Object Unknown, New Etheria High Orbit.

[|nfrared]

"Crew"
"Yes Elder"
"Summon all of the surviviors. Prepare to upload my recent memories and sensory inputs to every awakened Etherium through their neural lobe uplink."
"By your will, Elder."

I had never felt so acutely aware of my existence. Observing and manipulating these humans had become a greater task than anitipated. Living their lives through remote sensory link, experiencing their reactons had become more complex than I had ever imagined, this primitive carbon lifeform had a social structure with near infinite variables. Manipulating a whole crew of prions could become incalculable, leading to errors. More power was needed. And now we had that power.

The others had not become emotionally attached to their prions, and would willingly terminate them even after prolonged periods. It must remain this way. It has gotten us this far.

As the others assembled I mentally reflected on which parts to emphasise and which to omit.

"Survivors of the Etherium Empire,
Many of you have risked your sanity to take part in the prion manipulation program. I wish to update you on the Etherium Empire's status. I have made discoveries as to the origins of this structure known as "Colonials", a human subgroup. We have integrated successfully with the mainframe and some of the samples of technology on this wrecked structure We are already learning much about humans.

You will also all know of the attack during the last planetary rotation."



I paused here, knowing my people would react. Many thoughts cut into the signal. Some of fear, others of pride that the attack was repelled.

"Our defensive matrix has destroyed a human battlecraft. It approached our installation and began to attack. Our automated defense system engaged the human vessel. Two prions were deployed using craft we have acquire using the human trading catalyst "credits". We have had few problems trading in human commodities, with only a handful of ships being voluntarily destroyed to avoid any evidence of our existence.

There is nothing to suggest that it sent any transmissions before pressing a futile and unprovoked attack against our people. We have captured the crew, they put themselves in small spaceborne capsules for us. This has replenished our prion pool. But there are dangers. Such a craft vanishing will draw notice from this "Order" human group.

The battlecraft was fueled by a fusion reaction containment device. It has been integrated into our own energy grid and is now producing enough energy to awaken all remaining Etherium survivors from hibernation. We now possess more than enough Iridium to sustain ourselves. Weapon mechanisms the craft deployed against our installation and other debri were also retrieved and are being adapted now to defend us. We have survived, but we are not safe. All must aid. Or we will perish.

We must maintain our deceptions. This "Order" has enemies. We must sow confusion in their minds. I will now hear input from my Seers."

---

Shard - The Faceless One