T'risa smiled as she made polite conversation with the admiral "An interesting topic of conversation. Sometimes I envy those who can eat chocolate without the adverse effects." while she also continued the conversation reaching out telepathically to all involved.
"It is concerning that they can hide their matters in this way. It implies the organisation is sophisticated enough to know how to counteract precognition and telepathic agents. I'm actually rather interested in how your assistant can speak in this manner. It seems somewhat...artificial? I believe you know what our agenda in this area is. I believe we can act in concert for the benefit of all, and a certain flexibility with respect to the legalitites of such things is a benefit. I've been accused in the past of bending laws almost to breaking point. However, I'm sure that my deputies and I will both need and rely on your assistance here. Now....my question would be...exactly what concrete information, if any, do you have?"

Alex listens to the telepathy.


22:14, Today: Alex rolled 9 using 2d6+2.  Telepatgy.
Identifybtye specific source

He replies. Telepathically :
We have begun with a few basic questions in a few small networks. We have very little to connect. I would hope your technology and your partners would have the at least a few operative leads and a way to protect ships. .
This message was last edited by the player at 08:38, Wed 06 July 2016.

The ambassador continued to discuss purely mundane matters and comment on various points of interest in the city and surrounding area as he communicated telepathically, and electronically.

~ we have determined that the  hostiles are specifically targeting vessels carrying military hardware supplies and personnel bound for neighboring systems. Incoming supplies are not being intercepted only outgoing supplies. Which leads to one inescapable conclusion the enemy as detailed intelligence from a local source."

We have investigated any and all  individuals or systems that have access to that information and taken steps to set up ambushes using fake deliveries with complete documentation filed to indicate the vessel carries vital supplies. These efforts have proven futile. Even loading ships at remote sites with little cover to conceal observers have been ineffective."

It is also disturbing that the vessels and cargo are being destroyed not hijacked, boarded or stolen.Leading to the conclusion that these attacks are not the work of pirates or criminals. They are the work of a hostile force attempting to disrupt our efforts to prepare for the upcoming war."

The ambassador paused to collect his thoughts and address Alex's points.

"we have a working relationship wit various informal networks and criminal groups operating from Hehlvaunfortunately neither technology or organic assets have proven useful. The locals are as mystified as we are"

"I will supply you with introductions to several local sources if you desire, they are receptive to cooperation since this matter directly involves their own safety."

Excuse me ambassador and teacher* forgive me but with what I am understanding it seems that there are a few concerns.

It is hard for me to be thinking on it. Would you mind if I write some notes?

He calls Louis.

Louis, please be bringing me a writing pad

When he recieves the pad he disables the network. And writes.
Can we go someplace psionic ally shielded?

He continues to write but keeps his pad hidden. He will show it to T'risa only. Until they can retire to a safer place where he would show the others.


Ooc* used the word teacher as an honorific the Nephalim should always call the Osahdii. Could be a different word. Master, Wise One or whatever.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:18, Tue 12 July 2016.

T'risa looked at the notepad, her eyes showing weariness, as if she'd already considered the options Alex had written.

Elsbeth simply stood by the Marshal's side.  She knew what she didn't know; and that was plenty of things.  She also knew that T'risa as was whip-smart.

When the ambassador started to speak to the group via telepathy, the young Praetorian stiffened slightly.  It wasn't that she was unused to the sensation, even if it was a new voice.  No, Elsbeth simply put on alert by the contact.  This was serious business - and unlike the practiced hand of the marshal or the ambassador, the tall Marine wasn't all that great at multi-tasking.  She scanned the crowd warily, fearful of who else might be attempting to eavesdrop.

The warm afterglow of the chocolate likely didn't help.  Elsbeth may not have been O'maedan, but she'd only recently been introduced to the confection never having seen it on Enchoa Rhi and quite liked it.

It had been a full evening in her opinion - an honor guard, an engaging martial display (complete with stare down) and a fully covert business meeting - and dinner hadn't even started...

the 'voice' in you head 'downloads" a batch of names, addresses, and reports of previous investigations. along with a list of houses that are involved with the shipping of wartime supplies.

One of the houses Involved in Shipping is House K'mahda, and the other Is House B'shadn, a subsidiary house of O'maeda, Rhichtor heavy Industries is the TAE concern and House Uhllahr Is the Valkiir main contractor.

All of the companies have lost ships with the O'maaeda subsidiary losing the most ships(ten freighters). only three out of twenty ships lost belonged to independent contractors. RHI has lost only one but they tend to use well-armed merchant cruisers rather than standard commercial freighters.

Valkiir freighters tend to be lightly armed but extremely fast, they have reported being pursued on several occasions but could not identify their attackers due to strong jamming, and local conditions.

This message was deleted by the player at 00:29, Fri 19 Aug 2016.

