• We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.

Deaghaidh

High King
73 Badges
May 1, 2001
5.038
946
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • Cities: Skylines
  • Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition
  • Europa Universalis IV: El Dorado
  • Crusader Kings II: Way of Life
  • Europa Universalis IV: Common Sense
  • Crusader Kings II: Horse Lords
  • Cities: Skylines - After Dark
  • Europa Universalis IV: Cossacks
  • Crusader Kings II: Conclave
  • Cities: Skylines - Snowfall
  • Stellaris
  • Stellaris: Galaxy Edition
  • 500k Club
  • Stellaris Sign-up
  • Crusader Kings II: Reapers Due
  • Tyranny: Archon Edition
  • Stellaris: Digital Anniversary Edition
  • Stellaris: Leviathans Story Pack
  • Crusader Kings II: Monks and Mystics
  • Stellaris - Path to Destruction bundle
  • Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit
  • BATTLETECH
  • Surviving Mars
  • Stellaris: Synthetic Dawn
  • Stellaris: Nemesis
  • Europa Universalis IV: Art of War
  • Crusader Kings II
  • Crusader Kings II: Charlemagne
  • Crusader Kings II: Legacy of Rome
  • Crusader Kings II: The Old Gods
  • Crusader Kings II: Rajas of India
  • Crusader Kings II: The Republic
  • Crusader Kings II: Sons of Abraham
  • Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam
  • Deus Vult
  • East India Company
  • Europa Universalis III
  • Europa Universalis IV
  • A Game of Dwarves
  • Europa Universalis IV: Conquest of Paradise
  • Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations
  • Heir to the Throne
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Europa Universalis III Complete
  • Europa Universalis IV: Res Publica
  • Victoria: Revolutions
  • Europa Universalis: Rome
  • Victoria 2
  • Rome: Vae Victis
The afternoon sun was languidly drifting down in the east. The air was even more full of tension than humidity. The chittering of tiny flying breeks was the only sound.

All across Skurr, Tordii were waiting and watching. At mission control, along the beaches for miles around, on viewscreens in every home and creche, the entire Tordukan race was staring at the slim white machine that would usher in the next age.

Haurr, the Mother of Mothers, the Magistrix of the Tordukan Species, had a suitably prominent place. Her daughter, nephews, and nieces, the Royal Clutch, were gathered around her. Her sister Girr had her hatchlings perched high upon her own shell. Her other sister Narr had stayed at the Garden of Peace, too heavy with eggs to make the journey.

"T minus eight" the flight director said. Haurr considered her grandmothers, the Wise Mothers Danu and Garr. In their day the Tordii were locked in mutually destructive, senseless war. They realized the horrible toll that it was inflicting on them, and out of the tragedies of broken shells they emerged together to wage peace.

"T minus five" When Haurr was smaller than her own daughters were now, she had loved the old myths. She remembered the Song of the Water Oracle. It said the world was an egg, and the sky was its shell. The Creatrix was out there protecting us, and one day Tordus-kind would grow too great to be contained by it. They would break through, and then their real life would begin.

"T minus three" Nobody in these enlightened times really believed in the mysticism of their ancestors. Todii were practical people. Until this moment it had not dawned on Haurr that she had commanded her people's greatest minds to make a bronze age prophecy come true. A mile away the first Tordii spacefarer took a deep calming breath.

"T minus two. Main engine start!" A rumble and plume of smoke from the rocket. Haurr's daughter Hurr grabbed the Magistrix's leg in an instinctive reaction. Girr's hatchlings startled and drew their heads into their shells, the tips of their beaks just peaking out.

Haurr didn't hear the end of the countdown over the rocket and the cheering and the thunderous sound of her own heart. She watched in awe as the rocket rose into the sky. The flame of the engines was so bright her eyes watered, unless instead she was moved to tears watching one of her subjects vanish into the clear violet sky.

Haurr looked away at last, and glanced down at her daughter. She was staring, her jaw hanging slack. Haurr patted her head affectionately.

"Well," the Magistrix said. "We have cracked the shell now."
 
