[Empire5!] The First Galactic Expo

[Aedilred]

The First Galactic Expo

NIC 31
Galactic Year 217521

Martu, Twr

A huge park has been laid out some distance from the colony city on the surface of Martu, and in size exceeds that of the city itself. The park is dominated by the huge Palace of Malak, the conjoined pavilions of the Malak system, with eight great halls within each showcasing the specialisms of an Imperial homeworld. Beyond that are pavilions maintained by the other Imperial Provinces and Territories, and various standalone pavilions representing a particular facet of Imperial life. These are set around a garden gently sloping down to the head of a huge artificial lake.

Along the banks of the lake, on either side, are erected the guest pavilions, each to its own design, and at the far end, the entrance to (or exit from) the wider park, with privately sponsored pavilions and stands, entertainment venues, restaurants and so forth. Not all these stands are legal, and despite the efforts of the agents of the Censor-General to clamp down on these, the further off the beaten track one travels, the more likely one is to find something unregulated and potentially dangerous.

Directly opposite the Palace of Malak stands the Temple of Art, a soaring, airy structure set around a large internal courtyard. It is in the Temple that the submissions to the various cultural competitions will be entered, viewed and judged, as well as sporting competitions held.

Beyond the Temple is the starting-point for the racing circuit, which encompasses the circumference of the entire park. Over the course of the Fair, numerous races, of varying duration, will be held along this track. The main entrance connects to a shuttle which runs a regular, frequent service to and from the Martu colony, while smaller stations connect to the off-park accommodation sites for those guests staying there.

Spoiler: Specific sites and attractions

Show

The Auction

See Lapis's post for details!

HIMS Sunset

Although now obsolete, the Sunset was the lead ship of the largest class built before the introduction of GLD. She has now been decommissioned and is docked outside Martu as an installation at the Fair. Tours are available, and the accompanying museum includes information on both the history and present disposition of the Imperial Navy, including ship models and AV display.

The Technohedron

While many of the various locations contain impressive feats of technology, the greatest concentration is here. Demonstrations of both new technologies and those which are familiar to the Empire but may be unknown elsewhere, are held here. The primary visual attraction is a pandirectional multiforce hammer, which by default is constantly compressing, expanding and spatially manipulating a solid steel sphere. Under supervision and with permission, visitors may replace the sphere with objects of their choice. Volatile substances and live creatures are prohibited.

Here can also be found more information on the new universal translator (and repairs for those units that are damaged) and a “design-your-own hologram” process where visitors can design a new appearance for themselves and purchase a projector (much more basic than regular projectors, these have a very limited memory and will only ever display the one design.)

The Hall of Commerce

There are gift shops and private sales stands all over, but for wholesale and high-level trading, this is the place. The main hall is full of brokers and traders on the lookout for new deals, investors, business partners, or clients. Upstairs, well-appointed negotiation suites are available for those looking to strike deals in a more private setting. Officers of the Secretariat and Commission will hold meetings with any foreign negotiators looking for trade or technology arrangements.

The Electoral College Annex

A late inclusion in the Fair and a little less polished than the rest, the Annex was built following the death of Emperor Cherahiteth II. The Annex contains a brief synopsis of the electoral process, together with a history of past Emperors, and information on the candidate from each province for this election.

Subjects of certain provinces can cast their votes here, as appropriate, on the basis that they may not be able to return to their home province to do so in time for the election.

The candidates:

The Safe Pair of Hands:	Raul Entebe	Arursha has produced few Emperors, but the former President has been a reliable presence on the Imperial stage for decades and has an impressive reputation.
The Maverick:	Ninurbethush	Nanasu's enfant terrible departed the Council in disgrace but her undoubted competence has seen her put forward as the moon's imperial candidate. Her reputation could be both an asset and a liability.
The Caretaker:	Nanachagad	Nobody really expects a Sennan candidate to win and given her age, few would expect her to rule for long if elected. But she might pick up votes as a compromise if some of the favourites fail to garner support.
The Technocrat:	Cherahephid	Young and relatively untested on the Imperial stage, Cherahephid nevertheless has a reputation as a capable administrator on Nisu and would be expected to transfer that experience to a higher role.
The Rising Star:	Durgadoresh	The Commissioner-General's successes have made him an unusually public and popular figure for a Bechite, and he has been put forward as the planet's candidate in place of the Overarchon.
The Heir Presumptive:	Prince Nandabadad	The Empress was asked to stand but refused, so her son - relatively untested and untried, but nevertheless the establishment candidate - will stand for his father's crown.
The Dark Horse:	Himpahach	Zayin Station Chiefs tend to stand only as a formality and attract little external support, but Himpahach's status as a celebrity and hero of the Zayin coup mean he stands a better chance than usual.
The Outsiders	Bepeira Lamorn of Dulce, Danton Lambert of Croy, Torkan of Kara	The non-Malakid provinces are entitled to put forward candidates, but none of them are expected to attract meaningful support.

By the time the Expo opens, only Durgadoresh and, more surprisingly, Cherahephid and Nanachagad really remain in the running.

The Kaynite Pavilion

Taking the shape of a bright quasi-sphere mounted on a pillar, the pavilion was ordered closed only a couple of days before the Fair opened, on grounds of likely damage to public morality. It is now closed off and used for storage, but some of the original contents remain. Should anyone break in and make their way through the boxes of wigs, they will be able to explore the remaining and abandoned exhibits.

Spoiler: Communication

Show

On arrival at the Park, all guests are given (as part of the ticket price for paid attendees, or free of charge for diplomats) one of the new Universal Translators. Based on technology from Guardian, this is placed behind the ear and is capable of simultaneous and near-flawless translation of virtually all verbal speech. With this in place, all guests should be able to speak effortlessly to all others, in the interest of promoting goodwill and cooperation across the galaxy.

The technology underpinning these devices is available for trade, should anyone be so impressed as to request it.

Spoiler: Accommodation

Show

The majority of private attendees will either stay in the colony city, or in one of the hotels constructed off-site for this purpose.

National representatives will have had the opportunity to account for their own accommodation during the building of their pavilion, or if they wish for more spacious dwellings, to build consulates on the off-park locations. If for whatever reason they have not done so, the hosts will attempt to accommodate them somewhere.

The Droccen Empress, the Celenian Consul, the First Duen and their respective retinues are invited to stay in the Imperial Pavilion, unless they prefer to build their own accommodation.

Spoiler: Participation

Show

All attending powers have the opportunity to build their own pavilion to their own design and fill it with whatsoever they choose – though features excessively dangerous to the public or large stockpiles of weapons are, for obvious reasons, subject to veto. Players are invited, indeed, encouraged, to describe their pavilion, and the best pavilion will win an award.

The following events will run throughout the course of the Fair:

Cinema Competitions

Entrants may submit a feature-length video for screening. All available technologies are permissible, including 4D, hologrammatic projection, ESP-o-vision, etc. but cinematographers are advised not to rely too heavily on gimmicks. All will be viewed by a judging panel and the best will be crowned champion of the Fair.

The more successful films will be shown at a number of the cinemas located around the Park.

Debate

As a form of competitive oratory and rhetoric, a debating competition will be held. Topics range from the serious to the frivolous and include, for instance:

• This house considers artificial intelligence inferior to biological intelligence
• This house would immediately emancipate Kaynite slaves
• This house believes asteroids should be given legal personhood
• This house does not trust the UPT
• This house would suspend military operations against the Same
• This house believes that Marcellin pies should be made exclusively in Marcellin using traditional Marcellin ingredients
• This house would disable all holograms
• This house would rather be Grymlan than Alysian
• This house would recognise the legitimacy of the Gelean Empire

The Great Labyrinth

Enter the maze designed by the finest minds on Nisu (at designing labyrinths). There is a prize for the entrant who navigates the maze most quickly. It has been carefully designed with additional traps and puzzles such that usual navigation tricks, like touching a wall or using balls of string, will not be effective. There is a “solution” to the maze, which the particularly shrewd may be able to identify and use to assist them with navigation.

As it would be entirely possible to wander the maze for days, each entrant is given a personal alarm which if activated will alert the attendants to rescue them – but activating the alarm leads to disqualification.

Hammer Duelling

Fight in a traditional Kuvetli hammer duel. The hammer settings are set to a very low level to ensure that injury to participants is unlikely. The Kuvetli themselves are barred from competing, due to their superior experience and expertise with the hammers. You win points for disarming your opponent or knocking them to the ground or against the walls of the ring.

Organise your own 1v1 duels. The individual who wins most duels will be crowned champion.

Pavilion Prize

The best pavilion will win an award. In addition to the judges' panel there is a public vote. Pavilions will be judged on inventiveness, content, appearance, and effectiveness (at presenting its owners in a positive light).

Poetry Reading

Poets are invited to compose and to recite a new poem for the Fair, on any subject. The performer does not have to be the writer, but the poem must be a new composition.

Racing

There are numerous races taking place over the course of the Fair but the most anticipated of these is the two-day endurance race. This is a test of endurance and speed, with the ability to produce a vehicle that is both a competitive racer and capable of running near-continuously for 48 hours being decisive. Although drivers will operate in shifts, their stamina will also be critical. The champion will be the racer who completes the most laps in a 48-hour period. It is expected that the winner will complete close to 2000 laps.

Space Chess

It's like Chess, but IN SPACE.

Rolling

Unless stated otherwise, roll 1d12 and add the specified attribute scores for each event.
Most events require you to add two half-scores: add your scores for those attributes together and then halve them, rounding up (rather than halving then adding).

There are also bonuses for each event if you have certain resources or technologies or fulfil other conditions. Add +1 if you have the applicable resource/tech/fragment. Please state clearly when rolling what bonuses you are claiming.

Unnamed characters (or undescribed entries, in the case of the cinema and pavilion competitions) will suffer a -2 penalty to their rolls.

Event	Attrib.	Bonuses	Special
Cinema	E/P	Entertainment, Tiny Cats
Debate	D/I	Lawyers, Passionate Dispute
Great Labyrinth	P/I	Navigators	If you score 20 or higher you not only complete the maze but "solve" it.
Hammer duel	M/P	Multiforce Hammers	Agree an opponent and roll three times each. If someone wins two rounds, they win the duel. You can fight as many duels as you can agree opponents for.
Pavilion Competition	D/E		Nominate another player's pavilion to win the prize based on their description. Each vote received adds +1 to the final score.
Poetry Reading	D/P	Numenorean Actors, Emotional Appeal	Players who submit a poem (min. 5 lines, must be original) get a +5 bonus.
Racing	M/E	Mech Pilots, Salvage Technicians, Grymlan Farseekers	Roll 2d6 instead of 1d12. Multiply the result by 100 to determine the number of laps your racer completes.
Space Chess	M/I

[LapisCattis]

The Auction
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"Enter into this giant fish pavilion for the Auction, non-Cats, and I, Mitzi the Grand Auctioneer, will show you around." A small, lithe grey tabby she-cat with grey eyes and a pink bow and bell stands at the entrance of the pavilion and pads, tail high in the air, to the end room. As the other rooms are passed, voices of the other Auctioneers can be heard.

