Private To Seek, To Strive, and To Exchange

[Verity Suun]

Location: Galactic East from Lohopa II

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Most governments didn't appreciate military vessels of outsiders blithely entering their territory. They often took it as an act of war. Which made the Aether's task all the more bothersome given that it was a very sizeable military vessel. Not the largest from what they'd learned in recent times, but far from discrete. So, naturally, they were keen on finding some means of establishing contact, or a rationale for being somewhere most would rather they not... and avoid a shooting war. There was no point killing people that hadn't committed any crimes against the Imperium. They had a mission to do.

Having had a productive if brief brush with people from the Republic of Naboo on New Cov, making an effort to reach out to their government seemed possible. From their present location it wouldn't take overly long to reach their Capital World, provided things went well. And that's where the crew had been stuck for a minute trying to garner an invitation. As amenable as this Republic seemed, wading into the heart of their territory in little more than a shuttle might be unwise given how little they truly knew of these people. To say nothing of all the pirates they'd already swatted from the stars. Such a blight. To think the galaxy was riddled with so much filth.

That's when they came across one in particular. An opportunity. Not without cost or trepidation, but perhaps it would amount in good will. Somehow.

Suun wasn't particular keen on the idea at first, but so long as the extremely sensitive areas of the ship were secured... All they could do was hope the exchange of information would be worth the hassle. Outsiders stalking the corridors of the Aether hadn't been their first, second, or third preference in establishing relations with others.

"Astrum in navi," a Nova Knight called out as the blastdoors snapped open.

Suun led the way onto the bridge. "This is the command center," she said with care taken to speak clearly, but there was an obvious fluidity, complete lack of guttural stop to her speech pattern, and perhaps a slightly different pronunciation of vowels.

A long and wide chamber, it held a gangway down its center with sunken operation pits on either side (though not nearly as sunken as those of a Galactic cruiser). Various men and women were dutifully studying their monitors until the call caught their ear. A number of stations were instantly secured and the one manning them stood to attention.

With a hand upon the Helios' rings they parted wide enough to allow someone to enter. "I believe you would call this the Captain's Chair." A fascinating design choice of some galactic vessels. Not one often shared on ships of the Aether's size, but the thought of the Captain sitting on any sized vessel was a curious one. Her fingers slid across the controls and suddenly the gangway that stretched away from the rings was flooded with a large, holographic display of the current star system with the ship at its center.

Tag:: Soren Ee’everwest​

 

[Soren Ee’everwest]

“Fascinating,” Soren marveled. His youthful eyes moved slowly as they followed the sleek curves of the rings. It wasn’t every day that the Theed Palace Engineering Corps was afforded an opportunity to examine a ship such as this, and as its ambassador on this mission, Soren wasn't going to waste a single moment.

He'd been brought aboard the Imperial vessel called the Aether in the spirit of diplomacy, which in the case had taken the form of Soren exploring the cruiser while Admiral Suun posited questions about the Royal Naboo Republic. It was, in the young engineer's mind, a very practical exchange; TPEC learned valuable shipbuilding techniques, and the Astrorum Imperium would build a diplomatic profile of the Republic. At least, that's what Soren imagined Admiral Suun was doing.

Why else would she ask so many questions about his nation's innerworkings?

"May I?" Soren asked, in the spirit of positing questions. He gestured to the Helios' rings with respectful curiosity. Unlike other boys his age, Soren could very maturely handle a 'no,' and that fact was evident in the way he patiently awaited either an affirmative or declination from Verity.

Tag: Verity Suun
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[Verity Suun]

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Suun regarded the young man for a moment after his request. It was already unusual to have someone his age aboard ship. More so that he was on the command deck. To stand in her spot? Well, she laid her hand gently on Helios; the tips of her fingers slid across its surface as though she were considering his request. There were certain commands she didn't want accidentally triggered from an exuberant exploration.

"It is tactile and gesture controlled," the Admiral replied calmly as her fingers tapped atop the ring to have a partition slide open to admit their guest. Better that he enter in a dignified way than duck under the rings. "A key component is controlling a holographic display of the region." This experience was certainly testing Suun's vocabulary of Basic. The operations of a starship were full of terms not used in daily parlance.

It was also possible to conjure a schematic of the ship, but that was one of the things Suun had... manipulated with a touch earlier. The classified sections of the ship would appear as voids in such a display if it were brought up. Sections like those containing the single-use missile silos containing their highest-yield warheads. First, never give away your greatest tactical advantage. Second, don't tell people you were trying to befriend you had the ability to destroy a great deal of their homeworld's land mass.

True, the Imperium wasn't out there "making friends" in the galaxy normally, but from unintentional clashes on space stations and elsewhere... people seemed to read a great deal of threat into things. Paranoia, if Suun recalled the term correctly.

"Is there something you are eager to learn?"

Soren Ee’everwest​

 

[Soren Ee’everwest]

Soren thought carefully about his answer. In truth, there was a great deal he wished to learn from Admiral Suun and the Aether. He settled on a single term: efficiency.

“Aside from ships we design for the Royal Navy, the vast majority of TPEC’s vessels are exploratory craft intended for scouting or research purposes. They worked great for the Republic, but in light of recent events, I fear they’re no longer adequately prepared for charting dangerous sectors.”

Whether you called it the Planeshift, the Sundering, or something else, there was no denying that the scale of the Chaos Galaxy’s recent cosmic event was catastrophic. Worlds that once stood as proud members of the Royal Republic were now far from home, detached and isolated—assuming their populaces even survived rapid climate changes or ambushes from eager opportunists.

Soren shuddered at the thought.

“I’m eager to learn how TPEC can streamline systems in our patrol craft and scouting vessels,” he said.

“Our mission is no longer just about scientific discovery; we must now be rescuers, evacuation pilots, and blockade runners.”

If the young engineer appeared particularly passionate, it was because he was. This was very much the same speech he delivered to the Engineering Corps’ financial committee. Soren hoped that Admiral Suun was far more generous with engineering advice than the noble houses were with funding.

Tag: Verity Suun
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[Verity Suun]

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"And now you know why I wish to know more about you." Suun smiled, hoping all the inquiries about them as a people or government made sense now. "There is much we can share. Much that can be dangerous in the wrong hands. We must be of a mind, or such good intentions will lead to war." Multiple Constellations and Admirals had gone on at length about the danger of sharing information with outsiders. Naturally, she understood the risk. What even her superiors did not understand -- because their Empire was so isolated from the wider galaxy -- was the Aether would need to engage in diplomacy and negotiation. Neither of which Suun felt an expert at, but circumstances demanded she adapt.

"The Aether, he is equipped to produce many kinds of offense and defense technologies. If necessary, we can share our knowledge in building these things, then later supplement your own factories." To a native tongue there were better word choices, but Suun felt confident she was at least getting her point across. She was mindful of Soren's expression that might suggest otherwise.

Obviously, there were certain technologies Suun wasn't going to share. Given what Soren appeared interested in, however, she doubted he or the Republic would much care. An evacuation shuttle had no need for a weapon of planetary destruction. The sort of technology they'd need for non-combat roles would certainly draw less consternation by her engineers, or the command staff. This could prove to be quite fruitful.

"I hope such an exchange would lead to good relations between our governments." Seemed pertinent to make it clear what Suun sought to gain from it. Hardly an outrageous request. Some sort of partner or space the Aether could find sanctuary in would be most welcome, seeing how the Imperium was too far away.

Soren Ee’everwest​