Intergalactic Warfare 2.0 IC

[ArlEammon]

The single Diamond powers down its weapon systems and gradually corrects it's turn until it is aimed at what appears to be a airlock on the USS Memory.

"Foreign vessel, you have no permission to dock, please, establish communications with us so we may be of service to you."

Commander Sutherland was nervous. He didn't know what to expect from the alien lifeforms. They didn't register on the bio-readings. Nor did the ship keep the weapons powered. In fact it seemed that it wanted negotiations with the Memory.

"We must speak here before this exchange goes any further. Do you understand?"

[Jael_Darkwood]

Women's voice : "Service communications to establish understand. Desire exchange understand communications."

The voice pauses, then continues. The vessel slows to about 1m/s, still oriented on the docking bay.

"We Dock to service to exchange you we understand. Desire permission we dock."

[ArlEammon]

Women's voice : "Service communications to establish understand. Desire exchange understand communications."

The voice pauses, then continues. The vessel slows to about 1m/s, still oriented on the docking bay.

"We Dock to service to exchange you we understand. Desire permission we dock."

"Proceed." Sutherland just said one word. The repercussions were unknown right now. It could have been a good decision, or a bad one. Whichever, he allowed the docking procedure to take place. Hopefully it wouldn't end up with assimilated ships and a significant loss of life. Memories raced through his mind of misunderstandings she had with the four native lifeforms of Yevaun. Even the newly sentient Gorillas occasionally met with misunderstanding with the other four races.

[Jael_Darkwood]

Upon entry of the docking port, the vessel settles to the ground. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, like a woman walking from opaque waters, a single human female walks straight out of the side of the ship.

From the neck down she is covered in what appears to be a shimmering silver full-body pantsuit. Her head is exposed to vacuum to seemingly no ill affect. She moves to the Airlock, putting her hand on the controls. Intrusion alarms begin to go off in the ship's computer systems, as several firewalls go down swiftly.

"Captain! She appears to be accessing ships logs! Scanning at an amazing rate! Wait... It.... stopped." She withdraws her hand. The intrusion stops.

"Hello, Captain Sutherland. We come in peace, with the desire to negotiate for mutually beneficial trade. Our species has several unique manufacturing processes. We can manufacture certain unique materials. We would also like to exchange border of influence agreements. We appologize for the assault on your computer. It is now understood to be an unnacceptable act."

Where she touched the panel, there are small metallic glints. Maintenance systems are reporting that the control systems have been compromised, but gradually these warnings are replaced with 'all green'

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if the intrusion into your systems wouldn't have been successful, lemme know in a spoiler, i'll modify accordingly. in any case, in the future you will analyze how I did it and probably devise some protections :)

edit : also, lemme know what sort of data i got... she was just looking for the largest supply of words to build a dictionary, so actual information gathered would have been coincidental... but it probably is to your benefit if there was enough 'armed forces' information to show that you wouldn't go down easy if the replicators decided to attack :)

[ArlEammon]

Upon entry of the docking port, the vessel settles to the ground. For a moment, nothing happens. Then, like a woman walking from opaque waters, a single human female walks straight out of the side of the ship.

From the neck down she is covered in what appears to be a shimmering silver full-body pantsuit. Her head is exposed to vacuum to seemingly no ill affect. She moves to the Airlock, putting her hand on the controls. Intrusion alarms begin to go off in the ship's computer systems, as several firewalls go down swiftly.

"Captain! She appears to be accessing ships logs! Scanning at an amazing rate! Wait... It.... stopped." She withdraws her hand. The intrusion stops.

"Hello, Captain Sutherland. We come in peace, with the desire to negotiate for mutually beneficial trade. Our species has several unique manufacturing processes. We can manufacture certain unique materials. We would also like to exchange border of influence agreements. We appologize for the assault on your computer. It is now understood to be an unnacceptable act."

