This was an absolute nightmare! Nothing could be more horrifying than this, not even being eaten alive! The Behemoth-class Battlecruisers and old Kraken-class Battlecruisers had atrocious maintenance, but this entire ship was an engineer's worst nightmare. Conductors running through the entire ship, branching into several capacitors to keep power flowing, a large amount of useless spare parts being combined into a crucial part instead of already having it and then mass-producing it, and worst of all: unstable power couplings which had the potential to shut down the majority of the ship, save for life support and engines. Jeffrey was simply giving glances left and right, judging the other engineers with his look, while doing his best to keep formalities.
Moore sighed, noticing the stares he had been giving the engineers. If he knew how Flux worked, he would quickly have changed his mind. The group of five moved as swiftly as was allowed, soon reaching the meeting room. It was nothing special: a semi-round table with a projector attached to the ceiling, and a holo-screen with the phoenix of the Hegemony proudly displayed on it. On one of the chairs, a man was seated, reading through some information on a Tri-Pad. Upon noticing the Lieutenant, the man got out of his chair to salute Moore, to which Moore responded with her own salute. She quickly turned around to face the guests.
"Please wait here while I debrief the Corporal. It won't take longer than five minutes." She said, taking a step back, only to allow the automated door to close. How very rude. The four individuals looked around a little, before eventually seating themselves.
"So... does anyone have any idea on what this 'Hegemony' is, exactly?" Jeffrey asked, the others offering no response. Sun looked awfully interested in her comms receiver, prompting Melissa to inquire as to why. Sun slyly smiled.
"Hear for yourselves." She said, turning the volume up so that the others could hear, yet low enough to not be heard by anyone wandering in.
"COMSEC is this close to declaring Emergency Protocols, Corporal. I need your complete honesty. Was the Gate we passed through active?" The voice of Alexandra could be heard.
"Yes, ma'am. I've checked the outside surveillance, and maintenance reports state that nothing was damaged. The Gate was active." The Corporal stated. An unsettling silence ensued.
"Then it is true... return to your duties, Corporal. As of this moment, I am the acting COMSEC Director until connection is re-established with the Hegemony proper, due to me having the highest clearance. You will be notified of any COMSEC meetings I call for. Dismissed."
"How did you-" Melissa was about to inquire, yet was interrupted by Edward.
"Confederate skepticism. Likely attached a bug on her while they shook hands." He said, now taking the time to think on what was said in that conversation.
"Mercenaries can be intelligent, I see. A good thing the old Major is dead, otherwise I'd have to give him the credits I now owe him." Sun commented, smirking slightly, all the while Melissa and Jeffrey conversed in the corner of the waiting room they were in, having gotten up from their chairs.
"This just brings up new questions..." Jeffrey stated "Gates? Like, something similar to Protoss Gateways?"
"I wouldn't know, Jeffrey. It all sounds... I don't know, desperate?" Melissa attempted to deduct, perhaps wrong. The tone in the woman officer's voice while she spoke with the Corporal was certainly fluctuating throughout the conversation, so it was hard to say. But by the time the conversation could continue, the doors of the meeting room opened, the Corporal exiting, and the Lieutenant motioning for everyone to enter and take their seats; with Captain Eckley following behind. As soon as everyone took their seats, the Captain spoke up.
"Gentlemen, ladies, I am terribly sorry to keep you waiting. I had to go and dig through some old data to... familiarize you with our home. But before that, I would like to welcome you once more to the 'Pride of Eventide'." He exclaimed, standing next to a screen where a video projector was pointing at. He waited for comments patiently, finally getting one from Sun.
"And how can we be sure you aren't just mercenaries working for the Dominion?" She asked, looking the Captain square in the eyes, perhaps as an attempt to intimidate him. Yet he simply stared back.
"I can assure you, ma'am, that we are all but mercenaries. Lieutenant, play the video. Let's familiarize them with the Persean Sector."
DOMAIN-ERA SHORT DOCUMENTARY - PERSEAN SECTOR
TEN YEARS PRIOR TO THE COLLAPSE
"The edge of the galaxy. Man's final frontier. Away from the Orion Arm where the home of each human is, and close to where we are now. I am Vice Admiral George Mattheson of the Domain Navy, giving you a guide through the Persean Sector. The average colonists' final frontier."
The scenery changed, to show an astrological map of the entire Persean Sector, with multiple systems being outlined clearly, for all to see.
"This is the Persean Sector, or better yet, what we had explored. Our automated Domain Explorarium is working vigilantly to find new habitable worlds for all future colonists to settle on, begin life anew, and make the Domain that much more prosperous. In the meantime, two systems stand out the most: the Corvus System, at the galactic south of the 'Core Worlds' region, and the Mayasuran System, to the galactic north of the 'Core Worlds' region, bordered by the Hybrasil System to its galactic east. Within the Corvus System lies its crown jewel: Jangala."
The screen zoomed in on the Corvus System slowly but surely, eventually panning to a planet lush with life, a true beauty for all humans.
