[img]http://puu.sh/E0hdY/a83c903675.jpg[/img] [b]The Imperial Senate[/b] [b]Maratilm, Jharya[/b] [b]Yaratilsh[/b] "To my fellow Conscript Fathers, greetings," Salos intoned as he took to the floor of the Senate. Anywhere else in his empire he was Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron, but here, nominally at least, he was simply [i]Senator[/i] Salos. It was a game that many of his predecessors had no patience for, but the wily old man found himself taking a certain delight in it. In response to the ritualized introduction came the usual flurry of replies, stern answers of "Welcome, Senator" came from those who dreamed of making the Senate more than an overdressed theater while his more loyal followers gave enthusiastic cries of "Hail, O Victor!", and the show carried on. "For twenty years, we have enjoyed a peace wrought not by some outside force, but by our own hands. For twenty years, the price paid by our daughters and sons was deemed adequate for such a price. For twenty years, all the nations sat in agreement upon the order of things. But now come sounding anew the drums of war, and the day we all knew would come has arrived," he solemnly intoned, the rows of assembled Senators from every [i]accepted[/i] race in his empire nodding and murmuring along in sad agreement. "The Imperial Systems Commonwealth. The Federation of Nations. The Harmonic Conflux. The Urdji Civîneşra. The Imperial Union of Kadath. All have withdrawn from, or made mockeries of, the guarantor of that peace - the Treaty of Madrigasa. But a treaty stored safely within our temples, and witnessed by our gods, cannot be set aside so easily. The divine urge that the galaxy be at peace, and we shall be the enforcers of their will," the Emperor declared, more than a few taking to their feet to cheer their affirmation. Some of them might even be genuine. "But I shall not lie to you, my faithful brothers and sisters. This is not an easy task the gods have ordained for us, nor one that can be undertaken without great effort. In the name of the gods I demand that this body declare the Treaty of Madrigasa in abeyance until all the nations return to its terms. We have had a long and prosperous peace, but it is clear that the ancient adage has come true once more. If we wish to keep this peace, we must prepare for war." And so the shouting began, senators on all sides announcing their support or denunciation as bedlam took over the chamber. [img]http://puu.sh/E0hfU/cc3d58756a.jpg[/img] [b]Queen Nulla's Gardens, Trydosh Palace[/b] [b]Kresslon Hill, Jharya[/b] [b]Yaratilsh[/b] "Sire, the Senate has finally taken a vote upon your proposal to set aside Detente," Chancellor Lauchu Vipin announces as he enters the gardens, restraining a sigh as he finds his emperor bent over a desk putting pen to paper. "My Emperor, we have teams of scribes and calligraphers that could be doing that for you." "Yes, we do," Salos says in a murmur, etching out letters on the fine parchment with an intense care. "But I don't trust them to see the contents of this letter." "Surely you jest, everyone employed within the Chancellery was approved by me personally," Lauchu replied, playing with the tablet in his hands to distract himself from the [i]oddity[/i] he was witnessing. "This is true. But I do not trust you to see the contents of this letter either," the Emperor says with a small smile before setting down his pen and breathing out across the paper to dry the ink. "Send this to Praetoria, on a regular courier run. Ensure it arrives there before Larthia finishes that absurd relocation from Corinthene. He is to deliver it into the hands of the Imperial Queen, and none other than her. To keep things fair, I'll let you in on the secret after he hands it off. Gods know she's going to show it to her Metternich as soon as she's done reading it. Perhaps before." As he speaks, he heats an ornate wax seal, impressing it upon the letter with a loud bang. "Of course, sire," Lauchu says in a very quiet voice, all thoughts of Salos' impropriety replaced by his own for daring to intrude upon correspondence between sovereigns. "You did not just come to tell me the results of Senate votes. The Senate votes in my favor, that is the way of things. What else do you have for me?" Salos asks in a soft tone, giving his overly conscientious chancellor a chance to regain his bearings as he folded the letter up and placed it under seal. "Quite right, my Emperor," the Merlovian says, clearly eager to return to form. "The missives to the Rolvians, the Federation, the Lokoid, the Urdji Civîneşra, and the Kadath are awaiting your signature and approval. I trust you will find them to your liking." [hider=Lady Vannifar, Prime Speaker of the Star Republic of Rolvius] [@Aleranicus] We understand that your illustrious office is engaged with a multitude of states at this moment, so We shall keep Our remarks to you brief. Should any provocation against the Star Republic of Rolvius become more dire, We implore you to consider Us as a trusted and concerned friend. The stability of the Republic, and the foodstuffs which