Chapter Forty-Nine
Epilogue - Message Logs
: Confederated Planets Space :
Message Relayed to Imperium Oversight Department
Source: All Clan Headquarters, Mountain’s Gift System
Destination: Star’s Song Flagship, Autumn’s Wind System
Headman Hellena,
In light of your actions to oppose your former Father, Cyrus, and unite multiple clans in defense of your homeland, this council has decided to take the unprecedented step of formally acknowledging your Clan without waiting for the next Gathering.
From this moment on, the Star’s Song Clan is a fully recognized member of the Confederated Planets and has full voting rights on all important matters concerning the Clans as a whole.
Additionally, we consider it fitting that you should lay claim to the former Autumn’s Wind System, which will be henceforth renamed the Star’s Song system. We can only wish you every luck in successfully reclaiming what has been lost. While we are sure you would like to claim your old Clan’s system, it has been decided that the assets and land will be broken up and distributed according to the losses each Clan has endured in this battle.
We hope that this will be accepted and understood without further upset.
Council Speaker August.
Message Relayed to Imperium Oversight Department
Source: Star’s Song Flagship, Star’s Song System
Destination: All Clan Headquarters, Mountain’s Gift System
Speaker August,
I will accept the system in the manner in which it is intended: an insult. You are well aware that it is already mine by right of seizure in a time of war. The fact you are dividing the Falling Waters’ land amongst yourselves is equally insulting, or do you suggest that the Sand’s Embrace or Ember’s Hearth systems do not deserve any compensation?
What of any surviving members of the Autumn’s Wind Clan? Are they to move on through life with neither land nor home?
I have already started to look into reclaiming the lost world and moons. Trust me, I will make them whole again, given time.
Given the fragile state of the Confederacy, I will not make an issue of any of this, but I will not forget it either.
Hellena of the Star’s Song.
Message intercepted by N.S.S. Harbinger
Source: Covert communications device, Ambassador’s quarters, N.S.S. Emissary, Falling Waters system.
Destination: UNKNOWN
Father,
Well, you wanted me to get a good look inside the Imperium, and I certainly got that. Included are several stills recovered from the remains of the short-lived Deluge. It clearly shows the Nightmare Queen decimating an entire ship full of soldiers before tearing it apart from the inside out.
She did this while also controlling the N.S.S. Harbinger. There are at least two of these women, and I suspect more people within the Imperium are capable of such heights.
Our plans to influence the galaxy against them seem foolish, given what I have learned in the last few days. I suggest a change of strategy. Let the Elucidated Ones instead speak in their favor and make a friend before we can accidentally make another enemy. We are already reviled by too many species due to our own relatively flexible morality and appearance.
NOTE: Not once since I entered Imperium space have I received even a passing glance for my build or coloring. I find it strangely unsettling to be seen as so mundane. I had to pass a janitor cleaning the corridors today, and he simply nodded to me and returned to his task.
Cristella.
Message intercepted by N.S.S. Harbinger
Source: Covert communications device, Ambassador’s quarters, N.S.S. Emissary, Falling Waters system.
Destination: Sagacity Spiral Benediction, Sagacity System Benediction
Dean Fairleigh,
I have managed to get an audio recording of the Herald of the Twin Queens stating clearly and openly that they do NOT hold the Sagacity accountable for the actions of the twice damned Cyrus.
While it may not sway some, many will reconsider their views in light of this. I am sending a copy of this recording along with this message.
The Sagacity must endure this mistake!
Hopkins,
Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
P.S. I Hope you are recovering well. Do not watch the second recording I enclosed. It is footage of the Nightmare Queen. You are not strong enough to watch it yet.
Fuck know I wasn’t.
Message intercepted by N.S.S. Harbinger
Source: Covert communications device, Ambassador’s quarters, N.S.S. Emissary, Falling Waters system.
Destination: The Great Knot, Woven Space Sector Alpha One Seven
Sister,
Attending that damnable meeting has yielded a great advantage for the Woven—almost enough to justify wearing this damnable mask!
I have found another race like ours! It is young and primitive but clearly an insectoid. In fact, one has waited on me personally several times. That is not all, however, and I urge you to brace yourself before reading on.
This race was created! It was created on purpose. Perhaps the rumors of our own origins are not as far-fetched as the Weaving Ones would think. In any case, they are free citizens of the Imperium, sister. They work alongside humanoids.
They are the personal assistants of the Imperium Princess and move freely. FREELY.
I have seen many laughing and joking, not just with each other but also with the strange machines and people here.
However, the final shock is yet to come. I was in the presence of the Queen’s Herald when she received a message from an Emissary Cheape requesting that MORE of the ‘Walkers’ as they are called, be sent to the planet Haven as soon as possible. They are in need of more hands to work and… wait for it… to TEACH. They want to start a colony of them there!
