AU note: This is experimental
Contact
You know the very first time I ever killed something was when I was bored, the memory itself was crystal clear, so vivid of that one particular event that even now I think of it, every single day.
4-9 years old I think was when it happened, you know the usual day, a kid doesn't find something entertaining and what do they do? They hunt for it.
Just to the left of our house was essentially a small lake, why it wasn't clogged up by cement for other houses to be built, I didn't know, nor did I care to be honest.
So, I walk there, and what do I see, a flock of ducks, and me being a kid back then who needed entertainment just walked a bit closer, then I see something out of the ordinary.
There was one duckling, separated from the flock, which sometimes just stops and just wanders around a few feet from me, so ignorant and uncaring that it slowly walked up to me.
What I do after that? I pick this stick, a long one, probable from a fence, just thick enough for my little hands to grab it fully, and what do I with it?
I whack the duckling, I didn't know why I did it, but I did know this, and it always reminds me why I became what I am now.
I didn't feel anything.
No thoughts were running around my brain, no distant memories, nothing, I was just there, staring at this duckling, blankly, I didn't stop till it's guts literally burst out.
That was the very first time, I killed something, and every time I tell it to my friends, they laugh it off, and every time I always, always, mention that I didn't feel anything.
And now, I'm just grateful that it helps, not really a common trait you have when in the secret police, heck some people after their first tasks needed therapy, me.
I laugh it off.
- SPC–59–B, recorded in his personal quarters after a cleanup of a religious fanatic cult on Union space in Sector 6.
System Mimic
The Pathfinders
The bridge of one of the assigned bulldog class frigates was abuzz with chatter and activity, a few hours after the jump the admiral, under the first objectives of this new front, tasked the other commanders to form a scout flotilla.
Already there were two underway on their mission, protecting the science vessels that scanned planets a few jumps from the system they were in, and now another one was being assembled.
30 ships of the finest make, as all ships were in The Union, fitted with energy shields invincible to the naked eye, capacitors and all, and with the latest improvement of "spaced shielding", A.K.A layering of shields, with the improved and materially compressed neutronium hulls, it practically made almost every light anti material weaponry impossible to penetrate through it.
And they were coated in the usual blackened tint, with red strips, adorned with The Unions symbol.
It was a sight like sign, with three clear lines side by side with another, in the center were three dots, symbolizing The Trifarix's pillar like government and its councilors.
Commander Vince Greyhound, humbled by being one of the few commanders under Admiral Hackett's command, gazed upon his crew going about their respective tasks, his face stern and stoic, but his chest swelled with pride.
He was a model citizen, loyal, but calm and collected, unlike the youth of today, though he took comfort in the fact that they were to be tested for competence at a very early age in their life, and he had to thank The Trifarix for that.
"Ships in formation, checks complete, waiting for jump order" One of his crew announced.
"Victor, do you have confirmation on the coordinates?" Vince asked the ships A.I, the holographic form of his most trusted companion materializing in an instant next to him.
An admiral uniform adorned his form, just like Vince, height, build and all, with a cigar in his mouth, and a beanie?
"All systems check, coordinates check, vodka? Check…" The A.I dryly said the last words as its head tilted towards the commander, the latter chuckling at the mention.
"What? it's funny"
"It was funny the first time, and that was 6 years ago Vince" Victor retorted with a blank face, his full holographic frame flickering, either in annoyance or anger Vince didn't know.
"Still funny even now Vic" Said another one of the crew his eyes glued upon a console, the A.I could only sigh, a sign of their similar traits to their human companions, a term they wanted to address them than their original 'maker's' or 'creators' back in the day, as well as their proof of sentience.
It was quite the surprise back then, though a state secret hidden by a curtain of secrecy even from a few members of The Trifarix, a surprise but a welcomed one, and a very efficient addition as well.
"Jump commencing in three" Announced Victor, his voice heightened as it echoed through the halls of the ship.
"Do you think it was a good idea for us to have tier 3 tech weapons on the ships? Not even the battleships were retrofitted" Vince asked, his augmented eyes showing his friend's answer.
Possibly
"Two" The engines hummed as they powered up, the ship's hull slightly shaking as they did.
"What do you think of this galaxy? The same or nah" Vince gazed upon the few reports that popped up, his enhanced brain making it a breeze to multi-task.
Peaceful, unlikely, bountiful, an understatement
"One" As the ships entered FTL speeds, the void they were once in, was silent.
