Gamelial Expedition

The **Gamelial Expedition** was a scientific expedition sent by the Empire to explore uncharted space for new worlds that became stranded on the planet. The members of the expedition called themselves the Ealanta. Their language is called Imperial. The space faring race of humans became stranded on the planet when their ship, the *Valkyrie*, was destroyed. Their mission was one of exploration and scientific study, not contact. They spent many years scouting the planet and studying its every facet, recording their findings in the Neko Files. The expedition was named for its commander: Midon Arym Gamelial Selket, one of the emperor, Ismelek Shanek Ketankmin Dalton Tanumek Bashan Mordreth Jared Selket-Athyr's, cousins.

The mission was one of exploration and scientific study, not contact; however, it also had some military capabilities in case enemies of the Empire were encountered. Most members of the expedition were modified humans, but there were many Shalash marines in the security forces. The mission was expected to last for decades perhaps as much as two hundred years. Because exploring whole systems cannot be done quickly by a limited number of scientists if a thorough job is the goal, the Ealanta were modified at the Rytherian Palace Hospital before they embarked. These modifications halted the aging process and the female reproductive process was turned off. Ship space and resources were limited and children would have put a strain on everything.

Many of the Ealanta came from the most powerful Houses in the Empire. They were for the most part, younger members with little chance for social advancement in a society where some people could live for several hundred years. Being gone for a hundred years or so would open up new opportunities for them when they came back. Some hoped the expedition would last more than that. Many House positions were determined by seniority, so coming back physically young, but 100-200 years older offered a great opportunity.

The members of the expedition were expected to be married, but there were some exceptions, like Azura whose mother Sara Glorianna Selket-Athyr decided at the last minute to bring her along rather than let her be forced into a political marriage. Sara Glorianna herself was not married, but she was sent on a military mission and thus exempt. Her cousin Midon Arym Gamelial Selket, the expedition's official commander, thought he would be able to get her to marry him.

They spent many years scouting the planet and studying its every facet, recording their findings in the Neko Files. The expedition became lost when the Valkyrie's astrogator, Sorton Thern Shug, a Shalok agent, redirected it for what was supposed to be a quick rescue operation, but ended up stranding them all when the ancient Dyon system defenses damaged the *Valkyrie* beyond their ability to make repairs. The Empire searched for years but never found them.

Once they learned they were stranded, possibly forever, on the world of Dyon, many of the Ealanta decided to abandon their mission and help the now enslaved human population throw off the shackles of their glish masters. These Ealanta left their secure bases behind, giving up their virtually eternal youth to live among men (not all of them seemed to lose this ability, but most did), in exchange for reproductive capabilities. The expedition's commander, Midon Arym Gamelial Selket refused to abandon the mission and remained with a handful of the Ealanta to continue the mission, hoping to eventually be rescued by the Empire.

The Gamelial Expedition was not purely a scientific one.

* Like so much science it needed military backing to pay for it. Its secondary missions were; 1. to set up sensor and weapons stations to protect the Empire's new frontier and 2. make sure that any sentient races encountered did not threaten the Empire.
* Midon Sara Glorianna Meryet Sharmain Nefekeryet Katheryn Shaylindaria Morgan Selket-Athyr, who hitched a ride with the *Valkyrie* on a mission of her own. Under the emperor’s orders, she took up 25% of the ship’s space with her equipment (her “toys,” as an annoyed Gamelial called them). Since her mission was to be an extended one, Glorianna stepped down from her duties as Istor Sara Glorianna Meryet Sharmain Nefekeryet Katheryn Shaylindaria Morgan Selket-Athyr the Emperor’s Voice. Her mission is to establish a military supply depot with limited automated manufacturing facilities for fighters and combat machines. Glorianna brought her daughter, Sara Azura Annaheferet Anefemhru Arienya Asteneri Katheryann Morgaine Selket-Athyr with her.
* Midan Shiz Tharnakhan Karlak is assigned to the expedition to make sure that the scientists are safe and that they do not give Empire technology to any natives they may encounter either on purpose or by accident. He considers this a job beneath one of his talents, but cannot refuse the chance at an easy job. After forty years of hard work he feels he deserves a long vacation.
* The Sacarean Empire, (the Empire's main enemy at the time) notes the attachment of Istor Sara Glorianna Meryet Sharmain Nefekeryet Katheryn Shaylindaria Morgan Selket-Athyr the Emperor’s Voice, daughter of the Emperor and the highest ranking military officer in the Empire, to the expedition and (falsely) assumes their mission is one that intends harm to the Sacarean Empire so they send Volkar, one of their most skilled spies to infiltrate and sabotage the expedition.