No wonder the humanoids call this Bonne Chance the Nightmare Queen. She is the end of their shunning of other races, even if they do not realize it yet!
Thane.
: Imperium Space :
Source: Cheapeside Base, Planet Haven, Imperium’s Redoubt
Destination: Bly’s Rest, Imperium Home System
Queen Lucy,
I received the notification about the fallen planet and would like to offer my people’s assistance in reclaiming it. We have many who would enjoy the challenge, and they were greatly affected by the feeds from the system.
I feel that the technology we have developed here can only aid in the unpredictable environments they would likely encounter.
Please find attached designs for quickly built basses and exploration facilities, our improved rig designs, and a couple of adapted exosuit options.
Emissary Cheape.
Source: Planet Home, Imperium Home System
Destination: Bly’s Rest, Imperium Home System
Lucy,
I saw that message from Cheape, and I want in. I’ll have that planet sorted out in a few years at most. My nanite and flesh-shaping skills would clearly be the better choice over some clunky machines (No offense).
Paren.
Source: Planet Haven, Imperium’s Redoubt
Destination: Planet Home, Imperium Home System
Paren,
You just had to get in a dig, didn’t you? That insecurity of yours must be really eating away at you, Princess.
This isn’t about us; it is about helping a planet recover from a disaster so people can live there again.
Aren’t you more suited to taking things apart?
Cheape
Source: Planet Home, Imperium Home System
Destination: Planet Haven, Imperium’s Redoubt
Cheape,
Wow! Just fucking wow! Talk about an insecurity complex. Someone seems to be projecting there, hun. (Hint: It ain’t me)
It’s fine that you feel inferior (you are), but that is no reason to subject that planet to longer suffering while you have people clomp about.
I create plenty, thank you. How about you? Have you ever even made a smile? Oh, wait! You did; I remember when you tried to steal my man. That was pretty funny.
Now, stay in your lane and be quiet.
There’s a good girl.
Paren.
Source: Planet Haven, Imperium’s Redoubt
Destination: Planet Home, Imperium Home System
Paren,
I’ll put my people and our designs against your nightmares any time. Anytime!
I have fucking had it with your superior attitude.
Here’s a hint for you, sweetie: They don’t have to tell me to stop terrifying the entire fucking universe to compensate for my own ego.
Cheape
Source: Planet Home, Imperium Home System
Destination: Planet Haven, Imperium’s Redoubt
Cheape,
Oh! It is so on, you little bitch!
Paren
Source: Bly’s Rest, Imperium Home System
Destination: N.S.S. Harbinger, Falling Waters System
Nellie,
We really need to sort this out between Cheape and Paren. They just can’t seem to stop antagonizing each other, and I’ll be honest, it is driving me up the wall. The last three messages to each other were just swearing. Nothing else. Not even punctuation.
Please, please, please help!
Love Lucy.
Source: N.S.S. Harbinger, Falling Waters System
Destination: Planet Haven, Planet Home, Multiple Systems
Paren, Cheape, ENOUGH!
Seriously? Do I have to deal with this on top of everything else? Fine!
Remember, you caused this, so I hear a single complaint, and I am turning this ship around, coming back there and dealing with you personally.
You will both get a chance to help out on the planet. In fact, it is now your own COMBINED project: THE IMPERIUM RECLAMATION SERVICE
Here are the rules:
* Neither of you set foot on the planet or affect it in any way.
* Neither of you interfere with the other in any way.
* There is no mixing of tech. Paren can’t use rigs or machines in any way other than nanites, and Cheape can’t use nanites in any form other than the material processors.
* No overpowering your people. No one just gets loaded up and dropped. You have to start your people out with essential gear and go from there. They have to earn upgrades. That goes for nanite enhancements, too, Paren. We used a level system on Earth that you can both find in my files. Consider that the rule from here on in.
* Each success grants points for your side. Every three months, whichever side is leading gets to call it a victory. The most victories at the end of the planet’s reclamation decide the winner.
* The Marshalls are going to enforce these rules and have an active presence on the planet.
That’s it. That’s how you compete from now on—got it? No more bullshit.
Seriously.
Nellie.
Source: Bly’s Rest, Imperium Home System
Destination: N.S.S. Harbinger, Falling Waters System
Nellie,
THANK YOU!
Now, you and I are going to take a holiday as soon as you get back. I really want to show you that moon Vicky found.
You will LOVE it.
Love,
Lucy.
THE END
Nellie and the Nanites continue in Book Six:
Moon-Shock
Coming Soon:
Imperium Reclamation Service Book One:
Level One and Loving It.