Last edited:
Welcome to the history of the glorious Tordukan people! As you probably guessed, the Tordukan are Repitlian, specifically Space Turtles. They are ruled by an Enlightened Monarchy, and are a peaceful people. In fact they are fanatically pacifist, having nearly destroyed themselves in their equivalent of WWI. They now reject violence as a means of settling disputes and as a source of authority.

They are a moderately materialist society. Once they believed in a wide range of gods and spirits. These beliefs have steadily declined during the rise of science. By now the main remnants of their old faiths are found in historical literature, some annual festivals and ceremonies still carried on, and in some traditions of meditation and philosophy.

Will the age of peace continue as they take their place in the galaxy? Or will the Tordii be forced back into their old ways of violence by a hostile galaxy? Even the wisest Trodus cannot say.
 
40 Years Later: An introduction to our people just before the inauguration of the first Wormhole Generator, under the glorious and benevolent Hurr I

Hc1YTIg.jpg


Skurr is a hot, humid world with a thick atmosphere. Its jungles were not easy places for the primitive ancestors of the modern Tordii. As a result they evolved to be physically tough and have robust immune systems. In modern times, where dangerous predators are confined to zoos and reserves and advanced medical care available to all subjects, this means long life expectancy. The Tordii have always had a keen interest in other living things, and since the end of the Last War their scientists have focused even more heavily on medicine and biology while their sociologists and politicians are always working to improve upon the Great Accords that united the Tordukan species. Tordii tend to be rather sedentary. Once they have their life working in a way that satisfies them, they are loath to make big changes. As a result they don't travel much, and are slow to move on to new frontiers.

Though they no longer have a dedicated weapons industry, the advances made in rocketry and nuclear power have been used to create missile defenses. This was a controversial decision, but the Magistrix deemed that it was wise to be prepared. There might be unreasonable, aggressive creatures in the galaxy, and the missiles could also be used to defend against stray asteroids and other non-sentient hazards.

yOTNeJ6.jpg


Our astronomers assure us that our galaxy is average in size and elliptical in shape. Also that time travel is impossible, so any decision the Magistrix makes cannot be undone!

G9JmpCn.jpg


The Galaxy as a whole, and our place within it.

XFX29mz.jpg


The immediate area. The Kass system lies near the edge of a large nebula, and a pair of black holes are not much further. Scientists are giddy with the prospect of observing these features.

W1UXv7x.jpg


Our mother star, Kass.

Exe2c9v.jpg


Skurr, the Great Green Egg, in all her glory! As you can see there are no polar caps, just vast jungles and shallow seas.

qmdIwIl.jpg


Despite the long years of peace, not everything is well on Skurr. Decayed obsolete machinery looms over polluted landscapes in places, relics of bygone times. Too many of Hurr's subjects live crowded into slums, scraping by just to survive. Hurr looks to space as a source of hope and inspiration, and also of course for resources to use to improve conditions.

59zlqD5.jpg


Magistrix Hurr is robust and healthy, even by Tordukan standards. Since witnessing the first space flight as a child, she has been fascinated by space exploration, and as Magistrix she has devoted her reign to the space program. Her cousin and heir apparent Cabroxi is also a firm believer in Tordukan exploration of, and expansion into, the wider galaxy.

DydTF2T.jpg

The TMV (Tordukan Magistry Vessel) Xadamach, and her captain Moz. Moz has a reputation for putting speed ahead of proper procedure, but she still enjoys the full faith of the Magistrix. She starts with a shakedown cruise, surveying our home system. She makes an unexpected discovery, a decades old probe orbiting the gas giant Rafzt turns out to still be functioning. Moz's crew retrieve the probe for delivery back to Skurr.

egy0Ext.jpg


Having completed her first mission, the Xadamach begins the one she was truly built for. For the first time Tordii will leave the Kass System, seeking the wonders of the galaxy. The first destination is the nearest star, Tau Ceti.

9tXORYa.jpg


The Wormhole generator activates, and a tunnel through subspace opens. The Xadamach passes through the event horizon into the unknown.
 
Last edited:
r3Smltx.jpg


Tau Ceti's greatest wonder was not on any of its planets. The first life beyond their homeworld the Todii discovered were enigmatic space-faring beings. These massive living spaceships were dubbed the Tiyanki, after a kind of invertebrate found on Skurr that they resembled. Moz's investigations determined them to be incapable of communication, but also no threat of any kind.

aZkeyuL.jpg


While this expedition was going on, the first large scale mining operation began. Distant, lifeless Grraw was rich in fuel sources, which would be invaluable to growing the Tordukan economy.

