NationStates Jolt Archive

A brief burst of greenish energy flickered within the comet-studded expanse of the Oort Cloud on the fringes of the Sol system. The burst faded away rapidly as a pair of forms sailed through the void from its apex, decelerating from near-lightspeed as they approached the near edge of the Kuiper Belt. The smaller of the two craft measured in at a hundred and nine meters in length, shaped roughly like a great cigar with two whalelike fins near the front and a pair of long trailing antennae rising from the front point, a tip dominated by a pair of beady red eyes. Its grey-yellow body was plated across the back and sides with chitinous dull-grey armor plating. Flanking it lay a craft shaped like an elongated teardrop flying round-end forward, one hundred and eighty-one meters long and with five rigid, leaflike projections emerging from its grey-armored carapace.

And how exactly did a couple of organic spacecraft make it across all this distance without centuries of transit time? Why, a wizard did it. Literally - the smaller organism, known as a wizardcraft, thrust them through a portal.

The vessels decelerated fairly swiftly after the portal's initial speed burst, falling to an immobile position on the edges of the Kuiper Belt. For a moment there was a pause as the two organisms held position, the antennae of the wizardcraft twitching lightly. And then its neighbour, a speakercraft, began to lightly throb about its midsection. Within a thunderous rumble emerged, the sound completely inaudible in the void of space - yet though the sound could not travel, the vibrations, complete with harmonics, DID travel through the emptiness. Certainly the speakercraft could not shout across the void, but while sound did not travel, infrasound was another story altogether - more turbulence than audio. Sure, it would be utterly ineffective in the vacuum of deep space, but with dust and particles drifting through the inner system the waves were able to carry a great distance...

Of course, it'd still be impossible for the ear to pick up such incredibly low-frequency sounds even were it possible to stick one's head out the starship and shout back and forth. But the human ear is one thing; the computer is another story altogether. The patterns rumbled out by the speakercraft could easily be interpreted by a computer and translated into speech, though given the infrasound wavelengths a delay was inevitable, much greater at longer distances, leaving the message comprehensible up to 1.5 AU.

"We bring greetings," came the generic male voice, "from the Integrated Community of the Celsanids. We mean no harm and come with only peaceful intent. In light of the destruction of our home star system our survivors seek a world upon which to lay our roots. The celestial body at these coordinates will suit our purposes..." A set of coordinates followed after another delay, singling out a Kuiper Belt object of approximately nine hundred to one thousand kilometers in diameter, the body known as 2002 AW197.

"We humbly ask whether or not this rock lies within the jurisdiction of another community. If this is the case we shall move on."

And with that the vibrations of the speakercraft ceased, leaving the two Celsanid biocraft floating immobile at the edge of the Kuiper Belt, patiently awaiting a response.

-----

OOC: Yes, infrasound does travel through interplanetary space, though it's horribly, horribly ineffective for long-range communications; there's enough particles out there that at the very least turbulence will carry.

While we do not know for certain, we believe the KBO 2002 AW197, is not claimed by anyone and that you could have it. Should it turn out that someone does own it we would be willing to aid you in finding an object similar to KBO 2002 AW197.


ooc: excellent first post.

((OC- Welcome to NS Forums. =^^= ))
---

Apparently the Gaians in the System got the honor of answering first, as the outposts near Saturn, and the Observation Outpost on Luna heard the interesting message, interesting due to communication method.

..it was as much 'felt' by Hikari users in the area, as it was heard on communication nets.

A Gaian JumpShip in the System, carrying a large diplomatic staff, communicated quickly between them, and the Observation Outpost, and a message was constructed in return quickly after..

~ :: Welcome to the Sol System, Motherworlds of all humanity, as far as we know in this Dimension.

As to your message, there are 'many' terrestrial nations, as well as space borne, that reside here, and warn that land is choosy to come by, as we ourselves are discovering.

If it's a homeworld of your own to bring the remains of your civilization to, we might be able to help if you can live with a System 'other' that Sol. Thus if so, we can help locate one within the Milky Way Galaxy, since we have mapped over 80% of the Galaxy at this point.

We know of 'more' than a few nice choices to offer, though further talks and discussion between yor and our leaders would have to occur first, Until then, we can help foster your people and protect them until this end result occurs.

Regards,

Gaian Sol Diplomatic Council :: ~

OOC: Thank ye both. ^.^

----IC:

Both transmissions reached the speakercraft, brief flickers of bioelectricity crackling along the rigid petals as it rapidly translated the mechanical means of communication to something comprehensible to the other beings carried within. It shifted first in the direction of the communication from Theao, rumbling back a message through that peculiar infrasound form of communication.

"We thank you for the information. We are reluctant to claim the asteroid at this point given that we have received potentially conflicting information; should our intent to settle on KBO 2002 AW197 prove fruitless we shall keep your offer in mind."

A shift then towards the Gaian vessel, and the speakercraft's petals once more rippled. The wizardcraft shifted forward slightly, its antennae curling as it too analyzed the bulk of the alien message. The creatures seemed quite benevolent.

For a second bioelectricity crackled along the wizardcraft's antennae, a signal to the speakercraft. The larger of the two organisms began once more to throb out a message, the sound-turbulence crossing the distance between itself and the JumpShip.

"It is not the wish of the Integrated Community to impose upon the natives of your sector, hence our dispatching of this exploratory delegation. Should it not be possible to obtain land or a planet in this system we are open to options in other star systems."

"We look forward to speaking further and sharing knowledge with your people. While we are not nearly so learned as to the wonders of this galaxy, we have seen and experienced many wonders and are eager to discover new worlds and civilizations. Should our search here prove fruitless we shall likely ask your aid in seeking out a body suitable for our people."

The Gaian diplomats, while waiting for the return message, sent HPG messages all the way back to the Core Republic, and in rapid succession, large numbers of Gaian souls began to learn of the needy newcomers to Sol Sector, and were even 'actively' busy looking for suitable canadite worlds to offer the Celsanids, 'in addition' to their efforts to find a colony in the Sol System.

