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«12. . .2,9672,9682,9692,9702,9712,9722,973. . .3,0113,012»

Arcanstotska wrote:Clanaka wrinkled his face, yet still none could see through his mask. "I see," he said plainly. In his head Clanaka couldn't help but feel disgusted. So many races together, despite every last one of them being xenos. You might as well vomit on the Emperor himself, he thought. He leaned back in his seat, uncrossing his arms and moving his hands together in the space between his legs, parallel to his knees. He leans forward, keeping his eyes on Havyard's. "What is it you seek from Arcanstotska?" He asked plainly, no hesitation nor stutter anywhere.

Havyard took a sip from his tea, his face rather perplexed. Not as good as any tea from the homeland, but delicious nonetheless

Placing his teacup down, he placed his left arm on the table and his right on his leg before assembling a reply to a rather honest question.

"What does the student seek from the teacher?" He allows the question to linger for a moment before responding to his own question with sincerity.

"Knowledge. We seek only to understand your society, to perhaps in turn understand our own. Your suspicions are not unfounded, if you would like us to depart, we will leave without protest. If not, we would very much like to continue these discussions."

Burgjano wrote:Moshi-moshi Aqmore-chan

Iru, one of the Conchordate’s junior ambassadors, answered the message. “Ambassador Iru, at your service. Our harmonious Chordate greets you warmly.” She appeared surprisingly young for an Aqmore of her position, a rare sight among the seniority-favoring Aqmore. She appeared differently from most Aqmore: lighter skin, smaller size, and longer appendages, reflecting the heritage of a shallow-dwelling rather than deep water Aqmore. Shallow-dwelling Aqmore are a significantly smaller share of the population than their deep-water brethren.

She wore an iridium collar/belt around her ‘neck’, signifying her loyalty to Diktorism. Next to the iridium collar was an amulet depicting the famous obelisk from the deep-water Aqmore city of Ur-Ka, the oldest known Aqmore city, located near to many of the Aqmore shallow-water settlements. Behind her in the holographic call were decorative reefs, algae colonies, and surface-dwelling plant life.

"Greetings, Ambassador Iru. I am Supreme Chancellor Jorgen One-Eye of the Unified Oligarchy of Onorus." Jorgen said calmly from his seat, his fingers lacing together on the tabletop before him. "I and the Council of the Onorussian Nation have contacted your government in the hopes of seeking assistance in a matter of foreign policy." The man tapped at a keyboard embedded in the table before, his lone eye glancing between it and the hovering Aqmori form. A map of the galaxy presented itself, highlighting the arm commonly referred to as 'Sithis Breath', though that name was notably absent from this map. "The Holy Arm of Selene has been the subject of much galactic tension for as long as our new Oligarchy has existed, with the Ka'lu'umil maintaining a claim over the entirety of the arm's scope." The man's face was calm as he returned his full attention to Iru. "As occupants of the Holy Arm, and with no apparent effort to relinquish the claims upon sovereign Onorussian space, we must conclude the Ka'lu'umil eventually intend to take our homes by force."

"You can see how this would concern us, considering our... Offensive and defensive limitations." He paused, briefly pondering his choice of words before apparently nodding to himself in satisfaction at the statement. "Not even mentioning the fact that our civilization has only just managed to rebuild itself after our Great War." The man bit his lower lip. "The Oligarchy has therefore also concluded that a diplomatic solution must be sought, preferably by means of a mediator not currently attached to or overtly friendly with either the Accord or the Center Pact. As your Conchordate is affiliated with neither, you were our first choice. We are therefore requesting your assistance in securing the sovereignty of our borders in the eyes of the galaxy and, more specifically, the Ka'lu'umil." The Chancellor looked off to the side at one of his advisers, then to the manila folder containing the findings of the 'Violet Marauder' War Games resting neatly beside the keyboard. "We are relative newcomers to galactic politics, and lack the experience to carry out such a task on our own. Not without further complicating things via missteps I'm certain we would make, at the very least."

United states of the universe

Ariilyth wrote:Lord Odhran takes up a pen and writes his details.

Solomon waited for him to finish. By now the effects of the pipe had worn off and he puffed some more.

Achaian Peloponnese wrote:“Majesty, there has come word from the Haban
Conchordate. It is concerning.”
From her seat upon the Jeweled Throne, Anassa Omonoia II turned away from the

latest report from Despotis Lamilaos Pentenis of Propylon Station and fixed the newly-
arrived analyst with a glare. “Explain this concern,” she demanded.

