NationStates Jolt Archive

It had taken some time, but piece-by-piece, bit-by-bit, section-by-section, the SeaQuestian forces had managed to move and reassemble an old Hyperspace Jump Gate that had been sitting unused for countless decades, if not centuries, millenia, or even longer, in the middle of nowhere. Its new home was outside the Oort Cloud of a star system on the fring of what remained of civilized SeaQuestian space. The Long Night wouldn't end until all the planetary and system governements that had sprung up in the chaos that had sprung up from the vanishing of the two home systems, one of which contained the former capital planet.

A small fleet pulled up while being careful to avoid the area where they were constructing the station that would control the Gate on this end and be the first line of defense if any hostiles came through. The XMC leading the convoy of civilian freighters, as per norm, carried no markings painted on her hull. The outer layer of photomimetic bio-skin could not be compromised by such. However, it could, if need be, be used to add markings where needed.

Patiently waiting, the freighters, all lacking the armor layers, including the bio-skin, of the XMC, with little if any external markings as well, watched as the XMC sent the signal to the Gate which began the cycle which would open the vortex into Hyperspace. Once the vortex had irised open, the rest of a full-fledged HCBG formed up with them. An indicator of how important this convoy and its cargo was to the SeaQuestian government, this HCBG was only one of a handful of completed ones. With a full HCBG providing the convoy protection, no known user of Hyperspace would be able to get away with attacking it.

After the HCBG ships were in position, the convoy and its escorts dove into the now opened and stablised hyperspatial vortex created by the Gate. It would take some time, but they would eventually reach a Jump Gate in Abh controlled space.

The decision to use Hyperspace instead of Slipstream had been made so as to provide SeaQuest's old Abh allies warning time they were approaching. As none of the ships in the convoy or the escorting HCBG were used when SeaQuest had last encountered the Abh, this had been decided as a prudent measure. It was alot safer than dropping out of Slipstream unannounced and risking getting shot at. The war between the GFFA and the ESUS was known to the SeaQuestian government and they didn't want the ships to be accidently mistaken for an invading ESUS force.

OOC: @Abh: As I know you use B5 Hyperspace, I'm assuming you've got Jump Gates. Though, if I'm wrong, I'll have to divert to my old Gate at Xeno's XSS1 station and then Slipstream into your space. Though, if you do have them, I'll leave it up to you to decide which I come out of and if they get a hostile greeting or not due to the ESUS-GFFA War.

Jump gates throughout the Empire had gone through a locking phase. Now they could only be accessed from the regular space side. Abh war and merchant vessels came to and fro in Hyperspace as well as planespace. War had not yet reached Abh territory with the closest battle taking place in Xanthal territory. Patrols had been stepped up along those lines.

The space port in the D'Haran system was lightly crewed and going about their daily routines. A commander stood in front of the viewing plates while she monitored her counsel with her hands behind her back. One red light began flashing indicating that there were ships approaching the jump gate. "Do we have any scheduled arrivals for today?"

A man sitting off to the side at his desk pulled up a list of prospective arrivees and departures. "Not for another two hours."

"Do we have a reading on their identity?"

"We are reading SeaQuestian signatures."

She tapped her toe on the floor while mulling it over for a moment. "Alert the first D'Haran squadron and open the jump gate."

"Yes ma'am."

Lights flared to life along the pylons of the jump gate as they dove down towards the center. In a brilliant flash, the veil between regular space and hyperspace was torn open.

Not knowing what to expect, the commander of the XMC had the rest of the HCBG along with the freighters stay beyond in Hyperspace. While the rest of the convoy put their engines on station keeping, the XMC pulled away and emerged from the D'Hara Jump Gate while broadcasting a 'please don't shoot' message. The XMC's photo-mimetic bio-skin was even displaying an animated white flag fluttering in a breeze on a green background.

On a seperate frequency, a message was transmitted to the Abh station:

This is the SeaQuestian High Guard heavy cruiser Magic Of Myth. I convey apologies from my government for the lack of past interaction between our two nations and have been sent with other escorting vessels to protect a convoy carrying a cargo that should increase future interaction between our two nations. My ship emerged first to ensure you wouldn't react with undue agression, and to make sure that this area was still in Abh hands. The convoy waits in Hyperspace for our all clear signal. Do we have clearance to send it?

