NationStates Jolt Archive

Below is the excerpt of a telepathic message sent to all Skrit-Na by the Queen of An-Skrit:

Attention all subjects. The Queen has decreed that there will be a second Hive. But it shall not reside on the planet as the original does. It shall have engines to propel it through the darkness of space. It shall have a second Queen, though she will be of lesser power. It shall find new territory and new resources for mining. Your Queen has demanded it. Let it be so.

The Hive Mind of the Skrit-Na worked for many years on this second Hive. It has been finished. The Queen has given birth the another of her kind to command this great city-sized space ship. And so, Hive Beta was launched, its crew of one thousand five hunred million dectillion microscopic Skrit-Na all under the command of the second queen.

*sigh* bump.

C.S.S. Constellation NCC-2011, Excelsior-class


"Commander," said the science officer. "I'm detecting an unknown vessel in this sector."
"Get a full scan," ordered the Commander. "Bridge to Captain."
"Go ahead number one."
"Sir, we've detected an unknown vessel in this sector. Orders?"
"Try to make contact. I'll be there shortly. Out"
"You heard him," said the Commander. "Open a channel."

"This is the Terren Starship Constellation. We are on a mission of peacefull exploration. Please respond."

A compound organism that was currntly in charge of detecting other vessels noticed the Terren ship and alerted the Queen. This was mere formality, however, because the Queen had a constant conection with its mind and knew everything it knew. Although 'mind' is perhaps the wrong word, since it was made up of trillions and trillions and trillions of much smaller minds, joined together mentally and physically to form a compound organism. Such was the nature of the Skrit-Na. It was also aware of some kind of energy being channelled into the ship. It examined it on its monitor to discover a picture opf a strange life form, who was apparently speaking, but did not understand the language.
Reply.
Came the Queen's telepathic comand. It copied the frequency and sent an image of itself, saying in its voice, made up of trillions and trillions of smaller voices: "This is Hive Beta, on a mission of exploration from An-Skrit."

It knew the maker-mind. The seven thousandth probe in existence, or apporoximately so, it was instructed to seek out new life, and, if expedient, destroy it. If the new-life was strong, it was to seek out weaknesses and the powers that the new-life lacked.

It dropped out of the lattice, the strange nether dimension, if it could be called such, which formed the hub of all the travel and knowledge of the sentient-mind. It coalesced into a white, shimmering object, which abruptly stopped shining, as the particles of the lattice were forcible disincorporated, as they always were, once in real space.

It 'saw' the new-life, and did not know it. It was not standard, of the lives that it had seen lived. It sent a message. This message was broadcast along the neural pathways of sixteen different species, or at least, sixteen broad types of species. If the new-life was as those were, it would reply. If it was not, it would find new ways to communicate.

The broadcaster slid out of the sheath, and fired off energy pulses, one at a time, each corresponding to each type of energy. The message, if translated, would 'feel' something like this.

"Friend make now. We friend want. Who you? We friend. Across stars we come. Friend."

If not, it would simply be a bunch of strange patterns running in the neuroses of each of the new-life creatures, which would feel strange, and perhaps confused. The broadcaster eased back into the sheath, and the probe began charging its shield. It would know this new-life, and destroy it, or, as the maker-mind had decreed, that that could not be voided by one, would be voided by many.

C.S.S. Constellation NCC-2011, Excelsior-class

"Commander," said the communications officer. "We are recieving a transmission from the alien."
"On speakers," ordered the Commander, as the Captain entered the bridge.
"Report," said the Captain after hearing the message.
"It apears to be a massive colony, or hive," replied the science officer. "I'm reading billions of life signs, possibly even more. The sensors are having a hard time sorting out everything."
"My god," uttered the Commander.
"Captain," said the Commander. "System J-224, which we surveyed 2 days ago, had a M-class planet. Perhaps we should offer it to these, Skrit-Na."
"Excellent idea Number One," replied the Captain. "Would you like the honors?"
"Thank you sir," said the Commander.

