Stories of Lore 63

 

 

The Nekhul expedition was short but has already had vast ramifications. Due to Renjala and Eerihild’s binds in particular, the ‘thing’ known as the Sixth Disaster of the Ika got loose into the Evershar colony, Eden, Enohas, Mokihi, and afflicted Yasrena as well. While you were away, Director Hex took over to declare martial law after she was warned by a New Age researcher about the ongoing development.

Over half of the expedition was lost and almost every mech is gone. According to investigation by New Age, who are in possession of the defunct carriers now, the few mechs remaining show heavy damage and many of the pilots were found to be among the survivors. Implying that for some reason hundreds of mechs were abandoned on the surface of Nekhul and never returned to the carriers. We do not know if their pilots abandoned them to take shuttles back up for immediate retreat, if the mechs were damaged too greatly to continue operation, or if something else happened.

Unfortunately, due to the radiation hazard all equipment went through thorough decontamination upon returning to the carriers which also destroyed a lot of what could have been used as evidence to what might have happened down there. All sensor, video, and comm logs were destroyed in an attempt to save those remaining aboard from the memory destroying parasite.

Diadem Apparel and Lancaster Reserve have been established as requested.

Vittles doesn’t have much of a stockpile, it is one of your largest assets and has made a significant dent in the famines of the Reach but it doesn’t tend to store extras long term as the supply of food is still under the demand generally speaking. Not to mention the Vessians who live on Diadem take a lot to feed and you have a habit of sending food all over the place so it never piles up for long.

As it turns out, asking the Ruffians and Haleh to act as security has resulted in some unintended consequences. While they are protecting food shipments, they are accusing people of theft every time they get bored. Haleh is deliberately hunting vessians in the north whether or not she can prove they are the problematic targets. She “recruits” them to join her ruffians. They’re getting stronger as a result now that she has several vessian officers she has been personally training to serve her. If they refuse then she murders them on the spot just to show off that she is in fact stronger than vessians. Spreading her dragon supremacy to other Reachers. So a great number of food shipments are safer now and the vessian hunters are being either pushed into the hive worlds or back south to get away from Haleh intentionally hunting them for sport.

VIPER and the Caelkians are a bit more chill and helping control the pirates in the north as intended. Though the Caelkians have been conveniently forgetting to do their paperwork in order to smuggle vessians south without Haleh finding out about it.

Speaking of Rahlken, the latest RBN update noted he was moving north. We also know that he goes from station to station selling what he can along the major path of the Reach. There is a series of stations along what can be thought of as a major highway that he goes along. Given that he is almost always being tracked, we could send a team to the stations along his path to see what he is selling. He will often offload huge amounts of ‘pristine salvage’ at one of a few key stations on the interstellar highway and individual merchants will pick through the spoils and divide it up for distribution. It is likely this most recent offload occurred at a huge station a bit south of Elasyn.

As for increasing the Ring section’s defenses, we can try building more outposts and turrets. Seven layers, two sides, giant ring’s width, it’s a lot of ground. The enemy is adaptive as well, we have to adapt to their adaptations that were counters to our adaptations to their adaptations in the first place. That being said, despite the threat level of these machines the attacks have been less prominent lately. They tend to be a bit lazier when we don’t have any deep expeditions for awhile, but when they launch another assault it is often quite severe. Currently the Diadem guard rely on shuttles to travel the width of the lines and scan for problems as best they can with the outposts providing long range turret fire from raised positions whenever anything is found. There are also independent hunters who are not enlisted with the guard but we pay them a bounty for what they bring down. Basically mercenaries who specialize in hunting along the plate lines. Seventy percent of these mercenaries are arcurans who hunt the bounties to afford their power armor some day.

Beyond additional outposts and arms, there isn’t much we have been able to do to more permanently resolve the situation. We tried to build fields that repel the machines, they adapted to it within two months. There are already mine fields out there, and they figured out how to spot those too. Right now we’re in an arms race to deal with the sneakier productions they’ve been sending that go around the outposts and try to reach the farm plates. Though the large protective domes Renjala constructed kept them out of the food  supply and the improvised militia of vessians were able to deal with them.

In regards to your question about the Evershar colony, the insectoids previously mentioned are just wild creatures. They chose that planet deliberately for its lack of intelligent competition.

