24-Hour Story Contest Short Story | If You Were There, Beware - Part 1
Streams, Vadim Sadovski | Source
GSY 345.268 | R14.82
50 AU to Kuiper Cliff | 27.536 LY from the Maelstrom
Temrid Empire Expeditionary Force - TEHNSV Nagash Main Ship Log
To: Supreme Archon Kamkra Hek – Aspect of War of the Temrid Empire
From: Councilor Velra Ragas – High Consul of the Temrid Empire
Transmitting…
May the light of Humgran I the Great descend upon us, brother.
After eleven light years of travel, we have finally arrived at the Sol system. All five of our ships endured the journey in almost perfect conditions. As we speak, we are preparing our landfall in a minor planetoid of roughly 30 kargs of diameter, located in an asteroid belt between the planets Sol 4 and Sol 5, currently awaiting designation by the Temrid Empire High Navy Command. According to rough estimates, we will be able to set up an observation base in approximately 0,5 galactic standard months.
Our initial sightings of this solar system look promising indeed. Even when it looks so small in comparison to other planetary systems we have studied, our probes have detected a high amount of valuable resources to our efforts. Given we are able to manage said resources with moderation, the Council of Elders is predicting a tentative duration of 356 galactic standard years for our expedition.
However, we haven’t had any luck finding life signals in the Sol system. We hope this will change as soon as we’re able to mount more powerful sensors in our main base. Until that happens, we will hope for the best.
As we speak, the young Humgran II must be assuming his mantle as our Sacred Emperor. Please, be kind to him; he has much to learn about galactic affairs and his responsibilities as our ruler, but I trust that he will be a fine successor to Our Holiest Exemplar.
May the Argent Moon of Temrid shine always upon us,
VR
GSY 346.925 | R09.16
May the light of Humgran II descend upon us, brother.
Our expedition finally has made a breakthrough in our main objective. We have finally found evidence of life in the Sol system, specifically on the planet Sol 3. What our probes have detected is, frankly, nothing short of a miracle. With approximately 670 kargs of diameter, Sol 3 is located in what we call the Kashag zone; that is, the most ideal distance to the planetary system’s central star in order for ideal living conditions to thrive and prosper.
And oh, how life has thrived on the majority of Sol 3.
Our probes have detected an astonishing number of 1 trillion species currently living in Sol 3, of which most life forms do share a common genetic code. Life in Sol 3 is primarily carbon-based, with enough vegetation and the ideal temperature to sustain an atmosphere rich in nitrogen and oxygen. Our Council of Elders is currently discussing a plan to study the whole Sol 3 biosphere, predicting that it will take roughly one-third of our estimated expedition time or 118 galactic standard years. If this plan is successful, we might collect and map the whole genetic code of the planet in a quarter of that time, as to be able to submit it to the Temrid Navy High Navy Command for its distribution to our various laboratories and institutions in Lorca Prime.
I will contact you with further news of our progress. Until then, may the Argent Moon of Temrid always shine upon us, brother.
VR
GSY 361.082 | R18.03
May the light of Humgran II descend upon us, brother.
This is a most auspicious day to all of our kin. Not only we are close to compile and map the whole genetic code of Sol 3’s lifeforms… we have found a single lifeform that has evolved enough to start developing a civilization, brother. Finally, after all these years… we are not alone in the vastness of space. I will send to the Temrid Empire Navy High Command a full briefing as soon as we have collected enough data. But I will share with you what we currently know, in a strictly soul-bonded status.
The lifeform we are analyzing as we speak is on the highest degree of evolution of its common genetic tree. Although a lot of the species that we have found in the same genus hold similar traits, this particular one is not only capable of developing a language through sign-based communication, but it’s slowly showing itself to be gregarious and oriented to cooperation. We will be studying its course on the following years, but, for the moment, this lifeform is proving to be our greatest hope of establishing an intellectual contact with Sol 3.
In the meantime, please, do not forget to send me news of our dear Humgran II. I have heard that he held his first Empire High Council in recent days and he has made quite an impression among our nobles.
May the Argent Moon of Temrid bless our current and future findings,
VR
GSY 376.713 | R14.49
May the light of Humgran II descend upon us, brother.
I write to you on this day with eyes bathed in joy.
Species K39.TECE, which as you may know are the recipients of our greatest hope, has constructed its first settlement.
Located in a most fertile location in Sol 3, in the banks of a river located at approximately 0,18 kargs above the sea level, our probes and instruments have determined that Species K39.TECE holds this place in very high regard. As I concluded in my recent findings, which were transmitted to the Temrid Empire Navy High Command, Species K39.TECE is not only approaching the conditions needed to be classified as a nascent civilization but, according to our recent neural and biological scans, their brains are developing at a rate high enough to create beliefs.
Now we believe that, as they are kindling themselves to the concept of ka’hrash, they are associating the power of their genetic memory and collective energies with the biosphere and the ecosystem. They do believe that the river holds the meaning of life in its waters.
Sadly, our efforts in understanding and traducing their language are advancing at a slower rate that we initially wanted. Species K39.TECE is already showing signs of developing what we know as ruk’mat, or the way certain expressions in our language and culture have double or even multiple meanings depending on the context. Nevertheless, we have successfully translated their alphabet and we know the name of this first, most prosperous settlement.
They have named it Yerihko.
May the Argent Moon of Temrid bless the first steps of Species K39.TECE as She blessed our own,
VR
GSY 391.007 | R07.58
May the light of Humgran II the Wise descend upon us, brother.
As every Temridan that has sworn fealty to the Empire knows, the path of civilization is one filled with joy and growth. Nevertheless, it is not one without hardships.
