Post by lilnoomer on Oct 8, 2023 15:30:44 GMT
Lost Star a haven of those who didn't want to be found, where every illegal vice was catered to, and despite the noise where one could have a private discussion on neutral ground.
A message was sent out to Nyath by proxy, a meeting arranged. The nature of who they were not yet revealed. The meeting place was a small curry shop, inside waited an AI.
The Voice of the Empire, a creation made to enact the Tranatonian Empires will, but leave them unlinked. More importantly loyal only to the grand admiral. He sat at a booth, besides the man running the store the only occupant.
He seemed to almost be robed, with long mechanical tendrils seeping out from under his robe. A hood covered his head while his face was a matte black curved screen. As if he wore a helmet. Fog seemed to trail from under the robe giving him a bit of a menacing atmosphere. Mechanical hands were folded together against the table in waiting for the meeting to commence properly.
A small golden sphere, about the size of a baseball flew slowly into the shop. It seemed to examine various items for sale, almost as if it were shopping. The sphere seemed to hold steady near the shop owner for a minute before moving on.
Eventually, the sphere flew by the Voice. As with the shop owner it stood still near him for a minute or so-and then moved closer, hovering above another seat at the table the Voice sat at.
Beep
The voices head twisted up to look to the orb. He said nothing, merely staring it down.
His tendrils under the robe snaked out the the bio-mechanical appendages preparing to strike the thing if necessary.
A feminine voice spoke from the sphere, its tone finely controlled. “I was informed you wished to contact my Associates?”
The sphere then hovered there, waiting for a reply.
The robotic figure stared at the sphere for a moment before it spoke. Its voice was distinctly masculine, with a horrible grating mechanical sound to it. Like sandpaper against a chalkboard.
"If you wish to speak by Proxy, a more secure method is required before we begin." He skipped any sort of confirmation, figuring it went without saying he was the contact.
Beep
The sphere moved off, and started moving back and forth near the table, as if standing guard. A woman walked into the store. She had long white hair and wore a black satin dress, slit high on one side to expose most of her left thigh. She came over to the table and nodded slightly before sitting down.
“I am Liandra, The remote unit has various jamming systems in it to make sure we are not surveilled. I sent it ahead to reconnoiter. I am the one who has been sent to meet with you. We can move someplace else more secure if needed.”
"The location is secure, I would not be present if it were not."
The grating voice responded curtly. Getting straight to it.
"I am the Voice of the Empire, a conduit in which our will is made in Ancerious. Your goals are your own, and ours our own. We have no interest in interfering with you, so long as you do the same. We extend a mutually beneficial accord. Our resources are vast, our reach unfathomable. We have contacted you for a sole reason. You have been identified as valuable. An honor we have extended to only one other." The menacing AI gave a long pause, then a simple. "Do you wish to proceed?"
Liandra looked back at the Voice. “We too have only considered one other polity to be of usefulness. But that is not relevant. Yes, we wish to proceed.”
Space seemed to shimmer for a moment in front of Liandra’s eyes and then she said. “What do you wish from the Consensus?”
The Voice remained silent for a moment then continued on. "The Army of the Panopticon is a threat to all, we wish to remedy that. Anti-physonic E-war, perhaps even mass scale Null Space generators. We require assistance. Are you willing to answer the call?"
The voice leaned forward as if to ask with body language for a answer. In truth the Tranatonian Empire had little care for the AotP in the short term, but rather colonial nations with psionic capabilities. Though pointing the finger at a largely vilified organization would divert their actual goals.
“The Army of the Panopticon is indeed a notable threat. A threat to life and free will.” Liandra said, and odd multi-resonant tone appearing in her voice. “Countermeasures against Psionics is of interest to the Consensus. And the Army is by no means the only Psionic threat in Ancerious. We are prepared to assist in developing such countermeasures.”
Linked by spatial resonance to Liandra’s implants, the Black Gate Consensus was pleased. Not being Psionic themselves there was no danger to their own plans. And psi-operant enemies did indeed abound in the Ancerious galaxy.