Where she touched the panel, there are small metallic glints. Maintenance systems are reporting that the control systems have been compromised, but gradually these warnings are replaced with 'all green'

Spoiler

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if the intrusion into your systems wouldn't have been successful, lemme know in a spoiler, i'll modify accordingly. in any case, in the future you will analyze how I did it and probably devise some protections :)

edit : also, lemme know what sort of data i got... she was just looking for the largest supply of words to build a dictionary, so actual information gathered would have been coincidental... but it probably is to your benefit if there was enough 'armed forces' information to show that you wouldn't go down easy if the replicators decided to attack :)

(It shows something very unique. These people have genuinely supernatural powers. So the Replicators would probably not try to attack)"Eh, yes of course. Well, I'll see if I can get some information from Command Center."...."Yes. As long as you aren't hostile we can move freely past eachother, according to the regulations. We are desirous of the knowledge of you. Are the planets below your property?"

[Jael_Darkwood]

"No. Energy sources and information exchange detected, however. We postulate that this is a third race's system."

"With your permission, we will give you a general map of the border to our territory, in exchange for the same from you."

"We currently have a Quad of Diamond-Class Interceptors enroute to the inner system. We will share any communications as they occur."

"Additionally, we request direct physical proximity. The vocal exchange of information is inefficient, and time consuming. We have a more direct process."

[ArlEammon]

"No. Energy sources and information exchange detected, however. We postulate that this is a third race's system."

"With your permission, we will give you a general map of the border to our territory, in exchange for the same from you."

"We currently have a Quad of Diamond-Class Interceptors enroute to the inner system. We will share any communications as they occur."

"Additionally, we request direct physical proximity. The vocal exchange of information is inefficient, and time consuming. We have a more direct process."

"We could do this cybernetically, of course. I"ve done stuff like this before. As for the maps, yes... That sounds like a good idea."

[Jael_Darkwood]

Assuming that she has permission to access the ship, Samantha drone 1 accesses the data panel again, opening the door. She proceeds at a steady pace towards the command nexus of the ship.

"Our process is similar to cybernetics... We feel fairly confident that no harm will be done. With your permission, access to your medical data will guarantee the safety of the subject."

[ArlEammon]

Assuming that she has permission to access the ship, Samantha drone 1 accesses the data panel again, opening the door. She proceeds at a steady pace towards the command nexus of the ship.

"Our process is similar to cybernetics... We feel fairly confident that no harm will be done. With your permission, access to your medical data will guarantee the safety of the subject."

"We'll take care of that... Just go ahead." Sutherland continued to be nervous. Hopefully no assimilation would be done. On the other hand, it was known hypothesis among the scientific community that there could always be a race that used their technology to turn victims into somewhat of a vampire. A drone, if one chooses to say so, in a greater collective mind."

[Lord_Asmodeus]

The Great High Kia'chi responds to the Imperials inquiry, just as several more Tau ships arrive behind it, all the ships he requested, and a few more besides, forming up behind his flagship. This system and this world, Tu'an, belongs to the Tau Grallk steps forward slightly, and the Tau ships take a defensive, but distinctly non-aggressive layout around the flagship.

[Nerd-o-rama]

(Actually, the bit inquiring about the claim of this system was in a probably-private conversation with the Bruschanian captain. But hey, you still might want to tell me that.)

The Galactic Empire squadron sends a somewhat delayed reply to the Tau's communiqué, expressing that face-to-face conversation was desirable, and could be done via long-distance communication if they have transceivers that can handle holographic transmission. Otherwise, the captain's adjutant can take a shuttle over once the situation with the non-Tau ship is resolved.

"More small ships jumping in on the...what was it? Tau side captain."

Captain Fourre doesn't respond, waiting for a reply from the Bruschanian captain. He is ready, however, to order the jump to hyperspace should the Bruschanian ship open fire. He's slightly more confident against the smaller Tau, and they seemed less hostile in the first place. He worried about his odds of escape if both sides attacked, however.

[Jael_Darkwood]

Reaching the bridge, samantha walks up to the captain. Sowly, she extends her hand towards his forehead. Others in the room observe as the hand elongates into a liquid silver spike. Captain Sutherland feels a numbness, followed by a sensation of extreme but not uncomfortable cold. For a moment, his entire head tingles, then suddenly, he is... somewhere else.

A room, with no doors, and an immense overhead space. "A suitable border for our worlds is... this." With a flash, a fairly distant cluster of stars lights up. "A detailed analysis of the materials we are capable of manufacturing..."

