Durandal — Roleplayer Guild

The Return

Expeditionary Fleet Theros, IR1211 (5 years prior to current events)

Fires burned softly against the backdrop of the night, illuminating scattered areas that had not seen destruction. In several cases the fires roared to stupendous heights, traveling hundreds of feet into the air as they consumed the fuel provided to them, spreading ever slowly. Rubble lay strewn about the concourse, shattered and cracked from the impact of the fall which had been facilitated by the personnel of the 43rd Expeditionary Fleet, Fleet Theros. Thousands of infantry strode through the wreckage of the once mighty hill, sifting through the wreckage in hopes of finding their prize: a magical resonance which matched no known signatures. Unable to utilize any form of scanning technique due to the interference, it was left to the hands and eyes of the Sakari to find the item.

Five ships broke through the cloud cover, repulsor engines flaring brightly as they decelerated from the atmospheric entry. Of small size, they were rarely-seen Netori-class frigates, used primarily for rapid troop deployment in large numbers, scouting missions, or in-atmosphere support. Already touched down were two Cantarin battlecruisers, although they had not disgorged their full load of troops onto the ground. Settling slowly, the three frigates ceased their movement, a small rubble accompanying the stop. Admiral Vostach watched the proceedings from atmosphere, gaining direct visual data from the psy-network, enabling him to observe in real-time unimpeded.

One of the bridge crew of his ship, a Dasius dreadnought named Sin and Damnation, approached him, bowing shortly before proceeding into her report.

“Two groups of unknown vessels have been detected by the passive sensors. I do not believe they have detected us for they lie on the opposite side of this planet, but measures should be taken in some form to either contact them or ensure our victory should the need arise,” she spoke. Vostach considered the situation carefully. Doctrine indicated that if any civilization were encountered weak enough to be overcome, they should be overcome immediately. If not, care should be taken to establish relations with the group, friendly ties that would enable victory in the future. It seemed it would be the second option.

“Very well. Crew, take us to the groupings. Fleet Theros, remain here until further notice.” With the order given, the Sin and Damnation pulled away from the fleet and hurtled over the planet, moving towards the grouping of ships in the distance. Waiting for approximately 30 seconds, he then transmitted a radio message towards both fleets, “This is the Sin and Damnation of the C’ran Dominion. May we request information as to your presence here?”

Corenai Fleet Auchthag, Pantehic Space

Anointed Sovereign  Herath Kissoreg cleared her mind slowly, breaths drawing in and out in an ever slower rhythm, preparing herself for what was about to come. All across the fleet the same action was repeated by each individual, an almost holy ritual which was only conducted on the rarest occasions of great import, signaling a change which was to follow. Normally the process would require approval from members of the Council yet her position as Anointed Sovereign of a Corenai fleet afforded her powers beyond almost anyone but Morval himself, an embodiment of C’ran. Silence reigned over the normally quiet corridors of each vessel, shadows flying as lights dimmed to near nothingness. Floating through the psychic network was a simple “word” bearing the weight of millions of minds behind it.
Begin.
Suffusing into the system, Herath’s mind touched the connection which linked the entirety of the fleet, a psychic consciousness stronger than almost any force in the galaxy. Her hands rested against the pulsating cord of power, thrumming slowly, vibrantly. A mind within her world existed, millions of points of lights floating in the darkness, threads of lighting connecting to the cord. Eyes gleamed with euphoria as she sank into the flow, becoming one. She gasped heavily. It’s beautiful, she thought, a tear leaking from her eyes. Every being in the fleet acted as an extension of her, was her. Oneness in many. Many in one.
Eyes snapped open in unison, the Sakari awakening simultaneously. Each was now bonded to the other, an unbreakable meld stronger than even the previous psychic network. It was no longer a network but a oneness, each Sakari an extension of the central consciousness, and Herath was closest of all.
The ships adjusted into a spherical formation, the unarmed civilian transports moving inside under the armed escorts and militarized civilian vessels for protection. Soon they would reach their destination, marking the beginning of the Corenai in their area of the galaxy. No, not the galaxy, their galaxy. Under C’ran would Andromeda unify, a peace to last the ages.
Shudders rippled in space as near 1800 ships exited from Anti-Space, a massive burst of energy detectable by any nearby. Turning its gaze outwards, the sensors of the fleet, both psychic and physical, located the presence of magical signatures in the solar distance, ones not seen before. Never before had a magical race been encountered by the Sakari yet already they found one of extreme strength on their first exit. Herath pondered, milliseconds passing slowly to her mind. A verdict was reached one that would change the fate of C’ran forever.
“Communications officer, contact the unknowns mentally. Tell them that we have returned.”

