Authors Note: alright so last time we got the ball rolling and the UNE kicked some ass so far I would say that's a pretty good start into the 41st millennium. I did a little digging and found that I made a minor oopsie with Ela'Ashbel. Turns out she's blind so I fixed some problems with that. I also added some lore with a description of the superheavy juggernaut.
Looking at your reception of the first chapter I'd like to shamelessly paraphrase/steal a comment made by Icebite (thanks bro), because it brought up some stuff I should've clarified at the beginning.
40k is made to be a dark and depressing setting with no improvement, and I like and understand GW writers take on the galaxy. However I'm writing this as an opposing statement about how this galaxy can improve with guidance. If you came for bleak nihilism I will disappoint you, for this story is one of hope and victory.
As a testament to how even in the worst galaxy imaginable humanity could thrive in how we want it. I will write this as long as I have inspiration and ways to keep the story fun. Thank you for your time in reading this monologue.
Talesh looked up at the Mon-keigh with fury in his eyes, "Don't dirty my language with your mouth Mon-keigh, speak it again and your tongue shall be the price" the primitive furrowed her brow before responding.
"I'm sorry, have our species met before?" Talesh nearly threw up at the idiotic statement. How could they have not?! Talesh knew of their inferior intelligence, but to what lengths was astounding.
"Do you mock me! Your pathetic species and your corpse god are all that your kind seem to talk about. I thought I knew the extent of your barbarism, but I know now it has no limits" the 'admiral' took time processing what he said as fast their intelligence could handle.
"The UNE does not worship a corpse god nor are we singular species nation" Talesh began to put the pieces together in his brain, how could they not know of their emperor?
He began to formulate a conclusion with his brain working as fast as possible. The reptile that put him to sleep came to mind, in all of the records he had never heard a word of a species like that before.
His memories came back as a tidal wave though, and as Talesh looked down at his arm what he was met with was not the primitive steel and copper appendages that the imperium used nor one of wraithbone, but rather his arm. Completely rid of armour yes, but his arm was still there.
"We had to use STEM cells on your arm to reconstruct your hand" said the nervous one to his left, Talesh's mind raced. The imperium didn't have this kind of technology and only the most skilled physicians could replicate this on Kaelor.
"We need to establish contact with your fleet, but we're unsure of your communication methods and would rather do it in person. For us this is first contact, but I think we have some clearing up to do" Talesh crept his eyes up her uniform. It held badges of stature and long coloured lines that denoted command authority
"You have my permission Mon-keigh". The admiral raised an eyebrow, "to speak our language" she smirked at that statement.
H'aras was in the middle of lunch, when he heard the door chime. Sighing as he put down his salad he walked to the door, "duty never ends" mumbled the Jas'gavas quoting the ancient scripture of the Fanrauque.
The door opened to see the admiral with his earlier patient "Ma'am", and he quickly snapped a salute with his upper right arm. He could sense the patient flinch at his movements, but decided that since he had to forcefully invade his mind that fear was justified.
"I heard that you helped with my recovery... and I would wish to thank you for your assistance"
H'aras smiled and bent down to the eye level of the patient "I think due to the circumstances you were right to be frightened, but you're welcome in any case"
The admiral nodded towards the nearest shuttle bay, H'aras ducked under the doorway and followed the admiral with the patient in tow. Realizing he had made a mistake he sent a message to the patient. "I never asked you for your name"
The footsteps behind him stopped for a moment as the psychic message was received "Don't do that again without permission or have you forgotten your manners?... ugh... my name is Talesh"
The reptile smiled even wider though "The mind is a temple not a fortress don't be so quick to bar it... My name is H'aras"
The trio approached shuttle bay 34 and was greeted by rows upon rows of crafts, commercial and military even personal ships were being moved around by the giant magnetic clamps and reverse gravity lifts.
Talesh saw the pure expanse of space in front of him, as a few guards came in behind them with the head stepping behind the admiral. Talesh was not small by eldar standards nor was he tall, but the Mon-keigh easily broke 7 feet with his armour.
