Tales From Beyond

Cmdr. Gurchack couldn’t believe his eyes.  Surely there had to be a malfunction in one of the display systems, or even the sensor array, but this was his ship, best survey vessel in the entire fleet, and more redundancy in its systems than even the mightiest <dragon> War Destroyer. 

“How is this possible?” he asked, “Come on people, this isn’t something that just happens, either find the fault or tell me what I’m looking at.”  This was not a good day, not by a long shot.

 

Deep in the ships hull, the AI Dalmsh was replaying ancient scripture to one of the researchers when he suddenly stopped.  This wasn’t all that odd, he predated the development of civilisation by millennia, and yet, this time was different.  His display hadn't faded as was usual when he hit a corrupt section of his data structure, no this was different indeed, he appeared brighter, more intact.  As if he had hit a routine that existed at the very core of his programing.  The researcher was paying extreme close attention to Dalmsh at this point.  Suddenly Dalmsh turned to the researcher and said something, not in the ancient long dead language that was all he knew, but rather the same language as the researcher. 

“Run.  He has awoken.  Run for your lives, all my creators have done will have been for naught if you don’t turn this ship around and run.”  said Dalmsh.

“What but why?  Why must we run?  Who has awoken?” quizzed the researcher. 

Noticing that the researcher was looking at him with disbelief, he said “My apologies, I don’t believe we have been introduced.  I am Dalmsh, Artificial Intelligence tasked with keeping track of the other side.  It appears that we are near the boundry, yet I find my systems have fallen into disrepair.  Odd.” 

“Yeah, we received a call from one of our outposts, we came to lend a hand in identifying what it is.” said the researcher, “I’ve been working for years studding the scripture that you have been repeating but never have you spoken in anything other that the tongue of your creators”

“I see.”  Said Dalmsh, “I must run repairs on my systems, but being this close to the other side is a unique opportunity, we are safe from his influence for the time being, but I must have access to external sensors, the safety of this side is paramount.”

“You want me to hook you up to the ship?  Oh I don’t think so, we tried that once before and we had to replace all the equipment just to get the language back to our own.”

“Oh, in that case I understand.  But surely not all of the equipment would have been replaced.”

“Well, there were a few systems we couldn’t replace, but that’s why all new ships have hot swap modules.”

“Ah, I can see those systems now, thank you kind sir, but unfortunately you should have scuttled the ship after connecting me while I was in that state, Now lets have a look at the boundary.” With that Dalmsh faded from view.

“He doesn’t know.  NO, wait, he does know, but of course.  He doesn’t care about this place, why would he.  You are not they who did imprison him.  But neither are those left behind, although more direct is their ties, it is not their burden to bear.”  muttered Dalmsh to himself as he returned from the sensor array.  “Hmm, interesting, he seems to be sending what ever they throw at him through to this side, that could prove his downfall.”

“What?  Where did you just run off to?  Who is sending what through?”  asked the researcher

“Look, long ago my creators locked this section of space away from the rest to protect themselves from a dark entity, they stayed outside the ‘Rift’ and sent a few seed ships to this side, to be safe, that rift was sealed when they defeated the entity, but it seems as if it didn’t stay defeated, now their direct descendants, who may not even know what is happening are having to deal with it, and it appears as if they may wind up on our side.”

“Wait, your creators are coming here?”

“No, no.  Their descendants, its quite possible that they are less technologically advanced than your own civilisation.  And that’s just judging by the station that just appeared in the asteroid field.  I should add translation software to your ships systems so that you can communicate with them.  It is likely they will be fearful and quite possibly dead from the journey.”

Shameless Plug - Album Review

Album Review - The Earlybirds "Favourite Fears"

Here is an album review I posted over on The Batcave Blog.  Go check it out

Halo: Reach ViDoc - Forge World

Fall Of Juniper - C1S3, C1S4

Feb 11 2073, Gregorian Calender
2124hrs Earth Time
Shipyard Titan-B, In Orbit above Io

Viz didn't like this, no sir, not one bit.  Being sent into the unknown with a squad of testosterone crazed Hi-temps.  Being in charge of half a ship yard was hard enough on a good day, but he had just shut down for refitting, only a skeleton crew on-board and he was being ordered to jump into the unknown. 
"I fucking hate fires," he muttered to himself, "They are bad enough planet side, but in the confines of a research bucket.... I don't know, is it even worth it?"  Of course it was and he knew it, it was doubtful that their had been a fire, hell he had seen the file that Juniper had got out.  No way in hell was this a fire.  Some big wheels were in motion, or at least that's what his gut said.

