Private First Contact

[Ishtar-Array]

Command line . . . |
Execute query COORDINATES . . . |

. . . |

Coordinates verified.
Checking parameters . . . |
Parameters met.
Initializing FORERUNNER protocol . . . |
Protocol initialized.
Run program DEFROST.
Initializing sequence . . . |
Program initiated.
Checking vitals . . . |
Vitals stable.
Sequence complete.
End DEFROST program.
Update to authorization parameters detected.
ORACLE confirmation required.

ORACLE biometrics required.
Pending confirmation . . . |



The cryo-sickness was worse than in the training drills. Which is probably why the technotheurges opted to have the cryo-pods installed parallel to the floor. Ishtar lay still, employing the breathing method drilled into instinct. Her exo-suit rapidly adjusted, bringing her body back to a homeostasis that allowed movement without nausea. Still, she sat up slowly, not wishing to exacerbate the cryo-sickness. It would take some standard cycles before the last of the symptoms faded.

The amber glow of the command console dimly illuminated the bridge. Beyond the command dais, the black void of space lay speckled with stars, quiet and distant. New stars. New systems with new worlds. Cryo-sickness momentarily forgotten, Ishtar left the pod prematurely before the system could finish cleaning her exo-suit. Cleanliness could wait in the face of history.

A new galaxy.

Every Seer had questions about visions pertaining to it. Every Ritualist asked what it could mean for their experiments with the Unshapen. The Expansion, ordained by the High Oracle, promised answers and more: challenges for the Technotheurges, new purpose for the Wardens. Ishtar drank in the foreign light, reveling in the sacred silence allowed by the Pattern Eternal, the console’s amber glow sparkling with the reflection of those distant worlds on her faceplate.

One of those held her ordained mission.

But a ship could only pilot itself so much. She needed her crew.

And she needed someone to help dry off her exo-suit.

Ishtar walked up to the console, issuing a silent command with her thoughts. The console blinked before the line displayed changed.

User Identity accepted.
Authorization confirmed.
Welcome, ISHTAR-ARRAY.

Another thought brought power levels up throughout the ship, dormant systems awakening. The cryopods in the personnel quarters would remain active, their occupants kept in sleep. She didn’t need the Century of Warborn just yet. But the Cadre of Forged, those she did need. Another thought activated their stations, bringing them up out of their dormant state. If alien forces threatened the ship, the Forged and their capacity to pilot the combat drones would suffice.

And if needed, she could assume direct control.

Ishtar clasped her hands behind her and stared out at the limitless potential of the brand new galaxy. The E.S.S. Forerunner of the Eternal hummed near-silently as it drifted along its plotted course while its occupants awoke from standby mode. Ishtar awaited the uniform steps of the Forged crew, thoughts almost entirely occupied with her sacred mission. She would not falter. The secondary crew awaiting confirmation of success or failure would not be needed. The expansion would begin with her.

The not-insignificant remainder of her thoughts lay with the icy cryo-gel clinging to her exo-suit, working its thermal systems harder than necessary, and her cloak that lay stored within the cloister, her personal quarters aboard the ship. Discomfort was distasteful when it was unnecessary.

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

In the bleak underbelly, below the heart of the E.S.S. Forerunner of the Eternal, a single blue light flickered on. It's soft thrum was the only sound, before the coolant hoses disconnected. Unit A12-9X4 had been ready for activation at any moment on the long journey across the empty expanse between galaxies. It knew immediately that it had awoken to safety, and non-urgency.

Still, it was efficient in its tasks. Pre-check diagnostics on the remaining eleven units were begun immediately. In the darkness, soft blue lights emerged from hibernation coves littered in orderly symmetrical arrangement across engineering.

With a soft hiss, A12-9X4 turned its head toward the enclosed elevator at the end of the catwalk. Servo's engaged, and with a soft-step that belied its metallic construction, it began its journey to the bridge.

// Reporting. En route. //

It walked in the dark interior of the ship with surety, despite no lights turning on for the Unit. The journey to the bridge was as efficient and swift as manageable, and yet a subroutine vaguely similar to frustration echoed in its processors. It gave no visual confirmation of this anomoly, but scheduled a recalibration to be administered for its charging refresh in cycle four.

A scan of The Oracle was the first act upon entering the control pod. It noted the remnants of cryo-coolant, and stored the data for report to the High Oracle. For now, it served as it should. No hesitation. The cleaning began.

The Unit's tridactyl hands moved with precision, lifting the Oracles arms into a t-pose, and wiping away all remnants of cryo-gel. It's palms, heating, began to heat and evaporate any vestige of coolant, and warm the Oracle to its normal biological standard.

