The Etherium

[|nfrared]

//The following is a supplementary RP to explain the Etherium mindset and mental state, and essentially justify why the faction intro is what it is. It takes place immediately after the Temple of the Revenant arrives at the fringe of Sirius Sector.

Timeline - 801 AS - Etherium arrive in Sirius Sector.

As I regained my senses in the Temple Primus where I had collapsed, my implants rebooted, 14 in total. I felt the connection open, the technology having been a part of me so long that it now felt like just another muscle. The Temple opened the channel, a total of seven Seers that had bonded themselves to the station as "crew". These seven controlled the entire Temple. Immediately I knew something was wrong - less than 100 life signatures were present on the Temple, still shuddering as though in great pain. Not so much speaking, but conveying our thoughts through the technological channel I communicated with them.

"Temple?"
"Yes." The chorus of whispers responded.
"Is this all of us?"
"Yes."
"Did the other Elders survive?"
"No." Some underlying implication of disapproval could be detected.

The knowledge that I was the only Elder alive was reassuring. Now I could erase my crimes, and rewrite history as I see fit. I would begin shaping the new Empire now.

"Review the events of the evacuation." I commanded, my new found authority strong in my thoughts. I knew their deaths were my fault, but they no longer mattered. I had done it to ensure survival with no needless risks.

The Temple began uploading the data, beginning with the notable change in atmosphere planetside on Etheria. As the essential gasses and nutrients had been sucked away, many of the inhabitants had suffered an agonizing death by way of Iridium deficiency or died in the coldness of the void. A price I had been willing to pay for assured survival.

Then the scene changed, to the Temple Primus where the Elders had decided that they would wait until the last possible moment to initiate the Bridge, evacuating as many Etherium as possible attempting to reach the capacity of the Temple, some one million if placed in hibernation.

I had strongly objected, we had to act now and save ourselves! We were the knowledge collective of the Etherium, thousands of years of cumulative society being put at risk for lives that held little legacy or worth.

I weighed the price. As the other Elders left in their craft to organise any survivors I was left with one. It was now we witnessed the arrival of the first invaders. Large, numerous alien craft began arriving through a tear in space, in our very existence.

I became a slave then. To survival. To legacy. Elder Stratos had never imagined one of the highest rank attainable still possessing such base primal rage. With him now indisposed, I held lone Elder rank upon the Temple. At first the Temple crew had resisted insisting that the station had only a fraction of its total capacity on board, that many thousands of others may be saved.

I countered, telling them that it would matter for nothing if none of us survived at all. This is how it had been done many times before, our species ensuring its survival with the Bridge. We would be transported to safety, and the fact the Temple was not filled with mere worker caste would ensure that only the fit would survive, and that the next birth of the Etherium would be to a stronger, harder race. Not only that, but with less to share with the resources upon the Temple would have greatly enhanced survivability. I had done it for our future, as our past was surely now all dead. Only one thing remained.

"Temple."
"Yes, Elder Shard."
"All informations relevant to the evacuation, and more specifically the actions of Elder Shard are to be restricted to those of Elder rank only. Confirm."
"Classification confirmed. But we know your secrets, Elder Shard. There is more."

I would give birth to a stronger, more powerful Etherium race now. One where the strong survive, and the weak perish. The Temples words echoed in my thoughts. More?

I reviewed the information again. Our destination was missing.

"Where are we?"
"We don't know. The chorus of soft voices sounded scared.
"We are not at the coordinates?"
"No. Location unknown".
"Are we safe?"
"Short range sensor damage. We can't see Elder. Unknown."

Altering the channel of my communications implant, I was suddenly in contact with all of the survivors, sixty six in total. Now the new age begins I thought to myself, dreams of history-altering power swelling inside of me.

"My kin, this is Shard. Many have been lost. Our Empire is gone. But we are not. Those of you strong enough to gather at Temple Primus do so."

I reflected then. Some would believe I had done a terrible thing, betrayed my kind. This much was true. I had ensured beneficial evolution and survival for my species, one that was otherwise facing complete obliteration. If not for my actions the entire race would be no more. Many had died, successful wiping out the lower caste of the race. None would know my part. With so few survivors I could reshape it all.

"Set the Temple to full alert. Nothing comes close. Classify the survivors in terms of their knowledge, skills, caste and other attributes. For now we will remain in state and recover."
"Yes Elder."

Timeline - 20 Sirius years later - Iridium reserves reach critical levels. Temple awakens Etherium race. During this time several events take place that are documented in Chronicles of the Etherium - Origins

"Elder, the time is upon us. Awaken."

A flicker of conciousness stirred my senses. I felt slow, ill. As I gathered my perception I realised we were all sick. My implants powered up and suddenly I felt much better, the regulators applying Iridium solution to my most decayed areas and cleaning away deteriorated material. Still I could not throw off the mantle of weakness that had come over us. We were frail, weakened beyond understanding.

"Temple. Explain our condition." My communications implant took over as I tried to focus, to assert my authority on this debilitating condition.
"A nearby star is giving off dangerous radiation. We were weakened during the evacuation, we could not repel it. Iridium consumption increased exponentially. Reserves at critical levels. The chorus of voices that comprised the Temple sounded weak, quiet.

We must act now. While we still have the ability. Before we become too weak to survive, fade and die. The risk is great, but our future is certain if we do nothing. We must find Iridium here. One attempt had failed at great cost, and upon return from that excursion I had slept as the others. The Temple had been adapting their vessels to the new environment over the past two decades, preparing us for the danger that waits. Now we must confront it. We have no choice.

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Shard - The Faceless One