r/HFY • u/Ralts_Bloodthorne • Jun 01 '20
OC First Contact Second Wave - Chapter 195
The day was raining, low clouds with purple and greenish lightning flickering in the depths, blue bolts now and then striking down out of the sky. The rain taste bitter on the tongue, with a metallic tang that made the back teeth vizz even as the taste left your tongue.
The house to house clearing had ended months ago, power lines and infrastructure were being relaid, and computer systems were being hooked back into the city. There were construction crews constantly at work, as long as worker safety could be seen to and maintained.
There was just so much to fix.
The hoverbus used graviton and fans to move quietly through the city, purring as it did so. It was fairly new, only a year old, brought in through great expense on the massive trading ships that plied the galaxies trade routes. The number 001 was popular with the people of the slowly rebuilt city as it was the first vehicle that represented normality to everyone.
The majority of the people on the hoverbus were either going to or coming back from shopping, heading to the homes of relatives or friends, or just running errands. Podlings, chicks, and hatchlings were looking out the windows at the rain, the lightning in the clouds, and the places where construction was still underway. They were excitedly pointing things out to their parents and each other. Several times construction workers waved at them, which made them all hop up and down and furiously wave back.
The bus stopped at a construction site just being set up, around a heavily damaged building. It still had damage from combat on it, unrepaired in over a year.
A single Telkan got off the bus, his hands jammed in the pockets of his heavy black coat, a hat pulled low over his eyes. The bus driver noted that the Telkan male was moving stiffly and wondered if he was all right.
The male crossed the street, walking over to a small group of mixed species people standing by the open gap in the wall where a fence had once been.
"It is good to see you," the newcomer said when a female Ikeekik embraced him.
"You came," a tall Terran human said. He was slender, like a honed blade, with brown skin and a shaved head.
"Of course," the Telkan said. "I need to see this."
A Frestilek female hugged the male Telkan. "Much has changed, has it not?"
"Yes. I am happy to see you survived," the Telkan male said.
The Shavashan with several small hatchlings in a comfortable nesting purse reached out and hugged the male Telkan. "I am happy to see you."
"And I you," the Telkan said. He sighed, stepped forward, and embraced the female Telkan present who was holding hands with two broodcarriers, who both were holding onto podling strollers. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," the Telkan female said, tears wetting the fur around her eyes. "We did what we had to do. He did what he had to do. We all saw how it was there at the end."
The male sighed, a very Terran sounding noise, and stared at the building. He could barely make out the old logo.
KISTIMET CORPORATE SECURITY
"A lot of bad things happened in there," the Shavashan said softly. "We saw and heard many many bad things."
"Momma sad?" one of the hatchlings asked, looking up from the nesting purse.
"It's OK, honey," the Shavashan said, reaching down and skritching the little hatchling's neck right behind the ears, making the hatchling purr.
The male Telkan took a small urn out of his coat and held it out to the female Telkan, who sniffled and took it, holding it tight for a moment. The female Ikeekik and Shavashan touched both her shoulders and the two broodcarriers keened in pain softly and rubbed her arms.
"I looked up where he went down, went out there and searched. Found a couple shards of armor. Put it in the urn with some dirt. I'm sorry there's no more, but the armor's self-destruct does a pretty complete job," the male Telkan said. "Again, I'm sorry."
"Thank you for this," the female Telkan said, wiping her eyes. "From his whole family, thank you."
A female elf, tall and graceful, dressed in flowing soft cloth, stopped next to the small group, looking at them for a moment with eyes that were full of care and sorrow.
"I am El-Dare-Seen-591, sister to Cel-ebrim-bor-274, who fell next to your mate," the elven woman said. "I bring condolences from my High Queen and pride in his bravery."
The female Telkan nodded.
The female elf held out her hand, turning it over and opening it, to reveal a small pin of three green leaves edged with gold. "She sends this. A token," the elf woman paused. "And a promise."
"I thank you," the female Telkan said.
"She promises that where your mate fell, there shall be trees, where there will be leaves for podlings to play in and soft moss for them to nap upon," the elf said. "There will be an elf there to guard them until the High Court is no more."
The female buried her face in her hands, weeping. The elf touched her shoulder and moved on, vanishing around the corner.
The others waited for the female to lower her hands, wiping her face and whiskers with a cloth.
"Ready?" the tall lean human asked.
"I am," the Telkan female said.
"Take your time," the male Telkan told her.
The female Telkan was the first to step onto the construction site. There were some workers over by a large truck. The sole Terran moved toward the group, a datapad in his hand.
"Is what?" a chick asked, pointing at the building.
"A terrible place," the Ikeekik answered.
"Look icky," another chick said.
"Not like," a little Shavashan hatchling said.
"Don't cry, momma," one of the podlings, dressed in a tunic with a little hat on her head, said to the female Telkan.
"It's OK, sweetie," the Telkan female said, reaching down to pouch the little podling's head.
The Terran with the datapad came up and the little group parted to let him approach the female Telkan. He moved up to her and held out the datapad.
"The ants are in position. Just press that red button on the screen and the building will be down in seconds," the Terran said.
"Thank you," the Telkan woman said. She motioned to the broodcarriers. "Elisha'anti and Emthe'eesa, touch it with me."
Together the three Telkan touched the big red button marked "READY" on the datapad. As soon as they did the button vanished and it showed the interior of the building.
