Equestrian Space
"It is you who has a high ego if you think you can just walts into anyone's territory and just enforce your word like it is law. We do not have a ego purely because we want you to stay out of our territory and want to try these pirates on our laws. We will beam any information we can get to you, but you will not be allowed to operate in our space. And the starships we currently pilot aren't any normal starships. They are prototypes, and are very powerful and deadly."

The shields of the ships began raising, as silver cannons began protruding from the ships, Scans of them would reveal a high amount of anti-protons.

Sol System
A small shuttle launched from the Dreadnought of the fleet, and boarded with the main Triarian vessel. The Admiral stepped through, however he was not wearing a enviro-suit, rather he had a talisman on along with a rebreather like device. He was followed by a Unicorn, the unicorn also had a rebreather but didn't seem to have a talisman. A long rifle hung from the Unicorn's battle saddle, and his armor was pure white, with blue glowing streaks across. The unicorn seemed to be Psionic as well, infact it was so strong it was obvious he was on Triarian levels.

"Our main goal should to be reinforce the system as much as possible. To this end there are several moons and asteroid belts, which should also allow us to hide defenses from Imperial notice. Also, there is bound to be some old AIF stations floating around. We have a code sequence that can reactivate them, and they will be useful if we are to defend the galaxy from the imperials." spoke Ironblood, also handing one of the Triarians a small metallic disk, that contained the sequence to reactivate any AIF stations.

Equestrian Space

"Officer Yelyin'dum, arm all weapon systems, including the ARC, and acquire a firing solution for the lead ship" the Fleetmaster ordered her weapons officer. She turned to her comm officer. "Send a message on FLEETCOM ordering all ship to load weapons and prepare to fire and to launch all fighters. Send the following message to the Equestrian ships: We are not afraid to deal with this physically. We may not normally do things like this in your space, but you must make an exception given the nature of Sylve. If you refuse us access to them, we will not have a choice but to take matters into our own hands."

Equestrian Space
"The pirate situation is dealt with. Leave now, if you attack this convoy it will be considered a act of war, and you shall be dealt with accordingly."

Message to the Collective, relayed through Embassy
"A war with Sazkarjhia is likely to occur between us and them. According to the convoy who encountered them they are refusing to leave our space, and are acting as if there word is law. They have threatened to attack the convoy if we do not let them proceed with there mission to hunt the Sylve pirates, even know the situation has been dealt with and is well under control."

Equestrian Space
"Our patience wears thin, leave now."

SCNOSE High Command

"Sir, it's a message from one of the Equestrian patrols." a woman in Sazkarjhit dress military form said as she strode to Supreme Fleetmaster Magama'yum, holding a small projector showing the face of a female Fleetmaster.

"What is it, Fleetmaster?" he asked.

"It's the Equestrians, Sir. We're currently facing off from them in their space and are not permitting us to conduct any kind of mission for locating Sylve, let alone providing information. They have raised arms at us and we have followed suit. As this was delegated straight from you, I wanted to speak with you personally, as I believe that the slightest twitch could turn this standoff into a bloodbath."

"I see...patch me through to them. If a higher and more well-known figure can speak with them, perhaps they can understand better."

"Aye, sir..." there was a pause. "O~kay, you are now online with the ships, they can hear you loud and clear, Sir."

"All right."

"Attention, Equestrian interceptors! This is Supreme Fleetmaster Daraya Magama'yum, leader of the Sazkarjhia Center for Naval Operations and Space Exploration. I understand that you are barring system access from my sailors, and I must ask that you allow them through. Sazkarjhit does not wish to inflict harm onto the Equestrian Empire--if anything, we want to help you. I want you to understand how integral it is that my men can obtain personnel, manifest and any useful information on Sylve. Please consider the following if you are not convinced:

"If a massive group of Equestrian pirates was terrorizing and pillaging every system simultaneously, and there was one kingpin leading the whole thing, you'd want to eliminate that leader, correct? Even if that means you must trespass through other empires' space as the most useful information can be there. Now if you were in our shoes, believe me when I say that Sazkarjhia would have no problem with letting you pass through and get information from us. As we have not in a long time wrongly tread on you, we try not to view you as a threat to the welfare of the Sazkarjhit people. So, I beg that you allow my men to scout around, even if watched, or if you can provide them with what we need. We...we don't need to start a war over something like trying to find pirates."

