Chapter 182: First Contact
The time had come to negotiate with the local faction leaders. Raven decided that Dorn and Cawl should serve as envoys, a gesture to show their sincere intent for peaceful resolution.
"Aren't you going?" Malcador asked, surprise evident in his tone as he studied the corvid. Raven was usually restless, eager to throw himself into any unfolding drama.
"Big Guy's been buried in experiments lately." Raven fluttered his wings casually. "I can't stray too far from him. We're bound together, if we get separated by too great a distance, I get yanked back automatically."
The Emperor's golden eyes flickered with interest.
"I shall accompany you," the Master of Mankind declared. "Recent experiments and policy implementations have reached satisfactory conclusions. Now we require only the passage of time."
Raven's eyes widened with delight. He launched himself from the Emperor's Grand Design's shoulder to perch upon the Emperor himself.
"Big Guy, I absolutely love you! Let's go, let's set off for Azur Lane immediately!"
The Warhammer universe was vast, but so many worlds lay barren and joyless. Visiting his wives in Azur Lane would be a pleasure by comparison.
With the envoy team confirmed, they prepared for departure. The Emperor's Grand Design reverted to battleship configuration and carried everyone through the activated archway into the spacetime tunnel connecting both universes.
The Mist Space provided the tunnel's foundation. Raven had never experienced it before, swirling mist formed the passage walls, appearing hazy gray in every direction. Strange sounds echoed within: fragments of noise from various universes converging and reverberating through the tunnel.
Unlike previous traversals where time held no meaning, this journey through the spacetime tunnel let them feel each passing moment. The connection between universes created temporal synchronization, like two pools of different water levels connected by a pipe, eventually finding equilibrium.
Days later, they arrived outside the Azur Lane universe's barrier.
"Try not to start a war," Raven instructed. "Maintain communication and exchange as much as possible."
In the dark void, distortions materialized without warning. Flowing light streamed from spatial cracks while lightning formed from nothing, intertwining into a grand stargate. The Emperor's Grand Design passed through as light and lightning slowly dissipated.
Conventional engines activated, propelling them toward the distant star system. Dorn stood at the viewport, lost in thought. The spacetime tunnel made interdimensional travel faster than traveling between galaxies within their own universe. Conquering alien universes offered better returns than galactic expansion.
The Emperor and Raven focused on monitoring screens, ready for contact with native factions.
As they approached the target system, a fleet led by a void carrier tore through space, blocking their path.
"Incoming communication request," the Information Supervisor announced.
"Connect immediately," the Emperor ordered.
Static beams flickered before resolving into a projection. A black-haired ship girl in a red cheongsam appeared, her distinctive phoenix-tail hair ornament marking her identity.
"Strangers, this is the B-11 star system, belonging to the Sakura Empire. Your unauthorized intrusion violates Joint Law. Withdraw immediately, or we will attack according to statute."
Raven recognized her instantly, Taihou, aircraft carrier of the Sakura Empire. His favorite ship girl, for reasons concerning her... impressive specifications.
"Taihou," Raven said warmly, "we come with goodwill, seeking only to establish cooperation."
"Cooperation?" Taihou's eyes narrowed. "Who are you? How do you know my name? Spies? Siren infiltrators?"
She leaned forward, expression hardening. "I've never seen that ship design. Your technology signatures match no known faction."
"We are envoys from another universe," the Emperor interjected with imperial dignity, "bearing a peace mission to forge bonds that will strengthen both realms under greater Imperial unity."
Taihou blinked rapidly, her composure cracking. "Another... what? Did you say another universe?"
"Envoys from another universe? Peace mission? Imperial unity?" Her voice rose with each word. "Are you people insane? Another universe is impossible!"
She shook her head vigorously. "The Sirens have tried psychological warfare before, but this is ridiculous even for them."
"Another universe entirely," Raven confirmed patiently. "We understand it sounds impossible. Your people have remained isolated, unaware of greater reality beyond your cosmic boundaries."
Raven explained their situation and the Empire's existence. He spoke of vast networks connecting realities, the Mist Space bridging dimensions, and the Human Empire spanning multiple universes.
Taihou listened in stunned silence, her tactical mind racing. The Azur Lane universe possessed relatively advanced technology, but this concept stretched every boundary of understanding.
"So you claim other universes exist beyond ours? And you've traveled between them?"
"The Sirens conduct extensive dimensional barrier research," she murmured to herself. "Their technology always seemed impossibly advanced. If they came from elsewhere entirely..."
Her eyes sharpened. "If other universes exist, what are they like? Do they have ship-girls? Do they face similar threats? Are humans fighting for survival like us?"
Countless implications surged through Taihou's mind. The strategic possibilities were staggering.
"These questions are best discussed face to face," Raven said gently. "We've brought proof that will convince you beyond doubt."
Taihou studied them, weighing risks against possibilities. "This could be an elaborate trap. But if you're telling the truth..."
She took a deep breath. "Very well. However, this meeting takes place on my terms, at my chosen location. Any hostile action, and my fleet reduces your ship to scrap metal."
"Understood and accepted," Raven nodded. 'Calm down, kid, you won't even scratch this ship.'
The meeting point: a massive orbital port on the system's outer edge. The facility entered maximum alert status with giant turrets and towers granted firing authorization. Any wrong move would result in immediate elimination.
On the platform, Taihou waited alongside several ship-girls in human form, a diverse group of destroyers, cruisers, and battleships maintaining wary vigilance. They whispered among themselves, speculating about the mysterious visitors.
