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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 15:44:41 GMT
His Hand: Unknown Space
Everything was proceeding as planned, within tolerable limits anyway.
The Eosian fleet was preparing to jump, a sizable force of various civilian and military ships that surrounded the hallowed form of His Hand, all those who had managed to escape the rapture alongside the Grand Exemplar.
Tyrandis himself stood overlooking one of the vast chambers of worship aboard the huge cathedral, the place was empty and yet he felt no remorse. This was a necessary sacrifice, something that had to be done both for the future of Eos and the universe. He still wore his sacred armour as he slowly walked down the empty pews and podiums for preachers and members of the clergy. It seemed like a lifetime ago he had been given this burden.
Tyrandis had been a simple man of the synod until he had been thrust into the fires of the Wars of Faith, fighting against the heretics that denounced Eos he had devoted his heart and mind to war and bringing the fervent fire of fury in Eos name. He had risen through the ranks throughout the war and had gathered a vast collection of those who supported him, when one of the Grand Exemplars had died Tyrandis had been elevated to his position much to the anger of many who saw him as nothing more than a manipulative schemer. They were right.
Lord Exemplar Fulmina had granted Tyrandis this upmost secretive and holy mission. Eos may be dead but he could return, by the sacrifice and correct application of the technology he left behind, their god would walk among them again, and Tyrandis would be the one to make it happen never a more important task had been carried out. And Tyrandis had undertaken it as ordered, and now their lord walked once again obliterating heretics from the galaxy before disappearing into the golden expanse. This very act was more than any of the other High Exemplars, even Fulmina had ever done, and the adoration when he returned would be to him and him alone. None of the others would be able to challenge his contribution, the return of Eos and even Fulmina would be questioned by the synod. Tyrandis would be elevated to Lord Exemplar and finally he could serve his new god as the head of the entire consortium.
All he had to do now was rally those who had survived the rapture, and travel as a holy pilgrimage into the roiling expanse and find Eos himself. The time was almost upon them.
“My lord preparations to jump are complete we merely await your order.” The female voice came from behind him and he did not turn to look at here. Before him the monumental eye of Eos hung from the ceiling of the gigantic worship chamber and he closed his eyes as he looked towards it.
“Thank you Castris, you may jump at once. We collect those in Capitol space and purge Exemplar Cyllis, she is too open minded for what has happened” Tyrandis replied calmly. Castris bowed behind him her red hair flowing down over her face.
“It is finally time she got what she deserved. What of Gravus and the Herald? We still do not know their whereabouts”
“Gravus will try find Cyllis, as for the Herald she has outlived her usefulness. We know they both escaped and I expect the Herald will try to poison the High Exemplar, they will likely too be an obstacle. We will remove them” Tyrandis finally opened his eyes and turned to Castris.
“Your will be done my lord”
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Celefra System: Capitol Space
The blinding flash of just over a hundred Eosian vessels appeared in golden light at the outskirts of Celefra and quickly began moving in system. Immediately alarms and alerts were sent by Capitol forces all across the system, defence platforms and grids readied themselves while patrol forces and fleets in system on standby moved themselves into intercept positions. With Rubikon and the Crucible under attack they would take no chances.
“Ma’am, just over a hundred Eosian vessels including His Hand just translated in system. Grand Exemplar Tyrandis wants to speak to you in person” The aid spoke softly as Inara walked down one of the corridors of the palace, she rolled her eyes and turned to the aid while still walking.
“Anyone would think my palace is some kind of drop in night club… Tell all military personnel to take close watch of their ships and blah, blah standard procedure. Give Tyrandis permission to come down here, I’m interested to see what he has to say. After all the bastard was dead before he turned up, I wonder how he is going to explain his entire empire exploding and creating some sort of sentient fireball that destroyed several factions… This may even take my mind off the current situations…” Inara talked to herself just as much as the aid who quickly scampered off to see to the preparations.
“Mummy who’s Tyrandis?” Elena asked, the young girl walking alongside her holding the Empress arm.
“Some very strange religious man, come you can meet him if you like after all its going to be interesting to say the least”
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:23:52 GMT
Celefra System: Capitol Space
“And that’s the whole truth?”
“Yes. All of it. Isn’t that right Herald?”
The young girl nodded her head. Her power had definitely faded, her glow had diminished and her eyes were now far from blinding as they had been. Not only that she now walked, it had taken her days to get used to but the girl who was used to floating now had to do as others did. Cyllis looked down and covered her face, tears welling up as she lay on the hospital bed.