While the iinformation foud it's way up to the upper echelons of Gaian leadership, a return message was offered back, including the following.

~ :: We respect this intention, but would offer the 'both' possibility, rather than the 'and/or' of choises. We, as we are used to, like to have 'both' on the plate, and hence, more freedom of choice, instead of lack therefo.

Such, we offer that if you wish, that we can help find you worlds, 'while' you seek the same in the Sol System. We only ask the same you are offering, understanding of your culture, and the hand of friendship. As we are currently helping another realm unto final steps from a Terran only existence, and into the vastness of space, we stand as the arm of helpful busy bodies, that 'can' bend over backwards to ensure your civilization has every oppritunity.

Thus, that newfound strength become more strength for us, as we seek to ensure stability amid the stars. Now by words, but by deeds.

We await how you will proceed, and lend assistance with all due effort.

Honored Regards,

Gaian Sol Diplomatic Council :: ~

For the Celsanids might think the Gaians like an oversized bunch of Santa Clauses if the Gaians were careful. =^^= ..at this rate anyway.

---

((OC- Last post for tonight...))

Ah, if only the Celsanids knew of a Santa Claus!

In any case, the beings carried by the speakercraft and the wizardcraft, as well as the craft themselves, were certainly getting a good impression of the Sol system's natives. The name 'Gaian Sol' was duly catalogued by the wizardcraft to be transmitted back to the Celsanid whole with favorable commentary. The speakercraft once more crackled in translation before rumbling a message in return to the Gaian Sol diplomats.

"Your words have wisdom in them. On behalf of the Integrated Community we accept your offer of assistance in seeking out suitable planets outside Sol in conjunction with our effort here. Though the myriad civilizations of this system fascinate us, we shall indeed keep our options open and consider both free land in this system or worlds beyond, and make our selection based on which best suits our needs."

"The kindness of the people of Gaian Sol is greatly appreciated; we shall remember your people when we lay down our roots. It seems that our people and yours have much to learn of and from each other."

(OOC: Last post for tonight. Ugh, 3:45AM.)

bump

Bump II: Electric Boogaloo

((OC- I'm comin, I'm comin.. ))
---

*White Diamond System; White Diamond/Sapphire, Holy Palace Tree*

While the Trade Conference was just beginning, word reached the diplomatic Advisory of the discovering ongoing in the Motherworld System itself. A few heads turned were the Ascendancy Holy Council types themselves.

They even were a touch bemused of a certain tidbit. "They think we're native of Sol?" Lady Funaho asked when she read the report concerning the Celsanids, with details garnered from Hikari Power users in the Sol diplomatic envoy. Lady Arashi was the one that left the Conference hall to come back to the Palace and look over the report as well.

"I presume we're going all out once more for another civilization, for the good of the Ascendant Code?" Arashi asks, a retorical query in the first place. Funaho looks over her large, Intel Padd laden desk of obsidian and silver, to her left at the Second Lady Excellency.

"The recent Assistance Accord we passed should easily cover that question." Arashi nods. "Then we shall divert diplomatic resources from the Sol operation and begin assistance immediately.

I'll prepare a special message in return for the Sol diplomats to transmit. What assets can we deploy to assist, as well as what nearby Systems are available that meets such a canadite? The more the better.."

Funaho pecks a bit at her holotop comp and a number of side holoscreens pop up, as well as a number of holo-scroll infobars above them. After a bit of this, she determines.. "The GAEX-4324.S System, about 72 light-years Anti-Spinward of Republic Core borders has three habitable planets and two habitable moons, out of ten planets and 142 moons, three plnaetoid belts (bit of a shooting gallery for a System.) The bio-chem cleanup units finalized the removal of Hazmat upon the worlds just recently and was upping it for colonization status.

Sad story, some kind of ancient war that decimated three seperate nations to extinction, WMD beyond reproach. One of the ones that 'didn't' listen to their better natures, at least 20 Billion died overall before any survivors escaped. In anycase, there's a large number of existing cities and townships to occupy, and fauna and soil composition should be able to harbor most normal crops and such. Resources where lean, can be boosted by us assiting with shipments of such resources, and...

..hmm.. something a touch mystical in the report from the lead Tech in charge. Didn't say much more other than that however. Kinda convinent."

Arashi cocks an eye. "Is this a good idea to dump a desperate race onto a world like that?" ..and Funaho pegs back. "The GAEX-1109.D System has one habitable... with only 'one' planet, and one moon. Not a good resource needy cannidate. Only three light-years, and the only one 'not' with some kind of claim on it. After GAEX-4324.S begins a large swath of habitable Systems, some claimed, some not, but further away than the Celsanids might be comfortable with.

I'll have an SSD and escorts sent to Sol to greet them, and if agreed, transport them to the indicated System to check it out for themselves."

Arashi nods. "Who wants to greet them in person? You're still here for the Conference."

Funaho thinks, and 'binks' a pikachu-like light-bulb flash. "Want to keep it in the family milady?"

Arashi blinks...

--

*Sol System*

It took a bit after the second trasmission, as a bevy of information was collected from the Core Republic, some 20,000 light-years away. And accumilated and compiled into a large informational packet set in multiple languages for the Celsanids to whet their minds and eyes over.

Finally, a proper return message was sent back about an hour and a half later.

~ :: Pardon our tardy reply, but we have been taking your agreement request with serious rapport with our command and control structure, and our diplomatic avenues. We have therefore responded with intent to help you the enture way to begin a new life upon another Star System. We do not know as yet how many of your citizen souls are in need of aid, but know we are prepared to assist with all our capability that can be lended.

As such, we are sending a greeting party to the Motherworld System to meet your vessels, both to meet in person, as well as to 'take' you to a System we feel might do well as a cannidate for your civilizatio to do with as you wish.

Do not be alarmed by the sudden arrivals that will be coming within the next half-hour, Terran local timeframe. Upon the vessels will be the Lord Excellency's own daughter, and accompanyment of relevant souls that represent the Gaian Holy Council.

