Chonyosa

[LaoTaun]

[align=center][/align]

Space; for most it was the unlimited frontier, the medium between planets, between star systems between spirals. It was a cold, ever changing expanse that brought fortune upon those strategic and ambitious enough to cease it. It was a coffin for trillions who had fallen short of victory. Four Spirals occupied... Thirteen Military Arms...The Umarian Astral Raquamothla had conquered some of the greatest space faring nations to have ever risen. It was just the beginning, a mere step within the path that had been the vision of Lao'Taun. The weak fell, and the strong prevailed and the celestial symphonic resounded through all of creation with their tales.
 
Some endeavors of the nation grew of things greater than victory, and it was upon that premise that the UAR once more sat upon the boundaries of the Elysium Spiral. A journey which had now come to this sordid place once more brought forth the knock upon the door which beheld a greater force which had been used before; it was a signal, a specialized and obvious declaration of their arrival. The ancient, mysterious calls of the space-born leviathans resounded from one honeycomb-like domain of subspace to the next, like that of calling whales within a vast and limitless ocean. A call which would be harmonized as those representatives confined to those dominions too called out, heralding the arrival of the great conductor of the celestial symphonic himself.
 
The unaligned corporate syndicates operating within the Hellespawn System bore the brute of the initial waves of incoming horde, unprepared and inadequate vessels were shattered into derelicts, unsealed tombs from which the dead drifted away from. The 'knock upon the door' which had come years before was muted under what was a wave of unfathomable strength. The  Miqursha-Rlarhau Military Arm, along with several vessels belonging to the Nyiathians had been granted the honor of being the leading edge of the massive dedicated force that traveled with Lao'Taun and the Yughoshi Materna Chonyosa.

 

Echos from the Past...
 
 
Knock, knock upon the galaxy's door
Your worlds once were but are no more
Epitaphs of hopes and your devoured dreams
A near eternity of measure invested in me
 
Tincture for nature wasted upon the floor
The skies stained black evermore
With charismatic salutations welcome me
For tomorrow you will try to surrender and flee

S'elothotha Cystho : The Grand Cathedral of Cystho

"We have begun our entrance into the Hellespawn Gate." Viceroy Miqursha Nira said, stepping into the faint colorful illumination caste by the stained glass arches above. He stood at the base of the winding stairs leading up to the altar-like platform where Lao'Taun was seated before a flickering stream of volumetric screens.
 
Lao'Taun beheld the comforting form of the emissary humanoid, the clandestine secrets that were held within were far from the fragile handsome specimen that was projected. The faint nebulous ultramarine clouds within his iris seemed to illuminate as he looked down upon Nira. "Have all mindhives synced to quorum, we shall begin shortly." The purposes behind the incursion into Elysium space was a more than just a single faceted venture, beyond the reclamation in which he had so diligently dedicated himself to there was far more which the starlit expanses of this 'unclaimed' spiral had to offer. Emotional energies beheld charges that resonated through hival clusters of mindhives and connected members of the Arnuin Congress; it was by mere convenience that the Luminary did not release it within an outburst, a strategist awaiting the moment for when the time and subject were precisely right. The faint flickers of volumetric cast light played upon the flawless taun complexion of his flesh, armorized jacket splaying the colors in a faint sheen which glimmered from the metallic buckles. He motioned Nira to come forwards.
 
The former Chrystalian ascended the steps to the side of the Luminary, a man to which he had come to serve and respect. The two had developed a rather intricate friendship since the Miqursha had begun producing victories that trumped the fading Raatasi Tlataelat Ushacth which had once held domination. "It is unlikely your signal has went unnoticed, or our presence ignored. It is only a matter of time." Nira said, dragging his gloved hand back through the bright blue spikes of his hair as he took position to the right of Lao'Taun, looking at the changing screens that helped the Mandated leader keep his vice-like hold on the Raquamothla.
 
"In due time, all will happen that needs to." Lao'Taun said quietly, watching as the insectoid cruisers and leviathans changed their formations in the flood of vessels that accompanied the massive moon-sized Chonyosa into the gate system. They were surrounded by representatives of almost all thirteen military arms which worked in cooperation to maintain their hold upon the four spirals they had conquered. The Hand of Lao'Taun's (HoL) presence marked by the massive elder Leviathan, Telal that hung above the dorsal dome of the Chonyosa in a protective and menacing stature with swarms of it's escorts breaching into other formations to maintain internal security and escort members of the Congress back and forth from the Chonyosa.

Tribute of Orchids

There was no cheering crowds of onlookers, no orchestra playing symphonic to celebrate the completion of the UAR's most advanced battleship. Sakruagna Dock was in full logistics mode, the lower part of the facility was filled with soldiers, vehicles and gear moving along giant conveyor-like walkways that extended down the umbilical to the Kelotshorno. The march of soldiers, the grind and churn of machinery as fighter-craft, bombers, power armors and other ordinance were being loaded into the hangers and ready-bays.
 
The last team of Nirthyian Engineers swam out of berth and into one of the adjoining tubes, signaling that they were ready for the water in the bay to be purged so that they could proceed with the launch sequence which was already in countdown. The main doors of the outer dock released their seals and begun to open. It created a massive suction as the water gushed out into space, crystallizing as it ripped outwards from the breached doors. Water tore away from the polished armored hull of the ship, causing the entire facility to shake. For the first time other than it's space trials and evaluations the Death Blossom was once more exposed to the vacuum of space, the interior lighting of the bay falling to darkness as the ship's internal power systems activated, and it's internal and external lighting illuminated the long awaited creation of Lao'Taun, his intended gift to Satrinah - the greatest battleship to ever be built by the UAR, a vessel that would become the benchmark for those created after it. Finally after years of design, construction and improvements she was going to leave her berth on a maiden voyage to find her rightful and intended commanding officer.
 
"Estimated time until loading completed..is four minutes." The Mindhives translated the whistles and clicks of insectoid that were transmitted from the dock's flight control bridge.
 
