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  • Santo Repubblica dei Martiri (SRM)

Darkstar
Porte della Pace - Operation Center of Surveillance Missions "I Guardiani di Dio"

The docks were quiet as the Basare of I Guardiani di Dio watched the sleek black hull of one of the Occhi surveillance vessels docked here. The Reverend of the vessel that found the mysterious probe stood by him, also observing the hull.
"Well, the 10 surveillance ships we've sent out nearly 20 years ago haven't come back yet... I swear they should have by now... ahem, so we have no clue who's probe this is and whether they would take this as a declaration of war." The Basare questions as he rubs the stubble of his chin.
"Hmm I don't know about war, that seems a bit of a stretch sir." The Reverend sighs before continuing "We did find some information when looking through the probe more however sir." The Reverend finishes and give a holo-screen containing the information they found to the Basare.
The Basare studies the screen before giving an approving hum. "Huh, so we have a rough idea where this probe could have came from?"
"Yes sir." The Reverend responds
"That was rhetorical Reverend." The Basare lowers his hand from his stubble and looks towards the Reverend. The Reverend fidget his fingers a little from the embarrassment.
"Anyways. You, Reverend Shini, Im assigning you to the Occhi that stands before me, you were the one who discovered the probe and i want you to find who, where, and what sent this probe here. These are your orders from now on, do you understand me?" The Basare continues before giving a Martiri salute to the Reverend.
"Yes sir." Reverend Shini salutes back.
"Per Dio!" The Basare says before the Reverend moves back inside the bulk of the station.
"Per Dio!" The Reverend replies back as he walks away to gather his crew and to prepare for the mission.

      Rainoftheeast The system that the listening post is present in is on the smaller scale. A single habited planet with a few icey moons that were onces used to terraform the planet they orbit around by harvesting their ice to create an atmosphere.

      Partition

      Parition is home to roughly 48 million people, with five continents spreading across its surface. Its economy is bulit upon agriculture, deep sea mining that has little use outside of the civillian market - some may wonder if this is why the military presence here is lackluster exepct for the handfull of stations and listening posts.

      One orbital elevator services the planet, acting as a hub to onload and offload cargo and people from docking ships.

      The naval presence around Partition is thin. Two orbtital stations stay anchored around the planet whos purposes are refit and dedicated missile platfroms, capable of launching long-range missiles. A small number of patrol crafts that have rarely seen action despite the odd distress signal or police matter they resolve are also present. Howver, these small craft are not alone. The systems primary defender is the Highlander-class Light Destroyer Amazarak, who patrols closely around Partition to stop anything that might try and pick a fight with the outer colony world.

      The Highlander-Class has a primary armament of many different types of missile arangements, suplimented by its dual Magnetic Accelerations Cannon's (MAC) and the warsips nuclear payload.

      The Amazarak's engine nozzles widen as the ship pushes closer to the listening post on its far out patrol route. Seeing the report of the missing probe, the Captain, waves through the stations hourly slipspace weather reports to see if anything harmful was appraching the system, from an enemy fleet to the rouge asteroid that finds its way into the slipstream.

          Darkstar
          The Occhi vessel assigned to this system draws near, retracting its huge, noticable, tachyon sails and gently turning on its torch drives to bring it to a safe location.

          Days pass as the vessel slips behind some stray asteroids with a close orbit to this planet, the ship turning off its drives and enters the weak gravitational well of a moderately large space rock, slowly orbiting it as all power is directed towards the strong sensor arrays these ships occupy.

          Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Ops Room

          "Well, this is the only populated system in the information we had sir" A feminine voice called out in the room surrounding a massive, embroidered table projecting the information they've begun to collect.
          "Hm, no structure like these matches any of the known stations we've collected in our last survey, it seems quite... unguarded though" Reverend Shini replied back to her.
          "You want to launch additional surveillance probes to see if we can tap into any more information besides this view sir" The woman officer waited for his orders as she pulled out a holo-screen.
          "Yes, but don't forget, were not only here for whoever these guys are but our own Occhi vessels that haven't come back. Dismissed!" Reverend Shini replied back, giving her a salute as she walks out of the room.

          Outer Space

          A few probes are launched out of the off-bore launchers the vessel holds. The probes blast off using their ion diffusion engines to propel themselves to their desired locations throughout the system, some launching straight out in search of the last known position of one of the missing Occhis.
          One probe strays closer and closer to the listening post. It's long, black, cylindrical shape opening up as it turns into a little array. The sensors pointing straight at the station from a mere 4 million kilometers away.