The analyst, on his knees before the Anassa, bowed his head as he delivered the
unfortunate news. “An individual in opposition to Composer Diktor’s government has
named himself Emperor Ru, and has accused the Composer of multiple actions that the
rest of the galaxy is likely to consider crimes against sentient life, specifically the arrest,
torture, and murder of political opponents on Antillea. The Composer’s government has
refuted these accusations in a broadcast of its own, and has called on the Aqmore to
reject Ru’s claim to authority over them. We are unsure of the consequences of these
broadcasts, but we feel it prudent to warn you of the danger, Majesty.”
Omonoia frowned, at first in slight concern for the struggles of a government in close
proximity to the League, and then more thunderously as the wider implications of
trouble in the Conchordate specifically made themselves known to her. “So she refuses
to deal with the Aartisians in the final manner that they so justly deserve, but she will put
her own people through torture,” the Anassa growled. “If only I could be surprised at this
short-sighted, self-centered idiocy.” The notion that this so-called Emperor Ru might
have been lying was considered and dismissed; Omonoia had come to appreciate the
strong and unassailable authority that then-Hegemon Diktor had wielded over the
Aqmore Hegemony during its time in the Center Pact, authority that had only increased
with the state’s transformation into the Haban Conchordate, and the Anassa knew from
experience that the investment of such powerful authority in a single individual would
require that individual to withstand or silence a bevy of would-be rivals. If Omonoia
could have spared the manpower—or trusted the men under her command to carry out
hard actions against their compatriots—no one on Evvia or Peloponnese would have
dared to challenge her determination to remake her people into the foremost military
scientists in the galaxy. Whether Diktor’s likely actions were confined to Antillea or not,
Omonoia almost envied the Composer for the control she wielded over her people, and
the trust she could place in her servants to make that control possible.
However, such revelations made Diktor’s reluctance to deal harshly with Aartis even
more infuriating. Just as importantly, public accusations of widespread crimes against
sentient civilians hung awkwardly over the very state that had spearheaded the assault
on the Coalition of the Aartis System on the grounds of alleged crimes against sentient
civilians. On Diktor’s hasty word, an unlikely collection of fleets and nations had crushed
a state that protested its innocence to the very end; an Aqmore investigation into those
allegations had begun only after the conclusion of the war, and was still ongoing. Could
the results of that investigation be trusted when the authority responsible for it was now
accused of equally-damning crimes?

Indeed, with the precedent of preemptive intervention so fresh in the galaxy’s collective
mind—set by Diktor herself, of course—who could assume that the Conchordate’s
neighbors would settle for political speeches and demands for transparency when they
had earlier simply brought their fleets to bear at the first accusation of impropriety?
(Oh, how Omonoia trembled to contemplate the day that the Erviadi learned of Biotia or
the kyrioi!)
And if these troubles, either confined to the Conchordate’s domestic sphere or
expanded to include the invasion fleets of the whole galaxy, caused the Aqmore any
lapse of attention or control over the Aartis System... Stars knew just what the
Aartisians could accomplish against the civilized Erviadi with the leash as loose as it
already was, but this event could make it possible for them to slip the leash entirely. The
very notion made Omonoia’s blood boil.
The Anassa turned her attention to the nearest holoprojector. “Connect me with Admiral
Panagopoulos,” she ordered. Turning back to the analyst kneeling before her throne,
Omonoia said, “Maintain a watch on the situation. I want to know who reacts to these
accusations and how, as soon as it happens.”
“Yes, Majesty.”
“Majesty,” Admiral Panagopoulos’s voice broke in as the Megaron’s QEC connection
with the Void Fleets’ main headquarters established his presence. The admiral’s image
bowed to the Anassa on her Jeweled Throne before straightening. “What do you
require?”
“Ready all of the expeditionary fleets for a possible emergency,” Omonoia ordered.
“There is trouble among the Aqmore, Admiral, and I do not know how the rest of the
galaxy will take it.”
Panagopoulos’s expression clouded. “Majesty, our participation in the war against Aartis
highlighted several deficiencies in our fleet structure that will not be rectified for some
time.”
“I am aware, Admiral,” the Anassa growled, unhappy to be reminded of her fleets’ paltry
size compared with the armadas of both her short-term and long-term allies during the
conflict. “I am ordering you to prepare for a worst-case scenario. Unfortunately, there is
a reasonable likelihood of that scenario occurring. Be ready to deploy at any time—and
to any place.”
The admiral nodded grimly. “Yes, Majesty.”
“That will be all.”

Omonoia turned back to the kneeling analyst before her. “The Megaron will remain
silent on the matter of the Haban Conchordate,” she declared. “Should our opinion be
solicited, you will inform me. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Majesty,” the man said, rising to his feet and backing out of the blue pavilion over
the Jeweled Throne, bowing once again as he came out of its shadow, and only then
turning away to depart.
The Anassa leaned back in her throne, still frowning as she contemplated the issue.
She was extremely concerned about the international reaction to the would-be
Emperor’s accusations, to be sure. But as the initial shock faded in the wake of her
preparations, Omonoia realized that no small part of her was... pleased? Yes, she
realized, there was a part of her that was pleased to hear of this new challenge for the
Composer of the Aqmore. ‘This may well be the price for your mercy, Nablus,’
the Anassa thought. ‘May you rectify your idiocy in Aartis before the irony drags you to
your destruction.’

Regional Instability And How The Ventillians Did Something About It

The Anassa would find her opinion solicited sooner then she anticipated and from a source
that had been up till recently quiet on the chaotic events around it, the Queenship of
Ventilla.

Appearing in the officiated rose pink dress of the Ventillian government was a queen
whose unpronounceable name defeated any translation device set against it. For the
purposes of the transmission, only her title would be referenced.

On the behalf of the Queenship, I request the Achaian League’s opinion and possible
support for several diplomatic initiatives that my government intends to enact.
I am aware that our governments have largely ignored each other, that the only contact
between our civilizations is that of Ventillian merchants at the League’s Propylon
Station. That being said, it is of both of the Queenship’s opinion and mine that the
League and the Queenship of Ventilla are two of the few truly stable governments in this
region of the Galaxy.

Due to recent accusations against the Nablus Diktor of the Haban Conchordate, and
following the certain galactic reaction to them, the Queenship believes the Conchordate
it inadequately suited to occupy the Aartris System as well as continuing their
investigation on the allegations against the former Coalition of the Aartris System. Until
the truth of the matter against both civilizations are discovered, the Haban Conchordate,
in an effort of transparency, should relinquish it’s authority of Aartrisan occupation to the
Queenship.

The accusations will undoubtedly lead to a bold uprising by the Aartrisans. Based on the
Haban Conchordate’s occupational decisions so far, it will likely succeed and open up
the rest of the Conchordate to vengeful attacks from the Aartris System.

