Quorum of War - Complete | HFY | The Best Science Fiction \ Horror \ Grimdark 2022

[@singletona082]

'You thought that was our homeworld.' *laughs in imperium*

[@macshadow1150]

Inqusitor: laughs in Exterminatus

[@johnpellegrinoconnors3843]

Something about that tree human asking to recover the names of the fallen humans really got to me

[@singletona082]

Odd as she is to our eyes, hers is still a human heart. We mourn the dead and offer places of rest because in time we will join them and would hope the ame is gifted to us be it a decade, a century, millinia, or at the close of the Universe as the last black hole and final iron star evaporates. Even if there are none left to remember we would want there to be something to mark where we had walked.

[@mojaeche8046]

i took that as she wanted the names of those who had butchered the world.

[@jonf2009]

Actually love this idea the idea of the humanity has grown so fast and so technologically capable that instead of us seeking even more technology we instead start colonies and recreate our beginning over and over again on different planets and different systems so that we can get fresh experiences from these new voices as they finally ascend back to the Stars to join us basically making humanity world seeders.

[@NoESanity]

space Amish if you will.

[@timothyblazer1749]

Which means, we could be one. :-)

[@WallNutBreaker524]

Ohhh.....so that's what this story is about...I was confused 😂😅

[@animefreak10x]

>When you realize they had done this 187 times prior to this story.

[@rianmacdonald9454]

How can you know where you are going, until you have learnt where you came from. To learn and live, as our ancestor did, to learn all that made us, to grow as they did over time - only then can you move forward.

[@ecmonkey9930]

Tbh.... This is worthy of publication. I read an awful lot of sci-fi an associated genres and...this is a brilliant vision of "post-human" humanism. It's rare to read (or in this case, listen) to a believable vision of 100,000 or more years from today. Doesn't even need much editing to be printed as a novella. I hope the author considers kindle unlimited or similar to write and share more "post-human" space opera shit. This was good. Ridiculously good for a KZbin narration of a reddit thing.

[@Giomancer]

Of the stories I've listed to over the past week since discovering this channel, this was one of the most solid and well done, without a deus ex machina reveal of invincible fleets or incredible weapons. Instead, we begin with a world burning, and we see the slow, deliberate process of passing judgement. While Silver Wisp was amazingly overpowered, he didn't appear from nowhere; we learn how he was forged into the being he is, and that at his heart he is still human. In short.. yes, this story is certainly publishable. As a reader/listener, I'd encourage the writer to explore other human stories in the same universe, perhaps as an anthology of interconnected short stories...

[@donchichivagabond1578]

The first book would be all about the planet that gets destroyed and all its inhabitants. The aliens fears and political intrigue. The war, battles and heroes. The terror and destruction befalling the human population. Beacon silently watching and introduced at the end.

[@foxxy46213]

There's a few. The nature of predators is a good one.also the narrator does an excellent job...heard far far far worse on paid for audibles of big books that just put me off

[@Rhino-Prime]

9 hours is the most threatening words spoken in this

[@rianmacdonald9454]

WOW. gripped for every single word. LOVED THIS STORY - I hope the author can see these comments - 1) MORE OF THIS STORY, EXPAND THIS UNIVERSE, 2) HOW THE HELL DO WE GET THIS PUT IN TO A FILM. This 1 story could re-define Sci-fi stories for generations.

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

You should read some Ray Bradbury child. We old ones remember such things. Though as an immortal, I renew my youth through the laughter of my grandsons, and everything looks new again.

[@piedpiper1185]

"radiated the coldness only achieved by a lifetime in government service or waitressing" I can't even... 🤣

[@jackblank]

God I love this type of story. I swear they spill into each other. Gives weight to things in the stories like "Built in wrath and forged in vengeance, the black ships shock and awe, before carrying the doom to the xenos door." Absolutely metal.

[@Lrlbiglee]

"I don't give forgiveness and I am not here to dispute your evil. I am here to kill you. My task is simple and inevitable." Is definitely another good one. Sent chills through me.

[@nerdlord1408]

The reason I liked this "Humans are the best" story more then the others is because we didn't get tech way to fast and unlock the secrets of the universe in the length of a slow Tuesday, we had already existed for thousands of years, we had rebuilt or civilizations over and over again, they did not wake up some small child still grasping for the stars,they woke up an entity that seems to have existed longer then they had been sentient, a beast with an endless memory, a race that had ascended into godhood century's ago.

