[b]Unity Space[/b]
[b]Veranus System[/b]
[b]Merqar, Planet Class: Foundry[/b]

Research Unit #2358, Designator: A64-Lem, scanned the Quantum Iteration Control Structure, dubbed the "God Machine" by many of the biological organisms stationed at Merqar Primus Research Instillation Serven. Unit #2358 did not understand the reasoning behind applying a false name to the QICS, especially one with a religious context for the biological organisms, nor was #2358 meant to understand at any point in its 534.928375 Merqarian stellar revolutions of existence. Provided with a relatively complex computational core upon its creation, none of #2358's programming dealt with matters of interpretation and understanding of biological structures and interactions between such organisms. Other units were built for that purpose and so it should be.

Photons flitted in and out of existence, carried by and carrying small quantum structures in and out of folds within the fabric of reality, streaming through contorted regions of time and space, or outside of this dimension entirely, to reappear at a seemingly random location within the massive construct, influenced by the positioning of the other particles within the construct and filaments of contained dark matter and energy. Millions of such transportations occurred every minute, placing individual sub-atomic structures into self-determined positions according to the influence which other particles, both real and "virtual", effected upon that certain structure.

All pieces would eventually fall into place, a lattice of particles and energy, real and unreal, large and small, perfectly balanced among each other to the extent that any manipulations would simply cause a rearrangement. Yet this project was not the charge of unit #2358 but of more advanced Drone constructs and several biological organisms, equipped with much more highly developed processing mechanisms. #2358 simply acted as one of the care takers of the facility within which it resided, normally conducting automated scans from the central terminals, yet protocol demanded physical scans by a autonomous construct at certain intervals. Within minutes of the massive change in the universe, the QCIS had apparently restructured itself, adopting a new configuration which had not previously been recorded. Whether or not the shift marked a set-back or improvement would remain unclear to 2358 for the analysis of the ramifications of the universal shift was not Unit #2358's place and so it should be

Sensors within the construct's body detected a change in the noise level coming from behind it, a near undetectable difference but for the finely attuned sensors of the robot. Turning slowly, having been instructed that biological organisms were normally startled or at least disliked the rapid turning which a Drone construct could accomplish and recognizing the approaching being as one, #2358 felt a concussive force blast against the side plating of its torso, breaching several layers of metal and damaging approximately 39% of the wiring in the localized impact area. Thrown to the ground, several more shots peppered the floor around it, two more striking the Drone directly, blowing off yet more pieces of its body.

Rotating its "head" as far as it could, it perceived two biological organisms, self-termed Sakari, with weapons of a military design stalking towards it. Activating a distress beacon, it began to relay the appropriate message of pacification, instructing the two to lay down their weapons and await the arrival of authorities. The message never completed as another shot took the robot, reducing the construct to a husk of metal and wires, areas vaporized by antimatter-matter reactions.

The two Sakari quickly stowed their weapons on their backs before moving to the construct, setting to work with plasma cutters and opening the body, removing the CPU of the Drone along with its memory banks. Claxons began sounding in the distance, warning the two assailants of the incoming security units. Finishing the removal of the important computer components, one set a molecular destabilization charge on the body while another hacked open a nearby door. Opening, the door revealed three more Sakari and a Grecian standing outside, all armed with civilian-grade weapons.

"Did you retrieve the necessary components?" produced the Grecian's voice synthesizer, transforming its pheremonaly-based and chittering language into a sound recognizable by the Sakari. A massive being at three and and a half meters tall and 600kg, the Grecian combat form exhibited an intelligence uncharacteristic of its type.

Stuffing the CPU into a bag, one of the Sakari nodded while the other continued to access the facility's security systems, attempting to wipe any traces of the group's presence. Giving a brief glance upon completion, she stepped up to the hard-light reinforced walls. She counted slowly, "Three. Two. O-." The energy shorted out temporarily as an explosion shook an area of the facility, causing the outer hard-light center between the inner and outer wall frames to blink away momentarily. Stepping backwards as a group, the six ducked as a molecular destablization charge blasted open the wall, creating a hole through which waited a Grecian and a Sakari, both dressed in pilot's clothing.

Rushing through, the eight ducked into a nearby shuttle, taking off and zooming towards space along with five other decoy transports, three military star fighters flitting through the air below them. Before hitting the outer atmosphere, lances burned upwards through the sky, obliterating two transport vessels and two fighters as the survivors engaged a Non-Baryonic Field Emitter. One more transport fell away, incinerated by defense batteries. In another moment, the four remaining vessels disappeared into the void of space.

