[b]IR1211 (5 years prior to current events)
1st Imperial Morte Expeditionary Fleet
Approaching the Blume System[/b]



The Morteans survived a sector-wide disaster, weathered multiple wars yet what brought down their centuries long isolation was ironically peace and prosperity. It was a simple matter of overpopulation, a crisis Morteans could have never imagined to happen. Yet here they are, with their farms and habitation facilities steadily reaching their limits. Thinking back the Morte Empire could've avoided this with birth control. Yet for death world inhabitants like the Morteans the idea of limiting procreation was nearly unthinkable. Indeed, even if they were no longer target of either neighboring Xenos clan's invasion anymore the threat could be renewed in any moment. Intentionally weakening themselves was simply not an option. So with the new generation the Morte Empire had no choice but to expand. Yet with so many enemies and even more mouths to feed, finding a suitable planet was no easy task. It took scientists and astronomers over 4 Mortean Cycles to discover a distant planet almost 20 lightyears away. They dubbed the system Blume, reflecting their hopes in its future growth. The planet in question was the fourth in the Blume system, temporarily named Blume Vier.

[img]http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo26/darrx001/screen-3.jpg[/img]

As such the 1st Expeditionary Fleet had taken form. Given what the Morteans had experienced in the past they knew that space isn't a terribly welcoming place. The importance of this mission was vital and the Morte Empire spared nothing to ensure the safety of its first colonists towards Blume Vier. The 1st Expeditionary Fleet had no less than 128 warships forming its backbone, mainly Mittelschnauzer-class Attack Frigates. These frigates were agile and well-armed, deserving their nickname as "pocket battleships". They were supported by 390 Schwerenjager-class Rapid Destroyers, fast and well-armed. These traveled in 3-ship clasp formation to unite their warp fields and keep up with the rest of the fleet. That's because every Warp Carrier was docked full of cargo and colony vessels, ferrying not just the fleet's supplies but also resources, tools and machines essential for colonizing Blume Vier. Dozens of colony ships were holding several million people who'd be part of the first wave of Morteans to set foot on their would be new planet. Meanwhile the fleet's duty to make sure their territory is secure.

The commander of this new fleet was the famous Kampführer Alexander von Sterbstahl. Veteran of no less than 3 wars, it was no exaggeration to say he had more experience than the rest of the fleet combined. Aged 90, he had already lived far longer than the average Mortean. This feat is partially thanks to the skill of Reichswehrmacht's medicine and cybernetics departments. The cumulating battle injuries forced him to gradually exchange his organic parts with machinery, latest checkup said Sterbstahl is nearly 70% cyborg. In anything but the name Sterbstahl was a living ghost, only exist to haunt his enemies for his remainder years. This man now commanded the 1st Imperial Morte Expeditionary Fleet, the key of the Reich's future. Rest assured, the irony was not lost on the elderly Kampführer.

"[i]Reaching the system's perimeter, switching to low-warp navigation now.[/i]" Noted Oberleutnant Herbert Braun, navigation officer of the 1st Imperial Morte Expeditionary Fleet's flagship the Tannhäuser. This vessel was fresh and the first in the line of the Morte's new Tannhäuser-class Battlecruisers. In spite of its size the ship was capable of matching or even surpassing the warp speed of the fastest Frigate and have power to defeat over ten of them in a single fight. It was a design and technological marvel, but as expected with comparably high price. After a few seconds the entire fleet switches down to low-warp, allowing ships to maneuver and engage in case of combat. According to estimations it'd take 41 minutes to reach their destination. Until then anything could happen.

[@SgtEasy]
"[i]Sir, I'm picking up multiple hyper-pings, it's an unknown fleet![/i]" Sensory chief Gerald Henlein said. It hasn't been even 5 minutes and they've already spotted a xenos fleet. Normally this would've called for immediate battlestations but the Kampführer reigned over his instincts (or the cogitator in his upper left brainstem did) and issued different orders. "[i]Hail them! Our first priority is to establish a colony on Blume Vier. Let's not multiply our problems.[/i]" The elderly war veteran made this surprisingly diplomatic decision. "[i]Aye sir, hailing them in all known languages.[/i]" Leonore Kranke the communications officer aboard the Tannhäuser said. The Morte Empire made contact with four xeno species prior, none of them were friendly. Yet overcoming these statistics Kamführer Sterbstahl attempted to negotiate with the fifth. Besides with a fleet of this size any attempt at ambush was already impossible. Talk was cheap and if it achieves something then all the better. Unfortunately the Morte Empire didn't know the Andromeda Galaxy's interstellar language, neither the Democracies's.
As such on the other end the Democracies fleet only heard the following:
"[b]Grüße, ist dies der erste Expeditionsflotte der Morte Reich! Wir haben es mit Ruhe kommen und die vierte Planet auf diesem System zu erreichen.[/b]"
(Greetings, this is the 1st Expeditionary Fleet of the Morte Empire! We're coming with peace and to claim the fourth planet on this system.)

[quote=SgtEasy]
Then he saw the ships that were speeding his way, definitely alien in design. Letting out a small groan, he nodded to the strangely calm bridge crew to get to work. Once they sent the First Contact package, he gave a hand motion and saw as the local Tar'Lik readied his mind, reaching out to the ones onboard.

"Hello there, I come in peace" the slight echo in his voice was due to the Tar'Lik "I hail from the Tay'Ran Jik Democracies and I was sent here to find new territory. I see that you have occupied this system so I shall do no harm. I wish for cooperation between our countries. I have sent you the first contact package to your ships hardware. If you would like, I will send the diplomats onboard and five security guards to board your ships and conduct negotiations between our two stellar nations." 

Anton waited for a response.[/quote]
"[i]Sir, they're hailing us back already! Patching it through...[/i]" Said Leutenant Leonore before replaying the message:
"[b]مرحبا هناك، وجئت في سلام. إنني أحيي من علبة ران جيك الديمقراطيات وتم إرسالي هنا للبحث عن أرض جديدة. أرى أنك قد احتلت هذا النظام بحيث سأفعل أي ضرر. وأتمنى للتعاون بين بلدينا. لقد أرسلت لكم حزمة الاتصال الأولى إلى الأجهزة السفن الخاصة بك. إذا كنت ترغب، سأرسل الدبلوماسيين على متن الطائرة وخمسة حراس أمن على متن السفن الخاصة بك وإجراء مفاوضات بين بلدينا ممتاز.[/b]"

"[i]Alright, either I'm going senile or this message makes no sense to me![/i]" Kampführer Sterbstahl exclaimed. The xeno language was obviously foreign to them which also meant their own message had to be similarly incomprehensible. "[i]Well, at least it isn't completely gibberish like the Luxans'. Leutenant Leonore, run a full translating program on the message! See if it can make a faint bit more sense to it.[/i]" the fact it's at least spoken in a way Morteans can pronounce it is hopeful. With luck they may be even able to understand each other soon.