Various screens appear, showing in flashes : Pure Anti-Neutronium, Neutronium, and 3 exotic alloys using dark matter.

"If you wish to exchange your information, please simply will it to appear above us. I have deliberately not explored all your memories, but I will share memories as you recall them."

"Please define your borders, and feel free to bring up any trade goods you believe we might find useful."

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thats a lie :) Its more like : its just too hard to search through all the different memories quickly enough, so we need a tourguide :p I've totally downloaded your personality, and cgrats, if we need to, Captain Sutherland is Swarm Template #13 :)... but no worries, eh. we need a couple allies in this big bad sea of black, you'll be fine...

[ArlEammon]

Reaching the bridge, samantha walks up to the captain. Sowly, she extends her hand towards his forehead. Others in the room observe as the hand elongates into a liquid silver spike. Captain Sutherland feels a numbness, followed by a sensation of extreme but not uncomfortable cold. For a moment, his entire head tingles, then suddenly, he is... somewhere else.

A room, with no doors, and an immense overhead space. "A suitable border for our worlds is... this." With a flash, a fairly distant cluster of stars lights up. "A detailed analysis of the materials we are capable of manufacturing..."

Various screens appear, showing in flashes : Pure Anti-Neutronium, Neutronium, and 3 exotic alloys using dark matter.

"If you wish to exchange your information, please simply will it to appear above us. I have deliberately not explored all your memories, but I will share memories as you recall them."

"Please define your borders, and feel free to bring up any trade goods you believe we might find useful."

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thats a lie :) Its more like : its just too hard to search through all the different memories quickly enough, so we need a tourguide :p I've totally downloaded your personality, and cgrats, if we need to, Captain Sutherland is Swarm Template #13 :)... but no worries, eh. we need a couple allies in this big bad sea of black, you'll be fine...

"Well,..." Captain Sutherland mentally stated. "We have the ability to trade cystals with you. We have the resoures available on he planet to have the entire planet live like billionares quite easily. Our metallurgy is extremely advanced as well, though we wouldn't just give those to you straight away, of course."

[PlasticSoldier]

(Plainids)
[There are two kinds of ships in this fleet: 100 Packrats & 15 Statics]
[Packrats are giant 250m long tank transports each one is fully loaded with] [3,000 heavy tanks. and has 1,500 gunports to allow tanks to shoot stuff.]
[Statics are basically bus-sized Radar, AWACS, & Electronic Warfare stations]

The head of the fleet pauses for a second to think, and also to dispatch a Static back to Algophet. Then he responds.

Hello Urth, we are the Algophans we're basically creatures that turned their brains into computers to avoid all the nasty side effects of being organic. If Warship 326 is too formal you can call me Coronene. We are here for resources. May I ask exactly what these terms & conditions are?
----------------------
(Algophan)

Commander, the returning Static announced We found another race, they appear to be peacefu...He almost finished before getting cut off by the repetitive blaring of the Dwarf Star's alarms.
Unidentified Ships Detected!. After a few seconds 40 Packrats were sent to meet the 4 ships scouting while 80 were sent towards the ships at the edge of the solar system. Either way they both announced themselves
"Identify yourselves and state your purpose."

Here's a description of what this Solar System is like

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Sun- The sun is about twice as wide as Earth's sun and about 8 times as bright.

1st planet from sun- The first planet is a mars sized tidally locked rock. It has no atmosphere and is about 900 F on the Sunward Side.

2nd planet - This is Algophet it has 2 "moons" It's covered in supercomputers which gives it a metallic Navy appearance. It's atmosphere is 22% Oxygen, 60% Nitrogen, 4% Water Vapor, the rest is noble gases.
-Moon One is just a normal moon that's been strip mined dozens of miles
deep.
-Moon Two is the "Death Dwarf Star a giant 200km wide sphere
that has lots of generators and factories.

3rd planet - Was a mercury sized asteroid, it's been used to test weapons & train orbital bombardments.