"Awknowledged, Sakruagna tower. We are ready when you are." Nira said as he walked to the edge of the upper platform that overlooked the bridge below. He outstretched his hand and the volumetric medium rippled as he dragged his fingertips across the interface, metamorphic armor falling in a veil and quickly solidifying around the command bridge, turning opaque as a volumetric projection of what was around the ship flooded the upper dome, projected interfaces and monitors coming to life as final preparations were made for launch.
 
The Command Deck crew consisted of several Starseers, Nyshakrlzhao and some Rhu-zarat service insectoids, two water filled tunnels housed Nirthyian engineers, volumetric projections of the ship glimmering within their water filled caverns on either side of the deck. Projection interface consoles followed smooth flowing lines back along the oval shaped deck, giving a clean, polished organic feeling, while the dim lighting provided no interuption to the almost 360 degree projection around them. Dark violet tapestries were draped over the stair-like sides of the central throne-like command chair to which Lao'Taun immediately headed after exiting the dedicated command lift.
 
"Clear all moorings, execute launch procedure." The commanding voice of Lao'Taun boomed as he sat down in the command chair, a flood of projections whirling around him as the nebulous regions of his dark eyes flooded with an ultramarine glow. The ship jolted as construction arms and meshing folded away from it's hull, direct connection cables snapping and breaking away at their designed positions before the metamorphic layer of the armorized hull filled in to complete the vessel's seamless appearance, even removing the launch bay's from exposure.
 
"All Systems Nominal." The harmonious whale-like calls of the Nirthyians were translated over the internal communications network as the mighty battleship began a slow crawl forwards from it's berth. A bottle of Wuliangye baijiu was released from one of the control arms, sending it smashing against the ship's hull as it began it's final departure from the dock. The projection around the command deck changed to the vast ocean of twilight as the battleship cleared the outer sphere of the Chonyosa's shield barrier. Awaiting the new ship was it's assigned battlegroup, consisting of the newest and most notorious vessels from the various contributing military arms as well as escorts devoted by the HoL.
 
The seemingly ever-changing hull of the vessel flowed and changed to expose the soft violet glow of it's engines as it plowed towards the forward-most point position in the formation falling ahead of the Nodachi. Over two thousand vessels, varying in class and origin pointed the way towards their soon to be revealed destination. "Wèi Ayenee xìtǒng wàiwéi shèzhìle yītiáo lùxiàn."("Set a course for the Ayenee System perimeter.") the voice of Lao'Taun directed over the mindhive network, extending to his troops the voice of confidence, and battle ready bravery to which they were used to. Officers on all the ships prepared their crew, pilots rushed to their craft and armors. "Shíshī" ("Execute."). Lao'Taun gave the final command of the order, initiating the assigned FTL order, the mindhives of the fleet working in quorum to coordinate jump order. Telal, the elder HoL Titan was the last of the ships to enter FTL, it's powerful slipstream drives leaving faint disruptive ripples within space behind it.
 
The route decided was not a direct one, Lao'Taun had purposefully planned his approach to the highly contested system with stops in the Draeus and Motabai Systems which were both within a twenty light year radius of Ayenee. This would allow for asset reallocation and unpacking as well as purposely expose their approach. Within the transit of slipstream, gravimetricly driven waves of super-heated gas rolled past the gathered force of vessels, the elongated armoredworm-like bodies of subspace-bound members of the UAR weaving throughout their formation.

[LaoTaun]

Lower Kithugha-Damaudan
During Lánhuā jié - In the Past
[align=center][/align]

The streets of the lower city were empty, the majority of the population had went to enjoy the celebration at Kithugha Square. Decorative lanterns were strung from building to building, hung there by the locals in honor of the festival. Lao'Taun had left the party for a quiet walk through the streets. His mind was heavy with the promises he had made his people; despite their victories and the vibrate beat of the party he had yet to deliver to them the return of the Dark Orchid. The failed searches unmentioned, a pride which had begun to fail him. He would either push them forwards to the next conquest or continue the search he had begun. His footfalls echoed against the empty street as orchid petals drifted to the ground in a rain; the petals carried on the simulated winds within the Chonyosa's biggest city from the celebration uptown.
 
"She is at Ayenee..." A voice said, coming from one of the dark areas across the street. "If you go there that is where you will find her."
 
Lao'Taun's steps ceased and his slanted eyes narrowed, looking into the darkness to see the faint outline of another man standing with his back up against the windows of one of the shops. "And who are you that you know so much? Cloaked in shadows, hidden away. Are you afraid to speak to your Luminary?" Lao'Taun's challenging mannerisms were far from welcoming, yet he couldn't help but wonder how someone in Lower Kithugha-Damaudan knew what it was his thoughts were centered around.
 
Sparks flew as a lighter was ignited, faint silver puffs of smoke trailed from the embered end of a cigarette which was brought forth for a deep inhale. "Or is it the Luminary is afraid of what lies the darkness? This hardly the time and place that I had imagined our meeting, but perhaps this chance is too important to pass up." A few seconds later, the words were followed by footsteps. As the dim light of the lanterns flickered, not much was revealed within the pale ashen twists of metal and fabric, save for the sheen of a long lance-like weapon strapped to the man's back. Light tan flesh bore the scares of battle, but the eyes it was the eyes that Lao'Taun could never forget. Koshiro had somehow gotten onto the Chonyosa. Over a century had past since pestilence had been confined within the prison there, the first Unyian War almost forgotten save for the valiant stories of struggle and strife.
 
"Mae'achta..." Lao'Taun said, confirming the form he seen before him. The ultramarine nebulous cores of his eyes illuminating as he held the stance he had come to stop in, not knowing what to expect his hands balled into fists as he prepared for anything.
 
"We searched the stars for the same thing. I'm not here to fight you T'yingthostho. It would be pointless, and had I wanted that I would of returned to the Homestead." Koshiro said, reaching for the weapon on his back and then planting it point down and into the street. "At our current state, we could spend eternity trying to destroy each other and only end up without the fulfillment we seek. Worlds would end, and the universe would have nothing to show for it and neither would we." Koshiro walked to Lao'Taun, and stopped only a pace away from him. Without hesitation, he stood looking the Luminary in the eyes.
 
