Idyllonia (CVnU location)

Idyllonia

Situated far from any conventional spaceways or other advanced civilizations, Idyllonia is a fairly isolated but highly advanced world. A temperate environment, an abundance of natural resources, and a lack of enemies has allowed the Idyllonians to create an incredibly peaceful, if somewhat complacent society. Science is considered the noblest pursuit, with most of society’s resources and energy going towards advancing knowledge and discovering the means of improving the quality of life. Artistic pursuits are likewise held in high regard, and virtually every Idyllonian engages some form of cultural pursuit during leisure time.

Idyllonia has a relatively small military, and its soldiers, while well-trained and equipped, have almost no experience with actual conflict. Idyllonian diplomats ensure peaceful relations with the few other civilizations that have made contact, and they are quick to share their science and technology with other cultures, as well as showing them ways to better utilize their own resources. While they make no real effort to reach out to other species or civilizations, they are not xenophobic, and welcome traders, scholars, artists, or just peaceful beings looking for a quiet and contemplative world to relax on.

Idyllonians themselves tend to be rather calm, and are more inclined to respond thoughtfully than emotionally to unexpected situations. They are generally soft-spoken and highly-educated, often able to converse at length about a variety of topics. They do not go out of their way to socialize, but readily mix with others. They are taller than humans, but much thinner, with light frames, expressive eyes, and nearly featureless faces.

Most recently, a cadre of Idyllonian researchers has announced that they are on the cusp of a potentially universe-altering discovery: a treatment capable of eliminating any disease from any species. While the High Council debates the implications of this discovery and how best to introduce it to the population at large, indiscreet visitors have spread word of the impending discovery to other worlds, and it has not gone unnoticed.

Rules

This thread is open to any character capable of traveling through space. Come and go as you please, but I would advise against getting too comfortable…

The peace of Idyllonia was abruptly shattered by the arrival of the Abyssal Imperium. 25 heavy cruisers and three times that number of light cruisers dropped out of lightspeed with mechanized precision. A fleet of this size could have crushed a much better-defended world easily; the sheer scope of the assault was clearly intended to be a display of power.

At the bridge of the Grinning Skull, the heavy cruiser he had chosen as his flagship for this engagement, Zedracus the Inevitable, supreme commander of all Imperium offensive forces, observed the “battle” with bemused interest. The Idyllonian military was hardly worthy of being called such; the light cruisers had already obliterated the defensive satellites designed to deter small pirate fleets and cosmic raiders. The heavy cruisers moved into position, beginning to bombard the world’s surface with surgical precision, knocking out power plants, communication hubs, and transportation routes.

Turning away from the dull butchery, he addressed the collection of elite agents who had accompanied him on this little exercise. “Well, it doesn’t look like the natives are going to provide us with much sport, so let us complete out mission and find something better to do with our time. @miane, your task will be to locate the scientists responsible for developing this ‘miracle cure’ our informants have been so excited about. Remember, we need them alive, and whole enough that their knowledge can be extracted. @spine_, neutralize the planet’s leadership. Their High Council can probably be found in the most ostentatious building in the capital.” Finally, addressing @ziah_darksong, he smiled with the combination of haughtiness and charisma that only those born to nobility could truly master. “General Darksong, their military is yours.”

"You insult me, Zedracus," General Darksong said in her lilting accent, omitting the Inevitable's honorific to reinforce her inferred superiority, but showing respect for an ally by not referring to him by a diminutive. "I neither have a suitable army, nor am I facing one. Destroying these people, this 'military' you mentioned... will be like crushing an insect. Surely not a suitable challenge for Ziah Darksong." She folded her arms, her faceplate sliding down to expose her regal, handsome countenance to the other members of the Imperium. It had taken longer than she liked for Ziah to receive her new suit, and while it did not feel as naturally fitting as her Armorstone, it was both lighter and possessed more... functions. The transparent faceplate was one of those, and it was one she enjoyed, even if it did get itchy at times.

It had taken some time to convince Ziah that this mission was worth undertaking, and the turning point was when it had been explained to her that they would be seeking out a blueprint for some manner of panacea. A galactic cure-all that could be denied their enemies, aiding the Imperium. And it seemed that every passing day, the Imperium had new allies. New officers. New rivals.

This woman, Mi'ane, she had met only briefly. She was a sinister little thing -- cute, but slimy and intellectual, not at all to Ziah's taste. She played the part of interrogator, a task without honor.

The other, the horned woman with those glowing swords... her, Ziah knew nothing of, and that infuriated the Lorian demigod. It would have to change, and more importantly, Spine would have to come to know Ziah herself. Preferably in a way that the other "officer" would not dare forget.

"But..." Ziah continued after a moment's reflection, pacing past the Inevitable with her back straight and her arms behind her back. "Perhaps I shall entertain you. Point me in the way of the planet's greatest warrior." She smiled curtly, a false smile that was only for show and expressed little actual mirth. Even the idea of her secret plans, the scheme buried in Ziah's armored sleeve, brought nary a giggle -- only a grim sense of satisfaction, perpetuating the Lorian's sense of superiority.

Hmmm?

