Danshof Starport, Stygna, Cylosis, Cynar System, Cyrus' Expanse, Pinwheel Galaxy
The fields were busy as soldiers geared up for the evacuation. Motion abounded in all directions with everyone busily gathering their things as they sought to make sure nothing could be left behind. Transport shuttle craft were arranged across the port area as heavy equipment was being packed and loaded in with the exception of the planetary defense systems that were always to be the last things shipped out in case of danger.
Gyda adjusted the belt around her armour's waist as she fitted a flask back onto it. She took a wistful sigh as she looked forlornly over the rugged mountainscapes in the distance and the cold forests closer to home. The olive, black, red, and golden facilities set up just a scant few years ago were already disappearing into the packing containers. And the EVANS War-Lander Coyote was humming with power as it awaited its loads.
"Okay, Ikoye, how are we looking on prepping that ship for launch?" Gyda asked a dark skinned man who turned away from the Synth soldier he was speaking to.
"It'll be ready soon genosse Gyda. We just need to load up some of the artifacts." He said, smiling.
"If we had more soldiers here maybe we could hold.." Gyda said, pinching her brow briefly before looking back at him as Ikoye scratched at his beard.
"Save wondering about "what if" for alternate history writers Gyda. Concern yourself with what we have and what we can do." He said, making a small open handed gesture to her that she reciprocated.
"We both already know that you're right. It's just that we haven't been here for even five earth years and we already have to leave. I was just getting used to hiking the Dravine Fjords too." She said with a wistful sigh.
"We wouldn't be in the Ensryn Volunteer Army if we were the type of people who got too attached to where we drift." He said reassuringly.
"Commander, sorry to interrupt." One of the civilian personnel said, the serpentine alien slithering towards them and rearing up on her coils, her python like head flicking out her tongue while her hands held a tablet.
"Something wrong Thelis?" Gyda asked, quirking a brow.
"Are we really just packing up and leaving? Have the command congresses already decided that?" She asked, licking her eyes to keep them free of debris as her green scales shimmered a bit in the light.
"Yes, the order to evacuate also came from ODCR; RGA Congress command I'm afraid. We've already put the timetable to vote." Gyda sighed.
"Why would the Republics just ask us to just abandon this place? Especially after a find like this." Thelis asked.
"Because Omdyn isn't ready for war with the Federation. And given our unofficial paramilitary status, they're not ready to bleed to keep us here." She said, sighing as she tapped her bracers to bring up some display screens.
"Aye, we are here to nip at the heels of the beast. Not bite at its throat." Ikoye said.
"I...I suppose. Do you think we'll be back? We've already got people born here...like him" Thelis asked, gesturing to someone to the right.
"Like wh-...oh, there you are Arne." Gyda said, quirking a brow before turning and noticing Arne wandering around, poking at some of the terminals with his relatively slender fingers.
"Your son is wandering again." He said, Sylan already in hot pursuit of the boy.
"Even if I were the kind of person who believes in tethering children with snare beams I'd never be able to keep him inside. Besides, he needs to go out, it's healthy." She said, sighing and smiling while Sylan picked him up.
"He's been bugging me about my inventory all day." Thelis hissed in mild annoyance.
"He's three, Thelis. He asks questions." Gyda said, getting a grumble from the ophidian as they shook their head.
"Have you explained to him that we need to leave?" He asked.
"Yes. He's...accepting at least. Shame too, I was hoping we could settle down here. It's why I was glad they let civilians in." She said, frowning.
"It is a nice place isn't it?" He said.
"I really wanted to have him take his clan rites here. I feel guilty about taking him off world so soon." She said, frowning before shaking her head.
"Home is where you make it. He'll be fine. And the Grendakal clan can have its rites anywhere if I'm not mistaken." He reassured her as Arne whistled out for a pair of Ravens that flew to him, black wings beating before they perched atop the nearest terminal, cawing at him and receiving treats of bread in return.