"So you came to do what? Tell me where she is and then run back into whatever darkness you have been hidding in while the nation you began falls beneath my fists?" Lao'Taun knew with certainty that Koshiro was not a stupid being. He had faced the man as an adversary and like Adrin and Nira he found him to be formable. They stood a pace apart within the falling shower of orchids, destined to be enemies, thrown into conflict over nations and the utmost desire not to be alone within the universe.
 
"I've come to join you. To willingly give what you sought to force upon me during my captivity." Koshiro said, what was once a youthful leader had faded into a man, a warrior who had been chiseled from the hearts of fallen worlds. The events which had taken place within the Ruinous Garden had taken from him the chances of a victory, and there was no hope returning to the nation he had made, the foolish act of Miranda had costed him more than he could of ever fathomed.
 
"And how do I know this to be true? You would submit to me because you are that desperate? You would give up yourself to allow my victory. For all I know you could have some plan in mind, some Espra driven goal to end me once and for all." Lao'Taun looked unconvinced, his emotionless face beheld no warmth at all - his eyes not moving from the man he had sought to kill as a lesson to all who stood against him.
 
Koshiro said nothing in return, those years locked away within the prison had earned him the year of only one Umarian and it was not the one in front of him - rather the one behind him. They were not alone, a realization that Lao'Taun had missed due to it's nature. The simulated winds whispered through the streets as it blew the green strands of Yughoshi's hair across the narrow guage of her face. "Yǐ zuì huài de jiǎshè zhōng suǒyǒu de chuàngzào, shì tīng bù dào tā de jiāoxiǎngyuè de yībùfèn." ("To assume the worst in all creation, is to fail to hear it's part of the symphony.") She said, calm brilliant silver eyes falling upon Lao'Taun from over Koshiro's shoulder. The wise and most elder of the Leviathan held a humanoid form that was not only beautiful but well built, the black and dark violet bodysuit that clung to her form like an armorized chitin gleamed within the flicker of the lanterns.
 
It would appear that Koshiro's prison-confined pleas had granted him more than Lao'Taun had expected. He bowed forwards in respect of his mother. Within the whirl winds of orchid blossoms, a secret was told and a sacrifice was made, one that would turn the course of history forever.

[LaoTaun]

Reunions - Recent Past
Kithugha-Damaudan
Miqursha District
 
"I sometimes wonder, what our future would of been if we had not ended up where we are now. In all honesty, I perhaps will be the first to say this but I am grateful that the Umarians annexed the Yirune Arm when they did. It got rid of a lot of the trash which was clinging to ideals that were destroying our nations." Nira said, holding a crystal goblet of cacelle within his right hand. "We have a future now, the age of Chrystalia and Lorenz have past. To the Cestial Liege, to whom we owe our lives." Nira said in pledging, raising the goblet higher before bringing it down to his lips for a short sip.
 
"Come on Nira, we all know Severce left the trash on some primitive shit-hole near Ayem'vu." Adrin said jokingly before sitting down across the table from his comrade, looking towards Severce who was late as always for their monthly gathering. "The good doctor, busy as usual?" he asked, wanting of course to smooth things over after his previously awkward comment.
 
"Busy. I suppose, if you call crawling into a Ma'nolephlat Brooding tunnel to get a look at the condition of her eggs busy. Damn thing tried to eat me, then tried to stuff me in an egg chamber for incubation." Severce said, not even bothering to comment on the jab made about his ex-wife. "What about you, you going to decommission the Nodachi before it comes apart at the seems or are you just going to keep refitting it? A new floor on the bridge can only go so far into convincing us that it is something state-of-the-art."
 
The dining room had a magnificent view of the city, a massive panoramic window displayed the luminous glow of the surrounding skyscrapers and their translucent reflective panes as the simulated sun began to set and night time would come to the Chonyosa-contained capital. Fujiko was late, the young commander exited the elevator and almost ran into the family home. "I see the elderly have gathered to remember the past and spit venom at past loves again." She said as she grabbed one of the small metallic viles of cacelle and twisted the cap off, drinking it right out of the bottle. "Father.." she said, addressing Nira with a nod and a sly smile, in the time she was away she had blossomed even more, her bright blue hair falling to frame her face, the slender tips of her ears twitching beneath the strands.
 
"Young Captain on deck, growing into that chair well I see." Severce said, sitting down at the table beside Nira. He then turned to Nira and said, "Hopefully she won't marry the chair like you and Adrin."
 
"Says the man who sleeps with test tubes." Nira chuckled, looking to Fujiko. "Welcome home, you will have to tell me about your campaigns after dinner. I hear Lao'Taun is quite impressed with your performance."
 
"Sorry Dad, we will have to catch up another time. I have an meeting on Telal and then we are shipping out again. Going as part of the advance to the Elysium Spiral. I just came home to say hello and get into a clean uniform." Fujiko said, pulling the datapad out from her belt, and checking her messages. It wasn't long before she was out of the chair, and headed towards her quarters. A volumetric Division Management display travelling with her as she walked.
 
Adrin couldn't help but be amused, "She keeps that up she will be an Admiral before the end of the cycle." He didn't want to discuss Ayenee, he didn't want to go there but there was part of him that was intrigued with the plight of their Luminary. Had it been years before they would of been at conflict over it, but Adrin was not about to go questioning Lao'Taun.
 
"I think we all know what is planned for the Elysium Spiral is not going to be easy, its likely the USI has already figured out that is where we are headed. I expect they will want a showdown, and I think its another opportunity for us to deliver a victory for our military arm." Nira said, the tone turning serious as the three pulled their chairs in closer to the table. "What I am about to discuss with you is considered classified, but it is something we all need to be aware of." Nira said, a volumetric image of a leviathan appeared hovering over the table. "This is Rael, A cruiser leviathan from the Aothuste Arm. It was on a seven month long-range patrol in the Draeus System and has been reported missing and assumed destroyed by the USI."
 