The Queenship intends to contain the Aartrisan threat for as long as necessary with a
complete lockdown of the system. We are appropriating nearly a thousand warships for
this endeavor should it be permitted to take place.

I ask for the League’s support and ask that the League’s utilizes it’s diplomatic
connections with other civilizations to pressure the Conchordate to agreement.

Humblest,
The Queenship of Ventilla

Technocracy of vermell

Sakoor wrote:Terros nods. "Indeed, I do. My parents were killed a few years ago, but I have about 5 siblings across the fleet, three older sisters, a twin brother, and a younger sister. I also have a wife, son, and two daughters."

Elana gives a short chuckle, for most Vermelly the concept of brothers and sisters is an unknown one.

"Sorry for the laugh. The concept of brothers and sisters is new to me. We don't usually have such tight nit families, most males will have multiple females in their lives, although, monogamy is getting more popular."

Technocracy of vermell wrote:Elana gives a short chuckle, for most Vermelly the concept of brothers and sisters is an unknown one.

"Sorry for the laugh. The concept of brothers and sisters is new to me. We don't usually have such tight nit families, most males will have multiple females in their lives, although, monogamy is getting more popular."

Terros chuckles as they leave the hotel lobby and make their way to the market. "Polygamy is still going pretty strong with Sakoorans. My twin brother has 3 wives and 2 husbands already. Who knows? I might find another wife myself when I get the opportunity."

The United Republic of Luke wrote:~Ductu Station, Inner City, Senate Tower~

A quiet reserved knock was heard on Veronica's door as she sat by the large window in her temporary living quarters. She half glanced at the direction of the door, she knew who it was. Only one person on the station, despite being one of the most powerful people aboard, in the galaxy even, was cautious not to annoy a homeless vagabond from Wild Space who's the daughter of the most elusive terrorist in the galaxy.

"You don't need to knock you know." She replied quietly to herself, a mumble really. The suits built in VI relayed the message to the door panel in the hall outside. A moment later the doors opened, and in the doorway stood Primus Galti. He held a datapad in his hands. He took a few steps inside and cleared his throat, he had quite a habit of doing that.

"I've managed to convince the Bureau of Justice not drop the charges leveled against you." He started, which caused Veronica's glare to switch from staring at the cityscape to Primus.

"How did you manage that?" She loosened he arm lock around her knees which she was holding close to her chest, and sat normally leaning forward.

"I reminded them that in a way half a decade ago we were all scared homeless refugees just looking for a home that would be ours. We found our home, it isn't perfect, but it is ours. You were searching for yours, your sister. You've spent the last century in Wild Space moving from place to place, eluding your fathers agents. The moment you had an opportunity to be normal it was nearly robbed from you. You're a victim of circumstance." Pausing momentarily he leaned on the kitchen counter and folded his arms.

"Granted you're a victim who's killed half a team of Force Recon commando's singlehandidly, which is why I had to give in to the Lower Dome's concession." He held up the datapad, he tossed it over to Veronica. She caught it, and skimmed it through.

Veronica Doe, Temporary Contractor assigned to Lower Dome under supervision of Admiral Guage Heonan.

"Temporary Contractor? I'm not joining your damned 'Grand Army of the Union' and parading around your knock-off Grand Plaza of the Republic if that's what those white uniformed schmucks in the Lower Dome think!" Tossing the pad back at Primus who grabbed it before it hit him across the face. He looked it over once more, and a slight frown grew across his face. Veronica was pacing back and fourth furiously ranting. Approaching her he watched as she continued on about how the Union was no better than the United Republic, how it deserved to be stuck in Wild Space, and when she saw him take a step towards her she attempted to slap out out of anger. Were it not for his own cybernetic and genetic enhancements from his days in the Navy she very well would've hit him, might've left a nasty scratch across his check. Instead his gloved hand held her arm in his hand.

"Let go of me." She spit through grit teeth, attempting to pull away.

"Veronica... I was just as angered as you are about it. I would rather you didn't go anywhere near this, but I was left with no other choice. It was this, or you get thrown in magni-cuffs and get shipped to one of the Maximum Security Prisons in the wastelands of Sirat. I know you wouldn't want that, and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that happened." His voice grew quieter as Veronica stopped trying to pull away.

"I don't want to fight the AAH dammit, I don't want to see the look on her face when I go to her surrounded by Union soldiers. I just want this to end don't you get it? I just want my sister." Her eyes swelled with tears once more, a sight Primus has grown all too familiar with over the past few weeks. His hand loosed its grip and his arms wrapped themselves around Veronica.

"I want this finished too. I want my home back. I hate what we've become. I want a return to the days when we were the masters of our own destiny. We will both get what we want one day. When that day comes, this pain will be worth it."

~Ductu Station, Senate Tower~

Veronica rather nervously stares at the heavy metallic case sitting on her table. The crest of the Union Military adorned at the center of the case with more than a few ID numbers at the bottom right of the lid. Cautiously she opens the case, as she slowly lifts the life, revealing a shiny suit of armor. Laying it all out on the table, she remarks in mild surprise at the lack of any sort of Union identification markings on the armor, or even a flag painted on. Fully equipped with the armor now she slides on the gloves to complete the set, a comfortable fit. As if on cue there's a polite knock on her door. She holds back a smile curling at the edge of her lips.

"It's safe to come in Primus..."

The doors open moments later-- and the Speaker takes a step inside and whatever he he was going to say simply departs his mind as he looks at her in the armor.

"It's the nonexistant Union flag on the breastplate isn't it? I noticed that too, also there's no Udairi Arms Corp logo on the back, may be an issue later." Giving a mocking twirl along with her sarcastic statement only proves to stammer Galti further.

