NationStates Jolt Archive

Eska System, Flaming Souls

http://www.gamespackle.com/images/ragor.JPG

The ships now patrolling the home system of Flaming Souls were a new sight to many. Their alloyed hull's glinting brightly in the light of the native star, sublight engines burning bright, these ships conveyed a quiet confidence. The revamping of the Imperial Fleet had gone smoothly, as all the Temporal vessel's were phased out, to be replaced by highly sophisticated hyperdrive and conventionally armed ships. The pride of this fleet is the newly christened FSDF Ragor. A beast of a ship compared to the rest of the new fleet, the Ragor measures 1km in length, showing off the new philosophy of the FSDF.

Accompanying the Ragor is it's support fleet, consisting only of 4 other ships. This new approach on warfare was due to the catastrophe of Togrin IV. Temporal Technology had been the core of the incident and was now greatly frowned upon by the general populace.

As the Ragor came to a graceful stop at the edge of the system, it broadcast a message on a general band, as well as directed at specific nations. Those nations were Siesatia, Balrogga, Azaha, Metallinauts, and Arizona Nova.


Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
We would like to apologize for our recent introvertive nature. We have had some major issues to deal with, and have finally come out of this period. As part of this ending, we would like to make it also a beginning. Please accept this invitation to a brief conference on board the FSDF Ragor. Reply as you see fit.

The message had gone, of course, to the ESUS diplomatic mailbox - Flaming Souls had long been an ally of the Arizonan state, and they even shared a common(ish) flag. Yet times had changed - the complicated bureacracy of the High Halls tended to find that somehow the Empress-Overmind knew about these sort of things long before they could present it to her themselves. That and recurring, random computer problems got people whispering nasty things like "rampancy," but anyone in a position of command knew it was wiser to let Anikar be. She didn't sift through everything, of course, and left enough that the Diplomatic Corps still had purpose worth government money. Thus, the message essentially went straight to her, and just as promptly she relayed one back to them, with an additional dispatch to the still supremely useful diplomats.


origin: esus.relay.override.7:hh.an.gov
destin: esus.mailbox:flaming_souls
ref: Diplomatic Summit Reply
stamp: invitation
message body:

Greetings esteemed ally! I have received your invitation and reply in the affirmative - I will be happy to dispatch envoy(s) to your summit as needed, when needed. Dispatch relevant cosmographical and temporal coordinate information and I will send them as soon as possible.
Cheers!
Anikar

|body

The message, considered a Priority 2 was received and looked over by several clerks and security analysts mere seconds after being completely downloaded and scanned before being sent to the Presidential Manor, where it was checked fervently for virus or any codes of any sort. The message being clear, it was sent to the pad sitting on President Freya Crescent’s desk… the same desk that Jessica Crescent had sat at only mere years before, and had lost due to the immense popularity of the resurrected war hero. It was unfortunate that Freya and her descendant did not see eye to eye, she and the Siesatian people itself didn’t really see eye to eye, and she was receiving an approval rating of only 62%, while Jessica had kept the approval rating above 95% for her entire stay in office. There were even talks of reelecting her descendant in the next presidential election.

Brushing a wet strand of silver hair from her eye, she picked up the pad, and began reading it. It seemed simply, too friendly, to her, amongst nations there were no friends; they only got along if their goals were similar but otherwise would have nothing to do with one another. This attitude had stirred a feeling of discontentment with her foreign policies, but she didn’t listen to the polls, they had never had polls back in her day, during the time of ‘Greater Burmecia’, the king and his advisors simply ran the country, far be it for her, a mere Dragon Knight, to argue with HIM.

Putting the pad down, she began to draft a response, detailing the fact that she simply couldn’t spare the time to visit their ship, and had much better things to be doing… She was almost ready to begin recording the actual message when Jessica came through the doors on the opposite side of the office.

“I saw you had received a message from Flaming Souls.” She asked, hurrying up to the table.

“Yes, they invited me to come onboard one of their new ships. Intelligence claims they’ve abandoned temporal technology in favor of new Conventional weapons.”

“Intelligence?”

“Operatives in Flaming Souls. The SCIA agents have done remarkable jobs at gathering information on what is going on in their nation.”

“Your-” Jessica was appalled to the point of dumbfoundedness; the fact that they were spying on their Allies was simply, unacceptable, and the fact that she didn’t know about it was worse. “What you’re doing is against our very principles, the very structure of honor our society was built on, the trust in one another and the trust in the potential of every race. And now you won’t even give them an audience after an era of Isolationism, not a way to restart relations with a nation that has been an ally for many hundreds of years.”

“I have Congressional support in all of my dealings and decisions-”

“They revered you, not for your actions today, but for your actions in the past, you know very well you were only elected because of your name, it would have been more fitting if you had gone to train the Knights in Cleyra like we planned originally.” Jessica said angrily.

“You are one to talk; you used the political connections of your own family’s name and estate to ensure your election… And yet you did not hold true to your own people, you never brought around a second Burmecian Renascence, you made it harder for your own people by increasing the tax rates on estates and ceasing the title system.”