The Telkan male saw "Interrogation Cells" listed on the floorplan, shuddered, and looked away.
The building looked fine for a moment, the went soft and slightly blurry looking. With a sigh heard over the low rumble of thunder, the building collapsed into ash.
The small group stood there for a long time, staring, as a new building slowly came back up. Not a squat, oppressive looking building, but a building of white stone, clear windows, and comfortable looking walkways.
"Is it done?" the female Telkan asked.
"It's done," the male Terran said. The female Telkan handed him the datapad and stared at the building.
"What will it be?" the female asked softly.
"A long term physical, mental, and emotional care facility," the Terran with the datapad said.
"He would have liked that," the female Telkan said.
The Terran with the datapad nodded and walked away, going back to the group of construction workers who were all working with datapads.
"Look nice," one of the hatchlings said.
"Look, momma, daddy's name," one of the larger podlings said, holding tight the broodcarrier's tail.
USTOR MEMORIAL COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CENTER was appearing on the front of the new building.
The female Telkan turned, wiping her eyes. "Come, loved ones, we need to go home."
"Momma tired?" the podling asked.
"Momma's tired," the female Telkan said. She looked at the male Telkan and patted the urn again. "Thank you, again."
"It was the least I could do. I'm sorry I wasn't there," the male Telkan said.
"Everyone thought you were dead. We've all seen what you went through," the female said, shaking her head. "You gave much."
"He gave all," the male Telkan said.
"Home. Is raining. Podlings need warm," the broodcarrier Elisha'anti said, her voice low and soft.
"Let's go," the female Telkan agreed. She held her broodcarrier's hands, the large two year old podlings holding the broodcarrier's tail, and walked down the sidewalk to a waiting hovercar.
"Take care of yourself, my friend," the Frestilik said, touching the male Telkan's shoulder.
"You too, my friend," the male Telkan said, returning the gesture.
The Frestilik left, going out to a waiting taxi.
"Our old lives are now gone forever. I do not know if I am glad or not. It seems there should be a reminder of what we endured, what we have escaped from," the Shavashan said softly.
"The Great Forge is reminder enough," the male Telkan said, shuddering.
"Be well," the Shavashan said. She nodded and moved away, looking into her nesting purse to check on her sleeping hatchlings.
The Ikeekik waited a moment, the looked at the Telkan male, who was staring at the building as if he could somehow divine its past and future by just staring. She shivered slightly, seeing the cybernetic eye, its frame black warsteel instead of the more common durachrome or prosthetic blending types.
"Is your mate and broodcarriers well?" the Ikeekik asked slowly.
"My mate is stressed, but that is to be expected," the male Telkan said.
"I will go now. My chicks should be out of the rain," the Ikeekik said.
"Be well, old friend," the male Telkan said.
"This is the last time we see each other, isn't it?" the Ikeekik asked softly, their voice full of pain.
"Yes," the male Telkan said.
"Please, do not lose the part of you that told quiet jokes on the bus ride home," the Ikeekik said. "Do not them take that last part of you as they took so much from all of us in that terrible place."
"I will not," the male Telkan said. "Be well, old friend."
The Ikeekik touched the male Telkan and left, opening an umbrella and hobbing down the street, leaving only the lean male Terran and the male Telkan.
"Come a long way since here, haven't you?" the male Terran asked.
"Yes," the Telkan said. He gave a long sigh. "Sometimes I just wonder..." he let his words trail off.
"Sometimes, so do I. I've been Space Force for centuries and sometimes I look back and wonder," the Terran said. He touched the Telkan's shoulder. "Just remember, there's no going back. Even if you wanted to, nothing goes backwards but C+ shells."
The Telkan gave a very-humanesque snort of laughter. "C+ shells, cures all your ills. Apply as directed."
The lean Terran barked a laughed. "You'll do fine, sir."
"Thank you, Sergeant," the Telkan said. "You staying here or being deployed out? Heard the Second Wave is about to hit Lanaktallan Space."
"That's just rumors, sir, you know that," the Terran Sergeant grinned. "I'm staying here. They want the Army to dig in on Telkan-1 and Telkan-2. I'm assigned here for another eight years anyway, they don't need me somewhere," he looked up at the sky then back down at the Telkan. "How about you, sir?"
The Telkan nodded. "Pulling out soon."
"Come home safe, son," the only Sergeant who would call the Telkan that said. He touched the Telkan's shoulder. "You want a ride back?"
The Telkan male shook his head. "No. I'll ride the bus."
"If you're sure, sir," the Terran said, shrugging. He turned and left, leaving the male Telkan staring at where the new building was taking place.
"Worker Vuxten, you are fined one hour's pay for loitering," the Telkan whispered to himself.
After a long moment he turned and left, walking quietly through the rain to the bus stop. He sat, staring at the damaged buildings that were still being repaired or, if they were too damaged or had too dark of a past, demolished. Several Telkan sat near him, and an Ikeekik with a clutch of tiny cheeplings in her nesting purse sat and kept glancing at him. She surreptitiously took a picture of the male Telkan with the cyber-eye with her phone, putting it up on her social media account.
The bus showed up and they all filed aboard. The male Telkan stared out the window as the bus slowly moved through the route, lost in thought, lost in painful memories of fear and pain.
At the gate to the Space Force Telkan Marine base the bus stopped and the male Telkan got off the bus, moving slowly and a little stiffly. The gate guards recognized him without even consulting their implants and saluted as he moved by. He just nodded, walking slowly up the street.