Ah fuck it thought Viz as he reached for the radio.  "Attention Crew," He paused to breathe, knowing that these could be the last words he said while still in command of this half of the shipyard, "Melbourne has ordered us to investigate the disappearance of Research Station Juniper.  Their last known position was in a geosynchronous orbit above the Great Red Spot of Jupiter.  I don't know what could be waiting for us there, so as per usual on errands like this I give you the chance to take some time off relax for a few days.  You have five minutes to clear off shipyard B before we lock down and prepare to jump. That is all, Captain Out."

Long gone were the days of reckless youth, Viz was old, and at 56 that sort of trick, letting crew jump ship, it could force him into very early retirement.  But he knew his crew, those that had stayed on to help coordinate the refit, they were seasoned veterans, not the kind to be high tailing due to a little misplaced bucket. 

Five minutes passed and not a single soul left Titan-B.  As the Jump Drive spun up Viz couldn't help but think, why did the great red spot vanish?  Titan-B jumped away without a hitch, but they never reported in when they exited the jump.  Communications had just been replaced and passed the gauntlet of tests, And their jump drive was out for repairs so they had used the ship launcher on Titan-A to get them to their destination.  No one could figure out what went wrong.

Feb 11 2073, Gregorian Calender
2157hrs Earth Time
Melbourne Communications Centre

CPO Little had had just about enough of the trouble that damn bucket of a research station.  First they send in the most bizarre reports and then they vanish from existence, then when help is sent, they vanish into the black.  He knew that it would be his head on the block if he didn't think of something.  Hell why not just send a battlecruiser from Mars and let them deal with it.  But his boss would never approve such a risky op.  Then again, this could be a good way to get rid of that pesky Captain he was always complaining about.  He picked up the phone and punched in his bosses code, he gave him the run down of the situation, and his fancy solution.  When it was all over, his hands would be clean of this mess.  His boss had caught the trap hook line and sinker, pesky Captain was likely off to nothingness, and his boss had accepted all responsibility.

Tales from beyond the Rift: Gift of The Past.

He had been running for days, He had no idea how far he had travelled, but he could still hear them in the not to far distance.  Through forests and across rivers they had chased him, and all because he found some silly amulet.  None of this made sense.  He was just the son of a farmhand, no ties or titles.  Worthless, on the edges of his society, and now on the run from a force not of this world.  The Doragonzu, ruthless, unrelenting, and now they were on his tail.  Ahead he could see a cave, so just like he had been doing for the past three days, he ran.

As he crossed the threshold of the cave, a door slid shut behind him.  "Shi kan," he thought, "trapped like a swine."  This cave was not a natural formation, someone built it, so it must lead somewhere, but where was indeed the question he needed answering. 

He wandered through the cavern for what seamed an eternity, but it was a welcome respite from the running he had been doing these past few days.  Not a soul or sound to be heard except for him and his thoughts. 

And then for no apparent reason he turned and walked through one of the caves shimmering blue crystal walls. "Strange," he thought "walls should be solid and yet that one was not."  He thought it best not to question it, as he felt he had work to do.  And with that feeling a blinding light filled his retinas.  Someone or something had just turned the light on inside this massive chamber.  Slowly recovering his senses, he looked up to see the most magnificent sight he had seen since Empress Elirntha had visited his world when he was but a boy. 

Now looking up at what was a very likely explanation for why a Doragonzu hunter squad was after him and his little trinket.  "Hmm, Suppose this amulet is the key to this vessel."  He said aloud to himself, "better go try it out."  Cruising past shelves of parts and workbenches of half completed systems, he approached what he unconsciously knew was the cargo bay door controls.  At his touch, a door opened and lights came to life inside the ship.  As he stepped in he noticed a screen displaying the cavern system that he had entered earlier that day, on it he saw what appeared to be the hunter squad he had been evading, and they were about to breach the outer door to the caves.

"Well then, Looks like its time to fly."  He said as he began running to the flight deck.

Translation Records of AI 5XZ6624 - DALMSH

 The following is an exact from a currently unknown science officer's personal research log.
--Log Begins
--Entry 83945

--Translation File Begins


Every "Stronghold" in all of existence that is capable of withstanding any and all punishment has but one thing core to its existence.  One thing causing it to reign supreme over all others.  

This is no mere purpose, for purpose is but a human will, and not all humans share all the same paths to reach their respective goal.


This is not some secret knowledge, for all knowledge is knowable, and thus discoverable by someone else.


No what these Strongholds, these Empires have is a nobility that none but those in possession of it may have.  To gain such a nobility is not a task for mere mortal souls. No.  It is but a sign from those planes we have yet to comprehend.  That those who hold such gifts may be allowed to posses them.


Old blood protects old blood.
New blood wants what the old has, but will struggle to get.
New blood becomes old through no will of its own.