In regards to their relics, Utewa generally refuses to sell or trade them. They get a lot of offers from Reachers at times, but the vaults they keep are to preserve the historical and research values of their collection. Reachers can be a little rough on any archeologically relevant artifacts and prone to trading away priceless items for a pack of cigarettes only for it to wind up on some ship dash for twenty years until the ship gets blown up. Utewa is one of the few planets in the reach that can really hope to hold onto anything for any foreseeable length of time due to their planet’s ability to just leave the plane at will. Though given that it they might be in possession of an Ika device that they want back, they are open to considering a trade.

Specifically they want one of Kanika’s grimoires she scattered across Thenica’s history. The Lakaaj are a known threat in the eastern galaxy and the Reach doesn’t have much in terms of necrocarnate research to rival that problem. It has come to their attention that Sol is home to one of the most talented necrocarnates in the galaxy, and she wrote a ton of books then just left them laying around for people to discover. They want some of these to further their research. Walters had haggled them down from one of Ankathi’s books. She only ever made one and Renjala has it locked up annnd probably wouldn’t want to trade it off for a variety of reasons.

I have pre-emptively looked into some options for that. Obviously we can’t ask Kanika herself as she might stab the messenger. However, those books are not particularly important or well protected by her. We know that Rozanis had one and it is likely now in the possession of Sayane. We could also try to get a demon to look into acquiring one for us since they would be under less suspicion from the Hassani for asking around. Faithrae says she knows how to get one, though isn’t sharing where it is or how she would get it. It is also likely there are a few scattered about the undead nations of Necrosi. Jhaeros also likely had one though we have no idea where to find him. That’s all I have at the moment.

Also Walters has been talking with Utewa a lot lately and they mentioned something related to a whole other problem we’ve been having. They actually know that the Ika expedition to leave the galaxy occurred from what we’ve labeled as plate section 5 of Diadem. There might be information, particularly logs of their departure, there that we could use to calculate which direction we should be looking.

As for Gunhild I’ve compiled a list of options I can find in my database. In terms of cybernetics, we would need Daiheb’s help. Selona’s are of good quality and his androids are totally machine, but Daiheb is the only one who has the ability to transplant an organic person’s consciousness into a totally machine body. If you crack open Aryn’s skull there isn’t an elf brain in there anymore. The Ika Pods could attempt to restore more of Gunhild’s organic body parts but that might actually be worse for her than letting her remain cybernetic. Her complaints that it hurts to move her cybernetics will be just as bad once she’s in an old woman’s body. Though Faithrae just recently acquired Hyeon and her artifact while everyone else was too busy to hunt her down. The Exerlus have the technology to make someone an exerlus, as they demonstrated in the process of restoring Echo Prime. However they are unlikely to do this for a random human soldier. Blaiken have the technology to fully reverse the process of aging. Pandem binds can extend lifespans as well though would require the recipient to be proficient in pandem magic. Renjala knows how to make a lich, not the most enviable fate for some though. Demons can convert other sapients into demons somehow with their contracts as we heard from Lilli some while ago. Demons are naturally much longer lived than humans. Koura parasites might also be able to give Gunhild a new body specifically under the conditions that were used to create Si-Yeon. Preacher said he would be down to try some ideas, Hex reported that Preacher has no credibility to attempt this but he did offer to try and turn Gunhild into a voidforged core. He has no idea how to do this but he is excited at the idea of trying. Then finally there is throwing her into Larazja’s ichor and hoping for the best. Technically my database also contains the information that Kanika specializes in this though obviously won’t help us.

Koharrel and the fleet support have been looking into the Sugnam situation. The Caelkians have agreed to send someone if you want them to meet with them over there. The Sugnam Government is actually several smaller kingdoms with varying opinions on the matter based on their proximity to the fuel mining operations. Koharrel just appears to have walked into the one nearby first. There are definitely peasants who would very much like a couple of rulers removed and the slavers chased off to which end they’re very cooperative with Federation ideals. Especially the slaves. We had Koharrel look into things regarding the demon presence in particular. As far as she can tell they’re mostly interested in the fuel resources and see an opportunity to expand business into the area. Though they’re a lot less interested in the natives, as various demons would be able to import their own labor forces that apparently have expanded greatly in the last twenty five years. Half the reason they’ve been so prevalent in the Reach lately is that they now have more of a labor force than they really know what to do with and need to start on some projects.