"Fer a fluff-wutt that chick don't have muchuva mud-side manner. Ya sure ya wan her in charge, smooth-scales?" Sue, Auctioneer representing Kraikr and the Cagun, tries and fails to whisper conspiratorily through the sheer cloth wall. "She seemed the most grumpy and least likely to take flack from anyone..." Azdak, the Auctioneer representing Kwiziko and the Ndodan tribes, sighs and worriedly wrings her tail. On the other side of the hallway, "Ya Azdak! I cannae promise I wilnae bite if a horned dog shows up." Gar, Auctioneer for the Theseons reminds the already stressed Ndoda. " "Minotaurs, Gar. The Rothuun are Minotaurs. Please don't start a fight in your room or it'll probably spill into mine." Jefferson, Auctioneer for the Carides of Wonderland, cut in as he restlessly tapped his twenty fingers and adjusted his sunglasses.

"If you no-furs are done, I would like to finish." Mitzi hissed at the others before continuing. "I will handle the bidding for my planet's Learning Center and take questions to prove to me you are worthy of becoming part of the Fluffy Cats' culture. If you have a lot you wish to place for auction, I will also handle those bids after you arrange the lot with me. My station is at the end of the pavilion where the comfiest cushions are. Bidding for the other planets' Learning Centers will be handled by my companions in their less comfortable rooms. If there are no questions, I will be sunbathing on the table. Do not pet me." She curled up onto a cushion on the table, front paws dangling off the table, and looked as though she were napping.


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Spoiler: Pavilion Layout

Show

Two shuttles of designers and interior decorators had worked through the night to create the Auction Pavilion on the bank of the lake close to the entrance of the park. Created from wooden staves and bright bolts of Entabeni Cloth, the Ndodan Auction Pavilion takes the shape of a Nemikhomo, body lying on the ground emerging from the lake, fins outstretched, and mouth open to serve as the entrance. The inside of the pavilion is one long, semicircular hall with four rectangular spaces separated by walls of sheer cloth, two on either side of the hallway with one large rhomboid room at the end and a smaller lobby area in the entrance. The two fins also create smaller, triangular private rooms for discussion away from prying eyes and ears, created by thicker cloth. Each rectangular space represents one region held by the Ndoda with an open Learning Center available for auction, while the fifth, largest space is an area where all other lots can be auctioned as they are arranged.

Very Rough Map:
Entrance is on the far right. The room for Lot 5 and all other players' bids are on the far left. Top row moving left to right is Lot 3 and Lot 1, underneath those are Lots 4 and 2, respectively.

Spoiler: Auctioneers

Show

Mitzi Mooscat - Close friend to Neko Jr., Mitzi is a young but cunning business-cat. She has a short but beautifully striped grey and black coat with a golden undercoat coming in as a sign of incoming maturity, mischievous gray eyes, and likes to wear a bell. She isn't quite sure how the Fluffy Cats ended up joining a group of scaled and skinned races, but grudgingly agrees that they at least had their uses in getting rid of the scientists. A faithful Cat Worshipper, Mitzi is willing to put in a good word about other religions only if the Fluffy Cats get a good deal out of it. After all, cats are still supreme.

Sue Cash - An adult male Cagun still covered in a light coating of mud from home. Scale color is indistinguishable from the green-gray mud, but the sparking of yellow eyes will tell anyone that it's the hands you need to watch. After careful deliberation with the elders, the Cagun agreed to send him as representative to weed out potential visitors and see who was worthy to share their sacred recipes with the Cagun.

Azdak Uqulomba - An adult female Ndoda from the cave-dwelling tribes. A merchant by trade, Azdak has had a distinguished career as a member of many successful expeditions, a history that is shown in the myriad of colorful gems and tokens that decorate her woven vest and pants. Like all Ndoda, her shoulders, legs, and tail are unhindered by bindings. She has pale white scales, light red eyes, and is thankful for the Entabeni Cloth of the pavilion protecting her from sunburn.

Gar Gundo - A young male Theseon, Gar is the image of what a clean Sue Cash might look like. As their species are virtually identical (except for the mud and some minor cosmetic differences), Gar and Sue have gotten on like a swamp under water. Gar has yellow-gold eyes and primarily dark green scales striped with brown, and sees no reason to wear cloths when he's already comfortably warm.

Jefferson Hat - An older male Caride, Jefferson has the typical pale skin and lean build. Jefferson tried to choose his best patchwork outfit for this event, a dark red affair with soft purple insides, dark boots, and thin gloves. Dark glasses cover his eyes to adjust for the brightness of this planet compared to the twilight of Wonderland.

Spoiler: Process

Show

For the five Learning Center lots, address the Auctioneer assigned to that LC . The Grand Auctioneer is a final reference but her first priority is managing any bids that come in from other delegations and Lot 5 (LC in E19). Bids can be made on this thread or over PM, but any bid made over PM will be announced through the Auctioneer as "We have a new bid from an unnamed buyer" so everyone watching the thread will be up to date on the current bid. Lots will be kept up-to-date below.

If you don't have a preference for which LC to bid on but want to bid on LC ownership, address bids to the Grand Auctioneer. Based on the number and value of other bids, a 'No-Preference' bid will be treated as a wild card able to buy an LC that hasn't been bid on or outbid a 'Preferential' bid of lower value.

Bid Value:
Some items are more valuable than others, but each Lot has different priorities and interaction with the Auctioneers can influence bid success. This is an example ranking system of bid value from low to high in descending order.

Military Units
Trade Posts
Technologies, Cultural Identities, Doctrines, etc.
Embassies
Regions (depending on stability and ZOI distance)

Note:
Successful Learning Center bids earn support for conversion. Theseon and Bast currently have philosophies and may require higher bids to appease and convince the faithful to convert without incident.

Spoiler: Lots

Show

Lot 1 - Learning Center - Kwiziko (E21) - SOLD
Lot 2 - Learning Center - Kraikr (F22) - SOLD
Lot 3 - Learning Center - Theseon (D24) - SOLD
Lot 4 - Learning Center - Wonderland (D22) - SOLD
Lot 5 - Learning Center - Bast (E19) - SOLD
Lot 6 - Learning Center - Monks of Pure Thought (E13) - CLOSED
Lot 7 - Learning Center - The Dust Bowl (F14) - CLOSED
Lot 8 - Learning Center - WinBig System (G13) - CLOSED
Lot 9 - Learning Center - The Cosmic Cookie Jar (H14) - CLOSED
Lot 10 - General - General Bdeh Kekkles, formerly of Melfynius, in service to the Rothuun - SOLD

[LapisCattis]

A courier raps gently on Mitzi's table to pass a piece of paper. A grumpy whisker flick and careful read later, she announces to the still bidder-less room: "First bid! An entire region for Lots 1, 2, and 4!"

Might as well wash her ears while waiting for arrivals.

[Aedilred]

Martu itself is a relatively new colony, with a small but growing population, and its residents make up a relatively small proportion of the attendees and even the staff at the Expo. At least equal to the number of Martuins present are the Duenem hired to assist with the colony construction.

But the event is still full, with people having travelled from all over the Empire - and possibly farther afield - to visit. Tabine knights weave through the crowds, accompanied by drone retinues; dwarvin groups occupy bars, drinking impossible quantities of beer, rose-skinned Rethel flirting with Dulcer elves, Montargis haggling with stall traders, orks and Ventadors laughing raucously together at comic performers and puppet shows.

Every now and again one might catch sight of a Tribune, on constant surveillance for anything untoward, but they have been instructed to keep as low a profile as possible without compromising security, to avoid dampening the mood.

Dedicated people-watchers, and the very astute, might notice something strange: a pair of individuals male and female, who appear almost completely identical. Both are young and tall, with seemingly close-cropped blond(e) hair, blue eyes and clearly defined features. But there is something strange, for they are seen far too often for there just to be two of them. It seems as if there's a whole group of them present, all of whom have for some reason chosen to appear the same.

Nevitte had aspirations as a poet and headed to the Temple of Art to submit his entry, and was quickly ushered through for his reading. Standing in the hall before the judges and a reasonable audience, he declaimed his masterwork.

"There once was a young rake from Croy
A quite inexperienced boy
He inexpertly caressed
A young lady's chest
'Til she cried 'hey, that's not a toy!'"

He stumbled in his reading, and the combination of the lukewarm applause and the relatively stern faces of the judges suggested that his performance had gone down less well than he hoped. Few who witnessed the performance expected him to be in the running for any sort of prize.

Spoiler: Characters

Show

Almost any character in the Empire - except the Emperor and frontline military personnel - will or can be present at some stage during the Expo.
New characters for the event:

• Nevitte, aspiring poet from Abrante
• Alan Lauder, Edain de Sen, and Louise Haméville, Hallwin racing drivers.
• Martin Lesonnier, Rethel
• Zaphadormon, military cadet

[Miltonian]

A golden ship slips into orbit above Twr. It is a large ship, outfitted with every convenience known to space. It even has a swimming pool, complete with a fur-filtering system to prevent shedding pelts from clogging it up. It descends into the atmosphere, escorted only by two light fighters. Despite this being a diplomatic event, some security is a necessity now after the assassination.

It cruises in for a landing at the designated zones, outside the hotel where the diplomats are staying. A ramp descends and several commandos disembark first, barking orders to each other. Once they are satisfied that the area is secure, the door opens again and out step two Lyraens, one right after the other. The first, dressed in a finely-pressed and opulently crafted military uniform, walks down the ramp with his chest puffed out and an excited grin on his face. The second, a young, fluffy-coated Lyraen female, saunters a short way behind him. She wears the mask of Lyrae, but has discarded the robes and various badges of office that Rii Lyrae used to wear in favor of an attractively cut dress that shows off her well-groomed pelt. After they disembark, the ship drops a packet of supplies and returns to orbit.

Grand Admiral Proxos of the Lyraen Star Command raises a paw and grins at everyone present. "Good morning, people of Martu!" he calls, "It is I, your favorite host and intergalactic tv personality. Please, hold the applause. I am here in humble service to the one who rescued me a few short years ago." With a sweep of his paw, he steps aside and gestures to the Lyraen behind him. "Allow me to introduce the one, the only, Mish Lyrae!"

The new Lyrae steps forward and looks from one person to the next. She grins widely. "In this sort of situation, it is traditional to give a grand speech. Generally, long, boring, and full of false promises. I'm not going to do that!" She sighs dramatically and feigns a yawn. "However! I will say this. It is good to be alive! And I intend to enjoy it while it lasts."

"Now..." She claps her paws together. "I hope to see you all at my pavilion later. We have a special surprise for all who attend." She steps aside and, after the briefest moment's hesitation, blows the crowd a kiss. "See you there, everyone!"

====

In short order, the Lyraen pavilion stands on their designated spot in the park. It loosely follows the definition of 'pavilion', mostly consisting of a massive tent soaring up towards the sky. Decorated with motifs praising the sun (including Lyraens standing in a 'Y' position), it contains a well-lit stage and an amphitheater. The entrance has a schedule posted, detailing when the theater is in use and by whom. Each act showcases some aspect of Lyraen culture, from art to arcane sciences to frank discussions of traditions and the family dynamics of living in a pack-structure. Proxos has a whole segment devoted to retelling some of his adventures and talking about the behind the scenes escapades that took place during his time as a intergalactic tv host.

However, at the end of the schedule, right as the sun sets, is a slot that says, "It's a Secret!" with no other details.

