a few minutes climbing into it. Shortly he immersed himself in pillows and comforters and fell asleep nearly instantaneously. He did not bother to change into pajamas at all for he was so tired.

OOC: Why Hallo thar Buttsechs.

Anyway, keeping the notes on Evil lives on nice a generalist, as I have no idea even if this is happening at the same time, or what part is happening.

IC:

With the conflict over the eight already brewing over, Xenonier had take it upon itself to discuss the defenses all around the Gaian Ascendancy. The Gaian Ascendancy and Neo Zeta were still at each others throats, and Heavily Armed Xenonian warships partrolled between the two, looking to "discourage" any vigilante actions by forces on either side.

Thus, when they heard of a new space nation, Xenonier was intruiged. And from That planet, Earth, and to futher peak intrest, they were the 2050 Human, a most intruiging prospect for study, one that was long extinct in the Xeon Galaxy.

Unsurprisingly, Xenonier voted to send a fleet over the area. A pair of frigates, an a Destroyer, powerful enough to annihilate most battlefleets. Appearing just out of sensor range, they sent a message to the Gaian Asendancy, informing them of their intentions and also contacting the Woodian forces as well.

Staying put where they were, the Xenonian vesells awaited the go-ahead from both forces. Their captain, was Hergiv, who had accompanied Arkady Gregorovich to the meeting with the Gaian Ascendancy not long ago.

The Ascendancy Palace Command took the message with far more than a grain of salt when they replied.


To: Xenonian Fleet representatives.
From: Gaian Foreign Advisory

To keep thing simple, know that the Woodian people are under our protection so in as long as they wish, while the progress to their new life among the stars.

Diplomatic exchanges however are encouraged, but know that any poor acts would be the same as doing so to Gaian Republic interests themselves.

Beyond this, no restrictions. Only treat the Woodians with all due and full respect.

Regards,

Lady Seto Kamiki
Gaian Foreign Advisory


--

A single Gaian High-Mobile Heavy Cruiser was deployed to act as the Xeoninan Fleet while in Gaian space.

(OOC: P.M. Whitfield doesn't yet realize that he has had latent Force powers for the last fifty years... :D )

IC: Six hours later, the Prime Minister was in deeper sleep he had ever been in before. Yet, somehow, in his dreams, he felt like he sensed something.

Something just dropped down to sublight speed. Beyond the edge of this system. His mind, even though he was asleep, refined the vision. Three ships from a civilization I do not yet know of. Our ships are out of sensor range of this new fleet. Their commander is a bit put off. Yes, the Gaians have given them a fairly blunt warning. They wish to speak to me...

He woke up, surprisingly refreshed for only getting six hours of sleep, and couldn't get the vision out of his head, so for a minute or so, he meditated on it. Xenonier.

He changed into clothes that weren't so horrendously wrinkled, walked over to the comm station, and fiddled with the controls for a bit. It took him about two minutes to figure out how to hail a fleet with the comm equipment he had. "Greetings, Commander of the Xenonieran task force. I am Prime Minister Jacob Whitfield, leader of the Evil Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts. I do believe that you wished to speak with me?"

This vision was most strange...

Hergiv barely even cared about the Gaian warning. He'd been through far more blunt, and infinitely more tact discussions with Ghargonia, and besides, The Gaians knew Xenonier well enough to guess there would be no interruptions. The two frigates, having already being called to other duties, dissapeared, already on their way to guard other sections of the Protectorate.

The Woodians were intruging to begin with. New, desperate, unsure, and certainly awed by the scope of what they were facing. All interesting variables to study, and if Hergiv was right, then this being contacting him, this Whitfield, had far more potential then he knew.

Hergiv would have to discuss this with the Gaians. In the meantime, he would have to consult Whitfield about it later, much later, preferably when whatever he was silently nurturing revealed itself better.

Yes, yes I did. Or rather, I was told to by my people, through democractic election. Now, you would be the Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts, whom left your earthbound shell through environmental concerns? Do not be surprised at this, we know even more. Although I must say, many of those people on earth are unusual. The Parthians, Roachbusters, etcetera - all very amusing, and immature.

We keep tabs on Earth, you see, through an embassy. We know some public information on your people, although little more.

Now, onto diplomatic relations. We are landing, to talk, with both you, and the Gaian Asendancy. With conflicts that threaten their intrests running their course in due time, and my people lending their support, I believe it is essential all three of our nations find out what is going to happen to you.

Hergiv barely even cared about the Gaain warning .He's been through far more blunt, and infintely more tact discussions with Ghargonia, and besides, The Gaians knew Xenonier well enough to guess there would be no interruptions. The two frigates, having already being called to other duties, dissapeared, already on their way to guard other sections of the Protectorate.

The Woodians were intruging to begin with. Knew, desperate, unsure, and certainly awed by the scope of what they were facing. All interesting variables to study, and if Hergiv was right, then this being contacting him, this Whitfield, had far more potential then he knew.

Hergiv would have to discuss this with the Gaians. In the meantime, he would have to consult Whitfield about it later, much later, preferably when whatever he was silently nurturing revealed itself better.

"Yes, yes I did. Or rather, I was told to by my people, through democractic election. Now, you would be the Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts, whom left your earthbound shell through environmental concerns? Do not be surprised t this, we know even more. Although I must say, many of those people on earth are unusual. The Parthians, Raochbusters, etcetera - all very amusing, and immature.

We keep tabs on Earth, you see, through an embassy. We know some public information on your people, although little more.

Now, onto diplomatic relations. We are landing, to talk, with both you, and the Gaian Asendancy. With conflicts that threaten their intrests running their course in due time, and my people lending their support, I believe it is essential all three of our nations find out what is going to happen to you."

OOC: I'm assuming you meant "new" when you typed "knew." Normally I'm not that much of a spelling nazi, but confusion of homophones does irk me more than normal typos.

IC: The Prime Minister sensed a fair amount of uncertainty in Hergiv, the task force commander, and the uncertainty revolved around him. "What's with all of this wierd sixth sense stuff?" Whitfield thought to himself.

He shoved the thought from his mind and turned to reply. "Commander Hergiv, I am not surprised at what you know. We broadcast a fair amount of it throughout the galaxy ourselves, and we have since learned of the practice of interstellar empires maintaining covert embassies on Earth. And, yes, the antics of certain foreign 'rulers' would be entertaining--if only such antics didn't cause needless death and suffering.

You know that these are uncertain times for the nation that I lead, yes. But more than that, you sense something unusual about me. Have you ever encountered this...anomaly...that you detect within me before?"

OOC: All heil Teh Spelling Fuhrer! :)

Seriously, thanks. What do I know about spelling? Reel Bigg lotz.

IC:

Anomaly?

What an unususal means of terminology, although perhaps it was something one would expect from such a young species. Nevertheless, uncontrolled psychic manifestation inside a being always had dire consequences, and Chronosia was always quick to take advantage of such a fact.

Thankfully empires mature over time in space. They either become unspeakably evil, or goodly. There is little go-between, so I do hope you take that to mind.

I see you are consciously or not, honing your power. To speak politely, frankly, and honestly, you are developing psychic abilities that I am sure your Earthbound media has no doubt glorified as unsubstantiated tripe. In essence, you are displaying similar abilities every Xenonian, in that you have the power of ultra-neuron-development. In your case, although I cannot be one hundred percent sure I do believe, thanks to my own power, that your brain is manifesting itself in a form of permanent symbosis with microscopic organisims.

We shall have to discuss this with the Gaians.

Signals of course within the Republic, were monitored for sake of curiosity. The Ascendancy has no qualms about diplomatic privacy invasion, to keep things peacful all around.

The messages were relayed to Comm-Center One of the Command Center. There Lady Peorth was there to hear the messages traded. She arched an eyebrow at the last bits. "Interesting..."

She then takes the open comm transission, being relayed to her wrist comm unit, and to Lady's Seto and Funaho. Tehy hear the ongoing transmission on a holo-screen viewer in front of them.

Seto comments.. "Interesting.." ..she then keys an interrupt signal line to meld her transmission with the Woodian/Xenonier exchange.

--


Pardon our 'bluntness' once again, but if you both would, please come to Lord Whitfield's chambers and discuss this and other matters there. I will bring Lord Aleaic with me to hear in person.

With Regarded Interest,

Lady Seto Kamiki

Signals of course within the Republic, were monitored for sake of curiosity. The Ascendancy has no qualms about diplomatic privacy invasion, to keep things peacful all around.

The messages were relayed to Comm-Center One of the Command Center. There Lady Peorth was there to hear the messages traded. She arched an eyebrow at the last bits. "Interesting..."

She then takes the open comm transission, being relayed to her wrist comm unit, and to Lady's Seto and Funaho. Tehy hear the ongoing transmission on a holo-screen viewer in front of them.

Seto comments.. "Interesting.." ..she then keys an interrupt signal line to meld her transmission with the Woodian/Xenonier exchange.

--

Things were moving along nicely now. The soon the treaties were signed, and this diplomatic negotiation completed, the better. After that, the remainder was tasked to the Gaians, and The woodians. Hergiv sent the message, and prepared to be teleported down.

It is good to see the Gaians are always aware. I will be there soon, by teleport, unless you have any reservations. Usual deal, no bodyguards, no weapons, as expected.

Chronosia. It hadn't been said, but the word crossed Whitfield's mind. This new 'sixth sense' was getting stranger by the moment. Then the flashbacks began...

May of last year. Lord Aleaic Kerensky had agreed to answer questions from Members of Parliament. Immediately afterward would come the vote to continue or scrap the space program...I gave Kerensky a brief history lesson in partisan politics, Woodian style. While I knew he would take some harsh questions, I also...the cloud of uncertainty lifted while we were in the motorcade. A few of my party will cross the aisle. This is something the pundits will not expect...four hours later, a nearly a third of my party broke party lines to ratify the proposal.

Seven years ago. A voice in my head tells me to cancel a trip to Elveshia. Falwellian terrorists bomb the hotel that I would have stayed at.

Nine years ago. I travel to the United States on impulse, having no idea where or why I was going. I arrive in Denver to find my father on his deathbed.

Sixteen years ago. I turned in a wanted mass murderer without having any information about him whatsoever...yet I sensed his location anyway...

High school, senior year. I ditch school on the day the boiler room explodes. This was the only day I had ever skipped school in my life.

Second grade. I guessed the pick-five lottery numbers and gave them to my mother. I was right--for six days in a row. I finally stopped predicting the numbers. And this right after she had lost her job...

No, this sixth sense did not just develop tonight...I've had it all my life. But what is it?

He realized it had been more than ten minutes since Hergiv had spoken, and he had yet to receive an answer. The Prime Minister wasted no further time in his reply. "I shall take your advice into account. It might surprise you to know that this has not attracted the attention of the Earthbound media...yet. I was not aware of these abilities until tonight...and yet they explain quite nicely the long string of peculiar coincidences in my life. But no, the media hasn't so much as speculated on it. And who or what exactly is Chronosia?"

[OOC: I didn't finish typing this soon enough. For purposes of RP chronology, this should have been two posts above where it is.]

The Excellency and Lady Seto walked simply from a nearby teleporter just outside Whitfield's quarters.

"More suprises everyday." Aleaic quips bemusedly. Seto lightly giggles with. "Then this should be fun sire."

The two then knock on the quaters of the Prime Minister, a single Angel God stands watch outside. Honor guard and all..

..but they bring no guards with them. Only a loud rapping of the chamber doors.

When Prime Minister Whitfield heard the knock, he turned to open the door.

Did that doorknob just turn!? I'm standing forty feet away from it! "One moment please, Lord Aleiac," Whitfield shouted.

The Prime Minister looked at the doorknob again, a bit more intensely this time. It turned further than it did last time. He concentrated harder...and the doorknob clicked, and the heavy door creaked inwards, ever so slowly.

Aleaic, being a Power, felt this 'tug and stuggle' moment, and chuckles lightly as the door creaks open.

"Fun indeed.." ..said to a semi-suprised Seto. The two then enter through the 'opened' door.

Prime Minister Whitfield bowed to the Gaian party. "Good morning." (By now, it was only a couple of hours before dawn.) "Oy vey, tonight has been...shall we say...interesting. Lord Aleaic, something to say, have you? You sensed what was going on on the other side of that door. I felt it."

Aleaic nods and heads over to the food dispenser, speaking... "Oh I felt. Felt did I indeed.

..and I must wonder if you would be the only one from your people. Any drink or snack?" ..as he reaches the food replicator.

Seto now near Whitfield, quips.. "Some Chorian Cherries for me if you would."

Aleaic eyes Seto with.. "Worried not for your shapely form milady?"

Seto looks at Al with an anime evil eye look. "Oh, you do NOT want me to go Triple-Z on ya buster." Aleaic just chuckles in response.

Prime Minister Whitfield allowed himself to smile briefly at the banter between Seto and Aleiac, then got back to business.

"My son back on Earth might possess such abilities, but if he has them, they are still dormant. I cannot sense him from such a great distance." He paused for a moment or so to meditate. "But...there is one other. He is here, in this city." The Prime Minister closed his eyes; he was deep in thought, almost in a trance, now. "Yes. He is Master Sergeant Chris Bielski, twenty-five Earth years of age. He assisted with handling the delivery of spacecraft from the nation of Snake Eaters last year, and he was chosen to be the first one to step on this planet. Only now do I know why..."