"I- I'd gone through the lengths of making sure they didn't add anything you'd take offense to." He turns now, unsure how to continue. Veronica folds her arms, pursing her lips in mild disappointment.

"Yeah, no one would ever think I'm a part of the Union military now. They'll just need to ignore the heavily armed special forces guys." Heading towards the doors she stops in the doorway, looking out into the halls at the six Speaker of the Senate Commando's then at Galti.

"We leaving? Or do you intend to stand there for awhile and collect dust?" Galti gives one last look over the apartment before exiting in the hall. The Commando's have already cleared the level, and made a path clear for the Speaker and Veronica. As the group steps onto the turbolift, Veronica leans on the wall of the turbolift, her stomach in a knot.

"Do you think this will work, Primus?" Not looking up at him, her eyes to the floor. Galti looks to his right at the Commando lieutenant who too glances at him, and he turns to Veronica.

"It has too." He looks forwards at the turbolift doors as it comes to a slow stop.

"For the sake of the Union it must."

Ariilyth wrote:UR Civil War

Saevia Achaian Peloponnese United Asians Association of Asians, Two-Oh-Two

The Alliance have been biding their time throughout the five years of this conflict. While allowing, and even prodding the other forces to try and out-brute each-other, Y'shool's sycophants have kept mostly on the defensive, protecting their assets with varying success from raids from all sides. The AAH plunder their north, while Yamo in his hubris seeks to take their west flank. They have been able to keep their foes in tolerable distance for the time being, but with the Reborn Empire breathing down their east and the fighting in the core worlds having finally died down, the Alliance must act fast.

Over the five years, they have amassed one of the greatest secret agencies in the galaxy via the notorious Security Bureau, who set their sights on Yamo's upstart rabble of pitchfork wielders too poor to sustain themselves. Over carefully selected points of time as to not seem suspicious, the SB infiltrate Tuak, posing as bankers and entrepreneurs, disillusioned with the Alliance, to work their ways into the higher echelons of Yamo's fledgling senate.

In Tuak, Y'shool's agents have slipped through the cracks, in totality, using foul blackmail of debauchery, and enticing lures of cleared debts, among other things, some more truthful than others. The unenthusiastic senators of Yamo's upstart, stagnant Federation are thus swayed into impeaching Yamo in a vote of no confidence.

Jernheim

Vordanian warriors wrote:Karzûn lets out a deafening roar as he opens fires upon the demons with both blasters in his hands.

“Come on! Keep coming in so I can kill you!”

Karzun got his wish, the arctic devils seeped in like an infestation in blood. All warmth seceded, the Jerns knew no humanity in the face of them, yet stood, their blood boiling, refusing to freeze over. Fire rained through Skagen's accompanying mist, to his encompassing fist, in vain. The front line was lost in but minutes. Galti retreated, saving two others with himself, one of them he shoved back, giving him the head start, the other was wounded, and could not retreat. Galti did not abandon him, instead encumbered himself with the man's life. An icy crown began to form in the haze, a crown to brow onimous red eyes: Skagen had arrived, and the cave-bound blizzard there ensnared Galti and the other survivor, for Karzun to witness.

Technocracy of vermell

Sakoor wrote:Terros chuckles as they leave the hotel lobby and make their way to the market. "Polygamy is still going pretty strong with Sakoorans. My twin brother has 3 wives and 2 husbands already. Who knows? I might find another wife myself when I get the opportunity."

"Well, I'm not sure its the same type you are used to. Our race's fertility was screwed over by a bio-weapon used by a nation once known as the Republic of Sǐwángh around 200 Varel years ago. They resisted the global revolution of the Technocracy, the weapon they used killed billions and made half of our female population extremely genetically infertile. While most women were still able to have kids, ovulation was now extremely rare. This, combined with our race's low birth rates, relative to the Sakoor, nearly destroyed our population. We don't have polygamy because we have a culture around it, I mean we did beforehand but not nearly as large. We have polygamy because we have to. I have 3 mothers, but I'm the only child."

Technocracy of vermell wrote:"Well, I'm not sure its the same type you are used to. Our race's fertility was screwed over by a bio-weapon used by a nation once known as the Republic of Sǐwángh around 200 Varel years ago. They resisted the global revolution of the Technocracy, the weapon they used killed billions and made half of our female population extremely genetically infertile. While most women were still able to have kids, ovulation was now extremely rare. This, combined with our race's low birth rates, relative to the Sakoor, nearly destroyed our population. We don't have polygamy because we have a culture around it, I mean we did beforehand but not nearly as large. We have polygamy because we have to. I have 3 mothers, but I'm the only child."

"Ah, I see." They eventually came across the short, but busy market street, where vendors were selling foods, jewelry, and other various commercial items for sale.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:Karzun got his wish, the arctic devils seeped in like an infestation in blood. All warmth seceded, the Jerns knew no humanity in the face of them, yet stood, their blood boiling, refusing to freeze over. Fire rained through Skagen's accompanying mist, to his encompassing fist, in vain. The front line was lost in but minutes. Galti retreated, saving two others with himself, one of them he shoved back, giving him the head start, the other was wounded, and could not retreat. Galti did not abandon him, instead encumbered himself with the man's life. An icy crown began to form in the haze, a crown to brow onimous red eyes: Skagen had arrived, and the cave-bound blizzard there ensnared Galti and the other survivor, for Karzun to witness.

“SKAGEN!!”

Karzûn bellows the demon’s cursed name with a piercing and painful scream. The retreat of the Jern troops did not faze him. He knew he shouldn’t rush in recklessly, but that didn’t mean he’d run away like a coward. The cyborg advances with blasters unloading upon Skagen and the horde of ice demons pouring into the cave.

