[IC] Void of the Stars II: Return to the Stars [Sci-Fi] [Always Accepting]

[Keyguyperson]

Equestrian Space
"How ironic." Said the voice The Equestrians denounce the use of threats and violence to get one's way. Hypocrisy seems to run in your blood as well. You will give them the info and allow them to do whatever they wish, or else you compromise life as a whole. Can you not see consequences beyond preservation of your pride? I'm sure the humans would let the Sazkarjhit do this. To think that you were created by a Goddess to be her voice of harmony, and the humans were the result of the random convergence of chemicals that was so unlikely that it shouldn't have happened. They got a Goddess, but the one time she interfered their development was only hindered! To think they once saw you as a role model!"

Somewhere Else
Urania appeared next to Faust, her clothing was her usual robe of stars. A scar appeared on her left cheek, obviously a stylistic choice. She looked at Faust, a neutral expression on her face betraying no feelings.

"Do you ever wonder how the humans came to be?" She asked "I've asked other deities, but none of them seem to know. Apparently, they just happened. Other species were helped along, but the humans had to deal with my blunders and still ended up on top before the invasion. How can they compete with the species molded by others? I don't get it."

[null123]

Equestrian Space
"Hypocrisy? You would accuse of being hypocrites because of the mistakes of a long since dead generation of Equestrians? I want you to name one instance where the CURRENT Equestrian Empire used threats of violence. Not the old Equestrian Empire."

Somewhere else
Urania did indeed surprise Faust, suddenly entering her pocket universe.
"I do wonder how the humans came to be...I say the most likely possibility is regular evolution, but I'm unsure, I was not around Earth at the time of there creation. Whats makes the humans prevail however, is there determination, and there ability to adapt. The humans could go from a Space-Faring Inter-Galactic Empire to a stone age one, yet because there can adapt to any situation, and there determination, not only would the rise back to there former levels, but they would become greater then before."

[Sukui]

Arkae
"No response. I guess they were prime victims of the space storms then." Stagor swiped his fingers from one point to another in the screen, with most worlds labeled "CONNECTION LOST." A little icon on the lower left caught his attention, shaped like the old, rune-like insignia of the Ceteral back in the day. History archives had thankfully helped the current Ceteral generation to remember what happened back in the past, but not before 53,000 years ago since little records and only a Milky Way starmap have been stored in the refugee computers of the ancestors that sought safety within the Temer. Upon the tapping of the symbol, a huge star map containing all the ancient Ceteral worlds were revealed, including those outside of the galaxy. Many were also labelled "CONNECTION LOST", with little way to find out if the planets and stations are still there or have been consumed by the space-time anomalies.

"Look at all that. The once-prominent glory of our ancestors, fallen into waste. Something can still be recovered in those locations, probably, but we have no way to travel at such a huge distance without running out of fuel." Voldran gazed at the purplish monitors presented in a fairly large display in front of them. "And probably, i feel some danger lurking there...

including here."

Clanking of steel echoed around the space station's hall right before Voldran's statement of "including". As soon as they heard the machinery suddenly go online, everyone in the room quickly fell back to the docking bay, but not before the agile spherical drones quickly caught up with the squad and started their attack. Some accompanying soldiers fought back, while the others made a run for it.

"Damn, they lasted this long!?"

"Keep moving back to the hatch! As soon as everyone gets inside, close the bay immediately!"

"Where did they all come from?"

"Move, move now!"

Soldiers kept fighting as the attacking drones continued their assault on the squad. One life was claimed in the process. As soon as everyone got inside, the door quickly closed, but a few hostile robots managed to get in. They were finally eliminated, with scraps littering around the passageway.

"God damn, we lost one..."

"Continue the expedition, go to the foreigner planets' locations. Send a report of loss to the military headquarters."

[darkwolf687]

Imperial Admiral

"Unknown poison."
"Affirmative, biokinesis would require poison confirmation." The Officer stated
"No time, move to extract brain." The Overseer ordered, and Saeva Simius turned the body of the admiral over as the Triarian approached with a dull metal device, and place it to the back of her head. Immediately it sprung to life, and the bottom rotated as two think laser cutters burnt their way through. It paused and there was a small metal "hand" which came out, reaching under her brain and surgically removing the brainstem from the spinal cord. Then there was a think and the brain ended up inside the glass, submerged in a liquid. Two wires moved out and "plugged" into her brain, and power coursed through it.
"Her mind is ruined. We were too slow, the information we need is gone."
"Give her a nightmare." The Triarian tapped a few commands on the holographic commands that emitted from the side of the device. This small device kept the brain of organisms submerged in fluids that provided nutrients and breathable gases and passed electrical signals through the brain. Since everything most organisms sense is electrical signals interpreted by the brain, this meant that the individual was receiving information as if they were still alive. The brain had no way of distinguishing, and thus the Imperial Admiral was now trapped in a world of the Officers design. Given how fast the poison had worked... She was mentally handicapped AND trapped in that world.
It was cruel, to say the least.
"Contact Chaos."

