[center][h1][color=gold]The Royal Federation of Nibiru[/color][/h1] [i]-Over the Orbit of Mojave, Gas Giant Bunyan, No Man's Land, Americana System-[/i][/center] The Gateways were back. The long-closed passages that had been constructed and forged to ensure mankind's survival among the stars, reopened. It was something that had popped up on every sensor array in range of its shockwave within the space of the Royal Federation. And then some. The ancient tales of where mankind had come from were proven to have truth in them once more, though the impact of this event had yet to fully pan out as of yet. The military had popped in to investigate, and upon word getting back to the Royal Palace the King himself has ordered a securing of the Gateway and its immediate space alongside a prospective mission to investigate. Inactive military forces were mobilized to secure the space, and already work on preparing a simple space station and spaceborne defenses were being initiated. To have such a thing crack open near enough to the capital of the Royal Federation was more startling than anything, and oculd not be taken lightly. Regular tight patrols of the Gateway and its space were being likewise organized, and more cogs would be sent moving in the background as the news hit the civilian airwaves and media like a blitzkrieg as the slow march of daylight finally began to creep over the verdant surface and modern buildings on Nibiru itself. Mankind now had a path back to its home. And yet, as the past had taught them very harshly, it did not mean only humanity might lie beyond. It did not mean everyone was friendly or filled with camaraderie. Dangers unknown lurked beyond that swirling point in space-time, and they would have to be treated with all the caution that humanity had once seemingly lacked in their ancient past. The Sol System? A relic, a dead world that held no life sitting as the third planet from its sun. It could be observed later, but for now the investigation of other systems and security of their own side were paramount. Especially with the TFCU liable to be aware of what had happened as well, and the RFoN's own news set to spread like wildfire over all the channels and throughout its territory. They could not leave it to chance. To this end the Destroyer RFF Dagon had been prepared in haste as a diplomatic and self-defense-capable vessel with a seasoned veteran crew and captain. A diplomat had been likewise hastily prepared, with at least two scholars of 'ancient Old Earth languages' sent along in turn. From here, a destination was chosen as the Gateway seemingly magically interfaced with the ship itself. A true miracle of the ancients, and yet it offered only so many spots to go to at first as well. Had not all the Gateways opened? Perhaps not. But what was open proved to be a spread of potential allies...and especially enemies....alike. Ultimately, the decision to visit the Americana System had been made to give the ship a place to start. [i]"Captain! Reports show that the ship remains in functional and operative condition. No damage or functionality loss seems to have occurred from using the Gateway."[/i] Captain Thomas Alexander Cograin let out a small but quiet sigh of relief as the comms transmission rang clear into his mind through the medium of his hard neural communication implant. Communications without a word spoken, functioning on a wavelength far beyond what humanity's ancestors could have dreamed. Controlling a ship in total silence, aside from the bustle of crew and occasional speaking as well as the movement of equipment. What would their ancestors have thought of them? What would they have thought of all of this? Would they have cared for the great war of the past, and the struggles of current times? He had no idea, waving a hand in front of his face as he tried to push such curiosities aside. His white beard and moustache were signs of how long he'd been at this line of work, though medical treatments and other work had helped him keep well enough in mental and physical shape to keep up his career. He'd been a veteran of the later phase of the Great War of his people, a conflict against alien invaders that had gone on for longer than he could ever hope to remember. He'd been given medals, and offered the chance to retire a number of times beyond this. But what was he to do? His grandchildren were grown, his own children aging in their own right, and he hadn't had much of anything to do at home. With that in mind, he'd simply noted in his own manner that: [color=FA8072]'I'll find something to do once I actually have to retire. This gives me something to do at least, something I know well enough.'[/color] [i][color=FA8072]"Good. Continue with an in-depth examination of facilities and other devices on the ship as a precautionary measure. Likewise, slow the ship to a stop before we move any further. Set sensors to maximum range to look for human life, and ensure the weapon crews are ready to go just in case-"[/color][/i] [b]THUNK[/b] [b]SLAM[/b] [b]CRUNCH[/b] The ship shuddered in a way all too familiar to the Captain. [i]"Alert! Alert! Shots have made contact with the mid-rear of the hull. Armor has absorbed the blasts. Seems to have been stray shots from surrounding engagements!"[/i] [i][color=FA8072]"I want repair crews to the damaged area, stat! Do we have any mean of identifying the combatants in some capacity?"[/color][/i] [i]"Sensors detect human life aboard a number of unknown vessels, as well as non-human life. However, we...oh by the crown..."[/i] [i][color=FA8072]"What is it, man?! Speak up!"[/color][/i] [i]"Yulz-type ships identified, Yulz-type humanoid combat vehicles identified. Both in combat with unknown vessels containing unknown alien and human life aboard."[/i] An air of tension seemed to crawl up the back of the crew as the identification of some of the vessels and vehicles was made. The Yulzan, or "Yulz" as they'd been locally dubbed back in the Utu System. An enemy they'd fought away after over a century of war, now present and fighting someone else who lived here in the Americana system. Another alien empire who wanted ground? Humans who'd found new allies? They had no idea of knowing. Yet the tension was so palpable that it could be cut with a knife already. Thomas wasted no time in reaching out to make a whole-ship comms message to the whole crew of the ship. [i][color=FA8072]"All combat crews to battle stations! Red Alert! This is not a drill! I want all batteries and weapons armed and aimed at any Yulz vessels and vehicles within range. Look for key vessel targets of a higher value. Comms Division, I want older-style comms frequencies using radio or other such methods scanned for intel. Record as much as you can for decryption and translation later. See if there's any means to get word back to Utu! And get the diplomat and translators to the safe room in case any more shots come our way!"