Tau Ceti proved to have no life aside from Tiyanki. But the second system the Xadamach visited was more promising.

KHbnymN.jpg

SCmsSB1.jpg


The first planet of the Zarquon system looked like a virtual twin of Skurr. Closer inspection only confirmed the impression, and Zarquon quickly became the focus of all discussion about future colonization. To support the budding field of Xenobiology, and also to feed her own curiosity, Magistrix Hurr launched the Habitable Worlds Survey.

3SLdP5x.jpg


An organized effort to find, sample, and compare alien biospheres, the HWS's findings would fuel Tordukan curiosity. Not all life forms would prove as friendly, as another spacefaring creature would prove very hostile.

k6I7brt.jpg
[/IMG]
k6I7brt.jpg


The Space Amoeba could only be studied at a distance, and caused some within the Tordukan space program to worry. The Amoeba had only a rudimentary, animal intelligence. But what if there were other, more intelligent dangers out there?

aNoRo85.jpg


During the reign of Hurr's mother Haur, a small fleet of deep space probes were sent out to explore the outer Kass System. As an afterthought these were routed so as to escape the system entirely. Though certainly no longer active, these probes might alert a hostile intelligence that there was a newly spacefaring civilization in Kass. The Magistrix agreed that accounting for all her mother's probes would be a high priority.

Exploration continued. Twice Captain Moz reported what she thought were remains of an ancient civilization, though both proved to be false positives. Her less extravagant reports were very encouraging though, as she found a second twin for Skurr, this time in the Toropa System.

yD3Ufu1.jpg


This world seemed very well endowed with valuable minerals, and now there was serious debate over where a hypothetical Tordukan colony should be founded. But colonizing alien worlds, even when they resembled home so closely, was no small matter, and it would be long yet before Hurr was called upon to decide which world would get the honor of being first.

xmUuXJr.jpg


Mining operations began in the Zarqon system in advance of colonization, and also in Ustir. Concerns about Space Amoeba attacks proved unfounded, as the creature would visit both systems without harming the mining stations. Captain Moz took her ship 'south' to the Benetnasch system, where she would make a momentous discovery.

nNvrdhl.jpg


This time there was no mistaking the signs. The Tordii had found their first alien civilization.
 
Really cool start here. Hopefully the Tordii have found another peaceful alien.
 
Well they are still considered primitives. So if they try and start anything, I expect it to go like this:

there-were-no-survivors-turtle-eats-train-meme.jpg
 
The councilors and scientists in the room rose and retracted their heads in submission as Hurr entered. Outside the Royal Nest's walls in the City of Hiss, the common Tordii passed the heat of mid day under shady awnings along the streets and beaches. As fate would have it the images of the alien world with its cities lit up in the night came during the week long observance of the 300th anniversary of the Shattering Night, when the airships of Danu, Queen from the North, destroyed the city with aerial bombardment. The wreckage that she saw when the sun rose in the west so horrified the warrior queen that she sued for peace. The Shattering Night led to the Great Accord, in which Danu agreed to submit to be the junior partner in a united Magistry under her rival Haan of the Southern Basking.

In the ruins the two Wise Mothers decided to build the capitol of the Tordukan race. From the son of Danu and the daughter of Haan came Hauka, Hurr's grandmother. Hurr never knew her as anything but a statue in the gardens. Sometimes when she couldn't sleep she would visit the statues of her fore-mothers and wonder what they would think. When she was frightened she would sometimes think she felt her mother's hand on her shell.

"Magistrix," Professor Tann, head of Xenobiology, began. "We have a stable connection with the Xadamach. Captain Moz awaits your permission to begin her briefing on the aliens."

"You may proceed, Captain." Hurr said with a wave of her hand. The main screen sprung to life.

"Magistrix, may I begin by saying on behalf of myself and my crew that it is a great honor to address you, especially on this occasion. May you and your brood lead us on to more centuries of peace!" Those assembled extended their heads upward and hummed slightly in polite approval. Nobody would disagree with the sentiment, but everyone was impatient to hear the report.

