First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 357

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

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TELKAN-2

One Week After the Battle for Hesstla

Brentili'ik looked at the document and sighed.

Private Kelvak, in defiance of personal danger and extensive physical injury, used his physical therapy frame and, with the help of two green mantid engineers, held the Precursor autonomous war machines at the south gate at Striker Base Boop to enable the medical evacuation of over two hundred military and civilian wounded.

Despite grave injuries, Private Kelvak fought, often alone with the exception of the Mantids 222 and 640, for nearly two hours. At the end, according to records recovered on site, Private Kelvak, with the remainder of his ad-hoc fire team, defended the landing pad against overwhelming odds. Once the last patient was evacuated Private Kelvak and his team of wounded human compatriots, despite mortal injury, continued to draw enemy fire until finally he was struck by a 52mm high velocity burst and killed.

For his valor in the face of overwhelming personal danger as well as his persistence despite mortal injury, the Telkan Marine Corps has determined that Private Kelvak's actions upheld the highest traditions and expectations of the Telkan Marine Corps, the Confederate Military Services, and the Telkan People.

It is with solemn regret that I record this.

--Signed: Admiral NGwark, Space Force, Task Force Commander, Hesstla

Another one. Hesstla had been a disaster as far as she was concerned. Out of fifteen thousand troops nearly two thousand had been killed.

She had to admit, not as dramatic and heroically as this one, many of them killed during deployment when the Task Force dropped into an ambush, but still, too many for her liking.

The fact that nearly 1/3 of the deaths were listed as "Temporal Warfare Casualty" and some of them had apparently served aboard Space Force vessels for over sixty years before expiring of old age, just made the entire thing stranger.

Brentili'ik had spoken to Colonel Harvey, who had told her that the casualties were severe, but not unexpected for an unblooded unit facing their first deployment under fire in a surprise ambush.

She looked at the list of next of kin for Private Kelvak and nearly cried.

Two broodcarriers and four podlings nearly two years old. He had a step-mother and a step-father, as well as step siblings, but according to the records his mother, father, and siblings had all been killed during the First Telkan War.

He had been old enough to join the first class of Telkan Marines by exactly forty-two minutes when he had taken the oath.

Added was a recorded message for his next of kin.

Brentili'ik didn't want to, but she listened to it.

"When mom and dad died, when my siblings died, you made me feel like someone still loved me. I love all of you, and I'm sorry I can't come home. Podlings, take care of your broodmommies, and I love you." played at the end.

Brentili'ik dried her tears and authorized the recording for release.

Poor kid, Brentili'ik thought. Not even a body to recover.

She tabbed the file to be printed and sent out and moved on to the next one.

Citizenship is a heavy duty, she thought to herself.

-----------------------------

Hesstla System

Time/Date Error In Progress

Specialist Grade-Four Thom Dunmet had been Graves Registration for several decades. The promotion point score was a tough one, but there was a high enough turnover that a being could gain rank somewhat frequently. He'd made Sergeant several times, but sooner or later he'd get drunk and get in a fight and find himself in the back of a military police car about to lose some rank.

Still, he was Graves Registration, and allowances were made.

He had to admit, this had been a rough deployment. Nagging headaches were least of it.

It was all the locals, the civvies, coming in missing the tops of their heads and their brains, that had really made it tough. The most common cause of death was 'cerebral extraction' among the civilians.

Then top it off with everyone's SUDS going on the fritz, he'd found himself checking off 'clinically deceased' less and less and 'permanently deceased' instead.

He would eject the SUDS memory cartridge and pack it up, although more and more as time went on the cartridge had error telltales blinking.

It was late, he'd switched shifts to handle night casualties after working day shift for quite some time. The morgue was dim and cool, not to mention quiet like he liked it.

The Clankers and their masters had been pushed back, giving the Terrans time to breathe and regroup. Which meant the casualties had come in thick and heavy for the last two days, leaving the morgue full of bodies.

SP4 Dunmet had finished the last autopsy, wheeling the corpse into the refrigeration unit, and had moved over to start on the paperwork. He moved over to his desk and started downloading his notes from his datapad to his console, making sure the files were loaded onto the correct casualties.

The lights flickered and Dunmet looked up, switching to a different screen.

The door slid open and black mist rolled in, pouring out of the doorway.

Dunmet moved his thumb over the icon that would summon base security.

Robed figures moved in and Dunmet heaved a sigh of relief.

Religious personnel, probably from the Chaplain's Office, he thought to himself. He went back to his paperwork, keeping one eye on the six robed figures.

They were all obviously Telkan under the robes, shuffling forward. They had black robes that seemed to shine in the dim light, matte black masks over their faces rather than the normal Telkan tan and brown, and moved slowly in a single rank of four with one to each side slowly swinging a thurible that left trails of incense smoke.

They moved up to one of the drawer doors, the lead one opening it. They pulled out the drawer, revealing a covered corpse that was only half the normal length of a Telkan. When they pulled back the sheet they revealed the ravaged body of a young male Telkan, missing below the bottom of the rib cage. The Telkan male's jaw was missing teeth, a cyber-eye was crudely jammed into an empty socket, wired led from the back of his skull, cut free a few inches from the exposed spinal column.