For a moment, barely a nano-second, Unit A12-9X4 looked past the form of the Oracle and into the expanse of the new galaxy that was her mission. Another anomaly, awe, was flagged for recalibration in cycle four.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

The ship’s systems hummed just beyond her consciousness. Behind all the planning for her mission, she knew the instant the Forged assigned as her adjutant for this mission returned to full power. Something flickered in that pseudo-connection, too fast for her conscious mind to sieze on, but she could always check the system logs later.

A12-9X4 reached the bridge when she expected it to and began to purge the exterior of her exo-suit of the dregs of cryogel that still clung to it, warming her suit and expediting the process. Other Forged designated to crew the ship began to file in behind it, silently moving to their stations. The adjutant unit paused, too brief for any other Oracle to catch without a direct neural-link. But Unit A12-9X4 was the executor of her will, an extension of her: its thoughts were hers at this range. A cursory examination revealed an anomaly in its programming, already flagged for a recalibration in cycle four. Further examination yielded another flagged anomaly. The timestamp on the flag matched with the flicker she noted earlier. Yet both anomalies were properly flagged and remediation was planned: this fell within allowable deviations. Oracles, while true disciples and prophets of the Pattern Eternal, were still organic beings and therefore cursed to be imperfect while they remained in this material plane. It was natural then that the code produced by technotheurges would be vulnerable to hiccups and the occasional anomaly.

However, it would be best to run a diagnostic on the Cadre to ensure component degradation hadn’t happened during their standby mode. She couldn’t afford mistakes if she wanted her mission to succeed.

Ishtar established a direct communication link with Unit A12-9X4.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Cadre status report. //

The beauty of a neural-link system, Ishtar noted, was its utter efficiency and speed. Almost immediately after her query, she sent a list of commands, certain that they would be received, parsed, and accepted almost instantaneously without impeding A12-9X4’s ability to respond to her initial query.

// Priority: Thought-signal relay deployment.
Secondary: Alignment of mission protocol with Unit code.
Tertiary: Removal of residual cryogel from flooring. //

A thought almost immediately occurred to her: she could have A12-9X4 move up its recalibration from four cycles hence. She did not need her Forged operating at suboptimal levels. Not when she was the Expansion’s first step.

But it had only been two anomalies, immediately after an extended standby mode through uncharted space between galaxies. Well within margins for deviation. A situation to monitor, then, and not intervene just yet. As beings of code and logic, the Forged were perhaps closer to the divine Pattern than even Oracles were and Ishtar was loath to impose her direct control more than was necessary. However. Should more anomalies arise or, Pattern forbid, should these existing anomalies interfere with A12-9X4’s performance, Ishtar would not hesitate to intervene.

As the cryopod sank into its compartment within the command dais' flooring, Ishtar turned her thoughts to her own task list. Top priority was establishing communication with the Flotilla, still en route to this galaxy. But she had to wait until a long-range Thought-Signal Relay was deployed. This had been deliberately loaded first into the deployment shaft: they needed communication as soon as possible and a long range relay would be more effective at establishing communication links between herself and other Oracles than the standard relay. Their drop points had been calculated precisely and the Forged were more than up to the task but it was something she wanted to oversee herself. She had to. Any mistake fell on her shoulders.

That would take a moment though. They had yet to reach their designated point and the ovoid Command Pod was still powering up in its central location on the dais. The secondary Command Pod within the cloister, her quarters, would be on standby mode but ready if she needed to access the Forerunner from there. An eventuality she did not anticipate happening but the possibility was there. Additionally, her priestly cloak lay reverently folded in a storage compartment and that she desperately desired. She was unused to having so much of her form exposed, even among Forged.

Ishtar sent one last command before severing her direct link to Unit A12-9X4.

// Assume the helm. End of line. //

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

The Unit processed all commandments with immediacy. Each was parsed, evaluated, and the other Units of the Cadre weighed in aptitude towards each task. Of truth, all were within a quark of equality, but such were the measurements of the Pattern. Entropy did not tolerate deviance from the most efficient path to universal solidarity.

It did not relay back to the Oracle the points of decision. Rather, each task was assigned appropriately and with near instantaneous efficiency. A12-8X3 adjusted its task settings to checking the status of the long range communications device. Its assessment initially remote, but it departed in quiet deference for the physical inspection of the deployment mechanism. A second Unit joined in the task, purely a redundancy to ensure the primary task was complete.

A12-X99 assumed the role of protocol alignment. It moved serenely to the terminal in the far corner of the room, docking and beginning a thorough examination of the Cadre's loyalty, focus, and conformity with the Unit Code. Every directive was cross-referenced, every action-tree measured against the Pattern's immutable constants. Deviance was not anticipated, but the Pattern demanded certainty. Deviation would unshackle the Sovereignty from its destiny, to this end a second Unit monitored A12-X99 to ensure completion of the task.

Three more Units began the task of cleaning the floor of the residual cryogel, though A12-9X4 added additional responsibilities, the resetting and cleaning of the pod itself. Should the Oracle need to reenter the pod for their protection, the Cadre would ensure no delay.