"As my preliminary report said, we have located an alien civilization. They appear to have similar technological capabilities as we had a generation ago. There are clearly artificial satellites in orbit over their planet. I believe that some of the constructs in low orbit may be vehicles or space stations, but there is no indication that they have journeyed beyond their own planet's gravity well.

They use radio and satellites for communication, and by analyzing these broadcasts we have been able to listen in. We have thus been able to learn a great deal about them. All indications are that they have not detected our presence. For the moment it is entirely in our hands how to proceed.

OCya5Ks.jpg


"The aliens identify themselves as Hahn-Mur. They seem to be fungus based. They are clearly quite intelligent, and it would appear they are physically stronger than we are." There was a discontented clicking sound from the head of the Peacekeeping Force, earning him a sideways glance from his Magistrix. He retracted his head in meek apology. "Many of the messages we have found seem to be political discourse. It seems that the Hahn-Mur habitually solicit input from all ranks in their society on major issues. Strange as it may sound, they are in the process of selecting a new ruler by counting support for different claimants." This time the clicking was widespread. How could any sapient species function that way? If the Wise Mothers had acted according to popular whim, they would have fought on until they destroyed each other.

"Despite their advanced technology, many Hahn-Mur seem to revere mystical beings similar to our historical gods. How they reconcile this with their obvious scientific understanding is unclear."

"Captain, based on the situation as you see it, what course of action would you advise?" Hurr hoped she sounded prudent and not indecisive. Most of being Magistrix was seeming to be in control.

"Magistrix, I would advise against any sudden action. We have only just begun to study these creatures, and have no idea how they will react to first contact. While they do not seem to be excessively hostile, they do have the technology base to be very destructive to themselves and to us should we accidentally destabilize their society. I believe that based on their current radar-based sensing technology, we can safely place an observation post in high orbit without being detected. Based on further study your majesty will be able to make a more informed decision on whether or not to initiate contact."

"Director Xinjet, would such a station be practical?" Hurr turned her entire attention on her chief engineer.

The grey scaled male bobbed his head a moment thoughtfully. "A modified version of a remote mining station should be a fairly simple project. If your majesty were to give the order, we could have our construction vessels en route as soon as the observance is over. With some small utility craft the crew will be able to do closer inspections if they wish."

Professor Tann interjected. "From a Xenobiology point of view, the only difficulty will be selecting from all the volunteers. It is an unbelievable opportunity. Magistrix, I wholeheartedly endorse this project."

"Noted Professor. Does anyone here have any observations to make?"

"Magistrix, I do not object to the project, but I must mention the current state of our energy supply." Energy minister Karr was an old Tordus, her voice creaky. Hurr had inherited her from her mother's council, and Karr was forever warning about the energy supply. "We currently run a surplus, but the continued growth of off-world stations represents an increased burden on the system. We may well be approaching a serious question of priorities."

"As always I appreciate the reminder, Minister Karr." Hurr replied. "The opportunity to closely observe an alien species is worth the cost. Director Xinjet, Professor Tann, begin preparations at once. Let us learn as much as we can. Good advice in general, I must say." Hurr rose, and the council did as well, retracting their heads automatically. "This has been a momentous day. We will have much to contemplate tonight, where I expect to see all of you in the Peace Gardens for the observance. Captain Moz, resume your survey of the other worlds in the system. Dismissed." Hurr turned at left, seeking the statue of her mother, to sit and contemplate the image of this strange alien race.

BjrdWBo.jpg
 
Well, unless the civilization is Republican, in which case destroy them!

As you can see, the Hahn-Mur are misguided fungi who lack the concept of civilized government. How can they possibly survive without a Magistrix to guide them? Clearly they need to be studied closely.

It seems the Tordii have found friends! Perhaps this is the beginning of a budding relationship between the two species?

Maybe. But it'll be the sort of relationship that starts with one side watching the other through a powerful telescope without their knowledge.
 
So they haven't quite reached the stars themselves. Will you lead the Hahn-Mur glory or ruin? For that matter, if you do uplift them, they could decide to repay your kindness with violence...
 
So they haven't quite reached the stars themselves. Will you lead the Hahn-Mur glory or ruin? For that matter, if you do uplift them, they could decide to repay your kindness with violence...