We hope that you will not mind the attention we are about to laud, as we are intent on above all else, to help your citizen souls to succeed from off the rough roads you have traveled.

Our honest Hope,

Lady Second Excellency Arashi Kerensky
Gaian Ascendancy Spiritual Throne :: ~[/i]

OOC: Hee, sorry to seem naggy. Didn't want the thread to get eaten in the shuffle.

---- IC:

Upon receiving the latest transmissions from the Gaians the speakercraft rippled a little, crackling faintly about the tail. It and the wizardcraft shared a brief moment of communication before falling silent while the beings carried by the speakercraft directed their charge to rumble out another message.

"Stand by a moment."

With that the wizardcraft turned and receded rapidly, accelerating to speeds technically impossible for an organism as it flew further out beyond the belt. A distance away it halted abruptly, green bioelectricity rippling along its antennae as it gathered a spell. A whirl of that greenish energy appeared in space, expanding rapidly to form an ovoid portal. From below the wizardcraft's eyes a seed pod-like object emerged, sailing through the singularity.

For several moments more nothing happened - until finally a third craft emerged from the vortex. At just over two hundred and thirty meters long, the armor-plated organism bore a similar cigarlike shape to the wizardcraft, though its aft end lengthened and tapered down to a broad, whalelike tail. Four great fins jutted from its sides, a quartet of spindly insectile legs just behind; at the tip of its body large red eyes lay, a pair of short antennae and a longer pair of catfishlike whispers emerging from between them. As the portal closed the wizardcraft fell into motion beside the new ship, which sailed easily back to where the speakercraft lay at the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt.

The new craft took up position between its two escorts, rumbling lightly at the speakercraft in a short-range communication. The Celsanids' communication vessel mirrored the rumblings exactly, echoing the ship's words back to the Gaians - yet they came harmonized in a much different male voice, soft, deep, rumbling, the voice of the ship imitated precisely by the speakercraft.

"I am the transport Metrosa. Aboard me is Speaker Alcian of the Seed of Clerian, most ancient of our surviving mothers, as well as further members of the greater Celsanid strain. Should it be necessary I am equipped with facilities within me suited to accomodate visitors; The Speaker and those with her are capable of visiting your craft as well should the need arise."

"We await eagerly the arrival of your representatives and do not mind your attentions; we in fact welcome them gladly. The aid of the Gaian people has been most commendable, and we thank you for the effort you have gone through on behalf of strangers to this region."

"We look forward to speaking with you further."

--------

"Speaker?"

The voice came from the mouth of the private chamber near Metrosa's midsection, a chamber filled with flowering plants, lush greenery, hanging vines, and even small birds and insects flitting to and fro. From her relaxed position against a smooth but massive leaf near a pool of water, Speaker Alcian lifted her head. Her features were delicately humanoid, though her skin was pale green and laced with faint veins; in place of hair her scalp sprouted with a myriad of white, pale-blue, and violet flowers, descending about her face and neck in waves to end at the middle of her back. As with all members of the dominant Celsanid strain, the humanoid Tal'celsans, she possessed a pair of roughly elfin ears laying flat against the sides of her skull, the tips of which cut through her flowering hair to extend four inches past her head and about half an inch above the top of her skull. Aside from the alien features she could easily have been considered beautiful by the standards of a human or an elf.

With a hiss of her double-shouldered, toga-like pine-green garment - made of course entirely from naturally grown fibers and clasped at each shoulder with a naturally grown crystal of a diamond-like mineral - the woman slid down from the leaf and to her feet. Red-irised, almond-shaped eyes flicked towards the opening, where stood another Tal'celsan; a male, his head abloom with small reddish flowers and his body hugged only by a long, multi-layered skirt of white fabric about the waist, falling to his knees and belted by a dark, leather-hard vine. "Yes, Talan?"

"Metrosa has sent your words to the Gaian Ascendancy," the young male informed her. "We anticipate their arrival within a half hour or less."

"Very good." With a slightly lazy sigh Alcian moved towards the entrance and laid a hand on the youth's shoulder, a bit of dew still clinging to her skin. "Return to the nerve center and inform me when their ships approach. Should they wish to meet us in person we shall accomodate them."

"Of course." The youth bowed and quit the chamber.

For a moment Alcian watched him go, then turned and lowered herself delicately to lie on her stomach across a nearby branch. It'd been a long time since she'd made contact with a mammalian species; idly she wondered how curious they'd find it when they learned just how Celsanids came to be.

----

The three Celsanid living ships continued to float at the edge of the belt...

The more and more scans came back, the more and more the Gaians were wondering themselves about the Celsanid origins. They were well amazed by the apparent combination of organic and spiritual 'technology', that could be best equated by their own Hikari Treeships.

Hence, when this latest report was sent, the waiting party to conduct the actual First Contact, decided to forgo the massive Super Star Destroyers and such, and instead meet the Celsanids on their own terms.

As such, three Hikari Treeships were prepared instead, two Corvette sized, and the third the personal Treeship of Lady Isarra, daughter of the Lord and First Lady Excellency, with her and her two best friends making up the greeting party, as Ladies Sasami and Misao took command of the two 'corvettes'.

"You guys ready?" Isarra asked over comm, one unique to Treeships. "Yup, looking good here.."

"Same here. Let's do this!" Lady Misao adds to Lady Sasami's words, as all three also are amazed at the 'clarity' of the voices across the comms and vidscreens. Normal comm was a echoed hiss of elecrotically reconstructed signals. Not much too different from normal voice waves over a radio medium.

Hence why this was so startiling. Even the advanced comm units on normal Gaian vessels, even up to the mighty Eternal Destiny, didn't have the clarity that Treeship comms had.

And the comms were only a 'teaser' to what a Treeship could do. It was time that the Gaians revealed their 'true' masterpieces of starship engineering..

..and artistry.

