With my forces busy sabotaging the Dread Lords, I decided to look into dealing with the other extant precursors in this universe: The Arnor. Though they and the Dread Lords were of the same species, their motives and ideals were so different that I was willing to consider them two different species...at least, at the moment. And while I might be opposed to the Dread Lords on moral grounds, I had only good things to say about the Arnor. Right now, I wanted to see where they were.

While I knew that there was at least one Arnor still alive and kicking at this point in time (before you ask, his name is Tandis), I wasn't exactly sure if he was the only one left. If he was not, then saving the Arnor was my new priority for this universe. Of course, there was one problem with that: since most of heir tech had been lost to time, I had no real means of tracking them...or did I? While the majority of their tech had been lost to time, one of their advancements had survived: a form of self repairing armor that acted more like living tissue than normal armor. And while most ships belonging to the Cthulhu-esque beings known as the Iconians had that armor on them, I was inclined to believe that all Arnor ships would have that kind of armor on them, and I could track that armor.

So, now that I had something to look for, I set my scouts to work trying to locate the Arnor. In addition to looking for ships equipped with Arnorian Battle Armor, I also told them to ignore any ships that had that kind of armor but didn't have a blue, crystalline appearance, which appeared to be the new design theme the Arnor were using, if Twilight of the Armor was any indication.

Now, go, my scouts! Find the Armor!

XXXXXXXXX

It took them two days to find my target.

Looking through the cameras of one of my Hermes, I watched as the blue, crystalline ship came into view. Cautiously, I attempted to contact it, which was initially met with ignorance, before finally being answered.

"Greetings. I am Tandis, of the Arnor. Who are you?"

"I am Commander Flame, of the Infernum Federation."

"I thought so. Though, I wonder, why did you kind think that would be a good new name for your kinds' dominion."

"...what?"

"I merely wonder why the Progenitors chose that name as the new title for their civilization."

...WHAT?!

"...Say again?"

"...You...don't know about the Progenitors?"

"Not beyond the fact that they made the Commanders."

"Oh...well, I do not believe that is important. At least, not now."

"I think that you...are right."

What? That's not what I wanted to say!

"Then let us leave that talk for another day."

"Or we don't have to talk about it at all."

No! This is important stuff!

"I'm fine with that."

"Good. This tidbit will...be...ignored."

FUCK!

"Though, I must now ask this, why did you seek me out? I know that the ship you used to contact me is only one of many that seemed to be scouring the galaxy for something, so I can assume that you were actively searching for my kind."

TELL ME ABOUT THE PROGENITORS!

"...I wish to improve the lives of all of those in this universe, including those of your people, should they still exist. I offer your kind the option to join my Federation if you desire."

WHY CAN'T I SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROGENITORS?!

"I see. Well, we accept your offer, though do not think that we will share our technology with you. At least, not just yet."

"That is...acceptable."

AGH!

Ugh, fine. I give up. Not going to fight the unbeatable right now. Fix that later.

"So, when can we begin moving your people to my colonies."

"In a moment. Just follow my vessel."

Complying, I watched as he led me to a strange metal ring-like machine - oh, that's a Star Gate.

Sure enough, it was, and after a moment, the gate came online, allowing a ship to pass through it. This one resembled Tandis', but with two great blue domes on it - the telltale sign of a colony ship. Once that ship came through, the gate went offline again, presumably to not allow anyone to go to wherever the Arbor has been hiding. I quickly scanned the gate and pocketed it's design, before giving the Arnor directions to my central territories, as well as an escort borrowed from the nearest fleets I had in the area. Then, I sent them on their way.

XXXXXXXX

Well, now I had the Arnor under my protection, which was good, but, on the other hand, they somehow knew I had Progenitor technology. And I was forcibly stopped from questioning them as to how they knew that.

Ugh, time to mess with my code again.

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AN: Read, Review, and DISCUSS! This is Flameal15k, signing off!