If the Tordii enlighten the Hahn-Mur, maybe they can guide these fungal people onto a peaceful path. But with their wild democratic notions they might turn on the Magistrix. What to do!

Also right now the Tordii simply can't afford to enlighten them, since it costs 5 energy/month and they only have a surplus of 4.
 
Maybe. But it'll be the sort of relationship that starts with one side watching the other through a powerful telescope without their knowledge.

But isn't that how ALL good friendships begin? Also, they may not be that good of friends, being all Spiritual and whatnot. But, you never know!

Also, here's a tip: See that bar on the bottom right? Click on the box on the leftmost part of the bar. It gives you information on what systems have what (energy, research, minerals, habitable planets). Its actually incredible useful.
 
Your guys look exactly like the ones who keep inviting me to a really disadvantageous alliance in my human game. Bit jealous that you got an advanced but not properly spacefaring civ right next door, I keep getting stone age primitives or feudal socities.
 
But isn't that how ALL good friendships begin? Also, they may not be that good of friends, being all Spiritual and whatnot. But, you never know!

Also, here's a tip: See that bar on the bottom right? Click on the box on the leftmost part of the bar. It gives you information on what systems have what (energy, research, minerals, habitable planets). Its actually incredible useful.

I know all my relationships start that way. I use the detail views sometimes, I think at this point I'm harvesting everything I've found or near enough.

Your guys look exactly like the ones who keep inviting me to a really disadvantageous alliance in my human game. Bit jealous that you got an advanced but not properly spacefaring civ right next door, I keep getting stone age primitives or feudal socities.

Join that alliance. Trust the Turtle. It is wise and benevolent.

Upside of the Hanh-Mur is that enlightenment is relatively cheap, since they have come almost all the way themselves. Downside is that they could always make that last step on their own, especially with the Intelligent trait, and then I have a potential rival on my door.

Excellent AAR so far. Definitely enjoying it

Very kind, thank you. I'm really liking both the playing and the writing. Hype satisfied!
 
It was hard to be taken seriously as a fighting male in a peaceful female's world. Admiral Zacadliss of the Tordukan Peacekeeping Force contemplated that fact for what was probably the millionth time. But nothing in his life was easy. He rose from the slums of Harrnurr because he was willing to strike and be struck to make things better. He earned the respect of his subordinates and the trust of his superiors.

But he could not convince the Magistrix's government to make the Peacekeepers a priority. Warships were simply contrary to the Tordukan philosophy. Many worried that even the three corvettes he had was too much, representing a temptation toward falling into old ways of violence. So he was left with a tiny force, far from capable of fending off a space amoeba. With this force he was supposed to police and protect a growing fleet of civilian stations and the ships that plied between them and Skurr. Mostly his days were taken up with sitting in his command chair while his subordinates dealt with minor traffic control issues. This left him with ample opportunity to contemplate the futility of it all.

Until today.

I6Qms27.jpg


"Admiral, priority one distress call coming in from Ustir."

"On screen." He instantly rose from his chair fully alert.

"Repeat, this is Mining Outpost Ustir V. We are under attack from multiple hostile craft. Attackers are Tordii, repeat we are under attack by hostile Tordii. They identify themselves as the Fallen Legion. We need immediate support."

"Acknowledge receipt, ensign. Signal all ships to go to action stations. Proceed in formation to the designated jump point for Ustir. Report in when chevrons are locked and ready for activation." It was important to get the crews active at once, before the shock could set in. There had not been a battle between Tordii in three centuries. They had enlisted to explore the galaxy and defend against alien monsters, not kill their fellows.

Zacadliss was less shocked. Peace was everything the Magistrix and the singers said it was. But what they didn't see in their safe, clean nests was real too. Violence didn't die in the Tordukan heart. It slept to be sure, and with education and meditation it sometimes slept quite deeply. Pushed hard enough the modern Tordus was just as savage as ever. As a young officer fighting a losing battle with the streets he had seen it. There are always those who are eager enough for more that they will take from their neighbors. That's why the Great Mothers mingled their armies together to make the first Peacekeepers.

"Hail the station and get any information they can provide about the hostiles." No unauthorized vessels had used the wormhole generator, which was something to investigate later. Whoever these criminals were they had remarkable capabilities.

