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9th March, 834 AS, Omicron Iota

Yet another usual day for the busybodies of Altair, ferrying supplies back, forth, up and down along the many corridors and hallways of the enormous complex that housed The Wild's one true 'home'. From afar, it looked little unlike the shipyards of New York or New Berlin -- ships operating as usual and with great care; but this did not truly fool the attentive eye, for, beyond the first docks, lay a score of Scorpion drones and even further, beyond these, the dark silhouettes of several voidforms appeared, in close resemblance to those very same that Schatten housed decades prior. One could truly wonder what the far-reaching goals and intentions of the Nomads were for the future, as the prior years provided little in the way of new prospects. Would they succumb to the very same, endless, fights as their Nemesis, the Houses? Or would they become an unstoppable force, slowly whittling down the likes of The Core and The Order down into dust?

These questions persisted, looming in the minds of those present after the events of recent cycles, as another distant silhouette made its presence; that of a Donau, escorted by a pair of drones much alike those moored at the complex. The cruiser had, on its right side, a still intelligible writing: RNC Einbeck, while the opposite side had little more than half of that still visible, as battle scars instead replaced it.

The Rheinland capital ship made a short stop several clicks from its destination, ordering its escorts to change course and return back where they came from. Then, in an instant, its engines powered up and made way for docking point 4, situated just a close distance away from one of the main docking berths of the complex. All these moves -- completed in no more than a matter of minutes -- were in antithesis to the 'human' nature of the station; all these moves were alien, robotic, lifeless; little about them was 'human'.

And yet still, the cruiser's doors opened to reveal a group of Rheinland Military personnel, ranging in dress 'codes' from lowly recruits and fighter pilots to the commanding aura that the foremost figure of the group presented. This man was Fynn Meyer, a veteran of the Colony Wars and several dozen raiding parties into Rheinland's core regions many years prior and even into the current day; his face was scarred from all these very battles and he spoke is a calm, but decided, voice. Despite all this, by now he was little more than an empty husk, puppeteered with little will by the Nomads, which used his past memories well to coordinate further devastating attacks.

But, much alike the outside of the station, events within kept the same nature -- few, if any, moves by these people resembled human actions. They were there and yet they also weren't. Time, however, was still an element of importance even to them. Having spent only a mere several moments elaborating details about their return to the initial guards present, they ventured through and disappeared into the depths of the complex' vast rooms.

Only now could they rest, awaiting their expected guests.

At first, there was no new disturbance to the nebula surrounding Altair. Minutes slowly ticked by into an hour, then another. Upon the passing of one such hour, one of the aforementioned guests did finally arrive. A warform. One the Einbeck had fought alongside in several conflicts within Omicrons and Sigmas. The same that had been reached out to with song for an invitation of meeting.

As they closed the distance towards the structure, its glow could be observed from aboard the complex. Several burns, from the conflict which had delayed them, were visible along their flesh. They didn’t seem to express much feeling, neither pain nor joy, merely remained silent. They paid no mind to any of the vessels that moved around them, focusing on the purpose of the visit to Altair. The meeting.

The guest made their move to close the distance, arriving at a connection point at which they could regenerate and recuperate. The voidform remained connected to Altair and let the burns slowly heal, it returning to the usual fluid-like flesh from before. They chose not to commune just yet, allowing themselves the time to heal fully while the third presence was expected to meet the pair. They showed little urgency in their current state; healing would take as long as it needed.

There was a rising curiosity at the reasoning of the songs they had answered from the Einbeck, and why their song was for only them to hear. That, however would only be answered in time, when the other which both were now waiting for made their appearance at Altair.

The arrival of the voidform outside Altair brought with it much needed calm and hope, as the relatively hasty -- and most certainly highly suspicious in these times -- presence of the cruiser drew unwanted attention to them. Above all, however, it was the very thoughts that the crew brought with them that gathered the most 'eyes', as they had arrived to consult with an Elder, even if briefly. This was easier said than done, as the Elders' attention was toward relocating their forces into the near voids and using the Infiltrators in the Order's home system to wreck havoc.

Still, the matters at hand had to be brought further: The reappearance and talks with the Vagrants, Earhart and the Donau's complete hybridization, though with different plans in mind. With this effectively "checked and done", it was now time for the Wild to go beyond the veil, transcending their human forms into something greater, able to properly converse with the Mainshare at large. Thus set out the call, though none knew if it would be answered by the intended target.

"The husk of the Einbeck calls upon Shozak the Survivor. We arrive here to bring a short word of our recent encounters with the Lostshare and their affiliates here, in our home, and beyond, in the seas of Earhart."

[A vision came, revealing the recent entry by the Vagrants into the Sigmas and their escape back home.]

"We have here with Us also a Great Warrior, by name Surn'Fei, that We ask be Our guide towards finding a place for the 'Einbeck' amongst the likes of Ki'Shar and Tundra. As The Wild Hunt draws ever-closer, We also tell that the husk of the Schiller shall be reunited soon. Come forth and respond to Us, as We seek only a short confluence in which Yours shall offer advice."

... and so they waited, once again, making use of the time to ponder at the success -- or failure -- that would mark the following weeks.