              Rainoftheeast

              UNSC Listening post Dryaid

              The station groaned as one of the two remaning probes was launched away from the station so it could transition into slipspace from a safe distance to monitor and gather infomration. A couple seconds had passed as the probe returned normally, unlike the missing probe from days earlier. The station then deployed a recovery drone to grab the returned probe, bringing it back to the station so it can sync its data captures.

              The probes data readings show an unfamilar ship signature travleing close by in Slipspace. The crew are puzzled by this. Suddenly an ensign yells out_"Sir, picking up whispers the Viytaz asteroid belt. Whatever we caught in slipspace just arrived."

              The commander, one that wants to know all the facts, gives the following order:
              _ Deploy our Clarion observation drones, I want eyes on that asteroid belt, and notify the Amazarak, they may want a closer look."_

              UNSC Amazarak

              Sir, incoming reports from the Dryiad, they say they have detected a slipspace transmission around the Viytaz asteroid belt. Putting the report on your station"

              The Captain of the ship pulls up the report, they overlay the data about the size of whatever just had transitioned from FTL over the known FTL signatures they have in their databases. No match.

              "Set the ship to TAC CON Alpha three." An alarm blared throughout the ship, alerting the crew to readiness in case something goes wrong. Missile crews were at standby and weapon safeties were disengaged.

              The destroyers engines flare as the large craft moves towards the edge of the asteroid field. The ship is too large to maneuver through the field, and missiles could get snagged on asteroids, however, what craft was in that field would have the same issue with their weapons if they choose to fire on the destoyer. The destroyer sits a few thousand kilometres away from the asteroid field. Drones deployed from the listening station sync with the destroyer through the Battle Net, whatever they find will be sent right back to the listening post and the destroyer.

                  Darkstar

                  Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Bridge

                  The ships strong sensors detected the two probes launched out of the listening post and the resulting maneuvers from one of the warships guarding the system. Optical sensors shows its long hull pointing roughly where they were.

                  "Well shit, they must have detected our tachyon wake." One of the officers blurted out on the bridge, eyes peeled on the screen with the view of the unknown warship.

                  "Hm, well that was a guarantee, usually we're supposed retract our sails much earlier on so to make the wake not detectable by the time we reach our target, but the Basare wanted this quick..." Reverend Shini sighs.

                  "They're still about an hour and a half out, think we could make some distance between us and where they're heading, sir?" The officer replied.

                  "We could, but there's no doubt that they would detect our torches even on the lowest throttle" Reverend Shini responded, pondering on what he could do. "Our best bet is to stay here, turn off all sources that could be detected and lower the orbit we have on this asteroid, hug the surface if you have to." He finally added.

                  "Aye, sir!" The rest of the officers chanted after Shini gave out his orders.

                  Outer Space

                  As the unknown warship loomed ever closer, the small Occhi hugged the surface of the asteroid it was orbiting, the relative low albedo of the asteroid helping the vessel to camouflage with the surface. The only give away was a slightly different shade of black and some unusual geometry.

                  Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Nav officer's screen

                  The only sensors and equipment turned on in the stealthy vessel we're its external optical cameras. One of them zoomed in on the warship only a couple thousand kilometers away, the Nav officer's eyes scanning the surface and armaments.

                  "Hm, U...N...S...C? A-Amazarak?" The nav officers said to himself as he continued to look at the view of the warship.

                      Rainoftheeast The drones scour the sections of the asteroid field that had the most recent "pings". They move through in a grid formation collecting data before heading close to the unkown classification of ship. The drones sensors and cameras are helpful in gathering data, but when it comes to detecting stealth craft, the only vessels who had the strongest way of doing so would be specific frigate classifications which the system was lacking.

                      The destroyer continues its patrol around the edge of the asteroid belt while its drones finish up their flight before returning to the destroyer.

                      Amazarak Bridge

                      "No sign of the mystery ship Sir."
                      "That can mean two things, we are either dealing with a ghost, or some sort of stealth craft."...

                          5 days later

                          Darkstar
                          The darkened hull of the Occhi continues to hug the surface of the asteroid, as the unknown warship looms around, its horde of probes scanning all the cluttered space of this asteroid belt. The Occhi keeps a keen eye on the ship's actions...

                          Occhi-class Survelliance Vessel - Bridge

                          The bridge is full of chatter as debates and discussions fill the chamber, voices echoing.

