Fiction:Dark Times/Secrets of the Collective

Contact with the Collective
Story= The black-and-gold starship slipped through space, approaching an Imperial world. This spaceship was the Quietus Star, flagship of Okhasminus. Noticing a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers nearby, he decided to investigate. Raising their shields, the Imperial warships under the command of Admiral Adraci of the Inexorable formed a defensive position around the Imperial world, watching the Quietus Star closely. Knowing of the power the Star Destroyers possessed, Okhasminus flashed a signal carrying the meaning of a peaceful encounter and opened communications.

Regarding the approaching vessel, Admiral Adraci scratched his chin in thought. Nodding to a nearby officer, Adraci opened a channel. Okhasminus smiled. The Collective being in a peaceful relationship with such a powerful empire would be clearly beneficial for the Collective, and would possibly provide more information about the rumours surrounding Antediluvian... He pushed these thoughts into the back of his mind and concentrated on docking the Quietus Star with the Inexorable.

When they finished speaking, Adraci closed the transmission with a wave of his hand and began to make his way to the communication terminal to inform of the new civilisation.

Dialogue= The black-and-gold starship slipped through space, approaching an Imperial world. Thisspaceship was the Quietus Star, flagship of Okhasminus. Noticing a fleet of Imperial Star Destroyers nearby, he decided to investigate. Raising their shields, the Imperial warships under the command of Admiral Adraci of the Inexorable formed a defensive postion around the Imperial world, watching the Quietus Star closely. Knowing of the power the Star Destroyers possessed, Okhasminus flashed a signal carrying the meaning of a peaceful encounter and opened communications. Regarding the approaching vessel, Admiral Adraci scratched his chin in thought. Nodding to a nearby officer, Adraci opened a channel. Okhasminus smiled. The Collective being in a peaceful relationship with such a powerful empire would be clearly beneficial for the Collective, and would possibly provide more information about the rumours surrounding Antediluvian...He pushed these thoughts into the back of his mind and concentrated on docking the Quietus Star with the Inexorable. With that, Adraci closed the transmission with a wave of his hand and began to make his way to the communication terminal to inform of the new civilisation.
 * Okhasminus: Interesting...
 * Okhasminus: Greetings, Imperials. I am Captain Okhasminus of the Askelian Collective. You may, or may not, have heard of the Collective and I. Regardless, we mean no harm, and it would be nice if the Collective and the Empire would get to know each other better.
 * Adraci: Good evening captain Okhasminus, we have heard rumours of your Collective from deep spacers, but I do not believe we have made official contact. It is fortunate that you mean no harm and we certainly welcome peaceful relations with your people. If you desire, you can dock with the Inexorable at your leisure.
 * Okhasminus: "I will persuade Advisor Anaxarchus to send diplomats to the Empire for diplomacy if you wish."
 * Adraci: That would be best Captain. In return, we will do the same. I'm sure that the people of the Empire will be... interested in your civilisation.
 * Okhasminus: "I...agree."



New Connections
Story= A single Troodontid Dollmund Class Research vessel came out of transwarp over Atocia. However unlike usually the ship wasn't there to investigate, but in fact for diplomacy as Atocia was the local capital of the Draconid Imperium. Arriving in orbit, the research vessel was immediately intercepted with a transmission hail from one of the stations in orbit around the planet, ordering the ship to a docking moor. The Dollmund Class moves to the location it is ordered to, sending out a single landing ship with the ambassador and his guards. The shuttle was given coordinates to a landing pad built on the roof of a skyscraper in the heart of the planet's capital. Then the Troodontid ambassador and the egalparagus meet to talk and confer about the future relationship of their respective empires. They soon agreed to start trading, as well as further discussion about a technological collaboration.

Dialogue=

A single Dollmund Class Research vessel came out of transwarp over Atocia. However unlike usually the ship wasn't there to investigate, but in fact for diplomacy as Atocia was the local capital of the Draconid Imperium. Arriving in orbit, the research vessel was immediately intercepted with a transmission hail from one of the stations in orbit around the planet.


 * STC - This is Atocia space traffic control, your ship's identification codes are being process now. Please state your purpose of visit as your ship is unrecognizable.


 * Troodontid ambassador - Greetings. We are in fact not in your identification log, you most likely never have heard about us. We are a ship of the Troodontid Empire. Though you don't know us, we have heard a lot about you. We are here since we thought that a contact between our races is more than necessary.


 * STC - Hm, very well. Proceed to docking moor five, we will see about a shuttle to the egalparagus' office.


 * Troodontid ambassador - Thank you.

The Dollmund Class moves to the location it is ordered to, sending out a single landing ship with the ambassador and his guards. The shuttle was given coordinates to a landing pad built on the roof of a skyscraper in the heart of the planet's capital. The city itself was a harmonizing mix of Draconis and Capricornian architecture, gold trim sat in unison with stainless steel, glass and marble that glinted in the midday sunlight.


 * Troodontid ambassador - This is impressive, their architecture is both similar and different to ours. But it is for sure more splendid than ours.