"Hugin, don't be greedy. Leave some for Munin." He said as he split one piece in two for them both to share. The two were Corvids alright, but these domesticated Ravens had been changed by the nearly eight thousand year long span humanity had been amongst the stars, friendlier, smarter, and more affectionate than the wild crows of the ancient past and more than a bit larger, as big as Golden Eagles in fact. One might even mistake them for raptors if they weren't too familiar with birds, and the added tuft of down around their necks gave them the appearance of having collars.
"Share, share." Munin cawed, mimicking the speech it was taught before. And with a vote of two to three, Hugin acquiesced and pushed food towards Munin, letting the two take their fill.
"Gydie." Erik called, the diminutive catching Gyda's attention almost immediately, her ears pricking up slightly as she turned around to look at him. He offered her a small wave and an easy smile on that soft face she fell in love with, and she immediately felt at ease.
"What's the matter Erik?" She asked.
"One of the Alimbics is here to see us." He said, lifting the sunglasses he was wearing to keep out the glare of the mountain sun and gesturing to Elmorni who offered an Alimbic salute in greetings to the gathered personnel. The soldiers briefly stiffened while the civilians muttered among themselves.
"-May I speak to your son?-" She asked, Arne snapping his head towards her and waving, moving his stuffed dinosaur to a single hand and standing on his tip toes to be seen.
"Hey! You're back! Over here!" He said, getting a nod of appreciation from the Blue Alimbic while Erik and Gyda gave each other a shrug and a nod.
"Go right ahead." Gyda said.
"Be safe out there alright?" Erik said, ruffling Arne's hair before he shook off the hand.
"Nooo stop, I like my hair like that." He whined.
"Please don't make me have to convince him to brush his hair again." Sylan plaintively beeped.
"-There's no need to wish him well, I'm not taking him anywhere. I'm simply curious.-" She said, offering a hand to Arne who shook it after some apprehension.
"About what?" Erik asked.
"-What you are teaching your young. What do you know of honour, Arne?-" She asked.
"Uhm...mommy says there's good kinds and bad kinds." He said, biting his lower lip and nodding.
"-What is bad honor?-" The alimbic said, curling up her legs to get a bit closer to him.
"When you get people hurt because uh...you feel like they made you look dumb. Or uh, if you kill yourself because you em...bar...assed your family." He said, nodding to himself.
"-And good honor?-"
"When you tell the truth to your friends and uh...protect them. Because it's bad to let bullies be bullies." He said, hugging his dinosaur a little closer to him.
"-Do you have many friends to protect?-" She asked, her face now far closer to his than before, her mental voice motherly and curious.
"Uh...a few...why?" He scratched a bit at his cheek, not quite sure what to make of her question.
"-Well, you see, people who are strong should help those who aren't so they can be strong too.-" She said, tilting her head at him.
"Uh-huh. Mom also says that it's important to share, and uh...that everyone should have nice things, instead of um, taking stuff you didn't help make because you say you own it. Dad says that too.-" Arne said, sucking slightly at his thumb.
"-Your parents are wise then. How often do you help others like that?-" She asked.
"Uh...well, I help my friends when they ask, or when they look sad."
"-Would you like to meet a new one?-" She asked, getting an enthusiastic nod from him.
"Is that wise?" Sylan asked, turning her optics towards her organic companions.
"...What are you trying to offer?" Gyda asked.
"-Oh, just a little something.-" She said as she conjured forth a pair of objects between her hands, teleporters pulling out creatures that resembled the mighty petal jawed Ithraks who roamed the wild places of the old Alimbic cluster. They were however, clearly mechanical. Albeit the smooth, pseudo-organic manner of machinery the Alimbics were fond of building.
Blue in colour with difficult to perceive eyes and petal like mouths full of teeth, they hovered their heads near Arne who made a confused face as his space was invaded. He tried to tilt his head, to get an understanding of where to look at them. It took him about three seconds to realize that their four optics were arranged in a way that if he drew a line connecting each eye to the one on the opposite side of the head; he'd form a perfect X.
They were large for sure, virtually horse sized, but they approached with curiosity rather than malice. And Arne hesitantly reached out to pet one, which chirped in response to the touch. Once he saw it was harmless, he pet with more vigour, while his pet ravens soon perched atop their backs and gave approving caws.