Talesh though he was a space marine from a side glance, but that thought was disproven as he was much thinner most likely due to not sporting their extra organs.
"Ma'am you'll need a escort by UNE first contact procedure" the admiral's eyes narrowed their gaze upon the soldier not in suspicion, but rather her thinking face
"We're in a very tense situation right now a full escort could lead to problem. I'll take you and one of your own with me sergeant" out of the assembled SES one stepped forward and the others began to leave to their training.
Talesh wondered how they communicated like that, as the soldiers began to tail the admiral without speaking a word. The entourage boarded one of the military shuttle transports, and the admiral took the pilot seat.
Sarah looked back at Talesh beckoning him over to join her as the copilot. "I'm gunna need you to hail the big one for docking codes" with that done the shuttle lifted its frame off the ground and started it's engine.
The flight over was by Talesh's standards extremely smooth, with a couple centuries of experience in his belt. Talesh had flown almost every kind of fighter and shuttles out there, there was even that time with his 'space skateboard' he'd fashioned out of an engine of a Mon-Keigh transport.
This shuttle though was by far the most calm he felt behind the controls, and he almost remained in that blank calm state until the admiral poked him in his armour. "I never asked you what your species is called" the pilot kept his gaze out of the window in front of him never breaking it while responding
"We have many names. The Eldar, the Asuryani, the Craftworlders. But most of those are used to distinguish us from our other kin. You may call us the Aeldari"
Sarah gazed upon the bone white ship in front of them, they were facing one of the hangar bays that had a visible blue force field. Talesh focused his mind to his sister trying to use the soul bonding they had to let them in, "Laureah are you there?"
"Brother is that you?! Oh I thought I lost you! Where are you?". Talesh realized he had left the battle without a word, he almost choked on his tears when he thought about what his sister must've concluded
"I've been rescued by the Mon-keigh, I need to enter the craft world. I'm outside hangar bay 3" . Within minutes he saw his sister practically punch the door operator who had been relaying what was happening, And deactivate the security field.
The shuttle landed and the moment the door dropped he sprinted out. his sister in her robes almost fell over, but Talesh caught her with a hug. "I'd thought I lost you" she whispered softly "you know I would never leave you" he whispered back.
He noticed his shoulder getting damp, and realized Laureah had been crying. "Don't cry young one I'm here and safe, the beasts could never best your older brother" Laureah sighed with a chuckle while wiping away her tears, "you're only older by two minutes"
Sarah had been watching the display of affection and began to miss her own sister, and with a pang of guilt she decided to visit Keira soon. Immediately after the siblings began to separate the doors opened, and soldiers lined up on the overlook with rifles and multiple melee attackers began to form a semicircle round the intruders.
The SES didn't bother to lift their weapons instead deciding to step in front of H'aras and Sarah, blocking their line of sight. With a slight click and a hum that faded Sarah recognized that the SES had activated their shields. "I'm admiral Sarah Briggs of the first fleet, captain of the Vancouver, and currently the representative of the United Nations of Earth. Next to me is H'aras my personal advisor on this matter. We request to speak to your leaders for a greeting of civilizations"
All of the Aeldari in the room remained silent without movement, and the SES made a small click of the safeties turning off. Another singular Eldar came into the room, and stopped two meters in front of the SES.
He stared back at the two siblings which stood next to each other on the sidelines of the confrontation, "I'm assuming you brought our pilot back. Yes? I'm surprised you even recognized the importance of life" The leader then clicked his tongue, and began to speak again when Sarah cut him off accidentally
"It wasn't to impress you if that's what you're implying. We reacted to a SOS beacon". The leader had a helmet on, but Sarah still felt him recoil a bit.
"I'm surprised your kind even has the intellect to speak our language. Come with me Mon-keigh our farseer wishes to speak with you... privately"
H'aras spoke to himself in Peporsa, one of the few languages prohibited on the galactic translator due to religious significance "One hell of an introduction my friend. Let's hope they have tea in this place"
Ela'Ashbel sat in her chamber with every source of light snuffed out. "Show me our future with the newcomers"she could feel the strands of all of the timeline possibilities flow around her. She began to sift through them but every strand was unrelated to inquiry.
