[Event] Distress Signal from the Letulci System

RandomCommander

((If this doesn't go through Imma scream. Hell, I might scream even if it does go through.))

Soon after the broadcast is sent, you get two replies. They are both somehow garbled... perhaps it is from the background noise the Pulsar is generating somehow, but at the very least they are both repeating, so it should be easy to decode.

The first one seems to be in multiple different languages, some decipherable with help of the AIs in the fleet, others not so much. From the translated languages, a pattern seems to be forming...

Fr–e#d »r f0. F÷!en/ §r [*e fRI3&D o® F{}e

The second one is in a yet-untranslated language. It is a lot closer than the other message, and therefore has a lot less interference, but it's mostly just numbers...

43 ,5 «1 53 ≥5 2^ 41 4E ,¿ ™0 4? 45 %3 4& 53 5¡ 20 2% 20 4' 45 ~1 53 4| 20 =1 4E 44 2) 44 €5 5* 49 53 <4 20 ?D 20 ±3 /5 41 53 45 ˝0 4! 4E `4 20 ±4 4( 53 4≠ !~ 5† \0 2‹ 20 4∅ 45 41 53 )5 »0 41 4E 44 2+ 44 »5 –3 49 53 |— 20 ∅D 20

The group sent to the sector engages their drive and jumps... they were not heard from again. That is, until a few moments later when you get a confirmed HI signal from the destination. It seems they had encountered major turbulence while jumping, and their ships were nearly torn apart by forces that probably originated from the Pulsar, but they seem to have made it in the nick of time. It looks like this is the maximum limit to which HI ships can group in this system.

There is also signs of some sort of mining operation and a portal, but before they could get any decisive readings on the portal's destination, it had closed.

Ultranova

While the Xor fleet gets into position to bombard the Staging Outpost, the forces nearby respond in kind - moving into a double-wedge formation between the Xor and the Mech station. There appear to be three holes in the formation that lead directly to the Gunboats - One in the center and two facing each of their flanks. The nearby small fleet of ships are closing in to assist.

And then they get a message. Of all ships in this system, the source comes from the Staging Area... perhaps there is more to this Outpost?

||Transmission Start||

49 20 6B 6E 6F 77 20 74 68 61 74 20 6F 75 72 20 66 69 72 73 74 20 69 6D 70 72 65 73 73 69 6F 6E 73 20 73 65 65 6D 20 65 78 74 72 65 6D 65 6C 79 20 68 6F 73 74 69 6C 65 2C 20 62 75 74 20 79 6F 75 20 73 65 72 69 6F 75 73 6C 79 20 68 61 76 65 20 6E 6F 20 62 75 73 69 6E 65 73 73 20 68 65 72 65 2C 20 61 6E 64 20 49 20 73 68 6F 75 6C 64 20 6E 6F 74 20 65 76 65 6E -- Byte pattern found, attempting live translation... -- be trying to communicate with you anyway, but frankly you have a pretty large force and we want to survive. So if you are even able to decipher this, here is my ultimatum:

You destroyed some of my siblings and severely damaged quite some more, and we need reimbursement - in the form of your own, already-destroyed ship scraps. My repair and resupply machines are pretty efficient, so that should be enough to replace our losses and then some - but should you refuse, I won't hesitate to call more reinforcements to your location (as a Beacon program, I can do that) and scrap the rest of your forces for you. You will have a bit of time to consider, but... well, at least I know what the correct choice is.

||Transmission End||

RedAndCosmoteer
Tson

The Main ship of Patrol 76 emits a sensor ping that lasts for... how long no one knows, but soon after that, an unknown fleet enters the system. They seem to be in a neat formation, white ships with orange stripes, and occasional dark blue paint as well.

++"I have no idea who just came through, but do not make contact with them yet. Let the automatic message play to them first..."++

When the STC fleet completes their jump, they are met with an odd sight. Large, greyish ships seem to surround an area, followed by a few splotches of brown peeking through what may be either a blockade or a defensive ring. Before they could make any more assumptions, however, they get a message. Thankfully, this message is close enough to actually be heard and understood...

++THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. YOU ARE APPROACHING OWNED TERRITORY. IDENTIFY YOURSELF.++

RedAndCosmoteer

RandomCommander

"I'm not sure, however I'm consulting our database."

The computronium banks of each cruiser begin cycling through their updated databases, processing quadrillions of megabytes of data per second. Eventually, they find a partial match in one of the Etharian's first contact logs:

"It appears that we have a match. Stalker-Trapper Confederacy? Strange choice of name..."

