The beginnings of the SENTINEL system. (Open to all ESUSers)

[Telros]

The Kelauans had stumbled onto something massive during their research on what had become known as the SENTINEL program. The Kelauans, seeking to be the ablest they could be in defending themselves, sought to find an unconventional and flexible defense that could be used to protect Kelauan planets, but not be seen by the enemy until it was too late. The Praetor assigned Head Scientist D'rash to the project and he had worked diligently on the project. He came out with the prototype just last month, and was able to deploy it in the Gatar System, in time to prevent an attack by the Kasrilai Confederacy, and utterly crush their forces. However, it still had many bugs, and D'rash was stumped on how to proceed. He had used up all the ideas his team and him had come up with and their technology could only accomplish so much. After some time, he thought on it and he came up with the only solution. He went forward to the Praetor with the idea, and what they could do with the SENTINEL system, and Kalthir was intrigued. He wanted to do his part for the ESUS, which this would do effectively, and he wanted D'rash to make the SENTINEL into a viable defense. It did not occur to them it could be much much more....

So, D'rash gathered his team and they went to the outer rim world of Y'sara and constructed a massive facility, which took the better part of the year. It was a large facility, where the Kelauans themselves only took a small portion of it to move in their equipment and set up labs. But it wasn't mean for them alone; it was to be a research center for the entire ESUS, if they chose. When it was ready, with planetary defenses and ships in orbit to protect this new asset, a message was sent throughout the ESUS, an invitation of sorts. Whether it be through the Battlenet, communication stations, satellites, what have you, they would receive this message:

"Greetings to you all. I am D'rash Head Scientist of the Kelauan Dominion Military R&D department. My team and I have been recently working for the last couple years on a project for the military. It was a defense system of sorts, and it was tested recently. However, we have run into a bit of a snag and are unsure how to go further. Therefore, we have a made a decision and pose a chance before you all. As our allies, we owe a great debt to you for your help and acceptance, and we deem it time to pay it back, at least a little. We offer to allow any of the ESUS to use this system, if and when we finish this, for free. It will be free of charge, and we gladly will give you what you need to set it up. However, we do ask that you send your best and brightest minds in order to help us fix the problems with it and make it into a working part of our defense. We have constructed a research facility on Y'sara, in the outer rim of our nation, which we also offer up to be used as the main headquarters for the combined ESUS research teams. If they so wish, they can move into our research facility, bring equipment, even guards if you so wish, and begin work on this and any other things. If you want help, it will be gladly given; if privacy is wanted, it will be respected.

We are not trying to trick you or anything. We are merely requesting help and wanting to help out our brothers and sisters in the Extra-Solar Union of Systems. I look forward to meeting your representatives. D'rash out."

He sighed and turned to face one of his colleagues. <"Do you think they will come, D'rash?">

<"Some will. Some attracted by free technology, others by curiosity, and others just to have free facilities. Some may stay away, but they will be allowed to use the finished product, if we make it that far. Enough of this talk. Get back to work; let's hope we make a breakthrough to show them before they get here. I'd like to at least made some progress.">

[Trailers]

OOC: What about technological incompatibility between our diverse and excitingly appendaged races?

[Telros]

OOC:, There is an OOC thread up in General guys, please direct anything else to there. To answer, Trailers, we will be giving you the stuff you need to make, maintain, etc the thing. If we need to help you refit your factories, if you want, we will do so. I rather like the idea of giving something I made, with help of course, to the ESUS. And quite frankly, I want to give back the community I've been in for some time.

[Balrogga]

A single frigate arrived in the system, simply fading into existence as the Kython ships of the Fallen Empire were known to do. The sudden inclusion in the sensor reading of an extra stellar mass would only temporarily throw the technician for a few seconds as the readings would have also be identified as belonging to the Fallen Empire according to the ESUS records.

The frigate, all 60 meters of it, turned to face the experimentation station.

Greetings,

We have heard your request and have arrived to see what you are planning. May we approach?

The ebon ship waited, holding position.

