The Rise and Fall of Empires (GAME THREAD)

[Orion]

Conciliator and other members of the Galaxy,

Orion also extends greetings.

We agree to recognize the coordinates the Conciliator specified and have no intention or desire to enter that space. We regret that we will not, however, be sending any samples of the organisims that inhabit this planet.

We also ask that distance is kept from the following coordinates: H 6-8, J 6-8, I 6-8, H7, I7, J7. We respectfully request 1 year prior notification of entrance into these spaces.

The Free Traders have contacted us to open a trade route and we have agreed. We are open to a restricted amount of trade.

[Atrus]

We also ask that distance is kept from the following coordinates: H 6-8, J 6-8, I 6-8, H7, I7, J7. We respectfully request 1 year prior notification of entrance into these spaces.

I assume this is to protect your own boundaries, yes? I am fine with this.

[Orion]

I assume this is to protect your own boundaries, yes? I am fine with this.

Yes.

[Dante Nachtzehrer]

Hail Empires.

I am Shard Krowe, Highest Priest in service to Argoth, Forever shall he guide us.

We extend to you our greetings and it is Argoth's will that we invite any and all empires to trade with the mighty Krullen empire, lest you tempt the wrath of Argoth and his servants.

[Eugen Razvan]

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[Erkirithi-Sha]

To the Queen of the Orions,

We express our thanks in your recognition of the Kalaid Doctrine, and we would like to add that we have no dispute with your own territorial doctrine. We do however regret that you will not be forwarding us any racial specimens. Nonetheless, we respect your decision to reject such scientific zeal.

We have made arrangements to establish links with the Free Traders, and I have been instructed to ask if the Orions would care to enter into a trade arrangement with the Empire of the Erkirithi-Sha, in the first half of next year also?

Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

[Orion]

We express our thanks in your recognition of the Kalaid Doctrine, and we would like to add that we have no dispute with your own territorial doctrine. We do however regret that you will not be forwarding us any racial specimens. Nonetheless, we respect your decision to reject such scientific zeal.

We have made arrangements to establish links with the Free Traders, and I have been instructed to ask if the Orions would care to enter into a trade arrangement with the Empire of the Erkirithi-Sha, in the first half of next year also?

Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

We would be interested in beginning trade with you but we must wait for one year to be ready to recieve and distribute trade goods. If this is not convenient for you, we understand and will take no offense that it may be necessary for you to look elsewhere for trade.

[Atrus]

We do however regret that you will not be forwarding us any racial specimens. Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

Do such specimines nessecarily need to be alive?



Also, to the Galaxy at large, the people of Ross 154 have nothing against allowing open space around and in our system. However, militiary ships will NOT be tolerated. Should they be sent without our previous consent they will be shot down without warning.

That said, we are here to research and to trade said research for whatever it is we need at the time. Right now it is straight CC's and surplus industry materials.

We are open to new projects, simply PM the details, and we'll do the rest.

[Erkirithi-Sha]

Do such specimines nessecarily need to be alive?

Although our preference is for living specimens, we are certainly pleased to receive non-living remains. Such specimens could include skulls, full skeletal remains, preserved cadavers, hides, plant samples etc.

Our intention is to host a great Galactic Exhibition in the near future, for the edification of our people. As such, my chief role as Conciliator has been expanded to include the acquisition of whatever scientific and anthropologic specimens I can.

To the Queen of the Orions, it is our preference to also wait until the start of the new financial year before beginning any trade arrangements. We plan to start two arrangements then, one with the Free Traders, and one with yourselves.

Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

[Atrus]

Although our preference is for living specimens, we are certainly pleased to receive non-living remains. Such specimens could include skulls, full skeletal remains, preserved cadavers, hides, plant samples etc.
Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

I beilive that something could be arranged for you, Counciliator.

[T'lesir Core]

Know that we are the T'lesir, and that we have accepted the offer of the Galactic Column Bank in order to grow and expand, that our people may be safe and prosperous. We wish no harm on any of our brethren, but only the chance to improve our people's existence and to found our home. We are Chronaster Il'tamar, Speaker of the Core.
In the interest of this we, the T'lesir Core, respectfully request that foreign powers seeking access to the areas designated by galactic coordinates K8-10, L8-10, M8-10 forward an official request to the T'lesir Core at least one standard galactic year in advance. We believe this request to be fair and just, in the light of similar requests having been made by other empires. It is also for the protection of your people, as the T'lesir survive in environments that most other races will find deadly.
We, the T'lesir, are also interested in trade; our technology will be alien for most empires, but we are highly skilled and capable of producing wonders. We are particularly interested in trade of crystals and resonating metals (chemical composition will follow). Any who would be interested to trade with us should contact us, the T'lesir Core, with their request.
Finally, we, the T'lesir Core, are looking for a specific planet which might or might not be in the areas each empire has claimed for its own. Said planet would be uninhabitable for most other races: the Feeding - which other races call radioactive decay - should be very strong on it, with many different kinds of radiations. The planet's atmosphere should also act as a lens effect, concentrating the star's light and heat onto the planet's surface. It should also be uninhabited by any form of sentient life. Should any empire discover the location of this planet, we, the T'lesir Core, would be willing to conduct negotiations to purchase the planet.