Vordanian warriors wrote:“SKAGEN!!”

Karzûn bellows the demon’s cursed name with a piercing and painful scream. The retreat of the Jern troops did not faze him. He knew he shouldn’t rush in recklessly, but that didn’t mean he’d run away like a coward. The cyborg advances with blasters unloading upon Skagen and the horde of ice demons pouring into the cave.

No one, living or dead, expected a mad charge into the unknowable, though at this point Karzun knew it all too well. A recollection of their once human selves swelled in their faces: pure and brisk shock. Karzun disappears into the mist, leaving icy corpses behind him in his melting fury.

Two-Oh-Two wrote:“Bruh”

The Megaron, Orbit of Delos, Thrake System

“What is your judgment, then?”

Charalampos Megaras read and reread the QEC missive sent by the Ventillian government, stalling for time as he struggled to find a suitable answer. “I don’t know enough about these people to judge their fitness to occupy Aartis,” he said finally. “I would have to refuse until I learned more.”

Anassa Omonoia, sitting as ever upon the Jeweled Throne, nodded in agreement with her appointed heir, while her advisory council—both physically present and attending through distant QEC connections—waited patiently for the lesson to end. “That is an important flaw in their argument,” the Anassa said. “The Ventillians are all but unknown to most of the Erviadi, in fact: They were discovered, and fired upon, only five galactic standard years ago—by the Aartisians. The Coalition of the Aartis System was by far the most common contact with Ventillia, despite the latter’s participation in MiNEA. As the Ventillian herself admits, her representatives have participated so little in MiNEA initiatives that the usual contact between Ventillia and the League is incidental trade on Propylon Station. Who are these people to request control of Aartis?” Omonoia motioned to her heir again. “Tell me more.”

Charalampos turned back to the message once again, furrowing his brow as he considered it piece by piece. “I’m confused about the entire request,” he admitted. “Obviously we don’t know enough about the Ventillians to agree to give Aartis to them, but I don’t know why they would want it in the first place. Is it just because of their trade? And wouldn’t that make the Ventillians incapable of making objective decisions about Aartis if they were left in charge of the system?”

“Those concerns weigh on me as well,” Omonoia replied with another nod. “Ventillia did not assist in putting down the Coalition of the Aartis System, and played no part in the war beyond a diplomatic exchange with the Aqmore that established them as an outside and neutral party. They have no motive to take over Aartis except to better their own trade prospects, and I do not believe that those prospects will be improved if the Ventillians prove to be harsh masters.”

“So we have even more reason to deny them,” Charalampos murmured. He looked back to the Anassa, clearly expecting the lesson to be over, but frowned when he saw how she continued to gaze at him, patiently waiting for him to continue examining the Ventillian message. The heir to the Anakate turned back to the document with a sigh, and remained silent for another long moment.

Then the furrows in his brow deepened even further. “Is it normal for a nation to muster a thousand warships to occupy a system when its leaders don’t know if they will be permitted to do so?”

“The peoples of the galaxy are diverse and, to be truthfully blunt, strange beyond our understanding,” Omonoia said. “Nonetheless, I agree with your concern. It is an ultimatum.” Around them, the expressions on the faces of the Anassa’s advisors became grim and determined as they contemplated yet another interstellar conflict so soon after the conclusion of the last one. “However, it is not an ultimatum for us…” She raised a brow, prompting Charalampos to finish her thought.

The heir stared at the message again before realizing where Omonoia was going. “We do not occupy Aartis, so no war there will threaten us,” he said.

“Which begs the question…”

“Why would they contact us if Aartis is not ours to give and take away?” Charalampos asked in response.

Omonoia nodded. “Indeed.”

“But the Queen said that she was contacting us because we were both stable nations in the galactic north,” Charalampos pointed out. “Could she be telling the truth?”

“We know nothing and care even less about the stability of the Ventillian nation,” Omonoia pointed out. “And I can guarantee that, as little as we know about the Ventillians, they know even less about us. Our secrecy has prompted other nations to simply assume that we are concealing devastating weaknesses in an unstable nation. Why would anyone assume the opposite? And why should we assume the opposite in regards to them? No,” the Anassa concluded, “this ranks among the most insincere expressions of flattery I have ever encountered. Its only purpose is to contrive to associate the League with Ventillia in mutually unverifiable terms.”

“So,” Charalampos began hesitantly, “why did they choose to send this message to us?”

“I don’t know,” the Anassa answered. “But no other nation among our allies at Aartis would be willing to take this message at face value; indeed, this message would likely bring more hostile attention to Ventillia rather than the opposite. I must assume that the Queen knows this, and either believes that the isolated nature of the League will make us more gullible and more willing to take up the Ventillian cause on the basis of the Aqmore’s failures, or else believes that we, alone of our allies, are incapable of acting against the Ventillians in any meaningful way if we take exception or offense to the message. No doubt our fleet’s contributions to the Aartisian War have been thoroughly analyzed throughout the galaxy at this point,” Omonoia added. “We must expect some small amount of ridicule from this point on, unfortunately.”

Charalampos nodded in response to the frustration in his adoptive mother’s voice. The Anassa turned to her bevy of advisors rather than continue to question him, having encouraged his critical thinking skills to the best of her abilities by that point. “I am inclined to ignore this message,” she said. “What say you?”

“The Ventillians are clearly ambitious if they intend to take over the role of a respected international neutral with the backing of their fleet,” said a general from his barracks on Biotia. “Even if they receive no support—and assuming that they don’t press the issue and bring yet another war to Aartis—they may require careful scrutiny in the future.”