====

As for Lyrae herself, she is never seen without armed guards. However, in spite of that, she is all too willing to engage any and everyone in conversation. Much of the reserve that Rii had seems to be gone. Mish Lyrae laughs often and loudly, but primarily seems interested in taking on all comers in the Hammer Duels and Races.

Proxos, styling himself as a strategist non-nonpareil, makes it known that he will take on any challenger in the chess tournament. Additionally, he has a new war film that he intends to show, documenting the struggles of people 'A long time ago in a galaxy not all that far away'.

[PepperP.]

Galactic Droccen Imperium

NUT

Droccen had distanced itself a bit from the Ninurtine Empire after that embarrassing identity theft episode at Sai's Coronation. Whether it had been a deliberate pulling back of relations by the Empress or a natural consequence of the vast amounts of space between them was a difficult thing to say. And then there was the matter of the Celenians and Sai's would-be suitor as the Ninurtine's closest ally, Well, it certainly hadn't made relations less awkward between them, though credit had to be given to Celes, they had come through with the gift of a crucial technological advancement when it looked as if there would be war between Droccen and Zara. Had that been Constantine too? No matter. Sai had accepted the Ninurtine's offer to stay within the Imperial Pavillion, it seemed likely to be another attempt at an olive branch.

Sai, with Kuro ever after her, tracked down the Ninurtine Empress to relay her condolences.

"Empress Daregense..." Sai held out her hands to grasp her peer's.

"You have my sincere condolences for your Emperor's death. Cherahiteth was a fine man and leader." She gave the other woman's hands a squeeze, her heart constricting a little with worry for her own husband's health.

"He offered a treaty between our people years ago, did he ever tell you? But then the events of the Coronation..." She let her words trail off and looked slightly embarrassed.

"Perhaps it would be worth revisiting at a more opportune time?" Like when you aren't mourning? Her implication was clear though she attempted to delicately dance around the matter.

---

Lyrae

Sukero and Shiri went to sign up for the races before heading to the HIMS Sunset museum. He nodded to the other prospective racers.

"What do you think, Shiri? Could be some excitement."

"If you think going around the same track for 48 hours exciting..." Sukero grinned at Shiri's dubiousness.

"I said it could be."

"Ah there you are!" Sai appeared from behind the museum's namesake.

"I heard the delegates from Lyrae have arrived and have invited everyone to their pavilion for some sort of announcement. It couldn't hurt to make an appearance." Sai smoothed imaginary wrinkles from her white and silver robes.

"I heard the former Lyrae was assassinated." Sai lowered her voice.

"It's seems a precarious time to be a figurehead."

"Is it never?" Sukero matched Sai's hushed tones. Sai just shrugged and led them to the sun emblazoned tents and sought entrance.

"Empress Sai of the Droccen Imperium to see Lyrae, please." She announced herself politely and awaited an audience.

---

Mr. and Mrs. Alcott were honored to have been chosen from all of the Umbers that had applied to serve as diplomatic envoys. From Umberedge at Burnsley, the pair of Cicada-folk stood a modest four feet tall and their carapaces were rosy with pinks and reds against the pale green heads and limbs. Mr. Alcott wore a smart black top hat and matching bow-tie and Mrs. Alcott wore a lace collar that was adorned with an ivory cameo brooch. Her parasol was also trimmed with lace and a pretty satin bow.

"I say, the Great Labyrinth sounds like just the sort of adventure I'm after."

"Oh no Irving, this will be just like time you got lost in the moors. Remember, when you got lost in the moors? I had to bribe the constable twenty farthings to go pull you out of there."

"Quite unnecessary, I might add!" Mr. Alcott huffed indignantly.

"I had everything quite under control Luella! I was headed straight towards Burnsley every morning until noon, then I had him at my back. I was just about to find my way back I tell you!"

"Dear, by the Constable's reports, you were headed straight to Hollowbottom and not home at all!"

"Slander! I won't tolerate it!" Irving puffed and his face grew resolute in its stuborness.

"Alright alright, don't get cross with me we'll do your little maze. And hopefully be done by supper..." Mrs. Alcott muttered but followed her husband into the Labyrinth.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

People in attendance:
Empress Sai and her Guardian Kuro
General Prince Sukero and his Guardian Shiri
Mr. and Mrs. Alcott (Cicada Folk from Umberedge at Burnsley.)

[Miltonian]

The Droccen Imperium

The guard outside the pavilion, whose job seems to be to keep track of who is entering and leaving, scrutinizes the Droccens for a brief moment before she is satisfied with their identities. "Very good," she says, "Follow me."

She leads them up to the top of the amphitheater, where a viewing box overlooks the whole assembly. Though ornate and carved with runic designs, it is made of reinforced armor plates and clearly is designed first and foremost as a defensive precaution. Inside, Mish Lyrae observes the current performance: a 'Howling', as some call it. In truth, it is the Lyraen version of opera, but it does involve a lot of howls.

She turns as Sai and company enter. "Ah! Empress Sai!" she says brightly, "Welcome, welcome. Have a seat! Would you care for some cake? Or perhaps a biscuit?"

[bc56]

Syndrome Pavilion

A veritable flotilla of ships from across the Syndrome Protectorates arrive. They are cargo vessels with a token escort fleet, each carrying a single section of the pavilion connected to their homeworld. The first part to arrive is the superstructure, a silken net strung with strips of kadmium and electronic devices which hovers several meters above the ground. Next descends a central hub, a hodgepodge chamber partially constructed on every Protectorate world and assembled midflight. It is followed by seven spherical chambers which are then linked to it, each one representing one of the regions within the Protectorates, from a chamber carved from wood and fleshy growths for the Syndrome, to an austere titanium sphere for the Krankot, to an elegant glass structure for the Remians. The entire structure resembles a cluster of interconnected spheres, with an entrance elevator descending from its bottom, a circular platform suspended by absolutely nothing at all. Riding down on the platform are the representatives of the Syndrome and their Protectorate states, ready to welcome anyone who arrives.

Spoiler: Who's Who?

Show

Unfortunately, all the actual important people are off preparing for war, which means we get a cast of secondary characters instead. From left to right as they appear on the platform.
Loremaster Bolzano: A grey-skinned, bald man whose body is covered by tattoos of complex mathematical formulae. Representative of Q23.
Captain Felicia Focis: An Alituran woman and the captain of one of the escort vessels. She is about 4.5 feet tall and has bright red hair, and is dressed in Party green and black.
Mech-Knight Erein: A younger and smaller Krankot knight who notably lacks the battle scars and stoic demeanor of his older kin.
Dux Prudens: A Remian who could pass for human, dressed in a very old-fashioned Remian toga and sandals.
Yirik: A white-feathered Ymur broker from The House. He has a very predatory look in his eye.
Purple-Blue-Spots: An angry-looking Syndrome Strainlady with a purple color and bluish spots.
Grey-All-Over: A Syndrome female looking over everything with a curious glance. The Shipheart to the Bioship which delivered the Syndrome section of the pavilion.
Teal-White-Eyes: A third Syndrome female, a priestess of Iteus here in an administrative role and looking thoroughly bored with the proceedings. She is hovering off the ground and has strips of kadmium implanted in her limbs.
Red-Yellow-Hands: A younger Syndrome female, red in color with, you guessed it, yellow hands. She runs off towards the Lyraean pavilion as soon as the platform touches down.

Spoiler: Pavilion Design

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The structure is divided into 8 spherical sections representing the parts of the Syndrome Protectorates. Visitors arrive in the central sphere, which is plain and mostly unadorned. Stone and metal walkways lead to seven doorways around the chamber, each labeled above with the destination.

Spoiler: Heart-Beacons Chamber

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The chamber representing the Syndrome home system is crafted from surprisingly durable wood and translucent membranes that let in the sunlight. An airlock leads in and out of room, made from a pair of membranous sphincters which open and close to allow passage. Inside, the air is dense and humid, and a low mist covers the walkway, although wooden railings protrude out of it to prevent people from stumbling off. Massive trees and growths of land coral growths dot the edges of the chamber, and the air is full of a wet, earthy aroma. Genetically tailored wildlife roams in enclosures, from large riding beasts to smaller creatures, sometimes close enough for enterprising guests to reach out and touch. Overly friendly batlike creatures occasionally swoop down to land on railings and sniff the people nearby. Placards proclaim these as Message-Fliers and ask visitors not to feed them foreign materials, but also provide canisters of purple food pellets for them. A few Syndrome are also here, willing to answer questions.

Spoiler: Crab Nebula Chamber

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The Krankot chamber is a titanium sphere with few features visible from the outside. Within, sounds of fighting and metal clashing against metal can be heard. A large mural on all the walls depicts the monumental Chapel of Steel, the final proving ground for aspiring Krankot knights, standing above the marshes of the Krankot homeworld. The walkway circles around a central pit, where several Krankot Mech-Knights in training are sparring. Some use traditional Krankot weapons: long-handled metal clubs and of course their powerful pincers, while others practice with multiforce hammers, getting used to the local weapons. Visitors are encouraged to sign a waiver and participate, with appropriate safety gear provided, or, if they prefer something less risky, a row of simulators are placed where one can try their luck at piloting a Krankot mech, either against a computer or another player. The guide here is an elderly Krankot knight, missing a pincer and heavily scarred, and more than willing to regale others with his war stories.

Spoiler: Stormwrack Chamber

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The Stormwrack Chamber is awash in light. A high definition display covering the entire interior of its sphere shows the heart of the storm in all its fury, the blue energy it throws off silhouetting the mysterious alien facility at its center and nearly drowning out the stars in brightness. The walkway circles the center of the chamber, where a a large holographic projector plays dramatic recreations of various events in the history of the Stormwrack every so often. A few scientists of various races are also here to answer any questions.

Spoiler: Alitur Chamber

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The Alitur Chamber is built to resemble an Alituran station from the inside. Decorated in green and black, the passageways are narrow, but frequently reach simulated vistas over the three unspoiled worlds (and one spoiled one) the Aliturans are sworn to protect. Interactive displays take visitors through the history of Alitur and the Party, from the destruction of Alitur to the unification with the Syndrome, albeit told in a manner only the masters of propaganda in the Bureau of Knowledge would write. Alituran, Party-sanctioned guides wander the displays to direct guests to specific exhibits and to answer questions.

Spoiler: Stellae Nostrum Chamber

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The chamber representing Stellae Nostrum is made from glass, and the walkway spirals up and down through the sphere. Soft music plays throughout. Elegant Remian art is on display at all levels, primarily consisting of replicas of famous historical pieces, with short descriptions beneath indicating their cultural significance. The uppermost part of the chamber is dedicated as a memorial to the lives lost in the war against Hannibal V. The vicious-looking hulks of destroyed war droids hover in the center of the floor, and around the edges float kadmium ingots engraved with the names of Remian soldiers who fell in battle against the mechanical conqueror. Unlike the other races, the Remians believe no help is necessary, but do have audio guides for those interested in learning that way.

Spoiler: Good-Odds Chamber

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The other chambers are devoted to art, culture, history, and science, but the Good-Odds Chamber is very different. The Ymur have set up a small casino in their section of the pavilion, opting out of the walkways for a single solid floor and filling the room with one-armed bandits, poker tables, roulette wheels, and other such accoutrements. The furnishings are lavish, as befits a branch of The House. Red Ymur will serve food and drinks and guide guests to whatever they need within the chamber, while white Ymur offer bets on everything from the Krankot bouts in the other room to whether the Ninurtines will kick the Syndrome off the planet.