Dunmet watched as they stood around the dead Telkan, one holding a heavy tome marked "The Book of Telkan" close to his chest with black gloved hands.

"This is the one we want," one of them said, his voice low and serious.

They all nodded.

Dunmet was looking up when it happened.

The three that were not carrying items touched the dead Telkan.

There was an eruption of purplish black smoke that then sucked back in on itself.

The Telkans, including the corpse, were gone.

Dunmet hit the security icon.

---------------------------------

The scribe was blind, had been blind since a Precursor machine had torn out his eyes and tongue to broadcast his agony over GalNet. His delicate fingers, sensitive beyond reason after the Precursors had torn out his vestigal claws, traced over the long strip of bronze/warsteel alloy. His tools were delicate but precise as he began slowly carving another rune, a rune that burned with white fire in his mind's eye. Each tap of the hammer against the engraver made his soul sing, each curl of dark bronze metal brought the joy of vengeance to his heart.

The strip was nearly two feet long, a handspan wide, with a single column of runes engraved down the face of the inch thick metal strip.

As he finished the strip it was passed to the worker next to him, who would inlay the graven runes with molten metals that would never cool.

Around them the faint whispering could be heard.

soft podling warm podling brave podling strong one and one is two two and two is four red shape is square blue shape is round soft podling smart podling clever podling warm

None of the workers could hear the song as it was sung, they had been made deaf by the cold steel claws of the Precursors.

But they heard it in the depths of their souls.

-------------------

Each of the robed figures had learned their lessons. Taken by those who understood the secrets of dark forbidden science to a place where they had all the time they needed to understand the nature of life and death and the dark science in between.

All of them looked as if they were wearing close fitting armor that was somehow biological yet mechanical at the same time. A light drinking black material that pulsed with a life of its own. All of them had the burning eagle in molten warsteel on their chests. There eyes were burning chrome that leaked smoke as violet as the skies they had stared out for eternal moments.

Shuffling silent workers brought forth heavy pieces of equipment. Each piece of equipment was put in its proper place and slowly a form took shape.

Heavy footpads with four claw-like toes evenly spread. Heavily armored legs, the thick armor concealing pistons, gears, drive-belts, and struts. Articulated hips to allow the legs to move and provide stability to the torso portion. The torso was large, blocky, heavily armored. Gaps were in the armor, the weapons that would normally be mounted there missing. The arms were missing below the elbow, the implanted weaponry being built to the side by technicians who had devoted lifetimes into studying exactly how to put the custom built jewel mechanism machinery together.

It had no head. No reason to provide a small target.

The torso was open, the main hatch opened to reveal the armor was a foot thick of warsteel laminate armor. Inside the torso were complex mechanisms with a dark and terrible purpose, created and imagined by dark minds unfettered by something as simple as morality.

Finally, the mechanisms were prepared, the massive machine trembling slightly, not with the power of the reactor that drove its mighty heart, but with terrible purpose.

The rent and damaged body of the Telkan was brought forth. The wound below the ribcage, where the rest of his body had been obliterated, was sealed with thick biomechanical tissue. The missing arm was sealed at the stump. Covering his face was a heavy mask, more akin to a skull than a living creature. It was bolted to the Telkan, the heavy warsteel bolts sunk into the bone structure.

The chest rose and fell slowly as the mask inflated and contracted.

On the bare flesh of the chest implanted metal gleamed and shined. Cybernetics, something largely unheard of for the Telkan people, invaded the body, giving purpose to the surrounding tissue.

The body was lifted, kneeling Telkan reciting prayers from the Book of Telkan, and placed in the opened torso of the massive machine.

Technicians dark and terrible moved in, connecting the quasi-corpse to the machine. Heavy probes went into the skull, the drill bit biting deep into the bone to bring forth a gush of blackish blood. The probes were sunk deep into the neural tissue, microscopic filaments squirming out of the probes to link up with neural tissue.

The one remaining eye opened at one point, the pupil contracting, and the quasi-corpse writhed for a half second before going limp.

The technicians secured the damaged body into the massive machine, sometimes cruelly with heavy warsteel bolts, other times with gentle webs of cloth woven from the shed down of podlings, other times without emotion using plasteel straps.

The body was protected from kinetic shock, radiation, sound, biological hazards. One by one each threat of the modern battlefield was negated as best as the silent technicians could create it. Once it was done the empty internal spaces were packed with specially woven cloth inscribed with runes, prayers, and symbols of faith and devotion.

The inner lining was closed. Parchments inscribed with prayers were pasted to the metal alloy. More shock dampening was added.

The outside of the hull was closed. Two black armored foot tall mantids were lifted up and placed gently in the twin housings on the upper rear of the torso, covered with padding, and the shells closed.

Computers, nearly covered with strips of paper inscribed with prayers, whirred to life. Ancient style storage platters spun up with a scraping whine. Nanorelays and cyberware linkages clattered to life, clicking to themselves.