"Jangala is a Jungle World, a Class-V world according to our scaling system. Ideal conditions for every human, if it weren't for its Inimical Biosphere. But worry not, future colonists, for it is kept under control by the Domain Armed Forces and local Colonial Authorities. Jangala is an elustrious planet, with its natural beauty far surpassing even some of our most prosperous worlds outside the Persean Sector, such as Dathon, in the Artemis Sector, and Haven, in the edge of the still-to-be-named Sector of space, not too far from Earth. But now, I think it is time we talked about the crown jewel of the Domain's entire colonial effort here in the Persean Sector: Mairaath."
The screen zoomed out rapidly from the Corvus System, now zooming in on the Mayasura System, eventually revealing an astonishing array of orbital platforms above Mairaath, alongside massive ground-based Atmospheric Induction Units littering the surface of this beautiful planet.
"This is Mairaath. The crown jewel of not just the Mayasura System, but of the whole Persean Sector. It was nothing more than an Arid, lifeless planet, barely a Class-III planet in its own right. However, it was also the most perfect candidate for terraformation since Lathion in the Artemis Sector. Upon the arrival of the Eridani-Utopia Corporation, Mairaath became their highest priority, and no amount of resources was deemed too high for the terraformation project. The result? A perfect Terran World, still considered for Class-VI status: first of its kind, by the Domain Explorarium. Mairaath temporarily served as the IX Battlegroup's Forward Operating Base, to which its admiral had to comment that it was 'what Earth could be one day'. And now, this Sector's new arrival into the Hybrasil System."
The screen blackened all of a sudden, changing colour to blue, with streaks of white forming what looked like a triangle located within a circle, with yet another circle located within said triangle.
"Tri-Tachyon Megacorporation CEO, Daniel Monroe, had just moved several Research and Development assets into the Hybrasil System, receiving over one hundred tonnes of terraformation equipment from the Eridani-Utopia Corporation, to aid in the terraformation of Eochu Bres, a Tundra Planet of Class-IV, as well as another Class-IV planet: Culaan. For those of you who do not follow Domain politics closely enough, I suggest you listen: the Tri-Tachyon Megacorporation has been, in part, responsible for the invention of the Gate system: large rings of pure adamantite, which allow for instantaneous travel between active Gates, everywhere in the Domain, all at once. A Gateless system is a system not worth colonizing, and the horrors of one Gate shutting down are too great to be ignored in full. However, next to that, Tri-Tachyon has also taken a huge role in weapons development, as well as illegal development of Artificial Intelligence beyond our ability to control. Tri-Tachyon has had its assets confiscated on many occasions due to their numerous breaches of the Domain Ban on Autonomous Alpha AI Development, as well as other legislative lapses, and usage of governmental loopholes. Thankfully, the Domain XIV Battlegroup will be assigned to the Persean Sector within the end of this decade, and will make sure Tri-Tachyon obeys the law. And with that, I find it appropriate to end this little documentary introduction to the Persean Sector. I will say that you are to expect a more in-depth guide to the Sector within the coming weeks, as the Eridani-Utopia Corporation finishes terraformation of Mairaath. Until next time, ladies and gentlemen. I bid you farewell."
PRIDE OF EVENTIDE: MEETING ROOM, 3:07 PM SHIPBOARD TIME
The entire meeting room was silent. Not because of what they had seen, hardly, but because of what was said.
"Any questions?" Lee asked, glancing at everyone present, before he saw Jeffrey raise his hand so as to speak up.
"You aren't with... the Directorate, are you?" He asked slowly, almost as if trying to surpress a panic attack.
"I am sorry. Directorate?" Eckley asked, getting further elaboration from Edward.
"The United Earth Directorate. They came to this sector a few years ago to conquer it. They failed."
"I see." Eckley said, massaging his forehead, sighing. "So Earth was taken over by secessionists... I see the Collapse spared no one."
"Collapse?" Melissa inquired, a little confused. "Did something happen to the Domain?"
Eckley took a good look at her, and then at Moore, the woman sighing. She spoke up.
"The Collapse is a term we use for the total failure of the Gate system in the Persean Sector, and everywhere else. The Gates went dormant, and no one could use them whatsoever." She paused. "We speculated that the Domain fell, as well. It's been two-hundred-and-six years since the Collapse."
"And since you call yourselves the Hegemony, that also makes you secessionists, in a sense." Sun mentioned, slowly pissing off the Lieutenant and the Captain.
"The Hegemony is the remnant of the Domain XIV Battlegroup. We are the closest faction in the Persean Sector, and now in the rest of the galaxy, to be considered a legitimate government, or at least an extension of the Domain." Eckley said, sternly so. The former Confederate magistrate was getting on his nerves. Alas, he was 'saved' by one of the officers entering the room, and saluting the two superiors.
"Sir, we have a preliminary report on the planet that we are currently orbiting."
"And?" Eckley asked, intrigued.