Gravus placed a hand on her shoulder and rubbed her back slowly, the High Exemplar and the Herald both tried to comfort Cyllis, the woman had been through a great deal. Heavily affected by the Birth of Eos she had been out cold for almost a month, kept on life support and helped by Capitol medical staff she had woken soon before Gravus had appeared and the truth had been broken to her, as well as Empress Inara.
The Capitol Empress stood with the group of Eosians, several Hydra Guard and Eosian Paladins, all looking exhausted, stood overseeing the moment. Elena stood by Inaras side, unsure how to take in the situation, she was confused and whispered into Inaras ear as the Empress bent down.
“Mummy why is she crying? Why are they sad?” The young girl was intrigued.
“Because they found out the truth my dear that everything believed in was wrong” Inara whispered back.
“So… They kept thinking they were good guys but were bad guys all along?” Elena continued still eager to process the information. Inara nodded.
“Yes although it’s not quite as simple as that my child” Inara smiled.
“Mummy have you ever thought of that?” Elena asked totally innocent and not quite understanding what she had just asked. Inara flinched, flashes of everything she had done leapt across her mind’s eye and she looked away from Elena for a moment. The comment had cut deep, but she knew Elena didn’t quite know the context behind such a question.
“Sometimes” Was all she could reply with as she smiled and kisses Elena on the head who returned the smile. Both were alerted by High Exemplar Gravus standing before them, the Herald was sat on the bend talking to Cyllis. He looked weary, defeated and like he had lost his purpose, in many ways all of that was true.
“I thank you deeply for caring about her, about all of those you have managed to save here. And I am in your debt, not only did you save those you could but you didn’t not attempt to ransack our ships or technology in this time” Gravus bowed.
“You had my word Gravus we are allies, or were. I am not sure now that you are split. You know full well that Tyrandis will be here within several hours. And judging by what you just told me and Cyllis he isn’t likely to be happy” Inara replied with a nod. Gravus sighed.
“In all likelihood he intends to wipe us out. Any and all Eosians who reject Eos teachings disappear or are killed. Its our way of things, they will never let us go free and especially as we have the Eye they will stop at nothing to reclaim it. I only apologise that our presence here will insight conflict” Gravus bowed apologetically. Gravus and the Herald had come to Celefra with a small fleet and the Great Eye, now hanging in the other system the Capitol engineers were helping as best they could to make any repairs and medical aid was being rendered to thousands on board. With Tyrandis and his fleet making its way in system with His Hand, it was a tense situation.
“He won’t fight you here. If he does I will turn his fleet and his precious super weapon to scrap, I will hear what he has to say and if he questions you are simply under my protection. Grand Exemplar or not I don’t care” Inara replied waving her hand. Gravus brought himself up and smiled.
“Thank you Empress, we will still ready ourselves for combat none the less he could have something planned. Tyrandis did just sacrifice our entire people in this galaxy for his own ends. Do not underestimate him” Gravus looked down to Elena and smiled weakly, the child smiled back before pulling something out of her pocket, it was a flower, beaten up by being stuffed into her jacket but it was a beautiful yellow none the less.
“Here have this, it will cheer you up” Elena handed Gravus the flower, the Exemplar reached down and took it, he was reminded of his own children aboard the Eye. For a moment he stared into the flower. It was a symbol, it too like his people were beaten and battered but they were still beautiful. They would find their own way in this galaxy free from the tyranny of their false faith and those who sought to use them as sacrifice. Gravus grinned, this time with energy. He saw purpose in their future.
“Thank you little one, this was exactly what I needed. More than you can know”
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Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:36:25 GMT
Celefra System: Capitol Space
The hall was well lit, the well lavished table and chairs as well as the vaulted detailed ceiling showing off the glory of Capitol gave the meeting a grandiose appearance. Inara hoped this would at least play into the Eosian mind-set. Or give her something to look at if she got bored, with Eos however and the events earlier in the day she knew the probability of being bored was slim.
She sat at the head of the table, a small chair next to hers, a lot less lavished had Elena on it her small body meaning that only her shoulders and head poked above the thick tall table and she swung her knees eagerly for the meeting to come. To her left was Eustace, head of state who had been recalled from matters in the south of Capitol for this event, as well as the head of her Hydra Guard Dimon Nagarli. To her right sat High Exemplar Gravus, the Herald of Eos and High Exemplar Cyllis. While Gravus wore his armour the Herald had ditched her ceremonial robes for some of Elenas own clothes and the two girls had made excellent friends. Cyllis had chosen to wear plain simple white robes with no ornamentation.
