Cicion suddenly switched his attention back to an earliere statement in the conversation. "Did you say Verasi?"
"Yes. Appearently this artifact on Arliac is similar to some 'Verasi' style. Isn't that a Phylydion system?"
Cicion's face became somewhat worried. "Yes. Well, it was until the Nijayias Civil War. The blasted beaurocrats annexed it to the Sals. But I digress. What exactly were you getting in power readings?"
Darkk shook his head as if he still didn't believe it. "Increadible. The technology is along the same lines of StormBreaker but radically more advanced. This thing was in an idle state and was registering with a power output ten times greater than the Phylydia! Good thing these Arliacians keep it locked up so tight; someone could do some serious damage with power like that."
Cicion grew pale in a fixed stare at Darkk.
"What?" Darkk asked ponderingly.
"Sargatanus has one. In him."
Darkk's jaw dropped, before replying pensively "Please tell me you're joking, because this isn't funny if you are."
"Not one bit." Cicion said while shaking his head.
Darkk slumped in his seat. "Why does everything have to happen while I'm gone?"
Cicion kept the subject: "Wait a minute. You said this technology is similar to your ship's?"
"Along the same guidlines yes, but far more advanced."
"Would it be possible to use your ship as a walk-through for cracking this technology?"
Darkk reeled back in a slight shock. "Well first off, that would require my letting you touch my ship, which is unlikely. And second, even if I let you, it would take decades or even centuries to work it out. Yes the technologies are on the same lines, but what you're talking about would be like trying to figure out a quantum computer by studying an ancient vacuum tube!"
Cicion was starting to get frustrated, then the aprenhension came back to him. "What if the Sals got ahold of this new artifact? Could they reproduce it?"
Darkk pondered. "Well, if whatever Sargatanus has is on the same level, than they would have a technological refference. So it would be possible."
Cicion choked down the thought and got up. "I have to inform the High Octicon at once. Care to join me?"
"Absolutely." Darkk replied as the two walked off.
In all the hurry, neither of them had noticed the Salrilian who had been listening intently on their conversation, and was now messing around with a communicator. It said nothing. Instead, it sent a recording of the message directly through subspace to the Ring.
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Throughout their history these "unenlightened" beings have continually opposed and fought abuses of power wrought by their own bretheren. We, as the prophets would do well to learn from these Humans.
-Final statement of the Salrilian reformist Sirthis shortly before his execution.