Spoiler: Q23 Chamber

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I haven't named the region yet, but will when I get the chance. Sorry.

The chamber representing the natives of Q23 is made from grey stone, cut through with strings of orange lights. Mathematical glyphs are carved into the stone at regular intervals. The grey-skinned bald Mathemancers roam the chambers, demonstrating the principles of mathematics in art and science. Writing tablets are set out for guests to try proving simple formulae or working on other math-related projects if they wish.

Lyraean Pavilion

The Syndrome Red-Yellow-Hands rushes to the Lyraean pavilion. Upon entering, she ignores the show and searches out Mish Lyrae in the crowd. She approaches the Luminary and attempts to get her attention. "Excuse me. Mish Lyrae? I'm Red-Yellow-Hands. My mother sent me to discuss Rii Lyrae's untimely death." Her mother, of course, is Yellow-Coat-Stripes, the Overlady of the Syndrome, although one would be forgiven for not knowing that. The Overlady has many children.

[Miltonian]

The Syndrome

Red-Yellow-Hands eventually meets with Lyrae in the reinforced, warded, and extra-secure viewing box that she has set up for herself. It offers a clear view of the stage and excellent sound-quality, but anything short of a nuclear blast is going to have a hard time reaching her from the outside.

When Red enters, Mish Lyrae is eating a slice of fruit with refinement and relish in equal measures. Which basically translates to "small, but savored, bites." She looks Red over and, after a moment, says, "Your mother wouldn't happen to be Yellow-Coat-Stripes, would it? You have a similar..." She gestures vaguely. "Facial structure."

She grimaces. "Yes, I remember it well. I think I am going to ban explosive rounds. Seeing my chest splattered across half the stage as I lost my connection with Rii was...quite the experience. I don't believe I've ever been assassinated before, and I cannot say I recommend the experience."

She holds out an Reed-Apple, imported from the Reed System. "Can I interest you in some light refreshments?"

[bc56]

Lyraean Pavilion

Red waves the fruit away. "It would not agree with me, I'm afraid." Syndrome are carnivores. "As fascinating as dying must be, I was not sent here to study it. Rather, my mother, the Overlady, as you assumed, is interested in investigating your case. As the delegate in charge of the investigation, I am here to request your permission to proceed and to access your records of the event."

[Tentreto]

The Duenem delegation were as robotic as always, although any diplomat would notice the abscence of their long-time leader. The new Taskmaster, Conditoner Mint lead the twenty various Duenem to the surface, his blue diodes flickering excitedly. Carrying him down, Jet Stability, the Duen shuttle gave the equivelant of a sigh, setting down carefully. "Don't run off yet Taskmaster," it transmitted. "We must ensure..."

"Yes Jet," Mint transmitted back, "We must engage in our duties, and I can indulge in detailing the Technohedron later. I do have some self-restraint thank you very much."

Jet gave another sigh. "Then stop flickering your diodes like a strobe." Mint paused, and his diodes immediately returned to a solid, unflickering colour.

Clutching to the underside of Jet Stability, a few construction Duenem gave each other looks. "QUESTION. Is the Taskmaster usually like this?" one transmitted in a private channel. The others gave back a negative. One sciene Duen, making it's way down with it's own jetback did chime in however. "Conditoner Mint is a researcher who's individuality produced the new galacitc currency." it stated. "So give him a economic task and he goes more haywire than a Nursery Duen in primordial soup."

Upon receiving the Universal Translator, Conditoner Mint accepted a few gratefully. "We might have some problems with translation," he mused to the nearby science Duen," any Duen without speakers will be unable to communicate unless...Polar Target, I believe you were taught two-tap signalling under the battle scene, correct?" Polar Target gave a ping of affirmation. "Transmit the data package to us all, then we can all communictae without even needing our speakers." Mint concluded, diodes flickering for a second. "Honestly, why wasn't that our first communication attempt anyway..."

Jet Stability used this opportunity to begin its security briefing. Unlike Mint, it transmitted this solely as a encrypted data package, sending out a few extra dummy packages to thwart any would be phishers. "Stay aware. Learn and see, but be aware." It spoke, before beginning to head over to the Race Track. It had been tasked with attempting this endurance race, and although it was certainly not its speciality, especially in speed, it would be a new experience. Mint himself began to organise the Pavilion. There was a lot that needed to be done, and very fast.

Spoiler: Pavilion

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Pavilion
The Duenem have little need for quarters at the Imperial Pavilion, being tireless, mechanical and quite small, but will request a small area there while they construct the pavilion. It first seems to be made off a raised dais, requiring a flight of steps enter. Within a day however, the Duenem declare that their Pavilion will be open for the public, and is best experienced twice. Once early, once late.

Spoiler: Before

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The Duenem Pavilion at first glance looks like a dead tree. Standing about two metres tall, the tree is sickly and overbearing, but stands at the centre of of the pavillion. It's many branches curve downwards forming walls for the Pavilion all in drab browns, which are too numerous to see through. The inside looks little better, although it is a contrast, being little more than a block of metal, with stark tables and chairs all encircling the central trunk. The trunk itself is completely covered in ugly yellow vines, seemingly choking it. Even the floor itself is nothing but metal tiles that clang when trodden on. All together, it looks stark, horrible, and above all, dead. Despite this, the Duenem invite anyone and everyone to touch the tree trunk, and pull off one of the vines encircling it.

Spoiler: After

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And for each one that is pulled, the tree begins to look a little more alive. After the first one, the tree becomes noticibly more whole in colour. Within ten, buds have grown all over. Very soon, the tree is covered in flowers of many different hues, and eventually it is near impossible to see the branches as the flowers themselves become the walls. The tree itself seems to have rightened itself up, now looking full of life.

For those who are perceptive, they might notice darting in and out of the flower wall are tiny Duenem, pollinating and maintaining the walls, until eventually, they are seen no more. Not a single petal has fallen this entire time.

The inside is nearly unchanged, altough subtle effects have crept in. Natural light now seems to be coming through the ceiling of flowers, and all the chairs and tables seem to have softned, with less edges and more curves. At the centre itself, only one vine remains on the trunk, and the Duenem refuse to allow anyone to touch it anymore, due to the powerful chemicals involved. They say it's because they value all life, as long as all is kept in balance.

Finally, the Duenem ask those inside to vacate, and begin removing the floor.What remains is now a trasnparant floor, revealing an entire garden below, being kept meticulously in a different enclosure for each world with life in Duenem space. Spiral staircases are revealed at each corner, allowing visitors to come down at any point. There are the mosses and abundant greens of Cappared, where the Fun Gui sent part of his own moss. There are the dusky shoots and wheats of Ramanooh. In one corner there is a perfectly circular grassy circle filled to the brim with equally tall reeds.

In the last corner, there is in fact only one plant, a small sappling, held in a small glass dome, no more than twenty centimetres high. One half of its enclosure is filled with dust, the other snow, and yet it seems to be healthy.

Finally, in the centre, the bottom of the tree stands, covered in moss and other underfoot materials. Yet surrounding it are chasis of Duenem, sculpted and welded together to form a perimitter around the tree. It is obvious these are not actual Duenem, yet they stand straight and eternal in their vigil around the tree.

[PepperP.]

Spoiler

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The Droccen Imperium

The guard outside the pavilion, whose job seems to be to keep track of who is entering and leaving, scrutinizes the Droccens for a brief moment before she is satisfied with their identities. "Very good," she says, "Follow me."

She leads them up to the top of the amphitheater, where a viewing box overlooks the whole assembly. Though ornate and carved with runic designs, it is made of reinforced armor plates and clearly is designed first and foremost as a defensive precaution. Inside, Mish Lyrae observes the current performance: a 'Howling', as some call it. In truth, it is the Lyraen version of opera, but it does involve a lot of howls.

She turns as Sai and company enter. "Ah! Empress Sai!" she says brightly, "Welcome, welcome. Have a seat! Would you care for some cake? Or perhaps a biscuit?"

"Cake!" Sai's eyes lit up.

"I suppose a bit of cake couldn't hurt." She grinned delightedly but cocked her head towards the opera as an especially passionate howl drowned out everything else for a moment.

"What... beautiful music they make!" Sai complimented the performers graciously once the howls subsided to a dull roar.

"I was so shocked to hear of your recent assassination." Sai looked slightly embarrassed to bring it up.

"But I am very glad you are still with us, no matter what the lovely form."

[Gaius Hermicus]

<The Mighty Ty-Rone, The Horned Capybara, King of Grishal, has arrived at your event!>

A loudspeaker blares the information to the crowd as the Rothuun procession moves into the pavilion. They are led by five heavy-set bodyguards, bearing pistols and machetes, who scowl around at the surrounding spectators. Following them is a rodent, around the size of a large dog, which some people may recognize as Ty-Rone, the Horned Capybara. The creature's origins are unknown, but it has certainly changed since its previous appearance at the Kronin event years ago. It has grown to nearly twice its former size, and its antlers have gained length and sharp points at the edges. Walking alongside Ty-Rone is the berserker Haerthala the Strangler, his keeper and personal assistant.

May I enter the poetry contest, please? Ty-Rone asks Haerthala. The Rothuun considers it briefly, then shakes her head. <I do not think it would be a good idea to put on such a spectacle of yourself, lord Ty-Rone. You must be respected and feared.>

Ty-Rone's pleading eyes go dark. He glares at Haerthala. I am feared, you pathetic miserable waste of flesh! I am king, and I shall do what I like! My poem shall make all cower from my majesty!

He bounds over to the poetry pavilion, where he stops and stands on his hind legs. Clearing his throat, he recites loudly to the crowd:

There once was a man from Grishal
A Rothuun who stood proud and tall
Though he coveted the throne
He didn't count on Ty-Rone
Who ripped out his heart for his gall

Spoiler: OOC

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Scored a 21 on my poetry recitation

[Ivor_The_Mad]

A large black high-command transport ship touches down on the outskirts of the Expo. Inside the kronin don their atmosphere regulator suits. The newly-promoted King-General stands before his men. King-General Nozdak did not expect his men to win many of the competitions since that was not what they were there to do. He was there to do some diplomatic business. His men were there to enjoy themselves. He stepped off the ship and walked toward the expo. He salutes the gray striped feline. "Greetings, I am Ad... King-General Nozdak. I am here to discuss the auctioning of certain regions, namely F12, F14, E13, G13, and H14's philosophy in our sector, among other things. I heard you were the one to talk to?"

Spoiler: Characters

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King-General Nozdak: The newly named King General of the Kronin Empire. He is a bit more friendly than his predecessor and far younger but he is just as, if not more strict with his troops than the former King-General. Nozdak is a master tactician, born leader, and a legendary shot with a TX15 Pulse Rifle.
Admiral Nix: A bright young solder, second in command to the King General. He is a skilled fighter and leader. His specialty lies in his skill as a pilot. His record is unmatched among the Kronin ranks.
The Brew Master: A leader of men and a highly skilled drunken brawler. Not to mention his "Mystery Brew" has felled even the heartiest of souls. Truly a force to be reckoned with.

The Brew Master will make his grand entrance soon.

