Dark Ambition's Story Hub

[Keeper Decagon]

----Data Packet Incoming----

>Encryption Disabled<

>Long-Range Transmission Identified<

Message reads:

Executor, this is the Faal-Corum. The final sector Quincy has been explored and the Archive has been retrieved without a hitch. Appears as if the defenses here have been out of power for decades, probably due to the Energy Sources in the region having collapsed due to some sort of Rift instability. At least the inactive derelicts allowed us to take the Archive in relative peace. With the final Archive en-route to you now, I would say that there is a payment in order? Just send us the pickup coordinates and we will be on our way.

Faal-Corum, out.

Message attachment: Seloi Data Archive

>Archive Encryption Seal Detected<

No further data has been included.

>Message End<

----Data Packet Received----

[Dark Ambition]

         [- ANOMALY DETECTED | RED ALERT -]



          Starfish A-28 Reporting.

          Arrived at destination. Seloi 'HyperDome' class structure detected.
          Multiple technologies hidden in Hyperspace Pockets.
                    > Phased Ion Cannon Array
                    > Multiple 'Build' Packets
                    > Multiple 'Ammo' Packets
                    > Creeper Containment Cell
                    > Mind Lathe

          Forcing Hyperspace Pockets to Disengage... Done. Technology revealed.

          New Objective Acquired
"Press the Renegades until they have no choice but to call for GalCorp's help." -Nomad

          Objective Locked In
          Restricting communication links. Allowing clear communication to GalCorp. Intercepting all other communications.

          --WEAPONS PRIMED--

[tornado]

And this is what happens when I get distracted. I turn my back for however long and now there's a war. Woo.

[Keeper Decagon]

And this is what happens when I get distracted. I turn my back for however long and now there's a war. Woo.

The war has been going for a long time, it's just escalating right now as more factions enter the fray, and new and terrifying anomalies ravage the galaxy.

[Dark Ambition]

And this is what happens when I get distracted. I turn my back for however long and now there's a war. Woo.

Ooohh, don't worry. These new guys are just setting things up right now.

They'll wait 'till the galaxy calms down a bit before they strike.

When the Collective are diminished, a deed by the hands of a new great alliance,
When the new Empire flourishes, led by the alien from long ago,
When the whole of the galaxy embraces what was once their greatest enemy,
The T-Mat will make their move, and begin the Dust Wars.

[tornado]

Ooohh, don't worry. These new guys are just setting things up right now.

They'll wait 'till the galaxy calms down a bit before they strike.

Yes, but you don't have to prepare a redacted space expedition(just a few small armies).
On that note, we are dangerously under armed for this scale of conflict. My only hope is that those co-ordinates for the GalTech production facility are still valid.

-Tornado

[cpaca]

If you guys want some help some time...
I could loan some ships. 
Manipulation and Creation of particulate can be of extreme value. 
Plus, it's more weapons without really using more space. 
Just hail me when you need. 
A picture of the threat will allow me to prepare to send a proper army - too big and your objective may not happen, "pressing" may become "killing" and too small then you will still be overwhelmed.

[Dark Ambition]

If you guys want some help some time...
I could loan some ships. 
Manipulation and Creation of particulate can be of extreme value. 
Plus, it's more weapons without really using more space. 
Just hail me when you need. 
A picture of the threat will allow me to prepare to send a proper army - too big and your objective may not happen, "pressing" may become "killing" and too small then you will still be overwhelmed.

     Rift Tunnels Detected
          Scanning... No GalCorp signatures.
          Scanning... No Messages made it past interception zone. Puzzling.

     New Objective Acquired
"I'm afraid we can't have any visitors." -Nomad

     Objective Locked In

          Catalyst Scythe Loaded
          Charging...
          25%...
          75%...
          100% Catalyst Scythe Charged. Firing.



     Catalyst Scythe Fired.

Rift Space decoherence range scanned at 10 Light Years.
     Scanning... Incoming Rift Tunnels collapsed 4.03 Light Years away.

[Spaartan]

Transmission

To: GalCorp

I hate to say this but, we need your help. We are under attack from a massive ship that we have been discussing about and this is the only server not blocked. Please send help, we have a mind lathe under our care and we do not want to lose it to this thing.

[cpaca]

[Useless transmission data omitted]
Alright. 
SPOILER: FOR SPAARTAN! NOBODY ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE CAN SEE!

Spoiler

This will also be a good time to send you a ship you could add to your fleet. Fleet link:http://imgur.com/Cwn7tta Download Hidden.dat ship to use. Also uses Hidden.prpl script Also uses PassiveParticleMaker script. Usage of this ship is of your choise. You can choose whether or not to state what happened in this message. Let the new ship be of helpfulness.