"Think they're really from another universe, Taihou-san?" asked a petite destroyer, voice filled with nervous excitement.
"Impossible," muttered a heavy cruiser. "Has to be some new Siren trick."
"Their ship design matches nothing in our databases," noted a battleship thoughtfully. "Energy readings are off the charts."
When the Emperor's retinue disembarked, the Emperor's Grand Design transformed into humanoid form, a young girl in golden armor with a sacred halo, radiating unmistakable divine presence.
The sight sparked immediate discussion among assembled ship-girls.
"What is she?"
"That armor isn't decorative. Look at those energy readings!"
"She feels different from us. Fundamentally different."
Even Taihou paused, momentarily stunned by the golden figure's overwhelming aura. She recovered quickly, addressing the delegation directly.
"Visitors from another universe, what do you hope to accomplish here?"
"We seek to establish peace and welcome you into the Human Empire," Raven replied diplomatically.
"The Sakura Empire will never become anyone's subordinate," Taihou declared firmly. "We've fought too hard for independence to surrender it now."
"I believe we can make an irresistible offer," Raven persisted with a knowing smile.
"Try me." Taihou crossed her arms. "Whatever terms you propose, we refuse. The Sakura Empire bows to no foreign power."
"We offer cutting-edge technology beyond your understanding, a true win-win arrangement. Resources and knowledge of entire universes at your disposal. Dorn, demonstrate."
The Imperial Fists Primarch stepped forward. The ship-girls tensed, hands moving toward weapon systems.
With casual precision, Dorn raised his hand. Reality bent around his gesture as space-time folded inward. A miniature black hole materialized in his palm, a perfect sphere of absolute darkness devouring light itself.
The ship-girls gasped collectively. Several stepped backward in alarm.
"Impossible," breathed the heavy cruiser.
"He's manipulating gravity itself," whispered the battleship, voice mixing scientific fascination with terror.
With another gesture, Dorn collapsed the black hole, annihilating it completely. A third motion created an independent pocket of folded space, a transparent bubble where physics seemed subtly altered.
"By Poseidon's beard," someone swore.
"That's not technology," another said shakily. "That's godlike power."
Taihou's confidence shattered entirely. While they possessed world-shattering firepower, manipulation of fundamental physical laws remained beyond comprehension.
She stared at the space where the black hole had existed, mind reeling. "How did you do that?"
"A small demonstration," Dorn replied with Primarch authority. "The Human Empire has mastered sciences your civilization hasn't discovered."
Taihou's resolve wavered visibly. She wanted to maintain refusal, but the implications were overwhelming.
The ongoing Siren war had severely depleted all factions. Resources were scarce, supplies critically low. Entire sectors had fallen, and they were losing against an enemy with impossibly advanced technology.
If cooperation with this Human Empire provided both resources and revolutionary technology...
"The war," she said quietly, almost to herself. "We're losing the war."
Sensing hesitation, Raven pressed gently. "I presume you've explored your universe's edges? Encountered impassable barriers? The Human Empire can provide interdimensional travel opportunities to other realities."
"By joining our Empire, you gain technology and resources from countless universes. The Sirens would become trivial obstacles. This is the opportunity of multiple lifetimes."
Taihou fell silent, wrestling with the decision. Responsibility weighed heavily on her shoulders. She'd expected a routine territorial dispute, not an offer to reshape reality itself.
"I..." she started, then stopped. "This decision exceeds my authority. I must consult high command. This could affect our entire civilization's survival."
The Sakura Empire contained numerous internal factions in constant political friction. Only senior command possessed authority for such momentous decisions.
"Of course," Raven nodded approvingly. "Please inform other faction leaders as well. This concerns the entire universe. Everyone deserves a voice."
Taihou withdrew to a secure communication area.
"This is Taihou to Sakura Empire Command. Priority Alpha communication required immediately."
"Lunatics! Aliens from another universe? Is this elaborate Siren deception?"
When the Sakura Empire command heard Taihou's report about interdimensional visitors, their first instinct was complete disbelief.
"Admiral, I understand how it sounds," Taihou said carefully. "I thought the same. But you need to see the evidence."
"Evidence? What possible evidence could—"
"They manipulated a black hole, sir. Created and destroyed it with a hand gesture. Then folded space into an independent pocket dimension."
The communication line went silent.
"Admiral? Are you there?"
"Transmit recorded footage immediately."
When the command staff witnessed Dorn casually summoning and annihilating a black hole before creating folded space, skepticism evaporated entirely.
"This is definitely not Siren conspiracy," the Admiral said quietly. "If they possessed such power, we would have been crushed within days of first contact."
"Sir, orders?"
"Contact other faction leaders immediately. All of them, Iron Blood, Royal Navy, Eagle Union, Northern Parliament, Dragon Empery, even Sardegna Empire. This transcends our usual conflicts."
"Even our enemies, sir?"
"If these beings speak truth about interdimensional warfare, our petty disputes become meaningless. We're all in the same boat now."
After closing communication, priority messages went out to leaders across all factions.
Initially, they laughed upon hearing about another universe, peace missions, and a Human Empire. They assumed the Sakura Empire had finally cracked under Siren war pressure.
But when they saw evidence, footage of casual black hole manipulation and spatial distortion, laughter died instantly.
Such mastery over fundamental forces was essentially divine power made manifest.
The message was clear: these were not beings to be trifled with. Whatever game was being played, the stakes had become impossibly high.
[End of Chapter]
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