NationStates Jolt Archive

Alteran scientists walked around the prison cell. They had captured this Wraith at great cost, and they intended to take advantage of its presence. It had stood there for hours, a menacing presence distracting the scientists in their attempts to study it. Eventually, they scientists came to a conclusion.

"It's hungry."

Commander Hypopheralcus groaned.

"We're not feeding any of the crewmen to that thing!"

"No need, sir. In our orders, we were given the codes to the cold-storage. Clones. Hundreds of them. Some for... Spare parts, but they should do to feed it."

"You can give it a clone, then. See if you can't learn anything about the feeding process."

The Wraith seemed to know what was happening. A marine shot it three times with a stun rifle, and opened the force fields. Two scientists led an unfrozen clone into the cage. The field was turned on again.

It tilted it's head, observing the clone; looking out at it's captors as though it suspected some trick. Drawing it's hand across the naked chest of the clone, it forced it's hand down, feeding now; drawing from it; hissing in almost obscene pleasure as it did, before letting the withered husk drop to the ground; watching. It had, of course, taken it's time; but there was no time, sadly, for toying with it in this place.

It tilted it's head; Wraith seemed to move on the upper echelons of the exterior chamber; some seemed to move amongst them; a hand thrust itself from no-where at the lead scientist's chest while the Captive observed; it wanted to taunt them, to scare them. For all their technology they were frightened children; let it give them reason to fear...

That would do for now.

There was a brief moment of panic.

"Hell! Did you guys bring any clo... Oh. Very good."

"What?"

"I'd forgotten about Wraith psychic ability."

"Damnit, I was about to shoot the bastard. You could have waited until AFTER I killed it."

"You'd have been blown out of the airlock."

A scientist approached the cell the Wraith was trapped in. He spoke to it, noticing the animalistic features of the Wraith; the serrated teeth, the feral mannerisms. A beast evolved to hunt humanity.

"You know, you're going to spend the rest of your life here. We're not going to let you go. You won't escape. There's only one way to leave, and you won't even get a box. However, you can make this more pleasant for yourself. If you help us, you get fed. If you don't.. We'll sustain you just enough to live, maddeningly starved. Now, will you help us study you, or will you live a lifelong hell?"

"Study us? As though we were food for your amusement? Perhaps I shall tell you of how your kind wilted and fled; despite your power. We were the great Dark Enemy; the human worlds sprawled our before us; fertile, ripe feeding grounds...Driving you back; till only your accursed city remained. And beyond that? A vast, new feeding ground; richer than any among our stars....Richer than any. So we hibernated; and we travelled; drifting, awaking only to feed and to perform the jumps...You think you have endured much, Ancient One?" It chuckled; half-laughing, half-choking. A truly distressing sound.

"There is very little food...In the void's between galaxies...."

"So, you think this'll be pleasant in comparison? Oh, you'd be wrong. We won't just starve you. You'll get no rest. You'll be in pain. You'll be injured just enough for you to heal yourself. Give him a jolt, specialist."

The marine who was going to kill the Wraith turned to a control panel and pressed a few buttons. A blue orb (about the size of a tennis ball) situated just above the Wraith began to glow, and fired a jolt of electricity at the Wraith.

"This won't be fun. Here, you're the victim. You can use your little tricks, but we know that in the end, you'll die scared, alone, parted from your Hive."

"You think you can scare me?" It hissed against it's torture "They shall come; and when they do it shall be in droves? What of you? You are the last of your kind; but we? We have countless in our number. Who knows how many still sleep; wrought to waking by your return; by your hostility. We are your doom, you need know nothing more...You, and all the Human cattle you have cultivated. Tell us...Of Terra....Of EARTH" It smirked; it would frighten them even if it's power's proved impotent.

"We know your gates; we have new....Potent allies to help us; they know your gates; your ways. They are young in the way of rule, but they have hatred. We bade them attack you; they prove useful; and taste..." It inhaled deeply. "Divine."

The scientist frowned.

"Your loss."

[Crappy post, but I need sleep.]