Message to Chaos
"A situation has arisen, the imperial admiral has been semi successful in suicide through the usage of a fast acting poison. We have her brain alive but meentally impaired and her body is currently deceased. In addition, as we can no longer gain access to imperial drive technology, we require another way to access the Imperial universes. Would this be possible through your Warp?"

[MrFoxNews]

Real Space
Finch snarled as the message was received.

Finch keyed the Vox.

"If the brain is still functioning then the soul is still present, send her to me. As for the use of the warp anything is possible... You'll need some form of a warp drive to have your ships actually access the warp.

[darkwolf687]

Message to Chaos

"Understood, any other important information about the Warp? The device and the brain are being sent to you via automated drone, take the device and the brain it contains and release the automated drone, it shall find its way."
The automated drone detatched from the drop ship, carrying the small device on its underside

Argustus

With information transmitted by Spectre on the subject, a team of Argutus are working on a possible adaptation of an interdimensional drive into one which can access the warp

[MrFoxNews]

Real space
Finch keyed the Vox.

"Thank you, and no there is nothing else you need to know about warp travel." Finch lied, his face forming a hideous grin.

Finch received the Drone personally. The brain was brought before him.

"Novos... feed." Finch commanded.

Although it could not be seen the Daemon bound to Finchs sword lept forth and tore the Admirals soul from what remained of her.

Finch grinned as the brains life signs failed.

"Make way for sol." Finch commanded.

The flagship silently entered the void. Only then was the drone released, forced to wander the warp until to could find a way out.

Warp Space

The admirals ethereal eyes refocused and she realized something was off. She was completely in tune with her senses, more so than ever before. That's when she noticed it, the creature that stood before her was hideous. A deformed mass of writhing flesh with a hounds skull for a face.

The creature charged at the admiral who realized she was completely overtaken with fear so much so she couldn't move.

The creature reached her and proceed to rip her apart.

Every nerve writhed as the admiral tried to scream, unable to pass out, unable to die her soul was ripped to pieces.

The admirals soul begin to reassemble. This torture would happen every day for the rest of eternity with to alleviation.

[TehAlphaGamer]

Message to Equestrian Authority

Your actions have not been taken lightly, your refusal to allow Sazkarjhit ships through on a peacekeeping mission and the heavy losses they suffered as a result have significantly damaged relations between your people and our own. I wish to speak with whichever leader is control of the New Equestrian Empire. I will be organizing an assembly in the Karboria Capitol District here on Sazkar Major to discuss the matter more reasonably: as one leader ensuring the welfare of their people to another, not as one group of warships facing off from another.

You will have the utmost secure escort here to Sazkar, and receive treatment that you should as a figure of political power. If you agree to it, we can begin the meeting as soon as possible.

Most are aware that Sazkarjhia is not as technologically advanced as other empires, and because of this the last thing we want is war to break out. If we speak, I'm sure this hostility will abate as swiftly as it came.

Cordially,
Fakeem-Son-Of-Damwar Suar'kum
Grand Vessel to Zarwaun

[null123]

A response to Sazkarjhia
It is that I do apologize for the actions of the Captain that day. He was only operating on standard diplomatic code, and he was a griffon, and they tend to be a bit more stubborn. However I cannot allow you to search our space. It has been Equestria's policy to refuse to cooperate with those who would threaten us upon attempting to contact us or harm our ships in anyway if they wishes something of us. Your fleet conducted both of these, first attempting to disable our ships, and then threatening violence if they were not allowed in.

Under normal circumstances if you had asked first and proceeded forward more diplomatically then we would have allowed you, but Equestria must protect her foreign policy. We have identified the major Sylve base in the region, and if you want to cooperate with us to raid it then you may come but any Syvle personnel are to be handed to us first, for interrogation then trial.

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia.

[TehAlphaGamer]

Response to Equestria

I, too, should apologize for the actions of my men. That fleet came from a Hub situated in a warzone between two smaller spacefaring nations. They were itching to fight, but to prevent Sazkarjhia's involvement in the war only provided humanitarian aid. The second they had an opportunity to respond to hostility they took it. Sazkarjhia Diplomatic Code states that any kind of vessel that intercepts a Sazkarjhit warfleet should be registered as a threat.

What Code doesn't state is attempting to halt or disable interceptors. Had they followed this code, they would have peacefully waited to be hailed before responding. If your men attacked first, then Sazkarjhia would return fire. I would reprimand those sailors for their actions, but both ships have been completely obliterated, and there was no report of either ship's Fleetmaster escaping the carnage.

We'll speak about Sylve soon. For now, I want to recall these two fleets for debriefing.