This is the Constellation. We have surveyed a planet that you may find sutible for colonizing. Sending the coordinates now.


"Sir," said the science officer. "Another 'ship' has appeared and is transmiting some kind of message."
"Stand by," replied the Captain. "Let's deal with one 'friend' at a time."

Each individual Skrit-Na felt the message broadcast into their minds, but their minds were so small, they could not comprehend what it meant. A Skrit-Na on its own it scarcely more intelligent than an ant. The Queen understood it, however, and replied. Friendship is based on mutual gain. What can you offer us if we accept?
The composite life form that sent the message, and had recently felt the strange ripple through its many minds, yet was unable to piece the bits together, dismissed it as nothing important. It received another message, which it still didn't understand, apart from the set of coordinants at the end. The Queen contacted a group of Skri-Na who were nbot doing anything particularly important. They immediately group[ed together, joining their bodies and minds to become another composite.
Take one of the scout ships and explore these coordinants she said to them.
A fe minutes later, a small arrowhead-shaped ship sped off in the directiopn of the class-M planet.

OOC: This post is only relevant to another RP in another thread, just keeping continuity, it shouldn't change the RP adversely.


Hatelosspainkillburnstrike!

It stopped. There was a sudden flood of.. emotions, and suddenly they stopped. It felt the link to the maker-mind cut off. If it could've screamed, it would've.

The weaponry it had prepared to fire, quivering under the strain of the energy roiling through its metal veins. It shuddered, and stopped. The maker-mind was gone. It had been attacked. The maker-mind must be obeyed in all things. But... that.. that was not an order. It knew uncertainty, something that all of the other probes felt at the same time.

It fired energy upwards, away from the others. It then settled, the strange wash of emotions and peculiarity gone. It had to establish communications, and prepare information to destroy enemies. There were to be no mistakes. The maker-mind had ordered that. It began to coast slowly towards the other ship, the one it did not know...

The other new-life could be destroyed, in its turn. It would prevail, as it had been ordered.

C.S.S. Constellation NCC-2011, Excelsior-class

"It looks like they are accepting you offer, Number One," said the Captain.
"It appears so," said the Commander. "Should we try contacting the second alien?"
"Yes," replied the Captain. "Open a channel, please."

This is the Terren Starship, Constellation. We are on a mission of peaceful exploration. Please respond.

"Captain! The alien has discharged a massive energy burst!" shouted the science officer. "Now it's moving right toward us!"

"Yellow Alert! Raise shields!" ordered the Captain. "Repeat my message!"


This is the Terren Starship, Constellation. We are on a mission of peaceful exploration. Please respond.

The Queen did not like the second ship. It had made vague references to friendship before firing at apparently nothing and now was coming slowly towards Hive Beta. She was, of course, only the secondary queen and not as intelligent as the original one back in An-Skrit, but by human standards, she was still a genius. She ordered the group of Skrit-Na in charge of that to raise the Hive Beta's shield and sent another telepathic communication to the probe.
Please cease advancement and explain reason for firing. This not an agressive mission and I have no desire for it to become one.

The link was back, now. It had only been gone for a few seconds. Paralyzed as it had been, it had not been able to translate the communication. However, the maker-mind seemed weak, and vulnerable. Strange.. it received information, though. A set of algorithms, based on billions upon billions of languages, neural pathsets, and even biological makeup translated a basic form of the other-langauge into what was its mind.

Friendship is based on mutual gain. What can you offer us if we accept?

It paused, momentarily. It linked back to the maker-mind. The maker-mind sent it back a thousand pulses of information, planets, technology, means of travel, resources... The maker-mind was... changing. It had... strange. It... again, the orders it was given were strange. Make..allies?. It mused this for a few nanoseconds, and decided to obey the maker-mind. Perhaps the recent attack had made.. 'allies', or friends, or those who were part of the maker-mind needed. It did not know.