The transmission sounded through the observatory as the technical crew worked on placing signals and scanning the ship. Two Paryunu destroyers drifted pass the station as they turned broadside to face the newly arrived craft.

"Inform Mistress Nicci that her attention is requested here on the station."

"Yes ma'am. I'll try to get a hold of her and bring her up on the holo grid."

Nicci was down on the planet going over more paper work in the absence of Lord Rahl while he was away fighting. Kahlan was going back and forth and helping where she could as well but a planet was a large thing to govern. Kahlan was usually away hearing many of the feudal governors concerns and needs. "Mistress Nicci, there is a call from orbital command. A SeaQuestian ship has just passed through the gate claiming to have brought cargo to help increase trade activity between our nations."

The woman slid the parchment she was working on off to the side and placed the feathered pin back in its ink capsule. Her wooden chair scrapped against the stone as she stood and made her way around the laden table to the holo pad. Her image was immediatly transmitted to the orbiting station above D'Hara. "Greetings commander."

Commander Ranklif bowed. "Mistress."

"Send me through to the SeaQuestian ships."

"Right away."

Nicci's image was projected to the SeaQuestian commander in all due speed. "I am Mistress Nicci, leader of D'Hara while Lord Rahl is away. It has been some time since we have had contact with your nation and I must say what I have heard from our intelligence agency does not sit well with many so you will have to forgive us if we seem a little forward at the moment. Our destroyers are under orders not to fire without reasonable intent. So, as long as you don't twitch the wrong way all should be well. Now, what is this cargo that you have which will increase our interaction?"

Opening a live comm channel with the Abh for the Captain, the Magic Of Myth also took the initative(sp?) to pull up everything she could find in her data banks about the Abh.

Meanwhile, the ship's Captain responded to Mistress Nicci:

"Pleasure to meet you ma'am. I'm Captain James West.

"As for the cargo, I'm sure you recall our old Stargates, or at least have heard about them. To the best of my understanding the convoy waiting in Hyperspace is carrying components for a modular space based version known as a Supergate.

"By connecting the Abh nation to the Supergate network would decrease travel time down to almost instantly between our nations instead of the lengths of time it can take through Hyperspace, Slipstream, and pretty much all other known forms of superluminal drive.

"Also, as a bonus, due to the fact its modular, we can make it any size we want so as to accomidate(sp?) even the largest ships."

He pressed a few keys on a console. The image Mistress Nicci was seeing would switch from him and a limited view of his bridge to an animated rotating three-dimensional model of a completed Supergate.

In the background, the Captain's voice could still be heard.

"Now, do I have clearance to tell the ships waiting in Hyperspace that its all right for them to come out or not?"

OOC: Abh, IIRC, aren't all Hyperspace Gates supposed to always open from the inside? IIRC, its due to that a ship in distress could be salvaged if in Real Space, but lost forever in Hyperspace, or something along those lines.

(SQ, do you have MSN!?)

(SQ, do you have MSN!?)
OOC: Yes, but I don't use it much as it lags my computer up a bit at times. If you want my MSN address, I'll TG it to you.

OOC: Yes, but I don't use it much as it lags my computer up a bit at times. If you want my MSN address, I'll TG it to you.

TG it then >_>

TG it then >_>
OOC: TG has been sent, TCG.

OOC: That is only if the gate is not locked. If it is locked, you would have to input the proper code to activate the gate system and that code you would not have.

IC:
Nicci studied the gate for some time while her technical staff ran it through data processes in the background. "Something along this magnitude would require the authorization of the Abh Emperor, however I believe the gate can be set up for the time being unless there is a problem. If such a problem arises, we will promptly have it sent back to your nation."

Paper work was handed to the woman from off screen as she took and read over it. "There is a catch though. Your gate cannot be built here for several reasons but I have just received a system that will be ideal for this operation. Orbital command here will be sending you the coordinants for the Aptic jump gate. There you may set up shop so to speak. We wish you a safe journey."

Behind the SeaQuestian ship, the jump gate activated opening the portal back into Hyperspace.

OOC: Gotcha.