“There are as you mentioned many avenues towards our mutual goal. We should begin as soon as possible. It will likely take time depending on what level we want to take the countermeasures to.”
When Liandra stopped speaking, there seemed to be an odd shimmer in her eyes, as if she-or someone, was waiting for a response.
The voice remained silent for a long moment, before he spoke again. "We have already have a station nearly complete. Deep space, neutral ground. Bring what resources you wish to commit. Several Triarch vessels have been sourced for testing of the device without giving up either of our technologies... My masters value their privacy so I assume you'll be dealing with automatons mostly."
The figure leaned back. Looking out of the window for a moment. The exterior was a matte black, but they could see out of it perfectly clear. His gaze slowly shifted back to Liandra.
“That is acceptable.” Liandra said in the odd multiresonant voice. “We can provide additional systemry so that… extra-dimensional interlopers and spies cannot intervene or monitor our work. We also value anonymity, so we shall not be physically present. Liandra will be our voice and other assets will be our hands at the facility.”
“This is indeed an opportune time. Reports indicate the psion field in Corona is gaining in energy. This has been confirmed by our sensor systems. Though we do not yet know the significance of this we should begin work immediately.”
Liandra’s eyes stayed shimmering.
"We agree, work can begin at once. My masters are currently procuring vessels to mount prototypes on, we think letting... Vassals test them in Corona could accelerate our work."
In truth the Tranatonian Empire would struggle to undergo this project. With most of their resources pointed inwards to the Ark IV Battlestation, a massive project that had been eating their resources. So the Voice proposed something while he had the chance.
"While we are talking business. Would your people be willing to exchange resources longer term? We need not meat in person, but trade strengthens any nation. Even those as insular as ours."
“General Trade will be amenable to us.” the multi-resonant chorus responded to the Voice. “We agree with your assessment that trade is a benefit even to polities like the tow of ours.”
“There are of course many means of having direct trade with indirect methodologies. Front companies are the obvious one, but the two of our governments could also set up a shadowport of sorts. Legitimate in all ways so as to not arouse suspicion to outsiders-but with sufficient layers obfuscation that only the two of us know where certain select shipments care headed…”
“Ideally this facility-planet or station does not matter much, should be located somewhere between our territories, so as to minimize transport expenses and maximize transport efficiency and speed.”
"Convenient. Port Nowhere at the edge of the Avarian Frontier closest to the Expanse. It has been used as a shadow port in the past. It will suffice. Any other matters wish you wish to bring?" The voice lifted from his cloak a small data puck, with various data ports to be plugged into many different types of computer. He set it on the table, and slid it over. "Coordinates." He said simply.
Liandra’s hand reached out and took the data puck.
“One other matter does come to mind. It is both a concern and an opportunity” the eerie chorus of voices said.
“As we are certain you are aware, the Krizpakt have destabilized the SIGEC, essentially imploding the galactic economy. Now, neither of us is intimately linked to said economy, and this could be an advantage to both of us.”
“What if our civilizations were to create or more likely back the creation of a promising currency, one that could in time replace the SIGEC? This would both bring us wealth which could be used to finance our respective operations, and more importantly it would potentially lead entire swathes of the galactic economy to be under our influence, or potentially even effective control.”
The voice paused for a long moment. As if thinking. He finally spoke the low grating voice giving a simple answer, if one she likely didn't want to hear. "We have no interest in attempting to replace the SIGEC. Especially with an outsider. This is a mutually beneficial chance to develop anti-psionic technology. Do not mistake this offer for a chance of an alliance, or long term partnership. We will trade, yes. Nothing more."
The Voice despite the lack of inflection seemed almost... Offended? The question itself deeply offensive to his programing.
"Then I think that our business is concluded. Our agents and intermediaries will proceed to the installations in question." The multi-resonant voice said, and then faded as Liandra's eyes returned to normal.
The voice stood without word. The AI was tall, meant to be opposing to Tranatonians, not just outsiders. Nearly nine feet tall. Long mechanical tendrils slithering from under his long robe. "So it is so, the Voice has spoken. Go back to your masters pawn, I must purge this safehouse."
