Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 16:04:21 GMT
The Dirge had always just simply existed, well, as far as they have been in the Galaxy of Ancerious. No strong motivations, Motives, or even goals, beyond simple evolution and self-advancement spurned on by a twisted and self-indulgent intelligence. This is why, when their information highways began to slowly recede, and their normally active systems became increasingly dark, as their resources began to shift across the territories they had gained. This was at least to the Dirge, not considered particularly strange. They had no feasible motivation, but, they never had in the beginning. As far as they were concerned, this was simply another stepping stone, an odd requirement to fulfill in order to advance yet again beyond themselves. A semblance of curiosity briefly imparted itself upon the ponderous hivemind, but was quickly dismissed. Much like their innate drive to grow, spread, and develop, so too was this considered largely as simple instinct, though its scope far outstripped what they had done thus far.
The Star system Aegon was almost the direct Centre of the Dirge’s territory. A Main sequence yellow star that was below standard size with many orbiting bodies. The worlds and asteroid field had long been seeded by towering spired of flesh, tendrils buried deeply, reaching into the cores. When the concept spread itself to the Dirge, the world’s simply fell apart, every particle, every atom was consumed, used to create organic masses of the similar atomic weight. A vast cloud of particles formed roughly 2.5 AU from the center of the star, and nearly 300km at the widest points. The vast highways that formed what could be identified as a neural network on stellar scales now found itself repurposed, transporting many planetary masses to the Project. The cloud was so sparse even with its growing mass, that many kilometers could be measured in between particulate clumps. Still, the mass grew. Thin mono-filament fibers grew from various nodules, as energy was absorbed and generated by the Dirge flesh, and as new mass was constantly added into the swarm.
From the outset, a small contingent of unarmed craft surrounded the system. Another rearrangement of resources. AS the stars light became obstructed, the ships surrounding the formation began to produce their own light, from even several AU away from the project, the projected light would appear as normal, mimicking the originally produced starlight with such delicate precision, unfitting of the Dirge, that it would be nigh undetectable. As the light was generated from the exterior of the forming ring, it also shrouded and obscured it from prying eyes.
It had been the better part of a year, and activity had returned to the Dirge’s territories. The FTL networks returned, though it was significantly more ordered and less random than it had been once before. The Dirges silent project grew ever larger. Many parts had become covered with its radius in many places vastly eclipsing the scale of even planets, and deep within something stirred. Massive Spires placed On either end formed the widest points on the mega structure, their entire volume dedicated to maintaining the Ring worlds internal gravity, preventing the structure from collapsing in on itself. The measures to prevent external detection likewise had expanded to keep in line with the exponential growth. Multiple stations now orbited both the stars, and the ring world itself, Massive gravitational engines that negated the Ringworld’s immersive gravitational shadow, while maintaining the expected wobble of its parent star. For all Intents and purpose, to the outside world, the Feat of engineering did not exist.
While The ringworld remained within the artificial veil, There were things that simply were not hidden. While initially raw resources were provided through extensive Strip mining Projects, these were no longer able to keep up with the required mass to grow at the exponential rate. Entire planetary masses disappeared in a short amount of time, and entire solar systems within the Dirge’s territory were rendered completely bare, with only sparse asteroid fields, and dust clouds remaining. And Still, this was not enough. Around many of the systems that had been harvested in their entirety, immense stations Orbited closely to the stars. Nearly 250km in size on their longest poles, these unarmed stations existed merely to create and maintain a constant black hole bridge to the ring world, Using the mass of the black holes generated to siphon streams of matter from the parent stars, and feeding a trickle of the mass into the black hole to cause it to remain stable. The disappearances of planets occurred within a roughly circular pattern from the ringworld’s host system.
And so, the Ringworld grew ever larger, while the galaxy carried on, unaware of its growth.
The las Muscle mass conetced its tissues. The last neural node, and last atom fell into its designated place, a perfection of form the Dirge had worked so Diligently to erect. An immense ring, wrapping itself around its parent star, the multi AU spires branching off of ther structure, negating its effect on the space around itself. The Ringworld finally came to life, the thing growing inside of itself awoke in a new form.
AS the station came to life, despite the Dirge’s best efforts to mask their projects, it leaked through. Though it was not a visible leak, the incredible energies coursing threough the meassive contruct was such that, the illusionary star began to produce radiation in excess. Forms that could not occur naturally in a stellar body, as well the seamingly infrequent bursts of energy coming from the ‘north and south’ poles of the star.
The Ringworld itself , hgad just undergone birth. Though it was impressive simply on its own, it has much evolution to do. It was unarmjed, and had to rely on the defensive station build around it, and the accompanying fleet that had overseen its construction. Likewise, as a defensive measure, a grid based Interdiction well was created in a fasion around the ringworld. Based on the Avilun’s own interdiction satilites, this interdiction well envelloped the whole system, extending 2 Au beyond the ringworld.
In the silence of the Dirge’s home territory, they continued Their absurd project. Countless worlds had now disappeared, whatever resources they once possessed fed to an immense being that wrapped itself gratuitously around the star it grew around. Even smaller celestial bodies and surrounding the construction began to flicker, as more mass was draw from them, and an increasing number of orbiting stations Siphoned the star stuff. Around several of the smaller bodies, rudimentary accretion disks had begun to form, An unintentional consequence of the vast volumes of gasses and rock being thrown up around the stars. Still they toiled. The Ring worlds surface was now largely completed, though its internal structure was still basic, and simple. Notably, light weapons systems now dotted the surface of the ring world. Given the tumultuous state of the galaxy, as well, as the Dirge’s diplomatic positions likely dragging them into a conflict sooner, rather than later, It was not feasible to keep the entirety of their forces in guard of their project.
