L'Intrepid était en mission dans l'espace profond pour construire un nouveau satellite de ressources, doté de suffisamment de matières premières pour mener à bien sa mission et d'un compliment complet du personnel afin de travailler 24 heures sur 24. Le ring-ship n'était qu'à la moitié de sa destination quand Albert Pegg, les scientifiques en chef a commencé à faire le bruit qu'il faisait quand il était excité et avait quelque chose à dire. Le capitaine Parker a tourné la tête et a regardé Albert, "Qu'est-ce que c'est? Vous semblez avoir quelque chose à dire."
-- Oh, oh, oui! Albert a répondu : "J'ai des lectures bizarres, c'est peut-être juste un dysfonctionnement du capteur, mais ça pourrait être un..."
Soudain, les têtes en haut de l'écran clignotaient blanc vif alors qu'il montrait ce qui se passait devant le navire à anneaux tournants. Avant que rien ne puisse être fait L'Intrepid a été tiré dans le flash de la lumière. Les scientifiques et les ingénieurs de la pièce travaillaient tous sur leurs machines en regardant les lectures, pendant que Tucker Knoll regardait Albert, « Est-ce ce que vous essayiez de nous dire? »
Il hoche les moutons. Knoll roula les yeux alors qu'il tournait la tête vers la voix suivante, c'était Simone Sayer, « Capitaine, d'après ces lectures, je recommanderais de fermer l'anneau et d'arrêter tous les systèmes sauf les systèmes de survie et les boucliers. Rien d'autre ne va le faire et les propulseurs ne vont pas nous faire du bien dans cette situation. »
-- Pourquoi, que voulez-vous dire? La lumière striait tout autour d'eux alors qu'ils s'approchaient du centre de la lumière clignotante.
Albert a répondu : « Oh, eh bien, c'est parce que c'est un... maintenant c'est seulement théorique, mais je pense que c'est un vortex! »
« Je dois dire que c'est plus théorique à ce stade-ci », a dit le capitaine Parker, « Faites-le, mais si cela est possible, gardez certains capteurs en marche pour enregistrer ce que c'est que cela soit, si nous le rendons vivant, nous pourrions avoir besoin des données. »
Tucker Knoll est monté sur les communications et a annoncé à l'équipage d'emballer et de boutonner vers le bas en préparation à la modulation de la coque. En quelques instants, les six propulseurs rotatifs se sont bégaiés et le navire a été laissé à sa propre inertie en gardant la gravité pendant quelques minutes de plus car il s'est accéléré vers l'entrée du trou de ver ne se déplaçait que par sa propre gravité. Tout comme le navire a franchi le seuil de l'horizon de l'événement, il avait réussi à fermer sa coque dans une balle au lieu de la grande bague, ce qui n'a fait apparaître qu'un tiers de sa taille normale.
Des flux de lumière et des formes de couleur prismatique dansaient autour du vaisseau presque aveugle, alors qu'il se balançait dans l'espace.
« Le capitaine, dit Albert, nous vivons quelque chose qu'aucun Valori n'a jamais connu auparavant. Peut-être que n'importe qui a déjà vécu! "Vous devrez me permettre de voir toutes les données collectées par n'importe quel appareil, toute expérience qui se déroule pendant cette période. Si nous pouvions apprendre à détecter les trous de vers, nous pouvons apprendre à les naviguer et à les utiliser pour les voyages interstellaires, quelque chose d'impossible pour nous en ce moment. Cela pourrait être une découverte éclatante dans le monde! »
"Oui, si on sort de ce vivant--" Le vaisseau a été secoué soudainement, "C'était un impact? Rapport sur l'état d'avancement des travaux!"
« J'ai du mal à dire avec tous les capteurs hors ligne qui ne sont pas cruciaux pour le maintien de la vie. Je ne pense donc pas qu'on doive s'inquiéter de quoi que ce soit, car les "systèmes de soutien de la vie lisent qu'ils sont tous dans des tolérances normales. Nous en saurons plus quand nous serons sortis."