Adrin raised his right brow questioningly as he looked at the projection, "A leviathan, dead?" He took a deep breath and shook his head, "I can see why that is classified. It also explains why the leviathans have been so damn moody of late." He took a sip of his cacelle, "I agree this is an opportunity, we kill the bastards responsible for destroying a leviathan and we tuck yet another victory under our belts." He looked to Severce, "Hope you got the hospitals stocked, I think this is going to be a bloody one."
 
"We're stocked, but something I wanted to mention - while we are on the topic of things classified. We've gotten some new shipments in, medical equipment and tools as well as new medi-mindhives but they aren't for anything I've seen in the hordes so far. I think Lao'Taun might be about to reveal a new player to the game...." Severce said, leaning back in his chair. "Whatever they are, they aren't carbon based..and they sure as hell aren't insectoids." He said, knowing he was going to have to learn yet another physiology and anatomy set, it was good he had an adequate implant to assist - he was already the leading expert of several of the more obscure insectoid members.
 
"Lets hope they join our military arm then." Nira said, knowing his closeness to Lao'Taun and the victories delivered so far by his people would help him in securing what was the best for their combines.
 
"They are called Aethryians..." the voice of Fujiko piped up over the group of gathered men, grabbing another of the cacelle bottles from the table. A satisfied grin tugged the corners of her lips upwards as she headed towards the door. "Good evening, family." She said, the door hissing shut behind her.
 
The three men sat looking at each other with uncomfortable bewilderment for a few seconds before Adrin said questioningly, "Where did she say she had a meeting again?" He ran his fingers back through his bright red strands.
 
"Telal.." Nira answered quietly, knowing exactly where his brother's thoughts were going.
 
"She's HoL?" Severce said, almost startled.

Sakruagna Docks - Black Sector
Our Benefactor Provides for Us
 
Two black SUV-type vehicles zipped along the access tunnel towards Black Sector, in the back of the last one Fujiko was busy changing. She tossed the black and navy blue Miqursha uniform over the back seat and into the cargo area as she wiggled her petite form into the shiny black bodysuit typically worn by higher ranking HoL members. "Chen, floor it.." she said, nearly out of breath as she zipped the zipper up. She hit one of the release sigils on the seat in front of her and opened the compartment pulling out a belt which she quickly fastened around her waist and began clipping various accessories to, including the metamorphic blade and T'ragot XP77 sidearm that the HoL typically carried. "Pain in the ass to change in this thing." she said, kicking the back of the seat sharply which made the soldier driving press the pedal down the rest of the way.
 
"Alright, standard dispersal when we get there." she stated over the comm to the other vehicle which had four lower ranking officers inside of it. "No room for screw ups." It wasn't seconds after she said it that they were infront of the terminal, and heading in formation behind her into the terminal.
 
"One, two, three, four....five..." She whispered in her mind, at the junction of two corridors they merged with the other team and Lao'Taun who was traveling in the center of their formation. Tactical frames rippled across her eyes as she continued in point position, her advanced Mithanyatha Zygote aiding her with scanning and coordination with other placed members of the order.
 
Escort was not a duty she was used to, but in this case it was a necessary function. When they cleared the inner containment doors the escorts fanned out, there was another team already on the deck that had checked the shuttle and another that was in armors preparing to fly with them to Telal. "Go, go, go!" She said, getting the others into order. When they entered the shuttle, she continued to the aft section with Lao'Taun and gave the signal for the pilot to take off.
 
"Sir, we will be at Telal in eight minutes. Packet is on the flight deck waiting for your pickup. The meeting will be held in the main conference theater and the delegates are already waiting for you." Fujiko said, checking her datapad for updates from her people deployed at the ready onboard the other leviathan. The shuttle lifted off from the deck, leaving the Chonyosa on schedule.
 
Lao'Taun nodded in response, "Xie, Xie... I appreciate you stepping up to the plate so quickly. Seems the training program made the transition smooth afterall." Lao'Taun stated, a cloud of volumetrics whirling around him as he prepared for the meeting as well as maintained his various functions throughout the Raquamothla.
 
"Thank you sir, I can only hope to serve you as well as Lecaeus did." The mention of the former director's name, one of the unmentionable victims of Rael's destruction probably something that she could only mention at this point in front of Lao'Taun.
 
Two large white-hulled vessels extended out of Telal's lower docking area, the markings on them were definately UAR but the configuration of the ships themselves were unlike anything else within the hordes. Smooth fin-like rises tapering back across the aft engine assemblies and exposed weapon ports nested within the armored hull they were definitely something unique to hold the attention. "Telal, Aesa..We are transporting the Liege to the meeting with the Aethryian Representatives." Fujiko said over the secured comm with the Leviathan.
 
"Aesa Shuttle, you are clear for approach VIP Terminal One." The young girl-like voice of Telal returned the call. The shuttle disappeared into Telal's cavernous interior.

[LaoTaun]

Ayenee System
Elysium Spiral

[align=center][/align]

Messages in an age where technology had plateaued at the deadly level where wars had begun being fought on a galactic level often traveled through subspace or through obscure webs of hival pathways; no matter the method of transmission there was often the lacking of personalization. In the days of antiquity sailors would place messages in bottles and cast them into the sea in hopes that they would wash upon friendly shores to be found by a lady in waiting. And so the bottle was cast into the astral sea, and delivered directly to the Ayenee System to find it's way to his dark orchid...

The banner of distant stars twisted and distorted as the broken hull of the Voltian II was flung from the bowels of slipstream, the uncontrolled exit pushing super-heated gases and exotic particle clouds outwards in a rippling effect as the massive battleship turned end over end sheering through real-space as the transit rift blinked closed behind it. The USI's flagship was a tomb, a bottle sealed and carrying a rather pointed message. Scorched, shattered plating peeling of it's broken 'spine' under the sheer of sub-luminal speeds; billowing clouds of escaping gases and fuels igniting at chaotic intervals as plasma fires ripped uncontrolled through corridors in the engineering sections. Some of the burn marks on the vessel's hull were obviously post-battle, drilled with the precision of close range the sigils of Lao'Taun and Pestilence super-scripted over the Umarian symbol of the Hēilóng ('Black Dragon').