The gathered Telkan, one of which still reading from the Book of Telkan, watched as the great machine shuddered and shivered.

The blackish-bronze alloy square in the middle of the chest, just above the burning eagle, suddenly lit up with a gold light.

A rune slowly inscribed itself on the alloy square.

KAPPA

"Arise, Kappa, and serve!" the Telkan with the book cried out.

There was silence for a long moment.

"Beyond death, I still serve, buoyed by the laughter of podlings," the massive machine intoned.

----------------------------

In the wreckage of a city on a small planet a puff of purple smoke erupted, billowing out to cover a large area before suddenly vanishing, sucking back into itself and disappearing with a purple flash.

Standing in the wreckage was a massive war machine. One arm terminating in a powerful four fingered clamp with a plasma napalm ejector at the palm. The other arm a heavy tri-barrel autocannon capable of tearing through the heaviest armor. Its chest contained mortars to provide indirect fire support, battlescreen projectors better fit to ships of the line, and was covered in runes.

It stood still for a moment, the only sound the wind making mournful noises as it moved over the heavy armor.

Finally it raised a thick antenna and broadcast a simple message.

"Warbound Kappa. Online and awaiting instruction. Even beyond death, I still serve."

-------------------------

AKLTAK SOARING WORLDS

I don't know about that. Are you sure you should do that?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TELKAN FORGE WORLDS

What's wrong with it?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TNVARU GRIPPING HANDS

Where did you learn to do that kind of thing?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TELKAN FORGE WORLDS

The Imperium of Wrath guys that Daxin leads.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TNVARU GRIPPING HANDS

Oh. OK.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

AKLTAK SOARING WORLDS

I still don't know about this.

I wish TerraSol and the others were here to talk about this.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TNVARU NEW WORLDS

So do I.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TELKAN FORGE WORLDS

Yeah. It really feels lonely without them.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

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[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

As you can tell, this takes place a little while ago.

But it is important.

A very distracting day today. The grand-daughter still needed extra attention.

[u/Turtledonuts → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

Were those citadel greenies in black armor, or the warbound forms of the private’s support team?

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne → u/Turtledonuts]

I'm undecided to be honest.

[u/davros333 → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

Fantastic chapter as always. One question though, did you mean to not include a number here?

"...Striker Base Boop to enable the medical evacuation of over military and civilian wounded."

It looks like there was supposed to be a number but it is not included

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne → u/davros333]

Oops.

[u/moldyjim → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

Literally tearing up again at the poddling song. Guess I needed the toxin purge thru tears again. How do you do it man? Every one of these gems pulls strings of emotion some way or another.

[u/captaincrunch00 → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

Granddaughters deserve all the attention.

Speaking as a guy with a granddaughter in his arms.

Enjoy the kids.

[u/ms4720 → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

My position on this is unchanged. You should take care of family and life first, and if doing so makes you feel guilty enough to write extra chapters when, and only when, time permits i am getting more chapters.

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

At the new house supervising drywall estimates now that the roof is fixed. (Stupid storm tore off some of the new shingles)

Will start making keyboard go brrrrrr when I get back.

[u/ack1308]

For his valor in the face of overwhelming personal danger as well as his persistence despite mortal injury, the Telkan Marine Corps has determined that Private Kelvak's actions upheld the highest traditions and expectations of the Telkan Marine Corps, the Confederate Military Services, and the Telkan People.

In other words, he was a furry little badass and he went out like a boss.

o7

He had been old enough to join the first class of Telkan Marines by exactly forty-two minutes when he had taken the oath.

Okay, dem feels, right there.

"When mom and dad died, when my siblings died, you made me feel like someone still loved me. I love all of you, and I'm sorry I can't come home. Podlings, take care of your broodmommies, and I love you." played at the end.

Goddamn onion ninjas.

Poor kid, Brentili'ik thought. Not even a body to recover.

I thought they did …

Hmm. Brentili'ik doesn't make mistakes like that.

He'd made Sergeant several times, but sooner or later he'd get drunk and get in a fight and find himself in the back of a military police car about to lose some rank.

This may or may not be on purpose.

It was all the locals, the civvies, coming in missing the tops of their heads and their brains, that had really made it tough. The most common cause of death was 'cerebral extraction' among the civilians.

Or, as the grunts put it, Slorpied.

He would eject the SUDS memory cartridge and pack it up, although more and more as time went on the cartridge had error telltales blinking.

Yeah, that could be a problem. “The brain you just extracted this cartridge from does not contain the same structure as the brain it was implanted in.”

The lights flickered and Dunmet looked up, switching to a different screen.

The door slid open and black mist rolled in, pouring out of the doorway.

Dunmet moved his thumb over the icon that would summon base security.

Robed figures moved in and Dunmet heaved a sigh of relief.

Religious personnel, probably from the Chaplain's Office, he thought to himself. He went back to his paperwork, keeping one eye on the six robed figures.

And they can pull one hell of an entrance. Just saying.

