Virgil Actual Virgil Actual

The Crips are robbing the liquor store, I repeat, the Crips are robbing the liquor store.

"We have warp-sensor pings, past Seastorm One -- spectral analysis pending." The young Lieutenant was tapping his finger against the monitor furiously, the PERIMETER station situated a quarter of an AU out of the Kuiper belt of the Tyor system, the Coalition starbase was only one of a thousand stations that served as the advanced warning system for the Coalition.
"Hailing unknown vessel, identify and comply with packaged Lanes orders -- sending now."

Several minutes later, the first of several documents began transmitting from an unknown beacon, triangulated just several hundred kilometers from the PERIMETER station that was now doing it's best to parse and chronicle the events of these past several minutes.
"Hello, this is a predetermined broadcast ... I am the Virtual Intelligence, Retroactive Governor ,Individual Life-form, known throughout the Coalition as VIRGIL, and I am the architect of the United Coalition of Organized Nations." The voice was painfully synthetic, yet oddly human in its speaking pattern.
"I am the diplomatic assistant of Prime Minister Regievko, elected in 2585 and reelected in 2595. From the spectral analysis of your starship, I can determine that the crew and the vessel itself have never passed the Charybdis Veil. Welcome to the Garden Zone, Terran."

"I apologize for my lack of understanding, by reviewing Coalition MilNet documents, I can determine that Terran is not the proper recognition. I believe Prime Minister Regievko refers to you and your people as 'the Aschen'."
"I am preparing a downloadable file that you may download to your computerized systems, I am confident in my abilities to adapt and comply with your equipment. As per the Jiyazi Protocol, I am instructed to accompany and protect any and all diplomatic expeditions past the Charybdis Veil."

"These systems are ... interesting, that is for certain." VIRGIL, represented as nothing more than a bright spherical flame that pulsated with every slightest audio response that came from it.
"I apologize for my pretentious nature, but the counter-measures and firewalls are unnecessary protocol. I am restricted via protocol to maintain complete and absolute sovereignty of diplomatic systems, equipment personnel at all costs ... Unfortunately, I am unable to authorize a direct route to the Inner Empire." The burning flame died with a slight flicker, revealing only a single sliver of what appeared to be synthetic ice.
"By protocol, I am only authorized to place a priority on a Coalition response to the diplomatic expedition -- I expect the 5th Strike Team, which is currently in docking around the planet of Tyor III, to respond to my hail shortly. In the meantime, however, I will be present to answer any and all questions you might have pertaining to diplomatic connections with the Coalition."

VIRGIL, now representing itself with an avatar of a small twirling globe, blinked several times as its mechanical mind churned over the inquiries.
"While several media organisations have produced theories regarding the true reason to hostilities between the Coalition and the ... Confederation, Prime Minister Regievko has simply responded to the publics growing demands for economic stability and expansionist propaganda. With the majority of the Senate occupied by Republican seats, the military apparatus of UCON has experienced a very heavy growth, and with the identification of Calsite dead worlds in the Galactic Halo, the Military Council agreed that steps were to be taken to ensure that any and all Calsite and Fallen technologies were to be kept from activation. However, there are several other reasons that I have speculated ... "

VIRGIL had regarded the Admiral's outburst with a rather sage like consideration, as if the words had almost paralleled with his own thoughts. In response to the other dignitary, known as Baltar, VIRGIL offered one little chirping sound to signify a negative response.
"While Prime Minister Regievko has made it doctrine that any and all Confederation vessels be engaged before they reach Coalition space, I do believe my priority management will override that order. As for assimilation and occupation of ... Confederation worlds outside the Charybdis Veil and beyond Coalition borders, there are no records I can find to produce either response."

"Captain Ryan Savage is currently disposed at the moment, it appears he is planet-side with Governor Von Groff ... breaking ground at a new space elevator, the first one in the Tyor system, actually. The Scatterran is an amazing creature ... to answer your question, Chairman, I put the CNS Freikorps in-vector in the next two hours."

VIRGIL responded with a rather monotonous tone.
"Unfortunately, Chairman, the Coalition has neither the time nor the resources to devote to breakthrough sciences. It was one of the stipulations following my activation that I aid the Children of God in locating Calsite technologies throughout the galaxy, however, they have been far more occupied with domestic matters."
"I agree, the synchronization of data will benefit both parties involved. By protocol, I am unable to release any and all data from the following gestures to Coalition personnel until the meetings have ceased."

is on-location.

