[ᴜᴀʀ] ʀᴇᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟʏsɪᴜᴍ sᴘɪʀᴀʟ

Lao'Taun: Space; for most it was the unlimited frontier, the medium between planets, between star systems between spirals. It was a cold, ever changing expanse that brought fortune upon those strategic and ambitious enough to cease it. It was a coffin for trillions who had fallen short of victory. Four Spirals occupied... Thirteen Military Arms...The Umarian Astral Raquamothla had conquered some of the greatest space faring nations to have ever risen. It was just the beginning, a mere step within the path that had been the vision of Lao'Taun. The weak fell, and the strong prevailed and the celestial symphonic resounded through all of creation with their tales.

Some endeavors of the nation grew of things greater than victory, and it was upon that premise that the UAR once more sat upon the boundaries of the Elysium Spiral. A journey which had now come to this sordid place once more brought forth the knock upon the door which beheld a greater force which had been used before; it was a signal, a specialized and obvious declaration of their arrival. The ancient, mysterious calls of the space-born leviathans resounded from one honeycomb-like domain of subspace to the next, like that of calling whales within a vast and limitless ocean. A call which would be harmonized as those representatives confined to those dominions too called out, heralding the arrival of the great conductor of the celestial symphonic himself.

The unaligned corporate syndicates operating within the Hellespawn System bore the brute of the initial waves of incoming horde, unprepared and inadequate vessels were shattered into derelicts, unsealed tombs from which the dead drifted away from. The 'knock upon the door' which had come years before was muted under what was a wave of unfathomable strength. The  Miqursha-Rlarhau Military Arm, along with several vessels belonging to the Nyiathians had been granted the honor of being the leading edge of the massive dedicated force that traveled with Lao'Taun and the Yughoshi Materna Chonyosa.

Echos from the Past...

Knock, knock upon the galaxy's door

Your worlds once were but are no more

Epitaphs of hopes and your devoured dreams

A near eternity of measure invested in me

Tincture for nature wasted upon the floor

The skies stained black evermore

With charismatic salutations welcome me

For tomorrow you will try to surrender and flee.

s'ᴇʟᴏᴛʜᴏᴛʜᴀ ᴄʏsᴛʜᴏ : ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀᴛʜᴇᴅʀᴀʟ ᴏғ ᴄʏsᴛʜᴏ 

 

"We have begun our entrance into the Hellespawn Gate." Viceroy Miqursha Nira said, stepping into the faint colorful illumination caste by the stained glass arches above. He stood at the base of the winding stairs leading up to the altar-like platform where Lao'Taun was seated before a flickering stream of volumetric screens. 

Lao'Taun beheld the comforting form of the emissary humanoid, the clandestine secrets that were held within were far from the fragile handsome specimen that was projected. The faint nebulous ultramarine clouds within his iris seemed to illuminate as he looked down upon Nira. "Have all mindhives synced to quorum, we shall begin shortly." The purposes behind the incursion into Elysium space was a more than just a single faceted venture, beyond the reclamation in which he had so diligently dedicated himself to there was far more which the starlit expanses of this 'unclaimed' spiral had to offer. Emotional energies beheld charges that resonated through hival clusters of mindhives and connected members of the Arnuin Congress; it was by mere convenience that the Luminary did not release it within an outburst, a strategist awaiting the moment for when the time and subject were precisely right. The faint flickers of volumetric cast light played upon the flawless taun complexion of his flesh, armorized jacket splaying the colors in a faint sheen which glimmered from the metallic buckles. He motioned Nira to come forwards.

The former Chrystalian ascended the steps to the side of the Luminary, a man to which he had come to serve and respect. The two had developed a rather intricate friendship since the Miqursha had begun producing victories that trumped the fading Raatasi Tlataelat Ushacth which had once held domination. "It is unlikely your signal has went unnoticed, or our presence ignored. It is only a matter of time." Nira said, dragging his gloved hand back through the bright blue spikes of his hair as he took position to the right of Lao'Taun, looking at the changing screens that helped the Mandated leader keep his vice-like hold on the Raquamothla.

"In due time, all will happen that needs to." Lao'Taun said quietly, watching as the insectoid cruisers and leviathans changed their formations in the flood of vessels that accompanied the massive moon-sized Chonyosa into the gate system. They were surrounded by representatives of almost all thirteen military arms which worked in cooperation to maintain their hold upon the four spirals they had conquered. The Hand of Lao'Taun's (HoL) presence marked by the massive elder Leviathan, Telal that hung above the dorsal dome of the Chonyosa in a protective and menacing stature with swarms of it's escorts breaching into other formations to maintain internal security and escort members of the Congress back and forth from the Chonyosa.

