Inthe was, like most of the core worlds of the I-Sphere, a warm and expansive planet. Vast grassy plains, sizzling desert dunes, forests of broad-topped trees and bulbous roots. The sky was a curiously dark shade of blue, and the shallow oceans mirrored it in their inky depths.

Sprawled out across this world, of course, were the vast concrete and glass and metal cities of the alkay themselves, a curious mix of architectural styles and histories playing out across the various nations that called the world home. Monolithic towers, sprawling snarls of modular buildings, and the ever-present curves and ribbing of the modern traditions, their buildings like strange and visceral flowers. Looking closer, the streets were alive with the bustle of bodies, the methodical clank of crawler-vehicles, and the ever-present buzz of autoimmune drones, flies that preyed on flies and tended to the flesh-gardens.

But this would all carry on regardless of the more pressing events that were transpiring.

---

"We're getting an unscheduled burst transmission from outer-system traffic. Making the connection."

One of the large central displays of the operations centre flickered and pulled up a data feed, scrolling text and whirling diagrams illustrating the situation that was unfolding in the outer reaches of the system. Points of light popped into view erratically, congregating towards a stable orbit intersecting Key. Command staff stared evenly, wide eyes blinking. Some pulled up smaller copies of the display on their stations, while others threaded through the floor to speak with the personnel they oversaw.

"Unplanned realspace emergence events all over the fringe. They're trickling in erratically, doesn't look particularly coordinated. Signal fragments from the events don't match up with Torpor engines and they've broadcast no IFF; this is a xeno contact."

"Any word from the colonies around Key?"

"They piggybacked a message on the traffic update. The outposts have been placed on high alert just in case, and they've mobilized a contact team."

Murmurs of activity and discussion continued to sweep back and forth through the operations centre. A few hurried orders were passed along; ships to be readied, people to be informed, stories to be presented to the news.

"Situation update goes live in five minutes. Have the fleet informed and ready to enter the information feed, then contact the other traffic offices and find out how much they know. Ping the colonies at Key and give them initial authorization to proceed with contact protocols until we get word from the Spire."

---

Halfway across the vast void of the system, antennae and receiver dishes waited in tense anticipation for word back from their homeland as to how to respond to the encroaching fleet of unknown vessels. When finally word came, personnel were rushed into action, ships were readied to launch, and a message was turned towards the nearest of the Jhinga vessels.

[quote=Yddr Colonial Authority]Attention approaching vessels! This is colonial authority acting on behalf of the Yddr States. You are approaching a known holding of the Yddr States and by proxy the Iliptic Sphere. Your vessels are not recognized and have failed to identify themselves. You are requested to slow your approach and divert a contact team to the following coordinates to establish diplomatic and jurisdictional precedent under which this situation may be resolved.[/quote]

The coordinates attached pointed to one of the small moons around the Jovian planet, icy surface marred by deep craters and the sprawl of industrial complexes.