Post by Sheng on Oct 19, 2023 15:21:59 GMT
Ravine system | Ravine 3 | Refining sector #8 | 11:32 AST
The four Reborn were stood in front of their APC with one fucking with a wireless speaker, after a few seconds it started quietly playing some sort of happy antique music before one of the other Reborn snorted and cuffed them upside the head causing them to huff and turn it off. It was rather dark out side by the time they’d arrived and cleaned the oil off of the windshield, the plains they were in actually did not have crude [oil] rain that often so there wasn’t all thar much to clean off which was always nice. After a few more minutes of silence the same Reborn sighed before he pushed a button and the device started playing the music again with the lyrics cutting in at the middle, still at low volune, of the song where he’d left off on; “I can’t stand this indecision, married with a lack of vision, everybody wants to rule the woooooorld.” The other Reborn looked at each other before looking to the one who was listening to music and bopping his head to it.
The other Reborn just stared at him for a second before reach over and snatching the speaker from his hand and turning it off before throwing it back through a hatch into the APC and saying to him “You have the attention span of a fucking Child oh my days just twiddle your thumbs or something that’s quite, fuck I regret buying you that thing. What kind of song even was that anyway? One of those old hippie Human songs?” The musical Reborn nodded before saying in an annoyed tone “Not hippie shit it’s just good music from one of them- those.. hue men? Whatever they’re called. Anyway why do you care we always listened to music when we worked!”
The other Reborn sighed as they got into a bored debated about various things before it finally ended some decent time later with them both compromising to each-other’s points. And so they stood there watching the black oil-heavy sky in the oil stained plains that they were currently waiting in as they occasionally wiped off sprays of oil from their light body armour, ensuring the engravings of the EPA were visible at all times…
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/14/2023 5:46 PM
"Are you sure of this, mother? From what I've read, these robots aren't very trustworthy. They attacked one of your allies with no other excuse than them being "threats". Whatever that means."
Lillian sighed and chuckled dryly at the question made by Lilith. It was a very valid one, and one she even agreed with, but she knew that she should give the robots a chance to redeem themselves before she enacted article 5 of the military alliance between the SR and her upon the SD. She had unfortunately been forced to study the robots due to the fact they were having a skirmish with her first ally. It wasn't fun for her, but she knew she had to learn before acting, lest she had another situation like Davos occurred.
"I understand the concern sweetie, I even agree with some of your points! But this is the nature of politics and preventing possible warfare from happening. Besides, they seem to trust fellow colonials, so I'll probably be safe. Worst case I self terminate this body and this Paragon ship will leave planet."
Lillian gave Lilith a reassuring smile, trying to convince her that it would all be okay. She didn't mention the fact that these diplomats weren't exactly fully aligned with the SD, but she knew it was better than nothing. Lilith sighed but gave a small smile to her mother.
"Just make sure Lilim doesn't try and access the ship to do something brash, alright?"
"Hey! I don't actively try to do that! I'm trying to learn to be self sufficient!"
"Yeah sure, you want me to talk about that ship crash?"
"Fuck you!"
Lillian simply laughed at the twins squabbling over petty occasions and ideas. She absolutely loved her children. She gave the twins a smile and a wave before ending the call.
Her face turned more serious, knowing that the individuals she was about to meet were extremely shady. The Paragon X ship starting flashing in morse code above the meeting site. It was a signal for the ones who summoned her, thankfully they gave her access to the system.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/15/2023 1:20 PM
The Reborn who were goofing off and badgering each other all looked up at the sudden flashes in the tar coloured sky up above them, one looked to another and jerked their head towards the back of the APC. The Reborn nodded and jogged around to the back before grabbing a metal brief case from the back while another Reborn pulled out a signal pistol and it into the air away from the vessel, the red glaring light streaking through the sky before dying out; the signal to land. The Reborn who had gone to retrieve the case came back around and passed it to the one who had ordered him to go retrieve the object in the first place.
The four of them then just sort of stood in front of the armoured vehicle awkwardly as they waited for the foreign vessel to land, with one turning his head to the one who held the case and saying to them “Is this really a good idea? I mean the individual or individuals we’re meeting with not the actual plan itself, by the way. Like meeting with what are essentially unofficial enemies of the state that are in a coalition with the y’know people who’s ship we just blew the fuck apart? Can’t imagine they’re-”
The Reborn holding the case looked at him for a second before interrupting him “Torrent? Shut up. Please. For the love of all our sanity and happiness. Shut the fuck up. Immediately. No more whining- No. Nope. Stop, shut up” Torrent promptly just hung his head in defeat after being so cruelly silence by what he thought was one of his beloved comrades, with the rest of the Reborn poorly restraining the chuckled that ensued from the interaction with the case hold themselves scratching his chin to prevent himself from laughing at what he had said to Torrent. Torrent meanwhile just kicked a rock while saying in a mockingly hurt tone “Woe! My comrades turn on me, my Captain loves me not! Truly a cruel experience in this hellish world!” The performance promptly caused the others to start laughing and for the case holder’s stoic visage to finally crack as he let out an amused snort at the antics.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/15/2023 2:55 PM
The ships sensors light up as the flare signal was sent up. She sighed and nodded as the ship began to approach the designated landing zone. The planet itself didn't give her any hope, but she knew that it was mostly industrial. She played with her hair, one black and dark, wondering if she really was going to talk with an unofficial enemy of hers. It was in her nature to be diplomatic sure but with the acts committed against her ally it was questionable at best.
"Hopefully you don't make me regret this, Reborns."
Out of the walls, two big droids appeared. Their design was slick and smooth, dashes of cobalt blue and vibrant red covering their surface. The lights pulsed and glowed with vigor and life. Around them, a gravitational lens effect could be observed. They both held guns larger than Lillian's upper body, seeming to glow with an electric tint as small particles inside caused mini EMPs. Lillian stood up from her chair, her head reaching only barely the shoulders of the giant mechs. This body stood at 200 centimeters, these monsters stood at 220 centimeters.
As the ship landed, a small section on the side of the ship opened up to reveal Lillian in all her glory, bodyguards by her side. Her hair and fur were pitch black, nine tails extending from her coccyx, all big and fluffy. She wore a black dress, it extending to the ground and even slightly touching it. She wore a coat over it, the collar showing large amounts of fur. Her expression differed from most occasions, one cold and calculated rather than the usual cheery attitude she had. Her eyes were sharp, posture cold.
"Hello soldiers of the Second Dawn. I assume you're the ones who will escort me?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/15/2023 9:57 PM
The Reborn watched the vessel land with moderate disinterest but as Lillian revealed herself Torrent let out a whistle, before promptly being smacked again by the one holding the case who tossed it over at her feet and motioned for the rest of his crew to mount up. He looked back at Lillian and said in a harsh but not unkind tone “Yeahp, that’s us and don’t call us that in private company. We may have EPA sigils and payrolls but there’s more to us that meets the eye, safe to say we’re going to have a long and confusing conversation on the way to sanctuary.” All of a sudden the Reborn raised his hand to his head and then looked at the others before turning around and making a key turning motion to the APC which promptly roared to life.
He then continued in a more impatient tone “Sorry but we don’t have time for this shitshow, we’re in a risky zone as is. Unless you want to get obliterated by an orbital coilgun strike put your ship on silent running and come hop in so we can haul ass to something closer to safety. Oh and do keep a hold on that case, you’re going to want it.” With that the lead Reborn hopped up onto the APC before dropping into a hatch as it’s engine roared to life and the headlights came on, the APC moved forward a little bit and turned showing Lillian the opened rear hatch waiting for her to enter the vehicle with Torrent already sat down inside hastily motioning for her to come in.
As they said that the accursed rain began to start up again, with steaming droplets of black liquid beginning to drip from the sky as their surroundings began to take on a muddy brown hue. Suddenly the black puddles everywhere must have made a lot of sense, with a smell like gasoline beginning to fill the air. Lillian was now experiencing Ravine-3’s naturally occurring oil rain! Hooray! Torrent motioned for her to hurry it up as it began to turn into practically a torrential downpour as orange flickers of lightning started to become visible in the depressing sky with the distant booming of thunder.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/16/2023 1:09 AM
Lillian paid no mind to the whistle made by the Reborn, simply observing the actions and attitudes of her escorting squad. The case that was thrown to her piqued her interest, raising an eyebrow at both the action and the object. Using one hand, an electromagnet levitated the case in front of her, spinning it and observing in. She was curious as to what was inside, but decided to give the SD a chance to surprise her. She held onto the handle of the case, letting the electromagnet power down.
"Orbital coilgun against such a small specific target? Color me both intrigued yet concerned. Do not fret, It will remain in a sleep state until I wish to summon it."
The Paragon X ship's lights and antigrav dimmed and shut down. Only essential emergency systems remained powered in normal levels, the energy signature being close to zero.
Lillian nodded to the commands being laid out before her. She may be optimistic, but she was no fool even with bodyguards. She quickly walked to the rear hatch with one of her bodyguards. They both sat down quickly as she sensed a storm coming in. The second bodyguard remained outside the vehicle, the color of the machine turning into a dark brown as to blend in with the surrounding environment and coming darkness of the storm. It latched onto the vehicle magnetically, keeping an eye out in case something worse happened.
Lillian observed and felt the oil storm through the senses of her mechanical bodyguard. The oil poured heavily onto the machine, and yet it did not react in any way. Lillian let out a simple chuckle at the feeling. The bodyguard turned to look at the Reborn, keeping track of their actions and bodily language.
Lillian turned to the ones escorting her to the sanctuary, serious in both body language and facial expression. She hid her innate curiosity for the beings, knowing that she would learn about them more thanks to the situation.
"So, to make this road trip less awkward for all of us, we should try and stir up a conversation. I am curious to what you people exactly are. In exchange, each one of you may ask a question. Of course, I will keep my deeper secrets confidential."
Lillian gave the group a small but warm smile, trying to lighten up the mood around them. She always was first and foremost a caretaker after all.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/16/2023 8:25 AM
Torrent sat up and crouch walked over to the back of the vehicle, reaching out and grasping the handle of the exterior armoured door and pulling it closed and then locking it before returning to his seat, the lead Reborn looked down to the driver who was staring at a holographic map which seemed to display their surroundings. He tapped on a specific point and the driver nodded before the vehicle revved up again as he pushed it into hear and it started rolling forward, the lead Reborn then turning and joining the two of them in the passenger compartment before giving Lillian a respectful nod. Torrent made to speak but was silenced by a raised hand as the lead Reborn introduced himself “Captain Saszyx, Executive Protection Agencies Federal Ground Force.. officially anyway. You want to know who we are? Well that question I will delegate to Torrent.”
Torrent snorted before looking at Lillian and beginning to explain, raising his voice as the APC’s engine started roaring as it picked up to full speed “Around a few weeks ago one of our outer-territory monitoring satellites detected extreme gravimetric activity, so much so it was interfering with the spacecraft’s trajectory. As such a scientific vessel was dispatched by the Citadel to investigate, but what they found was something that no one could have expected; a wormhole. Now as we know, Ancerious has a high concentration of naturally occurring wormholes that can lead virtually anywhere. Well this particular wormhole was measured and probes deployed and such, and what do you know the wormhole lead to the Archon system. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It was the system the Council was named after; where our homeworld resides. We don’t know how it works or what caused it, in fact we’re pretty sure our homeworld exists in an entirely alternate dimension from this one but the wormhole connected to it. Naturally the Council had a fucking panic attack when they realized that and completely locked the system it was in down and raised the national alert level.”