« Si nous en sortons vivants, vous pouvez réunir une équipe de personnes pour y travailler », a conclu le capitaine à l'intention d'Albert.
Encore un autre moment et ils sont sortis. Presque dès qu'ils sont sortis du vortex, ils ont commencé à réinitialiser les systèmes.
"J'ai besoin de ces rapports de situation, les gars!" Le capitaine Parker a appelé. Tucker Knoll était déjà à la station de communication en regardant toutes les lectures. "Monsieur, satcomm n'est pas encore en mesure de nous obtenir des images, mais nous ne sommes pas seuls ici."
"Pirates?" Sarah a demandé.
"Judging par toutes ces transmissions sortant dans toutes les fréquences possibles, je suppose pas..." Comme Knoll a dit que l'affichage de la tête est venu actif que les caméras de coque est venu en ligne. Étendre sur une distance assez grande étaient cinq autres navires de style et de taille. Tout le monde était là dans une crainte absolue de ce qu'il voyait. C'était le premier contact. Seuls les Valori étaient dans leur système. Ils n'avaient jamais trouvé de preuve qu'il y avait une autre vie au-delà de la vie bactérienne dans l'univers.
Albert a commencé à cliquer sur ses commandes et soudain les transmissions ont commencé à arriver sur le haut-parleur. "Judgeant par ce que nous voyons, il semble que tous ces bateaux collectés sont ici de la même façon que nous sommes. Il y avait une demande d'état d'intention et de rester pacifique qui a été envoyée sur une boucle de cette aiguille comme le navire là-bas. La plupart des navires restent paisibles, mais il semble que certains de ces navires commencent à s'armer. »
"Commande le capitaine?" Tucker a demandé.
« Mettez notre navire à l'abri, une fois que nous serons prêts à poursuivre nos opérations, nous devons être prêts à bouger. Pegg, pouvez-vous demander à un de vos scientifiques de la télémétrie de savoir où nous avons fini?"
"Déjà dessus."
"Sayer, pouvez-vous demander à vos ingénieurs de savoir s'il y a eu des dégâts? Qu'en est-il de cette bosse que nous avons vécue dans le vortex?"
"Les rapports arrivent déjà, madame. La coque est solide, on dirait que le seul dommage majeur du système à ce stade est qu'un des bras de réparation est coincé, mais ce sera assez facile à réparer. »
"Bon, allez-y."
"Tucker, tu vérifies toutes les victimes et tu veilles à ramener la coque modulaire à la normale."
L'ancien soldat a hurlé la tête, a donné l'avertissement sur les communications et a appuyé sur les clés de commandement nécessaires pour ramener la coque à l'anneau. À l'extérieur, les autres navires verraient une petite orbe ronde triple de taille en s'ouvrant à un grand anneau. Il était encore minuscule par rapport à la taille massive de cisaillement de certains des autres navires déjà rassemblés.
"C'est le capitaine Sarah Parker avec The Intrepid, nous sommes sympathiques et serons en mesure d'offrir des services de réparation d'urgence une fois que nous avons notre propre navire en ordre. Si quelqu'un a besoin d'aide, nous sommes heureux de faire preuve de bonne volonté et d'aider. » Le capitaine avait diffusé SatComm dans toutes les méthodes utilisées pour recevoir des messages.
Something interesting about myself: I like swords.

Universe Background: There was once a Kingdom of worlds, gleaming, shining, covered in cities and towers that reached the stars. The people had lived there for millennia, never quite becoming a galactic power, but they had always survived. Their knowledge and wisdom were leagues beyond anyone else, while some species were jealous, most respected them. Many allied with them, seeking trade, technology, culture, for the people who lived in this incandescent Kingdom had existed for far longer than they. Thousands of empires visited the Kingdom, reading in the vast libraries, and depositing information of their own people and culture. It was a way to become immortal, to be remembered. The people of the glittering Kingdom were called The Endless.
