The Collective's Experiment

[Galaxiel]

"Of course we understand. We really do. We've went through the same pains, for an even longer period, and with an even bloodier outcome."

"However, our comprehension does not mean that we condone your behavior, at least not fully. Cultural mistrust WAS perfectly reasonable when we first met."

"Of course we understand. We really do. We've went through the same pains, for an even longer period, and with an even bloodier outcome."

"But it has been more than 3 centuries since that. Three. Hundred. Years. And for all this time, we've proven to you, again and again, that we are deserving of your trust."

"We are not asking you to accept us completely. That would be an impossible and, in some aspects, disrespectful request. What we are asking of you, is to start actually trying to understand us."

"We are the ancient and still living proof that genetic manipulation, no matter how much you find it to be heretic, is not nearly as bad as you make it seem. If done right, it's a tool to improve vitality and technology of all fields."

"Just like any technology we now have. A great potential, that comes with it's dangers. A rogue ship going in Realspace FTL could melt an entire planet's surface. The weakest of interstellar defense weapons could ravage a surface city. And genetic manipulation can create viruses so powerful to annihilate most of a species."

"The rightful price for all the good it brings. That's all there is to it."

"We can relate to your losses Edhelgil. We know how it feels like to loose the only family you've ever had."

"But please, don't let that pain affect so many people. The cultural distrust that the Edhelerim feel for us Galactyans limits our economies and our combined projects."

"We hope you can agree with us, at least on that."

[killermantiss]

The emperor stays quiet for a moment. Never in his life was he more thankful for the suit. It hid his emotions physically just as well as his psychic abilities hid them mentally. The galactyan emperors did not know that he suffers from the inquisition’s driven hatered as much as they do, that if they ever knew his real nature they’d do anything in their power to kill him. The suit didn’t feel like anything else to him like a sarcophagus, with him only being the corpse within.

“I’ll do what i can,” he finally says, relatively quietly, “but you should probably continue to the inquisitorial palace, you don’t want to anger them more than necessary”

He afterwards turns around to walk away, but sends a telepathic message to the emperors

“Belive me when i say that I am suffering because of the inquisition more than any of your people. Me and councilor Eliril aren’t too different. But no one must know that”

[Galaxiel]

The Emperors were admittedly shocked by Edhelgil’s telepathic message. They had hardly ever experienced it in their previous visits, so it always felt a bit destablizing. They perceived it as a faint yet somehow clear voice in the distance, differently from how Aestheyrill had described them, close, potent and all-encompassing.

However, what left them even more shocked and confused was the message’s content. The fact that the Emperor suffered because of the Inquisition was something they had always suspected. After all, it almost looked like they main directive of the Inquisition was hurting innocents and discriminating entire species, more than preserving the religious orthodoxy and integrity of Calerost. But what did Edhelgil mean when he said that he and Eliril weren’t too different? Was he referring to how the Coalition treated them… or was he referring to something else? The Emperors, still angered, decided to put these thoughts aside for the moment. They would deal with the implications later, as there were more pressing matters at that moment.

Escorted by a large number of armed Imperial Guards, the Emperors were lead to a shuttle, and brought back to the surface of Ilanor. While not being nearly as populated, developed or majestic as Galactya, the ecumenopolis still proudly displayed the achievements of the Calerostan Empire.

On the surface, a diplomat waited for them, escorted by yet another smaller provision of guards. The diplomat bowed and showed reverence, and the two titans paid the gesture back. After all, it would be cruel to be mean to someone who had nothing to do with all of this.

After some time, they reached the Inquisitorial Palace. A large structure gilded in blue, gold and silver, towering over the surrounding Sacred Woods, one of the many natural reserves on Ilanor that held religious importance. In front of the gates, the Council Of Clades had preceded them, as well as the Head Scientists and Directors of the Research Supercomplex.

Apart from even more guards, another figure dressed in elegant white attire, typical of the Religious Inquisition, waited for them. An inquisitor.