Suddenly, the Prime Minister's mind became gripped by an instantaneous, searing revelation. Strong in the Force am I. My son has it. And Sergeant Bielski has it. He uttered these words out loud.
--------------------------
Several kilometers away, Master Sergeant Chris Bielski slumbered in what passed for his cramped living quarters slightly smaller than a college dorm room, on board one of the landed Corvettes. Something brought him out of his sleep, but he didn't know exactly what. All he knew was that the Prime Minister, said, or did, something that touched his mind.
--------------------------
Seven hundred light-years away, back on Earth, John Whitfield's mind stirred in the night. He had gone to bed early, because he needed to prepare for his trip for the States. His father...yes, he could sense it was his father that had awoken him. What the f*** is going on here?

OOC: It's at this point you won't be able to tell a thing forcewise, EWT, because Hergiv is testing you.

Hergiv waited until he had calibrated the Transport to roughly 50 Metres above ground. Seconds later, he was 50 metres above the ground, falling straight down.

Focusing his mind to decelerate, he was able to take a soft landing moments later each step on solid ground. Taking only a few moments to observe the spectacle, Hergiv began walking straight to the unmissable psychic emanation of an untrained psyker, and the tremendous beacon of Lord Aleiac Kerensky.

It took some time to find his way towards the expecteted meeting point, only Because Hergiv was taking in the data, observing for weaknesses as a matter of personal intrest. The Angel God standing nearby the door nodded, to recegnise a fellow soldier. Hergiv was just that, A soldier, not a diplomat. However, he was a captain, and therefore a representative of Xenonier. Responsibilties demanded duty.

He knew all were inside, and merely waited for them to recegnise him. Aleiac and Seto would have no doubt already known where he was, and Whitfield couldn't be too far behind.

Whitfield felt his newfound Force powers dampen by a lot. He would know if Kerensky was the one doing it, even though he wasn't, simply because he was so close. That left Hergiv as the culprit.

However, as Hergiv approached the doorway, Whitfield could sense him, and despite the Force interference, he found it easier to open the door for him, simply because he knew how to do it this time.

Whitfield was quick, and that indicate he had used his powers before. Considering that, by Human standards, he was likely called "old", this was unsurprising. Satisfied that there woul be no intereference from Chronosia, he lowerd his own grip around Whitfields power, while keeping his own defences strong.

Knowing he has already been sensed, Hergiv entered the room, and waited politely for the Gaians and Whitfield to adress him.

Aleaic felt it too as Hergiv entered. He quips simply.. "Are we having fun?" ..to the Xenonian Captain. after saying this (with lack of a previous response.) ..he approaches the center of the room with a tray of four medium glasses of a nice and universal morning drink.

..at least for Terrans, orange juice.

Aleaic felt it too as Hergiv entered. He quips simply.. "Are we having fun?" ..to the Xenonian Captain. after saying this (with lack of a previous response.) ..he approaches the center of the room with a tray of four medium glasses of a nice and universal morning drink.

..at least for Terrans, orange juice.

Hergiv barely noticed, and returned with a snall joke of his own.

Soldiers cannot have fun, we are far too busy for that."

Hergiv took the drink, and began to sip while he waited for Whitfield to make a comment.

Whitfield, forgoing the beverage, replied, "Nor can Prime Ministers have any fun, for that matter. Commander Hergiv, may I inquire as to in what capacity you represent the government of Xenonier? I would like to know more about the person with whom I am negotiating."

He would wait until Hergiv brought up his Force usage.

Aleaic and Seto simply took glasses and sat out of the way for the moment.

Whitfield, forgoing the beverage, replied, "Nor can Prime Ministers have any fun, for that matter. Commander Hergiv, may I inquire as to in what capacity you represent the government of Xenonier? I would like to know more about the person with whom I am negotiating."

He would wait until Hergiv brought up his Force usage.

Hergiv placed his cup in front of Whitfield, and levitated the container into the air, before returning it to his hand. Look at Whitfield eye-to-eye, he nodded at the comment, and returned an answer.

"Technically both someone with no power, and the ultimate power at the same time. Xenonians have great longviety, and thus far we have never seen one die to old age. As thus, Xenonier is a direct democracy, as our policy of free-flow information through entanglement networks, or neuralinks, allows up to the plank-second information updates. While this thereby suggests I myself cannot make any decisions on behalf of Xenonier, it also ensures that millions of people are currently aware of the face of Jacob Whitfield, Prime Minister of the Evil Empire of Evil Woody Thoughts, at this very second. They know, thanks to this system, almost everything you can possibly imagine."
"
Thus, the people make the decision, and I sign the paperwork, should you require it. While this is a job normally done by Arkady Gregorovich, President Speaker of Xenonier, he cannot be everywhere at once. "

By this time, Hergiv had finished his drink, and calmy returned the glass to it's resting place on the tray with there merest wish. Hergiv signalled he had not yet finished his discussion, and continued

"Every Xenonian is a psychically gifted person, allthough this is a relatively new discovery, we thought it lost forever. We orginially had great abilities, but lost much when our people were almost wiped out in a universal war with a species known as the Kharnak, or the Wraith. We won, although barely. The sole survivor of that battle was Arkady Gregorovich, whom returned to Earth, enlisted the help of the people of Zotrannsia, unearthed a gate to our galaxy, and restored a sealed container that contained five million embryos in aritfical wombs, stored in deep stasis. I was one of those. We were born equal, and are equal."

Silence Dawned. Hergiv finished slowly, but clearly.

"Therefore, the People of Xenonier will judge you."

The Prime Minister had hoped that Hergiv would submit a proposal. He nodded, but now he had to think of one. And Xenonier's system of government was a pipe dream for many a political pundit back home.

The Prime Minister started, "Unfortunately, our government is a bit more centralized, and anything I propose would have to be ratified by Parliament. However, I would like to offer a starting point: the citizens of Xenonier agree to accept the claims given to us by the Gaians, including this system, and both Xenonier and Evil Woody Thoughts agree to a non-aggression pact. I am assuming that the citizens who will vote on this have already learned, thanks to your terran embassy and method of communication, something about our past diplomatic history. Please correct me if I am wrong, and feel free to propose any addendums."

The Prime Minister had hoped that Hergiv would submit a proposal. He nodded, but now he had to think of one. And Xenonier's system of government was a pipe dream for many a political pundit back home.

The Prime Minister started, "Unfortunately, our government is a bit more centralized, and anything I propose would have to be ratified by Parliament. However, I would like to offer a starting point: the citizens of Xenonier agree to accept the claims given to us by the Gaians, including this system, and both Xenonier and Evil Woody Thoughts agree to a non-aggression pact. I am assuming that the citizens who will vote on this have already learned, thanks to your terran embassy and method of communication, something about our past diplomatic history. Please correct me if I am wrong, and feel free to propose any addendums."

OOC: Xenonier = Ancients off Stargate , but moving on from ZPM to Quantum Conversion, and bigger, kewler, weapons. This is also essenitally going in my factbook, (Tar dar!) as my history.

Hence the reason we have so few ships.

IC:

The information, and votes on the proposal, took less than five seconds, leaving Hergiv with the answer, who relayed that to Whitfield.

"That will do, for now. Doubtless you will wish to visist Xenon in the future. Now, onto Chronosia, among others. Firstly, rememeber, there are very powerful forces out there in the galaxy. You doubtless have heard of Chronosia from myself, but there are greater foes, such as the Wraith.

Now, onto these. The Wraith are our ancient enemy, whom we thought defeated. We, in our arrogance, thought ourselves to be unmatched in power, and in technology. Eventually, we met a foe that was our equal in power. Physically stronger, mentally our equal, and with a deep hunger for death. They upset galatic balance we had striven to accomplish, and consumed the life we spread across the galaxy. We could never hope to match their numbers and while they could not defeat us, we fled. That was in the Pegasus galaxy, as you call it. We referred to it as that galaxy, which would be the sam reason you do - it is likely your were created by my ancestors, millions of years ago. Doutbless that should extinguish your creational theories.

We, however, found a new voice in our fight. Someone who exhorted us to take up arms again, to fight back against the Wraith. This was, Arkady Gregorovich. Thus we did, and we annihilated all their numbers, whom had slept after our defeat. In a final battle for control of their largest base, we won, Arkady savaging their Gatekeeper to death in a psychic battle. Since then, the embyros lived in frozen stasis, while Akady wandered throughout life attempting to assist humankind to find the heights we did. He was several influencial figures throughout history. He awoke us only 100 years ago. Since then, we have prepared a military, for the battles with any survivng wraiths - we know we won, but they are not all dead, thus far. They possess reasonably advanced technology, and incredible physical strength. If you shot one with a full clip of 7.62mm bullets, they would recover. They consume life, something you will see in time.

Now, onto Chronosia. Chronosia is an emprie that essentially serves beings created by negative human emotion, similar to ... Satan, if you will. their gods prey on the life force of those whom use psychic powers, dragging their souls from their body to live an eternity of agony.

Hence, why your power is most dangerous, and must be learnt carefully. The mistake we made was to stand alone, and we forever bear the shame of that mark. You should know Xe as the so called "noble" gas, called Xenon, I believed Arkady pointed it out to one of your scientists. It doesn't react with anything. It's chemical symbol is Xe, we call it Xe. Therefore, in our language, Xenonier, means "not to stand alone". Essentially, it means Xenonier, will not stand alone any further, lest the past repeat itself."

Hergiv waited for the infromation to register.

"So, what does that history lesson tell you?"

"It tells me that I had better learn to control my newfound powers, and also, though indirectly, that you are looking for allies for a future war against Chronosia. As for the latter, we would not be able to offer much assistance, at least not now, but possibly in a couple of decades we would."

"It tells me that I had better learn to control my newfound powers, and also, though indirectly, that you are looking for allies for a future war against Chronosia. As for the latter, we would not be able to offer much assistance, at least not now, but possibly in a couple of decades we would."

"We are primarily defensive in nature, as both a people and a protectorate. Information on the target first, then an attack. Chronosia's gods are the ones that attack psychically gifted people, not Chronosia itself, they merely serve the gods. However, should Chronosia attack us in one of their expansionistic purges, then unlimitied war, including the destruction of their planets, will be raged.

As for the Wraiths, we will always seek to curb their power. They seek only to feed on other things, and as such, cannot be trusted to live, unless they present conclusive evidence otherwise.

Now, contact your government, and tell them of these things."

The Prime Minister noted the distinction between the nation of Chronosia and the gods of Chronosia, excused himself, walked over to the comm station, and called General Hansen's private line on the flagship.

"General Hansen speaking."

"This is the Prime Minister. I want Master Sergeant Chris Bielski here as soon as he can be sent."

"Yessir, but where exactly is here?"

"He will know."

"Then I will contact his commanding officer planetside to relay the order."

General Hansen hung up, and Prime Minister Whitfield started typing a transmission to the government offices on Earth.

#ENCRYPT TRANSMISSION#

FROM PRIME MINISTER WHITFIELD
TO ALL MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

I HAVE MET A REPRESENTATIVE OF A PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN CIVILIZATION,
THE COMMUNIST PROTECTORATE OF XENONIER. XENONIANS ARE A SPECIES
OF MYSTICS, AND CLAIM THAT HUMANS ARE AN OFFSHOOT OF THEM.
THEIR GOVERNMENT IS A DIRECT DEMOCRACY, MADE POSSIBLE BY
TELEPATHY AND A MASSIVE NEURAL NETWORK. XENONIANS HAVE AGREED
TO A VERBAL NON-AGGRESSION PACT IN WHICH THEY RECOGNIZE THE
CLAIMS THAT THE GAIANS HAVE GIVEN US. I SUBMIT SAID PACT, AS
DOCUMENTED IN THIS TRANSMISSION, FOR RATIFICATION, NO AMENDMENTS.
XENONIER HAS INDICATED IT GENERALLY TAKES A DEFENSIVE POSTURE IN
DIPLOMACY AND WAR.

Some things, such as the Force, were best explained in person. It was gonna be a media circus when he got back to Earth, though not for the reasons the Prime Minister had thought a day earlier.

The Prime Minister turned back to Hergiv, saying, "I have sent them some news, but a telegram will not explain the Force very well. I will therefore wait until I return to Earth to reveal that. I have also sent for Master Sergeant Chris Bielski, who also appears to possess latent Force powers."

At this, Hergiv decided upon doing something unexpected. Having received news that several Xenonian warships has no other duties, and calculating public reception the Woodian proposal, Hergiv came across an exciting idea.

"Prime Minister" Hergiv began.

"Now, I do not honestly know how fast you can get back to earth, but speed seems to be of the essence here. With this is mind, I shall go with you. It will be interesting to see exactly how a species with no alien contact responds to alien prescence, other than Zotrannsia. Do you accept?"

"Well, I had planned on a diplomatic trip to the Gaian homeworld--that would have to be postponed Therefore, I believe that the Gaians should also have some say in this." Whitfield turned to Lord Kerensky. "What say you?"

"Well, I had planned on a diplomatic trip to the Gaian homeworld--that would have to be postponed Therefore, I believe that the Gaians should also have some say in this." Whitfield turned to Lord Kerensky. "What say you?"

OOC: Parliament is going to attempt to grill Hergiv, right? That'll be fun, considering he only looks 20, but is really a lot older.

OOC: Parliament is going to attempt to grill Hergiv, right? That'll be fun, considering he only looks 20, but is really a lot older.

OOC: There will be questions, yes, but since last year, public opinion has shifted in favor of space colonization; I'll have a poll out in a few NS Earth days (well, with time progressing the way it is in the RP, that might be another week :D ). Some MP's will be willing to take Kerensky's word that you are not trying to turn us into your next colony.

OOC: Ga must be taking a break, I haven't seen any posts done in any of Ga's current roleplays.

(OC- I seem to be having period of lack of interest, or just plain burnout. Course I also do the sporting Rps as well, so my mind seems more attuned to those at the moment.))