"So, you think first contacts gonna be an all-out war?" The Commander asked, his body shakily tipping as they jumped.
More than once
"Jump complete" Victor announced after a few moments, checking systems, stocks, the amount of ships, and the signals in the newly arrived system.
The crew moved throughout the ship, their footsteps echoing through the room as they went about their assigned tasks, stopping but a moment, as the last thing they wanted to hear blared through the speakers in the halls.
"CONTACT" And with that, they followed protocol, soon the reports were flooding in, from all the 30 ships in the small scout fleet, they reported what the sensors caught in the system, Vince himself, was worried, composing just as quick as the feeling rushed through his system.
"Give me numbers" And as soon as he asked, he wished he had just shut up, 50,000 ships, goddamn that's a lot of firepower, and by the reports there's quite a lot of destroyers, well 643m destroyers, and crap, 3 battleships, he'd need more than 3 destroyers for that to be dealt with, even if they were 2.8km battleships, what is it with these aliens and odd numbers!?
At least make your ships length be in an even number after you kill us
"Blyat" Vince would have chuckled at the curse Victor muttered if their situation was different, but it wasn't, and so he would have asked until he got a report that blinked into existence in his augmented eyes.
The alien ships were hailing them.
At least they aren't related to the khans
He hoped they weren't, he'd need a full battlefleet to deal with that kind of threat, and they were unlucky enough to not yet place any comm buoys, of course that's if they resolve this first, and he'd hoped that they were no trigger happy recruits in his crew, that would just be catastrophic.
Pride before the fall
He reminded himself, and maybe just maybe the new bloods were reminding themselves as well, if 50,000 ships wanted to talk to a mere scout fleet, then maybe they had a chance at getting these aliens trust, no use in broken wares after all.
"Trust fall protocol is in place, do you want me to send a first contact package, it seems that they already have sent theirs" Victor asked, probably underway in hacking through the aliens systems, of course they still had to be careful, you never know when it comes to aliens.
"Do it, I don't want to agitate these aliens furthermore, so be careful in breaking through, and get a com buoy out, stealthily! The Admiral needs to be informed about this" Though he knew Victor would be cautious in his approach in hacking, he still was worried, that and maybe they'll get this new batch intertwined right in their fingers.
Maybe as easy as the magi
Again, he hoped, reality was never an easy opponent, still he hoped.
Unknown System
Batarian Pirate Fleet
Cesvan Gilak was not a happy batarian, sure he had climbed the ranks to captain a raiding fleet, hit a few planets, bonded with a few assari, a batarian, and even a turian, once, but he was not happy, not even his personal retinue of picked assari slaves could lessen his temper.
Why? Well what would you feel if you were tasked to find the quarians, only for you to go on a ghost hunt, for several jumps for that matter, and then in the end of it all, find a once dormant relay being turned on.
It was supposed to be so simple, cut off a few ships then get out like a full grown thresher maw was going to eat you, but nooo, the galaxy had to be more demanding than it always had, in times like this he wished he would have just been in the lower castes, with his ears ringing with propaganda and all.
"What do we do now sir?" Asked one of his crew, the same guy that had been asking the same old easily answered questions ever since they went to fulfil this task.
"Oh, I don't know, dance like an assari stripper, did you at least contact one of the patrol fleets of those metal headed bastards!?" Gilak bit back, making the targeted batarian flinch in response, before replying.
"Ye-yes si-sir, they're still a way's away-"
"Good, then get us to position to jump in the relay" Gilak interrupted before the batarian could continue, the sooner they get this done the better, and he didn't want to waste any more time, especially if the damnable turians where coming.
Maybe this might be the day when those suit rats go extinct
He relished the thought, ha, maybe he could play the good guy role and offer them a job, hah a good joke that would be, and quite the laugh if he would say so.
And so, with that though in mind their pirate fleet proceeded to approach the relay, with a sinister smile forming in Gilak's face, unknown to them their fate was already sealed, stowed away by death itself.
Beyond Relay 314
The Migrant Fleet
Why now of all the times!
Captain Vexxu'Herato thought annoyingly, of all the moments a first contact could happen, it happens when they're in the middle of preparing for an attack, from the strongest military of the galaxy for that matter!
They came from nowhere, one minute everyone was doing the essential tasks and preparations for them to even have a chance against a turian patrol fleet, no less the fleet that's more likely going to be here in a few days' time, and a second later, blam, panic took over as 30 ships blinked in the system, and from what they had seen of their designs, they were made for war.
