The Shadow of Old Transgressions (Homeworld/Mass Effect Crossover Quest)

The Heartlands
Cradle Nebula
The Great Harborship, Bentus

"It's usually more tactically sound to maintain a solid defense. If the enemy has enough firepower to fight you on an even plane you need to make sure they can't apply it to you."

You highlight the Hurricane's blueprints. "This has a lot of firepower, but I feel it needs to be too close to the enemy to be effective on its own. You'd need to coordinate with allies that had defensive modules to make best use of it."

Then you point to the Hive, "On the other hand with this you get more flexibility. You can deploy a large force of acolytes to the battle, which is a lot of expendable firepower. Plus, I'm sure you could modify it to build other kinds of drones for increased tactical variety."

Laverna nods, "Yeah that makes sense. Thanks Valerius."

---

You carefully consider how to present this to Iuno. "I'll say it again. You saved our lives out there. And if you keep on doing this, I'm sure you'll save even more lives. But maybe one of the problems is that your Hierophant can't really do much to the enemy directly. So it doesn't actually feel like you're having that impact. Have you heard of the Magus?"

You share the schematics with her, "It's like your current Hierophant, but even more tuned towards holographic projection. But unlike the Hierophant, the Magus has a torpedo launcher that would give you a role beyond just support. I know you don't like violence. But we need your help. At least until we deal with this new group of pirates."

The two of you fall into silence for a while, and you decide to leave Iuno with her thoughts and your words. You are unsure whether you managed to help her.

---

Making your way back to the surface nodes you consider contacting Ulysses. He seemed to have a lot of pent-up anger. It might be a good idea to have a talk with him as well. Before you can look for him though, you feel the call of Bentus. The eldest wishes to speak with you.

You find yourself drawn to another node in the city. It hums with data, and as you enter it you see hundreds of star maps and reports. You feel like there are even more here as well. Data streams on a level you can barely sense. But that is secondary. Your main attention is drawn by the massive presence of Bentus. You can tell that the ancient one is only focusing a small part of its attention on you, but that's probably still greater than your entire mental capacity.

[Greetings young one. I have considered your news, and it is dire indeed. Somewhat concerningly there are those of our brethren who have missed their scheduled contacts recently. And while this isn't unusual for our more far-ranging kin in light of your news I have dispatched Sentinels to investigate. However, I have another task for you and your comrades.]

A map of the galaxy blinks into existence and then focuses on Taiidan territory. The hub of the galactic council magnifies into view. [We have not had much contact with the Galactic Council in recent years, but if the threat is as dire as we predict, then we owe the other races of the galaxy at least a warning.]

[You are the only ones who have yet had first contact with these new pirates. And thus, you are the most able to convince the Galactic Council of the urgency of the situation. We would send you and your comrades out to carry word to them and any others you may meet along the way. Do you accept this task?]

You are not a fool. You may indeed be the only first hand witnesses, but you have no history of diplomacy. There are people more suited for the task if Bentus wanted to actually convince the Galactic Council of anything. This is a needed task, but one that ultimately takes you into the heart of the Taiidan Republic's defenses. In other words, it will keep you and your Chorus safe and occupied while the Bentusi elders deal with the threat.

You feel a moment of indignation, but it soon passes. Bentus may have ulterior motives, but it is still an important task. And perhaps you are in fact not the best choice to face this threat directly. Also, Bentus is asking you to do something directly. That is not something that happens often.

"Of course, I would be honored to go. And I am sure my comrades will as well."

You sense that Bentus is pleased. And that it probably also sensed your moment of mixed feelings, but neither of you comment on them. Instead Bentus transmits you a data packet with everything you need for the mission. Access to the foundries to prepare your new body, star charts, some analysis it has done on your sensor readings of the pirates and the megalith, and finally diplomatic codes to prove yourselves to the Galactic Council.

Then you take your leave to seek your friends.

---

It doesn't take long to find Ulysses, Iuno, and Laverna or much convincing to get their agreement to go. Frankly just saying that Bentus wants them to do it is enough. It takes slightly longer to find Aurora. She is in a new hangar integrating into a new body, a Weaver class light carrier. It is much like her old Gardener except significantly larger and sporting a hangar capable of repairing and building destroyer sized bodies. Just what you would need if you are to be undertaking a long journey outside Bentusi territory. You get the feeling that she just might have been contacted by Bentus already. However, she says nothing about it, and merely agrees to go along when you ask her to.