[KriegTiger]

Tezh Consensus - Arrival at the First Galactic Expo
It's a busy day at Martu, and the orbital security and customs officials are busy with arrivals as would be expected. The Tezh Consensus had sent word ahead that they would be sending more than the usual diplomatic transport frame, Garrote, and sent a short list of names that would be de-orbiting with them. At the appointed time, an IFF transponder begins reporting in a previously empty sector above the planet's surface. Security has just enough time to verify their clearance code and invitation checksum when nearly a dozen more beacons light up the comms grid from the same region, but when a visual check is done it looks like a single vessel until a deep sensor sweep is taken.

With the black diamond shape that is Garrote in the center, the other Tezh frames had dropped into space with less than a meter of room to spare, forming what looks like a slightly larger boxy shape although still hardly more than a basic transport from other attendees, some who brought exceedingly large vessels stocked with supplies to construct and provisions to stock their pavilions at the Expo. By contrast, the total cubic storage that the Tezh frames are capable of seems paltry; but that's not the customs official's problem and as the scan shows nothing except the approved list of items sent earlier, they are granted clearance to land. As one, the group of frames begin their descent - a far less flashy and high-G affair than what was observed at the dragon hunt.

The Expo Grounds

Spoiler: The Tezh Pavilion, literally

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The aggregated cluster of frames arrives at the event in silence but for a faint hum of energy, having decelerated after dropping from orbit before getting close so that materials no longer emit the pops and pings of thermal stress, and having crossed to sub-sonic far enough away to avoid disturbing attendees with the shock wave. Now moving towards their assigned place to construct the pavilion, the frames navigate their way and break apart; most barely larger than Garrote in surface area, but extremely flat except for one that settles in the middle of their plot, slightly back from center away from the walkway. Garrote moves to the front edge and lowers a debarking gangway, down which Brigid bounces two steps at a time and looking as energetic as ever and observing the other pavilions around them with a smile as she sees everything from gaudy gothic opulence to brutalist imposing might.

Turning around, she glances over the Consensus plot and calls out in a slightly raised voice "Alright everyone, you know your jobs. Let's get to it!" There doesn't seem to be any audible response, but all the frames other than Garotte begin moving in eerie and precise silence.

The largest and nearly cube-shaped frame, begins to fold - for lack of a better word - itself up. The corners detach from each other and even the flat surfaces themselves seem to break down in tessellated fractal patterns as paper thin metals begin to move towards the ground - such delicate material is likely why it was shielded during descent by the other frames - and eventually all that remains is a platform about sixty meters square and a meter thick that hovers serenely 20 centimeters above the grass, not touching anything but having an absolute solidity to it that one would swear it was settled on bedrock.

Within those former confines, every cubic millimeter is packed with containers of various sizes that begin to themselves move and settle off to the side, each having about a 3cm platform - apparently a Tezh logistics/transport frame - onto which contents are loaded and contained inside a translucent covering. After a large amount of them have moved to a staging area, an inner layer is visible that looks to be refrigerated - misty condensation falling from them as they too move to a staging area, having been previously protected from re-entry heat by the layer upon layer of other Tezh.

Now empty, the giant transport frame platform is beset by the other Tezh. The frames slightly larger than Garrote (at 30m) begin to show seams along their edges shortly before breaking apart into stacks of multi-centimeter thick plates, like a packaged deck that suddenly gets split into all the single cards. These collections of thin plates rise up and begin to form an interleaved auditorium roof, able to position itself to shade the central platform while not smothering visitors by blocking a breeze. They drift and pivot among each other almost like metallic clouds, defying any set pattern yet always making sure the platform is perfectly shaded.

The smaller frames - thicker than the shade frames but much smaller than Garrote - begin to break apart, snapping into segments of various sizes that then begin to stand up and fold themselves into more articulated and complex shapes; stocky torsos with long arms and a half dozen spidery legs, bipedal frames with four arms that generally echo the pattern of a Stozudal body, and a large number of even more simplistic bipedal shapes with only two arms that begin to unpack the storage crates that had been moved to the staging area.

The spider-like frames approach the hovering platform touch it here or there, a pulse of light visible before their touch moves upward and onward, beginning to weave walls out of seemingly thin air. Every pulse of light gains a sudden connected thread from previous points. They begin climbing almost as soon as there is anything for the insect-like legs to touch, and soon have raised an extremely delicate structure over twenty meters tall and move over the delicate looking construct with ease and eerie organic fluidity despite their obvious technological origin. The structure begins to take an organic crystalline shape, almost like a geometric tree with fluted chimneys of woven structure reaching up to the 'clouds' which now begin to change color and the whole thing takes on a very techno-organic tree vibe.

With the main structure complete, the spidery frames descend along the inner surface of the wall lattices and begin constructing various stages, meeting rooms, and more to showcase the various worlds of the Consensus. The bipedal frames that had been unpacking outside begin to bring in the contents of the crates; artwork and hand-crafted goods, paintings and sculptures, and more. Some of the more simplistic frames origami themselves into useful shapes; bookshelves, tables, even temperature controlled storage for delicacies from all over the Consensus.

With everything from the cargo pod now placed and displayed properly, the frames begin to re-purpose themselves. The thick simply constructed bipedal units break apart similar to the cloud/now-tree-tops, thinning out and joining end to end into things like rows of chairs, a conference table, an audio/visual projector, and animated geometric sculptures that frame a walkway leading up to the entry to the pavilion. The cargo box bases set themselves into place as a tiled walkway leading up to the large opening of the newly constructed building, hovering as the pavilion itself does just above the grass so as not to crush it with the activity.

After perhaps an hour or two of gracefully choreographed work, everything is now in place. The spidery constructors climb the interior surfaces of the walls to dangle on the ceiling above visitors and hang from a strand of material, huddling up into a teardrop shape that will emit light when the sun sets. The dozen or so Stozudal patterned frames, much more refined in shape and bearing very organic curves rather than the straight and rigid design of the others, walk down from the woven building and to the main pathway to greet visitors. They speak fluently in many languages and are happy to give tours, answer questions, and otherwise be a font of information about the Consensus, the Tezh themselves, or anything else someone may wish to know when visiting the pavilion.

While all of that was in progress Brigid had not been idle. She was busy making calls to representatives of member worlds who would arrive shortly to add a more flesh and blood feel to the Consensus Pavilion - which was literally made of Tezh, and getting in touch with other leaders of various stellar neighbors. There was much to be done while at the Expo, and the Speaker made sure her schedule was as efficiently organized as possible - the more she could get done quickly, the more she could enjoy the Expo for what it was meant to be.

First thing first, she needed to find the Kronin King-General and fulfill their agreement. She set off looking for their pavilion, idly wondering what became of the remains of the dragon she'd had a rather close call with not too long ago.

Spoiler: Speaker's Appearance

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Brigid, Speaker for the Consensus, is wearing a crisp suit of light durable material similar to silk woven to have a matte finish rather than shiny. She wears no shoes, as is Stozudal custom, and only has a minor decoration or two in the form of a toe-ring and ankle cuff. The pants are pressed with sharp creases that would pass any military inspection, her top is a delicate near-sheer white material that buttons up to mid-chest and proceeds up in a V to a short non-fold down collar. She wears a vest of the same material as the pants, also pressed to perfection, and both top and vest are sleeveless and allow her arms to move freely, the left pair visibly prosthetic. Around her neck is a delicate chain which holds a Living Fire Gemstone centered in the V-neck area of her top, glittering from excellent craftsmanship.

[Lleban]

An auction on the other side of Axiom, what could go wrong. SPACE KING and crew were eager to escape knight space if only for a moment, as the fallout of the chivalric iconoclasm was becoming what the political analysts call, a hot mess. Even the muscular might of SPACE KING could only deflect so many offal projectiles. Still the mood en route was an usually peppy, perhaps thanks the inclusion of Knight Christie. Or, if Dio is to be believed, Silver the SPACE HORSE bought down the mood thanks to his long face.

Upon landing in the park the group began to tour the sites.

Outside the HIMS Sunset SPACE KING couldn't help but marvel at the ships scale and think, I can lift that. Taken in by the peaceful atmosphere he proclaimed "AHH isn't it a wonderful day to pump some SPACE IRON, the fresh air, the sun, the MAJESTIC EAGLES. Dio you can even practice with you're pink therapy shake weight. "

Dio rolled his eyes, as memories of getting trampled and his subsequent recovery briefly flashed to the forefront of his consciousness. "Sir I don't.... that's just you giving me the middle finger! Pardon me, I just think you're leading us to our certain demise."


SPACE KING ruffled Dio's hair with his left hand while shoving the pink crystal shakewieght into Dio's arms with his right. "Dio I don't pay you to think I pay you to do paperwork and FLEX for my amusement."

Christie chimed in, deftly snatching the shake weight faster than Dio's eyes could track before mockingly adding "Besides, shouldn't you be hoping for some excitement. Didn't you tell me your spent a year tended to and I ...quote "the most bombin pink nurses in Axiom," hahaha or was that an Fibb.

Dio tried to reclaim his shake weight, but his attempts at flexing only served to make the man nearly fall over. "Isn't there a Space horse you need to attend to anyways."

SPACE KING already had to deal with a series of lily liveried clowns and v0.05 at home and he wasn't going to start tolerating the behavior here. His voiced swelled as a tangible heat emanated from his purple frame and his RIPPLING muscles become more DEFINED."DEAARR GOD if you continue I'm gonna take my metal foot and FLEX you're asses back to Knight space. Just do some push ups and CHILL."

[Tychris1]

The Wardens understood little of such practices. On Hearth, things were traded and shared in continuum, and all of it in things you used. Things you wanted. Things you loved. This “awk-she-on” as the Celenians put it was clearly some kind of omen or portending event. With things as bleak as they were in Warden space with oncoming Same, the Source guided warriors felt compelled to oversee such a strange foreign ritual, and ensure no foul play was afoot in the process of such. One final time perhaps for some who wandered the expo. Fire Lord Vix-Tal stumbled through the various pavilions, bedecked in fine metal armor with hotrod flames painted on them, and his talons stuffed with various meats coerced from vendors. The studding and crude but completed pairing of pieces gave the distinct impression of a ship’s hull retrofitted. The hulking polar bear barn owl amalgamation (occasionally belching fire) was accompanied by two other figures a man and an immense space hamster. Antich Heaventreader kept his hands firmly enshrouded in his midnight robes as he remarked upon the Hearthling’s gluttonous display with facial tragedy. Beneath the black robes were simple black army clothes typical of the Core Patrol Corps, a metal made of specially carved silver to look like an open circle threaded through said robes, and a series of feathers chained together beneath his right shoulder. The one stranger amongst the group to any familiar with Warden hierarchal structure was a giant hamster with large spots of orange fur on her face and hips. Bedecked in dusters, leathers, and chaps of the finest alien monster hide this freely drinking beast swapped between quickdraw motions with its organic claw and steadying itself with the mechanical pincers on its other arm. A fearsome helmet lay clipped to its bandolier of exotic trophies and gadgets. The helmet looked almost like a fire that bent into a maw with a burning lasers eye in the center dominant visor.

It seemed as if the Chief Deputy Warden was keeping as much an eye on his backup as the proceedings themselves.