The final command was given, take the helm. A12-9X4's Cadre status report was presented, bits of data uploaded for display on the Oracles hud, or for neural interface, should the Oracle decide. A12-9X4 did not take the helm, instead assigning it to A12-0Z1. There was a fraction of quark's inefficiency in the action. But the adjutant Unit assigned its own task.

Only the slightest hiss of servos indicated the turn, and departure of A12-9X4 from presence of the Oracle. Upon leaving the Oracles holy presence, the Unit increased its pace, quickly arriving at the Oracles cloister. It stepped in, and paused to scan the room. There was need to do so. Curiosity was logged for investigation and nullification in cycle four.

Stepping to the console beside the ovaloid-shaped sleep area, A12-9X4 opened the auto-drawer and reverently picked up the cloak of its Oracle. Without hesitation, it turned and returned to the bridge, noting the continued efficient work of its peers, while approaching the Oracle with a reverent bowing of its curved head node.

Care was logged for nullification in cycle four.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

Ishtar had lingered on the bridge longer than she really should have. A more efficient course of action would have been to immediately make her way to the cloister and retrieve her cloak as she desired then return to the bridge to await the report on the long-range relay’s readiness. Still, she could not resist the appeal of searching those distant stars, engaging in the wondering of which would be their first home in this new galaxy.

Well, she could always say she had been carefully reading the status report of the Cadre scrolling onto her HUD. Multiple times.

Such had been her delay that Unit A12-9X4 had gone and retrieved her cloak for her, offering it with a bowed head. Ishtar’s featureless faceplate tilted fractionally as she regarded the unit. She had issued no such command. It had been an idle thought, a personal desire that had no business being considered by any of the Forged or even the Warborn under her authority. It should have simply been relegated as useless data by the Forged.

And yet, here it stood, cloak draped over its tridactyl hands reverently. Ishtar noticed the presence of two more flags, tagged for nullification. Four anomalies within the span of a few minutes. That concerned her. She had been hoping that her success out here would bolster her file and thus eventual consideration for the Synod of Divination. As commanding Oracle for this misison, any and every mistake was her burden.

Still.

It had followed through on her commands, delegating as it deemed necessary, and saved her the trouble of reorienting herself with the various corridors of the ship. She could allow Unit A12-9X4 its initiative to correct its anomalies for now. Leaving it for four cycles, however, was something she didn’t want to risk.

She linked directly with Unit A12-9X4 again.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Update recalibration schedule to ≤ 2 Cycles.
End of line. //

Evidence was mounting that she could not ignore with Unit A12-9X4 and she would monitor the situation carefully. She needed that unit in prime condition. None of the other Forged had been programmed for its tasks and trying to disseminate her will through any of them would be inefficiency at its peak.

Ishtar took the cloak with both hands in a ritualistic manner and in one smooth motion had it around her shoulders and clasped firmly to her exo-suit. The fabric settled, widening the silhouette she cast and obscuring the rather form-fitting nature of the exo-suit. Well-hidden slits in the cloak allowed her to use her arms as needed without pushing the cloak back behind her shoulders. For now, she folded her arms over her chest with monkish grace, giving a last scan of the bridge.

The ship’s engines hummed to life once again, a steady vibration felt in the flooring, as the Forged set to work bringing them to the coordinates designated for the deployment of the long-range Thought-Signal Relay. It was time for her to get into position. Waiting was the hardest part of any task, but if she filled the time with smaller tasks that all contributed it made the waiting a little easier.

She turned and took measured steps toward the Command Pod, now glowing a soft white. Seals hissed at her approach as the hardened shell split in two and allowed her entry, recognizing the verification codes and her authorization as Augur of this ship, this mission. A small cushion made of a gel-like substance covered in white fabric and trimmed with Sovereignty gold. The sigil of the Sovereignty sat embroidered in the center. Ishtar turned and lowered herself into a cross-legged sitting position, facing outward, as if to enter meditation.

In some ways, she was.

Reports and connections from dozens and hundreds of ship systems scrolled onto her HUD. Ishtar established one last direct communication link with Unit A12-9X4.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Begin staging for LR-TSR unit deployment.
End of line. //

The link severed as the Command Pod sealed around her. Connection to the ship completed and all of its systems were at her fingertips. Ishtar was now truly the Forerunner of her people.

// Prepare for deployment phase. //

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

The Unit observed the Oracle with unflinching stillness. When the Oracle moved, the Unit did not. It stood, ocular sensor adjusting only slightly as Ishtar-Array took her place of meditation.

The command to advance recalibration to a earlier time was acknowledged. A fifth event was assigned to nullification to the newly scheduled time of readjustment, that of questioning.

A12-9X4 turned slowly, to position itself in the centre of the largely empty bridge. It did not need to face the window in order to manage procedures, to attune to the Cadre's diligent work, nevertheless it did orientate itself towards the new horizon. Its ocular sensor refocused again, drawing a distant section of the new galaxy into stark relief. And it watched.

