{"id":975,"date":"2025-09-07T21:59:48","date_gmt":"2025-09-07T21:59:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/?post_type=yada_wiki&p=975"},"modified":"2025-12-20T01:57:31","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T01:57:31","slug":"eternal-handshake","status":"publish","type":"yada_wiki","link":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/solarica\/eternal-handshake\/","title":{"rendered":"The Battle for the Eternal Handshake"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Emperor\u2019s Handshake arrived on the scene of the battle. The sleek ships of the independent human faction The Eternal Grace faced off against the blocky utilitarian ships of the Randross<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Emperor\u2019s handshake, a massive hand-shaped lavender-colored vessel interposed itself between the two warring fleets, with its open palm faced towards the opposing force as though in a gesture indicating \u201cHALT\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEVERYONE WILL CEASE FIRING. THE ETERNAL GRACE CAPITOL SHIP AND ALL WHO DO NOT CEASE FIRING WILL BE BOARDED. DIPLOMATIC NEGOTIATION WILL COMMENCE. WE WILL MAKE AN AGREEMENT. THIS IS TRUTH.\u201d<\/p>\n

A number of the sleek vessels turned their lasers onto the Emperor\u2019s Handshake, the energy dissipating harmlessly into the unshielded hull, while some of the Eternal Grace ships and all the Randrossian ships stopped firing and took up defensive positions around the Emperor\u2019s Handshake, except for one.<\/p>\n

On board the \u201cAAAAAAUGH,\u201d (entered into Solar Federation databases as the \u201cWordless Roar\u201d) Captain Fa\u2019kyu shouted to the conflict officer K\u2019pow, a manic glee pasted on his face. \u201cTHE SHINY HUMANS ARE DISTRACTED! THIS IS THE TIME FOR MY VICTORY! CONFLICT, FIRE EVERYTHING,\u201d the Captain\u2019s bright red fur in disarray.<\/p>\n

The dark orange-furred signals officer, Go\u2019ping, shouted urgently to the captain, \u201cCAPTAIN, IT IS THE EMP-\u201d before being cut off by the captain, \u201cI DO NOT CARE WHAT ANYONE ELSE HAS TO SAY. MY VICTORY IS ASSURED. YOU MAY WATCH AND ENJOY IT, SIGNALS\u201d
\nSignals officer Go\u2019ping gave a pleading look to the dark Burgundy furred Command Officer K\u2019shnk. She looked to her own console, brows furrowed, and gestured to Go\u2019ping to attend to his console, giving the command, \u201cACKNOWLEDGE.\u201d He returned to his console and began typing furiously into it. This interaction escaped the notice of the captain, entranced as he was by the battle.<\/p>\n

Outside, the Emperor\u2019s Handshake moved. The whole ship rotated, three fingers and the thumb curled in, and the index finger pointed straight at the \u201cAAAAAAUGH,\u201d launching three blocky shuttles towards it.<\/p>\n

On board the \u201cAAAAAAUGH,\u201d Conflict Officer K\u2019pow, of bright yellow fur, looked worriedly between the signals officer and captain Fa\u2019kyu, \u201cCAPTAIN, WE HAVE BEEN BOARDED!\u201d
\n\u201cWHERE?!\u201d
\n\u201cDECKS 2, 7A, AND 7C,\u201d
\nThis time, it was Command Officer K\u2019shnk to respond, \u201cGO\u2019PING, INFORM ALL DECKS TO STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND ADDRESS THE BOARDERS,\u201d K\u2019pow looked incredulous at K\u2019shnk, \u201cBUT THAT WILL-,\u201d she was interrupted by a notification alert on her console. She locked eyes with Go\u2019ping across the bridge, and realization swept over her, before she and Go\u2019ping nodded firmly to K\u2019shnk, and Go\u2019ping entered more commands into his console.
\n\u201cWHY HAVE WE STOPPED FIRING?\u201d
\nThe ship had gone eerily silent. The whine of coils, lasers, and munitions had stopped. K\u2019pow spoke up, \u201cCAPTAIN, THE GUN DECKS ARE NOT RESPONDING,\u201d Go\u2019ping spoke up with barely-concealed relief, \u201cALL CREW HAVE STOPPED RESPONDING.\u201d
\nAs Fa\u2019kyu snarled, \u201cWHY DID THE CLAN ASSIGN ME TO THE MOST USELESS CREW IN THE FLEET?\u201d Command Officer K\u2019shnk walked to the main entrance to the bridge, opened the door, then fell to one knee and bowed.<\/p>\n

Out in the battle, several more of the Eternal Grace ships had stopped firing, and took up haphazard defensive positions.<\/p>\n

The rest of the bridge crew had stopped looking at captain Fa\u2019kyu, and were staring shocked at the entrance to the bridge. One by one, the whole bridge crew fell to one knee and bowed.<\/p>\n