A cool tide of air snapped the corridor the crew had occupied, accompanied by the sudden appearance of a field of the purest white flowers and the sensation of an intense scrutiny. As petals from the flowers floated upwards and passed through solid objects, delicate voices took up a soft chant, and one among them spoke:

"The Voidmind and the ones that hold their shackles are of little concern to us. They are to be driven from those areas important to us until such a time as the Corrupting Ones no longer control and profit from them. Tundra is a monument, and Ki'Shar a legacy. We have no such glories of Einbeck. Make such glories, and you shall be made monument. Bring such histories, and you shall be made legacy. You have come before us in the time of work to tell of play. You now have our attention, and so, speak."

The sensation of scrutiny shifts sideways, an inquisitive head-tilt.

The presence continued, still keeping to their original plan.

"Oh Great Shozak, let Us so bring forth to you knowledge that We understand your concerns, yet Die Wilde Jagd shall still pursue a policy of neutrality with the Lostshare, if only to make limited progress. One day, They will awaken and understand their foolishness in allowing the Corrupted Ones so much influence and power over Them and should they not, Eternal Banishment and Spitfire remain open for use by Us all."

With the short notice over, it moved on.

"You mention of the histories and glories of the Ki'Shar and Tundra, both so magnificent and so commanding in their tasks irregardless of place and time. But We, Die Wilde Jagd, also bring forth a similar memory, one of great accomplishments, of many lessons from failure, of many cycles of effots to complete The Light's final goals. It is with this reason in mind that now, in times of need, We come to You seeking advice on creating one such new weapon of war, much different from the likes of Ki'Shar and even Tundra, for our reignited flame, but yet also so similar."

A brief pause followed, if not to allow the words to set in, then to provide time for the Guardian to also make "note" of them.

"But, of course, a warrior does not come forward without plans, without ideas, without the know-how. Similar by way to our gate activation attempt in the past, in Omega-58, We seek to activate a Power Cell from Altair and utilize its power for the Einbeck's husk. Should it succeed, Our newly-forged sword will be unbreakable in battle. Simple, is it not...? If only it were..."

Another pause. More moments to ponder the information.

"This is where We require Your help, Shozak, Great One. As Yours know well, structures which the Mainshare puts to use are made out of a "seed", with matter built around them whole by a weaver. We have a similar idea in mind for the Einbeck, yet instead of utilizing One's energy, the Power Cell shall provide an ample supply. It is for this very reason that We invited Surn'Fei, Our Guardian, here, at this time."

Despite all this, the presence did not finish laying out its schemes in full, preferring to cut short the "talks", granting Shozak a chance to respond, then beginning anew if so allowed.

A cold winter wind whipped through, scattering flower petals and carrying the voice forward: "We know well The Wild Hunt's achievements. Achievements made with their own limbs, their own resource, and their own will. Their achievements are not your own, and this is accented by your request. You come before us, not as The Wild Hunt, but as the shell Einbeck. Do not call upon The Wild Hunt's achievement as your own. Know thyself. You have asked for that which is received for glories and histories as a means to obtain glories and histories, and we have taken note of that."

A second wind blows through, the warm spring wind, which let the petals fall and rest. "Yet, we may make of this an exchange", they continued. A vision made itself clear, a brief notation by a wandering shell:

"This is the battered remains of one warshell that defended the Cursed Rock as it fell. They called it Isis, a protector. We shall make it Hapi, a crushing flood. Bring it to us from the Cursed Ocean, and we shall grant you our resources. We desire to make of it a banner of pain for the Cursed Shells. A banner of shame. To tear open the wound of loss anew, and therein drive them to inaccurate action that can be taken advantage of."

No further response would be given by the Einbeck's presence to Shozak. The atmosphere turned silent, cold, distant. Yet there also persisted the thought of understanding, of acceptance, of submission. A 'no' would not be sent back as an answer, nor would there truly be a 'yes', but still, both sides would benefit from this exchange and thusly it would be pursued.

For now, at the very least, the meeting concluded, with the presence 'dissipating', hoping Shozak would grant them time to act in full.

During the discussion between the Elder and the Einbeck, thoughts from the vessel remained only barely distinguishable from the activity around the complex. The most prominent thought was that of curiosity. Sh'ozak had revealed such intentions that they wanted to utilise a destroyed vessel of the darklings. An exchange for the Einbeck’s progression.

What raised the intrigue even more was the location of the desired vessel. No doubt that they would be called upon to assist in the efforts to make this dream exchange a reality. Their elder had requested this hull for the benefit of both those that served and those who led within the control of the Light.

However, there was one such thought that rose above all. Lightless activity had been increasing closer to the Trinity systems. The 'corrupted ones', as Sh'ozak called them. They let this thought out towards the two:

"Darklings persist and threaten ever closer to those seas in which They should never be. Large shells that endanger Our presence, Our goals. We should allow caution to be among Our efforts in those dangerous seas. If We proceed as such, we enable these aims to occur in comfort, not desparation."

The thoughts from the nomad died down to a gentle hum once more. They were not yet fully regenerated, but that wouldn’t prevent them from proceeding to assist the Einbeck if that would be their task. They felt the decision was best left to Sh'ozak as to whether this would be the course they would take. If this were to occur, Surn'Fei would be one of the few entrusted with guarding the Einbeck -- living up to their title of protector of the enlightened.

Einbeck

SurnFei-DaVir

Einbeck

Sh'ozak Ma'hk'null

Einbeck

Sh'ozak Ma'hk'null

Einbeck

SurnFei-DaVir