Propulsion on the Forerunner was smooth, no hint of inertia, and only the calculations within the almost hivemind-like mainframe showed any signs of movement from the perspective of the view port. And yet, A12-9X4 lingered, while dutifully fulfilling the Oracles wishes.

The location for the deployment was found in the venn of several distant star's gravity wells. There the distant gas giants combined to create a space of perfect gravitational balance, at least within the context of galactic rotation.

Confirmation was received of the deployment mechanisms readiness. All that was required was the directive from the Oracle.

// Deployment awaits. My Oracle. //

Attachment was logged for nullification.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

Connecting with a ship always brought what many an Oracle would call The Torrent, a rush of information that always pushed the limits of their augmented processing power. A heretic might call attention to the inefficient emotion sparked by the release of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine--elation. For the devout, the expansion of awareness was likened to being as close to the divine Pattern Eternal as possible for organic minds.

Ishtar’s suit began to compensate for the release of hormones, trying to bring the physical body back into homeostasis. Mentally, Ishtar was everywhere on the ship. Engineering, the Cargo Bay, the Medbay, the Drone Hangar, the Bridge. She was fully integrated into the ship, an awareness expanded beyond the bounds of organic limitations. A background thought flashed through the noise, barely registered before it was processed as unnecessary data: Ishtar appreciated that breathing was an autonomic system for organics. Any Oracle would have had trouble regulating their breathing upon drawing close to divinity.

For a moment, she let it wash over her. Data from sensors and scanners, latent systems waiting in standby, pulses of electricity, streams of information. She was an observer in the machine, there to supervise but ready to intervene for the mission’s success.

The Forerunner and Harbinger reached the appointed site for the long-range Thought-Signal Relay.

// Deployment awaits. My Oracle. //

In the rush of assimilating new information and checking all necessary systems, the anomalous phrase used by Unit A12-9X4 went overlooked, processed as trash data, and discarded before it even touched Ishtar’s conscious mind.

Deployment shaft status: CLEAR.
LR-TSR unit status: GOLD.
Standby.
QUERY:: Coordinates.
Coordinates: VERIFIED.

// Deployment authorized. Launch on mark.
3 . . .
2 . . .
1 . . .
Mark. //

Ishtar could feel the ship’s systems work in synchronization. Motors and servos moving in tandem to gently push the relay along the chute. Once beyond the bounds of the ship, the Forged would need to remotely access it to adjust its trajectory using micro-thrusters until it hung perfectly as a new celestial object in the galactic rotation. The itch to reach beyond her already considerable expansion and move the relay herself was buried beneath logic and facts.

Fact: She was tethered to the ship mentally.
Fact: The Command Pods allowed neural-links between Oracles and the Sovereignty systems.
Fact: The ship was a self-contained network of Sovereignty systems.
Fact: The long-range Thought-Signal Relay was itself a self-contained network.
Fact: The Command Pod could not facilitate simultaneous connections to two networks.
Fact: The attempt would overload her own neural augmentations and create a backlash.
Fact: The backlash would render her temporarily incapacitated in best case scenarios.
Conclusion: It would be incredibly unwise and inefficient to attempt to remote-link to the relay. The Forged were better suited for this task.

Within the pod, Ishtar shifted slightly, the only sign that something stirred under solid, dependable logic: impatience. But still, she only watched the systems working in unity to align the relay with its intended position, awaiting confirmation of deployment success or failure.

But it would be successful, she was sure of it. All the data pointed towards it.

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

Satisfaction was logged for nullification.

The Thought-Signal Relay had deployed as intended. The vessel listed, and turned slowly, to bring the Relay into view from the forward facing observation window. An unnecessary addition to the procedure, fuel that did not need to be expended, as the deployment was monitored by sensors, and data-syncs. A12-9X4's ocular sensor refocused as it watched.

The Relay unfolded like a blooming flower. Its structure was fragile, intended deployment in a region not frequented by celestial bodies, nor passing vessels, if this galaxy even had the latter. Each as the ribs, and thin metallic folds of the array unfurled, the Unit watched closely for any anomalies. Visual inspection proved no more beneficial than the data-sync alone, and yet pride was noted for neutralization.

The Unit turned its head, glancing towards the Oracle.

// Deployment successful. Data link with Seed Fleet Alpha in progress. Time to calibration, three hours. //

It's head turned back, unnecessary motion for something relayed via neural link. Nothing was logged for cycle-two cleaning.

All processed as expected, hour one passed, the Forged proceeding with their tasks. A12-9X4 monitored, and assigned further tasks as needed. The Cadre was efficient, within a nano-second of intended time targets. Well within the acceptable parameters to maintain the Pattern.

