Teferaet
Former Archon World
They moved quickly into the building, sweeping down the corridors, clearing any rooms they came across. All the time Annaka kept an eye on the display of HEL’s sensor showing the location of the faceless. One big mass deep inside the building. It was a relief they hadn’t started moving yet, but also a worry. They should have known the Frondauri were there, but why hadn’t they moved?
“If they don’t react before we get there, all squads will hold their position just outside the inner chamber,” Annaka ordered over the comms. “If we can get into position we should be able to wipe them out without too much trouble.” She didn’t really believe that, but she still had hope things would go well.
Her squad leaders all copied her orders. Even Lurgos. So at least he was beginning to come around. Her squad was first into position, and one by one the rest of her squads got into position. Shield walls were put up from which the defenders could stand behind. Shyanar took up positions on the edges, ready with their long spears to drive the faceless against the center where they’d be hit with direct plasma fire. One by one her squads communicated their readiness.
“Alright three Frondauri per squad, move forward to the doors. Open and toss in grenades, and then double-time back to the barriers. We’ll take them as they pour out towards us,” she worked very hard to keep the tremble she was feeling in her legs from coming out in her voice. “No mistakes and we all get to go home, any questions…”
Her voice was drowned out by a loud screech coming through her comms. Some kind of feedback from somewhere. Then a voice came over in a very amused tone. “Hello, party crashers. How are you all doing today?”
“Who is this?” Annaka demanded. “Identify yourself.”
“Ah, you must be the leader. What’s your name?”
“This is Annaka, Commander of the Frondauri Crusader Force. Now identify yourself?
“Crusader force?” the voice asked with delighted amusement. There was even a chuckle. “Well, Annaka, my name is Kruza and the commander of the Faceless force you’re trying to destroy.”
There was a beep on her comms and another voice came on, this time through another channel. “Switch to channel three,” the voice of Protector Went said. Annaka did as she was told, switching channels.
“Keep this guy talking,” she commanded. “We have to neutralize him. He thinks he’s got you in a trap, so be very careful, but we have a trap of our own for him. But keep him talking.”
Annaka didn’t say anything, switching back to the previous channel. “Who are you, Kruza?”
“So they haven’t told you that information,” he mused. “Gotta keep their failures a secret. I do wonder how the Commonwealth was able to raise such a mighty force, and get starship capabilities, in such a short time. Would you be able to tell me how, Annaka?”
“A brilliant scheme by the Supreme Watcher,” she answered to keep him talking.
“I never would have thought Kaifur to be clever enough to figure it out.”
“Kaifur hasn’t been Supreme Watcher for some time,” she told the voice.
“Really?” Kruza said in astonishment. “I wonder who they got to replace him. It’s an impressive feat I must say.”
“I didn’t know the faceless are capable of talking,” Annaka said.
“Oh they are, just not in any way that you would consider to be ‘talking’. It’s all done through a subspace neural link. I’m the only one capable of real speech.”
“And how are you able to do that?” she asked.
“Because, I was once very much like you. I was a Frondauri too.”
His words made Annaka hesitate. Only static over the radio. What did he mean that he was once a Frondauri? She’d seen what happened to Frondauri who were turned into faceless and none of them had been able to talk. “I think you’re lying to me, Kruza,” she stated firmly.
He laughed. “Maybe I am, Annaka. Maybe I am.” He said. “Why don’t you ask your superiors. I’m sure they’d know. That is if Draevin and the others ever got back home. I did send them in the wrong direction.”
At the mention of Draevin’s name her blood ran cold. “How do you know my father?” she asked.
“Father?” and there was definitely bewilderment in his voice. “I think we’re talking about different Draevin’s. The one I’m referring to was just a Guardian acolyte. A good frond, a Pendari. Though that’s no fault of his own. The closest thing I’ve ever had to a friend. Though he didn’t have any children. He was too young.”
Things started to click in her mind. The stories her parents had told her of crossing the Tomb and saving Archaeus. And now the name made sense. She’d heard it before. Her father had been vague about his fate, saying no more than ‘We lost him somewhere on Archaeus’.
“I know of you,” she said. “You’re the Rhodoni. One of the Seven. Draevin is my father. And Izine is my mother. And you’re supposed to be dead.”
“Well,” Kruza said, a dangerous tone in his voice. “This changes my plans.”
And then Wents voice came on the comms. “The mass is moving. All of you get ready. They’re coming for you!”
Annaka checked her sensor and saw the mass beginning to move and split apart. “You heard her,” she said, letting the panic she was feeling come out in her voice. “Burn them all!”