It was a quite interesting host, with her Emerald Sword Bob to her rear and Hydra Guard scattered around the hall she was content that any conflict would be settled in short order. It was not long before their guests arrived.
The large wooden doors were opened at the far end of the room and Tyrandis strode into the room. He carried himself like a god, his white and golden armour instantly showing off its Nakai origin to Inara who knew if he chose to fight it would be a serious problem, while unarmed in appearance she knew that anything of the ancients was more than capable of concealing hidden power. To his side strode the huge and imposing armoured form of High Exemplar Lastrus, and to his other was the fiery angry form of High Exemplar Castris. The women looked particularly enraged, it made Inara smirk a little bit inside of her hoped they chose to start something here, to humble the arrogant bastards.
“Grand Exemplar Tyrandis it is an honour, I hope this is accommodating enough for you” Inara began, Elena smiling at her side as Tyrandis narrowed his eyes. Staring at Inara before looking to the various Eosians to her right, distain crept across his face, before he contained himself.
“It is acceptable. I will cut to the chase Empress Inara I am in a dilemma. The High Exemplars here at your table have refused summons to bring the remnants of our people that they lead back into my fold and seem hostile in nature towards us. This is heresy and unacceptable, pure and simple. It is against the very fundamentals of our faith and almighty Eos will never accept such divergence from the path I-“
“The Eostine is a lie! You know it yourself you psychotic mad man! You sacrificed Billions of our own people in a ploy that you knew would end how it did. Eos never existed, but you knew with enough blood spilled and souls collected you could create him… Our entire lives, our entire purpose all the lives we ended for our faith pointless. Barbarism for nothing but ignorance” Cyllis shouted interrupting Tyrandis as she stood up at the table. Near instantly Lastrus and Castris brought up fighting stances and activated energy blades in their armour. In response the Hydra guards lined up kill shots and Bob merely stood unmoving.
“You traitorous swine! I will cut the skin from your body for the blasphemies you speak of!” Castris roared. Both the Herald and Gravus stood up, with Gravus readying to fight himself.
“She speaks the truth! We are nothing but false prophets, the Herald revealed everything to us Tyrandis deny it all you want. Fulmina gave you this mission, a desperate attempt to fulfil our faith that was a lie” Gravus added, the Herald nodded in agreement. Tyrandis merely smirked.
“You speak of nothing but lies, this is the work of heresy spreading in our ranks from the era of the civil war. Do not sully the Eostine with your words scum I am regretting the moment I ever chose you as commanders, you are not even worthy to be called Eosians. I am most disappointed in you, Herald, you were touched by his radiance personally and still you speak of twisted lies to others” Tyrandis sneered and spat in her direction.
“You are a fool Tyrandis. I told you and so did the Peliiks of how this would end, you exiled them for treason and executed others who spoke out, it ends now” Inara watched as the Herald responded. Elena was visibly scared.
“Enough. Speak what you wish Tyrandis” She said aloud.
“You will address him as Grand Exempla-“ Lastrus began booming.
“I address him as whatever I please. You are on Celefra, not Eosian territory. My domain, not yours. Especially since you decided to blow it up rather spectacularly” Inara quickly snapped. Tyrandis sighed and held a hand to Lastrus who stepped back.
“I am here to collect what belongs to me and the Eos people. I wish you to hand over these traitors, as well as the fleet in the outer system and most important of all the sacred relic of the Great Eye”
There was silence for a few moments, the Exemplars at the table turned to look at Inara who never took her eyes off Tyrandis for a second before smiling.
“And what would I get if I did?”
Tyrandis raised an eyebrow “We are allies, both APP. It is within your agenda to work with me to keep our bond strong. We as a people fought for you and now we wish to be repaid. If you refuse us you terminate this alliance and we will reclaim what is ours by force” Tyrandis was met with the laughter of Inara.
“You think you can walk into my palace, and demand of me whatever you please? And then seek to threaten me? Grand Exemplar I never took you for an idiot” Inara chuckled.
“How dare-“ Castris began but Inara cut her off.
