Sins Against Earth (story)

The story of the rediscovery of humanity's birthplace

from Sins Forums

This story will be posted in (probably) five parts (three of which I have already written as I type this post). It is, I think, a fairly original piece and one that I hope will be enjoyable. I have been influenced in more ways than one by Isaac Asimov's Foundation universe. I sincerely urge any and all people who might read this to seek out Asimov's legendary series. It is one of the best ever written.

 

A few points in the story might be out of place with the established backstory behind Sins of a Solar Empire. If you notice these, by all means point them out, but as you read, try to accept it as done with artistic license. This story is only based upon the game and does not necessarily follow it precisely to the letter.

So then, without further ado, here is the first part. I can only hope you find it enjoyable:

 

The two individuals in the room looked to a normal outsider as though they were merely staring at one another. Another member of the Unity might perhaps have inferred from their behaviour that they were in communication, but only a powerful Scryer would have been capable of understanding the stream of thoughts and subtle adjustments of the mind to externally decipher the meaning that was conveyed. Each was opening her mind only to the other, and so only each could understand the other.

To call the exchange and merging of thoughts a conversation would be a gross oversimplification, for minds and thoughts do not read like words. Nevertheless, its portrayal as such is necessary.

“I have been reading the information obtained following the reclamation of the Homeworld,” said Santannathellorsa, Prime Protector of the Third Unity Fleet.

“Indeed? As it so happens, I have myself been doing the same,” replied Teelohansarri, Overmind of the Progenitor-Class Flagship Omnipotent. “I have found it most enlightening and indeed heartening that the elders of ten centuries past were able to prophesise so accurately our current position, whilst still prophesising such a favourable position for us in the future.”

“Absolutely. There can be little doubt, based on those prophecies, that we will continue to grow and spread the Unity to the rest of humanity, putting our species in a supreme position over all others. However,” –and a more clouded texture wrapped Santannathellorsa’s mind- “there is an interesting reference in the texts that may need following up.”

“Oh yes?”

“I refer to a passage that speaks of an original home world for all Humanity. A world far older and far richer than the Unity Homeworld. It strikes me as disturbing that the Unity might not truly represent the ideal, original state of Humanity.”

“You ought not to feel such things.”

“Yet I find it impossible not to do so. Might it not be beneficial, in any case, for the Unity to learn more of our history?”

“Perhaps, but how much detail does the reference go into? I cannot remember all the wording.”

“Enough detail. The star is described as being 10.5 light years from the Eridani system and possessing four gas giants, one of which has extraordinary rings. ‘Earth’, as the planet is known, is the third world from the star.”

“But what tangible benefit could we hope to gain from visiting this ‘Earth?’”

“Do not be ridiculous. You are surely aware of artefacts that have been discovered on other worlds. Many of those artefacts were human relics from the days long before the founding of the Trade Order, before even the Unity was established. There were human civilisations more advanced than any currently in existence that collapsed amidst the Great Wars. If Earth was perhaps the capital world of one of those civilisations, might there not be artefacts there in abundance?”

Santannathellorsa opened her mind to Teelohansarri, letting more arguments pour out until Teelohansarri was completely convinced.

“Very well,” said Teelohansarri, here eyes misting over as she continued to process the information. “Do you wish to go yourself?”

“Yes, but it would be difficult. The Prime Protector of a fleet cannot simply leave on an expedition. However, there is the possibility of sending a reconnaissance mission to the star. I should have let you know that the system is well within Vasari territory. For all we know, it could well be an inhabited system, so could be valuable to intelligence even were it not the location of the original Homeworld.”

“The Vasari will destroy any of our ships on sight. They do not concern themselves with differences between humans.”

“The dangers in a reconnaissance mission could mean the loss of one ship, and that can be crewed primarily by anima if necessary. If there is a military target there, then I will accompany a larger contingent and occupy the system.”

“No Advent fleets have ever attacked Vasari territory before now except to reclaim lost ground. An assault such as you discuss would mark an escalation in the conflict and divert resources away from the Trader front.”

“Not at all. Eridani is a contested system between the Unity and the Traders. Possession of Earth’s system would be a strategic victory for us and allow us to strike Eridani more effectively. It is worth colonising in any case, regardless of a Vasari military presence there.”

“You will send a scout mission, then?”

“Indeed I shall.”

 

The whole exchange was over in under ten seconds.

 

11,253 views 4 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

Interesting read.

 

I'm curious to what they will find on Earth.... :borg:

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks  :)

Three Weeks Later

Fleet Commander Kered Dubrov surveyed the holographic tactical display from the bridge of his ship, a Kol Class Battleship aptly named Dubrov after its Captain. The fleet was comparatively small compared to the other TEC contingents, consisting of only four Capital Ships, thirty Cruisers and one hundred and fifty Frigates. In systems along the Vasari front, enormous fleets fought to hold back wave upon wave of enemy ships that would hop in, all guns blazing and deal crippling blows that would force the TEC to withdraw yet again, abandoning the inhabitants to slavery and death as “Citizens” under Vasari rule. Here on the Advent front, things moved more slowly yet more disturbingly. Every few months the ships in these fleets had to be rotated, sent to the Vasari front for a few weeks before they could return (if indeed they weren’t destroyed by the Vasari). After a few months on the Advent front, the men who crewed the ships became useless. It wasn’t their fault, but their creativity and initiative were gradually sapped. Dubrov himself had been rotated many times. Each time, the “vacation” had felt glorious. It was as if a dark cloud over his mind had been lifted. He could think clearly and freely again, at least until he returned, when the feeling would undoubtedly return. As it had now returned.

