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*Queen hemlock looks upon the blue thing with a bored expression*

Ok then Who am I supposed to address to explain the terms with...

*the other research changelings look into the pods Windows seeing the insectoid forms jotting some notes down  while others examine the architecture of the ship along with any technology the craft possesses*

The Leader of this race, the caretaker of it, or should i just address  the walls of this craft for at this point I am just getting irritated. she shouts a bit while appearing very crossed.

*the some more changelings arrive with several odd green crystal like needles and firmly attach them to a nearby wall in a arch pattern*

TCH:
"I am beyond physical form. Can you not see the blue orb in the ship, did you not see the humble spark in your throne room when I asked you many pertinent questions? When I told you I was known by these ones as Deep Blue, and so too would you know me, did you not hear me? If your terms will answer the questions I posited to you in your throne room, then speak, and let me hear them." Deep Blue said.

The researchers would find, everything was organic, no other form of technology could be found on the ship. These people would someday possess an amazing prowess over the manipulation and control of Organic Matter.

.....
CX:

Halvard hopped on, and held on as tightly as he could, wondering what would happen next.

*hemlock then hears a message from the queen*

I told you to GET THE JOB DONE. she goes from a calm whisper to menacing war in seconds leaving Hemlock shaking.

yes my queen. she says shakily before snapping back into reality.

*the changelings placing the crystals appear to be nearly done*

Ok I apologize for the lack of info from my Queen....

*Hemlock pulls out a manuscript with her magic*

I see Great potential and prove your position into being a member protectorate under the hordes banner....

*she coughs a bit before seemingly skipping to the major bits*

1.As a protectorate you are under the protection of the changeling horde in times of conflict...however you must contribute a bulk of your military to the changeling swarm which can be called at a moments notice to protect changeling interests.

2. The horde will provide and encourage trade among other nations to help your nation and also the whole of the swarm grow....however you will have to reach certain quotas of production and pay 40% of all profit to the horde and will be obligated to transport all matter of cargo that may prove controversial to some.

3. Research and technology is shared among all member nations of the horde...If confidential info exists it must be at least available in times of crisis to the whole of the swarm.

4. Expansion is completely fine as long as the planet is not inhabited by a member or servant race of the horde...but all resources and knowledge gained from the planet goes to the benefit of your nation and as a whole the horde.

5. Citizens will have all rights presented by your government and if requested can be converted into a changeling if they so desire and placed into a position in the horde they specialize before they are converted...However any non-sentiant or brain dead individuals of the protectorate are required to upon death be sent to the horde to be analyzed for any particular genetic benefits that can be used to the hordes advantage.

6. National governments still have power to lead, legislate law, enforce law, and remain relatively unchanged...however in time of great crisis The changeling horde has complete control over all of the government.

7. Changelings will provide mass warp gates to allow travel across the multiverse for all member races and conquered worlds...However with joining a hive of the changeling horde shall be established on the nation and the 25km land around it is considered a part of the changeling empire.

8. You have the freedom to uphold certain culture beliefs and religions...however a modified equestrian temple of worship must be present in all major population centers of the nation

9. All changelings above the rank of drone are considered essential and are not to be mistreated in any way...However all "indentured servants" of conquered races that are not owned by someone else or changeling drones are considered expendable and can be treated however desired.

10. Loyalty to the hive is rewarded with further cooperation and the above...However betrayal to the horde can result in the mass execution and further demotion to conquered race, or mass extinction and a fate worse than death for all members of the race left.

*the changeling rolls up the parchment and places it in a courier bag*

I think the offers very generous considering the thing I am guessing you are protecting these people from and the planet we are providing as a little promotional gift  from the horde to...

*Looks at the pods around her*

These People? Bugs? Insectoids. the changeling stumbles to find a answer as she awaits a response.

Activating the jetbike's Auspex, Colberius located the star with a quick scan of the area. Having gained his bearings, he sent the bike thirty feet straight up. Taking only a moment to spin the bike 150 degrees, the Inquisitor gently fed low power to the thrusters. 