"Then let's get going. On my mark, ten seconds to Fold event." Isarra orders, sounding a 'lot' like her Father.

That ten seconds later is when it, and with them, a small escort of normal Corvettes as added protection, even if it is the Sol System. However the small fleet in escort, in comparison, is underpowered in the first place. Even an SSD would be hard pressed against Treeships...

..and without further ado, the small Fleet Folds away from it's station keeping around planet Emerald, and make the short trip to Sol, ending up just within the orbit of Luna, over the Observation Outpost.

...seconds later, a prerecorded message is sent broadband.

~ :: Celsanid souls, I am Lady Isarra, voice of my Father, the Excellency of the Gaian Ascendancy. We come in peace.. (..always wanted to say that..) We have come to meet your civilization on terms of your choosing, as well as to offer a location that may well suit your needs of this situation, a Star System to call your own.

If it meets your approval, shall our vessels meet, and your trust, we will meet you where you wish. We ask to meet around the orbit of Saturn to begin these talks.

And again, we welcome you, one behalf of the Ascendancy. :: ~

At that, the three Hikari vessels began to move towards their chosen meeting spot, their glowing hulls making them look like stars from afar.

--

((OC- The Hikari ships look like Jurai Threeships, in form and function, except for the far more gleaming hulls of pure white, accented by ethereal colors of all kinds.

..if it looks angelic, then that's probably the intended look.))

Again, the Concordiat probe was shadowing the Gaian fleet. The probe appeared in Normal Space, and began to unfold ugly, spindly legs from the black cylinder. It began to monitor communications, usting a SWIFT transmitter to communicate with the Mainframe, and analyzing the communications through its circuits.

As more data was returned to the Gaian ships it would've been possible for them to confirm that the Celsanid ships were, in fact, alive. Though Metrosa and the speakercraft displayed only very limited neural development, indicating minimal sentience, the wizardcraft's neural network seemed extensive; however, the spellweaving organism was difficult to scan too deeply due to bioenergetic interference. Perhaps more curious was the makeup of the 'skin' of the living ships - on its surface it seemed almost like bark, while the makeup of their hulls bore definite traces of plant matter.

The Treeships lay deep into the Sol system that the Celsanids could not yet see them - at least not until the wizardcraft peered towards the source of the transmission. The images were promptly relayed back to Metrosa.

Near Metrosa's eyes lay a roughly circular chamber, floor and walls covered with chitinous paneling - not metal but an internal framework grown to accomodate the Tal'celsan strain. Behind an arc of that framework lay a mass of green-grey flesh in the shape of a door - a mass which stretched open as would a doorway, allowing Alcian to stride into the chamber. Her eyes immediately moved to the oval of mirrorlike plating elevated at the nerve center's fore, held in place by rigid outcroppings of horn from the walls. Metrosa's optical nerves tied neatly into that viewscreen, transmitting the image of the Treeships back to Alcian and the three other Tal'celsans nearby. There were, incidentally, no conventional controls for the bridge crew to man - they merely analyzed Metrosa's nerve input and directed his actions.

"Interesting," Alcian mused as she observed the Gaian craft. "Such large vessels, these."

One of the crew looked over at her with a light nod. "Metrosa is ready to accept your words, Speaker."

Alcian nodded before clearing her throat lightly and beginning to speak.

-----

Again a low rumble sounded from within Metrosa, mirrored precisely by the speakercraft as it communicated once more with the Gaian vessels.

"I, Metrosa, carry the words of Speaker Alcian. We will gladly consent to meet with Lady Isarra and suggest that such a meeting take place aboard your craft. I am a lightly-armed craft and would prove vulnerable were other civilizations in the system to prove hostile, and we have observed that users of primarily metallic craft often experience discomfort within a living vessel."

"We shall make haste to the world you call Saturn - the sixth world in your system, correct? We shall rendezvous with your vessels there."

"We look forward to meeting with you in person."

With the message sent the three Celsanid bioships began to move forward, the wizardcraft taking point; of the three its defensive capabilities were the most significant, and in a pinch it could lead Metrosa and the speakercraft to a swift escape. The other two vessels fell in close behind it, picking up speed as they began moving towards Saturn, oblivious to the Gaians' spindly-legged observer for now...

The Gaians heeded little mind of the Concordiant probe, since they've seen them before in other places, apparently only there to observe. Nothing wrong with that.

The three Hikari vessels moved off alone, and arrive at the Saturn node and await their Celsanid counterparts.

Within moments the three Celsanid craft slow to a halt in the Saturn system. The wizardcraft made note of the Concordiat probe upon approach, watching it with care but not making any hostile move towards it. Though they could not reconcile the probe's design with that of the Gaian Treeships, the Celsanids were nonetheless not about to raise too much of a ruckus. Perhaps it was some Gaian design they knew naught about.

With the space between the Gaian and Celsanid crafts at a minimum Metrosa was free to make use of his own infrasound rather than speaking through the speakership - and lo and behold, that's what he did, speaking once more to the Gaians with Alcian's words.

"We await your approval to board. We assume that a vessel the size of yours has facilities sufficient to dock a transport lifeform of approximately twelve meters in length."

Isarra commented to herself.. "Only twelve meters? Economy sized." ..and she replied back on open comm. "Of course, just follow the open door to the docking bay of this vessel.." ..and such mentally orders the spacetree on board to do the same, and a wide docking port is opened at the rear of the angular bird-like vessel of design.

"Please enjoy our hospitaltity." Isarra finishes, and then nods to both Misao and Sasami upon seperate vidscreens, and both then head to teleporters to meet the Celsanid delegation, all in person.

A fleshy port in Metrosa's stomach slowly puffed open as though the big craft were taking a breath. From within emerged an object not unlike a fly - a twelve-meter-long fly with chitinous plating across its body and whalelike paddles rather than its two front legs. The shuttle lacked wings, relying on the paddles and its own internal mechanisms to propel itself. While the wizardcraft moved slightly to cover the shuttle, the small craft zipped towards the Gaians' docking port, slipping easily inside and waiting for the portal to close.