And in an instant the doors at the end of the hallway were torn apart and a mass of faceless came pouring through. The hallway was filled with them as they pushed their way up.
“Fire,” Annaka ordered, hearing the order repeated by the other commanders. The hallway was filled with green plasma and orange flames as they fired into the mass.
@Ceretis
Draevin listened to the deeply terrifying voice emanating from the alien who spoke. And when they finished he answered.
“And the Frondauri have never heard of the Trinitui Húd either,” he answered. “But it wasn’t long ago we’d never heard of any of you. We have only recently taken our first steps into space. If your people do in fact claim the Maelstrom, then I guess there will need to be discussion between us at some point about the matter.”
It had never crossed his mind until now that someone would claim the Maelstrom as part of their space. Though having now heard it, it really didn’t surprise him. His first instinct was to argue with these aliens, tell them if they wanted the Maelstrom all they had to do was send ships into it and take it, but he wasn’t here to be antagonistic. Plus he knew the High Chairman would be cross with him for starting a conflict before anyone had a chance to sit down and discuss the situation.
“We can talk further about who the Maelstrom belongs to at a later date, on our homeworld or yours.” He then switched over to the aliens other points, moving to address those. “I hadn’t thought about the fact the Shyanar’s immunity, and the effectiveness of our weapons would look like conveniences. But all I can say is that it is the truth. You have no reason to take me at my word, nor do I expect anyone to. These matters are free for you to look into at your convenience. We are not here to fool anyone. We are here to warn you of a threat to us all.”
He then changed his voice to a lower register, and looked unblinkingly at the alien. “Our possession of Archon technology should in fact back up our claims to having come from their old worlds within the Maelstrom. Who else would have access to their lost tech, but those who live on the worlds they left behind. And if you fear that we are trying to deceive you, feel free to take that risk and hope you're right. Our people will still come to your defense when the faceless come for you, regardless. That is, if anyone else is left by that point.”
@Tardine
Draevin then waited for the Kuvorian to finish speaking. “Thank you,” he told them, “for speaking out in our defense. We share a bond through the Archon’s, as they were responsible for the salvation of both our peoples. This faceless threat is a galactic one, as it once was. The Archon’s sacrificed themselves to stop this threat once, and we can only hope to live up to their example.”
“We are thankful for the Kuvorian support. And we look forward to helping them in these dire hours, as the Archons did long ago.”
Former Archon World
They moved quickly into the building, sweeping down the corridors, clearing any rooms they came across. All the time Annaka kept an eye on the display of HEL’s sensor showing the location of the faceless. One big mass deep inside the building. It was a relief they hadn’t started moving yet, but also a worry. They should have known the Frondauri were there, but why hadn’t they moved?
“If they don’t react before we get there, all squads will hold their position just outside the inner chamber,” Annaka ordered over the comms. “If we can get into position we should be able to wipe them out without too much trouble.” She didn’t really believe that, but she still had hope things would go well.
Her squad leaders all copied her orders. Even Lurgos. So at least he was beginning to come around. Her squad was first into position, and one by one the rest of her squads got into position. Shield walls were put up from which the defenders could stand behind. Shyanar took up positions on the edges, ready with their long spears to drive the faceless against the center where they’d be hit with direct plasma fire. One by one her squads communicated their readiness.
“Alright three Frondauri per squad, move forward to the doors. Open and toss in grenades, and then double-time back to the barriers. We’ll take them as they pour out towards us,” she worked very hard to keep the tremble she was feeling in her legs from coming out in her voice. “No mistakes and we all get to go home, any questions…”
Her voice was drowned out by a loud screech coming through her comms. Some kind of feedback from somewhere. Then a voice came over in a very amused tone. “Hello, party crashers. How are you all doing today?”
“Who is this?” Annaka demanded. “Identify yourself.”
“Ah, you must be the leader. What’s your name?”
“This is Annaka, Commander of the Frondauri Crusader Force. Now identify yourself?
“Crusader force?” the voice asked with delighted amusement. There was even a chuckle. “Well, Annaka, my name is Kruza and the commander of the Faceless force you’re trying to destroy.”
There was a beep on her comms and another voice came on, this time through another channel. “Switch to channel three,” the voice of Protector Went said. Annaka did as she was told, switching channels.
“Keep this guy talking,” she commanded. “We have to neutralize him. He thinks he’s got you in a trap, so be very careful, but we have a trap of our own for him. But keep him talking.”
Annaka didn’t say anything, switching back to the previous channel. “Who are you, Kruza?”
“So they haven’t told you that information,” he mused. “Gotta keep their failures a secret. I do wonder how the Commonwealth was able to raise such a mighty force, and get starship capabilities, in such a short time. Would you be able to tell me how, Annaka?”