it exports, are of paramount concern for continued peace. We understand that in situations such as these, one may consider turning to less than ideal options to prevent catastrophic outcomes. It is Our dearest hope that this letter shall assure you and your people that alternatives exist. His Imperial Majesty, Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron [/hider] [hider=Chancellor Alanna Descoix of the Federation of Nations] [@Taeryn] It is with great distress and sadness, but ultimately agreement, that We reacted to your decision to withdraw from the Treaty of Madrigasa. The core duty of any state is the protection and peace of its citizens, and at present the treaty represents shackles instead of assurance. All the nations are now upon the precipice of another great conflict, but in you and your Federation We see one who truly desires a lasting peace. The successful peace of the past two decades has shown Us that a cooperative, constructive, peace without imposition by the Ashtar is indeed possible. We would have it be known that in the dark days that are sure to come, We consider the safety and security of all those nations which agree with Us in this matter, as you do, a paramount concern. Further, this mutual understanding compels Us to reach out to you with a request. It is Our belief that the current state of Our Empire is not conducive to Our vision. As such, We formally request that the Federation of Nations send advisers to assist in the establishment of democracy. His Imperial Majesty, Salos VI, Imperator Taulrosum [/hider] [hider=Supreme Hierarch Araq of the Lokoid Hierarchy and its Ruling Caste] [@Liotrent] We understand that a delegation of the Hierarchy is due to begin talks with representatives of the Star Republic of Rolvius, and that there is fear of escalations due to the presence of the Asrian Ascendancy. It is Our interests that all such conferences occur peacefully and calmly, and We would ask that before resorting to arms, that We be considered for any needed mediation. His Imperial Majesty, Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron [/hider] [hider=Bilnd-Sûmangişt Biryar Arlydlan of the Urdji Civîneşra] [@Keyguyperson] It is right and just for one to defend their home. We do not respond to your withdrawal from the treaty so dear to Our heart with anger, merely sorrow that it has come to this. It is with understanding of the situation facing your people that We are forced to concur your actions are done in the name of self-defense and lasting peace. His Imperial Majesty, Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron [/hider] [hider=His Imperial Majesty, Kerxec XV of the House of Dzijmeter, 13th Emperor of Kadath] [@Predawnia] Twenty years ago, you and I stood side by side to bring about a lasting peace. Together, we saw to the creation of a new order, of states prospering in peaceful coexistence. I entirely understand your belief that those days are now gone, but I implore you to consider that they might yet come again – if one is willing to see it so. I urge you to consider the bonds forged between our peoples in that prior war at the end of this peace, for together we may yet build something new again. His Imperial Majesty, Salos VI of the House of Taulros, 99th Emperor of the Taulron [/hider] "You didn't follow proportionality with the federals," Salos muses. "My titling is more formal than hers. Why?" "The humans are the only ones we asked for help. Using Latin was deemed an effective way to impress your majesty upon them without resorting to stylings they may find overwrought." "And if they find the language itself an anachronism?" "My Emperor, that is the entire point of the letter." There was a short silence as the old Emperor considered this point before he finally shook his head. "I yield to your mastery of protocol. Send them via the soonest scheduled courier. Except for the Rolvian message, send it via PsiNET. Use a cipher that we know the Commonwealth has broken but we're reasonably certain the other powers haven't." "Of course, my Emperor. Now then, there is the matter of proclamations.” [hider=Concerning the Harmonic Conflux of the Innumerate Suns] [@Oraculum] The machinations of slavers and tyrants are ever designed to mask the worst of abuses in the most flattering of lights. Such is Our disdain at the transparent ploys of the Conflux to anoint themselves as the true upholders of order and peace that we urge all nations to close their markets to them. Let not a creature who would sell your children as chattel name itself a protector of peace. Let not the slavetaker and slavemaster cover itself in the auspices of order. We denounce them and their acts, before all the gods and all the nations. Proclaimed by We, Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron, at Trydosh Palace, in the Ninety-Sixth Year of Our Reign [/hider] [hider=The People of the Asrian Ascendancy] [@Legion02] A father should never outlive his son. This is a truth We know well. Though We did not have the pleasure of meeting Prince Nautilian in person, We know that he was beloved by his