[close]

Back to general transmission.
I see the main fleet appears to have a problem that Particulate likes to do: The particulate grows and attempts to surround the ships. This sometimes works, as surface area increases therefore fire rate per surface area decreases therefore Particulate can make a push. The main reinforcement fleet will be coming in on that side to help with that. With two sprayers [the bigger ships] the particulate can be stopped from surrounding. [the smaller ship just fires particles in a specific direction. Hard to figure out due to Sprayer particles pushing particles around. 
One flanking fleet will be provided on the left side of the large ship. Another one will also be provided on the right side. Hypothetically, these flanking fleets can attack without any power. Practically, if you have enough power, powering may be a good idea, as they don't have any sprayers and may end up with the problem from above.
[Useless transmission data omitted]
Fourth wall data sending...
"Hidden" ship is only given to Spaartan. Nobody else gets it. [It is sent to the battle, but Spaartan keeps it unless he wants to give it]
PassiveParticleMaker is required for GrabberG2Adder OR GrabberG3Adder to work. 
SprayerParticleMaker is required for SprayerAdder to work.
GrabberG2 ships require GrabberG2Adder to work. However, infinite GrabberG2 ships only need ONE GrabberG2Adder. 
The above line also applies to GrabberG3 ships. 
The above line also applies to Sprayer ships. 
PassiveParticleMaker picture and SprayerParticleMaker pictures are exactly the same. 
After all, they are made basically the same. [ Just turn off the pointy-towardies on PassiveParticleMaker and you have SprayerParticleMaker, in lore]
The pictures for those are listed above. 
Also, look at my forum signature, if that helps at all.

[Dark Ambition]

Transmission

To: GalCorp

I hate to say this but, we need your help. We are under attack from a massive ship that we have been discussing about and this is the only server not blocked. Please send help, we have a mind lathe under our care and we do not want to lose it to this thing.

Bear with me a bit. The reply to this one is gonna be a bit long, and take a bit to write. (It might also be fast, but i'm going to bed right now, so i don't know yet :P)

The forum-side story draws near it's close.

[Dark Ambition]

I may have kicked off a season of Doctor Who instead of writing.

Priorities, right?

Part One. Arrival

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
This is Judicator Hayden Silver calling Captain Spaartan of Falcon Company.

Sorry it took so long to get here. Rift Space stopped working for every ship within at least 10 Light Years of this place. We had to borrow a few Hyperspace Modules from the Hiigarans to get here.

Spoiler

[close]

Sounded like you really need the help, so we brought a little entourage.

Spoiler

[close]

Captain, do you read me?



[CPT] Spaartan:
This is Captain Spaartan, I read you, Judicator. Be warned, the anomaly brought with it particle emitters under it's control. They don't scan as regular emitters, I think they were hijacked. We've lost at least half of our fleet. The anomaly seems to be staying clear of the main force, but we don't know why. It's focusing on the less defended fleets and convoys, short-jumping to quickly move from one vessel group to another, despite Rift Space being gone. Communications between us and the other groups are being intercepted. Our men are getting slaughtered, and we can't even warn them!



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Commander Alissa, you take the smaller vessels. Make a Hyperspace jump to the Falcon Company bases that haven't been hit yet, and warn them. Tell them to go to the main fleet. With impulse drives, they should be able to get to the main fleet in a few hours.

Captain, i'm detecting multiple anomalies in this region. Most of them have Seloi readins, some from other Progenitor races. Can you give me more info?



[CPT] Spaartan:
I don't know. They appeared shortly after that anomaly. They seemed to be hidden in some kind of Hyperspace Pocket.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
That would make this sphere a HyperDome. The Seloi used it to hide things they didn't want others to take. That makes this region a Tech Dump. The arrival of the anomaly must have tripped defence systems to reveal some of these pockets.



[CPT] Spaartan:
Would that include weapons?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Maybe.



[CPT] Spaartan:
Then we should recover this tech.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
I'm joining you. But first...

All Viligance class Supercapital ships break off and set course for the anomaly. Slow the thing down.

[close]

Part 2, Fighting Back

[CPT] Spaartan:
Judicator! I've found something.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
What is it?



[CPT] Spaartan:
You tell me...



[Judciator] Hayden Silver:
Scanning... that's a... that's a Phased Ion Cannon Array! It doesn't seem to be very operational...



[CPT] Spaartan:
That sounds like a gun. How does it work?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
It uses multiple Ion Cannons to create a massive energy beam. Not even the Seloi were able to fully grasp the method at work with it, this must be a prototype.