While the Voltian herself laid to rest, a crumbling slumber power sources of a Umarian origin burned within her decks which permitted the emission of a single uncodified transmission through the region. The live image of the Voltian's main bridge cast for Satrinah to see. The expected image of a battle-torn vessel had been muted by what had been arranged. The bridge filled with tall pillar candles, which cast a pale flickering glow on the morbid display which had been hung from above. Hooks pierced the softer interior petals and polymers from various points in an enter three hundred and sixty degree formation from which filaments stretched the leather-like blanket of flesh which had been pulled off Marissa's suspended form. Twisted ropes of dangling innards swayed below the corpse dripping with various fluids along with blood which was caught by an elegant carpeting of black silk which had been draped over the floors. The former Vaesudan's head was tilted back, face frozen within the horrific phase that death had left, eyes boared out hallow like the endless spans of the voids - a painting of poetic justice of a deed that never should of been committed.

The image transmitted would shift every few cycles, from the dark ritualistic display on the bridge to that of the ship's Ward Room. The Ward Room was too bathed in the soft glow of flickering candles, the table set with the finest of china and treasures that could be found. Propped up within each of the seven chairs were the corpses of Norians, each wearing the old uniform of the Imperial Senate. Their chest cavities broken open, shattered in a way that the breaking points of the ribs had jutted outwards like the decorative points on a rack of lamb. Upon each of the silver plates before the gathering of dead senators was their own heart, a symbolic never to be partaken feast. Each of the Senators had belonged to the party that had challenged Satrinah's rise to Aester in Lorenz, it seemed this deed that had occurred centuries before had not gone unpunished after all.

The third and final image transmitted from within 'the bottle' was that of a polished crystalline pillar upon which a single decorative clay crucible. Within the shallow pot a single black orchid grew from a black serpent-like scale, it's pale violet petals dripping the glistening drops of moisture that showered from the modified environmental system. It was a simple arrangement with a pointed and meaningful message that would only likely registered by her.

Amplified by the placed systems on the Voltian II, the subspace calls of distant leviathans sung like that of whales; echoing harmonics being transmitted through open channels that wound reach almost ten cubic lightyears from Ayenee. As the unmistakable calls climbed towards a peak the Voltian reached the end of it's lifespan, the hull of the vessel finally reaching it's critical stress limit and buckling. In a single explosive burst the former USI flagship blew apart, shockwaves from it's destruction carrying released energies and debris across the outer span of the Ayenee System.


 
ʟσшεя κıтнυɢнα-ɔαмαυɔαп
вσנıпɢ'ƨ ɢεпεяαʟ ɢσσɔƨ

[align=center][/align]

The streets of Lower Kithugha-Damaudan were quieter, weaving back alleys and the place of many shops and ventures that ranged in their legitimacy and function; they were at the depths of Chonyosa society but deeply ingrained within the very culture of the city itself. Fancy lanterns still strung from building to building, never taken down from the festival of orchids - few souls walked the street, those who did were usually apart of something more sinister or in a rush to get to whichever warmly lit window they were heading to. On one of the corners was a shoppe a bit larger than the rest, it's windows riddled with posters announcing various functions and events as well as the specials on various rare herbs, vegetables and produce within and an old sign that flickered on the verge of burning out that advertised the fine liquors within. Bojing's General Goods was a staple of the city, a place known for the strangest of visitors including members of upper society that were never expected within the bowels of the heart of the Chonyosa.

Chen, a young lad who had worked for the elusive Mister Bojing was stocking shelves as usual. He was never bored, there was always something to do from unloading shipments, to cleaning, to making special deliveries including the rare bottles of Wuliangye baijiu which were taken to the Cathedral of Cystho. Chen was not the only employee under the Bojing name, but he was the one the public seen the most. The hours of the shop were unpredictable, sometimes it even stayed closed for days ; rumors were rampant that it was the front for something bigger but those who investigated often came back with pockets full of dry rice and stories about seeing nothing short of a boring old market.
The bells jingled as the old door was pushed open, Chen was busy stocking some green tea that had come in on the last order and shouted, "Nǐ hǎo!" He was used to the usual customers who shouted back, and when there was nothing he turned his head to see the massive black military issued boots planted against the floor. His slanted eyes narrowed as his gaze scaled what seemed to be a giant, WASP-style armor and massive black arching wings which came to a clawed point just above the man's head. There was nothing gentle about the figure, build strong and obviously military - yet something powerfully alluring, hair clipped back tightly, making the masculine features of the man's face seem even more statue-like. He was something Chen had come to expect from comic books, and even with the diversity of the Chonyosa it was definitely something to see. "Eh...Can I help you?" he said, slowly rising to his feet, dusting off his apron as he felt dwarfed in the shadow of the man who had come inside.

Sorle looked down towards the young boy, "I have a package waiting for me. Special Order from the Telal Tea Company." His voice was deep, commanding and held no emotion at all. He didn't smile, daunting form towering over even the highest of shelves in the market. Nebulous blue-green eyes churning as the reflection of the child twisted within his sights. Outside a running SUV-style vehicle with government plates and tinted windows was running with two sentries standing along side of it.

Chen tilted his head slightly, "Oh, Telal Tea Company...Yeah I think we have something in from them." He smiled almost knowingly, "A shame about the rain today, would of been nice if it lasted longer." He said, "Do you have an umbrella?" He asked, first locking the shop door and then heading towards the counter, looking at the crates stacked up there.

Sorle said quietly, "The rain is never long enough, and I have an umbrella..I got it from Miss Lan." It was far from small talk, but authentication to verify him for the package. "Hope nothing got damaged in transport this time." He said, watching as Chen looked for the right package. There of course was no Telal Tea Company, but it was one of the many ways those with access to the HoL sent things back and forth. Miss Lan of course referred to the orchid herself, and the use of the umbrella symbolic within the secretive stories whispered by the Leviathans about the Second Luminary.