“Be quiet attack dog. Listen well or does your backwards faith not allow you to hear the truth?” Inara snapped directing a venom filled glare at Castris “These Exemplars, and the ships in this system are under my protection. Any act of violence against any of them will result in immediate military action against what forces you have remaining. You broke your alliance when you decided to sacrifice your own people in order to create a half-baked deity that ended up destroying not only a section of the galaxy but your own people and territory. You never wanted to be allies, you wanted us to be a meat shield while you wreaked revenge on the AGA and set up your little plan, but it didn’t go quite the way you envisioned. So hear this, I am not afraid to wipe your pretty little fleet from the void, glass your sacred super weapon you still control and end your lives here and now. Do you understand?”
There was silence. The entire room was filled with anger, frustration and readiness. Inara was ready to protect Elena and everyone in the room was ready to fight. Inara had readied the defence forces and with a single command she would bright fire to the Eos fleet. Not enough to wipe it out but it would have no time to use its mind altering powers. Tyrandis eventually clasped his hands together.
“Big mistake heretic”
The next moment was a blur. Tyrandis leapt across the wooden table almost at inhuman speeds towards Inara. Lastrus immediately swept for the closest Hydra Guards, and Castris lashed out for the three Exemplars. Castris was intercepted first. Gravus had already been waiting for her and parried the rapid blow to his torso with his own weapon as the herald and Cyllis dived out of the way of danger. Two Hydra Guard also died as Lastrus, despite his huge form cleaved through the two well-dressed troopers before they could react.
But Tyrandis was the main focus. Inara had grabbed Elena, covering her as Tyrandis impacted the form of Bob who had almost in a blink stepped past Inara, attaching a personal shield generator to her before getting in the way on top of the table, his emerald blade catching the Athenite armour of Tyrandis and causing a horrific grinding noise as energy fought metaphasic quantum entangled armour. A tremendous shockwave followed from the impact, hitting everyone in the room, throwing furniture around and smashing the windows. Causing Elena to burst into tears from the concussion.
“Stay down baby!” Inara shouted as Bob riposted and punched Tyrandis full square in the chest activating his kinetic punch pad, while the blow did little in any regard to damage it forced the Grand Exemplar back across the room with colossal force. Giving Inara the chance to escape and get Elena to safety.
”Go Empress. I shall handle this” Bob said aloud, using the moment to enter a fighting stance and await Tyrandis next move.
Gravus and Castris exchanged blows, Castris fighting with dual energy daggers as she swiped, swung and countered with speed. Gravus on the other hand played defensive, his energy sabre intercepting a barrage of blows as Castris gave little in the room of breathing space for him to counter attack. The rebel Exemplar was used to commanding star ships, not fighting in person and Castris was well versed in killing at close range. She was a lithe vicious women, ever content to kill those who wronged the Eosian faith, she was relishing this.
Still the Hydra Guard were not fazed by the heavily armoured form of Lastrus despite his imposing appearance. Tachyon Rifles instantly opened fire, as Lastrus underestimated his foe. Tiny particles travelling at luminar speeds within contained interdiction corridors tore into Lastrus, practically making a mockery of his ornate and bulky armour as they blew out several holes in his chest. The Exemplar roared and charged, now covered in his own bloody, killing another guard as the hulking forms of two Triarch Forgemaster suits decloaked behind where Inara sat. She had taken every insurance she could get. Both wielded massive concussive feedback hammers as they began throwing them around building up energy and advanced towards the towering Exemplar both swinging as they prepared to strike.
Bob giving Inara the chance to scrabble away and seeing Tyrandis still recovering now went on the offensive. Spinning a hurricane of blows with his huge Emerald weapon almost beyond visible sight he slashed, hacked and stabbed at Tyrandis as he got off the floor. While the sheer onslaught pushed Tyrandis back rapidly the energy field surrounding the Grand Exemplar was beyond anything encountered, the disruptive energies and shield penetrating qualities seemed to have no effect. Even the Tachyon rounds from several unengaged Hydra guard exploded harmlessly off the bare helmed man in brief flashes of light. Tyrandis in return finally activated his own shimmering weapon, a long blade that lit up the room almost like someone had turned on a flood light. Bob didn’t care for the brightness, Bob didn’t really care for the flashy man in front of him, only that if he hit him enough times he would die.
Tyrandis seemed to glow for a second. Responding to the Emerald Swords attacks with his own, landing the occasional hit, not enough to do serious damage but enough to drain the personal shield of Bob as he responded in kind. Tyrandis, however was no fool.
