but i like to think that they are not so stupid as to completely miss the difference between durasteel or plasteel or whatever the tec calls their material, and the alien stuff the vasari used

who said they were on the other side of the wormhole?

and I did

Quoting eoncommander,

reply 424

i can't imagine a ship would ever be that damaged that you couldnt tell what the ship was made of. surely the same exact materials arent used by both the tec and the vasari

 

and what materials are they? You can't tell what something is when its melted and twisted. Wait, let me correct mysely. You could if you were a scientist or you were a shipbuilder, but the Mani'k aren't into that kind of thing. How would they know what the burnt and twisted hull would normally be made of? Their fighters, not scientists.

---

      Maybe it's not an issue of wether they know or do not know to who the ship belongs to or are able to distinguish or not the materials. It's just that they don't care, as C.I. said, they're fighters not scientists and I can relate to that. So I'm going to agree with him on this one.

Just one thing I didn't like, and that was when you said the ship was so destroyed it was unrecognizable.  That doesn't make sense, as destroyed means gone, no more, something like that. Now, if it was damaged beyond recognition, I could agree with that. Just a small descriptive error. Great so far. Wonder when your going back to the Advent point of view.

Chapter 11, part 2
The Story Unfolds...in the Future?

The Vasari

8 years ago, galactic position 305,741, space anomaly named Esquian's Fall

    "I want a full status report," Fokxnim hissed quietly into the transmission's receiver.
    "Understood, Da'Mani'k," Kilodim responded smartly, saluting. He faced the transmission's view screen which projected a holographic display of Fokxnim's face and continued. "Early this morning at 1800 dapshas the Rakulas was notified of a disturbance in galactic sector 305, 741."
    "Esquian's Fall."
    "Yes, Da'Mani'k. The Rakulas immediately phased into the system to investigate. What we found was a half-destroyed ship that had somehow come through the wormhole."
    "Elaborate on this ship."
    "The technicians on the Rakulas believe that the ship's engines had exploded, rendering the ship immobile. It's reactor, while not intact, showed no signs of internal fracture. Meaning it did not explode, which is why there is even this large of a piece of rubble."
    "And you cannot identify the origin of the ship?"
    "Da'Mani'k, with all the respect that is due to your forefathers, we cannot. We have towed it into the repair bay at DECEIT and have assigned the engineers there to study it. Our minimal scan from the Rakulas could not identify the metal of origin which the ship was constructed from, but that was explained to be from the high degree of melting that the hull had undergone. Many different metals from the ship, such as the outer hull, inner hull, metal tubes in the infrastructure, and even the ceiling panels were all created out of different metals. If they were where they were supposed to be, our scan could have easily identified them. But the metals were melted and twisted together during the destruction of the ship. Currently it is impossible for us to identify which metals came from which section of the ship, and without that we cannot identify the ship."
    "But you know what metals were melted together?"
    "No, Da'Mani'k, we do not. The Rakulas's scans could not identify the metals in their current state, but keep in mind that it is not a research vessel. The engineers at DECEIT should not have a hard time of it."
    "Very well, you've found the ship floating at Esquian's Fall. How did it get through the wormhole?"
    "The technicians blame gravity, Da'Mani'k. The ship was pulled towards the center of the wormhole, and it was pulled through."
    "And you have no ideas of how the wormhole managed to reopen itself?"
    "None, Da'Mani'k. But it has closed now."
    "What?"
    "A few minutes before our conference we received notation from a Jikara that was watching the wormhole. It's light simply died, and when the scout went closer it picked up no radiation on its scanners. The wormhole had simply closed up again."
    "Just like that?"
    "We have no explanation for it."
    "Very well, the ship has come through, you have phased in. What happens next?"
    "The Mani'k were sent into the wreck to discover more about what happened to it. Mani'k Yorashknir--"
    "I know what happened with Yorashknir."
    Kilodim unobtrusively bit down on his arm to combat his embarrassment. When he spoke again, small rivulets of blood ran down his arm.
    "Yes, Da'Mani'k. We found a Vasari hiding in the darkest shadow of the command center."
    "Hiding?"
    "Yes, Da'Mani'k, we were as surprised as you. And ashamed. The Vasari was Mani'k."
    Fokxnim hissed quietly for a long moment. After he had mastered himself, he said, "I assume you immediately killed him after questioning?"
    "No, Da'Mani'k."
    "No?"
    "We thought that too quick an end to the Vasari. He is no longer Mani'k, and he will live out his life cleaning the decks of the Rakulas. I believe we will have his arms empty of blood in a week."
    "....I believe that is a good solution. Honor to your forefathers, Mani'k Kilodim."
    "Honor to your forefathers, Da'Mani'k."
    "You are dismissed."