Much like Metrosa and the speakercraft, the shuttlefly possessed a very limited sentience. It settled neatly to the deck, emitting a very faint buzz that could be heard fairly clearly now that the vacuum of space was no issue. Interestingly, the fly needed no pilot; it could maneuver itself, eliminating the need for that extra crew member.

Tilting forward, the shuttlefly lifted its abdomen, the entire underside peeling open like a fleshy sort of doorway. From within strode one of the Tal'celsans, a slim youthful male with yellow and white flowers growing close to his scalp, his frame draped in a silken white robe. Behind him Alcian stepped delicately forth, a second male behind her. She'd kept her elegant pine-green mantle but had added a band of pale yellow flowers about her neck.

The scent of the ship immediately registered on Alcian; the woman, so used to living vessels, was unaccustomed to the sensory input of an artificial spacecraft. It took her a moment to adjust to the atmosphere, giving the Gaians the opportunity to speak first.

The Gaians as expected were a bit unsettled as they saw the 'means' the craft used to land within the Hikari Treeship. Nonetheless they steeled themselves and were more amicable (from facial expresions anyway..) once Metrosa's occupants disembarked.

Lady Isarra then steps forward and bows with reverant practice. "We welcome you aboard our vessel, as well as to this civilized sector of space. I am Lady Isarra..

..with me here, are my friends and trusted confidants, Lady Misao and Lady Sasami, both also of the Council, in lower standing." ..and this, the two others bow and say their welcomes at the same time.

The smells upon the Gaian side seemed more like they could easily feel they were in a well kept greenhouse.

Though the scent did indeed bear a familiar air of foliage to it, Alcian could still sense a difference between what she was used to; perhaps it was because these people were aliens, or because a greenhouse isn't quite a jungle or a forest. Nonetheless she grew at least partly accustomed to it after a moment.

She listened with calm intent to the Gaians' greetings, her face drawn into a warm but reserved smile of her own. When they finished speaking she touched her right index finger to her collar, inclining her head for a moment in the Celsanid equivalent of a respectful bow.

"On behalf of the Celsanid peoples I thank you for your kind welcome. I am Speaker Alcian of the Seed of the Mother Clerian and by extension of the whole of the Integrated Community. My companions are also of the Seed of Clerian, Talan..." A gesture to the first male, who mirrored Alcian's touch-and-nod, "and Telal." She indicated the second male - who save for a slightly redder hue in his hairflowers was identical to the first and mimicked the gesture of respect.

"I hope that our means of transit did not unnerve you overmuch," Alcian added lightly, glancing back at the shuttlefly - which continued to lightly hum in standby.

Isarra chuckles and wise cracks a bit too much like her Father does. "We're simple humanoids, and if not for our other numerous alien sentient contacts, this would 'indeed' be more unnerving to us.

..but we have grown to respect that there are many forms of sentience and life, and give respect to all it's forms. It's actually refreshing to meet a non-standard race, since it gives us the chance to interact with such a unique civilization."

Isarra then guestures behind her. "If you wish, we can discuss further in the arboretum of this vessel."

..a suprise was in store for the Celsanids, a success of early Gaian experimentation with dimensionalization technology.

Isarra's good spirits were not lost on Alcian; she found herself smiling a bit more brightly, rather enjoying the warmth of the Gaian. "We don't see humanoids as quite so simple despite sharing a general physical appearance, but that's a difference of perspective. We're quite pleased that your people have been so helpful and welcoming to us, when many in the past have found us more a curiosity..."

She nodded then at the offer. "The arboretum seems as good a place as any; let us continue there, then."

((OC- Last post for tonight.. I think.. ))
---

Isarra nods and the Gaians lead the way through the rather well sculpted hallways of the Treeship, looking a lot like a minature version of the Holy Palace Trees in architecture.

They pass through teleport pads made of gleaming light, and eventually head down what seems a longer set of hallways than 'should' be so for a vessel like this..

..hence whatmore, when they enter the arboretuem...

..if you don't mind the sight of an earth like landscape, like one was standing in a mountain valley, full of forests, lush plains, rolling hills, and mountains as white capped as any in the Swiss Alps. In the far distance is a 'smallish' house Tree, a mini Palace Tree that looks like a small house version. the landscape even is filled with chirping birds and some flora, fauna, and even animal life.

It's like they aren't even on a ship anymore. In fact, they technically 'aren't'.

"Hope you don't mind. It's still kinda small. The Dimensional generator is still being a touch fincky, but we're ironing out all the bugs. Hope you don't mind." Isarra actually matter-of-factly says.

Welcome to a Dimensional Habitation Unit. =^^=

The three Celsanids moved along with the Gaians, keeping pace with them without difficulty. The architecture of the corridors was duly noted by Alcian; it was quite pleasant to her eye despite its apparent artificiality. Ah well - not every species possessed the means to grow living ships with accessible internal structures, after all!

The teleport pads, however, unnerved her just a little. While she'd been aboard Metrosa through many transits through magical portals, actually being in personal contact with one made her uneasy at first, as the Celsanids possessed no such internal transportation technology.

And then the group emerged in the arboretum.

If Alcian could breathe her breath would've caught in her throat in surprise. As it is she just blinked a few times, her eyes widening a little as she gazed about the impossibly vast landscape. Surely the Gaian vessel wasn't big enough that whole mountains could be carried... perhaps some sort of holographic projection, or... oh, dimensional technology. "No, no, I don't mind at all," she assured Isarra, regaining her composure and smiling as if to reassure the alien woman. "Dimensional generator, you say... what a fascinating type of technology!"

----

(OOC: Last post tonight from me.)

Bump; let's not get lost in the shuffle here

Isarra nods. "Another of the technologies we've been busy bees with. Er.. so to speak."

The pass through rather lush grassland, filled with actual living fauna. Nothing artifical here. They even pass a small stream with 'real' water flowing through it. As they approach the House Tree, they even feel a warm wind that passes down from the mountains nearby.