---

Aleaic was listening with intent to the saga of Xenonier, and the Woodian reactions. When came time for Aleaic to offer his own impart..

"If you require immediate transport, a vessel equipped with a Fold Drive can be used to dispatch you back, though know it's a Gaian vessel, rather than a Woodian.

As for the rest, so in as long as Woodian soverignty is maintained, there will be no problem in further interaction."

Aleaic then looks simply at Hergiv. "As for the learning to use their unknown powers, it all really is a matter of choice. Everything that the Balance is, depends on choice.

Not everything is meant to be a choice to help. Many times, the choice to harm, benefits the Balance."

Aleaic finishes his juice, and finishes his statement for the moment.

"The Woodians are under our caretaking for the moment. That can include learning to harness this unknown power for 'their' benefit.

I presume the intent seeked, is to prevent harm to their own and others in such learnings. That much 'is' well understood."

The Prime Minister answered, "So it shall be--I will return to Evil Woody Thoughts. But I still have business here."
--------------------------------
Having received the cryptic order to report to an undisclosed location to see the Prime Minister, MSgt. Chris Bielski changed into his Class A (dress) uniform. His commanding officer had no information as to his destination. Holstering a pistol just in case, he set out essentially blind. Or so he thought.

He was less than 100 meters from his bunk when he felt a beacon in his mind. So this is why they said, "You will know," he thought to himself. The beacon was extremely faint, but there nonetheless. It led him to a teleporter.

Go through.

Bielski entered, and found that the mental signal was much amplified. It led him down a hallway for about two hundred meters, to a heavy door guarded by aliens. He sensed there was something otherworldly, divine, about them, but did not yet know anything about the Angel Gods. Yet, knowing that he was no longer threatened, he simply set down his weapon on the floor. The Angel Gods appeared to know who he was, even though they had never seen him before.
----------------------------------
Inside the great chamber, the Prime Minister sensed that Chris Bielski awaited. Using his newly discovered powers in the Force, he opened the door. Chris Bielski, his two-meter (6'6") tall frame dwarfing everyone present except the Angel Gods, entered, saluted the Prime Minister (he did not recognize the others) and recited "Master Sergeant Chris Bielski reporting as ordered, sir!"

The Prime Minister returned the salute, then said, "There is something the three of us need to tell you. At rest." Sergeant Bielski allowed himself to relax, but did not say anything. Nodding to Lord Kerensky and Commander Halgiv, he said, "Sergeant Bielski, this is Lord Aleiac Kerensky, leader of the Gaians, and Commander Halgiv, who commands the Xenonierian expedition that arrived last night. Lord Kerensky and Commander Halgiv, meet Master Sergeant Chris Bielski, the other person with Force powers that I alluded to."

Chris Bielski, like Prime Minister Whitfield twenty-four hours before, was surprised to learn that he possessed any sort of mystical powers, yet, instinctively he knew that the Force was what led him there. He briefly greeted the strangers, then fell silent, for he knew not what to say.

The Prime Minister broke the brief silence. "Sergeant Bielski, you do have questions, don't you?"

Sergeant Bielski simply replied, "What questions I have, I will ask en route to Earth, for I know that we must return. Now is not the time for them, sir."

The Prime Minister nodded, and waited to see if Lord Kerensky or Commander Halgiv had any questions for the the sergeant before dismissing him to pack.

Aleaic looked at Seto, then stood and then took a few steps past Bielski, examining him with his own powers, as well as he had light done so with Whitfield and even Halgiv, knowing the same was doen to he.

Aleaic then simply stopped, and asked one question, relatively openly.

"Are you 'both' prepared to face the unknown future your discovery lays before your feet?"

Aleaic turns around and says it bluntly.

"Power is corrupting, and power that exceeds your dreams, can be corrupting unto nightmares not possible to fathom.

What I said before was for the sake of the Balance, but as for yourselves, the decisions you both make as just as harsh.

..if you both say you are prepared, then you must accept 'all' eventualities as a result. That is simple because of one thing..

..to make a choice, is to your own consequence. One way or the other.

Are you ready to accept that, and the same in the name of your people, that those that become just as sensitive to this Force?" Aleaic then stands and waits...

OOC: To make this perfectly clear, by "the Force," I mean the Force of Star Wars lore.

The Prime Minister said, rather bluntly, "I am well aware of the corrupting aspects of power; dealing with unsavory governments drunk on their power to oppress their citizens is, unfortunately, part of my job description. Yes, I wish to continue with training, and I will take care of certain political technicalities when I return to Earth."

At this point, everyone in the room knew, through the Force, that the Prime minister would not run for re-election next fall. This sent a chill down Sergeant Bielski's spine, for it made him realize what a serious commitment learning to use the Force would be.

Sergeant Bielski turned to Commander Hergiv and asked, "The history lessons of Earth would seem to dictate that these powers are not very compatible with the military. By that, I mean that being trained to kill people would provide a great temptation to abuse these powers. Yet you, as a military commander, possess these powers. I am young and still probably foolish, yet I seek wisdom. How do you reconcile this, sir?"

OOC: Hm. Hergiv is 6,3, if anyone cares. Xenonians can increase or decrease their height at a whim, but that's beyond the point :)

IC:

"An interesting and insightful question", Hergiv replied.

"The problem with that question, is that there is no hard and fast answer. It is a power, and many people can use it responsibly, alongside many whom cannot. I have used the powers to kill and maim, to save lives, to heal, to give faith and hope. Any person is capable of doing all the acts I have, no matter their position. The power is never evil, nor the cause of abuse itself, and I do believe any power can fit with any intention as long as the user can handle it, can resist the invietnable temptation. "

This of course, requires toughness, and there are many types of power that many cannot touch. I do agree with Aleiac here, choice is the decider, not the power itself."

OOC: Whitfield is 6'1" if anyone cares :)

Sergeant Bielski pondered what Commander Hergiv had just told him. Killing and maiming pointlessly, bad. This was his greatest fear---that he would use the Force to kill people who did not deserve to die. But saving lives, good. Healing, good. Giving faith and hope, good. This, combined with Lord Kerensky's comments about Balance, left him thinking that there was a light side and a dark side, with the defining difference being how the Force was applied.

As far as resisting temptation went, well, he would have to meditate on that further, for he was yet young and untested. But his opposition to hazing new recruits at the military base he had been stationed at, in spite of intense peer pressure, might be considered a starting point for such moral judgements.

Sergeant Bielski made no attempt to shield his thoughts from the others, though he did not vocalize them. He nodded at Hergiv in acknowlegement of his words, and his countenance made it obvious he was giving Hergiv's advice intense consideration. The room fell quiet.

OOC: Whitfield is 6'1" if anyone cares :)

Sergeant Bielski pondered what Commander Hergiv had just told him. Killing and maiming pointlessly, bad. This was his greatest fear---that he would use the Force to kill people who did not deserve to die. But saving lives, good. Healing, good. Giving faith and hope, good. This, combined with Lord Kerensky's comments about Balance, left him thinking that there was a light side and a dark side, with the defining difference being how the Force was applied.

As far as resisting temptation went, well, he would have to meditate on that further, for he was yet young and untested. But his opposition to hazing new recruits at the military base he had been stationed at, in spite of intense peer pressure, might be considered a starting point for such moral judgements.

Sergeant Bielski made no attempt to shield his thoughts from the others, though he did not vocalize them. He nodded at Hergiv in acknowlegement of his words, and his countenance made it obvious he was giving Hergiv's advice intense consideration. The room fell quiet.

Hergiv hated wasted time. This would have to be resolved immediately.

"Well, despite the inherent nuances of this discussion, I do believe that is something you will need time to become more familar with. In the meantime, I do suggest we keep moving, as something tells me your government is thrashing around waiting for you, Whitfield. Most centralised governments often do"

Whitfield broke into Bielski's meditations. "Sergeant Bielski, return to your barracks and pack your things. You have two hours to report back to this room with your belongings."

"Yes, sir." Bielski saluted Whitfield. After Whitfield returned the salute, Bielski did an about face, and retraced his steps back to the barracks. He hurried to pack his items, hoping to return early.

Meanwhile, as the Prime Minister had not even bothered to unpack the night before, he simply meditated.

A cold wind gathers in the North. Leave now you can, but you would simply wait in Earth orbit for the storm to pass.

A vague daydream, to be sure, but nevertheless, the Prime Minister knew what that meant--a polar cyclone would greet their arrival. Sure enough, the communications array received a transmission, and the Prime Minister excused himself to read it.

*EVIL WOODY THOUGHTS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE*

*A POWERFUL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS DEVELOPING OVER THE ARCTIC CIRCLE...WE HAVE DISPATCHED HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT TO THE STORM CENTER. READINGS AS OF THREE HOURS AGO SHOWED MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 95 KNOTS AND CENTRAL PRESSURE AT 940 MILLIBARS AND DROPPING RAPIDLY. THIS POLAR CYCLONE IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY IN THE NEXT TWO TO THREE DAYS AND THE EYE HAS A 70 PERCENT ESTIMATED PROBABILITY OF GOING THROUGH EVIL WOODY THOUGHTS. POLAR CYCLONE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE ENTIRETY OF EVIL WOODY THOUGHTS FOR 16-24 AUGUST. CENTRAL SUSTAINED WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO EXCEED 180 KNOTS BY LANDFALL.

Prime Minister Whitfield simply handed copies to Lord Kerensky and Commander Hergiv, saying, "Normally, polar cyclone season doesn't start until December. Though we've only had to worry about polar cyclone season for the last ten years."

OOC: By my reckoning, I figure it to be late morning on the 10th of August. And in naming the dates in the weather advisory, I assumed the Xenonierian ships would be roughly twice as fast as the Gaians' ships, from Hergiv's indicated urgency, though I could be wrong.

Aleaic recieved the report from Whitfield with a cock of an eye. "Your planetary ecology must be off kilter to have something like this in your so preposed 'offseason'.

Coming from a version of Terra, Florida Province, Typhoons are well known to I."

Aleaic then hits his comm unit. "Fleet Command, prepare my personal vessel, the Angel Galaxy for the trip to Sol-Terra, within the hour."

Seto raises an eye. "You are going milord?"

Aleaic shakes his head. "Nay, but I will send Lady Yurika and Lord Akito in my place as ambassadors. I cannot leave while the Dark Wave remains a threat.

..but the two love birds need a vacation."

Seto droops an eye in dry retort. "To a huge storm? How romantic of you."

Aleaic 'looks' at Lady Seto. "You remember how those two were when Hurricane Johanseen smacked Florida? I'm not sure what was more empassioned, the storm, or those two."

Seto 'pegs' back with. "They weren't the only ones.. remember you and.." ..which makes Aleaic wave his hand 'once' with a stuttered response. "Inxay on the storynay.." Seto just rolls her eyes.

Aleaic then coughs and looks back at Whitfield, and an eye to Hergiv as well. "You may bring whatever vessels you wish, but the Angel Galaxy will be able to return you home at a moment's notice.

Besides, I need a report on the Terra-Luna Outpost there." ..said with a smirk.

--

((OC- Xenonier vessels are probably as, or faster than Gaian vessels, though ours can transverse entire galactic expanses in a mere jump. (i.e. like how it's done in DUNE, but with more pizzaz. =^^=

..and Aleaic's 6'2", but size isn't as important here. =^^= ))

Prime Minister Whitfield answered, "These polar cyclones aren't simply hurricanes such that traverse the Carribean...these originate in the Arctic and bring temperatures that are thirty below, or colder, Celsius. Not to mention ten feet or more of snow. August is, or used to be, hurricane season for the Carribean; polar cyclone season is a relatively new climactic cycle, one that just started yesterday in purely geologic terms. And yes, our planetary ecology is off-kilter or we wouldn't be getting these storms at all--we would only get the tropical variety of cyclones. You're going to want to tell Lady Yurika and Lord Akito, and anyone else you wish to send to Evil Woody Thoughts, to bring extremely heavy winter clothing."

Whitfield broke into Bielski's meditations. "Sergeant Bielski, return to your barracks and pack your things. You have two hours to report back to this room with your belongings."

"Yes, sir." Bielski saluted Whitfield. After Whitfield returned the salute, Bielski did an about face, and retraced his steps back to the barracks. He hurried to pack his items, hoping to return early.

Meanwhile, as the Prime Minister had not even bothered to unpack the night before, he simply meditated.

A cold wind gathers in the North. Leave now you can, but you would simply wait in Earth orbit for the storm to pass.

A vague daydream, to be sure, but nevertheless, the Prime Minister knew what that meant--a polar cyclone would greet their arrival. Sure enough, the communications array received a transmission, and the Prime Minister excused himself to read it.



Prime Minister Whitfield simply handed copies to Lord Kerensky and Commander Hergiv, saying, "Normally, polar cyclone season doesn't start until December. Though we've only had to worry about polar cyclone season for the last ten years."

OOC: By my reckoning, I figure it to be late morning on the 10th of August. And in naming the dates in the weather advisory, I assumed the Xenonierian ships would be roughly twice as fast as the Gaians' ships, from Hergiv's indicated urgency, though I could be wrong.

OOC: Xenonian vessells use temporal jump devices. Ie Here = There, no matter distance, instantly, and can essentially travel at whatever speed they effectively wish without the risks of say, Dune without the navigators (That's always messy). It's why people assume they have a lot more ships than they have, in a similar manner to the Bentusi in Homeworld 1, awesome fleet, tiny fleet, lots of ground to cover. So play the encirclement and feinting game and you can force them to retreat, every time.

