Symarion: Call of the Void.

Fools Gold.

Weldor System, aboard Hope.

“ Harder, faster. “ Tilly moaned, currently on the bed with Anthony leaning over her, giving her what she has been longing for so much lately.

But a moment later she had to realize that it was simply a dream, one she was thorn away from by the crackling of the speaker system announcing, “ System integrity failure, shutting down. “

“ Oh, for Mothers sake. “ She would groan, having darted up at that first crackling sound, only to slump back against the bed.

“ Why, someone is being horny. “ Kira teased, which had Tilly look over, seeing that she was sitting with Ina on the other side of the room.

“ Oh, don’t get me started. “ Tilly grunted, leaning back up to sit, just to feel the child inside her kicking.

“ Yeah, three weeks, four tops, then your getting evicted ! “ Tilly proclaimed, but then gently roamed her right hand over her belly.

For Ina and Kira that was quite the amusing scene as both of then laughed softly at Tilly’s predicament. She’s been a little pent up as of late, and Anthony was a lot more careful with her and Ina, due to the children.

For Ina, that wasn’t such a problem, she enjoyed it either way, but Tilly, like most Siren, longed for more of a passionate claim. The gentle and careful loving was merely a tease to her, one that left her even more craving for the moment that she was free to truly enjoy her time with Anthony again.

“ What was that sound just now anyway ? “ Tilly asked, and there was a hint of protest in her voice. After all, even if it was just a dream, she was just getting to the good part.

“ Anthony is at it again with the new AI. “ Ina responded.

“ Again ? He is investing a lot of time in that thing lately. I don’t get why he just wont reuse Hope’s code for it. “ Tilly protested openly now.

“ Something about designing it from the ground up for the task. “ Hope chimed in.

“ Originally he designed the Magi system to be an AI system that can freely develop into any direction. And while that basis is still available, he had to later insert code structures specifically tailored towards the Hope. Such as industrial and ship controls, part of which will not be required for the new AI. “ She explained further.

“ How long did he work on your programming ? “ Tilly openly wondered.

“ Somewhere around 5 to 8 years as a side project, if you include the first learning routine attempts. And then 7 years of active development after he was approached for the Exodus program. “ Hope responded.

“ And he’s planning to repeat this process within the span of a few month ? “ Kira asked, seeming a bit doubtful.

“ It seems unlikely to me as well. But he does claim he knows the code by heart, and he has made impressive advances on the new program. But I estimate that it would still take him another year to have a running system. And that does not yet include the process of ironing out flaws and possible oversights. “ Hope suggested.

“ I think he is just using the time he has before the children are born. I think once Riko and Mia are around, he’ll be to occupied to spend time programming. “ Ina suggested with a content smile, slowly stroking over her own swollen belly.

“ Fox Child, huh ? “ Kira remarked at that point, recalling how long Anthony had considered names with Tilly and Ina a few weeks back.

Ina was carrying a Son, and he had gotten the funny idea to name him Riko, because he recalled it to carry the meaning, Fox Child, which rung delightful to him since he kept calling Ina his Vixen. Tilly’s daughter would be named Mia, which supposedly meant something along the line of, beloved.

“ I think it’s cute. “ Ina admitted, sticking her tongue out at Kira.

“ Yeah, well it feels like Mia is going to cause quite the ruckus. She’s been kicking a lot lately. “ Tilly muttered.

“ You should try talking with her, or read her a story. She is probably just bored. Children enjoy hearing their Mothers voice, and she can probably sense that your less then satisfied right now. “ Ina suggested.

“ Talk, huh ? “ Tilly wondered.

“ What were you looking at anyway ? “ She asked then, getting up to join Kira and Ina on the couch.

“ The new Destroyer design Hope has been working on. The prototype is not going to use a diffusion shielding. “ Kira remarked, showing Tilly the schematics that were still open on the Padd.

On it was a ship, shaped loosely like a four edged arrowhead, with wings that extended behind the engine section. And Tilly could see why Hope was against using Diffusion shielding, the ship wasn’t using any turret designs, the weapon-mounts, which where rail guns in this case, were sunk into the frame, part of the wing structure in fact.

Most ship designs using larger projectiles either needed a complicated control system to keep the firing path clear, or use long barrels that could extent past the layer of protection that the Diffusion shielding provided.

This was less of an issue with laser weapons, but for projectiles, it was a must, as the shielding could potentially cause a trajectory alteration, or even destroy it.

