NationStates Jolt Archive

After the harrowing battle on the edge of Thrashian space between rogue pirates and ex-military types, the Empire of Thrashia encountered a new nation amongst the stars. Wishing to learn more from these beings from another star system and perhaps propagate good relations between the Empire and them, an olive branch was offered: the chance to visit Thrashian space and greet the Emperor and his court. Whether or not good relations could be brought to fruitition with these Vuhifellians, as they called themselves, remained to be seen.

Tight Beam Communications Transmission
Location of Meeting Place
Received by the Vuhifellian


Opel System

Sitting within his private suit aboard the orbiting space station above the planet Braxus, Moff Gerard considered the meeting to come. He amongst all the other Moffs on the council had been chosen to help host the diplomatic talks with the Vuhifellian Federation (as they were known to the Thrashians). It had been an important political victory over Moff Grice, the original Moff responsible for contacting the Emperor with news of the contact with them. And also because the Tettrea System which Grice oversaw was simply an industrial eye-sore.

Opel was much different. Of its eight planets, each was a paradise. A vast amount of the Empire's food stuffs were produced from the fertile soil on those planets. And her citizens had prospered as well. Braxus, the regional capital planet, had thrived in particular amongst artisans and architects. Over the past thirty years of peace it had grown into a heavenly sight; great aqueducts and amphitheatres littered amongst the cities and smaller towns. The capital on Braxus, the city of Neo Byzantium, was an echo of ancient Hellenistic art-taste.

But for the moment Gerard was torn from his governor's palace and subjected to greeting the new arrivals when they came in from hyperspace or whatever form of FTL that they employed. A small group of academia were waiting in the wings to swoop down on them, if Gerard gave them leave. Since news of the arrangement had been spread across Braxus, a festive vibe had run rampant through the entire planet population.

"Just so long as afterwards I get to sleep," mumbled Gerard as he stared out a viewport into space.

VFS Ozaraki Maru
Trans-Light Route to Verzone 11 System

"Exiting the slipstream in five - four - three - two - we're here!"

A bright flash of white light, and the painful inter-dimensional turbulence as the frigate scraped its way back into normal space, and Captain Tsujimoto knew she was at the designated meeting point.

"VFS Ozaraki Maru, hailing across all frequencies. We carry the official delegation of the Vuhifellian Federation to the Empire of Thrasia. Please respond, over."

The frigate, FFG-771, was painted in regal white and blue instead of the standard black. Her intercept fighters in the hanger bay were replaced by civilian dropships and landing pods. If it weren't for the massive MAC gun spanning the entire ship (all three-hundred meters of it), it would have been a completely civilian vessel.

Orbital Docking Station Condor

"VFS Ozaraki Maru be advised we have you on our scanners. Welcome to Thrashian space," replied the communications officer inside the command bridge of the Condor. "You are cleared for docking at sub-station B along the south axis platform."

The Condor, which was use to accommodating Imperial Star Destroyers, had no problem in guiding the Vuhifellian vessel to a large docking port by which its crew and delegation could step through onto the station. The docking station itself was busy with other traffic. Several Imperial-class and Venator II-class Star Destroyers were either docked or in the process of leaving or docking. Smaller tugs and merchant vessels wound their way through the myriad interlocking dock stations. PDF police cruisers maneuvered around, mostly to help keep traffic from building up. When the Ozaraki Maru was docked and the air lock in place, the dock's ventral doors were opened to allow entrance.

Waiting inside was a full company of Imperial Stormtroopers wearing brilliantly shined armour standing at stiff attention. Rows of olive drab, black, and field gray uniformed officers stood beside them. Other men dressed in expensive clothes and suits, highly placed members of the Trade and Industrial Guilds were also waiting, in a much less orderly fashion.

Standing between the stormtroopers in the corridor they created was Moff Gerard with an amicable look of curiosity and good will on his face. As the Vuhifellians came into the dock area Moff Gerard bowed in formal greeting along with the civilians. The military greeting party snapped to a quick and uniform attention, causing a short burst of sound as 300 armoured boot heels came together simultaneously.

"Welcome," said Gerard, standing up straight and walking forward. "Welcome to the Empire of Thrashia, and most specifically the Opel System. I am Moff Gerard Forner, but please call me simply Moff Gerard. I am the system governor of Opel."

Compared to the other ships in the region, it felt just like being a yacht at a major Vuhifellian space-port. But they were proud Vuhifellians, conducting an honorable service to their nation.

The Vuhifellian delegation, not to be out-done in the art of first-impressions, consisted on several marines and ODST, simultaneously saluting and unloading their weapons as a sign of peace. Done through neural communications, it would appear as if the entire formation had spent days choreographing the exact movements.

From the bay of the frigate, after the military delegation, came a rather short man, with greenish-yellow hair. A half-breed back in Vuhifell; an exotic guest in outer space.