IC:

Hergiv smiled. At this breif exchange of conversation. Small talk was always amusing.

"With a name like Sergei Hergiv, a russian name to be exact, how can one expect me to not love the cold? Well, that and ... I think you'd guess we have training and other things to ensure weather is not a problem."

"As for earth, yes, it's planetary ecology is extremley off kilter. Give it another 100 - 150 years or so without the Human population discovering cold fusion, and they are done for. Of course, being the tough planetary ecosystem that it is, life will probably return the moment the humans fix their ecology, or choke to death in a toxic vacuum of an atmosphere. Very amusing how short-sighted many capitalists and nationalists are, allthough much can be forgiven when one remembers they age, and therefore have limited lifespans"

With that, Hergiv took his leave, and found a convient space to sit and read through preserved novels in his mind. Currently up to one of Arkady's favourites, one he saw the writing off, Sun Tzu's "The Art of war". The tacitcal knowledge, while vague, was incredibly efficient even on the advanced battlefields of the stars.

((OC- Should be more specific, as Gaian vessels operate with Zero-Point Fusion Cores to power their vessels. Spice? WE want to use worm dung for fuel? (...and for... consuming? *barfs somewhere off screen..* )

So we can be assured Gaian and Xenonian vessels are equal.))

--

Aleaic nods concerning the weather problems.. "We will tell them..

..but this is a proper chance to deal with another matter then we are adept at." ..sensing what Hergiv is reading.. "..space is one thing, weather can be no different."

Aleaic looks at Seto. "Please inform Lady Washu to prepare one of the prototype terraformer DropShips to be configured to have a Climatizer Core with it."

Seto recognizes where this is going and nods readily. "Very noble of you milord."

Aleaic remains level and looks at Whitfield. "The last thing we need is to rush your people's extraction from Terra, nor to see the Motherworld in such dire straits."

Prime Minister Whitfield, while having little idea what a Climatizer Core was, nevertheless sensed that the Gaians were going to attempt to disrupt or avert the storm. He simply said, "Lord Kerensky, I hope you know what you're doing."

Aleaic looked at Whitfield simply, then thumbed towards the Overlook which connected from Whitfield's Palace chambers to the outside world. Rarely did they need to be shuttered, and was well open air exposed to the world outside.

"The only time you'll find the weather outside ill, is when either we command it, or the Climatizer Station is under maintenance. Today I.. um.. *thinks with folded arms* ..believe the setting will be partly cloudy, with snow over the mountains behind the Palace.

...and the equal season for Terra here, would be late Spring. Quite comfortable temps around these parts.

It's been like that for six months. This portion of the planet anyway. Winter to late spring weather and temperatures are the norm around the Capital. It's different for the natural climates for different sections of White Diamond, and for most of the Core Worlds of the Republic." Aleaic adds..

"..with time, your planetary climate can be repaired, assuming it's not messed with further. Climatixers are rugged, but not indestructable."

((OC- Should be more specific, as Gaian vessels operate with Zero-Point Fusion Cores to power their vessels. Spice? WE want to use worm dung for fuel? (...and for... consuming? *barfs somewhere off screen..* )

So we can be assured Gaian and Xenonian vessels are equal.))

--

Aleaic nods concerning the weather problems.. "We will tell them..

..but this is a proper chance to deal with another matter then we are adept at." ..sensing what Hergiv is reading.. "..space is one thing, weather can be no different."

Aleaic looks at Seto. "Please inform Lady Washu to prepare one of the prototype terraformer DropShips to be configured to have a Climatizer Core with it."

Seto recognizes where this is going and nods readily. "Very noble of you milord."

Aleaic remains level and looks at Whitfield. "The last thing we need is to rush your people's extraction from Terra, nor to see the Motherworld in such dire straits."

OOC: Lawl, you make me laugh. Still, the secrets of spice were always amusign, particularly when they tried make synthesize it in prelude to dune ... STIGMATA!

We use Quantum Conveters. Limitless power and it can be scaled to infinity too! That and I wanted my ancients to be different to stargates ancients, plus Alpha centuari has always been a fun game to steal ideas from.

As for ship vs ship combat, I have no idea. I only know my ships equal those of Kanuckistan and Central Facehuggeria, and they have supposedly the most powerful ships one on one in this game. They confidently send thei ships into battle against entire battlefleets, and win.

IC:

This was an interesting discussion. Being something of a naturalist, Hergiv had to join in. That, and after a quick exchange of body language to aleiac, it would be a useful means of testing the responces of Whitfield.

"Climatiser core? I do wonder if exposing that sort of technology to earth is such a good idea. Not to be the devil's advocate, to use the term, but to return the Earth's exact balance to the correct parameters requires moutnains of atmosphereical data, alongside other readings. Simply altering something as multifaceted as nature brings consequences, and with many of the species on the planet inherently xeonphobic to anything they find, a large scale operation would be hasty without correct data.

Perhaps this is merely instinct speaking, but does anyone here have the right to control the environment considering the teeming mass of things that live there? I can understand repairing the environment, but control is a dangerous thing, and an inherently dangerous use of power. No doubt the Gaians have this down to a science, but what you think, Whitfield?"

Whitfield answered, "Which was exactly why I told Lord Kerensky that I hoped he knew what he was doing. The Earth's atmosphere can react very violently and unpredictably to unwelcome changes--only thirty years ago, we thought that global warming's worst effects would not be seen until the twenty-second century. Well, we were wrong.

You could either stop these sorts of storms by doing this, or make them even more powerful. After all, blizzards really like temperatures between zero and one below Celsius, because there's more moisture available in the air than if the temperature is ten or twenty below."

Aleaic just shakes his head and then ends the conversation with.. "You'de be suprised how similar the climates of M-Class planets are. Terra and here are relatively similar.

..and the idea is to repair, not terraform the atmosphere. And to discuss further would require my Science Advisor's presence, and twenty thread posts to complete..

..as it is, time is short apparently. When do you wish to leave Lord Whitfield?"

Meanwhile, Seto behind him completes the details of ordering the preparation of the Angel Galaxy. Seto then asks. "Who do you wish for us to interact with in your absence Prime Minister?"

The Prime Minister chuckled at Seto's question. "I thought you were coming to Earth, so you could be in this storm...it was going to be romantic, remember?"

"On a more serious note..." Whitfield looked at his watch... "Sergeant Bielski should be here momentarily."

A few seconds later, the doors started to creak open, and in walked Bielski, laden by a hundred-pound backpack. "Sergeant Bielski reporting as ordered, sir."

Whitfield turned to Lord Kerensky and said, "Now would be as good a time as any."

Seto replies back first with. "Sorry, I have my own 'problems' to deal with at home."

Then Aleaic and Seto see Bielski enter, and Aleaic comments.. "Dear moi. Did we agree to colonize the Boy Scouts as well?"

Aleaic then nods.. "..then I'll meet you at the landing pad. Lady Seto can bring you there when ready."

Aleaic looks at Hergiv last with. "..and your intent Lord Hergiv?"

Whitfield simply said, "The reason why Sergeant Bielski is coming is because he has latent Force powers too...remember? Though he is a bit more hesitant to use them. Nevertheless, both of us could do without the snide comments."

(OOC: I have plans for him in a future RP.)

Nodding in deference to the comment, Hergiv replied.

"Presumably to accompany Whitfield to his home planet and face his parliament if nessecary, if what he says about it's centralisation is true, which I know it is. Despite having our own embassy their, the rather foolish division of landmass based on alliegance to a country, rather than a goal makes it difficult to travel to other lands. Therefore I would also like to see their reclaimed landmass up close and personal - we do not place sattellites in Earth orbit, for fear of them crashing into something else and alerting the majority of earth, which is probable given the mass of satellites up there. Many itch for an excuse to start war down there, that would likely be used as so."

Prime Minister Whitfield added, "Yes, though I'm more concerned about the media circus than I am about the Parliament."

Prime Minister Whitfield added, "Yes, though I'm more concerned about the media circus than I am about the Parliament."

"Interesting. What exactly is the basis for your concern?". Inquired Hergiv. They had not had the chance to look carefully at any other Earth-Based Government in years, and so the oppurtunity had to be taken.

The Prime Minister replied, "The media is not part of the goverrnment; nonetheless, it is the single most powerful influence on the populace. My concern, in a single word, is sensationalism."

The Prime Minister replied, "The media is not part of the goverrnment; nonetheless, it is the single most powerful influence on the populace. My concern, in a single word, is sensationalism."

This posed several problems to Hergiv, one that could not be avoided in any way. A security risk at the very least, a very real danger at the worst.

"Are you sure that this drive for sensationalisim, which would obviously be the air your media conjures to sell, could not be broadcasted overseas? Many nations would love to take the knowledge I possess. I must tell you this, that our embassy is loaded with Quantum missiles, enough to annihilate an entire nation. If this occurs (OOC: This is essentially my version of "IGNORE" cannons for those who somehow "know" the embassy exits) So, we cannot allow a media breach in any shape or form of this, unless the knowledge of your goals has already been made public.

Has it?"

Seto adds in as she begins to prepare to escort them both to the Palace StarPort. "Such is usually caused by information held back from the populace at large. Also such acts, called I believe tabloidism, is by a small group of ill minded souls that want simply power of their making.

After all, to turn masses one way or the other is the intent.

My best weapon is the full and unadulterated truth. Kill the idea that others can sew, with a flood of everything, and give the souls time to absorb and deal with it.

One way or the other, they'll adapt."

Whitfield turned to Hergiv and said, "It is not your terran embassy that concerns me--that can be classified easily enough. It is the Force itself which will be sensationalized, and in the process, half the populace will want it, and a fraction of those will fritter their money away on various scams in a vain attempt to obtain it.

That said, the existance of the Force must be made public anyway, my future activities will seem strange and eccentric, and I would probably have my sanity questioned if the Force's existance remained hidden from the populace. In this regard, Seto is correct.

We probably should leave now."

"Then that is an issue your soceity must overcome, although you are already taking what most would consider the best steps to achieving it" Herigv mused, before continuing to speak.

"Either way, that is an issue to be decided on our arrival. You are correct, we must leave immediately"

Words fall silent the remainder of the way through three teleporters to the StarPort. There a shuttle awaits, as does Aleaic once more, with Lady Yurika and Lord Akito in line to the left.

A well stocked Lambada Shuttle waits for them. Aleaic nods as the group approaches. Next to Yurika and Akito are well 'packed' hoverpaks with warm clothing within.

Prime Minister Whitfield and Sergeant Bielski followed Lord Kerensky to the shuttle. Well, at least it isn't one of those damned dropships, Whitfield thought to himself.

For some reason Yurika suddenly giggles and nudges Aleaic, who for some reason groans lightly.

Aleaic then says... "Well, when you all are ready. Be sure to return soon."

Akito quips.. "Why did that sound far too tourguide like?" ..and Aleaic groans again.

"Yes, let's get out of here. We need to reach Earth as quickly as possible."

Another vision flashed in Whitfield's head--an orbital view of the North Atlantic. The storm had intensified significantly in just the last two hours. It now covered most of the North Atlantic at two thousand miles across. On the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, it was already a borderline 5. It would reach the northern shores of Evil Woody Thoughts shortly, and be the most powerful storm ever recorded by the time it got there.

"I hate to be so blunt, but we need to leave NOW."

Hergiv could sense the nessecity of why they needed to rush. Nodding in Agreement, he waited for the orders to board the shuttle, while noting that technical specifications for an entanglement network could prove useful to the woodians in decentralising their government.

He would bring that up later.

Lady Seto then guestures them both on, while Aleaic asks. "Do take care of them."

Lady Yurika smiles. "You got it kingy."

Akito then nods as well, and both follow Whitfield and Hergiv unto the Shuttle. Moments later the Shuttle swiftly rises and heads into orbit around White Diamond.

Aleaic sighs, saying.. "Let's hope they'll be fine."

Seto nods.

--

About ten minutes later, the WarShip Angel Galaxy with one JumpShip escort and seven DropShips attached, both ready quickly for their Fold.

Yurika on the Bridge with Whitfield and Hergiv among the three level, open space command deck, gives the order to Admiral Fen Kerensky.

"Let's do it."

An echo order later, and the two vessels with locked coordinates for Sol-Terra, the known coordinates over EWT, then Fold Jumps.

Seconds later, the vessels appear over Terra once more, as if the journey was a joke compared to the one Whitfield undertook a few days ago. Akito near the three simply notes.. "..and we're back."

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v115/chair094/hurricane.jpg

(OOC: The greenish thing on the right side of the picture is supposed to be a segment of North American coastline, but I sux0rz at editing. ;) Doesn't help that I only have Paint. Europe is just off the picture to the bottom right; North Africa to the top right.)

IC: Prime Minister Whitfield laid his eyes on the polar cyclone for the first time. It was bigger than anything he had ever seen before; it swallowed up almost the entire North Atlantic, only leaving a couple hundred miles of ocean to each side. It looked like its first bands would strike the northern islands, where Great Woody City was located, by nightfall.

The Prime Minister said, "Let's land at Woodyeen Air Force Base, on the southernmost island. There will be adequate shelter there."

Akito simply replies wide eyed. "You want to land in THAT!!?"

Yurika though orders. "Prepare the Shuttle, and that DropShip Washu had loaded up. We're going down!"

Admiral Fen looks away from the storm and nods. "Aye milady."

Yurika looks at the others.. "Let's go quicktime then.." ..and passes by Whitfield and Hergiv, nabbing Akito's left arm along the way, dragging him (almost literally) behind her.