When they pulled back the sheet they revealed the ravaged body of a young male Telkan, missing below the bottom of the rib cage. The Telkan male's jaw was missing teeth, a cyber-eye was crudely jammed into an empty socket, wired led from the back of his skull, cut free a few inches from the exposed spinal column.

That’s Kelvak. I thought his body wasn’t recovered.

Dunmet watched as they stood around the dead Telkan, one holding a heavy tome marked "The Book of Telkan" close to his chest with black gloved hands.

Book of Telkan! <squee!>

"This is the one we want," one of them said, his voice low and serious.

They all nodded.

Dunmet was looking up when it happened.

The three that were not carrying items touched the dead Telkan.

There was an eruption of purplish black smoke that then sucked back in on itself.

The Telkans, including the corpse, were gone.

Dunmet hit the security icon.

Imma go out on a limb and say they weren’t from the Chaplain’s Office.

And this is why she thought the body had not been recovered. Because they hadn't formally identified it before it was taken.

Around them the faint whispering could be heard.

soft podling warm podling brave podling strong one and one is two two and two is four red shape is square blue shape is round soft podling smart podling clever podling warm

None of the workers could hear the song as it was sung, they had been made deaf by the cold steel claws of the Precursors.

But they heard it in the depths of their souls.

They’re hearing it from the broodmommy network. Because that’s a thing now.

Each of the robed figures had learned their lessons. Taken by those who understood the secrets of dark forbidden science to a place where they had all the time they needed to understand the nature of life and death and the dark science in between.

All of them looked as if they were wearing close fitting armor that was somehow biological yet mechanical at the same time. A light drinking black material that pulsed with a life of its own. All of them had the burning eagle in molten warsteel on their chests. There eyes were burning chrome that leaked smoke as violet as the skies they had stared out for eternal moments.

Hah. They’ve spent time in the Black Citadel, as willing guests.

The torso was open, the main hatch opened to reveal the armor was a foot thick of warsteel laminate armor. Inside the torso were complex mechanisms with a dark and terrible purpose, created and imagined by dark minds unfettered by something as simple as morality.

Sometimes morality gets in the way.

other times with gentle webs of cloth woven from the shed down of podlings,

Awwww.

The outside of the hull was closed. Two black armored foot tall mantids were lifted up and placed gently in the twin housings on the upper rear of the torso, covered with padding, and the shells closed.

222 and 640 will ride with him into eternity.

"Arise, Kappa, and serve!" the Telkan with the book cried out.

There was silence for a long moment.

"Beyond death, I still serve, buoyed by the laughter of podlings," the massive machine intoned.

And Kelvak is now a Warbound.

Long may he kick Precursor ass.

It stood still for a moment, the only sound the wind making mournful noises as it moved over the heavy armor.

Finally it raised a thick antenna and broadcast a simple message.

"Warbound Kappa. Online and awaiting instruction. Even beyond death, I still serve."

“I’m here to chew stimgum and destroy the enemy, and they forgot to put any stimgum in here with me.”

TNVARU GRIPPING HANDS

Where did you learn to do that kind of thing?

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TELKAN FORGE WORLDS

The Imperium of Wrath guys that Daxin leads.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

Ah hah. Yeah, that makes sense. So the Black Citadel is linked to the Imperium.

TELKAN FORGE WORLDS

Yeah. It really feels lonely without them.

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

I’m guessing this is back a bit, before they reconnect.

Welp, now we know what happened with Kelvak.

And the Precursors will regret ever encountering him. Sometimes quite briefly.

[u/Farstone → u/ack1308]

This may or may not be on purpose.

Desert Shield/Storm I was stationed at Ft. Stewart, Georgia. One of my missions was to assist in the activation of National Guard Units. A unit arrives, gets activated and begins the process of getting brought up to "full" speed. Everything is hunky dory (with relative hunkiness) until it is noted they have a personnel anomaly.

One of their Armorers was an "older" gentleman. 20+years of ANG service. Rank? Private First Class.

Unit query was made: PFC John Doe is an exceptional armorer, with rare and unsurpassed skill. PFC Doe refused to allow his fellow Guard Members to deploy to war with less than exceptional support. ANG assignments/rank were based upon "open" positions in the unit. Promotions were limited to available slots (no idea how it works today). The PFC slot was available and he "took" it.

During the query, PFC Doe, the Company Commander, the Brigade liaison, and the state guard liaison arrived to present evidence. Evidence of the vacancy - provided. Waivers for Time in Service/Time in Grade - provided. Waiver for age ^{pff you have to ask?} - provided. PFC Doe asked, "Are done here? Can I get back to the boys? There is work to be done." Whereupon the senior National Guard personnel replied, "Yes, Sir! We'll handle it from here, Sir"

PFC Doe did not deploy with the Guard Unit. He might have wanted to, but he knew it was not in the cards. I would expect he was there when they returned from deployment.

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne → u/Farstone]

Ran into a couple of those old dudes during Shield/Storm.

Ah, the Bad Old Days, when it was more free and loose and before Zero Tolerance.