In a very short amount of time, that barely covers fifteen galactic standard years, Species K39.TECE has settled itself in approximately thirty-five percent of the known landmass. By all standards, this is an impressive achievement; but, as we knew during our own Age of Strife, resources are finite, and civilizations can go through very dark days to understand this fact.
As common understanding and cooperation are in dim supply these days, Species K39.TECE currently knows an Age of Strife of its own. And, for as much as science and technology have evolved through these lasts galactic standard years, reason has receded in the common mind, gladly giving previously held ground to organized religion and, in turn, conflict over ideas and beliefs.
The Temrid Empire is not the only empire in our galaxy, after all. Species K39.TECE have founded many through the course of these times, and they have fallen nearly as soon as they formed. Hassirians, Bab’lons, sons of the almighty Egyptus… Only Rhomans have survived up to this point, with a common territory that grows by the galactic minute, based in highly evolved engineering and impressive military tactics. This fledgling empire has quickly absorbed, defeated or extrapolated virtually every other culture in its area of influence, but, as every unstoppable force has always met, an unmovable object is forming itself on their way.
As we speak, they seem to be holding a trial against a very public opponent of their Empire, which has moved the hearts of its cohabitants in a degree troublesome enough to warrant an uprising across the West Bank of the Jordanus River.
I fear that this particular opponent will soon be executed in public display. The results of this, I cannot predict. Nevertheless, I can ascertain a proven fact: fervor is not a good counselor in times of need.
I hope that the Argent Moon gives me enough time to observe a solution to this deeply troubling historical moment, for, as you might already know, my life force is slowly ebbing away. I have already made peace with my destiny, for sickness, sadly, is an integral part of life.
May the Argent Moon guide our path to find ourselves in the Beyond, brother. Live well.
VR
GSY 391.758 | R06.42
Temrid Empire Expeditionary Force - TEHNRB Syalomak, Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force
To: Supreme Archon Kamkra Hek – Aspect of War of the Temrid Empire
From: Confessor Iaidan Vorash – Knowpriest of the Temrid Empire’s Expeditionary Force
Transmitting…
May the light of Humgran II the Wise show us the path to understanding in this most forgettable day, Your Excellency.
Our esteemed Councilor, Velra Ragas, who guided our Expeditionary Force through 46 standard galactic years, has passed away in this solar morning.
We will hold his memorial service across the galaxy in thirty galactic hours, as we give enough time for its family to mourn him in private. In its deathbed, Councilor Ragas has appointed me as his successor in the Species K39.TECE Observation Project. A responsibility that, I confess, I am as humbled as fearful of overtaking, as Councilor Ragas leaves us with a colossal scientific and sociological achievement as gift to our great Empire.
I only can aspire to be as useful to the Temrid Empire Navy High Command as Councilor Ragas was on his lifetime. I will resume contact with you in fourteen galactic days, which is the regulatory time needed to pass all his administrative and logistical duties to myself. Nevertheless, I will discuss soon enough with the Council of Elders about Councilor Ragas’ deathbed wish: a proposal to name Species K39.TECE as our peers, in light of how their current story is closely matching our own vicissitudes during our Age of Strife.
He told us that he would like them to be called Ta’karun, or Subjects of Hope in High Temrid. If the Council of Elders approve this, we will initiate the translation process in every Temrid Empire document in approximately thirty galactic days following the motion.
May the Argent Moon give us the strength and the far sight we will need to overcome this day,
IV
GSY 391.758 | R20.13
May the light of Humgran II the Wise guide our common way, Your Excellency.
As you may know, our Council of Elders unanimously approved our late Councilor Ragas’ wish. Ergo, this will mark the first communication where we will refer to Species K39.TECE as the Ta’karun. Having clarified this, I intend to update you and the High Command with our current findings.
A series of geopolitical changes and upheavals have shaken the very foundation of the world that the Ta’karun had built up to this point. The Rhoman Empire has long fallen into oblivion, replaced by a succession of city-states and countries in which cultures clash as frequently as aspiring nations do. We have strong reasons to think that, for the time being, the Ta’karun will have to question many of their old prejudices in order to be able to collaborate and evolve with enough momentum to recover the hope that our late Councilor Ragas held.
Suffice to say, we have seen important developments in the Tiber region. It seems that the Rhomana people, even though they lost quite a lot of their imperialistic and militaristic pretensions, have not lost their particular ability to guide and to change the shape of the world. As we speak, even while the landmass of Europa is dealing with a most dark and conflictive age, they are slowly seeding the ground of an authentic rebellion of the minds. We predict that, in a few galactic standard months, this strange upheaval of religion and greed will recede to a resurgence of reason and science. We could be witnessing a rebirth of sorts, one that will bring the Ta’karun more in line with our interests.
By the way, as per your request, we have finished the initial tests of brain wave extrapolation that you asked. Sadly, I am forced to admit that our own thought processes are not quite compatible with the Ta’karun mind, impeding the possibility of fluid communication between them and our species. Fortunately, we have found quite similar brain wave patterns in two other lifeforms in Sol 3. One of them is a quadrupedal animal, descendant of a long-lost line of wild species which the Ta’karun have domesticated and altered enough to make it a somewhat different species already. We will make further efforts to specify the most compatible sub-species with our patterns.
The other one is a seafaring animal that, unfortunately, we can’t recommend for your proposed project, as the Ta’karun usually are seen to be very superstitious around them, comparing them with mythological beasts that are strangely bent on courting them with various songs with them in order to copulate and then assassinate them shortly afterward. However, we will keep analyzing them, as their communication patterns are suspiciously similar to the ecolocation-based speech of the Kyrans.
May the Argent Moon illuminate our success on both of these promising endeavours,
IV
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