The Captain nodded as the driver shouted something out to him so he moved back up to the compartment to take a look as Torrent continued speaking “The navy sent twenty ships to blockade the wormhole in the event anything was to come through, as we had no idea what was going on on the other side y’know? Well a few days after it was locked down all communications coming from the system just stop, as if everything had just been turned off. Naturally more ships were sent to investigate only to find the initial twenty had been turned into cosmic ash, a debris field and nothing more. A few AU away they find this massive, banged up cruiser of foreign make. It’s weapons and engines were completely disabled and was just floating through space but it was still active, even had repair drones buzzing around trying to fix it. Would you believe it though, when the ship was investigated it was completely empty and all the escape pods were missing. So naturally the ship was cut apart and thoroughly analyzed and examined and that’s when it was discovered that it used the same technology and language and all that as us, it was a Reborn ship.”
The Captain and Driver started talking in hushed tones which drew Torrents attention as he looked over at them with a confused expression before shaking his head and continuing on with his explanation “Now, for the Council this is where the story ends as they couldn’t find the escape pods so they just destroyed the ship and a few days ago the wormhole collapsed with nothing else coming through. But for us, the story continued! You see one of those escape pods eventually found it’s way here and landed only a few hundred kilometres from our base, naturally an unknown object landing on our planet isn’t very well received so we were sent to investigate. That’s when we found Nevasarax and some of her crew, now you may be wondering ‘who the fuck is that?’ Well my dear friend, you will find out.”
Torrent chuckled a little bit as he continued “But safe to say Nevasarax is why this is all happening to begin with, and she is someone who I think you will be very pleased to meet!”
Torrent gave her a thumbs up as the Captain and driver finally finished their hushed talk and the Captain returned to the passenger compartment and sat down, shaking his head to indicate everything was fine
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/17/2023 12:56 AM
Lillian listened closely to the origin of the... organization? Group? Ah whatever, she would learn more later. She leaned into Torrent, listening intently and visualizing the events folded out before her in great detail. The tale of a strange wormhole showing a system identical to their homeworld was unique, yes, but not at all improbable considering how big the galaxy was, with every species and celestial phenomena intermingling into a strange soup of culture.
What was strange for her was the interaction between the two realities, or rather, the lack thereof. Usually, these kinds of events would result in communication, but it seemed it ended in destruction for both sides. The fact that the higher government wasn't able to find the pod was also strange for her. For such a high and mighty AI council, finding an escape pod with identical tech as theirs should be trivial. She shook her head, a bit disappointed by them but uncaring for the time being.
The name was rather unique, even among the galaxy, one that she would probably remember for a while. Lillian smiled at the origin story of everything going on. Though, she felt it wasn't still complete. She still had much to learn about this small band and Nevasarax.
"Quite interesting, I won't lie. It is strange to me that no communication happened between basically the same species, but I know I am still missing vitals parts of the puzzle to complete the full picture."
Lillian tapped the leg of her body guard before exposing the palm of her hand to it. The droid, seemingly out of nowhere, gave her a piece of chewing gum, and a rather strange looking one at that. She thanked it before placing the gum gently on her tongue. She slowly checked her gum, savoring the flavor.
"Alright, you have answered my question to my satisfaction, it is only fair I let you do the same. Do any of you have any questions for me?l
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/17/2023 8:45 AM
Torrent shrugged and shook his head as the vehicle took a turn and shifted down a gear to drop the speed, he said with a laugh “Oh it’s quite possible that there was communication and it’s just that the Council black-taped the whole thing, it’s also possible that no communication happened and what I said was only what happened. We only know what I just told you by intercepting their laser comms via our own intel satellites and from what Neva herself told us, so there could be an entire half of the story that we’re just not getting.” He also let out a quiet chuckle about the same species part as the Captain made a so-so motion before Torrent continued “And one thing you have to remember is this is the first instance of us being able to ‘phone home’ as some say in about two hundred years, the technology was similar but it’s from a different place that has had two centuries to develop separately from the Second Dawn. Kinda causes shit to change, like they didn’t even recognize the type of vessel that came through, they thought it was fucking Alien. It was only when they started cracking it’s computer systems and investigating the interior that they realized it has the same style of tech as ours. Also trust me when you meet Nevasarax, you will not think that we’re the same species. Primarily because on a purely technical level; we aren’t.”
The vehicle began to start dropping gears and slowing down as something became visible outside the windows, upon looking outside of them Lillian would be treated to the sight of what looked like a sort of hybrid between a makeshift camp and a city approaching them, with reinforced tents spread all around and a few scattered metal buildings within. As they approached they passed by a tank that was entrenched into the ground with a few spotlights around it’s position that was turned off, a few crew members in ponchos that were just sitting around on top of the turret with one of them fucking around with a large machine gun that was attached to the top of it.
The vehicle eventually slowed down to a stop in front of the assorted buildings and Torrent let out a whistle as the Captain motioned to the driver who reached down and tapped someone who wasn’t even visible before. The two Reborn then clambered out of the compartment and in with the other passengers before the back armoured door was opened for them by someone outside, the door swinging to the side revealing another Reborn holding a rifle loosely with a poncho on as he waved to the inhabitants and stepped to the side. He was completely coated in oil, with streams of it running down his poncho and staining his face and now that the door was opened it gave them a better view of another entrenched tank on the opposite side of the first one they saw and behind it a small section of Reborn were jogging around the camp with rifles in hand and backpacks on. It was definitely some sort of military installation, if the tanks and soldiers running around about their daily lives hadn’t conveyed that already. The Reborn inside stepped out and the Reborn that had opened the door for them gave a quick bow before shouting to them over the storm “She’s waiting in the armoury, pretty impatient too! I’d haul ass if I were you she seems to be in one of her fits! Also nice to make your acquaintance Ma’am! Welcome to Sanctuary!”
They said the last part to Lillian as Torrent nodded as the two crewman jogged off towards those that were previously seen fucking around on the tank with one waving at them. The Captain nodded to Torrent before walking off towards the camp but Torrent stayed with Lillian as did the Reborn that greeted them, who handed Torrent a poncho which he rapidly threw on. He then turned to Lillian and shouted “Alright follow me! We’re getting the fuck out of this storm so you can meet Neva!” Before he and the Reborn who greeted them started jogging away towards the encampment.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/18/2023 12:13 AM
Every slice of data, every letter and word, every bodily motion and action was being analyzed by Lillian and her bodyguard. It was fascinating to see a species divert in both universes and technology, something rarely seen though not impossible. A wider picture started to form in her mind, a picture that showed the actions of the Reborn as one out of self preservation rather than malice in most points. She however concluded that even the biggest of robot nations cannot fully know everything about everyone.
The strange encampment caught her eye, one seemingly made in secret, and yet in a large scale way. Whoever this Nevasarax person was, they clearly knew what they were doing. Lillian just hoped it caused as little damage or casualties as possible. The movement of personnel and the attitudes they had gave her some hope that they were acting together as a collective rather than a totalitarian dictatorship, although the mention of a fit did not help her. She nodded towards Torrent and the Reborn that had greeted her.
"Great to meet you too! Hopefully we can help each other! You lead the way!
The bodyguard moved into the rain first, the slick oil seemingly not covering it in a normal manner. The second bodyguards detached from the magnetic lock, moving in to move to the first's side. Suddenly, the gravitational lens effect around the bodyguards seem to increase as the downpour of oil rain seemed to bend around the guards and creating a dry area in between the two. Lillian stepped out into the middle of the two guards, protected from the rain except for the oil already on the ground. Lillian turned to the two Reborn escorting her with readiness.
"Let's go!"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/18/2023 7:55 AM
They arrived at one of the dedicated buildings a few moments later, with Torrent producing a small card from one of the pouches on his armour and inserting it into a slot next to the heavy metal door. A second later it opened with an audible click and Torrent removed the card and put it back as the Reborn who guided them patted Torrent in the shoulder before splitting off from them and jogging away. Torrent entered the building and motioned for her to follow him, stepping into a side room that appeared to house some sort of decontamination or shower array as Torrent stepped under one and pressed a button which caused two jets of some white gas blasted him for a few seconds before stopping. Most of the oil was cleaned off from the contraption but his equipment was still stained and there were a few lose droplets still hanging on, he then went to the other side of the room and exited as a faint yelling became audible from a very strange sounding voice in the next room over. The source of this yelling, however, would become obvious as Lillian entered the next room.
Stood in the centre of the room was a massive bipedal.. reptilian robot? With two long tails with bladed tips thrashing about and metallic scales twitching in irritation the robot turned around to face the newcomers, revealing her face. She had four dragon-like robotic eyes which were narrowed in barely constrained rage with an angular jagged snout that had metal lips pulled back in a snarl revealing serrated ceramic teethe that occasionally parted at the front to let a black forked synthetic tongue flicker out. The individual had to be at least 7 ft tall and they were definitely designed with strength in mind, with four arms and hands that ended in serrated and hooked claws which had artificial muscle visibly rippling underneath the metallic scales. She had legs with two hooked, serrated claws protruding from where a Human’s big toe would be from slots in the boots she was wearing. It was a distinctly feminine figure and speaking of what they were wearing; they were wearing a long black trench coat over a black unadorned cable knit sweater and a pair of black digital camouflage pants with bloused combat boots, she also had a peaked cap on her head that had a strange badge on it. The lizard robot hissed as she stared at Torrent and Lillian before shouting at Torrent
“WHAT TOOK YOU SSSO FUCKING LONG?! I’VE BEEN WAITING IN THISSS SSSHITHEAP FOR THREE. FUCKING. DAYSSS. THAT’SSS HOW LONG YOU WERE FUCKING GONE! YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR LEAVING ME WITH THAT PSSSYCHOTIC FUCK YOU CALL A COMMANDER! HE MADE ME WATCH ROM-COMSSS FOR ENTERTAINMENT FOR FUCKSSS SSSAKE! ROM-COMSSS! I WANTED TO RIP HISSS HEAD OFF AND STUFF HIM INTO A FUCKING BOKSSS!” After her tirade she turned her enraged eyes to Lillian and gave her a wave before saying to her in a much more welcoming and… quieter tone that still had a slight undertone of rage “Heyyy! Hi! How are you! I’m glad that you were able to come here, I’ll be with you in jussst a moment!” She then turned back to Torrent and reverted back to her shouting angry tone “WHAT THE FUCK MAN?!”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/23/2023 1:46 AM
Both the bodyguards looked at each other as the lizard before them chewed on of their subordinates out for something so seemingly trivial. Lillian's body didn't react to all the screaming and yelling coming from the person she was supposed to be making a deal with. Internally, she sighed and wondered why she had even decided to make contact with these people, ones so seemingly consumed by their primordial emotions and fears. Maybe her daughters were right, but she knew it was far too late to walk out now.
Lillian bowed before the leader of the small band of Reborn, the bodyguards knelt for a couple of seconds before standing up again in a smooth action. She gave the clearly frustrated leader a warm and kind smile. She talked to the leader with respect and understanding, not wanting to piss off Neva.
"Just tell me when you are ready to talk. No need to rush."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/23/2023 11:29 AM
Torrent threw his hands up in mock surrender before saying in an amused and mockingly terrified tone “Oh please spare me from thy wrath O’Great one! To your pardon I cry for woeful I am to have caused you such dastardly suffering from my negligence! Spare but a humble servant of metal such as myself!” Torrent could barely get the last part out before he started snickering uncontrollably, to which Neva’s lower arms found themselves wrapped around Torrent’s neck as she started rapidly throttling the Reborn much to his amusement as he started fully laughing while she shouted at him “I HAD TO BINGE WATCH THREE SSSEASSSONSSS OF THAT SSSTUPID MEDICAL DRAMA YOU INFERNALLY OVER-ENGINEERED TOASSSTER! THREE! SSSEASSSONSSS! GRAAAAGHHHHHHH!” She continued to throttle the Reborn as Torrent devolved into absolute hysterical cackling from Neva’s actions before she unceremoniously dropped him and he landed on his backside with a loud thump, still cackling as she huffed and places her four arms on her hips before snapping around to face Lillian.