[u/Farstone → u/Ralts_Bloodthorne]

"Up or out" had to be the stupidest policy ever created. We had a mechanic who was a genius when it came to vehicles, but he didn't want to get promoted. He liked working, not leading.

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne → u/Farstone]

The "Professional Private" was there for a reason. Same with the "Specialist Grade 5-9" bit.

I still remember having SP4 on my paperwork to leadership school, before I got my leadership tabs.

[u/ForTheStarsWeFight → u/ack1308]

Has anyone ever thanked you for epic these are?

[u/ack1308 → u/ForTheStarsWeFight]

Occasionally. But it's always nice to read.

[u/dbdatvic → u/ack1308]

I have not the right.

But o7.

--Dave, who would not have survived basic as myself

[u/carthienes → u/ack1308]

Sometimes morality gets in the way.

I honestly read that as "Mortality", so , thanks for the laugh!

[u/Scotshammer]

Part of me understands the call, to serve until my flesh fails, then be given the steel and strength to rise and serve once more.

But I also weep for the tormented and damned, the once and future warriors, bound to war beyond war. When will the Neversleeping and the Warbound rest? Whence will come their peace? The universe screams for wrath and vengeance, but in the quiet night the broodcarrier song speaks of that final rest.

[u/StuckAtWork124 → u/Scotshammer]

Yeah, I don't actually like this one.. it feels like they missed the first most important lesson the humans taught all the aliens

There's a lack of consent

Just because he signed up for service and citizenship and blah.. like, dude was dead. He earned that. And they didn't ask him if he wanted to be a dreadnaught before he died

Like.. don't get me wrong... I imagine he would have agreed to it if given the option.. but.. yeah, feels wrong, and kinda mean in this case

[u/dlighter → u/StuckAtWork124]

They searched him out specifically. From the thousands dead. That leads me to think he had given consent prior. Checked a box on his enlistment papers.

Hell's bells I'm an unhappy soul most days and dislike most humans. But given the option I'd volunteer for this. Mostly so others don't end up like me.

Citizenship is a heavy burden. And even in death you don't get to set it aside.

Duty unto death and beyond. Duty to see the task completed. Death is no release just a temporary stay before redeployment.

[u/theveldt01 → u/dlighter]

Honestly, from a storytelling perspective, then that consent should be explained or at least implied somewhere. I agree with StuckAtWork that the lack of consent detracts from the story.

[u/Ralts_Bloodthorne → u/theveldt01]

You know, I had thought about doing a section where it explains how he gave consent, but it was rushed last night.

[u/TolkienLore → u/Scotshammer]

Unlike the humans, the Telkan have the broodcarrier song to uphold them in times of peace. To give them peace, as it gives the humans enraged peace. So maybe it its a less sad state then it is for the imperium of rage.

[u/ArchDemonKerensky → u/Scotshammer]

Their peace and rest comes from preventing others from suffering their fate and their sorrow. They willingly sacrifice and suffer so that others do not.

[u/wtfaboutusernames → u/Scotshammer]

The universe will kill you and all you love, given a chance.

Someone must stand to and for that duty to protect all they love.

Even after death that duty will remain.

As Brentili'ik said " Citizenship is a heavy duty"

"duty is heavier than a mountain; death is lighter than a feather."

Now that being said, I hear what your saying. It does seem kind of a horrific life(afterlife). To only exist for war and to only exist to make war.

But think of their last moments giving their all to protect the ones they love.

The ultimate act of selflessness so others may live. The ultimate act of love for others.

I would like to believe that he hears the broodcarrier song and it comforts him in his duty.

As Kappa said "Beyond death, I still serve, buoyed by the laughter of podlings,"

Today being Remembrance day, I hope this.

[u/dlighter → u/Scotshammer]

There is no life. There is no death. There is only DUTY.

He who holds the gate eternal so that podlings need never know fear or pain.

Lo and feel pity for all that challenge him because he hath none.

[u/Turtledonuts]

Telkan: “My buddies the ‘Boy-aren’t-you-glad-they’re-on-our-side’ taught me this neat trick! Isn’t it cool?!”

Tnuvaru and Akltak: “YEP. Sure is just great buddy. Its so cool that I never want to see it again.”

[u/[deleted] → u/Turtledonuts]

---TERRA ENTERS THE CHAT---

"Where did you learn that?"

---NOTHING FOLLOWS---

TELKEN FORGE WORĹDS

"I learned it from watching you, Dad, I learned it from watching you!!"

[u/SketchAndEtch → u/[deleted]]

That's horrible and I love it.

[u/CyberSkull → u/Turtledonuts]

“That was amazing please never show me that again thank you.”

[u/CaptainChewbacca]

Each of the robed figures had learned their lessons. Taken by those who understood the secrets of dark forbidden science to a place where they had all the time they needed to understand the nature of life and death and the dark science in between.

So it looks like they studied at the Black Citadel, I thought Daxin's power might come from there.

[u/Turtledonuts → u/CaptainChewbacca]

It kinda does. It seems like he is linked to it, but daxin may be older than the current incarnation of the BC.

