For eight planetary rotations, the Giza Mtuji maintained a silent vigil above the scarred planet, watching from the darkness of space as the strange "inhabitants" went about their primitive existence.
The Specter Probes and scout teams had mapped the ruins, traced their residual energies, and cataloged the lifeforms small, quadrupedal, two-armed creatures moving cautiously through the crumbling hive remnants. They appeared simple, almost fragile, with thick hides and bipedal, clawed limbs fit for climbing and digging in the underground catacombs. Their eyes glinted with a nervous intelligence, and every now and then, they paused listening, sensing the air with flickering olfactory sensors.
Saumu observed from the command chamber, her brow furrowing as she tracked the creatures' movements on the tactical interface.
"Primitive, yet aware," she murmured, studying the feed. "They survive within the ruins of our former hive likely scavengers, or perhaps remnants of a long-forgotten species we tried to enslave or coexist with."
She paused, contemplating her next move. There was something about these beings something ancient, something almost familiar.
Naming the Species
Saumu reached out mentally, drawing on the ancient energies buried within her psionic senses unlocked new understanding. She hesitated for a moment, then named them:
"The Kazi" a name meaning "workers" or "survivors" in one of the old dialects of her empire, invoking respect for their resilience amid ruin.
Decision: Diplomacy or Conquest?
Her advisors and commanders pressed for multiple options, but Saumu's intuition told her that force would only harden them into enemies. Their survival might depend on diplomacy an opportunity to establish a foothold, or at the very least, a strategic supply point.
"Send a diplomatic envoy," Saumu commanded. "Shailia with a warrior-class squad. We need to know if they are willing to speak or if they are hostile."
The Delegation: Shailia and the Warrior SquadShortly after, Shailia, the Whisperer, prepared herself for the descent. She was a serene yet razor-sharp presence her psychic senses finely tuned to subtle energies that evaded others. Along with her, a squad of elite Shadowscourge warriors was assembled: hardened veterans trained in stealth, diplomacy, and combat, ready to face whatever they encountered.
Tano, the veteran infiltrator, alongside several others, was part of the team. Their armor was prepared for silent infiltration, their weapons optimized for rapid engagement or peaceful communication whichever the situation demanded.
"We will seek their chieftain," Shailia said softly, her voice barely audible over the hum of descent engines. "If they are intelligent, they will listen. If not, we must be prepared to retreat and consider other options."
Arrival and First ContactThe squad's Shadowscourge shuttles landed near the entrance to a sprawling network of collapsed tunnels and ancient burrows the remnants of the once-great hive. The Kazi creatures timid but curious emerged cautiously, their small bodies tense but alert.
Shailia, casting her psionic presence outward, radiated calm and reassurance, reaching out with gentle thought-energy.
"We come in peace," she communicated mentally, eyes glowing faintly with concentrated psionic power. "We seek only to speak with your leader your chieftain or elder. We need your resources, and we wish no harm."
The primitive creatures hesitated some glancing toward the dark, crumbling structures that lined the underground corridors. A few smaller figures emerged, their rough featureless faces vacant but their eyes flickering with curiosity and a trace of suspicion.
The Kazi chieftain an older, more imposing creature with scars across its hide stepped forward, snorting softly and eyeing the intruders.
"You… speak strange words," it hissed in a guttural tongue, perhaps an ancient dialect long forgotten by the Mahasimu. "We… watch. We… wait. What do you want, outsiders?"
Shailia took a step forward, speaking slowly in a calm, reassuring voice.
"We seek to understand your people," she said. "We can offer aid and protection resources and knowledge if you are willing to talk. No harm will come if we are accepted."
The Kazi chieftain studied her carefully, then looked back at the gathered creatures.