IC: Switching the transmission back to a view of the bridge instead of the Supergate diagram, the Magic Of Myth, feeling like showing off a little, performed a neat flip and headed back for the reopened Jump Gate. The fact she was now upside down compared to the relative position of the Abh assets in system was not a concern to either the ship's A.I. command and control entity nor her crew.

"Acknowledged and understood," replied Captain West, "Until we meet again, Mistress Nicci."

With a polite nod, the transmission cut out just as the XMC re-entered Hyperspace. Relaying the co-ordinates for the Aptic Jump Gate to the rest of the ships, she re-oriented herself so she was once again right-side up compared to the other ships as they set off for their new destination.

Nicci had worked fast to alert Empire Star Forces controlling the Aptic Region that a SeaQuestian fleet would be approaching their gate in mere moments. By the time that the fleet would arrive, it would fine the gate unlocked and prepared to open upon their command. Outside would be the small garrison forces appointed to guard the planet. Weapon's systems were online merely as a precaution and also because protocol called for it.

The signal to open the Aptic Jump Gate was transmitted by the Magic Of Myth. As a sign of good faith, she and the rest of the escorting HCBG had all offensive systems off-line while defensive systems were left on a hair trigger. The HCBG ships interspersed themselves with the frieghters as the fleet moved into Real Space. Amazingly, amoungst the dozen or so freighters was a converted and modified Independence class multi-purpose transport that had long since retired from her military service that dwarfed all the other ships in the convoy fleet, even the escorting High Guard ships.

As the XMC's A.I. let the local Abh forces know what they were doing, the Independence and the other freighters either opened up bays and used tractor beams to the Supergate wedges out into space or just unlatched them from the hull. Once all the wedges were free, several dozen mecha launced from the Independence. Their yellow-and-black color scheme identifying them as construction units.

The construction mecha, using the four humanoid arm-like limbs and the fully articulated hand-like manipulators at the ends that were attached to the humanoid-like torso along with several manipulators that were decidely non-humanoid in origin to manuever the wedges into place. The sensors, control systems, and communications gear mounted in the 'head' and engines mounted on the 'back', gave them surprising agility and co-operation in this lengthy procedure.

The garrison forces steadily eased back to allow the SeaQuestians to go about their business and set up shop. Elsewhere, traffic came and went as was usual with many more transports coming than going. Aptic required resources to sustain itself mostly food and the likes. The blue planet below sat quietly as everyone went about their daily routines.

It would take few hours to properally position and align all the Supergate's wedges. Then would come the part where each had its systems checked and tested. Next the new Supergate would be brought on-line with pairs of colored beams of energy between each and every wedge which were transfering power, allowing inter-wedge communication, and generally keeping the structure's shape intact. The standard color for the beams of energy was a vivid blue that helped to serve as a navigational warning for some of the smaller ships that could fit between the wedges. Then, and only then, would the Supergate, made up of enough wedge sections to give it an inner diameter of ten klicks wide, large enough to fit the Indepedence on her return trip as well as other large craft, would be given a test 'dial'. Though, unlike the old Stargates that had been used by SeaQuest long, long ago, the new Supergates had no characteristic plume of unstable energy emerging as the event horizon formed. These days, it shimmered into existance like it had been cloaked instead of non-existant.

Fluid Time Later...

Now that Supergate was in place and fully tested, it was open for buisiness. A connection shimmered open moments before a SeaQuestian freighter carrying a load of five-thousand kilograms of anti-matter. SeaQuestian records had indicated that the Abh used matter/anti-matter power plants for their ship. The fact that the ESUS had declared war on the GFFA, which the Abh nation was still a member of, last anyone in SeaQuest knew, hadn't gone un-noticed by the SeaQuestian goverment. Thus, this cargo was choosen as a gesture of good faith.

As the incoming wormhole closed, an outgoing one opened to allow the original group of ships, excluding the Magic Of Myth to return home faster than they would have taken via Hyperspace or Slipstream. In the mean time, the XMC informed the Abh of the newly arrived frieghter's cargo and why it was there, just to be on the safe side. Also included in the message from the XMC was the offer of SeaQuestian anti-matter production facilities being placed in Abh space with the sole purpose of providing anti-matter for whatever the Abh wanted.