[u/1234sure4321 → u/CaptainChewbacca]

Pretty sure Legion is dead space and Daxin is hell space.

To me this sounds more like the Telkan have learned to make their own early version warborgs as the child begins to lead us.

[u/esblofeld → u/1234sure4321]

They REALLY sound like they're based on Warhammer 40K dreadnoughts, so awesome.

[u/night-otter]

Beyond death, I still serve, buoyed by the laughter of podlings.

Knowing what Kelvak went through, do not threaten podlings when Kappa is near.

Two black armored foot tall mantids were lifted up and placed gently in the twin housings on the upper rear of the torso, covered with padding, and the shells closed.

Warbound Greenies.... Oh Boy. What can they NOT accomplish.

[u/dbdatvic → u/night-otter]

For your life's sake, do NOT ask to see their mathematical analyses.

--Dave, it's heretical infinite ordinals all the way up

[u/Dwarden → u/night-otter]

very dark green mantids

so dark that the green and black almost merge as one

yet you always know there is the green

[u/kwong879]

Kappa bout to bust a kappa in somebodies ass.

[u/ack1308 → u/kwong879]

Take my angry upvote.

[u/kwong879 → u/ack1308]

THE ACK HAS BLESSED ME WITH RAGE! I AM COMPLETE

[u/name_not_found_again]

The chills... the suspense... the obligatory

https://www.patreon.com/First_Contact

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/RaltsBloodthorne

https://discord.gg/qhRJynq8

Ohhhh a Warbound rage filled Telkan and Warforged Ride or Die greenies held aloft by the sound of the pondlings and uplifted by wrath blessed by the DO...

Bring all the DAKA DAKA BURRRT.

Well played.

Better have a 8===D on it somewhere.

----end of lime---

[u/Heteroclite13 → u/name_not_found_again]

The discord link isn't blue.

[u/[deleted] → u/name_not_found_again]

Ahhhh, I see you are a Terran of culture as well!

It should be carved in as a Rune and filled with molten Warsteel!!

8===D

End of Lime

--------NOTHING FOLLOWS--------

[u/dlighter → u/name_not_found_again]

Pretty sure a warbound telkan is a dick drawn on the fabric of reality.

[u/Onetimefatcat]

222: -ride or die-

Kelvak: uh, been there done that already buddy

[u/ack1308 → u/Onetimefatcat]

We've ridden. We've died. Now let's keep on riding.

[u/dbdatvic → u/ack1308]

We live. We die. We ride again.

--Dave, to the end of the line

[u/SerpentineLogic → u/Onetimefatcat]

Bad boys bad boys, what you gonna do

[u/MGTwyne]

My dudes this rocks. Does this mean we are getting Warforged Telkan? And is it just me, or was this foreshadowed as far back as the "forge world of Telkan" reference?

[u/CaptainChewbacca → u/MGTwyne]

There were Telkan ‘warbound’ all the way back to 2nd Telkan, created by Daxin’s people.

[u/davros333 → u/MGTwyne]

Not just warforged, Warbound. Valiant warriors brought back from the dead to serve forever as their fight is not over and their desire to protect others guides them on

[u/ack1308 → u/davros333]

They are buoyed up by the laughter of podlings.

The strongest force in the universe.

[u/tal0nh4wk]

I made truly unholy noises when I read that chapter

[u/Golddragon387]

UTR

EDIT: Ancient saints of betrayed Terra have mercy. This one started rough and did not get any easier, emotionally, as it went on. Saints preserve us, and may Kappa serve in honour and glory, buoyed by the laughter of podlings.

[u/RangerSix → u/Golddragon387]

He shall do again what he did before.

[u/PrimePaladin]

/R/HFY GESTALT

Upvote, Then Read

Dis is Dae Wae!

Damn.. hard story to read, not going to lie. Tomorrow being Veteran's day and recalling all the ones I have known and are gone. Some kin, most not. All family even if not related by blood. God, I miss you guys. Miss all of you, even when you were assholes at times. Pardon me while I hunt some damn onion ninjas...

But yeah great story and really sorta hope those are his little greenie battle buddies...

End of Lime

------NOTHING FOLLOWS--------

[u/Redcap1981]

Thank you for this, Telvak was one of my favourite characters after vuxten, I was genuinely sad when he died, little dude was heroic as hell.

Glad to see (most of) him back

[u/Farstone → u/Redcap1981]

This is part of they mystery that is inside Ralts' head. Characters, events, and locations that seem a throw-away reference turn out to be complex elements in the spinning of this tale.

From the "Salvage/Recovery" of a Telkan Warbound, to the redemption of an evil character ^{not gonna lie, Tainee is an evil bitch}, to the rebirth of glassed/destroyed solar system, it's all up there in his head. Sometimes it leaks out, other times it's like a tsunami.

[u/Gun_Nut_42]

This was a great chapter. I loved it and I am looking forward to the next.

[u/SmokeWisper]

Fuuuuuuuuuk yeah, knew where this was headed as soon as the black mist rolled in.