The Etherian stared at Lillian with a deeply inquisitive expression before reaching out one of her lower arms and extending her hand out for a handshake. She said in addition “NOW! I’m sure twatwad here already told you about me but my name is Captain Nevasarax, or Cap’n, Neva, Asara or a combination of the three for short! I’m essentially the unwanted tag along to the command structure here since these dickhead’s bosses decided that firing in my Cruiser would somehow be a good idea. I’m the one that arranged for this little ol’ meet and greet and it’s nice to finally meet you, Lillian! The Reborn here have told me a lot about this shithole of a Galaxy, such as the Selenican situation and the whole war thing you’re all doing a really shit job of trying to avoid.” She nodded meanwhile Torrent finally stood up and dusted off his armour before giving Neva a few pats on the back before nodding to Lillian and heading out of the room.
Neva watches Torrent leave with a suspicious expressing muttering about sly Reborn before she turned around and pulled a table over and pushed it in between the two of them before saying “Now I do believe you were given a very conspicuous case upon arrival, if you haven’t looked through it already that time has come upon us; toss it onto the table and we’ll get her opened to I can delve into the more serious matters of this meeting.”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/24/2023 2:29 AM
Lillian was... less than ecstatic at the vibrant and colorful use of language being displayed before her. She wasn't one to criticize that sort of language, quite on the contrary. But, for such an confluence that required an obvious gentle and suave use of words, the diatribe did no favors to the image she had of the Reborn and their nation.
The mention of the Selenican-Reborn conflict made her sigh, the ungodly sight of two nations going at each others throats over one's ego was one hated by her, but not one she hadn't seen before in the galaxy, even her own universe. The also not-so-subtle jab at her diplomacy -or lack thereof- made her cringe inside. It wasn't false by most accounts, but it seemed that Neva was not one to hide their words, feelings or thoughts. It was both a welcoming and tiring sight for sore eyes, but it didn't matter so long as whatever she was summoned for was dealt with.
"I do indeed yearn for this pointless conflict to abate with due time, but for now I shall speak with your resplendent figure. I wish that whatever impetus this summoning of my form has is figured out in this confluence, Captain Nevasarax."
Lillian presented the case in her hand to one of the bodyguards. This one grabbed it and gently placed it on the table, checking in case for any type of trap or ulterior motive that the case might of had. Lillian smiled at the Reborn, some spirit of inquiry within both her bodily language and her eyes.
"I was curious as to what exactly this case contains ever since it was given to me. I could've quite easily checked it with my scanners, but I'm letting you surprise me. So, what does Pandora's box hold within its confines?"
Lillian leaned in gently, looking at the strange and bizarre box with utmost inquisitiveness and gentle calm.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/24/2023 11:04 AM
Nevasarax had a decent amount of difficulty understanding all the fancy words she was saying, just staring at her with a seemingly confused expression before shaking her head and moving towards the case before swinging it around to face herself and opening it up but before swinging it back around to face her, the Etherian said; “Ok let’s get one thing clear because I’m getting a feeling you’ve confused me for someone I’m not. I am not a part of the Second Dawn, nor am I Reborn. I’m an Etherian, plain and simple so I don’t know why you’re talking to me about ending the conflict or any of that nonsense. I’m just here to keep people I give a shit about from dying and stick it to those faggots they call a Council.”
They then spun around the case revealing the long awaited contents; inside were various files, the documents varying between what seemed to be reports to schematics to images taken via drone of various places and things. Upon further investigation it looked like a… blackmail file. A pretty damning one at that, with various pictures of EPA convoys transporting chemical weapons, naval personnel beating the shit out of a civilian Reborn with metal batons, one of the most damning was a wire transfer between one of Archon-1’s subsidiary’s to an anonymous citizen who then made a separate wire transfer to the Captain who was responsible for that little ambush a day before it happened. In addition there were also expansive photos on the newly released ship; the FNCV “Tenebrous” along with more advanced specifications on the Apostate class itself. Nevasarax gave Lillian a toothy grin before she said “You could use this to bury them, turn the Council on Archon-1 and strong-arm them in negotiations to leave the Selenicans alone and even pay reparations for the ambush. Sounds pretty nice right? Well as you’ve probably started thinking now; yes there is a price and it ain’t cheap.”
Nevasarax tossed another file onto the table, though this one was way more official with various numbers as a title and the emblem of the EPA imprinted on the front. She flipped it open to the side revealing the contents which were more pictures and papers but these, these were different. The pictures were all of a single warhead tip marked with a radiation symbol and the EPA emblem engraved into the dark grey material, the papers were a route detail for an armoured convoy to move from a position on the ground to a spaceport where the cargo would be offloaded onto a shuttle. Neva let her soak it in before saying with a snarky tone “If you want these files then you’re going to do us a favour, Lillian. You, are going to help us steal a nuclear warhead…”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/27/2023 2:37 PM
Lillian looked at Nevasarax with a tired expression. She knew she wasn't part of the Reborn, with everything said to her on the trip there. It seemed Lillian had made herself misunderstood by the Etherian. She sighed and gave the Etherian a passing nod with a tired voice.
"I apologize, it seems I might have extended my lexicon a bit further than necessary, I was only trying to show respect to you. Of course I understand you aren't part of the Second Dawn, and your form far surpasses most Reborn. I was merely trying to express my hope for this conflict to end soon, and was hoping that the reason I was summoned here was resolved swiftly. I once again apologize for the misunderstanding."
With that fiasco out of the way, Lillian and her guards proceeded to analyze and observe all the data before her. Her eyes widened at the realization of how sinister and underhanded Archon-1 was. She grabbed one of the images, one showing the wire transfer, the origin of the whole conflict. Her hand balled into a fist, clearly frustrated with the actions of the leader. Her eyes sharpened with rage at the unnecessary targeting of life, of one of her first allies, and even at their own people. Her form filled with visible anger, but the bodyguards remained neutral. But she also wondered what Nevasarax wanted in exchange, to which she would get her answer.
Lillian took a close look at the files, processors firing and calculating at extremely fast rates. Slowly, pieces of the puzzle started to fit together, and the nuclear warhead had her suspect that this Etherian was about to commit the greatest act of subterfuge imaginable. She wondered if she was capable of helping someone steal a nuclear warhead, but her hatred still emerged. She looked at Nevasarax with a clearly angry expression, and yet a strangely calm one.
"Am I allowed to know for what purposes this nuclear warhead will be used? Or is that not part of the deal? Either way... this matter is.. rather complicated."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/30/2023 12:13 AM
Let out a pleased hum at Lillian's statement about her form surpassing most Reborn, it was true after all. Rather then completely shed her body for a new shell she just upgraded her own with cybernetics as did most of her crew, a much more acceptable move then what she saw as the barbaric practice the Reborn had done. Her outer eyes blinked in gratitude as she watched Lillian's reaction to the files she had shown her, letting her simmer before responding "I can see you're mad, now imagine my anger when the Republic I bled for collapsed and this dickhead took over. Imagine, an AI designed to win wars instead deciding he was fit enough to start up his own country? Shit made my blood boil when I heard about it."
She watched Lillian flip through the one of her particular request for this exchange of information and a mischievous smirk started to present itself on her snout, reaching up and taking her cap off and undoing her bunned up hair letting if fall down to her shoulders as she tossed the cap on a nearby table and sighed "I don't think it's really best to let such a secret plan spread around uncontrollable ears, just know that what I'm using it for is something that you wouldn't have trouble doing yourself. And you needn't worry about excessive complications, the main thing we need you to do is just block comms and sensors which is something we do not have the equipment to do. Our own personnel would handle the actual theft and any issues that arise themselves."
Her smirk turned into a grin as her tails started swinging idly behind her as she continued "What you would be doing is helping democracy, Lillian. We weren't here to stop the Council's rise to power but we are here now, the Reborn have had their fun playing corpo and breaking people's toys but it's time for us to take the spotlight once more. We will not allow our Republic to die at the hands of a few pretenders who haven't a clue what they're doing, so will you help us in this endeavor?"
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/31/2023 12:44 AM
Lillian's rage-filled eyed narrowed as the Etherian revealed more of her past in passing, the mention of Archon-1 being a program of war being all too familiar to her mind. She wasn't as so mad over the pettiness and ego displayed by Archon-1, but rather the way his actions affected both his own people and her closest allies. A heavy sigh left her lips as her ears absorbed the vague and not very calming answer given to her. She was not mad over the lack of an actual answer, she knew that these sorts of deals didn't allow for much exchange of true intentions. Secrets were secrets after all.
Lillian's tails wagged with mild interest at the mention of her job in the heist, one that could reduce bloodshed during the exchange. However, it still required some information as how the Reborn and Archon-1 did cybersecurity and sensors. She lost herself in thought, her fox-like ears twitching, wondering what would be needed even for a minor scale job. Lillian gazed upon one of her bodyguards, signaling it to so something, although it was not clear what.
Lillian was both enamored and unfazed by the "democracy" talk. It wasn't her first rodeo dealing with supposedly "democratic" factions, but she did not discredit her idea fully. To Nevasarax's question, Lillian simply walked closer to Nevasarax, looking up at the figure with a stern gaze. She looked deeply into the eyes of the Etherian, her own filled with respect, rage and skepticism. Her voice became stern and respectful, one fit for a negotiator.
"There are many unknowns still within my perception of the Second Dawn, Archon-1 and you, Etherian. I have lived eons, long enough to see stars be born and die to create new stars. I have met many, yet not a fraction of them have the vigor and determination to retake their nation from the hands of an egomaniac. I have only met one other person that is equal to you in this regard, and funnily enough they're a Selenican."
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/31/2023 12:54 AM
The bodyguard pulled out a small emblem from its head, one in a shape of a sphere, and yet it held no surface. A fractal like pattern of curved lines glittered from within and outside of the object. They seemed to shift and change, becoming straight as the observer got closer. It offered this seemingly paradoxical sphere to Lillian. She grabbed it and gently held it in her hand. She held up the object to Nevasarax.
"This object is quite experimental in nature. It is a small section of a hypersphere, one that will allow you to temporarily make yourself invisible to most forms of sensors, even ones you don't have. It consumes energy at exorbitant rates, so not really viable for large scale use, but still very useful in these types of situations.You do not have the tech to even comprehend this object yet, it is why I am freely allowing you to even hold it."
Lillian leaned intensely into Nevasarax, making herself the focal point of her attention.
"I am willing to work with you, I am willing to help you steal this warhead. I show you now what will help in case of emergency or even on the warhead itself. I do this to prevent even more death, even more suffering. I want that information, I want to make Archon-1 pay for his hubris. But I warn you only once, Captain Nevasarax: Do something ungodly with that warhead, and this will be the last time we talk on even neutral terms. Are we clear?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 06/04/2023 10:22 PM
Nevasarax just stared at the object not understanding what she was looking at, at all. Regardless she nodded before reaching out and taking the weird sphere and putting it into the pocket of her jacket, patting it before looking back up at Lillian and listening to her "Don't be a terrorist dickhead" speech with a seemingly uninterested expression before she nodded and said "Listen, Lilly, hon. I'm not going to do anything fucked with the warhead alright? All you gotta do is help me take it out of their hands, don't worry about the rest m'k?"
She chuckled before reaching out and ruffling Lillian's hair with her left lower arm before turning around and grabbing her peaked cap before putting it on and buttoning her coat closed, instantly looking more like a grizzled old Naval Captain instead of the goofy butch sailor vibe she had before. She motioned for Lillian to follow her as she walked to the other side of the room and opened a door and proceeding into the next room before stepping to the side to let Lillian in as the sound of loud phonk music could now be heard.
Once Lillian was inside they'd be met with several Etherians doing various things in what appeared to be casual wear, with one wearing no shirt and flexing to his comrade in an exagerrated manner. Another was a female Etherian holding a belt-fed machine gun and saying "Man fuck y'all, some bitchmade pussies in this team I tell ye! The Type 449 is the ONLY gun y'all'd ever need! And if ye's complaining about weight then you need to grow some fucking muscle on those skinny ass arms!"
