Prologue I

Followers 1

Entry posted by Scaley McSlither · December 3, 2016

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In the Tau Ceti solar system, an immense starship drops out of warp space. The host of Celestials has arrived and will pass judgement on their experiments.

On the ship’s bridge, several armored figures sit in silence, contemplating the planet visible in the view screen.
The One Above All turns to the helm, commanding, “<Nezarr, set bearings for optimal orbit.>”

“<Course plotted and laid in, One Above All>”

The enormous vessel responds to the new coordinates, bearing down on the distant blue-green planet and settling smoothly into orbit.

“<Arishem!>” The One Above All addresses the Celestial at his side, “<You will lead the away team. Take Gammenon, Tefral and Jemiah and make your judgement.>”

Arishem acknowledges the command with a nod and gestures to the three who will accompany him to the planet’s surface. Together, they swiftly make their way from the bridge.

The judgment is swift and dispassionate. Gammenon the Gatherer samples the planet’s lifeforms while Tefral the Surveyor notes the system’s geographic features. Jemiah completes his analysis of the samples Gammenon has collected and reports back to Arishem the Judge.

“<Arishem, our experiments have failed to produce any tangible results. The standard lifeforms have not made any significant technological progress and the offshoot of Eternals has failed to mutate into a higher lifeform. Worse, the Deviants have apparently died out altogether.>”

Jemiah gazes upon the cowering humanoids he holds in his palm as Arishem judges, “<Among our greater successes were the inhabitants of Skrullos who,

in a barely greater span of time, have established a flourishing interstellar empire. These ones have likely reached the peak of their evolution.>”

Jemiah kneels down and gently returns the terrified primitives to the ground. The gargantuan Celestials ignore the prostrating humanoids and return to their orbiting vessel.

“<What is your judgement Arishem?>” the One Above All asks.

“<Failure.>”

“<To what extent?>”

“<Complete.>”

The One Above All lets out a barely audible sigh and gestures for another Celestial to come forward.

“<Exitar, this planet has failed our tests. It will die.>”

Exitar turns toward the view screen, raising his hand. A gem embedded in his palm begins to glow red.

“<It is done,>” he simply states.

The One Above All addresses the helm, “<Nezarr, plot a course away from the system. Set bearings to avoid the bow shock and make ready for warp. All hands brace.>”

The Celestials’ craft accelerates swiftly out of orbit. Their collective attention turns to the screen as the asteroid Exitar has summoned approaches and the doomed planet is struck a mortal blow.

“<Ashema, open a channel.>”

“<Channel is open, One Above All.>”

A new figure shimmers into view on the screen; Eson the Searcher.

“<Eson, have you found a new candidate world?>”

The reply comes, “<Behold; A spectral class G2V star system with multiple candidate worlds in the habitable zone. The most suitable has an axial tilt of 23.5° and experiences 4 distinct seasons across the majority of the planet. Composition is a molten iron core and rocky surface with active plate tectonics. The surface is approximately 71% water; of that 96.5% saline. Atmospheric analysis is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% trace gases. There is high biodiversity and the world already hosts a likely dominant life form. This hominin will readily accept mutative experimentation as has already been confirmed by Ziran the Tester. Transmitting detailed analysis of prospective life form now.>”

Nezarr the Calculator receives the transmission and rapidly determines the destiny of the candidate planet, “<The species will require 1,204,729 of their yearly cycles under average conditions to achieve basic success. Under optimal conditions, 43,116 yearly cycles can be subtracted. Given poor conditions, an additional 122,046 yearly cycles would be required. If the Skrullos experiment is held as a baseline comparable, an additional 234 yearly cycles would be necessary to achieve interstellar capabilities.>”

The One Above All ponders a moment, “<Very well. Oneg the Prober will implement. Nezarr, set course for the Sol system.>”