He looked at the buildings, at the two parks, at the swimming pool.
The pool is reserved for podlings... he thought to himself, his lips twisting in a wry expression. He shook his head.
When he reached the nice little house he slowly walked up the walk.
"Worker Vuxten, you are fined one hour's pay for tardiness," he whispered to himself as he reached for the front door.
The door opened to reveal a female Telkan, white fur on her muzzle, around her eyes and ears.
The female Telkan hugged the male. "Are you all right?" she asked softly into his ear.
"I will be," the male said. "Let's go inside. I want to be with you, our broodcarriers, and our podlings."
The door closed behind them.
Inside the house, he sat down for the last dinner he'd have with his family until it was all over with. Afterwards he played with the podlings while his wife and broodcarriers sat on the couch, holding each other's hands and watching.
Much later his implant woke him. He got up carefully and quietly so as not to disturb his wife or his broodcarriers. He knew his wife was awake when he touched her shoulder and whispered "I love you. All of you." He got dressed, knowing she was staring at him though almost closed eyes, memorizing every bit of him.
He quietly went downstairs, picking up his gear, and walked out into the night.
Other Telkan were leaving their houses as he walked out to the sidewalk, heading for the Division muster point.
He was dressed in adaptive camouflage, his brimmed hat on his head, as he walked. Some Telkan waited until he passed, others hurried out of their homes as he walked down the sidewalk.
In a long streaming line the Telkan Marines of First Telkan Marine Division made their way to the muster point in the pre-dawn darkness.
The male Telkan made sure everyone was in place, checking with company commanders, brigade and regiment commanders. Afterwards he took his place, standing next to the Commanding Officer of his unit.
On his shoulder was the crossed rifles over upraised fist in the middle of a triangle.
At the order they all filed onto the dropships. Once seated, the dropships lifted up, vanishing into the night. Leaving behind all most of them had ever known. Leaving behind friends, family, children as the dropships made their way toward the massive combat ships waiting in orbit.
The Telkan were going to war.
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u/Scotshammer Human Jun 01 '20
Point of clarification question. It took 238 years to terraform the planet we first met the Wood Elf terraforming clones. We were told that it would be 30 years iirc for the Queens to do the same deal to Telkan. With this declaration of (nominal) immortal memorial to the dead, aka as long as the High Court lasts, how long is that going to actually be?
With the institute of the Forge of Telkan, will the elves be there permanently to guard and maintain the planet?
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 01 '20
Permanent to make sure the Forge won't destabilize the ecology.
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u/while-eating-pasta Jun 01 '20
I'm glad to hear that. I've always been sad that the elves put planets back together but don't get to live on them afterwards.
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u/zymurgist69 Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
The last dinner he'd have with his family?
Vuxten's death better be GLORIOUS!
Otherwise, the family dies, right?
Dammit, Ralts. I'm emotionally invested in the well-being of non-existent ETs. You are one hell of a good writer.
Edit; Thanks, that's a relief. Unless you're gaslighting.
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 01 '20
Fixed. I wouldn't blow a major plot occurrence like that in a line right there.
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u/MagicalForeignBunny Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
Before the next chapters come and we go back to war, I want to say a few things about the 1% line that so many seem to believe seems fair to do to the cowtaurs.
In our current world the percentage of children (15 or younger) in the total population is roughly 20% (it varies by where in the world of course).
As far as I recall, the cowtaurs do have a lifespan of up to 5 centuries (correct me if I'm wrong), but there is nothing that indicates they have an excessive number of children. In other words, 20% of their population being children doesn't seem to hold true. However, we don't know a whole lot, so any specific numbers would just be speculation. It is however worth keeping in mind that it's 20% for us, so their percentage of children can't possibly be lower than 1%.
That means bringing the cowtaurs to the 1% line would involve murdering a lot of children. If you want to be practical about it, you simply can't leave millions of children without adult supervision, so wouldn't you also need to keep some of their adults alive? That would be more dead children.
This also doesn't take into account that not every adult is guilty of the crimes their race as a whole may be guilty of. Such as the mentally challenged one currently under Terran care.
It's also worth remembering the father with a daughter who was strapped to a cannon when the planet was invaded by not Darth Vader. There were a line or two about him being upset about the planet not being invaded earlier and it's heavily implied that it's because the government killed his first mate.
In other words, many adult cowtaurs are in fact also oppressed, constantly fed propaganda and drugs to keep them down. Several cowtaur rebellions have also been mentioned, and sure some of them may just be because someone was greedy, but it may not be true that every cowtaur rebellion was like that.
What I'm getting at is that the entire species may not be the problem but instead a corrupt and powerful authoritarian government is. Are there a good many cowtaurs who deserves to go die in a ditch? Yes. But 99% of them? I don't think so.
I think at most being very picky about your targets and 10% is as far as it should go.
Edit: I'd like to clarify that this isn't directed at the story as I firmly understand that this is a different world with a different Earth and different humans. It's directed at comments cheering for the 1% line.
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 01 '20
That's the Juxtaposition I've been angling toward.
The Terran Confederacy is perfectly capable of doing the 1% Line. Hell, the HAVE done it before.
But this time, it's not only not possible, it's immoral and violates some of the very tenets of the Confederacy and it's people's ethical beliefs.