4th planet - Is a standard Jovian Planet

[WhiteKnight777]

Dorn relaxed a bit. Another Terran civilization. This was good. Mankind had revived more than they had anticipated, perhaps, but this would only benefit them in the long run. A united humanity was crucial. No doubt Xenos forces would prove a threat in the times ahead, but a powerful human presence among the stars would enable the race to better expand and defend itself against such hostile forces.

We have, commander. Xenos forces have been encountered before now. Some have proven hostile almost immediately, most usually those with low levels of intellect or, in the case of starfaring races, those who are least like humans in both mental and physical configuration. Others are not immediately hostile. However, experience has taught us that most are not to be trusted, and almost always harbor ulterior motives.

[Executor]

"Ah yes, trade and alliance would be most useful to us. We Bruschanians are currently engaged in a war of colonies with our rival, the Urheimans. They resemble Bruschanians greatly but millenia of... let us say inter-breeding with the locals have given them some more ape-ish features. Heavy set brows, long arms, short legs, an abundance of body hair. We have termed their species Near-Humans. I do not know what your policy on them would be, whether they be Human or Xeno, but we would like the aide of a flotilla of your warships in our conflict. Our expedition set out from Bruschania to discover new worlds, find new resources, and establish bases outside our home system. We would then build up a fleet and, at a crucial junction, return to the Isieles System and make a push against the Urheimans main base on the Jutland Moon. If you would attach a few battleships and cruisers to our fleet, we could make that offensive almost immediately,"

William asked. He was greatly pleased with himself. The first extra-Isieles faction encountered, and they had been most benevolent. Moreover, these Emperor's men were strong and the aid of their ships would greatly shorten the conflict. The king could already see the conflict. They would come out of warp in wall of battle, turrets spitting shells already. As the line of the High Space Fleet veered off to avoid collision, their T would be crossed by a tremendous volley of naval gunfire. Ships would be torn apart, or left to bleed crewman like a wounded animals. It would be glorious, and ensure unchallenged Bruschanian space dominance, just as the action at Tralgaise had some 74 years ago. They crushed the Hugenot armada at that battle, and until some 18 years ago no Isieles interstellar nation could challenge the Royal Navy. 18 years ago, a Near-Human named Tirpmarck had come to power in Urheimat and turned a formidable land army power into an even more formidable naval power. They were now the chief rivals of the Bruschanians, and their incessant raiding of Bruschanian shipping lines had forced the two empires to war.

"I hope, with your aid, we can bring about a short, decisive end to our conflict,"

---------

"Indeed we do, Captain Fourre. This is the border of the Isieles system and part of the Dominion of Bruschania. Though it is but sparsely inhabited, this star system is within our borders. We may be interested in negotiations, if you would contact your superiors. From the look of your ships, I see there is much to be learnt, and to be gained from, by contact between our peoples

Jackie continued, smiling to himself. Some of his men looked up in surprise, they had supposed that the aggressive manuevres of the Imperial ships would be met with a full broadside, not diplomacy. But then, they forgot that the Imperial manuevres were simply a result of the Exeter moving into a position for advantageous enfilade fire.

"We would hope to gain allies in our own struggles against rival nations, and I'm sure you would need allies as a new power in the galaxy. What say you?

[Jael_Darkwood]

Replicators

The defensive envelope of diamond strike craft balloons outwards towards the approaching Packrats in seeming chaos. Hints of order, however, lead you to believe that this is in actuality an extremely complex but completely controlled maneuver. the Spheres align in front of the cones in a hexagonal lattice, and the cones carefully place themselves for maximum benefit behind the spheres. The cone ships are radiating energy in several bands, tightly grouped gravitic distortions and an energy signature strangely similar to a warp field. The spheres and the Carrier ship are collectively radiating a shield powerful enough that it distorts the stars visible past them.

A light screen of diamonds extends far in front of the fleet, grouped tightly enough to prevent any meaningful group of ships from passing through without impacts. They have their weapons charged, but drift slowly in space, holding themselves in position.

Meanwhile, the four inner system scouts slow to a crawl at the appearance of military vessels. As before, one continues on slowly, while 3 stop entirely.

"We wish to peacefully negotiate. Please do not approach our fleet, as such will be interpreted as hostile intent. We have no hostile aims in this system."