“I worked for all my people, we were not known as ‘The Union of the Three Races’ for nothing. Even when the last of the Humans died out, we kept the title because we never got rid of the facilities for them. We always considered them here, if not physically, but spiritually, there are over 12 million humans now living in other countries that emigrated from our nation, many are proud to be ‘Siesatian’ descended, and visit regularly. I worked hard for our nation, forging alliances that have lasted longer then even the original Burmecia, and yet you wish to undo this to impose a two-thousand year old system of government that simply doesn’t take into account modern culture or the inter-cooperation between two distinctly different races. You are attempting to strangle the country and soil our reputation with our allies…”

“You think you can do a better job?” Freya asked haughtily, “You think that now that the Burmecian people have seen their lives improved dramatically with my election that they will ever vote against me?”

“Not only do I think I can do a better job, it’s been proven, but you are too stuck in a past so far gone that you cannot, even with your education of modern events, wrap your mind around it.”

“We shall see, we’ll let the people decide who they view is the better leader, the election is next year Miss Crescent, and I do not intend to lose. But in the meanwhile, if you think you can do a better job, then…”




Holographic Message to Flaming Souls:

*Jessica sits in her ceremonial Dragon Knight uniform, bright crimson red with the silver and steel metal glinting in the artificial lights.*

Greetings honorable representatives of Flaming Souls. I am sorry, but President Freya Crescent is… unavailable… for any event onboard your vessel, however, I will be able to make it in her stead and speak for my nation. I look forward to seeing your people again after so long.

On board the FSDF Ragor, Eska System Fringe

Chairman Ruhn sat in his hastily prepared office aboard the Ragor. His hair was rumpled and unkempt, and his clothes looked none the better. He was arranging a meeting between some rather large powers, and he was new at this. The latest in the line of Ruhn's to serve as Chairman on the Board of Government, he had been in control through the decline of the Isolationist Era, and had no experience in Foreign Affairs. He was scratching his head rather vigorously as he read the incoming transmissions.

His replies were simple and to the point.

Dear Esteemed Sirs and Ma'ams.

It will be our greatest pleasure to have you aboard our ship. The coordinates are thus (coordinates attached). Please come at your liesure as this does not need to be a group meeting. I await your arrival.

Councilman Ruhn

It was at times like this that he asked himself what Galeel Stryer would have done, but he knew nothing about the ages old hero of lore. The best he could surmise was to buck up and try.

It was dark in the room, very dark. The giant daemon sat upon his massive throne, looking out across the titanic throne room, big as a football field it was.

He looked out across the great size of the room, except he wasn't staring at anything in particular. His great putrid claws clenched the sides of his throne, his bloated grotesque face deathly still. He was communing with the Warp, until he was disturbed by a much smaller man, under half his size, run in busting through the giant doors.

Prince Gustable was jolted from his meditative state. With ugly desiesed eyes, he glared down at the warmaster set in the green and black Blight Walker space marine armor.

"I am sorry, My Lord, but there has been a communications for you." The little man cowered away from the giant daemon prince.

"Who is it from?"

"It radiates from the Eska system, My Lord."

The great daemon sighed, sounding like an infected gurgle. "And who is in the Eska system? Do not toy with me, warmaster. I do not like asking too many questions."

"I-I am sorry my lord. 'Flaming Souls' is in the Eska system. They have requested we send an emmissary to them, aboard a ship called the FSDF Ragor."

"Yes.. the ones from the... IUSS.... very well. They do not pose a threat. Send them a communications on our acceptance, and send a dignitary. Send an UnBlighted human... as the point of this is not to intimidate."

"Yes, my lord, right away." The man in the armor scuttled out of the chamber, leaving Gustable to reconnect to the Warp.

-------------------------------------------
Mesage Recieved, Reply:
We welcome the offer, and do accept. Within three days there will be a dignitary at the specified location. From there, the talks may commence.

-------------------------------------------

Three days later, the ship carrying the diplomat arrived. A bright shear in space and time opened, revealing a magnificent white light that poured out of the hole. A small ship in comparison slipped out, and the hole snapped shut behind them.

A small escort sized carrier emerged. It was 400m long, and looked to be in very poor condition. Once top of the line, and now accumating space dust, and holes going unpatched.

"This is the Azahan Carrier #45,345, request permission to dock directly to the FSDF Rogar, Azahan Carrier out."

A brief message was broadcast to the Azahan Vessel.

Permission denied. The Ragor does not have standardized docking bays, please use a shuttle, bays are on the aft end. If you do not have a shuttle, one can be provided.

Access is denied, understood. Launching shuttle with diplomat on board, as well as lightly armed, unarmored body guards.

Moments later, a slightly cleaner ship emerged from the front of the carrier. It was very small, most likely only able to contain 5 people at the max.

It sped quickly to the Ragor, and sent a computerized message asking to dock. It was accepted, and the shuttle quickly docked inside the sleek new ship.

The rickety shuttle opened a door on its side, a swish of putrid, gagging air extruding from the interior of the shuttle itself. Three people stepped out from the inside.

One was a short, stout man. He was not handsome, but not aesthetically displeasing either. Flanking him were two other taller men, wearing light flak jackets, and urban camo uniforms, the style not differeing from alot of pre-FTL nations. They had no visible weapons.

The diplomat stepped forward, expecting to see some one to greet him.

Waiting in the bay was a young Lieutenant.

Bowing gracefully, the Lieutenant greeted the arriving diplomat warmly.

"Good day sirs, and welcome to the FSDF Ragor. Chairman Ruhn is awaiting your arrival in the conference room. If good sirs would like to make any special requests for food, I would be happy to forward your requests to the ships cook. But please, enough banter from me, please, this way."