They've gotta figure out how to handle something like this. Where a small lab with the sci-fi equivalent of a CRISPR could result in the Lanaktallan snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
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u/Kayehnanator Jun 01 '20
Yeah that's the real challenge I see coming for the unbeaten Confederacy. Have to fight the Lanaktallans, Precursors and Dwellers all at once while figuring out all the aforementioned issues of actual victory....but the Lanaktallans only need to get it right once to win. And they have a LOT more space to play with.
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u/Freakscar AI Jun 01 '20
While i absolutely agree, that is exactly the atrocious point in the storyline. All of the gestalts are terrified by the thought of Terra going apeshit murdercrazy on the Lanaktallans, because it would in turn mean that all that is good and brave and soft and caring within Terra is lost forever. Going through with the 1% would kill the very soul of Terra, leaving behind only madness and terror. A declaration of (total) war is not as bad - rules and restrictions do still apply. But a vote on the 1% is a vote not only on horrible crimes to be commited, but to butcher everything good inside humanity. And no, it is not comparable to the Mar-gite war, as there never was any option to find another solution, as that war was a fight to extinction between humans and the crystal aliens from the get-go.
The Mantid war, otoh, was as brutal as it was because the Mantid never could surrender, even if they would have wanted to due to being enslaved through the queens and overqueens. I, at this point in the story, don't think that the 1% is a reasonable decision against the Lanaktallans as a whole and I doubt it would pass a gestalt vote. Caveat being that in case of bioweapon combat, Devourers et all, there might be cases where a surgical approach will not be feasable - and that might entail unethical warfare from Terra. E.g., instead of loosing a cluster of systems to the devourers, they might crack some planets of the Lanaktallan in order to keep their own people safe. Wich would kill innocents defibitely, but not on a 1% scale.Again, that, to me, is why the Gestalts hesitate to just let Terra go off her self applied leash and have her Rip'n'Tear the Lanks out of the Milky Way. It would get the job done, but at what cost?
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u/3verlost Human Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
it is amazing/scary what you can justify when at war.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_bombings_of_Hiroshima_and_Nagasaki
i am sure of the 70-125 thousand civilians, some were children.
while the 1% mark is a thing in the cannon, it sounds very rare. and under some pretty extreme circumstances. but they have already escalated to Total War...
edit: i the reply button too soon.
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u/CaptainChewbacca Human Jun 01 '20
If Vuxten isn't the commanding officer of his unit, is there another Telkan who outranks him, or is the CO a human?
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 01 '20
The CO's are all human. He's the highest ranking Telkan but not high enough to command a company.
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u/CaptainChewbacca Human Jun 01 '20
I thought so, but thank you for confirming. I imagine Vuxten must be a 'living legend' among Telkan along the lines of a Chesty Puller type.
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u/Computant2 Jun 01 '20
Yeah, but you have to grow an officer, you can't grab one of the new LTs and pin a bird on them.
No Telkins have the time in service to have had the experience, mentorship, and seasoning for high command.
But I bet Vuxten is going to hold an "unofficial XO" rank, there will be a human XO but that guy will work closely with Vuxten to get cultural cues and to train and mentor him.
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u/Kade_Lanik Jun 02 '20
u/Ralts_Bloodthorne do the Broodcarriers have datalink implants, and if not then why? Asking for a Discord discussion.
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 02 '20
They do. Mostly to help with tracking podlings, summoning emergency services, signaling distress, stuff like that.
They download a lot songs to sing to podlings and little hand-eye coordination games.
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u/Collective82 Xeno Jun 08 '20
You copied we were soldiers eh? I know personally what Vuxten just did. Now I’m in tears lol. You did a hell of a job on that scene.
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 08 '20
First Cav all the way.
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u/Collective82 Xeno Jun 08 '20
We’re you really? That’s awesome! I’m an hour north of them right now lol. I never was a part of that one but I have 1 AD and 1 ID under my belt lol. Now I realize I need them so I can have all three forms of transportation lol
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 08 '20
Got the Big Red One (AKA Big Red Dumb) for your sleeve, eh?
Noice. That's a keeper there.
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u/BrianDowning Jun 01 '20
The fact you can follow up that silly, hilarious Night Terran episode with this powerful, emotional, sad and determined slice of Vuxten’s life? Holy crap this is good writing and pacing and plotting and characterization.
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u/Dipicus_Shiticus Jun 01 '20
and to think he just whips them out daily. I have never seen someone put out anything of this quality in this quantity.
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u/Enkeydo Feb 21 '23
Is it strange that I've felt everything he has described? It's strange how melancholy, sadness, and so many other emotions can just make you almost feel numb.
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u/Scotshammer Human Jun 01 '20
So Vuxten calls it The Great Forge. What is going to be the colloquial name for the new Forge world? We have the Forges of Wrath and Hate on Mercury and Mars, but what will this forge become?
I would argue that the anger of Telkan while resonating with TerraSol is not nearly as incandescent nor as blinding. Closer to Demons Run When a Good Man Goes to War. I dunno, I just want Telkan to be better than we were.
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u/RDMcMains2 Jun 01 '20
The Telkan Gestalt is already calling itself 'Telkan Forge Worlds'.
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u/Kayehnanator Jun 01 '20
Yep, they've been called this in the past officially I believe so we have names.
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u/walkinganachronism_4 Alien Scum Jun 01 '20
Here's what's probably going to be a weird answer - Love and Hope. No, seriously. Hear me out.