[WhiteKnight777]

The Emperor nodded, his mind still working into that of the sweating Grenadier, and at the same time weighing the costs and benefits of such an alliance. While it pained him to do war upon any human species, these Bruschanians would be valuable allies. Futhermore, if they were a degenerate species or worse, mutants, perhaps it would be better to eliminate them now rather than risk contamination. Besides, he mused, it would create a bond between the Bruschanians and His forces, and further cement this new alliance with bonds of blood.

Your plan has much merit. As a symbol of our new alliance, and to further the spread of Mankind throughout the galaxy and aid in the supremacy of our species, I shall attach to your expedition the fleet that has assembled here under the command of my four Primarchs. Unfortunately I will be unable to join in battle myself, as I have been notified of another call for my presence making first contact with another race. Nonetheless, I assure you that My sons are more than capable. The Adeptus Astartes are warriors second to none.

[The_Snark]

"I am sorry to hear that your experiences have taught you that," Commander Takeyn replied formally. "We have found civilizations who shared ancestors with us can be as hostile as any other descendent of the Progenitors. And far more difficult to exist with than some." Xenos- something stranger. Possibly distressing that these folk had such a blanket label for everything not descended from a similar genome. It was one of the most widely spread ones, as its presence in this galaxy showed, but that didn't mean it was better than any other. In fact, many of the most notorious conquerors and destroyers had been born of man.

She gave an order, and the smaller fighter-craft returned to their launch bays. The frigates didn't move, but as the ships proceeded oh-so-slowly forward from simple inertia, they began to drift out of their escort formations. A signal that she didn't feel threatened. This Imperium, if Dorn was speaking the truth (and she judged it likely), was not hostile to her, no matter what other things they might believe. "But different experiences will inevitably lead to different views. Perhaps sharing our stories will lead to a better understanding of one another."

[Nerd-o-rama]

"That is an intriguing proposition," the captain answers back. "However, I am not authorized to conduct large-scale diplomacy without first contacting the Imperial government. We would certainly be glad to establish contact with your nation and bring our governments into communications."

"The other force in the system,"Fourre reflexively gestures with his head, off-camera, "has suggested we all sit down and meet face-to-face. Why don't we do so, on some nearby convenient spot? It will give me time to contact the Emperor for instructions, and we can all meet each other in a more efficient fashion."

[nothingclever]

(Algophans)

Your physiology is certainly fascinating and quite similar to our own.

Well Coronene, our terms are simply that any trade between our peoples must be conducted either on your planets or on one of ours known as Turg. It is the only planet we allow other races to visit for matters of security. It is also the only one that has been modified specifically to sustain organic life although that will not matter to you. In addition we will not allow anyone to settle on our planets for more time than is necessary for transactions unless given specific permission by our leader. If you have any conditions of your own we would like to hear them.

We offer to freely trade any of our resources except military technology. I suggest you send some of your people to Turg if you would like to examine our goods. We can personally escort you now.

If you would like to speak to our leader we can arrange an intercom meeting later on.

(All our planets are basically large moons except for Turg. Our primary export is obviously metal of all kinds.)

[Jael_Darkwood]

Replicants

"Are you gestalt beings? Perhaps we can integrate with one of your units, and directly negotiate."

[Callos_DeTerran]

Delphius V

A noisy hum hung oppressively in the thickly forested mountains that the Chitan colony compound had been erected on. On the fringe of Imperial space, it had been deduced as a likely prospect for settlers and as such some and been dispatched from the closest civilized world to begin the long and sometimes dangerous process of taming the planet. The humming noise originated from various sonic sensors designed to irritate the eardrums of native wildlife and drive them away from the perimeter of the colony, a standard protection device until something more valuable could be constructed.

Various farms and processing buildings where sprawled around the edge of the Compound with more important families and citizens being in the center of settlement, and it was at one of these family owned processing buildings that the object had landed. Practically until the point of impact it had gone unnoticed by the settlers, not being another ship (or seeming like one anyway), and not on a course with the compound there truly seemed no reason to bother with it. So once a small group of guards were dispatched to investigate it, all was forgotten, even the team sent which hadn't returned...After the red tape had been cleared up the Strathan family had even been able to resume work as usual. Cuser Strathan paused in his work to wipe sweat from his brow, cursing the sunlight that now finally reached the ground now that the trees had been cleared away from the facility. Producing the little things that kept the settlement running was thankless and hard work and the man had grown to despise it, especially since the sonic sensors made it hard to hear and naturally one was close by.