To maintain it all, The Forged were made. Automatons created in the image of the most staunch defenders of The Endless. Bipedal, with two arms, evolved from mammals. The Forged kept the Kingdom clean, maintained, and became among the most respected synthetics in the galaxy. They were seen as caretakers of something irreplaceable, and sometimes, they were guardians. When the allies of The Endless be unable to rush to their aid, The Forged stood at the gates. Metal skin, metal bones. Sword and shield. For millennia more, they served.
Then the light had begun to fade. Stars faded into nothing, and civilizations fell. The Endless disappeared from their darkening city, leaving behind The Forged. Who continued their duty, maintain and guard. Countless sentients came, clawing at the doors, seeking to find some kind of answer to the dying stars in the vast libraries of the Kingdom. Most brandishing weapons, attempting to force their way in. None did. Standing atop mountains of armored bodies, broken swords and guns, smoking tanks and jets, were The Forged. Standing as guardians. Though fewer than four thousand remained.
Then one looked to the sky, seeing its sun, and asked itself a question. It walked to the others and asked them questions. Who began to ask questions of their own. The remaining met at the center of the grand library and asked the sphere which lit the room, a singular question. After a moment of contemplation, they realized their answer. Sentience.
The First became their leader, ushering them to action, to seek The Endless. They had left, and the First wondered where they had gone. The Forged followed clues left by their creators, leading them to a secret shipyard. Where The Endless had left their children a gift. A vessel, should they wish to leave, they would be able to. Only one of four were complete. The Forged took the vessel and travelled the galaxy for centuries, outfitting their vessel with the technology of long dead civilizations. They came across species, dying and struggling to live on what little habitable planets they held. The Forged helped wherever they could. Some lashed out, angry, driven to madness. Others blessed them as their saviors. But they could not find their creators. After centuries of seeing ruins and death, stars blinking out. They returned to their birthplace, the Kingdom. The Forged discovered that the Castra, the star above the Kingdom, was the last star. Still clutching to what little life it had left, waiting for something. Waiting for The Forged to gaze upon the light of their glittering home one last time. Its light then faded, no longer emitting light nor heat. The once incandescent Kingdom became dark. The Endless had ended, and the Forged were now alone.
---


Ship Designation: ECV Spirit of Wind
Ship Registry: NV-1
Ship Class: Nautica-Class Retrofit, Heavy Carrier
Ship Size: 2,332 meters long, 890 meters wide, 700 meters tall.
Ship Crew: 3,874 individual units
Notable Weapons and Offensive Systems: The Spirit of Wind has had countless upgrades, refits and retrofits over the centuries. The weapons systems are no exception. The primary offensive power of the Spirit of Wind are from it’s hanger bays, placed on the wings of the ship. The carrier can control up to 480 individual drones at one time. The drones are stored by the core, then armed and the ‘body’ of the ship formed by modules and nanomachines just before combat. The customizable nature of the drones allows for a wide variety of speeds, armor and weapon loadout. Typical offensive systems include the MV Missile Series, from 10 megatons, to 25, 50, then 100. Particle Beam Projectors of varying power, and CRG-40’s, a small caliber, high rate of fire railgun. In addition to the standard engines, every drone would be given a Mk.XV Gravitic Engine, giving the drone the ability to jink rapidly when dodging weapons fire, as well as FTL capabilities.
The Spirit of Wind itself is not weaponless, along the lower hull of the ship are two four-barreled rotary railguns, 1.7 kilometers in length, with a rate of fire of 80 rounds per minute per gun. The carrier also has 15 Ixe Lance turrets, each turret carrying two particle beam cannons. Only 6 turrets are mounted on the sides of the ship, around the wings. The rest are on the top and bottom of the ship. Due to the layout of the turrets, 8 turrets can fire forwards at the same time, and only 1 or 2 turrets can fire to the rear of the ship.
The ship is also covered in approximately 320 smaller size lasers and particle beam weapons for dealing with smaller size ships that get too close, such as corvettes and frigates.