Frustrated about her failure she tried again, but instead of the strands it was a golden light. She recognized it as the same light coming from the ships. Ela'Ashbel reached out to touch the golden orb of light, and as her fingers grazed upon the or-
She was thrown out of her vision once more, and again she realized that she'd been floating. The ground hit her hard the blind farseer landed/crumpled to her knees. Ela'Ashbel decided to give it a rest lest she break something.
The farseer's door chimed signalling visitors, sighing as she picked herself up she opened up the door. A few moments passed with the farseer standing in front of the arch. "Hello?" Her voice echoed down the hall to no response.
The silence continued until a gust of wind with unintelligible whispers breezed past her, not one to question the way the future presents itself she chased after it. Using her ears she had to follow the sound of it going through the streets and bridges of the craft world.
Recognizing the path to the council chamber she sprinted ahead of the whispers racing against it to reach the doors before the newcomers did.
Sarah was awestruck at the beauty of the craft world. the architecture alone was enough to make the cosmic alliance headquarters look like a metal and granite box. the entire thing looked like a city, with parks and bridges over lakes.
It reminded her of Earth, her home. The two SES were looking over the side of the hovercraft they were on, and H'aras had a grin from fin to fin.
Talesh had departed to be with his sister, so with limited options she simply stirred in her thoughts as they rode. She thought more about Earth and the wormhole, immediately though she began reciting her introduction speech.
While it had not been performed in over a thousand years it was required of every rank over captain to know it by heart. However she worried about how the Aeldari saw humanity, and more importantly how they knew about humanity.
Holy Terra throne room of the imperial palace, final resting place of the God-Emperor of mankind
Trajaan Valoris was almost jogging at this point with how fast he was walking. Him and his other custodes felt eternity gate close behind him, but he had no time to relish in that sound as he had done so many times before.
His companions stayed silent for the anticipation of confirming the news that had been brought to their attention demanded silence, and Trajaan himself was curious and suspicious of the news and had to see for himself.
He could feel the Emperor as he got closer, his soul started to fill up with joy as he got close. Rounding the last corner there he sat. His perfect body remained unchanged except for one feature. His beautiful skull glistening with it's perfection had been the news though, for finally after 10,000 years it had changed.
The melancholy expression that they dare not touch had been replaced by something beautiful. The Emperor was grinning, with his jaw having widened for some unknown reason. It was clear though that he was smiling for the cavity where his mouth stood had changed, with the edges being pulled back by muscles that were no longer there.
Concanid system Kaelor craft world, outside the elder council
Sarah had been helped down by her SES escort and was walking to the doors, when a tall Aeldari woman ran right past them and entered their destination. Their Aeldari guide however nearly tripped at the sight, giving Sarah and opportunity to wonder who she was.
They entered the building which got surprisingly condensed, and she wondered what it's size was for until they entered the council room. It was crowded to say the least, with thousands of Aeldari in the stands and more were still filing in.
On her pathway it ended into the centre of the room on a raised circular platform. In front of her however was a even higher platform that looked down upon them, with what she presumed were the leaders of the craft world seated faced opposing her. their guide joined the stands and ushered them to the middle, and Sarah felt like she was getting put on trail.
Gulping before reaching the middle, one of the elders raised their hands, and what remained of chatter after they entered stopped
"Mon-keigh you are in the Eldar council room. You have been brought here to explain why you helped us, and why you have disobeyed the imperium. You will also explain how you were able to learn Aeldari lexicon. There is no need for your escorts to be on guard here, they may power down their shields if they wish"
Sarah paused for a moment formulating a response "My name is Sarah Briggs, I'm the admiral of the first fleet, and captain of the superheavy juggernaut Vancouver. I'm not currently representing the UNE with my responses. Are we clear?"