“ I was hoping that I can reuse the Hope’s shield system for the later iterations of the ship. I am already talking with Aria about the exact details on the system, as the data they provided has gaps I can not fill in myself. “ Hope suggested as Tilly looked the schematic over.

“ I don’t think that will work. “ Kira noted.

“ How so ? “ Hope asked.

“ I had a chat with one of the Siren back in Cradle, when they worked on the generator coils, and she did suggest that the field exerts gravitational force. “ Kira suggested, though she sounded a bit uncertain.

“ How would that be possible ? By my available data, that would seem implausible. “ Hope remarked.

“ I would agree, but. “ Kira uttered, seeming to consider for a moment.

“ Let me try and use her words to explain it. “ She decided then, trying for a moment to recollect what her siren sister told her back then.

“ She explained it with a sort of, thought experiment with an extreme scenario. Where our universe in it’s entirety is to be imagined as the tiniest fraction of a speck of dust.

Even if that speck of dust is crushed, or itself subjected to gravitational forces on that level, our Universe, being part of that speck of dust, will likely not even change, or be aware of its nature on that higher level.

The same gravity or forces imparted on the dust, wont reach our universe, and at most, we might be pressed between the gaps of something else, becoming part of the ground it was crushed into, or the singularity it may become part of.

With the same line of thinking, there are supposedly tiny forms of particles and energy that will not interact with gravity on our level of existence, but that interact with one another as though there is gravity between them.

And then, there are intermediaries, that need either an extreme force before they engage with forces like gravity, like for instance, a singularity. “ Kira tried her best to explain.

“ As human’s would say, that one went over my head. “ Hope admitted.

“ But I believe I got the important part. Your saying the shield system creates a circumstance where it interacts with an intermediary substance, and through it, creates a gravitational effect ? “ Hope then summarized.

“ Essentially, yes. “ Kira agreed.

“ Human’s have had a Theory about dark matter and energy. And while they have passed through the space between systems, they have not really started to understand that area of space yet. “ Tilly offered.

“ Your saying there is something of significance to be found there ? “ Hope asked.

“ Yes, and no. A Solar system that has finished its formation phase, has little visible matter, but in our understanding, a lot of non visible matter. A lot of it is being pushed out of system by solar winds and the likes, and stars often capture matter in an outer shell.

The deeper you head out through that shell though, the thicker that collection of matter becomes, until you reach the space in between stars. And there, it flows between stars like streams of water.

If what Kira says holds true, then a stars own outer magnetosphere could hold a similar effect then your shield system. The streams of material between the stars, Aether streams as we call them, would push and impose an effect like, the friction of an Atmosphere on a satellite, gradually slowing it down ?

And the interaction of the Magnetosphere cancels it out, negating the friction, while keeping the aether streams flowing between the stars. “ Tilly suggested, which was getting Hope a series of simulation models she would need to run soon.

“ What would this, Aether stream mean in relation to another galaxy ? “ Hope asked.

“ Uh, I have no idea. I am just suggesting what comes to mind based on Kira’s explanation. But, I know for a fact that some Nah’Rahan use these Aether streams to travel between galaxies. It is an extremely slow process, but we are not restrained by time as humans and other species are. “ Tilly responded.

“ But ! I believe the phase lane system was working on a similar principle. Systems with a natural phase lane usually only have one star, and those that are connected artificially do so by use of a phase bore ship.

What if that connection is stabilized through an electromagnetic charge ? Natural connections just need to be widened to allow the standard two hour passage. But artificial passages need the phase bore ship to connect them, which takes potentially hundreds of years.

And the target system has to be within the direct neighborhood. Skipping a system is not possible, they have to be linked in sequence. Worse, they gradually degrade over time if not frequently used. Which is why the phase bore has to do a few round trips before a standard phase drive can utilize it with the full effect.

I would go as far, as to assume that the phase drive itself mends the stability of the phase lane to some degree, they do exert some electromagnetic force during passage through a Phase lane. “ Tilly would suggest then.

“ Hm. I concur on the Phase drive creating a low electromagnetic field. I think I have to run some simulation on this, but I think you may have saved us the bother to get our hands on a phase bore to understand this subject. “ Hope spoke, reserving any judgment of what the Sirens conferred as half knowledge and half assumptions.

She even considered questioning if the Hope itself had perhaps laid a phase lane from Sol towards Cradle, but Tilly essentially already answered that. They spend that time supposedly within the space between stars, skipping a lot of systems, which meant that was an impossible connection to occur.

But if there was indeed an interaction between the shield system and this matter stream, it might suggest that she had to readjust her current flight models. And how they may have drifted so far of course before Anthony had woken up from his sleep chamber.