“A brilliant scheme by the Supreme Watcher,” she answered to keep him talking.
“I never would have thought Kaifur to be clever enough to figure it out.”
“Kaifur hasn’t been Supreme Watcher for some time,” she told the voice.
“Really?” Kruza said in astonishment. “I wonder who they got to replace him. It’s an impressive feat I must say.”
“I didn’t know the faceless are capable of talking,” Annaka said.
“Oh they are, just not in any way that you would consider to be ‘talking’. It’s all done through a subspace neural link. I’m the only one capable of real speech.”
“And how are you able to do that?” she asked.
“Because, I was once very much like you. I was a Frondauri too.”
His words made Annaka hesitate. Only static over the radio. What did he mean that he was once a Frondauri? She’d seen what happened to Frondauri who were turned into faceless and none of them had been able to talk. “I think you’re lying to me, Kruza,” she stated firmly.
He laughed. “Maybe I am, Annaka. Maybe I am.” He said. “Why don’t you ask your superiors. I’m sure they’d know. That is if Draevin and the others ever got back home. I did send them in the wrong direction.”
At the mention of Draevin’s name her blood ran cold. “How do you know my father?” she asked.
“Father?” and there was definitely bewilderment in his voice. “I think we’re talking about different Draevin’s. The one I’m referring to was just a Guardian acolyte. A good frond, a Pendari. Though that’s no fault of his own. The closest thing I’ve ever had to a friend. Though he didn’t have any children. He was too young.”
Things started to click in her mind. The stories her parents had told her of crossing the Tomb and saving Archaeus. And now the name made sense. She’d heard it before. Her father had been vague about his fate, saying no more than ‘We lost him somewhere on Archaeus’.
“I know of you,” she said. “You’re the Rhodoni. One of the Seven. Draevin is my father. And Izine is my mother. And you’re supposed to be dead.”
“Well,” Kruza said, a dangerous tone in his voice. “This changes my plans.”
And then Wents voice came on the comms. “The mass is moving. All of you get ready. They’re coming for you!”
Annaka checked her sensor and saw the mass beginning to move and split apart. “You heard her,” she said, letting the panic she was feeling come out in her voice. “Burn them all!”
And in an instant the doors at the end of the hallway were torn apart and a mass of faceless came pouring through. The hallway was filled with them as they pushed their way up.
“Fire,” Annaka ordered, hearing the order repeated by the other commanders. The hallway was filled with green plasma and orange flames as they fired into the mass.
@Ceretis
Draevin listened to the deeply terrifying voice emanating from the alien who spoke. And when they finished he answered.
“And the Frondauri have never heard of the Trinitui Húd either,” he answered. “But it wasn’t long ago we’d never heard of any of you. We have only recently taken our first steps into space. If your people do in fact claim the Maelstrom, then I guess there will need to be discussion between us at some point about the matter.”
It had never crossed his mind until now that someone would claim the Maelstrom as part of their space. Though having now heard it, it really didn’t surprise him. His first instinct was to argue with these aliens, tell them if they wanted the Maelstrom all they had to do was send ships into it and take it, but he wasn’t here to be antagonistic. Plus he knew the High Chairman would be cross with him for starting a conflict before anyone had a chance to sit down and discuss the situation.
“We can talk further about who the Maelstrom belongs to at a later date, on our homeworld or yours.” He then switched over to the aliens other points, moving to address those. “I hadn’t thought about the fact the Shyanar’s immunity, and the effectiveness of our weapons would look like conveniences. But all I can say is that it is the truth. You have no reason to take me at my word, nor do I expect anyone to. These matters are free for you to look into at your convenience. We are not here to fool anyone. We are here to warn you of a threat to us all.”
He then changed his voice to a lower register, and looked unblinkingly at the alien. “Our possession of Archon technology should in fact back up our claims to having come from their old worlds within the Maelstrom. Who else would have access to their lost tech, but those who live on the worlds they left behind. And if you fear that we are trying to deceive you, feel free to take that risk and hope you're right. Our people will still come to your defense when the faceless come for you, regardless. That is, if anyone else is left by that point.”
@Tardine
Draevin then waited for the Kuvorian to finish speaking. “Thank you,” he told them, “for speaking out in our defense. We share a bond through the Archon’s, as they were responsible for the salvation of both our peoples. This faceless threat is a galactic one, as it once was. The Archon’s sacrificed themselves to stop this threat once, and we can only hope to live up to their example.”
“We are thankful for the Kuvorian support. And we look forward to helping them in these dire hours, as the Archons did long ago.”