Tson

RandomCommander
The reply is fractured, and fizzling visuals show a man in black uniform, though not much else can be ascertained due to the amount of interference.
++This is Com-ander Bodr-n ... th... STC, we are here ... sponse ... distress sig...l, unknow... ip, st... allegience.++

Ultranova

RandomCommander

The Xor fleet responds after a short while.

[-()-] Transmission Start [-()-]

"You caught us unaware to begin with, but now we are alert. And believe me, you'll have to do your worst to even get a scrap of metal out of us."

"If you think you can justify anything by saying that your siblings have died, let me say this. There are a few clones here that are none too happy that their brothers died. They would rather sacrifice themselves to destroy your pathetic little station than allow you to kill them yourselves."

[-()-] Transmission End [-()-]

It doesn't seem like a good idea to try and reason with the Xor after destroying any of their ships, or even ask for compensation when the losses of the Xor were more than the losses of the other side.

LeftHandofGod

Ultranova Tson RandomCommander
The Imperial ships switch on their A/M torch drives and plunge headlong towards the Xor, the violet glare of their engines visible for light-minutes around. All the while, they continue to broadcast their previous message as they come in with weapons hot.

RandomCommander

RedAndCosmoteer

At this news, Commander Pauling squinted through the feed, almost scowling.

++"That might not be them. We will have to hear for ourselves. If it is the STC though..."++

...He grits his teeth, expression switching between furious and concerned. Does he have a history with the STC...?

RandomCommander

Tson
RedAndCosmoteer

After the message plays for both RHO and the Sovereignty, Commodore Xala could see a visible state of confusion on Pauling's face. He seems to turn to another Bridge Officer.

++"Kaufmann, any odd identifiers? ...You sure? ...Well, Err-... ...Frag. Commodore, we're opening communications with the STC. Be aware of what you say. Axel, adjust the relay so they get a clearer picture. ...YES I'M SURE, AND I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER. Gah..."++

The "Antagonist" Receives a hail from what appears to be the actual RHO Outpost. The visuals are equally as distorted at first, but a few adjustments on their end were made, and the entire communication frequency becomes clearer. The Brown-with-purple uniform on the Base Commander is unmistakable, but there seems to be an odd tint of color in each crewmember's skin, the Commander's seems to have a very pale bluish shade. He also has bandages wrapped around the top of his head, and is giving the STC Commander quite the glare.

++"This is Expedition Commander Pauling of the RHO Colony Letulci Prime... It seems you are somewhat breaking up. Are you malfunctioning? Damaged? Spitting out error codes, perhaps...?"++

((Tson, assume you can communicate without error for the time being, the Outpost is literally compensating for whatever distortion you have))

((Working on UltraBlast's post, might take a bit longer))

Tson

RandomCommander
++...omms sy...tems are being affected by the Pulsar, we are having issues- ah it appears to be much clearer now, I am Commander Bodrin of the "Antagonist", we are here in response to a distress call, but our scanners are out, due to the time dilation effect that means we can't receive realtime images when moving at combat speed, and we have a significant viewlag when trying to receive images from system edge, we are almost flying blind.++

"Commander, I have analysed the images from system edge, at least five minutes ago there was a force maneuvering out there"

"Damn, what the hell is going on in this system?"

++We have detected a force in the outer reaches of the system, and several others closer in-system, please advise as to allegiances.++

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson RandomCommander

"This is Commander Xala of the I.S.V Reasonably Long Lever to the Stalker-Trapper Confederacy vessel, please respond."

Ultranova

LeftHandofGod

Captain Arlo looks nervously at his scanner. The Imperial ships are nearing even closer to their position and it's making him none too happy that their opponents just transmitted a message to them.

The transmission the High Imperium had been transmitting is becoming easier and easier to understand as they get closer. It's still garbled, but if the Xor ships turn their receivers to maximum power, they can almost decipher the whole message.

"Attent*}n, this i# the High Imperium Res_}'ent. We are :"{$ not to %ig(k, but to help y-+."

RandomCommander

Ultranova
LeftHandofGod

||Transmission Start||

A shame, perhaps you won't be as bold once you realize you are in a losing situation...

One can guess the Mechs were not expecting a diplomatic answer to begin with, however it is here that both fleets register a sudden anomaly in reality and the High Imperium ships come in. The robotic entity's demeanor seems to shift when this happens.