OOC: I'm going to RP as if some information was lost and other data altered during the long absence from interaction between SQ and the Abh. So, expect a few intentional out-of-date references and mispellings.

The cargo was graciously accepted and was directed towards the anti-matter fueling station in the region where it could be unloaded and placed into stasis. Anti-substance fuel had been upgraded over the years to provide more efficient fuel for the ships but anti-matter was still critical in their anti-matter warheads.

A thank you and good journey home message was sent to the freightor and the fleet it belonged to.

As the frieghter was unloaded, Captain West transmitted a message inviting the Abh to send a representative to tour the Magic Of Myth. Alot of the more recent SeaQuestian tech had been based on records of techs used by other nations, Abh included. He figured that if the Abh based tech used in modorn SeaQuestian ships could be recreated by the Abh, then it was only fitting seeing as how they had created the originals in the records that SeaQuest's were based on.

Then there was the matter of a specially designed and built fighter that was to be transfered to the Abh for study. It lacked classified SeaQuestian tech, but the basic principles behind what it had been given in exchange wouldn't be unfamiliar to Abh scientists and engineers. It was being saved as a surprise for after the tour of the XMC was over.

Luckily there was an Abriel in the system from the Wescol family that had been touring the outlying provinces controlled by the Abh Empire. It was currently his leave from active duty at the moment and there was still the matter of government to attend to even with a war present. Care of one's subjects was still crucial in any eventuality.

Still young by Abh standards, in his late forties and not looking a day over twenty-one, Fesruyle noticed that his Clyuno was lighting up from an incoming message. A tour of a SeaQuestian ship based off other tech including Abh? Now this would be interesting to see. The meeting with the president from Aptic was a rather boring one at best. It must be getting close to election time as the speech was firey and full of life with requests to ensure that defense was maintained and an increase in merchant ships. Yes, a distraction would be nice at the moment.

It wasn't long before a small ship exited the orbital station and headed towards the lead ship where he would take the tour.

This is Abriel Nei Douel Dreuc Parhynr Fesruyle to tour the ship Magic of Myth.

A bit of Baronh was accidently slipped in but the small slight was forgiveable as it was merely his title.

The XMC's A.I. responded:

Greetings. Your approach vector has been cleared.

As the A.I.'s message was sent to the Abh shuttle, the armored doors covering the port side hanger slid open. They would remain open even after the shuttle had passed through the containment field keeping the vast chamber from venting atmosphere and allowing rapid entry and exit of vessels without having to cycle through pressurizing and depressurizing the hanger.

Waiting for the arrival of their guest was Captain West and the gynoid avatar of the ship, known to the crew as 'Mag' or 'Maggie'.

Curious about the Abh's piloting skills, the A.I. didn't ask if remote piloting by the A.I. or towing by bucky cables was wanted to bring the shuttle in.

Fesruyle eased the ship around and into the docking bay. Sensors around the ship showed that the atmosphere was stable. A small stair case on the side of the vessel lowered revealing the Abriel in his military regal with a golden double-winged tiara. His blue cape fell down about his calves while he wore the golden emblem of the Abh Empire on his left breast, the head dragon. His boots clicked the stairs as he descended.

He found the Captain standing off to the side. Fesruyle walked over and snapped a salute. "Welcome to Aptic."

As the ship's A.I. played the standard three-note bosun whistle tune reserved for visiting V.I.P.'s over the hanger's intercom, Captain West returned the salute followed by the still-in-style bow used in SeaQuest as a formal greating since the beginning of the nation. "Mag" simply inclined her head in a semi-half-bow.

"Welcome aboard the Magic Of Myth. I'm Captain James West and my silent compainion here is called 'Mag'. She's one of the ship's avatars," said West as he straightened up, "If you sensors pick up Shadow-ish readings from the ship, you need not worry. Having been left to our own devices for so long, we've incorporated Shadow bio-armor into our own bio-skin and other Shadow based techs into the ship alongside tech from Vorlon and other sources as well."

OOC: That reminds me. Technically, the Shadow War RP arc was never finished.

OOC: Loss of interest really from other players.

IC:

"That is not a problem. It's a military tactic to use your enemy's weapon against them and we have used bio-armor on some of our ships as well. So what have you here to show me?"