At that moment the colonial Avatar Rommi who had been watching the procedings from the shadows stepped forward
"Comander, i belive I maybe able to help you. The Wraith doesn't know i'm and android and will likly try to feed off me, I could then observe it up close with out sustaining damage, since it is unlikly a Wraith can damage my mechanical body."

At that moment the colonial Avatar Rommi who had been watching the procedings from the shadows stepped forward
"Comander, i belive I maybe able to help you. The Wraith doesn't know i'm and android and will likly try to feed off me, I could then observe it up close with out sustaining damage, since it is unlikly a Wraith can damage my mechanical body."

[You wouldn't be there. it's a restricted area off-limits to visitors, for some reason.]

"Is it indeed?" It chuckled, sitting. "Ask your questions; it will do you no good. We shall over-run the stars; we shall feed till worlds are ashes; till we require new feeding grounds. We have done this before; we shall do it again...The Hive can never be truly undone; never totally wiped clean."

It leant forward "Every moment you dally; we grow closer to our victory; forces gather which you in your arrogance and spite and superiority; cannot fathom...We shall have our final triumph"

"The apparent invincibility of your race is what makes you so fun to slaughter... We can keep killing you, keep humiliating you. You haven't got the time to muster forces you did the last time our races clashed. This ship, this example of technological superiority... It survived the attacks of your Hive Ship, and your allies, and your pathetic cruisers. This is the first of many. Your people will be crushed, like the insects you evolved from. A shame that there's human DNA in you, it's almost a waste to kill you. Still, you won't have an end as merciful as that. You're going to be here a long time, so you will answer my questions truthfully. How many Hive Ships have you got, and what is your current population?"

The scientist's finger hovered over a button on a remote control he had in his hand.

"Millions...Though only the first have begun to re-awaken. As I understand it, the presence of food that fight was significant to order a complete rousing. Now there are merely thousands; soon there will be millions...Then Billions. We shall seek out new feeding grounds; and then, they shall unify themselves for a grand feast. The Universe shall weaken and wither, much as it did when you were first defeated"

It paced about the room. "Do you have other questions?"

"I think we're going to have to neuter it."

All the scientists in the room begin murmuring their agreement. The marine guards grinned viciously, advancing on the cell with their rifles levelled at the Wraith.

"You can try..." It hissed "You will learn so little when I am dead; merely how doom approaches. You seek to impose your will upon these new stars; these new feeding grounds; in this we are not dissimilar. Yet you must surely think of all you have left behind; among out old stars...We should have starved back there...But we can be patient; we have centuries of experience in the matter. Soon, soon we shall act; we shall be a scourge upon the stars once more. Here, and there...We shall act as one; strike as one; and we shall feast."

He chuckled. "Your heavy handed mannerisms will matter little; we shall have our vengence; our final triumph...You fear us. You fear our power, and how you met a match to your arrogance. See now, how you seek to threaten us? How you hope to lay my kind low with your science? It is futile."

[ Hmm. I wonder if I can RP a torturer.

I can be....creative. {::ninja::} ]

"Arrogant? No, no. What's arrogant about acknowledging the simple truth of Alteran supremacy? Your people decimated mine. You butchered us, destroyed our transports as they fled to Atlantis... I personally watched hundreds being killed by your ravenous attacks... But we too survive. This time, we are more advanced, and we will never tire of killing you. We lost too much. We'll keep killing you until all that's left is the wreckage of a 'civilisation' that people will study, and note down interesting facts about their insect-like society... You're the ones who are doomed. This ship is just the first of a fleet that will scour the universe, killing, burning, cleansing your taint from this plane."

The Alteran grinned, showing unnaturally white teeth.

"I wouldn't bother laughing about how we just informed your 'hive' of our plans... You won't be able to contact them here."

"And where is, here?" It asked, tilting it's head in idle curiosity. "You are taking me to your great city? You seek to bore me more with your arrogance and your prattle? I will be rescued; the Hive do not leave their brothers to meaningless death. We are patient; we can wait forever if need be. But trust me, Ancient; you shall eat your words...And I shall feast upon you."

"Here? For the moment, here is the ship that helped to ambush and capture you. In the near future... Vis Uban. Our capital world in the Milky Way Galaxy. See, we're not cruel. You'll get to visit rich new feeding grounds... I hear that zoos feed their animals well."