ᴛʀɪʙᴜᴛᴇ ᴏғ ᴏʀᴄʜɪᴅs 

 

Ute'ghaquatha Anatasha Conglomerate

Kelotshorno 'Death Blossom'- Sakruagna Dock

There was no cheering crowds of onlookers, no orchestra playing symphonic to celebrate the completion of the UAR's most advanced battleship. Sakruagna Dock was in full logistics mode, the lower part of the facility was filled with soldiers, vehicles and gear moving along giant conveyor-like walkways that extended down the umbilical to the Kelotshorno. The march of soldiers, the grind and churn of machinery as fighter-craft, bombers, power armors and other ordinance were being loaded into the hangers and ready-bays. 

The last team of Nirthyian Engineers swam out of berth and into one of the adjoining tubes, signaling that they were ready for the water in the bay to be purged so that they could proceed with the launch sequence which was already in countdown. The main doors of the outer dock released their seals and begun to open. It created a massive suction as the water gushed out into space, crystallizing as it ripped outwards from the breached doors. Water tore away from the polished armored hull of the ship, causing the entire facility to shake. For the first time other than it's space trials and evaluations the Death Blossom was once more exposed to the vacuum of space, the interior lighting of the bay falling to darkness as the ship's internal power systems activated, and it's internal and external lighting illuminated the long awaited creation of Lao'Taun, his intended gift to Satrinah - the greatest battleship to ever be built by the UAR, a vessel that would become the benchmark for those created after it. Finally after years of design, construction and improvements she was going to leave her berth on a maiden voyage to find her rightful and intended commanding officer.

"Estimated time until loading completed..is four minutes." The Mindhives translated the whistles and clicks of insectoid that were transmitted from the dock's flight control bridge. 

"Awknowledged, Sakruagna tower. We are ready when you are." Nira said as he walked to the edge of the upper platform that overlooked the bridge below. He outstretched his hand and the volumetric medium rippled as he dragged his fingertips across the interface, metamorphic armor falling in a veil and quickly solidifying around the command bridge, turning opaque as a volumetric projection of what was around the ship flooded the upper dome, projected interfaces and monitors coming to life as final preparations were made for launch. 

The Command Deck crew consisted of several Starseers, Nyshakrlzhao and some Rhu-zarat service insectoids, two water filled tunnels housed Nirthyian engineers, volumetric projections of the ship glimmering within their water filled caverns on either side of the deck. Projection interface consoles followed smooth flowing lines back along the oval shaped deck, giving a clean, polished organic feeling, while the dim lighting provided no interuption to the almost 360 degree projection around them. Dark violet tapestries were draped over the stair-like sides of the central throne-like command chair to which Lao'Taun immediately headed after exiting the dedicated command lift. 

"Clear all moorings, execute launch procedure." The commanding voice of Lao'Taun boomed as he sat down in the command chair, a flood of projections whirling around him as the nebulous regions of his dark eyes flooded with an ultramarine glow. The ship jolted as construction arms and meshing folded away from it's hull, direct connection cables snapping and breaking away at their designed positions before the metamorphic layer of the armorized hull filled in to complete the vessel's seamless appearance, even removing the launch bay's from exposure. 

"All Systems Nominal." The harmonious whale-like calls of the Nirthyians were translated over the internal communications network as the mighty battleship began a slow crawl forwards from it's berth. A bottle of Wuliangye baijiu was released from one of the control arms, sending it smashing against the ship's hull as it began it's final departure from the dock. The projection around the command deck changed to the vast ocean of twilight as the battleship cleared the outer sphere of the Chonyosa's shield barrier. Awaiting the new ship was it's assigned battlegroup, consisting of the newest and most notorious vessels from the various contributing military arms as well as escorts devoted by the HoL. 

The seemingly ever-changing hull of the vessel flowed and changed to expose the soft violet glow of it's engines as it plowed towards the forward-most point position in the formation falling ahead of the Nodachi. Over two thousand vessels, varying in class and origin pointed the way towards their soon to be revealed destination. "Wèi Ayenee xìtǒng wàiwéi shèzhìle yītiáo lùxiàn."("Set a course for the Ayenee System perimeter.") the voice of Lao'Taun directed over the mindhive network, extending to his troops the voice of confidence, and battle ready bravery to which they were used to. Officers on all the ships prepared their crew, pilots rushed to their craft and armors. "Shíshī" ("Execute."). Lao'Taun gave the final command of the order, initiating the assigned FTL order, the mindhives of the fleet working in quorum to coordinate jump order. Telal, the elder HoL Titan was the last of the ships to enter FTL, it's powerful slipstream drives leaving faint disruptive ripples within space behind it. 