The woman Sarah saw earlier nodded for her to continue "Approximately three months ago a wormhole opened up right next to Earth. In response the United Nations of Earth sent my fleet to establish a presence on the other side. When we arrived we found your craft world under attack by a aggressive organic hive mind. The hive mind attacked us and we retaliated accordingly. Currently to UNE's knowledge we have never met before, but judging from your words and other testimonies we may have some intergalactic cousins. As for your language I currently have a implant with a intergalactic translator embedded into it. we learned your language after analyzing your battle net"
With every sentence more and more chatter began to build up in the crowd before the council silenced them again
Ela'Ashbel was dumbfounded by the Mon-keigh. To think that the ones talked about in her prophecy given to her by Isha was talking about Mon-keigh! But her shame turned into curiosity with every answer it provided.
Ela'Ashbel was thinking on how to control this human, when she pulled out a small metal disc. Clicking it revealed a hologram of a Mon-keigh in a simple suit. Like all of the technology presented so far, it glowed with a golden light that created a golden outline. The holographic recording began to speak
"Hello fellow sentient species. My name is Boris Kuznetsof, I'm the current president/leader of the United Nations of Earth" with the last word his figure was replaced with what Ela'Ashbel recognized as Terra
"Earth is both the home world of the UNE and the capital of the Cosmic Alliance, an intergalactic federation of species" The image of Terra was followed by multiple different creatures lined up side by side with the Mon-keigh.
"This alliance accepts all races. I would wish to to welcome you into our galaxy with open arms if you would meet with me". The hologram disappeared and the stands erupted into a mixture of reactions. Some were laughing others were yelling and most were in shock
"There shall be order in this council!" And once again the chatter died down.
"That was recorded by our leader and given to me with the express order to present it upon meeting another race in this galaxy"
Ela'Ashbel was trying to figure how this could be a trick. She had come up with a variety of different ways most involving chaos, but the prophecy lingered in her mind like a moth to light.
"How can we trust you? Your kind has butchered hundreds of species and waged wars against us every day!" The council bustled with agreements, until they decided to give it to a vote. Only Ela'Ashbel and one of the generals abstained.
"All in favour of trusting of the Mon-keigh" out of the twelve council members present five voted for trust. Those that raised their hands mainly being scholars and the Admiral of the escort fleet. "And all in favour of refusing the offer" five more raised their hands, a perfect split. "General Kirelah what do you think?"
"I remain with my abstinence, I've known the Mon-keigh for a long time but I've never heard of the Terra being called Earth nor of the UNE"
"And farseer Ela'Ashbel your vote will decide our fate choose wisely" she had seen this coming since the vote began. The scholars were confused by the Mon-keigh, and wanted to learn more. while the ones who had fought the race before had an innate distrust in them. As one who was both on the spectrum it was up to her to break the stalemate, and she decided to focus her attention on the leader of the Mon-keigh.
One of the generals spoke up "Tell me Mon-keigh. What would you gain from us joining your side. You clearly didn't need our help before?"
"The UNE was not created out of necessity, but rather a want to raise each other up. Instead of tearing one another to pieces. We would gain nothing, but your company" Sarah quietly thanked the UNE first contact doctrine for that quote
A scholar took his chance to dislodge the stalemate "You see! The Mon-keigh have promised us peace backed up by strength. If we want to survive we must join them" the general from the previous question though had reached his peace talk limit
"Promised us?! I could throw you at these savages and do more damage than any of their weapons!" The scholar glanced for support from his brethren who had backed down, while the military commanders begun to join the general.
In a quite voice however the escort admiral spoke up "We would be dead right now, if the Mon-keigh had not intervened" the statement silenced both sides. Ela'Ashbel had remained silent quietly judging the Mon-keigh's reactions
Sarah could tell that the 'farseer' was blind. Wether that was ironic or not was irrelevant, but the piercing gaze she received made her soul itself being judged. "When they arrived I received a vision from Isha" she stated calmly, the crowd instantly had hushed whispers flowing through it.