[Erkirithi-Sha]

Chronaster Il'tamar,

We extend our greetings. We agree to ratify your territorial claims, in return for your acknowledgement of our Kalaid Doctrine. Your race has excited the attentions of our scientists, who are committed to securing a few specimens for study. Perhaps you could forward us some remains?

More importantly, however, I have been advised by Chairman Kalaid to announce that we cannot consider the sale of any planets within the sphere of our influence. Although we concede the logic of selling a planet to you which we may not be able to use (assuming we discover such a planet), we cannot countenance the idea of allowing another empire to establish a strategic centre within our sphere. Certain elements of our society would look dimly upon such an arrangement, and it would likely lead to unpopularity with our citizens. The Erkirithi-Sha, by nature, does not suffer imposition, and ambitious individuals within our empire can be prone to perceiving impositions when there are none.

We hope that this decision does not overly dissappoint you.

Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

[Eugen Razvan]

Galactic Daily News

Issue 170

Galaxy's Richest Empire Looted by Thieves

Today, thieves of unknown nature stole a large sum of money from the Delucrii Empire. In the early hours of the morning, a small corvette-class vessel landed in a relatively quiet area on Delucri. Within moments, according to Delucrii officials, an impressive amount of money was transferred from the global banking system into the ship's computer. Before the thieves could be apprehended, and no doubt due to the incompetence of socialist police, the ship fired up its drives and accelerated into space. They soon vanished from deep space scan, said one frightened Delucrii.

All this happened within two hours. Doesn't that make anyone uneasy? If thieves, pirates, or criminals, can slip past the security network of the wealthiest empire, how much better can the poorer empires deal with them? I, for one, would not be surprised if the Ross 154 Alliance or the Free Traders lacked any means to detect them, let alone realise someone's quick fingers were in the bank. Imagine this: "Oh dear," says Jay Gyan of the Free Traders, "Someone's taken that coin I was sitting on!" Or the Krullen: "It's too cold for this reptilian to catch the thief, so I will wait until the sun rises and perch on this rock. I just hope he doesn't run away too far!"

Well, all this proves to me is that the empires of the galaxy might be clever enough to venture into space, but too damn naive to worry about their own coffers.

G'Klek O'Doherty

[T'lesir Core]

Chronaster Il'tamar,

We extend our greetings. We agree to ratify your territorial claims, in return for your acknowledgement of our Kalaid Doctrine. Your race has excited the attentions of our scientists, who are committed to securing a few specimens for study. Perhaps you could forward us some remains?

More importantly, however, I have been advised by Chairman Kalaid to announce that we cannot consider the sale of any planets within the sphere of our influence. Although we concede the logic of selling a planet to you which we may not be able to use (assuming we discover such a planet), we cannot countenance the idea of allowing another empire to establish a strategic centre within our sphere. Certain elements of our society would look dimly upon such an arrangement, and it would likely lead to unpopularity with our citizens. The Erkirithi-Sha, by nature, does not suffer imposition, and ambitious individuals within our empire can be prone to perceiving impositions when there are none.

We hope that this decision does not overly dissappoint you.

Ehteisei-Kuhm
Conciliator.

We, the T'lesir Core, understand the reasons behind your refusal, and bear no ill will towards your people. Though our scientists would be glad to work alongside yours, and indeed understand your excitement about an alien life form - much like ours did when first we discovered that beings made of flesh existed - our very nature means that we leave little in the way of remains; we, the T'lesir Core, will confer with our scientists and learn if there is anything of note we can send you as a good-will gift.

[Pando]

The film flickers into life, revealing in sepia tones the image of an enormous structure at the edge of a cluster of factories. Words flash at the bottom of the image:

PROSPECT FACILITY
ALBION

The building dominates the scene, its stark, imposing visage looming over the rest of the facility. As the camera watches, the great doors that cover one side of the hangar begin to slide open.
Inside the hangar, all that can be seen is shadow. The doors halt, one whole wall of the building now open to the air. For several minutes, nothing happens. Then, slowly, a shape emerges from the darkness.

This is the scene recorded by the Delucrian archivists of what is called the most significant event in the history of Delucri. The ambitious project known simply as Prospect would on this day come to fruition--the Delucrii would reach beyond their home system, and the galactic community would be changed forever.

