Tag: the Breach

#Lore24 – Entry #364 – Sci-Fi Month IV #29 – Mysteries of the Demon Sector

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “You had alluded to another draconic soul experiencing a resonating effect with a relic similar to what happened with Lila Darius.  Could you go into more detail about that, or if not, the phenomenon in general?”

RV:  “As it is an ongoing matter, I won’t be able to go into full detail, but can give you the general overview.  I have, as you might have imagined, collected a vast number of draconic relics over the centuries, most of which I have long since discerned the natures of, however deeply buried they may have been.  Yet, there are some that remain mysterious even to me, say perhaps about five percent of my entire collection.  I can sense the power that lies hidden within them, know that its there, but cannot access it no matter what methods I have tried, for I can feel the resonance, though on a much more subtle level.  Through long years of study, I have managed to discern the particular variances in this resonance amongst the artifacts, similar to what I feel in the presence of other draconic souls.”

AG:  “And this is why you described what Lila Darius experienced with her discovery of the A-TK drive as having encountered a “keyed” relic.”

RV:  “Exactly.  It seems that with the reappearance of draconic souls, and their unconscious push toward the Demon Sector, these resonances have become somewhat more intensified, making it much easier to discern which type of soul they are keyed to.  It was then that I began to study my test subjects for proper resonances, discovering some that would awaken these artifacts, though most remained too weak to do so properly.”

AG:  “And this other case of resonance that you mentioned, it was strong enough to cause a reaction in one of these relics?”

RV:  “Yes, though, to my consternation, the event was not entirely within my control.  In this particular case, one of my AR&D researchers whom I had assigned to collect and study additional relics as part of her advancement to the topmost tier of that group, uncovered a particular scroll of ancient draconic origin, thin as parchment, but composed entirely of copper, though not subject to the ravages of time.  Again, that most subtle guidance by unseen forces seems to have been at play, for this researcher had hired a human pilot to see her around the various locations I sent her, and then become quite enamored with her.  This was but the first hint of a strong draconic soul, and, as I would learn, said pilot would be completely fluent in both Draconic and High Draconic.  It was fate, if you will, that led them to studying that scroll together, and the resonance triggering the relic, which promptly vanished, imprinting what it contained upon this woman in the form of a copper dragon tattoo on her back.  In the panic that followed, she fled, for fear of what I may do to her.

I’ve set my researcher and a rather unique hunter from my collection on the trail of the pilot, who has vanished into the Demon Sector for now, though that is all I’ll reveal at this time.”

AG:  “Curious… I’m aware of an event that occurred upon Aphelion Station during the First Annual Grand Ball relating to the renowned orcish artist Rhoghor, when he revealed his collection of paintings known as the ‘Visages of the Starway Maiden.’  Was that woman he painted perhaps-”

RV:  “Yes, it was indeed the wayward pilot whom had taken what lay hidden within that scroll.  Another curious event relating to the stir of draconic souls throughout our part of the galaxy.  I suspect this artist is another draconic soul himself, somehow resonating with this pilot, though I’ve been unable to ascertain this myself thanks to Veylani’s interference; she’s hidden him away after the incident, and I’ve been unable to locate him yet.”

Note:  I’m sensing that Rivalle’s anger is cooled somewhat now that Lila Darius isn’t being mentioned, though she’s still maintaining an aggressive demeanor.  Perhaps I should begin drawing this interview to a close.

AG:  “Have there been any particular discoveries within the Demon Sector so far that have piqued your interest relating to your study of the dragons?”

RV:  “Several.  While there have been several species of animals displaying signs of demonic corruption in the systems closest to the Breach, these hold little interest to me aside from possible use in our various R&D divisions.  The trail Lila Darius has continued to blaze for the most recent expedition to have set out, UEF-04, led by the Maharani Morgiana, has already proven quite intriguing, revealing several new, and much younger, draconic ruins.  Likewise she has uncovered at least one world that possesses more of the digital intelligences like the one found in UCSD-0001, with clues that there could be an entire civilization of such beings laying out there to be discovered.

She, and consequently, I, remain focused upon these draconic ruins, however.  Their depths must be plundered, their secrets revealed in full.  She’s moving at far too fast a pace to indicate she’s studying them, so she’s following a trail of some kind, either one that she’s discerned previously, or that is being revealed to her at each stop she makes.  I think I’ve given her more than enough of a lead, and while her advancements are admirable, her lack of any stunning revelations leads me to think she’s being careless.  Not particularly surprising, given my experiences with this incarnation.

You’ll be the first to hear of this, my dear.  I plan to take a leave of absence in the very near future, for I will be traveling behind Darius, seeing what I can find that others, even those of your order, have missed.  I’ve waited long enough; I cannot contain my curiosity any longer; I must see what lies out there for myself.

I suppose this is as good a time as any to shift focus.”

AG:  “I do have more questions, Miss Volcari, but of course, you have ultimate say in what we discuss.  What topic do you wish to shift to?”

Note:  The smile which Rivalle just showed me has chilled me to my very core.

RV:  “To you, my dear, and your immediate future.  Though I suppose we’ll need to delve into your past a bit first.”

#Lore24 – Entry #363 – Sci-Fi Month IV #28 – Breaching the Demon Barrier

Transcribed From the Personal Recording Implant of Andra Ganim, Chronicler of the Codex Infinitum

AG:  “How was it that Darius was able to create this Advanced TK-Drive?  Was this too the will of the draconic souls that are swarming about us again?”