That was how it had been able to approach him. Hypnotic alien eyes had fixated themselves on the lone fodder-prey outside of the protected building, not that it was being ignored...others were watching and waiting for their moment to strike. But this one was to be different from the others and with that the genestealer waited for Cuser to come closer..

Cuser himself was ignorant of the canny predator's presence and it was a mistake on the genestealer's part that even allowed him to notice at all. The poor man looked up just as the grey two-armed alien leaped from the undergrowth, hissing with a ferocious hunger. Cuser's screams were unheard of over the noise of the sonic sensors and it was all too soon that the diamond-hard claws had reduced him to so much bone meal and gore. Inside of the processing building there came more screams, no less terrified but they didn't end with the abruptness of a voice cut off. Rather they trailed off as if the screamer had lost a reason to scream.

The Hive Mind felt the pull of a new beacon and hive ships slowly stirred to life...a new cult had begun...

__________________________________________________ __

Past Delphius V

It had registered on Imperial notice almost at once. A ship of unknown design or origin had entered into space above one of it's prime worlds, but instead of descending or hailing it hung there as if it had taken all it's power just to reach this one spot of hope..

((Just pick a world for this ship to be above Nerd..))

[PlasticSoldier]

My system
"Not really, we're each individuals that exist in a giant computer network. You could probably try to integrate, but for secrecy reasons just send one of your ships over & we'll have a private network set up for you. And by the way are those other ships yours as well?" Commander & Dwarf Star, set up a network before the message was even finished.

-------------------------------------------
[Plainids]

"Fair enough, we'll send down a Static they were built for intelligence gathering. If you'd like to know we've met some other races recently that you might not know about."

[Jael_Darkwood]

Replicants

"Captain, I believe that I have made friendly contact. *a map of the system appears, and one of the worlds blinks red* They have a world set up to accept negotiators. I believe it is time for you to return to your body."

The world goes dark, then red, then the Captain opens his eyes...

--------------------

"No. They are biologicals. I have extended the diplomatic invitation to them."

The Gravitational distortion spasming rythmically, the single diamondship accelerates for the designated planet.

[pingcode20]

Steamers
The steamship Indomitable
"Captain's Log, 12th July, Forty-Thousand and Thirty-two in the year of our lord. Restocked on provisions at Schwartz's Landing. Crew were glad for shore leave, no deserters."

"Captain? Must you monologue every time you're making an entry in the log?"

"Must remember to cut Mr. Davies' rum allocation for insubordination."

"Ah, forget I said anything, Captain."

"Departed Schwartz's Landing in high spirits with full complement of gyrocopters for worlds unknown, accompanied by the Epic, the Unity Prince and the Buried Cape."

Captain Whiting closed the book with a soft snap, ceasing his writings and monologues simultaneously, as he popped another oxy-rock into his mouth and chewed, spitting the expired one into the pail in the corner.

Reaching across to the brass pipe to the engine room, he called down.

"Mr. McCain?" Getting a non-scottish engineer was a trial unto itself, and most of them didn't work the military boiler rooms. Like most ships, the Indomitable had herself a scottish chief engineer. "Prepare for Aetherjump, I want to be moving in an hour."

The ship's deck was already in a flurry of movement, the smaller vessels scurrying to chain themselves to the Indomitable while the bright Aethergate slowly formed in front of her prow.

It was a somewhat dangerous procedure, doing an unguided jump, but given the constraints the likelyhood of appearing too far from home or inside something else was minimal. Whiting opened his cabin door and stepped out, watching as the blue swirl slowly widened into a large door and faded into a whispy blue trim around a window into some unknown system. With a lurch, the massive Aetherium propellers began to turn, and the small flotilla slowly glided through.