[LapisCattis]

A large black high-command transport ship touches down on the outskirts of the Expo. Inside the kronin don their atmosphere regulator suits. The newly-promoted King-General stands before his men. King-General Nozdak did not expect his men to win many of the competitions since that was not what they were there to do. He was there to do some diplomatic business. His men were there to enjoy themselves. He stepped off the ship and walked toward the expo. He salutes the gray striped feline. "Greetings, I am Ad... King-General Nozdak. I am here to discuss the auctioning of certain regions, namely F12, F14, E13, G13, and H14's philosophy in our sector, among other things. I heard you were the one to talk to?"

Mitzi Mooscat paused from washing her ears and sat up on the table in a dignified pose. "Correct, King-General Nozdak. Follow me." Jumping down from the table and giving her coat a soft rustle, Mitzi guides the King-General into one of the private triangular rooms and uses her tail to hand him a datapad.

"To auction off your lots, I will need a complete but succinct description of the lots themselves - buildings, philosophical openings, trade centers, and so on. I will also need to know if you refuse certain items as payment, how long you want these Lots available for bidding, and if you wish to be an unnamed seller. As bids come in on your Lots, I will send one of my brethren to update you. Once I have the description and payment information, I will announce the new Lots."

Mitzi narrows her eyes threateningly. "As Auctioneers, we do have the right to refuse to auction off any Lots that we deem against our own laws and morality. If there is such an issue with your own Lots, we may discuss a compromise or other arrangement."

Opening her eyes wide again in a friendly manner more expected of a young cat, she continues. "If you have buyers who have already expressed interest that you would like to keep updated, let me know and I can also send couriers to their delegations to announce the opening of bids. It would be nice if we could get some business today after coming all this way. Having to keep those four company is turning my whiskers white."

[Ivor_The_Mad]

It was time... FOR THE GRAND ENTRANCE

The Brew Master woke to a silent ship with bottles of his "Mystery Brew" in 3 of his 4 hands. He sat up and looked around, using his empty hand to rub his eyes as the adjusted to the darkness. He tried to think back to before he blacked out. He vaguely remembered making a bet, something about... a bet... or a drinking competition? It was no matter, he was thinking clearly now. He experimental shook the bottles he had and to his pleasure on of them was full. He tilted back his head and drained the bottle. Almost immediately his mind went fuzzy and his vision doubled. "Ahhh. Thatsh mush bedder!"

His fuzzy mind still managed to recall what he came here to do. Set up a party!. He stumbled around the cargo hold until he found his booze. He pressed a button on the cargo box the bottles were stored in and they whurred to life. The crates now hovered about a foot of the ground. He grabbed the handle and walked towards the door. He stepped out onto the ramp and proceeded to tumble down the whole way. He landed in what he assumed was a power pose but looked more like he was trying to see the inside of his knee. He eventually managed to get his cargo to what was probably his pavilion spot. here he set out the crates and made a sort of booth. He put up his hand made sign which read. Iz goT Soom BozZe. Com hazn god drnk!?

Spoiler: The Pavilion

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The Brew Masters Pavilion, if it can be called that, is just a large pile of cases of booze that form a sort of a booth from which he can operate. Behind his counter a fold-out chair facing a screen displaying Korma's live stream and a box full of bags space chips. This is where The Brew Master can be found. He is sitting in the chair wearing a sombrero modified to hold 4 beers, each with a straw that allows him to move as little as possible. If anyone is interested they may come here and try The Brew Masters Mystery Brew. The Mystery Brew tastes like the best alcoholic beverage the drinker can imagine... but one bottle is enough to knock down even the toughest of beings. The brew for some reason also glows a vibrant neon yellow.

If you want you can even get drunk before writing a post to this to make it that much more realistic!!

[Aedilred]

Spoiler

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Galactic Droccen Imperium

NUT

Droccen had distanced itself a bit from the Ninurtine Empire after that embarrassing identity theft episode at Sai's Coronation. Whether it had been a deliberate pulling back of relations by the Empress or a natural consequence of the vast amounts of space between them was a difficult thing to say. And then there was the matter of the Celenians and Sai's would-be suitor as the Ninurtine's closest ally, Well, it certainly hadn't made relations less awkward between them, though credit had to be given to Celes, they had come through with the gift of a crucial technological advancement when it looked as if there would be war between Droccen and Zara. Had that been Constantine too? No matter. Sai had accepted the Ninurtine's offer to stay within the Imperial Pavillion, it seemed likely to be another attempt at an olive branch.

Sai, with Kuro ever after her, tracked down the Ninurtine Empress to relay her condolences.

"Empress Daregense..." Sai held out her hands to grasp her peer's.

"You have my sincere condolences for your Emperor's death. Cherahiteth was a fine man and leader." She gave the other woman's hands a squeeze, her heart constricting a little with worry for her own husband's health.

"He offered a treaty between our people years ago, did he ever tell you? But then the events of the Coronation..." She let her words trail off and looked slightly embarrassed.

"Perhaps it would be worth revisiting at a more opportune time?" Like when you aren't mourning? Her implication was clear though she attempted to delicately dance around the matter.

"Thank you for your kind words," Daregense said. "Our marriage was entirely personal, did you know? There was no diplomatic purpose. For years I thought I had done well, but now I find myself in mourning twice over - for my Emperor and for my husband.

"Still," she said with a faint smile, "the business of state never rests, as you no doubt know, and now I have my duties as regent to perform to boot.

"I remember the treaty well, and subject to being brought up to date I am sure it can be agreed. Given its content, however, it should probably bear the signature of an Emperor, rather than a regent. While I cannot pre-judge the election, it seems more than likely that Durgadoresh will be crowned, and since he was instrumental in preparing the first draft, I see no reason he would refuse now. If not him, though, then most likely the present Arch-Aristocrate will be crowned, and he is less predictable. His predecessor, whom I suspect you remember, was a keen supporter of mutual recognition with Droccen, but she is no longer in power, her successor is largely an unknown quantity, and I am uncomfortably aware that Ledahadden's enthusiasm for a Droccen alliance directly contributed to her death...

"So waiting before signature would probably be necessary regardless of other considerations," she sighed. "But-" she added with a slightly mischevious smile - "it is within my power to honour the subsidiary terms of the treaty prior to agreement, and that I would be happy to do."

[QuintonBeck]

As the Red Fleet painted personal cruiser arrived via CmC Relay traveling from Crystal's Edge to Amurrin then onward to Twr by GLD the General Secretary gazed out at the assembled alien ships in orbit. The last time he had been to an in-person gathering of Axiom's leaders he had been the protege of Chairman Vaou attending the now (in)famous Coronation of Sai where the Old Man asked to marry the Empress. It all seemed so long ago now to the General Secretary who had risen through the ranks of the PolitBoro and the Party seizing control of the great reordering that had been the formation of the Union. Chairman Tats had been a smart and fair leader but the Draax Attacks had caught her completely unprepared and the time had come for a centralization of Party power over the productive forces of their vast integration of socialist republics. The alien diplomatic armada, to which his own ships had already added to in their deployment of the Union pavilion, was a reminder that despite the great deal that happened within the personal lives the great fabric of the universe continued to shift and be pulled in boundless directions by its denizens caring not for the small lives of those who lived within it except for how they might advance into the future. The General Secretary joined with his attendant the Mindcaster Xu, the Captain of his personal ship, and the Executive Officer on board as Union prepared to make touch down planetside.

Spoiler: The Pavilion

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The Union pavilion was externally merely a large red tent emblazoned with a circlet of golden stars at its entrance flap that represented the Union symbolically. Inside the tent's interior had been partitioned into a number of distinct areas the first of which a visitor would enter being the entry chamber. An industrial Matter Manipulator served as the centerpiece to the room, a hulking mechanical cube with three dozen interface consoles from which visitors could requisition a number of items both utilitarian and frivolous to be molecularly assembled from the buried matter reservoirs all free of charge. The walls of fabric that demarcated one room from the next were thick canvas sheets emblazoned with artistic Union propaganda. On one wall a painting displayed the ancient rocketry and pre-GLD space ships created by SPR engineers emblazoned with the symbols of the Sublime People's Republic. On another an assembly of humans met with an assembly of Rocthurhi with a line dividing the aquatic aliens from terrestrial humans being shattered at the point of impact where human and rocthurhi reached out to embrace one another as comrades. Yet another showed a similar scene between Union representatives, now more diverse than humans alone, making similarly boundary breaking contact with the Kombuch, Vilari, Droccen, and a number of other species. Common Union slogans adorn the upper and lower portions of these wall sized propaganda posters: "Solidarity with all comrades!", "Strength through unity!", "Workers of the galaxy, unite!", "Peace before war!"

Additional rooms in the pavilion were staffed by humans and aliens from across the Union manning booths and displays that discussed their homeworlds, their culture, and their history as a member state of the Union. A memorial to the lives lost in the Draax attacks, Union, Rocthurhi, Dawnstar, and even Draax dominated a small solemn chamber adjacent to that of Huville & Turffopolis' display. The memorial was composed of one great black obelisk inscribed with the names of the fallen written in their native tongue. A solemn vow was etched across the obelisk's crown "Look upon the costs of war."

Another room was dedicated to the Uplift Chorus and its member states of Union, Tezh, Droccen, and Rocthurhi. The area served as both a means to introduce curious visitors to the alliance of followers of the One as well as acting as a foyer to a private meeting chamber should any member(s) of the Chorus desire a private audience. A copy of the early agreement drafted by Tezh, Rocthurhi, and the SPR was on display next to a modern copy of the existing Chorus tenets. The documents were remarkably similar save for the addition of the Droccen to the modern document. An agreement to pursue the peaceful integration of followers of the One, support for fellow members of the Chorus in their duties, and recognition of the Tezh as font for modern ideological directives. The agreement had come early in the Age of the Maturated and lasted now more than two decades of political turmoil, a Revolution, and the revelations of the Core. There were no other intergalactic agreements with quite the same pedigree as shared by members of the Uplift Chorus.

Perhaps it was some sense of nostalgia for the past that had overwhelmed the General Secretary upon seeing the familiar assembly of delegates but Jerry Gates found himself drawn to the Sunset. Having come up through the somewhat underserviced Red Fleet of a largely peaceful SPR-dominated polity Jerry had a lot of envy about the finer craft known to be fielded by other stellar navies. A history of the Ninurtine Armada which was rather renowned for its prowess could be quite interesting indeed. While the Union did not condone the kind of imperialist violence imposed upon less well equipped people there was a sense of refined brutality to the whole affair. Were the Union closer perhaps it might choose to object more loudly, or truly to object at all, but given the distance the General Secretary found himself simply curious. What genocide might an expansionist militant Space Emperor endorse for the pleasure of his Imperial Court?

---

Captain Yvex was an Edilian from Crystal's Edge and her compound eyes allowed her to catch her XO's nervous look when she suggested they put their names in for the race. It wasn't that Commander Huxley was incapable of PT, the Captain knew he led crew training every other day, but the Commander had referred to this detail as a "vacation" when they'd gotten the assignment and the Captain did enjoy making her XO squirm. She'd reprimanded him then and there for his dismissive attitude given the propensity for galactic gatherings to historically turn into some form of shootout and ever since he'd been trying to win back her good graces by being extra agreeable.

"These debates sound interesting too. I don't suppose they teach us philosophy and theory in the academy for nothing. Perhaps we should try something less physically strenuous first?"

"Very good sir, if you think that's for the best."

"Do you not want to run, Moses?" she asked, her tone serious.