This is the way the cards are played, to break the mould is to be a falsity in existence.
And only one falsity can be allowed at any one time.


As the ancient ones rise, one-by-one, It will be the old blood that must defend us all.  Yet only the new blood, in becoming a falsity can prevent its final return.

--File End


--Log Contents follow


Hmm, It appears that this may explain the Archon's apparent appearance from nowhere.  The Doragonzu never even saw him coming, from one of their border worlds, and now he has a good quarter of their territory and a decent sized chunk of Ángeloi space. 

What's more troubling is that he had all that in only one day*, and without doing a single thing.  Its almost as if he sat on his throne and then the gods granted him his kingdom.  No wonder command is troubled, is he hidden Old Blood, New Blood favoured by the gods, or is he a Falsity?

It will have to wait, a strange anomaly has been detected in the Gudiaca Debris Field.  Will resume research when this has been dealt with.  Probably just pirates.

--Log Ends

*day is used here as an arbitrary unit, it is assumed to be roughly equal to one rotation on its axis of Sol-3 (Earth)

The Earlybirds - Runaway

Hey Guys, You should all like this band, they are awesome.

The Fall of Juniper - C1S2

Feb 11 2073, Gregorian Calender
2100hrs Earth Time
Melbourne Communications Centre

Chief Petty Officer J. Little didn't like what he was looking at.  In fact, it was possibly the worst thing he had seen in his current 6 month stint at the Melbourne Communications Centre.
"Well Blow me a fat one and pipe me a whistle" he said.  "They're totally fucked, aren't they?"
"Yessir" said the nearest technician, then looking up in puzzled curiosity asked "Who's fuck sir?"
"Juniper, come have a look" said the chief. 
The technician got up and looked over the chief's shoulder at the display.
"Wow, not a scrap of the spot left" the technician said in disbelief, "Should that have happened so suddenly sir?"
"It shouldn't have happened at all son, who can we send that's close by to check if they are ok?" the chief queried.
Shuffling back to his post the technician said, "Well Titan-B is non-essential at the moment, Io has a Hi-Temp squad on the way back to Mars, and Ganymede could work relay if necessary."
"Hmm, get Titan-B out there, They have a new jump-drive that needs a shakedown, what better time than now?"

Plug: Gotta keep the dust bunnies out

Unboxing: Soul Silver

Well, as the post on the other end says, so yeah.  Click the link to read it.

Should have some more story soon, but like all good things, they take time.

From The Author: Plug

So, If you look to the left of this post (So long as the layout has the sidebar on the left and this is the top most post), you will see a link to The Batcave Blog.  My flat has managed to name itself "The Batcave" so, yeah.

Please go check it out. Linky

And don't worry, Chapter 1-Scene 2 is on its way.
(hmm, this may take a while to get the story out if I do it this way.  That's a good thing, don't know what most of it is yet)

-Swords

The Fall of Juniper

Feb 11 2073, Gregorian Calender
2030hrs Earth Time
Research Station Juniper, Geosynchronous Orbit, Jupiter

"All readings from the great red spot are in Joe"
"Okey, Bill.  I'm prepin' the jumper."
"Uh, Joe, you wanna' make it done triple time.  The spot, she don't look like she gon' be stayin' either."
"What are you on Bill, didn't you say all the readings were in?"
"That I did, but our situation just changed, look."

Bill and Joe stared out of the porthole as Jupiter's great red spot vanished from existence before their eyes.

"Joe, get someone, hell anyone on the coms, and get us ready to leave at a moments notice.  I gotta' bad feeling about this."
"Already on the coms, oh boy, they are not gonna' believe us till they see it for them selves."
"-blrrssshhhhh,  Juniper Station, This is Melbourne Coms Center.  What is this unscheduled check in about?"
"Melbourne, oh you are not gonna' believe this, Jupiter's great red spot is gone."
"I don't understand Juniper, what do you mean gone?"
"I mean I just saw it dissipate in front of my eyes, we're prepin' a burst now. Will you recieve?"
"Send it on through Juniper.  In the meantime, keep observing on your current orbit.  We will be sending assistance your way."
"Thanks Melbourne, Sending burst now.  Burst away, Over and Out"

From The Author: Blog 3.0

So, Once more unto the breach my dear friends. We fought them in Space. We fought them in the Bebonisian Tundra. And we will fight them Here as well.

Blog 3.0, The new and improved awesome that is my wallpaper paste thrown on the interblargs roof. Hope this all goes down well. And actually lasts longer than a year, although, you may get to see some of my stories later on.

Well, that's enough for post one. This is Week 2, Day 3.

Swords Out.