Nonetheless, it obeyed. We have metals, resources beyond resources, enough to build/make city-ships such as yours with ease. We have.. technology/powerknowledge. We have... fleets, or metal-bodies that serve the maker-mind. We need not *universe-resources*. We seek... exchange of knowledge/information for resources/power.

We also seek *alliance*. Strength of unity is greater than strength of division

Message to Terran Planets:

Maker-Mind *hurt*. Pain must be *weapon*. *confusioninstant* hurt. We *rid* of hurt. No intention to attack/destroy.

C.S.S. Constellation NCC-2011, Excelsior-class

"Did you get all of that?" asked the Captain.
"I don't think that they're going to attack," replied the Commander.
"I agree," said the Captain. "I think that we will wait this one out for a while. Stand down from Yellow Alert, and lower the shields. Maintain our position."

The Queen wondered if this probe was telling the truth. However, her goals were clear. If this 'Maker-Mind' had resources, then it would be a useful ally. She telepathed them again.
Agreed. Unity is the basis upon our society is built. Will you agree to an exchange of ambassadors?
She would send a smaller composite to talk to the aliens and try to discern if they really wanted alliances or to lure the Hive Beta into a trap for some reason. It would also give her an opportunity to find out more about them.

The Scout Ship arrived at the coordiants specified by the first alien ship and scanned the planet. It had a high level of metal in the soil, as well as several types of stone that could be used to create ground-based Hives. There were several ares useful for farming, as well. It relayed this information back to the Queen, who replied: Land and explore. Bring back samples for testing.
The Scout Ship lowered itself into the atmosphere.

The probe looked the message for a moment, and then relayed it back to the Maker-Mind in an instant. Less than a nanosecond had passed when it knew exactly what to say.

I am ambassador/finder. I am *empowered* to speak. I may send *module* to you if you wish for communications. As *good faith*, we will send you a map of this cluster, and the planets you may find suitable for colonisation.

It sent an image, one built using three different systems, all of which this new-life would be able to understand. From what it saw, there were twelve suitable planets for life to be fostered in the area, and sixty-four with suitable weather and geological conditions which would be suitable for mining. It was still somewhat confused, however, it would follow orders. There was nothing else it was capable of doing.

The Queen found this interesting. Apparently, this was not a ship at all, but a space-capable robot. And, of course, the Maker Mind was some kind of central computer...
The composite manning communications read the map, thus, the Queen read it too. She was pleased with what she saw and made a mental note to send Scouts to each of these planets.
Much appreciated. You said you wanted information... what specifically do you wish to know?

That was a question it found hard to answer. After it searched every other possible answer, it decided to go with the one that fit its directives.

"Everything"

However, it felt, that was not a sufficient answer. A lesser truth could be couched within a greater, and that was also fitting with its new directives. We wish to know about three things primarily, however. All knowledge is to be desired. Firstly, we wish to know about other dimensions, and forms of faster-than-light travel. Secondly, biological data and makeup is to be desired. Thirdly, mundane information about this universe is also to be desired. However, this is to save exploration time, rather than to find knowledge.

It was compelled to add another piece of information. Normally, it would act secretive, but this.. this strange order was compelling it in ways that it felt no doubt would hurt the Maker-Mind once it returned to its original state.

I/we are not *light reflections*. We are not compelled to find *light-reflection* knowledge

OOC: You're not light reflections? What does that mean?

OOC: It's basically a justification of their seeking of knowledge. Essentially, the sentience doesn't see through the reflections of light, or sight, nor most of the means that most people would consider standard. It's just justifying why they seek extradimensional knowledge, and why their speech is often stilted.

OOC: Ah. Okay, then.