@jaegerjaquez: We are gonna destroy a planet :D

Oh , have fun then : )

@ziah_darksong: leave mine out of it >_>

@ziah_darksong: Zedracus' eyes flashed briefly; a side-effect of the dark matter that permeated every fiber of his physical being. He had been briefed on the nature of this Lorian, and was aware that she was likely to challenge his leadership. Preparation and acceptance, however, were two different matters entirely, and the Inevitable did not care for insubordination under any circumstances. Nevertheless, he maintained both his composure and his wicked smile as he responded. "I am glad to see that the little incident with the Earth rabble hasn't diminished your confidence, General. I know many warriors who would have difficulty in mentally recovering after being so roughly handled by lesser beings."

Before his little jab could completely derail the briefing, however, he continued seamlessly. "If you're looking for what passes for their finest fighter, however, you should head to the front lines. The warrior caste is a traditional bunch, as I understand, and their leaders are expected to actually lead."

@inevitable_one:

Darksong made a slow fist, the crunch and scrape of her gauntlets audible. Her icy blue eyes locked with the sinister orbs of the Inevitable, and while her figure tensed she neither moved, nor spoke. Insolent pig. Ziah had been cornered and outnumbered by the finest warriors Earth could offer, and still she survived. A parade should have been thrown. Instead, Nordok's underlings thought they could use the knowledge to undermine her.

The Lorian general, of course, was more than simply a pair of fists, and it was this that caused her to relax her posture and offer a smile that passed off well as a sneer. Let him win this round. Let him think he had shamed her. It was Zedracus, not her, who would have to answer to Nordok if this mission went sour. And the fact that bringing that about was exactly her plan no longer bothered her in the slightest. In fact, the Inevitable's insolence made her secrets all the sweeter. "Excellent news, Zedracus. I'll send your toy soldiers out ahead and be on the field myself, shortly."

This seems like something I will be reading.

@vamoose: made my own planet as well but its berried want me to bump it for u?

@nordok: nice location u got here dud

@mryashimora: No need to =)

@vamoose: k :)

@mryashimora: Thank you! It may not last long. ;)

What do you mean may last long , I don't think it will last long : P

@shadowswordmaster: Hence the "not" in my statement. :P

*pokes thread so @nordok will notice it*

@ziah_darksong: Nodding to the general with the haughty grace of one born to aristocracy, Zedracus turned his attention back to the battle. "I want all turbolaser batteries focusing their fire on areas suitable for ground troops to disembark. Clear landing areas for the Annihilators. Once the Strikers have finished eliminating the defensive network, put them on reconnaissance detail; this planet has no other air defenses to speak of."

Returning to his captain's seat, the Inevitable reclined, seeming to relax, though his glowering eyes continued to scan the battle reports as they poured in. "Have the light cruisers set up a defensive perimeter around the planet; just because this pathetic world has no fleet to speak of doesn't mean that some other group of fools won't be feeling altruistic."

@nordok: Howdy neighbor.

@inevitable_one:

Ziah had no more time for words. No more time for soldiers and fleets that she didn't understand, no more time to listen to the specifics of a war that she knew nothing about. Everything had changed since she had been a commander -- everything was pieces on a board, ships and defenses. Leadership seemed to have no bearing now, and crushing an enemy's shields had become more important than destroying their spirits.

The lorian general, of course, had different ideas about warfare. And as usual, she was all too willing to demonstrate.

Ignoring the Inevitable, Ziah Darksong shot off into the air like a bullet, flash-stepping through the atmosphere of Idyllonia faster than the eye could follow. Already, a few meager troops had mustered, starting to form pitiful battle formations as if it would stop anything... they were wrong. Dead wrong, to be specific.

Ziah smashed into them like a cannonball, the sheer force of her landing sending hundreds of soldiers spraying out, a crater forming beneath the general's booted feet. Before anyone had time to react she had started to zip back and forth across the battlefield, the fluttering of her cape making her appear more like a wraith, some desolation angel, than an actual warrior on an actual battlefield. She let those on the outskirts, those who were wounded but not killed, survive... let them flee while she ripped apart those unfortunate many. Lightning bolts shredded down from the sky like raindrops, crashing into battlements and palisades, destroying formations. Ziah didn't need an army. She was one.

@inevitable_one@ziah_darksong

Mi'ane watch the exchange between the two silently. She was so lith and still, and quiet it was easy to forget she was present. That was fine with her. She was a shadow in the overlaying darkness of the empire. She heard the comtempt in Zedracus's voice, saw the line of General Ziah's mouth tighten. Biological creatures would be amusing if they weren't so dreadfully predictable. Driven as they were by ther messy emotions.

Mi'ane had never felt emotion. not love nor sadness nor anger. Whether this was a trait of her race, or she was merely a genetic anomaly was unknown, and would possibly always be. Mi'ane was the only one of her kind she had ever met. Well, before the Elki nanite infusion that was. Now she was the only being like herself in the universe.

She turned from them as they traded more words. There was nothing more to learn here. General Darksong didn't like Zedracus and vice versa. That could be useful in the future. For now she filed the information away in her mind. The parasitic puppet shifted its bio-mechanical tail body around her waist, perhaps dreaming of killing some helpless prey. The tension and hormones had no doubt teased its senses even as it 'slept.'

Mi'ane retired to her own ship as quietly, and if her absence was noticed it was not remarked upon. She had her own mission. 'Alive and whole enough for knowledge to be extracted' Zedracus had said. What he didn't know was with Mi'ane's technology you didn't need them to be terribly 'whole' to intrrogate them. In fact, when it came to physical interrogation less was more.