We Come in Peace!
We Come in Peace!
It was just another day in Round Nut. Small nice planet located in Regganus system. Terrain world of medium size, orbiting nice yellow sun. The conditions were perfect for life to bloom, and life had bloomed. Juvans, the bird-like aliens, had lived there since their predecessors had crawled out of primordial soup and then, soared the skies of the planet. Until they discovered tools, fire, started the first careful steps of their civilization.
Now, the birds build factories. Harness the power of internal combustion engines. Gather in cities, where the smoke of the coal blackens the sky and the snow. Great iron ships plowing the oceans of the planet. First attempts for a mechanical flight. Totally oblivious that they are inside the territory of a galactic superpower. And totally oblivious to the fact that Norman observation post had been circling their planet for at least half a century.
It was in 2nd December 2322 when everything changed. It was exactly mid-day in the capital of the biggest nation in the planet when suddenly, the sky was filled with warships of unknown design, and as the Juvans found out, totally impervious to their weapons. Each shot their primitive cannons took, the enemy ships paid even no heed to it. They just hovered above all the capitals of the Round Nut.
Then, the second wave arrived. Smaller ships, zig-zagging like crazy in order to avoid fire (but also, apparently impervious to the cannon fire. Coordinated, all over the planet. Landing near government buildings all over the planet. Doors opening, soldiers pouring out, weapons at the ready.
Local soldiers taking their primitive smoothbore muskets, known mostly for their inaccuracy, and firing. Even it it hit, it caused no harm. But the Normans did not fire back. They ignored the gunfire.
Then, a general-ranking officer walked out and spoke in perfect local dialect: “We come in peace! Take me to your leader!”
He waited a bit, seeing no reaction, then added. “No, really!”
Soldiers laughed. The enlightenment of Juvans had started. The Norman way.
Hello, Juvans!
The Treasures
After conquering the Lox, Normans found a shielded world. Totally impenetrable by conventional means. That of course did not stop the Normans and years of painstaking research, they found a way to lower the shield. Inside, the found treasures. Long-forgotten technologies of the Lox, hidden away by the scientists before the decline. That will surely help the Normans.
Later on, another such world was discovered at Azaleh System. Normans gave it the same treatment.
Oh, that's what you were hiding!
The Ekwynians
Rapa Iti System was located near the border of the Lox Empire. The planet, almost unpronounceable, was called Zaktic Zajkax. Populated by Yax’Kalock. Mostly. The arctic world also had a native species called the Ekwynians that had displayed rudimentary intelligence.
Now, the Normans uplifted them. Mostly to please the Xenophiles who mildly dislike what was happening to Lox and Vool. Now, the Ekwynians join the Hauteville Empire as the fourth uplifted species (and second non-roachoid), because of PR.
Welcome, yet another species of the Emprie
Ring Worlds
It was in early 2322 when the first segment in Bacon of Stability became restored. The holes had been patched, the atmosphere restored, everything at the ready. It was a marvel of engineering and Normans completed it in record time.
In 2322, colony ship Australia III was launched from Earth. Their destination- newly restored ring world section, now to be called Syracuse. The journey was short and uneventful and the colonization process begun in October. First ringworld to be settled by Normans.
Syracuse, first segment restored
A bit earlier, Hauteville Empire started the restoration of another segment. The Bacon of Stability was well on her way of becoming a Norman system of vast importance to the Empire.
More ringword restored
Science Gets Done
In 2319, the Norman physicists found out a way to squeeze more energy from the plants. Simple improvements to transmitters meant quite a sizeable increase of the energy supplies of the Empire.
In 2320, the Norman scientist made several small breakthroughs to the kinetic weapons, making them fire a bit faster. Quite a useful trait, meaning overall combat capacity of the whole fleet is a bit higher- without the need for extra upgrades.
Finally 2321, Norman sociologist found a way to squeeze more influence out of the factions.
Overall, some good discoveries.
The Great Migration
The forced departure of the Vool and the Lox meant that suddenly, there was a lot of prime real estate available in the Galaxy. And the people of the Empire were a bit shy of settling there, but the reward was promising enough that people overcame the fear of moving into ancient worlds, where the spirits of the previous inhabitants still lingered.
One of the first were Bokasherans, moving to Industrial District in Bacon of Infinity. The section had been mostly clear of debris, some of the newer buildings were constructed and the district was looking much better then before the Normans came. Bokasherans occupied a single industrial sector and turned the factories on. They did not disturb the Vool and Vool did not want to have anything to do with them.
One of the first species to settle in the soon-to-be-abandoned Ringworld
The Saathid, main species of Sovereignty of Xeltor, the vassals of the Hauteville Empire, took an interest in outlying worlds of the Lox. They were a stuff of nightmares, but if you got to know them better, they were actually quite nice and cultured. And of course, they were more then welcome to the Hauteville Empire.
Strom and Uldor, in progress of being settled by Saatihid
Not a soul wanted to inhabit the Lox core worlds though. While there still were plenty of Lox in the Core, their moon, the Boundary, was becoming a ghost world.
Lox core worlds, slowly in progress of becoming a ghosttown