"Greetings governor. I am Dr. Hal Eberschmidt of the Vuhifellian Federation. I am pleased to be the envoy to the Empire of Thrasia appointed directly by the Prime Minister herself."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Dr. Eberschmidt," replied Gerard. He motioned with his hand for the ceremonial guard to be dismissed and the respective officers went to it more muted than they usually would have. Gerard motioned for the Vuhifellian to follow alongside him.

"We are pleased to finally meet an official representative of the Vuhifellian Federation. Our first contact with your federation had much to be desired of normal diplomatic communication. However his Excellency has said that perhaps it was one of the best, if however unorthodox, for our two nations to find trust in one another via the heat of battle. Few other ways are more trying and exemplary to prove a nation to another," said Gerard.

The group left the docking hangar and entered the metallic white halls of the station. A small escort of Stormtroopers and of the Vuhifellian Marines followed, men of other civilian matters following on their heels.

"I trust your journey was pleasant? If not then this evening should more than make up for it!" smiled Gerard. "His Excellency is most eager to meet with you. I'm afraid he won't arrive until later, but I'm sure you will excuse him for matters of state."

"Heh, I'm getting too old to be shot through the galaxy at faster-than-light speeds," he commented, sticking his thumb back towards the docking bay where the frigate lay.

"Yes, the different ethnicites of our world have differing customs when it comes to first contact. As of late, the Aneans have risen to power. They are a strong people, and would agree with you on that point. The cabinet gives the Thrasian Empire its thanks in hosting our meeting in your space. With the recent..." he coughed for a bit, tapping his chest while doing so, "Insurrection...we would not be able to safe-guard your security in our space. So, Moff Gerard, is it? What does your nation have the dear doctor do?"

ooc: "What does your nation have the dear doctor do?" ? Eh?

ooc: "What does your nation have the dear doctor do?" ? Eh?

[OOC: What do you want to discuss with Dr. Eberschmidt. He'll speak bad English a few times, so bear with him]

Gerard smiled at the shorter gentlebeing. "Well dear Doctor, we'll be going shortly to the planet's surface. We've prepared a banquet in your honor. If you follow me we can leave to the shuttle right now. As for your ship and it's crew, they are to be given the run of the station here. It has several restaurants, a small shopping center, and other places for R&R. While it is a military installation, the Condor is also where several Fleet personnel live with their families. There is even a park on deck 4, section A. More than a square mile in size if memory serves correctly."

The small party entered another, smaller hangar. A Lambda-class shuttle was waiting, prepped for launch. Gerard turned to the doctor and dismissed the stormtroopers.

"Your marines may accompany you, though there is no real need. The Planetary Defense Force will have personnel swarming the streets to make sure security is kept, and the Emperor's Guard is already at my palace on Braxus where they shall receive us. Shall we go?"

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"Wonderous. Lieutenant Walker, stand by on station on the Big-O, will you?"

"Yes, sir!" the marine lieutenant snapped a crist salute, turned on his heel, and led his troops back the way they came towards the Vuhifellian frigate.

"Mr. Gerard; I have brought an ininerary of issues my government wishes to speak with yours about; chief among them is your recent application into the ITF and the prosperity it will bring to our nations. Might I have the honor of speaking to the emperor this evening?"

The Lambda shuttle they walked onto was a special model, specifically fitted for a comfortable journey. The seats were unorthodox, leather with lots of padding. A small drink dispenser was within hands reach, built into the wall. A beautiful young woman wearing a trimmed version of a pilot's flight suit stood waiting. She bowed to both Moff Gerard and Dr. Eberschmidt. Gerard nodded kindly to her and told her to get the craft ready to depart at once. The system governor and the Vuhifellian envoy sat down across from each other.

"But of course Dr. Eberschmidt. His Excellency I am told will arrive just before dinner. I think it would not be a problem to discuss a few of your agendas with him then," replied Gerard. "But for now I direct your attention to the viewing ports. It will not be something you want to miss."

The shuttle rumbled to life and exited the station, the station crew getting out of the way and the Vuhifellian marines giving a last salute. With skillful maneuvering the pilot had them out of the hangar and moving through the acacia of ships around the orbital station. The light from the nearby star illuminated the area of space they were in, creating a show of light and shadow as the hustle and bustle of the ships moved around them. Dozens of warships and twice that in merchant marine vessels moved around to a carefully choreographed dance, the sounds of the traffic control center barely audible over the transmission lines.

"What you see around you is but one of four orbital docking stations. Two are twice the size of the Condor but are mostly reserved either for exclusive Fleet use or for the Merchant Guilds," commented Gerard. "At any one time there are between two hundred to five hundred merchant ships of all shapes and size moving through Condor alone. We have many ships from Chronosia, Unified Sith, Balrogga, and other nations we are allied to visit for trade and other prospects."


The shuttle left behind the massive station and the fleet of ships moving about it on one errand or another, and headed straight down to the planet. Braxus awaited them.