The Advent

5 years ago, phase space

    Haiti opened his eyes and smiled. "That is what happened in truth?"
    Do you doubt the knowledge of the High One?  <Do you doubt the knowledge of the High One?>
    "No, only the validity of my vision, which was your memory. That is what you saw?"
    Yes, that is what happened. Veronica will have a rough time. <Yes, that is what happened. Veronica will have a rough time.>
    "That is not my concern. She is where she needs to be at the right moment. That is my concern."
    Tell me again why you care so much for this human. <Tell me again why you care so much for this human.>
    "Can't you read my mind and find out?"
    I already know what you are thinking. I want to hear you say it. <I already know what you are thinking. I want to hear you say it.>
    "This human moves at incredible speeds, but he seems to not know how he does it, and it pains him to do so. I want to harness whatever power he possesses for my own."
    How disgusting. To think it was my World of Visions that showed you this man. <How disgusting. To think it was my World of Visions that showed you this man.>
    "I am what you made me."
    I did not make you. You are not my creation. <I did not make you. You are not my creation.>
    "So Kartente can create life better than the High One?"
    Do not try to irritate me, Haiti. You will not live to be a thousand years. My creations will live forever. <Do not try to irritate me, Haiti. You will not live to be a thousand years. My creations will live forever.>
    "What creations do you speak of? The Advent cannot live forever. The oldest Advent in history only lived to be four thousand years old!"
    My creation is incomplete. You know that Advent stands for thirteenth, don't you? You know how the Advent were created. <My creation is incomplete. You know that Advent stands for thirteenth, don't you? You know how the Advent were created.>
    "Remind me."
    Back during the Great Split of Earth, when the two Trader sects split from each other, the sect that had split from the original Traders named itself the Illumis, and cast themselves from Earth in search of a planet that would tolerate their beliefs. <Back during the Great Split of Earth, when the two Trader sects split from each other, the sect that had split from the original Traders named itself the Illumis, and cast themselves from Earth in search of a planet that would tolerate their beliefs.>
    And I found them. <And I found them.>
    I experimented on them, trying to create the perfect race, a race infused with Spirituality. <I experimented on them, trying to create the perfect race, a race infused with Spirituality.>
    "Spirituality is what again? You say it as if it is not something religious."
    You would not know, not being raised as all other Advent are raised. You were, in fact, never a child at all. Spirituality is the power behind the creation of the universe, the force behind all other forces. It is the base from which I constructed what the Advent call PsiTech. Over time Spirituality has developed a religious significance, but it is a force of nature, not to be trifled with. It is the force of nature. It is infused within the Spirits that govern the Universe. <You would not know, not being raised as all other Advent are raised. You were, in fact, never a child at all. Spirituality is the power behind the creation of the universe, the force behind all other forces. It is the base from which I constructed what the Advent call PsiTech. Over time Spirituality has developed a religious significance, but it is a force of nature, not to be trifled with. It is the force of nature. It is infused within the Spirits that govern the Universe.>
    "And so the Advent are not perfect?"
    No. They were the most promising, but they are not yet complete. Perhaps the Damain will succeed where the Advent have failed. That is fourteenth in the language of the High One, my language. Or maybe the fifteenth, the Numar. I am not a hasty being, I have been alive for eons of eons. There will come a time, Haiti, when I will remove the Advent from the Universe. Remember that. You will not live to be a thousand years, but the Advent will too become extinct. Remember that always. <No. They were the most promising, but they are not yet complete. Perhaps the Damain will succeed where the Advent have failed. That is fourteenth in the language of the High One, my language. Or maybe the fifteenth, the Numar. I am not a hasty being, I have been alive for eons of eons. There will come a time, Haiti, when I will remove the Advent from the Universe. Remember that. You will not live to be a thousand years, but the Advent will too become extinct. Remember that always.>
    "I see..." Haiti murmured, brow furrowed.
    No, you do not see. You only think you see. But back to Veronica, and the human. You know he will try to kill you? <No, you do not see. You only think you see. But back to Veronica, and the human. You know he will try and kill you?>
    "Ha, let him try," Haiti scoffed, "there is not a Silent One alive that can come near me! Most Advent can't even approach me if I do not want them to. What does that man have that I could possibly fear?"
    He can traverse the World of Visions. <He can traverse the World of Visions.>
    "What? I have never felt another presence there!"
    He came several times before you were even...created, Haiti. He has not come in some time, but he can. He does not know how he does it, and he almost kills himself each time, but he can do it. His son has the ability too, although he has not experienced a force-flash yet. <He came several times before you were even...created, Haiti. He has not come in some time, but he can. He does not know how he does it, and he almost kills himself each time, but he can do it. His son has the ability too, although he has not experienced a force-flash yet.>
    "His son? He's not even born yet! A child newly made in the womb!"
    You have been watching him closely. His other son, the one not biologically connected to him. The soldier. You somehow brought him for a few moments into the World of Visions, but he does not know what that was nor does he hear the song of that World. <You have been watching him closely. His other son, the one not biologically connected to him. The soldier. You somehow brought him for a few moments into the World of Visions, but he does not know what that was nor does he hear the song of that World.>
    "What was it that we were even discussing?"
    What the human has that could make you frightened. He is still carrying the Vasari leeches, you know. <What the human has that could make you frightened. He is still carrying the Vasari leeches, you know.>
    "I understand, there are many things about this man that should frighten me. We will see how I feel once I meet him face-to-face."
    Do not delay it. It is up to you to decide whether the man remains a man, or is integrated into a Vasari. You don't want that to happen. <Do not delay it. It is up to you to decide whether the man remains a man, or is integrated into a Vasari. You don't want that to happen.>
    "Don't I? What do you know of my thoughts?"
    You forget again, Haiti. You have no thoughts that are hidden to me. You may be the strongest Advent, but I created the Advent. Even someone like you is not nearly as powerful as me. <You forget again, Haiti. You have no thoughts that are hidden to me. You may be the strongest Advent, but I created the Advent. Even someone like you is not nearly as powerful as me.>
    "We'll have to put that to the test someday."
    You tire me. I will be withdrawing Outside for some time. Do not try to scry me again. You will kill yourself this time. <You tire me. I will be withdrawing Outside for some time. Do not try to scry me again. You will kill yourself this time.>
    "Your wish is my command."
    If only it was. <If only it was.>