Alex nods,yes, I can go through the computer systems, It seems the preponderance of shipping organizations effected leads one toward either detection or centralised gathering. In any case distributed must be thoroughly evaluated. I am concerned with a planet of resources and an Osahdi teacher providing direction that all you have is some leads.

please forgive my ignorance I have no doubt there was maximum effort but it leads me to ask more about the obstacles encountered thus far. Please elaborate if you are able Teacher, or Ambassador if you will, sir.

" We have limitations due to our connections with the official structures of the colony and the requirements of behavior placed on us by our stations." The Ambassador replied his face and Feathers taking on an appearance that was one of apparent neutrality.


"My presence is one of personal interest. I do not have the resources I could command if m presence was one of...Official interest." the second voice was disorienting and alien, words spoke in a language far from Avandii, but using the same sounds. ad somehow understood despite the alien nature of the words.

the room actually seemed to come apart and reform around the group a form revealed to them for the first tie despite the fact the group suddenly realized it had been there the entire time.While the processes of the organic mind would not allow memories of its appearance to remain. The impressions that were allowed to remain were tall, young, female, and warrior.

"I have surrendered many of my own resources to take direct part n the events of this war, I am as limited as any of this group at this moment. The fact my presence was detected by a child should be an indicator of how limited I am in this situation."


I have applied what resources I have to this investigation but I am not capable of thinking in ways that Younger children are. The enemy has not taken direct participation so the....taint of her presence is not present in any I have observed. Unless someone has been tainted by direct touch of the one You know as SHE, I am prohibited from violating their minds to recover information.

Alex bows his head to the teacher and is very excited to be in her presence.

I believe we will be ready to work on this mystery oh Teacher. We now have several goals, yes?

1. gain what we can about the attacks, or destroy the attackers
2. go and steal high tech ships before the enemy get them
3. get our ship completed, get our boarding shuttles and get into the fight

You have goals this is the first step in a plan." The O'sahdii replied with a slight nod of her head.

as she spoke there was a ripple, and a second painful spike of noise in the minds of the group the discomfort was minor but definite. The form resolved and memory sharpened as the Teacher took form before them.



She stood seven feet ta, and had an unsettling grace to even her slightest movements.For the first time, the group had an image to associate with the name of the race that had played such an important role in the history of their races. at the same time they saw the Osahdiis form they also saw the form of a tall red haired woman in TAE naval uniform taking up the same location. both images were real to the group causing their eyes to water a bit as the Osahdiis natural ability to mask their presence continued to confuse their senses.


OOC: everyone  recognizes the Human woman image she has been around the Audacious Rose for days as part of the group of cyberoid personnel who came aboard to assist the team in their missions.

Alex bows with respect.

Thank you, Teacher.

He looks to T'risa for comment as is appropriate for her station as leader.

"The Tau Imperium normally does not observe such niceties as respecting others personal mind space and thoughts, but I am pleased enough to know that SHE has not touched the minds of those around here." T'risa curtsied respectfully "Yet, if you are present as a personal endeavour, my question would be....what might it take to engage official interest?"

In reply to T'risa K'mahda (msg # 91):

Kendrick continues to watch and mingle waiting for this night to be over with.  Spending time with an old friend is all well and good, but this sort of events always let him uncomfortable and out of place.

In reply to T'risa K'mahda (msg # 91):

"Our restraint is required. Without restraint, our kind would descend to the madness that burns within the ancient enemy. The Tau are still young, and their abilities severely limited as they mature, and their powers grow, restraint will develop."

" There will be no direct intervention in this war." The voice of the Teacher burned with irritation and anger as she made that announcement. And it was obvious it was not directed toward Anyone present. " The leadership of the younger races have been notified that The protection of the O'sahdii will be ...Limited to individual actions by ones such as myself."


"It is unfortunate, and irritating. However, the military power of the O'sahdii is engaged in far more serious affairs along our frontiers.

She produced something from behind her back. a map of the galaxy appeared in mid-air with numerous points far outside the human-settled regions highlight. zooming in to show a massive fleet of Osahdii and Nephilum warships massing. Then engaging enemy vessels totally alien to any ships the group had ever seen.

"The time of protected innocence is over. Only Small portions of the Nephilim and O'sahdii, Such as Myself, and Alex have been detached to assist as they can. We have given up much of our resources, and abilities in exchange but we will stand with our younger kin to face this threat."

The Teacher offered the small sphere to T'risa." This database is extremely limited but it details what is known of the ancient enemy you face. It also allows limited communications with myself and the Admiral.

"Numerous protocols have been suspended in this matter. This will allow humans to deal more effectively with the enemy. In many ways this war is humanities rite of passage into adulthood.

