Planet Nouvelle, Capital City Hollie
Royal Palace Parade Grounds
As the shuttle came to rest upon the ground, many of the moving soldiers had stopped, if only for a moment. They quickly moved to take positions, orders being barked by sergeants and officers. The police and Royal Guard forces had their weapons drawn as a portal opened forth from the shuttle, a door for those within to emerge into the rising sunlight of Nouvelle. A total of six of them strode forth, walking down from their vessel to stand upon the crafted stones that made up the parade grounds. Four of the beings were armored and armed, like some sort of honor guard or protectors. The other two wore robes, and no discernable weapons were visible upon them, perhaps signifying them as leaders or envoys from wherever they hailed from.
Perhaps stranger still, was the fact that they all had wings, true wings, much like a bird. Feathered and white, they glowed brightly in the sunlight of the late morning. These beings were what would appear to a number within the parade grounds as angelic, like true beings that hath descended from the heavens above. It was then the two leader figures raised their hands, light emanating from their palms, and for the weaker minded, a sense of calm and peace washed over them, their weapons being lowered, the fear forgotten. To those that it had affected, they simply stood there and watched in awe.
For those who it affected to a lesser degree, they lowered their weapons, but remained at the ready. They sense no danger, no sense of harm from these beings, but, deep within, their training told them to remain ready, even if all seemed alright. The select few, out of all those who were within the area of effect that did not feel anything, looked around in bewilderment, looking to see who was still in control of themselves, at least to their eyes. It was then General Orlock looked over from those that stood before him, to those that had spoken to the collection of soldiers and police.
General Orlock looked amongst his men, quickly spotting a handful of troops that looked to him for orders. He let out a small sigh, trying to make sense of what had happened, before looking back at these new comers. His mustache moved lightly with a passing breeze, the gray and red hairs swaying ever so slightly, before he spoke. “Soldiers, low ready. Keep yourselves together!” He looked at them closely, scanning them to see who they were, what they were. His gloved hands moved to rest on his sides, left atop his sword hilt, his right atop his revolver’s grip.
“Members of the Eternal Union, and members of the Valkian people’s, you are among the people of Nouvelle, among the people that I love and serve honorably. I do not speak for my people, I can only speak for the soldiers directly under my command. I give my word as a man, as a soldier, and as a nobleman, that no harm will come to you, as long as you respect us in the same manner as we respect you. The people of Nouvelle are in no small part awed by the arrival of so many new peoples, of the aspect of these arrivals heralding the return of their gods. We will keep the general populace separated from you for now. It is best for the Queen to decide anything further, before any contact with the civilian peoples are made.” The general stopped speaking, not sure as how to continue, or rather, not wishing to come off as offensive. Instead, he turned to a group of soldiers, and ordered them to the palace to alert the guards there to prepare for more visitors.
“Members of the Eternal Union, a moment please…” General Orlock turned away from them, to look back at the Valkians the stood before him. He looked them over, thinking over what they had spoken to him earlier, before this new craft had landed and brought yet another factor into the mix. He ran his right hand through his mustache, before responding to them. “Lord Tinkerer, is what we shall call you, out of respect for you. I look at you and your comrades, Lord Tinkerer, and see something that I never thought could exist. To some you are angels, to me, you are proof of life beyond the stars. Whether or not you are a scion of the gods is not up to me.” He pauses, looking back to the angelic Eternal Union beings, before looking at Lord Tinkerer once more. “I will allow you and your brethren to enter the palace, to speak with our Queen. Our Queen will decide best how to proceed. The soldiers here will escort you to guest quarters for now, so that the Queen can make ready for treating with yourself, Lord Tinkerer, those that are already within, and no doubt, with these Eternal Union beings… with whom I must now address.”
General Orlock bowed before Lord Tinkerer, awaiting for his response, before moving on to go and stand before the delegation of the Eternal Union. He looked at them, carefully inspecting them. Like all the others, their level of technology, their endeavors in science far outpaced those of his people. As though he were a child before adults. Taking a slight moment to compose himself, especially at the sight of the glowing veins of the two envoy beings, he spoke aloud to them. “I am General Orlock, of the Royal Nouvellian Police Forces. Members of the Eternal Union, it would seem you are among the many who have chosen today as to visit our home, and our capital. No doubt you will wish to speak with our leader, the Queen. Arrangements have been made for you to stay in guest quarters while we takes the necessary steps to make ready to speak with… with people as yourselves and the others. It will be for her decide as to what will come next…” He looks to the palace, and then back to the Eternal Union beings, “The guards to your right will escort you to your quarters, if you have no objections…” General Orlock stopped, and patiently awaited the response of the newcomers.
Royal Palace of Hollie
Queen Sabine sat silently as she listened to the runner who had come from the parade grounds. The man explained to her the new events that were unfolding right outside the walls of the palace. She could not believe what had transpired in such a short amount of time. With each passing moment, more and more beings had descended down to Nouvelle, to interact with the people of Nouvelle. These beings, these angels, all wished to speak with her, to meet her. She was the focal point of her people, of her planet, her world was now on the map, of sorts, and she was the speaker for all those that lived on the moon world.