After his long winded welcome, he led the diplomat and his escort to the conference room.

Sir, we have an incoming message. It is encoded with a Flaming Souls cipher.

Interesting, we haven’t heard from them in quite some time. Patch it through.


Dear Esteemed Colleagues,
We would like to apologize for our recent introvertive nature. We have had some major issues to deal with, and have finally come out of this period. As part of this ending, we would like to make it also a beginning. Please accept this invitation to a brief conference on board the FSDF Ragor. Reply as you see fit.


Hmmm… It seems there is still live in those old bones. We better relay this back to Earth so they can send the proper dignitaries.

Sending…



Several hours later, a single ship erupted from a wormhole that formed a safe distance away. The Stiletto Flier gracefully curved around and lined up for an approach.

Attention FSDF Ragor, this is Anthony Stark aboard the Imperial Shuttle Wayfinder. I have been sent in reply to your message.

The Balrogga Empire wishes to welcome your return to the limelight.

The head of the Diplomatic Corps, Gavin Conall, was at his office in the High Halls. It had just dawned, and the new day had been blessed by a shower the night before - a rare occurence on so dry a world as the homeworld. He had just arrived when his PW began to buzz. Pulling it out of his pocket, he flipped it open - a new message, from the Empress-Overmind.


origin: mainhub.foe:mi.an.gov
destin: conallg:hh.an.gov
ref: Change of plans
stamp: justification
message body:

I know that the original plan was to send an envoy to the Flaming Souls summit (1), but I have changed my mind. I want to handle this particular situation myself.
Please don't take this the wrong way. The universe is oddly busy of late, I will need all the help I can get later on.
Anikar

|body


He flipped it back shut.

Great. At least now I don't have to pick someone. Be nice if we could do what we're paid to do every now and again.

He continued to walk up the steps to the venerable institution.

-=A.N.S.S. Fist of the Empress, Deep Space

It was of course a well known fact that Anikar was actually rarely present on the homeworld - only for certain occasions and national celebrations. Instead, especially since the construction of her flagship so many years ago, she had been almost constantly on the move. Now, as usual, it lay suspended in deep space, far from civilization, light, or warmth.

The Captain, as he had come to be known, made his rounds on the bridge. The Empress-Overmind had asked him to be prepared for a jump soon. To him, it was business as usual - he had a certain idle curiosity as to where the next jump would terminate, but it had become fairly routine. Soon, she made her appearance on O-deck.

"Is everything in order, Captain?" she said, walking onto the promenade.

"All systems are in order, all we need is coordinates," he said, with an edge of boredom in his voice. Immediately she fixed a look of annoyance on him.

"Captain... you sound positively dull. What is the matter?"

He stiffened - Stupid! She reads voices like a sentient reads a datapad! - and replied, "Nothing, my Empress."

She turned her gaze to the main window overlooking the ship and the void without. "If you are getting tired of this position, sir, you may request a transfer. I will not be offended if you do."

"No my liege," he said plaintitively. "It is an honor to serve here!"

"Very well. I cannot, however, abide pococurantism among the crew of my flagship."

Pocu... pocu-what? he thought. "My apologies. At any rate, I still need coordinates."

She handed him a datapad, still gazing out. "This is the reply that the nation of Flaming Souls has sent us concerning the location of their summit. I want the Fist on the far edge of that system, and the SPECTRE engaged, and the yacht prepared for an excursion. Finally, I want our position posted with Third Fleet, so that they know exactly where we are."

This is unexpected, thought The Captain. He saluted her, and replied, "It will be my honor to make it so, my Empress."

She nodded gratefully and turned back toward the lift. Once she had left, he let out a sigh of relieft, and began giving orders to embark.

Within a few hours, the Fist appeared in realspace, outside the system. The SPECTRE system masked its presence - to all, it would appear little more than a rogue asteroid. The Empress's Yacht soon disengaged from the vessel, and began its trek into the system, and the coordinates of the Ragor. She soon caught sight of that ship, and another - she wasn't even sure if it was functional or a random derelict. She dispatched IFF codes to the Ragor, along with a docking query - it was soon returned in the negative for docking, again asking for a shuttle. She locked down the ship, then disengaged the control shuttle from the Yacht, heading toward the Ragor's aft, and once within the bay carefully parked it alongside the Azahan vessel. She unstrapped the safety harness, and opened the back landing hatch-gangway of the shuttle, heading into the bay.

The USS Freestar X folded out of space, the temporal drive sliding the massive ship from the inter-dimensional corridor, the singularity that had brought it to the coordinates provided dissipated, the blue energy crackled and faded, but if one were to look on the area where the anomaly had been, one would not have been able to see, or for that matter, sense anything as for at the moment the massive flagship sat cloaked with the latest edition of the S.P.E.C.T.R.E. 2.0 System.

“What are the sensors picking up?” the Captain asked,

“A few odd readings, obvious energy readings from the Ragor, and there’s a Balroggan vessel.”

“What kind of readings?”

“You know those fuzzy readings the old Spectre system gave off if you didn’t use the right generators? The readings you get when you’re near a star?”

“Yeah, so?”

“We’re not near enough to a star to get any readings, someone out there is using the Spectre cloak, but isn’t using the Temporal power system.”