Hardly an 'image' at all.

Isarra leads Alcian and her escorts into the Tree. To say the sight of a Tree impeccably melded into a lavish living area that is well stocked. Course, for a human that is.

Isarra meanwhile offers any choice of seats, and asks.. "Do you wish a drink of any kind?"

Perhaps unsurprisingly the sight of a living area housed inside a tree didn't surprise Alcian in the slightest. What was more interesting to her is that a mammalian species would dwell like this - or perhaps merely an arrangement to appeal to the Celsanids' sensibilities? Hm.

Lowering herself delicately into a chair, Alcian neatly crossed her ankles and folded her hands in her lap, her outfit rustling a little with the motion. "Perhaps just some water, if you will," she responded to Isarra's offer with a light nod.

Meanwhile, the escorts Talan and Telal took up seats not far from the Speaker of Clerian, silent - simply observing for now.

Isarra mentally orders the internal combination of replicators and beam teleporters, to have glasses of water delivered not only to Alcian, but her escorts as well, set upon sculpted whitewood ledges, melded into the walls and flooring nearby. The glasses are standard glassware, not everything has to be advanced. =^^=

Isarra and her corhorts order some simple water for themselves too, and then settle in for the discussion at hand.

Isarra then simply asks to boot things off. "We are understanding that you are seeking a place to call your own home. Can we have more of a background to understand why this need is paramount? The more detail the better we can understand and help."

Taking the glass in her left hand, Alcian sipped lightly from it, nodding lightly. "Certainly," she responded to Isarra, shifting lightly in her seat before softly clearing her throat.

"Until recently we DID have a home - until about a decade ago, really. Our people evolved on a world called Celsas Four, in a star system fairly distant from here. Suffice it to say there was a disaster... a massive star within a hundred light years of ours went nova. You wouldn't think such a thing would damage us, but as you probably know certain stellar explosions emit two jets of gamma rays as they collapse into a black hole. One of those rays hit Celsas Four and obliterated the atmosphere, destroying most of the surface."

Her head lowered a little. "We were completely unprepared for the devastation. Billions of us were killed... about ninety nine point nine nine nine eight percent of us, actually. Fortunately some of the elder Mothers on the far side of the planet survived..."

"What few of us survived launched into space and set out looking for a new homeworld. It was slow going, of course, until we were able to breed a living wizardcraft to let us cross distances quickly... still, the first two star systems we tried bore no fruit. One was inhabited; we were chased out by battleships. In the second there was only a star and a gas giant. We'd hoped that we'd find something in this sector - which is why we've been so grateful for your help."

Isarra sighs and nods. "We cannot appreciate what you have gone through, by no means of such magnitude and suffering.

But we indeed come with providence. A gift even more."

Isarra then looks at Sasami, who then produces a mini-holochip, who then inserts it into a hidden port, that then engages a hidden holo display generator. The image displayed appears above everyone's heads, a good sized one, that shows an entire mapped Star System.

"Will this do for a new home? It has three recently declared habitable planets, with several more moons that just as habitable. Apparently the remains of an ancient civilization of some kind blew themselves up and made a good mess that lasted thousands of years.

As far as we know, it's unclaimed, and no one wants it because of it's history. However we've had exposed personel on the surfaces after detoxification, and have exibited no ill effects other than the norm for us humanoids. The best canadite is the fourth world, with a climate near equal to Terra, and the least ecologically damaged."

Isarra then offers.. "We can transport you there rather easily via our Fold Drive to this System. The choice of course is yours."

"Few can," admitted Alcian with a slow nod, "but it's for the best that few can relate... none need to suffer."

And then the holodisplay appeared, prompting the Speaker to lean forward and inspect the image of the system with interest. The mention of radiation evoked a faint frown from her - but really, even a world completely devoid of life would suit the Celsanids' purposes considering that they would basically be bringing their own ecosystem along with them. She let out a faint hmm before looking up at Isarra.

"The system does seem to hold some promise, and the prior damage isn't really of any moment, all things considered... By all means, let us go there so that we may see for ourselves how well it will suit us."

After all, it would be foolish to simply accept based on a hologram alone...

Isarra nods. "Do you wish to bring any others along to see for themselves? Or is your party sufficient?"

"It would be helpful were you to transfer the coordinates to our wizardcraft, Deophas," Alcian suggested with a cant of her head to the right. "He would be able to open a warp gate and follow your ship, and he's better equipped than I to judge the suitability of the system."

Isarra nods, and mentally commands her Tree Link to do what is asked. A code cylynder is then materilaized out of thin air and hovers in front of Lady Alcian. The cylinder is a mesh of isolinier and organic memory grams that hold the relevant coordinates.

"That should be able to interface with your systems, however they are, by simply absorbing the data needed. It's better to do this to prevent eavsdropping that could cause other vessels to get ahead of us."

Isarra then adds. "As for the Fold technology, it's not so much as 'following' as it is simply jumping between two points in space with a near instantaneous effect. It could be called also Spice Folding or anything such, but is Dimensionalized in nature.

It all is matter if your vessels can keep up with that rate. We'd be willing to give the appropriate equations for Fold travel if you'd like."

"Our magic works on a similar principle to your Fold technology, I believe," Alcian mused as she tapped the top of the cylinder absently. "One fault of our ships is that we as organics cannot achieve faster-than-light travel... our wizardcraft and others, however, have learned to use magical energy to open portals from one point in space to another. The process isn't QUITE instantaneous, especially for numerous ships, but for single craft it's an insignificant procedure."

She certainly understood the need for secrecy, nodding lightly at Isarra's words. "A wise precaution. When we return we'll board Deophas rather than Metrosa and feed the data into his brain directly."

Isarra then nods one last time and then stands. "Then I suppose we should not dally. We'll meet you at the coordinates given. Bring whoever you wish, it's your homeworlds now."

..and at that, Isarra stands, and begins to guesture to get the ball rolling.