They were blocky, but still had smooth parts all over some areas, and they were menacing to look at, with their blackened tints as the same color as the void of space, as well as red stripes here and there, if Vexxu wasn't any wiser she'd think they were part of a pirate group trying too hard to look the part.
"Mam, you're not going to like this" Solemnly said one of her crew, his eyes glued to the holographic terminal where an order was placed.
"Just give it to me" Vexxu tiredly replied, already guessing where this was going.
"They want us to move in closer" There it is, still it wasn't the most horrible plan, being them the smallest crewed cruiser in the fleet, just well over 800 crewmembers.
I should've brought something less valuable in my pilgrimage days
She thought ironically, not that it mattered now, and so with another long breath she called the order to move in towards the unidentified ships, and she hoped the aliens didn't see this particular move as offensive or threatening.
Not that she'd had a choice in things, it had been hours since they hailed the newcomers, and ever since, their first contact package was still somehow not deciphered yet, not like they had any luck in cracking theirs either.
Whether they were fairly new to interstellar travel or were a part of an already highly advanced society, The Migrant Fleet didn't know yet, and Vexxu herself hoped that it was the former, for their sensors had all but failed to even breach their hulls, not identifying a single aspect of what they had in terms of weaponry or any other devices for that matter.
But from the looks of it, and from what they picked up on their scanners, the radioactive spike that they were picking up, they were dealing with something big, if not for that then the matter that this was but a small scout fleet.
Please don't shoot us
Please be as easy as the magi
Commander Vince thought hopefully, yes, he knew hope shouldn't be trusted, but goddamn was he still going to just hope for the best.
"Sir one of their destroyers is approaching us, their weapons are powered down somewhat" Said one of his crew, soon a holographic screen popped up in front of everyone, crystal clear for all to see, the alien ships design was unique, in a way.
From what Victor could get out with, their weapons at best were just, pathetic, just more powerful mass accelerator cannons, that somehow make light go faster, making their rounds speed and velocity equal to that to the mid-level railguns they had before, after that sort of info with their weapons and armor, he didn't want to debate any further, I mean they just jumped to an entire new galaxy no less, so why question a technology that was new, if it helped The Union in further cementing itself then it was fine by him.
"Get our frigate up close, just inside the range of the destroyers, do not fire on them unless the aliens do so" Vince commanded with a stern and strict tone.
And if what Victor had gained on their history was true, then his hopes of this alien species as easily swayed by them like the magi, where near a reality, of course he still needed to be careful in his steps in gaining the trust of these, quarians, as they were called.
A race that created A.I just like them, only for them to do the exact opposite of what they did and make them nothing more than slaves used for construction and other logistics, in turn the A.I they created gains sentience and then pushes them out of their home world.
And after that unfortunate event, stacked up with the banishment from this council, of sorts, a group of collective species standing united for the good of all, if he hadn't known any better he would be applauding them for their stance in the greater galaxy, but alas he knew a little bit more than most.
He scoffed at the brief but precise details of what Victor had told him, this council was nothing more than a bunch of bureaucrats and egoistic politicians, sitting atop their oh so grand seats, while they preach for galactic unity and prosperity, while doing nothing for those below them.
Not like The Union was any better, oh wait it was, in a few parts at least, first and foremost it was competent in its job, and honors its words, to a degree, and if you don't like it, then screw you.
And unlike this council, it had a knack of melding one's mind, and changing it as well, gaining trust, and respect, but the most important of all, fear, The Union knew well of the perspective game, and it played dirty.
And here was one species, just begging for help, oh how he could just smell the tech to be made once they report this back to their galaxy, and the laughs he and the rest of crew would get once they have them under their fold.
Codex
Opening Files/- Designation: Civil Class Information/
The Trifarix council is made of three particular groups.
The Hand of Might, assigned for defending and mobilizing the military assets The Union has, this includes ground forces, the navy and special OPS units.
It is required that by the age of 6, children of all genders, go through a development trial, made to ready their bodies in the future, this means that physical exercises and enhanced brain games are applied to them.
Though in the early days of The Union this was not the case, but with the advancements in gene therapy as well as gene modding, made this endeavor possible, and made their subjects more than capable.
This required aspect of being molded into a healthy and model citizen takes it's training up a notch at the age of 18, where in the people in it are given a choice, whether to be made into an efficient working citizen in whatever job of their choosing.