[@MickGallJr]

Ascended... Ascended to godhood.

[@mage3690]

@@MickGallJr Descended to godhood, ascended to demonhood, what's the difference, really?

[@MickGallJr]

@@mage3690 descended implies a devolution. Ascended is well... Ann uplift ascended into godhood. I'm the context of THIS Story it matters. Although it would be interesting to explore a devolution into good good that just isn't this Story...

[@nerdlord1408]

@@MickGallJr You make a good point, I didn't think of that when I was writing the comment, I will fix it.

[@Xavier1822]

I imagined the creature getting waking up was a dreadnought from 40k

[@mVran]

To be honest i would watch a movie like this, a mini tv series. One hell of a story..

[@DellikkilleD]

"radiated the coldness only achieved by a lifetime in government, or waitressing." Author works in food service confirmed.

[@Talon968]

Yes that part always makes me laugh.

[@Maniacal_Laughter]

That got me too

[@Obligate.Carnivore]

OMG! Yes! Brilliant line! I was married to a server for over 20 and I have to say, “this is so perfectly TRUE” love this story! I was glued to it!!

[@mumziam]

"Terms and conditions may apply" 😂 Excellent tale very well narrated... Bravo!

[@IronWarhorsesFun]

this has Dark Age oF Technolgy Humanity vibes going. I LOVE IT.

[@treyriver5676]

Except humanity was more just then vengeful. And far more advanced.

[@IronWarhorsesFun]

@@treyriver5676 well they are clearly very advanced here as well.

[@srgforge2993]

@@IronWarhorsesFun yeah but as far as we're aware they don't have weapons that can send an ork ship back in time by 1 second causing it to appear within itself ending up in its complete and utter destruction

[@MrSamuel2808]

@@srgforge2993 yea, but that's just a fold weapon. Honestly given how space time works we might be able to travel in time around the same time we get ftl

[@diarmuidh6980]

The shedding of humanity to become an aspect of vengeance (known as a fury), is an ancient tradition, also tied to the myths of the werewolves/ berserkers/ ulfhednar. Of all of these the fury-myth most closely resembles Beacon’s story

[@Morriaphant]

They thought us monsters and feared us? We will be the monsters and give them something to fear.

[@larryjanson4011]

it goes to show everyone, just how brutal humans can be when pushed to our limits. if there are other beings out there. they should take note of just being our friends

[@WingManFang1]

It’s because to attack any of us eliminates the right of that being to exist in the first place, we are sacred life even if we curse ourselves.

[@TheKillmeifucan]

Unless they exterminate us to completion

[@margravekevin7765]

@@WingManFang1 It's like when we Americans are only patriotic when it comes to the Olympics or if someone from England tries to talk shit lol

[@ianharrison5758]

@@margravekevin7765 exactly

[@Tony-tb8ld]

This story is amazing. The Quorum of War 188. This mean humanity has done this or similar 187 times before.

[@VelcroYuppie]

Another nice twist is that police code for a homicide is 187.

[@diarmuidh6980]

I love the fact that the Xeno engineer has a Scottish accent 🤣

[@carlyoung6111]

@diarmuidh6980: Something tells me that the story teller is a Star Trek fan. Every time he relays the words of an engineer, he imitates Scotty.

[@rowandoggo]

My name being Rowan makes me happy to know it exists as the name of pure unbridled vengeance against the enemies of mankind

[@Bear-cm1vl]

I can see myself in Beacon from back in my Sheepdog days. Vengeance is a horrible, powerful and driving force and I am glad a part of me has outgrown it, however I also know despite that I am peaceful, this does not mean I have forgotten how to be violent. As Sensei would say, "Better to be a Warrior in a garden than a Gardener in a war."

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

Yes, often in my 65 years people have mistaken me for a gardener, as they did Another. I don't mind, I watch, dig the hole and wait for them to fall into it. Good fertilizer without much effort. Never taken revenge, just watched it happen. Don't piss off my Dad.

[@oldnick4707]

This was a really good 'fuck around and find out' story.. the idea of the humans having ascended. Really cool. It would be even better if it were fleshed out a bit more.

[@jlb3737]

Wow, I’m new to HFY, but this is the most hardcore one I’ve read. Bravo.

[@wise_guy08]

This feels like getting attacked by a fallen empire in stellaris

[@driverr988]

"Tell them, I have abandoned my Humanity." Only a human can understand, to surrender our humanity is to become a monster in the flesh, death incarnate, vengeance personified. It is a discarding of every moral shackle we place on ourselves. There can be only one response to this... Fear.