"And I hear the drums of mourning that will beat over this citadel in this new galaxy. I hear the end of all your kind. The Wraith will come for me; and we shall bear down upon your great City as the plague of Old. You think your arrogance and your humor will spare you from our predations? This has only just begun...Soon, we shall be more numerous than you can fathom"

"As it stands Vis Uban has quite a lot in the way of defences... Which if you're right, you'll find out eventually. Your idle threats have been transmitted to Vis Uban since you started to talk. You've given Janus quite the scare, and he's recalled all the major fleet components back to Vis Uban and Lantea. If you attack, you'll be stepping into the biggest Alteran armada seen since the height of the last Wraith War."

He activated the small globe in the cieling again, this time a much more sustained burst of energy.

It laughed, even as it grunted and hissed in pain; the blast searing through it. "So predictable; turtling your forces, saving yourselves while we prey upon the countless human worlds. Even now our fleets feed and prepare; and once the strengths of ourselves and our allies are united; we shall wipe your taint from the Universe. Many are they who hate your prideful arrogance. Many are they who shall laugh as you fall into ashes and obscurity."

"Unfortunately, there are also those who recognise the nobility of their forebears, and are willing to fight for us. Do you honestly think you are the only ones gathering allies? Dull witted creature. I think you need some time to cool down."

The scientist turned to a group of marines at the door to the lab.

"Give it just enough food to live for six weeks."

Six weeks passed; it took a little while longer than that for hunger to start to affect the Wraith. By the time around 10 weeks had passed, it was growing agitated, the walls dented by its random outbursts of raw anger; it's vile fury etched upon the surface.

"Wretched Alteran filth, you keep me locked up here, tormenting me, keeping me starved and caged! You will learn nothing, not even all the humans of Pegasus would buy you information, nor clemency, nor mercy! You shall gain nothing from me." It slumped to it's knees, hissing. "There are others...They will come...They will come..."

"We're counting on it. Currently we're in orbit around Vis Uban, under the protection of a new, more powerful city. I truly hope your Hive Fleet attacks. You can watch the extinction of it."

"I wondered if you were so predictable." It chuckled, half-laughing, half-coughing as it did, rising, towering at it's full height. "If you have all your big, mighty warships stationed above one world...Tell me, how can you protect all the worlds that you have seeded? How can you look after your mortal cattle? By turtling yourselves, you allow us to run amok...Even now, we prey upon worlds that you have abandoned; even now we grow and feed."

It chuckled again. "Tell me, how fare you against your other foes? We know others compete where you once reigned, our allies tell us much. Some march against you, falsely proclaiming to be your kin, your own blood. It must hurt, such treachery, such disunity. I wonder if they know of us..."

"We aren't 'turtling', Hive scum. We are rebuilding our lost fleets. As for our other foes... We aren't just rebuilding to defend ourselves. We are gathering allies, preparing for the time when we can smash them in one great victorious battle, a war of annihilation."

The eyes of the Alteran who spoke were glazed over, filled with an almost insane light.

"Perhaps your people would like to play a starring role?"

It chuckled "You would use us to slay your foes before killing us yourselves; how humane of you...Bring me sustenance and we shall talk; if not, then leave me. I have no more to say to you and your kin, beings who lie and manipulate and defy their natures. Just as I cannot help but feed, so you cannot help but meddle...You are no longer Ancient Lords of the Galaxies, you are as any other...Fragile, weak; despairing."

"Of course we are fragile, weak and despairing. Just a few years ago we were GODS! Now we are as mortal as our 'brethren' of SeaQuest. Besides, what my superiors had in mind wouoldn't involve 'euthanising' your race after the final victory. We have cloning technology, you have immense strength and numbers. You need food, but can't possibly sustain yourselves with the natural born humans in the long run. Put two and two together, bug."

The scientist gestured, and a clone was beamed into the cage, barely woken from it's long sleep, groggy and not quite understanding what was going on.

