The Soypsy Khanate: An Empire of a Thousand Suns

Neptune's Kiss Part 1

You are approaching the final gatechain needed to bring you back to the Soypsy homeworld. This voyage had been unnecessarily arduous, due to a large recent acquisition of worlds, one of which was unknowingly prosperous in uncommon material, leading to orders for intense scanning of all worlds in the array. While not completely a waste of time, as you've uncovered some resources that would otherwise have escaped detection of a traditional survey, you still feel as if your time invested failed to meet projected capital gains. Your ship, the majestic YLI Lauta, slipped into the gateway that would rapidly pull you through other gates to the only center of the universe that mattered.

It was late in the night, on the Imperial clock, of course, and most crew would be in their quarters even if you hadn't granted early leisure. You had done your assignment well, yet you knew not enough was being done in the larger picture. Like a gear in an immense mechanism, there is only so much you could do in your capacity. And what of gears purposefully locking teeth? All captains under Soypsy were supposed to be working towards the same greater good, but you have the unshakable feeling that Nyquist would absolutely be willing to act as a cancer and attack another cell in the organism of Soypsy.

You sat, pondering your actions and relationships, when your lead communications wizard entered the bridge. Brandon had an aura of consummate professionalism upon entering, truly a captain's wizard, which he promptly dropped upon seeing you lounging in your Big Thinkin' chair, gesturing to him to similarly drop into a more casual attitude; it was after hours, after all.

"I apologize for the late intrusion, sir, but-" You gesture again.

"This message just crawled through the firmament; new orders. A world previously thought to be primarily subsapient is showing new potential in regards to mercantilism and political science. Your plotted course was set to be near the slipgate into their system, so your orders are to conduct a second contact."

The pain you feel is immense and incalculable, like an oasis being revealed to be a mirage. Brandon infers this, and in his enhanced informal state, continues:

"I could, uhh, 'not see' the conveyance until morning, Captain, by which time we would be far passed the requisite slipgate."

"Nay, we have been granted the privilege of such a prestigious ship under the condition that we use it to explore and extend the domain of Soypsy. Refusing orders with such petulance would not only be an insult to the empire and our ship, but to ourselves and everyone we command, to rob them of the experience and force another lesser vessel to do it instead. Such an act would truly be a Class B Counter Production, and even if we could get away with it, we would always know."

Brandon gave you a knowing look. You ask him to bring you the full transcript of the orders, so you can bring yourself up to speed as you step into the navigation console and reduce the ship from speed. Upon receiving logistical information, you arrange the minerals and crystals along the runes and symbols on the body-sized deck, setting sail to your new destination; a waterworld, less than 20% land. The initial primary survey revealed to the Empire that the dominant lifeforms were uncivilized nomads that were sustained on the most basic of fishing. Not long after leaving an outpost (the fish were good), a seemingly more advanced society were revealed to the imperial fishers. Communication has been established, and there are reports of sophisticated governments of sizable populations, all interacting with each other beneficially. Intriguing.