"Safe." Hugin cried.
"-They need names, and I think you might be interested in giving them some."-" Elmorni said, backing off and gesturing to the machines.
"Uh...uhhh.." Arne said as the soldiers nearby went from tense to alarmed, weapons stopping just short of being drawn in response to the sudden intrusion. He balked slightly at the sound of weapons being drawn and the barely audible whine of ionic weapons being readied, flinching as he looked around.
"No! Don't shoot! No shoot! They didn't do anything!" He protested, getting an approving nod from Elmorni that made him beam a bit.
"Whoa, whoa. Slow down there, are you aware of how much shit we'd be in if people tracked it?" Gyda said, a snarl forming on her face as she pulled out a pistol and aimed it at the Alimbic.
"-Worry not, they come with stealth systems. They should be able to avoid just about any tracking systems available to your technology-"
"Uh-huh. And you expect a three year old to make sure he never shows it to anyone?" Gyda asked.
"-He does not appear to be three.-" Elmorni said, taking another gander at him while he hid somewhat close to his mother's legs, though his attention remained quite fixed on the two Ithrak drones as they landed close to him and scuttled slightly forward, cyclopean optics fixated on him.
"Three Earth years. Sorry, we don't measure age by cosmic years." Gyda explained while Arne offered some bread to the pair of Ithrakoids who analyzed the chemicals in the bread before snapping them up in their jaws. They pushed them towards their maws and "swallowed", feeding them to their matter furnaces for a bit of extra power.
"They like snacks!" He said cheerfully, clapping his hands.
"-Now they know you're their friends. Why don't you play with them then?-" She said.
As his fingers approached them, there were brief invisible sparks. Scans were run and completed in an eyeblink and it was determined that Arne had something that warranted a response from the machines. They locked their optics onto him and waited.
"Roll over." He said, gesturing to the ground while the Ithrakoids clenched their jaws for a moment before getting onto the ground and pushing themselves onto their back, legs in the air so that Arne had access to their carapaced bottoms. Whatever it was that he had, it was deemed important enough to make obedience necessary.
"-He seems to be bright enough to have already earned your trust to remain silent about us.-" She said, looking at the display and then back to the EVA troops who murmured amongst each other as the Ithrakoids stood themselves back onto their feet.
"-Having these machines will also help keep him safe, and teach him about the duties of care. Though I see you already have animal companions with him.-" She said, offering a hand to the two crows to perch on. She examined the birds and nodded before bidding them to depart.
"-And finally, he seems to enjoy their company.-" She said, gesturing to Arne's attempt to ride on the back of one which chomped its jaws in the air and lowered itself to comply. He giggled as he was suddenly boosted upwards and held tight.
"That's...th...alright fair." Erik said, shaking his head.
"Mom, dad, I know what to call them!" Arne said.
"Geri and Freki." Arne said, smiling, raising his finger to get everyone's attention.
"Odin's wolves? You remembered the stories?" Gyda said, an enthused nod coming from Arne. He was definitely proud of what he had just did.
"Uh-huh." He responded.
"-And what do you know of caring for machines like this Arne?-" Elmorni asked.
"Uhm...they like food and need fixing somedays." He said.
"-And they'll also need you to protect them just like you'll need them to look out for you. Because you're friends aren't you?-" Elmorni said, her matronly mental voice sweet in the memories of those who heard it.
"Uh-huh. But they're big and metal…" He said, trying to wrap his head around how they'd need him to keep them safe.
"-Well, they need you to make sure nobody who doesn't need to know about them finds them. And one day, you will be big and strong like they are. And then you can take care of them too.-" She said, laying a hand on his shoulder, getting a flinch out of Erik and Gyda.
"But that will take forever!" He whined.
"-It's never too early to help people.-" She said, touching his nose and giving him a warm, safe sensation.
"And why are you giving him all this?" Ikoye asked.
"-I was interested in him when I saw him in the vessel. I wanted to see how he would react to having these companions.-" She explained.