"You would so willingly sustain us so long as we acted as a weapon of war? As your lapdogs?" It touched the clones chest, the urge to feed near overwhelming, as it stepped forward, hissing lightly. It raised its feeding hand, and brough it across the face of the clone, slamming the barely woken being into a metal wall; grasping the back of it's head, smashing it again and again and again against the solid material, smiling lightly as it turned back, lifting the bleeding, disfigured being, slamming it against the shield as it began now to feed; hearing its screams.

"You truly think us fools?" It let it age, let the years drain from it; leaving it near death, before swiftly breaking the clones neck. "You have much yet to learn, Gods-that-were."

"Lap-dogs? Please, that is an ugly way of putting it. We would give you the technology to produce clones on a large enough scale. All we would ask would be your aid in the war of annihilation against the false Alterans. After that, you could go on your merry way, no longer needing to make yourselves any more hated than you are. Honestly, I find this as distasteful as you obviously do, bug, but I act on my orders."

Everyone in the room winced as they saw the mutilation of the clone.

"Tell us more about them; let me hear of them, their ways, their technology...Are they as foolish and arrogant as you, I wonder? Would they try to negotiate with their doom? Countless years ago you tried to destroy us because we slew the human cattle you protected; now you offer them on a platter? What changed you, Ancient? What made you so...Eager to sell your morals in exchange for power?"

"We do not tolerate their ways. They give away the secrets of Altera like cheap gifts, technologies which in some cases took many lives to procure in the first palace... They insult their forebears, and then have the cheek to question the ancestry of my people, the true Alterans. We would make a deal with any devil to destroy these scum. And we know you would relish the opportunity to taste the life force of Alterans once more. They parade their looted city-ships as if they were theirs to begin with...Scum."

"You will allow me to communicate with the Hive, you shall allow the presence of a Queen, here...And you shall seal this compact with me by bringing me one of them; that we might taste them and again know your flesh...Do this, and we shall consider your offer."

"We will allow you to communicate with your hive. Is an hour long enough? If this works out, you will become an honoured guest, rather than a despised prisoner. As for bringing you one of them... We don't even have an ambassador from SeaQuest. We could still provide you will the life force of an Alteran... Janus has been thinking about dissolving the Senate..."

The shield preventing the Wraith from connecting to the Hive was lowered, and the scientist turned to a console, and tapped out a message for the four senators. A minute later he recieved a communique from the military scientific council.

"The presence of a queen has been permitted."

It called, and they responded, amused and intrigued by the deal offered. A vessel was on the way, a mighty hive ship; a Queen herself would talk with the once hated blood enemy. He waited; alone, his mind sending every detail he had observed; everything they would ever need to know; alone, as though in meditation. Simply awaiting the next meal...

The four senators nervously shuffled around in the hangar that was specially decked out to greet the approaching Wraith Queen. Each senator was flanked by two heavily armed and armoured marines, helmeted and stern. The wraith prisoner had been released, as a show of good faith.

The Wraith crossed over to the side of his Queen; already warriors were lining up behind her. She smiled softly, lightly, watching the Alterans as she gestured. "Take them" They opened fire at the Senators as the Queen stepped to one side, smirking, hissing lightly

"You have proved yourselves worthy. They shall be taken for a later feeding; but we shall aid you...These...Ancients, are the ones who deserve our wrath; you show promise. A willingness to overcome the moral compass and aid us. To feed us"

post to come

A hologram of the Alteran Janus blinked into existence when the Wraith fired, the face and voice scrambled.

"We've gained insight into what really matters. And in doing so, we've realised that some weapons are worth paying for."

"Indeed; and some prices are worth being paid for absolute victory. You shall remain as the only real Alterans; the true ancients, who fought and died so valiently long ago, vainly trying to protect the human cattle from our predations. You will be remembered and praised for countless milennia; while we benefit from infinite feeding grounds..."

Bump

Bump

Bump

"We are sure that this... Alliance... Will be most profitable for both our peoples. When we fought the stars themselves cowered in fear, and if we fight on the same side, the very foundations of the universe can be shaken!"

"The Miehmish already prepare for war in the aftermath of some atrocity. The time to strike soon approaches; the false Alterans will be weak, divided, spread thin; able to be picked off; preyed upon. If we act swiftly we can destroy them; though I might suggest that you...Ingratiate yourselves with the Miehm, by replacing the gates which they have lost."

