Chapter 3
Secrets
Name: Pycin Cahap.
Rank: [GM] Grand Minister of Quatis.
Gender: Male.
Age: 320 years.
@Doc Doctor
GM Pycin was sitting in his office, alone. His office is aboard the flagship Egress. It’s an octagonal room 10 meters in diameter, each of the eight walls are metallic interactive view screens, each displaying a different image of the GM’s viewing preference. One such screen displays an image of a sector within the Science ship Erud, where Pycin is keeping a close watch on alien fugitive, Donny, as he makes short work of Quatis security officers.
GM Pycin’s authority supersedes all. Unlike all other ranks, he is able to view every inch of every room and corridor on all ten ships of the Quatis Fleet. He is the only one with this authority.
While watching Donny, he sips quaintly on a glass of a Kraken Rum, like a lonely old man might watch a late night talk show before bed. He watched as four Quatis officers were destroyed mercilessly by Donny’s Frag Grenade. He watched as Donny took down the remaining six with six quick shots of his primitive firearm. Yet Pycin’s aging stone features barely portray the slightest note of concern for the carnage and the fugitive’s actions towards his men.
Pycin’s desk was arc shaped, metallic as well, with a range of features including a holographic photo of his late wife and children. While Donny continued his venture, and holding his drink in one hand, Pycin used his free hand to access the security channel on the terminal to his left. Once activated he typed in a specific command of activation. A reading came up on the desks monitor:
Status.
Level 21, research floor. All access ports secured.
Confirmed.
Pycin then types in another short command and reads the display:
Status.
Level 21, Research Floor. Alien convict contained. GM access open.
Confirmed.
Pycin now turns his head to speak further commands into an independent terminal, saying:
“Authority GM Pycin. Access Code 770P-QA. Open secured voice channel. Mobile Unit Q116-C17.”
The right-hand terminal’s monitor lights up:
Status.
GM PC Secure Channel Open.
Confirmed.
On the science vessel, Donny’s wrist device activated. A display lights up in the top right corner of the voice channel interface. A short bleep is heard. A moment later Donny hears a voice speaking to him through the device. The voice is male. For Donny, the voice sounds like that of a man in an unquestionable position of authority. It is coarse. Deep. Defiantly calm. Unemotional. Founded:
“Donny.”
Pause.
“I am Grand Minister Pycin of The Quatis. I am speaking with you on a secure channel.”
Pause. .
“You will find yourself in a helpless situation. You have been confined by my own authority.”
Pause.
“No further blood of the innocent needs be shed.”
Pause.
“I wish to speak with you alone. Will you come in peace to discuss matter of terms? This channel is confined. Reply.”
@Metatrooper
Unknown to Meta, The Quatis have an interface link set up with the Tempest’s internal communications systems. They have overheard every word by way of a mechanical receptor attached to their left ears. Still, they play dumb, no point in rocking the boat without due cause.
Meta leads the supposed elite Quatis engineer team to the Engine room. When Meta addresses them with his explanation, the lead engineer responds with a pompous smile, clearly feeling superior, and saying:
"Your technology is easily manipulated." When he finishes speaking he lifts his arm to speak a command to the Quatis fleet via the device on his wrist:
“Command. Scan the reactors at our corresponding coordinates. Requesting immediate reactivation implements.”
The lead engineer drops his arm, still smiling arrogantly as he addresses Meta once again:
“If you agree to our terms, we can supply you with a quantum replicator. With it you will be in no future need of such demanding delays in the repair of your systems.”
A moment later, the Quatis engineers give each other a jesting look while The Tempest shakes lightly and the engine room is filled with a soft, pink glow. While the light fills the room, almost beyond understanding, the reactor and multiple engines appear to be in a state of self-repair. The incidents lasts less than a minute before all mechanisms in the Engine room are restored in full.
“Is there more?” The lead engineer asked Meta, raising a conceited brow. With a jerk of his head, the other engineers dematerialize, presumably returning to their ship. In their departure they scoff and chuckle, as if to poke fun at Meta. The lead engineer remains, seemingly quite pleased with himself, and adds; “We received an anomalous reading from your vessel prior to our arrival. Let’s call it a surge of energy, for now. We didn’t recognize it.”