Or serve in the military, where upon 5 years' time they will be enlightened of what The Union actually needed to do, at this point in time the trial of loyalty is placed upon the individual soldiers, treachery and traitors are displaced accordingly.
The Path of Destiny, is assigned the tasks of projects, whether it be classified or of civilian use, alien diplomacy, and civil control.
In essence, the people assigned to this group are the ones whom oversee building projects, relations and political standing, as well as civil property.
Though it is common practice for any owner of value in The Union to follow its jurisdictions and guidance.
It is well known that any civil class employees whom have experience, enough experience, can climb to this level of work, and of course they can choose between councils if they want, the exception to this practice is in the council of The Hand of Might.
As only military personnel can climb and pick, or be chosen, if seen competent enough by the members, to the specific council.
And last but not the least.
The Watchers, are people tasked with civil networks, and technological branch networks either made by TAC, or bought from other galactic communities.
Any more information on this group is classified.
Information Class - / -Classified - /
Password needed - / - Identifying - /
Password Identified - / - Welcome - /
Species Class - / Psychic / -
Species Name - / Magi / -
Affiliation - / Alien / -
Government Name - / The Apostles of Cre / -
The Magi are a peaceful and spiritual species, their foremost strength and the reason for their continued existence, even by being surrounded by unruly neighbors, are their psychic attribute.
They are, in easy terms, farseers, as nicknamed by vanguard units stationed in one of their planets, as such they have survived for they have a hint of knowledge, how and where their 'friends turned enemies' as they call it, attack, and in a calm collected manner maneuver their fleets to effectively drive them off.
The Union first encountered them in the middle of a war, a war in which the enemy had pushed them far off with only a few remaining systems in their hands, and so in a heroic like light, The Union set out two assigned battlefleets to help, winning the war as well as gaining the trust of the magi.
In the years to come, psychic technologies have been shared by The Apostles and The Union, greatly enhancing the capabilities of The Union to engage against threats of psychic nature, The Magi people, see The Union as one of their most trusted 'friend' in the galactic community.
It is acknowledged however that psychic based tech cannot be maintained in any way possible without a psychic crewmember, which is prohibited by The Union due to their nature of being a psychic, though this claim angered the magi people, it was explained that a secret is as said a secret, psychic's cannot be fully known to tell the truth even with The Unions advanced A.I lie detectors.
Not that The Union cared for the opinions of The Magi people in any form, but they hid it with assuring speeches and smiles, of course it was behind a holographic projector with said council members being lightyears away.
Even now The Magi are still the docile sheep they are, ready for harvest and continued contribution to their shepherd, just like all tributaries and "allies" of The Union should be.
Military Assets
The Vanguard – In essence of The Unions third intergalactic war, was made to act not only as a policing force but a garrison one as well.
Employing a variety of tactics such as guerilla warfare, scorched earth, intelligence gathering, and sabotage, The Vanguard is the last line of defense any planet The Union has, and may be the only line, if they were completely cut off.
The soldier's employed to The Vanguard, are mostly a trial and error course for the citizens whom chose the military profession instead of the civil one, these 'recruits' is the very first line in the ranks the military has to offer.
They are augmented to a degree, enhancements to their senses, strength, bone density, overall efficiency and endurance, though keep this in mind they are the weakest and mid experienced asset of the ranks The Union has.
For their armaments, they are equipped with the standard issue penetrator rifle, easily the most repairable and light maintenance need weapon The Union had ever designed, inspired by the very old AKA47 rifle.
It is designated as an infantry cleaner class weapon.
Armor wise, they have the standard issue mk4 exo-suits, designed to make the wearer more agile and giving less strain for the body, the suit itself sports an over plating like look for the wearers back, protecting them completely from the neck to the waist.
As such their front armor is designed to have complete coverage but be comfortable as well, the armor cannot stand if over used, as even the strong neutronium mesh can and will degrade, this is of course if the caliber they are up against is higher or enough for the armor to be dented, lower caliber weapons will need more time, and bullets, to even dent, or even miraculously puncture it.
Bulldog Frigates
Size – 300m
Armaments – Small Kinetic Artillery & Stormfire cannons
Armor – Light Neutronium Plating & Small Shields
Power Core's – Cold Fussion - #2
As stated in their designation, Bulldog Frigates are to harass and weaken the enemy, fitted with kinetic artillery guns, all equalized throughout the hull and stromfire cannons for anti-missile and aircraft uses.