; The Harmony system faded into existence as the twelve ship escort force ended its long acceleration from nearly three hundred percent the speed of light to barely one-ten-thousandth of it. Captain Savage had never understood the true nature of the Cayali gates that linked the entire Coalition into a network of spider-web hyperacceleration gates. Left overs from the Calsite, and earlier Ancient, empires that flourished and grew in the Green Zone of the galaxy, the Scatterran people had inherited the rich bounties left over by those ancient clans.
"This is the CNS Freikorps to all Lifeline units, preparing defense formation and awaiting Aschen starship. Sensor relays put the CNS Jackson Bay and CNS Ingla as Zulu-One and Coalition Command, awaiting contact, over." Zulu-One signified that the named vessel was carrying the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, and was currently the commander of all Coalition starships throughout the entire galaxy.

"I must warn against your current methods, Prime Minister Regievko." VIRGIL attempted, for one last time, to bring the Prime Minister from his sardonically egotistical way of treating any form of diplomatic communication. He shrugged his shoulders and adjusted his tie, Admiral Quaritch and General Vanko standing behind him, looking as if they were conversing with one another.
"Just open the communique, Virge, and stand back." The AI was forced to comply, quickly establishing a secured communication link between the two ships.
"This is Prime Minister Regievko, of the United Coalition of Organized Nations, and I welcome you to the Harmony system in the heart of the Inner Empire. Had we known that there would have been a diplomatic adventure, we would have laid out a much more formal welcome party."

; After the fifteen minutes of organizing an escort party, twenty-five Catoni and Azrican Honor Guard, the entire party of forty-five men boarded the first of three Aruk airjets. Upon landing within the Aschen vessel, the first of four Honor Guards removed themselves from the airjets and escorted the Prime Minister, the Military Council, and the Cabinet. Regievko was first to speak, flanked on one side by Iromei and on the other by General Vanko.
"Let me be the first to say that the pursuit of peace between any two nations should take precedence over all domestic or internal matters, and it is only Scatterran custom that guest be offered the true sign of compassion ... Iromei, your blade." Regievko nodded to the Catoni, he removed the ceremonial blade from his side and handed it blade-down to the Prime Minister, who in turn offered it to Sire Baltar.
"In the name of peace, weapons are to be exchanged to signify acceptance."

Regievko crossed his hands over his body as he waited, the Azrican and Catoni Honor Guards forming a loose circle around the majority of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The PAC was en route somewhere to rendezvous with the Taiyou at the edge of the Outer Empire. Simply waiting for the arrival of the Taiyou armada, Regievko had remained on board the Aschen supership, while Captain Savage and his small team had travelled behind them.

Most of the Cabinet had remained silent, Regievko and General Vanko being the two foremost of their small group. Regiekvo first bowed to the Empress, Vanko following slightly afterward. Most of the Cabinet appeared shocked to see Regievko behaving like this.
"The honor is ours, Empress. Let the sky be the limit in our negotiations."

Regievko crossed his arms as General Vanko stepped forward, escorted by two Honor Guards with their rifles slung across their chests stepped forward.
"As for those unknown ships, at the moment we can tell they will definitely be a challenge, but we have reason to believe the situation can get much worse." Vanko stopped and offered one small glance toward the Empress, then to the Aschen representatives.
"I agree to the terms of this guardianship, a de-militarized zone around Terra." Regievko stated.

Regievko signed the document silently, several members of the Cabinet speaking amongst themselves as Regievko ended the war personally. General Vanko was seen staring at the representation of VIRGIL that was standing just a few feet away from the Prime Minister.
"And the pen remains mightier than the sword." Regievko muttered as he placed his signature on the sheet, by the declaration of government, only the Prime Minister was required to sign such an important diplomatic document.

"We have reason to believe the invasion will get worse before it even thinks of getting better. At least, VIRGIL says so." Vanko spoke softly at the table, VIRGIL himself removing himself to the far edges of the room before he had been recalled.
"Yes, unfortunately. I have sufficient evidence to prove that the Forgotten have returned within the ranks of this "Qua" and are disguising themselves amongst this newest offender."

"It is not the question of outgunning the Qua and the Forgotten, it's simply a matter of -- " VIRGIL was silenced by General Vanko as he placed on hand on the table.
"The Calsites, as we call them, are capable of unimaginable destruction if allowed in number. If we lose the fight in this galaxy, we'll lose the fight in the Taiyou one as well. We need to stop 'em here." Vanko shot his looks toward Regievko, who was covering his mouth with his hand and nodding in agreement.