                          "So, you say nothing about the data we collected so far matches anything we know?" Reverend Shini replies to a statement another officer said.
                          "Yes sir, seems the data we know is quite outdated..." The officer replies.
                          "Ahem, Revend?" The XO cuts in, ignoring the current conversation for something urgent.
                          "Yeah XO?" Shini looks over towards him, an impatient look quickly going over his face.
                          "You do realize we can only keep this state for a couple more hours, sir? turning off many of our heating systems to reduce our IR signature is going to eventually freeze up many of our systems, leaving them inoperable." The XO replies.
                          "Yes, i do know, but how else do you think we're going to hide from an unknown, possibly hostile faction. I know we follow mainly peaceful measures ever since The Crociate, but we can't be sure anyone else we make contact with will accept this peace." Revend responds to XO's statement, the impatient look turning into an angry stare.
                          "Yes, we do have to uphold our peace and not everyone will be accepting of that, but, we don't know about this nation we've found, i think we'd be better off making contact and if they are hostile, we are magnitudes nimbler and faster than whatever their ship's capabilities are, sir." The XO responds, unphased by the Reverend's anger.
                          "Hmm..." Shini thinks as he lets the statement flow through his brain, he sits back down in his chair and raises a hand to give out an order. "Very well XO... i'm unsure of this action but, you are right, no point in hiding if we dont know and we have the option to figure out..."

                          Outer Space

                          The tiny Occhi moves away from the asteroid as a majority of it's systems come back online, frost melting off the hull and its torches awakening...
                          It makes an attempt to hail the unknown warship, no weapons powered and appearing out of the blue.

                              7 days later

                              Rainoftheeast

                              "Unkown contanct spotted!" The ops officer yells! "They seems to not have any energy readouts apart from their thrusters"

                              "Keep tracking them."

                              "Sir they are hailing us" The communications officer exclaims.
                              "Well... lets hear what they have to say. Put it through the main bridge speakers"
                              "Aye Sir"

                              The destroyer holds position, waiting for a response

                                  Darkstar

                                  Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Bridge

                                  Reverend Shini clears his throat a little as his finger hovers over the "On" button for his audio device, after a few tense seconds he starts speaking through the grated metal pattern that was the device in front of him. "U. N. S. C A-maza-rak!" Shini struggles a bit as he tries to pronounce the name of the warship standing in front of him on the sensors. "We are simply the holy observers of our land; we've been brought here from not only missing signals of our brethren but from a unnatural object we have found in Dio's space!" Shini takes a short breath after his thunderous voice spoke through the audio device, himself now standing in a statue-like postition despite no video feed being sent to the warship.
                                  "We have no intentions of harm against your kind, simply enough, we need answers and if possible, some diplomatic truce with your kind. As far as the Martyrs of Dio know, we have no knowledge of your existence outside of this interaction. If your kind allows, we will submit our ship and seek the one who controls this sector of space!" Shini sits back in his seat as he presses the "Off" button on the device in front of him, slouching in his chair a little as he waits a response...

                                      Rainoftheeast The destroyer still holds its same position outside the asteroid field.

                                      ”Sir, the unknown vessel is hailing us!”

                                      ”Play it through.”
                                      The transmission plays through the bridge speakers. The captain, listening to it asks for it to repeated.
                                      ”Play it again please.”

                                      Pausing for another moment in thought, the captain speaks. ”Prepare a FCRep to send, and broadcast what I have to say”

                                      “Greetings Dioians. We are thankful you are coming in a more peaceful matter. However, what is this unknown object and mystery ships you speak of?”

                                          Darkstar

                                          Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Bridge

                                          Reverend Shini listens to the responding broadcast, eventually turning back on the audio device and making a response to the "UNSC" warship.
                                          "Well, roughly 2 weeks ago we detected an object... or rather I say probe, in our holy presence, we examined and explored into this metallic sphere and using the data we found on some eroded insignias and stickers."
                                          Shini sighs for a second before continuing.
                                          "We've also been searching for missing vessels, ones like the vessel we are currently in, it would be helpful for us if you had any information about sightings or detections of Dio's missing eyes'."

                                              8 days later

                                              Rainoftheeast

                                              ”How would a probe of ours get out that far” the captain mutters to himself before answering the Ochi.

                                              ”Roger that. We have not seen any vessels similar to yours operating within our space. This is the first time anyone from the UNSC or UBG having first contact with you.”

                                                  12 days later

                                                  Darkstar

                                                  Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Bridge

                                                  Shini sits at his console, the embroidered surface reflecting all the gleaming light of the bridge.
                                                  "Well..." Shini speaks back into the audio device
                                                  "If that's the case, we're willing to talk to anyone of higher position than you, these missing vessels have left gaps in our knowledge in this galaxy... and we'd rather not have this lack of knowledge as it could negatively affect us and Dio as a whole."

                                                      6 days later

                                                      Rainoftheeast The air scrubbers in Adrian Havelocks cabin seemed musty, the air began to taste sour. Of course, fresh air as common as it was on a Borealian starship, or an more established charter line from the inner colonies was often lacking on charters like these that moved people in the outer belt of human civilization.