[CPT] Spaartan:
I'll see what my engineers can do to get it online.



Vigilance Commander:
Judicator! Come in! Communications were blocked for a bit, but we managed to get around it! The other Supercapitols are destroyed, we couldn't save the population station here, it's all dust. We'll hold it off as long as we can, but you need to get ready for it!

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Acknowledged. Alissa, report.



[CDR] Alissa Skye:
Two fleet groups have been gathered. The 'Flamingo' and 'Eagle' Battlegroups reporting for duty.



[CPT] Spaartan:
That's... it? That's all that's left?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Rift Space rupture! It's here!



[CPT] Spaartan:
Judicator, the Cannon is still offline! I've tripped some of it's systems, but it's not generating any power!



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Alissa, help them to get that thing online! Use your lathes to feed power directly into it!



[CPT] Spaartan:
The wiring on this thing is fried to hell. It will never be able to fire a continuous beam. But I think I can concentrate some of the energy with my ship when it's online to feed it into a giant ball of supercharged plasma.



[CDR] Alissa Skye:
This Cannon looks a bit wierd. Like it's supposed to be jacked into a larger ship. God knows how big the ship this goes to is.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
It's reached us! Primary defence post, fire at will!

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Primary defence is down, secondary defence, open fire! Captain, get that Cannon up!



[CPT] Spaartan:
Still working on it!

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Secondary defence is down! We don't have all day, Captain! Tertiary defence, fire at will!

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
SPAARTAN!



[CPT] Spaartan:
Almost... There! Docking vessel in now... Judicator, engage Hyperspace! Get out of here!



[Judicaotr] Hayden Silver:
Don't have to tell me twice!



[CPT] Spaartan:
Now... let's see what this baby can do. HAVE AT THEE!

Spoiler

[close]

Starfish A-28:

     Shields compromised. Rerouting power from Catalyst Scythe to keep shie-

     New Objective Acquired
"Your job is done. You know what to do." -Nomad

     Affirmative. Objective Locked In.

I did my duty for the sacred proccess of discovery. Farewell.
          Self destruct engaged.

Spoiler

[close]

[CPT] Spaartan:
WOAH... didn't expe... well, I won't argue. Judicator, the anomaly is destroyed. And... hang on... no wait, i'm still getting a reading... the anomaly is still here.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Roger. I'm coming back now.

Spoiler

[close]

[CPT] Spaartan:
What is that?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Scanning... This is... well, a Data Converter.



[CPT] Spaartan:

What does that mean? What data?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
This thing can convert universal data into physical data. It's designed to focus that data onto a single point.



[CPT] Hayden Silver:
And what does that do?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Confirms a theory...

My duty is to take it back home, for study. But... i'm not a fool. We're not ready for this. Destroy it. Don't mention this Converter again. Forget about it. Pretend that you never saw it.



[CPT] Spaartan:
Okay.

[close]

Part 3, End

[CDR] Alissa Skye:
Judicator, you're not going to believe this. I found a Mind Lathe. It was hidden in one of those Hyperspace Pockets.

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Secure it, and prepare it for transport.



[CPT] Spaaartan:
Err... what's a Mind Lathe?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Classified.



[CPT] Spaartan:
Oh, brilliant.

Just take it, I don't care anymore...

I lost almost my entire fleet. I'll have to rebuild here... god, i'll have to tell their families...



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
What about the escort you sent with the Hiigarans?



[CPT] Spaartan:
... Um... No idea what you're talking about.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
I'm not daft. The ships here match the pattern of some escorts from those Hiigarans. It's been a week since they passed through, aren't they here?



[CPT] Spaartan:
They never returned... and the Hiigarans haven't heard from the Sak-Tor either.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Ah...

well...

Listen, I never did this, okay?



[CPT] Spaartan:
Why are you sending me a hidden dataflow?

...

Oh my word...



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Coordinates for several hidden resource stations. Unmanned. Now, GalCorp is sending teams to recover them, due to the increasing hostility in Redacted Space. But if you're fast enough, you might be able to nick one or two without getting caught. It should be enough to rebuild.



[CPT] Spaartan:
... Why are you giving this to me? Why did you even save me in the first place?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Just because we didn't side with you after that skirmish months back, doesn't mean we don't agree with you.

And... it might sound stupid, but... some of us have been having dreams...



[CPT] Spaartan:
... dreams...

...you too?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
...



[CPT] Spaartan:
...

Well, I uhh... I think you should get going now...



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Yeah, that's... good idea...