people, and loved them in turn. There is nothing mere mortals can do to end this pain, but there is some that can be done to soothe it. Upon the deaths of many of Our own children, We comforted ourselves with the knowledge that though they are gone, the memory of their lives remain. Mourn the death of your prince, but celebrate his life as well. I leave you now, not as an Emperor, but as a father, with the words one now lost to me once wrote. "Dearest father, I know that you fear for me. I know that you wish you could keep me close to your breast, and never more suffer a loss. But my life is one of duty, as you and mother taught me. I go now to see to that duty, wherever it may take me. Remember, father, that among the assignments life gives, death counts among them, and mourning as well. I shirk not mine, and know that you shall not shirk yours." - Her Imperial Highness, Aurian, Princess Imperial Proclaimed by We, Salos VI, Emperor of the Taulron, at Trydosh Palace, in the Ninety-Sixth Year of Our Reign [/hider] "Yes..." Salos says slowly as he finishes reviewing the messages. "These will do. Promulgate them immediately," he orders in a tired voice, before pressing a sealed envelope into his Chancellor's hands. "I will be at the mausoleum if I am needed." "Of course, my Emperor." [img]http://puu.sh/E0hhE/975cc74f4e.jpg[/img] [b]Camp Kalando, Imperial Research Base[/b] [b]Outskirts of Point Jakurna[/b] [b]Agdemnar[/b] The coming of the obelisk caused a massive stir within the camp, and Captain Jouyin Heliak found herself bundled into a war room with a collection of military officials and scientists. It was the latter who were in charge of the camp, and so the young officer found herself in the uncomfortable position of having to sit and listen to the clique gush about a bunch of hellos for hours on end until the threat status of the newcomer could be verified. And then the most ostentatious looking man she had ever seen in her entire life walked into the room, Principal Investigator Janfras Camoll. [i]The[/i] man in charge of all official Taulron operations on Agdemnar, he was an excessively tall Yaratelmsh with an obviously artificial wingspan and even more obviously artificially colored plumage - though at least his was the result of him genetically engineering himself to grow the purple feathers instead of dyes. An eccentric and a genius, his scandals were matched only by his discoveries, and the worst thing was he knew the latter got him out of trouble for the former. Heliak hated him. "Right right right, let’s get this settled. Giant obelisk appeared out of nowhere, no jump signature so it probably drifted, quantum communication technology - no one has that, Ashtar probably [i]knew[/i] about it but wasn’t their cup of tea. No point in having quantum state greetings if you could just [i]think[/i] the words into someone's minds and all. While all of you were busy gawking, I was with the boys down at the sensor array and managed to bang out something that can reply with a bare bones transmission in a similar enough way that whatever this think is doesn’t mistake us for idiots by tearing apart one of the spare neutrino detectors." "Does that mean we can go now?" one of the other stealth corvette captains asked, the entire lot of them still chomping at the bit to get running. "What? Oh, you guys. I'll do you better actually. Seems like everyone is confused as hell anyway so I'm lifting flight restrictions. Get out of here, especially you Heliak. The old women of the mountain want a Ghostseer for their next op and they asked you to do the delivery," Janfras said in the same casual, stream of consciousness rant he seemed to say everything in. Half an hour later, and the [i]Nightshade[/i] was flying low and cloaked with a mute Hateri on the cramped bridge, speeding far away from Camp Kalando just as it began to transmit back to the obelisk. [b]"WHOAREYOU.WHOAREYOU.WHOAREYOU.WHOAREYOU.WHOAREYOU.WHOAREYOU.[…]"[/b] [b]Remnants of the Asrian Outpost[/b] [b]Agdemnar[/b] Taulron special operations groups on Agdemnar fit a particular mold. Almost all were Yaratelmsh veterans of the Great War, making even the youngest older than the vast majority of soldiers who went into the field. It also meant that they had all seen a Ghostseer work before, and the women and men kept a respectful distance from the Hateri as he walked across the glassed surface that many had fought and died on. The winds died down as the psintegrae began his grim task, ice crackling across the glass. Every emotion felt by every being left a psychic imprint upon surrounding objects, and more powerful emotions consequently leave more powerful imprints. The art of a Ghostseer is recalling these imprints, and reliving them. The mission of this Ghostseer was to find the death echo of Prince Nautilian, and plunder the remnants of his thoughts impressed upon the ground he died defending for information. But many people died at that outpost, and finding the last emotions of one was a trying task. The largest driver of failure was not enemy action, but the Ghostseer’s will breaking.