Agent047
patreon
872 - The Second Coming
🕑 Added 2025-03-23 08:14:08 +0000 UTCTime waited for no one, moving forward unbound by the events of the universe. Finally, the day of the second mana stone exchange arrived.
A welcoming fleet stood ready in an empty patch of space, patiently awaiting the arrival of the representatives. This was both a customary gesture and a security measure, though this time, the fleet was more than four times larger than at the last exchange. The reason was simple—the exact number of arriving ships remained unknown, but the empire was certain it would be at least triple the previous turnout. The increased mana stone quotas required a greater volume of materials for exchange, and, in addition, the Conclave representatives were expected to bring their own products to sell to the empire.
As the agreed time for arrival approached, the crew aboard the welcoming fleet remained on high alert. There was always the possibility that the Conclave forces would emerge from the wormholes with weapons blazing, and until both sides knew each other well enough to establish true trust, such precautions were necessary.
The countdown ticked away—five seconds, then four, then three, two—tick. The moment arrived.
Without even a second’s delay, the ship’s sensors detected a spatial fissure, the telltale precursor to a wormhole opening. Moments later, multiple wormholes materialized, revealing the fleets beyond them before sealing shut just as quickly.
As the empire’s system-wide sensor grid and the fleet’s onboard scanners went to work identifying and categorizing the incoming vessels, it became immediately clear that their estimates had been far too conservative. Rather than the expected threefold increase, the number of Conclave ships had multiplied tenfold.
…………………
At the Same Time, in an Unidentified Location in Space
{Bon Voyage.} Nyx’s voice echoed in John’s mind as he watched the wormholes open in front of the station. Their timing was flawless—closing at the exact millisecond as the Conclave’s wormholes. Should any anomalies be detected, the spatial disturbances would be easily attributed to the Conclave’s arrival, neatly camouflaging their own actions.
“Now, we wait,” John muttered as he logged out of the simulation. Though the station was operational in real-time, he could only interact with it remotely. It was built exclusively for machines—humans had no place aboard it.
{Now, let’s do it as planned.} Nyx’s tone carried an edge of anticipation as she activated the station once more. A massive wormhole erupted in front of it, swallowing the entire structure as it slowly drifted forward and vanished.
All that remained was a small, seemingly insignificant spherical object. But only for a moment.
POOOOOF!
Instead of an explosion of fire and destruction, the sphere burst into a fine, yellowish liquid that spread across a vast area before dissipating.
With her task complete, Nyx also exited the simulation. A grin played across her lips—one that would be unmistakable to anyone watching. This was her moment, and she would not waste it.
………………
Aside from the sheer increase in the number of ships participating, the process remained largely the same as the previous mana stone exchange. The Conclave ships powered down their shields for scanning, and once cleared, they were immediately instructed to follow the welcoming fleet toward the Trade Hub, which was now fully operational for the first time.
“Send them the docking procedures along with all relevant requirements,” the fleet commander ordered, his eyes scanning the real-time data of the incoming ships. “Also, assess whether any modifications are necessary to accommodate their vessels during this period.”
At their current speed, it would take roughly two hours to reach the Trade Hub. Its location had been carefully chosen—positioned near the outer edges of the solar system to keep it isolated from the empire’s core territories, yet still within the spatial lock grid. This ensured that no unauthorized wormholes could be opened near the station while also preventing it from being too close to any potential entry points.
This was more than just a simple exchange—it was a test of the long-term viability of interstellar trade between the Empire and the Astral Conclave.
…………………
“It’s uncomfortable,” an older-looking Trinarian muttered, his expression darkening as an unfamiliar sensation crept over him. It felt as if invisible chains were wrapping around him, restricting his very being. At the same time, his senses felt dulled, like something was suppressing his perception of the surrounding space. A deep dislike for this place settled within him almost immediately.
“Are they attacking us? Isn’t that against the agreement?” a younger Trinarian asked, his voice sharp with alarm. He was feeling the same stifling sensation, and his instincts immediately categorized it as a hostile action. His hands moved swiftly over the controls, pulling up sensor data to locate the source of the "attack."
The older Trinarian, instead of reacting hastily, closed his eyes. He focused inward, trying to analyze the sensation objectively. His mind probed the unseen forces pressing against them, and after a few tense moments, his eyes snapped open in shock.
“I don’t know how… but they’ve managed to lock the space,” he said, his voice tinged with disbelief. Even among their kind, such a feat was considered an advanced and highly specialized technique. The implications of this were vast—and troubling.
“Did they manage to get their hands on an encryption key and use our own knowledge to create this?” the young Trinarian asked, his voice laced with disbelief. The idea that the Terrans had somehow deciphered their methods and replicated such an advanced technique was unsettling.
“I don’t think so, Prince,” the older Trinarian responded, his expression serious, the weight of experience evident in his gaze. “The way they’re doing it is completely different from how we would. This method… it isn’t just stopping wormholes—it’s doing something more.” His tone carried the caution of a seasoned veteran, someone who recognized when they had stepped into an arena that wasn’t to their advantage.
A brief pause followed before he added, “I think we should hold position at the entry location and not follow them in.”
“That would be an admission,” the prince countered almost immediately, his voice firm. “It would tell them outright that we acknowledge their ability to lock space and that we can’t do anything about it. We came here for diplomacy and to renegotiate our quotas—any action that suggests mistrust or disrespect will only weaken our position in the talks.”
The prince met his guard’s eyes with a confident smile. “Besides, I’m sure you can ensure my safety if anything were to happen.”
A brief silence, then the guard gave a short nod.
“Yes, sir,” he replied, falling back into his role without further protest.
Comments
GripenSupremacy
TYFTC
Sol_Invictus
TYFTC!
Jade
TYFTC!
