RP: GM Cinematics The Silent Horizon - Stellarum Est

[Andrew]

RP Date

YE 46.8

RP Location

Caelithorn Cluster, Chrystalis Unvorsum

Meanwhile, as the The Alyelume crossed into the SARPiverse to the Njord System...The civil war continued in their home universe...​

FCS A’aenalin​

Inyanthaes-Class Battleship, Vespan Free Commonwealth Flagship​

Islyrion Rift, Chrystalis Unvorsum​

Prince Esari Eitan stood across from Admiral Aiya Igera at the ops table, a volumetric map of the Caelithorn Cluster including the Lorenz System hovered over the table. The vesper conversation between them was obviously intense, it had been hours since they had started examining the data from their scouts. The various sections of the map had been filled with predictions and scenarios as they went back and forth about the dilemma they faced. "That bastard did this on purpose," the admiral said as she tucked a pink strand back behind her ears, "If we hit the array platform, he's filled it with as many civilians as he can get in there. We're going to look like murderers." She huffed in frustration and shook her head, "Not to mention the fact he has an entire fleet in the system, while we have the advantage in terms of technology superiority.." she hesitated and took a step back from the table and closed her eyes. "There are at least four Yunaesa-Class Dreadnoughts in that fleet..."

"What if we didn't have to hit the array?" The Prince asked as he continued to study the tactical map.

Aiya opened her eyes, maybe they had been at it for too long? Time was of the essence, it would only be a matter of time before the U.N.N figured out that they were using the rift to hide the presence of their battlegroup. "What do you mean not hitting the array? Isn't that the whole point of this mission?" she questioned, she couldn't help but to wonder where exactly the Prince was headed with this line of thought.

He had the enhanced mindhive draw in the image of the massive transuniversal array that had been built to move Lorenz to the Kosuke Sector. He focused in on the dorsal surface of the array, "So, all of our scans indicate the array's onboard power supply is not enough to actually power the array. What if that truly is the case? Vaelaris has stuffed it with civilians in hopes we will be so hungry to delay the move of the planet that we won't hesitate to destroy them along with it." he zoomed in few hundred times more, at the dorsal surface. "That looks like a major docking apparatus to me, meaning they intended to hook the power source to the array prior to the move operation. Well consider the specs for our own array, there is only one thing that the U.N.N has that is big enough to power that kind of thing, otherwise it would be months before it was ready," he pointed out, as the map zoomed outward and hovered over the grid where Celunithar’s Gate was located. The image of the Quen mothership expanded above the table.

Aiya looked at the projection and back at the prince. "I have every confidence in our ships but I don't think anyone knows exactly what that thing is packing. The Quen didn't exactly allow visitors. There is a huge risk if we do this, the losses could be catastrophic.," the Admiral added with a skeptical facial expression. "That thing repaired entire worlds after the war for all we know it can do the opposite too. Plus you know they're going to send those fleets in, we're not going to take that thing out before they move that fleet."

Esari nodded, "True but we will send part of our forces to Lorenz, fight on the outskirts of the system and make it look like we're going for the array. Meanwhile we take this ship and our escorts to the mothership." The images on the map switched to show the Prince's proposed plan. "We don't have to destroy the mothership. We can damage it enough to delay their move to the Kagami Galaxy enough that us and our new shipyards are already in place before they arrive." he looked at Aiya, and said, "Well, what do you think?"

"I think that eventually they are going to figure out the trick, what will we do when and if that happens?" the Admiral responded as she continued to mull over the outcomes and run simulations in concert with the ship's mindhives.

Esari changed the image to one of the battlegroup's assault wings, with its tightly packed group of destroyers and gunships. "We send in our destroyers, flood the area with disruptions in an outward pattern to prevent the opening of VD transit rifts . I somehow doubt that fleet has been given the refit for the cross over into the new universe. Which means if they want to get into the system they will either have to resort to a hyperspace jump with what few ships have been refit, or attempt to cross the rift using their sublight drives. While we might able to survive here, even they can't hope to withstand the radiation levels. Their biology just won't allow it," the Prince said, which caught the attention of several of the other pink haired and blue-eyed vespan norians on the bridge. If anyone knew the comparison of their biological advantages more in depth other than his mother it was doubtful, he knew that he had won the conversation then and there.

"I will relay the battle plan to the rest of our ships and get back to my own, I will go to Lorenz with that group, and leave you to see if you can damage that mothership," Aiya said in confirmation. She bowed in respect to Esari, "Next time we see each other, I hope it will be to celebrate a victory."


(Artwork thanks to Winter!)