Prime Minister Whitfield tried to calm Akito down. "Woodyeen Air Force Base is more than a thousand miles south of that. If I wanted to land on the northernmost island--" he motioned to the island that looked like it was going to get swallowed up in an hour--"then you would have every right to panic."

Akito barely replies back... "It's still one heck of a storm.."

Yurika though puts in. "Oh my dear, sweet Akito panics at everything."

"I do 'not'!" Akito defends back..

"Yes you do." ..witha cute voice.

"No I DON'T!" ..strained even more..

"Yes you do."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do!" ..with a high pitch at the end.

"NO I DON'T DAMMIT!!"

"Yes you do dear!"

...this goes on well into the docking bay where the Shuttle waits once more.

All two decks and 200 meters.. =--=;;;;;

The Prime Minister chuckled, then said, "Let's board the shuttle, shall we? I want a weather report on this thing as soon as I can get my hands on one."

((OC- Will wait for Xenonier after this post.))
---

Yurika and Akito 'somehow' manage to regain composure and reach the Shuttle where two Angel Gods await as escorts. Yurika looks back business like with.. "Let's hope things are alright down there..

..we'll send the special DropShip to the central islands and begin their work. If that is fine with you Prime Minister.

--

((OC Edit - Oooh.. the dreaded triple-7 post. =xX= Or is that the butt-lucky version, can't tell... ))

((OC- Will wait for Xenonier after this post.))
---

Yurika and Akito 'somehow' manage to regain composure and reach the Shuttle where two Angel Gods await as escorts. Yurika looks back business like with.. "Let's hope things are alright down there..

..we'll send the special DropShip to the central islands and begin their work. If that is fine with you Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said, "Try to windshear it, if you can. It might be too late for that. I don't want it blowing up even more because all of a sudden it gets access to warmer water. Other than that, go for it."

The Prime Minister climbed into the shuttle and waited for Hergiv.

The Prime Minister said, "Try to windshear it, if you can. It might be too late for that. I don't want it blowing up even more because all of a sudden it gets access to warmer water. Other than that, go for it."

The Prime Minister climbed into the shuttle and waited for Hergiv.

Seemingly obvilious, (Although truthfully amused) at the incessant banter occuring between all paties, Hergiv followed Whitfield onto the shuttle, before taking a seat inside the ship, and began waiting for the events to unfold.

Yurika and Akito board the shuttle and Akito orders the pilot to launch. A signal is sent by Yurika for the DropShip to release from the escort JumpShip.

Moments later the two vessels depart for two seperate trajectories, with the Shuttle on a steep angle to enter the atmosphere, the shields taking the heat of friction easily. Meanwhile the DropShip can be seen entering the atmosphere even faster ahead of the Shuttle moments after departure, the flame contrail noting it's rough path.

Akito asks.. "To your capital aerofield correct Prime Minister?"

The Prime Minister answered, "No, not to the capital. The storm will reach it too quickly. Go to Woodyeen Island, about nine hundred miles to the southeast of the capital. There is an air force base there, and we'll have about six more hours to prepare." He then produced a map of Evil Woody Thoughts from his luggage, highlighted Woodyeen Air Force Base, and gave it to Akito. "It might have been a long time since you have read a paper map; you might want to give this to the navigator..."

Akito takes the map, turns it this way and that with a curious eye. "Aquaint."

Takes a few monents, but the location is discerned from a simple general longitude and latitude coordinate. Eyesight and good sensors took care of the rest.

Within a few moments, the Shuttle approaches the airfield, giving off a Gaian IFF beacon as it approached.

Meanwhile the DropShip slams through heavy winds to land on the central island of the archapeligo.

OOC: Woodyeen Island is the artificial island I created, and is not part of the archipelago, technically speaking. It is several hundred miles away from the center, the reasoning behind which I can TG you if you want.

IC: As no one had expected the Prime Minister to be back so soon, there was no reception committee waiting, however, the Prime Minister had planned for things to be this way. He led his companions to an underground bunker, and while individuals on the base might have thought it odd for the Prime Minister to show up with such surprise, they did not show it outwardly, for the weather seemed to be a good explanation for the craziness. Once he got to the bunker entrance, he showed clearance papers to the guards, who let the party in. Upon arrival, he wasted no time in pulling up the latest cyclone observations.

*POLAR CYCLONE ARLENE RECONAISSANCE FLIGHT #14*
*1430 GMT* (OOC: about thirty minutes ago)

CENTRAL PRESSURE 830 MILLIBARS
CENTRAL SUSTAINED WINDS 210 KT 40000 FT, 145 KT SURFACE
CLOUD CEILING AT EYE WALL 82000 FT
HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND 1600 KM FROM CENTER

CYCLONE ARLENE EXPECTED TO MAKE LANDFALL ON NORTHERN ISLANDS AT APPROXIMATELY 1530 GMT WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 145-155 KT, AND REACH GREAT WOODY CITY AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 GMT WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 175-190 KTS. STORM IS STRENGTHENING QUICKLY. EXPECTED LANDFALL AT WOODYEEN ISLAND APPROXIMATELY 0600-0900 GMT TOMORROW WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS EXCEEDING 200 KTS. BY THIS TIME, HURRICANE FORCE WINDS WILL EXCEED 2000 KM FROM STORM CENTER. EXPECT TEMPERATURES TO DROP FROM NEAR FREEZING TO -20 CELSIUS WITHIN THE FIRST THREE HOURS OF THE STORM, WITH TEMPS FALLING AS LOW AS -30 IN SOME PLACES. POLAR CYCLONE WARNINGS AND MANDATORY UNDERGROUND EVACUATIONS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF EVIL WOODY THOUGHTS.

The Prime Minister turned to Akito and said, "We are sixty feet underground, as is our backup power and heat. So we shouldn't have too many problems...just don't get any crazy ideas about going out in it. It appears from this report that preparations have already been made in my stead; we have dealt with these things before, just not in August." He then made a call for his Chief of Staff, to verify the assumptions that he had just made.

Akito then asks.. "We should have a representative in the area, and a few techs. Can you get me in contact with them?" ..with Yurika nearby.

The Prime Minister motioned to the communications equipment and simply said, "Use that which you need."

Watching on in Silence, Hergiv noted the Xenonian embassy was nearby, some 3000 miles NNE.

"All our systems are located underground in a similar manner to this base, Whitfield. We shall have to show you it one day, just don't let the politicans come along with you."

Whitfield flashed Hergiv a grin and asked, "Haven't you figured out by now that I am a politician?"

As Akito begins to make his contacts, Yurika realizes, and then asks.. "Prime Minister, how much of our technology was deployed in in your cities? If I remember the supply dossiers, there was a number of portable shield generators among the equipment we brought to help facilitate your move into space.

..if we move quickly, we can protect the most critical citizen shelters from the worst of the storm. We cannot stop the storm even with a Climatizer, but we 'can' dampen it both within climate, and it's impact upon your citizens."

Akito finishes one series of transmissions to then contact the Angel Galaxy above.

Whitfield flashed Hergiv a grin and asked, "Haven't you figured out by now that I am a politician?"

Herigv merely shook his head in mock dissapointment.

"Yes, we are working on that minor detail. Remember kiddies, Welcome to Xenonier, please leave your political affiliation at the door"

Prime Minister Whitfield scratched his head for a moment. "Hmm...portable shield generators...those ended up mostly deployed on military bases. Though by law, in a situation such as this, the military would be required to deploy defensive technology around civilian shelters. Though that law was written before shield generators...I had better call my Chief of Staff. Oh, and Commander Hergiv, this is Evil Woody Thoughts, not Xenonier, and the politics, however inadequate they may be, come with the territory."

The Prime Minister then excused himself to call the Chief of Staff. After a few minutes, he came back with a (somewhat) relieved look on his face. "Yes, the shield generators that we have were deployed around the most densely populated shelters, though there weren't enough for everybody."

Prime Minister Whitfield scratched his head for a moment. "Hmm...portable shield generators...those ended up mostly deployed on military bases. Though by law, in a situation such as this, the military would be required to deploy defensive technology around civilian shelters. Though that law was written before shield generators...I had better call my Chief of Staff. Oh, and Commander Hergiv, this is Evil Woody Thoughts, not Xenonier, and the politics, however inadequate they may be, come with the territory."

The Prime Minister then excused himself to call the Chief of Staff. After a few minutes, he came back with a (somewhat) relieved look on his face. "Yes, the shield generators that we have were deployed around the most densely populated shelters, though there weren't enough for everybody."

"An observation with humourous intent, nothing more Prime Minister" Hergiv replied.

"Now, those areas cannot be covered by shielding. Are you certain of their structural integrity in the face of such a natural event, and more important, do you carry blueprints of the most commonly occuring buildings in these sectors?"

Akito suddenly comes back into the picture with a tid bit of his own.

"If they are deployed, then we can protect almost the entire cities after all.

..I just got off with the Angel Galaxy and they are deploying a magna-absorption solar array, about three times the size of the vessel. It will take a series of strong sunburst rays directed from the Luna Station Complex.

The Complex will direct solar rays from mirrors around Sol and direct them into the array.

That energy will be funneled to the DropShip and then distrubuted to the shield generators. Trust us, they can take the amount of energy that is being calculated now. That will allow the generators to amplify the shields to over ten times their shield strength, both in size and in absorption capability.

If this works, the cities can be under a shield umbrella in a couple of hours. The cities closest to the storm will get immediate energy funneling in about fifteen minutes."

"An observation with humourous intent, nothing more Prime Minister" Hergiv replied.

"Now, those areas cannot be covered by shielding. Are you certain of their structural integrity in the face of such a natural event, and more important, do you carry blueprints of the most commonly occuring buildings in these sectors?"

"At this point, the most densely populated areas would be subway tunnels and underground structures in military bases. The shield generators should offer some protection for an area as small as the entrances thereof, or so I would think. There would also be many people in underground bomb shelters left over from the last world war, as we were quite paranoid that a 'stray' nuke or two would end up on our soil. Unfortunately, I don't carry any blueprints with me. We have gone through this routine before, just not this time of year. The strongest storm that we've had before this was two years ago; the maximum winds were about a hundred and forty knots."

(OOC: I left out temperature forecasts; this is an important part of the storm; I'll go and add that to the weather forecasts a couple of posts ago.)

"At this point, the most densely populated areas would be subway tunnels and underground structures in military bases. The shield generators should offer some protection for an area as small as the entrances thereof, or so I would think. There would also be many people in underground bomb shelters left over from the last world war, as we were quite paranoid that a 'stray' nuke or two would end up on our soil. Unfortunately, I don't carry any blueprints with me. We have gone through this routine before, just not this time of year. The strongest storm that we've had before this was two years ago; the maximum winds were about a hundred and forty knots."

(OOC: I left out temperature forecasts; this is an important part of the storm; I'll go and add that to the weather forecasts a couple of posts ago.)

At hearing the mention of nuclear weapons, Hergiv muttered something incomprehensible. Running the calculations through his head, things were becoming increasingly worriesome.

"We shall have to see how this plays out then. In the meantime, the Xenonian embassy says hello, and says they'll send something over. Knowing that lot, we had best be carefull. They are the type to fly ships right over your airspace, ignoring the fact that international hell would be created by such a thing. They have mentioned they'll send over something to help with the cleanup however, I do believe that will be a quantum converter.

Crazy bastards"

The Prime Minister sensed Hergiv's disgust at the mention of nuclear weapons and immediately sought to dispel that concern. "Fortunately, we didn't end up with 'stray' nukes. If you're looking for radiation cleanup sites, none will be found within Evil Woody Thoughts, thank God. We just built a bunch of bomb shelters out of our paranoia, and not ten years later, we found that the bomb shelters make highly convienent storm shelters. Oh, and Akito, we would much appreciate the augmented shield capacity."

The Prime Minister sensed Hergiv's disgust at the mention of nuclear weapons and immediately sought to dispel that concern. "Fortunately, we didn't end up with 'stray' nukes. If you're looking for radiation cleanup sites, none will be found within Evil Woody Thoughts, thank God. We just built a bunch of bomb shelters out of our paranoia, and not ten years later, we found that the bomb shelters make highly convienent storm shelters."

"If you have nuclear weapons, that is none of our concern" Hergiv replied.

"The issue lies in that so many Humans who hoard and revere nuclear weapons know not what they do, or rather, cannot face what they do. Children running around with weapons that can annihilate entire continents, who lack the backbone ot face the consequences and this cycle never ends."

At this, the Prime Minister only said, "Oh, yes, the tinpot dictators, I know of whom you speak. Do you have to deal with the same types of crackpots running galactic empires? Please, for the sake of my sanity, say no."

At this, the Prime Minister only said, "Oh, yes, the tinpot dictators, I know of whom you speak. Do you have to deal with the same types of crackpots running galactic empires? Please, for the sake of my sanity, say no."

At this Hergiv merely nodded.

"Space is hardly any different to earth in behaviour, the people, the weapons, the ambition is all the same, just the scale changes. Of course, do keep in mind that goes both ways,"

The Prime Minister let out a loud sigh. "I figured as such." He took a glance at the last satellite image; it had just updated. The outer bands had reached northern Evil Woody Thoughts. Another sigh.

The Prime Minister let out a loud sigh. "I figured as such." He took a glance at the last satellite image; it had just updated. The outer bands had reached northern Evil Woody Thoughts. Another sigh.

At this show of emotion, Hergiv simply sat down and waited for the storm to pass. After all, there was no point in worrying over events you couldn't possibly alter, and the safest place suggested by the evidence was here.

"Nuclear weapons are so primitive." ..Yurika comments after overhearing the two debating. "..besides, fission is too dirty as a power source, and as a weapon, not even it's EMP effect is very effective if a proper defense is devised.

