[h2][u]The Return[/u][/h2]

[h3]Expeditionary Fleet Theros, IR1211 (5 years prior to current events)[/h3]
Vostach shut his eyes as the ship traveled around the planet, accelerating swiftly under the titanic forces of its impulse engines, spewing out vast trails of invisible energy in its wake. The [i]Sin and Damnation[/i] was a personally modified ship, one which he had spent decades acquiring and further years procuring the modifications which would enable him to match his ship to those of the greatest Fleet Sovereigns in the Expeditionary Fleets. Nothing for him to do until they reached the point where contact could be sufficiently established.

A warning blared throughout the network, alerting everyone to the presence of the ships exiting the Mortean vessels in the distance. [i]Seventy-two fighter type vehicles detected, forming aggressive maneuvers[/i] came the information all while images projected itself through his mind, providing him views of the various ships which he was facing. A motley assortment. Time to attempt some form of communication past that initial message he had sent out in response to the detections of earlier.

“Deploy the two Nitori frigates orbiting the excavation site to screen our side of the planet. The fighter-craft deployed by the unknowns may be hostile in nature. Make sure they do not approach too near the others,” he commanded over the link to his second-in-command, Jera Gethal, who was stationed on one of the Cantarin battlecruisers on the planet. “Our presence here is too small compared to the others. Maintain readiness for evacuation.”

It was at that point the Mortean response came through into the ship, picked up by the tuned sensors. Deciphering of the message began instantaneously. The psychic consciousness accessed the Great Record and all inscribed language structures in it, cross-referencing the Mortean words to those of other species that had been found in the expansion into space, followed by a psychic analysis of the words themselves, detecting traits unable to be done by simple comparisons.

The language structure was shortly deciphered by the ship and placed into readiness on the transmitters, converting any message sent through to the Mortean language and vice-versa. [i]They desire the fourth planet do they?[/i], Vostach thought, requisitioning a scan of the sytem they resided in, identifying the planet at which the C’ran task force had landed as the fourth in the system. [i]Hopefully the search does not take much longer.[/i] Connecting to the transmitter, Vostach responded to the Mortean message, “Greetings 1st Expeditionary Fleet of the Morte Empire. I am Admiral Vostach, commanding officer of the task force dispatched to this system to retrieve an artifact from the planet you seek to colonize. May we ask as to who your companions are?” Finished speaking, the words beamed across space to the Mortean fleet.

[@Willy Vereb]

[h3]Corenai Fleet [i]Auchthag[/i], Prime Quad-Sector Holi Forix, Pantehic Space[/h3]
Herath Kissoreg reveled in the ecstasy which the melding of millions of minds gave her. Nothing could compare to such a feeling; no force could stop such power; none could resist such beauty of perfection. It was then that something disturbed her joy, a vibration in the fabric of space. Herath herself was no mage but the many thousands of magically-attuned persons in the fleet afforded her senses which she would not usually have.

[i]Why did I not notice such a large presence of magic before? I felt it certainly, but did not understand the extent of it. Perhaps we have awakened something,[/i] she thought. As one being Fleet Auchthag moved, descending slowly towards the planet in the distance. Several hundred ships began to detach from the main formation, most civilian although dozens of military ships accompanied the unarmed vessels.

Magical disturbances picked up within the fleet and images of arcane symbols flooded her mind, dispersed over the entirety of the melded mind and all understood the meanings. They had encountered a race quite unique from any other before. Quadrant Complex’s voice rang through the passages of the ship, heard in the ears of every Sakari.

Smiling gaily, Herath consulted with the strongest magic user in the fleet, Jagar Hais, also one of few to not have participated in the melding.

“What shall we do, enlightened one in the arcane?”

“Your actions border on heresy, Herath. I would be more careful if you wish to preserve your position.” Herath frowned at this, her displeasure radiating throughout the fleet.

“I am Anointed Sovereign, Jagar, one of the leaders of the Corenai. As such it is my duty to do what I see best. Now answer my question.”

“Very well. Simply respond. I shall do the action if you wish.”

“Proceed, Jagar. I entrust this task with you.”

Jagar smirked. Perhaps she would make a fine leader eventually. Returning his thoughts to the problem of the magical entity, he began to weave a response of magic. Quickly, the spell was ready, casting a faint shimmer over his body upon casting, enabling him to communicate magically with the being.

“Greetings unto you, Quadrant Complex. I am Jagar Hais of the Dominion of C’ran, an appointed official of the Corenai. May I request as to where we have been deposited by the winds of space?”

[@Kaiser Auto]

[h3]Corenai Fleet [i]Sedari[/i], Cardia System, Tallarn Space[/h3]
The Reseeding vessels awoke from their slumber as Fleet Sedari began to move through the gulfs of space towards the nearest planet. Military ships moved quickly through the massive convoy, adjusting their positioning so as to best ensure the safety of the non-armed vessels. Such defensive measures were the only recognition given to the Tallarn presence on the planet of Cardia. Dozens of Nitori frigates and five Cantarin battlecruisers detached from the main grouping, speeding towards the aforementioned planetary body to secure a position and root out any surprises.

The countless millions of Sakari aboard the ships of the fleet shuffled in a figurative sense, civilian craft rearranging their positioning to enable those designated for first landing to advance to the fore of the sphere, a perfect unison of action making the grouping appear a rippling mass rather than a maneuvering series of constructs.

Rhone regarded the actions of the Tallarn further in the system passively, rather uncaring as to what they would do. The petty civilization did not matter any longer until it could be assimilated into the Dominion and accept such action peacefully. Force was declining in usefulness as larger and larger civilizations were encountered farther from the borders, requiring careful arrangements to ensure success.

Receiving the message from the Tallarn planet, Rhone considered its words. An innocent enough message. “Ship, send response: ‘I am Anointed Sovereign Rhone Fredgar of the Dominion of C’ran. We embark on the Corenai, the Glorious Return to the stars which will usher in a new era for this dark galaxy. And we seek to settle. Does that answer your question?’” With his words spoken, the ship translated the message and sent the response back towards Tallarn.

[@Zoldcyk]