After a few more days of preparation the five of you gather once again in space outside of the Great Harborship, Bentus. You see that Iuno and Laverna have taken your advice and switched ship bodies. And you've already seen Aurora's new Weaver. But you are surprised to see Ulysses. He has been transferred into a Templar class destroyer. It is a slow lumbering thing with extremely heavy armor built around an enormous ion cannon. It's like he's wearing a massive sign that says, "I want to kill super capital ships." You're honestly surprised he got it. The Bentusi elders don't usually let the younger generations get access to that kind of firepower. He must have asked for some favors.

Of course, you've finally gotten a new body as well.

What did you Pick?
Old Options
[] Brawler Frigate
[] Archer Frigate
[] Hierophant Frigate
-- Pick a special ability for the frigates
--[] Grapplers
--[]Defensive Field
--[]Holographic Generators
[] Pilgrim Corvette
[] Multibeam Corvette
[] Hurricane Destroyer
[] Hive Tender
[] Ambassador Liner
[] Magus Destroyer

New Options
[] Bulwark Destroyer
The Bulwark class destroyer mounts multiple redundant defensive field generators. These allow it to generate defensive fields that quickly regenerate and overlap allowing it to maintain constant coverage in the face of even very heavy fire. Unfortunately, the number of generators and various subsystems left very little room for weaponry on the Bulwark. So, the designers decided instead to install an exterior repair system and grappling system that complemented the defensive fields by allowing a Bulwark to retrieve damaged allies and restore them to working condition even in the worst conditions.

[] Lancer Destroyer
The Lancer's job is very simple. It mounts dual heavy ion cannons of the same class as an Exchange station in twin turrets. It also has an advanced sensor array that relays targeting data directly to the turrets as well as extra maneuvering thrusters that allow it to easily control its orientation in space. In short, the Lancer can quickly target and destroy anything smaller than a cruiser, and has the range and fire to threaten even capital ships. Just so long as those capital ships are firing at something else as the Lancer lacks significant armor.

The Wastes
Kharak System
Kharak

Trosk walked along the corridor in silence. He could still hear the phantom roars of the cheering crowd outside, but he knew it was a memory. This deep into the complex the only real noise was the clang of his armored boots on the steel floor, and the occasional thump of a saluting guard. As he walked through the metal bowels of the planet he might as well be alone with only his own thoughts for company. But that was fine for today of all days his thoughts were only of his eventual triumph and success. At long last his plans were coming to fruition.

Arriving at a massive vault door Trosk patiently waited as the mechanisms cycled before the door opened with a reluctant screech. The sight behind it still made him grin even if he had seen it so many times before. The massive grey housing of the neurocoupling chamber rose like a monument before him. A monument to his vision. He had spent three decades arguing, prodding, and in some cases forcing the Kiiths into agreement. Then two decades more building the machinery here to his own specifications. There had been many failures along the way, but at last it was complete. It was his greatest creation, and the salvation of his people.

He listened to the greetings and status reports of his subordinates as he made his way around the chamber. They were important, but contained no new information. He monitored the status of the project as if it were his own child. If there had been any problems he would have known immediately. No, the chamber was complete. The interface was ready. All that was left was the final integration. And of course Trosk refused to test the interface on anyone else. So it all came back to him.

Grunting he stripped off his outer wear. The armor and desert robes were placed in a waiting locker. Perhaps he might wear them again one day. Or perhaps not. He had not quite worked out the reversal process yet. Dismissing the errant thought Trosk climbed into the chamber. Even after so many years of familiarizing himself with it's cramped interior the looming machinery and knife tipped arms still gave him pause. But only for a moment. He took that fear and crushed it as he had all other obstacles.

With steely resolve he commanded his subordinates, "Begin the Operation."

The machinery came down, and then there was only pain.

---

When Trosk opened his eyes again he saw the stars. He heard the chatter of radios, and with a thought placed them as the many tiny craft buzzing around his body. His twin hearts pumped plasma through his veins and he felt as if he could wrestle a moon. It was everything he had imagined, and yet so much more than that. He was feeling things he would not even have been able to describe to his old self.

Laughing he shouted to the void, his words reaching all those around him, "This is Kiith-Sa Vobakur. I am Awake! Begin preparations for undocking. We voyage for the Homeworld!"

He could almost hear those phantom cheers again. And then he realized he really could. The cheering of thousands of Kushan, warriors and warlords alike, reaching him through his new senses.

Trosk smiled again, and the weapons of his new body pulsed in time with his laughter.

---

Quest Note: Voting was a little scattered. So I'm going to leave it open for another day. Then we will start the next arc.