T'risa took the sphere gently in her hands "I understand. Hopefully when this conflict is resolved, the younger races will have learned enough to assist in the greater battle. It would seem younger and elder races are both engaged in fights for existence. Thank you for this knowledge. My goal has ever been to provide all the races that cooperate with the tools and technology sufficient to overcome our enemies." T'risa looked down towards the ground with a measure of sadness in her eyes "At one point when I was in contact with SHE, I thought I'd made some ground. A way out of this without bloodshed....and then the moment passed. SHE has gone mad in the pain of loneliness, and cannot any longer fathom other peoples thoughts and desires. It will be to my ever lasting regret that the Q'sa are her pawns in this and may not survive the upcoming war. It is my ever lasting hope that we can free them from SHE, that they might determine their own path."

T'rsia took a deep breath "With all of that being said. We must work with what he have here and now. All we have at the moment are nebulous leads and clues into our mystery. Some may firm up as we look further. The likelihood is that most will trail away. Are you aware of anything we're looking into that might help us in what we're here to fix right now?"

" The Q'sa are remnants of an old and corrupt race. They have been slaves to the Elder Queens since the inception of the first Q'sa. The Teacher replied wit a mixture of regret and what felt like doubt in her words." We were compelled after the War with the Queens to place all of our resources into reconstructing what was destroyed and Providing for those survivors of the First cycle that had survived. Our predecessors could not aid the Lesser Q'sa as we have Humanity."

After a moment it seemed she had reached a decision." It is very likely that not all races involved will survive this war. That one or more shall perish completely. Allowing extinction is reprehensible to the Osahdii, genocide unthinkable But in this war, the options of preserving the survivors of the losing faction may not be possible. And Humanity must continue, at any and all costs.

 We offered a third way to the Queens, and they refused it once...we can not offer such mercy a second time. If the Q'sa must perish to free all races from the queens then it was decided long ago, before we first found humanity. The Q'sa were doomed by the universe, Humanity may simply be the hand holding the knife."

over everyone's earbud and the embassy's public address system in all languages.

ATTENTION ALL ARMED CRAFT DEFENSE CONDITION ONE! ASSEMBLE ZED POINT, XRAY ONE NINE FOR SYSTEM DEFENSE OPERATIONS

OOC:
this is a wartime alert signal sounded only if a threat capable of endangering the entire system is detected.

activation of the Hearth Guard is a final defense line alert which means the Valkiir expect the threat to reach the planet itself.

in short something big, nasty, and anti-social is inbound. As the Audacious Rose is a civilian warship it is obliged to respond regardless of current mission, or current ready status. If it can lift, which it can, it is required to launch and assist.

hearing the general quarters alarm is attention turns to business as he sees the crowds scrambling.  He closes ranks with his crew mates knowing they will need to get back to the ship as soon as possible.

T'risa sighed, curtseying to the Ambassador. "It seems as though matters are underway and our adversary has made their first move. If you could excuse us, we need to attend to the alert and perhaps assist in the systems defence. If you have any contacts in the systems defence forces, you might wish to let them know I am a battle witch and I'm willing to coordinate."

"I will inform the Command network." Bloodglutton nodded and then departed in the direction of the landing field."Teacher can help you access their network. The Audacious Rose is an excellent choice to serve as flotilla leader for the Merchant Reserve, take command as soon as you lift."

T'risa nodded to the others in her group, as she walked at a brisk pace towards the landing field. "The time for making friends is over. The time for making our enemies afraid has begun."

With a glance and a slight, curt nod towards her larger blue counterpart and paramour, Elsbeth stepped in behind T'risa.  She'd been silent all this time, but now leaned into place her lips near the Marshal's ear and spoke with a quiet insistence, "Ma'am, it's time to go."  The long fingers of her left hand gently touched the shoulder of the K'mahda scion.  And seemed satisfied when they all started to make haste.

She inclined her head deeply in the Ambassador's direction, "Your Eminence, thank you for your largess.  It has been memorable and magnificent.  However, duty calls to us all, it seems."  Her dark brown eyes then darted towards, the exits calculating their next move - and the most direct route out. Elsbeth did not fear they were in danger.  Far from it, she was simply calculating the best way for them to get back into the oncoming fray.

As the group exits the Embassy they spot dozens of transports landing and departing in multiple directions. Several TAE and Valkiir transports wait on the landing field. One begins to transmit the Audacious Rose Recognition code and Poppy directs them to it as she jogs ahead to meet the shuttle.

A group of Marines is already on board and hand out combat pressure sleeves and helmets the second the group is aboard.The shuttle lifts almost before everyone is aboard and secure to clear the platform for the next shuttle in the holding pattern.

Overhead the Quetzl Cruiser is already in motion engines glowing brightly as it begins to slowly accelerate vertically t join the system defense squadron forming up over the capital city. arriving at the shipyard the crews are rushing madly to clear away work gantries and cable to clear the Rose for flight along with two other vessels on the yards.