[Executor]

"I am profoundly grateful. We can leave within the hour, but first I must send a despatch to the Admiralty to notify them of your aide. I take your leave, Emperor,"

William said, with a nod of respect to the golden armoured figure. The King of the Bruschanian dominions turned away and walked briskly from the throne room. His double rank of Grendadiers, the including the unfortunate secret-bearer, turned sharply and followed, marching in unison. The soldiers of the Adeptus Astartes watched them with interest, they were so very different from their own Imperial Guards. The same in dimensions maybe, but the pride and bearing was entirely different. Within the hour, the vast hangar doors opened once more and the troops within the small shuttle gazed upon the more familiar site of their own flagship Royal Sovereign. Upon his ship, the King shut himself in his quarters and began to write the despatch

"August 11th, Eighteen Hundred and Seventy-Ninth Year of the Dominion, HMS Royal Sovereign, twelve lightyears from the limits of the Isieles System.

I have made contact with a group of humans who call themselves Terrans. They are united in a political Imperium and governed by a (so far) nameless Emperor. They claim to be of the same roots as Bruschanians, though this is suspect. They are also friendlies, and will aid us in our push against Jutland base. I have enlisted the aid of one of their flotillas. Ships are similar in quality, if different in appearance, to our dreadnoughts. Will send another despatch at the fall of Jutland. If no such despatch comes, assume the worst.

HRH William V, KEB"

--------------------------

"We are closing in with the anomaly,"

Reported the voice of Vice-Admiral John Jellicoe, commanding a hastily-assembled squadron of Bruschanian warships sent to investigate something that appeared to be a forming wormhole deep in Bruschanian space. A Nelson and a pair of Agincourt dreadnoughts formed the core of the fleet, along with a single Ark Royal carrier and five Temeraire cruisers around the peripherals. They were deployed in a sort of wall around the concentration of the unusual readings. Jellicoe had been dispatched around five hours ago from the Naval base on Bruschania's second moon, along with this squadron, to find out what exactly was going on in their space. What was going on was that a large, blueish portal was opening in space and four ships of unknown make were entering. They appeared somewhat similar to the Bruschanian dreadnoughts, but for an antiquated design and the brass... steam stacks that gleamed on each ship. Their weapons seem to be mounted on broadside gun decks, with only the occasional turret, a contrast with the totally turreted and casemated armaments of the Bruschanian dreadnoughts. All coilguns were soon trained on these unusual... space steamships, they could be called nothing else. Overcoming his amazement at the strange design, Jellicoe opened a hailing channel with what looked to be the flagship.

"Hail unknown vessels. You have entered the space of the Bruschanian Dominion. I am Vice-Admiral John Jellicoe. May I ask your name and where you come from?"

He sat back in his chair as his Chief Gunner reported all turrets loaded and ready, and waited for the answer.

[WhiteKnight777]

The Emperor moved quickly back to his throne, dispatching a number of orders to Sanguinius and the rest of the fleet. They were to aid in the Bruschanian's reconquest, and attempt to establish goodwill between the two peoples. When all was in order, they were to proceed thence on their mission, seeking out new worlds for humanity's expanding empire.

He was pleased by the day's work, but what he had seen in the grenadier's mind made him pause. He was not sure what to think of what he had seen in the Grenadier's mind. This secret society... it was the sort of thing that he found distrustful. Certainly, seeking to enhance humanity was not an evil in itself... but there was no telling if that was truly their motives, or if their goal was something else... He had kept his peace. There was no reason to alarm William with distressful information that he was unlikely to believe, and it could only harm the burgeoning alliance. Still, he would keep in mind what he had seen, and be wary. There was no telling what else might have been bred into the royal family over the years.

Still, as always, there was more to do. He review the information handed to Him reverently on a data slate by an adept. It appeared first contact had been made. A Xenos species who seemed peaceable, and another group of His lost children. He nodded, and ordered the Astrogators to move into warp. He would see to the task of greeting these aliens first, then move for another reunion. Things were proceeding apace. It appeared that humanity had begun its resurgence more quickly than he had thought possible. The knowledge that so much had been accomplished filled his heart with pride. He smiled as his detachment slipped into the warp, headed for the meeting with the Tau.