Equestrian Outer Space
"We already told you, under no circumstances will your vessels be allowed to operate in Equestrian Space. There is a set of limited circumstances, but your circumstance is not one. We will deal with the pirates ourselves."

Equestrian Outer Space

"Son, I want you to listen, and I want you to listen well. You don't understand that it's a problem that was created from Sazkarjhia and will end with Sazkarjhia. We have information on them that you could not fathom. You're not realizing that we need to find these men as they're our species, and you will get nothing useful from them if you try to fight this. Simply 'dealing with the pirates yourselves' will be nothing but ineffective as they'll just reappear. Now I'm going to tell you this one last time: Let my men through to finish their mission, and if you do not then you will face consequences for it."

Equestrian Outer Space
"Your men will not be allowed to operate. Leave."

Equestrian Outer Space

"I see...your refusal will cost you. Perhaps a show of force will change your mind."

He turned off the link and returned to the Fleetmaster. "Order a charge and launch every damn thing in your arsenal. This includes nuclear payloads. If the Equestrians won't listen to us, we'll make them listen to us."

"...Aye, sir."

The projector turned off. The Assault Fleet set all ships to 95% full burn and weapons locks were released. Almost simultaneously, all weapons fired. A brilliant display as streaks of white hot metal, blue plasma, and the smoke trails of missiles and torpedoes shot across the endless expanse of space. The ARC rounds were the first to make contact, exploding brilliantly as more shells rained down. At that point, she realized that war may be inevitable, and to fight a war on two fronts (Three, if the Triarians become involved), would be nearly impossible. But if Sazkarjhia was threatened, she remembered that it is her duty to make sure that her combatants are reduced to hunks of molten slag--no matter the cost.

((Curbstomp War 2.0))

Equestrian Outer Space
The Equestrian ships braced for impact, as the payloads hit there ships. The shields seemed to flicker on and off, several of the massive payloads having hit parts of the generator, considering the punishment they had taken. Major hull damage seemed to have been suffered, but the lead ship appeared to be a unique variation of the class the equestrians were using, the damage was not major to the lead ship but not minor either. Despite the damage suffered It was quite obvious that the shields and alloy of Equestrian ships were well designed and well built.

It was what happened next that was quite scary.

Instead of spreading there weaponry out across the ships, they focused fire on one. All 30 Anti-Proton streamers hit the lead ship, as well as the Gale Missiles. The dark energy began rapidly converting the Sazkarjhit shield into more, severely weakening it. If the Anti-Proton streamers touched the hull, it was likely the Sazkarjhit ships would be destroyed or damaged to the point of no repair, considering the fact that regular matter and Anti-Matter when in contact annihilate each other.

Secure channel, beamed to Equestrian 3rd Fleet
"This is convoy 05, request assistance from Dreadnoughts and carriers."

Real Space
Finch sat idle as his fingers drummed.

"Ma Lord, the whispers bring us news. The invasion force will arrive in the Sol system." Said the man with a Forked tongue.

Finchs eyes widened momentarily as a deep smile crossed his face.

"Well then... we have work to do, It seems the God's have an agenda with the Imperials. See to it that the cultists make the adequate sacrifices. Once we have the imperial Admiral in tow we make way for Sol." Finch said in an almost gleeful manner.

"Will that be all Ma lord?" The Forked tongue asked.

"No. Send word to the Iron Warriors and Red Corsairs to meet us there."

"Of course my lord."

The Tongue left. And Finch continued his drumming but this time an unpleasant smile graced his face.

