Fiction:War of Ages/Tigris War/The Great Expedition

On the smooth grey planet of Orathvor, the great members of the Seven Starr Alliance and some observers came to an assembly. The SSA was a relatively quiet organisation, that had formed nearly 40 years prior to this conference. The Grox had been subdued, technology and empires had advanced over the past 150 years, some like the Oimonk, Delpha Coalition of Planets and Spinker had common interests to progress without the shadow of the Grox. Over time, it had grown to new members and began to take on other ideals. The alliance had enemies in it's time; the Vandals, Taxton, the Acid Empire and the Maxolians, but these were not big conflicts. This was the largest conference in the SSA's 40 years...

The Conference
The hall was well guarded, both from vandals and the media. A wave of excitement had crossed from end of the known galaxy to the other with the arrival of a mysterious extra-galactic culture. Leading the conference was Admiral Horlin of the DCP, Representative Zikvemta of the Zagorians, Admiral Nahoto of the Oimonsk, Commander Ferru Gadific`Ner of the Hessletife, Koluap warrior of the Spinker, Pondsisini of the Pondsisosa, and Abce Huli General of the Mewiriueurphffiiiiiiiii. Observing the conference was Ambassador Karndifos of the newly discovered Girdo, and leaders of the Church of Spode, Bearians, Jovar and Gablinus-Avis,, to name a few.


 * Admiral Horlin: "Let us cut to the chase.  We all know why we are here, to discuss the arrival of the new extra-galactics.  We must discuss what this means for us all."
 * Admiral Nahoto: "Lets put this in the context of history.  It does not make sense; our models of Grox expansion predict they should have expanded to the heart of every galaxy in the universe.  We can even detect hyper-ansible signatures from nearby neighbours which strongly suggest Grox presence everywhere."
 * Ferru Gadific`Ner: "We have always suspected the model was wrong!  For we know of extra-galactics: The Draconid Imperium and the Church of Spode."
 * Admiral Horlin: "Well yes.  But Uriel XV and his Plazithian Governors were never explicit in sharing much information, and nor were the Radeon.  But at least they turned up.  For all we know they have fled, just as most of the Precursors seem to have."
 * Ferru Gadific`Ner: "For all we know Admiral Horlin, the Delpha Coalition has used this Oimonsk speculation to peddle paranoia so you can assert dominance!"
 * Admiral Horlin: ...
 * Koluap: "Ahem.  Change the topic!  We should take immediate opportunity to explore!"
 * Admiral Nahoto: "We must still eschew caution.  It is hard to even know if we impress the Draconis, though I get the message we will not be getting much help from them.  There are huge signatures in Ardenta alone."
 * Admiral Horlin: "We cannot remain galaxy-bound as the paranoia is being dismantled as we speak.  Before long, any spacer mad enough to go it alone, or some less friendly power or corporation is going to reach those galaxies first.  That is why we must make this our project.  And make it public."

There was applause, even many of the most reserved of dignitaries were excited. Within days of the first conference and its announcement, the targets were laid out: a short but hop cautious to Ardenta, followed by observer outposts in the seemingly quiet galaxy of nearby Tigris. There was a new public announcement:
 * Admiral Zikvemta: "Our new Expedition Committee has unveiled who will be leading the fleet.  Captain Fire-Lighter Zitan XLII the Wise of the Zagorian Empire, Rank 7, 2nd Class;  Captain Kilnok of the Star Sailor, hero of the Delpha Coalition of Planets; Pondsisini; Captain TimeMaster of the Teffel Republic; and Captain Zaco of the Seventh Star.  These people were selected because they have been heroic inspirations for their respective species.  But they know full well that this might be their last adventure.  The ship will have a truly powerful hyperdrive, and the DCP will construct a highly experimental two-way wormhole once Tigris has been reached.  The Seven Starr Alliance will require all members to build a military presence on the Plazithian side of the wormhole.  The SSA wants you to understand, that our selected adventurers are going in full knowledge that they may get stranded should they need to close the wormhole."

As the delegates began to leave to prepare their nations for the great expedition, Horlin found himself confronted by Ambassador Karndifos.
 * Ambassador Karndifos: "The Hessletife and the Oimonsk are both right and wrong.  My civilisation found the Girdo Galaxy to be nearly inescapable, and thought that the outside universe had been recently - in cosmological terms - destroyed.  These observations were not false; something extraordinary engineered the explicandum we experienced.  We know too of the Grox and, like in your galaxy, they were not as dominant as they should be.  The Precursors seem to have left entirely."
 * Admiral Horlin: "Can't it just be down to large competing civilisations?"
 * Ambassador Karndifos: "Our astronomers note that this pattern seems to be a regularity in the universe, yet all it takes is one civilisation to expand first to ruin this state of affairs. We have to wonder: maybe there once was, and what we observe is the result of their decline. But how could such an empire fall without leaving a trace?"

Forbidden fruit
coming soon

The fleet shone in the alien light of Ardenta (otherwise known as Andromeda). Five ships lead the fleet commanded by the selected by the committee, a dozen support cruisers trailed a hyper-jump behind equipped for small-scale colonisation. It had been a rough ride, surrounding the Plazith Rim was a gigantic halo of dark matter, which exerted a drag on craft leaving the galaxy through hyperspace. The new drive technology was designed to slingshot around the core of Plazith Rim, using the black hole's extra dimensional extension to boost their acceleration through the halo.

Captain Fire-Lighter Zitan

Captain Kilnok of the Star Sailor, hero of the Delpha Coalition of Planets

Pondsisini;

Captain TimeMaster of the Teffel Republic

Captain Zaco of the Seventh Star.