They are designed to be fast, and hard hitting, especially against shields, they also use these capabilities in tandem with other Union ships, using their speed and maneuverability, to dodge and rip shields in pieces so the more heavier class ships can have an easier time ripping/melting through armor, as such they are also the first line of anti-aircraft ships.
They can never be left alone to themselves, though capable enough if their numbers where up the thousands, they are a team base ship, as such when in a scouting fleet they will always have at least 3 or more destroyers as support units, with their number up to 27 or more per scout fleet.
In recent years the advancement in ship designs and power usage, has made the bulldog ships be equipped with two cold fusion cores, this advancement has been proven to be extremely helpful and efficiently power the main systems, such as sensors and engines and has enough power for all its weapons to be used.
Eagle Destroyers
Size – 750m
Armaments – Large Phase Disruptors & Light Ripper Cannons
Armor – Medium Neutronium Plating & Small Shields
Power Core's – Cold Fussion - #3
As stated in their designation, Eagle Destroyers are sharpshooters of the group, their roles are simple, aim and shoot, with their disruptors they could, in a way scramble enemy sensors and systems, with their light ripper cannons acting as another line of anti-aircraft defense.
The Eagle Destroyers where first tested for competence and efficiency in the first intergalactic war The Union had, pinning them against cruisers and even a few battleships, there first designs where subpar to their modern counterparts.
As said, they are given the roles of a light sniper, prioritizing large targets, either to be destroyed by their disruptors or be incapacitated for study.
Like the Bulldog Frigates, they cannot be left to themselves if few in number, in a scouting fleet there would always be at least three or more of them to act as support vessels for their much smaller and faster brethren.
AU note: If the codex up above is confusing you about the ethics, The Union is essentially a more refined and watchful military junta, with ethics of being a militarist, materialist and authoritarian.
Ship design wise, their mammalian, so blocky war purpose-built ships.
Now if any of you guys are confused about the flag, it's essentially a sight, a three lined one, with three dots in the middle, there's no symbol in stellaris that I had in mind for The Union's flag, so don't waste your time searching for it, use your imagination it'll probable differ from the others, but meh it's just a flag, don't worry The SPC can't track me.
Anyways replies.
Xeno-Hater – Don't worry they won't be a xenophile neutered sack of weak shit like the systems alliance, but keep in mind their also not a xenophobe, their just paranoid, like hella paranoid, plus why kill your soon to be enemies when you can use them to further your goals.
That path's more efficient if you think about it, you get your "allies" a threat they can access, making them pop out more tech a bit further ahead, while you also do it, while your tributaries do the same, that and tall empires are quite defensible, watch aspec in youtube to know what tall empires mean if you don't know it already.
That and your "allies" A.K.A Friends that give you things, give you a hella lot of a buffer zone.
OperatorChan – Hope the new info up above helped!
Coment9 – It'll be hard to write, but I'll try my best.
Hope the new info up above sates a bit of your taste on the units The Union has, and the design of the ships are mammalian, blocky war-built ships, I think I already stated this.
Ravenext – Well I hope this story of mine will make you enjoy yourself while you're here, and thanks for that little info on reddit.
Might check it out later, of course I'd need to make an account first though.
AU note: Anyways, before I end this, I'll need to warn you guys/gals on updates, it'll be sporadic at best, so yeah, I won't be always updating by a day after, or even a weak, I ain't a robot.
But if I was, I'd be writing all day, that and I also have another story that I need to update, check it out if you want to.
Now about the quarians, I have no knowledge 0f how many liveships they have, so if the numbers here are inaccurate please inform me, and also, I'm a bit rusty in ship designs so don't expect quite accurate 'placements' of armor, weapons and everything.
Now to explain a bit of why The Union is as it is, like I said above, it uses its "Allies" as buffer zones, against what? Everything, like that horizon signal that I didn't yet get as an activity back at my last playthrough.
So, in essence, their making themselves a threat so that everyone grows a few balls and makes new tech, all the while infecting and spreading their influence to other galactic communities.
In the end, everyone can't go to war with each other, for a time, because of the fact that all of them are of equal strength, and if a war does blow out, The Union still wins, because they can't be affected that much due to them having subjugates giving them a hella of a buffer zone.
Go watch aspec as I said and you'll get why I like this kind of playstyle.
Anyways, that's it for now.
Normie out.
EDIT: The battleships are the quarian liveships I've research them and there's only three so whoops