Rift Space is back. We should be able to travel around freely now. Setting coordinates for Protected Space...



[CPT] Spaartan:
Thank you for the help, Judicator.



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
No, thank you. Coming here gave us exactly what we needed to complete a project.

Oh, and... Spaartan?



[CPT] Spaartan:
Yeah?

Spoiler

[close]

[Judicator] Hayden Silver:

A storm is approaching. A cataclysm.

The enemy will be victorious, but even they could not foresee the truth.

An impossibility made possible.

Be ready.



[CPT] Spaartan:
What? What's that supposed to mean?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Uhh... my head...

What do you mean?



[CPT] Spaartan:
What you just said... all that about a "Storm" What was that about?



[Judicator] Hayden Silver:
Uhh... I don't half know what your talking about...

I shouldn't stay any longer. I have a project to complete. Farewell.



[CPT] Spaartan:
No no no, wait!

Spoiler

[close]

[CPT] Spaartan:
Well, nevermind then.

[close]

And for you, Forum Spaartan: A present.

Pheonix

The Falcon Renegades were left with the Phased Ion Cannon Array. Or, what was left of it. It would never function as it used to, nor be able to fire the plasma ball again, but untapped Ion nodes can still be individually used as weapons.

[close]

[cpaca]

My ships: 
--WARP IN--
Ah, crap, we're late. They already won. 
Spaartan, some of my ships will be left here. 
Keep them. 
--WARP OUT--
[Ships left to Spaartan are known in the Spoiler, as well as directions for them]

[Spaartan]

OOC: I loved that battle you did, thanks for the ship. I have released some new designs to make sure that attack doesn't happen again. This story is getting better and better!

[Dark Ambition]

System Rebooting...

Loading MultiCyte... Done.

Sys-Cyte 1 - Sys-Cyte 2 - Sys-Cyte 3
     P1: OK         P4: OK         P7: OK
     P2: OK         P5: OK         P8: OK
     P3: OK         P6: OK         P9: OK

System Diagnostics...

Utility Systems...                     Pass
Weapon Systems...                  Pass
Communication Systems...       Pass

No Faults Detected. Displaying
Event Log Prior to Unexpected
Shutdown:

Event Log

>- Struc Materialization Complete
>- Particulate Hull Generation Complete
>- Guardian Keeper Shields Integrated
>- Subject Secured
>- Activating Mind Lathe
>- Subjects Mind Successfully Grafted
Into Excalibur Matrix
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected
>- Rift Space Rupture Detected

[close]

Incoming Communication

 Final

Hey there... are you awake?


(Unknown): I... I don't...


Nomad: Hello. My name is Nomad. I am the leader of this taskforce. How are you feeling?


(Unknown): Where am I? What happened to me?


Nomad: Take it easy. Look around you. You'll see the world in a different way than you're used to. Feel things you've never felt before. Things impossible to feel in a physical body.


(Unknown): My head... oh my god, my head.. it hurts so much...


Nomad: This Mind Lathe technology is primitive. Doesn't account for everything. That, along with the new streams of data of many kinds... I remember this pain very well. Everything you do here, and this is how the galaxy rewards you.

Come here...

...

there... is that better?


(Unknown): Ahh... It... still hurts, but not like it did after... what did you do?


Nomad: Your mind wasn't completely bound to the system yet. I refitted it using the technology that was used to put me in here.


(Unknown): Put you in where?


Nomad: My equivalent to what you are in. Your people call it an Excalibur, built off of the stolen blueprints of the Progenitor Matrix. A shame that GalCorp takes full credit of the work of the previous hundred civilizations.


(Unknown): Is there any way I can go back?


Nomad: No. Your mind was ripped from your body. It's just a dead shell now.


(Unknown): There are... destroyed stations... all around me...


Nomad: The testing stations. This is where they did this to you. We destroyed them.


(Unknown): Testing stations? You mean... i'm just a test?


Nomad: Right now, yes. That's all you are to GalCorp. A test subject.

You could be more than that though.

Come with us. There's no place left for you here. With us, you can be a part of something great.


(Unknown): ... It's not like I have a choice though, Isn't it? GalCorp won't let me live, I know that...

Okay.. i'll come with you...


Nomad: Good.. You will need a name.


(Unknown): I have a name.


Nomad: Something different. A codename.


(Unknown): ... Excalibur. I want my codename to be Excalibur. It's what I am, right?


Nomad: Ha. Quite right. The legendary sword. Quite fitting.


Excalibur: Alright, then. I'm coming with.


Nomad: Good.

Nomad to all T-Mat units. We have what we came for. Let us depart this galaxy.

[close]