"I want to do what you want me to do, sir," he responded with all seriousness back avoiding any obvious tells but quirking an eyebrow ever so slightly which Wyrh recognized as careful restraint.

The small insectoid mouth chittered as the Captain chuckled at her first officer.

"Let us try our hand at debate then. 'This house would immediately emancipate Kaynite slaves' sounds like an intriguing position to take."

---

The Secretary had given Xu permission to roam as he went off to study Ninurtine naval history and the red robed psychic found herself drifting towards the assembly of minds gathered to watch the Space Chess tournament. The psychic tendrils of her mind drifted around her, invisible but to those with the Sight, and brushed against the onlookers collecting observations and rules as Xu observed the current participants playing the nominal game. Black pieces, white pieces, and a board of the same color squares. Each piece a unique moveset and value to the players but a single piece on each team around whom the game turned. For now Xu was content to observe but rapidly she was gaining a deeper and deeper understanding of the game and its rules, her white eyes physically blind but witnessing herself and her surroundings through the eyes around her as she brushed lightly across the surface thoughts of those surrounding her. A smile took to her lips as the pleasure of so many gathered here in celebration of galactic wonders built within her own mind. The psion was not expecting to talk to anyone but with intergalactic events one never could tell...

Spoiler

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OOC: Activity posts to come alongside responses

Cast:
General Secretary Jerry Gates - A white human man in his later forties with heavily greyed but still faintly blonde hair, a bushy silver and gold mustache dressed in a Union military cut outfit akin to but not quite a uniform. A heavy dark brown cloak rests about his shoulders and a naval hat rests upon his brow both trimmed with red piping and accents. Given diplomatic protocol he is unarmed. Aside from his curiosity about the Sunset he seems eager to speak with any power that wished to discuss intergalactic matters with the Union.

Comrade Xu - A Mindcaster female Xu appears to be superficially human but her skin is a dark dark blue-grey nearly to the point of blackness and her all white eyes and hairless skin mark her as something other than pure strain humanity. Xu is dressed in a red fabric robe that conceals her body save her neck, face, and hands though where skin is exposed geometric patterns inked in silver glitter as tattoos upon her skin.

Captain Wyrh Yvex - An Edelian female, the Edelians are reptilian/insectoid humanoids and Captain Yvex herself is coated in dark green almost black microfine scales but perhaps marked most notably by her bulbous black sphere eyes. She is dressed in the uniform of a Red Fleet officer with epaulets on her shoulders denoting her rank as a Captain. While not obvious from a glance the Edelian speaks eighteen distinct languages including her native language, the common human tongue used widely in Union, a number of important trade languages, as well as the majority of Uplift Chorus member planet languages. She appears quite interested in the Universal Translator technology being unveiled.

Commander Moses Huxley - A dark brown human male in his mid thirties dressed similarly to his captain in Red Fleet officer garb but with one less golden bar on his shoulder. The Commander has taken it upon himself to keep an especial eye out for danger and disturbances at the event. As a representative of the Union he is open to being approached and talking with aliens especially those members of the Uplift Chorus with whom he has the most familiarity and understanding of permitted exchanges.

[KriegTiger]

More arrivals for the Tezh Pavilion
An hour or two after the pavilion self assembles and is ready for visitors, another vessel bearing TZH credentials and IFF arrives above Martu. This time it is very much not a Tezh frame - being fairly large and and elegant rather than small and spindly or blocky. The slightly aerodynamic body has stubby sweeping wings and control surfaces, a lower-hull with bulges and rounded caps that suggest landing gear, and an upper hull that is very glossy and black as if made of a darkly shaded glass. It is likely that the hundred meter long vessel is entirely passenger seating inside with a see-through top for the viewing pleasure of the guests.

Cleared to land, the ship makes its way to the Expo grounds and and begins to debark a mix of peoples from various backgrounds:

First off is a rowdy gaggle of a nearly fifty mixed peoples; Lyraen, Droccen, Grymlan, among others of the maturated races and a collection of others - all inhabitants or descendants of Uanerth, where lost spacers from across the galaxy all ended up together somehow.

Next come a contingent of Monochronoms, looking very much like a rainbow being vomited forth from the passenger vessel as each individual has mismatched colors on almost every piece of clothing. They look about curiously and cautiously, wary of being trapped by some new addiction or distraction much as they were before the Consensus expedition broke the cycle of use and violence on Gyribov.

Stooping to clear under the door come a few of the Telluriumides from Stronoe 71Y6 - almost four meters tall and made of thick long growths of crystal. They look a bit like walking tree trunks made of stibnite; a Tezh translator frame hovers near each of them to assist in communicating with fellow attendees at the event.

After a brief pause, a hesitant brick-shaped head peeks out from the entry port and a Stozudal patterned Tezh frame walks past and then turns to coax the very ancient robotic being forward. "Come now, it's alright - We have been designated as your Steward and none can command or lay claim to you" the Tezh soothes, reaching forward with a lower-arm hand. The droid reaches out with a primitive clasper and takes the offered appendage and then begins to come through the door.

As the pair make their way down the gangplank there is a bit of commotion behind them - excitement and glee from a young voice. "Ugh.. FIIIINE" is heard and silence ensues until the droid and Tezh have fully departed the gangway and then suddenly a young Droccen girl bursts out of the door and throws herself against the grab rail, peering every which way in excitement.

Her Guardian follows in a dignified hurry to keep up "Princess Mika, please do not rush off - we will find the Empress very soon, I promise. Let me check-in with her security detail and we will go greet her immediately - but please, stay here."

The young girl turns around and glares at the Guardian with an exasperated sigh and crosses her arms "I said 'fine'.. but seriously - come on! It's been so long!" About her neck is a single modest Living Fire Gemstone, placed in an elegant metal setting "And I want to go exploring, too! Karo won't let me get into trouble, as usual." and it's unclear whether the girl is frustrated or not by this fact, given the adventures they've had already.

A soft choral voice, speaking Droccen but with a notable Stozudal accent, pipes up from the setting around the gemstone "We haven't lost her yet, anyway." it teases the Guardian.

As the droid and Droccen contingent make their way to the Tezh pavilion, the Monocronoms and rag-tag band from Uanerth disperse into the expo, off on their own adventures.

[Miltonian]

Lyraean Pavilion

Red waves the fruit away. "It would not agree with me, I'm afraid." Syndrome are carnivores. "As fascinating as dying must be, I was not sent here to study it. Rather, my mother, the Overlady, as you assumed, is interested in investigating your case. As the delegate in charge of the investigation, I am here to request your permission to proceed and to access your records of the event."

"Ah. Of course. Dietary restrictions. Forgive me, it slipped my mind." Lyrae looks around for a suitable alternative and finds none. Everything here is some variety of sweet. With a shrug, she takes another bite of her fruit and savors the taste.

She grimaces at the request. "Actually, we were debating about requesting your help. Given your skills in the area, I thought it would be best to bring you in instead of relying on the organizations that failed to prevent it in the first place. There were concerns about state secrets, but I doubt that we could keep anything from you if we tried."

"Cake!" Sai's eyes lit up.

"I suppose a bit of cake couldn't hurt." She grinned delightedly but cocked her head towards the opera as an especially passionate howl drowned out everything else for a moment.

"What... beautiful music they make!" Sai complimented the performers graciously once the howls subsided to a dull roar.

"I was so shocked to hear of your recent assassination." Sai looked slightly embarrassed to bring it up.

"But I am very glad you are still with us, no matter what the lovely form."

The cake actually comes in several different varieties, made from local fruits native to the Lyraen system as well as a few from Reeds. All are brightly colored and attractively decorated, even if they have been cut into and partially eaten at this point. Lyrae gestures towards it and a female attendant steps up to serve the Droccen Empress with whatever kind she desires.

"Yes," Lyrae says thoughtfully, "It is an old story. Two lovers running away from their families to start a new house in a new land. But warfare in their adopted home parts them once again when he is recruited into the local lord's warband and she is left to fend for herself on the streets. Here, she is cursing her sad fate and the evil-eyed Moon."

A tight smile crosses her face. "It was...unexpected. I will give credit where credit is due. The rebels did an excellent job of taking me by surprise."

At the compliment, she preens a little, her tail curling a bit about her legs. "Thank you! You look ravishing as always." She beams at Sai.

[SquirrelWizard]

The sky rumbles as blocky transport tugs descend from the sky carrying boxy metallic structures. Pneumatic legs deployed from the boxes as they set down in the pavilion that had been earmarked for the Combine. Doors opened as several Grymlan techies poured out of one of the boxes attaching cables and minding one driving a large mechanical walker. Several shuttles dropped from orbit to disgorge more Grymlan Techies as well as several Lopurna. A flurry of activity followed as the structures were shifted around in to a oval and several small metal poles were erected to hold up a thick canvas granting shade to the central area between them. Noise began filtering from the pavilion as sounds of talking intermingles with electronics and the occasional energetic discharge of a zapcannon.

Spoiler: Combine Pavilion and Special Action Auction

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To the North is a small communications hub overseen by OwO, Gruff Arclight oversees the techies who troubleshoot communications and monitor usage of the net there.

To the East are several containers overseen by LeeLee Buildfast the CEO of the newly rebranded Advanced Integrated Dynamics. Displays can be seen here of prototype products they are working on ranging from military equipment, to civilian use equipment. In front of their setup is a small arena with light loaders that people can take for a ride, and possibly participate in battlebot matches. Periodically short seminars are held advocating for AIDs to work with other Starpowers as a research and development corporation. (Battlebots are small mechs piloted by contestants the controls have been dumbed down for general use and as such military score doesn't contribute to rolls (its a flat 2d6 roll between contestants) the mechs are rigged to shut down after "sustaining" a certain amount of calculated damage or by one of the technicians observing the bout. Mech servos and hydraulics are limited to reduce kinetic damage to pilots.

Spoiler: AIDS Special Offer

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To showcase their work. Advanced Integrated Dynamics is offering their services and ingenuity to either improved a trade resource or retrofit a technology (Economy 5 Special Action). And are accepting specific things in return for their efforts:

• Building of a 3 action AID base in territory not inhabited by an Org base. (AID Bases will provide bonuses for any future AID related events) +3 points
• Tech +1 point
• TPs +1 point
• Note, if you are asking AID to adapt a technology, then it must have access to the technology and a TP of the desired resource the technology is to be adapted to. AID has access to tech and TPs that the Combine has. TPs traded to AID for purposes of adaption do not count for auction (as the TP will be traded back to its original owner after the adaption takes place).

To the South is a small eatery and shop stand where fast food and baubles can be purchased for a reasonable price.

To the West is Combine Administration where Flash Starshine and Narya Velure represent the Grymlans and Lopurna of the Combine.

[bc56]

Lyraean Pavilion

"Probably, yes." It is rather impolite to talk about how thoroughly one has or has not infiltrated another's secret service. "In order to begin, I have a few questions for you. You are, after all, the primary witness."

[Aedilred]

Durgadoresh's star had risen so quickly - even from its already somewhat elevated state - that it seemed probable that if he were actually elected he would have nowhere to go but down, with the Council taking control of most of the business of government. But now, with its being clear that neither Raul Entebe nor the Prince-Elector had the votes to challenge him, barring a real surprise he could expect to be installed as Emperor.