Omonoia nodded. “I certainly agree,” she said.

“Majesty, what of their arguments regarding the accusations against Composer Diktor and the Haban Conchordate?” asked one of the advisors present on the Megaron at the time.

“The allegations against Diktor concern neither me nor the League,” Omonoia replied. “I admit that they could affect the opinions of our erstwhile allies during the war, but I have never pretended that the Void Fleets appeared in the Aartis System for any reason as nebulous as morals. The League will continue to support the Haban Conchordate’s occupation of the Aartis System and its rule over the Aartisian people in order to restrain the Aartisian impulse to create unnecessary chaos without prompting either the Techno-Union or the Ka’lu’umil to come to blows in attempting to prevent one another from obtaining a permanent presence on the fault line between the Ka’lu’umil and the Center Pact. If a better option is found, we will consider it. I am certain, however, that the Ventillians are not that better option when no one trustworthy can be found to vouch for them.”

Admiral Panagopoulos leaned forward. “What if they can truly put an end to the Aartisian threat like the Queen claims, Majesty?” he asked.

“It is likely that the same moral qualms that brought half the galaxy to the conquest of Aartis would bring that same half to Aartis’s defense if the Ventillians or anyone else properly put an end to that threat, Admiral,” Omonoia replied with a small smile. “And I am not about to risk what little progress we have made on that matter on the very small chance that the Ventillians would be more suitable masters for the Aartisians, knowing so little about the Ventillians as we do. Their promises are unverifiable; I have no doubt that the Queen provided them only because she had chosen to solicit my support as opposed to anyone else’s, and knows—as does the whole galaxy at this point—the depth of my esteem for the good people of Aartis.”

Another of the advisors present under the blue pavilion leaned forward. “If they are correct in saying that the Aqmore are incapable of maintaining control over Aartis during this period of crisis, however, the Aartisians will be set loose again.”

“We can figure that out for ourselves, though… can’t we?” asked Charalampos suddenly, regaining the meeting’s attention. “Can we send a representative and see what’s going on there?”

Omonoia frowned. “As the Aqmore are learning in their search for the truth among the Aartisians, inspections are tedious and can be all too easily foiled. If the Aqmore choose not to show us what they don’t want us to see, they will hide it from us, or simply refuse to allow our people to enter the system.”

Charalampos nodded, but he continued by asking, “Will they refuse the representatives of everyone who backed their occupation? The Ventillians may have only involved us because they want us to speak for them, but if there is any real question about the Aqmore’s ability to keep Aartis in check, I think we have a legitimate reason to call attention to the problem. And our allies against Aartis may have their own reasons to investigate, if they are concerned that the Aqmore’s investigation into Satomi is compromised by the Conchordate’s own alleged censorship. I don’t believe that the Aqmore will refuse all of us, if we are all equally interested in learning more.”

Omonoia nodded at her heir’s proposal. “I agree,” she said. “We cannot decide one way or the other from a state of ignorance, and we can only critically examine the occupation if we are accompanied by our mutual, and more powerful, partners in the Aartis endeavor.” The Anassa turned to her advisors and said, “I will compose a message myself requesting the attention of those partners.”

“What if they are uninterested in examining the occupation, or if their concerns are too removed from ours to come to an agreement about the Aqmore’s suitability?” one of the advisors asked.

“The Aqmore remain our default solution to the occupation,” Omonoia replied, “and there remain far too many points in their favor to reject their continued administration over Aartis unless we discover very serious causes for concern. Should we and our allies fail to come to an agreement regarding the Aqmore occupation, it will almost certainly continue. In that sense, the state of Aartis will not become worse due to our meddling.”

“And what of Ventillia, Majesty?” asked the general who had previous spoken.

Omonoia turned to one of her physically present advisors. “Send my appreciation to the Ventillian Queen for her concern,” she ordered. “Tell her that the Achaian League is working in concert with the rest of its allies in the Aartisian matter to determine the best path forward for Aartis and its relationship with the rest of the galaxy. And emphasize that under no circumstances will any warship belonging to the Ventillians or any other uninvolved and unrelated faction or nation be welcome to interfere or intervene in the Aartis System during the course of this occupation. See to it.”

“Yes, Majesty.”

Charalampos watched the advisors bow their heads one more time before either backing away from the Jeweled Throne or disappearing from the holographic projectors surrounding it. He waited until the present advisors were out of sight before turning back to the Anassa. “What happens if the Aartisians are freed?” he asked.

Omonoia leaned back into the Jeweled Throne. “Likely nothing more serious than annoyances to us,” she said. “But those annoyances are a product of an unparalleled sense of superiority that seems to have twisted the people of that accursed system into near-parodies of self-righteous idiots intent on causing mayhem to everyone who should interact with them. That mindset created Atomic Corporation, and encouraged the actions of the Trans-System Federation’s delegation at Nafplio. The galaxy can’t be truly at peace until that mindset has been thoroughly purged from every Aartisian alive, now and forever.”

______

The Queenship received the Megaron’s terse reply almost immediately, which stated that the League would continue to observe the state of the Aartis System and that the Ventillians’ ambitions (as well as those of any other uninvolved nation) were unwelcome.

