Masterminds & Comets

The tale of the Koprulu Sector unfucking itself

Date: 2508.07.06

Location: Aiur, Orbital Defense Platform, Docking Bay 5
Time: Sunrise

"If you're going to stand there motionless any longer you'll be mistaken for misplaced cargo by a bored probe and put between two senile Dragoons for the rest of your life."

The momentary sensation of threat to his mental well-being roused Nabiros from his thoughts, which were running circles in his mind. He only got as far as summarising his situation when he felt... panic, for lack of a better word, at the sheer reality of him embarking on a journey of self-discovery into the tormented wilderness of the Koprulu Sector, all by himself. Well, not exactly: his only friend, a Tal'darim scholar by the name of Tekka, joined him for her own reasons - which, now that I think of it, she did not mention yet.

"Why are you coming with me, Tekka?" Nabiros asked, walking towards their assigned ship. For a brief moment, Nabiros marveled at the grace of it: it was a new type of ship, called the Explorer, designed for long-range scouting operations that could not be done by the trusty Observer. It resembled the old troop transport, the Shuttle, but it was a significantly scaled down version, and with a more fluid hull, not unlike a Corsair. Indeed, the Nerazim's touch was noticable: where the Templar are bulky and sturdy, the Nerazim are thin and nimble. And yet, in a show of defiance, the ship was equipped with a pair of Photon Blasters, instantly making him feel at home.

"Because you have the charm of a malfunctioning warp engine and the social skills of an Ultralisk." Tekka quipped. "And as a sworn protector of ancient lore I have to ensure you that don't end up as scrap in a Terran junkyard."

"The likelihood of Tal'darim comprehending the concept of charity is remarkably less than their pursuit of self-interest and general exploitation of everything and everyone they can find." Nabiros retorted.

"It's your fault if you trust a Protoss wielding red lightning and bathing in Terrazine." Tekka shrugged.

"You're still dodging my question." Nabiros pointed out as they boarded the ship using the ramp on its right. Looking around inside, he saw that they are in the cargo bay: too small for bulk transport but spacious enough for samples and any additional equipment they could possibly need. He already had plans for a number of modifications but he wanted to have a closer look at their ship first.

"I had thought that the opportunity for unrestrained tinkering would be a higher priority for you than to invade my privacy like this." Nabiros was not fooled by Tekka's verbal tricks; instead, he turned around and stared her down.

It was a curious sight for those Protoss in Docking Bay 5 who cared to notice. Standing on the top end of the ramp, a bulky white-gold Purifier phase-smith (because who else would have two mechanical arms attached to their back, along with a pair of dextrous metallic tentacles with grabbing claws), who, even with a helmet for a face and a visor for eyes, managed to look palpably disapproving. Just a few steps away down the ramp, stood a thin, harmless-looking, middle-aged Protoss woman, clad in simple grey robes that covered her torso and her upper arms and legs. She wore silver metallic gauntlets that covered her arms from elbow to fingertips, with large bloodshard crystals at the forearm. Despite the less than impressive attire, she had an air of cockyness about her, something that has become known as a common trait among the Tal'darim.

Finally, Tekka gave in to the unreleting mechanical scrutiny of Nabiros. "Fine, fine, fine! I..." for a moment she seemed unsure how to phrase what she wanted to say, but then the trademark Tal'darim determination and focus tore through all doubt and insecurity like an angry Archon through Zerglings. "I want to find out who I am as well. Who we are without Amon. If there is anywhere to ascend to."

Nabiros stood for a few moments in silent consideration, then spoke. "It seems our people have much more in common than either of us would be comfortable to admit. Welcome aboard. Officially, now."

The Explorer had quite a few surprises for Nabiros. Firstly, it had an impressive power core that could be refuelled by gathering raw Vespene gas using a specialised Probe, and the automated mini-refinery took care of the rest. Secondly, the engineering section also had a mini-forge that could turn raw minerals into anything that could fit into its admittedly limited crafting space. Lastly, the ship had a cloaking device, which, as Nabiros expected, put the ship's power core under considerable strain when activated. He found it odd, considering how the newer Corsairs, fighters smaller than the Explorer, could remain cloaked almost indefinitely, but reasoned that it had something to do with the ship's rather powerful warp engines, giving it great speed and the ability to make relatively short warp jumps. Something to tinker on while we're on the road.

"I must say, this ship is impressive." Tekka said when they met up in navigation, where the pilot's seat and the navigator's station were. "We also have 8 rooms, that should be enough for the two of us."

"Yes, we could use them for extra storage space." Nabiros nodded as he sat into the pilot's seat. "How thoughtful, the controls are Purifier-compatible. That should make flying this ship much easier."

"That's good to hear." Tekka nodded as she sat down before the navigator's station.

An awkward silence descended upon them, slowly filling up with unspoken tension. The seconds slowed to a crawl that would make a Reaver look fast. They both nervously familiarised themselves with their respective consoles, checked and re-checked everything. For a good ten minutes neither of them spoke.

Then Nabiros lifted the bell of sheer discomfort that enveloped them. "So uuhh... I've never done this before."

"Fly a ship?" Tekka attempted a joke.

"No, I've done that plenty of times." Nabiros shook his head. "I... I may have realised its necessity but I don't know how you go on a journey of self-discovery. I checked last night and there wasn't a single guide for them, not so much as a paragraph."

"Those aren't the kind of things that can be explained, only experienced." Tekka remarked with some amusement.

"Alright, let's approach this problem like a design challenge." Nabiros scratched his head, which was odd for a machine. "Break down the abstract overall goal into tangible, smaller goals. I've learnt of a Nerazim shrine on Lentoth III, which was one of the supposed stops of the Nerazim after their banishment from Aiur. There should be something, or someone interesting there, maybe some historical records, personal logs, or maybe even a few reclusive scholars and hermits."

"Sounds like a good start." Tekka nodded, instantly excited by the possibility of acquiring knowledge. "Let's go then."

"Let's hope it's not infested with feral Zerg..." Nabiros muttered as he lifted the ship from dock, guided it out of the docking bay, and into the stars.