OOC: Ahh, understood. That would explain it.

IC: Silently, West mentally noted that this Abh didn't seem that impressed. Of course, it could just be that he wasn't aware the full extent that Vorlon and Shadow tech tended to be incompatable, to say the least. It had taken some doing to get them from trying to whipe each other out and co-opporate. No one was really sure how it was finally accomplished, but it was suspected that the Kirishiac tech had something to do with it in combination with other items incorporated.

"I was thinking we could start the tour with engineering and work our way up to the bridge," said the Captain with a slight smile in his eyes.

He knew from personal experience how first-timers usually reacted when they first show an XMC's AP reactor. Even he was taken aback the first time he had saw one.

"If you would follow me please."

West led Fesruyle through doors, down corriders, in and out of turbolifts, and down ladders before ending up outside a door that was just big enough to let one person through at a time. The Captain activated the control to open the door and gestured for Fesruyle to procede him and 'Maggie'. On the other side was a split path. If one went straight, they would end up on a catwalk overlooking the reactor. If one took the other path to the side, they would wind up in an enclosed control room with banks of monitors, displays, and controls.

OOC: Picture the canon Andromeda core, if you can. I can't find a picture.

OOC: Bump for Abh.

OOC: Sorry about the delay. My interest in NS has lessened as of late.

IC:
Fesruyle took the path that would lead to the catwalk overlooking the reactor. "So tell me captain, how did you manage to have the Vorlon technology and Shadow technology to cooperate with one another without managing to destroy the ship?"

OOC: A'right. Not a problem.

IC: West shrugged and replied, "To be honest, that's not my area of expertise. I prefer to let the experts and specialists handle that stuff. Though, as I understand it, it has to do with something about the Kirishiac tech, Torvalus tech, Mindrider tech, Walker tech, Triad tech, Lorien tech, and other First One tech we've either aquired or come across combined with what he had before hand. Its something about the way everything interacts that makes it work. Hell, I'm not even sure the designers know how they did it.

"As for this," he gestures at the massive core, "its only part of what makes the ship work. The exotic matter pulsar is in a bay some decks below us. Then their are the secondary, auxilary, and teritary power sources elsewhere in engineering. Would you care to see them all, or would you rather we continue the tour of the rest of the ship?"

OOC: Bump at Abh's request.

Fesruyle sort of smirked. "That is a lot of technology neatly packed into one ship. The sheer amount of logistics, planning, and engineering that went into this ship is something I don't envy about any worker."

His gaze skipped from one part of the ship to the next as the tour continued. "Well let's see what else you have to show me."

"We've had lots of time to work on it," replied West before leading the way to the next stop.

The tour made stops at various points around the ship, including the bridge, the multi-level crew dining facility, the observation deck, hydroponics, and other facilities and areas of the ship that reflected the advancements since last the two nations met. In the end, they wound up in front of a shroud covered object in a small alcove in the starboard hanger.

"This is the first production version of a fighter class we are willing to provide your nation," West said as 'Maggie' pulled the cloth covering the craft off, "The preliminary class name is Hel'Zha, the design is a heavy fighter. This one is of a version focusing primarily on energy weapons. There is also a version that mounts the same weapons as a Whitestar, only on a smaller scale, and another used by us. Though, we can also provide alternate versions to suit your needs."

The Hel'Zha class (http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b91/SeaQuest_Sim/Schematics/SeaQuestian%20Commonwealth/Ships/Helzha.gif) heavy fighter had the same Vorlon inspired adaptive armor used on the original Whitestars the class was inspired by in the design department. The class also carried two quad AP cannons, dorsal and ventral micro-mine launcer strips (one across each side of the spine), three heavy neutrino guns, and a spinally mounted X-ray laser for offensive purposes. Power was a Quantum/Gravitic Reactor generations ahead of previously known models. The gravitic drive fins gave the Hel'Zha class heavy fighter, no matter the varient, a class A+ agility level and twice the speed and acceleration of a Nial. The gravitic technology also provide inertial dampning so the pilot could take the G-forces created from high speed maneuvers and other high G generating moves as well as providing, co-incidently, a light gravitic defense barrier due to the interaction of the AG fields from the engine and cockpit areas.

