[b]New Condia: Inbound[/b]

AS the frigates descended through the atmosphere, they lit up, blazing red as they moved to a cruising altitude and buffered there shields further, attempting to evade and tank the incoming ground fire. They were not in the best of condition, as more were shot down, tearing apart and smashing into the still ocean. After moving further away, only three ships remained, in what most species would consider a disastrous run. But unlike other species, death would not come so easily to them. They were not afraid to sacrifice themselves temporarily for a greater goal. 

The Ethereals approached the Iscandarian search parties, and slowed to a halt approximately three kilometers away. Each ship folded down three segmented pylons, and dropped to the ground, supporting their weight into the soft ground and bracing from the force of the impact. But each ship quickly recovered, and began to walk towards the artifact site, shaking off Matrons and Sisters to the earth to attack from the ground. They were so close, victory was almost within their grasp, despite the heavy losses. The Black Fleet was unique, and would return to full strength quickly after the battle.

[b]New Condia: Defeat[/b]

In orbit, things had not gone so well. With the arrival of the new comers, ttactics had turned to desperation, and the Ethereals had shown worse for it. The combined salvos were too much for the tattered Black Fleet, and there were numerous explosions as ships were literally torn into half, then quickly to shreds. Even the Cathedrals were unable to withstand the impacts, shields dropping and rounds piercing the hulls, detonating powerfully and hurtling chunks of debris off into space. The only noticeable and distinguishable wreckage was a huge fragment of a Cathedral, lights flickering and howls emanating from it, silent to all but those on board. Some Matron fighters jumped from the wreckage, and attempted to engage, but were quickly destroyed. 

And so, the orbital confrontation ended, with victory to the Union and Sazkarjhia, bested by their superior numbers and mysterious magical ability, a contingency the Gathering could never have anticipated. It would be some time before the Ethereals dared to face this foe again, but when they did, they would be prepared.

----

"... And I repeat: You said somewhere SAFE. So this is technically what you asked for. Unless, of course, the algae is carnivorous. Which I honestly can not be sure of. If it is, when do you think it will make it's move?"

Tiy sighed, and lifted a hand in the air. "Enough. We need to focus and figure out how to get off world. Or at least a source of nourishment." The duo had traveled for two hours, with little to no change in the scenery. The only thing to change was the slow dimming of the planets crimson sky, and the thickening of the planted biomass, proving difficult to walk through. The Warden had started to grow weary of the Sage's constant attempts to shift the blame to someone else. Which could only be her.

"Well, you could always eat the ground scum. Before it tries to eat you-"

"ENOUGH! I AM NOT GOING TO SAY IT AGAIN! QUIET!" With that, the conversation ended abruptly, and the two continued onward, both not so much upset at each other, but rather unsure and anxious of what was going to happen to them. It was then that the Sage first spotted the convoy.

"What's that?" As the vehicles approached, Tiy stiffened and stood still, unsure whether to stand her ground or try to hide. Sage made clear that this was their best hope, and if worse came to worse, they could just kill the occupants and steal the vehicles to save time walking to death. So she calmly waited, as the convoy circled, hands ready to strike them down if they were hostile. As they stepped out and approached, they made noises at her, loud and piercing her ears, she jumped back, stunned, before regaining her composure and looking at Sage, confused.

"Uh, what are they doing with their mouths?" She made no noise, and it appeared that she could not talk. Her species communicated telepathically, and this was very foreign to her. Normally, a Sage would communicate between them, but the species was unknown to him. There was no way he could know their language

"I believe they are attempting to communicate. Obviously sentient, but we may have hit a wall. If you tried to speak back as you normally do, you could give them severe cerebral hemorrhaging. Which wouldn't be good, and not nearly as funny as you might be thinking."

Tiy thought intensely, then decided to go for it, taking care to walk slowly and calmly towards them, copying the gesture. She stood a head taller above the leader, and gently ran a finger along the outside of the helmet, where the cheek would be, and gazed into it's eyes, lost in it's stare. So this is what her kind had fought so hard and long to protect? When the Warden was younger, Tiy had failed to understand the point of it all. Now, it made so much more sense, now she could see the fruition of her people's work in front of her. She had to attempt something, anything. After a brief pause, she decided simple images would suffice.

She grasped the human's helmet with her hands, and bent forward, resting her forehead against the helmet. Then, a blast of images swept through the being's mind. of sparkling alien lakes in the shadows of mountains, lush tropical foliage all around the edges and three silver moons hanging in the sky, surrounded by stars. Of great cities built on it's surface, soaring into the sky, and millions of her kind walking the busy walkways and streets. Hundreds of unknown star ships, speeding through nebulae, floating majestically in the vastness of space. Many more of her memories cycled through the humans head, before she released her, and gently let the female go, watching for it's reaction. Hopefully, it would understand the Warden's intentions for peace. Maybe even her happiness.