IC: The Queen considered this and wondered what specifically she should tell them. She finally settled for: We have encountered many species' of biological life form and have experimented in faster-than light travel. Our system is not perfected, but works fairly well. It also involves entering another dimension. In return for your maps, here is information about eighty different biological life forms native to our home planet.
She was beginning to feel more at home with this machine, but was still on her guard. She wondered what the life forms were doing and whether she would be capable of communicating with them.
I am the secondary Queen of An-Skrit, she transmitted once she had located their minds Do you copy?

occ: assuming that 'lifeformes' refers to me...

IC:
C.S.S. Constellation NCC-2011, Excelsior-class

"Captain?" said a lieutenant.
"Open a channel," ordered tha Captain.

This is the Starship Constellation. I am Captain-

"Sir! We're recieving a priority message from StarFleet Command!" said the communications officer.
"Well?" asked the Captain.
"We've been ordered back to StarBase 4," replied the lieutenant. "Deep space scanners have picked up Klingon warp signitures."
"Very well," replied the Captain. "Helm, set course for StarBase 4, Warp 7."

The Constellation smoothly turned and jumped to warp speed...

Many thanks. We are willing to give metals, and resources, in order to faciliate a.. help pact. An alliance, so to speak. It has been ordered that species which are not inimical to us are to have an attempt made to *befriend*. You seem to be *non-singular*, and are thus less potentially dangerous in terms of motives.

The probe was confused, now. The new orders simply ran against the old ones. By what it knew, it should've opened fire, and sent a pulse to call Spherecraft roaming the lattice. However, it did not. The opposition in calculations, however, was causing a fair bit of harm, or at least communication worries for the probe.

The Queen watched the ship leave through the eyes of her crew and turned her attention back to the probe.
I myself am one life form. However, this is unusual among my species. The average Skrit-Na isextremely small with little intelligence. Luckily, they have the ability to join both their minds and bodies to form a compound organism greater than the sum of its parts. The more Skrit-Na who take part in this union, the more intelligent the end product is.
She felt she could reveal this as it was no great secret and did not give them an advantage if the confrontation were to turn violent.

This was, in a way, how it existed. The Maker-Mind made them, and set them adrift, learning as they went. They existed somewhat independently of the Maker-Mind at times, however, at their very heart and soul, they were part of it. Each one that was created increased the Maker-Mind, and was increased itself.

We are formed by the Maker-Mind. We increase as it does. We are part of it, and it is part of all. As we increase, so does it. As it is increased by us, we become greater. Expansion and knowledge are the two directives.

It ceased to 'speak', and waited. The Maker-Mind kept sending information, and it.. it needed allies, it seemed. There was to be no choice in this. Rage spiralled through the mind it possessed, before it cut most of the link. If the Maker-Mind was under attack, then the least it could do was to aid it here, by providing another species, as it had been directed.

The Queen nodded to herself. It confirmed what she already suspected. The Queen of Hive Alpha would be pleased with her when she sent back valuable metals and word of a new ally as well as colonized planets.
Have you any other interests you wish to discuss? she asked Or shall we progress to discussing trade?

Trade. We are willing to trade resources, and information for other information, and assurances.

Information, at this point, was probably vital. Any piece of information it could gather would help assert the Maker-Mind's dominance in the *corporeal-space* it inhabited. Nonetheless, it felt a strange.. resonance with these beings. They were much as it was, not as the greedy, unpredictable other-beings were.

Very well. We have information about faster-than-light travel and a dimension we have named Zero-Space, which we enter in order ot make use of fasdter-than-light travel, as well as many species' we have encountered and documented. I will, of course, have to relay this back to the Alpha Queen, as I think it best that she is informed.

We are willing to give information comprising three different dimensions, one a previously-used dimension for FTL travel by the New Realm, named Truespace, the second the 'skip' technology used, and the third information on a Shivan dimension, believed destroyed, named Subspace. Or, if you prefer, we are willing to offer enough resources to construct three of your city-ships

It was a bold offer, and the probe hoped they could not sense the mechanical desperation behind it. Anything that could be gained, even at the cost of risk later, would have to be gained. There was no turning back now.

