NationStates Jolt Archive

...2 weeks earlier...

Captain Larkus stepped through the gates of the Eyrie Citadel having just concluded his meeting with the Admrialty and Clan Lords. When the doors opened and he came into clear view flashes burst all around him and the shouting became so intense his senses seemed to be under attack. He took another blind step and missed the step entirely, luckily one of the Arderian Guard with him put out a hand to steady him.

The Captain had just returned home after a two year exploration mission. He had seen most of the local area around Kharik and met with many races and civilizations. This was sort of the first step for the Tidani in breaking out of their isolationist ways. The trip had inspired many tales, most lies or at least exagerated to the point where the original boring story could hardly be recognized, which now filled the theatres and homes of most of Kharik. This made the actual Captain Larkus an instant celebrity even though he was not in a single one of the films and hated all the extra attention.

He now approached the thick of the croud and as he did so the shouts became frantic. "What was it like Captain?" "Did you meet any interesting aliens?" "Is there anything you would like to share with us that isn't in the official report?" "Still getting your land legs back?"

The last one brought on a bit of laughter that interrupted the mobs interogation. Larkus and his guards pushed through the group and boarded the transport craft. He settled himself in the seat and finally relaxed.

"It's so hot in here. Someone open a window... oh that's right you can't for security reasons, well then get the air flowing or something." Larkus demanded as he wiped the sweat from his face.

The vidscreen flashed to life indicating an incomming connection and identifying the caller. Larkus activated the console.

"Doc, how is my crew?" He said.

The doctor narrowed his eyes slightly as though he were scrutinizing the image of Captain Larkus. "Not good Captain. I'm looking at a 100% infection rate. The virus is so far undetectable until symptoms appear, at which point no method I have tried yet has any effect. No fatalities yet, but the way this virus works it is only a mater of time. I'm overriding your orders and cancelling your tour. If you are infected as well, which I have every reason to believe, there is no telling how many could have been infected. Depending on how quickly this thing mutates and spreads we could be looking at an epidemic by the end of the week."

"Right. Keep me informed. I'll be heading back to the base for tests."

When the channel closed Larkus cursed. The two guards gave each other a nervous look and attached their bio masks.

Many cries of scandel and foul surrounded the cancelling of the Captain's tour. Many in the media thought that the powers at be were becoming nervous at Larkus' growing fame and had him stopped. Other rumors spread like a virus.

If only they had known the real reason, though there is nothing they could have done if they had. And panic without purpose is chaos.

...Present Day...

"...So today I have accepted the support of the House of Clans and take upon myself the title of King of Tidan. I take the yoke of leadership from the late Grand Admiral Starfall, beloved ruler and symbol of the avians' care and love for our people. While it is still not clear what caused the sudden and violent extinction of their race from this land let us not forget the example they showed us and let us pray Aodh brings them justice for this crime in the next life. My first act as King is to declare tomorrow a national day of morning and rememberance for our feathered brethren."

King Kerain the First exited the press room and was quickly surrounded by advisors seeking his attention.

The Advisor of State made himself known and Kerain silenced the others to hear what he had to say. "Sir, your meeting with the House is set. As you requested the Clanlords are waiting in the conference room to speak with you."

"Very well. I will hear the rest of you after, this must not be delayed any further." He dismissed them and then motioned the State Advisor to lead the way.
____________________________________________________

Kerain was seated at the head of a great table which was filled with leaders of the many clans that made up Tidan. They were very busy discussing many things, which meant little was actually being discussed.

Kerain stood in his place to command the attention of the unruly crowd. He was used to speaking to soldiers and though these lords were not strangers to the battlefield it seemed they had adapted to their new role as politicians too well as of late.

"Lords of Tidan hear my words. First I thank you all for your support in crowning me First King of Tidan in the wake of this recent tragedy. It seems as only a season since the great sleep stole us from our homeland of Albion and Earth, but much has changed since we were taken. As our great avian brothers showed us after the great awakening, the universe has passed us by while we slept. Now that they have also been stolen from us, the question I pose is this. Can we return to the way things were? Have we learned enough in the last few years to take up the machines of industry and agriculture and support our people in this new world? Our caretakers are gone now, and we are but infants in this age. This is how I answer. We will endure. We may suffer and we may bleed but we will not fail and we must not faulter in our resolve to do all that is necessary to ensure this goal. Now what are our most dire needs?"