"She told me to help the Humans and we would receive help, but you yourself admitted that you destroyed the Tyranid fleet in self defence. I've known your kind for a long time, longer than you've been alive, and every time I try to see your future. I see nothing... So I cannot trust your words nor can I disobey our mother Isha. Therefore I remain with my abstinence until you have proven yourselves greater than those of you who remain in the Imperium"
Final vote five to five tie, two abstinence.
Ntharis system, above Ntharis prime. Inquisition ship Final Judgment, bridge
Inquisitor Frohiem was pacing back and forth upon his bridge. It had been 3 weeks since they lost contact with high command, and Frohiem was worried.
His last orders were to tail the Kaelor craft world and make sure all imperial vessels steered clear, but he had lost them after he was done purging Ntharis of chaos worshippers. A servitor had walked up behind him and began to speak
"Inquisitor Frohiem The Astropath Wishes To Speak With You" the inquisitor almost sighed out of relief, but was stopped short upon seeing the servitor. No matter how many he saw they always disgusted him a little bit, only a little though.
He basically ran to the astropath's Chamber/holding place. The psychic shielding prevented any kind of corruption while still letting the astropath send and receive messages. As he approached the astropath he practically tripped on his words as he said them.
"Have you received further orders from command?" The astropath didn't look up at him, but he still felt his impassive gaze
"No. But I have felt a massive message flow through the warp and reach it's intended destination. If I were to guess a psychic message of that size could not be produced by less than... I don't know how many astropaths"
The Inquisitor furrowed his brow with annoyance and worry, for it had also been 3 weeks since they had lost sight of the astronomicon.
With no way to leave this accursed system they were bored and without help. "What did the message say?"
"I don't know if I tried to access it I would burn up... literally" the Inquisitor now on his last threads raised his voice
"Then why should I care?!"
"Because I know the navigator can find this end point and take us there"
"How would that help us?"
"The message was on the intercept of the Kaelor craft world estimated position" The Inquisitor thought about the risks for a moment. If he followed up on the lead they might be detected and caught by the craft world, but if he didn't he would lose them and might be executed for not following orders.
"I'll inform the navigator of your plan. Let's hope you're right", and as he left the room before the door shut he heard one last thing "I will be"
Retrieving UNE file... ...
file found, file name: SurgicallyEnhancedSoldiers (SES)
SES development began when the first roboticexoskeleton suits came out. Beginningdevelopment of the Enhancements began in 2303 with over 200 iterations finally ending on the Scorpion mk3 versioncompleted in 2305.
The first implants caused a few deaths in the brave souls who volunteered for the experiment. Following the deaths of personnel the UNE made the Scorpion mk4 with lighter enhancements.
Due to the history of the initial trails the researchers and engineers names have been scrubbed from all records.
The Scorpion mk4 enhances the following, skeletal bone strength and density, high muscle strength, high computing power in the brain, telepathic implants, increased speed and agility with improved reflexes to match, Decreased cell decay, cellular regeneration, and the list goes on.
The SES were first deployed on the planet of Kylanor 5 during the engagements with the Zaanami shipping alliance, and the effectiveness of the forces received high praise from both sides of the engagements with one Zaanami major saying "I worry what would happen when we get this technology"
Following the engagements however the SES procedure then went under lock and key to any outsiders. SES have increased lifespans with a many first generations still alive today, but to what lengths of their lifespan is unknown. The training to become an SES is absolutely brutal by marine standards.
Due to the enhancement procedure the SES trainees are not allowed to leave until training is over.
The screening process is unknown to the UNE at large with few knowing the acceptance requirements.
Currently though the SES are the UNE's finest soldiers with decades or centuries of experience. They are required to give at least 50 years of service before they are allowed to leave the military though. due to the risk of the augments reaching the black market, and the augments price of manufacturing.
The SES have multiple regiments from multiple species, but the most prominent has to be the SES unit 47 nicknamed the "sword of Terra".
They've been in over 136 successful operations in both peace and wartimes, with 800 members in the unit. Currently unit 47 is stationed on starcitadel Reach
"We fight for the day we're no longer needed in the galaxy. Until then we keep the peace and give it to others" Sargent Miranda Koplesh, SES unit 47