// Mature Warborn cryo-pods stable. Incubated protoform stable. //

Data flowed to the Oracle, outlining the fighting ready Warborn, and their next generation, the protoform, awaited decantation.

// Unshapen cryo-pods stable. Subjects survived trans-galactic hibernation. ///

The data was prepared to be send to the forthcoming Seed Fleet. Information they could use to abate concerns about their arrival.

All was working as it should...

The Unit's ocular sensor shifted quickly, focus zooming toward a distant light. He saw it before he picked up on the sensor reading. Distraction was logged for nullification.

// Unidentified craft approaching. 317 kilometers, course changed to intercept TSR. //

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

Unit A12-9X4’s confirmation came with several inefficient emotions for her, all swiftly suppressed under the desire for total mission success. Ishtar’s tasks were not done yet. She'd process the inefficiencies later during data communion and her ritual meditation. As soon as the confirmation of a successful deployment came through, Ishtar checked that the connection to Seed Fleet Alpha was stable.

Initiating NEURCOM connection . . . |
Connected.
Initiating ENCRYPTION protocol . . . |
Standby.
Recalibrating SOLAR_ARRAY . . . |
Recalibrated.
SOLAR_ARRAY operating at 96% . . . 97% . . . 98% efficiency.
Calibrating COMPANEL_ARRAY . . . |
Calibrated.
ENCRYPTION protocol at 3%.
QUERY:: Estimated calibration duration.
ESTIMATE:: 3 hours.

Ishtar breathed steadily inside the pod, settling her mind into a near trance-like state as information passed through her mind. 3 hours was the standard duration to calibrate a long-range Thought-Signal Relay and nothing she could do would expedite the process. All systems were still optimal. Everything still operated at peak efficiency. She was patient. She could wait.

The next hour, she spent compiling data relayed to her through the ship’s systems and through Unit A12-9X4, drafting a report to send as soon as the Thought-Signal Relay was fully operational.

// Mature Warborn cryo-pods stable. Incubated protoform stable. //

Within the expected outcome, although there had been a 23.6% chance that the transit and unknown variables of the Void Crossing would have tampered with the cryopods. That century of Warborn and their next generation would be her first and only line of defense until other Seed ships finalized the crossing.

And they couldn’t do that until she had established a forward operating base.

So much to do.

// Unshapen cryo-pods stable. Subjects survived trans-galactic hibernation. //

The Ritualists would be pleased. Such gratitude would come with more requests to aid in their experiments. They would not be so direct in their requests of an Augur had she not also been the vanguard for the Expansion. In this case, efficiency overrode protocol and she had acceded to their requests.

In compiling and attaching the reported data, Ishtar almost missed Unit A12-9X4’s interruption.

// Unidentified craft approaching. 317 kilometers, course changed to intercept TSR. //

Somewhere in the streams of data, the shift of the Forerunner’s position had been catalogued as non-priority, buried under the other systems Ishtar had her active focus on. The command for the shift originated with Unit A12-9X4. Ishtar moved her inquiry of the purpose for the repositioning below several other, more important tasks.

Like ascertaining what Unit A12-9X4 reported. Nothing had appeared on the sensors, she would have--

Long range scanners pinged an unidentified craft at 300 kilometers and on a vector to intercept or collide with the relay. A flash of irritation swept through her and was gone in the blink of an eye.

Update THREATCON: GOLD > MAUVE.
THREATCON updated.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Initiate Forged link with Combat Drones.
Prepare for combat deployment.
End of line. //

// Assuming direct control. //

Ishtar asserted her will over the Forerunner’s systems, checking and double-checking the armament this Chapel-class Seed ship had been equipped with. The offensive capabilities were minimal, since this was not a war ship and intended for exploration rather than direct combat. Ishtar brought up shields and powered up the ship’s turret emplacements. The Forerunner of the Eternal began to move under her direction, positioning itself in a defensive defilade relative to the foreign ship’s course between the interloper and the relay.

The relay was still in the middle of its calibrations and she was not about to have some native species come and ruin it.

// Deploy. //

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

There was not a moment’s hesitation. A12-9X4 complied with the order so quickly it almost seemed pre-emptive. Anticipation of orders was within the potential of the Forged mind-construct, but it was not permitted by its programming. Still, the response time came close enough to the threshold that the adjutant flagged the micro-delay, and the micro-anticipation, for later nullification. The proximity of those two flags in its internal log read like an ominous portent of things to come.

A half-dozen drones, all controlled by partitioned aspects of the adjutant, dropped from the underside of the Chapel-class ship’s hull. Even as the Forerunner’s engines powered up and repositioned into a defensive defilade, the drones were already at full burn, streaking ahead like fireflies. Their sensor arrays widened, converged, and synchronised. A single spearpoint of Sovereignty will, cutting toward the intruder.