The jetbike shot forward at around 100 mph, barely tapping the bike's potential.  He was afraid to go any faster with an unprotected passenger riding behind him, but felt that their current speed would be sufficient.

In less than three minutes, the star was before them.

OOC: Feel free to describe what they see. And has the star landed yet?

*colberius is greeted at the potential landing site by the changeling queen who reveals that the crafts glow is emanating not from the craft itself but a tear in time and space linking the world and what appears to be space through a permeable membrane creating a majestic window showing the scene before them *

I am sorry to disappoint you but the craft you are looking for is currently in orbit being examined by a small scouting fleet of changelings...

*she looks to the sky*

Hopefully they make the right decision and become a protectorate under the changeling horde, we are just so similar you know we would benefit from a partnership. the queen mentions as she sits down to a nice picnic she prepared for them when they arrived.

The Lord Inquisitor sets the bike down near the picnic laid before them.  "Halvard...stay with the bike. And don't touch anything. Give me a minute."  Colberius discreetly unfastens the flap of his holster before taking a step towards the queen. 

"Is it normal changeling practice to assimilate everyone new they encounter? Perhaps these newcomers just wanted to find a home here in Wintreath."

Colberius stops several paces away from the queen and looks her in the eye.

"I just left High Queen Chrysalis, frozen in time, at the Frostbite Tavern.  And all of the changelings there, with the exception of a scribe named Lilith, had lost contact with the hive mind."

The Inquisitor rests a hand on the butt of his bolt pistol before continuing.

"So who, pray tell, are you?"

*the queen breaks into laughter*

Well the answer is quite simple really...

*she then clicks her fingers a few times switching the great window to many bizarre locals as days turn to nights and nights into days*

I am high queen chrysalis for certain but I am not the one in that horrible affair...

*she then offers him and his freind a scone*

that is the problem isn't it I lose so much time stuck in situations that leave me unavaliable....

*she pours some tea*

That's when it hit me...I am pretty much a god....

*she causes the tea to float from the spout seemingly uneffected by gravity as it Flys into 2 cups beside her*

No really I have control over time, space, and other dimensions I may as well make up for time...

*the changeling looks at the watch she has attached to a sterling silver chain*

By the way what time was it when you left the bar?she inquires before returning to the lovely picnic she had prepared beforehand.

"Then, I accept." Deep Blue said.

The glow began to fade.

"Allow me to introduce The Four Peoples. Insectoids, by the way, would be the correct reference. By common consensus, they refer to themselves as Insects, but have also historically been known as The Four Peoples." Deep Blue said.

Pods began rearranging themselves.

One unsealed, revealing a large fly person. It was as if fly and human had become one. The creature was mostly giant fly, but with distinct humanoid aspects.

"The first and oldest are The Diptera, known also as The Fly People. They specialize in being annoying, and having no known value or purpose. They do however fill in the gaps in society quite nicely, helping out where needed. Also, there's one other primary purpose we'll get to, when the Fourth People are revealed.

This one is Ico, President of The Diptera. He answers only to The Queen of all Insectum." Deep Blue said.

Ico awoke from his stasis chamber.

"Pobo pobopobopobopobopobopobopobopobo!" Ico said excitedly, forgetting no one understands a proboscis.

He concentrated, and his throat rippled, his bright red eyes taking in the sight around him.

"Where are we, have we landed? Is Queen Alsse ok?" Ico managed to ask in an understandable tongue.

Deep Blue flowed through Ico. Ico bowed to Queen Chrysalis.

"As Deep Blue commands, so shall it be." Ico said simply.

uhhh...

*the sub-queen seems a bit put off*

I am sorry you have the wrong information I am queen Hemlock head of the barrens hive...

*she curtseys*

Now can you get me access to your queen....

*the changelings finally done with their work on planting the spikes begin to chant opening a portal between the ship and the nearby battleship*

We have consumables, narcotics, and entertainment on board our battleship if your people are weery...

*the changeling hesitates to mention something before showing the fly-man to the gate*

 Be careful however and do not go into any of the sub-tunnels and stay together, Most changelings follow orders but they have been known to indulge in more sadistic pleasures on lost individuals. the changeling warns before returning to deep blue.