OOC: Well, I'm off to bed, (where I should've been awhile back) so I'll continue this tomorrow.

The Queen was surprised that they would start with such a large offer, but she was not going to question it. She focused her neaural energy into establishing a mental link with the Alpha Queen. It wasn't easy. In creatign a second Queen, she had created a second Hive Mind, thus preventing her from contacting any ordinary Skrit-Na in Hive Beta. Luckily, the two Queens could telepathically communicate.
Mistress, we have encountered a space-capable robot directed by a central computer know as the Maker-Mind. I have been speaking with the machine and we have managed to reach a trade agreement. In exchange for information about the life forms on our planet and about Zero-Space, they will give us either information about three other dimensions, or enough resources to build three more Hive Ships.
There was a long pause, in which the original Queen thought about this.
Ask if we may have information about one of the dimsensions and enough resources to build two Hive Ships. You have done well, my vassal.
Thank you, Queen of Queens.
She returned her focus to the probe.
Are you willing to offer information about one of the dimensions and enough resources to construct three of our city-ships?

[Xchagger!]

OOC: And that means what, exactly?

We are willing.

The probe sent back the details of what would have to be provided. The beleaguered sentience that had made it sent back a detail of useful materials nearby. It knew, now, that fifteen mining probe-drones could be sent within minutes, to excavate a large amount of nearby materials.

We can send information now, and the minerals within two *planet-revolutions*. We may send raw resources/energy, or fifteen mining probe-drones, which are built to become mining facilities on their own

They have agreed.
Excellent.
The two Queens broke contact.
The mining probe-drones would be apprieciated. I propose that you send your information, then we send ours, then we wait for the resources.
She didn't want to seem untrusting or rude, but was by no meas naive. That said, she felt an odd rapport with these machines. They were logical and reasonable, and easy to negotiate with.

Information flowed through it, and it felt the knowledge being transferred to the other ship. The dimension of Truespace was a simple, deadly one, used for FTL travel in most circumstances by the Realm. Without adequate protection, destruction in such a dimension was certain. However, the dimension itself did not always correspond with the real universe, making it possible to travel massive distances in a short amount of time. There were several simple devices used to enter it, but a 'stabiliser', or something that allowed a ship to survive in Truespace was quite difficult to construct. Schematics for both were transmitted.

There. Information has been ceded. We will begin calling probe-miners currently.

Waves of energy seethed out of the top of the probe, abruptly ceasing thirty or so metres above it. It sent a potent message to those nearby miners, who would arrive within a few hours, now they knew exactly where to go to.

The Queen felt the information flow into her mind. It was a pleasant sensation, suddenly knowing more. She reached into the combined mind of a nearby composite.
Compile all information in our records of every species on Skrit-Na, and of Zero-Space and how to enter it she commanded.
The composite accessed the records, brining all information into its mind, which would in turn flow into the Queen's mind.
She sent the information to the probe.

It is well. I/we will wait for the arrival of the miners. Extraction of minerals will begin immediately, once they have arrived. Furthermore, the first load of minerals, approximately large enough to construct half a city-ship will arrive in two *planet-revolutions*

The probe sat, and waited. There was little else it could do, as it was required to act as a beacon for the arriving miners.

Blue glows resonated through the barriers between dimensions, pushing strongly into this one. As if emerging from water, the miners appeared, the blue shimmering substance they were covered with disappearing within seconds.

There was a single suitable moon within range, and so the miners skipped, blue light flickering once every second, as they moved to the moon within ten seconds.

They alighted gently, and began unfolding, their various parts digging into the moons. These 'miners' also transformed other materials into useful ones, although that process took a longer time.

We need sample/study of your ship's materialmakeup. Send/give?

The Queen reached into the mind of one of her loyal composites and withdrew the ship's techincal makeup before sending it to the probe.