In fact, the Ascendancy began from the start, with the idea that nuclear weapons would have no place in our Tourmans and Fleets. There are far more effective ways to use mass weapons, and still prevent population loss..

..and even end wars before they begin." ..Yurika puts with a smirk as she looks down at a laptop display.

Meanwhile Akito is very busy getting Gaian and Woodian techs and citizens to setup the proper parameters for the shield arrays, with triple time endorsed to the nothern islands. Considering the weather there, the work is tricky at best.

But it is getting done.

Meanwhile the Gaian Luna Complex is diverting three mirrors, of the twelve that help suppliment power the base defenses (the colony Power Core handles the other details..) are being focused on the massive solar array of the Angel Galaxy. While the array was an original design feature when the vessel still used the K-F Jump Drive, it mainly is used as a backup emergency feature now.

And now for a new feature. With the array, the focused energy will be then diverted to a focused energy beam to help amplify the shield arrays.

--

After a few minute, Akito notes.. "Ready to go with the northern array. Should be good for the duration of the storm, as long as the feeder beam isn't interfered with."

Yurika quips back joshingly at Akito.. "Half glass empty dear?" ...and Akito groans.

The Prime Minister, after hearing Yurika's comments on nuclear weapons, turned to her and said, "That is why we retired our nuclear weapons in favor of earthquake-induction weapons about two decades ago. They proved to be a better deterrent, because if we were forced to, we could deploy them without fear of a nuclear winter. We have prevented two wars with this additional deterrent capability. And would thick cloud cover impede the energy beam?"

Yurika replies.. "The photonic elements will have trouble, but most of the other wavelengths should have no trouble. Might even be strong enough to burn through the clouds actually.

It'll go smooth. What would be more of a worry would be a physical interruption. Meteor or some other rouge body. But the possibility of that is nill to zip really."

Whitfield continued the banter, as there was nothing else to do. However, he kept tabs on the latest reports from the northern islands, and, from what reports there were, the shield generators seemed to hold up fairly well as the storm got worse.

Whitfield glanced at some camera feeds from the base shortly before dusk. There was no accumulation yet, but snowflakes drifted down from the sky, looking not like part of an übermegastorm, but like an innocuous batch of snow flurries. But the Prime Minister knew better from the reports of 150 knot winds up north--and the eye of the storm hadn't reached Evil Woody Thoughts yet. He turned to the others. "And so it begins. We will be able to hear the winds howling in just a couple of hours."

"Oh.. joy.." Akito quips..

..which earns him a wad of paper in the face from Yurika.

After about four days of howling and shrieking 200 knot winds, the storm finally moved on, as evidenced by the satellite photo feed. The Prime Minister checked the temperature, -31 degrees Celsius, and saw that while it was not balmy, it would be bearable with the proper clothing. Thank God for automated weather stations.

He dug around in a supply closet until he found snowshoes, calcium chloride (better known as road salt), stakes, and a flamethrower. "Well, they keep these bunkers well stocked for things like this, and it's far easier to melt your way out of here than it is to dig your way out of here. Crude, yes, but effective, and I have been through this sort of thing before. Oh, and you're going to want to stand far away from the entrance unless you want to get your feet wet in snow runoff." He unlatched the door, ascended a five-story staircase, and opened the door to outside, only to find a wall of white. He checked the drainage vents and started the bunker's sump pump.

Whitfield then checked the flamethrower's gas supply, saw that it was good, and started the process of melting the snow. After about fifteen minutes, he had burned a hole to the surface. He salted the floor of the bunker and the path outside, then drove the stakes through the little tunnel he had made. "We don't want to slip and injure ourselves on ice, now do we? If you want to come out, hold onto the stakes."

He then stepped outside for the first time since the storm had begun. The winds were calm, but he only could see the hangars and a few guard towers poking up from the snow. Everything else was buried under snow as far as the eye could see.

Akito and Yurika poked out after Whitfield did and both are pretty suprised by the storm's effects.

*Low whistle* "..better get one big honkin snow plow out here." Akito quips.

Yurika adds.. "Is this what it's like after a storm like that?"

The Prime Minister answered Yurika, "Normally we get six to ten feet from these sorts of storms. It looks like we received at least twenty."

Meanwhile, Hergiv was rather amused by the amount of snow that had fallen. Considering how temperatures and weather were around the world just 50 years ago, it proved an interesting basis of comparison.

Although he was familar with ice and snow, everything about this seemed ... wrong. Either way, the inhabitants of this world would choose their own fate, for better or worse. They knew the consequences, and were not acting to prevent them.

Akito meanwhile took one step, the suddenly ZINGED through the snow like hot knofe through butter.

Yurika reacts to the 'YIPE' sound with. "You okay dear?!"

"*muffled* ..think I found the air heater vent.

Yuikra just trudges over and looks down the hole made. "You look cute down there."

"I coulda been killed ya know."

"Can I have your Plasma-Stereo then?"

*A strange muttering sound*

Yurika just looks back at Whitfield. "What happens now? I'd suggest our beams to help melt this, but this amount of snow run off if we did that would cause a flood."

Whitfield answered, "It's still August. It'll probably melt anyway. I would suggest limited beam usage in the cities, but avoid using it on the mountains and other unpopulated areas, to keep the runoff at least semimanageable."

Yurika replies.. "We'll keep it to the city roadways to free up traffic capability. Tell all citizens to remain in the shelters for a couple more hours, unless they want a lousy sunburn."

Meanwhile Akito struggles anime-mightily to extract from the snow hole..

..and fails with a girly "WHAAAWOOO..ow.." on his hiney..

The Prime Minister answered, "OK, don't use the beam until an hour passes from now." He then returned to the bunker, leaving the others outside, called the Weather Service, and instructed them to relay instructions for everyone in large cities to stay inside for the duration of the day. A couple of minutes later, he emerged from the bunker and quipped, "Hey, can I use one of those beam thingies to get myself a suntan?"

Yurika quips.. "Got one of those sunning mirrors?"

Meanwhile Akito finally manages to extract from the hole. "Jeeze Yurika, thanks for helping me!"

Yurika just looks down bland eyed. "Hey.. I was talking to the boss over here."

Akito just stares back with a deadpan glare.

Hergiv's stint at watching the polie humour flying back and forth was interrupted by a transmission through the neuralink. Ducking inside the bunker, he picked up a rather large device the size of a fridge and (somehow) pushed the device through the tunnel, before laying the machine on the ground.

"Well, the folks at the embassy did say they'd send a quantum converter" Hergiv noted to the onlooking eyes.

*three days later*

Whitfield had spent the last two days trying to get off the base, but not even tanks could drive through snow twenty feet deep. Finally, he gave up and called for a helicopter to take the party to Great Woody City.

As the helicopter flew over the countryside, Whitfield saw little but white. Those few rural structures that poked through the snow were missing roofs. Almost no one was out; only rarely did the Prime Minister's eye catch someone out on snowshoes. However, these people did not signal the helicopter, as if they were going to a place where it could not land. Rural residents would be stuck underground for about a week, it seemed.

After paralleling the coast for a while, the helicopter turned toward the ocean. In a matter of days, the water had frozen out to one mile out to sea. After a few more minutes, the Prime Minister could make out the Great Woody City skyline.

As the helicopter approached the port, it became clear that the city had escaped the widespread damage of the countryside. There was little visible structural damage, even among low-lying buildings, and nearly everything was covered in refrozen slush, except the roads, which were salted. Throngs of people clogged the streets below, going about their business. It looked almost like a city after a typical snowstorm. The Gaians weren't kidding about that shielding.

The helicopter turned away from downtown, headed for the Prime Minister's mansion. Of course, a few people noticed where the helicopter landed, because the Prime Minister was *supposed* to still be on White Diamond. Whitfield escorted his guests inside the mansion, excused himself, and placed a few phone calls, for he wanted debriefings on what damage the storm had done, especially in the countryside, and scheduled meetings with the National Weather Service.

Not ten minutes later, the news vans pulled up.

Before Yurika and Akito leave with Whitfield, Yurika quips to Hergiv. "A bit overpowered for this situation isn't it?"

*3 days later*

..once the group arrives at the snow riddled manion. There Akito recieves a message on his comm unit. He relays to Whitfield. "We have prepared a broadbeam melting ray from the solar array of the Angel Galaxy. The beam will send a beam across a 5,000 kilometer area that can make the temperature a couple degrees above the snow temperature.

This will replace the focused beam in the cities and allow a controlled melt over a period of two days, minus nightfall. Don't thing you guys are ready for a total midnight sun.

Might keep people awake." Akito jokes.

Meanwhile, when the news vans pull up, Yurika quips. "Even in a heavy snow they arrive for gossip."

Whitfield replied to Akito, "Very well then...this sure makes the jobs of disaster recovery teams easier." He then turned to face teh üb3r m3dia of d00m.

He stepped outside and was immediately surrounded by about a hundred paparazzi, all asking questions at once. The Prime Minister answered into the seventy or so microphones in his face, "I will give a speech, followed by a press conference, at seven this evening. You may ask your questions then, one at a time. I realize that my arrival was unexpected, and I will address that tonight. Now, if you will excuse me, I have urgent business to attend to."

The paparazzi continued asking random jumbles of questions and snapping photos. "I will answer your questions this evening. That is all." After about fifteen minutes of repeating this, he finally managed to disperse the paparazzi. They could be incredibly dense sometimes.

The Quantum Converter continued to sit in relative safety of Whitfields mansion. The thing seemed to be one of the nanobot models, designed to produce nanobots that could clear away obstructions, and snow. Of course, the small problem of the thing being so heavy it would take a forklift to move it around (Or Hergiv) and the aura of Papparazi meant it could go nowhere.

Meanwhile, Hergiv sat and observed the amusing display from the media. He considered destroying their camera lenses, then ignored the idea. A niggling feeling told him that form of equipment was expensive around here ..

Yurika just looks from safety inside at the media mob with disdain as well. When Whitfield returns.. "Suddenly I feel sorry for you Prime Minister."

Akito finishes conversing with the Angel Galaxy and then looks at Hergiv. "Think you could use that converter to have the nanite keep the outflow drains in the cities clear so the melt off goes smoother? Your stuff would help greatly."

Yurika just hops a skip at Akito.. "You're so smart dear!" ..which makes Akito groan. "Hon..."

"Yeah yeah I know, you don't like to be put on the spot like that."

Yurika than thinks cutely for a second.. "I wonder it I could give that mob out there a bit of gossip about us to." ..Yurika then all too characteristically skips towards the 'mob' for real! "I know what to tell them about us!" ..with a cheerful smile..

Akito replies by gang tacling Yurika and pinning her down in place. "YURIKA, ARE YOU NUTS!?!?"

The two engage in manic wrestling for a few moments on the floor...

...and yes they do it in Council sessions too. =^^=;;;;;;;;;;;;

OOC: Time for something, really weird. to match GA. Time for t3h weird ub3r powerplant of d00m.


Hergiv merely shrugged his shoulders and said. "Fine. I'm surprised you didn't bring that up sooner".

With that Hergiv left for several minutes, only to briskly walks straight back again.

"We have a problem, and the embassy think's it a wonderful practical joke, I'm sure. They have placed a sentient computer mind on that converter and it seems to have changed itself into ... the body of a Human being. Ie, a reactor powerful enough to vapourise this entire planet, has gone walkabout. The Reactor is perfectly stable, I would never be worried about that, but I pity the poor fool than pulls a gun on it"

With that, Herigv dissapeared, presumably to find the damn thing.

Yurika just looks from safety inside at the media mob with disdain as well. When Whitfield returns.. "Suddenly I feel sorry for you Prime Minister."

Akito finishes conversing with the Angel Galaxy and then looks at Hergiv. "Think you could use that converter to have the nanite keep the outflow drains in the cities clear so the melt off goes smoother? Your stuff would help greatly."

Yurika just hops a skip at Akito.. "You're so smart dear!" ..which makes Akito groan. "Hon..."

"Yeah yeah I know, you don't like to be put on the spot like that."

Yurika than thinks cutely for a second.. "I wonder it I could give that mob out there a bit of gossip about us to." ..Yurika then all too characteristically skips towards the 'mob' for real! "I know what to tell them about us!" ..with a cheerful smile..

Akito replies by gang tacling Yurika and pinning her down in place. "YURIKA, ARE YOU NUTS!?!?"

The two engage in manic wrestling for a few moments on the floor...

...and yes they do it in Council sessions too. =^^=;;;;;;;;;;;;

And at the sight of a spontaneous wrestling match breaking out on the Prime Minister's front lawn, t3h üb3r m3dia paparazzi of d00m rushed to the scene, shoved about fifty cameras and a hundred microphones in Yurika and Akitos' faces, and began the hundred rambling questions of d00m routine...

The Prime Minister, perhaps not surprisingly, had taken advantage of the oppurtunity to vanish, and Yurika and Akito found themselves surrounded by that which the Prime Minister had warned about so many times...

Meanwhile ...

The figure walked unsteadily, as if unsure of it's own stability. Onlookers would have noticed the person moving slowly, avoiding eye contact and generally keeping a low profile. Nearby were the tall walls of Whitfields mansion, and a swarm of the usual vultures.

Smiling with pearly white, what was formerly the quantum conveter continued to move through the streets. He couldn't be caught by police now, the media kept all forces busy. Looking up, the creature began to form a map of possible escape routes.

"damn fleshbags" the computer thought, now incensed by passers by starting openmouthed at him. Actions beget actions and soon the mind realised just why he was getting the attention he had desired to avoid.

He couldn't move. The mind swore, and looked up.