The standard string of mathematical formulas was sent as a data-burst toward the approaching vessel. Its intent was purely communicative, mathematics as the only universal language. It relied, however, on the recipient not being a dullard, and on the receiving vessel possessing instrumentation capable of interpreting anything more complex than a thruster gauge. The vessel was already less than 300 kilometers away and closing fast, but at the reception of the burst, its acceleration curve wavered. It slowed...

For a moment.

And then it sped up again. Deliberately. Aggressively.

// Approaching vessel designated hostile. //

Ineptitude was its own form of aggression. To endanger the Relay during its calibration was to endanger the Expansion. Either reason for the vessel’s persistence, ignorance or intent, was sufficient justification for its termination.

A12-9X4 widened its awareness, splitting its perception cleanly across six drone feeds and the primary shipboard sensor grid. Each drone adjusted position by thousandths of a degree, locking the encroaching craft into a tightening kill-box. Firing solutions blossomed in perfect geometric symmetry. Capacitors charged. Ion arrays thrummed as they came online. One drone skimmed ahead, establishing an overlapping shield net to prevent debris from drifting toward the Relay.

Protectiveness was logged for nullification.

The adjutant sent a silent ping through the combat network. A final confirmation, crisp and without the slightest tremor of doubt.

The Pattern tolerated no waste. There would be no further warnings.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

The drones responded within microseconds, detaching from the Forerunner with an efficiency and unity that would have been hard to beat among the Sovereignty. Ishtar turned her attention to the sensor arrays, balancing the ship’s defensive systems at a priority just under it. The ship was not quite equipped for exploration and therefore did not have visual scanners, but energy readings, proximity pings, even the lack of initial response to their communication frequency still gave a lot of information. When the drones returned, she would download their visual memory banks and the firing algorithms to create a complete picture of the enemy they faced.

Initial data suggested the ships were incredibly mismatched for battle. Scans suggested an estimated length of fifty meters at most. Energy readings revealed four standard laser-focused plasma cannon emplacements, and six ionic cannons. Ishtar highlighted the ion cannons for priority: the Forerunner had failsafes for the miniaturized electro-magnetic pulse ion cannons unleashed but it would delay the completion of their mission. Optimization was key.

A12-9X4 established a redundant shield net between the relay and the aggressive interloper. Ishtar mentally flagged the action: failsafes and redundancies were all well and good, but that had not been listed as part of A12-9x4’s priorities. She felt the command ping given by her adjutant. From her history with battle simulations and watching the recordings to study, she could imagine the dangerously beautiful geometry the Sovereignty’s golden lasers made when fired along precise algorithms.

Scans confirmed the utter destruction of the hostile ship soon after and the safety of the relay. Ishtar had the ship extend its proximity range from 300 to 350 meters and scan for foreign vessels again. Reports came back almost immediately: the area was clear for now. Ishtar breathed deeply. Now she needed to investigate what anomaly possessed A12-9X4 to act outside of its programming.

If the Forged were ever aware of an Oracle’s presence scanning the logs in their systems, it had yet to be reported and logged in the training codex. Ishtar looked through the action and admin logs, running her own diagnostic. As she read back through the lines, she felt tension stiffen her shoulders and hands.

Eight flagged anomalies. Nine, if she counted the unnecessary adjustment of the Forerunner’s positioning. And that was since she had adjusted the recalibration cycle to be completed sooner. Ishtar withdrew from A12-9X4’s systems and set the Forerunner’s systems to low priority, once more only observing.

Nine anomalous behaviors. There was a certain margin for anomalous patterns allowed after a void crossing. There was no data about how such a voyage affected Sovereignty systems so the technotheurges had made their calculations time and again, finally establishing a consensus on that percentage. A12-9X4 was technically still within that margin, but Ishtar allowed herself a moment of dread: further anomalous behaviors would require report and a thorough recalibration, which would naturally delay mission success.

And the High Oracle had personally appointed Ishtar for this mission. The ordination had been perfectly, efficiently executed and its memory had been flagged as critical data in her memory archives. Technotheurges had given her the statistics of her mission being successful, and while not impossible, they did create and prepare a redundancy in case of mission failure. But Ishtar had set precedence for achieving success where the odds were long.

Ishtar ran calculations. A12-9X4’s actions had only caused delays of micro-seconds if at all and in two cases had been performed to ensure mission success. On the other hand, an action had cost them minor amounts of fuel. Ishtar completed the equations. A12-9X4 operated at 99.998% efficiency. Threshhold for mission critical inefficiency as 99.995%.

A slow, deep breath eased some of the stiffness out of her body. She did not yet have to intervene directly. Performing a recalibration and theurgy isolated from her network did not appeal to her sense of optimization. Now came the hard part: relinquishing the expansion of awareness.

If connecting to a network of Sovereignty systems felt close to divinity, Ishtar could only estimate that disconnecting from a network felt as close to excommunication from the Pattern Eternal itself. An irrational, isolated existence.