RV:  “Indeed.  They know the secret, not only of how to breach the Barrier, but of how it was formed to begin with, most likely.  This collective unconscious will drove Darius towards the creation of this new drive, whether she realizes it or not.  It began before I had even become aware of her current incarnation, when she rented that ill-fated shuttle and visited the world over which she was found by the mercenaries.  She knew of the ruins there, that they had been previously studied, yet something drew her to them again.  Thanks to some rather hostile locals, she was unable to perform a proper search at the time, and had to retreat until she had help. 

Some time later, once she had her team firmly established and had proven a thorn in my side, she returned to these ruins and was finally able to piece together what it was she and many others had missed before, a key that only a handful of beings could have possibly activated.  It was tuned, you see, to the essence of a gold dragon.  When she activated this key, really another form of storage device, the knowledge of the A-TK was implanted within her mind, no doubt alongside other details that now drive her deeper into the Demon Sector.  This would not be the only such occurrence in recent years of a draconic soul resonating with keyed memories, but I’ll get to that momentarily.

Some would call it coincidence that Darius became such good friends with Releana Veylani, but I see a much more subtle hand at work.  With Veylani successfully fending off my attempt to obtain her company, her significant psychic power managing to turn even my best doppelganger agent completely to her will, she had already begun redirecting Veylani’s resources to finding a way across the Barrier.  When Darius provided what she had learned, the first A-TK was rapidly built and tested, though its first true test would be what is now referred to as the “Breach of the Barrier.” 

AG:  “The particular details of the A-TK drive’s functions have been kept under the most strict security.  Veylani has made certain that those drives remain under her company’s control for the foreseeable future and has prosecuted anyone attempting to discern their secrets to the fullest extent possible.  Have you, given your vast experience, determined the nature of the drives?”

RV:  “Of course.  It’s rather simple, really.  The standard TK-Drive is already a fusion of arcane artifice and modern technology, it simply requires some tweaks to produce the desired effect.  I’ve studied these drives up close; no matter how Veylani may have tried to stymie my efforts, she and her people, as good as they are, simply cannot compete with my abilities.  I’ll spare the technical details for now, but suffice to say, these drives combine a method of attuning the ship itself to the localized energy of the Barrier, adapting to its various frequencies, and creating something of a slight dimensional shift in addition the hyperspace shift, which allows the ship to pass through the barrier harmlessly. 

The legal quagmire Veylani and her supporters in the Big Four running Perihelion and Aphelion Stations and the whole UEF initiative have stopped competition in its tracks, officially stopped me from creating a DSM alternative until a period of one hundred years has passed.   Unofficially, I’ve already made and tested several variations of the drive and have traversed the Barrier myself many times.  It’s not the legal threats that stop me from creating a mass-market DSM alternative to the Veylani drives, simply that I would prefer access to the Demon Sector be restricted to a singular entry point for now so that  I may know who comes and goes, that my plans are not interfered with by random outside parties.”

AG:  “I see… There has been quite a bit of discourse regarding the Breach, and no small amount of obfuscation as to the nature of what exactly happened there.  I suspect that the truth lies somewhere in the middle of what is commonly reported.  The commonly accepted story is that an entire fleet of DSM ships were lost chasing after Darius when she and her team made the first trek across the Barrier, though DSM’s official statement says that no such event occurred.”

Note:  The storm outside has worsened again, and Rivalle’s aura has taken on a decidedly angry nature, causing her assistant to begin whimpering again.  I find myself feeling rather nervous and wonder if I may have overstepped myself.  I have been treading dangerous ground when mentioning Lila Darius.  This seems to be a rather fresh wound.”

RV:  “Though I do like strict control, I can’t possibly vet every single individual who is in my employ.  Inevitably, over time, some inferior intellects do slip by.  It was the commander of that fleet who was to blame for what happened.  I was aware that Veylani and Darius had planned something, that there was a new development deep in their R&D department, but thanks to her pilfering of my agent, all of my spies were purged, and protections added that prevented scrying upon them.  When Darius launched in her ship and made a break for the Demon Sector, I suspected what they may have done, having known of the draconic souls pushing us in that direction already.

I sent that battle group out to capture the ship and Darius, to see what we could discover, but in spite of the aged appearance of the vessel, it had been equipped with the latest technology Veylani had to offer, so it easily outpaced my fleet and arrived first to initiate the A-TK test.  My people witnessed the attunement as Darius approached the Barrier, didn’t understand what it was they were seeing when bands of energy leapt from the Barrier, enveloped the ship’s shields, and caused no damage.  I can only guess that the ship’s captain made the absolutely boneheaded decision that the Barrier, in spite of all sensor data to the contrary, had a weak spot, and so decided to follow Darius inside.

It was not an entire fleet that was lost, no, just a group of starfighters and the command ship; a few other cruisers were damaged when they came too close, but no other larger vessels were lost.  People simply interpreted what it was that Darius had shown during her transmission as the entire fleet going up behind her on her way through the Barrier.”

AG:  “That does make sense.  I suppose those who are in opposition to DSM made certain to play up the propagandistic angle of the transmission.”

RV:  “Yes, yes, as I’ve done many times myself.  All’s fair in corporate war, after all.  Any setbacks, stock losses, PR debacles, what have you, are ultimately negligible.  DSM remains, and shall continue to remain, the largest corporation in the galaxy for the foreseeable future, no matter what the public may think.  All tides rise and fall, and we’re simply on a falling motion that will ultimately correct itself in time.  I speak from experience, believe me.”