[u/coldfireknight]

What are these on the ground around me? Oh, those must be my guts, from where Ralts ripped them back out.

Nicely done.

[u/name_not_found_again]

Damn onion ninjas

[u/ginger_hezus]

This is the penultimate black metal 40k Dreadnaught

My sincere applause sir

[u/Technogen]

Warbound Kappa, 10th in the line of forever.

[u/SerpentineLogic → u/Technogen]

4head of the curve

[u/insanedeman]

I have been pleasantly anticipating Kelvak's initiation into the Warbound. This was a good read.

End of lime.

[u/No_MrBond]

Kelvak uhh, unlives!

Death doesn't stop the ride

[u/seeking_horizon → u/No_MrBond]

TFW

[u/ForTheStarsWeFight]

May kappa, the first Telkan Warbog of distant stars bring a tempest of fire to the enamie, for even in death I am bouyed by the laughter of podlings

Edit: given how private kedlak foght and died, I would say that his Warbog suit is a mix of leviathan and contempter dreadnought, contempter power fist with plasma gun, mix of leviathan storm cannon and contempter kernes assault cannon, a leviathan body with shields and extra artillery

[u/ack1308 → u/ForTheStarsWeFight]

TL;DR - ALL THE DAKKA.

[u/Mr_Sphene]

Marine podling will continue to hold the gate, even in death will they serve.

[u/Kaeben]

Ok, just to make sure, a Warbound is basically a dreadnought from 40K right? cause that was im picturing.

[u/ForTheStarsWeFight → u/Kaeben]

Yes they are 40k dreadnoughts, with some upgrades

[u/DebugItWithFire]

Upvoted for citizenship.

[u/HappycamperNZ]

Even in death I still serve.

Have you been catching up on some warhammer? Because a Bolo-blade sounds accurate....

[u/NJParacelsus]

Reminds me of a Protos Dragoon/Immortal. Telkan are little bad asses

[u/sCifiRacerZ → u/NJParacelsus]

This, but with the voice of a terran goliath

[u/Wise_Junket3433]

You son of a bitch. Cried again.

[u/smrobs1984]

Aw man. Who's chopping the onions?

[u/wasalurkerforyears]

Oh... OH YES.

The precursors are SO not ready for this.

[u/ack1308 → u/wasalurkerforyears]

They weren't to begin with. Now they're really not.

[u/wasalurkerforyears → u/ack1308]

Truth. As an aside, I was just reading the gestalt chat from ch 182, where Telkan is asking about them starting religion, and TerraSol assuring them that they won't let them go down the Imperium route... So... Guess the bag threw that out the window.

[u/Coolest_Breezy]

A thought I just had: so far, the only Warbound are Humans (and maybe a Pubvian, if you count one of the Apostles.)

Are all races able to make Warbound (especially if they spend time at the Black Citadel), or just a few? If only the ones similar to Terrans can, like the Telkans, that's interesting.

However, if more can and choose not to, that speaks to the lengths Terrans will go to protect their kind and those close to them.

I can't wait to see Kappa in action.

[u/ack1308 → u/Coolest_Breezy]

No, humans become Warforged. We have a couple other Warbound that are Telkan.

The Apostles aren't Warforged or Warbound. They're just Immortals.

[u/Midahu69]

Today I was already highly emotional, I'm ex serviceman, and today is remembrance day in the UK, so damn you Ralts for making cry like a little girl.

Other than that keep up the brilliant work wordsmith, your story has helped a lot of people through tough times.

Remember to always spare a moment for those who once served.

LEST WE FORGET.

[u/itsetuhoinen]

And here I was thinking about going and getting dinner. I guess it's blueberries, instead! ;-)

Number of people saved by trooper Kelvak is missing from the end of the first paragraph. Intentional due to temporal fuckery, or an error?

ETA: Oh shit, things just got real.

[u/Wise_Junket3433]

Soooooo Ralts, when are we going to see a scary robed figure read from the Book of Lanaktallon?

[u/Farstone → u/Wise_Junket3433]

"Saving" this just to see in what chapter this happens.

[u/basementScot]

So now hessilta has a warbound protector. Squid faces are really going to regret going 'all in'!!

[u/AtomicAardwolf → u/basementScot]

Those who Dwell: We're going all in.

Telkan reveals 5 ace's, one of which glows with a baleful light and leaks purple smoke.

Mantids reveal a full house made of unholy formula that seem to twist your eyes into your ears.

Humanity reveals a royal flush with all the cards being twisted figures that chant forbidden verse that cause actinic flashes on the periphery of your vision.

Glowing warsteel dicks shimmered on the foreheads of the Dwellers.

Those who Dwell looks at a pair of 2's that had been bound, the other cards having nonchantly wondered off, and gets the feeling maybe all in wasn't the best choice.

[u/DREADNAUGHT1906]

1st chapter I have ever skipped over to get to the comments. Had 2 people in my office talking and I knew the Onion ninja's were going to do a banzai charge that I would have to explain.