SOL

The Triarian ships finished setting up the automated defences, and the cargo ships drifted forwards... Slowly, their cargo bays opened and out flowed dozens of strange mines per ship, filling the system with thousands of mines. These mines were one of the latest pieces of Collective military warfare, acting off a principle that space needed a different kind of mine field, these mines were each small automated bombs that would move towards large enemy ships and destroy them. Coupled with the automated defences, it was thought they would cripple the Imperial fleet, the Triarian fleet, with the exception of the main Triarian ship, a large Praetorian, which held Ironclaw on board.

On board

The Equestrians were met by a mass of security, and the Fleet master took the small circular device "State Equestrian battle plan." He nodded to two Synth Soldiers, who closed up the rear behind them

SCNOSE High Command

Fleetmaster Magama'yum shook his head in shame, watching the battle being projected in the War Department Office. General Zanro'kum and Commander Felasi'hum standing next to him.

"They didn't listen, Commander. Those Equestrians were too damn dense to listen." he muttered.

Doman put her hand on his back, patting it gently. "There wasn't much you could do. They were being unreasonable. But concentrated fire from that many ships should have done much more significant damage. It's almost as if the Equestrians are playing god. Regardless, if we're going to battle it out with them, we're going to win our way through this. There has to be a way to win this."

Daraya looked at datasheets on a nearby panel. "Assault Fleet 053 was called in as Assault Fleet 071 has been crippled by the Equestrians. They have a fleet of high-power shield ships, and their flagship is loaded with a Maelstrom Gravity Well."

The battle-weathered commander looked to her naval subordinate. "Order those ships to cover the fleet when they get there and fire that black hole."

"Aye, Ma'am."

Equestrian Outer Space

Graced in the Dawn's shields barely held against the first volley of Anti-Proton streamers, and within seconds their shields were whittled down to nothing. The hull glowed white hot and melted and other sections exploded. Ships began clearing from it as far as possible, because heat that reached near the payload bay for the Super ARC and any one of the three reactors on board would end catastrophically. Eventually, the white hot heat reached the fore loading room of the cannon, and it exploded violently--separating the bow of the cruiser from the rest of the hull. The violent explosion broke through and eventually got to the reactor, causing an equally devastating blast. Only a handful of escape pods were seen jettisoned from the craft. Communications were totally lost.

With no flagship, it was the assault fleet's saving grace when AF053 rushed out of slipspace. The frigate-sized shield ships moved in front of AF071 and projected massive, iridescent energy shields covering the front of the fleet. They were strong enough to hold back most fire from the Equestrians. The flagship of AF071, the PNS Heavenly Descent, now acting-fleet lead for both fleets, sent a message to the enemy warships.

"This is nonsense! Stop your firing at once! If you refuse to do so, one of my gravity well-equipped ships will fire, and you and your crews will be pulled into a dark, empty void for eternity!"

Equestrian Outer Space
The 3 ships seemed to be retreating further back. However in the moment that they did a entire Equestrian Fleet, 101 ships, appeared before the Sazkarjhit fleet. The Carriers hangar bays opened, but nothing seemed to come out. The lead ship of the current Sazkarjhit fleet was suddenly truck with 100s of Balefire bombs, the carriers had unleashed stealthed bombers. Fire was focused on the lead ship, Balefire megaspells were also used to a devastating effect. After the lead ship was taken down fire was focused on the larger ships, and the fleet shield was projected to give each Equestrian ship a extra layer of shielding.

Sazkarjhit fleet

"You have been pardoned by the authority of [REDACTED]. Exogen ship weapons and equipment temporarily authorised. Civilis Protectione Space Craft 'Jury' and 'Arbiter' shall retask and attach to Exogen Patrol for observation and assistance. Exogen patrol temporarily classified as Collective Civil Authority Exogen Auxiliary Unit. Priority warning, Further breach of Law will result in full prosecution."

Ceteral Ruins: Space Station Arkae
In the thousands of years that has passed, Arkae has barely maintained and powered itself. With scarcely any functioning electronics and thus very little light with the occasional flashes of sparks. Only the star it orbited lit up and powered Arkae, but only through a few windows. Oxygen however were still present thanks to the plant life installed inside that was originally for aesthetic function, but it looks like it won't hold out sooner as the airtight walls are severely worn down.