There is some tension between the demons and the local mining operation though they’re on opposite sides of the planet for now to stay out of each other’s way. The Tungsten Teeth have arrived and are shopping around for contracts between our fleet, the slavers, the demons, and Sugnam themselves whose small nations can pay in the very fuel everyone is here to get. The situation is slow to develop since the Sugnam themselves aren’t particularly modern or efficient, the demons are debating if its worth the effort while our fleet is there, the Tungsten Teeth are checking for bids, and the slavers are in disarray because of everything else that was mentioned. Essentially the rogue slaving miners have no shot at keeping in this race unless they win the bidding war for the Tungsten Teeth’s assistance though they don’t seem to have full awareness of the status of the situation.

Koharrel has initiated talks with the demon’s Lord Hrath, who is a somewhat minor player looking to get his businesses going to maybe alter his current standing. Not as big of a deal as Euron, Lilli, or Asmodan for example. More like a Rozanis at best. Hrath is really just looking for something to work on for the time being and is negotiating land usage rights with the Sugnam in a calm and orderly fashion in the other hemisphere. Though Eerihild might have some thoughts on that given what happened to her people’s lands in Alnae, and now nefariously talented demons are with bureaucracy and contracts.

Vynnoth doesn’t mind working with the Federation for PR reasons though isn’t sure what exactly that entails. Though she points out that Haleh is kind of the dragon’s matriarchal figure here on Diadem. While dragons tend to exist in solitude from one another, it would be a potentially risky idea to push draconic relations for the Federation without looping Haleh into them. It would be a little disrespectful and Haleh is a little dangerous to be on the wrong side of. Though Vynnoth is pretty sure if you ask Haleh directly she will get bored and wander off immediately, but at least won’t be mad about it later.

As for the desire to construct an AMZ weapon, first step is finding someone who knows how to even cast the spell. Nah division reports that they know of a Revenant who can do it but not many others. The spell is particularly rare, even archwizards of the modern era will rarely know how to do it or where to find out how it works. This has led to a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories as to why its so hard to find people who know anything in particular about it. Though given that it is rare throughout the galaxy, it is likely that it is just really difficult. After extensive research, everything we have leads to long dead wizards. So we can go find that Revenant, or we can ask Yasrena to trade secrets.

 

I’ve been reading up on Diadem to see if I can retain it as per orders from Director Hex. According to these notes it’s been sticking as of late. It’s weird that I felt like nothing was wrong but looking through all of these reports apparently something terrible happened that killed no one?

In accordance with Federation enforcement and the recent State of Emergency, the portal network was disabled and we’re still under quarantine from New Age here at Eden since Eden herself being infected has been troublesome to deal with.

Enohas is at least manageable since everyone lives rather spread out through the forests. However the elf population require special procedures since they don’t naturally sleep the same way most do. So it’s been a bit of an effort to systematically destroy their APT’s and then tranquilize them but at least maintaining isolation is easy. I’m currently at New Jamalia since Eden isn’t cleared yet.

So far from reading all this, it seems as if Si Yeon is the only reason there weren’t even more deaths and a galactic scale disaster. I’ll send her a gift basket.

Hisashi says an experimental pandem radar might help with locating Zero but that is a multi-billion credit spitball of his at the moment as he’s not entirely sure how far into the Wilds it could feasibly detect. He’s currently working on a prototype to see if he can open a rift and detect any meaningful data. I’ve approved his funding request for his prototype though since that was only thirty grand so he could buy some parts.

On the upside Inya and Irae haven’t had any issues, on the downside its because Evershar colony got hit by the Sixth. New Age showed up to lock the place down. They opted for doing what the scary people say instead of being collectively blown to pieces. Though given how non-apparent the nature of the thing is, they have no idea why any of this is going on. Irae recognizes New Age enough to tell everyone else to just go along with it at least.

I set up the missionary program and looped in the plans you asked for into that program. Though currently no one is allowed to leave Eden so slight delay on sending them out.