"Perhaps that would be a good idea. I would rather not do anything to aid the Miehmish, however. Anything which strengthens them is bad."

"Not when strengthened in the fight against the false Alterans; laying low their defences; leaving them vulnerable; exposed. So we can descend and feast"

The projection remained silent for a few seconds, mulling over the possibilities.

"It is not my place to approve new Astria Porta. My hands are tied, and I'm pushing things as it is by not having you killed. Allying with the wraith is far enough for this millenium as far as the people of Altera are concerned."

"Nor did we assume we would so readily accept our ancient enemies. But you have payed a mighty blood tithe. That is enough...You have already defiled your entire race by agreeing to the feasting. You have brought yourselves to our level...Soon we shall sweep over our foes like a grand wave. A perfect feeding across all these established worlds; worlds you have seeded and prepared for us."

bump

"The loss of so much life has been deemed necessary by myself and the leaders of the military... We only hope that your appetite has not lost any of it's characteristic ferocity and brutality. We're counting on you to kill and destroy as much as you possibly can. And if we are successful... We will seed many worlds with cloning facilities, worlds literally customised for your purposes. If we fail, things will not go quite so well."

"We shall, of course require aid in this endeavor. You will not stand by, impotent and longing; using us as mere pawns in your game. You shall fight; and you shall bring many capable of victory to our side. This is not a war that can be won by us alone; our numbers are not yet fully restored. You will aid us; and you will bring more to your cause. We shall fight, and our glory shall stain the stars. Where we once fought; there shall be unity; and a new enemy to feast upon. You have paid our tithe, now...To the planning."

She whirled, hissing; a telepathic message passing to her soldiers and the freed prisoner, who escorted the prisoners back.

"Where do we begin?"

"We have not been complacent. We have been garnering strength, building ships, upgrading weapons. You may possibly be aware of the construction of a new city-ship, built entirely for the purpose of annihilating the false Alterans. That ship will be central to the campaign."

The holographic Janus waved a hand, and suddenly flashed, brightly with a silver-blue light, quickly replaced by the true Janus. With a quick nod, a projection appeared in front of him, depicting the new ship in all of it's glory. Around the city smaller ships span silently, the images going into schematic details.

"These are the new ships we have designed and built. They will assist you."

[http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=474136]

"Insufficient. You shall share more with us; they shall not merely aid us. You shall give us what we desire. You shall grant us one of your mighty vessels to bear us into Battle; a City-ship of our own, to populate; to breed and live in; to store our food in. This shall be one of the terms of our agreement."

"You must understand that our recent expenditure on fleet expansion prevents us from building a new city-ship, and so if I am to do this I must move Alterans from these ships. It will take time, but a ship could be provided if that is necessary. It will be stripped of weapons, but the shields, hyperdrive and Arcturus Ascendant Generator will be left intact. This is a large sacrifice for the Dominion. With this development, failure is no longer an option. We must strike to the very heart, at the site of occupied Altera, and scour from it all life."

"We would have it no other way; of course the very layout of Altera, and the salt water present upon the world would prove as...An annoyance to our kind. We are grateful that you see reason in these matters; and all that you offer to us provides us a grander chance of victory. Of greater feeding..."

"Details must be worked out for the assault. The false Alterans have many allies who would swiftly come to their aid when they learn of our assault. It must be swift, brutal and instantly decisive. Targets must be precisely chosen. Once the control centres of the false dwellers upon Altera are gone, you can feed upon their empire at will."

"This pleases us; soon we shall have everything ready. Simply make sure that we have more on our side to better assure our advantage. We do not wish to fight for you in exchange for war and no food..."

She smirked, a feral serrated grin.

"We shall not be denied the human cattle."

OOC: wow this is getting good nice story

To bad my civilazation is only 2030 or else id totally be on the wraiths side

OOC: *gives Mike-O-land a Monolith* You could always just make an FT counterpart to your nation ;)

OOC: nah it cool your technology is a bit out there for me what with portals and mind powers I try to stick to more probably techs

[Stargates are perfectly possible... If you cut out the uberconductive ring of coolness.]

OOC: it's your post dude