E1TP7wc.jpg


"Three hostiles. They seem to be firing standard nuclear warheads at the station. The miners are returning fire with their onboard defenses, but are seriously overmatched."

"Sir, Dex-Hilam and Zorixon report chevrons locked and stable, awaiting the order to open wormhole."

Zacadliss extended his neck and nodded upward. As he did so the scar over his left eye tugged slightly, even twenty years after a heat-crazed scavenger attacked a green rookie Peacekeeper with a sharp shard of brass.

"Activate the generator. Open a channel to all ships."

There was a flash of light as the swirling singularity opened. A beep told him the channel was opened.

"This is Admiral Zacadliss. Set course for Ustir V at maximum speed. Remember, Skurr expects all her children will do their duty. Close channel. Helm, ahead full."

NAj0bzo.jpg


There was a moment of disorientation, and suddenly they were through. The red light of home was replaced with the gold light of Ustir. In the distance the station could just be seen, and small flickers of light from warheads. The station was growing larger quickly.

"Broadcast the following on all frequencies. This is Admiral Zacadliss of the Tordukan Peacekeeping Force. Cease your attack at once. We are authorized to use deadly force if you fail to comply." Zacadliss had no hope of the pirates actually surrendering. If anything their ships seemed more well equipped for combat than his. He hoped that the station's defenses would make up the difference. But if he did not give them the opportunity, he was likely to get a rebuke from some naive superior.

"All vessels, calculate firing solutions on the aggressor vessels. If they have not surrendered when we enter range, fire. Keep firing until you run out of targets."

8wAoc2n.jpg


"Firing solution ready, sir" a voice came from the targeting station behind him.

"Fire, Lieutenant."

8wAoc2n.jpg


Their missiles were soon joined by a volley from their sister ships. "Hostile missiles incoming."

"Helm, evasive maneuvers." There was a slightly disorienting tilt as they entered a dive. A flash and a warning klaxon and a rumble told him that the enemy missile detonation didn't miss by much. Another bright flash appeared on the hull of the enemy ship.

"Sir" the tactical officer said. "Our missile hit, but the enemy appear to have superior armor. Damage is far less than anticipated."

"Keep firing." Zacadliss remembered all the times he was told that upgrading his corvettes would have to wait. Surface buildings and resource stations had priority. Now he was facing criminals who were better equipped than he was.

A cluster of detonations bloomed around the Dex-Hilam. "Sir, Dex-Hilam reports multiple-" she was cut off by the explosion of that ships reactor core. "Dex-Hilam has been destroyed." Her voice was small.

Zacadliss swallowed a profane outburst. The last thing he needed was for his crew to see their Admiral's helplessness. "Status report Miss Jurr."

"We have minor hull breaches on the rear port side. Zorixon reports serious hull damage, estimates hull at 50%. Only one of the enemy ships is showing perceptible damage."

Zacadliss waited for the rumble of their next missile volley to pass before he spoke again. "Activate emergency wormhole beacon. Advise the Station to launch emergency evacuation once the singularity is open. Hail all- Hail the Zorixon. Prepare to return to Skurr."

150ee3A.jpg


A wormhole suddenly opened in front of them. Zacadliss saw the tiny figure of the escape shuttle leave the station, only to be immolated by pirate missiles. "Ahead full through the wormhole. Alert Skurr orbital defenses." He held on to hope that the pirates would follow him through. With the support of the space station he could make them pay. But they showed no sign of interest in his retreating fleet, instead resuming their course toward the mining station.

There was a disorienting feeling again. This time it didn't pass when he was through. For the first time in three centuries a Tordukan fleet had fought a battle. And Admiral Zacadliss had been roundly defeated.

S2IbwVD.jpg
 
The Fallen Legion's victory sent shock waves through the government and society. How did a clandestine group of criminals get access to the best technology the Magistry had, establish some kind of hidden base with a wormhole generator, and build a superior fleet? As investigators looked into this, the Peacekeeper fleet entered drydock for repairs, and orders for more corvettes were placed. The pirates looted and destroyed the mining station at Ustir V, but made no move toward the stranded miners on Ustir II. They lingered at the edge of the Ustir system, watching.