The Lords looked amongst themselves until finally one of the minor Lords stood. "Sire, this threat is more dire than we know. Some of our druids have been trained in the great observations of nature that marked the advancement of Tidani civilization. They have used the knowledge taught to them to search the results of the investigation of the sickness that broke out during the last two weeks. They tell me that this is a virus of foreign and malign creation. It sought out and destroyed our avian brethren but it has not stopped there. It is spreading through the flora and fauna of this world. We have remained immune because we are not of this world and are not part of the targetted ecosystem. This is more dire than the extinction of our brethren, we will soon face a world devoid of life. If they could have found a way to stop the spread, we can certainly not. We now face our own doom."

At this heavy discussion errupted in the room again. This time Kerain did not have to reign in the Lords as one of their own again demanded the floor. This time the Lord of a prominant clan stood. "What has been said is true. As you all know we Ceburs are well known for our involvement in agriculture since the awakening. Since the death of the Tidani we have seen a drastic drop in production. A drop was expected but not on this scale. Much of the agriculture had already been passed to us and other clans and the machines that automated much of the process were taught to us. We have been keeping them at a level of activity just below the previous state but still harvests drop at an alarming rate. The plants are dying, the animals are dying, and we are powerless to prevent it. In a matter of months this world with all its wonders will no longer be able to sustain us."

Kerain listened carefully and tried to gauge the attitude of the room. "So my brothers, am I right to assume consensus that drastic steps must be made to save our people? That this world is dying at a rate dictating the immediate exodus of our people?"

He paused letting his last statement sink in. This time there was no discussion and no debate. Only sad but determined faces returned his stares.

"Then it is decided. Prepare our people, your families, we must be ready to move. I will contact the friends of our late caretakers and hope some of them will help us."

It took a long time, but eventually ships of the navy were located. Pilots were found and skeleton crews brought ships out from the edge of their territory to Kharik. Ships that were once used for war and security now took formation alongside freighters and transports, liners and shuttles. Every square meter was filled with food, supplies, or people as a planet prepared to abandon their homes. Untainted supplies had arrived from some of their neighboring allies and friends, and they now had enough to make the journey. The Clanlords and King Kerain I poured over endless galactic charts to find a new home suitable. They finally rested on one spot.

The Aphotic Galaxy had long been home to The Inferno of No Endorse, The Eshirian Sovereignty, and The Huntarian Alliance all allies of Tidan though one had collapsed upon itself and ceased to exist. As well, many of Tidan's other allies had begun to take interest in the area recently establishing colonies and holdings there. Many dangerous nations had also shown recent interest there as well like the chaotic and ruthless Chronosians, unpredictable Azahans, and of course the Huntarian Empire. Tidani had once shed blood along side the Godulans in a desperate attempt to save Terrivine, but more recently they had left the GFFA to fight against it. The King and his Clanlords did not know how they would be greeted the next time they met the Godulans, especially now without the Tidani who had once been their friends.
Still despite its dangers the Aphotic was the chosen realm to offer hope to the desperate nation of Tidan.

A massive fleet formed around the dying planet. Every man, woman, and child scrambled to find a seat or a corner of deck plating somewhere. Bays were crammed with shuttles, hoppers, and any other kind of craft capable of making orbit not to mention the refugees. A government orcastrated evacuation attempted to make sure no one was left behind and that everyone found a place on one of the ships in the vast fleet.

When the government was satisfied that all were accounted for messages were sent to their allies informing them that they could no longer be found here. To the Abh they offered the world, in the hope some day they would be able to reverse the disaster and once again life would thrive there. To No Endorse they informed them of their eventual arrival in their space. From the Inferno they would strike out into the unclaimed territories next to the Yukatanian Colonies where they would make their new home. Yukatania was informed of their eventual arrival there, seeking cooperation and information.

Then together the fleet larger than one Tidan had ever fielded for war left orbit and set out into the vastness of space.

The exodus of the orphaned humans of Tidan had begun.