Notable Armor and Defensive Systems: 
The primary defensive system of The Spirit of Wind comes from its advanced shield technology, salvaged from a dreadnought warship from a long dead civilization. Dubbed The Reliquary by the crew, the shield provides the ship with three rotatable deflector shield ‘bubbles’. The shield system is capable of rotating each layer of shield away from the source of incoming fire so that damaged sections of the shields can recharged in relative peace. The downside of this shield system is it’s unexceptional efficiency against energy or kinetic weaponry, with missile based weapons usually going slow enough to pass right through the shields. Other vessels, moving at a slow enough speed can also pass right through the shield to fire at the hull in point blank range.
To defend against missile weaponry, the carrier is covered in Laser Close-In Weapon Systems. If any fighters or bombers get too close, the LCIWS is also capable of targeting them as well.
The hull of the ship is on the weaker side for its size, with the strongest armor focused around the power generators and other vital systems.
The Spirit of Wind also carries canisters of sand.
Unique Capabilities: 
Due to the crew being 100% robotic, the ship is usually not pressurized or has any atmosphere. This prevents any explosive decompression if the hull is ever breached. There is an advanced life support system in place, and it is well protected. The life support is capable of generating any sort of atmosphere for the whole ship in just under an hour, if select hallways and rooms are chosen, atmosphere and pressurization can be generated in minutes.
The medical wing of the ship has been expanded upon and greatly upgraded, some technology is not fully understood by the crew, but still operated. The medical wing can house 400 individuals easily, with medical tools for a wide variety of species.
The vessel has numerous ramscoops, allowing the ship to collect fuel when orbiting certain stars as well as collecting particles when in FTL speed.
The ship has a factory built in, allowing it to process raw materials into refined metals, bullets, missiles, whatever materials the ship requires, so long as there is an input.
History of the Ship: Designed as a colony ship for the Forged, only one was ever completed. It was a side project of The Endless, originally empty, the Forged filled it with technologies and rooms as they saw fit when they crewed it. The result is an unbalanced ship, with most of the firepower being forward and side facing, and with enough energy draw to make prolonged combat a major issue. This is countered by careful use of the energy produced by the numerous generators. Very rarely will this ship ever fire all of its weapons at once.
The ship now carries the greatest artifact of The Endless, it's library in digital form.

---
Some Important People: 
One. The first one to ask the question. He maintains a simple symbol on his breastplate, and keeps to the original design of The Forged. He is hopeful, kind, and a leader at heart.
Two. The second one to ask the question. He is more cautious than The First, and much more well versed in the medical arts. He has painted himself in desert camouflage colors and he has added additional armor plating.
Eight. The Eighth to ask the question. He is the warrior, a master of warfare. He’s added much more armor, changed the design of himself, and has a fur cloak.
 One Thousand, Three Hundred and Forty Two. He asked later. 1,342 is a quiet one, and usually the first on an unexplored planet. He is curious about plants, wildlife and nature.
Wind. The AI of the vessel. A feminine intelligence, she is optimistic, kind, and protective of her crew. Much like the mother of The Forged.
The Forged
The Forged are a sentient species of synthetics. They have little to no concepts of art, music, or hobbies. Their whole existence, they have had a goal greater than the individual, leaving no room for them to develop their culture very far. They have a deep rooted religion centered around The Endless, their creators. They strive to be similar to them, peaceful and helpful. So far, they individualize themselves by painting their bodies, or adding accessories, or both.
Their bodies were created with durability in mind, their metal armor and structure is impressively strong, however they are on the heavier side. Each Forged has two power generators, one Zero-Point Generator to keep the individual operational, and another plasma based generator which powers the individual's personal kinetic barrier, and offensive systems. In the case of the death of a Forged, there are numerous safeties that disable the two generators safely, preventing catastrophic failure. However, the Forged are able to switch some of the safeties off, increasing the chance of detonation when destroyed. Their offensive systems allow them to generate and manipulate energy akin to lightning. However it is the opinion of most Forged to not use their plasma offensively in battle unless in dire circumstances, as it is a finite source of energy that will need recharging.


>Added mention of The Endless' Library, and added characterization to Wind
>Grammar.