Hergiv was standing up at the top of the mansion roof, looking down at the immobile converter/biped. Learning his headto one side, Herigv jumped down, hitting the ground with a rather audible thump. Hergiv reached out, and grabbed the converter, and began to drag what appeared to be fully grown Human by the ear, before picking him up with one hand, and neatly vaulting through Whitfields yard, before "finding" (OOC: Making) a nearby back door, throwing the damned converter through the opening and dissapearing to somewhere quiet.

Meanwhile ...

The figure walked unsteadily, as if unsure of it's own stability. Onlookers would have noticed the person moving slowly, avoiding eye contact and generally keeping a low profile. Nearby were the tall walls of Whitfields mansion, and a swarm of the usual vultures.

Smiling with pearly white, what was formerly the quantum conveter continued to move through the streets. He couldn't be caught by police now, the media kept all forces busy. Looking up, the creature began to form a map of possible escape routes.

"damn fleshbags" the computer thought, now incensed by passers by starting openmouthed at him. Actions beget actions and soon the mind realised just why he was getting the attention he had desired to avoid.

He couldn't move. The mind swore, and looked up.

Hergiv was standing up at the top of the mansion roof, looking down at the immobile converter/biped. Learning his headto one side, Herigv jumped down, hitting the ground with a rather audible thump. Hergiv reached out, and grabbed the converter, and began to drag what appeared to be fully grown Human by the ear, before picking him up with one hand, and neatly vaulting through Whitfields yard, before "finding" (OOC: Making) a nearby back door, throwing the damned converter through the opening and dissapearing to somewhere quiet.

(OOC: The Prime Minister is too busy trying to evade the media himself to pay enough attention to notice this, so continue RPing the "capture" of the converter even if I don't respond.)

The converter was now dealt with and it couldn't have been better timing, (despite that fact onlookers would probably alert the media to a man who could jump several stories, and jumping long distances while holding a fully grown human with one hand). Hergiv easily picked out the sounds of the media enjoying the chance to cover the Gaians, and decided that hiding in plain sight was the best option, even if it was at the Gaians expense.

Walking over to Akito and Yurika, Herigv bowed, before speaking in a noncommital, laid back tone.

"Oh, hey Akito, Yurika. Glad to see you are enjoying your stay on Earth from the Gaian Ascendancy. Anyway, I have to go, work to do inside. Carry on, you are putting on quite the show."

With that, Hergiv departed, a large smirk written all over his face. Closing the door, Hergiv remembered Whitfield had dissapeared, and gave another sigh.

"That makes two things Two things I need to look for today"

OOC: Waiting for G.A. to post

((OC- No thanks to last night's server snafu, kinda lost my rp edge tonight. Let's see if I can get it going here..))
-----

The two were wrestling with good abandon, even tossing up piles of snow in the process, what was left anyway. When Hergiv 'prods' Yurika quips a spilt second.. "One sec.."

..suddenly she expertly flip tosses Akito over end and smacks him onto his back, pinning him down! Some reporter suddenly then three taps the ground and Yurika makes her cute lil anime victory face and cheer! "Woo Whoo! I win again!"

Akito groans and quips deadpan.. "Are we done entertaining everyone love?"

Yurika stops and says.. "Just a bit.." ..and continues to celebrate on top of Akito.

Akito just moans.. "This trip keeps getting better and better."

Eventually the two finally extricate and manage decorum once more.

The converter was now dealt with and it couldn't have been better timing, (despite that fact onlookers would probably alert the media to a man who could jump several stories, and jumping long distances while holding a fully grown human with one hand). Hergiv easily picked out the sounds of the media enjoying the chance to cover the Gaians, and decided that hiding in plain sight was the best option, even if it was at the Gaians expense.

Walking over to Akito and Yurika, Herigv bowed, before speaking in a noncommital, laid back tone.

"Oh, hey Akito, Yurika. Glad to see you are enjoying your stay on Earth from the Gaian Ascendancy. Anyway, I have to go, work to do inside. Carry on, you are putting on quite the show."

With that, Hergiv departed, a large smirk written all over his face. Closing the door, Hergiv remembered Whitfield had dissapeared, and gave another sigh.

"That makes two things Two things I need to look for today"

Whitfield knew that Hergiv was looking for him, but there was one little problem. Hergiv was too close to Akito, Yurika, and teh üb3r m3dia of d00m. Only when Hergiv extricated himself from teh üb3r m3dia of d00m would Whitfield cooperate...

He made that known. Commander Hergiv, if you want to see me, come here, and don't bring the media with you.

The media hadn't followed into the mansion, thus far and this meant Hergiv had to get away from their field of vision. Thankfully, there was always a weakness in how Humans thought. Simply put, unless there was sheer luck involved or an unheralded event, they rarely looked up.

With this in mind, it was a relatively simple effort to get to the top of the mountain, so to speak. Herigv simply sat in the middle, hidden from veiw. To ensure this risk was even more nonexistant, he bent some of his own powers to becoming something of an chameleon, completely hidden from normal veiw.

Knowing that Hergiv had escaped from the media, Whitfield stopped sequestering himself. While Hergiv wasn't visible to normal humans, his use of the Force acted as a flare for Whitfield. He went to the back end of the mansion, ascended to the roof, and met Hergiv. "I believe you wanted to speak with me?"

Knowing that Hergiv had escaped from the media, Whitfield stopped sequestering himself. While Hergiv wasn't visible to normal humans, his use of the Force acted as a flare for Whitfield. He went to the back end of the mansion, ascended to the roof, and met Hergiv. "I believe you wanted to speak with me?"

Whitfield had finally shown up and not a moment too soon. Hergiv nodded at the comment, before motioning to where the Gaian pair had finally managed to return to a reasonable level of restraint.

"I do believe things are getting far out of hand. So, how do you plan to control the media avalanche that will occur from this little incident?"

Whitfield had finally shown up and not a moment too soon. Hergiv nodded at the comment, before motioning to where the Gaian pair had finally managed to return to a reasonable level of restraint.

"I do believe things are getting far out of hand. So, how do you plan to control the media avalanche that will occur from this little incident?"

Whitfield said, "Don't say I didn't warn the Gaians...but they usually behave during press conferences. As for Akito and Yurika...they will have to answer for themselves."

Whitfield said, "Don't say I didn't warn the Gaians...but they usually behave during press conferences. As for Akito and Yurika...they will have to answer for themselves."

Hergiv replied "I actually meant how this could affect us. The media will surely suspect there are more here, given the fact you did not announce your return."

Hergiv replied "I actually meant how this could affect us. The media will surely suspect there are more here, given the fact you did not announce your return."

"I will explain that tonight. Tomorrow, there will be a big media hoopla about the Force, and they will probably have forgotten about Akito and Yurika's antics." At this, the Prime Minister couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Yurika and Akito had managed to follow Hergiv away from the fracas they caused, and were eventually with Whitfield again, listening in to the conversing.

Yurika then asked.. "Maybe we can take the heat off you Prime Minister even more." ..said with a strangely out of place 'Seto' grin. Akito sees this and balks. "We are 'not' going to wrestle again!"

Yurika dryglances at Akito. "Wimp.."

Yurika though adds. "Would they not be interested in speaking to us some more, I mean what with that shield stuff we did, and even more about life in the Republic."

Yurika leans in with a 'wink-wink' tone. "I bet they'd love to know about our galaxy colonies."

Akito sees where this is going. "Maybe some stuff about sports in the Ascendancy."

Yurika adds, the two suddenly one mind. "..and about that big fat warship we now own. Heck, we have over 50 of those behemoths we can talk about."

After trading about ten more ideas, Akito then puts.. "Let us handle the media. We are ambassadors for the Ascendancy after all."

"..besides, it'll give Seto and Peorth more gossip to talk about!" Yurika stabs in, which makes Akito SPIT (..away from everyone, thankyouverymuch..) ..and reply. "Why not just give those two those reporters themselves!"

Yurika adds.. "Maybe..." Akito then facevautls...

The Prime Minister flashed an evil grin and asked Yurika and Akito, "Are you volunteering yourselves to answer questions at this evening's press conference then? Let's get out of here, because after what you did, the media can't be too far behind. Shall we slip inside?"

After the exchange of replies and general indicators of where the conversation was going this, Hergiv was heard to mutter

"We are so f^cked right now"

The Prime Minister turned to Hergiv and said, "Don't worry, this place has underground bunkers suitable for hiding you."

The Prime Minister turned to Hergiv and said, "Don't worry, this place has underground bunkers suitable for hiding you."

At this Hergiv merely smiled.

"Not quite what I meant. Just keep those two away from me when the conference begins, or the media will have even more of a field day than we have planned for the hyenas already. "

At this Hergiv merely smiled.

"Not quite what I meant. Just keep those two away from me when the conference begins, or the media will have even more of a field day than we have planned for the hyenas already. "

"In other words, you do not wish to be at the press conference. We had better hide you."

((OC- You guys checked out how many views this topic has gotten? =oO=;;; ))
---

Yurika replies by flipping a finger (pointer) up and a small sparkle of light suddenly flares from it.

..as a tiny, ever so tiny, Angelhawk Wing is displayed, like a tiny diamond floating from thin air, literally from out of nowhere the same.

..which is strange enough is not for Yurika.. "Volunteer we can, we shall, disturb even moreso." ..with a disturbing giggle.

Akito just looks.. "Do I know you?"

Yurika just about POPS Akito, but refrains instead with, after fluttering off the lil-Wing with a flustered hand that had displayed.. "Well, let's get ready then."

Yurika then dry eyes Hergiv. "..and watch the lingo pigment." ..then lets Whitfield lead again, as Akito's dragged along. "Hey hey HEY! Watch the arm!"

((OC- You guys checked out how many views this topic has gotten? =oO=;;; ))
---

Yurika replies by flipping a finger (pointer) up and a small sparkle of light suddenly flares from it.

..as a tiny, ever so tiny, Angelhawk Wing is displayed, like a tiny diamond floating from thin air, literally from out of nowhere the same.

..which is strange enough is not for Yurika.. "Volunteer we can, we shall, disturb even moreso." ..with a disturbing giggle.

Akito just looks.. "Do I know you?"

Yurika just about POPS Akito, but refrains instead with, after fluttering off the lil-Wing with a flustered hand that had displayed.. "Well, let's get ready then."

Yurika then dry eyes Hergiv. "..and watch the lingo pigment." ..then lets Whitfield lead again, as Akito's dragged along. "Hey hey HEY! Watch the arm!"

At this, Whitfield rolled his eyes, and wished he had left Akito and Yurika on White Diamond and come with more mature Gaian emissaries, instead. He silenced his toungue, for it, if allowed to operate, would do more harm than good.

"In other words, you do not wish to be at the press conference. We had better hide you."

OOC: I think GA scared would be posters away :P

IC: "My wishes in this matter are irrelevant. What matters is that your people know who we are, regardless of how I feel about it. Besides, my only problem is you can see the conference may well become a riot with those two around. I do suggest you lock them up in a very safe, secure, padded room."

"Also, I think they should be given rubber knives and circular paper, as it would be best for their well being, and our mental stability"

The Prime Minister thought for a minute. "Or, I could just seperate them, having one attend the press conference and the other hidden away somewhere..."

The Prime Minister thought for a minute. "Or, I could just seperate them, having one attend the press conference and the other hidden away somewhere..."

Hergiv disagreed.

"You don't separate two unseperable things. Sure, they cause enough damage as it is, but separating them is even worse. I shudder to think what those two are capable of when angry, rather than just stupid"

Hergiv disagreed.

"You don't separate two unseperable things. Sure, they cause enough damage as it is, but separating them is even worse. I shudder to think what those two are capable of when angry, rather than just stupid"

"Hmm...you have a point. Still, without one or both of them, who would represent the Gaians?" I wish Kerensky was here, Whitfield thought to himself.

"Hmm...you have a point. Still, without one or both of them, who would represent the Gaians?" I wish Kerensky was here, Whitfield thought to himself.

Hergiv merely shrugged his shoulders.

"I have no idea. We could simply have them represent the Ascendancy from their padded room. I do suppose, after the show they put on moments ago, anything they do wouldn't surprise the audience to that much of an extent."

OOC: Probably should wait for G.A. to post. I ICly want Whitfield to see their reaction.

Yurika and Akito had meanwhile dissapeared, and a short time later, reemerged in 'impeccable' dress white and blue trim CAG Tourman Command uniforms, well garnered with many do-dads of their stations.

Yurika's uniform representing her station as the Republic StarFleet Commander in Chief, a job she did 'damned' well.

Akito's uniform was more in station with his command of Gamma Excellency Galaxy. Having already been in the Snow Raven Trials, and hundreds of mock trials that were 'anything' but meek to the eye, his uniform reflected very well.

They also both sported capes that ran down to their back knees, or cowls of angel feathers... real ones. Gaianed after a month long meditative ceremony with 'actual' such beings, while learning to centralize their souls to their true selves.

Hence why they act the way they do. True to themselves and to each other, as well as to their chosen station, made by the Excellency himself at Founding.

Their presence was 'rather' buisness like as a result. Akito then asks. "Shall we go and entertain them then?" ..their host.

As Yurika and Akito returned in their uniforms, Whitfield only hoped that they would act more professional. In reply to Akito, Whitfield simply said, "It depends on who you are planning on entertaining, and how you are going to do it."

Yurika looks at Whitfield quizzically. "Like we said we would. Besides, the important thing for you is to keep your people from finding out about this Force before they are ready to adapt to it.

Therefore we will give them all kinds of information to dazzle them with, and make them forget about you for a while, until at least 'you' decide it is time."