Sabine looked up from the runner, still relaying the messages to her, to gaze upon a woven tapestry of old. It depicted her fore fathers, the men that had saved the world from tyranny and evil, from the Militarists of old. They had such strength, such resolve, to overcome such a monolithic adversary and obstacle. She looked at the heroic nature of which they were woven, the way they were made to seem as blessed by the gods themselves. She knew that whatever happened today, it was on her, and her alone. That her choices would being the first stone in whatever path was created for the Nouvellians to walk upon into the future, or to cover their graves. She took a deep breath, and let out a sigh.
“Make this room ready to accommodate three different delegations. Have tables set up for each party, and ensure that they form a semi-circle to face me. I will speak with them all at the same time. Tell the Terrans that they will be delayed for another two hours, while I ensure that everything is ready, and that we will be ready for these new beings.” She rose up from her throne, walking back into the antechamber to look over some things while she waited as well.
A lone guard hurried off to the guest quarters, making his way to the room in which the Terrans were staying. He stopped before their door, adjusting his uniform, before knocking upon the wood. Upon the door opening, he politely explained to them the new turn of events, abridged of course. He went on to explain that the Queen had ordered a council meeting of sorts, between the people of Terran, The Eternal Union, and the Valkians. She was going to meet with them all at the same time, and let them speak to her at the same time as well. She, the queen, sent her apologies, and hoped that they could forgive her. The queen also added that she would like to speak with the female captain privately sometime after all the matters of state were concluded.
The guard would excuse himself after any information and responses that were needed to be passed on were given. As he left, a steward entered the room with some water, and bread. “Here is a menu of what the Royal kitchens can prepare for you. Surely you are hungry, and, with this extra time that you will have to wait, we wish to ensure that you are fully taken care of, and so that your meeting with the Queen goes well.” He smiled, and left, letting them know that the bell on the time would summon him once they had decided upon what they wished to eat. The menu itself looked much like a menu from Earth, like a French restaurant that catered to both fine dining and normal everyday meals.
Nouvelle, the Frontier Regions/The Forbidden Zone
The City of the Gods, PNSS Might of a Thousand Suns
Captain Reynald was nervous as he left the safety of his own people and home for the skies and lands beyond. The beings he rode with were like nothing he had ever seen, and their technology was something to marvel at as well. He breathed deeply, the mask and pill he had ingested allowing him to survive within the contrasting atmosphere of the Sazkarjhian people. He looked at them, wonder what they looked like beneath their masks and armor. He diverted his attention to looking at the vessels window beside him as the world beneath him zoomed by. Never had he dreamed of riding aboard something that could go so fast, let alone fly.
After what seemed but a blink of the eye, even though of course it was longer, Captain Reynald was able to behold the “Angel” that had fallen from the sky. It was utterly massive, the size of the largest ships in the Nouvellian Navy put together, but far more advanced. It made the dreadnoughts, the pride of the Royal Navy, seem as though it were some wooden masted sailing vessel of ages gone past. This one ship alone would be enough to utterly defeat the entire Nouvellian military. Captain Reynald looked away from it, praying that whatever happened, he would not anger these great beings.
It was then that they flew into the ship itself. Not crashing into it, but, actually into the insides of the ship. Captain Reynald made a mental note to pass that on to his superiors if and when he got back. It was like flying into a massive warehouse, but one that was big enough to hold the vessel that he rode in upon, many of them. With a small bump, the ship was now on the ground, or the floor of this hangar. Reynald removed his rebreather, following his escorts out of the ship and onto the hangar floor itself. He looked around him, taking notice of just how different the Sazkarjhian and Nouvellian people were. He looked away from all this technology and wonderment to look at those that were gathered before him, awaiting his arrival.
Captain Reynald looked at the figure who stood before him, feminine in nature, but without a doubt, in complete command of the ship. She wore what appeared to be a dress uniform, much like what officers wore when not in the field. Though she was slightly smaller than the others of her race, Captain Reynald could not mistake that she was a figure to be respected above all the others. Her uniform was adorned with many medals and ribbons, her shoulder epaulets marked with red and silver, while the white and blue of the uniform itself added to the aura about her. Captain Reynald stood equal with her in height, though her skin was marked with yellow stripping, and she had two blunt horns atop her head.
She stood at attention, as though he were someone important. Crisp, professional, militaristic. She looked at him, as though her eyes were boring through him to make sense of what he was compared to her. She smiled, and then extended her hand. Captain Reynald smiled too, relieved that she was greeting him warmly. He took her hand, firmly shaking it, before rendering a proper salute. Either way, she was a superior officer and such respects for her were only fitting. He listened to her speak, her greeting him aboard her ship.
“It is a great honor to be welcomed aboard your ship, High Marshal Surek’sum. Allow me to say, your ship is utterly amazing, it is like nothing I have ever seen before. I am honored that you speak kindly of my character, and no doubt you are a great leader as well, for the way your soldiers operate is surely a reflection of your character.” He looked around the hangar once more, before looking back at the High Marshall, “I am your guest High Marshall, wherever you see fit to speak with me, I would be honored to converse with you there. You are right, there is much I wish to ask, and I will do my best to answer all of your question as well.” He smiled, and awaited politely for the journey he had embarked on to continue.