It is the Vasari that worship the Spirits, although we don't know that in Sinners yet. The Advent worship the High One, but the High One seems to know much about the Spirits. key foreshadowing there, for those of you that have read the Sinner's Mind Game. And Kol has. Remember when his fighter crashed into the Vasari capital ship? How he had this weird dream where the fire of life and the darkness of death surrounded him on two sides, and some voice spoke to him about his future? Somewhere in the chapter 5-6 range, I think. Don't quote me on that.

I remember that chapter... where the voice talked to him... in what sounded like something shakespeare would write

Chapter 11, part 3
The Council of Nine

The Vasari

8 years ago, galactic position 392, 778, planet code named DECEIT
aboard the Junakra

    Fokxnim slinked down the deserted hallway, a knife clutched tightly in his hand. It had taken him a long time to come to this decision. Assassination was once commonplace in Vasari society, but that was long before the Exodus and the Vasari were now too few for such harsh measures. Still, what had to be done had to be done. The murder of Fleet Admiral Commander Flankx would be greatly beneficial to the Vasari as a whole. And it would place Fokxnim in the Admiral Commander's position. It was not that Fokxnim cared for power, indeed he radiated it without the addition of the most powerful rank in Vasari society, but what mattered more to him was respect. If he did not get the respect that he thought was due to him, he would do anything it took for the unfortunate victim to realize it was in his best interest to kneel before Fokxnim on sight. And so this had to be done.
    A shadow appeared on the wall, cast by someone around the corner of the hallway. Fokxnim flattened himself against the wall, watching the shadow intently. Was it one Vasari? Or more? The shadow seemed to twirl and twist, so it was hard for Fokxnim to see if the shadow belonged to one Vasari, or nine. Then the shadow receded. A cold feeling swept down Fokxnim's spinal tube. With one last look at the corner, he promptly turned around and headed in the opposite direction, dropping the knife as he went. Murder was forbidden by the Vasari, it was an unspoken law. That was why he was not going to kill Flankx. The only reason. Fokxnim looked back at the corner. Besides, it seemed like Flankx was about to receive what was due to him anyway. They could judge this kind of thing a lot better than he could. He wouldn't dare stand up to them.


