Post by EmperorMyric on Dec 16, 2017 18:19:37 GMT
Prime Admiral Dorin leaned over the table as she examined the holographic map showing the frontier region between the Immortal Empire and the Tenebraen Imperium. It was a large swath of unoccupied space dotted with nebulas and asteroid fields; plenty of thickets, she mused to herself as she glanced towards the blinking blue diamonds that represented divisions of her fleet, for ships to hide in. A few of the Ascendancy’s numerous eyes now scrutinized that otherwise unassuming region of space; scout ships were picketing the frontier now. These scouts were careful to remain at long distances from the areas where they anticipated fleets approaching; they behaved like fish darting into and out of tall grass, moving alone or with a pair, but always remaining deep in the shadows.
She was frustrated by her orders; the fleet had taken up positions in preparation for the inevitable counter attack, and she had great confidence that they’d hold great effectiveness over the ships of this intruding empire. However, beyond that, she questioned a great many thing. The Ascendancy was not one to work with lesser species, yet the Council of Five had all out allied themselves with the Immortal Empire. She did not so much question their wisdom as their sanity; for as a woman of considerable years, she knew the difference between the two. She also questioned why the Council of Five was holding her back at a time like this; they and their newfound allies should be laying waste to the outer worlds of their enemy’s empire, and not fortifying in anticipation-
“Prime Admiral, this may be of interest to you.” An officer handed her a data core, which she gently activated. A subsection of the holographic projection shifted to show a diagram of the outer worlds of Exceion during their recent surprise attack there; blue diamonds represented the few Ascendancy ships in that area; green diamonds the Immortal Empire’s ships, and red cubes the locations of Imperium vessels. As she watched, an indicator-represented by a series of white flashes of the moon Vastra-was displayed, and shortly thereafter the ships-all of them, she realized as she raised her eyebrows-darted off in varied directions. What surprised her most though was the black outlines that surrounded the Ascendancy’s blue diamonds shortly before they departed the system. Their veils had fallen…and that was impossible. The subatomic sensory diffusion technology they used was encoded into the ship’s hulls at a subatomic level, so it should have been physically impossible for such an event to occur…
“All these vessels were reported destroyed in the engagement. We used quantum entanglement technology to recover all debris and bodies, but the ships couldn’t be located.” The aide noted. Dorin watched as another blue diamond soon afterwards approached Vastra and carried it off towards the unknown.
“Notify the Unnatural Domain of this incident. That signal definitely emminated from Vastra; it might pertain to their current mission.” Dorin ordered softly, but the officer reminded her of its situation.
“The Unnatural Domain is running full silent for the next seventy years, Prime Admiral. No signals in or out.”
Prime Admiral Dorin nodded. “Notify the Heraldic Order, and dispatch one of the Tahn-Yeh class interdictors to meet with them and provide information-“
“We are already here,” a voice spoke from the back of the bridge, and Dorin turned to see the forms of several Heraldic Guards on the back of the bridge. She swallowed slightly, but retained her calm demeanor.
“We have already deployed a vessel to notify the Unnatural Domain of the incident and of your missing ships,” one of the guards said, his voice altered by the heavy armour he wore. “Concern yourself not with that matter. We have been assigned to your security detail due to concerns that you may become the target of an unauthorized temporal revision.”
Dorin blinked briefly, then smiled-a fake one, of course. This wasn’t merely security precautions. The Council of Five was keeping her under their watchful gaze.
“Of course.” She said evenly.
She was frustrated by her orders; the fleet had taken up positions in preparation for the inevitable counter attack, and she had great confidence that they’d hold great effectiveness over the ships of this intruding empire. However, beyond that, she questioned a great many thing. The Ascendancy was not one to work with lesser species, yet the Council of Five had all out allied themselves with the Immortal Empire. She did not so much question their wisdom as their sanity; for as a woman of considerable years, she knew the difference between the two. She also questioned why the Council of Five was holding her back at a time like this; they and their newfound allies should be laying waste to the outer worlds of their enemy’s empire, and not fortifying in anticipation-
“Prime Admiral, this may be of interest to you.” An officer handed her a data core, which she gently activated. A subsection of the holographic projection shifted to show a diagram of the outer worlds of Exceion during their recent surprise attack there; blue diamonds represented the few Ascendancy ships in that area; green diamonds the Immortal Empire’s ships, and red cubes the locations of Imperium vessels. As she watched, an indicator-represented by a series of white flashes of the moon Vastra-was displayed, and shortly thereafter the ships-all of them, she realized as she raised her eyebrows-darted off in varied directions. What surprised her most though was the black outlines that surrounded the Ascendancy’s blue diamonds shortly before they departed the system. Their veils had fallen…and that was impossible. The subatomic sensory diffusion technology they used was encoded into the ship’s hulls at a subatomic level, so it should have been physically impossible for such an event to occur…
“All these vessels were reported destroyed in the engagement. We used quantum entanglement technology to recover all debris and bodies, but the ships couldn’t be located.” The aide noted. Dorin watched as another blue diamond soon afterwards approached Vastra and carried it off towards the unknown.
“Notify the Unnatural Domain of this incident. That signal definitely emminated from Vastra; it might pertain to their current mission.” Dorin ordered softly, but the officer reminded her of its situation.
“The Unnatural Domain is running full silent for the next seventy years, Prime Admiral. No signals in or out.”
Prime Admiral Dorin nodded. “Notify the Heraldic Order, and dispatch one of the Tahn-Yeh class interdictors to meet with them and provide information-“
“We are already here,” a voice spoke from the back of the bridge, and Dorin turned to see the forms of several Heraldic Guards on the back of the bridge. She swallowed slightly, but retained her calm demeanor.
“We have already deployed a vessel to notify the Unnatural Domain of the incident and of your missing ships,” one of the guards said, his voice altered by the heavy armour he wore. “Concern yourself not with that matter. We have been assigned to your security detail due to concerns that you may become the target of an unauthorized temporal revision.”
Dorin blinked briefly, then smiled-a fake one, of course. This wasn’t merely security precautions. The Council of Five was keeping her under their watchful gaze.
“Of course.” She said evenly.