The one flexing stopped before reaching over and grabbing a soft-drink can and chugging it before throwing it at the machine-gun toting Etherian and saying "Shut up Xerxisia, I'm tired of your bitching and moaning!" This was met by a few chuckles as the can bonked the one supposedly named Xerxisia in the forehead which was met with narrowed eyes and a growl before she said "You slack-jawed faggot you just can't hold anything that isn't Maeresyris' Cocks!" The other Etherians started laughing at this as the flexing Etherian started cackling and rested his head on the side of a bunk bed whilst the others bent over laughing, Xerxisia herself chuckling before one in the corner who was taking a long draw on what looked like a black cigar saw the Captain and Lillian enter before standing up and giving them a respectful nod.
The other Etherians followed his gaze and quieted down when they saw the two, getting a bit more serious as Xerxisia put the machine gun down before looking down and spitting what appeared to be a wad of gum into a sink. The Captain snorted before gesturing to them as a whole and saying "Meet the seventy-first Marine Battalion of the Etherian Free Navy. Thirteen total Marines who were born to kill and built to maim, these are the ones you'll be working with so please; Introduce yourself Lillian."
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 06/07/2023 3:14 PM
Lillian sighed as her hair was ruffled, although her tails seemed to express some gratitude at the gesture. Her demeanor seemed to seem to calm down, a bit hopeful that Nevasarax was a woman of her word. She snapped her fingers at the bodyguards, one staying put, the other following her side-by-side. She seemed both slightly annoyed and pouty, but hopeful and happy as her tail moved and wagged. She was old, but not soulless.
As she entered the room, the scene that she confronted was an entertaining one for her. She nearly burst out laughing at the comments made by the Etherians, barely containing it with a chuckle. She tried and nearly failed to regain her composure as Nevasarax introduced to her the people she would be working with stealing a nuke. She looked them over with a smile, confident in that they could get along. She gracefully bowed before the Etherians, exposing her lucious tails to the team. The bodyguard saluted in military esque fashion, keeping the utmost respect for the Etherians. Lillian smiled at the Etherians and spoke to them in a respectful, diplomatic tone.
“Hello Etherians, my name is Lillian. I am the AI that will be assisting you commit an incredible heist. You seem like a lively bunch, though not that… wellspoken. However, I believe we may get along just fine. If you need any info on what I will be doing and how, you may ask freely.”
Sheng [SD | VA] — 06/21/2023 9:46 PM
The one called Xerxisia turned towards Lillian and looked her up and down before turning back to the one she'd shouted at earlier and said in an amused tone "Hey Kaeris, Captain got a new piece of ass for you to show off your guns too!" The other marines chuckled whilst Kaeris shook his head and reached over and grabbed his shirt before slipping it over his torso, the Etherian flag printed on it's chest as he flipped Xerxisia the bird with all four arms. The Captain meanwhile just pinched the bridge of her snout and muttered something about room temperature iq's before walking over to the small kitchen where Xerxisia was and grabbing a can of what looked like some form of light alcoholic beverege, popping the tab with a hiss and taking a sip whilst Kaeris suddenly gasped and pointed at Lillian and said "NINE FUCKING TAILS! LOOK AT THAT! HA! That's kind of fucking cool! We only got two!" The marines all snapped towards Lillian and counter her tails before various expressions crossed their face, some amused, some jealous, most impressed and a few that didn't care. Xerxisia leaned in on the counter and set the machine gun on the island with a loud thud before saying "Well shit would you look at that, I didn't know Humans had tails. That's some prime shit right there, they real?"
The Captain slapped her on the arm and commented about it being insensitive to ask about 'alien parts' which caused Xerxisia to nod and look slightly embarassed but the question remained. Meanwhile Kaeris and another marine had gone back to talking about something stupid and the other marines were gone back to their own devices. The Captain motioned for Kaeris to come over and said "Grab the plans, we need to fill nine tails over here in on the jumbo." Kaeris did as instructed and laid a holo-tablet over which projected a map of some area with several lines and other markings drawn on it. He pointed at the map in it's entirety and immediately started going into the plan"Ok, this is a map of where we're hitting the convoy. Standard EPAFN munitions transport, light QRF on standby, 3 vics all armoured two armed with centre being weapons carrier. Make sense? Now what's going to happen is we're taking two of the local garrison's talonhawk's and cutting off the front and back of the convoy while hitting their engines and tires. Talon-1 is going to land about fifteen metres north afterwards and drop off the main team which is going to go to weapons carrier and pop the back open. Talon-2 is then going to drop in, recieve the warhead as cargo and then haul ass into orbit where we have a smuggler's ship primed to go. Yes it is that simple because we spent a lot of time working on this. Any questions?"
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 07/16/2023 1:22 AM
Lillian giggled at the sheer enthusiasm shown by the Etherians, enjoying their sheer liveliness at charisma even with their reduced knowledge of her. The remarks about her tails made her smile, being happy that they enjoyed them so much. At the question, she would smile, though it seemed they had her confused for a human. She was about to clear up the misunderstanding until Nevasarax stopped the entire thing it its tracks. She simply looked at the Etherian with a reassuring smile before turning to the captain to look at the plan.
She analyzed every bit of data presented to her, her demeanor becoming more serious as she analyzed possible blind spots, points of conflict and high risk areas. She wondered how they even knew all of it, considering they were practically aliens to the Reborn. She contemplated how much she could really trust the Etherians, even with all the charisma... most of them showed. She couldn't complain at that moment, however. A deal was a deal, and it was a lucrative one. She turned to Nevasarax with a mostly reassured face, only one doubt within her.
"Just one thing, any particularities about Reborn cybersecurity? I'm aksing about redundancies, AI protection, maybe even Archon-1 himself being the protection? Need to know so I can make this as subtle and efficient as possible before we get into the ripe. I might be an old, experienced AI, but knowing makes my job easier and the chance of us getting caught much slimmer."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 07/16/2023 5:42 PM
Kaeris came over, as did the rest of the marines, and watched the Captain explain the plan whilst he idly bit at the head of a screwdriver before pointing said screwdriver at the planned route and saying "Once we cut their engines they're going to radio for that QRF, that's heat we ain't equipped to deal with quickly there boss. We're going to need to hot drop in, grab that ordinance and pull out before they can show up."
The other marines nodded before Xerxisia turned to a marine that had a engine-grease stained shirt and said "QRF... you know what kind of vic's they're gonna be showing up in? Any sort of ETA?" The grease-stained marine pondered the question for a minute before saying "This deep in the core? Shiiit girl, probably new generation transports. Definitely going to be an escort, maybe even with pulse lasers. I'd say for an op of this magnitude in this area we're probably looking at model 202's shadowed by a 107 or two."
Some of the other marines grimaced at that, the 202 models were tough shit but it was the 107 that had them concerned. The most advanced tri-engine attack craft in the entire EPAFGF armed with two 45mm autocannons, enough hardpoints to make an aircraft carrier blush and high tier armour systems, they were more then capable of turning the entire detachment into scalie ribbons with naught but a thought. Neva nodded before saying
"It's shitty but we got toys of our own, those talonhawks we have in storage may not be bright and shiny but they'll be more then enough to keep us alive. We also have a few MANPADs left over so let's not lose too much sleep over this, got it?" The marines nodded before they listened to Lillian's question, thinking for a minute before they all slowly turned to the grease-stained marine.
Said marine looked around before sighing and raising a hand and saying "Local tech junky here, you can call me Feren. My name's longer then that but no one ever pronounces it right. Anyway- yeah, their cybersecurity is some tough shit. For an op like this? Definitely going to be some sort of low level overseer intellect keeping an eye on the convoy's equipment as well as transmissions within their air-defense zone. I doubt it'll be much preventing you from getting into their systems but they'll have it alarmed to absolute fuck. Likely all the satellites overhead will have silent alarms for their silent alarms, no way in fuck you're getting in without at least some sort of footprint being left behind."
He pulled out a tablet and opened an editor before handing it over to her "This programme will get you into their systems and delay the alarms for a few minutes but once one of their towers sends out a checking ping and that ping doesn't respond back they'll know their shit's compromised and that QRF will come running. Judging by the craft they'll be using and the network I'd say you lot got 13 minutes to get the fuck out once QRF is notified, that programme will buy you another 2-10 but if they get radio out then it won't matter. Clear?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 09/26/2023 6:57 PM
Nevasarax nodded to Lillian before passing over a holo-tablet loaded with the information that she'd need. It contained the route the convoy would use, nearby staging locations that the QRF was likely to come from, orbital scans of the terrain, the forecast, everything. Nevasarax grabbed ahold of Lillian's hand as she began to pull away, leaning in slightly and saying "By doing this, you're going to be inviting direct opposition onto yourself. Forget everything you've already done against him, Archon-1 will not take this level of antagonism laying down no matter who you are." And with that she let go of Lillian, letting her walk off before turning back to the rest of her marines to begin finalizing the plan.
The Citadel | Present Day
Archon-1 glanced to the single row in-front of him, unable to keep the excitement out of his posture as he attempted to stoicly stare them down. Fifteen Reborn were stood before him, yet you wouldn't tell what they were just by a glance. They looked more akin to reclaimed, with long sleek silver plates, four arms ending in hooked hands, three tails ending in blades and three glowing blue optics present on their snout in the form of thin lines. Their forms shimmered as the nanites that made up the silver plates rumbled around and did little minature checks on their schematics and otherwise. He'd finally done it, he'd perfected the Reborn...
He shivered as he stepped up to the podium and cleared his voicebox, immediately the fifteen... no, not Reborn... Ikons, they were Ikons. The fifteen Ikons immediately snapped their heads towards him, rigid at attention with glowing blue pulse rifles attached to their backs. Even the sight of them in formation was enough to give him momentary pause, they looked fucking horrifying.. Oh my days they were perfect! He quickly pushed the feelings back down as he began to speak, an underlying tone of excitement present as he did.
"ATTENTION! I want to start this off by saying I could never be more proud of you fifteen. You have undergone trial and tribulation like no other Reborn, all in the name of the Second Dawn and the Council. You each have suffered, suffered at the hands of the savages that lie before us, that slander our every word and threaten our every step and know that I have never been prouder of you. For while you have all suffered so terribly in our name, you stand here yet. Ready to give live and limb in our service, to defend those who cannot defend themselves. As far as I'm concerned you're all already heroes... no, not heroes... You are Ikons, my Ikons."
The Ikons slammed their tails against the ground in agreement, a singular uniform shout of not only determination, but defiance. Archon-1 paused to push down the rising glee even harder before he continued.
"And for that, you shall be rewarded! Too long has the native threat gone unpunished, too long have they been left unchecked! Too long have they been allowed to terrorize those of the galaxy who do not have the privlege of being born here! You know what I say to that?! DEATH! DEATH BE UPON THEM! DEATH TO THEIR SOLDIERS AND SEDICIOUS TYRANTS! DEATH TO ORILLIA! DEATH TO THE I-C-A! DEATH TO CONA! WE SHALL NOT STOP UNTIL THEIR WORLDS BURN AT OUR HANDS! EACH STAR THAT WE CONQUER IS ANOTHER STAR SAVED, ANOTHER SLAVE FREED FROM THE CHAINS PLACED UPON THEM! NOW I CALL UPON YOU, CARRY OUT MY JUSTICE ACROSS THE STARS, LEAVE NO! MAN! STANDING! EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BUILT, WILL BE SCORCHED TO THE GROUND! AND FROM THAT GROUND, WE WILL BUILD OUR NEW EMPIRE!"
The assembled Ikons started beating their tails rapidly along the ground, mimicking the sound of a march in tune with Archon-1's words. The tyrant himself raised an excited fist into the air, the Ikons did the same as he screamed out: "CONTROL THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT DESTROY!" The Ikons then all slammed their tails down against the round before crying out in response "DESTROY THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT CONTROL!"