As the shuttle approached a Draconis wearing an expensive Imperial suit walked towards the pad, followed by two elite soldiers of Andromedan origin. The entrance to the building from the pad was reminiscent of an old temple, with columns of fine marble rising up from the floor to a temple roof structure that jutted out from the wall. The shuttle landed, allowing the ambassador to step out on the pad. His two guards followed him, less impressed, more cautious, especially upon seeing the two soldiers behind the Draconis. The Draconis stood a clear three meters in height, a faint smile across his snout as he looked at the arrivals. He spread out his arms and lowered his head in a gesture of welcome.


 * Erinas - I bid you salutations to Atocia. You must have travelled far to stand amongst us today.

The ambassador bowed and ordered his guards to do so as well.


 * Troodontid ambassador - Hello. I am Cif, ambassador of the Troodontid Empire, as you might already have heard from teh transmission.
 * Erinas - And I am Erinas Vendris of House Savenium, egalparagus of the Draconid Imperium's colonies here in Cyrannus.
 * Cif - I am pleased to meet you. Are my guards allowed to come with me, or should they stay here ?
 * Erinas - They may join you if you so wish, so long as they give us privacy to conduct business.
 * Cif - Good, thank you. They have now have orders to wait outside the room where we will confer.

Erinas beckoned to Cif and headed inside the building, opening the doors to a lavishly decorated office building. The interiors vaguely resembled an old age-of-reason estate with a certain art-deco elegance to the walls and inset pillars that were regularly placed down the hallway.


 * Cif - Your race has a truly impressive style of architecture, this definitely surpasses most, if not all Troodontid buildings I have seen in my life.
 * Erinas - So you admire the fruits of our species passion? Surely you must have some form af architecture that equals this? It is only an office after all.
 * Cif - My race generally lacks most sense of architecture, we tend to go for functionality rather then the look.
 * Erinas - I see. I understand that not all species are gifted with such an eye for detail as my kin, although admittely, the architecture on this workd has several influences from the surrounding Galactic Empire.

But Cif didn't answer as the naming of Empire causes him to become silent. They both entered the conference room of the egalparagus' office. If the corridors to Erinas' office were not impressive enough, it was very clear that he had decorated his office to impress, on marble pillars were dancing patterns of inlaid gold, the ceiling was patterned with embossed plaster in floral patterns and highlighted with gold leaf, hanging on his walls were paintings of Uriel and several planets, but as Cif walked past then he may have noticed the angle of the subjects moving. It was as if he was looking out of a window to some exotic landscape despite the large bay window looking out into the city to which Erinas had his desk in front of. A large, deep red desk with silver trim, floral carvings and a glossy varnish that glistened from the sunlight behind.


 * Cif - Interesting, you also incorporate HoloTech into your architecture ?
 * Erinas - In a sense, yes. These paintings were created on a special kind of canvas that unlike a normal canvas painting, changes depending on the angle you view it from.
 * Cif - Most interesting. But as impressive and great your architecture is, I think we should move the cultural talk behind the actual reason I'm here. I think it is time for our empires to set up diplomatic relations with each other.
 * Erinas - A wise decision, ambassador. It is always good to have comrades, especially comrades with influence and connections.
 * Cif - Indeed, especially in these dangerous times.
 * Erinas - Before we progress, do you have any issues with any governments that I may need to be aware of?
 * Cif - Issues, depends on the definition. We have and had some problems with the Imperium of War, and we had some border conflicts with the Empire, however we got the settled soon later.
 * Erinas - No recent confrontations too serious, I hope?
 * Cif - No, luckily not. If we were at war with them, I most certainly would not stand here.
 * Erinas - Good, good. Perhaps we can start with a trade agreement, a mutual level of exchange between our two civilizations.
 * Cif - I think that would be a good idea for the start. Maybe we could extend the relationship to a technological collaboration as well ?
 * Erinas - Perhaps. Although you must understand that the Imperium's policy is not to simply provide our most advanced technological feats. But in time, perhaps, our knowledge of such things will be passed down to you.
 * Cif - Oh, don't worry. We are - though we are unknown - not primitive. Technology is central to our society, and as a result of this we are not as un-advanced as we might seem in your eyes. Through time we have gained a considerable amount of knowledge and technology, rivaling and even surpassing that of many older races. But we came to realize that different points of view always help in creating new technology, and the best way to do so is to share and collaborate with others similar, yet different from us.
 * Erinas - You make an interesting case, yet it shall be up to the Royal Academy of Alcanti to decide which technology is appropriate to distribute to you, and which is not.
 * Cif- Sure, thank you. Please notify us about your decision as soon as you can.
 * Erinas - I will make sure that such happens. You have my word.
 * Cif - Good, thank you again. Do you think there is anything else left to discuss ?
 * Erinas - Nothing. If you wish you may explore the city before your return to your ship. I can have a guide assigned to you.
 * Cif - Then I think the formalities are finished. It would be a pleasure for me, thank you.
 * Erinas - I bid you good day then. Enjoy your stay.
 * Cif - I also wish you a good day, egalparagus.

Trivia

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