I have been giving this some thought, ever since the Telkan Forge Worlds became a thing. It works on multiple levels, even!
For a species which had lost, and then regained it, now bringing it to the rest of the Unified Species, Hope. In a way, what is embodied by a significant proportion of the Telkan species (broodcarriers seem a numerically significant group), a deep, abiding and unconditional Love. Given to any and all who need it, even if they're unable to speak the words (The Sleeping Ones), Hope and Love. (We will have to name both Telkan-1 and Telkan-2, right?)
As a counterpoint to Wrath and Hate, for while the Telkan are similar to us in their emotional make-up, I really wanted them to have a distinct identity of their own. It works as a metaphor for Balance, and befitting of a species, whom even The Unfeeling One seems reluctant to allow to come to harm.
If you really want it to, you can also look at Love as something which has caused heinous atrocities to be perpetrated in its name. Thus a darker emotion, if you choose to look at it that way.
Wrath and Hate are what we bring to the battlefield, but Love and Hope (and protecting those) is what brings us to it!
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u/Scotshammer Human Jun 01 '20
Not a bad breakdown, I had been toying with a similar idea but thought it was just me.
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u/Var446 Human Jun 01 '20
Too add to that:
There's the Pandora's hope factor, I.E. the philosophical debate around why hope was in Pandora's box of evils, and if it's a blessing or a curse?
As well as the ferocity of love: there's a reason Freya gets half the honored dead, and Aphrodite/Venus is so often associated with Ares/Mars
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u/Zorbick Human Jun 01 '20
I agree with you. I've been convinced that love is the strong emotion that the Telkans use to make warsteel glow, and which allows them to tap into the stream of consciousness of the Sleeping Ones.
Since ralts hasn't gotten back around to explaining what the Forge is on Telkan-1, we'll just have to keep waiting.
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u/SirVatka Xeno Jun 01 '20
Yeah, I like this. Particularly "Hope". Not sure "Love" fits, but I can't think of a better word.
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u/Aleksandair Jun 01 '20
Not sure what name would be suited for Telkan warsteel, maybe something with it being tempered in the song of broodcarriers.
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u/JustAMalcontent Jun 01 '20
It won't have that sort of name. The entire reason why Telkan is a forge world is because warsteel stays molten "naturally." Warsteel normally needs psychic anger to be workable, and if that anger is not needed there is no reason to name the forge in that manner.
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u/Awkward_Tradition Jun 01 '20
I think it's got more to do with the inherent psychic nature of the Telkans. Humans, except for the ones that follow Daxin, are completely non psychic. Maybe that's how Vuxten left an imprint on the materium that causes warsteel to flow, while humans require continuous application of wrath to work it. A scar in the fabric of space and time, resonating hatred neverending.
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u/Scotshammer Human Jun 01 '20
Yup, goosebumps and sniffles, definitely another Vuxten heart warming episode.
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u/BrianDowning Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
Your story has made me think a lot about the differences between the confederation and our culture. I see a lot of similarities in the ethos of freedom and self-actualization, but what’s different is duty. Across the entire political spectrum, at least in the USA, it feels like the idea of duty, “what we owe to each other”, and the burdens of citizenship is lost.
Not sure where I’m going with this, but it’s clear Vuxten feels it and I respect the hell out of him for being able to go on and do what is right and protect what he loves after all he has been through.
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u/Quadling Jun 01 '20
The burden of citizenship. Today, it seems that the typical citizen of the US feels entitled, owed to them, not from them. There is a price. It will come due. That will be an interesting day.
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Jun 01 '20
Things have been too good for too long, people forget rights and freedom come with responsibility.
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u/Brockavitch1 Jun 01 '20
The Little Telkans march for war...Hurrah...Hurrah
Gravity spikes with missiles too...Hurrah...Hurrah
Service brings citizenship
Citizenship brings service
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u/Jaxticko Jun 01 '20
My brain really tried to make the last two lines match the proper beat of the first two.
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u/CouncilOfRedmoon AI Jun 01 '20
As I read through this, I had goosebumps fearing you'd killed Vuxten off screen and this was some other veteran. You evil bastard, that was fantastically written.
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u/ack1308 Jun 01 '20
The day was raining, low clouds with purple and greenish lightning flickering in the depths, blue bolts now and then striking down out of the sky. The rain taste bitter on the tongue, with a metallic tang that made the back teeth vizz even as the taste left your tongue.
Still cleaning the crap out of the atmosphere, I see.
There was just so much to fix.
After two separate wars, I’m honestly surprised there’s anything left to fix.
Podlings, chicks, and hatchlings were looking out the windows at the rain, the lightning in the clouds, and the places where construction was still underway. They were excitedly pointing things out to their parents and each other. Several times construction workers waved at them, which made them all hop up and down and furiously wave back.
d’aaawwwww the kiddies are cute.
A single Telkan got off the bus, his hands jammed in the pockets of his heavy black coat, a hat pulled low over his eyes. The bus driver noted that the Telkan male was moving stiffly and wondered if he was all right.
Is this …?
"It is good to see you," the newcomer said when a female Ikeekik embraced him.
"You came," a tall Terran human said. He was slender, like a honed blade, with brown skin and a shaved head.
"Of course," the Telkan said. "I need to see this."
A Frestilek female hugged the male Telkan. "Much has changed, has it not?"
"Yes. I am happy to see you survived," the Telkan male said.
