.jpg)
First Contact - Null
Strike: 85
Diplomacy: 40
Something is ahead. The voice is clear in the back of your mind. Go look at it. Show it to me. There's a sense of urgency in the divine voice. You move your legs faster down the path, eager to fulfill your divine instruction. Strange voices seem to echo from between the trees all around you as you approach a crossroad. You look down each path, awaiting your god's instruction. Instead, you feel the divinity's focus shifting away from you again.
Go find this new thing. Destroy any heresy. The feeling of the god's vision through your eyes shifts away and you stand alone in the forest. You look down each path again. A new voice calls, this time coming from the forest around you. "Oh, an otherworldly child. How curious. Perhaps I should introduce you to My Queen. Would you give me your name?"
You bow your head in prayer for a moment, opening your mind completely to your God, and feel His Divine Presence return to you again. Your eyes dart back and forth between the trees, searching for the source of the voice, but whatever spoke seemingly had no intention of showing themselves.
“Heresy.” You whisper to yourself. The implications of yet more heretics sends a shock through you, and you feel it reverberate through your God as well.
“What was that? It didn’t sound like a name. Are you playing a trick on me?” the voice from the forest enquires, more curious than reprimanding. You can’t see it, but you can sense its direction.
“HERESY!” You raise your arm and feel your God’s power channel through you. Tendrils pour out, searching, grasping, tearing their way through the forest. You hear something begin to flee, but your God calls forth the void, erasing the surrounding forest from existence. Then there is silence. There may be new heretics about, but now there is one less.
%20-%20Fuura%20Xen%20copy.jpg)
First Contact - Empira
Strike: 65
Diplomacy: 31
"Captain! We've just got communications from the scouting party. They said they've been seeing glowing lights and hearing strange music in the forests up ahead. One of them tried to follow the lights for a closer look, but they haven't seen him since. Last they saw, he seemed to be walking towards it like he was in a trance. Reports say there are Fuzzballs and Squid Heads in the area too.
I don't know what this is, but they seem to be taking notice. What's the orders, Cap? Do we go in guns blazing? Or try the sweet talking approach on whatever this thing is?"
The soldiers carefully move forward through the swamplands that border the forests. Strange lights were reported in the distance, but the orders were strict, stick to the paths, radio in any strange phenomena, and do not investigate. With experienced scouts missing, it could only be assumed to have hostile intent. And Empira knows how to respond to hostiles.
Back from the advancing line, the final reports come in. Each platoon has now reached their designated position. Many had reported the strange lights in the forests ahead, and some had even reported hearing strange voices and ethereal music. It was time to show a true Empiran introduction.
Artillery fire bursts forth, arcing across the sky, over the heads of the soldiers before slamming into the trees ahead. Great explosions rip apart ancient wood, and leave fires to spread through the trees that still remain.
Soldiers grip their rifles, prepared to fend off a response, but no force bursts forward. Instead, a feminine voice echoes across the battlefield. “You shouldn’t have done that. My Queen will hear of this.”
The ruined forest ahead is dark and silent.
First Contact - Kegawa
Strike: 46
Diplomacy: 62
The warning lights flashed up on the console of your mech yet again. Another energy signature coming from the trees. Before your scanners could lock on, it was gone again. This wasn't anything like those war machines or the foul tentacles. This was something new.
Another energy alert activates before disappearing just as fast. This could be your chance to really make a name for yourself. And there's no gains without risks. You drop the power allocations down on shields, sending it all to sensors. Suddenly, there are hundreds of tiny blips all around you. Seemingly in response, they scatter before you can lock on, fleeing your sensor range. All except one. It moves towards you. Then your earpiece crackles to life.
"Were you trying to take a look at me?" A feminine voice asks indignantly. "If you want a look, you have to ask nicely. Why don't we make a deal?"
Making a deal? As an employee of The Kegawa Corp., you are well qualified to understand a business deal. Always make deals in your favour, as per section 27F of the Employee Handbook.
“We can talk terms. What is it that you wish to have in return?” You know you can authorise up to a thousand credits without needing to request approvals from management. And procuring a new trade partner is worth far more than that. This could be your moment.
“Hmmm… You are an attractive one. Give me that charming smile and the deal is yours.”
A... smile? That’s all? “Deal!” you yell, before she can change her mind. You grin with joy at your incredible luck over this foolish creature. This deal may go down in Kegawan history for future business.
Suddenly, a tiny winged woman appears in front of your cockpit. She smiles back at you, and slowly turns in the air, as you look on at the strange creature. As she finishes her turn, you feel your expression drop. Odd. You don’t feel any less happy. But your face just won’t show it. But she smiles back at you. And then, like some twisted mirror, you see her shape change until you are staring back at your own, smiling face.
“Thank you for such a wonderful deal. Come back again if you ever want to trade some more.”