Jessica Crescent walked onto the bridge, her arms full of pads, she not being one to ask for an assistant or aide. Sitting in the observation chair on the left side of the Captain’s chair, she began scanning the text, looking for any information she had forgotten about the Flaming Souls dignitaries.

“What’s going on?” She asked, looking at the commotion going on in the bridge as they tried to ascertain the source of the readings.

“We’re getting some really strange readings, we think it’s coming from a Spectre 1.”

“Odd, well, there are quite a few ESUS nations supposed to be attending this thing.”

“But who uses a Spectre 1 without the Temporal reactors?”

“Arizona Nova, which means the Fist is somewhere around here, now, open the channel to the Ragor.”



Message to the Ragor:
We’re prepared to send our shuttle over. Requesting permission to send over our representative and her entourage.

"We got a second communications, commander." Yelled a com man from the front of the bridge.

The captian turned on his heels and peered out the side of his bridge, hovering next to them was the Ragor. He turned around again, and looked out into the black abyss.

"Where are these communications, and that shuttle for the matter, come from? Damned stealthed bastards. I don't like this at all, too many unfamiliars." Pushing a sensor specialist to the side, he looked at the readings. Nothing out of the ordinary it seemed, just usual space distortions. He reached up and pushed a few buttons and dials. The sensor station complied, the old, worn screen displaying more complicated readouts. Still nothing.

"Did we ever have familiars in the first place, commander?" asked a second man, in full dress uniform, his rank a 1st Lt, the XO if the ship.

"Don't be a smart ass. I still don't like this. Have fighter squadron 1 and 2, with interceptor squadron 7 on stand-by, should a problem arise."

"Yes sir, right away." The XO turned around, and started barking orders.

------------------------------------------------

The diplomat, guards, and their escort made their way to the conference room. As they entered, the guards took positions on either side of the door, standing at complete attention, not even blinking so it seemed.

The Azahan diplomat sat down in the first free chair he saw, assuming a comfortable position.

"I am Marx Gauss, representative of the Azaha Demi-Empire at this meeting. First business, to what do we owe the pleasure of being called here?"

FSDF Ragor, Command Deck

The messages were coming and going rapidly, and slowly, new ships were docking, the shuttles seemingly appearing out of dead space. Two new messages were sent out, hopefully to be the last.

ATTN: Mr. Stark
Thank you for coming, hangars are to the aft of the ship. Please land at your liesure.

ATTN: Jessica Crescent
We thank you for taking the time to come, please land in the aft hangars at your liesure.

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Conference Room

Chairman Ruhn started briefly as Marx Gauss took the first available seat, but decided to leave it be.

"Thank you for coming Mr. Gauss. The reason you were invited is that my nation is just now ending its Isolationism, and returning to be an active member in the universe. As such we contacted previous allies, and here we are. We can begin the conversation in earnest briefly, as I have recieved word that Anikar is in the Hangar Bay, and that the Balroggan rep Mr. Stark, is inbound, and Jessica Crescent of Siesatia as well. So please, make yourself comfortable, would you like a drink perhaps?"

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_

Hangar

The same Lieutenant that greeted the Azahan envoy entered the hangar and briskly approached Anikar.

"Welcome," he said enthusiastically, "If you will follow me I will take you to the Conference Room, the Azahan diplomat has already arrived, and the rest of the guests will be here shortly. Should you require food or nourishment, please let me know, I will let the ships cook know personally."

Leading Anikar towards the conference room, the Lieutenant could not help but smile, that is what he was programmed to do.

Anikar gave the attendant a strange look - as she followed she studied his stride and came to the conclusion that this one was a droid. Masterfully made, but if the "nourishment" comments didn't mask an inorganic mind, careful study of the limb movements eliminated doubt. Not that she minded, not being totally organic herself anymore. She followed him into the conference room, taking a quick glance at the Azahan guards at the door before finding a seat.

Gauss looked up at his host, and shook his head modestly. "No thank you, I am quite fine for now."

As the other diplomat entered, Gauss gave a slight nod, then continued to wait.

The gracefully curved shuttle decloaked a kilometer away, moving towards the Ragor at ¾ speed. They had received the ‘O-K’ from the Ragor to approach, but the pilot requested permission to land all the same, it was granted, and the vessel entered the landing bay, setting down, its twin Temporal Drives powered down with a whine, the hatch on the right side of the vessels hull opened, and a gangplank slid down.

Smiling to herself as to how she must look to the diplomats and leaders who would have several aides whose only purpose was to pick their nose and scratch their ass for them, she preferred a more down to earth approach, being president hadn’t broken her sense of self reliance like others had. In front of her was a Flaming Soulian officer, lieutenant by the look of the rank insignia she had memorized.

“Good day madam and welcome to the FSDF Ragor. If you will follow me I will take you to the Conference Room, the Azahan diplomat has already arrived, and the rest of the guests will be here shortly. Should you require food or nourishment, please let me know, I will let the ships cook know personally." he said in an obviously scripted manor before pausing, “Can I help you with those?”

“I’m sure I’ll be fine Lieutenant.”

“And you don’t need any special security conditions?”

“I don’t think it will be necessary, considering I personally trained many of my nation’s Special Operations Officers, fought in four wars, and trained for more years then you have been active.” She said, “Besides, it’s not like I’m the President or anything…” She said, her tone wavering somewhere between Serious and Sarcasm. The person or facade of one was ingeniously built, but the designers had forgotten to build in a scent of some sort, humans smelt, and the sensitive Burmecian nose could always pick it out… due to a lack of organic smell she was forced to conclude this being as being artificial.