    Flankx was writing out an electric order when he heard his door close. He put down the transparent blue document and looked up. Nine Vasari flanked his desk in a half-circle. But there was something to these Vasari. They were not normal Vasari. They seemed to exude a power, a presence. And they were several inches taller than any Vasari he had every seen, so they seemed to leer down at him. Flankx's sixth sense cautioned him to be very careful around these Vasari. He paid it no heed.
    "What in the name of the Darkness are you doing here!" He shouted at them. When they did not flinch, he flung an arm at the door. "Get out! If you want an audience, you make an appointment with the High Captain!"
    The nine Vasari did not budge.
    "Flankx Sizkermahdi," one hissed, and the others took up the chant.
    "Flankx Sizkermahdi," they hissed, "Flankx Sizkermahdi."
    Stunned, Flankx sat back down in his chair.
    "You have been called, Sizkermahdi..."
    "You have been called...you have been called..."
    "Sizkermahdi...."
    Abruptly the hissing voices stopped. And one of the Vasari stepped forward. When he spoke, it was with a heavy hiss.
    "Flank Sizkermahdi, you have been called to approach the Council..."
    Was it only the one Vasari talking? The other Vasari's vocal strings did not move, but the one Vasari's voice echoed like the other eight were repeating him. With the voice of nine Vasari in one, the first Vasari continued.
    "You have been called before the Council of Nine, and you must stand judgement."
    It was definitely only the one Vasari talking. And yet Flankx was equally sure he was hearing all of their voices at once, speaking the same exact lines. And he had heard of the Council of Nine....
    They were the ultimate judges of the Vasari. They came to those who broke so strong a law of the Vasari that none other could deal with them. They were used to frighten newly integrated species. Do what I say, or I will send the Council of Nine after you! Most believed they were a myth, a boogeyman in the shadows. Some even thought the Council of Nine was the Darkness! Flankx personally had never really thought they existed. Yet here they were, standing in front of him. Without a doubt Flankx knew they were standing in front of him.
    "You have erred, Sizkermahdi," they hissed in unison, "you have erred, and you will pay."
    "Please."
    It came out as no more than a whisper. Flankx cleared his throat and tried again.
    "Please, have mercy," he begged, the rage of this embarrassment to his pride not enough to combat the sheer terror that coursed through him, "have mercy and let me go. You can have whatever you want. Credits, power, you can even have the Admiral Commander position! I don't want it! Just take it and leave me be!"
    "The Admiral Commander position is ours, Sizkermahdi," the Council of Nine hissed together, "it was ours and it will always be ours. It is ours to give away, and it is ours to take away."
    They let this sink in.
    "And yet," the Council of Nine continued, "we have decided you are still the best Vasari for this position. None other could handle it the way we need it to be handled in the times ahead. But you will not just take this away from Vorg, you will do as he and all other Fleet Admiral Commanders have done to acquire their position."
    "What must I do?" Flankx asked, hoping against hope that they would not say what he knew they would say...
    "You will take the Test," the Council of Nine hissed, "and you will pass, or you will die. You have no choice in this matter. You have decided to banish the Spirits from your soul the moment you shamefully took the life of another Vasari. For this you will have no choice. You will either succeed...or you will die."
    The Test. The nightmare that lurked around the Admiral Commander's position. It is said that if the Council of Nine came to you and gave you the choice to become Fleet Admiral Commander, if you agree they will always give you a test. The Test. If you pass, you have the position. If you fail...then you die. There is no turning back after the first time you agree. But Flankx was not being given the choice to say no. This was payment for his torture and murder of Vorg, that Flankx knew. And the Test was supposed to be impossible. Only half of the Vasari who had taken the Test returned. Those who didn't just...disappeared. Flankx gulped, trying to steady his emotions. He hadn't felt so scared since he was newly integrated! He hadn't been more nervous since the day he had murdered his clone host.
    "When do I start," Flankx murmured as soon as his hearts had steadied. They beat slightly faster than normal, twin drums on the two sides of his chest.
    "You start tomorrow," the Council of Nine smiled, all of them, all in perfect synch with one another. Without another word they turned and marched out the door, which the first one pulled open. Flankx watched them leave as if under a spell. As soon as the door shut, however, the spell broke and Flankx bounded to his feet. He peered down the long stretches of corridor on either side of his door. The Council of Nine had disappeared.

you contradict yourself here.  scared and frightened are synonyms.  unless the two days are the same, in which case the phrasing is unclear, for it implies the opposite.

edit: what the hell?  damn quote glitches.

nervous it is.

typo. should be new, not knew