[@gretholondeporey8527]

Resignation is another response one can have.

[@WingManFang1]

This almost sounds like a Blood vs Blood prequel to First Contact. It was completely Savage. Well done to the author 👏 and a very well done to the VA responsible for bringing this to life. We look forward to all your reads for years to come, or at the very least as long as you wish to continue doing it.

[@johncastille8849]

God this story was so good. I love these really long but really good ones.

[@timothyreaper8932]

00:00 - Chapter 1 11:21 - Chapter 2 22:22 - Chapter 3 33:22 - Chapter 4 44:06 - Chapter 5 57:31 - Chapter 6 1:21:53 - Chapter 7 1:33:52 - Chapter 8 (End)

[@000Krim]

This is surprisingly well writing, and the narration is amazing.

[@bkane573]

Would definitely like to read more by this author.

[@normiesalvador1854]

I had to wait to listen to this as one piece. I had to wait until I could not remember enough. It should go without saying, but it's a different experience listening to this in one sitting.

[@rianmacdonald9454]

Keep coming back to this one. Love this story. Beacon - a being after my own Heart.

[@89Keith]

Konrad Curze approves this message

[@Farmores]

dang that was so awsome. I loved every second of it. thank you for giving this story a voice.

[@klackon1]

This is a cracking story. I was really pleased the author did not go down the usual "let's forgive and forget" avenue. It was so good to discover all members of the human quorum felt the same way. I much prefer the Sandor Clegane (Game of Thrones) approach to revenge: rather than the usual Star Trek type we see in movies and TV series.

[@FedralBI]

That was absolutely brutal.

[@WingManFang1]

It was…Metal ☠️

[@DreadPyriteBob]

The last thing I have done ✔️ was that I would love ❤️ and if

[@jordanbryan2612]

As it should be

[@Cosmopolantic]

My favorite group of deaths were the ones that were splattered everywhere

[@sijul6483]

@@Cosmopolantic squishy

[@marlinstrife5352]

The Quorum of War; the patience of humanity, pain of humanity, justice for humanity.

[@treyriver5676]

Very Old testament, in 2 way first an eye for an eye and second none of this generation shall enter the land of of promise

[@gretholondeporey8527]

Eye for an Eye is always taken out of context. It being a metaphorical statement of not charging interest in a debt. The passage being that if one is offended that they should not seek vengeance but to forgive. If one must take payment because the other party refuses to be forgiven, it should not be more than an eye for an eye. This story is definitely a story of vengeance. Beacon enjoyed it too. No, if it were simply revenge on equal payment, they would not go after entire ship's crews and punishing an entire race, only those responsible. The decision makers and those able to deny the orders given. Those who actively felt guilt and sought forgiveness were offered none. To be clear, forgiveness isn't a pardon for crimes, so punishment may still be met out. I can forgive someone for hitting my car with theirs, but I can still seek restitution from their insurance.

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

A modern misunderstanding. If you actually read not just the newest testament, but the coming ones, you will find nothing has changed. We're in a parentheses, like the eye of a hurricane, read what is coming. No it is not a metaphor. Simply that no vengeance is as thorough as allowing my Father to do it. Unconditional forgiveness is a very modern myth nowhere in the Bible. Unmerited forgiveness for someone who repents yes, but repentance IS a condition.

[@oeliamoya9796]

Wonderful narrating. Love your channel 😍

[@delta3880]

This reminds me of the night lords novels almost. I loved all three of those books. I hope there's more like this one.

[@michaelwebster3124]

Beacon goes forth in midnight clad

[@FirreballHawke]

One of my favorite personifications of death is a comic series entitled "Loving Reaper"

[@thalastianjorus]

I love this so very much. I think the only mistake I kept running into, what kept breaking my suspension of disbelief and my immersion, was the usage of modern terms that one would think would have fallen out of use for humans by hundreds of millennia. Matches, flashlights, etc.

[@edelta88]

Well... that was a headspace I wasn't planning to play with today. Excellent work though.

[@Michael-sf9yg]

Justice can be a harsh sentence. But a necessary one. We would do well to practice it now, as we did before, lest we have no society left worth protecting.

[@Obligate.Carnivore]

Another great story! This one would make an awesome ANIME!! The way Beacon is would be amazing animated!!