“Alright, follow me please.” He said, and led her through the corridors of the ship to the conference room, where she was shown to her chair; she noticed that there were Azahan Guards, but that Anikar had come alone, something that surprised her, as she had always assumed the Arizonian leader was paranoid about security…

The focus of Anikar's eyes meandered lazily about the room. She reflected all the while; she had played an interesting hand so far. While parking her flagship within a moment's notice could be construed as menacing, to her it was merely a measure to make sure that should the negotiations be jumped, she had the most intimidating firepower in the fleet to 'watch her back.' She trusted - in the collective sense - Flaming Souls, but if the centuries long silence had been any indication, they had been through a lot. With the crisis in Arenumberg, she did not trust to the strength of anyone else to protect her. Not that it really mattered in the end - the death of her physical body would provide a "hiccup" in her overall system lasting a fraction of a second as it readjusted. It was her prerogative, at any rate, to have the Fist here. The more fascinating prospect was really her manner of entrance and general reception. She had come amidst no pomp or circumstance, and simple IFF codes could not hint at the true importance of the vessels scattered about the system - the very chariots of the Empress-Overmind. She had brought no guards (that could be seen nearby); indeed, the Azahan had given her a polite nod, but she doubted he knew exactly who she was. Soon, the Siesatian entered. Anikar switched her gaze to the Siesatian, and sized her up.

Now who could this be? thought Anikar, her eyebrows furrowing a bit. Who was that in the Gray Ops which trained with the Siesatian Dragon Knights? Karth? Yes, it was him. He would know, I think.

For the moment, however, she was content to merely sit in "idle" reflection as she waited for the last delegates to arrive.

Chairman Ruhn sat in quiet reverie as Anikar walked in, soon followed by Jessica Crescent. He had heard of these two, and was awed by there presence.

"If you will all please wait just a little longer, Mr. Stark from the Balroggan Government will be with us shortly. Until then would anyone like a drink?"

The Stiletto shuttle coasted into the landing bay, arriving silently and settling a few inches above the deck. The side of the ship melted into three floating steps and Anthony Stark emerged.

“Hello, I believe I am expected.”

Several guards escorted the diplomat through the corridors of the ship to where the others were waiting. He entered the room and immediately noticed the three other occupants.

“Sorry about my tardiness, apparently there was some confusion in landing clearances and my ship thought it had to wait.”

He took his seat and waited for the others to start the meeting.

Gauss felt the Balroggan diplomat coming a mile away, even before he left his shuttle. This made him uneasy. He was a mere adept when it came to the workings of the mind in this capacity, but he was able to feel the psi energy emitting from the diplomat, with ease.

When the diplomat entered the room, Gauss shot him a sharp look. He did not like the feelings. It made him wonder why such a race would be gifted by a powerful force.

Slowly, he turned his gaze back to the host of the meeting, and spoke in a calm manner.

"It would seem we are all here. May we proceed?"

"Indeed we are, Mr. Gauss. I thank you all for coming. The reasons for this meeting are rather simple. First, I wanted to introduce myself. I am Chairman Ruhn, some of you may have known me when I was but a boy, and my Grandfather was the Chairman. As you know doubt are aware, my nation has been rather isolationistic in its policies for some time. We would like to re-establish any trade routes available, as well as re-open diplomatic relations."

After blurting this, Chairman Ruhn paused for a second. It took him some time to regain his breath.

Professor Stark raised his glass and took a sip.

"We have been allies since before we allowed you into the Triad Alliance. We met way back in the hallowed halls of the ESUS. I see no reason to deny this simple request."

He took another sip before continuing.

"Like your grandfather beore you, I will also tell you that you need not worry about the Empire. You have allways been counted as a friend, even if you were busy with your own house cleaning."

"If you want, you can re-establish your embassy on Earth. It has been waiting your return all these years."

Gauss waited for the Balroggan diplomat to finish, before he turned his attention back to the Flaming Souls ambassador.

"Indeed. Even though in the past, we never dealt with each other except for items within the IUSS, we would be open to start trade between our two states.

Anikar focused on the cup as the Balroggan delegate spoke - for no substantial reason. Somehow it triggered some half-memory in her mind - it was not the cup as much as the act, which was odd, but she brushed it aside. She reclined a little bit in her chair, listening as the Azahan said his piece. Once he had finished, she waited a moment, then began her little speech.

"I see no reason to sever relations. Indeed, if I am correct," she said, pausing for a moment, "Your mailbox is still present within the High Halls, just 'dusty.' The only outstanding obstacles I see are in the corporations - they will want confidence that any commitments they make to deeper trade will pay off, and not one day go dry. As well, there is the matter of temporal technology. I do not know if you still possess it, and I don't probably have to air my - and my nation's - concerns over this particular area of technology, and the threat it poses to all sentient life."

Jessica sat up straighter, she had been looking over the pad before her, a pair of antiquated spectacles perched on her long nose. It was not uncommon knowledge that Burmecians were genetically farsighted, and as a bonus, stubborn about having their eyes fixed.

"Well, I speak for my entire country to say that we welcome you back to the International Scene with open arms. I don't believe I ever knew your grandfather, but then again, I hear the mind is the first thing to go..." This was of course, a jest, despite having lives many lifetimes, she maintained the looks of someone in their mid 20's, and was still as sharp as they came.