Liandra nodded, then slowly got up and walked from the safehouse. She walked for about a block, turning down an alley where she faded out, spacetime rippling around her.
A message was sent out to Nyath by proxy, a meeting arranged. The nature of who they were not yet revealed. The meeting place was a small curry shop, inside waited an AI.
The Voice of the Empire, a creation made to enact the Tranatonian Empires will, but leave them unlinked. More importantly loyal only to the grand admiral. He sat at a booth, besides the man running the store the only occupant.
He seemed to almost be robed, with long mechanical tendrils seeping out from under his robe. A hood covered his head while his face was a matte black curved screen. As if he wore a helmet. Fog seemed to trail from under the robe giving him a bit of a menacing atmosphere. Mechanical hands were folded together against the table in waiting for the meeting to commence properly.
A small golden sphere, about the size of a baseball flew slowly into the shop. It seemed to examine various items for sale, almost as if it were shopping. The sphere seemed to hold steady near the shop owner for a minute before moving on.
Eventually, the sphere flew by the Voice. As with the shop owner it stood still near him for a minute or so-and then moved closer, hovering above another seat at the table the Voice sat at.
Beep
The voices head twisted up to look to the orb. He said nothing, merely staring it down.
His tendrils under the robe snaked out the the bio-mechanical appendages preparing to strike the thing if necessary.
A feminine voice spoke from the sphere, its tone finely controlled. “I was informed you wished to contact my Associates?”
The sphere then hovered there, waiting for a reply.
The robotic figure stared at the sphere for a moment before it spoke. Its voice was distinctly masculine, with a horrible grating mechanical sound to it. Like sandpaper against a chalkboard.
"If you wish to speak by Proxy, a more secure method is required before we begin." He skipped any sort of confirmation, figuring it went without saying he was the contact.
Beep
The sphere moved off, and started moving back and forth near the table, as if standing guard. A woman walked into the store. She had long white hair and wore a black satin dress, slit high on one side to expose most of her left thigh. She came over to the table and nodded slightly before sitting down.
“I am Liandra, The remote unit has various jamming systems in it to make sure we are not surveilled. I sent it ahead to reconnoiter. I am the one who has been sent to meet with you. We can move someplace else more secure if needed.”
"The location is secure, I would not be present if it were not."
The grating voice responded curtly. Getting straight to it.
"I am the Voice of the Empire, a conduit in which our will is made in Ancerious. Your goals are your own, and ours our own. We have no interest in interfering with you, so long as you do the same. We extend a mutually beneficial accord. Our resources are vast, our reach unfathomable. We have contacted you for a sole reason. You have been identified as valuable. An honor we have extended to only one other." The menacing AI gave a long pause, then a simple. "Do you wish to proceed?"
Liandra looked back at the Voice. “We too have only considered one other polity to be of usefulness. But that is not relevant. Yes, we wish to proceed.”
Space seemed to shimmer for a moment in front of Liandra’s eyes and then she said. “What do you wish from the Consensus?”
The Voice remained silent for a moment then continued on. "The Army of the Panopticon is a threat to all, we wish to remedy that. Anti-physonic E-war, perhaps even mass scale Null Space generators. We require assistance. Are you willing to answer the call?"
The voice leaned forward as if to ask with body language for a answer. In truth the Tranatonian Empire had little care for the AotP in the short term, but rather colonial nations with psionic capabilities. Though pointing the finger at a largely vilified organization would divert their actual goals.
“The Army of the Panopticon is indeed a notable threat. A threat to life and free will.” Liandra said, and odd multi-resonant tone appearing in her voice. “Countermeasures against Psionics is of interest to the Consensus. And the Army is by no means the only Psionic threat in Ancerious. We are prepared to assist in developing such countermeasures.”
Linked by spatial resonance to Liandra’s implants, the Black Gate Consensus was pleased. Not being Psionic themselves there was no danger to their own plans. And psi-operant enemies did indeed abound in the Ancerious galaxy.
“There are as you mentioned many avenues towards our mutual goal. We should begin as soon as possible. It will likely take time depending on what level we want to take the countermeasures to.”