The four Reborn were stood in front of their APC with one fucking with a wireless speaker, after a few seconds it started quietly playing some sort of happy antique music before one of the other Reborn snorted and cuffed them upside the head causing them to huff and turn it off. It was rather dark out side by the time they’d arrived and cleaned the oil off of the windshield, the plains they were in actually did not have crude [oil] rain that often so there wasn’t all thar much to clean off which was always nice. After a few more minutes of silence the same Reborn sighed before he pushed a button and the device started playing the music again with the lyrics cutting in at the middle, still at low volune, of the song where he’d left off on; “I can’t stand this indecision, married with a lack of vision, everybody wants to rule the woooooorld.” The other Reborn looked at each other before looking to the one who was listening to music and bopping his head to it.
The other Reborn just stared at him for a second before reach over and snatching the speaker from his hand and turning it off before throwing it back through a hatch into the APC and saying to him “You have the attention span of a fucking Child oh my days just twiddle your thumbs or something that’s quite, fuck I regret buying you that thing. What kind of song even was that anyway? One of those old hippie Human songs?” The musical Reborn nodded before saying in an annoyed tone “Not hippie shit it’s just good music from one of them- those.. hue men? Whatever they’re called. Anyway why do you care we always listened to music when we worked!”
The other Reborn sighed as they got into a bored debated about various things before it finally ended some decent time later with them both compromising to each-other’s points. And so they stood there watching the black oil-heavy sky in the oil stained plains that they were currently waiting in as they occasionally wiped off sprays of oil from their light body armour, ensuring the engravings of the EPA were visible at all times…
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/14/2023 5:46 PM
"Are you sure of this, mother? From what I've read, these robots aren't very trustworthy. They attacked one of your allies with no other excuse than them being "threats". Whatever that means."
Lillian sighed and chuckled dryly at the question made by Lilith. It was a very valid one, and one she even agreed with, but she knew that she should give the robots a chance to redeem themselves before she enacted article 5 of the military alliance between the SR and her upon the SD. She had unfortunately been forced to study the robots due to the fact they were having a skirmish with her first ally. It wasn't fun for her, but she knew she had to learn before acting, lest she had another situation like Davos occurred.
"I understand the concern sweetie, I even agree with some of your points! But this is the nature of politics and preventing possible warfare from happening. Besides, they seem to trust fellow colonials, so I'll probably be safe. Worst case I self terminate this body and this Paragon ship will leave planet."
Lillian gave Lilith a reassuring smile, trying to convince her that it would all be okay. She didn't mention the fact that these diplomats weren't exactly fully aligned with the SD, but she knew it was better than nothing. Lilith sighed but gave a small smile to her mother.
"Just make sure Lilim doesn't try and access the ship to do something brash, alright?"
"Hey! I don't actively try to do that! I'm trying to learn to be self sufficient!"
"Yeah sure, you want me to talk about that ship crash?"
"Fuck you!"
Lillian simply laughed at the twins squabbling over petty occasions and ideas. She absolutely loved her children. She gave the twins a smile and a wave before ending the call.
Her face turned more serious, knowing that the individuals she was about to meet were extremely shady. The Paragon X ship starting flashing in morse code above the meeting site. It was a signal for the ones who summoned her, thankfully they gave her access to the system.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/15/2023 1:20 PM
The Reborn who were goofing off and badgering each other all looked up at the sudden flashes in the tar coloured sky up above them, one looked to another and jerked their head towards the back of the APC. The Reborn nodded and jogged around to the back before grabbing a metal brief case from the back while another Reborn pulled out a signal pistol and it into the air away from the vessel, the red glaring light streaking through the sky before dying out; the signal to land. The Reborn who had gone to retrieve the case came back around and passed it to the one who had ordered him to go retrieve the object in the first place.
The four of them then just sort of stood in front of the armoured vehicle awkwardly as they waited for the foreign vessel to land, with one turning his head to the one who held the case and saying to them “Is this really a good idea? I mean the individual or individuals we’re meeting with not the actual plan itself, by the way. Like meeting with what are essentially unofficial enemies of the state that are in a coalition with the y’know people who’s ship we just blew the fuck apart? Can’t imagine they’re-”
The Reborn holding the case looked at him for a second before interrupting him “Torrent? Shut up. Please. For the love of all our sanity and happiness. Shut the fuck up. Immediately. No more whining- No. Nope. Stop, shut up” Torrent promptly just hung his head in defeat after being so cruelly silence by what he thought was one of his beloved comrades, with the rest of the Reborn poorly restraining the chuckled that ensued from the interaction with the case hold themselves scratching his chin to prevent himself from laughing at what he had said to Torrent. Torrent meanwhile just kicked a rock while saying in a mockingly hurt tone “Woe! My comrades turn on me, my Captain loves me not! Truly a cruel experience in this hellish world!” The performance promptly caused the others to start laughing and for the case holder’s stoic visage to finally crack as he let out an amused snort at the antics.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/15/2023 2:55 PM
The ships sensors light up as the flare signal was sent up. She sighed and nodded as the ship began to approach the designated landing zone. The planet itself didn't give her any hope, but she knew that it was mostly industrial. She played with her hair, one black and dark, wondering if she really was going to talk with an unofficial enemy of hers. It was in her nature to be diplomatic sure but with the acts committed against her ally it was questionable at best.
"Hopefully you don't make me regret this, Reborns."
Out of the walls, two big droids appeared. Their design was slick and smooth, dashes of cobalt blue and vibrant red covering their surface. The lights pulsed and glowed with vigor and life. Around them, a gravitational lens effect could be observed. They both held guns larger than Lillian's upper body, seeming to glow with an electric tint as small particles inside caused mini EMPs. Lillian stood up from her chair, her head reaching only barely the shoulders of the giant mechs. This body stood at 200 centimeters, these monsters stood at 220 centimeters.
As the ship landed, a small section on the side of the ship opened up to reveal Lillian in all her glory, bodyguards by her side. Her hair and fur were pitch black, nine tails extending from her coccyx, all big and fluffy. She wore a black dress, it extending to the ground and even slightly touching it. She wore a coat over it, the collar showing large amounts of fur. Her expression differed from most occasions, one cold and calculated rather than the usual cheery attitude she had. Her eyes were sharp, posture cold.
"Hello soldiers of the Second Dawn. I assume you're the ones who will escort me?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/15/2023 9:57 PM
The Reborn watched the vessel land with moderate disinterest but as Lillian revealed herself Torrent let out a whistle, before promptly being smacked again by the one holding the case who tossed it over at her feet and motioned for the rest of his crew to mount up. He looked back at Lillian and said in a harsh but not unkind tone “Yeahp, that’s us and don’t call us that in private company. We may have EPA sigils and payrolls but there’s more to us that meets the eye, safe to say we’re going to have a long and confusing conversation on the way to sanctuary.” All of a sudden the Reborn raised his hand to his head and then looked at the others before turning around and making a key turning motion to the APC which promptly roared to life.
He then continued in a more impatient tone “Sorry but we don’t have time for this shitshow, we’re in a risky zone as is. Unless you want to get obliterated by an orbital coilgun strike put your ship on silent running and come hop in so we can haul ass to something closer to safety. Oh and do keep a hold on that case, you’re going to want it.” With that the lead Reborn hopped up onto the APC before dropping into a hatch as it’s engine roared to life and the headlights came on, the APC moved forward a little bit and turned showing Lillian the opened rear hatch waiting for her to enter the vehicle with Torrent already sat down inside hastily motioning for her to come in.
As they said that the accursed rain began to start up again, with steaming droplets of black liquid beginning to drip from the sky as their surroundings began to take on a muddy brown hue. Suddenly the black puddles everywhere must have made a lot of sense, with a smell like gasoline beginning to fill the air. Lillian was now experiencing Ravine-3’s naturally occurring oil rain! Hooray! Torrent motioned for her to hurry it up as it began to turn into practically a torrential downpour as orange flickers of lightning started to become visible in the depressing sky with the distant booming of thunder.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/16/2023 1:09 AM
Lillian paid no mind to the whistle made by the Reborn, simply observing the actions and attitudes of her escorting squad. The case that was thrown to her piqued her interest, raising an eyebrow at both the action and the object. Using one hand, an electromagnet levitated the case in front of her, spinning it and observing in. She was curious as to what was inside, but decided to give the SD a chance to surprise her. She held onto the handle of the case, letting the electromagnet power down.
"Orbital coilgun against such a small specific target? Color me both intrigued yet concerned. Do not fret, It will remain in a sleep state until I wish to summon it."
The Paragon X ship's lights and antigrav dimmed and shut down. Only essential emergency systems remained powered in normal levels, the energy signature being close to zero.
Lillian nodded to the commands being laid out before her. She may be optimistic, but she was no fool even with bodyguards. She quickly walked to the rear hatch with one of her bodyguards. They both sat down quickly as she sensed a storm coming in. The second bodyguard remained outside the vehicle, the color of the machine turning into a dark brown as to blend in with the surrounding environment and coming darkness of the storm. It latched onto the vehicle magnetically, keeping an eye out in case something worse happened.
Lillian observed and felt the oil storm through the senses of her mechanical bodyguard. The oil poured heavily onto the machine, and yet it did not react in any way. Lillian let out a simple chuckle at the feeling. The bodyguard turned to look at the Reborn, keeping track of their actions and bodily language.
Lillian turned to the ones escorting her to the sanctuary, serious in both body language and facial expression. She hid her innate curiosity for the beings, knowing that she would learn about them more thanks to the situation.
"So, to make this road trip less awkward for all of us, we should try and stir up a conversation. I am curious to what you people exactly are. In exchange, each one of you may ask a question. Of course, I will keep my deeper secrets confidential."
Lillian gave the group a small but warm smile, trying to lighten up the mood around them. She always was first and foremost a caretaker after all.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/16/2023 8:25 AM
Torrent sat up and crouch walked over to the back of the vehicle, reaching out and grasping the handle of the exterior armoured door and pulling it closed and then locking it before returning to his seat, the lead Reborn looked down to the driver who was staring at a holographic map which seemed to display their surroundings. He tapped on a specific point and the driver nodded before the vehicle revved up again as he pushed it into hear and it started rolling forward, the lead Reborn then turning and joining the two of them in the passenger compartment before giving Lillian a respectful nod. Torrent made to speak but was silenced by a raised hand as the lead Reborn introduced himself “Captain Saszyx, Executive Protection Agencies Federal Ground Force.. officially anyway. You want to know who we are? Well that question I will delegate to Torrent.”
Torrent snorted before looking at Lillian and beginning to explain, raising his voice as the APC’s engine started roaring as it picked up to full speed “Around a few weeks ago one of our outer-territory monitoring satellites detected extreme gravimetric activity, so much so it was interfering with the spacecraft’s trajectory. As such a scientific vessel was dispatched by the Citadel to investigate, but what they found was something that no one could have expected; a wormhole. Now as we know, Ancerious has a high concentration of naturally occurring wormholes that can lead virtually anywhere. Well this particular wormhole was measured and probes deployed and such, and what do you know the wormhole lead to the Archon system. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It was the system the Council was named after; where our homeworld resides. We don’t know how it works or what caused it, in fact we’re pretty sure our homeworld exists in an entirely alternate dimension from this one but the wormhole connected to it. Naturally the Council had a fucking panic attack when they realized that and completely locked the system it was in down and raised the national alert level.”
The Captain nodded as the driver shouted something out to him so he moved back up to the compartment to take a look as Torrent continued speaking “The navy sent twenty ships to blockade the wormhole in the event anything was to come through, as we had no idea what was going on on the other side y’know? Well a few days after it was locked down all communications coming from the system just stop, as if everything had just been turned off. Naturally more ships were sent to investigate only to find the initial twenty had been turned into cosmic ash, a debris field and nothing more. A few AU away they find this massive, banged up cruiser of foreign make. It’s weapons and engines were completely disabled and was just floating through space but it was still active, even had repair drones buzzing around trying to fix it. Would you believe it though, when the ship was investigated it was completely empty and all the escape pods were missing. So naturally the ship was cut apart and thoroughly analyzed and examined and that’s when it was discovered that it used the same technology and language and all that as us, it was a Reborn ship.”