But the current exchange of information did make Hope wonder. How much did Siren, or Nah’Rahan, really understand ?

She already knew that they did not share everything for fear of sharing technology that may be too dangerous. But this conversation held a confusing mixture of knowledge and assumptions. Like they were giving her a nudge while purposely withholding a clearer explanation.

The currently suggested model alone hinted that while it may indeed hold some defensive capability, it was actually more tailored to be used in a way that suggested a sort of, Gravity drive.

If the effect of Electromagnetism and this intermediary medium is controlled, pushing or pulling gravity could effectively become a new mode of interstellar travel. And a terrifying weapon if misused within a star system. Withholding information on it would indeed seem to be a wise choice then.

But a moment later Hope’s contemplation was being interrupted, Ludwig was trying to reach out to her through an android unit, currently placed on Rendar station for this very purpose. It left her to passively keep watching the girls as they resumed making suggestions about the prototype design and possible use cases and alterations.

“ Ludwig ? What can I do for you ? “ She addressed him through the android, just as he was trying to trigger the notification signal again on the android itself.

“ Got a problem, a big one. Did ya hear any bout da badlands attack by them bug folks ? Xa’Leen they be called by da Commonwealth. “ Ludwig begun.

“ No, we have no information on any ongoing attacks. “ Hope responded, checking her currently available map data to narrow down the particular stretch of stars referred to as the badlands.

“ It is outside our current routes, and I don’t see a lot of communication chatter about any attacks. “ Hope admitted.

“ Damn, they be keepin a tight lid on da issue for now I guess. But, got folks over at Oldran, right at da border to it. One of da routes taken to funnel Psykers through, and I be needin some help ta get them folks outta there. “ Ludwig explained.

“ Have you contacted Aria and Modaran about it yet ? “ Hope asked.

“ Can’t be involved. They be watched as is at da moment. But by what I be hearin, Sovereign be creating a name as one ta be watched, but not be meddled with. Commonwealth folks be wary of him. “ Ludwig suggested.

Hope would then focus her attention internally on the Oldran system and the data about it, a small system with a white dwarf star, few planets, and a set of asteroid belts that seemed to refuse forming new planetary bodies. A Perfect setup for easy mining operations that where currently hardly utilized.

“ So, your asking if we could send some ships over to evacuate the Psykers ? “ Hope inquired.

“ Yes, last info I got be dat da Commonwealth be setting up shop. Establishin a defensive perimeter as it be a choke point for Badlands access. Standard be for em to ship em folks off da station only after Information lock-down be lifted, and they be checking peoples backgrounds before they be shipped off someplace else.

Little concerned about the Psykers on station though. I got some faces there the Commonwealth be looking for. And if they be gettin in da wrong hands, Psykers Union may be in trouble. And da Siren’s may be implicated also. “ Ludwig explained the situation.

“ How long ago was your last contact ? “ Hope asked.

“ Bout a week ago. Tried sending Mercs, but they be blocked at da phase point to Oldran. Only thing goin in be Military folks right now. But ya got dat fancy Seltran jumper, I be able to be settin up a delivery contract for Oldran.

Anthony just be needing to accept it as Sovereign, and make da run. If I be right, they not be wanting to piss of another faction right about now, especially not one they be wary of already. “ Ludwig responded.

“ I’ll run it by Anthony, but I can’t make any promises. It would be good if you have any information about the attackers and the general situation in Oldran though. “ Hope informed Ludwig.

“ Thank ya. I don’t be havin a lot on them bug’s, but I be sending what I got. “ Ludwig responded.

“ Good, I will contact you again soon to let you know what else we need, if Anthony agrees. “ Hope responded.

“ Ok. “ Ludwig noted, and closed the communication on his side.

“ You listened in, Anthony ? “ Hope then spoke through his connection with her, aware that he had entered his Psykic plane a few moments ago.

“ I got the gist of it. Try asking the girls if they have any information about these creatures. Possibly Aria too if the girls have nothing on them. I would like to help Ludwig, but I don’t like the idea of going in blind.

And it does sound like the Terran’s might be a bit jumpy about anything entering that system right now. “ Anthony instructed, willing to help, but hoping to evade sticking his finger into a hornets nest.

Their bluff was working so far, and they had a decent number of Dusk vessels by now. But, he did not feel comfortable giving the Commonwealth an excuse to test themselves against Sovereign’s ships.

The transport contract would be a flimsy excuse at best, and they would have to reveal their ability to completely circumvent the phase lane network.