                                                      Adrian left his cabin, hoping the quality of air would change once he got into the main hall, maybe he’d grab a drink at the open bar, or grab some grub at the canteen located on the ship.

                                                      His personal chatter chimed in his pocket. He pulled it out to check the notification to find a message from an old friend.

                                                      “hey macho, sorry to intrude on your slice of whatever you call it. Need you for a speaking arrangement.

                                                      You’re the closest one we got.”

                                                      Adrian’s short time in the diplomatic corp, after he took leave due to having a midlife turn around surprised his colleagues. Despite having quite the career in the BAF, rising to the rank of Major, people assumed he retired due realizing he could finally explore on his own, without anyone telling him where he had to go.

                                                      He typed on the keyboard of his chatter.

                                                      “How close are you?”

                                                      ————
                                                      HMBS Amazark - Highlander - class light destroyer
                                                      Bridge

                                                      “Roger that Ochi. Hold your position. We will find someone that you can speak to. However, it may take time.”

                                                      The captain looks at his data pad, trying to match the scans of the mining ship to any and every ship in the database. Without the help of an AI, which the destroyer had not yet installed would prove some difficulty… and handicap the effectiveness of some systems.

                                                          6 days later

                                                          Darkstar

                                                          Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Bridge

                                                          Shini's face lights up with appeasement as the Amazarak responds, leaning back in his seat as he sighs with some relief.
                                                          "Understood Amazarak"
                                                          Shini turns off the device for good as everyone on the bridge calms down, the Occhi now entering a calm orbit with the larger destroyer... atleast they are willing to talk...

                                                              a month later

                                                              Rainoftheeast

                                                              The message read "Partition. I'm breaking all kinds of regs telling you this and getting you out of here." "Fuck, how am I supposed to get out to Partition." Adrian thought to himself. It would take days on on a transport with a civillian class slipspace drive which were much slower than the ones on Borealian navy ships.

                                                              His chatter chimed again, indicating another message. "Havlock, I need you for this."

                                                              Adrian made it to the canteen. Making his way towards the interface where he could place an order. Half of the options he didnt recgonize and the other have seemed like shit, so he settled on just a coffee. He paid and as began to make his way back to his cabin, a groan mumbled throughout the ship as it deaccelerated and entered realspace, causing him to drop his coffee. He disliked being on ships, preferred having his fleet planeted firmly on the rock and dirt of a planet.

                                                              As the transport he was on drew closer to its final destination, a station orbiting another backwater just like Partition, its RCS thrusters blasted a couple microburst, bringing the ship to an almost halt. Metres away from its berth, automated docking arms sprung out of the sides of the berth, orienting the ship so it could connect with a docking port.

                                                              Adrian returned to his small cabin to grab his personel affects before leaving the transport.

                                                                  2 months later

                                                                  Darkstar
                                                                  Occhi-class Surveillance Vessel - Shuttle Bay

                                                                  Shini prepared himself for these talks aboard this foreign vessel. Negotiations like these we're exceptionally rare for officers. captains, and ambassadors of Martiri, due to the inherent isolationist nature of them. This means each time an opportunity like this arises, it's treated like a ceremony, the one who does the negotiating is adorned in dazzling, hand-woven robes that show the history of the Martiri and various depiction of religious imagery from the 3 "Parole del Signore", Martiri's holy scriptures. These ornamental white, gold, and red robes and the fortunate soul to be wearing it are also accompanied by several bodyguards. Their armor matches the color and symbolism of the robes, yet remain distinct as identifying these men as the protectors of the "Messenger of the Lord".

                                                                  Though this may seem over-top, anything that is defined as an important or "Santo" to the Martiri are treated with the highest respect and honor. Celebrations and ceremonies are always apart of the core for the religion of the Martiri...

                                                                  Shini sighs, making sure the robes fit properly and there is not a single wrinkle or speck of dust messing up any of the woven threads. He tugs a little at the tippets one last time before turning around behind him, bowing towards the small crowd that had gather to prepare him for this moment. They exchange a few hymns and prayers before Shini moves into the small shuttle, flanked by 5 bodyguards adorned in the blinding white-gold plate armor covered with red-white robes.

                                                                  The shuttle eventually disconnects from the small bay in the Occhi, itself a bit bland for carrying such well dressed and important targets, but eventually it nears the Amazarak, and hails the vessel, asking for a dock to depart the negotiator group.

                                                                    Rainoftheeast changed the title to Santo Repubblica dei Martiri (SRM) .

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