Then came the sharp jab from Anikar concerning one of the few topics which put their two nations at odds, temporal technology.

"Honorable Empress, I have never understood your nation's phobia of anything concerning temporal technology, when in the hands of the just and fair it is a powerful tool, only when it is misused, or those who strive its power to quickly does it cause harm, and when it does, it is nations such as the Union or Indra Prime who repair such damage. The complete abandonment of the technology would leave its power solely in the hands of Rogue nations such as the newly proclaimed Imperial Power of The Fedral (Misspell) Union."

She sat back in her chair, picking up a glass of water and drank, watching the other representatives.

Anikar couldn't help but smile. She had predicted that any mention of the "temporal" problem would get a rise out of someone there. She addressed delegate Crescent cordially:

"Please don't call legitimate concerns 'phobias,' if you will. It's terribly cliché, and has never once worked." She paused, and continued: "So you maintain, 'once righteous, always righteous?" That the collective nations of the Accord are incorruptible, down to the last man of their billions? That people wielding power near to that of an almighty God are never going to be tempted, and if tempted that it will never cross the threshold into action? I am sorry if my view of sentience is far less... idealistic, Miss Crescent. As for the rogue states: you know, as well as I, that there is more than one way to skin a cat - even the 'temporal' variety. I would sleep better at night if a massive coalition of nations armed conventionally were guarding against your nightmare, rather than a small group wielding the same weapon they're trying to protect the universe from. At any rate, I am not here to debate the rightness or wrongness of the universe's most dangerous gun. Does our august host have anything to say?"

Gauss was highly displeased, his face and tone showed it.

"We are *not* here to twitter and bicker like children about policies and weapons. We are here on behalf of our nations, to adress our host in *their* matters. I do not wish my time to be wasted listening to such arguments."

His attention turned back to the host, his facial features showing much agitation.

Professor Stark nodded in agreement.

"I must agree with our esteemed Gauss, this is neither the time nor place for any such conversations. It is rude to bring that into our host's home."


"Can we please continue?"

Jessica nodded in agreement with the Balroggan delegate.

"Agreed, hopefully we can avoid this topic, we both defend our views for reasons which we each believe to be true, our nations have, after all, managed to remain allies in spite of our differences, so let us not start bickering now..."

"Ahem. Sorry about that. You must really remember this is my first time doing this, so I am still a little...uneasy. However, in regards to the question of Temporal Technology, Flaming Souls has abandonded any and all military applications of the technology, and we are only maintaining three monitoring stations." Chairman Ruhn spat out quickly.

"And I would also like to bring up a new subject now. We have recently discovered a, supposedly, new element. As we have not been in contact with outside forces for some time, we would ask that you verify that it is indeed new to the universe, and not just us."

As he was speaking he had placed a briefcase on the table. Now he opened it and spun it around to face the delegates. Inside were four crystals that had no definable color, and a slight glow.

"Now, don't worry, through extensive tests we have determined it is harmless, at least in this form. We have found ways to weaponize it. The natives who found the deposit called them Soul Gems, but we have classified it Trevnium."

It was to her surprise that FS had declared Temporal Technology abandoned and was pursuing conventional weaponry… This would defiantly weaken her position in the meeting in terms of policy… then the Chairman pulled out a briefcase, and turned it to face them. Flipping it open, she looked on in dismay at what the Chairman had brought into their midst…

Tiberium… the growth crystals, strange object which literally drew nutrients from the ground to grow… And, secreted a deadly poison gas which quickly and efficiently killed those who breathed it. It was common knowledge that said crystals were used in a form of Terraformation…

It was therefore not surprising, at least in her mind, that she should stand up, draw her concealed weapon, flip the setting to high, and disintegrate the crystals much to the shock of the assembled delegates…

“What the hell?” the Soulian delegate exclaimed, “What was that for?!”

Sitting back down, she turned on one of her assembled Pads, and passed it to the Flaming Souls representative…





Molecularly, it is a non-carbon-based compound which appears to have strong ferrous qualities with non-resonating reversible energy. It has a tendency to disrupt carbon-based molecular structures with inconsequent in unequal positrons orbiting on the first, second and ninth quark rings.

The significance of the heavy particles within Tiberium's crystal lattice is that they are the key to the matter transmutation process - Tiberium's most interesting property. Because of the high mass and energy of these particles, when Tiberium comes into contact with other matter, the particles at the boundaries of its lattice randomly collide with the nuclei of the target matter, smashing it to pieces (in the case of smaller nuclei), or incrementally knocking protons or neutrons off (in the case of heavier nuclei). Somehow, the Tiberium is able to capture a fraction of the protons and/or neutrons that are ejected during this collision process and incorporate them into its own structure, thus growing. Whenever a muon or tauon collides with an atomic nucleus, fission occurs, which results in the random production of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, as well as other forms of electromagnetic radiation (such as infrared). During the transmutation process, nuclei that Tiberium has come into contact with may be changed into nuclei with different (usually fewer) numbers of protons or neutrons. The result is a complete elemental transformation.


Tiberium first appears as manhole-sized lumps of rock or soil. As these lumps expand, the top of the lump pulls away, to reveal immature crystal formations. As the patch of Tiberium grows, both the lump of rock and crystal grow rapidly. The typical Tiberium crystal is roughly 1 to 2 meters tall.
The color of the crystals is dependent on the amount and concentration of minerals that the Tiberium has leeched from the soil.