And everyone knew it, which was why he found himself tailed everywhere not only by the inevitable bodyguards but by a cloud of flunkies and petitioners, seeking his approval or notice, while the crowds parted at his approach as if by magic. For a man who still at heart considered himself a civil servant, it was a disconcerting experience, and he recognised that he would have to be careful not to let it go to his head.

He stopped at the Duenem pavilion to pull off one of the vines and observe the effect, to sycophantic applause from his tail of onlookers, at the Brewmaster's Pavilion for a drink (not the Mystery Brew, to the disappointment of the crowd) and even stepped inside the Syndrome pavilion to look at the Stormwrack and the Stellae Nostrum museum, though the difficulty of keeping well-wishers at bay prevented him from lingering to appreciate the exhibits in full.

Eventually, and ironically in search of something approaching peace and quiet, he made for the Temple of Art and the debate contest, where he arrived shortly before Captain Yvex was about to begin her argument . Even there, Donál, a Kaynite aristocrat who had attached himself to the C-G's party leaned in just as the Captain got to her feet.

"Of course, this is all academic, your excellency. Whatever arguments are made today, the necessity of-"

Durgadoresh silenced him with a raised hand and a glare. "I want to hear this, and it's dreadfully rude to talk while they're speaking."

---

As Jerry Gates reviewed the Sunset he would likely have become aware of a relatively discreet but nevertheless present observation from security. The Tribunes had identified the key foreign delegates and kept a close eye on them. It would not do for any harm to befall them.

After the General Secretary had had time to form his own impression, a man in military uniform approached him and saluted. "Your Excellency, I am Captain Dumuneshar of the Imperial Navy, retired. I hope you are enjoying the exhibition, and would be happy to answer any questions you may have."

---

Some time later...

The Auction

A rather haggard-looking man entered the auction hall and spent a moment looking at each of the auctioneers in turn, as if trying to suss them out. Eventually he made his way over to Gar Gundo.

"Good day, sir. I represent the interests of Lord Donál, who wishes to present his entire stock of slaves for sale at auction. Two hundred and thirteen individuals, full particulars as to age, sex, fertility, labour experience, et cetera, to follow and available on request. When do you think you will be able to present the lot?"

[Miltonian]

Lyraean Pavilion

"Probably, yes." It is rather impolite to talk about how thoroughly one has or has not infiltrated another's secret service. "In order to begin, I have a few questions for you. You are, after all, the primary witness."

Impolite or not, Lyrae gives her a coy smile. "So long as no one is watching me take a bath," she says with a wry chuckle, "I would hope that the Syndrome, mistresses of intrigue and secrets, before whom not even the threads of life can hide their knowledge for long, could think of a more creative way of manipulating me than mildly inappropriate blackmail."

She takes a seat and crosses one leg over the other. Her forepaws fold over her stomach. "Questions, of course. I will answer what I can, and I imagine you will discover more than I say."


Poetry and Bull

In the silence that greets Ty-Rone's recitation, another voice calls out.

"And though we do hate to stall,
It seems that that's not all!
For he came here to play,
But forced us poor souls to say,
That poem was frankly quite droll."

Proxos, though not entered in the contest, has taken a seat behind a table labelled "Judges". The 's' has been crossed out, labelling him as the soul judge. He adopts a businesslike air, scribbling down notes on a datapad. "Excellent job, very intimidating. To those of us who have hearts, anyway." He looks up and looks over the rim of a par of spectacles he's acquired from...somewhere. "Did you ever consider ripping hearts out with a spoon? It'd last longer than teeth and claws."


What a day for a SPACE Knight!

The sound of rapid clapping follows SPACE KING's display. "Bravo! Bravo!" a voice calls. Once again, Proxos has injected himself upon the scene. He looks Space King over and puts one paw on his hip while the other strokes his chin. "Very...hmm, what's the word I'm looking for?"

[QuintonBeck]

While the Captain noticed the arrival of a great host of people, all seemingly fawning over a single man, she did not immediately recognize Durgadoresh from the briefing on Ninurtine politics she had received. The current transition of power following Emperor Cherahiteth II's death had tangled an already complex political web and with so many other forces at work... Still, Yveh remembered reading a Ninurtine report on the Kaynites. It was a terrible situation surely but having joined with the Union as a child of Edlian survivors of the Crystallization the Red Fleet captain was thankful for the opportunity to distance herself from her homeworld's tragic history through service to a greater project. She couldn't imagine being stuck static unable to move because those with the guns decided she could never have one.

"This house would immediately emancipate Kaynite slaves," the Captain began from the central debate stage, "The Kaynites born into and forced into the slavery of the thirty tyrants have neither earned nor warranted the circumstances of their birth nor the brutal conditions of their life. Whatever cruelty the slave caste may be capable of it should be their free choice to make for as they stand cruelty is forced upon them by their masters. A violence is entailed in the enslavement of another creature and while violence may at times be necessary it is the belief of the Union, who I am proud to represent, that violence as a tool is best used sparingly, completed rapidly, and taken only with carefully considered intent. The act of slavery is a long torturous violence whose form may be on average less grotesque than some terrible killing but who's wounds dig in far deeper and reverberate far further."

"If those with the power to emancipate the shackled choose not to aid their fellows when no great force but the conjured imaginings of dangerous freedom exist they are complicit in the enslavement. Do the free not believe themselves deserving of freedom? If they do then on what basis? Can not the basis of your own freedom be conferred upon the enslaved? For those who believe it cannot be, that their lives and value lie so much more heavily in where or to whom they were born than what values they aspire to and what they have learned as intelligent creatures then I weep for the culture that has produced you. If, however, you believe civilization exists outside the bounds of certain arbitrary arrangements of flesh it is the only civil and humane turn with the means at the fingertips of our stellar powers to unshackle all whom remain locked behind by dark pockets of savagery hidden in our galaxy for naught but the circumstances of their birth."

"Mech Pilots may be a valuable resource but, as the Union learned with the Mindcasters, one must first see the people as people. To turn human lives into chits to be bought and sold is to sell your own claim to call yourself an evolved society. That society which cannot provide for its lowest member in an age of wonders such as the one we live in is a society I desire no part of."

Her speech concluded the Captain stepped down and started to make her way back to her XO passing Durgadoresh as she did so.

---

Jerry returned the man's salute, there was a certain level of respect to be conferred among naval officers after all. He smiled at the title and accent of the Captain.

"Captain Dumuneshar, it's a pleasure. Please, 'Your Excellency' is far too formal. I suppose if we're going with our retired ranks you can call me Captain as well, Captain Jerry Gates," he held out his hand for a shake hoping to meet the man as a man and not merely as an old officer.

He looked over at the Sunset admiring its form. The size of the warship was measly compared to modern behemoths fitted with GLD but it was still an impressive spacecraft. Perhaps more impressive for its lack of GLD. A true piece of engineering made in Axiom not some retrofitted gift from old alien stewards. Of course there were those who tried to claim humanity was extragalactic in origin which was absurd.

"Beautiful piece of engineering here. Frighteningly close in quality to ships the Red Fleet still fields I'm afraid," he laughed, "I understand your allies the Celenians are also quite the shipwrights. Does the Ninurtine navy expect to follow their allies into the capital ship game?"

[Gaius Hermicus]

The Lyraens:

Ty-Rone smiles at Proxos in a friendly manner. The menace previously on his face has vanished.

I see you admire my style
That's good; I worked on it a while
My skill with a rhyme
Is as old as time
I manage it with charm and guile

An evil grin crosses his face as his eyes once again go dark.

I've never used spoons for the ripping
Of hearts with lots of blood dripping
I'm interested though
It sounds like a show
Haerthala, get spoons for equipping!

The Ninurtine:

Groaning slightly, Haerthala approaches Durgadoresh. <Hello, Emperor. Congratulations on your election to the leadership of your empire. I hope we can have a discussion about the role of the Ninurtines on the Syndrome border. Hostilities between the Nephret Pact and your allies would be to nobody's benefit. We must discuss ways to prevent such an outbreak of violence if it is at all possible.>

The Ndoda:

After completing his poetic exchange with Proxos, Ty-Rone hops over to Mitzi. Hi-hi, fluffy friend! How's your auction going? Listen, I wanted to say...

Ty-Rone's eyes darken again. It appears that we have a bit of an issue. You stole our region. You're lucky, though, because we've been paid for it twice now. Thank the Kronin that you aren't getting invaded.

He calms down and begins speaking in the softer, mewling voice that he started with. Also, I wanted to put a lot up for auction. A general of great military skill, name of Bdeh Kekkles. He's a Melfynian expatriate, who has been working with us for a few years now. We'd like to sell his services to the highest bidder.

[Aedilred]

Jerry returned the man's salute, there was a certain level of respect to be conferred among naval officers after all. He smiled at the title and accent of the Captain.

"Captain Dumuneshar, it's a pleasure. Please, 'Your Excellency' is far too formal. I suppose if we're going with our retired ranks you can call me Captain as well, Captain Jerry Gates," he held out his hand for a shake hoping to meet the man as a man and not merely as an old officer.

He looked over at the Sunset admiring its form. The size of the warship was measly compared to modern behemoths fitted with GLD but it was still an impressive spacecraft. Perhaps more impressive for its lack of GLD. A true piece of engineering made in Axiom not some retrofitted gift from old alien stewards. Of course there were those who tried to claim humanity was extragalactic in origin which was absurd.

"Beautiful piece of engineering here. Frighteningly close in quality to ships the Red Fleet still fields I'm afraid," he laughed, "I understand your allies the Celenians are also quite the shipwrights. Does the Ninurtine navy expect to follow their allies into the capital ship game?"

Dumuneshar's handshake was cold and metallic. After releasing the grip, the captain adjusted something on his wrist, and his forearm changed apperance, displaying a bionic limb. "An old service memento," he said, by way of explanation.

"There are a lot of ships of this sort of quality still about, so it's nothing for the Red Fleet to be ashamed of. I spent almost my entire career on ships no more advanced than this and most of our expeditions into neighbouring sectors have been met with ships of equivalent standard. We still have a few flying ourselves for system control purposes and I'm sure she'd still handle fine in stellar conditions, but since she can't be retrofitted she's not really suitable for warfare against other stellar powers with GLD - and since they're all that can really threaten Imperial territory these days, she's functionally obsolete.

"When we first acquired GLD, our intention was to build bigger and bigger ships, as the Republic has done, but we found that at least in our early battles that wasn't an effective use of resources. A single big ship, like our first GLD ship, the Santino, makes a powerful impression, but much smaller vessels can do a lot of damage to planetary installations, and capital ships can only be in one place at a time. They're best suited to fleet-to-fleet engagements, but we have yet to face a full-scale battle with a GLD-equipped opponent. Even then, we suspect that there's a benefit to smaller, but still combat-capable, screening craftl. So based on those early experiences we started to diversify our ship design." He moved to a display and brought up a picture of an Imperial warship. "The idea behind this Sterkelv class was to apply the principles of asymmetric warfare in our favour, and that proved successful so it's been developed with more gunboats and destroyers, and most of our battlegroups now include a number of smaller vessels.

"Of course there's still a place for larger ships." He changed the display to show a much more grandiose vessel. "This is the Terminus, which is one of our biggest warships to date, and making use of Celenian technology, though still a long way shy of some of the Republic's vessels. I suspect," he added with a smile, "that if we do ever build ships competing with theirs for size it'll be as a statement rather than for real military purposes."