The engineer narrows his eyes somewhat suspiciously at Meta….
“Suffice to say, the flux in energy we picked up on was… incredible. We haven’t seen anything like since the destruction of our own home world. It shared the same proton signature.”
The engineers’ eyes then light up. At least, his irises turn a shade of vibrant Jade. It would be clear to Meta in that moment that he wasn't conversing with a biological life form. He was speaking to a machine, maybe a cyborg, maybe some other advanced form of robot.
He finishes his speech in a voice that is broken by the sound of electronic static: “Perhaps you would like to explain this phenomenon? Who are your allies?” He unfastens the gun from his belt and points it at Meta. “Tell me. Now.”
As the artificial life form finishes talking, Meta hears the voice of Fanny in his ear. He is the only one who can hear her. She says:
“Easy does it.”
@jorcool
Fanny smiles obligingly for Jens. She appears pleased with his conduct. As the Vice-Admirable finishes speaking, she lifts one finger as if to note something but doesn’t complete the notion with an announcement of her own. She rises from her seat, takes a quick look at James who receives the words ‘you’re being tested’ in his mind, before she returns her attention back to Jens, saying;
“There is nothing for you to hear at this time. Go and do your job. Thanks again for your hospitality. I’ll try and not make a nuisance of myself during my stay.”
With those words, Fanny May is gone. In the blink of an eyes Jens cannot see her. Those on the Primary Bridge no longer see her. No one does until some time later….
…
Several minutes pass by and the united Khaganate Fleet enter a wormhole with the intention of arriving at the destination of a solar system that depicts one of life sustaining planets. The wormhole, despite Fanny’s words to the contrary, remains stable for the journey, inexplicably so. It had been some time since they had encountered such smooth wormhole transition.
Upon exiting the wormhole they arrive in a system supported by a small, blue dwarf star. Three of the eleven planets in the system are supporting life. More than this, space between the three consecutive life sustaining planets is riddled with a thick cloud of space constructions, likely space station and artificial establishments of various size and dimensions that number in the tens of thousands. This solar system is notably in an advanced state of existence.
Oddly enough, the scans made of the Khaganate prior to the wormhole jump would not have picked up on energy signatures from the artificial structures, since they gave off none. The only way to establish what these structures actually were, were by closer visual, exterior analyses. The only detailed reading the fleet can pick up on are those from the planets themselves, which decipher magnificent degrees of flora and fauna.
Within less than a minute of the Khaganate’s arrival, they detect a cylindrical object close to their position. Like all artificial structures within the system, it gives off no energy readings. Visually, however, it appears a lot like a stone pillar, ten miles long and a little over one mile wide. The object approaches the fleets leading vessel. As it does so, two more identical cylindrical objects appear and approach the fleet, converging from the left and the right.
No communication from the objects has yet been established.
@CmdrAlfieq@Quote5
Rodia, Amid their efforts to elect a new leader, are suddenly struck by an unknown, exterior spatial force. The force of the strike does not upset or damage them in any way, but it does alter their present course. They soon find themselves within communication range of the MASGC. Unfortunately, the change of course has put them in line with Hany’s Ribbon again.
The Rodia is a large ship. The MASCG is in panic mode. Maybe the Rodia can offer assistance….
@Quote5
When Ramrod looks out the crack of the craft, what he sees is a marvelous thing; so many vibrant colors that it is as if he’s looking into a surreal dimension. It’s a jungle, at least which is what it might be. Trees of enumerable colors and shapes fill his eyes. The air is sweet as honey. Flying insects play in the rays of sunlight that reach softly down through the flora. If he didn’t know better, and so long as he hasn’t got his hopes up, this world may be what fantasies are made of…. Could it be true? Has he found himself in a utopia of tantalizing pleasures?
Whether he has or whether he hasn’t, it isn’t long before Ramrod hears the sound of a voice nearby. It isn’t Hank, no, Hank is still seemingly ruined on the floor. This voice is coming from outside. From beyond the tree line, deeper into the forest. The voice sounds female, relatively young, calling out for help.