 

Dubrov heard a quiet beeping noise and looked round at the door. A young officer entered from the corridor and saluted the Commander.

“Sir,” he said, rather breathlessly. “Our intelligence has observed an Advent scout ship jumping from the Ptolemus system to Sol. It will likely arrive at the star in just under thirty seven hours. More information has been provided to your computer, but I am to make sure it has your attention.”

“Thank you,” acknowledged Dubrov. He returned the officer’s salute and turned to his display again. He tapped a few points on the surface and after a short moment a man appeared beside him. In every way, this man looked solid and real, but the floor around him was completely out of place, which gave away the fact that he was just a holographic projection. It was Captain Pan Filoz of the Akkan-Class TDN Zeus, Dubrov’s second-in-command in the fleet.

Dubrov asked: “Have you received information regarding the Advent scout from Ptolemus?”

“Yes, I have,” replied Filoz. “I believe Ptolemus is the location of the Third Advent Fleet, is it not?”

“Indeed. But the destination of the scout is an interesting one. Sol is only ten and a half light years distant from this system. Even though it is in Vasari territory, there is little evidence to suggest the presence of significant defences. If the Advent could take Sol without attracting too much Vasari hostility, they could hold a key strategic point for use against Eridani. I’m not entirely sure we can afford to lose this system and Advent possession of Sol could force our withdrawal.”

“What, then, do you propose?”

“When the next batch of ships is rotated, I shall request that the withdrawing ships be deployed as an expeditionary force to Sol, rather simply than thrown to the Vasari onslaught. Here we have a real opportunity. After all, it is not just the Advent who could use Sol as a base from which to attack Eridani. Additionally, Sol is within Vasari territory and could serve as a base for us to launch attacks on Vasari supply lines.”

“I see the wisdom there,” said Filoz. “I believe you are due to be rotated soon, are you not?”

“That is correct. I had not considered that, but any such expeditionary force would be under my command. That will not be for two weeks, but in the meantime I will send a scout to Sol. It is better to at least know have some idea of what we are dealing with.”

 

Two days later, an Arcova Class Scout Frigate left Eridani for Sol.

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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Admiral Tanak’karul was a powerful Vasari. It would be easy to refer to the Admiral as a male or female, but such labels do not apply to a species with three genders. Tanak’karul was a first-stager. Such individuals held the role in reproduction of mating with a second-stager, who would fertilise the gametes internally, then pass on the fertilised gametes to a non-sentient third-stager, whose only purpose was to breed and bear offspring. This arrangement ensured that evolution progressed rapidly whilst limiting the complications that would arise with three sentient genders. Vasari evolution progressed so very rapidly, in fact, that even the ten thousand years since the Vasari Empire collapsed had been enough to produce significant, visible adaptations to a zero-G environment as found in the great city ships.

Tanak’karul’s fleet was based at Sol, some distance behind the front line. It was close to the core of the constantly-shifting Vasari territory and consisted of six Jarrasul Evacuator ships, one Kortul Devastator and a compliment of two hundred frigates and cruisers. The fleet existed primarily as a home for Vasari citizens rather than an assault force. As Vasari territory carved out a bloody swathe through the galaxy, the fleet would follow the expansion at the front whilst staying ahead of the darkening beacons at the rear.

Tanak’karul was in the command palace in its own Evacuator. Floating in a mentalic bubble, it was aware of every movement of every ship in the fleet. Every scrap of intelligence that was collected was relayed to its mind. Only the Advent possessed more capable mentalic (or “psionic” as they called it) technology.

The Advent! The Vasari did not trouble themselves with the petty divisions amongst lesser species. The Vasari merely ploughed through the opposition as they frantically tried to outrun the nameless, shapeless horror that had pursued them across thirty thousand light years. The Trade Order had lain across their escape route and so the Vasari had smashed through the centre, forcing system after system to declare allegiance or die. The Advent, however, only occupied a few systems across the path of the Vasari. Most Advent holdings were on the flanks of Vasari territory.

The Advent scout that had come straight towards Sol from the Advent-controlled flanks was a big problem. It had of course been destroyed before it could quite discover everything in the system, but it might still only be the signal that a far larger threat was to come, and would come soon. If it heralded an all-out assault against the Vasari, it would mean more delays whilst fleets were withdrawn from the front to defend the great city-ships at the core. It would mean progress against the Traders would be delayed, perhaps fatally so. The front was already moving ahead dangerously slow, and a delay now could bring about utter ruin.

More worrying still was the Trader scout. It demonstrated a certain determination by the humans with regard to Sol. Perhaps the Traders only wished to keep up with advent movements; to keep an eye on the relationship between Vasari and Advent. But perhaps Sol had some other value. Had the Vasari missed it in their eagerness to plough through swiftly?

A report came through. Another beacon had gone dark in the past two days. Flassikkra. The system was near the boundary of what had once been the border of Trader Space. Twelve jumps away to be precise. Two hundred and fifty-eight jumps behind occupied Vasari territory. Three hundred and twenty-two jumps behind Tanak’karul’s current position. The Vasari remnants had initially fled with a lead of more than a thousand jumps. When they entered Trader Space, their lead had been only slightly shortened by ten thousand years of flight. Now, though, over two decades of war had brought the Vasari advance to a near-halt.

Tanak’karul contemplated this, and the matter of Sol’s discreet value was pushed from its mind. It would commission extra defences be built, but not now.