Over the course of the next ten minutes, the hangar's content is gradually revealed in a slow progression of steel. When the craft is half revealed, the camera moves in on the sign painted on its side: PROSPECT I
Twenty-five minutes into the film, and the ark is finally emerged from its hangar. A small speck moves from the shadows and passes along the ground below the craft--the camera zooms in on what is revealed to be an automobile, and a sense of scale is suddenly achieved. The Propsect Facility hangar is recorded as the largest building on Delucri at the time of its construction; the ark almost fills it.
From the tiny-seeming vehicle, the camera pans upward, following the length of the ship. From the outside, little can be seen of the remarkable technology contained within its structure. The massive engines required to lift the vehicle into orbit; the supra-light module, temporarily installed, that would carry the vessel to the stars. The greatest innovation: the ecological refinery, key to the establishment of Delucrii on new worlds, and doubling as life-support for the journey through space. Higher on the ship, the bays holding vehicles and equipment that would serve the colonists as they established an industrial base on a new world. Above this, the living quarters that would be home to one thousand Delucrii for the next few years; and finally, at the top of the vessel, the seats of power: the ships control room sharing equal prominence with the Proctor's quarters. From this height, one man would govern all the Delucrii's holdings beyond their homeworld.

Its survey of the history-making vessel complete, the archivist's camera then moves outward, the ark shrinking in the background, until it reveals a small stage confronted with a crowd of Delucrii. A lone Delucrian ascends to the stage from a group of officials that stand to one side. The film, silent until this point, crackles briefly, then picks up the noise of the crowd hushing as the Delucrian official takes the podium at the front of the stage. This is Alric Melnius, Proctor Colonicus, and he is about to deliver the most famous speech of his short career.

"My fellow members of the Quorum, people of Delucri. I am delighted to stand here before you, on this most glorious occasion, as we, the Delucrii, prepare to ascend to the stars. And it is a great honour for me to have been chosen to lead us in this endeavour; to accompany our people to the new world, and there to guide our continued path of prosperity, innovation, and industriousness as we expand beyond our beginnings on Delucri.
"The arrival of the Galactic Column Bank last year shook much of our understanding of the universe. We know, now, that we are not alone in this galaxy. We know that there are other intelligent species out there, and we may have to compete with these races--for territory, resources; perhaps even for the very survival of our people. They are out there, and they will not all be conducive to Delucrian efforts. We have seen evidence of this already, just last month, when the Delucrian treasury was robbed by a group of reprehensible, honourless thieves who came to our world from out there.
"But while the Column has introduced to us the idea of new threats, it has also given us new opportunities. With the help of the Galactic Column Bank, we have found the means to protect ourselves from the threats that might come. With the Bank, we have worked to stop the pollution from our industry that had been harming us. And with the Bank's aid, we have discovered the world that will soon be home to the first colony of the Delucrian people in outer space.
"Behind me, you see the result of years of effort, begun before even we knew of other life beyond our world. The ark, Prospect I, is the key to our advancement into space. Not only our transport to the colony, Prospect is the colony itself. It will be our home, our workplace, and the seed from which the rest of the colony will grow. This vessel represents the greatest achievement of the Delucrian people to date. It cost us much to reach this point, and that cost has affected you all, but Delucrian minds and Delucrian industry have together ensured that I can stand before you today, and state with certainty that this project will be a success. What it has cost us to reach this moment, is as nothing to what will be gained from it.
"I stand before you today to tell you that this--this ark, this marvel of industry--is a sure sign that there is no feat the Delucrian people cannot accomplish. Today is just the beginning, and I assure you, day will come when none in the galaxy can deny the glory of Delucri!"

And as the crowd breaks out in a great cheer, the Proctor exits the stage and makes his way to a waiting automobile. From here, he will be carried to the Column, and there he and the rest of the colonists will ascend into space, to await the arrival of Prospect I in orbit.

The film ends, some thirty minutes later, with the epochal moment itself. Having finally reached the launch platform, the Prospect I sits while a voice overlaid counts down the time until the launch. The count reaches zero, and an entire planet holds its breath. The engines rumble into life, smoke and flame streams out from below the vessel, and slowly, almost gently, the ark rises into the heavens. The massive shape dwindles until nothing but the flare of the engines is visible, a new star shining bright in the sky.
The Delucrii had arrived.


(Article written by Proctor Orion for [], commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Prospect launch.)

[Overmind]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAA
COOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHH
MUUUUUUUUUUUUUSHHHHHBBBBBBBBBAAAAAA
PUOI CAPIRMI?
CAN...
HEAR...

SHOOOOOTTTTTTTT
GUUUUUUUUUUUAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUURRRR

[Cobalt]

:edited out:

[Overmind]

Sharoth
Chiuron,
Siktur,
MORAAAAAAAAA

So che potete sentirmi, solo uno può capirmi.
La minaccia è giunta, il tumore è arrivato, tremate voi esseri organici, verrete digeriti, tremate voi esseri inorganici, verrete assorbiti.
La fine dell'universo è giunta!

I know... only one can understand....
... manace is coming...
... end is coming...

[Cobalt]

:edited out:

[Iblis]

*Another transmission intercepts and merges with the ongoing one*

More importantly, are you attacking us?

This is the Free Trader Suspicious Circumstances. Let's make a...deal.