"Are you sure that's the story you want to stick with?" Gyda said, narrowing her eyes somewhat.
"-I am not a liar, Gyda. Please try to contain your relentless suspicions.-" She said, as gently as she could manage.
"After what happened on the ship I'm not inclined to believe you're even capable of being nice." Erik said, putting his right hand on his hip and frowning.
"-Please try to believe me when I say that not all of us are like Zurvduat.-" She said, placing a hand over her chest. Maybe where her heart would be? It was hard to tell, but based on Gyda's experience with Krikens who were at least somewhat visually similar it seemed like a decent guess.
"Are you going to help us stay?" Thelis asked.
"-You know I cannot do that, Zurvduat is my commander. I do as he wishes.-" She said with a dip of her head, perhaps a nod of some sort? Her mental voice sounded somewhat apologetic.
"-Would you override the desires of your commanders?-" She asked.
"Actually yes. We're allowed to take independent initiative if needed and if those involve decide on it."
"-...Your electoral systems baffle me but I shan't criticise.-" Elmorni said, rotating their head somewhat to express confusion.
"People like mom. So they do what she says sometimes." Arne beamed, getting a smirk out of Gyda and some chuckles from the gathered troops.
"Well, thank you for the gifts but we've already outstayed our welcome here long enough. With luck, I'm not going to be the one who deals with you in the future." Gyda said, getting some remarks from the gathered crew.
"A little harsh there honey." Erik whispered before getting a "someone needed to say it" from his wife in return, whispered into his ear.
"Will we keep them?" Arne said, patting the heads of the Itrakoids.
"We'll talk about it." Erik said as the gathered group began to speak amongst each other. One in the distance though seemed to be observing particularly carefully. Clad like an ordinary trooper, they seemed to fixate on the Ithrakoids longer than most of the others before they sought out Morr for contact, pulling him to the side of the crowd for a chat.
A few hours later; Command Room of the Alimbic Warship Kaisariok aka "Caesarian Lance" , Cylosis
"-So have you come to your conclusions then?-" Zurvduat asked, folding his arms behind his back as his three legs carried him to a terminal that he pulled data from with a thought. Yes, the time to leave was coming soon.
"-As we expected, there is psychic potential in the human species, and many others in this current era. And unfortunately, what they said about the Empire was true.-" She said, giving the Alimbic salute of holding the left hand pointing upwards in front of the chest.
"-Unfortunate. I was hoping for other survivors. Still, if we survived there is a chance there may be others in stasis or otherwise trapped. We can rebuild.-" Osith said, her mental voice tinged with some hope for the future.
"-Humans might be good stock for a new warrior class in that case. Until we can replenish ourselves to the point of using true alimbic soldiery once more. Tell me, who else survives to this day?-" Zurvduat asked, turning their head towards Elmorni.
"They have never heard of the Luminoth, none have seen an active N'krean, the Ylla appear to have taken some manner of journey from which they have yet to return from, the Illuranti refuse contact, the Ullmenn do not concern themselves with the present, and the Sentheni have left the bounds of charted space." She reported, feeding her peers the data she had managed to take.
"-The Chozo then?-" Ygrak asked, standing herself somewhat straighter to indicate that she wished to be heard.
"-Fading. Most have either disappeared or have lost interest in matters of the material world. There seems to still be a commune on Zebes. Monks in retirement essentially. Though they urged the formation of this...Federation for peace.-" Elmorni said.
"-Of course the feathered ones would grow soft. Did they think we defeated the Dominion with flowers? No matter, if they refuse to see past their beaks and want to become derelict in their responsibilities we will take up the mantle.-" Zurvduat said, getting the nodding approval of Osith, Deglos, and Urim in response.
"-We are but one ship, Knight-General. How do you expect us to restore the Imperial Peace over multiple galaxies?-" Mortirk asked, his yellow armour shimmering with thought.
"-We will find others, we will see who among the peoples of this time have potential and bring them into our new armies, and we will solve the crises of this era until the Imperial Peace is welcomed.-" Osith said.
"-Now, what do the Engineers say of the restoration of our craft? I tire of standing in the dirt amongst savages.-" Zurvduat said.