"My apologies." Ico said formally, apologizing for leaving Queen Hemlock's side to direct the awakening Diptera through the gate.

"One question that I'll need answered later, what of our ship? It's destiny is to land, and die, that Diptera females may lay their eggs in its rotting carcass for our young to eat after they hatch." Ico asked.

As he asked that, two more cells awakened.

From one came a lovely woman that, similar to the fly people, resembled a fusion of Bee and Human. Her backside was enormous.

"Second oldest are the Apocrypha, or, Bee People. This is Queen Beatrice, next to her are her daughters, the princesses. Between the three of them, they birth all the worker drones of the Apocrypha. They are good solid workers, but where the Bee People really shine is organization and storage. Their Honeycomb structures are the most efficient in all of Nature, and to date, Science has yet to top it. In terms of Trade, give them time to grow their crops, and build their Hive, and you shall have access to the sweetest most delicious Honey you could ask for. They also engineered this living Hive Ship, in conjunction with special Jelly from High Queen Else." Deep Blue said, introducing the second people.

At that moment, a second woman covered in boney plates emerged from her cells.

"Triktic, Queen of The Formicidae, The Ant People. Again, her and her daughters birth all the drones of the people. Where the Ant People shine, is the sheer unmitigated power of their industrial might. Not even I know if they work to live, or live to work, but their happy, and do not desire any less, only seeking more when their schedules allow. You need something dug up, or excavated, call the Ant People. Need something built in a hurry, call the Ant People. If they know how to do it, they will work at it ceaselessly until it is done. And with their impressive strength, it will be done quickly." Deep Blue said, introducing the pair.

Both Queens curtseyed to Hemlock, as Deep Blue flowed through them, updating them on the situation.

The ship was bringing forth the last group, and after that, the sealed protected chamber would be unlocked.

"I left the tavern only five minutes ago."

Colberius X suspiciously takes the proffered scone and tea, but still eyes the queen warily.

"So they are peaceful?  Have you bothered to tell them that they have an option? That they can remain independent from the horde and just join Wintreath as an equal member?"

While speaking to the queen, the Inquisitor reaches out with his mind.  His psychic probe sweeps through the distant alien ship, in hopes of catching the attention of whatever sentience is in charge of the newcomers.  He brushed past the changelings, and then encountered a strong presence that was completely new to him. Satisfied that this...alien...would do, Colberius X turned his mental scan into a mental tap on the shoulder.

In turn, Colberius's mind was filled with a sensation of Blue, and it was clear the entity had, metaphorically speaking, turned to him. Deep Blue couldn't physically turn to him of course, that would require physical form, and of course, Deep Blue had none.

All the same, Colberius had Deep Blue's attention.

*the changeling frowns*

I Have offered them a choice and so far mine has offered stability and all they need to grow into something of use to us...they may join your group of nations but they are members species of the horde all the same, they are independent in their actions but their motives shall be declared by us changelings...they are there own but we offer a guiding light to a better purpose...We are space imperialists after all and do what we must because we can. the changeling smiles as she shows the rift of the new planet they will call home.

*she takes a sip before addressing his other question*

Yes minutes have passed since you have seen me in that state but have you ever thought how long since i have seen you...

*she hands him the borrowed knife acidly singed along its blade*

Trust me when i say some time has passed since i have seen you dear now lets be polite and sit down as we discuss the fate of the 4 people. the queen motions both of them to the picnic.

-----------------------------meanwhile on the ship----------------------------------------------------

It is good to see a 2 species with similar structures of leadership...

*she turns to ico before he leaves*

And don't worry about the ship we are at this moment clearing for a dimensional rift to appear in front of the ship allowing it to arrive at your new designated home world...

*the changeling then instructs the awakened bees and ants to follow through the small rift into the room with snacks and such*

The only reason we are moving you to the other ship is because after stasis for so long we imagine you do hunger, thirst, and are bored out of your minds we as your now partners wish to provide as you will help provide in the future for our ventures. she smiles to the races.