[/color][/i] [i]"The small guns on mid-rear section G7 has been damaged by the strike!"[/i] [i]"Confirmed! Repair crew is on the way. G7 small guns crew, scout the location of the damage for potential breaches as we close the shield armor over the damaged section. Once finished, report back and go to G-Section Central for reassignment."[/i] [i]"J7, H7, and I7 battle stations locked onto nearest enemy craft! Requesting permission to engage!"[/i] [i]"Comms Division reporting in, Captain! We have made contact back in Utu, Captain! They wish for a status report!"[/i] [i][color=FA8072]"Send them the general status report and most current action report. Tell them to send over reinforcements to secure this Gateway location, stat! We can't let the enemy gain access to Nibiru space so far behind our lines! Tell them this is a Code Red Contact Situation! Stat! Permission to freely engage is also given! Fire immediately upon getting a proper lock on Yulz vessels! Anyone else fires on us, then return defensive fire in such a case!"[/color][/i] [i]"Yes, Captain!"[/i] The Battleship, cylindrical and cigar-like in shape as it was, whirred to life as its myriad battle arrays and stations trained their weapons on the nearest Yulzan ships and vehicles within its range. The kinetic and other such weapons then began to fire as soon as they got a lock, the new arrival into the Americana System letting loose a hail of fire from its position that was curiously not aimed at any of the FRA vessels. Not that it was paying attention to them primarily. The Yulz, however? Old habits died hard, and the 'Great Enemy' died harder the more they got blown to bits. In time, more ships would arrive to provide support and fire in short term. Over a few days following, a simple space station and other space defenses initially made to secure the Royal Federation side of the Gateway would be taken over in parts to be assembled on the Americana side. For better or worse, the Royal Federation would entrench itself around the Americana Gateway and their own end with a new sense of dread and expedited timeframe. Such efforts would be continually and increasing as the days and weeks ahead would go on, all whilst they would go about firing on any Yulz vessel or vehicles to get within range. Other vessels of the FRA, however? They would not be fired upon, not unless they fired on the Royal Federation ships and such first anyway. [@Sigma] [hr] [center][h1][color=87CEEB]The Cambrian Constellar Republic[/color][/h1] [i]-Azulvista System-[/i][/center] How could one secure a space Gateway? The answer was with government space vessels, mostly keeping patrols around it and reporting back to stations. By slapping on slapstick missile batteries onto a couple space stations, ones barely capable of being used in space as a barest means of defense. And by keeping the M.O.A.I. System in a ready state. Despite all of this occurring due to governmental panic, the idea of making contact again with their fellow humans was nothing short of a joyous thing for the citizens of Cambria's floating cities and other habitations. It had reopened in a great flash, an ancient path once again restored as the idea of seeing what became of humanity elsewhere became quickly discussed among many. Were there new foods? New languages? New places to see and vistas to explore? Enemies or new unknown threats to run into? New allies or trade partners to encounter? Such things and many more also came into the conversation as the initial days and such had gone on, and likely would remain a topic of fascination for a good time beyond that. The Federal Government, however, would work on something to send through. A diplomatic vessel, unarmed as much as it had been refitted with a thicker hull and such 'in case of emergencies'. No way to get weapons on it with any existing Cambrian technology though. A paltry thing in the grand scheme, and yet alongside a diplomat was a small army of old language scholars/translators and even samples of local goods and life and food and so forth stored on the ship. People from each human subspecies were likewise aboard, ready to represent their nation as one wherever they ended up at. Whilst the adventure to Sol was most tempting to make, a mere probe to investigate conditions would be sent in...and hopefully able to transmit back data through the Gateway at that. Hopefully. Lest it would require sending a manned craft after it later. Such was the initial efforts of the Cambrian nation to multi-task when it came to the investigations and adventure ahead. Meanwhile the diplomatic vessel that was prepared was sent to one of the first systems on the map as it mysteriously interfaced with the Gateway. Such a path would take it through, though not without some trepidation, to arrive in the system that housed the great world of Azulvista. However... "Umm, are those armed spacecraft? Literal armed spacecraft?!" "It's a whole blockade!" "At least we came in unarmed. Unless that doesn't help the situation-, oww! Why'd you hit me like that?" Captain Milana Kouris let out a small sigh, before returning to a formal state as she lowered her hand back to her side. It wasn't alien to be fascinated and fearful of these things, but to sit and dawdle about too long was not perhaps the wisest thing to do. Not when guns were aimed at them. A lot of guns actually. Definitely out of her wheelhouse, but she'd been a naval commander before the Gateway had reopened on their end. Now was a better time than ever to apply that experience in what limited capacity she could here. [color=FFB6C1]"Quit the gloom and doom talk, people! Tell comms to maximize range for broadband transmissions. Likewise we need to get the translators on the comms, stat, with copies of the message were sent with! If we sit too long we might make ourselves look worse than we intend if I were you."[/color] Unless these guys were assholes. She hoped they weren't assholes. Yet as the crew snapped to attention and moved to fulfill the orders, the Captain could not help but mutter something under her breath. [color=FFB6C1]"And let's hope they understand a few of the ancient languages still..."[/color] [@Irredeemable][@Ekreture] ((OOC Note: they are transmitting using a small variety of once more common old earth languages, Spanish and Portuguese included as well as Chinese and English and so forth.))