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Post by CommanderOfGames on Apr 23, 2014 14:16:09 GMT
Shipyards: 2/40x5 Construction Craft: 2/5x5
The Valiant approaches the planet, and detects what seems to be a launch of some kind. Possibly a ship... or a missile designed to take them out. They note that the planet is tidally locked. They begin broadcasting a message on all radio and subspace frequencies: "This is the UNS Valiant, exploration vessel of the Union. We come in peace."
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Post by Patrick Bateman on Apr 24, 2014 0:04:43 GMT
Belthen would stand in the CIC on his frigate. It was of Malsuth design, reliable and sturdy. He would be leaning over the holographic projector in the center. Maps, statistics, anything he needed to pull up he could do on there. He would push himself away, his hands formerly resting on a ledge on the projector. Belthen would break into a quick stride, walking up behind of his helmsman and leaning down to say into the man's ear. "Set a course for Union space. I don't care where." His helmsman, a man of 27 named Telurthic would reply. "Yessir, right away sir." Belthen would stand behind him for a minute before turning around and walking back into the CIC to observe a current galaxy map.
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Post by Aumnivers on Apr 24, 2014 0:13:15 GMT
"What is this?" "They're broadcasting; seems like they're trying to talk." "Hope our friends on the ground can translate it."
Best to give them something to think about, too Zjopri thought as she turned back to the interface and, directing the communications array at the Valiant, flicked the switch to begin transmission before chittering out a nervous salutation.
"This is the Tangleweb One, sole available representative vessel of the Khzr'Che Populace, dispatched to ensure everlasting peace between your foreign people and us graceful weavers."
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Post by CommanderOfGames on Apr 24, 2014 0:29:29 GMT
Shipyards: 3/40x5 Construction Craft: 3/5x5
The Malsuth would've heard of the Union's existence through intercepted civilian transmissions, most likely.
The Valiant receives the message, and its translation computers get to work immediately. They successfully translate a rather broken version of the Khzr'Che language, and reply.
"We are UNS Valiant. Peace between us." is what the message would come out to, due to the incomplete transmission.
Meanwhile, Union scientists are working on a top-secret project.
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Post by Efelix on Apr 24, 2014 0:34:26 GMT
Khamo watched Ti'Zana's surface shrink away, and soon he was in orbit. The shuttle docked with the QSNV Herring, a Poressa A. Khamo navigated the long halls of the vessel, entering the bridge. He would not be commanding the vessel, but would be on the bridge due to his position in the mission. The captain of the Herring, Akhu, nodded to Khamo. "Glad you're on board. We're about to release the flywheel." "You used to it yet?" asked Khamo. The Jump Drive used by Qiisqex vessels worked by storing huge amounts of energy in giant flywheels, and releasing it in a short period of time to jump a fraction of a lightyear. Akhu chuckled, more a series of deep clicks, at Khamo's question. "I always make sure my stomach's empty before a jump." Khamo zoned out for a second, realizing he had eaten beforehand. He ran to a bathroom in preparation of the jump.
Khamo floated out of the bathroom. The centrifuge that provided artificial gravity was turned off when the flywheel was charging. He reconsidered his dream of commanding his own ship one day; sure it would bring him power and respect, but who could bear jumps? The kick of the ramjet was bad enough.
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Post by Aumnivers on Apr 24, 2014 0:56:26 GMT
"Peace! Excellent." "We've only just met them. Maybe we have something they want." "Best not to jump to conclusions."
The switch to begin transmission was flicked on once again.
"Peace between us, indeed. We welcome you of the... Valiant? to our simple and pacific world. What business do you have here?"
Elsewhere, a small band wrapped in plastic was dropped into the web of one R'kszo, esteemed elder-scientist. "What would this be?" he muttered, prodding at the package. "Try not to touch it directly; the last one who did ended up incinerating herself and everyone within ten body-lengths." "Ah, well, that's not exactly... favorable. So tell me, why has this been brought to one such as myself?" "We suspect it's some sort of psi amplifier." "And you expect me to reverse engineer it? I'm sorry, but psionics is an embryonic field in the realm of para-science; we're still finding talents all over the continent." "Maybe not exactly that, but it seems a promising possibility that deserves a fair study." "Of course, of course. I'll see what I can do."
Psionic Studies: 1/25
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Post by CommanderOfGames on Apr 25, 2014 0:47:49 GMT
Shipyards: 4/40x5 Construction Craft: 4/5x5
"We were testing our new Faster-Than-Light drive. We thought this system was empty, and would be a good place to go if something went... wrong. Away from any inhabited systems." The ME3 said.
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Post by RedDwarfIV on Apr 25, 2014 1:28:46 GMT
The navigator was still glaring at him. Ha'Fica decided to glare back. As he did so, he called out "Yo'Rizu, time to departure?" The speaker in the alarm clock by what could only really be called a bed when the Hunter was accellerating was a little tinny, but the reply came through just fine. "40 minutes, Space Commodore Ya'tal. We're awaiting the arrival of Terror." The Terror was the strongest spacecraft that the Multiverse Expeditionary Force, or MEXF, would be flying with. It was also the oldest, but it was well maintained and had been built to last. Obsolescence, planned or not, would and did pass that warhulk by.