”HA! These cowards attempt to flee! How sad for them that I come packaged with interdiction as standard!"
“Clever machine, but trapping me here with you will only result in all your deaths” He growled. Throwing another flurry of attacks forward, the Exemplar was clearly empowered by something, his strength speed and ability was now catching up with Bobs. While the two beings seemed unable to damage each other the swordplay and speed was a spectacle worthy of the galaxy. Bob in turn changed to his kinetic punch pads, beating Tyrandis back until the Exemplar once again seemed to ignore the hits. Returning a single mighty swing that pushed Bob back. Again reworking his technique Bob lashed out with close range disruptors, causing glittering arcs of white to play over the Eosians shield in pyrotechnic displays. Tyrandis also tried his own attacks, although the Emerald Sword seemed to have no affect from his psionic mental attacks. The two once again came to close range blows as Tyrandis still became faster yet, for anyone this would be one of the best fights in the galaxy to watch.
But with Castris soon to Kill Gravus, and Lastrus on the verge of being killed by the Triarch guards now converging on him, Tyrandis knew escape was the only option. While he would lose both of his commanders, and likely could fight on for days here it was a foolish plan. For all he knew his fleet was about to be destroyed at any moment. He absorbed another massive blow from Bob and skidded along the tiled floor gouging it before he sneered. Bob went to attack again but Inara called out.
“No! Bob let him leave! We will deal with him later!” Inara shouted keeping Elena down, she had drawn her sword, whining in pain as she felt herself being drained when she did so. While she had untold forces now on the way and the fact that Toxin would intervene if matters got too bad she knew that with his armour Tyrandis would survive long enough. She would have ordered his death had Elena not been present, but she could not risk her daughter, and she knew with his armour the Exemplar could fight for a long period destroying however much of the palace he liked with his fight with Bob. While Bob would emerge victorious with time it was time she was not willing to spend.
Another shockwave rippled the room followed by a crack as Lastrus took the first of the Feedback hammer hits, his golden armour cracking as he cried out in rage. Head-butting the heavy power armour in return, causing the Forgemaster to stagger before slicing another Hydra Guard open with his bare energy coated hand.
Bob considered the request, he guessed that the man in front of him would die eventually, but other parameters came first. This information on Eosian fighting style, and the Grand Exemplar would be useful to the Immortal Empire either way.
”Well since you asked so nicely” with his personal interdiction device deactivated there was a flash of light, and all three of the Eosians had disappeared. Leaving the room in a sudden empty silence, strewn with debris and blood and smelling like ozone.
“Retribution! Retribution!” Inara broke the silence into her coms. Even as she shouted such the Eosian ships charged their jump drives. Several were annihilated above Celefra as defence platforms and Capitol vessels unloaded firepower into them, but it was too late, she had been too focused on Elena. The Eosian fleet like those who had retreated now disappeared into light, taking with them the super weapon they had bought.
But the Eosian rebels and everyone here was alive. Inara sighed, stroking Elenas hair as the girl cried, seething the sword with a twitch of pain.
“Is everyone alright?” She said aloud. The Herald and Cyllis both acknowledged the Empress while Gravus staggered, bleeding in two places, one seriously.
“I have been better” He grunted as he fell to the floor. He was quickly attended by the Emerald Sword, who quickly applied sealant to the locations to stop the bleeding. Gravus thanked Bob, but Bob did not reply. Thankfully medics and more soldiers entered the room a moment later, as the various forces recovered. 5 Hydra Guard were dead, and the room was trashed, the large wooden table was in splinters, the tiling was smashed apart and the shockwaves from some of the impacts had shattered the windows.
“Elena its ok baby I have you, your safe now” Inara cradled her child in her arms. Thankfully Elena was totally unharmed, just shaken up. The girl merely nodded and curled into the Empresses arms.
“Thank you Bob. We will get the chance to win that fight again, and soon I hope”
”Understood. I am glad that the small girl is safe. I have re-activated my field, no others will be surprising us if they had planned to” He paused before speaking again "You certainly have a knack for getting yourself into dangerous situations. I'm going to need a better weapon if I'm going to have a hope of keeping you alive."
Inara nodded at the reply. Bob had never been so talkative, but right now she was focused on Elena. With a sigh she spoke aloud.
“I think that went better than expected… I advise that we all go relax. That was… An interesting bout of diplomacy”
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