 

[Andrew]

Two Hours Later​

FCS A’aenalin​

Emerging From the Islyrion Rift following their Melath-Class Destroyers​

The Inyanthaes-Class Battleship slowed briefly to allow the cloud of sixteen destroyers move ahead of them, a wing of gunships and an entire cruiser strike group behind them. The faint bright blue burn of the commonwealth vessel's sublight drives rippled behind them as the crew prepared for combat. Their tactical officer and communication's officer, stood at the positions next to the Prince at the Ops table as the battle plan map projected above the table switched from simulation to real-time scan data from the LUMEN assisted mindhive not only on their ship, but those incoming from the rest of their battlegroup that had not departed for the diversion at Lorenz.

"FCS Nacatu adjust to corrected navigation, FCS Mephau adjust 37 degree z-negative, and slow to 0.2c," Esari said as he shifted the expected positions of some of the destroyers to better cover the volume of space that surrounded Celunithar’s Gate. The inky black void and plasmatic conversion lines on the edges of the Islyrion rift slowly pulled away from them as they continued into the system.

"Four point six monesus(minutes) to alpha conversion. Lead destroyer, two minutes to target and relaying scan data through LUMEN. Your majesty do you wish me to relay start order to Masamune Disruption operation?" the vespan tactical officer questioned as he glanced towards Esari, who was obviously intensely concentrating on not only the maps and relayed scans, but likely a dozen other things at once.

Esari nodded, "Ripple strength just enough to deny them VD transit, keep sharp all ships for any of their hyperspace refitted vessels for cross-over or if they attempt to flank us by crossing the Islyrion." He adjusted his posture and gave the small medallion that hung from his neck a light squeeze as he continued to study. "Odd numbered squadron fighters, and even numbered bomber groups to flight," he stated as the first images and scans of the Quaen Mothership began to come in. Six grey-colored blips also appeared as the next cycle of LUMEN's tactical overlay updated, a second later they were red, "Looks like they brought ships in after the last scout pulled out, clarify state of status of all target vessels," he requested as he placed his hand against the volumetric interface. "Conventional Weapons to ready, Five seconds to Voidtech unlock," he said as he watched,

The group of destroyers began to immediately emit powerful masamune distortion waves from their integrated CFS systems, flooding the system with a field that would hopefully deny any Void Transit corridors from opening within their deployment radius. There was a sudden shift in the lighting levels on the bridge as blast doors and shutters moved into closed positions, they were still in their home universe - which meant it was likely that the UNN still had some ships voidtech ready, at least it would of made sense of they did.

"Mephau report in sire, says you should take a look a sub-grid 0498, section A," the combat communication's officer reported.

Esari exhaled as the image expanded from the primary projection, he watched as the various dimension energy scanners tracked the massive fluxuations. He then switched to a magnified optical sensor and immediately ordered, "All ships hold positions, this complicates things," he said as the image expanded and he directed it to the primary projection forward of the Ops table, It showed the U.N.N ships, not one of them had even noticed them as it was obvious that they were firing at each other. The tactical officer scrambled, "I can't tell who is who," he reported as he tried to determine which ships were rebel and which were still UNN.

"Similar situation being reported from Admiral Igera at Lorenz, they are fighting each other," the communications officer reported as the encrypted message came from the group that was supposed to be engaged in the diversion.

The Prince adjusted his posture at the table, and said, "I suppose we can't just send a message and ask them." He could not help but to a little amused by the situation they found themselves in. This was why all the planning that could be done could not prepare one for the unknown, especially in the powder keg the Yirune Arm had become in the two weeks. There was a sudden concussion that vibrated through the ship, at first he thought they were under attack, and then he heard it from the channel that their communications officer had been monitoring, as well as through their own hull. The faint at first, then much louder whale-like song of their hybridized Leviathan's communicating. It was rare that their kind broke form, even more-so when it was in a situation like this one.

LUMEN's tactical overlay cycled again, and the overlay changed dramatically. Twelve of the ship indicators blinked from red to green, their registry and transponder information revealed below them. A second cycle followed and yet another much larger blip began to flash green, the Quaen mothership's mindhive sung across the battlefield as information was exchanged from ship to ship. Esari couldn't help but to close his eyes with a smile just for a moment as he whispered through vesper to A’aenalin, //"Thank you, I am grateful as always."//.

A’aenalin whispered back, her calm tranquil voice was much louder within, //"Enemy entities harnessed. Breach of accord."// Esari's eyes opened wide as the response came. "Mindhive has sorted targets, prepare for weapons free but hold your fire. FCS Mephau close on target specified pulse an increased an intensity of your wave, if you can get through their shielding, we need a quick scan of the internal being." For some reason Esari still felt uneasy, he couldn't help but wish he had his mother's knowledge to lean on as the intensity of the situation went from severe to extreme.