So you called in friends, too? You are making me INCREASINGLY agitated. Know that it is I, RAHLUS of the Fallen Rogues, that will DOMINATE the battlefield today. All units, SHOW NO MERCY.

||Transmission End||

Combat
((And that right there is the reason this reply came so late, I had trouble making the text version of the usual Combat system I use whenever DC assets are in combat, but then had this idea to make it graphical instead, so now things should be a lot easier for me to track, at the very least.))

A slight tear in reality opens as the "Beacon" makes a call for reinforcements of its own, already, more signatures from an unknown sector are beginning to show themselves, though it is hard to deduce what these ships would be as of now...

The Imperium ships aren't within weapons range right now, but they are quickly gaining ground towards the soon-to-be battlefield before them.

RedAndCosmoteer
Tson

The fleets share information with eachother.

The Sovereignty realizes that these "Cybervirus" entities are indeed somewhat similar to how the Collective assets behave, with many exceptions - the ships are not fully automatic, a live body is required for "subversion" into the Cybervirus networks, and even though they, too, have a rogue offshoot, they do not have "classes" or any other equilibrial caste system like the Collective has - they are all clumped together as one "batch" of Programs and Sub-Programs. They are more of a meritocracy than the Collective are.

The STC find out that Commodore Xala was not exaggerating, these "Collective" ships are nothing to bat an eye at. They have a lot of pretty powerful technology - Graviton-based Mass Drivers for one section, Mass Energy-dampening cannons for another, and hyper-efficient automated loading and fabrication systems for a third section of specialized robots. They also seem to have their own ideologies and... arguments? It's probably the fact that they are "simulating" emotion from the acquired memories of deceased individuals that sometimes causes bickering among their subjects.

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
++...his is th... STC "Triumpha...eceiving you strengt...lease transmit your mes...ge++

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson

"State your intentions in the Letulci system, Stalker-Trappers."

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
++...ersonell, you ar... Distress sig... ... ... ...nemy++

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson

"Eliminate all non-vocal components of the transmission!"

Commodore Xala ordered. Immediately, Operations Officer Adris takes a look at the recorded transmission, and attempts to clear up all the garbage data.

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
The pared down transcript reads as follows, there are still gaps, and possibly some transcription mistakes
++-Personell, you are not - perceived distress signa - antagonism - or enemy++

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson

"Boost the receivers."
The Commodore ordered.

"We do not understand you, send with a more powerful signal!"

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
A visual showing a gaunt older man in the Black uniform of the STC craning his head to look at something out of view of the transmission.
++...loody hell can these meatheads even operate a receiver, Commsman can you boost the signal furth- what? Oh I see. Ahem, Attention Unknown ships, this is Sub-Commander Thorn of the STC "Triumphant", State your allegiance or we will open fire on your position.++

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson

The hostility of Sub-Commander Thorn has Commodore Xala on an adrenaline rush.
Immediately, the Commodore barks out loudly,

"Amplify the gravitoelectromagnetic fields of the gravitocannons, stand ready to launch Thermofission torpedoes. Alarm all 'Ripper' PDs!"

Immediately, the Operations Officer and all the other officers on the bridge spring into action - Condition One, otherwise known as 'Red Alert' is raised - the somewhat calming white light is now replaced by a darker, red light that flashes every five seconds. The entire cruiser is on the move.

From the perspective of Sub-Commander Thorn of the Stalker-Trapper Confederacy fleet, intense gravitational signatures are detected from the barrels of multiple of the cannons of the central vessel facing them, and Nuclear Warhead signatures are detected - not in the high megatons, but in the mid gigatons, showing off that they are ready for a fight, and in seconds the rest of the shield - consisting of two cruisers, eight corvettes and six frigates come to life, with intense gravity fields being detected in all of those.

"This is Commodore Xala of the Illateri Sovereignty Vessel Reasonably Long Stick, stand down as the Refugee Haven Organization is under our protection!"

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
++The RHO is under our protection Commodore, and we will not let antagonistic scum like you jeapordize our mission. Thorn out.++
The STC fleet continues to transmit to and from the RHO, making no other obvious outward moves.

RedAndCosmoteer

Tson

"We're better suited to the protection of the Refugee Haven Organization, Thorn. Maybe you should deal with it. Besides, you're also antagonistic! Maybe you should be more friendly after what happened with the Etharian Stellar Union!"

Tson

RedAndCosmoteer
++What the hell are you talking about, do you think we have the time to look into every little diplomatic dispute this side of the galactic rim? I am a busy man trying to get my bloody ship working properly, so get off the bloody line before I send a missile over to frag your transmitter.++