Akito speaks very level to the same. "We will keep them off you for the immediate time. We 'are' the ones that helped start this whole endeavor for your nation." ..he then prodices a datarod and a holo-device.

"And... wouldn't your people like to see their new territories. We slated thiry-seven Star Systems for you guys towards out rimward explored sectors outside the Republic. Bet that'll get their attention." ..Akito says with a smile.

The two were in their element.

Yurika looks at Whitfield quizzically. "Like we said we would. Besides, the important thing for you is to keep your people from finding out about this Force before they are ready to adapt to it.

Therefore we will give them all kinds of information to dazzle them with, and make them forget about you for a while, until at least 'you' decide it is time."

Akito speaks very level to the same. "We will keep them off you for the immediate time. We 'are' the ones that helped start this whole endeavor for your nation." ..he then prodices a datarod and a holo-device.

"And... wouldn't your people like to see their new territories. We slated thiry-seven Star Systems for you guys towards out rimward explored sectors outside the Republic. Bet that'll get their attention." ..Akito says with a smile.

The two were in their element.

Whitfield found it most difficult to hide his surprise. "Thirty-seven?! I thought you had set aside three star systems! Then there was that Ministry of Defense rumor about this other galaxy somewhere..."

At the mention of that rumor, Whitfield calmed down a bit. "Without explaining the Force, it would be difficult to explain my return. I could say I had a vision and leave the Force out of it, I suppose...something to think about in the four hours or so before my planned speech. I see the logic behind your plan to distract the media, but please, no wrestling at the press conference. I don't want to have to explain your antics to a nation that suddenly thinks the Gaians are a bunch of wierdos."

Yurika responds to the last with.. "Of course we're wierdos. How else can we run such serious manners, unless we keep from being 'too' serious. You guys need to take that route when you get out there."

Akito meanwhile looks over the data in the holo-device then says to Whitfield.. "You must mean the Huntaerian Galaxy. We held aside about an 160 light-year expanse for your nation to colonize once they move out from the core worlds we have waiting.

..and if thirty-seven is too little, we can expand it some for your claim. Space is rediculosuly infinite like that."

Whitfield turned to Yurika and said, "Right. In. Front. Of. Paparazzi. Not. The. Place. For. Silliness." He made sure to pause before each word. "There is a time and a place for silliness, and it is not when handling matters of state, at least not here. Still, not everything's serious; sometimes the MPs like a sense of humor. But pulling that stunt right in front of a hundred paparazzi wasn't the brightest idea you Gaians have ever had."

The Prime Minister then directed his attention at Akito. "So these rumors are true? Hmm...interesting. Would make good fodder for my speech."

Hergiv, whom had followed behind the group, seemed unconcerened by the discussions. Catching the drift of the discussion, he interjected with a concern of his own.

"In reference to these powers displayed, I have one concern. I do believe your military officers may dismiss the sheer offensive and defensive potential of your own powers exhibited by your people. I do believe that your people will need to be demonstrated the ability of these powers to make them realise"

Hergiv, whom had followed behind the group, seemed unconcerened by the discussions. Catching the drift of the discussion, he interjected with a concern of his own.

"In reference to these powers displayed, I have one concern. I do believe your military officers may dismiss the sheer offensive and defensive potential of your own powers exhibited by your people. I do believe that your people will need to be demonstrated the ability of these powers to make them realise"

Whitfield considered Hergiv's words. "These powers are not common to this population. The time to reveal them is not yet come--but when the time is come,* I will reveal them in private to military officials. And they will see for themselves the potential in training the few that are strong in the Force in using it. But I must be trained first, so it might not be revealed for many years. At this point, it looks like I will not run for reelection, and when my term expires, I will disappear into the stars, for training in the ways of the Force."

OOC: *I'm using old-style British grammar; we Americans get it right sometimes :D

Akito add to that with.. "Let's hope your successor is as well to deal with as you have been Prime Minister."

After that, the duo simply head to the waiting conference.

*later that evening*

Prime Minister Whitfield led Hergiv, Yurika, and Akito into the press room, and he hoped he would not regret bringing the latter two. Therefore, he warned them to behave. Whitfield further warned all three of his guests to not mention the Force, for while he was ready to allude to its existence, the time had not yet come to reveal it fully. He directed the threesome to seats behind the podium, and then shuffled some notes together. An assistant offered Whitfield makeup, but he declined. A few minutes later, the room filled with members of the press corps. The technical assistant set up the camera. Whitfield had foregone a teleprompter, preferring spontaneity instead.

"Mr. Whitfield, you're live in ten seconds...nine...eight...seven...six..."

A red light flashed on the camera, indicating that the nation was watching.

"Good evening my fellow Woodians. Most of you are no doubt surprised by my sudden, abrupt return. I will explain this later.

However, many of you wonder why this speech is even possible so quickly after the visit of Polar Cyclone Arlene, the earliest and most powerful polar cyclone ever recorded in the world. This, too, deserves explanation. Unbeknownst to most civilians, the Gaians had provided us with some shield generators, which the military deployed in advance of the storm. These shield generators were quite effective at mitigating damage from 200-knot winds, and are the single biggest reason why I am able to give this speech tonight. Unfortunately, there were only enough of these shield generators to cover the areas of greatest population density; our rural brethren remain buried under twenty feet of snow. Aid operations have started, and will become easier to undertake in the next few days. I will authorize by executive order, to be signed later tonight, for unused funds from the Ministry of Commerce to be used for emergency relief operations.

By all rights, we should still be trudging through fifteen feet of snow, but the
Gaians also had their fair share of influence in today's relatively warm temperatures. The Gaian fleet has, for the last several days, been transmitting a broadbeam infrared ray from orbit to melt the snow in the cities. Potential flooding problems have prevented them from applying this infrared beam to the entire country; however, the Gaians will soon turn their attentions to the countryside, or so I am told.

However, despite the mitigating effects of Gaian intervention, these storms will only get worse, for global pollution has already pushed the atmospheric balance past the point of no return. Yet, even as we tighten our environmental laws, the world's worst polluters turn a blind eye to climate change. Nevertheless, the Gains have offered to terraform the Earth back to its previous state, but, as Evil Woody Thoughts lacks jurisdiction over the other nations of the world, we can only refer this matter to the United Nations. I have instructed the Minister of UN Affairs to do this at the next Security Council meeting. In the meantime, this storm offers powerful lessons in environmental stewardship in the new worlds that we are colonizing, and offers us yet another reason to continue the colonization effort.

Now, there is still the matter of my return to explain. The night of the landing of White Diamond, as I acclamated myself to my new surroundings, I had a vision of this storm. I knew that it would be the most powerful storm yet recorded, and that my presence would be required here. How I obtained this vision I still do not fully understand. Nevertheless, the next morning, I informed my Gaian hosts, along with Commander Hergiv of Xenonier, of the need to return. The Gaians deemed the matter urgent enough to use experimental propulsion, by their standards, to bring me here. I arrived just in advance of the storm, and coordinated military disaster preparation operations.

I am still exploring the mysterious origins of this vision. It has become apparent to me that this will require me to end my political career. Therefore, when my term expires at the end of next year, I will retire from politics." This announcement caused the members of the press corps to murmur amongst themselves, for not even t3h üb3r tabloid rum0r mill of d00m had predicted this. "I will spend my retirement days devoted to unearthing this mystery. However, I will work with my sucessor to further relations with the Gaian Ascendancy and Xenonier. Good night, and long may Evil Woody Thoughts prosper, despite the obstacles that the world gives us."

Immediately, all of the members of the press corps stood up and started shouting questions. Prime Minister Whitfield simply waited a few minutes for them to calm down a little bit, then said, "I can only answer one question at a time." He then allowed one of the journalists to start the question-and-answer session.

"Prime Minister, can you explain in more detail why you had your vision?"

Whitfield answered, "The means by which I had the vision of Arlene remain hidden from me. How I received it, I do not know; nevertheless, it had a clear purpose--to cause me to return in my country's time of need."

Another journalist rose, and was recognized. "This question is directed at your Gaian companions. Could you please explain in more detail what you did to blunt the storm?"

Bump.

If the other RPers on this thread do not post within a couple of days, I will make a final IC post on this thread to wrap it up before starting the next RP in the series, about ten years later.

OOC: I'm waiting for GA so your reporters can adress Hergiv

Another journalist rose, and was recognized. "This question is directed at your Gaian companions. Could you please explain in more detail what you did to blunt the storm?"

Yurika defered to Akito since it was originally his idea, plus she liked his voice.

"Pretty much what the Prime Minister said. What we did was have our Observation Base on Luna, the Moon, redirect several orbital solar mirrors/collectors, and refocus that energy into a high level beam that was sent to our WarShip, the Flagship of the Gaian WarShip Fleet: Angel Galaxy, and then send that energy down, collected in the vessel's solar array screens, and then literally beamed down the energy though a tractor beam array, to the shield generators via several focused beams.

As you see by the result, seems such technology can be patented for this nation, and expanded to cover the countryside the next time around."

Yurika jumps in.. "We.. hope to try and avert that however. As we speak, a specially modified DropShip, one of our Mammoth Classes, is deploying a Climatizer.

We use these units to help stabilize weather patterns upon our Republic worlds, and also help in preparing inhabitable worlds with hostile atmospheres for terraforming. It's our hope to at least help stabilize the climate in this region, and further the rest of the planet by helping the natural climate tendancy to shift to a normal state.

Call it a climate band-aid. The Climate actually is pretty resilient if you give it a chance."

More journalists rose to ask questions. "Prime Minister Whitfield, your retirement announcement came as quite a surprise. Could you please explain why that announcement came as a surprise, considering that we have had a news van stationed nearby for the last year to listen in on your private musings?"

The Prime Minister answered, "Because I haven't been here."

Another question. "Prime Minister, rumors have circulated of a trade conference with the Gaians to be held soon, in which the government plans on shopping for Gaian technologies beyond those explicitly gifted by the Gaians so far. Can you confirm these rumors?"

"I will leave it up to the Gaians to confirm or deny your rumor, as I am not exactly sure what they have in mind."

"We have plans to have six Regiments of Battlemechs ready for your forces use by the end of the month. Another Four Regiments of Angel God Infantry to lend support, and another ten Regiments of era specific Conventional Vehicle Support.

Tanks, LRM/SRM carriers, VTOLs, OmniVehicles, everything a good RCT needs. We'd offer Battlesuit technology, but your people would have to go through specific genetic reegineering to allow them to be comfortable with using such suits. Trust us, that part is tricky stuff. And that all doesn't include our new ProtoMech program now being developed, another genetic hassle there.

But we 'can' train your conventional infantry in Regimental Combat Team (RCT) tactics to maximize effectiveness of what you guys have here.

That will all essentially put you on par with most advanced militaries out there, in the realm of defense at the very least."

They waited for the gasps to stop. Yurika then adds. "We 'were' going to tell the Prime Minister, but he felt being here to help is people in their time of need was more important. Lucky guy you people have leading you all with, I must say."

The Prime Minister was somewhat taken aback at the openness of the Gaian "representatives," though in what official capacity they represented the Gaian Ascendancy he did not yet ascertain. Nevertheless, it sounded most pleasing to Whitfield's ears, as the technology description matched what he had intended to "troll" for at any "trade summit" quite closely. However, he expected that the military would not be happy about this, er, lack of confidentiality...

There was one method of communication that even the mediatrolls would not detect, but the Gains (and Hergiv) would: Force telepathy. Whitfield was still new at it, but he slipped the Gaians a thought: Oh, I should mention, the Ministry of Defence has been acquiring Imperator-class Star Destroyers off of the, er, markets now open to us with an eye on reproducing variants. We will require some assistance in building a shipyard capable of building starships roughly twice their size, and we still haven't spent more than a fraction of the funds we had appropriated for this space program of ours...

The mediatrolls murmered amongst themselves at the mention of Battlemechs, as Battlemechs were something of a legend in Evil Woody Thoughts, a legend introduced by the Timber Wolf OmniMechs that had served as an honor guard of sorts during the first Gaian visit to Evil Woody Thoughts. It seemed to shut the mediatrolls up, something that previously had seemed impossible.

Whitfield interrupted the silence. "Are there any further questions?" Only silence answered him. "Then this press conference is concluded."

Yurika just 'replies' with her own tact.. ":: Why spoil the suprise. Our end hasn't even started yet..

..and wait till you start purchasing super class warships in the future. ::"

Yurika then adds.. ":: Who's your best pilot of any kind? ::"

Whitfied waited for the press corps to leave, then replied, "Probably Sgt. Bielski, because of his Force abilities, though his training lies elsewhere...as for trained pilots, I'd have to talk to Navy and Air Force commanders to see what they can come up with. We haven't exactly had a lot of wars to produce well-known aces."

Akito then replies for Yurika. "If you'd have him come up with a good list, we can then test them for Mechwarrior and OmniFighter and/or Veritech Omni-LAM training."

Prime Minister Whitfield answered, "I will have the military compile a list for training candidates. Now, I must retire for the night."

However, retire for the night he would not; saying that was simply a diplomatic way of saying he had stuff to think about. He went to his bedroom alright, but to contemplate his future.

OOC: This thread has pretty much served its purpose. Xenonier, feel free to create a diplomacy thread or whatever and TG me the link. GA, tomorrow, or when I have the time, I'll start a "ten years later" sort of thread, and base a lot of the description on what happens between now and then on the technology and assistance offers you have made, and the information you have given me. I will need to take certain liberties with such a thread, but I can always edit it if you say I have taken [i]too[/b] many liberties. TG me with any questions.

I'll also split off a Whitfield character development RP where he seeks a Jedi Academy...