The governments of the Techno-Union, Celtanis, Athrugadh, the Ka’lu’umil, and of course the Haban Conchordate received a somewhat later personal message from Anassa Omonoia herself. Her request was centered on her self-professed ignorance: She did not know the true state of affairs in the Aartis System since the allegations put forward against Composer Diktor and the government of the Conchordate, and rumors of failing control had come to her only through unreliable sources. The League considered the occupation of the Aartis System to be a priority, and while the Anassa was distrustful of any unsubstantiated rumors, the fact remained that she could not rest easy without knowing for sure that the Aartis System would never trouble her or the galaxy again. As the League had been only one of several nations responsible for reducing Aartis to its occupied status, Omonoia desired not only to inform her erstwhile partners in the alliance over Aartis of her intentions, but also to solicit their input on the matter. Of course the Aqmore in particular could provide the most information about Aartis’s current state, and Anassa Omonoia was eager to learn as much as she could about the changing political landscape of Aartis in the aftermath of ‘Emperor’ Ru’s allegations. Furthermore, Omonoia was certain that the Conchordate and its governors in the Aartis System would be greatly interested in learning of the ambitions and vague threats put forward by the Ventillians, of all people, in their attempt to wrest control of Aartis away from the Aqmore entirely.

(Burgjano, Soviet Socialist Republic, Celtanis, The an xileel, Ariilyth)

Kedor, Burgjano, and Two-Oh-Two

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:No one, living or dead, expected a mad charge into the unknowable, though at this point Karzun knew it all too well. A recollection of their once human selves swelled in their faces: pure and brisk shock. Karzûn disappears into the mist, leaving icy corpses behind him in his melting fury.

“SKAGEN! LET HIM GO, YOU SCHEMING DEMON!”

Karzûn continues to roar out into the blizzard, unafraid of what may be out there beyond his vision. All that matters is rescuing Galti from Skagen’s grasp, and all who stand in his way will burn before the burning power of his blasters.

Vordanian warriors wrote:“SKAGEN! SHOW YOURSELF, YOU SCHEMING DEMON!”

Karzûn continues to roar out into the blizzard, unafraid of what may be out there beyond his vision. All that matters is ending Skagen and his entire horde of despicable demons, and all of them will burn before the burning power of his blasters.

He mowed through the hoard of them, as if adrenaline alone preserved him. Shards of ice encroached into his body, and melted from the heat it produced in its nigh industrial labour. Yet, Galti and Skagen were nowhere to be found. And the only way to go was forward, and out, into the brunt of the blizzard.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:He mowed through the hoard of them, as if adrenaline alone preserved him. Shards of ice encroached into his body, and melted from the heat it produced in its nigh industrial labour. Yet, Galti and Skagen were nowhere to be found. And the only way to go was forward, and out, into the brunt of the blizzard.

“Galti!”

Karzûn called out into the blizzard in a vain effort to find his brother-in-arms, continuing to rush headfirst into the unknown.

Vordanian warriors wrote:“Galti!”

Karzûn called out into the blizzard in a vain effort to find his brother-in-arms, continuing to rush headfirst into the unknown.

No response. Once again the wind blitzed his frame cold. Wherever Skagen, it would not have been far. Especially not if he was dragging Galti with him.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:No response. Once again the wind blitzed his frame cold. Wherever Skagen, it would not have been far. Especially not if he was dragging Galti with him.

Karzûn unloads his blaster wildly into the vast blizzard as he roared loudly. Although the cold wind began battering against his body once more, he refused to stop. He wouldn’t leave Galti to the mercy of Skagen, especially after what he learned on his mission.

Vordanian warriors wrote:Karzûn unloads his blaster wildly into the vast blizzard as he roared loudly. Although the cold wind began battering against his body once more, he refused to stop. He wouldn’t leave Galti to the mercy of Skagen, especially after what he learned on his mission.

The blasts of plasma dispel the blizzard for brief periods in their direction of fire. Allowing Karzun to see glimpses ahead. Wading back onto the icy sea, he sees two humanoid figures. A heavier gush of wind protruding therefrom.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:The blasts of plasma dispel the blizzard for brief periods in their direction of fire. Allowing Karzûn to see glimpses ahead. Wading back onto the icy sea, he sees two humanoid figures. A heavier gush of wind protruding therefrom.

“Galti!”

Karzûn pushes onwards with even greater determination, now having seen his target and his comrade. If only he could better distinguish their bodies through the cold mist, he could possibly shoot Skagen from this distance.

Jernheim

Vordanian warriors wrote:“Galti!”

Karzûn pushes onwards with even greater determination, now having seen his target and his comrade. If only he could better distinguish their bodies through the cold mist, he could possibly shoot Skagen from this distance.

The sudden heavy gush dismounted Karzun from his momentum. An ice shattering roar accompanied, and the Kauv'ok warrior would see, if he were to look up to the sky, the air thrashing wings of three ice dragons, hovering above Skagen, who relayed his great strength to chain the helpless Galti to his knees which cracked the ice below. The great demon bellowed to his lords above.

"Noble masters! I offer you this hominid responsible for the deaths of your brothers. I have taken him from the jaws of his wolves for you. Take him, and grant me mercy. Free me of these shackles!" Skagen bared his ironed forearms to the Ice Dragons, his head high with desperation in his red eyes which plied the masters above for succour, but they were colder than he could ever be. The Ice Dragons reared their heads at him, snarling with hatred. Skagen then realised they had made up their minds long ago. What human nature remained in Skagen compelled him to comprehend honour, even if he himself lacked such a thing, but these creatures had never known such a curse. Skagen took Galti up onto his feet and into his grip, holding him close like a shield of meat as the dragons prepared to spring.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:The sudden heavy gush dismounted Karzun from his momentum. An ice shattering roar accompanied, and the Kauv'ok warrior would, if he were to look up to the sky, the air thrashing wings of three ice dragons, hovering above Skagen, who relayed his great strength to chain the helpless Galti to his knees which cracked the ice below. The great demon bellowed to his lords above.

