**Roman Colony World A-02**

"Fleet Sovereign, a response has been received from these 'Romans' as they call themselves. The 'binary' addition that was uploaded to the Great Record by Rear Admiral Erebus of Task Force Osveti translates their message effectively. Would you like a response recorded," asked the ship's communication VI, having already uploaded the translation. Rhone pondered for a moment before establishing a psych-link with the other high-ranking officers in his task force.

As the psych-network acted instantly, with each member interpreting the thoughts of all others as one coherent body, the discussion finished nearly instantly in real-time. Considering the brief knowledge of Rear Admiral Erebus in terms of the relations between the species he was negotiating and these 'Romans', a dual-diplomacy policy could result in detrimental events. If peace could be achieved through such an action, however, the risk became of less concern. Almost no argument was given before the decision formulated itself.

"As stated previously we are Task Force Odin of the Holy Dominion of C'ran. We venture into the stars to establish contact with other species. Would you be so inclined as to agree to a diplomatic meeting?" With the message recorded, the communications VI translated it into binary and beamed the data to the Roman ships.

---

**Hyperspace**

Alarms blared throughout the ship, one of five vessels to be suddenly separated from the group. Traveling with High Seer Kail to investigate reports of strange creatures coming from the 10th Expansion Front these five had suddenly been wrenched from anti-space by some unknown force. Where they were none knew. No contact could be established with any other C'ran forces; even magical and psychic attempts had failed. Not that many mages and psychics were conscious. Those that had not been rendered senseless either occupied states of gibbering madness or physical and mental weakness. Something was in the void surrounding the five ships. Something dangerous.

Communications were haphazard, most messages between vessels garbled or lost entirely. Not a one knew what was happening. No dimension or plane like this had ever been recorded in the Great Record, no hints of anything. It was a mystery, tearing at their ships even as some ominous presence seemed to creep ever closer. On each ship the words of the magi and psychics were the same,"They are coming." Even they did not understand what it was that approached them. An unknown of tremendous power. For the first time many felt fear. Fear of the dark. Wrenching pools tugged at the ships, dragging the five towards a weak patch in the walls of Hyperspace. Unrealizingly, the five ships crashed through the barrier, sucked somewhere by outside pulls. Following them came a darkness, a being of some sort. An Aeon Titan.

**Finnegan's Tradehouse**

Alik nodded and began walking alongside Goldy, formulating a plan of words much like some would plan a battle. Words could sway in ways weapons could not and more effectively. Besides, these next few lines put his life on the line. Hopefully they would work. "Where we is a place between places to say it simply. Most often creatures will be pulled here via medallions," something he had seen many wearing, "or ships wrenched from FTL travel or realspace by some random slip of the universe. This place connects to many other areas and can be accessed by-" As Alik was about to continue on his false yet strangely true account explosions sounded from outside the establishment.

Turning, Goldy and his bodyguard rushed out of the building quickly, Alik on their heels. Stopping in the frame of the door he scanned the scene before him. Several metal-winged people were descending from the sky, presumably from the seven ships floating in the sky. The Draconians were falling back into the forest, backing away from another group of aliens. Various gunships hovered in the air. A strange sight to see.

A black, crackling portal opened above the scene taking place at the Tradehouse. Lightning struck from the opening, smashing into the ground and various people and vehicles, sowing mayhem even in arrival. The five C'ran ships floated inwards slowly, passing by the rim of the opening. Hurtling towards the ground rapidly propulsion systems quickly reestablished themselves, halting the descent of the five Altar Troop Carriers. Alik gasped at seeing the ships. *How did they arrive here?* he thought. Squeezing through the opening from the wild areas of Hyperspace was a burgeoning mass, undefinable in appearance, unknown in composition. As it crawled through the Fairy Path in that area shuddered, reality warping at the massive magical presence of the beast. Even at this distance it was titanic, filling much of the sky, tearing the hole in Hyperspace wider as it pulled itself through. The Aeon had come to Finnegan's.