Corenai Fleet Sedari, Tallarn Space

Corenai Fleet Sedari rode the winds of space proudly, personal blessing of Morval having been granted before their departure to the assembly point at Gateway Shrassen. The largest of the fleets at over two thousand strong, Sedari represented the greatest presence which C’ran would project into the galaxy. Containing a higher presence of civilian ships than the other two Corenai fleets,  Sedari was designed for one purpose only: expansion. With fury they would spread throughout the stars, terraforming and colonizing every available world encountered, seeding others with species from the Great Record. The Age of Learning was past. Now came the Age of Rising. The countless species lost to the fires of war propagated by C’ran would return under C’ran’s rule, born again into a world of peace and prosperity, able to rise as they would under the supervision of the Sakari species.

To enact such a reseeding, special vessels had been sent along with each fleet, several kilometers in length and equipped to simulate a plethora of environments relating to the ones on which the species assigned to a habitat had been found. Already the restructuring had begun on the ship, gene-crafters shaping the codes of organisms into forms that would spawn life while others utilized magic and psionic energies for those creatures which did not have a DNA structure. Thousands of species in the process of rebuilding, a hope for C'ran and the rest of the galaxy.

Anointed Sovereign Rhone Fredgar sat pensively in his chair on the bridge of the flagship, the Heart of Nerothian. Out of all others in Task Force Odin of Expeditionary Fleet Arracus, he had been the sole survivor. No reason was given, no comfort or recompense. Simply a sparing from the blade of death. A hand arresting itself on his shoulder interrupted his thoughts. Looking up, he saw the face of one of the Commissars, concern wrought on the female Sakari's face.

"Anointed, we are nearing. It is time for you to take command," her voice drawled, a low-pitched sound not often heard from a Sakari throat.

Rhone stared at her wearily before nodding. He had a duty to those with him, a duty much greater than before. He would lead them into ascendance. Accessing the psychic network, he notified everyone to brace seconds before the ships exited Anti-Space. Sensor systems immediately detected emissions from further in the system indicative of a space-faring civilization. Having formed into a spherical formation before leaving, the fleet was already prepared for any action which the others might take.

"Adjust the course," he commanded. "Make for the nearest planet and station us there." And so the fleet moved out.

An Interrogation: Part 1

Planet Verascky

Inquisitor Boreal Autrich stepped out from his transports, lev-drives thrumming softly. Sheets of rain slashed across the surface of the planet, massive storms stretching thousands of miles in all directions that blotted out sections of the planet for weeks on end. Lightning flashed from the sky, erupting as a counter-fire system eliminated the power of the strike, drawing the bolt's energy into a series of capacitors so as to convert the destructive beams into useful resources. Protected by an EVA suit designed for harsh environments, Boreal waited patiently as the visor system quickly adapted to the area before him, affording a view that cut through the rain as if the obstacle did not exist. Faint etches of semi-clear material slid across the screen, water on the visor not fully eliminated from view as the droplets were too close to be filtered efficiently by the detector systems.

Striding forward, the lights of Domus Regulag greeted him. Domus Regulag stood as the single largest inhabited space on the planet, a circular area several hundred kilometers in diameter. Built painstakingly through the pounding of the storm, the city lay hidden to those that did not know of its existence, the planet's storms hiding any signatures from the regions under the barrage of rain. Gargantuan doors of metal and plasma lay situated around the outside, the only entrances excepting teleportation, although that was only used under the most dire circumstances. Entrance directly into the city was not possible as significant manipulation of the dome would result in a breach at the location, an event which took hours to fix and further days to repair the damaged buildings around the collapse. As such, all ships landed at specialized ports designed to protect the vessels from the effects of the massive thunderheads.

Nearing the doors, a smaller entrance opened at the side, a plasma gate extending out from the wall to shield the area from the torrent. Just before stepping under, Boreal released a blast of psychic energy, driving all moisture away from his clothing and body. Dried to a large extent, he stepped through the door, greeted by several Watchmen. The EVA suit melted away from him as the metal folded, allowing him to advance unimpeded.

"Greetings Inquisitor Autrich. If we had been informed of your arrival, a more suitable entrance would have been prepared. Forgive me, my lord," explained one of the Watchmen, bowing low along with his companions.

"No matter. Is Gubernator Halos in the vicinity?"

"Nay. We may, however, request a tele-link to the palace. Shall we do so?"

"Immediately."

The entire conversation took under a second, the contact with the palace a similar time. A device in the corner of the room, silver prisms on the ground ringing a floating sphere, began to glow blue, indicating the teleportation system's readiness. Boreal ducked into the ring, exhaling briefly before he flashed off into the palace. Inhaling to replace the oxygen which he had lost during transport, the sight of the Gubernator himself greeted him.

"Greetings Inquisitor. What brings you to Verascky, if I may be so bold?" asked the Sakari serenely.

"I bear tidings from Allaris. Is the Anointed of Verascky currently in the palace?" responded Boreal, intent on furthering the orders of the mysterious servant under the capital of C'ran.

"He is so, yes. Shall we take you to him?"

"Please do so," came the final response from the Inquisitor, indicating his unwillingness to speak further. A small frown furrowed his brows as he thought as to what he was about to do. It did not seem right but so must it be.
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