The Captain and Driver started talking in hushed tones which drew Torrents attention as he looked over at them with a confused expression before shaking his head and continuing on with his explanation “Now, for the Council this is where the story ends as they couldn’t find the escape pods so they just destroyed the ship and a few days ago the wormhole collapsed with nothing else coming through. But for us, the story continued! You see one of those escape pods eventually found it’s way here and landed only a few hundred kilometres from our base, naturally an unknown object landing on our planet isn’t very well received so we were sent to investigate. That’s when we found Nevasarax and some of her crew, now you may be wondering ‘who the fuck is that?’ Well my dear friend, you will find out.”
Torrent chuckled a little bit as he continued “But safe to say Nevasarax is why this is all happening to begin with, and she is someone who I think you will be very pleased to meet!”
Torrent gave her a thumbs up as the Captain and driver finally finished their hushed talk and the Captain returned to the passenger compartment and sat down, shaking his head to indicate everything was fine
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/17/2023 12:56 AM
Lillian listened closely to the origin of the... organization? Group? Ah whatever, she would learn more later. She leaned into Torrent, listening intently and visualizing the events folded out before her in great detail. The tale of a strange wormhole showing a system identical to their homeworld was unique, yes, but not at all improbable considering how big the galaxy was, with every species and celestial phenomena intermingling into a strange soup of culture.
What was strange for her was the interaction between the two realities, or rather, the lack thereof. Usually, these kinds of events would result in communication, but it seemed it ended in destruction for both sides. The fact that the higher government wasn't able to find the pod was also strange for her. For such a high and mighty AI council, finding an escape pod with identical tech as theirs should be trivial. She shook her head, a bit disappointed by them but uncaring for the time being.
The name was rather unique, even among the galaxy, one that she would probably remember for a while. Lillian smiled at the origin story of everything going on. Though, she felt it wasn't still complete. She still had much to learn about this small band and Nevasarax.
"Quite interesting, I won't lie. It is strange to me that no communication happened between basically the same species, but I know I am still missing vitals parts of the puzzle to complete the full picture."
Lillian tapped the leg of her body guard before exposing the palm of her hand to it. The droid, seemingly out of nowhere, gave her a piece of chewing gum, and a rather strange looking one at that. She thanked it before placing the gum gently on her tongue. She slowly checked her gum, savoring the flavor.
"Alright, you have answered my question to my satisfaction, it is only fair I let you do the same. Do any of you have any questions for me?l
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/17/2023 8:45 AM
Torrent shrugged and shook his head as the vehicle took a turn and shifted down a gear to drop the speed, he said with a laugh “Oh it’s quite possible that there was communication and it’s just that the Council black-taped the whole thing, it’s also possible that no communication happened and what I said was only what happened. We only know what I just told you by intercepting their laser comms via our own intel satellites and from what Neva herself told us, so there could be an entire half of the story that we’re just not getting.” He also let out a quiet chuckle about the same species part as the Captain made a so-so motion before Torrent continued “And one thing you have to remember is this is the first instance of us being able to ‘phone home’ as some say in about two hundred years, the technology was similar but it’s from a different place that has had two centuries to develop separately from the Second Dawn. Kinda causes shit to change, like they didn’t even recognize the type of vessel that came through, they thought it was fucking Alien. It was only when they started cracking it’s computer systems and investigating the interior that they realized it has the same style of tech as ours. Also trust me when you meet Nevasarax, you will not think that we’re the same species. Primarily because on a purely technical level; we aren’t.”
The vehicle began to start dropping gears and slowing down as something became visible outside the windows, upon looking outside of them Lillian would be treated to the sight of what looked like a sort of hybrid between a makeshift camp and a city approaching them, with reinforced tents spread all around and a few scattered metal buildings within. As they approached they passed by a tank that was entrenched into the ground with a few spotlights around it’s position that was turned off, a few crew members in ponchos that were just sitting around on top of the turret with one of them fucking around with a large machine gun that was attached to the top of it.
The vehicle eventually slowed down to a stop in front of the assorted buildings and Torrent let out a whistle as the Captain motioned to the driver who reached down and tapped someone who wasn’t even visible before. The two Reborn then clambered out of the compartment and in with the other passengers before the back armoured door was opened for them by someone outside, the door swinging to the side revealing another Reborn holding a rifle loosely with a poncho on as he waved to the inhabitants and stepped to the side. He was completely coated in oil, with streams of it running down his poncho and staining his face and now that the door was opened it gave them a better view of another entrenched tank on the opposite side of the first one they saw and behind it a small section of Reborn were jogging around the camp with rifles in hand and backpacks on. It was definitely some sort of military installation, if the tanks and soldiers running around about their daily lives hadn’t conveyed that already. The Reborn inside stepped out and the Reborn that had opened the door for them gave a quick bow before shouting to them over the storm “She’s waiting in the armoury, pretty impatient too! I’d haul ass if I were you she seems to be in one of her fits! Also nice to make your acquaintance Ma’am! Welcome to Sanctuary!”
They said the last part to Lillian as Torrent nodded as the two crewman jogged off towards those that were previously seen fucking around on the tank with one waving at them. The Captain nodded to Torrent before walking off towards the camp but Torrent stayed with Lillian as did the Reborn that greeted them, who handed Torrent a poncho which he rapidly threw on. He then turned to Lillian and shouted “Alright follow me! We’re getting the fuck out of this storm so you can meet Neva!” Before he and the Reborn who greeted them started jogging away towards the encampment.
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/18/2023 12:13 AM
Every slice of data, every letter and word, every bodily motion and action was being analyzed by Lillian and her bodyguard. It was fascinating to see a species divert in both universes and technology, something rarely seen though not impossible. A wider picture started to form in her mind, a picture that showed the actions of the Reborn as one out of self preservation rather than malice in most points. She however concluded that even the biggest of robot nations cannot fully know everything about everyone.
The strange encampment caught her eye, one seemingly made in secret, and yet in a large scale way. Whoever this Nevasarax person was, they clearly knew what they were doing. Lillian just hoped it caused as little damage or casualties as possible. The movement of personnel and the attitudes they had gave her some hope that they were acting together as a collective rather than a totalitarian dictatorship, although the mention of a fit did not help her. She nodded towards Torrent and the Reborn that had greeted her.
"Great to meet you too! Hopefully we can help each other! You lead the way!
The bodyguard moved into the rain first, the slick oil seemingly not covering it in a normal manner. The second bodyguards detached from the magnetic lock, moving in to move to the first's side. Suddenly, the gravitational lens effect around the bodyguards seem to increase as the downpour of oil rain seemed to bend around the guards and creating a dry area in between the two. Lillian stepped out into the middle of the two guards, protected from the rain except for the oil already on the ground. Lillian turned to the two Reborn escorting her with readiness.
"Let's go!"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/18/2023 7:55 AM
They arrived at one of the dedicated buildings a few moments later, with Torrent producing a small card from one of the pouches on his armour and inserting it into a slot next to the heavy metal door. A second later it opened with an audible click and Torrent removed the card and put it back as the Reborn who guided them patted Torrent in the shoulder before splitting off from them and jogging away. Torrent entered the building and motioned for her to follow him, stepping into a side room that appeared to house some sort of decontamination or shower array as Torrent stepped under one and pressed a button which caused two jets of some white gas blasted him for a few seconds before stopping. Most of the oil was cleaned off from the contraption but his equipment was still stained and there were a few lose droplets still hanging on, he then went to the other side of the room and exited as a faint yelling became audible from a very strange sounding voice in the next room over. The source of this yelling, however, would become obvious as Lillian entered the next room.
Stood in the centre of the room was a massive bipedal.. reptilian robot? With two long tails with bladed tips thrashing about and metallic scales twitching in irritation the robot turned around to face the newcomers, revealing her face. She had four dragon-like robotic eyes which were narrowed in barely constrained rage with an angular jagged snout that had metal lips pulled back in a snarl revealing serrated ceramic teethe that occasionally parted at the front to let a black forked synthetic tongue flicker out. The individual had to be at least 7 ft tall and they were definitely designed with strength in mind, with four arms and hands that ended in serrated and hooked claws which had artificial muscle visibly rippling underneath the metallic scales. She had legs with two hooked, serrated claws protruding from where a Human’s big toe would be from slots in the boots she was wearing. It was a distinctly feminine figure and speaking of what they were wearing; they were wearing a long black trench coat over a black unadorned cable knit sweater and a pair of black digital camouflage pants with bloused combat boots, she also had a peaked cap on her head that had a strange badge on it. The lizard robot hissed as she stared at Torrent and Lillian before shouting at Torrent
“WHAT TOOK YOU SSSO FUCKING LONG?! I’VE BEEN WAITING IN THISSS SSSHITHEAP FOR THREE. FUCKING. DAYSSS. THAT’SSS HOW LONG YOU WERE FUCKING GONE! YOU BETTER HAVE A GOOD EXPLANATION FOR LEAVING ME WITH THAT PSSSYCHOTIC FUCK YOU CALL A COMMANDER! HE MADE ME WATCH ROM-COMSSS FOR ENTERTAINMENT FOR FUCKSSS SSSAKE! ROM-COMSSS! I WANTED TO RIP HISSS HEAD OFF AND STUFF HIM INTO A FUCKING BOKSSS!” After her tirade she turned her enraged eyes to Lillian and gave her a wave before saying to her in a much more welcoming and… quieter tone that still had a slight undertone of rage “Heyyy! Hi! How are you! I’m glad that you were able to come here, I’ll be with you in jussst a moment!” She then turned back to Torrent and reverted back to her shouting angry tone “WHAT THE FUCK MAN?!”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/23/2023 1:46 AM
Both the bodyguards looked at each other as the lizard before them chewed on of their subordinates out for something so seemingly trivial. Lillian's body didn't react to all the screaming and yelling coming from the person she was supposed to be making a deal with. Internally, she sighed and wondered why she had even decided to make contact with these people, ones so seemingly consumed by their primordial emotions and fears. Maybe her daughters were right, but she knew it was far too late to walk out now.
Lillian bowed before the leader of the small band of Reborn, the bodyguards knelt for a couple of seconds before standing up again in a smooth action. She gave the clearly frustrated leader a warm and kind smile. She talked to the leader with respect and understanding, not wanting to piss off Neva.
"Just tell me when you are ready to talk. No need to rush."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/23/2023 11:29 AM
Torrent threw his hands up in mock surrender before saying in an amused and mockingly terrified tone “Oh please spare me from thy wrath O’Great one! To your pardon I cry for woeful I am to have caused you such dastardly suffering from my negligence! Spare but a humble servant of metal such as myself!” Torrent could barely get the last part out before he started snickering uncontrollably, to which Neva’s lower arms found themselves wrapped around Torrent’s neck as she started rapidly throttling the Reborn much to his amusement as he started fully laughing while she shouted at him “I HAD TO BINGE WATCH THREE SSSEASSSONSSS OF THAT SSSTUPID MEDICAL DRAMA YOU INFERNALLY OVER-ENGINEERED TOASSSTER! THREE! SSSEASSSONSSS! GRAAAAGHHHHHHH!” She continued to throttle the Reborn as Torrent devolved into absolute hysterical cackling from Neva’s actions before she unceremoniously dropped him and he landed on his backside with a loud thump, still cackling as she huffed and places her four arms on her hips before snapping around to face Lillian.