Back on Merqar's surface, Alvuban Hator, Officialay Ultima of the Veranus System, gazed towards the battered facility, a line of smoke rising in the distance where explosives had ravaged the Predation Generators for this sector of the planet. A small smile graced his lips, and he turned back into his office, ceremonial cloak whirling around him.

"And so it begins," he said aloud, an age old statement yet still a true one. In the corner, a shadow stirred and barked a short laugh. So it did.

[hr]

[b]Unity Space[/b]
[b]Marukesh System[/b]
[b]Sarok, Planet Class: Capital Ultima[/b]

Packets of information streamed outwards from and inwards to Sarok, bursts of communication both conventional and esoteric in nature. EM signals mingled with the vibrations of quantum particles, the familiar crowded communications traffic of the home system of an interstellar nation apparent to any who would check. Yet a surge of conversation sparked through the system this cycle, urgent yet relaxed, demanding the attention of those intended to receive the messages.

Inside the Center Complex of Unity and Deliberation, the Council i Madh sat in session-it would take a fool to discount a majority of the councilors unconsciousness for anything other than suspicious however. Only the two representatives from the Drone Complex and the three oldest councilors, two Sakari of the government and a Grecian from Etharius, remained active. Connected to an electrical impulse system to allow quick and easy communication between all the species, the Drones pressed their suggestions upon these councilors while rewriting the memories of the other council members, avoiding any future questioning from the non-participatory biological organisms.

[i]The attack on Merqar Primus Research Instillation Serven indicates a laxing in the safety protocols established by the Council i Madh under our advice, established specifically so that events such as these would never occur. Yet it seems that not only were unauthorized personnel able to access both the research instillation and the center of the Dimensional Predation Generator facility, but said radicals equipped themselves with military equipment. You proffered assurances to the Drone Complex that any biological supremacists would be properly controlled,[/i] sent the Drone representatives, officially named the Advisory Mission to the Council i Madh of the Unity of C'ran. Both normally acted in tandem-rare was the occasion when the logic systems of the two would disagree on any matter but this was not such an occasion. Physically passive, the three Councilors were aware of their vulnerability in this situation should the Drones decide to dispose of them. Yet for all their fears, they knew that such an action would inspire great anti-Drone sentiment and so the Councilors remained a little secure.

Fidgeting, the female Sakari councilor, Asrra Mervyj, shifted her indigo synthetic robes around her while consulting psychically with her male companion, Yuraz Beca. Nodding hesitantly, Yuraz channeled part of his psyche through an amplifier, creating a stiffening of the air around the three Councilors.

[b]You play a dangerous game, Councilor Mervyj. If word of your actions escaped to any not aligned with you, if the Drones acquired even an inkling of your involvement in the events of this past week, then we would be obliged to hand you over. I ask that you temper yourself before you bring war or revolution upon the Unity. Such is against all that we stand for. Why do you trust me with your secret, if such a term can be applied to this debacle,[/b] Yuraz thought to Asrra, utilizing the accusatory speech form, one of the several speech forms utilized by Sakari, adding a greater depth to conversation.

[b]Because you hold the most influence among the Council, because I must have an ally among us. Surely you do not think of betraying me, Councilor Beca? One of your own Guild blood?[/b] Asrra sent back, utilizing the basic and questioning form in equal parts throughout the exchange. A glare hardened on Yuraz's face, boring into Asrra before he returned his attention to the Mission Drones.

[i]Measures will be taken, Representative Complex. You must understand the need for discretion in these investigations, lest your 'radicals' discover our tracking them. Yet we must settle a different matter before anything else. Near one hundred and thirty five cycles have passed since the inception of this new...universe, for lack of better terms. The possibility of encountering other intelligent civilizations must not be discounted, and preliminary scans within a three jump radius must be conducted, deep scans extending further if possible. I-[/i]

One of the Drones raised a hand, utilizing physical motions rather than the electrical impulse network to halt Yuraz's speech. Such strange machines, wondered Asrra, running her eyes once again over their metal frames. Lowering their hands, they spoke: [i]Such considerations have already been passed through the Complex several times, Councilor Beca. Actions have already been taken in this regard. Scouting ships journey within a ten-thousand light year radius already, and meta-fabric tachyon burst probes have already been deployed to strategic areas within thirty-five thousand light years, two within the nearby worm hole. Leave the matters to us.[/i] Turning in unison, the two strode into a small pod situated within the corner of the room before disappearing in a flash, appearing to fold into the center of the air.

Sighing, the Grecian Councilor clacked its mandibles before uttering one short sentence, "May the Vateral shelter us from the coming storm."