[@MidnightAmetyst]

love how it was showing humanitys dark side. I would love more detailed and darker descriptions of murders. 9/10

[@dirtsapient9638]

Great story. Thanks for the awesome upload. I listened to it about 9 months ago. I just re listened. Great little story

[@rembrandtshadows]

for the disembodied voice! for the all gory rhythm!

[@Tcman95]

Great writing, and Excellent Narration

[@louiejoosten7930]

Liked and subed. You are great my dude! All of your voices work so well with the characters! Regardless of gender, species, or place in (their) respective society! Keep it going my friend! Ps I FREAKING LOVE SMALL GALAXY. MOAR!!!!!!

[@MrRussiancoma]

Wow. The bloodiest tale I've ever heard! Fascinating!😮😮

[@chrisa.1740]

Quick and to the point. Thanks for narrating! For the algorithm!

[@jm2watkins]

Oh I am going to thoroughly enjoy this just based on the first 5 minutes

[@seanrobert9661]

Don't poke the humans... To late buddy ... aanndd... you just ended your redacted entire civilization

[@harrygrimley4352]

Loved it. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@ArtsShadow2]

This is a story of F around and find out. They found out. 🤣

[@cedric3973]

This was a really good one and the organ music in the last chapter was an amazing touch I really enjoyed this and was the perfect length. Look forward to another post or another whole large story. For the algorithm.

[@ron1c_064]

That was absolutely amazing

[@michaelmccallion7297]

Thank you for this and all the stories you post, you surely are as good if not better than Attenborough himself, these video's are the only thing to help me fall to sleep, reading the comments it sounds like everyone loves these as much as i do and also agree with the comments these would make epic movies for sure so thank you and the writers

[@carlyoung6111]

This story should be transfered into film. It would totally redefine the Sci-Fi genre.

[@M_MahdiBKH]

humans in this story remained me of a book series named culture.

[@Darqshadow]

Of all of them.. beacon is the one i feel for. He watched his home, his people, his family burn and all he has left is revenge and after that... nothing.

[@Stormblessed72]

Honestly I wonder if the little critters in the AI's forest will one day evolve to Sapience and be raised by the ai, that'd be a good story or maybe even the ai messes around and makes it so the evolve back into humans

[@Jason-sm4oc]

"Terms and conditions apply" … …!

[@awesomecow7264]

LIKE A DAM FREAKING HUMAN, ALWAYS WITH FINE PRINT

[@JerrybutTaller]

Lmao first. Also I ABSOLUTELY LOVE human superiority stories

[@IronWarhorsesFun]

If we cannot kill ourselves and we have had so many opportunities NOTHING ELSE STANDS A CHANCE.

[@adeptuscustode115]

Awesome perfect to clean to thanks sir

[@rianmacdonald9454]

Beacon - a being after my own heart. With all the technology - there is something so deeply personal about Blades, a true skill.

[@lornbaker1083]

they call down the whirlwinds and now they will be reaped by the storm.

[@abrahamsorby8193]

Beacon is freckin brutal!!!

[@JRRodriguez-nu7po]

Truly great story, there was even a wisp of romance betwixt silver and green. As a 65yo father and grandfather, it is good to seer young love bloom. It has an almost Ray Bradbury feel to it.

[@involuntaryanalysis]

I just noticed the triffid reference. nice.

[@chrissoto7187]

Definitely went easy on them

[@Chewie260]

Whole reading i was listening to the puss in the boots death whistle, glorious.

[@chrismaxey7835]

Loved this one ❤

[@Covah86]

This came out on my birthday yay ^_^

[@queenbee8045]

And a hidden romance subplot my my well done well done indeed

[@alexanderrosario8569]

"We are humanity. You kill one of us, you get *ALL* of us." We may not always get along with each other. Hold grudges, backstab, lie, and in the darkest of times do despicable evils. But when all the cards are down, and we are backed into a corner. We are humans and will fight for our kind even to the bitter end.

[@canisarcani]

FAFO the aliens buned one of our worlds, so we unleashed a horror movie villain and sealed them in the house with it. (so to speak)

[@theeddorian]

This is a fairly well told story with a brilliant concept. It is reminiscent of Zelazny or Sturgeon. There's also a bit of Late Night Final by Eric Frank Russel echoing in it, the idea that in truth they aliens have entirely misread the situation, and the simple pastoralists and agriculturalists might be something else altogether. The writing needs a deal of work to turn it into the gem it should be.