Outcroppings of Tiberium release odorless gasses as they appear. While Tiberium was originally considered harmless (and perhaps even beautiful due to its shimmering sparkles), these fumes will poison any creature that ventures through it.

Long-term mid- to high-level exposure to Tiberium can result in effects that reveal an alarming aspect of the mineral/life-form: Tiberium is a mutagen. Creatures that have been exposed to Tiberium at these levels have experienced genetic mutation, involving physiological modification in a number of ways. These include the growth of Tiberium crystals on the skin of the individual, immunity from the effects of Tiberium poisoning and even (ironically) the ability to rapidly accelerate cellular regeneration when in the presence of Tiberium Riparius and Vinifera.

When exposed to very high concentrations of Tiberium, such as while passing through an area of dense Tiberium growth without protective apparatus, the short-term effects of Tiberium poisoning are immediately experienced by individuals. If an individual dies from such exposure, either because they lingered in the area of Tiberium growth for too long or because they were already in a weakened state of health before the exposure, irregular Tiberium mutation can sometimes result. Through a process that is both amazing and extremely disturbing, the Tiberium toxins that caused the death of the individual through saturation appear to act as a resource for the semi-infectious growth of non-necrotic cellular systems remaining in an otherwise deceased individual. The cells within the body that have not died, but managed to successfully mutate into a viable form, feed off the necrotic remains over time. Externally, this resembles a cross between accelerated decomposition and severe bacterial infection, with the cadaver gradually being digested by its own mutant cell colonies, which then, after a period of gestation, replicate into a crude clone of the original, carbon-based life form. These are known as "visceroids", as they bear the appearance of a somewhat inside-out, amoeboid organism, with a strange tendency to "bleed" fluids in both gaseous and liquid forms. Visceroids tend to feed upon nearby sources of Tiberium, or, if available, they will attempt to digest organic matter of vaguely similar genetic composition to the host organism that preceded them.
Crystal
• Phosphorus: 42.5%
• Iron: 32.5%
• Calcium: 15.25%
• Copper: 5.75%
• Silica: 2.5%
• Unknown: 1.5%
Harmful Gases
• Methane: 22%
• Sulfur: 19%
• Naphthalene: 12%
• Argon: 10%
• Isobutane: 6%
• Xylene: 2%
• Unknown: 29%




“As you can see…” She said, “Your discovery is… disturbing, and telling, our scientists have wondered, upon seeing the damage these crystals have done to planets, whether this is deliberate.” She said darkly,

"This new crystal, when allowed to grow to its full extent, is to be considered one of the greatest threats to any planet..."

Reading the pad, Ruhn's face became ashen. He looked up in dismay. "So, you are saying our planet is doomed? That there is no way to stop it? This is obviously not a naturally occuring process."

Hitting the comm button on the table, he signaled the bridge. "I want hourly reports on the condition of the planet. Let me know if ANYTHING strange happens, particularly if it appears to be related to our new mineral we found. Also, order all facilities to stop using it, immediately. They have one hour."

"Yes sir, also, a comm arrived for you a minute ago. It may pertain to what you just asked of me. Do you want me to patch it through to you?"

"Yes, please do."


Sir, the Forests of Sretal are gone, in the last few days they have degenerated into something different entirely. Attached are sattelite images we have taken.

The images were of the Forests of Sretal, a sacred ground to Soulians. As the time frame moved forward, the tree's gradually were replaced by odd looking tree with a bulb at the top.

"Miss Crescent, do you know what those are?"

Anikar regarded the crystal curiously. It reminded her of the power source used for the Jormungand's Spit drones - Gilium, if she recalled correctly, although this looked to be an altogether stranger version of it. All the sudden Jessica sat bolt upright and shot the crystal with a concealed weapon, vaporizing it entirely. She looked at Crescent with a cold severity - it was less the crystal she was worried about than the fact that the Siesatian had carried concealed weapons into a diplomatic meeting. It rankled her quite a bit. She was about to say something when the resourceful one pulled something else out of her pocket - a datapad, and passed it to the Soulian without a word. As the two began talking in dark tones, she became impatient at the lack of enlightenment being given to her and the Azahan, and asked with some annoyance,

"Pray tell, just what was sitting in this briefcase that the honorable Siesatian delegate felt it necessary to draw a concealed weapon and vaporize - if not tesseract - it?"

After the Sietian delegate shot her weapon, the two Azahan guards ran into the room, and raised their arms at the Setian, palms facing towards her.

Gauss had already hit the floor when massive bolts of greenish red lighting shot from the palms of the guards, striking towards the Setian delegate with extreme force. The bolts were drawn from the warp, but weren't as powerful as say a Blighted(Chaos Nurgle) Sorcerer, but powerful enough to be considered elite.

Though it seemed Guass didn't want the guards to do that, and had dived down to avoid his own guards. He screamed, "Cease!" as the guards shot their bolts, but they static noise was too loud for them to hear.

((Know it doesn't fit in to what has already transpired, but it is what the guards would do... burst in right away, and not wait a couple minutes.))