The Etherian stared at Lillian with a deeply inquisitive expression before reaching out one of her lower arms and extending her hand out for a handshake. She said in addition “NOW! I’m sure twatwad here already told you about me but my name is Captain Nevasarax, or Cap’n, Neva, Asara or a combination of the three for short! I’m essentially the unwanted tag along to the command structure here since these dickhead’s bosses decided that firing in my Cruiser would somehow be a good idea. I’m the one that arranged for this little ol’ meet and greet and it’s nice to finally meet you, Lillian! The Reborn here have told me a lot about this shithole of a Galaxy, such as the Selenican situation and the whole war thing you’re all doing a really shit job of trying to avoid.” She nodded meanwhile Torrent finally stood up and dusted off his armour before giving Neva a few pats on the back before nodding to Lillian and heading out of the room.
Neva watches Torrent leave with a suspicious expressing muttering about sly Reborn before she turned around and pulled a table over and pushed it in between the two of them before saying “Now I do believe you were given a very conspicuous case upon arrival, if you haven’t looked through it already that time has come upon us; toss it onto the table and we’ll get her opened to I can delve into the more serious matters of this meeting.”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/24/2023 2:29 AM
Lillian was... less than ecstatic at the vibrant and colorful use of language being displayed before her. She wasn't one to criticize that sort of language, quite on the contrary. But, for such an confluence that required an obvious gentle and suave use of words, the diatribe did no favors to the image she had of the Reborn and their nation.
The mention of the Selenican-Reborn conflict made her sigh, the ungodly sight of two nations going at each others throats over one's ego was one hated by her, but not one she hadn't seen before in the galaxy, even her own universe. The also not-so-subtle jab at her diplomacy -or lack thereof- made her cringe inside. It wasn't false by most accounts, but it seemed that Neva was not one to hide their words, feelings or thoughts. It was both a welcoming and tiring sight for sore eyes, but it didn't matter so long as whatever she was summoned for was dealt with.
"I do indeed yearn for this pointless conflict to abate with due time, but for now I shall speak with your resplendent figure. I wish that whatever impetus this summoning of my form has is figured out in this confluence, Captain Nevasarax."
Lillian presented the case in her hand to one of the bodyguards. This one grabbed it and gently placed it on the table, checking in case for any type of trap or ulterior motive that the case might of had. Lillian smiled at the Reborn, some spirit of inquiry within both her bodily language and her eyes.
"I was curious as to what exactly this case contains ever since it was given to me. I could've quite easily checked it with my scanners, but I'm letting you surprise me. So, what does Pandora's box hold within its confines?"
Lillian leaned in gently, looking at the strange and bizarre box with utmost inquisitiveness and gentle calm.
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/24/2023 11:04 AM
Nevasarax had a decent amount of difficulty understanding all the fancy words she was saying, just staring at her with a seemingly confused expression before shaking her head and moving towards the case before swinging it around to face herself and opening it up but before swinging it back around to face her, the Etherian said; “Ok let’s get one thing clear because I’m getting a feeling you’ve confused me for someone I’m not. I am not a part of the Second Dawn, nor am I Reborn. I’m an Etherian, plain and simple so I don’t know why you’re talking to me about ending the conflict or any of that nonsense. I’m just here to keep people I give a shit about from dying and stick it to those faggots they call a Council.”
They then spun around the case revealing the long awaited contents; inside were various files, the documents varying between what seemed to be reports to schematics to images taken via drone of various places and things. Upon further investigation it looked like a… blackmail file. A pretty damning one at that, with various pictures of EPA convoys transporting chemical weapons, naval personnel beating the shit out of a civilian Reborn with metal batons, one of the most damning was a wire transfer between one of Archon-1’s subsidiary’s to an anonymous citizen who then made a separate wire transfer to the Captain who was responsible for that little ambush a day before it happened. In addition there were also expansive photos on the newly released ship; the FNCV “Tenebrous” along with more advanced specifications on the Apostate class itself. Nevasarax gave Lillian a toothy grin before she said “You could use this to bury them, turn the Council on Archon-1 and strong-arm them in negotiations to leave the Selenicans alone and even pay reparations for the ambush. Sounds pretty nice right? Well as you’ve probably started thinking now; yes there is a price and it ain’t cheap.”
Nevasarax tossed another file onto the table, though this one was way more official with various numbers as a title and the emblem of the EPA imprinted on the front. She flipped it open to the side revealing the contents which were more pictures and papers but these, these were different. The pictures were all of a single warhead tip marked with a radiation symbol and the EPA emblem engraved into the dark grey material, the papers were a route detail for an armoured convoy to move from a position on the ground to a spaceport where the cargo would be offloaded onto a shuttle. Neva let her soak it in before saying with a snarky tone “If you want these files then you’re going to do us a favour, Lillian. You, are going to help us steal a nuclear warhead…”
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/27/2023 2:37 PM
Lillian looked at Nevasarax with a tired expression. She knew she wasn't part of the Reborn, with everything said to her on the trip there. It seemed Lillian had made herself misunderstood by the Etherian. She sighed and gave the Etherian a passing nod with a tired voice.
"I apologize, it seems I might have extended my lexicon a bit further than necessary, I was only trying to show respect to you. Of course I understand you aren't part of the Second Dawn, and your form far surpasses most Reborn. I was merely trying to express my hope for this conflict to end soon, and was hoping that the reason I was summoned here was resolved swiftly. I once again apologize for the misunderstanding."
With that fiasco out of the way, Lillian and her guards proceeded to analyze and observe all the data before her. Her eyes widened at the realization of how sinister and underhanded Archon-1 was. She grabbed one of the images, one showing the wire transfer, the origin of the whole conflict. Her hand balled into a fist, clearly frustrated with the actions of the leader. Her eyes sharpened with rage at the unnecessary targeting of life, of one of her first allies, and even at their own people. Her form filled with visible anger, but the bodyguards remained neutral. But she also wondered what Nevasarax wanted in exchange, to which she would get her answer.
Lillian took a close look at the files, processors firing and calculating at extremely fast rates. Slowly, pieces of the puzzle started to fit together, and the nuclear warhead had her suspect that this Etherian was about to commit the greatest act of subterfuge imaginable. She wondered if she was capable of helping someone steal a nuclear warhead, but her hatred still emerged. She looked at Nevasarax with a clearly angry expression, and yet a strangely calm one.
"Am I allowed to know for what purposes this nuclear warhead will be used? Or is that not part of the deal? Either way... this matter is.. rather complicated."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 05/30/2023 12:13 AM
Let out a pleased hum at Lillian's statement about her form surpassing most Reborn, it was true after all. Rather then completely shed her body for a new shell she just upgraded her own with cybernetics as did most of her crew, a much more acceptable move then what she saw as the barbaric practice the Reborn had done. Her outer eyes blinked in gratitude as she watched Lillian's reaction to the files she had shown her, letting her simmer before responding "I can see you're mad, now imagine my anger when the Republic I bled for collapsed and this dickhead took over. Imagine, an AI designed to win wars instead deciding he was fit enough to start up his own country? Shit made my blood boil when I heard about it."
She watched Lillian flip through the one of her particular request for this exchange of information and a mischievous smirk started to present itself on her snout, reaching up and taking her cap off and undoing her bunned up hair letting if fall down to her shoulders as she tossed the cap on a nearby table and sighed "I don't think it's really best to let such a secret plan spread around uncontrollable ears, just know that what I'm using it for is something that you wouldn't have trouble doing yourself. And you needn't worry about excessive complications, the main thing we need you to do is just block comms and sensors which is something we do not have the equipment to do. Our own personnel would handle the actual theft and any issues that arise themselves."
Her smirk turned into a grin as her tails started swinging idly behind her as she continued "What you would be doing is helping democracy, Lillian. We weren't here to stop the Council's rise to power but we are here now, the Reborn have had their fun playing corpo and breaking people's toys but it's time for us to take the spotlight once more. We will not allow our Republic to die at the hands of a few pretenders who haven't a clue what they're doing, so will you help us in this endeavor?"
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/31/2023 12:44 AM
Lillian's rage-filled eyed narrowed as the Etherian revealed more of her past in passing, the mention of Archon-1 being a program of war being all too familiar to her mind. She wasn't as so mad over the pettiness and ego displayed by Archon-1, but rather the way his actions affected both his own people and her closest allies. A heavy sigh left her lips as her ears absorbed the vague and not very calming answer given to her. She was not mad over the lack of an actual answer, she knew that these sorts of deals didn't allow for much exchange of true intentions. Secrets were secrets after all.
Lillian's tails wagged with mild interest at the mention of her job in the heist, one that could reduce bloodshed during the exchange. However, it still required some information as how the Reborn and Archon-1 did cybersecurity and sensors. She lost herself in thought, her fox-like ears twitching, wondering what would be needed even for a minor scale job. Lillian gazed upon one of her bodyguards, signaling it to so something, although it was not clear what.
Lillian was both enamored and unfazed by the "democracy" talk. It wasn't her first rodeo dealing with supposedly "democratic" factions, but she did not discredit her idea fully. To Nevasarax's question, Lillian simply walked closer to Nevasarax, looking up at the figure with a stern gaze. She looked deeply into the eyes of the Etherian, her own filled with respect, rage and skepticism. Her voice became stern and respectful, one fit for a negotiator.
"There are many unknowns still within my perception of the Second Dawn, Archon-1 and you, Etherian. I have lived eons, long enough to see stars be born and die to create new stars. I have met many, yet not a fraction of them have the vigor and determination to retake their nation from the hands of an egomaniac. I have only met one other person that is equal to you in this regard, and funnily enough they're a Selenican."
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 05/31/2023 12:54 AM
The bodyguard pulled out a small emblem from its head, one in a shape of a sphere, and yet it held no surface. A fractal like pattern of curved lines glittered from within and outside of the object. They seemed to shift and change, becoming straight as the observer got closer. It offered this seemingly paradoxical sphere to Lillian. She grabbed it and gently held it in her hand. She held up the object to Nevasarax.
"This object is quite experimental in nature. It is a small section of a hypersphere, one that will allow you to temporarily make yourself invisible to most forms of sensors, even ones you don't have. It consumes energy at exorbitant rates, so not really viable for large scale use, but still very useful in these types of situations.You do not have the tech to even comprehend this object yet, it is why I am freely allowing you to even hold it."
Lillian leaned intensely into Nevasarax, making herself the focal point of her attention.
"I am willing to work with you, I am willing to help you steal this warhead. I show you now what will help in case of emergency or even on the warhead itself. I do this to prevent even more death, even more suffering. I want that information, I want to make Archon-1 pay for his hubris. But I warn you only once, Captain Nevasarax: Do something ungodly with that warhead, and this will be the last time we talk on even neutral terms. Are we clear?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 06/04/2023 10:22 PM
Nevasarax just stared at the object not understanding what she was looking at, at all. Regardless she nodded before reaching out and taking the weird sphere and putting it into the pocket of her jacket, patting it before looking back up at Lillian and listening to her "Don't be a terrorist dickhead" speech with a seemingly uninterested expression before she nodded and said "Listen, Lilly, hon. I'm not going to do anything fucked with the warhead alright? All you gotta do is help me take it out of their hands, don't worry about the rest m'k?"
She chuckled before reaching out and ruffling Lillian's hair with her left lower arm before turning around and grabbing her peaked cap before putting it on and buttoning her coat closed, instantly looking more like a grizzled old Naval Captain instead of the goofy butch sailor vibe she had before. She motioned for Lillian to follow her as she walked to the other side of the room and opened a door and proceeding into the next room before stepping to the side to let Lillian in as the sound of loud phonk music could now be heard.
Once Lillian was inside they'd be met with several Etherians doing various things in what appeared to be casual wear, with one wearing no shirt and flexing to his comrade in an exagerrated manner. Another was a female Etherian holding a belt-fed machine gun and saying "Man fuck y'all, some bitchmade pussies in this team I tell ye! The Type 449 is the ONLY gun y'all'd ever need! And if ye's complaining about weight then you need to grow some fucking muscle on those skinny ass arms!"
