Chancellor's Office, Parliament Hall, Earth, Sol System

September, 2398

The lights of the capitol shine through the windows of the Chancellor's office, bathing the dark room in a pale blue light.

The Chancellor, a man of younger age than his white hair would suggest, adjusts his spectacles, before turning his bright green eyes towards the faces of the individuals in his office. Various directives and executives of the agencies and directorates that govern exploration and expansion waited stiffly, anxious to hear his decree.

"So let me get this straight," Reinol von Lorica says, leaning into his seat, "you want us to break our primary directives regarding pre-interstellar civilisations because of…" he looks at his holographic screen in front of him, reading the details, "...strange energies that permeate the planet…"

"It's more than that, Chancellor," Director Finnigan Laugfey of the Systems Exploration and Expansion Directorate begins, "the readings are nearly unheard of. They are reminiscent of psionics, yet oddly unique since they don't seem to have any relation to the Shroud whatsoever. Furthermore, our exploration drones sent there have found even more oddities."

The Director brings up a holopad, allowing for several images to appear all around the room. At a cursory glance, Reinol manages to figure out that the civilisation is in its early medieval stages. At a more detailed look, he realizes that the primary inhabitants of the planet are human or humanoid in appearance.

If someone were to show this image to the Chancellor of two hundred years ago, then there would have definitely been far more different reactions. Yet, as the exploration of the galaxy began to reach its end, the truth that humans or humanoids aren't just natives to Earth soon became more and more real. In fact, they are almost unnaturally common...

One simply has to look at the nearly human people of the Argent Empire and the elves of the Jovian Interstellar Empire.

Reinol takes a closer look, and a realisation dawns upon him, "Say, are there...multiple sentient species on this planet?"

"Indeed," Finnigan says, "we've detected over a dozen varieties of people living there. Most curiously, they appear to match the descriptions we had for races most commonly found in fantasy and fiction…"

This causes Reinol to blink. Now that is interesting to hear. Two sentient species thriving on the same planet is not unheard of, but to have a multitude of them is rather surprising. An investigation is certainly within warrant, although is all this truly enough for what the Director is planning?

"I see. So, strange energies that match our psionics but not quite, a multitude of species, and what else?" Reinol huffs, not amused in the slightest, "we can easily do our research from a distance. There is no need for us to make contact with them."

The Director shifts in his seat. Reinol raises a brow. There's more to this?

"You see...a week ago, our scanners detected a new burst of energy from the planet. Our scientists managed to conduct a covert drone operation to study it and found this."

An image of an ornate structure appears. It was large, enough to fit in a levitation destroyer or a small space ship, but not large enough to fit even a corvette. It reminds Reinol of a temple entrance of some kind. Although what struck him the most is the entry. Nothing could be seen from the view. Even the closest image only reveals an eternal darkness.

"Our scientists believe that this 'Gate' is a device used to traverse dimensions. We also believe that due to the familiarity of the natives with this, that this is not the first time that this has happened. Long before the anomaly fully manifested, people were already gathering."

A moment of silence. Reinol stares at the Gate for a moment, and nods, "I see. Is there anything else?"

"We also have reason to believe that the natives use these Gates to conquer or raid territories beyond their dimension. We have picked up on military activity of the natives converging on the area."

Reinol hears the Director out, and nods. He takes a deep breath, and slowly realises that this is not as simple as it seems to be, "I see. So we somehow have a transdimensional civilisation that has not achieved even space flight. This could possibly warrant a more intense observation...though I hesitate to say contact should be allowed."

"However…" the Chancellor sighs, leaning into his seat, "I cannot deny that all this does can heavily benefit us, should we successfully find a way to replicate their methods. I can imagine that we can technologically enlighten them in turn, and integrate them into our society. Very well, you have my approval to make contact with them."

Finnigan and the rest of the individuals in the room let out small sighs of relief. One of them speaks up, "With your permission, we would like to assemble a proper expedition. We can create a team and a ship on our own, though we wish to have military assistance."

His eyes narrow. Military assistance during technological enlightenment operations are not uncommon, though it is a power to be used carefully, lest it be abused to oppress or force the locals into compliance.

There is no history of them ever doing it so far, though he knows very well that other more martial empires are not averse to such a tactic.

Eventually, he sighs and waves his hand. The holoscreen shifts, and a message is quickly sent.

"A cruiser shall be relinquished to take part in this. Use what you have wisely."

There is a general sense of relief as the group thank him, and all Reinol could do is sigh once more.

To be honest, he would have rather that they continued with a more passive study of this planet. But some concessions have to be made for the greater good. The Unified Democratic Systems will, at the very least, certainly benefit from this.

And frankly, that is all that matters.

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Thanks to my friends on Discord for helping me out with this! Shout out to CefHavoc and SomberFlight for being of special help!