The Uplift Protocol: In the Beginning

Issue 4: TUS Temple Mount

I studied the data logs. The Humans have been busy. Their alliances are numerous. Bardax has been playing dumb the whole time. Those dogs are quite adept when needed. –Marius of the Red Stone

We are the Olmacitan. The one known as the Banner returned our Lead Cog to us. We are grateful. We shall listen to what the Humans have to say.—High-Level Encryption, Arcane Order INet

Ahh yes, that “Golem Heart” from so long ago. I did hide it within a distant sun. Within the Edenverse. The memory was clouded from me for a time. I wouldn’t remember it until after the main conflict with Chronos ignited.— Sleeping In Starlight: Arcane Insights Into Convergence

Northern Boundary of the Olmacitan

TUS/TA Joint Fleet

Date Redacted

Marius glanced up from his holo display. A few cargo ships were en route with them. As offerings for the various trade agreements. Promised by the past. It was a marvel. Humanity didn’t just break away from Uplift Protocol, they had a fully functional set of alliances established despite the machinations of fallen Houses. The Council of Five was at an end. All they could do now was blow hot air. Marius pitied Typha the most. The Commons would be safe. The Earthers would make sure of that. Even now certain Houses mocked the fact that Sol didn’t capture its sun’s resources. How little those short-sighted fools knew. Whitehouse noted, “Eliza has them up in arms once more. She spends more time on the Commons Dyson Spheres than she does on land.”

The human brought up the latest feeds, “Ayeer Scion honor’s Common fleet merchant ships!”

Marius tapped the headline under that, “America making way for New Solar Project!”

Whitehouse winked, “Yup. We are about to get some neighbors. The good kind.”

Marius skimmed through more Council of Five feeds. The Litari was stymied and plagued with internal divisions over how to safeguard the Matriarchs. Even though Eliza had one safely stowed away on the Jupiter Rising. That ship was a marvel. Arcane Order magi-tech with some TA trappings. Outfitted with a sapient VI of Shard Make. Its cover story was of Typherian origin but the more the Travelian learned, the more the Arcane Order’s needed secrecy was on display.

Humanity was the dominant power. All in preparation for the Convergence.

Eliza and her crew had helped the Forgers reclaim their Patriarchs. The soul song no longer soured by discordant notes. The TA had come in and “bolstered” the space around the Forger Homeworld. Not just in real space but within the Weave and Dreaming. Not to mention the sheer crazy surrounding Typha’s hidden Light Sages. Marius was thankful. That sect of Typherian had no idea of House Protocols. It was ass-backward in his humble estimation. Whitehouse let out a sharp bark of laughter, “Eliza’s just made a statement about Dexter’s marriage.”

Marius grinned as he read it.

///My DNA isn't on the platter for House Dynasty matters. My brother joins me on this issue. We are not fully Typherian so our children never shall be such. I welcome Mary Valcourt fully into my Earth-Typherian family. Let House Murphy and House Ayeer rejoice in the blessed union of man and wife.///

Nola peered over her father’s shoulder, “Oh my goodness.”

The Earth Bloodline first part would put House Sour Puss into meltdown mode. E’ratha was a known genetic supremacist. Nola held up her mirror, “Even some lower 3 and 4th House tier officials within Ayeer and Odessen will be displeased.”

Whitehouse responded, “V’alkor is on point. He wants to make note of who complains the loudest.” Nola said, “Unity compromised?”

The general nodded. “Yup. Makes it easier to see where the webs go. Should have seen the feeds when they found out Eliza was sterile. Made the Commons understand Eliza’s personal choices. The Houses went nuclear. Saying it was her human blood that made her unviable.”

Nola brought up the primary “interview.”

One 3rd tier House Hudo representative snapped, “No wonder she takes a human as a companion. If she cannot provide proper genetic stock might as well have a piece of meat on her arm for entertainment. One wonders how a cripple can even function in such a relationship.”

Nola winced. They didn’t know Eliza or Doc.

Neither could have children. No matter how much they wanted it to be so. Doc, because of her powers and Eliza? Because of Convergence and bearing the Creator Primary shard. She wondered how most of Typha would react if they knew about Set polluting their people. Dividing them between Houses and Commons. One remembered the old ways? The other was lost to despair and political maneuvering best left in the dark ages.

Or the evil of the Abyss.

