Santo Repubblica dei Martiri (SRM)
In the total vastness of space, it can be quite small. From large multi system spanning governments to small isolated individualists. The territory of the Unified Earth Government is massive, and its slipspace routes routinely need monitoring for their weather conditions smugglers, pirates and the enemies of the UEG. Probes launched from listening outposts used to monitor the confines of slipspace often go missing.
Within the outer territories of the SRM, a slipspace monitoring probe, made out of almost solid titanium, departs slipspace on a fluke. Offline and far from home, the SRM can only wonder where this mystery probe and originated from.
Darkstar
The probe floats dead as the 3 stars of Riva di Balot shine upon it. A Martiri patrol vessel soon comes upon the probe, using its strong sensor package to find this derelict ball of metal, its luster perfectly reflecting the background of stars. A small craft appears from the internal hanger of the vessel, it picks up the mysterious probe and brings it aboard.
8 men, including the Reverend, the Chief Engineering Officer, and the Chief Research Officer all stand around the huge probe while it gets scanned.
"Well, what could it be?" The Reverend questions.
"Scans show wiring and a sensor package inside but its power source appears to be blown out sir." The CRO answers while tapping at a screen in front of him, examining whatever is on his display. The Reverend nods and asks the CEO to open the hard shell of the probe to see if they can examine what's inside.
"There's no markings nor indications, you sure you want me and my crew to cut into this? Considering we have not gotten any information from out surveillance ships in decades, this very well could be some sort of trapped probe, intending to blow up a curious fleet and open a path for attack!" The CEO responds worried at the Reverend's request.
"Oh don't be so paranoid, we may not know a whole lot about this object but I'm sure it isn't some "trapped probe". Now go open it up, that's an order!" The Reverend responds sternly at the CEO's reaction.
"Aye sir!" The CEO yells out as he signals his small crew to begin drilling the shell open. Their tools quickly pierce through the thick titanium shell and open the insides. A light shines into the opening and all that they can see are exactly what they saw in the scans. Sensors with strange markings, a mess of wires, and a dead fusion reactor in the center.
The officers reconvene about their discovery and make a decision. The vessel makes a turn back for the Tachyon Fountain, deploys its massive, embroidered sails and heads to Porte della Pace with their discovery.
- Edited
UNSC Listening post Dryaid - Outer system
”Cycling the last of our probes sir.” the screen before the young ensign showed three of the stations probes finishing their few second journey into slipspace. On her stations view scene it showed the status of the three launched probes. Alpha and Gamma probes return readings were normal. However. Beta probe flashed red before her.
” what’s the status of Beta Probe Lapland?” her commanding officer asked.
”Status is unknown Sir, it appears to be lost in the slip.”
Missing slipsace probes were a high ticket item for listening posts but in the grand scheme of the United Nations Space Command, they had other worries.
The ensign filed an after duty report regarding the missing prob which was then signed off by her commander. From there? Sent to the local UNSC supply master to try and get a replacement. In an outer sector like this? Replacements take months to arrive.
Within the probe on the outer shielding of its reactor, is the faded identification sticker displaying the probes home station, repair history, and identification numbers.
In the probes small databank, they can find small portions of data of the probes last slipspace readings and fragmented coordinates of its last known location. The sector home to the listening station.
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.
- Edited
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.
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.
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.
- Edited
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."...
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.
"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
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?”
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'."
”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.”
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."
- Edited
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.
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…