When Liandra stopped speaking, there seemed to be an odd shimmer in her eyes, as if she-or someone, was waiting for a response.
The voice remained silent for a long moment, before he spoke again. "We have already have a station nearly complete. Deep space, neutral ground. Bring what resources you wish to commit. Several Triarch vessels have been sourced for testing of the device without giving up either of our technologies... My masters value their privacy so I assume you'll be dealing with automatons mostly."
The figure leaned back. Looking out of the window for a moment. The exterior was a matte black, but they could see out of it perfectly clear. His gaze slowly shifted back to Liandra.
“That is acceptable.” Liandra said in the odd multiresonant voice. “We can provide additional systemry so that… extra-dimensional interlopers and spies cannot intervene or monitor our work. We also value anonymity, so we shall not be physically present. Liandra will be our voice and other assets will be our hands at the facility.”
“This is indeed an opportune time. Reports indicate the psion field in Corona is gaining in energy. This has been confirmed by our sensor systems. Though we do not yet know the significance of this we should begin work immediately.”
Liandra’s eyes stayed shimmering.
"We agree, work can begin at once. My masters are currently procuring vessels to mount prototypes on, we think letting... Vassals test them in Corona could accelerate our work."
In truth the Tranatonian Empire would struggle to undergo this project. With most of their resources pointed inwards to the Ark IV Battlestation, a massive project that had been eating their resources. So the Voice proposed something while he had the chance.
"While we are talking business. Would your people be willing to exchange resources longer term? We need not meat in person, but trade strengthens any nation. Even those as insular as ours."
“General Trade will be amenable to us.” the multi-resonant chorus responded to the Voice. “We agree with your assessment that trade is a benefit even to polities like the tow of ours.”
“There are of course many means of having direct trade with indirect methodologies. Front companies are the obvious one, but the two of our governments could also set up a shadowport of sorts. Legitimate in all ways so as to not arouse suspicion to outsiders-but with sufficient layers obfuscation that only the two of us know where certain select shipments care headed…”
“Ideally this facility-planet or station does not matter much, should be located somewhere between our territories, so as to minimize transport expenses and maximize transport efficiency and speed.”
"Convenient. Port Nowhere at the edge of the Avarian Frontier closest to the Expanse. It has been used as a shadow port in the past. It will suffice. Any other matters wish you wish to bring?" The voice lifted from his cloak a small data puck, with various data ports to be plugged into many different types of computer. He set it on the table, and slid it over. "Coordinates." He said simply.
Liandra’s hand reached out and took the data puck.
“One other matter does come to mind. It is both a concern and an opportunity” the eerie chorus of voices said.
“As we are certain you are aware, the Krizpakt have destabilized the SIGEC, essentially imploding the galactic economy. Now, neither of us is intimately linked to said economy, and this could be an advantage to both of us.”
“What if our civilizations were to create or more likely back the creation of a promising currency, one that could in time replace the SIGEC? This would both bring us wealth which could be used to finance our respective operations, and more importantly it would potentially lead entire swathes of the galactic economy to be under our influence, or potentially even effective control.”
The voice paused for a long moment. As if thinking. He finally spoke the low grating voice giving a simple answer, if one she likely didn't want to hear. "We have no interest in attempting to replace the SIGEC. Especially with an outsider. This is a mutually beneficial chance to develop anti-psionic technology. Do not mistake this offer for a chance of an alliance, or long term partnership. We will trade, yes. Nothing more."
The Voice despite the lack of inflection seemed almost... Offended? The question itself deeply offensive to his programing.
"Then I think that our business is concluded. Our agents and intermediaries will proceed to the installations in question." The multi-resonant voice said, and then faded as Liandra's eyes returned to normal.
The voice stood without word. The AI was tall, meant to be opposing to Tranatonians, not just outsiders. Nearly nine feet tall. Long mechanical tendrils slithering from under his long robe. "So it is so, the Voice has spoken. Go back to your masters pawn, I must purge this safehouse."
Liandra nodded, then slowly got up and walked from the safehouse. She walked for about a block, turning down an alley where she faded out, spacetime rippling around her.