Braxus had been colonized more than fifty years before when the Thrashian Expeditionary Fleet had arrived to search for planets to live on and exploit their innate resources for the rebuilding of Thrashia after the awful civil war within the Galactic Empire Alliance some time ago under a different regime. The Opel system had since changed, as had Thrashia itself.

The planet was what some considered a water-world, in that more than 50% of its surface was covered in water. The rest was a collection of island continents and myriad groupings of archipelagoes. They were having summer on the side of the planet where Moff Gerard had his palace, within the city of Neo Athenia.

The shuttle slowed down to a snails pace as they came into view of the city. Massive sky-scrapers that dwarfed war ships towered above like ancient sentinels. Sky lanes were filled with hover cars of all colors and tastes, carefully patrolled by blue colored PDF cars. The shuttle passed one giant building the size of the Condor. "That is the Braxus Library," smiled Gerard as he noticed Dr. Eberschmidt's curiosity and excitement. "Its only one-eight the size of the one on Pol-Kamra, our homeworld and the Empire's capitol. All told, some 4 million hard-backed books along with several thousands pieces of art and other things of a artistic nature."

The shuttle passed the Braxus library and came to a slow descent around a pair of buildings that were formed in the shape of an ocean wave, each complimenting the other, and each looking just like the blue ocean with all their blue, glass windows. Waiting below was a landing pad. A company of PDF was waiting in their blue Dress Uniforms. Also a small group of six men wearing a strange pattern of stormtrooper armour with red half-capes over their shoulders.

The shuttle ramp came down and Gerard led Dr. Eberschmidt down and the waiting party snapped to attention. A small lyrical band nearby struck up a lilting tune that had the adverse effect of making one move ones feet to the beat. The six soldiers snapped to attention as Moff Gerard stepped forward.

"You are dismissed, sergeant 101-B," Gerard told the foremost Imperial Guard. He turned to the doctor. "Shall we."

He led the doctor off the platform and onto a cobble-stoned plaza. Each stone was a different color from the one next to it. It stretched on in all directions for what seemed like forever. Trees inside their own small plots of earth were positioned along. At the center of the plaza was a colossus of an ancient warrior holding a round shield and a long spear. He was kneeling, holding his shield out, and readying his spear ready for a thrust. The colossus was made entirely of bronze. Around it was a great fountain that would periodically spray water into the air. Thrashian citizens walked around the plaza, women and children and men. Families enjoyed the air and cool breeze, their children jumping all over the seats and a few more adventurous climbing in the larger trees. PDF officers walked around making sure none of the trees were harmed, but in most cases minded not at all and just kept the children from hurting themselves.

"This is the Plaza de Atreus. Named for the statue you see. That is one of the ancient emperors of Thrashia long ago when we were still living on Terra," said Gerard. They continued walking until they reached a magnificent ziggurat made from lime stone, carvings and artistic reliefs were carved into the walls and columns lined the top. "This is my home." They came to stop inside a large atrium where servants appeared and took any coats. Gerard led the envoy into a small side study where they could talk until dinner.

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[OOC: Sorry for the delay; internet's been on the fritz with my new PC]

IC:

The doctor marveled at the massive city, not hiding his wide smile.

It was rumored, that long ago, on Vuhifell's original homeworld; there was a city more magnificent than this one. With a sky that burned golden; skyscrapers that touched the limits of the atmosphere; and the city itself taking up an entire continent; it was rumored to be one of the most magnificent cities in the galaxies.

Of course, the doctor knew not if the rumors were true. But he had always dismissed them as far-fetched. Maybe this was the city that has been revered by the Vuhifellians for so long?

"Mr. Gerard. This is a beautiful city; if I may speak outside of diplomatic barriers? This city...this world...the only true thing that is greater than this world is Heaven itself!"

(OOC: Don't worry, I've been out of it with RL issues and school as well)

IC:

Moff Gerard smiled at the shorter gentleman. "Indeed Dr. Eberschmidt, that was the aim that I set when I was first given the rights and rank of System Governor. When I chose Braxus as my system capitol I wanted it to be an example of the magnificence and imagination that Man can be.

"While we Thrashians are renown for our martial prowess, we also enjoy our architectural and artistic achievements as well, as well as many other fields of expertise. Perhaps after we've achieved a treaty or agreement between our peoples your government can send artisans and engineers to study here at the Imperial Guilds Academy, where men and women study such things."

Gerard led the Vuhifellian diplomat into his private study. It was a large room in the sense that the ceiling was thirty feet high, but very narrow. It was lined with books and pieces of art. The floor was carpeted with a thick, rich red-colored rug. A large desk was at the end of the room, behind which stood a window as tall as the ceiling went, giving anyone a view of the Plaza de Atreus. Several chairs were sitting in front of the desk. Gerard motioned for Dr. Eberschmidt to sit in one and he took up a place in another facing him. As soon as they sat down a servant entered with a tray, atop which was a pair of gold embossed porcelain china cups and a tray of cookies. Gerard took his own cup after Eberschmidt took his.

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