"There is no evidenced that this planet was ever colonized. However, sir, we did find evidence of terraformation. The various stages of terraformation are consistent with Eridani-Utopia Protocols. And sir..." The officer paused, looking at his Tri-Pad once more.
"Spit it out, son. I don't bite." Stated the Captain, everyone present now intrigued.
"The HSS Nirvana's Respite found evidence of a Gate in this system, sir. It's incomplete, however, likely abandoned mid-construction."
Once more silence fell upon the room. Eridani-Utopia's interest in this planet, and now an incomplete Gate...
"Everyone out." Alexandra ordered, the four Terrans looking confused. "I said, everyone out. And as for you, ma'am." She said, looking in Sun's direction, taking off a small device off her person. "I advise against planting more of these in the future. It's detrimental to your well-being." Threathened the Lieutenant, crushing the small device in her fist, prompting the four Terrans to leave the meeting room. As soon as they left, she turned to her Captain.
"I am calling a COMSEC meeting."
"May I ask why, specifically?" Eckley tried to inquire.
"To invoke Restoration Protocols."
UNCHARTED SPACE: HYPERION, 8:15 AM SHIPBPARD TIME
The crew were minding their own business, either killing time in the Cantina, or performing their duties at their assigned posts. However, many important people were down in the Laboratory.
"Finally have some info on this thing?" Asked James Raynor, leader of Raynor's Raiders, as he walked into the labs. Apparently quite a few people had gathered, including Swann, the ship's most skilled engineer, and Matthew Horner, Jim's friend and close confidant, as well as admiral.
"Yes, I have finally gained some information. The files were incredibly encrypted, but with some help from Swann, I have pemetrated the system's cyber defenses, and finally gained access to some information." Said Ariel Hanson, the female scientist and refugee leader, pushing her glasses up, whilst holding a datapad.
"Then cut to the chase, Hanson. What're we looking at?"
"Apparently, this is a cryotank designed for a single person, and made for mass production for, apparently, colonization purposes." She said, browsing through the available information, allowing Swann to chime in.
"Haven't been able to take it apart because someone's in it, but listen 'ere, hotshot. This tech is ancient, at least two hundred years old. But that ain't the bad part. It's the manufacturer that concerns me, pal." Swann stated, pushing a few buttons on the console near him, allowing Jim to come close and take a look.
TRI-TACHYON MEGACORPORATION SUBSIDIARY "CRYO-TEK" MANUFACTURED CRYOSLEEPER SHIP. PLANET OF ORIGIN: EARTH. INBOUND TO - ARTEMIS SECTOR. ESCORTED BY - GUARDIAN-CLASS DRONE BATTLECRUISER
"This day just keeps getting better and better..." Jim stated, taking out his flask, so as to take a swig of alcohol, ease his nerves. Matt was the next to raise his voice.
"Earth? Earth is the homeworld of the UED, what could they be doing with cryosleep technology?"
"That's the craziest part, sunshine. That ain't Directorate tech. Take a look at this, last thing we found." Swann replied, once more pushing a few buttons on the same console.
DOMAIN DIRECTIVE #722 - UPON CRYOSLEEPER SHIP ARRIVAL TO ARTEMIS SECTOR, LOCAL COLONIAL AUTHORITY CO-OPERATION WITH DOMAIN NAVY PERSONNEL IS MANDATORY. INVESTIGATION OF 'DIABLE AVIONICS' PARA-MILITARY/CORPORATE ENTITY IS TO BE CARRIED OUT IN FULL BY ORDERS OF DOMAIN COUNCILMAN ANDREW S. ORION
"Domain... that's the first time I heard of them. Any idea on who they are, Matt?" Jim asked, taking a look at his comrade, who stood next to him. All the while, Matt continued to observe the console.
"Frankly, I have no idea. Break-away from the Directorate?" Matt asked, more likely himself rather than any one person. Yet, as he asked that, the console, which was linked to the cryotakn, itself linked to the supposed Cryosleeper Ship which was drifting aimlessly near the Hyperion, suddenly started transmitting an audio message.
"Hyperwave connection found. Accessing crew manifest. Crew manifest access successful, remaining crew in stable condition: three hundred. Broadcasting Domain Cryosleeper Distress Signal on all hyperwave networks and frequencies. Any attempt to subdue signal will be met with armed intervention of re-awakened Cryosleeper Ship Tactical Marine Squads. Beginning transmission."
Just as it finished, and Stetmann and Swann moved to shut it up, the Hyperion's entire broadcasting system went dead, only for it to begin an unknown broadcast.
"This is an emergency distress call from Domain Cryosleeper Ship Artemis-4. We have went off-course while en-route from the Corvus Gate to the Antirian Gate, and hereby request immediate relief. Three hundred colonists and military personnel are currently alive and in cryosleep. Usage of Domain Communication Relays to triangulate our position is now authorized. Transmit distress code to local authorities to gain access to Domain Communication Relays: Seven-Five-Alpha-Juliet-Kilo-Tachyon-Zero. This message will be on repeat until the distress transponder is shut-down upon successful rescue."