"Care to take her for a spin?" inquired 'Maggie' in a tone that indicated she had more to do with the Hel'Zha than just transporting this one to the Abh.

OOC: I'm going to be setting this RP in the new SQ2032 timeline. This means its set after the fall of old SQ and SSQ. This way, I'm reforging old ties formed by the old SQ with the new SQ2032 that were pretty much lost to history.

Since there last encounters, the Abh had developed several fighters of their own in a short amount of time. Some armed to the teeth while others were somewhat traditional. No matter what kind of fighter it was, it would still require an Abh touch. They had made miraculous conversations in the Vorlon armor and took it to new hights by combining their alpha ports into the armor. All together it was a completely new experience and even inhanced protection psionic attacks as well as creating a completely new bond with ship and pilot.

Fesruyle walked along the side of the ship while judging it for himself. "Well open it up and let's see what she can handle."

West nodded at 'Maggie' who then remotely opened the cockpit. The controls were all in the last known Abh dialect on SeaQuestian records. Even the chair had the usual Abh features. In fact, it looked almost exactly like the captain's chair in the old recordings of Bridger's memories of when he toured the Abh patrol ship(?) all those years ago during the first encounter of the two nations.

Near-by, two of one of the SeaQuestian varients of the fighter were slid from their berths. The golden Kirishiac/Vorlon hybrid adaptive armor of this varient identified them as an early test varient and not a full production varient, which would have the full SeaQuestian photomorphic regenerative adaptive bio-skin. These would be used to deploy target drones from their micro-mine launchers for Fesruyle to try out the Abh varient on.

OOC: Basically, this version was optimized for use by Abh (there's even a slot for that link thing (or whatever its called)). If you want an alternate varient for your humans, just ask and I'll IC'ly whip one up and deliver it to you.
Oh, and main differences between the fighter's chair and the original its based on in the recordings, are that this one carries its own AG field, seperate from the others, that not only enhances inertial dampning abilities in flight, but also provides the same in case the pilot needs to eject (whole cockpit module seperates) and that the fighter's is form fitting to a degree that one size really does fit all, in a manner of speaking (so no need to adjust the seat, which can be distracting in a dog-fight).
Target Drones: Small (about the size of an average person's hand), triangular drones that are armed with a weak axial pulse laser (not powerful enough to cause damage, but still strong enough to let the pilot know when he/she has been hit). Their basic gravitic technology puts their speed and agility on par with Zephyr 109 light fighters. TBH, they are best used for this purpose, but in emergencies can be used as a PD swarm or an last resort offensive measure. They are cheap and quite easy to mass produce in swarm sized bulk quantity.

Fesruyle moved into the pilot's chair and plugged in his phroc and in some ways becoming one with the ship. The piloting gauntlet on his left seemed adequate enough and responded to his touch in quick sucession.

Without further adue, he moved the fighter out to get a feel for it. The handling was in good shape as well as its acceleration functions. Only thing left was to test out the weapon systems.

The two Imperial Commonwealth varients slipped out soon after Fesruyle did. Banking so that each would come around on opposite sides, the pilots randomly decided to show off. Thus, as they passed Fesruyle's craft, barely a centimeter seperated the hulls. Once they were past, however, they accelerated and released twenty-four target drones each. A simple comms message was sent to inform Fesruyle that they could release more if he wanted.

Fesruyle brought the light craft around to bear on the targets. He could sense the proximity of every being in his area of space as well as their orientation. The targeting system before him was simply a secondary protocol for use but it still worked effectively enough as he fired at the first target with the main energy weapons moving along to the next target and the next while trying out different weapon features.

OOC: Abh, if you wish, feel free to RP this part yourself. If not, then I'll do what I can. Either way, let me now so I can prep the proper IC response.

ooc: just assume that all the targets were destroyed.

ooc: just assume that all the targets were destroyed.

OOC: A'right.

IC: West and 'Maggie' watched Fesruyle from the open hanger bay manipulate his craft better than expected on the first try as he destroyed all the target drones first deployed and all others that the Imperial Commonwealth varients carried.

Once all three Hel'Zhas had returned and Fesruyle had exited his, West asked, "So, how do like it?"