News of the defeat dampened spirits aboard the science vessel Xadamach. They were still surveying the Benetnasch system, leaving the job of observing the Hahn-Mur to the crew of the new research station. They found useful fuel resources, and the construction ship was moving into the outer system to start collecting them. Now they were out at the edge of the system, the ninth planet, an unpromising rock covered in ice. Captain Moz was in her ready room, examining the reports from their detailed scan of a rocky outcrop above the ice.

eoVsm5P.jpg


She was certain she had something. There was a large hexagonal dome, surrounded by regularly spaced smaller ones. The pattern was too consistent to be chance. She'd been embarrassed by two false positives in the past, where she reported similar 'ancient ruins' that turned out to be nothing. This time she would make sure before calling it in. She pressed the coms button.

"Commander Xariss, prepare a surface survey team for landing. We have an anomalous site that needs investigation before we complete our report." She cut the coms before the inevitable weary sigh from her first officer, who had been sent on many such expeditions. Commander Xariss dutifully donned her gear and boarded the shuttle. Xariss had no atmosphere worth the name, so there was no rough entry, only a smooth landing in an open stretch near the larger anomaly. Her team piled into the airlock, ready to waste more time turning over rocks.

When the airlock doors opened, Xariss realized this would be rather different. They saw what was clearly an artificial structure covered in a crust of ice. As she approached she realized there was a doorway, and on it was engraved a slim shape. It was standing on two limbs, with four others extended outwards, either in greeting or warning.

She contemplated the image for a moment. "Xadamach, this is survey team. I think we'll need to call this one in. Uploading image now."

oXFfwTy.jpg


She, captain Moz, and any other crew-member who could find an excuse spent much of the next few months on the frozen lifeless surface. They set up pressurized shelters and categorized everything. The Xenolinguistics team made quick progress on the engravings, and identified the builders as the Irassian Concordat. From the very slow accumulation of ice and dust, they dated the abandoning of the colony to nearly a million years in the past. Who were they, and did they play a role in the evolution of the Hahn-Mur, or even the Tordii? Few answers were found in this outpost, but grim references were made to a horrible plague.
 
There was a disorienting feeling again. This time it didn't pass when he was through. For the first time in three centuries a Tordukan fleet had fought a battle. And Admiral Zacadliss had been roundly defeated.

Oh Admiral, don't worry, it isn't your fault. It's Skurr's fault for not allotting you more ships!
 
Admiral Zacadliss finally got the reinforcements he requested. The full resources of the Magestry were put into launching more corvettes. Less than four months after the defeat at Ustir V, his fleet of five corvettes was ready to strike back. The pirate fleet detected the approach of the peacekeepers, and opened a wormhole out of the system before the Tordukan fleet could engage.

7B7FAG9.jpg


Instead the fleet was sent to the nearest unexplored system, thinking that it might be the location of the pirate base.

GpXVM2a.jpg


There was no sign of pirates in the Chagamore system. Zacadliss did pick up the faint signal of one of Queen Haur's sublight probes, and informed the Magistrix. As it happened the Xadamach would encounter another of the probes at the black hole known as Rixkar's Maw.

ndMvz0o.jpg


Recovering these probes revealed that they had become active again when they reached these systems. Their long collection of data sped up the surveying of these new regions.

Further observation of the Hahn-Mur had convinced the Magistrix. These fungal people were within a generation of true space flight themselves. Rather than wait, the Tordii would contact them, guiding them gently on the way to becoming a spacefaring civilization. This way the Tordii would have a protege, not a rival, in the Hahn-Mur race.

NJ0Ti4h.jpg


The observation post was given permission to contact the Hahn-Mur. They broadcast a simple message of benevolent intent to their simple space station. The fates of the two species were now permanently tied together.

Meanwhile, on Skurr, construction finally began on the massive colony ship that would put the first Tordukan community on another world. The Xadamach encountered hostile and extremely powerful aliens in the Trimus system.

lb61f5z.jpg


After extensive study and debate, the Zarqon system was chosen as the destination for the colony ship.

5bjm5vF.jpg


Nine years after the first wormhole was opened, the Tordii species grew beyond its home system. Zarqon I became known as Xarti, the New Nest.

YxWc2Us.jpg