*she then begins to address the deep blue*

Now you have 1 final race you mentioned before i am introduced to the high leader have you not. Hemlock mentions before returning to waiting.

From the next cell came a spider woman, and in this instance, the body was primarily spider, but where the head should've been came the human torso. Her head was spider, and all eight eyes blinked open at once.

"The last people. The Aranea Spider Masters. Note the difference in terms, I did indeed say Masters, not people. While the Diptera are the oldest, The Aranea have the greatest capacity for intelligence, and so they were the first to awaken to Sentience. The Aranea unify the other three, and keep society cohesive. They are the Scientists, the Psions, the researchers, a small group may even possess Arcane Ability. Nothing happens in Insectum, without The Aranea being involved, without the Aranea overseeing and controlling it.

In trade, give them but a few days to regain their strength, and they will produce silk of the highest quality." Deep Blue said, flowing through the spider.

"Greetings, Queen Hemlock. I am Nightshade, The Spider Queen. President Ico, the other two Queens and I form the High Queen's ruling council, that we may insure her directives are carried out among our peoples efficiently and productively. Also it was mentioned earlier that the Diptera Fly People serve one other function in conjuncton with us. As you may have already guessed, like our smaller, wild cousins, Spiders eat flies. I personally plan on eating Ico as soon as his term is up." Queen Nightshade said.

Ico had returned, and was sucking up the Honey surrounding the sealed chamber. Queen Beatrice sliced it open, and Queen Triktic pulled on the resulting sides revealing a tangled mass of bladders and lungs. Nightshade concentrated on those, and they visibly shifted.

Deep Blue left Colberius, and all across the ship was seen visibly flowing into the final creature that was slowly awakening.

The High Queen had the traits of all four people, unified into a single entity. She had the Spider people's body, but it was covered in the hard chitin of the Ant People. The Chittin itself was yellow and dark brown like the Bee people, and a stinger rested just above her spinnerets. Her wings were a unique fusion of fly and Bee. Her face was mostly waspish, but she had eight eye sockets like a spider, and each socket was filled with hundreds of tiny eyes.

"I am High Queen Else, I am Insectum, unified, and Insectum is the reflection of my will. Should I perish without heir, all Insectum shall similarly die within thirty days, for Insectum does not exist without my will. Deep Blue sleeps within me, we are connected, he and I. As it was with my ancestors, so it is for me, and so it shall be for my descendants, connected and bonded to the one who saved us from The Gods. After I have recovered my strength, I shall gift The Horde Queens with some of my unique Honey Gold Silk, it is stronger than normal silk, and naturally Honey Gold in color." High Queen Else said, introducing herself.

*Hemlock laughs*

Don't even try...

*she realize that may have sounded like a insult*

My apologies queen Else but let me explain how changeling hierarchy works a bit...

*the changeling seems to put on a pair of glasses and projects a keynote explaining the process through her horn*

Everything below princess is considered minuscule in the common hive but several hives depending on primary skill may have power over another.

beyond that is princesses who are after a 10 year training regime sent into different sectors to lead troops and workers to work on leadership skills and perfect there other skills in the field.

Lower queens are those who survive for more than 10 years or achieve greatly at their tasks, in turn they are given a colonization force and are sent to some random world in the multiverse  to establish a successful hive of their own.

If they accomplish this task they are given the title of queen and are given tasks to be carried out by the higher ups.

The most successful queen to exist in the realm becomes a duchess and is given authority of all queens in the realm.

Then those duchesses to prove themselves to be exceptional are elevated to grand duchesses that are in control of all duchesses that operate in that sector.

And then the best of those pose a chance to become elder queens when the position opens up within a council of 20.

And then those 20 are advisors to the high queen which is a whole other level of confusion...


So in short the number of queens and command is extremely large only working so effectively through the hive mind. the changeling stops before getting back on topic.

*her men help the remaining awakened insects up and through the warp-gate*

Now i am certain you have heard the conditions of being a member race to the horde, and if so ask any questions for i really want to put this document away for once. hemlock complains a bit before getting a nice cup of mint tea to relax herself from a nearby guard.