At the door to the bridge stood four Randross diplomats, unarmed, but armored in very heavy lavendar-colored power armor, only their heads exposed. They stood smiling serenely in the doorway. Behind them in the hallway, the crew of the \u201cAAAAAAUGH,\u201d knelt, lining the walls.<\/p>\n

Finally, Captain Fa\u2019kyu took notice of his bridge crew\u2019s silence, and turned to see the Diplomats of the Randross Diplomatic Delegation, who stopped just past the doorway and kneeled as one. Fa\u2019kyu did not kneel. He pointed an accusatory finger at them, \u201cYOU! YOU DARE INTERFERE WITH MY VICTORY,\u201d<\/p>\n

The head diplomat, a Randross of light cyan fur spoke up, \u201cGREETINGS, I AM F\u2019ZI, DIPLOMAT,\u201d he gestured to the Randross at his side, of dark maroon fur, \u201cTHIS IS RO\u2019ZI, CONFLICT SPECIALIST,\u201d then to the two Randross behind them, both of light brown fur, \u201cAND THESE ARE MY DIPLPOMATIC PARTNERS, CO\u2019ZI AND NO\u2019ZI. WE WILL MAKE AN AGREEMENT. WHAT DO YOU WANT?\u201d<\/p>\n

Fa\u2019kyu stood shocked for a few moments before replying, \u201cI DON\u2019T CARE WHO YOU ARE. WORDS ARE THE REFUGE OF WEAKLINGS,\u201d he pointed to K\u2019pow, \u201cGET THEM OFF MY SHIP.\u201d<\/p>\n

None of the bridge crew moved a muscle. F\u2019zi spoke up, \u201cYOUR CREW ARE WISE, AND SEE WITH CLARITY. YOU ARE CONFUSED,\u201d F\u201dzi rose and walked with his retinue around the outer circle of the bridge, opening a door to a side room, \u201cYOU WILL JOIN ME IN YOUR STRATEGY ROOM AND TELL ME ABOUT THE SOURCE OF YOUR CONFUSION.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fa\u2019kyu looked at F\u2019zi, confused, \u201cMY WHAT?\u201d then pulled his saber from his captain\u2019s chair, \u201cFINE, I WILL ADDRESS THIS MYSELF,\u201d he snarled, leaping at F\u2019zi. F\u2019zi stood firm, the same serene, broad smile on his face. Just as Fa\u2019kyu reached him, Ro\u2019zi intervened, knocking his Saber to the ground with an armored gauntlet, and stepped into his path, causing him to trip over her heavily armored leg. As Fa\u2019kyu fell forward, Ro\u2019zi redirected his forward momentum into a roll that took them both backward through the open door, with F\u2019zi stepping aside to let them pass through, and then following through as though invited to share tea.<\/p>\n

The door to the side room closed with a sssSH\u2019CLANG, and the Diplomatic partners, Co\u2019zi and No\u2019zi, took up posts flanking the door. The muffled sounds of shouting and breaking furniture erupted from the room, which continued for several minutes. Then, a lull in the clamor seemed to stretch on, where the confident voice of F\u2019zi and the agitated voice of Fa\u2019kyu could be heard. The uproar resumed, more intense than initially, but no voices could be heard, just the great noise of something heavy repeatedly crashing into the walls of the room. The crew on the bridge glanced at each other, still kneeling, uncertain of what was happening. Suddenly, the fiery red face of Fa\u2019kyu burst through the middle seam of the door, bending it outward.<\/p>\n

The door opened, to reveal Fa\u2019kyu wearing a suit of lavendar power armor. He went from half-standing with his head stuck in the door to falling forward, barely catching himself on one hand and knee. Finally, Fa\u2019kyu was kneeling with the rest of his crew. Rather than rising, he stayed there, heaving his breath, which fogged in the crisp Randross environment. The fur on his head was spiked and matted, and the light that previously burned in his eyes could hardly be seen. His head bowed low. \u201cI yield to F\u2019zi. I am unfit for command.\u201d His voice was low and forlorn.<\/p>\n

F\u2019zi emerged from the room, no longer wearing his power armor, instead clad in a lavender utility jumpsuit. He stepped around Fa\u2019kyu, standing tall in front of him, appearing completely unharmed. \u201cTO SEE YOURSELF AS YOU TRULY ARE. THIS IS CLARITY.\u201d He extended a paw to Fa\u2019kyu, \u201cYOU HAVE TENACITY. YOUR PATH CONTINUES. YOU WILL RISE AND ACCOMPANY RO\u2019ZI BACK TO THE EMPEROR\u2019S HANDSHAKE.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fa\u2019kyu lifted his head, staring at the paw extended to him, and up to F\u2019zi for several long moments. Finally, he grasped F\u2019zi, and allowed himself to be lifted up. \u201cIt is so,\u201d he spoke, his voice still lower than any on the bridge had ever heard him speak.<\/p>\n