 

 

sᴀᴄʀɪғɪᴄᴇs 

 

Lower Kithugha-Damaudan

During Lánhuā jié - In the Past

The streets of the lower city were empty, the majority of the population had went to enjoy the celebration at Kithugha Square. Decorative lanterns were strung from building to building, hung there by the locals in honor of the festival. Lao'Taun had left the party for a quiet walk through the streets. His mind was heavy with the promises he had made his people; despite their victories and the vibrate beat of the party he had yet to deliver to them the return of the Dark Orchid. The failed searches unmentioned, a pride which had begun to fail him. He would either push them forwards to the next conquest or continue the search he had begun. His footfalls echoed against the empty street as orchid petals drifted to the ground in a rain; the petals carried on the simulated winds within the Chonyosa's biggest city from the celebration uptown. 

"She is at Ayenee..." A voice said, coming from one of the dark areas across the street. "If you go there that is where you will find her."

Lao'Taun's steps ceased and his slanted eyes narrowed, looking into the darkness to see the faint outline of another man standing with his back up against the windows of one of the shops. "And who are you that you know so much? Cloaked in shadows, hidden away. Are you afraid to speak to your Luminary?" Lao'Taun's challenging mannerisms were far from welcoming, yet he couldn't help but wonder how someone in Lower Kithugha-Damaudan knew what it was his thoughts were centered around.

Sparks flew as a lighter was ignited, faint silver puffs of smoke trailed from the embered end of a cigarette which was brought forth for a deep inhale. "Or is it the Luminary is afraid of what lies the darkness? This hardly the time and place that I had imagined our meeting, but perhaps this chance is too important to pass up." A few seconds later, the words were followed by footsteps. As the dim light of the lanterns flickered, not much was revealed within the pale ashen twists of metal and fabric, save for the sheen of a long lance-like weapon strapped to the man's back. Light tan flesh bore the scares of battle, but the eyes it was the eyes that Lao'Taun could never forget. Koshiro had somehow gotten onto the Chonyosa. Over a century had past since pestilence had been confined within the prison there, the first Unyian War almost forgotten save for the valiant stories of struggle and strife. 

"Mae'achta..." Lao'Taun said, confirming the form he seen before him. The ultramarine nebulous cores of his eyes illuminating as he held the stance he had come to stop in, not knowing what to expect his hands balled into fists as he prepared for anything. 

"We searched the stars for the same thing. I'm not here to fight you T'yingthostho. It would be pointless, and had I wanted that I would of returned to the Homestead." Koshiro said, reaching for the weapon on his back and then planting it point down and into the street. "At our current state, we could spend eternity trying to destroy each other and only end up without the fulfillment we seek. Worlds would end, and the universe would have nothing to show for it and neither would we." Koshiro walked to Lao'Taun, and stopped only a pace away from him. Without hesitation, he stood looking the Luminary in the eyes. 

"So you came to do what? Tell me where she is and then run back into whatever darkness you have been hidding in while the nation you began falls beneath my fists?" Lao'Taun knew with certainty that Koshiro was not a stupid being. He had faced the man as an adversary and like Adrin and Nira he found him to be formable. They stood a pace apart within the falling shower of orchids, destined to be enemies, thrown into conflict over nations and the utmost desire not to be alone within the universe.

"I've come to join you. To willingly give what you sought to force upon me during my captivity." Koshiro said, what was once a youthful leader had faded into a man, a warrior who had been chiseled from the hearts of fallen worlds. The events which had taken place within the Ruinous Garden had taken from him the chances of a victory, and there was no hope returning to the nation he had made, the foolish act of Miranda had costed him more than he could of ever fathomed.

"And how do I know this to be true? You would submit to me because you are that desperate? You would give up yourself to allow my victory. For all I know you could have some plan in mind, some Espra driven goal to end me once and for all." Lao'Taun looked unconvinced, his emotionless face beheld no warmth at all - his eyes not moving from the man he had sought to kill as a lesson to all who stood against him.

Koshiro said nothing in return, those years locked away within the prison had earned him the year of only one Umarian and it was not the one in front of him - rather the one behind him. They were not alone, a realization that Lao'Taun had missed due to it's nature. The simulated winds whispered through the streets as it blew the green strands of Yughoshi's hair across the narrow guage of her face. "Yǐ zuì huài de jiǎshè zhōng suǒyǒu de chuàngzào, shì tīng bù dào tā de jiāoxiǎngyuè de yībùfèn." ("To assume the worst in all creation, is to fail to hear it's part of the symphony.") She said, calm brilliant silver eyes falling upon Lao'Taun from over Koshiro's shoulder. The wise and most elder of the Leviathan held a humanoid form that was not only beautiful but well built, the black and dark violet bodysuit that clung to her form like an armorized chitin gleamed within the flicker of the lanterns. 

It would appear that Koshiro's prison-confined pleas had granted him more than Lao'Taun had expected. He bowed forwards in respect of his mother. Within the whirl winds of orchid blossoms, a secret was told and a sacrifice was made, one that would turn the course of history forever.