The one flexing stopped before reaching over and grabbing a soft-drink can and chugging it before throwing it at the machine-gun toting Etherian and saying "Shut up Xerxisia, I'm tired of your bitching and moaning!" This was met by a few chuckles as the can bonked the one supposedly named Xerxisia in the forehead which was met with narrowed eyes and a growl before she said "You slack-jawed faggot you just can't hold anything that isn't Maeresyris' Cocks!" The other Etherians started laughing at this as the flexing Etherian started cackling and rested his head on the side of a bunk bed whilst the others bent over laughing, Xerxisia herself chuckling before one in the corner who was taking a long draw on what looked like a black cigar saw the Captain and Lillian enter before standing up and giving them a respectful nod.
The other Etherians followed his gaze and quieted down when they saw the two, getting a bit more serious as Xerxisia put the machine gun down before looking down and spitting what appeared to be a wad of gum into a sink. The Captain snorted before gesturing to them as a whole and saying "Meet the seventy-first Marine Battalion of the Etherian Free Navy. Thirteen total Marines who were born to kill and built to maim, these are the ones you'll be working with so please; Introduce yourself Lillian."
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 06/07/2023 3:14 PM
Lillian sighed as her hair was ruffled, although her tails seemed to express some gratitude at the gesture. Her demeanor seemed to seem to calm down, a bit hopeful that Nevasarax was a woman of her word. She snapped her fingers at the bodyguards, one staying put, the other following her side-by-side. She seemed both slightly annoyed and pouty, but hopeful and happy as her tail moved and wagged. She was old, but not soulless.
As she entered the room, the scene that she confronted was an entertaining one for her. She nearly burst out laughing at the comments made by the Etherians, barely containing it with a chuckle. She tried and nearly failed to regain her composure as Nevasarax introduced to her the people she would be working with stealing a nuke. She looked them over with a smile, confident in that they could get along. She gracefully bowed before the Etherians, exposing her lucious tails to the team. The bodyguard saluted in military esque fashion, keeping the utmost respect for the Etherians. Lillian smiled at the Etherians and spoke to them in a respectful, diplomatic tone.
“Hello Etherians, my name is Lillian. I am the AI that will be assisting you commit an incredible heist. You seem like a lively bunch, though not that… wellspoken. However, I believe we may get along just fine. If you need any info on what I will be doing and how, you may ask freely.”
Sheng [SD | VA] — 06/21/2023 9:46 PM
The one called Xerxisia turned towards Lillian and looked her up and down before turning back to the one she'd shouted at earlier and said in an amused tone "Hey Kaeris, Captain got a new piece of ass for you to show off your guns too!" The other marines chuckled whilst Kaeris shook his head and reached over and grabbed his shirt before slipping it over his torso, the Etherian flag printed on it's chest as he flipped Xerxisia the bird with all four arms. The Captain meanwhile just pinched the bridge of her snout and muttered something about room temperature iq's before walking over to the small kitchen where Xerxisia was and grabbing a can of what looked like some form of light alcoholic beverege, popping the tab with a hiss and taking a sip whilst Kaeris suddenly gasped and pointed at Lillian and said "NINE FUCKING TAILS! LOOK AT THAT! HA! That's kind of fucking cool! We only got two!" The marines all snapped towards Lillian and counter her tails before various expressions crossed their face, some amused, some jealous, most impressed and a few that didn't care. Xerxisia leaned in on the counter and set the machine gun on the island with a loud thud before saying "Well shit would you look at that, I didn't know Humans had tails. That's some prime shit right there, they real?"
The Captain slapped her on the arm and commented about it being insensitive to ask about 'alien parts' which caused Xerxisia to nod and look slightly embarassed but the question remained. Meanwhile Kaeris and another marine had gone back to talking about something stupid and the other marines were gone back to their own devices. The Captain motioned for Kaeris to come over and said "Grab the plans, we need to fill nine tails over here in on the jumbo." Kaeris did as instructed and laid a holo-tablet over which projected a map of some area with several lines and other markings drawn on it. He pointed at the map in it's entirety and immediately started going into the plan"Ok, this is a map of where we're hitting the convoy. Standard EPAFN munitions transport, light QRF on standby, 3 vics all armoured two armed with centre being weapons carrier. Make sense? Now what's going to happen is we're taking two of the local garrison's talonhawk's and cutting off the front and back of the convoy while hitting their engines and tires. Talon-1 is going to land about fifteen metres north afterwards and drop off the main team which is going to go to weapons carrier and pop the back open. Talon-2 is then going to drop in, recieve the warhead as cargo and then haul ass into orbit where we have a smuggler's ship primed to go. Yes it is that simple because we spent a lot of time working on this. Any questions?"
Dana [Columen Artificialis] — 07/16/2023 1:22 AM
Lillian giggled at the sheer enthusiasm shown by the Etherians, enjoying their sheer liveliness at charisma even with their reduced knowledge of her. The remarks about her tails made her smile, being happy that they enjoyed them so much. At the question, she would smile, though it seemed they had her confused for a human. She was about to clear up the misunderstanding until Nevasarax stopped the entire thing it its tracks. She simply looked at the Etherian with a reassuring smile before turning to the captain to look at the plan.
She analyzed every bit of data presented to her, her demeanor becoming more serious as she analyzed possible blind spots, points of conflict and high risk areas. She wondered how they even knew all of it, considering they were practically aliens to the Reborn. She contemplated how much she could really trust the Etherians, even with all the charisma... most of them showed. She couldn't complain at that moment, however. A deal was a deal, and it was a lucrative one. She turned to Nevasarax with a mostly reassured face, only one doubt within her.
"Just one thing, any particularities about Reborn cybersecurity? I'm aksing about redundancies, AI protection, maybe even Archon-1 himself being the protection? Need to know so I can make this as subtle and efficient as possible before we get into the ripe. I might be an old, experienced AI, but knowing makes my job easier and the chance of us getting caught much slimmer."
Sheng [SD | VA] — 07/16/2023 5:42 PM
Kaeris came over, as did the rest of the marines, and watched the Captain explain the plan whilst he idly bit at the head of a screwdriver before pointing said screwdriver at the planned route and saying "Once we cut their engines they're going to radio for that QRF, that's heat we ain't equipped to deal with quickly there boss. We're going to need to hot drop in, grab that ordinance and pull out before they can show up."
The other marines nodded before Xerxisia turned to a marine that had a engine-grease stained shirt and said "QRF... you know what kind of vic's they're gonna be showing up in? Any sort of ETA?" The grease-stained marine pondered the question for a minute before saying "This deep in the core? Shiiit girl, probably new generation transports. Definitely going to be an escort, maybe even with pulse lasers. I'd say for an op of this magnitude in this area we're probably looking at model 202's shadowed by a 107 or two."
Some of the other marines grimaced at that, the 202 models were tough shit but it was the 107 that had them concerned. The most advanced tri-engine attack craft in the entire EPAFGF armed with two 45mm autocannons, enough hardpoints to make an aircraft carrier blush and high tier armour systems, they were more then capable of turning the entire detachment into scalie ribbons with naught but a thought. Neva nodded before saying
"It's shitty but we got toys of our own, those talonhawks we have in storage may not be bright and shiny but they'll be more then enough to keep us alive. We also have a few MANPADs left over so let's not lose too much sleep over this, got it?" The marines nodded before they listened to Lillian's question, thinking for a minute before they all slowly turned to the grease-stained marine.
Said marine looked around before sighing and raising a hand and saying "Local tech junky here, you can call me Feren. My name's longer then that but no one ever pronounces it right. Anyway- yeah, their cybersecurity is some tough shit. For an op like this? Definitely going to be some sort of low level overseer intellect keeping an eye on the convoy's equipment as well as transmissions within their air-defense zone. I doubt it'll be much preventing you from getting into their systems but they'll have it alarmed to absolute fuck. Likely all the satellites overhead will have silent alarms for their silent alarms, no way in fuck you're getting in without at least some sort of footprint being left behind."
He pulled out a tablet and opened an editor before handing it over to her "This programme will get you into their systems and delay the alarms for a few minutes but once one of their towers sends out a checking ping and that ping doesn't respond back they'll know their shit's compromised and that QRF will come running. Judging by the craft they'll be using and the network I'd say you lot got 13 minutes to get the fuck out once QRF is notified, that programme will buy you another 2-10 but if they get radio out then it won't matter. Clear?"
Sheng [SD | VA] — 09/26/2023 6:57 PM
Nevasarax nodded to Lillian before passing over a holo-tablet loaded with the information that she'd need. It contained the route the convoy would use, nearby staging locations that the QRF was likely to come from, orbital scans of the terrain, the forecast, everything. Nevasarax grabbed ahold of Lillian's hand as she began to pull away, leaning in slightly and saying "By doing this, you're going to be inviting direct opposition onto yourself. Forget everything you've already done against him, Archon-1 will not take this level of antagonism laying down no matter who you are." And with that she let go of Lillian, letting her walk off before turning back to the rest of her marines to begin finalizing the plan.
The Citadel | Present Day
Archon-1 glanced to the single row in-front of him, unable to keep the excitement out of his posture as he attempted to stoicly stare them down. Fifteen Reborn were stood before him, yet you wouldn't tell what they were just by a glance. They looked more akin to reclaimed, with long sleek silver plates, four arms ending in hooked hands, three tails ending in blades and three glowing blue optics present on their snout in the form of thin lines. Their forms shimmered as the nanites that made up the silver plates rumbled around and did little minature checks on their schematics and otherwise. He'd finally done it, he'd perfected the Reborn...
He shivered as he stepped up to the podium and cleared his voicebox, immediately the fifteen... no, not Reborn... Ikons, they were Ikons. The fifteen Ikons immediately snapped their heads towards him, rigid at attention with glowing blue pulse rifles attached to their backs. Even the sight of them in formation was enough to give him momentary pause, they looked fucking horrifying.. Oh my days they were perfect! He quickly pushed the feelings back down as he began to speak, an underlying tone of excitement present as he did.
"ATTENTION! I want to start this off by saying I could never be more proud of you fifteen. You have undergone trial and tribulation like no other Reborn, all in the name of the Second Dawn and the Council. You each have suffered, suffered at the hands of the savages that lie before us, that slander our every word and threaten our every step and know that I have never been prouder of you. For while you have all suffered so terribly in our name, you stand here yet. Ready to give live and limb in our service, to defend those who cannot defend themselves. As far as I'm concerned you're all already heroes... no, not heroes... You are Ikons, my Ikons."
The Ikons slammed their tails against the ground in agreement, a singular uniform shout of not only determination, but defiance. Archon-1 paused to push down the rising glee even harder before he continued.
"And for that, you shall be rewarded! Too long has the native threat gone unpunished, too long have they been left unchecked! Too long have they been allowed to terrorize those of the galaxy who do not have the privlege of being born here! You know what I say to that?! DEATH! DEATH BE UPON THEM! DEATH TO THEIR SOLDIERS AND SEDICIOUS TYRANTS! DEATH TO ORILLIA! DEATH TO THE I-C-A! DEATH TO CONA! WE SHALL NOT STOP UNTIL THEIR WORLDS BURN AT OUR HANDS! EACH STAR THAT WE CONQUER IS ANOTHER STAR SAVED, ANOTHER SLAVE FREED FROM THE CHAINS PLACED UPON THEM! NOW I CALL UPON YOU, CARRY OUT MY JUSTICE ACROSS THE STARS, LEAVE NO! MAN! STANDING! EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BUILT, WILL BE SCORCHED TO THE GROUND! AND FROM THAT GROUND, WE WILL BUILD OUR NEW EMPIRE!"
The assembled Ikons started beating their tails rapidly along the ground, mimicking the sound of a march in tune with Archon-1's words. The tyrant himself raised an excited fist into the air, the Ikons did the same as he screamed out: "CONTROL THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT DESTROY!" The Ikons then all slammed their tails down against the round before crying out in response "DESTROY THAT WHICH YOU CANNOT CONTROL!"