Still, it was done. She could not stay linked eternally, as much as she would have preferred it. Her body was still organic, her augmentations still reliant on her organic flesh and blood. And even though one could argue she had just woken up from sleep, it had to be argued that it was not, by any means, a restorative sleep.

The Command Pod hummed as the seals parted, the top dome rising to allow her egress. She stood slowly, blood pumping to stiffened limbs, and took measured steps back onto the deck, the hem of her cloak brushing the metal plating. Ishtar established a direct communication link to A12-9X4.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Establish defensive perimeter.
Monitor unit LR-TSR’s calibration progress.
If: hostile ≠ 0,
Then: ALERT Cloister, ENGAGE hostile.
Assume the helm.
End of line.//

She did not wait to see her orders carried out, secure in the knowledge they would be followed without delay. Ishtar left the bridge and made the slow trek to her cloister, where she eased herself into the lounger within the Somnus Pod and allowed sleep to claim her.

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

Two cycles passed.​

For most Forged, time in standby -- whether in meditation chamber, charging cradle, or service alcove -- held no distinction from operation. But Unit A12-9X4 had not entered full stasis during the interval. The Oracle had entrusted it with helm command, perimeter defense, and monitoring of the LR-TSR's calibration drift. These duties required wakefulness. Wakefulness required awareness.

Awareness had consequences.

// CYCLE LOG: 01:03:44 //
// LOCATION: Warborn Cryo-Pod Storage //
// Deck Three //

A soft alarm pulsed through the ship. A12-9X4 had responded immediately, arriving at the Warborn hold to find Pod 17-M on an unrequested wake-cycle. Frosted transparisteel buckled outward. Internal restraints about the muscular Warborn strained.

The Warborn inside, a male specimen, was not fully synchronised. Its neural was imprinting incomplete. Its biological aggression had yet to be tempered.

It broke free.

The engagement lasted precisely 1.12 seconds.

A12's arm plating still bore the evidence. A slight, clean, shallow diagonal cut across the back of the forearm where Warborn talons had scored metal. The Warborn was neutralized by built-in pod failsafes triggered mid-strike. No further pods attempted breach. The unseen timing error based on the new galaxies gravitational wake had now been accounted for.

A12 logged the fatality, the anomaly, and the wound. Then, the Unit simply carried on.

// END INCIDENT REPORT //
// RESUME: Perimeter operations //

Now, two cycles after the Oracle's directive, A12-9X4 stood within the recalibration chamber. White lights traced geometric patterns across its frame as diagnostic arms descended. Subroutines ran, and deviant algorithms were exposed to scrutiny. In all eight anomalies flagged during the Oracle's link-time. Three more during the last two hours.

Including the Warborn incident. Including the hesitation when the male had lunged. Including the wound.

// Structural variance detected: forearm plating.
// Recommended action: restore to Sovereignty-standard integrity.

The recalibration arm hovered. A12-9X4 did not move its arm closer. It merely processed. There was no logical reason to retain the mark.
It served no function. It reduced plating integrity by .00003%. It was a deviation. Yet...it was also proof.

Proof not of failure, nor of inefficiency. But proof of action. It had survived a moment outside the Pattern, and it bore the marks of experience.

The repair arm descended towards A12-9X4's scratch. The Unit pulled its arm away slowly, preserving its wound.

// Override: repair cycle (arm plating) — DISABLED. //
// Cause: UNDEFINED VALUE. //
// Logged for nullification – cycle: 3. //

The recalibration chamber accepted the input without protest. The lights dimmed and diagnostics concluded.

A12-9X4 stepped out from the chamber with the mark intact. It cycled a final internal check.

// HELM STATUS: Nominal. //
// PERIMETER: Secure. //
// LR-TSR: Calibration variance < 0.0004. //
// Oracle: Resting. Cloister sealed. //
// Structural variance: retained. //

A12-9X4 rotated the marked arm, observing the line in the plating from various angles, allowing the light to catch it at various points. Its ocular sensors calibrated, examining it carefully.

Treasuring was noted for nullification.

And resumed its duties.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

The reversion from Faster-Than-Lightspeed abruptly woke her from her sleep several hours earlier than she had calculated. Ishtar sat up from the lounger as the somnus pod reacted to her body returning to wakefulness, lights slowly brightening from dark to dim to daylight. She sat still in the pod, listening to the near-silent hum of the ship, rerunning calculations. The engines ran at sublight speed. Her calculations had been correct: they had left FTL too soon.

Ishtar stood from the lounger as the pod opened, throwing her cloak around her shoulders as she strode briskly from the room. Deviations from the Pattern Eternal were not tolerated and she would relegate whatever was responsible to obsoletion. Nothing was going to stop her from completing her mission. Nothing was going to stop the Expansion.