"-We will be ready to leave in less than one of Cylosis' days.-" Urim said.
Outskirts of Fort Liberator, Cylosis
The soldier who had spoken to Morr had pulled away from the masses and found their way to a special transmitter. As one of Cylosis' famous windstorms was blowing through the area, most nonessential personnel had gone underground, and a few bluffs let them reach their destination.
Carefully inserting a special bugged drive into the terminal, the suit they were wearing fed them a wealth of data as they began interfacing with it. The HUD in their helmet notified that their clearance was accepted and the symbol of the Galactic Federation appeared before them. Three crescents arranged in a circle around a dark blue circle with a yellow four pointed star.
Then the symbol of the Federal Central Intelligence Network; a yellow sun in the midst of a stylized blue spiral galaxy flashed before them. Finally, the symbol of the Reconaissance & Advanced Intelligence Division flashed, an all seeing eye in the midst of a sun; confirming their access to the channel.
DISCONNECTING TERMINAL FROM NETWORK, STANDBY
DISCONNECTION COMPLETE
QUANTUM ENCRYPTION COMPLETE
AUTHORIZING, STANDBY
GALACTIC FEDERATION DELTA LEVEL CLEARANCE ACCEPTED
FCIN SIGMA LEVEL CLEARANCE ACCEPTED
R.A.I.D TERTIUS LEVEL CLEARANCE ACCEPTED
WELCOME AGENT PANDORA
CONNECTING TO QUANTUM ENTANGLEMENT NETWORK
CONNECTION COMPLETE
UPLOADING DATA
UPLOAD COMPLETE
INCOMING COMMUNICATION, STANDBY
COMMUNICATION INITIATED
As this terminal was temporarily disconnected from the base's network, the contents of the conversation would be kept secret. But maintenance would be sent to check in shortly, so there was only so much time to get the report in.
Fortunately the response was prompt.
BANDOG: Interesting find Pandora.
PANDORA: The Ensryn Volunteer Army troops are preparing to evacuate to Omyn Democratic Council Republican space.
BANDOG: Then we will need to intercept quickly. We'll bring the big guns.
PANDORA: Are you certain that's necessary, can't we wait for them to leave and sweep up the leftovers?
BANDOG: This is our best chance to eliminate the Cylosis Cell cell and secure access to the data they've gathered. We might also be able to secure the Alimbic ship in the bargain.
PANDORA: Taking out an Alimbic ship of that scale would require massive firepower.
BANDOG: If we don't at least try, it will slip into the wind and we won't be able to track it.
BANDOG: Based on your report, it's likely that Colonel Gyda has a tracer aboard the ship, but we will need her dead or captured to access it.
PANDORA: And as for the civilians? Let me guess, no witnesses recommended?
BANDOG: Correct.
PANDORA: They have a son.
BANDOG: Who does?
PANDORA: The Skjǫldrs.
BANDOG: Ah yes, the boy in the report.
BANDOG: Possibly worth taking as leverage. Contact with Precursors makes him a person of interest. If necessary he will be terminated.
PANDORA: You know I can't be part of that.
BANDOG: We are aware. That is why you will not be part of the offensive op.
BANDOG: We will relay this intel to Queen Bee. Do you have an exfil plan?
PANDORA: Yes. I am also prepared to die if needed.
BANDOG: Should you follow the plan there will be no need for heroic sacrifices.
PANDORA: Shame about the Skjǫldrs, they seem like nice people.
BANDOG: A lot of people who cause a lot of harm to intergalactic peace are loving, doting parents and good friends to have in person. The Skjǫldrs are part of a paramilitary revolutionary outfit, if they wanted to stay out of the firing line they wouldn't be playing guerilla fighter.
BANDOG: Whatever happens to their son is their fault for giving birth to him on a world of military importance and remaining military personnel instead of retiring to the civilian sector to raise him.
BANDOG: People die in our line of work, even kids. And sometimes even kids need to die for the sake of peace. That's just a fact of keeping order in the cosmos. It's not pretty but we don't have the luxury of living in Utopia.