[Telros]

Due to the earlier meeting at Kelaua Prime, the disorientation was minimal and the ship was quickly identified. D'rash walked in, to see what was going on and a technician excitedly waved him over. <"What is it? You guys look busier than you have ever been.">

It's because we've got a contact, sir. Someone replied to us. It's the Fallen Empire of Balrogga."> The Head Scientist smiled. The Balroggans, they were an immense help. Rather friendly, as long as you didn't get on their bad side. He nodded in satisfaction. It was a start at least, and the Balroggans could definitely help with some of the problems, if their power signature was anything to indicate their technological strength. <"Let them know they're cleared and have them sent to me immediately."> The technician nodded and set to work replying, while D'rash hurried back to his lab. He had some preparations to make before hand.

"Greetings to the Fallen Empire of Balrogga. We are glad that you have come. You are cleared for approach to Docking Bay A5. Don't worry about sending shuttles, feel free to dock. We have plenty of spaces for any others who come. When you come aboard, a guide will be provided to bring you to the labs where Head Scientist D'rash is. If you have questions about setting up your own research lab in this station, just call Control up and they will set something up for you."

[Balrogga]

Captain, they request we use Docking Bay A5 and are sending the coordinates

Take us in

Sir, the bay is almost larger than the ship

Well, we will just have to make it fit instead of leaving the ship out here in space

I understand, alerting crew

Shipmind, make us fit in that bay

Yes Captain

The ship slowly approached Bay A5 and as it entered, the ship liquefied, filling the bay around the docking arm. When it was done, the bay was completely filled with black matter which then hardened. A couple minutes later, the Captain and two officers entered the now embedded docking arm and waited for the staff to meet them.

[Telros]

The technicians watched in wonder as the ship changed itself in order to fit the docking bay. It was an astonishing sight and one they recorded so they could try and study it, to figure out how the hell they did that. Not much progress would be made, but they would try all the same. As the Balroggan captain and his two officers came onto the deck, they were greeted by a smallish Kelauan woman,in a green coat and black pants. Her glasses were currently reflecting the light, so they couldn't see her eyes. Upon their arrival, she stirred, and they could see her blood-red eyes gazing at them. She bowed in respect and then spoke. <"Greetings, sirs, I am Scientist J'sitha, aide to Head Scientist D'rash. If you'll follow me, I will take you to him.">

She turned and lead them throughout the station, walking past countless empty rooms and places, commenting on how these would be used by other ESUS nations if they chose to arrive and set up shop here. <"After all, we made this station to be the heart of research in the ESUS, if the ESUS wants to make it that way."> She made several more turns and then they came to a large wooden set of double doors. <"He is inside, along with the rest of his team. He is waiting for you. I have to go back and be ready for the other guests. Good luck and have fun!"> She turned and walked away, leaving them in the doorway.

[Balrogga]

The three officers watched J’Sitha walk away before continuing into the room. After entering, the captain introduced himself.

“Greetings, I am Captain For’Mian of the frigate The Disciple. I have been sent here to investigate the invitation you have sent.�

He gestured to the two officers beside him.

“This is my second in command, Vice Captain Ser’Phant and my science officer Dr New’Ton. How can we assist?�

[Kostemetsia]

The Determination-class destroyer KSS Essential, richly painted in flashes of bright red, deep black and warm gold, screamed out of a wormhole and flash-braked, engines flaring blue with excess backburn quickly tamed and brought under control. Two Mauler-class sensor frigates, KSS Iceman and Bombcat, were hanging alongside, delicately slipping across the fabric of space, themselves guarded jealously by an escort of six planetary defence matrix gunships specially equipped for faster-than-light drive.

Unfolding from the top deck of the Essential's command centre, the slim silver pencil of a communications laser aligned itself precisely upon the facility and began transmitting.

"Kelauan facility, this is Navy Research Group Seven Alpha. Per your invitation, we have arrived. We hereby request permission to dock."

The Essential carried a group of twenty scientists, all part of their respective occupational upper echelons, each fighting tooth and nail to get an exclusive berth on a ship going to this fascinating location. At the moment, most all of them were on the luxuriously appointed observation deck, staring eagerly out of the gigantic window like kindergarten kids on an excursion.