"Then let us away, then," agreed Alcian with a brisk nod, coming to her feet; the two escorts with her follow suit. "Your vessel truly is a marvel, Lady Isarra; thank you for having us. ...The bay where our shuttle is docked is back down that corridor, right?"

It is indeed easy to get lost on so huge a ship... if she's even still ON a ship. Given the weird physics behind dimensions, Alcian isn't so sure. She'll have to ask Deophas or Clerian about it.

Isarra smiles, and then has them all present teleported back to the docking bay, just as they are. It's discovered that teleporting need not need a teleporter pad in a ship.

The flow of the Hikari Power helps with this bit however, more than technology. In any case, they are back, and Isarra only comments.. "No need to be confusing, only efficient."

"Very efficient," Alcian agreed with a light smile, a bit surprised at the teleportation. "Very well, then. We'll meet you at the coordinates." And with that the three Celsanids stepped once more aboard the shuttlefly, vanishing in through the port beneath the abdomen. The living vessel shivered and buzzed to life, pivoting to face out towards the stars.

As soon as the doors opened the craft was off and away. Yet it zipped not back towards Metrosa, but towards the nearby wizardcraft Delcian, who hung motionless save for the occasional twitch of his antennae. Fortunately as the shuttlefly neared another of those odd fleshy openings swelled to accomodate the vehicle.

"I hope this thing works," Alcian murmured as she tapped the data cylinder against her hand.

Quickly the woman made her way through the chitinously-paneled corridors of Delcian's interior network, the scent of the vines and flowers growing from cracks in the plating instantly making her feel at home. Within moments she'd emerged into the nerve center of the wizardcraft.

While Metrosa's nerve center was primitive given his limited sentience, Delcian's was anything but. The massive oval chamber was dominated by a great polished viewer tied into his complex optic nerves, while at least eight bundles of nerve endings pulsed around the chamber; at each a male Celsanid stood, their fingers touched to the endings to tie their minds into the thoughts of the great sorcerer. And finally in the very center of the room stood a nude woman of the Tal'celsan strain, her hands wrapped in light nerves from above - this was Hyleia, Mouthpiece of Delcian to the crew.

"Delcian," said Alcian to to Hyleia, extending the data cylinder. "This data device contains a set of coordinates to a world gifted to us by the Gaian Ascendancy. I need you to extract the data and take our vessels there. Lead Metrosa."

"As you command," droned Hyleia, her voice light, male, and vaguely echoing. One of the dangling nerves lifted the cylinder from Alcian's hand, several more plugging into it, extracting the encoded data in a fashion palatable to a living brain - an organic computer, as it were.

The interpretation was but a small task for a mind as powerful as Delcian's. Within two seconds he'd determined the coordinates.

-----

Outside, Delcian's antennae began to crackle with energy. In front of him a green spark flickered, swirling and yawning open into a great portal as he unleashed the singularity spell.

And with that Metrosa lurched forward, vanishing into the portal. The as yet unnamed speakercraft followed. Finally Delcian brought up the rear, the portal winking closed behind him. And perhaps five minutes later the other end of the portal gaped open at the coordinates, the three living ships emerging in a green haze and rapidly slowing to a halt.

The new world lay in sight - yet a world of what sort?

((OC- Forgive moi, been fighting a inflamation in my head all day despite asprin. Not at my best..))
--

Lady isarra menawhile as soon as their guests left, turned to his friends. "I'm not sure if to shake their hand or water it."

Sasami just giggles and quips back lightly. "Welcome to the world of diplomacy."

"Will the System be good enough for them?" Misao just asks simply, ISarra comments. "Let's hope so." ..and at that, Misao and Sasami bow and teleport on the spot back to their Treeships.

They then order their fleet to Fold on the spot as well and head to the target coordinates. A few monents later, after acknowledgement comms, the Treeships and escorts then Fold Jump..

..a few moments later, they arrive at the indicated System with little event.

--

((OC- A little more later...))

(OOC: No worries. Hope it clears up soon. I'll wait and throw up my next RP after yours, since I don't know the system.)

Funaho... "The GAEX-4324.S System, about 72 light-years Anti-Spinward of Republic Core borders has three habitable planets and two habitable moons, out of ten planets and 142 moons, three planetoid belts (bit of a shooting gallery for a System.) The bio-chem cleanup units finalized the removal of Hazmat upon the worlds just recently and was upping it for colonization status.

Sad story, some kind of ancient war that decimated three seperate nations to extinction, WMD beyond reproach. One of the ones that 'didn't' listen to their better natures, at least 20 Billion died overall before any survivors escaped. In anycase, there's a large number of existing cities and townships to occupy, and fauna and soil composition should be able to harbor most normal crops and such. Resources where lean, can be boosted by us assiting with shipments of such resources, and...

..hmm.. something a touch mystical in the report from the lead Tech in charge. Didn't say much more other than that however. Kinda convinent..."

---

The Gaian flotilla Folds in at about the same time as the Celsanid vessel(s) do, and the welcome sight if of a mystic green swirl of ancient gasses ejected from a nearby nebulae filament about a light-year away. This joins with the green sun, about the size of Sol's yellow star, and age as well, the difference being radiation is for some reason lighter here.

The mystic green looking haze also makes for an unknown effect before the Gaians surveyed the System. A radiation buffer. Since it was all over the System, going out so far as to the Oort Cloud boundry of GAEX-4324.S. THis results in habitable regions in suprising locations.

The third, fourth and even the sixth planets were habitable, with the first and tenth rock body worlds, the fifth a super large ringed gas-giant, and the seventh though ninth plain gas-giants with tons of moons. Most of the 142 moons in the System were cloistered as expected around the gas giants, but two were around number three, four around number four, and three around number six. Even with multiple moons, the planet's lunar tidal effects were relatively mild. (..though suf bums on the fouth planet could get killer waves, as the survey teams indicated...)