Now it could defend itself. Hundreds of trillions of weapons banks dotted its surface. These were the lightest and simplest of defensive emplacements. Still, heavier defenses were being constructed
The Star system Aegon was almost the direct Centre of the Dirge’s territory. A Main sequence yellow star that was below standard size with many orbiting bodies. The worlds and asteroid field had long been seeded by towering spired of flesh, tendrils buried deeply, reaching into the cores. When the concept spread itself to the Dirge, the world’s simply fell apart, every particle, every atom was consumed, used to create organic masses of the similar atomic weight. A vast cloud of particles formed roughly 2.5 AU from the center of the star, and nearly 300km at the widest points. The vast highways that formed what could be identified as a neural network on stellar scales now found itself repurposed, transporting many planetary masses to the Project. The cloud was so sparse even with its growing mass, that many kilometers could be measured in between particulate clumps. Still, the mass grew. Thin mono-filament fibers grew from various nodules, as energy was absorbed and generated by the Dirge flesh, and as new mass was constantly added into the swarm.
From the outset, a small contingent of unarmed craft surrounded the system. Another rearrangement of resources. AS the stars light became obstructed, the ships surrounding the formation began to produce their own light, from even several AU away from the project, the projected light would appear as normal, mimicking the originally produced starlight with such delicate precision, unfitting of the Dirge, that it would be nigh undetectable. As the light was generated from the exterior of the forming ring, it also shrouded and obscured it from prying eyes.
It had been the better part of a year, and activity had returned to the Dirge’s territories. The FTL networks returned, though it was significantly more ordered and less random than it had been once before. The Dirges silent project grew ever larger. Many parts had become covered with its radius in many places vastly eclipsing the scale of even planets, and deep within something stirred. Massive Spires placed On either end formed the widest points on the mega structure, their entire volume dedicated to maintaining the Ring worlds internal gravity, preventing the structure from collapsing in on itself. The measures to prevent external detection likewise had expanded to keep in line with the exponential growth. Multiple stations now orbited both the stars, and the ring world itself, Massive gravitational engines that negated the Ringworld’s immersive gravitational shadow, while maintaining the expected wobble of its parent star. For all Intents and purpose, to the outside world, the Feat of engineering did not exist.
While The ringworld remained within the artificial veil, There were things that simply were not hidden. While initially raw resources were provided through extensive Strip mining Projects, these were no longer able to keep up with the required mass to grow at the exponential rate. Entire planetary masses disappeared in a short amount of time, and entire solar systems within the Dirge’s territory were rendered completely bare, with only sparse asteroid fields, and dust clouds remaining. And Still, this was not enough. Around many of the systems that had been harvested in their entirety, immense stations Orbited closely to the stars. Nearly 250km in size on their longest poles, these unarmed stations existed merely to create and maintain a constant black hole bridge to the ring world, Using the mass of the black holes generated to siphon streams of matter from the parent stars, and feeding a trickle of the mass into the black hole to cause it to remain stable. The disappearances of planets occurred within a roughly circular pattern from the ringworld’s host system.
And so, the Ringworld grew ever larger, while the galaxy carried on, unaware of its growth.
The las Muscle mass conetced its tissues. The last neural node, and last atom fell into its designated place, a perfection of form the Dirge had worked so Diligently to erect. An immense ring, wrapping itself around its parent star, the multi AU spires branching off of ther structure, negating its effect on the space around itself. The Ringworld finally came to life, the thing growing inside of itself awoke in a new form.
AS the station came to life, despite the Dirge’s best efforts to mask their projects, it leaked through. Though it was not a visible leak, the incredible energies coursing threough the meassive contruct was such that, the illusionary star began to produce radiation in excess. Forms that could not occur naturally in a stellar body, as well the seamingly infrequent bursts of energy coming from the ‘north and south’ poles of the star.
The Ringworld itself , hgad just undergone birth. Though it was impressive simply on its own, it has much evolution to do. It was unarmjed, and had to rely on the defensive station build around it, and the accompanying fleet that had overseen its construction. Likewise, as a defensive measure, a grid based Interdiction well was created in a fasion around the ringworld. Based on the Avilun’s own interdiction satilites, this interdiction well envelloped the whole system, extending 2 Au beyond the ringworld.
In the silence of the Dirge’s home territory, they continued Their absurd project. Countless worlds had now disappeared, whatever resources they once possessed fed to an immense being that wrapped itself gratuitously around the star it grew around. Even smaller celestial bodies and surrounding the construction began to flicker, as more mass was draw from them, and an increasing number of orbiting stations Siphoned the star stuff. Around several of the smaller bodies, rudimentary accretion disks had begun to form, An unintentional consequence of the vast volumes of gasses and rock being thrown up around the stars. Still they toiled. The Ring worlds surface was now largely completed, though its internal structure was still basic, and simple. Notably, light weapons systems now dotted the surface of the ring world. Given the tumultuous state of the galaxy, as well, as the Dirge’s diplomatic positions likely dragging them into a conflict sooner, rather than later, It was not feasible to keep the entirety of their forces in guard of their project.
Now it could defend itself. Hundreds of trillions of weapons banks dotted its surface. These were the lightest and simplest of defensive emplacements. Still, heavier defenses were being constructed