Chen placed the crate on the counter and stood back, "Here it is, Sir!" The young boy was curious as to what was inside, thanks to the nature of the shop he often got to see such things, and of course had never uttered a word to anyone about what he had seen or heard within the confines of Mister Bojing's establishment.

Sorle ripped the top of the crate off with his bare hands, with a man of his strength it was like plaster crumbling. The crate was rather large and inside was a sealed armored security case which he pulled out and placed on the counter. He opened the case, and a volumetric screen activated as a micro-mindhive un-linked to the rest of the combines shared it's information. After a few minutes, image after image passing, Sorle would close the case and push it back towards Chen. "Please send this back, it is the wrong kind of Tea." He then turned, giving a wave out the window towards the sentries who would get back in the car and immediately drive away. "It would appear, I am in the need of the restroom." Sorle said giving a slight nod.

Chen lead Sorle towards the back of the store, apron swaying as he walked hurriedly. He opened the slidding wooden door to reveal a sealed isolation-style access door. "Here you are, Sir." Chen said, using his access codes to open the door. It was not a bathroom, rather a small lift. He waited until Sorle was inside and then resealed the door, giving a slight nod. The building shook slightly as the lift's brakes were released, sending it zipping through the secured tunnel. Chen would then reseal the inner door and slide the wooden one shut. Once more, someone went into Bojing's and didn't return out the door from which they had entered.

sᴀᴛʜᴀʀᴜᴀ ─ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ sᴇᴄᴛᴏʀ

As the lift blazed through the tunnel system, passing security checks and evaluations Sorle went over in his mind what he had seen, the details of his mission were rather delicate. It was not a mission he would of normally taken under any circumstances but it had come right from the Luminary. The door finally opened and Sorle stepped out of the lift and into a small control room. Upon his entry the door behind him closed and the dim blue lighting activated illuminating the room. There were several control panels arranged ahead of him, to his right was a sealed armory and then another door to his left, another isolation door clearly marked as an airlock. Windows looked out into what appeared to be emptiness, the pitched black interrupted as loud electronic noises exhumed from all around him, section by section the massive docking bay was illuminated.

Within the bay was a vessel that was still yet to be fleeted to the rest of the UAR. A new class of Leviathan, and a true killer by all means - a suitable ride for a warrior like Sorle. The Satharua GX-VI Harbinger-Class Gunship Leviathan, it was one of many advancements brought forth in conjunction with the AT-GATE project. The Gunship Leviathan was smaller, more compact, roughly only two hundred and fifty meters long, and only six decks but the ship was far from anything traditional. It's glossy black hull resembled some kind of prehistoric arachnid, like a scorpion without claws and a long segmented and spiked tail that swayed back and forth as it remained stationary in the bay. Faint blue luminescent regions marked what seemed to be engines, but actually determining what was what as the chitinous-like exterior seemed to flex and transform was nearly impossible. "Hmm..." Sorle whispered, looking out the window as he packed munitions from the armory into a bag.

Sorle headed out the airlock reviewing the technical specifications of the new leviathan, soon enough they would be on their way - part of a secret and risky mission to Ayenee, to bring to motion the true Hand of Lao'Taun.

[LaoTaun]

We try to live different lives, be different people and when it is we go against our truest of natures is when we struggle the hardest. Eventually, after a time we rise and our true nature glistens anew giving us the strength to stand once more. I may of lost what I cherished, watched my people struggle - but now, I am ready to stand once more.

|Kirthasthaqu Chamber|

Adrin seemed uninterested in the proceedings, eyes locked onto the screen of a secured datapad as the various representatives gave input on the topic of interest. He had already reviewed the so called operational data on their mission to the Elysium Spiral and had dismissed it. His attempts to uncover the whereabouts of Sorle had lead him to a solitary conclusion - Lao'Taun and the HoL had sent him to Ayenee. Cold blue eyes narrowed as he looked up briefly towards Fujiko who sat next to the Photarathara, the central-most platform reserved for Lao'Taun and those who were closest to him.

He shifted his posture slightly in the chair, musculature in his face tightening which accented the structure of what was once regarded as perfection for his species. A name he had been given, one forced upon him in some propgandist attempt to smooth over the fact that his people had lost. As far as he was concerned the Miqursha name might as well mean "Defeated" in whatever Cli'cha tongue it had been developed in.

"Do you have a problem Viceroy?" The bold, strong feminine voice of Fujiko raised above the chatter in the chamber as she looked back towards Adrin with a cruel smirk.

Adrin glanced back down at his datapad and then looked up again, his back straightened against the back of the chair and he replied, "I was just musing to myself; my only problem remains to reside in how deceptive you can really be -- by all means please continue whatever it is you are trying to accomplish." His words were dismissive and his attention purposely appeared to be redirected as he looked back down at what he had been reading.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Fujiko answered, tongue striking with a relentless manner. "I at least come to this chamber to carry out my duties. Not trying to hack into encrypted mindhive storage trying to access data on a classified mission." Her words were revealing, damning and stirred every single entity in the chamber to attention.

"What would you know of duty? You've spent months betraying your own family - your people and all to sit there in a position you gained through the dishonorable murder of one of your own!" Adrin's words carried an emotion, one that brought a shock to many. For almost a century those who knew him had only seen a subdued nature, a quiet and calculated man who perhaps was paying a little more attention then he gave them credit for.

"Lecaeus was weak, the same as you were. Do I need to remind you that your pathetic last stand involved a fight that lasted barely seven hours? Viceroy Miqusha, perhaps you are no longer able to complete your duties. I am relieving you of your duty, until you either fix whatever your malfunction is or you end up executed for your delusions." Fujiko made a motion, the two sentries stepped up behind Adrin's chair, ready to escort him out of the chamber. "Now go..." she said, returning the sarcastic dismissive tone he had previously given. "...before I make you look like a coward by having you forcefully removed." She stood up on the Photarathara looking directly towards Adrin.