Planetoid Belts were between the 1st and 2nd planets, the fourth and fifth, and even the ninth and tenth. Planetoid and rouge body movement in the System was about 9% higher in activity than in the Sol System. (..verses 0.4% in the White Diamond System, thanks to all the resource MO-Fields and Gate-Shields.)

Despite this, and the distance of orbits of the fourth and sixth worlds, they were somewhat temperate, if a touch cool. Still, they showed signs of heavy habitation of an ancient set of races of long ago, upon each world. The two lunas did as well, the first over the thrid world, the second, over the fifth. The latter was a case of a small world under great titanic gravitational forces, and the effect lent to more volcanic activity, more than a habitable world should.

The closest effect the survey teams gave, was a world made like Mordor, but still with habitable zones where crops could be grown. Weird, but accessible.

The System was also deserted, as a small set of Gaian outposts kept watch over the System, presumed the inital steps for their own colonization. Obviously now it was put on hold, but the Gaians lended hand was still as strong as ever..

..that was until...

--

Isarra was just starting to head a course that led to the third world, the best canadite for immediate colonization, when a message packet was recieved out of the blue..

..the same that the rest of the Ascendancy and universe at large just got.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?p=8906769#post8906769

..her suprise turns into utter horror. It can almost be felt a terrible snuffing out of the soul and spirit of the Ascendancy.

Isarra could only, after a few moments of disbelief, soon swamped with agony and hollow feeling, whisper in a ghostly voice..

"Dad............................. why dad?"

The radiation in the system proved harmless to the Celsanids, fortunately; the living vessels were hardened to the rigors of space, capable of shrugging off typical radiation.

While Metrosa and the speakercraft decelerated, Delcian did not. The wizard sailed further into the system, easily passing through the outer two belts of asteroids to plot a course towards the third planet. Upon nearing it he slowed to a halt, his antennae crackling and a soft rumble of benevolent infrasound leaving him as he began to investigate the planet. The scrutiny continued for awhile before moving to each of the moons, looking them over with thought. A movement then to the fourth planet; the scrutiny here lasted only a little longer, with the various cities duly noted. And finally he flew out to the sixth world, analyzing it quickly. However, his choice had already been made.

Upon returning to the Gaians' location, the wizardcraft rumbled something to the nearby Gaian vessel; his voice was light and masculine, echoing slightly.

"This system seems quite suitable; the third planet in particular is appealing, while the ruins on the fourth and sixth worlds are of interest." A pause, then - "On behalf of the whole of the Integrated Community we offer our condolences on the recent resignation of your Lord Excellency. Know that the Gaian Ascendancy has a friend in us; if there is anything we can do to help, we shall attempt to do it. If you must depart, know that we should be able to fend for ourselves henceforth."

By the time the Celsanids had decided, so had the Gaians as Sasami and Misao were back onboad Isarra's Treeship to console her. When the signals were recieved, it was Misao that replied back.

"We are glad you approve, and we will recognize your claim in this System, and will help you defend it while you settle yourselves in.

We also appreciate the kind words, but only one of us will be departing. Lady Sasami and I, Lady Misao, will be staying to help with further assistance. Lady Isarra will be departing to learn why her father has done this.

We ourselves hope this situation will resolve itself with further answers."

At that Misao stops, and looks at Lady Isarra. Sasami is already getting approval to take over the mission. "I hope your father will come back. He's too good to simply stay away for long."

Isarra just half heartedly says.. "Yeah... I guess."

Isarra looks up and then thinks. "I bet though my mothers are going to kick the crap out of him for this. In fact...."

The three nod, thinking as one. "Has to be Earth. ...strange coincidence." ..the last part chimed in by Misao.

"Better get going then. I'll see ya both soon." ...and at that, all three nod, and Sasami and Misao teleport back once more to their vessels.

Moments later, Isarra's Treeship Folds back out of the System, leaving behind a lot of work for the others.

As the Treeship folded out of the system, there was silence for a moment. With a crackle of Delcian's antennae a portal opened, a small flyshuttle emerging before vanishing back through. A moment of immobility followed.

And then the system burst into motion as countless portals began to yawn open, some small, some large, and five of them absolutely massive. From within a myriad of creatures began to emerge - several wizardcraft first, some smaller than Delcian, others a little larger. Behind came a number of transports like Metrosa as well as other creatures unidentifiable, some comparatively small, others behemoth, some wormlike, others fishlike, still more unidentifiable. And finally, from each of the massive portals emerged a small asteroid, none larger than six kilometers in diameter and each propelled by some unknown means, a massive tree with branches spanning almost five kilometers wide growing from each rock.

The arrival process took some time, a few ships arriving at a time; the trees, however, arrived first. Each of the five trees pulled its roots up from the asteroid and began to drift through space, guided by wizardcraft. One by one they began to furl their branches in around their trunks as the wizards magicked up a protective energy shell about them. With the shell in place the five trees began to descend through the atmosphere of the third planet.

Curiously the trees avoided the ruins of cities as they fell. Though the presence of the ancient societies was indeed of interest to the Celsanids, they had no wish to build upon the ghosts of a culture long past. Instead the trees aimed for a large landmass in the west, four landing along the southern coast of a long sea, the fifth landing on a peninsula jutting from the north. Each tree touched down on its roots with help from the wizardcraft. Those roots began to burrow into the earth as the Celsanid Mothers once more established themselves on worlds amicable to their survival.

While the great trees were in the process of descending and the whole of the Celsanid civilization continued to swarm into the system en masse, Delcian once more communicated with the remaining Gaians. "We are eternally grateful to your people for leading us to this place. When we have laid down our roots and begun growing new cities we invite you to visit our worlds anytime you wish. Our people are indebted to you, and we will do what we can to thank you for your kindness."

Beyond, the ships continued to emerge, heading for the new world and the promise of new prosperity that lay there.

----

(OOC: End it here, or did you have something else in mind?)

((OC- Nothing ever really ends, but since an RL day can equal one NS year, a new thread can either started soon, this one continued on, or just pop into one of the other threads I'm in.))