The Hudo continued, “Perhaps it’s a one-sided affair. Our people know of such things.”

A blond-haired commons man shouted back, “Only someone like yourself would view love as a commodity!” Ta’len. That was his name. The one who married Y’lansa. So much had happened over the years. All leading to the opening salvos. Chronos would arrive. Bringing the bulk of Unity’s scout forces. Fire and ash would consume Typha. A living death.

Nola watched as the massive stonework ships approached.

The Olmacitans had arrived.

*****

The High Cog Rathum faced the gathered humans. His massive stone-gray head turned. Ambassador Heshin of the Mikinrii joined him. Henshin had the form of what the Earthers called a Ferret. His black, gray, and white rounded face was immaculately groomed. The Olmacitan’s large arms reached up to grip the stabilization bar. His people’s bulk often frightened organic races. Not the Star-Spangled Banner. Her meeting had changed everything. By bringing the central core of their Lead Cog back, stowing his heart within the fires of their sun, it had removed the corruption. Bringing life to their people once more.

They owed Eliza Murphy everything. To his people? She would always be the Star-Spangled Banner. Bringing forth Life from the Void. He peered down at the gray-haired human male, “When shall Star arrive?”

Whitehouse replied, “Once the Shrouded Memory of the Divine lifts.”

Rathum hummed, “So noted. We shall await that day. What do our human friends have in mind for our Union?”

Heshin chittered, “Fancy that! But we understand the PathMaker. Must be wise. Reveal ourselves at the proper time!” The Mikinrii greeted Nola with a cherry wave of paws. “HA! Your people have finally made it to the greetings! Excellent!’

Nola gave Heshin the traditional hello. By bestowing a good scratch under his triangular chin. The real Union would start here. Then they would bring in the cleansed uplifted civilizations later on. Once Convergence hit. That was when those chains would be broken and the true healing could begin. Nola continued to pray for Eliza.

That rebirth would come with a price.

TUS Temple Mount

Main Bridge

Edge of Terran Union Space Actual

Within this sector of the Eden Universe? Humanity commanded over 10,000 worlds. It was a small sliver in comparison to overall size but all the Arkways here were fully functional. Singing in unison with Earth. Eliza and Dexter added more from the Shrouded sectors. Those under the sway of Unity’s pollution. Over 300 sapient races made their home here in this sector. Marius mused, “What do you think the Council’s reaction, besides Bardax, will be?”

Whitehouse rapped his fingers on the railing. “My best guess? How did Noah manage it?! Well if we ever get around to telling them that story!”

Whitehouse felt a pang of guilt. They had used Eliza’s good nature back in the Area 51 days. Especially from her broken Typherian angle. It had been a perfect cover story to keep the Council of Five from giving humanity a proper “chance” at joining their ranks from the outset. Arcane INet Protocols pinged the Travelian Union Ship.

///Greetings. Welcome to Gilgamesh Sector. What news from Earth/Sol??///

Whitehouse sent the data packets.

///Noted Centurion of the Order. Updating Relays to monitor Shroud Sector adjacent to Earth Eden. Updating defenses of the Golden City. Notifying Cleared Parties.///

Marius connected to the military battle net. Billions of signals cascaded against the network. They would not allow Life to fall into darkness. Time was a steady river. The J’kua had no idea of the true origins of their Learning Spheres. Thomas Murphy had remarked, “I reinforced the Tower we lived in. Aether keeps it under wraps but we have another surprise awaiting Chronos.”

He only prayed the Crystal Coffin would withstand the onslaught of Unity’s hellscape.

Eliza would need the faith of many to see herself past the Cliffs. Another update flashed. The Javelin project had only been the beginning. Here humanity could operate within the open. Building machines of war that would bring woe to the corrupted. A shining beacon to their friends and allies.

Even ones still plagued by darkness.

The Litari, Typherians, Scholars, J’kua, Muthra, and countless others would not face the enemy alone. Blood was more than family. Noah’s people would leave none behind. No matter the cost.

Whitehouse opened the phase array, “Begin Live action drills!”

Replicated Null Ships jumped into real space. It alerted throughout the Terran Union.

Marius shouted, “We arise as one, open fire!”

Ships from all over the sector jumped in. Joining with the TUS Temple Mount.

The call echoed outward, “We fight as one! ARISE! FOR THE ORDER!”