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Meanwhile, Sanguinius and the others were discussing tactics with the Bruschanian fleet commanders as their ships prepared to move into the Warp for transit.

Do you have orbital maps displaying key strongholds? Once we decimate their fleet in orbit, the next step will be to claim as many ground objectives intact as possible. We'll need a list of valued targets... As Alpharius spoke, he gave a grin to Night Haunter, who continued to look grim, as always. Also, any local superstitions, religous beliefs, prominent racial fears would be useful for psychological warfare. The most efficient way to take the planet is obviously to eliminate enemy centers of power, just like a surgeon lancing boils. It will be key, however, to establish perimters on the ground to make sure that enemy forces do not have time to scatter and begin guerrilla warfare.

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Aboard the flagship of the Fists, Rogal Dorn was still in communication with the Hiigaran commander.

Indeed, as I said, it is our purpose to reunite humanity into one people among the stars. To bring together all the strengths we have accumulated throughout the millenia, and forge a new people better for the union. A whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. That is the Emperors will, so shall it be done.

[Nerd-o-rama]

(I think you missed a response from me, Executor)

Above the Imperial border world of Aestafar*, the strange new alien ship has naturally garnered the attention of the system's defense forces, a full half of which now stood protectively between it and the planet's surface, awaiting the arrival of the Fourth Fleet, which had been conducting maneuvers around the other planets of the system. The defense fleet, consisting of ten renovated Dreadnaught heavy cruisers and accompanying light cruisers and frigates, formed a defensive screen before the motionless object, scanning it to the best of their ability. Meanwhile, the local garrison had been put on alert and the planetary shields around the planet's major cities raised.

Half a standard hour after the odd ship's arrival, they'd completed a thorough sensor scan of the object, and the Star Destroyers of the Fourth Fleet should be arriving any minute now...

(Giving you an action, and requesting detailed scanner information on the hiveship.

Imperial resources I'm declaring in-system, in case combat is upcoming:
4 Sector Reserve Fleets, two of which are in the immediate area by now
1 Assault Fleet
1/6 of my total numbers of TIE Avengers, Scimitar Bombers, AT-ATs, AT-STs, and Stormtroopers
A planetary shield (prevents bombardment, mostly. You can still land in an isolated area).
1 Dark Jedi (Maron Rorn, keeping an eye on the governor for Darth Noctus)
These terms explained in my purchase post here.

With Imperial hyperdrive, any other assault fleet could reach the system in a matter of hours or days, although 40% of the Third Fleet is tied up with the Bruschanians and Tau.)

*The most recently settled of the Empire's five main planets, a temperate world which was not yet at full capacity of population or industrialization.

[Callos_DeTerran]

The scan of the silent ship proved...confusing. It's hull was made up of a bizarre amalgamation of metals and ores that seemed haphazard and untrustworthy at best and gave it a rusty red tone that screamed tetanus. No armaments could be counted among the systems that it possessed though there weren't anything resembling escape pods either and not just because they had already been launched either. Roughly shaped like a sliver, it was hard to even notice the vessel if looking at it straight on, and from the side it looked like a tube that had been tapered down to a point on both sides. Only the large lumpy looking star-engines on one side gave any indication of which was the front and which was the back. No view ports lead into the interior of the ship, suggesting video being the primary means of direction. It bore no particular markings, no crests or insignias (Like the Imperial symbol), that gave a hint at where it had come from.

Engine ability was the only thing that could be considered above average though it was only in straight thrust (not an agile ship). At 600 meters in length it appeared it could cause some damage but it'd have to get up to speed first which would be a very noticeable thing since the out-dated-if-powerful engines had a easily seen build-up. A build-up that turned out to be impossible if the scans where to be believed. No outstanding source of power could be detected in the ship, nothing that could propel the ship forward any farther aside from momentum or gravity. It was dead in the water with only enough power for vital systems.

Further scans showed the entire vessel boasted the same old technology, but that there was life aboard it. The life signs had to come from creatures that were larger then humans (normal ones anyway) but that could be a sign of any number of things.

Not long after the scans began though, the vessel activated a distress beacon, but otherwise took no action.