In Arkae resided some unintelligent animals and a small tribe of de-evolved Ceterals that have since then lost their sight, but thankfully with other senses becoming more acute. A heater that surprisingly still worked after millenia helped to warm and feed the micro-civilization that hopelessly tried to keep themselves alive, with no purpose other than to breed and wait for something to come along.

A strange bright blue light passed through the windows, catching the curiosity and attention of the denizens inside the derelict station. To their surprise, a mighty wind blew them off in the direction of Arkae's hangar bay, which then suddenly stopped again into the stillness it was. Light shone across the main sanctum of the station, luring the degenerates. Then, as if giants stepped into the city, the group fled back to their homes in shelter. Voices from the figures that walked in, both arthropod-like and humanoid, seemed like deafening screeches. The critters, having forgotten the Ceteral language, spoke in incomprehensible noises too low for a Temer to hear, but enough for a Ceteral. Mistaking the critters for a new species of insects, the Empire personnel quickly grabbed them for laboratory uses. Meanwhile, others were stationed at the ancient computers with engineers restoring and fixing the machinery.

Upon the activation of the restored relics and the ruins itself, the personnel found something quite surprising: the computer's default language being the Ceteral's, and a starmap of an unknown nation, labeled AIF. This seemed to be incomplete as well as outdated, but in an attempt to try out the relic's function, a little message was sent to all the locations included in the starmap, with translation matrix included as default in the program:
"test"

Equestrian Space

The ships were ordered to make an emergency slipspace jump. Many of the ships' rather idle engines flared brilliantly as the vessels entered Wartime Emergency Reactor Output. Translight HyperJump Engines fired small beams that ripped holes into space-time, creating large portals into slipspace that the ships went through. Many ships deployed heavy payloads of mines and other countermeasures to keep themselves from being followed. The once empty void of the space around them was pockmarked with debris and satellite-sized mines.

Triarian Space

"You have the graciousness of the Gods for allowing us through. While we investigate, we also ask if you are able to procure any Sylve personnel or manifest as it will make this operation smoother, quicker and safer."

Imperial Admiral
"Well, it has been enjoyable, truly it has." Said the Admiral "But I can't let you know that."

A crack could be heard as she bit down on a poison capsule in her mouth, dropping her dead instantly. For all her fear, she could still bring herself to commit suicide, a result of years of training and brainwashing.

Equestrian Space
A strange starship jumped into the system, bearing a resemblance to the ancient Abh ships used by the AIF. A psychic force flew out from it, heading towards the Equestrians ships. Their shields and weapons were immediately disabled, and the entire fleet was pulled towards a single point. Pulled together into a ball, the crews of the ships saw the alien vessel power up some kind of huge antiproton weapon, an orange glow illuminating the void.

A message could be hear dint he minds of every member of every crew, it gave the impression of an angry parent scolding a child.

"You stupid Equestrians! You are too impulsive for your own good, you cannot even see as far ahead as the humans! That fleet could have found the leader of Sylve and put an end to it, securing all forces in this area to fight against the invasion! Instead you turned them down for your own pride! You will contact the Sazkarjhit and allow them to search your space, or else you will be punished!"

Equestrian Space
Despite the ships methods it seemed something restored power to the weapons and shields, however if the strength of the new ship's weapon was to be believed, it probably wouldn't help.

"I will say this, had they been kind and more diplomatic, they would have been allowed to commit to there search, but what did they do? They immediately tried to disable our ships, and threatened violence if we didn't allow them. They stated they had a law that required all Syvle personnel and files to be handed over to them, and acted like it applied in our space, acted like it was some intergalactic law. Had they been more diplomatic, and asked rather then threatened, they would have been allowed to conduct there search, but instead they again threatened us. We do not work with nations that think the best way forward is violence and threats. We also had information regarding a Syvle base, and we were planning a raid, but again, we don't cooperate with those who think the best way forward is violence and threats. If you so wish we will contact them and reveal the location of the base and all the info regarding it, but after that display they will not be allowed to search in our space."