As he tried to bear weight on his right leg, he stumbled. Ro\u2019zi rushed in and caught him, lifting him back up and putting an arm around her shoulder. Fa\u2019kyu turned to Ro\u2019zi, his face momentarily lighting again with frustration, before he once more sagged. \u201cMy thanks,\u201d was all he could muster. They left the bridge like this, Fa\u2019kyu limping down the hall, one arm around Ro\u2019zi for support.<\/p>\n

F\u2019zi stepped into the center of the bridge, then gestured to the Command officer, \u201cYOU WILL RISE AND TELL ME YOUR NAME, GOOD OFFICER,\u201d<\/p>\n

She stood and nodded, \u201cCOMMAND OFFICER K\u2019SHNK, READY TO SERVE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c*CAPTAIN* K\u2019SHNK, YOU WILL LEAD YOUR CREW TO VICTORY,\u201d F\u2019zi gestured to the Captain\u2019s seat. K\u2019shnk rose, but paused, \u201cTHE CLAN WILL NOT PERMIT ME TO COMMAND THIS VESSEL.\u201d F\u2019zi directed his attention to No\u2019zi, \u201cYOU WILL TELL ME OF THE PRESENCE OF THE CLAN HERE.\u201d<\/p>\n

No\u2019zi nodded, \u201cIT IS SO,\u201d and took several minutes to look around, under tables, behind seats, navigating carefully between the crew of the bridge kneeling at their stations. He rose from looking under the last console, and shook his head to F\u2019zi.<\/p>\n

F\u2019zi spoke to K\u2019shnk, \u201cI SEE NO CLAN HERE. I SEE A WISE LEADER, AND A LOYAL CREW.\u201d
\n\u201cWE REQUIRE THE SUPPORT OF THE CLAN TO CONTINUE OPERATIONS.\u201d
\n\u201cYOU WILL HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE RANDROSS DIPLOMATIC DELEGATION.\u201d<\/p>\n

K\u2019shnk\u2019s eyes widened in recognition. She nodded and took the seat in the center of the bridge, \u201cIT IS SO.\u201d<\/p>\n

He nodded in return, then turned to the signals officer, \u201cYOU WILL RISE AND TELL ME YOUR NAME, GOOD OFFICER,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSIGNALS OFFICER GO\u2019PING, READY TO SERVE.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGO\u2019PING, YOU WILL OPEN A CHANNEL TO THE WHOLE SHIP, AND I WILL SPEAK.\u201d<\/p>\n

Go\u2019ping nodded, and activated the signals console, \u201cIT IS SO\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI AM F\u2019ZI, DIPLOMAT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. YOU WILL RISE AND RETURN TO YOUR STATIONS. YOU WILL DEFEND THE EMPEROR\u2019S HANDSHAKE. CAPTAIN K\u2019SHNK WILL LEAD YOU TO GLORIOUS VICTORY. WELCOME TO THE RANDROSS DIPLOMATIC DELEGATION. FOR VICTORY!\u201d<\/p>\n

As one, the voices of the crew echoed throughout the ship and on the bridge. \u201cFOR VICTORY!\u201d as the rest of the bridge crew rose and returned to their stations.<\/p>\n

F\u2019zi looked to Co\u2019zi, \u201cYOU WILL SUPPORT THE CAPTAIN IN ACHIEVING VICTORY,\u201d Co\u2019zi took his seat at K\u2019shnk\u2019s side, \u201cIT IS SO.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI WILL TAKE NO\u2019ZI AND THE REMAINING DIPLOMATS BACK TO THE EMPEROR\u2019S HANDSHAKE. WE ARE IN AGREEMENT. THIS IS VICTORY.\u201d F\u2019zi clanked a gauntleted fist to his chest in a salute. The newly installed captain and the rest of the bridge returned his salute, and F\u2019zi returned down the hall. With No\u2019zi at his side, the crew of the \u201cAAAAAAUGH,\u201d no longer kneeling, still paused in awe as he passed by.<\/p>\n

See also: Randross Diplomatic Delegation<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":110,"featured_media":0,"template":"","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","footnotes":""},"wiki_cats":[107],"wiki_tags":[],"class_list":["post-975","yada_wiki","type-yada_wiki","status-publish","hentry","wiki_cats-fiction"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yada_wiki\/975","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yada_wiki"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/yada_wiki"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/110"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yada_wiki\/975\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":992,"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yada_wiki\/975\/revisions\/992"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=975"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"wiki_cats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki_cats?post=975"},{"taxonomy":"wiki_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/intergalactic.computer\/social\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wiki_tags?post=975"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}