Adrin tapped on the datapad a few times, inputting something and then the screen blinked dark. He stood up from his chair, looking back briefly as the two guards stood up. "My name will never be Miqusha, it is Eitan..." He said, turning as if he was going to comply with the guards. The chamber was full of whispers, those watching it unfold trying to guess if it would be the last they would see of the Viceroy. The command he had inputted into the datapad activated and the volumetric banners in the chamber changed, the crest of the Eitan Clan rippling into view on every single projector. Adrin moved quickly, turning to the left, he grabbed the sentry and threw him over the railing, sending him into a nose dive to the chamber floor which was stories below.

The other sentry reacted immediately, and Adrin twisted his body landing his  right elbow directly into the nape of the guard's neck. His body moved with the graceful arts long forgotten by generations that had been raised under oppression. In a fluid sweeping momentum, his motion flowed, continuing past where his elbow had landed, bringing him face to face with the sentry allowing him to land a bone crushing jab to the exact same spot with the opposite hand. Adrin shoved the second sentry over the balcony, the entire chamber was in chaos and Fujiko was attempting to give orders.

Adrin bolted out and into the corridor, alarms rang and there was no doubt in his mind it would only be a matter of time until the place was crawling with sentries. Reaching one of the junctions, he stopped and opened one of the maintenance tunnels and slipped inside sealing it behind him. He stopped just long enough to watch a group of sentries race past it and then continued to weave through the confined space of pipes and equipment.

The problem with trying to flee on the Chonyosa, was the Leviathan herself. Her internal sensory systems were quick to adapt and he knew he had to keep moving. He went right at the next junction and opened one of the containment doors into one of the cargo bays and slipped through.

"What the hell is going on?" the voice of Nira came over his comm.

Adrin continued moving, trying to find a place he could fortify if he needed to trying to put as much distance between himself and the access doors as possible. "A bad time right now, but I think it is safe to say I have pissed your daughter off and am likely going to end up on some bug's dinner plate if I don't get out of here." Adrin looked up as the access doors opened, "Sorry, got to go." he terminated the transmission and moved beyond one of the stacks of crates.

Adrin pressed his back against the support pylon on the other side of the stack, counting as the energy blasts drilled the other side of it, sparks flying past his head. He waited a few seconds, twisted himself around he depressed both triggers, moving out from behind the pillar he strifed to the left, the phasic rounds from his side arm caused the air around them to ripple as they zipped towards their targets. One of the HoL sentries taking a round right in the chest was tossed back against the bulkhead like a rag doll.

"Adrin, come out...We can just say I pushed you to lose your temper. We can handle this with a light hand." Fujiko said, eight of her remaining sentries fanning out into the bay, coordinating their movements in an attempt to push Adrin towards one of the corners.

Adrin laughed, "Sounds like a good plan. Then again, I don't believe a word you say Fujiko. He knew they were approaching, he had to get out of there. The layout of the bay unfortunately didn't allow for an exit, safe for the airlock which was a death sentence. One of the sentries neared, opening fire as Adrin dove behind some containers. He hit the ground hard, skidded on the polished black floor as he turned his body and opened fire and nailed the sentry right in the head. There was too many of them, his ears twitched as he could hear their footfalls growing closer. "Ugh..." he mumbled, trying to come up with something.

His comm blinked again, this time it was not from Nira but from an unregistered source:

"I GRANT YOU ABSOLUTION."

Adrin shook his head uttering to himself, "Not a good time for whatever this is." He pushed himself back in between two of the stacks of containers and stayed on the ground. A second message came through at the same time:

"HOLD STILL"

Fujiko walked right in front of him and turned almost as if knowing, looking down at Adrin as she aimed her pistol towards his head. "Looks like this one lasts shorter than seven hours." she pulled back slightly on the trigger, whispering as she was about to pull it fully, "Goodbye Uncle."

The site to site transporter activated just as Fujiko pulled the trigger, Adrin's form dematerializing leaving her shot to miss and hit one of the containers. "No!" she screamed, watching as the faint outline that remained of him disappeared.


***


Adrin had closed his eyes, believed he was about to get vaporized and suddenly there was nothing, the air changed as well as the temperature; it was colder, more comfortable and the background noises were different. He slowly opened his eyes, adjusting to the difference in illumination. He slowly stood up, taking a look around himself only for his mouth to open slightly in shock. He was standing on a teleportation pad, transparent walls encompassing it, the floor panels translucent black with a blue illumination behind them. "Where am I?" he asked, looking towards the control panel on the other side of the wall where two operators sat, one male, one female wearing white uniforms with black panels.

The access door behind the operators opened and another female emerged, this one wearing a predominantly black uniform with white panels reversed from what the others wore. It was tightly fitting, obviously of synthetic material of some sort. A black leather belt stretched around her waist, with a single strap that crossed looping over her right shoulder. A weapon of some sort was holstered where the belt and sash joined, and other various implements were visible on the belt. It was an impressive look, but as his eyes scaled her form it was what he seen in her face that shocked him. Dark violet hair framed a narrowly gauged face with high set cheekbones, crystalline eyes reflecting the blue hues of the lights within the room and slenderly tipped ears which twitched ever so slightly to the electronic chirps of the systems in the control area. "Caelai tharaes..." ("Hello father") Rin said, giving a nod to the operator to unseal the teleportation chamber.

Adrin didn't answer, he just stared forwards and looked Rin directly in the eyes as he tried to figure out what to say. He was covered in dirt, uniform top ripped up from navigating the guts of the Chonyosa. He looked as if he had been through a war and it didn't stop him from maintaining his usual menacing posture. He stepped down off the platform and stepped slowly towards where it opened up into the control area. He was at a loss for wards, glancing over briefly at the two operators and then back to Rin. "Where.." he whispered, "...where is this? Where am I?" He asked, looking at the walls, nothing was familiar, and it sure was not some old bucket that had been left over from before the war.