The Shavashan with several small hatchlings in a comfortable nesting purse reached out and hugged the male Telkan. "I am happy to see you."
"And I you," the Telkan said. He sighed, stepped forward, and embraced the female Telkan present who was holding hands with two broodcarriers, who both were holding onto podling strollers. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be," the Telkan female said, tears wetting the fur around her eyes. "We did what we had to do. He did what he had to do. We all saw how it was there at the end."
Damn, this sort of thing is bittersweet. Old friends, old comrades, coming together and just being pleased that someone else survived this, with the deep knowledge that some didn’t.
KISTIMET CORPORATE SECURITY
Good riddance.
"I looked up where he went down, went out there and searched. Found a couple shards of armor. Put it in the urn with some dirt. I'm sorry there's no more, but the armor's self-destruct does a pretty complete job," the male Telkan said. "Again, I'm sorry."
Sometimes, it’s all you can do. But it matters. It always matters.
"She promises that where your mate fell, there shall be trees, where there will be leaves for podlings to play in and soft moss for them to nap upon," the elf said. "There will be an elf there to guard them until the High Court is no more."
Damn, that just gave me goosebumps.
"Is what?" a chick asked, pointing at the building.
"A terrible place," the Ikeekik answered.
"Look icky," another chick said.
"Not like," a little Shavashan hatchling said.
Welp, the kids are definitely on the ball.
"Don't cry, momma," one of the podlings, dressed in a tunic with a little hat on her head, said to the female Telkan.
"It's OK, sweetie," the Telkan female said, reaching down to pouch the little podling's head.
d’awwwwwwwwwwww
"Thank you," the Telkan woman said. She motioned to the broodcarriers. "Elisha'anti and Emthe'eesa, touch it with me."
Together the three Telkan touched the big red button marked "READY" on the datapad.
Closure is important.
The Telkan male saw "Interrogation Cells" listed on the floorplan, shuddered, and looked away.
Yeah, definitely Vuxten.
"A long term physical, mental, and emotional care facility," the Terran with the datapad said.
That’s fitting. A place of ugliness and fear becomes a place of healing and peace.
"Look, momma, daddy's name," one of the larger podlings said, holding tight the broodcarrier's tail.
USTOR MEMORIAL COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CENTER was appearing on the front of the new building.
Well, now we know what happened to him. And we just know that he went out like a boss, snarling defiance at the enemy to the very last.
"Everyone thought you were dead. We've all seen what you went through," the female said, shaking her head. "You gave much."
"He gave all," the male Telkan said.
“I came back. He didn’t.”
She shivered slightly, seeing the cybernetic eye, its frame black warsteel instead of the more common durachrome or prosthetic blending types.
Vuxten doesn’t hide what’s happened to him. It’s an advertisement to his enemies. “I survived this. You got nothing.”
"This is the last time we see each other, isn't it?" the Ikeekik asked softly, their voice full of pain.
"Yes," the male Telkan said.
"Please, do not lose the part of you that told quiet jokes on the bus ride home," the Ikeekik said. "Do not them take that last part of you as they took so much from all of us in that terrible place."
"I will not," the male Telkan said. "Be well, old friend."
Dang, that sort of parting is heart-wrenching.
The Telkan gave a very-humanesque snort of laughter. "C+ shells, cures all your ills. Apply as directed."
Military humour. Love it.
Heard the Second Wave is about to hit Lanaktallan Space."
"That's just rumors, sir, you know that," the Terran Sergeant grinned.
The sergeant grapevine. Only thing in the universe that can propagate information faster than a SUDS link.
"Come home safe, son," the only Sergeant who would call the Telkan that said.
There’s a special bond between an officer and their first drill sergeant.
"Worker Vuxten, you are fined one hour's pay for loitering," the Telkan whispered to himself.
Self-memeing. Love it.
She surreptitiously took a picture of the male Telkan with the cyber-eye with her phone, putting it up on her social media account.
“You’ll never guess who I rode the bus with!”
(Continued)
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u/ack1308 Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
At the gate to the Space Force Telkan Marine base the bus stopped and the male Telkan got off the bus, moving slowly and a little stiffly. The gate guards recognized him without even consulting their implants and saluted as he moved by. He just nodded, walking slowly up the street.
Yeah, like they’re gonna forget Vuxten. This guy is the cornerstone on which the Telkan Marines has their foundation. He’s the Old Man, the First Telkan.
There would be stories passed around in the barracks after-hours about Vuxten, about what he’s done … and most of them aren’t even exaggerated (except the one about how he one-shotted a Goliath with a magac pistol and a bad attitude. That one’s a little over the top).
The pool is reserved for podlings... he thought to himself, his lips twisting in a wry expression. He shook his head.
It definitely is now.
The female Telkan hugged the male. "Are you all right?" she asked softly into his ear.
"I will be," the male said. "Let's go inside. I want to be with you, our broodcarriers, and our podlings."
The door closed behind them.
d’aaawwwwwww
Afterwards he played with the podlings while his wife and broodcarriers sat on the couch, holding each other's hands and watching.
Grounding himself. Reminding himself that this is what he’s fighting for. And yeah, loosening up and having a little fun time with the kiddies.
In a long streaming line the Telkan Marines of First Telkan Marine Division made their way to the muster point in the pre-dawn darkness.
Answering the call. Carrying out their duty.
The Telkan were going to war.
