Monday, November 30, 2020

Ascension Address: In The Darkness, A Light For All Humankind

General Jenny Haniver, Fleet Commander of the Earth Deep Space Expeditionary Corp, entered the ISV Relentless Inquisition’s Crisis Room at 4.37am Sol Adjusted Time and threw herself unceremoniously into the chair at the head of the table. The assorted Generals and other attendees at the table sat ramrod straight, eyes forward, as she lit a cigar and fixed them with a baleful gaze.

“Let’s have it, then.”

Captain Ken Park stood and gestured towards the holoboard, which lit up and started scrolling images and information. “At 2.14am SAT this morning we received word that the seal containing the DEVAs was breached.”

Cmdr Haniver looked impassive but several gasps and groans of dismay could be heard around the table.

“As best as we can make out, the breach took place on the planet Blogia, when some of the local pre-Type-One human civilization completed a tile mosaic that just happened to be the quantum key to the DEVA’s 5th-dimensional cage.”

“Gimme a break”, rasped Haniver around her cigar. “What are the odds.”

“It’s a big universe,” said General Hannah Pak, Commander of the Fleets. “Sooner or later it was bound to happen.”

“We should have wiped them out long ago,” added another General.

“That was never an option,” said Haniver. “Probably isn’t an option now. Last time humanity squared up against the DEVAs they knocked us back to the dark ages. Decimated our population, probably held us off of Kardashev Type 1 for a millennium.” An uncomfortable silence fell around the table.

“Options, people,” said the Commander after a moment.

“I have a core-buster ready to deploy,” said General Pak, to instant dismay at the table. Haniver raised a hand and silenced the room. “Within eight hours I can have Blogia wiped off the map, and everything on it.”

“Surely we can manage this situation without needing to resort…” began General Omololu, but Hanniver silenced her with a look.

“This is the DEVAs, people. None of us squared off against them last time and I’m not sure that any of us want to this time. All options are on the table.”

“My concern…” came a small, querulous voice from the food of the table.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” snarled General Pak.

“I have as much right…”

“He’s half DEVA!” General Omololu gestured at the new speaker while looking to Cmdr Haniver for support.

None was forthcoming. “I asked Specialist Poindexter to be here,” she said, knocking the ash off of her cigar. “In this instance, his lineage is an asset. Please go on, Poindexter.”

“Thank you,” said Poindexter, his angular eyes flitting around the room defensively. “As I was saying, the concern is that merely destroying the planet would not, in fact, destroy the breach itself, and that DEVAs can – as we know – survive and still be a threat in deep space. Sooner or later we would face the problem again.”

“Do you have a better solution?”

“As a matter of fact, I do.”

Specialist Poindexter stood, drawing himself up to his full nine feet in height. As he walked over to the holoboard the articulation of his arm and knee plates made it look a if he was gliding. Captain Park handed him the control baton and stepped aside.

“I propose,” said Pondexter, “that we make use of the presence of the Ansible in the area and deploy the Rapid Atmospheric Insertion and Deployment team against the DEVAs. With the Ansible’s ability to transmit limitless quantities of information instantly, RAID pilots can remotely pilot mechanical shells against the DEVAs with no risk to themselves, allowing them to learn new tactics and retain knowledge of how to defeat the enemy. With only a small amount of retrofitting, the Ansible can also be used to synthesise stellar matter to produce functionally limitless numbers of new shells, meaning that we will be able to deploy an army that is self-sustaining. We will have the opportunity to see past the superior firepower of the DEVAs, and perhaps even work out how to defeat them once and for all.”

“Absurdly risky,” cried General Omololu. “If even one of them makes it off of that planet then –“

But Commander Haniver had leaned forward in her seat. “If that happens then at least we will have the benefit of RAID’s information on the DEVAs and how to defeat them. I like it. The DEVAs have been locked away for generations – they’re weak. This might be our best chance. Okay. Generals Omololu and Pak, please draw up contingency plans for deep space combat against the DEVAs. For now – Poindexter – you are green to go.” She stood, looked around the room at the tense, confused, despairing faces. She briefly considered saying something comforting or inspiring, but instead just nodded. “Dismissed.”

Repeal all dynastic rules. Throughout the ruleset, change the term Monk to Pilot and Abbot to Poindexter. Deactivate the Traitor Special Case rule.

A note on my Imperial approach this time around: I feel like my last couple of dynasties have been a bit too curated, so I’m going to try to step back and give this dynasty room to grow organically. My votes will usually be based on what I think is good for the dynastic ruleset. I will not be trying to actively prevent or even necessarily spot scams. My suggestion to all players is: propose lots, read proposals closely, don’t just follow the votes of other players, be alert. Not all of the Pilots are what they seem.

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