PANDORA: Of course.
BANDOG: You should also report to psych-eval, you're getting soft. We need you sharp and ready to make hard choices.
PANDORA: Of course, sir.
BANDOG: We'll keep in touch, ma'am.
She sighed and unplugged her drive and quickly stepped out before the maintenance crew could walk in through the door. She set her timer, estimating the most likely time of arrival for the RAID fleet so that she could be out of here by the time the inevitable happened. She didn't think she could live with herself if she got to watch the dirty work up close and personal.
Sylux's Logbook:
Organizations: Galactic Federation: Intelligence: Federal Central Intelligence Network (FCIN):
The FCIN serves as the primary intelligence bureau for the Galactic Federation and has remained in operation since its foundation. The Organization offers both internal and external services for the Federation and has generally resisted efforts to divide its powers into multiple services, instead offering differing branches for selected tasks such as domestic security, counter-terrorism, foreign espionage, counter espionage, and Federal level criminal investigation. The FCIN reports to the Directorate which in turn is helmed by the Chief Director, who reports to the Federal government's cabinet, though there are concerns that the organization in truth has few real accountability mechanisms. These concerns have been dismissed by claims of taking "responsibility to intergalactic peace very seriously."
Arne's notes:
The greatest lie the FCIN ever sold people on was that they needed to get dirty in the dark to keep everyone else clean in the light.
Organizations: Galactic Federation: Black Operations: Paramilitary: Secret: FCIN Sub-Branch: Rapid Armed Intelligence Division
The R.A.I.D officially speaking, does not exist. As such its operatives wear no markings or signs of allegiance upon their power armour. As a Black Operations unit, the R.A.I.D's actions are wrapped in a veil of secrecy and deniability, even to much of the civilian government and to most of the standard military. What is known to Section 13 of the ODCOR Office of Intelligence Services also indicates that the R.A.I.D believes that the refusal of governments such as the Federation and Omdyn to get as "dirty" as the Space Pirates or the Kriken Empire hold them back, and that to ensure national security hard choices will have to be made. Section 13 reports also indicate that the R.A.I.D is obsessed with securing any sort of advantage for itself and the Federation, in that order.
Arne's notes:
The black ops goons are recruited from those whose psychological profiles suggest a willingness to follow any orders, no matter how cruel or dangerous. Some latitude is given to higher level operators, but most of them will take a blast to the head if ordered. That's what makes them dangerous.
Fauna: Sapient: Domesticated: Earth Native: Corvids: Domestic Ravens
Following the advancement of Earth born genetics technologies, Corvids were quickly edited to be ideal pets in the same vein as dogs and cats. Domestic Ravens are distinguished from their wild counterparts by their more approachable temperments and unusual sizes and coat colours, coming in a wide variety of breeds suiting many differing tastes for those seeking avian companionship. One of the most popular breed, the Odinnic Ravens, have an average wingspan of over two meters and weigh at three and a half kilograms, roughly comparable to medium sized eagles.
Arne's notes:
I've always been fond of birds, maybe it's because my name means "Eagle"? But there's something special about ravens in my opinion. Just the way they look at you so inquisitively...anyway, people who don't have the space to let them fly around really shouldn't keep them. Birds need to stretch their wings.
Mechanoids: Alimbic Make: Organic Replicants: Ithrakids
Built to mimic the mighty Ithraks who shared much of the core territory of the Alimbics, Ithrakids can be considered a superior mechanical take on the same concepts. Like the Ithraks, Ithrakids are largely invulnerable to most frontal firepower and are only truly harmable by attacking from their rear angles of attack. As part of the Alimbic mastery of spacetime manipulation technologies, they are capable of rapidly and frequently teleporting to a substantial degree of accuracy and can use this technology offensively or defensively. Multiple weapon systems are also fitted into them, akin to that of the more well known Guardian drones.
Arne's notes:
It's worth noting that they're able to take up a lot less space than you'd think when they enter storage mode, especially when there's a stronghold void for them to retreat to. This comes in pretty handy, even when I don't need them out and about at the moment.