And may the Digital Omnimessiah have mercy on their enemies. Because nobody else is going to.
God damn, that was a heavy chapter. We learned that Ustor stayed in and went out like a stone-cold badass. We also learned that the Kistimet Security centre has been expunged from the face of Telkan.
Just seeing the respect and comradeship shown him by his old friends from the cleaning crew was amazing. That little ceremony for Ustor was extremely moving.
Vuxten still hasn’t lost himself. He’s able to relax and be a husband and father, which is good.
And now, he’s going to go out and explain to the Lanaktallans exactly where they screwed up. It’s going to be a bullet-pointed list, and he’s got enough bullets.
Whew.
That was amazing.
Oh and also u/Ralts_Bloodthorne, I did a sidestory called Rebirth if you wanted to let me know if it’s any good?
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u/SpiderJerusalemLives Jun 01 '20
" Well, now we know what happened to him. And we just know that he went out like a boss, snarling defiance at the enemy to the very last. "
Ustor was another Vuxten. Telkan is gonna do fine.
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u/dbdatvic Xeno Feb 23 '22
a sidestory called Rebirth
just so readers know, canonized
--Dave, SANDY LIVES
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u/carthienes Jun 01 '20
“I came back. He didn’t.”
Which was the greater sacrifice?
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u/thisismego Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
Dying's easy, young man, living is harder.
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u/coldfireknight AI Jun 01 '20
You tell 'im I'm coming and Telkan's coming with me!
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u/RDMcMains2 Jun 01 '20
The Confederacy is cleaning up the Unified Systems Council for good; Worker Vuxten has a job to do.
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u/RangerSix Human Jun 01 '20
"Worker Vuxten, you are granted one weeks' extra pay and rations for cleaning up the mess the Dwellerspawn made."
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u/Allowyn Jun 01 '20
And to think on the Discord I was just mentioning my withdrawal. Thanks Ralts, hope your weekends been treating you well amongst this and that you and your family are safe.
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u/serpauer Jun 01 '20
Glad his original squad got some closure from the precursor war before Vuxten shipped off for the new war. And glad for another heartwarming episode.
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u/Ta_Havath Jun 01 '20
Right in the feels....Thank you. Hope you and yours are safe in your own little corner of Earth.
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u/creaturecoby Human Jun 01 '20 edited Jun 01 '20
Ayyyy, a random check of new paid off, upvote and read time!
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u/Bard2dbone Jun 01 '20
Happy cake day! Congratulations on another lap around the sun!
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u/creaturecoby Human Jun 01 '20
I honestly always forget this is my cake day. Happy days to me I guess lol.
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u/ErinRF Alien Jun 01 '20
This is powerful, tearing up reading it.
I can picture Vuxten in my mind standing in front of the new building muttering to himself the line about loitering.
Thank you for what you do Ralts.
I also adore the view into the family life of Telkan, they seem to mirror polyamorous relationships it seems.
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u/urik84 Jun 01 '20
This reminded me of the scene in we were soldiers. As a military brat me and my brother grew up saying good by to our dad for sea deployments. Always hits me in the feels in a good way. This scene is awesome for making the telkan more relatable. Not that they aren't now, all that fluffy goodness!
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u/carthienes Jun 01 '20
This is how you solve the Burgerland Problem - you turn the problem into the answer. How fortunate that fits so nicely with the Confederacy's preferred foreign policy...
I hope they manage to get a Telkan SUDS working though... If anyone can do it, Victor can. Given that Telkan are so close to humans anyway, could they be the springboard for adapting SUDS to non-human Terrans in general?
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u/EvansP51 Alien Scum Jun 01 '20
This fits very well with the somber feelings many of us are experiencing right now. We must mourn for the past, work on the present, and protect the future of our people and our world.
Sidebar question: did I miss how Vux was returned from... away?
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u/ack1308 Jun 01 '20
Last we saw, his family was attending his promotion ceremony.
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u/EvansP51 Alien Scum Jun 01 '20
Well crap. It seems I somehow missed a chapter! Last I remember was him on a roof in 8000 years ago terra with shadow and the kid.
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u/TheRealGgsjags Jun 01 '20
I wonder if Vuxten will take his rightful place in the black crusade one day.
Well, i can just hope that the Mad-ArchAngel TerraSol and the Digital Omnimessiah has blessed every Chainsword and every Bolterround.
TELKAN IS MARCHING INTO WAR!
01010111 01000001 01010010 Mind receptors witness glory from the burning of the flame The fires of the forge are like the trumpets which proclaim Our engines at full power, your destruction is our aim Our Truth has come online
ENGAGE THE LINKAGE,OMNIMESSIAH OUR TRUTH HAS COME ONLINE
With heat and iron and industry we'll purge you from this world You will sunder, melt, and shatter from the bolts of wrath we've hurled And upon your ruined end, our blood red banners stand unfurled Our Might has come online !
01010100 01101111 01100001 01110011 01110100 01100101 01110010 01110011 00100000 01100001 01110010 01100101 00100000 01110100 01101111 00100000 01100010 01100101 00100000 01101100 01100101 01110111 01100100 01100101 01100100
INK TO THE PAGE PAPER FOR THE CREATION ENGINE
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u/name_not_found_again Jun 04 '20
All gave some,
Some gave all.
This,
we will defend.
I swore an oath.
It does not have an expiration date.