After almost fully two minutes of the awkwardness, the navigator was still just floating there staring agressively at Ha'Fica. He finally decided he didn't have time for this, and that draft was getting really annoying. "Nav, if you're going to stand motionless like that all day, at least do it somewhere useful. I hear one of the centrifuge bearings is out of alignment by about a Tal'Ryth's mass." Recognising this as dismissal, the navigator angrily retreated from the room. He hadn't asked to be taken off the crew roster, so Ha'Fica assumed the navigator was doing it to be obtuse. What it got him, Ha'Fica had no idea, but he made a mental note to monitor his other subordinates to see if any of them might be more suited to the role. If the navigator was too troublesome, well, the Space Commodore's patience had run out for the obstructionist behaviour and constant whinging about things that were his own damn fault and that he never bothered to try and fix himself afterwards.
He'd be happy to put the obtuse officer somewhere that he couldn't do any more damage to everyone else's moral and work, and he had half a mind that he should delay the mission to have him replaced. But the LAN didn't want the mission delayed. No one was observing the reality hurricane right now - the flotilla could enter, dissappear into the multiverse, and not be noticed while doing so. Those conditions might take some time to reappear.
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Post by Aumnivers on Apr 25, 2014 1:37:45 GMT
Psionic Studies: 2/25
"Must have been surprising to find out it wasn't so far from 'any inhabited systems,' eh?" Zjopri replied confidently, flicking the outgoing switch back off and turning back to her comrades. After a few seconds of frantic chittering, she flicked it back on and asked "Well, what will you be doing here now that you've found us? We welcome emissaries, but we're afraid you might find our people to be... somewhat unsophisticated. If your engine's exhaust plume and super-luminal drive are any indicators, you're far in advance of us."
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Post by CommanderOfGames on Apr 25, 2014 2:32:26 GMT
Shipyards: 5/40x5 Shipyards: 1/40x5 Construction Craft: Complete!
"We would like to establish diplomatic relations between our two nations. We believe it could be of benefit to both parties." Replied Isiir.
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Post by Efelix on Apr 25, 2014 2:39:19 GMT
The QSNV Herring makes a final jump, Khamo working with the crew on sensors. The radiological anomaly was located around the only planet in the system. The Herring begins a burn towards the planet, and would arrive shortly, the powerful bussard ramjet bringing rapid acceleration.
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Post by CommanderOfGames on Apr 25, 2014 13:21:47 GMT
Shipyards: 6/40x5 Shipyards: 2/40x5 Retribution-class Heavy Destroyers: 1/28x5
The Union begins construction of Retribution-class Heavy Missile Destroyers (sheet coming soon).
The Valiant detects the Qiisqex entering the system, and begins to scan it.
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Post by RedDwarfIV on Apr 25, 2014 16:24:07 GMT
The warcruiser Terror had finally arrived, and Ha'Fica had gone to the Hunter's observation deck to look at it. Its rakish, angular features marked it out as different among its military brethren, who had more conventional designs. That it might look different to the newer craft was to be expected, but until Ha'Fica had done some research, he almost thought it was human-built. It certainly fit their aesthetics better than Tal'Ryth spacecraft designers'. Apparently it was a kind of RADAR stealth thing. Supposedly it was coupled with a lot of protrusions and recesses to send radio waves flying in all directions, but the Terror was too distant for him to make out such small details.He wondered why more modern craft weren't designed with those features. It probably gad to do with advances in RADAR technology making any such camoflage obsolete, but it still made for an interesting sight. The PA sounded, saying "Space Commodore to Flight Deck." He turned away from the massive window, and hefted his diving fan around. A quick manipulation of the controls sent him gliding toward the airlock between the observation deck and the rest of the spacecraft's habitable spaces.
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Post by Efelix on Apr 25, 2014 21:05:08 GMT
The Herring appeared heavily shielded to scans, but it was totally unarmed. It had begun a deceleration burn, still rapidly approaching the Valiant and Tangleweb. The Herring had detected the two ships too, and they were obviously not of Qiisqex design. Interest was also given by some of the other scientists on board, noting the planet the two ships were orbiting appeared to be tidally locked.
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Post by Patrick Bateman on Apr 25, 2014 21:10:16 GMT
As the Belopheron entered Union space, it would drop out of FTL to make itself known to sensors. It was mounting a stolen Malsuth FTL drive which rendered it invisible on sensors, part of its former navy heritage. It would be on a border colony and it would hail ground control, asking for a landing site for its shuttle. Belthen would be waiting on the shuttle for the all-clear to land.
Meanwhile, the Malsuth Empire would send out one craft to every empire unknowingly. They would cross the border and drop out of FTL in inhabited systems, again unknowingly. The Union would however, be the only nation they know of due to intercepted transmissions. The ship dispatched to the Union would drop out in a system they know has military installations to establish contact.
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