"Noble masters! I offer you this hominid responsible for the deaths of your brothers. I have taken him from the jaws of his wolves for you. Take him, and grant me mercy. Free me of these shackles!" Skagen bared his ironed forearms to the Ice Dragons, his head high with desperation in his red eyes which ply the masters above for succour, but they were colder than he could ever be. The Ice Dragons reared their heads at him, snarling with hatred. Skagen then realised they had made up their minds long ago. What human nature remained in Skagen compelled him to comprehend honour, even if he himself lacked such a thing, but these creatures had never known such a curse. Skagen took Galti up onto his feet and into his grip, holding him close like a shield of meat as the dragons prepared to spring.

Now with clear line-of-sight, Karzûn takes aim at Skagen. For a moment, he has the chance to finally kill him, the villain who brought chaos to his people. He could finally get the revenge he so longed for. But then...why? What good would it do for him? He realized it now. Especially when the dragons were going to kill Skagen anyways. What mattered more was getting Galti out alive. Wouldn’t look good if he returned to Stig alone, after being the only one who went to rescue Galti. After what they’ve done for him, he couldn’t just leave the Jern to die.

Karzûn lowers his blasters, and instead of shooting to kill, he targets Skagen’s arms and legs in an effort to free Galti from his grip. Then, with incredible speed, he tosses his blasters aside and dashes forward into harm’s way, lunging into the air over Skagen and grabbing Galti with the force of all four of his arms as he tries to distance himself away from the dragons.

Jernheim

Vordanian warriors wrote:Now with clear line-of-sight, Karzûn takes aim at Skagen. For a moment, he has the chance to finally kill him, the villain who brought chaos to his people. He could finally get the revenge he so longed for. But then...why? What good would it do for him? He realized it now. Especially when the dragons were going to kill Skagen anyways. What mattered more was getting Galti out alive. Wouldn’t look good if he returned to Stig alone, after being the only one who went to rescue Galti. After what they’ve done for him, he couldn’t just leave the Jern to die.

Karzûn lowers his blasters, and instead of shooting to kill, he targets Skagen’s arms and legs in an effort to free Galti from his grip. Then, with incredible speed, he tosses his blasters aside and dashes forward into harm’s way, lunging into the air over Skagen and grabbing Galti with the force of all four of his arms as he tries to distance himself away from the dragons.

Looking back, Karzun witnessed as one dragon snapped Skagen's upper torso into its jaws like the cracking of ice, only for another to lock Skagen in its maw by the legs. Skagen's only free arm glowed red with desperate power, but was silenced by the third dragon, which snapped him by the shoulder. The dragons carried him up into the sky and Karzun was forced then to watch as his dreams of vengeance were ripped apart, piece by piece by beings equally unsympathetic to his suffering. Karzun rescued Galti, the former target of his revenge, at the cost of his revenge.

Galti was cold, but life came back to him. Karzun could see a trance which held him fade as warmth came back to his eyes - his sacrifice's prize - which spoke more admiration and gratitude than words could muster. Skagen's magic dispelled, the king of the ice demons was destroyed at last, but the frost did not cease into oblivion; the dragons remained. Hovering in tribunal above, they were not content on Skagen's guilty judgement alone, turning their attention now to Galti, the once Valgtkriger. After being released from Karzun's saving embrace, Galti drew his sword and reached for his shield, but did not direct his attention upward. Despite the dragons, he instead looked at Akron, whether the Kauv'ok would know it or not, there was no greater honour he could give. When his greatest threat honed seething above, he looked to the brother beside him, with trust now unbreakable.

Vordanian warriors

Jernheim wrote:Looking back, Karzûn witnessed as one dragon snapped Skagen's upper torso into its jaws like the cracking of ice, only for another to lock Skagen in its maw by the legs. Skagen's only free arm glowed red with desperate power, but was silenced by the third dragon, which snapped him by the shoulder. The dragons carried him up into the sky and Karzûn was forced then to watch as his dreams of vengeance were ripped apart, piece by piece by beings equally unsympathetic to his suffering. Karzûn rescued Galti, the former target of his revenge, at the cost of his revenge.

Galti was cold, but life came back to him. Karzûn could see a trance which held him fade as warmth came back to his eyes - his sacrifice's prize - which spoke more admiration and gratitude than words could muster. Skagen's magic dispelled, the king of the ice demons was destroyed at last, but the frost did not cease into oblivion; the dragons remained. Hovering in tribunal above, they were not content on Skagen's guilty judgement alone, turning their attention now to Galti, the once Valgtkriger. After being released from Karzûn’s saving embrace, Galti drew his sword and reached for his shield, but did not direct his attention upward. Despite the dragons, he instead looked at Akron, whether the Kauv'ok would know it or not, there was no greater honour he could give. When his greatest threat honed seething above, he looked to the brother beside him, with trust now unbreakable.

Karzûn’s gaze shifted between Galti and the ice dragons several times. He didn’t plan on facing these things, but it seemed like they had no choice. His blasters were too far for him to grab, and he was doubtful that his blades were capable of much. Then again, he has slain a 50-meter King Gozima dragon as a mere hunter with far more primitive weaponry, so perhaps there was a chance he could take on three flying beasts, albeit a very slim one. He thought about grabbing Galti and running back as fast as he could, but he quickly realized that the dragons could easily catch up to them. So there really isn’t any choice. He believed the dragons still wanted Galti, and the only thing that stood in their way was a single Kauv’ok cyborg. With few weapons left to fight with, very few options, Karzûn simply stood his ground in front of Galti, and as he stared down the dragons, he rose as tall as he could, stretched out all four of his arms, and let out a fearsome mechanical roar.

«12. . .2,9672,9682,9692,9702,9712,9722,973. . .3,0113,012»

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