Cordially,
Fakeem-Son-Of-Damwar Suar'kum
Grand Vessel of Zarwaun

[Keyguyperson]

Somewhere Else
"Hmm." She said "I suppose it is the human determination that allows them to accomplish what they have. It seems like whenever they decide to do something, they can come together and accomplish that goal no matter what they face. They can even get others to act that way, rally them to their cause and become an incredibly formidable force. The question is, how did that happen through evolution? The odds are so low that it may as well be impossible, yet there is no sign of divine interference. Perhaps one of them will figure it out."

Equestrian Space
"Oh, you haven't done anything yet." Said the voice "However, ninety point five three percent of future paths contain at least one instance of you issuing violent threats. Therefore, you are hypocrites."

[darkwolf687]

Equestrian space

A third voice chimed in, seemingly from no where, and spoke. It was the voice of a Ethereal, and one that was not on the least enthused and seemed to be slightly annoyed
"The percentage is actually much higher when you factor in Fausts character, influence and presence in the multiverse, and is actually both 100% and 0% if you consider quantum reality, that is both are occurring simultaneously. Almost invariably, species will issue a violent threat at some point or another." It rebuked the voice that was insulting the Equestrians, before the voice addressed the Equestrians "And I can name an instance. You and the Collective seem to like throwing threats at each other, I seem to recall you telling a Lance Human to tell his commanding officer to prepare for battle, that is technically a threat of violence. Both of you are being immature, there are supposedly pirates to find and a universal invasion to deal with. You argument is waste"

SOL
The final Collective ship abandoned the system, leaving just the defences, the Abh and the Equestrians, seemingly part of a strange battle plan.

[null123]

Equestrian Space
"It was one of the few times where such a threat was necessary, and it was not as much of a threat as it was a warning. They were attempting to invade the only world of the wookies, which were annexed into the Equestrian Empire recently. And we did not start this argument, this ship came and got mad at us for denying Sazkarjhia access to our space."

[darkwolf687]

Equestrian space

"You asked for a situation where the current Equestrian Empire used a threat of violence, you received the information you requested. No further specification was required and no excuse was required. And it does not matter how who or how it started, it ends now."

[Sukui]

Unknown Space (Random Equestrian Planet
"Why are we slowing down now?" asked a curious pilot as the Marros ship and the rest of the accompanying ships were suddenly ordered to turn off their FTL.

"We have stumbled upon foreign civilization grounds now. We haven't reached our actual destination yet, but this looks interesting. Continue traveling forward, we only want to take a short peek at this activity. Reactivate the interstellar drives if ordered.

For the others, toggle high-quality zoom cameras... well would you look at that! Some exotic form of psionic abilities on a wimpy-looking quadrupedal race. Amusing somewhat, but could also mean that their faces aren't what they actually are. Continue viewing, but do not intervene unless they do so, either hostile or friendly manner and with eye for an eye and gold for gold."

[null123]

Equestrian Space
"But it was not a threat, it was more of a warning."

Colony World 05
Upon stopping, as it seems the New ships had forgotten to activate any form of stealth procedures. Weapons on defense stations pointed at the ship, with a few frigate sized ships heading for the new group.
"Unknown Contact, Identify your self and state intentions."

R&D Note
"The N-Variant of the Nightingale shall enter full production soon. The shields and armor are more expensive then the M-Variant, but it well worth the cost considering the payloads of the Nightingale."

[Sukui]

Unknown Space
"....uhh, alright, got that translated.

Ktaroch Empire Expedition fleet, off to investigate identified ruin locations of ancient civilization Allied Interstellar Federation, apparently belonging to extinct species Homo Sapiens with the slang Human. Slowed down to investigate technological activity in this star system. Now if you excuse me, state your intentions for intervention.

...communication staff, please send with interpretation codes, thank you."

[null123]

Colony World 05
"You are currently in Equestrian Space, orbiting Colony World 05. Intentions were to identify new contact and began standard diplomatic procedures. Also of note is that every AIF ruin within 100 Light-Years of this planet is controlled by the Equestrian Emprie."

[Sukui]

Equestrian Space
Identification steps has been completed. Also of note: target destination is 300 lightyears distance from this point. Diplomatic steps have been initiated. We will notify the Emperor and the Jarls of this, the Emperor will decide if you will undertake the Test. Technological detail from our point of view is also in the description in the notification to His Highness.

30 minutes later...

"Looks like the Equestrians are fitting."

The Emperor has decided that you will be fit for the Test. The following will be the base terms:

1. Once accepted, abandonment of the Test may be subject to consequences in the succeeding terms provided after the receptor's confirmation of the Test.
2. Acts of hostility during the Test are acts of war.
3. Refusal of the Test before confirmation will result in ignoration of the receptor by the Ktaroch Empire and no diplomatic and hostile relations, unless the receptor rethinks and wishes to go for the Test.

[null123]

Colony World 05
"What is this test?"
The Captain proceeded to the communications console, and told the officer there to call upon the 4th Fleet. He had a idea of what it might be.