[@theangrygermanlad1328]

Poor Beacon

[@KJ-nw8ge]

I like how it shows that there have been 187 past iterations of this being brought to light in this universe

[@Dontiva]

God damnit... this stories already makin me cry and I'm only 11 mins in!

[@nielsjensen4185]

If a species is capable of breathing holding your breath in the vacuum of space is the dumbest thing to do as it just makes your lungs expand and explode :p

[@johanmetreus1268]

Not really, pressure difference is just one bar, give or take. No worse than holding your breath from 10 metres beneath the water and go to the surface.

[@nielsjensen4185]

@@johanmetreus1268 And this answer is the reason you leave science to the people who actually know how physics works. To put numbers on your example and to explain it in a language that you can understand. Going from a depth of ten meters to the surface would from +2 Bar to +1 Bar. Going into space would take you from +1 Bar to 0 Bar. Within a Bar field, the things around you exert pressure on you equal to Bar*Mass. In the atmosphere that's breathable to us the air in it has a mass, it's one that we never really experience and it's there. This mass exerts pressure on the air we have in our lungs and blood system and prevents it from expanding rapidly. In space, you're surrounded by a vacuum, the absence of air and thus also the absence of mass to exert pressure on you. This lack of pressure makes the air inside you freely expand. This is the reason the astronaut suit is pressurised. If you ever find yourself having to do a short space walk without a pressure suit your best chance of survival is to empty your lungs and hurry since if you take a large breath and hold it the air will expand and your lungs will rupture if the internal pressure is big enough.

[@leadingauctions8440]

This was amazing.

[@laughingdragon8858]

What a fecking brutal story

[@MyrdinAnnoth]

Very interesting story. The ending I feel could have been done slightly more stylish with the last survivor having a bit more class and getting a quick end. Then after Beacon reported to Silver Wisp, he could have flown into the Sun of the system where his destroyed world was. But regardles it was good stuff.

[@yousureimnotarobot]

I like your name, so here's what I had planned: the old woman's song would be the enemy's last voice (it is the end of their punishment and hopeful) and Beacon would take his own life in the void, cast off and disregarded by humanity. He is a tool, a thing of purpose but ultimately not a thing of value. But stories sometimes tell themselves...

[@darnelljohnson5313]

WOW!!! 😲 that was,,, WOW!!,

[@leyrua]

38:25 your voice at this part made me _shiver._

[@H_Eli]

Blood for the Blood God!

[@Mikesfungame]

HFY!

[@kieranedwards2036]

Someone should have told them about how we thought up the 40k universe

[@Malikav0311]

This was outstanding.

[@diarmuidh6980]

“A sphere of some kind” - are there different kinds of spheres?

[@bentalexranebundgaard4867]

Lots, oblong, hollow, massive, tieres spheres within spheres, theres more than one form.

[@rjust2297]

Wow. The best audio I have heard since I read Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Awesome listening even better reading voice 🙏 LET'S see what happens Nexus LOL 🇺🇲🍀 🥰 Puke civilian out 🥁🎯🎶👽💯😂 i

[@jarodiking2559]

cant wait for number 189

[@barelyasurvivor1257]

Great story

[@abrahamsorby8193]

Anybody else picture Beacon as a Predator android?

[@dravenrogers7040]

Hey does anybody ever wonder how old was the last one had to be you know the last one Beacon killed

[@robinn57]

So one thing I don't quite understand about the story are all humans basically extinct now?

[@Zirodays]

The original humans were completely while the demi-humans/humanoids or semi-humans or whatever they're called lived. Still watching tho

[@kdrapertrucker]

No, turns out it was an earth colony, there are multiple teirs of humanity. Human existence as we know it is childhood, as humans age and gain wisdom and die they ascend to the next tier of existence, godlike to the aliens who destroyed the planet. Basicly earth humans are incredibly advanced gene modded cyborgs that are basically immortal, their children exist on colony planets where they live a simple life till the grow enough to ascend

[@queenbee8045]

No it’s a lifecycle normal humans are effectively children after spending time living as a caveman/Amish/modern human life you assend to the stars as an immortal demigod

[@minxx8594]

There were no humans in this story, or at least no humanity. If this is how humanity acts in this universe then these aliens were right to fear them.

[@klappstock943]

For the voice the Algorithm and the story

[@ThunderStruck15]

TIL triffid 30:24

[@leyrua]

"The creature radiated the coldness only achieved by a lifetime in government service or waitressing." 🤣🤣🤣