Rin watched him, his reactions and replied with a slight nod of her head, "Safe, that is what is important for now." There was little sign of the young one that had been left behind, only a woman who knew who he was but nothing about him. "You're lucky to be alive." She said, leading the way out and into the corridor.

He had never seen anything like it, metallic gray panels, transparent panes that overlooked some kind of open central area and the visible layers of decks on the other side, it was some kind of ship or base he couldn't tell which. The corridors were busy, full of officers and crew rushing from one place to another. "How did you survive?" He asked, trying to figure it all out.

Rin grinned smugly and said, "You will see. I have a lot to show you and tell you." She lead him to one of the internal teleportation pads which immediately sent them to the main bridge.

[LaoTaun]

Kelotshorno 'Death Blossom'

Lao'Taun stood motionless in front of the viewport in his office, his nebulous eyes stared out into the darkness of space as he reflected on the news which had just reached him. Rage rested subdued beneath troubled features, hands clasped behind his back in a militaristic fashion. Adrin had once again proven to be capable of rising up at the worst of times, the former Lorenzian leader had somehow managed to escape the Chonyosa following the act of deciet. A hollow expression afixed itself upon his face, he was far from threatened by what was going on around him, it was more disappointment. They had now been in the Elysium Spiral for some time, each minute that passed left him more critcal of what his expectations were. His patience with everything was running thin, a warning sign for many that something was about to occur.

Two lives of memories up until the moment of joining, a profound change had stirred in the unification of Lao'Taun and Koshiro. Some knowledge, some memories were harder to accept than others - not that blame could be passed, even if there was some sort of buried envy to accompany it. Even now he was a man who was viewed in a certain way, regardless of what passed within himself. His view of Adrin as a threat was something that was confirmed through the experiences of both memories - it had taken a great deal to cripple the Eitans before and perhaps assimilation was not the answer afterall, he should of killed him when he had the chance. It was obvious they both sought the same things, and only one would prevail. It however had to be the least of his concerns, it was as if the tiny hairs on the back of his neck were standing with anticipation of it.

He turned and walked straight out of his office and onto the bridge as the lights lowered and the alert signals began to flash. "Status update, why are we at alert?" He asked, lowering himself into the command chair.

"Sir, fleet wide disruptions in the mindhive - IFF just went offline." Commander Jiao reported, the Nyshakrlzhao female trying to sort through the garbled data coming through the networks. The tactical overlays flickered, markers representing ships in the military arms and the HoL flickering from grey to red to blue and then dead to grey again. "The mindhives seem to be having some sort of issue processing the data, IFF signals in the fleet seem to be changing rapidly...most Leviathans are recommending diagnostic cycles."

Lao shook his head, "Do not switch anything into diagnostic mode. Have Chonyosa run a comparative matrix on the signals and isolate the mindhives misreporting data." It took only seconds for his orders to be enacted, the tactical overlay swept once more with disruption and a single indicator turned yellow and he zoomed in.

"Isolated it, seems to be the Zhōngchéng. Some kind of malfunction or something?" Jiao said, scanning the massive vessel which had been converted from the Lorenz fleet. The former Allegiance was a massive ship, drawfing even some of their larger leviathans.

Lao'Taun motioned, "What is going on, is called treachery. Just a question of what." He looked at the scan reports, trying to make sense of the energy readings that were coming off the vessel. The energy signature was something else, familiar yet at the same time different than anything he had ever seen. Dimensional energy was being utilized in massive amounts but it didn't fit the signature of a weapon.  "Bring up datacharts from the last Yirune War and analyze." Lao's facial expression was serious, volumetric screens and interfaces flooding infront of him.

"The transmitted energy effect loosely matches readings from ARISA-like systems." The Commander brought the two signatures up on the screen, the analysis noted the simularities and the differences, the energy levels on the ship were almost off the charts, and it was sending signals that extended outwards several AU. The disruptive transmissions were effecting IFF and targetting, sending the entire horde into a state of confusion.

"Filter secured channels and isolate that grid from the rest of the network." It was a matter of simple execution, one final wave of disruption swept through the fleet and the entire system adapted to the new instructions he had given. IFF switched back to normal and the rest of the fleet's network cleared out. "From here on, have our mindhives prepared to preform heuristic scans even during standard operation." Lao looked at the scans of the vessel, the two implanted mindhives had become completely inert. "I want Nira on the line. Now." his slanted eyes burned with agitation.


Zhōngchéng
Miqursha Command Group
Fleet Divison - XVI-C-076

Nira stood in silence, leather jacket hanging over the back of the command chair as he looked around the interior of the command bridge. His communications link activated and he said quietly, "Nira here.."

"What is happening on that ship, what the hell was that disruption?" Lao demanded, silently issuing orders for patrols to change positions, ensuring that the entire Miqursha Arm was being watched carefully.

"A subsystem being repaired for some reason reactivated the dormant AIs, I have our engineers looking into the issue." Nira lied, the reflection of another form hovering within the glassy blue orbs of his eyes. "I will report when we have the issue under control, all munitions are secured." He stated, disengaging the link with a swipe of his hand.

Allegiance stood before Nira, her still mostly naked form still dripping from the pool from which she had been created at the front of the bridge. Her long white and blue hair extended almost all the way down her back, "What is it you need, sir?" she asked, sparks trailing through the grid-like aztecing within the center of her eyes as she focused on him. The manifestation of course was beautiful, almost angelic in it's build - a suitable form for the sentient heart of a vessel which was now almost a relic in it's own rights.

"Answers and Advice." He stated, lowering himself into the command chair, eyes fixated on the form of the manifestation.  He closed his eyes, and the images of the past seeped into his mind. The massive main bay of Sanctuary became visible, along with the writing on the hull of one of the ships 'Voltian' - a blinding light source showered out from it's bridge module and into the bay. As his thoughts continued to close upon the memory, two forms moved within the light in a unifying manner, it was an act of love and power, the very nature of it was almost overwhelming.

"Nira, the only person who can decide what to do is you. If now is your time to act, you will act - do what it is you were made to do." Allegiance whispered quietly.