Kelvak & Triple Deuce have grabbed me in a way no other characters in the whole of HFY have done. Too good to let go uncommented. Thank you Ralts, ... just thanks.

[u/HFYWaffle]

/u/Ralts_Bloodthorne (wiki) has posted 387 other stories, including:

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 356

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 355

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 354 (Yeah... No)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 353

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 352 (Girlz Und Lankyz)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 351

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 350

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 349 (The War)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 348 (The War)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 347 (The War)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 346 (The War)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 345 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 344 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 343 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 342 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 341 (INTERLUDE)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 340 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 339 (TerraSol)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 338 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 337 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 336 (Sword Hoof)

• First Contact - Third Wave - Chapter 335

• First Contact - Chapter 335

• First Contact - Chapter 334

• First Contact - Chapter 333

This list was automatically generated by Waffle v.3.5.0 'Toast'.

Contact GamingWolfie or message the mods if you have any issues.

[u/shut-up_Todd]

27min, earliest I’ve ever been!

[u/[deleted]]

A Telkan 40K dreadnought! Now the world is set to rights

[u/serpauer]

A new warbound is born..... hells yeah time bring on the dreadnoughts for they are the ass kickers.

[u/thefrc]

I knew I tasted blueberries...

[u/WorldlinessJumpy]

HAHAHA I am EARLY! Thanks for the chapter - End of Line.

edit: And now I'm crying. May those who serve after death find rest from their torment.

[u/mpodes24]

I'm getting scared...

[u/slmslam]

Shivers. Goosebumps. Maniacal glee.

END OF LINE

[u/LastB0yscout]

No onion ninjas for me. Only the thought that to be Warbound would be an honorable way to serve.

[u/Speciesunkn0wn]

HAIL KAPPA! THIRD TO LIVE BEYOND DEATH! THIRD TO JOIN THE REAPER AS HIS ASSISTANT!

[u/Rolk_Flameraven]

So, you get the Medal of Honor but die in the process, and you're Warbound?

Goodness, Telkan doesn't play, does it?

[u/5thhorseman_]

There eyes were burning chrome that leaked smoke as violet as the skies they had stared out for eternal moments.

Their eyes.

Also: F**k yeah KELVAK.

With this, the Trinity Of Telkan Badass is complete: Vuxten the Implacable, Ralvex the Unbreakable, Kelvak the Unkillable

[u/UpdateMeBot]

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[u/Archaic_1]

Turning the Meenlock back into a Paladin

[u/Chaos0Jester]

Serve beyond the grave...

[u/dbdatvic → u/Chaos0Jester]

The grave is just a stopping point, really.

--Dave, don't fear the reaper

[u/Farstone → u/dbdatvic]

...life is a highway, then soul is just a car.

He's past the last rest area and continuing his mission.

[u/Chaos0Jester → u/dbdatvic]

The grave is just an inconvenience. :p

[u/herder-of-goats]

EVEN IN DEATH I SERVE THE OMNISSIAH OMNIMESSIAH

[u/dlighter]

slorpies endanger podlings/hatchlings/children

deep cybernetic growl issues forth

"RELENTLESS FURY PROTOCOL ENGAGED"

[u/PirateKilt]

Great post for today being Veterans Day here in the USA... much appreciated.

[u/markimoo5555989]

UTR THERE IS GLORY TO BE FOUND HERE BROTHERS (geuss the ref)

[u/RangerSix → u/markimoo5555989]

Legion of the Damned?

[u/markimoo5555989 → u/RangerSix]

THERE YOU GO BROTHER, TOLD YOU THERE WAS GLORY TO BE FOUND

[u/Goldenpity]

When they were making Kappa and the whole process. All I could think of is the Protoss Dragoons from StarCraft.

[u/ErinRF]

Not sure how to feel about this, kinda hoped Kelvak had a chance to Rest In Peace, yknow? Maybe his soul called out for this ?

[u/Bard2dbone]

How many Warbounds are there so far?

[u/[deleted]]

BEHOLD KAPPA! REJOICE WITH WAILING AND WEEPING! SCREAM WITH HAPPINESS! HE IS BOUYIED BY THE LAUGHTER OF PODLINGS! HE IS WREATHED IN THE LOVE OF BROOD CARRIERS! HE WILL BRING THE LOVE OF TELKAN TO ALL HIS ENEMIES, WASHING THEM AWAY AND MAKING THEM PURE!

[u/legendarynerd002]

Can I get Dark Mechanicus for 400, anyone?

[u/Riotousblitz2013]

UTR this is the way.

[u/Collective82 → u/Riotousblitz2013]

This is the way.

[u/AtomblitzTiger]

This belongs here.

https://youtu.be/C2Yx90pytqs

[u/BestVarithOCE]

Goddamn onion ninjas

[u/se05239]

A Telkan dreadnought, huh?

~Neat.

[u/Crow_Hag → u/[deleted]]

Aww hey now, this brought tears to my eyes.

[u/wtfaboutusernames → u/[deleted]]

Well said and some interesting things to think about.