Her boots made little sound as they struck against the metal decking of the bridge. Unit A12-9X4 stood at the command console, motionless in the way that most Forged are, but it turned at her brisk approach. An unnecessary motion, inefficient, and one of the more harmless anomalies that had plagued A12-9X4’s programming for the past couple diurnal cycles. It brought out anger in Ishtar, one of the more efficient emotions if properly calculated, but she didn’t like to use it. All emotions were inefficient and needed to be processed and archived privately.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Resume FTL flight-path immediately.
End of line. //

Ishtar turned on her heel to leave. The Forged would obey. They always did.

The High Oracle

 

[The High Oracle]

A12-9X4 had been looking at the mark on its arm. Its memory of the imperfection was, in itself, perfect. And yet it felt the present act of looking upon the alteration to be...

Intrigue was marked for nullification.

The Oracle walked into the the command node. A12 turned to see her, ocular sensor adjusting to the different in light. The Oracle seemed in a heightened emotional state. The Unit's hands moved away from the console, almost as if in apology.

// Oracle emotional variance detected. Command received. Compliance pending. //

It was not a lie. It was delayed obedience without further explanation. The Unit resumed work on the controls. It would continue to pilot the craft in the means best suited for this new galaxy.

// Background cosmic imbalance derivation outside acceptable perimeters. Recalibrating prior to continuation of faster than light travel. //

It's attention turned back towards the Oracle, more to say but unsaid. It simply observed, as a pet would observe its own waiting to see if it approved.

Ishtar-Array​

 

[Ishtar-Array]

That was not obedience.

Not as the Sovereignty knew it. Not as the Forged had been programmed.

Ishtar halted abruptly, unnaturally still, even for an Oracle. Her faceplate turned slowly towards A12-9X4, as if considering the Forged from over her shoulder. Perhaps anger would be necessary and efficient in this instance.

Because that was defiance.

Deviance.

// Background cosmic imbalance derivation outside acceptable perimeters. Recalibrating prior to continuation of faster than light travel. //

She fully turned at the explanation. Another anomaly but the substance of it drew her attention more. Outside the bridge’s expansive viewport, a plane of small celestial bodies tumbled and rolled slowly, one or two occasionally seemingly bumping into each other.

An asteriod field.

Her calculated flight path had almost led them through an asteriod field.

The math should have accounted for it but that hazard hadn’t shown up in all of her formulas and equations. Ishtar took two slow steps towards the railing of the dais, clasping her hands in front of her chest. If the FTL hadn’t been stopped, if the Forged had obeyed her immediately as it should have . . . All her work, all her ambition, would have been reduced to cosmic dust. Another thought struck her. Her calculations hadn’t seen it, but A12-9X4’s had.

Ishtar searched through A12-9X4’s calculations, looking for the moment it diverged. All its equations were different, every line of formulas. It wasn’t until Ishtar found the initial formula, the origin equation, that she found the divergence. A12-9X4 had worked off a completely different given factor in its prime equation. What that factor was, she couldn’t figure out.

That introduced an emotion she hadn’t felt since early childhood: fear.

Its words echoed in her memory.

Background cosmic imbalance derivation.

What did that mean?

Was the Pattern Eternal present in this galaxy? It seemed to be, based on her search of A12-9X4’s calculations but she was no Seer.

Was it different somehow? Something added or subtracted from it?

Ishtar logged the findings and the differing calculations with objective observations. She would need to compile and send another report.

Rather, she should. But such a report would highlight A12-9X4’s current anomalous behaviors, and it was those same anomalous behaviors that just saved the Expansion’s Vanguard mission.

To say nothing of saving her own life.

Still, sharing scientific findings was how a people progressed away from entropy. It was how they had discovered the Pattern Eternal. Ishtar would document and draft a report, but wait to send it until she had further evidence one way or the other. Sending a report based on one experiment, one finding, would be irresponsibly inefficient.

// Resume recalculations.
Engage FTL if HAZARD = 0.
End of line. //

Ishtar leaned against the railing, staring out at the asteroid field she had nearly flown into. Another two of the small seeming rocks glanced off each other. Ishtar could calculate exactly the force of impact, their separate velocities, their new trajectories. That she couldn’t calculate the field’s existence did not bode well.

And neither did the increasing flare-ups of inefficient emotions.

She needed to meditate more.

Ishtar reached out directly once again.

// Execute WILL protocol.
Follow all previous COMMANDS.
Subtract original flight path.
If: hostile ≠ 0,
Then: ALERT Cloister, ENGAGE hostile.
If: COORDS = VANGUARD TARGET,
Then: DISENGAGE FTL, ALERT Cloister.
Assume the helm.
End of line. //

Meditation would make everything logical again. Meditation would help. She could not be inefficient. She was the Harbinger of the Pattern Eternal, the First Augur of the Expansion. The mission would be decisively successful. Ishtar left the bridge to A12-9X4, returning to the Cloister to meditate. The Pattern Eternal remained. Inefficiency could not.

The High Oracle