"A’aenalin, Mephau scan indicates that the ship's mindhive is has an enslavement harness." the other ship reported. Esari's face went pale, and the entire bridge just came to a standstill. Not a single person on the bridge spoke, vespered or moved; on some faces was a an expression of shock, on others anger, some even had tears in their eyes. The Prince lowered his head as his mind raced. The utter disgust he felt, watching those other norian ships made his hands tremble slightly as they came to rest on the edges of the Ops table. This changed everything, absolutely everything and he knew it.

To be continued...

 

[Andrew]

The situation throughout the entire Vespan fleet was one of pause, the fact that now Sylix and Vaelaris had committed something truly unforgivable that could very well cost them all in the end. The rights of the Leviathans and beings like Sylph which served faithfully had now been deprived of their rights. The act hit harder for the Vespan Norians, after all their enhanced genetics were due to leviathan genetic material. Esari was about to address his crew, then the rest of the ships in their group, but the sound of an alarm interrupted him. The crew immediately jumped into action, and the tactical officer reported from his right, "Our destroyers have stopped transmitting the disruption..." his report ended though as the lights and consoles flickered off then on again, then off and remained that way.

"All controls locked out," the pilots reported from their raised, now immobile positions. The entire ship was in darkness, a lonely projection of the ship's optical sensors remained active at the front of the bridge. There was no activation of backups, no switching to the capacitors as a last ditch effort to restore power. Just darkness and silence. It was obvious that it was not just them, the UNN ships and the other ships in their fleet drifted through space, dark and silent. Esari called out, "Backups, we need backups online!" after a few seconds the engineer at the bridge terminal yelled, "I can't access anything, its completely dead and internal communications are down."

"Walk to engineering, you might have to take the secondary access tunnels and ladders," Esari ordered, there was very little that could be done. The tranquil sounds of and vibrations of leviathan calls began to break that uneasy silence, but everything remained dead in the water. The calls increased in frequency as they all drifted like broken toys across the starlit expanse.

A bright flash rippled across the projection, suddenly it felt like the ship was moving but it was really just the massive flood of interstellar debris that had an almost 'fog-like' effect, and ripples of superheated plasma tore from the edges of the cloud as if a rift had formed. They watched as a form slowly began to reveal itself from the debris cloud, each and every second brought more and more definition to it. With the sensors non-operative, Esari could only speculate it was the biggest thing he had ever seen. Textured hull-like glossy black outer skin, an eerie illumination followed gill-like patterns and plate-like boundaries between the defined sections. It was a Leviathan, not like theirs, but something nature - ancient, the actual entity. He couldn't even guess how old it must of been, a true monstrosity and one that likely knew what had happened to their kin within the structure of their harnessed kin within the UNN warships. It looked to be millions, perhaps even billions of years old.

As the debris field cleared, the glossy black outer surface began to distort and shift into a more bluish sheen. The Prince trembled as he watched this ancient thing emerge from where it had come from. The ship moved almost like it was dropped as a gravimetric wave washed through the broken formation off the behemoth. They watched in horror as the creature's elongated form became clear as it seemed to coil and uncoil, its massive mouth-like structure inhaling the vessels that had been modified against the accord. Others were crushed and broken as they smashed up against his form and spilled debris and their crews across the astral plane. Esari closed his eyes and whispered to A’aenalin, he didn't even know if their own leviathan could hear him. "A’aenalin, please tell me this is not our fate as well, we would never even consider..." the whale like call of the leviathan resounded through the interior compartments.

​

The lights returned dim at first as LUMEN rebooted and power slowly returned to the ship's systems. One by one the volumetric interfaces were restored along with the tactical map over the Ops table. The main projection distorted and shifted from the optical sensor view to a strange inky black color that seemed to almost melt. The communications officer gasped to his left, Esari turned to look, and the projected images of two men stood just a few paces from the officer. It all made sense, like a puzzle coming together. He knew exactly who the two men were. The distinctive sigil of the U'rsthollosha Empire on the armor they both wore. Emperor Koshiro and his and Xytrinah's son Minjun stood side by side, their eyes just locked on him.

"I do not know what it is with you..." Minjun paused, then continued, "...people and your inability to not meddle with things you don't even begin to understand. Yet, here we are....yet again." Six more full sized War Leviathans emerged from rift space, and a cloud of Apophis-class fighters stormed from their launch bays and into flight like a swarm of insects. They didn't move against the remaining ships, they merely formed up into different formations around their home leviathans.