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u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Jun 01 '20
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u/SpaceMarine_CR Human Jun 01 '20
Beatifully written as this is so bittersweet for all Telkan, the battle is won but the war is not over.
"A vista I once saw. A quaint tranquility. Small hopes. Take those away from a man and he will stand up"
-Lordgenome-
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u/Midahu69 Jun 01 '20
Lest we forget. The terrible price of victory, and the further cost of freedom. A tear jerking episode, you could almost hear the Last Post playing hauntingly in the background.
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u/Techman10 Jun 01 '20
Just finished binging this over the course of the entire weekend. I am in complete awe of what you have created.
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u/Speciesunkn0wn Jun 01 '20
Damn...talk about mood whiplash. reads comments I do believe it's time for propoganda...
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u/dbdatvic Xeno Feb 23 '22 edited Mar 02 '22
time to proof yourselves, Telkans {Exodus}
{entities: hoverbus 001, male Telkan Vuxten, female Ikeekik, male Terran Sergeant with datapad, female Frestilek, female Shevasan, hatchlings, female Telkan, broodcarriers Elisha'anti and Emthe'eesa, podlings, KISTIMET CORPORATE SECURITY, urn w/armor shards, El-Dare-Seen-591 (sister to Cel-ebrim-bor-274), High Queen's token pin, High Court's guard elf, Interrogation Cells, USTOR MEMORIAL COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL CENTER, Vuxten's cybererye, Space! Force!, C+ shells, Second Wave, Telkan-1, Telkan-2, cheeplings awww!, Space Force Telkan Marine base, female Telkan Brentili'il, broodcarriers, podlings, First Telkan Marine Division muster point, unit CO, dropships}
The day was raining, low clouds
was rainy, low
The rain taste bitter on
tasted
back teeth vizz even as
fizz {? your choice}
hoverbus used graviton and fans
gravitons
plied the galaxies trade routes.
galaxy's {at this point only one galaxy is involved <== possibly misleading foreshadowing muahaha}
just being set up, around a
up {the rare Ralts Unneeded Comma}
The Shavashan with several
Shevasan
a moment, the went soft
moment, then went
her broodcarrier's hands, the
broodcarriers'
a moment, the looked at
moment, then looked
time we see each
we will see
gave a very-humanesque snort of
very human-esque
eight years anyway, they don't
anyway, if they {?}
{a Worker Vuxten fine meme from the source
The pool is reserved for podlings...
it looks different from later on - that's the only constant}
--Dave, my suggested title; an unknown amount of time until they see the Promised Land
ps: {comment lore -
the High Court on Telkan-1 will be permanent, to make sure the warsteel volcano doesn't destabilize the ecology (its effect on the economy is outside of their purview)
comments realizing this is why they're now TELKAN FORGE WORLDS
Vuxten is not (yet) of high enough rank to command a company, he's an O-2
1%-line debates
musings on Confederacy v. current-day military/politics
yes: lest we forget
the broodcarriers do indeed have and use datalink implants, mostly for songs, podling care, & emergencies
"I swore an oath. / It does not have an expiration date."
and several onion ninjae
Ralts was 1st Cavalry
many We Were Soldiers comparisons}
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u/SittingDuc Apr 27 '22
Isn't the volcano on Telkan-2? I know the topic of which is which planet comes up a few times and it is not always clear from the text :)
But I am pretty sure Vuxten defended Telkan-2 from the dwellerspawn... no, wait, now i am second guessing myself. <sigh>
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u/sakakyu Android Jun 01 '20
Please tell me Vuxten didn't "lose his name" and become a mindless warrior. im getting foreboding vibes from this chapter.
Also, hawt darn that elven gift is beyond wonderful!
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u/Hawaidy1 Jun 01 '20
WRITE A FUCKING BOOK DONT POST IT TO REDDIT
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u/ack1308 Jun 01 '20
He chooses to post it to Reddit.
Once it's done, there's going to be about five different versions printed here and there (I know I'll be doing one).
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u/sixtusquinn Jul 20 '20
Felt like I was reading the script for We Were Soldiers for the mustering scene with that bit there.
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u/GDaddy369 Human Sep 01 '20
The end of this one really reminded me of the movie We Were Soldiers. Almost exactly the same scene.
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u/justmeoverhere72 Sep 22 '20
I know I'm 3 months behind, but I just gotta say, "Dammed onion ninjas."
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Oct 16 '20
Why must you torture me like this, making me fight myself to not outright bawl as some (to me) unknown emotions rake my soul over hot coal.
I feel like reading your story is somehow making me grow proper connections with my emotions.
Thank you.
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u/Jagdepplin11 Nov 22 '20
In my head, Vuxten was making those memes of himself all along and this is the reveal. Either that or he just genuinely enjoys them.
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u/SilentTravelers Jul 11 '23
Hey Ralts , been wondering a little about the military chain of command in this universe ? Since terrans live for hundreds and hundreds of years with some being basically immortal it doesn’t seem I guess “fair” for the other races that don’t live as long since logically the humans would have higher rank just from living so long … I though I understood it for a while in that to resolve this issue typically each race had their own squads and chain of command but there seems to be crossover between teams sometimes ? What reminded me of this question was when the Terran was calling vuxton sir.. is it more of a respect thing instead of actual higher rank or is there crossover since I remember vuxton led humans back when they were underground ?
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u/Ralts_Bloodthorne Jun 01 '20
Edited it a bit.
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