She was about to respond to the Empress’s question when two Azahan guards came running into the room, palms raised, at first she considered this slightly comical, until she felt the split second tingle of the collection of energy from some unknown source… working the energy she had control over, as her mentor had taught her so many years ago, she dipped deep into the energy source, then even deeper, drawing on the sentient spirits of the long vanquished… Time seemed to slow down, at least to her, as the ethereal energy coalesced around her body moments before the energy struck her and ricocheted off, hitting the wall and burning a hole right into the panel, acrid smoke was quickly whisked away by the ventilation.

The energy around her coalesced one final time, before fading, the eerie white glow it cast going with it… It had been quite some time since she’d done that, and she was happy she hadn’t gotten rusty… As to dealing with the guards, her first instinct was to strike first, to land a kick to the first’s face while using the same momentum to elbow the other’s nose through his brain… But the calmer side of her brain prevailed.

“A fascinating parlor trick gentleman…” She said coolly, watching as they finally stopped, after hearing their protectorate asking them to stop… then she turned to the Empress…

“As you asked, what the Soulian representative brought amongst us was a very dangerous compound, I admit, when I first saw it I did over react, for you see, Tiberium, as it is known on Earth, is to be considered one of the greatest threats to the known galaxy…” She said, passing the pad from the Soulian representative to the Empress.

After watching the momentary imbroglio unfold between the Azahan bodyguards and the Siesatian, Anikar got to her feet, listened to Crescent's explanation, and accepted the datapad. Giving it the lightest skimming, she fixed her gaze on the Soulian delegate, and asked coolly,

"Well, this has been an excursion. However, I am ill at ease here - knowing that there are concealed weapons, dangerous compounds, sorcerors, and God knows what else lurking about. I shall be departing shortly if our delegates are not unarmed, and some sort of dampening field set up to block out the more ethereal manifestastions, and I am slightly disturbed there are no security measures like that already in place. I came to take part in a diplomatic summit, not a bar-room brawl between wizards."

Guass had already walked up to the bodyguards, and physically pushed them out of the room, them not resisting. He continued to yell obscenities at the guards, and told them to go wait in the shuttle. "I will call you if I need you!"

He then turned around and faced in the room. "I must agree, this is most unsettling. Partly my fault, as they were only supposed to act when I called for help, but none-the-less. Concealed weapons do indeed unerve me aswell. This is indeed a diplomatic meeting, and I do not expect anyone needing concealed weapons. Atleast my guards were damn obvious."

His eyes traveled to the Soulian delegate. "If you wish for me to stay as well, settle the Setian, and make sure this incident does not repeat."

Guass did not believe that the Soulian would stoop to such underhanded measures. Especially destroying the Tiberium sample, such a valuable alien mineral.

His attention did turn back to the matter at hand. "Tiberium is a powerful tool. If controlled properly, spreading it is very slow, and can be a powerful weapon."

Professor Stark stood and announced in a loud voice:

"If it is a weapon, then it appears to have been used on Eska Prime. This bickering is distracting us from this fact. Can we get back to the subject at hand?"

He looked over at their host.

"Can't you see the shock on his face after his last message? Are you so blind you cannot see the big picture? Our friend has just realized this "wonderful weapon" is destroying his planet. I for one am glad the samples are gone. I would hate to have to fight one of you after it mutates you into some sub-sapient abonimation. If we don't do something to help Flaming Souls, that is their fate."

"Now sit down and stop acting this way."

Anthony sat down and waited.

"He simply does not know how to control it. If we could teach him the proper techniques, then the Soulians may able to control a potent weapon. Fear mongering and worrying solves nothing but ignorance."

He himself sat down to.

OOC: Thank you Air Port Border’s Wireless connections….


Jessica was disturbed by the Azahan’s attitude towards an element that had no practical use besides bringing death and destruction… which had no potential, nor true value...

“Tiberium is a very dangerous substance, it is incredibly difficult to eradicate, and adversely affects matter… As for these weapons you speak of, such as Tiberium warheads, spread the very substance we want contained…” She was interrupted by the Balroggan, who spoke the truth, what was going on on Eska Prime was grave news, but the mere fact that it had happened right under the noses of the Soulians was suspicious.

“It takes a more concentrated sample to do such damage, but even small exposure for any amount of time does do damage to DNA… But I must agree with you, by now, there will be civilian casualties, maybe only a half-dozen if we are lucky, maybe any recently missing people who live in the area… It is my personal recommendation, both as a politician and a Military officer that you begin the immediate evacuation of all Military and Civilian personnel from the vicinity of the site… and by now, there may be other sites…”

Then the Azahan spoke up,

“It depends, honorable representative, whether you wish to destroy Civilian or Military targets. The gas released by Tiberium Crystals is easily filtered by standard air circulation systems, but civilians will have no such access… The intentional targeting of civilians is not what we would wish…”

OOC: yes maybe I should read on more next time.

OOC:

His comment after the "Azaha spoke" statement was obviously his reply to your earlier post.

"Yes, the focus here should be on the Tiberium. However we cannot let the concealed weapon go unnoticed. The reason we had no major security in effect was that we expected our former allies to be honorable. Alas that you have not been as such. If any more of you have hidden weapons, please forfiet them now, and I shall return them to you upon completion of this summit. If you can't comply, get the hell off my ship. I just found out my planet appears to be doomed so I have no time for games. If you want to help us, then help. Otherwise get out of our way." Ruhn spoke, feeling a bit out of place, as his family traits finally came forth.