 

Oh-ho-ho, putting on the big girl shoes this month are we? We should take pictures of you being firm and authoritative and put up posters everywhere. Don’t worry you were on security feeds when you were doing so, way ahead of you. Gonna need a catch phrase though…

Oh right so I’ve been in touch with New Age. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. Is the gist of what I got from them.

Diadem’s portal network was disabled and since the administrator was not present, several communication devices were physically destroyed to prevent incoming communication. Quarantine procedures were also initiated to halt incoming traffic from physical ships.

While most of the afflicted are fine, losing memories of Diadem’s existence is not life threatening, it has caused some degree of chaos due to the severity of Vasia’s actions to contain it before it got into the galactic network. Had this occurred before Selona destroyed galactic communication relays, it would have been impossible to stop. Which might explain what happened sixteen thousand years ago or whatever. Diadem’s portal network was disabled and has stranded some people wherever they might be. Millions have no memory of it’s existence anyways.

While Doctor Si-Yeon has found a way to get it out of people, requiring me to invent a voidforged sedative in the process, cleaning contaminated areas goes slowly. Despite how simple the fix is, just knock people out, it turns out to be a logistical nightmare to knock everyone out at once and also destroy all the memory storage in the area. Turns out psi-crystal storage doesn’t really mind being turned off then back on again and it persists under those conditions. So containment involves manually destroying every hard drive in the colony, including people’s APT, then isolating people, then rendering them all unconscious. Then getting them all new APTs.

Further notes have arrived that the thing is capable of spreading through sixty meter contact with literally anything. A big part of how it functions is psionically so doing some semaphores is fine, all comms rely on psionic technology though so be careful about that.

We’re going to need to find a way to deal with it particularly on Eden City. If we destroy all their computers, it is liable to drop out of the sky. Though currently that project is being handled by Steamworks as they have a talent for this kind of non-magical engineering.

I’ve been prepping some designs for a few research surveys on the idea of the ‘mature’ frame swaps. We’re waiting for Adrienne to get back from the north, there’s also a rival elf engineer from Adelaide who was interested in what is slowly turning into a competition though they’re on lockdown. Though preliminary surveys definitely show a trend in preference towards the early generation series.

Deniau is currently responding to market trends for various medicinal base components rather than finished products. Basically processed ingredients that can be mixed together, this is largely because in the Reach all these aliens need wildly different things. Should demand for such things fall we could easily just start mixing them ourselves for designer products anyways so its not a bad place to start with production.

 

Aryn and the task force were able to retrieve Kaylen surprisingly smoothly, but now they have a new problem. Diadem is still on lockdown and they are now in possession of a rather dangerous prisoner. More specifically, they found out that Kaylen has been bound to one of the Hydra’s heads. Had she been awake for even a second during that abduction, Hydra would have known about it instantly and the whole operation probably would have gone very wrong very fast.

Though this adds a new problem, they’re running out of supplies to keep Kaylen sedated. They have her practically in a coma to prevent her from waking up and transmitting that information to the Hydra, but also because they’re not sure if they can really keep her in a cell for very long. Any assessment as to Kaylen’s mental state will have to wait until she can be more safely restrained. Currently they’re headed to Moncayo with the hopes of using Vasia’s old prison facility she once made that housed Qhus’tha. Though the problem with that is Kaylen would likely be able to recognize that facility as it was in the territory she once controlled as the leader of the Hero’s Guild.

They have requested advisement on what to do before they run out of medical supplies to keep her in said coma. Since if she wakes up and knows where she is, the Hydra will too. They were trying to contact Renjala but he’s been out of contact for an oddly long time, the taskforce doesn’t know about what happened on Nekhul in any detail yet.

After a series of investigations, Euron’s two missing companions were found to have left to Eden City shortly after the festival. Though with the lockdown it’s not particularly easy to chase them down. Euron himself already left to return to the Demon Kingdom as it were. His other associates went to the Reach station network and Rampart reports that they seem to be transporting something or someone southwards.

So far our teams at Jydoq think that Kennae went east, which from Jydoq would imply he’s headed towards the galactic south. This would imply he was either last seen headed towards Cayetano, the Playatis network, or the Dead Zone created by the Blaiken. At least those are the locations of interest that we know of.